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Department of Physics
Undergraduate Program
The science of physics explores the basic properties of matter and the forces which act upon matter. Using precise experimental measurements, physicists formulate laws which describe the observed behavior of the physical world. In the Bachelor of Science program, students gain experience in dealing with a broad range of physical phenomena. They learn the laws of physics and develop the theoretical and experimental skills necessary to apply these laws to a wide range of phenomena. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a student is prepared to do design and development work in industry or a government laboratory or to teach high school science and physics. Students planning to do physics research or to teach at the university level should obtain a master's or doctor's degree.
Undergraduate Physics Brochure
Chairperson: Dr. Mark S. Boley
Office: Currens Hall 212
Telephone: 309/298-1596
Fax: 309/298-2850
E-Mail: email@example.com
Website: www.wiu.edu/cas/physics/
Faculty: Araya, Babu, Boley, Davies, A. Kapale, K. Kapale, Mallur, Rabchuk, Wang
GradTrac is available to Standard Physics majors. See more information about GradTrac.
Honors Curriculum - Academically qualified students in this department are welcome to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Upper Division Honors, or Lower Division Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H 299). Lower Division Honors includes General Honors coursework. Upper Division Honors includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Upper and Lower Division Honors. For more information about honors curricula visit the Centennial Honors College website at www.wiu.edu/Honors.
Integrated Baccalaureate and Master's Degree Program - An integrated baccalaureate and master's degree program is available in Physics. An integrated degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Please refer to the Graduate Studies catalog for details about the integrated program.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science – Physics
All students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Physics must complete I, II, and III.A., III.B., or III.C. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.
In accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education certification rules, all candidates seeking teacher education are required by Western Illinois University to obtain a grade of "C" or better in all directed general education courses, all core courses, and all courses in the option. Note C- is below a C.
- General Education Curriculum: 43 or 55 s.h.
Option A Standard Physics: University General Education Curriculum and
College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Requirements - 55 s.h.
Option B Engineering Physics: University General Education Curriculum - 43 s.h.
Option C Teacher Education: University General Education Curriculum - 43 s.h.
- Core Courses: 17 s.h.
Phys 211, 212, 213, 214, 490#
- Options of Study (select A, B or C)
- Standard Physics
- Special Courses:(24 s.h):
Phys 311, 320, 354, 427, 428, 430, 470, and any one of the following: Phys 410, 421, 431
- Open Electives: (16-18 s.h.)
Any Minor(A minor in Mathematics is recommended. Phys 468 may be counted toward a minor in mathematics): 16 - 18 s.h.
- Other
Math 133, 134, 231, 333: 15 s.h.
Chem 201, 202: 8 s.h.
- Special Courses:(24 s.h):
- Engineering Physics
- Special Courses
- Select three of the following: PHYS 310, 311, 312, 320, 354: 9 s.h.
- Select two of the following: PHYS 410, 421, 430, 467, 468: 6 s.h.
- Select one of the following: PHYS 427, 428, 470: 2-4 s.h.
- Engineering courses taken at WIU-QC or a Transfer Institution* of which 15 s.h. must be at the upper-division level: 18 s.h.
- Other
- CHEM 201, 202: 8 s.h.
- CS 225: 3 s.h.
- ET 105: 3 s.h.
- Math 133, 134, 231, 311, 333: 18 s.h.
- Open Electives: 1-3 s.h.
- Special Courses
- Science/Physics-Teacher Education
- Special Courses
- BIOL 100, 101, 481: 11 s.h.
- CHEM 201, 202: 8 s.h.
- GEOL 110, 112: 8 s.h.
- PHYS 101, 427, 428, 482#: 13 s.h.
- Departmental Electives
- Upper-Division physics electives: 6 s.h.
- Other
- Educ 439: 3 s.h.
- EIS 201, 301, 302, 303 (1 s.h), 304 (1), 401: 13 s.h.
- MATH 133, 134, 231: 12 s.h.
- SPED 310 and SPED 390 or PSY 425 and SPED 390: 4 s.h.
- STCH 480: 12 s.h.
- Special Courses
- Standard Physics
#PHYS 490 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) graduation requirement for the Standard Physics and Engineering Physics options. PHYS 482 and 490 fulfill the Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) graduation requirement for the Science/Physics-Teacher Education option.
* When transferring to a different institution, the student must complete the Engineering degree to receive the degree in Physics from Western under this option.
Minor in Physics: 21 s.h.
- Phys 211, 212, 213, 214 15 s.h.
- 6 hours in 300 or above physics courses 6 s.h.
Broad Area Minor in Physics
Designed for pre-medicine students and majors in the life sciences, geology, and business. Emphasizes the tools of applied physics which can be utilized to solve problems in other areas 18 s.h.
- Phys 124, 125: 10 s.h.
- Additional hours chosen from: Phys 214 or 300 or above 8 s.h.
The following courses are particularly recommended: Phys 428, 470.
Pre-Professional Programs
Pre-professional programs in Architecture and Engineering are available. See Pre-Professional Programs for a detailed description of the requirements.
Course Descriptions
100 Physics for Society. (4) (General Education/Natural Sciences) A survey course in physics that introduces basic principles and applications in the modern world. Uses algebra at the high school level. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
101 Introduction to Astronomy. (3) (General Education/Natural Sciences) A basic introduction to astronomy for students with no college background in mathematics or physics. The central problems of twentieth century astronomy are emphasized. No mathematical background beyond high school algebra will be assumed. No prerequisites.
Applied Physics (114, 115) is a one year sequence which stresses basic concepts and applications to practical problems. Designed for the non-science major, it satisfies the general requirements for a laboratory science.
114, 115 Applied Physics. (4 each) (General Education/Natural Sciences) Includes mechanics with hydrostatics and hydrodynamics; heat and thermodynamics; wave motion and optics; D.C. electricity, magnetic induction and A.C. electricity. Assumes that students have a knowledge of high school algebra and trigonometry. Recommended, but not required, to take the course in sequence. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
Phys 115 only – IAI: MTM 902L.
General Physics (124, 125) is a non-calculus general physics sequence designed to meet the needs of all science majors who do not plan to take the Physics 211-214 sequence.
124, 125 General Physics. (5 each) A two-semester introduction to basic ideas and experimental methods in such areas as mechanics and the conservation laws; wave motion and sound; heat and temperature; electricity and magnetism; light and optics; atomic and nuclear physics. Assumes that students have a knowledge of high school algebra and trigonometry. The course must be taken in sequence. 3 hrs. lect.; 1 hr. discussion; 2 hrs. lab.
University Physics (Physics 211, 212, 213 and 214) is a calculus-based general physics sequence designed for science and pre-engineering majors.
150 Energy and the Environment. (4)(General Education/Natural Sciences) An introductory course concerned with such topics as energy sources, energy conversion, air and land pollution, and alternative energy sources. Uses algebra at the high school level. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
211(formerly PHYS 197) University Physics I. (4) (General Education/Natural Sciences) Motion, Newton's Laws, Forces, momentum, energy, work, rotation, and simple harmonic motion. Corequisite: MATH 133. 3 hrs. lect.; 1 hr. discussion; 2 hrs. lab.
212(formerly PHYS 200) University Physics II. (4) Kinetic theory, thermodynamics, wave motion, sound, optics. Prerequisite: PHYS 211. Corequisite: MATH 134. 3 hrs. lect.; 1 hr. discussion; 2 hrs. lab.
213(formerly PHYS 198) University Physics III. (4) Electrostatics, electric fields, D.C. circuits, magnetism, A.C. circuits, and introduction to basic electronic devices. Prerequisite: PHYS 211. Corequisite: MATH 134. 3 hrs. lect.; 1 hr. discussion; 2 hrs. lab.
214(formerly PHYS 201) University Physics IV. (3) Relativity, blackbody radiation, atomic structure and spectra, introduction to quantum mechanics, selected topics from nuclear and solid state physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 and 213, or 125. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
Classical Mechanics
(3) Basic concepts of dynamics including Newton's Laws, energy, body dynamics, oscillators, Lagrange's method, central forces, accelerated coordinate systems. Prerequisite: Phys 211. Corequisite: Math 333.
IAI: Egr 943.
312 Engineering Mechanics (Statics and Dynamics). (4) Analysis of force systems; static equilibrium; dynamics of particles and rigid bodies using Newton's Laws and the principles of work, energy, impulse, and momentum. Prerequisite: Phys 211. Corequisite: Math 333.
320 Electricity and Magnetism I. (3) Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic induction, introduction to Maxwell's equations. Prerequisite: Phys 213. Corequisite: Math 333.
354 Thermodynamics. (3) Concept of temperature; the first, second, and third laws of thermodynamics; applications to gases; change of state; kinetic theory; and applications to simple models of familiar situations. Prerequisites: Phys 212 and Math 333.
IAI: Egr 946.
410 Computational Methods (3) Applications of FORTRAN and/or MATHEMATHICA to programming of numerical and analytical calculations, data fitting, simulation of physical problems, and individualized work on problems chosen from the student's field of interest. Prerequisites: basic knowledge of FORTRAN, one year of general physics, one year of calculus, or consent of instructor.
421 Electricity and Magnetism II. (3) Maxwell's equations, plane EM waves in infinite media, reflection and refraction of EM waves, guided EM waves, radiation of EM waves, relativistic treatment of electricity ad magnetism. Prerequisite: Phys 320.
427 Advanced Electronics. (3) Electronic measurement fundamentals, passive circuit elements, analog electronics (op amps, transducers, noise reduction), digital electronics (logic gates, flipflops, counters, combinational and sequential circuitry), D/A and A/D conversion, data acquisition techniques. Prerequisite: Phys 115 or 125 or 213. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
428 Applied Optics. (4) Geometrical optics, diffraction, interferometry, polarization, laser construction, optical materials, holography. Modern optical techniques and instrumentation are emphasized. Prerequisite: Phys 125 or 212. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
430 Introductory Quantum Mechanics I. (3) Atomic nature of matter, atomic models, introduction to quantum mechanics including Schrödinger equation. Prerequisites: Phys 214.
431 Introductory Quantum Mechanics II. (3) Spin, fine structure, atomic spectroscopy, perturbation theory, applications. Prerequisites: Phys 430.
467 Mathematical Methods of Physics I. (3) Vector analysis, matrices, determinants, infinite series, applications of differential equations, numerical solutions. Corequisites: PHYS 214, MATH 333, or consent of instructor.
468 Mathematical Methods of Physics II. (3) Complex variables, orthogonal functions, special functions, general solution of partial differential equations in physics. Fourier series and Fourier integrals. Prerequisite: PHYS 467.
470 Modern Experimental Physics. (2) Laboratory experiments illustrating both the development of modern physics and modern experimental systems techniques. Experiments cover a range of topics. Prerequisite: Phys 214.
476 Special Topics in Physics. (1-4, repeatable with no maximum) Lecture courses in topics of current interest, to be announced in the class schedule. Topics based on the student's previous training and interests. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
477 Special Problems in Experimental and Theoretical Physics. (1-4, repeatable with no maximum) Individualized study of any phase of physics not otherwise covered. Opportunity for undergraduates to engage in experimental or theoretical research under staff supervision. Prerequisite:consent of the instructor.
478 Physics Internship. (1-12) A one-semester on-the-job experience in an industrial facility or a research laboratory. Prerequisites: consent of department chairperson and Phys 477.
490 Seminar. (2) Reading, discussion, and criticism of selected topics. Oral presentation and formal paper on a chosen topic. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisite: Eng 280.
491 Honor Thesis.(1-3, not repeatable) A physics thesis prepared by an honors student under the direction of one or more members of the physics department. Prerequisites: Honors major in physics and junior or senior standing.
482 (cross-listed with Biol 482 and Chem 482) Science in Context. (3)Interdisciplinary course designed for science majors pursuing secondary teacher education. Students will explore science as inquiry, the unifying principles of science, and the role of social contexts and ethics in science. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Not open to students with credit in Biol 482 or Chem 482. Prerequisites: senior standing in Science/Physics-Teacher Education option, or permission of instructor; Eng 280.
439 Methods of Teaching Secondary Science. (3) Study of secondary teaching methods (Grades 6-12) from the standpoints of theory and practice, curriculum objectives and standard implementation, materials, and evaluation and assessment. Included are demonstrations, discussions, lectures, classroom participation, and field observations. Prerequisites: major in Science/Physics-Teacher Education option and Educ 301. Corequisite: EIS 303.
480 Student Teaching. See STch 480.


