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Archive for Thursday, February 19, 2009
Aministrator anticipates budget crunch in 2010
February 19, 2009
Leavenworth As money continues to tighten on the state level, county officials say budget crunches probably will not be felt until next year.
On Monday, Leavenworth County Administrator Heather Morgan briefed the Board of County Commissioners on business going on at the Statehouse that would affect the county's coffers.
Morgan said the biggest hit to county money would come from reduction in highway funds and in grant money. The lower amount of grant money available would affect county departments such as juvenile corrections, health and the council on aging.
She said that the county could also expect not to see any money from liquor tax and a reduction in the state's property tax slider.
But it will be receiving roughly $655,000 in funds from the state because of a miscalculated reimbursement for gasoline tax for Leavenworth County. That error occurred last fall.
Morgan also briefed commissioners on what kind of money the county may be looking at with President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan.
On Friday, Morgan and Public Works director Mike Spickelmier attended a meeting with Kansas Department of Transportation officials to discuss some of the state's cut of the package.
She said the state would be receiving $348 million for highway funds and $27 million for transit money.
Morgan said the county probably would not be getting any money from the Mid-American Regional Council, but would from KDOT. Jim Pickett of KDOT, will be overseeing distribution of the money for Leavenworth County.
On the table as possible projects for the stimulus package are road improvements for County Road 9 and replacement of bridge ST-48.
Bridges that are in KDOT's five-year plan for replacement are not eligible for stimulus money.
In other business Monday, the board:
• Unanimously voted to hire James Dyson as the High Prairie Township Trustee.
• Unanimously approved a special use permit for Doug Shoemaker to run an auto restoration business on the 16500 block of Chieftain Road. The commissioners also passed a resolution granting relief from the moratorium in place where the business is located.
• Unanimously approved a resolution that established a local preference policy when accepting bids. Commissioner J.C. Tellefson said that he wanted to help out businesses in the county that pay taxes.
• Unanimously voted to make the Leavenworth Times the official county newspaper.
• Listened to a quarterly report from Donna Martin, the Health Department director.
On Thursday, the board:
• Listened to a quarterly report for the Leavenworth County Solid Waste Department.
• Listened to a quarterly report from the Human Resources Department.
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O's rally with nine runs off Blue Jays' bullpen
Five-run seventh, four-run eighth help Norris secure first win
TORONTO -- This is why Buck Showalter preached patience, not panic, after Wednesday's win and why the Orioles' manager has remained unflappable despite his club surrendering three consecutive leads over a weekend set in Boston.
Two games later, the O's look like the Comeback Kids.
Welcome to life in the American League East -- or at least, in April -- where statistics are inflated and every game seems to take on paramount importance, almost in spite of the 162-game grind it was intended to be. The Orioles, who have had plenty of question marks in their rotation and lineup in the opening month, did their best to silence them Thursday night in an 11-4 come-from-behind, series-clinching victory over the Blue Jays.
"I hope it's our level," Showalter said with a grin after his club reached the 10-run mark in consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 14-15, 2008. "That's probably asking a little too much. But this ballpark, you are going to have to score some runs. They are good. You better come in here and not expect your pitcher to be perfect. It's hard to do. In the American League East and this ballpark."
For the second consecutive game the O's rallied, this time scoring a combined nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings and using an uplifting start from Bud Norris to ensure both a winning road trip (4-3) and a winning overall record (11-10) as they head back to Baltimore.
Suddenly, things look a lot better for the Orioles -- tied for second in the division -- following their first winning road trip since last July 19-25.
"Well a couple nights ago you guys were asking, 'Can this lineup hit?'" said Adam Jones, part of a lineup that saw batters two through five go 8-for-19 with 10 RBIs on Thursday night. "Pick your question. We grind. It's going to be fun. We got some guys that feed off the guys in front of us. We are going to be fine. There are some tough pitchers in baseball that are going to make it tough on us, but we are going to hit. That's how our lineup is designed. The last couple nights, really this road trip, we've swung the bats really well."
Orioles slugger Chris Davis, fresh off his second homer in Wednesday's comeback win, singled twice against the shift and drove in three runs while red-hot Nelson Cruz continued his torrid opening month. Cruz, who homered twice and drove in five on Wednesday, delivered a two-run single in the eighth to mark his seventh consecutive game with an RBI, increasing his team lead to an impressive 23. The Orioles amassed 14 hits, also receiving multi-RBI games from Jones (three) and Matt Wieters (two).
Trailing, 3-2, the Orioles started their rally in the seventh with David Lough's one-out double off Blue Jays reliever Neil Wagner, with Toronto manager John Gibbons calling on Brett Cecil after that. Nick Markakis walked, and Cecil intentionally walked Cruz to load the bases. Davis made him pay, singling into left on an 0-2 pitch that scored two to give their Orioles their first lead.
"I think any guy in here wants to be in that position to try to drive in some runs," Davis said of following an intentional walk. "That's the beauty of the competition. Nelson is swinging the bat really well, and with Jonesy behind me and a lefty on the mound I know they're going to go after me. I accept the challenge. I was glad I was able to rise to it tonight."
Jones doubled in Cruz, and Gibbons summoned Esmil Rogers to replace Cecil. But it was to no avail, as Wieters singled -- sending his bat flying -- to drive in two more runs and push the lead to 7-3.
"I just tried to get loose and locate my pitches as best as I can," said Cecil, who sent the Orioles into fits earlier in the series. "Not really focused on the break of the curve ball. It's usually my best pitch, but like I said, things aren't going to go perfect every time out."
The O's piled on, scoring four runs off Rogers in the following frame. After Jonathan Schoop, who homered in his fifth-inning at-bat, was hit by a pitch, Lough and Markakis singled to load the bases. Cruz sent a ball into left field for a two-RBI base hit, and, one out later, Jones drove in two more with a single to center field.
"It's not necessarily about the home runs," Jones said. "Getting hits with runners in scoring position. Getting that big double. That's the pass-the-baton mentality we are trying to implement here."
Norris, who owns both of the Orioles' starts of six or more innings over the past eight games, surrendered two homers but never let the game get out of hand. The righty allowed both long balls, to Dioner Navarro and Colby Rasmus, in the second inning and settled in from there, allowing just one hit the rest of his night as he recorded his first win in three starts.
After striking out Juan Francisco for the second out of the fourth, Norris grabbed his right hamstring in apparent pain, prompting Showalter and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells to come out to the mound. Norris threw a few warmup pitches and stayed in the game, retiring the next six straight before hitting Edwin Encarnacion with a pitch.
"Kind of tweaked it, but it wasn't really that big of a deal," Norris said. "Just stretched it in between innings, and I was OK from there."
Norris got Navarro to fly out to end the sixth, and lefty Zach Britton pitched 1 2/3 innings before handing the ball off to Josh Stinson, who sealed the win for Norris.
"It's huge," Wieters said of the ability to make in-game adjustments to erase a deficit. "We wouldn't like to give up the big inning, but when you give it up being able to answer and put up zeros is huge. In this game, when you give up a big inning, you better put up some zeros to give your team a chance to come back and get some runs. And [we] did that both nights."

subset: commoncrawl


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Patrick Woodlot
Colebrook, NH
Acreage: 70 acres
Directions: From Colebrook, follow Rt. 3 North about 2 miles. Turn right on Piper Hill Rd., then in about 0.6 mile, turn right on Aldrich Rd. The property begins in about 900' on the left, just after a house and just before a wetland area.
Patrick Woodlot is managed for forest products and wildlife habitat.
Brundage Forest
Pittsburg, NH
Acreage: 238 acres
Directions: From Pittsburg, follow Rt. 3 N for 6 miles to First Connecticut Lake. From dam, continue 1 mile. Turn left onto second road opposite lake. Turn right in 600' onto property and park at gate.
Brundage Forest contains a natural area, Mud Pond (also known as Eagle Pond) and views of the great north woods. The Cohos Trail runs through the property.
Hurlbert Swamp
Stewartstown, NH
Acreage: 34 acres
Directions: From Colebrook, New Hampshire, take Route 145 North 9 miles. Just beyond Clarksville town line, turn left onto West Road.
Travel 1.5 miles to a dirt road on the left at a small artificial pond. Follow this dirt road 1.1 miles to the preserve.
There's a good chance you'll find signs of moose, deer, bear, beaver or other wildlife at this exceptional 313-acre nothern white cedar swamp preserve. There are also several species of rare wildflowers.
The frozen ground in the winter makes for easier access, however, it is beautiful in all seasons. A one mile bog bridge trail was completed at the preserve during the spring of 1998.
Kauffmann Forest
Stark, NH
Acreage: 1672 acres
Directions: From Groveton, take Rt. 110 East to Stark. At village center, turn left. Pass through the covered bridge. Devil's Slide (part of the Kauffmann Forest) faces the village and overlooks it.
Kauffman Forest is best known for the Devil's Slide which overlooks the town of Stark and one of the most photographed covered bridges in the country, the Stark Bridge.


