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Remember the video of the Iraqi Army fleeing from Ramadi back in May this year? The scene was shocking and rather embarrassing to see a military force not just in retreat, but full-fledged panic mode, leaving equipment dragging behind.
We saw the daytime celebratory parade by ISIS upon entering Ramadi, and my question at the time was, where is American air power? To have an enemy force on the move in the open desert, and then to have them conduct a broad daylight procession was unconscionable.
Am I pleased with the news about the "retaking" of Ramadi? Sure, but it should NEVER have been taken in the first place. And remember, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, asserted the fall of Ramadi wasn't a big deal. But it was a big deal to the men and women who fought, bled, were wounded, and to the families of those who lost their lives in Ramadi.
But has Ramadi been retaken?
As Fox News reported, "Iraqi government forces scored a major victory when they took control from ISIS of the central government complex in the city of Ramadi on Monday. But even as one Iraqi military spokesperson unequivically said earlier Monday that Ramadi had been "liberated," the head of Iraqi military operations in Anbar province cautioned against celebrating too early.
"The troops only entered the government complex," Gen. Ismail al-Mahlawi said. "We can't say that Ramadi is fully liberated. There are still neighborhoods under their control and there are still pockets of resistance."
That assessment contradicted Joint Operations Spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rahsool's statement earlier in the day, that "Yes, the city of Ramadi has been liberated." Rahsool did subsequently hedge his assertion, however. "The Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have raised the Iraqi flag over the government complex in Anbar," he said, without noting any other specific land or buildings controlled by Iraqi forces."
Ok, so what happens next? In military jargon there's something called "operational tempo," which means if you have the enemy in retreat and on the run, you press the assault, the attack. The purpose is to crush the enemy's will to fight and resist, to destroy them — such as what we did to the Iraqi Army on the "Highway of Death" leading out of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.
As study of ancient warfare will show, it is in the pursuit phase of an operation where the most casualties are inflicted upon the enemy. So I ask again, what next?
"Retaking" Ramadi is a small tactical victory, and I mean small when one considers the greater global jihadist movement being waged.
Consider the resounding defeat of the U.S. Army in its first engagement against the forces of the Desert Fox, German General Erwin Rommel at Kasserine Pass. A new commander was brought in, General George Patton, and even in the absence of Rommel, Patton defeated the vaunted Afrika Corps — a great victory, but what next?
Then came Sicily, and then came the Anzio landing. You see, in a true dedicated combat operation — a war — you have a campaign plan. That means we went into North Africa in 1942, but we didn't land in Europe to dislodge the Nazi Army until June 6, 1944. And in a campaign plan there are phases, so what is the next phase after this operation in Ramadi?
If there is no follow-on pursuit of ISIS, then instead of "operational tempo," we have "operational pause." And folks, that doesn't work out well, because it affords the enemy an opportunity to consolidate and reorganize, and they can retake the initiative.
When I was in the Army we had a little saying, "Why do you kick a man when he's down? Because he's close to your foot."
Now of course the liberal progressives reading this will misinterpret what I just said, not understanding the metaphorical meaning. Just as I remember being criticized by the left for my boiling a frog metaphor to demonstrate the concept of socialist incrementalism. Those chuckleheads actually thought I boiled frogs as a kid! The metaphor of kicking a man when he's down relates to pressing the attack and never letting up on the enemy — which is what General Patton was all about.
Here's what I think is going to happen next. There will be a victory lap. There will be statements about how great the ISIS strategy is working — funny, many Americans don't see it that way. If we were kicking the enemy (Islamic jihadists/terrorists), we wouldn't be hearing about Taliban resurgence and ISIS being "operationally emerging" in Afghanistan. We just had Islamic terror attacks in Nigeria. Don't forget the recent hotel Islamic terror attack in Mali. ISIS and other jihadist groups have a base of operations established in Libya. ISIS has affiliations as far away as the Philippines.
Yep, there are plenty of high fives and celebrations about the "retaking" of Ramadi. But then again, why do we have a heightened state of alert all across the Western world for the upcoming New Year's Day?
Politicians do a crappy job of understanding and prosecuting warfare. Why? Because they've never had the courage to be on the battlefield. Those of us who have been on the battlefield understand the nuances of tactical victory, but we always keep an eye on the greater strategic impact.
During World War II in the Pacific Theater, we had a resounding tactical victory against the Japanese at Midway Island. We were successful in intercepting Japanese Admiral Yamamoto's airplane and shot him down from the sky. Those were successes in and of themselves, but by themselves they were not strategic victories that brought forth the end of Imperial Japan.
Ramadi does not a victory against Islamic jihadism and Islamic totalitarianism make. And if we don't elect a visionary leader who understands campaign planning and strategic objectives, well, we'll keep winning only small skirmishes.
The liberal progressive acolytes of Obama will say I just cannot give him any credit. Nope, I ain't, as long as he's off vacationing in Hawaii, playing golf, and refusing to kick the enemy's arse. And remember lefties, you can criticize me all you want, but I would NEVER abandon U.S. combat troops to die, and then lie about it.


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The battle between the two ageless legends started as early as in the late 90s but thanks to the Indian Premier League, it is unlikely to end. Sachin Tendulkar Vs Shane Warne duel will probably prove a crowd pulling headline for tomorrow's game between the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Rajasthan is back to its winnings ways after registering a comprehensive victory over Kochi Tuskers while Mumbai have been as dominant as ever in the IPL. Both are located at the first and fourth spot respectively.
The Mumbai Indians, who were tagged as hot favorites to win this edition of Indian Premier league, given their team and their bench strength, they have been able to live up to the hype that was built around them. So far, they have played six games and have lost only one.
The Rajasthan Royals on the other hand, are showing no signs of being affected by the fine inflicted on them before the commencement of the auction. Though they were struggling to regain form losing three games in a row, they can draw all the confidence they need from the last game. They notched up a fine win against the in-form Kochi Tuskers Kerala. They have marshaled their resources to their very best and almost every player has contributed in what has been a see-saw tournament for them. They have won three out of the seven and lost as many with one game getting abandoned due to rain.
For Rajasthan and Mumbai, their skippers have always been leading from the front. The only difference being, when Warne fails, Rajasthan's bowling has appeared very thin. Apart from Shane Watson, with Sidharth Trivedi and Shaun Tait, the bowling attack fails to impart any fear in the opposition. The batting heavily relies on the likes of Shane Watson Rahul Dravid and Ross Taylor. Only a combined effort could produce desired results.
For the Mumbai Indians it has just been the team that the doctor ordered. The batting order is the most formidable any league team could have had in the history of the game. With Symonds announcing his return to form, it appears even more so. With the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Andrew Symonds, Kieron Pollard doing their job to perfection, Mumbai should be hoping for a cake-walk on Friday.
This said and the way Sachin Tendulkar has dominated Warne during his regime, the game would pose as a great challenge for Warne as a player and as a skipper.
Tags: Cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL 2011, IPL 4, MI, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, RR, Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne

subset: commoncrawl


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Yearly Archives: 2015
DeniseJoanne X ZoYou || Statement T-shirt
Ohhhh, you guys! Today's a special day! Remember that post in which I shamelessly spilled some of my 'secret' and seemingly unachievable dreams? Yeah, one of those dreams partially came true! No biggie at all.. It's just a first baby step to my dream of designing clothes. Excuse me while I try to act cool and conceal my exitement! Weeeee! :-D
So! In collaboration with ZoYou, I got to design my own statement t-shirt! It was extremely hard to pick the right text, but in the end we both agreed that this one's a winner! 'I'm actually a mermaid' can appeal to any girl (I mean, who isn't secretly a mermaid deep down? Am I right?) but it's also a slight hint to me as a person. Because.. Well, you know.. My mild Disney addiction. :-) The choice of font, on the other hand, was a very quick and easy decision because I simply adore this style and I think it goes very well with the t-shirt and the text!
As you can see in the pictures, the t-shirt has a very comfortable fit and a simple round neckline — easy to combine with fun necklaces and other accessories! The quality of the fabric is amazing and it feels thicker and more luxurious than a regular t-shirt. Gosh I'm in love :-).
And the best thing is — this t-shirt is actually being sold as we speak! So you guys can rock this Mermaid statement t-shirt too if you'd like! Shop this musthave on the renewed ZoYou webshop (seriously, take a look at it! It's a amazing!). Use code 'DENISEJOANNE' for 10% off of the Mermaid shirt (valid until the 31st of december)!
What I'm wearing
T-shirt: ZoYou
Fluffy Jacket: ZoYou
Faux leather shorts: Boohoo
Booties: Michael Kors
Necklace: eBay
Hair extensions: Foxy Locks
If you could design your own statement t-shirt, what would it say?
Christmas 2015 wish list
Woahhh, is this what my blog looks like?! I almost forgot! Oh, here come the excuses again: I have been so busy with school projects and very important deadlines that I couldn't find the time to sit down and work on my little online happy place. My social media accounts have never been this quiet either, it kills me! :-( I'm probably saying this for the 100th time, but I really cannot wait until this hassle is over. Just give me my degree so I can get on with my life and do what I love most!
So here I am, posting my personal christmas wish list. Just to show that I am still alive and well (or am I?!). The month of our home moving is coming closer each day and I am really looking forward to managing my blog from there! Things will definitely brighten up in terms of blogging more frequently and behind the scenes I am already preparing for that moment! For starters I really want to get into creating YouTube content again (like back in the ol' days around 2006-2009, when the majority of you didn't know me because my YouTube channel was related to something completely different, hehehe!), so the Falcon Eyes ring light is yet again making an appearance on my wish list this year!
I also feel the need to get more Clinique POP lipsticks, because they are amaze-balls! The Cherry POP lipstick is one of my favorites because it's so hydrating and long lasting — I need more of those in my life! On top of that, I've been obsessed with practically anything Calvin Klein related lately (hence the amazing cotton underwear and the cropped tee on the list) and I'm also desperately in need of a cute shoulder bag, so I don't have to carry my huge tote bag around all the time.
Christmas Wish List
Daniel Wellington Classic St Mawes watch
Mac Matchmaster Concealer stick 3
Mac Cherry Lipliner
Calvin Klein Cotton Underwear
Falcon Eyes Ring light
Michael Kors Selma shoulder bag
Calvin Klein white cropped logo T-shirt
Gucci Guilty Diamond
Clinique Nude POP lipstick
Clinique Melon POP lipstick
Clinique Love POP lipstick
What is on top of your Christmas wish list this year?