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That line from the father's song in Mary Poppins, where he's going on about how nothing can go wrong, in Britain in 1910. That's about the point I realized the boy was gonna die in a trench.
Don't fucking judge me, I've got tentacles for a face.
It only happens where you made line breaks instead of "real" paragraphs. You can see the difference in LibreOffice with this.BTW: We have some German translation projects being stuck running at Aktion 23, if you wanna join?
I corrected the mis-alignment but it seems I can't attach files here.
It seems that unintelligible and punny forum categories are mandatory for these types of forums.
That's nice and all but I honestly couldn't find the translation projects.
Thanks for the formatting help, though.
You could always upload it somewhere else (e.g. https://mega.nz/ ) and post the link.
Cool, you might just have recruited a new member. I specialize in funny memes too!
Link opens up a full page ad I can't close.
Quote from: Weltbürger (NSFW) on April 22, 2016, 12:06:48 pmYou could always upload it somewhere else (e.g. https://mega.nz/ ) and post the link.Yeah, actually wanted to do that. Uhm. Later.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brewed by: Dogfish Head Brewery Inc.
Style: IPA brewed with Syrah Grape Must
Sixty-One pours very clear and has a rose color, looks more like wine than beer. The pour raised a short white head with a slight pink hue.
Very interesting smelling beer, toasted grains, caramel sweetness, grapes, floral hops. This is sort of what I'd imagine a dry hopped wine to smell like.
Flavor seems to lean more toward a wine, right up front I picked up some toasted grains but that quickly turned into grape flavor, the beer is very dry with an almost tart acidity, with some citrus that I have to assume is the hops and a really nice bitterness to balance everything out.
Overall a really interesting beer, I've had other Dogfish Head beers brewed with grape must but I don't remember them being as wine like. If you are looking for an interesting take on an IPA I would recommend this one, now I wish I had bought more than one bottle.


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Like proponents of spending limits, I'd like government to be smaller and more efficient. So what's the problem with such limits?
Fundamentally, the problem with such limits is: they make mathematical formulas -- not human beings -- the decisionmakers on policy. I made this point in this Sacramento Bee piece on limits.
And California is already governed by complex formulas, the product of voter-approved fiscal rules that mandate spending and certain tax hikes, while mandating other spending limits and tax limits. No state has as many of these fiscal rules as California. Which means California's budget is governed by a series of complicated formulas. That reality is why it's so hard to understand the budget, much less manage it. But Republicans are demanding another spending limit as part of their budget negotiations with Gov. Jerry Brown. This isn't a solution--it's more of the same budget poison. What they should be demanding is the elimination of all the limits and fiscal rules we have.
Local news from across Southern California
That would put people in charge . And that's more democratically. You can call a person who represents you. You can send a person an email or a letter. You can complain and they can hear you. A mathematical formula on spending or taxes, however, can't take calls or read mail. It is quite simply beyond your control.


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Snowboard Clothing Guide | The Board Basement
Technical snow outwear is not all about looks. Of course, you want to look stylish and fashionable when riding but you should really consider the tech as well and choose the right gear for you and the conditions you are going to be in. After all, it does not matter how cool you are looking, if you are cold and wet you will end up looking like an idiot anyway. So it's well worth considering a few functional points when choosing your outerwear.
All outerwear clothing from The Board Basement comes with waterproof and breathability ratings. Clothing featuring Gore-tex is considered to be completely waterproof and completely breathable. So if you see the Gore-tex logo you are guaranteed to stay dry. All good outerwear comes with a waterproof/breathability rating, displayed as 5k/5k (5,000/5,000).
The numbers display how much water the fabric repels, and how much moisture/sweat it can transport out of the garment. Anything over 5,000 is good quality.
Waterproof ratings
The fabrics are tested by filling a column with water. The garment is then lowered in and the depth that the water reaches before droplets form on the other side is measured. It is usually measured in millimetres, with anything from 5,000 to 30,000 being normal. Essentially, the higher the number, the more waterproof the garment is. The price tag will also go hand in hand with the rating number.
Breathability ratings
As you ride you will become warm and start to sweat. If that moisture can't escape from the garment you will become wet. Wet and cold is not a good combination. The breathability rating tells you how much moisture can pass through from the inside of the jacket to the outside in grams/square centimetre/24 hours (Or GM). Most garments have a rating of between 5,000 GM and 20,000 GM. Again the higher the number the better the garments "Breathes".
In short: 5k/5k is good, 20k/20k or higher is extremely good.
Use The Board Basement filter to find your preferred rating for jackets and pants
Insulated snow clothing has an integrated moisture-wicking thermal lining. You will often get several layers of insulation fabric inside an outer layer of waterproof material. If you want outerwear that will perform for most conditions through the season then insulated clothing might be the best option for you.
Non-insulated clothing is often referred to as a shell garment. These are not very warm but with a higher waterproofing/breathability rating. These are great for spring conditions or in cold conditions as long as you layer up underneath.
Down (Puffa) jackets are really warm and designed to be ridden in the most extreme cold conditions. These jackets often got insulation built into the shell. If you are getting one, make sure it has got good ventilation so you don't overheat.
The best way to stay comfortable throughout the day/season is to make sure you have good layering.
First is the Baselayer
Make sure you have got something that is moisture-wicking and fast drying so you can use for the next day. Avoid cotton as it takes a long time to dry and it will also hold moisture.
If you got a really good insulated jacket you might not need this. For colder days it can be good with a hoodie or sweater made from synthetic material such as fleece, recycled polyester, hemp, Merino wool and Bamboo are advised.
This is your protection against the outer elements and should be both water-resistant and breathable. Please see above (Fabrics & Insulation) for more information.
Technical Features
Taped Seams and waterproof zips
For the higher spec garments you find fully taped seams that will stop any moisture getting in through the stitching or fastening of a garment. Garments (Jacket & Pants) with critically taped seams have only got the most exposed stitching or fastening taped. What is it good for? Imagine riding fresh powder… If you spend a long time in the snow you will eventually get wet. If you are spending a long day in extreme conditions, it is well worth staying dry and comfortable.
Preventing you from overheating. If you've been working really hard on the slope and feeling warm it is very nice to be able to let some cool air in without compromising your protection from the elements (snow). Most garments feature mesh and are found under the armpits and the inside of the thigh.
Powder Skirts and boot gaiters:
An elasticated band that seals the gap between your jacket and pants, and your pants and boots, to prevent getting snow inside your clothing. Often you will find PJ (Pant & Jacket) connect so you can attach your jacket to your pants to make the seal secure. Stay warm and dry.
Each garment has its own special features. Just check the key feature list to find all sorts of cool features.
Washing & Care
Very Important!
Zip up all zippers and attach all Velcro before loading! Zipper sliders and teeth can easily be damaged in the washer and/or dryer. Velcro gets clogged up with fuzz from other garments and can snag your other clothes, causing damage to both.
Front-load machine wash only!
Using an agitator-style top-load washer could possibly do damage to your technical outerwear or clothing.
Gentle cycle should be all that is recommended to clean your technical outerwear. If your outerwear is stained, you may be out of luck.
Use cold water!
Actually, warm is OK, but cold is preferred to maintain the waterproofing.
Use outerwear-specific detergent or powder.
Using a liquid detergent that is not outerwear-specific clogs the pores of technical fabrics and damages the DWR coating, greatly reducing the performance (waterproof/breathability) of the garment.
Hang dry in shade or tumble dry on low heat.
Drying with excess heat can damage or melt fabric, zippers, and/or trims. Leave in until "almost dry" and change to NO HEAT or hang dry to finish. Low heat actually helps re-activate waterproofing after washing.
Replenish waterproofing as needed.
The waterproof coating (the magic that makes water droplets bead up on your outerwear) on all technical fabrics will become less effective over time and use?- especially if you are around campfires, smokers, oily lift pulleys, or other contaminants in general.? Revive the performance of your technical outerwear by washing as instructed, then using a spray-on waterproofing product such as NikWax TX-Direct.


