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The visitor to the little fishing village of Abercastle, on Pembrokeshire's north-western coast, might be excused for thinking they are in Cornwall or Devon, for this hidden harbour beneath the ancient grey igneous rocks is redolent of those areas.
But, compared with those potentially overcrowded coasts, this former trading port, first mentioned as a safe harbour in 1566, still manages to escape the summer crowds.
Known in the olden days as Cwm Badau or Bay of Boats, Abercastle had several fairly large sloops based there, trading with Bristol and Liverpool carrying cargoes of local slate, stone and corn. Right up to the 1920s oats and stone from the local quarries, were still being being shipped out and coal, mostly from the many mines in the Pembrokeshire coalfield, and limestone, were being imported.
The signs are still there to speak of the size of the sailing ships which plied their trade there. Two stout cannon-like bollards survive and the obligatory limekiln has been preserved in excellent condition. Every creek, harbour and cove around this coast has its lime kilns to slake lime for the surrounding farms.
Standing protectively by the northern entrance to the harbour in what geologists will tell you is a drowned valley, is Ynys y Castell (Castle Island), and on the summit is a tump which used to be considered an Iron Age coastal fort. But experts now cast doubt on this theory, saying that it is more likely to be an early Christian site, perhaps the cell of some holy hermit or one of the many saints associated with this corner of Wales. Another legend which the locals like to perpetuate, because it is good for the tourists to have a talking point, is that rectangular markings on the rock were made by the finger of Samson when he laid the rock there aeons ago. This, they confirm by inviting visitors to look to the south-west and see the magnificent New Stone Age burial chamber called Carreg Samson (Samson's Stone) dating from about 3000BC, to which Samson is reputed to have carried the giant capstone and placed it into position using only his little finger, which now rests in the grave beneath it. Some believe that the name Samson does not mean the biblical strongman slain by Delilah's guile, but the power of the spirit of Saint Samson of Caldey island.
Abercastle is a place much frequented by artists, photographers and students of wildlife. Along these cliffs fulmars glide and, in the early dawn of summer mornings, often wake lighter sleepers with their raucous cackling. The keen ornithologists will also see chough picking insects among off the clifftop tussocks, and ravens doing springtime aerobatics. Offshore, the observant sea watcher may catch a glimpse of harbour porpoises, seals, or the occasional dolphin or basking shark, for upwellings in the bay, particularly around the submarine glacial overflow channels, bring up nutrients on which these fascinating sea creatures feed.


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This guy has had a heck of a journey. He was pulled from the Merced shelter in CA back in January. then made it to WA only to be bounced around in several foster homes. Finally, a friend who runs another rescue sent a frantic plea that he was just miserable at her house and she was desperate..and like the dumbass I am, I said sure..transfer him to DRAW and ill take him. So..without further ado..here is Prince. He has some minor issues but is overall a realy nice little dog! Him and Vinnie are pals. He and Quincy, not so much I am labeling him an IG/chi mix. What do you guys think? Oh yeah and um..he is QUITE available!
Prince says "I Iz CUTE!"
Vin is all like "Been there, done that..never got a t shirt"

subset: commoncrawl


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Webcams offer a low-cost way to tune lasers for serious science
Every photon in a laser beam marches in lockstep, at an identical wavelength that depends on what the laser is used for – for example, infrared lasers that drive the optic fiber internet. For many applications, lasers need to be precisely tuned to those wavelengths, and the wavelength-measuring instruments can be more expensive than the lasers themselves.
Now, using a handful of inexpensive components – including an off-the-shelf computer webcam and a small diffraction grating, a device for splitting and diffracting light into several beams – researchers have built a diffraction spectrometer that can tune lasers with better than one part-per-million accuracy.
"The accessibility, simplicity, and cost make it feasible to provide such precision measurements for every single laser in a laboratory," says physicist and study co-author Robert E. Scholten of the University of Melbourne.
Indeed, Scholten says, the instrument, which is described in the AIP's journal Review of Scientific Advances, is simple enough to be constructed in undergraduate physics labs – "and could easily be a high-school project," he adds. "It would provide excellent training in optics and the wave nature of light, and once constructed, the device can be used to elucidate the quantum mechanical structure of matter, for example by measuring the fine-structure splitting or even the hyperfine structure of atoms such as sodium."
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Hello, everyone!
I'm here today with a layout that I shared on the Shimmerz Paints blog yesterday...
To begin, I started by layering a piece of patterned paper on top of a light pink piece of card stock for my background and then decided where I wanted my photos and cut file to go. After I was satisfied with the placement of the main elements of my layout, I chose one of my stencils and some Tidy Widy Texture paste and used a small spatula to create the dimensional dots.
After the Texturez paste dried, I took the black and white cut file and sprayed and splattered some Well Blue Me Down Coloringz spray ink on top of it to help bring out the aqua blue color in my photos. I also added a few ink splatters using the Night Moves Coloringz around the edges of my layout for some added contrast and to coordinate with the black elements on my page.
Next up, I took a watercolor brush and dipped it in some Tickle Me Turquoise Shimmerz paint and dripped it onto a piece of tissue paper so I could blot some areas around my page in the pretty, shimmery blue color.
I used items from the Maggie Holmes Chasing Dreams collection to embellish my layout and layered a few sequins around for even more shimmer and shine!
I rarely use a colored card stock for a background, but I really love the effect of the white Texturez paste on top of the pink, don't you? Thanks so much for joining me and I hope you have lovely day!


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Gareth Heyes has a quick new post to his blog today about the use of htmlentities and the false assumptions some developers have about it:
When someone uses htmlentities I've seen it time and time again that they expect that it filters variables from all XSS. This is wrong of course because the function requires a second parameter ENT_QUOTES which correctly replaces quote characters. Some developers aren't even aware that quotes can lead to XSS injection.
He reminds developers of the second parameter - the ENT_QUOTES parameter that correctly replaces quotes. Other people have mentions things in the comments as well like another optional parameter to force an encoding type and opinions about the function's use.


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"Life Itself" is a celebration of the life of Roger Ebert, one of the best-known film critics to ever take notes in a darkened movie theater. At times it is hard to watch, but it has plenty of smiles in store for longtime movie fans.
One of the highlights of this year's Sundance Film Festival was a documentary on one of its most famous patrons. "Life Itself" is a celebration of the life of Roger Ebert, one of the best-known and longest-tenured film critics to ever take notes in a darkened movie theater. At times it is hard to watch, but it has plenty of smiles in store for longtime movie fans. "Life Itself" celebrates the voice of a man who was unable to speak at all in his final years. The documentary intercuts passages focusing on selections from his 2011 memoir of the same name (often narrated by Ebert himself) with footage shot in the months before Ebert's death last year. The footage is shot by Steve James, who also directed "Hoop Dreams," another popular Sundance documentary. The footage is fortunate in its timing, even if it can be hard to watch. In the final years of his life, Ebert fought cancer and lost his jaw in the process. The result is some unflinching footage of a marred Ebert who is unable to speak or eat without a lower jaw but whose enthusiastic eyes almost make up for the abilities he has lost. Ebert's story almost doubles as a narrative for contemporary cinema itself. He took over as critic for the Chicago Sun-Times in the late 1960s, around the same time anti-hero films such as "Bonnie and Clyde" were changing the landscape of modern Hollywood. "Life Itself" takes time to explore Ebert's relationships with filmmakers like Russ Meyer and Martin Scorsese, veering from camp (Ebert wrote the screenplay for Meyer's infamous "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls") to heartwarming (Ebert's example and persistent support helped Scorsese face down his own substance-abuse issues). Eventually the narrative builds to his famous partnership with Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel. Predictably, "Life Itself" puts a special focus on this tenuous relationship. Initially competitors who hardly exchanged a word, the years Siskel and Ebert spent on television together eventually formed a fond brotherhood between the critics, even if some priceless behind-the-scenes clips prove their tension never completely went away. Siskel died years before Ebert, which gives "Life Itself" a feeling of closure on a major part of Americana beyond its subject critic alone. Later on, "Life Itself" spends a generous amount of time on Ebert's relationship with his wife, Chaz, the woman who convinced the longtime bachelor to finally retire his jersey. Some of her reaction shots and interview segments provide the most touching moments of the film. James and Ebert obviously have a close relationship, but the director doesn't hold back from showing Ebert in his more unflattering moments. James' camera follows him through sessions of physical therapy and feeding where he is barely able to move, and his frustration is obvious. James isn't interested in giving viewers the dirt on his subject, but his loving hand still gives an honest portrayal, including stretches touching on Ebert's alcoholism and other struggles. Still, even these scenes have a way of endearing the viewer to the film's subject. While "Life Itself" falls more into the category of "posthumous celebration" than "in-depth documentary," it does an excellent job of painting a visual portrait of a man who was often polarizing, yet almost universally admired. Whether you agreed with his take on a movie or not, you could never doubt the passion or enthusiasm he held for his work. "Life Itself" nails that passion perfectly. "Life Itself" is not rated but nudges into R-rated territory with some profanity (including three uses of the F-word) and some brief flashes of nudity.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D140065%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E