text: Toss my email into it, also CCing Leif as I'm sure he'd enjoy being on call to defuse situations at Noisebridge. Danny O'Brien wrote, On 2011-09-05 01:53: > So I hacked together an extension on Noisebridge's phone system for 311 > number that people can call if they need assistance. > > Calling it will email/text a bunch of people, and let them join a conference > call with the person to help confer. It's mainly intended for the times when > people want some backup from people who aren't currently at he space, but > they know/help will be helpful. > > It's not the best solution (it's hosted at NB, I wanted something that would > be independent of power + internet), but it's not the first time that > somebody wanted a ring group number to call for backup at the space, and I > let it slide. > > Anyway, I need people to be on the phone roster to test it out. I feel that > board members should at the very least be on it, but the more the merrier. > > Send me your email addresses or SMS gateway email address details if you'd > like to join. Basically you'll occasionally get an an email or text asking > you to join a conference call (which hopefully the original caller is on). > We can make it cleverer as tims go on. > > https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/311 for more info on it -- or check out the > pony:/etc/asterisk/extensions.conf and > https://github.com/dannyob/secretaribot/blob/master/arooga.agi > > Yay, I learned Asterisk! > > d. > PS andy -- is it ok that this number is becoming be defacto Noisebridge's > own. Would you like us to move over to a cheap SIP account that Noisebridge > would actually own? > -- Rubin Abdi rubin at starset.net -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 490 bytes Desc: OpenPGP digital signature URL: <http://www.noisebridge.net/pipermail/board/attachments/20110907/e1bf7d51/attachment.sig>


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A tournament was scheduled in the local province, and seven knights registered for the competition. Each contestant was to joust with each of the others, and each knight's number of wins would be totalled to determine the winner, and the rankings of the 6 runner-up knights. In which order did the knights finish, and how many wins had each?Sir Intrepid finished ahead of Sir Gallant, but behind Sir Victor.Sir Able's ranking (and Sir Victor's) was an odd number.Sir Bold and Sir Able finished behind Sir Intrepid.Sir Staunch won 4 jousts.Sir Hector finished two places behind Sir Bold.Sir Gallant finished two places ahead of Sir Able.Answer
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Imagine if you filmed all your one-night trysts from Grindr, Craigslist, Manhunt, whatever new hook-up app horny queens currently cream over, and you spliced them all together in a cinematic document of all your tawdry impersonal fuck sessions. Filmmaker Antonio da Silva did, and the result is as insightful as it is sexy.
Da Silva's film "Mates" shows a series of his many London tricks as they come over to fuck after meeting online. Mixing pornography and art, the camera is purposely haphazardly placed, making the men as faceless as their online profile photos, reducing them to torsos, asses and cocks. The shallow flesh is more marketable to gays than the face or personality.
"Mates" is playing an international gay film circuit, but a steamy preview can seen here. It's sexy and chilling in the way it coldly shows the endless dramatic arc of hot online hook-ups: the door answer, the disrobing, the foreplay and fucking, the cumming, the clean-up, the (maybe) sleepover, the dressing back up, the closing the door goodbye. Hundreds and hundreds of times, over and over and over, you cheap sex-starved anonymous slut.
They hypnotic sexfest is an accurate document of how gay men get off today, at once celebratory and critical. Sure a few of us occasionally get retro and cruise guys in a bar, doing that old school thing of verbal flirtation that's a bit more subtle than "Horny & hung here. U?" The majority now log on or sign in and turn their sexual psyches into marketing machines. Our hook-ups become a conveyor belt business—fuck in the ass, wipe off the cum, pull up the undies. Gay sexcapades are reduced to Henry Ford's auto-impersonality.
Still, we can't wait to get our horny hands on the full film! Click the links below to see both preview clips.
· Mates (buttmagazine.com)
· Antonio da Silva Films (tumblr.com)


