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|June 2, 2011
Benzodiazepines are a class of central nervous system depressant drugs that are commonly prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders.1 They were introduced in the late 1950s to replace barbiturates and other drugs that often had unwanted side effects, including a high addiction potential. It was not until almost 30 years later that the potential of benzodiazepines for abuse and dependence was recognized.
Benzodiazepines are often abused in combination with alcohol or other drugs (particularly opiates) to enhance or lengthen the high provided by the other substances or to offset their adverse effects.2,3 However, the abuse of benzodiazepines in combination with other substances can have severe and sometimes fatal consequences.4 Understanding the characteristics of admissions for benzodiazepine abuse can assist treatment providers in developing services that focus on the specific needs of these clients and help guide the development of effective prevention and early intervention programs that engage physicians, pharmacies, the pharmaceutical industry, and families. Additionally, this information can help raise awareness among physicians and provide them with a general profile of individuals who are at risk for abusing and becoming dependent on these substances.
This report uses data from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) for 2008 to examine the characteristics of substance abuse treatment admissions that reported any abuse of benzodiazepines, hereafter referred to as "benzodiazepine admissions." TEDS collects data on the primary substance of abuse at the time of admission to treatment and up to two additional substances of abuse at admission, subsequently referred to as "secondary substances of abuse." In 2008, benzodiazepines were reported as a drug of abuse by approximately 60,200 treatment admissions. While these admissions represented only 3.2 percent of all treatment admissions aged 12 or older, the proportion has grown since 1998, when benzodiazepines were reported by 1.3 percent (22,400) of all admissions aged 12 or older.
Demographic Characteristics
The majority of benzodiazepine admissions were male, between the ages of 18 and 34, and non-Hispanic White. Compared with all admissions, benzodiazepine admissions were more likely to be female (44.0 vs. 32.0 percent), more likely to be between the ages of 18 and 34 (55.3 vs. 44.5 percent), and more likely to be non-Hispanic White (84.8 vs. 59.7 percent) (Table 1). Only about one fifth (19.6 percent) of benzodiazepine admissions aged 16 or older were employed compared with 28.1 percent of all admissions aged 16 or older.
|Age Group
|12 to 17
|18 to 24
|25 to 34
|35 to 44
|45 to 54
|55 or Older
|White, Non-Hispanic
|Black, Non-Hispanic
|Employment Status (Aged 16 or Older)
|Not in Labor Force
|Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.
Source: SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 2008.
Prior Use and Treatment History
Among benzodiazepine admissions that reported another substance of abuse at the time of admission, the majority (86.4 percent) indicated that they started using benzodiazepines after they first used the other substance, and the remaining 13.6 percent initiated use of benzodiazepines before initiation of the other substance of abuse. Nearly half of all benzodiazepine admissions (46.6 percent) reported daily use of benzodiazepines at treatment entry.
The most common source of referral to treatment was self-referrals (45.7 percent), followed by referrals from the criminal justice system (19.9 percent), alcohol or drug abuse care providers (17.0 percent), other health care providers (8.4 percent), and referrals from another source (9.0 percent). Compared with all admissions, benzodiazepine admissions were more likely to have had at least one prior treatment episode (70.5 vs. 56.6 percent); they were also more likely to have had three or more treatment episodes (36.8 vs. 23.0 percent).
The type of treatment services received differed between benzodiazepine admissions and all admissions. Benzodiazepine admissions were more likely to receive detoxification than all admissions (31.6 vs. 19.3 percent) and less likely to receive regular outpatient treatment (34.3 vs. 50.1 percent). Compared with all admissions, benzodiazepine admissions were more likely to have a psychiatric problem in addition to their substance use problem (43.4 vs. 24.9 percent).5
Abuse of Benzodiazepines in Conjunction with Other Substances
Compared with all admissions, benzodiazepine admissions were much more likely to report the abuse of another substance (95.0 vs. 54.4 percent). Of those benzodiazepine admissions that reported multiple substances of abuse, 82.1 percent reported primary abuse of another substance with secondary abuse of benzodiazepines, and 12.9 percent reported primary abuse of benzodiazepines with secondary abuse of another substance.
Older benzodiazepine admissions were generally more likely than those who were younger to report benzodiazepines as their only substance of abuse: 11.5 percent of benzodiazepine admissions aged 55 or older indicated that this was their only substance of abuse compared with about 3 to 5 percent of those aged 12 to 44 and 8 percent of those aged 45 to 54 (Figure 1). Conversely, younger benzodiazepine admissions were more likely than those who were older to report secondary abuse of benzodiazepines with primary abuse of another substance (around 80 to 85 percent of those aged 12 to 54 compared with about 74 percent of those aged 55 or older).
|Age at Admission
|Primary Abuse of Benzodiazepines Only
|Primary Abuse of Benzodiazepines with Secondary Abuse of Another Substance
|Secondary Abuse of Benzodiazepines
|12 to 17
|18 to 24
|25 to 34
|35 to 44
|45 to 54
|55 or Older
|Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.
Source: SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 2008
Primary Benzodiazepine Admissions
Among the primary benzodiazepine admissions who reported multiple substances, the most commonly reported secondary substances were opiates, alcohol, marijuana, and/or cocaine. Overall, nearly one third of these primary benzodiazepine admissions reported secondary abuse of opiates (32.6 percent): specifically, 8.4 percent reported secondary abuse of heroin, and 25.3 percent reported secondary abuse of opiates other than heroin (primarily prescription pain relievers). About one quarter (27.6 percent) reported secondary abuse of alcohol, and 22.6 percent reported secondary abuse of marijuana. Fewer admissions reported secondary abuse of cocaine (15.6 percent) or other drugs (9.0 percent).
Secondary Benzodiazepine Admissions
Admissions who reported benzodiazepines as their second drug of choice most commonly reported the primary abuse of opiates, alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine. More than half of secondary benzodiazepine admissions reported primary abuse of opiates (54.2 percent): 29.8 percent of admissions reported primary abuse of heroin, and 24.4 percent reported primary abuse of opiates other than heroin. About one quarter (24.7 percent) reported primary abuse of alcohol, 11.4 percent reported primary abuse of marijuana, 6.3 percent reported primary abuse of cocaine, and 3.3 percent reported primary abuse of some other drug.
There was some variation in the primary drug of choice by age among the admissions who reported secondary abuse of benzodiazepines. While the majority of secondary benzodiazepine admissions aged 18 to 44 reported opiates as the primary substance, the older and younger age groups demonstrated different patterns. Opiates and alcohol were the most commonly reported primary substances of abuse among those aged 45 or older (47.1 and 42.1 percent, respectively) (Figure 2). Marijuana was the most commonly reported primary substance among those aged 12 to 17 (72.6 percent).
|Age at Admission
|Any Opiates
|12 to 17
|18 to 24
|25 to 34
|35 to 44
|45 or Older
|Note: Percentages may sum to less than 100 percent due to small numbers of admissions that did not report a primary substance of abuse.
Source: SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 2008.
Abuse of prescription drugs, including benzodiazepines, is increasing across the country. Despite representing a small segment of the treatment population, the number of benzodiazepine admissions nearly tripled between 1998 and 2008, while overall admissions increased by only 11 percent. The data in this report, however, suggest multiple avenues for intervention and prevention of abuse of this powerful class of drugs. For example, since benzodiazepine abuse is most often a secondary substance of abuse, prescribing physicians may wish to screen for alcohol and other drugs of abuse and monitor patients more closely. Similarly, given the potential for abuse, patients using any of the 15 formulations of benzodiazepines should ensure that no one else has access to their medications and that they dispose of any leftover quantities in an appropriate manner. Programs that offer detoxification may also want to screen for secondary benzodiazepine abuse before beginning a program designed for opiate detoxification.
Additionally, a substantial proportion of benzodiazepine admissions have a psychiatric disorder in addition to their substance use disorder, and many may suffer from withdrawal symptoms (which can be severe) as they discontinue use. Screening and planning for mental health and medical issues early in the treatment process can help ensure that these issues can be effectively addressed. Finally, detoxification is often needed to address an individual's physical addiction to benzodiazepines; however, detoxification alone may not be sufficient for addressing all recovery needs. Following detoxification with a residential and/or outpatient treatment program may be vital for achieving full and lasting recovery.
End Notes
1 Benzodiazepines refer to drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax®), diazepam (Valium®), flurazepam (Dalmane®), triazolam (Halcion®), or similar drugs.
2 Knopf, A. (2011, January). Programs see sweeping increase in admissions for prescription opioids. Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly, 23, 1-4.
3 Longo, L. P., & Johnson, B. (2000). Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines—Side effects, abuse risk and alternatives. American Family Physician, 61, 2121-2128.
4 National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2009, June). NIDA InfoFacts: Prescription and over-the-counter medications. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/PainMed.html
5 Psychiatric problem in addition to alcohol or drug problem is a Supplemental Data Set item. The 31 States and jurisdictions in which it was reported for at least 75 percent of all admissions aged 12 or older in 2008—AL, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, and WY—accounted for 52 percent of all such substance abuse treatment admissions in 2008.
Suggested Citation
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (June 2, 2011). The TEDS Report: Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions for Abuse of Benzodiazepines. Rockville, MD.
The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) is a compilation of data on the demographic characteristics and substance abuse problems of those aged 12 or older admitted for substance abuse treatment. TEDS is one component of the Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS), an integrated data system maintained by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). TEDS information comes primarily from facilities that receive some public funding. Information on treatment admissions is routinely collected by State administrative systems and then submitted to SAMHSA in a standard format. TEDS records represent admissions rather than individuals, as a person may be admitted to treatment more than once. State admission data are reported to TEDS by the Single State Agencies (SSAs) for substance abuse treatment. There are significant differences among State data collection systems. Sources of State variation include completeness of reporting, facilities reporting TEDS data, clients included, and treatment resources available. See the annual TEDS reports for details. TEDS received approximately 1.9 million treatment admission records from 48 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for 2008.
Definitions for demographic, substance use, and other measures mentioned in this report are available in the following publication: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (December 11, 2008). The TEDS Report: TEDS Report Definitions. Rockville, MD.
The TEDS Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, SAMHSA; Synectics for Management Decisions, Inc. (Arlington, VA); and RTI International (Research Triangle Park, NC). Information and data for this issue are based on data reported to TEDS through August 31, 2009.
Access the latest TEDS reports at:
The TEDS Report is published periodically by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (formerly the Office of Applied Studies), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: email@example.com.
This page was last updated on May 18, 2010.


