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Michelle Rossitch
Army veteran Luis Zaragoza, 28, with his service dog Cheyenne. Zaragoza did two tours of duty in Iraq, and suffers PTSD.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will cover the costs of service dogs to help veterans with impaired vision, hearing or mobility, but will not cover canines assigned for mental disabilities, according to regulations published on Wednesday in the Federal Register.
The VA said that despite many individual veterans' testimonials that mental health service dogs provide relief from the symptoms of combat-related disabilities such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it lacked research substantiating the efficacy of mental health service dogs.
"VA has not yet been able to determine that these dogs provide a medical benefit to veterans with mental illness," the department said. "Until such a determination can be made, VA cannot justify providing benefits for mental health service dogs."
To be defined as a "service dog" the animal has to be trained to do specific tasks for a person — such as picking things up, guiding them or providing balance.
Trainers say that for veterans suffering mental disabilities such as PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), dogs can be trained to help avert panic attacks and wake them up as they enter a nightmare. The animals can be taught to remind veterans to take medications and alert them if they have left a burner lit on the stove.
Luis Zaragoza, 28, who suffers PTSD from his service in the Iraq war, says he's experienced more progress in a month with his service dog, Cheyenne, than in all the years visiting the VA since his discharge in 2004.
"For eight years I was just in limbo, but now I'm seeing glimpses of the old me — the me I was before I joined the military," he said of the service-dog program.
The program, designed by Illinois-based nonprofit This Able Veteran, paired Zaragoza with the dog and a therapist. The dog is there to help the veteran re-enter mainstream life at intervals recommended and monitored by the therapist.
In Zaragoza's case, the dog is trained to detect a tic — Zaragoza's leg begins to shake — at the onset of a panic attack, and divert the veteran's attention by bumping his leg. Cheyenne will do this a second time — more insistently — if Zaragoza fails to respond the first time. This happens up to five times a day, said Zaragoza, who lost nine soldiers in his company during two bruising stints in Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq.
The veteran says he is regaining his ability to get out of the house and do things — like go to the shopping mall — that he has avoided because of the anxiety and hyper vigilance that is common to combat-related PTSD. Zaragoza says he sleeps more, functions better in the day, and interacts with more with other people rather than choosing to isolate himself. He's lost 15 pounds because he is more active.
That was progress he had not seen despite years of visiting VA psychiatrists and doctors who prescribed medications for his PTSD symptoms.
"At the VA, what they tend to do is pump you with medicine," he said. "That's not a solution to any issue like PTSD or anxiety. They just kind of numb you. I knew that wasn't the right choice for me. I was looking for an alternative."
But Zaragoza's opportunity remains relatively rare and unaffordable for many veterans.
The cost of providing custom-trained Cheyenne was about $20,000 said Behesha Doan, president of This Able Veteran. The costs — for training, as well as Zaragoza's travel expenses, veterinary bills, and equipment — were funded by private donations. Zaragoza was one of six veterans assigned a PTSD dogs by the nonprofit.
But he is disappointed that the VA won't pick up the bill so that more veterans can get this kind of assistance.
As an employee of U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Chicago, he is able to handle the cost of maintaining Cheyenne — things like food, kennels for work, home and cars, and vet bills. Even these costs would challenge many fellow combat veterans, he said.
"There are other veterans who can't go to school or hold a job because their PTSD is so bad," said Zaragoza. "A lot of these guys live on $600 a month."
Stories like Zaragoza's prompted members of Congress to push for the VA to provide more canine assistance to veterans, and recommended more research to explore how dogs might best help veterans suffering two of the most common mental disabilities from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan — PTSD and TBI.
As NBC News' Rebecca Ruiz reported in August, a team of epidemiologists, mental health providers, veterinarians and other experts were conducting a study at the Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Proponents were eager for the three-year study to deliver data to demonstrate benefits and help create a framework for training mental disability service dogs.
But the research was temporarily suspended from January to June after a young girl was bitten by a dog. VA declined to be interviewed about the study, but told Ruiz that the project resumed after it increased monitoring through phone calls and home visits by the researchers and service dog providers.
Training PTSD dogs is tricky because the illness ranges from very manageable to very severe, according to Corey Hudson, President of the North American chapter of Assistance Dogs International, a coalition of not for profit organizations that train and place canines worldwide. "You have to be careful what you're getting into, and make sure you are qualified to train a dog for that situation," he said.
He said that his understanding was that the VA wanted the results from the PTSD service dog research to show what was effective before making a decision on benefits.
Doan, of This Able Veteran, said continued research, properly done, could help the VA set standards, and weed out service dog providers which have proliferated in the last few years. She stresses that pairing dogs and veterans without careful screening and training poses risks to both, and could just be a waste of resources.
"In order for this to be taken seriously, we've got to show that we have considered all the aspects of what could potentially go wrong and maintain all the efficacy of what goes right," she said.
She is hoping that the VA, in its decision not to cover PTSD dogs is merely taking a cautious, go-slow approach, not ruling out benefits for the future or merely dragging its feet.
"If it's done right we've got a helluva program going on," she said. "If it's not, you've got Joe Bag-a-donuts out there grabbing some dog off the street and calling it a PTSD dog."
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Dance of Spring4/25/2009 09:29:00 PM Edit This 2 Comments »
Sunday morning Lexie decides this is the proper attire for breakfast. Then it's time to get dressed for church and for Lexie that means a dress. She settles on this one even though the green is what she always asks for these day. Once we go outside to get in the car when she sees the sunshine, well I think the pictures speak for themselves.

subset: commoncrawl


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I was tweeking the 4343's tonight and noticed I have some L-pads that aren't functioning properly. One was damaged years ago (the "pot" was pushed in). The contact points sound like they're on full at all times on the 2420, which can be overwhelming.
If I'm going to replace one, I might as well replace all of them.
Has anyone ever done this?
How much of a pain in the a$$ is it to remove the foical (ID tag or whatever it's called) without causing damage?
Are original L-pads still available at JBL?
Thanks in advance!
This message comes from JBL Dog


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A cozy hat in soft and warm alpaca. Covers the ears and ties beneath chin or up on top of head. This is a favorite of ours.
AS WE GROW is an Icelandic fashion label, born from the passion of creating superior, quality clothing that lasts; is non-trend led and timeless in design.
It was started by Gudrun, Maria and Greta, three Icelandic friends with a passion for knitting and 'slow fashion'.
The children's collection (6m-8years) has a classic appeal and is made from the luxurious alpaca fiber. It is lanolin free and hypoallergenic, which when combined with its unique soft properties, makes it ideally suited for use in baby clothing. The clothes have been specifically designed to encourage longevity, growing with the child, while retaining a hand-me-down quality.
Product Questions
Have no questions.
Use spaces to separate tags. Use single quotes (') for phrases.


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Item #6133
Annual. There are dozens of ways to use 'Lemon' basil in the kitchen. It makes a great pesto or chiffonade to top fish or shrimp, adds an extra kick to flavored vinegars, is an excellent accompaniment to light pastas like capelli d'angelo (angel hair) or farfalle (bow tie), and adds a tangy note to citrus or blueberry desserts. More compact than many other basil varieties, so it's perfect in small spaces. Can be grown indoors in a warm, south window! Recipe for Basil Herb Oil inside packet.
This packet sows up to 80 ft.
Seedling Image
Full Sun
Days to Emerge:
Seed Depth:
Seed Spacing:
Row Spacing:
When to sow outside: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F, ideally 65°-85°F.
When to start inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting outside. Transplant when your nighttime temperatures are above 50°F.
Harvesting: Basil flavor is best before the plant flowers. Harvest up to 1/3 of the plant at a time, leaving enough for the plant to be healthy and keep producing. Harvest prior to frost; basil is very frost sensitive.
Artist: Roberta Lutgens
Item #6133
0.50 grams
What is Soil?
Soil is a diverse mix of substances, teeming with life and composed of minerals, decayed plant and animal matter, water, and air. It…More…
Drying Herbs
Many herbs are easily preserved by drying, and hold their flavor well when dry. Simply cut a handful of stems and rubber band them or…More…
There's a reason [basil][1] is so popular-it's delicious! There are many known species of basil, but Ocimum basilicum, also known as Sweet Basil or…More…