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USA Effectively Goes to War in Alliance With Al Qaeda
The unthinkable is official: the United States government is allied with Al Qaeda.
The Obama administration has concluded that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government used chemical weapons against the rebels seeking to overthrow him and, in a major policy shift, President Obama has decided to supply military support to the rebels, the White House announced Thursday.
"The president has made a decision about providing more support to the opposition that will involve providing direct support to the [Supreme Military Council]. That includes military support," Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes told reporters.
Funny, Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons on his own people didn't influence Obama to favor military intervention.
The cost of our military support, until it inevitably rockets upward, will be about $50 million a day. That's fine, taxpayers have plenty of money. Some people are still working. When we run out, Big Government can print some more.
A little background on our Syrian comrades in arms:
A Syrian rebel group's April pledge of allegiance to al-Qaeda's replacement for Osama bin Laden suggests that the terrorist group's influence is not waning and that it may take a greater role in the Western-backed fight to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The pledge of allegiance by Syrian Jabhat al Nusra Front chief Abou Mohamad al-Joulani to al-Qaeda leader Sheik Ayman al-Zawahri was coupled with an announcement by the al-Qaeda affiliate in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq, that it would work with al Nusra as well.
Lebanese Sheik Omar Bakri, a Salafist who says states must be governed by Muslim religious law, says al-Qaeda has assisted al Nusra for some time.
On September 11, 2001, as New Yorkers covered in white dust that consisted in part of the bones of their former coworkers shambled north from lower Manhattan like an army of zombies, was there anyone cynical enough to believe that hardly more than a decade later our government would be allied with those responsible in a war that does not in any way advance American interests?
More background on our allies:
Members of an al Qaeda-linked Islamist group in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo executed a 15-year-old boy in front of his parents on Sunday as punishment for what the group regarded as a heretical comment, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. …
A photo released by the Observatory showed [Mohammad] Qataa's face with his mouth and jaw bloodied and destroyed, as well as a bullet wound in his neck.
Here is the photo, if you have the belly for it.
The Observatory, which based its report on witness accounts of the killing, said Qataa, who was a street vendor selling coffee in the working-class Shaar neighborhood, had been arguing with someone when he was overheard saying: "Even if the Prophet Mohammad comes down (from heaven), I will not become a believer."
The gunmen, who belong to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a militant group that started off known as the Nusra Front, took Qatta on Saturday and brought him back alive in the early hours of Sunday to his wooden stand, with whiplash marks visible on his body.
"People gathered around him and a member of the fighting brigade said: 'Generous citizens of Aleppo, disbelieving in God is polytheism and cursing the prophet is a polytheism. Whoever curses even once will be punished like this."
"He then fired two bullets from an automatic rifle in view of the crowd and in front of the boy's mother and father, and got into a car and left," the report said.
Bashar Assad is a bad guy. Our government's new allies are no better. How helping yet another terror-affiliated Islamist regime to power will benefit America has not been explained.
On tips from G. Fox, Ben S, and Sean C.
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Repeating Decimals
Date: 05/14/97 at 15:26:13 From: Tom Engvall Subject: length of rep. sequence of decimals When converting a fraction, such as 3/7, to decimals, a repeating sequence of digits appears in the result. (1) Can the length of this sequence ever exceed the value in the denominator? (2) If the length of this sequence is less than the denominator, is it always an integer factor of the denominator minus one? Example: 3/7 = .428571428571... , length = 6.
Date: 05/14/97 at 16:10:37 From: Doctor Wilkinson Subject: Re: length of rep. sequence of decimals As it turns out, the length of the sequence that repeats cannot exceed the value of the denominator. If you think about the process of converting the fraction m/n to a decimal, at each stage you divide by n and get a remainder. Since the remainders are all less than n, within n steps you must have the same remainder appearing twice, at which point the sequence of digits begins to repeat. The length of this repeating sequence, however, is not always an integer factor of the denominator minus one. For example, 1/70 gives you a repeating sequence of length 6, but 6 is not a divisor of 70 - 1. But there is a grain of truth there. You may want to think about it some more. -Doctor Wilkinson, The Math Forum Check out our web site! http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
Date: 05/14/97 at 16:33:58 From: Doctor Rob Subject: Re: length of rep. sequence of decimals This is a very good question, which leads into all sorts of interesting mathematics, part of a subject called number theory. (1) No, it cannot. You can prove this yourself by doing long division of the numerator by the denominator, and looking at the sequence of remainders. They are never zero unless the denominator is a power of 2 times a power of 5 (when the decimal terminates), and they are all less than the denominator. There are D-1 possible values. As soon as one of these values repeats, so does its successor, and all the remaining ones, so the remainders in the repeating part are all different. Thus there cannot be more than D-1 of them. (2) Not quite. If the denominator D is a prime number, it is always an integer factor of D-1. This is a corollary of Lagrange's Theorem from group theory. What you are asking is what the smallest power e of 10 might be such that D divides 10^e - 1 evenly. The set of integers between 1 and D-1 which have no common factor with D are closed under multiplication modulo D (multiply the integers, divide by D, and keep only the remainder). They form a group, and so Lagrange's Theorem applies. It says that the order (e in this case) of any group element (10 in this case) divides the order of the group (D-1 here). If the denominator D is not prime, this probably isn't true, although you can find examples where it still is. In general, it is false. 1/21 = 0.047619047619047619..., period 6, but 6 doesn't divide 20. 1/27 = 0.037037037037037037..., period 3, but 3 doesn't divide 26. If you guess that the period is somehow connected to the prime factors of the denominator D, you are right. The connection is somewhat complicated, however. It involves something called the Euler phi function and the Carmichael lambda function. Write D = p(1)^e(1)*p(2)^e(2)*...*p(k)^e(k) as the product of powers of distinct primes. Then: phi(D) = D*(1-1/p(1))*(1-1/p(2))*...*(1-1/p(k)) = p(1)^(e(1)-1)*(p(1)-1)*p(2)^(e(2)-1)*(p(2)-1)*...* p(k)^(e(k)-1)*(p(k)-1) This is the number of positive whole numbers no greater than D having no common factor with D. The set of these numbers is closed under multiplication modulo D (as above), and in fact forms a group. Once again Lagrange's Theorem tells us that the order of 10 (the period of the decimal 1/D) divides the number of elements in the group, phi(D). When D = 21 = 3*7, phi(D) = 2*6 = 12, so the period must divide 12. When D = 27 = 3^3, phi(D) = 3^2*(3-1) = 18, so the period must divide 18. This is true, but one can actually do better. For odd integers, the Carmichael lambda function is defined by: lambda(D) = L.C.M.[p(1)^(e(1)-1)*(p(1)-1), p(2)^(e(2)-1)*(p(2)-1), ... p(k)^(e(k)-1)*(p(k)-1)] Here L.C.M. means the Least Common Multiple, which you have met when adding fractions, where it is called the Least Common Denominator. It turns out that the period must divide lambda(D), which is often a smaller divisor of phi(D). When D = 21 = 3*7, lambda(D) = LCM[2, 6] = 6, so the period must divide 6, so we have done better. When D = 27 = 3^3, lambda(D) = LCM[18] = 18 = phi(n), so we haven't done better. For a really big example, when D = 3^2*7*11*13 = 9009, lambda(D) = LCM[3*2, 6, 10, 12] = 60, so the period of 1/9009 must divide 60. By the way, if the denominator is divisible by 2 or 5, to compute the period just throw all those prime factors away, and deal with what is left. The period will remain the same. Probably this was more than you ever wanted to know. If you are interested, there is much more to learn here. An elementary book on number theory would be a source of more information. -Doctor Rob, The Math Forum Check out our web site! http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
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If you are going to travel with your hamster, consider all the items you will need to bring to make the trip as comfortable as possible for your hamster. These include a cage, food, water and a medical kit. Also think about how you are going to travel as you'll probably find that car travel is best.
Traveling by Car
The easiest way to transport your hamster is by car. That's because a car is a much easier place for you to control the conditions which will make your hamster comfortable when traveling. Let's look at the different key items you'll need when you're about to travel with your hamster by car.
The cage or carrier is the most important of all the items you have to bring. More than anything else, the traveling hamster cage has to be well-built, ventilated, and escape-proof.
You should avoid pet carriers made of cardboard as they are only good for temporary use. For instance, bringing your hamster home for the first time. No matter how solid they look, they are not made for anything but short trips.
The ideal material is plastic but it must be the durable type that will be difficult for your hammy to chew through. In addition, you should avoid all wire cages as they are not secure enough. What's more, they are not accepted for air travel.
The cage should have a self-locking top or door. You may want to weigh down the top with something heavy so your hamster can't pick the lock and get out.
A one level hamster cage is best, but if your cage does has more than one level, take out any ladders and platforms so your hamster won't try to climb around. One bump in the road and your hamster can have a bad fall from the second level of a cage.
Put bedding in the cage so your hamster can burrow if it gets scared.
And remember that your hamster likes a steady temperature so check your hamster if you turn on the car heater or AC. If you decide to open the car window you may want to cover the traveling cage so your hamster doesn't get cold air blowing directly on him or her.
Finally, just as a precaution, get a label and attach it to the cage. Clearly write your hammy's name, your name, address, and contact information. It is also a good idea to include your vet's phone number in case of emergency. You should also add feeding instructions on the label.
Water and Food
When it comes to hamster travel, make sure to bring along your pet's regular food and drink so its diet won't be affected, especially if you're going to be away from home for a while. The less change there is in your hamster's diet, the less stressful the trip will be for your pet.
If you are not certain about where you can find the same pet food where you are headed, bring enough food and treats to last for the whole trip. Don't forget to bring along sufficient water, too, because just like people, a hamster could develop an upset stomach if the water is different. It is also a good idea to bring disposable spoons and dishes for easy cleanup. Besides, these are very convenient utensils and can be purchased anywhere.
Keep in mind that cucumbers are mostly water. So a slice of cucumber in the traveling cage can provide both food and water.
Emergency Kit
It's best to avoid complications during your trip so take along any medication that your vet prescribed for your hamster. In addition, your kit should include ear cleanups, cotton swabs and balls. And while you're at it don't forget to add a tick and flea spray or powder. This might seem like overkill but it is better to be safe than sorry.
To complete your hamster travel kit, get an envelope and put any medical records and medical information in it. Such information might not be needed, but you never know. Also include your vet's name and contact number.
A brush or lint roller might also come in handy to clean your pet's fur so it doesn't make a mess in the hotel.
Travel by Plane
If you must travel with your hamster by plane, you should first check with the airline to see what its hamster travel policy is.
Most airlines will not allow you to carry your pet on the plane and be with you at your seat. Most airlines will insist that the hamster be put in the baggage compartment. That's because they don't want a hamster loose inside an airplane cabin where he or she could chew wires and cause a terrible accident. So there is a good reason for the airlines insisting that your hamster travel in the baggage compartment.
Your hamster will still have to be in a traveling cage that the airline might inspect to be sure that he or she cannot chew its way out. You'll want to put some water in the cage, of course. As with car travel, you may want to put a slice of cucumber in there for liquid.
Also, airlines may not allow your animal to travel when the temperature is too cold or too hot in the baggage compartment.
If at all possible it is much easier for your hamster to travel by car than by plane. If you are moving a long distance away, think about giving your hamster to someone who will care for it and getting a new one when you reach your new home.
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Ward's Deems The Chevy Volt Propulsion System One Of The "10 Best"
The OnLive Viewer iPad/Android App Shows What The Future Might Be For Mobile Computing
Ward's AutoWorld routinely grades vehicle powertrains and this year awarded one of the spots to the Chevy Volt's 1.4L/111-kW electric drive unit mashup dubbed Voltec. Here's what Ward's AutoWorld Editor-In-Chief, Drew Winter, said about the propulsion system.
Brave. Inspired. Brilliant. We don't often use these words in the same sentence as 'propulsion system,' but that's the only way to describe the magic under the hood of the Chevy Volt. General Motors engineers have changed the course of history by creating an electric vehicle with true mass appeal.
There you have it. It's a good engine. At least that's what Ward's, Motor Trend, and Car and Driver think. But clearly, Rush Limbaugh, the self-proclaimed All-Knowing, All-Sensing, All-Everything Maha Rushie knows something they don't.


