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The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has been entertaining audiences for a long time. Its history goes back 146 years — to about the time when professional baseball emerged and before Coca-Cola was invented.
But this substantial chapter in American history comes to a close on Sunday. After years of declining ticket sales and seemingly endless conflicts with animal rights groups, Ringling Bros. will stage its final show in Uniondale, N.Y.
Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson is one of hundreds of Ringling performers and crew members with extraordinary talents who will be out of a job come Monday. Recruited fresh out of college, where he'd been studying voice performance and training to be a professional opera singer, he became Ringling's first African-American ringmaster in 1998.
"Ironically enough, I will be the very last voice in the 146-year history of this show, so I will be the last person you hear to speak of 'The Greatest Show on Earth' — which is a wild little paradox, to be a first and a last at the same time. I don't know too many people who can say that, in any industry," he says.
In his nearly 20-year career with the circus, Iverson married a fellow performer — a Brazilian dancer turned production manager — and raised two children while traveling from city to city on the circus train. Now 8 and 12 years old, his children also perform with Ringling.
During the circus' recent slate of shows in Virginia, Iverson let NPR into his world. Between performances, he navigates what comes next.
On a trip to FedEx to ship out professional portfolios to prospective agents, he reflects on the absurdity of job-hunting for circus folks — recalling the time consultants came to help them with their resumes.
"How do you do that with circus people? How do you help them write that out? How do you write a resume for superman?" Iverson asks. "It's like, he flies, you know?"
After 146 years, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey stages its final show on Sunday.
That means hundreds of circus performers and crew members with extraordinary talents will be out of work, including this guy.
JOHNATHAN LEE IVERSON: I'm Johnathan Lee Iverson, ringmaster of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the greatest show on Earth.
CORNISH: Iverson was recruited by Ringling almost 20 years ago. He was fresh out of college, where he was studying voice performance and training to be an opera singer.
SHAPIRO: In 1998, he became Ringling's first African-American ringmaster.
IVERSON: Which is a wild little paradox, you know, to be a first and a last at the same time. I don't know too many people who can say that in any industry.
SHAPIRO: During his two decades with Ringling, Iverson married a fellow performer. They've raised two children while traveling from city to city on the circus train.
CORNISH: He's spent almost half his life in this unusual world. It's been his job, as he puts it, to present his colleagues as the glorious beings they are.
IVERSON: Because they are, they really are. You know, for those eight minutes or 12 minutes, they're doing their thing. The world needs to understand this is very unique, no one else does it. And the only person who can really render that kind of excitement and zeal is the ringmaster.
IVERSON: Oh, come in.
SHAPIRO: An hour before one of his final matinee performances, Iverson is in his dressing room, and he introduces his colleague, Ringling's head of wardrobe.
IVERSON: This is my darling, Luz Gutierrez (ph), calote (ph).
LUZ GUTIERREZ: He's already out of time.
IVERSON: She's the one who keeps me looking beautiful. She takes care of me for all these years. She, herself, is a trapeze artist. She's birthed trapeze artists. They come out flying (laughter).
SHAPIRO: Gutierrez helps Iverson into his ringmaster coat, tasseled and bedazzled in red, blue, black and gold and, of course, his top hat.
IVERSON: It's funny. This is the only, I think, outfit or piece of wardrobe where it's not complete without the hat, you know. In a lot of wonderful churches, the ladies, you know, they wear these fantastically ornamented hats, particularly in the black church, so-called black churches, really wonderful how, you know, I mean, it's - they're called crowns. And I sort of think of the ringmaster's hat as that, too. I never let anybody wear it because of how special it is, you know.
I feel like the history and the majesty of ringmasters before me are in it, too. You know, you can call it kind of strange. It may be a little cheesy and goofy, but, you know, I feel like their energy comes through my head. It's like all of this doesn't matter without that, as gorgeous as all this is - right? - but until you put the hat on, you're not the ringmaster yet. And this thing is on. See? Now I feel whole. Yeah, I feel whole. So here we go.
CORNISH: Top hat on, Iverson heads into the ring.
IVERSON: Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, the Feld family is proud to present Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Welcome to the greatest show on Earth.
CORNISH: As the acts begin, he introduces ice-skating acrobats from China, some of them on stilts...
CORNISH: ...Then daredevil motorcyclists from Paraguay.
SHAPIRO: A fourth-generation clown from Italy....
SHAPIRO: ...And a Brit who commands lions and tigers with a wave of his hand.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: OK. Kashmi (ph) and Max (ph), let's go. Kashmi, come here. Come on, Max. Grab (ph), Max. Good boy. Good boy. Grab. Kashmi, here.
CORNISH: In his sparkling coat and top hat, Iverson is the man in the middle of it all.
IVERSON: I just finished a show. It's about - oh, wow - 20 to 4. And I'm headed to FedEx to send some folders out to agents, potential agents, you know, with the whole professional portfolio letting them know I'm going to be free. And I'm looking for quality representation, and that I'm open to do a array of things - musical theater, voiceovers, television, radio hosting, film, whatever.
COMPUTER-GENERATED VOICE: Please select what you would like to create.
IVERSON: So I'm here in the local FedEx, and this is part of the hustle. You know, this is a part of what you do when you have to create new options for yourself. OK. So right now, I'm at the photo booth, and I'm printing out a couple headshots. Let's do that one.
COMPUTER-GENERATED VOICE: Please remove your memory card by following the screen.
IVERSON: OK. See how nice that is? I mean, you really have to package yourself. I've got a business card in there, cover letter, resume, two headshots. Who doesn't want to hire me? We actually had consultants with our resumes and stuff. And I was just wondering, how do you do that with circus people?
I mean, like, what do you - how do you help them write that out? You know, it's just like, wow, how do you - I mean, it's like, how do you write a resume for Superman? (Laughter) You know, it's like he flies, you know.
IVERSON: Maybe the first trauma for me leaving Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be entering into what I believe is the authentic freak show of the world we have now. I mean, I'm not really looking forward to that. You know, I've spent my time - 18 years here - and not to say it's been perfect and, you know, everybody's just in a paradise, an oasis, but you recognize here the possibilities of really the best of humanity.
It's a template. It's a model for society of what active serious diversity looks like and should look like, having a place where people are given that chance to reach their heights, you know, to be their utmost. What can be better than that?
SHAPIRO: Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson will step into the ring for the final time this Sunday in Uniondale, N.Y.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

subset: commoncrawl


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Several days ago, we posted a quick run down of just what to do in the event your iPhone drops into water, along with a video made by iFixYouri to accompany the instructions. Well the folks over at the iPhone repair site have made an other video that's even more in-depth and briefly shows you how to open up your iPhone 4 before placing it into rice/silica filled container. Here are the steps they provide:
- Turn it off
- If dropped in salt or chlorinated water. Rinse it in fresh water.
- Take off back by removing 2 bottom screws and sliding back off.
- Remove 11 Screws and the sim card tray which all holds the board in the housing.
- Be sure to remove the SIM card tray.
- Place parts in tupperware container full of silica packs or rice.
- Wait 24-48 hours
- Reassemble
Now it's not a requirement to crack open your previously submerged iPhone 4 before placing it into a bag/container filled with rice, but so long as you're not afraid to get down and dirty (and know what you're doing), exposing the innards could potentially ensure even more moisture is absorbed by the rice or silica packets. Take a look at the video after the break.


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• Amsterdam hosted a European pole dancing championship last Friday in hopes of showing that the activity is a physically-challenging sport for "regular" women. • Ugh: A study of 4-year-olds in Australia suggets that parents are unintentionally enforcing "body ideals" in their children along gender lines (e.g., girls need to exercise more to loose weight; boys need to eat more to gain muscle). • A study of college students reveals that celebrity-loving can boost people's self-esteem because they assign celebrity traits to themselves. • A 35-year-old woman had a stroke after sex due to a possible combination of birth control pills, a venous blood clot, sex, and a heart defect. •• A poll of British mothers reveals that 16 percent of respondents have a favorite child and 50 percent love both "equally but in different ways." • A claim that steroids may prevent a third of miscarriages raises questions about how normal early miscarriages are for women who are trying to conceive and if they need to be "cured." • A study of young girls and boys reports that boys with conduct and oppositional defiance disorders had lower heart rates and sweated less than boys without those conditions while playing a money-making computer game but girls showed no physiological differences while playing. • Concita de Gregorio appointment as editor-in-chief of one of Italy's most prestigious newspapers, L'Unita, signals the rise of women in the workplace in Italy. • The soccer players of FC de Rakt, an amateur Dutch women's soccer team, all play in short skirts (over hot-pants) because they feel that the look is both more "elegant" and comfortable. • Residents of San Francisco are split over a new proposition that would make prostitution legal in the city: The city's health department backs the proposal but the Mayor and DA say that it will ruin neighborhoods. • An internet advice site about divorces in the UK says that 10% of divorces happen during the second year of marriage and "online divorces" are contributing to a "throwaway" culture. • The "upscale bums" of Beverly Hills benefit from the neighborhood's rich residents but must "act respectful" and not be turned off by the wealthy in order to not get attention from cops. • A judge in Texas has ordered a woman to stop bearing children as part of her 10-year-probation after the woman admitted to not providing care for her 19-month-old daughter after the child was severely beaten by her father. • Computer models that are commonly used by doctors to determine if a woman would benefit from genetic testing for ovarian and breast cancer have underestimated the probability ofAsian women having a genetic mutation that could lead to cancer. • The various relationships between a Saudi woman and her driver all reveal a deep frustration with the inconvenience of not being able to drive themselves. • Why have Crayola crayons removed their old smell from their products? • A trading website for mothers in Australia called Mum Swap encourages free trading (instead of spending) of goods and services from clothes, babysitting, tips, and vacation homes. • High-class escorts in India are sharing in the country's booming economy but they are also evidence of the rising focus on materialism for women in the globalized economy. •
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If you like the idea of a smartphone so large it'd make Zack Morris nostalgic, then you'll want to consider the new Samsung Galaxy Note II. If you prefer a smartphone you can operate comfortably with one hand, as I do, you'll want to avoid the Note II at all costs.
Samsung Galaxy Note II
One of the fastest, most powerful smartphones Samsung has ever built. Two-day battery life is phenomenal. Front and rear cameras are great. The same phone is offered on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, U.S. Cellular. The display is beautiful and great for watching video, playing games or surfing the web.
The 5.5-inch display and stylus make the Note II unwieldy, and it requires two hands to do just about anything with it. The stylus is a novelty and doesn't improve productivity. S Voice is the worst digital assistant app out there. Samsung's TouchWiz UI is clunky, unattractive. Samsung's pre-loaded apps are both redundant and buggy.
How We Rate
- 1/10A complete failure in every way
- 2/10Sad, really
- 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
- 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
- 5/10Recommended with reservations
- 6/10Solid with some issues
- 7/10Very good, but not quite great
- 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
- 9/10Nearly flawless
- 10/10Metaphysical perfection
Like the first-generation Galaxy Note, Samsung's Galaxy Note II is too large to be a great phone, and it's too small to realistically replace a tablet. The S-Pen — the stylus Samsung bundles with its various Note phones and tablets — is fun for scribbling out a memo or a drawing. But it doesn't add enough value to the experience to qualify as a truly useful productivity tool. And while the Note II is more refined and polished than its predecessor in nearly every single way — it's thinner, lighter, faster and more attractive — it's still not a phone I'd want to wake up next to every day over the life of a 2-year carrier contract. Particularly at an on-contract price of $300.
Samsung is pitching this as a 'phablet,' a cross between a tablet and smartphone. But it's no double-duty wondergadget, greater than the sum of its parts. It's just a phone. A massive, massive phone.
There are likely a few million people out there who'd disagree with me. The first-generation Note was written off by many critics (Wired among them) and it went on to be a huge sales success. So there does seem to be an appetite for these really big phones, particularly in Asia, where the ability to write more complex characters on the screen using a stylus is warmly welcomed.
The new Note measures 5.94 inches tall, 3.16 inches wide and 0.37 inches thick — just a tad taller, yet slimmer and thinner than the first Note. The screen is bigger, too — 5.5 inches, up from the first Note's 5.3-inch display. Next to a Note II, the iPhone 5, Nexus 4, Galaxy S III and almost every other smartphone looks comically small. But they're not small by any means, the Note II is just enormous. Despite a relatively thin bezel, the Note II is so large, it requires two hands to operate comfortably. Often, when I tried to stretch my thumb across the Note II's display, I mistakenly touched it as I was adjusting the phone in my hand, triggering responses from apps that I didn't intend. Almost everything requires two hands: selecting and launching apps, looking up a website, taking a photo, shooting a video, placing a phone call, rattling off a text message or an e-mail. The experience is frustrating. My colleague, Wired writer Christina Bonnington, held the Note II up to her head and I couldn't see her face behind the handset.
Samsung is pitching this as a "phablet," a hybrid device that's a cross between a tablet and smartphone. But it's not a double-duty wondergadget, nor is it something greater than the sum of its parts. It's just a phone. A massive, massive phone.
At least the display is nice — a 1280×720 resolution, HD Super AMOLED touchscreen, packing 267 pixels per inch. Like most Samsung devices, the colors are a bit over-saturated, giving reds, yellows, greens and blues an unnatural pop. But the look isn't offensive. In fact, it's attractive once you get used to it. The oversized HD screen is great for watching video, playing games or surfing the web. However, while the display's brightness can be cranked up, it doesn't hold up well in direct sunlight, usually looking dim and washed out unless you've got some shade hanging over you.
The camera optics and photo software are also above average. Photos taken with the Note II's 8-megapixel camera look great, and video chats are rocking, thanks to the 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera and that generous screen.
Design-wise, the Note II falls right in line with other Galaxy products — it essentially looks like a stretched out Galaxy S III, with the same rounded corners, glossy finger-print loving plastics and fake-chrome ring running around the edge. The Note II largely runs the same software as the S III — Google's Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system skinned in Samsung's unpretty TouchWiz user interface and filled to the brim with redundant features.
Like the S III, the Note II comes with Samsung's own apps for sharing photos and videos — some of which are reliant on Wi-Fi, some which use NFC, and none of which are fun or easy to use. It also has the various UI accoutrements I wish Samsung would give up on, like the lock screen that simulates water ripples when you swipe it, and the water-themed sound effects set as the default sounds for various clicks and alerts.
S Voice debuted months and months ago, and yet nothing about it has improved.
And then there's S Voice, Samsung's voice-assistant app built to challenge Apple's Siri and Google's Voice Search. S Voice sucked when it made its debut on the S III, and it still sucks on the Note II. The service debuted months and months ago, and yet nothing about it has improved. When I asked it questions, I got more errors than answers. It's painfully irritating.
The app prompts you to say, "Hi, Galaxy," when you start using it. So I did, and I got an obtuse response: "I'm not sure what you mean by 'Hello Galaxy.'" Even after it came around, it still played hard-to-get, often replying with, "Server error. Please try again." Thankfully, the Google Search app, with its fantastic Voice Search function (the best voice assistant app on any phone or tablet) is available in Google Play, so Note II owners never have to fuss with S Voice.
One thing that has improved, thankfully, is the S Pen stylus. The pen — which arrives in the box and fits securely into a slot on the back of the phone — is thicker than the one that came with the first-generation Note. This new model is a bit closer to the S Pen you get with the Note 10.1 tablet.
Though it lacks the sensitivity of pro-level setups such as Wacom's input tablets and pens, the S Pen is plenty responsive and accurate. A plastic tip adds a nice bit of resistance, making writing on a slick surface a little less awkward. The S Pen can be used in place of a finger to navigate around every aspect of the phone's user interface, and can also be used (by manipulating a button under the fingertip) to take screenshots or save images from the web, and then scribble on them. You can also write out notes, lists or calendar entries by hand and watch as your cursive is translated to text, thanks to the built-in handwriting recognition capabilities.
Still, I never once felt like writing with the S Pen was faster or easier than just typing something out, especially since Samsung has included SwiftKey's fantastic Flow keyboard for gesture typing. After enabling SwiftKey Flow (it'll prompt you the first time you use the keyboard), just swipe your fingers from key to key to spell out a word. As you're sliding around, SwiftKey deftly guesses which word you're spelling, and presents you with suggestions as you swipe. This form of gesture typing is one place where the Note's huge display is an advantage — you'll have no trouble staying on the screen.
While the TouchWiz UI is cumbersome, at least everything else runs very quickly on the Note II. And it should, after all — the Note II is one of the most powerful smartphones Samsung has ever built, with a 1.6GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor and 2GB of RAM packed inside. The Note II has enough speed to make John Force feel proud. There's also an enormous 3,100 mAh battery sitting behind the massive display. I was regularly charging up the Note II every other day during my two weeks with it. That's some astounding battery performance, and one of the few features I can honestly say I love about the Note II.
If you must have a gigantic smartphone, the Note II is a solid performer. But the problems of the first-generation Note — unwieldy size, messy software, gimmicky stylus — still haunt the sequel.
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Full Length of The Two Faces of January in HD FormatNow you can play full The Two Faces of January in HD format with duration 96 Min and has been aired on 2014-05-16 and MPAA rating is 103.
- Original Title : The Two Faces of January
- Movie title in your country : The Two Faces of January
- Year of movie : 2014
- Genres of movie : Thriller,
- Status of movie : Released
- Release date of movie : 2014-05-16
- Companies of movie : Timnick Films, StudioCanal, Working Title Films,
- Countries of movie : United Kingdom, United States of America, France,
- Language of movie : Türkçe, ελληνικά, English,
- Durationof movie : 96 Min
- Average vote of movie : 5.5
- Youtube ID of movie : TrRHmhIDfjg
- Translation of movie : EN,NL,ES,DE,IT,TR,FR,RU,EL,PT,DA,FI,HU,PL,SV,BG,ZH,
- Actors of movie :Viggo Mortensen (Chester MacFarland), Kirsten Dunst (Colette MacFarland), Oscar Isaac (Rydal), Prometheus Aleifer (Young Musician), Nikos Mavrakis (Greek Young Man On Boat), Yiğit Özşener (Yahya), Daisy Bevan (Lauren), David Warshofsky (Paul Vittorio), James Sobol Kelly (FBI Agent), Karayianni Margaux (College Student), Socrates Alafouzos (Customs Hall Policeman), Ozan Tas (Hotelier), Omiros Poulakis (Nikos), Özcan Özdemir (Turkish Police #1), Evgenia Dimitropoulou (Airline Agent), Pablo Verdejo (Burly man), Kosta Kortidis (Poiceman #1), Peter Mair (Man in Hotel Corridor), Okan Avci (Turkish Plain Clothes Man), Mehmet Esen (Turkish Police #2), Ioannis Vordos (Cafe Owner), Brian Niblett (Taxi Driver Crete), Angelis Nannos (Tipsy Hotel Guest in Tuxedo)
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Director : Hossein Amini, Screenplay : Hossein Amini, Writer : Patricia Highsmith, Producer : Tim Bevan, Producer : Eric Fellner, Producer : Robyn Slovo, Producer : Tom Sternberg, Music : Alberto Iglesias, Cinematography : Marcel Zyskind, Editor : Nicolas Chaudeurge, Editor : Jon Harris, Casting : Jina Jay, Production Design : Michael Carlin, Art Direction : Alex Baily, Art Direction : Katrina Dunn, Art Direction : Deniz Göktürk, Art Direction : Sandra Phillips, Supervising Art Director : Patrick Rolfe, Set Decoration : Dominic Capon, Costume Design : Stephen Noble, Property Master : Nail Aydin, Property Master : Muffin Green, Supervising Sound Editor : Stephen Griffiths, Sound Re-Recording Mixer : Johnathan Rush, Supervising Sound Editor : Andy Shelley, Visual Effects Supervisor : Stuart Lashley, Visual Effects Producer : Rachel Wheeler, Stunt Coordinator : Andy Bennett, Gaffer : Mark Clayton, Steadicam Operator : Michael Tsimperopoulos, Still Photographer : Jack English, Casting : Christina Akzoti, Casting : Gulum Balsu, Casting : Şafak Binay, Costume Supervisor : Hannah Walters, Music Editor : Tony Lewis, Script Supervisor : Libbie Barr, Script Supervisor : Jane Jackson
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As many of you will know, we have been using baby-led weaning with Eleanor, and we used it with Rosemary, too, a few years ago. Back then, it was really quite a new idea (though, in actuality, quite an old one, of course) and many, many people thought we were mad, strange, or endangering our child. Some people still think this, but it has certainly become more widespread and understood and lots more parents are using this method.
If you don't know what baby-led weaning is, very basically, it's starting with finger food rather than purees, it's letting the baby decide (to an extent, obviously) what they want to eat, it's taking a step back and chilling out about the whole eating process, and it's about eating together, rather than spoon-feeding your baby, then eating later. Oh yes, and it's about mess. Lots of it.
That photo doesn't really show the mess to its full extent. Hmm. Here's a top after a dinner of pasta and tomato sauce:
I'd take a photo of the floor after a meal, but fortunately we have a very useful cleaning machine:
I would advise anyone embarking on baby-led weaning to get one. (And you might also want to check out this morning's post about a new laundry product – unless you've got some secret stain-removal formula up your sleeve.)
There are supposed to be a bunch of benefits to baby-led weaning, from reducing the likelihood of allergies, producing children who are more adventurous with food and providing excellent practice in fine-motor skills (picking up peas is quite a challenge, you know). I can't really answer to all these in any scientific way, but I can say that Rosemary doesn't have any allergies (so far, of course), we think she's incredibly fussy with food, but when we compare her with many of her peers it turns out she has a very wide-ranging palate, and Eleanor certainly developed the pincer grip very early. The biggest benefits to us, though, have been the ability to eat as a family, not having to spend huge amounts of time pureeing, making going out very easy (the baby just eats what you're eating – pretty much) and saving a bit on dog food – oh, and the pure joy of watching our two girls discover and explore food, enjoying (almost) every single moment of it as they do so.
If you're thinking about going down the baby-led weaning route, we would highly recommend it (and will tell anyone who asks this – and many people who don't ask, too). There are a few websites (http://babyledweaning.com/, http://baby-led.com/) out there you can read and a search will bring up a bunch of people blogging about their adventures in baby-led weaning. There's also a book, Baby-led Weaning: Helping Your Baby to Love Good Food by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. I haven't read it, but it's written by the woman (an ex-health visitor and Deputy Programme Director of Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative) who came up with the idea, and I know lots of people who have read it and highly recommend it.
A few tips for starting off and moving on
We started with fruit (e.g. mango and pear), steamed vegetables (e.g. carrot, brocolli and potato), roasted vegetables (e.g. courgette, pepper, carrot, roasted for about 15 minutes in extra virgin olive oil) – all of them cut into roughly adult-finger-sized pieces. For most things, keep the skin on, as they can get a grip on the skin, and they suck the flesh of the non-skin sides. For bananas, use the splitting into three trick (push your finger into the top centre of a banana and it will split into three lengthwise), because cutting them up makes them too slippery. Most of these were things that we were eating anyway, or we adjusted the menu to include them – we almost never cook something just for the baby.
Toast is great at this age. Get some unsalted butter in (we use Lurpak Spreadable Unsalted, but there are plenty of others) and provide soldiers of toast with butter, cream cheese, goats cheese, hummus, guacamole, pear and apple spread (we get this from the healthfood shop, and it's just concentrated pear and apple, with nothing added, though Eleanor has now had ordinary jam), etc. Crumpets are very good, too – cut into three lengthwise for ease of gripping.
You can gradually add more things in, such as pasta (fusilli works well, and spaghetti is brilliant, though one of the messiest meals) with a sauce (cheese sauce went down well with both of ours, as did a tomato-based sauce), meat (Eleanor is very fond of steak, sausages are easy for them to hold, though avoid the highly-processed stuff that will be full of salt), chunks of cheese.
As they get older, as well, you can give them food on a spoon, such as yoghurt and porridge (though both of these they can feed themselves using their hands) – they'll usually want to take control of the spoon themselves, which does lead to lots of mess. You'll want to gradually offer a spoon now and again, to introduce them to cutlery, anyway, though I must admit Rosemary does still enjoy using her fingers. We've recently started putting Eleanor's food on a plate or bowl, as well. She'll usually take the food off it for a bit, but after a while she'll turn it upside down or try to throw it on the floor (melamine or wood is definitely advised, rather than bone china) – before that the food just got plonked on the tray of her high chair (which luckily is removable).
As they get older, they'll be able to pick up small bits of food, such as peas, beans, diced vegetables, rice, and so on. Eleanor now eats what we're having and we tailor the meals much less often to her. Examples of meals/foods she's had recently include risotto, minestrone soup (just the bits, not the liquid), creamy leeky tagliatelle, tortilla (both the Spanish omelette kind and the Mexican kind, in the form of a quesedilla), eggs chips and beans, chocolate cake, Cheerios, noodles, porridge, yoghurt, sushi, lamb, steak, cauliflower cheese with mashed potato, and so on and so on.
If you're thinking about baby-led weaning, but aren't sure, feel free to ask questions in the comments. If you're on Twitter, there's a #blw hashtag, where people will answer your questions.
Did you use or are you using baby-led weaning? Was it successful? Do you like the puree route? Have you done it both ways?


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The British press is awash in reports of a secret al Qaeda alliance with Iran to stage a spectacular attack in Europe this summer, perhaps at the London Olympics. Al Qaeda's new leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is said to be orchestrating the plot with Tehran to avenge his predecessor Osama bin Laden's death.
The relationship between al Qaeda and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been shrouded in mystery and secrecy for years. Al Qaeda operatives traveled through Iran for years before and after 9/11, and some found sanctuary there after fleeing Afghanistan in late 2001, although the circumstances of their status in Iran were always unclear. But the hints of occasional operational cooperation between al Qaeda and Tehran are mostly outweighed by the very considerable and public evidence of the deep animosity between Sunni extremist al Qaeda and Shia extremist Iran. Antipathy for each other is at the root of their ideologies and narratives and has been most visible in their competition for influence in Iraq and now in Syria.
The 9/11 plot is a good place to start to understand the mystery. The 9/11 Commission report concluded that there was evidence of contacts between bin Laden and Iran and its Lebanese Hizbullah ally dating back to his years in Khartoum in the mid-'90s. Bin Laden may even have met with the infamous Hizbullah terrorist Imad Mughniyah back then to share terror tricks. Three of the 9/11 hijackers reportedly traveled from Saudi Arabia to Beirut, then on to Iran and into Afghanistan on a flight with an associate of a senior Hizbullah official, according to the commission's report. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and Ramzi Binalshibh (two captured al Qaeda operatives who masterminded the 9/11 attack) confirmed that eight or 10 of the 9/11 hijackers at one time or another between October 2000 and February 2001 traveled through Iran on their way to or from Afghanistan for training purposes, taking advantage of the Iranian practice of not stamping Saudi passports.
The bottom line of the 9/11 report is unequivocal, however, and it reports that both Mohammad and Binalshibh categorically denied any relationship between the hijackers and Hizbullah. On Iran the commission concludes, "We have found no evidence that Iran or Hezbollah was aware of the planning for what later became the 9/11 attack." So passive assistance not actual co-plotting.
On the other side of the ledger, the animosity between Iran and al Qaeda is public and abundantly clear. For al Qaeda and its allies like the Afghan Taliban, all Shia are not true Muslims and should be treated at best as outcasts if not apostates. Al Qaeda's first leader in Iraq, Abu Musaib al Zarqawi, was notoriously vicious in his hatred for the Shia, even earning a private reproach from Zawahiri for his indiscriminate attacks on Shia leaders, mosques, and processions six years ago. Al Qaeda in Iraq still regularly targets Shia innocents. At the same time, however, al Qaeda operatives regularly go through Iran to travel between Iraq and Pakistan.
Now in Syria, al Qaeda is backing the Sunni majority in its civil war with the Alawite-Christian minority alliance that backs President Bashar al-Assad. This week Zawahiri urged al Qaeda operatives from all over the region to rush to Syria to fight Assad's "pernicious, cancerous regime." Al Qaeda has been linked to car-bomb attacks on Assad's thugs in Aleppo and Damascus. Iran and Hizbullah, of course, are fully behind Assad.
So despite their animosity, al Qaeda, Iran, and Hizbullah can probably also find new places to quietly cooperate, if only passively. America and its allies are on a collision course with Tehran over Iran's determination to develop a nuclear-weapons capability. From Tehran's perspective, the war has already begun. Iran's nuclear scientists are being assassinated, its nuclear and missile facilities blown up, and its computers hacked into. Now its economic lifeline—oil exports—is being threatened. As the confrontation worsens, Iran is clearly looking for ways to fight back. The attempted bomb attacks on Israeli diplomats in India, Georgia, and Thailand this week, probably by Hizbullah teams, are one manifestation of Iran's efforts at retaliation.
Allowing al Qaeda greater use of Iranian territory for travel or for safe haven would be another. Such cooperation will be very hard to detect by Western intelligence agencies, and even harder to prove. As the U.S. puts pressure on al Qaeda's safe haven in Pakistan, Zawahiri and his terrorists are likely to start looking for an alternative sanctuary. Iran is right next door, and if it opens the door, al Qaeda might find the change of venue attractive, at least for parts of its infrastructure. In short, al Qaeda and Iran still hate each other, but they could find common cause to fight America and Britain.


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Spring is here, and with it comes trees in bloom, beautiful flowers bursting to life and for an unfortunate many, bothersome allergy symptoms like hay fever. You may also notice your fur-kids constantly scratching, licking and biting themselves. That's because we humans aren't the only ones who suffer pollen allergies and hay fever. Our fur-kids can suffer, too.
Our fur-kid, Riley, has severe allergies. We tried treating him with sprays (he got smart and ran when he saw us with the spray bottle), topical creams (a tasty treat that got licked off) steroids (expensive!), antihistamines (didn't work at all), several changes to his food ($60 for a bag of dog food? Oy vey.) – all to no avail.
On any given day, you would still find him persistently scratching, licking and biting every waking hour to get relief. He would dig at his ears, then shake his head, sending blood spatters in a three-room radius. Our home looked like a crime scene. It was miserable for us all.
We finally broke down and invested in a $400 allergy test that showed poor Riley is allergic to just about every grass and tree pollen in Kentucky – including the grass in his own yard – and now he must have allergy injections several times a month.
Our vet trained us on how to give injections, and Riley doesn't seem to mind at all. He has happily traded licking off the topical itch creams and sprays for chasing me around the house after my shower to try to lick the lotion off my legs. Did I mention that it can take up to a year for these injections to become effective?
If allergy symptoms aren't treated, the constant licking and scratching will create sores that can become infected, creating MORE problems. Unfortunately, I know this all too well.
The good news is that if your fur-kid suffers with allergy symptoms less than three months out of the year usually antihistamines, steroids or medicated shampoos can help control their itching. Other methods to control seasonal allergies are much like human allergy controls: keeping grass and flowering plants cut back, keeping your floors vacuumed (including underneath where lots of dust can collect), keeping windows closed and installing an air purifier. Remember, medications for humans should NEVER be given to your fur-kid unless prescribed by your veterinarian.
If your fur-kid is like Riley and chronically scratches the fur right off his ears, neck, and chest or chews at his feet until he bleeds in spite of trying all of the above and everything in your power to keep them from doing so, you will more than likely have to have them allergy tested to see what they are allergic to and follow up with allergy shots to build up their immunities. In that case, get your checkbook ready; again, it's not cheap. But it is well worth it – for all of us.
Beth Green is a Louisville native and owns Paws Pet Care, a local award-winning pet-sitting and dog-walking company. She is a self-proclaimed "animaniac.†On a typical day, you may find her caring for her fur-clients, spending time with her husband and three children, reading, writing, shopping or with her two boxer-babies – Maddie and Riley – who often walk her around the block.


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Boy Wonder still wonderful
Two years after graduating as the youngest person ever to receive a master's degree from UVA, Greg Smith is still studying. But since 2006, the boy wonder who once made frequent appearances in local and national publications has been keeping a low profile. In fact, he's done a disappearing act.
"When he graduated from UVA, as a family we made the decision that he would step out of the public eye," says Smith's mother, Janet, noting that the family felt her son's transition to living on his own would be better without attention from the media.
So the now-19-year-old, six-foot-tall prodigy and four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee left the spotlight after receiving his first master's in mathematics in May 2006 at age 17. He'll receive a second Master's in May 2009, his mother says, this one in biological science.
Although she declines to identify Smith's new school– saying only that it's "nine hours away"– her son is "doing exceptionally in his new program. Academics have always been a priority for him."
She can say that again. By the time Smith came to UVA at age 14 in 2003, as he is pictured here, he was well versed in the ways of secondary education: he'd spent the previous several years– from age 10 to age 13– working on his Bachelor's degree at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland.
This latest master's degree won't be his last, says his Keswick-based mom. He wants to earn two more master's degrees. He continues to work for International Youth Advocates, the peace organization he founded, but his ultimate goal hasn't changed: "He plans to enter politics," she says.
Smith will turn 35 in 2024. Hey– isn't that an election year?
3 comments
I thought that his original intention was to get a Ph.D. in math from U.Va.
Why would someone so intelligent enter politics which is so corrupt and ruthless?
Uhm. Rip Van Winkle: Maybe to do some good possibly? And no offense but you know what exactly about politics? Obviously this kid wants to make a difference...unlike people like you who just complain about the world/politics/everything else. What does your smart ass propose? To leave "corrupt and ruthless" politics to unintelligent people? Good thinking. Stop complaining, go do something productive.


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Google has announced a significant update for its App Engine (GAE) cloud hosting service. The App Engine SDK 1.4.0 introduces several noteworthy new features and resolves some of the long-standing limitations of the service.
One of the most significant additions is the new Comet-like Channel API, which GAE developers can use to create a real-time communication stream between the server and the browser. This push mechanism can obviate the need for heavy polling, make interactive applications more responsive, and simplify the development of multiuser applications.
The Channel API was initially announced earlier this year at the Google I/O conference during a presentation about building real-time applications on App Engine. Google developer Moishe Lettvin, who played a key role in implementing the feature, demonstrated a Web-based multiuser quiz game built on top of channels. A few lines of Python or Java code can be used to define a channel on the server side. Google also supplies a convenient client-side JavaScript library that is used to connect to a channel and bind a callback function to channel events.
Under the hood, Channels are powered by the Google Talk XMPP servers. Assorted Comet techniques are used to relay messages between Google's servers and the browser (the specific approach to Comet that is used by the library differs depending on the browser). Because the XMPP-to-Comet adapter is hosted on Google's own servers, steps have to be taken to work around the same origin policy that is imposed by the browser. This is accomplished by loading the adapter in an embedded "iframe" element and using the XPC framework from Google's Closure library to enable communication between the iframe and the rest of the page.
Those technical aspects of Channels are largely invisible to the user and developer, however, because the APIs abstract away virtually all of that complexity. Although Channels don't use WebSockets at this time, the APIs exposed by Google's JavaScript APIs are designed to match the W3C WebSockets standard so that application developers who adopt the Channels feature will eventually be able to transition to a future WebSockets-based version.
In addition to adding the Channel API, Google has also worked to address some of App Engine's biggest limitations. The 30-second limit for scheduled background tasks has been extended to ten minutes, which should help simplify automated batch processing. Size limits on API responses and image requests have also been increased.
The kind of application that you can build with App Engine has always seemed somewhat narrow, but the latest improvements could help expand its appeal a bit among Web application developers. For more details about the Channel API, you can watch a video of the session from Google I/O or refer to the reference documentation.
Listing image by NSF


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Benedict XVI Recalls Childhood and Faith at 85th Birthday Celebration
Special day included Mass of thanksgiving and Bavarian festivities.
Pope Benedict XVI marked his 85th birthday by reflecting on his final years as he celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving in the Vatican's Pauline Chapel.
"I find myself on the last stretch of my journey in life, and I don't know what is awaiting me," said the Pope in his homily.
"I know, however, that the light of God exists, that he is risen, that his light is stronger than any darkness, that God's goodness is stronger than any evil in this world. And this helps me go forward with confidence."
Pope Benedict was born and christened Joseph Alois Ratzinger on Holy Saturday, April 16, 1927. At today's Mass, he thanked his parents for giving him the gift of life and baptism on the same day.
"Life becomes a true gift with it if you can make a promise that is stronger than any evil that will threaten us, if it is dipped into a force that ensures that it is good to be a man," he said. He explained this is why "birth is associated with rebirth" in baptism, the sacrament which makes us members of the "great, new family of God."
Before the Mass, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, praised the Pope for his generosity in carrying out "this service of love" as the Successor of Peter.
"Holy Father, may the Lord continue to remain at your side, accomplishing the promise announced by God to the just man in Psalm 90: 'With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation,'" said Cardinal Sodano.
After the Mass, Pope Benedict retired to the Vatican's Clementine Hall, where he was met by a delegation of bishops and civic leaders from his Bavarian homeland in southern Germany.
They provided him with a birthday display of local culture, including a group of children who performed traditional Bavarian dances, clothed in the region's traditional garb. The youthful troupe then recited a birthday poem in German before presenting the Pope with flowers and a traditional Bavarian maypole or "Maibaum," which was covered in ribbons.
Bavaria's state premier, Horst Seehofer, also presented the Pope with a crucifix carved by the 18th-century Bavarian sculptor Ignaz Günther.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich gave Pope Benedict a basket of traditional foodstuffs, including ham, cakes and dark bread, thought to be the Pope's favorite.
The Pontiff was also serenaded by traditional Bavarian musicians who performed a song that he and his two siblings, Georg and Maria, sang as children while their father, Joseph, played the zither. The Pope's older brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, was present for today's festivities.
"This is the sound of my childhood," said a smiling Pope Benedict to his 150 or so guests. The gathering concluded with a communal rendition of the Bavarian anthem.


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Copyright 2003-2005 John C. Griggs
John made a rather unique Room mode calculator based on a complete different approach.
Those calculators allow to search optimum room sizes based on iterative procedures.
As far as I know it is the ONLY freeware tool on the net capable of doing this.
More info follows later
There is a Linux and Windows version.


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Louses & Locusts
In just nine years as Missouri's state entomologist, Charles Valentine Riley taught the world to value bugs
Anne McEowen
Anne McEowen
Anne McEowen
Charles Valentine Riley served as Missouri's first state entomologist from 1868 to 1877. His theories about the beneficial use of bugs in the service of agriculture revolutionalized the way the world thinks about insects. His nine annual reports to the Missouri Department of Agriculture are formative texts in the field of entomology, but Riley is best known for his role in saving the French wine industry and increasing our understanding of locust infestations. Courtesy of the Charles Valentine Riley Collection. Special Collections, National Agricultural Library
It was a swarm of bugs so large, even Moses would have shuddered. In 1874, billions of locusts munched their way across America's plains, devouring nearly every stand of vegetation in their path. The moving horde of insects, collectively the size of California, reached the western edge of Missouri. To a nation still recovering from the destruction of the Civil War, all hope seemed lost. One man stood resolute, however, determined to stem the ravenous tide.
Charles Valentine Riley lived in Missouri just nine years, but his work as Missouri's first state entomologist had international impact and forever changed how man would think about bugs. His compassion for farmers and detailed observations of insects made him a timely prophet with the intent to profit all who toiled in the soil.
Riley's arrival on Missouri's agricultural scene could not have come at a better time. From 1868 to 1877, when he served as Missouri's official bug expert, Riley formulated a new vision for agriculture, one in which man enlisted the aid of beneficial insects and bested enemy bugs through knowledge and understanding. He not only identified the natural weaknesses of America's locust foe, but also found in Missouri relief for French vintners threatened by a tiny aphid. Wherever locust or louse threatened, Riley applied his knowledge, skill and personality to address the plague and rose to the forefront of the burgeoning field of entomology in the process.
With a passionate nature and striking physical features — complete with handlebar mustache and wavy brown hair — Charles Valentine Riley fit his romantic name. Born outside of London, England, he immigrated to the United States as a teen. After a brief stint in the Union Army during the Civil War, he found his niche writing and drawing insects for local farming publications. His skill noted, he was promoted to editor of The Prairie Farmer, an agricultural publication of wide distribution based in Chicago.
In his 2005 book, "The Botanist and the Vintner: How Wine was Saved for the World," Christy Campbell recalls efforts to convince the Missouri legislature to appoint a state entomologist. "New York had such a scientific ornament, so did Illinois," representatives of the State Horticultural Society of Missouri pleaded. "Why should the great agricultural powerhouse of the Mississippi valley not have the same?"
In 1868, Gov. Thomas Fletcher appointed Riley to be Missouri's first state entomologist, the third such state official in the nation. Only 25 years old at the time, Riley had no formal training as an entomologist. What he had was a keen sense of observation, an avid interest in insects, a talent for drawing, a proven flair for writing and the recommendation of his friend, Benjamin Dann Walsh, the Illinois state entomologist.
It was his forceful and persuasive insistence in the right of his new way of thinking — coupled with an ability to describe in words and illustrations the natural proofs he observed — that gained Riley the title "Father of Economic Entomology." He passionately believed scientists and farmers working together could manage insects to the profit of all. It was a revolutionary idea in a time that was ripe for a change in man's views of the natural world. Charles Darwin, with whom Riley corresponded, published his breakthrough book, "On the Origins of Species," in 1859, just nine years prior to Riley's appointment.
An 1857 illustration of a butterfly in its pupal, caterpillar and adult stages reveals the attention to detail that earned Charles Valentine Riley his position as Missouri's first state entomologist. Riley was just 14 when he sketched this drawing. Courtesy of the Charles Valentine Riley Collection. Special Collections, National Agricultural Library
Riley traversed Missouri by train, horse and buggy, studying insects and their effects on crops. In the introduction to his first annual report as Missouri's entomologist, Riley wrote, "Wherever I have been, from one end of the state to the other, the cordial hand has been extended, and I have found our farmers and fruit-growers thoroughly alive to the importance of the work, for they know full well that they must fight intelligently, their tiny but mighty insect foes, if they wish reward for their labors."
Indeed, Missouri's farmers intending for their crops to be a profitable and useful for human and animal consumption were instead being out-eaten by the indigenous insects. In his first report, Riley quotes the president of the state horticultural society, who estimated the annual loss to the state from insect depredations at $60 million. While Riley believed the amount was inflated, he conceded that if even half of the estimate was accurate, it was still an enormous loss and reasonable to expect a large portion of it could be avoided.
Jeffrey Lockwood, in his 2004 New York Times best-seller, "Locust," summarized the first report of the Missouri state entomologist by stating that Riley "laid out his philosophy of the importance of insects, explained the need for converting losses into dollars and made the argument that farmers could never master the complexity of insect life on their own."
Riley believed his annual reports to be of critical and timely interest to the state's farmers, gardeners and horticulturists. He was frustrated that his writings would be buried within the often-delayed annual report of the Department of Agriculture. Perhaps affronted by the government's lack of adequate recognition and funding for his work, Riley separately published his nine annual reports at his own expense.
Lockwood described Riley's reports as "far superior in their scientific depth and presentation quality to anything else of the day — and, for that matter, to a great deal of modern technical publications . . .
"The reports combined the terse professionalism of technical writing with the lyrical elegance of Victorian prose, all illustrated with the finest artwork ever to grace such practical pages," Lockwood wrote. "Indeed, these reports were the birth announcements of modern economic entomology."
Riley set up his office on, ironically enough, Locust Street in St. Louis, not far from the residence of famed botanist Henry Shaw. Riley would later collaborate with Shaw to save California's citrus crops from decimation by the cottony-cushion scale. As typical of Riley, his solution for the citrus growers was uniquely accurate, although previously untried. He tracked the offending pest to Australia, identified its natural enemy there and, after careful testing, imported and released into the citrus groves thousands of ladybird beetles.
Lockwood's "Locust" describes the import of Riley's solution: "Within months of releasing these voracious predators, Riley knew he had achieved what has been called 'the greatest entomological success of all time.' This was the world's first case of classical biological control (the suppression of an exotic pest by introducing a natural enemy from its homeland), and the method has become one of the most effective and widely used pest management strategies in modern agriculture."
An 1875 map published in Riley's seventh annual report to the Missouri General Assembly shows the swath of locust infestation that decimated crops and left land barren across the United States. Courtesy of the Missouri State Historical Society.
The French botanist Jules-Emile Planchon visited Riley in 1871 and discovered the Missouri scientist maintained a collection of living insects to observe. His description of Riley's office is contained in Campbell's book. "The state entomologist's office, housed in an immense building in St. Louis, was equipped with all the latest apparatus . . . The laboratory was lined with glass cages confining a miniature menagerie which allowed [Riley] to observe hour by hour the phases of evolution of the entire insect world."
Riley's office was the destination for much mail and packages, many of which contained bugs. Missourians and others sought Riley's expertise to identify bugs and determine if they were harmful. Perhaps in response to the condition of the bugs he received, and truly a reflection of Riley's practical sense of humor, his letterhead included a paragraph titled: "Directions for Sending Insects," which included the statement "Botanists like their specimens pressed as flat as a pancake, but entomologists do not."
In 1866, two years before coming to Missouri, Riley published a notice in The Prairie Farmer of a "grape-leaf gall louse." He noted a similarity to this louse and the insects reportedly plaguing French vineyards. Although the small insect did not kill Missouri vines, it was deadly to the French vines and threatened the existence of the famous French wines and the entire economy of rural France.
During the next several years, Riley worked with his French counterpart Planchon, exchanging specimens and data on the grape-leaf gall louse, an aphid also known as "phylloxera." Riley warned of the possible spread of the insect by transplanting infected root stocks from one vineyard to another.
The French government recognized the need to stop the bug from destroying all the vines in France and offered a 30,000-franc prize for a practical remedy. In doing so, the government unwittingly encouraged overnight "experts" with highly touted, but ineffective, liquid and gaseous remedies. Desperate in their fight against the bug, French vintners spent all on these useless concoctions. Campbell notes the directness of Riley's response to the effectiveness of the potions available, "Charles Riley got straight to the point: 'All insecticides are useless.'"
In 1872, Riley published a list of American vines resistant to phylloxera. Isidor Bush, owner of Missouri's Bushberg vine nursery near Peveley, turned Riley's list into a full-color catalog, which was translated into several languages. The French version contained an introduction by Planchon, and Missouri roots were shipped to France by the boxcar load.
This illustration of a grasshopper was reproduced from a woodcut created by Charles Valentine Riley. Courtesy of the University of Missouri W.R. Enns Entomology Museum.
For his role in addressing the phylloxera infestation, the French government awarded Riley a medal in 1874. Ironically, the resulting flood of Missouri vines into the French vineyards, while a boon to the state's agricultural economy, initiated a new disaster for French vintners as the Missouri vine roots carried more phylloxera. By 1875, the louse had invaded nearly all of France's wine region. Vintners there had begun widespread grafting of their vines onto Missouri root stock, whereby it has been said that Missouri's vines saved the wine of the world.
That same year, Gov. Silas Woodson proposed the abolition of Missouri's Office of Entomology. While the salvation of Riley's job may be attributed to an outcry from the State Horticultural Society, or the many letters written to the governor or the columns that appeared in newspapers, it may be more to the credit of the invasion of the Rocky Mountain locust into the western counties of Missouri.
Although an individual locust was little more than an inch in length, swarms of locusts caused devastation of biblical proportion. The adult locusts traveled from the northwest, eating everything green in their path and laying their eggs by the millions in fields. The hatchlings would eat through any new growth before molting and swarming eastward causing further destruction.
Following the ravages of the Civil War, the federal government made land grants to farmers and homesteaders in Missouri and other states. Just nine years after the war, these neophyte farmers found themselves battling an enemy more powerful and invasive than any that had marched during the war.
Farmers who braved the attacking locust swarms in defense of their fields wound up not only losing their crops but also having their shirts literally eaten off their backs. Hundreds were completely impoverished, and they and their livestock faced starvation. The land in the affected counties was left so barren that it was reported that except for the warmth of the weather, one might have assumed they were observing Missouri in winter.
Riley set to work studying the locust. He collected specimens of locusts from five states, the Indian Territory and Canada, concluding that the swarm was the same migratory species. His seventh annual report to the state legislature, published early in 1875, mapped the extent of the locust swarms from southern Canada to Texas, from the Colorado Rockies to Missouri.
Riley's illustration of the female form of the Rocky Mountain locust in various poses appeared in his 1874 report to the Missouri General Assembly. Riley's research greatly expanded the nation's understanding of the locust infestation and resulted in practical advice for farmers as well as recipes that, in theory at least, provided some relief for starving farmers. Courtesy of the University of Missouri W.R. Enns Entomology Museum.
Praising the outpouring of support that allowed beleaguered farmers to survive the locust infestation, Riley wrote with characteristic Victorian flourish.
"The calamity was national in its character, and the suffering in the ravaged districts would have been great, and death and famine the consequence, had it not been for the sympathy of the whole country and the energetic measures taken to relieve the afflicted people," he wrote, describing "a sympathy begetting a generosity which proved equal to the occasion, as it did in the case of the great Chicago fire, and which will ever redound to the glory of our free Republic and of our Union."
Riley's report contains in almost reverent detail, by description and drawing, each phase of the locust's life and reproductive stages. He also provided useful information such as the fact that the locusts would not lay their eggs in newly plowed land, nor in wet ground. Riley advised farmers to dig wide trenches around their fields as the locusts did not like to cross streams they could not jump.
Riley's report included a review of biblical and historical locust plagues of Egypt, Africa, Asia and southern Europe as well as prior locust swarms reported in North America. He observed that on this continent, the swarms were typically contained in the West and only spread east with greater numbers and resulting damage during dry or drought seasons, as they experienced in 1874. Riley predicted in a report delivered to the governor and the Department of Agriculture that the locusts would leave Missouri and take flight back westward in early June.
In May 1875, perhaps in response to the public's cry for government assistance or perhaps in a keen political move, Gov. Charles Hardin turned to a higher power for relief.
"Whereas, owing to the failure and losses of our crops much suffering has been endured by many . . . and if not abated will eventuate in sore distress and famine; Wherefore be it known that the 3rd day of June proximo is hereby appointed and set apart as a day of fasting and prayer that Almighty God may be invoked to remove from our midst those impending calamities . . . " the governor proclaimed.
Riley's prompt response to the governor's declaration, published in the St. Louis Globe on May 19, voiced his frustration at the government's lack of action. "Without discussing the question as to the efficacy of prayer in affecting the physical world, no one will for a moment doubt that the supplications of the people will more surely be granted if accompanied by well-directed, energetic work," he wrote. Riley proposed a statewide monetary collection to aid people in the affected area, and further that a premium be paid for each bushel of young locusts destroyed.
Recognizing that horses and chickens ate the dead locusts and came to no harm, and having read that American Indians collected the locusts to roast and eat them, Riley proposed "entomophagy" — or, simply put, eating the bugs — as a way to reduce the number of locusts while simultaneously feeding the starving populace.
"At the Eads House in Warrensburg, Riley made his point by serving a memorable four-course meal," recalls "Forgotten Missourians Who Made History," a 1996 anthology of short biographies by Pebble Publishing. "The menu, which consisted of locust soup, baked locusts, locust cakes, locusts with honey and just plain locusts, apparently pleased his guests."
Whether in response to divine intervention or just natural forces, shortly after June 3, 1875, in fulfillment of Riley's prophecy, the locust swarms left Missouri, never to return.
In late 1876, Riley was appointed head of the newly formed U.S. Entomological Commission, which was charged with reporting ways to prevent and guard against recurring locust invasions. In 1878, the swarms of Rocky Mountain locust — a species now extinct — receded and Riley accepted the position as head entomologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Riley resigned from his work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1894 and became the insect curator of the U.S. National Museum. He died in September 1895 from head injuries sustained during a bicycle ride.
Collections from Charles Valentine Riley's life, including his drawings and prolific writings, can be found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Collections, in the Smithsonian Institution and at the University of Missouri-Columbia where Riley lectured for several years. His nine annual reports to the Missouri legislature are available for review in the reference library of the State Historical Society in Columbia.
McEowen is a freelance writer from Jefferson City and the wife of Rural Missouri Managing Editor Bob McEowen.


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I know that the forecast this year is quite bad already and so I debated whether I should even introduce the concept of 3 Penalties or what is sometimes referred to as 3P. However, this is an important topic to talk about now because right now we are also affected by a Three Penalties. But before that what is a 3P? While I can't discuss fully here what is a 3P because it will need a book to be able to fully discuss it, I will discuss here though it briefly just to make you understand what it is in its most basic form.
Three Penalties or Three Penalty as it is called by some Feng Shui experts or Feng Shui consultants, is when a series of 3 combinations of Chinese Animal Zodiac creates a certain conflict that will create some trouble. Although not very popular amongst Feng Shui enthusiasts, this is actually quite a common phenomenon in Feng Shui. However, there are times that the combination is so negative that it creates a big problem. These times are very rare but when it happens it has really to be dealt with.
There are people who will have a 3P in their bazi chart/Paht chee chart. Again, this personal 3P are easily dealt with by giving them a name that will contradict the effect of the 3P. Or by letting them wear an amulet or a Feng Shui charm. There are 3Ps that are so minor that one need not do something. However, there are 3Ps that are so bad that one has to deal with it. One of the worst 3P to have is the "Chi Shi Three Penalty" which is formed by the combined presence of any of the three Chinese Animal Zodiac – Dog, Ox, Dragon, Sheep. The combined presence of any of these 3 animal signs (Dog – Ox – Dragon / Dog – Ox – Sheep / Ox – Dragon – Sheep) indicates that one has one of the worst Three Penalties or 3P, namely the "Chi Shi Three Penalty". This 3P is also called Three Penalties – Earth because they are all of earth elements.
Having this 3P – Earth on your personal element will require you to deal with it, because the 3P – Earth in men will likely result to being imprisoned at one point in their life. Having this 3P in women will likely result to them having a torturous life. They may be battered wife, whether emotionally, psychologically, or mentally.
I have seen this happened several times. I have an uncle who was afflicted with the 3P. He was my father's eldest brother, I don't really understand as to why his Feng Shui consultant didn't really see this, because I know he consult one. Anyway, my uncle was a really successful businessman even at a very young age. He helped sent some of his siblings to school, and he also helped the wife of his family. On top of that, he also was a very generous person. He has 13 children, and was able to invest on 5 houses in one village alone. He also runs 7 businesses in the 1970's and 1980's. He also runs several businesses, and he is a good man.
I was very young then, but one day he just informed his siblings that he is running to the Dominican Republic, and to make the long story short he has to do this because he is a wanted man because his business allegedly owes some big business people a huge amount of money. After the confusion has dissipated, it was found out that his best friend scammed some people of their investment.
He run to the Dominican Republic because there was no extradition treaty there, he later on went to China. When he was visited by my cousin, as my cousin shared, my uncle told my cousins that living in Dominican Republic then afterwards in China is like a prison sentence in itself. Because he was unable to do anything and he's unable to see his family.
When I was learning Feng Shui, his case was one that I studied and there I saw the he was afflicted with 3P – Earth!
In more than 20 years of studying and doing Feng Shui, I have encountered the 3P – Earth several times, and I have seen the damaged done by this 3P – Earth to a lot of people. Sometimes, a lot of these people are really successful then all of a sudden something happens that will make them meet their downfall. The sad thing a lot of these are not due to their own mistakes but rather that of somebody else.
I have two women readers who are physically, emotionally and mentally battered. They are battered women. One of them was forever rendered slightly invalid because of physical torture she received from her husband.
I want to share this now because I want you to understand what Three Penalties is, and the worst of all these 3 Penalties is 3 Penalties – Earth!
If one has this, one should have this fixed right away. This can be done by a Taoist or Buddhist ritual or by having a powerful amulet which will depend on the actual configuration of the bazi chart of the person.
But then let's go back to why I need to introduce you the 3P concept.
Because this year, because of the special configuration of the stars of the year, the people born under the signs of the Dog, Ox, Dragon, and Sheep are affected by the 3P – Earth. The Rat who is extremely affected by numerous bad stars like the Wu Wang is also affected by the 3P – Earth.
What does this mean? This mean the already challenging year may even be more challenging in some ways. A lot of this concerns may have to do with legal problems or even psycho- emotional torture or bullying.
One should not take this concern lightly because the last time a strong 3P happened was in 2010. This was a special 3P because it didn't exist for the whole year, but rather for a single day only. It occurred in May 22, 2010. This is a Three Penalties combination of the Tiger, Monkey, and Snake. Note that having these signs on your chart doesn't necessarily mean that you have the 3P, it has a certain configuration that can only be determine thru a Feng Shui computation. What really happened on that day because the 3P was ruled by Metal cutting down Wood, it caused an accident. A plane crush on that day killing 159 people.
So going back to the 3P – Earth this year? Since this is largely an Earth element 3P, one has to exhaust. Not destroy it but exhaust it. To exhaust the earth element of the 3P – Earth one has to have metal but the year is depleted of the metal element. So, one has to wear more gold or metal. Remember gold is more powerful than ordinary metal.
Wearing more gold is one cure. But it is better if the metal is made of an image of a Buddha, especially Amitabha Buddha and/or Medicine Buddha. One other cure is to have the Four Dharmakaya Relic Mantras and Lama Atisha Combined Amulets.
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As the Treasury Department's inspector general prepares to issue a report on IRS spending on Tuesday, a video was released to the public over the weekend showing employees line-dancing. The video, along with two others, cost over $60,000 in taxpayers' money. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service, already under fire after officials disclosed that the agency targeted conservative groups, faces increased scrutiny because of an inspector general's report that it spent about $50 million to hold at least 220 conferences for employees between 2010 and 2012.
The report by the Treasury Department's inspector general about conference spending is set to be released Tuesday. The department issued a statement Sunday saying the administration "has already taken aggressive and dramatic action to reduce conference spending."
The White House and the agency were on the defensive before the report on conference spending. Agency officials and the Obama administration have said the targeting of conservative groups was inappropriate, but the political tempest is showing no signs of ebbing.
Three congressional committees are investigating, a Justice Department criminal investigation is under way, President Barack Obama has replaced the IRS' acting commissioner and two other top officials have stepped aside.
The chairman of one of those committees, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also released excerpts of congressional investigators' interviews with employees of the IRS office in Cincinnati. Issa said the interviews indicated the employees were directed by Washington to subject tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status to tough scrutiny.
The closest the excerpts came to direct evidence that Washington had ordered the screening was one employee saying that "all my direction" came from an official who the excerpt said was in Washington. The top Democrat on that panel, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, said none of the employees interviewed have so far identified any IRS officials in Washington as ordering that targeting.
The conference spending included $4 million for an August 2010 gathering in Anaheim, Calif., for which the agency did not negotiate lower room rates, even though that is standard government practice, according to a statement by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Instead, some of the 2,600 attendees received benefits, including baseball tickets and stays in presidential suites that normally cost $1,500 to $3,500 per night. In addition, 15 outside speakers were paid a total of $135,000 in fees, with one paid $17,000 to talk about "leadership through art," the House committee said.
IRS spokeswoman Michelle Eldridge said Sunday that spending on large agency conferences with 50 or more participants fell from $37.6 million in the 2010 budget year to $4.9 million in 2012. The government's fiscal year begins Oct. 1 the previous calendar year.
On Friday, the new acting commissioner, Danny Werfel, released a statement on the forthcoming report criticizing the Anaheim meeting.
"This conference is an unfortunate vestige from a prior era," Werfel said. "While there were legitimate reasons for holding the meeting, many of the expenses associated with it were inappropriate and should not have occurred."
The latest report on IRS conferences will be the subject of a hearing Thursday by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Karen Kraushaar, spokeswoman for the inspector general's office, said public discussion of a report before it is released "serves no purpose and should generally be avoided."
Werfel is scheduled to make his first congressional appearance as acting commissioner Monday when he appears before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.


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10-11 July 2003, San Jose, Costa Rica
This conference was jointly organised and sponsored by the International Association of Pension Funds Supervisory Organisms (AIOS), the Superintendency of Pensions of Costa Rica (SUPEN) and the OECD, under the aegis of the programme of the Centre for Co-operation with non-Members.
The objective of the conference was to create a forum for relevant officials and experts to exchange information, to promote high-level policy dialogue on private pensions between Latin American and the OECD members, and to learn from one another's experiences in this field through this event. To this end, the conference focused on major regulatory and supervisory issues relevant to the private pension systems in Latin America, particularly AIOS members, and in the OECD member countries.
All documents are saved in PDF format.
Session 1: Regulation of Pension Funds in the OECD and Latin American countries
Session 2: Structures of Supervision for Pension Funds
Session 3: Supervisory Methods: Licensing / On Going and Ex Post Supervision
Session 4: Supervisory Techniques: Risk Based Supervision
Session 5: Supervision of Funding in DB Plans
Session 6: Avoiding Conflicts of Interests
Related Documents


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How close are we to a Skynet takeover?
Paul Joseph Watson
November 27, 2012
Experts at the prestigious University of Cambridge will conduct research into the "extinction-level risks" posed to humanity by artificially intelligent robots.
The Cambridge Project for Existential Risk is dedicated to "ensuring that our own species has a long-term future" by studying the risks posed by AI, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
"The scientists said that to dismiss concerns of a potential robot uprising would be "dangerous," reports the BBC.
The project was co-founded by Huw Price, Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge, Martin Rees,
Emeritus Professor of Cosmology & Astrophysics at Cambridge, and Jaan Tallinn, the co-founder of Skype.
It also counts amongst its advisers Max Tegmark, Professor of Physics, MIT and George M Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
An article written by Tallinn and Price warns that artificially intelligent computers or robots could take over "the speed and direction of technological progress itself," and shape the environment of planet earth to their own ends while displaying about as much concern for humanity as we do for a bug on the windscreen.
Far from being resigned to works as science fiction such as in the Terminator films, the threat posed by a potential future "rise of the robots" has never been closer to reality.
The study echoes the predictions of respected author, inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil, renowned for his deadly accurate technological forecasts.
In his 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines, Kurzweil predicted that after 2029, the elite would come closer to their goal of technological singularity – man merging with machine – and that by the end of the century, the entire planet will be run by artificially intelligent computer systems which are smarter than the entire human race combined – similar to the Skynet system fictionalized in the Terminator franchise.
Amidst the debate, the fact that the US military under DARPA is already developing robots for the express purpose of of killing people has been largely overlooked by futurists.
As we have previously highlighted, the whole direction of drones and automated robot technology being developed by the likes of DARPA is all geared towards having machines take the role of police officers and soldiers in pursuing and engaging "insurgents" on American soil.
Experts like Noel Sharkey, professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the University of Sheffield, have warned that DARPA's robots represent "an incredible technical achievement, but it's unfortunate that it's going to be used to kill people."
The Department of Defense recently issued a new policy directive attempting to "reassure" people that artificially intelligent cyborgs wouldn't be used to murder people after Human Rights Watch called for an international ban on "killer robots".
Policy directive 3000.09 states: "Semi-autonomous weapon systems that are onboard or integrated with unmanned platforms must be designed such that, in the event of degraded or lost communications, the system does not autonomously select and engage individual targets or specific target groups that have not been previously selected by an authorised human operator."
Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a host for Infowars Nightly News.
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Mystique Royal St Lucia enjoys spectacular surroundings, with landscaped gardens and access to the famous Reduit Beach near Rodney Bay, and is the ideal place to relax and explore the beautiful island of St Lucia. Boasting luxury all-suite accommodation, elegance and style, as well as a wealth of things to do, you are right at the heart of all the action here.
Lavish interiors lead you on a journey through the hotel, while the fine dining options will delight your taste buds. The on-site spa offers a wealth of relaxing treatments, and the rooms are all comfortable and offer a generous set of amenities as standard including your own private terraces.
Sports also abound at Mystique Royal with a great selection of fun and activities in the water and back on land, as well as a well-equipped fitness facility. The perfect base from which to base your explorations of this great island, or just sit and savour the stunning ocean views, this hotel has it all without breaking the bank.
The rooms at the Mystique Royal are all beautifully-appointed and modern, with spacious en-suites (shower and separate bath as well as double vanity units) and sitting areas. In addition there is also a mini bar, safe, hairdryer, cable TV, telephones, ironing facilities, tea and coffee maker (on request) and room service during select hours. WiFi is also available throughout the resort and is complimentary.
There are two ground floor level Deluxe Suites that have been specially adapted for disabled guests.
Deluxe Suite – These lovely views offer views out over the garden with a private patio area and have a king size or two twin beds. They sleep up to 3 adults or 2 adults & 2 children, with a rollaway bed available for the children or the 3rd adult.
Seaview Deluxe – Looking out over the sea and with your own patio, these rooms have a king size or two twin beds. They sleep up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children, with a rollaway bed available for the children or the 3rd adult.
Beachfront Deluxe – These spacious suites have stunning views out over the beach and the sparkling sea beyond and have a large private sun deck and terrace for you to enjoy the sunshine. They have a king size or two twin beds. They sleep up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children, with a rollaway bed available for the children or the 3rd adult.
Grand Deluxe – These lavish accommodations offer the utmost in luxury and offer fabulous views out over the beach and the sea beyond. There is a large terrace perfect for entertaining or intimate dining. They have a king size or two twin beds and sleep up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children, with a rollaway bed available for the children or 3rd adult.
The Mystique Royal offers its guests a great selection of bars and restaurants, combined with great beachfront locations. There is a smart casual dress code in the evening with shirts and trousers expected, while during the day and for breakfast t-shirts, shorts and cover-ups are acceptable.
L'Epicure & Terrace – Elegant and stylish, this open air restaurant serves up a la carte Creole dishes as well as a wealth of international cuisine. Open for breakfast (7:00am – 10:30am) and dinner (7:pm – 9:45pm).
Chic – Fine dining with excellent service and of course delicious food. You are surrounded by elegance while you enjoy the best the hotel has to offer. Open for dinner between 7:00pm – 9:45pm. Reservations are required.
The Beach Tent – A great place to meet for lunch and enjoy lovely sea breezes and a selection of light bites and dishes. Open for lunch between 12:30pm – 3:00pm.
The Oriental – This a la carte restaurant is located at the adjacent hotel and is available for guests at The Royal to use. Specialising in Far Eastern cuisine and open for dinner between 7:00pm – 10:00pm. Reservations are required.
Le Mirage Bar – Simply swim up or walk to the hotel's island bar and order a fresh cocktail or a selection of poolside snacks throughout the day.
Le Mistral Lounge – With views out over the stunning Reduit Beach, this is the ideal place to order a pre- or post-dinner tipple or sit back and enjoy a variety of live performances. Open between 6:00pm – 1:00am.
Things to Do
Rodney Bay provides a wealth of things to do and is one of the main tourist hubs on the island, with a number of bars, cafes and restaurants at your beck and call. Watersports are available including sailing, snorkelling, waterskiing and scuba diving. These are all payable locally if you need to hire equipment – snorkelling is of course free if you have your own gear!
There is also the chance to indulge in a spot of golf at the nearby championship course at the St Lucia Golf and Country Club, or perhaps try out some horseback riding. Both of these are payable locally. The on-site gym is well-equipped and is complimentary for all guests at the hotel – a great chance to work off some of the extra calories you're bound to consume while staying in this little slice of paradise. Note that guests staying at Mystique Royal have use of the facilities at the adjacent hotel, The St Lucian.
A great selection of live entertainment is on offer at the resort too, with bands and cultural events with classical and jazz music that will get everyone up and dancing in the evening. There are also a small selection of shops and boutiques on site with a selection of souvenirs and gifts.
The Mystique Royal Spa and the hair & beauty salon in the adjacent St Lucian offer a variety of massages, facials, body treatments and therapies for everyone to ensure you can enjoy your holiday feeling refreshed and energised – or if you just fancy a little bit of pampering! All of the services are payable locally.
For Kids
The dedicated kids club at The Mystique Royal ensures that the little ones are not only kept occupied and amused, but are also happy and enjoy their time in St Lucia surrounded by those their own age and a team of dedicated staff. All you need to do it advise reception when you check in that you would like to make use of this service and they will arrange everything accordingly.
There is also an outdoor play area for your young ones to use, though please ensure they are supervised at all times when using this.
The hotel gladly welcomes babies and toddlers and there are always high chairs and cots available for your use, with the staff on hand to assist in preparing food and/or milk for them. Babysitting services can also be arranged with adequate notice (generally 24 hours) and the rates (and possible travel costs) are payable locally.
Suites at the hotel are sized to accommodate up to 2 children sharing with parents, and some interconnecting rooms are also available upon request to give the kids a little space of their own, safe in the knowledge their parents are just through the door!
The Mystique Royal is a truly elegant offering on the beautiful island of St Lucia – long hailed as one of the top wedding destinations in the Caribbean. So it seems perfectly fitting that with the stunning backdrops of Reduit Beach and the sparkling blue sea, you choose us for to host your special day.
You can exchange your vows before beginning your honeymoon right here; with spa treatments to enjoy, lunches while cooled by the soothing sea breezes and fine dining. The resort's wedding coordinator is on hand to guide you through every step of the way and guide you through the resort to find your perfect settling and finalise all the details.
Hibiscus Wedding Package – US$799
The wedding package can be obtained free of charge if guests stay a minimum of 14 nights in a Seaview Deluxe Suite or above on a Bed & Breakfast basis. The package includes:
- Services of a UK and in-resort wedding co-ordinator
- Registrar, legal fees and officiant
- Decorated location for the ceremony
- Bridal bouquet
- Groom's boutonniere
- Single tier wedding cake
- Sparkling wine in suite on day of arrival
There is also the opportunity to add on the services of a photographer, hairdresser and steel band (at an extra cost) to enhance your day and make it truly special. Simply speak to the wedding coordinator who will attempt to accommodate your requests. Catering and menus can also be customised to meet your requirements. Note that weddings cannot be conducted at weekends or on public holidays.
Renewal of Vows – US$599
The chance to renew your vows is truly special occasion, and Mystique Royal will gladly play host to such an important event. The package has the same inclusions as the Wedding package, except of course the marriage license and certificate.
Perfect for those who want to start their married life in style, Mystique Royal offers a complimentary honeymoon package upon presentation of a valid marriage certificate not more than 1 year old. This includes a plate of exotic fruits and a bottle of sparkling wine delivered to your suite on arrival.
Prices: Please email us for any prices required and availability information. This way we can offer you the most up to date special offers.
Request a quote