text:
NOT `CATS,' LOLCATS: There are two major categories on the Internetses: Porn and Cats. Everything else - your lunatic Tea Party sites, funny T-shirts, inspirational messages, our Friday electro-playlist - are subsets or hybrids of one or the other or both. In fact, one of the more popular sites of the day, and it's not one we're heartily recommending to our broad and easily bruised readership, features indifferent cats in porn videos.
We're not sure how cats so rapidly outpaced dogs on the Internet, but the generally inferior species as a whole has certainly embraced technology with more gusto and aplomb, dominating the broadbands with its "lolcats" meme featuring cats and graphics (katzengrafix) depicting felines mewling in pidgin-kitten ("I can haz hamster cage?").
Long Beach's prestigious and long-established Garage Theatre has been making hay with the cat-ernet, turning the phenomenon into a ravingly reviewed and crowd-pleasin' musical, "LOLPERA," which opened last fall to sellout crowds in its hometown of Long Beach, before selling out some more at the Hollywood Fringe Festival last month.
The story is set in the distant and dystopian Catcotopia, with the story told in the the sort of stupid cat pictures you'll find littering the Web.
Now, the LB troupe is herding cats to New York City's Fringe Fest.
Local fans can see The Garage Theatre's "LOLPERA" one more time in Big Town in a fundraiser at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St.
Your $20 buy-in will help pay for Garage Theatre's epic journey to the East Coast. You can get tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com, by calling 800-838-3006, or taking a chance at the door.
ALSO AT THE ART: You know what we don't get? People who hate Neil Young. How can people not like Neil Young? Do us a favor (you totally owe us one): Go to the Art Theatre - you will recall that it's at 2025 E. Fourth St. - and check out "Neil Young Journeys," the latest music documentary by Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme.
The film opens its Long Beach exclusive run from Friday through Aug. 2. For showtimes and tickets, check in at www.arttheatrelongbeach.com.
MARSHALS WANTED: We already know what you're thinking: You're thinking we would make a perfect grand marshal for the fourth annual Latin American Parade & Festival on Sept. 8. And we couldn't agree with you more. We have donated the name El Geebee to whomever scores a Mexican restaurant concession at Long Beach Airport. That alone should do the trick. We will also selflessly donate the licensed name El Cohol to any small-time tequila company looking to expand into the Long Beach area.
If you think you've got an even better idea than having us preside over the downtown fiesta, Downtown Long Beach Associates is looking for nominations for grand marshal as well as community marshals (we are not interested in being a mere community marshal; we have enough honorable mention certificates littering our workspace. We use them for printer paper.)
Any individual or organization can submit names of dedicated citizens (organizers also include the term "hardworking," but we don't want to take ourself out of consideration just yet) who have had a positive effect on the Latin-American community.
For the grand marshal spot, the organizers are looking for a person of Latin-American descent (we can pass) who serves or has served in a leadership role, and who has made a positive change in the community.
The community marshals don't have to be quite so stellar, but, we suppose, in a rare moment of candor, they should be more impressive than we are - though, good luck with that.
Nomination forms are available for download at www.downtownlongbeach.org and are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 3.
Interested vendors, performers, entertainers, artists and parade participants can also find applications at the DLBA site. Those are due in by Aug. 13.
The parade and festival will begin at 3 p.m. Sept. 8 at the hallowed corner of Sixth and Pine.
email@example.com, 562-714-2116 or twitter.com/grobaty


text:
This page describes features that are not completed yet or need pratical testing before they're added to the standard feature set. They might disappear or be changed subtantially!
[:page name] and [:page name:link text] are a shorter form of [wiki:Self:...], with the additional benefit that both page name and link text can contain any character, including spaces.
Bidirectional language support
config.language_default sets the default language of a wiki's content
for each language MoinMoin supports in its user interface, a correspondent [[lang]] macro exists, e.g. [[en]]
See also BetterHebrewSupport.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
At the age of 18 Cumalı began publishing poetry. After graduating from what is now Ankara (Turkey) University in 1941, he held a variety of jobs and practiced law from 1950 to 1957. In 1959 he became a professional writer. Cumalı's first book of poetry was Kızılçullu yolu (1943; "The Road to Kızılçullu"), and he wrote several more volumes of poetry before he began to publish fiction. His collected poetry appears in Aç güneş (1980; "Hungry Sun"), which was later enlarged and published as Tufandan önce (1983; "Before the Deluge"). His first published fiction was the short-story collection Yalnız kadın (1955; "Woman Alone"), and his first play was Boş Beşik (1949; "Empty Cradle"; filmed 1952), a retelling of the traditional story of an infant lost by nomads.
Cumalı's concerns were wide-ranging; he wrote of the hardships of rural life, of Turkish history and cultural traditions, and of urban existence. One of his best-known stories is Susuz Yaz (1962; published as Dry Summer in Modern Turkish Drama; filmed 1963), a tragedy of an unfaithful wife, her husband, and his two-faced brother. Cumalı adapted the story into a play that was produced in 1968. His later plays include Nalınlar (1962; "The Clogs") and Derya Gülü (1963; Sea Rose).


text:
84 items found in this collection
Colony Park [dealership]; If [Lincoln] Continental made a wagon this would be it
50 MPH is thrifty
Keep 'em open; School; save fuel
better to light one little candle...than to curse the crisis
No more rivers to cross; In New Jersey--for banking at its best
Why do you think they call it dope?
There's a name for people who don't use seat belts. Stupid!
No, I'd really rather have a Chevy!...From a Bergen/Passaic Chevy Dealer
largest selection of paneling and building materials: Stay on Rt. 46 2 miles ahead
The Record Delivers! Daily and Sunday; 487-8000
Best Coffee Buy
Happy Motoring Products--World's First Choice!
4 Market Art Test
New Westinghouse Heavy Duty Laundry
Best Candy on Earth Comes From Mars
Best Candy on Earth Comes From Mars
Page 1 of 6 Next »


text:
Glucagonoma is a very rare tumor of the islet cells of the pancreas, which leads to an excess of the hormone glucagon in the blood.
Glucagonoma is usually cancerous (malignant). The cancer tends to spread and get worse.
This cancer affects the islet cells of the pancreas. As a result, the islet cells produce too much of the hormone glucagon.
The cause is unknown. Genetic factors play a role in some cases. A family history of the syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN I) is a risk factor.
In most cases, the cancer has already spread to the liver when it is diagnosed.
Tests may include:
Surgery to remove the tumor is the preferred treatment. The tumor does not usually respond to chemotherapy.
Approximately 60% of these tumors are cancerous. It is common for this cancer to spread to the liver. Only about 20% of people can be cured with surgery.
If the tumor is only in the pancreas and surgery to remove it is successful, patients have a 5-year survival rate of 85%.
The cancer can spread to the liver. High blood sugar level can cause metabolic problems and tissue damage.
Call your health care provider if you notice symptoms of glucagonoma.
Jensen RT, Norton JA. Endocrine tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2010:chap 32.
National Cancer Institute: PDQ Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (islet cell tumors) treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Date last modified 11/10/2012. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/gastric/HealthProfessional. Accessed November 16, 2012.


text:
Ogyen wrote:be buddha. Don't be Buddhist.
"Preach the [Dharma] always, and if necessary, use words."
Ogyen wrote:be buddha. Don't be Buddhist.
AdmiralJim wrote:I wish someone would come round and get rid of these Jehovahs Witnesses that come round every Sunday to my house, I have ignored them for ten weeks and they still come round to my house! It was a mistake to ask there opinion about a strange phenomoneon that occured while my mother was in hospital. Their conclusion was that an 'angel' followed me around the hospital because I am a God fearing man apparantly, this explanation convinced me even more to stay away from them, not to mention the fact the literature they write is so simplisitic it could have been written by a school kid :S
edearl wrote:not1not2 wrote:Am sorry you thought you must choose family or Dharma. Did they push you out or did you push them out? We tred the path of Dharma and wish others well. Does there have to be a choice? Metta, Earl
I realized we had nothing in common to talk about, and was unwilling for them to continually try to convert me back to Christianity, which is insulting. Moreover, their congregation contains people who are among the most bigoted among humanity. I tried to keep in touch with my brother, and for a while called him often. But, it was always me calling him, he has not called me, ever, in over 40 years. I did keep in touch with mom, until she died, but no one else in the family. Growing up, I barely knew my father, because he and mom divorced and he was a lifer in the Air Force who moved often. He was a good person, but was haunted by alcoholism. We spent some time together as adults. He was not a fundamentalist.
I am unable to pretend to believe as my family does, which is the only way I would be accepted by them. Thus, I accepted the lesser of two unfortunate life styles, and walked away rather than being treated as ignorant and stupid. I suppose they think the devil took me. IMO there is more devil in fundamentalists than in me. They badly want to live as good people, but their blind faith prevents it. Buddhist are good people because they had a good teacher and because they think things through, among other things.
I didn't give up Christianity for Buddhism, I hadn't heard of Buddhism at the time. For a long time, I thought I was an atheist, but eventually settled on being agnostic, because one cannot prove or disprove the existence of a god or gods.
Ogyen wrote:be buddha. Don't be Buddhist. You can't engage fundamentalism of any kind with reason. You must reach it where it clings - in its human factor. Everyone understands feeling like crap. Touch into the human common ground. That is all. Everyone suffers, this we can agree on. Ideology need not be a factor to be kind. Differences need not impact how we choose to be with others.
booker wrote:On this field I particulary adore a talk on True God, True Buddha.
Epistemes wrote:Ogyen wrote:be buddha. Don't be Buddhist.
"Preach the [Dharma] always, and if necessary, use words."
Jikan wrote:Epistemes wrote:Ogyen wrote:be buddha. Don't be Buddhist.
"Preach the [Dharma] always, and if necessary, use words."
I like this idea quite a lot. (adaptation of St. Francis of Assisi, yes?)
steveb1 wrote:What is your view of engaging Christian fundamentalists? There does seem to be an array of choices, from ignoring them, to arguing your view against their views, to being assertive enough to (for example) hand out Buddhistic literature to fundamentalists and/or actually inviting them to Buddhist services (that's a stretch, I admit).
For me, it does get tiresome to hear conservative Christians knowingly or unknowingly misrepresent Buddhism. We've all heard the litany: Buddhism is "Satanic"; it is pessimistic; it induces trance and other mind-control techniques; humankind needs God/ Buddhism has no God; Buddha was a damned sinner/Jesus was God and sinless; Buddha died/Jesus is risen, and for that matter is eternal; Jesus saves from sin/Buddha has no such capacity; God set his seal on Jesus via miracles/God did not "vouch" for Buddha; etc., etc.
Obviously, the essential differences make even the most hopeful communication difficult, as Christianity is founded on the notion of a supernatural/personal god's miraculous activity, whereas no such entity exists in Buddhism. But there are other issues that can be addressed, starting with simple corrections of Christian misunderstandings of Buddha and Buddhism.
Is it worth a response? After all, fundamentalists' salvation rests upon their unswerving, total belief in faith-propositions. If they perceive that one is trying to correct views which fundamentalists firmly believe are God-given, then they will not jeopardize their salvation. Hence, any real dialogue is probably impossible. But, beyond considerations of communication and dialogue, there is always the consideration of truth.
That is, how do we "stick up for the Dharma" in the face of prejudice, misinformation, and sometimes contempt? Have any Dharma Wheel posters confronted - or better, solved - this problem? It would be nice to hear different views from Buddhists in confrontation with Christian fundamentalists.
Users browsing this forum: Old Stan and 52 guests


text:
I've got to be honest, This latest chapter really confused the hell out of me. How is Tobi so powerful that three of the strongest ninja in the world can't lay a single hand on him?
Kakashi is a master of ninjutsu with a huge catalog of copied techniques second to almost nobody (Orochimaru perhaps knows more, but without his hands, can't use them). Gai is a master of taijutsu with almost nobody in the entire manga (except, maybe, the Raikage) at the same level of skill. Naruto is the strongest jinchuuriki and the best (human) master of senjutsu. On top of that they do have Killer Bee there for support, even though he's too wounded to really play a very active role. At his best, Killer Bee is an extremely powerful ninja with taijutsu powers similar or better than the Raikage. Even if these four ninja aren't the absolute best in all cases, they're still pretty damn good.
Meanwhile, who's on the other side of the field? Tobi. Itachi described him as being a "shell of his former self". Maybe Itachi was wrong, and maybe Tobi had pretended to be weak to fool Itachi, but he's a bright guy and we should accept what he says most of the time. Minato defeated Tobi in a relatively short one-on-one battle. Konan almost defeated him, except he sacrificed an eye to cast Izanagi at the last minute. Even Fuu and Torune managed to destroy one of his arms in a relatively short battle, and might have been able to do better if they understood his powers more.
So how is it that Tobi, with everything that we've seen so far, is able to fight three-on-one against three very powerful ninja, with Killer Bee in support? What is the source of his power? In the manga, we've seen only a few different types of power that people can draw on:
1) Natural chakra reserves. There is some fluctuation and some people have more powerful chakra than others, but very few people have the natural chakra reserves necessary to stand up to a jinchuuriki by themselves. Tobi may have large reserves, but Naruto also has naturally powerful chakra AND added power from the Fox. Uchiha, which we assume Tobi is, are also not known to have as much physical energy as the Senjutsu (which we assume Naruto is, or is closely related to). In fact, the Uzumaki are particularly well known for having powerful chakra, more than the Uchiha ever were.
2) Training, which can help to increase chakra reserves and make chakra use more efficient. Tobi has had years and years to train himself, but Gai is a training maniac too, and Naruto has been through some intensive training as well. Considering his age, can Tobi really have that much of an advantage here?
3) Senjutsu chakra, which requires great chakra control and large chakra reserves, plus it either requires some sort of merger to use it or else it's time-limited. There's no evidence that Tobi has done this, and there's no evidence that he's fused with some kind of animal helper to give him an unlimited supply of senjutsu chakra. We've also heard before that you can't collect senjutsu chakra while you're moving, unless Tobi has found some kind of secret to do just that.
4) The will of fire, where ninja are said to get more powerful when they are protecting something they care about it. Tobi clearly doesn't have this, and is very dismissive about it.
5) Revenge, anger and the cycle of hatred, which Sasuke drew on to become something of a powerful avenger in the fight against Danzo. Tobi may have this, but he doesn't seem to be acting in a rage like Sasuke was. Tobi is much more calm and confident than Sasuke was.
6) Medical Manipulations, like those used by Orochimaru and Kabuto, to increase natural chakra reserves and add additional powers. Even if he has some medical enhancements, it's likely not to the same level as Orochimaru or Kabuto have developed, since they weren't allies for long. The only obvious changes he's made to himself are the addition of the Rinnegan eye and some sort of physical connection with Hashirama or Zetsu.
7) Being a jinchuuriki, which Tobi can't be because all the tailed beasts are in the statue now (except Naruto and Bee).
There are three very powerful ninja fighting him, and yet Tobi seems to be more powerful than them combined. How? What is the source of his power? And if he is so powerful, how could Itachi have possibly called him "a shell of his former self?". Was Itachi that wrong, that he couldn't even recognize one of the most powerful warriors in the entire world? Is it really possible that Tobi, by himself, is more powerful than his 6 jinchuuriki, Rinnegan-enabled, Edo Tensei immortal, unlimited chakra, 6-path zombies? Naruto defeated those guys, but Tobi is more powerful than them combined? HOW?


text:
Not sure if there will be an "official" one, but you can always manually install them.
I was wondering if there will be an "official" extensions list. In BT4 there were quite a few extensions to play with, and now with BT5 there are only two- NoScript and Tamper Data.
Not sure if there will be an "official" one, but you can always manually install them.
Back|track giving machine guns to monkeys since 2007 !
Do not read the Wiki, most your questions will not be answered there !
Do not take a look at the: Forum Rules !
No adding, and tracking a boat load of extensions only adds more unnecessary work and overhead. It also adds bloat that some may not need to firefox.
These are easy enough for you to install on your own.
To be successful here you should read all of the following.
If you are new to Back|Track
Back|Track Wiki
Failure to do so will probably get your threads deleted or worse.


text: There are tons of threads about eyewear, sunglasses and contact lenses. It is hard to sort through them to find answers and they are usually questions that need a 1 sentance answer. I figure eyewear is what I know best so if you have a quick question, post it here and I can respond. If you want the opinion of SF, make another thread. Let the questions begin... If someone else knows the answer, feel free to post too! *please understand that I am not a super guru and sometimes I might not know the answer* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAQ I formulated a FAQ section for all the questions that are asked over and over again. 1. What's the difference between Photochromatic and Tansitions? -Photochromatic is the type of lens, Transition is a brand of lens. A simple comparison would be Kleenex. Kleenex is a brand, facial tissue is what it is. 2. Why don't you like polycarbonate? The optics are terrible with an abbe value of 30 (CR39 having the best optics with the abbe value of 59). The material scratches very easily compared to other materials. The lens flex quite a bit making it warp easily. The only good thing is that it durable and won't break easily, but Trivex is just as break resistant. 3. What is Trivex? -Trivex is a material that is superior to polycarbonate. It's index is 1.53 so it is quite thick but the optics out of the lens is superior to poly. As well, it is much more scratch resistant than poly. Poly has an abbe value of 44 4. What is the color crystal? -Clear. We call it crystal as opposed to clear. 5. What are some frames that have a good bang for the buck? -As of Jan 2012, I feel that Kio Yamato, O&X, Urband, Cheap Monday, MODO, Spectacle Eyeworks, Prodesign and Lightec are all brands that provide good bang for the buck. 6. What is a good brand of frames for under $200 retail? 7. You're a terrible writer. -I don't write to entertain, I write inform. 8. Who are Luxottica and Safilo. What is their quality like? LUX and SAF are probably the 2 biggest frame manufacture/distributor/retailers in the optical industry. Together they have licenses to Gucci, Armani, Versace, Persol, Rayban, Boss, Chanel, Prada, Bvlgary, Tommy Hilfiger, Brooks Brothers and the list goes on. In terms of quality, they are the average frame. The quality is fair and some of their lines have great styles BUT you are basically paying for the name. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on them, just giving an honest opinion. 9. How are frames from Prada, Boss, Gucci...? -Most large name brands are produced by 3 large companies (Luxottica, Safilo, Marchon). The quality is pretty standard. The frames are made in Italy and China. The quality is fair and what I mean by that is that most are not sturdy, but they will last you a long time with good care. 10. What is B&M? How do I pick a good B&M store? 11. What website is legit to buy glasses from? 12. What company makes good asian fit plastic frames with nose pads? -Adidas and Nike (but they look hideous), Prodesign, Danish Design, O&X and MODO and Kio Yamato (no nose pads but they fit well), Gucci for women and Bvlgari for women. I'm sure there are many more but those are just the ones off the top of my head.


text:
Product Reference: 51237
Powerful quad-core 1.3 GHz processor
Extraordinary quad-core power gives you lightning-fast web browsing, remarkable picture quality and hyper-realistic gaming effects - all on a giant, 4.5 inch screen. Then there's the amazing camera that captures every moment with crisp, vivid, beautiful photos.
5MP camera with VGA front facing camera
The HTC Desire 320 has a 5MP camera so you can take stills whenever and wherever you are, it also has a VGA front facing camera ideal for video messaging.
Pre-loaded with Android KitKat v4.4.2
The HTC Desire 320 comes pre-loaded with Android KitKat, giving you full access to the latest Android features and the Google Play Store. It also features the latest HTC Sense technology, which has been streamlined to offer great graphics and characterisation without affecting your ability to access the phone's functions.
8GB integrated memory with Micro SD card slot
The Desire 320 comes with a large 8GB memory - so you can download apps, videos and pictures. If you require more space then do not fear as the HTC Desire 320 features expandable memory. It has a Micro SD card slot enabling you to add up to 32GB of extra memory to the phone.
Long-lasting battery life
With a 2,100mAh battery, you can answer emails, phone calls and Facebook messages all day long without scouting locations to charge up your smartphone. The battery in your HTC Desire 320 smartphone lasts as long as you do. Talktime is rated at up to 12 hours, while standby can reach a staggering 690 hours.
Full multimedia playback support
With a media player that supports the most popular formats, the Desire 320 is a multimedia powerhouse. Listen to your favourite tunes or watch videos while on the go. With easy-to-access media keys, you can control your music and videos. Skip songs, pause videos, and even mute a call.
Technical specifications:?
Warranty information
This handset is covered by a full 12 month manufacturer's warranty
Important SIM free information
This SIM free handset is unlocked and compatible with any 2G/GSM network and 3G SIM card. Some network & 3G specific services may be unavailable with this handset.
Product images are for illustrative purposes only, specific colour variants cannot be guaranteed unless otherwise specifically stated on the page.
HTC: Desire 320


text:
What percentage of people score 990 on the TransUnion personal credit score?
According to the Associated Press in July of 2010, only 18 percent of Americans had a credit score of over 800. The Credit Truth reports that the percentage of Americans with an 800 or above Trans ...
Read More »
What is the difference between a Beacon score and a FICO score?
The Beacon score was the name for a credit score calculated by the Experian credit bureau. The Beacon score used an older scoring algorithm developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation. It has since bee...
Read More »
What is the difference between a fico score&a plus score?
Since 1997, U.S. consumers can purchase their credit scores through the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Known as the FICO score, this number gives lenders an easy way...
Read More »
What is the difference between a fico score&a credit score?
A FICO score and a credit score are essentially one in the same. The FICO score was created by the Fair Isaac Corporation. It is the most frequently used credit score.FICO AliasesAll three major cr...
Read More »
What is the difference in a PLUS Score& a credit score?
Credit reports can be confusing to a borrower, since you can get a different score from one of the three major reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The companies even call their sc...
Read More »


text:
http://www.eliterestaurantequipment.com/buffet-enhancements-1bctv55set-black-round-topper-with-black-skirting-for-55-gallon-trash-cans.html http://www.eliterestaurantequipment.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/265x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/u/buffet-enhancements-1bctv55set-black-round-topper-with-black-skirting-for-55-gallon-trash-cans.jpg 1BCTV55SET Buffet Enhancements
Buffet Enhancements 1BCTV55SET - Black Round Topper with Black Skirting for 55 Gallon Trash Cans
Shop With Confidence
We have one goal in mind: provide food service professionals with all the products they need under one roof at affordable prices. Since then we have succeeded in creating an innovative, easy to use website that meets the needs for food service professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Food service experts, programmers, developers, content writers, technical support staff, and warehouse employees work together to make certain that we provide the best service and industry knowledge on the web.
Return Policy: All stocked items may be returned to us if the item has not been used and is in original packaging. In order for returns to be accepted, your items must be returned within 30 days from receipt. Please note when placing an order you agree to our return policies. Please contact a customer solutions specialist before returning an item. We will create a return authorization for you and send you an e-mail with instructions on how to complete the return. You will be credited 24-72 hours upon receipt and inspection of returned product(s). Products returned may be subject to restocking fees. All parts are non-refundable.
Ask A Question Buffet Enhancements 1BCTV55SET - Black Round Topper with Black Skirting for 55 Gallon Trash Cans
You will receive a phone call and/or email answering the question above as soon as possible. Questions are generally answered same business day. If time is of the essence please call us: (888) 886-7279.
Your information is protected by high security encryption and is 100% confidential
Quick Overview
Give your trash can an elegant appearance while helping it stand out to your customers with the Buffet Enhancements 1BCTV55SET black round trash can topper! This topper comes with black pleated skirting to give you an easy, attractive method to hide a waste receptacle. The top is made of ABS for long-lasting durability, and the skirts are pleated polyester and easily attach to the topper with Velcro. Please consult the Specification Sheet for additional details.
Product Description
|Opening Diameter:
|9 1/2"
|27 "


text:
The ball python is one of about 26 python species placed in the subfamily Pythoninae, within the family Boidae, in the order Squamata and the class Reptilia. Two of the subfamilies of boids differ mostly in their reproduction. Boas give birth to their young alive, by incubating their shell-less eggs internally. Pythons lay eggs with leathery shells. Ball pythons range from Senegal to Togo in west Africa, and eastward to the Nile River in southern Sudan.
Ball pythons live in dry grassland, savanna and forest edges. Like most pythons, they are good climbers, but they are usually seen on the ground.
A ball python's head is flat on top, with no brows above its round eyes. It has a square, boxy snout, and heavy jaw muscles that make the sides of its head, behind the eyes, bulge outwards. It can securely hold prey with the 100-150 sharp teeth that curve towards the back of its mouth. Its neck is narrower than its head, but its stout trunk region can easily have a diameter of more than twice the width of its head. Its short tail tapers to a blunt end. It may be 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) in length. Females are usually larger.
Ball pythons have alternating black and pale stripes along their face; these stripes partly mask the dark eyes. Their coloring includes large, asymmetrically lobed spots of medium brown, outlined in off-white, then in black. These spots mark the dark brown back and sides, and funnel down toward the off-white or pale gray belly. Many of the lobed spots contain smaller dark spots. Some individuals have light or dark, broken or solid stripes along the spine. The spots of young animal are often yellow or golden, and darken as they age. A rare genetic piebald form, with patches of pure white, is found in the wild in Ghana and Togo. Other rare color variations found in the wild include animals lacking yellow, black or red pigments, or whose dark markings fade with age.
They live 20-25 years in captivity. One specimen lived for 47 years at Highland Park Zoo in Pennsylvania.
In the wild: Ball pythons actively hunt rodents such as rats, gerbils and gerboas, following them into their burrows. Ball pythons kill prey animals by wrapping them in constricting coils or pressing them against burrow walls. At the zoo:Keepers offer the ball pythons one small or medium-sized rat per week
Like all boids, ball pythons have spurs near their cloaca; these are vestiges of ancestral legs. Males' spurs are longer, and stimulate the female during courtship. Ball pythons become sexually mature at about 5 years of age. Females breed every two to three years, after the cool season, usually December and January. When they're gravid (egg-bearing) the female colors darken. Most shed their skins about a month before laying four to 10 eggs in a humid mammal burrow. The eggs' parchment-like shells stick together as they dry.
Except for infrequent searches for water to drink, the females remain coiled around the eggs for the entire 75-80-day incubation period. If the temperature drops below the required 87°-90° F (31°-32° C) incubation temperature, the females rhythmically tense their muscles, burning energy to produce warmth. If the humidity in the burrow drops below 90-95%, the female may raise the humidity by taking a dip and returning while still wet. Most females eat little or nothing from the time they become gravid until their eggs hatch. The hatchlings are 9-17 inches (23-43 cm) long. If incubation temperatures are too low, young may die in the egg, or have birth defects or nongenetic color anomalies
Even when full-grown, ball pythons can be preyed upon or injured by wild pigs, wart hogs and leopards. Young ball pythons are vulnerable to many predators, including birds of prey and hedgehogs. During the cool season, ball pythons tend to fast and become inactive as temperatures in their environment don't keep their bodies warm enough for food to digest.
Heat-seeking missiles of the natural world, ball pythons can easily hone in on prey in utter darkness. Along a ball python's upper jaws, several scales cup inward, each forming a deep pit containing nerves that sense infrared, or body heat. The snake can tell which direction warmth is coming from because the pits open at different angles, like an open fan of folded paper. A temperature change of only 3/1000th of a degree sends a signal to the brain, alerting the snake to the nearby meal. These pits coupled with the ability to see well in darkness, spell doom for its mammalian victim.
The ball pythons at Woodland Park Zoo are kept off-exhibit and used for educational programs. Other species of pythons, boas and anacondas are found at the Day Exhibit, Tropical Rain Forest and Trail of Vines. You may have to look carefully to find these well-camouflaged snakes.
Ball pythons are not an endangered species.** However, exportation of reptiles for the pet trade is lowering numbers of certain populations to the point where they may become extinct in the wild. In 1998, 45,000 ball pythons from Ghana and Togo were brought to the United States. If this continues, wild populations could become dangerously depleted. Anyone interested in owning a reptile should learn about its needs and be sure it was captive bred. Many more wild-caught animals die than ever reach pet stores. Those reptiles fortunate enough to survives are often stressed, malnourished, and untamable. Read more about keeping a pet reptile by www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/pets.htm.
Ball pythons, and all reptiles, play an important role in nature's web of life. Worldwide, habitat destruction and hunting for skins to make tourist products or souvenirs contribute to the decline of reptiles. Each of us needs to take action to protect wild habitats so snakes and all animals can continue to perform the vital roles they play in maintaining the delicate balance of nature.
We need snakes! A few of the many benefits they provide are: •Snakes eat insects and rodents that eat our crops or spread disease. •By helping to control populations of these rapidly breeding animals, snakes keep their numbers at levels where natural habitats can support them. •Snake venom is used in medical research on blood clotting and anesthetics and to make some medicines.
The effort to save endangered species requires cooperation and support at the regional, national and international levels. You can help in this cause. Join and become active in a conservation organization of your choice. Don't buy products made from wild animal parts. To learn other ways you can help, contact Woodland Park Zoo at firstname.lastname@example.com about supporting conservation programs at the zoo.
Discover more about ball pythons by contacting the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles at: 303 W. 39th St., PO Box 626, Hays, KS 67601; or the American Federation of Herpetoculture: AFH, PO Box 300067, Escondido, CA 92030-0067. Learn other ways you can help conserve wildlife and habitats they require for survival by visiting our How You Can Help page.
We do not recommend reptiles as pets for most people as they require very specialized diets and environments. We also receive hundreds of requests each year to take former pet iguanas, boas and other reptiles but we cannot accept these due to space, health and unknown backgrounds. If you need to find a reptile or amphibian a new home, we suggest you contact a local herpetological group in your area.
In the Puget Sound region, contact the Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society as a resource. If you do choose to get a reptile as a pet, please learn as much as possible about their care and the best species before making your decision and never accept wild-caught animals as pets or release non-native reptiles or amphibians into the wild.
Bartlett, Patricia and Wagner, Ernie. 1997. Pythons. Barron's, Hauppauge, NY. 96 p.
Bauchot, Roland, ed. 1994. Snakes: A Natural History. Sterling Publ. Co, Inc, New York, N.Y. 220 p.
Matero, Robert. 1993. Eyes on Nature Series: Reptiles. Kidsbooks, Inc., Chicago, IL. 29 p.
Phylum: Chordata Class:Reptilia Order:Squamata Family:Pythonidae Genus: Python Species:P. regius
| Donor Login
email@example.com email@example.com


text:
President's Budget: Early Childhood Programs Core to Expanding Opportunity
Mar 04, 2014
In releasing his budget proposal for FY 2015, the President today reaffirmed his commitment to expanding high-quality early learning for all young children. The President's budget makes investments across birth to five programs in the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education, including child care, home visiting, Head Start and Early Head Start, and pre-kindergarten. The president called again for his preschool-for-all plan proposed in last year's budget. This includes preschool services for all low- and moderate-income 4-year-olds and an expansion of voluntary home visiting programs financed by an increase in the federal tobacco tax.
Following the budget deal that re-opened the federal government after a partial shut-down, Congress reached an agreement in December on overall spending levels for discretionary programs in FY 2014 and FY 2015. The President in his budget proposal, offers his priorities for spending within the agreed-upon spending limits in his base budget. In addition, he has offered an "Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative," which would further fund key priorities by closing tax loopholes and making other reforms. Congress would be required to take legislative action beyond annual appropriations in order to fully enact these additional priorities. The Opportunity Growth, and Security Initiative budget signals that the Administration views current revenue and spending levels as inadequate for making investments in programs core to increasing opportunity for all, including early childhood education.
Specifically, the President's budget request for FY 2015 proposes:
- An $807 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, of which $57 million is discretionary funding and $750 million is mandatory funding. Of the discretionary funds, $200 million would be available to states by formula to increase child care quality.
- A $270 million increase for Head Start and Early Head Start, including a $150 million increase for expansion of Early Head Start through Early Head Start-Child Care partnerships. The Opportunity, Growth, and Security initiative would provide an additional $800 million for Early Head Start-Child Care partnerships.
- A $250 million increase for preschool development grants to states to develop, enhance, or expand high-quality preschool programs for low-income children. The Opportunity, Growth, and Security initiative would provide an additional $250 million for preschool development grants.
- A $100 million increase for the Maternal and Infant Early Childhood Home Visitation (MIECHV) program.
- A $3 million increase for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C to support early intervention services for infants and toddlers and their families. (IDEA Part B preschool services would be funded at last year's level).
The President's budget is the first step in the annual budget and appropriations process. In this budget request, the President has laid out his priorities for investment. Congress will now have its turn to issue budgets and assign program spending levels. We encourage Congress to follow the President's lead in advancing a budget that increases opportunity for our youngest children.


text:
stop and shop, walmart, walgreens, cvs, places like that
Anyone know where I can get? I live in Canada ( Free if possible )
At like a one dollar store or sum tin
i found that metal ducking tape(the shit you use for air conditioning vents and so) works pretty good. draw a pic and use a stencil blade or scissors to cut it out. there whether proof and a bitch to remove.
the dollar store.
I sever heads, just to sharpen my skills
ive been to walmart, kmart, and a dollar tree and cant find them anywhere!!
i have the same problem i heard you can order a pack of 500 hundred of them for free but I'm just not sure where
^^ probaly thinking of us postal service stickers, if i remember right they may have discontinued them, as far as "hello" stickers, walmart or k mart, any mart store around.. otherwise ironlak has them at their store, black or pink and they say "G'DAY MY NAME IS" pretty neato.
zellers/ (ie target)
i'll be faymos one day;
Why do people say "grow some balls"? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.
stationary stores, bought 100 for 10$ pree good deal
Is this really a thread?
Look this shit up on google.
hahah true
common sense man go 2 staples targer k mart or walmart, or wal greens
k mart sucks
ive been there in the united states a while back, they have good prices, nice store layout i dont think its appropriate to say they suck, they are an all around good store!
obvious mental insanity zone
one must insure zen


text:
It's just impossible to break for you.
Hi friends Im fascinated with backtrack.
wep is easy to crack but wpa I dont think so
I test my linksys and I am sure that nobody can break my router
I tested:
1.-bruteforce (john the ripper) two complete days.
2.-atack dictionary (aircrack, cowpatty)
227 million wordlist
8.5 million "
3.-pyrit with atistream technology
2000 kb/s aprox
and I like to know more methods
... I don't get it. Just take the password, which you must know because you wouldn't be subjecting yourself to this audience without it, and add it to the dictionary file. Presto, you have used technology to demonstrate that WPA is vulnerable.
To me whatever the OP said sounds like as if he's trying to crack an AP that does not belong to him. There has been many many threads about how to break WPA and they all resolve to two things in common:
1) You cannot simply bruteforce it like you did with WEP. You can generate tables with random characters and pipe it through to break the WPA but that isn't proper bruteforcing as I'm sure most are aware.. not as elegant/slipstreamed.
2) WPA isn't as weak as WEP, and it won't be for some more time. So stop trying to crack networks that don't belong to you, if you simply want to examine how WPA can be cracked.. its been said before and I'll say it again, add the correct password into the same list you fed it through aircrack-ng.
Using backtrack for the first time is like being 10 years old again with the keys to a Ferrari.
I'm a compulsive post editor, you might wanna wait until my post has been online for 5-10 mins before quoting it as it will likely change.
I know I seem harsh in some of my replies. SORRY! But if you're doing something illegal or posting something that seems to be obvious BS I'm going to call you on it.
For some of the 10 year old hackkers around here with 0 knowlege about networking the answer would be indeed as they said, iu are doind illegal stuff blaaa ablaaa.
well you intelligent fedex hackers,if you insert your password in the dictionary, be sure to make a password taht starts wit a, the attack will take about 30 secs. cause that is no longer a attack, it is a log in!
Any password can be broken with a well built dictionary(not the ones on the net, those are rubbish). the security of a network stands in more configuration ,than a simple 100 character password.
if you seek for more options lear john the ripper(well) and download some/all Rainbow tables in the rainbow tables section.
It has to be also said that once cracking a network corectly you leave traces(tons) and if the network you ckack belongs to somene who knows how to trace you afterward, your ass is going to the can (wher you will be tagged in the behind by many ugly tattoed bully's)
geez can you people not understand what hes saying??
hes trying to find a way to crack his o-so-clever password he made for his wpa encrypted router just to test if it is possible to crack it.
i dont think theres any other ways to crack a wpa password besides those you did. btw there is always a possibility my friend dared me to crack his wpa router, which is across the street, and i did. it took almost an entire month of running a randomizer crack to get it but i did get it.


text:
USC Dance Conservatory to perform 'Coppélia' April 22 and 23
The University of South Carolina's Dance Conservatory will perform "Coppélia" April 22 and 23 at the Koger Center for the Arts.
Both shows will begin at 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $16 for the public; $14 for military; USC faculty and staff; and $10 for students. Call 777-5112 or 251-2222 to charge by phone.
Based on E.T.A. Hoffman's "The Sandman," "Coppélia" is full of humor and ballet mime. The ballet chronicles the story of Swanilda and Franz, whose relationship is threatened after a doll-maker successfully creates a doll – Coppélia - with a soul of its own. Though Franz initially falls in love with Coppélia, he eventually comes to realize she is only a doll and tries to reconcile with Swanilda.
"It is a special opportunity for our dance students, and for the audience, to enjoy a ballet that has been performed for 140 years in theatres across the world," said Marissa Freeman, administrative director and ballet mistress for the conservatory. The ballet premiered in 1870 at the Theatre Imperial de l'Opera in Paris, she said.
Junior dance-performance majors Olivia Anderson of Augusta and McCree O'Kelley of Columbia will perform the roles of Swanilda and Franze, respectively. The show includes 110 children, ranging in age from 3 to 16, dancing a variety of roles, including Flowers, Cupids, Village Children, Joy, Chinese Dolls, Scottish Dolls, Dresden Dolls, Spanish Dolls, Mazurka, Czardas, Waltz of the Hours and friends.
For more information, contact Kevin Bush at 777-9353 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
- What: Ballet, based on E.T.A. Hoffman's "The Sandman," full of humor and ballet mime
- Who: USC Dance Conservatory to perform
- When: 6 p.m. April 22 and 23
- Where: Koger Center for the Arts


text:
Toshiba m40x
512mb ram
128mb nvidia geforce 6600 go
1gb linux swap drv
5gb ext3
hd real install
The rest is windowsxp etc so doesn't come into this.
I noticed that when I have more than 4 desktops enabled and constantly switching between the whole screen just blacks out after a bit. Looks like either my card can't handle it or xwin can't.. I noticed the option to set the cache size to unlimited.
Should I assign different cache sizes to the additionnal desktops I enable after 4? Or does xwin automatically determine what it could handle?
A little hard work never killed anybody,
but why risk it?


text:
Before long, almost the entire population of Khimki (207,000 people strong) knew of Chirikova and her green movement.
green Salad—Pile green salad high on your plate—just avoid the fatty dressings.
Consider one bold, green dress with a voluminous skirt that shimmered with what looked like the green scales of an alligator.
In 2009, however, the author Lucy Siegle threw down the gauntlet, presenting Firth with the "green Carpet Challenge."
After his performance, she claims she was escorted to the green room and stayed after the rest of the people there left.
Lady George did not at all want to go to the house in green Street.
How he admires the rooks and the green grass on the graves, because the children do!
He reached the green door, and with no surprise found it wide open.
They were about the shape and size of mackerel, but yellow and green in colour.
Very few, but those who have cows or goats up on the green alps.
Old English grene "green, young, immature, raw," earlier groeni, from West Germanic *gronja- (cf. Old Saxon grani, Old Frisian grene, Old Norse grænn, Danish grøn, Dutch groen, Old High German gruoni, German grün), from PIE root *ghre- "grow" (see grass), through sense of "color of living plants."
Meaning "a field, grassy place" was in Old English. Sense of "of tender age, youthful" is from early 15c.; hence "gullible" (c.1600). The color of jealousy at least since Shakespeare (1596); "Greensleeves," ballad of an inconstant lady-love, is from 1570s. Green light in figurative sense of "permission" is from 1937. Green and red as signals on railways first attested 1883, as nighttime substitutes for semaphore flags. Green beret originally "British commando" is from 1949. Green room "room for actors when not on stage" is from 1701; presumably a well-known one was painted green.
Old English grenian (see green (n.,adj.)). Related: Greened; greening.
Advocating environmental protection; pro-ecological •The opposite of brown (1970s+)
Money, esp ready cash; folding money: plus ''green'' or ''front money'' to pay off others (1920s+ Underworld & sports)
Related Terms


text:
'Time Warner says it won't pay a 53 percent fee increase sought by MSG. MSG says it is not seeking a 53 percent increase. It says it wants to be paid the same as other TV providers. MSG has urged viewers to switch cable providers.'
Sabres fans await TV deal
January 3, 2012 Submitted by
Via: Tonawanda News


text:
Good job. Thanks for submitting this. There's one of the last steps I don't understand though.
How did you find out what encryption the file had? Also, out of curiosity, did you just assume the root password was the right key from the beginning or did you brute force this as well before?Code:openssl enc -d -aes-128-cbc -in salary_dec2003.csv.enc -out salary.csv -k tarot
Would be grateful for an answer!


text:
I'll be answering ten questions each month...
and if your question is chosen, I'll post a personalized response!
Submit Your Question
- from Rochester, NY
The project you are describing is called Pearlized Posies. You will find instructions for making both the flower cookies and the flower pot at: Pearlized Posies.
Return to all questions


text:
In 1879, two brothers decided to set up a business in the recently flourishing trade of the wine business. C.V.N.E., Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (The Northern Spanish Wine Company) or la Cuné, as it is commonly known in Haro, was created. This cellar still reflects the origins of the company and is kept in the traditional neighborhood of the Haro station.
The Cune winery in Haro, is made up of a group of buildings, mostly from the 19th century and arranged around a courtyard surrounded by pavilions for the purpose of wine production, aging, and bottling. View all CVNE Wines
About RiojaView a map of Rioja wineries (ree-OH-hah) Spain makes some of the best Tempranillo-based wines in the world. Once the only DOCa (recently joined by Priorat in 2001), Rioja is divided into 3 sub-regions: Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa. There are 4 red varieties and 3 white varieties allowed in the Rioja DOC. Tempranillo definitely takes center stage, followed by Garnacha (Grenache), which is sometimes added for body, then Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan). The region also makes roses. For whites, the main grape is Viura (or Macebo), producing fresh, early-drinking wines. Malvasia, the grape that was once the most planted white, is found less often.
Notable FactsThe Rioja wine trade is somewhat confusing. Grapes are typically brought to a merchant's bodega from one of the 20,000+ growers in the region, or via a cooperative. The wine is then bottled and labelled by that bodega. Rioja's Consejo Regulador keeps track of all vineyards and bodegas to make sure they are following the DOCa regulations. Put in place to ensure quality, the system also controls prices.
As with the rest of Spain, the wine label may state Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva, depending on barrel & bottle maturation. Crianzas are usually found within two years of the vintage and offer fresh, ripe wines. Reserva and Gran Reserva will be found a few years after the vintage, as the bodega will be aging the wines in barrel and bottle before release. Both typically show more secondary characteristics of spice and oak ageing.
About Spain
The most popular red varieties of Spain include Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache). Whites don't garner quite as much recognition, but there are some regional varieties not to be missed, like Albarino and Verdejo. The popular red regions of Spain include Rioja, known for its outstanding wines of the Tempranillo grape; Ribera del Duero, producing high quality reds from Tempranillo and Garnacha; Galacia, with the sub-region of Rias Baixas, home to the deliciously crisp and floral Albarino grape; and Priorat, a region increasing in popularity with its high-quality cult reds. Other regions of note are Rueda, growing the Verdejo grape, La Mancha, a wide desert region, covered in the most planted white variety in the world, Airen, and Jumilla, making wines based on Monastrell (Mourvedre).
Spain's wine laws are based on the Denominacion de Origen (DO) classification system, devised in the 1930's. A four tiered system, the most basic level is Vina de Mesa (table wine) followed by Vino de la Tierra (country wine), DO and at the top DOC. Currently, only Rioja and Priorat have DOC status, while over 65 DO's scatter the country.
Most DO regions are classified and regulated by how long they age the wines. On a red wine label, one may find the terms Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva, denoting the wine's barrel and bottle time. Crianza is usually two years between barrel and bottle (the time in each depends on the DO and/or the winemaker), Reserva up to 4 years and Gran Reserva 5 – 6 years. Classifications of each region and wine are controlled by the region's Consejo Regulador.


text:
International environmental artist work on display
Mary Edna Fraser, internationally known as an "environmental artist," will debut her collection at McKissick Museum Aug. 14 - Dec. 14.
On loan from NASA, "The Art of Environmental Awareness, 'Batiks' by Mary Edna Fraser," will be on display in the north gallery on the second floor of the museum.
Fraser helped bring the art form known as earthworks, which first emerged in the 1960s, to a wider audience with her use of batiks, an ancient medium that uses waxing and hand-dyed cloth.
Fraser's art expresses issues of climate change and the long-term effects on the environment. Working from a topographical viewpoint, her large-scale works use geological and geographical studies to document the changing face of the landscape.
Early earthwork artists paved the way for others whose works draw attention to the wonders of the environment, both natural and man-made. Growing out of this tradition and making her own mark, Fraser uses her art to direct attention to environmental concerns on a global scale.
A reception for Fraser is set for 5:30 – 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12.
McKissick Museum is located on the University of South Carolina's historic Horseshoe with available parking in the garage at the corner of Pendleton and Bull streets. All exhibits are free and open to the public.
Museum hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturdays. The museum is closed Sundays and holidays.
For more information, visit www.cas.sc.edu/MCKS/ or call Ja–Nae Epps at 803-777-2876.
By Web Communications


text:
Goiter - simpleSimple goiter; Endemic goiter; Colloidal goiter; Nontoxic goiter; Toxic nodular goiter
A simple goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually not cancer.
There are different kinds of goiters.
- A simple goiter can occur without a known reason. It can occur when the thyroid gland is not able to make enough thyroid hormone to meet the body's needs. This can be due to, for example, a lack of iodine in a person's diet. To make up for the shortage of thyroid hormone, the thyroid gland grows larger.
- Toxic nodular goiter isan enlarged thyroid gland thathas a small, rounded growth or many growths called nodules. These nodules produce too much thyroid hormone.
Iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormone.
- Simple goiters mayoccur in people who live in areaswhere the soil and water do not have enough iodine. People in theseareas might not get enough iodine in their diet.
- The use of iodized salt in many food products in the United States today prevents a lack of iodine in the diet.
In many cases of simple goiter, the cause is unknown. Other than lack of iodine, other factors that may lead to the condition include:
- Certain medicines (lithium, amiodarone)
- Infections
- Cigarette smoking
- Certain foods (soy, peanuts, vegetables in thebroccoli family)
Simple goiters are also more common in:
- Persons over age40
- People with a family history of goiter
- Women
Main symptom is an enlarged thyroid gland. The size may range from a single small nodule to a large neck lump.
Some people with a simple goiter may have symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland.
In rare cases,an enlarged thyroid can put pressure on the windpipe (trachea) and foodtube (esophagus). This can lead to:
- Breathing difficulties (with very large goiters)
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Swallowing difficulties
Exams and Tests
The doctor will do a physical exam. This involves feeling your neck as you swallow. Swelling in the area of the thyroid may be felt.
If you have a very large goiter,you may haveswelling in your neck vein. As a result, when the doctor asks you to raise your arms above your head, you may feel dizzy.
Blood tests may be ordered to measure thyroid function:
Tests to look for abnormal and possibly cancerousareas in the thyroid gland include:
- Thyroid scan and uptake
- Ultrasound of the thyroid
If nodules are found on anultrasound, a biopsymay be neededto check for thyroid cancer.
A goiter only needs to be treated if it is causing symptoms.
Treatments for an enlarged thyroid include:
- Thyroid hormone replacement pills, if the goiter is due to an underactive thyroid
- Small doses of Lugol's iodine or potassium iodine solution if the goiter is due to a lack of iodine
- Radioactive iodine to shrink the gland,especially if the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone
- Surgery (thyroidectomy) to remove all or part of the gland
Outlook (Prognosis)
A simple goiter may disappear on its own, or may become larger. Over time, the thyroid glandmay stop making enough thyroid hormone. This condition is called hypothyroidism.
In some cases, a goiter becomes toxic and produces thyroid hormone on its own. This can cause high levels of thyroid hormone, a condition called hyperthyroidism.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you experience any swelling in the front of your neck or any other symptoms of goiter.
Using iodized table salt prevents most simple goiters.
Kim M, Ladenson P. Thyroid. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 233.
Schlumberger MJ, Filetti S, Hay ID. Nontoxic diffuse and nodular goiter and thyroid neoplasia. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, et al., eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 14.
Review Date: 5/28/2013
Reviewed By: Brent Wisse, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.


text:
Reno's Gillespie cracks three homers
Outfielder smacks grand slam, three-run blast, solo shot in rout
By Jonathan Raymond / Special to MLB.com | June 29, 2012 9:00 PM ET
Cole Gillespie almost did the highly implausible Friday, hitting a grand slam, a three-run shot and a solo homer in Triple-A Reno's 11-3 drubbing of Fresno. Had the outfielder been able to add just a two-run homer, he would have had a proverbial home run cycle.
Instead, the 28-year old had to "settle" for a mere three-homer, eight-RBI game. He put on the show with his father in attendance.
"I've had the makings of a game like that before, with the first two, but never finished it with the third," said Gillespie. "That was special. My dad got in town the other night and it was nice to do it while he was here, nice for him to see that."
Gillespie first hit a grand slam to right with two outs in the bottom of the first. He went opposite field on his second shot as well, a three-run blast the very next inning. He walked in the fourth before pulling a solo homer to left in the seventh.
While it capped what was a certainly a career day for the Oregon State University product, he admitted he would have had the home run cycle in the back of his mind had he gotten another chance at the plate.
"I was thinking about that, but I guess at the end of the day, I'm happy where I was," he said, adding, "but that would have been something to remember for a while."
Gillespie added he might've been aided a little by a windy Reno evening, but wasn't about to complain about it.
"I had some good swings, got a little help from the wind," he noted. "It was blowing out to right. But you play with your conditions, you take what you can."
In the end, the one game raised Gillespie's slugging percentage 40 points, from .428 before Friday to .468 after his three-homer outburst. His batting average also rose to .296 and his on-base percentage sits at .380. The 2006 third-round pick also raised his RBI total by a third, from 24 to 32.
He said one of the most memorable aspects was simply the setting of the game.
"It felt a little surreal running around the bases. My teammates were super pumped and excited. It was good to see them having fun. Overall, it was just a fun night. We had a great turnout, a sellout I think.
"It was one I'll remember for a while."
On Friday, No. 17 D-backs prospect Ryan Wheeler went 2-for-3 for the Aces with a double and two runs scored. Zach Kroenke (5-1) scattered two runs over five innings for the win.
On the Fresno side, No. 2 Giants prospect Francisco Peguero fell a home run short of the cycle and plated two runs.
Jonathan Raymond is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


text:
Energy-efficient solution to maintaining stable temperature zones for tropical rainforest reptiles. Exo Terra Rainforest Heat Wave Mat Substrate Heater provides a reliable heat source while using less energy than most reptile habitat heating devices. Self-adhesive heating mat with ultra-thin, conductive heat technology installs with ease and allows versatile use as an under-tank or wall-mounted heater. Safe, even heat distribution aids important thermoregulation in terrestrial or arboreal rainforest species. Great for reptiles, arachnids, amphibians and other ectothermic species housed in humid or rainforest terrariums. For use with glass terrariums only.
Note: When mounted under the tank, the Heat Wave Mat Substrate Heater should not be used without a substrate in order to prevent reptiles from being burned. Once in place, the Heat Wave Mat Substrate Heater should not be removed.
Please click on "More Information" for installation instructions.


text:
Former Foreigner frontman launching summer tour
Listen to Foreigner on iHeartRadio
Lou Gramm is taking his band on the road. The one-time Foreigner frontman is launching a late summer trek in Canada, with an appearance at the Navan Fair in Navan, Ontario Friday night.
The three-and-a-half-week run also features a few festival stops, including Nova Scotia's Weir Rockin' 13; Monroe, Michigan's Monroe County Jam; and Memphis, Tennessee's Delta Fair & Music Festival. In addition to his summer shows, Gramm also has a concert set for Port Washington, New York on October 11th.
Gramm has been busy this summer promoting his recently released autobiography, "Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll." In addition, the singer reunited with his former Foreigner bandmate Mick Jones in June to share an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The event marked the first time they'd performed together in more than a decade.
Lou Gramm Tour Dates
August 9 - Navan, Ontario, Canada, at the Navan Fair 2013
August 10 - Massapequa, New York, at John Burns Park
August 17 - Upper Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Weir Rockin' 13
August 24 - Monroe, Michigan, at the Monroe County Jam
August 30 - Hanover, Maryland, at the Maryland Live Casino
August 31 - Clarksburg, West Virginia, at the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival
September 2 - Memphis, Tennessee, at the Delta Fair & Music Festival
October 11 - Port Washington, New York, at the Landmark Theater
Photo Credit Getty Images


text:
Brevard, N.C. - Clayton State scored two early goals, but were then held scoreless by good Tornado defense and Jack Shaw's good play in goal. Despite the strong defensive effort, the Tornados were unable to find the back of the net, and fell 2-0 in a non-conference match with the Lakers.
The Tornados fall to 1-13 while Clayton State improves to 8-4-1.
The Lakers first goal came at 12:46 when Leighton Fredricks scored on a penalty kick. Minutes later, Mathias Faublas connected Ryan Pugh to give the Lakers an early 2-0 lead.
The Tornados and Shaw faced 28 shots from the Lakers, 14 in each half. Shaw did his part saving seven. While the rest of the Brevard defense did everything they could to keep the team within two. With seventeen minutes to play, Anthony Cardenas saved a goal after Shaw had to come out to make a save leaving the net open.
The Tornados finished the game connecting well and serving up good balls for their teammates. However, the Lakers allowed the Tornados to take just two shots on goal, both of which were saved by keeper, David Cristofoli clinching the 2-0 win for Clayton State.
The Tornados will return to action on Friday when they travel to Belmont Abbey for a 4 p.m. match.


text:
Tools for Teaching Science
Physics Enterprises designs and manufactures unique and
affordable teaching equipment for classroom demonstrations
and science labs.
Over the thirty years, we brought several significant products
to the education market, awarded by the American
Association of Physics Teachers.
If you wish to learn more about our products and services,
check out our product catalog or contact us directly.


text:
BREAM dominated the catches in Sunday's Trowbridge Xmas match fished on the Bristol Avon at Staverton.
Kevin Grant, of Trowbridge, won with 25 lb with Colin Gittings, from Chippenham, next with 19 lb 14 oz.
Mick Higgins, from Westbury, was third with 16 lb 10 oz.
Other placings: 4. Dave Allen Frome 11 lb 5 oz; 5. Steve King Frome 8 lb 10 oz; 6. Gerry Lugg Beckington 7 lb 0 oz.
DEVIZES MG's James Carty finished as runner up in the Upper Thames Winter League practice match on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Great Bedwyn.
Troy Weaver, of Maver Lobbys, won the event with an all-perch catch weighing 16 lb 12 oz, ahead of Carty's skimmer and roach effort weighing 8 lb 4 oz 8 dm.
He was followed by Dave Parmitter of Swindon Isis with a mixed catch weighing 7 lb 4 oz 8 dm.
Other placings: 4. Stuart Dabbs Browning Andover 5 lb 1 oz 8 dm; 5. Martin Howerd Daiwa Gordon League 4 lb 9 oz; 6. Mike Marsden Devizes MG 4 lb 0 oz.
COMPETITORS found fish hard to tempt in the Ivy House Tuesday Open match where Mick Rosier, of Isis, took top prize with 28 lb 8 oz of carp and silvers.
Runner up was Fred Parker, of Wednesday Club, with 23 lb of carp and silvers followed by John Williams, of Ivy House, with a mixed catch of 14 lb 5 oz.
Andy Lord of Ivy House was fourth with 8 lb.
THERE was good sport in the opening round of the Landsend Individual League as Mark Poppleton, from Trowbridge, carried off top prize with 104 lb 10 oz of carp.
Mike Duckett of Landsend was runner up with 82 lb 11 oz of carp followed by Craig Edmunds, of Avon Angling, with 75 lb 4 oz of carp.
The silvers prize went to Mark Brennan, of Preston Innovation Thatchers and Tom Thick, of Thatchers Tackle with weights of 17 lb 8 oz.
Other placings: 4. Tom Thick Thatchers Tackle 60 lb 8 oz; 5. Tom Magnell Mosella 60 lb 6 oz; 6. Bob Gullick Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG 60 lb 1 oz.
THE River Marden at Hazeland produced good catches for Sunday's Calne Xmas match where Gary Dodson was the clear winner with 31 lb 10 oz of chub and skimmers.
Pat Samuel, from Newbury, was runner up with 11 lb 6 oz, followed by Martin Dolman, of Calne, with 8 lb 11 oz of chub.
Other placings: 4. Kevin Williams Chippenham 8 lb 10 oz; 6. Shane Belcher Calne and Nick Lofy Calne 6 lb 4 oz each.
Future events
Saturday Dec 15: Calne Junior Xmas match at Sabre Lake.
Thursday Dec 20: Bathampton Over 55s/Disabled Xmas match at Bridge Pool.


text:
Great game!!
Game works seamlessly with all of our Guitar Hero equipment. Its a blast, The keyboard takes a little practice but you will catch on quick!
Was this review helpful to you?YESNO
Game works seamlessly with all of our Guitar Hero equipment. Its a blast, The keyboard takes a little practice but you will catch on quick!
Was this review helpful to you?YESNO
the game is great - was had very fast delivery
Was this review helpful to you?YESNO
Rock Band 3 is the next major installment in the Rock Band series, reinvigorating the music game genre with incredible new features for advanced and casual players alike, offering something for everyone.
The Music: Rock Band 3 will have an incredible 83-song setlist, as well as support for the over 1,500 existing Rock Band tracks (Rock Band and Rock Band 2 discs, DLC, track packs, AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, LEGO Rock Band, and Green Day: Rock Band). The setlist contains songs from some of the best bands from around the world, including bands that have never appeared in a music game! Don't think it stops there - the regular weekly DLC releases will continue after Rock Band 3's release.
Rock Band 3 also includes an improved Music Library, allowing players to create and save setlists, and share them with friends, both in-game and right here on RockBand.com. Song filtering will make it easier to find the tracks you want to play. You can also hide the songs you don't want to play, and seek out new songs using a built-in song recommendation system based on personal preferences.
The Instruments: In addition to the plastic guitars, bass, drums, and vocals you're used to, now you can jam on a couple of new instruments. Play vocal harmonies with up to three players like you did in The Beatles: Rock Band. And for the first time ever you'll also be able to play using a keyboard peripheral! The band has gotten bigger - playing with all available instruments, you and six friends can all rock at the same time. Rock Band parties will never be the same.
If you're ready to take the next step in music gaming, check out Rock Band 3's Pro Mode. Ever had someone ask you why you play plastic guitar instead of learning a real instrument? Now you can tell them you ARE learning a real instrument. Rock Band 3 empowers players to develop actual musical skills through the fun of Rock Band Pro gameplay. Start at Easy and work your way up through Expert on three different Pro Modes, just like you did with the plastic guitars and plastic drums.
Pro Drums supports three expansion cymbals, with gameplay differentiation between toms and cymbals.
Pro Keys features pitch-accurate keyboard performance across a two-octave range, displayed on an easy-to-read keyboard track.
Pro Guitar features notated guitar and bass performances, available for play with either the new Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar simulated guitar controller from Mad Catz or the Rock Band 3 Squier by Fender Stratocaster Guitar real guitar/controller hybrid. The Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster is a fully functional, full-sized, six-string electric guitar that also functions as a game controller that Fender and Harmonix have teamed up to develop.
All Pro Modes include tutorials and a difficulty progression from Easy through Expert, giving you the chance to learn at your own speed. And if you're not ready to take that leap - or you just don't want to buy another instrument peripheral - Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most third-party controllers.
New Gameplay: Party Mode: Get the party started faster and keep it going all night! Party Shuffle lets you start the game immediately, while persistent drop-in/drop-out lets players take turns (or take a break!) without interrupting the flow of play. You'll also be able to choose (or change!) your difficulty on any gameplay screen - including mid-song.
Career Mode: If a more long-term play is your style, get ready for over 700 goals and rewards, with seamless leaderboard integration, for a deep campaign experience.
Social Networking: Rock Band 3 adds social networking tools so you can interact with friends and fellow Rock Band rockers using Facebook, Twitter, and more.
Complete Song List:
|Mfg Part#
|Game Software Included
|All-new Keyboard instrument for Rock Band 3
|Plays Rock Band 3 Keyboard, Guitar* and Bass* parts
|Two-octave design with 25 velocity-sensitive keys
|Play real Keyboard parts in the new Rock Band Pro Mode
|Versatile layout: Play like a Guitar or on a tabletop
|3 AA Batteries and Keyboard Strap included
|Use as MIDI Keyboard Controller when not playing Rock Band (compatible with most MIDI sequencers)
|Compatible with official Rock Band Keyboard Stand (sold separately)
|*Does not support Guitar/Bass Pro Mode
|Game Format
|Nintendo Wii
GREAT GAME & FAST DELIVERY on Apr 01, 2013
Great game!! by A customer on Dec 28, 2010


text:
In this short article we learn about Al-Mas'udi, a man regarded by Ibn Khaldun as the Imam of historians. Al-Mas'udi was responsible not only for a great deal of first hand reports but he was also instrumental in designing and establishing both a distinctive style of narrative and shaping the profession of the historian.
Baghdad in the ninth and 10th centuries was an exciting place. The seat of the caliphate, the great city was the undisputed centre of the Muslim world in politics, trade, scholarship and the arts. It was both home and crossroads to people of many nationalities – a cosmopolitan city, fresh with innovations. This role was reflected in such institutions as the Bayt al-Hikma ("House of Wisdom"), a centre established by the Caliph al-Ma'mun for the translation of Greek scientific treatises and other works into Arabic. Baghdad also became noted for its scholars' new approach, driven by a passion for the natural world that paralleled the focus Islam had brought to the spiritual world. One of the leading intellectual innovators was the historian Abu al-Hasan 'Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Mas'udi, born in the city in about 895 CE.
Earlier and more traditional Muslim historians such as al-Tabari, whom al-Mas'udi greatly admired, collected vast quantities of material and set it down in roughly chronological order. Each piece was supported by its chain of transmission—"I had it from x, who had it from y, who was present at z when such and such happened"—exactly as was done with hadith, the "traditions" of the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Such compilations were comprehensive but unreadable. The "new school" of al-Dinawari and al-Ya'qubi, two other ninth-century scholars, improved on this method, favoring a continuous, selective narrative. Al-Mas'udi built on their ideas, adding as much first-hand knowledge as he could, particularly with regard to foreign countries and contemporary events. More than any other Muslim historian, al-Mas'udi tried to keep his books lively with stories and anecdotes, and this gave him great appeal to readers in his day.
Though some modern commentators have called this characteristic frivolous, the criticism is unfair. Al-Mas'udi's digressions not only lighten his sometimes interminable accounts of internecine wars, but he also used them to make subtle points: A seemingly irrelevant story of a caliph's behavior as a child will foreshadow how, a hundred pages later, the same man faced death; or the rebelliousness of a slave girl will foretell future rebellion in the state. A close reading of al-Mas'udi reveals that he is a master storyteller, and in examining his technique, it is wise to assume that every detail is significant. One would also need to be hard-hearted to wish that he had left out some of his marvelously romantic stories: the picaresque life of the caliph's son, Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi; the rise and fall of the Barmakid family, a tale that rivals Greek tragedy; or the footnotes to the life of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, whom we know today from the Thousand and One Nights. This all makes al-Mas'udi the most entertaining and charming of the classical Arab historians, and he has been compared with good reason to Herodotus.
About al-Mas'udi himself, however, strangely little is known. The lack of information is all the stranger in that al-Mas'udi, by his own account, was a native of Baghdad and knew many writers and scholars, some of whom mined his works for such purposes as providing entries in their biographical dictionaries. Yet those same dictionaries dedicate little, if any, space to him in return. Our knowledge of al-Mas'udi, therefore, relies almost entirely on what he tells us, which is precious little. He reveals nothing directly of his private life, his social position, his profession or the sources of his income—though we can reconstruct or deduce a small amount. On intellectual matters, however, he is more open, and it is possible to learn a good deal of his tastes, opinions and prejudices, his attitudes toward historiography and scholarship, and his friendships with other eminent men of his day.
Ibn al-Nadim, the Baghdad bookseller who lived from ad 935 to 993, mentions him in his Fihrist—essentially a detailed book catalogue—which was written some 30 years after al-Mas'udi's death. Unfortunately, the information he gives is sketchy and largely incorrect, but he does mention a number of his works, including the one for which he is best known, Muruj al-Dhahab, The Meadows of Gold. Even the exact years of al-Mas'udi's birth and death are uncertain; he must have been born about 895 and died in 956 or 957. His professional status is also unknown, but he was a prolific writer: He mentions 34 of his own works that have not survived down to our time, two of them massive compilations that are frequently—and maddeningly—referred to in The Meadows of Gold. For example, he writes this at the end of the chapter on China:
"There are still a great deal of fascinating information and all kinds of interesting things to set down about the Chinese and their country, but we will come back to the subject later on in this book and say more about it, even though we have dealt with it very thoroughly in our Historical Annals and in our Intermediate History. In fact, we have principally used this present book to set down such details as were omitted from those we have just cited."
Also among the books that have vanished there appear to have been a further four major historical works, while the others were largely theological and philosophical, with one or two on science, geography and travel. Fortunately, his masterpiece, The Meadows of Gold, is one that has survived. It seems to have been completed, at least in a first version, by 947 CE, but al-Mas'udi apparently revised it repeatedly almost until his death. Ibn Khaldun, the great North African historian and philosopher of history, wrote this about The Meadows of Gold more than 400 years later:
"History consists of the recording of the particular events of an era or a generation. The general conditions of far-away places, generations and eras constitute a basis for the historian on which most of his objectives are built and according to which his reports are classified. Men once devoted themselves to this genre of writing, as did al-Mas'udi in his Meadows of Gold, in which he explained the conditions of nations and far-away places, both East and West, down to his own days.… He mentioned their creeds and customs, described countries, mountains, seas, kingdoms and states, and distinguished Arab from non-Arab nations. He thus became an imam [a model] for historians who refer to him, and a source upon which they depend to verify many of their reports."
The Meadows of Gold combines two of al-Mas'udi's great interests: history and geography. He covers, in the traditional medieval manner, the history of the world, from the creation up to his own century, with a wealth of stories and anecdotes drawn from other scholars or from his own experience. The mixture is glorious: a list of trees which, according to tradition, Adam and Eve were allowed to bring with them from Eden; a description of Cleopatra's death, uncannily foreshadowing Shakespeare, with whom al-Mas'udi shared the same classical sources; the purple and gold books of the pre-Islamic rulers of Iran; a life of the Prophet Muhammad; exchanges of prisoners with the Byzantines; a natural history of the elephant, both African and Indian, together with reflections on the ivory trade; tragic love stories; the caliphs' feasts, with recipes; and on, and on. The list is almost endless, and one by one the caliphs, even the most shadowy, warm to life.
The geographical sections, which are among the most interesting to modern readers, are either accounts of his own very far-flung travels or, where there are gaps in his personal experience, accounts gleaned from sources he considered reliable. For example, referring to other scholars, he tells us that "their researches on the latitude of the earth have proved that the inhabited area extends from the equator as far north as Thule, beyond Britain, and there the longest day lasts 20 hours."
Again, when discussing some methods of water divining, he quotes textbooks on agriculture. On the topic of India, he says of Jahiz—the great scholar, thinker and wit, of whom he elsewhere tells many admiring stories—
"Al-Jahiz claims that the Indus, the river of Sind, comes from the Nile and adduces the presence of crocodiles in the Indus as proof. I do not know where he could have found such an argument, but he puts the theory forward in his book, Of the Great Cities and Marvels of the Earth. It is an excellent work, but since the author never sailed, nor indeed travelled sufficiently to be acquainted with the kingdoms and cities, he did not know that the Indus in Sind has perfectly well-known sources."
Al-Mas'udi then recounts what those sources are. He is interesting to read for his accounts of his own travels, particularly to the Far East, Yemen and India, but he also went to a great deal of trouble to collect information about the Byzantine Empire and Greek culture in general. This is not surprising when one considers that Arab science and learning were in full flower and that their debt to the scholars of Greece was well-recognized. Furthermore, Byzantium was at that time the prime adversary of the Islamic world, and so naturally information about the country and its customs was of more than academic interest.
Al-Mas'udi also made great efforts to find out as much as possible about remote areas of the world. This was clearly not easy, but he managed to glean a certain amount about the Slavs, for example, small numbers of whom traded regularly in Baghdad, as well as the other peoples of Central and Eastern Europe. There is a certain amount about Africa, but there he is more concerned with the geography and natural history, such as exports of panther skins, the habits of the rhinoceros and the course of the Nile, than he is with the customs of the people. This is slightly surprising, since the large number of African slaves in Baghdad would have made gathering information relatively simple. (It may have seemed too easy, too well-known to be worth setting down.) More surprising is the lack of information on North Africa and Spain, which at that time was Muslim. He does say a little about Galicia, but clearly al-Andalus did not interest Baghdad as much as Baghdad interested al-Andalus.
Al-Mas'udi's aims are made clear to the reader in his address near the end of The Meadows of Gold:
"In this book, I have in very few words set down numerous happenings and have made brief mention of events of considerable importance. In any case, each of my works contains information omitted in the book that preceded it, information which could not be ignored and knowledge of which is of the greatest importance and a genuine need. Thus I have reviewed every century, together with the events and deeds which have marked it, up until the present. Furthermore, there is to be found at the beginning of this book a description of the seas and continents, of lands inhabited and uninhabited, of the lives of foreign kings,
kings, their histories and those of all the different peoples. If God gives me life, if He extends my days and grants me the favour of continuing in this world, I will follow this book with another, which will contain information and facts on all kinds of interesting subjects. Without limiting myself to any particular order or method of setting them down, I will include all sorts of useful information and curious tales, just as they spring to mind. This work will be called The Reunion of the Assemblies, a collection of facts and stories mixed together, to provide a sequel to my earlier writings and to complement my other works.
"As to the events set down here, they are of the kind that a wise man cannot ignore and which it would be inexcusable to omit or to neglect. If one does not more than enumerate the chapters of this book, without reading each one carefully, the truth of what I am saying will not be appreciated, nor will its erudition be given its due."
His remarks on the knowledge "that a wise man cannot ignore" have an interest for us that al-Mas'udi could hardly have foreseen: A thousand years ago, what knowledge was a wise or otherwise educated man in Baghdad expected to have? The answer, if The Meadows of Gold is to be believed, is a great deal. Indeed, the range would be comparable to that expected today, but of course different in content: a little more theology and a little less technology, but perhaps not so different as one might expect.
Another aspect of The Meadows of Gold that interests us today, though not a primary concern of al-Mas'udi's, is the light it sheds on the social life and customs of his times. Islam, perhaps because of its emphasis on the community rather than the individual, is not a tradition rich in autobiography. Therefore, the passages in which al-Mas'udi describes such things as being received at a millionaire's house for breakfast, fashions in architecture, the organization of a medical conference, the correct way to lay a table for a formal party or the functioning of the Baghdad police force are not only informative, but they help us to imagine, however dimly, a world which would otherwise at this distance seem to be mostly a matter of dates (often uncertain), battles (often indecisive) and political disagreements (often unresolved).
As we read through the whole of The Meadows of Gold, al-Mas'udi's character emerges with surprising clarity. Besides the breadth of his learning, the most striking thing is perhaps his tolerance. Al-Mas'udi's attitude to Christianity, Judaism, polytheism and heretical Muslim sects is above all one of curiosity, a wish to "set the record straight" and to inform his readers of the facts of each case insofar as he has been able to learn them. Though in Europe, in al-Mas'udi's time, intellectual activity was inconspicuous and hatred of the unorthodox or unfamiliar was rampant, al-Mas'udi's intelligence and lack of prejudice would have been remarkable in any time or place, and all the more so in a man who there is every reason to believe was devoutly religious.
Another aspect of al-Mas'udi's personality that his writings reveal is his distaste for cruelty. By the standards of the Middle Ages, or indeed our own time, The Meadows of Gold is poor in horror stories, and where al-Mas'udi describes the sack of a city or the punishment of a traitor, he rarely dwells on detail, and not infrequently one senses the author's disgust.
Al-Mas'udi had a fine sense of humor, and he was an excellent raconteur. To some extent his stories are literary devices, but a number were about incidents he himself observed. There is also a suggestion of kindliness, for although al-Mas'udi can tell a story against an individual—and he appears to have had a prejudice against the legal profession in general—the account is usually good-humored. Where he criticizes other writers and scholars, as we have seen in the case of al-Jahiz, he makes a point of tempering his remarks with praise. For example:
"I consider that Sinan ibn Qurrah al-Harrani undertook a task outside his competence and followed a path that was not his when he composed that book which he addressed to one of his friends, secretly to the Audience Chamber, in the form of a letter…. However well the work is carried out and however truthful the author, we can only blame him for having abandoned his own sphere and having taken on something for which he was unfit. Why did he not remain in the field of science, where he had no rivals in the knowledge of Euclid, of the divisions of [Ptolemy's] Almagest or of circles? Why did he not develop the views of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle…? In this, he would have acquitted himself with honor and his abilities would have coincided with his understanding. But where is the man who recognizes the limits of his strengths and the boundaries of his competence? Abd Allah ibn al-Mukaffa has said with good reason, 'All authors pursue an aim; reaching it, they win glory; failing, they are dishonoured.'"
When it came to research and writing, al-Mas'udi was, for all his occasional lightness, greatly serious. The Meadows of Gold opens with a description of what he is setting out to do, a table of contents and a list of sources that is a kind of catalogue raisonnée, in which he gives particular praise to such men as al-Suli, who set down what they themselves had witnessed, together with those who showed particular breadth of interest and encyclopedic learning. He prefaces his list with the following remarks:
"By composing these works on universal history and collecting such facts as have been bequeathed by time concerning the prophets, the kings and their regions, the different nations and their places on the globe, we have sought to follow the path beaten by wise and learned men and have tried to leave to posterity a solid memorial built with art and skill. The authors who came before seemed to have sinned either by an excess of detail or, on the contrary, by too great concision. Although the materials available have increased with time and as a result of the events which gave rise to their existence, even the most judicious minds have all too often neglected extensive areas of them, each one specializing in a particular field and limiting himself to what was available in his native country. Now he who has never left his hearth and has confined his researches to the narrow field of the history of his fatherland cannot be compared to the courageous traveller who has worn out his life in journeys of exploration to distant parts and each day has faced danger in order to preserve in excavating the mines of learning and in snatching precious fragments of the past from oblivion."
Al-Mas'udi was clearly thinking of his own efforts and his own travels. The debate on specialization versus broad knowledge is not peculiar to any era, and though our own time inclines to sympathize with the specialist, the 19th century—or for that matter the Renaissance—would have been entirely on al-Mas'udi's side.
He continues with a remarkable mix of rigor and generosity:
"The number of works dealing with history is very considerable, and among the various authors who set down the annals of antiquity or who have related the events of modern times, some have succeeded, while others, on the other hand, have proved unequal to the task. Nevertheless, we are obliged to recognize that all these writers did the best they could with their talents and deployed such strengths as they possessed."
Al-Mas'udi was, as he repeatedly says, scrupulous about quoting authorities (and he was anxious that he in turn should be credited), and he frequently qualifies statements by saying that he has been told such-and-such but has no way of verifying it. In the case of his geographical writings, he made every effort to go and see for himself. At the beginning of The Meadows of Gold, where he gives a bibliography of his own works, he writes:
"We beg the readers indulgence for any mistakes or oversights that may occur in this book, for our memory has grown weak and our strength been exhausted by long and difficult journeys over land and sea. Avid to learn for ourselves all the remarkable things that exist among different peoples and to study the particular characteristics of each country with our own eyes, we have visited Sind, Zanzibar, Indochina, China and Java, have moved through the hearts of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Beilakan, and have explored Iraq and Syria."
Two other small points are, perhaps, worth making. Al-Mas'udi's attitude to women is liberal, though indeed their status was high in Baghdad at that time. His pages are full of noble and admirable women of all kinds: Zubayda, the wife of Harun al-Rashid, famous for having endowed the pilgrimage road to Makkah that still bears her name; Layla al-Akhyaliyya, the great poet; Khayzuran ("the reed"), who rose from the slave market to become the power behind the throne; the warlike Um al-Banin; and a whole host of dancers, singing girls, slaves, market vendors, poets, mystics and even Christian nuns, who collectively serve to give a much more balanced picture of the world than the one presented by so many historians of the Middle Ages.
Secondly, his other surviving work, the Book of Instruction and Admonition, is less interesting than The Meadows of Gold to the general reader, although it does contain some biographical material and extremely important geographical information, some of it found nowhere else.
But The Meadows of Gold is far richer. Near its end, the author wrote:
"The information that we have gathered together here is the fruit of long years of research and painful efforts, of our voyages and journeys across the lands of East and West and among various nations which lie beyond the pale of Islam. May the reader, then, examine the book with kindly eyes and have the goodness to correct any copyist's errors or mistakes in transcription which may offend him, and to take our efforts into account, bearing in mind the good relations and respect which learned men should have towards on another! The author of this book compares himself to a man who, having found pearls of all kinds and of all colours scattered here and there, gathered them together into a necklace and makes of them a precious ornament of great price which its possessor guards with care. Lastly, may the reader rest assured that I have not here taken up the defence of any sect, nor have I preferred this doctrine or that. My aim has been to trace the beauty of the histories of many peoples, and I have no other."
The text of this article is a reprint of:
Caroline Stone, 'The Model of the Historians', Saudi Aramco World. March / April 2005.
Image Sources:
Image 1 (Dhow) Source: www.timedesign.de
Image 2 (Bayt Al-Hikma) Source: www.oi.uchicago.edu
Image 3 (Quote) Source: MH.com


text:
The Seven Worst Kid's T-Shirts
T-shirts for babies and children worth getting your knickers in a twist over.
-Mama Betty
You know, one of the things about being a mom is that you really realize how easy it is to judge other people… until you walk in their shoes. Never throw stones, you start to learn, as you plop your toddler in front of the TV and open a bottle of chardonnay. However, when it comes to the following T-shirts – forget all that "nonjudgmental" crap. Judge the parents who dress their babies and children in these tees. Judge them harshly. Because seriously, people, this goes beyond "ironic" and "funny" and veers right over into "Using Your Baby as Poster Child for Your Sick and Classless Sense of Humor" territory.
Read Top 10 Weirdest Celebrity Baby Names
Just in time for the holiday shopping season – seven of the most hideous T-shirts for babies and children around:
1. Start them young on a path to f*#kable-ness. Because we all want our daughters to grow up to be slutty. Starting now! (Teesed.com)
2. Speaking of future strippers… what exactly is going on here? Nipple tassles for your infant, anyone? (Twistedtwee.co.uk)
Read Octomom Keen on the Idea of Having More Kids
3. A prize pick for your tween girl from Jon Gosselin's favorite designer, Ed Hardy. Love the caption: "Love kills slowly." Totally appropriate! (Macys.com)


text:
$29.99 - FREE Pop Series Tote Bags - (Just Pay Shipping)
Do you Love Pop Art? Then these custom designed Premium Linen Tote Bags are a MUST HAVE! Our Premium Line Tote Bags are hand sewn using durable, yet lightweight poly cotton fabric. Each bag features a double sided print and is finished with a sturdy 1" wide strap for comfortably carrying over the shoulder. Each tote bag measures 17.7"x17.7" and you can get it FOR FREE, but only for a limited time!
We are running a special promotion, and YES we are giving them away for FREE. You just have to pay the shipping and handling!
We ship with a USPS tracking number. Shipping takes between two and four weeks.
Click the red "Get My Free Tote Bag Now" button now! Limited Quantity - Will sell out fast!
Bubble Gum Girl - $ 0.00
Strawberry Girl - $ 0.00
Oh My Girl - $ 0.00
Pop Strawberry Girl - $ 0.00