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A stem cell transplant uses young blood cells, called stem cells, to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by cancer treatment. These stem cells will grow and become new and healthy bone marrow. The bone marrow is first destroyed with high-dose chemotherapy. Or this may be done from radiation treatment to your whole body. Then healthy stem cells are put back in your body.
A stem cell transplant is a complex treatment. It can cause serious side effects. Because of this, it is most often used only when lymphoma is no longer affected by other treatments, or has come back after treatment. A stem cell transplant may also be part of the first treatment for some hard-to-treat types of lymphoma.
There are 2 kinds of stem cell transplants:
Allogeneic transplant. This means the stem cells come from another person, called a donor, whose cell type is almost exactly like yours. This may be a close relative such as a brother or sister.
Autologous transplant. This means the stem cells are collected from your own body and saved. This is done before you get chemotherapy.
Autologous transplants are usually preferred over allogeneic transplants. This is because of the lower risk of serious side effects. But autologous transplants can have some possible problems. For example, they may be a little less likely to fully destroy the lymphoma. An allogeneic transplant is often done if an autologous transplant didn't work. Discuss the risks and benefits of each with your doctor.
Stem cells may be collected in one of these ways:
From the blood. This is the most common source of stem cells for a transplant. You or your donor may get an injection of a growth factor medicine for several days. This medicine helps stimulate stem cell production. The method for collecting stem cells from the blood is called apheresis. It's a lot like giving blood, but it takes longer. A thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, is used to get blood from your vein or from a donor. The blood goes to a cell separation device to remove the stem cells. Then the extra blood is returned to you or the donor. You may have a strange taste in your mouth during this process. This is from the substance or preservative used to freeze the stem cells. This process may need to be done more than once to collect the right amount of cells.
From the bone marrow. Stem cells may also be taken from your bone marrow. Or they may be taken from your donor's bone marrow. This is done while you or your donor are in a deep sleep with general anesthesia. A doctor makes a few small holes or punctures in the pelvic or hip bone to remove marrow. The hip bone may be sore for a few days. These stem cells are filtered and frozen until they are needed.
From umbilical cord blood. Stem cells may also be collected from umbilical cord blood. After a baby is born, the blood from the placenta and umbilical cord is collected. This blood has many stem cells. The blood is frozen and stored until it is needed by someone with a matching tissue type.
You will be admitted to the hospital the day before your transplant. Your doctor or nurse will go over the procedure with you. They will also talk about ways to lower your risk for infections.
The next morning, you will begin several days of high-dose chemotherapy or radiation.
After this therapy is done, you will get the stored stem cells through an IV or intravenous line that's attached to a tube. This is like a blood transfusion. The stem cells will go to the bone marrow. In the bone marrow, they begin to multiply and make new blood cells.
You will then have to wait for your stem cells to start multiplying. This is called engraftment. You may have to be away from other people, or be isolated, during this time. This is to help prevent getting an infection. Engraftment may take 3 to 4 weeks.
In some cases, the cancer comes back (relapses) after the transplant. If you had an allogeneic transplant, you may be eligible for a treatment after the stem cell transplant. This treatment is called DLI, or donor lymphocyte infusion. DLI is done by removing a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes from the stem cell donor's blood and freezing them. The lymphocytes are later thawed. They are given to you in 1 or more infusions. The donor's lymphocytes will see any lymphoma cells that are left as not belonging to your body. They will attack the lymphoma cells.
Most of the short-term side effects of a stem cell transplant are from the high doses of chemotherapy or radiation. These should go away as you recover from the transplant. Common side effects can include:
Low blood cell counts
Feeling tired
Upset stomach, or nausea
Loss of appetite
Mouth sores
Hair loss
Fever or chills
Shortness of breath
Tightness or pain in the chest
Low blood pressure
Some side effects of a stem cell transplant may be long-lasting or appear years later, such as:
Shortness of breath, often caused by radiation damage to the lungs
Lack of menstrual periods, which may mean ovary damage and cause infertility
Infertility in men
Weight changes
Vision problems such as blurriness or cloudiness, caused by damage to the lens of the eye
Bone pain, caused from damage due to lack of blood supply (aseptic necrosis)
Problems with metabolism, caused by damage to the thyroid gland
Growth of another cancer, such as leukemia, years later
Another possible long-term side effect is graft-versus-host disease. This can only occur with an allogeneic transplant. The immune system cells in the donor's stem cells attack your body. The cells can attack your skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract, mouth, or other organs. This can cause symptoms such as:
Skin rashes with itching
Severe diarrhea
Extreme tiredness, or fatigue
Yellow-colored skin, called jaundice
Muscle pain


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The life of the edgy comedian. First we find that Sacha Baron Cohen was denied the chance to host the Oscars. Now we find he's not even coming after his potentially uncomfortable presenting skit was cut.
New York Magazine's Vulture column quotes an Oscar insider detailing the "Avatar" sketch planned by Cohen and Ben Stiller that was nixed only yesterday. Cohen planned to appear onstage as a blue-skinned, female Na'vi with Stiller gamely serving as an ineffective Earth translator. As Cohen would grow more frustrated with the translation he would open his evening gown to reveal he was pregnant with James Cameron's baby.
Naturally he would then confront the baby daddy in front of an international audience.
While Cohen's outrageous air arrival at the MTV awards in 2009 on top of Eminem's face was a big hit and the talk of the ceremony, Oscar producers didn't feel this would go down well and could be offensive to the big-time director.
"Let's just say that Cameron isn't known to be, shall we say, self-deprecating," one insider explained to the mag. The skit was denied and Cohen decided he doesn't want to present anymore.
Cohen's rep says that due to "creative differences" the comedian will stay home. "(Cohen) might as well remain in London," says the rep. Alas.


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The morning of Ethan's birthday, Daddy stopped and got a doughnut for the big boy.
I cringed; but being the good sport I am (ahem) I put some birthday candles on it and we sang
yet another rendition of "Happy Birthday" to our now official four-year-old!
I would like to publicly state that this is not my idea of a well-balanced, healthy breakfast.
But my carb/sweet lover really enjoyed it.
I mean tremendously.
Later that morning, Shane got to work on Ethan's cake. Can anyone guess, based on the pre-birthday activity, what kind of cake E wanted for his big day?
If you guessed a bowling cake....you are correct!
Now, I am the cook/baker in our family, but Shane has a real knack for the technical stuff. I had the idea of what I wanted for the cake--which was a near perfect match of Shane's idea--but I had no idea how in the world I would be able to pull something like that off.
So, big Daddy pulled out his tools and got to work, drawing a template of a bowling pin.
He compass-ed, ruler-ed, measured and technical-ized that thing to death.
{I would like to publicly state for the record that this is not my area.
I would have never been able to do this!}
Just call him 'Cake Boss', folks.
He found various circular pieces in my kitchen to find the right sizes,
according to his dimensions, to cut out for the layers.
Then, he leveled....
...and dry fit the bottom of the pin.
I would also like to publicly state that this was all under my close direction and supervision, of course.
Then, it was time to fit the pieces together for real!
We frosted in between each layer, and Shane shaved the layers to form the pin.
Then, he began to form the top.
He threaded a straw down the middle of the cake (for stability) and then we started to frost!
After the bottom of the pin was done, it was onto the ball.
A chocolate ball, of course.
Time to add the top of the pin!
While Shane and I were adding the finishing touches to the cake,
Ethan was opening some presents from Grandma MJ, Mommy, and Daddy.
He had lots of help!
Everyone always says how much Ethan and Lola look alike...I really see it in this picture!
Grandma Jane got the older two boys a little something too--a couple of new superheroes!
There were so excited.
Ethan got a new set of Mario Kart sheets. Per his request, they were washed and on his bed the next day!
And, since it was my birthday, too--I got to open a few things!
Lola was a good helper :) and I opened a new pink and black Addidas running pant set--something I've been asking for for a while, now! Yay! (Come on, warmer weather, so I can wear it!)
It was a great night.
Ethan's bowling cake turned out to be a real success, thanks to Shane.
E told us he wanted to gobble up the whole thing!
{I'm certain he couldn't have done it....but he would have tried really hard!}