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This course is an introduction to the expanding law that regulates human treatment of animals. In scientific and medical research, legal limitations on the use of animals are of fundamental importance, intellectual as well as practical: they may limit what can be hoped from the biosciences. Similarly, the nature and extent of protection of animals in food production systems has a large economic importance and large consequence for human welfare and population growth. Internationally, differing treatments of these issues raise questions of free trade. Nationally and internationally, legal approaches to the treatment of undomesticated animals affect critical environmental and biodiversity concerns. The course will focus both on fundamental questions, including whether conceiving of rights for animals is appropriate, and on an understanding of the current legal and administrative devices through which the human relation with animals is regulated.
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48109-1215 USA - Contact Us


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The Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science at St. Francis Xavier University invites applications for a Limited Term appointment. The term of the appointment is from August 15, 2014 and to May 16, 2015. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. or near completion in Mathematics or Statistics or closely related field. The candidate must show strong commitment to teaching. The primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will be teaching introductory and intermediate courses at the undergraduate level in Mathematics and Statistics. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.
Applicants should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching interests and philosophy and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references. Applicants and referees are strongly encouraged to submit their applications and reference letters respectively online at http://mscs1.stfx.ca/~jobApplication/sub/ or may alternatively send their applications and reference letters to:
Dr. Joe Apaloo, Chair
Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science
St. Francis Xavier University
PO Box 5000, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5 Canada
The review of applications will begin February 28, 2014 and will continue until the position is filled. The Selection Committee would like to thank all applicants for their interest in St. Francis Xavier University. However, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
St. Francis Xavier University is committed to merit-based
hiring and to
employment equity. St. Francis Xavier University respects
diversity and
welcomes applications from visible minority group members,
Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities and members of
minority groups. In accordance with Canadian Immigration
this advertisement is directed to Canadian citizens and
permanent residents
of Canada.
If you are selected for an interview for the advertised
position, proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent
residency is required.
Description: Adobe PDF document


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The accused are suspected of:
Conducting Secret Diplomacy
Game number(s):
Game 11720024
Comments: 3 man standard game and these two continually hit me whether it was in their best interests or not. They would hit me and leave each other along for easy large bonuses until I was dead. From reading their walls they obviously know each other. This to me was an obvious secret diplomacy and I feel should be punished
2012-09-26 23:05:37 - waltero: This board is all we play. look at our score. We play against each other. you are just a filler.
This to me is a complete admission of guilt as he uses the word "we" and speaks for the both of them.
I felt it was my duty to bring these two into the public eye so that someone else doesn't fall into the same trap.


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Saturday, January 09, 2010
Interview: Catching Up With Charles Shaughnessy
This time around, he plays Mr. Bosley, the owner of a magazine company who sends one of his journalists, Cynthia Tamerline (who is played by Jordan Ladd), on a mundane small-town assignment where she discovers her true passion in life. Wishing Well also co-stars Ernest Borgnine, Jason London and Sally Kellerman, and airs on the Hallmark Channel on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and 8 p.m. Central. (Check your local listings for encore presentations.)
So, what was the experience of filming Wishing Well like for the ever-busy Charles Shaughnessy? Charles explains: "These kinds of movies are always very fun things to do, playing different kinds of roles. I came in for a couple of days in the office set with Jordan Ladd. There's sort of a mentor relationship between Mr. Bosley and Cynthia that is slightly antagonistic, but in a paternal way. He sends her to a small, Midwest town to kind of shake her up a bit."
Charles had fun playing the head honcho and enjoyed finding different facets of his character. "If there is a chance to paint a character into someone who goes just beyond the lines, it's always fun to do. It's having that extra dimension that gives you a sense of who this guy is when the cameras stop rolling. Mr. Bosley has a few more dimensions than just a boss: He has a sense of humor, he knows the business, and he has a certain charm and flair."
Working with Jordan — daughter of actress Cheryl Ladd and a dead ringer for her gorgeous mom — was also a wonderful experience. Charles raves: "Jordan is a delight. We had a lot of fun. She is just fantastic — I have nothing but good things to say about her."
A main message of the movie is that sometimes you just have to follow your heart, which is something Charles understands, but doesn't completely subscribe to. "My philosophy in life is to keep tap dancing, keep surfing. You can try to follow your heart, but sometimes it is not always the right thing to do. You've got to balance it with your head.
"I think that one of the great dangers is investing too much in plans. I've set so many goals that have disappeared during the journey and have been replaced by much more interesting goals that suddenly popped up and put me in a new direction. I'm a believer in being as smart as you can in the moment."
With Charles' varied career, would he ever consider coming back to daytime? As he tells me, he wouldn't rule anything out. "I loved doing Days of Our Lives. I thought that format was a fantastic way to work. You use all the muscles you have; it was exhausting at times and it never got boring. I made some really good friends, and we absolutely had a blast. I wouldn't say no (if the chance presented itself again)."
Fans of Charles should not say no to catching his co-starring role this weekend and next on the Hallmark Channel's original movie Wishing Well.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Days: Such a Tease!
* Rafe urges Will to give Mia another chance.
* Bo walks in on Carly (Crystal Chappell, pictured) and Hope arguing.
* Vivian suspects she knows who Carly's daughter is.
* Melanie and Nathan deny they still have feelings for each other.
* Philip and Melanie set a date for the wedding.
Thursday – Brady comes to Arianna's rescue.
Friday – Victor learns Carly and Bo slept together.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Y&R: Such a Tease!
* Malcolm's stay in Genoa City could be short-lived when Neil (Kristoff St. John, pictured) asks him to leave town.
* When Chance starts to investigate the man who stabbed him, could his questions land him in dangerous waters?
* Kay prepares herself to meet her daughter for the first time.
* Billy and Mac come together when Delia has a health scare.
B&B: Such a Tease!
· A suspicious relationship is questioned.
· An addition to a family is made.
· A betrayal is unmasked.
· True feelings are revealed between rivals.
· Overwhelming guilt leads to a confession.
Days: Such a Tease!
* Nicole (Arianne Zuker, pictured) throws herself upon the mercy of the court.
* Troy hires an operative to take Arianna out.
* Nathan urges Melanie to reconsider marrying Philip.
* Vivian tells Bo about Hope and Justin's kiss.
* Sami and EJ receive a call from the kidnapper.
Thursday – Nicole is sentenced for her crimes.
Friday – Carly admits to Vivian that she killed Lawrence.


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Eternal Smile is out!
What a spring we're having! The Color of Earth... Adventures in Cartooning... The Photographer... and as of April 27, The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim. This cover seemed especially perfect during the unreality of the last few days in NYC, where temperatures soared to record highs and the sun grinned down on us with every one of its 386 billion billion megawatts in full effect. It's always a good sign when the weather is paying attention to important graphic novel publications!
Gene Yang and Derek Kirk Kim's collaboration The Eternal Smile is already garnering richly-deserved good buzz wherever it turns up, which, we hope, now that it is available in quality bookstores and comic shops everywhere, will be IN YOUR POCKET.
Three stories about the intersection of reality and fantasy in our lives, remarkable for their incredible variety, startling harmony, and above all, the virtuosity of two of this country's great masters, Gene and Derek. Good work, guys. Thanks for letting us be part of this.
...But lest you become too starry-eyed about this pivital moment in graphic novel history, you might want to hear what
Derek Kirk Kim Derek's assistant has to say about his job:


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OSSINING, N.Y. -- Sens. David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) and Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) recently held a roundtable discussion in Ossining on the push to craft legislation that would raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18.
The roundtable was keynoted by the Honorable Jonathan Lippman, former Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals who has been an outspoken advocate on the issue.
In addition to Lippman, local elected officials, policy experts and community leaders who made various arguments in support of raising the age, joined Carlucci and Klein at the roundtable.
"New York is one of only two states in that nation that has failed to recognize what science and research have confirmed; 16- and 17-year-olds are still developing and cannot be prosecuted the same way as adults," said Carlucci. "By raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18, we can reduce the rate of recidivism in young adults to give more of them the chance they deserve to succeed in the future."
Carlucci added, "Bringing together advocates and experts will give us a plan to fight for the change that will benefit the entire state because it saves lives and saves money."
Klein said, "As we continue our work on raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York, it is important to have discussions with all stakeholders involved. That's why earlier this month the Independent Democratic Conference held the first hearing dedicated solely to the topic."
"Today we continued these efforts with Judge Lippman, a long-time advocate, and partners who work with juveniles every day to hear their thoughts on the issue. Through our efforts I am confident we will develop thorough, well thought-out legislation to finally raise the age in New York," Klein added.
Lippman said, "Raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York is the single most important step that we can take to ensure the future well-being of our youth. We cannot continue to destroy the American Dream, for the next generation of New Yorkers, by treating children as adult criminals."
The roundtable came at a time when the Independent Democratic Conference has been at the forefront of developing legislation addressing the age of criminal responsibility in New York, according to a release from Klein's office.
In December, the conference released a report on the economic impact of Raise the Age and in early February held the first hearing dedicated solely to the issue, hearing nearly four hours of testimony.
Currently, New York is one of two states that treats 16- and 17-year-olds as adults within the criminal justice system, the release said.
"Developmental science shows clearly that adolescent brains are different than adult brains," said Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia. "Instead of wasting vital resources by locking up children with much older incarcerated people, it is imperative that New York State uses prevailing scientific understanding to rehabilitate those who fall into the criminal justice system at a young age."
"These children must be provided with adjudication, rehabilitation, and placement services that are age-appropriate. The mission of our corrections system is to rehabilitate and prepare for again becoming a productive member of society," Borgia concluded.
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Local businesses are also getting a piece of the pie on one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.
The owner of Loco Cowpoke Salsa Shop in downtown McKinney, which sells salsas and other products made in Texas, said his online sales doubled this year on Cyber Monday.
Randy Abshier said he woke up Monday morning to more than a dozen Internet orders. On Cyber Monday, about 50 percent of his sales came from the Internet, with the other half coming from foot traffic.
The latest news from around North Texas.
"I'm by far using the computer today way more than I do on a typical day," he said.
Shipments are going around the country, to Massachusetts, Missouri, even around the world.
"It's pretty much out of control through the first of the year," Abshier said.
Abshier and his wife opened their shop four years ago. After about a year, their shop went partially digital.
"I never really thought about the online piece of the business," he said.
Now, about 20 to 25 percent of his business is online sales, he said.
In 2005, a trade organization dubbed the Monday after Thanksgiving as "Cyber Monday" to promote online holiday shopping. Research firm comScore has predicted shoppers will spend $1.5 million on Cyber Monday this year, up 20 percent from the year before.


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SKITTISH DEVELOPERS HAVE delayed new hotels nationwide, but in Texas' capital, new lodging projects are numerous.
A $300 million JW Marriott hotel -- the biggest in the U.S. and Austin's largest hotel at 1.2 million square feet -- is being built on a full block near the Capitol. Developers broke ground on a Westin over the summer and a $350 million Fairmont will go up blocks away.
In all, eight hotels with nearly 4,000 rooms are scheduled to open in by 2016, making Austin one of the nation's most active markets for hotel construction.
White Lodging, a hotel developer and manager, is betting big on Austin. The Indiana firm is bankrolling both the JW Marriott and the Westin.
"We're big believers in Austin," said Deno Yiankes, chief executive of White Lodging's investments and development division. "Austin's employment growth is second to none."
Austin's booming tech industry, universities and status as a government center are combining to make White Lodging's gamble seem sound.
And Austin isn't the only place where new hotels are being planned, of course.
In Sarasota, developers have unveiled proposals for a half dozen new hotels, including a 18-story Embassy Suites hotel and a 275-room Westin at Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41.
In all, nearly 1,000 new rooms are planned.
Few new hotels are going up nationwide because construction financing has been tight. In all, there were 2,744 hotel projects being built or planned in August, according to hotel research firm STR.
"What new construction is in the pipeline is no-frills operations," said Scott D. Berman, principal and industry leader, hospitality and leisure at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Miami.
The development spur comes as more business and leisure travelers are returning to the road, pushing up occupancy levels and room rates. Occupancy climbed to 69.2 percent in August, two percentage points higher than last year, while average revenue per room has risen nearly 7 percent to $77.59 this year, according to STR.
"As goes the economy, so goes lodging demand," said Art Adler, of commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle. "Because the stock market is doing well, 401(k)'s are perking up and people feel wealthier and they're traveling."
With a restricted supply, investors are re-thinking plans. White Lodging, for instance, has nine hotels under construction nationwide -- the largest pipeline in its nearly 30-year history.
As a result, hotel prices are also climbing. In the first half of the year, the average selling price per room hit $130,119, a 15 percent increase over the end of 2012, according to Lodging Econometrics, a Portsmouth, N.H., consulting firm.
Loews Hotels and Resorts is expanding its 21-hotel portfolio, and has built two hotels and bought three others in Los Angeles, Boston and Washington in the last 18 months. By the end of 2015, it expects to have 30 to 33 hotels worldwide.
"When you consider supply fundamentals, they look pretty darn good," said Paul Whetsell, Loews' president and chief executive. "We have the wind at our back and will continue to acquire and hold."
Boston-based Rockpoint Group, a private equity firm, has spent about $2 billion in since 2009 to acquire hotels with almost 10,000 rooms.
Blackstone Group, the largest owner of hotel rooms in the country, has been on a buying spree, too. In May, it bought Apple REIT Six, a real estate investment trust with 66 hotels nationwide, for $1.2 billion. Last year, Blackstone paid $1.9 billion for the Motel 6 chain.
Initial public offerings, another sign of investor interest, have also emerged this year, with 14 in exploration during the first half of 2013. Last month, Blackstone filed for a $1.25 billion IPO for Hilton Worldwide Holdings and in July, it filed to take Extended Stay America public. The firm is also considering an IPO on its La Quinta hotel chain.
"With no cranes and little capital being allocated, we'll continue to have multiple years of improving fundamentals," said A.J. Agarwal, senior managing director of Blackstone Real Estate Partners. "We were able to buy rooms at discounts. Whenever you can buy an asset at less cost to build, that's a good deal."
"Owning hotel real estate is a very local, local business," said Simon Turner, president of global development at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which operates 1,200 hotels nationwide.
The biggest JW Marriott in the United States is just one
SKITTISH DEVELOPERS HAVE delayed new hotels nationwide, but in Texas' capital, new lodging projects are numerous.


