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Why Go With European Baby Clothes And European Childrens Clothes
Today's fashions are as diverse as the people that embrace them, wear them and share them. But to a certain extent, many of the baby clothing and children clothing found in the USA follows one or two specific trends. After a while, it can be tiresome to see the same cuts, styles, colors, patterns and materials over and over. As a mother myself, I often strive to find less popular clothing styles, and stores that aren't mainstream, in the hopes of being exposed to new designs, colors and styles that I haven't encountered before. I enjoy dressing my children in high quality clothing that stands out from the crowd, and is unique while still be stylish, tasteful and acceptable.
One idea for thinking out of the box with baby clothing and children's clothing is to look towards European clothing. European children's clothes and European baby clothes. Estella-NYC is one option for finding these beautiful, inspiring baby and children clothes. They carry extensive lines of European children's clothes and European baby clothes. In fact, the clothes that they carry are so inspiring that clothing designers, including Isaac Mizrahi (you may recognize his name as one of the designers for the exclusive line of clothing at Target, often browse their store just to find their own inspiration.
Estella has been in operation for six years, and is located in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan, New York City. A husband and wife team (Chike Chukwulozie and Jean Polsky) run the company, and their fresh ideas for unique clothing has been a big success. They are known nationwide and even worldwide for their innovative designs and colors for European children's clothes and European baby clothes.
The available European baby clothes include newborn gifts and first birthday gifts, baby blankets, onesies, and the standard array of clothing: outfits, dresses, shirts, pants, shoes, outdoor wear, swimsuits and other essentials. These European baby clothes are also available in organic and eco-friendly varieties.
The line of European children's clothes is just as impressive. Cotton shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, plain and button down tops, bottoms, shoes, hats, swimsuits and gifts bring plenty of European fashion right to you.
Dressing your children in the European fashion is a great way to make a statement that is stylish and tasteful, while being anything but ordinary. European childrens clothes and European baby clothes can go a long way in making your children stand out from the crowd.


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The evangelical Christians of Greenville County, South Carolina, are afraid.
There has been talk of informants and undercover agents luring young, conservative evangelicals across the South into sham terrorist plots. The feds and the area's police want to eliminate a particularly extreme strain of evangelical Christianity opposed to abortion, homosexuality, and secularism, whose adherents sometimes use violent imagery and speech. They fear such extreme talk could convince lone wolves or small groups of Christian extremists to target abortion clinics, gay bars, or shopping malls for attack. As a result, law enforcement has flooded these communities with informants meant to provide an early warning system for any signs of such "radicalization."
Converts, so important to the evangelical movement, are now looked upon with suspicion -- the more fervent, the more suspicious. In local barbecue joints, diners, and watering holes, the proprietors are careful not to let FOX News linger onscreen too long, fearing political discussions that could be misconstrued. After all, you can never be too sure who's listening.
Come Sunday, the ministers who once railed against abortion, gay marriage, and Hollywood as sure signs that the U.S. is descending into godlessness will mute their messages. They will peer out at their congregations and fear that some faces aren't interested in the Gospel, or maybe are a little too interested in every word. The once vibrant political clubs at Bob Jones University have become lifeless as students whisper about informants and fear a few misplaced words could leave them in a government database or worse.
Naturally, none of this is actually happening to evangelical Christians in South Carolina, across the South, or anywhere else. It would never be tolerated. Yet the equivalents of everything cited above did happen in and around the New York metropolitan area -- just not to white, conservative, Christian Americans. But replace them with American Muslims in the New York area and you have a perfect fit, as documented by the recent report Mapping Muslims. And New York is hardly alone.
Since 9/11, American law enforcement has taken a disproportionate interest in American Muslims across the country, seeing a whole community as a national security threat, particularly in California and New York City. But here's the thing: the facts that have been piling up ever since that date don't support such suspicion. Not at all.
The numbers couldn't be clearer: right-wing extremists have committed far more acts of political violence since 1990 than American Muslims. That law enforcement across the country hasn't felt similarly compelled to infiltrate and watch over conservative Christian communities in the hopes of disrupting violent right-wing extremism confirms what American Muslims know in their bones: to be different is to be suspect.
Conducting Suspicionless Surveillance
In the aftermath of 9/11, law enforcement has infiltrated Muslim American communities and spied on them in ways that would have outraged Americans, had such tactics been used against Christian communities after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, or after any of the other hate crimes or anti-abortion-based acts of violence committed since then by right-wing extremists.
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests by the American Civil Liberties Union make clear that FBI agents in California usedcommunity outreach programs to gather intelligence at mosques and other local events, recording the opinions and associations of people not suspected of any crime. In 2008, the FBI loosened its internal guidelines further, allowing agents to collect demographic information on ethnically concentrated communities and map them for intelligence and investigative purposes.
There is no question that the most extreme example of such blanket, suspicion-less surveillance has been conducted by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). As revealed by the Associated Press, the NYPD's Intelligence Division carried out a secret surveillance program on the city's varied Muslim communities based on the erroneous belief that their religion makes them more susceptible to violent radicalization.
The program, which continues today, looks something like this, according toMapping Muslims: "rakers," or undercover officers, are sent into neighborhoods to identify "hot spots" -- mosques, schools, restaurants, cafes, halal meat shops, hookah bars -- and told to chat up people to "gauge sentiment," while setting up "listening posts." "Crawlers," or informants, are then recruited and sent to infiltrate mosques and religious events. They are ordered to record what imams and congregants say and take note of who attended services and meetings.
These crawlers are encouraged to initiate "create and capture" conversations with their targets, bringing up terrorism or some other controversial topic, recording the response, and then sharing it with the NYPD. The intelligence unit also went mobile, checking out and infiltrating American-Muslim student groups from Connecticut to New Jersey and even as far away as Pennsylvania.
When news of the NYPD's spying program broke, it shattered trust within the city's Muslim communities, giving rise to general suspicion and fraying community ties of all sorts. This naturally raises the question: How many terrorism plots were identified and disrupted thanks to this widespread and suspicionless surveillance program? The answer: none.
Worse, the chief of the NYPD Intelligence Division admitted in sworn testimony last summer that the Muslim surveillance program did not even generate a single criminal lead. The incredibly invasive, rights-eroding program was a complete bust, a total waste of the resources of the New York City Police Department.
And that's without even considering what is surely its most harmful aspect: the likelihood that, at least in the short term, it has caused irreparable damage to the Muslim community's trust in the police. Surveillance, concludes theMapping Muslims report, "has stifled constitutionally protected activity and destroyed trust between American Muslim communities and the agencies charged with protecting them."
When people fear the police, tips dry up, potentially making the community less safe. This is important, especially given that the Muslim-American community has helped prevent, depending on whose figures you use, from 21%-40% of all terrorism plots associated with Muslims since 9/11. That's grounds for cooperation, not alienation: a lesson that would have been learned by a police department with strong ties to and trust in the community.
Numbers May Not Lie, But They Sure Can Be Ignored
The idea that American law enforcement's mass surveillance of Muslim communities is a necessary, if unfortunate, counterterrorism tool rests with the empirically false notion that American Muslims are more prone to political violence than other Americans.
This is simply not true.
According to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), right-wing terrorists perpetrated 145 "ideologically motivated homicide incidents" between 1990 and 2010. In that same period, notes START, "al Qaeda affiliates, al Qaeda-inspired extremists, and secular Arab Nationalists committed 27 homicide incidents in the United States involving 16 perpetrators or groups of perpetrators."
Last November, West Point's Combating Terrorism Center published a reporton America's violent far-right extremists. Its numbers were even more startling than START's. "The consolidated dataset," writes report author Arie Perliger, "includes information on 4,420 violent incidents that occurred between 1990 and 2012 within U.S. borders, and which caused 670 fatalities and injured 3,053 people." Perliger also found that the number of far-right attacks had jumped 400% in the first 11 years of the 21st century.
It's highly probable that the FBI drastically undercounts instances of terrorism perpetrated by right-wing extremists because of cultural double standards. As the New America Foundation's Peter Bergen has noted, attacks associated with anti-abortion or white supremacist ideologies are rarely, if ever, counted as terrorist attacks. A typical example: the massacre of worshippers at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in August 2012 by a white supremacist.
Simply put, there is an unhealthy obsession among American law enforcement agencies (and American society at large) with stopping violence perpetrated by American Muslims, one that is wholly out of line with the numbers. There is no doubt that the events of 9/11 play into this -- never mind that not one hijacker was American -- but there is something much darker at work here as well. It's the fear of a people, a culture, and a religion that most Americans do not understand and therefore see as alien and dangerous.
The fear of the "other" has wiggled its way into the core of another American generation.
"While Vile, All of This Speech Is Protected by the First Amendment"
Widespread surveillance and suspicion aren't the only things American Muslims have to worry about, feel frustrated by, or fear. They can also point to the way fellow American Muslims are treated in the larger criminal justice system.
Since 9/11, the FBI has used tactics that clearly raise the issue of entrapment in arresting hundreds of Muslims inside the U.S. on terrorism-related charges. Investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson, author of The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI's Manufactured War on Terrorism, did the hard work of compiling and analyzing all of these cases between September 11, 2001, and August 2011. What he found was alarming.
"Of the 508 defendants, 243 had been targeted through an FBI informant, 158 had been caught in an FBI terrorism sting, and 49 had encountered an agent provocateur. Most of the people who didn't face off against an informant weren't directly involved with terrorism at all, but were instead Category II offenders, small-time criminals with distant links to terrorists overseas. Seventy-two of these Category II offenders had been charged with making false statements, while 121 had been prosecuted for immigration violations. Of the 508 cases, I could count on one hand the number of actual terrorists... who posed a direct and immediate threat to the United States."
Those numbers, however damning, still don't fully reflect the inequity American Muslims face within the U.S. criminal justice system when it comes to terrorism allegations. An analysis of two separate but similar cases offers a clear sense of how terrorism allegations targeting the American right and American Muslims in the criminal justice system can end with very different results. The common question running through two federal terrorism prosecutions -- one against a group of seven anti-government right-wing Christian paranoids, better known as the Hutaree Militia, and the other against a Massachusetts pharmacist and Islamic radical -- is what kind of speech is protected by the First Amendment and just who can rest safely under its shield?
In late March 2010, FBI raids led to the arrest of members of the Hutaree Militia across the Midwest. A Christian Patriot militia, Hutaree members believed that the end of the world was near and local, state, and federal law enforcement officers were actually "foot soldiers" in the "New World Order." According to the federal indictment, Hutaree leader David Brian Stone, Sr., planned the murder of a local police officer. But that was just to be the bait. When law enforcement from across the nation attended his burial, the Hutaree would attack the funeral procession with improvised explosive devices and other homemade bombs, sparking a revolt against the government.
Seven Hutaree members were charged with at least four felonies, including seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Like many post-9/11 counterterrorism investigations, the case was built via an undercover FBI agent, primarily by using the violent, antigovernment statements some of the accused made as proof that a terrorist conspiracy existed. The defendants all filed motions for a judgment of acquittal, arguing that the government didn't have enough evidence to sustain a conviction.
In March 2012, Judge Victoria Roberts agreed with the motions of the defendants, acquitting all seven on the most serious charges. (David Stone, Sr., and his son were convicted of weapons-related offenses and were sentenced to time served.) Read Roberts's decision and it's hard to disagree with her ruling, which concludes that the plot was all talk among paranoid people.
Referring to Stone Sr.'s anti-government statements, Roberts writes, "While vile, all of this speech is protected by the First Amendment." Ultimately, Roberts concluded, the government's case was far too flimsy. "[T]he plethora of inferences the Government asks this Court to make are in excess of what the law allows," she wrote. "But the Government crosses the line from inference to pure speculation a number of times in this case. Charges built on speculation cannot be sustained."
Can anyone doubt, however, that if David Stone, Sr., had an Islamic-sounding name, he, his two sons, and the four other codefendants would likely be spending the rest of their lives in a federal penitentiary?
Does the First Amendment Have a Blind Spot for Muslims?
Consider the case of 29-year-old Tarek Mehanna. In April 2012, he was convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaeda, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, and lesser charges like lying to the FBI.
According to the federal government's case, Mehanna and two associates went to a terrorist training camp in Yemen in 2004 with the intention of later making their way to Iraq to resist the U.S. occupation of that country. Mehanna countered that he went to Yemen to study Islam and learn Arabic. Whatever Mehanna intended, we know that, in fact, he never made it to any terrorist training camp.
That, however, wasn't the alleged "crime" the FBI was most interested in. On his return from Yemen, Mehanna began translating into English and posting jihadist videos and documents on the Internet advocating that Muslims defend their lands against American imperialism. One video was particularly gruesome. It showed the mutilation of the remains of U.S. personnel in Iraq after the reported rape of an Iraqi girl by an American service member. After watching it, an associate asked Mehanna whether there was a way to try the U.S. serviceman suspected of the crime. Mehanna replied, "Who cares? Texas BBQ is the way to go."
However grotesque or cruel Mehanna's Internet activity or talk may have been, it all constituted First-Amendment protected activity. The government, however, argued that Mehanna's online activities materially supported al-Qaeda, even though Mehanna was known to have rejected al-Qaeda's worldview. He did not, among other things, believe civilians should be targeted in response to the actions of their government abroad. His belief was clear enough: "Those who fight Muslims may be fought, not those who have the same nationality as those who fight."
The distinction didn't matter. Mehanna is currently serving a 17½-year sentence in a federal supermax prison. His thought crime: engaging in the same kind of violent but constitutionally-protected online advocacy regularly engaged in by white supremacists and anti-government militias on the radical Right.
That, to say the least, is the benefit of the doubt American Muslims cannot take for granted in the United States more than a decade after 9/11. White Christians rarely have to worry that an informant or undercover agent has infiltrated their churches, their neighborhoods, or their student groups. They never have to fear someone watching them and taking notes. They never have to question whether the new person who seems so friendly may be just a little too friendly, just a little too provocative. They don't have to think twice before they say or post online something political, controversial, or even violently angry. None of this is their responsibility, their burden in life, just because some random person within their community lashes out in the name of God. And that's how it should be, for everyone.

