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An overview of OWS "All Roads Lead to Wall Street" Sept. 15-17th
(Please check s17nyc.org for schedule changes and updates)
S#15 Saturday: Education
Occupy Wall Street Anniversary Convergence: Washington Square Park, 5th Ave and Waverly
10:30 am – 12:30pm Welcome and Orientation Activities, Lunch
12:30pm – 4pm Inaugural Assembly and Thematic Breakout Groups
4pm – 6:30pm Open Space*
4pm – 6:30pm S17 Action Trainings
*4pm – 6:30pm Big Apple Coffee Party "Don't Do Koch" Campaign has a table and will be speaking to inform people about the Koch brothers and distributing flyers advising people how to shop to avoid Koch Industries products and offer alternatives. All are invited to participate and/or stop by and see us at Washington Square Park. Call Chuck for further info and updates: 917-693-9427.
6:30pm – 7pm Closing Assembly
7:30pm – 9pm Debt Resistors' Operation Manual Book Launch
8:00pm – 10:00pm S17 Affinity Group Spokescouncil in Washington Square Park
S#16 Sunday: Celebration
10am-1pm Spectra Frack Pipeline Blast Zone March with the Occupy Guitarmy @ Spectra Energy Pipeline Construction Site (Gansevoort and Hudson River Greenway)
12pm-7pm Occupy Town Square @ Thomas Paine Park on Worth St. between Lafayette & Centre
1pm-6pm Concert @ Foley Square (north end of Paine Park)
6:30pm – 7:30pm Direct Action and Know Your Rights Trainings @ Foley Square
7:30pm Occupy Rosh Hashanah Services @ Liberty Plaza
8:00pm – 10:00pm S17 Affinity Group Spokescouncil TBD
S#17 Monday: Resistance
All Roads Lead to Wall Street (Assemble at Zuccotti Park at 7:00am or at the Red Cube sculpture across the street.)
7am: The People's Wall: A non-violent civil disobedience at the Stock Exchange
7am: 99 Revolutions: a swirl of mobile intersection occupations throughout the Financial District
10am: Storm Wall Street: A 'People's Hurricane' for a sustainable future @ Bowling Green
12pm - 5pm: Imagine a World Without Wall Street Assembly @ Foley Square
6pm - 8pm: Emma Goldman Popular Assembly @ Veterans Memorial Park, 55 Water Street
6pm - 10pm: The 99% Returns to Wall Street @ Liberty Plaza
DFA New York City Organizing Meeting 9/12/12 Notes and Important Information
Another great meeting last night filled with energy and enthusiasm with up-to-the minute reports from activists throughout the area. Here are the highlights:
Justin Wedes, OWS activist and organizer gave an overview and update of #S17NYC and an inside look into what's happening and will continue to happen in the OWS movement. It is alive and well, and although not as visible in the parks, OWS activists are organizing out of offices and in our communities. Justin gave updates on #S17 which are listed below. Justin says you don't want to miss: the "Occupy" Anniversary Concert with Tom Morrello and other artists starting at 1:00 pm on Sunday.
For more details, Justin can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com
Russell Mendell from Water Defense and New Yorkers Against Fracking explained why now is a crucial time for fracking. Gov. Cuomo was going to approve sacrifice zones, but his tune has changed, and Cuomo has slowed it down, largely thanks to the work of the groups united to end fracking. However, fracking infrastructure is being built to accommodate the oil and gas companies desire to drill. We can participate in the global day of action against fracking — Global Frackdown — on September 22, at St. John the Divine. RSVP here. We can't slow down our protests!
Email Russell at firstname.lastname@example.com
John Reynolds from Shut Down Indian Point Now spoke of the dangers and poor conditions at Indian Point. There will be three days of action 9/20–9/22 in DC and Rockville, MD. Transportation and more info is available at www.coalitionagainstnukes.org Actions will be focused on the NRC from 2pm – 5pm on 9/21 with many speakers including Jill Stein and Dennis Kucinich.
Email John at firstname.lastname@example.com
Max Stahl, DFA Northeast Regional Organizer, talked about Democracy for America. Max helps organize from Maine to West Virginia, offering resources to groups to be successful with email support, issue campaign, and candidate support. DFA is closely aligned with DFA New York City in our mutual desire to get money out of politics and overturn Citizens United. DFA is in the process of launching college outreach programs working with 350.org.
Max can be contacted at email@example.com
DFA Northeast Regional Organizer will join DFA New York City at our OWS S17 Organizing Meeting, Wed., Sept. 12
Where: Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, 263 W 86th St., NYC (at West End Ave.)
When: Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 pm
Plans are finalizing for #S17NYC events around environment and money in politics, and we can discuss our participation. Justin Wedes, OWS organizer and activist, will be with us to give an update on plans, and why we need to be there.
DFA New York City has officially endorsed #S17NYC and submitted the following statement: OWS has inspired the new organization, DFA New York City in both our mission and how we organize. We are with you on #S17NYC to fight corporatism and save our environment.
Organizers from Don't Frack NY, Shut Down Indian Point, and Spectra Pipeline protests, have been invited, and members can share their experience at the anti-fracking event in Albany (See the Status on NY Fracking Decision here), and the civil disobedience at the NY Spectra Pipeline site on September 6.
Max Stahl, DFA Northeast Regional Organizer, will talk about Democracy for America, the organization of which DFA New York City is a local coalition group.
Please join us tomorrow night. RSVP at our FB event page, or email email@example.com and let us know you're coming.
9/11 Anniversary
DFA New York City and the world remembers and reflects upon the tragedy of September 11, 2001, on its eleventh anniversary. The aftermath of that event has seen a profound erosion of our civil liberties—in effect criminalizing dissent. As we mourn our losses, we can consider ways we can actively fight to restore those rights.
Chicago Teachers Strike—NYC Rallies in Support
New York City teachers, unions, and the community rallied yesterday in support of the Chicago striking teachers at Union Square at 5:00 pm, organized by MORE (Movement of Rank-and-File Educators) and OWS Labor Outreach Committee. After brief remarks, the hundreds of supporters marched to the office of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), a PAC run by hedge fund managers and charter network execs. This fight by Chicago teachers is truly a fight for all teachers, students, workers, unions, and the future of public school education. The outcome will affect us all. (You can stay informed and contribute to the Chicago Teachers Union Solidarity Fund here.)
DFA New York City OWS S17 Organizing Meeting, Wed., Sept. 12
Where: Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, 263 W 86th St., NYC (at West End Ave.)
When: Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 pm
Events are coming together for OWS S17. "All Roads Lead to Wall Street," the theme for the first year anniversary of OWS, targets corporate politics, debt, and the environmental crisis. DFA New York City has declared these as our major concerns. This is an opportunity to come together as the 99% in support of our issues.
Come to our meeting on September 12, and help organize around our issues and where we want to be on S15, S16, and S17. Justin Wedes, OWS organizer and activist, will bring us up to date on what's being planned.
Please rsvp on our DFA New York City OWS S17 Organizing Meeting FB page, or reply to firstname.lastname@example.com with your thoughts.
We'll also discuss what's next after the successful Pledge to Resist Fracking in New York, Don't Frack NY rally at the Sheraton and trip to Albany to tell Gov. Cuomo in no uncertain terms: Don't Frack With NY!
DFA New York City OWS Meeting, Wed., Sept. 12
Where: Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, 263 W 86th St., NYC (at West End Ave.)
When: Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 pm
After our amazing August 1st meeting of DFA New York City, we want to be sure to keep our momentum.
We are suggesting our September meeting center around the Occupy Wall Street anniversary actions with discussion of if and how we want to participate.
The OWS theme for S15-S17 is "All Roads Lead to Wall Street," and the emphasis is on corporate politics, debt, and the environmental crisis. DFA New York City has already defined our goals pretty much as such. This is an opportunity to come together as the 99% in support of our issues.
Three days of education, celebration and resistance to economic injustice are being planned for September 15, 16, and 17 with permitted convergences and assemblies, concerts, and mass civil disobedience.
The weekend will consist of temporary occupations of parks with free university, assemblies, flying, direct action training, culminating with an afternoon concert on Sunday in Foley Square. Monday will be a call to surround Wall Street with sit-ins (with support and safe retreats to Foley Square for those not able to participate in the direct actions) with groups targeting various institutions.
Organizing meetings are still being held and plans are still in development. We can be a part of this planning. It is an opportunity to voice our issues and join others who are also engaged in our fight.
Do we want to do this together? If you do, please let us know you want to make this the main activity at our September meeting. It will really help to know how to plan. Please rsvp on our DFA New York City OWS S17 Organizing Meeting FB page, or reply to email@example.com with your thoughts.
(We will not be able to supply refreshments again, but you are free to bring snacks.)
Don't Frack NY—Albany Action, Mon., Aug. 27
The movement to protect New York is heating up.
Last week, in an open letter to Governor Cuomo, scientists, medical professionals, and elected officials expressed their "complete loss of faith in the Department of Environmental Conservation" because of the gas industry's toxic influence. And this past Saturday, over 150 New Yorkers courageously used their bodies to stop the fracking industry at the Schlumberger facility in Horseheads, NY- shutting down operations for nearly 6 hours.
And on August 27th, hundreds of New Yorkers will gather together and pledge to resist fracking using all appropriate nonviolent means.
Here are the event details:
What/When: Major demonstration on Monday, 8/27, at 11 AM
March begins at Hudson Riverfront Park, Albany, New York
Movement building sessions and trainings on August 25th and 26th.
Where: Albany, NY
Register: Click here to sign up and receive updates
Transportation/Housing: Click here for the Ride & Housing Board.
Now Governor Cuomo could soon be approving fracking in New York, perhaps by Labor Day. Time is absolutely of the essence. We must impress on Gov. Cuomo all of the risks he would take — ecological, economic and political - by giving in to Big Oil.
Spread the word about the action on Facebook and click here to share on Twitter!
We need a big turnout in Albany on the 27th to keep this pressure on. (Note! the New York City event is cancelled - we're going to focus on making sure our event in Albany is awesome instead) To forward this email to members, supporters, friends or family, please click here.
Governor Cuomo: Don't frack New York! Rally outside the Governor's policy summit
Next week, on Wednesday, August 22, Governor Cuomo will host a policy summit in New York City. The summit, which will feature veterans of the Clinton Administration, appears to be as step forward as Cuomo explores a possible 2016 presidential run.
This policy summit is an important opportunity to publicly confront the Governor, and let him know as he considers a run for President, that if he moves forward with his plan to frack New York, that he simply can not count on the support of New Yorkers who care about their environment and the safety of the water they drink.
Details are still being sorted out, so please RSVP if you might be able to attend, so we can keep you updated on new developments.
Don't Frack New York - Pledge to Resist
Together, we will take a pledge of resistance to hydrofracking in the state.
The Pledge to Resist Fracking in New York
I believe:
- that high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracking is an accident-prone, inherently dangerous industrial process with risks that include catastrophic and irremediable environmental damage;
- that these risks cannot be properly resolved, nor can they be mitigated through regulation by any government agency, let alone one that has colluded with the gas industry over the last four years in creating rules that attempt to regulate fracking;
- that Governor Cuomo and this agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation, have repeatedly turned a deaf ear to the petitions of New York's scientists, economists, medical professionals, and ordinary citizens who have tried again and again, for four years and to little avail, to alert the agency and Governor Cuomo to the many dangers that hydraulic fracking poses to our health, safety, property values, peace of mind and to the climate itself;
- that it is wrong to shatter the bedrock of New York State and inject it with toxic chemicals.
If Governor Cuomo permits high-volume, horizontal hydraulic fracking in any part of New York State, I pledge to join with others to engage in non-violent acts of protest, including demonstrations and other non-violent actions, as my conscience leads me.
I make this pledge in order to prevent the destruction and poisoning of New York's water, air, and food systems, on which life, health, and economic prosperity all depend–including that of future generations.
Signed on this day, ___________,
Click here to join the pledge to resist hydrofracking in New York state.
Important News from Our August 1st Meeting
If you missed our last meeting of DFA New York City, you didn't get to hear from David Braun, Co-founder of United for Action; Laurie Wen, Executive Director Physicians for a National Healthcare Program; Alice Slater, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, NY; Alex Beauchamp, North East Director, Food and Water Watch; Tom Siracuse, Chair of the NY County Green Party Organization, and Mike Emperor, Green Party organizer from Brooklyn.
But, don't worry, we have already forged an ongoing relationship with these and other organizations so we can work directly with them and they with us.
The meeting began with a discussion about future meetings: do we want to continue having large meetings, perhaps with break out groups; small groups in different neighborhoods or issue oriented? For now, we'll probably meet again in the same location in early September. (Time and place TBA) After introductions around the room, we revisited our list of issues culled from our first meeting. We have many overlapping areas on which we want to work. Major areas are: "corporate personhood," healthcare, environment, electoral politics, education, civil liberties—with many specifics in each area.
We heard about actions in the works like: a concert against fracking on August 26-27, civil disobedience planned on fracking, actions against pipeline in Manhattan, efforts to pass single-payer legislation in NYS, influencing state electoral campaigns with a focus on candidates' single-payer positions, campaign for NYC Council resolution to shut down Indian Point (scroll down), Fukushima event on August 14 (click on ourcalendar) Food and Water Watch office warming party on August 16, in Brooklyn (click on our calendar), and ways in which election reform could lead to a transition away from the "two party system."
We'll keep you informed of important events and actions in these areas by posting them to our calendar, this site, and emails.
And, just a note about why these meetings are so important. Laurie Wen spoke about the importance of influencing candidates early about our issues and using our votes for those who best represent them. Tom Siracuse shared how aligned the Green Party's platform is with what our group expressed. We had the opportunity (and took it!) to discuss how the news brought by our guest organizers aligned with our aims — and how we could be most effective on the issues. Two local candidates for City Council, Marc Landis and Helen Rosenthal, were at our meeting, unannounced, as activists and concerned members of our community. They heard what we care passionately about. At some point, we may invite them and others to tell us how their visions will further our causes. We need them and others to be a part of our work.
See you at our next meeting. Remember to invite friends and representatives from other groups so we can continue bringing them to us and us to them. It is clear how powerful we can be working together.
Take Action on Fracking, Healthcare, Nuclear Power
Below are links to the organizations we heard from at the August 1 meeting and some of the actions they suggested.
United for Action and New Yorkers Against Fracking
- Save the date: August 27, Don't Frack New York concert in NYC
- Pledge to engage in civil disobedience to stop fracking
- Outreach to faith leaders
Contact Info: organizers -at- nyagainstfracking.org
Physicians for a National Health Program
- Call your legislators to co-sponsor Assembly Bill A.7860-A and Senate Bill S.5425-A
(find your legislator on our resources page)
- Call your city council member in support of a city council resolution to shut down Indian Point
- Call Governor Cuomo (866-961-3208) every Monday and ask him to ban fracking
- Attend the Food and Water Watch Open House on August 16