text: Instapaper delivered to your Kindle changes how you consume web content - Plus IFTTT, blogs and more October 18, '12 Comments [29] Posted in Reviews Sponsored By I've talked about Instapaper before when I tease folks of having 42 tabs open. Remember that "open in new tab" rarely means "read it later." It usually means "use up memory and let this page run in the background until eventually declare tab-bankruptcy and close them all." So if Open In New Tab doesn't mean Read Later, what does? Why, READ LATER does! This gets even better when you combine a Read Later tool like Instapaper with an Amazon Kindle like my new Kindle Paperwhite (I reviewed the Paperwhite last week.) Inserting a Kindle into your Life's Workflow Here's the idea. You get a bunch of links that flow through your life all week long. These are often in the form of what I call "long-form reading." Hackernews links, NYTimes studys, academic papers, etc. Some folks make bookmarks, have folders called "Links" on their desktops, or email themselves links. I have these websites, papers and interesting links rolled up and delivered automatically to my Kindle every week. Think about how amazing that is and how it can change your relationship with content on the web. The stress and urgency (and open tabs) are gone. I am naturally and organically creating a personalized book for weekend reading. I have a bookmarklet from Instapaper that says "Read Later" on my browser toolbar. I've put it in every browser I use, even Mobile Safari. I've also logged into Instapaper from all my social apps so that I can Read Later from my iPhone Twitter Client for example. You'd be surprised how many apps support Instapaper once you start looking for this. What this means it is that Instapaper is ready and waiting for me in every location where an interesting piece of long-form reading could present itself. I don't stress, I click Read Later and the document is shipped off to Instapaper. I even made a flowchart a few years back. You can get more details on that in my blog post Two Must-Have Tools for a More Readable Web. Instapaper delivered to your Kindle So you're building a queue of links that is sent to Instapaper. Perhaps you've tried this before but then never visited the Instapaper App or Website. This is a common complaint and why I like document delivery to the Kindle. I use my Kindle all the time so I appreciate a "no clicks required" workflow. If books show up on my Kindle I'll read them. Just visit http://www.instapaper.com/user/kindle once you've got an Instapaper account and put in your Kindle's email address. Did you know every Kindle has one? It's either email@example.com for free WiFi delivery or just firstname.lastname@example.com for 3G delivery with a small fee. I use the free one. You can find out your Kindle's Email Address here under Personal Document Settings. The key is to allow your Kindle to receive email from the unique Instapaper email address. It's a whitelist. Then, back over in the Instapaper Settings, I set a delivery time if at least 5 things are in the "book": Pulling Links and Content from other Locations with IFTTT Perhaps you pull your content from elsewhere, or you Like things on Facebook, put them in Dropbox, email them to a special address or something else. You can use If This Then That as the social workflow glue to route those links to Instapaper - and ultimately to your Kindle! For example, I also use the Delicious social bookmarking service to hold things I want to save. But, I also want to read them and I don't want to stop using Delicious just because I use Instapaper. Instead, I use an IFTTT Recipe to take newly bookmarked things and send them to Instapaper (and my Kindle!) as well. Here's my Delicious to Kindle Recipe. You can make any recipe you want to pull links from wherever you find them and send them into your long-form reading queue. You can even have blogs - like this one! - sent automatically to your Kindle via Instapaper with an IFTTT recipe like this: The possibilities are endless. Conclusion It can't be overstated how useful this is if you have a Kindle. Rather than opening "guilt-tabs" that you'll never read, have them delivered to yourself in a way that will encourage you TO READ THEM! If your system isn't working for you, change it. If you already have a system that works, well, great job making it all the way to the end of this blog post! For more personal productivity ideas watch my video on Scaling Yourself and visit the Productivity section of this blog. This Week's Sponsor: Your Idea. Your App. 30 Days. Begin your 30-day journey to creating a Windows Store app or game for Windows 8 or Windows Phone today. About Scott Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author. About Newsletter Sponsored By Hosting By Comments [29] Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or use the Permalink


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What's the best Easter chocolate? NBC News asked a 3-year-old who hasn't been allowed to eat that much candy.
For their test, consumer reporter Ben Popken and his son Milo came up with an exacting scientific metric – they would show how much they liked the candy by the width of their hands, and then tabulate the results.
The test soon broke down as Milo spread out his arms their fullest, "this much!" width for every brand they tried.
U.S. & World
But they carried on, eventually putting together a taste test score sheet that includes the arm-width metric and factors in giggles.


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As the dust settles in their cheating scandal, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson aren't speaking, People magazine reported.
The magazine confirmed that the "Twilight" costars-turned-couple were estranged and reported that they had both left the house they have shared, presumably having moved out to separate places.
The pair was together for three years before photographs surfaced that helped reveal the 22-year-old actress had cheated on her 26-year-old boyfriend with Rupert Sanders, who directed her in "Snow White and the Huntsman" and is a married father of two.
U.S. & World
A source told People earlier that Pattinson was "heartbroken and angry," and Stewart followed up the revelation of her cheating with a public apology to him.
"I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I've caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected. This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I'm so sorry," she said in a statement.
Sanders issued an apology, too, saying he was "utterly distraught" by having hurt his family.


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JMR follows APA style.
Author Guidelines
1. Authors must ensure that their papers are free of spelling and grammatical errors and typos.
2. Research papers and research notes should not exceed 8,000 and 3,000 words, respectively.
3. The first page of an article should contain the title of the paper, name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author(s) and an abstract not exceeding 200 words.
4. The first page should also contain five key words according to the Classification System for Journal Articles as used by the Journal of Economic Literature.
5. Equations in the text should be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals within simple brackets and aligned against the right margin.
6. All appendices should be numbered consecutively using upper case roman numerals and shown before the list of references.
7. When formulae displayed have been derived by the author, the full derivations should be given on separate sheets (not to be published) for the information of the referees.
8. References should be cited within the text as follows: According to Wickremasinghe (2005), foreign exchange market … These results are inconsistent with those of other studies (Perera, 1995; Silva, 2000)
9. List of references should show each citation in alphabetical order.
10. Author should register with the journal before submitting manuscripts. Don't forget to choose "author when you register in www.macrothink.org/jmr for uploading your manuscript succefully online.
11. Page proofs will be sent to the corresponding author. The corrected manuscripts should be submitted within 5 working days.
12. DOIs in ReferencesWhen the cited items have DOIs, the authors should add DOI persistent links to the regular references The persistent links should be active.Format of persistent link: https://doi.org/+DOI (without "doi:")Example of persistent link: https://doi.org/10.1109/2.901164
The authors may retrieve articles' DOIs at: http://www.crossref.org/SimpleTextQuery/
The publisher and journal have a policy of "Zero Tolerance on the Plagiarism". We check the plagiarism issue through two methods: reviewer check and plagiarism prevention tool (ithenticate.com).
All submissions will be checked by iThenticate before being sent to reviewers.
Notice for Price Adjustment
|Effective 1 January 2013, the publication fee will increase from 100.00USD to 200.00USD. Manuscripts submitted on or after this date will be charged the new rate of 200.00USD per article.
Manuscripts submitted in 2012 can take advantage of the old rate (100.00USD) if paid on or before January 31, 2013.
All 2012's manuscripts unpaid by 31 January 2013 will be charged the new rate of 200.00USD.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
|Posted: 2012-11-20
|More Announcements...
Vol 12, No 3 (2020)
Table of Contents
Sean Ratican
Chui Seong Lim, Jia Leng Loo, Siew Chin Wong, Kay Tze Hong
Gajendra Sharma
Project Portfolio Selection under Uncertainty: A DEA Methodology using Predicted and Actual Frontiers
Ahmad Hassan, Wade Cook
Paul James


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Steel Strip Angle Roll Forming Machine
Steel Strip Angle Roll Forming Machine Angle steel commonly known as Angle iron, its section is the two sides perpendicular to each other formed rectangular steel strip. Angle has equal side Angle...
Steel Roof or Wall Panel Roll Forming Machine
The roll forming machine is made up of laying material, shaping and post-forming cutting. The color board is smooth and beautiful in appearance, uniform in paint, high in strength and durable in...
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no par(redirected from No Par-Value Capital Stocks)
No Par
A stock that is not assigned a face value at issue. This was once important but no longer is because the prices of stocks vary constantly.
no par
Of or relating to a stock with no specific value assigned to it at the time of issue. Whether a stock has a par value or not is no longer of any consequence to investors.


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Photo Booths in Ecorse -
Wedding and Event Photo Booth Services in Ecorse MI
The Ultimate Photo Booth Experience... more photo booth info
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A man carjacked two drivers and attacked one of them with a bottle before being arrested late Friday, authorities said.
Markkis Porsche Sonier, 24, of Long Beach was booked on suspicion of carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon following his arrest, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials and county booking records.
The series of crimes began about 8:50 p.m. in the parking lot of Denny's restaurant, on 7th Avenue near the 60 Freeway, Sgt. Michael Mileski said.
"The suspect told the victim he had a gun and demanded his vehicle," Mileski said. The victim complied, and the carjacker sped off in the man's Dodge Neon.
Minutes later, Sonier abandoned the Dodge nearby at Turnbull Canyon Road and Gale Avenue in Industry, Mileski said. He then turned it attention to a woman with a Lexus sedan in a parking lot.
"He assaulted her with a bottle," Mileski said.
The woman was struck in the head, Sgt. Greg Taylor said in an written statement. She was treated by paramedics for minor injuries.
The suspect then fled in the woman's car, which was spotted by deputies just around the corner, officials said.
"As Industry station deputies were responding to area of the first carjacking, the suspect nearly collided into a patrol car," Taylor said. "Realizing that the vehicle that nearly collided into them could possibly be related to the carjacking which had just happened, deputies conducted a traffic stop and detained the driver without incident."
Sonier was already on probation for assault, Taylor added.
According to booking records, Sonier was being held in lieu of $185,000 bail pending his initial appearance Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.
UPDATED: Long Beach man accused of carjackings in Hacienda Heights and Industry, attack on woman
A man carjacked two drivers and attacked one of them with a bottle before being arrested late Friday, authorities said.


