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Mark Bitterman calls himself a "selmelier," a made-up word meant to evoke his wish to do for salt what sommeliers do for wine: educate, surprise, delight. Co-owner of The Meadow, a specialty food and flower shop with branches in New York City and Portland, Ore., he has written a book called "Salted: A Manifesto on the World's Most Essential Mineral, With Recipes" (Ten Speed, $35).
This handsome tribute to salt outlines its history, varieties, method of manufacture and proper use. He hopes to help Americans relearn what they know about salt and how they use it.
Bitterman thinks the government's sodium recommendation — 2,300 milligrams daily for the average person, 1,500 milligrams for others — is a good thing because it will get people thinking about salt.
"People are asking me how to use salt, how to buy salt," he said. "I don't want people to eat more salt; I don't like saltier foods, but I want them to use salt for their maximum satisfaction."
Bitterman said the biggest lesson in appreciating salt is to look at the crystal structure of the mineral. A flake salt, like the famed fleur de sel of France, "illustrates very beautifully the idea of letting salt play independently with the food," he said. "Right away you get a quick snap of intense saltiness and then it gets out of the way and lets the food flavors come forward."
Here are Bitterman's five rules for "strategic salting":
1. "Eat all the salt you want, as long as you are the one doing the salting." Processed or prepared foods are the major salt sources in our diets. Eliminate those foods with the built-in salts and sodium consumption drops dramatically, Bitterman writes.
2. "Skew the use of salt toward the end of food preparation."
3. "Use only natural, unrefined salts." These salts provide better flavor and greater nutritional value, he writes.
4. "Make salting a deliberate act." Break out of the salting habit, Bitterman exhorts — "think of salting as an opportunity rather than routine."
5. "Use the right salt at the right time. … The powers of salt in cooking and finishing are not discrete and exclusive," Bitterman writes. "There is plenty of overlap: Finishing with salt alters the surface of ingredients chemically. Salt added during cooking affects the flavor of food and stimulates taste buds."
Iodized salt and nuclear fallout
Iodized salt may have many health benefits, and the Salt Institute will gladly spell them out, but iodized salt should not be used to combat radioactive fallout. Japan's nuclear crisis has people around the world feeling jittery about windblown radiation and the health hazards of exposure. The institute, a nonprofit trade association based in Arlington, Va., said iodized salt should not be used as a "primary defense" against fallout because it doesn't contain the "extremely high levels" of iodine needed for such use.
"A person would have to consume 3½ pounds of table salt a day to reach the 130 milligrams of iodine needed," said Mort Satin, the institute's vice president of science and research. Under normal conditions, the recommended intake of iodine is 150 micrograms per day, according to the institute. Iodine is an essential nutrient required by the thyroid gland. Potassium iodine is a nonprescription drug that can protect the thyroid gland from high doses of cancer-causing radiation. But the Illinois Department of Public Health urged state residents last week not to take potassium iodine as a preventive measure against possible fallout because there could be side effects injurious to their health.
Radishes with butter and fleur de sel
Prep: 2 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
"Possibly the best way to experience the pleasures of artisan salt is to use it on the simplest of foods," writes Mark Bitterman in his new book, "Salted." Take this simple recipe for radishes with butter that calls for fleur de sel, which Bitterman describes as a "solar evaporated" salt with a "mild, delicate crunch."
12 radishes, washed, dried
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Fleur de sel
If the greens on the radishes are pretty, leave them on; if not, trim. Make sure radishes are completely dry. Arrange the radishes on a plate. Put the butter on the plate or in a small crock and the fleur de sel in a small pile on the plate. spread a thin film of butter on a radish; sprinkle with fleur de sel. Eat.
Nutrition information
Per serving: 53 calories, 95% of calories from fat, 6 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 0 g carbohydrates, 0 g protein, 246 mg sodium, 0 g fiber


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Jennifer Nettles Welcomes Baby Boy Magnus!
Jennifer Nettles and her husband Justin Miller have welcomed a new son into the world named Magnus Hamilton Miller!
The 38-year-old Sugarland singer gave birth on Thursday (December 6), according to People.
"We are so thankful for all the prayers and support and are excited to take some time together as a new family," the couple said in a statement.
This is the first child for the couple, who wed last year in Tennessee.
Congratulations to the happy couple on the newest addition to their family!!

subset: commoncrawl


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Free printable American Flag and earth coloring page. Free printable coloring sheets for boys and girls.
Printing Coloring Pages
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Step 2 : Print the page that loads.
Step 3 : Have fun coloring :)
Coloring Page ID # 48
Added: Mon Jul 25 2016
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Full Moon Gamma
- Discontinued
- Published By: eXtasy Books
- Author: Jackie Nacht
- Page: 142
- Word Count: 29367
- Publication Date: January 12, 2014
- Heat Level:
- Available Formats: Adobe Acrobat, Epub, Hiebook, Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket, Mobipocket (.mobi), Palm DOC/iSolo, Rocket, Sony PDF
- Categories: Erotic Romance, Gay, GLBT, Paranormal, Shapeshifter
When Rayce finds he has two paths before him, the unknown consequence is the only alternative to help the man he loves survive.
Rayce is sent on a recon mission to find out if hellhounds are in Lansing. What he discovers on his way is his mate, Peyton, has followed him into the very heart of danger.
Peyton has loved Rayce from the moment Rayce saved him. He knows he probably shouldn't be following Rayce, but the instinct driving him to protect the man he has already fallen for causes him to go recklessly into the city. All is not as it seems, and Peyton will have to find strength to survive for not only himself but his mate and friends as well.
Authors note: This may be read as a standalone book however for better reading enjoyment, it is adviced to read the series in order. Thank you


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Sporting Kansas City beat Fire 2-1
Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi scored in the first eight
minutes, and Sporting Kansas City beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on
Sunday, snapping Chicago's three-match winning streak.
The victory was only Kansas City's second in the last seven
matches, giving SKC 30 points.
Kansas City's two goals were scored 2 minutes 14 seconds
Feilhaber scored his first of the season in the sixth minute,
hammering a right-footed shot from 16 yards when a throw-in by
defender Matt Besler deflected off two players and ended up at his
Chicago goalkeeper Paulo Tornaghi couldn't stop that shot, and
seemed surprised by midfielder Zusi's nonchalant 20-yard shot soon
after. It curled over Tornaghi and into the upper right-hand
Mike Magee cut the margin to 2-1 in the 38th minute.


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After two preseason scrimmages against larger programs and a frustrating draw in its season opener, the University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team found the result it has been seeking Saturday.
The Sand Sharks turned in a dominant performance in a 5-0 victory over visiting West Virginia Tech at Fin Land Field.
Junior midfielder Alexa Muffley had two goals and an assist, but the Sand Sharks got a strong effort from everyone and controlled every aspect of the match, outshooting the Golden Bears 24-3 overall and 14-0 in shots on goal.
USCB kept West Virginia Tech on its heels, much like the Sand Sharks did in the second half and overtime in Friday's 2-2 tie with Johnson & Wales.
Muffley opened the scoring in the 12th minute, burying a header in the net off a corner kick from Jessica Tooley. The junior from Jacksonville, Fla., assisted on USCB's second goal less than five minute later, blasting a shot off the post only to see freshman Megan Benoist put it away for her first collegiate goal.
Freshman Brittany Lorentz scored her second goal in two days in the 29th minute, flicking a cross from Sarah Grace Stubbs inside the right post for a 3-0 advantage. Freshman Bridgette Noonan sent a cross into the box for Muffley's second goal in the 44th minute, and USCB led 4-0 at halftime.
The Sand Sharks capped the scoring early in the second half, as Olivia Dizon and Steph Moldenhauer assisted on Hunter Dye's first goal of the year.
"We had some beautiful goals today, which increased our confidence even more," coach Ed Heberling said. "Alexa's two goals were textbook finishes, Brittany's finish from SG's cross and Benoist following up on the back post were great goals. It was nice to see the ballwork lead to Hunter's first goal of the season."
The five goals were the second-most the Sand Sharks have scored in their three-year existence and their most since a 14-1 win over Florida Christian last season. The shutout was the seventh in program history.
The Sand Sharks host Milligan (Tenn.) at 4 p.m. Friday and Hastings (Neb.) at 1 p.m. Sunday.