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Big let-down: NCAA retreat yields no 'sweeping reforms'
Mr. Mark Emmert
President, NCAA
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Dear President Emmert:
First, bravo for holding the NCAA's recent presidential retreat in Indianapolis and not Jamaica. It's heartening that you and your organizers understood the importance of the retreat's location and decided to at least put on a show of seriousness.
By holding the retreat at NCAA headquarters, you forced Division I presidents onto your turf, a bold move for an organization that spends most of its time squirming under D-I's gigantic thumb. There were some notable absences, though: USC, Oklahoma, UVA, Virginia Tech, Auburn, and many others didn't attend and evidently weren't even invited. Curious.
As to the retreat itself, you stated its purpose was to review "financial sustainability, integrity and academic performance [and] determine the course of action [needed] to address those challenges."
Were the retreat's two days long enough to achieve such lofty goals? Even a wedding takes nearly a year to plan. Maybe D-I presidents are more agreeable than family. It would seem the "substantive change to the enterprise" of college sports would take quite a while– but maybe not. I've always heard Rome wasn't built in a day– maybe two were sufficient. It certainly didn't take the university presidents long to agree on a wish list.
- Rewrite the NCAA rule book to reduce the number of rules and focus on significant issues.
- Improve academic standards for student-athletes and tie participation in all NCAA championships to a team's academic performance.
- Revamp the NCAA penalty structure and increase the levels of violations.
- Refocus the NCAA enforcement staff to concentrate on major infractions.
- Strengthen the academic requirements for incoming freshmen and student-athletes who transfer from two-year institutions.
I saw the presidents of Ohio State, Miami, and UNC were there, guys with a history of appealing most, if not all, NCAA penalties imposed on their schools. They've been reluctant to rebuke or fire coaches and athletic directors, have shown little inclination to hold star players to even minimal academic standards, and have spent a good deal of their time feigning shock and indignation when infractions are pointed out.
According to my research, the phrase "the inmates have taken over the asylum" is attributed to Charlie Chaplin, though Edgar Allan Poe wrote of it in his 1850 story, The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether. I take it you aren't a fan of either Chaplin or Poe.
As to the outcome of this retreat, you have my sympathy. You must be terribly disappointed. You've been the NCAA president for almost a year, and you've said that sweeping reform "has been on my mind since I first decided I wanted to take on the job."
A cruel blow it must have been, then, to walk away from the retreat having achieved only a "concept of increasing the required academic performance of all teams and mandating that teams must meet those requirements in order to participate in any NCAA-sponsored championship or football bowl game." And those tournament bans, if they're approved, won't be implemented for another year or two.
For a man who began the retreat touting "aggressive and strategic changes," what you have to show for those two days must be a bitter disappointment indeed.
Let me offer a suggestion for the future, President Emmert. Your retreat proves you've got a bit to learn about being consistent and authoritative, so in your spare time, take a dog-training class or visit a kindergarten. You might find that correcting behavior and fostering obedience takes longer than two days to accomplish.
The Sports Doctor
Juanita lives on a farm in Charlotte County with her husband, son, and many dogs.Read more on: ncaa


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Joel Hodgson, creator of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" gained a cult following in the late '80s that has yet to diminish 25 years later. From magic to ventriloquism to teaching the art of movie riffing, Hodgson continues to keep himself busy. Chatting from the Shout! Factory Booth at the 2012 New York Comic Con in support of a massive 100-DVD release of the show, Hodgson looks back on the show and talks about what's he's been up to lately.
Did you ever think 25 years ago, that "Mystery Science Theater 3000" would turn into this whole cult phenomenon with DVD box sets and pop culture relevance?
No, not in the least. We were just trying to do the best with what we had.
U.S. & World
You have such an interesting story in that you have this love of magic and ventriloquism, yet you ended up at the helm of this show. I've also read in interviews that you've said the creation of the characters of MST3000 was more gratifying than the acting. Can you explain that?
The thought of making a show was really daunting to me, so I thought if we could make a show around a movie that was doable for me. If we only produced 15 minutes of content and the rest was in silhouette, I knew we could do that. I don't know a lot about budgets, but I knew cost-wise, it was much more accessible.
I was fortunate that I started in magic and was really interested in ventriloquism at a young age. I wasn't satisfied with what I saw, especially in ventriloquism, but I couldn't afford a dummy. They were wildly expensive. So I found that I could make things I was satisfied with by collaging pieces of puppets and making my own. I did the same thing with magic. I retrofitted old magic tricks and changed the way they looked to suit my purposes. It was all great training and was basically a function of not having any money, and parents who both were do it yourself-ers.
I think that's why I was able to be a part of all of this. It really worked for us. There would be no way to have a vision and realize it with what you would pay. When we first started the show, I showed (Crow) to a friend who was a (Disney) Imagineer, and he asked how much it cost to make and I said probably 10 bucks. He said if I would have made it there it would have cost $50,000 to develop a character and make it work. So through that I think the ability to make stuff has really served me and it was the M.O. for "Mystery Science Theater" and why things worked.
Do you think the nature of the show made you come out of your shell a bit more?
Absolutely. I was a performer before the show. I did stand-up for a few years, so I was familiar with performing. But to be able to daisy-chain a group of creative people together you can really do amazing things. I was so lucky to have so many talented people work on the show.
Your hardcore fans know all about RiffTrax and your other film-related projects, but what else are you working on?
I do a one-man show in Phoenixville and Los Angeles the next few months and with those I do super secret "Mystery Science Theater" screenings where I bring out my favorite episode of the show and we'll watch it together.
What's the show about?
It's really based on the premise of when I was six, I thought God made the movies. It's the beginning of my story and my path to "Mystery Science Theater."
How do you really want to be remembered?
Oh boy. At the end of the day, it's kind of meaningless. My favorite part of the show was that we had a vision and that no one had really done it yet -- that there was this space in the world where we could do this thing. What we were doing wasn't really considered comedy. There was no form prior to that. So for me, it's fun to see all of this happen and it's still unfolding, it's still growing. I'm really enjoying that. It's really about people taking action and being inspired and saying "These are the thoughts in my mind that I must show you." That's the story of the show I like.
You've done a lot in your career, but is there something you look back and say, "I still want to do that"?
Something I got to do last fall was teaching movie riffing. I got to do a class at Bucks County Community College, just outside Pennsylvania, and it was so fun. I really like to be around young people and see them do this. Because of the Internet, they're so good at it. I was shocked. It was an eye-opener for me. It's what I'm the most interested in now. It was so much fun... We're talking about it again for next Spring.


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November 22, 2005
Plenoptic Cameras: [whistle type=low & appreciative]
I'd heard Todor and Jeff talk about plenoptic camera research, but it wasn't until reader Joe Lencioni mentioned this Stanford work that I followed up. Wow. If nothing else, check out this video demonstrating how images can be refocused after the fact. (For background, Todor notes the word "plenoptic" was coined by Ted Adelson in this 1992 paper.) Wired News coverage is here.
Being more an Arts & Letters guy (read: math Cro-Mag), I tend to dwell on the social aspects of technology, and I wonder how photographers might react to these developments. There's already a vocal minority of strident anti-raw shooters who say, "Raw is for when you plan to get the shot wrong." That is, the post-processing flexibility that raw enables lets bad photographers sweep ever more mistakes under the carpet. What would they say about something that forgave flaws in focusing? It's also funny to note that as technology like this makes it possible to keep more items in focus, technology like Photoshop's Lens Blur works in the opposite direction, letting you add a "Bokeh" effect to otherwise crisp shots.
Personally, I'd love to see the concept of taking multiple captures in single pass used to enable greater dynamic range. Wouldn't it be great to effectively auto-bracket shots simultaneously, instead of in quick succession?
The concept of bracketing photographs around an exposure is an old one. However, the ability to automatically bracket exposures and then combine them into a high dynamic range image would be most appreciated. Of course histogram tools will become much more important with these types of images. I am specifically thinking of tools that allow one to work in images almost exclusively from within the histogram would be welcome improvements to Photoshop. Oh, and don't forget the much needed and oft requested histogram export tool.
As I see it, the only real limiting factor is storage space. It should be possible at some future date to capture an HDR plenoptic Raw image so that all exposure and focus decisions would be made in post processing. However, such a file would probably be in the gb range for a single image, at least if you want a high-rez final image. But at least the cameras could be simpler, needing no focusing or exposure mechanism.
I could see some merit to the idea of being able to refocus errors in accuracy after the fact.
The biggest problem with aps-sensor sized digital cameras is that there's too much depth of field most of the time. That's one reason I prefer to shoot with an EOS 1Ds Mark II. Less depth of field lets me place the focus at the correct point and then let the focus fall off in front and behind the subject in a way I'm familiar with, and which lets me direct the viewer's attention where I want.
Just like the anti-raw Luddites who have no clue that RAW is no different than having a digital negative – only better. Infinite depth of field does not look natural. Our eyes have pretty shallow depth field in fact. So too much depth of field looks unnatural.
This reminds me of once when I talked to a photo editor at the Portland Oregonian. He told me some day they would send out photographers who would go to a scene – such as a riot or a garden party – and hold up a camera and swing it aound in a circle and then the editor back at the paper would pick the right image. Showing he had no clue that photos are more than just "f/8 and be there." It takes a sense of timing, understanding how the camera sees, angle of view, being at the event to know what is actually important to photograph, etc.
He wanted to reduce photojournalists to the equivalent of trained chimps. In the end, it would completely ignore the amount of skill it takes to make good photographs.
This new tool might be used to cover up some people's lack of skill, but it could also fix photos that in the heat of battle were focused less than perfectly. And that doesn't ignore the skill of the photographer who had the ability – or insight – to make a good composition, but was simply a tad bit off in terms of focus. How could that be a bad thing?
Good photos are more than the physical skill to place focus perfectly. Especially nowadays in this era of auto focus. (I go back way beyond that). It could be a tool that can be used well or badly. It's up to the photographer to know which it is.
This could be done if the camera recorded not only the value of each individual pixel, but the accumulation of that value over small time slices. So, like a mini-video, for a 1/100th of a second exposure there'd be, for example, the exposure every 1/10,000 of a second for the whole duration of the exposure.
Software could then hold back the highlights by looking at only the first portion of the exposure in a particular region of the image.
Similarly small amounts of motion blur could be corrected for by using a smaller portion of the time slice (i.e. shorter exposure) and adjusting.
Personally, I'd love to see the concept of taking multiple captures in single pass used to enable greater dynamic range. Wouldn't it be great to effectively auto-bracket shots simultaneously, instead of in quick succession?


