text:
Response to Energy Emergencies in California & Contingency Planning
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) is the primary agency for responding to all California emergencies. The Energy Commission works with and provides support to CalOES in the form of information gathering, technical expertise, programs, and contingency planning. In the past two decades, the Energy Commission has responded to energy disruptions as a result of fire, earthquake, civil unrest, and supply disturbances.
The principal contingency planning programs include the Energy Emergency Response Plan, Petroleum Fuels Set-Aside Program, Local Government Program, Economic Assistance Program, and Demand Reduction Program.
- State of California Energy Assurance Plan.
(June 2014, publication #CEC-600-2014-006) (PDF file, 234 pgs, 3.6 megabytes)
- Energy Emergency Response Plan. The California Energy Emergency Response Plan is the state's strategy for responding to an energy emergency. The Plan contains an overview of the management and communication structure the Energy Commission staff use when responding to energy emergencies.
- Petroleum Fuels Set-Aside Program. The purpose of California's petroleum fuels set-aside program is to assist emergency and essential service personnel who are unable to acquire sufficient volumes of fuel at any price during an emergency.
- Local Government Program. The purpose of this project is to help local governments deal effectively with an energy supply disruption.
- Demand Reduction. An important part of responding to any energy emergency is reducing demand. The Energy Commission may recommend appropriate measures to mitigate the impacts of reduced energy supplies.
Members of the news media please contact:
Media & Public Communications Office at 916-654-4989
For more information on energy emergency planning, please contact:
Drew Bohan, Executive Director
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-39
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
Phone: 916-654-4996
Written Materials From the California Energy Commission
- Latest Energy Emergency Response Plan (October 2006, publication #CEC-600-2006-014-F)
- Local Government Emergency Planning Handbook - Publication # 600-04-003.
(Acrobat PDF file, 22 pages, 79 kilobytes)
- Petroleum Fuels Set Aside Program Applicant Handbook - Application for Emergency Fuels Allocation, published August 2016. CEC Publication # CEC-200-2016-008. Date online: August 9, 2016. (PDF file, 14 pages, 390 kb)
Other Energy Emergency-Related Reports
In Event of Emergency
California State Links
Federal Links
Emergencies List Serve
Automated Email Notifications
Energy Emergency Response Plan
The Energy Commission is in the Readiness Phase of its Energy Emergency Response Plan.


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Sign up to contact our members!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Blue Jackets hope offense will be a group effortby Craig Merz
R.J. Umberger felt he was a step slower and a stride behind some of the other players, especially those who had played in Europe during the lockout, and never made up the difference during the 2012-13 season.
The Blue Jackets left wing elected not to play competitively during the work stoppage and instead spent much of his time until the season resumed in January training with and helping as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Ohio State.
Umberger's drop in goals was a byproduct of his decision.
He scored eight times while playing all 48 games (.166 goals per game), well down from his average of .259 in 2011-12 when he had 20 goals in 77 games.
"It was way more difficult than I expected to jump into the season from the physical standpoint of just being on top of your game," he said. "Also, more from a mental standpoint it was hard to go from not doing anything and not knowing what was going on to all of a sudden going full swing into a half-season that quick."
If the Blue Jackets are going to make a serious run at making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in club history without having to depend solely on Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, then Umberger is among those who will need to make a bigger contribution.
The Blue Jackets were 25th last season in scoring with 2.40 goals per game (the same number they allowed), but did not re-sign Vinny Prospal, who was second on the team with 12 goals, behind Mark Letestu's 13.
While Columbus made an offseason splash by signing former Boston Bruins forward Nathan Horton, a six-time 20-goal scorer, he likely won't return from shoulder surgery until December at the earliest.
That leaves Marian Gaborik, acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on April 4, as the team's only big-time scorer. He had three goals in 12 games for Columbus (12 in 47 games overall) while battling through an abdominal injury that required surgery in May.
He's healthy now and that's a good thing for the Blue Jackets because they will need help from all comers.
"It has to be goals by committee," Letestu said. "I wouldn't say there are prolific goal-scorers up and down [the roster], but there's certainly guys that can score and a lot of 20-goal scorers will make up for one guy that can get 50."
Letestu believes he will be a factor if given a chance. It's no coincidence his highest goal total (14) came when he played a career-high 64 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010-11. That he came within one of his best scoring mark in just 46 games last season has him thinking bigger.
"I'd like to play the full season and see what it comes out to," he said. "That's my goal, to stay healthy and give myself a chance to get to 20 [goals] or higher."
As coach Todd Richards looks over the roster, he sees many players who could be more productive.
Center Brandon Dubinsky, a 24-goal scorer for the Rangers in 2010-11, was stymied by injuries and had two goals in 29 games last season. Another ex-Ranger, center Artem Anisimov, could be on the verge of a breakout season after scoring 11 goals in 35 games. In three prior full seasons with the Rangers, he had 12, 18 and 16 goals, respectively.
Then there's left wing Nick Foligno, who had six goals in 45 games last season but put in 17 for the Ottawa Senators in 2008-09.
"Everybody can score," Umberger said. "Gaborik's going to score a ton. You'll see Mark score on a consistent basis. [Dubinsky] and I have scored in the past and will continue to score."
Richards also is anxious to see how young players like right wing Cam Atkinson (nine goals in 35 games last season), left wing Matt Calvert (nine in 42 games) and center Ryan Johansen (five in 40 games) will respond.
"Our young guys are going to step up," Richards said. "Everyone's got to contribute; everyone's got to chip in."
That includes getting goals from the blue line as well as improving a power play that was 28th last season with a 14.2-percent conversion rate.
"That's been a focus of training camp," Letestu said. "Generally when you win or tie special teams battles you give yourself a real good chance to win.
"Our penalty kill was real strong last year [11th in the NHL at 82.6 percent], hopefully that will continue. We know the power play's got to be better, win us some hockey games -- just as many as Bob (Bobrovsky) will steal for us."
There's reason for optimism that the offense will click based on the 19-5-5 run to finish last season, although the Jackets' 24-17-7 record left them a point shy of qualifying for the playoffs.
Over the final 15 games they scored at least three goals 11 times and Calvert attributes that to a host of new players finally jelling.
"Once we meshed, we started scoring by committee," he said. "We had a new line every night step up. That's how it's going to have to be this year.
"We have a lot of talent here. A lot of people might not think so, but we have a lot of guys we know can score goals."
If all else fails he hopes Gaborik can show some of the form that carried him to 41 goals as recently as the 2010-11 season with the Rangers.
"He's an elite talent," Calvert said. "To have a guy that has that offensive ability, when we do need a big goal in the last minute, if he gets the puck on his tape he's going to put it in the back of the net.
"That's always reassuring and the rest of us will chip away and help him out and help take the pressure off his back."


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Mass Removing Facebook Friends
NOTE: the script is not functional at the moment (due to facebook API changes). I will remove this note once I make a new working version.
Update Sep 2014:
I've created a new version of the script which works on recent Facebook. Apparently facebook allows you to easily remove single friends nowadays; so the script is extra useful for deleting bulk friends or inactive friends.
To use the new script you don't even need GreaseMonkey or TamperMonkey. Just follow these simple steps:
- Go here, select and copy the entire script (into the clipboard)
- Go to your facebook friends page using Google Chrome (or Firefox) at facebook.com/friends
- Use menu View->Developer->Javascript Console (Tools->Web Developer ->Web Console on Firefox)
- Paste the entire script here, and press enter
- You will see a help message started with **** FBDX *****
- Follow the instructions of the tool to do whatever you please! (type FBDX.help(); at any time in the console to see help again)
Original Post:
I have Googled around on how to mass remove facebook friends from time to time. Unfortunately facebook does not allow that, because its bad for business; but many people are looking for a hack around. Back in the day, the mobile version had a much easier friend removal process, but they've made it similar to the desktop version and very boring.
The current method of removing a friend, involves either going to his/her profile or to your list of friends, hovering over friend-status button (first request), selecting unfriend (second request), confirming it (third request), approving the removal (forth request). Each of those asynchronous operations need to be done synchronously, because the confirmation dialogs take half of the page; so assuming each one takes half a second, it takes 3 seconds to remove a friend (on a delay-free connection).
Now what if you have 4000 friends (many of which are taking dust) and you want to remove around 3000 of them? Welcome to hell. If you take up the manual approach, you're bound to drop midway, because it takes more than 4 hours and drives you nuts.
There are scripts around that usually don't work, and are mostly non-user-friendly. I decided to filter my friend list today, and when I got to it, I realized it would be much better to spend those 4 hours creating something that others can use as well, instead of doing some repetitive work (which is literal hell for developers and hackers). So I made this script:
Update (May 2014) : userscripts is down (or dead?) so grab the script from here : script.js
Update (Sep 2014): there's a userscripts mirror site available, I've updated the link above to work.


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Water for Chocolate chef/owner Sean Guy calls his food "sexy comfort cuisine." We're not sure about the "sexy" part, but his capable take on traditional Southern comfort food is definitely impressive.
Guy cut his teeth in chain restaurants — think Hard Rock Cafe — but Water for Chocolate is anything but corporate. Operated out of a corner storefront in Butchers Hill, the restaurant dishes up breakfast, lunch and dinner to a steady stream of loyal, local customers.
Scene & Decor With soda cases lining one wall, a path to the bathroom that winds through the kitchen and a weeknight closing time of 7 p.m., Water for Chocolate sometimes feels more like a carryout than a sit-down restaurant. And its carryout business is brisk.
When we arrived at Water for Chocolate just before 6 on a Thursday evening, the small space was nearly empty, but behind the glass-front counter, Guy and one employee were hustling, and with good reason. During dinner, Guy and company sent dozens of carryout bags out the door with happy customers.
Entrees Guy keeps dinner service simple with just a handful of well-constructed and well-executed entrees, all riffs on traditional Southern comfort food.
Blackened tilapia ($10.95) sounded somewhat outdated, but won us over. Cajun seasoning was at the height of culinary popularity during the 1980s, but Guy's liberal dusting of the spicy seasoning convinced us it's due for a reprise. Tilapia, with its firm texture and mild flavor, was an ideal foil for the hot coating.
A handful of crisp green beans and a side of parmesan-spiked grits rounded out the plate. The beans were cooked nicely — not overdone — but the grits, which cooled us off when the fish got too hot, were our favorite element of the meal. Creamy but textured, they showed off the cheese's salty, nutty flavor.
Pork barbecue ($10.95) is a time-honored staple of Southern cuisine; Water for Chocolate got it right. Guy slow roasted the pork, leaving it tender and juicy, then dressed it in a red sauce that was tangy and sweet with just a hint of spice.
A side of cornbread was sweet, moist and crumbly — and spicy thanks to chunks of jalapeno baked into the batter. It was a lovely match for the saucy pork.
Guy's pork preparation was traditional; with the addition of jalapeno, the cornbread was a slight departure from the norm. But Guy's mac and cheese — made with goat cheese — took the tried and true comfort food to a whole new level. The consistency of the mac and cheese was familiar and it was just as gooey as it needed to be. But the addition of goat cheese to the mix added a tangy bite that was undeniably sophisticated. OK, even sexy.
Drinks Water for Chocolate does not have a liquor or BYOB license but Guy stocks a number of sodas, juices and teas. Fresh brewed iced tea ($1.75) and a bright Arnold Palmer ($2) were refreshing matches for our entrees.
Service During our visit, Guy and his single employee juggled carryout traffic, cooking and the few in-house tables that were occupied. Their friendly attitude and timely responses have obviously made them popular among locals. Customers chatted with Guy about weekend plans. We even spotted a hug or two.
Dessert The meal's final act is so often an afterthought at casual restaurants. Not at Water for Chocolate.
A simple dish of warm chocolate brownies ($2) was rich, dark and decadent; we were pleased that Guy did not feel the need to hide his gorgeous brownies under a pile of whipped cream.
The brownies were appealing, but Guy's signature dessert, sweet potato bread pudding ($4.45), was itself worth a trip to the restaurant. Warm, soft bread pudding was streaked with layers of pureed sweet potato, then bathed in sweet, fragrant creme anglaise. The juxtaposition of sweet potato and silky sauce was unexpected — and it worked.
Guy named Water for Chocolate after the Mexican novel "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel. One of the novel's themes involves cooking as an outlet for creative expression and passion. The name is apt: Guy's repertoire is familiar and comforting, but even in the simplest dishes, his passion shines.
Water for Chocolate
Back story: After years working in the kitchens of chain restaurants, from Planet Hollywood to the Hard Rock Cafe, Chef Sean Guy opened Water for Chocolate as a catering company in 2006. Two years later, he opened a restaurant of the same name, bringing his capable takes on traditional Southern comfort food to Butchers Hill. Busier as a carryout than as a sit-down restaurant, Water for Chocolate is a favorite among its neighbors.
Parking: Street parking
Signature dish: Don't miss Water for Chocolate's pulled pork, available as a sandwich or platter. The tender, slow-roasted pork is dressed with tangy-sweet barbecue sauce. With the platter, goat cheese-spiked macaroni and cheese is surprisingly sophisticated and jalapeno corn bread is sweet and crumbly, with jolts of heat.
TVs: one
Where: 1841 E. Lombard St., Baltimore
Contact: 410-675-7778; waterforchocolate.com
Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Credit Cards: All major
Reservations: Accepted
Bottom line: Simple but sophisticated comfort food in a casual, friendly setting


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Hartsville, S.C. – Coker College head women's golf coach Tommy Baker is pleased to announce the signing of the program's first golfer to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Natalie Falco will become the first member of the newly formed Coker College women's golf team starting in the fall of 2010.
Falco comes to Coker from Stoughton, Mass., where she is a standout golfer for Fontbonne Academy. A four-year letter winner and team captain, Falco was the winner of the Brockton City Open, the Fall River Classic and the NEPGA Junior Shootout.
"The signing of Natalie is a historic moment for both the Lady Cobra golf program and Coker College," said Baker. "She is a great young woman from a great family. Her ability to be a talented golfer and her academic prowess will open many doors for her in the future."
The Coker Lady Cobras golf team will begin their first season of play when they hit the links in the fall of 2010.


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Week of August 13, 2012
Take a Virtual Tour of the Library
For a quick refresher on what the Library has to offer, watch our new Video Tour.
Summer Library Hours (July 29 -August 17)
Reference Hours
Become a Fan of the Library: Find us on Facebook!
With over 750 million active users, there's a good chance you're already using Facebook. If you are, why not become a Fan of the Downtown Campus Library's Facebook Page? Check out our hours, send chat questions to librarians, find new books, or learn about our latest featured resources. If you'd like to leave us feedback about anything, use our Wall. Sign up for updates and we'll let you know about hours changes and other important library announcements.
Just a reminder from the Library staff to please protect your valuables while studying. Most thefts of personal property in public places are the result of an opportunity the victim gives the offender...like leaving your stuff unattended. Eliminate the opportunity, and you can eliminate the crime!
If you see someone acting suspiciously in the Library, please alert the Library staff or Security.
General Library Policies
Library Rules
While using the Downtown Campus Library, please observe the following rules and polices:
Guard Your Valuables
Please guard your valuables when using the library! Recently, two wallets were reportedly taken out of student backpacks which were left unattended. Thefts of this nature are usually the result of an opportunity the victim gives the offender. Eliminate the opportunity, and you can eliminate the crime! Please protect your valuables.
Courteous Behavior
Please respect the rights of others who wish to study and work in the Library. Keep your study area neat and clean. Walk quietly through study areas. Don't block pathways with your laptop cord (plug it in under your table). Erase the whiteboard/chalkboard in your study room when you leave. Don't move the furniture around. Keep your feet on the floor, not on the chairs. Generally, treat others the way you wish to be treated.
Food and Drink
You may bring any drink into the Library. We ask, however, that you pick up after yourself and use the appropriate recycling bin. Food is never allowed, so don't bring it into the Library.
Noise & Cell Phones
Please respect the other patrons in the Library and whisper quietly if you need to communicate with others in the library. Please do not use your cell phone in the Library, computer lab, or study rooms. If you need to make a call, take your cell phone outside the Library or into one of the stairwells. Keep noise levels down on personal music devices, and always wear your headphones. If noise in the Library is bothering you, inform the Circulation Desk.
Unattended Belongings
Please do not leave your personal belongings unattended. The Library is open to the public and thefts, while not frequent, have occurred. Belongings that are left unattended will be taken by security. If you are missing any personal items, please tell the Circulation Desk on the 9th floor as soon as possible so that security can be notified.
Use of Library Materials
Please handle all library materials with care. Refrain from writing in or marking-up library materials. If you cannot reach a book on a shelf, please ask a member of the library staff for assistance. Move unwanted library materials to a re-shelving area or return to the Circulation Desk. Do not "hide" library materials in the stacks. If a book that you are using is damaged, please let a member of the staff know; most of the time, we can fix the problem. Please remember that library materials are for the use of everyone.
Other Reminders
Please do not sleep in the Library.
The DTC is a smoke-free campus.
No pets are allowed in the Library.
Persons under the age of 18 should be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Please do not disturb the "Emergency Heat" switches located throughout the Library.
Members of the public who do not follow these rules may be asked to leave and/or barred from the Library; students may be referred to their academic dean for appropriate disciplinary action.
.: Main Chicago-Kent event calendar
.: Academic calendar
.: CLE calendar
.: Alumnae/i event calendar
.: Admissions calendar


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(216) 368-5832
(216) 368-8919
Office/Laboratory: Wolstein Research Building 3 F.
Cancer Cell Biology, Cell Death Regulation, Cell Penetrating Peptide.
My laboratory has two research projects as explained below:
(1) How does the stressed cell decide its fate to live or die?
Several types of stresses, including DNA damage, protein misfolding, reactive oxygen
species generation, viral infection and tropic factor deprivation are known to activate
apoptosis pathways controlled by evolutionarily conserved Bcl-2 family proteins
(Reviewed in 1-3). There are two types of Bcl-2 family proteins: anti-apoptotic
and pro-apoptotic proteins. Bcl-2, Bcl-X, and Mcl-1 are anti-apoptotic proteins
that inhibit cell death through several types of stress. Bax, Bak, Bid, and Bim
are the well-known members in pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and these proteins
trigger apoptotic signal cascades that lead the stressed cell to undergo apoptosis.
Cellular stresses activate pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins and these pro-apoptotic
proteins initiate the release of apoptogenic factors (e.g. cytochrome c) from mitochondria.
Contrarily, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins work as antagonists to inhibit
the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria. Therefore, the balance of
pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins is one important factor in deciding
whether a cell dies or survives.
One of the fundamental unanswered questions in apoptosis regulation is the mechanism
controlling how pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (such as Bax) are activated
by stresses. In other words, how do different types of stresses activate a single
Bax molecule to induce apoptosis? Is there any specific mediator for each stress,
and/or is there any common upstream stress sensor mediating the degree of stresses
to Bax?
Recently, my laboratory found that Ku70 is one of the Bax-inhibiting factors that
keeps Bax inactive in the cytosol (summarized in 4, 5). Importantly, Ku70 is a ubiquitously
expressed and evolutionarily conserved protein that has been known to play an important
role in DNA double-strand break repair 6. We have found that the cytosolic Ku70
has a novel function as a Bax inhibitor, independent from Ku70's previously
known function in DNA repair in the nucleus. We hypothesize that Ku70 is a stress
sensor protein that controls the early phase of Bax activation, and that the Ku70
modification influencing the Ku70-Bax interaction sets the sensitivity of the cells
to determine whether to initiate apoptosis.
To test our hypothesis, our research currently has the following aims:
Aim 1: To determine the mechanism of post-translational control of Ku70 levels and
functions in normal and stressed cells.
Our laboratory has found that ubiquitin-dependent modification of Ku70 is one of
the mechanisms to decrease Ku70 levels in apoptotic cells 7. In addition, the acetylation
of Ku70 has also been shown to induce the dissociation of Ku70 from Bax by other
groups 8, 9. We are currently studying the impact of these post-translational modifications
on the half-life, subcellular localization, affinities to binding proteins (Bax
and Ku80) and biological activities which regulate cell death and DNA repair. We
are also searching for the Ku70 modifying enzymes that mediate cellular stresses
to this sensor protein.
Aim 2: To determine the molecular mechanism behind the Ku70-dependent inhibition
of Bax activation.
We are currently studying how the binding of Ku70 inhibits the activation process
of Bax, such as the conformational change of Bax and the interaction with Bax activators
such as BH3 only proteins that are the members of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins.
Aim 3: To determine the biological significance of Ku70-Bax interaction to control
cell death sensitivity using mouse genetics.
Ku70-/- mice have been generated by other groups 10, 11 and these mutant mice show
the phenotypes of growth retardation, accelerated replicative senescence of cultured
fibroblasts, increased cell death in gastrointestinal tissue and T-cell lymphoma
development. We hypothesize that the disease phenotypes of Ku70-/- mice may be,
at least in part, due to the increased Bax-mediated cell death caused by the absence
of Ku70. Bax-/- mice have been established by other group 12. By crossing Ku70-deficient
and Bax-deficient mice, we are generating Ku70-/-Bax-/- mice and will analyze the
phenotype of the Ku70-/-Bax-/- mice to determine whether Bax deletion corrects some
of the disease phenotypes of a Ku70-/- mouse.
(2) Development of Cytoprotective Cell-Penetrating Penta-Peptides
The cellular membrane has a strict selectivity for molecular transport to maintain
cellular life. Because of this selectivity, delivering potentially effective drugs
into damaged cells often become difficult. Therefore, there is a strong need to
develop the technologies for molecular transport across the cellular membrane. My
laboratory has discovered specific penta-peptides (5-amino-acid peptides) that penetrate
the cellular membrane (please see the next paragraph for details) 4, 5. These penta-peptides
are categorized as the shortest cell-penetrating peptides13, and the mechanism of
how these peptides penetrate the cellular membrane is now being investigated in
my laboratory. By elucidating the cell penetrating mechanism of these penta-peptides,
we hope to develop the technology to deliver effective drugs into the cell.
Development of Bax-Inhibiting Peptide
Previously, we found that Ku70 binds Bax and inhibits Bax-mediated cell death 7.
We identified the Bax binding domain of Ku70 and the penta-peptide derived from
this domain was sufficient to bind and inhibit Bax4. Interestingly, these penta-peptides
entered the cells when the peptides were added to the culture medium, indicating
that these peptides are cell permeable. These peptides have been named Bax-Inhibiting
Peptides (BIPs). The discovery of BIPs brought us two different types of research
opportunities: (a) Utilization of BIPs to rescue damaged cells, and (b) Elucidation
of the mechanism of membrane penetration of BIPs.
(a) Utilization of BIPs to rescue damaged cells
The BIP has been shown to suppress drug-induced apoptosis in cell culture 4, 14.
Importantly, the BIP rescued retinal ganglion cells from optic nerve injury-induced
apoptosis and also increased the survival rate of the hepatocytes after transplantation
in mice15, 16. Currently, we are examining whether BIP can be utilized to protect
damaged tissue by ischemia-reperfusion treatment in a mouse model. We are also developing
more effective cytoprotective, cell-permeable peptides by introducing mutations
in BIPs.
(b) Elucidation of the mechanism of membrane penetration of BIPs and BIP-derived
cell-penetrating peptides.
In addition to BIPs, we have also developed new cell-permeable peptides by mutating
the sequence of BIPs. These mutant peptides do not bind Bax and thus do not inhibit
cell death. BIP and these mutant peptides have been labeled "BIP-derived
Cell Penetrating Penta-Peptides (BCP)" 5.
BCPs belong to the growing family called "Cell Penetrating Peptides"
that include the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tat peptide13. The cell entry
mechanism of cell-penetrating peptides is not yet known, and it is possible that
there are different mechanisms depending on the type of cell-penetrating peptide.
My laboratory is focusing on the cell entry mechanism of BCPs. We are currently
examining the following questions: (1) Do BCPs use energy-dependent and/or energy-independent
mechanism(s) to enter the cell? (2) Is there any unidentified receptor molecule(s)
on the cell surface that is required for the cell entry of BCPs? (3) Can we design
new penta-peptides that have improved cell entry activity? Our study will advance
the understanding of the protein traffic in the plasma membrane, and we hope that
our study will contribute the development of new drug delivery technology into the
1. Reed, J. C. Double identity for
proteins of the Bcl-2 family. Nature 387, 773-6. (1997).
2. Korsmeyer, S. J. BCL-2 gene family
and the regulation of programmed cell death. Cancer Res 59, 1693s-1700s. (1999).
3. Green, D. R. At the gates of
death. Cancer Cell 9, 328-30 (2006).
4. Yoshida, T. et al. Bax-inhibiting
peptide derived from mouse and rat Ku70. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 321, 961-6 (2004).
5. Gomez, J. A., Gama, V., Matsuyama,
S. Cell-permeable penta-peptides derived from Bax-inhibiting peptide. Cell Penetrating
Peptide, 2nd edition., 469-481 (2006).
6. Downs, J. A. & Jackson, S.
P. A means to a DNA end: the many roles of Ku. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 5, 367-78 (2004).
7. Gama, V. et al. Involvement of
the ubiquitin pathway in decreasing Ku70 levels in response to drug-induced apoptosis.
Exp Cell Res 312, 488-99 (2006).
8. Cohen, H. Y. et al. Acetylation
of the C terminus of Ku70 by CBP and PCAF controls Bax-mediated apoptosis. Mol Cell
13, 627-38 (2004).
9. Subramanian, C., Opipari, A.
W., Jr., Bian, X., Castle, V. P. & Kwok, R. P. Ku70 acetylation mediates neuroblastoma
cell death induced by histone deacetylase inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102,
4842-7 (2005).
10. Gu, Y. et al. Growth retardation and leaky
SCID phenotype of Ku70-deficient mice. Immunity 7, 653-65 (1997).
11. Li, G. C. et al. Ku70: a candidate tumor
suppressor gene for murine T cell lymphoma. Mol Cell 2, 1-8 (1998).
12. Knudson, C. M., Tung, K. S., Tourtellotte,
W. G., Brown, G. A. & Korsmeyer, S. J. Bax-deficient mice with lymphoid hyperplasia
and male germ cell death. Science 270, 96-9. (1995).
13. Joliot, A. & Prochiantz, A. Transduction
peptides: from technology to physiology. Nat Cell Biol 6, 189-96 (2004).
14. Zi, X. & Simoneau, A. R. Flavokawain
A, a novel chalcone from kava extract, induces apoptosis in bladder cancer cells
by involvement of Bax protein-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway
and suppresses tumor growth in mice. Cancer Res 65, 3479-86 (2005).
15. Qin, Q., Patil, K. & Sharma, S. C. The
role of Bax-inhibiting peptide in retinal ganglion cell apoptosis after optic nerve
transection. Neurosci Lett 372, 17-21 (2004).
16. Tanaka, K. et al. Prolonged survival of
mice with acute liver failure with transplantation of monkey hepatocytes cultured
with an antiapoptotic pentapeptide V5. Transplantation 81, 427-37 (2006).
Publication by Shigemi Matsuyama (1997-) and Matsuyama laboratory (from 2003-).
1. Shendel SL, Xie Z, Montal MO, Matsuyama S, Montal M,
Reed JC (1997) Channel formation by anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94, 5113-5118.
2. Matsuyama S, Xu Q, Velrous J, Reed JC (1998) F0F1-proton-pump
ATPase is required for the function of a pro-apoptotic protein, Bax, both in yeast
and mammalian cells. Molecular Cell 1: 327-336.
3. Xie Z, Schendel SL, Matsuyama S, Reed JC (1998) Acidic pH
promotes dimerization of Bcl-2 family proteins. Biochemistry
4. Matsuyama S (1998) Molecular mechanism of Bax-induced cell
death. Cell Technology 17:891-898 (Japanese article).
5. Xu Q, Jurgensmeier JM, Zha H, Matsuyama S, Reed JC (1998)
Exploiting yeast for the investigation of mammalian proteins that regulate programmed
cell death. Apoptosis Detection and Assay Methods, Edited by Li Zhu and Jerald Chun,
BioTechniques Books, Natick, MA. Page 93-115.
6. Reed JC, Jurgensmeir J, Matsuyama S (1998) Bcl-2 family
proteins and mitochondria (Review). Biochemica et Biophisica Acta,
1366, 127-137.
7. Marzo I, Brenner C, Zamzami N, Jurgensmeier JM, Susin SA, Vieira
HLA, Prevost MC, Xie Z, Matsuyama S, Reed JC, Kroemer G. (1998) Bax and adenine
nucleotide translocator cooporate in the mitochondrial control of apoptosis.
Science, 281. 2027-2031.
8. Matsuyama S, Schendel SL, Xie Z, Reed JC (1998) Cytoprotection
by Bcl-2 requires the pore-forming a5 and a6 helicies. Journal of Biological
Chemistry 273. 30995-31001.
9. Matsuyama S (1999) Mitochondria dependent cell death
pathway. In "Apoptosis and the digestive organ-diseases" (Edited by H.
Ishi), p.p. 31-46 (Japanese article)
10. Matsuyama S, Nouraini S, Reed JC (1999) Yeast as a tool for apoptosis
research. Current Opinion in Microbiology 2:618-623.
11. Xu Q, Matsuyama S , Reed JC (2000) Utilization of yeast genetics
to explore mammalian cell death mechanism. Methods in Enzymology
322, 283-296.
12. Matsuyama S (1999) Advantages of the utilization of yeast genetics
to study apoptosis mechanism. Experimental Medicine (Japanese article). 17, 2607-2608.
13. Matsuyama S, Llipos J, Devraux Q, Tsien R, Reed JC (2000) Changes in
intramitochondrial and cytosolic pH:early events that modulate caspase activation
during apoptosis. Nature Cell Biology, 2, 318-325.
14. Nuoraini S, Six E, Matsuyama S, Krajewski S, Reed JC (2000). The
putative pore forming-domain of Bax regulates mitochondrial localization and interaction
with Bcl-XL. Mol Cell Biol, 20, 1604-1615.
15. Zhang H, Huang Q, Matsuyama S, Ke N, Godzik A, and Reed JC (2000).
Drosophila Pro-Apoptotic Bcl-2/Bax Homologue Reveals Evolutionary Conservation
of Cell Death Mechanisms.
J Biol Chem, 275:27303-6.
16. Matsuyama S and Reed JC (2000). Mitochondria-dependent Apoptosis
and Cellular pH Regulation. (Review article) Cell Death and Differentiation,
17. Gu C, Sun W, Sawada M, Matsuyama S, Newman P (2003). PECAM-1 suppresses
Bax-mediated apoptosis. Blood, 102, 169-179.
18. Yoshida T, Sawada M, Okuno M, Gama V, Hayes P, Matsuyama S (2004). New
Bax-inhibiting peptides (BIPs) derived from mouse and rat Ku70. Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications, 321, 961-966.
19. Gohil V, Hayes P, Matsuyama S, Schägger H, Schlame M, Greenberg
M (2004). Cardiolipin biosynthesis and mitochondrial respiratory chain function
are interdependent. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279:
20. Martinez JJ, Seveau S, Veiga-Chacon E, Matsuyama S, Cossart P (2005).
Identification of Ku70, a component of the DNA-dependent protein kinase, as
a receptor involved in Rickettsia conorii invasion of mammalian cells. Cell,
123. 1013-1023.
21. Gama V, Yoshida T, Gomez J, Mayo L, Haas A, Matsuyama S.
(2006) Involvement of ubiquitin-pathway in Ku70 decrease in response to apoptosis.
Experimental Cell Research, 312: 488-99.
22. Gomez J, Gama V, Matsuyama S. Cell permeable pentapeptides derived from
Bax inhibiting domain of Ku70 (2006). "Cell Permeable Peptides"
(2nd edition, edited by Ulo Langel), CRC Press, ,p.p. 469-481.
23. Sun W, Hattori N, Matsuyama S,hiota K (2006), "Proliferation related
acidic leucine rich protein PAL31 functions as a caspase-3 inhibitor"
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 342(3):817-23.
24. Chitamber C, Wereley JP, Kotamraju S, Matsuyama S. (2006) Induction of
Apoptosis by Galium Nitrate in Lymphoma Cells: Involvement of Bax, mitochondria,
and Proteasome Pathway. Molecular Cancer Therapeuitic,
5; 2834-43.
25. Bergom C, Gao C, Matsuyama S, Newman PJ. (2006) The Cell Surface Molecule
PECAM-1 Mediates Resistance Against Chemotherapy-Induced Apoptosis., Cancer
Biology and Therapy 5: 1699-707
26. Chen YN, Yamada H, Mao W, Matsuyama S, Aihara M, Araie M. (2007).
Hypoxia-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Death and the Neuroprotective
Effects of Beta-adrenergic Antagonists. Brain Research,
in press.
Li Y, Ykota T, Yoshida T, Gama V, Sawada M, Ishikawa K, Cohen HY, Sinclair DA, Mizushima
H, Matsuyama S. Bax-inhibiting Peptide (BIP) suppresses poly-glutamine-induced
cell death that induces Ku70 acetylation. submitted.
Gomez J, Yoshida T, Stapleton M, Gama V, Paddock C, Newman P, Wilcox D, Matsuyama
S. Bax inhibiting peptides derived from Ku70 suppress chemotherapy-induced
cell death of megakaryocytes. submitted.
Department of Pharmacology | 10900 Euclid Avenue | Cleveland, Ohio 44106 | Phone: (216) 368-4617 | Fax: (216) 368-1300
© Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio 44106 | (216) 368-2000 | legal notice


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Future Flyers: Passing Down the Flying Bug
Flying Planes: Awesome Way to Inspire the Future Flyers and Pass On Valuable Experience
What could possibly be more gratifying than flying? How about inspiring some kids into being future flyers? Luckily, flying is cool enough to do this!
My dad flew planes a lot before I was born. Once he had a child at home though, he retired from the sport unfortunately. I can only imagine the awe I would've had if I had been able to go up with him as a kid.
That's what made me admire this story so much:
Late on a Sunday afternoon, Dave Courtney starts the engine of his Cessna 172 and starts down the runway. Seven-year-old Allyson Wells pushes her face up against the window, taking in the scenery below.
Orange light bathes their faces. For an hour or so, grandfather and granddaughter enjoy the freedom of flight.
Allyson lives in Eugene and shares her grandfather's love of flying. She has her own monogramed pink headset, and the two fly together whenever they can. He hopes she'll want to be a pilot herself someday.
"I'm trying to plant the seed for Allyson and if it goes, great."
This story is great on so many levels. That Mr. Courtney has taken his hobby and turned it into a profession speaks volumes about his ingenuity. Not very many people can do this, and he appears to be in a perfectly beautiful area right on the Oregon Coastline to have what's probably some of the most amazing scenery on the planet within which to do his work.
And of course an even bigger bonus is that fact that he gets to bring his granddaughter along with him. Talk about a dream job – spending time with the grandkid while doing what you love …. in addition to possibly inspiring her to share his flying bug.
There's just something really special about getting to share your passion and your legacy with the next generation; especially when that youngster is right in your own family. I bet this makes shopping for a young girl a lot easier now! Not to mention he'll have someone receptive to pass on his treasured aviation related goodies at some point.
Here's to hoping Allyson can take off and fly her own plane someday!
Learning to fly is easy
These tutorials and guides are dedicated to the memory of
Wing Commander A.M. (Mick) Parer RAAF
'An operator who had a passion
for flight and a passion to teach'
1935 — 2005
The intent of the tutorials and guides is to improve the underpinning knowledge and thus the situational awareness, airmanship and ultimately, the safety of sport and recreational pilots (whether novice or experienced) and their passengers. The documents are generally written on the premise that no pilot of a sport and recreational aviation aircraft can know too much about aerodynamics and flight; so the more information provided, the better the result. Most tutorials provide much more detail than is necessary for novice pilots to understand; it is meant for all persons who wish to expand their knowledge without getting into the mathematics.
Aeronautics and aerodynamics are very complex subjects. Since the initial 2000–2001 publication of the various modules on the AUF/RA-Aus website there has been (and continues to be) considerable feedback from readers requesting increased coverage or seeking additional explanation of various aspects. In addition — as with other aviation categories — the causes of accidents in world-wide sport and recreational aviation remain distressingly familiar, which has contributed to a probable excessive laboring over some matters.
A word of caution. I have found that some fallacies or misconceptions are often repeated from work to work. Be wary of the person who is adamant that there is only one correct concept and that all others should be ignored. The atmosphere you fly in, and the aircraft you fly, are not bound by the opinions of mere humans.
The documents currently contain 470 000 words of text, plus illustrations. If the tutorials were published in standard textbook format the total page count would be around 950 pages. Unfortunately there are no print or PDF format versions available.
Please note: the documents are designed for consistent online reading, requiring the reader to select a display resolution and font size which produce a display of 60-70 characters or 12-14 words per line. As in a book, this is recognised as near the maximum number of words per line for good readability. It is also important that there is a wide, clear border to the left and right of the text so that the eye can't be distracted by any extraneous material outside the border (such as a sidebar); and page overflow to the right is a no-no. The sans serif font used provides better display readabil


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Corn dogs.
It was the only type of cuisine that our mother, former Gossiping Gourmet columnist Elle Harrow, could not cook. We were about 7 and 14 years old, respectively, and every morning, she would ask us what we'd want for dinner that evening. "Corn dogs," we said.
Always game for a culinary challenge, she took on the task of making corn dogs from scratch with the same amount of relish that she devoted to her own "adult" meals, whether stir fries inspired by her visits to New York's Chinatown, green tomatillo enchiladas gleaned from trips south of the border, or dishes from Julia Child's French cookbooks.
But when dinner was served that night, the corn dogs were a bust. The brown batter did not conform to the shape of the wieners (as they did at Hot Dog on a Stick). They bulged here and there and, most disappointingly, crumbled away from the dogs as soon as we bit into them, falling onto our plates in a mess of fried dough.
We never let her forget this cooking mishap — not even after she opened A La Carte, the successful "takeaway gourmet" restaurant, with her writing partner, Terry Markowitz. She may have crafted hundreds of adventurous recipes and overseen thousands of culinary tours de force over the years until her recent death at the age of 73, but the corn dog affair was a perennial joke, and a reminder that even master chefs have a weakness.
When our mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it was the cruelest of ironies: Here was a woman who spent her life devoted to a harmonious mind and body. She did yoga, ran a marathon in her 40s, climbed Machu Picchu in her 60s, lifted weights into her 70s, and above all, ate healthy and organic food. And yet, she fell prey to a disease that started in her digestive system.
It may not be appetizing to discuss death and dinner in the same story, so let's turn to Elle's legacy, her food, and the recipes that friends, family and followers continue to circulate and cook in her memory.
Here are some of our favorites. And if you remember A La Carte, they're probably your favorites, too.
If cheese bread doesn't sound like a breakfast dish, you never tasted our mother's recipe, which we would eat morning, noon and night. It had a perfect cornmeal-crusted outside and a soft doughy inside, filled with melted cheddar cheese and a healthy dose of honey mustard.
Everyone's favorite lunch was the Cajun or Rajun Chicken Sandwich. An irresistible combination of sweet and spicy flavors with crunchy and soft textures, the Cajun has several secret ingredients, but the two tablespoons of jalapeno jelly gave it the extra kick. For bolder palettes, the Rajun added mozzarella cheese, onions and two sliced jalapenos.
Living in the house of a restaurateur had its advantages and disadvantages. It was wonderful to sample the food from A La Carte, but how many times could we eat Turkey Meatloaf, a scrumptious variety with spinach and pinches of nutmeg, ginger and cloves? Or Bastilla, another deliciously sweet and salty mixture of crispy layers of thin phyllo-like dough, slow-cooked chicken in cinnamon and saffron and a layer of toasted and ground almonds? Turns out, a lot.
For dessert, nothing beat A La Carte's cream cheese brownies, with their mix of semi-sweet chocolate and cream cheese, swirled together to marbleized perfection.
In the days after Elle died, friends and family were shaken. But every night, we would gather together and cook and eat. Neighbors brought their own dishes: trays of lasagna, roasted chicken and lots of cookies. We'd also make our mother's recipes. And we could still feel her presence in the kitchen, telling us not to overcook the chicken.
ALEXANDER and ANTHONY KAUFMAN are the sons of Gossiping Gourmet columnist Elle Harrow, who died April 4.


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Slow Motion Makes Gallagher Cool Again
Gallagher is back. And he's doing the exact same thing he's always done. It turns out a shirtless old man swinging a giant flaming wooden hammer at a watermelon IS actually pretty cool. You just have to put it in HD, and slow it waaaaay down.


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What is this made of and how much is enough, too much? What's normal, what's not?
The amniotic sac that contains your baby begins to form about 12 days after conception. Amniotic fluid begins to form at that time, too. In the early weeks of pregnancy, amniotic fluid is mainly made up of water supplied by the mother. After about 12 weeks, your baby's urine makes up most of the fluid. The amount of amniotic fluid increases until about 36 weeks of pregnancy. At that time you have about 1 quart of fluid. After that time, the level begins to decrease.
Sometimes you can have too little or too much amniotic fluid. Too little fluid is called oligohydramnios. Too much fluid is called polyhydramnios. Either one can cause problems for a pregnant woman and her baby. Even with these conditions, though, most babies are born healthy.
The amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby plays an important role in her growth and development. This clear-colored liquid protects the baby and provides her with fluids. Your baby actually breathes this fluid into her lungs and swallows it. This helps her lungs and digestive system grow strong. Your amniotic fluid also allows your baby to move around, which helps her to develop her muscles and bones.
Normal amniotic fluid is clear or tinted yellow. Fluid that looks green or brown usually means that the baby has passed his first bowel movement (meconium) while in the womb. (Most babies have their first bowel movement after birth.)
If the baby passes meconium in the womb, it can get into his lungs through the amniotic fluid. This can cause serious breathing problems, called meconium aspiration syndrome, especially if the fluid is thick. Some babies with meconium in the amniotic fluid may need treatment right away after birth to prevent breathing problems. Babies who appear healthy at birth may not need treatment, even if the amniotic fluid has meconium.


text: FMC Technologies Surface Wellhead business unit is a leading supplier of drilling, completion and production wellhead systems for onshore and offshore applications. Our solutions help you reduce non-productive time and decrease drilling and completion risks, all while ensuring continuous safety. By providing exceptional service support and delivery, along with innovative, patented technology, our flexible design solutions will meet your most difficult challenges. Overall, we help you minimize costs, maximize performance and optimize your bottom-line results.


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The Most Re-Pasted Spacey of All Time
— GMT (@clasehit) March 3, 2014
This is so much better than Ellen's original tweet stunt, which has indeed gone on to become the most retweeted photo of all time (or at least, it has surpassed Obama's "Four more years" tweet accompanied by a pic of him hugging his wife Michelle, long considered the most retweeted photo of all time).
If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014


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Clinical Skills Sessions
The Christie SoO
Wednesday, 19 December 2018 from 09:00 to 16:00 (GMT)
Event Details
Target Audience
For any clinical staff member that undertakes clinical skills.
Aim & Outcomes
The aim of these clinical skills sessions is for staff to gain uptodate knowledge in Nephrostomy Care, Parenteral Nutrition, Care of Feeding Tubes, Nasagastric Placement and Troubleshooting with Central Venous Access Devices.
This training no longer includes Transfusion [Administration] and so compliance in this subject will not be gained from attending this session
When & Where
Education Centre (Dept 17)
Clinical Skills, The Christie NHS FT, Manchester M20 4BX
United Kingdom
Wednesday, 19 December 2018 from 09:00 to 16:00 (GMT)
Add to my calendar


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Vote for UW Staff Employee of the Year
University of Wyoming staff, faculty and students can vote online for the staff employee of the year. The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, March 19.
The candidates are the four individuals selected as the 2011 Employees of the Quarter: Diane Gerhart; Tonya Gerharter; Vonnie Jenkin; and Beverly Sanchez. The winner will be recognized during Staff Recognition Day Wednesday, April 18, in Crane-Hill dining hall.
To vote, click here and fill in your UW username and password. The domain is UWYO.


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Advertise in In The Trenches
In The Trenches is a full color 16-page quarterly hard copy publication designed to provide a forum for geosciences education dialog targeting educators in the classroom. In The Trenches advertising offers publishers, equipment vendors, community members, and institutions the opportunity to reach over 1400 K-12 teachers, college and university faculty, students and others interested in earth science education.
Advertising Rates
- Full page ...................$1,000
- Two-thirds page .......$800 (horizontal only)
- One-half page............$600 (vertical or horizontal)
- One-third page ..........$450 (horizontal only)
- One-quarter page .....$350 (vertical or horizontal)
- One-sixth page ..........$250 (horizontal only)
Please proceed to the Submit an Ad page when you are ready to place an advertisement. Questions concerning In The Trenches advertisements can be directed to Nancy Ashmore.
Please use the Billing and Payment page to pay for a submitted advertisement. The editor has the discretion to determine which advertisements will be accepted for publication.


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Chromebooks at Columbus State University's Simon Schwob Memorial Library
As Columbus State shifted toward a more mobile and WiFi-accessible environment, they wanted to offer students laptops in the library as well. They hoped to purchase laptops that were cost-effective, simple to use, and equipped with long battery life.
"We see students coming back time and time again to check out a Chromebook in the library. They love that Chromebooks are easy to use and lightweight to carry."
Jackie Radebaugh, Assistant Professor of Library Science
After rolling out G Suite for Education in 2008--and making all university transportation (and its campuses) WiFi accessible--Columbus State turned its attention to the Simon Schwob Memorial Library. Rather than build new computer labs, the university purchased 40 Chromebooks for the library in 2012. Now students can check out a Chromebook for up to three hours to check Gmail, search the Web, and more. They can also sit with others in class to collaborate on school projects in Google Docs and discuss assignments. As soon as the borrowed Chromebook is shut down, it resets and is automatically ready for the next user.
Organization Profile
Founded in 1958, Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, offers distinctive programs in arts, education, business, and more, preparing students to achieve success in an increasingly global environment.
Products usedDownload
Explore more impact stories
Brittany Wenger wrote an algorithm to better detect breast cancer
Del Mar Union dramatically improved students' writing skills
Canberra Public Schools empower students to "Learn, Anywhere" with G Suite for Education and Chromebooks
University of Michigan unifies 19 schools under a culture of collaboration with G Suite for Education


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12" foam letter F
Florist friendly font, designed for quicker assembly and a totally secure system. Very easy to add flowers and comes with a strong base.
5cm depth of OASIS® Ideal Floral Foam Maxlife.
|Copyright © 2017 Dutch Flower Auction Direct - Wholesale Wedding Flowers & Wholesale Flowers for Florists UK


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
The London Times on Thursday reported on evidence it was shown revealing the existence of Hizballah-run military bases in Syria where long-range surface-to-surface missiles are received and prepared for shipment to southern Lebanon.
Security sources told the newspaper that several of the arms depots exist, and are being supplied either directly by Syria or by Iran.
According to the report, Israeli forces were planning to bomb one of the missile convoys as it entered Lebanon, but called off the strike at the last minute as a result of US pressure. Disregarding Israeli security, Washington has insisted that Jerusalem continue to let failed diplomacy lead the way.
Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama chided Syria for continuing to aid Hizballah in violation of UN resolutions, but also decided to renew diplomatic ties with Damascus. Middle East observers said the American leader's behavior sends mixed signals to Arab leaders that ultimately make him look weak and his threats empty.
Also earlier this month, Gen. Yossi Baidatz, a senior Israeli intelligence officer, told a Knesset oversight committee that it was no longer to describe the transfer of arms to Hizballah as "smuggling" since the operation is highly organized, massive and carried out in the open.
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Application Fuzzing
by Soda_Popinsky
A good way to describe fuzzing is found on SpiDynamics website:
At an abstract level, fuzzing can also be described as "organized chaos". Give a fuzzer a specific set of rules, protocol, or a standard of some sort (or none), and you can create randomized chaos to hopefully create an exception to the rule."Fuzzing" is an automated software testing technique that generates and submits random or sequential data to various areas of an application in an attempt to uncover security vulnerabilities. For example, when searching for buffer overflows, a tester can simply generate data of various sizes and send it to one of the application entry points to observe how the application handles it.
A more practical description: When an application comes across a certain situation or data it didn't expect to see, but is programmed to handle anyway, you cause an exception. Whether the exception is handled appropriately or not is where vulnerability comes into question. A fuzzer will output random, unpredictable results, and hope to find a combination or situation that will cause it's target to fail.
This technique is useful in many areas involving any sort of input validation. This tutorial will describe the usage of an application by iDEFENSE which "fuzzes" data into specific file formats, and automates the process of testing the generated files with their respective applications.
FileFuzz is available at:
Creating Files
FileFuzz (FF) has presets for some common files. They can be found in the dropdown menu at the top of the screen. The following are the presets, file extension followed by the software that the filetype will be tested againt:
bkf - ntbkup.exe
cbo - orun32.exe
chm - hh.exe
hlp - winhlp32.exe
ht - winhlp32.exe
jpg - iexplore.exe
pdf - AcroRd32.exe
rm - RealPlay.exe
vcf - OUTLOOK.EXE
wab - wab.exe
wmf - shimgvw.dll
By selecting a preset, you use a sample file provided by FF to fuzz against.
Below, change the radio button from "All bytes" to range, 0-10 as a quick start. You can then hit the create button to start creating files. (The selection "All Bytes" can risk taking up a lot of disc space) You can then see the files created in the default folder (c:\fuzz\filetype\)
What this did is create files that are similar to the sample (source) file, and fuzzing specific areas, such as range 0-10 bytes like we specified. You can see the effects by hex editing the files. The first ten bytes in all of the files output by FF will have different patterns.
Custom Filetypes
Create a file, FuzzMe.hrt, and open it in a text editor. Fill it with the following contents:
We're going to pretend that FuzzMe.hrt is read by another application, and the contents (1111,2222....) will be read and acted upon by the application.
You can specify this as your source file in FF. My example, FuzzMe.hrt, seems to be comma delimeted. If we want to attack a certain field in this file, we can configure FileFuzz to do that.
We're going to attack the first field of FuzzMe.hrt. In the scope box, set the range to 0-3, and check out the output files with a hex editor. You'll see it altered only the first 4 bytes of the file (within the field we wanted to attack). If we change it to 5-8, it would attack the second field, and so on. We can also set what bytes to fill it with, to what length (Buffer Overflows), and if we want to match patterns.
Automated Execution
Clicking the box, "Execute" at the top will change FF to it's execution interface. You can specify the software you want to run the fuzzed files under, automating the attack process. You can specify the path of the application you are attacking with your fuzzed files, as well as any necessary arguments need to run the application.
The start and finish file numbers tell FF what fuzzed files it's going to attack the application with. FF will create fuzzed files named 1.ext, 2.ext, 3.ext and so on, so the start / finish section will help you prevent your attack from running too long.
By selecting execute, FF will then run through the fuzzed files and attack the specified application. By detecting exceptions that result, it makes fuzzing attacks much easier.
Real Results
By reading the standards behind specific file formats, you can specify what parts of an application may be vulnerable. The types of vulnerabilities that could be discovered from a process like this are similar to the following:
Buffer Overrun in JPEG Processing (GDI+) Could Allow Code Execution (833987)
Vulnerability in Microsoft Color Management Module Could Allow Remote Code Execution (901214)
libtiff STRIPOFFSETS Integer Overflow Vulnerability
Winamp remote buffer overflow vulnerability
Vulnerability in MSN Messenger Could Lead to Remote Code Execution (896597)
The Antivirus Vector
As a personal insight...
The easiest vector into an AV is to let the AV scan a malicious file. Because file formats are getting more complex (zip, rar, encryption, interpretation) it means AV is becoming more complex to handle it (can you say... heuristics?). Where complexity arises, so does vulnerability. File fuzzing gives a direct opportunity to discover exploitable holes in AV heavily in the future.
AV's are popular on mailservers. A simple vector against a mailserver would be to exploit the AV running on it, because it would have to process your attachment. Fuzzing will be a simple research tactic against AV's, maybe not through FileFuzz, but maybe in more advanced applications in the future.
Clam AntiVirus FSG File Processing Overflow
ClamAV Multiple Integer Overflow Vulnerabilities
Thanks, feedback appreciated.


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ASCAP spreads its message of fair payment for songwriters and composers further than ever. Our Pandora campaign calls out the streaming music giant for trying to pay writers less; Josh Kear, Paul Williams and Jimmy Webb speak out in The Huffington Post and The Hill; we bring Kear, Ne-Yo and Dan Wilson to DC to convince lawmakers of the importance of online royalties and copyright reform to their livelihoods. Pictured (l-r) are Wilson and Kear at an advocacy event in DC.
In one of the most entertaining panels in ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO history, Justin Timberlake and Bill Withers share the EXPO's Grand Ballroom stage on April 24th. The two speak candidly and swap stories about their lives and music careers in this quintessential "only at the EXPO" session. Photo by Rick Miller/MRES Photography.
ASCAP establishes a Bill of Rights for Songwriters & Composers and publishes its powerful position paper, Music Copyright in the Digital Age. The Bill of Rights has received over 13,000 signatures so far. Read and sign it at www.ascap.com/rights.
ASCAP gives its first Troubadour Award to the great Stevie Wonder in 2007. The award is bestowed at ASCAP's exclusive annual "Songwriter Night" in Washington, DC, and accompanied by a tribute concert featuring Tony Bennett, Smokey Robinson, India.Arie, Wyclef Jean, Joan Osborne, Chaka Khan and Dianne Reeves. Stevie is pictured here with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Congressman John Conyers, Jr. at the event.
ASCAP holds its first "I Create Music" EXPO in Los Angeles. Among the many music luminaries that participate in the inaugural EXPO is Tom Petty, an ASCAP member since 1981. He's shown here with ASCAP's Erik Philbrook during the EXPO's first keynote interview. The ASCAP EXPO continues to educate and inspire the music community today: ascap.com/expo
Patti Smith performs the last-ever show at famed New York club CBGB on October 15th, 2006, closing the night with "Elegie" from her classic debut Horses (watch the performance here). Smith was one of the many punk rock and new wave artists that got their start at CBGB in the 1970s. She was given the ASCAP Founders Award in 2010.
R&B luminaries Jermaine Dupri and Alicia Keys share Songwriter of the Year honors at the 2005 Rhythm & Soul Awards. Just a few months earlier, Keys had earned four Grammys and Dupri was honored with the Golden Note at the 2005 ASCAP Pop Awards. Keys would win the Golden Note in 2009.
R&B superstar Usher goes global with his fourth album Confessions. The album hits #1 in five countries and yields the two best-selling US singles of 2004: "Yeah!" and "Burn." Click here to watch Usher accept the Golden Note at the 2013 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards.
An unsigned Las Vegas band called The Killers performs at the annual ASCAP CMJ showcase. Two days later, they sign to Island; they go on to sell millions of albums and earn seven Grammy nominations. Frontman Brandon Flowers reminisces: "When record labels were not willing to step up, ASCAP took us under their wing." Here they are at the 2010 ASCAP Pop Awards, where they were honored with the Vanguard Award.
Here's Tom Waits in performance at the 2001 Pop Awards, where he received the ASCAP Founders Award. An excerpt from his acceptance speech: "To say a few serious things about songs, I guess they're really like vessels. When people migrate, they take with them their seeds and their songs, and I think that's pretty much all you'll need when you get there." Click the video link to watch part of the speech.
The iPod is released on October 23rd and soon revolutionizes the way that we listen to music. The very first iPod advertisement features the Propellerheads track "Take California."
The same year her R&B group Destiny's Child releases its first album, future superstar Beyoncé Knowles makes ASCAP her performing rights organization of choice.
ASCAP officially launches its Member Benefits program. The first offering was a credit union membership. It's since grown to include insurance options, travel discounts, magazine subscriptions, online education discounts and more. Some Member Benefits partners used to require ASCAP members to present their official membership card. Here's John Belushi's card from 1975 - the same year he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live.
Pearl Jam establish themselves as alternative rock's leading lights with second album Vs. The album sells more copies in its first week (over 950,000) than any other in history, a record it would hold for five years.
Metallica simplify their complex thrash metal for the eponymous "black album," released on August 12th. The result? One of the best-selling albums of all time, at 16x platinum and counting.
Revered conductor and ASCAP composer Leonard Bernstein, best known for his music for West Side Story, dies on October 14th. Listen to these recordings of Bernstein conducting his "Kaddish" Symphony, named after the Jewish prayer for the dead.
Composer Fred Karlin founds the ASCAP TV & Film Scoring Workshop. The program gives young composers access to the same tools and contacts afforded the professionals, including a cue recorded by a 60-piece orchestra. Graduates have scored major films, TV series and video games. Several have won Emmys and BAFTAs. Pictured are the participants and orchestra from the 25th anniversary Workshop in 2013.
NWA's debut studio album Straight Outta Compton pioneers the gritty urban imagery of gangsta rap and introduces future superstars Ice Cube and Dr. Dre to the masses. It's a surprise hit despite virtually no airplay or tour support.
ASCAP holds its first Pop Music Awards, initiating a tradition that has become one of the Society's most star-studded events. The first ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year is Lionel Richie, pictured here at the inaugural Pop Awards with (l-r) Henry Mancini, Kenny Rogers, Hal David and Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Richie would win again in 1985 and 1986, and come back at the milestone 25th Pop Awards to earn the Golden Note Award.
The same year she releases her debut album (with its infectious first single "Everybody"), a young New York singer and dancer named Madonna Ciccone becomes an ASCAP member.
The title track from Flashdance dances its way to the top of the charts, wins the Oscar for Best Song, and earns ASCAP co-writer Irene Cara a Grammy for her vocal performance. "What a Feeling" and its Flashdance soundtrack pal "Maniac" become unofficial anthems of the legwarmer industry.
The Buggles' hit single "Video Killed the Radio Star" becomes the first video played on MTV, which launches at 12:01 AM on August 1st.
Desmond Child co-pens his first smash, "I Was Made for Lovin' You" for KISS. It's the first in a decades-long string of hits by Child, including Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer," Aerosmith's "Crazy," Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" and Katy Perry's "Waking Up in Vegas." Child currently sits on the ASCAP Board.
The Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning "The Way We Were," written by lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman and composer Marvin Hamlisch made it on the American Film Institute's list of Top 100 Songs from Film. Here is the great Barbra Streisand's version of it from the film of the same name.
After touring as Bob Dylan's band in the late 1960s, The Band, featuring (l-r) Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, set off on their own musical journey. Their debut album, Music from Big Pink, established their sound evoking old time rural America, and earned them a growing following. Their second self-titled album was a critical and commercial success and featured the song "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," which became a hit for Joan Baez.
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," written by The Band's Robbie Robertson, tells the story of the last days of the American Civil War and the suffering of the South. Sung by drummer Levon Helm, the song is one of the group's signature works. Joan Baez enjoyed the biggest hit of her career with her 1971 recording of it. Here are The Band and Baez's versions.
"The Tears of a Clown" originated as an instrumental work written by Stevie Wonder and producer Hank Cosby. It wasn't completed until after Wonder shared the music at the 1966 Motown Christmas party and Smokey Robinson created lyrics for it, that it became the song we know today. An international multi-million seller, "The Tears of a Clown"was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Notably, the record is one of the few hit pop singles to feature the bassoon.
"Piece of My Heart" was co-written by legendary songwriter-producer Jerry Ragovoy. Originally written in 1967 for Erma Franklin (Aretha's sister), the song achieved greater mainstream attention when Big Brother and the Holding Company, featuring Janis Joplin on lead vocals, covered the song in 1968 and had a much bigger hit with it. Her performance of the song at Woodstock immortalized it even more. Here is that version.
Singer, songwriter and musician Jimi Hendrix is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music. With the Jimi Hendrix Experience, he released three extraordinary albums in 1967 and 1968: Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland, immortalizaing such songs as "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze" and "The Wind Cries Mary," among others. A year after joining ASCAP, he headlined the Woodstock Festival.
The Doors were vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger. They unleashed their debut album in 1967 and rock music would never be the same. They quickly became one of the most controversial and influential rock acts of their time because of the band's unique instrumentation and Morrison's wild charisma. Their first album was just one in a series that would reach the top ten.
"Light My Fire" appeared on The Doors' debut album in 1967. The song originated as an unfinished Robby Krieger composition and was later expanded upon by the group. When the song was released in April '67, it spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Doors famously performed the song on The Ed Sullivan show, leaving in some controversial lyrics.
Lyricist Hal David (left) and composer Burt Bacharach began collaborating in the late 1950s. As they honed their craft they brought a new sophistication to the Brill Building sound of the mid 1960s with their songs for Dionne Warwick, their greatest interpreter. They would go on to become one of history's greatest songwriting teams. America's musical tastes expanded in diverse directions in the '60s, from Britpop to Broadway show tunes to jazz instrumentals.
To better serve ASCAP's growing country music membership, ASCAP opened a southern regional office building in "Music City" in 1963. Here is a photo of the original ASCAP building on Music Row. It would serve ASCAP's Nashville community for 30 years until a new structure would go up on the same location in 1992. Among the many country greats who were signed through that office were Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and so many more.
ASCAP member Chubby Checker's 1960 cover of the Hank Ballard R&B hit "The Twist" was a smash, launching a dance craze and a thirst for more dance-driven songs. The following year, Checker followed up that success with "Let's Twist Again," written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Song. That same year, ASCAP opened its LA office. This video shows audiences twisting across America to Checker's classic recording.
To show his support for ASCAP and its members, Ed Sullivan began making yearly salutes to the Society on his program. The first time he did so was in January of 1956, when the impressive list of guests on the show included Jack Norworth and Cab Calloway. Later ASCAP tributes featured the likes of theatre director Moss Hart (far left), Kitty Carlisle, and Liberace (far right) with then ASCAP President Stanley Adams and Sullivan (center).
One of ASCAP's most unique members, cartoonist, artist, engineer, songwriter and inventor Rube Goldberg (yes, of "Rube Goldberg machine" fame) was a great advocate of music creators' rights. In 1958, he made headlines when he teamed up with former ASCAP president Otto Harbach to draw a political cartoon criticizing a loophoole in copyright law that forbade artists to collect royalties from jukebox profits. Unfortunately, the two were unsuccessful, and the law was not revised until 1978.
In 1952 theatre-goers were treated to Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly on the big screen in the classic Western drama High Noon. The film tells the story of a town marshall forced to face a gang of killers by himself. It won four Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. The score was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin, who also co-wrote the theme song with lyricist Ned Washington. Both the score and theme song won Oscars.
"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)," with music by Dimitri Tiomkin and lyrics by Ned Washington, was introduced in the Academy Award-winning film High Noon. Performed by Tex Ritter, the song won the 1952 Academy Award for Best Original Song and became a hit for both Ritter and Frankie Laine.
A picture of ASCAP's old index department. After listening to hours-long tapes of radio recordings from across the nation to search for ASCAP songs, staffers then had to sift through licensing data to ensure that royalties could be properly distributed to songwriter, composer and music publisher members. Today ASCAP processes more than 250 billion performances annually.
Young Otto Harbach (right) fell in love with librettos and abandoned his literary career to become a songwriter. He wrote over 50 musical comedies and became a charter member of ASCAP, eventually serving as the Society's fifth President from 1950-1953. Harbach is pictured here with ASCAP's sixth President, Stanley Adams.
By the end of the 1940s, ASCAP was processing an ever-increasing amount of data. In response, ASCAP created a "tabulating department," the forerunner of the state of the art data center ASCAP utilizes today. In 1949, ASCAP began licensing a brand new music user - television - which remains a major force in performance royalties today. In 2012, ASCAP collected more than $308 million from its TV and Cable licensees.
A songwriter with a background in law and music publishing, Fred E. Ahlert was an integral part of the ASCAP team during his 30 year career. He went on to serve as President for two years, 1948-1950. Ahlert is credited with writing "Mean to Me," "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," "I'll Get By" and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," among others.
Fred Ahlert and Roy Turk's "Mean to Me" was originally written in 1929. A popular standard, it has been recorded by many artists, including Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Doris Day, Julie London, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker and Linda Rondstadt. Here is a modern version by Nellie Mckay from her tribute album to Doris Day.
Composer Deems Taylor was elected ASCAP President in 1942 and served for six years, a time when the Society faced new competition from BMI and a Justice Department Consent Decree which ASCAP had accepted in 1941. A music critic and radio host, Taylor also narrated Walt Disney's 1940 animated film Fantasia. The ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards, honoring music books, articles and broadcasts, was established in 1968 in his name.
"(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66," written by songwriter Bobby Troup, was first recorded by the Nat King Cole Trio in 1946. The song's lyrics follow the path of the US Route 66 highway, which traversed the country from east to west, and evoked America's post-war fascination with automobile travel. Other notable versions of the song include those done by Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode and John Mayer.
In 1945, ASCAP member Aaron Copland's famous piece of Americana, "Appalachian Spring," won the Pulitzer Prize in the music category. The piece was commissioned by choreographer Martha Graham, who requested "music for an American ballet" from Copland. Originally titled "Music for Martha," it was Graham who envisioned the Appalachian Mountains while listening to the piece and gave it its name.
On the Town got its start in 1944 as a Jerome Robbins ballet called Fancy Free, which used Leonard Bernstein's music. It subsequently evolved into a Broadway musical with music by Bernstein and lyrics by the talented songwriting team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Pictured (l-r) are actress Alice Walker, Bernstein, Green and Comden backstage. The show was later made into a beloved musical film in 1949.
Cab Calloway, who joined ASCAP in 1942, was a songwriter, jazz singer and bandleader most associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem. A master of scat singing, Calloway also led one of the most popular big bands in the country from the start of the 1930s through the late '40s. In 1988, ASCAP presented him with its Duke Ellington Award. Here is a video of Cab with his orchestra appearing in the 1943 film Stormy Weather.
As World War II continued to rage, military themes became more and more prevalent in popular culture. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was co-written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince during a peacetime draft to expand the armed forces in anticipation of American involvement. The Andrews Sisters introduced the song in the Abbott and Costello film, Buck Privates, released in 1941.The hit became an iconic World War II tune.
In 1940, ASCAP presented a concert at San Francisco's Treasure Island, highlighting great American music from the turn of the century up to that point. An incredible array of ASCAP writer and composer members took part in the concert, including Harold Arlen, who accompanied Judy Garland on "Over the Rainbow," as well as Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin, W.C. Handy, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer and Deems Taylor.
Here is the complete "Carousel of American Music" concert that was held on September 24th, 1940 on San Francisco's Treasure Island. Highlights include Albert von Tilzer singing his "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," L. Wolfe Gilbert performing "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee," Arthur Freed performing "Singin' in the Rain," Hoagy Carmichael performing "Stardust" and many other great songs performed by their creators.
"Over the Rainbow" became Judy Garland's theme song and an anthem of hope that has inspired generations around the world. The song is number one on the "Songs of the Century" list compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America. The American Film Institute also ranked it the greatest movie song of all time. Here is Garland's version from the soundtrack and a more recent version by the late Hawaiian artist Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole, which topped the charts as recently as 2004.
Thanks to the ubiquitous singing cowboy movies of the 1930s, starring Gene Autry (pictured), Roy Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers, Tex Ritter and Johnny Marvin, cowboy songs became part of the national fabric. Autry was not only an accomplished actor and vocalist but also a songwriter who reigned on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades. His original songs include "Back in the Saddle Again," "Blue Canadian Rockies" and "Here Comes Santa Claus," among others.
Gene Autry's signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again," which was also the name of his auotobiography in 1976, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was named one of the 100 Best Songs of the 20th Century by voters of the RIAA.
In 1936, another group of prominent ASCAP members traveled to DC to speak out on behalf of their fellow music creators, a tradition and a need that remains ongoing. This photo shows musical leaders of their day testifying at a Congressional hearing. Pictured (l-r) are superstar crooner Rudy Vallée, legendary songwriters Irving Berlin and George Gershwin and ASCAP President Gene Buck, who served from 1924 to 1942.
"Pennies from Heaven," written by composer Arthur Johnston and lyricist Johnny Burke, was a song made hugely popular by the young Bing Crosby, who starred in the 1936 musical film of the same name. It was recorded the same year by Billie Holiday. Many other greats have since recorded the song including Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra, all represented here. In 1960s, The Skyliners revived it in a memorable Doo-Wop version.
Throughout the 1930s, ASCAP's licensing efforts intensified. In 1933, ASCAP opened its first general licensing office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here is a reproduction of an ASCAP license signed by a Des Moines, Iowa ballroom in 1936. Today, ASCAP has more than 700,000 licensed customers, and licensing representatives who cover every region of the country.
Johnny Mercer, who joined ASCAP in 1933, struck musical gold when he was paired with composer Hoagy Carmichael. The two spent a year working on "Lazy Bones," which became a hit one week after its first radio broadcast, and each received a royalty check of $1,250. Mercer had arrived, and he received congratulations from Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter, among others.
After Mitchell Parish added his poignant, poetic lyrics to the 1927 melody by Hoagy Carmichael (pictured), "Stardust" sailed into immortality, becoming one of the most recorded and performed songs of all time, with more than 1,500 recordings to date.
Lyricist Dorothy Fields was one of the first successful Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood female songwriters. Her career took off in 1928 when she collaborated with composer Jimmy McHugh on Blackbirds of 1928, which featured the now beloved standard "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." The pair would go on to write several other classics, including "I'm In the Mood for Love" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street."
Composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart would go on to become giants of musical theatre, contributing such monumental standards as "My Funny Valentine," "Blue Moon," "Where or When," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "The Lady is a Tramp" and so many others. They worked together on 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs until their legendary partnership ended with the premature passing of Hart in 1943.
W.C. Handy was widely known as "Father of the Blues." He was influential in taking the blues from a regional style with a small audience to a musical style that became a major national force. ASCAP member Bessie Smith was one of the most popular female blues singers of the 1920s and 1930s. Her version of Handy's "St. Louis Blues" is a powerful reminder of why she has influenced generations of jazz vocalists.
In 1925 Bessie Smith had a top ten hit with this version of W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues," featuring Louis Armstrong on cornet and Fred Longshaw on harmonium. It was one of the first blues songs to succeed as a pop song. The song was the second most recorded of the first half of the 20th Century, only surpassed by "Silent Night."
As the Roaring Twenties dawned, music boomed. After initiating the momentous task of licensing US restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and anywhere else a performance of music was likely, ASCAP makes its first royalty distribution to its writer and publisher members. In 2012, ASCAP distributed $828.7 million to its members.
ASCAP and PRS (Britain's Performing Rights Society) sign the first agreement for representation of ASCAP members abroad. Today, ASCAP has reciprocal agreements with more than 100 countries.
"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" originated in the Broadway musical The Passing Show of 1918. Recorded versions were hits in 1919 for Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra and Henry Burr, respectively. The version here is by jazz vocalist Mildred Bailey.
On February 13th, 1914, at the Hotel Claridge in NYC, a group of prominent, visionary music creators founded ASCAP. Pictured here a few years later are ASCAP composer Victor Herbert (seated) with other charter members (l-r): Gustave Kerker, Raymond Hubbell, Harry Tierney, Louis A. Hirsch, Rudolf Friml, Robert Hood Bowers, Silvio Hein, Alfred Baldwin Sloane and Irving Berlin. ASCAP's first president was publisher George Maxwell.


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- / World & News
- / Countries of the World
- / Croatia
Facts & Figures
Republic of Croatia
President: Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (2015)
Prime Minister: Zoran Milanovic (2011)
Land area: 21,781 sq mi (56,414 sq km); total area: 21,831 sq mi (56,542 sq km)
Population (2014 est.): 4,470,534 (growth rate: -0.12%); birth rate: 9.49/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.87/1000; life expectancy: 76.41
Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Zagreb, 686,000
Other large cities: Split, 173,600; Rijeka, 142,500; Osijek, 89,600
Monetary unit: Kuna
- Croatia Main Page
- UN Security Forces Enter Croatia in an Effort to Keep the Peace
- Croatia Votes to Join European Union
- Croatia Elects First Female President
Croatia is a former Yugoslav republic on the Adriatic Sea. It is about the size of West Virginia. Part of Croatia is a barren, rocky region lying in the Dinaric Alps. The Zagorje region north of the capital, Zagreb, is a land of rolling hills, and the fertile agricultural region of the Pannonian Plain is bordered by the Drava, Danube, and Sava Rivers in the east. Over one-third of Croatia is forested.
Presidential/parliamentary democracy.
Croatia, at one time the Roman province of Pannonia, was settled in the 7th century by the Croats. They converted to Christianity between the 7th and 9th centuries and adopted the Roman alphabet under the suzerainty of Charlemagne. In 925, the Croats defeated Byzantine and Frankish invaders and established their own independent kingdom, which reached its peak during the 11th century. A civil war ensued in 1089, which later led to the country being conquered by the Hungarians in 1091. The signing of the Pacta Conventa by Croatian tribal chiefs and the Hungarian king in 1102 united the two nations politically under the Hungarian monarch, but Croatia retained its autonomy.
Following the defeat of the Hungarians by the Turks at the battle of Mohács in 1526, Croatia (along with Hungary) elected Austrian archduke Ferdinand of Hapsburg as their king. After the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian kingdom in 1867, Croatia became part of Hungary until the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918 following its defeat in World War I. On Oct. 29, 1918, Croatia proclaimed its independence and joined in union with Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. The name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929.
When Germany invaded Yugoslavia in 1941, Croatia became a Nazi puppet state. Croatian Fascists, the Ustachi, slaughtered countless Serbs and Jews during the war. After Germany was defeated in 1945, Croatia was made into a republic of the newly reconstituted Communist nation of Yugoslavia; however, Croatian nationalism persisted. After Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito's death in 1980, Croatia's demands for independence increased in intensity.
In 1990, free elections were held, and the Communists were defeated by a nationalist party led by Franjo Tudjman. In June 1991, the Croatian parliament passed a declaration of independence from Yugoslavia. Six months of intensive fighting with the Serbian-dominated Yugoslavian army followed, claiming thousands of lives and wreaking mass destruction.
UN Security Forces Enter Croatia in an Effort to Keep the Peace
A UN cease-fire was arranged on Jan. 2, 1992. The UN Security Council in February approved sending a 14,000-member peacekeeping force to monitor the agreement and protect the minority Serbs in Croatia. In a 1993 referendum, the Serb-occupied portion of Croatia (Krajina) resoundingly voted for integration with Serbs in Bosnia and Serbia proper. Although the Zagreb government and representatives of Krajina signed a cease-fire in March 1994, further negotiations broke down. In a lightning-quick operation, the Croatian army retook western Slavonia in May 1995. Similarly, in August, the central Croatian region of Krajina, held by Serbs, was returned to Zagreb's control.
Announcing on television in 1999 that "national issues are more important than democracy," President Tudjman continued to alienate Croatians with his authoritarian rule, out-of-touch nationalism, and disastrous handling of the war-shattered economy. In Dec. 1999, Tudjman died. Less than a month later, his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Party was defeated by a reformist center-left coalition headed by Ivica Racan. But in Nov. 2003 elections, a right-wing coalition led by the nationalist HDZ once again assumed power. The new prime minister, Ivo Sanader, claims that his party is now far less nationalistic and far more moderate than its earlier incarnation under Tudjman. In 2003, Croatia formally submitted its application to join the EU. First elected in 2000, President Stjepan Mesic was reelected in Jan. 2005.
In April 2008, NATO invited Croatia to join the alliance at a summit in Bucharest. Final status is expected in January 2009.
Croatia officially joined NATO in April 2009. In June 2009, the European Union canceled talks about membership with Croatia due to outstanding unresolved issues with the Slovenian border.
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader unexpectedly resigned from politics in July 2009. Parliament approved Jadranka Kosor as the new prime minister the same month. She is the country's first woman prime minister. Ivo Josipovic of the opposition Social Democrats was elected president in January 2010. In parliamentary elections in December 2011, a four-party center-left coalition defeated the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), taking 81 out of 151 seats. The Social Democratic Party won 61 seats, and its leader Zoran Milanovic became prime minister.
Croatia Votes to Join European Union
In a Jan. 2012 referendum, voters supported joining the European Union (EU) by a two-to-one margin. despite a major debt crisis that has affected many EU members, 66% voted in favor of the membership . A majority of Croatian Parliament members and leading politicians supported the referendum as well. After the vote, President Ivo Josipovic said, "This is a big day for Croatia and 2013 will be a turning point in our history." The current plan is for Croatia to become a part of the EU on July 1, 2013. The country will be expected to adopt the euro at that time.
Pending EU membership has prompted Croatia to clean house; Ivo Sanader, a former prime minister of Croatia, was sentenced to ten years in prison for corruption, and Croatian war heroes have been sent to the Yugoslav war-crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Croatia Elects First Female President
On Feb. 19, 2015, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović took office as the fourth president of Croatia, becoming the country's first female president. Previously, she served as minister of foreign affairs and as Croatia's ambassador to the United States. She was the first woman to serve as NATO's assistant secretary general for public diplomacy from 2011 to 2014.
In the 2014-15 presidential election, Grabar-Kitarović was the candidate of the conservative Croatian Democratic Union party. In the first round of elections held in Dec. 2014, Grabar-Kitarović came in second out of four candidates. She received 37.2% of the vote. Incumbent Ivo Josipović came in just ahead with 38.5%. Since neither received more than 50%, a run-off was held two weeks later. On Jan. 11, 2015, Grabar-Kitarović won, taking 50.7% of the vote.
See also Encyclopedia: Croatia .
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Croatia
Central Bureau of Statistics www.dzs.hr/ .


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