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Units may be promoted. A promotion is a rise in rank conferred by a higher authority on a Unit of a lower rank.
It is also possible to promote a unit without actually changing its rank, such as how Parson was able to promote himself from garrison to a field unit. It is currently unknown if anything besides rank and move can be changed by promotions.
From lowest to highest, the ranks are:
- Soldier (Infantryman, cavalryman, or equivalent)
- Elite (Knight)
- Commander/Warlord
- Chief Warlord
A Unit may be promoted from any lower rank to any higher rank. It is not possible to be promoted above Chief Warlord, since the only position higher is Ruler, and that position requiries a vacancy, in which case other rules concerning a Heir and barbarism are involved.
This applies only to a direct military line of promotion. Noble titles, such as Duke or Count, are permanent and altogether separate from military rank. Likewise, a unit cannot be promoted to Caster, nor can a Caster become Chief Warlord.
A barbarian Warlord may claim a City and thereby become a Ruler, but this is not a promotion, because the Warlord is responsible for his or her own rise in rank, and the position is not granted by a higher authority.
Additional ranks may be limited to garrison units only. For example:
- Henchman: "Henchman" is used as an honourific for low-rank unitsErf-b1-p4.
- Lackey: Bogroll was promoted to Parson's lackeyErf-b1-p-p28, indicating that a Lackey is of higher rank than a Henchman.
See Unit for more details.


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Meticulously crafted from the principles laid out in Matt Fitzgerald's best-selling book 80/20 Running, and followup book 80/20 Triathlon, this Sprint Level 0 training plan will prepare the athlete to complete their first triathlon. Each week, cycle, and the complete 12-week plan has been specifically formulated to match the research articulated in Fitzgerald's publications and ensures the triathlete adheres to the 80/20 principle.
This plan is intended for individuals with a goal of finishing their first sprint event. Before you begin, you should be comfortably able to swim and run for 30 minutes, cycle for 45 minutes, and successfully complete at least three total hours of aerobic exercise over seven days. The weekly training volume starts at approximately four hours in Week 1 and peaks at approximately 6.5 hours in Week 8.
This plan leverages the TrainingPeaks.com structured workout feature, and the workouts are structured as a % of your threshold heart rate. On supported devices, such as a Garmin, your workout can be exported to the device, and the activity duration, laps, and intensity will be automatically prompted to the athlete during the workout. Workouts do not have to be exported for the Heart Rate plans to be effective, as the workout's detailed description still provides the athlete with the structure of the workout.
Not sure which level is right for you? Each 80/20 plan comes with a Level Guarantee: if you discover that the level you have selected is too hard or too easy for you, simply contact email@example.com for a complimentary switch to a different level within the same triathlon distance.
Supporting resources and documentation for your plan, including Zone guidelines, can be found at http://www.8020endurance.com/resources
Save up to 25% when you bundle an 80/20 and a TrainingPeaks.com Premium subscription. See http://www.8020endurance.com/plan-bundles/ for details.
Purchasers of this plan will be able to contact the co-author, David Warden, directly at firstname.lastname@example.com, in order to request clarification on any items that may be unclear in the plan.
5 minutes in Z1, 20 minutes Z2, 5 minutes Z1
200 yd Z1, 400 yd Z3, 120" rest, 200 yd Z3, 120" rest, 200 yd Z1
5 minutes Z1, 20 minutes Z2, 3 x (5 minutes Z3/3 minutes Z1) 5 minutes Z2, 6 minutes Z1
5 minutes in Z1, 35 minutes Z2, 5 minutes Z1
10 minutes Z1, 10 minutes Z2, 8 x (30 seconds Z5 uphill or simulated/60 seconds Z1) 28 minutes Z1
300 yd Z1, 900 yd Z2, 300 yd Z1
5 minutes in Z1, 25 minutes Z2, 5 minutes Z1


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iPhone Case Packaging
We make Custom iPhone Packaging for all iPhone Cases, Covers and Skins. Whether you're looking for simple packaging to protect the designs of your cases while in transit, or fully designed custom packaging for retail, we can make packaging for you.
Let us know what you need, what you need it for, when you need it and when, and we can let you know what packaging is possible for you. Request a custom proposal right now and let us do the work for you, it's quick and easy.
Any Design, Large Range, Free Delivery, High Quality, Fast, Satisfaction guarantee >>>
Looking to retail your new custom iPhone cases?
At CustomLogoCases, we provide everything, from your custom designs iPhone cases through to your iPhone Case Packaging.
We have simple and generic packaging that is effective for retail, as well as cost effective, or we can also custom make packaging just for you.
Depending on your quantities and budget, there is a packaging option for you.
Typically, at quantities lower than 1000 pieces, the cost effective packaging options are simple yet effective, clear and blank cases. This iPhone Case Packaging can be dressed up a bit with a sticker or insert, but the plain faces of these poly bags and crystal packages are the best seller in themselves. Because they're clear, they will in fact showcase your iPhone Cases directly, without taking any focus from the case inside.
Great also for shipping as they are small and don't take up much space, these generic options work for everyone, and don't waste space or clutter the environment more than necessary.
Example of our generic packaging options below (custom packaging in cardboard or blister packs is possible at quantities over 1000 pieces, please enquire about this if you are interested);


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TUNIS, Tunisia - In violent demonstrations, several hundreds of Tunisians staged street protests amid anger over government austerity measures.
According to the country's interior ministry, one demonstrator was killed and over 200 people were arrested in what became one of the country's biggest upheavals since the 2011 protests.
The protests in 2011 set off a string of revolts across the Arab region.
The ministry said on Wednesday that dozens of protesters were arrested after clashes with the police this week in more than 20 towns and cities, including the capital Tunis.
One of the protester was killed in rioting in a city and the prime minister, Youssef Chahed said the protests had descended into "acts of vandalism."
Officials also noted that in another incident, Molotov cocktails were thrown at a Jewish school but no injuries were reported in that incident.
The protests were staged in response to new taxes imposed on January 1 and underline the problems facing Chahed's government as it seeks to implement austerity measures under a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
These include increases in the price of subsidized petrol and tax rises on cars, phone calls, internet usage and other items.
Further, local reports noted that the opposition party - the Popular Front has called for more protests until the authorities have repealed the 2018 budget.
According to Chokry Bahria, an analyst at the Joussour, a think-tank in Tunis, "Successive governments been squeezed between the conditions imposed by donor institutions and the needs of the social situation in the country. But governments have also failed to formulate the necessary programmes to emerge from this situation."
Bahria said that 2018 will be the country's "last difficult year," is seeking to reduce Tunisia's fiscal deficit from around 6 percent of gross domestic product in 2017 to 4.9 percent this year.
Tunisians meanwhile, mainly those that live in the impoverished interior of the country, have been struggling with high unemployment and problems that have been intensified due to the falling dinar.
Joblessness and marginalization, especially in the interior parts of the country, were behind the uprising of 2011.
Many people now state that there has been no improvement in the past seven years.