subset: commoncrawl


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Halloween season, how I love thee! I spotted these adorable little frosted vases at Michael's a few weeks ago, and as per my usual style, bought them with no idea what I'd do with them. I thought they'd be perfect for Halloween, though. They look like little apothecary bottles, don't you think? It wasn't until after I started playing around with paper flowers again that I realized they'd make perfect little flower vases, but they'd need a little bit of embellishing. You can use lots of different materials for this project - ribbons, foils, faux flowers, real, or paper ones like I did.
Here's what you'll need:
- Mini frosted vases. These came in packages of 2 at Michaels for something super cheap like $3
- Double-sided scrapbooking tape. This stuff is super strong and comes in all sorts of widths. I used 1/8"
- Transfer foil (This was the same brand I used but mine came in silver, gold, and copper colors)
- Ribbon, baker's twine
- Black paper
- Silver or white pen
- Hole punch
- Flowers. Faux, real, paper, whatever you'd like. I made these black paper flowers myself. Craft stores carry Halloween themed silk flowers or you could use grocery store mums.
Unroll a bit of the tape and stick it onto the bottom of the vase. Continue all the way around till the ends meet, and trim. Pull up the orange plastic to expose the other sticky side, and stick on the ribbon, match the ends and trim. So easy!
You could easily just make a bunch of ribbon stripes, but I thought a metallic touch would be nice, so I repeated the steps with this foil transfer in silver. Once you expose the sticky tape again, just apply the silver strips with the shiny side up. Rub the strip down with your finger and then pull up. You're left with a super-crisp silver stripe!
Cut a strip of black paper, notch one end and hole punch the other end. Write our your party guest's names and tie with ribbon or baker's twine. Add your Halloween flower and that's it!
These would make adorable place cards at an October dinner or cute little party favors. They're so easy to make and customize. Plus the tape is fully removable so you can switch it up later if you decide. I like these so much I think I'll keep a few around all year. I hope you like them, too!
P.S. Check out my DIY Gallery page to see lots of diys from Halloween's past!


