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Stephen Jay Gould is mad as hell, and he's not going to take it any more. Readers of the New York Review of Books learned that much in June 1997, when they read a lengthy, two-part tirade in which Gould attempted to settle scores with some of his more prominent enemies within the guild of Darwinists. The targets were Daniel Dennett, John Maynard Smith, Robert Wright, and especially, although largely in the background, Richard Dawkins. One cannot understand the controversy without sampling the level of vitriol, which may be judged by this salvo from Gould:
[Dennett's] limited and superficial book reads like a caricature of a caricature-for if Richard Dawkins has trivialized Darwin's richness by adhering to the strictest form of adaptationist argument in a maximally reductionist mode, then Dennett, as Dawkins' publicist, manages to convert an already vitiated and improbable account into an even more simplistic and uncompromising doctrine. If history, as often noted, replays grandeurs as farces, and if T. H. Huxley truly acted as "Darwin's bulldog," then it is hard to resist thinking of Dennett, in this book, as "Dawkins' lapdog."
After going on in that vein for some pages, Gould responded with hurt feelings to Maynard Smith's published comment that "the evolutionary biologists with whom I have discussed [Gould's] work tend to see him as a man whose ideas are so confused as to be hardly worth bothering with, but as one who should not be publicly criticized because he is at least on our side against the creationists." To this Gould lamented that Maynard Smith used to say much nicer things about him and warned that "We will not win this most important of all battles [against the creationists] if we descend to the same tactics of backbiting and anathematization that characterize our true opponents." Tell that to Dawkins' lapdog.
Gould's decision to publish an all-out blast at the writers whom he calls "Darwinian Fundamentalists" escalated what his colleague Niles Eldredge has called the "high-table debate" among evolutionists. This is basically a struggle between the classical neo-Darwinists (represented most prominently by Dawkins) and the revisionists (headed by Gould himself), who follow the tradition of T. H. Huxley by advocating "evolution" while remaining cool towards Darwin's distinctive mechanism. It's a debate that has long been muted because of the mutual desire of the adversaries to avoid giving ammunition to the despised creationists, and even now the arguments are conducted in an obscure jargon worthy of Pravda in its heyday. But here's what it's all about.
In the early 1980s the British geneticist J. R. G. Turner remarked, with specific reference to the controversies swirling around Gould, that "Evolutionary biologists are all Darwinists, as all Christians follow Christ and all Communists, Karl Marx. The schisms are over which parts of the Master's teaching shall be seen as central." The canonical text for fans of natural selection is Darwin's eloquent statement in The Origin of Species that "natural selection is daily and hourly scrutinizing, throughout the world, every variation, even the slightest; rejecting that which is bad, preserving and adding up all that is good; silently and insensibly working, whenever and wherever opportunity offers, at the improvement of each organic being in relation to its organic and inorganic conditions of life." Note the key elements: natural selection everywhere and at all times accepts or rejects all variations, however slight, and continually promotes the "improvement" of all organisms. Evolution of that kind, in the jargon of the trade, is called pan-selectionism.
The revisionist Gould calls that picture of ubiquitous selection "ultra-Darwinism" or "Darwinian fundamentalism," and he attributes it not to Darwin himself but to contemporary Darwinists like Dawkins and Dennett. Gould ignores Darwin's own pan-selectionist affirmations and quotes instead a passage from the sixth and final (1872) edition of the Origin. There Darwin remarked with some bitterness that critics had, by "steady misrepresentation," overlooked his qualification that "natural selection has been the main but not the exclusive means of modification" (emphasis added). Whether the qualification amounts to much is hard to say, since a few exceptions to an otherwise pervasive pattern of selectionism would be consistent with the modest disclaimer that natural selection is not literally "exclusive."
In any event, Gould accuses the ultra-Darwinists of preaching that "natural selection regulates everything of any importance in evolution, and that adaptation emerges as a universal result and ultimate test of selection's ubiquity." Against this fundamentalism Gould asserts his own "pluralism," which includes at least four non-adaptationist claims about evolution: (1) neutral genetic changes are a major aspect of evolution; (2) basic developmental pathways are highly conserved across otherwise disparate groups and hence impose constraints on adaptive change; (3) species remain unchanged for long periods and then branch apart in "geological moments" (a process Gould calls "punctuated equilibrium"); and (4) many or most extinctions have been due to catastrophic events rather than (as Darwin insisted) the gradual operation of ordinary selective pressures.
That's where the name-calling starts, because the classical Darwinists consider Gould's description of their position to be a preposterous caricature. Gould has a well-earned reputation for distorting the views of his rivals and adversaries, and it is not surprising to find that the complaints are justified. To my knowledge none of his targets disputes that neutral variations occur in plenty, that developmental pathways are conserved, that significant evolutionary change may occur in brief periods of time (geologically speaking) after longer periods of stasis, or that the dinosaurs were probably wiped out by a planetary catastrophe. Gould does deserve credit for advocating these sub-theories before they became popular, but nowadays everybody claims to be a pluralist.
For his own part, Gould does not deny the central tenet of the classicists-that adaptive complexity is due to the Darwinian mechanism of natural selection. In his own words, "Yes, eyes are for seeing and feet are for moving. And, yes again, I know of no scientific mechanism other than natural selection with the proven power to build structures of such eminently workable design." The creative power of natural selection is actually inferred from materialist philosophy, rather than proved by scientific evidence, but let that pass. If both sides agree that natural selection is responsible for adaptation, and also that natural selection isn't the whole story of evolution, then where is their disagreement? It is little wonder that many observers have concluded that there is no substance behind this food fight at the high table, but only a clash of overgrown egos.
In fact, however, the disagreement is substantive. The key to understanding it is to recognize that being a true Darwinist requires more than just giving lip service to natural selection before going on to something else, which is what Gould typically does. If natural selection actually made all those marvels of biological complexity, certain conclusions about the pace and manner of evolution necessarily follow, and Gould frequently seems to be denying those necessary conclusions. The dinosaurs can be killed off as rapidly as you like, but all the dinosaurs that died and all the new mammals that replaced them had to have been built up in the first place through the gradual accumulation of random mutations by natural selection. Likewise, the problem with neutral gene substitutions is not that anyone doubts they occur, but that neutral changes by definition do not help with the overwhelming task of building up the complex adaptations. Natural selection had to do that whole job, if God didn't do it, and that means natural selection had to be continuously active across vast stretches of geological time regardless of what the fossil record shows. That implies, among other things, that an enormous amount of evidence of the process has to be missing from the fossil record, but Gould frequently gives the impression that he thinks the evidence was never there.
One of the most notorious examples occurs in Gould's discussion of the Cambrian Explosion in his 1989 book Wonderful Life. The "Cambrian Explosion" is the sudden appearance of the major animal groups (phyla) in the rocks of the Cambrian era, without apparent ancestors. As Dawkins himself has put it, "It is as though they were just planted there, without any evolutionary history." Of course, Dawkins and all other Darwinists believe that this appearance is an illusion caused by the incompleteness of the record, and that a complete fossil record would show a universe of transitional forms and side branches, all having evolved by tiny steps from a single common ancestor. Gould raises a radically different possibility. He explains that there are two possible explanations for the absence of Precambrian ancestors: "the artifact theory (they did exist, but the fossil record hasn't preserved them), and the fast-transition theory (they really didn't exist, at least as complex invertebrates easily linked to their descendants)."
That final qualifying clause is a typical example of Gould's penchant for equivocation: of course the missing ancestors didn't exist in a form "easily linked to their descendants." That is why there is a problem, and why the artifact theory has to be true if Darwinism is true. Hence when Gould went on to proclaim that new discoveries had sounded "the death knell of the artifact theory," some readers understandably took him to be saying that the phyla really were just planted there without any evolutionary history, which amounts to saying that they were specially created. Gould assuredly could not have meant that, but then what exactly did he mean? Remember that saving Darwinism in the teeth of the Cambrian evidence requires not just assuming a few missing ancestors, easily linked to their descendants or not, but assuming a vast quantity of vanished transitional forms between the hypothetical single-celled ancestors and the vastly different multicellular invertebrates. If you are a Darwinist you know the necessary ancestors and transitionals had to exist, regardless of the lack of fossil evidence. If you doubt that their absence is an artifact of the fossil record, you are not a Darwinist.
The difficulty of saying whether Gould really is a Darwinist or not stems from his habit of combining radically anti-Darwinian statements with qualifications that preserve a line of retreat. When Gould loudly proclaimed "the return of the hopeful monster," for example, he seemed to be endorsing the geneticist Richard Goldschmidt's view that large mutations create new kinds of organisms in single-generation jumps-a heresy which Darwinists consider to be only a little better than outright creationism. If you read the fine print carefully, however, you'll find that Gould surrounded his claims with qualifications that allow him to insist that he is at least somewhere in the neighborhood of orthodoxy. Even when Gould bluntly announced that neo-Darwinism is "effectively dead," it turns out that he only meant . . . well, nobody seems to know what he meant, but certainly not that neo-Darwinism is effectively dead.
For years Darwinists like Maynard Smith gave Gould the benefit of the doubt, appreciating his genuine flair and his willingness to fight the common enemy. At last they have become thoroughly exasperated with his "now you see it, now you don't" practice of vaguely affirming Darwinism while specifically denying its necessary implications. Gould will only have exacerbated their disgust with his latest outburst.
Gould's uncomfortable situation reminds me of the self-created predicament of Mikhail Gorbachev in the last years of the Soviet Empire. Gorbachev recognized that something had gone wrong with the Communist system, but thought that the system itself could be preserved if it was reformed. His democratic friends warned him that the Marxist fundamentalists would inevitably turn against him, but he was unwilling to endanger his position in the ruling elite by following his own logic to its necessary conclusion. Gould, like Gorbachev, deserves immense credit for bringing glasnost to a closed society of dogmatists. And, like Gorbachev, he lives on as a sad reminder of what happens to those who lack the nerve to make a clean break with a dying theory.
Phillip E. Johnson is Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley. His books include Darwin on Trial, Reason in the Balance, and Defeating Darwinism.


