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Dakota Stones Cherry Quartz 10x20mm Double Drill Bead Strand
Let subtle feminine color grace your designs with the Dakota Stones cherry quartz 10x20mm double drill beads. Available by the strand, these rectangular beads feature two stringing holes drilled through the sides and a salmon pink color. Cherry quartz is a man-made gemstone created from hardened glass in which colored inclusions are made during the formation process. Cherry quartz is believed to help heal emotional wounds and aid spiritual growth, so it is a great stone to have near you by wearing it in jewelry. These beads are perfect for use in watch in bands.
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I've obviously seen the advertising with steam now working properly on Ubuntu, but I've also heard from a few people that a lot of games still don't actually work. So I'm looking for a definitive answer from the users on the pros and cons.
What are people's views? This is basically the only thing stopping me changing to Ubuntu..
Thanks for the input boys and girls.

subset: commoncrawl


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After my old computer broke down, i have installed latex again on my new computer with 64-bit windows 7. However, when I try to compile a simple example that alaways worked before, i always get the error 'subfigure.sty' not found. When I remove the subfigure package, the compiler instead complains on the acronym.sty. I have updated the MIkTex but it didn't help. Does anybody know why this error appears?
In MikTeX you can chose if you want to have new packages installed automatically or manually. To enable automatic installation, open the MikTeX settings dialogue (under
As I do not know how did you install the packages manually, first of all, I would recommend you to take a look into the MikTeX Package Manager (Admin). If you would be able to find them there, it means that MiKTeX knows about them and the problem is somewhere else.
Next, you can edit your Question and put some minimal work example (MWE) of your latex code you are trying to compile. Then the community can be helpful more.


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Sources: Reuters, Guardian
quote: Please, don't pretend to be so indignant. Not sure if you're aware of this, but your statements and attitude on this translate into: "So what? We can spy on them with impunity, what are they gonna do about it? They need our trade more than we need them, so fuc* em" Combine that with your absurd statements on the NSA stories, being pro spying in general, and your pro-Obama big government slant, and that's how "I get" what I'm getting here. Am I wrong? No, you know I'm dead right about you. You can deflect it all you want with false claims that I'm "bashing" Obama (he IS President during all this, correct?), but you're really just butthurt as usual.
quote: No dumbo, I'm saying the EU is trying to use use 20% of its economy to threaten an issue over spying. It's clear that it's a hollow threat because nobody in their right mind would piss away 20% of their economy because they are upset another is spying on them, something the EU does themselves.
quote: The EU have been trying to overtake the US in both economic and political power its existence.


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Faculty Profile (Back to Menu)
Annamay Sheppard
Alfred Clapp Service Professor of Law Emerita (1927-2015)
Professor Sheppard, in private practice for several years, served as assistant administrator for Newark Legal Services until 1970, when she joined the Rutgers faculty. She taught Civil Liberties, Civil Procedure, and Criminal Procedure. She was a member of the editorial board of the New Jersey Law Journal.
- Education:
J.D., Rutgers-Newark
M.S., Cornell
B.S., Cornell


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6 Boss Work & Gardening Gloves - Wrist Seals Out Dirt for $5.99 + free shipping
Whether working in the garage or garden, before you know it, your hands will start to feel and show it. Rough surfaces, dirt and oils will take their toll if you leave your hands unprotected. Trust the 6 Boss Work & Gardening Gloves to protect your precious hands. It's the only set of hands you'll ever have. Keep them working hard for years to come with the 6 Boss Work & Gardening Gloves.
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Color: Dark Brown, 65% Polyester/35% Cotton, One Size Fits Most Adults
In Original Retail Packaging
These appear to be their basic jersey gloves. Compare to $2.49/pair on Amazon
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I always forget to mention that coupon code LOYAL5 will give you an additional 5% off of your entire order. All of today's deals on this site are gardening items so stock up now!
Brown jersey gloves are that price or better at any hardware store.
Tractor supply has them for $9.99 for 12. This is still a deal, but unfortunately not overwhelmingly so.


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We have a wide range of shoe accessories for you to buy online today with free UK delivery. We have handbags, jibbitz, socks, shoecare and Ugg accessories for you to browse. Our branded accessories include established brands such as Fiorelli, Fossil and Kipling.
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Okay now I have this tzedaka box sitting in my living room and it's full of coins and crumpled bills. How do I give that to my favorite charity? Or any charity?
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Mail a check for the amount, put the money somewhere in your home, and start replenishing the now-empty tz'daka box....
I call Colel Chabad. They send someone to my door with a bag for me to pour all the money in. A few weeks later I get a receipt in the mail for my donation.
Take the coins to coinstar, and they'll count it and donate it all (no fee) to your choice of a handful of major charities. None of them are specifically Jewish charities, but that's okay.
Take the bills to the bank, and write a check correspondingly.
Give it to your synagogue office and let them figure it out? How do they count the coins and bills? How do they get the bank to take it?
If you buy lots of stuff from Amazon:
Take everything to coinstar and buy yourself an amazon gift card. Then write out an equal check.
About the bills:
Total up the bills. Mail a check to your favorite charity for the amount, then move the bills to your wallet. Later on, the charity will send you a tax receipt.
About the coins:
Dump all the coins into a charity box outside your home. Charities are good at handling large amounts of coins.
If the coins total more than $20, try to hand them directly to a charity employee or gabbai. Unfortunately, some people steal money from charities, including on erev Purim and erev Yom Kippur when there are dozens of collection pans set out on one table.
Tell the charity that you don't need a tax receipt for the coins.


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As mysterious as its beautiful, as forbidding as it is populated with warm-hearted people, Syberia is a land few Westerners know, and even fewer will ever visit. Traveling alone, by train, boat, car, and on foot, Colin Thubron traversed this vast territory, talking to everyone he encountered about the state of the beauty, whose natural resources have been savagely exploited for decades; a terrain tainted by nuclear waste but filled with citizens who both welcomed him and fed him—despite their own tragic poverty. From Mongoloia to the Artic Circle, from Rasputin's village in the west through tundra, taiga, mountains, lakes, rivers, and finally to a derelict Jewish community in the country's far eastern reaches, Colin Thubron penetrates a little-understood part of the world in a way that no writer ever has.
About the Author
Colin Thubron is an acknowledged master of travel writing. His first books were about the Middle East Damascus, Lebanon, and Cyprus. In 1982 he traveled in the Soviet Union, pursued by the KGB. From these early experiences developed his great travel books on the landmass that makes up Russia and Asia: Among the Russians; Behind the Wall: A Journey through China; The Lost Heart of Asia; In Siberia; and most recently, Shadow of the Silk Road.
Colin Thubron is an award-winning novelist as well as, arguably, the most admired travel writer of our time. He lives in London.


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Is it ever mentioned in the Star Wars movies why a sphere-shape was chosen? It would seem that sphere would be unreasonably hard to make as molding all the outer plates perfectly requires every plate to be unique... Also, wouldn't the size of the space station generate some kind of gravitation field towards the center? This doesn't seem to apply, though, as the people inside seems to be affected by some kind of fake gravity towards the floor. Wouldn't it be better if it was just shaped like most other space ships?
Everything with mass has gravity between it and each other thing with mass. There's gravity between you and your computer, but it's too small to have any noticeable effect.
For the effect to be noticeable, at least one of the bodies needs to be big, and not too far away. For example, the earth is big enough to keep us on it unless you have a big, powerful rocket. The moon is big enough and not so far away that it causes tides. The sun is big enough to keep the earth in orbit.
Gravity can be calculated as a tiny constant multipled by the mass of one object multiplied by the mass of the second object divided by the square of their distance. F = G * m1 * m2 / r^2.
So the Death Star: "It's colossal, the size of a class-four moon". But how big exactly? Wookiepeedia says:
A recent Reddit post puts this into context:
That said, it still has some effect on other astronomical bodies, but not a significant one. To give you some idea, given the mass I calculated above and a radius of 80km, it would have a "surface gravity" of 0.7067 cm/s^2 which is 1 / 1388 the gravity of Earth. If you weighed 180lbs on Earth and were to "stand" on the hull of the Death Star, you would exert a force of about 2oz.
Others point out that the ship had artificial gravity generators, it's mostly all aligned up-down decks, so the ship's own natural gravity wouldn't make any noticeable difference. Wookieepedia again:
Also from Reddit:
Finally, for something travelling in the vacuum of space, shape doesn't matter as there's no wind resistance. Other ships need to land on planets and fly in their atmospheres, but not the Death Star which was constructed in space.
In the first movie, Luke mistakes the Death Star for a small moon the first time he sees it, as shown in this clip. There isn't any further implication that the Death Star was MEANT to resemble a moon.
In the novelization, however, there was a passage about the Death Star being covered in lights that could be turned on and off to mimic the phases of the moon. That's really kind of ridiculous, though, since when it comes close to a sun, it would show the phases of a moon naturally.
If the Death Star was sufficiently massive to generate a gravity field, as seems likely, the artificial gravity system would probably have been designed to counteract it. The Earth's moon has gravity one sixth that of the Earth. A "small moon" would have less.
The triangle, letter X and square had already been used. Only the blueprints were smuggled out of the Empire, but many Bothans died to smuggle those blueprints. I fear the answer died with them.
Agreed. This is why they had to double their efforts to finish the Death Star before the Emperor arrives in Episode 3.
You can make a perfect sphere out of small hexagon shaped panels that are all of the same size. You would only need uniquely shaped panels if it was
True, but the Death Star is mostly hollow. At it's center is a large empty chamber that contains the reactor code, and then the structure is made up mostly of rooms and hallways. It would not weigh the same as an asteroid the same size. Also, if you were to stand near the center of the Earth, then which way is gravity? It's pulling you in all directions. So people
If you made all the rooms and hallways curved around the shape of the sphere, then rooms near the center would not have flat floors. You would not be able to see the end of a long hallway, and stacking cargo would not rise upwards in parallel to each other. It would be more trouble and have no benefit. So creating flat floors that run parallel to the equator is more effective, and if all the floors are parallel to the equator then you need gravity plating.
Here are some good reasons to make a large space station the shape of a sphere.