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Talon BT 15′ Shallow Water Anchor – Black
When you find the right fishing spot time is critical. You can't wait to anchor, can't wait to cast, and can't be bothered to move until you get what you came for. That's why we designed every inch of Talon to hold you in place effortlessly and relentlessly – every time out.
- Multiple Control Options: Control Talon from anywhere on the boat using your choice of options: Control Panel, Wireless Remote, Foot Switch, i-Pilot or i-Pilot Link Remote, Mobile App or right from the Humminbird fish finder
- User-Selectable Anchoring Modes: Separate anchoring modes for Rough Water (heavy wind and chop), Soft Bottom (muddy or silted bottom), and standard (normal anchoring)
- Built-in Work Light: Illuminate the boat transom any time of day — or night. Includes two colors (white and blue) and each has three brightness intensity settings
- Talon Remote: Lets you control stow, deploy, anchoring modes, multiple Talon selection and work light; comes standard with one wireless remote
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Control Talon from your mobile device (iOS or Android) and easily update software
- Indestructible Anchoring Spike: Strong and flexible composite anchor spike backed with a lifetime guarantee
- Vertical Deployment: Keeps Talon out of the way of your fishing lines
- Wave Absorption: Built-in floating suspension keeps your boat anchored down even in rough water, enabling your boat to move up or down without affecting the anchor
- Auto Up/Down: Automatically deploy or retract your Talon with the push of a button; no need to hold the button down
- Pivoting Design: Talon includes a mounting bracket that allows for up and down adjustments to fit any transom, 30 degrees of pivoting and easy removal
- Deployment Notification Alarm: Alerts you when trying to take off while Talon is deployed
- Saltwater-Tough Engineering: Keeps Talon safe from the corrosive effects of saltwater


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Spiders are believed to have been in existence for more than 2 million years. Of the 40,000 known spider species, 3,400 can be found in North America.
Contrary to popular belief, spiders are not insects; they are actually arachnids, closely related to ticks and scorpions. Possessing the signature trait of eight legs and known to leave behind webs, spiders are notorious for spooking many homeowners.
What do spiders look like?
A spider's body consists of an abdomen, cephalothorax, eight six-jointed legs, and an exoskeleton. Most spiders have eight eyes which, along with the mouth, fangs, brain, stomach, and glands, are located in the cephalothorax. The spider's spinnerets, which produce silk used to create webs, are located at the back of the abdomen. Spiders don't have ears. Rather, their legs are covered with hairs that sense vibrations and smells.
Spiders vary in color and size depending on species. The body of the largest spider in the world, the Goliath bird-eating tarantula, can grow to one foot, though most spiders in the United States are 1/4" to 1" in length, with females usually larger than males.
After mating, female spiders create a sac filled with as many as a thousand eggs. These eggs hatch into spiderlings, which then grow into adults. Spiders shed and replace their exoskeleton multiple times – a process called molting – until they have reached full size. Female spiders in the United States typically live 1-3 years, while male spiders generally die within a few months.
What are the unique characteristics of spiders?
All spiders have the ability to spin silk which they use to create webs. Spider silk strands are made of protein and are considered to be the strongest natural fiber, able to withstand more stress proportionally than steel. However, not all spiders build webs. Some, including the Carolina wolf spider, live on or below ground.
What are the habits of spiders?
Spiders prey on insects, small animals, and other spiders; they generally do not eat plant materials. Many spiders rely on their webs to entrap their victims, while others are predatory, going out in search of their next meal. While spiders are not attracted to light, many of the insects they eat are, so spiders may be found near light sources.
Spiders are cold-blooded, which means they are comfortable in cooler weather and not inclined to seek warmth. In cold weather, they can become more dormant, but they can easily survive in below-freezing temperatures.
What are the risks of having a spider infestation?
Spiders can be found just about anywhere. They tend to like hidden areas that are quiet and close to food and water sources. Indoor spiders can be found in old boxes, closets, shelves, basements, storage areas, garages, and anywhere else there is clutter. Outdoor spiders often take up residence in piles of wood, under rocks and debris, and in vegetation and wooded areas.
What are the risks of spiders?
While spiders can be beneficial – eating insects and other pests – some species can also be harmful to people and animals. Spider fangs emit venom which, depending on the type of spider, can produce symptoms ranging from very mild to lethal. Possible symptoms of a spider bite include swelling, skin lesions or welts, rash, itching, blistering, and pain around the bite area. Spider bites can also trigger allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, muscle pain or cramping, nausea and vomiting, fever, sweating, and headaches. In rare cases, spider venom can also cause the tissue around the bite to die, paralyze the nervous system, or result in death.


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How to fix Mac OSX stuck/hanging on progress bar after login
Last night after I rebooted my 2013 Macbook Pro, I was completely unable to login to any user accounts, and even though the passwords were accepted and the login started, it would just sit (hang) at 100% progress, and wouldn't go any further. After trying a few recovery options, including the feature when you're "unable to enter password at login screen", that only resulted in the bootup hanging at the initial Apple logo progress bar at 100%. I ended up spending almost 4 hours trying to figure out the problem, and here's how I debugged it and was eventually able to resolve the issue.


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YC Nail; (YC Hardware Tool Co., Ltd.) has been dedicated to supplying the highest quality concrete nails, pipe clips and hardware products worldwide since 1981. Our own unique, Thumb Brand, is internationally recognized and respected for its unique quality and resistance to breakage.
We are proud to already supply many countries throughout the world directly from our production facilities exclusively located in Changhua County, Taiwan.
We are always interested in expanding our supply into new regions and welcome co-operation from companies willing to promote our products in areas where we do not currently service.


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Reusable Face Mask - Two Pack - Slate & Blossom
Fabrication: Main: 100% Woven Cotton, Lining: 100% Cotton Voile
Description: Our breathable natural cotton face masks are pre-washed and pre-shrunk. They have been individually treated with an antimicrobial finish, providing antibacterial protection. This finish is retained after multiple washes. Soft adjustable sliders for a perfect fit. Triple layered for S/M and L/XL and double layered for kids. Lining colour matches the outer. Reusable, washable, non-medical grade.
KIDS Length = 10CM x Width = 19CM
S/M Length = 12CM x Width = 21CM
L/XL Length = 14CM x Width = 25CM
Care Instructions: Machine wash separately 50 degrees celsius or greater. Use mild liquid detergents. Drip dry or tumble dry. Remove promptly. Dry flat in shade. Store in clean reusable bag.
Due to the personal nature of this product, unfortunately returns and exchanges cannot be accepted unless faulty. Please check your measurements prior to purchasing.


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Climate Risk Analysis is a small research company working on risk quantification and data analysis of extreme climate or weather events. CRA was founded in 2005 by Manfred Mudelsee, who still runs it.
We collaborate with international groups from industry and academia to generate better knowledge. We believe that more accurate and robust risk estimates are the basis for making better decisions in this world of climate change.
The methodical basis of our work comes from combining experience in environmental physics with expertise in computer age statistical inference.
CRA participates in research projects funded by the European Union or national agencies. CRA serves clients from the public, private and academic sectors. Finally, CRA teaches its methodical approach in courses.
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In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the iconic Jazz Chorus guitar amp series, Roland (Booth 924 at the Summer NAMM Show) is proud to present the all-new JC-40.
Compact and gig-ready, this 40-watt stereo amp features the famous "JC clean" tone and signature Dimensional Space Chorus effect respected by guitarists for decades.
The JC-40 also includes evolved features for modern players, including enhanced onboard effects and a front-panel stereo input for stereo pedals, multi-effects and amp modelers.
First introduced in 1975, the Jazz Chorus series has earned legendary status among pro players as the benchmark in clean guitar tone, and its sound can be heard on generations of popular recordings in every genre of music. The amp series is equally revered for its integrated stereo amplification system and Dimensional Space Chorus effect, which delivers unique dimension and depth that's unattainable with any other single amp.
With the JC-40, guitarists can enjoy this genuine, industry-standard tone in a scaled-down amplifier with innovative, modern refinements. Two independent power amps and custom-designed 10-inch speakers deliver punchy stereo sound that won't get buried in the band, while durable, road-tough construction ensures years of reliable operation on stage and in the studio.
The onboard effects in the JC-40 are all newly refreshed for enhanced performance. The Dimensional Space Chorus now offers selectable fixed or manual modes for increased tonal range, and renewed vibrato and reverb operate in stereo for rich, deep performance. There's built-in distortion as well, updated with a smooth, satisfying tone that's great for all types of music.
In addition to a normal mono input, the JC-40 features a true stereo input that allows players using stereo effects devices to achieve wide, inspiring sound without having to carry around two separate amps. The rich JC clean tone is a perfect palette for external stereo pedals like delays, reverbs, and various modulation effects. It's also ideal for advanced gear that employs amp modeling, multi-effects, and/or synth capabilities, such as the GT-100, GP-10, and ME-80 from BOSS and GR-55 guitar synth from Roland.
The JC-40's rear panel is outfitted with all types of connectivity. The effects loop works with mono or stereo devices, and offers selectable serial or parallel operation. Line Out jacks provide a convenient mono or stereo feed to a mixing board or recorder, while the headphones jack is great for quiet practice. Users can also connect optional footswitches to turn the JC-40's chorus/vibrato, reverb, and distortion effects on/off while performing.
To mark the occasion, a special anniversary page has also been created at rolandus.com.
To learn more about the JC-40 Jazz Chorus amplifier, visit rolandus.com.
For more Summer NAMM Show news, bookmark GuitarWorld.com's dedicated Summer NAMM 2015 page. And don't forget to follow GW on Twitter for more "live on the NAMM Show floor" coverage.