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Fiora - League of Legends
Why I chose to make this costume:
I chose Fiora as a costume project specifically for her armor design, because I thought this would be a great first project for me to use Worbla for. I love the color scheme and the mix ratio of sewn parts and armor parts! Also, this girl fences! Which is sexy. And unexpected in video games.
How I made this costume:
I made the armor out of Worbla, sword made out of wood, hilt made of Worbla. This took over 4 weeks of learning a new technique and using a new material -it was a good and agonizing experience lol.
- Most fun part: making the actual armor pieces!
- Most pleasant surprise: Painting the pieces was actually therapeutic.
- Most frustrating part: attaching the armor pieces to myself.
- Most infuriating part: the sword. I suck at making props. Just suck at it.
The bodysuit underneath was made of moleskin. In hindsight, I'm not sure why I chose moleskin as the fabric, lol. It's so damn warm to wear. The cape was made of Polyester Shantung and the design was appliqued on using the heat-n-bond then satin stitch method.
Thoughts on this costume:
It feels badass to wear armor! And I can't wait to do more team ups as League characters!!!
Buy a signed poster of this costume! Or grab this print!


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Thursday, July 15, 2010
Crappy Steak & A Bundle Of Nerves
"Wow, that's wet" was all I could think to say when Call-o and I popped outside the Nashville airport doors for our post flight smoke. I stood there puddling and puffing more than ready to start the next leg of our journey encased in the much needed air-conditioning of our rental car/party bus. We arrived on Sunday evening and had been warned that Memphis would pretty much be closed by the time we made the drive from Nashville….oh and yes I am aware there is an airport in Memphis but there was a rental car issue, cost like three times more to rent a car in Memphis and drive to Louisville, the final leg of our trip. So Nashville it was, plus Call-o and I have never been to Nashville so we would be able to cross one more city off our list.
Loaded up the party bus, (um these minivan jobbies are pretty cool by the way) with our luggage and case of wine that I brought and headed out onto interstate forty agreeing to stop and eat as soon as we saw something, no matter that it was like three in the afternoon our time, I had been warned so I knew we had better get our grub on as soon as we could. Call-o spied a Cracker Barrel and pulled the party van off the freeway….sigh. We had been to Cracker Barrel before, for breakfast not sure what made me think, "Steak. I think steak is a fine choice" but trust me I was punished palate wise for such a ridiculous idea…should have taken that breakfast menu they offered. Live and learn right? Back on the highway feeling like I had giant chunks of crappy meat lodged between each and every one of my teeth we made the three hour drive into Memphis slowing only when the pounding rain made it impossible to see no matter how fast the wipers were flying.
Lugged the…well the luggage up to the hotel at around 9:30 on a steamy Memphis night and almost immediately sliced into the box of wine. Needed, needed a glass of Rose so badly it was almost as if my body was digging for water as I peeled through the cardboard layers of the shipping container. Call-o dashed down the hall to retrieve a bucket of ice while I was on my knees pulling out bottle after bottle looking for a Rose, that's when it hit me….holy mother of all heartbreak, I didn't pack a freaking wine opener! Call-o returned with his, "Look what I got you" swagger only to be met by a so not happy Sam face. Tired, feeling like I was covered in airplane stranger farts and sticky with no wine opener…pissed. I did however remember that I had snuck a bottle of Pastis in my case, Pastis with a twist off cap. Now God is big there in Memphis and I think I might have heard him that night, "Dig one layer further Yee Less Than Faithful One" that's when I heard the angels sing. Well after a second glass, a bath and once I had my jammies on anyway.
Didn't sleep all that well that first night. Never do in a strange place not to mention I was awoken at 6:00 am by lightning, roaring thunder and water pounding against our 7th floor window. Call-o on the other hand was knocked out which ended up being perfect as by the time he decided to get out of bed the storm was predicted to be just about over. We were both starving and made hitting up some BBQ the very first action of the day. Once fed and feeling the blood sugar come back into normal range we just drove around town, air conditioner fully cranked, and got a feel for the city. Pretty amazing that within a block you go from kinda hipster, artsy to desolate and impoverished. At home there is more of a "warning stretch" where you can feel you are getting closer to the dodgy part of town, not in Memphis it goes from, "Hey look how cute" to "Um, I think I don't want to go any further down this street" I absolutely love getting to know a new city. One of my other favorite things to do in a new town….hit up the Target. Okay this is not so much a favorite thing as much as it is a running joke, I always forget something, always. This time I had packed a nearly empty bottle of conditioner and of course I was in need of a cork extractor so off to the Target we go. Got back to the hotel and began preparing for the real reason I was there, dinner with Michael Hughes (Midtown Stomp) and Ben Carter (Benito's Wine Reviews) two fellow wine bloggers and two cats that I have come to adore….from afar.
I think the plan was hatched between Michael and I, just talking about how great it would be to meet each other after years of reading and commenting on each other's blog and all the chatting on facebook. We just felt like we knew each other and it would be amazing to finally share a glass of wine face to face. I instantly thought of Ben as well, Ben is hands-down my longest reader and has gone above and beyond to help me, even designing the header to this blog for me. I had wanted to meet him for years and was thrilled when he said he would love to join us if I did indeed make it out his way. Could not wait.
I washed my face, reapplied the face junk and got dressed for my long awaited meeting and then, I got nervous as hell! Such a chick, I turned into such a chick about an hour before we were to be at Michael's for dinner. I kept fidgeting, changing my clothes, trying on different necklaces…shit that I rarely do so therefore I do it poorly. Standing before the mirror wishing I had taken the time to like get plastic surgery or at the very least a new outfit, I sent Michael a text message confessing that I was a wreck. He lovingly responded, "Awww don't be it's going to be fun" and I was instantly soothed. I was never afraid that we wouldn't have fun just stuck in that terrible fear that they may be disappointed in me in person. Like I said, total chick.
I barely had a chance to get out of the party van before Michael came bounding across the lawn, arms extended with a giant welcoming smile for me. Big tight hugs and "It's so nice to finally meet you" and then I had my arms around Ben as well. Felt fantastic. We walked into Michael and Kelly's home, warm and inviting with the swirls of savory aromas finding their way deep into my chest and within minutes I felt as if I had been there before, many times before. Standing there talking wine, weather, religion I had in fact been there before, maybe not with these cats but with other dear friends and this meeting felt just like that. So while we had never been in each other's physical presence we had been reading each other so long that the voices just synced and all the awkward, at least for me was just gone.
We sat outside drinking everything from Champagne, Pouilly-Fume, Oregon Pinot Noir and Chateauneuf-du-Pape and eating the lovely meal Michael had prepared. Puppies at my feat, damp grass between my toes, melt-in-your-mouth lamb shanks, glasses of wine and Michael and Ben at my side, don't think I could have dreamed up a more perfect scenario. Just as we had finished dinner the sky opened up and sent us all grabbling platters, bottles, plates and heading inside…..now this, this is where the night gets even more familiar to me. "So where we going after this?"
Next thing I know we are piling into the party van, well Michael and Kelly did Ben was smart enough or has been reading me enough to take his own car to Barie, the bar we were heading to for after dinner drinks. Very cute little joint that had a great selection of interesting cocktails and even had a tasting flight of Amaro! Ben said he was meeting us for one drink which I think may have turned into three and I of course was in full I-don't-want-the-night-to-end mode….therefore super buzzy. Michael and Ben were both busy the next day so Kelly graciously and probably drunkenly agreed to meet us and show us around Memphis. Poor thing had to drag my hungover ass all over town, where we both agreed that cocktails would make this much easier….went on like that all day. See something, get a drink….see something else get a drink somewhere else. It was only after seeing the Lorraine Hotel that I knew I needed a nap, spent I was just spent. We dropped Kelly off at home making plans to meet again when Michael got home from work and Call-o and I were headed back to our room for some water and a much needed nap…..
Yup, feels like home to me.
13 comments:
- Benito said...
It was a total blast and I'm so happy you got to come down here. Yeah, at Bari I stuck to two cocktails (plus sips of a half dozen liqueurs that kept getting passed my way).
Glad you were able to see the cool side of Memphis, and I can't wait for you to come back. I'll take you through my old neighborhood and we'll visit a real hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint.
Memphis misses you already!
- July 15, 2010 at 9:37 AM
- Thomas said...
Jealous over here.
- July 15, 2010 at 11:26 AM
- Ron Washam, HMW said...
My Gorgeous Samantha,
When was the part when you take them all to see Toy Story 3 and they fondle your boobs?
I just can't get your life straight.
Sounds like fun, Love. And not packing a corkscrew? Well, that's just pathetic. Like Pastis in a screwtop pathetic.
I love you!
Your HoseMaster
- July 15, 2010 at 1:44 PM
- Samantha Dugan said...
I am so glad I went kid! Had a blast even if I did spend all of yesterday feeling like ass. I wish we had more time to hang out and I will take you up on that BBQ trip for sure! So glad I got to give you a hug sweetheart.
Oh don't be, I'm sure Benito and Michael would welcome you as sweetly. We did, or I should say, I did have a great time and hope to so many more of the people I've come to love around here...including those way out your way.
Um, okay. Pathetic and trampy...you sure know how to sweet talk a girl.
I adore you
- July 15, 2010 at 3:45 PM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Hope to MEET many more people...fuck that two hours sleep I got is showing....
- July 15, 2010 at 6:56 PM
- Sara Louise said...
Cracker Barrel... that brings me back to my Southern roots!
Your trip sounds like tons of fun. So darling Sam, when are you bringing the party van to Provence?
- July 15, 2010 at 10:53 PM
Sounds like you found a corkscrew, sounds like fun, sounds like a hangover!
- July 16, 2010 at 9:35 AM
- Michael Hughes said...
I can't even express how wonderful it made me feel to read this.
Hopefully it won't be long until we see each other again.
Love you & Love Call-O!!
- July 16, 2010 at 10:01 PM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Oh be careful what you wish for girlie!
Did and um.....as for that hangover thing, you bet.
Already trying to think of when we can come back. I love you baby and I still wish we could have stolen Kelly!
- July 17, 2010 at 4:25 AM
- Michael Hughes said...
Love you too darlin.
You can't have him! You can borrow him for awhile but that's it.
I can't wait for posts from Louisvile.
- July 17, 2010 at 8:02 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Posting will have to be done when I get home....having too much fun!
- July 18, 2010 at 8:37 AM
- Joe said...
Sounds like a good time. I do like Memphis, and would love to meet Ben in person; have had a lot of good conversation online...
...and yet another feather-in-the-cap of screwcaps. To hell with the "romance" of the cork. The romance is in the bottle, not in the stopper!
- July 19, 2010 at 6:09 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Oh you should find time to visit Ben when you get a chance....exactly as sweet, passionate and informative in person as he is online.
Oh what I wouldn't have given for a screwcap Rose that night....
- July 19, 2010 at 7:06 AM


