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Value Line is regarded as the best independent research available. More than just recommendations, Value Line provides the rationale behind its picks for greater understanding.
The Federal Reserve is tapering its aggressive bond-buying program and, if all goes according to plan, may conclude the initiative by the end of the year. The heart of the matter is that the Fed feels the economy has responded sufficiently well to its stimulus following the severe 2007-2009 downturn that it can start turning off the monetary spigot.
The central bank is currently adding $65 billion a month in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities to its balance sheet after reducing its purchasing by $10 billion in each of the past two months. At this point, the Federal Reserve has seven more Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings scheduled for 2014. Assuming nothing gets in the way, the Fed is on course to wrap up its innovative bond-buying program by the final 2014 FOMC meeting scheduled for December 17th and 18th.
The Fed likes this sort of transparency, and feels it is necessary to keep the financial markets well apprised of its intentions to minimize volatility. The steady approach to the tapering program is reminiscent of the Fed's last tightening phase in the mid-2000s, when the lead bank raised short-term interest rates through a lengthy series of quarter-point increments. That policy was inaugurated under former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and was continued by his successor, Ben Bernanke, the predecessor of current Chair Janet Yellen, who was sworn in on February 3rd.
One point of contention is that the reduction in bond-buying, or tapering, is somewhat akin to the Fed tightening monetary policy, which is only true in a roundabout sense. In fact, the Fed is still taking extremely aggressive stimulus measures to pump up the economy with its zero-interest rate policy and the continuation of bond purchases, even if those purchases are less than they were. Nevertheless, some observers hold that the central bank is, in effect, tightening monetary policy by boosting its balance sheet less aggressively. But the tale of the tape is in the numbers, which show the amount of assets held by the Fed is still expanding although, admittedly, the psychology is beginning to shift.
At most, the tapering initiative is a prelude to the point where the Fed will be able to raise interest rates. Moreover, the lead bank had originally suggested that it would not raise interest rates until the nation's unemployment rate fell to 6.5%. The latest reading on that measure was 6.6%, and indications are that it may fall further in the coming months, if recent trends persist. That points to 2015 as the earliest the Fed funds rate might start to climb. Even then, short-term rates might not start to move up. Ms. Yellen recently told Congress the central bank's view of the labor market now places more stress on eliminating the unusually large number of Americans out of work for longer than six months and waiting until more part-time workers looking for a full-time job land positions.
What could go wrong? Basically, the pickup exhibited by the economy in the second half of 2013 needs to largely continue on course. If business conditions were to stall, the Fed would be less inclined to continue tapering its bond-buying initiatives. Meanwhile, recent unsettling developments in certain emerging markets are so far not seen as reason enough to slow or stop the unwinding of the bond-buying program.
Overall, the Federal Reserve seems to be making the right decision to unwind its bond-buying program. While the central bank's asset purchases have been a plus for the economy, they are probably not sustainable indefinitely without creating side effects, such as asset bubbles or inflation. The reset of policy toward a more neutral stance indicates confidence in the economy, too. Nevertheless, there undoubtedly will be some surprises in the months ahead that may cause the Federal Reserve to consider slowing the pace of tapering.
At the time of this article, the author did not have positions in any of the companies mentioned.


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All I want for Christmas is two new knees. I'm not kidding. I recently participated in a holiday basketball game for charity (which, for those of you who still think of me as an anti-PTO mom who never volunteers, does count as using my free time for good instead of evil!) and two days later, I can barely move without hearing the pops and crackling of bone-on-bone action from my aforementioned leg joints. I may be 40, but I'm way too young to go bionic ("we can rebuild her!")
The funniest part of my pain is that, heading into the big game, I harbored some crazy notion that I was still pretty good. Like I ever was! When I played in high school (many, many years ago) the only positive comment the coach could come up with was "she's strong defensively." I never controlled the ball particularly well, and preferred to pass rather than shoot, even when given a wide-open opportunity. On the rare occasion that I did find myself under the basket with nary an opponent in sight, I'd become so excited about my impending goal that I'd end up chucking the ball up over the backboard. I could play all positions though, and even started at center a few times. The point is, in my mind, I was confident I would impress a few coworkers. I was also fairly certain that despite my advanced age, I could easily run up and down the court.
Fast-forward to the second quarter. I subbed in, the only female in the game, and quickly swapped out my goal of "high-scorer" for "sole survivor." In just five minutes, I quite literally considered vomiting, having a heart attack, and stroking out. I couldn't catch my breath, my stomach felt like I'd been punched, and my leg muscles seized up as soon as I took the bench at the half. And yet, come fourth quarter, I headed back in to the fray! God help me, I don't know how I managed to stay upright. With Doo and the kids looking on though, I hobbled off that court with dignity and headed straight for the nearest bottle of Advil.
My stats totaled one rebound and one turnover. I'm still downing Motrin like candy. I've had to wear flats all this week because I can't safely walk in heels and forget about taking the stairs. So, Santa, since I already received the gift of humility, could I please just have some new knees? Peace out.

subset: commoncrawl


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Family owned d'Arenberg is located in the breath-taking McLaren Vale in South Australia and produces an enviable range of wines. From humble beginnings, these wines quickly gained cult status amongst imbibers and judges alike – it's a deft combination of winemaking tradition and vinous innovation. A tall order for some, but one that d'Arenberg takes in their stride as they continue to push the boundaries and get under the skin of each individual vineyard in order to get the best from the vines. This is backed up by an engaging consumer-friendly approach to the 'deadly serious fun' of wine.
D'Arenberg's own tasting notes for this wine are excellent, so please click the blue link below to see all this wine's details.
Viognier 62%, Marsanne 38%.
d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab 2018 – fiche technique


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The Anglican Consultative Council is currently in the middle of a fortnight-long meeting in Kingston, Jamaica. Made up of representatives from member churches throughout the world, it includes laypeople as well as bishops and other clergy. This gathering will be a test of its ability, amidst organisational politics, to hold on to its ideals and to balance unity with other values. These include justice, mercy and involvement by ordinary Christians as well as senior clergy in making decisions.
Kingston has a rich but troubled history, marked by slavery and colonialism as well as by resistance to these and other forms of oppression. Over 30,000 people filled the newly-built National Stadium in 1962 when independence was declared. There were high hopes of creating a truly independent and just society, but gradually these were blighted and – as in many other ex-colonies – Western economic dominance kept its grip.
Though Kingston was a major cultural centre, high unemployment and poverty remained. Frustration was sometimes violently expressed and gays and lesbians became a convenient target.
Violent homophobia in Jamaica has destroyed people emotionally and sometimes physically and has taught others to hate their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered neighbours. During a prison riot in Kingston in 1997, warders failed to protect supposedly gay prisoners, several of whom were stabbed or burnt to death. Horrific violence continues, sometimes justified on supposedly religious grounds .
International Anglican gatherings have repeatedly announced their commitment to human rights for all, including lesbian and gay people. Thirty years ago, the Anglican Consultative Council called on member churches and individuals to "rigorously assess their own structures, attitudes and modes of working to ensure the promotion of human rights within them" and "involve themselves in all possible ways with the struggles of people who are denied human rights".
Some Christians in the Caribbean (including senior Anglican clergy) have sought to promote greater acceptance and justice. Yet leaders such as the recently-retired Archbishop of the West Indies, Drexel Gomez, have had other priorities.
For over a decade he has been a crusader against the acceptance of "liberalism" in the Anglican Communion, in particular openness to the possibility of "out" gay or lesbian bishops and orders of service to bless same-sex couples. In 2001 he helped to draw up proposals to discipline national churches which took acceptance too far. These would have given archbishops unprecedented international power . The proposals were rejected, but he was later put in charge of preparing a "Covenant' which would supposedly bring about greater unity.
Though not in favour of extreme homophobia, Archbishop Gomez – along with many other church leaders elsewhere – helped to foster the notion that accepting same-sex partnerships was far more problematic for Christians than failing to challenge abuse and hatred.
There were strong reactions by some churches against earlier drafts of the Covenant and a new version has been produced, to be discussed by the Anglican Consultative Council in Kingston. Though this takes on board some of the concerns voiced earlier, the emphasis is still heavily on reining in those provinces which might do something "controversial". In practice, this is more likely to affect pro-inclusion churches than those where leaders have refused to enter into dialogue with lesbian, gay and transgendered people and their families, or to uphold their human rights.
It remains to be seen whether the Anglican Consultative Council, which has previously resisted attempts to over-centralise authority in the Communion, will give way in the interests of persuading "conservative" churches to stay. Many members of the Council have taken a bold and sometimes prophetic stance on respect and justice for all, caring and campaigning for the poor and marginalised, yet they face huge pressure.
Perhaps those attending the ACC gathering could spend a few moments remembering the many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in Kingston who have been terrorised, raped, beaten or murdered, or learnt to hate themselves, as well as the families and friends who mourn them, and the children who have been taught hatred rather than love of neighbour. There are no easy answers, but with thought and prayer, maybe the Council can develop an approach that recognises the evil of homophobia.
(c) Savi Hensman was born in Sri Lanka. She works in the voluntary sector in community care and equalities in the UK and she is also a respected writer on Christianity and social justice. An Ekklesia associate, Savi has contributed several chapters to the recent book Fear or Freedom? Why a warring church must change, edited by Simon Barrow (Shoving Leopard / Ekklesia, 2008).
This article is adapted with acknowledgment from a recent piece on Savi's Guardian Comment-is-Free column. She has also written for Ekklesia about ACC and Rowan Williams' theology of reconciliation here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9406
A 'Cutting Edge' conference on faith, homophobia, transphobia and human rights is taking place in London on Saturday 16 May 2009 - more here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9436


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(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – May 14, 2013) The first cohort of students in California Lutheran University's graduate program on the Central Coast will receive master's degrees in educational leadership on Friday, May 17.
Rochell Daney of Arroyo Grande, Ellen Hunt of Los Olivos, and Jennifer Perez, Vince Sagisi and Gayle Vyenielo of Santa Maria will participate in the 2013 Graduate Commencement Ceremony on the main CLU campus in Thousand Oaks. Vyenielo and Hunt will also receive preliminary administrative services credentials. Michele Frantz of Santa Maria and Corie Ross of Nipomo also earned preliminary administrative services credentials, although they will not participate in the ceremony.
The innovative program in the Santa Maria Valley prepares students to serve as principals, directors and superintendents as well as in other leadership positions in teaching, higher education and nonprofit administration.
The accelerated one-year program allows students to take classes in Orcutt on weekends and online while working full time. The CLU Graduate School of Education works with Central Coast school districts to provide students with field experience. Assignments require students to identify, research and implement creative solutions to the problems administrators encounter daily.
Experienced faculty and local school administrators serve as mentors. Students also benefit from developing relationships with the other working professionals in their cohort.
A total of about 520 students are eligible to receive master's or doctoral degrees at CLU's Graduate Commencement Ceremony. A separate Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 18. This is the 50th year that CLU has held commencement ceremonies.
CLU is a selective university that also has centers in Oxnard and Woodland Hills for graduate courses and its Adult Degree Evening Program. With an enrollment of 4,200 students, CLU offers undergraduate and graduate programs within the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management and Graduate School of Education. Doctoral degrees in educational leadership, higher education leadership and clinical psychology are also offered. Members of the CLU student body come from across the nation and around the world and represent a diversity of faiths and cultures. For more information, visit http://www.callutheran.edu. For more information on the Central Coast program, contact Program Director Victoria L. Kelly at email@example.com or 805-938-8931.


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Ethical dilemmas facing lactation consultants.
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Skywatchers Treated to Spectacular Fiery Show on Jupiter
Sep 15, 2012 5:00 AM PT
Astronomers have long suspected that Jupiter undergoes more frequent collisions with space objects than we know, but this past Monday one apparently occurred that was so dramatic as to even be visible with amateur telescopes here on Earth.
Wisconsin-based amateur astronomer Dan Peterson first reported the event, having viewed it as it happened. Soon afterward, he described what he had seen online.
Dallas-based astrophotography enthusiast George Hall took the discovery further.
"When I saw [Peterson's] post, I went back and examined the videos that I had collected this morning," he wrote in a blog post of his own later that day.
Sure enough, there in Hall's footage was a clear view of a brief but fiery explosion on the planet: "an apparent object impact captured about 6:35 am on Sept. 10, 2012, from Dallas, Texas USA."
What, exactly, caused the impact is not yet clear, but the most likely explanation appears to be either a comet or an asteroid.
Mysterious Waves
"Impacts of comets and asteroids onto Jupiter's atmosphere may be more frequent than previously thought," Mario Livio, a senior astrophysicist with the Space Telescope Science Institute, told TechNewsWorld.
Similar impacts in recent years were caused by objects including Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which broke up and collided with Jupiter in 1994, and an asteroid that collided with the planet in 2009, Livio pointed out.
"Following up on these impacts provides much information about the conditions in Jupiter's atmosphere," he explained. In fact, "to this very day, some of the waves seen propagating following the 1994 impact remain somewhat of a mystery."
Given that the evolution of life on Earth was also punctuated by asteroid impacts, "clearly understanding these events is important," Livio concluded.
'It's the Floor Sweeper'
Many scientists believe that Jupiter, with its strong gravitational pull, acts as a sort of "magnet" that prevents many comets and asteroids from hitting Earth, Paul Czysz, a professor emeritus of aerospace engineering with St. Louis University, told TechNewsWorld.
"Jupiter probably gets impacted more than we see," Czysz explained. "It basically deflects them enough that they don't come close to Earth."
In other words, from our perspective, "it's good that Jupiter is there," Czysz added. "It has basically protected the inner planets from a lot more impacts. It's the 'floor sweeper' that keeps the junk from coming into the inner planets."
'The More Scared You Get'
Saturn and the moon, in fact, have done much the same thing, but on a lesser scale, he pointed out.
On the moon, for instance, "every one of those craters you see represents an impact," he said.
There are occasionally Earth-crossing asteroids, to be sure, but "the Earth is so small that it's really an unfortunate happenstance if one actually hits Earth," Czysz explained. "It's like having a 10-mile-wide target and a ping pong ball in the middle, and throwing rocks to try to hit it."
Until humans developed modern telescopic equipment, moreover, we weren't even aware of most asteroids, Czysz added.
Now, however, "the more you find out, the more scared you get," he concluded.
'The Luck of the Draw'
It's not necessarily true that Jupiter provides a shield for Earth, said William Newman, a professor in the departments of earth and space sciences, physics and astronomy, and mathematics at UCLA.
Rather, it's "more the luck of the draw," he told TechNewsWorld. "Jupiter will certainly prevent some objects and take the hit itself, but others will enter. The fact that others have occurred is proof."
In any case, given that NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, for one, has an ongoing project to watch for asteroids and comets, why did this latest hit on Jupiter come as such a surprise?
'Black Against Black'
Well, for one thing, "you can't see them, they're so black," Czysz said. "They reflect less than 1 percent of their light. They're black against a black background."
Indeed, "the larger ones we can detect, but the smaller ones are difficult," Newman explained. "There are tiny objects that get away, and we don't see them until we have a near miss."
However, that's far from a frequent occurrence, particularly among the larger objects, Newman pointed out.
"The little guys include shooting stars and cometary debris -- there's a lot of that stuff," he said. "Every time you go up by a factor of 10 in size, the frequency goes down by more than a factor of 10."
'We Don't See Much of the Big Stuff'
The last really big such event occurred 65 million years ago, Newman noted.
"There have been three or four or maybe five others in the last hundreds of millions of years, and they've been widely spaced in time," he added. "But they played a big role in our early solar system." [*Correction - Sept. 19, 2012]
Today, however, "we're not likely to see one that size," Newman concluded. "Happily, we don't see much of the big stuff."
*ECT News Network editor's note - Sept. 19, 2012: The original version of this article incorrectly quoted William Newman as stating that several events occurred in the last 100 million years.


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"We've got an incredibly diverse audience. It's big and getting bigger. That gives us a lot of latitude," Hulu's SVP of content Andy Forssell told the Television Critics Association during the fall previews on Tuesday.
Hulu's new summer programming slate reflects that diversity. After launching its first original scripted series Battleground in February, Hulu is continuing its commitment to creating new programs and distributing curated content from around the web, networks and globe. Check out its summer lineup:
Prisoners of War
The nine-time Israeli Emmy Award-winning series starring Mili Avital and Ishai Golan inspired Showtime's critically acclaimed Homeland.
"I play [Narit] the wife of the soldier who was kidnapped. We were engaged," Avital said. "I eventually married his brother and we had a son. Seventeen years later, he was released. My character resonated a lot with Israeli audiences... my character represents the need to move on and begin a new life."
The main differences between Prisoners of War and Homeland reflect their cultural backgrounds. "The societies are very different how we treat this subject," said writer-director Gideon Raff. "In Israel.. it's an open wound. It was almost taboo when we started... Israelis negotiate to get prisoners released. Americans do not negotiate with terrorists."
Ishai Golan, who plays Uri, added, "It changed the face of Israeli TV... people told me how hard it was to watch. And although it was hard, they had to stay and watch it to the end. It took entertainment another step."
Prisoners of War premiered on July 14 on Hulu and Hulu Plus.
Up to Speed
The wacky travel series stars Timothy "Speed" Levitch, a quirky real-life character whom Dazed and Confused filmmaker Richard Linklater discovered giving eccentric tours in D.C. To get an idea of what's in store for viewers on Up to Speed, here's a selection of colorful quotes from Speed himself.
How Hulu and Speed collaborated: "It was a magic jambalaya of events that became a wonderful meal."
The most overlooked monument: "Probably kindness... that's the abstract, poetic answer."
The most overlooked monument, Take 2: " Tourism is very high school... the most popular monuments are pretty vapid. That's why they're popular. It's the dweebs, the wallflowers, the monumentally ignored monuments that have the most interesting things to say."
Los Angeles tour concept: "It's a great opportunity to develop walking tours on the Indiana Jones level."
Thoughts on Austin, Texas: "The capital city of laid-back vivacity! I'm always looking forward to going back to Austin."
The best tour guide: "I think on a list of the top 10 tour guides in history, curiosity would have to be the top seed!"
Up to Speed premieres on Thursday, Aug. 9 on Hulu.
Larry King Now
The veteran TV and radio host takes his skills to the web with Larry King Now on Hulu. And although he's switched to a different medium, he's still able to attract willing interviewees, including Seth MacFarlane, Meghan McCain, Betty White and Oliver Stone.
At 78, Larry King has embraced the idea of a series on Hulu, available to everyone, all the time. "It's kind of a revolution to me," he told reporters. "This is an unencumbered show... [Technology-wise], I'm an idiot. I don't know how it works, but I'm enjoying it."
King marveled at the impact that technology has had on broadcasting. "We were in the back of the car going to dinner, and I was watching my show," he said. "I thought to myself, 'What a world this is!' If a news event happened right now, the whole world would know about it in a minute. Everything's out there. It's amazing to me. It makes me young again."
The downside of all that information, however, is the glut of reporting. "Are we better served with 500 outlets?" King mused. "I grew up with four stations and an independent.... we were a day later, but we had Cronkite. There are not Cronkites now... The Murrows are few and far between."
Larry King Now airs new episodes Monday-Thursday on Hulu.
Rev. and The Thick of It
Hulu also presented two British comedies as part of their linuep. Rev. is the BAFTA-winning sitcom starring Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride & Prejudice) as inner-city vicar Rev. Adam Smallbone, who constantly struggles with his faith and inevitably falls into uncomfortable, embarrassing and occasionally heartwarming situations.
The Thick of It gives viewers an inside look at British politics in a decidedly politically incorrect way. From the same writer as HBO's Veep, the series launched on July 29 on Hulu.
Check out trailers for Rev. and The Thick of It:
The first two seasons of Rev. and first three seasons of The Thick of It are available on Hulu now. The fourth season of The Thick of It will premiere this fall.


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The problem is multi-character constants. how can I assign/compare multiple characters in a variable?
anything to do with the declaration? I used the simple "char" declaration..Code:if (ElemSym=='He') { system("CLS"); cout<<"Name: Helium"<<endl; cout<<"Symbol: He "<<endl; }
Thank you in advance to whoever will help..
I'm using Dev c++, since the Visual Studio c++ returns an error due to a limit on the codes.


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Forget the bland title, the latest Best American Nonrequired Reading presents a fresh, amusing, and wide-ranging compendium of last year's best nonfiction and fiction.
It's not just the writing that is fresh but the kinds of content that editor Dave Eggers chose to include are both imaginative and often cutting edge including such categories as: Best American Band Names, Best American Ominous Place Names, Best American Call of Duty Handles, Best Wikileaks Revelations, and Best American Commune Names. The reader senses not only a vibrant sense of humor (see Best American Categories that Got Cut) but someone behind the scenes who is curious, wide-reading, and always eager to learn something new. Also, someone with a great sense of humor.
There's even an entry (see pg. 19) on Best American New Entries to the O.E.D. Beginning with the Letter H. Under this heading you find definitions for hog calling and hog caller, hot piece and hot doggery.
Among several compelling biographical pieces, Chris Jones's "Roger Ebert: The Essential Man" gives an empathetic account of the illness that caused the great film critic to lose his voice.
In "Solitude and Leadership" William Deresiewicz offers a strong argument for why solitude is even more important in 2011 when Americans are seldom beyond the reach of email or a cell phone.
The book even highlights two pieces of graphic fiction with new work by James Sturm and Olivier Schrauwen.
So for a real trip into the heart of contemporary American writing, pick up this book. There's also a Best American Essays series you could try but it won't be nearly as much fun.


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'Active shooter' training held at elementary school
A training exercise for police academy recruits involved active shooter scenarios at an area elementary school Thursday.
Sgt. Jake Ritonya led 32 Omaha police recruits through their final training at Pine Creek Elementary in Bennington.
"We are there, first and foremost, to stop the violence," Ritonya said.
Years ago, only SWAT team members trained for this type of situation, but now it's part of Omaha's police officer training.
"We always want to keep our officers thinking ahead, thinking outside the box should things occur," Ritonya said.
Thursday's training exercise simulated a school shooting with multiple victims like the one in Newtown, Conn., earlier this month. But the drill was planned months ago, police said.
The exercise consisted of stopping the shooter, securing an area to transport victims and helping them. It's training officers hope they never have to use, but Ritonya said citizens are safer because of it.
"You couldn't live in a better area in terms of having well-prepared officers," he said.
Omaha police provide extra training to any officer who wants it. Officers can also be certified in patrol rifle.


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I have been with Friars Moor Vets for 20 years and they have always provided me with a fantastic service, the care, compassion and honesty from Gilla Primrose was outstanding.
They are always very thorough and knowledgeable and aware of the whole farm objectives and strategy.
Highly skilled and professional approach … Personable, friendly and efficient!
Thank you to Friars Moor Vets … I am very grateful for all the time they have given to us here. I have learnt so much from their advice and they need a huge pat on the back.
Each time we walk through the surgery door at Friars Moor, we know that our pets are in the very best hands, and we feel that our pets deserve nothing less.
We have laughed and cried together over the years, and their professionalism and kindness … is second to none.
We all love our pets and, for 18 years, Friars Moor Veterinary Practice in Sturminster Newton has been giving me the confidence that I was doing the very best I could for mine.
I am blessed to have Friar's Moor Vets on my doorstep, not that it would matter, I would definitely travel!!
I believe a good Vets is hard to find but 'Friars Moor' really is the whole package.
The team at Friars Moor have looked after our pets for many years. The quality of veterinary care is always second to none.
Manston Rd, Sturminster Newton,
Dorset DT10 1BH
Email us | Find us
Opening hours:
8:30 am – 6:00 pm
9:00 am – 12noon
on site parking at all 3 branches
Wincombe Business Centre Shaftesbury,
Dorset SP7 9QJ
Email us | Find us
Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford Forum,
Dorset DT11 8ST
Email us | Find us
Pearce Seeds, Rosedown Farm, Sherborne, DT9 4SX | Find us
Service Hours: Monday-Friday - medicines ordered with the
team in the Sturminster office before 11am will be available for same day
collection after 1pm.
cats dogs cows sheep & goats rabbits repeat prescriptions(the best places to start for these frequently-searched terms)


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Ars Technica pounced on some early iPad 2 benchmarks by CNET UK (link currently down), suggesting that the iPad 2's improved processor doesn't give it that much of an edge over the original tablet for web-based tasks.
CNET ran the SunSpider JavaScript test on both an iPad 2 and an original iPad running last week's gold master build of iOS 4.3. Though the new iPad has a dual core processor, it only ran the JavaScript tests 1.5 times faster than the first iPad on average, leading Ars to speculate that the A5 is not based around Cortex A9 cores but rather two of the A8 cores found in original iPad's A4. Furthermore, CNET found that the original iPad running the 4.3 build generally ran faster than one running 4.2, suggesting that users of iPads both old and new could see a significant speed increase when 4.3 rolls out.
Of course, as developers start writing graphic-intensive apps tailored for the iPad 2's beefed up guts, the disparity between the two will become more prominent. But if you're an original iPad owner mainly spending your tablet time browsing the web, there might not be much reason to covet the new guy. [CNET UK via Ars]


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This leather Petoskey themed flask is as useful as it is gorgeous.
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Ok, I gave 5 of your boards to family and friends for Christmas presents. As of this date 3 of the 5 remain unused and a 4th has only been in service a week. The problem is that the boards are so beautiful that nobody can bring themselves to actually cut on them:beatinghead:. My daughter-in-law's parents are renovating a house and have declared that the board must go to the new house, it's too nice for the house they live in at the moment (this is actually true). I know that there has been a thread on this, but I really thought it was in jest. Seriously man, ugly them up or something:lol2:


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Some of you may be familiar with the podcast "Hauntcast", some may not, but needless to say it's a staple in the haunt community that went off the air in November of last year due to financial reasons.
As of late there has been a movement by fans of Hauntcast to resurrect it! We've talked with everyone involved in the show, as well as vendors/retailers and if we can get 250 subscribers by March 8, 2012, they will bring the show back in April.
Here's where you come in...
A Hauntcast annual Subscription is $100, that's $8 a month, payable via PayPal (who offers Bill Me Later, so you can pay off your subscription in (6) $16.00 payments if the full price is too large of an expense all at once)
It's 2.5 hours of entertainment including movie reviews, haunt stories, haunt related news, prop how-to's and more. It's less than the price of a movie ticket and far more entertaining, and better yet, you get to keep a copy of the podcast for future listening!
On top of a great show, subscribers are also getting thousands of dollars of discounts and entry into a raffle with prizes worth over $4,500 and new prizes are being added almost daily.
Subscribers will receive discounts from these great Vendors:
Juneau Studios ~Save $50 of their DVDs. You pay $19.99, retail price $69.99.Receive a $250 certificate for any order of $1150 and save 60% on freight orders.
DC Props ~15% off his amazing props and mechanisms *except sale items, not valid September and October.
Fright Theatre ~15% off all product *except sale items, not valid September or October
Dark Imaginings ~20% off our changing portraits, $75 off custom changing portraits, as well as other discounts on our other products and services (graphic design, web design, video effects, etc).
Mini Spot Light ~15% off all lights
Necrotic Creations ~15% off their entire productline
Monkey Basic ~20% off all software
Froggys Fog - 15% off from April September
Vox Noctis Voiceovers ~$50 off any custom made voice over.
Shellhawk Creations ~15% her amazing hand-made pottery and FREE shipping.
DBGgraphix ~50% OFF a logo or poster design for their haunts.
Woodloom Custom Tombstones -10% off
Isher Creations ~20% off
Ghosts of Olde Towne Petersburg will be starting up with the very first haunted walking tours on selected nights in April. Hauntcast fans can purchase 50% off admission tickets. That offer is good for the entire 2012 season.
Total Terror! Haunted Attraction - 50% off admission price by purchasing tickets online.
Midnight Studios $150 off their Vanessa Corpse prop
Skeleton Store 30% of their retail prices
Hauntcast the Magazine Get a free subscription to Hauntcast the magazine.
If we reach our goal we will be raffling off prizes from these amazing vendors:
DC Props $195 Spitter mechanism
Juneau Studios (10) $70 DVDs
Fright Theatre $375 Torso Prop
Stolloween custom pumpkin $125 value
Mini Spot Lights LED lights
Necrotic Creations $100 cameo
Woodloom $55 Celtic Tombstone
Terra Handmade tombstone of choice
How to Haunt Your House volume 3 book $30 value
Vox Noctis $50 dollar coupon
2011 Haunters Video Awards DVD Set $25
Davis Graveyard $25 Concrete Skull
Dark Imaginings $49.95 value 11×14 changing portrait. You can pick the portrait.If the 11×14 is too large for them then they can choose a smaller version (5×7 or 8×10). The winner will have to pay the shipping fee, though, which is $10.
Spider Hill Prop Works $50 worth of product from their site (winners choice)
Allen Hopps - 3 Deranged Masks - $100 a piece
Haunted Hot Sauce Assortment of Hot Sauce
Haunted Attraction Fright Team Management Book and CDSo You Want to be a Haunt Entrepreneur Book $49.95 + $4.95 shipping (A $54.90 Value!)
West Coast Haunters Convention Pair of passes to the show
Grand Prize
Juneau Studios is raffling off his Lizzy Borden Mirror to subscribers of Hauntcast. Its a $2500 value.The mirror measures 2 feet tall by 15 inches wide.Comes with 4 dvds: Blood wrighting, Clown changing portrait, Poltergeist portrait and Lizzy Borden.
Each subscriber will get their name thrown into the hat twice doubling your chances to win. That's 2 chances to win a prize from the $4,500 worth of prizes being raffled off!
So subscribe today at http://www.hauntcast.net/subscribe and help us bring back the show!


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The cool villain in Shao Nian yang Jia Jiang!
Name: 袁弘 / Yuan Hong
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1982 August 23
Birthplace: Wuhan, China
Height: 182cm
Weight: 71kg
Star sign: Virgo
I find his transformation from the 'good boy' in Liao Zhai to this 'charming' Ye Li Xue in Shao Nian yang Jia Jiang really amazing!
he is indeed my favorite character in thesaid series aside from Eddie Peng!
Iam very much anticipating toseehis performance in LOCH 2007 as yang kang


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I remember learning the colors of the rainbow as a kid in piano class. It was one of the first lessons in my primer - a song titled "Roy G. Biv". Just saying it takes me back to that ticking metronome. I'm tapping out a few rudimentary notes that are supposed to resemble a song about rainbows. I must have played that little ditty a hundred times before getting it right!
All these years later I still remember the simple words to that song. It was stuck in my head as I frosted these cupcakes in the same sequence of hues.
The idea for these came from a nice big box of goodies that Wilton sent me. Inside was a book all about cupcakes and other fun things like colorful batter mix-ins and candy sprinkles. I thought the green "batter bits" with rainbow frosting would make a great St. Paddy's day treat. But heck! They turned out so cheery, I'd make them anytime someone needed an infusion of sugary happiness. Talk about a pick-me-up!
I can't wait to try out a mini version of these. I've got some Sixlets candies that would make a perfect mini "cherry" on top. I also think this same technique would be beautiful done in ombre hues.
Rainbow Frosting Cupcakes
Yield: 12-13 cupcakes
Start to finish: 3 hours +
Source: SprinkleBakes original recipes, technique inspired by Cupcakes! by Wilton
[click for printable version]
These are a bit of work from scratch, so using a white cake mix may be a time-saving option for busy bakers. I do suggest homemade frosting . It should be one you really love because these cupcakes hold a tall amount. Using disposable cups or bowls is a good idea when mixing so many different colors of icing. I chose a maraschino cherry as a topper, but you could use a candy cherries found at bulk candy stores.
Sour cream cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside. in a medium sized bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup sour cream. Add flour and milk mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Batter will be thick. Fold in color mix-ins, if using.
- Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup level measures of batter. Bake for 17 minutes. Let cool and set aside.
2-4 tablespoons whole milk
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together the butter and confectioners' sugar. Begin mixing on low speed until crumbly, and then increase to high and beat for 3 minutes. Add milk gradually until it is piping consistency.
- Add vanilla extract and beat again for several minutes until light and fluffy.
This is an estimation of the tinted icing amounts I used for these cupcakes. You'll need a larger amount of violet versus the much smaller amount of orange.
- Transfer violet icing to a piping bag fitted with a large plain tip (Wilton 2A). I'm confident this could also be done with a zip-top bag with a corner snipped.
- Pipe an even line of frosting around the edge of a cupcake and then lightly fill in the middle with frosting. Repeat process with remaining frostings, getting smaller in diameter as you change icing colors. Repeat process with remaining cupcakes. Top each cupcake with a maraschino cherry.


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Chalet Hermine Reviews
No reviews yet
10 m
250 m
500 m
Town Center
500 m
Ideally situated close to ski-lifts and the fantastic slopes of Arc 2000, The Hermine is located in the Altitude Résidence. Attractively furnished in traditional style, it offers comfort and convenience, and fully catered by your own Chalet host.
Open-plan lounge/dining area with log fire
Room 1: Twin with en suite shower/wc.
Room 2: Double with en suite shower/wc.
Room 3: Twin with private shower/wc (not en suite)
Room 4: Twin with private bath/wc (not en suite)
Food is a highlight of any ski holiday, and our Chalet Hosts will prepare and serve your meals as described here six days per week*.
Start the day with a hearty hot and skiers' breakfast to prepare you for the slopes, including a cooked breakfast with your choice of bacon, eggs, sausage and baked beans. Additionally, and normally set out for you buffet-style, there is a choice of porridge or cereals, tea, coffee, fruit juice, bread (including croissants in France), cold meats, cheeses and preserves.
Afternoon tea is the traditional 'welcome home' for chalet guests at the end of a day's skiing, with a slice of freshly baked cake, different each day, to accompany your choice of tea or coffee.
Our 3 course dinner menus start with an glass of Prosecco followed by an appetiser, main course and dessert, accompanied by a choice of complimentary wines, squash, fruit juice and water with coffee or tea to follow.
Vegetarian options are always available, and other special diets are available at a supplement if booked in advance.
* On your Hosts day off each week, they will leave a simpler continental breakfast out for you to help yourselves, there is no afternoon tea on these days, and you can dine out locally in the evening. Your Resort Representative will gladly help out with information and make a reservation for you if you wish.
We serve a separate High Tea at 5:30pm for children aged 11 years and under with an appropriate menu. Unless children are part of an 'exclusive use' whole-chalet booking in chalets, it is not possible for children aged 11 years and under to eat at the adult sitting. However, where children aged 11 years and under are part of an 'exclusive use' whole-chalet booking, parents may elect for their children to eat with them at the adult meal times on payment per child per week supplement.
Fire Place
All Rooms En Suite
Wi-Fi (Free)
Ski in/Ski out
Free Use of Pool
Ski/Boot Room
Satellite/Cable TV
|Total Runs
|Resort Altitude
|Highest Lift
|Total Piste
|Direction of Slopes
|Total Lifts
|Gondolas/Cable cars
|Drag Lifts
|Snow Parks
Iglu acts as a travel agent for disclosed principles/tour operators, further details of which will be made available at the time of booking. Your holiday contract will be bound by the tour operators terms and conditions.
The price shown includes 7 nights accommodation, with flights from Bristol.
Prices shown are per person, per duration indicated, based on maximum occupancy. Descriptions and quality ratings are provided by the Tour Operator (or one of the Tour Operators where similar holidays are offered by more than one supplier). We reserve the right to make minor adjustments to the description or rating based on staff and customer feedback. Note: On 13 January 2018, new European legislation is being adopted in the UK which as result will mean that we may change our required method of payment at our discretion, irrespective of how any deposit or prior payment was made.
Please note: the above prices are not inclusive of tourist tax which may be payable in resort (approximately £3 - £20 per person per week in local currency).


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Audrina Patridge is single again.
After getting back together with Aussie BMX racer Corey Bohan, The Hills star, 24, has officially called it quits after a two-month fling, Usmagazine.com has confirmed.
A source close to the pair said they split because of "conflicting schedules."
E! News is also reporting that Patridge is single again.
Asked about their relationship in June, Patridge told Us, "I've been having fun with him. I don't want to jinx anything, so I'm not going to label it! He's one of the nicest, sweetest guys I've ever met. We'll see."
Patridge – who has her own reality show in the works – recently announced she is leaving The Hills after this season. On the show's current season, she is clashing with Kristin Cavallari, who is pursuing her ex, Justin Bobby.
Patridge recently told Maxim, "I'm an adult now, and I don't need all the petty drama and drinking and fighting. I've done that, and I'm ready to move on."
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


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This half-day refresher course is designed for professionals who have a solid understanding of the ACLS provider course content – emergency medical providers including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, paramedics, emergency technicians, respiratory therapists and other professionals who may respond to a cardiovascular emergency.
In order to qualify for a Refresher class, you current provider card can not be expired more than 2 months past the expiration date. A copy of your current card will be required in order to confirm your attendance in a Refresher Class.
Cognitive and psychomotor skills are evaluated as recommended by the AHA. The same content as the two-day course is presented, but at an accelerated pace. This is an excellent opportunity to renew your provider card. This course is not recommended for those taking ACLS for the first time.
At the conclusions of these courses, each participant should be able to:
Monday, August 10, 2020 8:00 AM - 12:30 PMEastern Time
EMSTAT Center550 E GENESEE ST2nd Floor/Classroom BSyracuse, New York 13202USA315-464-4363
Rose More
Registration Deadline
Registration forms and payment must be received no later than 14 days prior to the selected class date. Registration fee must be sent with the registration form to confirm attendance. All registrations are accepted and confirmed on a first come/first pay basis. Early registration is recommended although not guaranteed, as classes are limited in attendance. In the event that a class will accept registrations less than 14 days prior to the class date, registrations will only be accepted with a credit card payment.
Cancellation Policy
In order to process refunds for course withdrawals, cancellations must be received no later than 14 days prior to the selected class date. A refund will be issued minus a $25.00 administrative fee for all cancellations made more than 14 days prior to class date; no refunds will be issued thereafter.
A $25.00 administrative fee will be charged to any participant who has registered for a class but then requests to move to a different class. A person will not be allowed to start the class until this fee is paid.
SUNY Upstate Medical University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course at any time due to any unforeseen circumstances or limited attendance. A minimum of 12 confirmed registrants are required to hold a class. In the event of cancellation or postponement, SUNY Upstate Medical University will refund the registration fee associated with the class, but is not responsible for any related costs or expenses to participants, including cancellation fees assessed by hotels, airlines, and travel agencies.
Change Fee & No Show fee's:
Change fee is $25.00; No Show fee is $50.00
DisclaimerUse of American Heart Association materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the Association.
Cvent Online Event Registration Software | Copyright © 2000-2020 Cvent, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Home Security Via the Cloud
Looking to protect your home or office? How about broadcasting real-time video? Today we spoke with Devin Chawda, the President of Y-cam about their Internet/Cloud-based Security Cameras
1. It is now possible to set up a video camera at your home or business which records instantly to the cloud rather than on some local recording device. This is a revolution in home/business security as it not only means the video is stored safely away from the property but it can be viewed from anywhere and motion alerts sent to any mobile device.
2. Anyone that wants to broadcast live steaming video to their local community, or even the world can now do so. Whether you're a watersports shop owner on the beach wanting to show off the waves or a homeowner just wanting to share the amazing view outside her bedroom window, it's now accessible to anyone.
3. Now you can use your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and your existing Wi-Fi network to monitor your baby in a way that wasn't possible before


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Storage virtualization provides a logical, abstracted view of physical storage devices that is managed from a central control. Typically, storage virtualization is implemented in storage-area networks, redundant arrays of independent disks, file systems, switches, and virtual tape. PROS AND CONS
Proponents of storage virtualization say the separation of logical and physical storage allays a number of challenges in the efficient operation of storage. Virtualization allows for simpler data migration, which, in turn, can drive higher storage usage, greater demand for faster devices and easier end-of-life-cycle retirement of older devices. Detractors of storage virtualization note that virtualized systems tend to exhibit more latency than non-virtualized systems as data requests must pass through an added virtualization layer as part of the data retrieval process. Some have also called into question the ability of virtualization to save money for infrastructure organizations, particularly where heavy upfront capital investments may be required. NEEDS ASSESSMENT:
Number of "yes" responses:
7-13 Strong candidate for storage virtualization.4-6 Requires careful further evaluation.0-3 Unlikely to gain great benefit from adopting storage virtualization at this time.
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Tag Archives: Cook the Books
December Cook the Books! The Homemade Pantry Review and Wrap-Up!
People. It is January. This means that Cook the Books has come to an end! I guessed that December would be a very slow month for Cook the Books and likely low on participation and that ended up being true. … Continue reading
November Cook the Books! The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook!
Oh, Tom, how I love your food and desserts! And, what a month it was. November was the perfect month to explore The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook with all the pies, tarts, and brunch-type foods. So, let's get right to it, shall … Continue reading
Cook the Books! December: The Homemade Pantry!
December! A year ago, Briggs and I schemed up this little thing we later called Cook the Books. We hashed out the details over beers at The Beveridge Pub, spent time in the library and bookstore pouring over possibilities, and … Continue reading
October Cook the Books! Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking Review and Wrap-up!
Fact: I had to leave the house on Tuesday to write and post our November Cook the Books selection because I can't focus on much of anything. My decision-making ability of late is also questionable. For example, instead of heading over to … Continue reading
Cook the Books! November: The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook
November Cook the Books is from local restaurateur and bakery owner, Tom Douglas. The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook. I have high hopes for the cookbook because of 2 items: Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies and Coconut Cream Pie. The cookies are worth … Continue reading


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EWG News and Analysis
The latest from EWG's staff of experts >>
GAO: We're Flying Blind
On August 2, an official from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) told the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee that our nation's law governing industrial chemicals needs to be dramatically changed.
John B. Stephenson of GAO said, "In summary, EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] does not routinely assess the human health and environmental risks of existing chemicals and faces challenges in obtaining the information necessary to do so. [The law's] authorities for collecting data on existing chemicals do not facilitate EPA's review process because they generally place the costly and time-consuming burden of obtaining data on EPA, rather than requiring chemical companies to develop and submit such data to EPA. Consequently, EPA has used its authorities to require testing for fewer than 200 of the 62,000 chemicals in commerce when EPA began reviewing chemicals under [the law] in 1979."
In other words, for most of the industrial chemicals in consumer products on store shelves today, we don't know what's going on.
The law in question, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), assumes chemicals are innocent until proven guilty. Companies provide very little data up front when they want to put a chemical into use, and then it's up to consumers or the government to prove harm before the government can even ask for data (let alone limit use or ban a substance).
Stephenson said, "Since the Congress enacted TSCA in 1976, EPA has issued regulations under the act to ban or limit the production or restrict the use of only five existing chemicals or chemical classes."
Check out this chart, which shows that more often than not in the U.S., we study chemicals after we suspect harm, not before: https://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden1/factsheets/welltested.php .
The point: we need to test chemicals before they go on store shelves, not after. Congress should read the GAO's report carefully and pass the Kid Safe Chemicals Act, which would have companies prove their products are safe enough for children.


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The Bohan Line is a LTA train line that runs through Bohan in Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV.
- Route E trains run clockwise
- Route B trains run counter-clockwise
- At Frankfort High, Route E trains become Route K for the Algonquin Inner Line
- At Frankfort Low, Route B trains become Route C for the Algonquin Inner line
On its way through Bohan, the trains will cross the Humboldt River twice, in connection to Algonquin. Between San Quentin Avenue Station and Frankfort High Station the trains run over a railway bridge south of the Northwood Heights Bridge . Between Frankfort Low Station and Windmill Street Station the trains run underneath the river through a tunnel north of the Northwood Heights Bridge.
Listed clockwise (Route E):


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Competition Management
We offer assistance with budget planning, advice on format and help arranging events like nearest the pin, longest drive, beat the pro and pro partners. In addition to scorecard management, we can also provide a golf day host and a manned hospitality desk.
Golf Clinics at The Duke's Golf Academy
- Group and individual tuition – anything from a simple swing check to a focus on fine-tuning aspects of your game
- Access to the practice facility at The Duke's, St Andrews including the driving range, putting green, and chipping and bunker areas
Fly your corporate flags, display promotional banners and exhibit your product both on the course and in the clubhouse. Our golf events coordinator will even source the perfect prizes or trophies to suit your event – branded with your company logo and competitively priced.
Welcome Packs
Get assistance in preparing imaginative welcome packs including a Strokesaver Guide and special Pro Shop privileges.
For Hire
Hire a fleet of buggies, trolleys, Titleist clubs, or Footjoy shoes.
Guest Celebrity
Raise the profile of your event by inviting a famous name to join your golf day, run a golf clinic or speak after dinner.
A Flexible Venue
Themed menus, barbecues, private dining, Clubhouse Carvery … our golf events manager will discuss all the possibilities with you.
Refreshment Buggy
Uniquely in St Andrews, we can offer a mobile halfway house facility to you on your way around the course.
Explore More Golf
- The Experience St Andrews
- Golf in St Andrews
- Online Store
- Photo Gallery


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Capital Brewers return to TOG this Saturday. Hearty brews are on the menu, in both brewing with guidance and instructions from the experts, and tasting craft beer made earlier! A very rough time-line of a brew day is as follows: 10:30am – 12pm: Heating water, water treatment and mashing grain 12pm – 2pm: Boiling, BBQ, […]
- TOG is a hackerspace based in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. It is a shared space where members have a place to be creative and work on their projects in an environment that is both inspiring and supportive of both new and old technologies. Join our mailing list.
Upcoming events


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JC de los Reyes and the Ignatian Tradition: Politics as a vocation
May 1, 2013 3 Comments
Meet John Carlos (JC) de los Reyes, senatorial candidate of Ang Kapatiran Party.
JC studied in Ateneo de Manila Grade School of the Jesuit Fathers and then in De La Salle Santiago Zobel School of the La Salle Brothers. In college, he took up AB in Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. In 1999 he finished his post-graduate studies in Public Administration in University of the Philippines and in 2005 he finished his Law Degree in St. Louis University in Baguio City.
In this article, I shall focus only on JC's Ignatian roots and his view of politics as a vocation. (Hopefully, in another article, I shall write on JC's Lasallian roots and his view on empowerment through entrepreneurship). I shall frame the article as a response to a series of questions.
Introduction: Jesuit System of Education
Jesuit-run schools are outgrowths of the need to train the next generation of Jesuits. Since many parents also want their children to receive the same training as the Jesuits, the parents enrolled their children in Jesuit universities, and the Society of Jesus adapted to this new apostolate. That is why Ateneans in their early years are grounded in the Catechism and the recitation of the Rosary. Mary is the model and all Ateneans are slowly transformed into soldiers who shall offer their sword–their time, talents, and treasures–to our Lady, as St. Ignatius did at Montserrat in March 1522. Indeed, the Ateneo's Alma Mater song is none other but the Song for Mary: "Mary for you! For your white and blue! We pray you'll keep us, Mary, constantly true! We pray you'll keep us, Mary, faithful to you!"
But to be a true soldier of Mary and companion of Christ, an Atenean must be intellectually prepared for such a task. He must study as St. Ignatius studied in University of Paris–Grammar (Latin), Literature, Philosophy, and Theology. Thus, an Atenean must be able to write lucid prose, dissect a poem, read original philosophical and theological texts, and discuss a thesis statements in oral exams. It's the rigor of thought sharpened by years of training. Jesuit education is a system of education born out of decades of Jesuit experimentation on educational theory–what works and what doesn't in the actual classroom with data from all Jesuit schools around the world. The results of this experiments were distilled into the Ratio Studiorum of 1599, also known in full as the Ratio atque Institutio Studiorum Societatis Iesu ("The Official Plan for Jesuit Education"). It is a guide for how a Jesuit school is run and how teachers should teach different subjects. It is a guide that remains in force today, albeit with some modifications, in all Jesuit schools, including the Ateneo de Manila University.
Question 1: Is JC de los Reyes a true Atenean?
He is. His elementary education in Ateneo de Manila Grade School with the Jesuits suffices. As the Jesuits would say: "Give me the child for seven years, and I will give you the man." So even if JC has not undergone college in Ateneo and trained by the Jesuits to read the classics from Aristotle to Aquinas to Kant, JC has studied the works of these authors more than the average Atenean: JC studied them when he took up his AB in Theology in the Franciscan University of Steubenville, one of the most Orthodox Catholic Universities in the US. That's Magis. That's more.
Question 2: What's an Atenean like JC de los Reyes doing in a Franciscan University?
Oh, why is our Jesuit Pope named Francis? When St. Ignatius was recuperating after being hit by a cannonball, he read the "Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis and the lives of the saints, which made him wish to imitate the heroic lives of saints such as St. Francis of Assisi. When St. Ignatius reached the Holy Land, hoping to settle there and convert the Muslims, the Franciscans sent him back to Europe. And from this setback arose the Jesuit mission of Counter-Reformation and the establishment of Jesuit Schools throughout Europe. By 1739, there were 669 Jesuit schools throughout the world. The bond between Jesuits and Franciscans is deep.
Question 3: There is no doubt that JC de los Reyes would be a good philosopher or theologian. But politics is a different thing. To be a man and woman for others, you need competence. Is JC de los Reyes competent to be a senator?
For Plato, the ideal ruler is the Philosopher-King as stated in his book, The Republic. Thus, to be a philosopher suffices to be a senator. As Socrates said in Plato's Republic:
Inasmuch as philosophers only are able to grasp the eternal and unchangeable, and those who wander in the region of the many and variable are not philosophers, I must ask you which of the two classes should be the rulers of our State?
The Philosophers, of course. And Socrates continued with his proposed definitions on what it is to be a philosopher:
Let us suppose that philosophical minds always love knowledge of a sort which shows them the eternal nature not varying from generation and corruption….And further, I said, let us agree that they are lovers of all true being; there is no part whether greater or less, or more or less honorable, which they are willing to renounce; as we said before of the lover and the man of ambition…. And if they are to be what we were describing, is there not another quality which they should also possess?… Truthfulness: they will never intentionally receive into their minds falsehood, which is their detestation, and they will love the truth….He whose desires are drawn toward knowledge in every form will be absorbed in the pleasures of the soul, and will hardly feel bodily pleasure–I mean, if he be a true philosopher and not a sham one….Such a one is sure to be temperate and the reverse of covetous; for the motives which make another man desirous of having and spending, have no place in his character….Another criterion of the philosophical nature has also to be considered….Then, besides other qualities, we must try to find a naturally well-proportioned and gracious mind, which will move spontaneously toward the true being of everything…. Well, and do not all these qualities, which we have been enumerating, go together, and are they not, in a manner, necessary to a soul, which is to have a full and perfect participation of being?…And must not that be a blameless study which he only can pursue who has the gift of a good memory, and is quick to learn–noble, gracious, the friend of truth, justice, courage, temperance, who are his kindred?…And to men like him, I said, when perfected by years and education, and to these only you will entrust the State.
That's JC de los Reyes: the philosopher who aspires to be a senator. But JC never contented himself with the study of Philosophy or Theology. He wishes to be a competent public servant. That is why he studied Bachelor of Laws in the University of the Philippines and did post-graduate studies in Public Administration at St. Louis University in Baguio City. That's Magis. That's more.
Question 4: Does JC de los Reyes subscribe to Liberation Theology?
Yes, but only within the bounds set by Vatican, as defined by the Instruction on Certain Aspects of the "Theology of Liberation" which was signed by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) when he was the head of the Congregation for Doctrine and Faith. The Instruction concludes:
The words of Paul VI in his "Profession of Faith", express with full clarity the faith of the Church, from which one cannot deviate without provoking, besides spiritual disaster, new miseries and new types of slavery. "We profess our faith that the Kingdom of God, begun here below in the Church of Christ, is not of this world, whose form is passing away, and that its own growth cannot be confused with the progress of civilization, of science, and of human technology, but that it consists in knowing ever more deeply the unfathomable riches of Christ, to hope ever more strongly in things eternal, to respond ever more ardently to the love of God, to spread ever more widely grace and holiness among men. But it is this very same love which makes the Church constantly concerned for the true temporal good of mankind as well. Never ceasing to recall to her children that they have no lasting dwelling here on earth, she urges them also to contribute, each according to his own vocation and means, to the welfare of their earthly city, to promote justice, peace and brotherhood among men, to lavish their assistance on their brothers, especially on the poor and the most dispirited. The intense concern of the Church, the bride of Christ, for the needs of mankind, their joys and their hopes, their pains and their struggles, is nothing other than the great desire to be present to them in order to enlighten them with the light of Christ, and join them all to Him, their only Savior. It can never mean that the Church is conforming to the things of this world, nor that she is lessening the earnestness with which she awaits her Lord and the eternal Kingdom." (Emphasis mine.)
Question 5. Is this passage where Ang Kapatiran Party got its name?
Brotherhood among men. That's what the Ang Kapatiran Party is all about: the brotherhood who "lavish their assistance on their brothers, especially on the poor and the most dispirited." That's why JC de los Reyes joined the Ang Kapatiran Party: in order to serve the poor, not within the framework of class struggle as espoused by the Marxist Left–many of whom are now occupying positions of power in Pres. Noynoy Aquino's administration–but within the framework of Catholic Social Doctrine as expressed in papal documents such as "Mater et Magistra," "Pacem in Terris," "Populorum progressio," "Evangelii nuntiandi," "Octogesima adveniens", "Redemptor hominis", "Dives in misericordia", "Laborem exercens," and Second Vatican Council's "Gaudium et Spes."
Whether Ang Kapatiran Party got its name from this passage of the Instruction is not known. But the concept of brotherhood of men is as old as Christianity itself. First, we are all brothers and sisters because our Faith teaches us that we all came from the same parents: Adam and Eve. Second, all baptized Christians become adopted sons and daughters of God, so that we call Christ as our brother and God as "Abba" or Father. That is why, during the Mass, we have the courage to pray the "Our Father".
Question 6. There is a useful concept in Liberation Theology: structures of sin. What for JC de los Reyes and the Ang Kapatiran Party are the structures of sin in Philippine Politics?
As stated in Cardinal Ratzinger's Instruction:
Structures, whether they are good or bad, are the result of man's actions and so are consequences more than causes. The root of evil, then, lies in free and responsible persons who have to be converted by the grace of Jesus Christ in order to live and act as new creatures in the love of neighbor and in the effective search for justice, self-control, and the exercise of virtue.
It is the duty of the Church to convert each man to Christ. For its part, it is the duty of political parties such as the Ang Kapatiran Party to work for the establishment of good structures in government by crafting sound laws and ensure their implementation. The Ang Kapatiran Party believes that there are many sinful structures that needs to be eradicated: pork barrel system, political dynasties, nontransparency and nonaccountability in governance, proliferation of loose firearms, and the RH law. Please visit the Ang Kapatiran Party website for more detailed discussions of these issues.
7. Is not Politics dirty? How can Politics be a Vocation?
Politics has been perennially associated with the word "dirty," because it is in politics that one meets political butterflies, balimbings, rumor-mongers, character assassins, vote-buyers, boot-lickers, mud-slingers, and plastic men. It is in politics that one crosses paths with druglords, warlords, and church groups crying, "Praise the Lord!" Politics, indeed, is a dirty world–but a dirty world in need of redemption. As JC de los Reyes wrote:
Please don't be too mesmerized with track record and political experience. In Philippine politics, decades in power and experience means political survival, immoral compromise and corruption (jueteng payola). Track record often times is financed by the infamous pork barrel fund. Then they say, "I did this, I did that…" The big question is, what did you do and what will you do to contribute to PRINCIPLED POLITICS, a term that has been gagged side-lined and waylaid by trapos and demagogues.
For JC de los Reyes, politics can be a vocation, a path to holiness, for it is in politics that one can practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy on the scale of the barangay, the city, the province, and the country. Most of the corporal works of mercy–feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, harbour the harbourless, visit the sick, ransom the captive, bury the dead–are handled by government and institutions such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). On the other hand, most of the spiritual works of mercy–instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offences willingly, comfort the afflicted, pray for the living and the dead–are primarily the duties of the Catholic Church; the instruction of the ignorant is primarily addressed by Catholic Schools and it was only after the Americans took over the Philippine colony that the State intervened in education through the Public School System and the establishment of state universities such as the University of the Philippines.
8. What is the end or the ultimate goal of Politics?
The ultimate goal of politics is the salvation of man, because as St. Irenaeus said, "the great glory of God is man fully alive." And this is not only in the here and now with the Millenium Development Goals and Happiness Index, but also in the life hereafter–heaven. St. Ignatius tells us in his Spiritual Exercises to always begin with the end in mind. And for a Catholic politician like JC de los Reyes, the end is the Last Judgment. This would be terrifying thought for a politician who has not exercised his duties to his neighbors during their lives on earth:
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42k For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'44* Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' 45 He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' (Mt 25:41-45)
With this end in mind, a Catholic politician like JC de los Reyes then performs his duties as demanded by his office, and prays the Prayer for Generosity of St. Ignatius:
Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen
As JC de los Reyes wrote:
The most profound victory not only for the Philippines but for humanity is if Ang Kapatiran Party can produce politicians or more aptly, political missionaries who have the purest of hearts and intentions, who do things not for votes but intensely out of love and compassion. Those who will 'decrease, so He might increase,' those who will 'not let their right hand know what their left hand is doing,' those who are 'not lukewarm but cold or hot,' those 'who let their yes mean yes, and no mean no,' and perhaps, those who will assume a faith journey whose victory is 'now but not yet.'
That is why for JC de los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party, politics is a vocation.
(Full disclosure: The author, Dr. Quirino Sugon Jr., is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Physics of Ateneo de Manila University. He finished his BS Physics (1997), MS Physics (1999), and Ph.D. in Physics (2010) in Ateneo de Manila University. Though he is not an official member of the Ang Kapatiran Party, Dr. Sugon campaigns online for the Ang Kapatiran senatorial candidates JC de los Reyes, Lito Yap David, and Marwil Llasos.)


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How does a family history affect my risk of diabetes?
Genetic risk in type 1 diabetes
According to Diabetes UK:
'Although more than 85% of type 1 diabetes occurs in individuals with no previous first degree family history, the risk among first degree relatives is about 15 times higher than in the general population.
On average:
- if a mother has Type 1 diabetes, the child's risk of developing it is about 2–4 per cent
- if a father has the condition, the child's risk of developing it is about 6–9 per cent
- if both parents have the condition, the child's risk of developing it is up to 30 per cent
- if a brother or sister develops the condition, the sibling's risk of developing it is 10 per cent (rising to 10–19 per cent for a non-identical twin and 30–70 per cent for an identical twin).'
These observations point to a multifactorial aetiology with both environmental and genetic contributions. Suggested environmental factors include diet, viral exposure in early childhood, and certain drugs. The disease process involves irreversible destruction of insulin-producing islet beta cells in the pancreas by the body's own immune system, perhaps as a result of an interaction between infection and an abnormal genetically programmed immune response.
Genetic risk in type 2 diabetes
According to Diabetes UK:
There is a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in type 2 diabetes. It tends to cluster in families. People with diabetes in the family are 2-6 times more likely to have diabetes than people without diabetes in the family.
- If you have a parent with type 2 diabetes you have a 30% lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- If both your parents have type 2 diabetes you have an 80% lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes
You can read more in the Diabetes: Facts and Stats, Diabetes UK.
We will learn more about the genetic causes of multifactorial diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) in Week 2.
Genetic risk in Monogenic diabetes
The commonest types of monogenic diabetes are characterised by autosomal dominant inheritance with each child of an affected parent having a 1 in 2, or 50% chance of inheriting the affected gene. You'll find more examples of inheritance in monogenic diabetes next week.
© University of Exeter


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<< back to Teachings on Death
Location: Santa Sabina
In topic: Death and Dying
Forgiveness, Death Teaching, and Coments on Tenzokyokan - Last Talk Santa Sabina 2012 SesshinBy Zoketsu Norman Fischer | Sep 22, 2012
Location: Santa Sabina
In topic: Death and Dying
Norman gives his last talk of the Santa Sabina 2012 Sesshin on Forgiveness, Death Teaching and Comments on Tenzokyokan. Two previously posted talks "Practicing with Death" and "Tenzo Teachings" are from this one talk.
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Modeling Potential Reactor Accident Consequences (NUREG/BR-0359, Revision 1)
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Publication Information
Date Published: December 2012
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Washington, DC 20555-0001
Personal Statement From Brian Sheron
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research is a congressionally mandated office that plans, recommends, and implements a program of nuclear regulatory research, standards development, and resolution of generic issues for nuclear power plants and other NRC-regulated facilities. We partner with other NRC offices, Federal agencies, industry research organizations, and international organizations to conduct these activities.
We started the State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses (SOARCA) research project to estimate the potential health effects from the unlikely event of a commercial nuclear power plant accident releasing significant quantities of radioactive material into the environment. This project modeled a set of important accident scenarios for two plants, Peach Bottom and Surry, which represent two of the most common types of plants licensed in the United States. SOARCA considers plant design and operational changes not reflected in earlier assessments. The project also takes into account NRC's development of rigorous oversight processes and use of operating experience along with improvements in operator training and emergency preparedness. We've also incorporated decades of national and international research into the tools that NRC used to perform this study.
One of SOARCA's objectives is explaining severe-accident-related aspects of nuclear safety to NRC stakeholders. Stakeholders include members of the public along with Federal, State, and local authorities and the companies that hold NRC licenses to operate nuclear power plants. SOARCA meets this communication objective by documenting its results in reports: NUREG-1935, "State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses Main Report," and NUREG/CR-7110, Volume 1, "Peach Bottom Integrated Analyses," and Volume 2, "Surry Integrated Analyses." Because the NUREG reports rely on highly technical explanations, this brochure was developed as a plain-language summary of SOARCA's methods, results, and conclusions. We invite you to read this brochure to understand how we used state-of-the-art methods to model these unlikely nuclear power plant accidents to understand their potential impact on public health and safety.


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Multiple Liberty riders land on podium at fourth Dew Games
April 27, 2013 | Lynchburg, Va.
Six riders with Liberty University connections placed in the top three in various events at Saturday night's fourth annual Dew Games at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.
Jon Steltzer, a former and future ski and snowboard team member, finished first in the Ski Rail Jam and second in the Ski Big Air contest, while his older brother, Flames junior Tim Steltzer, was second on the rail and third in the air.
"That was the second time I've ever won a rail jam," said Jon Steltzer, who earned $3,000 in prize money between the two events. "I used to not even compete on rails at all, but I'm trying to even out my skiing a little bit more."
In the Big Air competition, he just missed landing a switched-up double rodeo with a 1080-degree rotation.
"It's two flips while spinning three times," Steltzer said. "I landed it in the run before and the second time I couldn't get it."
That allowed Connor Tatom, a sophomore at nearby E.C. Glass High School who the Steltzer brothers coached, to take the Big Air title.
"He's going out West for school and, hopefully, we see him in the (Winter) X-Games in a couple years," said Jon Steltzer, who is considering going on the Dew Tour next season. "This is definitely the best part of my year. This competition is the most fun day, for sure."
He and Tim have developed a healthy sibling rivalry at Snowflex.
"We've been competing for three years, going back and forth," Jon Steltzer said.
Zack Bukolt, a Liberty graduate and former member of the snowboarding team, advanced to the Big Air finals against Ben Sullo after landing a double backflip in the semifinals. He did it again on his last jump, only with a slight hand drag, which opened the door for Sullo.
The Bristol, Vt., native who now lives in Lynchburg got tremendous altitude on his final run, completing three complete mid-air twists in about three seconds of hang time.
It was the first time he had landed a backside 1080 in competition.
"Definitely, it's like flying," said Sullo, who felt he needed the big stunt to take the $2,000 first-place prize. "I've got to say, this is one of the best contests I've ever had. I'm stoked."
"It was a great competition," added Liberty head coach Will Scheren, who announced the events alongside former U.S. Olympic snowboarder and Amazing Race contestant Andy Finch. "Everything was so close in the top eight. It was just a great night, overall."
Ryan Leeds, a graduate student and former club rider at Liberty, placed third in the Rail Jam behind Luke Fosse, who also took third in the Big Air, and pro rider Ryan Paul.
Jessica Woody, a Liberty senior and residential assistant from Houston, won the women's snowboarding Big Air event, edging Lauren Longfield, the women's Rail Jam winner.
"I love snowboarding and I love the Dew Games," Woody said. "This is like the biggest thing of the year. It's always a lot of fun."
Jordan Cummings, another Liberty student, was runner-up to Longfield in the Rail Jam.


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Thank you for your interest in our villas. We look forward to speaking with you!
This casual beachfront restaurant may look unassuming from its appearance, but don't be fooled; we proclaim this spot to prepare the best Mahi Mahi fish in all of Sanur. Here you can enjoy a seafood meal with your feet in the sand and not break the bank in the meantime. For a couple of drinks, appetizers and entrees, you can expect to pay about $15. Not too shabby considering the quality and location of this hidden gem. Located on either side of the beach boardwalk, you can walk off your meal afterwards by taking a long stroll down the paved pathway. A must-try!


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At Synopsys, we're constantly evolving - our challenges get tougher, our teams distributed more widely around the globe, and yet our values continue to pave the way to the future. For more than 30 years our core values have served to unite and guide our actions. The values – Integrity, Customer Success through Execution Excellence, Leadership, and Passion – are woven into the fabric of our organization and characterize who we are. Our people and our values combine to make Synopsys a pretty amazing place to accelerate your career.
Integrity is the basis for everything we do. Because we "do what we say and say what we do," we have established trust and earned the respect of our customers, partners, investors, employees and the communities in which we live and work.
Integrity is demonstrated by aligning our words and our actions.
Customer Success through Execution Excellence is achieved by delivering differentiated products that accelerate innovation to solve complex customer challenges, achieve time to market goals and provide superior support assistance. Synopsys strives for continual technology advancements and process improvements – we refer to it as 'Version n+1'. 'Version n+1' not only applies to our products but also to us, as individuals and as an organization, that our actions and our processes all have the potential of continual improvement. Delivering on this promise enables us to establish and nurture trusting, collaborative relationships with current and future customers as well as with our ecosystem partners, investors, and the communities in which we live and work.
Customer Success through Execution Excellence is demonstrated by providing superior value to customers.
Leadership looks forward – aspires to make the future happen. Leaders pioneer and to do so requires vision and courage. For more than 30 years, Synopsys has accelerated electronics innovation with millions of engineers around the world having used Synopsys technology to successfully design and create billions of chips and systems; we are the market leader in our field. Meanwhile, through the Synopsys Foundation we embrace community outreach with a laser sharp focus on math and science. In celebration of our 25th Anniversary, our worldwide teams enthusiastically chipped in to make a difference in their communities. While our technology is at the heart of high-tech, our employees are at the heart of the communities in which we live and work.
Leadership is demonstrated through our business achievements, our customers' success and the enduring commitment to our communities.
Finally, at Synopsys, Passion is the differentiator. Actions and energy that demonstrate our values are amplified by our Passion for accelerating innovation, ensuring customer success and leading with integrity and ethics.
If this sounds like the place for you – if you're energized by challenging work, if you're driven to join an amazing team, if you want to be at the heart of the action – then take a look inside Synopsys!


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At first glance, a proposal by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck to clarify the way police handle cars they impound from unlicensed drivers doesn't sound controversial. But his proposal touches one of the city's hot-button issues - illegal immigration - and it reopens a larger, historical question: Who's in charge of the city's police?
Under Beck's plan, police officers would be given guidelines for when they should impound the cars of unlicensed drivers for 30 days - a penalty that can impede a driver's ability to work and cost him or her almost $1,400 - and when they should instead merely hold a car until a licensed driver can pick it up. Factors such as the driver's record and the seriousness of the violation would dictate which approach would be employed and presumably discourage arbitrary and unequal treatment. His approach would conform to state law and court decisions and, as he told me last week, ensure that LAPD practice reinforced its broader policies regarding the fair treatment of those it cites or arrests.
None of that has anything directly to do with illegal immigration; the rules would apply to anyone driving without a license for whatever reason. But because so many unlicensed drivers in Los Angeles are immigrants in the country illegally and therefore unable to secure a driver's license, this proposed change in policy would have special ramifications for the city's immigrant community. As a result, immigrant groups have cheered it, while law-and-order types have bitterly opposed it. At a recent San Fernando Valley meeting, hundreds of critics turned out to denounce the proposal.
Beck's approach strikes me as humane and sensible. What's problematic is whether this really is his call to make. After the videotaped beating of Rodney G. King incensed the public in 1991, city leaders recognized the importance of reasserting civilian control over the department. The mechanism, forged by the Christopher Commission and codified by voters, was to give greater power to the city's civilian Police Commission. Today, the chief has authority to run the department - he hires, fires, disciplines and deploys the force - while the commission sets broad policy, effectively acting as a board of trustees.
What Beck is proposing is a matter of intense public interest; it would significantly affect the actions of police officers; and debate over it has polarized the city partly along racial lines. It's hard to imagine a matter more squarely in the area of policy. Moreover, the LAPD already regards this area as a policy matter. Take this 2010 report by the commission's inspector general: "We noted some confusion among officers, supervisors and adjudicators regarding the current department policy on impounding vehicles of unlicensed drivers." Note the specific use of the word "policy."
Richard Drooyan is the president of the Police Commission and a veteran of the police reform debate in Los Angeles, having served as a lawyer to the Christopher Commission and been a leading advocate for the improvement of city and county policing. In this case, he says, the jurisdictional issue is a close call. "The argument for us to do something is that this is a matter of intense interest to the community and we're the eyes and ears of the community," he told me last week. And the argument against? "We don't want to micromanage the chief."
Drooyan is an exceptionally capable commission president. But the trouble with the balancing act he's attempting is that it invites critics to conclude that the commission is ducking the question. Jack Dunphy, the pseudonymous officer who often writes about the LAPD, complained that the commission is hoping to let Beck carry the load to shield itself, the mayor and the City Council from public outcry. "Clearly it was the hope of all involved that the change would shimmer into permanence while escaping public scrutiny," he wrote recently. I don't often agree with Dunphy, but this time he's got a point.
There's yet another subtle political calculation. If the commission enacts the change, the City Council could veto it (10 members of the council can take a matter away from a commission and reject it). If Beck makes the change, the council can't do anything.
It's easy to see why supporters of this change in policy would prefer for Beck to implement it himself. It's tempting but wrong. The authority of the commission was hard won over many years. It shouldn't be squandered now, even if the chief would handle that responsibility with care.


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Actress Deborah Raffin, who starred in several television movies and miniseries and later ran an audiobook company, died Wednesday of leukemia in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports. She was 59.
Raffin was born in Los Angeles and was discovered by a talent agent during her sophomore year in college, according to the Times.
See other celebs we've lost this year
In 1985, she and her husband, Michael Viner, launched Dove Books-on-Tape, which went on to produce titles like Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time and become one of the premiere companies in the audiobook industry. The title of the company was inspired by Raffin's second film, The Dove. The couple sold the business in 1997 and divorced in 2005.
Though Raffin never became a household name in the United States, she was a fairly big star in China, thanks in part to the success of one of her first made-for-TV movies, Nightmare in Badham County. In 1981, she had the dubious honor of being nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Razzie Award for her performance in Touched by Love.
In later years, she had recurring roles on 7th Heaven and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Raffin is survived by a sister, a brother and a daughter.


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