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Supporting you Supporting you
CareerCentral is at the heart of campus.
Featuring MyCareerCentral, our online resource zone, an opportunities window, one-to-one appointments with careers advisers, enterprise guidance, global opportunities and much more.
Everyone is welcome to drop by and find more about how CareerCentral can help you find part-time jobs and work experience, paid internships, volunteering opportunities and more.
Follow us on and like us on to keep up to date with all the latest news and events.
For general enquiries call 01603 593452 or email email@example.com.


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Blue braided leather lace shoe / € 219,95 € 142,97 incl. VAT
35% discount
This casual lace shoe is a new model from our latest collection. The shoe is made of braided leather combined with blue suede leather. Get the matching belt art. no. 75159/28.
- Article n° : 18302/09
- Matching products >
- Ordered before 14:00, shipment same day
- Free shipping from € 100,-
- Free returns in Belgium
Add to Cart Size out of stock? Size chart
- Ordered before 14:00, shipment same day
- Free shipping from € 100,-
- Free returns in Belgium
Size out of stock?
Send me an email if this article becomes available in my size. You always get an e-mail within two weeks, also in the case that your size will not be available soon.
Oops! Something went wrong with your request. Please try again later. We already have a notification request from you for this size. Please select your size.
Thank you for your request.
Floris about this shoe:
"In football, a commonly used term is "play between the lines." In such a situation, a player neither plays defence nor midfield, but in between. We sometimes try to find exactly that area for our shoes. This is a typical "between the lines" shoe. Not dressed, not casual, but in between. When a football player falls behind, he's back in defence and when he takes four steps forward, he's back in midfield. It's exactly the same with this shoe. When you combine it with a nice pair of trousers, it's dressed, and when you put on a pair of jeans or shorts, it will look casual. Pretty clear, right?! Or am I writing "between the lines" too? The simple version of the story: a nice and summery shoe that you can combine with a wide range of styles!"
Product information
- Casual lace shoe
- Article number: 18302/09
- Blue braided leather
- Finished with contrasting blue suede leather
- With a functional woven fabric strap for easy on and off
- Blue lacing
- White rubber sole with a cobalt blue outsole
- Removable leather footbed
- Shoe last 803
- Width H
- Ago style
- Matching belt: 75159/28
- Clean and care product: Carbon Pro Spray


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I know that it's meant to be spring but I am cold and rather weary. Days are drowsy but hectic and nights aren't quite long enough. My nose still feels icy and my mind is clouded, though at least the rays of sun out there are promising. I am even considering reacquainting myself with the hot water bottle.
It's on days like this that I need a bold, reviving and soothing dish and something to awaken the senses. Something plentiful and bright, something smooth and definitely present, here and lingering. But with low effort required.
So with my cosy socks on and my trusty, thick knitted cardigan with tassels and plentiful buttons, I decided to layer pillows of saffron polenta, succulent and spiced tomatoes with deep black beans and a crunchy layer of Tenderstem. And of course, most things in life taste better with a layer of cheese on top.
For the full recipe head over to great british chefs


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Beijing (CNN) -- Four days after the biggest rainstorm in six decades hit the Chinese capital, Zhang Huishen remains furious over what she perceives as government indifference to her family's plight.
"Our family of five lives off one income," said the 46-year-old farmer Wednesday. "Nobody cares about us because there's no official in this household."
Zhang lives along what once was a paved road in the small village of Louzishui in Beijing's southwestern Fangshan district, the area hit hardest by the storm last weekend.
A flashflood has reduced the road to a muddy path littered with furniture, clothes and even a tin shed -- all objects washed away by powerful waters.
Water marks some two meters high stay visible on the exterior walls of a dozen houses by the road, while mud piles stand outside doorways with flies circling around garbage nearby.
Zhang says she largely relies on her husband's monthly wage of $300 to take care of her family that includes the couple, their two children and her sick father-in-law.
"Everything was floating in water -- refrigerator, television, everything," she said while showing a CNN crew her just-dried kitchen and living room. "I borrowed money to renovate the house and lost more than 100,000 yuan ($15,000)."
Zhang and her neighbors alike remember a fearful night spent in dark attics or higher ground after carrying the elderly and children out of fast-rising water -- all the while unable to reach anyone at the city's flood control hotline.
One neighbor, Gao Liying, added that she feels even more shaken by the village officials' response when she told them the flood has ruined almost all her worldly possessions.
"They actually said: 'If your house didn't collapse and nobody died, then you're not a victim,'" she said, raising her voice. "I asked: are you still human?"
Villagers like Zhang and Gao blame local officials for their decision to cover a former waterway with concrete -- thus turning it to a road and diminishing drainage capacity -- and their failure to warn residents before the storm.
"It was more than a natural disaster," Gao said. "The officials are responsible too."
Fangshan authorities have acknowledged shortcomings in the local drainage system, telling reporters they have learned their lessons and will address people's concerns. They also insist the need to prioritize their effort in a district where the storm has affected 800,000 residents, cost at least $1 billion in economic losses, and the death toll is expected to rise significantly.
For some villagers of Louzishui, however, such words hardly resonate. As loudspeakers mounted throughout the village began to broadcast propaganda messages touting rapid government aid to victims, Liu Wenzhi scoffed.
"Why bother howling now? Where were they when we needed help?" the 60-year-old resident asked. "This is a place led by the Communist Party, where is our equality?"
Not long after the loudspeakers turned quiet, local officials showed up in two white vans to deliver bottled water, instant noodles and blankets to residents affected by the flood.
A shouting match soon broke out between a village Party official and a resident living by the water-ripped road whose home was totally flooded.
"I have to take the overall situation into consideration -- there are many others who are much worse off than you," the official shouted at a fuming Zhang Chunrong.
"I don't want your damn stuff," Zhang yelled back.
"My husband is a Party member so I was asked to keep quiet," she later explained, wiping tears off. "But I can't bear it anymore -- how dare he come to my home to insult me by saying my loss is nothing?"


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Air Conditioning Fan Noise
Air Conditioning Fan Noise
Brian H | 2013年1月12日
Someone taped a playing card in the blades' path?
Imbalance doesn't sound like that. Slight positioning error, under more pressure blades interfere with something? S/b minor fix.
Mark K | 2013年1月12日
If you hear a periodic tapping, it's likely that a plastic baffle, spring clip or nearby wire harness has shifted, and it grazes the fan blades.
At higher fan speed the rotational acceleration on the blade mass stresses and alters their shape, bringing it just close enough to interfere.
I had the same issue on one of my Mercedes and it was a quick fix at the dealer.