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Our Stainless Steel handrails, balustrades, balconies, and room dividers together with toughened glass, wire, or solid bar infill pieces lift rooms and spaces to the next level in terms of exciting design. With our traditional background in architectural steelwork we can install the latest modular handrail systems and we can manufacture and install a bespoke design to a very high quality of finish.
We provide an survey, design and installation service across greater Manchester and the North West. We have wide experience in stainless steel handrails in both commercial and residential property including retail, hotels, offices and homes. We have stainless steel handrail systems suitable for both internal and external use.
We can work from Architects drawings or we can take your stainless steel handrail concept ideas through to design options which will fulfil your vision. We add value at every stage, particularly where there are awkward corners or spaces; our experience creates the optimum solution displaying an attention to detail which delivers a superior stainless steel handrail and railings installation.
At the basic level we need handrails and balustrades to comply with building regulations and create a safe environment. The use of stainless steel, toughened glass panels, solid stainless bars, and beautiful timber transforms these necessities of into stunning design features which create an amazing visual impact. Our experience in design and installation of stainless steel handrails systems together with our use of modular systems with bespoke manufacture where required, ensures that your completed job will stand the test of the closest inspection and of time.
As a well founded local business with a long history in structural stainless steel installations we offer personal service and value for money. All of our team are highly skilled and widely experienced and our management team are always easily contactable at every stage of your project. All of our stainless steel handrail installations are fully guaranteed in respect of both workmanship and materials.
We cover the Alderley Edge area and will be happy provide stainless steel handrails design, manufacture and installations throughout Alderley Edge and the North West.
We supply and fit custom made stainless steel handrails for inside your property. Call us for further information.
Our exterior stainless steel handrails are designed to withstand the elements and are extremely durable. For further information please call us.


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Explore VA real estate listings on Homestat: Search for houses for sale in VA, by using our popular design, intriguing calculators and nice home pictures. We also provide land for sale in VA, real estate websites for agents & VA real estate information.Meadows Dan real estate: We provide listings on homes for sale in Meadows Dan, VA. Use our easy to use interface and filter options that allow you to select houses for sale in Meadows Dan & land for sale Meadows Dan.What is HomeSTAT? Homestat.org is a vibrant, real estate search web site designed to attract consumers interested in the "community experience" and value of each property, without over complicating the search process. The website differentiates from other homes for sale websites by providing listings, resale value, home equity and other intriguing information. Our inventory includes homes for sale in VA and Meadows Dan, as well as Meadows Dan real estate. Our "human interactive" and user friendly design will make searches a fun experience when viewing houses in VA & Meadows Dan. We also write articles on VA real estate market. You can explore the neighborhood and quickly search over thousands of listings, with relevant search results. View local real estate trends and compare your home to other Meadows Dan real estate listings and houses for sale in VA. Home buyers call our website "clean", "informative" and "advanced". We have incorporated the art of web designing with software development to create a user interactive website. We invite you to enjoy our large selection of Meadows Dan and VA houses for sale. Our community is nestled away from the highway, but close enough to shopping, Danville Community College, Averett and local employers. There is a drug store, shopping center, hair and nail salon, hospital and much more less than a tenth of a mile from our community. Our apartment homes feature spacious closets, energy efficient appliances, accent wall colors, wall to wall carpet in the bedrooms, high-speed internet and cable ready. Our community features onsite management, friendly and professional 24 hr. emergency maintenance staff, a community center with computer access, playground, a book library, and organized social events throughout the year. *Pet Friendly Community *24 Hour Maintenance *On Site Professional Management Team *Energy Star kitchen appliances *Community room with internet access and book library *On site Laundry facility *Public transportation accessible *So much more. *Certain Restrictions Apply. Extensive Credit and Criminal History check performed at the time of application. More Real Estate in Meadows Dan, VA
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Study Highlights How Adensosine May Play a Role in Pain Relief with Acupunture
by Pamela Katz Ressler, RN, BSN, HN-BC, MS-PREP student and PREP-AIRED blog moderator
Thanks to MS-PREP alumna, Xu Cheng, for sending along a link to a recent issue of Nature Neuroscience which highlights a study on acupuncture's pain reducing effect. In animal studies, the neuromodulator adenosine appears to play a significant role in the local anti-nociceptive properties of acupuncture. These observations indicate that adenosine mediates the effects of acupuncture and that interfering with adenosine metabolism may prolong the clinical benefit of acupuncture Click here to read the abstract of the study
Add comment June 2nd, 2010


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War is horrific, costly and ineffective. The only reason it sticks around in such massive quantities is because businesses are making huge profits. Without this trillion dollar institution enabling and proliferating conflicts on an industrialized scale, wars would not persist as they do today.
Fortunately, the Internet is revealing this truth to us. We are coming together like never before and we'll soon see how unnecessary and unwanted war has become. Gradually, we will take steps to do away with it, like taxing the shit out of the worst of the war-profiting corporations.
Eventually our emerging global society, with priorities shifting towards healing our planet instead of hurting each other, will see the world's war budgets dry up as a new era of peace envelops our world.


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Whitby - Home to Captain James Cook and the trails of Count Dracula: Mention Whitby and "holiday resort and fish and chips" come to mind. To the unsuspecting modern day traveller, Whitby presents as a sleepy Victorian holiday resort and fishing town. But, Whitby has a long history as an … [Read more...]
Whitby's Landmark Lighthouses
Whitby Lighthouse History: Whitby's quaint harbour entrance is marked by two attractive pier lighthouses and two beacons, with the West Pier lighthouse being taller and more substantial than its neighbour. And if you're wondering why this sleepy fishing town has such huge piers and … [Read more...]


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There's always something exciting happening in San Sebastián/Donostia. Last week alone, a surfing festival ended, a jazz festival began, beaches were full of sunbathers, streets were (briefly) full of rioters and police...a typical summertime week in this beautiful, slightly crazy city.
On my next to last day there, I had the good fortune to lunch at one of the famous Basque gastronomic societies. My host was Germán Arrien, director of both the local convivium, or branch, of Slow Food, and of one of the largest gastronomic societies, Cofradía Vasca de Gastronomía (roughly translated as the Basque Brotherhood of Gastronomy).
Gastronomic societies are an institution unique to the Basque country, and particularly to San Sebastián. In existence for the last century or so, they are a place where men--until very recently, they were exclusively the domain of men--go to gather to cook, eat, drink and discuss cooking, eating, drinking...oh, and occasionally politics. Germán told me that, typically, even outside of the clubs, Basques spend about half of a conversation discussing epicurean topics, such as where to get the best pintxos or a good recipe for marmitako (a traditional fisherman's stew). If this all sounds too good to you, don't pack up and sell your house just yet--the typical gastronomic society, like the one we visited, has a long waiting list, with spaces only becoming available when a member passes away.
Being male institutions, the gastronomic societies naturally also hold competitions throughout the year to determine the best cook of various traditional dishes. The societies are especially active during the city's grandest festival, the Tamborrada, held on January the 19th, the day of the patron saint after whom the city is named. On this day, the members of the clubs prepare grand feasts for all the inhabitants of the city, march through the streets beating drums and, generally behave (or misbehave) wildly nonstop, from midnight to midnight.
According to Germán, in a city of about 170,000 inhabitants, there are more than 300 gastronomic societies. Nearly half of the Donistarrian men belong to at least one such place--many, like Germán, belong to several (presumably to the dismay of their wives, but you never know).
By these standards, our lunch at the Cofradía Vasca de Gastronomía was a low key affair. We met in the Parte Vieja, the Old Quarter, to start the day with a few pintxos and some txakoli (you'll notice in the picture that txakoli is traditionally poured from high above to aerate the slightly fizzy wine) at Goiz Argi before heading to the club. Not unlike the typical Donostarrian, our conversation while we ate our pintxos continually returned to matters of the table. Even when we discussed politics (the second favorite topic of Basque men), we focused on the devastating recent conversion of what was formerly one of Spain's grandest markets, La Bretxa, into a modern shopping mall and movieplex (that shamefully even includes a McDonalds). The few remaining fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers were literally driven underground, now peddling their wares (still of the highest quality) in the basement of the building.
The building that houses the Cofradía is unassuming on the outside, similar to all the other stone buildings seen throughout the quarter. Once you pass through the door, however, it's like stepping onto the set of Monty Python's "In Search of the Holy Grail," (or should I say "Spamalot"). The heart of the building is the cavernous dining hall, a grand stone expanse of enough long wooden tables to presumably seat the 350 members of the Cofradía and, on occasion, their families. Roughly hewn wooden beams, some decorated with carved maidens, support the high arched ceiling and the rustic chandeliers that light the festivities. The walls, stained with decades of cigar smoke, are sparsely decorated with the occasional tapestry or head of a wild boar.
Being summer, Germán and I ate upstairs on the terrace. We started with some rare artisanal jamón and salsichon from Pello Urdapilleta, one of a handful of ranchers who somewhat quixotically cure hams in the rain-soaked Basque country. Slow Food honored Mr. Urdapilleta for preserving this dying tradition and for raising and utilizing a heritage breed of pigs found only in the region.
Next, because summer is tuna season, we had two tuna dishes. First, we had Axoa, a rich stew of tuna and peppers prepared the night before (remember, stews are always better the second day) by one of what Germán labeled "the promising younger cooks" of the Cofradía, a rising star. After that, we enjoyed a simply prepared tuna steak in a garlicky tomato sauce. Afterwards, we finished off our bottle of txakoli with some aged idiazabal, a local sheep's milk cheese, served wirh membrillo (quince paste) and seasonal fruit. All in all, a delightful, simple summer meal. Next time I visit, I'll arrange to eat on a weekend night, when the hall is crowded with members and the revelry is substantially more raucous.