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Summer School Registraion
After students have met with their counselor and have made course
selections, registration can be completed for students at the high school
they will be attending during the 2012-2013 school year OR online.
On-line payment is available for District 211 families by using the
Parent Access System found on your child's home school web site.
Online payment can be made with Visa or MasterCard. Parents
desiring to complete registration online may do so by using the same
username and password that has been previously provided. Walk-in
and online registrations must adhere to deadlines as stated in the course catalog.
Payment for walk-in registrations may be done by cash, check, or credit card.
About Us | News | Info | Schools | Board of Education | Administration | Jobs | Search | Site Map | Emergency Info
G.A. McElroy Administration Center• 1750 South Roselle Road • Palatine, Illinois • 60067-7336 • 847-755-6600
Copyright @ 2012 Township High School District 211 • All
Rights Reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pocket-DVD Studio
by David Walker, Staff Writer - 4/10/2004 11:50am EST
Page 2 - Interface & Features
The Little Engine that Could
Behind the sleek interface of Pocket-DVD Studio is a good engine for making simple what was once a complicated process. After all, the selling point for the tool is not what it does, but how it does it. You CAN go out and download tools such as DVD2AVI, VirtualDub, DVDShrink and a score of others in order to convert your DVD to a Zodiac playable file - but that is far from easy, even for tech-savy folk like me.
Herein lies part of the dilemma - the tools is simple to use, but restricts the choices the user can make. You are forced to mix the movie down to an Xvid (Divx open source) file. When it comes time to pick a resolution, you are limited to a preset list of resolutions (the highest of which is 464x272).
Instead of adjusting bitrates manually, you make use of a slider that is denoted as "Movie Quality & Size", two parameters anyone can understand. As you adjust the slider, it adjusts the "Output size:" accordingly. Have a 256MB SD Card? Well, move the slider until you hit right around 250MB and you've got the best quality video you can fit on your card. There is also a filmstrip that specifies how to crop the movie - a nice feature not easily accomplished through other tools. Though not visible on the main interface, you can adjust the framerate (FPS) to either 15, 20 or 25 by going to Settings->Output Setting in the menus. The default is 15, which is acceptable for most movies.
Additionally, there are some options for adjusting audio - but not many. Pocket-DVD Studio defaults to Mono sound, 24K bitrate and 22Khz sampling. As a point of reference, a CD is stereo sound, and is sampled at 44.1Khz. You can adjust the audio to be stereo if you wish, but be forewarned, it will take more CPU cycles and a lot more space. Mono sound seems to be acceptable in most cases. From the main interface, you can select which Audio track to use when mastering your movie. Like a fool, I accidentally selected the track that had director commentary while mixing down "The Matrix" - the Lobby Scene just isn't the same without the music.
Within the "Output Setting" window, you can also specify the file that is written, as well as specify a nice option to split the file after every xxx MB. So, if you want high quality and are willing to play the movie from multiple cards - this option works wonderfully in accomplishing that. There are "Input Settings" such as ASPI (Advanced SCSI Programming Interface) support, but most new computers will be fine with the defaults specified here.
Finally, while mixing down, you can keep track of the status with a very nice Tungsten T3 "window" that shows the movie while it is mixing down. Additionally, the status bars at the bottom show you how much time is remaining, the estimated file size, and how much has been mixed down so far. From experience, the slide-bar "Movie Quality & Size" estimate is usually 10MB bigger than the actual file. So, if you shoot for a 260MB movie file, chances are it will end up around the 250MB mark.
So how does it look?
So, how did Pocket-DVD Studio work? Pretty well - and pretty fast. My movie of choice was "The Matrix" - which clocks in at about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I created the movie at a couple of resolutions to get a feel for size and quality.
The first file was encoded at 376x240, 146kbps, mono sound and 20 frames per second. The entire movie ended up being 173MB! Fantastic! How was the quality? Not suitable for TV viewing, but on the Zod - it actually looked quite good. MMPlayer didn't seem to have problems playing at this bitrate and rotating 90 degress. Encoding time: 2 hours flat. I was impressed.
The second file was encoded at 400x256, 165kbps, mono sound and 20 frames per second. The movie, after the 2hour 10 minute conversion time, ended up being 191MB. Again, very impressive. However, MMPlayer complained about the bitrate, but seemed to be able to play the file, with a few hiccups here and there. Not wanting to see hiccups while watching the Lobby Scene, I decided to use VirtualDub to remaster the video rotated 90 degrees left. Those regained clock cycles helped substantially and allowed me to watch most of the movie without a hiccup. And though it didn't fill the screen, the movie was very watchable and surprisingly enjoyable on my 2 hour commute home.
Next page >>
Discuss this article
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(Source: sandandglass)
Autum Ashante was accepted into the University of Connecticut at age 13.
Stephen R. Stafford II entered Morehouse College at the age 11 with three majors.
Tony Hansberry II at age 14 developed a time reducing method for hysterectomies at Shands Hospital
Honor them by sharing this post.
(Source: rare-ethnic-images-and-truth)
NEW iPad Air (Silver): Unboxing & First Impressions!
We unbox and get up close and personal with Apple's New iPad Air in Silver! It's super light, super fast, and super sleek!
In this video, we unbox My Case's iPhone animal case, a bargain found at TJ Maxx for $5.99! A great gift for kids and teens!
Special thanks to Dez for doing this unboxing! Her first time on camera, and she rocked it!
We finally got our hands on the elusive silver iPhone 5s! We may still track down a gold model. But in the meantime, enjoy this unboxing and my first impressions of the gorgeous and classy silver model!
Leaving his trusty Nikon behind, Jim Richardson returns to a favorite spot to photograph, the Scottish Highlands, with a brave new tool—the iPhone 5S.
With just three days to go until Apple's October 22 media event in San Francisco, here's our quick breakdown of what we're expecting to see!
What are you excited about?
Get Infinity Blade Awakening, Listen to Miley Cyrus' entire album, Bangerz! Plus watch 30 days of concert performances at the iTunes Festival in London, free for a limited time! Plus we'll show you how to get Stop Motion Studio app…you guessed it, for FREE!
Still on the hunt for an iPhone 5s? This simple web tool can help!
iPhone 5c Unboxing & First Look! (Beautiful Baby Blue)
We unbox the beautiful baby blue iPhone 5c, in this video. The 5c feels light yet weighty in the hand, has a gorgeous display and a zippy processor. It's one of our favorite iPhones to date!
Special thanks to Roz for unboxing this for us!
Baby Blue iPhone 5c, freshly unboxed!
The 5c turned out to be a real fave! Really cute phone!
We get up close and personal with the gorgeous iPhone 5S 'space grey'variety, in this unboxing and first look! The 5S is fully loaded with a fingerprint scanner (Touch ID), new camera (dual LED flash, 120 fps slow motion feature, burst mode) and a super-fast A7/M7 64-bit processor!
Special thanks to Ramona for unboxing this for us!
iPhone 5s. Space. Gray. Unboxed.
iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C or iPhone 4S (Which One Should I Buy?) (by allappleTV)
Love these!
(Source: allappleeverything)
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© Copyright 2010