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Julie Posetti
Twitter's role in the Iranian election aftermath leaves no doubt about its power as a global, real time, citizen-journalism style news wire service, along with a tool for facilitating dissent, while countering the view of Twitter as simply a zone for egotistical banality. But it also highlighted Twitter's role as a platform and content generator for traditional media outlets, along with some of the key dilemmas being faced by professional journalists in the Twittersphere.
I've been researching the ways in which journalists and traditional media outlets are using Twitter and exploring the ethical dilemmas raised by the clash of the private and the public for journalists in the sphere via interviews with Australian, US and South African journalists. And, while I'm convinced Twitter is now a vital journalistic tool for both reporting events and breaking down barriers between legacy media and its audiences, there are still multiple questions around professional journalists' activities on Twitter that require thoughtful, open debate.
While many journalists recognise Twitter's power as a reporting tool, some news organisations are still reluctant to embrace it while others have issued rules restraining their writers' use of the service. In this third installment of my Mediashift series on the intersection of journalism and Twitter, I'll attempt to determine the rules of engagement for tweeting journalists.
Rules of Engagement
Some media outlets are making tweeting almost compulsory for their journalists but others are much more cautious, or even ban journalists from tweeting on the job. The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Bloomberg have all introduced conservative codes of conduct for social media, partly in response to problems resulting from the unique mix of personal and professional information on social media. These policies have been criticised for missing the point of social media - humanised interaction - and too rigidly regulating journalists' tweeting.
But in Australia, journo-tweeting is largely unregulated by media outlets. None of the 25 Australian journalists I interviewed for this study (from Fairfax, News Ltd, ABC, ACP, Sky News and a range of smaller outlets) was aware of such a policy in their workplace. According to some of the interviewees, management ignorance could account for the absence of such policies. When asked why he thought his Australian employer didn't have a policy like the WSJ, one journalist responded, "They just don't get it."
There's growing realisation among employers, however, that guidelines may be a helpful adjunct to corporate editorial policies in the brave new world of social media. There's evidence of a policy shift at the powerful Fairfax group, publisher of the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's The Age. Asher Moses (who was at the center of the tweeting controversy featured in part two of this series) indicated that, even though there was no official policy, the company had expectations that he could tweet either for professional or personal use but not both.
And the ABC is currently consulting staff as a precursor to publishing new guidelines.
"I think they're still feeling their way on social networking sites. It's a new world and they're trying to figure out exactly how to approach it," prominent ABC presenter Leigh Sales said.
But some employers are either so afraid of the platform or so disdainful about its journalistic potential that they've tried to bar their reporters from even accessing Twitter in the workplace. The Sydney Star Observer's (SSO) Harley Dennett says he's denied access to both his Facebook and Twitter accounts at work via web filters on office computers.
"The publishing editor said staff can make those contacts in their own time," he explained. "But I get around that by using the Tweetie desktop and iPhone applications. I do so openly and unashamedly."
Nevertheless, Dennett's newspaper happily prints copy generated by his extra-curricular tweeting.
"During news conferences I declare if a story originated from Twitter, but my editor has never verbally acknowledged that," he said. "I can't explain the resistance to popular social media and networking websites. Personally, I would welcome some guidance from my employer on Twitter use, if it made sense at least."
The SSO's policy is clearly a short-sighted and narrow-minded approach to managing the issues raised by journalists' interactions with social networking sites but it's not an isolated example.
Jonathan Ancer, from South Africa's Independent Newspapers group, which publishes Johannesburg's The Star along with other influential titles, plans to use Twitter to help trainee journalists to write with brevity and clarity, but he is also barred from Twitter at work.
"When I tried to log onto Twitter a few days ago, I was surprised to find myself blocked with a note saying my attempt to access porn had been recorded," he said. "I think media companies should open up access to Twitter, Facebook and other social networking platforms because this is where people -- readers, eyeballs, etc. - are going."
However, while individual journalists with the Independent group may have difficulty accessing Twitter, the company's online publication has a moderately active Twitter account. South Africa's media certainly need to make active use of Twitter ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup when they'll be seeking the world's eyeballs.
Australia's national parliament in Canberra where journalists have been granted permission to live-tweet parliamentary sessions.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the Speaker of the Federal Parliament recently approved live tweeting from the floor of the House of Representatives during Question Time via cell or PC. This breaks a decades-long ban on reporting from inside the House. This will likely both enliven political reporting and make it impossible for resistant journalists and media outlets Down Under to continue holding out.
As Twitter becomes entrenched in daily reporting practice, it would seem appropriate for media organisations to update existing editorial guidelines to make them relevant to social media platforms like Twitter. But if they want to bank on the significant benefits that can flow from their participation in the Twittersphere (such as developing new audiences and enhancing traffic to their websites), they will need to ensure their journalists have unfettered access to the site and also be flexible about interactions in the space to encourage reporters to engage in conversations with their followers.
So, for those journalists who tweet according to their own personal code, what principles guide them? For the ABC's Leigh Sales, it's a mix of gut instinct and rules derived from industry experience.
"If I have even the slightest hesitation about posting something, for example, a slightly off-colour witticism, I choose not to post it," she said. "I don't post gags about stories on which I may have to report seriously. I don't put any significant personal content on Twitter. I may occasionally say that I've been to a movie or express a like or dislike, but I don't engage in personal chit-chat...I view it as a professional tool."
Dave Earley from Brisbane's Courier Mail has changed his approach since Twitter began hitting the headlines.
"Until Twitter's recent media exposure, my Twitter account had remained relatively unknown in my workplace," he said. "Now that it's on the radar, I'm probably more conscious of what I say."
Early also chooses not to "tweet angry."
"I do try to make sure my tweets are never inflammatory, there's no point setting out to make enemies," he said.
For John Bergin of Sky News, it's a case of common sense and basic training.
"Our journalists receive legal training," he said. "Issues such as defamation, contempt of court, statutory restrictions and so forth should apply as much to the online world as they do in the offline. Obviously, anything that is private and confidential in a newsroom should remain so -- again, common sense and respect for the workplace and its people is paramount."
But Harley Dennett's approach is to tweet independently of his employer. This allows him to publicly criticise his paper and its policies if he desires - an act which he believes demonstrates transparency and buys him credibility with his followers.
"Increasingly, I'm confident the best model is for the journo to have a direct relationship with their Twitter followers independent of the media outlet that employs him or her," he said. "The spectre of a big media outlet appearing to control what a journo says online would also really hamper that personal quality that Twitter can bring out of a conversation."
Lessons from Iran - The Green Wave protest in Tehran.
What information on Twitter is fair game for a journalist to report? There needs to be further discussion between media professionals, their employers, journalism academics and social media experts to help navigate this complex territory. But my preliminary views go like this: Although social media etiquette may not recognize a journalist's right to report any material published openly, the reality is that open Twitter accounts are a matter of permanent public record and fair game for journalists. While attribution is vital and it might be polite (but not necessary) to seek the approval of a Twitterer to quote them, I don't see anything unethical about using tweets in mainstream news coverage. However, the locked Twitter account is a more delicate matter. I'd suggest that a locked account amounts to an "off the record" comment which requires permission from the tweeter before re-publishing.
And does re-tweeting (or RT) - re-publishing someone else's tweet - equate to giving their tweets your professional stamp of approval if you tweet openly as a practicing journalist? If you are passing on information to your "followers," do you have an obligation to first establish the information's authenticity or acknowledge it as "unconfirmed" - an obligation many journalists would feel if they were doing the same for a newspaper or broadcaster?
When I raised concerns this week about the practice of tweeters who openly identify as professional journalists re-tweeting without verification, in the context of the indiscriminate dissemination of tweets claiming to emanate from Iran, I found myself engaged in a lively discussion on Twitter. I asserted that when Patrick LaForge, an editor at the New York Times, re-tweeted (without acknowledgement of verification or absence thereof) a list of Iranian tweeters sourced from expert blogger Dave Winer (who had, in turn, passed on the list without verifying its contents) it amounted to an approval of that list, LaForge disagreed. NYU's Jay Rosen then reminded me not to expect open systems like Twitter to behave in the same manner expected of editorial systems.
Pat LaForge's Twitter page disclaimer.
But while I agree with Rosen, my concern wasn't directed at the unmediated Twittersphere. Rather it was directed at the way journalists approach this flood of information. I'm of the view that professional journalists will be judged more harshly by society if they RT content which later proves to be false - particularly in the context of a crisis. This goes to their professional credibility and their employer's.
Therefore, while I wouldn't for a minute suggest journalists step back from reporting on social media contributions flowing from zones like Iran, nor from repeating tweets purporting to represent witness accounts - clearly these are valid contemporary storytelling devices - I do think they need to critically assess information to the best of their capacity before republishing it and, if there's no way to do so, flag this with "unconfirmed" or some other abbreviated signal that the information has not been substantiated by the journalist.
In many international settings, there are legal as well as ethical imperatives to consider here. If you inadvertently RT a defamatory tweet in Australia, for example, arguing "I was just passing on a link," would not be a defense against a defamation action.
Writing in The Atlantic, Marc Ambinder advises readers to treat the flood of information from Iran like a CIA analyst would - sifting it and weighing it up. I think that's sage advice for professional journalists operating on Twitter, too. The ABC provided a good example of an appropriate approach to this problem in their online amalgamation of the social media coverage of Iran by simply acknowledging that some of the content was unable to be substantiated. (These issues will be a theme at the #media140 conference to be held in Sydney later this year.)
Top 20 Take Away Tips for Tweeting Journos
1) Think before you tweet - you can't delete an indiscreet tweet! (Well, you can, but it will survive in Twitter search for three months and it's likely live on as cached copy somewhere.)
2) Think carefully about what you're re-tweeting and acknowledge if it's unsubstantiated.
3) Be an active twit: tweet daily if you want your followers to stick.
4) Determine your Twitter identity.
5) Be human; be honest; be open; be active.
6) Don't lock your account if you want to use Twitter for reporting purposes - this fosters distrust.
7) Twitter is a community, not just a one-way conversation or broadcast channel - actively engage.
8) Check if your employer has a social media policy.
9) Be cautious when tweeting about your employer/workplace/colleagues.
10) Be a judicious follower - don't be stingy but avoid following everyone as your list grows to avoid tweet bombardment.
11) If you quote a tweet, attribute it.
12) Expect your competitors to steal your leads if you tweet about them.
13) Don't tweet while angry or drunk.
14) Avoid racist, sexist, bigoted and otherwise offensive tweets and never abuse a follower.
15) Scrutinize crowdsourced stories closely.
16) Find people to follow. Foster followers by pilfering the lists of other twits.
17) Twitter is a 'time vampire' (via @anne_brand) - you don't need to keep track of all tweets, so dip in and out through the day.
18) Prevent information overload by using an application such as Tweetdeck.
19) Add applications to your Internet-enabled mobile device to allow live-tweeting on the road.
20) Add value to your tweets with links, Twitpic and other applications for audio and video.
* Julie Posetti is an award winning journalist and journalism academic who lectures in radio and television reporting at the University of Canberra, Australia. She's been a national political correspondent, a regional news editor, a Tv documentary reporter and presenter on radio and television with the Australian national broadcaster, the ABC.