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Google added a very Passbook-like feature to the Google Search app via an update Wednesday.
The app's Google Now feature, which is evolving at an amazingly rapid rate, now scans through travelers' Gmail accounts for flight boarding passes, automatically pulling the info up in a QR code.
Only United Airlines is part of the program now, but Google promises there are more to come.
iOS 6's Passbook also offers boarding pass pull up in the exact same fashion for United, though it counts American Airlines as a Passbook passenger as well.
Now, now, now
Once you touch down, Google Now will even help you plan your trip - whether it's pulling up nearby events or suggesting websites for to-do research.
An updated camera search feature brings up information on specific items at museums through Google Goggles.
The update also makes Google's Siri-competitor Voice Search more powerful. Say a song is playing on the radio and you just can't place the notes - asking, "What's this song?" brings up the name of the tune.
"Scan this barcode" pulls quick product info and voice-only posts can now be made to Google+.
The update is available for Android 4.1: Jelly Bean devices and up through Google Play.


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Twisted Math and Beautiful Geometry
By Eli Maor, Eugen Jost
Four families of equations expose the hidden aesthetic of bicycle wheels, falling bodies, rhythmic planets, and mathematics itself.
Four families of equations expose the hidden aesthetic of bicycle wheels, falling bodies, rhythmic planets, and mathematics itself.
Of the numerous mathematical curves we encounter in art, geometry, and nature, perhaps none can match the exquisite elegance of the logarithmic spiral. This famous curve appears, with remarkable precision, in the shape of a nautilus shell, in the horns of an antelope, and in the seed arrangements of a sunflower. It is also the ornamental motif of countless artistic designs, from antiquity to modern times. It was a favorite curve of the Dutch artist M. C. Escher (1898–1972), who used it in some of his most beautiful works, such as Path of Life II.
The logarithmic spiral is best described by its polar equation, written in the form r = eaθ, where r is the distance from the spiral's center O (the "pole") to any point P on the curve, θ is the angle between line OP and the x-axis, a is a constant that determines the spiral's rate of growth, and e is the base of natural logarithms. Put differently, if we increase θ arithmetically (that is, in equal amounts), r will increase geometrically (in a constant ratio).
The many intriguing aspects of the logarithmic spiral all derive from this single feature. For example, a straight line from the pole O to any point on the spiral intercepts it at a constant angle α. For this reason, the curve is also known as an equiangular spiral. As a consequence, any sector with given angular width Δθ is similar to any other sector with the same angular width, regardless of how large or small it is. This property is manifested beautifully in the nautilus shell (left). The snail residing inside the shell gradually relocates from one chamber to the next, slightly larger chamber, yet all chambers are exactly similar to one another: A single blueprint serves them all.
The logarithmic spiral has been known since ancient times, but it was the Swiss mathematician Jakob Bernoulli (1654–1705) who discovered most of its properties. Bernoulli was the senior member of an eminent dynasty of mathematicians hailing from the town of Basel. He was so enamored with the logarithmic spiral that he dubbed it "spira mirabilis" and ordered it to be engraved on his tombstone after his death. His wish was fulfilled, though not quite as he had intended: For some reason, the mason engraved a linear spiral instead of a logarithmic one. (In a linear spiral the distance from the center increases arithmetically—that is, in equal amounts—as in the grooves of a vinyl record.) The linear spiral on Bernoulli's headstone can still be seen at the cloisters of the Basel Münster, perched high on a steep hill overlooking the Rhine River.
But if a wrong spiral was engraved on Bernoulli's tombstone, at least the inscription around it holds true: Eadem mutata resurgo—"Though changed, I shall arise the same." The verse summarizes the many features of this unique curve. Stretch it, rotate it, or invert it, it always stays the same.
Rivaling the logarithmic spiral in elegance is the cycloid, the curve traced by a point on the rim of a circle that rolls along a straight line without slipping (below). The cycloid is characterized by its arcs and cusps, with each cusp marking the instant when the point on the wheel's rim reaches its lowest position and stays momentarily at rest.
The cycloid has a rich history. In 1673, the Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) solved one of the outstanding problems that had intrigued 17th-century scientists: to find the curve down which a particle, moving only under the force of gravity, will take the same amount of time to reach a given final point, regardless of the initial position of the particle. This problem is known as the tautochrone (from the Greek words meaning "the same time"). To his surprise, Huygens found that the curve is an arc of an inverted cycloid. He tried to capitalize on his discovery by constructing a clock whose pendulum was constrained to swing between two adjacent arcs of a cycloid, so that the period of oscillations would be independent of the amplitude. (In an ordinary pendulum this condition holds only approximately.) Unfortunately, although the theory behind it was sound, the performance of Huygens's clock fell short of his expectations.
Shortly thereafter, the cycloid made history again. In 1696 Johann Bernoulli (1667–1748), the younger brother of Jakob (of logarithmic spiral fame), posed this problem: to find the curve alongwhich a particle, again subject only to the force of gravity, will slide down in the least amount of time. You might think the answer should be the straight line connecting the initial and final positions of the particle, but this is not so: Depending on the path's curvature, the particle may accelerate faster at one point and slower at another, showing that the path of shortest distance between two points is not necessarily the path of shortest time.
Known as the brachistochrone ("shortest time"), this problem was attempted by some of the greatest minds of the 17th century, including Galileo, who incorrectly thought the required path is an arc of a circle. In the end, five correct solutions were submitted—by Isaac Newton, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Guillaume de L'Hospital (famous for a rule in calculus named after him), and the Bernoulli brothers, who worked on the problem independently and used different methods. To their surprise, the curve turned out to be an inverted cycloid—the same curve that solved the tautochrone problem. But instead of rejoicing in their success, the two brothers became embroiled in a bitter priority dispute, resulting in a permanent rift between them.
The cycloid had some more surprises in store. Evangelista Torricelli (1608–1647), inventor of the mercury barometer, is credited with finding the area under one arc of the cycloid: The area turned out to be 3πa², where a is the radius of the generating circle. A few decades later Christopher Wren (1632–1723), London's venerable architect who rebuilt the city after the Great Fire of 1666, determined that the length of each arc is 8a; surprisingly, the constant π is not involved. This was one of the first successful rectifications of a curve—finding the arc length between two points on the curve. With the invention of calculus in the decade 1666–1676, such problems could be solved routinely, but in the early 17th century they presented a challenging task.
Reflections on a Rolling Wheel (above, at right), shows the path of a luminous point attached to a rolling wheel at three different distances from the center. At top, the point is outside the wheel's rim (as on the flank of a railroad car wheel); at the middle, it is exactly on the rim; and at the bottom, inside of it. The top and bottom curves are called prolate and curtate cycloids, respectively, while the middle curve is the ordinary cycloid. You can see the curtate variant at night as the path traced by the reflector on a bicycle wheel while the cyclist moves forward.
Whereas the cycloid is generated by a point on the rim of a wheel rolling along a straight line, a related type of curve arises from a wheel rolling on the outside of a second, fixed wheel. The resulting curve is an epicycloid (from the Greek epi, meaning "over" or "above"). Alternatively, we can let the wheel roll along the inside of a fixed wheel, generating a hypocycloid (hypo = "under"). The epicycloid and hypocycloid come in a great variety of shapes, depending on the ratio of the radii of the two wheels. Let the radii of the fixed and moving wheels be R and r, respectively. If R/r is a fraction in lowest terms, say m/n, the curve will have m cusps (corners), and it will be completely traced after n full rotations around the fixed wheel. If R/r is not a fraction—if it is irrational—the curve will never close completely, although it will nearly close after many rotations.
For some special values of R/r the ensuing curves can be something of a surprise. For example, when R/r = 2, the hypocycloid becomes a straight-line segment: Each point on the rim of the rolling wheel will move back and forth along the diameter of the fixed wheel (see below, at left). Thus, two circles with radii in the ratio 2:1 can be used to draw a straight-line segment! In the 19th century this type of curve provided a potential solution to a vexing problem: how to convert the to-and-fro motion of the piston of a steam engine into a rotational motion of the wheels. It was one of many solutions proposed, but in the end it turned out to be impractical.
