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Ever since I saw these Weeknight Scalloped Potatoes on Cooks Illustrated, I have made this recipe my "go to" every time I want to make Scalloped Potatoes. They are quick and easy and oh sooo delicious…
I made them this Christmas for a crown of 11, but they're even simpler for 2.
Scalloped potatoes are one of my favorites. But traditionally they are unevenly cooked, the sauce is either too dry or too soupy, and its really a crap shoot what you get at the end. This recipe takes all the guesswork and anxiety out, and in the end you will enjoy the easiest and most delicious Scalloped Potatoes you'll ever eat! I promise….
The basic concept is to precook the onions & potatoes with a hint of garlic, in a cream and chicken broth sauce, and then pour into a casserole or small individual casseroles, add some shredded cheddar cheese on top and bake for about 15 minutes. That's it! It's like boiling potatoes for mashed potatoes only in a cream sauce. And you control the thickness of the sauce. Who can't do that? And, you can even control the heavy cream, by using a light cream, and you can thicken if necessary with a little cornstarch and use low fat milk.
As with any recipe, the right tools make the job easier. Instead of hauling out the food processor, I used a Mandoline, which I laid on top of the stock pot I used to cook the potatoes in, and sliced. the job was super easy and the slices were all the same size. When you slice the potatoes by hand, the slices are all over the place in thickness. Using a food processor or Mandoline, makes the job super easy, and they will cook evenly in the sauce. There are a variety of slicers out there for all different price ranges, so you shouldn't have a problem finding one to suit your needs.
The perfect thickness for slicing potatoes is 1/8″. Thicker slices slid apart when serving, and thinner, produced a mashed like consistency.
Thank you to Cooks Illustrated for coming up with this dynamite way of making Scalloped Potatoes! I know this will be your "go to" recipe too!
This recipe serves 4-6 people, and I doubled for 11 people and had a little leftovers, so if you're making for 2 people, I'd half the recipe.Print
Weeknight Scalloped Potatoes
These super easy, super delicious scalloped potatoes are perfect for weeknight meals.
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 ½ pounds russet potatoes (about 5 medium), peeled and sliced ⅛-inch thick (see photos below)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
4 ounces grated cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)
Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 425 degrees.
Melt butter in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until foaming subsides. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add potatoes, chicken broth, cream, and bay leaves and bring to simmer.
Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until potatoes are almost tender (paring knife can be slipped into and out of potato slice with some resistance), about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves.
Transfer mixture to 8-inch-square baking dish (or other 1 1/2-quart gratin dish) and press to an even layer; sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake until cream is bubbling around edges and top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
To Make Ahead: Once the scalloped potatoes have been transferred to the baking dish and pressed into an even layer, they can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add the cheese, cover with foil, and bake in a 400-degree oven until the mixture is hot and bubbling, about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until the cheddar begins to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.


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The Competition
IT IS A.D. 240 in Dura Europos, a Roman garrison on the Euphrates River. If you walk the streets at the western edge of town, you pass:
- A temple of Mithras,
- A temple of Palmyrene gods,
- A Jewish synagogue,
- A temple of Adonis,
- A sanctuary of Tyche,
- A Christian house church,
- A shrine to Zeus Kyrios.
Elsewhere in the city you would find temples to Gadde (a local Palmyrene deity), Zeus Theos, Zeus Megistos, Atargatis (a Syrian goddess), Artemis, and Jupiter Dolichenus (a Syrian Baal), as well as the military temple next to the garrison's headquarters.
To put it another way, Christianity did not enter a religious vacuum. Such religious pluralism typified all ancient cities. People were not sitting around waiting for a new religion to burst on the scene. Dozens, if not hundreds, of religions were available.
Judaism was the competitor with the greatest similarity to Christianity. The Jews' Yahweh and literally hundreds of deities vied for attention, but people tended to channel their religious and moral aspirations in one of three directions.
Mithraism: From raven to father
Although its deity had a Persian name, Mithraism was a creation of Greeks and Romans. Mithraism's god wielded power over the movements of the heavenly bodies. It combined elements of astrology and the Greek mystery religions, which highlighted special rites of initiation. There were seven grades of this initiation—Raven, Bride, Soldier, Lion, Persian, Heliodromus, and Father (the usual title of the head of a community). Neophytes passed through tests of endurance and took an oath before admission to each level.
Like Christianity and many pagan cults, a communal meal was a central feature of Mithraic meetings. It also shared with Christianity (as distinct from most mystery cults) moral demands (especially loyalty to oaths), a lack of national ties, no professional priestly caste, no public drama, and a deity who had a "life story" of significant events. However, unlike Christianity, Mithraism's divine story was related to astronomical phenomena, not historical events.
Furthermore, it was nonexclusive, permitting its members to worship other deities. Also unlike Christianity, and indeed other cults, Mithraism barred all women from membership. Consequently, it remained a religion of the few, in spite of receiving patronage from high officials and some emperors.
The remains at Dura help us glimpse the growth of Mithraism at this military outpost. The first sanctuary was merely one room in a private house (c. 168–171). In the early third century, the house was extensively remodeled to give the appearance of typical Mithraea: an elongated hall (in imitation of a cave), an altar and shrine depicting Mithras slaying a bull (the cult emblem) at one end, raised benches against both side walls flanking a central aisle, and a vestibule. The third stage (after 240) increased the seating capacity and showed more artistic elaboration: in one niche, a canopy of stars framed the bull slaying.
Emperor cult: Eagle ascending
The emperor held so much power that the only beings with whom comparison could be made were gods, and the only adequate homage seemed to be the honors given to deities. The power of emperors, although it seemed almost supernatural, did not mean people expected them to act supernaturally; nor were prayers and votive offerings given to them.
Nevertheless, in gratitude for favors bestowed or in anticipation of future blessings, honors equal to those given to the gods seemed appropriate: so people dedicated temples to them, set up their statues with the attributes of deities, offered sacrifices in their honor, and ascribed divine titles to them. For such practices, the imperial cult was born.
Typically, the new ruler directed the Senate to deify (apotheosis) his predecessor, although some emperors (Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and Commodus) demanded divine honors in their lifetime. In art an eagle ascending to the sky (carrying the soul of the deceased emperor) often symbolized deification. A relief from Ephesus depicts Trajan rising to heaven in the chariot of the sun.
Often cities anticipated official policy and instituted divine honors for the living emperor. Cities in Asia Minor promoted the imperial cult aggressively because the empire brought them great prosperity.
Ephesus provides a good illustration: it declared Julius Caesar a manifest god and set up a shrine to Augustus within the great temple area dedicated to Artemis. Worship was also given to Nero in connection with Artemis, and a temple to the Flavian emperors was dedicated under Domitian. A new temple to Hadrian as Zeus Olympius was also built, and a festival (Hadrianeia Olympia) was instituted.
A plethora of paganism
In the end, the strongest rival of Christianity proved to be traditional paganism, with its multiplicity of divine powers, rituals of sacrifice, temples, statues of deities, votive offerings, and periodic festivals. There is no neat way to sum up the variety, yet perhaps a few quotations from ancient sources can give a flavor of the devotion and superstition that held hope for so many (see "From Black Magic to Mystical Awe," p. 36).
Philosophy served for many people in the ancient world the functions we expect of a religion—providing a moral code and giving spiritual guidance. In the late third and fourth centuries, under such thinkers as Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Sallustius, Neoplatonism allied itself with traditional paganism. The last creative form of Greek philosophy, it defended sacrifices, magic, and astrology as part of its own spiritual vision of reality.
Traditional religions, then, were deeply entrenched in the ancient world, and in a variety of forms. It is no wonder that historians continue to probe this era to discover how exactly Christianity eventually uprooted them.
- There's a whole site just devoted to Perseus Project. It includes ancient texts and translations, maps, extensively illustrated art catalogs, and secondary essays on topics like vase painting. This is truly an amazing site. More than 70 museums have shared pictures of their art objects. So far, it is mainly about the Greek world, but they are adding Roman materials constantly.
By Everett Ferguson
[Christian History originally published this article in Christian History Issue #57 in 1998]Everett Ferugson is one of early church history's most prolific (and well-respected) writers. You can't go wrong with any of his books, but the one that we found most indispensable is the Backgrounds of Early Christianity. It's more of a textbook, but it's still quite readable as an introduction to the Roman, Greek, and Jewish political, social, literary, and religious surroundings of the early church.
Next articles
From Black Magic to Mystical Awe
Glimpses of many-sided Roman paganism—from engravings, parchments, and tablets of the ancient world.Ramsay Macmullen and Eugene Lane
The Emperor's New Religion
The story of early Christianity's most famous—and most controversial—convert.Bruce Shelley
The Emperor Strikes Back
How the once illegal religion became the law of the empire.John O. Gooch
Christian History Interview — Roman Redux
Today's evangelistic challenge is not all that different than it was for the early church.Robert Louis Wilken