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Tday is coming! What's in your glass?
We've talked a lot about the upcoming holidays, especially Thanksgiving. So what's going in your cup on Thanksgiving? Beer, cider, mulled wine? Cocoa or eggnog? Share because we've shared everything else, and I feel like if I don't ask we've left out a category.
I like eggnog on Thanksgiving. Do you have eggnog rules? I do. No matter how early it appears in the store or the eggnog latte shows up at the coffee shop, I have to wait until the week of Thanksgiving before it feels "right".
34 Answers answer
Thanksgiving in the a.m. will be mimosas then switching to wine for the afternoon. One of my favorite hot holiday drinks is cocoa with creme de menthe. It's so good.
Wild Turkey 101
Tradition I started years ago.
Local winery has a wine called Pumpkin Bog. It's great for thanksgiving. (and whenever else)
Diet Pepsi or A&W for the snacking phase, water for the meal, hot tea for dessert,. Allergic to wine (sulfur), don't like beer. They have started making some hard ciders I like pretty well (go Woodchuck), but I am generally happiest with water, hot tea and soda.
When at my parents - spiked coffee. Spiked with what, you ask? Well that depends on how stressed out my mother is.
At my in-laws - usually a Mike's with my FIL and either water or Pepsi with dinner.
Now the next holiday (that we shall not name until after this glorious feasty festivity) is when we get downright creative.
Makers Mark, Wine, Beer or water
Homemade brewskies
Hot cider, if available; it feels seasonal from Labor Day to Thanksgiving.
Whatever it is, I'm sure the glass will be half empty.
This T-day I will probably have some Pinot Noir. Not because I like wine (although I did take a "wine science" course in university), but because I am invited to someone else's place and will likely be bringing some wine. Ideally, a nice cider is in season and would compliment the meal nicely (IMHO), but I rarely see ciders on the shelves, and when I do they are more expensive than I expect. That said, I am hitting the liquor store this evening to prep for being a dinner guest, if they have cider, I might just get that this year.
As for eggnogg, I probably shouldn't comment, but I will. It only works for me if in December, if it's not December, you should not be drinking eggnogg. This, I suspect, is because I am Canadian and despite living in the US for several years now, I still cannot get used to the holiday hype in November. November is for Remembrance day and honoring soldiers, December is for winter holidays. That's just how it was when I grew up.
@flyinggirl: That sounds like a great way to do T-giving. Kind of similar to how my family handles "the next major holiday", only a bit better assuming you keep it running all day (my folks take a long boring break right in the middle of the day).
Anywho the drink also sounds familiar, I have a friend that makes it with peppermint schnapps instead. He calls it a snuggle....
Caramel vodka and cider. I originally thought it would be great heated up, but at first tried it cold. It is delicious cold - basically like a Carmel apple martini. Then I heated up the cider and added the vodka and it was bad - oh so bad.
So I recommend it over ice :)
@countdown: There is a winery in MD that makes yummy ciders. Here is the link http://greatshoals.com/gsw/ They do direct ship. I am always a bit leery on ciders as they tend to be a bit too carbonated for me, but I did a tasting with these guys and it was pretty good.
An ice cold glass of Miller High Life. Keep it simple.
Sierra Nevada Estate. Boom.
I recently discovered Angry Orchard apple ginger hard cider. That, along with whatever my oenophile brother-in-law serves, is what I'll be drinking on Thursday.
@flyinggirl: Thanks for the tip, looks like they only ship to MD though. Hopefully I can find something here. As long as we are making some recommendations though, a friend once brought me some woodchuck cider (from vermont) which tasted like apple pie in a freaking glass, without being (too) sweet. They must have used some cinnamon/nutmeg to bring out the flavour.
Anyway, I am hopeful I can find something nearby (MN). There are apparently come cider makers in state, so there has to be something at my local store.
@mkdr: Thank you thank you for this tip! My sis-in-law suggested this drink for us this year as well
Coffee... then apple cider... then egg nog (with dinner)... then coffee... then egg nog (with dessert)... then beer.
Strangely, now I want a bloody mary. But I'll probably have guinness while cooking.
WHY wait til Thanksgiving? Tequila, straight! Happy holidays!
@kmeltzer: don't know why, but I imagined Stephen Wright's voice when I read your answer. Made me chuckle...
@natedogg828: Have you tried Maker's Mark 46? Delicious!
Of course it's going to be punch...regular punch...
I've got a pile of Wine.Woot wine that needs drinking. After I get back from the local Turkey Trot I'll take a nap and pop a bottle of Ty Catton.
"What's in my glass?" Wine. Thanksgiving & any other day. But, then that's usually what's in it. Perrier direct from the bottle is also normal. All day long. Oh, & coffee. Tea, hot or cold. :-D
Tea day? Has anyone told Si?
FYI it's official. (In case anyone was worried) I got me some Woodchuck Cider.
I am home in Philly for Thanksgiving for the first time in three years. I'll be drinking Yuengling Lager. Can't get it out in North Dakota! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Coffee in the morning, sweet tea with lunch and beer after that.
Ice water
Some single malt Scotch with an unspellable, unpronounceable (by me) name.
Guinness mini-keg.
Vodka, gin, cheap whiskey, tequila with myriad of mixers.
And I'm hoping one of the cousins brings a few bottles of mead. Mmmmmead.
@jha1223: yes, I was able to sample it when I toured the distillary shortly after it was launched...fell in love with it then and it is a regualr part of my purchasing of bourbon


text: Product Overview The Intel® RAID Controller RS25AB080, powered by LSI* MegaRAID technology, offers exceptional performance, scalability, and configuration flexibility making it the perfect choice for l/O and throughput intensive applications. The Intel RS25AB080 delivers eight internal ports, two 800MHz processor cores, and a 72-bit DDRIII interface that drives 1GB cache memory. Furthermore, the Intel RS25AB080 comes with a Maintenance Free Backup Unit that utilizes NAND flash memory and a super-capacitor to help protect data stored in the controller cache. The benefits of this technology are elimination of hardware maintenance associated with LiON batteries, lower total cost of ownership over the life of the adapter, and more environmentally friendly cache protection. Users can deploy the Intel RS25AB080 in existing HDD-based server environments for significant performance gains. Alternatively, for users implementing server platforms based on solid-state storage, these next-generation controllers exploit the potential of SSDs for new levels of performance accompanied by enterprise-class reliability. All Intel RAID solutions are validated across multiple platforms with Intel® boards, chassis, and systems. Customized training, as well as Intel® service and support, make Intel the one source for customers seeking data protection, increased productivity, and simplified IT.


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I use a GTD system, which places a lot of focus on capturing thoughts for processing into next actions or projects. I've personally found this to be very helpful in getting myself more organized, but I've found there are times and places where capturing thoughts aren't so easy. Some examples of this include:
- The Shower
- While Driving
- In the movie theatre
There are a host of times where my usual capture methods can't be easily used - I'm sure there are more out there. I have learned that if I don't capture these thoughts within a relatively short period of time, I'll struggle to recall it later once I'm sitting in front of a pen & paper or my iPhone. What can be done to capture these thoughts for later review?
While I mentioned three specific examples of this problem, there are certainly other cases where this problem exists. Suggestions regarding capture in these sorts of scenarios would also be appreciated, although I'm getting the sense that the vast majority of cases are covered by the general application of answers already given.


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Circa 1930
A darkened nickel lantern with a clear cylindrical lens.
Current height: 46-7/8"
Minimum height: 17-3/4"
Body: 11-1/2" h. x 5-1/4" diameter
Can be UL listed for use in dry or damp environments.
Single Edison socket, maximum 75 watts
1 fixture total available.
On display at our Greenwich showroom.


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I am working on my zero knowledge proofs and I am looking for a good example of a real world proof of this type. An even better answer would be a Zero Knowledge Proof that shows the statement isn't true.
The classic example, given in all complexity classes I've ever taken, is the following: Imagine your friend is color-blind. You have two billiard balls; one is red, one is green, but they are otherwise identical. To your friend they seem completely identical, and he is skeptical that they are actually distinguishable. You want to prove to him (I say "him" as most color-blind people are male) that they are in fact differently-colored. On the other hand, you do not want him to learn which is red and which is green.
Here is the proof system. You give the two balls to your friend so that he is holding one in each hand. You can see the balls at this point, but you don't tell him which is which. Your friend then puts both hands behind his back. Next, he either switches the balls between his hands, or leaves them be, with probability 1/2 each. Finally, he brings them out from behind his back. You now have to "guess" whether or not he switched the balls.
By looking at their colors, you can of course say with certainty whether or not he switched them. On the other hand, if they were the same color and hence indistinguishable, there is no way you could guess correctly with probability higher than 1/2.
If you and your friend repeat this "proof" $t$ times (for large $t$), your friend should become convinced that the balls are indeed differently colored; otherwise, the probability that you would have succeeded at identifying all the switch/non-switches is at most $2^{-t}$. Furthermore, the proof is "zero-knowledge" because your friend never learns which ball is green and which is red; indeed, he gains no knowledge about how to distinguish the balls.
An example I like is this. I think I heard it from Avi Wigderson but I can't quite remember. (I don't know who actually thought of it.) You want to prove that a graph can be properly coloured with three colours. So you draw a picture of the graph and then make six copies of that picture. You then properly colour the vertices with red, blue and green, but you also colour the other five copies of the graph in the same way but permuting the colours (so, for instance, in one of them you colour all vertices red that you previously coloured blue and all vertices blue that you previously coloured red). You now repeatedly do the following. Randomly pick one of your pictures, cover each vertex with a coin (so that its colour cannot be seen) and allow the other person to pick an edge and remove the two coins at its end vertices. The other person will obtain from this the information that those two vertices are coloured differently, but will obtain no other information about the colouring.
Now if there is no proper colouring of the graph, and you keep presenting the other person with colourings of the graph, then they can randomly choose their edges, and sooner or later, with very high probability, they will hit an edge that has the same colour at each end. (For the probability to be high, you need to go for many more steps than there are edges in the graph.) So from the fact that this never happens, they can deduce that with extremely high probability you do in fact have a proper colouring of the graph.
Demonstrating an attack on a cryptosystem is very similar to the colored balls example in Ryan's answer. Suppose Alice and Bob have a means of communicating messages and Eve wants to prove that it is insecure, without revealing the method used to exploit the system. Alice and Eve can simply agree that Alice will send a sequence of random messages to Bob. If Eve can tell Alice the contents of the messages, then with high probability Eve must have an attack on the cryptosystem.
An excellent example of such a proof is one based on Sudoku, and there's even a detailed demonstration for how to conduct it. I've done this in class a number of times to show ZKPs to students.
There's more as well, at Moni Naor's page: http://www.wisdom.weizmann.ac.il/~naor/PAPERS/sudoku_abs.html
Another classic example is this. There are two public graphs F and G. Alice knows an isomorphism from F to G. She wants to prove to Bob that F and G are isomorphic graphs, but does not wish to reveal the isomorphism. The procedure is the following. Alice permutes the labels of vertices F randomly, and reveals the graph H he's got that way. She can then compute an isomorphism from H to both F and G, but Bob can't. Bob then randomly chooses either F or G, then which Alice reveals the isomorphism from H to that graph. Repeat.
The problem with this method is that it can be used in practice only if one can generate graphs on which the graph isomorphism problem is hard to decide. That is not currently the case, and might not ever be, if eg. graph isomorphism can be decided efficiently.
Most of the examples given above are nice textbook examples of ZK proofs meant for students. Here's something I'd call more a "real life" example. Assume that Alice has a secret key $x$ and public key $y = g^x$. (Here we assume that $g$ generates a group $G$ of size $p$, for large prime $p$.) She wants to convince Bob that she knows $x$ without revealing $x$. This is a typical example of an authentication/identification protocol.
A simple version of this protocol is as follows: Alice generates a new random value $r$, and sends $a = g^r$ to Bob. Bob replies with a random $k$-bit challenge $c$, and then Alice sends $z = c x + r \mod{p}$ to Bob. Bob accepts iff $g^z = y^c a$.
This is a special "challenge-response" type of protocol, also known as a $\Sigma$-protocol. The concrete protocol above was proposed by Schnorr. It is not completely ZK by itself, but it is zero knowledge if we assume that Bob is honest ($c$ is really chosen randomly).
The proof of this fact: we show by using simulation, that Bob can create $(a', c', z')$ that comes from the same distribution as the real protocol view $(a, c, z)$, but without knowing the secret key $x$. The trick is that we allow Bob to choose $c'$ and $z'$ first and then to choose $a$ so that the verification equation will accept.
Namely, the simulator creates random $c'$ and $z'$, and then chooses $a' = g^{z'} / y^{c'}$. clearly, this triple $(a', c', z')$ satisfies the verification. Moreover, in the original protocol $(a, c, z)$ is a tuple of random values from $(G, \{0, 1\}^k, \mathbb{Z}_p)$ modulo the verification requirement. But so is the simulated triple.
That "honest-verifier zero knowledge" proof (also a clear textbook protocol by now) can be made fully zero knowledge by a few additional tricks (basically, letting Bob to "commit" to $c$ before he sees $a$ - the actual solution is slightly more complicated).
The protocol is clearly of "real life" flavor, both because it can be seen to have real applications (proving you know your secret key without revealing it = authentication) and since it is very efficient.
An easy ZKP-based authentication scheme is one that uses a deck of shuffled playing cards and a paper bag:
Suppose Alice and Bob want to authenticate using the secret number "27". Alice takes the deck of cards, places her hands (with the cards) inside the bag and begins drawing card after card until she has reached the 27th card. She pulls this one card out of the bag and reveals it to herself and Bob.
Alice places the cards back on the deck in the same order she drew them (not destroying the original order).
Now it's Bob's turn. He is handed the deck of cards and hides his hands (and the counting of cards) in the paper bag. If he knows the secret number (27) then he should draw down to the 27th card and reveal the same card Alice did.
If Alice and Bob draw different cards then they did not draw the same number of cards.
One more:
Suppose Alice and Bob want to authenticate using the secret number of "27" but don't want to reveal it to one another. In this scenario they use a third party, Charlie.
Charlie randomly comes up with a number (any number will do) -- we'll say 15 -- and whispers it to Alice. Alice then adds the secret number (27) to Charlie's number (15) and whispers the total (42) to Bob.
Bob subtracts the secret number (27) from the total (42) and whispers the result (15) to Charlie.
If Charlie is read back his own number (15) then he can declare Alice and Bob have successfully authenticated.


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I must have set up my account when I was 17 because my DOB is a year off. I'd like to have it right in case I need to recover my password/account. What's the easiest way? I couldn't find it anywhere in the PSN account settings online.
Short answer: you can't. At least, not with your account settings. Sony uses your DOB when you want to retrieve your password, and a few other things.
You may try to contact Sony, or at least the PSN department, but I would be surprised if they did.


text:
CL&P sends crews to New York, New Jersey
Associated Press
BERLIN -- Connecticut's biggest utility is sending crews to help restore power in New York and New Jersey.
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The 5 Most Easily Avoidable Movie Deaths
#2. Toad - X-Men
At the end of the first X-Men film, Toad was part of Magneto's welcoming committee for the good guys when they arrived at the Statue of Liberty for the climax. While Toad's not as hot as the other member, Mystique, it's still telling of how capable a fighter he is when he's about to pit his tongue-lashing, wall-sticking, goop-spitting abilities against mutants with vastly superior powers.
Additional powers: Loving the Sex Pistols.
And laugh all you want, but he totally does it. While Mystique is busy fighting Wolverine, Toad is left to handle Cyclops, Jean Grey and Storm by himself, and he incapacitates all three. Wait -- why isn't this guy in charge?
In typical bad-guy fashion, he takes a moment to admire his work, and sure enough Storm comes flying back into the picture, lightning a-blazing, sending Toad to his demise.
Why it's baffling:
The first thing that happens is Storm blows him out of a window. But he survives that, as you'd suspect. Half the people reading this have been thrown out of a window at some point. It's part of growing up.
But then, instead of letting himself continue onto the water (that's all of 20 yards behind him), he spits his tongue out and grabs on to the railing for dear life, as if the Atlantic Ocean is full of acid instead of the stuff toads live in.
OK, maybe we can chalk that one up to a "never quit" attitude. He's the bad guy and his objective is to defeat the good guy, which clearly hasn't happened yet, given the predicament he found himself in.
"Victor- shit!"
But then we start to get into witch-king territory as he proceeds to sit there, dangling by his stupid tongue, while his attacker slowly floats out of the window to say a sassy catchphrase. At least the Nazgul had the excuse of being wounded and immobilized. Toad? All he has to do is fall.
It's not like he doesn't know what's coming. He's just been blown out of the building by a woman who controls the weather. She literally could shoot thunderbolts out of her ass if she wanted to. Hell, there's lightning shooting out of her ass while she's standing there, in case he's forgotten. What did he expect was going to happen after she was finished delivering that line? That she'd arrest him?
Glowing eyes aren't a badge.
We have, for the first time on the list, somebody who would have done better if he'd been unconscious. If he'd been knocked out cold from the trip through the window, he'd have fallen into the water and presumably lived.
Really, the only thing worse would be if he had actively sought out his own death, for no reason. Which brings us to ...
#1. Granny Ruth - Dante's Peak
Dr. Harry Dalton (played by Pierce Brosnan) is a volcanologist -- yes, that is a real profession -- hot on the trail of some suspicious volcanic activity in the town of Dante's Peak. Along the way, he meets the mayor of the town, Rachel Wando, and her family: son Graham, daughter Lauren and ex-mother-in-law Granny Ruth.
Dalton's suspicions are proven correct when the nearby mountain range erupts and puts the town in danger, causing the group to have to make a frantic escape in hopes of exciting the audience.
At one point Dalton, Wando and her family end up in a lake that has turned acidic due to the volcano somehow, and the water is rapidly eating through their boat as they try to make it to the shore. This is where Granny Ruth decides to get heroic.
Ruth, fearing that the lake will claim her family, jumps from the boat and pulls them the rest of the way. Shortly after making it to safety, she dies from presumably having huge chunks of her flesh melted off.
Why it's baffling:
When she plunges in to make her heroic sacrifice, they are literally less than five feet from the dock. Seriously, here's the clip:
It's right there! They can practically grab it!
"Seriously, there's wind. We'll be all right."
We might understand if she had done this when the group was, say, 20 feet away. Back then, things looked grim when they weren't moving fast enough and they realized the metal boat wouldn't hold. But then they discovered they could safely paddle themselves after wrapping their arms. Problem solved, right?
Apparently not for Granny Ruth. Deciding that the final three feet of the homestretch was just too much to cover, she leaps into the lake -- failing to do the math that would let her realize that elderly human flesh is actually not as durable as a metal boat hull -- and drags the boat the rest of the way.
"Seriously this is ... this is just grossly unnecessary."
It took all of three seconds for her to do it. The family probably could've done it in two if they didn't have to stop paddling to holler at the insanity that was transpiring in front of their very eyes.
Then, in what has to be the most simultaneously mind-boggling and gruesome sight you'll see outside of the Saw series, instead of jumping up on the dock she continues walking in the acid water, past the dock and to the shore.
"OK, well, good plan, Granny Martyr."
So let's just recap here, because we're having trouble wrapping our minds around it. We started out with a witch for whom water is acid, but who treats it like water. Then we have a mutant toad for whom water is harmless, but who treats it like acid. And finally we have a literal lake of acid water that an elderly woman plunges into for absolutely no reason at all.
What the hell?
"Your will is up-to-date, right?"
Be sure to check out Fitzgerald's friend Thad over at CallMeThad.
For more movie magic that leaves us scratching our heads, check out 6 Baffling Mistakes Every Movie Criminal Makes. Or learn about some baffling deaths from the real world, in 6 People Who Died In Order To Prove A (Retarded) Point.
And stop by Linkstorm to learn the proper way to deal with an acidic lake. (Hint: Don't jump in it.)
And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get sexy, sexy jokes sent straight to your news feed.
Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Then sign up for our writers workshop! Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? Mediocre? Even rudimentary? Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? You can create an infograpic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow!


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SHERMAN-DENISON, TX -- According to newly released data from CoreLogic, late mortgage payments have increased in Sherman-Denison since last summer yet we're still seeing less foreclosures. For this Mom's Everyday Home segment, we'll share what to expect when applying for a home loan and how to keep your home out of foreclosure once you've been approved.
Completed foreclosures are homes that have gone through the foreclosure process, usually due to late mortgage payments, and have been lost to the homeowner.
Figures recently released in the CoreLogic National Foreclosure Report show Texas was among the top five states in July with the highest number of completed foreclosures; a total of 57-thousand.
Realtor Bruce Stidham of Virginia Cook Realtors in Sherman says foreclosures are problematic for lenders as well as the homeowner.
"Foreclosure is the least way that you want to go because you lose all of your interest in the property. It goes to a sale, an auction on the courthouse steps and somebody has an opportunity to bid on that," he said.
It doesn't help that late mortgage payments have increased locally. As of June 2012, 5.05% of mortgage loans in Sherman-Denison were 90 days or more late compared to 4.88% last year.
That's why Jeff Robison of American Bank of Texas says lenders look for several factors in potential homeowners to determine your ability to pay back your mortgage loan.
"When we pull your credit report, it shows your past debt payments. It shows your past history of how you've paid your debt payments and that's usually a good indication of how you're going to repay your future debt payments," said Robison. "We're typically looking for a credit score above 600 with 650 being the average credit score."
Despite the rise in late payments, the Sherman-Denison area foreclosure rates have dropped compared to June of 2011 when the rate was 1.77% and foreclosures here are lower than the national foreclosure rate of 3.27%.
To keep these rates down, Robison says to go to creditreport.com each year to get a free copy of your credit report and manage your finances.
Still, the decline in local completed foreclosures is a good sign that the housing market is continuing to recover. Stidham said, "it certainly is a buyer market out there and buyers are looking and a lot of them are looking for the deal."
For more information, call the American Bank of Texas in Sherman at 903-893-7555, in Denison at 463-3510 and for lobby hours and other locations visit their website at http://www.abtexas.com.
American Bank of Texas
Sherman 903-893-7555
Denison 903-463-3510
For lobby hours and other locations visit http://www.abtexas.com
For videos like this and more visit http://www.momseveryday.com/texoma.
*Air date 9-13-12


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May also be called: Febrile Seizures; Absence Seizures; Tonic-Clonic Seizures; Petit Mal Seizures; Grand Mal Seizures
"Seizure" is a general term that refers to sudden abnormal electrical discharges in the brain that can cause someone to collapse, convulse, or have another temporary disturbance of normal brain function, often with a loss or change in consciousness.
There are different types of seizures, with different causes and treatments.
If epilepsy is suspected, the doctor will order medical tests, including an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain wave activity.
While absence seizures do not look as serious as some other types of seizures, they can be dangerous if, for example, they occur during swimming, bathing, or driving. Someone who has them should never swim, ride a bicycle, or drive alone.
All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-
Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com


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You were never going to win the lottery. The odds were farcically low. But just in case you were keeping hope alive, we must now inform you: your odds have gotten much, much worse.
We're talking about the Mega Millions here. The big one, the national one, the one that, along with Powerball, advertises the gaudy nine-figure jackpots. David Lazarus notes today that recently—perhaps while you were daydreaming about what to buy with your Mega Millions winnings—the Mega Millions people made it much less likely that will ever win. From the LA Times:
Your odds of winning the jackpot used to be 1 in 176 million. As of Oct. 22, those odds changed to 1 in 259 million.
That's because you used to have to pick six numbers from 1 to 56. Now you have to pick them from 1 through 75.
The most egregious aspect of this is the quote that Lazarus got from the Mega Millions spokesperson: "We can expect to see larger jackpots and greater excitement. Yet one very important thing won't change. The price of a Mega Millions ticket will remain $1."
The chance of your ticket being worth anything are much lower. Yet its price will not decrease. And you, the public, are so hapless that the lottery people are using this drawback as a selling point.
Do not buy lottery tickets. You are only encouraging financial predators if you do.
[Photo: AP]


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Speakers: Richard Briffault and Jessica Bulman-Pozen. Members of the panel will discuss their work in government and the prospects and process for moving from there to careers in the legal academy (and back).
Pizza and refreshments will be served
All workshops are audio recorded and posted on the CILTP webpage: http://www.law.columbia.edu/careers/law_teaching
For more information, contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
© Copyright 2016, The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
For questions or comments, please contact the web administrators.
435 West 116 Street, New York, NY 10027 — 212-854-2640


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Grounds Maintenance
Use the Report Grass Cutting Problem button to report problems such as missed grass cutting, damage to grassed areas, litter cut by mowers and grass left on pavements. Use the Report Shrub/Hedge Pruning button to report problems with overgrown shrubs and hedges. To report excessive weeds within Shrubs/Flowerbeds please use the Report Shrub/Flowerbed Weeding button. If you wish to report weeds on the highway or public pathway please use the Request Street Cleaning button. This form can also be used to request a general street clean, leaf fall removal or dead animal removal.
Parks and Nature Conservation carry out the grass cutting and the maintenance of shrub beds, rose beds, flowerbeds and hedges on land owned by The Council within:
- Parks and public open spaces
- Housing areas i.e. around flats and communal gardens
- Highway verges
- Schools (where contracted)
- Warden assisted schemes
- Golf Courses
- Allotments
- And in some selected areas within cemeteries and crematoria
More detail about the maintenance programmes can be found in Essential Information and Frequently Asked Questions. Litter, debris are removed from shrub beds twice a year during a winter and summer maintenance visits
Like most parts of the country, Birmingham has Japanese Knotweed growing on our land. It is illegal to allow this weed to spread so please report any sightings using the Report Japanese Knotweed button. This can also be used to report other invasive or harmful weed species such as Giant Hogweed.
- Grass Cutting Standards
Grass is cut every 2 to 3 weeks up to a maximum of 12 cuts per year between April and October. The programme may be influenced by unpredictable weather conditions. All grassed areas are litter picked prior to mowing and any grass cuttings on the pavement will be blown back on to the grass within 24 hours.
On ornamental lawn areas, for instance around flower beds, the grass is cut weekly and the cuttings are removed.
Nature conservation areas in parks will retain areas of long grass as a natural habitat for wildlife.
Some sites for instance formal parks, housing warden schemes and golf courses may have an enhanced maintenance regime which includes removing grass cuttings, lawn edging, and increased litter picking.
- Shrub Bed/Flower Bed Maintenance Standards
Shrub beds are pruned back twice a year to remove the previous year's growth and weeds, litter and debris are removed from the bed at the same time. The maintenance visits take place once in winter (October to March) and once again in summer (April to September)
The removal of any build up of wind blown litter and debris throughout the rest of the year remain the responsibility of the respective land owner for instance Highways for verges and central reservations and Housing in housing scheme areas.
Flowerbeds are maintained weed free by hand weeding, shrub beds are kept weed free with approved selective herbicides as required.
- Hedge Maintenance
Hedges are usually kept to a maximum height of 2 metres. Pruning is dependant on species and location and is carried out between once and three times a year. An agricultural or field hedge for instance is usually cut just once a year, whereas a formal privet or box hedge is cut three times a year.
- Areas we do not maintain
We do not maintain grass, shrub areas and hedges that are not owned by the Council, including:
- Housing trust areas
- Private land
- Gardens – both private and tenants with non communal gardens
- Why can't you cut the grass more often and when it needs cutting?
There is only a limited amount of funding available for grass cutting. The amount of grassed area the council is responsible for and the time it takes to cut it doesn't allow for an increase in the overall number of cuts.
Every year there is a natural spurt in the growth of grass. The actual timing of this will depend on the weather, but the result is a very fast rate of growth - up to 6 inches in one week alone. Unfortunately we cannot amend our regular grass cutting schedule to accommodate this growth spurt as the programme is linked to other regular services such as street cleaning and waste collections.
- Why don't you arrange to remove the grass cuttings after mowing?
There are millions of square metres of frequently maintained lawns throughout the city. The type of equipment required for the collection and removal of grass cuttings would more than treble the cost of this service.
The Grounds Maintenance service provider is required to sweep or blow off any cuttings that fall onto footpaths back onto the mown lawn immediately after cutting.
There is a general requirement within the contract for any litter and debris to be removed from the maintained lawns immediately prior to mowing so that litter is not cut up and spread by mowing machines.
- Why don't you save money by cutting less often?
If the grass is cut less often we need different mowing machines to cut the longer, thicker growth and the increase in cuttings leads to more cleaning up which will cost more money.
- Why are you cutting the grass when it's wet?
Grass cutting across the whole of the city is a large scale, highly organised operation and therefore cannot only be performed in perfect conditions. Unless conditions are very bad and there is the possibility that the mowers will cause serious damage, or in order to protect operator safety, we cut the grass in all weathers - otherwise mowing would fall behind schedule. As the contractors are scheduled to cut in different areas each day they are unable to pop back to finish off an area when the rain stops.
- I am unable to maintain my garden; can the council do it for me?
Any elderly, infirm or disabled residents who require assistance in maintaining their gardens should try contacting their local neighbourhood office in the first instance for any charity organisations or local groups that may be able to help, such as Age Concern.
- Why are some grass areas not cut?
We only cut areas that are on a programme of work to be done- some areas are under private ownership or have not yet been adopted by the council. Other areas are for conservation and are kept long for wildlife. If you think an area has been missed in error, please contact us so that we can investigate.
- Why have you not cut the hedge as I requested?
Often hedges that are regularly cut in the Grounds Maintenance programme are found to have birds nesting in them. Disturbance of nesting birds is prohibited by law. During the bird nesting season (approx. March until August) if a hedgerow is believed to be home to nesting birds, we will be unable to carry out works until the young birds have fledged and left the nest.
- A hedge is growing over the footpath making it difficult to pass – will the council cut it?
The hedge is the responsibility of the land owner, if the hedge is growing over from a private property onto the pavement the Highways Authority will instruct the owner to cut it back – if nothing is done and the hedge is causing an obstruction the Highways Authority may arrange for it to be cut by our contractors.
- How is the growth of weeds controlled?
The control of weeds within maintained areas i.e. in shrub and rose beds, around street furniture located in grass verges and within parks, is carried out by our Grounds Maintenance Service Providers using only approved herbicides. All operatives are fully trained and comply with Health and Safety and environmental legislation.
When the herbicide is applied to a weed, usually by spraying, it works its way through the plant killing it completely. On contact with soil it breaks down into harmless substances. This type of herbicide is known as a non-residual translocated herbicide.
The control of weeds on paved areas along the highway is carried out by the Fleet & Waste Management Department.
- I think I have Japanese Knotweed in my garden, can you get rid of it for me?
The Parks and Nature Conservation Service is only responsible for preventing the spread of Japanese Knotweed from the parks and open spaces it maintains. If you are a Council tenant please contact your local housing team for advice. Further information about Japanese Knotweed and advice on treatment to eradicate it can be found in the attachment below.
- Can't find what you're looking for?
If you haven't been able to find the information that you need then the link below will take you to a form that you can use to ask us further questions.Service Specific Enquiry