text:
Hi all, I am trying to properly code a moveUp() method that will move an item above another in a queue. This method is inside my QueueList class which extends LinkedList. What I am trying to have it do is the method will take a parameter int of the index for which to move higher. Having issues with my logic here so I was hoping someone could work out the kinks. I have it coded like so:
public void moveUp(int index) { Node current = head; Node previous = null; Node follow = null; int count = -1; for (Node i = head; i != null && count < index; i = i.next) { previous = current; follow = current; current = current.next; count++; } current = follow; current.next = previous.next; }


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Buying English text books in Santiago Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Buying English text books in Santiago Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Chile View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message Don AlanJoined: 11 Dec 2004Posts: 150Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:00 pm Post subject: Buying English text books in Santiago When I was in Santiago in September I went to a big book shop in Huerfanos called Feria del Libro which my guide book said was the biggest. However, I noticed they don't stock English text books. Anyone know where is the best place to find them? Back to top matttheboyJoined: 01 Jul 2003Posts: 854Location: Valparaiso, Chile Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:25 pm Post subject: The English Reader Los Leones 116 Providencia This place is an english only bookshop and i'm pretty sure i saw books like murphy's grammar etc. It's got 1000s of english language novels as well but it's not cheap, around 4-7000 for a 2nd hand novel...might be better to ship any text books you have at home out to your girlfriend...? i brought all mine out in my luggage although it eats into your baggage allowance. Back to top Don AlanJoined: 11 Dec 2004Posts: 150Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:29 pm Post subject: Matty Do you know the best way to send out stuff from the Uk? Is there a better option than using the Post Office. I´m thinking of sending a box out. Back to top matttheboyJoined: 01 Jul 2003Posts: 854Location: Valparaiso, Chile Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:43 pm Post subject: Going to have a look in the new year, got stuff to send back to argentina, will let you know if i find a cheap way. Back to top Don AlanJoined: 11 Dec 2004Posts: 150Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 5:25 pm Post subject: Good, look forward to hearing if you find something better than the PO. Happy New Year Back to top matttheboyJoined: 01 Jul 2003Posts: 854Location: Valparaiso, Chile Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:00 pm Post subject: Parcel force was the cheapest i found quoting me something like £250 for a 20kg box. Might be cheaper to simply go over your luggage allowance and hope they don't charge for every single kilo you're over. BA told me they'd charge me £16.50 a kilo over but also said it was unlikely they'd charge for all the extra weight i'll be over. Back to top Don AlanJoined: 11 Dec 2004Posts: 150Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:48 pm Post subject: Matty At 250 pounds it's not worth it. I went the other day and posted less than 5 kilos by parcel force and it knocked me back 50 pounds. With a 20kg restriction on hold baggage it means making many sacrifices as to what to bring because one realises that it would be cheaper buying more clothes etc there rather than pay the excess. I see one word was changed on my other posting and they placed "beep". Very strict in here. I don't think it was even a bad word. Anyway when you going back to Argentina and if you are passing through Santiago in March we could meet for a coffee. Don A Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Chile All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


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What if BJ & Tyler had replaced John Vito & Jill on All-Stars?
I don't dare to think of that.JVJ <3333333333333333333333333333Hippies <////////////////////////////3
http://www.youtube.com/v/uicy65yqz0s?hl=en_US&version=3What if Lena and Kristy found the clue?
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Facebook is testing a new purchasing product that the company hopes could take the place of PayPal.
Facebook is working on testing the new payments service that lets online shoppers buy on mobile apps using their Facebook login, according to AllThingsD. Much like how many users already use their Facebook login as a way to access comments across the Internet, their login will also be their digital wallet.
Anyone who has already given Facebook his or her credit card details could buy on any e-commerce partner's mobile app with just the login. The service is supposed to roll out in the next month.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Facebook's new service takes aim at PayPal, which has the lion's share of digital payments on wireless devices. But anyone who has used PayPal and had their account frozen for no apparent reason (full disclosure: I have) knows that the service can be greatly improved upon.
For the record, Facebook told AllThingsD that it has a "great relationship with PayPal" and that the new service is simply to provide partners with a "simpler commerce experience" rather than freezing out PayPal.


text:
The Ministry of Magic Health and Safety Regulations (345-01 & 346-01) exist to protect those on the premises.
Early history
It is unknown when the underground building was built. If it was built when the Ministry of Magic was founded, it dates back from the early eighteenth century, although it is unknown whether if it was already used as headquarters of the Wizards' Council. If the latter is the case, it is presumably much older.
Recent history
Under Cornelius Fudge
Cornelius Fudge became Minister for Magic in 1990.[3] After the Return of the Dark Lord on 24 June, 1995, the Ministry campaigned to discredit Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, as Fudge, his mind "twisted and warped by fear", refused to believe it. To further express Fudge's control of the Ministry, a large banner of him was erected in the Atrium. On 12 August, Harry Potter was summoned to a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry, pertraining to what the Ministry termed "offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy".[4]
Between late 1995 and mid-1996, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters tried to retrieve a prophecy record pertaining to Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort from the Hall of Prophecy on Level Nine. In order to do that, they placed both Broderick Bode[5] and Sturgis Podmore[6] under the Imperius Curse to no result, as only Harry could take it from its shelf. Shortly after midnight on 18 June, 1996, the Death Eaters managed to lure Harry Potter and Dumbledore's Army into the deserted Ministry. The Order of the Phoenix went to rescue them, and a battle ensued.[7] After the battle, the Ministry was forced to believe the return of the Dark Lord and Fudge resigned in disgrace.[8]
Under Rufus Scrimgeour
In response to the war situation the country was facing, Rufus Scrimgeour, appointed Fudge's successor in the summer of 1996, was responsible for the creation of several new bureaucracy, such as Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects.[9] In the summer of the next year, shortly after Albus Dumbledore's murder, the Atrium at the Ministry was the setting of a speech by Scrimgeour about the "dark times" the wizarding world was living, and as how the Ministry remained "strong" and active in the fight against the dark forces.[10]
Under Pius Thicknesse
In the meantime, the Death Eaters were managing to infiltrate the Ministry by magically controlling some of the its higher-ranking officials.[11] As a consequence, later in the summer, on the evening of 1 August, the Ministry was the stage of a silent coup during which Scrimgeour was killed[12] while refusing to give the Death Eaters any information on Harry Potter.[13]
After the Death Eater coup, the Ministry of Magic became headed by Pius Thicknesse, who was under Death Eater control by means of the Imperius Curse. Sometime between the coup and 2 September of the same year, the Atrium became to house the Magic is Might monument, a black stone statue illustrative of the new regime, which depicted a wizard and witch sitting atop thrones made from the contorted bodies of Muggles, each with a stupid-expression. Much more security was added to the building.,[2] which included employees being forced to go to work via a toilet network,[14] accessible inside a set of underground public toilets in Whitehall.[2]
Under Kingsley Shacklebolt
In 1998, after the destruction of Lord Voldemort and the end of the Second Wizarding War, Kingsley Shacklebolt became Minister for Magic and led a massive reform of the Ministry.[15] This included the efforts of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in the Auror Office, and Hermione Granger advancing the rights of non-humans, and eradicating pro-pure-blood laws in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and later the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.[16]
Part of the discussion of the Ministry premises revolves around the problem of keeping such a large organisation hidden from the Muggles, it being simpler to hide than to explain the presence of a multi-story building, apparently Government-owned, but with no apparent purpose. To solve this issue, the Ministry is entirely located underground, and that one of the issues facing the Ministry maintenance wizards is the underground environment. In Harry's first visit to the Ministry, he learns that the windows spotted around the Ministry do not reflect the outside world, but are fabrications of the maintenance workers, and that a contract dispute had resulted in the windows showing grim, rainy weather for a solid month no matter what the outside weather was doing. We also learn that the maintenance workers have full control of the office environment; in 1997, it apparently became fairly common for rainstorms to occur in the offices of those who the maintenance workers don't approve of.
More than twenty service lifts stop at all floors, Levels One through Nine. Stairways may provide access to all ten levels in the Ministry and must be used to access Level Ten.[1] As the entire Ministry is underground, the higher floor number indicates levels deeper into the ground.
Entrances to the Headquarters
The visitor's entrance of the Ministry of Magic is an abandoned red telephone box; one enters the Ministry by dialling "62442" ("magic"). Following the prompts of the operator, passes are issued and the telephone box will descend through the ground into the Atrium (Level Eight).[1]
Before Voldemort's takeover, a Ministry worker could use the Floo Network or Apparate directly into the Atrium.
The official entrance to the Ministry[17] is located in underground toilets in Whitehall. Two stairways are labelled GENTLEMEN or LADIES. They lead into an underground public bathroom. A golden Ministry of Magic coin is used to open the stall doors. The act of flushing oneself down the Ministry toilet causes the person to emerge into a fireplace on the left side of the Atrium, which faces the Fountain of Magical Brethren[1] (later the Magic is Might monument). To depart the Ministry, one must stand in one of the fireplaces on the right side of the Atrium, causing them to come out of another toilet in the underground bathroom. At this point one may Apparate to a separate location.[1] After Voldemort took over the Ministry, employees and officials were forced to enter the Ministry by flushing themselves.
Level 1 - Minister for Magic and Support Staff
This Level contains the offices of the highest-ranking Ministry officials.[14] This Level's floor is covered in thick purple carpets and all the offices within contain a gleaming mahogany door, each bearing a small plaque with the owner's name and occupation upon it.[18] It contains the offices of the Minister for Magic and other administrative personnel such as:
- The office of the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic[18]
- The office of the Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic[19]
- During Lord Voldemort's puppet regime in 1997-1998, this Level also housed the office of the Head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission.[18]
Level 2 - Department of Magical Law Enforcement
The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is the largest department at the Ministry of Magic.[20] Arguably the most important of the various departments, it houses a combination of police and justice facilities.[1] Around the corner from the access lift and past a set of heavy oak doors lies the Auror Headquarters: a large open area divided into small cubicles, one for each Auror.
After another set of double doors and another passage, one finds himself in a dimly lit and distinctly shabby corridor at the end of which lies a broom cupboard to the left and opposite it the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, in a room of almost the same size as the cupboard; two desks and overflowing filing cabinets crammed inside.[1] In this level, one can also find the:
- Improper Use of Magic Office
- Wizengamot Administration Services[1]
- Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects (created in 1996).[9]
Level 3 - Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes
Level Three houses the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes whose employees hold the responsibility for repairing accidental magical damage. The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes includes the following offices:
Level 4 - Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is the second largest Department in the Ministry.[20] The Department incorporates the following offices:
Level 5 - Department of International Magical Cooperation
The Department of International Magical Cooperation is an agency concerned in foreign affairs that attempts to get wizards from different countries to cooperate in wizarding actions both political and public. It incorporates the following offices:
- International Magical Trading Standards Body
- International Magical Office of Law
- International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats
Level 6 - Department of Magical Transportation
The Department of Magical Transportation is responsible for various aspects of magical transport. It includes the:
Level 7 - Department of Magical Games and Sports
Level Seven houses the Department of Magical Games and Sports, which is responsible for organising sports events the likes of the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament, as well as enforcing game-related laws and regulations. The Department has a very relaxed ambiance, the corridor off the access lift being somewhat "untidy-looking" in comparison to the other Ministerial Departments: various posters of Quidditch teams are tacked lopsidedly on the walls.[1] Magical Games and Sports incorporates the:
Level 8 - The Atrium
On Level Eight one finds the Atrium, an area that serves as lobby and reception room to the visitors and employees. The Atrium is a very long hall with a highly polished dark wood floor. The ceiling is peacock blue and is filled with golden symbols that keep moving like a notice board. The walls on each side are covered in gilded fireplaces: the left-hand side ones serving for arrivals and the right-hand side ones for departures.[1] Halfway down the Atrium lays a statue: in 1995-1996 the Fountain of Magical Brethren[1] and in 1997-1998, during Lord Voldemort's puppet regime, the Magic is Might monument.[18] On the far end of the hall one can find the Security Desk,[1] the Ministry Munchies café[21] and a set of double golden gates leading to the at least twenty access lifts.[1] in a room off the Atrium, one finds the Security Office, a room containing spare keys to the offices and lift informations.[2]
Level 9 - Department of Mysteries
The Department of Mysteries is a section of the Ministry of Magic that carries out confidential research. Most of its operations are carried out in total secrecy. Few wizards within the Ministry actually know what is located within this department. Those wizards who work in the Department of Mysteries are known as Unspeakables because of the confidential nature of their work.[22]
This Level bears a striking difference to those above: the black-tiled walls[23] are bare with no windows and no doors apart from a plain black one at the end of the corridor that leads into the Department proper.[1] Light is provided only by torches.[24] A small flight of steps to the left leads to Level Ten.[1] Upon entering the Department, one finds themselves in a circular hall of dark marble floor, lit by candles emitting a cool blue light.[24] The door holds several doors leading to at least the following offices:
Level 10 - Courtrooms
Level Ten hosts about half a score of courtrooms, which are used by the Wizengamot and the Council of Magical Law in full-scale criminal trials (such as the Death Eater trials in 1981).[25] In 1997, the Muggle-Born Registration Commission also used these courtrooms during their questioning of Muggle-born wizards.[18]
Level Ten is accessible via a flight of steps leading down from Level Nine. The corridors here have rough stone walls and torches in brackets. The doors leading to the courtrooms proper are heavy and made of wood, with large iron bolts and keyholes.[1]
Courtroom Ten has walls made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches,[4] with serried rows of benches, rising in levels all around the room, all positioned so that they had a clear view of a chair on the centre of the room, in which the person charged with a crime would seat.[25]
There is a detention area below the courtrooms, in which convicted wizards are imprisoned while awaiting transportation to Azkaban Fortress. It is also a dark-tiled area, with gilded gates closing the cells.[2]
Behind the scenes
Over 30,000 individually placed tiles were used to create the Ministry of Magic.[26] As actual ceramic tiles would have been far too expensive to use, the "tiles" were instead made out of thick card, each tile undergoing a lengthy painting process to make them look as realistic as possible.[27]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Appears in flashback(s))
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: The Wand Collection
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 7 (The Ministry of Magic)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 10 (Luna Lovegood)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 8 (The Hearing)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 26 (Seen and Unforeseen)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 14 (Percy and Padfoot)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
- ↑ J. K. Rowling's official site
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 5 (An Excess of Phlegm)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Chapter 1
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 1 (The Dark Lord Ascending)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 8 (The Wedding)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11 (The Bribe)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)}}
- ↑ "J.K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript" on The Leaky Cauldron
- ↑ "Vieira, Meredith. "Harry Potter: The Final Chapter" Dateline (NBC) , 29 July 2007" on Accio Quote
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 13 (The Muggle-Born Registration Commission)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 4 (Number Twelve Grimmauld Place)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Magical Beasts in Hiding
- ↑ 'Harry Potter' Set Visit: Inside The Ministry of Magic (MTV Movie News)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 7 (Bagman and Crouch)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) - Chapter 26 (The Department of Mysteries)
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 34 (The Department of Mysteries)
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30 (The Pensieve)
- ↑ http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/25/set-report-harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix
- ↑ http://spiritsoflondon.blogspot.com/2012/08/sol-visits-making-of-harry-potter-tour.html