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Analyst calls: Whole Foods initiated with a 'buy'
Scripps Networks is upgraded to a 'buy,' while CVS Caremark is downgraded to 'market perform.'
Tuesday's noteworthy upgrades include:
- ACE Ltd. (ACE) upgraded to Conviction Buy from Buy at Goldman
- Scripps Networks (SNI) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank
- Cablevision (CVC) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank
- CVS Caremark (CVS) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital
- CSX (CSX) downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Bernstein
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New study finds members of this global elite are stashing an average $600 million each in cash -- 10 times more than a year ago.
Top Stocks provides analysis about the most noteworthy stocks in the market each day, combining some of the best content from around the MSN Money site and the rest of the Web.
Contributors include professional investors and journalists affiliated with MSN Money.
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The Womens Network,
Advocates for Democratic Principles, is dedicated to
the achievement of a society that is both free and fair, embracing
the Four Freedoms set forth by Franklin D. Roosevelt and the
Core Principles of the Democratic Party.
The Women's Network is committed to activating Kentucky women to take part in the political process, strengthening their influence and inclusion in policy- making decisions
We invite you to join this rapidly growing statewide organization. Help us expand our positive influence on local, state and national elections and educate Kentuckians about what Democrats stand for—true American values. Help us involve thousands of women in the grass roots efforts to improve the lives of women and families by supporting Democratic principles and candidates who abide by those principles.
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Get an alert when new High Society - The Musical (Touring) dates are announced
From the producers of the recently nominated tour of The King and I (UK Theatre Awards 2012) comes a dazzling new production of Cole Porter's timeless classic, High Society. Wealthy socialite Tracy Lord is in the midst of planning a lavish summer wedding when her ex-husband Dexter Haven turns up to disrupt the proceedings in an attempt to win her back. A further twist arrives in the form of the charming reporter Mike Connor who falls instantly for Tracy, and she for him. As the day of the wedding draws closer, the audience is left guessing which groom the bride will choose.
Adapted from the hit 1956 film, High Society fizzes with a host of beautiful Cole Porter ballads including 'True Love', 'You're Sensational' and the unforgettable 'Did You Evah!'.
The production stars Michael Praed as Dexter Haven and the cast also includes Sophie Bould as Tracy Lord, Daniel Boys as Mike Connor, Keiron Crook as George Kittredge, Marilyn Cutts as Margaret Lord, Teddy Kempner as Uncle Willie, Katie Lee as Dinah Lord, Craig Pinder as Seth Lord and Alex Young as Liz Imbrie.
Other roles are played by Jill Armour, John Bowles, Steven Butler, Matt Corner, Zoe Doano, Carol Heffernan, Lucy James, Ashley Knight, Anthony McGill, Ben Redfern and Rachel Spurrell.
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Stating At $110.00
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The Mitsubishi OEM replacement filter model MAC-418FT-E is replacement anti allergy air filter for Mitsubishi Mr. Slim heat pump and air conditioning split systems.
The Mitsubishi OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer air filter is a blue anti-allergy enzyme filter. The filter captures airborne bacteria, viruses, germs and traps fine dust, and pollen that the larger post-filter may not catch. This filter is made with a special enzyme to break down the bonds in allergen proteins, giving your home or office fresh air while reducing the presence of allergens in the environment. The MAC-418FT pre-filter is used with Mitsubishi Mr. Slim split system heat pump and air conditioner models:ĀMSZ-FD09NA, MSZ-FD12NA
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The Mitsubishi MAC-418FT-E air filter media should be changed once every four months or as needed if sooner.


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I am so pleased to offer you another opinion piece by my dear friend and frequent guest blogger here, Julie Imirie. The Liberal's Double Standard Part 4,652 The whole universe is all abuzz over the speech that Dr. Benjamin Carson gave at the National Prayer breakfast. His passionate remarks were the shot heard 'round the world a [...]
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Jackie Wellfonder is a proud conservative activist and strategist. She started blogging in 2012 and spreading a common sense message of fiscal conservatism, limited government, and transparent governance. She is also a contributor and radio host at www.waynedupree.com. Because of her passion for supporting right of center candidates, Wellfonder started a consulting firm, Wellfonder Group, to help candidates and small businesses maximize their reach via social media and a strategic communications plan. Visit our contact page to send a message and share your thoughts or find out more information!
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Comment: What are they doing up there? (Score 3, Insightful) 250
Maybe the reason more Russians are going up than Americans is because it costs $71Million to send an American.
NASA's 2014 budget is ~$17.5B, and they do a lot of really good stuff, the ISS is kinda low on that totem pole, if you ask me. There's a lot more to space exploration than sitting in the ISS, babysitting experiments, chatting with school kids and waiting for your ride


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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
© Copyright 2014 Clayton News Daily
By Linda email@example.com A female restaurant employee was shot in the leg when two unidentified males entered the business early Monday morning, Clayton County Police said. The incident occurred just after midnight at the Sonic restaurant, located at 1010 Pointe South Parkway, Riverdale, according to Officer Kevin Hughes, a Clayton County Police spokesman. The store manager, Jeremy Stready, 29, told police that he and employee Amber Edwards, 20, were closing the store when he saw two males dressed in all-black clothing run past a window in front of him, according to a police report. Stready told police he and Edwards ran to the rear of the store to call 911, according to the report. "The manager did not know the front door was unlocked, and therefore he was surprised to see the suspects enter the business," the police report states. Stready ran to the back door and opened the door, then heard a gunshot, according to the report. Stready ran out of the back door because he was being pursued by a suspect, the report states. "He ran to another location and called 911," Hughes said. Edwards, who had been shot in the left leg in the incident, was transported to Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale for treatment. "She was alert and conscious," Hughes said. The two unknown suspects exited the rear door and ran behind the business into a wooded area, according to the police report. The report lists the incident as an armed robbery, however, Hughes said there is no indication that anything was taken in the incident. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477.
More like this story
- Restaurant employee shoots manager, kills self ( May 12, 2009 )
- Boy running from store clerk hit by car ( September 26, 2009 )
- Man hit with bat after bar argument ( June 9, 2009 )
- Jonesboro man receives 45 years following burglary ( February 15, 2011 )
- Police: Store employee handcuffed during robbery ( August 22, 2009 )


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About Us
Marlene Hutchinson has more than 35 years of music experience including guitar, vocal, piano and clarinet. She is the author and producer of books, CDs and a DVD and has appeared on PBS.
In 2003 Marlene created a simple method of learning to play guitar that has influenced and inspired guitarists around the United States and Canada. Her method was developed on the theory that guitar playing can be taught to
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Marlene teaches privately in Orange County, California and travels the United States teaching her "Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!" workshops.
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Roll to Dodge has updated! Please keep posting!
Hi there! The RTD you signed up for in the RPing forum has started.
Hope you decide to join, especially since you posted a character sheet.
gah how do u give a fn puppet a personility
lmao Ya want me to make a sheet for Doll Marque or do u have one? lol i asked bloody(:
lol ok ha she is(: we are finding pics for my twins at the moment(:
God fine be that way. . . lol jk what rp?
Yo, thanks for the sheet. ok well im bored whats up?
Oh yeah, thanks for the reminder. Can you give me your picture file so that I can use those.
So this will be before Willow correct?
I will set it about two years before, when Kiara first came to the school, and while Lucky and Vivica first get together.
Orc's Breathmint