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Buyout Package Bingo: A Reason to Choose More Work for Same Pay?
An example of irrationality? A colleague at another university was offered a buy-out package: a full year's pay if he would resign/retire at the end of the current semester. At the same time, his school also offered a phased retirement deal: two years at half-pay, with half a usual teaching load.
This economist chose to take the phased retirement, thus choosing the same pay, but teaching four courses over two years instead of no teaching. I think he's crazy; but I think you can write down a utility function that is consistent with his behavior and violates none of our assumptions about preferences.


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text: Tacoma Dentist | Periodontal Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis Dentist in Tacoma WA Periodontal disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) share a complex relationship with one another. Both of these chronic conditions cause increased inflammation in the body. Both can lead to serious damage, especially if a patient does not seek prompt, effective treatment. However, the connection between these potentially destructive illnesses does not end with similarity of symptoms. If you have either periodontal disease or RA, you may benefit from learning more about the links between the two. Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gum tissue in the mouth. Patients with periodontal disease most often experience swelling, redness, sensitivity, and/or painful, bleeding gums. They will develop pockets where the gums begin to pull away from the teeth. These pockets are more difficult to properly clean, so are more prone to infection and bacteria that cause tooth decay. If not treated regularly, periodontal disease will worsen over time and can lead to tooth and bone loss. RA is a chronic autoimmune disease where the protective immune response is triggered when no harmful viruses or bacteria are present. With no pathogens to attack, the white blood cells instead attack the joints, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and eventually deterioration of the joints. Since RA often affects the small joints of the hands and wrists, many patients have difficulty maintaining proper brushing and flossing habits. With less effective dental hygiene, patients with RA are at increased risk of developing, or worsening, periodontal disease. Moreover, in a recent study, scientists looked at the effects of the bacterium porphyromonas gingivalis, which causes periodontal disease. They found that this bacterium can lead to earlier onset, more rapid progression of symptoms, and increased severity of RA. Fortunately, it was also discovered that successful treatment for periodontal disease can reduce RA pain and other symptoms. If you have RA and are having difficulty maintaining your oral hygiene due to stiff, painful joints, consider these simple ideas: Add a tennis ball or bicycle handlebar grip to make your toothbrush easier to hold. Try replacing ordinary string floss with a water flosser that may be easier to hold and manipulate. Use a pump-style toothpaste dispenser to avoid the need to squeeze and roll a small tube. Have professional cleanings at least 2-3 times each year. Schedule a periodontal screening annually. Ask your dental hygienist for more ideas on making your daily regimen work for you. For more information regarding periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis, contact our office to schedule a consultation.


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12x Internal BD/DVD/CD Burner. Cyberlink® software included. SATA Interface.
- Up to 12x writing speed on BD-R & BD-R DL media
- Write up to 50Gbytes on one BD-R DL disc
- Includes Cyberlink Playback, Authoring, and Burning Software
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Pioneer introduces the next generation Blu-ray optical drive, the BDR-2206. The BDR-2206 retail model includes the BDR-206UBK Internal BD/DVD/CD Writer and a full suite of Blu-ray Disc™ software for a PC.
Beginners and experts alike will find that the included software from Cyberlink makes it easy to create high-definition Blu-ray Disc videos and standard definition DVDs, watch Blu-ray Disc and DVD movies on a PC, and archive or share data on Blu-ray, DVD, or CD media.
This drive will write up to 12x1 on BD-R and BD-R DL media. One BD-R DL disc will hold the same amount of data as 10 DVDs (single layer).
The BDR-2206 also has unique features such as Quiet Drive and PureRead. Quiet Drive intelligently adjusts the disc rotation speed to reduce noise (useful while watching movies), and PureRead automatically adjusts the drive parameters to minimize sound glitches during music playback.
The BDR-2206 Internal BD/DVD/CD Writer can read and burn to Blu-ray Discs but is also backward compatible to read and write to most DVD and CD recordable media. Click on the "Specifications" tab to see all supported media formats and the write/burn speeds achievable for each format.
Drive Features
Faster burning First in the industry to realize 12x writing on BD-R discs, Pioneer can also now achieve 12x writing on BD-R Dual Layer (DL) discs. |
A quieter drive With a new redesigned disc tray structure, the airflow in our drives is smoothed and operational noise reduced. Enhancements such as tunnel-like air intakes and ducts, plus a new smoother interior to the drive suppress noise and provide a quieter experience. |
A smarter drive Pioneer drives with Auto Quiet Operation monitor how they are being used and will adjust their speed automatically – high speed for data transfer, and low speed for music or movie playback. |
An eco-friendly drive Smaller packaging - saves resources and fuel for transportation. |
Music that doesn't skip or pop Scratches and fingerprints on your CDs can cause them to skip. A drive normally makes an calculated guess at the unreadable data and attempts to correct this to match the original music. However this is not 100% accurate. PureRead, when enabled, makes the drive reread the questionable data to extract the original music as accurately as possible. |
Increased life excpectancy The sound barrier design that traps noise inside the drive also works to keep dust outside the drive. This makes the newly developed drive much more dust resistant than previous models and drive failure due to dust is practically nonexistent. |
Wide blank media support Pioneer strives to have best in class performance over a wide range of media – our drives achieve this for a large variety of BD and DVD media. Refer to the drive's media support list for all supported media and the write speed that can be achieved. |
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Write Support
Read Support
Write Speed
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Other Specifications
- 4 Mbyte
- Horizontally or Vertically
- Serial-ATA (SATA)
- 5.83 (W) x 7.09 (D) x 1.67 (H)
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WARNING - Improper flashing of firmware may result in an inoperable drive. Never remove power to the drive in the middle of updating its firmware. Ensure no disc/media is present in the drive when updating firmware.
DISCLAIMER: The firmware (FW) utilities listed here can cause permanent damage to your device if applied to an incorrect model. Before downloading any firmware updates, verify you are downloading the correct firmware. In no event will Pioneer® Electronics (USA), Inc. be liable for any damages of any kind relating to the firmware Utilities downloadable through this site, including but not limited to, compensatory damages, lost profits, lost data or any from of special, incidental, indirect, consequential or punitive damages of any kind whether based on breach of contract or warranty, negligence, product liability or any other theory of liability. Pioneer Electronics (USA), Inc. disclaims implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
112x BD-R and BD-R DL write speed achieved using certain media.
Pioneer and the Pioneer logo are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.
Intel and Core are trademarks Intel Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
AMD and Radeon are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
BLU-RAY DISC and the Blu-ray Disc logo are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
Cyberlink, Cyberlink PowerDVD, Cyberlink PowerDirector, and Cyberlink Power2Go are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cyberlink Corporation.
SERIAL ATA and its Design Mark are trademarks of Serial ATA International Organization.
Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
NVIDIA and GeForce are registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation.