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By Sharon Kapnick
Years ago, my friends and I would invariably drink beer with Chinese food. While beer was, and remains, a fine partner with many Chinese dishes, we were learning to love wine. We were captivated by the whole new world of exciting bouquets and flavors. We just had to discover what wines went best with Chinese food.
So we did some research and some experimenting, and learned a thing or two. Because different people have different tastes, you'll probably have to do some experimenting of your own. But here are some guidelines that will help:
When matching food with wine, there are several basic rules to keep in mind:
1) Similar foods and wines pair well. A delicate dish, for example, demands a delicate, light-bodied wine, and a hearty, rib-warming meal calls for a rich, powerful, full-bodied wine.
2) Contrasting foods and wines can also be good partners, although these matches are trickier.
3) Food and wine should complement, rather than overpower, each other. As wine importer Rudi Wiest likes to say, "Whatever's on the plate is already dead. You don't have to kill it again." You don't want a wine that will overwhelm a dish; you want one that will stand up to it.
4) Fiery dishes are best with wines that are low in tannins and alcohol, which fan the flames, and with off-dry (slightly sweet) and sweet wines, which tone them down.
5) In general, the lower the alcohol, the sweeter the wine.
6) If beer goes well with a dish, sparkling wine usually will too.
7) Here's a rule of thumb: The milder the dish, the drier the wine; the spicier, the fruitier; the hotter, the sweeter.
There are other factors that should be taken into account, like cooking methods. Fried foods, for example, are great with sparkling wines because the bubbles cut through the richness. And then there's seasonality: The wine you chose to accompany roast duck served on a cold winter's day shouldn't be the wine you pour with roast duck on a patio. Sauces, too, play a crucial role in deciding what wine to select, which is especially important in a cuisine like Chinese. In fact, as wine importer Terry Theise advises, you should "match the wine to the sauce, not to the meat. Orange-flavored beef calls for sweet Riesling, not Châteauneuf-du-Pape."
It's also important to keep in mind two other distinctive things about Chinese food: 1) the frequent combinations of sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavors, which play a great part in determining which wines are appropriate, and 2) the wide array of vegetable, tofu, seafood, poultry, pork and beef dishes served at the same meal. Given all these factors, it may be tempting to raise your hands in surrender and say, "I'll have a Tsing Tao." But, in a way, all these considerations make the choice of wine easy: The best thing to do is to serve the most food-friendly wines.
And there are no more versatile wines than sparkling wines. One of their many virtues is that they can be served throughout the meal. While sparkling wine may not necessarily be the best wine for a particular dish, it's usually at worst a good accompaniment–and often much more. Sparkling wine doesn't have strong flavors or tannins that overwhelm food; its thousands of tiny bubbles do a stellar job of cleansing and refreshing the palate; and its acidity and fruit temper spicy heat in food. Sparkling wines are wonderful with Chinese food. (The Chinese themselves gravitate toward bubbles with meals, although bubbles of a different sort: They often mix carbonated drinks like 7-Up with wine, whiskey or brandy.) These days there are many excellent, inexpensive sparkling wines on the market.
If expense is not an issue or you are celebrating a special occasion, you might opt for Champagne. As importer Theise says, "Don't forget Champagne! In fact, never forget Champagne." (Actually, I personally would be likelier to forget my own name than to ever forget Champagne!) Champagnes and some sparkling wines come in several sweetness levels: Brut nature (aka Extra brut and Ultra brut): bone dry; Brut: no perceptible sweetness; Extra dry: slightly sweet; Sec: noticeable sweetness; Demi sec: very sweet; Doux: sweetest of all. (Brut is most common.)
After sparkling wines, when eating Chinese, I turn to Alsace and its food friendly, aromatic white wines. Their fruity flavors and (generally) high acidity cool the palate and complement flavorful, spicy and sweet dishes. Their lack of oak is also a plus. "[Aromatic] white wines excel particularly with cuisines that are challenging for other wines," especially those with some sweetness or hot spiciness, write Mary Ewing-Mulligan and Ed McCarthy in Wine Styles. "Alsace wines in general are great choices when the meal has you wondering what wines could possibly work."
There are several Alsace wines to consider. Riesling is its outstandingly flexible star. (Actually many think it's the greatest and most versatile of all white wines.) It's an excellent choice when you want one wine to serve with many different dishes-–from seafood to fowl to meat. It can be fruity, flowery, sometimes minerally, usually crisp, often elegant. Pinot Blanc, sometimes called the poor man's Chardonnay, is a light, crisp, fresh, lively, delicate, all-purpose wine. Pinot Gris is like Chardonnay in weight and texture. It's dry, rich, round, opulent, powerful, complex, sometimes smoky, with lots of fruit flavors. While it has the acidity of a white wine, it's full bodied and can often take the place of a red. Pinot Gris is an excellent choice with very flavorful dishes. Gewürztraminer is extremely expressive and exotic, highly aromatic, with scents of lychees, rose petals and honeysuckle. It's full bodied and sometimes slightly sweet. For these reasons, it's often recommended with spicy cuisines.
Also at the top of the list as accompaniments to Chinese food are German Rieslings. Generally low in alcohol, they have high acidity, which makes them crisp, fresh, zesty and good with food. The sugar in them is balanced by acidity. They can handle the wide range of dishes served at Chinese meals. (Some pair Rieslings with game, like venison, pheasants and wild duck. Others recommend them with braised meat or steak.)
German Rieslings are made in several ripeness levels, which are indicated on the label. The most important styles for our purposes include: Kabinett-–light, delicate, refreshing wines from ripe grapes with a touch of sweetness; Spätlese–-fuller, more flavorful wines, characterized by high acidity and light sweetness, from grapes picked at least a week after normal ripeness; and Auslese–fuller, riper wines with significant sweetness, made from ripe and overripe grape clusters.
The Kabinetts favor subtly flavored, delicate dishes with light sauces. The Spätlese cut the heat of spicy foods and are also good with dishes with some sweetness. The Ausleses demand aggressively flavored dishes, including sweet-and-sour and orange-flavored sauces that benefit from wines with more residual sugar.
New York, Washington, Oregon, parts of California, Austria, Australia and New Zealand also produce very good Rieslings. This varietal has been regaining popularity as people learn how food friendly it is.
There are some other fine choices. Albariño is the floral, citrusy, sometimes minerally, usually dry white wine that the Spanish drink with all fish and seafood; you might try it with the same. Sauvignon Blanc has herbal elements that pair well with ginger and distinctive herbs like cilantro, aka Chinese parsley. It also complements fried appetizers and seafood well. Tangy, racy New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs come to mind first. Grüner Veltliner, Austria's dry, high-acid white wine, can also be herbal, slightly vegetal, spicy or fruity, with mineral undertones. It's appropriate with vegetable or shellfish dishes. Off-dry (slightly sweet) Chenin Blancs match well with moderately spicy Chinese food. Pinot Bianco is the Italian version of Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Grigio is the lighter Italian version of Pinot Gris. White Burgundies are elegant and complement elegant dishes. And then there's Viognier, which the Wall Street Journal describes well: "At its best, Viognier can have the cleanliness of Riesling, the juiciness of Sauvignon Blanc and the orange-blossom charm of Muscat. It tends to taste of peaches, apricots and mango, and sometimes has a bit of weight."
Rosé is another food friendly wine that takes to Chinese food. Jeff Morgan, author of Rosé and co-owner of SoloRosa, a rosé-only winery, writes, "Rosé is blessed with a fruit-driven, bright-edged core that blends well with the fiery, ripe fruit found in chiles. Refreshingly chilled, dry, pintk wine also cools down the palate." He recommends it with many dishes, but especially with Szechuan cuisine. If you are a red-wine lover, I recommend Pinot Noir with Chinese duck and meat dishes. Some enjoy Beaujolais, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Côtes-du-Rhône, Shiraz or Syrah, inexpensive red Bordeaux and Barbera.
I suggest you experiment and seek the guidance available at a good wine shop. Chances are, you'll find many pairings that appeal to you. And if not, remember, there's always Tsing Tao.
Cantonese (some sweetness, not very spicy, sweet-and-sour, fermented black beans, soy sauce, salty): sparkling, Pinot Blanc (seafood), Riesling (seafood), Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer (roasted meats and poultry), rosé
Szechuan (spicy, hot-and-sour sauces, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic): sparkling wine, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Moscato d'Asti, rosé, Beaujolais
Hunan (similar to Szechuan): sparkling, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Beaujolais
Shanghai (slightly sweet): Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer
spring rolls and egg rolls: sparkling wine, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, rosé
salt-and-pepper shrimp, salt-and-pepper squid: sparkling wine
barbecued spare ribs: sparkling wine, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Albariño, rosé
noodles with sesame sauce: Gewürztraminer
soup dumplings: sparkling wine
dim sum: sparkling wine, Riesling
deep-fried dishes: sparkling wine
Singapore-style noodles: Sauvignon blanc, rosé
shellfish dishes: sparkling wine, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Albariño
hot pepper prawns: sparkling wine, Viognier
lobster Cantonese: white Burgundy
lobster with ginger and scallion sauce: white Burgundy
chicken with cashew nuts: Gewürztraminer
stir-fry chicken and vegetables: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer
kung pao chicken: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Albariño
General Tso's chicken: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, rosé
vegetable lo mein: Sauvignon Blanc
minced squab with hoisin: Zinfandel
sesame chicken (Pinot Grigio, Riesling),
moo shu chicken: sparkling wine, Pinot Noir
chicken chow mein: sparkling wine
Peking duck: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir
tea-smoked duck: Pinot Noir
roast duck: Pinot Noir
sweet and sour pork: Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, rosé
moo shu pork: Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, rosé
twice-cooked pork: sparkling wine, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Pinot Noir
Chinese beef dish at tasting: Pinot Gris
orange-flavor beef: Riesling
Sparkling wines: Lucien Albrecht, Bouvet-Ladubay, Domaine Chandon, Codorníu, Cristalino, Chateau Frank, Freixenet, Gramona, Gruet, Korbel, Albert Mann, Marquis de la Tour, Larry Mawby, Mionetto, Château Moncontour, Monmousseau, François Montand, Raventós I Blanc, René Muré, Saint-Hilaire, Segura Viudas, Valdo, Veuve Ambal, Veuve du Vernay, Willm, Yarden, Zardetto
Champagne: Aubry, Henri Billiot, Bollinger, Chartogne-Taillet, Gaston Chiquet, Egly-Ouriet, Nicolas Feuillatte, René Geoffroy, Pierre Gimonnet, Gosset, Alfred Gratien, Charles Heidsieck, Henriot, Jacquesson, Krug, Jean Lallement, Larmandier-Bernier, J. Lassalle, Lanson, Laurent-Perrier, Moët & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Pierre Peters, Philipponnat, Louis Roederer, Pol Roger, Moët & Chandon, Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Vilmart & Cie
Alsace wines: Lucien Albrecht, Paul Blanck, Léon Boesch, Albert Boxler, Marcel Deiss, Helfrich, Hugel, Josmeyer, Marc Kreydenweiss, Kuentz-Bas, Albert Mann, René Muré, Ostertag, Stoeffler, Schofitt, Trimbach, Weinbach, Zind-Humbrecht
German Rieslings: Georg Breuer, J.J. Christoffel, Darting, Dönnhoff, J.u.H.A. Strub, Kerpen, Dr. Loosen, Meulenhof, Monchhof (Robert Eymael), Egon Müller, J.J. Prüm, Schaefer, Selbach-Oster, Two Princes, St.-Urbans-Hof, Von Schubert, Robert Weil, Zilliken
Other Rieslings: Chateau Ste. Michelle, Eroica, Chehalem, Covey Run, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Grosset, Heron Hill, Hogue, Lamoreaux Landing, Pacific Rim, Pikes, Poet's Leap, Sheldrake Point, Swedish Hill, Villa Maria, Hermann J. Weimer


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Coverage of the 3D printer's Kickstarter campaign was embargoed until 2pm and appears on influential sites such as The Verge, Engadget, and Techcrunch.
Dynamo co-CEO Peter Bowles said of the swift success: "We are thrilled to prove that 3Doodler was no flash in the pan. The team have worked hard on The Micro, the first compact 3D printer, raising over $100,000 in 18 minutes already."
At the time of publication more than 700 people have pledged nearly $200,000 to back production of The Micro, which claims to be the first truly consumer 3D printer, and these figures are still rising.