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The UI veterinary program is getting national recognition. It's now one of the first animal trauma centers in the country.
To get the title, certain specialists must be on board. University leaders say this gives students valuable experience.
Only eight other hospitals have that designation. School officials say that hands-on experience is important in critical care and that this recognition shows how successful the vet-med program is.


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The Chicago Blackhawks were the NHL's best team in the regular season, and their biggest challenge in the postseason is on the other side of the bracket. However, the Blackhawks rivals, the Detroit Red Wings, recently stunned the Anaheim Ducks and are a dangerous team that could continue a remarkable run against Chicago. Game 2 will be played out tomorrow, and we'll see if Chicago can take a commanding 2-0 lead and continue to display their dominance.
Star defenseman Duncan Keith did not practice today, and neither did veteran center Michal Handzus, according to Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. However, neither of them will miss tomorrow's game, according to Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, who said that Handzus is "fine".
Keith played in the most minutes of any Blackhawks player in their huge 4-1 victory over Detroit in Game 1, and the star defenseman will continue to be a force for Chicago. Even though there is a small possibility that Keith has a very minor injury, he almost certainly missed today's practice as a day of rest.
Handzus's status is more interesting, because he has missed three practices this postseason, per CSN Chicago. Either Quenneville wants to give the 36-year-old as much rest as possible, or Handzus is dealing with an ailment. Either way, both players should be good to go tomorrow, and it would be an absolute shock to see Keith miss the game despite missing practice. Quenneville is one of the best coaches in hockey, as evidenced by his Jack Adams finalist nomination and incredible success of the Blackhawks, so he definitely knows how to manage days off for players like Keith and Handzus.
Tags: Chicago Blackhawks Duncan Keith Joel Quenneville Michal Handzus


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BSAC got a 1-star review on Amazon
I know, we're not supposed to respond to bad reviews, but this one snagged my attention.
Allow me to quote the review from Janice:
Not my kind of book. Too much gore. Couldn't finish it. Didn't even make it to the half way point.
Here's my response:
Janice, it is a zombie book. Traditionally, aren't they chock full of violence? I think I could write something with passive, Buddhist, or Hare Krishna, zombies…but really, what would they do except offer me a finger when it falls off?
I'm sorry. I know I was a Bad Author, but I couldn't help myself. Will you forgive me?


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A Dividend Increase and High Yield Make This Oil Major a Buy
Bob is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
The integrated oil majors in the United States are highly profitable companies that reward their shareholders handsomely with profits and dividends that flow year in and year out. And, as oil climbs above $100 per barrel and we enter the peak summer driving season, it's a great time to reconsider big oil.
A recent dividend increase on top of an already industry-leading dividend yield make ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) a buy.
Dividends that lead the pack
Conoco recently provided its investors with a solid 4.5% dividend increase, which might not sound like much, but Conoco already yielded above 4% at the time of the announcement.
For long-term investors who understand the value of reinvesting dividends, that combination of yield plus dividend growth means huge rewards over time for patient investors.
Of course, ConocoPhillips isn't the only integrated oil company that rewards its shareholders handsomely. Industry juggernaut ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) almost needs no introduction. At its current price, it's the most valuable publicly traded company in the world, holding a massive $413 billion value by market capitalization.
Despite Exxon's huge size, its shareholder payout remains relatively low. Exxon yields just 2.75% at recent prices.
It's true that ExxonMobil has grown its distribution faster than Conoco in recent years. To illustrate, consider that Exxon raised its dividend 10% this year and 21% last year. This year's dividend bump represented the 31st consecutive annual dividend increase from ExxonMobil. According to the company, its dividend has grown by 6% compounded annually over the past 30 years.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) has grown its payout faster than ConocoPhillips as well, but again, has a smaller yield for new investors. Earlier this year, the company gave its investors an 11% dividend boost, marking the 26th year in a row of higher dividend payments.
That being said, Chevron yields 3.2% at recent prices, still below Conoco's yield.
Strong profits mean those dividends will keep rolling in
ConocoPhillips yields in excess of 4.2% at recent prices and reported strong first-quarter operating results. The company realized 3% growth in adjusted earnings per share through the first three months of the year. Moreover, the company directs investors to the progress being made on several of its growth priorities, including two significant oil discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico.
For its part, Chevron generated more than $26 billion in profits in fiscal 2012. Chevron's immense proved reserves place the company in a great position going forward. Chevron added approximately 1.07 billion barrels of net oil-equivalent proved reserves in 2012, which equate to 112% of net oil-equivalent production for the year.
And it probably goes without saying that Exxon has a tremendous business itself. To that end, in 2012 ExxonMobil booked $453 billion in sales. The company's diluted earnings per share rose 15% from the previous year, and Exxon's fantastic financial position remained intact.
Exxon reduced its long-term debt by $1.4 billion last year and holds a debt-to-capital ratio of just 6%. That's why Exxon is one of only four U.S.-based non-financial firms to hold a triple-A credit rating from Standard and Poor's.
ConocoPhillips: a great long-term hold
This is not to say at all that Exxon and Chevron are bad companies in any sense. Quite the contrary: investors who buy today can count on decades of strong profits and steady dividends from all three. For investors in need of current income, for example, those in or nearing retirement, Conoco is a leader among U.S.-based oil majors with a yield approaching 4.5%.
For investors with a much longer time horizon, Exxon and/or Chevron should be in your portfolio. Both stocks have lower yields now, but decades of higher dividend growth will still provide amazing long-term results.
No matter your investing preferences, there's an oil major for you. These three stocks can be the foundation of an impeccable long-term portfolio, and should be on your watch list today.
If you're on the lookout for some currently intriguing energy plays, check out The Motley Fool's "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." For FREE access to this special report, simply click here now.
Robert Ciura has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Chevron. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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Randall Larsen, Director, Homeland Policy Institute and Michael Nelson, visiting professor, Georgetown University
Click below to hear the report
Jump to main content.
Host Tom Temin brings you the latest news affecting the federal community each weekday morning, featuring interviews with top government executives and contractors. Listen live from 6 to 9 a.m. or download archived interviews below.
Monday - 4/12/2010, 9:42am EDT
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This meatloaf is soooo good. My husband hates meatloaf and gives this one 5 stars. I use ground turkey, no sausage, and olive oil instead of canola. Follow the rest of the directions and yum yum!
Herb-and-Veggie Meatloaf
pamsy10 Posted: 08/25/09
hoyagail Posted: 07/21/09
YUMMY!!! I love this recipe. I too used baby spinach. A 10 oz bag was added to the onion mixture. I upped the carrots to 1 1/2 cups and added a splash of Wootershire sauce and just a smidge of kisher salt. I baked in the larger muffin cups, made six. Served with lemon garlic broccoli. Wrapped the leftovers in foil, then a ziploc. Now I have them available to re-heat during the week. This is a keeper.
GerryKP Posted: 11/09/09
Held together nicely, used turkey instead of beef/pork. Added 1/2 cup more carrot, used fresh 12 oz bag of steamed and drained spinach, chopped. Added about 1/2 cup of red/yellow/green bells and due to the additions, added an extra 1/4 cup of oats. Soooooo good!!!
Onecentinvegas Posted: 01/27/11
This was way good, but not fall-down-dead good. I made it just as written but used pork and turkey and it was very, very tasty. Husband really liked it and ate 3 helpings. Not company material, but an excellent weekday meal. DEFINTELY one I will make again--highly recommend!
NikkiBu Posted: 04/19/10
I halved the turkey recipe and listened to a review that said to put less salt. Well, it was good, my husband loved it, but I was not completely impressed with the flavor. Adding salt afterward didn't taste right either. Next time I will follow the recipe. Maybe if you are using the sausage/beef version you won't miss the extra salt.
Coop62 Posted: 03/21/11
Just tried this for the first time and my husband I both loved it! Used regular ground pork and 7% fat lean ground beef. Very nice - will make again!
Margorita Posted: 04/20/11
Good & healthy meatloaf. The only thing I didn't like was the pasta sauce. It was on the sweet side and made the meatloaf sweet too, which was weird. It might be zestier/better with a marinara type sauce instead. I used ground turkey, which I always do with meatloaf etc., and the texture was perfectly moist and juicy. Omitted the pork, which I LOVE, but I was trying to keep it on the light side. I will try it again, only with a different sauce.


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Photo: Liskamm - Traverse © robdan
View all 2 photos or Submit a new photo of this climb.
MSchobitz - 31/Aug/13 with eberhard
traverse West to EastNigel R Lewis - AltLd - 14/Aug/13 with Steve Kedward
W-E traverse, from Rossi e Volante Hut, over Castor, W summit, ridge, E summit & then all the way back. Very windy all day, but clear & sunny. Stunning views!KeithW - Lead O/S - 08/Aug/13 with Ken Findlay
jasoncash - 17/Aug/11 with Andy Cash
Vincej - 2nd - 13/Aug/10 with Paolo Intrepido
Jonny M - AltLd O/S - 06/Aug/09 with Helen Tsai
GiveHerHelen - AltLd O/S - 06/Aug/09 with Jon Moulding
Hidden - 2nd - 28/Aug/08
From the Gnifetti to Kleine Matterhorn over Castor. No big cornices but quite a long way...HardenClimber - Aug/07
Glorious long narrow ridge. Hermann Berie guides. Spaghetti circuit. From Rif Quintino Sella and on to Rif Gnifetti.johnjb - 10/Aug/06
Hidden - AltLd - Jul/06
Hidden - AltLd - 20/Aug/81
Users with this climb on their wishlist are:
RyanOsborne, Swampi, ijsbeer, Poco Loco, Sonya Mc, Hidden, Steve33, robdan


text: Ball Park Pens An amazing item for all baseball collectors, these pens are constructed from old Major League Baseball stadium seats. The barrel and chip at the top end of the pen were once seats to some of the greatest players of all time. Each pen is laser engraved to display the stadium and the years of existence. All pens arrive ... continue reading $180 buy MORE: Gear, Gifts, Sports, Work, Write.


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MT @MerrileeIAm: good morning #mooclib! We have an online poll for you to take this morning via .... http://t.co/luCgVnApiF
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Setting Up a Library-based Copyright and Permissions Service for MOOCs at Duke. #mooclib
MT @infodocket: A New Brief From #EDUCAUSE: #Copyright Challenges in #MOOC Environments #mooclib
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By iDiva | November 11, 2013, 10:42 am IST Relationships
When you think of a honeymoon, all you can think of is awesome sex; admit it! You don't think about the hot and sticky on the beach but the wet and sweaty in the bedroom, don't you? Naturally honeymoon sex comes with high expectations. After all, it is going to be one of the most memorable experiences of your married life. So to spice things up even more, take a look at eight ways to make hot honeymoon sex memories you'll cherish forever.


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Introducing Geo, a new Bootstrap theme by Divshot. Combining state-of-the-art web technologies with impeccable taste, Geo takes Bootstrap to the next level.
Features include:
You can check out Geo here.
Today I changed my tumblr theme to Geo! First I added the bootswatch theme on my tumblr blog and then I added the css...


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Education Funding
Active Duty Tuition Assistance
July 12, 2013
As an Active Duty Service Member you may be able to receive Tuition Assistance (TA) to use for off-duty education while serving your country. TA is the best resource for funding your education while you are on active duty and you should certainly take advantage of the benefit. You should know however, that TA is authorized only for courses at learning institutions that are either regionally or nationally accredited.
Financial Aid-Merit-Based vs. Need-Based Aid
May 8, 2013
As you're learning more about financial aid, you'll hear the terms need-based aid and merit-based financial aid. Understanding how this aid is awarded and what type of financial aid is available to you will help you determine how to pay for your college tuition and other school costs.
Financial need-based scholarships take the financial situation of an applicant into consideration. Often, need-based scholarships look for a combination of need and merit in a successful applicant.
In this Resource:
The Federal Financial Aid Process: Part I-GRANTS
May 8, 2013
Applying for Federal Financial Aid is the first step in paying for your education after high school. There are more than 10 different types of aid you can receive from Federal Financial Aid and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or as it's commonly known, the FAFSA, is the only way to receive these types of aid.
What is the Post 9/11 GI Bill?
May 8, 2013
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is the largest investment in veterans' education since World War II. This latest GI Bill Entitlement (the number of months given under the program) provides 36 months of funding.
Transferring your Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits to a Family Member
July 2, 2012
For the first time in history,Service Members are able to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouses or children. Certain eligibility criteria must be met in order to do so.
In this Resource:
Searching for Scholarships
May 11, 2012
Scholarships are one of the best ways to supplement your funding for a college education. However, searching for scholarships that you qualify for can sometimes be frustrating and seemingly pointless. That however, is not the case. Here are some simple tips for searching that will make finding scholarships easier and potentially get you extra money for higher education.
In this Resource:
- Where to look for Scholarships
- Do I have to write an Essay?
The Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30 for Active Duty
November 2, 2011
This information is for Service Members who are separating from the armed services and current Veterans. If you are Active Duty, please see the information on using Tuition Assistance "Top-Up"
In this Resource:
Scholarship and Financial Aid Explorer (SFeX): The Military Friendly Resource
November 2, 2011
The Scholarship and Financial Aid Explorer (SFeX) was created specifically for the Military Community as a search tool to help with finding funding opportunities directly related to a student's military status.
Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Program-Veteran's Affairs Chapter 35
October 28, 2011
While most of the information here came straight from the GI Bill website, www.gibill.va.gov, we've tried to explain it in easier terms as well as provide links directly to the information pertaining to the Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, Chapter 35, so you will not have to navigate through the vast amount of information on the VA website.
The My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Program for Military Spouses
October 18, 2011
The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Program is the first DoD sponsored tuition assistance program for spouses of active duty military service. If you are eligible for the program it is important to take advantage of this opportunity as one never knows how long funding may be available.
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You get a script that`s not very good, and they`re offering you millions of dollars, but you think: Okay, this script is so bad, I won`t even do it for a million dollars... And then it gets to No. 1 at the box office, and people ask, "Don`t you regret not doing that?" Not really.
I like to do movies that I don`t expect everyone to like. If someone comes up to me and says, `I hated that movie you did,` I think, at least you felt passionate about it. It stuck with you and you had some feeling about it.
I used to not even be able to order pizza on the phone because I was just so shy. I think that`s why so much comes out on-screen, because that`s my time to let go in a safe place. When you`re doing that, it`s all written down on paper and it`s total fiction.
(On dating Marilyn Manson) Everyone is so worried that I`m losing myself, but really I`m finding myself. I`ve never been more comfortable in my own skin.
I`m in love with London. English boys are great. I completely fell in love with it over there.
And crazy, by the way, is the highest compliment I pay. Manson is definitely crazy. Hopefully I am, too.
It is a little weird, and I do feel a little bit disoriented sometimes. I`m usually pretty shy around people and pretty private. So yeah, it is a little weird all of a sudden to see yourself everywhere with your tongue hanging out! And a pierced tongue! - on her fame.
Once you commit, you commit. You can`t hold back. We all knew that the only way we would pull this (movie) off was for everyone to give everything they had. I could not hold back. On playing "Tracy" in the movie Thirteen (2003).
If the world were to end tomorrow, I really believe I could say I have lived a full life already - and that I have been extremely lucky.
I`m such a crazy perfectionist, I probably stood in Linens `n Things looking at the square plates or the round plates for, like, 10 minutes, going, God, this is a big decision. These are my first plates! What am I going to get? What do I do?!" - on being independent, and getting her own home
What`s nice about acting is that you`re not just left with yourself all the time, but you get to see the world through so many different people`s eyes.
(On translating scripts onto the screen): A script can just be a blueprint, and you`ve got to go in and build it and color it in and paint it.
Oh God, I worry about everything, such as I`m gonna say something stupid. I`m not good at communicating what`s going on in my head.
Growing up on screen is painful. I have had to go through puberty with millions watching.... I hope to have a career like Jodie Foster, going from child to adult actress.
I just hate all that (showbusiness mingling). I just have to come back to reality for a little bit, have a real life.I`m pretty laid-back. I hang out with my friends, read, go to concerts and try and travel as much as I can. I`m not a party girl, I don`t eat at the Ivy and I`m not shopping on Rodeo Drive. It`s pretty easy to stay out of that if you want to. There are other places. I really like being able to go out anywhere and nobody really cares.
I look back on some of the stuff I wore and I`m so embarrassed. I definitely blame it on this clique of girls I was friends with back then. I`ve been talked into wearing stuff that I didn`t want to wear. Now, I like very simple, elegant things, by `Oscar de la Renta` or Armani.
If I go to see a Beatles film, I want it to be weird and artistic and interesting and experimental and psychedelic and dark at times and also beautiful -- and that`s what this is. - On Across the Universe.
Whenever something bad happens, I just always have to tell myself that this is happening for a reason, and I have to be learning something from this and taking something away from this. And you just have to think about the big picture, and you have to remember just how small you are in the grand scheme of things, and that in the long run, you`re probably going to be okay. So that`s all I kept thinking about...just trying to make the best out of .
I won`t just take my clothes off for anybody. It has to be the right circumstances. I couldn`t have thought of a better way to do it because it wasn`t a sex scene. It`s a sleeping woman and somebody is singing Something, which is one of the most beautiful songs written about a woman, period. And he`s singing about you. - ON doing her first nude scene in Across the Universe.
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"I don't know how much longer I can keep going without a friend. I used to be able to do it very easily, but that was before I knew what having a friend was like. It's much easier not to know things sometimes. And to have french fries with your mom be enough."
1 note
posted on January 23, 2013


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Race the Tape
Of all the barrier lines Zach practiced before Sunday's race, he chose the one that avoided the barriers and got penalized.
This one time, Dan Norton (legendary PNW Cross racer and World Champion) accused me of being a tape rubber. That's like a knuckle dragger, an uncivil racer, a beast of a man. If I remember correctly, as it was a long time ago, the course tape that directed racers into a mud bog had fallen over and I avoided the bog. Dan saw this grievous act, posted in the Seattle CX forums and a flame war erupted. The next weekend, this sign appeared to keep me on course with no erroneous mud avoidance.
Maybe someone can make those for Zach? Rule book or no and reasons why explained, the community expects a race inside the tape.
I still have the sign, btw, it hangs on my office wall. So shamed by the incident, I've even stopped during a race to fix tape.
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I must admit - the sign is kinda funny
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Men in Black 3 New Trailer
I am getting excited about the new Men in Black moving coming to theaters in May. Enjoy a new trailer from the upcoming movie.
I am getting excited about the new Men in Black moving coming to theaters in May. Enjoy a new trailer from the upcoming movie.
Gossip sites have been reporting for months that the marriage of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith is nearly over. Now, In Touch Weekly is giving some credence to those rumors with a new report that Jada has met with a divorce attorney.
It has been almost 10 years since we have heard from K and J, the Men in Black. They will be returning to theaters May 25th. Check out the official trailer for Men in Black 3.
You know the basics: Born and raised on the west side of Philadelphia, he was shipped off to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air after one little fight. But that's 'Fresh Prince' 101. Get ready for the advanced course — Eight Things You Didn't Know About 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' including which 'Friends' star inspired Carlton's moves and why the sitcom was canceled … twice.
If a report in In Touch Weekly is to be believed, superstar power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith have separated after 13 years of marriage.
The Smiths are the parents of two already-famous children — 'Karate Kid' star Jaden, 13, and 'Whip My Hair' singer Willow, 10 — and their union has long been regarded as one of Hollywood's strongest and most enduring.
I love the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, it was a very funny sitcom. I could probably bust out in rap right now with the theme song. How awesome would it be if Will Smith brought back The Fresh Prince of Bel Air? I could handle a reunion movie, if and only if, Carlton does his crazy little dance and Jeffrey the butler rags on Uncle Phil.
Though he's beloved by millions of moviegoers, Will Smith ticked off a number of Manhattan residents this week by parking his 1,150-square-foot, double-decker trailer right on the street.
According to the NY Post, SoHo residents and business owners


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Business News
Putin orders Russia gov't response to sanctions
Putin says he has ordered Russian government to formulate response to Western sanctions
Colorado Democrats avoid fracking fight
Colorado Democrats avoid fracking fight after deal prompts groups to drop dueling proposals
CVS 2Q profit climbs 11 percent, forecast rises
CVS Caremark's 2nd quarter profit increases 11 percent, drugstore chain raises forecast
Lobby: Govt bonus hasn't boosted Italy's economy
Italian business lobby says premier's 80-euro bonus has failed to deliver economic boost
Dubai's Emirates halting flights to northern Iraq
Mideast's largest airline to stop flights to Iraq's Irbil as insurgency rages
Subaru recalls 5 models for air bag problem
Subaru recalling 5 models for air bag problem that has hit the entire auto industry
Scammers using PayPal prepaid debit cards to target businesses
D.C. area business owners should be on the lookout for scammers using prepaid debit cards to steal items.
US stocks decline on mixed earnings; Target drops
US stocks fall in midday trading following mixed corporate earnings; Target falls on outlook
Target lowers forecast, estimates breach costs
Target lowers forecast citing flat US sales; estimates cost of data breach
US stocks open lower; Target slumps on forecast
US stocks open lower; Target slumps on earnings forecast
Eurozone recovery holding up despite Ukraine
Despite uncertainties generated by Ukraine crisis, eurozone economy appears to be holding up
Portugal bank collapse hits French financial group
Fallout from Portuguese bank costs French financial group Credit Agricole $950 million
Virginia Wine Summit set for October
Virginia Wine Summit to be held in Richmond in October
D.C. startup focuses on hybrid electric bikes and it's quite a Riide
Jeff Stefanis and Amber Wason have their Riide startup headquarters in an old rowhouse near Howard University's campus in D.C. They're building bikes. But not just any bikes. These are hybrid electric bikes for urban commuters.
Telefonica bids to create Brazil's top operator
Spain's Telefonica makes $9 billion offer to buy Brazilian operator GVT
Portugal bank collapse and rescue raises questions
Portuguese bank collapse and rescue revives questions about eurozone stability
Wal-Mart's website to personalize shopping
Wal-Mart's website to customize shopping experience based on purchase, search history
S&P: Wealth gap is slowing US economic growth
McDonald's says China meat scandal hurting sales
McDonald's says China meat supply scandal is hurting business; 2014 sales outlook is at risk
Argentina loses bid to oust debt dispute mediator
US judge denies Argentina request to remove mediator in debt dispute that led to default
Hi: 70 °F | Lo: 52 °F


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Playa Coronado | LOTE EN VENTA EN EL CLUB DE GOLF, CORONADO - $125,000.00
- Date added: 12/14/2013 3:52 pm
- Category: Beachfront Homes and Lots
Property Information
Detail DescriptionLOT FOR SALE AT GOLF CLUB IN CORONADO - $125,000.00
It is totally flat, located inside Coronado Golf Club.
It has access to all the public services.
Size: 916.58 square meters / 9,866 square feet.
Contact Information
Contact Advertiser


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I am the Queen of making stupid/bad decisions. Just throwin that out there.
Concluded: I am a terrible person. But I can't decide if I care or not…I guess that makes me more terrible. It's whatever.
All the time. But especially when it means I can afford to stay at the Grand Floridian for a couple of nights! HURRAH! I feel so classy :)


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John Szumowski, MD, MPH is a fourth year fellow originally from Massachusetts, who is now a convert to the West Coast. A Massachusetts native, John completed medical school at Harvard followed by residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. While in Boston, he earned a Masters in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health with a focus on Quantitative Methods. His research previously was based at Fenway Community Health, one of the largest clinics serving the LGBT community in the Northeast, where he studied community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus-aureus infection. His research interests have refocused to HIV immunology, and a strong interest in vaccine development brought him to the University of Washington.
Szumowski JD, Wener KM, Gold HS, Wong M, Venkataraman L, Runde CA, Cohen DE, Mayer KH, Wright SB. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization, behavioral risk factors, and skin and soft-tissue infection at an ambulatory clinic serving a large population of HIV-infected men who have sex with men. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2009 49(1): 118-121. PMID 19480576
Diep BA, Chambers HF, Graber CJ, Szumowski JD, Miller LG, Han LL, Chen JH, Lin F, Lin J, Phan TH, Carleton HA, McDougal LK, Tenover FC, Cohen DE, Mayer KH, Sensabaugh GF, Perdreau-Remington F. Emergence of multidrug-resistant, community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone USA300 in men who have sex with men. Annals of Internal Medicine 2008 148(4): 249-257. PMID 18195330
Szumowski JD, Cohen DE, Kanaya F, Mayer KH. Treatment and outcomes of infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at an ambulatory clinic. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2007 51(2): 423-428. PMID 17116664.


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Former Bulldog (I still don't like having to say that) Matthew Stafford's pro career was to begin today with the opening of the Lions' three-day minicamp, largely an orientation at which the team's draft picks and undrafted free agents get familiar with Detroit's operation so they'll be ready when they return for the off-season program on May 18. The Lions, by the way, open their exhibition schedule Aug. 15 against the Falcons at Ford Field.
Meanwhile, if you missed Stafford's "extreme" makeover by glam tennis star Maria Sharapova on ESPN's "E:60″ program earlier this week, you can see it here.
Stafford comes across in the piece as a still-unspoiled college kid with a good sense of humor about himself. Describing himself as "a jeans guy," he jokes that his style is casual, not casual-chic. "There's no chic with me."
Sharapova warns "the poor boy is not going to know what's gonna hit him."
Asked what his hair styling routine is, Stafford draws laughs when he says, "Towel, that's it." He reluctantly submits to a trim and then is outfitted by Sharapova, who remarks at one point about a jacket she's picked, "I bet you've never spent $230 on a jacket," to which Stafford replies, "On any single piece of clothing."
After it's all over, what has Stafford learned? What a lint brush is.
And he admits that the guys back in Athens are "gonna rip on me pretty good, I'm sure."
Right. Like they wouldn't jump at the chance to have Maria Sharapova dressing them.
May 1st, 2009
2:17 pm
your right,if they rip him it will be because of pure envy
May 1st, 2009
2:17 pm
your right,if they rip him it will be because of pure envy
May 1st, 2009
2:42 pm
Once a Dawg Bill, always a Dawg. How sweet it is.
May 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
You can take the bumpkin out of the country but you can't take the country out of the bumpkin.
May 1st, 2009
8:01 pm
In other Detroit News. The Auto companies are broke. The sun set in the West. And Matthew Stafford was booed in practice today. Back to you Bill.
May 1st, 2009
11:11 pm
Matthew Stafford is a fat Joey Harrington and a white Andre Ware. Pardon us Lions fans for not buying how Stafford is going to save the Lions. We've heard this crap before about a quarterback. If he wins, great, but we aren't holding out breath.
May 2nd, 2009
11:58 am
People in Detroit are checking the sofa for change for money to buy beer, Stafford gets $41 million. People in Detroit are cutting their own hair and Stafford is getting a make over by Sharapova. People in Detroit know what a lint brush is, but don't have any clothes that collect lint. People in Detroit are booing Stafford at a practice, and Stafford is running around playing a kid's game.
Keep up the good work Detroit.
May 2nd, 2009
1:55 pm
Detroit doesn't deserve a bulldog QB !!!!!!
May 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Detroit is a perfect fit….a loser going to losers.
May 3rd, 2009
8:36 am
Hey randy, that loser is guaranteed 41 mil with opportunity to make 72 mil. If Stafford is a loser, what does that make YOU ?
May 3rd, 2009
9:15 am
$41 million is an insult to Stafford. But, if the idiot owners and fans want to pay , why knock Stafford for taking all that $$$$$!
May 3rd, 2009
12:33 pm
I hope Stafford does well — and I think he will — but after the players take off their red/black dawg uniforms, I lose interest in them. I don't understand this profound interest in Stafford now that he's in the NFL. Hopefully that interest will dissipate very soon.
May 3rd, 2009
1:17 pm
Stafford has made his money,the lions org.is too weak for him to survive.If he is not too broken up, maybe he can get a trade in 5 or 6 years.
May 3rd, 2009
1:21 pm
Stafford has made his money,the loins are too weak for him to survive.Maybe he can get a trade in 5 or6 years,if he is not too broken up.
May 4th, 2009
8:03 am
Matthew Stafford….The Lord of No Rings!!
May 4th, 2009
11:36 am
I absolutely agree with you. The Detriot fans( just like Philly fans with McNabb) don't owe Stafford a damn thing. You make 41 million is guranteed money and you are expected to deliver. The NFL is a man's business, and fans earn the right to critize their teams. And maybe, just maybe, getting booed is what Stafford needs. I think that's part of Stafford's problem at UGA, he came in with all this hype and was constantly told how talented he is, which leads to complacency in my opinion. If getting booed will put a chip on Stafford's shoulder and if getting paid $41 million is what will make Stafford give his best effort, then Lions fans should boo him unmercifully. Either way it's time for Stafford to produce. Period.
May 4th, 2009
12:28 pm
IF you can't understand how Stafford being the #1 pick helps UGA football, I can't help you.
May 4th, 2009
4:16 pm
Stafford don't owe Detroit fans anything, the Ford Family that writes the checks are the ones he has to answer to. Detroit fans don't like Stafford then the solution is don't buy tickets to the games. I heard there is a 5 year waiting list for tickets in Detroit so somebody will pay to see Stafford play.
May 4th, 2009
4:57 pm
What is Green Bay's waiting list now? Probably longer than the Masters.
May 4th, 2009
5:15 pm
The bottom line for Detroit and the Ford Family is that Stafford will produce. You can bet that they aren't paying him that kind of money to hold a clip board for six years so expect him to play this year. While football is the ultimate team game, the QB position is critical and the Lions have a smart, strong armed, QB. Just as for UGA last year, the thing between Stafford and winning in Detriot will be the defense. Maybe if he can give them some rest they will be better but probably not.
May 5th, 2009
1:51 am
Nice Braves blog, lots of Minor League stuff-
May 5th, 2009
4:32 pm
The lions suck without him, he is not gonna be any worse than what the lions already were. So shut up and watch him win.
May 13th, 2009
2:44 pm
Having resided in Texas for twenty-five years, with my better half being a high school coach at the 5AAAAA level, I an well aware of 4AAAA Highland Park HS. If Stafford is a country bumpkin someone is using a definition that all but a handful of people would reject. Highland Park and River Oaks in Houston, are two of the highest socio-economic residential areas in Texas. Each area has as a resident a former President of The United States. In addition, Southern Methodist University is contained within Highland Park, one of the elite private universities in Texas along with Texas Christian Univesity located in nearby Fort Worth.


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I can't even feel right now. It's been so long. :l
I haven't been on in a while. It's been a VERY rough few days. :l
This has never been more true.
Today has not been a good day.
wings-of-the-goddess said: What would be your number one love in the world?
My number one love…I could say music, but that's more of a need. Probably my dog. I love my dog.
Do it!
Just someone to text me daily. That's it. :l
Being able to help someone. <3 I love that….so much.
brklnlrsn said: hello. i like your blog. you have good taste in music. [:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. :)


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{I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client}.
Happy Friday! Today I'm veering off the decorating and craftiness path and talking about something we all do everyday. Twice a day. Or so we should. Brush our teeth! Did you know that many diseases are linked to your oral health? It's important to brush and brush well!
Disease prevention is something I think about you know, now that I'm thirtysomething!
Phillips Sonicare PowerUp Toothbrush
Lately I'm obsessed with keeping my mouth squeaky clean. I brush in the morning and at night, and if I can, after every meal and drink. I've been flossing and using mouthwash after almost every brush. I'm a coffee lover, so keeping the stains away is a challenge, so I need to go the extra mile to keep my smile from looking, well you know, thirtysomething. I've been on the hunt for an alternative to the traditional toothbrush for a while, so when I was given the opportunity to review the Phillips Sonicare PowerUp I jumped at it!
I've been using this battery powered toothbrush for 7 days and my teeth have never felt better.
The first few days were the most impactful. My teeth felt so smooth and clean, I was hooked!
After a few days I got used to it and now, honestly, I just can't go back to a manual toothbrush. It feels like a month's worth of brush strokes in a day!
You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months, and according to my dentist, always after you have an episode of the flu, a cold or other viral infections. Bacteria can implant themselves on the toothbrush bristles leading to re-infection. You can buy replacement brush heads for the Phillips Sonicare PowerUp as necessary.
Check out my Sonicare PowerUp pearly whites
Toothbrushes have come a long way, haven't they? Here's a cool video on the evolution of toothbrushes for your viewing pleasure!
If you want more info on the amazing PowerUp toothbrush, visit their Facebook page here!
If you want to improve your oral health, I highly recommend a Sonicare PowerUp, you can get them at your local Walmart for less than $20! But know what's better? Winning one! Here's your chance to win your very own Phillips Sonicare PowerUp toothbrush, enter below!
Good Luck! Happy brushing!
Latest posts by Barbara @ Chase the Star (see all)
- DIY Inspired Link Party No. 13 - September 19, 2014
- BEHR Paint Needs YOU! - September 17, 2014
- 8 Fabulous Fall Ideas! - September 16, 2014


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from Modern Grace Design
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Have you made this pattern?
Share with the Craftsy community.
This is a super easy and quick cowl to make. Only 1 skein of medium/worsted weight yarn is required. I have used Red Heart Soft Touch in turquoise for this cowl. It would look equally lovely in any color and it makes a great gift for any occasion!
4 inches = 12 sts; 4 inches = 6 rows.
Inspired by my grandmother Grace, who loved to crochet and knit, I taught myself to crochet when I started having children. I strive to bring a modern twist to the beautiful traditional art of crochet.


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In our exclusive interview with Angaleena Presley of the Pistol Annies, we asked her if there would be a chance for a second single from the trio's debut album "Hell On Heels." In the same interview, she admitted that the Annies were testing the grounds last week with their first-ever three headlining dates to see if there was a real interest in the group for a possible future tour. She says that the group will make it's touring return in May at festivals.
Angaleena says that there was discussion about a possible second single from the album:
"Not sure," she tells Keepin' it Country. "We're talking about it and Miranda's kind of out doing her thing right now for "Four The Record." She kind of has to turn around and back into her, you know, turn back into Miranda Lambert for a while. She just put her record out, and she's going to tour for the Winter and early Spring then we'll be back out in May to do a bunch of festivals and stuff."
When asked what her pick would have to be for a second single, she admits it's one of the fan favorites:
"Well, I'm a little biased but I would totally pick "Lemon Drop." I wrote that song and just feel like, you know, a lot of women can relate to that song. Maybe even men can relate to it. It's about just getting by and keeping the faith, and knowing that someday all this hard work is going to pay off. I like the message in that song.
What would you pick as a second single from the Pistol Annies?


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Pennsylvania hunters shot 1,320 black bears on Saturday, the first day of the statewide bear season resulted, according to preliminary totals released today by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The top 10 bears processed at check stations by Monday were either estimated or confirmed to have live weights of 555 pounds or more.
The largest of those bears, a male estimated at 632 pounds, was taken in East Providence Township, Bedford County.
Archery and other early bear season harvest data was not yet available, the Game Commission said.
Hunters last year took 1,530 bears on the first day and 3,632 bears during the season, the third-largest harvest in state history.
The largest harvest – 4,350 bears – happened in 2011, when preliminary first-day totals numbered 1,936, according to the Game Commission.


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Appearance, Reality, and Orbital Mechanics
[1] HORSESHOE ORBITS. A small sun-orbiting body can appear to be in this kind of orbit when viewed from a larger sun-orbiting body [such as Earth] as long as they take the same amount of time to make their orbits.
This graphic shows possible such orbits along gravitational contours. The Earth (and the whole image with it) is rotating counterclockwise around the Sun.
The letter L marks the Lagrange points. Letters A-E are reference points used in the explanation of this kind of orbit.
(Horseshoe orbit - Wikipedia)
There is a nearby astronomical object – an asteroid in solar orbit of the type technically called a minor planet – called 3753 Cruithne. Its orbit is in a kind of resonance with that of Earth.
Looking at Cruithne from Earth, it appears to describe a bean-shaped orbit that is more or less a horseshoe. And from our short-term, Earth-based vantage point, it might appear to be, and has been called, a second moon. However, it's not in orbit around Earth; it orbits the sun.
[2] ORBITS of EARTH and CRUITHNE. Cruithne and Earth both orbit around the sun. They seem to follow each other because of the 1:1 orbital resonance. Clearly Cruithne isn't a moon of Earth. In fact, sometimes it's on the other side of the sun.
[3] THE APPARENT ORBIT OF CRUITHNE. From our perspective on Earth, Cruithne appears to be in a bean-shaped orbit. The animation shows why. You can also see that although Earth and Cruithne each have a one year orbit around the sun, Cruithne's apparent horseshoe orbit around the Earth takes much longer (770 years, in fact).
Thanks to matthen for the animation that got me looking at images of horseshoe orbits and orbital resonance in the first place.


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Even if the planned run of 300 Bugatti Veyron coupes ensures that every car will be special, Bugatti still likes to make special editions. But unlike some that are only about appearance , the four cars its brining to Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza in Italy are about celebrating history.
They are called the Bugatti Veyron Centenaire Edition. Each pays tribute to the Pre-WWII Type 35 Grand Prix racers and their drivers. The cars are mechanically similar to a standard Veyron, but it combines polished aluminum wings and doors with a driver's corresponding national racing color — Jean-Pierre (France - blue), Achille Varzi (Italy - red), Malcolm Campbell (England - green) and Hermann Zu Leininger (Germany - white).
These limited edition cars also include special LED lighting and a special badging featuring the name of the selected race driver. There is no word yet on how limited this special edition will be, but expect to shell out €1.6 million (currently about $2.08 million) per example — about €400,000 more than a "standard" Veyron.
More pics in the gallery.


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Artist Giuseppe Penone carefully removes the rings of growth to reveal the 'sapling within'. By carving out the inside of a tree trunk and leaving the knots in place, they eventually emerge as tiny limbs.
In the beautiful Art Gallery of Ontario, here in Toronto.
If you're looking for something to do today before the main event tonight, you could check out the AGO
Source: Wikipedia
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text: Ashley Nichole Simmons, is an American professional wrestler best known as her ring name Ashley Lane. Formerly competed as Lexi Lane. She currently performs for several Northern United States-based independent promotions as well as the all-female promotion SHIMMER Women Athletes, where she is currently one half of the Shimmer Tag Team Champions along with Nevaeh. She is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne.


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Blog Archives
Project Logicality: Generalizing & Classifying both Deductively & Inductively
It's often said that the distinction between deductive and inductive reasoning is that one argues from the general to the specific, and that the other does so from specific to the general, but this is not correct across all forms of these sorts of reasoning.
Each can work both ways. Whoa. That's quite an assertion, so I'll attempt to show why here…
In deductive reasoning, the truth of an argument's conclusion automatically follows from the truth of its supporting statements if it's valid. Also, it's possible for one or more of such an argument's supporting statements to be false, and this renders it unsound even when valid. Valid but knowingly unsound arguments are not persuasive, and cannot ethically be used as though they were compelling.
Deductive arguments reorganize what we know rather than providing any new data. Deductive conclusions cannot go beyond what's expressed or implied in their supporting statements.
Inductive reasoning, such as some of the informal sort more typically used in everyday life, can only justify conclusions as more or less probable, depending on the strength of the argument and the prior adherence of an audience to its evidence. This form of reasoning does provide new knowledge, by moving us from the known to the unknown, unstated, and not implied.
In generalizing from particular examples, I'll show how it may be deductive and then inductive:
If I were to be on the shoreline of my local beach, and noted that the pebbles found there were worn smooth and comfortable to the touch by the actions of water and sand, and were to completely and perfectly enumerate each and every such pebble on the shore, to find them all worn smooth, an unlikely and difficult task at best, I would know with certainty that all of these pebbles were smooth and comfortable to the touch. Each and every one. The argument would then follow deductively.
If, though, I were to find one smooth pebble, and then another, and so on, and after noting from a large enough but limited sample of such stones that they are almost all smooth to the touch, though I may find a few which are not, I could conclude inductively that they are more often smooth and worn than not. The argument follows to a high degree of probability based on the size and representativeness of the sample examined, and it is an acceptable substitute for the certainty we cannot usually get in measuring things in the real world.
The things to look out for when generalizing are known as the fallacy of composition, and the hasty generalization, these errors made when we attempt to apply deductive certainty where it does not belong, the first in assuming that the whole of a population is necessarily like the parts, and the second in drawing an unfounded general conclusion on the basis of too little sample data.
Now from general to specific, classifying rather than generalizing.
If I were to get a perfect count of all sand-ground stones on this hypothetical beach, not over-counting or skipping some, and they all were worn smooth, then I could conclude certainly that any one of these stones was going to be smooth in texture just like all the others. The argument would follow deductively.
But if I were to do the more likely thing, and count a fairly sizable number of these pebbles, all showing signs of wear and smoothness, then I could argue with a good chance of being correct in saying that any one of the stones I pick up would be ground and smooth. It would then be an inductive argument.
The error to avoid committing here is the very opposite of the fallacy of composition, the fallacy of division, in which one misapplies deductive certainty by claiming that the part is necessarily like the whole.
To close out, the examples I used in this post come from a quote attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, that cranky and brilliant English guy, which goes:
I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me. ~ Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1855) by Sir David Brewster (Volume II. Ch. 27).
Related articles
Project Logicality: the Unexplained vs. the Unexplainable
This post has been rewritten from its earlier form and updated for this release. None of the meaning has been changed, and dead links have been removed and replaced by new. ~ Troythulu
Confusing the currently unexplained with the forever inexplicable…
This is a common fallacy, and an easy one to commit, in confusing whatever is currently unexplained with that which has no explanation at all, or at least no reachable one.
I hear this fallacy a lot from believers in the paranormal and supernatural, both online and face-to-face, and it's is a close cousin to the argument from ignorance in inferring that because one can't think of an explanation that there is none, and in a further move in reasoning in assuming that this strengthens the case for anything beyond nature or normality.
First, what is the unexplained?
What is the unexplainable?
How do we tell them apart?
Anything that currently lacks a known explanation may, possibly, have an explanation out there somewhere waiting to be found, even if you, anyone you know, or anyone you don't, is unaware of what the explanation is at this moment.
The point is that you cannot say that something is truly unexplainable at least until you actually look, and in your inquiry exhaust all conceivably possible explanations and find none. Even then, no matter where you look, you cannot be certain on a finite data set.
Is it truly unexplainable even then?
Not so fast.
One can never be certain that someone, somewhere, doesn't, can't, or won't know how to explain a given seemingly mysterious phenomenon, since humans are not omniscient, and it is therefore impossible for any one person to know what everyone else in the universe knows, and from this, safely assume that an explanation is both unknown and unknowable anywhere in spacetime.
Merely because YOU don't know, or can't, does not apply to everyone else, and assuming that it does is arrogant and unreasonable in attempting to impose your own cognitive limitations on everyone else.
There is always someone who knows more than you do, or who does or can imagine things you don't or can't.
As for the truly unexplainable, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci has noted two different sorts, first, those phenomena which absolutely have no reasonable explanation, and second, those phenomena which do have a rational explanation somewhere out there, but which is inaccessible due to human limitations in reasoning and comprehension, sort of like my kitten understanding the math for quantum mechanics (sorry, Mister Eccles…) or relativity theory.
Scientific inquiry, and any other useful process of gathering knowledge about reality, requires some humility and open-mindedness in understanding the limits of what we currently know and a willingness to at least consider new ideas…
…and saying that "ID did it," "God did it," "ET did it," "a ghost did it," or "psi did it," explain nothing and most definitely will not get you past peer-review nor win you the JREF million dollar challenge.
Everything that science has ever examined has turned out to be both natural and normal, not magic.
Consider that before proclaiming something to be unexplainable, when the explanation you don't know about may be just where you haven't or won't look.
Project Logicality: What is Argumentation?
This post was originally published in 2011, and since then I've decided to give it new life and clear up difficulties in the text. I decided to use it once for for the pilot entry of my current Project Logicality. I hope it adds to the online discussion of the virtues of reason despite the decidedly unreasonable tendencies of the human species.
What is it that I mean when I say 'argument?' When I use this term, I don't mean quarrelsome bickering accompanied by yelling and screaming, nor do I mean a mere shadow of an argument where debaters try to undermine the legitimacy of each others' position without attempting to reach a real understanding or settling anything.
When I say, "argument" I mean it in the context of any rational discussion with constructive intent, not an attempt to thwart constructive ends through fallacious means.
Here, I mean that the parties involved act to offer reasons, premises, rationales, and justifications for the statements, the claims, and the ideas that they put forth. They want others to accept these, not merely by pandering to their prejudices or appealing to their biases, nor upon the use of legal or physical force, but by winning the free assent of that audience — an audience treated as though it were in principle intelligent, educated, and capable of exercising rigorous critical judgement.
I refer to argument in the sense of modern argumentation theory, a vibrant field of study involving the making and use of messages to influence others, by appealing to their willingness to cooperate — this is essential for the conditions of a viable free society.
Any coherent social structure, especially a functioning representative democracy with a large number of people needs some means of mutual influence between its members, of and for the viability of its governing system, however imperfect its governing body in practice. Perfection in matters of human endeavor is a chimera.
Argumentation as a field of study crosses paths with three other areas of intellectual endeavor:
First, it converges with Logic, the broader study of the structures we use in all processes of reasoning — this includes formal logic, mathematical and symbolic logic where the conclusion of a valid argument is alleged to be certainly true if the premises used to support it are also true.
But argumentation concerns itself more with informal logic, the everyday reasoning we engage in within typical discussions — in which the statements we wish to support do not follow with certainty, but to a degree of probability depending on the strength of our reasons and the willingness of the audience to accept them.
In argumentation, even the very idea of certainty depends on the audience addressed.
Language is important in informal logic, because informal argumentation depends heavily on the use of language as the content of the argument. Language is more than merely decorative window-dressing for an informal argument, but an essential part of the argument's inherent meaning. The language that an argument is cast in cannot be taken from the argument itself without rendering it sterile and empty.
Second, argumentation converges with Rhetoric, originally one of the seven Liberal Arts — it is more than just vacuous or bombastic and flowery ornamentation in speech as is commonly supposed, but in the technical sense it is the broader study of how people are influenced by messages.
It is from Rhetoric that argumentation gets the concern with the requirements of an audience — its needs, disposition, and outlook must be considered by the arguer in making their case.
Third, argumentation crosses over with dialectic, a term that many people still associate with the concept of an opposition between grand historical forces, like the opposition of capitalism and communism depicted in Marxist social theory.
This concept has a different meaning, and dates at least since the Socratic method, given in the dialogues of Plato, and others, in which fictionalized persons are seen to engage in a sort of give and take exchange of questions and answers to resolve a dispute or reveal the truth of a matter.
This sort of questioning is similar to the use of cross-examination of witnesses in modern legal courts by the prosecuting attorneys in a case to uncover inconsistencies in testimony and to reveal possibly questionable motives.
Argumentation is the meeting point of all of these fields, and with it, we can clarify our understanding of our positions, resolve disputes, reach sound decisions for collective actions we may undertake, engage in formal and often productive debates, and, with ourselves as the audience, think through personal problems we may face or get out of a rut.
Argumentation as a process of giving reasons for our claims is one of the most important abilities we have as humans, and no matter our level of education, we can all benefit from the ability to arrive at better answers to questions and make more sound decisions than we otherwise might.
Argumentation isn't just for egghead academics: Clear thinking and having good reasons for what we believe and do are for everyone. As humans, we are not always rational, but we have a sense of reason, one that once nurtured and practiced can serve us and enfranchise us as informed, effective, and smart voters very well indeed.
Related articles
Evaluating Arguments & the Creeping Spectre of Gullibility
I've strived from the start to be a fair skeptic, to see arguments as they are, to analyse and evaluate them in such a way that I see errors in reasoning, logical fallacies, only where they actually exist, and so to avoid attacking straw-person caricatures of what is being argued…to see an argument as it really is, and to attack it only on its merits, or lack of them.
But as someone diagnosed with an illness like mine, I find that the real danger is not seeing fallacies of argument where they are not, but failing to see them where they are, and this I find unsettling. It's sometimes the case that I'll read or hear an argument, and while a skeptic without my disorder would easily note the error, rather than to not make out the sense of a reasonable argument, I sometimes make out too much sense out of unreasonable arguments — I sometimes see valid arguments where they are not.
While my treatment plan helps substantially with the more overt forms of delusional thinking, aided to a degree with skeptical thinking, I can and sometimes do, without thinking carefully, experience a feeling of sensibility when none is actually warranted.
Sometimes, I catch myself, with a brief mental "Aha! Gotcha!" followed by a rejection of the spurious feeling of sensibleness, sometimes, though, it slips past me, and lo, I am fooled.
This means that I sometimes miss what would be obvious and glaring logical errors to others with even the same knowledge and experience as I, minus the diagnosis of course.
I'm currently expanding my understanding of logical and rhetorical fallacies, and this has been very helpful, but I know that if anything, I must learn more and train my intuitive faculties further still. There is much to learn, still much to take in.
I must always be on the lookout for my overactive intuition, and I'm engaged at reining it in, to limit its purview to — mostly at least — those things that actually do make sense once truly understood, and not misleading fallacies, deepities, and word-salad with no real meaning at all.
While I can't ever be absolutely certain to avoid that, so what? I'm not convinced that anything in the world can be known as absolutely certain, nor needs to be absolute to count as knowledge.
That it does is a claim that I'm deeply suspicious of, and maybe that's a good sign.
Funny thing, that, the common phrase denoting claims to absolute knowledge, "set in stone," when it doesn't take a scientist to know that a stone wears away with time, and even the universe has a lifespan.
There's hope yet. And where there is hope, there is life.
Why I get my science from scientists and not #FauxNews…
I feel up to blogging for this morning, and during this day and the next I'll be reading up on SF approaches to zero-point energy production for a friend of mine, which should be fun.
*waves at @Ravenpenny*
Especially important in looking into zero-point energy is avoiding any use of blatant pseudoscience from so called "free energy" machine sellers…
Rubber science is acceptable within the context of fiction, implausible technological quackery is NOT!
So far, I've got two reference pages out of five candidates in separate browser tags. The other three candidate pages are all crank sites, with obvious red flags. I won't sully my reputation, such as that is as a relative no-name in the skeptical community, by using those last as sources.
This raises a question…
Out of the arguments of both proponents and critics of any claim, how do I decide which claimant is more credible?
There are a set of steps I use that make for a useful start of any inquiry, and I'll put these into three groups of related questions:
- First: Which side in a given controversy, genuine or manufactroversy, commits the fewest logical fallacies? Which side has the most valid or cogent arguments and makes the fewest errors in reasoning? Once these are compared and an answer obtained, I then choose the side with the best arguments and go to step two. Remember though, to take care to see fallacious arguments that are actually there, and not the result of wishful seeing. And so…
- Secondly: Which side has the better factual support for their claims. Do their respective claims add up under adequate fact-checking using reliable sources? Do credible sources support or reject the claims made? Which sources have the better track-record and reputation as a valid and reliable? Next…
- Thirdly: Related to the second, but worth it's own step: Which factual statements, when checked, even if and when true, are actually relevant to the claims and counterclaims made? Does the alleged factual support of a given claim actually have anything to do with it?
These three points are a basic rundown of the steps I use.
Answering these questions on science and science-relevant news are one reason I tend to support climate scientists over so-called climate sceptics, and professional biologists over the various species of creationists found online and in religion and politics.
They are the reason that I tend to give more credence to the statements of astronomers than I do astrologers, Physicists and psychologists more than psychic claimants, chemists over alchemists, and neuroscientists over phrenologists.
These questions are the reasons I don't get my science from clergymen, religious apologists, allegedly fair and balanced media outlets, politicians or radio talk-show propagandists.
Those are not what I would call credible sources.
I get my science from scientists, and science-writers with a real background in the field, thank you, not preachers, partisan bloggers, or people who loudly decry government and taxation while also running for public office so they can get paid a rather handsome salary, with kickbacks and bribes paid by lobbyists, otherwise funded by my taxes.
Related articles
- Top 10 Fallacies of Internet Trolls (americanlivewire.com)
- Conservative media's attacks on climate science effectively erode viewers' belief in scientists (rawstory.com)
- 2013 SkS Weekly News Roundup #32A (skepticalscience.com)
- The Appeal to Authority (ethicalrealism.wordpress.com)
- The Prodigy Effect (ketyov.com)
- 5 Ways Right-Wing Media Make Their Fans Fear Science (alternet.org)
- Anti-science arguments: How do we respond? (newanthropocene.wordpress.com)
- Moving science communication beyond the standard argument (nrelscience.org)