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Police are looking for the suspect involved in a hit and run early Friday morning.
Authorities say a woman was hit by a car at the intersection of West Seymour and Vine Street in Carthage. It happened around 6 a.m.
The victim was taken to UC Medical Center with unknown injuries.
According to police, the suspect was driving a 4-door gold Toyota Corolla, last seen on Reading Road.
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Instruments and equipment
Crushing and mineral separation
LIG (Laboratory for Isotope Geology) has the basic equipment for crushing, milling and sieving of rock samples, as well as for mineral separation using Wilfley table, Frantz Isodynamic Separators and heavy liquids.
There are also microscopes and binoculars for handpicking of minerals, and equipment for photo-documentation of individual mineral grains.
Clean chemistry lab
The clean chemistry laboratory of LIG is used for dissolution of whole rock and mineral samples and separation of the elements of interest by ion exchange chromatography. These include U and Pb, Sm and Nd, as well as Sr. Other types of samples, such as water and sediment samples, may also be treated. In order to keep contamination at low levels and make it possible to prepare and analyse small U-Pb samples, the laboratory is built as a cleanroom with an overpressure of filtered air inside.
Finnigan MAT261 Thermal ionization mass spectrometer
LIG has a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS), a Finnigan MAT261, originally delivered in 1982 but upgraded several times since that. The MAT261 has an ion source that can house a turret with 13 samples, loaded on Re filaments, at a time. It has a multi-collector system encompassing five Faraday detectors for simultaneous analysis of five masses / isotopes, as well as one secondary electron multiplier for analysis of small samples. The MAT261 is used to analyse the isotopic composition of solid elements such as uranium, lead, strontium, samarium and neodymium, but is also used for the analysis of chlorine isotopes in the form of cesium chloride.
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Thermo Finnigan
Triton Thermal ionization mass spectrometer
In February 2006, a new thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS), a Triton from Thermo Finnigan, was installed at LIG. It is equipped with nine Faraday detectors and one secondary electron multiplier with RPQ filter for small signals. The sample magasin can house 21 samples. It is used for isotope analysis of solid substances, principally the same elements as our old machine (MAT261), uranium and lead, strontium, samarium and neodymium.
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Isoprobe ICP mass spectrometer
Since 1999 LIG has also an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), a Micromass Isoprobe, equipped with a collision cell and a multi-collector system encompassing nine Faraday detectors and one Daly detector for analysis of small samples. Samples are introcuced in solution, evaporated and passed through a hot plasma, where the atoms are ionized and accelerated into the mass spectrometer unit. Energy filtering of ions takes place in a collision cell, prior to mass separation by the electromagnet. Because of the efficient ionization, the Isoprobe has the potential of analysing isotopic composition on a wide range of elements; so far analytical work has concentrated on Sr, Nd, Pb, Sn, Fe, Si, Hf and Th.
NORDSIM ion microprobe
The Nordic ion microprobe facility (NORDSIM) is also located at LIG. NORDSIM is a joint Nordic resource, funded by four of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark) and governed by a special board with members from these countries.
It is centred around a large geometry Cameca IMS1280 ion microprobe. The original instrument was installed in 1995, and underwent a major upgrade in 2009. This complex and advanced instrument enables high spatial resolution (typically 10-30 micrometer) microanalysis of a wide range of elements and isotopes in different materials.
The most common application to date has been U-Th-Pb geo-chronology of complex polyphase zircons whose history would be unobtainable by other methods. In addition trace-element studies in zircons as well as other silicate minerals, together with analysis of light stable isotopes (e.g. B, C, O) are being performed.
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Other equipment
LIG also has a Beta counter for analysis of 234Th, and a Gamma counter for analysis of 210Pb and 137Cs. Furthermore, LIG has access to the Hitachi scanning electron microscope of the museum. This is equipped with detectors for EDS, Cathodoluminescence and Back Scatter Electrons, enabling studies of the composition and internal structure of individual mineral grains.


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MANAMA, BAHRAIN— The leader of Bahrain's largest Shiite alliance said the country had two options— a new constitution or utter chaos.
The leader of the Wafeq party, Sheikh Ali Salman, said the country only had two options— a new constitution that leads to national reconciliation, or face chaos. Bahrain is nearly 70 percent Shiite, but is ruled by a Sunni monarchy.
Protesters have been demanding a new system, a system where Shiites will have more say. At least seven protesters have been killed, and hundreds more were injured in the unrest in Bahrain.
A demonstration in Bahrain on Wednesday was led by freed political prisoners who were released just 24 hours before. Nearly 50 prisoners were released on Tuesday, 25 of them were Shiites on trial for the past year after they were accused of plotting against the government. The release of the political prisoners was an attempted gesture to calm the unrest.
King Hamad, the leader of the country, visited Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss the current distress. Hamad also met with representatives of the country's opposition on Tuesday.
The government has denied that it mistreats Shiites.


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School assemblies addressing drug abuse are nothing new, but Franklin County Technical School added a twist to get their students attention.
A former basketball star from the Bay State detailed his life in front of a packed gym Friday afternoon.
Chris Herren's fall from stardom is well-documented and he does not shy away from the topic.
Last year alone, he spoke to 150,000 high school students.
"It was a 14-year nightmare," said Herren.
With the entire student body listening to what he had to say, the Fall River native meticulously detailed his life.
"I often tell people I was a professional drug addict more than a professional basketball player," Herren stated.
Herren dominated high school basketball. He was the Boston Globe's Player of the Year from 1992 to 1994. When he arrived as a freshman at Boston College, he began using cocaine.
"Then it went to opiates and painkillers for a few years," said Herren. "Then it switched over to heroin."
Herren was kicked out of B.C. and spent a couple of seasons at Fresno State. He reached the NBA and even played for the Boston Celtics, but by that point, it did not matter.
"I saw the effect it was having on my family and myself," Herren stated. "So there really was not much time to worry about the basketball side of it."
Administrators at FCTS hope Herren's message will be just as strong as the addiction that took down his career.
"Here is somebody who had millions of dollars coming his way and yet the addiction was stronger than those millions of dollars," said Rick Martin, FCTS principal. "That is a powerful message for these kids to hear."
Herren has given lectures at many levels, including pro sports teams such as the New England Patriots. But, he gets the most enjoyment from taking his speeches to high school gyms across the country.
"They seem to be affected by the story more so than kids in college," said Herren. "I believe I can have a greater impact at this age group."
Herren said he has been drug and alcohol free since Aug. 1, 2008.
Copyright 2013 WSHM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
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Toledo, OH 43604
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Mike Richards is already looking ahead to a new future with the Los Angeles Kings, but the young centre was firing back at the past on Tuesday at a story that said he and former teammate Jeff Carter were traded out from the Philadelphia Flyers because of excessive partying.
A report written in the Philadelphia Daily News by gossip columnist Dan Gross said that in December 2009, new head coach Peter Laviolette asked his players to commit to not drinking for a month and each player was to write his number on a locker room board as a pledge. According to two unnamed players, Richards' No. 18 and Carter's No. 17 were not on the board for the 'Dry Island' experiment and did not take part in it in future attempts.
"I believe what happens in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room," Richards told TSN's That's Hockey on Tuesday. "It was just something that happened for a handful of guys, just more of a playful thing that half the team took part in and the other half didn't.
"It wasn't a big deal...It was just a joke around the locker room and obviously leaked out and someone's trying to make a mountain out of it."
The report added that the two unnamed players said the Flyers' front office was disappointed in the pair's partying and that teammates were 'concerned.'
"It couldn't be further from the truth," Richards told TSN. "Unfortunately, things get blown out of proportion and things get said and taken out of context too. I'm not sure if people are trying to get a sense of it or trying to convince other people that it was the reason, but at the same time, it's not true at all."
In one of the biggest shake-ups in team history, the Flyers traded Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 23 for forward Jakub Voracek and draft picks and sent Richards to the Kings for forwards Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn.
"It was a big shock," said the 26-year-old. "I found out about it an hour before it happened and then I called my agent and it just snowballed from there - with Jeff being traded and myself right after. It was a hectic day, but I'm looking forward to starting in L.A...I'm excited to get this next step going."
TSN.ca previews what to expect out of the NHL's 30 teams as we count down to puck drop. Check daily for team previews and updates on each Canadian franchise leading up to Oct. 8.
Latest Preview: Arizona Coyotes


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Shop - Little May
Artist website www.sarahblasko.comMyspaceTwitter
I wanted to go all the way with this record -it seemed right.I spent the first half of 2011 in a house in Brighton in England alonewith my thoughts & memories.Haunted& unsettled.Out of that, I believe, came a strength.The decision to simply give it all.This was for me,this was for my family.At times I thought this record would kill me.Honestly,it was a behemoth!There were moments I felt I would sink beneath it.But that's the kind of thing you choose -I chose to produce it myself.I chose an orchestra.An avalanche of sound,soaring & shrieking,simple & strikingto send you tumbling.I do hope it makes you feel something.I recorded & mixed most of this album in Stockholm, Sweden.I then went on to record with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra.(I have ancestry there on my father's side,which attracted me to the idea).The orchestral arrangements were written by my good friend Nicholas Wales.Here it is, 'I Awake'!Sarah
Released through Dew Process/Universal Music Australia on October 26th• 'I Awake' is Sarah's fourth studio album. • 'I Awake' was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden with 'As Day Follows Night' engineer and mixer, Lasse Mårtén. Further recording then commenced in Sofia, Bulgaria with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra.• The album also features the talents of:David Symes - bassFredrik Rundqvist - drumsThomas Tjärnkvist - pianoJohn Eriksson - percussionFredrik Kinbom - electric guitar & ukuleleStina Hellberg – harpSarah also played ukulele & piano• All three of her previous albums - 'The Overture & the Underscore', 'What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have' and 'As Day Follows Night' - have far exceeded Platinum sales.• Sarah wrote the score for Bell Shakespeare's Hamlet in 2008.• Sarah has won two ARIAs for Best Female and Best Pop Album and also triple j's JAward for Australian Album of the Year. • She has been nominated for a further 14 ARIAs (including two for Album of The Year) and been shortlisted for two Australian Music Prizes and another JAward.
"One of Australia's finest talents" – Daily Telegraph"One of the many things I like about Sarah Blasko is her attention to detail; it means anything she does, be it on record, her artwork and videos, or her shows, is guaranteed to be of high interest." – Robert Forster told J mag"Some writers will lead you back to yourself with their words and their music but Sarah's music has always taken me right outside my own life and into a kind of romantic, imagined existence." – Josh Pyke told Sydney Morning Herald"Sarah Blasko makes albums that condense her world view and emotional outlook into an illustrative and immersive song cycle; track by track she dictates her own reality." - Craig Mathieson, Sydney Morning Herald"In a sea of indie pop artists, Sarah Blasko has always managed to swim against the current." – Andrea Beattie, MX Magazine
Gossling releases new album "Harvest of Gold" featuring single 'Never Expire' on November 1st 2013
Dew Process to release 45-track birthday compilation


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We keep reaching for one another, not because we want to necessarily, but because we need to. Not because it's good for us or because we're meant for someone else, but because even if we get hurt over and over again, the alternative is to wake up on Saturday and eat eggs by yourself. And we'd really rather eat those eggs with someone else.
"Love and Annie Hall," Splitsider
I've never had a relationship that once it was all over, I thought it was good for me.


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Light to medium bodied wines that are high in acid and light to medium fruit. Typically no oak.
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Bodegas Naia works with old Verdejo vines planted, according to the traditional gobelet system of training, three decades ago in the district of La Seca, one of the most highly renowned areas of the region.
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Bodegas Naia is located about an hour north of Madrid in the province of Castilla y Lyon and within the Rueda D.O. region. The estate has three owners: Javier Alen, who owns Vina Mein winery in the Ribeiro D.O. region; Victor Rodriguez, formerly director of the highly acclaimed food and wine magazine Vino y Gastronomia, and Eulogio Calleja, a highly regarded winemaker in...Read More About Bodegas Naia
Once used only for making sherry-like wines from the Palomino grape, Rueda has found it's white savior. The Verdejo grape, grown here for centuries, was found to create a dry, refreshing white wine in the 1970's. By 1980, Rueda had its own DO.
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HOTLINE: Friday, January 10, 2014
RECIPE #5112 / LYNNE TOLLEY / MISS MARY BOBO'S: Lynne made a recipe for Succotash Salad with Lemon Dressing. To get a copy of the recipe click here: http://on.nc5.co/1gpNzEv. For reservations or more information about Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House, serving lunch daily in Lynchburg, TN, call (931)759-7394.
REALITY STARS / HEATHER BYRD AND JIMMY STANLEY / "CRAZY HEARTS: NASHVILLE" : Heather and Jimmy talked about their new reality show "Crazy Hearts: Nashville". The show premieres on January 15 at 10 p.m. on the A&E Network. For updates on the show, follow their twitter @CrazyHeartsAE.
ENTERTAINMENT / VAL KILMER / "CITIZEN TWAIN": Val talked about writing, directing, and starring in his one man show "Citizen Twain." It runs at the Ryman Auditorium February 6 at 7:30 p.m. and February 7 at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit http://ryman.com/ or call the Ryman box office at (615) 889-3060.
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About some three or four years before this time, there came over one Captain Wollaston (a man of pretty parts) and with him three or four more of some eminency, who brought with them a great many servants with provisions and other implements for to begin a plantation; and pitched themselves in a place within the Massachusetts which they called, after their Captain's name, Mount Wollaston. Among whom was one Thomas Morton, who, it should seem, had some small adventure (of his own or other men's) among them, but had little respect among them and was slighted by the meanest servants.
Having continued there some time and not finding things to answer their expectations, nor profit to arise as they looked for, Captain Wollaston takes a great part of the servants and transports them to Virginia, where he puts them off at good rates, selling their time to other men to work on tobacco plantations and writes back to one Mr. Rasdall, one of his chief partners and accounted their merchant, to bring another part of them to Virginia likewise, intending to put them off there as he had done the rest. And he, with the consent of the said Rasdall, appointed one Fitcher to be his lieutenant and govern the remains of the plantation till he or Rasdall returned to take further order thereabout.
But this Morton above said, having more craft than honesty, in the others' absence watches an opportunity (commons being but hard among them), and got some strong drink and other junkets, and made them a feast; and after they were merry, he began to tell them he would give them good counsel. "You see (saith he) that many of your fellows are carried to Virginia, and if you stay till this Rasdall return, you will also be carried away and sold for slaves with the rest. Therefore I would advise you to thrust out this Lieutenant Fitcher, and I, having a part in the plantation, will receive you as my partners and consociates; so may you be free from service, and we will converse, trade, plant, and live together as equals and support and protect one another," or to like effect. This counsel was easily received, so they took opportunity and thrust Lieutenant Fitcher out of doors and would suffer him to come no more among them.
After this they fell to great licentiousness and led a dissolute life, pouring out themselves into all profaneness. And Morton became lord of misrule and maintained (as it were) a school of atheism. And after they had got some goods into their hands and got much by trading with the Indians, they spent it as vainly in quaffing and drinking both wine and strong waters in great excess, and, as some reported, ten pounds' worth in a morning. They also set up a maypole, drinking and dancing about it many days together, inviting the Indian women for their consorts, dancing and frisking together (like so many fairies, or furies, rather) and worse practices, as if they had anew revived and celebrated the feasts of the Roman goddess Flora, or the beastly practices of the mad Bacchanalians. Morton likewise (to show his poetry) composed sundry rhymes and verses, some tending to lasciviousness, and others to the detraction and scandal of some persons, which he affixed to this idle, or idol, maypole. They changed also the name of their place, and instead of calling it Mount Wollaston, they call it Merrymount, as if this jollity would have lasted ever.
But this continued not long, for after Morton was sent for England Mr. John Endecott, who brought over a patent under the broad seal, for the government of the Massachusetts, who, visiting those parts, caused that maypole to be cut down and rebuked them for their profaneness and called it Mount Dagon.