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In a strange twist in an increasingly unusual case, a defendant in the 9/11 military commission trial at Guantánamo suddenly asked midway through a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday to be taken back to his cell after complaining of being subjected to "psychological torture" by military guards.
Ramzi Bin al-Shibh asked the judge to be returned to the terror detention camp rather than remain in the courtroom for the rest of the day's proceeding.
The judge, US Army Col. James Pohl, asked the defendant whether he was voluntarily waiving his right to be present during the hearing.
"I cannot remain here," Mr. Bin al-Shibh told the judge in open court. "There are problems with the food that was provided."
He said he was experiencing a "daily problem" with food and that when he had meetings with his lawyers during the lunch hour sometimes he was not provided any lunch at all.
"This is one sort of psychological torture," he said. "They cause problems (between) me and the guards on a daily basis," he said through an Arabic translator. He added that it was not just a problem for him but for "the brothers as well," referring to his co-defendants in the case.
The strange action came on the second day of a weeklong series of hearings addressing a range of pre-trial legal issues in the military commission trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mr. Bin Al-Shibh, and three others at the US Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The hearings are being monitored by news reporters at Guantánamo and via a live video feed at Fort Meade, Md.
Bin al-Shibh was the only defendant of the five who chose to attend Tuesday's hearing. The four other co-defendants waived their right to be present at the hearing and opted instead to remain in their cells at the terror detention camp.
Bin al-Shibh did not describe his "problem" in detail, but whatever happened in the holding cell during the lunch break was enough to convince him to ask to return to his cell.
After consulting with his client, defense lawyer James Harrington said there were underlying problems with detention camp guards that Mr. Harrington said he would seek to resolve with camp officials.
"Sometimes things build up and build up and build up, and that is what happened in this case," he told the judge.
Another of Bin al-Shibh's lawyers, US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Bogucki, noted that the judge had earlier issued an order to the guard force at the detention camp in response to complaints from Bin al-Shibh about noises and vibrations in his cell.
Government lawyers said at the time that there was no evidence that Bin al-Shibh was being subjected to intentional noises and vibrations. But Judge Pohl nonetheless issued an order asking camp officials to stop doing anything that might be causing such a problem.
Lt. Cmdr. Bogucki said that when Bin al-Shibh tried to cite the judge's order to military guards after the ruling was issued, he was told they knew nothing of such an order.
When Bogucki confronted camp officials about the matter, he said he was told: "This is not a judge issue, this is our issue," and "if you don't like it, file a motion."
The defense lawyer told the judge that detention camp officials showed a "complete lack of respect for your order." He said based on reports from his client, the harassing activity was both ongoing and retaliatory.
Judge Pohl said that the first time the complaints of noises and vibrations were brought to his courtroom, government lawyers suggested that perhaps the noises and vibrations existed only in Bin al-Shibh's mind.
"My client suffers from no such delusional disorder," Bogucki replied.
Pohl said that the appropriate response would be for defense lawyers to contact the camp commander and raise the issue directly with him.
"The camp commander is part of the problem," Bogucki said. "The quotes I gave you were from the camp commander."
The lawyer added: "This is a case unprecedented in American history given the treatment that these men have had, so we do have to proceed in some manner."
All five of the defendants were held for years in secret custody by the Central Intelligence Agency where they were subjected to prolonged and harsh interrogation techniques. Those techniques included sleep deprivation and sensory deprivation combined with prolonged exposure to loud noises.
A spokesman for the detention camp at Guantánamo denied the existence of any significant problem between Bin al-Shibh and the guards.
"A freshly-prepared standard detainee halal meal was provided to the defendant by the Joint Task Force during the lunch recess. The defendant complained that his lunch did not include condiments such as olives and honey," US Navy Capt. Robert Durand, Director of Public Affairs, Joint Task Force Guantánamo, said in a statement.
All five defendants are facing a military tribunal on charges that they helped plan and/or help with logistics in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks that left nearly 3,000 dead. If convicted they face the death penalty.
At a hearing on Monday, another defendant, Walid Bin Attash, complained that he was too ill to remain in the courtroom.
His lawyer said he wanted to remain present during the hearing, but that a stomach condition was too painful. The judge called an early recess to the public portion of the hearing.
It was not clear what might happen if Mr. Bin Attash was still feeling sick on Tuesday but did not want to waive his right to be present. That issue did not arise since Bin Attash told a detention camp official early Tuesday that he did not want to attend that day's court hearing.
The pre-trial hearings are set to continue through Friday.


text: Print Overview Colon and rectum Open pop-up dialog box Close Colon and rectum Colon and rectum The colon, also called the large intestine, is a long, tubelike organ in your abdomen. The colon carries waste to be expelled from the body. Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Blog Connect with others and follow the latest advances in treating Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis on Mayo Clinic Connect. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people. The inflammation caused by Crohn's disease often spreads deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue. Crohn's disease can be both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications. While there's no known cure for Crohn's disease, therapies can greatly reduce its signs and symptoms and even bring about long-term remission. With treatment, many people with Crohn's disease are able to function well. Crohn's disease care at Mayo ClinicProducts & ServicesBook: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health Symptoms Digestive system Open pop-up dialog box Close Digestive system Digestive system Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease most commonly affects the colon and the last part of the small intestine (ileum). Ulcerative colitis affects the colon. In some people with Crohn's disease, only the last segment of the small intestine (ileum) is affected. In others, the disease is confined to the colon (part of the large intestine). The most common areas affected by Crohn's disease are the last part of the small intestine and the colon. Signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease can range from mild to severe. They usually develop gradually, but sometimes will come on suddenly, without warning. You may also have periods of time when you have no signs or symptoms (remission). When the disease is active, signs and symptoms may include: Diarrhea Fever Fatigue Abdominal pain and cramping Blood in your stool Mouth sores Reduced appetite and weight loss Pain or drainage near or around the anus due to inflammation from a tunnel into the skin (fistula) Other signs and symptoms People with severe Crohn's disease also may experience: Inflammation of skin, eyes and joints Inflammation of the liver or bile ducts Delayed growth or sexual development, in children When to see a doctor See your doctor if you have persistent changes in your bowel habits or if you have any of the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease, such as: Abdominal pain Blood in your stool Ongoing bouts of diarrhea that don't respond to over-the-counter (OTC) medications Unexplained fever lasting more than a day or two Unexplained weight loss More InformationCrohn's disease care at Mayo ClinicCrohn's disease symptom: Is fatigue common? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic CausesThe exact cause of Crohn's disease remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now doctors know that these factors may aggravate but don't cause Crohn's disease. A number of factors, such as heredity and a malfunctioning immune system, likely play a role in its development. Immune system. It's possible that a virus or bacterium may trigger Crohn's disease. When your immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract, too. Heredity. Crohn's is more common in people who have family members with the disease, so genes may play a role in making people more susceptible. However, most people with Crohn's disease don't have a family history of the disease. Risk factorsRisk factors for Crohn's disease may include: Age. Crohn's disease can occur at any age, but you're likely to develop the condition when you're young. Most people who develop Crohn's disease are diagnosed before they're around 30 years old. Ethnicity. Although Crohn's disease can affect any ethnic group, whites have the highest risk, including people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish descent. However, the incidence of Crohn's disease is increasing among blacks who live in North America and the United Kingdom. Family history. You're at higher risk if you have a close relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, with the disease. As many as 1 in 5 people with Crohn's disease has a family member with the disease. Cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is the most important controllable risk factor for developing Crohn's disease. Smoking also leads to more-severe disease and a greater risk of having surgery. If you smoke, it's important to stop. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve), diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) and others. While they do not cause Crohn's disease, they can lead to inflammation of the bowel that makes Crohn's disease worse. Where you live. If you live in an urban area or in an industrialized country, you're more likely to develop Crohn's disease. This suggests that environmental factors, including a diet high in fat or refined foods, may play a role in Crohn's disease. ComplicationsCrohn's disease may lead to one or more of the following complications: Bowel obstruction. Crohn's disease affects the thickness of the intestinal wall. Over time, parts of the bowel can scar and narrow, which may block the flow of digestive contents. You may require surgery to remove the diseased portion of your bowel. Ulcers. Chronic inflammation can lead to open sores (ulcers) anywhere in your digestive tract, including your mouth and anus, and in the genital area (perineum). Fistulas. Sometimes ulcers can extend completely through the intestinal wall, creating a fistula — an abnormal connection between different body parts. Fistulas can develop between your intestine and skin, or between your intestine and another organ. Fistulas near or around the anal area (perianal) are the most common kind. When fistulas develop in the abdomen, food may bypass areas of the bowel that are necessary for absorption. Fistulas may occur between loops of bowel, into the bladder or vagina, or out through the skin, causing continuous drainage of bowel contents to your skin. In some cases, a fistula may become infected and form an abscess, which can be life-threatening if not treated. Anal fissure. This is a small tear in the tissue that lines the anus or in the skin around the anus where infections can occur. It's often associated with painful bowel movements and may lead to a perianal fistula. Malnutrition. Diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping may make it difficult for you to eat or for your intestine to absorb enough nutrients to keep you nourished. It's also common to develop anemia due to low iron or vitamin B-12 caused by the disease. Colon cancer. Having Crohn's disease that affects your colon increases your risk of colon cancer. General colon cancer screening guidelines for people without Crohn's disease call for a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 50. Ask your doctor whether you need to have this test done sooner and more frequently. Other health problems. Crohn's disease can cause problems in other parts of the body. Among these problems are anemia, skin disorders, osteoporosis, arthritis, and gallbladder or liver disease. Medication risks. Certain Crohn's disease drugs that act by blocking functions of the immune system are associated with a small risk of developing cancers such as lymphoma and skin cancers. They also increase risk of infection. Corticosteroids can be associated with a risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure, among others. Work with your doctor to determine risks and benefits of medications. By Mayo Clinic Staff Crohn's disease care at Mayo Clinic Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Diagnosis & treatment Dec. 24, 2019 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references What is Crohn's disease? Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/. Accessed May 10, 2017. Goldman L, et al., eds. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 10, 2017. Ferri FF. Crohn disease. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2017. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2017. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 10, 2017. Crohn's disease. Gastrointestinal Society. http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/crohns-disease/. Accessed May 10, 2017. Feldman M, et al. Crohn's disease. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 10, 2017. Peppercorn MA, et al. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and prognosis of Crohn disease in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 11, 2017. Crohn's disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease. Accessed May 12, 2017. What is colorectal cancer screening? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/. Accessed May 12, 2017. Management of Crohn's disease in adults. Bethesda, Md.: American College of Gastroenterology. http://gi.org/guideline/management-of-crohnâs-disease-in-adults/. Accessed May 13, 2017. Crohn's disease. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed May 12, 2017. Fleshner PR. Operative management of Crohn disease of the small bowel, colon, and rectum. https://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 11, 2017. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/complementary-alternative.html. Accessed May 14, 2017. Lichtenstein L, et al. Probiotics and prebiotics in Crohn's disease therapies. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology. 2016;30:81. Brown A. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 3, 2017. Diet, nutrition, and inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/diet-and-nutrition.html. Accessed May 15, 2017. Rajan E (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 4, 2017. Related Crohn's Crisis Crohn's disease symptom: Is fatigue common? Crohn's or Colitis Small intestine Show more related content Associated Procedures Acupuncture Barium enema Capsule endoscopy Colonoscopy CT scan Fecal occult blood test Flexible sigmoidoscopy Home enteral nutrition MRI Show more associated procedures News from Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic, W. L. Gore & Associates announce Avobis Bio, a joint venture for new regenerative therapies Dec. 10, 2019, 04:30 p.m. CDT Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease Sept. 27, 2018, 09:35 p.m. CDT Products & Services Book: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health Crohn's diseaseSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDoctors & departmentsCare at Mayo Clinic Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Marketplace Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Free Special Report — Psychological First AidNEW — Mayo Clinic Guide to ArthritisMayo Clinic on Digestive HealthMayo Clinic on Healthy AgingThe Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet CON-20312395 Patient Care & Health Information Diseases & Conditions Crohn's disease


text: Event Details CHANGING OF THE GUARD 27/09/2019 10:30 The Changing of the Guard Ceremony is held every last Friday of the month at St George's Square, Valletta. The parade commences at 10.30hrs, with the AFM Band marching down Republic Street onto St George's Square Valletta. Here, the new guard marches out from the Main Guard in order to replace the old guard which marches out from The Palace Valletta. Following the exchange of 'duties' the AFM Band conducts a marching display in the same square. Venue St George's Square Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Website: http://www.cityofvalletta.org View On Map More Info » Organiser Armed Forces of Malta Phone: +356 22494000 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Website: http://www.afm.gov.mt


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We help you better reach customers who are looking for what you offer.
Jeeran is a local reviews site, a platform based in Jordan covering several cities in the emerging world with focus on the Middle East. With tens of thousands of reviews and hundreds of thousands of local listings, Jeeran helps people better interact with places in their cities. It is a platform that is local, mobile, and social.
Direct access to costumers, people come to Jeeran are going to make a purchasing decision, they have already made up their mind about the purchasing decision, they just want to know which business to do it with. Jeeran also offers you a communication channel, direct access to users and reviewers, to interact and engage with that community in the market you choose.


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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR PLANT PHYSIOLOGY The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is seeking a Plant Physiologist at the Assistant Professor level in an academic year, tenure-track position. Candidates must have a PhD in higher plant physiology. Broad training and research interests in physiology of vascular plants, plant/microbe interactions or ecological physiology are preferred. Postdoctoral experience and knowledge of molecular biology desirable. The successful candidate is to participate in instruction at both undergraduate and graduate levels, to develop an extramurally funded research program, to interact with pathologists, ecologists, microbiologists and molecular biologists and to participate in the College's service activities. Submit CV, transcripts, teaching and research goals, and have three letters of reference sent directly to: Dr. H. B. Tepper, Chair, Search Committee, Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210 by March 25. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. An Equal Opportunity/affirmative Action Employer.


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This morning I went into the cellar to empty the dehumidifier (I empty it into my weedy garden). I planted a pumpkin when we first moved in, with hopes that I would have a homegrown one for Halloween. When I pulled up the vine to see if anything was there I noticed something else...POTATOES!! I was so excited...I felt like a little kid looking for Easter eggs. I must of found a couple of pounds of potatoes!
Do you know how to grow them, or keep them growing? Please tell me..this was a first for me:)
Potato & Leek Salad
4 medium sized potatoes ( I used all but 3 in the picture)-peeled and chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 leek/white part only- sliced
2 stalks celery-small diced
3 dill pickles-minced
2 heaping tbsp vegenaise
1 tbsp mustard
3 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
sea salt
splash of Tabasco
In a large pot boil potatoes until soft..but not mushy (about 5-8 minutes). Drain and run under cold water. Set aside.
In a saute pan heat/ add oil/ add leeks. Saute until soft.
In a large bowl combine potatoes, leeks, and the rest of the ingredients. Stir and season to taste.


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Basel III doesn't have to be a big pain for community banks
SAS Risk Quantitative Solutions
To comply with US Basel III using the Standardized Approach, community banks need to implement repeatable processes. For example, regarding reporting capital and other requirements, banks must be able to make all the calculations up‐front and routinely repeat these processes going forward. So if the calculations are made with tools designed specifically for them, banks save on capital expenditures and staffing in the long‐run.
At a high level, several capabilities are required for successful Basel III compliance:
- Data structure and validation: Community banks need assurance that the position data and exposure data necessary for capital calculations is cleansed and transformed at the required level and accurately reflects the current book of business.
- Risk and financial reconciliation: Banks need assurance that the risk data they use has been reconciled with finance data (in their general ledger) before it is reported to regulators for capital adequacy.
- Capital calculation updates: When capital calculation rules change, the right rules and the latest rules must be applied consistently and as intended.
- Risk reporting: Banks need assurance that all necessary reports and schedules are updated and submitted appropriately.
- Auditability: Demonstrating transparency down to the source data level is key to Basel III compliance. Community banks must be able to document all capital classification and computation rules to a sufficient degree to meet regulatory requirements during the auditing and review process.
Basel III isn't going away. An investment now in a tool that gives you repeatable processes – and that updates automatically when the rules change – will be well worth the time and effort.
Overcoming the challenges
In our research into the misconceptions that community banks have around Basel III compliance, SAS found that most banks under the $15 billion asset mark don't have sufficient infrastructure and data management capabilities to address Basel III. They also use external core banking systems for transactional or operational processing and, consequently, they have limited analytical and modeling processes.
Looking at your bank, do these conditions sound familiar?
If so, regulatory data mapping and data transformation issues alone can be challenging for your company, to say nothing of the issues related to computing exposures, applying the correct RWA ratios, and aggregating the appropriate capital levels. Data and analytic process issues that can be especially challenging for less sophisticated institutions include:
- Limited data availability: The collection and availability of data at the right level of granularity is crucial and is a key component for any regulatory capital implementation. If data is not available, the resulting rules may severely penalize a bank in terms of the capital that must be held.
- Data gaps: Initial and ongoing efforts to identify the critical data needed to generate the appropriate exposure calculations, attribute the applicable risk weights, and transform these metrics into the correct categories within the regulatory reporting taxonomy require a thorough understanding of both the source position data as well as the target reporting framework. The reporting framework, however, has yet to be completely identified and published. Differences in individual banking systems and operational processes can require substantial efforts in determining data gaps and evaluating appropriate reconciliation procedures to address these gaps.
- Model risk and model breakdowns: The financial crisis underscored the fact that models that work well under steady-state conditions may break down rapidly under certain stress scenarios. A case in point is the pre‐payment models used by banks—with most models assuming an inverse correlation between interest rates and pre‐payment speeds. No amount of historical modeling of the variables will capture the effects of markets when the performance is outside of historical levels. Hence, apart from continually testing variables and recalibrating models, banks should have a mechanism to incorporate such correlation breakdowns to make the regulatory capital process meaningful. This particular challenge exists for larger banks as well.
- Firmwide view: Basel III, like other regulatory requirements for capital, requires the application of calculations at varying levels of granularity across multiple lines of business. This could be challenging due to an inability to aggregate information across banking divisions using technology and automation rather than via manual extracts from business units using manual interventions. Manual extractions are also problematic because they have the potential to introduce error in the computations and aggregations.
- Process reusability: Smaller firms may not be able to capitalize on the ability to leverage the time and money invested in developing a regulatory process and apply this investment to areas such as economic capital modeling, capital allocation, scenario analysis and stress testing, or management decision making. Experience has shown that banks having a fragmented stream of solutions to handle one or more parts of Basel II face considerable difficulties in synchronizing the data and computations. The consequence of this is that future iterations of the regulatory capital process can be out of sequence or process steps can be missed, causing inaccurate capital calculations.
Yes, Basel III does apply
Basel III isn't going away. An investment now, rather than later, in a tool that gives you repeatable processes – and that updates automatically when the rules change – will be well worth the time and effort. It will not only help you address the complexities of mandatory Basel III compliance, but also reduce staffing expenses in the future.
Read the entire white paper, "Does Basel III Apply to the Community Bank?" to learn how this regulation applies to your organization and what you can do to ensure compliance.
Read More
Read the entire white paper, "Does Basel III Apply to the Community Bank?" to learn how this regulation applies to your organization and what you can do to ensure compliance.
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Design. Prepare. Export. Build.
From data collection, to office design, to 3D model building, to machine control, Carlson will get earth-moving, land development professionals where you need to be. All Carlson products are designed to work seamlessly with each other and also work with the most hardware and software solutions available in the marketplace.
Carlson's innovative software and hardware products meet the needs of the industry. Its powerful data collection software continues to be a favorite for site stakeout. Now, Carlson's CAD-based data prep and estimating software, plus its extensive machine control offerings provide true choice, quality and convenience.
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Karen G. Williams, doctoral student in anthropology, has won the American Anthropological Association (AAA) Minority Dissertation Fellowship for 2013–14. The $10,000 award, given to one student annually, is intended to encourage members of ethnic minorities to complete doctoral degrees in anthropology, thereby increasing diversity in the discipline and promoting research on issues of concern among minority populations. Williams will be recognized at the 2013 AAA Annual Meeting in November.
Williams's dissertation, "From Coercion to Consent? Governing the Formerly Incarcerated in the 21st Century United States," looks at the emerging policy of prisoner reentry reform. The ethnographic project asks: "Is the aftermath of mass incarceration merely another site of racialized social control or do new reentry programs combine with other changes in the penal system to signal a shift towards a less punitive mode of governance in the United States?" Prof. Leith Mullings is dissertation supervisor.
Founded in 1902 and based in Arlington, Virginia, the American Anthropological Association is the world's largest professional organization of anthropologists and others interested in anthropology, with an average annual membership of more than 12,000. The association represents all anthropological specialties: cultural anthropology, biological (or physical) anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and applied anthropology.
Submitted on: APR 26, 2013
Category: Anthropology | Student News


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Call 844.344.3536 For Trade Pricing
Updated 08/26/2019
Livex Lighting is a manufacturer and distributor of decorative residential lighting. Our company was founded in 1993 and is now headquartered in a 150,000 square foot facility in Morristown, New Jersey.
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Mayors Latest Target for Angry Voter Recalls
Deep cuts put local officials on the defensive as recall efforts mount.
Mayors and town officials are feeling the heat from steamed voters as they lay off police officers and firefighters, squeeze school programs, cut swimming pool hours and boost parking fines in an effort to balance local budgets.
As they face the same anger that many members of Congress had to deal with in the 2010 elections, a growing number of mayors find themselves facing recall efforts.
About 175 recall campaigns are under way this year. There were 70 attempts in 2010, after just 23 in 2009.
With federal and state assistance uncertain and local tax revenue dwindling, a majority of cities and townships have trimmed budgets for local law enforcement, fire and safety, hospitals, school staffing, local road repairs, local airport hours, bus routes, water and sewer servicing, social services, parks management and other programs large and small.
The recall efforts are a reflection of unrest and the sense that citizens' tax dollars aren't paying for the same level of service they used to get. These folks are more concerned about why the pothole on their street hasn't been fixed than about the prospects for peace in the Middle East.
So, the mayors are in a bind. Lower revenues and less aid from federal and state governments leave them little choice but to make cuts and deal with an angry public. But trying to raise taxes, which many locales have already done in recent years, would invite similar fire.
Notable recall efforts are under way in Akron, Ohio; Kansas City and Springfield, Mo.; Laredo, Texas; Bridgeport, Conn.; Augusta, Ga. and Tempe, Ariz. But voters are fighting back in smaller towns, too. In Battletown, Ky., the closing of a farmers' market enraged voters. In Elgin, Wis., a recall campaign grew out of unhappiness with the elimination of two bus routes. And in Cranford, N.J., the flames of discontent are being stoked by plans to sharply curtail library hours.
The spike in the number of recall efforts puts many mayors on notice, especially in small towns where a seemingly minor budget cut may elicit voter activism and enliven local social media chat rooms.
The mayor of Ogden, Kan., for instance, was recalled after laying off two lifeguards at the town pool. The mayor thought he was saving tax dollars, but voters didn't agree. They portrayed the mayor as a heartless job cutter and an opponent of the town pool. And just like that, his political career was sunk.
There's a new mayor in Ogden, and he's looking at an even tighter budget. He, too, is facing some difficult decisions. Among the potential targets he is examining: the town-run soccer field. Some locals are now talking about giving him the boot, too.