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The Wild Hunt is exclusively supported by readers like you. No advertising. No corporate sponsors. Your support helps us pay our writers and editors, as well as cover the bills the keep the lights on. We cover the community because of your generosity. Consider making a one-time donation – or become a monthly sustainer. Every amount helps. Thank you for reading The Wild Hunt!
There are lots of articles and essays of interest to modern Pagans out there, sometimes more than I can write about in-depth in any given week. So The Wild Hunt must unleash the hounds in order to round them all up.
- Is Bolivia imposing an animist/indigenous worldview on Christians? That's the charge some Christian groups are making in the wake of a new law which oversees the recognition of religious groups in the country. Quote: "They want to control the activities of the evangelical churches," Agustín Aguilera, president of ANDEB, told the Santa Cruz newspaper El Deber. "Article 15 (of the law) would force all religious organizations to carry out our activities within the parameters of the 'horizon of good living,' which is based on the [ethnic] Aymara worldview. This is an imposition of a cultural and spiritual worldview totally foreign to ours." It should be noted that the ethos of "Living Well," while originating in indigenous thought, does not force a particular theology. Since Christianity Today is so concerned with people being forced to conform to religious philosophies not of their choosing, I'm sure they'll speak out against a monarch in Nigeria who converted to Christianity and is now jettisoning traditional practices beloved by the locals. Right? Any day now…
- Sociologist Robert Bartholomew says there's a "sudden upsurge" in cases of mass psychogenic illness, better known in the common parlance as "mass hysteria" Worse, Bartholomew says that it can now spread via social media, which is bad news for those trying to prevent another "Satanic Panic," or plain-old witch-hunt for that matter. Quote: "In a paper titled "Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Social Network: is it changing the pattern of outbreaks?" Bartholomew writes, 'Local priests, who were inevitably summoned to exorcise the 'demons', faced a daunting task given the widespread belief in witchcraft, but they were fortunate in one regard: they did not have to contend with mobile phones, Twitter and Facebook.' However, the old and the new are more intertwined than one might expect. Two separate strangers messaged Thera through Facebook saying she needed an exorcism."
- Greek Jews live in fear of the Golden Dawn, an extremist political party that's been on the rise in the wake of austerity and fiscal crisis. Their words and actions are getting increasingly reminiscent of another European political party that arose during a time of fiscal crisis. Quote: "In Athens on July 24, another song was heard — a Greek version of a Horst Wessel song, a Nazi anthem. The Golden Dawn Party blasted it outside its headquarters while handing out free food to "Greeks only." Golden Dawn says it wants to "clean" Greece of foreigners. Its black-shirted supporters attack poor South Asian and African migrants, claiming they're all in Greece illegally. The violence scares Orietta Treveza, a Greek-Jewish educator who has three young daughters. 'It's very scary because we think that we are next,' she says. 'It's not going to end with the immigrants.'" For those wondering, the party did/does embrace nationalistic pseudo-pagan trappings, but has also realized the populist potential of catering to Greek Orthodoxy. Like most fascists, belief and tradition are simply avenues to power.
- Satanic Panic bottom-feeder Bob Larson and his troupe of teenage exorcists have hit London, and the results are pretty much exactly what you'd expect. Quote: "Savannah seriously weighed in on why London is full of dark forces, explaining, 'I think it's been centuries in the making, but I believe it all kind of came to a pinnacle, a peak, with the Harry Potter books that have come out, and the Harry Potter rage that swept across England.' Her sister Tess agreed, commenting, 'The spells and things that you're reading in the Harry Potter books? Those aren't just something that are made up– those are actual spells. Those are things that came from witchcraft books.'" There's the fruit of reality television for you, anything so long as it draws attention. Oh, and there's going to be new Harry Potter soon, so I guess Satan wins again?
- A United Nations housing expert has criticized a new "bedroom tax" in the UK, so naturally the Daily Fail accuses her of being a Marxist Witch. Quote: "Her lengthy CV lists countless qualifications, civic achievements, books and publications – but Raquel Rolnik makes no mention of dabbling in witchcraft. Yet the architect and urban planner appears to be an avid follower of Candomble, an African-Brazilian religion that originated during the slave trade. The academic, brought up a Marxist, actually offered an animal sacrifice to Karl Marx…" This is yet another reason why Pagans should not support or link to this tabloid.
- A lot of attention has been paid recently to the "Abused Goddesses" awareness campaign against domestic violence, which features representations of Hindu goddesses that carry bruises and cuts from beatings. However, reactions from Hindus have been somewhat mixed. Praneta Jha of the Hindustan Times says that "trapping women into images of a supposed ideal is one of the oldest strategies of patriarchy – and if we do not fit the image, it is deemed alright to 'punish' and violate us." Sayantani DasGupta at The Feminist Wire notes that "these images of Hindu goddesses looking sorrowful and downtrodden undermine culturally located sources of female power – however 'contradictory'." Lakshmi Chaudhry calls it a "giant step backward for womankind," and USF professor Vamsee Juluri adds that "there has been such a great deal of misrepresentation, if not outright malicious propaganda, about Hinduism, that the campaign already seems to many Hindus to be a perpetuation of that, rather than a sincere attempt to address the real problem of domestic violence." Finally, Suhag A. Shukla says that "what will be the ultimate test of the success of this campaign, however, is if it is able to stop the first of many abusers from letting his raised hand meet its intended target."
- Does philosophy have a problem with women? Katy Waldman at Slate.com ponders: "Taken one by one, the various explanations for philosophy's woman problem are like Zeno's arrow, inching ever closer to a target they can't quite hit."
- In Israel, the tradition of participating in the kaparot ritual using a live chicken has caused debate after MK Rabbi Dov Lipman of Yesh Atid called the practice "deplorable" and "pagan." Quote: "The ritual involves circling a live chicken over one's head three times and symbolically transferring one's sins to the animal. The chicken is then slaughtered and eaten. Many have the practice of donating the chicken's meat to the poor […] Lipman urged Jews to perform the kaparot ritual with money or with flowers instead, as many currently do."
- Mitch Horowitz writes about how the occult brought cremation to America. Quote: "Cremation was introduced to America in the 1870s by a retired Civil War colonel, Henry Steel Olcott. As a Union Army staff colonel and military investigator, Olcott had amassed a distinguished record, which included routing out fraud among defense contractors and making some of the first arrests in the Lincoln assassination. In his post-military life as a lawyer and journalist, Olcott developed a deep interest in the esoteric and paranormal — which drove his fascination with the then-exotic rite of burning the dead."
- Definition of a slow news day: these leaves and overgrowth on power lines look somewhat like a witch! Wow! Really? Let's get that spread around as quickly as possible.
That's it for now! Feel free to discuss any of these links in the comments, some of these I may expand into longer posts as needed.


text: The heart is a muscle, about the size of a fist, whose main job is to pump blood to all parts of the body, bringing needed nutrients and oxygen and delivering waste products to other organs for removal. The heart has four chambers. The upper two are the atria (the right and the left atrium) and the lower two are the right and left ventricles. These chambers contract in a regular sequence, or rhythm (the heartbeat), and these contractions enable the heart to pump blood. "Heart disease" is any disease or condition that negatively impacts the heart's function. Common forms of heart disease are congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and arrhythmia. heart disease affects more than 20 million Americans, and family history is not the only risk factor. Heart Disease is one of the most-covered and discussed topics among Second Opinion doctors and patients.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Today is National Book Lovers Day! It's a perfect day to meet with a book club, or even start one. No matter if you're reading from a digital reader like a Kindle or a Nook, or if you prefer the feel of a hardback in your hands, today is a day to sit back, relax and curl up with a good book. If you're having trouble deciding on a title to choose, we've provided a few lists below to help you. Happy Reading!
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
- Building Stories – by Chris Ware
- The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Non Fiction:
- My Life in France by Julia Child
- 1,000 Places to See Before you Die by Patricia Schultz
- In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
- I know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen


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Short Corner
Extra Time
The Locker Room
Top Flight
Weekend English Action
Weekend Turkish Action
Weekend Danish Action
Weekend C-League Action
What's stood out so far in the Copa?
Michael Bradley was bad but maybe that isnt his fault
BRIAN SCIARETTA - Friday, September 30, 2011
With US Soccer likely to be introducing a fulltime Olympic team coach soon, let's look at what the team could look like as it begins to assemble in the months ahead.
Here is how the best 18-player team looks right now if it were to qualify for the Olympics under a strict U-23 age limit. Afterward we will look at the best overage selections available and the issue of getting players release for qualifying.
Pack Your Bag, Boys - London Calling
1) Bill Hamid
(DC United) - goalkeeper
Hamid's 2011 season with DC United has been a remarkable success that currently has him playing behind Tim Howard on the US national team. Traditionally in the past, the US Olympic team has used one of its three overage spots on a goalkeeper but that won't be the case this year.
2) Timothy Chandler
(FC Nurnberg) - right back, left back, right midfielder
Chandler has emerged as an up and coming star in the Bundesliga at right back but he can also play right wing and Jurgen Klinsmann has played him at left back recently. His speed and athleticism will make him very difficult to defend at the U-23 level.
3) Mikkel Diskerud
(Stabaek) - central midfielder, right midfielder
Diskerud will turn 21 years old in October but he has more first team minutes than any European-based player in the Olympic team pool. He is very experienced for such a young age and is a likely contender to be the team's captain.
4) Josh Gatt
(Molde FK) - right midfielder, right back, left midfielder
Along with Timothy Chandler, Josh Gatt is one of the fastest rising young American players. Now a key player with Norwegian leading Molde FK, Gatt has explosive speed that makes him perhaps the fastest American player in the game.
5) Brek Shea
(FC Dallas) - Left midfielder
Brek Shea has had a fantastic 2011 and he looks to be a big part of Jurgen Klinsmann's plans moving forward. As one of the best players in MLS, Shea could attract European interest this January. As of now, he is the starting left midfielder for the US Olympic team.
6) Jozy Altidore
(AZ Alkmaar) - Forward
Of all the players in the player pool for the US Olympic team, Altidore has more experience than anyone else by a large margin. As a veteran of the 2008 Beijing games, Altidore is a leader on this team and will unquestionably be the starting forward.
Nearly a Lock
7) Perry Kitchen
(DC United) - Central defense, right back, defensive midfielder
Kitchen's rookie season for DC United has gone very well and he has shown that he can play both in central defense and at right back. Despite his versatility, Kitchen is likely a starter in central defense for the US Olympic team.
8) Freddy Adu
(Philadelphia Union) - midfield, forward
Freddy's Adu move to MLS and his strong play at the Gold cup has reaffirmed his position as an important part of the Olympic team. While the past three years have not been good ones for the former youth prodigy, things are now headed in the right direction. In 2008, the Olympic team's offense was built around Adu and if Adu continues to earn minutes, it could be the same in 2012.
9) Juan Agudelo
(New York Red Bulls) - Forward
Despite only being 18 years old, Agudelo has enjoyed a strong 2011 that has put him on the US national team despite limited club success. Still, his international experience and natural talent will easily put him on the Olympic team.
Fairly Safe Bet
10) John Anthony Brooks
(Hertha Berlin) - central defender, left back
Brooks is one of the top prospects in the US system and the Olympics could be a breakout tournament for the German-born American. Last May, Brooks turned down a professional contract from Bayern Munich to sign a big four year deal with Hertha Berlin. He is listed as being on the first team but after missing most of the preseason with an Achilles injury, he is playing with the club's U-23 team. It is very possible his Bundesliga debut can come this season and he is still very young. He is eligible for the 2013 U20 World Cup team and the 2016 US U23 Olympic team.
11) Zarek Valentin
(Chivas USA) - right back, left back, central defense
Zarek Valentin is yet another good rookie player in MLS. He is a better right back than left but his positional awareness and strong fundamentals allow him to play both sides. With the team being deep at right back, Valentin is a potential starter for the Olympic team at left back.
12) Sean Johnson
(Chicago Fire) - goalkeeper
Sean Johnson's 2011 MLS season began rough but he has recovered and he is now once again a top goalkeeper in MLS. He is likely to be Hamid's backup.
13) Danny Williams
(Hoffenheim) -defensive midfielder, right back, left back
Williams recent callup to the US national team should easily put him on the fast track to the Olympic team. His versatility and Bundesliga experience make him a standout player at this level. Also, the Olympics will get Williams introduced into the US system quickly ahead of World Cup qualifying.
In A Battle
14) Joe Gyau
(Hoffenheim) - left mid, right mid
While the starting wing positions on the Olympic team clearly belong to Shea and Gatt, Gyau is continuing to progress with Hoffenheim where he remains in the club's long-term plans. Gyau is one of the quickest players on the team and is very good on the ball.
15) Terrence Boyd
(Borussia Dortmund) - forward
Boyd is progressing nicely at Borussia Dortmund where he is a goal scoring machine at the club's U23 level. Boyd is now practicing regularly with the first team for the defending Bundesliga champion. He's a powerful central forward and his decision to play for the United States over his native Germany could be a huge help to the US team moving forward.
Work To Do
16) Fabian Hurzeler
(Bayern Munich) - left midfielder, forward, central midfielder
The past few months have been good for Fabian Hurzeler. The 18 year old has finally made his Regionalliga debut for Bayern Munich's U23 team where he should continue to see minutes the rest of the year. It is very possible that Hurzeler will earn a professional contract this year with the Bundesliga giants and his ability to play several midfield positions along with forward is a great asset for this US U-23 team. He would be the youngest player on the US Olympic team but his play in the US U20 January camp showed he has top-notch skills. He still needs to file his one-time switch with FIFA to play for the US but the indications are that he will do that to play for the US Olympic team.
17) Amobi Okugo
(Philadelphia Union) - defensive midfielder, central defender
Okugo is still battling for regular playing time at Philadelphia but he still is one of the more promising young defensive midfielders in the US system.
18) Ethan White
(DC United) - central defender
Despite falling out of favor with the last U20 team, White has enjoyed a good rookie season with DC United where he has been a regular starter.
Obviously issues of getting players released for qualifying is always a problem for the US. The qualifying tournament is not a FIFA international date and clubs are not required to release players.
Still, this shouldn't be as big of a problem as many people think. On this list, nine out of 18 players are from MLS and there should be no problem with clubs releasing these players.
Of the nine European-based players, four play on U23 teams at Bundesliga clubs. While some of these players may get promoted to the first team, it is unlikely they will rise to the level of being an integral part of the team success. If US Soccer presses, securing these players release is likely.
Danny Williams is an interesting case because as of right now, he is only seeing occasional minutes with Hoffenheim's first team. If the situation is the same in March, the club maybe willing to let him go to qualifying so that he can play consistently for a few weeks.
Josh Gatt and Mikkel Diskerud are important players for their Norwegian teams but Diskerud is on record saying that he has already negotiated his release for Olympic qualifying. Gatt's release could be very tricky but not impossible. Molde did not release Gatt for US U20 World Cup qualifying but they let him play for the US U-20s for a pair of friendlies in May. So it is unclear but there is a history of Molde working with the US team.
In the end of the day, Jozy Altidore and Timothy Chandler are the only two players who are highly unlikely to be released. Chander's absence will hurt at right back but the team is deep at that position. Altidore's omission hurts the most but Agudelo has international experience and should be able to succeed at the U-23 international level.
Four years ago, US Soccer struck a deal with West Ham United to release Jonathan Spector for Olympic qualifying. It is well known that Olympic qualifying all comes down to one must-win game in the semifinals of the CONCACAF tournament. In the deal with West Ham, US Soccer did not call up Spector for a friendly during an international window and, in return, West Ham allowed Spector to play for the Olympic qualifying team in the semifinal game only.
There aren't any indications yet that US Soccer will strike a similar deal this cycle but it would be wise to consider it for Gatt, Chandler, or Altidore.
If the US team does qualify, they will be allowed to make three overage (over 23) selections to the roster. In the past, one has usually gone to a goalkeeper and another has gone to a central defender. Goalkeeper isn't necessary this year but one will certainly have to go to central defense.
Also, another will have to go to central midfield as the team's options are not as deep this cycle.
Finally, a third should go to a player who can play a number of different positions. With a small 18-man roster, a versatile player is of extreme importance.
Getting players released from clubs is always tricky as clubs are not required to release overage players. So many factors have to be considered.
That said, here are three overage selections that make the most sense.
Fabian Johnson
(Hoffenhem) for Amobi Okugo
Johnson has yet to suit up for the United States but he is an excellent pick to be an overage selection. He was on the 2009 Germany U21 team that won the European Championship and has played at levels higher than the Olympics. Most importantly, Johnson can play all across the midfield and fullback at either side. Having Johnson on the Olympic team benefits US Soccer because it's clear that Johnson is going to be part of the US national team moving forward. The Olympic tournament will get him integrated into the US system heading into World Cup qualifying. It is an issue as to whether or not Hoffenheim would release Johnson but if Klinsmann negotiates hard, it is possible.
Clarence Goodson
(Brondby) for Ethan White
Goodson is a solid veteran that understands the game well. Central defense is a position where the Olympic team needs a leader and Goodson, who is captain of Brondby, is the best choice to provide that.
Michael Bradley
(Chievo Verona) for Fabian Hurzeler
Despite only being 24 years old, Michael Bradley is one of the most experienced American players. He has played in the World Cup, Confederations Cup, Olympics, Bundesliga, Eredivisie, Premier League, and now Serie A. While getting overage players for the Olympics to be released by their club is always a challenge, the late start of Serie A could be advantageous in that regard. Removing Hurzeler is difficult but he is very young and will be eligible for the 2013 U20 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
Teal Bunbury, Alfredo Morales, Rich Balchan, Luis Gil, Ernest Nungary, Moises Orozco, Kelyn Rowe, Jack McInerney, Sebastien Ibeagha, Jann George, Andrew Wooten, Jerome Kiesewetter, Cody Cropper, Sean Cunningham, Michael Stephens, Bobby Wood, Adrian Ruelas, Omar Salgado, Mobi Fehr, Villyan Bijev, Marc Pelosi, Juan Ocegueda, Will Packwood, Gale Agbossoumonde, Sebastian Lletget, Conor Doyle, Zak MacMath, Kofi Sarkodie, Ike Opara.
Chandler excited for Klinsmann era
Gil on the rise
2012 Olympics
Freddy Adu
John Anthony Brooks
Josh Gatt
Mikkel Diskerud
Timothy Chandler
christian gallus
Wednesday November 23, 2011 12:39 pm
This young man(Danijal Brkovic) playing in Bosnia seems to be a scoring machine( he has all the attributes; speed and 2 feet): when is someone in the US going to take a look at him before the Bosnians(they know talent when they see it) lock him up( once he plays for their national team he can't play for us).
Tuesday November 1, 2011 9:08 pm
3 names Lletget and Orozco and Wood these 3 have huge upside and are more than likely on JK's raar
Hoppy in ATL
Friday October 28, 2011 11:06 am
What about Gale Agbossoumonde and Conor Doyle? Agbossoumonde can provide a good combination of size and skill in the central defense, and Conor Doyle has scored 4 goals in only 6 appearances for the U20's and has already cracked the starting lineup at Derby County....
Obviously they are not listed here for a reason I've overlooked, as both play positions the US is not very deep at (center back and forward), and both are in great form at the moment....
I would LOVE to see Conor Doyle playing for the Olympic team, as the experience would be huge in helping to develop his game, and I think that he will be a big factor for the USMNT going forward.... I would love to see a striking partnership of Doyle and Agudelo....
Christian Gallus
Monday October 24, 2011 12:53 pm
I would not consider Freddy Adu a (forward)striker; he has 2 goals in over 600 min. of play for Philadelphia; we should keep looking for a hot natural striker in Europe.
Thursday October 20, 2011 3:22 am
What ever happened to zahavi
Sunday October 16, 2011 7:13 pm
This particular generation has a lot of German-Americans, and it presages an improved performance.
Very nice to see.
Would love a back four of Chandler, Kitchen or Goodson, Valentin or Brooks, and
F. Johnson.
Midfield of Williams, Diskerud or Hurzeler or Bradley, Gatt and Shea.
Forwards: Altidore or Bunbury, Adu or Agudelo.
GK: Hamid
Monday October 10, 2011 6:54 pm
what about jarred jeffrey? seems to have fallen off the radar.
Coach Kev
Wednesday October 5, 2011 4:55 pm
Hurzeler should be a lock. The US needs to get him in the system as soon as possible. He is a rising star at one of the top 5 clubs in the world.
Charlie G
Monday October 3, 2011 9:33 am
Would like to see Jose Torres as an over age player, and he's only 23.
Saturday October 1, 2011 10:34 am
so putting my two cents in it
josh lambo
timothy candler
danny williams
connor tobin
John Anthony Brooks
Gale Agbossoumonde
Blair Gavin
Moises Hernandez
Mikkel Diskerud
Brek Shea
Perry Kitchen
Dilly Duka
Joshua Gatt
alfredo morales
jozy altidore
freddy adu
Juan Agudelo
omar salgado
3 overage player
clint dempsey
oguchi onyewu
tim howard
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Jesse Marsch has claimed a personal accolade as he's been named Coach of the Year in Austria.
American Trio Wins 3. Liga Title
Konrad Commits To Barcelona
Matarazzo, Stuttgart Eye Promotion
EPB Returns To Action In Austria
Llanez Completes Heerenveen Loan
SC Heerenveen
Tyler Boyd
Tim Ream
League One


text:
In Which We Make A Centuple-Stuf Oreo
As a kid, I preferred Double Stufs to single stufs. I preferred "Quadruple Stufs" to Double Stufs—twisting two doubles in half, discarding the bare cookies, and smushing the creme-bound ones together. But I really wanted more than that, and, well... hasn't everyone wanted to make a Centuple Stuf Oreo? We decided to see if it was possible.
I mean, we had a lot of leftover Oreos after tasting just about every damn kind. But not just any kind would work. We wanted all standard creme color and flavor; we needed all Double Stufs (stacking 50 thicker patties is easier than 100 skinny ones); we needed identical shapes. So we only had a few packs to work from. Very little room for error!
Double Stuf creme loosens from both cookies pretty easily—a huge plus. If you were just doing a few you probably wouldn't even need tools. But we're going professional here; no sticky fingers. A short blade keeps things clean and precise.
Four or five Double Stufs deep... this is about the point when my mother would've started to yell at me.
At about 20 Double Stufs—so, 40 Stuf high—things are still pretty stable, but after a few more, you can feel that you're getting into uncharted territory.
But 100-Stuf is the goal, so we persevered...
And when you clap the cookie atop Double Stuf #50, it's THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE. It stayed upright, too, without any support! ... for a second.
But all good things come to an end.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Correo Uruguayo wishes to inform the designated operators of other UPU member countries that since last week it has been experiencing issues with the EDI files transmission. This problem has affected data being sent to other designated operators. Correo Uruguayo is working to resolve it as quickly as possible.
Correo Uruguayo thanks designated operators for their understanding and cooperation; it will inform them as soon as the situation returns to normal.


text:
SUNY chancellor halts Nassau Community College president search
The SUNY chancellor halted Nassau Community College's contentious search for a new president, saying she will not approve any candidate until after an investigation into the fairness of the selection process.
Nancy L. Zimpher, who heads the State University of New York system, directed Geoffrey Prime, chairman of NCC's board of trustees, to "suspend any activities associated with the president search," SUNY spokesman David Doyle said Wednesday.
"The chancellor is demanding integrity, fairness, accountability and a selection based on the merits of the candidates," Doyle said in an email. "She has made it clear that she will not recommend any Nassau candidate until she is satisfied that a proper investigation has been completed."
Zimpher stepped in as campus groups and some individuals demanded the current search be stopped on the grounds it is biased and the process treated the college's acting president, Kenneth Saunders, unfairly in his bid for the job.
Zimpher "has communicated her expectation to the NCC board chair that he is responsible for conducting an investigation," Doyle said.
Prime said Wednesday members of the board, excluding trustees directly involved in the search, will gather all materials related to the president search and interview committee members.
"I'm sensitive to the chancellor's concerns as well as to those of everyone involved," Prime said. He said he did not know how long it would take. "We'd like to have the investigation done sooner rather than later."
Prime said the board plans to communicate details about the investigation to the campus community over the next day or two when they "get a better handle on things."
Zimpher and SUNY trustees must sign off on any final candidate for president at the 23,550-student Garden City institution, the largest single-campus community college in the state.
Professor Robert L. Hodge Jr., an executive board member of ALANA, a group that represents minority faculty and staff, applauded SUNY officials Wednesday for intervening.
"Sounds like it will be investigated and that's all we want," Hodge said.Saunders, 56, who has worked at NCC for 14 years, will remain acting president. He claimed some members of the presidential search committee held a bias against him during his job interview. Saunders was selected in August to lead the school after the departure of former NCC president Donald Astrab, who spent 30 months on the job.
In a story published Tuesday, Saunders told Newsday: "It was the most caustic interview experience I've ever had. They were not questions, but accusatory statements directed at me."
NCC trustee Anthony Cornachio, head of the selection committee who has come under fire, rebutted Saunders' claim. He said Tuesday night that all job candidates were treated equally.
The leaders of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, which represents the college's full-time faculty, said in a statement Wednesday that they were "concerned that a search procedure that was conceived and approved by the BOT [board of trustees] and supervised by SUNY is now being questioned."Tuesday night, nearly 300 people gathered at the college for the monthly board of trustees meeting. The board spent about three hours closeted in executive session before the public session began. More than two dozen speakers took to the microphone, the majority demanding that trustees start the search over.
Audience members, which included officials from the NAACP, the college's student government and ALANA -- the African, Latino, Asian and Native American Alliance -- called for Cornachio's resignation.
ALANA earlier had called for Cornachio's resignation as head of the search committee after it was revealed he sent an email to other board members that referred to an African-American member of ALANA as "a thug" and to a female member as "very pretty."
The selection committee had agreed on three finalists: Joyce Ester, 47, of Chicago, president of Kennedy-King College, one of seven entities within the City Colleges of Chicago; State Supreme Court Justice Anthony Marano, 70, of Valley Stream; and Elana Zolfo, 63, of Smithtown, interim president of Dowling College in Oakdale.
The 12 members of the selection committee voted by secret ballot, Cornachio said.


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text:
New Sony DSC-RX1: Full-Frame Meets Point and Shoot
Just when you thought the DSC-RX100 was Sony's exciting new product of the year, out comes its bigger, badder, and totally sexier brother – the DSC-RX1. The RX1 looks a lot like the RX100, and it's clear that the two cameras were designed together from the beginning. As part of the new RX line, the cameras are supposed to recall Sony's high-end, fixed-lens camera of yesteryear, its well-received DSC-R1. Like that camera, these two mix business and pleasure, and the result is something completely unexpected.
The DSC-RX1 packs a 24.3MP Exmor CMOS sensor into a body that's only 4.5 inches wide, and three inches tall. It weighs about a pound. On the front of the body is a fixed, clear, f/2.0 Car Zeiss T*t lens. Sony claims that the camera's new sensor and lens setup have been engineered for the sort of performance that "few interchangeable lenses can match." Of course, the cost is, well, the cost, and to no small extent, the versatility. You won't be putting 200mm telephotos on this camera, after all.
Given the camera's professionallly oriented bent, it should come as no surprised that all the manual controls you might be looking for are probably on here. What's interesting, at least to me, are the way many of them are set up without requiring users to fiddle with looking at any displays – the exposure comp dial, for example, (in the upper left on this photo) lets users dial things in directly. Dedicated lens rings give you access to focus and aperture settings, and a dial in the lower left (photographer POV) of the front lets shooters swap between the focus modes.
The RX1's sensitivity ranges from 100 at the low-end to 25600 at the high, though an expanded sensitivity mode allows a photographer to go down to ISO 50, while new Multi Frame Noise Reduction will let users boost the range all the way to 102400. The lens on the front of the camera features a 9-bladed circular aperture, and a curious macro switching ring. The macro ring snaps the RX1's minimum focusing distance down to 20cm.
Inside, in addition to that massive sensor, you can find Sony's BIONZ image processing engine. That lets the RX1 burst shoot full-res shots at up to 5FPS. Images can be shot in either JPEG or if necessary, in 14-bit RAW. Sony went ahead and incorporated their By Pixel Super Resolution tech, which reportedly lets users zoom digitally with less impact on image quality. You can also find 13 different creative styles plus various picture effects, and like the RX100, a digital level guage that lets you see pitch and roll in one chart on the camera's LCD.
Also available with the new RX1 will be several specially made accessories. One of Sony's stellar OLEDs was slotted into an XGA resolution Tru-Finder EVF, while Carl Zeiss optics can be found in the optional OVF. Sony also produced a thumb grip, lens hood, and jacket case. The camera features a new proprietary hotshoe mount that's backwards compatible with standard hotshoe accessories.
I mentioned earlier that a big downside to this camera will be cost (although, what do you expect – the thing is still amazing), and cost it will…to the tune of about $2800. The accessories are pricey, too, with the EVF coming in at $600 extra, and the OVF not much better at $450. The thumb grip (just the thumb grip) will run users $250, while the lens hood and jacket case will come in at $180 and $250, respectively.
All items are expected to launch sometime this November.


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Mark Zuckerberg Rented Andy Samberg to Make Fun of Him
Andy Samberg opened Facebook's F8 conference today, and thanks to YouTube you can now watch the Saturday Night Live cast member's slightly cutting impersonation of CEO Mark Zuckerberg. If Zuck pays a comedian to remind you he's awkward with girls, chloroforms competitors, and pushes users into fake friendships, will you maybe forgive him for getting rich off your private information? Please?
The video is above, and bonus impersonations of Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Wahlberg appear toward the end.


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Board Executive Committee
Larry Tucker, Chairman of the Board
Larry Tucker of Orange County, California, has been a SCORE volunteer for nine years. He has served as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Orange County Chapter and Chairman of their CEO Forum Program. In 2015, Larry received SCORE's Special Recognition for Highest Achievement in Job Assignment, and in 2014, he earned the Gold Member Award for Exceptional Contribution & Meritorious Service. Larry is a Board member of the Executive Coaches of Orange County, previously serving as its CEO from 2010 to 2012. He is an Advisory Board Member of Robert Errico Financial Advisors and Mentor at the University of California-Irvine School of Business. Prior to his years of volunteering, Larry was part owner of Hewitt Associates, an international consulting firm.
Mary Landry, Vice Chair
Mary Landry, Rear Admiral (Ret) of Belmont, MA currently serves as a Director of the United Services Automobile Association (USAA). USAA is a Fortune 125 company serving over 11,000 military members and their families with highly competitive property and casualty insurance, banking, and financial services. Rear Admiral Landry has over 35 years with the government including service on the White House National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Resilience Policy, and active duty in the United States Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Landry served in many assignments across the country including Commander of the Eight Coast Guard District, where she oversaw Coast Guard operations for a 26 State region with over 9,000 active, reserve, civilian, and auxiliary personnel under her command and an assignment as Director of Governmental and Public Affairs at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, DC.
Nancy Strojny, Secretary
Nancy Strojny of Cape Elizabeth, ME is the principal of Beauty Vantage Consulting, focusing on building brands in the hospitality channel in the U.S. and the Middle East. Her broad experience includes Fortune 100 companies and business start ups. Strojny has been a Sales & Marketing Executive with Procter & Gamble, CVS, Outsourcing Services Group, and most recently Power Brands. She maintains strategic alliances with MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas. Strojny is a Certified SCORE Mentor, and the Chair of the Portland Chapter of SCORE. She was honored in March of 2012 as a White House Champion of Change for entrepreneurial mentorship. She is a member of the Maine Marketing Association and the SCORE National Advisory Board.
Fred Glave, Treasurer
Fred Glave has over 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. After senior officer positions with Nortel Networks, he founded a new venture-financed company in Silicon Valley and has since held senior executive positions with several telecommunications enterprises, primarily at the CEO level. Dr. Glave is a certified SCORE mentor and past president of the Washington DC chapter of SCORE. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto in Electrical Engineering and holds a Masters degree from MIT and a PhD from Univ. of Calif., Berkeley, all in electrical engineering.
Board Members
Mukesh Asarpota
Mukesh Asarpota is a recognized business technology leader known for crafting the requisite strategic vision to achieve business goals, bringing a unique blend of executive acumen, global team-building, and business solutions development credited with strong ROI and operational improvement for companies domestic and international. He is currently Director of IT at Salesforce and has a verifiable record of achievement in managing large and dynamic global IT operations. Mukesh holds an MS in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts and is certified in CIO Leadership from MIT Sloan School of Management.
James Capolongo
James Capolongo is the Senior VP & Head of Retail Deposit Products and Pricing for TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. In this role, James is responsible for more than 8 million customer accounts generating more than 30% of the TD Bank's revenue, while helping TD customers meet their banking needs. Prior to TD Bank, James spent more than 10 years across several top 10 U.S. financial institutions, leading corporate and retail strategy groups. Throughout his career, James has worked on $10 billion of mergers and acquisitions, $10 billion capital raising and several hundred branch openings and closings.
Cherylyn Harley LeBon
Cherylyn is a lawyer, business strategist, and speaker with 20+ years of experience in Washington, D.C. and abroad as a corporate advisor, non-profit leader, and government executive. Cherylyn is a Partner with Dunlap, Bennett & Ludwig (DBL) law firm, headquartered in the Washington, D.C metro area and works with small businesses, government contractors, and nonprofits all across the country. She is a former senior executive at the Small Business Administration and former Senior Counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Scott Harkins
Scott Harkins serves as the Senior Vice President of Customer Channel Marketing of FedEx Services. He leads the Customer Engagement Marketing, Retail Marketing, Global Marketing Foundations and Digital Marketing teams. Prior to his current role, Scott Harkins was the Vice President of Strategy and Product Management. He was responsible for domestic product management, new product development and strategic marketing. Scott earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and his Master of Science in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Sue Hartman
Susan E. Hartman of Evergreen, CO is President of The Hartman Group. Sue has over 30 years of diversified experience in strategic planning, business management, organizational design, mergers and acquisitions, operations and international business development. She began her career with Eastman Kodak Company, working her way up from Research Scientist to General Manager, Worldwide Film Manufacturing and Supply Chain. Through guest lectures she has shared her expertise with numerous academic institutions, including RPI and University of Michigan, as well as professional organizations including Agility Forum and IEEE.
Pat Loftus
Pat Loftus of Venice, Florida, has been a SCORE volunteer for 5+ years serving as a certified business mentor, SCORE Manasota chapter secretary, and on the SCORE Southwest Florida Chapter Executive Committee. Pat has over 35 years of general global nuclear energy industry technical and business leadership and management experience with Exelon, Northeast Utilities and Westinghouse Electric Corporation combined with 6 years in the small business environment. Her corporate expertise includes federal regulatory affairs and compliance, independent oversight, strategy, marketing and business operations and financial management. She is currently a licensed real estate broker and an angel investor. Pat has a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Bob Manza
Bob Manza lives in Austin, Texas where he retired from PepsiCo in 2018. While at PepsiCo, Bob held several senior leadership roles including SVP CFO of PepsiCo's Global IT Group and SVP CFO roles in Canada and Mexico. Bob's broad experience in finance includes: strategic and business planning; business optimization and investment; international business development; acquisition evaluation and integration; and accounting and control activities. Bob currently is pursuing volunteer activities as a SCORE certified mentor and as a volunteer leadership member with Foundation Communities, an Austin charity. Bob holds a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy.
John A. McCloskey
Since 2012, John A. McCloskey has volunteered with SCORE as a mentor, vice-chair, chairman, assistant director and currently the North Carolina District Director of 11 chapters and 400 mentors. For 18 years, McCloskey was the President and CEO of Schaeffler Aerospace, the world's largest producer of aerospace jet-engine bearings with 66,000 employees worldwide. He was also Executive Vice-President of North American Operations of GKN Automotive, the world's largest producer of automotive front wheel drive systems. He has a BS in Industrial Engineering from St. Louis University and MBA from Western New England College.
Perri Richman
Perri Richman is vice president of external communications at Trane Technologies, and the director of the Trane Technologies Foundation. She is also the innovator of a breakthrough personal leader branding methodology that helps entrepreneurs realize the value of their behavior and image on the success of their endeavors. Perri earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from New York University and a master's degree in organizational psychology from the University of Hartford. She is a certified executive coach, change leadership professional, and reputation and crisis manager.
Michael A. Sandman
Michael A. Sandman served as Senior VP of Fuld & Company and has over 25 years of experience as a senior operations manager with a focus on the use of technology in operations. He has an extensive background in technology transfer to licensees and joint venture partners in the Pacific Rim, Switzerland, England, Mexico and Brazil. He was the CEO of a composites manufacturer and consulted extensively in the U.S. and abroad for a variety of manufacturing operations. Mr. Sandman received his BS in Economics from Clark University in Worcester, MA and MBA from Cornell University.
Tracy A. Shaw
Tracy Shaw of Southbury, Conn., currently serves as assistant vice president of business market development for MassMutual. MassMutual is a leading financial services firm offering insurance, retirement and investment services for families, businesses and employees. Shaw has nearly three decades of experience as a business development strategist in industries ranging from financial services to health care, with dedication to enriching the customer's experience, streamlining process improvements and developing innovations that enhance ROI. Tracy serves as a volunteer for the Immune Deficiency Foundation and Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Tracy earned an MBA from Western Connecticut State University. From her time as a business owner, she holds a patent for 401kSecure, which is designed to replace defined contribution plan deferrals of disabled participants.
Ronald D. Weiss
Ron Weiss of Nashua, NH has been a SCORE volunteer since 1998 and the past District Director of New Hampshire SCORE. He is a SCORE-certified mentor, a past Chapter President of Merrimack Valley SCORE, the current Assistant NH Director and a current member of Score's National Advisory Council. He is also the CEO/CTO of ARkival Technology Corporation, a leading technology company in the field of magnetics and cancer research. He holds several degrees in Physics and has been CEO of several High Technology startups, companies that include an IPO and a leveraged buyout.
Luke Walling
Luke Walling is an accomplished entrepreneur, angel investor, and former corporate executive with 25 years of success in the technology, cybersecurity, and IT services industries. In his current role as CEO and President of Temprano Techvestors, he has led his startup through three sales-channel acquisitions & subsequent optimizations of those businesses, signed strategic contracts with emerging market software vendors, achieved month-to-month profitability in one year, and annualized revenues approaching $20m in year two. Luke held leadership positions with some of the world's largest security software brands, AVG Technologies and Avast Software.
Ian Williams
Ian Williams is the VP of Marketing for the Small Business Service business unit of Deluxe Corporation. He has had a distinguished career that includes senior leadership positions (President, VP and Executive Director) with leading global technology companies such as Deluxe Corp., Imation, Seagate Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq and Apple. He is recognized for providing strategic and visionary leadership to transform organizations and deliver impressive financial results. Williams is adept at combining financial pragmatism with innovative product planning and aggressive organizational design to assess and seize new market opportunities. He holds an MBA from York University Schulich School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Brock University in Ontario, Canada.
David Zechman
David Zechman is a seasoned healthcare executive with 20 plus years of executive management and CEO experience at three large integrated healthcare systems comprised of tertiary teaching hospitals, community hospitals, rural hospitals and standalone hospitals, which were all not for profit organizations. Responsibilities included executive leadership development, fundraising, strategic planning, operations management, physician alignment/integration, affiliation and partnership development, and service line management including aligning goals, behaviors, and processes that drive a vision of providing kind and compassionate care. David has a bachelor of education degree from Miami University (Ohio), a masters degree in public administration from Cleveland State University, and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Administration.


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If you follow me at all on any social media, you've most likely heard by now, my book is coming out soon! (!!!!!!) And I'm pretty darn excited. Longer than the gestation of a human being, this book has been in the works for many months. And now, with less than one month to go, the countdown has officially begun.
So, for the next 3 weeks, from today until the release date on March 5th, Slow Family Living has paired up with Brain,Child Magazine and we are offering some fabulous prizes. If you pre-order a copy of my book, Slow Family Living; 75 ways to slow down, connect and create more joy, from any source at all, (or if you've already pre-ordered it) be it Austin's own BookPeople, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Powell's or the bookstore of your liking, you'll be entered into a drawing to receive one of five free one-year subscription to Brain, Child Magazine.
Simply send me an email to Slowfamilybook at G Mail with the subject: I PRE-ORDERED and I'll put your name in for a chance to win.
Either way you win with a great read!


text: Specialising in jewellery, china and silver; Tiffany and Co. burst onto the global stage in 1837. Synonymous with glamour, beauty and sophistication, Tiffany and Co. gained monumental prestige, to the extent where the brand was the official manufacturer of the Medal of Honour for the United States' Navy. The brand has also seen collaborations with Andy Warhol and the NFL, producing the Vince Lombardi Trophy. In 2008, Tiffany and Co. launched their collection of meticulously crafted sunglasses. As expected with Tiffany and Co., no corners are left untouched. Their range of sunglasses is as ravishing and bedazzling as their jewellery collection. Beautiful diamantes and embellishments are a necessity to the eyewear, allowing opulence to follow the wearer wherever their location. Providing graduated lenses to provide protection and focus as well as an array an array of colour from gold to aqua blue, find the summer look which you deserve. At Glasses Station, we have a range of Tiffany and Co. sunglasses – with prescription offers available – for you to rock this summer. With models available exclusively to women, find you desired partner under the rays, such as the best-selling TF4141 model, complete with cat-eyed frame and red violet Havana frame.Mens Tiffany & Co Sunglasses


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On 25 June 1993, representatives of 171 States adopted by consensus the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference on Human Rights, thus successfully closing the two-week World Conference and presenting to the international community a common plan for the strengthening of human rights work around the world.
The conference was marked by an unprecedented degree of participation by government delegates and the international human rights community. Some 7,000 participants, including academics, treaty bodies, national institutions and representatives of more than 800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) -- two thirds of them at the grass-roots level -- gathered in Vienna to review and profit from their shared experiences.
United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in a message to the Conference, told the delegates that by adopting the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action they had renewed the international community's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. He saluted the meeting for having forged "a new vision for global action for human rights into the next century".
The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action marks the culmination of a long process of review and debate over the current status of human rights machinery in the world. It also marks the beginning of a renewed effort to strengthen and further implement the body of human rights instruments that have been painstakingly constructed on the foundation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights since 1948.
In his presentation of the document to the final plenary session, Mr. Ibrahima Fall, the Secretary-General of the Conference, said that the Vienna Declaration provides the international community with a new "framework of planning, dialogue and cooperation" that will enable a holistic approach to promoting human rights and involve actors at all levels -- international, national and local.
In 1989 the General Assembly called for the convening of a world meeting that would review and assess progress made in the field of human rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and identify obstacles and ways in which they might be overcome. The first global meeting on human rights had taken place in Teheran in 1968.
The Conference agenda, as set by the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly in 1992, also included the examination of the link between development, democracy and economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of United Nations methods a mechanisms with the aim of recommending ways to ensure adequate financial and other resources for United Nations human rights activities.
From the first of four Preparatory Committee meetings in Geneva in September 1991, it was clear that these were tasks that raised many difficult, sometimes divisive, issues regarding national sovereignty, universality, the role of non-governmental organizations and questions concerning the feasibility, viability and impartiality of new or strengthened human rights instruments.
The search for common ground on these and many other issues was characterized by intense dialogue among governments and dozens of United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations and thousands of human rights and development NGOs from around the world.
The preparatory process included three key regional meetings, -- in Tunis, San José and Bangkok -- which produced declarations outlining particular concerns and perspectives of the African, the Latin American and Caribbean and the Asian and Pacific regions. In addition, informal meetings in Europe and North America and the scores of satellite meetings throughout the world involved broad spectrums of society made extremely valuable contributions. At the final meeting in May, which ended after an extended session, the Preparatory Committee prepared a draft final document with which the conference, hosted by the Austrian Government in Vienna, began its work and final negotiations.
The final document agreed to in Vienna, which was endorsed by the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly (resolution 48/121, of 1994), reaffirmed the principles that had evolved during the past 45 years and further strengthened the foundation for additional progress in the area of human rights. The recognition of interdependence between democracy, development and human rights, for example, prepared the way for future cooperation by international organizations and national agencies in the promotion of all human rights, including the right to development.
Similarly, the Conference took historic new steps to promote and protect the rights of women, children and indigenous peoples by, respectively, supporting the creation of a new mechanism, a Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, subsequently appointed in 1994; recommending the proclamation by the General Assembly of an international decade of the world's indigenous peoples , which led to the proclamation of two decades (1995-2004 and 2005-2014); and calling for the universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the year 1995. As of today, all countries, except for Somalia and the United States of America, have ratified the Convention.
The Vienna Declaration also makes concrete recommendations for strengthening and harmonizing the monitoring capacity of the United Nations system. In this regard, it called for the establishment of a High Commissioner for Human Rights by the General Assembly, which subsequently created the post on 20 December 1993 (resolution 48/141). Mr. José Ayala Lasso was nominated by the Secretary-General as the first High Commissioner and assumed office on 5 April 1994.
The Vienna Declaration further emphasizes the need for speedy ratification of other human rights instruments.
"In adopting this Declaration", Mr. Fall concluded in his final address to the conference, "the Member States of the United Nations have solemnly pledged to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to undertake individually and collectively actions and programmes to make the enjoyment of human rights a reality for every human being."
Vienna Declaration & Programme of Action (VDPA)Final report
Reports of the regional meetings for: AfricaLatin America and the CaribbeanAsia
Vienna + 5 Review
UN Secretary-General
Secretary-General of the Conference:Opening statement (French)Closing statement (PDF)
Statements made upon the adoption of the VDPA


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Palliative Care – Professional Education
Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to establishing and maintaining high-quality Graduate Medical Education training programs.
Contact us
To learn more about educational programs in Palliative Care, call
Our institution provides the diverse patient population, dedicated faculty, excellent clinical and basic science departments, and nationally recognized research programs required to create an environment optimal for learning and for the development of future leaders in the art and science of medicine.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Program overview
The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program that admits one fellow per year.
Palliative Care Continuing Education
Continuing education events in palliative care appear below, as available


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Truck YeahThe trucks are good!
A Santa Fe woman was wondering why her Toyota Tacoma stopped when passerby Jackson Ault rendered assistance. He popped the hood like a gentleman then "freaked out a little bit" when he was greeted by a seven-foot python "flicking its little tongue, lookin' right at me."
Luckily Santa Fe PD had one officer on duty, Louis Carlos, who had some kinda parseltongue talents and didn't mind "babysitting the snake until Animal Control arrived."
Here's the clip from KOAT 7 News in New Mexico:
The snake was likely seeking warmth in the engine bay, but I'm still wondering where the hell it came from so I can keep my vehicles well clear.
Hat tip to Yahoo News!


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The 307-foot tall UT Austin Tower, designed by Paul Cret of Philadelphia, was completed in 1937. Through the years, the Tower has served as the University's most distinguishing landmark and as a symbol of academic excellence and personal opportunity.
The observation deck of the UT Tower offers a spectacular view of the UT Campus and the Austin area in all directions. Thanks to the cooperative effort of students, staff, and the University administration, the observation deck has recently been remodeled and reopened to the public for the first time in nearly three decades. As a part of the renovation process, persons with disabilities now also have access to this monumental view.


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Welcome to the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI)! Our purposes include promoting genealogical research and creating an interest in ancestry and heritage among descendants of ethnic groups who comprised the former nation of Czechoslovakia, including Bohemian (Czech), German-Bohemian (Bohmisch), Hungarian, Moravian, Ruthenian (Rusyn), Silesian, Slovakian, and those of Jewish ancestry.
Vítáme Vás! (We welcome you!)
Join CGSI
Your CGSI membership gives you the best tools for genealogical research:
- Nase rodina quarterly
- Research assistance
- Message board and queries
- Access to Members Only section – includes 4 databases
- See more about these tools!
Membership starts at $35 per year. Three ways to join or renew:
Family Certificates
If you are a descendant of immigrants from Czechoslovakia, consider gifting yourself with a Family Certificate.
Did your ancestors come to North America….
- before 1871? Apply for a Pioneer Family Certificate.
- more than 100 years ago? Apply for a Century Family Certificate.
Then, download directions & an application form.
In the Store
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Nase rodina
A quarterly publication for CGSI members
Nase rodina (Our Family) is published quarterly by the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI). This publication brings you themed issues on genealogy topics.


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Royal Mail wishes to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that the IT system issue affecting the transmission of EMSEVT scans for tracked items and registered items (both import and export) has been rectified. All scan transmission resumed from the beginning of July.
Royal Mail thanks designated operators for their understanding.


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BERLIN – Many people understand that growth investments such as stocks have provided a good opportunity to increase wealth over the long run. And yet, the potential downside risk keeps many people from investing in stocks, even when this aversion could stand in the way of achieving important financial goals, like saving for college, planning for retirement, or meeting future health needs.
Recently, however, ways of investing have emerged that allow the pursuit of growth with less risk. These investments offer participation in the appreciation potential of stocks and other growth opportunities with protection of principal — a welcome combination.
Investments that offer the opportunity for growth but protect your principal have features of both stocks and bonds. These assets typically offer you an opportunity to participate in the growth of a particular market index, like the S&P 500 or Dow Jones Industrial Average. You may, for example, be offered the right to receive a certain percentage of the price appreciation of a market measure — often as much as 100 percent or more but not always — in a given period of time.
At the same time, these specially designed assets promise to repay all, or substantially all, of their principal at maturity, even in the event of dramatic market price declines. They may be structured as debt obligations or bank deposits. They are typically offered with a final maturity date of between one and five years or occasionally longer.
Initial offering prices start as low as $10 per unit, which gives you an affordable means of purchasing an investment that may be viewed as more diversified than individual securities. As a hypothetical example, you might purchase such an investment for $10 a unit and be entitled to receive that principal amount, plus a payment equal to 100 percent or more of the price appreciation (excluding dividends) in the ABC Composite Stock Price Index between the security's offering date and maturity.
You may enhance the investment performance of your total portfolio by adding high-quality growth investments to balance a portfolio otherwise overweighted with fixed income investments like low-earning bank accounts, certificates of deposit and money market investments. Such a strategy can also offer a sound choice when it comes to investing in specific markets or sectors around the globe. In addition, principal protection can help you stay with a well-planned investment strategy and remain invested even during turbulent times, instead of selling on price declines and failing to benefit from the long- term growth potential of stocks.
Keep in mind that growth investing with principal protection carries its own set of terms. To begin with, this kind of investing is not designed for investors seeking current income. You do not directly own stocks and typically do not participate in the dividends paid by any stocks that may be included with the market index. In a sense, the dividends or interest you give up may be viewed as the cost of the protection associated with these investments.
When it comes to new or little understood investments, it's particularly important to get all the information you need to make an informed decision about investing. If you want to invest in ways that assure protection of your principal, but at the same time offer the opportunity for growth, talk with your financial consultant.
(The writer is a Merrill Lynch Senior Financial Advisor. She can be reached at 410-213-9084.)


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Chez Dowdell: House and contents under the gavel
The wet weather of Saturday, May 10, may have looked foreboding to some. But drizzle and rain were no impediments to the shoppers picking over the loot accumulated by discredited financier Terry L. Dowdell.
Now in jail, the 56-year-old Dowdell awaits sentencing later this month on federal charges of operating a Ponzi scheme that raised up to $70 million from unwitting investors. Last December, in Charlottesville's federal court, Dowdell pleaded guilty to 20 felony charges, including securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Back in Dowdell's old neighborhood, bargain hunters and curiosity seekers pulled their pricey SUVs and Mercedes onto the narrow roads of Rosemont Estates near Ivy. (One parking attendant shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't care if you park there; you probably won't get hit.")
There were trucks, diamonds, pearls, and several Thomas Kinkade prints at 3313 Rosewood Lane. In the final moments before the auction began, a general quiet settled over the house as people peeked around corners, hobnobbed politely with acquaintances, and waited.
Indicating that this was not your everyday country auction, head auctioneer Art Motley started proceedings by making the assembled hopefuls aware of the security guards. Lest anyone be tempted to walk off with unpurchased booty, "that's why they're wearing guns," he laughed.
At 10am, bidding began slowly in the crowded garage, its four corners outfitted with television monitors so that everyone could see the highbrow offerings. Coaxing money out of the crowd came first, as Motley shot high with a $1000 opening bid on an African sculpture bought in New York– only to drop it to $100 before arousing a flicker of interest.
Lamps, linens, pillows, and scads of framed leopard and tiger prints began the proceedings, none garnering more than one or two bids.
At 11am, with gray skies looming low, the crowd moved to the front steps of the brick mansion. Assessed at $946,300 the colossus rises high and mighty above the houses around it. The cool veneer of the spectators belied the fact that somebody was about to shell out nearly one million dollars in a neighborhood where the absence of trees suggests it was a cow pasture less than a decade ago.
Asked how many had registered for bidding on the 5,000 square-foot house, Ernie Rogers of Motley's Auctioneers tartly replied, "I will not disclose that information." The house on three acres went for $925,000.
A three-acre tract of land also owned by Dowdell– just down the hill and across the road– prompted the most shuffles and murmurs. Several bidders came in strong at $100,000, but as the bidding reached $150,000, the contest narrowed to two men. Finally one bowed out, shaking his head at the final offer of $185,000.
Federal prosecutors say that before they stopped him last year, Dowdell had been promising virtually risk-free returns of up to 160 percent per year. But, pressed by authorities, Dowdell admitted there was no actual trading program. "Instead, Dowdell was operating a classic Ponzi scheme in which old investors were being paid with new investor money," says a prosecution release.
The sun never shone on Saturday's auction (or on how much money it raised– auctioneer Motley did not return phone calls), but that did not dampen any enthusiasm for the opportunity to take home some of the spoils of one man's ill-gotten gains.


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Back in 2009, Google launched the automatic message translation tool in Gmail Labs, which enabled you to translate emails that are in foreign language into a desired language that you understand. The auto translation of messages became immensely popular and successful, and thus Google decided to graduate it from Gmail Labs and move into the real world. That is, the feature will now be enabled by default to all users.
Google Translate has always been a very friendly and immensely useful tool. Incorporating the same feature in Gmail is a good move from Google, as many times we do receive email messages that are not in a language we understand.
Unlike the earlier days, we would not be required to copy the text and translate it using either Google Translate or a different translation engine. With the integrated translation, it's not only easy to translate messages, but also save your time.
This is how the feature works in action –
All you need to do is click on "Translate message" to translate the message in your desired language.
You can as well choose to permanently translate a particular language to your desired language by clicking on "Always translate: [language]" option on the top-right of the message. You can always disable the feature if you're a bi-lingual and don't need translations for a language. All you need to do is click on "Turn off for: [language]."
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Also Read: Translate Google+ into More Than 50 Languages
In addition to this, Google has also graduated the Smart Mute and Title Tweaks feature from the Gmail Labs. The smart Mute feature is basically used to mute noisy email thread and makes sure that it stays out of your inbox. Click here to know more about muting email threads.
The Title Tweaks feature changes the title in your browser's tab to tell you that you have new messages. The tab now reads "Inbox (20) – [email protected] – Gmail" instead of "Gmail – Inbox (20) – [email protected]"
Along with the new features, the Gmail team has retired some older and less popular Lab features in the next few days. Those features include – "Old Snakey, Mail Goggles, Mouse Gestures, Hide Unread Counts, Move Icon Column, Inbox Preview, Custom Date Formats and SMS in Chat gadget. Please note that the SMS in Chat lab is not being retired, just the gadget associated with it."


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MIAMI - A U.S. federal judge ruled Monday that she lacks the authority to halt the force-feeding of prisoners on hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay, while pointedly noting that the practice appears to violate international law and that President Barack Obama can resolve the issue.
District Judge Gladys Kessler said previous rulings already established that the court lacks jurisdiction to stop the force-feeding of prisoners during the ongoing protest, rejecting a motion for a preliminary injunction sought by a Syrian held at the U.S. base in Cuba.
Kessler faulted the military's response to the hunger strike, noting a consensus of opinion that the use of a nasogastric tube to feed the men against their will is a violation of medical ethics as well as international prohibitions against inhumane treatment.
"It is perfectly clear from the statements of detainees, as well as the statements from the organizations just cited, that force-feeding is a painful, humiliating and degrading process," she wrote.
The judge wrote "there is an individual who has does have the authority to address the issue," and then quoted a recent speech from Obama in which he criticized the force-feeding of the prisoners at Guantanamo as he said he would renew his efforts to close the prison.
Attorneys for the prisoners were deciding whether to appeal her ruling. They are also awaiting the decision of another judge at the district court in Washington who was considering motions filed by three other prisoners.
"This is quite a statement from a federal judge," said Jon Eisenberg, one of the attorneys who filed the motions. "She said that force feeding violates international law and medical ethics and she has called on President Obama to do something about it, which is really amazing."
A Pentagon spokesman, Army Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale, noted that the president has also said the government would not allow prisoners at Guantanamo to harm themselves. The Department of Defense remains committed to that policy.
"We will not allow them to commit suicide," Breasseale said. "Not with hoarded pills, not with hand-fashioned weapons, and not via self- or peer-imposed starvation."
The judge's decision is expected to aid a global campaign in support of the hunger strike. As part of that effort, the British rights group Reprieve released a video Monday in which musician and activist Yasiim Bey, previously known as Mos Def, is strapped down and fed through a nasal tube to call attention to the protest. He squirms in pain, begs for the feeding to stop and breaks down in sobs.
A lawyer for Reprieve is also co-counsel in the motions seeking the injunction to stop the force-feeding.
Lawyers for prisoners say the most recent hunger strike began in February as a protest of conditions and their indefinite confinement at the U.S. base in Cuba. The military says the hunger strike began in early March and that, as of Monday, 106 of the 166 detainees met the criteria to be declared hunger strikers, a definition that includes missing nine consecutive meals.
Prison medical officials have determined that 45 of the prisoners have lost enough weight that they can be fed liquid nutrients, by force if necessary, with a nasogastric tube to prevent them from starving themselves to death. The U.S. military intends to feed all prisoners, including those on hunger strike, before dawn and after sunset during the Muslim holy period of Ramadan to accommodate the men's religious practices. Military officials have said the feeding process is not painful and only done to prevent any of the men from dying, not as punishment.


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Study finds KN1 trafficking through tiny channels called plasmodesmata cannot occur without chaperonins
Cold Spring Harbor, NY — Like all living things, plants depend for their growth and sustenance on elaborate signaling networks to maintain stem cells, cells that have an almost magical regenerative capacity. The signals sent through these networks convey an incredible diversity of instructions, which make it possible for plants to follow genetic and cellular programs regulating growth, shape, and energy production and consumption.
A team of plant biologists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) led by Professor David Jackson has pioneered the use of genetics to discover how plants cells communicate certain instructions from one to another via tiny channels called plasmodesmata (PD). Having previously demonstrated that a protein called KNOTTED1 (KN1) traffics selectively through these channels, the team has now discovered that proteins called chaperonins are an indispensable factor in enabling this trafficking to occur.
The scientists have also demonstrated the importance of this specific signaling pathway, showing that it is needed to maintain stem cells, and suggest it is probably conserved broadly, in diverse species. The findings appear August 26 in the journal Science.
Plasmodesmata are microscopic channels traversing plant cell walls that connect adjacent cells. This is where their resemblance to, say, pipes connecting your water tank to your shower ceases, however, because PDs are selective. Only certain signaling molecules, or molecular complexes, can enter these channels and emerge properly on the far side.
The discovery that trafficking cannot occur in a PD-mobile protein such as KN1 unless it is facilitated by chaperonins, opened the question of what the latter actually do in the process. Chaperonins are protein complexes well known to assist in the folding of newly manufactured amino-acid chains into proteins. Like intricate pieces of origami, nascent proteins become functional only if they are twisted and folded into very specific conformations. Since changes in protein function are related to changes in structure, it is not surprising that chaperonins, members of a larger class of folding machines called chaperones, are ubiquitous in living things.
Once Jackson's team had proven the necessity of chaperonins in KN1 trafficking, they set their sights on revealing the "how" and "why" of the relationship. In a series of experiments involving maize and Arabidopsis, a mustard plant used widely as a model for genetics research, they confirmed, first, that the entire chaperonin machinery—a protein mega-complex consisting of eight segments, or subunits—is involved in cell-to-cell trafficking of KN1.
"We could then ask questions about the mechanism involved, and about the functional importance of this trafficking to the plants," says Jackson. Through an ingenious process of elimination, he and his colleagues performed experiments showing that a portion of the chaperonin complex, called CCT8, had to be present in the "destination" cell if KN1 trafficking was to occur normally. "We inferred from our results that the chaperonin performs its role in the trafficking by refolding KN1 proteins in the destination cell. In other words, KN1 travels through the channel in a partly unfolded state."
Even more important, the team concluded that by selectively transporting KN1 and other "mobile signals" using this mechanism, plants are able to establish and maintain populations of stem cells. As Jackson's prior work has shown, this occurs, for instance, in meristems, the stem cell-rich tips of plants where new growth takes place.
Why do the signals that maintain stem cells need to be mobile? "Development is all about communication," Jackson explains. "Cells talk to each other, among other things, to influence one another. We hypothesize that the trafficking of signals like KN1 could serve to establish protein concentration gradients, an important part of the language plants use to develop and grow.
"You can think of molecules like KN1 as the 'words' in that language. The kind of information that is carried by concentrations and gradients are the rough equivalent of how the words are spoken, the intonation and emphasis."
Location-specific concentrations would correspond with specific developmental cues. Alternatively, Jackson speculates, "trafficking could be a backup mechanism to maintain the stem cell program, just as an extra hard drive backs up your computer programs and files." The team is already exploring these possibilities in its current work.
Written by: Peter Tarr, Senior Science Writer | email@example.com | 516-367-8455
This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, The Chapman Foundation, and by the Life Sciences Research Foundation.
"Chaperonins Facilitate KNOTTED1 Cell-to-Cell Trafficking and Stem Cell Function" appears August 26, 2011 in Science. The authors are: Xianfeng Morgan Xu, Jing Wang, Zhenyu Xuan, Alexander Goldschmidt, Philippa G. M. Borrill, Nisha Hariharan, Jae Yean Kim and David Jackson.
About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program annually hosts more than 12,000 scientists. The Laboratory's education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and the DNA Learning Center with programs for middle and high school students and teachers. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu
Principal Investigator
David Jackson
Ph.D., University of East Anglia, 1991


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Abstract and Keywords
Community economic development (CED) is an integrated and community-driven approach to development aimed at generating wealth, capabilities, and empowerment in low-income and low-wealth communities. Nonprofit organizations partner with public and for-profit interests to develop social and economic investment strategies for community economic renewal and revitalization. Social workers in CED engage in interdisciplinary work in community organizing, leadership development, program development and implementation, social-service management, and policy advocacy. To achieve large and sustainable success, CED requires solidarity with and investment in poor communities by society as a whole.
Keywords: asset building, community development, economic development, sustainable development, social capital, social development, community practice
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Strawberries, Poached Rhubarb, and Shortbread Cookies
These pleasingly sandy rounds of shortbread are served alongside poached rhubarb and macerated strawberries for a bright and sunny hit of springtime that pair well with the buttery cookies.
Excerpted from Frenchie by Greg Marchand (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2014. Photographs by Djamel Dine Zitout.
- Yield:serves 4
- Active time: 40 minutes
- Total time:1 hour 30 minutes
- Shortbread Cookies
- 1 3/4 cups (255 grams) pastry or cake flour
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (85 grams) fine semolina
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (115 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks/225 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- Poached Rhubarb
- 2 red rhubarb stalks
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup (150 ml.) water
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 4 verbena leaves or 1 tablespoon dried verbena (or substitute the grated zest of 1 lemon)
- Strawberries
- 8 ounces (230 grams) small ripe strawberries
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- Whipped Cream
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 1 cup (200 ml.) very cold heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
The shortbread cookies: Whisk together the flour and semolina in a bowl. With the tip of a sharp paring knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds (reserve the pod for another use).
Combine the sugar and butter in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla seeds and lemon zest. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture, in 2 additions, just until incorporated; do not overwork.
Turn the dough out, form it into a thick disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2-inch thick. Prick it all over with a fork. With a cookie cutter, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch rounds and place them 1 inch apart on the lined sheets. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. Let cool on the pans for at least 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
The poached rhubarb: Cut the rhubarb into 1 1/2-inch-long sections. Combine the sugar, water, split vanilla bean, and verbena in a small pot and bring to a boil. Add the rhubarb. As soon as the liquid returns to a boil, transfer the rhubarb and its cooking syrup to a bowl or other container; make sure the rhubarb is completely submerged. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate.
The strawberries: Wash and hull the strawberries, cut them lengthwise in half, and transfer to a bowl. Add the sugar, toss gently, and set aside to macerate for at least 30 minutes.
The whipped cream: Meanwhile, split the vanilla bean and remove the seeds. Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla seeds in a bowl just to soft peaks. Cover and refrigerate.
To serve: Spoon the rhubarb, with its syrup, into shallow bowls. Using a slotted spoon, add the strawberries, and top with the whipped cream. Finish with a drizzle of strawberry syrup and serve with the shortbread cookies.


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We told you this weekend Lamborghini's Murcielago replacement will feature a 6.5-liter V12 engine with an output of 700hp at 8,250 RPM and max torque of 509 lb/ft of torque at 5,500 RPM. Here it is. More below.
It's not just a new engine, Lamborghini's also mating a brand-new transmission to its new beating beast of a bull heart. They're calling it the "Lamborghini ISR" — an automated manual gearbox combining "minimal shift times and everyday usability with low weight and dimensions to guarantee that emotional sensation from gearshifts, which customers expect from a super sports car at the very top of the premier league."
Sorry for getting carried away with that press release blurb, we just love the Italglish in Lamborghini press releases. Anyway, the details are thus: an almost 50% shorter shift time than with a dual-clutch transmission –- with the benefits of lower weight and smaller size.
The new powertrain will enter production in early 2011 — coincidentally, when we're expecting the Lamborghini "Aventador" or whatever they'll be calling the Murcielago. Here's more shots of the engine, and below them, a shot of the new transmission.


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The world's best female golfers tee off in LPGA tournament
With tee off scheduled at 7:30 a.m., it will be an early start for players on the tour, as well as the crews who started their day before sunrise making sure the green is ready for the three-day competition.
While the tournament is not an official major, Harry Hardy, the tournament director said it is one of the biggest events on the LPGA tour.
At $2 million, the purse is in the top 10, and the event has drawn 97 of the top 100 players in the LPGA.
The tournament has grown every year since it began in 2008.
So what are the chances the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship will become a major championship?
"The LPGA Tour would probably agree five championships is enough," said Hardy. "They added one this year, there's four on the men's tour and five on the women's tour."


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SALISBURY — The bidding process to find a group that will conduct a salary study for Salisbury employees was delayed this week so that the terms of the deal could be revised to include benefits as well as salary in the review.
Additionally, which of the half-dozen potential agencies that applied will eventually conduct the study is unknown since there is disagreement between the council and the administration over the bids.
After the delay, Councilwoman Laura Mitchell accused the majority of the council of trying to purposefully stonewall the study, which would determine whether city employees are compensated fairly compared to neighboring areas.
"I see this as a stalling tactic by this council majority," she said. "They keep coming up with other reasons to put it off and put it off and put it off."
Mitchell admitted that she is opposed to conducting any study, since it will cost roughly $40,000 and the results will be, in her opinion, obvious.
"I don't agree with doing the study at all," said Mitchell. "I think it's a waste of money … I don't doubt that [city employees] are underpaid."
However, Council President Terry Cohen made it clear that she felt Mitchell's accusations are unjust and counterintuitive to the council making progress on the issue. The reason the vendor process was delayed and sent back to administration, continued Cohen, was simply to make sure that all angles are covered when the study is conducted.
"One of the reasons entities give high benefits is to compensate for perhaps lower salaries," she noted. "We have a great benefits package."
As for any disagreement over which vendor should be selected, Cohen laid the full blame for any delay on the administration.
In selecting a vendor, the city administration put together a four-member committee to review the six applicants who offered to conduct the study. Each agency was scored on price, commitment to deadline, any prior projects and the completeness of their response. The committee recommended that Evergreen Solutions be hired to conduct the salary assessment, a recommendation Mayor Jim Ireton seconded.
However, Cohen said the council majority was unsatisfied with the administration's reasoning.
"The mayor and administration tried to sell the council on a vendor that scored much lower than the highest rated vendor, which conducted the previous study," she said, referring to the Singer Group. "One has to wonder what's going on here."
Cohen added the council still isn't aware of exactly how the administration settled on Evergreen because the mayor hasn't given them a window into the process.
"Now, I don't know why they have scored significantly higher because [Ireton] has refused to give us a scorecard," she said.
Considering there is only a $1,500 price difference between Singer and Evergreen and Singer was the group that conducted the last survey, Cohen was uncomfortable accepting Evergreen without more information. However, she promised that she personally is willing to discuss a slight raise for employees this year.
Mitchell has firmly taken the stance that Salisbury employees are undervalued and the money for the study could be put toward giving them a 2-percent pay increase, but Cohen is not willing to commit to anything until the study is completed and budgets are beginning to form.
"Our tax assessments are going down, so if we don't have enough money to give everyone a 2-percent raise, how are we going to do it?" she asked. "Or maybe we'll say, 'You know what, folks? We'll give it to you this year but next year we may have to take it back. Do you understand that?"


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Saturday, May 16, 2009
A Funny Thing You'll Never Hear
Posted by Mom to 5...Daughter of the King at 12:00 AM
Labels: conversations with Josiah
10 comments:
- Unknown said...
Wow, he's going to grow up to be another James Bond
- May 16, 2009 at 7:27 AM
- Debra said...
How funny! Sweet little guy. I'm with Ada on the James Bond thing. Ha!
- May 16, 2009 at 8:29 AM
- Dawn said...
Well, of course you'd jump in the helicopter - what better vantage point from which to view a tornado?!
Very cute!
- May 16, 2009 at 8:58 AM
- a Tonggu Momma said...
BwwwaaaHaHaHa! Hello, Jason Bourne. Or maybe he's *just* one of those storm chasers, like in the movie Twister.
- May 16, 2009 at 9:02 AM
- erin richardson said...
Hahahaha! What a boy. That kid makes me laugh. :-)
- May 16, 2009 at 10:29 AM
- Dawn said...
Oh my, that had me actually laughing out loud!! The sad thing is when I was laughing Adam came over to see what I was laughing about and after he read it, he said, yeah sounds like a good idea to me! (and he's 20)
- May 16, 2009 at 4:08 PM
- Hilty Sprouts said...
That is so funny! Wish it worked!
- May 16, 2009 at 8:27 PM
- KK said...
Don't have a helicopter, but I'd run outside to look!
- May 20, 2009 at 12:38 AM
- Our 7 Blessings from God said...
Watch out Mama! Sounds like you've got a little "Storm Chaser" on your hands:)
- May 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM
- alainaw30 said...
I don't know, Tonni...as the wife of a storm spotter, I've heard some pretty crazy things. I do like the helicopter, though :)
- May 22, 2009 at 6:16 AM


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Germany has the very best facilities to help you stay healthy or recover from illness:
swift diagnosis and intense collaboration between different medical fields enable German doctors to offer holistic treatment approaches and new cures at the cutting edge of research. Around thirty of the country's hospitals, most of which are university hospitals, are known for their "supramaximal" level of care, with a wide range of medical technology and specialisations.
In addition to high-tech medicine, Germany also has an excellent infrastructure for preventative care, rehabilitation and the treatment of chronic diseases.
Hotels near the hospitals, a broad range of cultural offerings and shopping centres in the towns and cities and plenty of opportunities to recuperate in the great outdoors will make the trip to Germany a pleasant one for patients and carers alike.
Our hospital finder makes it very easy to find specialist hospitals and doctors in specific medical fields. Information on entry requirements and the tourism infrastructure can also help you to plan your personal trip back to full health.
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Main Material : 18ct gold and sterling silver |
Fitting Type : hinged bar |
Dimensions (mm) : 13x23x7 |
One of a Kind : Yes |
Metal : 24ct gold and silver |
Gems : opals |
Hallmarked : Yes |
Finish : satin brush finish
The cufflinks are hand made with sterling silver and the bolder opals are set in solid 24carat gold. A hinged bar which is soldered on the back snaps securely into place when worn.
The cufflinks are best kept clean by rubbing and brushing them gently under running water with bicarbonate of soda. Do not submerge in water for long periods and do not clean the cufflinks in ultrasonic cleaning systems.


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Latest News
BOYS Series M4A1 Colt Carbine AEG Now In! (2003-12-05)The best Christmas present for the friends and children, Tokyo Marui's EBB M4A1's have arrived and are now instock!! Priced at USD 68, these AEGs are super-economical! These M4A1's are 30% smaller than the real-life M4A1. Many great features found on the full-sized and more expensive AEGs are also found on this entry-level model, including a 4 position retractable stock, metal front sling mount for sling attachment, removable magazine, flip-open breech cover, select-fire switch that toggles between semi-auto and full auto fire!! This mini M4 AEG is constructed from mostly ABS plastic. Full auto fire delivers an impressive 10-15 rounds per second, just like the bigger full featured AEGs (though power is significantly less for recreational use).
Main Statistics
Length :724 / 652mm
Weight : 1000g
Capacity : 28+180 rounds
Ammo: 6mm BB bullet
These M4s take regular AA batteries in the foregrip just like AEGs. Each full set of batteries will deliver around 5000 rounds, with each removable magazine holding 180 rounds! Tokyo Marui EBB M4A1 Colt Carbine 's Detail


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Give to the UAA Graduate School
Opportunities to Support the UAA Graduate School
You can make a difference in the lives of Graduate Students at the University of Alaska Anchorage by donating. Contact the University Advancement Office for exciting information on how just one person can make an impact.
Excellence in Graduate Studies
A fund has been established to promote Excellence in Graduate Studies. More information regarding this fund is available from University Advancement.