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|Sunday, July 24, 2011 13:18
This bun is baking away! He (or she) moves more than I could ever imagine to be normal. Haha. I cannot wait to see him (or her) in the outside world. I wonder if there will be constant wiggling and movements even in sleep? I love finding the little things that only I can recognize from holding the baby in-utero, things that no one else existed until birth.
I think that is one of the reasons that I love being pregnant so much. This baby is MINE while inside of me. I know I know, baby is mine after birth as well, but not like this. Once baby is here, I have to share. Maybe I'm just selfish, but the time that I have alone with baby is the greatest, most intimate time of my life. I am never alone while carrying a baby. My body literally grows this child. It takes my breath away. I do get nervous though about post-partum depression. I worry because I love being pregnant so much, that after the belly is gone and baby is no longer just mine, that I will be sad. I didn't suffer from depression at all with Scarlett, and I loved being pregnant with her, but I was ready for her to be here. This baby, though, I am just treasuring the whole thing differently. I have no urge to do primrose oil tablets at 36 weeks (to soften cervix) or see the chiropractor and acupuncturist to induce labor, etc. All of these natural things I did with Scarlett starting at 36 weeks. They are all safe and recommended, but this time I won't start anything until 38 weeks or later. If even then. I will however do my exercises to keep baby head down!
We took family maternity pictures this weekend on the beach, just a quick little photo-shoot. They turned out fantastic! I love not spending $300 on a photographer and using a family member and a nice camera instead J. We used the blocks to spell out "Family" and had Scarlett in a little white sundress. We wore "worn/tattered" jeans and button down tops, mine tied up over my belly. I cannot wait to order prints from shutterfly and frame one for the baby room and one for the family room. I'm trying to figure out now the newborn pictures. I'm going to use a nice basket and blanket and do the pictures of baby alone like that, but we want a few family pictures. Any ideas? I was thinking maybe a picnic setting with all of us overlooking the marsh, but I don't know. I have time to play with some ideas!
We've been at the beach all week. I love vacations! Scarlett and I are pretty much the color of perfectly baked bread. She could easily pose as the coppertone baby right now! Her butt is the shade of a ghost and naked, she looks like she's still wearing her bikini. We have 2 days left of vacation before we hit the road back to Savannah, back to reality. John left yesterday to go back to work. He wanted the whole week off, but because of the baby coming, he needed to save a few days. Now that he's gone, I wish he would have taken the entire week off! But I will appreciate the time saved when baby arrives.
OH, I almost forgot. I stopped in to a "Once Upon A Child" store yesterday afternoon. I have never been in one. Where have I been!?!? I bought a Bumbo seat and a travel swing and a Care Bear movie for Scarlett all for $40. SERIOUSLY?!?!?! The bumbo alone is worth $60! Everything was in perfect condition and I will re-sanitize before baby gets here. I highly recommend searching for a branch of this store near you if you are pregnant!
|Last Updated on Monday, September 09, 2013 20:58


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NOTE: Please read the entire post and the Sourdough Starter Troubleshooting FAQ before posting a question about the Starter or the Bread. Making a sourdough starter and the bread is a process–you can't rush it and you need to give it time. Also, you need to follow the directions :).
Important new information added 5/4/14 and 1/5/15 and 2/12/15. Please read entire post for a better understanding of what's happening with the starter.
I miss sourdough bread! I am from Monterey, CA, which is a lovely coastal town about 100 miles south of San Francisco. And I grew up with fabulous San Francisco sourdough. When I was diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, I was no longer able to eat commercial sourdough. It's been a source of great anguish for me–I loved my San Francisco sourdough! Since I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance, I've experimented with making gluten-free sourdough every so often. But, nothing really has come even close to my beloved SF sourdough–until now.
As you may know, sourdough bread is made by using a fermented starter, which is usually made from wild yeast, flour, and water. The yeast ferments the mixture by eating the sugars in the flour and turning them into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. The starter, then, is what is used to make the bread rise. Bread made with a starter has a more complex taste and texture than one made with commercial yeast. What distinguishes sourdough starter and makes it sour is that it evolves over time. It's created by the feeding and elimination process the yeasts and bacteria in the starter go through when you mix them with food (flour) and water. They consume the flour and water and eliminate alcohol and gas.
Also important to the process is lactic acid bacteria. This works with the yeast to create an environment that allows the yeast to grow and develop without being invaded by things like mold. It's the wild lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, floating around San Francisco that is what makes San Francisco sourdough so special.
But, as one researches the world of sourdough, some unexpected facts turn up. As it turns out, what is called "sourdough" isn't necessarily sour and it's not necessarily something that takes days or weeks to create. Sourdough is simply bread (or baked items) that are made with a fermented culture or starter, also known as the "pre-ferment" or the "chef," among other names. It is what we call bread that is not made quickly from commercial yeast. The concept of a starter was developed at some point in the distant past when bakers realized that they could harvest the yeast and bacteria from the flour and the air in order to leaven their loaves. Further, it was discovered that they could keep back a little bit of starter or some dough from each baking to feed and create more starter that would be used to make the next batch of bread. Therefore, making bread from a pre-ferment that has only proofed overnight (vs. days) has more complex flavor than that made with commercial yeast, it isn't at all sour in the way San Francisco sourdough is. Most of the time, a sour sourdough is made from a starter that is mature (i.e., has been cultivated over a longish period of time). A young starter will create bread that one would not call "sour."
What this means is that all bread used to be sourdough. Who knew? But, as commercial yeast came onto the market, there was less need for bakeries and for home bakers to use a starter. Commercial yeast (known in its various forms as fresh, cake, active dry, or instant yeast) allowed bakers to just add yeast to recipe without having to wait for a starter to develop. But, even though this development saved time, it creates bread that has a much more neutral and less complex flavor. Recognition of this fact has contributed led to the rise in the past several years of artisan bakeries which make bread from a starter vs. from commercial yeast.
So, how do we start a starter? There are several ways to get the yeast into the flour/water base mix to create the fermented starter. You can start with commercial yeast and mix that with flour and water. Or, you can mix flour and water and the wild yeast on the flour will be activated and will mix with the bacteria on the flour and in the air and start multiplying and create a starter. Or you can use a boosting medium on which wild yeast likes to grow, like grapes or red cabbage, and mix those with flour and water to get the yeast into the starter.
It's important to note that the concept that yeast is floating around in the air is a myth. You will read old sourdough books where they talk about wild yeast in the air. As it turns out, the yeast that starts a wild (aka, non-commercial yeast) sourdough starter is on the flour and on any boosting mechanism you add (e.g., red cabbage or grapes). The thing that floats around in the air and is different to different regions is the lactic acid bacteria.
Every method of culturing and developing a (wheat) sourdough starter I have ever come across has seemed to me to be long and involved. I have followed many methods over the years. Most of them seem to require crazy amounts of flour and water and a specific time-table of when to feed the starter and when to stir the starter. You're always pouring off stuff, adding more, etc. It always drove me crazy. It was like having a persnickity pet. I always got frustrated with how complicated things seemed and gave up after a while, my starter inevitably went bad, and I ended up throwing my disgusting mess into my compost bin. As it turns out, the problem with these recipes is that they most often don't explain why we needed to do what they asked. This is important to me. I find that I always need to know "why" a thing is required in order to be convinced to do it.
Then, I ran across an old post by Michael Ruhlman about sourdough starter. In the post he discusses a method of harvesting wild yeast that was developed by a woman named Carri Thurman of Two Sisters Bakery in Homer, Alaska. She uses a leaf of red cabbage mixed with her flour and water. You know how red cabbage has a bit of a white film on the leaves? That is wild yeast. And, so you can use red cabbage to kick-start the yeast harvesting process. And you know what? It works well and is extremely easy.
My first several starters provided a world of information for me. First they smelled a bit sour, but not that strong. And then they got very sour. But, sometimes they eventually mellowed out and started to smell like whey. Of course, after all of my past experiences, I worried that the starter would go bad. As it turns out, the reason the older recipes ask you do pour off your starter before you feed it again is that the starter needs to be fed with roughly equal amounts of flour and water. So 1 cup of starter to 1 cup of water and 1 cup of flour. This keeps the yeast and the lactic acid bacteria happy and well fed and they will work together and make sure nothing else grows in it. It turns out that the lactic acid bacteria create an antibiotic called cycloheximide that kills the unwanted organisms that might grow in your starter, but it doesn't kill the yeast. So, if the lactic acid bacteria is happy and being fed and watered enough and stirred well, it will keep your starter free of bad things like mold.
Problems arise when you have too much starter and aren't feeding and watering it often enough. There is a "perfect spot" at which yeast is just old enough and acidic enough that it is sour but not too sour. But, if you let it get too sour, it means that the yeast is too old and too acidic and problems like mold will develop on it. Also, starters often develop a top layer of waste liquid alcohol that the yeast produces as a result of fermentation that is called "hooch." You can mix the hooch back into the starter to make it more more sour or you can pour it off. A moderate amount of hooch is fine, but a lot of hooch means the yeast is weak and stressed. I recommend mixing it back into the starter if it's not a lot of hooch or if you're going to use that starter to bake with very soon and want the sourness. A lot of hooch (a layer equal to or more than the lower layer of starter) means that you need to feed and water the starter more and more often.
Keep in mind that most of the time, a more sour the starter usually means the yeast have become weaker, which means less leavening power. So, the more sour the bread, the more dense it will probably be. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. 🙂
I have also found that different flours create differently-flavored starters. Which makes sense. So, you can play with the flours you give your starter and see how they affect the taste and smell of the starter.
Also, you can keep your starter going forever or you can use it all up and start a new starter. I have found that if I go weeks or months with not using a starter, it's easier to just use it all up (or compost it) rather than keep it going. But, experiment and do what sounds interesting to you.
Sourdough Starter, Gluten-Free
Equipment Needed
-a large glass, plastic, or ceramic container–like a bowl, a jar, or a measuring cup–be sure it can hold about 6 cups of dough. Currently, I use a 2 quart/1.9 liter Cambro bucket for my starter
-something porous (the starter needs to breathe) to cover the container with like a cotton dishcloth (don't use aluminum foil or plastic wrap)
-One or more of the following whole grain gluten-free flours: Sorghum flour, Teff flour (sorghum and teff seem to perform the best and are the ones you want to use to begin the starter) Brown Rice Flour, Amaranth flour, Quinoa flour, or Buckwheat flour. I recommend that you do not use a high starch flour like tapioca, millet, white rice, sweet rice, or potato. These will cause the yeast to go into overdrive, which means they will do everything faster and you will need to feed them much more often than every 8 hours.
–Filtered Water: We have filtered water in our house that contains no chlorine–and I think that does the best. You need to experiment to see how your house's tap water works if you don't want to buy filtered water. I have had reports that people have been able to make a starter with water that is chlorinated. But, be aware that there is a new type of water purification that cities are going through that uses another disinfectant–chloramine–and I've heard that it is less friendly to a sourdough starter. So, your results may vary if you use non-filtered water.
–Organic red cabbage leaves (although I heard that people have had results w/non-organic as well, but I think using organic cabbage is best), washed but not scrubbed. The white stuff on the cabbage is the yeast that helps to start the starter.
1. Place 1 cup (5 oz/140 g) of sweet sorghum or teff flour (these seem to work the best to begin the starter) and 1 cup (240 ml) of filtered water in your container. Mix thoroughly (I've been using a whisk and it's worked well).
2. Add 1 or 2 leaves of organic red cabbage. Mix those around with the flour-water slurry.
3. Cover with your porous material. I use parchment paper pierced with a bunch of tiny holes secured by a rubber band to the jar. A cotton kitchen towel is also good. If you're using a Cambro bucket, you can cover it with the lid left ajar. You can also leave it open if you don't have fruit flies bopping around your kitchen like I do–leaving it open will encourage more lactic acid bacteria from your kitchen to land on the mixture. Leave it on your kitchen counter. Do not use aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
(The ideal temperature for yeast to grow at is around 70 to 75 degrees F/21 to 24 degrees C. The colder the environment, the more slowly the yeast will grow. The warmer the environment, the faster the yeast will grow. You need to feed yeast that is in a hot environment more often than you need to feed a yeast at a moderate or cool environment.)
4. Stir it every so often–no stress, just when you think about it (although try to stir it at least once during the 8 to 12 hours between feedings).
5. About 8 to 12 hours later, feed your starter: add another 1 cup each of whole grain flour (teff, sorghum, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, garbanzo bean) and water. Mix well.
6. Repeat this process every 8 to 12 hours (your starter will do the best if it's fed more often–i.e., it can be fed every 12 hours but every 8 is better). After about 48 hours you should see some bubbling action in your starter.
Important: The conditions in your kitchen may require a longer development process. Give it about 5 days before starting to worry or emailing me. Once the bubbling action is definitely in place (wait another full day), then you can remove all of the cabbage leaves. Do not leave the cabbage leaves in there indefinitely.
Congratulations! Your starter is on now ready for use to make bread.
Starter Maintenance
Once your starter is on its way, you need to maintain it in a way that keeps it healthy. For most people, this means that you need to reduce the amount of starter each time before you feed it. This is because the larger your starter becomes, the more food (flour) and water you have to give it. After a few days without pouring off any starter, the amount of starter you have will become larger than is truly manageable for a home baker. If you don't feed a starter enough food/water for its size often enough, the more weak and acidic the yeast becomes. This means that the starter becomes much more sour, but it also means that it is prone to getting contaminated with things like mold. A starter that has mold growing on it is evidence that the starter is too weak to fight off bad things. There are techniques for combatting things like mold in a starter and making it healthy again, but for our purposes, I recommend that you throw it out and start again if mold occurs.
I have found that the following feeding/watering ratio is best for maintaining a healthy starter:
Feeding Ratio: 1 part (by volume) starter to 1/2 part flour and 1/2 part water
As you can see, the larger your starter, the more food and water it needs at each feeding. If you're not regularly baking with the starter (and therefore reducing it by using it), the amount of starter you have will quickly become unwieldy. I have found that the way to maintain a healthy and manageable starter is to stir and then pour off *(and throw away, to make another starter for yourself, or *to give away to friends) some starter each time you feed and water it so it doesn't get too big.
*Please don't ask me what else you can do with your starter that you pour off. If you don't want to compost it, pour it into another container to use yourself, or give it away to friends, I honestly don't have any other ideas on what to do with it other than use it.
For our purposes, I recommend keeping the starter to an average of 4 cups/960 ml maximum as you're developing it.
1. Before each feeding, stir the starter and then pour off (i.e., throw away) as much as you need to get the starter down to 2 cups/480 ml.
2. Then feed it with 1 cup whole grain flour and 1 cup water and stir, which will bring the volume back up to about 4 cups/960 ml total.
When you are ready to make your bread
1. You will need 4 cups/950 ml of starter (plus 1/2 cup/120 ml extra if you want to keep your starter going).
2. It's best to time your last feeding before you use your starter to about 2 to 4 hours before baking. Feeding it a few hours before use in your recipe will give you an active and happy starter. At this feeding, stir and pour off enough so that you have about 2 1/2 cups left. Then, when you feed it 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of water, you will have a little more than 4 cups–which is enough to for use in the bread and for a little extra (a 1/2 cup/120 ml or so) to keep the starter going should you wish to do that.
3. Wait a couple of hours for the starter to get active after feeding and then use it for making bread.
Making and Maintaining a Sourdough Starter is an Organic and Somewhat Imprecise Process
As you can see, the feeding process isn't that precise. There is a fair amount of wiggle room as long as you're paying attention to the amount of starter you have and using that to gauge roughly how much flour and water to feed it according to the ratio above. (And making sure you're also paying attention to how the starter is behaving–i.e., it's not growing mold–which can be white–or starting to smell like a sewer). Using volume measurements helps me "eyeball" how much I need to feed my starter–using weight measurements here seems to make people feel like the process is more precise than it actually is.
You don't have to keep a starter going forever. There is actually no need to have a starter that is years old. Most of the people who have starters that are years and years old are baking with it on a very regular basis–and many of these folks are in the baking business. Although there is some amount of pride that seems to go into keeping a starter going forever, I have found it to be more of a hassle than I'm personally willing to put up with. Thus, if I'm not planning to use the starter anytime soon, I just throw it out and wait until about a week before I'm ready to bake to get one going again.
If you're not going to use your starter anytime soon but you want to maintain it, you can refrigerate it. This allows the yeast to go dormant and allows you to feed and stir it every 3 days or so rather than every 8 to 12 hours. Be sure to watch it so that nothing funky starts to grow in it (like mold–which can be white).
Go to Sourdough Bread boule (round loaf) for the recipe that uses this starter.
If you are having problems with your starter or have questions about it, please check my Sourdough Starter Troubleshooting FAQ before posting or emailing me with a question. Thanks!