When R/r = 4, the hypocycloid becomes the star-shaped astroid (from the Greek astron, a star). This curve has some interesting properties of its own. Its perimeter is 6R (as with the cycloid, this value is independent of π), and the area enclosed by it is 3πR2/8, that is, three-eighths the area of the fixed circle. Imagine a line segment of fixed length with its endpoints resting on the x- and y-axes, like a ladder leaning against a wall. When the ladder is allowed to assume all possible positions, it describes a region bound by one-quarter of an astroid. This shows that a curve can be formed not only by a set of points lying on it, but also by a set of lines tangent to it.
Turning now to the epicycloid, the case in which the fixed and the moving wheels have the same radius (R/r = 1) is of particular interest: It results in a cardioid, so called because of its heart-shaped form. This romantic curve has a perimeter of 16R and its area is 6πR2.
The Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemaeus, or Ptolemy (ca. 85–165 C.E.), invoked epicyclic motion in an attempt to explain the occasional retrograde motion of the planets—a movement from east to west in the sky, instead of the usual west to east. He ascribed to them a complex path in which each planet moved along a small circle whose center moved around Earth in a much larger circle. The resulting epicycle has the shape of a coil wound around a circle. When this model still failed to account for the positions of the planets accurately, more epicycles were added on top of the existing ones, making the system increasingly cumbersome. Finally, in 1609, Johannes Kepler discovered that planets move around the Sun in ellipses, and the epicycles were laid to rest.
The illustration above shows a five-looped epicycloid (blue) and a prolate epicycloid (red) similar to Ptolemy's planetary epicycles. This latter curve closely resembles the apparent path of Venus against the backdrop of the fixed stars. Earth and Venus follow an eight-year cycle during which the two planets and the Sun will be aligned almost perfectly five times. Surprisingly, eight Earth years also coincide with 13 Venusian years, locking the two planets in an 8:13 celestial resonance and giving Fibonacci aficionados one more reason to celebrate!
The first half of the 19th century saw a revival of interest in classical Euclidean geometry, in which figures are constructed with straight-edge and compass and theorems are proved from a given set of axioms. This "synthetic," or "pure," geometry had by and large been thrown by the wayside with the invention of analytic geometry by Pierre de Fermat and René Descartes in the first half of the 17th century.
Analytic geometry is based on the idea that every geometric problem could, at least in principle, be translated into the language of algebra as a set of equations, whose solution (or solutions) could then be translated back into geometry. This unification of algebra and geometry reached its high point with the invention of the differential and integral calculus by Newton and Leibniz between 1666 and 1676; it has remained one of the chief tools of mathematicians ever since. The renewed interest in synthetic geometry came, therefore, as a fresh breath of air to a subject that had by that time been considered out of fashion.
One of the chief protagonists in this revival was the Swiss geometer Jacob Steiner (1796–1863). Steiner did not learn how to read and write until he was 14, but after studying under the famous Swiss educator Heinrich Pestalozzi, he became completely dedicated to mathematics. Among his many beautiful theorems we bring here one that became known as Steiner's porism (more on that odd name in a moment).
Steiner considered the following problem: Given two nonconcentric circles, one lying entirely inside the other, construct a series of secondary circles, each touching the circle preceding it in the sequence as well as the two original circles (see the figure above). Will this chain close upon itself, so that the last circle in the chain coincides with the first? Steiner, in 1826, proved that if this happens for any particular choice of the initial circle of the chain, it will happen for every choice.
In view of the seeming absence of symmetry in the configuration, this result is rather unexpected. Steiner devised a clever way of exposing hidden symmetry by inverting the two original circles into a pair of concentric circles. As a result, the chain of secondary circles (now inverted) will occupy the space between the (inverted) given circles evenly, like the metal balls between the inner and outer rings of a ball-bearing wheel. These can be moved around in a cyclic manner without affecting the chain.
But that's not all: It turns out that the centers of the circles of the Steiner chain always lie on an ellipse (marked in red), and the points of contact of adjacent circles lie on yet another circle (marked in green).
The images above illustrate nine Steiner chains, each comprising five circles that touch an outer circle (alternately colored in blue and orange) and an inner black circle. The central panel shows this chain in its inverted, symmetric "ball-bearing" configuration. As happens occasionally, a theorem that has been known in the West for many years turned out to have already been discovered earlier in the East. In this case, a Japanese mathematician, Ajima Chokuyen (1732–1798), discovered Steiner's porism in 1784, almost half a century before Steiner. An old Japanese tradition, going back to the 17th century, was to write a geometric problem on a wooden tablet, called sangaku, and hang it in a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine for visitors to see. A fine example of Steiner's—or Chokuyen's—chain appeared on a sangaku at the Ushijima Chomeiji temple in Tokyo. The tablet no longer exists, unfortunately, but an image of it appeared in a book published about the same time as Steiner's discovery.
It is somewhat of a mystery why this theorem became known as Steiner's porism. You will not find the word porism in your usual college dictionary, but the online Oxford English Dictionary defines it as follows: "In Euclidean geometry: a proposition arising during the investigation of some other propositions by immediate deduction from it." Be that as it may, the theorem again reminds us that even good old Euclidean geometry can still hold some surprises within it.
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Proposition 39 is a mixed bag – like so many of the initiatives that appear on California's ballots – that should be rejected.
At its core is a sound idea: changing the way multi-state corporations are taxed in order to remove a perverse incentive against locating operations in California.
But the measure has two big problems: One, it's yet another example of ballot-box budgeting, directing half the revenue that would be generated into niche projects instead of into the general fund; and two, it goes back on a budget deal that the Legislature made three years ago.
Viewed in isolation, the tax change Proposition 39 makes would be good for California. For one thing, it would produce about a $1 billion boost in revenue from taxes paid by multi-state corporations, and for another it would stop penalizing those corporations if they add jobs in our state.
Basically, there are two ways that various states tax corporations with sales and operations within their borders. One way, called the "single sales factor method," taxes in-state sales only. The other, called the "three-factor method," taxes corporations based on their sales, property and employees in the state.
The single sales factor is better for generating and keeping jobs because there's no state tax penalty for adding property and employees to a corporation's in-state operations. But because of a 2009 budget deal, California lets corporations choose whichever method is more advantageous to them. Many corporations pay lower taxes through the three-factor method because they don't have employees in California.
Proposition 39 would require nearly all corporations to use the singles sales factor method.
Of the $1 billion or so in additional tax revenue that change would produce, Proposition 39 directs half into energy efficiency and alternative energy projects for four years.
Now, we think energy efficiency is great, and we applaud making schools and other government buildings more energy efficient to save taxpayers money in the long run. Conserving energy certainly beats importing it.
But California can't stand any more ballot-box budgeting that squirrels away money for a single purpose favored by an initiative's proponents – in this case a hedge-fund billionaire. Proposition 39 creates the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund, another otherwise untouchable pot of money like the First 5 and mental health funds that past initiatives have given us. The purposes are good, but they should be weighed against other priorities like education and care for the indigent and elderly.
Besides, the current corporate tax structure came out of legislative budget negotiations. Some Republicans agreed to vote for temporary tax increases in exchange for this tax break for out-of-state companies. Democrats have had deal-maker's remorse ever since, but it's their duty – not voters' – to fix the tax code through legislative give-and-take. That's why we employ them.
Vote no on Proposition 39.