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36 U.S. Code § 22302 - Purposes
The purposes of the corporation are—
(1) to serve as a coordinating, research, and educational agency and clearinghouse for symphony orchestras to help strengthen the work in their local communities;
(3) to encourage and recognize the work of America's musicians, conductors, and composers, through suitable means; and
Source(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1302.)
|Revised Section
|Source (U.S. Code)
|Source (Statutes at Large)
|Oct. 15, 1962, Pub. L. 87–817, § 3, 76 Stat. 930.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
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Check out the awesome interviews with these lovely ladies. Like what you see? Send me your email and I will be happy to send you an interview as well!
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Featured Properties
19 Oklahoma – A Great Lake Texoma Home
Wonderful home located in the very desireable Preston Bend area. Location is great for accessing sandy beaches nearby, a peaceful golf cart ride around the neighboring areas or a walk through the treed roads. This home has been immaculately maintained. Situated at the end of the road among towering trees – 1.267 acres, a huge 45×50 workshop are a few extras that come with this great home! Call today to set up an appt to view!
We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 11604865 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.


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How to Reserve General Meeting/Gathering Space
For on campus reservations please utilize the R25 Webviewer. All campus room reservations must come through R25. For questions about how to utilize R25 please go to the scheduling link. You can also contact Nancy Stuckmayer in the Scheduling Office with any questions you may have. To reserve the Lion's Pause Mane Stage, use the reservation form.
When making a reservation please provide as much information regarding room set-up details, and all audio visual needs. Last minute requests for AV may not be able to be accommodated. For people/groups off-campus who wish to utilize space within the Commons, please contact Guest Conferences Director at 507-786-3043.
You can check the availability of most meeting rooms on campus by checking the R25 Room scheduling program. Be sure to click the "Go to Today" before checking a location. As Nancy is the only Buntrock Staff who is permitted to enter items into the R25 program, there may be a case where a room in Buntrock appears to be "open" but is actually booked for a group but has not yet been entered into the program. This is usually the case when a student staff member has reserved the room for you.
- Space is reserved on a first come, first served basis. Every effort is made to match all first priorities.
- Please confirm all room reservations before finalizing event dates and details.
- Exceptions to the above guidelines include major college events involving special speakers or publicized notice, e.g., Admissions open houses, banquets, Christmas Festival, Commencement/Reunion Weekend, Board of Regents.
- Requests more than one year in advance cannot be accepted.
- Rooms in the Commons cannot be reserved for regularly scheduled classroom use.
- Student Organizations are limited to one weekly room reservation in the Commons, between Monday and Thursday.
- Please be sure once details are determined, to add your event to the Campus Master Calendar if appropriate.
Room Fees
The fee schedule* for the use of space in the Buntrock Commons is as follows: (full day charge listed first, followed by up to 1/2 day charge, then meal time use only charge)
- Small meeting rooms (145A, Ibsen-146, 220, 221, 222) ($80, $60)
- Large meeting rooms on middle level (Undset-142, Munch-143,Grieg-144) ($100, $70)
- Viking Theater ($225, $150)
- The Black and Gold Ballroom (complex) ($575, $445)
- Ballroom — Black and Gold Sections individually ($175, $135)
- Ballroom Sun Room Section ($225, $175)
- Trollhaugen Room (Kings' Room West) Saturday only ($125, $90)
- Valhalla Room (Kings' Room North) ($125, $90,$60)
- Kings' Dining Room (Trollhaugen and Valhalla) ($250, $180)
*There are additional charges for Media and Audio Visual.
- No fees are charged for St. Olaf groups unless special set-up or clean-up services are required.
- No fees are charged to emeriti unless special set-up or clean-up are required.
- St. Olaf groups reserving space for non-St. Olaf use will be charged user fees unless a declaration of sponsorship form is completed. Please contact the Conference Office for details.
- Half-day= 4 hours or less and not over the lunch hour.