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Who knew there was so much choice in swimsuits?
I decided to invest in some new swimwear the other day. Who knew that would be so complicated?
I used to be a keen swimmer at school, and even swam competitively for a time, but like many things in my life, puberty put a stop to that. However, given that the menopause means that my days of being confined to bed for one to two weeks a month with crippling period pain are over, I have been able to take up swimming again. I started about 18 months ago and from my initial four lengths once a week, have worked up to 20 lengths twice a week and am about to add in a third session, plus a summer aquagym, so having the right gear is now something I feel entitled to splurge on a little.
For the past year and a half, I've been making do with two costumes I picked up cheap on Ebay – the bog-standard racerback from Maine at top left, which is a size 14 and comfy, but which has no bust support and is now threadbare with age – and this Shock Absorber, sized by bust size (36C), which is a great bust fit and highly supportive, but which leaves me feeling too exposed by the 'vault' back. With age, this cossie too is starting to bag a little at the lower back, where it can least afford to – something I felt somewhat on Sunday when I, the only woman, got out of a jacuzzi packed with blokes and felt my cossie give way.
When I swim, I should point out, I'm not trying to look sexy. Although I want a costume that is reasonably flattering – and my whole body is firming up nicely, thank you – I'm there to exercise, not show off. My suit has to work efficiently in the pool, giving me freedom to move as I alternate breaststroke and backstroke but I also want enough coverage that I'm not constantly pulling myself about (it's also pretty cold at the pool in winter, so a bit more coverage is very welcome for that reason too). When it comes to colour, I hate patterns and prefer black with some contrast detailing – like almost all the women at the pool, as it happens. And I'm not a competition swimmer, so I don't need fancy tech.
This time round, thinking more about design than about budget for once, I fancied giving a legsuit a try. I've never worn one of these, but they look like a really practical option and on investigation I find, in fact, that Speedo's Myrtle legsuit (left) is one of the best-selling costumes in the UK, which tells you something about real women's needs for swimming, as opposed to posing on the beach.
Legsuits come with different length legs, even down to the ankles, but I only wanted just enough to cover the tops of my thighs – a 'boyshort' length. Besides, I'm not sure that a long-leg suit wouldn't be banned in a French swimming pool under the 'clothing' rule. A woman of my acquaintance was told off last week for having her toddler in a swimshirt and long leggings, and women have been banned for wearing burkinis – the French take this kind of thing very seriously.
Spoilt for choice
When it came to choosing my new suits (I decided to get half a dozen, to reduce wear on each), my first problem was that there was WAY too much choice. Things have come on a long way since I last swam regularly in the 1980s. Who knew there were so many types of costumes? What about different brands and different materials? Why are the back designs so different and what do they mean? Why is the pricing so different?
I quickly found that generally, there is a reason that brands like Speedo and Jantzen are so well thought of for their quality and consistency over the years. Newer brands like Tyr, Maru and Zoggs are also rated, while Slazenger – though familiar to me from childhood – is generally thought to be a bit rubbish. I'm only a recreational swimmer so there was no need for me to go above 50 quid for a costume, but nor did it seem wise to go below about £30 (before discounts) in order to ensure quality, as costumes so quickly deteriorate in their harsh environment. About £33-£35 seems a reasonable guide price for a suit, though you can get them cheaper (as I did) in sales and on Ebay.
Back designs
The back designs, I discovered, are to enable fit (Simply Swim's website is a godsend for info). You need a gap at the small of the back to have a closer fit, but this is of greatest concern to competition swimmers who are trying to eliminate drag. When it comes to the straps, a racer or crossback gives you more freedom of arm movement and ensures that a suit won't slip off your shoulders, while adjustable bra-type straps enable a better fit on the bust.
Duly armed with a bit more info, I got myself this super Zoggs costume, the Torquay, from Wiggle.com. It's in navy rather than black, which is no longer available, but otherwise it has all the elements I'm looking for: a boyshort leg, shelf bra, a very small gap at the back, racer-back straps and no clips, rings or other paraphernalia to dick around with. Although I am between sizes, on advice from other buyers, I got it in a 12, going on my bust size, which should make it good and tight.
Gerbilling away at the back of my mind was a favourite costume I once had, which had a high neck with a zip front, rather like a wetsuit. I've never had a cossie so comfortable before or since, but could I find this style anywhere? There were plenty of similar suits with zip backs, but I already need help to do up the clip on the Shock Absorber cossie (when my friend E isn't swimming with me, I've had to get strangers to do it), and they don't look much like you could do them up by yourself. These back-zip cossies also universally lack bust support because they are designed to create a cleaner line for competitive swimming, and it's all very well suppressing your pert teenage size As, but when you're a saggy C just swimming for fitness, you want a bit of support, not just compression.
However, at UKSwimstore.com, I finally found a near-perfect version of my old costume – this Xylia Full Coverage from Speedo. It has a high neck, a high solid back, a low leg (so no need to get out the hedge trimmers) and the zip front I was looking for, but crucially, it also has bust support built-in. Yippee, so that went into my shopping trolley.
Since UK Swimstore offer flat-rate shipping to international destinations, it seemed sensible at the same time to get a swimskirt to extend the life of my existing costumes (and in case in some other world I ever find myself on a beach), so I got a 40cm-long Bohn version in black in a 14, which will go with everything. Bohn is a make devised by the owner of the UKSwimstore, Sarah Bohn, and includes long leggings and swimshirts (she has a lot of Muslim clients but also women with scarring, young mums, etc, who want a bit more coverage).
While on the site, I spotted another legsuit I'd been looking at elsewhere but had only found in too-large sizes – the Zoggs Lynton. I really like the go-faster patterning on this, which is very flattering, and although the back gap is larger than that on the Torquay, overall I like the design more. I had to get it in a 14, as a 12 was unavailable, but since I'm really a 13, I figure it will do for fat days or in winter when I tend to pork up. Note also, the much shorter boyshort length compared with the leg on the Torquay suit.
Alongside it I bought a conventional cossie, because this might be useful for hot weather and also just because I thought it was the most beautiful design – the Speedo Hydrafit 1-piece, which comes in the firm's proprietary Endurance fabric, which is meant to be extra-long-lasting. Also available in a legsuit (see below), the Hydrafit 1-piece has a medium leg and subtle detailing, with a crossover mesh front, mesh insert detail and vertical bust seaming. Again it has a built-in shelf bra, and the crossover back and small back gap give coverage but complete freedom of movement.
I thought that was my buying spree over, but then, long after I'd bought all the other suits, I decided on a couple more legsuits simply because the models were being discontinued. Swimsuits are as subject to fashion as any other kind of clothing, unfortunately, and I didn't want to be kicking myself in six months time.
I went for the legsuit version of the Hydrafit, in a black and 'smoke' colourway to ring the changes. The legsuit has a camisole-style top, and although you can't see it in the photograph, the bust design is also different. And my final choice was the Speedo Winner Clipback (below), for its v-neck, very slimming design and pretty back shape, though I daresay I might need help doing up that clip. I was sold on this latter suit by the owner of UK Swimstore saying that she wears this herself, but I actually bought this and the Hydrafit legsuit from Simply Swim (it was out of stock on UK Swimstore).
Other suits that I looked at included the Maru Pro T legsuit, which has longer legs and really beautiful detailing, but I'm not brave enough for this yet as it has a very naked back; Aqua Sphere's Combishort; and the Superiority legsuit from Speedo.
So, phew, that's a serious investment in kit, but I know it will all get worn – and worn to shreds – and I feel pretty good about it as it shows I'm taking myself seriously in the pool. Because of the bust support, the legsuits, btw, are not only suitable for aquagym but also the normal gym, and kayaking, so I may find myself wearing them on other occasions too.
One last thing: before I clicked to pay, I contacted UK Swimstore and asked about sizing and they suggested I buy the Xylia and the Hydrafit in a 12 to be on the safe side. Kudos to them for good customer service – they got back to me in a few minutes and even went as far as measuring a member of staff to ensure I got the right fit. They were right, too – when the Speedo costumes turned up, they were so very stretchy I could possibly have even got away with a 10.
And all vendors were highly efficient, despatching one day after order and my UK Swimstore cossies, ordered on the fourth, turned up on the seventh – an unheard-of speed for postage to France.
You can find these costumes at:
Simply Swim, who also do handy videos on YouTube.


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Back in the late '80s two guys from Queens, known collectively as The Jerky Boys, gained a shocking amount of fame--including a feature film--for the tape recordings of prank calls they made to all manner of unsuspecting victims. But two years before they began doing their thing, two other young guys, Eddie and Mitch, living in San Francisco began taping the old men in the apartment next door, creating an even more insane library of audio tapes that were all too real. "Shut Up Little Man!" is their story.
From the film's official synopsis:
The phenomenon began in 1987 when Eddie and Mitch (two young punks from the Mid West), moved next door to Peter Haskett (a flamboyant gay man), and Raymond Huffman (a raging homophobe). This ultimate odd-couple hated each other with raging abandon, and through the paper-thin walls their alcohol-fueled rants terrorized Eddie and Mitch. Fearing for their lives they began to tape record evidence of the insane goings on from next door.
U.S. & World
Despite the recordings being made in the analog age, the tapes managed to go viral, and spawned CDs, comics and plays. It's a jaw-dropping compilation of vitriol, the likes of which can only be achieved organically in the wild. You can't fake how much these to hated each other.
"Shut Up Little Man!" opens Aug. 26.

subset: commoncrawl


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - There are hundreds of guidebooks on how to handle grief, how to navigate the emotional suffering that follows a significant loss.
None of those studies offer a clean timetable on when the roller coaster of emotion will come to a stop. So there is no timetable on when Tony Stewart will get back into a race car.
The three-time NASCAR champion has skipped two races since he struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. during an Aug. 9 sprint car race. His Stewart-Haas Racing team will not pressure him to return, and wins and trophies and a berth in the important Chase for the Sprint Cup championship have all been put into perspective in a sport in which the show always goes on.
"The Chase is of the lowest priority as it relates to Tony right now," said Brett Frood, executive vice president at SHR. "Right now it's about getting Tony in a better place than he is. When he's ready to do that, he'll get back in the car."
Stewart has been in seclusion since Ward's death, his whereabouts undisclosed.
He's been described as heartbroken, devastated for Ward's family and overcome by the outpouring of behind-the-scenes support he's received from the NASCAR community. But very few people have spoken to Stewart, who seems to be navigating through this grief process away from many he's close to at the track.
Kevin Harvick, his longtime friend and teammate, said Sunday he's not spoken to Stewart. Nor had Rick Hendrick, one of the most steadying voices in NASCAR and a mentor to many, including Stewart.
Dr. Joseph R. Ferrari, a social phycologist at DePaul University, said Stewart could be acting on the advice of legal counsel, or simply struggling through a tricky emotional process.
"Does he feel guilt or shame? I think that's what is going on," Ferrari said. "There's a difference between shame and guilt and people often confuse this. With guilt, you've done some moral offense, you've done something to really offend somebody, and you say 'I've done something wrong.'
"Shame-prone people, they will begin to devalue themselves and begin to examine their character, wonder 'What a terrible person I am.' It could be so bad, so demoralizing, that he just isn't ready to come back."
Nobody in the NASCAR community doubts Stewart is suffering. You could walk from one end of the garage to the other listening to stories of Stewart's generosity and willingness to help in an emergency. He's gifted cash to a crew member who had an unexpected and urgent need, sent his plane to pick up family members of a stricken employee, scrambled to get someone home in time for the birth of a child.
Those who know him and have seen his compassion talk of that Stewart, not the helmet-throwing grizzly bear who has a storied history of sparring early and often with reporters.
"Everybody in this garage knows Tony. Tony doesn't beat his chest and talk about the things he does for people. We know it, we see it, but nobody else does," said Jeff Burton, who replaced Stewart on Sunday. "Earnhardt was like that. Earnhardt didn't want anybody to know the things he did for people.
"A lot of people only know Tony because he threw a helmet. They only know Tony because he got mad. I just hate people jump to conclusions."
Harvick bristled at the way Stewart has been portrayed since Ward's death, and dismissed it as implausible that any professional race car driver would intentionally run someone over.
"It would be hard to find somebody in the racing world that could point that car, just run somebody over," Harvick said. "It's just really unfortunate, the perception that has been given to him."
The beating he's taken in the court of public opinion and the feelings it has created could be what's keeping Stewart away from the race track, and could be what's preventing him from replying to the many messages he's received from his peers. Maybe he'll be back this weekend at Bristol, maybe it won't be until next week at Atlanta, or maybe he won't be back at all this year.
But when he does return to the track, he'll find a community eager to embrace him and help him in all the ways he's helped others in need.
"Racing is a community," Burton said. "I don't know the Ward family at all, but I know they raced and that means that I share something in common with them. The racing community cares about each other."


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The environmental activist and primatologist is a pioneering chimpanzee researcher who made some spectacular findings early in her career, particularly the discovery that chimps used tools like humans. But she is the first to admit that her fame grew with the countless journalists, photographers and filmmakers who couldn't get enough of her "Jane in the Jungle" story. And when she realized that her story might be the thing that could save her beloved chimps from extinction, she left the forest and hit the road.
Goodall, who turned 78 earlier this month, travels 300 days a year. Most of that time is spent speaking before a variety of audiences--from preschools to the AARP--about environmental degradation and animal and human rights. She remembers her first speech as "a nightmare where I couldn't breathe," and she was surprised to find that the audience didn't seem to notice.
Now, she says, her success in speaking stems from her Welsh storytelling ancestors and her passionate need for her stories to be heard. "The least I can do," she has said to many audiences, "is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves."
In this 2002 TED talk, Goodall shows why she's been in high demand as a speaker all over the world. She's had a lot of practice, sure, but here are a few other skills that all speakers can steal for themselves:
- Be there in person. One of the reasons Goodall tours so much, she says, is that nothing beats the persuasive power of being directly in front of her audience. In an interview with Jane Goodall Institute manager and Georgetown University communications researcher John Trybus, Goodall said she's heard a variation on this line from countless audiences: "We've seen you on TV, but when you're there and we're listening to you, it's different."
- Expand your idea of a prop. In this talk, Goodall has her ubiquitous "Mr. H." monkey doll sitting on the lectern, and she's brought a piece of Nelson Mandela's Robben Island prison wall to make a point about the importance of hope. But even more memorable are her dynamic "sound" props. There's the haunting tinkle of the bell made from a Cambodian landmine, which brings the audience to silence. And then there's her pant-hoot chimpanzee greeting, which brings the audience to laughter. She uses the chimpanzee call in nearly every speech she gives, but it's always striking to see such a loud noise burst forth from a small woman.
- Speak like Shakespeare? When she was teaching herself how to give speeches, Goodall drew on the lessons of music and Shakespeare's plays. Good music and good theater, she suggests, have a rhythm of up and down, or alternating humor and lightness with more somber passages. It's a technique that she uses here to great effect. She warms up her audience with a few funny stories, moves to a serious core discussion of environmental threats and finishes with a hopeful and uplifting tone.
(Freelance writer Becky Ham contributed this cracking post on Jane Goodall to our Famous Speech Friday series. Photo from NickStep's photostream on Flickr.)
My post on "How Rush Limbaugh is helping me celebrate Women's History Month" is nominated as one of BlogHer's "Voices of the Year 2012." Follow this link to vote--and thanks for supporting this post.


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Israel Postal Company asks us to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that Tuesday, 30 October 2018 will be a non-working day owing to the local elections in Israel.
Therefore, all international and domestic mail collection and deliveries will be suspended for the day.
Israel Postal Company thanks designated operators for their understanding.


text:
Notify you that one or more of your jobs caused compute nodes to crash with an out-of-memory error.
Sample subject line
Failure of job(s) 933014,933174 at OSC due to exhaustion of physical memory
Apparent sender
OSC Help <email@example.com>
Your job(s) exhausted both physical memory and swap space during job execution. This failure caused the compute node(s) used by the job(s) to crash, requiring a reboot.
Sent under these circumstances
These emails are sent by a systems administrator as part of the node cleanup process.
To turn off the emails
You cannot turn off these emails. Please don't ignore them because they report a problem that you must correct.
To prevent these problems
See the Knowledge Base article "Out-of-Memory (OOM) or Excessive Memory Usage" for suggestions on dealing with out-of-memory problems.
For information on the memory available on the various systems, see our Supercomputing page.
If you continue to submit jobs that cause these problems, your HPC account may be blocked.
For assistance
We will work with you to get your jobs running within the constraints of the system. Contact OSC Help for assistance. See our Support Services page for more contact information.


text:
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
September 22, 2020, 6:30 PM @ Town Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 301
Watch this meeting at the Town Hall, on Cable TV channels 5 or 1302, or online at www.townhallstreams.com.
View all calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar.


text:
Operators of coal mines in which electricity is used as a means of power shall comply with the following provisions:
(1) All surface transformers, unless of a construction which will eliminate shock hazards, or unless installed at least eight feet above ground, shall be enclosed in a house or surrounded by a fence at least six feet high. If the enclosure is of metal, it shall be grounded effectively. The gate or door to the enclosure shall be kept locked at all times, unless authorized persons are present.
(2) Underground transformers shall be air cooled or cooled with noninflammable liquid or inert gas.
(3) Underground stations containing circuit breakers filled with inflammable liquids shall be put on a separate split of air or ventilated to the return air, and shall be of fireproof construction.
(4) Transformers shall be provided with adequate overload protection.
(5) "Danger -- High Voltage" signs with the voltage indicated shall be posted conspicuously on all transformer enclosures, high-potential switchboards and other high-potential installations.
(6) Dry insulating platforms of rubber or other suitable nonconductive material shall be kept in place at each switchboard and at stationary machinery where shock hazards exist.
(7) Capacitors used for power factor connection shall be noninflammable liquid filled. Suitable drain-off resistors or other means to protect miners against electric shock following removal of power shall be provided.
(8) All unattended underground loading points where electric driven hydraulic systems are used shall utilize a fireproof oil or emulsion.
(9) Before electrical changes are made to permissible equipment for use in a mine, they shall be approved by the director.
(10) Reverse current protection shall be provided at storage battery charging stations to prevent the storage batteries from energizing the power circuits in the event of power failure.
(11) In all mines all junction or distribution boxes used for making multiple power connections inby the last open crosscut shall be permissible.
(12) All hand-held electric drills, blower and exhaust fans, electric pumps, and such other low horsepower electric face equipment which are taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any coal mine shall be permissible.
(13) All electric face equipment which is taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any coal mine shall be permissible.
(14) In mines operated in coal seams which are located at elevations above the water table, the phrase "coal seams above the water table" means coal seams in a mine which are located at an elevation above a river or the tributary of a river into which a local surface water system naturally drains.
(15) The operator of each coal mine shall maintain in permissible condition all electric face equipment, which is taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any mine.
(16) Except where permissible power connection units are used, all power-connection points outby the last open crosscut shall be in intake air.
(17) All power circuits and electric equipment shall be deenergized before work is done on such circuits and equipment, except when necessary for trouble shooting or testing.
(18) Energized trolley wires may be repaired only by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain electrical equipment and the operator of a mine shall require that such persons wear approved and tested insulated shoes and wireman's gloves.
(19) No electrical work shall be performed on low-, medium-, or high-voltage distribution circuits or equipment, except by a qualified person or by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain electrical equipment under the direct supervision of a qualified person. Disconnecting devices shall be locked out and suitably tagged by the persons who perform such work, except that in cases where locking out is not possible, such devices shall be opened and suitably tagged by such persons who installed them, or, if such persons are unavailable, by persons authorized by the operator or his agent.
(20) All electric equipment shall be examined weekly, tested, and properly maintained by a qualified person to assure safe operating conditions. When a potentially dangerous condition is found on electric equipment, such equipment shall be removed from service until such condition is corrected. A record of such examinations shall be kept and made available to an authorized representative of the director and to the miners in such mine.
(21) All electric conductors shall be sufficient in size and have adequate current-carrying capacity and be of such construction that a rise in temperature resulting from normal operation will not damage the insulating material.
(22) All electrical connections or splices in conductors shall be mechanically and electrically efficient, and suitable connectors shall be used. All electrical connections or splices in insulated wire shall be reinsulated at least to the same degree of protection as the remainder of the wire.
(23) Cables shall enter metal frames of motors, splice boxes, and electric compartment only through proper fittings. When insulated wire, other than cables, pass through metal frames, the holes shall be substantially bushed with insulated bushings.
(24) All power wire (except trailing cables on mobile equipment, specially designed cables conducting high-voltage power to underground rectifying equipment or transformers, or bare or insulated ground and return wires) shall be supported on well-installed insulators and shall not contact combustible material, roof or ribs.
(25) Power wires and cables, including, but not limited to, phone communication and control wires, except trolley wires, trolley feeder wires and bare signal wires, shall be insulated adequately and fully protected. The provisions of this subdivision shall not become effective until January 1, 1978.
(26) Automatic circuit-breaking devices or fuses of the correct type and capacity shall be installed so as to protect all electric equipment and circuits against short circuit and overloads. Three-phase motors on all electric equipment shall be provided with overload protection that will deenergize all three phases in the event that any phase is overloaded.
(27) Incandescent lamps installed along haulageways and at other locations shall not contact combustible material, and if powered from trolley or direct current feeder circuits, need not be provided with separate short circuits or overload protection, if the lamp is not more than eight feet in distance from such circuits.
(28) In all main power circuits, disconnecting switches shall be installed underground within five hundred feet of the bottoms of shafts and boreholes through which main power circuits enter the underground area of the mine and within five hundred feet of all other places where main power circuits enter the underground area of the mine.
(29) All electric equipment shall be provided with switches or other controls that are safely designed, constructed and installed.
(30) Each underground, exposed power conductor that leads underground shall be equipped with suitable lightning arrestors of approved type within one hundred feet of the point where the circuit enters the mine. Lightning arrestors shall be connected to a low-resistance grounding medium on the surface which shall be separated from neutral ground by a distance of not less than twenty-five feet.
(31) Except for areas of a coal mine inby the last open crosscut, incandescent lamps may be used to illuminate underground areas. When incandescent lamps are used in a track entry or belt entry or near track entries to illuminate special areas other than structures, the lamps shall be installed in weatherproof sockets located in positions such that the lamps will not come in contact with any combustible material. Lamps used in all other places must be of substantial construction and be fitted with a glass enclosure.
(32) An authorized representative of the director may require in any mine that electric face equipment be provided with devices that will permit the equipment to be deenergized quickly in the event of an emergency.
(33) An authorized representative of the director shall require manually operated emergency stop switches, designed to deenergize the traction motor circuit when the contractors or controller fail to open, to be installed on all battery powered tractors, taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any entry or room.
(34) Trailing cables used in coal mines shall meet the requirements for flame-resistant cables.
(35) Short circuit protection for trailing cables shall be provided by an automatic circuit breaker or other no less effective device approved by the director of adequate current-interrupting capacity in each ungrounded conductor. Disconnecting devices used to disconnect power from trailing cables shall be plainly marked and identified and such devices shall be equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the power is disconnected.
(36) When two or more trailing cables junction to the same distribution center, means shall be provided to assure against connecting a trailing cable to the wrong size circuit breaker.
(37) One temporary splice may be made in any trailing cable. Such trailing cable may only be used for the next twenty-four hour period. No temporary splice shall be made in a trailing cable within twenty-five feet of the machine, except cable reel equipment. Temporary splices in trailing cables shall be made in a workmanlike manner and shall be mechanically strong and well insulated. Trailing cables or hand cables which have exposed wires or which have splices that heat or spark under load shall not be used. As used in this section, the term "splice" means a mechanical joining of one or more conductors that have been severed.
(38) When permanent splices in trailing cables are made, they shall be:
(A) Mechanically strong with adequate electrical conductivity and flexibility;
(B) Effectively insulated and sealed so as to exclude moisture; and
(C) Vulcanized or otherwise treated with suitable materials to provide flame-resistant qualities and good bonding to the outer jacket.
(39) Trailing cables shall be clamped to machines in a manner to protect the cables from damage and to prevent strain on the electrical connections. No cables will be hung in a manner which will damage the insulation or conductors.
(40) Trailing cables shall be adequately protected to prevent damage by mobile equipment.
(41) Trailing cable and power cable connections to junction boxes and to electrical equipment shall not be made or broken under load.
(42) All metallic sheaths, armors and conduits enclosing power conductors shall be electrically continuous throughout and shall be grounded by methods approved by an authorized representative of the director.
(43) Except where waived by the director, metallic frames, casings and other enclosures of electric equipment that can become alive through failure of insulation or by contact with energized parts shall be grounded, and on or before January 1, 1978, shall have a ground monitoring system.
(44) In instance where single-phase 110-220 volt circuits are used to feed electrical equipment, the only method of grounding that will be approved is the connection of all metallic frames, casings and other enclosure of such equipment to a separate grounding conductor which establishes a continuous connection to a grounded center tap of the transformer.
(45) The attachment of grounding wires to a mine tract or other grounded power conductor will be approved if separate clamps, suitable for such purpose, are used and installed to provide a solid connection.
(46) The frames of all offtrack direct-current machines and the enclosures of related detached components shall be effectively grounded or otherwise maintained at no less safe voltages.
(47) Installation of silicon diodes shall be restricted to electric equipment receiving power from a direct-current system with one polarity grounded. Where such diodes are used on circuits having a nominal voltage rating of two hundred fifty, they must have a forward current rating of four hundred amperes or more, and have a peak inverse voltage rating of four hundred or more. Where such diodes are used on circuits having nominal voltage rating of five hundred fifty, they must have a forward current rating of two hundred fifty amperes or more, and have a peak inverse voltage rating of eight hundred or more.
(48) In addition to the grounding diode, a polarizing diode must be installed in the machine control circuit to prevent operation of the machine when the polarity of a trailing cable is reversed.
(49) When installed on permissible equipment, all grounding diodes, over-current devices, and polarizing diodes must be placed in explosion-proof compartments.
(50) High-voltage lines, both on the surface and underground, shall be deenergized and grounded before work is performed on them, except that repairs may be permitted, in the case of energized surface high-voltage lines, if such repairs are made by a qualified person in accordance with procedures and safeguards, including, but not limited to, a requirement that the operator of such mine provide, test and maintain protective devices in making such repairs.
(51) When two or more persons are working on an energized high-voltage surface line simultaneously, and any one of them is within reach of another, such persons shall not be allowed to work on different phases or on equipment with different potentials.
(52) All persons performing work on energized high-voltage surface lines shall wear protective rubber gloves, sleeves, and climber guards if climbers are worn. Protective rubber gloves shall not be worn wrong side out or without protective leather gloves. Protective devices worn by a person assigned to perform repairs on high-voltage surface lines shall be worn continuously from the time he leaves the ground until he returns to the ground, and, if such devices are employed for extended periods, such person shall visually inspect the equipment assigned him for defects before each use, and, in no case, less than twice each day.
(53) Disconnecting or cutout switches on energized high-voltage surface lines shall be operated only with insulated sticks, fuse tongs or pullers which are adequately insulated and maintained to protect the operator from the voltage to which he is exposed. When such switches are operated from the ground, the person operating such devices shall wear protective rubber gloves.
(54) Solely for purposes of grounding ungrounded high-voltage power systems, grounded messenger wires used to suspend the cables of such systems may be used as a grounding medium.
(55) When not in use, power circuits underground shall be deenergized on idle days and idle shifts, except that rectifiers and transformers may remain energized.
(56) High-voltage circuits entering the underground area of any coal mine shall be protected by suitable circuit breakers of adequate interrupting capacity. Such breakers shall be equipped with devices to provide protection against undervoltage, grounded phase, short circuit and overcurrent.
(57) Circuit breakers protecting high-voltage circuits entering an underground area of any coal mine shall be located on the surface and in no case installed either underground or within a drift.
(58) One circuit breaker may be used to protect two or more branch circuits, if the circuit breaker is adjusted to afford overcurrent protection for the smallest conductor.
(59) The grounding resistor, where required, shall be of the proper ohmic value to limit the voltage drop in the grounding circuit external to the resistor to not more than one hundred volts under fault conditions. The grounding resistor shall be rated for maximum fault current continuously and insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.
(60) High-voltage circuits extending underground and supplying portable mobile or stationary high-voltage equipment shall contain either a direct or derived neutral which shall be grounded through a suitable resistor at the source transformers, and a grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power conductors and serve as a grounding conductor for the frames of all high-voltage equipment supplied power from the circuit, except that the director or his authorized representative may permit ungrounded high-voltage circuits to be extended underground to feed stationary electrical equipment if such circuits are either steel armored or installed in grounded, rigid steel conduit throughout their entire length, and upon his finding that such exception does not pose a hazard to the miners. Within one hundred feet of the point on the surface where high-voltage circuits enter the underground portion of the mine, disconnecting devices shall be installed and so equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the power is disconnected, except that the director or his authorized representative may permit such devices to be installed at a greater distance from such area of the mine if he determines, based on existing physical conditions, that such installation will be more accessible at a greater distance and will not pose any hazard to the miners.
(61) High-voltage resistance grounded systems serving portable or mobile equipment shall include a fail-safe ground check circuit to monitor continuously the grounding circuit to assure continuity, and the fail-safe ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken, or other no less effective device approved by the director or his authorized representative to assure such continuity.
(62) Underground high-voltage cables used in resistance grounded systems shall be equipped with metallic shields around each power conductor with one or more ground conductors having a total cross-sectional area of not less than one half the power conductor, and with an insulated internal or external conductor not smaller than No. 10 (A.W.G.) for the ground continuity check circuit.
(63) All such cables shall be adequate for the intended current and voltage. Splices made in such cables shall provide continuity of all components.
(64) Single-phase loads, such as transformer primaries, shall be connected phase-to-phase.
(65) All underground high-voltage transmission cables shall be installed only in regularly inspected air courses and haulageways, and shall be covered, buried, or placed so as to afford protection against damage, guarded where men regularly work or pass under them unless they are six and one-half feet or more above the floor or rail, securely anchored, properly insulated, and guarded at ends, and covered, insulated, or placed to prevent contact with trolley wires and other low-voltage circuits.
(66) Disconnecting devices shall be installed at the beginning of branch lines in underground high-voltage circuits and equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the circuit is deenergized when the switches are open.
(67) Circuit breakers and disconnecting switches underground shall be marked for identification.
(68) In the case of high-voltage cables used as trailing cables, temporary splices shall not be used and all permanent splices shall be made in accordance with the manufacturers' specifications.
(69) Frames, supporting structures and enclosures of stationary, portable, or mobile underground high-voltage equipment and all high-voltage equipment supplying power to such equipment receiving power from resistance grounded systems shall be effectively grounded to the high-voltage ground.
(70) Low-and medium-voltage power circuits serving three-phase alternating current equipment serving portable or mobile equipment shall be protected by suitable circuit breakers of adequate interrupting capacity which are properly tested and maintained as prescribed by the director. Such breakers shall be equipped with devices to provide protection against under-voltage, grounded phase, short circuit and overcurrent.
(71) Power centers and portable transformers shall be deenergized before they are moved from one location to another, except that, when equipment powered by sources other than such centers or transformers is not available, the director may permit such centers and transformers to be moved while energized, if he determines that another equivalent or greater hazard may otherwise be created, and if they are moved under the supervision of a qualified person, and if such centers and transformers are examined prior to such movement by such person and found to be grounded by methods approved by an authorized representative of the director and otherwise protected from hazards to the miner. A record shall be kept of such examinations. High-voltage cables, other than trailing cables, shall not be moved or handled at any time while energized, except that when such centers and transformers are moved while energized as permitted under this section, energized high-voltage cables attached to such centers and transformers may be moved only by a qualified person and the operator of such mine shall require that such person wear approved and tested insulated wireman's gloves.
(72) Low-and medium-voltage three-phase alternating-current circuits used underground shall contain either a direct or derived neutral which shall be grounded through a suitable resistor at the power center, and a grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power conductors and serve as a grounding conductor for the frames of all the electrical equipment supplied power from the circuit, except that the director or his authorized representative may permit underground low- and medium-voltage circuits to be used underground to feed such stationary electrical equipment if such circuits are either steel armored or installed in grounded rigid steel conduit throughout their entire length. The grounding resistor, where required, shall be of the proper ohmic value to limit the ground fault current to twenty-five amperes. The grounding resistor shall be rated for maximum fault current continuously and insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.
(73) Low-and medium-voltage resistance grounded systems serving portable or mobile equipment shall include a fail-safe ground check circuit to monitor continuously the grounding circuit to assure continuity which ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken, or other not less effective device approved by the director or his authorized representative to assure such continuity, except that an extension of time, not in excess of twelve months, may be permitted by the director on a mine-to-mine basis if he determines that such equipment is not available. Cable couplers shall be constructed so that the ground check continuity conductor shall be broken first and the ground conductors shall be broken last when the coupler is being uncoupled.
(74) Disconnecting devices shall be installed in conjunction with circuit breakers serving portable or mobile equipment to provide visual evidence that the power is connected.
(75) Circuit breakers shall be marked for identification.
(76) Single-phase loads shall be connected phase-to-phase.
(77) Trailing cables for medium-voltage circuits shall include grounding conductors, a ground check conductor, and grounded metallic shields around each power conductor or a ground metallic shield over the assembly, except that on equipment employing cable reels, cables without shields may be used if the insulation is rated two thousand volts or more.
(78) Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires shall be provided with cutout switches at intervals of not more than two thousand feet and near the beginning of all branch lines.
(79) Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires shall be provided with overcurrent protection.
(80) Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires, high-voltage cables, and transformers shall not be located within fifteen feet of the last open crosscut and shall be kept at least one hundred fifty feet from pillar workings.
(81) Trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, and bare signal wires shall be insulated adequately where they pass through doors and stoppings and where they cross other power wires and cables. Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires shall be guarded adequately:
(A) At all points where men are required to work or pass regularly under the wires.
(B) On both sides of all doors and stoppings.
(C) At man-trip stations.
(82) Temporary guards shall be provided where trackmen and other persons work in close proximity to trolley wires and trolley feeder wires.
(83) Adequate precaution shall be taken to ensure that equipment being moved along haulageways will not come in contact with trolley wires or trolley feeder wires.
(84) Trolley and feeder wires shall be installed as follows: Where installed on permanent haulage, they shall be:
(A) At least six inches outside the track gauge line.
(B) Kept taut and not permitted to touch the roof, rib or crossbars. Particular care shall be taken where they pass through door openings to preclude bare wires from coming in contact with combustible material.
(C) Installations of trolley wire hangers shall be provided within three feet of each splice in a trolley wire.


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Feeling low on your creative juices?
I have the PERFECT solution for you...
MY PAPER PUMPKIN is a monthly subscription where you get a SWEET, little, pumpkin colored box delivered right to your mailbox every month with a brand new project for you to make. Everything you need is included in your PUMPKIN box.
And to sweeten the deal if you are a NEW subscriber to My Paper Pumpkin you will receive a FREE set of 2012-2014 Stampin' Write Markers. (a $14.95 value)
So how much is this going to cost you? Only $19.95 per month
How long am I committed to this subscription? You may cancel at anytime
What if I cancel and then want to start back up again? Yes! you may do that and you will NOT receive the starter kit - you will jump right back in to the very next months subscription.
How long to have to get in on this great deal? The paper pumpkin can be purchased anytime but the FREE marker promotion goes through February 10th.
How do I sign up? Just click HERE to join and I would love it if you would pick me (Christi Waite, Hudsonville MI) as your demonstrator when you are over there
The My Paper Pumpkin would be a great gift idea for your daughter or grand daughter especially if you live far apart - it would be like you were right there crafting with them.
I had a sneak peek at the upcoming Paper Pumpkin issues and you are going to LOVE them!!
Weekly Deals for January 21-27, 2014
Weekly Deals for January 21-27, 2014
Thanks for stopping by!
Click HERE to shop online
Pin It Now!


text:
In light of the progressive spread of the coronavirus and the associated effects on society, RWTH Aachen University has decided to cancel the RWTHextern summer semester events this year.
Winter Semester 2019/20 Program
- work
- +49 241 80 93681
- Send Email
Aimed at the entire Aachen and regional public, RWTHextern has once again put together a varied and exciting program for the 2019/20 winter semester.
For instance, there will be two high-profile concerts by the WDR Big Band and the Aachen Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, RWTHextern will host talks, lectures and presentations on topics such as artificial intelligence, laser technology, and mobility.
In the event series Uni at City Hall, well-known experts from science and society discuss current topics and controversial issues. This takes place in the form of a panel discussion moderated by WDR journalist Jens Tervooren.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our events!
Future Lab Aachen
RWTHextern is a partner of Future Lab Aachen – The Art of Progress.
The city guide FLApp has been available since the summer of 2017.The app offers a look into research in Aachen.


text:
Spinner Type Tensioner Tool
For ¼″ × .020″ – ¾″ × .030″ Strapping
|Powder-Coated Steel
Phone: 800-274-6271
Fax: 800-279-6897
- All
- Brackets
- Buckles
- Strapping
- Wing Seals
Spinner Type Tensioner Tool
The spinner type tensioner tool is used for tensioning stainless steel strapping around poles and piping. It features a spring loaded gripper lever for more efficient strap handling and the cut-off handle is vinyl coated for a more comfortable operation. It also has a built-in cutter to remove the excess strapping. It will tension up to 2400 lbs. and accommodates ¼″ to ¾″ wide strapping with band thicknesses of .020″ to .030″. The tool weighs 4 lbs., is 10" long and has an arm length of 5″.
Installation steps:
- Measure out enough stainless-steel strapping to go around the pole including an extra 12″ or so of slack.
- Insert one end of the strapping into your straight leg sign mounting bracket.
- Insert the same end into your buckle or wing seal and bend about 2″ to 3″ of strapping underneath the wing seal or buckle.
- Wrap the strapping around the pole and slide the other end of the strapping through the buckle or wing seal and bend it back so that the strapping stays in place.
- Tighten the strapping down with the strapping tool, making sure that the tool is against the wing seal or buckle during this step.
- Once the strapping is tight, bend the strapping with the tool to hold the tension and use the cutter to cut off the excess strapping.
- Fold the excess strapping over the buckle or wing seal and hammer down the wings to secure the strapping
- Repeat these steps to install the second band of strapping.
Strapping being inserted
Strapping being inserted
The other end of the strapping being inserted and bent to hold it in place
Strapping tool Y3532 tightening and then cutting the strapping around the pole
Extra strapping left over to be sealed under buckle or wing seal
Bend the strapping over the buckle or wing seal to partially secure the strapping


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Grains finished weak after poor export sales for corn and a continued weakness from the Supply and Demand report. December corn finished 9 ½ cents lower at $6.46 ½, January soybeans 16 cents lower at $11.69 ½, and December wheat down 21 ¼ cents at $6.21 ¾.
Today's export sales for corn were extremely weak at 251,900 MTs. This was down 60 percent from last week and 75 from the 4-week average. Corn basis has remained strong, but a lot of that could be the ethanol tax credit expiring and ethanol producers rising up to meet the demand of the blender before year end. For bean sales we were a bit stronger at 604,000 MTs and wheat sales at 298,500 MTs.
Yesterday's S & D report was rather neutral for corn and bearish for beans/wheat. For corn they did lower their yield estimate to 146.7 bringing their total production estimate down 123 million bushels from the October report. At the same time they also lowered their feed estimate by 100 million bushels so their overall carryout was still pegged at 843 million bu which was above estimates. We also had an increase in expected Chinese production going from 182 million MTs of corn to 184.5 million MTs of corn.
For beans we also found a reduction in average yield to 41.3 but they lowered export expectations by 50 million bu which ended up raising the US carryout guess to 195. The world carryout estimate also was increased and part of the reason for a continued selloff.
Wheat still shows a massive amount of world carryover with yet another increase in stocks. They still did not change their feed estimates from 160 even though we feel that number could be closer to 250 when it is all said and done.
Outside markets finished strong with crude oil over $2 higher crossing that 200 day moving average.
If you have any questions about your marketing plan please give us a call. Have a great weekend!
To receive a two week trial of our services please contact an EHedger broker today or sign up using the link below.
Best Regards,
Trading commodity futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge and financial resources. The market information contained in this message has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. Market information may not be consistent with current or future market positions of EHedger LLC, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents.


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Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter
The Southeastern Massachusetts chapter, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, is led by Muriel "Rusty" Watterson. They have placed AEDs in area schools and public buildings and have trained well over 1,000 students in CPR/AED. The chapter is a strong advocate for a statewide AED mandate for schools. Vice President, John McCaul also hosts the local public access television program, For Your Information. More information on these successes and activities can be found at www.operationdefibrillator.org.
Muriel Watterson is the president of Operation Defibrillator, a group dedicated to ensuring that all public facilities and public safety vehicles are equipped with AEDs and that there is proper training and application of CPR and AED procedures.
On April 18, 2003, the Watterson Family donated an AED to Bouine High School in memeory of Patrolman "Lenny" Watterson. Since Operation Defibrillator's inception in 2003 by Muriel Watterson, John McCaul, and SCAA Committee Members Bob Schriever and Scott Meagher, it has placed AEDs in three local and private Taunton high schools. They have also placed an AED in City Hall, Taunton Senior Citizens Center, and DPW. They are now working on getting an AED at the Retirement Board.
In February 2006, they financed the CPR and AED training of management at the Senior Center. Major funding has ben provided by Day State Gas Company, Morton Hospital Retirees Association, Taunton Charitable Association, and family and friends.
Their mission is to equip all public facilities, such as schools, offices, senior centers, and public safety vehicles with AEDs, and to establish monthly AED training.
AED Donated to the Disabled Veterans Chapter 57.
State Representative Shaunna O'Connell, along with Bob Schriever, past chairman of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, and Taunton resident Muriel "Rusty" Watterson, president of the SCAA Southeastern MA chapter, presented an AED to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 57 that was generously donated by the national SCAA.
SCAA Chairman Bob Schriever conducts a training program at a church in Seekonk, Massachusetts in November 2010. Attendees had the opportunity to receive CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
Taunton VFW Amps Up Heart Safety With New Defibrillator
By Marc Larocque, Taunton Daily Gazette
While members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Taunton have risked their lives fighting overseas, a lifesaving device has recently been donated to the post to help prevent sudden deaths on the home front.
Defibtech, a Connecticut-based company, donated a defibrillator to the Taunton VFW, which was presented to the post on Wednesday night.
Representatives of the non-profit Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) were present, sharing information and advocating for the increased availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Six firefighters receive awards at council
Fire Capt. Timothy Birch and firefighters Carl Aveiro, John Casali, Walter Guertin, Timothy Infante and Michael Maitland were given certificates of commendation and special pins by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association during a city council meeting Tuesday.
'Miracle' Heart Attack Survivor Gives CPR To Stranger
Laura Geraghty said she was stocking up on groceries at Wal-Mart Thursday when she heard screams a few aisles away. A man suffering an apparent heart attacked had collapsed in the store.
Geraghty, who was brought back to life last year after her heart stopped beating for 57 minutes, was carrying a pocket CPR device that helped her to administer life-saving chest compressions to the dying man.
Complete Story >> http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/22488409/detail.html
As a retired school nurse for the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, Muriel "Rusty" Watterson knows the statistics and the importance of how seconds can mean life or death. She started SCAA's Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter in 2003. In mid-December, Rusty was named as the Volunteer of the Week by the Taunton Daily Gazette. She said that what she has learned the most is that once people are educated and recognize the importance of AEDs, they also see how great the need is.
Police officer Peter J. Corr and several city firefighters were recently honored at a city council meeting for helping save a man's life at the Elk's Club back in January.
Bob Schriever, the national chairman of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, and Muriel "Rusty" Watterson, the organization's local chapter leader, were on hand at City Hall to hand out citations and pins to the first responders.
Mayor Charles Crowley also presented them with citations from the city.
When referee Bob Schriever was unconscious after collapsing on a Wellesley football field, he could have joined the 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims who don't survive.
Schriever, of North Attleboro, who was stricken during a football game between Wellesley High School and Newton North, was saved by a defibrillator brought to the game by a local sports trainer. Defibrillators deliver an electric shock to the heart to treat sudden cardiac arrest.
"I remember saying second down, gentlemen, second and seven... that's all I remember," Schriever told West Bridgewater seniors at a school presentation Monday morning. "For me to stand here before you today... I'm one of the lucky five percent."
Complete Story>>
266 County St, Apt 2
Taunton, MA 02780-3508
Phone: (508) 823-7207
In the News
None at this time.


text:
RV Forum logo wear - click HERE
Going to pick up a base plate on the way so we can tow in the future.
Scott. In hind sight I should have got the base plate a long time ago. The tow bar was given to us by friends that couldn't use it. Now it is very expensive on this side of the border and shipping would be huge if I were to order it online. I plan to order it ahead of time and pick it up on the way.
We took the Lulu Lobster Boat tour out of Bar Harbor and recommend it. The captain & crew are friendly and helpful and his spiel is both entertaining and informative.http://lululobsterboat.com/
I'm assuming that by the "northern part of the park across the bay" Bill is referring to the Schoodic Peninsula? (really more east) Or perhaps Southwest Harbor? (west) We are staying at the new National Park CG on Schoodic Peninsula, so I will report back after the trip.
I would call and ask. You may be able to go to the park without a passport because it is jointly managed. Bill
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Imagine that in the rush toward war with Iraq, the sales pitch had gone like this:
"We must put our troops in harm's way to depose a brutal dictator, Saddam Hussein, and give Iraqis a chance at democracy. This will not be easy. It will take eight years, cost the lives of 4,488 U.S. troopsand leave tens of thousands more grievously injured. Al-Qaeda will gain a new foothold, and the civil war we unleash will kill more than 100,000 Iraqis. We will spend $3 trillion, our war in Afghanistan will be orphaned and the big winner will be Iran. But Iraq will be a better place."
RICHARD PERLE: Removing Saddam was the right call
That, of course, is an assessment of the war Tuesday on the 10th anniversary of the invasion. The outcome could not have been known with such precision in advance. But if history has made anything obvious, it is that the Bush administration used false premises to peddle the war.
The administration's primary justification — that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction — was at best a massive miscalculation. None was ever found. The secondary reason — that Saddam had connections to Osama bin Laden — was simply a lie, supported by neither evidence nor logic but believed by half the public.
Amplify these assertions with the White House sound blaster, and the message received by Americans still edgy after the 9/11 attacks was that the United States faced an imminent threat that only war could avert.
A docile Congress overwhelmingly authorized an invasion. And so the Bush administration's campaign of "shock and awe" began, only to disintegrate swiftly into civil war, followed eventually by an unsteady peace and, ultimately, U.S. withdrawal.
The lessons are many.
One is that war is never as easy or controllable as it appears at the outset. Even George W. Bush has conceded that his administration did a poor job of planning for the unexpected. Intent on war and assuming quick victory, it did almost nothing to prepare for the aftermath, setting up the disastrous decision to remove leaders of the Iraqi bureaucracy, outlaw the Baathist party and disband the Iraqi army. The insurrection followed within days and quickly spun out of control.
On a broader scale, the long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced bipartisan wariness about large-scale ground wars. Special forces, drones or air power can attain lesser objectives at lower risk.
But the most useful lesson of the Iraq War is simpler and sadly familiar: Beware of leaders seeking to rush the nation into war.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney, if not Bush, were looking for an excuse to invade almost from the moment of the 9/11 attacks, if not earlier. Notes by aides during a meeting on the afternoon of 9/11, and leaked in 2009 to CBS News, quote Rumsfeld asking for the "best info fast. Judge whether good enough to hit S.H. (Saddam Hussein) at the same time. Not only UBL (bin Laden)."
Cheney and Rumsfeld pushed tirelessly for war, arrogantly dismissing any inconvenient argument against it and viewing it as a shortcut to establishing a beachhead of democracy in the Middle East.
Iraq today is a democracy, if a struggling one, and at least has a chance to do better. But it is still beset by sectarian violence, led by a president who has been acting more like a strongman, and heavily under the influence of Iran, the likeliest target of the next American war.
As that potential conflict nears, it would be wise to keep the lessons of Iraq in mind.
War should be entered into only as a last resort, and only then with total commitment after thorough vetting of the need. That's not just the message of Iraq. It's the message of American wars for the past 50 years.


text:
You Say Temptation Like It's a Bad Thing
Picture a man-eating lion with a steel chain around his neck tethered to a steel spike driven deeply into the ground. That's temptation.
Imagine that one day you're out on a walk when seemingly out of nowhere this lion, a 500-pound predatory, flesh-ripping machine, suddenly lunges at you! After the paralyzing shock and horror wears off, you realize the lion, being limited by his chain, is a good 20 feet away. After taking a brief moment to thank God that you still have all four limbs and a torso, you run away from the lion as fast as humanly possible. From this day on, you are aware the lion is out there.
I try to emotionally prepare myself for meeting the lion again and again, telling myself he's tethered and can only charge so far. Looking at his majestic beauty and strength from a distance, I'm mesmerized and begin to think to myself, "I wonder just how close I can get to this unbelievable beast and still remain safe?" Each time I walk that road and come upon the lion, I curiously inch closer and closer. Each time he thrusts himself at me, I become keenly more aware that unless I move into his sphere of death, I will remain unharmed. All of a sudden, I feel empowered, in control and maybe even a slight twinge of superiority. I'm beginning to understand that the lion can make an intimidatingly loud noise, but as long as I am a safe distance on the other side of that steel chain, that's all he can do. So little by little, each time I walk that road, I find myself getting closer and closer and closer still until finally I go mere inches too far. Now the lion has me in his clutches and quickly in his mouth. And just that quick... I'm history!
There you have it. Being in temptation does not mean that we are in sin. If it did, then it sure would appear that Jesus sinned in Matthew 4:1."Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." We know that Jesus didn't sin, so there must be more than meets the eye regarding temptation. As a therapist and former pastor, I see both the biblical truth of this issue as well as the emotional/psychological trek that a person naturally goes through when battling this mind-whipping foe. Temptation takes a progressive path toward potential decline (sin). It doesn't always happen in one fell swoop. I think the progression is pretty clear in James 1:14-15. First there is temptation, and then if that isn't effectively addressed, it will give way to lust, then sin, then death. It's the being "carried away" in (verse 14) that gets us into trouble. Clearly temptation is a power that affects each and every one of us affecting some of us even more than others.
Temptation is both a hugely powerful seductive and enjoyable stimulant and a deceptive self-destroying landmine. You can't escape it. Temptation is everywhere. It's designed specifically by the enemy to take you out while leaving its debilitating fingerprints of guilt, shame and hopelessness embedded in your psyche, in particular, when you've given into it.
At this point you might be thinking, "Ok, I get it…temptation is something that we'd all rather not have to battle." In the evangelical community, it feels as if it has taken out the best of all of us to some extent. But this is nothing new; this phenomenon didn't just show up in our lifetime. It's as old as Adam messing up in the garden and will be here until we all close our eyes in death. But believe it or not, I think temptation can actually be our friend if we use it to our advantage. It can be very effective in our lives because it shows us the cracks in our armor. It exposes our real selves, our propensities toward certain sins and brings to light the sins that we're blinded to. It's the "great equalizer" that levels all of us, and perhaps for the first time, allows us to see and feel from a totally different viewpoint. It gives us the perspective of the fallen, the wounded and the maimed.
Peter must have had this perspective when after making that bold statement in Mark 14:29: "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will." And then he did. We catch up with Peter many days after his denial in a surprise conversation with Jesus on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. I imagine the conversation must have been painful as Peter was coming off of his "I never will" speech. The cool thing is Jesus was not only Peter's savior but also his advocate and friend, and because Jesus was familiar with the allurement of temptation Himself, He embraced him with grace and forgiveness. Though Peter wasn't tempted as much as he was deceived by his own self-righteousness, still he experienced personal failure as a result of his human condition. After all, isn't that what temptation is? Deception! Jesus knew the pain and spiritual reduction that Peter was feeling. And because of his failing, Peter could now empathize with the many he would soon be ministering to.
God used Peter's bout with failure to help form him the man that he was designed to be. This experience helped him connect with the many souls that, like him, were caught in their human depravity. That's really what it's all about. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." Jesus being fully man and fully God battled this flesh war for 33 years, and as a result, now has compassion and connects with our emotional human sufferings…including temptation. The good news is Jesus didn't sin when tempted by the devil. The bad news is we do! So how can we turn the scud missiles of daily temptation into renewed life for us? And most importantly, is it possible to live relatively free of guilt and self-condemnation by virtue of God's great GRACE given to us in Jesus as we walk this human journey? I suggest that we can as a result of the power and great agape of the cross. So, the next time you're tempted, stop beating yourself up. Stuff happens. If you battle and rise above it, praise God! If you don't, then through confession, pick yourself back up while becoming confident in His beautiful grace and endless forgiveness…the great neutralizer to temptation and sin. Also, know that you can learn from temptation. Finally, be determined to become secure in His love and refuse to be identified by anything less than who you are in Christ…redeemed!


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News from the world of Maths
December 5, 2013
Triangles do it, squares do it, even hexagons do it — but pentagons don't. They just won't fit together to tile your bathroom wall.
December 5, 2013
This year's PISA results have caused predictable headlines, but do the statistics add up?
December 4, 2013
How to colour a map
December 3, 2013
Make a fractal in infinitely many simple steps!
December 2, 2013
When Archilles and the tortoise race, who will come second? Find out behind door number two!
December 1, 2013
How can the number one help spot fraud in tax returns, elections, or mistakes in data sets? Find out behind door number 1!
November 29, 2013
It's nearly time for the Plus Advent Calendar!
November 28, 2013
This year has seen a flurry of results as mathematicians hunt down the elusive proof of the twin prime conjecture. Will they get their wish for Christmas this year?


text: Saint Alexander I, (died c. 115, /119, Rome?; feast day May 3), fifth pope after St. Peter and successor to St. Evaristus. Little is known about Alexander's rule (c. 109–116), which is attested by Pope St. Eusebius (309/310). Some Catholic writers ascribe to him the introduction of holy water and the custom of mixing sacramental wine with water, but this is unlikely, although he may have made additions to the liturgy. Some believe he suffered martyrdom, possibly by decapitation, under the Roman emperor Trajan or Hadrian, but this is improbable. He has sometimes been confused with St. Alexander, one of three Roman martyrs buried along the Via Nomentana. Alexander's jailer, St. Quirinus, and his daughter St. Balbina are said to have been converted by him.


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Low-budget horror sequel "Insidious: Chapter 2" grabbed moviegoers searching for a Friday the 13th scare, winning the U.S. and Canadian box office race over The Robert De Niro comedy "The Family."
The fright flick about a family haunted by spirits pulled in more than $41 million in ticket sales in its first three days, according to studio estimates on Sunday. About $20 million came on its Friday the 13th release date.
"The Family" finished in second place with $14.5 million over the weekend. The movie features De Niro as a mob boss whose family relocates to France under the witness protection program.
Last weekend's box office champ, sci-fi sequel "Riddick," fell to third place with $7 million in ticket sales. The movie stars Vin Diesel as an intergalactic traveler who can see in the dark.
Privately held FilmDistrict released "Insidious: Chapter 2." "The Family" was distributed by privately held Relativity Media. "Riddick" was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp.


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art & culture
No matter what the season, festivals and other exciting events are always taking place somewhere in the Laurentians. Lovers of music, dance and theatre can vibrate to the rhythm of numerous different festivals and discover the creative universe of artists from here and abroad. On the sporting side, a number of major events take place each year against the beautiful background of the Laurentians, and feature an impressive variety of sporting disciplines. Lovers of fine food are also well provided for, there being many an invitation to come and participate in the pleasures of the table. Families can have fun together all year round at one of the many events designed for the amusement of young and old. Up North, fun times are always on the menu!
Festival "Dia de los Muertos" will take place in Lachute on October 31 and November 1st !
Conference, workshop, traditional Mexican music and much more!
2020 edition: February 8 and 9.


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My concerns regarding Arimidex (anastrozole) have not lessened. Several blogs ago, I told you that I would contact the makers of Arimidex and find out where the bone pain comes from. I am not getting any satisfactory answers, but, AstraZeneca (the company who makes the drug) is aware of reports of bone pain. They are aware enough to provide funding for a study concerning ways to alleviate it.In March 2006, a press release in "Medical News" from the Washington University in St. Louis announced that AstraZeneca was providing funding for a new study to determine the effects of vitamin D on musculoskeletal pain, since some women who have taken vitamin D supplements have reported that the pain is lessened and in some instances goes away completely. Turns out, women who take Arimidex are found to have low levels of vitamin D in their blood.Two Washington University physicians, Dr. Antonella Rastelli and Marie Taylor, M.D. are conducting a double blind, placebo-controlled study to determine just how effective vitamin D supplements are on joint, muscle and bone pain caused by Arimidex. These physicians noticed the positive effects of vitamin D on patients they were treating with Arimidex and hope to substantiate evidence through a clinical trial.The theory behind the study is that Arimidex interferes with enzymes in the liver that process vitamin D and therefore vitamin D stores are depleted. Most people's diets are lacking in this important nutrient as it comes mainly from whole milk, liver and fatty fish. It is also produced in the skin as a reaction to sun. Ironically, most cancer patients, and those wanting to decrease cancer risk avoid dairy products and organ meats while the mercury threat reduces the intake of fatty fish. In addition, with all of the concern over skin cancers, people are avoiding the sun and using sunscreen. There goes the vitamin D, and if you are not aware of the requirements while on Arimidex, then you end up in great pain and experiencing bone depletion.
Just how important is vitamin D? Well, it supports immune function, helps to regulate blood pressure, insulin levels in the blood and affects cell growth. Pretty important, eh? (hey, I'm Canadian) Vitamin D is crucial in bone health as it aids in the absorption of calcium. This is something to discuss with your doctor. It is important to determine the amount of the supplement and ensure he or she is aware that you are taking it. Most doctors are advising patients to take calcium supplements, and vitamin D is now being added to most of these supplements. For those of you suffering from intense pain while on Arimidex, this is groundbreaking news!
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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Chemist says omitting MSG cured daughter's autism
Katherine Reid, a Bay Area biochemist with a daughter who was autistic, believes she may have found an antidote to the neurodevelopment disorder - and it's as simple as changing a person's diet.
Well, actually, more like blowing it up.
Because there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved medical treatment for the core symptoms of autism, people have turned to homeopathic remedies, probiotics, invasive therapies and alternative diets.
It has become increasingly popular for parents of children with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to turn to gluten- and casein-free, or dairy-free, diets in hopes that it will make a difference.
But Reid's diet is different. She thinks what it comes down to, at least for some people with autism, is permanently eliminating just a single chemical compound known as monosodium glutamate, or MSG - an ingredient many people associate with Chinese food.
Actually, Reid said, the chemical is in nearly every processed food imaginable, but it only appears on food labels as MSG about 1 percent of the time. Instead, MSG is sometimes labeled as flavor or flavoring, soy protein, barley malt, pectin, corn starch or yeast extract, Reid said.
"We're getting an abundance of MSG," she said. "It's in 95 percent of processed food. And we don't need it in our diet - ever."
While there is no science to back up many of her claims, Reid said the most convincing evidence to her is the results she saw in her daughter. At age 7, Brooke is completely cured, Reid said. And from all outward appearances that seems to be true.
Research is sparse
Dr. Robin Hansen, professor of pediatrics at UC Davis and a developmental behavior pediatrician who recently led a study for the university's Mind Institute, said it's fairly common for parents to seek out alternative treatments for their children with autism. Nearly 7 percent of the children with autism they studied were on gluten- and casein-free diets.
"We don't have a lot of diet research to look at, because these studies are difficult to do," she said, describing the trickiness of monitoring a child's food intake in a double-blind study. "And no one has done an MSG study. But what we do have doesn't show a marked difference even with children with gastrointestinal problems."
Still, she wouldn't dissuade parents from trying as long as they make sure the diet is balanced and to keep in mind that it's a big undertaking.
For Reid, the journey was long, difficult and often heartbreaking, but ultimately a victory that persuaded her to quit her high-paying job and help other parents with what she learned, establishing the Fremont nonprofit foundation Unblind My Mind.
It started when Brooke was 2. Reid and her husband noticed that their daughter, the youngest of five, couldn't make human connections, had severe communication problems and threw tantrums that lasted for hours. She also had digestive issues and constipation - all hallmark signs of autism.
Reid told herself Brooke would grow out of it. Her husband, Paul Sauer, wasn't so sure. A cellular biologist, he began plugging Brooke's issues into search engines and perusing websites. One night he came home with information he had printed off the Internet about autism.
"Brooke displayed every characteristic on the list," Reid said. "I could check every box."
Looking for answers
They went through all the traditional channels, starting with their pediatrician. Their doctor agreed that something was wrong but didn't know where to direct them. So they hired a psychologist to test Brooke, and the results showed that she was moderately autistic with some severe learning disabilities, Reid said.
"She was in her own world," Reid said. "Her actions were repetitive, like doing a puzzle over and over again for hours. And she exhibited signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder. She couldn't stand going home in the stroller on a different route without having a screaming tantrum."
They enrolled her in a special-education preschool and tried to come to terms with the fact that their daughter would probably never function normally.
Reid began reading autism blogs and going onto online bulletin boards, gathering as much information as possible on what more she could do. What she found was that some parents were having success with diet, specifically cutting out gluten and dairy.
The MSG factor
She tried it with her daughter for six months and Brooke improved - a little. Then she saw something about how one parent was cutting out foods with MSG. It seemed odd to Reid.
"I remember thinking, MSG?" she said. "Who uses that anymore?"
Quickly she determined that it was in more foods than she could count. Desperate for results, she told her husband she wanted to try the diet. He was dubious. Already their household had been divided on the gluten-free, dairy-free diet - with most of the family opting to eat more conventionally.
But the more Reid researched, the more it made sense. She said she found plenty of studies that showed that many Americans suffer from glutamate imbalance. Glutamate is a chemical messenger that transmits signals between neurons and other cells in the body. Glutamate is needed for learning and functioning.
Reid believes that when there is too much glutamate in the body, it causes neurological disfunction. This theory is shared by many scientists. But Reid takes it a step further, believing that a diet filled with MSG can add to the imbalance, or make it much worse.
Dr. Sanford Newmark, who practices integrative medicine at UCSF's Osher Center and specializes in treating autistic children, says there are no scientific studies to back up her hypothesis. But he would be willing to try it because he has seen results from gluten- and casein-free diets.
"There is so much we don't know about autism," he said. "And there is no way to know who will respond and who won't."
Results from diet
Newmark said that a third of his patients respond significantly to diet and another third see mild improvement. For some reason some people can't break down gluten or casein in the gut and it winds up going into the bloodstream, he said.
"There's a huge connection between the gut and the brain," he said, adding that autistic children who suffer from gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, often see the best results from the diet.
As far as the MSG-free diet, other than Reid's experience Newmark said he has seen no evidence that it works.
"While it's not normal for kids with moderate autism to be cured by 7, it's not unheard of," he said.
But there is no harm in trying, he said. "If you actually ate just fruit, meat, vegetables, beans and whole grains and not processed food, it's a more healthful diet."
Dr. Antonio Hardan, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and an expert on the neurology of autism, said, "I believe that we have to be open-minded about new approaches to treating autism."
But he too echoes Newmark's words that Reid's diet is not scientifically tested and warns that changing an autistic child's diet could have serious consequences. One of the traits of autism is picky eating, he said. Doctors believe it may be related to sensory issues such as texture, smell and taste.
"By limiting something they like, you could be making life in that household impossible," he said.
Just timing?
He also wonders if Brooke Reid's recovery might have been a coincidence to the diet.
"For 100 years we didn't have processed food, but we did have autism," he said. "But despite the lack of scientific support, it might be worth considering in light of the good response of some types of seizures to the ketogenic diet."
The ketogenic diet - a high-fat, low-carbohydrate regime - has successfully been used to treat epilepsy in children.
But Reid said she has her own proof. She sees it every day with her Unblind My Mind foundation.
"Out of the 75 cases of diagnosed autism I've worked on, 74 drastically improved within five weeks," she said.
And then there is Brooke.
Stacy Finz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @sfinz


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When you use broad match, your ads automatically run on relevant variations of your keywords, even if these terms aren't in your keyword lists. This helps you attract more visitors to your website, spend less time building keyword lists, and focus your spending on keywords that work.
Broad match is the default match type that all your keywords are assigned if you don't specify another match type (exact match, phrase match, or negative match). The Google Ads system automatically runs your ads on relevant variations of your keywords, including synonyms, singular and plural forms, possible misspellings, stemmings (such as floor and flooring), related searches and other relevant variations. To help deliver relevant matches, this match type may also take the customer's recent search activities into account.
|Broad match keyword:
|Ads may show on searches for:
|low-carb diet plan
|carb-free foods
low-carb diets
low calorie recipes
Mediterranean diet plans
low-carbohydrate dietary program
How broad match can help you
You can set any or all of your search-targeted keywords to broad match to help you do the following:
- Spend less time building keyword lists: You don't have to think of every possible keyword variation -- our system does the work for you. That's a time saver, since roughly 20 per cent of the searches Google receives each day are ones we haven't seen in at least 90 days. This unpredictable search behaviour can make it nearly impossible for you to create a keyword list using only exact match that covers all possible relevant searches.
- Spend your money on keywords that work: If your ad receives no clicks on a particular keyword variation, our system will quickly stop showing your ads for that and similar search terms. This prevents you from accruing click charges for keyword variations that aren't working and helps you focus on the keywords that work.
When other options might be more helpful
- Your Quality Score helps determine where your ad shows, and broad match keywords may contribute to a low Quality Score if your keywords appear relevant for too many search terms. For example, consider the one-word keyword "hose" (and one-word keywords are almost always too general). You may sell garden hoses, but your keyword will also be relevant to search terms for automotive hoses, hosiery, fire hoses and more.
- You'll generally achieve a higher Clickthrough rate (CTR) with exact and phrase match because your ads include the exact terms your customers are searching on.
Use broad match modifier for more control over broad match
Adding modified broad match keywords can increase campaign clicks and conversions, while providing more precise control than broad match. Modified broad match lets you specify that certain broad match keyword terms, or their close variants, must appear to trigger your ad. Close variants include misspellings, singular/plural forms, abbreviations and acronyms and stemmings (such as "floor" and "flooring"). Variants don't include synonyms or related searches.
- We suggest using a combination of two or more keyword match types to run an effective ad campaign. If you use broad and phrase match, for example, you'll reach a broader audience while also controlling who can see your ad.
- If you want to make sure your ads don't show for a certain search term, add that term to your ad group or campaign as a negative keyword.
- Pausing or removing a keyword won't stop one of your active broad-matched keywords from "expanding" to that term. For example, if your ad group contains the broad-matched keywords flowers and tulips, and you pause the keyword tulips, your ads could still potentially show for the search term tulips, since it's similar to the active broad-matched keyword flowers.
Next steps
- Learn more about keyword matching options.
- Understand more about the broad match modifier.
- Change your keyword match type.