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When Alex Rider learns that his uncle Ian has been killed in the line of duty as a British spy – and not in a car accident like he's been told – everything changes for this otherwise normal teen. He is approached by Alan Blunt, head of a shadowy offshoot of MI6 known as The Department, who reveals that Alex has been unknowingly trained since childhood for the dangerous world of espionage. Pressured to help investigate his uncle's death – and how it connects to the assassination of two high-profile billionaires – Alex reluctantly assumes a new identity and goes undercover in a remote boarding school called Point Blanc. Isolated far above the snowline in the French Alps, Point Blanc claims to set the troubled teenage children of the ultra-rich back onto the right track. But as he digs deeper, Alex discovers that the students are in fact the subjects of a disturbing plan by the mysterious Doctor Greif – a plan which he will have to risk his life to stop.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Why Demi Lovato Wants to Shave Her Head
Welcome to PopCrush's Daily Break! Here's a breakdown of today's hottest pop culture and lifestyle stories as heard on PopCrush Nights, airing across the country. Check out why Demi Lovato wants to shave her head, the latest additions to the dictionary and more, below.
Demi Lovato Wants to Shave Her Head
Demi Lovato is the queen of rocking new, edgy hairstyles, but according to a new interview with Glamour, she wants to rock no hair at all! She got a pixie cut last year as a symbol of shedding societal expectations, and now her new goal is to rock the bald look. (via Just Jared)
Have You Gotten a Good Night's Sleep Lately?
In a survey conducted by OnePoll for SugarBear Sleep, two-thirds of respondents said they haven't had a good sleep since they were teenagers. Respondents said their sleep is often interrupted, with their overall quality of sleep declining after age 23. Most folks average about five hours of good sleep a night, even though the National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours for adults. (via SWNS)
Netflix Plans on Ending Password Sharing
Netflix considered trying to stop people from sharing passwords a couple of years ago, but now it seems they have a beta method in place. People have been encountering an onscreen message that says, "Start your own Netflix for free today. If you don't live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching." If you receive this message, you'll need to enter a verification code to keep watching. (via The Verge)
Dictionary.com Adds New Words From TV Shows, Slang
Dictionary.com has updated its database with new words are from TV shows such as The Simpsons and Friends. From The Simpsons comes two new words: "cromulent," which means acceptable or legitimate, and "embiggen," which means to make or become bigger. From Friends comes "supposably," which means imagined or supposed, as you could probably guess. (via Fox News)
A Couple Handcuffed Themselves Together
A couple from the Ukraine who were constantly fighting handcuffed themselves together in an effort to work through their issues. However, they said that their fights didn't stop, but instead of walking away from the relationship, they simply stopped talking. They have been handcuffed together since Valentine's Day and plan to stay cuffed for three months. (via NY Post)
Robert Downey Jr. Nabs Razzie Nomination
The Razzies will be back the night before the Oscars (April 24) and its Worst Actor category includes Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway and Katie Holmes. Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for Dolittle, while Anne Hathaway and Katie Holmes were both nominated for two films each: Hathaway for The Last Thing He Wanted and The Witches, and Holmes for Brahms: The Boy II and The Secret: Dare To Dream. (via People)


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Get It Back, and Much More
If you've lost teeth, or are about to have some extracted, you're facing many new limitations. You might only be able to eat soft foods because eating anything else causes you discomfort. You might not be able to speak clearly and naturally. You can smile but the idea embarrasses you—especially if the missing teeth are in your smile zone. Your face may even take on a sunken, aged appearance if your tooth loss leads to bone recession.
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The biggest and longest holiday of the year is the magical Christmas of Sweden. The excitement begins the first Sunday of Advent with the lighting of the first Advent candle. Each Sunday prior to Christmas, another candle is lit with growing anticipation.
Feasting and celebrating begin on December 13 with Lucia Day, which legend says is the longest night of the year and a time when man and beast need extra nourishment. A Lucia (Queen of Light) is chosen from each home, club, school, etc. She is dressed in a white gown with a crown of candles in her hair. She brings coffee, rolls, ginger biscuits, and occasionally "glogg" (a mulled wine). She is generally accompanied by a train of white-clad attendants. The girls wear glitter in their hair and the boys wear tall paper cone hats decorated with stars. While delivering their precious fare, they sing traditional Lucia carols.
The Swedish Christmas tree is not brought into the home until one or two days before Christmas. It is decorated with gaily wrapped candies, glass bulbs, and often straw trinkets, with electric lights or candles.
But the height of the Christmas celebrations is December 24, Christmas Eve. No work is to be done on this day except feeding the livestock and last minute preparations for the splendid Christmas meal. This is the famous Swedish "Smorgasbord." Dishes such as ham, jellied pigs feet, "lutfisk" and rice porridge are traditional. "Lutfishk" literally translated means "lye-fish" and actually is foaked in lye to make it soft and palatable. The rice porridge is made with an abundance of cram, sugar and cinnamon and whoever finds the whole almond in their porridge is expected to be married within the year.
After the meal, the "Tomte" comes. He is the Christmas elf who lives under floorboards of the hours or barn and looks after the family and livestock throughout the year. "Tomte" often brings presents and children graciously leave a dish of porridge for him during the night.
By tradition, Swedes attend church in the vary early hours of Christmas morning. Occasionally, as in olden days, the trek to church is made by horse-drawn sleighs. The ride often becomes a race to the church. It is believed the winner will have the best harvest in the coming year.
The Christmas spirit and enjoyment linger until January 14--Knut's Day--the day appointed to discard the Christmas tree and devour all the edible decorations. This is quite an occasion, especially for the young who occasionally dress as "Old Knut" and play practical jokes and chant as they fling the old tree into the snow, with a promise to reunite with their beloved pine in one year.
2 lbs. lean pork, ground 2 lbs. lean beef, ground 6 med. potatoes, shredded (uncooked) 3 tsps. salt 2 tsps. ground allspice 1/2 tsp. pepper 1 med. onion, chopped
Mix all ingredients well together. Form into rolls about 4 inches long, 2 inches in diameter. Cut waxed paper or parchment paper into 6-inch lengths and warp sausage well, tying both ends tightly with string. Prick waxed paper with a fork (do not prick parchment) and place in kettle of simmering salted water. Cook slowly for about 45 minutes. This sausage is delicately flavored. Some people prefer slightly more seasoning.
7 to 9 lb. ham, slightly salted 2 tsps. whole cloves 2 tsps. marjoram 2 tsps. allspice 2 tsps. rosemary 6 bay leaves
Ham which is to be roasted in an oven must not be too salty and should be placed in plenty of cold water for approximately 12 hours.
Remove the rind. Place the ham on a large piece of baking foil. Crush allspice, cloves, rosemary, marjoram and bay leaves in a mortar. Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the ham. Wrap the foil around the ham to make a tight package. Insert a meat thermometer through the foil so that the tip reaches the thickest and meatiest part of the ham. Place the ham in baking pan and bake it in the oven at 350F. The ham is ready when the thermometer shows 170F. "Ham a la Cajsa Warg" can be served hot or cold with boiled potatoes, mustard, red cabbage or other vegetables.
1 to 2 lb. head white cabbage 41/2 tbls. rice Salt 11 oz. ground beef Butter for frying 2/3 cup water 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 cup milk
Cut off the bottom part of the stem of a head of white cabbage. Cut the cabbage into shreds or pieces. Brown them in butter in a frying pan. Boil rice in 2/3 cup water and 1/2 tsp. salt for approximately 20 minutes. Let the rice cool. Mix ground beef with 1 1/2 tsps. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Add the rice and 1 cup milk. Lay the cabbage and meat in alternate layers in a buttered oven-proof dish. The top and bottom layers should be cabbage. Bake in an oven at 350F. for 3/4 to 1 hour. Serve with boiled potatoes.


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UlyssesOUP Oxford, 17 apr. 2008 - 980 sidor One of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, Ulysses has had a profound influence on modern fiction. In a series of episodes covering the course of a single day, June 16, 1904, the novel traces the movements of Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus through the streets of Dublin. Each chapter has its own remarkably innovative literary style, and the book is one of the great, extended tours de force of stream-of-consciousness narration. It is an essential stop in any tour of English literature. This marvelous edition reproduces in facsimile the original 1922 text. Today critical interest centers on the authority of the text, and this edition republishes for the first time, without interference, the original 1922 text. Equally important, Jeri Johnson's editorial material is acknowledged to be by far the best there is. Her textual apparatus--notes, introduction, stemma of published versions--is unsurpassed. Johnson strikes the perfect balance between what readers need to know in her notes and introduction. Her fantastic explanatory notes begin by giving the time and location of each episode and a description of the correspondence with the episode in Homer being paralleled. In addition, the introduction is a model of scholarship and lucidity, leading the first-time reader through the intricacies of the text. This edition also includes a full list of errata, a Composition and Publication History, an up-to-date bibliography, a chronology of Joyce's lie, a map of Dublin of the period, appendices reproducing Gilbert and Linati schema (i.e. the tables that set out the symbolic significance of each episode in the novel by title, hour of the day, place of the action), and much more. It is the perfect introduction to the crowning work of modernist literature.--Site web de l'éditeur. |
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Abbreviations | viii |
Introduction | ix |
Composition and Publication History | xxxviii |
Select Bibliography | lvii |
A Chronology of James Joyce | lxiii |
ULYSSES | lxxi |
The Gilbert and Linati Schemata | 734 |
Ulysses Serialization and Editions | 740 |
Errata | 746 |
Explanatory Notes | 763 |
Andra upplagor - Visa alla
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Aeolus asked bloody Bloom Boylan Buck Mulligan Cissy Conmee Corny Kelleher cried dark dead Deasy Dedalus Dignam Dollard door Dublin edition English episode eyes face Father Conmee fellow Finnegans Wake Gaelic Gerty girl Haines hair Hamlet hand head heart Henry Ireland Irish J. J. O'Molloy James Joyce John Joyce's King kiss lady Latin laughing Lenehan Leopold Leopold Bloom Lestrygonians letter Little Review London look Lord Martin Cunningham Miss Molly mother mouth never night Odysseus Paddy Dignam passed play poor Richard Ellmann round Saint Sandymount says Joe says the citizen Shakespeare Shakespeare and Company Simon Dedalus smile song soul Stephen Stephen Dedalus street sweet Telemachus tell thing thou told turned Ulysses voice wait walked watch wife woman wonder words young


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Surnames Starting with H
Are you looking for surnames that start with H? Find here the most popular, cool, unique, and rare surnames beginning with H at FinderWheel's surnames finder tool.
Most Common Surnames Starting with H
Here are some of the most common surnames or last names that starting with "H".
Surnames Beginning with A to Z
Are you looking for Surnames or Last Names? Check out an alphabetical list of the unique and most common family names in India and across the world.
List of Surnames or Last Names by Country of Origin
Here, you can find the list of surnames from A to Z that you are looking for, and follow the links below for further information. We'll review all our most common surnames, last names or family names by country of origin.
Most Common Last Names in the World
The landscape of last names, or surnames, is vast and diverse, reflecting the rich tapestry of human history and culture. This exploration delves into some of the most common last names worldwide, shedding light on their prevalence, origins, and the fascinating stories they tell.
Discover the frequency and prevalence of last names across different regions and cultures. Explore how specific names have transcended borders to become widely recognized while others remain distinctly tied to particular geographic locations


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We support global well-being and resilience through locally-focused education, food, access to nature, and community services.
We are producers of healthy organic fruits, veggies, eggs, herbs, and flowers, located in scenic and remote Surprise Valley, California. We use sustainable practices as much as possible, and embrace the ethics and principles of Permaculture. We host farm stays, workshops, classes, and fun experiential learning events throughout the year. We hope that you will join us for a day or night or two or more — you will always remember it.
Please look through our site to learn more about us, and let us know what questions you have.


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Enter to Win a Cecy Robson Prize Pack!
The O'Brien Family Series Book Two
Cecy Robson
Releasing April 19th, 2016
Once he was broken beyond repair.
Now this MMA contender is fighting to be a better man—for her. RT Book Reviews
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"has the hottest brothers ever!" And in Let Me, it is Finn's turn to discover
how love can heal the deepest wounds.
A mixed martial arts star on the
rise, Finn O'Brien dismantles his opponents with brutal precision. And yet
beneath his fierce persona, Finn is raw from a trauma he's buried for years . .
. until the day his deep-rooted rage erupts and lands him in court-mandated
therapy. Finn's not one to bare his soul, but if talking it out means meeting
beautiful women like Sol Marieles, he'll give it a shot.
Sol is working toward her master's
degree in psychology, and already she feels like she's in over her head. With
an important internship on the line and a scary family situation demanding her
attention, the last thing Sol needs is Finn around to distract her. The man is
ripped and seriously sexy yet it's his troubled side that warns her to keep her
distance. But their attraction is intense, and he clearly has the heat to see
how far and fast their passion takes them.
Alone, Finn and Sol have been
fighting to find happiness in their lives. Together, there's no stopping them
as they face their greatest challenges—not in the ring, but in their
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referee has called a stop to this match at two-minutes and forty-nine seconds
into the second round," the announcer begins. "The winner by TKO, Finn 'The
Fury' O'Brien."
crowd screams and pumps their fists in the air when my hand is raised. I take
the few seconds I need to thank my sponsors, my camp, and my brother, because
that's what I'm supposed to do despite the fog clouding my senses. I wish that
disconnect had something to do with all the hits I took, but deep down I know
that it doesn't.
back in the locker room before I know it getting stitched up, too many people
talking at once. God, I barely hear their questions or my responses. But
they're there and somehow I make it through.
worried about you, Finnie," Kill says when everyone piles out.
I'm not drinking tonight. I'm headed home," I assure him.
not what I mean," he says. He's sitting in a fold out chair, his arms resting
against his muscular legs. "I think you need to talk to someone."
stretch out my arms. By now they're so tight, they pull against the bones. "I
am. I'm talking to you."
don't have to see him to know he's shaking his head, or that he's looking sad,
disappointed, and maybe something else, too. "I'm not who you should be
speaking to," he says. "Not for what's going on in your head."
enough," I say, even though I know it's no longer true.
he begins.
don't wait for him to finish, leaving the changing area and heading toward the
showers. "Go find Sofia and Wren," I call over my shoulder as I strip out my
shirt. "See if they're up for some dinner."
don't remember peeling the rest of my clothes off. That numbness I've been
feeling too much lately claiming me like a mist until it fully engulfs me.
Fuck. It's like I've stopped living even though for the most part I think I'm
still alive.
Cecy Robson is
a new adult and contemporary author of the Shattered Past series, the O'Brien
Family novels and upcoming Carolina Beach novels, as well as the award-winning
author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A 2016 double nominated
for Once Pure and Once Kissed, Cecy is a recovering Jersey girl living in the
South who enjoys carbs way too much, and exercise way too little. Gifted and
cursed with an overactive imagination, you can typically find her on her laptop
silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.
Looking for more of the O'Brien Family?
Pick up the Two RITA Finalists
Pick up the Two RITA Finalists


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Is God More Powerful Than The Devil?
When was the last time you and your friends sat around talking about the devil? Let's be real; it's not a topic that we casually bring up over coffee at Starbucks or sitting in the backyard around the fire pit. We might see depictions of the devil on TV shows or in movies. Sometimes they're intended to be humorous and other times, they are designed to be demonic and fearsome, but the devil is not a fictional, invented character from a comic book.
Jesus has ultimate authority
We do need to be aware of the devil's influence and plans in this world; however, we can rest in the promise we have that Jesus is ultimately more powerful than the devil and will secure a final victory over him for all God's people. Now, you may have more questions about this topic. If you'd like to speak with someone who can help you explore this at a deeper level, go ahead and click to get connected.
Get Connected


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Check-In: 4:00 PM
Check-Out: 11:00 AM
Usia Minimum Check-In: 21
Email: email@example.com
Hubungi Front Desk: 1-269-4691400
Whether you're in Harbor County for a Lake Michigan vacation or stopping along I-94 on your way to Chicago or Detroit, the Holiday Inn Express New Buffalo is the ideal hotel. The sandy beaches of Lake Michigan are just 1.5 miles away, and our quiet location off exit 1 of I-94 makes travel simple.
For a stress-free vacation, our New Buffalo hotel's guests can enjoy fun in the sun at area beaches, as well as easy access to the attractions of Harbor County. Save a day to tour the Michigan wine trail and shop the many antique stores. Or, try your luck at Four Winds Casino, only 1.5 miles from our front door. Don't miss a quiet stroll along the shore of our great lake, too.
Business guests traveling to Chicago or Detroit appreciate that our New Buffalo hotel has fast and easy access to I-94 at exit 1. Our quiet surroundings, business amenities like free high-speed, wireless Internet access and our meeting room are great reasons to stop in New Buffalo.
No matter what brings you to Lake Michigan, our hotel's amenities are designed to pamper you. Send vacation photos with the free Internet access, or enjoy swimming in our sparkling, indoor pool year-round. There's a Fitness Center to keep up your healthy routines and a free, hot breakfast served each morning. Our cozy rooms and professional service create the perfect Michigan vacation oasis. Our New Buffalo hotel's staff is waiting to welcome you.
Semua hotel kami menggunakan sistem IHG Green Engage, sebuah sistem keberlanjutan lingkungan online inovatif yang memberi hotel kami sarana untuk mengukur dan mengelola dampak mereka terhadap lingkungan. Ini adalah cara kami memastikan bahwa kami melindungi lingkungan sekitar demi tamu hari ini, dan esok.


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FOUND is the latest award-winning horror feature from director, Scott Schirmer. Winning Best Feature at Elvira's Horror Hunt, this grisly film revolves around a young boy named Marty and his obsession for horror movies. Marty is bullied at school and his home life is a mess, but luckily for him, his passion for terror on the silver screen helps keep him grounded. As a secret is revealed about a family member, Marty must decide if he should put his family first or stand up for what is right.
With FOUND, Schirmer creates a unique film that hits on all cylinders. High levels of production value and acting are paired up nicely with the well thought out story. Marty is a great character that lets the true horror fans in the audience reminisce about the days of being a kid in love with movies. Gavin Brown, who plays Marty, is a great young actor with a bright future. His lines are delivered to perfection as none feel rushed or amateurish in any way. The big brother in the film, Steve, is played by Ethan Philbeck. As a stage actor, Philbeck takes to the screen with an amazing transformation into his character. Winning Best Actor at Elvira's Horror Hunt at Hourrorhound in Indianapolis for his role, Philbeck hold nothing back. He gives by far and away one of the best performances I've ever seen in an independent horror film. His performance must be seen to be believed.
So, if you have the chance to catch this movie at an upcoming film festival, don't miss out. The blood, gore and downright disturbing imagery found with this indie flick can rival any film as of late. The ending will make your skin crawl and if you have a weak stomach, you may need to look away. Although, we here at Slasher Studios couldn't take our eyes off the screen!


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- David Thyne
At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.
Welcome to the InterNations Expat Community Here in Chongqing!
Hello, and a very warm welcome to our expatriate community here in Chongqing in Southwest China! InterNations is a global network for expatriates around the world to share advice and tips on living and working in foreign countries. If you're an expat in Chongqing, or are considering taking the step to move there, you can find plenty of help thanks to the knowledge and experience of our community. Whatever question you may need answered, from, "how can I get covered for health insurance before moving to Chongqing?" to "how much can I expect to pay in fees for international schools in Chongqing?", our members will have been there and done it and will be able to give you the best possible assistance.
Jump right in:
Join Our Exciting Events in Chongqing
Attend our monthly events and activities for Chongqing expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Want to see all the upcoming events in Chongqing?
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A Fascinating Experience in One of the Cities of the Future
As one of the largest cities in China and indeed the world, Chongqing was described as an emerging "megacity" by the Economic Intelligence Unit. The tremendous growth added to the already huge scale means that whatever your interests or field of work, you're sure to find a world of opportunity and fulfillment in the metropolis. Although the city's economy is dominated by heavy industry and manufacturing, the diversity leads to expatriates calling Chongqing home due to work in a variety of other sectors, from electronics to technology. The booming, endlessly growing nature of the city is often at odds with its ancient history, but it only serves to exemplify the fact that within its boundaries, anything and everything can be found, seen, and done.
Take Advantage of Our Local Expat Community in Chongqing
Our members here on InterNations go through a careful approval process to ensure the best possible experience when you decide to interact with the group or seek any advice. Moving to a city like Chongqing can be a daunting experience, with many questions and worries about such a decision surfacing, but our members can help set your mind at ease by giving you all the information you need. Your experience with our community shouldn't stop there, however — we also organize face-to-face events where you can meet fascinating people from countries around the world. By joining our groups you can network with other members in a smaller setting or explore the city. If there isn't a group open yet for your favorite hobby, feel free to open your own!


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Opposition to the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell has ranged from subtle and outright homophobia to claims that the House, in passing repeal, was "dissing the troops." Many Republican senators who voted to stop the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell from coming to a vote earlier this year said that they were uncomfortable with voting for or against repeal until the Pentagon completed its study of the policy. The study, released today, finds that an overwhelming majority of both soldiers and their spouses had absolutely no problem with letting gay and lesbian soldiers serve openly. The report found that "69 percent — believed they had already worked with a gay man or woman, and of those the vast majority — 92 percent — reported that the unit's ability to work together was very good, good or 'neither good nor poor.'" The authors of the report, Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon's chief counsel, and Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of the United States Army in Europe, even wrote that "we are both convinced that our military can do this, even during this time of war."
Now that the Pentagon has conclusively found that unit cohesion and effectiveness won't be jeopardized by a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, it is important to remember the Republican senators who said Congress should wait for the report before an up or down vote on repealing DADT.
Mark Kirk (R-IL):
I think we should wait for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to report. This was actually the recommendation of Secretary Gates and the President, but Speaker Pelosi wanted to move forward anyway. The problem here is that when you remove the policy, you got to have a new policy….I'm going to read every word of that study.
Scott Brown (R-MA):
I am keeping an open mind, but I do not support moving ahead until I am able to finish my review, the Pentagon completes its study, and we can be assured that a new policy can be implemented without jeopardizing the mission of our military.
Olympia Snowe (R-ME):
Moreover, as I have previously stated, given that the law implementing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy has been in place for nearly 17 years, I agree that it is overdue for a thorough review. The question is, whether we should be voting on this issue before we have the benefit of the comprehensive review that President Obama's Secretary of Defense ordered in March, to secure the input of our men and women in uniform during this time of war – as the Joint Chiefs of Staff from all of the services have requested prior to any vote. We should all have the opportunity to review that report which is to be completed on December 1, as we reevaluate this policy and the implementation of any new changes.
John Ensign (R-NV):
"It is my firm belief that Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be able to fight and risk their lives in defense of this great nation. As a nation currently engaged in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, the focus of all decisions affecting military readiness, recruiting and retention, and unit cohesion should be to maximize the success of ongoing operations."
Ensign spokesperson Jennifer Cooper reiterated this point: "Senator Ensign is waiting on the report from the Pentagon and the testimony of the military chiefs to see if any changes to this policy can or should be done in a way so as not to harm the readiness or war fighting capabilities of our troops."
Roger Wicker (R-MS):
Congress should refrain from conducting any legislative action on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' until the Defense Department has concluded its comprehensive review of the policy.
Richard Burr (R-NC):
Don't Ask Don't Tell has worked. Now personally I don't see a reason to reverse it. But that's a personal opinion. I think the country should have a debate. And what we should do is we should wait until the Department of Defense has gotten back the survey of those individuals who serve. That survey's back in December. This is not too far off…. Now I'm not scared to have the debate, I welcome the debate, but I'm also very confident that we should time this in a way that makes as little impact on those troops that are deployed as we possibly can.
John Thune (R-SD):
I believe it is in the best interest of our military to allow the DOD to complete its review of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, before Congress injects politics into the process.