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Watson Mortgage Corporation
When it's time to put pen to paper for the single largest transaction of your life, shouldn't you have the best? Watson Mortgage Corp. has provided legendary customer service to Florida since 1994. The ability to issue a loan decision in minutes, to close and fund your loan on time, every time, gives you the confidence to make your home ownership dreams come true! Watson Commercial Realty, Inc. is a full service real estate agency.
Watson Commercial Realty, Inc.
offers clients resources and experience to handle any type of commercial transaction. Whether your business is manufacturing, retail, professional services, health care, distribution or warehousing, we can serve your real estate needs. We have the experience, knowledge and resources to provide a full range of real estate services that includes leasing, sales and management of industrial, retail, office, land and investment properties:
Watson New Homes
provides new home sales and marketing services for Northeast Florida 's primary builders and developers. Watson Realty leads the area in market share of home sales and closings. The New Homes Division maintains this superior service with highly trained sales associates, state-of-the art marketing, personalized consulting and strategic planning.
Watson Title Services of N. FL, Inc.
Established in 1993, Watson Title Services of N. FL., Inc. is a member of Watson Realty's family of services, developed and designed over the years to meet the growing and changing needs of our customers. Watson Title Services of N. FL., Inc. is dedicated to providing our customers the same legendary quality service for which Watson Realty Corp. is so well known and respected
Watson Title Services
Whether you are a Realtor, Mortgage Lender, or selling your own home, we want to make the experience of closing on your home as excellent as possible. Please take the time to browse our site, where you will find helpful information about our company, as well as what you need to ensure that your closing goes as smoothly as possible!
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Watson has Property Management Offices covering South Georgia and Florida . With Watson Property Management, you can minimize your risks, reduce inconveniences and eliminate the hassles of everyday maintenance tasks while having the peace of mind that the value of your property is being professionally maintained. Whether you are a private homeowner who is relocating, someone with property in a resort area, an individual with several investment properties or the owner of apartment complexes, our professional team has the skill and experience to manage your property.
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Watson Home Improvement
implementing our operational strategy, known as "The Watson Way" and utilizing some of the best subcontractors in the trade, you can be assured of a quality job whether it involves residential remodeling, tenant build-outs or restaurant parking lots. Watson Home Improvement Division can offer complete turnkey for your special project, on time, on budget, and to your satisfaction.
Watson Electric
with a team of highly trained technicians and a fleet of well stocked vans, Watson Electric can provide full electrical contract services to homeowners, landlords, general contractors, insurance companies, commercial facilities and industrial plants thoughout Northeast Florida.
Watson Plumbing
, We utilize a team of highly qualified technicians, along with a fleet of well-equipped service trucks to provide comprehensive plumbing services to homeowners, landlords, general contractors, insurance companies and industrial plants throughout North and Central Florida.
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, The company utilizes a team highly qualified trained technicians, along with a fleet of well-equipped service trucks to provide full heat and air conditioning services to homeowners, landlords, general contractors, insurance companies, commercial facilities, government and industrial plants thoughout Northeast Florida.


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Ruth Patrick, pioneering ecologist, dies at 105
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ruth Patrick, a scientist whose research on freshwater ecosystems led to groundbreaking ways to measure pollution in rivers and streams, has died. She was 105.
Patrick, recipient of dozens of the nation's top science awards including the National Medal of Science, died Monday at The Hill at Whitemarsh retirement community in Lafayette Hill, Pa., according to the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University.
Patrick is credited with creating an approach that assesses the health of a lake, stream or river by evaluating the quantity, diversity and health of its plants, insects, fish and other organisms — not solely examining the chemistry of the water itself.
"Basically she demonstrated biological diversity can be used to measure environmental impact," conservation biologist Thomas Lovejoy told the academy. "I call that the Patrick Principle and consider it the basis for all environmental science and management."
Patrick also devised a tool to detect water pollution by measuring microscopic algae called diatoms. She is credited with being the first scientist to recognize that different kinds of diatoms prefer different environments and therefore can shed light on water quality.
Patrick spent nearly her entire career at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. She continued to work there into her late 90s, and often had lunch at the museum's cafe so she could sit anonymously among excited schoolchildren on class trips.
She was "essentially a den mother for a couple of generations of scientists," according to Lovejoy, president of The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment.
Patrick received dozens of prestigious awards throughout her career including the National Medal of Science, which she received from President Bill Clinton in 1996. She taught limnology and botany at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 35 years and wrote more than 200 scientific papers and several books on the environment.
She advised President Lyndon Johnson on water pollution and President Ronald Reagan on acid rain.
Patrick first came to the Academy of Natural Sciences in 1933 as a graduate student studying diatoms. One of the few women in the sciences, she later recalled that she wore pants instead of dresses to better blend in with her male colleagues.
She worked as an unpaid researcher and volunteer until she was put on the academy's payroll in 1945. Two years later, she established the Department of Limnology, now called the Patrick Center for Environmental Research.
Patrick was born in Topeka, Kan., in 1907, and spent most of her childhood in Kansas City, Mo. She became interested in the natural sciences at about the age of 5, when her father took Ruth and her sister on expeditions in woods near the family's home. At the age of 7, she was given her first microscope.
She went on to study biology and received a bachelor's degree in 1929 from Coker College in Hartsville, S.C. She received a master's degree in 1931 and a Ph.D. in botany in 1934, both from the University of Virginia.
The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center at the University of South Carolina is named for her, as is a wetlands preservation site along the Savannah River.
Patrick was married to the late Charles Hodge IV and the late Lewis Van Dusen. She is survived by a son, Charles Hodge V of Kansas, and several grandchildren.


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Message Board
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Talk about the novels, new and used books that Whitfield has written!
Author Whitfield's Book Reviews
The Job
A young adult struggles with the meaning of his relationships. At a crucial stage in his life, mired in confusion about his dying grandpa, James enters. His growing respect for the savy old man's wisdom, helps him to understand and come to grips with his life's challenges. He learns about his personal accountability, his great strength and the value of his undying relationship with his Grandpa. ...


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NBA fans, meet your new superstar, Kevin Durant.
If that last sentence seems a little strange, then it's because Kevin Durant has been presented to basketball fans as a superstar for two years now. He was Player of the Year in college, won Rookie of the Year last season. From Day 1 in the NBA, he has been the best player on his team. He has all the hype that a player not named LeBron or Kobe could want. But there was one troublesome, little detail; until recently, he wasn't producing like a superstar.
His rookie numbers were superficially impressive. He averaged 20.3 points per game. That stat alone probably won him the Rookie of the Year award, but the real story was that he was part of a draft class that has been slow in skills development and in adjusting to the NBA game. I might have been tempted to give the ROY award to Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford, but a better decision would have been to simply not award anyone in the category. But then sneaker companies would riot.
In all fairness, the draft class of '07 was an unusual case. Three of the best players from this draft were missing in action last season. Portland Center Greg Oden missed the campaign with a knee injury. Portland guard Rudy Fernandez and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol missed last season due to obligations with European pro teams.
Some top 10 picks such as guard Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies, forward Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets and Corey Brewer of the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to have been vastly overrated. A few others such as Thaddeus Young of the Philadelphia 76ers, Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls and Rodney Stuckey of the Detroit Pistons are just beginning to meet the expectations that come with being a high draft pick. The smart money is on the rookies to beat the sophomores in the annual challenge game during All Star Weekend in Phoenix next week.
For the longest time, that 20.3 points per game was all that Durant had to hang his hat on. His rebounding, 4.4 boards per game, was subpar for a 6'9" player; he didn't pass the ball particularly well (2.4 dimes per contest); and he failed to get to the free throw line much (only 5.6 attempts per game). Pile that on to the fact that his shooting was atrocious. Durant shot 43 percent from the field, which was below the league average, and from behind the arc, he bricked a miserable 28.8 percent from three-point range. Stat-savvy basketball fans have always known that a healthy points-per-game average can cover up a lot of other sins; last year proved that it can cover up a lot better than Oliver North during the Iran-Contra scandal.
The shooting percentage and free throw attempts are big, as it marks an improvement in his efficiency. It's not just how much you score but how efficiently. Teams alternate possessions, so typically the most successful ones are those that get the most points possible when they have the ball and limit their opponent's efficiency on defense. This makes shooting better than the league average a must, and getting to the free throw line is a good sign that Durant is taking the ball to the basket. This yields higher percentage shots and runs up fouls on opposing players, either putting them in foul trouble or your team in the bonus.
Durant has gone from being the sole option on a bad team during his rookie year to being an elite player in his second year (and he's only 20; he's likely to improve for the next five or six seasons). His Oklahoma City Thunder isn't a very good team, but there's reason for hope. Durant's teammate, forward Jeff Green, another draft class of 2007 player, is starting to find his game and rookie point guard Russell Westbrook is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. They could be the other cornerstones of a future contender.
For now, the Thunder is one of the more interesting doormats in the NBA. Their 11-38 record reflects a team that is a work in progress. For instance, Wednesday night, they trailed Denver 114-113 and had the ball with five seconds left. When the designed play failed to offer an open lane for Durant to move to the basket, he stepped back and hoisted a 30-foot prayer that clanged harmlessly off the backboard. There seemed to be no attention to a Plan B. It was another loss in a season that is looking more like a learning experience for a young team.
One of the hallmarks of this season is the emergence of several players whose incubation period was longer than expected. Minnesota guard Randy Foye, Orlando guard J.J. Redick, and Toronto forward Andrea Bargnani are all enjoying their best seasons after having been written off as busts. Top draft picks are always the poster boys of hope for their new teams, but fans have to learn to be patient. But even for top players, the NBA isn't a quick study.
Martin Johnson is a regular contributor to The Root.
Martin Johnson writes about music for the Wall Street Journal, basketball for Slate and beer for Eater, and he blogs at both the Joy of Cheese and Rotations. Follow him on Twitter.