text:
So far I've always coded using raw/embedded, dialectic SQL. This seems obviously wrong to me because it ties you to concrete technologies so your software can't be deployed to any machine - especially servers.
In general (independently of the programming language and RDBMS), what options does one have in this case? How good are each one of them? What would you say is the standard approach?


text:
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives says more 2.5 million people in Kentucky hold library cards, and they checked out almost 20 million books last year from public libraries.
KDLA says in addition, more than nine million audio-visual items were checked out.
The numbers were compiled from 2012 statistics submitted by the state's 119 public library systems.
Attendance at children's programs rose 3.5 percent in 2012, setting a record with more than 1.2 million participants.
The state says collections of e-books increased to more than 3 million last year statewide.


text:
UConn women execute to perfection vs. Marquette
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text:
503,580 deals (and counting)
from around the web, shared and ranked by a community of deal fiends like you.
Go to Deals.Woot.
Re: A Rotten Prognosis
Okay, I'm going to be the first to say it:
Dr Pepper?
Re: paired for life
Lovely is the right word, they are just that.
This actually made me lol, good job!
Re: Red Eyed Star-Spawn
Too bad it's rejected, I like the concept.
fishbiscuit5 wrote:Love is infinite.
...but the design is really pretty.
BootsBoots wrote:I comes back later...
haha! Is my plot to bring you back.
Re: And his big red fleas
AHH I just got rid of fleas at my house!
They are the worst!!
Re: red dawn
I really like the tree/sunset idea but I think it would have come across a lot better on the shirt if you faded out the black instead of it just cutting off at the printable area borders. Just my opinion
jewelwing wrote:haha! Is my plot to bring you back.
I is back. +1
Re: Red Panda
No one can doubt wooters ability to make a panda relevant to the theme
Wow, that was fast...
Re: What's Black and White and Red All Over?
verry nice, but, i think i liked it more with the table..
Re: The Matador's Vision
Also not a shirt color offered for this derby... Orange isn't red, so you would have had to use only red ink for your design.
Re: Mars Attacks
i like that movie. and i like this shirt! makes earth look like an exploding water balloon
kevincrimi wrote:I really like the tree/sunset idea but I think it would have come across a lot better on the shirt if you faded out the black instead of it just cutting off at the printable area borders. Just my opinion
I second that statement.
Re: 99 Reddish Balloons
It's all over, and I'm standing pretty, in the dust that was my Wacom tablet.
This took SO LONG. O_O
much better then red earth =]
Re: She cuts you down
How is this on theme? Other than being on a red shirt?
Re: Infinite Love
It is very pretty. I am trying to imagine whether my boobs will be lied up in the center of those infinity loops or not...
This turned out great!!! *saved*
kevincrimi wrote:No one can doubt wooters ability to make a panda relevant to the theme
True. I can see some Pandas-playing-in-red-paint shirts coming soon.
Re: Resistance
Stunning. It better stay in the fog or I'll blow things up. >[
Re: Red Summer Skies
Dragon! Yay!
Re: Pinkini
O, hey babby!
When I first saw this I thought it was a basketball exploding out of the planet. :P
I'm sorry apple, but... you have worms.
I don't even know what to say, that's how amazing this design is.
Could you explain the connection to the theme? I feel like I'm missing something here...
Boots, you always make such simple shirts that are simply perfect
Re: Paralithodes camtschaticus
hmmm, deadliest catch?
Re: Red Shirts
6 colors on, what's that, yes... it is a red shirt. Hope you all enjoy it!
Re: Cardinal
I love this. I'm glad you went with this version- the blue sky one didn't look like a cardinal to me.
Fantastic, all the way down to the shiny hospital floor! A definite buy when it prints!
A little bit about the Red Panda:
The Red Panda population is estimated to be less than 10,000. They are close to becoming an endangered species. Even with protection their numbers are still falling due to deforestation and illegal poaching.
re: [url=http://shirt.woot.com/derby/entry.aspx?id=53491]ridley scott presents
I love this one. You've got my vote.
roofoo wrote:How is this on theme? Other than being on a red shirt?
"So this week capture the very essence of the color red. It's bold, it's aggressive..." I think it captures that essence, no? Red is also the color of passion, war, bloodshed etc. and I think this shows those themes as well.
Re: Unwanted House Guest
This is sooo cute! But I don't think I could bring myself to buy it...I have an overwhelming irrational fear of bats...
Absolutely great design though.
tgentry wrote:Could you explain the connection to the theme? I feel like I'm missing something here...
isn't the theme this week red (and summery), and isn't this red and summery?
View All →


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This is your wingman Dean Cortez and I've got some more KILLER tips on how to turbo-charge your skills with women. I want you to READ THIS…because the techniques I'm about to give you have gotten me laid on MANY occasions.
(I even used this technique to nail a super-hot porn star a few months ago when I was hanging out at a nightclub in Las Vegas…)
Right now I'm going to show you to handle it when you're talking to a girl and she says she has a BOYFRIEND.
First, never ASK if she has a boyfriend. (Even if she asks if you have a girlfriend.)
Second, you need to understand WHY women say they have boyfriends.
In a lot of situations, she'll say she has a boyfriend because she is TESTING you. She wants to see how you will respond. Most guys are insecure and inexperienced, so as soon as they hear the dreaded "B Word," they bail out.
They hit the "eject" button and want to end the conversation, because they figure they have no chance…they think she's "taken…" But in reality, a lot of girls are just saying this for one of two reasons:
1. She gets approached by a LOT of dudes, and this is her way of "screening" them and figuring out which guys are confident and "high value"…and which guys are WEAK, and not worth her time.
The HIGH VALUE guys are going to stick around and keep flirting with her. The LOW VALUE guys are going to look disappointed, because now they think they have no chance.
Think of it as a "filter." She is ONLY mentioning her boyfriend because she wants to see how you will respond. Is she going to filter you out and put you in the same category as the last 47 chumps who tried to talk to her…or are you going to man up and make her want to fuck YOU tonight?
So here are two GREAT ways to play it…
HER: I have a boyfriend.
YOU: Does he treat you well?
HER: Yes.
YOU: Oh. [short pause] I wouldn't.
Lol. That response is GOLD!
Wait for her to laugh or playfully hit your arm or whatever, and then switch topics.
(Read the "Conversation Control" chapter in my best-selling seduction guide Mack Tactics to learn how to completely control the conversation and choose the RIGHT topics to get her talking, laughing, sharing intimate details about herself, and feeling ATTRACTED to you…)
Or, it might go like this…
HER: I have a boyfriend.
YOU: I'm not surprised. He must treat you like a princess, he's probably the most romantic guy in the world. I bet he's always thinking of you and doing sweet, thoughtful, romantic things…
To this, 90% of women will say something like "ummm…well, not really…" And they'll tell you why they're NOT happy with the guy they are currently dating!
The fact is, most women are not satisfied with their relationships. And you're going to play on this, push this "button," and use it to your ADVANTAGE.
And if you're talking to her at a bar or a club…and her boyfriend is NOT with her…it's obvious that he's not "Prince Charming," because why would he let her come to this place alone, and get hit on by guys?
So now, you're going to use the "Boyfriend Annihilator" technique that I teach in the Mack Tactics book.
This technique is VERY sneaky and EXTREMELY powerful…because you're not saying anything negative about her "boyfriend," but at the same time you ask her questions that make her think she's better off being with YOU.
You can learn it right here:
The Mack Tactics Seduction System (For "Bad Boys" Only)
So never get "hung up" on the boyfriend thing. Don't worry about whether she has one, and if she mentions a boyfriend, treat it like a TEST.
And this is a test you will WIN.
Look out for my email tomorrow — I've got an EXPLOSIVE technique I want to give you that has gotten me laid by six different girls this month…(you're going to LOVE it, trust me!)
Your Wingman,


text: What makes an All-Star? If you ask one of the oldest sneaker brands around, Converse, it starts with simplicity and ends with originality. The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Shoes started out as basketball shoes for legendary player, Chuck Taylor, believe it or not. Nowadays, "Chucks" are synonymous with casual and cool. They're shoes that you make your own and at least one person you know owns a pair of these classics.


text:
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section?Christina Couch
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 1 of 33
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 2 of 33
1: Lisa Bonet
Lisa Bonet — also known as Lilakoi Moon — had such a good natural birth experience the first time that she opted for it again with baby number two. Bonet delivered her daughter, Lola Iolani Momoa, at home alongside husband Jason Momoa in 2007. Two years later, Bonet gave birth to a son, Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa, and while the Life on Mars actress has kept mum about how the baby was delivered, natural childbirth is probably a safe assumption.
Read the latest on Lisa
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 3 of 33
2: Busy Philipps
The Cougar Town star took it one step further and helped out with her own natural birth in 2008. After the baby's head and shoulders cleared, Philipps pulled the baby the rest of the way herself. I didnt even know my midwife took this picture of me with my hands pulling my daughter out and then right onto my chest, Philipps told Babble. It was an incredible experience.
Read the latest on Busy
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 4 of 33
3: Cindy Crawford
After having two children via natural birth in 1999 and 2001, Crawford became such an advocate of it that she created webisodes detailing her experience on Mybestbirth.com, a website owned by Ricki Lake.
Read the latest on Cindy
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 5 of 33
4: Gisele Bundchen
No mom has incurred the wrath of her fellow moms quite like this supermodel. After having a drug-free water birth for her son, Benjamin, in early 2010, Bundchen told Brazilian television that the birth wasnt painful, not even a little bit. Even her recovery was easy. The second day, I was walking, I was washing dishes, I was making pancakes in the kitchen, Bundchen said. If only every mom could have it this good.
Read the latest on Gisele
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 6 of 33
5: Miranda Kerr
After giving birth to her first child in January 2011, the Victoria's Secret model and wife of actor Orlando Bloom blogged, I did natural birth too, no drugs or pain killers!!! Is this a supermodel thing or what?!
Read the latest on Miranda
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 7 of 33
6: Ani DiFranco
When VenusZine readers asked the singer why she chose a home birth back in 2008, DiFranco stated: I believe that women in hospitals are prevented from being able to have normal, healthy birthing experiences because of the intimidation of being on the clock, being pressured to take drugs to make it quicker, being inhibited in their movement and activities, and alienated by a sterile, fluorescent lit, feet-in-the-air type environment. Tell us how you really feel, Ani.
This mom wanted a home birth so badly, she broke the law
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 8 of 33
7: Ricki Lake
The former talk show host had natural births for her son, Milo, with a midwife in a birth center in 1997, and her son, Owen, in 2001. She supported the process so much that she made a documentary about it: The Business of Being Born. In an interview with The Today Show, Lake said: Being pregnant isnt being sick. So it made sense that, as a healthy 27-year-old woman, I wouldnt need to be medicated to bring my baby into the world.
Read the latest on Ricki
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 9 of 33
8: Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba used hypnobirthing techniques to keep the 2008 birth of her daughter, Honor, drug-free and really zen. The actress told OK! magazine: "The labor was more like meditation. I did yoga breathing. I was focused."
Read the latest on Jessica
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 10 of 33
9: Maria Bello
Stating that she "cant imagine giving birth in a sterile environment like a hospital," actress Maria Bello gave birth to her son, Jackson, in her own home in 2001. Bellos 22-hour labor involved "a midwife and a thunderstorm, with nothing more than an aspirin, she told People.
Read the latest on Maria
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 11 of 33
10: Nicole Richie
Richie had a labor experience easy enough to make any mom envious. The birth was mellow, she told reporters. I don't know what time I went into labor but I pushed for 10 minutes. Three pushes and [daughter Harlow] was out."
Read the latest on Nicole
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 12 of 33
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 13 of 33
11: Patricia Heaton
The Everybody Loves Raymond actress admitted on Oprah that shes had four C-sections — and the effects on her body are anything but glamorous. "Giving birth four times has taught me that a plastic surgeon is a girl's best friend, Heaton said. "Having a C-section every two years makes your stomach end up looking like one of those cute Chinese Sharpei dogs that have all the folds and skins hanging off them. That's not cute.
10 things you should know about a C-section
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 14 of 33
12: Kate Hudson
Hudson originally planned to have a vaginal birth, but she went the C-section route when doctors told her she would have a really long labor with son, Ryder, back in 2004. And then there were the paparazzi. The Something Borrowed star told reporters: It was such a pain ... to get in the hospital because we were being stalked by people, and so we went in at midnight. I did not want to go home and decided to have a C-section and make it happy. I got drugged up! I couldn't do anything for six-and-a-half weeks.
Read the latest on Kate
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 15 of 33
13: Tiffani Thiessen
The former Saved By the Bell star originally planned on a natural birth, but after facing complications, Thiessen underwent an emergency C-section when giving birth to daughter, Harper, in 2010. First my water didn't break; they had to do it for me," she told ContactMusic.com. "Then the baby wasn't descending, because the cord was wrapped around her neck. Once she was finally out, I didn't even get to hold her before they whisked her away ... The whole thing was very surreal."
Read the latest on Tiffani
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 16 of 33
14: Victoria Beckham
When the former Spice Girl and wife of soccer star David Beckham opted for multiple C-sections for her sons, the internet buzzed with rumors that Lady Beckham was too posh to push. Whether shell factor a C-section into the birth plan of her future baby girl is still up in the air.
Read the latest on Victoria
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 17 of 33
15: Britney Spears
A C-section was the first choice for the queen of pop. Spears told Elle magazine in 2005 that she preferred C-sections, but if it wasnt possible, "I'll be like, 'Epidural, please!' ... I don't want to go through the pain." Despite the admission, Spears never discussed which route she ended up taking for either of her sons.
Read the latest on Britney
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 18 of 33
16: Christina Aguilera
Spears isn't the only pop star to opt out of childbirth pains. Just before giving birth to her son in 2008, Christina Aguilera told Hello! magazine that she requested a C-section: "I'd heard horror stories about tearing. I really wanted a calm and peaceful environment. I didn't want any surprises."
Read the latest on Christina
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 19 of 33
17: Angelina Jolie
After Jolie's first biological child, Shiloh, was born via C-section in 2006, Jolie told Vanity Fair: I had a C-section and I found it ... a fascinating miracle of what a body can do." Jolie and Brad Pitt's twins, Knox and Vivienne, were also born by C-section two years later.
Read the latest on Angelina
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 20 of 33
18: Tori Spelling
Spelling told Us Weekly about her reaction when her doc, who also delivered Angelina Jolies baby, Shiloh, told her he needed to perform an emergency C-section: I asked Dr. Rothbart if hed do a good job, and he said, 'Well, Angelina didn't complain.' So I was like, 'If Angelina let him do a C-section in Africa, I am OK. We guess Spelling was happy with the results, since she scheduled a C-section for her second baby! No plans have been announced for baby number three.
Read the latest on Tori
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 21 of 33
19: Kelly Preston
After losing their son, Jett, Kelly Preston and hubby John Travolta celebrated the birth of their son, Benjamin in 2010. Preston said the birth was both a C-section and a silent birth — in keeping with the rules of Scientology.
Read the latest on Kelly
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 22 of 33
20: Toni Braxton
The Grammy Award-winning singer had a C-section for the births of both of her sons in 2001 and 2003. Though Braxton is fairly mum about whether or not the surgeries were planned, she has stated that she was thankful to deliver happy babies.
Read the latest on Toni
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 23 of 33
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 24 of 33
24: Helena Bonham Carter
The eccentric actress told Time Out New York she was rather looking forward to the epidural when giving birth to daughter, Nell in 2007. Post-birth, she sang her praises to reporters: I worship at the altar of the person who invented the drug, because you go from a life-transforming pain to just this blissed-out state.
Read the latest on Helena
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 25 of 33
25: Kate Winslet
Winslet wanted a natural childbirth for her second kid, Joe Alfie, in 2003 like she did her first, Mia Honey, in 2000, but she resorted to an epidural after 14 hours of labor. "It was an amazing feeling having Joe naturally, vaginally, she told The Orlando Sentinel. Fourteen hours with no drugs at all, but then I had to have an epidural because I was so tired. I honestly thought Id never be able to do it. It was an incredible birth. It laid all the ghosts to rest. It was really triumphant."
Read the latest on Kate
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 26 of 33
23: Tina Fey
Fey was short, quick and to the point when writing about her daughters birth in her memoir, Bossypants: For the record: epidural, vaginal delivery, did not poop on the table. No word out yet on her plan for child number two.
Read the latest on Tina
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 27 of 33
24: Laila Ali
Ali hadn't planned on using medication to get through childbirth, but when complications forced her to consider the epidural, she went for it and never looked back. What I felt after I had [the epidural] was, This is why women get the epidural, she told reporters. No wonder women just keep having babies and want an epidural; they dont have to feel anything.
Read the latest on Laila
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 28 of 33
25: Katie Holmes
While Holmes received an epidural for relief from the pain of giving birth to little Suri in 2006, according to reports, she did maintain the Scientology practice of silent birth. Her husband, Tom Cruise, called her a champ for it. (We agree.)
Read the latest on Katie
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 29 of 33
26: Bethenny Frankel
The reality TV star planned to have an epidural for the birth of her daughter, Bryn, in 2010 right from the start — and also knew she just wasnt cut out for a home birth. "I'm too neurotic to give birth in my bathtub," Frankel admitted to Us Magazine. "I'd be like, 'How are we ever going to clean this mess up?' In the middle of labor, I'd be telling my assistant to get Brillo pads."
Read the latest on Bethenny
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 30 of 33
27: Melanie Brown
The singer formerly known as Sporty Spice had two different experiences with epidurals during the births of her daughters. With [12 year-old] Phoenix, the epidural wore off, so I experienced pain, and not by choice, Brown told Hello! Magazine. I was laughing the whole time when I delivered [3-year-old] Angel. So having experienced both, I am opting for no pain and as little discomfort as possible. Unfortunately, that's all the former Spice girl would say about her plans for baby number three, due later this summer.
Read the latest on Melanie
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 31 of 33
28: Kourtney Kardashian
This Kardashian sister made waves when she invited cameras into the birthing room of son Mason Disick in late 2009, medication and all. When asked why she chose to televise it, Kourtney told reporters: I was so terrified to give birth. Everything I've seen on movies, everything I've seen on TV of births has been so negative ... so that's why I wanted to show that [giving birth] can be [calm].
Read the latest on Kourtney
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 32 of 33
29: Alana De La Garza
No word on what the Law and Order star's exact birth plan was for her first and only child, Kieran Thomas, in late 2010, but she did tell Pregnancy that she wasn't against medication. Im gung-ho for any woman that can do it naturally, but theres no shame in saying I need an epidural, de la Garza said. And if Im getting cut down in that area, I dont want to know. I want to enjoy the process as much as possible.
Read the latest on Alana
Natural Birth, Epidural, or C-section? 33 of 33


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"From wherever you stood, the opposing side offered respectable, credible views. In today's fractured culture the evening struck a blow for civility."
- The Huffington Post
December 17, 2012
Last Wednesday night capped our Fall 2012 series, ending the season with a bang by tackling the motion "Science Refutes God." more
December 17, 2012
Wishing you peace, civility and spirited debates in the New Year. more
November 30, 2012
We opened the Spring 2012 season with the debate: "The U.N. Should Admit Palestine as a Full Member State." more
November 19, 2012
Last Wednesday's debate, "Legalize Drugs," couldn't have been more timely. It was a topic that everyone in attendance seemed to have a personal connection to. more
November 13, 2012
As Colorado goes, so goes the nation? How about Washington state? more
November 08, 2012
Is it time to legalize not just marijuana, but all drugs? more
October 29, 2012
This past Wednesday's debate makes three for three sell-outs for our current season at NYC's Kaufman Center. With the upcoming election, the debate topic "The… more
October 23, 2012
Message from the economy: "Go ahead. Stimulate me. If you can figure out how." more
October 15, 2012
We held the second sold-out debate of our Fall 2012 season last Thursday at NYC's Kaufman Center. more


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Customizing FND Message Numbers in Oracle Fusion Applications: Manage Messages UI and UX Stakeholders
By Ultan O'Broin Oracle UX-Oracle Paas4SaaS-Oracle on Apr 23, 2012
I am often asked about removing the numbers that are shown with error messages in Oracle Fusion Applications. In fact, this can be done easily using the Manage Messages user interface (UI) Message Number field. A Manage Messages task flow is integrated into the Oracle Fusion Functional Setup Manager, and access to this is documented in the Oracle Fusion Applications Developer's Guide 11g.
But before you do, let's explore what these numbers are for, and if and when you might want to remove then, and what the process should be.
Message Numbers Explained
These message numbers are assigned to error messages and warning messages stored in the FND messages table. Each product has a message number range assigned and the number itself takes the format of a product short code followed by a unique number. For example:
For customer extensions too, a reserved number range for FND messages is provided: 10,000,000 to 10,999,999.
Unlike the Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) FND messages, these numbers appear after the summary message and not before. There is no Oracle Fusion Applications user preference to turn such numbers on or off or to hide or disclose them when a message is shown. They're either there or they're not. The numbers can also be on FND messages used for warnings at times.
Oracle Fusion Applications also uses ADF messages stored in resource bundles, and not just the FND messages ones. The ADF error messages are usually provided for native validation (such as for required fields, validators and converters) or navigation between ADF components. These types of messages do not have the numbers. Neither do any of the so-called common FND messages.
The Oracle Fusion Applications Developer's Guide 11g is your friend for understanding the message types.
How Are FND Message Numbers Used?
The numbers are used as reference indicators for Oracle Support to look up knowledge base information about reported errors or incidents. Because the message numbers are the same regardless of the language translation means that Oracle Support teams do not actually need to have a translation of the message text itself and can cross-reference resolutions from English if necessary.
The numbers are also used by AppsLogger when an incident is created and are included in the text output for logs.
Generally, Applications User Experience (UX) research shows that only internal help desk personnel or other enterprise support representatives want to report issues or message numbers to Oracle Support. Help desk operators do not like apps end users searching for their own solutions externally (apps user profiles are different to DB admins who might Google ORA numbers, for example). Instead, the help desk prefers their users to report issues to the help desk directly (or in the case of app failure by way of an implicit or explictly-raised incident). Frankly, even when end users do look up these numbers on the Internet (assuming they can), there is little they can do with the information anyway.
All said, you may find that some end users are irritated by these numbers and can consider removing the numbers on user experience (UX) grounds.
Which Messages Numbers Could Be Removed?
When might you want to remove the FND message numbers? In my UX opinion, the following types of FND messages are worth considering for customization in this regard:
- Messages for simple client-side, individual ADF component validations.
- Messages used for navigation or other UI rules.
- Warning messages with questions that require confirmation by users before proceeding.
- Common messages created in a product area that might or might not raise an incident.
I recommend that you never remove a number from an error message, warning or information message that is used for an application failure, or for an incident or log creation (AppsLogger won't work unless there is a unique number there). Complex business rule messages, at EO level, for example, are also best left with message numbers.
You can use these guidelines when creating new FND messages too. If the message number is not in the FND message table, the message will still display. The number does not have any impact on the rendering.
Removing Numbers: Who Needs To Be Involved?
Successful implementations and customizations require the engagement of end users but also other stakeholders in a requirements and change management process to agree what the user experience will be.
So, if you are considering removing these message numbers, then you need to understand the context of use and identify appropriate stakeholders. These stakeholders may be internal and external to your organization. I suggest the following stakeholders for deciding about message numbers: end users, development teams or consultants who know about incidents and validation, internal help desks, internal training groups, Oracle Support, or other support representatives that you use.
After that, then you can make decisions about numbers changes. Do not just remove the message numbers without stakeholders, or without gathering your use case, assessing the real UX impact of their presence (users just don't like 'em or are they actually consuming time dealing with complaints about them and adding no task completion value?), and determining which numbers are really important to your help desk, support representatives and also to Oracle Support.
By the way, FND messages are seed data so changes are patch and upgrade survivable just like in Oracle EBS.
Questions or UX advice needed on any of this? Find them comments.


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Scott Walker at a Heartland Institute Dinner
June 19, 2013
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was a guest of The Heartland Institute in Chicago on June 19, 2013 to talk about liberty, free markets, smaller government, and how his policies have helped fix a broken state after his successful recall. At about the 47:30 mark, Walker talks about the moral calling to pull more people off public assistance.


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5 Mind-Blowing Subliminal Easter Eggs Hidden in Movies
Science has largely debunked the effectiveness of subliminal messages (that is, the practice of inserting flash frames that are too quick for the eye to see into video, with the intention of influencing the viewer's subconscious). But that hasn't stopped directors from slipping hidden messages between frames of their films. In the era of DVD, they know you'll pause and rewind to go find that shit.
Or you can let us save you the trouble.
#5. Black Swan -- The Club Scene Tells You the Whole Movie
In the 2010 ballet thriller Black Swan, Natalie Portman is Nina, a dancer who can't stand the pressure of playing the main role in Swan Lake and goes a little funny in the head. Before her breakdown, though, she has some fun times with fellow dancer Lily (Mila Kunis) when the two go to a rave party together and later have sex. We'll save you a trip to YouTube and show you the part of the previous sentence you immediately felt like looking up (the rave party, of course):
Did you get all that? OK, because that one-minute scene just told you the entire movie. The shots are too fast to see, but if you keep your finger firmly pressed on your pause button (or watch this handy frame-by-frame version), you can see weird stuff like Nina being stalked by the characters of the ballet, including the one she plays:
Well, hopefully the continuity person got fired over this mishap.
Or Nina dancing with the theater director, who isn't actually in the club at all. Adding to the confusion, he later morphs into Rothbart, Swan Lake's feathery villain. This represents his negative influence on Nina.
And also the fact that he sometimes dresses up like Cher.
Then Nina suddenly appears dancing as the Black Swan, which she doesn't do until the end of the film. We also see another scene from the end of the film -- the closing of the Swan Lake performance (although in a slightly more drug-induced version).
Um, spoilers?
Then come some what-the-fuck disembodied eyes and faces from people in another dimension:
It's not a ballet movie until you've got some abject horror in there.
And then suddenly everyone in the room is Nina, and we get the wallpaper from Nina's bedroom, which tells you where we're all headed next. She's basically surrounded by different versions of herself from other points in the movie.
You also see Doc Brown running around in the back.
What does it all mean? Well, it's pretty much walking you through all of the twists that are coming later in the film. All of the plot and imagery squeezed into a single minute, and all the things Nina does here (getting intimate with people who aren't there, seeing her face on everyone, hallucinating the characters as real people) will happen again as the movie continues.
#4. Psycho -- Hitchcock Sneaked in a Shot of the Mother's Corpse
At the end of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, there's a long monologue where a psychiatrist literally explains the whole movie, in case you took a long bathroom break after the shower scene: It turns out the main character is (spoilers) a psycho. Unassuming motel owner Norman Bates spent the past 109 minutes secretly killing people while dressed as his dead mother, but now that he's been arrested, he assures us he "wouldn't harm a fly." While speaking in his mother's voice. Yeah, that seems legit.
Now watch the ending again. Notice anything odd in that scene? Other than, you know, the big weirdo staring at you. Pay attention at around 1:30 into the clip -- as the scene fades to the image of a car being dragged out of a swamp (Norman put it there earlier in the movie, since it belonged to the shower lady), there's a brief moment where Norman's face looks like this:
Via YouTube
Oh shit, is he turning into Ghost Rider?
What the hell is wrong with his teeth? Nothing, his mouth is closed. He just looks like that because there's a third image in there besides Norman's face and the rear of the car. Namely, this lady:
This is why it's important to moisturize.
Yep, the last shot of Norman is actually merged with his mother's skull, which was superimposed onto the film, symbolizing how his mother's personality now has complete control. We're assuming this is also Hitchcock's pre-emptive way of saying "Those sequels where Norman turns good are bullshit." And speaking of which, they even did this in the pointlessly faithful 1998 remake with Vince Vaughn -- you can see the mother's hair behind Norman as the image fades out.
Universal Pictures
Right, because Vince Vaughn's stare wasn't creepy enough as it was.
And speaking of slipping skulls into movies with psychopathic protagonists ...
#3. Beauty and the Beast -- Gaston's Gruesome Ending
As far as Disney villain deaths go, the one in Beauty and the Beast has to be one of the least definitive. Just two years earlier, we had seen Ursula from The Little Mermaid getting impaled and electrocuted, and a few years later Scar would end up being digested by hyenas in The Lion King. In this case, we see Beast's romantic rival, Gaston, fall down a chasm after a climactic fight at the top of Beast's castle, but we don't hear a "splat" at the end. Here's the scene, in case you're only familiar with the Super Nintendo version:
While we've previously speculated that Gaston could have ended up as a grisly decoration atop the castle's gates, it's perfectly possible that he landed on a large mountain of hay, or an anachronistic mattress factory. It's a goddamn cartoon -- maybe he sprouted wings from his butt and flew away.
Via YouTube
Which is what happens in the Broadway version.
And yet somehow you know that's not true ... and that's because the movie's director subliminally told you so. In the 2002 DVD commentary, the screenwriter mentions that they wanted to make sure the children understood that Gaston wouldn't be showing up in any direct-to-VHS sequels, but they couldn't include a death scene because that would have been too morbid (has this guy ever seen a Disney film?). And so, as Gaston's face zooms past the camera (it's 31 seconds into the clip above), they put two frames where he has skulls in his eyes -- the international symbol for "that guy fucking died."
Via YouTube
Either that or he wore bitchin' contact lenses.
Gaston's voice actor still insists that the character could be alive, but that's probably his house mortgage speaking. Despite his now confirmed death, Gaston did have a recurring role in the Mickey Mouse cartoon series House of Mouse, which just confirms our suspicion that the Disney Channel is a manifestation of hell.


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Pet Parade participants should meet on Main Street in front of Old National Bank Saturday, Oct. 13. Lineup for the parade begins at 10 a.m. with judging to follow at 10:15 a.m. The Pet Parade will begin its procession at 10:30 a.m. No motorcycles or riding lawn mowers will be allowed unless the item is driven by an adult.
Prizes for the floats will be $5 for first, $3 for second and $1 for third. Prizes of $2 for first and $1 for second will be given for each of the following categories: Best Float Theme, Best Float, Best Decorated Bicycle, Best Decorated Tricycle, Prettiest Pet, Ugliest Pet, Most Unusual Pet, Best Clown, Best Costume - Famous Actor or Actress, Best Disney Costume and Most Unusual Costume.
The Pet Parade will begin at Old National Bank and end at Veteran's Memorial Park. All participants will be given a new 50 cent piece and certificates from area merchants.
Location, ST | website.com


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Robertson County could get a huge economic boost from Union Pacific Rail.
A spokesperson for the train company says if Robertson County is chosen for the terminal it would be built between Hearne and Mumford.
The spokesperson says the facility would cost 200-million dollars to build and employ a significant number of people, although she didn't elaborate.
A rail terminal is much like an airport terminal where cargo can be moved from one train and put onto another.
Union Pacific has seen an increase in demand and is hauling more cargo. The Robertson county location would be in the center of some of their biggest destinations in Texas, Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
Press Release:
Union Pacific (UP) is talking with local landowners and officials about its hope to build one of the biggest railroad classification yards in Texas between Hearne and Mumford. This proposed new $200 million yard could easily create over 200 new local jobs.
Starting pay would be around $40,000 a year with great
benefits. Railroad employees with seniority get paid more.
UP wants to build its new yard outside of Hearne because this spot is in a key location on UP's route map.
As the hub of UP's central Texas activities, Hearne is already one of the busiest small town rail centers in the country.
Seven different UP subdivisions operate out of Hearne and nearby Valley Junction.
These include UP's Austin, Bryan, Ennis, Ft. Worth, Giddings, Hearne, and Navasota subs which extend as far as Ft. Worth, Longview, Houston, Smithville, and San Antonio.
At present, Hearne is primarily an "away from home" terminal where UP employees from elsewhere bring trains to town.
With a new southwestern Robertson County yard, Hearne would also become a "home" terminal where some Hearne-based railroaders would work in the local yard as well as take assembled
trains to the far reaches of the above subdivisions.
Several hundred high-paying permanent new jobs would be a major long-term economic boost for the region.
Upwards of a thousand temporary workers would be needed for a year or more to ready the site and lay the tracks.
Local people would land some temporary jobs; hotel rooms would be booked; rental housing and RV parking spaces would be needed; local places to eat and other local businesses would
see increased traffic; local contractors would be kept busy.
In addition to UP's expansion, new railroad related businesses would open nearby and provide other new jobs.
At the same time this local economic development would be conferring significant benefits on Hearne, it
would be providing Mumford ISD with a major boost.
While agricultural, oil, and gas activities have
traditionally supported Mumford ISD's tax base, this UP project would significantly expand Mumford ISD's tax base by placing a major facility in its midst.
Some Mumford retail development might also be expected.
UP's planned project affects around twenty different properties and landowners. If the project goes forward, UP would purchase the land. The company is not interested in acquiring mineral or water rights.
Some property owners might be willing to sell. Others aren't too keen on the notion since UP wants to buy some 1,100 acres of fertile Brazos bottom farmlands that are rich in local and family history and have lots of sentimental value.
This planned new UP classification yard would be built on the west side of the two sets of north/south railroad tracks that come through Mumford. It would stretch some five miles from just north of the new
baseball complex to Muse Road. Contrary to rumors, FM50 would not be re-routed or turned into a four lane interstate. In fact, since the new yard would be on the Brazos River side of the tracks, it would not be
visible from many areas of FM50.
In addition to creating hundreds of jobs, UP's newfound local interest fits in nicely with a major Hearne goal. The city has been talking with Blinn and Texas State Technical College about bringing regional
trade and technical education opportunities to the old Hearne High School. This hoped-for job training facility would equip students and the local workforce with needed skills. UP's new yard might help turn
this dream into more of a reality.
Since the City of Hearne is hoping to build a civic center, the idea of incorporating space for a new UP training facility has even been discussed. With seven different subdivisions coming into town, the city is pushing the idea of placing a regional UP training facility for new hires and existing workers on the five and a half acres next to the historic depot.
UP's proposed southwestern Robertson County yard acknowledges Hearne's "Crossroads of Texas" status and is in keeping with local railroading roots. Indeed, railroad and agricultural activities have been
the backbone of Hearne's economy for the past 140 plus years. Area railroads were built to take local agricultural goods to market.


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Noticed they are showing both parts of Soderbergh's 'Che' on Sundance Channel this evening and the website shows multiple repeat airings.
As far as I know, Blockbuster has exclusive DVD rights until Jan. when Criterion releases a retail version.
I don't have much use for Che or his politics, but I am a fan of Soderbergh and Del Toro so I'll be checking out at least Pt. 1


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Ring in the Dead: A J. P. Beaumont Novella (Mass Market Paperbound)
Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
J. P. Beaumont may be an old homicide hand now, but back when he was a rookie working with his first partner, Milton Gurkey--a.k.a. Pickles--things took a turn for the worse . . .
One day, at the end of Beaumont and Pickles's shift, a stop at the Doghouse restaurant quickly turns deadly. Not feeling well, Pickles steps out into the parking lot for a breath of fresh air and stumbles into a crime in progress. Suffering from a heart attack, he is found unconscious, with a dead woman on the ground nearby and the murder weapon in his hand.
With Pickles under investigation from Internal Affairs, it's up to the new kid on the block, J. P. Beaumont, and his friends on the force to find out the truth.
About the Author
J. A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, and five interrelated thrillers about the Walker family, as well as a volume of poetry. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.