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Guest post by Jennifer I Giles.
In 1858 Henry Pratt HARRISON (B: 1823 in England) married Emma Mariah FISHER (B 1832 in England) who was the daughter of James and Elizabeth FISHER.
As a young man, Henry worked as an assessor in the shipping business in London. Emma and Henry lived in London before they and their son Edwin, aged 2 years, and daughter Ursula, aged 16 months, emigrated to South Africa on 3rd July 1863 on the ship Monsoon (a Barque sailing ship of 296 tons). The sea voyage took 11 weeks with much time spent becalmed in the doldrums. At approximately 5 pm on Sunday 20th September 1863 the Monsoon safely anchored in the outer bay of Port Natal.
|Henry Pratt Harrison
In Durban, Henry was originally involved with Customs and Excise and soon bought land at Avoca, about 16 km north of the port. The land was cleared by using sharpened hoop-iron discarded from bales of goods taken off the ships at Durban docks. The bush was extremely dense and was one mass of wild vines, honeysuckle and all sorts of creepers, making progress very slow.
In approximately late 1863, Henry built the substantial seven bedroom home Rosehill on the ocean side of Avoca; it consisted of a solid brick home with verandahs on all sides and calico ceilings in the bedrooms to help to combat the heat.
Henry planted coffee and built a coffee mill in the valley at Rosehill. By 1870 he had 140 acres under coffee and was producing upwards of 15 tons of coffee per year. This was soon increased to 30 tons of coffee per 100 acres; the coffee fetched £50 per ton early in the season. He found coffee very profitable and won many awards for its quality.
Unfortunately, the coffee got blight, so Henry turned to growing sugar cane in 1876 and, in order to produce more sugar, he bought the adjacent land.
On 13th September 1898, an Agreement was drawn up between Henry Pratt Harrison (the Lessor) and his sons Henry Fisher Harrison (known as Fisher) and Robert Jameson Harrison (The Lessees) to lease the sugar estate. The portion of the Estate not included in the lease was "the dwelling house, outbuildings and garden, the cottages in the village of Avoca and the stores on the main road at present occupied by the Indians".
On 8th December 1898, Henry Pratt Harrison passed away at the age of 75 years at his home Rosehill.
On 17th December 1898, nine days following the death of Henry Pratt Harrison, H Fisher Harrison and his brother Robert J Harrison signed a Memorandum of Agreement, witnessed by their mother, Emma Harrison, and their sister, Ursula Harrison, to carry on business in partnership as sugar planters. The name of the partnership was to be Harrison Brothers and was to "subsist for six years, or for twelve years in the event of the partnership carrying on the lease of Rosehill Estate for such period". The Agreement showed that:
"Robert Jarrold Harrison shall devote his whole time and attention to the firm's business, and be entitled to draw a salary of £15 a month", while "Henry Fisher Harrison shall be at liberty to devote the whole of his time to his farming or other business but if he shall give his time to the partnership business during such time, he shall be entitled to a salary from the firm of £15 a month".
In August 1906, a township named Kensington was planned. The extent of the township was 694 acres. However, the developers fell on hard times so the land that included Francis Hill, Wattle Field, Distillery Blackhill and Kensington Field, was sold in 1907 to Robert Harrison as he was keen to have this land that joined his sugar estate (1).
On 16th February 1909, Harrison Brothers commenced clearing bush and scrub and, on 2nd March 1909, ploughing began and was followed the next day by the planting of cane. A large cattle kraal was built on the western face of Bell Hill that continued down to the Quarry stream. It was necessary to have a great many oxen to pull ploughs and the wagons of cane down to the mill, so large areas were set aside for grazing. Another large cattle kraal was started on 17th March 1909; all these large areas of grazing disappeared with the advent of tractors and lorries and they were put under cane (1).
A sugar cane mill was built across the road from the Avoca Hotel in 1877 and did very well. The mill was closed down after the 1916 season and the cane was then sent to Natal Estates for crushing.
Fisher and Robert Harrison ran the estate, as the Harrison Brothers partnership, for their mother until she died in 1917, at which time the property was divided among the family once the estate of their mother, Emma, was finalised. Ursula Harrison (eldest daughter) bought 10 acres including the old homestead Rosehill and Robert bought the remainder. Robert had already built another home Sunnyside on the estate adjacent to his sister Ursula's homestead Rosehill, where he lived with his wife Blanche (neé Bishop) and ran the sugar estate. Fisher Harrison lived with his sister Ursula at her home Rosehill.
In 1920 Fisher and Robert Harrison bought 1100 acres in an insolvent estate (Durban North) which they sold only 2 years later to Durban North Estates at a considerable profit. In 1920, Robert Harrison purchased Fisher Harrison's share in Harrison Brothers partnership. On 28th October 1920 the property was then registered by Robert Harrison as Avoca Estates. Avoca Estates included approximately all the areas of Umtata and Torvale as far as the Indian Temple below Torvale. The total area of Avoca Estates was, at that time, 3300 acres plus (1).
In approximately 1924, Robert decided to retire and he and Blanche bought a home on the Berea (546 Musgrave Road) and called it Avoca House. The Avoca Estate was rented out to Mr Charlie Price who, with his wife, resided at Sunnyside. Mr Price ran the farm on his own with advice from Robert Harrison, however, Mr Price could not make a go of it so, in 1928, Robert Harrison took back the farm and hired Mr Price as his overseer/manager.
Robert Harrison died on 30th May 1928, and Mr Price continued to run the farm for the family. However, Blanche Harrison decided to go back to Avoca Estate, so, in 1938, she had a new home built, also called Avoca House on the hill close to the original Rosehill homestead built by Henry Pratt Harrison.
A short time later, Charlie Price died suddenly and Blanche Harrison and her eldest son, Kenneth Harrison, took over the running of the property in approximately 1946 (2). Ken gave up his work as a lecturer at the old Natal Technical College in order to run the sugar estate.
In 1957 the Government instructed the Durban Municipality to begin developing a new housing scheme for Africans at KwaMashu (3). Following this, a fairly large section of the Avoca Estate farm land was expropriated by the Durban Municipality in order to obtain more land on which to build the KwaMashu township (2)
The Avoca Estates land stayed in the family until 1964 when all but a mere 4 hectares surrounding Blanche Harrison's home was sold to Coronation Brick (approximately 1400 acres of land (2)) and, in turn, to Glen Anil (a Real Estate Development Company). Unfortunately, the historic coffee huller, invented by Henry Pratt Harrison 100 years before, which had stone wheels, rather than the less efficient old-fashioned wooden wheels (4), was demolished by earthmovers cutting roads for the new settlement.
1. Harrison, Kenneth. Diary records (undated).
2. Bryce, John. Personal Communication, 2006.
3. Edwards, Iain. History. Cato Manor Development Project. www.cmda.org.za/history.htm
4. Osborn RF. Valiant Harvest: The founding of the South African Sugar Industry, 1848-1926, South African Sugar Association, 1964.


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Home » Good Collection » SHIRLEY ANNE HOFMANN'S EUPHORIA: From the Depths
SHIRLEY ANNE HOFMANN'S EUPHORIA: From the Depths
Stretched songs by many brass (not reed), marimba, piano, accordion, sampler player and singer Hofmann - a major talent - with Pippin Barnett (drums, percs) featuring an enormous variety of styles and structures and a fine use of sonorities. A very musical and imaginative collection, full of good humour - and a pleasure to listen to.
Code: LUS001
Price: £14.50