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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Four members of the University of Maryland men's lacrosse team were named to the 2014 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Team as announced by Commissioner John D. Swofford.
Leading the way for the Terps is sophomore Matt Dunn, who made the team for the second time. Joining Dunn on the team from Maryland are junior Casey Ikeda, sophomore Henry West and freshman Connor Cannizzaro, the 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year.
Duke senior Jordan Wolf, a history major, was named the conference's men's lacrosse scholar athlete of the year.
Duke led the way with seven student-athletes on the team. Notre Dame followed with six and North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia each had five representatives on the team.
To be eligible for All-ACC Academic Team consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.


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Nashville Globe – 1 Mar 1907
Mr. and Mrs. King Entertained — Mr. and Mrs. Coffee, of 629 Ewing avenue, entertained Wednesday night in honor of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. King, who were recently married. A limited number of friends were present who indulged in whist to the strains of music from a graphophone. At a late hour an elaborate five-course menu was served. Many happy congratulations and toasts were showered upon the bride and groom.


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Hearings and Business Meetings
Jun 17 2008
National Parks Subcommittee Hearing: to receive testimony on pending legislation (SD-366)
02:30 PMThe purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1774, to designate the John Krebs Wilderness in the State of California, to add certain land to the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness, and for other purposes; S. 2255, to amend the National Trails System Act to provide for studies of the Chisholm Trail and Great Western Trail to determine whether to add the trails to the National Trails System, and for other purposes; S. 2359, to establish the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission, and for other purposes; S. 2943, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail; S. 3010, to reauthorize the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program; S. 3017, to designate the Beaver Basin Wilderness at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the State of Michigan; S. 3045,to establish the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Forest Heritage Area in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes; H.R. 1143, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park, and for other purposes; and S. 3096, a bill to amend the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute.
If you are having trouble viewing this hearing, please try the following steps:
- Clear your browser's cache - Guide to clearing browser cache
- Close and re-open your browser
- If the above two steps do not help, please try another browser. Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge have the highest level of compatibility with our player.
Witness Panel 1
The Honorable Barbara BoxerU.S. Senator
The Honorable Donna ChristensenU.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Virgin Islands
The Honorable Carl LevinUS Senate
Witness Panel 2
Natural Resources and the Environment: Department of AgricultureForestServiceS3045.doc (37.0 KBs)
Associate DirectorVisitor and Resource Protection, National Park ServiceallNPS.doc (119.0 KBs)
Witness Panel 3
Director of Trail Management/ Acting Executive DirectorPacific Northwest Trail AssociationJonKnechtelTestimony.doc (3.4 MBs)


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We all know that hot moms are lovingly referred to as MILFs, but what's the male equivalent? Easy! We can affectionately see them as DILFs (dad I'd like to fuck). Of course, you could just refer to them as Daddy too, because these live gay daddy cams are full of men that love when people call them that. If you've ever fantasized about meeting a guy like that, you're going to enjoy the hotties right here on RabbitsCams!
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Tag: Prem Soaps
Fave Vegan Things (And Baby Update)!
It's that time again! This week, my fave vegan things include: Gabriel Cosmetics Nail Polish Base, $8.50 Zoya Nail Polish, $8 Mustache decals from Claire's, ~$3 Me & You deodorant, $7.05 Tarnished & True Ring Set, $36 Vegan...
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text:
Every year, Jimmy Kimmel Live follows the Oscars with a star-studded sketch. Last year, audiences were treated to a trailer for Movie: The Movie, which featured dozens of movie stars parodying every film genre and cliché. Naturally, every hit needs a sequel, and JKL has delivered with Movie: The Movie 2V. I'll let you be the judge between which trailer is better, but I would say the sequel surpasses the original when it comes to the obligatory Matt Damon joke.
Hit the jump to check out the trailer. Movie: The Movie 2V opens Arbor Day.


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Basketball star Dwyane Wade has branded the birth of his third child a "blessing" after confirming the baby was conceived during a break in his
relationship from new fiancee Gabrielle Union.
The Miami Heat guard, who has been dating the actress on and off since 2007, hit headlines on Monday when reports emerged suggesting he had recently fathered a son following a romantic encounter with an old friend.
He addressed the news on Monday evening during a press conference before the Heat's game against the Denver Nuggets and insisted Union, 41, had
accepted the new addition to his family before he proposed to her during the Christmas holidays.
He explained, "I had a time, a part in our break, in our pain and our hurt, a blessing came out of it in my life, having a son that was born healthy. So I'm moving on."
Wade, 31, also declared he had nothing to hide as a public figure, stating, "I'm in the public eye, so obviously that's a part of it (news of his personal life hitting headlines). It comes with the territory."
He added, "(It's important to) always focus on what's most important to me and my family, and that's being a great father. I've always tried to show my importance in my kids' lives and it doesn't change now. So, I, my lady and my family have continued to move forward, and I think that's evident with
the ring and the proposal that I gave her, with our lives."
Wade also has two children from his marriage to childhood sweetheart Siohvaughn Funches, which ended in 2007.
Union, who is currently on vacation with friends, has yet to comment on the situation.


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FREE Workshop. Get out of Debt and In Control of Your Money
Name: FREE Workshop. Get out of Debt and In Control of Your Money
Date: January 4, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST
Website: http://www.marreidmoneyhacks.com
Event Description:
FREE Workshop Financial Wellness. Make a plan to get out of debt.
Saturday, June 2nd at 10am-11am. 8750 E State Rd 70, Bradenton, FL 34202. (Goodwill Community Room)
Learn Dave Ramsey style ways to Hack Money and get in control. Brought to you by Married Money Hacks Podcast. Children are welcome. Please like and comment YES to post so we can have an estimate of how many are coming. Please share, someone you love needs this class.


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FSF News
US citizens: Support HR 1201 to reform the DMCA
Please take a moment to write a letter to your representative in support of the bill.
The Free Software Directory D5000 Contest
Call for nominations for the 2006 FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software
Nominations are requested by 31 October 2006.
Opinions Published: GPLv3 and LGPLv3 Drafts Open for Comments
Second Discussion Draft of Revised GNU General Public License Released
Six-Month International Review Process Leads to Revisions and Clarifications
SFLC: OpenDocument is safe for free software
Anti-DRM campaign to petition Bono
Campaign calls upon Bono to take a stand against the digital restrictions found in new technology and music.
Meeting between Ségolène Royal and Richard Stallman
Paris, June 28 2006
Call your US Senator about the Broadcast Flag today
Please ask your Senator to support the Sununu Amendment to strike the broadcast and radio flags.
The French bill on 'droits d'auteur' is generating reactions even in the United States
StopDRM.info press release - Paris, June 9th 2006 -- Several events have been slated to take place this weekend throughout the world in protest against the digital padlocking of culture through technical means of protection (DRM or MTP).
Protesters provide a nasty "vista" for Gates
Hazmat Suits Greet Microsoft Developers As They Gather For Annual Conference
Spain to host the 3rd International Conference on GPLv3
Barcelona, Spain - June 22nd & 23rd
First alpha release of Gnash
Sign the EFF petition in favor of music sharing
Please sign the EFF's petition in favor of music sharing.
Streaming video from 2nd GPLv3 Conference
You can listen to and watch online the proceedings of the 2nd International GPLv3 Conference, part of the Seventh International Free Software Forum.
UK public comment on important issues, due April 21
Wikipedia received the FSF award for projects of social benefit
The award was given at the FSF's annual members meeting in Boston, MA
DADVSI Update: Vivendi Universal strikes back
DADVSI code : Vivendi Universal strikes back, fight the Dark Side of copyright with us!
Don't buy HD-DVD or Blu-ray disks
The GPL tested in US courts - Wallace Vs FSF.
The GNU General Public License stands firm.