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Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found hanged by a bed sheet in his jail cell early Wednesday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.
Hernandez, 27, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to a statement released by the DOC.
The statement:
"On April 19, 2017 Aaron Hernandez was discovered hanging in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley Massachusetts at approximately 3:05 a.m., lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez and he was transported to UMASS Leominster where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. by a physician at the hospital. Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing. Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items. The Massachusetts State Police are on scene and the investigation continues. Mr. Hernandez's next of kin have been notified."
Hernandez was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.
Last Friday, Hernandez was found not guilty for the double murder of two men on a Boston street in 2012.
Hernandez was at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass, at the time of his death. He was found guilty in April 2015 of first-degree murder in the death of Lloyd two years prior. Lloyd, a former friend who dated the sister of Hernandez's longtime fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, was shot several times by the same kind of gun security footage showed Hernandez possessed.
Investigators began to probe the deaths of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado after Hernandez was charged in the Lloyd case. Abreu and Furtado were killed a vehicle after leaving a Boston nightclub in July 2012, weeks before Hernandez reported to Patriots camp ahead of his third and final season with the Patriots.
Hernandez, prosecutors claimed at the trial, became upset after Abreu and Furtado after they bumped into Hernandez at the nightclub. A jury, however, found Hernandez not guilty on murder charge Friday after six days of deliberations. Hernandez was convicted of an unlawful gun possession charge.
After the verdicts were read, Hernandez turned to Jenkins and mouthed, "I love you."
"I am very, very happy" Jenkins told reporters as she exited court.
Hernandez, who grew up in Bristol, Conn, played with the Patriots from 2010-2012.
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mbuf_tags(9) [plan9 man page]
MBUF_TAGS(9) BSD Kernel Developer's Manual MBUF_TAGS(9) NAME
mbuf_tags -- a framework for generic packet attributes SYNOPSIS
#include <sys/mbuf.h> struct m_tag * m_tag_alloc(u_int32_t cookie, int type, int len, int wait); struct m_tag * m_tag_copy(struct m_tag *t, int how); int m_tag_copy_chain(struct mbuf *to, struct mbuf *from, int how); void m_tag_delete(struct mbuf *m, struct m_tag *t); void m_tag_delete_chain(struct mbuf *m, struct m_tag *t); void m_tag_delete_nonpersistent(struct mbuf *m); struct m_tag * m_tag_find(struct mbuf *m, int type, struct m_tag *start); struct m_tag * m_tag_first(struct mbuf *m); void m_tag_free(struct m_tag *t); struct m_tag * m_tag_get(int type, int len, int wait); void m_tag_init(struct mbuf *m); struct m_tag * m_tag_locate(struct mbuf *m, u_int32_t cookie, int type, struct m_tag *t); struct m_tag * m_tag_next(struct mbuf *m, struct m_tag *t); void m_tag_prepend(struct mbuf *m, struct m_tag *t); void m_tag_unlink(struct mbuf *m, struct m_tag *t); DESCRIPTION
Mbuf tags allow additional meta-data to be associated with in-flight packets by providing a mechanism for the tagging of additional kernel memory onto packet header mbufs. Tags are maintained in chains off of the mbuf(9) header, and maintained using a series of API calls to allocate, search, and delete tags. Tags are identified using an ID and cookie that uniquely identify a class of data tagged onto the packet, and may contain an arbitrary amount of additional storage. Typical uses of mbuf tags include Mandatory Access Control (MAC) labels as described in mac(9), IPsec policy information as described in ipsec(4), and packet filter tags used by pf(4). Tags will be maintained across a variety of operations, including the copying of packet headers using facilities such as M_COPY_PKTHDR() and M_MOVE_PKTHDR(). Any tags associated with an mbuf header will be automatically freed when the mbuf is freed, although some subsystems will wish to delete the tags prior to that time. Packet tags are used by different kernel APIs to keep track of operations done or scheduled to happen to packets. Each packet tag can be distinguished by its type and cookie. The cookie is used to identify a specific module or API. The packet tags are attached to mbuf packet headers. The first sizeof(struct m_tag) bytes of a tag contain a struct m_tag: struct m_tag { SLIST_ENTRY(m_tag) m_tag_link; /* List of packet tags */ u_int16_t m_tag_id; /* Tag ID */ u_int16_t m_tag_len; /* Length of data */ u_int32_t m_tag_cookie; /* ABI/Module ID */ void (*m_tag_free)(struct m_tag *); }; The m_tag_link field is used to link tags together (see queue(3) for more details). The m_tag_id, m_tag_len and m_tag_cookie fields are set to type, length, and cookie, respectively. m_tag_free points to m_tag_free_default(). Following this structure are m_tag_len bytes of space that can be used to store tag-specific information. Addressing this data region may be tricky. A safe way is embedding struct m_tag into a private data structure, as follows: struct foo { struct m_tag tag; ... }; struct foo *p = (struct foo *)m_tag_alloc(...); struct m_tag *mtag = &p->tag; Note that OpenBSD does not support cookies, it needs m_tag_id to be globally unique. To keep compatibility with OpenBSD, a cookie MTAG_ABI_COMPAT is provided along with some compatibility functions. When writing an OpenBSD compatible code, one should be careful not to take already used tag type. Tag types are defined in <sys/mbuf.h>. Packet Tag Manipulation Functions m_tag_alloc(cookie, type, len, wait) Allocate a new tag of type type and cookie cookie with len bytes of space following the tag header itself. The wait argument is passed directly to malloc(9). If successful, m_tag_alloc() returns a memory buffer of (len + sizeof(struct m_tag)) bytes. Otherwise, NULL is returned. A compatibility function m_tag_get() is also provided. m_tag_copy(tag, how) Allocate a copy of tag. The how argument is passed directly to m_tag_alloc(). The return values are the same as in m_tag_alloc(). m_tag_copy_chain(tombuf, frommbuf, how) Allocate and copy all tags from mbuf frommbuf to mbuf tombuf. Returns 1 on success, and 0 on failure. In the latter case, mbuf tombuf loses all its tags, even previously present. m_tag_delete(mbuf, tag) Remove tag from mbuf's list and free it. m_tag_delete_chain(mbuf, tag) Remove and free a packet tag chain, starting from tag. If tag is NULL, all tags are deleted. m_tag_delete_nonpersistent(mbuf) Traverse mbuf's tags and delete those which do not have the MTAG_PERSISTENT flag set. m_tag_first(mbuf) Return the first tag associated with mbuf. m_tag_free(tag) Free tag using its m_tag_free method. The m_tag_free_default() function is used by default. m_tag_init(mbuf) Initialize the tag storage for packet mbuf. m_tag_locate(mbuf, cookie, type, tag) Search for a tag defined by type and cookie in mbuf, starting from position specified by tag. If the latter is NULL, then search through the whole list. Upon success, a pointer to the first found tag is returned. In either case, NULL is returned. A compatibil- ity function m_tag_find() is also provided. m_tag_next(mbuf, tag) Return tag next to tag in mbuf. If absent, NULL is returned. m_tag_prepend(mbuf, tag) Add the new tag tag at the head of the tag list for packet mbuf. m_tag_unlink(mbuf, tag) Remove tag tag from the list of tags of packet mbuf. CODE REFERENCES
The tag-manipulating code is contained in the file sys/kern/uipc_mbuf2.c. Inlined functions are defined in <sys/mbuf.h>. SEE ALSO
queue(3), mbuf(9) HISTORY
The packet tags first appeared in OpenBSD 2.9 and were written by Angelos D. Keromytis <email@example.com>. BSD
January 12, 2008 BSD