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Most New Year's resolutions require consumers to spend money, but here's one that actually doesn't cost anything and ultimately helps people save: Boost your credit score.
Low credit scores result in higher interest charges for all types of debt, including credit cards and home loans. Borrowers with a FICO credit score (the score used for most consumer lending decisions) of 700 save an average of $648 in interest on their credit card, $1,392 on their car loan and $2,340 on their mortgage each year, compared with borrowers who have scores below 620, according to a study by CardHub.com, a credit-card comparison website. Those savings get even larger for borrowers whose credit score is above 700. Separately, lower scores can lead to larger home and car insurance bills and make it harder to rent or buy a home.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve a low credit score and most involve scaling back on credit-card usage. That's because in the world of credit scores, all debt is not treated equally. FICO scores tend to drop as consumers rack up more credit-card debt but don't decline as much if someone signs up for a student loan, car loan or mortgage. Here are five steps to improving your credit score.
Pay down credit-card debt
To improve their credit scores, borrowers need to lessen their credit-card debt.
Once a borrower surpasses a 10% "credit utilization ratio" — that is, the amount of their credit card debt in relation to their total spending limit — their FICO score will likely drop, says John Ulzheimer, consumer credit expert with CreditSesame.com, a credit-management site, and a former manager at FICO. For instance, borrowers whose credit-card spending limits total $10,000 should not surpass $1,000 in debt — whether or not they pay off their balance in full each month.
That can be an onerous task for many borrowers. They'll need to adhere to stricter limits if they want the highest score possible. According to FICO, borrowers with the best credit scores — of 785 or greater — use an average of 7% of their total credit-card limit. In contrast, student loans, car loans and mortgages are not considered by the credit-utilization ratio.
Consumers can consider asking their card issuers to increase their credit-card limits, which could in turn increase their credit score. Of course, that will require not swiping for more purchases on those cards.
Convert credit-card debt to personal loans
Borrowers with a lot of credit-card debt aren't out of luck. They can actually improve their score before they even pay down their debt — with a bit of strategizing: They can consider rolling their credit-card debt into a personal loan.
Here's why: Credit-card debt tends to be more damaging to credit scores than a personal loan, which is considered installment debt. The credit-utilization ratio (see previous section) does not take installment debt into account. This strategy would result in zero dollars of credit-card debt on the borrower's credit report, which could boost their score by 100 points or more, says Ulzheimer. They'll also pay lower rates to boot: The rates on personal loans currently average 11.36%, according to Bankrate.com. In contrast, rates on credit cards average just over 13% to 15.4%.
This strategy will only help borrowers if they stop using their credit cards or if they pay off the charges they make on their card quickly. Otherwise, their score won't stay up for very long. Of course, consumers should pay off all their credit-card debt with their savings rather than signing up for a loan. But that assumes they have enough cash set aside after paying this debt for their emergency fund. (Financial advisers typically recommend people have savings equal to six to eight months of living expenses in a savings account.)
Be selective when accelerating debt payments
There's no doubt that it's a great feeling: paying off a car loan or student loan — especially when you manage to do so ahead of schedule. But rather than sending extra cash payments to these types of loans, consumers looking to raise their credit score should consider putting those payments toward credit-card debt instead.
That's because credit-card debt hurts consumers' scores more than other types of loans. Credit experts say they often hear from consumers who are surprised to find their scores don't improve after they pay off one of these loans; instead, they say, credit scores would improve significantly if borrowers paid off their credit cards while leaving their other loans intact and remaining up-to-date on minimum payments.
In addition, there are often perks to holding on to installment debt. With home loans, for instance, borrowers can usually deduct interest payments on a total of up to $1 million of mortgage debt on their taxes.
Check credit reports often
One in five consumers has an error in at least one of their three credit reports, according to a 2012 study (the latest) released by the Federal Trade Commission. The information on consumers' credit reports — from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — largely determine borrowers' credit scores. Mistakes can send credit scores into a tailspin: Roughly 13% of consumers had credit-report errors that impacted their credit scores, while 5% had errors that could lead to paying more or being denied credit, according to the FTC study.
Ideally, consumers should keep tabs on such issues before they need to apply for a loan. (Many find out there are errors when a lender pulls their credit report.) At AnnualCreditReport.com, consumers can get a copy of their credit report for free every 12 months from each of the three bureaus.
Consumers who spot errors should contact the credit bureaus, which are legally required to respond with their findings within 30 to 45 days. They should also ask the lender or collection agency that has the account to present proof that they (rather than an impostor) actually opened that loan; if they are unable and the credit bureau also cannot provide evidence, the bureau is required by law to remove it from their credit report.
Pay on time
The quickest way to tarnish a credit score is to miss a debt payment. Lenders can start reporting a late payment to the credit bureaus once 30 days from the bill's due date have passed, says Ulzheimer. That late payment will stay on a consumer's credit report for seven years.
No matter what other steps a consumer takes, they will need to be on time with all their debt obligations — even if it's just the minimum required payment that's due that month — if they want a high credit score.
Also see:
Don't like your credit score? Ask for another


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One of the things we've lost in modern action films is the un-ironic, un-self-conscious quip. The whole concept has been parodied to death, so it's not surprising, but we have to say, this trailer for the new Jason Statham vehicle has us applauding the return of the Schwarzenegger/Stallone/Van Damme-level pre-kill verbal jab. Clearly, making "The Expendables" has rubbed off on the man.
Not only that, but "Safe" is so much of an action movie mixtape it almost feels like a parody trailer someone at Funny or Die put together - you could just call it" "The Stath." Let's see, take a hearty dose of "The Professional," throw in some "Die Hard" and top it off with Statham's last four movies and you've got a good start.
But oh man, the quips. We can't even tell you how happy it makes us that this trailer ends with a set-up/punchline that could rival Arnold's "Hey, Sully, remember when I said I'd kill you last?" from "Commando."
U.S. & World
"Safe" is due to kick us in the throat March 2, 2012.


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|(Photo: Reuters)
James O'Toole and Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
The Khmer Rouge tribunal's Supreme Court Chamber will hear the appeal of former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav in March of next year, the court said in a statement Thursday.
The notorious jailer, better known as Duch, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in July by the court's Trial Chamber after being found guilty of crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. The court said his appeal hearings will take place "during the last week of March 2011", adding that the exact dates and times of the hearings will be announced "in due course".
"We expect that [the hearings] will be public," court spokesman Reach Sambath said. "I think the court will always be full of people."
Duch's lawyers filed an appeal against the judgment last month, charging that their client falls outside the court's mandate to investigate "senior leaders" and those "most responsible" for crimes committed under the regime of Democratic Kampuchea.
The appeal followed the shocking turnabout last year during closing arguments when, after accepting limited responsibility and essentially pleading guilty through months of hearings, Duch asked to be acquitted and released.
The court's prosecutors have also appealed against the July verdict, claiming that judges had given "insufficient weight to the gravity of Duch's crimes and his role and his willing participation in those crimes".
They have called on the Supreme Court Chamber to sentence the defendant to 45 years in prison, reduced from a life sentence due to Duch's unlawful pre-trial detention.
"There comes a point where the crimes committed are sufficiently grave and the offender sufficiently notorious, or in such a position of authority, that the highest sentence must be imposed," the prosecutors wrote in their appeal. "That point was reached and passed here."
41 civil parties have also appealed, requesting either that the court declare their claims admissible or amend their reparations award.


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Crew history was made at RFK Stadium on Saturday. Second-year midfielder Ben Speas scored a 58th minute match-winner in the Black & Gold's 2-1 victory over D.C. United to become the club's first Homegrown player to score in an MLS match and end United's 18-match home-unbeaten streak.
The Stow, OH native and fans alike hope it's the first of many more in the winger's young playing career.
"It's just nice to score. It's nice to get your first one. Hopefully, there is a lot more to come, but it's nice to get my first one," Speas said after the match.
On the morning of August 5, 2012, Speas and his teammates learned of the passing of Kirk Urso while staying at a Washington, D.C. hotel following a 1-0 loss to D.C. United the night before. Returning to the Nation's Capital, Speas made it a mission to net his first tally and dedicate it to his beloved teammate's memory.
"This is the place we found out about Kirk, so it was pretty emotional," Speas explained.
"I thought about that yesterday and I knew my first goal was going to be to him and I wanted to get it today. It's just special."
It seemed as if D.C. United was primed to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Substitute Kyle Porter beat Crew 'keeper Andy Gruenebaum one-on-one as the referee's assistant held his flag up high to signal D.C. forward Lionard Pajoy was offside, but head referee Allen Chapman failed to notice and did not sound his whistle.
However, after a few moments of deliberation, the goal was disallowed to keep the match deadlocked at 1-1 going into the break.
"I saw [Pajoy] offside," defender Josh Williams recalled the sequence. "I'm looking across the line and I see him in an offside position. I kind of stopped and everyone else stopped. Then I see a blur go streaking down and I'm thinking he's onside."
"I think the first two guys that were offside affected the play enough for [the goal] to be called back as an offside," leftback Tyson Wahl added. "That's clearly what I was trying to argue with the refs and I think from the first point on the refs had it in their mind that they were going to call that back, I could tell."
Though the tally was waved off, the Crew learned a valuable lesson to keep playing until the whistle blows.
"Even though the flag was up, we still need to take a couple seconds and chase the ball a little bit," Williams said. "It's a lesson learned and hopefully next time we'll continue to play on."
Cleveland-Akron area natives Ben Speas and Josh Williams provided the tallies in the Crew's 2-1 victory. With nine players hailing from Ohio on the Crew's roster, an all-Buckeye State scoreline was bound to happen at some point for the Black & Gold.
"Someone's gotta try and keep up with LeBron because this guy keeps doing it every day," Speas joked after the match. "It's nice to have two Cleveland boys get the goals. They could come from anywhere but it's nice for us to score."
"It's a Cleveland-Akron combination, how about that?" Williams added. "It's always good to contribute and then Benny got in there, I'm glad he got his first MLS goal."
With his second goal of the season, Williams currently leads the Crew in scoring. Always a danger on set-pieces, the defender will hope to extend and hold onto that lead for the rest of the season.
"I told everybody I was looking to go for the Golden Boot this year," Williams joked postgame. "I'm just happy to contribute on the offensive end. I'm definitely going to rub it in to the forwards a little bit, as long as I can hold onto it as much as I can."


text: Albert Brooks recalls a wild night with The Who in Vanity Fair. "I go in the [hotel] room," Brooks tells guest editor Judd Apatow, and "in about 20 minutes [Keith Moon] threw the television out the window. It was 16 stories up . . . I'm sitting there with Keith trying to be a Jewish mother: 'Don't throw the TV. If you want to get your frustration out, go run around the block, because the TVs, they don't want them thrown out the window.' "


text: Administrator/Receptionist VolunteerChildren's Holiday Club You will be the first face our children and parents will see. They will come to you for registration and to pay their fee. . You will sign post and up date information. Signpost the parents to our media pages. Organisation: Children with voices Location: Hackney Type: Individuals, Corporate groups, Trustee / Committee Member Date: Ongoing/flexible


text:
Does anyone decorate the 1960s way with mulptiple colors on your tree?
Some people chose a color scheme with somewhat matching ornaments. My mother just used lots of colors avoiding only those she detested. Our tree had a lot of striped Shiny Brites and some solid color Shiny Brites with mica stencils.
So if you decorate with a lot of colors or maybe three or four colors, what colors do you choose?