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Mr. V was one of my first primary care patients. He arrived at my outpatient clinic with a complex array of medical problems, having recently been discharged from the hospital following a massive heart attack and still undergoing treatment for cancer. An elderly gentleman who had spent much of his life abroad without medical care, he was thrust abruptly into the American health care system filled with doctors' visits, tests, and treatments. As if his medical history wasn't overwhelming enough, Mr. V spoke no English — like many patients under my care.
Over the next few months, he came to see me frequently, always with a medical interpreter who translated while I examined, explained, and prescribed. Waiting for her to repeat everything that Mr. V or I had said was cumbersome at times, but the interpreter's presence was invaluable. When I changed a dose or suggested a new treatment option, Mr. V would smile and nod, seemingly in agreement. I felt that we had established a rapport.
But the language barrier, I came to learn, presented a serious challenge to building a relationship with him. When various test results repeatedly came back different from what I expected, I began to suspect that Mr. V wasn't doing what we had discussed, which given his health problems worried me deeply. Some of his prescriptions were absolutely vital — without them, he could have another heart attack, a stroke, or die from a fatal heart rhythm. So I asked him to come back for another visit.
This time, I asked Mr. V point blank whether he was taking his medications as prescribed. Guarded at first, he eventually admitted that he often took "medication holidays" to give his body time to rest. Through the interpreter, I tried to convey the grave consequences that his decision might pose. My words were being translated literally, but looking at his face, I couldn't quite tell if he fully grasped my warnings about his blood pressure, laboratory results, and medications.
Studies have shown that patients who do not speak English generally fare worse in our health care system. They are often diagnosed with more advanced disease, have difficulty taking medications as prescribed, and spend more time in the hospital. Medical interpreters are essential in bridging this gap, lending meaning to our interactions with non-English-speaking patients. Yet sometimes the barrier between patient and provider is greater than language alone, one that no interpreter, regardless of how skilled or compassionate he or she may be, can surmount.
For Mr. V that barrier stemmed from a cultural belief, instilled in him at a young age, that medications poison the body. He associated feelings of illness or fatigue with his prescriptions, attributing his symptoms to the very medications upon which his life depended. How could I, as his doctor, overcome such deeply embedded perceptions in a 20-minute office visit while communicating through a medical interpreter?
As physicians, we are advised not to allow our patients' friends or family members to act as translators. In addition to lacking the linguistic capability to translate complex medical terms, they may let their emotions, personal beliefs, or biases get in the way. But sometimes, these individuals can help us bridge underlying cultural divides with non-English-speaking patients and provide essential context that professional medical interpreters alone cannot.
While working in the emergency room last year, I met an elderly Indian woman who spoke only Hindi and was rushed to the hospital by her family after a bad fall. Communicating through a hospital interpreter as I examined her, she insisted that her pain was minimal. Afterward, her adult son took me aside and explained that his mother would never reveal how much her leg was actually hurting — out of concern for unnecessarily causing her family to worry. Upon reexamining the patient with the interpreter, I gently advised that she take some pain medicine. Eventually she relented, visibly relieved to be released from her quiet suffering.
Last year, a middle-age Middle Eastern woman who spoke very little English came to see me for a routine pelvic exam. She had already rescheduled our appointment twice, and I was growing concerned. This woman felt deeply uncomfortable about having a stranger in the examination room, even though the clinic's female interpreter would remain behind a privacy curtain the entire time. Eventually, the patient told me that she was willing to undergo the exam with the interpreter present as long as I let her sister, who spoke English, sit behind the curtain as well; I decided to let her do so, and the exam went smoothly.
As our health care system adapts to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society, we must recognize that gaps in understanding — driven by language and culture — often leave patients and providers feeling that something is lost in translation. Professionalizing functions like interpretation is necessary if we are to provide care for a growing non-English-speaking population. But we should take a holistic approach to treating such patients, engaging with their families and friends who may serve as essential links in bridging such divides.
A few months ago, Mr. V began complaining that he was feeling lightheaded and dizzy, likely because he wasn't taking his medications. Concerned that this might lead to another hospital admission — or worse — I called his daughter, who lives out of state, and encouraged her to come with him for our next appointment. She agreed to do so. Although the interpreter was present, Mr. V's daughter often interjected, talking to both her father and myself, switching back and forth from English to their native language. I could tell that Mr. V was engaged. Rather than smile and nod politely, he leaned forward and asked questions. I learned that several of his family members had had negative interactions with the health care system in his native country, leaving him with tremendous distrust for medications and tests. After deliberating with his daughter, he finally agreed to start taking at least some of his vital medications regularly. I now know that he didn't agree with everything I was conveying through the interpreter, but a deeper transformation in his understanding — and our relationship — had begun, thanks to context his daughter had provided.
Dr. Kiran Gupta can be reached at Kiran


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Conjuntalia Digital Download Price Comparison
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|Setup for the three experiments (from discussed publication).
Today a new study appeared in Nature Scientific Reports claiming to show rhythmic entrainment (or spontaneous synchronization as the authors refer to it) in the Japanese macaque (Macaca Fuscata). Intriguing! However, reading the paper it becomes clear quickly that the results might not be what they seemed at first sight.
[link to video for non-Flash supporting devices]
First, as was shown in several earlier studies, macaques can synchronize to an auditory metronome, but they tend to do this in reaction, and not in anticipation of the sound. They do not show the typical negative synchronization error: tapping or pressing a button slightly earlier than the actual sound, a sign that an anticipatory process (i.e. expectation) plays a role.
Second, it is unclear whether the experiments are evidence for rhythmic entrainment: it could well be imitative behavior. This hypothesis is actually confirmed by the third experiment in which the monkeys were asked to synchronize with a virtual monkey (see panel C above) of which the auditory and visual information was presented independently as well as combined. The monkeys performed better for the visual condition as opposed to the auditory condition. In contrast, in humans it is the opposite: rhythmic entrainment is much stronger in the auditory modality.
Lastly, the researchers only analyzed asynchronies between the button presses of the two monkeys sitting opposite to each other (see Panel B above). Therefore the results could well be simply support for an imitative, cq. reactive behavior instead of evidence for a periodic anticipatory reaction that is common to human rhythmic entrainment.
Nagasaka, Y., Chao, Z., Hasegawa, N., Notoya, T., & Fujii, N. (2013). Spontaneous synchronization of arm motion between Japanese macaques Scientific Reports, 3 DOI: 10.1038/srep01151
Honing, H., Merchant, H., Háden, G., Prado, L., & Bartolo, R. (2012). Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) Detect Rhythmic Groups in Music, but Not the Beat PLoS ONE, 7 (12) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051369


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Martha Stewart, herb gardening, and uhh
girl stuff. Hens only.
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Second Lead Sarcophagus Found at Gabii
The Italian news site Libero reported today on the newest lead sarcophagus from the site of Gabii, an archaeological site located in the Roman suburbs. In 2009, the team found the first lead sarcophagus - a unique style in the Roman world, as it was folded over like a burrito (see below). No pictures have yet been released of the newest discovery. As the bioarchaeologist of the Gabii Project, I'm super cheesy excited. More news to come, I hope!
|The original lead burrito:
Imperial-period tomb from Gabii
(photo by Jeff Becker, hosted at NatGeo)


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show (one's) (true) colors(redirected from don't show my true colors)
show (one's) (true) colors
To reveal what one truly believes, thinks, or wants; to act in accordance with one's real personality, temperament, or disposition. Dave said all along that he only wanted this deal because it was in the company's best interest, but he showed his true colors once he realized that he wouldn't get any special commission for his efforts. It's only in times of crisis that your friends will really show their colors.
show one's (true) colors
Fig. to show what one is really like or what one is really thinking. Whose side are you on, John? Come on. Show your colors. It's hard to tell what Mary is thinking. She never shows her true colors.
show one's colors
see under false colors; also show one's true colors.
show one's true colors
Reveal oneself as one really is, as in We always thought he was completely honest, but he showed his true colors when he tried to use a stolen credit card . This expression alludes to the antonym, false colors, that is, sailing under a flag other than one's own. [Late 1700s]