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Call it the great pandemic sit-down.
As COVID-19 turned daily commutes into shuffles between rooms at home, and Netflix replaced time spent at the gym or playing sports, Americans have been sitting a lot more. Now a new study suggests it may be putting their mental health at risk.
"We knew COVID was going to affect our behavior and what we could do in lots of weird, funky ways that we couldn't predict," said study co-author Jacob Meyer of Iowa State University. He led a pair of studies to find out how inactivity during the pandemic has affected the way people think, feel and see the world.
Both are based on surveys of more than 3,000 people nationwide.
The first revealed that respondents who had gotten the recommended 2.5 to 5 hours a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity before the pandemic had an average 32% decline in activity right after COVID-related restrictions took effect.
Those people reported feeling more depressed, anxious and lonely, according to findings published last year in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
For the new follow-up study, the same participants filled out weekly surveys between April and June 2020. Typically, folks saw their mental health improve over that time.
"People adjusted to life in the pandemic," said Meyer, an assistant professor of kinesiology and director of the Wellbeing and Exercise Laboratory. "But for people whose sitting times stayed high, their depressive symptoms, on average, didn't recover in the same way as everyone else's."
The new study was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.
"We know when people's physical activity and screen time changes, that's related to their mental health in general, but we haven't really seen large population data like this in response to an abrupt change before," Meyer said in an Iowa State news release.
He noted that a link between sitting and mental health does not prove that sitting causes depression. It's possible that people who were more depressed sat more or that people who sat more became more depressed, Meyer said. Or, other factors could be at play.
"It's certainly worthy of more investigation," he said. "I think being aware of some of the subtle changes we've made during the pandemic and how they might be beneficial or detrimental is really important as we look to the other side of pandemic life."
In the meantime, it's important to break up long periods of sitting by getting up and moving.
"If you're no longer walking down the hall for in-person meetings, you can still incorporate that break from sitting by taking a short walk before and after your Zoom call," Meyer said.
If you're working at home, walk around the block before and after the workday to mimic your commute, he suggested.
More information
Yale Medicine has more on the health risks of too much sitting.
SOURCE: Iowa State University, news release, Nov. 8, 2021


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It is possible to combine licences (e.g. 5 users + 10 users).
The licence gives access to the ICLEv3 web interface and the ICLEv3 handbook published by Louvain University Press. For more information on the corpus and the interface, visit the ICLEv3 trial interface: https://corpora.uclouvain.be/
Once your order has been validated, you will receive at the email address you have indicated as many links as there are user accounts. Thanks to these links, you will be able to create a login and a password for each user account. Note that the password for each account can only be changed by the person whose email address has been provided.
Since the release of the first and second editions in 2002 and 2009 respectively, the International Corpus of Learner English (ICLE) has been used in a wide range of research projects internationally, served as the basis for many MA and PhD theses and generally played a key role in promoting the field of learner corpus research. Lire la suite
The first version of the corpus contained 2.5 million words produced by learners from 11 mother tongue backgrounds. The second version was larger in terms of both words (3.7 million) and language backgrounds (16). The current version differs from the previous ones in two major ways. Firstly, it is even larger than the previous versions, as it includes data from 25 mother tongue backgrounds, amounting to over 5.5 million words. In addition, unlike the preceding versions – which were both distributed on CD-ROMs – ICLEv3 is hosted on a brand new web-based interface. This allows not only for easier and more flexible access but also for the regular inclusion of new subcorpora as they are completed, thereby highlighting the fundamentally dynamic nature of the ICLE project. Based on the abundant feedback that we have received over the years from scholars using the corpus, the functionalities that were already available in the previous versions of the ICLE have been enhanced significantly. The enhancement of the concordance tool and the corpus download facilities, for instance, is intended to answer the growing concern for the study of internal variability and individual differences in learner data.


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25 Oct
Are you a camp director or Sunday School teacher looking for a craft idea for kid enrichment? Maybe you feel like you are just not the creative type, and you struggle with coming up with craft projects. It is true that some people just have a knack for finding or even inventing craft ideas, but your creativity can be improved. There are ways to make it easier to find a craft idea for kid needs.
First, lay aside any perfectionism. Locking yourself into thinking there is only one right way to do something makes every decision harder. Regardless of the kid program you are helping with, there are always many suitable craft ideas out there. Don't worry about picking the wrong one! If you've taken into consideration the age and skill levels of the kids involved, your choice will be adequate.
Next, consider your budget. When choosing a craft idea for kid programs, you need to be aware that some of them are expensive. Prepackaged kits to make a fun foam picture frame or a craft stick cross are affordable for a few kids, but if you are needing to do a craft with a lot of kids, these kits might cost too much. It's often easy to do almost exactly the same project by just looking at the craft kit components and buying the same materials in bulk at the discount store. You may have to do some preparation, like cutting out shapes ahead of time, or at least making cardboard patterns for the kids to use in cutting out their own. The savings will be worth it, however.
Another consideration is this: in spite of years of indoctrination from women's libbers, the fact remains that boys and girls like different sorts of crafts! If the craft seems a little girly, don't use it at boys' camp. Stick with lace-up leather billfolds, Indian artifacts, dinosaur art, and similar projects. Girls will like beads and anything that's pink or purple. For a craft idea for kid camp where there are kids of both sexes, keep it on the boyish side and provide some pink materials to keep the girls happy.
An aspect of creativity that the non-creative types don't realize is that ideas spring from other ideas. That is, if you look over a book or website of craft ideas, maybe none of them will appeal to you, but if you let them, they will spark an idea for a similar project. Use what you can and change what you must in the craft directions. For instance, the craft may have a slogan to be written across the front. If you need to change the slogan to fit your own needs, it's perfectly OK. For instance, the pictured project might say "Girls rock!" You can change that to "He is the Rock!" if that meets your VBS needs better.
A final suggestion is to realize that you don't have to change the instructions or create something new to have a good craft idea for kid use. Feel free to follow the instructions to the letter if that works better for you. The kids will have a great time either way. Just pick a craft idea, for kid creativity beats adult creativity everytime! The kids will make it creative, even if you have doubts about your own ability in this area.
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Clovis News Journal (Freedom Communications, NM), March 5, 2009
Are you someone who values freedom above all else, including health, safety and welfare? If so, New Mexico has a ways to go to reach the top tier of states.
A new study released by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the first comprehensive ranking of "economic and personal freedom in the American states," ranks New Mexico as the 36th best state in which to live.
New Hampshire is No. 1. It goes by the state motto "Live Free or Die" and is home to the Free State Project in which 20,000 people have committed to moving to fight for low taxes and minimal regulation.
The study found the least free state in which to live is New York.
Other findings show:
- New Mexico fares well when it comes to individual freedoms — third behind only Alaska and Maine — because, among other things, gun control is light, private school regulation is light, and only 12 percent of arrests are for victimless crimes.
- But only seven states have less economic freedom. "New Mexico is the laggard of the Mountain West. Spending and taxes are high, and a quarter of the state's workforce is on state or local government payrolls (federal workers add even more to that percentage)."
Our neighbors in Texas fared much better — fifth overall in the freedom ranking; seventh in economic freedom and fifth in personal freedom.
A 2008 study by the Pacific Research Institute, based in San Francisco, found — surprise! — that states with high economic freedom are growing substantially faster than economically oppressed states.
Of course people flee oppression and seek freedom. They have done so throughout time.
Slick politicians can fool the masses, offering government gifts in a cloak of freedom, but ultimately the human soul yearns to be free from undue taxation and control.
Genuine freedom is priceless. It's something money cannot buy.
Our governments can budget millions of taxpayer dollars for "economic development," paying businesses to set up shop in town. But stealing from some citizens and giving that money to others is not freedom.
We should strive to be known as the state where one can move with a business or idea and be left alone to thrive. That would enable us to attract the can-do, confident companies and entrepreneurs that value opportunity more than handouts and strings from cities and states.
Freedom isn't something government gives us. It's something we may take when government gets out of the way.