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Darkroom Door Eclectic Rubber Stamp Sitting Cat
Darkroom Door Eclectic Rubber Stamp Sitting Cat
Regular price
Regular price
Sale price
Unit price
Darkroom Door Eclectic Stamp
Darkroom Door designs and manufactures quality art rubber stamps and mixed media supplies for art journaling, card making, mixed media and more! As the name suggests, Darkroom Door products have a strong photographic element in their design that help you create artistic and edgy art.
Founded in 2007 by photographer Rachel Greig and designer Stewart Yule, Darkroom Door is committed to providing quality products for artists and crafters around the world. Darkroom Door rubber stamps are handmade with care, using the finest rubber materials to provide you with longevity and crisp stamped images.
Please refer to stamp image for stamp size.


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Micro pigs, miniature pigs, teacup pigs, or potbelly pigs, whatever you call them, these baby pigs make an ideal pet and a great addition to the family. They are fun loving animals that will give you back the love you give to them. They get along with other pets and children and they are hypo-allergenic so they make the perfect pet if you have allergies. They do however require some work so you should make your home ready for their arrival.
Size and feeding
Feeding on grass and low fat pig feed, these small pets grow to the size of a Labrador dog, but be careful Micro pigs are pigs! They grow much bigger than the cute little baby pig you fall in love with when adopting them, so make sure you have room in your home, garden and family to keep them happy and healthy.
Micro pigs put on weight very easily so should be kept at a healthy weight by providing them with the nutrition they need and not too many treats. It is easy to treat your pig from the scraps on your table but this will make them put on weight and grow bigger than you expected. Once they put on this weight it is very hard for them to lose it, almost impossible, so make sure from the start, you keep the treats to a minimum as habits are hard to break.
Like any animal, micro pigs should have access to clean fresh water at all times. You should also provide them with a larger bowl when feeding as they like to snuffle their food about, so make sure the bowl is larger than the amount of food in it so they can move their food around.
Micro pigs are very smart, these loving pets can be trained to do many tricks in the same way you would teach a dog, with attention, love and treats!
Not only can you teach them cool exciting tricks to show off to your friends and family, but they can be litter trained. Teach your new pet to use the litter tray like a cat or to go outside like a dog, however, you will still need to clean the mess up afterwards.
When litter training, make sure you put the tray right next to their bed so they know just where to find it. Like dogs they like to go first thing in the morning so placing the tray next to their bed will minimise accidents.
When training them to go outside, make sure the path is always clear for them to get out, and consider a cat flap so they are able to go when the need to.
Garden Space
Micro pigs need room to roam, graze and dig. They need a nice big garden with digging areas separated from grazing areas. You should separate your garden into different areas for your pig so it gets into a routine and it allows you to keep your garden looking pretty and not like a pigsty.
Micro pigs like to graze, so a nice big grassy area where your pig can eat the grass at its leisure would be ideal. You will never need to cut your grass again as your new family member will take care of that for you digging out weeds and fertilising your plants.
They like to dig, but you don't want them digging up the lawn they just perfectly mowed for you so have a separate area where your pig can spend their time on their favourite hobby, digging! You should provide an outside shelter for your micro pig, even though they may sleep inside, a simple garden shed will allow them to take shelter when they are outside. If you can't provide them with an outside shelter why not think about a cat flap to allow them to come inside when the have had enough of truffling about.
Micro pigs are clean animals but sometimes they do get a little messy after they have been digging so be sure to clean them up before you take them back into the house.
Micro pigs are able to sleep inside or out but it would be preferable if you pick one or the other and don't have your pet sleeping inside one night and outside the next. You want them to get used to the climate and changing their sleeping routine all the time is not the best way to keep you pig happy.
Outside pigs like to have a nice cosy shelter with no drafts, full of dry straw or hay to keep them off the damp ground. This keeps them warm, dry and comfortable as they nod off ready for the next day of exploring.
Inside pigs will be warmer but still like a little place to call their own, so you should provide them with their own bed with blankets and pillows. Like many young children, these blankets become a layer of security so you may find your micro pig trailing their favourite blanket with them wherever they go, they love them.
The Law
Under the law, micro pigs are livestock and you will need a licence to keep them but don't let that stop you bringing a new bundle of joy into your family. Each council's rules and licences you need are different but don't worry, these can usually be obtained by filling out a simple form but please check your local council for more information before buying a micro pig.


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Wilbert offers multiple ways to personalize a burial vault or urn vault with words, symbols, and images that speak of a singular spirit. Your loved one had a unique personality. The selections you make for the visitation and service should communicate that singular spirit. These choices ensure your loved one's memory is remembered for generations to come.
Canvas Examples
The Canvas™ Carapace
The Canvas Carapace contributes to healing and closure by providing a smooth, white surface on which family and friends can sign parting thoughts to their loved one.


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easyMarkets offers you a set of risk management tools that help you protect your trade, your account and funds. Negative balance protection ensures that your account will never go below zero, a protection easyMarkets has offered as a standard feature at no additional cost since 2001.
Negative balance protection means that even if markets move rapidly against your trades, your account will not be negative. This is especially important to new traders that may not be familiar with how rapidly markets move during announcements, market openings or general market volatility.
This, in combination with the other risk management tools easyMarkets offers including dealCancellation* and Freeze Rate give traders the ability to better control their risk when on the market.
Negative balance protection ensures that traders with losing positions don't end up with a negative balance in their forex trading account. If you find yourself in a bad trade and are losing money fast, a margin call can save you from going into debt. Simply put, a margin call automatically closes your rapidly dropping open positions.
In today's complexding environment, negative balance protection can help traders manage volatility and take advantage of high-volume trading sessions without having to worry about going into debt. After all, most traders would agree that low volatility isn't ideal when trading retail forex because it limits opportunities. However, too much of anything can be equally as bad. In the case of forex, too much volatility can wipe out your trading account in a matter of moments. This is why negative balance protection is so important.
2015 was an especially volatile year for the global financial markets, including retail forex trading. The Swiss National Bank's decision to remove the three-year old peg of the EURUSD exchange rate in January triggered unprecedented volatility in the markets, causing many brokers to go out of business, while others scrambled for bailouts. Meanwhile, traders were left in the dark as to whether their brokers would demand payment for negative balances.
The SNB blowout in January 2015 highlighted the importance of guaranteed balance protection. The last thing a trader needs is to deal with losses that exceed their investment capital, especially when you consider the composition of the retail forex market. A great benefit of CFD trading is it attracts people from all walks of life, including "social" traders and other laypersons that trade in their spare time.
At easyMarkets we understand that the onus of researching and picking trades is on the trader, but the onus of facilitating trades in a variety of market conditions is on us, the broker. That's why we offer guaranteed negative balance protection.
As we mentioned not every retail forex broker offers negative balance protection. Many brokers claim to offer negative balance protection simply to reassure newcomers that they are a trustworthy service provider. Others do it to lure newcomers because "guaranteed margin call" is a new industry buzzword, much like "ECN" and "STP" brokers.
Traders can easily tell the difference between brokers that just say they offer negative balance protection and those that actually guarantee it. For starters, how long has the broker been in operation? This will tell you a great deal about whether the broker is sufficiently well capitalized and is in good standing. If you'd like to weed out 90% of brokers, simply search for retail forex brokers that have been around for more than a decade. These guys probably offer guaranteed margin calls to save you from going into debt.
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Image source: flickr
Hopefully you're not too full from enjoying your big bowl of jelly beans, because I'm pleased to announce the gold release of the BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps and Plug-in for Android Development Tools for BlackBerry 10.2.
In this Android Runtime Gold release, which supports Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, we have added support for not just the previously supported beta features, but also SurfaceTexture as well as other performance and stability improvements. Some of these supported features include: fragments, animation framework and hardware acceleration. Additionally, all the great features that were previously available in our Gingerbread release will continue to be supported. Check out our API Support page for all the details.
If you want to start testing your app on Jelly Bean, just grab the BlackBerry 10.2 Gold SDK OS. If you don't have a device to test with, we now offer support for Jelly Bean in the BlackBerry 10.2 device simulator! Grab the latest simulator from our Android Tooling page.
How do you start using these new tools? Jump to the Runtime for Android Apps microsite. There is an updated 1.6.1 release for the BlackBerry Eclipse Plug-in for Android Development Tools and Command-line tools to help get you using all these Android Runtime features for BlackBerry 10. For the Eclipse users, make sure to point your update site to:
To see the full details and known issues, check out the release notes for the BlackBerry Plug-in for Android Development Tools and BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps.