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Although actress Gwyneth Paltrow isn't quite your average mom (she once said "every mom can make time to work out"), but in an interview in the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, she talks about the many ways she's hands-on with her kids, including school drop-offs and cooking dinner for Apple, 7, and Moses, 5.
Paltrow is also very hands-on when it comes to bath time: "We all get in the tub together," she said to Harper's Bazaar. Her comment has raised red flags across the internet, with articles and comments asking if it's normal to bathe with your kids (see: "Does Anyone Else Think It's Weird That Gwyneth Paltrow Bathes With Her Kids?").
What's your take on this? Did you bathe with your kids? At what age did they start taking baths or showers on their own?


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Value Line is regarded as the best independent research available. More than just recommendations, Value Line provides the rationale behind its picks for greater understanding.
Joy Global (JOY) is a leading purveyor of mining equipment, primarily used in the extraction of coal, minerals, and other ores. The company manufactures equipment for both surface and underground mining. In 2001, the company was reincarnated from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Harnischfeger Industries when it launched its initial public offering. It entered The Value Line Investment Survey in 2003.
The company suffered a rough slide in share price during the 2008 recession, but hit its highest share price in 2011. Since then, longer-term coal-related headwinds have caused the share price to retreat some. It has facilities around the world including areas of high drilling, such as Australia, China, and South Africa. Historically, 62% of sales have come from customers associated with the production of coal, and Joy Global faces considerable challenges given the weak coal demand environment. This entity employs over 16,600 employees worldwide, with over 5,900 in the United States alone.
Joy Global operates in two segments: Surface Mining Equipment and Underground Mining Machinery. The Surface Mining Equipment unit sells large-scale electric mining shovels, conveyer systems, and walking draglines in addition to servicing lifestyle management arrangements. The Underground Mining segment sells longwall shearers, flexible conveyor trains, and shuttle cars. Many of the products that Joy Global produces are very large scale. Indeed, some of its shuttle cars can carry up to 30-ton loads of coal, and its high-end electric mining shovel can handle loads over 120 metric tons. The company competes with companies such as Caterpillar (CAT - Free Caterpillar Stock Report) and Deere and Co. (DE), as well as several foreign heavy equipment manufacturers.
The long-term, secular decline in coal prices has hurt Joy Global's top line. Coal demand growth has decreased as natural gas has gained in popularity. More electric generation is occurring using cleaner technologies, as well. Successes in coal mining efficiency have led to an oversupply, hurting longer-term prices. Indeed, the company's mining clientele is struggling, and end-market demand for Joy's products is suffering as a result. Joy Global's backlog has dwindled from $2.5 billion in fiscal 2012 to $1.5 billion in fiscal 2013. Most of the decrease was in the Surface Mining Equipment segment and management expects fiscal 2014 to be another down year for the top line.
On the plus side, new products that boost efficiency, should help Joy Global through these tough times for coal. For example, the P&H 4800XPC, the company's largest electric mining shovel, can increase production up to 20% while lowering cost per ton of coal as much as 10%. Such products allow mines to run more efficiently and may help the coal mining industry increase its profitability. This could, in turn, allow for more coal-related investments by the industry, which is good over the long term for Joy Global.
Despite these myriad challenges, Joy Global has many strengths. Its specialized tools and focus on the coal industry have lead it to become a leader in the market. Too, its long-term fiscal position remains solid, with the company directing a good portion of cash flow on share-repurchase programs. Indeed, stock buybacks lowered total share count by 3.7% during fiscal 2013, and additional repurchases should materialize in the year's ahead. The company's worldwide footprint and diversified income streams are helping to buffer against a weak coal demand environment.
Against a less-than-stellar backdrop, there has been a changing of the guard at Joy Global. CEO Michael Sutherline retired on February 1, 2014, with Edward Doheny stepping in as the new chief executive.
For a more thorough look at Joy Global, and the particular investment merits of its stock, subscribers should examine our full report in The Value Line Investment Survey.
At the time of this article's writing, the author had positions in: CAT


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Kitchen Essentials
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What The Intelligence Community Doesn't Get: Backdoor For 'The Good Guys' Is Always A Backdoor For The 'Bad Guys' As Well
from the get-with-the-program dept
"It was very clear that a backdoor for the good guys is always a backdoor for the bad guys."Bruce Schneier, over at the Atlantic, recently made nearly the same point in talking about the massive costs of all of this NSA surveillance (as well as talking about the near total lack of benefits). There's the cost of running these programs that are massive. There is the fact that these programs will be abused (they always are). There are the costs of destroying trust in various tech businesses (especially from foreign users and customers). But just as important is the fact that the NSA, FBI and others in the intelligence community are flat out weakening our national security by installing backdoors that malicious users can and will find and exploit:
The more we choose to eavesdrop on the Internet and other communications technologies, the less we are secure from eavesdropping by others. Our choice isn't between a digital world where the NSA can eavesdrop and one where the NSA is prevented from eavesdropping; it's between a digital world that is vulnerable to all attackers, and one that is secure for all users.As Schneier points out, to fix this, we need to recognize that security is more important than surveillance. The surveillance apologists always claim that their goal is security. If so, they have a funny way of showing it. The "solution" they've drummed up hasn't made us any more secure... it's made us less secure.