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As dawn broke oan the 7th of May, An' Scotland rose fur pollin' day, It never could huv guessed events Wur ti unfold That, wan by wan, wid set the land Alight in gold. As a left ti cast ma … Continue reading
Tag Archives: referendum
Nae Mare Afraid
A pale licht crept intae the sky, When ma wee hert broke, askin' "Why?" Hud Scotland haundit back its yin An' only shoat Tae break oot fae the servile chains Aroon' its throat. Fightin' back indignant tears, An' the sting … Continue reading


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|Related Sections:
|Allegheny County
South Park Golf Course - Nine Hole CourseE Park Dr
Library, PA 15129
Phone: (412)835-3545Fax: (412)835-0880
This facility has an eighteen hole regulation course and a nine hole course. These extremely undulating courses are especially scenic. The fairways on both courses are narrow in some areas and wide open in others. The Eighteen Hole Course has one water hazard, and there are no water hazards on the Nine Hole Course. The large greens on both courses are fast and somewhat sloped. Playing nine holes on the Eighteen Hole Course is only permitted after 5 PM, otherwise you have to pay the eighteen hole rate. Ladies tee off from the same set of tees as the men on the Nine Hole Course.
|Holes: 9
|Greens: Bent Grass
|Fairways: Bluegrass
|Greens Fees:
|$20 or Less
|Course Type:
|Dress Code:
|Shirt and shoes required
|Open all year
|Guest Policy:
* Update this Course: Update/modify the details for this golf course's listing.
*All Greens Fees provided are subject to change. Please call the golf course to confirm the current fees.


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Thurles swimming pool may reopen in December
It is hoped that Thurles Swimming pool will be back in operation sometime in December. An indept report has recently been carried out, with a list of specifications drawn up, and the job will now go to tender.
Thurles had waited years for the swimming pool to reopen in town.
Costing €4 million people were enjoying it. Everything was going well, the gym complementing the swimming pool, and classes in the pool were a real success.
The leisure centre was part of peoples daily routine. That was until the sudden closure on the 13th May of the swimming pool, with no date for its re-opening.
An architect was called in to assess the damage and he has recently finished his report.
A council official told the Star, "his report was very thorough and detailed. The specifications have been finalised and the tender will be going out this week. The Leisure Centre will be deciding who gets the contract. The work itself will be a slow process."
The job will go to tender and companies will have two weeks to register their interest.
They will have to re-tile the floor, walls and steps of the pool. This job has been estimated at between 8-10 weeks. It will then take close to a week for the pool to be filled and roughly another week getting the water up to temperature.
General manager of the Centre, Céline Bowyer, said "the damage done was extensive and it's important to us to get the job done properly. We have tried hard to provide the best service possible for our customers and we apologise for any inconveience caused. We would like to thank the council for all they have done to keep the centre open."
All the people we have spoken to know the importance of the centre to the area.
Councillors, leisure centre and county council staff have all been working hard to get the project moving along. It must be noted that it is in no ones interest to have the pool closed as the centre is running at a loss while it remains closed.
They all agree that patience is needed now to ensure we don't have a similar situation again. No one would argue with that sentiment.