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To say living healthy lifestyle is a challenge is an understatement. As a single working mom, it's hard to ensure that I'm taking all the necessary steps to live a healthy lifestyle not only for myself, but my daughter as well. We have fallen victim far too many times to grabbing something on the run which is always unhealthy. Committing to living a healthy life is hard, and I have tried a lot of different programs to help me lose weight and tone up. Everyone says that your diet is key, and as I learn more and more about the items I consume, I couldn't agree more with this statement.
But, I'm glad to say that I have committed to living a healthy lifestyle not only for myself, but for my daughter as well. I have to start practicing what I preach. I make it a priority to ensure that my daughter is eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, and I need to start applying the same principles to my own life. It's amazing how one seemingly small change can lead to a lifetime of healthy choices. My small step has been to eat breakfast. I've never been a fan before, but I realized by the time lunch came around I was devouring everything! Not good. So usually on Sundays I boil 6-8 eggs to have in the morning along with some almonds and/or baby carrots. I never desire a huge portion, so having a small breakfast really works well for me.
I was excited to hear about BistoMD's new "Choose Health" challenge. BistroMD delivers meals for a lighter, healthier you. Every meal is hand-prepared by chefs and provides lean adequate protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fat ratios to support healthy weight loss. They use quality, natural ingredients without hormones, added fillers and unnecessary additives or preservatives. This means no MSG, no Trans Fats, just delicious meals that are good for you. I can dig it!!
To join in on this amazing challenge visit www.facebook.com/bistromd and tell them how you'll challenge yourself to start living healthy. If committing to a healthy lifestyle wasn't enough, you can also win great prizes like a week of healthy weight loss meals, an iPad2, or a $500 shopping spree or cash! So run, don't walk over to their page!! In addition BistroMD.com is offering FREE Shipping on your first week of meals. Simply Use Discount Code: ChooseHealth at checkout.
Have you committed to living a healthy life? If so, what small steps are you taking to help reach your goals?
Happy Healthy Living!!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by BistroMD , opinions expressed are the blogger's own views not influenced by any outside biases.
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Boxes, Boxes Everywhere
The law of unintended consequences tells us that actions, especially on a large scale, may have surprisingly unexpected results. Take the eCommerce boom. The $350 billion eCommerce industry (in the United States) has transformed the retail and delivery business and given the customer greater control of the buying experience.


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Showing 1 - 4 of 4
Report City Budget
10 Myths About Balancing NYC's Budget
December 06, 2002The CBC prepared this document to clear up a series of common misunderstandings about the budget.
Report City Budget
Preserving Police Services In Tough Fiscal Times
December 03, 2002Offers ways to preserve police services in the face of New York City's difficult fiscal situation, including increasing civilianization and reducing overtime.
Report Public Workforce
The 40-Hour Week
December 03, 2002This report explores options for increasing the productivity of non-managerial civilian municipal workers by extending the work week to 40 hours.
Report City Budget
No Small Change
February 10, 2002This report explores opportunities for streamlining procurement in New York City through emphasis on use of information technology.


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7" Round silver cake drum boards are ideal for use with all types of cake, strong enough to support any cake from fruit to sponge.
This 12mm thick, 7" Round Silver Cake Drum Board is ideal for presenting your cakes upon. Strong enough to support any type of cake, from a heavy fruit cake to a lighter sponge cake.
As a general rule, a 7" drum is perfect for a 4" fruit cake, and a 5" sponge cake.
7" dia x 12mm (D)
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With CES kicking off this week, it would appear that RIM is throwing us a Tidbit a little early, say hello to the Blackberry Presenter.
This handy little accessory makes it possible to connect your berry to a projector or monitor by way of a hub that is connected works off your berries bluetooth. Your Blackberry sends the data via bluetooth to the hub and from there the hub can be connected to the monitor or projector by either a VGA or S-Video connection. No more need for a laptop when doing powerpoint presentations off of your Blackberry.
This accessory reminds me of the Unify4Life and Blackberry Music Gateway systems. Unify4life works the same pattern for its popular Unify4life Shadow system that turns your Berry into a universal remote control via bluetooth hub.
With this release coming before CES even kicks off, should hopefully mean that some exciting news is coming our way.