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New England Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps
On the back and forth scoring in the first half:
"Penalty called, they scored. We fought back and then we gave up a goal on a throw-in. "
On the second goal:
"I didn't see it. I was writing a note down and didn't see the play."
On the substitutions made in the second half:
"I thought Jerry Bengston did a nice job coming in, and he held the ball up. I think at the critical time I think our passes were a little off."
On facing Chris Rolfe:
"I thought we dealt with him well at times. We didn't deal well with him other times."
On not starting Jerry Bengston:
"He had tired legs because he had been traveling quite a bit.
On subs cont:
"A few of the decisions were tactical, and others were just trying to get the best players on the field."
New England Revolution Midfielder Ryan Guy
On the team's performance tonight:
"I saw a lot of grit, I saw a lot of fight. A lot of desire. But sometimes that's not enough. Our coach was saying the devil is in the details, and that was certainly the case tonight. I think two mistakes, not necessarily mistakes, maybe one mistake in the penalty, and then one decently worked goal. I think we did well to come back quickly and get one back. They did well in their own final third, and we were there trying to break them down and couldn't quite do it. I think second half we came out and really fought hard and showed a lot about ourselves. We're in a rut right now, that's the bottom line. We need to do whatever we can to get out of it."
On the team's mentality after giving away the game winning goal:
"Because of where we are in the season and where we are in each game, or where we have been, I think it's one of those times where you say, you know what, we got to get on with it. These things are happening to us instead of getting down on ourselves, it's more like, you know what, let's test ourselves here and come back and really show something of ourselves. I think we did that, but unfortunately the only thing we can do is score a goal and we needed to."
On what he saw in the second half:
"I think we got stretched a couple times. They got a couple counter attacks but that's always going to happen when you're trying to win, when you're trying to push forward. I think we did well with most of those for the most part. I think we got a couple chances in-some things go our way, roll of the ball, hit the post, I don't know. Something like that. But maybe we could have done it; unfortunately it just wasn't our night."
On looking forward to Columbus:
"We need to change the little things. The little things are going to be the difference. A positive season and one we'd rather forget."
New England Revolution Defender Stephen McCarthy
On the team's performance:
"It was tough. First half didn't go as we would have hoped but we had a good spell I think in the middle of the first half. We put some great passes together and went forward well. It's kind of the same story, you know. We make two mistakes and we get punished hard. We just have to keep moving forward, I guess, and stay positive."
On whether the second Fire goal took a little out of the team's sail:
"It's always tough when it goes back and forth like that. You're really happy when you score and it comes back, and you get scored on like that, it's real tough mentally. I thought after their second goal we didn't fold but we probably should have been a little stronger mentally. So, it's tough, but we have to be stronger mentally and play better."
On facing Sherjill MacDonald:
"Oh man, he's good. He's real strong, he'll back into you hard and he knows how to do that well. We did pretty well with him, backing into us and he got one. But besides that play, we dealt with him pretty well."
On dealing with Chris Rolfe:
"[MacDonald] and Rolfe have a really good connection. It's tough, you have to decide whether to step or hold and it takes a lot of communication. Sometimes we got it perfect and sometimes we didn't. We need to be perfect. That's what Jay's harping about in the back-to be perfect. That's how we are going to win games. Has to be a little better."
On fighting for wins and moving forward:
"We aren't going to give up. I know that much. We have ten more games. We have to give everything we have."


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The longest running solo play in Broadway history, Defending the Caveman has become a worldwide hit. Having been translated into 18 different languages, Caveman has won the hearts of millions in more than 45 countries and is sure to win yours. Defending the Caveman has both sexes roaring with laughter and recognition, affectionately nudging each other as they recognize themselves in the stories being told on the stage. Its "outrageously funny and surprisingly sweet exploration of the gender gap" (Chicago Sun Times) has made Caveman "a comic phenomenon." (New York Times). With hysterical observations into contemporary feminism, masculine sensitivity and the erogenous zones,Defending the Caveman mines the common themes in relationships that go straight through the funny bone and into the heart.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: August 27Defending the Caveman
Later Event: August 27The Phantom of the Opera


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PocketPacket - APRS Client for iPhone, iPad on iOS or Mac Computer on Mac OS X from SW1OAN.
PocketPacket incorporates a software-based TNC, allowing you to directly capture and visualize, or encode and transmit 1200 baud packets (AFSK modulation) using a VHF radio transceiver. With PocketPacket you can also get and send packets over the Internet, by selecting one of the available Tier 2 servers of the global APRS-IS network.
Incoming data is presented on a map, as most packets define some object, with a specific symbol and location. By selecting a symbol, you can view the latest information sent for the corresponding object, as well as the raw packets that produced it. All available objects are also shown in a list, which allows you to search for the ones you are looking for. Messages and bulletins are shown in a separate set of screens, structured like an e-mail client.
With PocketPacket you can follow the status of the APRS network or submit your station's info from anywhere. Monitor moving objects, get real time weather reports directly from local stations and more. Now, with an iPhone/iPod Touch and PocketPacket, you can have a full-fledged picture of packet activity in a small, portable package - ideal for field work or the ham shack.
History versions[edit]
- 2011.04.08 - 1.4.1
Mac OS X[edit]
- 2011.05.16 - 1.4.0 (38)
- 2011.11.11 - 1.4.2 (68)