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Two-storey restaurant tempts with its own beer and exceptional cuisine with well-known regional dishes such as buttermilk soup or an excellent pork leg in beer. The chef willingly uses the Brewers remainings to compose exquisite dishes and desserts. What is more, dishes served here often refer to Jewish cuisine, once popular in Czestochowa.
The brewery has received numerous awards and honors, like "Inn of the year 2008", "Microbrewery of the Year 2011". Readers of Gazeta Wyborcza have chosen this place as one of the 5 places in Czestochowa that is necessary to show to tourists.
In addition newly opened hotel operates here with cosy and tastefully furnished rooms and a beer SPA that offers baths in beer and wine.
The restaurant is a member of the Silesian Tastes Culinary Route.
In Silesian Tastes Menu we recommend:
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Pain Au Bacon - Ken Forkish
hello.. i like to share a sourdough bread baked by my lovely friend HK. i did mentioned and shared one of her loaf she made the last time. proud to say that i shared my starter with her. i can't remember how long ago, 6 months maybe. and she is baking marvelous bread since. one day, she asked me to recommend some bread books to buy. and i mentioned Ken Forkish and Peter Rainheart. i myself did not owned any but would love to one day. i did went through the reviews of the books at Amazon. and i liked both. any opinions or feedback about this bread book by Ken Forkish?
this is the exact words she said: Just baked, my house smell like roast pork , hahaha!
and she asked: You think the top burnt ?
i replied no..
what do you think ?
to me, it is just lovely ...


text:
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We screen thousands of employers to find the best companies who offer the most exciting positions. These internships aren't your average internship that teaches you how to grab a coffee and make copies. You'll intern in a fast-paced environment that allows you to grow personally and professionally to prepare you for your first full-time job.
Assessment & Academic CreditSecuring an internship that allows you to apply what you've learned in the classroom is critical.
In the Dream Careers program, you will earn academic credit for the completion of your internship. This step allows for proper reflection on what you are learning, helps you move closer to graduation, and opens the lines of communication with your employer, as you will be regularly reviewed on your performance at your internship.
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Your internship selection process is very personalized and considers many factors such as experience level, career goals, personality and many others. Once you commit to the program and secure your enrollment, we get to work on your behalf identifying positions that meet all of your criteria. If we fail to help you land an internship that you approve of within 14 days of the start of the program, you will get your money back.
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text:
In the meantime, Woodworkers who use Danish oil finishes are left with the nagging problem, "How do I get this stuff off my hands?" Over the years I've tried a number of hand cleaners with some minor success. Now I've stumbled upon the miracle cleaner, one that it seems I will never need to buy at the store, and as long as I'm working with wood, will never run out of. Sawdust! I put a quart or two in the bottom of a small plastic trash bin and use it to scrub just like I would have done with soap and water. It is extremely effective, even removing the smell. After scrubbing thoroughly in sawdust, wash your hands as usual with soap and water. I am sure you will be amazed.
My students at Clear Spring School fussed about getting oil on their hands as they finished up end of the year projects last week. After discovering the effectiveness of sawdust at removing the oil from their hands, there were no further complaints and no hesitancy to get back at work on a second coat. I regard this simple thing as a major discovery.
I would also like to welcome readers who have found their way here from the New York Times article by Matthew B. Crawford, The Case for Working With Your Hands. What you will find here are over three years of blog posts conveying insight on education, the role of the hands in learning, educational sloyd which set the benchmark for hands-on education, and documentation of my 8 years of teaching in my Wisdom of the Hands program at Clear Spring School. We all know that we learn best when our hands are engaged, but how do we do that effectively in schools?
The mission statement at Clear Spring School explains it:
Together, all at Clear Spring School promote a lifelong love of learning through a hands-on and hearts-engaged educational environment.We are a model program demonstrating education as it must be if we are to be truly effective for the 21st century.


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If you've completed a JSF project, or you're substantially into a new project, we'd love to hear from you! Send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com describing your experiences -- the good and the bad -- and we may include your story in a future In the Trenches article.
(all feeds)(In the Trenches)


text:
Kinetics Database Resources
Rate Our Products and Services
Other Databases
NIST Standard Reference Data Program
NDRL-NIST Solution Kinetics Database
NIST Computational Chemistry Comparison and Benchmark Database
The NIST Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty
Administrative Links
Chemical and Biochemical Reference Data Division
Title: Oxidation of sulphur compounds in the atmosphere: I. Rate constants of OH radical reactions with sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, aliphatic thiols and thiophenol
Journal: J. Atmos. Chem.
Volume: 4
Year: 1986
Reference type: Journal article
Squib: 1986BAR/BAS445
tert-C4H9SH + ·OH → Products
View full bibliographic record.


text:
Microsoft has announced general availability of its Robotics Developer Studio 2008 (Microsoft RDS), the newest version of its robotics programming platform. Microsoft RDS includes a simple programming model to support building asynchronous applications, a set of visual authoring and simulation tools to aid in application development, and tutorials and sample code to help developers get started.
The Robotics Developer Studio 2008 includes enhancements such as:
- Increased runtime performance. Performance is improved 1.5 to three times faster in message throughput between services, and services now load two times faster. Developers can now also define more specific message communication between services, reducing network utilization and optimizing the processing of data. Together, these improvements will result in faster applications and more efficient use of processor performance.
- Improvements to the Visual Programming Language (VPL) tool. The simple drag-and-drop-based visual programming tool now includes a simple method for defining and configuring distributed applications, making it easier to create applications that can run across networked devices. Developers also will have greater flexibility when compiling their programs.
- Improvements to the Visual Simulation Environment (VSE) tool. VSE now includes the ability to record and play back simulations, which allows for easier review of simulation experiences. VSE also adds a new floor-plan editor to simplify the definition of interior structures, and three new sample simulation environments (apartment, outdoor and urban) that enable developers to better test their robot applications. Another new feature is support for importing content from DS SolidWorks 3-D computer-aided design (CAD) software and Microsoft trueSpace 3-D modeling software, which make it easier for developers to create their own simulated models and environments.
- Greater development flexibility. This new release provides support for both Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008, which makes it accessible to a broad audience of developers. Improved support for running VPL and VSE on 64-bit Windows platforms provides more flexible installation options. New support for custom message transports increases development choices.
A primary objective of Microsoft RDS is to provide a common ground that creates opportunities for greater contributions and participation from across the diverse community of robotics developers and hardware and software vendors. ABB, a leading supplier of industrial robots and robotics software, is among the first companies to take advantage of this opportunity by releasing a connectivity package known as ABB Connect to Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 (ACM). ACM creates a virtual environment for educational purposes, with the goal of teaching robotics students at universities to design and implement virtual robotics. The package also will contain all the services needed to build a complete virtual robot controller.
The new release also offers improved licensing options by replacing its formal noncommercial and commercial licenses with three editions:
- A Standard Edition for professional developers.
- An Academic Edition for students and educational researchers.
- An Express Edition for hobbyists and casual users.
While with previous versions, the user was allowed to distribute only 200 copies of the Concurrency and Coordination Runtime (CCR) and Decentralized Software Services (DSS) runtimes, each license of the new Standard and Academic editions permits the user to distribute an unlimited number of copies of the CCR and DSS runtimes.