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Walter H. Watson
Walter H. Watson
Walter H. Watson, Ph.D.
502-852-6991 - Academic Office
B.A. (Chemistry): Emory University
Ph.D. (Toxicology): University of Kentucky
Research Interests
Oxidative stress and redox signaling
Mechanistic toxicology
Alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Recent Publications
Scarbrough PM, Mapuskar KA, Mattson DM, Gius D, Watson WH, Spitz DR. Simultaneous inhibition of glutathione- and thioredoxin-dependent metabolism is necessary to potentiate 17AAG-induced cancer cell killing via oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med. 2012 Jan 15;52(2):436-43.
Tan M, Schmidt RH, Beier JI, Watson WH, Zhong H, States JC, Arteel GE. Chronic subhepatotoxic exposure to arsenic enhances hepatic injury caused by high fat diet in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2011 Dec 15;257(3):356-64.
Lai IK, Chai Y, Simmons D, Watson WH, Tan R, Haschek WM, Wang K, Wang B, Ludewig G, Robertson LW. Dietary selenium as a modulator of PCB 126-induced hepatotoxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Toxicol Sci. 2011 Nov;124(1):202-14.
Heilman JM, Burke TJ, McClain CJ, Watson WH. Transactivation of gene expression by NF-κB is dependent on thioredoxin reductase activity. Free Radic Biol Med. 2011 Oct 15;51(8):1533-42.
Stanley BA, Sivakumaran V, Shi S, McDonald I, Lloyd D, Watson WH, Aon MA, Paolocci N. Thioredoxin reductase-2 is essential for keeping low levels of H(2)O(2) emission from isolated heart mitochondria. J Biol Chem. 2011 Sep 23;286(38):33669-77.


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The Minnesota House approved putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would have an outside council — not lawmakers — decide how much state lawmakers should be paid.
It passed 69-62 on Friday, May 17.
If it goes on the ballot and is passed by voters, it would create a legislative pay council appointed by the governor and the chief justice of the state Supreme Court. The amendment wouldn't go on the ballot until 2016.
House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said it isn't a new issue. In 2008, about two-thirds of House members from both sides of the aisle approved a similar measure, she said.
"I don't think we should vote for legislative pay raises," Murphy said. "I think it should be out of our hands. And I think Minnesotans would agree."
Republicans railed against DFLers for taking up a measure with just three days left in the legislative session when only two of the nine budget bills have passed. They also questioned why it needed to be taken up now, three years before it would go on the ballot.
"This is legislative greed. This is legislative overreach," said Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. "The majority here in the House is out of touch with the reality in Minnesota."
The governor and chief justice each would appoint one member from each of the state's eight congressional districts. No current of former state legislators can serve on the council, and Republicans and DFLers would have an equal number of members.
A similar measure is in the Senate Rules Committee. The Senate already has passed another bill to give state lawmakers and the governor their first pay raises since the late 1990s.
The proposed salary hikes would take effect in 2015. Legislator pay would jump from $31,000 to $42,000 by 2016 — a 35 percent increase. The governor's salary would go up 3 percent over the next two years, from $120,000 to $128,000, and would be reviewed annually after that.
The measure is in the Senate's state government and veterans affairs spending bill; the state lawmaker pay raises are not in the House version. The two bodies are still trying to iron out their differences.
Megan Boldt can be reached at 651-228-5495. Follow her at twitter.com/meganboldt.


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6 Beds |6 Full & 2 Half Baths
5 Beds |4 Full & 2 Half Baths
5 Beds |7 Full & 1 Half Baths
5 Beds |5 Full & 1 Half Baths
5 Beds |5 Full & 1 Half Baths
6 Beds |5 Full & 1 Half Baths
Rented for: $2,750 |Rented
2 Beds |2 Full Baths
Rented for: $2,300 |Rented
2 Beds |1 Full & 1 Half Bath
Sold for: $475,000 |Closed
4 Beds |2 Full Baths
Sold for: $820,000 |Closed
5 Beds |4 Full & 1 Half Baths
Sold for: $585,000 |Closed
3 Beds |2 Full & 1 Half Baths
Sold for: $371,200 |Closed
3 Beds |2 Full Baths
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Organizer promises binders full of savings
Published 2:07 pm, Friday, April 19, 2013
I consider couponing a hobby. I feel calm and relaxed when I kick back with scissors and circulars and snip away, much like a knitter feels as they knit and purl a scarf.
When I'm at the store, however, my mellow fades fast. I'm anxious, and coupon confusion overcomes me.
Am I getting the best deal on this jar of pickles, or should I go somewhere else?
Where the heck is that coupon for frozen corn I could have sworn I clipped?
Why am I still holding onto coupons that expired two months ago?
And, as I fumble to collect the coupons that inevitably fall to the floor in front of the suddenly popular canned fruit section, I can't help but wonder if I should really spend so much time wandering aisles and dodging shopping carts and dirty looks.
More Information
My best shopportunities:
BOCA Burgers at Target: Priced at $2.54 each, used the $1/1 BOCA Meatless product found at coupons.com.
Coppertone Sensitive Skin sunscreen (8 ounce) at Target: Clearance priced at $1.26 (comparably priced between $7 and $8). No coupon needed.
Contact the Shopportunist at 518-454-5479 or firstname.lastname@example.com or visit her blog at http://blog.timesunion.com/shopportunist
But I'm on a path to save, and one of the best ways to enjoy a stress-free shopping trip is to clear the clutter and organize your coupons, says Tania Mings, a coupon enthusiast and creator of the Coupon Magic Organizer, a binder system for sorting and storing coupons.
My method of choice, two $1 plastic accordion-style filing pouches, may not cut it.
"Back in the day, I used the traditional accordion-style coupon organizer," says Mings who started couponing to save when budget cuts in her home state of Florida dramatically decreased her husband's work hours. "I would get so frustrated with trying to find the coupons I needed. I found that I was spending so much time at the grocery store thumbing through all my coupons and having them fall out all over the place that I stopped using that method."
Mings then pulled coupons she knew she would use. "The problem with this method was that I would notoriously get to the store and find something that was on sale, and I knew I had a coupon for (it) but had left (it) at home," she said. "Somewhere I came across someone mentioning using a binder to keep their coupons in. From that idea, I started working on perfecting a system to help me effectively organize coupons, which would help me maximize my savings at the grocery store."
Mings received a lot of envious stares at the store (most likely from neurotic couponers like me), so she decided to develop the system she now sells. The binder offers an instructional/savings guide, clear coupon pages, meal planners, shopping list pages and pocket dividers to store sales fliers.
Shopping with a binder doesn't appeal to everyone.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to shop with Andrea McMaster. She walked the aisles with a zen-like calm. Her coupons were nestled between her folded list. No binder. No pouch.
"That does not work for me," says McMaster who founded Andrea's Coupon Club on Facebook. "For me to stay focused and keep my goal of saving at least 50 percent, I need a list and just the coupons I am going to use."
McMaster estimates she spend about 20 minutes prepping her list, printing and cutting coupons.
"I don't like walking through the store trying to do the math with the sale and coupon savings ... so I do everything before I leave," says McMaster. "Sometimes I may miss that deal I could have scored if I had a binder, but you can always go back."
No matter what method you prefer — and you'll eventually settle on what's best for you — here's one caveat McMaster offers that can help any couponer prosper:
"It's all about organizing before you go and sticking to your list."
Be sure to check out the Shopportunist blog on www.timesunion.com. I'll be giving away one of Mings' Coupon Magic Organizers.
email@example.com • 518-454-5479


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After rejection from The Bachelor star Brad Womack and then a brief broken engagement with professional snowboarder Jesse Csincsak, former The Bachelorette beauty DeAnna Pappas finally found her happy ending with husband Stephen Stagliano.
And things just got even better for the happy couple because they've just welcomed their first child into the world.
The couple were thrilled to share their joyous news with the world and Stagliano took to Twitter on Saturday to write, "Our little angel is here! She was born on Feb. 6th. Daddy now has two loves in his life! Thank you all for the love and support :)."
The 32-year-old brunette beauty was also happy to retweet the loving message for her appreciative fans.
Our little angel is here! She was born on Feb. 6th. Daddy now has two loves in his life! Thank you all for the love and support :)— Stephen Stagliano (@StephenStag) February 9, 2014
The news is truly special for the couple because they couldn't wait to become first-time parents. The pair, who have already been married for two years, exchanged their vows on Oct. 22, 2011, during a Southern-style wedding in Georgia.
When Pappas learned she was pregnant, she gushed to People, saying, "We are so very excited! We had been trying for almost a year; we wanted this so badly."
And upon finding out that their bundle of joy was going to be a girl, the couple were even more excited. According to Us Weekly, Pappas expressed her joy via Twitter on Sept. 14, saying, "We couldn't wait...so we scheduled another ultra sound this afternoon......and we saw a........GIRL!!!! #BabyStag."
There's no news yet of what the couple's baby girl will be named, but a very big congratulations is in order!
And you'll see personalized content just for you whenever you click the My Feed .
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The Oon Power Outlet from OKUM
Modern Decor
Count us amongst those waxing poetic about the Oon Power Outlet from OKUM, the Los Angeles-based design studio which aims to imbue "everyday objects with ingrained detail." To that end, we'd say Oon fits the bill handsomely, presenting a cord threaded with three wooden cubes of pristine, jewel-like beauty, each outfitted with an always-essential electrical outlet. Interspersed with solid wooden beads that helpfully allow breathing room between sockets, the cubes have been smartly designed to rotate, giving plug point access while face-up or on their sides. Hard maple for extra durability and a generous six-foot long cloth cord are particularly thoughtful details—making Oon a mighty, yes, powerful answer for all those pesky cable-dependent devices.
Images: OKUM


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Back To Spinal Equipment
Coated Torso Spine Board Torso Straps
Item # 600558
A long-life heavy-use set for all your needs! Durable nylon strap webbing is coated with sealed Biothane polyurethane to produce an easy-to-clean heavy duty strap that is impervious to contaminants and body fluids.
Velcro closures adjust to fit most patients.
Set of 3 straps (2 are 64" long and 1 is 44" long).
Color: Orange
Know this product? + WRITE REVIEW


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Desire Finnie scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Berkeley High to a 54-44 win over McClymonds on March 9 in the second round of the Northern California Regional Division I girls basketball tournament at Oakland Tech.
The Yellowjackets broke open the game with a 10-0 run to start the third quarter, breaking a 34-34 tie in the process. Berkeley turned up the defensive pressure in the final period, forcing seven turnovers.
"We decided to start playing with trust," Yellowjackets coach Cheryl Draper said. "Our zone, we were having some really good help defense. And our shot selection was good. They weren't always falling, but we knew we always had a good chance that somebody would get a rebound."
On March 12, Berkeley advanced to the NorCal Division I championship game for the third year in a row with a 54-46 semifinal victory over Gunn-Palo Alto. The Yellowjackets will face Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in the championship game on March 16 at 2 p.m. at Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento.
On March 9, Finnie got Berkeley going in the fourth quarter with a jumper. Ella Jane McCoy followed with a 3-pointer. Finnie finished the run with two baskets sandwiched around a free throw. Finnie scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors put up a fight but never could counter that run in the fourth quarter. Although McClymonds stuck with a six-player rotation most of the game, coach Dennis Flannery said he didn't think his team got tired.
"I don't necessarily think that we wore down," Flannery said.
"I thought it was when we missed a shot, instead of maybe getting back, we stood and thought about it. Berkeley's too good a basketball team to do that."
Rachel Howard added 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for the Yellowjackets. Jaimoninia Welch-Coleman added 10 points.
St. Mary's 43, Sacramento 31: The host Panthers relied on their usual formula to kick off the Open Division era of the NorCal regional playoffs with a win on March 8.
A lockdown defensive effort, led by Mikayla Cowling and Gabby Green, help extend St. Mary's winning streak to 18 games. The 31 points was the lowest offensive output of the season for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champions.
In a semifinal game on March 13, St. Mary's pushed No. 1 seed Bishop O'Dowd before falling 50-40.
In addition to their disruptive defense on March 8, Cowling (18 points) and Green (14) also shouldered the brunt of the scoring load against Sacramento.
St. Mary's limited Sacramento to a single field goal in the second quarter, going on a 14-0 run to take control. The Panthers' transition game played a big role in the run.
Sacramento got within seven points in the third quarter, but again the Panthers defense was there to answer. Back-to-back steals by Cowling and Green led to easy layups that put St. Mary's up 32-19 at the end of the quarter.
— Stephanie Hammon
Boys basketball
Campolindo 69, El Cerrito 65, OT: The Cougars' Andrew Zolitakis sank a very long 3-pointer with seven seconds left to send the game into overtime, then Campolindo outscored the host Gauchos 8-4 in the final period of this Northern California Regional Division III quarterfinal game on March 9.
Anthony Sullen led a balanced Gauchos scoring effort with 14 points. Marcellus Pippins added 13 points for El Cerrito, which ended its season with a 22-11 record.
— Staff
Menlo 60, St. Mary's 54: Host Menlo ended the Panthers' season on March 6 in the first round of the Northern California Regional Division IV playoffs. Jeremy Dennis paced St. Mary's with 14 points, and teammates Ian Bonde and Aren Ulmer added 13 points apiece.
— Staff


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Sunday, December 4, 2011
Gas Station Saves Your Life/Eternal Soul? And other news
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We provide links to the website of the manufacturer to get more information which is not available in our reviews. Some of this information includes testimonials from customers, specific product details, information on sales and free newsletter.
These are essential rules of practice. It is vital for you as a consumer to comprehend the relationship between the manufacturer and the person that is reviewing the products.
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We have some tasty frozen treat news for the folks rocking EVO's this afternoon. It looks like HTC has finally made their way through the device chain, and is now upgrading multiple EVO's to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. You won't get Sense UI 4.0 like the HTC One line of phones, but the upgrade should still be rather exciting.
Earlier today the HTC EVO 3D started getting the upgrade to ICS, and now multiple reports have just hit the wires confirming that the EVO Design 4G is also getting the much anticipated update. Thanks to the folks at Android Police the image below will tell you all you need to know about the EVO 3D's upgrade to ICS.
Both devices will not be seeing HTC Sense UI 4.0, and instead 3.6 will grace your phones instead. HTC has reserved their latest 4.0 UI for the One branded phones. The update will bring everything we know and love about Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to both devices. Some of those include folders on the homescreen, Face unlock, better browser performance, and an enhanced camera experience.
You can see our HTC Vivid 4G LTE ICS hands-on for more of what to expect from ICS and Sense 3.6 if you'd like. Otherwise just do the usual and head into settings and check for updates right this moment. The update should be live for both devices and users should be seeing notifications to accept the over the air update, or can manually check for updates and get started. You'll be losing root access here, so proceed with caution if you're a member of the root crowd.
Once you accept the update let us know how it all goes in the comment section below.
[device id=146]


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Continuing with the kitchen...
So, the kitchen is split-level, with the lower portion tiled, as seen in the previous post, and the higher portion made of wood. There is about 30 cm of hieght increase, making it an easy step up and yet leaving room for a layer of sand topped by a moisture barrier and airspace below the subfloor. We used wool insulation - much nicer to touch during installation than fiberglass.
Here the floor is nearly completed, and Shuzo is demonstrating the location of the woodstove. We have also installed a low wall to Shuzo's right and a taller wall to his left.
I don't have a picture of the finished product, but let me tell you - the new kitchen-dining room is fabulous! So cozy!! We cook on the woodstove almost daily and are back into baking now that the gas oven-range is installed. The next step we are considering for the kitchen is a bamboo ceiling to help hold the heat from the woodstove.


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Faith to Live By
Pamela Christian Offering Confident Hope
Welcome to my world!
This is where you and I can spend some meaningful time. With my different blogs I share things I've learned that I believe can be of real help for you. I'm all about being your advocate in exploring Christianity, successfully getting through under and unemployment and women's heart-health issues. But what really makes this exciting is your comments and feed back. After all, learning from one another makes for a valuable community of friends.
I promise to always post with real "take away value" for my readers–you won't read about what I ate for breakfast!
I hope you will visit regularly, offer your contributions and encourage your friends to visit here too.
Pamela's Faith Blog
This blog explores the Christian faith from a fresh, relevant perspective so that we can embrace and experience the victorious, abundant life Christ died to give us.
Jesus said that if we have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you," (Matthew 17:20 NKJ). What does He mean by "faith as a mustard seed" and how do we attain faith that can move mountains? Let's find out about this and much more together!
What You Don't Know About Under and Unemployment
Visit this blog often to get real hope and practical help, direction, resources and hope.
Anyone who has ever suffered under or unemployment knows that the crisis brings with it far more problems than simply the loss of a paycheck. Family and other relationships suffer greatly, emotional, mental and physical health are adversely impacted. The potential for far-reaching devastation when under or unemployed is tremendous. I know first hand. That's why I am dedicated to helping those in this situation, practically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. often to get real and practical help, direction, resources and hope.
Pamela's Book Corner
My Book Corner Blog allows you to meet aspiring to best selling Christian authors and learn of their new book releases.
The newest addition to my blogging efforts allows me to connect readers with authors! This is where I feature authors and their new book releases, post book promotion contests and more! I welcome comments from you readers who can provide reviews about any of the books you'll see here.


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Email:View Email Address |
Add Contact to Outlook
Room:TC 813
Terry Wiedmer is an Associate Professor of Curriculum. She received her Ed.D. in Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision; M.A.E. in Educational Administration; and B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Dr. Wiedmer teaches graduate Educational Administration and Supervision courses via webcast, and the Internet. She serves as Upper Wabash Valley School Superintendents' Council Executive Director. Her research interests include administrative licensure standards and practices, portfolio and authentic assessment strategies, professional development initiatives, integration of technology to enhance teaching and learning, teaching excellence, school safety practices, public relations, and current school leadership issues/practices. Terry formerly served as director of membership and public information for Phi Delta Kappa International. In the Missoula, Montana public schools, she served as an elementary principal, director of teaching technology, and thirteen years as a classroom teacher (grades 2, 4, 7, and 8).


text: After 1.d4 f5 we have the Dutch Defence. It is not as popular as the Queen's Gambit (1...d5 2.c4) or the Indian defences (1...Nf6), but there is one thing the three moves have in common: Black would like to prevent 2.e4. In addition, in the Dutch ...Nf6 is intended to follow, which will further increase the control over this important central square.


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use the methods of frobenius to solve:
2xy"+y'+2y =0
i want to know not just the answer but the steps how to answer it (explanation of the answer)
Where are analytic functions* on some open interval .
The method of Frobenius says that we can look for a solution of the form,
for some number .
Now to find this we solve the equation,
So I told you what has to be.
*)"Analytic" on means the function can be expanded as its Taylor series about any point, in this case about 0.
Yes, I got a question about Islam. Did you know that Halos (the floating circles around your head) were created by Christians. If so why would you use them?


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With the release of the CD/DVD valu-pak Test Pattern, Chicago's Sonia Dada again leaves us with more questions than answers. The disc's twelve tracks paint a compelling picture of Chi-town's cosmopolitan cityscape, with ambient and ethnic hues on a textured canvas of roots-rock and soul, but it's not a fixed image. Guitarist/founder Dan Pritzker gave us some insight into why the band likes the picture best when it's changing.
The Riverfront Times: The new album is a bit disorienting, but not at all in a bad way. I've listened to it five times or so and I'm still not really certain of what I'm hearing.
Dan Pritzker: We just came back from playing with this band that's fairly well known, and it was basically the same song one after the other. The keys changed and the tempo changed, but the overall hit you got from them -- they're reasonably competent players, but whatever tune they're doing seems to go through their personal cheese grater and get processed out the other side, all Velveeta'd out.
Whereas with Sonia Dada, it seems as if there's no telling where things will go. Your cheese grater is set to "random," I guess. I definitely hear a roots-and-soul core on the record, but you've filtered it through so many different perspectives.
The reason [our music] is what you say is [that] we tend to look at each individual song and approach it as its own thing, sort of remaking the band -- with the same people -- on a song-by-song basis. We're not necessarily married to any particular approach or instrumentation or anything like that. It's the same people playing the stuff, but the diversity of Sonia Dada's musicians allows that sort of thing. I've been doing this for twelve or thirteen years, and if it wasn't that way, I just couldn't do it.
What's been in heavy rotation in Dan Pritzker's stereo?
A lot of Billie Holiday and stuff like that. Old records. I don't really listen to much pop music. It's not that I don't like it, but I don't really know what's out there. The interesting thing I've found as I've started to travel around the country for the last several months and tune in to local stations is the extent to which everything is the same everywhere. It's a real shame. -- John Goddard


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Local elections this year could prove to be a good day out for Sinn Féin
Opinion: Independents also likely to do well in many constituencies
Posters in Clonsilla, west Dublin, during the 2009 local election campaign. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
The last city and county elections were shaped more by national issues. The electorate went to polling stations in June 2009 in a mood of real anger towards the then government. The economic collapse was the central issues in the locals and heralded the transformation in the Irish political landscape which came in the 2011 general election.
In 2009 Fianna Fáil's vote fell to 25 per cent, they lost 84 seats, and this came after particularly bad local elections in 2004.
Fine Gael was the main beneficiary: its vote surged from 27 per cent to 32 per cent. It won 340 seats on the day: 122 seats more than Fianna Fail, thereby becoming unquestionably the strongest party in local government.
Labour's vote grew by just over 3 per cent and the party gained 31 seats. The geographic concentration of its support meant it was best placed to gain from Fianna Fáil losses in parts of Dublin in particular.
Sinn Féin's vote actually decreased by just over a half of a per cent but the party won the same number of seats, 54, as in 2004. Independents and other smaller parties got 136 seats.
It is worth reminding ourselves of these 2009 results before trying to assess how this year's local elections might play out and what, if any, implications they will have for national political patterns.
It is likely that the level of public engagement in this year's local elections will be less and that local issues will dominate: or least national issues with localised dimensions such as water services and water charges and electrical pylons. To some extent the powers, functions and financing of local authorities may also feature, particularly in the context of the abolition of town councils.
There are a number of key factors to be conscious of when listening to party spokespersons seeking to manage expectations about these elections.
There were 883 seats in the relevant county and city councils in 2009; there will be 949 in May. If we hear parties shouting about whether they are going to win extra seats we should first remember there are 66 extra seats up for grabs.
In 2009 Fine Gael got 39 per cent of the seats, Fianna Fáil a quarter , Labour 5 per cent, Sinn Féin 6 per cent and 15 per cent went to independents or smaller parties. If we were to assume that the breakdown would be the same in May then allowing for the extra seats Fine Gael should get 370 seats, Fianna Fáil 237, Labour 142, Sinn Féin 57 and others 143. It is best to speak of whether parties retain their share of the available seats rather than whether they have gained or lost seat.
It is also important to note that the distribution of those additional seats is different and that a dramatic rebalancing and redrawing of the numbers on county and city councils come into place for this year's local elections. This rebalancing has been towards more populated areas like Dublin and the commuter belt counties.
Dublin city and county will have more than 50 additional seats across its four councils. Kildare gets 15 more seats, Louth another 11. Large counties in the west, Galway, Kerry and Donegal will also have more get seats. By comparison places like Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan will have significantly reduced numbers. The electoral map for local government is also further altered because the city and county councils in Waterford and Limerick and the two county councils in Tipperary are being merged. The other key factor is that the local electoral areas under the new redraw are larger, with many six-, seven- and eight-seat local electoral areas.
Not only is the electoral map different, there have been significant shifts in party support since June 2009. Fianna Fáil in this week's Red C poll is 3 per centage points shy of where it was in June 2009,. Fine Gael is down 4 per cent on where it was and Labour, at 10 per cent, is well down from the 15 it got in 2009. The biggest shift in support levels since June 2009 has been for Sinn Féin, which is at 18 per cent compared to 6 in 2009.
In his blog at adriankavanaghelections.org Dr Adrian Kananagh at NUI Maynooth has developed an area-by-area analysis of how national poll ratings might convert into local election seats. Using polling figures in July last year, when the party support levels resembled what they are now, Kavanagh suggested that Fine Gael would win about 310 of the 949 seats. He put Fianna Fáil winning just above 221 seats, also a considerable slippage. Kavanagh puts Labour in at about 94, down very dramatically on the 132 it won in 2009.
The biggest gains in seat share in Kavanagh's area-by-area analysis are, as you would expect given their rise in the polls - for Independents and, spectacularly, for Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin looks set to at least double its seat share and independents and other smaller parties could increase their numbers by 50 per cent.
Such early analysis comes with health warnings of course. There are many candidates yet to be selected and many local details to be mined but already the 2014 local elections are shaping up to be a dramatic contest.


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From time to time, we are happy to have guest blog posts by Brookland neighbors. This time Diane Phillips is sharing her thoughts on a neighborhood issue. If you have ideas about a guest blog post, let us know! Thanks Diane!
I am a dog lover, and I have it on good authority that the writers of the Brookland Bridge are, too. As the forgiving cover of fall leaves and winter snow dissipates, it is becoming very clear that not all Brooklanders have been minding their manners when it comes to their dogs. In fact, on a run this morning, I observed multiple "scenes of the crime" that I consider an egregious violation of not only manners, but common decency – the leaving of dog poop.
Scooping of dog poop is part of the deal when you have a dog. The dog has to eat, and therefore, it has to go outside to poop. And we, the humans, have to pick it up. This is not optional. It is the right thing to do in the name of sanitation, manners, and as we mentioned, common decency.
In response to the blight of dog poop soiling the landscape, some of our more clever neighbors have expressed their dismay with signs. Others have gone so far as to provide bags and a garbage can.
I love Brookland, and as our neighborhood grows and develops, it is my hope that we are as welcoming to dogs as our neighbors in Alexandria, Shirlington, and Dupont Circle. I dream of sitting outside at a café on 12th Street, basking in the sun with a cold beverage, and my beloved dog next to me. I want to see dog bowls filled with fresh water outside of Brookland's businesses. Doggie happy hours – bring them on!
Here's the thing – Brookland is a wonderful place to live. If we don't scoop our poop, and we don't respect our neighbors' yards and gardens, dog-friendly is not going to be part of our neighborhood curriculum vitae. #curbyourhuman
Respectfully Submitted,
Diane Phillips, Brooklander


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Man stabbed in trailer
Published 6:41 pm, Thursday, July 25, 2013
A middle-aged man was stabbed in the chest at a trailer park on the 3000 block of Mission Road Thursday, but he was awake and talking when responders arrived.
The man, whose name and exact age were not immediately available, was stabbed once Thursday around 5:20 p.m. in his trailer, police said. He was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center.
Police were searching the area for two women believed to be involved. Investigators had not found a weapon.