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Comprehensive long-term school plan needed
To the Editor:
As the School Committee considers the current recommendation from the facility planning committee, and the public is divided, we should all be aware of a looming situation that Warwick residents face regardless of the School Committee's decision.
The school infrastructure has been deteriorating for decades and will continue to do so until proactive, long-term capital planning by the school system and subsequent state and city funding occurs. The current proposal addresses the immediate situation but does not provide any future relief from the cyclical problem of spending precious school resources to address emergent issues in facilities that do not warrant that investment and the city's reluctance to fund capital improvements and invest in our school's infrastructure.
So how do we end this cycle? We engage in a comprehensive, master facilities plan (10 to 20 years) that identifies the actual infrastructure needs and solutions, and creates the public awareness needed for city leadership to invest in a thoughtful solution for the future. Ideally, the city will acknowledge, embrace and collaborate in longer term planning for the schools, but even if that does not occur initially, it is the responsibility of the school system to proactively plan for its future and utilize the power of a thoughtful, comprehensive, quantitative plan to gain public support and advocate for the state and city funding required to achieve it. The Pawtucket school system has similar infrastructure issues and I would encourage everyone to review and compare their planning efforts to Warwick's over the same time period and follow developments as they undergo city and state approvals, including the required financing to simultaneously deal with capacity issues and bring all their school facilities up to current standards over the next 10 years. It would be devastating to find ourselves 10 to 20 years from now, in the same or worse position as today, struggling to fund new roofs as the walls are slowly crumbling around us, while Pawtucket students are benefiting from 21st century learning environments as a direct result of proactive, school system-driven, comprehensive, long-term planning.
I do not believe anyone can rationally disagree that changes need to occur within the school system, however, there can be healthy debate regarding the implementation of a short-term plan in the absence of a defined long-term solution.
If you agree with the current proposal, support it as a short-term fix to urgent issues and encourage the School Committee to approve it with the condition that a long-term plan will be developed while the short-term proposal is implemented. Also be aware that the more compelling the needs, the more chance for state and city financing for long-term capital improvements. If the current proposal is acknowledged and accepted as an immediate short-term solution (phase one of a long-term plan) and the School Committee recognizes this, along with the need for long-term infrastructure solutions, the schools will be better positioned for future plan approval and financing.
If you do not agree with the proposal, encourage the School Committee to engage in longer term planning prior to implementing short-term actions, like the Pawtucket schools. Ask the School Committee to fully address capacity and infrastructure needs in one, comprehensive master facilities plan that will identify a compelling, comprehensive solution for state and city approval and financing. The public may be divided on the current proposal, but we can all be united on the need to develop a comprehensive long-term facilities plan and provide support for the long-term, continuous investment in the future of our schools.
Jennifer Mann
Looking at Pawtucket's process and plan is good up to a point as it pertains to Warwick and that is the fiscal reality of the plan and the fact that the Pawtucket City Council has some serious issues with it, namely, that it does not provide much of a role for the City Council, who I believe, has to approve the whole thing. I'd invite you to read the 8/13/13 Valley Breeze article on that (unfortunately Im having a problem pasting the link here). Their plan is a $243 million dollar plan that may balloon to a $500 million total cost. Further, they're banking on a 75% RIDE reimbursement rate which is not guaranteed at this tme. I'm not equating their needs to Warwick's by any stretch, but realize that Warwick's reimbursement rate will most likely not come close to Pawtucket's because, among the mountain of data that RIDE requires for this process is a demographic assessment of the community, the percetage of free & reduced lunch population, affordable housing, rental units, etc in the community. My point is that Warwick, being an affluent community compred to Pawtucket, would not get nearly a 75% reimbursement. The LTFPC's recommendation on the table is a 5 year plan that essentially deals with the population decline at the secondary level, which has never been addressed unlike the elementary level, while at the same time setting the stage for all day K and middle school. As you know, going out 10+ is a different kettle of fish in which you look at more factors. The use of the outside company - MGT management - to do their assessment is, i believe required by RIDE in Phase 1. I'd welcome that approach for 10 and 20 years out.
David, It will certainly be interesting to follow developments in Pawtucket. I believe their strategy is to obtain state funding/approval prior to going to the City, possibly the result of current lack of city support. While it may not be our situation exactly, it warrants some consideration. Regardless, in my mind, there's little to no rationale for not engaging in proactive, long term planning. In my opinion, the lack of it here has greatly assisted in the current state of our schools.The schools have no real data, comparisons, etc. to support their needs and there exists such an opportunity to create a very powerful/persuasive needs assessment and long term plan. I have advocated for experienced planners to assist in this process and will continue to do so for future efforts and your voice would be very helpful in supporting long term planning efforts and the experts to assist. In terms of the current proposal, close monitoring of underlying assumptions/trends and oversight/support for the schools impacted will be critical. For instance, a key driver of enrollment is the percentage of high school aged children not attending public school. In Warwick, this percentage has been steadily increasing, is very significant, greatly impacts enrollment, and I'm wondering if this trend continues, flattens, or reverses in the enrollment projections (can't find methodology but I believe they are based on historical trending with maybe some adjustments for committee based assumptions? ) If the thinking is that middle school, all day k, etc. will improve our schools, does it follow that more families will choose/stay in public school and that trend will reverse? As you support the LTFPC's proposal, please also advocate for the oversight/continued monitoring needed for successful implementation. Thanks for your continued efforts/dedication to the schools!
That may very well be what they're attempting but it's a dangerous road to take because the City Council does have the final say in committing taxpayer monies to that. I don't remember the actual numbers of kids who leave the district after grade 8 or 9. I'd be less concerned with the percentages than the actual numbers of students, though. Having said that, the current K-6 enrollments still show a decline. As you know our decline is more a function of changing demographics - the same ones that plague the state - we're getting older and the young-to-old alance will continue to tip. RI is losing population and Warwick has one of the lrger population drops in the last Census as well. All school demographic data is done by NESDEC, who also did Pawtucket's numbers. The committee used their data that goes out to 2023. NESDEC says that the 1-5 year projections are more accurate than the 6 years and beyond data but, historically, they've been accurate to within 1 - 1.5% so i have faith in those numbers. Those weren't Administration-derived numbers either. My advocacy of all day K and middle is not primarily to have more kids stay (or come back) in our schools - I'm pretty sure that, historically, the number of kids who go private in the elementarty years has been very steady - but rather to give our kids who are here a better education. If that brings in more kids then fine. I don;t know how you'd quantify how many could potentially come back except to take the number that we know are not here and pick a %. Those two things by themselves won't bring kids back - results will and until we stop being in the middle of the pack performance wise (when we have among the highest per pupil expenditures), we could have all brand new, shiny buildings and that won;t change much. Again, the current recommendation deals with declining enrollment and excess capacity at the secondary level that has never - never - been addressed. This 5 year plan, in my view, can stand on its own and does not have to be part of the 15-20 year plan. Once this is implemented, then we can look 15+ years down the road and I disagree with those who say that this can't be done without it being part of a much longer term plan that would take years to develop - all while our populations continue to decline. ANd, I'd add, that in all likelihood, the City will continue to level fund the schools. (The city does have some legal mechanisms that allow them to actually reduce their funding and part of the justtification for it is declining enrollment.) We seem to be letting the 'perfect be the enemy of the good' here...
Just a thought....as someone who took his kids out of WP schools and spent the money to send them to private schools....the issue was not the quality of the education. Most people I know send their kids to private/Catholic schools to educate their children's spirit as well as their minds. The public schools have to take everyone. The teachers are loathe to discipline anyone. Bad environment that money can't change.
David, it would be fairly easy to quantify the numbers/percentage of children not attending Warwick public schools, from what I remember of a quick comparison of 2010 census 15-19 year olds (the standard census age grouping but possible to get a different breakdown), which is a decent approximation of high school aged children, 3000 (approximate enrollment) out of 4800 potential students attend public school, so the number of high school age students to make an assumption on is about 1800. The percentage of children not attending public high schools in Warwick is about 38% and has been steadily increasing since I was in Warwick schools. I would guess there's about 20% that would stay public school if the confidence was there (I agree there will always be a certain % that will choose to send kids to private/Catholic school regardless and a basic comparison to other districts/standards could help inform that assumption or set goals for Warwick). Anyway, I think 900 is a substantial number to think about for future. I personally feel that the increasing percentage of children taking their kids out of public school does directly impact the education and my goal for the schools would be to create strategies to reverse this trend. Students are greatly influenced by their peers and the families I personally know (at least 40 families from my children's elementary school) leave a void in our schools. For my kids, the education in Warwick has been good, I cannot justify abandoning a system I believe in and will continue to support, but their peers become increasing diminished as they get older (strong argument for one high school with many levels/opportunities for all as long as properly sized, staffed, designed, etc.) and I do feel it contributes to the overall educational experience.
I heard those 1% accuracy of projections and those are ok to use as long as the historic trend data they are using continues at same rate...but dangerous, if trends reverse. I only ask because there is no methodology in the documents and having a background in strategic, facility, and demographics, it would be very helpful in my understanding of the process and my comfort level in the analysis. Yes, our population is aging but projecting birth rates and subsequently future enrollment is much more complicated (although I could directly point to experts in our state with the inside knowledge and data analysis tools by census tract) Our population is also becoming much more diverse (with a much higher fertility rate), multiple births are continuing to increase, and its important to consider home owners aging out of independent living and younger families moving into existing homes that impact our schools.
Agree and defer to you on much of the City/school dynamics but regardless of politics, a comprehensive long term plan is never a bad idea, done well, it shouldn't take years...about a year..and in my opinion should have been started years ago... we would be in a much better place today if it had, but never too late...we certainly wouldn't have wasted your and others time in the proposal last year, many of the concerns being voiced regarding the current plan would have been proactively addressed, the public and the school committee would have been informed and engaged throughout the process, and there would be a long term plan which would clearly demonstrate any short term pain/disruption. In my experience, the best way to achieve any significant change is to allow for all affected to be part of the process (by clearly outlining entire process up front and identifying clear decision points for all to provide input...including public and board), describe in detail all analysis and assumptions along the way so that those with valuable insights can actually assist in thoughtful process and all concerns can be addressed throughout process instead of at end, and to be able to communicate a clear vision/long term plan for the future that justifies the change.
I did find some projection methodology from when these projections were created (January 2011). What is concerning is that in the LTFPC recommendation, the admin lists the enrollment as of 11/13/13 at 9215 but also included the projection from NESDC for 2013 as 8,588, a difference of 627 students, that is not a 1% difference. It clearly states in the methodology that they generally(not for Warwick) tend to be within 1% when projecting for the next year using current year enrollment. The methodology goes on to say that there are many factors that can greatly influence the accuracy (many of those that are currently occurring in Warwick) and they highly recommend Warwick continually update annual projections as well as to engage in more comprehensive long term projections. Weren't these projections updated for the current recommendation? When these projections the 2010 census data had not yet been finalized, projections should be continually updated as more census info becomes available and to use projections that were off by 627 students going only two years out and not updating them for this recommendation is concerning.
Sorry, had old/original projections with methodology in front of me, they did update last year! Makes much more sense with updated projections (and prek included).