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The recent hysteria over the defeat of world chess champion Gary Kasparov by IBM computer Deep Blue has provided fresh fuel for the debate over whether computers can be intelligent and, yes, even exhibit the other qualities of mind -- consciousness, sensation, emotion and the like. Researchers in artificial intelligence (AI) are no doubt pointing to the victory as a crucial step in what they already see as inevitable -- that, there being no essential difference between mind and machine, machines are, and will continue to become, more mind-like. The rest of us, less schooled in the technicalities of computer programming, no doubt are confused about the meaning of Deep Blue's victory and what it says about our humanity. We have long believed in (and for good reason) the uniqueness of our minds, and their qualitative distinctiveness from purely material things such as computers. Has Deep Blue threatened these beliefs? What, in light of Deep Blue's victory, should the rational person believe? Now, perhaps more than ever, is the time to re-examine the idea that computers can simulate our own minds.
No one can beat Deep Blue at chess. Gary Kasparov could not beat Deep Blue, and Kasparov is as good as any chess player has been and perhaps ever will be. Kasparov is the Michael Jordan of chess. Deep Blue is better (rematches notwithstanding). Deep Blue not only managed the impossible -- intimidating Kasparov at his own game -- but left him aghast at the apparent cunning and creativity of the manner in which it played. After his defeat in Game Two, Kasparov was so unnerved at the strategic maneuvering of Deep Blue that he insinuated that IBM might have tinkered with Blue's program during the match. Kasparov was almost certainly wrong about this, but he was right to be concerned -- Deep Blue is beginning to outdistance human chess playing in almost all aspects. Deep Blue -- calculating 200 million positions per second -- has become brilliant, strategic, and, yes, essentially unbeatable.
Really, though, is anyone surprised that the folks at IBM could develop an invincible chess machine? What is incredible about the Kasparov/Deep Blue match is not that a computer, evaluating 200 million positions per second, could beat a man, evaluating maybe three per second, but that Kasparov could give Deep Blue a match. Kasparov does not evaluate millions of positions before making a move -- Deep Blue does. How can Kasparov compete? That is the question left unasked in the hysteria over Deep Blue's victory. For those of us asking the really hard questions about the human mind, the debate begins here.
One of the claims made about Deep Blue's performance is that it has passed the "Turing Test." Alan Turing, a British mathematician, proposed in 1950 that any machine whose output was indistinguishable from a human's could reasonably be said to be intelligent. That is, there are no grounds for denying intelligence to any machine, if one can't distinguish its output from a human's in the same situation. Thus, Deep Blue has passed the Turing Test in chess situations because an independent observer could not tell which moves were Kasparov's and which were Deep Blue's (or, to put it another way, whether Kasparov was playing a great human or a computer). The proviso here is that Deep Blue can pass the Turing Test only while playing chess. Outside of this restricted arena, it would be extremely easy to distinguish Deep Blue from a human interlocutor (suppose that you type questions to Deep Blue and a human and then read their typed responses from a monitor -- any normal human would make appropriate replies, while Deep Blue would sit mindlessly, waiting for a chess position to evaluate). It is therefore obvious that Deep Blue cannot pass the Turing Test, when the Turing Test is correctly construed as a general and unrestricted test of intelligence. Deep Blue is not even close; it cannot even answer questions about chess. It can only play. That's it.
Granted, one cannot tell a human's game from Deep Blue's. In that sense, it passed. But then, by that standard, a medical program which takes lists of symptoms and medications and makes correct prescriptions for patients has passed the Turing Test in the domain of medicine as well. Such so-called expert systems are a commonplace in many technical fields, yet no one is pronouncing them intelligent. That's because they aren't. In situations that require speed and efficiency in performing operations on discreet, finite lists of information, computers perform splendidly. In the real world, where the information cannot be given in discreet, finite lists (without being meaningless or effectively infinite in length), computers are imbecilic. Most six-year-olds can easily outperform the best computers in basic conversation. In the excitement over Deep Blue's victory, people have failed to see that evidence of Kasparov's mental superiority is not found in the chess match but outside that artificial domain. Where it really counts, Deep Blue doesn't have a chance. The question is: Can Deep Blue's (and other super computers') performance in an artificially restricted domain be expanded into the sort of general intelligence characteristic of humans relying on experience and intuition? Bridging this gap -- the gap from chess to human thought -- may be longer and more difficult than the fervor over Deep Blue suggests.
Philosopher and AI researcher Daniel C. Dennett describes the Frame Problem as how to get a computer to look before it leaps, or, better, to think before it leaps. Ask a computer to perform a task outside of a clearly defined domain (like chess), and one will soon be stopped cold by the Frame Problem. Dennett tells an amusing anecdote of a robot, R1D1, whose task it is to recover its spare battery from a room where there is a time bomb set to detonate soon. R1D1, designed by experts in AI to be an intelligent system, always considers the implications of its actions. This is a great improvement from R1, who, unfortunately, did not consider all the implications of pulling out the battery with the time bomb strapped to it, and met an untimely demise. R1D1 is much improved; a crowning achievement for AI. So (as the story goes) R1D1 must rescue its battery from the time bomb, and, like R1, hits on the command PULLOUT (WAGON,ROOM). Only this time R1D1's superior program begins to consider the implications of such an action. Dennett tells the story:
It had just finished deducing that pulling the wagon out of the room would not change the color of the room's walls, and was embarking on a proof of the further implication that pulling the wagon out would cause its wheels to turn more revolutions than there were wheels on the wagon -- when the bomb exploded.
R1D1, like all computers, is a victim of the Frame Problem. The Frame Problem arises because most tasks deemed intelligent require intuitive, contextually-based knowledge of a situation that cannot be pre-programmed because the possible scenarios arising from them are effectively infinite. A computer programmed to, say, order a sandwich at a restaurant like a person performs flawlessly until the waiter asks a question that presupposes knowledge of things on a broader scale. Suppose the waiter asks the program designed to order food, "How is the weather today?" Since the computer relies on a specified list of responses, any program lacking explicit responses about the weather will fail. (The computer, of course, could just respond "fine", but it would have to know to say "fine" and not say, "I don't know.") Any other interactions that are not straight-away consequences of ordering food (or playing chess, analyzing stock market trends, and so on) will fail as well. Because computers are programmed, they cannot fill in what is not explicitly given in their programs. Yet it is impossible to pre-program all the information that might become necessary in intelligent interactions. Managing even brief conversational exchanges requires an effectively infinite lexicon of facts, that, even if they could be stored, could not be used in real-time.
In the case of R1D1, a further difficulty involving the Frame Problem arises. It is impossible to pre-program all the information that is not necessary to complete an intelligent task. There is an effectively infinite list of implications connected to any action. Only a few are relevant. The ratio of the revolutions of the wheels to their number on the wagon is not relevant to rescuing R1D1's battery. Nor is the paint on the walls. Why not program a computer to just ignore irrelevant implications? This sounds fine until one realizes that a computer busy ignoring infinite numbers of irrelevant implications is not likely to solve a problem in real-time -- the time it takes to get the battery before the bomb explodes. Of course, by simply programming R1D1 to, say, locate and remove the bomb from the battery, one can get the desired result. What is left, however, is not intelligent behavior but a programmed list of instructions for a mindless machine.
And that is exactly what Deep Blue is. Calculating millions of positions per second, Deep Blue avoids the Frame Problem by having pre-programmed instructions for every move and position it encounters. Mindlessly computing positions, Deep Blue plays magnificent chess. But life, unlike chess, is not a closed logical system. Intelligent behavior in the broader context of life requires experience and judgment -- an ability to learn as one goes. Deep Blue does not need this because, in the domain of chess, all that is required can be specified beforehand, deterministically. Kasparov, of course, brings human qualities to chess. Kasparov uses his mind. But he is at a grave disadvantage, because he plays a game whose essence is logical steps and not intuitive feel. Sooner or later, a machine that can evaluate millions and millions of these logical steps will surpass even Kasparov's great feel for the game -- much like a calculator can surpass a human arithmetician. Deep Blue wins. Big deal. Deep Blue is a mindless calculator, and for this reason it is relatively irrelevant to solving the problem of real intelligence.
With the almost universal acceptance of materialism in the cognitive sciences (AI, neuroscience, and other cognate fields), there seems no grounds for believing that the mind, although intuitive and intelligent, could be anything but the product of a material thing. The idea that the mind is a computer is particularly compelling. After all, what else could the mind be, if not a biological calculator, computing complex yet ultimately discreet and tangible operations? Won't scientists eventually decipher how the neurons in our brains fire to create the programs that are our minds?
But now we have reached an impasse. AI scientists know -- though they are strangely loathe to admit it -- that they are dealing in a sort of alchemy, because not one of them knows how a mind with consciousness -- the particular subjective feel of emotions and sensations -- could arise from blind computations. It is one thing to debate whether computers could ever pass the Turing Test; whether they could simulate a mind by displaying the outward signs of general intelligence. But it is quite another issue whether computers could actually reproduce a mind; have real, subjective experiences within. What, after all, do you program into a computer to generate anger or taste or the experience of, say, the color red? What sort of instructions do you give a computer which lacks this, in order that it experiences it? AI and cognitive science are hot new fields because the challenges they present are deep and theoretically mind-boggling. For intelligence, we have the Frame Problem. For mind itself , we have the Consciousness Problem. Can computers be programmed to actually come alive? The perplexities with the Frame Problem pale by comparison. Asking someone to program a computer to be conscious seems rather like asking someone to explain the atmospheric conditions of Mars by reference to the financial markets in capitalist countries. No common ground exists. Feeling is just not the sort of thing that a discrete list of rules can explain. Recognition of this has prompted a growing number of researchers to begin speculating not only about the limits of AI but the limits of material science itself. How, exactly, could a conscious mind arise out of material stuff -- whether a computer, a brain, or anything else?
The traditional idea is that stuff and conscious minds are different things -- different substances in the vernacular of philosophy. That idea dates back to Plato and is rooted in our Judeo-Christian heritage and our conviction that persons have souls which can survive the death of their bodies. Twentieth- century science has almost universally rejected this view, largely on the grounds that no materialistic account of a soul can be given. The idea, they say, is tantamount to believing in magic, because no conceivable explanation within science can account for immaterial substances.
One could ask, however, what is less magical about the idea that a computer's specified list of rules could suddenly begin feeling and perceiving? AI researchers who recognize that their programs cannot possibly explain such subjective phenomena nonetheless point out that someday, some super-fast and complex computer might just come alive anyway. There is of course no logical reason for rejecting this claim. Yet, by accepting it, we might just as well have accepted the traditional view: minds are immaterial substances which somehow, though we know not how, are connected with our material brains and are the basis for our subjective lives, experiences, moral judgments, and intelligence. That this view is so unpopular speaks less to its scientific merits (what, after all, are the scientific merits of a computer just coming alive?), than to its connection with traditional beliefs and ideas considered outdated.
Deep Blue has given us a lot to think about. Yet it is not its prowess at chess that illuminates the debate over what our minds are. The day will come when Deep Blue beats Kasparov (or his successor) in all six games. When that happens, a new wave of technological euphoria (dread) will sweep over us. Or, perhaps, we will be wiser and more critical, and realize that the hard questions -- the ones to ask -- lie outside of the chess matches between man and machine. They lie in the deep and perplexing tangles of the Frame Problem; in the task of designing computers with broad, general intelligence. They lie in the mind-boggling questions of conscious experience; how we have it, and why. In these great philosophical and theological questions lie the real answers we seek. We may never find them. Yet, regardless, we can be sure they aren't answered -- aren't even touched -- by Kasparov's loss to Deep Blue.
Copyright © 1997 Erik Larson. All rights
reserved. International copyright secured.
File Date: 1.1.98


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Where does that fear come from that locks us in place?
What if today was a beginning and end?
What if we cut those ties that are so tight we have to remind ourselves to breathe?
What if we silenced those voices from within and without
when they say,
can't, won't, shouldn't, couldn't?
What if we release the pain that has become a comfort, and a safe place to hide?
What if stepped away from the judgement and disrespect of others?
What if we no longer let another's vision for us keep us from our authentic selves?
What if we stopped self-sabotaging?
What if we put our toxic waste in a box, blessed it, forgave it, tied it up
tight with string
and kicked it down the road?
What if we practiced compassion, empathy?
What if we weren't afraid of tears?
What if we practiced joy?
What if we made room for the inspired?
What if we turned the noise down?
What if stepped away from the path that no longer calls to us?
What if we painted the picture we want to step into?
and stepped into it barefooted?
What if we took
our long buried dreams out from their hiding place
and held them to the light?
What if we danced with them?
What if we embraced the gift of them?
What if we believed?
What if we relaxed?
What if today was the day we pulled up the words
from deep within
and spoke our truth to one and all?
Or just one?
What if we cared?
What if we honored ourselves?
What if we asked for what we need?
What if we reached out to each other in support?
What if as a tribe we chased away loneliness, and fear,
and poverty?
What if we embraced our true and loving hearts?
What if we stopped lying?
What if we asked for forgiveness?
What if we forgave?
Not just them, but ourselves.
What if we loved unconditionally?
Not just us, but them?
What if we became pilgrims of peace?
What if we really stepped into life?
What if we chose to live?
What if I did it today?
And what if we don't?