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When Cheryl Kerrigan was 5 she went trick-or-treating on Halloween, like most young children do.
But unlike other children, Ms. Kerrigan viewed Halloween not for its treats but for its tricks. The trick was to find a piece of candy that was �safe� to eat.
Peppermints were safe. Snickers, not safe.�Snickers would make you fat,� she explained.
As that list of �safe� foods grew shorter during her teens, Ms. Kerrigan was diagnosed as having anorexia.
Anorexia � as a disease � is the most lethal of all psychiatric illnesses, according to Stuart L. Koman, president and chief executive of Walden Behavioral Care LLC of Waltham, one of the country�s leading comprehensive programs for treating eating disorders.
�About 20 percent of anorexic patients die either because their physical condition declines so badly or because they take their own lives,� said Mr. Koman. �It�s a terrible way to live; it�s heartbreaking.�
Food � and constant lies to family and friends as to why she was not eating � continued to dominate Ms. Kerrigan�s life, even as she graduated with honors from Regis College and started down a career path, eventually becoming assistant treasurer and business office manager at Commonwealth Capital Ventures in Waltham.
At 38, however, confronted by family intervention, she began to face the fact that she was seriously ill and needed expert help, eventually seeking treatment at Walden, where patients with eating disorders are treated, whether they are anorexic, bulimic or are binge eaters.
Anorexics eat nothing or little at all; bulimia patients control their weight by vomiting after meals. At the other end of the scale are those whose binge eating leads to obesity. Some even undergo bariatric surgery, but return to their destructive habit afterward.
In 2003, Mr. Koman set up the behavioral care program on the fifth floor of the former Waltham Community Hospital with 22 beds for patients with eating disorders and another 23 beds for those with psychiatric problems. �You have a totally structured program,� said Mr. Koman, noting that there is no other 24-hour hospital program in New England dedicated to treating those with eating disorders. �In the hospital, we see the most difficult patients,� he said, including those with heart arrhythmia, dehydration and hypertension. Others who are physically stable have integrated psychiatric care with continuing medical care.
Walden also leases 12 apartments in a development on the former hospital parking lot for a �step-down� residential program that involves 18 beds � 12 for adults, six for adolescents.
Patients learn to deal with food, not as an enemy, but as part of everyday life. Patients plan menus, shop for groceries, cook the meals � and eat them.
�You have to become able to deal with food directly � and that�s a very big part of actually getting better,� said Mr. Koman.
Patients usually stay for two to four weeks and may go onto one of Walden�s outpatient clinics, which are staffed by a psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner, a nutritionist, a social worker and a psychologist as well as administrative support.
�We�re interested in providing continuous treatment which has depth,� said Mr. Koman. �One level builds on the previous, building on the same philosophy of treatment that you have already been exposed to. We�re going to keep going until we hopefully get you graduated.�
With one outpatient clinic in Waltham, Walden added a second in Northampton; then opened a third clinic in Worcester in 2010, at the urging of Suzanne Y. Lewandowski, the academic secretary at Assumption College.
Ms. Lewandowski, whose own 30-year battle with binge eating and bulimia almost killed her several times before she fully recovered in 1999, started an eating disorders support group in 2004, but then discovered there were only one or two eating disorder professionals in Worcester County from whom members could get help. Most resources were in Boston.
According to Mr. Koman, Walden does not set up outpatient clinics in areas where there are other clinics, even though patients are referred to Walden from all over New England.
Since services were lacking in Worcester County, Walden opened a clinic in 2010 in the former Tatnuck Bookseller building on Chandler Street, then recently expanded it from 500 square feet to 2,400 square feet because of the demand for services.
Braintree became the fourth clinic, and most recently Walden partnered with Eastern Connecticut Health Network to set up a clinic in South Windsor, Conn.
Walden employs about 200 people, with 140 in Waltham and another 10 to 15 employees in each of the clinics. On an average day, the staff sees about 120 patients. Hospitalization runs about $1,000 a day. Some patients pay privately, but most are covered through private insurance plans, as well as the state insurance plan, MassHealth.
The highest percentage of patients are 25 to 40 years old, but can start as young as pre-teenagers. Young patients are of particular concern, according to Mr. Koman, because they are likely to miss developmental milestones.
But, there is no upper age limitation at Walden.
�We have quite a few patients who have been struggling with their eating disorder for many, many years,� said Mr. Koman.
As for taking back their lives, Mr. Koman said he divides patients into thirds.
One-third get treatment and just grow out of it and recover fully.
About one-third will have an eating disorder, get treatment, make progress and cope with it all of their lives, as it comes and goes.
Another third get stuck in it and have an eating disorder that is long-term and really debilitating.
Ms. Kerrigan falls into the more successful category. In fact, she now mentors other patients at Walden, speaks regularly at schools and other venues and has written a book.


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Ever since we opened our doors in 1966, Loa's Tire & Auto Supply has serviced the automotive repair, tire, and wheel needs of those in the Corpus Christi, TX area. Our full-service auto repair facility is located at 4015 Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, TX, where our showroom offers tires from the industry's best
tire brands, like MICHELIN®, BFGoodrich®, and Goodyear at the most affordable tires prices. Our mechanics are trained to offer the best in auto repair and automotive service, including wheel alignments, brake repairs, and more. We also sell wheels to customize your vehicle. Open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, we serve customers from Corpus Christi, and the surrounding cities of Rockport and Ingleside. So come into Loa's Tire & Auto Supply for a quote on new tires or to schedule your next auto service. Look to Loa's Tire & Auto Supply when you need auto repair in Corpus Christi.


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Skyrocketing social networking and mobile usage has led many to speculate on the key business model for mobile-social services.
The most common answer is local commerce. But, checking in is not becoming a mainstream activity (see chart) and local couponing experiments aren't working so well.
In a research report on Mobile and Social from BI Intelligence, we analyze how another potential solution, social discovery, could become the future for mobile social-apps.
Access The Full Report By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today >>
Here's how it could work:
- What is social discovery? Using social apps on mobile devices to find nearby people and places that are most relevant to what users are doing at that particular moment.
- Contextual relevance: To spur spontaneous purchases from mobile devices, apps must understand information like the user's past buying habits, preferences, tastes, and so on. This is precisely the kind of information users share through social networks and apps.
- Services and experiences, not goods: Social discovery works best for service-based businesses like restaurants, bars, hotels, and event tickets. These kinds of services are open to the sort of last minute spontaneous purchases that users are likely to make on a mobile phone.
- Brand advertising: Brand advertising on mobile devices is a tough prospect -- phones don't support the full-screen interactive ads common on the front pages of popular web sites. But social discovery apps that focus on fun experiences with friends could become a good bed for positive brand associations.
- Affiliate payouts: In this model, users could recommend purchases to their friends, and would receive a small payout each time those friends bought something. For instance, Instagram was building relationships with brands like Burberry before Facebook bought the company. Imagine Instagram adding a button like "buy now online" or "click here to see nearby Burberry stores" whenever a user shares an item of clothing.
In full, our report:
- Explains new business models that will arise, with some help from two entrepreneurs in the social discovery space.
To access BI Intelligence's full report on Social and Mobile, sign up for a free trial subscription here.
Want to learn more about the mobile industry? Check out our featured articles:
- Mobile Trends for 2020
- Mobile Banking Market
- M-Commerce & Mobile Shopping
- Mobile Wallet Payment Ecosystem
- Mobile Payments Technologies
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FULL-TIME News
Full-Time Changes for 2018-19
Guidance for all leagues on changes for 2018-19, including specific changes for leagues using WGS Integration.
Download/Open Full-Time Changes for 2018-19
Download/Open WGS Full-Time Integration August 2018
Please find attached two separate guides.
The first details Changes to Full-Time for season 2018-19, which affects all leagues (many of them as a consequence of the introduction of Match Day).
The second guide covers specific details for the 500+ leagues which are using , which allows their data to be integrated with Full-Time, and their clubs and teams to use Match Day.


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Scarlett Johansson Different From Natalie Portman In Two Big Ways
Scarlett Johansson got everyone's attention posing with Natalie Portman on the cover of this month's W, where they both looked hot but also like replicants from the same assembly line. Now of course Johansson is wisely making news in the other direction, by busting out and showing off how very different she is from Portman. She's been helped along by the intrepid Brit tabloid the Sun, which just ran a story that starts with the title "Scarlett Shows Off Johanssons" and then just gets classier. It comes from a screening in Berlin the two actresses attended together. Here's how the Sun captioned the photos:


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Compact cameras with fast lenses and large sensors are plentiful these days, but few of them zoom much beyond the 100mm mark. On top of that, when they are zoomed in, the lenses can get significantly slower.
That's not the case with the new Olympus Stylus 1. The camera takes the TruePic VI image processor and 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS sensor of Olympus' Stylus XZ-2 iHS and mates them with a 10.7x f2.8 28-300mm lens.
Now, compared with the 50x zoom lenses on cameras like the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS, or even the 24x f2.8 lens on Panasonic's Lumix FZ200, that 10.7x might not seem like much. Likewise, compared with the 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor on Sony's RX10, the Stylus 1's sensor is tiny.
However, the Olympus has a larger sensor than the FZ200 as well as those with much longer zooms. Also, while not exactly pocketable, the Stylus 1 is smaller than those other megazoom models. And, if you want more telephoto reach, Olympus has the $40.99 CLA-13 converter adapter and $199.99 TCON-17x 1.7x teleconverter lens. Combined they extend the focal length of the camera to 510mm (not far from the FZ200's 600mm telephoto) while retaining the brightness of the constant f2.8 aperture.
The Sony RX10 has an f2.8 24-200mm lens. That's not as long as the Olympus and, because of the larger sensor, the RX10 is much larger, and at $1,299 the Sony is $600 more than the Stylus 1. Basically, the Stylus 1 seems to be a nice compromise in terms of sensor size, zoom range and lens quality, and overall size and price.
Olympus Stylus 1 enthusiast compact for zoom lovers (pictures)See all photos
Image quality
The Olympus Stylus 1's image quality is just a step beyond that of a small-sensor point-and-shoot. Between ISO 100 and ISO 400, fine detail is very good and noise/artifacts aren't much of an issue; they're only really noticeable if you're pixel peeping.
At ISO 800 you'll see an increase in softness and noise kicks up a notch. Still, its 1/1.7-inch sensor and sane 12-megapixel resolution allows for better low-light performance than you'll find on a comparable camera with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. Moving up to ISO 1600 results in soft, smeary fine details and muddier colors. There still good enough for use at small sizes with little or no enlarging and cropping. Plus, while Olympus' JPEG processing is good, if you want to exchange some graininess for better fine detail, shoot in raw or raw plus JPEG and process them yourself (Adobe Camera Raw 8.2 supports the Stylus 1).
Olympus Stylus 1 sample picturesSee all photos
I would stay away from ISO 3200 unless you really have to use it. With the constant f2.8 aperture and excellent image stabilization, though, you won't have to rely on high ISOs as much as you would with a typical compact long-zoom camera. (You can read more about image quality and download full-resolution photos in the slideshow above.)
The Stylus 1's video quality and features are good, but this camera is definitely better for photos. The 1080p video quality is fine for personal use when you'll care more about capturing the moment than what the results look like blown up on large HDTV. The lens will zoom while recording, but the movement is fairly loud and easily gets picked up by the stereo mics. Audio quality is otherwise fine, which is good since there is no mic input.
Shooting performance
The Stylus 1 is impressively fast. It takes 1.3 seconds to start up and shoot. Shutter lag in bright conditions is about 0.2 second and is 0.5 second in low light. And shot-to-shot times averaged 0.4 second when shooting JPEG or raw.


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Right thing to do
Legislature must take bold, comprehensive action in wake of Sandy Hook tragedy
The Connecticut Legislature faces a major challenge in the wake of the Dec. 14 massacre of 20 little children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown by a heavily armed gunman.
The legislature also bears a grave responsibility to take appropriate action following perhaps the most heinous of a long string of mass shootings in this country over the past couple of decades.
And the legislature must take advantage of the great opportunity. It has to make our state safer and send out a loud and clear message to Washington, D.C., and the rest of the nation that strong, effective legislation is needed all across the country to reduce gun violence.
We urge our elected legislators to be bold and aggressive in enacting comprehensive, common-sense legislation dealing with reasonable gun regulation, improved mental health treatment and enhanced school security.
We urge them to act courageously in the face of strong opposition from the gun lobby and to move ahead in a truly bipartisan fashion.
The legislature has addressed the Sandy Hook tragedy swiftly and appropriately thus far, establishing a Bipartisan Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety and holding four lengthy hearings in late January in Hartford and Newtown on school security, gun violence and mental health services.
To be sure, the legislators have received strongly divergent -- and often emotional -- opinions regarding gun-control legislation. There is clearly no unanimity when it comes to putting armed guards in schools and changing privacy laws to allow law enforcement officials to be aware of individuals who have been diagnosed as being mentally ill.
Yet the legislators must cut through all of this, recognize the historic moment in which they are living, and take decisive action that will help make the Sandy Hook shootings the turning point for reduced gun violence across America.
We strongly urge the legislature, following its research and in conjunction with the recommendations that will be delivered next month by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, to give greater credence to the voices of reason and common sense in the gun-control debate over the hollow arguments of the gun lobby, which decries any action at all as being an infringement on their Second Amendment rights.
We call on the legislature to strengthen gun-control laws in Connecticut, including well-enforced, universal background checks and a ban on assault-type weapons, high-capacity ammunition clips, armor-piercing bullets and any other weaponry designed to kill many people in rapid-fire order.
The legislature must take strong, visionary action on mental health treatment, too, in recognition of the reality that all the gunmen in mass shootings -- and many private shootings -- are mentally unstable.
We urge legislators to devote the resources necessary to help ensure earlier identification of mental illness; greater access to mental health services; improved treatment; and the destigmatization of mental illness.
We also call on the legislature to provide leadership -- and funding, in all likelihood -- in helping to make the state's schools safer from attack while not turning them into armed fortresses.
Clearly, most schools can be made safer with redesigns of entranceways, bulletproof or wire-mesh windows and upgraded lock systems. All school districts should also review their emergency plans and conduct more frequent training drills.
We understand the action of the Connecticut Legislature alone will not stop gun violence. State action clearly must be coupled with federal legislation.
Still, strong, decisive leadership from our state could influence events and decisions in Washington, D.C. and beyond.
And in the wake of the terrible loss of life in Sandy Hook, it is simply the right thing to do.


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Montana Scarf
Pattern: Montana Scarf by Craig Rosenfeld
Yarn: 3 skeins Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Barley
Needles: 9″ Bamboo US 13
Start/Finish: 11.29.10/12.19.10
Finished Measurements: 8″ wide and 86″ (7.16 feet) long.
-Cast on 24 instead of 30 stitches and am happy with the width. Tried 30 and it was way too wide.
-Each skein gave me two feet and a few inches.
-The finished scarf is REALLY STRETCHY. Can make it a bit wider or a bit longer by tugging
This is a gift and it's going to a dude so I wanted a simple pattern and this one was perfect. It knit up quickly and I'm sure I could have finished it in 2-3 days had I not been doing other things. It's much longer than I thought it would be but other than that I'm really happy with how it turned out…YAY!
Tempted to make another for myself but I don't think I have the discipline…
The picture above pretty much sums up my feelings about the process.


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Digital Production
The Gnomon Workshop offers the most comprehensive set of Digital Production tutorials anywhere. The broad scope of the tutorials contained in this section range from foundational understanding of the software tools all the way to the professional application of these tools and concepts used by artists working in the film and game industries.
Entertainment Design
The Gnomon Workshop is widely regarded as the global leader in training tutorials for the designer working in the entertainment industry. With tutorials ranging from foundational drawing and design concepts to process tutorials from some of the top concept and character designers in the world, there is surely something here to inspire.
As the tattoo industry has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years, the need training in this field has also grown. In these video tutorials, some of the top tattoo artists in the world share their techniques and their take on the art of tattoo. The tutorials range from absolute beginner level to advanced color and blending techniques used by some of the world's best.
The Gnomon Workshop offers professional training on most of the software applications used in today's digital pipelines. There are foundational titles to introduce users to the software and tools, as well as advanced production titles that discuss application tools and processes vital to the production of digital assets and media.
Professional Training for Artists
The Gnomon Workshop seeks out the most highly-regarded traditional and digital artists and technicians currently working in the entertainment and design industries. Our instructors have shared their practices working at such top studios as Pixar, ILM, Blizzard, and many more.Instructor GalleriesInstructor Interviews
Josh Herman was raised in Colorado, where he attended a local animation college. After graduating with a bachelor's degree, he moved to Hollywood in 2008 to continue his education at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. Immediately after graduation, Josh began work at Legacy Effects on projects such asReal Steel, The Amazing Spider-Man, Total Recall andThe Avengers. Josh left Legacy to try his hand at games, working for Naughty Dog on Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. He was then recruited by Marvel Studios, where he worked on films such as Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers: Age of Ultron. He is currently developing his own IPs for short stories and games, and has recently contributed to Essence: Creatures from Ballistic Publishing.
"Josh impressed me from the first moment I saw his work. When he started at Legacy I saw a lot of raw talent and ability, while working with him I watched that grow into a focused skill that allowed him to breathe life into his creations. From natural animal recreations to fantastic robot designs his range was hard to miss. Since joining the team at Marvel, and pursuing his own projects, that ability has shown him to be one of the power houses in the industry. Above all that, his commitment to teaching and ability to pass on the knowledge has honed a well deserved confidence in his craft. Anyone who has a chance to learn from him should jump at the opportunity. "
Try a Class on Campus
Gnomon specializes in computer graphics education for careers in the entertainment industry.


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2010 Year End Movie Review: David Medsker
No year in recent memory got off to as slow a start as 2010 did. In the end, it turned out to be a pretty damn good year – especially once I compare this list of movies to my picks from 2008 – but there were some rough patches early on, where nearly every movie we were seeing wasn't merely mediocre but downright bad. The difference between this year and other years was the event movies; no one expects them to be award-winners, but it makes such a difference when they're at least good ("Iron Man," for example). This year, with a couple of exceptions, they were not good ("Iron Man 2," for example).
People like to put down movie critics for being cranky sourpusses, but the truth is most of us want to like the movies we see. "TRON: Legacy," "Salt," "Due Date"… I wanted those to be awesome. They weren't.
Luckily for me, there were just over 10 movies that were awesome, which means I have enough for a list, yay! And here they are, along some movies that were most decidedly not awesome. Happy new year, everyone. Now let's all close our eyes and pretend we don't see the 3D. Maybe, that way, it will go away.
1. Black Swan
The beauty of Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller about a fragile ballet dancer is that there is rarely a point where you know whether you've swallowed the blue pill or the red pill. The mirror work alone demands repeat viewings, if you're brave enough.
2. The Social Network
Where Jesse Eisenberg officially stops being 'that guy who acts like Michael Cera' and puts on a showstopping performance as the brilliant but socially inept Mark Zuckerberg. Rooney Mara, meanwhile, is on screen for about six minutes, but makes every second count. And she's right about the Internet – everything's written in ink.
3. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
The most wildly entertaining movie I saw all year. From the dialogue to the editing to the on-screen sound effects, I had a stupid grin plastered to my face from start to finish. Even better to see Chris Evans and Brandon Routh poke fun at their superhero images. And I want to swim in Mary Elizabeth Winstead's eyes.
4. Inception
There is a backlash growing against Christopher Nolan. I do not understand why. His movies are well-plotted, well-acted, smart and gorgeous. What's not to love? Yes, "Inception" was chatty, but pardon the pun, it dared to dream, and I love movies that go for it. And so did a lot of other people, as its $290 million box office take will attest.
5. Toy Story 3
There isn't a movie out this year that touches the last 10 minutes of "Toy Story 3" in terms of emotional impact. Terrifying one minute, heartbreaking the next, and armed with a bittersweet yet pitch-perfect ending. I still can't make it through the ending, or even the beginning, without crying.
You can follow us on Twitter @moviebuffs and on Facebook as well.
Posted in: Action Movies, Actors, Actresses, Animation, Celebrities, Documentaries, Humor, Movie Comedies, Movie Dramas, Movies, Year in Review
Tags: 127 Hours, Alice in Woderland, Black Swan, Clash of the Titans, Easy A, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Grown-Ups, I'm Still Here, Inception, Kick Ass, Leap Year, Marwencol, Micmacs, Remember Me, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Back-Up Plan, The Bounty Hunter, The Fighter, The King's Speech, The Last Airbender, The Secret in Their Eyes, The Social Network, The Virginity Hit, Toy Story 3, When in Rome, Year End Movies 2010, Year End Movies Medsker


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The Hub of Campus Life
The 512,000-square-foot Albert Sherman Center stands 11 stories high, with nine occupied floors topped by a two-story mechanical systems penthouse. The building nearly doubles the amount of research space on the Worcester campus, holds major new areas specifically designed for advanced medical and nursing education and offers aesthetically pleasing, comfortable public spaces for students, faculty and staff to gather professionally and socially.
The ASC emerges as the new hub of the Worcester campus. It physically connects to the existing buildings with broad landscaped exterior plazas and two elevated pedestrian bridges. The building's main entrance opens from the quad into a dramatic two-story lobby. The first three floors contain educational and public spaces spread around a central atrium. In this area are suites for the School of Medicine's five Learning Communities, which are at the core of the new Learner-Center Integrated Curriculum, and similar learning space for the Graduate School of Nursing.
On the second and third floors, a wide range of students will engage in hands-on learning at the interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation (iCELS), working with advanced clinical mannequins and actors trained to present like patients with specific conditions.
Setting the stage for diverse academic, social and community events, the Sherman Center's public spaces include a full-service café and dining area, a 350-seat lecture hall and a flexible function suite that overlooks the rest of the campus. The building has numerous conference rooms and seminar spaces of varying sizes. There is also a fitness center for students, faculty and staff, visible to visitors entering through an entrance on North Road.
The majority of space in the ASC is built for research. Floors four through nine are called the Research Tower and are filled with laboratories, core facilities, offices and conference spaces. When fully occupied, the ASC will have some 90 principal investigators, leading laboratory programs with more than 700 scientists, graduate students and support staff.


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Most children with cancer survive. Even so, a diagnosis of cancer can feel overwhelming for families.
At Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and Seattle Children's, we have an experienced, compassionate team ready to help you adjust to what's happening. You may want to talk to a Child Life specialist, social worker or chaplain; join a support group; get suggestions on talking with your child about cancer; or visit the Patient & Family Resource Center.
Ask someone you trust to go with you to doctors' appointments and tests. This person can provide emotional support. A friend can also help by keeping track of questions you want to ask, taking notes and doing research on your child's disease and treatment options. Consider our list of questions to ask your child's doctor.
Where Your Child Will Be Seen
Standard Treatment
Children with a diagnosis of leukemia may receive their standard treatment at Seattle Children's, an SCCA parent organization, located at 4800 Sandpoint Way NE in Seattle. Seattle Children's provides care for children with cancer up to the age of 21 years, normally at the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
Your child's healthcare team will be made up of professionals from many disciplines who work together to care for your child. These include pediatric oncologists, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, Child Life specialists, social workers and many others. Read more about the cancer team at Seattle Children's.
Each child's journey at Seattle Children's is different depending on the child's needs. Many children with cancer first visit us because their doctor at home recommended this. Some are referred to the emergency room because of acute cancer-related illness, and then they are admitted for a stay in the oncology unit of the hospital so they can receive immediate around-the-clock care. Others come to the hospital for other services, such as to have a mass removed, and then doctors discover the mass is malignant, so the child begins cancer care with us.
Bone Marrow Transplantation
If your doctor has determined that your child's next course of treatment is a bone marrow transplant, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is the best place to be.
You or your doctor may call our Intake Line at (800) 804-8824 or (206) 606-SCCA (7222). You will be connected to the clinic coordinator for bone marrow transplantation. Your first appointment will be scheduled at that time.
Bone marrow transplantation is about a four-month treatment process. Your child will receive their work-up and conditioning regimen at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance clinic, located at 825 Eastlake Avenue East in Seattle. View a map and driving directions.
During this time, your child may become an SCCA inpatient at Seattle Children's. Your child will most likely receive their actual transplant as an inpatient and will remain an inpatient for about two weeks after the transplant. After that time, your child will return to their outpatient status. Your SCCA transplant team will provide exceptional care for your child in both locations.
What to Expect After Cancer
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance has a long-term follow-up program for childhood cancer survivors. It's designed to help survivors and their families deal with later effects of their disease and treatment.
Even when children are cured of cancer, their cancer history and treatment can affect their health for years to come. As many as two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors have adverse long-term effects. Some may be clear early on. For instance, some children who received radiation therapy to their brain may have learning difficulties. These children may need support to rejoin school successfully.
Many effects are not clear or relevant until later in life. For instance, some children who received the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin may develop cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle. This heart condition may not cause symptoms. But it can put women survivors at higher risk of heart failure during pregnancy and delivery. So it's important for women and their doctors to know about this.
The long-term risks for each childhood cancer survivor depend on many factors, including the type of disease, the treatments they received and their age at the time of treatment. The long-term follow-up program starts with a comprehensive review of the survivor's treatment and health. Then each survivor gets a notebook of information that applies to their unique situation.


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Chief Executive Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony Corporation, was not a least bit apologetic regarding Sony's delay in informing their at least 100 million customers in the hacker breach they faced a few weeks ago. The information of the customers in the company's PlayStation Network were stolen by a hacker or several hackers April this year.
As a complete contradiction to the apologetic tone of the company half a month ago, when Kazuo Hirai and the rest of the senior executives bowed in apology in Tokyo; Stringer fired back on Sony's critics who claim that the company did not act timely in notifying their customers once they found out about the hacker attack.
Stringer told the press on Tuesday that it was an unprecedented situation. He added that most of the information and security breaches are unreported by many companies; and 43% of those that do, notify within as long as a month. He said that Sony announced the breach in a week. He even challenged the critics who say his one week is too long.
Lawmakers and a some state attorneys general have started an investigation regarding the hacker attack and the possibility of identity and credit card theft.
The hacker attack is said to be the biggest in the history of the Internet. It even prompted Sony to shut down the PlayStation Network and all other related services for nearly a month.
This attack allegedly stems from a case issued by Sony to a famous hacker George Hotz. The company sued Hotz this year for copyright infringement. Hotz is known for unlocking Apple's iPhone. Hotz, however, denies the allegations in his blog saying he is not involved in the break-in.


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51 points
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