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MARLO, the free-standing two-legged robot, conquers terrain with innovative control algorithms
The robot's feedback control algorithms should be able to help other two-legged robots as well as powered prosthetic legs gain similar capabilities.
A free-standing bipedal robot at the University of Michigan can now walk down steep slopes, through a thin layer of snow, and over uneven and unstable ground. The robot's feedback control algorithms should be able to help other two-legged robots as well as powered prosthetic legs gain similar capabilities.
"The robot has no feeling in her tiny feet, but she senses the angles of her joints— for instance, her knee angles, hip angles and the rotation angle of her torso," said Jessy Grizzle, the Elmer G. Gilbert Distinguished University Professor of Engineering and the Jerry W. and Carol L. Levin Professor of Engineering. "It's like walking blindfolded and on stilts."
MARLO is Grizzle's first robot that can walk (and fall) in any direction, known as 3D walking. With their previous robot, MABEL, Grizzle's team produced leading control algorithms for robots that need to move in only two dimensions. MABEL was attached to a boom that gave her sideways stability.
"Getting a robot to walk well in 3D can be a very frustrating process," said Xingye (Dennis) Da, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering.
Taking a hint from Grizzle's long-time collaborator Jonathan Hurst at Oregon State University, who built MARLO, Da developed a way to control the robot with two 2D algorithms. This approach takes advantage of what the team learned by working with MABEL.
"The method could help many researchers speed up the process of achieving stable walking on their robots," said Da, who designed this control algorithm.
The main controller handles the forward and backward motion and balance, while a second controller handles side-to-side balance. Da created a library of 15 gaits to handle different walking speeds and ground heights. Each gait is optimized for energy efficiency—making the movement as natural as possible—and respects the constraints of the robot.
Armed with this knowledge, MARLO steps blindly, sensing the changes in ground height and adjusting her gait according to terrain and speed. She blends gaits from the library to fit her environment.
Using an Xbox controller, Da can tell MARLO how quickly to walk and in what direction. But the rest is up to her. MARLO demonstrated this algorithm in tests walking through snow, down a steep hill, and on randomly stacked plywood squares covered in astroturf and scattered with more obstacles.
Although impressive, this approach has inherent limitations. It works as long as the robot doesn't have to make quick turns or sideways movements, but to achieve true agility, the control algorithm must be more integrated.
Working toward this goal, Brent Griffin, a doctoral student in electrical engineering and computer science, is developing a fully 3D controller. While the control algorithm based on 2D robots can walk at different speeds, this controller has an optimal speed that it returns to. It can slow down and speed up as necessary to manage difficult terrain.
Through computer simulations, Griffin tests the 3D controller against a range of terrain and speed disturbances to ensure reliable walking in varying real-world conditions. MARLO demonstrated this control method by walking over plywood obstacles in the lab and for hundreds of steps outdoors on pavement.
"We are able to design full 3D walking gaits using a mathematical model of the robot and then apply them directly to MARLO," said Griffin. "Because the implementation works without any robot-specific modifications, it is generalizable to other walking robots."
Over the summer, the team plans to merge the two control algorithms into one "super-algorithm" that can support more agile movements.
MARLO exhibits the best walking ability that the team knows of for a robot that doesn't have powered ankles, but Grizzle emphasizes that MARLO isn't the point.
"The major product of our research is a recipe for legged locomotion," said Grizzle. "We try to write it precisely and generally enough that others can use it, and they don't have to call us up and say, 'What's the special sauce?'"
The codes that Grizzle's team used to make MARLO walk on flat ground serve as the basis for algorithms developed in other labs for different kinds of robots. Robert Gregg, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and bioengineering at the University of Texas, Dallas, adapted the algorithm to control a prosthetic lower leg. When an amputee tried out Gregg's robotic leg on a treadmill, he was able to walk naturally. Gregg has seen the latest MARLO videos.
"The ability of MARLO to gracefully navigate uneven terrains is very exciting for my work in prosthetics. We hope to encode similar abilities into our robotic prosthetic leg so that lower-limb amputees can just as easily walk about the community without having to think about the terrain," said Gregg.
This work was funded by the National Science Foundation.
Grizzle is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science and of mechanical engineering.
More MARLO videos
In the News
CNN Money: "Watch a Robot Learn How to Walk" (7/12/16)
BBC: "Two-legged robot Marlo robot handles uneven terrain" (5/11/16)
Daily Mail: " Watch an amazing two legged robot conquer an obstacle course: Machine walks over slopes and snow without falling" (5/9/16)
Humanoides: "MARLO, le robot bipède du Michigan qui arpente des terrains difficiles" (5/9/16)
Popular Science: "This bipedal robot walks calmly over uneven ground" (5/9/16)
Gizmag: "Bipedal robot conquers uneven ground" (5/8/16)
E&T: "Two-legged robot demonstrates unparalleled 3D walking" (5/6/16)
Engadget "U of M's Marlo robot uses algorithms to conquer uneven terrain" (5/6/16)
International Business Times: This bipedal robot can walk in all directions by sensing ground height changes" (5/6/16)
Motherboard: "This Blind Bipedal Robot Navigates Uneven Terrain By Itself" (5/6/16)
Next Power Up: "Algorithms Let Marlo Robot Move in Difficult Terrain" (5/6/16)
PC Proactive: "U of M's Marlo robot uses algorithms to conquer uneven terrain" (5/6/16)
E&T: "Two-legged robot demonstrates unparalleled 3D walking" (5/6/16)
U-M Press Release (5/5/16)


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When in the casino, slot machine games are mostly played by people. This is because the slot machines are practically very easy to play sufficient reason for. A newbie in slot machines will learn all the mechanics in just a few games. On the surface of that, the thrilling the entertainment that you will get from this game can be gratifying.
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Get ready for a wave of touchscreen laptops.
Intel is adding a big new requirement for any computers that want to carry its "ultrabook" branding: They'll have to include a touchscreen. A prototype the company showed off Monday at a Consumer Electronics Show presentation featured a detachable display, a form factor that Intel hopes will become common.
That blurs the line even further between a notebook PC and a tablet. It's a move Microsoft (MSFT) is also backing: Its recently released Windows 8 operating system works on both desktop and mobile devices, but it operates much more smoothly with a touchscreen.
Intel (INTC), which makes the processors most laptop makers use to power their devices, has been trying to steer the industry toward lighter, sleeker, faster machines that take full advantage of its latest chip advances. It calls those machines "ultrabooks," a term it created and gets to write the rulebook for.
Intel boldly predicted at last year's CES that ultrabooks would dominate the industry and account for 40% of all consumer notebook sales by the end of 2012. The reality came up far short. Industry analysis firm IHS iSuppli chopped its ultrabook estimates for the year in half in October, citing the devices' "nebulous marketing and unappealing price."
Price has been a big sticking point: Ultrabooks typically go for more than $1,000. Intel claims that price tag will come down this year, even with the expensive addition of a touchscreen. The company predicted that entry-level ultrabooks will retail for $599 by end of the year -- just in time for the 2014 holiday season.
Kirk Skaugen, who heads Intel's PC client group, said the fourth-generation ultrabooks coming out this year "will be game-changers."
The new ultrabooks will run on Intel's upcoming Haswell chips, which are the first processors designed specifically for ultrabooks. The processors can provide "all-day battery life" and are designed to work "naturally" with voice and touch, Skaugen said.
The touch focus is part of Intel's push for "perceptual computing," the company's clunky term for a cool concept that wraps up recent advances in mouseless computing. The idea, Skaugen said, is that PCs will "have senses, like we do": touch, sight, hearing, and so on.
Intel demoed a few experiments along those lines from its developer partners, including a gesture-controlled version of the game "Portal 2" that lets users move items around the screen simply by grabbing at the air. A "Where's Waldo?" demo showed off eye-tracking, in which a user simply scanned the screen and blinked when he found the stripe-clad cartoon.
Intel also unveiled a new smartphone platform that's aimed at emerging markets, codenamed Lexington. Acer, Lava International, and Safaricom will offer devices that run on the low-power platform.
Jumping into this market was a no-brainer, Intel said: It cited forecasts that the so-called "value smartphone market" could reach as many as 500 million units by 2015.
On the tablet front, Intel announced a new quad-core Atom processor family called Bay Trail. The chip will deliver twice the computing power of current Intel-powered tablets, and it's slated to be available by the 2013 holiday season.


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The most important and effective way to support our work is through prayer. We have a desperate need for God's favor on our ministry as we strive to glorify Him in everything we do. Please lift us up on a regular basis and petition Him on our behalf that we can continue to operate with success as He sees fit.
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POE Management group named; Ryan Jankowski named head scout
TORONTO, Ont. – Hockey Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Wednesday a number of changes to the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence, including the naming of a management group, a head scout and significant changes to the under-17 program.
Over the course of the past few months, Hockey Canada, under the leadership of president and CEO Bob Nicholson and COO Scott Smith, did a full overview of the Program of Excellence, which led to the changes and structure being announced Wednesday.
The management group will oversee hockey operations for Hockey Canada's men's Program of Excellence and will be comprised of Joël Bouchard (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL), Sean Burke (Phoenix, NHL), Bruce Hamilton (Kelowna, WHL) and Mark Hunter (London, OHL). This group will be working directly with Hockey Canada vice-president of hockey operations and national teams Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, B.C.) and senior director of hockey operations and national teams Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.) to oversee operations of the under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs.
The Program of Excellence policy committee, comprised of Nicholson, Smith, OHL commissioner and CHL president David Branch, QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau, WHL commissioner Ron Robison, Hockey Canada officers Joe Drago (Sudbury, Ont.) and Michaël Brind'amour (St-Charles-Borromée, Que.) remains in place to oversee direction of the program.
Joël Bouchard, 39, has been the president and general manager of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for the past two seasons after serving as an assistant coach with the team for the previous three years. The Montreal, Que., native played 15 professional seasons, including parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League with eight teams. Bouchard represented Canada three times internationally as a player, at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 1993 and 1994 and the 1997 IIHF World Championship, winning a gold medal each time.
Sean Burke, 46,is a veteran of 17 NHL seasons with nine teams and is currently the assistant to the general manager and goaltender coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. Burke has represented Canada internationally on numerous occasions, beginning with a silver medal with Canada's National Junior Team at the 1986 IIHF World Junior Championship. Burke also played for Canada at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, winning a silver medal. He won the Canada Cup in 1991 and gold medals at the IIHF World Championship in 1997 and 2003, when he was also named the tournament's top goaltender and to the world championship all-star team.
Bruce Hamilton, 55,is the owner, president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets, a franchise he started in Tacoma, Wash., in 1991. Hamilton has led the Rockets to four Memorial Cups, winning in 2004 as the host team. Hamilton, originally from Saskatoon, Sask., is the WHL's chairman of the board, a post he has held since 2008 after previously holding the position from 1998 to 2004.
Mark Hunter, 50,justcompleted his 13th season as owner, vice-president and general manager of the London Knights. Hunter has helped guide the Knights to three Memorial Cups, winning in 2005, a season in which the Knights set 13 CHL team records. Prior to his time in London, Hunter was head coach of the OHL's Sarnia Sting for five seasons. The native of Petrolia, Ont., played 12 NHL seasons with five teams, winning the Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Calgary Flames.
Brad Pascall, 42, has been Hockey Canada's vice-president of hockey operations and national teams since 2010, and with Hockey Canada since 1998, serving as senior director of men's national teams from 2006 to 2010, and senior director of communications from 1998 to 2008. The native of Coquitlam, B.C., oversees the operation of Canada's national men's teams, including the men's Olympic and world championship teams, the under-20, under-18 and under-17 programs as well as Canada's National Sledge Team.
Scott Salmond, 42, has served as Hockey Canada's senior director of hockey operations and national teams since 2010, serving as director of men's national teams from 2005 to 2010. The native of Creston, B.C., oversees hockey operations for Canada's National Men's Team, National Junior Team, national under-18 program and under-17 programs. Prior to working with Hockey Canada, Salmond spent five years with the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association.
In addition to the management group, Hockey Canada also announced that Ryan Jankowski (Calgary, Alta.) has been named head scout of the men's Program of Excellence, replacing Kevin Prendergast.
Ryan Jankowski, 38, has spent the last three seasons as an amateur scout with the Montreal Canadiens after working five seasons as the assistant general manager with the New York Islanders. The native of Calgary, Alta., also served as chief European scout for the Islanders from 2003 to 2006. Jankowski previously worked for Hockey Canada from 1996 to 2003 in a variety of roles, including helping Canada's National Women's Team win gold at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games as the team's video manager. In 1993, he was Canada's assistant equipment manager at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Gavle, Sweden, winning a gold medal. As head scout of Hockey Canada's men's Program of Excellence, Jankowski will be responsible for all player evaluation and recruitment for Canada's National Junior Team and National Men's Under-18 Team development and selection camps, as well as evaluations with the under-17 program.
Hockey Canada also announced significant changes over the next two seasons to the under-17 program. In 2014-15, the under-17 program will include a first ever national under-17 camp, and will go from five regional teams to three national teams at the 2015 World Under-17 Challenge. In preparation of these changes, Hockey Canada will be hiring a scouting staff for the under-17 program over the coming months.


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During the manufacturing of explosive devices such as munitions, fireworks or flares, uncontrolled static electrical discharge presents a high risk to the combustible materials being processed. By maintaining a humidity of 55%rH static build-up is avoided as the moisture acts as a conductor and dissipates any electrical charge generated by friction.
Thermohygrographs are used to record the temperature and humidity in explosive manufacturing facilities so that the environmental conditions munitions are produced under can be traced back and checked should a defect be identified in the field at a later date.
Both in-room and in-duct humidifiers are used in these environments but they must be ATEX explosion proof and intrinsically safe. JetSpray compressed air and water humidifiers are popular as, unlike steam humidifiers, they do not contain electric heating elements and still provide very close control over the humidity to within +/-1%rH.
PODCAST: HOW TO SELECT & SIZE A HUMIDIFIERLearn how to plan a humidification project.
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New Possibilities for Hydrogen-Producing Algae
(PhysOrg.com) -- Photosynthesis produces the food that we eat and the oxygen that we breathe ― could it also help satisfy our future energy needs by producing clean-burning hydrogen? Researchers studying a hydrogen-producing, single-celled green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, have unmasked a previously unknown fermentation pathway that may open up possibilities for increasing hydrogen production.
C. reinhartii, a common inhabitant of soils, naturally produces small quantities of hydrogen when deprived of oxygen. Like yeast and other microbes, under anaerobic conditions this alga generates its energy from fermentation. During fermentation, hydrogen is released though the action of an enzyme called hydrogenase, powered by electrons generated by either the breakdown of organic compounds or the splitting of water by photosynthesis. Normally, only a small fraction of the electrons go into generating hydrogen. However, a major research goal has been to develop ways to increase this fraction, which would raise the potential yield of hydrogen.
In the new study by Dubini et al, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, researchers at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Plant Biology, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), examined metabolic processes in a mutant strain that was unable to assemble an active hydrogenase enzyme. The researchers, who include Alexandra Dubini (NREL), Florence Mus (Carnegie), Michael Seibert (NREL), Matthew Posewitz (CSM), and Arthur Grossman (Carnegie), expected the cell's metabolism to compensate by increasing metabolite flow along other known fermentation pathways, such as those producing formate and ethanol as end products. Instead, the algae activated a pathway leading to the production of succinate, which was previously not associated with fermentation metabolism in C. reinhardtii. Notably, succinate, a widely used industrial chemical normally synthesized from petroleum, is included in the Department of Energy's list of the top 12 value added chemicals from biomass.
"We actually didn't know that this particular pathway for fermentation metabolism existed in the alga until we generated the mutant," says Carnegie's Arthur Grossman. "This finding suggests that there is significant flexibility in the ways that soil-dwelling green algae can metabolize carbon under anaerobic conditions. By blocking and modifying some of these metabolic pathways, we may be able to augment the donation of electrons to hydrogenase under anaerobic conditions and produce elevated levels of hydrogen."
Grossman points out that it makes evolutionary sense that a soil organism such as Chlamydomonas would have a variety of metabolic pathways at its disposal. Oxygen levels, nutrient availability, and levels of metals and toxins can be extremely variable in soils, over both the short and long term. "In such an environment", Grossman says, "these organisms must evolve flexible metabolic circuits; the variety of conditions to which the organisms are exposed might favor one pathway for energy metabolism over another, which would help the organism compete in the soil environment over evolutionary time."
Grossman led the effort to generate a fully sequenced Chlamydomonas genome, which has allowed researchers to identify key genes encoding proteins involved in both fermentation and hydrogen production. Grossman feels that it is of immediate importance to generate new mutant strains to help us understand how we may be able to alter fermentation metabolism and the production of hydrogen. NREL's Michael Seibert, the project's Principal Investigator, observed that "the overarching goal of the work is to gain a fundamental understanding of the total suite of metabolic processes occurring in Chlamydomonas and how they interact; this discovery effort will lead to the development of novel ways to produce renewable hydrogen and other biofuels, which will benefit all of us".
"These are really exciting times in the field," says Matthew Posewitz. "The tools developed at Carnegie and by other groups in the field are presenting unprecedented opportunities for scientists to make important advances in our understanding of the basic biology of organisms such as Chlamydomonas."
As an energy source to potentially replace fossil fuels, hydrogen would greatly reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Proponents of algal-based hydrogen production point out that, unlike ethanol produced from crops, it would not compete with food production for agricultural land.
More information: Alexandra Dubini, Florence Mus, Michael Seibert, Arthur R. Grossman and Matthew C. Posewitz, "Flexibility in Anaerobic Metabolism as Revealed in a Mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Lacking Hydrogenase Activity," Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284: 7201-7213
Provided by Carnegie Institution


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#092: ACPT — Here we come!
Pre-ACPT interviews with Tyler, Trip, Francis, Dan and Howard, 13 minutes with Will Shortz, a double thunder round, and holy crap, the big weekend is moments away! https://fillmeinagain.com/episodes/episode092.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
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2013 wasn't even halfway over when I started planning my list for the 2014 TBR Pile Challenge! The goal: read at 12 specified books that have been hanging around the TBR shelves unread for at least one year. I've been revising this list for a while, and I think I'm finally done. I'm nearly finished with the 2013 challenge, and this year, I'm trying to include more fun books -- I really liked most of the books on the list this year, but I was really dreading some of them. I'm going to try and make this less of a chore this year. Here's my list:
2. Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert. One of many black-spine Penguin Classics on the TBR shelves. Also bought at the Borders blowout. Completed 12/29/14.
3. I, Claudius by Robert Graves. It's been on my to-read list for years, because it's on the Modern Library Top 100 list. I'm especially interested because my oldest daughter is taking Latin and she's learning all about Roman culture. I've never seen the PBS miniseries adaptation, so maybe I'll watch that too. Completed 12/17/14.
4. The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard. I loved The Cazalets miniseries, based on this book. Bought it (and the second in the series, Marking Time) for only $1 from the library's donation cart. Completed 1/5/14.
5. Kim by Rudyard Kipling. Another book from the ML Top 100. I've only read 49 so far, so if I complete both this and I, Claudius, I'll be more than halfway through the list. Completed 5/10/14.
5. Kim by Rudyard Kipling. Another book from the ML Top 100. I've only read 49 so far, so if I complete both this and I, Claudius, I'll be more than halfway through the list. Completed 5/10/14.
6. Dusty Answer by Rosamund Lehmann. A Christmas gift from about three years ago. Completed 2/16/14.
7. The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell. Bought after reading (and loving) The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate -- in 2006. Completed 6/15/14.
8. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. I bought this while I actually lived in Japan almost ten years ago (via Amazon, ironically). Still haven't read it. Completed 12/5/14.
9. Singled Out: How Two Million Women Survived Without Men After WWI by Virginia Nicholson. Bought during Downton Abbey withdrawal. I'm thinking about reading up on WWI next year, in honor of the 100th anniversary. There's also a WWI Library Thing readalong. Completed 7/19/14.
10. Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant. Another Penguin I have wanted to read for years. I've heard this one somewhere between Jane Austen (or is it Elizabeth Gaskell?) and George Eliot's Middlemarch, which I loved. Completed 2/1/14.
11. The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West. Also purchased during Downton Abbey withdrawal. Completed 8/31/14.
12. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. From my Big Box of Penguin Classics. My copy is actually the Graphic Deluxe Classics version, and the cover is really disturbing. Completed 6/7/14.
1. Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child by Noel Riley Fitch. Yet another purchase from Borders before they closed. Sigh.
2. The River's Tale by Edward Gargan. Another book about Asia purchased while I was overseas. I should have really put this in the must-read list for the challenge.
So -- several Penguins, several non-fiction books, four from my Classics Club list, two in translation, and some lighter reading as well. What do you think, bloggers? Good list? Which are must reads, and which should be put off until the bitter end? And who else is signing up for the 2014 TBR Pile Challenge? What's on your list?


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Covid vaccine inventor warns next virus pandemic after Covid 'could be more lethal'
One of the inventors of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine Dame Sarah Gilbert has warned the next pandemic after Covid-19 could prove to be worse.
Delivering the 44th Richard Dimbleby Lecture - a prestigious annual event held in honour of the late BBC broadcaster - Dame Gilbert also urged the world to not lose the scientific advances made in research against fighting deadly viruses.
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Hide AdHer comments come amid the ongoing spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
In a bid to avert an NHS winter crisis in the face of increasing Covid infections and the threat Omicron poses, the Government has urged eligible Brits to get their flu jabs.
What did Dame Sarah Gilbert say?
In a lecture which is to be broadcast on BBC One in England and Scotland at 22:35 tonight (6 December), Dame Gilbert made a number of warnings about the fight against viruses like Covid-19.
"This will not be the last time a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods. The truth is, the next one could be worse. It could be more contagious, or more lethal, or both," she said.
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Hide AdShe went on to say: "We cannot allow a situation where we have gone through all we have gone through, and then find that the enormous economic losses we have sustained mean that there is still no funding for pandemic preparedness.
"The advances we have made, and the knowledge we have gained, must not be lost."
Reflecting on the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, Dame Gilbert urged world leaders to be cautious and suggested more measures needed to be brought in to contain its spread.
"The spike protein of this variant contains mutations already known to increase transmissibility of the virus," she said.
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Hide Ad"But there are additional changes that may mean antibodies induced by the vaccines, or by infection with other variants, may be less effective at preventing infection with Omicron.
"Until we know more, we should be cautious, and take steps to slow down the spread of this new variant.
"But as we have seen before, reduced protection against infection and mild disease does not necessarily mean reduced protection against severe disease and death."
What is the latest on Omicron?
On Sunday (5 December), the UK Health Security Agency said a further 86 cases of Omicron had been confirmed in the UK - 68 in England and 18 in Scotland - bringing the total to 246.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, a report in The Daily Telegraph suggested nearly two-in-three housebound people - a cohort including many people who are especially vulnerable to Covid - are yet to receive their booster jabs.
An unpublished Whitehall analysis seen by the paper found that only 170,000 housebound people had received their dose of the vaccine by the end of last week out of an estimated cohort of 470,000.
By contrast, more than 60% of the over 50s age group has received a booster jab.
An NHS spokesperson said: "Local NHS and GP teams are contacting their eligible housebound patients, and we are working closely with St John Ambulance to give local areas additional support."
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Hide AdThey added that the NHS was also "providing additional funding" to bring in extra staff to ensure the booster roll-out takes place "as quickly and safely as possible".
Who is Dame Sarah Gilbert?
Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert is the Said Professor of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford.
She has been making and testing vaccines for more than a decade and started a coronavirus vaccine project in early 2020 when reports of Covid-19 first emerged from China.
This project became what is now the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine - a jab that's been used across most of the globe and has been credited with saving millions of lives.
Professor Gilbert received a damehood earlier this year for services to science and public health in Covid vaccine development.
Reporting by PA


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The Justice Department has executed Dustin Lee Honken in Terre Haute, Ind., the third federal inmate put to death by the government this week.
Honken, 52, was sentenced to die in October 2005 after being convicted of numerous offenses, including five counts of murder — among them two small children — during the course of a continuing criminal enterprise.
A coroner pronounced him dead by lethal injection at 4:36 p.m. ET Friday.
At the time of his death, Honken had served more than 22 years in an Indiana prison.
For his last words, he turned to the writings of a Jesuit priest, Gerard Manley Hopkins, reciting lines from the poemHeaven-Haven.
Department of Justice spokesperson Kerri Kupec said ending Honken's life was the culmination of "just punishment" being carried out.
"Nearly three decades after Honken coldly ended the lives of five people, including two young girls, all in an effort to protect himself and his criminal enterprise, he has finally faced justice," Kupec said in a statement.
She described Honken as a meth kingpin, who in 1993, "kidnapped, fatally shot, and buried Lori Duncan, a single, working mother, Duncan's two young daughters — 10-year-old Kandi and 6-year-old Amber — and Greg Nicholson, a government informant who testified against Honken on federal drug trafficking charges."
Honken also murdered Terry DeGeus, another possible witness against him, by beating him with a bat and shooting him.
While he did not offer an apology to his victims' families, his attorney, Shawn Nolan, said the former drug ring leader had repented for his crimes.
"He recognized and repented for the crimes he had committed, and spent his time in prison atoning for them," Nolan said in a statement.
He added: "There was no reason for the government to kill him, in haste or at all. In any case, they failed. The Dustin Honken they wanted to kill is long gone. The man they killed today was a human being, who could have spent the rest of his days helping others and further redeeming himself. May he rest in peace."
Early Friday morning, a federal appeals court denied Honken's last-ditch request to block the execution.
Attorney General William Barr relaunched executions this week for the first time since 2003. He has scheduled another execution in late August.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.