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Ocean Group includes De Van Automotive, Grevan Cars Ltd, Ocean BMW Plymouth, Ocean MINI Plymouth, Ocean Motorrad Plymouth, Ocean BMW Falmouth, Ocean MINI Falmouth, Ocean Motorrad Falmouth, Ocean BMW Torbay, Ocean MINI Torbay and Ocean Bodyshop.
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As you would expect, we collect information about you when you register on our websites or place an order for cars, bikes, products or services. We also collect information when you voluntarily complete customer surveys, provide feedback and participate in competitions. Website usage information is collected using cookies.
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We collect this information about you to process your order, manage your account and, if you agree, to keep in touch with you about other products and services we think might be useful to you or that you might find interesting.
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With your agreement, we shall continue to pass on your personal information, solely, within the Ocean Group to enable us to offer you additional and tailor-made services.
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Is the National Security Agency collecting cellphone tracking information on millions of Americans?
After a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, we still can't be sure. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has been trying to get intelligence officials to confirm or deny the existence or nonexistence of such a program.
Remember, records of where your cellphone is located give a pretty good idea of where the owners are. Wyden asked NSA Director Keith Alexander about that at Thursday's hearing, and Alexander said, no — not under "the current program."
That would be the effort authorized under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, under which the NSA collects records of nearly all the phone traffic in the United States. Wyden pushed hard: Has the NSA ever planned to or ever actually collected those records, perhaps under another legal authority? Alexander would not say yes, or no.
This dance is significant because earlier this year, Sen. Wyden played the same game with National Intelligence Director James Clapper, asking him whether the government collects data on all Americans.
Clapper said no — then leaks from former contractor Edward Snowden proved him wrong, and Clapper later apologized. But at the time, Wyden could not say what he clearly knew, that the collection effort included domestic calls, because the program was — and still is — classified.
So once again, many have speculated, Wyden may know the NSA is collecting cellphone tracking data, but can't talk about it. So he's hoping to push intelligence officials to spill the beans themselves.
So far, court rulings support the idea that the government can collect such information without a search warrant. The Supreme Court said a warrant was required for one case — but then, police had attached an actual GPS tracking device to a target's car.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Republicans Often Trash Property Rights As Well
It appears that Arizonans are all for property rights until a Goodwill store tries to open in their neighborhood. And then not so much. A group led in part by my former Republican Congressman John Shaddegg believes that their "right" to determine how other people's property is used were trampled by allowing a local strip mall to rent a large vacant store space to a legitimate business.
Basically, these residents live in a small prosperous neighborhood called Moon Valley surrounded by less prosperous areas. There are apparently not enough residents in this neighborhood to support the upscale commercial boutiques they would like to see, so their preference is that this poor landlord leave his property vacant rather than rent it to a business that might cause these folks to encounter a poor person on the street. I am sure these folks would say they have no problems with poor (likely mostly Hispanic) folks per se, but not in their neighborhood! (By the way, in this town we have the nicest Goodwill stores I have ever seen -- my daughter loves to shop for funky stuff there).
I don't think I am being too hard on them. Here is one letter to the Mayor's office from a resident:
What does this mean? Quite simply, we now have a mega store/WAREHOUSE in Moon Valley. Goodwill has closed all the surrounding stores to create a "funnel" effect whereby all the surrounding neighborhoods will flock to Moon Valley for a deal. And, they are now free to import as many goods as they like from anywhere they choose to fill up their new mega store and bring loyal Goodwill shoppers to Moon Valley by the droves.
I sat in the parking lot of the Shaw Butte Plaza today and was so saddened. I thought, "We are such a wonderful, unique, special neighborhood, why would you do this to us? Was furthering your political career worth it?" Because, make no mistake, you have sold us out.
I guess all that brown skin walking around is going to destroy her little bit of specialness. Tough.
We have the same thing going on in our neighborhood. The country club on whose golf course many of the houses in my area are located was recently revamped. It was redesigned into a links-style course that is very unusual in the Phoenix market. I actually thought this was a pretty smart move -- when there are something like 200 golf courses in the area, it makes sense to try to be unique.
Well, most everyone in the neighborhood thinks it is ugly -- I don't live on the course but I actually kind of like it. But the sort of shaggy, wild look they adopted for it is not at all what Arizonans are used to. I will confess they did some things that seem crazy to me, like removing all the trees, but my general reaction has been, well, its their land. My neighbors do not share my insouciance however, and have freaked, writing letters and threatening lawsuits. Everyone wants property rights for themselves but veto power over what all their neighbors do with their property.
Disclosure: I grew up in Houston, so zoning is foreign to me.


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Court Role and Structure
Federal courts hear cases involving the constitutionality of a law, cases involving the laws and treaties of the U.S. ambassadors and public ministers, disputes between two or more states, admiralty law, also known as maritime law, and bankruptcy cases.
The federal judiciary operates separately from the executive and legislative branches, but often works with them as the Constitution requires. Federal laws are passed by Congress and signed by the President. The judicial branch decides the constitutionality of federal laws and resolves other disputes about federal laws. However, judges depend on our government's executive branch to enforce court decisions.
Courts decide what really happened and what should be done about it. They decide whether a person committed a crime and what the punishment should be. They also provide a peaceful way to decide private disputes that people can't resolve themselves. Depending on the dispute or crime, some cases end up in the federal courts and some end up in state courts. Learn more about the different types of federal courts.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Article III of the U.S. Constitution created the Supreme Court and authorized Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. In the federal court system's present form, 94 district level trial courts and 13 courts of appeals sit below the Supreme Court. Learn more about the Supreme Court.
Courts of Appeals
There are 13 appellate courts that sit below the U.S. Supreme Court, and they are called the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a court of appeals. The appellate court's task is to determine whether or not the law was applied correctly in the trial court. Appeals courts consist of three judges and do not use a jury.
A court of appeals hears challenges to district court decisions from courts located within its circuit, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies.
In addition, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals in specialized cases, such as those involving patent laws, and cases decided by the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Learn more about the courts of appeals.
Bankruptcy Appellate Panels
Bankruptcy Appellate Panels (BAPs) are 3-judge panels authorized to hear appeals of bankruptcy court decisions. These panels are a unit of the federal courts of appeals, and must be established by that circuit.
Five circuits have established panels: First Circuit, Sixth Circuit, Eighth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, and Tenth Circuit.
District Courts
The nation's 94 district or trial courts are called U.S. District Courts. District courts resolve disputes by determining the facts and applying legal principles to decide who is right.
Trial courts include the district judge who tries the case and a jury that decides the case. Magistrate judges assist district judges in preparing cases for trial. They may also conduct trials in misdemeanor cases.
There is at least one district court in each state, and the District of Columbia. Each district includes a U.S. bankruptcy court as a unit of the district court. Four territories of the United States have U.S. district courts that hear federal cases, including bankruptcy cases: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
There are also two special trial courts. The Court of International Trade addresses cases involving international trade and customs laws. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims deals with most claims for money damages against the U.S. government.
Bankruptcy Courts
Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases involving personal, business, or farm bankruptcy. This means a bankruptcy case cannot be filed in state court. Through the bankruptcy process, individuals or businesses that can no longer pay their creditors may either seek a court-supervised liquidation of their assets, or they may reorganize their financial affairs and work out a plan to pay their debts.
Article I Courts
Congress created several Article I, or legislative courts, that do not have full judicial power. Judicial power is the authority to be the final decider in all questions of Constitutional law, all questions of federal law and to hear claims at the core of habeas corpus issues. Article I Courts are: