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subset: commoncrawl


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AIIMS Para Medical Courses Admissions 2013
AIIMS Para Medical Courses Admissions 2013
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi invites application for admission into Medical courses commencing in the session August 2013.
The Courses are offered in:
* M.Sc: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Perfusion Technology and Nuclear Medicine Technology.
* M.Sc Biotechnology
* M.Sc Nursing
* B.Sc Nursing (post Certificate)
* B.Sc (Hons) Nursing
* B.Sc (Hons) Para-Medical Courses
For Postgraduate:
Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline with 60% (55% for SC/ST) of marks from a recognized university.
For Undergraduate:
Candidates should have passed 10+2 in science discipline from a recognized board of examination.
Candidates have to fill online application form in website of AIIMS.
Selection Procedure:
Candidates will be selected based on Written test score conducted by the institute.
Important Dates:
Last date for the online application form is April 25, 2013.
Entrance test for B.Sc (Hons) Para-Medical Courses: June 08, 2013.
Entrance test for B.Sc Nursing: June 16, 2013.
Entrance test for M.Sc Nursing: June 29, 2013.
Entrance test for M.Sc courses: July 14, 2013.
Entrance test for M.Biotechnology: July 20, 2013.
For more information visit : http://www.aiimsexams.org/


text: It's no secret how America's stealth warplanes primarily evade enemy radars. Their airframes are specifically sculpted to scatter radar waves rather than bouncing them back to the enemy. Somewhat less important is the application, to select areas, of Radar Absorbing Material (RAM) meant to trap sensor energy not scattered by the plane's special shape. In short, the four most important aspects of stealth are "shape, shape, shape and materials," to quote Lockheed Martin analyst Denys Overholser, whose pioneering work resulted in the F-117 Nighthawk, the world's first operational stealth warplane. But in addition to shaping and RAM, the Pentagon's current stealth planes -- the B-2 Spirit bomber, the F-22 Raptor fighter, the RQ-170 Sentinel drone and the in-development F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- boast other, lesser-known qualities that help them avoid detection. (We left the Army's stealth helicopter out of the discussion owing to a lack of information.) These other stealth enhancements include: chemicals to eliminate telltale contrails; sophisticated, untraceable sensors and radios; specially designed, hard-to-detect engine inlets; radar-canceling paint; and cooling systems for reducing a plane's heat signature. All of these evasion methods have been disclosed by the Air Force, although sometimes in scant detail. With China and Russia both demonstrating a rapidly improving grasp of stealth shaping -- and materials to a lesser extent -- these other, possibly harder-to-master aspects of radar-evasion are arguably becoming more important to maintaining America's aerial advantage. Smart Sensors Radar is like long-range eyes in the sky for modern warplanes. Without this sensor, a plane is more or less flying blind. The problem is, radar works by emitting energy -- lots of it. And that can be detected by an enemy's own passive radar receptors in the same way that someone standing in a dark room can track the movements of another person carrying a flashlight. The F-22, F-35 and B-2 work around this problem by practicing what Aviaton Week stealth guru Bill Sweetman called "emission-control principles." With the Raptor, emissions from the jet's APG-77 radar "are managed in intensity, duration and space to maintain the pilot's situational awareness while minimizing the chance that its signals will be intercepted." In other words, the plane's software is smart enough to use just enough energy to find and track targets -- and no more. The B-2 and F-35 have electronically-scanned radars that are similar to the Raptor's and probably employ the same tactics. Plus the Raptor and Joint Strike Fighter both have non-emitting backup sensors that can fill in the gaps in the radar coverage. The F-22's ALR-94 radar-warning receptors are among the most sensitive ever designed and can accurately, and "silently," detect most radar-using targets at long range. The F-35 boasts a powerful set of cameras that achieve the same effect. Photo: Air ForceRadio Silence A stealth plane's communications could also betray its location. In the case of the RQ-170, the dish for the drone's satellite radio hardware itself is a possible give-away, as its antenna is potentially highly "reflective," or non-stealthy. It could be that's why Lockheed Martin designed the Sentinel spy drone with two distinctive humps on its back, each apparently containing a separate satellite dish. "If your UAV is being illuminated by radar, you turn to place that radar on one side of the aircraft and use the antenna on the opposite, 'shadow' side of the aircraft to communicate," Sweetman explained. In the case of the B-2, F-22 and F-35, the bigger problem is how to communicate with other planes without sending out some obvious signal that can be tracked back to the source. Voice radio is out of the question. "As soon as I talk, I give myself away," said Mike Therrien, an Air Force comms expert. Likewise, non-voice radio datalinks used by older jets are too easy to detect. Lockheed installed on the 187 Raptors a short-range, low-power datalink that is minimally detectable. And the Joint Strike Fighter is getting a new, purpose-made, stealthy datalink that's also being added to the B-2. But both of these links have problems interfacing with older comms networks, sometimes requiring stealth warplanes to be accompanied by special EQ-4 drones or E-11 manned planes with radio translation systems installed. Photo: Press TVStealth With an 'S' One of the biggest radar giveaways is inside an aircraft. In most planes, the engine turbines are visible through the air inlet -- and they're a huge source of radar reflectivity. To mask the turbines, stealth warplane designers must connect the inlet to the engine indirectly, by snaking the inlet duct inside the fuselage in a rough S-shape. The S-shaped inlet is a tricky bit of engineering to pull off. Boeing refined its engine-obscuring techniques using a futuristic, one-off test plane called the Bird of Prey, among whose most important features was a very stealthy inlet. But the Lockheed-built RQ-170 is apparently too short for a curved duct and instead relies on a radar-blocking grill that covers the inlet mouth. Otherwise, the serpentine inlet is practically standard on current U.S. and, apparently, Chinese jets, but surprisingly Russia's T-50 stealth prototype doesn't have them. Photo: BoeingChilling Out Airplanes generate a lot of heat. And even if you completely mask a plane's radar signature, it might still give off telltale infrared emissions, especially around the engine exhaust but also from electronics, moving parts and surface area exposed to high wind friction. The B-2 and F-22's flat engine nozzles spread out the exhaust to avoid infrared hot spots, but to save money all 2,400 planned U.S. F-35s will have a traditional, rounded nozzle that spews a lot of concentrated heat. The Spirit, Raptor and Joint Strike Fighter apparently all feature gear for cooling hot leading edges such as the fronts of wings. They also boast systems that sink much of the heat generated by the on-board electronics and actuators into the fuel. The F-35 in particular pushed that concept to the extreme. "We're out of heat-sink capacity for the F-35," said James Engle, a former Air Force deputy assistant secretary. Some researchers have considered new fuel types with better thermal properties in order to boost the heat capacity of today's planes. One university study (.pdf) found that standard JP-8 jet fuel derived from coal instead of petroleum could safely absorb more heat. Photo: Lockheed MartinSkin Deep For U.S. stealth warplanes, a paint job is about more than good looks. Stealthy Spirits, Raptors, Joint Strike Fighters and presumably Sentinels are coated in special paints that suppress heat and partially cancel out radar waves. But to work correctly, the paint has to be maintained in immaculate condition. "We are working all day every day," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Duque, an Air Force F-22 paint technician. Increasingly, high-tech robots guided by laser sensors are taking over stealth-painting duties. In any event, the paint on the F-35 is designed to be more robust than that on the Raptor. The Air Force has such high hopes for the new pigment that it is also painting some of its F-16s with the same formula, hoping to lend the older jets a degree of stealthiness. Photo: Lockheed MartinContrail Control Contrails are formed when jet engines spew sulfur, nitrogen, tiny fragments of metal and other impurities into the atmosphere, attracting vaporized water that adheres to the pollutants and forms long, linear clouds that are visible for many miles in all directions, sometimes even at night. That's obviously a problem for infiltrating warplanes trying to remain invisible to enemy defenders. In 1994 the Air Force paid Northrop Grumman $16 million to add a "contrail management system" to the 20-strong fleet of high-flying B-2 stealth bombers. The system somehow chemically prevents water from sticking to the bombers' exhaust, erasing any contrail. "How do those work? Beats the Hell out of me," Matt Rasmussen wrote in an article on the phenomenon. It's unclear if any of America's other stealth warplanes have similar contrail-suppression gear, but it wouldn't be surprising if they did. Photo: Air ForceStealth Surprise Perhaps the most remarkable quality of America's stealth warplanes is their continuing ability to escape public notice during years or even decades of development, testing and initial operations. The F-117 and B-2 were secrets until the Air Force didn't want them to be anymore. The F-22 and F-35 have always been highly visible programs, although many of the jets' specific capabilities are classified. The RQ-170, by contrast, reportedly flew during the 2003 Iraq war without any outsiders realizing what it was, and stayed in the shadows until a lucky photographer finally spotted one of the 20 or so Sentinels in Afghanistan in 2007. Today the Air Force is apparently designing or testing at least two new, radar-evading drones plus the new Long Range Strike Bomber, an even stealthier successor to the now-25-year-old Spirit. But the only evidence of these classified programs is oblique references in financial documents, vague comments by industry officials and the occasional revealing commercial satellite photograph. Who knows what new qualities the next generation of stealth planes might possess in addition to those of the current armada. Art: Northrop Grumman


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The glaciers that disappeared 10,000 to 15,000 years ago left behind a richly segmented terrain that could almost be a text book for the ice age.
The still, sparsely populated land, the juxtaposition of extensive forests and wide open vistas, and the wealth of different terrains existing cheek by jowl – all these create the perfect conditions for an abundance of plant and animal species. The extraordinary diversity of waters provides a habitat to many species that are rare in Germany. Beavers and otters can be found throughout the reserve and, of the 22 different types of bat native to Germany, 16 can be seen here.
The undeveloped woodlands are home to ospreys and white-tailed and lesser spotted eagles. The high number of wetlands in these wooded areas provides the ideal habitat for the crane and black stork. And the white stork breeds in virtually all areas of the reserve.
But the landscape here is also the result of centuries of cultivation by man. The concept of a biosphere reserve includes land that has been worked by human hand, and this reserve contains some unique traces of history – the ramparts of former refuge castles and places of worship, villages attached to manor houses, large farmyards and unassuming timber-framed houses deep in the woodland settlements. Then there is Chorin Abbey, which exemplifies north Germany's brick Gothic style, while the ruins of Grimnitz Castle and Greiffenberg Castle are also of historical interest.
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Co-owner David Gold released a statement on Sunday saying contract talks with Allardyce will not open until top-flight safety has been assured, with West Ham currently seven points clear of the relegation zone.
And, when asked about his contract talks on Monday, Allardyce said: "I know my relationship with David Sullivan and David Gold well and the conversations that we have remain confidential. I'm more than happy to do the job that I'm doing right now and speculation regarding my contract situation has nothing to do with anybody else but the owners."
Allardyce has been in charge at Upton Park since last summer and guided the Hammers back into the Barclays Premier League at the first time of asking.
Gold's statement on Sunday read: "As David Sullivan and I have always maintained, we will sit down and discuss Sam's contract situation once our Premier League status has been confirmed and not before.
"This is purely because the three of us don't want anything to distract attention from our aim of finishing as high up the Premier League table as possible."
Source: PA
Source: PA


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French tosafist and liturgist; died at Dreux 1224. The name "Vardimas," found in Talmud Babli (Shab. 118b) as a bye-name of Menahem bar Jose, was adopted by this tosafist probably to distinguish him from other persons bearing the name "Menahem." According to Gross, Menahem is identical with the person of the same name mentioned by Samuel of Falaise as having been his master, the epithet "Ha-Ḳadosh" given by Samuel meaning simply "the Pious" and not "the Martyr."
Menahem's authority in halakic matters is invoked by Moses of Coucy ("Semag," § 27) and by many others. He is mentioned among those who took part in the famous discussion on phylacteries, which, according to Gedaliah ibn Yaḥya ("Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah," p. 52a), was held in Menahem's house. In a manuscript commentary on the Pentateuch (Neubauer, "Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS." No. 270) Menahem is cited as a Biblical commentator. A liturgical poem of his on the sacrifice of Isaac is inserted in the ritual of Rosh ha-Shanah.
- Zunz, Z. G. pp. 53, 193;
- idem, Literaturgesch. p. 328;
- Neubauer, in R. E. J. xvii. 153;
- idem, in Geiger's Jüdische Zeit. ix. 218;
- Gross, Gallia Judaica, p. 173.


text:
What you are looking for?
In just a few seconds to answer - matters whether you have a question about the product or another topic. Maybe here you find the answer.
Alternatively you can browse in topics
Ski Products
- How are the edges sharpened from the factory?
- How do I store my skis correctly, especially in summer time?
- I am looking for a ski from a previous year and I can't find it on the actual Völkl website...
- What model and size is best for me?
- Which ski is best for my needs?
- Which ski length is the correct one for me?


text:
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$3,170 off MSRP!
Bright White Clearcoat 2019 Ram 3500 2D Standard Cab Tradesman 167.5 WB
Cummins 6.7L I6 Turbodiesel RWD Aisin 6-Speed Automatic
Visit us at www.FreelandCDJR.com to save time and buy online. Call 888-485-1718.
New vehicle pricing includes all offers and incentives. Tax, Title and Tags not included in vehicle prices shown and must be paid by the purchaser. While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at 615-697-4798 or by visiting us at the dealership.
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Freeland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is excited to serve the Nashville and middle Tennessee market with the hottest Jeep products and service.
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text:
The latest fighter to join the cast of Platinum Games' multiplayer brawler is Blacker Baron. a giant black cyborg with a pimp hat, fur-collared vest, gold chains, a diamond-studded belt buck, and a pair of stolen golden fists.
He calls them the "Super Sexy Fists of Fire." They have Phoenix-shaped hood ornaments on them, which are "too money for the honeys."
Oh, Japan.
Anarchy Reigns is due out this fall on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.


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4790 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222
(800) 822-4639 (317) 492-6700 Mon-Fri, 9a.m.-5p.m. ET
June 16, 2012 | By John Oreovicz
If you haven't been to an Indy car race at the Milwaukee Mile for a few years, you may not recognize the place.
In 2003, new aluminum bleachers replaced the old stone grandstand built in the 1930s. That took some getting used to, but the racetrack itself remained the same since it was paved in 1954.
What didn't change was the experience of attending as a fan. Traditionally, whether holding a grandstand ticket or not, most folks parked in the infield, fired up the grill, and tossed a Frisbee back and forth.
Yet through a combination of factors, attendance dwindled at the Mile over the last ten years. Last year, barely 15,000 people showed for a race that consistently drew 40,000 or more during its heyday in the 1980s and 90s.
It doesn't matter if the problem was the open-wheel split, a revolving door of promoters, or spectator-unfriendly late afternoon start times: Indy car racing at the Milwaukee Mile is on life support, and in fact, the race was not even a part of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule.
Then Michael Andretti stepped up. It's safe to say that Michael has a soft spot for the famous old venue, having won no fewer than five Indy car races at Milwaukee during his successful driving career.
Andretti does a pretty good job as a race promoter these days too. He took over promotion of the successful Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2005, and acquired the rights to the Toronto Indy in 2009. Since then, he split with partners Kevin Savoree and Kim Green, who maintained control of St. Pete and Toronto while also purchasing Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, site of another popular IndyCar Series race.
But Michael got back in the promotion business this year under the Andretti Sports Marketing banner, reviving Milwaukee and taking on the responsibility of stabilizing the Grand Prix of Baltimore. Both are important markets for the IndyCar Series, so Andretti must be applauded for taking a risk for the good of the sport.
One of the things ASM has done is to reinvent the Milwaukee weekend as IndyFest. Gone are the days where fans park in the infield and tailgate; that area is now filled with a carnival midway and a "snake pit," and will play host to a post-race concert featuring popular '90s act Smash Mouth.
ASM has also slashed ticket prices, with a two-day general admission ticket that includes Friday grandstand access for just $29. Saturday reserved grandstand seats start at $31 and top out at $74.
Holding the race on Saturday is another change, and the 12:30 local start time is more than three hours earlier than a year ago.
Certainly almost everyone involved in the sport of Indy car racing wants to be at the Milwaukee Mile – most of all the drivers.
"It's great to be back at Milwaukee and this track is one we all love," observed four-time IndyCar Series champion (and two-time Milwaukee winner, including 2011) Dario Franchitti. "There's so much history, and in order to get Indy car racing back to where it needs to be, we need to be at these places.
"With all the problems, it looked like we weren't going to be coming back, but we're back here because of what the IndyCar Series and Michael Andretti and his team did to put this together. There are so many things going on for the fans and I think Michael and his team have done a good job. It should be a good event."
This is the first short oval outing for the Dallara DW12, but most of the field had a chance to test at the track just after the Indianapolis 500.
"Based on the test we had here, we're in store for another exciting race," said Andretti Autosport driver James Hinchcliffe. "The first street course went well. The first road course went well. The first 500 went well and the first mile-and-a-half went well. So if you're going to look at trends, we should be all right."
There is little doubt that the drivers and the DW12s will put on a good race Saturday afternoon. But the future of Indy car racing in Milwaukee isn't dependent upon the quality of the show.
It's up to the fans. So come out and show your support!


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Inviting someone to move in with you
People usually want to stay in their own homes and be independent for as long as they can. But when they become worried about a parent's well-being, many adult children ask, "Should we invite Mom/Dad* to move here?"
Advantages of a move
- You will know what is happening and will be there if your parent needs help.
- You have some control over making the environment safe and secure.
- A move may save money – the price of travelling back and forth and maintaining two households can be costly.
Possible disadvantages of a move
- By moving, the person may be leaving long-time friends and a familiar community.
- Your parent may be reluctant to become dependent on you for practical help.
- By adding a parent to your household, you and your family will face major changes in your own lives.
Questions to consider
- The following are questions to consider when you and your family make the decision about a move:
- Does my parent want to move?
- What sort of relationship have you had with your parent in the past? If it has been difficult, it will not improve under stressful conditions.
- Do you and your family want your parent to live with you?
- Will lifestyle differences between your family and your parent cause discomfort or conflict?
- Will your house provide enough space and privacy for everyone?
- Is the house safe and convenient for a person with dementia? If not, can you make needed modifications, such as an entrance ramp, or grab bars in the bathroom?
- Will your family doctor care for your parent? Is your physician familiar with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias? Can you find a doctor willing to care for your parent?
- Will your parent have opportunities to contribute to your household if he or she wishes?
- Will your parent be able to meet others? Are there opportunities to socialize?
- Are you and your family prepared, emotionally, physically, and financially, to support your parent's disabilities? Can you provide supervision and hands-on help with personal care when it is needed? Or can you arrange for professional help?
- Will you have opportunities for respite or relief? Can other relatives, friends or neighbours help out occasionally? Can you arrange for paid in-home companions or other temporary care?
- Will the move save or cost money? Can you afford any needed home modifications and supportive services?
- Will you (or another family member) have to give up your job or reduce your working hours, to care for your parent?
- How long do you expect the arrangement to last? Is it acceptable for a limited amount of time or as long as necessary?
- Are there facilities in your community to help you when you feel you can no longer give care in the home?
- If the move includes a change of province or country, do you know the details of the regulations regarding the transfer of health insurance, etc.?
* Since the relative needing help is often a parent, we will refer to the distant relative as "parent" and the caregiver as the "adult child." The information also holds true for others within the family who have different relationships.


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For the record, there will be a "grace period," in which those currently playing Star Wars: The Old Republic may still continue their character's progress on the full title they've purchased, when that arrives. Previously, BioWare had suggested there would be no such "grace period."
[Correction] The grace period is meant to bridge Early Access play to post-launch play; no progress will be lost. This reporter's error mischaracterized the need for grace-period play.
BioWare's Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka, the development firm's co-founders, spelled out the grace period policy in this thread on the game's official forums.
They also clarified that the clock on the 30 days of game time, included with the game, starts when you redeem it, or if you happen to redeem the code before its midnight launch on Dec. 20, it will starts at 12:01 am EDT, Dec. 20.
Zeschuk and Muzyka acknowledged that the uncertainty over grace periods and game time "has been an issue for some of you," and apologized for the concerns they raised.
Giving a Grace Period for Star Wars: The Old Republic [swtor.com]


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If you are asked to pay to register as a vendor, you are on the wrong site. When you register as a vendor through this website, there is ABSOLUTE NO CHARGE.
Here is the official City site to register as a vendor:
If you have any questions on how to register to be a vendor on the website, please contact:
Jessica Botello
Administrative Analyst
(323) 887-1200 ext. 438
Please be advised that she will only be able to assist you on how to get registered or answer technical issues. She cannot answer any questions on active bids. Please follow the bid instructions with the bid themselves.


text:
Hi there folks.
I'm trying to create a program that takes 2 numbers from command line arguments and use the second value as a power so for e.g. java Power 10 2 should give 100. But i want to do this without using the Math.pow method, and using a for loop. I have the following so far but i'm not sure what the problem is and it;s only seem to be doinng square numbers (i.e. to the power of 2)
public class Power { public static void main(String [] args) { int mantissa = Integer.parseInt(args[0]); int exponent = Integer.parseInt(args[1]); int answer; for(int i=0; (mantissa*mantissa) < exponent; i++) exponent=exponent + i; answer = mantissa*mantissa; System.out.println("Result is " + answer); } }


text:
Madonna's publicist has confirmed to Gossip Cop that she and Brahim Zaibat, now 25, are over. They've not spent a lot of time together in the last few months. And she's been spending more and more time with Sean Penn, most recently in Haiti when she joined him with her children for fundraising efforts. Rocco seemed to like him a lot. Click here for a refresher.
Next year marks the 25 year anniversary of Madonna and Sean's divorce. A reconciliation after a quarter century separation? Are you into it? Traci Melchor, my friend on The Social, is a mega mega Madonna fan. She's into it. She wants them to get back together. My response was: "After he allegedly tied her up and beat her?" Traci: "I don't know for a fact but… they were, ahem, partying a lot then. And now they've grown up. Decades have passed. It was a different time."
Thing is…as we also discussed, he likes them younger now. And, frankly, so does she.


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MIAMI - On a breezeless downtown day, the Miami Art Museum seemed like an obligatory stop. Until I got there, and realized that a big chunk of the space was closed for installation. After a quick spin through an exhibit on the influence of the vinyl record album on contemporary art, there was nothing for me to do but get down to business.
And eat.
It might have made sense to take a swim on the beach. But I felt much more compelled to start my assignment - which was to stuff my face with as much Cuban food as possible over three days in this South Florida expat community.
South Beach bikini embarrassments, no. Black beans and plantains, yes.
Fleeing the museum, I ducked into Cacique Lunch Restaurant, virtually across the street from the gallery, and for a grand total of $4.05 washed down an empanada and a flaky guava-and-cream-cheese pastry with an enormous cup of café con leche.
So here I was, this die-hard black coffee drinker and so-called breakfast minimalist, offering no resistance to two pastries and authentic Cuban coffee loaded with sugar and cream. Turned out, it was an excellent way to slurp-start a lazy morning and plot my strategy to conquer all the moros y cristianos (black beans and white rice), all the muy rico seafood and pork dishes that saturate this island cuisine like caramel on flan.
While you can get a perfectly memorable classic Cuban meal at such mainstays as Versailles, Islas Canarias and La Carreta, I am lucky enough to know Miami insiders. And they know people.
So after telling me about the list of usual suspects, my friend Bill checked in with a Cuban colleague and called excitedly to tell me about a couple of joints that are little known to tourists and beloved by locals. Here's the list:
-La Camaronera. Driving down Flagler Avenue, I was delighted to see a makeshift sign telling me that La Camaronera Restaurant and Fish Market was approaching. Since it's tucked into the corner of a nondescript strip mall, I needed the cue. I also needed a seat. But once inside, I discovered why my friend calls this "the stand-up fish place." There's not a chair, table or booth on the premises, just a case of iced seafood and a walk-up counter. I started with bollitos de carita, hush puppy-like fritters made of black-eyed peas and imbued with the faint scent of the sea. These African-influenced balls of fried goodness are Cuba's answer to the Brazilian acaraje. Heavenly. While you can get shrimp cocktails and ceviche here, the fried shrimp are the thing, and they are definitive. La Camaronera doesn't serve alcohol, but it does invite you to get alcohol from the place next door. Next time, I might just grab a beer to wash down the fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried calamari and conch fritters I plan on inhaling. Best place ever.
1952 W. Flagler St., Miami. 305-642-3322; lacamaronera.com
-Havana Harry's. If you are shopping in Coral Gables and get a hankering for some "pork chunks" or vaca frita ( literally, "fried cow"), this would be your place. A comfortable, commodious and affordable white-tablecloth dining room, Havana Harry's bills itself as a "fusion" restaurant, meaning, it seems, that you can get everything from hamburgers to chicken Parm. I ask that you don't, however. Instead, go for signature dishes like the wonderful, almost gooey ham croquetas or masitas de puerco (those infamous pork chunks), which are cooked for hours, fried to a crisp and slathered with garlic, onions and mojo sauce. A little easier to chew is the lechonita (chopped roast pig smothered with onions, garlic and mojo) or its bovine cousin, vaca frita, a plate of crisped shredded beef cooked with onions. The portions are big enough for two, so plan on taking some home because dessert is a must. Coconut bread pudding was scrump. Flan comes with caramel topping, with "coconut inside and out," with a brittle caramel crust, covered with dulce de leche or topped with coconut ice cream, shredded coconut and caramel. Next time: tres leches cake.
4612 Le Jeune Road, Coral Gables. 305-661-2622; havanaharrys.net
-Palacio de Los Jugos. It means "palace of juices," but there's more here than batidos and milkshakes. Ridonkulous amounts of more. An open-air place with picnic tables where parking spaces can be hard to come by, the palace has separate stalls for drinks, sandwiches, meat and seafood. There's even a yuca station - with the starchy root vegetable prepared every way you can think of. I was too overwhelmed (and full) to have more than a papaya drink on my first visit. Returning another day with a friend, we had delicious roast chicken with boiled yuca and yellow rice; and a slab of sauced ribs with moros and buttery maduros. Huge portions and at $8.50 a plate, muy barato! (Very cheap!)
5721 West Flagler St., Miami. 305-262-0070.
-Cacique Lunch Restaurant. Like many a Cuban place, you can get empanadas, coffee and so on from the sidewalk window. But I loved the interior of this diner - with its paper place mats, crusty-sweet senior servers and soda fountain-style bar off to one side. Visually, it's probably about as close to Havana as you'll get in this town. I was here only for pastries, and I can attest to the wonderful coffee and fabulous empanadas. A great place to try if you happen to be downtown.
100 West Flagler St., Miami. 305-371-8317.
The Biltmore. With a pool that seems ready-made for Esther Williams, this kinda-Spanish, kinda-Moorish, kinda-Italian hotel is a National Historic Landmark dating to 1926. Even if you don't stay over, drop by the Coral Gables landmark for a drink or a stroll. Gorgeous place with lush gardens, and we hear the Sunday brunch is fabulous, too. http://www.biltmorehotel.com
Fountainbleau Miami Beach. With its stacks of curvy, breeze-catching balconies and crystal chandeliers, this Art Deco masterpiece is the crowning achievement of architect Morris Lapidus and the former haunt of Elvis, Sinatra and Jerry Lewis. Who cares that the big central staircase goes nowhere? Its sole purpose was jet-set splendor and splashy entrances. As Lapidus once said: "If you create a stage and it is grand, everyone who enters will play their part." http://www.fountainbleau.com
Some good websites for basic tourist information: visitflorida.com/Miami and miamiandbeaches.com
MIAMI - On a breezeless downtown day, the Miami Art Museum seemed like an obligatory stop. Until I got there, and realized that a big chunk of the space was closed for installation. After a quick spin through an exhibit on the influence of the vinyl record album on contemporary art, there was nothing for me to do but get down to business.


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Marine helo fleet overhauled after crash killed 7
After a mid-air helicopter collision at night killed seven Marines flying with a Camp Pendleton squadron a year ago, the Marine Corps secured funding to overhaul its new fleet of upgraded Cobra and Huey helicopters to replace malfunctioning and missing lighting, U-T San Diego has learned.
Today the Marine Corps still allows pilots to fly the attack helicopters without working rotor blade tip lights, but a more reliable system and the addition of infrared position lights for new models of the UH-1 and AH-1 have been funded, said Capt. Richard Ulsh, a Marine Corps spokesman.
The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Command is making prototypes. Installation should begin March 2014, Ulsh said.
The investigation into the Feb. 22, 2012, crash during combat training near Yuma revealed no firm conclusions about the cause. But the report released to U-T San Diego this week through a Freedom of Information Act request highlighted the lack of working rotor blade tip lights on virtually all of the Marine Corps's fleet of H-1 helicopters, which are made by Bell Textron.
It also noted a lack of infrared position lights on the upgraded four-blade versions being phased in. Finally, a procedural anomaly allows aviators to keep flying Hueys and Cobras at night with non-functioning rotor blade lights, although a Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter or MV-22 tilt-rotor with the same problem is grounded, according to the June 13, 2012, "JAGMAN," or manual of the judge advocate general investigation report.
The rotor lights trace a visible arc in the sky, marking the path of the turning blade tips to help pilots orient themselves. Infrared lighting invisible to the naked eye helps pilots in combat track each other at night when they don't want to broadcast their location to the enemy.
Bell submitted information for the investigation but did not see the final report, said Gregory Hubbard, a Bell spokesman, referring questions about its conclusions to the Marine Corps.
"Bell Helicopter takes our responsibility to the safety of the service men and women who fly on our aircraft very seriously. We devote considerable time and effort to ensure we are providing the safest, most reliable aircraft available and work with our Marine customer to incorporate the latest safety equipment and standards to continually improve the operations of all our products," he said in a statement.
The helicopters with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 collided about two hours after sunset, at 7:48 p.m in the southeastern corner of Imperial County near Glamis.
The AH-1W Cobra flew into the back of the UH-1Y at a position corresponding to 7:30 on a clock, plowing into its transmission at a speed of about 50 knots. The night sky was illuminated by a bright flash that erupted into a fireball. Then burning pieces of the helicopters plunged to the desert floor, instantly killing all seven Marines aboard.
The aircraft were participating in the semi-annual Scorpion Fire training exercise. The Huey and its co-pilot also had a second mission, a Night Flying Instructor sortie checked by a Yuma instructor pilot.
The Marine Corps spent four months investigating before submitting findings to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in San Diego. With no survivors, there was no firm explanation why the helicopters flown by experienced pilots collided, other than the lead aircraft and wingman simply did not see each other.
Adding to the mystery was the fact that both helicopters did have some visible lighting on takeoff, though no eyewitnesses saw any on the rotor blades. One even turned on its searchlight after lifting off from a refueling point about five minutes before the crash
The Cobra pilot, Maj. Thomas Budrejko, 37, was executive officer of the squadron. He resided in Temecula with his wife, Dianna, a Marine reservist, and 2-year-old son, Andrew, but was originally from Montville, Conn.
Budrejko, who was posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel, had flown more than 3,000 hours since he became a naval aviator in 1999, including more than 1,000 hours using night vision goggles and nearly 600 hours in low light conditions.
Lt. Col. Stephen Lightfoot was commanding officer of the squadron at the time of the crash. His friend and second-in-command, "Bull" Budrejko, "was perhaps the finest AH-1W Cobra pilot in the Marine Corps, regardless of rank. Ask any Marine Cobra pilot who served with Bull, and they'll agree. He was admired by his students, peers, and seniors alike. It was an honor to serve with Bull," Lightfoot said.
The squadron deployed to Afghanistan less than two months after the crash. The unit's first full combat tour was dedicated to the memory of the seven fallen Marines, signified by seven stars at the perch of their deployment patch.
Budrejko's co-pilot in the Cobra, Capt. Benjamin Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, Ala., had nearly 400 military flight hours. The tandem, two-seat Cobra can be flown by either aviator.
The others killed in the Huey included its co-pilot, Capt. Michael Quin, and three crew chiefs, Sgt. Justin Everett, Lance Cpl. Corey Little and Lance Cpl. Nickoulas Elliott, all from the Camp Pendleton squadron.
The pilot of the Huey was Maj. Nathan Anderson, an instructor based in Yuma with Marine Aviation and Weapons Tactics Squadron One, the Marine Corps equivalent of the Navy's elite TOP GUN flying program.
Col. Brad Gering, commanding officer of the unit, said "All the Marines who perished that night are sorely missed." But the legacy of his fallen instructor, "Gangsta" Anderson, will live on: "Innumerable Marine aviators are bearing the torch he passed to them through countless hours of instruction and leadership. We will forever remember him and his example as an aviator, a leader and a Marine."
Investigators discovered that the rotor blade tip lighting system stopped working soon after the helicopters were delivered from the Bell factory. Pilots gave up writing maintenance requests for the malfunction. Most had never flown with one that worked.
One pilot with Marine Aircraft Group 39 Future Operations had seen only one operational rotor tip light on a UH-1Y in three years. "I wrote them up sporadically for a few months until I realized there was no fix and none was coming. Call (it) apathy, call it laziness, but there are lots of things that don't work the way they are supposed to on the aircraft," the aviator said in the report.
"The lights, in general, are a deficiency noted in multiple Operational Test Reports," the aviator said, adding that visible lighting on the blades wouldn't be used during combat training on restricted ranges, because of the "train as you fight" mentality.
The unreliability of the rotor blade tip lighting on the upgraded Cobras and Hueys has been well-documented since 2000 and culminated in the October 2005 Yellow Sheet Report, according to the mishap investigation.
The failure to ground helicopters without working blade tip lighting "allows those aircraft to continue flying without a component that, by all accounts, increases situational awareness between aircraft at night and therefore makes the aircraft safer," the report says.
Based on eyewitnesses and the aircraft wreckage, "it appears that V98 (the Cobra) never saw V97 (the Huey) during the rendezvous or attempted any evasive maneuver to avoid the collision," the report says.
"Although no one can surmise what was happening in the cockpit of (the Cobra) in the moments immediately prior to the collision, one of the most likely reasons that (the Huey) did not see (the Cobra)" or vice versa, was the lack of blade tip and infrared position lighting.
Both helicopters were destroyed in the crash. The $17 million Huey was carrying inert rockets and .50 caliber rounds. The $11.6 million Cobra had no ordnance onboard.
The investigating officer made five recommendations to help the entire Marine Corps H-1 rotary community prevent another nighttime collision:
- Change the AH-1Z and UH-1Y Mission-Essential Subsystems Matrices to ground aircraft lacking at least one operating rotor blade tip light.
- Order all AH-1Z and UH-1Y units to submit maintenance requests for all inoperative rotor blade tip light systems.
- Authorize funding for infrared position lighting on the new versions of both aircraft being phased into operation.
- Authorize funding for a more reliable replacement rotor blade tip lighting system on the upgraded helicopters.
- Stress to all Marine flying units the importance of Crew Resource Management, the air safety training program emphasizing situational awareness, communication and decision making to limit human error.
The report provided to relatives of the dead did not answer many questions or ease the loss that Patsy Everett felt over the death of her son, Sgt. Justin Everett.
Everett, 33, lived with his wife, Holly, and their two young children, Avery, 5, and Jacob, 2, in Winchester in unincorporated Riverside County. Everett enlisted in 2002 and shipped to boot camp on his first wedding anniversary. His wife's father and sister had been Marines.
"We don't think there's any one or thing at fault," his mother said. "It's just something that happened. As far as I'm concerned, it's been laid to rest."
As for her son, Patsy Everett, of Fresno, said: "He loved the Marine Corps and he loved what he was doing. We are just so proud of him and what he did, and all of the young men. We still stay in touch with his friends and the unit there."
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Ford of Europe will offer its customers ultra-low CO2 alternatives with the launch of a new range of Ford ECOnetic models at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.
These cars will use the latest common-rail diesel powertrains with features engineered to reduce CO2 emissions. The first to be launched in early 2008 will be the Ford Focus ECOnetic, which promises to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions for conventional powertrain technology at just 115g/km.
"Although all of our current European models are already highly competitive in terms of CO2, we know that more and more car buyers seek the lowest possible emissions as a key 'why-buy?'," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe president and CEO.
"By launching specific models, with dedicated Ford ECOnetic badging to indicate ultra-low CO2 results, we will give a clear alternative to those customers who prioritise low emissions performance.
"We chose the Ford ECOnetic name because it links ecologically friendly technology to our kinetic design 'energy in motion' philosophy for both driving quality and emotional styling."
Further details of the Ford ECOnetic range will be revealed in September at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. The first vehicle to benefit will be the company's most popular model – the Ford Focus.
The new Ford Focus ECOnetic, powered by the highly efficient 109PS, 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine with standard Diesel Particulate Filter, delivers an average fuel consumption of 65.7mpg – corresponding to an average CO2 emission of only 115g/km.
"The challenge for the engineering team was to deliver the maximum reduction in CO2 using available and affordable techologies," said Gunnar Herrmann, Ford's medium car line director.
The starting point for achieving these results was to reduce drive resistances and improve aerodynamics. By lowering the vehicle, adding an aerodynamics kit and using 195/65R15 tyres, a drag coefficient (cd) of 0.31 was achieved.
A further measure to reduce driving resistance, used for the first time in the Ford Focus ECOnetic, is the introduction of new low-viscosity transmission oil developed by Ford's fuel partner BP. Under testing, the efficiency benefits were found to be so significant that this new BP transmission oil is to be introduced across other Ford products in the C and CD segments.
Ford of Europe is already a leader in Flexifuel technology, with Focus and C-MAX models fuelled with bio-ethanol E85 (a blend of 85 per cent bio-ethanol and 15 per cent petrol), petrol or any mixture of both fuels in the same tank.
From early 2008, Flexifuel versions of the new Mondeo, the Ford Galaxy and the Ford S-MAX will be on sale, giving Ford one of the broadest ranges of Flexifuel vehicles in Europe.


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baby wishlist
I've gathered a few of my current favorite baby items, both mass produced and handmade, that I'm hoping for. Since we're having a girl I'm wanting softer colors with only a tiny bit of light pink or peach. And since she's due in the middle of Winter I'm really wanting lots of soft knits pieces as well. Yesterday I discovered this Spanish brand Pequeno Tocon whose collection is perfect, to me at least. See more of it here also.
knotted mattress pad | long sleeve tee | basic jumpsuit | cap | knit overalls | slippers | custom made baby swing | ray blanket
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text: The new Sidekick Slide allows you to stay constantly connected to your friends. The compact design features a unique slide up screen - the first in the Sidekick franchise. The Sidekick Slide has a full QWERTY keyboard and a 1.3mp camera. Plus, it features always-on, one-touch instant messaging and the best MySpace mobile experience! Slide into action with the new Sidekick Slide.


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The glucose tolerance test is a lab test to check how your body breaks down sugar.
Oral glucose tolerance test
The most common glucose tolerance test is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Before the test begins, a sample of blood will be taken. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture
You will then be asked to drink a liquid containing a certain amount of glucose (usually 75 grams). Your blood will be taken again every 30 to 60 minutes after you drink the solution.
The test takes up to 3 hours.
A similar test is the IV glucose tolerance test (IGTT). It is rarely used, and never used to diagnose diabetes. In this test, glucose is injected into your vein for 3 minutes. Blood insulin levels are measured before the injection, and again at 1 and 3 minutes after the injection. However, the timing may vary.
Make sure you eat normally for several days before the test.
Do not eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before the test. You cannot eat during the test.
Ask your health care provider if any of the medicines you take can affect the test results.
Some people feel nauseated, sweaty, light-headed, or may even feel short of breath or faint after drinking the glucose. However, serious side effects of this test are very uncommon.
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Glucose is the sugar the body uses for energy. Patients with untreated diabetes have high blood glucose levels. Glucose tolerance tests are one of the tools used to diagnose diabetes.
Above-normal blood glucose levels can be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes or high blood glucose during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Insulin levels may also be measured. (Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that moves glucose from the blood into cells.)
The oral glucose tolerance test is used to screen pregnant women for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. It may also be used when the disease is suspected, even though the fasting blood glucose level is normal.
Normal blood values for a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test used to check for type 2 diabetes in those who are not pregnant:
Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter
The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Higher-than-normal levels of glucose may mean you have prediabetes, diabetes, or gestational diabetes.
Between 140 - 200 mg/dL is called impaired glucose tolerance. Your doctor may call this "prediabetes." It means you are at increased risk for developing diabetes.
A glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher is a sign of diabetes.
However, high glucose levels may be related to another medical problem (for example, Cushing syndrome).
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
Factors that may affect the test results:
Several drugs may cause glucose intolerance, including:
Before having the test, let your health care provider know if you are taking any of these medications.
American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes--2012. Diabetes Care. 2011 Jan;35 Suppl 1:S11-63.
Buse JB, Polonsky KS, Burant CF. Type 2 diabetes mellitus.In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2011:chap 31.
Inzucchi SE, Sherwin RS. Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 237.
Review Date: 6/2/2012
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2003 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information provided by UCSF Medical Center. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.


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CharmingLiz video. All videos (3)Free chat with CharmingLiz
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There seems to have been a plethora of layoff announcements. Companies typically layoff near the end of the fiscal year--that's no surprise. But this year, it seems higher than normal.
And it really bites when it's a hospital that's laying off:
University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston learned Wednesday that 3,800 people there will lose their jobs.
November layoffs
HP announces 24600 layoffs
Most notable IT layoffs of 2008
Jumps in unemployment


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More on Linux server management
Imagine a monstrous, seven-foot reanimated Tux-the-penguin with bolts though its neck, pursued through the countryside by angry pitchfork-wielding villagers. It's not an image you're likely to forget in a hurry.
And that, one suspects, was the intention of Dan Pacek, Red Hat's strategic marketing guy, when he described the predicament you'll find yourself in, should you be foolish enough to ditch your Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) support contract and get a cheaper third-party support offering instead.
"You're left running some sort of hybrid, in-between Frankenstein Linux," is how he put it, during a 40-minute webinar extravaganza aired earlier this month, devoted to trashing the RHEL support efforts offered by the likes of Novell and Oracle.
Why the monster imagery? "As soon as you patch your system, it is no longer RHEL, which means none of the ISV certifications are valid any longer," he said. "High risk" was one way he branded third-party support. "Pay and pray" was another. It's a long way from Frankenstein, but you can see what Pacek is getting at.
But the truth (or otherwise) of this hasn't put RHEL users off looking to get better support elsewhere, according to Wim Coekaerts, Oracle's "Mr Linux." "Due to dissatisfaction with Red Hat's quality of support as well as a desire to get more value, many users have switched from Red Hat Support to Oracle Unbreakable Linux Support," he claimed on an Oracle blog.
That's odd. It was only last October Red Hat was voted number one in the 2009 "CIO Insight Vendor Value" study, which polls IT executives on the value of their vendors' product and service offerings. Oracle? It came in ninth, just one place below Novell.
Ah yes, Novell. Those scallywags offer a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) Subscription with Expanded Support, which also includes technical support for "certain existing Linux deployments" for three years while companies migrate to SLES. And what deployments might they be? Why RHEL deployments, of course. And why would anyone want to get their RHEL support from Novell? Well, "Novell is the recognized leader in enterprise-class Linux technical support," for one thing. At least that's what the company, rather brazenly, claims.
What's going on here? Are Novell and Oracle really meeting with any success? It's hard to believe they are. After all, Red Hat is going from strength to strength, while Microsoft money continues to be prop up Novell, and Oracle's Linux support offering is hardly the talk of the town. Oracle also now has the small matter of Sun to digest, so it's unlikely to be putting much concerted effort into its shatterproof penguin support for a while.
So why the need for Pacek's webinar devoted to pooh-poohing third-party support offerings? Is Red Hat simply setting straight Oracle's "Due to dissatisfaction with Red Hat's quality of support ..." and Novell's "the recognized leader in enterprise-class Linux technical support" claims?
Or is Red Hat actually a teensy bit worried that these two companies are starting to pose a clear and present danger to its business which, after all, is reliant on customers paying for support contracts? Beats me. What do you think?
Paul Rubens is a journalist based in Marlow on Thames, England. He has been programming, tinkering and generally sitting in front of computer screens since his first encounter with a DEC PDP-11 in 1979.


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LONDON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, on trial in London in a government phone-hacking scandal, had a six-year affair, prosecutors told the jury Thursday.
Prosecutor Andrew Edis said the revelation, found on Brooks' home computer in a 2004 letter from Coulson to Brooks, was not designed to invade their privacy but to better demonstrate their relationship of trust during the time they worked together at the newspaper News of the World.
Brooks, 45, was editor of the newspaper from 2000 to 2003. Coulson, 45, was her deputy and assumed the editor's title when she departed.
The two are on trial for charges related to phone hacking and illegal payments to public officials, and the information about the affair was revealed to reinforce the prosecution's contention both Coulson and Brooks were aware of the alleged illegal activity, the British newspaper The Guardian said Thursday.
The explosive disclosure came the day after the outlines of a new scheme of regulation for the British press received the royal assent Wednesday from Queen Elizabeth II.
The formal step is certain to be followed by months of legal and political wrangling, the Financial Times reported. Industry groups plan a legal challenge to the plan agreed to by the major political parties. Details of the plan still have to be worked out.
News executives say the regulatory plan, based on a report by Lord Justice Brian Leveson, impinge on press freedom and place too much of a financial burden on the media. Critics say officials also failed to consult industry executives.
"I don't know of any major newspaper group who would sign up to this. It still could be ruinously expensive and unworkable," an unnamed newspaper executive told the Times.


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Your voices are being heard
by Barry
The problem with the weather, Mark Twain once said, is that everyone is talking about it but no one is doing anything about it. For some time I have been visiting with you in this monthly column about a perfect storm that is brewing as Congress considers climate change legislation. We call it a perfect storm because at the same time rates are on the rise due to increased demand and rising fuel costs, Congress is considering new measures that could do to electric rates what is already happening at the pumps.
We've talked about the weather. This month, I want to tell you what your electric cooperative is doing about it.
This spring our attention has been on a climate change bill known as the Lieberman-Warner bill. That bill sought to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases essentially by punishing any industry that uses fossil fuels, and passing the high costs on to their consumers, which in our case is you.
Debate on this bill came to a head in the U.S. Senate the first week in June. That bill died, based partly on the fact that electric cooperative members sent nearly 200,000 e-mails to voice their concern over the possibility that this bill, if passed, would have significantly increased electricity and other energy costs, dramatically affecting the economy and impacting low- and moderate-income families the hardest. Missouri is now No. 2 in the nation in the number of e-mails and letters that have been sent.
Those of you who have gotten involved did this through a grassroots campaign called "Our Energy, Our Future." At annual meetings, luncheons, across back fences, coffee shops, co-op offices and anywhere else two or more members gathered, a dialogue on our nation's energy future is taking place.
The letters and e-mails sent by members from the www.ourenergy.coop Web site got the attention of Missouri Sens. Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill, who helped their colleagues understand the bill's problems. Sen. Bond held press conferences to do his best to show the negative effects of the bill on our economy.
Particularly noteworthy was a letter signed by Sen. McCaskill and nine other senators. The letter, addressed to Senate leaders Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer, was signed by Claire and her colleagues whose states would suffer the most if the bill had passed. "We believe a federal cap and trade program must not only significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also ensure that consumers and workers in all regions of the U.S. are protected from undue hardship," the letter stated.
We were told that our grassroots campaign is making the difference as this bill failed to gain the 60 votes necessary to end debate. The good news is that Senate leaders want our national association's CEO Glenn English to work with them over the summer and fall to make positive changes to the bill.
This action puts us at the negotiating table where we have always wanted to be to protect our members from huge electric rate increases on the heels of the huge gasoline prices you have experienced.
These recent developments place more importance on the Our Energy, Our Future campaign that will show key leaders in Congress that you are watching what is going on in Washington, D.C. It gives rural people strength during the negotiations that will occur.
We must remind our representatives that the climate change debate is a debate with real consequences for real people and their interests must be heard. If you haven't already, log on to www.ourenergy.coop and let your voice be heard. And if you really want to go to work like many members around the state have, go by your cooperative, get a bunch of cards and make sure your friends and family get involved too. All of our actions today will ensure we have affordable and reliable electricity in Missouri for years to come. Let's get to work!
Hart is executive vice president of the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Barry Hart
Barry Hart
Barry Hart


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Practice portrait by artist Dan Willow for tomorrow's Super Hero Portrait Slam.
Picture from Project Onward's Facebook page.
The St. Patrick's weekend celebration kicked off tonight with a rare performance by Celtic rock band The Drovers at The Abbey Pub. The group still has plenty of fans despite an extended absence from recording or performing, so a packed house it pretty much guaranteed. There's no telling if this show is a one-time treat, but let's welcome back The Drovers while we can.
Phil Angotti's probably not an Irishman, but his CD release show for Life And Rhymes at Martyrs tonight will feature a number of special guests who'll help him introduce this latest effort. The show starts at 10:00 PM. Angotti will also be doing a joint show with Ellis Clark at Redline Tap on April 20th as part of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago.
If you're downtown tomorrow for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, you could fly over to the Chicago Cultural Center and become the next Superman or Sue Storm from the Fantastic Four. Project Onward, a studio created to help artists with mental and developmental disabilities, is holding a Super Hero Portrait Slam tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The charge for a single portrait is $20, and you can reserve a sitting in advance by calling 312-744-8032 or sending an email to firstname.lastname@example.com. Samples can be viewed on the studio's Facebook page.
The Chicago Rovers will be stirring up some some St. Patrick's style fun tomorrow night at Reggies on State Street, starting at 9:30 PM.. The $10 admission price includes an Irish buffet. The band has a 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM gig at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN on Sunday.
Fountains Of Wayne have an acoustic show coming up at The Old Town School of Folk Music on April 20th.
Some of the artists who contributed to the Fruits de Mer label's vinyl Re-Evolution Hollies tribute have posted a link to my review on their Facebook pages. A big note of thanks to them. Reportedly, sales are going well. Keith from FdM informed me that Re-Evolution, which comes packaged as an LP with a bonus 45, can be ordered from the following sites: Shiny Beast; Those Old Records; Vod Music; and Norman Records.
Comedy fans around the globe were crushed last weekend when Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff host/producer postponed the season finale of his weekly internet show. Hopefully, it will all set for this Sunday, and include the two bits I filmed with Kelley. One is a reprisal of the crabby old man Fritz Willoughby character I did on Old Days, and the other is sort of a cameo, since I was a regular contributor to Coffee for a few years, and hope to do more bits in the future.
Mike Braam, a Chicago-based musician who suffered a stroke a while back, has been making steady progress through intense physical and speech therapy, according to a recent Facebook post by his brother and band mate, Scott. The Braam Brothers, which also includes Tom Braam, have put out a number of indie rock CDs. Scott noted that his family is grateful for the outpouring of support from Chicago's music community, and asks for continued best wishes and prayers for Mike.
Also, best wishes to singer-guitarist Thom Sebastian for a full recovery. In addition to his solo work, Sebastian has recorded with Phil Seymour, and contributed a cover of "Mumbo Jumbo" for the Squeeze tribute album, If I ...3x on Burning Sky Records. He's actively working on various projects.


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Iconic Coit Tower in San Francisco closing for 5 months
Coit Tower, the iconic concrete column rising from San Francisco's Telegraph Hill, closed Monday for a five-month renovation project.
The tower has been a vaunted piece of the city skyline since its completion 80 years ago. Its observation deck, reached by elevator, provides 360-degree views of the city and bay, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges.
The $1 million-plus renovation, actually starting its the second phase, will include restoration of murals inside the tower's base that date to construction of the tower. Basic upgrades to plumbing and electrical systems are also planned, along with lead paint abatement and improvements to accessibility.
The renovation stems from Measure B, a non-binding June 2012 ballot measure that called for money raised from tourist admissions and commercial events at the tower to be used for preservation and upkeep.
The tower is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric who died in 1929 and left money to the city "for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved." The money funded the tower and a monument to volunteer firefighters in nearby Washington Square. Contrary to popular belief, San Francisco park officials say Coit Tower was not designed to resemble a firehose nozzle.
The murals inside the tower's base, depicting Depression-era life in California, were painted by artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project. Some of the murals were considered controversial and were painted over that same year.
Telegraph Hill takes its name from a type of telegraph erected on its summit in 1850 to alert residents to the arrival of ships.


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have received a 2020–2021 Impact Research Grant from Ohio State's Office of Outreach and Engagement. The grant ... will be used to assess and extend the impacts of Ohio State's Green Home Technology Cente r (GHTC). ... (NAAE). NAAE awards the $1,500 scholarships to 20 students across the United States. The purpose is to ...
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members includes institutions from all across the United States. UN Food Systems Summit Rattan Lal ... from the Farmers of the Great Lakes Basin" as a Spotlight Speaker in Ohio State's Research and ... Development Economics, was appointed to Ohio State's newly established Task Force on Racism and Racial ...
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said. Lal, among his recognitions, received the Japan Prize in 2019 and the World Agriculture Prize and ... CFAES researcher Rattan Lal, Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science in the School ... Food Prize. Lal earned the award, which is presented by the Iowa-based World Food Prize Foundation, for ...
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Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thank you Dodgers
ESPN Magazine featuring Matt Kemp, (great story by Molly Knight!) The latest Dodgers magazine, The Coast to Coast Dodger book, a Dodger hat and the Eric Karros bobblehead.
Thank you very much. It made me happy.
As far as my health, not really much to update till early next week.
The bad things....
No appetite at all. I just can't eat.
I lost 15 pounds.
Can't walk that much.
Dodgers have lost every game since I've been here. Well here in my room. The Dodgers did win while I was in the emergency room. (Sunday afternoon)
The good things....
I feel better since last week.
I think the antibiotics (I'm on it 24/7) is killing the lung infection. I say this because the pain in my left shoulder is going away.
That's about it. I'll take a little nap now and hopefully wake up in time for the Dodgers/Angels game.
Thanks everyone for your kind messages. I read everything. And I'm sorry I haven't been here that much. I just get tired easily looking at the screen. I do read everything through my phone. Thanks.
23 comments:
- format said...
Get well soon Roberto. We all miss you.
- June 23, 2012 at 2:34 PM
- Kevin Bender said...
Thinking good thoughts for you.
- June 23, 2012 at 2:39 PM
- Unknown said...
Wow....I'm praying for you bud. That was really nice of the dodgers to send you all that great merchandise. They truly understand that you are one of there true fans and I'm pretty sure your blood runs BLUE. Get well soon.
- June 23, 2012 at 2:43 PM
- Dodgergirl65 said...
Get better soon. Wish the Dodgers could win one for you!
- June 23, 2012 at 2:44 PM
- Michael said...
We're all thinking of you ... and not just because we haven't won since you went into the hospital! Get better!
- June 23, 2012 at 2:54 PM
- Dusty Baker said...
Hang in there, mi hermano. -SoSG Dusty
- June 23, 2012 at 3:02 PM
- Neeebs (The Original) said...
You are one tough hombre. We have confidence that you will come back stronger than ever.
- June 23, 2012 at 3:08 PM
- patita said...
Pulling for you to get good news next week! You're part of the Dodger family now.
- June 23, 2012 at 3:53 PM
- goodchild27 said...
Hey man - I just wanted to say I hope you're getting better. My father just had Mucromycosis, which is freakin horrible, in his lungs, and he beat that down. All you have to do is know you can beat it, and then it's no thing. Serious positive vibes your way!
- June 23, 2012 at 7:06 PM
- @Jrrific said...
glad the dodgers care about you as much as you care about them! get well soon
- June 23, 2012 at 7:29 PM
- Jayvee said...
Get well soon my friend.
- June 23, 2012 at 8:08 PM
- mitcho said...
im new to your site and wish you a speedy recovery its nice to see that the Dodgers are thinking of you as well. Get well soon and hope you feel better.
- June 24, 2012 at 8:04 AM
- Dodgers50 said...
Praying for you Roberto. Nice of the Dodgers to send you a get well package. Take Care & God Bless !!
- June 24, 2012 at 8:21 AM
- Unknown said...
Keeping you and your family in my prayers. :)
- June 24, 2012 at 11:20 AM
- Your Coffee Drinking Devushka said...
The Dodgers = class.
You are in my prayers!
- June 24, 2012 at 2:32 PM
- SoyBeaner said...
Hope to hear good news about your health this week dude. Get well!
- June 24, 2012 at 8:36 PM
- Cindy said...
Hey Roberto!
Sending good thoughts your way, I hope all goes well with the tests and you just need time to heal. Please let me know if I can do anything to help.
- June 24, 2012 at 9:01 PM
- Yankeejetsfan said...
Get well soon. Your in my prayers.
- June 25, 2012 at 7:43 AM
- Steve Sax said...
feel better big guy!
- June 25, 2012 at 9:12 AM
- Mike Barnhill said...
It's Monday. I am sending my true blue thoughts your way! I hope that lung test is a good one and you can get back to full health. Nothing like Dodger Dogs to gain that 15 pounds back!
- June 25, 2012 at 10:15 AM
- Fred's Brim said...
Sending good vibes to you today, RB
- June 25, 2012 at 1:54 PM
- CreditWise said...
Wonderin how you're doin brotha. Keep us posted.
- June 25, 2012 at 3:10 PM
- Unknown said...
Sending good vibes from AZ to LA. Get well soon Roberto.
- June 25, 2012 at 8:45 PM


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1/2 oz 2018 Perth Mint Lunar Year of the Dog Colourized Silver Coin
Purchase your 1/2 oz 2018 Perth Mint Lunar Year of the Dog for the best price online!
The globally acclaimed Chinese Lunar calendar series from the Perth Mint, celebrates the year of the Dog as the 11th in a series of 12 zodiacal animals.
On the reverse side, rests one of the most beloved of all dogs, the German shepherd as she lays on the grass, with her adorable pup; the pair rendered in astonishing detail and with the addition of vibrant full colour. China's national flower, the peony also features on the reverse as well as the Chinese character for 'dog', as well as the 'year of the dog' title.
On the obverse is Ian Rank-Broadley's meticulously produced portrait of Elizabeth II, shown in crisp relief with colour. The Queen's name, the country of origin, weight, purity, denominational value and year of issue accompany the Queen's portrait.
Those born under the year of the dog are said to share in its characteristics, displaying loyalty, friendliness and unconditional love; they include those born in 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018. Celebrate the year of the dog and fortify your holdings with a 1/2 oz 2018 Perth Mint Lunar Year of the Dog silver coin today!
In multiples of 20, this coin will come in a mint roll. In multiples of 100, these coins will ship in a Perth Mint box.
|Perth Mint
|Brilliant uncirculated
|Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the words "Elizabeth II Australia 50 Cents 1/2 oz 9999 Silver 2018"
|Two dogs laying attentively.


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I wanted to share with you this video of an autonomous car driving around the campus of the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. The roads have been imported using Lanelets:
You can find here the V-REP plugin I have developed: v_repExtLanelets.
If you want to know more about the project:
- Project's website: https://www.robesafe.uah.es/index.php/e ... elderlycar
- Other YouTube demos:
- https://www.youtube.com/user/RobeSafe (recent videos show a more advanced development stage)
- Citation: https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... P_bajo_ROS C. Otero, E. Paz, R. Sanz y J. López , R. Barea, E. Romera, E. Molinos, R. Arroyo, L.M. Bergasa, E. López , " SIMULACIÓN DE VEHÍCULOS AUTÓNOMOS USANDO V - REP BAJO ROS ", Accepted for publication in the conference JA2017 (XXXVIII Jornadas de Automática), Gijón , Spain, September, 6th - 8th 2017.


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Dancing with the Stars – Who Wore it Better??
Look, Courtney and I DID find something to snark on. 🙂 Not really, we just decided that it was time to put some of the wardrobe recyclers (or victims thereof) head to head to see if it's always such a good idea. The answer is….no, not always. 🙂 On with the show…
Battle of the black & white paso dress: Chelsie's pro paso with Derek this season vs. Cheryl's paso with Gilles in season 8
Courtney: Hands down, Chelsie rocked this one better. She was working the skirt with every move, and I think the cut-out back really showed off her arm lines. As for Cheryl – I thought it looked too bulky on her frame and she didn't really utilize the skirt like Chelsie did…almost seems like she was weighed down by it.
Heidi: Yeah, I don't know why it didn't work on Cheryl. Maybe it was the hair pulled up that put too much weight on the dress. She has a great body, it just didn't work. Isn't that the dance where Gilles went shirtless? That could be it too – too much contrast between the two of them.
Courtney: Yep, Gilles was indeed shirtless. With the high-waisted black dance pants and some sort of necklace. Mmmmm!
Heidi: Hold up a sec!! Seeing the pictures side by side – Chelsie had the whole front of the skirt cut out!! That removed a ton of bulk and allowed her to work the skirt better. Cheryl would have benefitted tremendously from that same cut out.
The winner: Chelsie, for workin' that skirt for all it's worth!
Battle of the white 2-piece Latin dress: Nicole's pre-season photo shoot vs. Natalie's bolero with Alec in season 9
Courtney: I'm gonna go with Nicole on this one, for the simple fact that Natalie was just so meek sometimes that a lot of her costumes seemed to overwhelm her. I think it suits Nicole's sexy, confident attitude. Both have great bodies, but Nicole's got the vibe to go with it – along with some killer curves to fill it out a bit better than Natalie, who had more of an athletic build.
Heidi: Yeah, I'm with ya. You have to have serious attitude and confidence to pull that look off and Natalie seemed a bit afraid of it. Plus, she had all the Rumba crap attached to it that got lost when Nicole wore it – lots less material on Nicole, if you look at them side by side.
The winner: Nicole, for the 'tude, confidence, and dangerous curves!
Battle of the black, edgy, fringy 2-piece dress: Anna's pre-season photo shoot w/Evan (as well as the week 2 pro dance) vs. Joanna's jive with Derek in season 9
Heidi: Joanna had a combination of attitude, bad ass hair, and Derek as a partner, that made her pull off that outfit better. Even the picture of Derek and Joanna shows why I think she pulls it off better.
Courtney: I think Joanna was slightly more believable in this one – the hair & attitude really pulled the whole outfit together. It also seems a little bit loose on Anna – another small frame kinda overshadowed by the costume. And I just don't see her as a rock chick.
The winner: Joanna, for her rocker attitude that matched that of her partner
Battle of the black & silver fringed Latin dress: Pam's pre-season photo shoot with Damian vs. Cheryl's pro dance in week 2 vs. Mya's jive with Dmitry in season 9
Heidi: I thought Cheryl rocked this dress, but it was more the dance than the dress itself. She killed in that dance. I'm going with her and I confess it's because she was the standout female in that dance – the still photo doesn't do it justice.
Courtney: I say Mya, but just by a hair over Pam. I think Cheryl has to be really careful with very heavy trimmings on dresses – like the ruffles on the paso dress, I think this made her look heavier than she really is. The dress suits Pam's smoldering attitude perfectly, but it doesn't quite look as impressive sitting still on her as it does moving with Mya as she's flicking and jumping in the jive – look at how it stands out. Plus it seemed to fit the flapper theme of their jive well.
The winner: For dancing, Cheryl. The actual dress? Mya by a hair.
Battle of the silver-fringed Latin dress: Shannon's pre-season photo shoot with Mark vs. Edyta's pro dance in week 2 vs. Kym's cha-cha with Donny in season 9
Courtney: I feel bad for anyone who has had to wear the same costume as Edyta – with a body like hers, not many women stand a chance. She looks fantastic in this one, especially with those black boots she was rockin'. Shannon seems a little overwhelmed by it, and I don't think it's the best color on Kym – seems to wash her out a bit.
Heidi: Do you even need to ask? Edyta, of course.
The winner: Edyta, by a killer body
Battle of the white & flesh-toned Latin dress: Kate's pre-season photo shoot with Tony vs. Joanna's rumba with Derek in season 9
Heidi: Well, Joanna clearly has a better body, but I didn't like this dress on her. Actually – it wasn't the dress. You can't underestimate how much how you wear your hair will impact the overall effect. If Joanna had had softer, romantic hair for this dress, she would win it. Hair is important!
Courtney: As much as it may pain me…I'm actually gonna go with Kate on this one. I always thought it looked way too conservative and matronly on Joanna – both qualities which make the dress more appropriate for Kate. In any other (skimpier) dress, Joanna would have had it for sure – I still wonder why, of all weeks, they chose rumba week to cover her up…and give her such old-fashioned hair. Crazy wardrobe & hair people!
Heidi: You know, the pros are generally in charge of the costuming, but when they recycle so blatantly, I wonder how much input they actually have? Derek usually does so well…then again, I wondered what the hell they were doing to Joanna hair and makeup-wise much of the season. She had some BAD makeup. Wonder if it was Joanna messing about.
The winner: Kate. By a (head full of) hair. 🙂
Battle of the denim & fringe 2-piece cowboy outfit: Edyta's pro dance to Reba in week 3 vs. Chelsie's country two-step with Louie in season 9
Courtney: This has got to be the most adorable outfit I have seen all season – it's cute while at the same time being sexy, and the fringe moves so well in two-step spins. While I think they both look fantastic in it, I think it's a little better suited to Chelsie…she seems like a country girl. I just have a hard time imagining a Polish bombshell with an accent as heavy as a fried pierogi as a cowgirl!
Heidi: Well, I think Chelsie pulls off "cowgirl" better than Edyta by a mile. Edyta is too sultry for the cowgirl thing, whereas it fits Chelsie to a T. But damn, look at Edyta's body! And you see the reason why Edyta is not a cowgirl – she took at least 4 inches off an already short skirt. On the top AND the bottom. 🙂
The winner: Chelsie, for being our favorite l'il cow-girl next door


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Michael W. Brooks. Subway City: Riding the Trains, Reading New York. New Brunswick, New Jersey, London: Rutgers University Press, 1997. xiv + 252 pp.p. $35.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8135-2396-5.
Reviewed by Zachary M. Schrag (Columbia University)
Published on H-Urban (January, 1998)
Myth and Symbol on the IRT
Each year, more than a billion people ride the New York City subway. The subway made New York what it is today, allowing skyscrapers to sprout in midtown Manhattan and residential neighborhoods to bloom in Harlem and Queens. Along with the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, it is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. A vital system in the life of the nation's cultural capital, it has inspired several scholarly and popular histories, including Clifton Hood's 722 Miles and, most recently, Stan Fischler's The Subway: A Trip Through Time on New York's Rapid Transit.[1] So elaborate a machine, so great a factor in the daily lives of so many people could never be just a means of getting from the Bronx to the Battery.
In Subway City: Riding the Trains, Reading New York, West Chester University English professor Michael W. Brooks adopts a task different from that of previous scholars. Rather than writing about the subway itself--the trains, tracks, stations, and tunnels--or the political machinations behind its construction, he traces the history of the subway's image. This approach puts him squarely in the "myth and symbol" school of American Studies, following such scholars as Henry Nash Smith and Leo Marx in his attempt to trace the development of ideas about a phenomenon by examining a variety of literary, artistic, and journalistic sources. Asking why "the most common images of the New York City subway system are astonishingly negative," he finds that the subway is the ultimate symbol of New York City itself, and that "they can only be reborn together."
Subway City spans more than a century, from the first proposals for rapid transit in the 1870s to the revitalization of the subway in the 1980s and 90s. Some chapters are chronological and narrative, others more thematic. Almost half of the book analyzes images by reasonably highbrow artists: novelists, poets, painters, photographers, and sculptors. Brooks casts a wide net and hauls in an impressive range of works that touch upon New York's elevateds and subways. William Dean Howells, John Sloan, Hart Crane, Walker Evans, Ralph Ellison, and scores of lesser-known artists all appear, their visions persuasively interpreted. Eighty-two black-and-white plates are well-chosen and well-placed to support the text's argument.
Brooks finds several common archetypes: the trains as progress, traction magnates as robber barons, the riders as the democratic crowd or threatening mob, straphangers as corpses, construction workers as heroic proletarians, and, most disturbingly, the entire system as a subterranean Hell, a notion that resurfaces every decade. Brooks shows how easy it is for artists to project their own visions of humanity onto the endlessly varied stream of riders. Elmer Rice's 1925 play, The Subway, portrays a place of noise and danger, particularly for a vulnerable young woman, crushed by men both physically and mentally. In contrast, sculptor Red Grooms's 1976 installation, Subway, shows a colorful carnival, the epitome of a Manhattan that is, in Brooks's words, "so eye-poppingly awful, so extravagantly profuse in its energies, that it ought to be relished."
Brooks's readings are careful (for one line of poetry, he produces three relevant meanings of "scuttle" and two of "yawn"), and his arguments are often insightful. For example, he delineates the complex dance between subway and skyscraper. Horizontal and vertical, disappointment and progress, dark and light--these two symbols of Manhattan have wrestled in the imagination for decades. The irony, of course, is that one could not exist without the other; the density produced by the skyscraper makes the subway both possible and necessary.
Interspersed among these chapters of the artistic image of the subway are sections on the journalistic view. Describing the magazine articles that covered the planning and construction of New York's first elevateds and subways, Brooks demonstrates the inseparability of machine and image. Inventors and speculators hoping to build a new system had to put as much effort into publicity as into engineering, to reassure a public worried about pollution from steam engines, streets darkened by elevated tracks, and water mains disrupted by tunnel construction. The pamphlets and carefully planted magazine articles countered such worries with utopian visions of transit. In an 1870 story in the World, a new Rip van Winkle falls asleep in 1870 and awakes 30 years later to find a second tier built atop Broadway and other major streets. These arcades have emptied downtown Manhattan of its residential population, reformed city government, and eliminated crime. As the story's narrator concludes in a burst of technological optimism, "Thus Hegelianism begins to enter practically into the solution of the problem of man."
Other sections based on the press follow well-traveled tracks. The chapters on the political battles over subway construction and the call for municipal operation and on professional planners' debates over the future of New York generally retell stories that have been more thoroughly and clearly presented elsewhere. The story of William Randolph Hearst's demagogic charges of corruption in subway operations and construction, for example, differs little from those told by Joel Fischer in his dissertation and by Clifton Hood in his book, 722 Miles.[2] Brooks gives the events his own cultural-history spin by analyzing editorial cartoons from Hearst's newspaper and the public-relations counterattacks by the subway companies, but the result is little different from accounts relying solely on words. Likewise, his brief chapter on the subway as seen by such planners as Lewis Mumford and Thomas Adams appears to be a strained attempt to emphasize the role of the subway in the minds of visionaries who thought about entire metropolitan regions, from housing to agriculture to beaches and from New Jersey to the Hudson Valley. Their story has also been told, for example, by David A. Johnson in Planning the Great Metropolis: The 1929 Regional Plan of New York and Its Environs.[3]
In his final chapters, Brooks traces the subway's reputation as a dangerous place, from the 1940s, when real security systems seemed unnecessary, to 1984, when a white man named Bernard Goetz could gain sympathy from thousands of New Yorkers for shooting four black teenagers whom he felt were threatening him. The tremendous popular support for Goetz among New Yorkers who felt ready to take up arms against urban crime was, Brooks writes, "the nadir of the subway's evolution as an urban symbol." Now underground crime is falling, the graffiti has been scrubbed off, and stations are being remodeled. Some even have their own art installed. This, Brooks hopes, signals a revitalization of New York City, though it may take some time for the image of the subway to improve to match the reality.
Compared to the thorough sections describing high art, these sections on journalism are spotty. Brooks is careful to present the views of several New York newspapers, for example, but he does not read the papers of other cities. How do newspapers from Omaha or London report crimes in the New York subway? How were the New York subways used as both a model and a cautionary tale when the subways of San Francisco, Washington, and Atlanta were being planned? What is the role of the subway in the new Las Vegas casino, New York, New York? One might argue that Brooks's goal was not to present the outsiders' vision of New York, but if that is the case, his numerous discussions of Hollywood films (created for a national and international market) have no place here. Almost absent are the outer boroughs, which make only cameo appearances. The real consolidation of New York took place largely underground and underwater, and more attention to the New York beyond Manhattan would have been helpful.
As many writers have pointed out, the challenge with myth-and-symbol methodology is determining what works are representative of more than one individual's mind. Brooks makes no explicit attempt to engage that challenge, and though his stated intention is to determine the place of the subway in "the New York imagination," he never explains what comprises that imagination. He does balance male experiences against female, and white against black, but he does not weigh the work of artists, poets, and novelists against that of tabloid reporters. And what is the place of primary documents, such as the Goetz trial documents Brooks cites? Brooks's failure to directly address these questions is particularly frustrating because of the almost complete absence of voices of ordinary subway riders--those who do not professionally manipulate symbols, whether on canvas or newsprint, and who ride the subway not to observe humanity but to get to work. At one point, Brooks tantalizingly mentions that in 1917 7,000 riders wrote the Interborough Rapid Transit company (IRT) suggesting potential improvements, but does not quote any or say if the letters survive, or mention any more recent opinion surveys. Without such evidence we have no sense of how closely the images put forth by John Dos Passos or WPA artist Dan Rico matched the impression of the typical commuter.
Even the analysis of highbrow art, the strongest part of the book, is diminished by the attempt to force a chronological arrangement on the material. In one of his best chapters, "The Subway Crowd," Brooks shows how artists have portrayed, positively and negatively, the mixing of peoples, classes, sexes, and races in the intensely democratic space of a subway car. It is a pity he limits this chapter to the period 1920 to 1950, when works from the nineteenth century to the present day grapple with the same themes, often in the same ways. Coverage of these earlier and later artists are cut off by unrelated chapters detailing newspaper coverage of underground corruption and crime. A far better organizational scheme would have followed John Stilgoe's Metropolitan Corridor (on railroads) or David Nye's Electrifying America (on electricity).[4] Like Subway City, these books measure the impact of a technology on the American psyche, but their thematic organization is much more effective.
Brooks and his publisher would have also done well to work harder at post-production. The index is inadequate, consisting almost entirely of the names of people and the titles of books, serials, and works of art and omitting references to extensively covered subjects such as graffiti, the IRT, and Tammany Hall. Even the titles of many of the works mentioned are not indexed. I also noticed a few minor errors: Mayor John Purroy Mitchel's name is consistently misspelled. Elsewhere, Tammany boss Charles Francis Murphy becomes John Francis Murphy, historian Sy Adler becomes Cy Adler, and a reference to Walker Evans becomes one to Reginald Marsh.
Despite these flaws, Subway City is an impressive accomplishment. The core of the book, covering the work of professional artists, is well argued and goes far to show that the subway exists not merely on a physical plane, but "has always generated meaning far in excess of its straightforward role as a means of rapid transit." For planners, politicians, artists, historians, or anyone else preparing to enter the realm of meaning, Subway City is a handy map to have.
[1]. Clifton Hood. 722 Miles: The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993. Stan Fischler. The Subway: A Trip Through Time on New York's Rapid Transit. Flushing: H & M Productions, 1997.
[2]. Joel Fischer. Urban Transportation: Home Rule and the Independent Subway System in New York City, 1917-1925. Ph.D. diss., St. John's University, 1978.
[3]. David A. Johnson. Planning the Great Metropolis: The 1929 Regional Plan of New York and Its Environs. London and New York: E & FN Spon, 1996.
[4]. John R. Stilgoe. Metropolitan Corridor: Railroads and the American Scene. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983. David E. Nye. Electrifying America: Social Meanings of a New Technology. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1990.
Copyright (c) 1998 by H-Net, all rights reserved. This work may be copied for non-profit educational use if proper credit is given to the author and the list. For other permission, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
If there is additional discussion of this review, you may access it through the network, at: https://networks.h-net.org/h-urban.
Zachary M. Schrag. Review of W. Brooks, Michael, Subway City: Riding the Trains, Reading New York.
H-Urban, H-Net Reviews.
January, 1998.
URL: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=1606
Copyright © 1998 by H-Net, all rights reserved. H-Net permits the redistribution and reprinting of this work for nonprofit, educational purposes, with full and accurate attribution to the author, web location, date of publication, originating list, and H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online. For any other proposed use, contact the Reviews editorial staff at firstname.lastname@example.com.