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Parma somehow ended a run of two straight defeats in Serie A against a resurgent Genoa after they escaped with a goalless draw at the Tardini.
Despite a late charge by the Gialloblu, the visitors were left cursing their luck as Andrea Bertolacci hit the bar twice from shooting positions. The midfielder was first denied from the edge of the box, before his strike from a corner took a deflection off Marco Borriello.
Nonetheless, a point was enough for Genoa to extend their unbeaten start to life under Davide Ballardini. Parma, meanwhile, sit ninth and close the gap on Roma to two points.
It was a tale of wasted opportunities in Bergamo on Sunday as neither Atalanta nor Catania could find the breakthrough at the Azzurri d'Italia.
Lucas Castro and Gonzalo Bergessio were presented with their fair share of chances to hand the Sicilians all three points, but wayward finishing was to be the name of the game, while Giacomo Bonaventura proved to be the hosts' biggest threat.
The result leaves Atalanta in 14th place, but Catania drop down to eighth following Udinese's win over Torino.
Palermo began life under new boss Alberto Malesani in spirited fashion, coming back from behind to draw 1-1 with Pescara at the Renzo Barbera on Sunday.
On 73 minutes, the Delfini - keen to end a run of four straight losses - took the lead via Birkir Bjarnason's header from a free kick.
But just seven minutes later Diego Fabbrini linked up with defender Ezequiel Munoz to earn the Sicilians a
point and ensure the former Fiorentina, Parma and Bologna coach avoided defeat on his debut.
Despite remaining bottom of the table, Palermo are now level on points with Siena, but Pescara miss the chance to jump out of the relegation places.
Aurelio Andreazzoli's reign as Roma head coach got off to the worst possible start following a 3-1 defeat to Sampdoria - the Giallorossi's fourth loss in their last six league matches.
Ten minutes into the second half, debutant attacker Gianluca Sansone, who sealed a deadline-day switch from Torino, drilled in a cross for Marcelo Estigarribia to turn in.
The capital outfit then thought they had worked their way back into contention when Pablo Osvaldo won a penalty following Daniele Gastaldello's foul in the box. The Italy striker, however, failed to find the target.
It was fitting then that Sampdoria would leave Roma to rue their missed spot-kick by netting a second goal via Sansone, although goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was not entirely blameless in its build-up.
Roma were offered hope when Erik Lamela coolly struck home a left-footed volley, but man of the moment Mauro Icardi flicked in the clincher for the Blucerchati.
The match sadly ended on a sour note as Sampdoria coach Delio Rossi was given his marching orders for an alleged middle-fingered salute towards Argentine defender Nicolas Burdisso, but his team climb to 11th in the table.
The visitors, meanwhile, fall 10 points behind arch-rivals Lazio in the last Champions League play-off spot and remain winless in the league in 2013.
A closely-contested match in Emilia-Romagna saw Bologna and Siena play out a 1-1 draw which does neither side any favours in their quest for survival.
The Tuscans, who would be three points clear of the relegation zone if not for their points deduction, went ahead on 33 minutes when Innocent Emeghara met Alessio Sestu's cross.
However, Stefano Pioli's troops were not to be defeated on home soil and Alessandro Diamanti's flighted free kick was turned in at the back post by Panagiotis Kone.
The Rossoblu sit in 15th spot and are now unbeaten in three games, but Siena stay second from bottom in the table.
Udinese continued their rise up the Serie A table after they narrowly overcame Torino 1-0 at the Friuli on Sunday to bolster their hopes of a European place.
The winning goal came early in the first half when Antonio Di Natale's shot rebounded off Granata goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet and into the path of Roberto Pereyra, who made no mistake from close range.
Torino, who suffered the misfortune of seeing coach Giampiero Ventura sent off for dissent towards the referee, drop to 12th position. Udinese, meanwhile, climb to seventh.


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This is what's going on at Dolphins camp today:
I spent some time talking with Karlos Dansby today. I can report that the brace he was using on his left upper arm during the time he's been playing with a torn left biceps came off today. Dansby says he will not be using it anymore in practice or games because he feels well enough to go without it.
This is a big deal to him because the brace restricts his arm mobility and, he said, was one reason he missed an interception at Buffalo a few weeks ago. He wanted to reach with his left arm but couldn't so instead had to try and snatch the football with only one arm.
Dansby said playing without the brace will be better for him and as evidence he said he had an interception in practice today.
As you know, Dansby had questions about whether Cameron Wake and Jared Odrick should have been in against the New England Patriots late in the game Sunday. I know that Philbin doesn't like being second-guessed publicly. Who does?
But despite being uncomfortable with the topic, Philbin said he did not cover the issue with Dansby today -- the first day the Dolphins reconvened since Dansby's comments.
"I've made my comments in regards to my feelings about the play-time earlier," Philbin said. "There's always decisions that have to be made in a game with regard to who's playing, who's not playing. Those sometimes change in the midst of a game based on a variety of factors. That's done and that's been over with and now it's on to San Francisco."
So, I pressed, did Philbin talk to Dansby about it?
"No," he said under his breath. "Again, I'm going to tell you the focus on mine and our football team is on playing San Francisco."
Two things: Philbin did speak with the entire team when Chad Johnson was cut and several players, including Dansby, disagreed with that call. Also, it is possible Philbin will speak with Dansby either later today or later in the week about the topic. It's also possible it doesn't get addressed at all.
The coach clearly wasn't eager to discuss this anymore.
Dansby and Kevin Burnett this week believe there's an opportunity for them to make a lasting impression on the league because they expect comparisons between themselves and San Francisco linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.
"Those guys are great, they really are, they do a great job," Dansby said. "So KB and I know this is a chance for us to play our game and show what we can do so people will see how we compare."
If Dansby and Burnett, who have been good contributors, decide a little rivalry with Bowman and Willis is good motivation, then have at it, gentlemen.
Reggie Bush is expecting a hard-nosed game against San Francisco.
"It's going to be a tough game," he said today. "Make no mistake about it, this is probably going to be the most physical game we've played all year to date ... It's going to be a grind-it-out football game. It's going to be one by three points, seven points.
"We're going to have opportunities to make plays this game but it's going to come down to our effort, our ability to execute and how bad we want to win."
Bush went on to say the Dolphins will "have to play an almost near-perfect game to win."
As has been discussed countless times in this cyberspace, Bush is a mismatch against linebackers in the passing game. And yet, the Dolphins don't use him a lot in that role. Bush has only 28 catches on the season -- mostly on check-down passes.
You ever wonder why the Dolphins don't use him more in the passing game? Bush has.
"Yeah, I wonder about it," he said. "But it's not really my decision to make. The tape is there. The proof is there. If they need me to go run routes, I think they know I can do it. I've done it in practice. It's a matter of scheme and how they feel."

subset: commoncrawl


text: > -----Original Message----- > From: beowulf-admin at beowulf.org [mailto:beowulf-admin at beowulf.org]On > Behalf Of Mark Hartner > Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 04:41 > To: Mark Hahn > Cc: beowulf at beowulf.org > Subject: Re: gige benchmark performance > > > We found the 860 chipset did quite well. We also ran tests on an Athlon > system (Tyan S2460), but I was never able to get the graphics stable on > that system. > > I noticed that you used rather old Nvidia driver (1251 Rev). The latest versions are very fast and stable now on AMD CPU, combined with the kernel option "mem=nopentium" set up int lilo.conf or grub.conf. Luc. renambot at cs.vu.nl


text:
The Classic Mini is an icon of
casual style. Now pretreated for protection from water and staining, this
luxurious sheepskin boot has also been updated with the Treadlite by UGG sole,
which provides increased cushioning, durability, and traction.
100% Authenticity, Guaranteed
We carefully inspect every shoe with a fine toothed comb, twice, to validate its authenticity, and to check for conditional/manufacturing issues to ensure all of our items are pristine . We stand behind every item we sell, so you can feel safe about buying.
Prodotto inserito in catalogo martedì 19 settembre, 2017.


text:
Spurs Recall Aron Baynes from Austin Toros
SAN ANTONIO (February 4, 2013) – The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have recalled center Aron Baynes from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.
Baynes appeared in two games for the Toros after being assigned to Austin on Feb. 1. He averaged 18.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in 27.5 minutes in his first D-League assignment.
Signed by the Spurs on January 23, Baynes has appeared in two games for the Silver and Black, averaging 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 9.5 minutes.


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Tell the story with movement, not dialogue
This Brer Fox walk from 1946 is not wacky or funny, but it sure is great. Instead of him telling us with words how confident he is that he caught Brer Rabbit; his cocksure, slow shuffling walk with his hat over his eyes tells us visually exactly how he is feeling. I think some Disney animators are more comfortable acting in silence than when they are stuck with dialogue.
But if you watch the clip and whistle along with the music you can get a better idea of how the walk works. It's 4/4 timing at 8x per beat. On the first beat of each bar , Brer Fox kicks his foot out and up. Then he bounces in place, steps back down and then crosses his legs into the next step. Each action on the beat in this pattern:
1KICK, 2 Bounce 3 bounce and step (foot contacts ground), 4 step flat and cross legs into next kick
Repeat with other foot.
It's interesting that the whole scene is to this beat - even Fox's dialogue.
"HOW DO YOU DO" -each word on the beat
"he WISHin HE NEVer BEEN BORN"
They must have played the metronome for the actor so he would speak in 4/4 time at 8x per beat.
This post got me to thinking about why animation and cartoons began to steer off course in the late 1940s. I'll tell you my theory later.


text:
DELTA, Colo.—No injuries have been reported after a small plane was forced to make an emergency landing on a highway in Delta.
Delta police spokeswoman Jamie Head said the plane left Grand Junction on Thursday and traveled about 40 miles before losing power.
Head said the pilot tried to make it to a nearby airport, but was forced to land on U.S. Highway 50. The plane did not hit any vehicles and the pilot was able to move to the shoulder of the highway. The highway was temporarily closed.


text:
To report an emergency in progress, call 911.
In January, 1996, a Concept Report for the Dry Creek Greenway was produced through a collaborative effort by representatives of Placer and Sacramento Counties; the Cities of Roseville, Rocklin, and Sacramento; the Town of Loomis, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, the Trust for Public Lands, and the National Park Service. This report proposed the development of an open space system through northeastern Sacramento County and southwestern Placer County following the Dry Creek floodplain from its headwaters in Miners and Secret Ravines to its mouth at Steelhead Creek, formerly known as the Natomas East Main Drainage Canal. Since the publication of that document, Sacramento County has created the Dry Creek Parkway Plan that formally established the Parkway from Steelhead Creek to the Sacramento-Placer County line.
The March 10, 2004 "Dry Creek Greenway Regional Vision" document describes the various open space corridors and trail elements that comprise the Greenway.


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When it comes to getting fresh glowing skin, Benefit High Beam can't be beat. This liquid highlighter from Benefit is one of the most popular highlighters on the market for a good reason. There are many highlighters out there and most of them are duds. It's a product that's hard to get right. Instead of a youthful glow, many highlighters give a greasy shine. Others have noticeable chunks of glitter that look ridiculous in sunlight. Even the ones that do look alright tend to clog pores. Benefit got the formula right when it created High Beam. This is definitely one of our top Benefit makeup picks.
High Beam comes in a small bottle with a brush attached to the lid, similar to the packaging of nail polish. However, it is easier to apply it with your fingertips as that gives you more control over where you apply it and makes blending easier. For the most natural look, dab the brush onto your fingertips and then dot the product onto your cheeks, brow bone, and the bridge of your nose and then blend it in an outward circular motion using your fingertips. It is fairly long lasting which means you won't need to touch it up during the day. However, it is easy enough to tuck the bottle into your purse just in case.
In the bottle, the liquid looks a bit on the pink side but when applied, it makes your whole face look brighter without any trace of pink. The color works even on the palest of skin tones. The popularity of High Beam has also led to the creation of a warmer-toned version, Moon Beam, which looks particularly nice with a deep tan.
Benefit's High Beam is a great way to get radiant skin without looking shimmery or oily. It is subtle enough to wear during the day, but it's easy to get a dramatic look by applying it with a heavy hand for a night out. Like other Benefit Cosmetics products, it doesn't irritate sensitive skin or clog pores. Overall, this is a well-rounded highlighter that really delivers on its promises. Just a small amount of product can totally transform your face from dull and tired to bright, awake, and glowing.


text:
We teach all the
traditional Ballroom Dances, popular Latin American
including Argentine Tango, plus international sequence
and Australian New Vogue dances.
HALL UNAVAILABLE to us on the 6th and
12th December.
Home |
Our Dances |Our Videos
| Music |
Song Lyrics & Poems
| Contact Us
© 2011 Alan Wright. All Rights Reserved52 St Albans Street,
Merivale, Christchurch, New ZealandPhone: 64-3-355 9912


text:
Price Inspector UK - Find the Best Deal
PriceInspector Suggestions
Scroll down to view the lowest bargains for 19 tft from our selection of UK shops in Computers and Hardware including these related brands: 3M, UNBRANDED, BENQ, IIYAMA, 5 STAR OFFICE.
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Our price detectives have been searching leading UK Computers stores and have outlined amazing prices in your hunt for 19 tft. Some of the suspects they have found on this page include some leading brands including 3M, UNBRANDED, BENQ, IIYAMA, 5 STAR OFFICE, which should help you find the best deal to buy. They have also written a very useful selection of Computers buying tips where we offer a useful insight into all of 19 tft.
These product listings are not price comparisons as such, but we have grouped the stores that have a individual product match with 19 tft, so we are still confident that you will find the prime suspects - if you're still in doubt, check for comparisons by clicking the Compared Prices which is located just underneath our logo.
Unlike other price comparison sites, PriceInspector is free from advertising banners and does not offer paid-for listings to any retail outlets on these 19 tft products or any other merchandise.
Refine by Category


text:
Mass Tort Lawyers in Maine
More Personal Injury Areas
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Railroad Accidents / FELA
- Boating Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Commercial Truck Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Mass Tort
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Wrongful Death
- Class Action
- Drug Litigation
- Workplace Injuries
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Dog Bites
- Premises Liability
- Products Liability
- Brain Injury
By County
Showing attorneys 1–15 out of 500 attorneys available for your search query.
Thomas Douglas207-591-5747
Thomas Douglas is an experienced litigator who has successfully argued cases in state and federal courts throughout Maine, including the Maine Supreme Court. Representative cases include general business disputes, intellect... » Read more
Maine Trial Lawyers Association
Thomas Douglas
Board Member
Joseph Goodman207-775-4335
I have been practicing law since 1992. My practice includes representing clients in both State and Federal Court primarily in Maine, though I have also represented clients in Federal Court in New York, Kentucky, etc. The maj... » Read more
Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Joseph Goodman
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Joseph Goodman
Alan E Shepard207-985-2291
I am an attorney in a small firm, and have a wide range of legal experience. I was a summer intern in the District Attorneys office during my last year of law school and procesecuted many cases. After graduation I had a gener... » Read more
Maine Trial Lawyers Association
Alan E Shepard
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Alan E Shepard
William T Bly207-571-8146
William Bly is an attorney in Biddeford, ME. His practice is focused on criminal defense in the State of Maine including Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Auburn, Biddeford, Augusta, Saco, Kennebunk, KennebunkPort, Brunswick.
DUI Defense Lawyers Association
William T Bly
Jason Jabar207-314-4489
Whether you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, an accident on the job, by a bite from a dog, or in a burn injury, you may find yourself in pain, unable to work, worried about how your family will get along without the ... » Read more
Victor Jon Koufman617-423-2212
Attorney Victor J. Koufman is a graduate of Harvard College and Northeastern University School of Law. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney's Office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and... » Read more
Anthony Ferguson207-786-0606
Maine Trial Lawyers Association
Anthony Ferguson
Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Anthony Ferguson
Christopher R. Causey207-324-4422
Maine Trial Lawyers Association
Christopher R. Causey
Christopher E McCabe Esq.207-200-7044
I am the attorney and managing partner of McCabe Law, LLC. I practice in the areas of medical marijuana and business law and handle both transactional and litigation matters, and have experience with medical marijuana law as ... » Read more
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Christopher E McCabe Esq.
N. Laurence Willey Jr.207-262-6222
National Board of Trial Advocacy
N. Laurence Willey Jr.
Board Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Advocacy
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N. Laurence Willey Jr.
Board Certified Specialist in Civil Pretrial Practice
Michael P Turndorf207-729-4500
Highly experienced trial lawyer. Practice areas include personal injury, medical malpractice, family law and criminal defense.
John Scott Webb207-283-6400
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John Scott Webb
Sustaining Member
Terrence D Garmey207-774-3199
The Inner Circle of Advocates
Terrence D Garmey
Wendell Graham Large207-774-7474
National Board of Trial Advocacy
Wendell Graham Large
Board Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Advocacy
Leonard I Sharon207-344-6311
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Leonard I Sharon
Life Member


text:
Bean Soup with Parmesan Croutons and Bacon
|Vegetables, Beans, Bread, Meat
|Day Part
|Lunch, Dinner
|Menu Part
|Cuisine Type
This soup is a soul satisfying combination of flavors and textures. A steaming bowl accompanied by Parmesan croutons and bacon will be sure to please.
5 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. rosemary, chopped
2 cans cannellini beans, rinsed
8 cups chicken broth
1⁄2 cup Parmesan, grated
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
1 sourdough baguette
1⁄2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
1⁄4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
1. In a small sauté pan, cook bacon until translucent, about 3 min. Add onions and celery and cook until soft about 8 min. Stir in garlic and sauté 1 min.
2. Add beans, rosemary, and stock and simmer for 30 min. Puree soup and reheat.
3. In a small bowl, combine Parmesan and mayonnaise. Spread on baguette slices and broil until golden. Garnish with bacon and parsley and serve.


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Project Description
The objective of this study was to develop a reservoir-assessment tool based on novel and robust borehole seismic technology that can generate ultra-high resolution P and S wave images for detailed characterization and precise monitoring of CO2 storage sites. Paulsson investigators built and tested a prototype downhole seismic system capable of deploying a thousand 3C downhole receivers using fiber optic sensor technology deployed on drill pipe. The system was tested at a CO2 storage site. There are three primary components of a downhole seismic system: (1) the seismic sensor, (2) the deployment system, and (3) the surface electronics and recording system. The planned approach for the sensor involved designing a high-temperature fiber optic receiver. For a deployment system, a small diameter, high strength drill pipe using offshore drill pipe manufacturing technology was used. The drill pipe was used as the backbone for the high-temperature deployment system and power is supplied through the tubing to clamp the receiver pods to the borehole wall. The strain on the fiber was recorded, analyzed, and transformed into a seismic record using an interferometric technique with all electronics and instruments placed at the surface.
Project Benefits
This project focused on characterization of storage sites and the tracking of CO2 in the subsurface by designing, building, and testing a next-generation downhole seismic system. Improved site characterization CO2 tracking enables an operator to more confidently demonstrate that the storage formation is being efficiently utilized and that the CO2 is permanently stored. Specifically, the project employed a fiber-optic seismic sensor technology deployed on drill pipe to provide enhanced, high-resolution, seismic imaging technology. Improved site characterization contributes to better storage techniques thus reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.
Contact Information
Click to view Presentations, Papers, and Publications


text:
Is the Gold in My Jewelry Real?
|Time Required
|Long (2-4 weeks)
|Material Availability
|This science fair project requires access to some laboratory equipment, such as a 37°C incubator, a Bunsen burner, as well as some specialty reagents, which can be ordered online. It also requires several pieces of jewelry, including at least one 14-karat gold piece. See the Materials and Equipment list for more details.
|Average ($50 - $100)
|This science fair project involves the use of the bacterium E. coli. Standard microbiology and bacterial safety guidelines should be followed. See the Microorganisms Safety Guide for more details. Projects using bacteria may require pre-approval from your science fair's Scientific Review Committee. To maintain a sterile environment, you will be working near a lighted Bunsen burner. Keep all flammables, including hair and clothing, away from the flame.
AbstractHave you ever wondered if a piece of jewelry is real gold or if it's just some ordinary metal alloy? It turns out that some metals have a unique property; even in small amounts, they can be toxic to some organisms, including algae, molds, fungi, and bacteria, although it often takes many hours to see an effect. Can this phenomena, called the oligodynamic effect be used to tell whether or not the gold or silver in a piece of jewelry is real? Do bacteria react differently to pure, plated, and non-gold jewelry? Find out for yourself in this unique treasure-testing science fair project!
Determine if the antimicrobial properties of metals are a good test for whether or not a piece of jewelry is made out of real gold.
Share your story with Science Buddies!Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Veselin Dobrev, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Edited by Sandra Slutz, PhD, Science Buddies
Cite This PageGeneral citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.
MLA Style
APA Style
Last edit date: 2018-04-21
Have you ever looked at a piece of gold jewelry and wondered "Is it real?" To answer that question, you might first have to decide on the definition of "real." Gold jewelry is usually described in karats (kt). 24-kt gold is pure gold. While theoretically it is 100% gold, most countries allow a 1% margin for impurities. Pure gold is relatively soft and easily dented, which means that jewelry made from pure gold is easier to accidentally damage. So gold is often mixed with a variety of metals, including copper, zinc, and silver, to make jewelry of different physical strengths, karats, colors, and monetary values. There are also cultural influences over what people think of as "real" gold jewelry. In most Asian countries, "real" gold jewelry is usually 21-24 kt. In the United States, "real" gold jewelry is normally 10 kt, 14 kt, or 18 kt. However, looks are rarely a good way to judge if a piece of jewelry contains a significant proportion of gold. Pieces that are less than 9 kt (the international cutoff for "real" gold jewelry), or that are gold-plated (meaning they have a thin layer of gold put over the surface of a less-expensive metal), or that are even made of brass, can still have the shiny appearance of yellow-gold.
So, how can we differentiate between real gold jewelry and all the others? Because gold is a natural element (number 79, atomic symbol Au on the periodic table of elements), it has specific chemical and physical properties. Jewelers and laboratories that specialize in testing metal use these properties to decide whether a sample is made of gold, and what the level of purity, or karatage, of the gold is. These tests include properties like how the sample scatters light from X-rays, how heavy the ions released from the sample are, and the exact weight of the sample once it is purified.
Figure 1. Looks alone aren't enough to tell which of these pieces of jewelry are gold and which are merely gold-plated, or other metals altogether. From left to right, these pieces are made up of other metal alloys, gold plating, and 24-kt gold.
It turns out that in addition to these physical and chemical properties, gold has a biochemical property: it is toxic to some life forms. Although it is completely harmless to humans and other mammals, gold can be harmful to bacteria, algae, molds, and fungi. Some other metals, including nickel, copper, cadmium, and mercury, also have this property. Collectively, metals capable of causing harm to organisms are often referred to as heavy metals or toxic metals and many of them, like mercury and cadmium, are harmful to humans, too. Usually, it is not the metal that is toxic, but the ions it forms when in contact with water. An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons does not equal the number of protons, which gives it a net negative or positive charge. These ions are easily transported into tissues and cells where they interfere with normal functions. The exact mechanism of their interference depends on the type of metal ion, and on the organism under attack. This toxic effect of metal ions, even in very low concentrations, on bacteria is called the oligodynamic effect. The word oligodynamic comes from the Greek words oligos, meaning "few," and dyanmis, meaning "force."
In this science fair project, you will investigate whether the oligodynamic effect of gold on bacteria can be used to determine whether a piece of jewelry is composed of gold, is just gold-plated, or is not gold at all. To do this, you will use a harmless strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). You'll spread the bacteria uniformly across four agar plates: one with no jewelry, to serve as a control, one with gold jewelry, one with gold-plated jewelry, and the last with non-gold jewelry. In the plates containing jewelry, the water in the agar will combine with the metal to form metal ions. Don't worry, it won't harm your jewelry! The amount of metal that is converted into metal ions is so small you wouldn't even be able to measure the loss using the most sensitive of scales. These metal ions will diffuse out from the jewelry into the agar where they can be absorbed by the bacteria. The concentration of metal ions will be highest right next to the jewelry and gradually reduce as you move out in concentric circles from the jewelry. If the metal ions produced have an oligodynamic effect, meaning if they're toxic to the E. coli, the bacteria will not grow where the ions are present. The areas without bacterial growth are referred to as zones of inhibition and are characterized by a clear circle around the jewelry in an otherwise contiguous lawn of bacteria. The larger the zone of inhibition, as measured by the diameter of the clear circle around the jewelry, the greater the oligodynamic effect. Will the different types of jewelry (gold, gold-plated, and non-gold) exhibit different degrees of oligodynamic effect? Can zones of inhibition be used to determine whether a piece of jewelry is "real" gold? Try it and find out for yourself!
Figure 2. This photo shows zones of inhibition, the clear circles surrounding the white disks in what is otherwise a lawn of bacteria, for a Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion assay. The procedure for this science fair project is an adapted version of that assay. In both cases, the size of each zone of inhibition is measured with a ruler, and the data is recorded in a lab notebook. (D.M. Rollins and S.W. Joseph, 2000.)
Terms and Concepts
- Gold
- Karat (kt)
- Gold-plated
- Brass
- Periodic table of elements
- Biochemical
- Heavy metals
- Toxic metals
- Ion
- Oligodynamic effect
- Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- Positive control
- Zone of inhibition
- Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method
- If a necklace is described as being 14-kt gold, what does this mean?
- What metals is gold commonly mixed with? What effects do these various metals have on the gold?
- What methods are used for telling if an object is made of gold or not?
- Which metals are considered to be toxic to humans?
- How do metal ions form?
- The procedure in this science fair project is an adaptation of the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method. What is this method and for what is it typically used? How is this project's procedure similar, and how does it differ?
Information about gold and the karatage system is available at this website:
- World Gold Council. (n.d.). About Gold Jewellery. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.gold.org/jewellery/about-gold-jewellery
This resource discusses toxic metals:
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2009, June 2). Toxic Metals. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalsheavy/index.html
An overview of the oligodynamic effect is given here:
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2009, September 15). Oligodynamic Effect. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oligodynamic_effect&oldid=314201397
This animation from the CCBC Faculty Web shows the complete procedure and use of the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method in a clinical setting. The bacterial growth conditions are different in this project, but the basic concept is the same. The last section covers how to interpret the results of the test, which will be particularly useful for your science fair project.
- CCBC Faculty Web. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing by CLSI (NCCLS) Reference Disk Diffusion Method (Kirby-Bauer). Retrieved April 20, 2018, from http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/labmanua/lab19/images/kirby%20bauer.htm
This website explains the Kirby-Bauer Disk-Diffusion method:
- Rollins, D.M. and Joseph, S.W. (2000, August). Antibiotic Disk Susceptibilities: Kirby-Bauer Disk-Diffusion Method. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from http://www.life.umd.edu/classroom/bsci424/LabMaterialsMethods/AntibioticDisk.htm
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Materials and Equipment
Note: If you are carrying out this experiment in a school laboratory, which is recommended, some of the materials and equipment listed below may be more readily accessible.These items can be purchased from Carolina Biological Supply Company, a Science Buddies Approved Supplier:
- Nutrient agar plates (12)
- E. coli, K-12 strain
- Sterile transfer pipettes. Alternatively, a micropipette (P1000) and sterile tips may be used.
- Bacterial spreader. Alternatively, sterile cotton swabs may be used (from a previously unopened package counts as sterile).
- Beaker
- 70% ethanol. Note: If you are ordering this chemical through Carolina Biological Supply Company, the chemical must be ordered by a teacher and shipped to a school or business address, so plan accordingly.
- Disposable gloves (6 pairs). Alternatively, these can be purchased at a local drug store or pharmacy. If you are allergic to latex, use vinyl or polyethylene gloves.
- Jewelry (3 pieces). Should all be similar sizes and shapes—the larger the pieces, the easier the results will be to interpret. Flexible link bracelets, necklaces, or anklets work best. The three jewelry types you need are as follows:
- 14-kt gold or higher (1). Gold jewelry sold in the United States is stamped with a karat mark which indicates the karatage; a 14-kt necklace would have a "14K" stamped somewhere on the surface of the necklace.
- Gold-plated (1), sometimes referred to in commercial jewelry descriptions as "gold over"
- Not gold, but some other "gold-colored" metal alloy, like brass (1), sometimes referred to as "gold toned" in commercial jewelry descriptions
- Mild dish detergent
- Clean dish cloth
- Permanent marker
- Bunsen burner
- 37°C incubator.
- Note: If you have access to one, it is recommended that you use a 37°C incubator to grow your plates in, but the project can be done without one. See the Experimental Procedure for more details.
- Ruler with millimeter (mm) markings
- Lab notebook
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Is the Gold in My Jewelry Real?
Experimental Procedure
For health and safety reasons, science fairs regulate what kinds of biological materials can be used in science fair projects. You should check with your science fair's Scientific Review Committee before starting this experiment to make sure your science fair project complies with all local rules. Many science fairs follow Intel® International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) regulations. For more information, visit these Science Buddies pages: Projects Involving Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents and Scientific Review Committee. You can also visit the webpage ISEF Rules & Guidelines directly.
- The bacteria used in this science fair project, E. coli, is a biosafety level 1 bacteria. While E. coli is not considered a biohazardous or dangerous bacterium, it is important to always properly clean and dispose of bacteria and supplies that come in contact with it. See the Bacterial Safety guidelines below for more details about how to handle bacterial cleanup and waste.
Getting the Jewelry Ready
You will need to clean the jewelry before starting this science fair project. This will ensure that the surface of the jewelry is free from contaminating bacteria, and that the metal, gold, or otherwise, is in direct contact with the agar plates, rather than shielded by dust or oil.
- While wearing disposable gloves, wash the jewelry in mild dish detergent with warm water. Rinse it well.
- Gently dry the jewelry with a clean dish cloth and set it aside.
Preparing the Test Plates
Label four nutrient agar plates with the permanent marker.
- Petri dishes should always be labeled in permanent marker and on the bottom of the plate. Labeling the lid is not sufficient, as the lid is removable and might accidentally get swapped with another plate.
- One of the plates will be a control to make sure your bacterial lawns grow well and evenly. Label this plate: Control.
The other three plates will be your actual gold jewelry experiment plates—one for each piece of jewelry. Label them:
- Non-gold
- Gold plated
- Gold, and the proper karatage. For example: 14-kt Gold
To make your bacterial lawns, you will need to work in a sterile environment. Work next to a lighted Bunsen burner, but be careful around the flame. If you have long hair, tie it back. Do not wear flowing sleeves, and avoid reaching across the flame.
Take out your E. coli culture and gently shake it to evenly distribute the bacteria in the liquid. Using a sterile transfer pipette or micropipette, add 500 μl of the E. coli culture to the surface of an agar plate. Try to put the culture in the center of the plate. Refrigerate the remainder of the culture for repeats.
- Tip: One drop is about 50 μl, so 500 μl is equal to approximately 10 drops.
Sterilize the bacterial spreader by dipping it in a beaker containing approximately 30 mL of 70 percent ethanol, and then holding the spreader in the flame of the Bunsen burner for 10 seconds.
Caution: You do not want the beaker of ethanol to catch on fire; ethanol is highly flammable, which is why it is used here in combination with the flame to sterilize the spreader. To avoid potential accidents, keep the beaker of ethanol on the opposite side of your workspace from the Bunsen burner.
- Note: If you do not have a bacterial spreader, use sterile cotton swabs (from a new, unopened box) to spread the bacteria across the surface of the agar plates. You may need to add more of the E. coli culture if the swabs are soaking up too much of it.
- Hold the spreader away from the flame for an additional 30 seconds to let it cool. If the metal is too hot when it touches the bacterial cells, it will kill them.
Using the spreader, spread the drops of E. coli culture uniformly around the agar plate with E. coli on it.
- Start by gently touching the spreader to an area of the plate far away from the drops of bacteria. This way, if the spreader is too hot, you won't kill the bacteria.
- Move the spreader to the center of the plate where the bacteria are. Spread the bacteria across the whole surface of the plate using up-and-down motions.
- Turn the plate 90 degrees and repeat the spreading motion.
- Keep turning the plate by 90 degrees and spreading until you have been around the whole plate (a total of four 90-degree turns).
- Remember to put the lid on the agar plate as soon as you are done to prevent other bacteria and contaminants from floating in.
- Repeat the pipetting, sterilization, and bacterial spreading steps for all four of your agar plates.
- Take out your E. coli culture and gently shake it to evenly distribute the bacteria in the liquid. Using a sterile transfer pipette or micropipette, add 500 μl of the E. coli culture to the surface of an agar plate. Try to put the culture in the center of the plate. Refrigerate the remainder of the culture for repeats.
- After you have spread all your agar plates, wait 5 minutes for the surface of the plates to dry. Remember, keep the plates covered.
Now you are ready to place the jewelry on the plates.
- Do not add anything to the Control plate.
Put on a fresh pair of disposable gloves. Add the corresponding piece of jewelry to each of the plates labeled: Gold, Gold plated, and Non-gold.
- Each piece of jewelry should be placed in the middle of the corresponding plate.
- Arrange each piece of jewelry in a manner so that the maximum amount of jewelry surface area is in contact with the agar plate. If the jewelry is made of flexible links, coil it so that it makes a continuous circle on the plate. See Figure 3, below, for a visual example.
- Try to make each piece of jewelry the same size and shape, preferably a circle, on the plate.
Figure 3. Each piece of jewelry should be arranged on its own plate. If possible, coil the jewelry to form a circle with the maximum amount of surface area in contact with the agar plate.
Re-cover and incubate the plates at 37°C for 48 hours. Make sure to invert the plates (lid-side down, agar-side up) so that any water condensation does not fall onto your bacterial lawn.
- Note: If you do not have access to a 37°C incubator, you can grow the bacteria at room temperature. Keep the plates away from direct sunlight, but in a warm part of the house. For example, you may want to keep them in a plastic bag (to protect them from dust) next to a heating vent or the clothes dryer. The incubation time will be longer than in an incubator. Start checking your control plates after 72–96 hours of growing time.
Measuring Zones of Inhibition
After 48 hours of incubation (72–96 hours if you are not using a 37°C incubator), examine your plates (keep the lids on while you do this).
- Do you see a lawn of bacteria on the Control plate? If not, incubate the plates for an additional 24–48 hours until there is a decent bacterial lawn.
- The Control plate should show relatively uniform lawns. If you see dense bacterial growth in some areas and swatches of light or no bacterial growth in other areas, then your bacteria-spreading technique needs improvement. You will need to repeat the experiment again, paying special attention to spreading the E. coli culture across the plates to get reliable data.
- If the metal in the jewelry has an oligodynamic effect, you should see zones of inhibition around the jewelry. The edges of the clear zone should be a relatively uniform distance away from the edges of the metal.
Using a ruler, measure, in millimeters (mm), the zones of inhibition.
- If the three pieces of jewelry are all arranged in circles of similar size, measure the diameter of the clear zone.
- If the jewelry is not circular, measure the distance from the edge of the clear zone to the first edge of the jewelry. Make several measurements around the piece of jewelry and average the measurements to get one representative data point.
- Record all your data in a data table in your lab notebook.
Repeating the Experiment
To ensure that your observations are accurate and repeatable, carry out the experiment two more times.
- If possible, use a new culture each time.
- If a new culture is not available, remove the old E. coli culture from the refrigerator and gently shake tube. Leave tube at 37°C for one hour. Use this culture as your starting point for creating the bacterial lawn.
Analyzing the Data
- Are the sizes of the zones of inhibition consistent across your replicates? Calculate the average and standard deviation for each piece of jewelry you tested. For more information about calculating and interpreting standard deviations consult the Science Buddies guide to Variance and Standard Deviation.
- How do the average zones of inhibition compare for each type of jewelry? Did one type have a larger zone of inhibition than another? Do any of them show an oligodynamic effect?
Bacterial Safety
Bacteria are all around us in our daily lives and the vast majority of them are not harmful. However, for maximum safety, all bacterial cultures should always be treated as potential hazards. This means that proper handling, cleanup, and disposal are necessary. Below are a few important safety reminders. You can also see the Microorganisms Safety Guide for more details.
- Keep your nose and mouth away from tubes, pipettes, or other tools that come in contact with bacterial cultures, in order to avoid ingesting or inhaling any bacteria.
- Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling bacteria.
Proper Disposal of Bacterial Cultures
- Bacterial cultures, plates, and disposables that are used to manipulate the bacteria should be soaked in a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) for 1-2 hours.
- Use caution when handling the bleach, as it can ruin your clothes if spilled, and any disinfectant can be harmful if splashed in your eyes.
- After bleach treatment is completed, these items can be placed in your normal household garbage.
Cleaning Your Work Area
- At the end of your experiment, use a disinfectant, such as 70% ethanol, a 10% bleach solution, or a commercial antibacterial kitchen/bath cleaning solution, to thoroughly clean any surfaces you have used.
- Be aware of the possible hazards of disinfectants and use them carefully.
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
MicrobiologistMicroorganisms (bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi) are the most common life-forms on Earth. They help us digest nutrients; make foods like yogurt, bread, and olives; and create antibiotics. Some microbes also cause diseases. Microbiologists study the growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of microorganisms to promote health, industry, and a basic understanding of cellular functions. Read more
Materials Scientist and EngineerWhat makes it possible to create high-technology objects like computers and sports gear? It's the materials inside those products. Materials scientists and engineers develop materials, like metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites, that other engineers need for their designs. Materials scientists and engineers think atomically (meaning they understand things at the nanoscale level), but they design microscopically (at the level of a microscope), and their materials are used macroscopically (at the level the eye can see). From heat shields in space, prosthetic limbs, semiconductors, and sunscreens to snowboards, race cars, hard drives, and baking dishes, materials scientists and engineers make the materials that make life better. Read more
Biological TechnicianWhat do the sequencing of the human genome, the annual production of millions of units of life-saving vaccines, and the creation of new drought-tolerant rice varieties have in common? They were all accomplished through the hard work of biological technicians. Scientists may come up with the overarching plans, but the day-to-day labor behind biotechnology advances is often the work of skilled biological technicians. Read more
- Do other metals have an oligodynamic effect? Are they greater or smaller than gold's? Devise an experiment to find out.
- If you see a difference between the gold, gold-plated, and non-gold jewelry pieces in the experiment above, try using your observations as a way to determine whether other pieces of jewelry are real gold or not. Hint: consider using a "blind" test method.
- The science fair project above does not distinguish between the metals being bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic. Things that are bacteriocidal kill the bacteria, whereas those that are bacteriostatic temporarily inhibit bacterial growth. If you observe an oligodynamic effect, devise a test to determine if the metal ions are bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic.
Share your story with Science Buddies!Yes, I Did This Project! Please log in (or create a free account) to let us know how things went.
Ask an ExpertThe Ask an Expert Forum is intended to be a place where students can go to find answers to science questions that they have been unable to find using other resources. If you have specific questions about your science fair project or science fair, our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.
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28 Oct 2008 19:14:09 PM
Mouthpiece Sports Investigates Fighter Groupies, Double-KOs + Reality Show Weirdos
CagePotato reader Brian W. just turned us on to the hard-hitting investigative journalism of Chicago-based sports website Mouthpiece Sports, which works in some solid MMA coverage between the Bears/Bulls/Cubs/Sox/B'hawks stories. Here's a sampling of their work; Diego Sanchez, Miguel Torres, and Dana White talk fighter groupies in the video above, Tyler Bryan discusses his web-legendary double-knockout with Shaun Parker in the video below, and we get a look at some of the knuckleheads we might be seeing on TUF 9 after the jump. "Plubicity" FTW.Read More DIGG THIS


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Lemon juice and warm water
Sour fruits stimulate the pancreas to release digestive enzymes. Start your day with a cup of lemon juice and warm water.
Garlic reduces sugar in the bloodstream and helps the pancreas to produce insulin. It contains sulfur, arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids and selenium – all of which benefit the pancreas.
Oregano oil
Oregano is a powerful anti-hyperglycemic compound that is extremely beneficial to the pancreas.
Dandelion tea
Dandelion tea flushes toxins out of the intestines and liver as well as helping to repair damaged pancreatic tissues.
Olive Leave tincture or extract
The active compound in olive leaves is oleuropein. Supplementing with this compound helps to reduce the pain and swelling associated with pancreatitis. Taking olive leaf tincture or extract regularly supports the liver, thyroid and pancreas.
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and cauliflower contain powerful chemicals which may help prevent cancer. Broccoli is rich in the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin, which may inhibit human pancreatic cancer cell formation. Cruciferous vegetables provide easily absorbable nutrients needed to support the pancreas.
Sweet potato
Sweet potato is linked to boosting pancreatic function and has been found to stabilise blood sugar levels by slow releasing sugars gradually into the bloodstream.


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I just joined the group and looking to play casually around Fremont or Milpitas area.
I am a 3.0 player and from Sept 4-7 I can play after 5PM.
Views: 185
Replies to This Discussion
Hi Peter,
I can play weekend or weekdays after 6.00, let me know if you want to play next weekend or during the week after 6.00
Hi Venkat,
I can play any day this week after 5PM. Sunday morning is fine too.
Want to try for tomorrow, Tueaday, around 6PM?
Hi Venkat,
I can play tomorrow Wed, after 4:30PM. Where do you want to play and what time?
Call me 510-378-7588 if you still want to play. anyone can call me. :)
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Weekly merger, acquisition, deal update: June 8
This was another busy week in the AEC industry, as we tracked 8 domestic deals and 3 international deals, including most notably the late-breaking (and game-changing) announcement of Genivar's merger with WSP Group. This most recent activity brings the total year-to-date deal count in the United States to 75, down 11% from the 84 domestic deals tracked through the same period in 2011. Beyond the U.S., the total global deal count is now 139, down 17% from the 168 global deals tracked through the same period last year.
This was another busy week in the AEC industry, as Morrissey Goodale tracked 8 domestic deals and 3 international deals, including most notably the late-breaking (and game-changing) announcement of Genivar's merger with WSP Group. This most recent activity brings the total year-to-date deal count in the United States to 75, down 11% from the 84 domestic deals tracked through the same period in 2011. Beyond the U.S., the total global deal count is now 139, down 17% from the 168 global deals tracked through the same period last year.
Leading Canadian engineering services firm Genivar (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) announced that it plans to combine with 9,000 person global design, engineering, environmental and energy consultancy WSP Group (London, UK). The transaction will create a leading global professional services firm with 14,500 employees in over 30 countries, with a strong presence in Canada, Northern Europe, the U.K., and the United States and featuring key expertise in building, transportation, infrastructure, industrial, energy and environmental market segments. The transaction implies an enterprise value for WSP Group of $637 million, including pension liabilities (i.e., 7.8 x 2011 EBITDA) and is expected to close on or about July 31, 2012. Link to details
Full-service architecture, engineering and interior design firm Cannon Design (New York, NY) merged with urban planning, city design and architecture firm Peter Ellis New Cities (Chicago, IL). With offices in Chicago and India, Peter Ellis New Cities is internationally respected for its work in the design and implementation of new cities and the revitalization of major urban centers and mid-sized cities. Through the transaction, Cannon Design will be in a position to further advance its efforts in revitalizing major urban centers and mid-sized cities across North America and expand services to nations around the world facing rapid urbanization. Link to details
Consulting, engineering, program management, construction and technical services leader Tetra Tech (Pasadena, CA) acquired Rooney Engineering (REI) (Centennial, CO), an oil and gas pipeline planning and engineering firm with a client base that extends from Hawaii to Pennsylvania and from Alaska to the Gulf Coast, but with a particular concentration in the central and western United States and in the Bakken and Niobrara shale oil regions. REI generates annual revenue of approximately $30 million. Link to details
Leading environmental and geotechnical consultancy GZA GeoEnvironmental (Norwood, MA) acquired The Palmerton Group (East Syracuse, NY), an environmental consulting company with a primary focus on the oil and gas industry throughout the New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio regions. Link to details
Architecture and engineering consultancy Mead & Hunt (Madison, WI) acquired Barnard Dunkelberg & Company (Tulsa, Oklahoma), a nationally-recognized aviation planning and environmental services firm with clients that include civilian and military airports, their environs and associated communities, and governmental agencies. Link to details
Environmental and civil engineering consultancy Dudek (Encinitas, CA) merged with environmental and land use planning consultancy North Fork Associates (Auburn, CA). Link to details
Multi-discipline environmental and transportation engineering firm BETA Group (Lincoln, RI) merged with landscape architecture consulting firm Gates, Leighton & Associates (GLA) (Providence, RI. Link to details
Multi-discipline engineering firm Wilcox Associates (Cadillac, MI) merged with architecture, planning and design firm Bradley J. Butcher & Associates (Gaylord, MI). Link to details
Multi-discipline engineering and project management services firm Coffman Engineers (Seattle, WA) acquired a one-third interest in AmOrient Engineering (Hagana, Guam), a HUBZone certified small business engineering and construction company specializing in military projects in Guam and the Western Pacific. Link to details
Global multi-discipline engineering firm SNC-Lavalin (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) acquired 100-person DBA Engineering (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), a firm that specializes in the provision of materials and pavement engineering, and geotechnical and geo-environmental studies. Link to details
Global mining, metallurgical, energy and infrastructure engineering and construction services firmHatch (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) acquired four affiliated port and maritime terminals engineering firms of the Procon S.A. Group (Santiago, Chile). Link to details
In a noteworthy initiative (though not considered a deal for the purposes of this update), a 30-year partnership between housing, healthcare, education and cultural design firm GBBN Architects(Cincinnati, OH) and healthcare and education design firm WA Architects (Cincinnati, OH) led to the creation of a new specialized architecture firm wg:Architecture (wg:A) (Cincinnati, OH). Link to details
In another noteworthy initiative (also not considered a deal for the purposes of this update), engineering and project management consultancy to the automotive, food and pharmaceutical industrial markets Tebodin Consultants & Engineers (The Hague, Netherlands) acquired the 49 percent stake held by its Indian partner Tebodin Mukesh Consultants & Engineers (Chennai, India). Tebodin and Mukesh Projects initially established the engineering and consultancy joint venture in 2007 to focus on industrial, oil and gas clients in the Indian market. Link to details
Content provided by Morrissey Goodale.
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With participants coming from many distances and directions it was decided to meet at a diner. In this case, we chose the diner in Indian Lake at the intersections of Routes 30 and 28 for a 10am rendezvous. We ate a big breakfast and drove to the trail head.
Tirrell Pond is reached by using a portion of Northville-Placid Trail which heads north from Route 30 near Lake Durant. From the trail register on the north side of Route 30 the trail extends 3.5 miles to the south end of Tirrell Pond. It is a roller coaster of a trail which begins on state land and passes through primarily hardwood forests. Shortly after crossing a finger of O'Neill Flow, the trail crosses Finch Pruyn Paper land and then re-enters state land before O'Neill lean to on south end of Tirrell Pond (1,918′ elevation). Since our visit the O'Neil Flow lean-to has been removed, the site of the old lean-to is closed to camping and new lean-to has been constructed nearby.
It took us 1.5 hours to snowshoe into the lean-to. I was flying along breaking trail for the 1st 45 minutes. During our trail break Mark attributed it to my new dedication to yoga, but I then settled down to occupy a position further back in the line and I was glad to see the lean-to. Below Mike, Ian, Mark and Skip snowshoe to Tirrell Pond.
Jason and Mark watch the snow blow into our lean-to. Who knew that Jason wore the silk shirt under his parka and would later debut slippers? He would also be borrowing an additional jacket as the wind rose and temperature dropped.
After dropping our packs in the lean-to and changing out of damp clothes we began to gather and cut firewood for our evening fire.
A few of the larger logs were used to create a platform and reflective surface for the fire.
We took pictures of Tirrell Pond and Tirrell Mountain.
And occasionally took pictures of the picture takers.
Mike and Jason did some exploring and continued on the trail along the western side of Tirrell Pond reaching a 2nd lean to at 4.6 miles. Blue Mountain Village can be reached by continuing another 4 miles.
As darkness fell we cooked soup over the fire, roasted hot dogs and had snacks.
Laying our our sleeping pads and bags in the lean-to we realized that six bodies was maximum capacity as we were all laying shoulder to shoulder. Mike and Jason tried to snooze in their sleeping bags while Mark, Skip, Ian and I played a game of "I Doubt It" (also call bullshit or cheat). It was cold enough that we hide our bare exposed hands under jackets or in pockets until it was our turn to play.
We turned in a little before 9pm. With everyone in their sleeping bags I read the perfect winter camping bedtime story – "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert Service using my headlamp for illumination.
It was cold that night. I had a 0 degree Northface Snowshoe sleeping bag and got a little chilled. I pulled my down jacket into the sleeping bag with me for extra insulation. With the plummeting temperatures everyone began snoring. While Skip got blamed for being the principle protagonist ("That's funny, I had a dream that Skip was yelling in my ear all night.") at one point during the night I woke up and heard two distinct snorers to my right and one to my left. I can't claim that I didn't join the chorus at some point.
We were packed into the lean-to so tight that one person couldn't move without affecting others. Skip awoke during the night and being unable to roll about he sat up and stared at the darkness for several hours until sleep returned. In the morning we awoke at 7:30, had breakfast and were on the trail out at 9am. We were back to our vehicles at 10:30 and I was home by 1pm to put away my winter camping gear.
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Reviewed By Jim J (Blairsville, GA) Reviewed for a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero —1/26/2016 4:14 AM
My spaniel chewed a corner of this cover but there is no cloth that she can't overcome. I am very happy with the fit in my Mitsubishi Montero and the features are great. And a terrific value so if Molly does it in, a replacement won't break the bank.


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27 November 2012|
There are people that just mosey on through life by doing the bare minimum and others that do things big – Big Mike is the latter.
Taking a 20-year-old car and trying to make it relevant again isn't the easiest thing because a 1992 Honda Prelude isn't quite a classic yet but, for those of you who haven't heard of Big Mike, he's kind of into building these Honda cars as his history shows with a CRX Si, two Civic Sis, a Civic EX, and an Accord EX wagon. For the seven years that the Prelude has been in his possession, he's taken it to levels where even old school hot rodders are paying compliments. The latest rebuild of the car took close to three years to complete but the majority of it was put together in just three months. What's even more amazing is that this all came to fruition in Mike's driveway during one very hot California summer.
For decades now Honda enthusiasts have been able to extract the maximum amount of power out of the small displacement motors that were originally designed to be fuel efficient. Then when engine swaps became feasible, the possibilities were endless. Out came the stock H-series motor and fitting nicely in its place was an F20B out of a 2000 Prelude equipped with 57mm Kinser individual throttle bodies.
Eight 450cc Bisimoto Engineering injectors, a Walbro fuel pump and an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator work on delivering overpriced California fuel to the thirsty 2.0L four-banger. To ensure that this highly complex setup can function together properly, an AEM V2 engine management system and High Output IGTB "smart" coils were put into place to keep everything in check.
A V2 header was fabricated up at Bisimoto to go along with a custom made exhaust system consisting of all Vibrant Performance components. After the motor was all set, the next step was to make sure the gear box was up to par. Mike had GearSpeed rip the M2A4 apart then rebuild it with brand new Honda bearings and seals. Before sealing it back up, the GearSpeed crew slapped in a set of carbon syncrhos and a Wavetrac limited slip differential.
All of this might seem a little overkill for a mere streetcar because it really is, however, Mike's Prelude was built to do more than just make double-double runs at the local In N' Out. It was a car built to compete and did just that in the most recent FF Battle at Streets of Willow racetrack. But as track cars go, it takes more than just a beefy engine to keep up with the rest of the pack. Function Form Type 2.75R coilovers and Eibach springs start off the suspension duties while a Whiteline rear sway bar and Tanabe rear strut bar work to stiffen the chassis. An Explicit Speed Performance front traction bar teamed with Falken RT-615 tires and Wilwood Superlite big brakes ensures that Mike's Prelude stays on the track and doesn't end up somewhere in the dirt.
Without a doubt, the first thing that catches people's attention is the exterior of this Prelude . Though, somewhat subtle, the execution and selection of parts used is what makes it stand out. A Charge Speed front lip adds some aggressiveness to the stock front bumper and flows with the various JDM BB4 accents such as headlights, rear bumper, and fenders. LR Auto Body sprayed the car inside and out with the signature Falken teal PPG paint then finished it off with a House of Kolors clear coat. One thing that Big Mike isn't big on is flashy graphics so Cary at eLCee Envisage did a simple vinyl sticker roll call down the doors to give acknowledgement to sponsors that contributed to this build.
The most unique feature of Mike's car, however, is the interior which was custom made by him and his friend with a good old fashioned sewing machine. They stitched together black bandanas, suede, and vinyl then wrapped the seats for a look you won't see on any other car unless someone out there is biting styles.
There's a good chance you've seen Mike's car somewhere or the other as his Prelude has been winning at car shows, competing on the track and has been seen in other magazines because it's just that dope. Rest assured that when you put down this issue of PASMAG it won't be the last time it'll be within your sights because cars of this caliber don't tend to just fade away like a bad hangover. We don't know what else Mike can possibly do to make it even more extreme but we're sure he'll find something.
Vehicle: 1992 Honda Prelude
Driver: Big Mike
Engine: 2.0 L F20B
RYWIRE customized radiator
G&J Aircraft AN -16 fittings and lines
Kinsler 57mm Individual throttle bodies with staged injection
Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator
Walbro 255 lbh fuel pump
Bismito Engineering (cam gears, 450cc injectors)
NGK (spark plugs, ignition wires)
AEM (high output IGBT "smart" coils, V2 engine management system, UEGO wideband O2 sensor, EPM)
ARP stainless steel bolts
Vibrant Performance custom fabricated exhaust (StreetPower stealth muffler, stainless steel tubing, mandrel bent elbows, bottle resonators, V-band assemblies)
Bisimoto Engineering custom V2 header
Bisimoto Engineering 8.9 lbs flywheel
Rebuilt M2A4 transmission
GearSpeed carbon synchros
Wavetrac LSD
Function Form prototype Type 2.75R coilovers
Eibach (springs, anchor bolts, ball joint camber kits)
Whiteline 22mm rear sway bar
Tanabe rear strut bar
Explicit Speed Performance front traction bar with front torque mount
Desmond Regamaster EVO wheels (NSX Spec) – 17 x 9 (f), 17 x 8 (r)
Falken Azenis RT-615 tires – 245/45R17 (f), 225/45R17 (r)
Willwood Superlite brakes (12.6-inch slotted front rotors, four-piston calipers (f), slotted and drilled rear rotors (r))
Hawk DTC-05 brake pads
Motul brake fluid
Fastebrakes.com stainless steel brake lines
Charge Speed front lip
JDM BB4 (rear bumper, fenders, headlights, side markers)
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By: Zac Anderson
Herald Tribune
Two outside auditors will review a plan by state-run Citizens Property Insurance to loan $350 million to private insurers, as questions linger about the program's financial wisdom — and whether it can succeed where past efforts to boost Florida's ailing property insurance market have fallen short.
Citizens' board of directors voted Friday to hire investment bank Goldman Sachs and a yet-to-be-chosen second company to review the loan proposal and recommend by December whether it is a good idea.
Top elected officials and consumer advocates have urged Citizens to move slowly on the loan program, which was first pitched by a private insurer in April but received little public attention until last month.
If history is a guide, state leaders have good reason to want a deeper analysis before so much money is committed.
Florida has been offering incentives for private insurers to expand since shortly after Hurricane Andrew rocked the state's property insurance industry 20 years ago. But the results have been mixed and customers continue to flock to the government insurer.
Citizens — now the largest home insurance company in the state with nearly 1.5 million policies — once paid private insurers generous "take out bonuses" of up to 25 percent of a policy's annual premium. But some companies simply pocketed the bonus money and dumped many policies back on the state insurer as soon as possible.
Georgia State University Professor Robert Klein analyzed private insurers that were formed to take policies out of Citizens' predecessor in the 1990s and found that some quickly went out of business while others seemed to be gaming the system.
"There were some aspects that I think invited abuse," Klein said.
Citizens paid $206 million in bonuses to private insurers that took over policies between 1996 and late 2005. Robin Westcott, the state's insurance consumer advocate, said the bonuses "as a long-term strategy weren't very effective" because the policies often returned to Citizens.
A $250 million loan program approved by the Legislature in 2006 that used money from the state's general fund to help private insurers expand also fell short, Westcott said, with companies writing far fewer than the 1.7 million policies projected.
"I think that the incentive programs have had marginal success," Westcott said.
Citizens' latest incentive program could also be abused without more refinement, Westcott added, because there is room for private insurers to take Citizens' policies for a shorter period than what is required, or to replace policies that are canceled for valid reasons with less risky policies.
" 'The devil is in the details' is a very true statement in this case," she said. "You must plan very carefully how you're going to monitor this."
Westcott applauded Citizens' board for voting to bring in independent reviewers. The board approved spending up to $200,000 for a review by Goldman Sachs and up to $200,000 more for the second review.
Citizens President Barry Gilway said that the reviews will "ensure that this program is a prudent investment and in the best interest of Citizens, its policyholders and all Florida taxpayers."
But some lawmakers say no amount of independent review will suffice. New Port Richey Republican Sen. Mike Fasano, an outspoken critic of Citizens and the loan proposal, said only the Legislature and the governor can approve the program. He expects a legal challenge if Citizens goes forward with the plan without legislative approval.
"This is unprecedented and, in my opinion, illegal," he said.
Fasano said the loans are a questionable use of money that should be available to pay Citizens' claims after a hurricane.
Citizens officials argue the proposal is a creative way to limit the company's liability and the number of potential claims.
Gov. Rick Scott and top lawmakers have pushed hard in recent years to shrink Citizens and move more policies into the private insurance market. The state-run company has increased rates and decreased coverage in an effort to drive customers away.
"We have to be willing to make the hard and sometimes unpopular choices," Gilway said.


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Diane von Furstenberg's 'Ready to Wear' Bedding & Tabletop
When Diane von Furstenberg unveiled her new home collection to the press last month, she proposed that "you should have as many duvet covers as you have luuvaahs" (emphasis added). By our count at the Architectural Digest show's DVF booth, the cosmopolitan woman would do well with a rack of 20.
Neatly arranged on DVF hangers, the duvet covers are striking in a group. The entire home collection is designed as a set of bold graphic patterns — some stronger than others. DVF's concept is a "ready to wear" line that can be purchased off the rack, then mixed-and-matched to reflect your personal preferences. My favorites were the kelly green Giant Grass and Zig Zag Jungle — a pattern that originated with the iconic DVF wrap dress.
The tabletop collection combines round patterned chargers with angular plates, traditional green glass goblets with mod tumblers, and colorful espresso cups with floral-patterned saucers. While the overall look was playful and cool, certain styles — like the Miro Flowers line — were a little too much to take when layered with other over-the-top patterns.
The DVF Home Collection is available at Bloomingdale's. Duvet covers range from $150 (current sale pricing) to $335 (regular price). Tabletop starts around $25.


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A tummy tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that is done to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. This can result in a flatter and firmer belly.
An incision is made in the lower belly so that fat, tissue, and skin can be removed and muscles can be repaired. Another incision may be made around the navel if it needs to be moved. Liposuction may be done to remove some of the fat around the belly.
A tummy tuck may be done after a person has lost a lot of weight or had a baby. It may be combined with liposuction of the thighs or with breast enhancement (commonly called a "mommy makeover").
Or this procedure may be done as part of a breast reconstruction that uses skin, fat, and tissue from the belly to form a breast after mastectomy.
Last Revised:
July 31, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Keith A. Denkler, MD - Plastic Surgery
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Review: N.T. Wright, "Scripture and the Authority of God"
Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: HarperOne
Genre: Bible
Year: 2011
Pages: 224
Binding: Hardcover
Price: $25.99
"Planted firmly in the soil of the missionary community, confronting the powers of the world with the news of the Kingdom of God, refreshed and invigorated by the Spirit, growing particularly through the preaching and teaching of the apostles, and bearing fruit in the transformation of human lives as the start of God's project to put the whole creation to rights" (50).
"It is no longer 'authoritative' in any strict sense; that is, it may be cited as though in 'proof' of some point or other, but it is not leading the way, energizing the church with the fresh breath of God himself. The question must be asked, whether scripture is being used to serve an existing theology or vice versa" (71, see also 67).


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Lady Gaga was sporting half-shaven, dyed-brown hair and a black Megadeth T-shirt that exposed her tattooed arms Wednesday when she visited Wicker Park. So in other words, the pop star fit right in.
Gaga -- whose rumored boyfriend, Taylor Kinney, is filming NBC's "Chicago Fire" in Chicago -- bought makeup, skin care and bath products from Mojo Spa as well as purses and a sequined top from Recycle Men's & Women's Designer Resale.
"She asked if I had any vintage Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Christian Dior," Recycle co-owner Ron DeRobertis said. "I didn't know who she was, but she had this huge bouncer and a personal secretary. I asked her if she wanted to see the prices and she said 'Not really.' She didn't even try the stuff on. I asked her what she does and she told me she was a hairdresser."
Store B Vintage had just closed for the night when Gaga stopped by, but the store made an exception for the world famous singer and let her in. I'm told Gaga bought so many designer garments, hats and purses, the store needs to replenish inventory.
"Happy you found some treasures at our store!" Store B Vintage tweeted to Gaga on Thursday. "Rock the [bleep] out of the DIOR turbans."
In addition to shopping, Gaga visited Salud Tequila Lounge for drinks. According to Salud's Facebook page Wednesday, "Lady gaga stopped by Salud for some #tequila earlier."
Twitter @aboutluisgomez


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Muiden (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)
Muiden, a town in Holland on the Ijsselmeer west of Amsterdam, where in 1569 two Anabaptist martyrs, Thijs Joriaensz and Jan Claesz, were burned at the stake. The latter, a "young fellow of about twenty-five years," lived in the neighboring town of Weesp and moved to Muiden with Thijs Joriaensz to attend religious services. They were arrested and imprisoned in the castle near Muiden. Six months later they were taken to The Hague, and after another six months returned to Muiden, where they were put to death together. Elder Leenaert Bouwens had baptized 18 persons here in 1563-1565 and another five about 1568. This presupposes the existence of a congregation at Muiden, which is corroborated by the fact that Thijs Joriaensz went to Muiden "to serve the congregation of God with the Word." Very little is known about this congregation. It was still in existence in 1681, apparently united with that of Weesp, which was served by the ministers of the Amsterdam Lamist congregation. The membership was only 12 in 1675, and presumably died out soon after.
Braght, Thieleman J. van. Het Bloedigh Tooneel of Martelaers Spiegel der Doops-gesinde of Weereloose Christenen, Die om 't getuygenis van Jesus haren Salighmaker geleden hebben ende gedood zijn van Christi tijd of tot desen tijd toe. Den Tweeden Druk. Amsterdam: Hieronymus Sweerts, …, 1685. Part II: 480.
Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 828. Available online at: http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm.
Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1872): 61; (1918): 50.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 175.
Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam. 2 v. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: I, No. 789; II, 2, No. 2343.
|Christian Neff
|Nanne van der Zijpp
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Neff, Christian and Nanne van der Zijpp. "Muiden (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 15 Nov 2018. http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Muiden_(Noord-Holland,_Netherlands)&oldid=111111.
APA style
Neff, Christian and Nanne van der Zijpp. (1957). Muiden (Noord-Holland, Netherlands). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 15 November 2018, from http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Muiden_(Noord-Holland,_Netherlands)&oldid=111111.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 766. All rights reserved.
©1996-2018 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


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Volunteer – Whether or not you can give money, volunteers are the fabric of our community and help shape our collective future. Contact us directly to find out how your time can be best given for maximum impact.


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If you could know ahead of time from what medical conditions and at what age your child — even as an adult — would be likely to die, would you want to know?
Would you want to know that information about other family members or about yourself?
A revolutionary new test developed by scientists at King's College in London might be able to uncover that information with a simple blood draw. The test, which was published in the July issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology, provides scientists with a "chemical fingerprint" that identifies 22 metabolites, or molecules linked to metabolism, that may indicate how a person will grow old.
One of the metabolites in particular seems linked to a range of traits such as lung function, bone density, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also is strongly associated with birth weight, which itself is a known factor in healthy aging.
Slippery slope?
Experts point out that such testing can help doctors circumvent the devastation of disease in old age and could lead to innovative treatments for age-related conditions, like bone problems and heart disease.
They say it also paves the way for a greater understanding of the correlation between and consequences of poor nutrition during pregnancy and lower birth weight.
Such information can indeed be useful for treating disease and improving a person's quality of life. But it also could backfire. If such testing were to become commonplace, it could lead to speculation about a person's medical future, which could affect life decisions and even lead to abortion or euthanasia.
The newly developed metabolite testing brings up issues similar to prenatal testing already used to assess a child's health in utero. Knowing what conditions a child has in the womb can help parents and doctors determine the best way to care for the baby both before and after birth.
For example, there is a rare, life-threatening disease called Krabbe's leukodystrophy that affects the myelin sheath of the nervous system and can be successfully treated with a bone marrow transplant just after birth. If the disease is diagnosed with prenatal testing, the parents can search for a matching donor before the child is born, assuring the fastest and most effective treatment possible. Spina bifida, a congenital disorder in which the embryonic neural tube is not fully encased, can be treated with microsurgery on the baby while still in utero.
Contrary thinking
Father Tad Pacholczyk, ethicist and director of education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, is well-versed in the topics of genetic and prenatal testing, including eugenics, or the study of hereditary traits and their impact on the quality of life. He cautions couples considering such testing for their children because it could drag them into a mentality that is contrary to Catholic teaching.
"While prenatal testing may seem to give couples more power, it often actually takes choices away. Society's demand for physical perfection places enormous pressure on couples to 'conform to the norm' by aborting less-than-perfect children. When medical professionals advocate prenatal testing, the profession subtly communicates a message that there may be certain lives that are not worth living. This quiet 'conspiracy of eugenics' is beginning to reach to all levels of society, affecting even Catholics and others of a strongly pro-life persuasion," he said.
Father Pacholczyk offers similar advice in regard to metabolite testing.
"Chemical 'fingerprinting' by looking at metabolites to assess possible future disease states in, for example, a newborn or a young child, could also be used in a morally praiseworthy way, to prepare treatments for the individual in advance, to take steps to limit the severity of symptoms by early intervention, and to help such individuals come to a more serene acceptance of what may lie ahead. If it were used in a discriminatory way, however, as in the case of denying or inappropriately limiting insurance coverage, this would clearly raise significant moral concerns," he said.
The Church's stance
In 1996, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a document called, "Critical Decisions: Genetic Testing and Its Implications,"which states the Church's stance on the issue. Such tests, it says, are permissible "when they do not involve disproportionate risks for the child and the mother, and are meant to make possible early therapy or even to favor a serene and informed acceptance of the child not yet born."
The USCCB's document quotes Blessed John Paul II in an address to the Pontifical Academy for Life in November 1995:
"Indeed, the biomedical sciences are currently experiencing a period of rapid and marvelous growth, especially with regard to new discoveries in the areas of genetics.... But if scientific research is to be directed toward respect for personal dignity and support of human life, its scientific validity according to the rules of each discipline is not enough. It must also qualify positively from the ethical point of view, and this presupposes that from the outset it endeavors to promote the true good of human beings as individuals and as a community. This happens when efforts are made to eliminate the causes of disease by putting real prevention into practice, or whenever more effective therapies are sought for the treatment of serious illnesses."
The Church's teaching on eugenics is meant to protect more than our morality; it also is meant to protect our faith. If tests such as the metabolite one came into practice, it could do a lot of good in terms of diagnosis and medical treatment. On the other hand, believing that we "know" what conditions we will have later in life and at what age we're likely to die could impact our confidence in divine providence and our relationship with God. The temptation would be to plot out our lives ahead of time based on eugenic information rather than dependency on God's grace and discernment of his will for us.
Dr. Dan Kuebler is a professor of biology at Franciscan University at Steubenville. He's also the parent of six children, ages 3 to 13. As a scientist, Dr. Kuebler sees tremendous potential for genetic and metabolite testing. He agrees with Father Pacholczyk that such information can be invaluable in diagnosis and treatment, although he's skeptical that metabolite tests like those discussed in the King's College study will be readily available anytime soon.
"If we're giving vague information, that can become problematic," he observed. "If we tell someone he's more likely to have heart disease than somebody else, then that could stress him out and cause more harm than good. He might be more likely, but then again he may never have it. If there was a way to say, 'you're going to die on this day of this disease,' I think it would take away from the gift of life, of what it is, and appreciation of it day in and day out. That knowledge could cause your life to be totally different from what it would be otherwise."
Tough decisions
As a parent, Dr. Kuebler would want to know information about this child's current and future health, but again, only if it were meant to provide helpful intervention and/or treatment, if it would help him to prepare to be a better parent to that child, and if the testing involved did not put the child or mother at risk, as the Church teaches.
"The problem is, that's not what these tests are usually being used for," he added.
Leticia Velasquez, a mother of three daughters who is the editor of "A Special Mother is Born" (WestBow Press, $17.96) and co-founder of KIDS (Keep Infants with Down syndrome), would refuse such testing if offered to her for her child. In fact, she already did refuse prenatal testing when she was pregnant with her daughter, now 11 years old.
Velasquez's daughter has Down syndrome, which was suspected while she was still pregnant. She told her doctor that there was nothing he could tell her about her child that would change her mind about giving her life.
"By rejecting prenatal testing, you are opening yourself to allowing God to surprise you with a special needs child," she said.
The parents — 34 of them — that Velasquez interviewed for her book all said that they were blessed by parenting their special needs children, learning from them the virtues of hope, patience, perseverance, joy, charity and self-sacrifice.
"When you think about it," she said, "none of us knows if our healthy children will become tragically ill, or an aged relative will fail, or we will lose our health in an accident. We all will face infirmity; we need to trust God that despite the temptation to escape, walking the Calvary road with our loved one is where we find Christ's peace and a strength which could only come from him."
Marge Fenelon writes from Wisconsin.
Copyright © 1996-2018 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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Best Friends Need Shelter, Too
The week after Hurricane Katrina hit, the media covered the thousands of low-income people trapped for lack of means to get out. Almost two weeks later, thousands still hadn't left, in many cases because official policy would not accept the bond between people and their nonhuman family members. Members of a frustrated rescue team simplified it for a "Dateline" news crew: They said people were refusing to be evacuated simply because "they won't leave their pets."
There is a class issue involved here. While Marriott hotels welcomed the pets of Katrina evacuees as "part of the family," people who had to rely on the Red Cross for shelter were forced to abandon that part of the family or attempt to ride out the storm. It cannot be denied that many poor people are dead as a result of "no pets" policies.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Patricia Penny, who wondered whether her son Billy had survived. She had begged him to leave, but he was afraid to abandon his animals. CNN showed the rescue of a family, including a dog, sitting on a rooftop as a boat pulled up. The boat left without the dog. Staying with a dog and risking their own lives is not an option for people who have children to provide for. The parents were given no choice but to abandon the dog, and to break their children's hearts. As they pulled away they all watched their trusting, confused and terrified canine family member alone on the roof.
At Red Cross shelters there are families that have lost their homes and all of their possessions but are thanking God that they are all safe. Others are frantic, unable to think of anything besides the slow deaths of beloved companion animals they were forced to leave on rooftops or at bus boarding points. One woman, with no other possessions left, offered her rescuer the wedding ring off her finger to save her dog, to no avail.
A young boy carried a dog in his arms as he tried to board a bus to the Houston Astrodome. Dogs were not allowed. The Associated Press story reported that "a police officer took one from a little boy, who cried until he vomited. 'Snowball, Snowball,' " he cried." In a similar story, an old woman, traveling alone except for the poodle in her arms, was forced to leave him behind to wander the streets. We have read other stories of elderly people forced to choose between their lifesaving medications or their life-affirming pets. CNN's Anderson Cooper even reported on a woman, legally blind, who for 10 days had been told that she could not take her service dog with her if she was evacuated. She had stayed put until the CNN cameras arrived and the police relented.
Many large hotel chains, aware of the human-animal bond, now allow guests of varied species. Sadly, those organizations on which we rely, not when on vacation but in life-or-death circumstances, are not up with the times.
The pets pulled from people's arms would not have taken seats meant for humans. There is no reasonable explanation for abandoning them. They were the last vestiges of sweetness, in some cases the only living family, of those who had nothing left. But the police officers were just following orders -- orders that reflect an official policy inconsistent with how people feel about their animals.
Red Cross shelters that do not have animal-friendly areas, or do not coordinate with humane groups to make sure that there are animal shelters nearby, are out of touch with the needs of a society in which 60 percent of families have pets and many view them as intrinsic members of the family.
Karen Dawn runs the animal advocacy Web site DawnWatch.com and is a contributor to "In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave," edited by Peter Singer.


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Here's tonight's Mets' lineup in Atlanta:
Jose Reyes, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
Chris Carter, LF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Rod Barajas, C
Angel Pagan, CF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Johan Santana, LP
NOTES: Jason Bay gets the night off. Chris Carter is hot so the Mets are riding him. … David Wright is on pace to whiff 212 times. … Jeff Francoeur is still fighting to get out of his slump which started with the 20-game at St. Louis.