subset: commoncrawl


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The discussion which occurred between Mr. Burleigh and Rev. Mr. Kimball, at the recent meeting at Framingham, though brief, was quite interesting and suggestive, and I had hoped to see the subject more particularly alluded to in THE LIBERATOR. A doubt as to the correctness of Mr. Burleighs position occurred to me, which perhaps will need only to be presented to be removed. With your permission, I will present it.
|Mr. Kimball gave it as his opinion, that the exercise of the elective franchise was one proper channel for anti-slavery action. Mr. Burleigh dissented, for the reason that in voting, the man acts not merely as an individual, giving expression to his opinions in political affairs, but as a sovereign, participating in and sustaining the government; and if the government is guilty of any crime or wickedness, he is guilty to the extent of his participancy. Therefore, voting under the American government, which upholds the great crime of slavery, is wrong.
|Granting the argument to be sound, does it not hold good as to any government which tolerates any evil, small or great? And as no immaculate government is likely to arise at present, how can a conscientious man act as a citizen under any circumstances? Human government, for some purpose, is admitted to be necessary; shall we leave it to be conducted wholly by men not troubled with a conscience? Is the no-government theory a cardinal doctrine with Garrisonians?
|Again, Mr. Burleigh is reported as saying, that by the act of suffrage, a virtual promise is given that obedience shall be rendered to all the acts which the representative shall help to enact. Perhaps not, if we recognise that higher law which is above the Constitution. So far as the enactments are right and proper, we agree to obey; but if they are morally wrong, we are bound by a higher covenant to disobey.
I would like to suggest another thing, quite distinct from the above. In arguing the question of anti-slavery, I am sometimes met with this reply: Yes, slavery is wrong; I agree with all you say against it; but there are greater evils than slavery; war is a greater evil; and a vivid imagination may picture the horrors of war so that one is almost persuaded that it is so. I would like to see the question considered in your columns, whether slavery or war is the greater evil; and if war is the greater, and a dissolution of the Union, or an attempt to abolish slavery, is likely or certain, so far as human foresight can determine, to result in war in which course lies the path of duty?
REMARKS. [by Garrison]
1. We think Mr. Burleigh was unquestionably correct in his statement, that the voter at the polls acts not merely as an individual giving expression to his opinions in political affairs, but as a sovereign, participating in and sustaining the government, according to its organic character; and to this extent he is to be held responsible for whatever of criminality or sin is involved in any of its requirements. The interrogation of the apostle (Rom. vi. 16) is exactly to the point: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Every voter virtually inscribes on his ballot the Constitution of the United States he votes for a candidate whom he empowers and expects to take the oath of allegiance to that Constitution, in all fidelity, and without any mental reservation whatever and, consequently, he is to be held answerable for all that is embodied in that instrument, even though he may not only dislike some of its provisions, but may be endeavoring to effect a modification of it, so as to make it conform to his ideas of moral rectitude; for he agrees to sustain it as it is, in spite of his objections, until it be amended by a constitutional process, and so consents to wrong-doing for the time-being, rather than to lose his vote.
|2. It does not follow, nor did Mr. Burleigh mean to affirm, that if the government is guilty of any crime or wickedness, the voter is to be held responsible for it; because it may be an act of sheer border ruffian usurpation, as in the case of Pres. Pierce, in his nefarious treatment of Kansas. But if there be any crime or wickedness in the organic nature of the government in its principles or measures in any of its stipulations or exactions then to vote to uphold it, or to elect another to take an oath to see all its provisions faithfully executed, is to be a participator in the guilt thereof all metaphysical shuffling to the contrary notwithstanding.
|3. It follows logically, and as a matter of sound morality, that if the American government [constitutionally] upholds the great crime of slavery, voting under it is wrong; and it is wrong for this among other reasons knowing the pro-slavery compromises contained in the Constitution we refuse to touch the ballot, stained as it is with the blood of four millions of slaves.
|4. But our correspondent inquires, Granting the argument to be sound, does it not hold good as to any government which tolerates any evil, small or great? As we are talking about crime and sin, we understand him to mean any moral evil, and therefore answer his question in the affirmative.
|5. But, says our correspondent, as no immaculate government [i. e., none that is not organically unjust] is likely to arise at present, how can a conscientious man act as a citizen under any circumstances? We, too, ask the same question, and should like to be shown how he can so act, and keep his conscience clean. We think he cannot.
|6. What, then, is to be done? Human government, for some purposes, says B., is admitted to be necessary. But, surely, a wicked government is not necessary; and when any one is inherently so, it forfeits its right to exist even for an hour. Indeed, properly speaking, there is but one government, and that is not human, but divine; there is but one law, and that is the higher law; there is but one ruler, and he is God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. [Online editors note: Acts 17:28; derived in turn from Epimenides Hymn to Zeus (6th c. BCE). RTL] What is called human government is usurpation, imposture, demagogueism, peculation, swindling and tyranny, more or less, according to circumstances, and to the intellectual and moral condition of the people. Unquestionably, every existing government on earth is to be overthrown by the growth of mind and a moral regeneration of the masses. Absolutism limited monarchy democracy all are sustained by the sword all are based upon the doctrine that might makes right all are intrinsically inhuman, selfish, clannish, and opposed to a recognition of the brotherhood of man. They are to liberty what whiskey, brandy, and gin are to temperance. They belong to the kingdoms of this world, [Online editors note: John 18:36; Revelation 11:15. RTL] and are in due time to be utterly destroyed by the brightness of the coming of Him whose right it is to reign, [Online editors note: Ezekiel 21:27. RTL] and by the erection of a kingdom which cannot be shaken. [Online editors note: Hebrews 12:27. RTL] They are not for the people, but make the people their prey; they are hostile to all progress; they resist to the utmost all radical changes. All history shows that Liberty, Humanity, Justice and Right have ever been in conflict with existing governments, no matter what their theory or form.
|7. But, shall we leave government to be conducted wholly by men not troubled with a conscience? This is only to ask, shall we leave the dead to bury their dead? [Online editors note: Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:60. RTL] Or, in another form, may we not do evil that good may come? [Online editors note: Romans 3:8. RTL] will not the end sanctify the means? Is it not still true, that wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together? [Online editors note: Matthew 24:28, Luke 17:37. RTL] Is it not paradoxical to talk of a man who is troubled with a conscience, swearing to be loyal to a government which he sees and admits to be essentially unrighteous? What else can he do but to come out, and be separate, and not touch the unclean thing? [Online editors note: Isaiah 52:11, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Revelation 18:4. RTL] His kingdom is within. [Online editors note: Luke 17:21; cf. Thomas 3, 113. RTL]
|8. Is the no-government theory a cardinal doctrine with Garrisonians? Answer the term Garrisonians is applied to those who agree with us in our views of slavery and the pro-slavery character of the Constitution. These are not agreed on the question of government, per se, but entertain different views in regard to it. They are generally united in the sentiment of no union with slaveholders, and therefore advocate a dissolution of the existing Union, as uncompromising and consistent abolitionists. Again we reply the term no-government is a nickname, a misnomer, a misrepresentation, a blunder, a caricature, resorted to by the enemies of peace. We neither use it, nor advocate it, nor believe in it; but exactly the reverse. Our theory is, that what is popularly called government is either a chain of iron or a rope of sand, either despotic or licentious, or both, and hence, must ultimately perish; and that men are to be guided, not by brute force or penal law, but by the spirit of love, justice, mercy, and good will to the whole human race, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [Online editors note: James 3:17. RTL] We believe in the sacredness of human life, human happiness, human liberty, and in ceasing from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, [Online editors note: Isaiah 2:22. RTL] and relying for safety and protection on an infinite arm. At the same time, we are far from discarding those arrangements and regulations of society which involve no violation of the principles we have laid down, and which, in the nature of things, are necessary to the welfare and comfort of every community.
|9. Politically speaking, whoever swears to maintain the U. S. Constitution is precluded from making any appeal to the higher law, to the subversion or nullification of any portion of that instrument. His oath presupposes that he has scrupulously analyzed the Constitution, and, finding nothing in it which he regards as in violation of right and justice, he consequently, with a clean conscience, agrees to uphold it. If, however, at any time, he believes it to be, in whole or in part, contrary to the moral law, his duty is plain to refuse to take the oath of allegiance, and, appealing to the higher law, decline to hold office in the government. But while he consents to it, and occupies any station in virtue of it, the Constitution is to be the paramount law of his conscience, as well as of the land which adopts it.
10. It is not the question whether War or Slavery be the greater evil. They are both the scourges of the human race, and for ever to be repudiated. Slavery is a state of war continually, and the nursery of civil and servile revolts. Its abolition is essential to the peace and repose of the land. So long as the North gives to it religious fellowship and governmental coöperation, so long will the war spirit continue to abound and increase. Her duty is peaceably to withdraw from the Union, leaving the South to assume all the responsibilities of her bloody slave system, and never doubting that a glorious result will follow.
The Liberator, August 1, 1856, p. 2
Back to online library


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Beating Brain Fog
I like how brainfog.net describes it: "A subjective haze surrounding your consciousness." Sounds more like Dazed and Confused the 1993 coming-of-age classic than dazed and confused, a common ailment also referred to as cognitive dysfunction. We've all experienced it at one time or another: we're tired, lethargic, sluggish in body and mind, and just seem to be in a fog, almost out of body if you will. This is NOT natural, nor is it a sign of aging or something that you must live with. Getting to the root of your brain fog experience can help you regain control over your wellness, and come fully into your vitality.
Brain fog comes in many shades and thicknesses. For the unyielding sufferer, getting to the root of the problem is imperative as it may be a symptom of something very serious and must be addressed with a holistically-minded doctor. But for the casual sufferer, who sometimes spaces out, perhaps around the same time each day (can we say afternoon slump?), bringing your lifestyle into balance can help you restore that clarity of mind. Here are a few tips that just might make all the difference.
Many brain foggers report a feeling of not being present, so consciously cultivating presence is a way to invoke mental clarity. Think about incorporating yoga or meditation into your life, or even better, both! Practices in mindfulness will also help with stress and worry which are often the culprits to begin with. Plus, a positive spiritual outlook is said to enhance mental performance.
From the Organic Authority Files
Also, as is no surprise, pay attention to what you're putting into your body. First off, don't smoke! Avoid sugars, sugar substitutes and simple carbohydrates, opting for whole grains, healthy sources of protein (click here for 5 Sources of Vegetarian Protein). The brain actually needs healthy saturated fat for top-notch functioning; try incorporating organic virgin coconut oil into your diet for its myriad of health benefits. Also, be careful with caffeine and alcohol as they can disrupt your natural sleep cycle.
Exercise stimulates endorphins which can alleviate brain fog, but go beyond physical exercise and make it a habit to exercise your brain. Sign up for a class; perhaps Julia Roberts has you swooning over Italian and your local community college offers classes. Be social, engage in stimulating conversation beyond the mundane. Be creatively expressed. Just as any muscle in the body, the more you use your brain and in varied ways, the stronger and more resilient it will become.
image: Alex Campos


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Gig'em went to pet heaven yesterday. We had him for 17 years and got him as a tiny kitty in October of 1998. He gave us so much love, stole food off our plates, purred and sat on our heads while we tried to sleep, and was such a funny guy. We will greatly miss him.
(after he fell in the pool. he did not want his photo taken.)


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Dakine Drafter review
This is the women's version of the pack that scooped a ton of accolades in our hydrapack mega-test earlier in the year.GBP £55.00 RRP | USD $99.54 Skip to view deals
Latest deals
The Dakine Drafter is the women's version of the pack that scooped a ton of accolades in our hydrapack mega-test earlier in the year.
Shorter than the men's one it still manages to squeeze in all the features such as a roomy central compartment for stashing layers, tools and sarnies; an expandable front pocket for more layers, pads or a helmet; plus two smaller zippered compartments for keys, cash, phone and lip-balm.
The straps are designed to fit the female form too and once on and pulled to size the fit is so secure and body-hugging you hardly even notice you're wearing it. The carry handle on top can knock against your helmet on steep descents or hair if you've got a swinging ponytail, but you could always cut this off if it starts to get annoying.
The bladder is two litre, enough for a good day in the saddle and the hose is extremely sturdy. Handily, you can simply unclip the hose from the base of the bladder too so that you can leave it snaked in the strap loops every time you fill up with water.
Don't forget to clean it from time to time though. The styling is casual rather than race-ready, making it a versatile bag that you could happily use off the bike too. Choose Olive (pictured), black or brown.


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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish admits they will miss Luis Suarez as he serves his eight-match ban but insists they have to look past the Uruguay international's absence.
11x2 is a community of awesome people posting and discussing the latest football news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


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Richard Charnin
July 17, 2017
77 Billion to One: 2016 Election Fraud
Matrix of Deceit: Forcing Pre-election and Exit Polls to Match Fraudulent Vote Counts
Proving Election Fraud: Phantom Voters, Uncounted Votes and the National Poll
There were approximately 50 UNNATURAL deaths (murders, accidents, suicides) of HOLISTIC doctors in one year. Was this reported in the mainstream media? What is the probability?
Media shills like Snopes make the same mistakes as Warren Commission defenders. They don't understand that calculating probabilities requires…
1) the number of UNNATURAL deaths – NOT total deaths.
2) UNNATURAL MORTALITY RATES: homicides (0.00005), accidents (0.00038) and suicides (0.00012). They are much lower than rates of "natural" causes.
3) the NUMBER of HOLISTIC doctors- NOT the total of ALL doctors.
4) knowing that MOTIVE for the deaths is NOT a factor in the calculation.
The Poisson probability function is based on the number of ACTUAL UNNATURAL deaths (n) and the EXPECTED number (E) in the group (N).
Probability = poisson (n, E, false)
E=N*R*T is based on the WEIGHTED unnatural mortality rate (R), population size (N) and the time period (T).
Since we do not know N, the number of holistic doctors, we calculate the probability assuming N=50,000, 75,000 and 100,000. The probability decreases as N increases.
Given: n= 50 unnatural deaths, R= 0.0002, T= 1 year, N is unknown.
N= 100,000: P = 7.63E-09 or P= 1 in 131,058,359
(E=20 deaths would be expected)
N= 75,000: P= 6.41E-13 = 1 in 1,559,298,094,732 (1 in 1.6 trillion)
(E=15 deaths would be expected)
N= 50,000: P= 1.49E-19 = 1 in 6,699,149,835,876,030,000
(1 in 6.7 million trllion)
(E=10 deaths would be expected)


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Around 9:20 this morning, a gunman carrying a high-powered rifle opened fire in Terminal 3 of Los Angeles International Airport. AirTran, Alaska, Horizon, JetBlue, V Australia, and Virgin America fly out of the terminal.
According to a variety of news outlets, the scene was nothing short of chaotic: terrified passengers flooded the tarmac while others went running for emergency exits. Passenger Vernon Cardenas of West Hollywood, who was waiting to board a Virgin America flight to Philadelphia, told the Los Angeles Times, "We're at the end of the terminal, the last gate of the terminal, so there's nowhere to run. People were diving, hiding under chairs. All of a sudden you hear a couple pops, maybe three. But it was in the distance."
Airport police exchanged gunfire with a suspect, who was taken into custody. Los Angeles World Airports Police Department Chief Patrick Gannon told the press during a live conference this morning that there seemed to be a single shooter, though an investigation is pending. LAPD anti-terrorism officers were on site, but do not believe the incident was connected to any sort of terrorist organization at this time.
Acting LAFD chief James Featherstone confirmed seven injuries and said six patients have been transported to area hospitals. An FBI representative said the public should not expect information about the victims to be released today.
#LAXShooting. one shooter-injuried- in custody. 7 were injuried, 6 of the 7 were transported to hospital.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) November 1, 2013
Officials suggest passengers scheduled to fly out of LAX today consult their airline for updated flight information (@LAX_official is also tweeting updates), but mayor Eric Garcetti has asked people—including travellers—to stay away from the airport until further notice.
In addition to the information above, some details being reported, especially about the suspect, have not yet been confirmed. This morning, the Times reported the shooter was a TSA agent at LAX. They now have information from a federal law enforcement official that the gunman was in fact a ticketed passenger, and not a TSA agent. The newspaper is also reporting a TSA agent who was shot has died, and that the gunman is now dead.
UPDATE, 1:03 p.m.: KTLA 5 News executive producer Tara Wallis has Tweeted the following information regarding one victim of today's shooting:
#LAXSHOOTING First confirmed death per LA County Coronor office Craig Harvey: One male, approx 40 years old.
— Tara Wallis (@tarawallis) November 1, 2013
UPDATE, 1:48 p.m.: Multiple news outlets have identified the alleged shooter: "We know that the shooter was this 23-year-old American citizen, a resident of the L.A. area, Paul Ciancia," Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said in an interview with CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper."
UPDATE, 5:38 p.m.: Multiple news outlets have reported the discovery of an "anti-government" note found next to alleged shooter Paul Ciancia. The note indicated that he wanted to "kill TSA" employees and "pigs."
UPDATE, 11/3: The TSA agent killed in Friday's rampage has been identified as 39-year-old Gerardo Hernandez. He was the first Transportation Security Administration agent killed in the line of duty. Authorities have confirmed that at least two other TSA agents and one civilian were also injured in the line of fire. A murder charge was filed against the alleged shooter, who remains unconscious in a local hospital.


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On the occasion of the bicentenary of the settlement of the Conti family in Castrignano and the beginning of the independent entrepreneurial activity, Michela, Francesca and Daniela Conti proposed a celebratory logo, in honor […]
Il Patto Sociale
CONTI: Parma ham DOP
An excellence in Langhirano…
"In these days the Conti family was affected by the loss of Afro Conti. Yesterday, while I was paying him my last respects, I remembered the first time […]
Solar Power
Environmental conservation has been one of our priorities. We have always found a particular technology to optimize energy consumption. An example is a heat recovery system: water used in the refrigeration is reused in […]
Italian Food Lovers
The hills of Parma: history and flavours.
".. and lay in cold cuts at Prosciuttificio Conti in Valle Langhirano"
Read the article
Photographic service- Stop
The weekly publication "Stop" has chosen Prosciuttificio Conti for the section about Parma ham.


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Sana Safinaz Summer Lawn Collection 2014 for Women
Sana Safinaz, the most favorite and the women who love fashion brand Sana Safinaz will introduce Lawn Collection Spring Summer 2014 women and girls. The collection will be in stores March 17, 2014. Now, the wait is almost over because most favorite lawn dresses every woman will be in stores soon…..Sana Safinaz brand established in the fashion market as its superbly elegant new lawn collection for spring summer 2014 women. Sana Safinaz Spring / Summer Lawn Collection 2014 includes high quality prints and embroidered lawn Jackquard pure. Pure silk and chiffon fabrics are used to make beautiful designs printed dupatta, Casual wear and formal wear collection has been looking both stylish and elegant.


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Sunday, March 13, 2016
So Happy, PP286 & MOJO438
8 comments:
- Linda Callahan said...
Clean and bright! And I love how you color.....wish I could do it half as good! Sweet sweet card!
- March 13, 2016 at 10:01 AM
- Claire Broadwater said...
How precious is this? I love your little girl and your coloring is gorgeous! Those little Mary Jane's make me smile! XXX
- March 13, 2016 at 1:00 PM
- JoAnn said...
Love your sweet card and that adorable image. Great coloring.
- March 13, 2016 at 3:08 PM
- Joanne James - The Crafty Owl said...
Oh my Sandy - your little girl is just adorable! I wish I could colour as well as you. Love the way you used this week's colours for the Mojo sketch too.
- March 13, 2016 at 6:33 PM
- LeAnne said...
Oh my gosh, this little sweetie pie works with this sketch and Nance's colors so well! Your coloring is amazing....she looks like she could step right off the card! Love it!
- March 14, 2016 at 11:47 AM
- Nance Leedy said...
Oh what an adorable card, Sandy! [squeal] This little cutie pie is perfectly colored and I love the layout. Absolutely rocked both challenges, my friend!
- March 15, 2016 at 7:36 AM
- Deb Macdowell said...
What a really cute card Sandy! Suits the colours and I love the enameled dots - really sets it off!
- March 17, 2016 at 3:26 AM
- Jaydee said...
Sandy, this is adorable and you colored it beautifully! Love the dots, too! Fabulous card
- March 18, 2016 at 4:29 PM


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It might be time to talk double-dip recession
In normal times, the default setting for the U.S. economy is 'expand.' But these aren't normal times.
Last year I dropped by a birthday party for Nouriel Roubini (a.k.a. "Dr. Doom"), the New York University economist who shot to fame after predicting, in 2006, a housing and credit bust. Somebody brought out a cake. On top of it was a big frosted "W," representing the double-dip recession that Roubini had been trumpeting since the summer of 2009, when the recovery had hardly begun. Beaming, he blew out the candles and poured champagne. But as the global rebound proved more durable than he (and others) expected, Roubini backtracked. Last August he put the probability of a double dip at 40%, which meant it no longer qualified as a genuine prediction. Going into this year, he said the U.S. economy would expand by close to 3%. And Roubini wasn't alone. The economics group at Goldman Sachs, which had been notably bearish, reversed course and said GDP would rise by 4% in 2011.
As if on cue, the economy took a downward lurch. In the first quarter, GDP expanded at a rate of just 1.8%, and house prices fell. Recently factory output has slipped. Yes, there are conflicting signals. Employers still appear to be creating jobs — 54,000 in May. Consumer spending, which makes up two-thirds of overall spending, has held up. But could the doomsters end up being proved right after all?
It isn't out of the question. The default state of the economy is expansion. America boasts a growing population, flexible goods and labor markets, a sprawling financial system that provides more than ample credit, and policymakers who habitually react to bad news by turning on the monetary and fiscal taps. In the absence of a major shock — the Fed raising interest rates sharply, the bursting of an asset price bubble — this commitment to growth ensures that GDP generally keeps rising.
5 economic bright spots (and why they're really dim)
But these aren't normal times. Consumers are still heavily in debt and are worried about the future; businesses remain reluctant to invest; banks are nervous about lending; states are laying off workers by the tens of thousands. In such circumstances it is conceivable that small shocks could tip the economy back toward recession. Take the rise in gas prices to $4 a gallon (closer to $5 in my forecourt), which acts like a tax increase. Higher gas prices, if sustained, could knock a full percentage point off economic growth over the next year.
Falling house prices and the possibility of a big slowdown in China, the locomotive of the world economy, are other worries, as is the possibility of the European debt crisis spiraling out of control. But my biggest concern is the coming reversal in U.S. policy, which the markets are probably underestimating. Since the fall of 2008, policymakers at the Fed, at the White House, and on Capitol Hill have had but one aim: heading off an economic disaster and ensuring a recovery. Now other concerns are starting to predominate: the deficit, the dollar, and inflation. As Congress shifts from passing stimulus programs to cutting spending and the Fed abandons quantitative easing — pumping extra money into the financial system — critics of these emergency policies may discover why they were so necessary. (For another view, see "Taking a Stand on Bonds.") Absent the federal government acting as the buyer of last resort, businesses will be even more reliant on exports. And without the Fed stoking the markets, Wall Street could be facing more tough times.
Is the private sector ready to stand on its own two feet? We are about to find out. Roubini, perhaps realizing that he hopped off the double-dip train early, appears about ready to clamber back on board. Speaking at a hedge fund conference in early May, he trimmed his 2011 growth forecast to less than 2% and said unemployment could head back up to 10%. "Things," he declared, "are going to be much more difficult than they have been so far."
–John Cassidy is a Fortune contributor and a New Yorker staff writer.


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Questions to Ask Before Buying First Home
Thursday March 19, 2015
Buying your first home will surely be a memorable occasion. Buying your first home is also one of the most important purchases you will ever make it your lifetime. Here are some questions to ask yourself before starting on the journey to become a first time homebuyer.
Are you really ready?
Though you may think now is the perfect time to purchase a home you must ask yourself, "Are you really ready?" If you aren't looking to live in the home for at least the next five years then now is certainly not the time to buy a home. But if you are looking to stay in the home then congratulations, you've picked the perfect time to purchase your first home.
What is your target location?
With plenty of homes for sale in mclendon chisholm tx to choose from you must start narrowing down your ideal communities. Do you want to be in the city or close to city living? Are you looking for convenient access to the cultural and arts scene, good food and shopping, recreation and work? Or do you have kids or plan on having kids? If yes, then purchasing a home in a good school district is a top priority.
What do your finances look like?
Check your credit score and assess your overall financial profile. This will give you a better idea of where you stand, ensure your credit history is accurate and give you a chance to fix any discrepancies you may find. Avoid making any big purchases (car, big screen TV) until after you purchase your first home since creditors look at your debt-to-income ratio and you don't want anything to negatively impact your credit score.
How much can you really afford?
Everybody has their ideal dream house. But is your ideal dream house affordable? Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it. Only purchase a home that is in your price range and won't break the bank. Take into account a down payment, closing costs, routine maintenance costs, utilities and cable, Internet and TV costs. You can leverage your buying power by getting pre-approved for a home loan. This will let you know how much house you can really afford and help narrow down and make a serious offer on the home of your choice.
Altura Homes offers homes for sale in mclendon chisholm tx in the communities of Chisholm Crossing IV, Kensington Park and Sonoma Verde. For information about these three lovely communities give us a call today at 888-972-1979.


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Founded in 2011 by Stanford entrepreneurs Monisha Perkash, Charles Wang and Andrew Chang, and cited by multiple tech publications as a wearable startup to watch, Lumo Bodytech's technology platform leverages smart sensors and software to optimize performance and address human biomechanics through real-time tracking of body movement.
Headquartered in Palo Alto, the company has 30 employees, half of whom work specifically on the core technology. Open positions include Algorithms Engineers, Mobile Developers, Data Scientists and QA/Test Engineers.
Andrew Chang, Lumo Bodytech's CTO and co-founder, says that, in order to maintain a great user experience for their products, they want team members to have expertise in all types of technology. "This includes hardware, sensors, firmware, software (application and user experience design), cloud, and data science," he said, adding that, while candidates need to be highly accomplished in their own specialization, they also must work well with those in other technology areas in order to seamlessly integrate hardware and software components.
According to Chang, required skills for Engineers, Developers and Data Scientists include:
- BS degree or higher in Math, Computer Science or Physics
- Strong fluency in C/C++, MATLABS, and designing and building machine learning algorithms in C/C++
- Objective-C programming and app development on iOS
- Embedded systems programming on small-footprint and low-power systems
- Knowledge of digital signal processing
- Ability to analyze large amounts of data
- Familiarity with algorithm optimization
For QA/Test Engineers, desired skills include:
- BS/BA degree in Computer Science (or equivalent)
- Ability to identify issues in complex systems
- Experience in writing scripts and frameworks for verification, acceptance, unit testing or automation
- Experience in one or more mobile app test automation frameworks
- Strong CS fundamentals.
In addition, prized candidates will have extensive knowledge of Java programming and app development on Android, CouchDB, and various scripting languages such as Perl and Python.
The Application Process
Because the company is small, the interview process is nimble. It starts off with a "general" phone interview, followed by a technical phone interview and two rounds of in-person interviews.
In contrast to other firms, which expect candidates to interview "blind," the company provides candidates with a list of suggestions on how to prepare for each stage of the application process. But that doesn't mean candidates shouldn't engage in their own research into the company and its technology.
What Makes a Good Fit?
"Everyone at Lumo Bodytech is passionate about changing the world for the better through technology," Chang said. "Because we are a small team, our employees can directly see the impact of the work they do. They are very close to the technology."
Chang stressed that the company greatly values the business and personal benefits of diversity. The team is comprised of about 50/50 men and women (including the technical team), and their employees hail from many different cultures and countries.
Advice for Experienced Professionals
"To stand out from other qualified candidates, it's having the fire in their belly to want to make a difference, take on new challenges and risks," Chang added. "Have the skills we desire, the right attitude and passion for the role you are wanting, show us what they can bring to the team and why you want to join."
The referral of a Lumo Bodytech employee can go a long way. So can telling stories of goals achieved despite long odds.
Advice for New Graduates
If you've created any kind of application or solved a big problem by creating a group, program or website, the company wants to know about it. Internships and volunteer projects can likewise have a positive impact on the application process.


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Więcej na: http://adamkaczanowski.tumblr.com
Rys psychologiczny: https://vimeo.com/14596230
Adam Kaczanowski is rather a writer, and a little bit of a performer. Born in 1976, is the author of three novels (the most recent is Topless), as well as a few poetry books (Stany – States, Happy End, Co jest nie tak z tymi ludźmi – What is wrong with these people? et al.). His texts has been published in Twórczość, brulion, Nowy Nurt, Czas Kultury, FA-art and on cycgada.art.pl He has performed as a Monkey-Man, Thumbelina and a clown, in galleries like Goldex Poldex (Cracow), Arsenał (Poznan), Siłownia (Poznań). Born in Poznań, now lives in Warsaw and works in advertising.
More here: http://adamkaczanowski.tumblr.com
Psychological trait: https://vimeo.com/14596230


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With CES about to start in Las Vegas, a variety of manufacturers will be debuting their next devices this month. But by the looks of things so far, Samsung's Galaxy S6 will not be included in that list, as the manufacturer has not provided any official word on its next flagship smartphone. According to a latest report today, while the Galaxy S6 will present in Vegas for the CES, the device will only be showcased to Samsung's select partners, and not to the general public. That however does not stop leaks about the device from occurring, as today well know french site NWE has posted images of what appears to be the aluminum unibody for the Samsung Galaxy S6.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Sees Its Aluminum Chassis Leaked Again Courtesy Of Third Party Supplier.
The images received courtesy of NWE show an aluminum frame apparently manufactured on Samsung's behest. These images represent the final approved chassis for the Samsung Galaxy S6, as the Korean giant had reportedly been going through several variants before making the final decision. But whether the aluminum frame belongs to the Samsung Galaxy S6 or a variant is still unknown as of now.
Taking a general look at things, by the way the component is cut, one can make the assumption that the piece might indeed be intended for a Samsung device. We've also seen images of the Samsung Galaxy S6's metal chassis surfacing before. You can take a look at them here. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is expected to come in two variants, one with a simple screen and the other with a dual edged screen resembling the Galaxy Note Edge. Processor for the device is expected to be the Snaprdragon 810 and the Exynos 7420 depending on the market. This can potentially be supplemented with 4 GB of RAM and a 20 MP rear camera. Stay tuned. We'll keep you updated.


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Vines' final-round opponent was another Frenchman, Pascal Portes, who a year earlier had beaten Jimmy Connors. "I hardly knew anything about him," Vines said, "and quite frankly, I didn't bother to ask."
As Vines studied Portes in the warm-up, he also learned that the final was the best of five sets. "I didn't plan for it," Vines said. "All I was told was that it was tradition, that the final was always best of five. How was I supposed to know that? It was like, 'Let's play a surprise on the American.' So I took all my energy, and I forgot the crowd was even there. I was all over him."
Hitting the ball harder than he had all week, Vines won 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
Ranked a career-high 110 at the end of 1981, Vines began 1982 with high hopes and then proceeded to lose 16 straight matches. By late spring, he struggled to find people to even practice with him. Defending his title in Paris, Vines lost in the first round. Not until November did he win a match, the first, and only, since Paris. By January 1983, Vines was ranked 342.
Even worse, his shoulder began to hurt to the point where by the end of 1983 surgery was recommended, a procedure that could have ended his career. Instead, Vines became a coach. He began by working with the young Americans Rodney Harmon, Eliot Teltscher, Mel Purcell and Robert Van't Hof.
After a year with those players, Vines started a career as a tennis director, working at clubs in Texas, Colorado, Virginia and Florida, where he currently lives in Naples. Vines plays on the senior circuit and has won national and international titles.
"I would have to say that I wish I could have had more weeks like that, and I wish I knew the reasons for that," he said about Paris and the U.S. Open. "I feel so blessed that I had the few great weeks that I did."


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He continues to lead strategic efforts to update CIT's technology platform through the use of innovative capabilities in areas including data virtualization and data management.
LIVINGSTON, NJ — CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), cit.com, a leading provider of commercial lending and leasing services, today announced that BJ Fesq, Chief Architect and Chief Data Officer, Information Technology, has been selected as a recipient of Computerworld's 2016 Premier 100 Technology Award.
The award recognizes Fesq for his work to enhance CIT's data management to comply with new regulatory requirements that came into effect as a result of CIT's acquisition of OneWest Bank. Institutions with assets of more than $50 billion are classified as systemically important financial institutions (SIFI) and subjected to stricter regulatory requirements.
"BJ's deep business and technical acumen have been invaluable to CIT," said Stacey Goodman, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of CIT. "He continues to lead strategic efforts to update CIT's technology platform through the use of innovative capabilities in areas including data virtualization and data management."
Fesq added, "I am grateful to be part of this prestigious list of honorees. None of these achievements would have been possible without the outstanding work of my team and the strong strategic direction established by CIT's leadership. This award recognizes the accomplishments of our entire team as we strengthen our IT platform to support the Company's business objectives."
A resident of Madison, New Jersey, Fesq holds several patents, including a predecessor to Google's now popular geocoding patent, which performs geographic proximity searches based on zip codes and great circle mathematics. He graduated from the University of Rochester, where his honors thesis studied the application of artificial intelligence to robotics.
Computerworld is the leading IT media brand helping senior IT, business decision-makers and key influencers navigate change with effective business strategy. The Premier 100 program was created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have had a positive impact on their organizations through technology. These are individuals who manage internal IT organizations, mentor and motivate their IT teams and business colleagues, create a positive work environment, envision innovative solutions to business challenges and effectively manage and execute IT strategies.
CIT thought leadership content can be found at View from the Middle™ (cit.com/viewfromthemiddle) and our CIT Point of View blog (cit.com/pov). View our corporate video (cit.com/corporatevideo) and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook. Register to receive press releases at cit.com/newsalerts.
About CIT
Founded in 1908, CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with more than $65 billion in assets. Its principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A., (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender) has more than $30 billion of deposits and more than $40 billion of assets. It provides financing, leasing and advisory services principally to middle market companies across more than 30 industries primarily in North America, and equipment financing and leasing solutions to the transportation sector. It also offers products and services to consumers through its Internet bank franchise and a network of retail branches in Southern California, operating as OneWest Bank, a division of CIT Bank, N.A. cit.com
Matt Klein
Vice President, Media Relations
(973) 597-2020
Barbara Callahan
Senior Vice President
(973) 740-5058


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How It's Made: Biti Pies
Have you ever wondered how they made Biti Pies. Those yummy little pies that are perfect for one. Well we had the opportunity to stop by the bakery and Skeeter showed us step by step how they made those delicious Itty Biti Pecan Pies.
So the next time you are grabbing a Biti Pie, now you know how it's made.
Here's the list of all the great Bitis you can purchase:
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Pecan Pie
Buttermilk Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
German Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Carrot Cake


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Press Release
RIO DE JANEIRO – On August 9 and 10, CHC Brasil held its fourth CHC Safety & Quality Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This year's event was attended by more than 150 attendees and featured nine presentations around the theme: "Consistent Level of Safety: Continuous Monitoring of Systems and Human Performance."
The event began with opening remarks from CHC's Vice President of Safety and Quality, Duncan Trapp, followed by Marcelo Soares, CHC's regional director of Latin America, who emphasized the importance of safety for the company.
"CHC Brasil is made up of 450 professionals and we have operated in Brazil for 30 years, with safety as our top priority," said Soares. "Each of us know it is our duty to take care of each other and do every part of our jobs as safely as possible. Our dedication to safety is in our DNA, which is why we wanted to take two days to talk about the most important safety issues facing our industry and region."
Soares also thanked presenters, including representatives from Azul Airlines, BainesSimmons, SKYTRAC, Leonardo, Sikorsky and HFACS, Inc., and emphasized the relevance of this cooperation. "When you talk about safety there is no competition, we work together to improve the safety of the operation."
He also recognized the team of local employees who worked hard to host the event, including Ana Claudia Malagrino Galvao, Regional Manager of Safety and Quality for Latin America.
Karl Fessenden, President and CEO of CHC Helicopter, reaffirmed the need for safety not only for the company but for aviation in general, "One of the greatest benefits of participating in such an important exercise is the opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other. Many times our own internal business priorities prevent us from working together on a regular basis, which makes events such as this one such an excellent forum for collaboration.
Among the speakers, Scott Shappell, professor and chair of the Human Factors and Systems department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, spoke about human factor errors and how to optimize work. Through examples carried out in common routines, he demonstrated the importance of attention to the small details and how they can make a difference in daily operations.
"When a driver takes a wrong turn, his GPS recalculates his route and he is able to move forward with his trip taking a slightly different route," Shappell explained. "If this occurs with a pilot during an operation, the consequences can be serious."
After holding a successful event, the team in Brazil is already planning the fifth regional conference for 2019. CHC is also preparing to host its 14th annual global Safety and Quality Summit October 2-4 in Dallas, Texas and will host hundreds of delegates from around the world.
Brian Bianco
Senior Manager, Communications
+1 214.262.7426
About CHC Brasil/CHC
CHC Brazil is a subsidiary of CHC Helicopter. For more than 70 years, CHC Helicopter has provided safe, reliable, cost-effective helicopter service in some of the most remote and challenging environments around the world. With extensive experience transporting customers in the oil and gas industry, supporting search-and-rescue and EMS contracts, and providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services, our dedication to safety and reputation for quality and innovation help our customers reach beyond what they thought possible. Visit www.chcheli.com for information.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that we may make contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include statements about our future financial condition and future business plans and expectations. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management, but are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results and/or the timing of events to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.


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Above: Nous Non Plus' new release "Ménagerie" will be available on Aeronaut Records sometime in November. Stay tuned…
I haven't even finished posting about my April trip to Europe and here I am about to depart for Germany, where I'll be performing with NNP (that's short for Nous Non Plus) at Viadrina University (near Berlin) on Saturday night. We're doing a show as part of the Green Party's "Green European Summer 2008 Bridging the Gaps" festival (scroll down to Saturday August 30 for show info). If you happen to be in or around Berlin on Saturday, please come on down (the show is free and you can always email me to let me know you're coming since I'll have my blackberry with me).
On Monday, September 1, I head down to Montalcino where I'll be tasting and talking to winemakers, trying to find out what's happening "on the ground," so to speak.
So please stay tuned!


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A New Way To Test For Signs Of Consciousness In Unresponsive, Brain-Injured Patients
Patients who are brain-injured and unresponsive may appear unconscious, but a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine repurposed a widely-used technology to demonstrate that the brains of some of these patients are still active.
The researchers used electroencephalography or EEG to look for signs of brain activity in a group of brain-injured patients, finding that 15% of those studied had residual activity despite being unable to speak or move.
EEG is already used to diagnose epilepsy and other brain disorders, but this study shows that EEG recordings can be used to detect what some researchers call "preserved consciousness" in some unresponsive patients with a severe brain injury. This method might make it easier for doctors to predict whether a brain-injured patient will wake up from a coma and might help inform decisions related to withdrawal of life-support.
"I think this is a landmark study with the potential to impact clinical practice." says Dr. Brian Edlow, director of the Laboratory for NeuroImaging of Coma and Consciousness at Massachusetts General Hospital, who was not involved with this research. "Because EEG can be performed at the bedside, I think it has the potential to be generalized in ICUs around the world."
Dr. Jan Claassen, head of neurocritical care and medical director of Columbia University's neurological intensive care unit, is the lead author. He became interested in understanding consciousness after brain injury when he discovered a different study that used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect brain activity in brain-injured, apparently unconscious patients in response to verbal commands.
This prompted him to start his own investigation, this time using EEG, a cheaper and more widely available technique.
"I got interested in consciousness very early on in my medical career," says Claassen. "[From previous studies], it became clear that some patients that appear to be unconscious because they can't move or talk, respond in a similar way to patients that can express that they understand [verbal] commands."
Claassen and the other researchers used EEG to measure the brain activity of 10 healthy volunteers and 104 patients with an acute brain injury who were unable to respond to spoken commands. They used headphones to play a list of simple verbal instructions for each patient, including cues to open and close, and to stop opening and closing, each hand.
They analyzed the EEG readings using an algorithm and found that 15% (16 of 104) of the brain-injured patients showed brain activity in response to verbal commands. And a year after injury, 44% (7 of 16) of patients who had shown brain activity were able to be at home without any assistance for up to eight hours. Only 14% of those who did not show brain activity were able to achieve that degree of independence.
Davinia Fernández-Espejo, a senior lecturer in the school of psychology at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, who wasn't involved in the study, calls it "elegant" and "very important."
Previous studies have shown that approximately 15% of patients who have been brain-injured and unresponsive for months or years are actually aware, and their brains respond to external commands, she explains. But this study found brain activity in 15% of patients very soon after injury, within about four days.
"This is crucial because it's in these early days when important medical decisions related to withdrawal of life support take place. The information that we can obtain about individual patients from neuroimaging tests like the one reported here has great potential to inform these decisions," said Fernández-Espejo in an e-mail statement to NPR.
It's unclear whether unresponsive patients who showed brain activity could actually understand the verbal commands, or whether they were simply responding to the investigator's voice. "That is a very important and fascinating question, but we really don't know," Claassen explains. "We know that the brain reacted differently to the command 'open your hand' and 'stop opening your hand', [but we don't know] how much they understood."
Brain activity in these unresponsive patients might be used to predict whether they will regain consciousness. Half of the 16 patients who showed brain activity recovered enough that they were able to follow the same verbal commands before they were discharged from the hospital to continue rehabilitative treatment elsewhere. Only about a quarter of the patients who did not show brain activity were able to follow the verbal commands before they left the hospital.
Claassen thinks EEG can offer a much better alternative for monitoring brain activity in unresponsive brain-injured patients, compared to the current choices.
"It's a lot of logistical effort to move patients with a brain injury to an MRI scanner, and we have to weigh the safety of the patient against the information that we will get. The advantage of EEG is that it can be repeated multiple times and it's cheaper than an MRI scan," says Claassen.
Although the results are promising, Fernández-Espejo cautions that there are issues to address before the use of EEG becomes a widespread practice for detecting brain activity in apparently unconscious patients. "These results … need to be validated in larger samples, and studied in the context of other existing prognostic tools available before their potential for clinical use can be evaluated appropriately," she said via e-mail.
Data analysis of the EEG data is also a problem. Any ICU would have the ability to use EEG to gather data on patients' brain waves, but the data analysis requires expertise and qualified personnel, Edlow explains.
"One can imagine a scenario whereby ICUs acquire the data and send it to specialized centers that have the capability to process and analyze it," he says. "I think this would be a way forward for ICUs to implement this type of technique."
Claassen and his group plan to continue following the patients from the study in the long-term. "My hope is that we get better at predicting who recovers from a coma and who doesn't," he says.
Luisa Torres is a AAAS Mass Media Fellow on NPR's science desk. She's on Twitter at @luisatorresduq.
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Welcome to
Karen Neumann is an internationally respected spiritual teacher, intuitive and yogi. Following her inner guidance, she shares Higher Consciousness Communications. American by birth, Hindu by soul, she helps people access the unconditional love and peace that is their True Divine Nature.
To assist in the initiative to provide food for the animals fo Rishikesh, India donate here. Any amount is welcome. Each month we purchase dog food, cat food and milk to feed the animals in need.


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Finding Inspiration
The other weekend we had a grand ole time in Portland, Oregon, with lots of running around town, drinking delicious beers, and stuffing our faces with incredible food (see below). But the best part of it was hanging out with a few awesome peeps. And not the ones that Mr. 1500 dunked in his beer; the ones who are also on their journey to FI (or are already there).
One of them being a fellow Chautauqua attendee who we met in Ecuador last October. Wendy was one of the very first people that I chatted with on the first day in Ecuador and I still remember her calling me out (graciously of course) on how busy I was and how real she was when it came to life.
So after a few amazing beers in Portland, I decided to get real and ask her for feedback about our blog. Being that she is a friend and also a reader of our blog, I wanted a truthful and honest opinion, including what we are doing well and also what we could improve upon.
The feedback she gave us was utterly on point. One thing she mentioned was how she wanted to hear more about our travels. And while I realized that we have briefly disclosed our travel plans, we really haven't written too much about them.
I'm changing that today.
In addition, I also have to give credit to my other source of inspiration for this post. Fritz over at the Retirement Manifesto, recently wrote a post about his new hobby "Bictography" aka the act of bicycle photography or riding a bike with the sole purpose of taking photographs. Somehow I started this same hobby while in Cambodia around the same time he did, but he gets all the credit for the name for sure.
Out of necessity though I had to put my own little spin on this whole bictography thing. While Fritz stopped to take pictures, I was forced to add the extra challenge of taking the pictures while still in motion. Why you might ask? Well, we were part of a bike tour, there were tons of cool things to take pictures of, and we only had a limited amount of time. Failure to finish the tour in time would cause me to miss the ferry boat back to the city. So I schemed up a way that I could still take all the photos I wanted and not miss the boat literally.
Below I will share some of my bictography-in-motion photos. And I'm actually pretty proud of my work too. While some might be a tad blurry, that just proves that I was in fact in motion during the taking of the picture. Its pretty cool to look back at a snapshot of life during our time there.
To help set the scene, here's a video of me in action (the sound & music is from the wedding we pass):
Here is Mr. Wow cruising with some of the other people from our group, as well as one of the many stunning temples we passed, and some cute kids playing in a wagon.
These are 3 of my favorite pictures from the tour. First is a man with all his goods, heading to the market to sell them. Check out that balance! The middle picture is one of the many dogs that we passed, just waiting (and totally posing) for me to take his picture. And the third picture is of a bike with 3 little girls on it. They joyfully smiled and waved at us as we passed by.
Of course I had to post some fresh food that we saw along our journey. There were coconuts and bananas everywhere! Honestly, I actually never really cared for coconuts, but once in Cambodia, they quickly became one of my favorite things. Nothing beat some fresh coconut water in the middle of the day when the temperature was in the high 90s. You know what they say, a coconut a day keeps the doctor away.
We also saw some young monks hanging out, a boy carrying some goods down the street, as well as some boys playing on a muddy field. I forgot to mention that it had been pouring rain the entire morning before our bike riding adventure, leaving massive puddles and mud everywhere. Just a few more obstacles that we had to pay attention to and attempt to avoid, but the boys didn't seem to mind.
At one point we passed this school that was completed decorated with plastic water bottles and lids. It was actually hard to tell that it was recycled goods until we got up close it. During our time in Cambodia, it was hard not to notice how much plastic is used, from plastic bags, to straws, to water bottles, everything came in plastic. I even saw some vendors pour coconut water from a fresh coconut into a plastic bag so it was easier for people to transport. And being that they don't have a reasonable way to recycle all the plastic, they simply sweep it off to the side of the road and light it on fire. It was definitely neat seeing how this school found a good use for all the plastic by turning it into charming art.
About midway through the tour, a few of us turned off the main road and stumbled upon this awesome monastery. The entire road leading up to it was lined with beautiful winged statues and animals. They were unbelievable to look at! I seriously could have spent hours here.
We were also lucky enough to pass by a local wedding, with everyone all dressed up and music playing. I could not get over how ornate all the decorations were. If you didn't watch the video above, go watch it now.
Quite possibly one of my favorite things to take pictures of while on this tour were the cows. I loved their bold, white color and how they stood out against the bright, green grass. By the end, I easily had about 50-60 photos of these majestic creatures, but figured I spare you from all of them and narrowed them down to only 3. If you want to see any more, just say the word 🙂
All in all, my bictography-in-motion adventure was a great experience. Even though it was raining in the morning, it luckily stopped right as we were getting on our bikes. So even though it was a bit muddy, we were at least dry. And I think I did a pretty good job navigating around the endless obstacles, i.e. dogs in the road, potholes, motorbikes, puddles, all while taking photos too. I can honestly say that I managed all of that very well, despite coming within inches of a motorbike parked in the middle of the road. I came close to hitting it, but I didn't, I promise. Yet that didn't stop everyone who was behind me from yelling at me. I clearly was too busy taking a picture and not paying enough attention to the road ahead of me.
What do you think? Do I have a future in bicycling photos?


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Things You'll Need
Driving tool
Brush and rag
Mild soap
Soft brush
Small livestock clippers
Pigs produce meat. A pig show awards pigs that have the best chance of producing high-quality, lean meat. Five to six-month-old pigs with a market weight of 200 to 280 lbs. compete in market hog shows. Gilts, young females, and boars, male pigs used for breeding, compete in breeding swine classes. In showmanship classes, the exhibitor is judged on his or her ability to show and groom the animal. Showing pigs involves raising, grooming and training pigs for a competition. There are regional differences in showing pigs throughout the United States. However, a number of basic steps ensure successful competition at a pig show.
Select a pig with desirable conformation. An ideal pig has thick muscling in the ham (rear), loin (back) and shoulder. The pig is structurally sound and moves freely. Ideal pigs exhibit a long, lean, deep body. For market hog classes, the hog must meet the required weight.
Train the pig at home prior to the show. Pigs are driven, not led with a halter. A driving tool such as a hog whip, riding crop, small length of plastic piping or small cane is used to guide the pig in the show ring. Work with the pig so a light touch on the right side results in the pig moving to the left and a light tap on the left side turns the pig to the right. Exercise the pigs regularly to build stamina for the show ring.
Groom the pig before entering the show ring. Wash the pig using mild soap. It is necessary to remove all dirt and stains. Following local or breed recommendations, clip the pig with small livestock clippers. Carry a small rag or brush in your back pocket. If sawdust or dirt gets on the pig in the ring, quietly remove it.
Keep the pig between you and the judge in the show ring. Never block the judge's view of the pig. Slowly guide the pig, keeping a 10- to 20-foot distance from the judge. Move the pig so the judge has a clear view of its side, front and rear. Hold the driving tool in one hand, switching hands as necessary. Bend slightly at the waist and have repeated eye contact with the judge. Follow all of the judge's instructions.
Do not move between fighting pigs. Occasionally pigs will start a fight in the ring. Stand back and allow a person with a hog board to break up the fight. Usually the fighting stops if the board separates the two pigs.
Move the pig away from corners and don't allow the pig to group with other pigs. If the judge asks for the pig to be penned, slowly move the pig to the desired pen. Open the gate, guide the pig into the pen, and latch the gate. Stand near the pig and wait for the judge's instructions. When asked to leave the pen, calmly move the pig out of the pen and close the gate.
- Oklahoma State University; Fitting and Showing Your 4-H Pig; Dr. William G. Luce
- Northern Michigan University; Raising a Hog for Hog Showmanship; February 2002
- Oklahoma State University; Swine Showmanship; Rusty Gosz, et al.
- University of Missouri; Swine Care, Selection and Showmanship; Patrick Kircher, et al.; February 2003
Photo Credits
Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
Writer Bio
Kim Dieter has taught agriscience classes, developed curriculum and participated in the school accreditation process at the secondary and community college levels since 1980. She holds a Master of Science degree from the University of California, Davis, in animal science.


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It's expected that seniors in this generation will live longer than seniors in previous generations. This means that there is an increased need to provide senior living for individuals with a variety of needs. Traditionally, nursing homes and assisted care facilities were places for aged populations who were unable to care for themselves alone. Today, however, with a higher concentration of seniors and with seniors who are living longer than before, there are more individuals to care for. The traditional nursing home or assisted care facility is no longer the only option. Continuing Care Retirement Communities, or CCRCs, are cropping up all over the country. These senior housing communities provide a place for social connections to flourish, for independent living to continue and for more choices. CCRC property insurance has also come to fruition to provide coverage for this unique community type.
Insurance that Reaches Beyond Traditional Senior Housing and Care Facilities
A qualified insurance company, one that specializes in senior care, has a team of underwriters in place to design plans specific to CCRC property insurance. As with all insurance, a policy for CCRC properties would be designed to reduce risk and ensure sustainability. Meeting with an agent who can provide you with the details of different policies and endorsements can offer more insights as well as pricing information. In addition to CCRC coverage, the insurance company may also provide you with information for general liability, workers compensation, employee benefits liability, sexual misconduct, business auto and commercial property policies.


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The new vBulletin 4.0 boasts a lot of new changes such as CSS-friendly styles, multi-content search and other various new features. The biggest improvement in vBulletin 4.0, however – is well hidden under the hood and it is the actual changes to the database storage mechanism. While there are exceptions, this change improves the way vBulletin sites scale upwards to serve more visitors and more content without sacrificing performance. As a preface to my blog post, allow me to please explain its purpose. I'd like to very simply describe the database processes and the problems that the average forum owner is facing. I'd also like to explain the basic solutions to these problems. Furthermore, I'd like to discuss this in the context of exciting changes coming in vB 4.0. I also further understand the problem, and I realize that this change is not a complete solution to the problems that large forums are facing, but it is a really good and exciting step in the right direction towards helping vBulletin perform better.
Let's talk Simple Database Server Mechanics:
In an average installation, vBulletin typically stores data in only one database, while it uses many different tables inside that database to store different sets of data. For example, user information is stored in a table called "user", and post text is accordingly stored in a separate table called "post". When a new thread is added, or a reply to a post is made, a new "row" is created in these database tables to store the additional information. When a visitor wants to read a thread, they click on a link sending the database server a command to query the various database tables and show the specified results. An average active discussion forum could be seeing hundreds of these queries per second.
Defining the General Database Problem and Errors:
As your discussion forum grows, you will notice that your hosting requirements may change drastically. As the user activity on your forum increases, so is the amount of data collected in your database. In turn, as the physical size of the database increases the server uses more and more hardware resources to service each individual request, such as displaying a thread or adding a new reply. When the server becomes overwhelmed with requests it starts taking a longer time to service each query, this starts a chain reaction where even the simplest of queries aren't being serviced; this condition is called "Locked". The best way to visualize the "Locking" issue is to imagine a road traffic jam. This problematic condition manifests itself via MySQL error messages and general site slowness. It's believed that upgrading to a better web host (ie. Dedicated server) would resolve the performance issues; and while it's generally good advice – the reality is that upgrading to a better host only increases the safety buffer before the errors will occur again. In our example of a traffic jam, a server upgrade will increase the amount of travel lanes – but the traffic jam is still possible, even though more cars are able to travel. This traffic jam condition is not exclusive to vBulletin, but rather to a default implementation of MySQL; let's further examine the problem by talking about the Search function.
Taking a Closer Look at "Search"
Let's drill down and examine the search functionality in vBulletin 3. Earlier, we talked about the "thread" and "post" tables in the forum database. When a forum user executes a search, a query is issued that checks the "post" and "thread" tables for availability of the specified keywords. This process is very intensive and it uses an internal MySQL function called "fulltext" database search. Both the "thread" and "post" tables have an index that speeds up this process, something that resembles a table of contents in a book and it's called a "fulltext index". While this search process is happening, the database server has much less resources dedicated to serving other queries (reading and especially writing). Depending on server capacity, activity level and the size of your post table, a single simple search can cause the aforementioned traffic jam condition and bring your forum down.
Examining the Search Issue and Solutions
Currently, the most common approach to scaling a vBulletin forum to handle the load is to avoid the traffic jam condition entirely. Lets evaluate the root cause of the problem.
Issues can be found in the mechanism storing and retrieving the data inside the database tables; this storage engine is called "MyISAM". When a database request is made on a specific table (specifically the "write" query), the MyISAM engine temporarily "locks" the specified table briefly making it unavailable to all other requests. This means that given the typical conditions while it's searching through the larger tables such as "post" all other requests are quickly queuing as well, creating the traffic jam condition, in turn spewing database errors and slowing down the site.
The solution to "table level locking" in MyISAM is as simple as converting the database table engine to type "InnoDB". At a first glance, InnoDB is very similar to MyISAM; the main difference being that unlike MyISAM engine, InnoDB uses "row level" locking, whereas the specific table is never locked completely and is always available to service all other requests. This means that when an expensive search query is executed and and/or writing occurs, the "post" table does not lock and delay all other requests from successfully completing.
InnoDB - The important difference between vB 3.x and 4.0
The main problem is that InnoDB does not support "fulltext" searching; this means that converting to InnoDB will break the default search engine in vBulletin 3. This is due to InnoDB requiring that "fulltext index" be dropped when the conversion occurs. No full text index, no search; it's as simple as that. Currently, the solution is to use a third-party search engine such as Sphinx. vBulletin 4 data model tackles this problem head on by redesigning the search engine functionality by no longer relying on a fulltext index in the "post" and "thread" tables and giving the flexibility of optimization without sacrificing the search.
Database performance changes in vB 4.0
As I've mentioned in the beginning of my blog post – what's really cool in vBulletin 4.0 is not necessarily apparent to the untrained eye. Previously, vBulletin utilized the fulltext index on both "thread" and "post" tables making optimization and server problem resolution very expensive and complicated. vBulletin 4.0 no longer needs the fulltext index to be present in either of the "thread" or "post" tables. This means that vBulletin 4.0 database can utilize the InnoDB table engine and prevent a lot of common database issues associated with locked database queries. This is great news for small to medium board owners who will be able to resolve some performance overhead problems without having unnecessary expenditures for expensive hosting or complicated third-party search engines.
What else is new?
Another cool update in vBulletin 4.0 are the new indicies that it builds on tables such as thread and post that further optimize database performance. This is especially beneficial to forums with "long" threads where replies could reach well into the thousands.
Stay tuned for a detailed guide to InnoDB converting vBulletin 3.8 and 4.0.


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On The Hook: Post storm fishing adventures
Timing this week, again, appears a bit shallow for interest in sport fishing when the populace is up to their guitar on restoring normalcy to their lives post Irma.
She was a doozy! We all know now what a category 4 'cane looks like. She left us lots of forgettable memories that will long be cocktail hour chatter regardless as to whether you braved it out here or ran for cover.
So knowing it's difficult to bring one's attention to rod and reel when your focus is on repairing a disheveled roof or recapturing your landscaping from your neighbors porch -- this week we'll take a journey back to several charter trips we experienced on "first time back" trips just after tropical weather events, had sailed through or brushed by the Paradise Coast.
The vanishing beach
Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 is remembered now as just a slight step below Irma's intensity and devastation. A late season category 3/4, it swept into the Florida coastline from the southwest and the eye made landfall around Cape Romano. As I remember, the front edge of the storm was packing 70-80 mile per hour winds but the backside was chalking up winds of 130; she presented us with the same type of peripheral damage as Irma but with a more focused path.
We all cleaned up tree and building damage for ensuing weeks while our interest in rod and reel took a hiatus.
As we all inched back onto the water in mid-November, there were astonishing changes especially in the waterway edges; downed Australian pine trees had created a whole new arena of fish havens and there was caution and excitement to seeing what secrets the new layout would produce.
Just before Thanksgiving, we booked a family charter for a trip that would involve fishing these new fish havens and then finishing up searching the beaches with shelling and splashing in the "surf." There was mom and dad and two pre-teen girls.
We fished that morning just to the west edges of Hurricane Pass and focusing on early season sheepshead and late season mangrove snapper. We did rather well and after an hour or so we had enough for their dinner. The kids had done well and each had acquired their own filets for dinner.
With just short of two hours left we headed back to a shoreline spot just off Capri Pass that had been our "go-to" for beaching the boat and shelling.
Now, our procedure for shelling, is backing into the beach; so, first it's dropping the forward anchor; backing slowly into the beach edge; setting a stern anchor to hold the beach thus allowing the customers to step off the stern platform, usually in knee deep water, and scramble up onto the beach.
More:On The Hook: Tales of Irma
So, on that morning, I dropped the forward anchor, and backed into the spot we had used hundreds of times, secured the engine and asked the husband to help me with the stern anchor. He stepped out onto the platform and I handed him the 12-pound claw anchor in what had always been 2-3' of shoreline water.
He stepped off the boat, anchor in hand and disappeared!
Wife gasped. Kids screamed. And the husband surfaced sputtering without the anchor.
Wilma had cut a current made trench along the beach and what had been a 2-3 foot depth was now 7-8 feet. My oversight. But no damage done other than to the now soaked husband. We backed into the beach a little further and ended up collecting a mess of sand dollars.
The point of the story is that strong hurricanes do strange things to nature's layout. Be careful when you take conditions for granted post Irma.
The Capri cuda
Most all tropical storm impacts here in Southwest Florida come at us from the directional spectrum of southeast to southwest. That means they usually have visited or torn up shoreline and waters of the Florida Keys.
They disrupt the water and it's seaborne creatures as well. It's not uncommon for species totally foreign to our relatively shallow mud bottom environment to show up disoriented after major storm passage. They don't hang around these part very long, but while here they feed; what else?
To digress a moment, Marco Island enjoys a couple of unique geographical characteristics, it not only has an area of high ground (Indian Mounds) but is tucked just a tad east of what is regarded as the storm thoroughfare for events entering the Gulf of Mexico from the easterly Caribbean.
We all have been on storm warnings here over the years for those named storms that follow that path north and we luck out with 50-60 mph outer edge winds. And those "brush-bys" are the engine that disperses those Keys species in our domain.
So it's not uncommon to have reports of sailfish, mahi-mahi, bonefish being caught in nearshore to offshore waters for a brief period after the storms passage.
So now to our story: a group of early season "snowbirds" here escaping the northeastern enveloping cold. They got four guys together and we plan a fall morning backwater trip.
It's an early October morning and we're a week or so post one of those "brush-bys." We have good weather and a moderate tide and plan to work our way north working bottom feeders as well as feeding redfish.
For those that are familiar with the geography of the Isle of Capri. On the southwest corner of the island tangent to the Twin Dolphins Condominium was a house (now replaced with a mansion) set out on the water that usually had fish teaming under the dock. Great fishing spot.
So we start there early morning. Nice guy owner and his wife are out on the dock sipping coffee and chatting with these four snowbirds about everything. We've caught some nice snapper and a early season sheepshead.
All of a sudden, one of the rods goes off with a scream and before anyone can react a four foot geographically displaced barracuda leaps out of the water heading north and sails just over the heads of the couple who toss coffee and hit the deck as the cuda severs the 12-pound test line and departs.
Everyone just stands there, numb; recognizing we barely avoided an "event."
As we moved on with goodbyes to the owners, we heard the wife exclaim "we'll have coffee on the lanai from now on."
Word to the wise, be careful on your "first time back" trip this time.
Capt. Bill Walsh owns a charter fishing business and holds a U.S. Coast Guard license. Send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Eighteen years ago today.
First day of classes, junior year. Standing in the bathroom with too much shaving cream and not enough whiskers, getting geared up for another semester of partying too much and studying too little. No e-mails to check, no cell phone messages to return, just listening to the clock radio on the counter, because that's how we rolled. Not that we had much choice in the matter.
Roommate walks into the bathroom with a look on his face like someone told him that Milwaukee's Best raised the price of six packs.
"Dude, Eric Clapton is dead."
God is dead? I thought, reflexively.
"His helicopter crashed."
Not that again. You get used to the overdoses, no matter how pointless or accidental or idiotic. It doesn't make them easier to accept, or justify, but there is some semblance of accountability. But these random acts of mechanical destruction? Intolerable. Unacceptable on any level.
Of course, as we shortly found out, it was Stevie Ray Vaughan who had actually died (part of the confusion came from the fact that he was on tour with Clapton, and had just played on the same stage the night before). Same principle applies: shocking, inexplicable, unacceptable.
And even worse, in a way. To put it in as respectful and delicate fashion as possible, this one hit home a lot harder. Eric Clapton was another, earlier generation's Genius. Stevie Ray Vaughan was my generation's guitar god, the one whose albums coincided with those crucial high school years, the formative times in your life when each album is a revelation. And, with an artist like Vaughan, a living chain connecting the past to present. This is the dude who, not to put too fine a point on it, had the audacity to cover Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and take it places even the best guitar player who ever strapped on a Stratocaster didn't go.
Plus, I knew Stevie. Not personally, of course. But the summer before, I worked at the local record store just as Stevie's new album In Step dropped. We used to spin that baby a few times per day, and it wasn't even personal, it was strictly business. The album sold well, as it should have. The back-story elevated its import: after years of struggle with drugs and drink, Vaughan had cleaned up and was enjoying sobriety (indeed, the album's title refers directly to his recovery process, which he was understandably proud of). The album remains top notch, but — as last albums from artists taken entirely too soon tend to do–it has an almost eerily elegiac feel that is difficult to deny. That the last song on the last album released in his lifetime is the sublime "Riviera Paradise" seems, at once fitting and devastating. It teases and cajoles with its promises of what should have been — all the great music this man undoubtedly would make. It also, being a near perfect song to end any album (much less a final album), feels entirely fitting. That is not nearly enough in terms of consolation for our loss, but it helps. And, as always, with art, it helps that we will always have the gifts the artist left behind. It's never enough; it's more than enough.
God is dead, again.
I can't say for sure that I thought this, but maybe I did.
And speaking of God:
The 20 year old kid couldn't help but wonder: "What kind of God would take a man like this from us?"
The 38 year old kid thinks: "The same one who gave him to us?"
That, of course, is not good enough. It's never enough.
But it will have to do.


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Aboard El Galeon
Ulises Unzeta, Casey Leydon and Solana recently took an International Indigenuous Unity Flag aboard El Galéon, currently docked at the St. Augustine Marina. Docked at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina.
El Galéon offers daily tours, providing visitors the opportunity to step back into time as they walk the decks and wander through the ships quarters. The ship is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Municipal Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children to age 12, and free for children 5 and under.
Tickets are available through the St. Augustine Ripley's Red Sightseeing Trains outlets in St. Augustine, including the location at the City of St. Augustine Municipal Marina where the ship is located. Although ticket are no longer available online, tickets previously purchased online or at the ticket booths will be honored.


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Urgent Care When You Need It
Tristan is launching urgent care services at all its convenient locations. Learn more about our services and find a location near you.
Urgent Care provides the highest quality immediate care for acute, episodic illnesses and injuries. Urgent Care is available in all locations and Saturdays in Raynham and Easton/Brockton, please check with each office for available times. Urgent Care is just another way Tristan Primary Care Centers work to keep you healthy and away from long waits at an emergency room full of sick people. Avoiding the ER is just another wellness tip Tristan Medical provides to you and your family.
Our locally-owned practice is operated by board-certified physicians, and supported by specially trained and certified staff members. This staff includes experienced clinicians with extensive medical training in the diagnosis and treatment of urgent care problems.
- Extended hours at many of our five locations
- Walk-ins welcome. No appointment needed
- Most insurance accepted
Tristan Medical Care Centers are committed to providing the highest quality immediate care for your acute, episodic illness, or injury.For serious, life-threatening emergencies, you need to get to your local emergency room or call 911
rgent Care does not provide ongoing management of chronic health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Disorders requiring long-term management should be treated by our primary care physician.
However, if you need immediate care for a problem that arises due to those conditions, we can help you. We will then provide your primary care physician with information about your condition, our evaluation, treatment and recommendations for follow-up care. If you need help finding a primary care physician or specialist to help you manage your condition, we can help you find the care you need.