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Thanks to the addition of a new $650,000 mobile command unit and 10 personal police officer cameras, the Laurel Police Department is hardly lagging behind when it comes to the latest technology.
"I think Laurel leads the way on a lot of the new police technology," said city spokesman Pete Piringer. "What's good for the officers is good for the public. It just makes a lot of sense."
Both the new command unit and the personal cameras are expected to be deployed for full use sometime in March, Piringer said.
"We are trying to keep up with the latest technology," Mayor Craig Moe said. "The more we can provide our officers, the more it allows them to work with on the streets and for preventing crime."
While the new command unit will aid the department in special situations, the addition of the officer cameras is something Police Chief Richard McLaughlin is excited about working into the department's everyday operations.
"We will use them for training officers, officers on patrol, in the execution of search warrants," McLaughlin said. "It will document incidents and show we are in compliance with the law. ... It's more practical for executing cases as well."
The 10 personal officer cameras, which cost $2,000 each including maintenance and replacement warranty, are placed above the officer's ear at eye-level and held in place by a headband or by snapping onto an officer's eyewear.
"One of the greatest things about the cameras is it gets the officer's point of view," Cpl. Jason Sarver said while demonstrating the camera at the Laurel Police station last week.
Connected by a wire to the 3-inch camera is a 3-gigabyte memory and battery pack, which is also used to turn the camera on and off. Although the camera is not always "on," it is constantly recording and storing up to 30 seconds of footage, which allows an officer to play back some previous recording when an unexpected incident occurs.
All footage recorded by officers will be uploaded to the city's server by plugging the device into a USB port. Officers can immediately view playback of the footage through an application on their smart phones, Sarver said, but no members of the police department are capable of editing the footage. Once uploaded, the footage can only be viewed by authorized personnel.
Sarver said just the appearance of a camera can sometimes calm down potentially contentious encounters.
"It helps diffuse a lot of situations," Sarver said.
Sarver added that the camera will also be used for tactical training involving the SWAT team, and will also aid patrol officers in their report writing.
"Having the ability to go back and review the video is going to be a great tool," Sarver said.
Piringer said the department is currently working with the city's legal department on a policy for the devices.
Depending on the success of the 10 initial cameras, the department is exploring adding another 40 or 50 cameras, he said.
"Eventually, we hope to have a camera in every car and on every officer," Piringer said.
Mobile command unit
"This has all the latest technology, it's state-of-the-art," Tim Frost, the city's director of Information Technology, said standing inside the city's new mobile command unit parked outside the police station last week.
Police will use the 40-foot-long unit, which arrived at the department last week, to respond to emergency situations that last for extended periods of time.


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Top Ten Questions People Ask About Switching to Internet Telephonesby James E. Gaskin
When I speak with individuals or groups about internet telephones, I hear the same questions over and over. That helped me as I wrote the book Talk Is Cheap, because the more questions I could answer in the book, the more value it will have to readers.
Some cynical people (my teenage daughter, for instance) believe these questions highlight the lack of logical thinking in America today. A better way to look at it is to consider the range of questions as illustrative of areas where internet telephone vendors, and the press, have dropped the information ball.
So I'll start the information ball rolling, with a caveat: most of these questions do not have a single answer. Some answers depend on the telephone service provider you choose, and others depend on the preferences you set.
1. Can I Keep the Same Phone Number?
Yes, with most services you can keep your existing telephone number. It can take up to ten business days to switch your existing number from your traditional telephone company to your new internet telephone service provider. During that time, your new provider gives you a temporary number so you can start dialing out over your new service while receiving calls over your traditional telephone provider line.
Rarely, some traditional telephone providers will not transfer the number to your internet telephone provider. Technical reasons are usually blamed, but those excuses are wearing thin, and most traditional telephone providers now realize they have to switch numbers when requested. If this becomes an issue for you, look for an internet telephone provider that has a better technical relationship to your existing telephone company.
2. Do I Need a Broadband Connection?
Since we're talking about broadband phones (another name for internet telephones, or internet telephony, or VoIP, the ugly acronym for "Voice Over Internet Protocol"), asking if broadband is required seems to validate my daughter's cynicism. However, several internet telephone services in the past have advertised internet calling over dialup connections. Skype, currently the most popular VoIP service in the world, encouraged this thinking early on.
However, the answer to this question is always, "Yes, you need a broadband connection." Even if dialup connections are possible, their sound quality stinks.
3. How Does It Sound?
Better than expected, at least most of the time. Using an internet telephone to call a regular telephone drops the audio quality down to the level of a regular telephone call, which, frankly, is pretty low. Conversations between two people using the same service will almost always be better than a regular telephone call.
When you use headsets with microphones that support a wider audio frequency range than normal telephone handsets, the quality can be startlingly good. Skype, the computer-to-computer telephone service, transmits the full frequency range of human hearing. A good Skype-to-Skype connection with good headsets will fool you into thinking the person is in the chair beside you rather than an ocean away.
4. Will I Really Save Money?
Only one group will not save money with internet telephones: people without broadband service who have no extra features (like Caller ID or Call Waiting) on their phones and make no long distance calls whatsoever. Every other consumer will save money using an internet telephone provider.
If you already have a broadband service provider, you will save money with an internet telephone. Period.
Brand-name internet telephone service starts as low as $10 per month. No Ma Bell company holdover charges less than $20 per month per line after all of the assorted fees and taxes. While the entry-level broadband phone service will limit the number of minutes included in your monthly service before charging by the minute, unlimited minute plans (including long distance calls to Canada, and sometimes Mexico) start at $20 per month.
5. What if the Power Goes Out?
You're hosed, unless you've taken some extra steps not necessary with traditional telephones. But if you use cordless phones, you're hosed when the power goes out, even with a traditional telephone company.
Traditional telephones receive power from the telephone line itself, sent out by the telephone company central office. But cordless phones require more power and can't get enough from the telephone line, which is why they all include a separate power cord for the base station.
Prepared people plug their broadband modem, router, and all other internet telephony equipment into a battery backup unit. Widely available for computers, these units are now restyled for broadband phone equipment use. For a few dollars, lack of power will not mean lack of your internet telephone.
6. What About 911?
No lack of headlines lately, is there? Broadband phone vendors haven't done as much as they should have to start with, but what isn't reported in the press has been the blocking of 911 access connections by traditional telephone companies in many parts of the country. The antiquated 911 infrastructure also makes it difficult in many areas to support modern networking protocols and connections used by the broadband phone vendors.
Now that Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have jumped in, traditional telephone companies should be more accommodating. However, the FCC only directs them to "play nicely" with the internet telephone services.
When consumers register their new broadband phones properly, providing the physical address where installed, 911 service works well. Vonage, for example, has successfully routed over 65,000 911 calls made by its customers.
Interestingly, 911 services over internet telephones will, within two years, provide much better emergency service information than traditional telephone 911 calls today.
7. Why Do I Need Free Long Distance if I Get Free Long Distance from My Cell Phone?
Maybe you don't need an internet telephone for long distance if you're happy with your cell phone. But most users find cell phone bills have a way of surprising them now and then, after accidentally going over their allotment of minutes and triggering extra charges.
Need a better reason? Many users enjoy having all of their personal-number voice mails delivered to them via email (even at work, if you list that address), a service many broadband phone companies provide.
8. Do I Need a Computer?
While very few homes without a computer have a broadband network connection, it is possible to use a service like Vonage without a computer. The initial setup, however, must be done via the Web, which does require a computer.
The answer is technically, no, but realistically, yes, you do need a computer.
9. Do I Have to Talk Through My Computer?
Only if you want to. For peer-to-peer connections, such as Skype, you must go through a computer. I call these computer-centric broadband phone services. Phone-centric providers, like Vonage, don't require a computer in the loop and use your existing telephone to make and receive calls.
This distinction rarely appears in the press reports about internet telephones, and it's a critical difference. Skype and other computer-centric services will rarely, if ever, be considered as the best choice for the only telephone in a household. However, some of the features in Skype truly extend the notion of a telephone. Skype is not only "out of the box," but it explodes and shatters the box.
10. How Does Internet Telephony Perform?
Quite well, actually.
Seriously, internet telephones rely on a similar network for making phone connections as the one traditional telephone companies have used for years. Every long distance call for decades has gone over a network similar to the internet, if not actually segments of the "real" internet. The difference is that the physical wires connecting your home telephone to your service provider are not the pair of copper wires installed by the traditional telephone company, but your broadband network connection.
The chief technical officer for Vonage, Louie Mamakos, says, "it's telephone service over broadband, not your phone company," and most people are satisfied with that answer. There are many technical layers under that quick answer, but consumers have accepted cable TV, satellite TV, and cell phones, and they seem to accept that internet telephones reach all the other telephones in the world. It doesn't matter to users if the calls leave the house over a coax cable from the cable company instead of a pair of copper wires from a traditional telephone company.
People like internet telephones when they try them. The added features, included free from the various broadband phone service providers, match and sometimes overwhelm the services traditional telephone companies offer. Internet telephone service companies have developed more innovations in less than 10 years than Ma Bell has in over 100 years. Everyone leaves home sooner or later, and thousands of people just like you are weaning themselves from Ma Bell every week.
Related Reading
Talk Is Cheap
James E. Gaskin has been solving computer and network problems for businesses small and large since 1984. He writes books, articles, and jokes about technology and real life. In 16 books and hundreds of articles, network consultant Gaskin tells people faster, cheaper, newer, and smarter ways to connect to each other and the world. He also maintains the site for his newest book, Talk Is Cheap.
Return to the O'Reilly Network
Showing messages 1 through 13 of 13.
2006-02-19 04:18:14 MR.V [View]
The company I work for faxes everything to me would I still need to have a seprate phone line?
Or does broadband supports this
2006-02-19 13:58:14 James E. Gaskin | [View]
First, I hate faxes so I think your company just jump out of the 19th century (when fax was invented) past the 20th century into the 21st and send you information in a form you can actually use after you receive it. You can ask and you might get lucky.
Second, Vonage and others support fax numbers in two ways. First, you can get the limited time plans for $10-$15 per month for 500 minutes and pay an extra $5-$10 for a fax number. Each carrier handles this differently. Vonage, for instance, charges an extra $10 for a fax number.
Almost all the broadband phone companies also offer a business line model, usually for $35-$50 per month. This usually includes a separate plug for your fax along with a separate phone number.
2 issues
2005-07-07 09:59:49 johnfmcbride [View]
Two issues I don't see addressed:
1. Sure you can use your existing phone. But you have to plug that into the digital phone adapter. The digital phone adapter has to be plugged into the cable modem. Well my cable modem is upstairs and my family does most of its telephone talking downstairs in the kitchen. How do I get around this?
2. Vonage offers several options for having more than one phone, none of them very good. We have phones throughout the house, and I can't see going to just one. How do I get around this.
Excellent article, btw. Thanks.
2 issues
2006-02-28 14:08:02 jamesolsen [View]
If you're savy, you can disconnect your house from the outside phone lines (so the lines inside your house are "dead") and then plug a simple phone line into your adapter to your wall jack, then all phones in your house are connected to the VoIP service.
There are two potential problems with this:
1) You must make sure you disconnect the outside phone service - things won't work right and you could even ruin your VoIP hardware.
2) Some VoIP adapters can only supply enough current to power one or two phones. You'll want to make sure you don't overload it by plugging too many phones into the jacks throughout the house.
2 issues
2006-03-01 22:15:04 James E. Gaskin | [View]
Reworking your phones takes a bit more trouble than that, and isn't possible for those renting homes or in apartments etc. If you sell your home and move, as people do, rewiring things back to normal may be the last thing on your mind. That's why I recommend cordless handsets for most users.
2 issues
2005-07-07 10:11:54 James E. Gaskin | [View]
This problem - and it is a problem - is addressed in depth in the book, and will be part of a second article to go up here soon.
Short answer? Get a new cordless telephone with multiple handsets. You can play with your home phone wiring, but the details are far too involved to put here.
I don't see how this can save me money...
2005-07-06 11:24:56 Unseelie [View]
when SBC won't install DSL unless I also maintain phone service as well.
I don't see how this can save me money...
2005-07-06 12:27:40 James E. Gaskin | [View]
You may be one of the people who won't save money. However, DSL and a residential phone line with absolutely no features and no long distance often costs less than DSL, a residential phone line and a limited broadband phone service account. Getting free long distance to frequent call subjects, such as family back home, makes Internet telephony cost effective for many users.
Also, pressure is mounting on SBC and others to offer "naked" DSL, which is broadband without a residential phone account. And if cable is an option, your bundled price on cable Internet and a broadband phone service may be less than what SBC would charge you.
2 years w/ Vonage
2005-06-29 18:48:58 Smedley [View]
I dumped my landline, but do have a cellphone which acts as a back-up in the rare instances of my cable connection going down (2 incidents in 2 years, for a total of around 15 hours).
$25 for unlimited local, LD and Canada calls, and comes with call waiting, call forarding, voicemail and the ability to save voicemails to my computer as WAV files.
Also available, but which I have't used, is virtual phone numbers. For $5/month you can get a phone number almost anywhere in the USA (Mexico City and London coming soon, if not already available), letting people in those areas (like relatives) call a local number to reach you LD.
I have a cable connection as it's slightly faster than typical DSL, so sound quality might be slightly better too.
Vonage's main competitor is probably Verizon's VoiceWing which costs $5/month more than Vonage. Either one will save you money over your landline local/LD anyway....
inflated costs and benefits
2005-06-29 05:11:46 williambeegle [View]
A basic land line in PA with no features costs about $11/month after taxes -- the same as the most basic VOIP plans. For that, I get proper 911 routing and I don't have to mess with a UPS just to call the electric company when the power goes out.
There's also a problem with bandwidth and latency using VOIP. If you have a good internet provider and you don't use your internet connection while you're making a call, it sounds fine. However, my cable provider routinely has ping times in the 1-2 second range, and the line's oversubscribed enough that dropped packets are common.
Finally, to have VOIP, you need a real, routable IP address (that is, not 10.x.x.x or 192.168.x.x). A lot of ISPs, even broadband providers, won't give you one, or they make it very difficult to figure out how to get one. I've seen people who work in tech. support give up on VOIP because they got sick of fighting with the ISP and messing with firewall settings. I wouldn't even try to push VOIP on tech-illiterate family or friends.
inflated costs and benefits
2005-06-29 07:44:45 James E. Gaskin | [View]
Thanks for your comments.
Many of the VoIP issues are handled by the broadband phone service providers, so the struggle isn't the same as for enterprise VoIP. You don't, for instance, need a routable IP address for your voice device because the router works with NAT to make the connection (consumer VoIP, not "real" VoIP).
Pricing varies widely, but I chose the more common $20 range rather than the $10-17 range still possible in some locations. National POTS pricing varies, but broadband phone pricing doesn't, making it a tough comparison at times.
I have pushed VoIP, er, broadband phones on non-techies with good success. I wouldn't push them to get a SIPphone or FreeWorldDialup account, but Vonage aims exactly at non-techies and does a decent job.
Too optimistic?
2005-06-29 02:52:06 Iljitsch van Beijnum | [View]
I'm not sure if I share all this optimism about the greatness of VoIP. As someone who used to work at "the" phone company way back when and now works on low-level internet infrastructure, I'm afraid we're going to throw away the baby with the bath water if we all switch to VoIP and let the POTS networks wither.
VoIP relies on an unbelievable amount of complex stuff, from SIP clients/servers to QoS mechanisms to inter-ISP peering and so on. It's pretty fragile. (DoS attack anyone?) POTS on the other hand only needs a one-chip DTMF generator and some analog components in the handset, and all the rest is implemented in the central office in operating systems that have been around for a long time and are built for just one purpose, so they're extremely reliable now.
So I'll use VoIP where it makes sense (such as skyping with a friend in Ireland) but I'm keeping my existing phone line too.
Too optimistic?
2005-06-29 07:49:06 James E. Gaskin | [View]
Thanks for your comments.
Ma Bell is reliable but boring as hell. With all the bedrock foundation of central offices and cheap handsets, what have we gotten new in the consumer voice world in the last 30 years? 20 years? 10 years?
I recommend keeping the POTS line to many people. But adding a broadband phone for long distance calls and new phone features will save millions of people money every month. Not a bad deal.


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- Dan Goswick '15
- Hometown: Amherst, Ohio
- Major: Marketing
The students definitely set Mount Union apart from other colleges and universities. It was something I noticed the first time I was on campus, how inherently nice everyone was by doing the littlest things
- Jessica Bennett '16
- Hometown: Green, OH
- Major: Public Health
Campus News | Parents and Families
- Minister, Professor to Present Carr Lecture
- February 28, 2012
Dr. Gail O'Day, dean and professor of New Testament and preaching at Wake Forest University School of Divinity, will present the Joseph M. Carr Lecture on Thursday, March 29 at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Recital Hall at the University of Mount Union. She will present Friendship as a Christian Practice: Embodying Jesus' Love in an Anxious World.See Full Article
- Cooper Discusses Photojournalism at LINC Luncheon
- February 28, 2012 - by Joni Bowen, The Alliance Review
Is a picture worth a thousand words? Dr. Len Cooper, assistant professor of communication at the University of Mount Union, attempted to answer that question during his talk at Tuesday's LINC luncheon.See Full Article
- Cooper to Discuss Photojournalism at LINC Luncheon
- February 27, 2012
Dr. Len Cooper, assistant professor of communication at the University of Mount Union, will present Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? on Tuesday, February 28 at the LINC Luncheon. The luncheon will be held in the Hoover-Price Campus Center at noon, which is located on the University's campus.See Full Article
- 9/11 Artifacts on Display at Mount Union
- February 22, 2012
The University of Mount Union's Department of Engineering and Department of Art are working collaboratively with the City of Alliance to create a conceptual design for a 9/11 memorial from two artifacts that were secured from the former Twin Towers. Once finished, the memorial will be displayed at the corner of State Street and Liberty Avenue in Memorial Park in Alliance. In an effort to raise awareness for the memorial, the 9/11 artifacts are currently on display in the Hoover-Price Campus Center on Mount Union's campus through Friday, February 24. The project is being coordinated through the University's Ralph and Mary Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement.See Full Article
- Repertory Strings Chamber Orchestra to Perform
- February 21, 2012
The University of Mount Union's Repertory Strings Chamber Orchestra will perform on Tuesday, February 28 at 8 p.m. in Presser Recital Hall on Mount Union's campus.See Full Article
- Greek Life Academy Exposes Students to Greek Life
- February 21, 2012 - by Heidi Siciliano
During the weekend of Friday, February 3, nearly 100 University of Mount Union undergraduate students participated in Greek Member Academy, a program designed specifically for new members of fraternity and sorority life to learn more about Greek life.See Full Article
- Alumnus, Dentist Gives Back to Mount Union Program
- February 20, 2012
Dr. Ben Utterback, a 1996 graduate of the University of Mount Union and dentist in Stark County, and his staff recently spent a morning volunteering their time and dental services to students in the Dowling Mentor Program.See Full Article
- Author Discusses New Book at Mount Union
- February 17, 2012 - by Emily Mariani
Philip Gerard, author and chair and professor of creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, presented the Mary W. and Eric A. Eckler Endowment in Literature and Drama on Thursday, February 16 at the University of Mount Union. He used The Patron Saint of Dreams, which is the title of his newest book that will be released in March, to help illustrate a writer's research process and the roles a writer.See Full Article
- Concert Choir to Perform with Canton Symphony
- February 17, 2012
The University of Mount Union's Concert Choir and Walsh University Chamber Singers will perform with the Canton Symphony Chorus on Sunday, February 26 at 3 p.m. in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall in Canton, OH. They will perform Haydn's Mass No. 12 in B-flat Major (Theresienmesse).See Full Article
- Mount Union Presents You Can't Take It With You
- February 17, 2012
The University of Mount Union's Department of Theatre will present You Can't Take It With You, a classic American comedy by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, on February 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. in the Rodman Playhouse on Mount Union's campus.See Full Article
- Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra Concert
- February 15, 2012
The Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra's concert on Saturday, February 25 will feature Dr. Maira Liliestedt, pianist and associate professor of music at the University of Mount Union. The performance, The Poetic Piano and Romantic Landscapes, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Kent State University Tuscarawas' Performing Arts Center.See Full Article
- Stark County Treasury to be Discussed at CLP
- February 14, 2012
Alex Zumbar, Stark County's treasurer, will be the featured speaker at the Continued Learning Program session on Tuesday, February 21 at 10 a.m. in the East Room of the Hoover-Price Campus Center on the University of Mount Union's campus. Zumbar, a 1992 graduate of Mount Union, will discuss the Stark County Treasury.See Full Article
- Disordered Eating to be Discussed Tuesday
- February 14, 2012
Shannon Ortiz, counselor at the University of Mount Union, will discuss disordered eating on Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. in the East Room of the Hoover-Price Campus Center. This discussion is a part of the Confidence in U series, which is being organized by the University's Panhellenic Council and funded by a Kappa Delta Sorority grant.See Full Article
- Matthews Discusses Derivatives at Faculty Lecture
- February 10, 2012 - by Emily Mariani
Dr. Patricia (Foley '73) Matthews, dean of the Division of Professional Studies and professor of economics, accounting and business administration at the University of Mount Union, gave the Faculty Lecture on Wednesday, February 8. Matthews, who also serves as the Nolen A. Cunningham Chair of Business and advisor of the Investment Team, presented Derivatives: Friend or Foe?See Full Article
- Bipolar Disorder to be Discussed February 22
- February 8, 2012
Cory Dobbelaere will discuss living with bipolar disorder on Wednesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. in the Mount Union Theatre.See Full Article
- Dr. Nezam Al-Nsair Named Director of Nursing
- February 8, 2012
The University of Mount Union has named Dr. Nezam Al-Nsair its new director of nursing. In this position, Al-Nsair will be responsible for launching the institution's proposed Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, scheduled to begin in the fall of 2013 pending the appropriate external approvals.See Full Article