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Since it seems to be popular with this crowd, and we're never running out of questionable foods, I figured I'd take the time to put together another round of "Is It Primal? [1]" I got most of these choices from the comment sections of previous posts, along with follow-up emails. As always, feel free to fill in the blanks after the post. I have a strong feeling this will become a recurring series of posts, and I'm going to need plenty of material. Today, we're talking about seven foods: sprouts of all kinds and origins; agave nectar, nectar of the metabolic syndrome gods; soy lecithin; coconut aminos, what hipsters have moved onto from tamari; tapioca, gummy starch; animal skin, food of the gods; and Quorn, "food."
Let's go:
Sprouts are a bit like sprites, in that they're all over the place, agile, and difficult to get a bead on. Whether it's pro-sprout or anti-sprout, solid data is tough to pin down. For one, "sprouts" is an incredibly non-specific term. Sprouts can come from legumes, grains, vegetables, and nuts. In other words, if it's got a seed, you can get a sprout from it. And so you can't look up the nutritional data for "sprouts," because that would be like looking up the nutritional data for "meat." It could be almost anything.
What we need to analyze, then, is the sprouting process. Does it do anything bad? Good? Is it neutral?
Sprouting tends to convert some of a seed's sugar into vitamin C (to act as an antioxidant for the plant). That's good. We no longer make vitamin C ourselves, so we need an exogenous source. Not a lot, but some.
Sprouting tends to reduce phytic acid [2] (but not saponin content).
What about specific sprouts? I dug up a few citations:
Sunflower sprouts have anti-glycative and antioxidant effects [3], due to their elevated cynarin content.
Broccoli sprouts sound great, particularly for type 2 diabetics. In a double-blind placebo-controlled [4] trial, they reduced oxidized LDL (and improved the oxLDL/LDL level) and decreased triglycerides in diabetic patients. They also reduced insulin resistance [5] in type 2 diabetics. And finally, they reduced oxidative stress [6] in type 2 diabetics.
If you're making your own, note that antioxidant levels wax and wane throughout the sprouting process, at least in broccoli sprouts [7]. Sulforaphane [8], the potent antioxidant responsible for many of broccoli's benefits, declines upon germination, then increases slowly until hitting its high point at 48 hours post-germination, after which it declines. But don't worry; glucoraphanin, which converts into sulforaphane, increases during the first 12 hours, sharply drops, then rises again, reaching the highest levels at 72 hours post-germination. Of course, glucoraphanin requires the enzyme myrosinase for conversion, but broccoli sprouts are particularly high in myrosinase, so you're ending up with plenty of sulforaphane either way.
I see no reason why sprouted celery seeds, broccoli seeds, radish seeds, or lettuce seeds wouldn't be perfectly Primal. Lentil, oat, or bean sprouts? Probably not technically, although even those would be far less problematic (bean sprouts go great with spicy Thai food on a hot day). Just be aware that they have been linked to international E. coli and salmonella outbreaks [9], probably due to the warm, moist growing conditions required for sprouts.
Verdict: Primal, depending on the starter seed.
Agave Nectar
Agave nectar is a favorite whipping child of the Primal set, but we should substantiate our claims, don't you think? We need to justify those welts, especially since a few of you guys were wondering (hoping?) about its place in the Primal Blueprint [10].
Agave nectar is insanely high in fructose. Of the sugar present, up to 92% of it is pure, unadulterated fructose [11]. That's considerably more than table sugar, most honey, and even high-fructose corn syrup. If we want to avoid fructose, agave nectar must also be avoided.
However, the recent honey [12] post shows that not all sugar behaves the same. Honey – a "natural product" – contains a wide range of bee-based phenolic compounds that appear to render its sugar content less harmful than, say, a dose of HFCS with the same amount of fructose. Since agave nectar is also "natural" (it's gotta be, with "nectar" and an exotic word like "agave" in the name), could it too be different than other sugars. No. A recent study [13] found that while stuff like honey, molasses, and maple syrup all contain significant amounts of antioxidants that potentially mitigate the metabolic damage wrought by the sugar therein, agave nectar – along with refined sugar and corn syrup – has almost none. Even raw cane sugar beat agave nectar out in the antioxidant category.
Verdict: Not Primal.
Soy Lecithin
Many of your favorite darkest chocolates contain soy lecithin as an emulsifier, promoting smoothness and a luscious mouthfeel (whatever that means). Dark chocolate? Great. Anything with "soy" in it? Bad, or so we have been conditioned to react. But is it?
In a previous Dear Mark, I made the case that a little soy lecithin [14] in your chocolate [15] is nothing to worry about, even going so far as to mention the choline content as a benefit. Since the influx of questions on soy lecithin, however, I've revisited my stance and found some new evidence. It seems that across a whole host of soy products, soy lecithin was the most estrogenic [16] (though estrogenic [17] activity was found in almost all foods tested, even non-soy ones). And in "frozen rat spermatozoa," soy lecithin – but not egg yolk (another source of choline [18]) – interfered with mitochondrial function [19]. Contrary to my previous assertion that soy lecithin cannot trigger soy allergy in allergic people, another study found that soy lecithin could contain "hidden soy allergens."
I would caution any soy-sensitive individuals to stay away from soy lecithin, just to be safe. If you're worried about missing out on a great dark chocolate, plenty of legit brands contain no soy whatsoever. Just check your labels. I would also suggest that any chocolate eaters with unexplained unpleasant symptoms make sure the chocolate they favor contains no soy lecithin, and try switching to a soy-free brand for a month. If you feel better, you might implement soy lecithin avoidance as a general rule.
Everyone else, don't shy away from good dark chocolate. Just don't eat it too often, supplement with soy lecithin, nor feed your baby dark chocolate.
Verdict: Not Primal, but small amounts in occasional chocolate shouldn't be too bad for most people.
Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos are the soy sauce replacement du jour, a gluten-free, soy-free combination of aged coconut sap and sea salt that tastes somewhat like soy sauce. It's not an exact match, but it's not really trying to be an exact match. Coconut aminos are their own beasts, and these happen to be tasty beasts.
That said, there's nothing really remarkable or magical about them. Its purveyors like to talk about the presence of 17 amino acids, but so what? Trace amounts of certain amino acids in a sauce that you'll consume by the tablespoonful probably aren't going to amount to much of anything. Consume it for the unique taste and the lack of soy and wheat.
Verdict: Primal.
I've covered tapioca flour in a previous Dear Mark post [20], in which I gave it a relatively clean bill of health. Tapioca is simply purified cassava starch, with basically everything else removed. My original pronouncement hasn't changed much. It's fine as far as starches go, if you're active and using the carbs. I would't go overboard with it, especially if it comes in pudding or boba tea form, but it's definitely a "safe starch [21]."
The major downside is that it's just starch. It's extremely low in anti-nutrients, sure, but it contains almost no nutrients [22], either. The biggest claims to fame of a cup of the stuff are 2% of the RDI for folate and 2.4 mg of iron. It won't do you much harm, but it won't do you much good, unless all you're after is glucose.
Verdict: Primal.
Animal Skin
I almost didn't include this one, because I figured it was a no-brainer, but then I figured that if several people are asking about the suitability of animal skin on a Primal eating regimen, it's likely that a lot of people are avoiding it just to be safe. I think that's a tragedy, and I aim to rectify and prevent it.
Animal skin is fantastic. In the past, I've discussed my love for sockeye salmon skin [23] (bacon [24]) and roasted chicken skin [25], but not everyone shares my enthusiasm. At restaurants, I often see people delicately remove chicken skin with polite disgust on their faces. At my local seafood market, I'll often ask the guys behind the counter to save me the Pacific salmon skin that people have removed. I think they're nuts for doing it, but I'm happy to take advantage of their mistakes.
Although I wouldn't recommend eating charred, crispy animal skin every day of the week (although braised, gently-cooked animal skin is fine all the time), animal skin in and of itself is highly nutritious. Salmon skin is high in omega-3s [26]. Other animal skin is high in animal fat [27], plus collagen and gelatin [28], which are excellent for joints [29], nails, hair, and skin while providing a nice counterbalance to a regular intake of muscle meat. As long as the animal in question was healthy and fed a good diet, I would never shy away from a serving of animal skin.
Verdict: Highly Primal. If you're not eating it, send it to me.
Until today, I'd always assumed that Quorn was a mock meat derived from corn, a grain. That makes perfect sense, right? I mean, it sounds like "corn." Now that I realize it's a mock meat derived from a fungus, I feel betrayed. I suppose I understand the decision – Fusarium venenatum doesn't really have a ring to it – but it's not really the origin of the stuff that turns me off (although that doesn't help). It's the fact that Quorn (do I have to capitalize that?) is fake meat, and people are presumably eating it despite the presence of actual, real, delicious, nutritious meat.
Vegetarians? Any vegetarian who chooses Quorn as a protein source over pastured eggs [30] is nuts. Oh, and speaking of nuts, I'd eat nuts for protein before Quorn, too. Vegans? Sure, go ahead and eat your quorn for protein. I'm frankly not all that interested.
Before you fill your chest freezer with Quorn Tenders, Quorn Cumberland Sausages, and Quorn Tikka Masala (all real products, by the way), however, read about the allergic reactions people have had to Quorn. Some sources [31] claim 4.5% of people who eat Quorn get sick, while other sources say just 1/140,000 report adverse reactions [32]. I don't think it's a huge risk unless you're sensitive to molds, but it's something to keep in mind.
Verdict: Not Primal, but not because it comes from a fungus. Just eat some meat, dude.
That's it for today, folks. I hope I didn't crush any dreams or ruin any dinner plans (agave nectar marinated Quorn steaks, served with a soy lecithin-emulsification). I just wanted to keep you honest.
Do the same for me and leave a comment. Thanks!


text: Baby Baby Development Motor skills development You may not notice every little change, but your baby's little body and mind are constantly growing and developing. Here's how you can help your baby towards major motor development milestones (movements that use large muscle groups). ReachingOne of the earlier motor development milestones is reaching. Your little one will probably begin working on this between four and seven months of age.How you can helpBlow bubbles in your baby's direction and encourage her to reach for them. Place a favourite toy just slightly out of reach.Sitting Many babies are able to sit with support at around six months of age, and may soon move on to sitting without support.How you can helpOnce she can sit for a few moments without toppling over, introduce simple games like clapping or rolling a ball. Keep sessions short – just a few minutes at a time – and always stay close to her. A C-shaped pillow (like as a breastfeeding pillow) can offer some light support.CrawlingThis usually happens between seven and 10 months.How you can helpAs your baby starts to propel herself forwards, make sure that the space she explores is safe and supervised. You can also try placing a thin, rolled-up receiving blanket under your baby and demonstrate rocking back and forth on your hands and knees. Rocking is the jump-starter to crawling; before you know it, you'll be chasing her all through the house!Standing At around nine to 11 months, your baby may pull herself up to stand. Gradually, she'll improve her muscle strength, balance and coordination until she's able to stand unsupported.How you can helpBe sure to give your baby unrestrained playtime on the floor everyday. Limit time in seating devices like baby seats and bouncers. It's in these early months that your baby develops the crucial skills and motions needed to master the complex skills of walking, running, jumping and climbing. Encourage your baby by challenging her to do a little bit more each day. She'll be walking and running before you know it! You might also like: