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By Jennifer Cerbasi, ,
Published October 26, 2015
Hindsight may be 20/20, but as we look back, it appears Sandy Hook Elementary School was as well-prepared as it could have been for such a horrific scenario.
Part of the healing process in a tragedy like this is moving forward and implementing procedures that will prevent another awful situation from happening. There are changes to be made in schools throughout the country – and now is the time to make them.
Our schools need to provide more and consistent counseling for all students.
All children can benefit from having a supportive adult with whom they can talk. We need to emphasize the importance of emotional health in our children and their families.
I believe children with special needs benefit from counseling to support their emotional development and enhance their understanding of the challenges they may face.
One of the worst things I ever heard in a school was, "We are a school for children with autism. We don't offer counseling." This was said in a district with three school psychologists on staff. It is a travesty that this school district only looked at the diagnosis and not the individual needs of the child.
When asked what she thought about the school shooting, a friend's daughter said, "It would be a better idea if the shooter could have somebody that he could talk to when he was feeling upset. It's a good idea to have somebody around all the time to listen."
As I heard these wise words from such a young person, I realized she tackled the question we need to answer: Did Adam Lanza have a support system in place?
Our schools must employ full time psychologists and counselors.
Schools will tell many tales of budget cuts, which often result in reducing non-mandated positions from full to part-time. This is unacceptable. We are dealing with mental health issues on a more consistent basis, and as we tackle the support these children need, we need more resources available around the clock.
Our children need better diagnoses.
Often, parents and schools accept one primary diagnosis and don't worry about others, because the child is receiving appropriate educational services. The Connecticut shooter may have had Asperger's syndrome, but it is not uncommon for people with disabilities to live with more than one disorder.
For example, I see this often in children with autism and possible specific learning disabilities. As students gain language and develop social skills, we get a clearer picture of their academic skills as well. I have seen autistic children who struggle more in one academic area than another, and this may be attributed to a learning disability – not necessarily their autism.
Identifying and diagnosing mental health issues in children is challenging, and we need to better train staff on how to identify risk factors and concerning behaviors.
Our staff must see something and say something.
Many schools hire lunchtime and recess aides to monitor students during these unstructured times. Others utilize staff on a rotating basis. There are often between two and five adults monitoring hundreds of children. It's virtually impossible for the adults to have eyes on everyone.
That said, if staff members see something odd on the playground or in the classroom, they must talk to the child's teacher and the school psychologist. It is important not to pass off all behavior as "kid stuff," even if it means sounding an alarm when there may not be cause for one. This is clearly an instance of 'better safe than sorry.' What may appear as child's play could be an indicator of something more serious.
The time to take our children's mental health seriously is now. Many schools do a great job of supporting their students' needs, while others need to heed warnings to better educate and prepare themselves. We must make emotional health and development a priority in all schools if we hope to raise well-adjusted and healthy children, as well as possibly prevent tragedy from striking.


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Belden's GarrettCom Magnum 10RX Router
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subset: commoncrawl


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Whether it's on the football field or Wall Street, Eugene Profit knows how to play the game.
Profit, a Yale University graduate with a bachelor's degree in economics and a former cornerback for the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins, entered the financial sector in 1991 when he was forced to retire from the NFL due to a torn hamstring. He started as a financial consultant at Legg Mason and left the company in 1996 to found Profit Investments, a money management firm based in Washington, D.C., that serves institutional and retail clients.
U.S. News recently spoke with Profit, 48, about his passion for finance, what the NFL taught him about money and how the company he founded 15 years ago with $300,000 in assets under management has grown to nearly $2 billion today. His responses have been edited.
What was it like making the transition from the NFL to Wall Street?
Any transition from a sports league to something else is extraordinarily difficult. You go from being in this world where there's this degree of exposure and popularity. You've been used to having structured schedules and structured goals in your life. Then you transition over into this world of complete freedom and isolation. I think that's a pretty big adjustment. And don't forget that, in most cases, you're pretty young when this transition occurs.
What did you tell Emmitt Thomas, the Redskins position coach, when he asked you during your last year in the NFL whether you're going into coaching or going to Wall Street?
I told him I wasn't sure. I was equally split on what direction to take. In coaching, you are directing people to achieve. You are trying to analyze where they are and help them get better. It's like that in money management, where you help individuals with their portfolio and help them make good investments.
[Read: Use Football-Style Retirement Planning]
What was the deciding factor in choosing to pursue finance?
When I left Yale, I knew that when I stopped playing football, I would need something to do that I was passionate about and would enjoy. For me, that's always been based in economics and business and entrepreneurship.
Before I was injured, I had already started looking into business ventures and looking at stock brokerages. I had my hand in the stock market, so it was a [logical] switch.
Did the NFL prepare you for the fierce competition on Wall Street?
As an individual, I would say yes. There's an acronym a lot of NFL players use for the league: not for long. There's always somebody working as hard as you, and they're always training someone to be your replacement. I think Wall Street is that way - if you don't perform, clients replace you.
Did you gain financial knowledge on the football field?
As a football player, you have to be consumed with playing the game. You need to prepare and put yourself in the best position to keep playing. Intense focus and going through sequential steps to succeed is applicable to a lot of areas, so it was easy for me to apply it to working in finance.
Who was the most influential person in your financial career?
The answer may seem odd, but I think that person was me. I really didn't know how difficult this business is. I went out on my own and focused on growing my own firm - managing the money the way I saw fit. I didn't try to emulate a lot of other people. I think not knowing how this business works allowed me time to pay for my own mistakes. I wasn't making money starting out, but I had money from [my football career] to support my business.
[Read: Is an Online Financial Adviser Right for You?]
The fact that I grew up without a lot of money allowed me to be comfortable not making a lot in the beginning. When I started my company, that was a period of time when I could have been making a lot more doing work for someone else, but I was focused on doing it my way and stayed with it long enough to convince more people to allow Profit Investments to manage their portfolio.
Are some of your old NFL teammates clients?
No, the majority of our business is in corporate pension funds. Early on, we managed money for athletes, but I shied away from it because I just wanted to manage the portfolio; I didn't want to get pulled more into representation or into managing careers for athletes.
Who is your ideal client?
An investor who is looking for a modest rate of return - at a reasonable degree of risk - over a market cycle, so around a three- to five-year time period. We want investors to stick to their investment objective - not jump around, trying to get a point here and a point there based on the headline of the day. I can't tell you what's going to happen today or tomorrow, but I can tell you what we've been able to achieve in a market cycle.
[See: 50 Smart Money Moves]
What's your investing philosophy?
I am a valuation-sensitive growth investor who seeks to provide investors with reasonable returns at reduced risk, versus an index of securities. We try to build a margin of safety into portfolios for unknown events by buying strong companies that have stumbled for a temporary reason.
What do people need to know about investing in today's market?
As is always the case, there is no guarantee that investing in today's market will provide a positive return today, this week or this year. Successful investing is most likely achieved with a longer-term perspective and with good advisers helping guide you through volatile markets.


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On August 4, 2002 a granite memorial marker was placed and dedicated to the six Naramore children in the Riverside Cemetery in Barre, Massachusetts. The ceremony was attended by approximately three dozen people including the town historian, members of the Barre Historical Society, local politicians, and the Massachusetts Secretary of State. The group gathered to remember the six slain children and mark in a dignified way their previously unmarked paupers' graves. Two musicians played a flute duet for the occasion.
As one of the T&G articles said, nothing can excuse Lizzie Naramore's actions. Yet what does the "Coldbrook Tragedy" say about society in 1901--the lack of a "social safety net," the place of women in society, mental illness, the court system, the child welfare system? What does it say about society today? How much have things really changed?
See Also:
COG 97: Researching "The Coldbrook Tragedy" (Part 1 of 4)
COG 97: Researching "The Coldbrook Tragedy" (Part 2 of 4)
COG 97: Researching "The Coldbrook Tragedy" (Part 3 of 4)


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Stop giving kids soda
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Senior Member
Joined: 10 June 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 705
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Posted: 12 July 2005 at 5:12pm
I just want to appeal to all parents, aunts, uncles ect. out there to stop giving kids soda, or cola. It doesn't matter if its Mecca cola or coke its all the same. Its bad for your teeth and the suger and high fructose corn syrup in it contributes to obesity and diabetes. Parents need to say no to kids and offer them water, milk, 100% juice(not more that one cup a day) or homemade drinks like sparkling water with orange slices. I am tired of going to frieds houses and having them offer my kids soda. And when you come to my house for a party, there will be no soda served!!!
You cant be a good muslim if you are not decent and have a cold heart. Be a decent and kind person and care for women and children and the elderly.
Joined: 11 August 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 8
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That is true. I think once you are addicted to cokes stuff then it gets very hard to leave it.. personally i tried many times switching from coke cans to milk or to juices but after a day or two again go back to my coke cans atleast 4-5 daily.. hardly touch milk anynmore.. and surely i could feel and see its effects on my health but i guess its too late by now to leave this addiction.. hope others take care of that from an early stage and keep escially children away from it as much as possible.
Senior Member
Joined: 19 March 2005
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I agree. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has provided us with so many natural beverages and foods that we really should not even have to drink artificial drinks, especially ones that are bad for us as soda defintly is. Water is the very best thing to drink, whether its from Zamzam or your regrigerator doesn't matter. If you raise your kids on drinking water and good things, they will probably never even want to drink soda.
Alhamdulillah for all the natural things Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has provided us with.
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Senior Member
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Auzubillahi minash shaitan ir rajeem,
Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim,
Lime soda, Sprite or other fruit juices that are carbonated are not as bad as coca cola and pepsi. Lamp, may be you should try weaning yourself with the help of these.
One of the harms of cola is that it contains phosphorus, which in excess is very bad for the bones. It can effect both growing kids and adults.
Talking of health hazards in foods, monosodium glutamate is also very bad for bones. It is a salt and may be used in very small quantities, never-the-less, causes adiction to the products it is used in. Parents and guardians shld take care shopping for their little ones, their health is our duty.
Maa salaama,
<font color=purple>Wanu nazzilu minal Qurani ma huwa
Shafaa un wa rahmatun lil mo'mineena
wa la yaziduzzalimeena illa khasara.[/COLOR]
Senior Member
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Good tips ladies, I have found that flavored herbal tea, like celestial seasonings orange spice or any other fruit flavor brewed then chilled in the fridge is very good. Kids love it and you can add lemon or orange slices and a little honey if you want a little sweetness. Only 1 teaspoon per cup wont hurt compared to 14 teaspoons of suger in soda. My concern with soda for kids is the phosphorus but also the caffine and the high fructose corn syrup which contributes to obesity in children. Children do not need caffine in thier diet and allready eat way too much suger, they don't need it in thier drinks. I agree monosodium glutimate is very bad and at least by reading labels you can aviod it at home. You never know when you are eating out, but at least I can control what I give my family. Peace all
You cant be a good muslim if you are not decent and have a cold heart. Be a decent and kind person and care for women and children and the elderly.
Joined: 11 August 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 8
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Sister Nausheen .. i wish it was that easy i did try in past though but its very hard once you are so much addicted to cokes stuff.. you keep coming back to it.
If anyone knows monsodium glutomate and MSG is the same thing that sister nausheen has mentioned?
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Eye Damage from MSG
Controversy surrounding food additive MSG (monosodium glutamate-a common flavor enhancer) was re-ignited when a Japanese researcher suggested that consuming too much of the ingredient could make you go blind.
Researchers at Hirosaki University in Japan have found that rats fed diets high in MSG suffer vision loss and have thinner retinas than those in the control group. Glutamate, a group of chemicals that includes MSG, is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter. It has already been shown to cause nerve damage in experiments where it is injected directly into the eye.
MSG, a sodium salt of the amino acid glutamic acid and a form of glutamate, is used as a flavor enhancer in a variety of foods prepared in restaurants and by food processors. While technically MSG is only one of several forms of free glutamate used in foods, consumers frequently use the term MSG to mean all free glutamate.
Its use has become controversial in the past 30 years because of reports of adverse reactions in people who have eaten foods that contain MSG. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), research on the role of glutamate in the nervous system has also raised questions about the chemical's safety.
According to lead researcher Hiroshi Ohguro, his is the first study to show that eye damage can be caused by eating food that contains MSG. A report in the New Scientist this week explains that in the study, rats were fed three different diets for six months, containing either high or moderate amounts of MSG, or none. In rats on the high-MSG diet, some retinal nerve layers thinned by as much as 75 percent, and tests that measured retinal response to light showed they could not see as well. Rats on the moderate MSG diet also had damage, to a lesser extent.
The researchers found high concentrations of MSG in the vitreous fluid, which bathes the retina. MSG binds to receptors on retinal cells, destroying them and causing secondary reactions that reduce the ability of the remaining cells to relay electrical signals.
Ohguro acknowledged that large amounts of MSG were used-20 percent of the total diet in the highest group. "Lesser amounts should be OK," he said, "but the precise borderline amount is still unknown."
He said the findings might explain why in eastern Asia, there is a high rate of normal-tension glaucoma, a form of the eye disease that leads to blindness without the usual increase in pressure inside the eyeball. The higher rate, however, could also be due to genetics.
The New Scientist report continues that Peng Tee Khaw, a glaucoma specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, said the amounts of MSG in the highest diet are "a lot, lot higher than you'd eat. But if you're a sodium glutamate junky, then you could potentially run into problems with your retina."
And while the amount of glutamate in the rats' diets was extremely high, lower dietary intakes could produce the same effects over several decades.
With such persuasive evidence it is clear that food processors must brace themselves for another wave of anti-MSG activity from global consumer associations. In a bid to reassure these same campaigners, food scientists must continue to investigate the impact of MSG, and free glutamates, on human health, as well as looking into alternatives.
One step toward finding alternatives was reported by FoodNavigator.com in April of this year. New research into the use of human taste and smell receptors in functional assays to screen for novel receptor activators and blockers was reported. Senomyx, the U.S. company that carried out the research, is hoping that their research will lead them to discover alternatives to MSG, as well as enhancers of sweet and umami (the taste conveyed by several substances naturally occurring in foods, including glutamate) tastes.
Most are aware that MSG is something that is wise to avoid due to its negative health effects. Most are not aware that MSG is added to most infant formulas. Soy formulas in particular are loaded with MSG.
This table displays some hidden sources of MSG:
These ingredients ALWAYS contain MSG:
These ingredients OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:
Some unexpected sources of MSG:
Saif Al-deen
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Asalamu Alaikum,
Buy a juicer and make apple, carrot, cantaloupe and other natural juices that are excellent for your health and naturally sweet. They run about $100.00 but it's well worth the money. Soda is funky.
Edited by Saif Al-deen
Allahu Alim...
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With features reminiscent of an old fishing town, the quaint riverside suburbs of Bulimba and Hawthorne combine village charm with contemporary elegance. Oxford Street pulses during the day with designer clad mums and bubs spending time between shopping in the eclectic boutiques and enjoying cappuccinos in the chic cafes.
The elaborate timber grandstand in Bulimba Memorial Park is as endearing as the old-style heritage ferry terminal that stands by the river to welcome visitors and the historic sandstone Bulimba House, built in 1850, proudly watches over the hilly streets.
Bulimba and Hawthorne are also home to classic old cinemas, art galleries, book stores, alfresco eateries and beautifully renovated Queenslanders, making this former sugar cane and pineapple growing district a great place to visit and explore.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Typography Wallpapers March 2015
Wallpapers are a great way to show one's personality, whether it's at work or home, your iPhone or iPad and even your Android device. A clean, organized workspace includes a clean and in some cases, inspiring wallpaper. I'm also a big fan of typography. Almost any font used the right way can become a work… Read More


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This Ain't Checkers
Undertaking this mission is as easy as going to Mori's place along the water in Broker, on Monahet Avenue. When you arrive, you'll see an extremely brief cutscene, especially when compared to many other mission-starting cutscenes you've seen in this game so far. You'll see Mori playing chess with his brother Brucie. However, you're only seeing the last move, as Mori mates his brother, puts him down, and then leaves the apartment. Sadly, Brucie is left crying at the table, by himself. C'est la vie.
When you find yourself outside, get into Mori's car. He'll ask you to drive to a helipad on the southern end of Algonquin, which will require you to head back over the Humboldt River, due westward. The GPS will give you the best route to get there, which will have you take either the Algonquin Bridge or the Broker Bridge. Either way, you'll ultimately arrive at Flatfish Place, where the "Helitours" helipad can be found. But don't worry -- this mission won't require you to utilize GTAIV's horrendous helicopter controls. Be thankful!
You'll actually get the gist of what this mission is all about, and what it entails, as soon as you get into the car with Mori en route to the helipad. But just to quickly recap for you, Mori has challenged you (as Luis) to a multi-vehicle race around Liberty City. If you win, Mori will remove Luis and Tony from any more contractual obligations with him, and you won't have to deal with him anymore. If you lose, Luis will be compelled to forever be Mori's servant. Of course, the latter doesn't actually happen, because if you lose, you can simply try again.
You'll start things out by parachuting out of a moving helicopter over Happiness Island. The first of two vehicles you'll use in this race is docked off of the western coast of Happiness Island, so pay attention to your HUD and attempt to land as close to the dock as possible. Then, quickly scurry over to one of the speedboats waiting there for you and begin heading on your way. To stop you from taking any route you want to the end of the race (which is near Middle Park in Algonquin, if you're curious), you'll have to collide with dozens of pink-colored markets strewn around the race. While you don't have to run directly into these with your boat, you must get near them. Be sure not to miss any, or you'll be forced to turn around, effectively ending your race. As long as you can get to shore in second place (or better), you'll be in prime position to win it all. The water race is certainly not difficult, and there are very few obstacles to avoid.
The final section of the race requires you to get into one of four extremely nice, fast cars parked along the shore where the boat leg of the race ended. Just like during the water race, this will require that you collide with pink markers strewn throughout the course, so that you don't try to cut any corners. As mentioned earlier, if you're in second place (or better) by the time you get here, you can go at a pretty leisurely pace and still win it all. The markers are a little more sensitive on land, so be sure to collide directly with them, and pay attention to the arrows within the markers, since they'll indicate the general direction of the next marker. When you reach the finish line in first place, you will have won it all. Goodbye, Mori!
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GoldieBlox Pulls Beastie Boys Video, Promises To Drop Legal Dispute
from the the-inevitable-end deptThis isn't a huge surprise, but given all the publicity, Goldieblox has agreed to pull down the video that included the Beastie Boys' song "Girls," with an open letter to the remaining members of the band, saying that while they believe that their use was fair use, they wanted to respect the wishes of Adam Yauch and his strong desire not to see the band's music used in commercials.
Dear Adam and Mike,A very strong argument can be made that the company should have communicated directly with the Beastie Boys and their lawyers prior to filing for declaratory judgment. But what many people who are commenting on this, who have little to no understanding of copyright law, don't realize, is that filing for a declaratory judgment when threatened is both very standard and quite sensible. As the copyright maximalists are fond of reminding us, you often can't know for sure if something is fair use until a judge says so. Frankly, it shouldn't be this way. Fair use shouldn't require a court to decide, but copyright maximalists have made it so. And, given that, if someone threatens you, the best way to make it clear that it's fair use is to quickly get a judge to weigh in. That's exactly what Goldieblox did, and it's pretty standard in cases where someone is accused of copyright infringement.
We don't want to fight with you. We love you and we are actually huge fans.
When we made our parody version of your song, 'Girls', we did it with the best of intentions. We wanted to take a song we weren't too proud of, and transform it into a powerful anthem for girls. Over the past week, parents have sent us pictures and videos of their kids singing the new lyrics with pride, building their own Rube Goldberg machines in their living rooms and declaring an interest in engineering. It's been incredible to watch.
Our hearts sank last week when your lawyers called us with threats that we took very seriously. As a small company, we had no choice but to stand up for ourselves. We did so sincerely hoping we could come to a peaceful settlement with you.
We want you to know that when we posted the video, we were completely unaware that the late, great Adam Yauch had requested in his will that the Beastie Boys songs never be used in advertising. Although we believe our parody video falls under fair use, we would like to respect his wishes and yours.
Since actions speak louder than words, we have already removed the song from our video. In addition, we are ready to stop the lawsuit as long as this means we will no longer be under threat from your legal team.
We don't want to spend our time fighting legal battles. We want to inspire the next generation. We want to be good role models. And we want to be your friends.
Debbie + Team GoldieBlox
As we've noted in multiple posts, there's also a very strong argument that this is absolutely fair use. However, that doesn't mean that Goldieblox needs to continue the fight. Pulling the video and the lawsuit may remove what would have been a very interesting copyright/fair use case, but as we ourselves have pointed out many times, just because you can go legal, it doesn't always make sense to do so. The question of whether or not the Beastie Boys want their music in ads may be relevant to whether or not the original effort was "respectful," but is not an issue in the fair use equation.
Which brings me to one final point on this. Many people have been arguing that "respect" is all about "permission." This is a very dangerous view. As we've pointed out over and over again, permission-based culture is no culture at all. Creating art is about breaking barriers, building on those who came before and doing it in new and unique ways. The Beastie Boys themselves clearly recognized and did this themselves many, many times. Often, getting permission is impossible, and focusing on needing permission crushes fair use in dangerous ways. A healthy fair use doctrine has resulted in tremendous art, culture and innovation. Demanding permission in all cases would be stifling. It also leads to a thicket problem, that tends to benefit the gatekeepers of culture, rather than the actual creators and artists, many of whom rely strongly on fair use themselves.
As Mathew Ingram notes, fair use is something worth fighting for, and while Goldieblox made the reasonable decision not to continue this fight, we should be extremely wary of attempts to shut down and close off fair use for the sake of both our culture and innovation.
Filed Under: beastie boys, copyright, fair use, permission
Companies: goldieblox


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June 20, 2012
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Gearing up for July 4 Fireworks
ATHENS, Texas—Preparations are under way for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC). The show will last approximately one-half hour and is one of the biggest in East Texas.
The fireworks show is directed and produced by Alpha-Lee Enterprises, Inc., of Liverpool, Texas. The show is a Keep Athens Beautiful event.
TFFC will be open for regular visitation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission for the fireworks show will start at 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to fish in the stocked casting pond while waiting for the fireworks, which will begin at dark. No license is required to fish, and bait and tackle are furnished for free. Fishing ends approximately one-half hour before the fireworks begin.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and people are encouraged to bring picnics. KCKL (FM 95.9) will broadcast patriotic music during the show.
Pets, alcohol, tobacco products and private fireworks, including "snap caps" and sparklers, are not allowed.
The fireworks show is sponsored and paid for by the City of Athens, local businesses and individuals.
Contributors include: City of Athens; First State Bank; Kim Hodges; East Texas Radiological Consultants P.A., Harold Smitson, M.D.; Charlie and Cindy Akin; Athens Bank; Citizens State Bank; The Cain Foundation; Athens Steel Building Corporation; Lance and Kathryn Etcheverry; Carol and Pat Wallace; East Texas Medical Center Athens; Stephen and Karen Jones; Ellen Key; Lake Athens Property Owners Association; Athens Marina; David and Melinda Thomas; Michael and Nan Clough; Athens Bank/The First State Bank; Dallas Bank of Texas/Tome & Becky Abbott; Carol Barton; Robert W. Bushnell; Dalton Family Properties; Bill and Carmen Hunt; William Goodwin; Bryon and Tamara Lichtenberg; McCord Properties; Mamie Stafford; Sam and Karen Whitten; Charles Span; Melissa and Hillesheim; Thad and Lisa Hardin; Charles and Carletta Ramsey; Nell and Neal Velvin; Peggy and Bob Gould.
The event has become an area tradition, with many people dressing in red, white and blue in keeping with the holiday theme. Parking is available in the main TFFC parking lot and in an overflow parking area on Peninsula Point Road. Persons using the overflow parking area may enter through Gate C, which is across the street from the parking area.
For more information or directions, call (903) 676-2277.
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Monogrammed leather cuffs in your choice of 12 colors feature a metal circle personalized with your initials
Customer Reviews
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Choose from Three Options
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Leather cuffs in your choice of 12 colors feature a gold or silver metal circle personalized with your first, middle, and last initial. Cuffs have 3 snaps and fit wrist sizes 7"-8". The metal circle measure 1" in diameter.
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About Allyanna Gifts
Allyanna Gifts prevents wardrobes from going stale with a wide selection of accessories. The company's collection of jewelry includes necklaces, rings, watches, and even items for babies, such as bangles and cuffs. Monogram gifts are popular, too; Allyanna scrawls initials and names across a variety of different items, from jewelry boxes to keychains to phone cases. Totes, clutches, and other functional and trendy bags round out the company's inventory.


text: Yes it was great to see them get into orbit with a very nominal mission. Watching the live video coming up from Ascension Is. of the second burn was very cool. I have already been talking with SpaceX regarding AMSAT opportunities. Interestingly they don't have test flights planned for the F9. They've got paying customers manifested right on from flight 1. Also, since they are focused on their COTS contract for delivering supplies to ISS, many of their initial F9 flights will be to LEO. They are working on GTO mission though. When I last spoke with SpaceX they were not very interested in dealing with secondaries. Their business model and costs are based around launching a single payload. However, they don't care if that "single payload" is actually a stack of satellites as long as someone else does the integration and delivers them an integrated payload stack. With that I've also been talking with the company who brokered the multi-manifest mission for F1 flight 3, since they are smallsat friendly and already have a relationship with SpaceX. 73, Lee-KU4OS PS My day job at the Eastern Range includes working both Atlas V and SpaceX launches. On Sunday 28 September 2008 23:42:07 Bob McGwier wrote: > Falcon 1 successfully made it to orbit today. > > > > http://www.spacex.com/ > > > > Falcon 9 Heavy will be a 12000 Kg to GTO launcher and will almost certainly > have test flights. > > > > http://www.spacex.com/falcon9_heavy.php > > > > and it pays to have friends: > > > > http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Jeff_Ward_To_Head_Up_Avionics_Guidance_ >A nd_Control_At_SpaceX_999.html > > > > > > > > Bob > > N4HY > > > > > > ARRL SDR Working Group Chair > > Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, > > NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. > > "Trample the slow .... Hurdle the dead"


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The Rice Krispie Treat: innocent sweet, or monopolizer of the breakfast treat empire?
Recently when we came across the Trix Treats (photo left, thanks to Lara) which were quite the hot ticket at an event at one of our favorite stores, Plaid Pony Vintage, our view of the ubiquitous marshmallowy treat was challenged. Seriously--who do they think they are exactly, those Rice Krispies? Are they really the only cereal that can successfully make no-bake treats? We decided to put this question to the test by making cereal treats out of several types of cereal to see if Rice Krispies really were the best choice. Here are the details of our experiment:
Who, Where, When: The lucky tasters were those in attendance at a New Year's Eve Party chez moi: an eclectic mix of indie rockers, chemists, video game testers, stationery company employees, and even a pizza delivery guy.
What: A tasting of six types of treats, including Rice Krispie, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, Raisin Bran, Shredded Mini Wheat, Frosted Flakes, and Special K.
How did we do it: They were made in the same method as Rice Krispies treats, just done in
small batches. Once made, we did put little signs on each batch so that tasters would know what types they were eating.
What was our Goal?: To see which treats would prove most compelling, popular and delicious.
So, how did each of the treats stack up? We've itemized the tasters' reviews below.


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I've been doing some live streaming lately, and learned that Adobe's Flash Media Live Encoder is cross-platform. Unfortunately, it's been ludicrously unstable crashing occasionally during use, and always crashing when told to quit.
After searching for alternatives, the closest I came was Telestream's Wirecast product, which despite it's "affordable" claim, is $450 I don't have, and about $400 worth of features I don't need.
What I need in a rtmp/flash streaming client is:
- Stability and a good native feeling client. Adobe's dark-grey drab interface is neither of these things.
- A reasonable price. I'm willing to pay money, but triple-digits is pushing it. Free is always nice :).
- Support for XML profile import. I'm unsure of any other specific term for this, but Nico Nico has a link in their streaming interface to download an XML file containing stream quality parameters, default device selection, and of course the URL of the streaming server. It's wonderful to simply tell FMLE to open this file, and then just click 'Start'.
I have no specific requirements of 'effects' or generally ways to change the stream. I use CamTwist as a front-end device to set the video however I want.
Has anyone used any other software fulfilling this purpose?


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NEA's Read Across America Day
I made the first pledge from Katy, Texas, by pledging to read at least one Dr. Seuss book everyday for two weeks to my granddaughter, Carina! Join me!
On March 2nd, parents, teachers and students will make a special effort to promote reading. This day celebrates the birthday of beloved children's author, Dr. Seuss, by encouraging reading.
Read Across America Day was founded in 1997 by the National Education Association (NEA), which is an organization that represents teachers and education support professionals.
The book, "The Lorax," will be featured this year, and the NBC/ Universal film, "The Lorax," will be released on March 2nd to kick off the Read Across America campaign. The 2012 theme is green.
Log ontowww.readacrossamerica.org and pledge an activity to commemorate this day and to encourage reading in your community.
Also, if you purchase books through betterworldbooks.com, another book will be donated to charity.


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Briwax Wax Polish is blend of Beeswax and Carnauba waxes, suitable for applying to bare wood or over Sanding Sealer. It is a natural wax woodfinishing treatment for all types of wood, in the home and in the workshop for all craftsmen. Briwax gives an instant natural, long lasting sheen. Ideal for wood carvings and turned wood, for floors and skirtings, this wax polish cleans and protects wood, tiles, metalwork, marble and melamine etc. The wax is easy to apply and buff and dries quickly.
Application: Apply with 0000 steel wool, Briwax brushes or cloth. Can be applied directly to timber or onto Briwax Shellac Sanding Sealer.
Available in clear, which maintains the natural colour of the wood, and 13 wood shades to stain and wax in one operation.
Availability: In stock
© 2019 Wonkee Donkee Tools
Developed by GloverSure Ltd.


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Well, you probably thought that after my last blog things probably couldn't get much worse. I'm here to say they most certainly can. Well, I was so excited because the boys and I were going to spend the week at my family's in Preston because Brad was going to Arizona for some classes. Anyways, we had a nice Sunday afternoon there, and Monday had it's ups and downs. Our one fun thing on Monday was going to lunch with one of my old friends Susannah. It's always nice to see some of my old friends. Well Monday concluded with Seth spraying tile cleaner (mostly bleach) all over my mom and dad's new house. We ended up being able to save the carpet, but it was pretty scary. Tuesday was by far the worst. My mom sometimes subs on the playground at the elementary, so we decided to go and visit her, and let the kids play a little. Well, Kadee wasn't out for recess yet, and a couple of kids asked if they could take the kids down the slides. They were some of the older kids so I said they could, plus I was watching them from below. Well, Seth decided that he wanted to go down the biggest, fastest slide. He changed his mind right at the top, so I was following him to the steps. When I turned around, one of the little girls was taking Luke down that same slide. When they came to the bottom Luke was absolutely screaming. The little girl said he must be scared, but he usually stops crying pretty quickly even if he gets hurt. Anyways, I asked the little girl if maybe his foot or leg got twisted and she said it did. We decided to leave and go take it easy since it was close to nap time. Luke cried the whole way home until I was able to get him down for his nap. My mom got home while he was still sleeping, and we decided to take him to the doctor. The doctor checked him out and decided we should get an X-ray just to make sure. I bawled. I can't take it when my kids are hurt. Especially when they're so little. Well, the X-ray showed that there might be a hairline fracture on his upper leg, a little above the knee. The doctor put a giant temporary cast on him, and later our pediatrition said to leave that cast on for a few weeks, because he could tell that his leg was definately hurt. So Luke's just lugging around his cast now. He can't walk on it, but that doesn't stop him from trying. He's so cute, but it just about breaks my heart to see him dragging his leg around in a big ol' cast.
Easter was a blast! This is the first year we've colored eggs. Seth did a great job. He loved it! He even ate the hard boiled eggs because they were colored. Here he is showing off his eggs.


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LOS ANGELES – Metta World Peace was back on the bench again, pumping his fiery fists and imploring Pau Gasol to attack the paint and put an end to the Lakers' latest night of torture.
The Lakers forward did just that, banging his way into the lane to draw the foul, hit the free throws with 1:38 left to put his squad up eight points and all but end the New Orleans Hornets' impersonation of a formidable team. Lakers win 104-96, and their playoff push continues.
With Utah's loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, the Lakers are – again, and for now – in possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz have the tiebreaker, and games remaining against Minnesota (twice) and Memphis. The Lakers play at Portland on Wednesday night, a place where they have won just six times in 31 tries since 1996 and in a scenario – the second game on a back-to-back set – in which they're just 5-10 this season. From there, they host Golden State, San Antonio and Houston.
BOX SCORE: Lakers 104, Hornets 96
World Peace's inspiring and underrated spirit wasn't stuck on the bench this time, though, as he returned to the court just 12 days after left knee surgery and put in 15 minutes of well-deserved fame (four points, no rebounds, one assist). Kobe Bryant, to the surprise of no one, was a wholly necessary part of the Lakers' survival strategy as he scored 23 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Dwight Howard had 19 rebounds and just six rebounds. The Hornets were led by Eric Gordon (22 points), while forward Anthony Davis had 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Bryant was nowhere to be found through three quarters, hitting just two of seven shots while the Lakers made the Hornets look like the playoff team that they're not. But as is almost always the case, he eventually awoke and brought the Lakers faithful that spent most of the night in nervous silence along with him. His three-pointer late in the third quarter was the first sign of life, the Lakers going up 70-68 with 30 seconds left.
A jumper just 15 seconds into the fourth, another three soon thereafter, and the chants of "Kobe, Kobe" grew louder by the time his left-wing jumper and driving layup on the right side put them up 79-74. He scored the Lakers' 14 points of the fourth quarter in all, with the Hornets' Xavier Henry being left on the most lonely of islands for the entire stretch. Yet still, because these Lakers always insist on doing things the hard way, they were tied 84-84 with 6:01 remaining nonetheless.
ODD ENDING: Suns lose on goaltending call at buzzer
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni was as impressed as anyone by Metta World Peace's surprising return, but he swore it didn't matter when it comes to the desperation level that needs to be at an all-time high right now. The odds are, one might think, that D'Antoni is simply done trying to figure out what makes this team tick.
In the end, it looked as though D'Antoni was right. While World Peace's presence was a plus for the Lakers, it wasn't as if the collective effort convinced anyone that they were bound and determined to salvage their season. They did what they had to do, even if it wasn't particularly pretty. The late-season saga continues.


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FBI-Created 'Terrorist Plot' Fails To Produce A Single Terrorist -- But Does Plenty Of Damage To Individual Liberties
from the sacrificing-your-1st-and-4th-amendment-rights-on-the-altar-of-security deptAs the FBI continues its perfect streak of successfully thwarting every terrorist plan it has conceived and put in motion itself (a few of which have been covered here), details of an unintentionally hilarious (and particularly horrendous) "terrorist plot" conjured up back in 2006 have emerged, thanks to an NPR expose and a lawsuit filed against the FBI by some of the unwilling participants.
Dubbed "Operation Flex" in deference to its main participant, this 2006 FBI project attempted to uncover a terrorist cell in a group of Orange County Muslims, even if it had to invent that cell itself. The FBI's man on the inside was Craig Montielh, who likely cut an incongruous figure at the mosque at 6'2", 260 lbs... and white. A bodybuilder with a sketchy past, Montielh was instructed to make contact with the supposed jihadists during his frequent visits to an Irvine gym where many of the Muslim men worked out.
To Montielh's credit, he sunk himself into the role. His FBI contacts suspected his new friends might be a terrorist cell because, well, they were four, unmarried Egyptian men living under one roof. But his enthusiasm for the job was constantly thwarted by his "targets," who preferred playing FIFA Soccer on the Xbox to discussing terrorist plots.
At first, they treated Montielh (who was going by the name "Farouk") as one of them, a new acolyte in need of guidance. But as time went on and Montielh became desperate to show results, his desire to turn idle revolutionary chat into action began to worry his companions. Montielh's first move was to amp up his personal relationship with Allah.
Months passed. People noticed that Craig was acting more devout. He began reciting prayers aloud, dressing in traditional robes, and showing up so early for 5:00 AM prayers that he'd get there before the person who unlocked the mosque every morning. They also noticed something else.Craig talked to his Arabic teacher, Mohammad Elsisy, about his new obsession too.
Yassir Abdel Rahim - Slowly and surely enough, during some times when we were having coffee, came the question of jihad.
Mohammad Elsisy - He invited me once to lunch, yes. And he focused the topic in the lunch about jihad. And I keep turning his attention into the essence of Islam. And he keeps, again, bringing it back to jihad. And he kept asking about jihad over and over and over. And I told him, Farouk, get over it, get over it, get over it.With Montielh trying and failing repeatedly to get these California Muslims to warm up to his own personal jihad, the FBI decided it was time for phase two. Montielh was told to start talking up an actual terrorist plot to blow up buildings in Southern California. After Montielh aggressively broached the subject to his friends during a car ride, they decided to do what anyone would have done in that situation:
After they parted ways with Craig, Mohammad and Niazi talked about what had just happened. They decided they had to do something, so they did what all Americans are supposed to do in this situation, what law enforcement officials tell us we should do when someone says he has access to weapons and wants to use them. They reported Craig to the FBI as a potential terrorist.Mohammed and Niazi had Hussam Ayloush, the director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, make the call for them. He spoke to Steve Tidwell, the head of the FBI's California branch. Tidwell didn't even ask for a name or last known address of this white Muslim terrorist and assured Hussam that the FBI would take it from here. And the FBI did, launching what, for all intents and purposes, looked like an actual terrorist investigation.
But instead of wholeheartedly pursuing its own man, the FBI agents were more interested in repeatedly questioning everyone Montielh had talked to. They honed in on Niazi, whose sister was married to Amin al-Haq, designated as a terrorist by the US government. The FBI agents used this as leverage in an attempt to get Niazi to become a paid informant and go to work for them in Afghanistan. When he refused, the FBI had him arrested for "immigration fraud and making false statements."
But what's interesting about Niazi's arrest is what he wasn't charged with. He wasn't charged with associating with terrorists himself. He wasn't charged with plotting an attack. And he wasn't charged for anything he'd ever said to Craig over the course of months of recorded conversations.At Niazi's trial, Agent Thomas Ropel repeatedly told the prosecutor that Niazi had instigated the conversations related to the so-called "terrorist plot." This isn't the way Montielh (or his tapes) remembers it:
Sam Black - Did Niazi ever instigate this kind of conversation with you?Despite not being charged with anything more serious than immigration fraud and "making false statements," Niazi was placed under house arrest for more than a year. He represents all of the arrests or indictments made as a result of Operation Flex. And even this didn't stick. The US government filed a motion to dismiss all charges against Niazi.
Craig Montielh - No. No, I did. Every time.
Another home-built terrorist operation and not even a single conviction to show for it. In fact, the FBI is arguably worse off now than if it had never begun the investigation. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has brought a lawsuit against FBI over Operation Flex, claiming the investigation violated their First Amendment rights by targeting them for their religious beliefs, as well as subjecting them to searches and monitoring without a warrant. The botched operation has also done damage to the Muslim community in California:
Operation Flex didn't just make people suspicious of law enforcement. It made them suspicious of each other. So many people I talked to say they stay away from new converts now. They have a hard time believing people are who they say they are. Here's Ayman, the Egyptian guy who first befriended Craig.In addition to making themselves look like a bunch of government agents creating their own busywork to stay employed, the FBI has taken yet another serious hit to its credibility. Early on in the transcript, it's noted that Stephen Tidwell (head of the FBI in Los Angeles) made an earlier approach via a town meeting at the Islamic Center of Irvine. He assured everyone attending that the FBI was not monitoring the mosque and that they would be informed if anyone from the FBI was planning to visit. That was June 5, 2006. Operation Flex began roughly two months later.
Ayman - Really, what they did is they made everybody in the mosque not trust everybody. Nobody would talk about it, but nobody-- you would see some weird looks, you know what I mean? People are looking at each other weird. I don't know. Maybe I was sensitive, but I can tell that the way they looked at me was just different.
Then there's this troubling statistic, courtesy of investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson, who's studied hundreds of terrorism convictions:
Of about 500 terrorism cases since 9/11, about 50 defendants have been involved in cases where the informant came up with the idea and provided all of the means.Finally, the worst, but least surprising, news of all: in an update to the story, NPR points out that US District Judge Cormac Carney has dismissed the lawsuit brought by CAIR, stating that allowing the the suit to proceed would "significantly compromise national security."
Carney's self-serving statement casts him (and a large part of the government's various secretive services) as an ancient Greek hero:
In struggling with this conflict, the Court is reminded of the classic dilemma of Odysseus, who faced the challenge of navigating his ship through a dangerous passage, flanked by a voracious six-headed monster, on the one side, and a deadly whirlpool, on the other. Odysseus opted to pass by the monster and risk a few of his individual sailors, rather than hazard the loss of his entire ship to the sucking whirlpool. Similarly, the proper application of the state secrets privilege may unfortunately mean the sacrifice of individual liberties for the sake of national security.
I know the Greeks laid the foundation for modern democracy, but perhaps we shouldn't base our decisions on their epic tragedies.
Filed Under: fbi, informants, muslims, privacy, profiling, terrorism


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When you receive that thick card stock via snail mail announcing a friend's upcoming nups, you know you're in for a possible closet meltdown. Sure, you'll be "instructed" as to what to wear on that invite, but, man, does anyone else feel like it's all just so ambiguous? Will the girl next to you be in an off-the-runway frock? Is strapless scandalous? Well, many years of "celebratory chic" dress codes have taught us a key trick: Scope the space the bride's chosen for her big day.
With that in mind, we've rounded up five top L.A. wedding spots and taken hints from the venues' vibes to craft a blessed union of appropriate and amazing ensembles. Whether you're headed to a Moroccan hotel downtown or a historic mansion in the Hills, here's some help to ensure your arrival is totally toast-worthy!


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Each week we post a round-up of some of our most exciting national and international PUP book coverage. Reviews, interviews, events, articles–this is the spot for coverage of all things "PUP books" that took place in the last week. Enjoy!
Everything is bigger in Texas, right? Our first book is certainly worthy of the Lone Star State and the big things found there. This week we start off with Robert Wuthnow's forthcoming book, ROUGH COUNTRY: How Texas Became America's Most Powerful Bible-Belt State. Tracing the intersection of religion, race, and power in Texas from Reconstruction through the rise of the Religious Right and the failed presidential bid of Governor Rick Perry, Rough Country illuminates American history since the Civil War in new ways, demonstrating that Texas's story is also America's. In particular, Wuthnow shows how distinctions between "us" and "them" are perpetuated and why they are so often shaped by religion and politics.
Rough Country received a starred review in Publishers Weekly:
Anyone seeking to examine the relationship between modern American religious conservatism and politics needs to look no further than Wuthnow's authoritative, encyclopedic survey of Texas's influence on national trends.
Check out the introduction here.
We keep with big ideas and endeavors with our next title, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century, written by Jürgen Osterhammel and translated by Patrick Camiller. A monumental history of the nineteenth century, The Transformation of the World offers a panoramic and multifaceted portrait of a world in transition. Jürgen Osterhammel, an eminent scholar who has been called the Braudel of the nineteenth century, moves beyond conventional Eurocentric and chronological accounts of the era, presenting instead a truly global history of breathtaking scope and towering erudition. He examines the powerful and complex forces that drove global change during the "long nineteenth century," taking readers from New York to New Delhi, from the Latin American revolutions to the Taiping Rebellion, from the perils and promise of Europe's transatlantic labor markets to the hardships endured by nomadic, tribal peoples across the planet.
The Transformation of the World was reviewed in the Shanghai Daily by Wan Lixin. Here is a preview of the review, entitled "To grasp history, look with heart at many sides and take the long view":
THERE is a tale of the great scholar Wang Yangming (1472-1529) that says one day he tried to understand how a bamboo works. He gazed at a bamboo in his academy with such undeviating attention and energy that before he could arrive at any conclusion he collapsed after seven days of intensive effort.
Commenting on his failure in his later life, he pointed to the importance of methodology, citing the vital importance of the heart in the understanding of the external world.
When I was confronted with an English edition of Jürgen Osterhammel's "The Transformation of the World: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century" (translated by Patrick Camiller), my curiosity was naturally aroused by the methodology used in organizing the enormous amount of material contained in this volume of 1,000 pages.
Although Osterhammel restricts his attention to the epic 19th century, he must look beyond that century of contacts, for the seeds of changes had been sowed long ago.
Read the rest of the article over at the Shanghai Daily's website. Curious about Osterhammel's extensive research? Take a look at this Q&A with the author and read the introduction of The Transformation of the World.
Next, we bring you a book that will blow the top off of your bookshelf. We're talking about TAMBORA: The Eruption That Changed the World by Gillen D"Arcy Wood. When Indonesia's Mount Tambora erupted in 1815, it unleashed the most destructive wave of extreme weather the world has witnessed in thousands of years. The volcano's massive sulfate dust cloud enveloped the Earth, cooling temperatures and disrupting major weather systems for more than three years. Amid devastating storms, drought, and floods, communities worldwide endured famine, disease, and civil unrest on a catastrophic scale. On the eve of the bicentenary of the great eruption, Tambora tells the extraordinary story of the weather chaos it wrought, weaving the latest climate science with the social history of this frightening period to offer a cautionary tale about the potential tragic impacts of drastic climate change in our own century.
Tambora was named as the "Book of the Week" in the Times Higher Education. Alison Stokes writes:
Although Wood is a scholar of English literature, Tambora really showcases his skills as an environmental historian. He combines rigorously researched scientific information with a vivid and compelling narrative, assembling a complex jigsaw puzzle of anecdote and evidence into a coherent account that is further brought to life by a well-considered selection of historical artworks and scientific diagrams. By focusing on the human aspects of climate change, he demonstrates both the teleconnection of different climatic events linked to the eruption, and the (often overlooked) connectedness of seemingly disparate academic disciplines and fields of inquiry. This interdisciplinary approach is Tambora's greatest strength and should assure it a wide readership.
View the introduction of Tambora here.
Our final book takes a look at the rivalry between an established and a rising world power. STRATEGIC REASSURANCE AND RESOLVE: U.S.-China Relations in the Twenty-First Century addresses the growing tension between the United States and China. In this book, James Steinberg and Michael O'Hanlon stake out a third, less deterministic position. They argue that there are powerful domestic and international factors, especially in the military and security realms, that could well push the bilateral relationship toward an arms race and confrontation, even though both sides will be far worse off if such a future comes to pass. They contend that this pessimistic scenario can be confidently avoided only if China and the United States adopt deliberate policies designed to address the security dilemma that besets the relationship between a rising and an established power.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed Strategic Reassurance and Resolve, saying that the book "furnishes an important and wide-ranging toolkit to keep the conversation between the U.S. and China going."
Check out this mention of the book on the Diplomat, where Shannon Tiezzi discusses how U.S.-China military relations are improving.
You can view the introduction for Strategic Reassurance and Resolve here.


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Could someone just quickly run me through how to use a barcode scanner to input appliance numbers into my supernova plus.
I have just acquired a barcode scanner and I can't get it to scan the barcodes, i'm not sure if its me or an issue with the scanner, what screen should I be on when I scan the barcode? does the bascode have to be of a certain standard?


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Your browser does not support iframes.
Over the many years I have been a professional counselor, I have met many people who would qualify as perfectionists. Some are easy to be around, very pleasant and non-judgmental. Others seem to have an attitude that things should be done a certain way, usually projecting that too many people do things the "wrong" way, of course with the belief that they actually know the "right" way.
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend some good do-it-yourself resources to help me write my will? At age 62, I want to get my affairs organized, but I hate paying a high-priced attorney fee if I can do it myself.
Don't Have Much
Dear Don't,
Last week, my daughter and I went to Huber's with some family members. It was a beautiful fall day, and I loved taking pictures of her sitting in the pumpkins and scarecrows. Often when we are on a trip, I take pictures of my daughter by herself, and with the other people with us. This day, though, I handed my camera off and asked to be in the picture, too.
Dear Savvy Senior,
My mother, who's 72, has become very forgetful lately and is worried she may have Alzheimer's. Is her forgetfulness really something we should worry about? What should we do?
Worried Daughter
Dear Worried,
I got my first camera for Christmas when I was almost 9 years old. The first pictures I ever took were of my brothers opening presents.
Over the years, I took many photos, often of family, friends and our home, but occasionally stranger subjects. (My mother got increasingly frustrated by the photos I kept taking of the trees in our front yard.)
He was about 14 years old, had been taking trumpet lessons for a couple of years and appeared to be excelling in his talent. Finally, he was asked to do a trumpet solo at his small local church on a Sunday evening service with about 60 people in attendance. In preparation, on several occasions, he had practiced with the church piano player and now felt ready.
In the late '90s, my favorite national-brand peanut butter came out with a silky-smooth chocolate version. I kept a box of crackers and a jar of the chocolate peanut butter on my desk at work for the late afternoon blahs. It was truly wonderful. They did make other flavors, but I never bothered with them. There was no point when there was chocolate peanut butter in the world.
Eventually, it was taken off the market and I moved on. I tried not to think about it too much, but from time to time I thought of it and wished there was a way to have it again.
Dear Savvy Senior,
Are there any new or different types of vaccines being recommended to seniors this flu season?
Health Conscious Carol
Dear Carol,
There are actually several different types of flu shots available to seniors this year, along with a new FDA-approved shot for pneumonia. Here are your options.
Flu Shots
That question looms strong in the lives of many people: young and old, male and female. And, if you don't learn the most effective "tools" and methods to manage your anger, it can either explode, with the potential for hurting others — physically and/or emotionally — or it can implode, go inside of you and cause physical/emotional pain, even a serious disorder.
Dear Savvy Senior,
What tips or resources can you recommend to help seniors with the high cost of prescription eyeglasses? I used to have vision insurance through my work, but lost it when I retired.
Need New Specs
Dear Specs,
Copyright © 2019
The Spencer Magnet is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Spencer County, KY and the surrounding area.


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The United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Homeland Security recently announced the development and licensing of a molecular-based vaccine for one strain of Foot and Mouth Disease.
Most importantly, animals vaccinated with the new vaccine can be differentiated from naturally infected animals.
"Having this capability is critical to demonstrating freedom of infection and return to trade after a FMD outbreak," says Marvin Grubman, with USDA's Agricultural Research Service at Plumb Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). That will allow animal health officials to more readily vaccinate animals in the event of an outbreak without fear of being unable to differentiate them from infected animals.
In the past, animals might be vaccinated simply to prevent the further spread of the disease. But they then would have to be later destroyed to prove FMD was no longer present.
Because the new vaccine also contains no live virus, the vaccine can be manufactured on the U.S. mainland, says Larry Barrett, PIADC director.
"This vaccine represents one of the most significant developments in FMD vaccines in the last 50 years," says Luis Rodriguez, PIADC research leader. "The new molecular vaccine provides important options to FMD control in the United States, including less dependence on foreign sources for vaccine manufacturing and a wider range of tests that can readily distinguish vaccinated animals from those that have been infected with the disease."
While the vaccine protects against one strain of FMD, there are six other major serotypes and many sub-types of the disease. PIADC scientists are currently developing vaccines for these other types.


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Pretty Basic
V Neck Short Sleeve Tee, Black
V Neck Short Sleeve Tee Black
Relaxed fit
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Pretty Basic
It's basic, yet it's pretty. It's Pretty Basic. There are no prints, no fancy fabrics, just high quality chiffon and pant weight fabrics, and priced between $49-$169 to make it accessible to you as an add on - wardrobe builders, wardrobe makers. Wardrobe mates to your fancy pieces. Available at The Frock Shop online and in store, from the house of Augustine by Kelly Coe.
Pretty simple. Pretty handy. Pretty damn awesome. Pretty Basic really!
Note: Pretty Basic is a stock service - please allow a delivery timeframe of 3-5 days for your purchase to arrive in store.
Approx Size Guide
XS = 8, S = 10, M = 12, L = 14, XL = 16, O/S = one size fits most.


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A broad range of information both specialist and general is provided by the centre. TIC believes that both research and political action are necessary to effect changes in the policy of the Sri Lankan government in particular and other governments which are directly or indirectly involved in the conflict in Sri Lanka.
TIC publications range from briefing papers to reports and books on specific subjects dealing with issues affecting the Tamil-speaking people of Sri Lanka. It provides information to NGOs, inter-governmental organizations, religious organizations, researchers, policy planners, campaigners, journalists, MPs, human rights workers, social and cultural organizations and other interested parties. It also publishes newsletters and bulletins in both English and Tamil.
Reports and monographs produced by TIC deal with human rights, refugees & re-settlement and gender issues and include suggestions for action.
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Microsoft is under fire again thanks to a big Vanity Fair story titled " Microsoft's Lost Decade."
The primary target of Vanity Fair's story is Steve Ballmer. Reporter Kurt Eichenwald says, "Ballmer's key business philosophy for Microsoft was so antiquated as to be irrelevant. The Microsoft CEO used to proclaim that it would not be first to cool, but would be first to profit -- in other words, it would be the first to make money by selling its own version of new technologies."
This strategy worked for Microsoft when in the eighties and nineties. It didn't invent graphical interfaces, but Windows eventually became the dominant operating system. It didn't invent productivity software like Office, but eventually Office became dominant. It wasn't the first with a web browser, but ultimately Internet Explorer won.
Last decade it tried the same game plan, but it no longer worked. The Zune didn't beat the iPod. Bing hasn't beaten Google. Windows Phones are in last place. And odds are the Surface won't beat the iPad.
As a result, Microsoft missed the major trends in personal computing while Ballmer has been CEO. That's why Vanity Fair calls it Microsoft's "Lost Decade."
Forbes asked Ballmer how he felt about the accusation. Here's what he said:
It's not been a lost decade for me! I mean, look, ultimately progress is measured sort of through the eyes of our users. More than our investors or our P&L or anything else, it's through the eyes of our users. We have 1.3 billion people using PCs today. There was a time in the '90s when we were sure there would never be 100 million PCs sold a year. Now there will be 375 million sold this year alone. So, is it a lost decade?
The stock market has always had its own meter. Sometimes it's ahead of itself, sometimes it's behind itself. A broken watch is right twice a day. Ultimately all Microsoft can do is focus in on doing exciting products, which with Windows 8, with Office 15, with Surface, with the new PPI technology, with what we're doing with Skype, where we're going with Bing and Windows Phone and Xbox. We think we've got the most exciting stuff we've ever had. Number two is how do we do from a profitability standpoint. If we deliver exciting products and we make more money, eventually that will translate into rewards for our shareholders.
Get the latest Microsoft stock price here.


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THE IRAQI government admitted yesterday that 52 people were killed and 67 wounded on Sunday night when security forces stormed a Chaldean Catholic church in Baghdad where gunmen were holding 120 people hostage.
At dusk the gunmen, who had exchanged fire with guards at the stock exchange across the street, entered Our Lady of Salvation church during Mass. They shot one of the priests and herded the congregation into a hall. During a mobile phone call to a television station, a gunman demanded the release of al-Qaeda prisoners and two women allegedly detained by the Coptic church in Egypt after converting to Islam. He spoke classical Arabic rather than local dialect, indicating he was not Iraqi.
A statement posted on the website of the Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaeda affiliate that claimed the operation, warned that Iraqi Christians would be "exterminated" if the women were not freed.
A stand-off ensued until nine o'clock when dozens of Iraqi commandos mounted an assault at ground level and by dropping from helicopters.
Although US troops were on the scene in the middle-class Karada district, it is not clear whether or not they were involved.
Iraqi defence minister Abdul Qadr al-Obeidi claimed the security forces had no choice but to act and argued that the operation had been "successfully done".
But few Iraqis are likely to agree. A Christian lawmaker, Younadem Kana, said the operation was "not professional" but "a hasty action that prompted the terrorists to kill the worshippers.
"We have no clear picture yet whether the worshippers were killed by security force bullets or by terrorists, but what we know is that most of [the faithful] were killed when the security forces started to storm the church."
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The majority of Iraqis have little faith in the reconstituted security forces because neither troops or police have been able to prevent or counter such attacks. Last Friday, 26 people died in a suicide bombing in a repeatedly targeted northern Kurdish town.
Troops at checkpoints are accused either of being in league with insurgents or of accepting bribes to allow armed men and bombers to reach their targets.
Sunday's bloody operation is certain to deal a blow to the standing of prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who says that the country's security forces, commanded by him and armed and trained by the US, are capable of safeguarding civilians after the withdrawal of US units.
Mr Maliki, who seeks a second term in office, has been unable to form a government over the past seven months. The political vacuum has led to a rise in violence.
The assault on Our Lady of Salvation church, previously attacked in August 2004, could prompt a fresh exodus of Iraqi Christians.
Since many are doctors, lawyers, businessmen and engineers, their departure would deprive the country of people needed to rebuild it.
Since the 2003 US war, two-thirds of this 2,000-year-old Christian community has either fled the country or taken refuge in the relative security of the Kurdish region.


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step by step guides to starting and completing new projects to bring you more traffic, more sales, increased conversions, more opportunities and more money!
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Amid a string of large-scale console announcements, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo stuck with showcasing new games for its Wii U platform on the second day of the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
E3 has moved its focus to showcasing the games that are expected to go big this year, including the new "Call of Duty: Ghosts" and "Quantum Break" for the new Xbox One from Microsoft and Sony's PlayStation 4. But the second day of E3 is traditionally Nintendo's chance to shine.
Nintendo is focusing on new versions of classic gaming franchises, including "Mario Kart 8," "Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze" and Super Mario 3D World." Rather than the large presentation the new consoles have released, Nintendo focused on the loyal customer base the company has already developed.
"Today is different. It's the reason you're gathered here inside of our booth -- standing instead of sitting -- because it was our decision to minimize the time from when we said 'good morning' and you getting to play the game," said Nintendo of American president Reggie Fils-Aime.
Nintendo users were able to play the new games and a slew of others during the presentation as the company takes its beloved characters to their most advanced stage yet.
The company did face technical issues with the livestream, and the hype surrounding the features was dampened by what was planned as the grand finale: the release of "Super Smash Bros." for the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS. The video for the new game cut out toward the end.
Showstoppers at the expo focus on high-definition graphics and Internet-centric features including integration with social media and playing games from the cloud.
After Nintendo's presentation Tuesday, the Xbox One and PS4 maintain the bulk of the buzz with several features that push the consoles beyond gaming. Xbox One can communicate with users' cable boxes and expand its host of Internet subscription services like Hulu Plus.
Nintendo has struggled since the November Wii U launch, which features a tablet controller but without an on-screen improvement: Its graphics on par with the obsolescent Xbox 360 and PS3. Nintendo only sold just 3.45 million units by the end of March.
As the conference continues, Nintendo will have to work to find a foothold in luring new consumers as Microsoft and Sony prepare to announce even further advances in digital graphics.


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Tag Archives: removing
NOOB REPAIR EPISODE 2: Removing Rental Stamps From Discs
In this episode of NOOB REPAIR, Mike shows you how to remove those pesky rental stamps that video rental places used. These were typically used by mom and pop places. Special thanks to DariaPlays for the tip! Check out her …
Posted in Home News, News, Rotator Featured Tagged DC, Dreamcast, Episode 2, from discs, gamecube, How To, logos, nintendo, noob repair, playstation, ps1, ps2, remove, removing, rental, stamps, stickers, Wii, Wii U, xbox Leave a comment


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Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Social psychology: Altruism · Attribution · Attitudes · Conformity · Discrimination · Groups · Interpersonal relations · Obedience · Prejudice · Norms · Perception · Index · Outline
A high IQ society is an organisation that limits membership to people who are within a certain high percentile of IQ test results, theoretically representing the most intelligent people in the world. The oldest, largest, and most well-known such society is Mensa International, which was founded by Roland Berrill and Dr. Lancelot Ware in 1946.[1] Other early societies were Intertel (founded by Ralph Haines in 1966), the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry (founded by Dr. Christopher Harding in 1974) and Prometheus Society (founded by Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin in 1982).
Most high IQ societies aim to provide a way to facilitate interaction between members, either for research purposes or simply for social reasons. Some (such as Mensa International) encourage analysis on the nature of intelligence itself. Many societies publish a newsletter or journal, although newer societies such as the International High IQ Society and Colloquy are partially or totally Internet-based.
Many people with high IQ wish to share common interests and experiences, including special or abstract discussions, but also problems and difficulties, within discussion groups and meetings.
Entry requirementsEdit
High IQ societies typically accept a variety of standardized intelligence tests such as the Stanford-Binet test, WAIS-III (for adults) resp. WISC-IV (for children) and Cattell Culture Fair III test. Some conduct proprietary or alternative tests to determine membership eligibility.
- Top 10% (90th percentile; IQ 120 sd15, IQ 121 sd16): Tensa High IQ Society
- Top 5% (95th percentile; IQ 125 sd15, IQ 126 sd16): International High IQ Society
- Top 3% (97th percentile; 1/33; IQ 128 sd15, IQ 130 sd16): Deepbrain Society, Alta Capacidad Hispana
- Top 2% (98th percentile; IQ 131 sd15, IQ 133 sd16): Mensa International, Ingenium High IQ Society, IQual Society, High Potentials Society, Mysterium Society, Altacapacidadhispana
- Top 1% (99th percentile; IQ 135 sd15, IQ 137 sd16): UNIQ Society , Top One Percent Society, Elateneo/s Society,Superdotados-Intelectuales Chorium
- Top 0.5% (99.5th percentile; IQ 139 sd15, IQ 141 sd16): Colloquy, Poetic Genius Society
- Top 0.37% (99.63th percentile; IQ 140 sd15, IQ 143 sd16): Infinity International Society
- Top 0.3% (99.7th percentile; IQ 141 sd15, IQ 144 sd16): Cerebrals Society
- Top 0.2% (99.8th percentile; IQ 143 sd15, IQ 146 sd16): ePiq Society, Neurocubo, Exactiq
- Top 0.13% (99.87th percentile; IQ 145 sd15, IQ 148 sd16): CIVIQ Society
- Top 0.1% (99.9th percentile; IQ 146 sd15, IQ 149 sd16): IQuadrivium Society, LOGIQ Society , Triple Nine Society,ISPE
- Top 0.09% (99.91th percentile; IQ 147 sd15, IQ 150 sd16): Glia Society, One-in-a-Thousand Society, Milenija
- Top 0.07% (99.93th percentile; IQ 148 sd15, IQ 151 sd16): ISI-Society
- Top 0.02% (99.98th percentile; IQ 153 sd15, IQ 157 sd16): sPIqr Society
- Top 0.009% (99.991st percentile; IQ 156 sd15, IQ 160 sd16): Vertex
- Top 0.003% (99.997th percentile; IQ 160 sd15, IQ 164 sd16): Prometheus Society, HELLIQ Society, Epimetheus Society, Tetra Society
- Top 0.001% (99.999th percentile; IQ 164 sd15, IQ 168 sd16): The Ultranet
- Top 0.0001% (99.9999th percentile; IQ 172 sd15, IQ 176 sd16): Mega Society, Mega International, Pi Society, Omega Society, StrictIQ Society
- Top 0.00003% (99.99997th percentile; IQ 175 sd15, IQ 180 sd16): OLYMPIQ Society, PARS Society
- Top 0.0000001% (99.9999999th percentile; IQ 190 sd15, IQ 196 sd16): Giga Society
- Variable entry conditions: Sigma Society
The ceiling of most standardized (validated and normed) intelligence tests is at around 99.9th percentile. Measurements above this level need - for a credible result - a calculation, extrapolation and interpretation (including observations during the tests and subtests) by psychometricians being experienced in high IQ testing, and at least two differently designed standardized tests (among these at least one supervised) should be performed. Measurements above 99.9999th percentile are rather doubtful as no sufficient correlation studies and normings are available.
Differences, characteristicsEdit
Many high IQ societies have specific centers of interest, like creativity (ISI-Society and Vinci Society), social activities (International High IQ Society, Mensa International), poetry (Poetic Genius Society), contributions to humanity (International Society for Philosophical Enquiry), broad and frequented discussion-boards (Cerebrals Society, Civiq Society, ePiq Society, IQuadrivium Society, Milenija, Prometheus Society, Superdotados Intelectuales, Triple Nine Society, The Ultranet), Mathematics and Physics (Milenija, Pi Society, StrictIQ Society), Spanish-speaking individuals (Altacapacidadhispana, Neurocubo).
Some high IQ societies and organisations offer public areas in their boards where also non-members may participate (e.g. Cerebrals Society, Mega Foundation, World Intelligence Network, Milenija).
Two organisations represent a network with several independent high IQ societies:
- Mega Foundation: with The Ultranet and Mega International Society
- World Intelligence Network (WIN): with ePiq Society, Civiq Society, ISI-Society, Helliq Society, Pars Society, Olympiq Society, and Giga Society.
See alsoEdit
- General intelligence factor
- Intellectual giftedness
- Intelligence (trait)
- Intelligence quotient
- Standardized test
- Psychometrics
- ↑ Percival, Matt The Quest for Genius. URL accessed on 2006-09-26.
External linksEdit
- Active High-IQ Societies and their Membership
- Entrance Criteria for High IQ Societies
- Estimated IQ's of Geniuses
- IQ comparison chart
- IQ conversion
- IQ tests and links
- Online IQ Test Directory
- Online IQ Tests similar to Mensa
- The History of Various High IQ Societies
High IQ Societies:
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


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(Editor's note: Updated July 5)
Full story: Religious liberty is 'a foundational right,' says Archbishop Chaput
Yesterday, on Independence Day, in his homily for the closing Mass of the U.S. bishops' "fortnight for freedom," Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said the time is now for Catholics to stand up and speak out about the foundational right to religious freedom in this country.
"We live in a time that calls for sentinels and public witness. Every Christian in every era faces the same task," he said. "But you and I are responsible for this moment. Today. Now. We need to 'speak out,' not only for religious liberty and the ideals of the nation we love, but for the sacredness of life and the dignity of the human person –- in other words, for the truth of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God."
Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, main celebrant of the Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, said the fortnight not only brought Catholics together to demonstrate their support religious liberty but it also "has been a time for us to count our many blessings and to celebrate both our Christian and American heritage of liberty." Read the cardinal's newest blog posting titled "Remembering who we are as Catholics and Americans," in which about the closing Mass and the fortnight observance.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called for the fortnight in March in their Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty's statement, "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty," and asked dioceses to plan Masses, prayer services, educational events and other activities from June 21 to July 4.
The statement outlined several instances of "religious liberty under attack." Foremost among the U.S. bishops' concerns is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate that employers, including most religious ones, provide insurance coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, which Catholic teaching considers "morally objectionable."
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori launched the observance as the main celebrant of a June 21 Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. "We must never allow the government — any government, at any time, of any party — to impose such a constrictive definition on our beloved church or any church," said the archbishop, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Freedom.
Fortnight events in U.S. dioceses ranged from an Independence Celebration Walk & Picnic in Des Moines, Iowa, a motorcycle "Rosary Ride for Religious Freedom" in Colorado Springs, Colo., and nonpartisan voter registration drives after Masses in Atlanta parishes, to a religious liberty conference in Covington, Ky., parish movie nights in Omaha, Neb., featuring religious-liberty themed films, and an outdoor Faith and Freedom Mass in a park band shell in Savannah, Ga. Links to what U.S. dioceses did over the fortnight can be found on the USCCB website


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I like making cheesecakes and I use cream cheese in other baking too, but generally speaking, I don't like to eat cream cheese. I don't schmear it on my bagels and I don't usually eat cheesecake since I find some to be too "cream cheesy". About 10 years ago, after a fabulous meal at Postrio, we ordered the dessert sampler. If memory serves me, there was ice cream, chocolate cake, huckleberry tart and pumpkin cheesecake in the sampler that evening. My husband tasted the pumpkin cheesecake and told me that I might like it since it wasn't too "cream cheesy". So I hesitantly took a tiny taste and another and another. It was the best cheesecake I've ever eaten! I could hardly taste any of that "cream cheesiness" that I don't like. Maybe it was masked by the pumpkin and the spices? Well, anyway, I've never forgotten that wonderful pumpkin cheesecake.
When cream puff Ivonne suggested that a few of us food bloggers do a cross-post featuring a recipe from Tish Boyle's "The Cake Book", I was pretty excited that we decided on the creamy pumpkin cheesecake with a ginger-pecan crust. I mean, there are a lot of great recipes in this cookbook, but this particular recipe brought back memories of that Postrio cheesecake.
Despite popular belief, cheesecakes are actually pretty simple to make. All you really need is cream cheese, sugar and eggs. Even crust is optional if your custard (yes, cheesecake is technically a custard) is firm enough. But why wouldn't you want to have a crust? This cheesecake's crust is made from pastry dough as opposed to the more typical cookie crumb crust. The crust, with its combination of pecans and crystallized ginger, pairs exceptionally well with the slightly spicy pumpkin custard filling. I always bake my cheesecake in a water bath (or bain marie). The water protects the custard from cooking too quickly and ensures even, gentle baking throughout. The resulting filling is creamy and smooth. And, as an added benefit, cracking is never an issue.
The author says that this cheesecake is a "wonderful alternative to the pumpkin pie" served at Thanksgiving. Personally, I see nothing wrong with serving both pie and cheesecake for dessert! Thanks to Tish Boyle for a great recipe and make sure to visit Peabody, Kate and Ivonne to see their yummy cheesecakes.
Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger-Pecan Crust
(makes one 9-inch cheesecake)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup (40g) chopped crystallized ginger
1/3 cup (54g) pecans
1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold & cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tbsp cold water
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 lbs (567g) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
4 large eggs, at room temp.
To make the crust
Position oven rack in the center and preheat oven to 350F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x3 inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with 2-3 layers of aluminum foil.
Place the flour, sugar, salt, ginger, and pecans in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the pecans are finely ground. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add the cold water slowly until the dough just comes together. Press the dough into the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust just starts to brown. Cool crust completely on a wire rack.
To make the filling
Reduce oven temperature to 325F. In a bowl, whisk together pumpkin, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugars and beat on low speed until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin mixture, then add the cornstarch and mix until just blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and do a final mix by hand to make sure all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Pour the filling in the cooled crust. Set the still wrapped springform pan in a large roasting pan. Carefully pour enough hot water into the large pan to come 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan. Bake for 70 to 80 minutes until the center is set but still a bit wobbly.
Remove cheesecake from water bath to a cooling rack. Carefully remove the foil and run a thin knife tip around the edge of the cake. This will loosen the cake and help prevent the top from cracking. Cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate the cooled cheesecake for at least 4 hours before serving.