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South Carolina ETV
American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
Quite possibly the biggest star that television has ever produced, Carson commanded, at his peak, a nightly audience of 15 million viewers – double the current audience of Leno and Letterman – combined. Rarely giving interviews, Carson chose to remain a very private man whose public persona made him an American superstar. He once revealed, "I can get in front of an audience and be in control. I suppose it's manipulation. Offstage, I'm aloof because I'm not very comfortable." American Masters Johnny Carson: King of Late Night explores this dichotomy and enigma, unearthing clues about Carson's childhood, early days in the business, and personal and professional life.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
© Copyright 2014 Gwinnett Daily Post
LAWRENCEVILLE - Ready for the new school year?Next week, schools in Gwinnett County will help families get ready for the first day of school. Students can meet their new teachers, visit classrooms and participate in other activities such as picking up class schedules and acquiring lockers and parking spaces. Although activities may take place Monday through Aug. 8, most are scheduled for Aug. 7, said Sloan Roach, spokeswoman for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Parents should call schools to see what is planned. "It's a great opportunity for parents and students to go and get acclimated to the school," Roach said. "It's a good way to get the year going." In addition, Gwinnett County school buses will run practice routes next week. Bus drivers will run their assigned routes Monday thorough Aug. 8 in the mornings and afternoons. Practice runs will be limited Aug. 7, however, because bus drivers will participate in activities at schools and mandatory safety training sessions. "We encourage parents to keep an eye out for the buses," Roach said. Each bus will display a school name on a card in the window to help parents identify the one their children will ride. Parents can also call the school for bus schedules and route and stop information. On the first few days of school, district officials recommend students arrive at the bus stop about 15 minutes before the scheduled bus arrival. Buses may run behind schedule on the first few days, especially during afternoon routes, because drivers will go through additional procedures before releasing students to ensure their safety.
More like this story
- Going 'round and 'round
Buses hold practice as school year nears ( August 7, 2007 )
- Despite furloughs, some teachers prepare for school ( August 4, 2009 )
- District offers parents school bus tips ( August 3, 2012 )
- OUR VIEW: Be mindful of buses as school year starts ( July 27, 2013 )
- Weather led to delays on some GCPS bus routes ( January 30, 2013 )


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Melissa Gallagher-Rogers
- AP-BDC Certified
- AP-Homes Certified
Director, Technical Solutions, U.S. Green Building Council
Melissa Gallagher-Rogers, Director Technical Solutions for the U.S. Green
Building Council provides solutions for large users as they green
their building portfolios by implementing the LEED Green Building Rating
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Ms. Gallagher-Rogers began her career as a Presidential Management Fellow
(PMF) with the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and
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Ms. Gallagher-Rogers holds a M.P.P. in Environmental Policy from the
University of Maryland School of Public Policy and a B.A. in International
Environmental Policy from the University of Connecticut.
*Expert topic:* LEED


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Views: 118
I know you posted this months ago, but other people are having this problem.
Go to the My Page tab, click on it and it will take you to your profile. Mouse over the upper area of your profile picture and a link that says Change Photo will come up. Click on it and all of the options are at the bottom.
The name changer is a bit fussy and won't change your name if you try to change your profile picture at the same time. You have to make those changes individually. Other than that I think everything is good to go.
You can also change your profile information by going to your profile and clicking on the upper right portion of the box, there is a white button there clearly labeled "edit."
That's about all you need to know, I think.
lol i like this
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Varietal Composition: 55% Malbec, 15% Bonarda, 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Syrah
Wafting aromas of red currants, black cherries and mildly smoky and sweet vanilla oak. Intriquing notes of brown spice (cocoa, nutmeg), dark chocolate, and hints of sandalwood. Keeps showing its stuff as it breathes in the glass so decanting is a good idea. Perfect balance, great concentration and length, and loaded with fine, ripe tannins. Pairs well with a wide range of foods including grilled steak, roasted pork loin, veal, medium-strong cheeses, and most cream sauces. This wine should also age beautifully for 10-25 years.
91 Points
"Good deep red with ruby highlights. Aromas of currant, smoke, musky tobacco and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and fine-grained; this is quite suave and complex, with its creaminess given shape by ripe acidity. The lovely lingering finish shows real life and lift, and the tannins are sweet. Should develop nicely with a few more years in a bottle."Stephen Tanzer'sInternational Wine Cellar
90 Points
"The 2005 Expresivo is composed of 55% Malbec, 15% Bonarda, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 10% Syrah aged for 14 months in 50% new French and 50% 1 year American oak. A saturated purple, it has a perfume of cedar, spice box, blueberry, and black cherry. On the palate it is medium-bodied, graceful, and complex with plenty of spicy fruit, soft tannin, good balance, and excellent length." Robert Parker'sWine Advocate
In 1999 Susana Balbo crafted a line of wines to showcase the ripe fruit expression of her sustainably-farmed Mendoza vineyards. The philosophy is a simple one: grow great grapes and make wines that are true to their place. Minimal intervention during the growing season and through harvest allows the true fruit character to develop. Combine this with Susana's winemaking skills and the result is wines that express the powerful fruit flavors, the ripe tannins and the incredible length and balance that can only come from this one place: Mendoza.
(ahr-jen-TEE-nah) Now fifth in the world for wine production, Argentina is catching up in the quality wine sector. A long time wine producer, Argentina used to make wine in order to drink it, not export it. And so the wines produced were quaffable and rustic and made for the local's everyday dinner. Yet it's hard not to get caught up in the wine market of the world and some...Read More About Argentina
Other Red Red wines are certainly not limited to Cabernet and Pinot Noir - or even Nebbiolo and Grenache. There are a multitude of grape varieties throughout the world, however, in a Darwinian sense, survival of the fittest only brings us wines made from grapes that can adapt to changing climates and winemaking techniques. Notable Facts Our other red wines primarily consists of...Read More About Other Red Blends
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It takes a while for some shows to reach the tipping point where they break through the cultural conversation and get talked about in a serious way. Most recently this occurred with Enlightened, Mike White's fantastic half-hour comedy that just wrapped up its second season on HBO. This breakthrough came for shows like Breaking Bad leading up to its third season, Girls and Louie before they started but even more so as they began their second seasons, and Arrested Development just as it was concluding/being cancelled. Nearing the end of its third season on Showtime, Shameless has yet to break through this ethos.
I think that will change soon. In today's media landscape, shows tend to find their audience after their season has concluded, and the quality of one season becomes projected onto the next. Some shows also just require some momentum to work properly, and take time to build up that momentum. This third season of Shameless has seen its momentum build to its highest yet, and I'm fairly certain the brilliance of this season will result in this show becoming one of the most anticipated when its fourth season is set to arrive next year, as it has already been renewed by Showtime because they never cancel anything. And people seem to be watching it quite a lot. All that's missing is the critical chatter.
With that in mind, I'd like to offer 6 of the show's greatest strengths for critical consideration. It doesn't get the respect it deserves.
Continue reading on the next page…
1) Its energy surpasses all other shows right now
In terms of sheer kineticism, I'm not sure if there's anything on TV currently that can match Shameless. The conceit of the entire show is that the Gallagher family doesn't have it easy, but they know how to enjoy themselves. That spirit pervades the entire show. The result is this manic pacing that makes every episode feel like the most action-packed moments of The Boondock Saints, complete with Dropkick Murphys-styled music and plenty of violence, drugs and sex. The franticness and general style with which the show is edited lends itself to a feeling of perpetually high stakes, which feels somehow appropriate for people in the Gallagher's economic situation. More often than not, they're living in a race against the clock, or more accurately, against bill collection time.
Of course it's the momentary contrasts in pacing the show captures that make the more kinetic sequences really pop. If it didn't handle the quieter, more subdued scenes incredibly well, then there would be issues with balance and exhaustion for the viewer. Also, too much action can become boring, if that's all there is without breaks or moments of pause. Shameless balances this out extremely well. But the exciting sequences are where it feels most at home.
Continue reading on the next page…
2) It handles its multiple, simultaneous, intersecting storylines masterfully
Its storytelling suffered slightly in its second season, as I recall it. I think people who talk about narrative structure would describe it as having "too many balls in the air," but you can't say that about Shameless because one could assume this is meant in a literal sense; let's just say it may have taken on more characters and stories than it was able to convey effectively for a while. By the end of season 2, it seemed to regain its footing, focus in on a couple of the charaters more closely, and salvage a sophomore season that didn't quite measure up to the first, at least in my view.
Season 3 has given us something different. The characters that were introduced in the previous season became fully formed, and in an incredibly efficient manner. Every episode has been solid, without the occasional drag in tempo that the previous season had suffered from. And the way it has done this is by turning a former weakness into a strength. Now, instead of some storylines taking away from other, better ones, we have all of them intersecting in episodic climaxes whose complexity and excitement is comparable (though not equal of course, let's not go crazy) to the simultaneous climax (so to speak) sequence in Inception. Shameless doesn't have different times being presented at once, but cross-cut spaces cohere brilliantly in some beautiful moments in the third season. It's like they've cracked their form and are in a storytelling zone I can only describe as masterful.
Continue reading on the next page…
3) Fiona Gallagher is one of television's great heroines
Showtime seems to like its female protagonists these days, from Nancy in Weeds, to Jackie in Nurse Jackie, and to Carrie in Homeland. One who doesn't get a lot of attention for being a badass is Fiona in Shameless. On one level, she doesn't seem to be dealing with the issues of someone like a CIA agent, but at the same time, with her own issues being so immediate, the stakes are still pretty high, perhaps higher in terms of her own livelihood and the lives of her family. She takes care of these matters largely on her own, without much outside help and by pooling the resources of her younger siblings.
She also faces the constant dilemma of whether it is more worthwhile for her to devote her entire life to her family's wellbeing or to take an interest in her own life and her own future. This is a representation of the type of decision countless people in dire economic straits must face every day. Fiona's conflict is presented and shown to be complicated, but in the end she can't separate herself from her family's interests. It's both noble and tragic.
Continue reading on the next page…
4) Lip Gallagher is one of television's great heroes
Since the show debuted, Phillip "Lip" Gallagher has been one of my favorite television characters. A classic underachiever, Lip is crazy smart but has absolutely no interest in finishing high school, let alone college, despite academic counselors practically begging him to apply to places to continue his education. And this is because of a general pessimistic philosophy he has honed growing up in south Chicago, that the only way for people in the Gallagher's situation to get anything in life is to scam it or steal it. For all his book knowledge, Lip ultimately trusts the knowledge he's gained from the experience of his inner city life up to that point.
He's an admirable character because he's able to talk his way out of any situation and seems like he's in control of his own fate because he doesn't take directions from anyone. But he also seems unaware of how much control he's given over to the situation he was born into, how he's letting that define him and dictate what the rest of his life will be. Like Fiona, he's receiving plenty of offers to escape from his little world, but refuses them at every turn.
Continue reading on the next page…
5) William H. Macy's performance alone is worth watching
If Shameless had no other redeeming qualities besides seeing William H. Macy playing the alcoholic mess that is Frank Gallagher, it would still be worth recommending. This is undeniably one of the best performances on TV right now, and a lot of it is that the character is so incredibly well written, but there's also no denying that Macy adds a whole set of layers to Frank. Instead of playing him like a drunken fool all the time, he plays it completely straight, emphasizing the cleverness with which Frank has been able to get by all these years. He's needed to be that smart, if you can call it that, to survive the life that he's lived.
There's also his hilarious tirades against Obama and the political system and other paranoid rants that he uses to put blame for his situation on anyone he possibly can. He always has an explanation for why he's in the state he's in. More recently in the third season, we see even more layers to Frank, when he makes a plea to keep his children, and we see a hint of genuine love he has for them despite his problems. Of course, right after this he loses track of them and couldn't care less. Macy understands these dimensions to Frank and makes them real.
Continue reading on the next page…
6) Southside Chicago is underrepresented elsewhere
If it's not already painfully clear from the previous pages, this is a world and experience I'm largely unfamiliar with. So this unfamiliarity is naturally fascinating. When there are so many other shows about people trying to solve problems that could affect scores of other people, political or medical dramas and such, it's easy to forget that this is such a small, specific section of the population. There are far more other people who have to deal with mundane stuff every day that threatens their livelihood. They don't have time to be concerned with politics or questions of science or philosophy, even though it's equally unfair to assume their lives are divorced from these things.
It's similar to the Beasts of the Southern Wild dilemma in which poverty is depicted without real judgment, supposedly from a perspective closer to the people in the poor conditions rather than an outside patriarchal view. There's also a perception that this romanticizes or makes light of poverty, a kind of poverty tourism, where middle class folks can observe poverty like George Bush observed Hurricane Katrina, from a safe flyover distance. I think there's more to it than this. I think one way to expose and educate on matters of a place like south Chicago is through documentary work like Bill James does, but also through telling stories that capture all sides of the experience, not only the tragic side, because that's not all there is to this environment. Shameless deserves enormous credit for accomplishing something few other shows are able to do, let alone do this well.
Have you been keeping up with Shameless? Have your say on the show in the comments section below.Previous


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Yoga Classes in Popoyo Nicaragua
| Yoga Classes in Popoyo
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|Yoga Style: Hatha Vinyasa
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The Mentoring Manifesto
A Radical Plan to Change the World, a Few Men at a Time
A new eBook by Regi Campbell for people who want to be great mentorsFree eBook
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SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An auto-theft suspect led California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed road chase Friday from Los Angeles County to Chula Vista, where he was arrested at gunpoint along with a passenger.
The pursuit began in Norwalk shortly before 12:30 p.m., when CHP personnel tried to pull over the driver of a stolen black Toyota Solara, according to the state agency.
The driver refused to yield and sped off to the south, soon entering Orange County on Interstate 5 as officers gave chase.
The suspect fled into San Diego County at speeds exceeding 100 mph, merging onto I-805 in the Sorrento Valley area.
After running over a tire-flattening spike strip officers had laid across the roadway in his path, the suspect slowed and pulled to a stop just south of State Route 54 and surrendered along with his companion. The arrestees' names were not immediately available.
No crashes or injuries were reported.