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My last reply to this forum is this: Let it be. To quote the Beatles, let it be. Listen to what you want to listen to, and let others listen to what they want to listen to. It doesn't matter, it really doesn't. As long as you can be happy listening to music you love, nor you or i have any right to say what is going to be great for others. Because we're all different, we don't have the same tastes, and that's how its supposed to be. So to officially END this forum, at least for myself, I'll say this. Be at peace with the world around you, and the people around you, be kind and considerate to all and have compassion for those who have less than yourself. While the music you listen to may very well be BETTER than what others listen to, that supposed fact does not give you the right or the need to bash others music and or make others feel bad about how they live.
I started this forum a while ago, and to be honest, it was an uneducated move on my part. It is probably one of the most uneducated actions I've ever made. So here i am to say this: Just be the best you can be, and treat others how you want to be treated. That's it, it's simple. Kindness, be kind, be respectful, be wise. Live life well, and be true to yourself and others.
Planting the seeds of awesomeness in peoples hearts is hard work, GET ME COFFEE!
I can hardly walk outside because of my fear of bad music.
I'm a controlling bitch.
Best excuse ever.
Thepoorfool wrote:
I have to ask, why has this happened? What do you people think?
Because you're speaking for yourself as if your reality applies to everybody else?
Tobuscus 2016!
Gangnam Style, Nuff said.
MMMmmmmm Daddy plz
I'll have you know that 1997 was the worst year for music.
*****Completely inactive, no other accounts*****
There's always poorly made music, it doesn't matter what year you are talking about. But, don't mix up "poorly made" with "music you don't like". They are different things.
I'm of the belief that music (and pretty much everything else) has always been terrible and people just overlook most of the bad stuff because it's forgettable.
If I had a type it'd be you, fortunately I don't have a type so please stop.
If my taste didn't grow to like recent music, I'll just rewind it and keep moving backwards into older music. I make fun of recent music now and then, but it really doesn't bother me. Unless someone is forcing me to listen, in which case they'd better prepare their throats.
Believe it or not, there was shit music back then too. And a lot of it was popular. Boston is an excellent example. Things like "repeated lyrics" and "poorly thought out background sound" existed en masse back then too. Also understand that in the 60s-70s, people were saying the same things you are now. I'm not old enough to know from experience, but I have heard from people that do. This also matches with what I've read from the era. Music is just as bad now as it always was, and also just as good. If you want to listen to good music, either find some or make some yourself. Although, the fact remains that music is indeed different than it used to be, and it may just be the case that you prefer the sound from that era. There are artists these days that have thoughtful and interesting lyrics, and complex sound. I've even found that a lot of the better electronic-type artists have training in things like classical piano. Although I am also no expert on music, so take my opinion at your own peril.
There is still amazing music being made today. While a bulk of my record collection consists of 60's rock, 70's prog, 80's and 90's alternative, there are still many great releases from the 2000's that find their way to my ears quite often. While I find myself seeking out more underground music nowadays, I still find many great bands to listen to, as well as to see live.
Actively search for current music that is more of your style and you will most likely find some amazing acts out there!
I wish Zack Delarocha and Tom Morello would get back together and make another album......RATM!!!!
I am indeed freaked out. I refuse to listen to the radio because of it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/thefortknighthood <-Follow us!
Well most bands now a days no matter the genre, pretty much sound the same...and I guess you can say its like that just about any generation...but I have to agree 60'-80's was the best times for music...it was the time when music had real meaning. Yeah some people would say that I or other people do not like the current music...and you would be wrong...so before you assume let me inform you I do like some of the music in current times. I am a musician so I listen to just about anything. BUT! My opinion you cannot beat the 70s'-80's. Music now a days does not have the creativity and hard work that was put into music back in the day...hell if you really want to talk about good music...look at Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller Orchestra and so on... to many good music and bands to put on this but if you have not listened to it then you should check out the Big Bands of the old.
That Frolein is One Goofy Cat.


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|Gurnee, Ill.
|High School:
|Warren Township
|Business, Marketing
2014 Season (Junior): Competed at five meets...Ran a season-best 6K of 26:08.28 at the UW-Oshkosh Brook Invitational (Oct. 18)...Posted a time of 26:20.3 at the Benedictine Eagle Invitational (Oct. 10)...Began season with a 14:29.5 two-mile in the Maranatha Baptist-CUW Dual (Aug. 30)...Also competed at the CUW Invitational (Sept. 13) and NACC Championships (Nov. 1).
2013 Season (Sophomore): Competed in all six meets...Posted a career-best 6K time of 25:33.4 at last meet of season, the NCAA Division III Midwest Regionals (November 16)...Ran a 25:44.8 at the Wisconsin Private College Championships (October 19)...Also competed at the NACC Championships (November 2), running a 25:49.97...Finished under 26 minutes in four of six races.
2012 Season (Freshman): Earned Northern Athletics Conference Honorable Mention recognition after placing 23rd at the NAC Championships (Oct. 27) with a time of 25:43.98...Competed in five events...Ran a personal-best 25:36.69 at the NCAA Midwest Regional (Nov. 10)...Placed 45th at the Wisconsin Private College Championships (Oct. 13), crossing the finish line in 26:22.23...Made collegiate debut by running a 26:49.4 at the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational (Sept. 21).
High School (Warren Township): Won the Sportsmanship Award her senior year...Earned varsity letters in cross country, basketball and track & field.
Personal: Daughter of Jack Achs and Julie Wilt...Has one older brother, Jeffrey...Has two older sisters, Jennifer and Jessica.


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- AltCar Auto Show
- Beijing Auto Show
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- Frankfurt Auto Show
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Auto Show: 2013 Geneva Auto Show
2014 MINI Clubman Bond Street Bows in Geneva
- The 2014 MINI Clubman Bond Street brings added style and sophistication to the funky Clubman wagon.
- The "Bond Street" treatment includes exterior styling enhancements and a unique leather-wrapped interior.
- Production starts this month, with worldwide sales soon to follow.
If you're like us, you're looking at this MINI's name and thinking, "Bond. James Bond."
But no, it's not 007's latest ride. Instead, the Clubman Bond Street named after what MINI calls "the most exclusive shopping street in London." As such, you can think of it as the automotive equivalent of a designer watch or handbag - a stylish lifestyle accessory for the well-to-do.
Of course, the Clubman's styling has always been a matter of personal taste. Some of our editors liken it to a pint-sized delivery van, especially with those dual "clamshell" cargo doors. But we can all agree that MINI's miniature wagon has never looked better, thanks to the Bond Street's metallic Midnight Black paint with Champagne accents (including the roof!) and 17-inch alloy wheels that are also black with Champagne trim.
Inside, the Bond Street treatment continues, highlighted by a leather-trimmed dashboard and exclusive black sport seats with Champagne piping and stitching. Additional features include automatic climate control, a storage package and a lighting package.
You'll also find the name "Bond Street" tastefully affixed to various surfaces, perhaps enhancing this Clubman's collectability down the road. Note, however, that the Bond Street is not technically a limited-production vehicle, so MINI will build as many as the world wants.
As for the mechanical parts, the Clubman Bond Street is powered by either MINI's standard 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (121 horsepower) or the turbocharged "S" version (181 horsepower). As usual, you can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with available paddle shifters. Fuel economy, always a MINI strong suit, stretches well past 30 mpg no matter which engine and transmission you select.
What it means to you: Every MINI is fashionable, but the 2014 MINI Clubman Bond Street arguably takes the cake. Although it won't come cheap, we can see how folks with Bond Street-style shopping preferences might find this exceptionally dapper Clubman hard to resist.


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FREE Roland Exclusive EVENT at Dolphin Music Huddersfield
FREE Roland Exclusive EVENT at Dolphin Music Huddersfield - TD9 V Drum Product Launch!
Your chance to be one of the first to see and hear Rolands' new powerful and magnificent TD9 Kit plus their entry level HD1 kit demonstrated by the sublime and awesome Craig Blundell (check out his web site: http://www.craigblundell.net )
Call us and book a place - 01484 427455
Tuesday 27th May
Remember the time - Doors open 6.30 pm for a 7.00 pm start (finishes around 8.30 pm)
Refreshments and a special exclusive offer which is so cool we can't mention it in this post !!!


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Social networking at this event
Cybersecurity – Defend Critical Assets and Secure the Global Supply Chain
An Industry / Government Partnership to Counter the Digital Threat
You can view the Proceedings from this event here.
Cybersecurity is at a critical juncture. The threat landscape has changed significantly, with hacktivism and advanced persistent threats challenging both enterprise and government IT defenses. The changing cybersecurity environment has profound implications for enterprise architecture, software assurance, information security management, and for supply chain security.
In an increasingly uncertain world, the need to establish and maintain the necessary levels of integrity in a global supply chain is more important than ever. Identifying risks and eliminating vulnerabilities that could undermine integrity is key to supply chain security. The Open Group Conference will provide valuable insight into a critical point of ensuring trust and integrity in your supply chain, i.e. how to prevent or mitigate problems through effective and efficient use of the commercial technologies and IT processes upon which much of society's critical infrastructure depends. This is a significant global challenge and a top priority for governments, vendors, component suppliers, integrators and commercial enterprises around the world.
- Learn how The Open Group is working with government and business to protect supply chain integrity through global standards, best practices and guidelines in ICT Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, High Assurance, and Cloud Computing.
- Understand what processes you should have in place to assure the technology and data you rely on are dependable and secure.
- Learn about the latest initiatives in supply chain integrity, which can be implemented within your organization to deliver tangible business benefits.
Enterprise Transformation
- Setting expectations and planning transformation
- The role of standards in enterprise transformation
- The work of the members of The Open Group
- Transforming the DoD Avionics Software Industry
- Industry / Government partnership in re-defining business practices for procurement guidance
Join us in Washington, D.C. for illuminating keynotes and presentations on cybersecurity threats and key approaches to defending critical assets, securing the global supply chain, and enterprise transformation and the role of open standards.
The Conference will focus on the following areas:
- Trusted Technology
- Security and Jericho Forum®
- Enterprise Architecture, TOGAF® 9.1, Archimate®
- Real-time and Embedded Systems
- Cloud Computing (take survey)


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12 Cool London Fashion Brands You Should Know
London is considered the hub of creativity when it comes to fashion. It's where some of the most venerable fashion schools are based: Central Saint Martins, where Kanye West sought admittance, along with the Royal College of Art and London College of Fashion. But in addition to these emblems, the city's soil is a breeding ground for young, burgeoning talent to plant their seeds.
With London Collections: Men just around the corner, it makes sense to highlight a few of the interesting brands on the come-up from that side of the pond. Be it streetwear or high-end, check out the 12 worth knowing.


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"Field Programmable Gate Arrays: Power In Future HPC Systems", Keynote Speaker, Reconfigurable Systems Summer Institute, Champaign, IL, July 2005
"Coiled-coil Protein Composition of 22 Proteomes – Differences and Common Themes in Subcellular Infrastructure and Traffic Control", A. Rose, S. Schraegle, E. Stahlberg, I. Meier, BMC Evolutionary Biology, November 16, 2005, 5:66
"Accelerated Biological Meta-Data Generation and Indexing on the Cray XD1", E. Stahlberg, J. Fernando, J. Doak, K. Wohlever, Cray Users Group Conference, Albuquerque, NM, May 15, 2005
"Integrating FPGA Technology and Database Management Systems on Solaris Systems", D. Ryle, D. Popig, E. Stahlberg, Sun Users Performance Group Conference, Arlington, VA, April 18, 2005
"Compilation of mRNA Polyadenylation Signals in Arabidopsis Revealed a New Signal Element and Potential Secondary Structures", J. Loke, E. Stahlberg, D. Strenski, B. Haas, P. Wood, Q. Li, accepted for publication Plant Physiology, January 2005.
"Storage, Sharing and Safeguards: Three S's for Knowledge Management", Invited Speaker, Integrating Knowledge in the Life Science Product Life Cycle virtual conference, October 2004.
"Life Science Research at OSC: Proving Ground for Integrated Computational Biology Research and Applications", Invited Speaker, IDC HPC Users Conference, Tuscon, AZ, September 21, 2004.
"Network Analysis Using Transitive Closure: New Methods for Exploring Networks", D. Dougherty, W. Sadee, E. Stahlberg, Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation. Submitted for publication June 2004.
"Comparative Sequence Analysis for SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) using CBL and PCBL Libraries", M. Gowda, G. Wang, J. Doak, S. Manikantan, E. Stahlberg, Proceedings of the 46th CUG Conference, Knoxville, Tennessee, May 2004
"Genome-Wide Identification of Arabidopsis Coiled-Coil Proteins and Establishment of the ARABI-COIL Database", A. Rose, S. Manikantan, S. J. Schraegle, M. A. Maloy, E. A. Stahlberg and I. Meier, Plant Physiology, March 2004, Vol. 134, pp. 927-939
"Genome-wide Compilation and Probabilistic Prediction of mRNA Polyadenylation Signals in Arabidopsis Using Advanced Searching Technologies", Q. Li, J. C. H. Loke, E. Stahlberg, D. Strenski, The 45th CUG Conference, Columbus, Ohio, May 2003
"Improving performance of multiple sequence alignment analysis in multi-client environments," U. Catalyurek, E. Stahlberg, R. Ferreira, T. Kurc, and J. Saltz, Proceedings of 16th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IPDPS), First Workshop on High Performance Computational Biology, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 2002.
"Integrating Heterogenous Enterprise Bioinformatics Resources with Sun Grid Engine and Sun Grid Portal Technology", E. Stahlberg, Proceedings Sun Users Performance Group, September 16-20, 2002
"Guidelines for Porting Scientific Software to Intel SMPs Under Windows/NT", R. Kuhn, E. Stahlberg, Scientific Computing and Automation, November 1997, p. 31.
"Multi-Architecture Parallel Computing: Applications in Chemistry", Invited Speaker, International Conference on Parallel Computing, Minneapolis, MN, October 3-4, 1996.
"Chemical Structure of Urea in Water", C. Lee, E. Stahlberg, G. Fitzgerald, The Journal of Physical Chemistry, 99, p 17737, 1995.
"Atmospheric Chemistry of CF3OH: Is Photolysis Important?", W.F. Schneider, T. J. Wallington, K. Minshwaner, E. A. Stahlberg, Environmental Science and Technology, 28, p. 247, 1995
"Density Functional Application in Parallel on the Cray T3D", E. A. Stahlberg, G. Fitzgerald, M. S. Stave, American Chemical Society National Convention, Anaheim, CA, April 1995
"Parallel DFT: Algorithms and Applications", International Symposium: Computational Chemistry on Supercomputers, E. A. Stahlberg, Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Grenoble, Grenoble, France, March 8-9, 1995


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Ein neues Rätselmagazin aus den USA? Ein original japanisches Rätselkonzept? Bleiben Sie, was die neuesten Entwicklungen in der Welt der Logikrätsel angeht, auf dem Laufenden: Das internationale Conceptis-Team liefert sie Ihnen.
5 Time-Lapse videos showing Picture Logic puzzles being solvedWednesday, February 2, 2011
About time-lapse photography
Time-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back (via Wikipedia)
Time-lapse photography techniques are commonly used to speed-up images of slow natural phenomena such as the sun's motion in the sky or the blooming of a flower. Although logic-puzzles are not a natural phenomena (though some may argue about this), several Conceptis fans adopted this technique showing puzzles solved at whiz speed!
Below are 5 time-lapse videos created by members of conceptispuzzles.com showing Pic-a-Pix, Link-a-Pix, Fill-a-Pix and Maze-a-Pix solved at high speed. While such puzzles take hours to solve in real life, the pictures in these puzzles are rapidly revealed in a few minutes. Some of the videos even feature some great original music.
Mega Fill-a-Pix Time Lapse (Screen captured)
From the creator: This is a time lapse recording of a Mega Fill-a-Pix puzzle by Conceptis Puzzles. Note that this is a Mega Basic Logic puzzle, in which they imply you can solve the entire puzzle using only the red guide square. Looks like they were right!
Mega Link-a-Pix Time Lapse (Screen captured)
From the creator: Just a time lapse of me solving a Conceptis Link-a-Pix puzzle [...] The music, entitled Contrition, is a song I composed as part of an ongoing '30 Songs in 30 Days' project.
Pic-a-Pix Time Lapse (Screen captured)
From the creator: This is a screen-shots time-lapse of a puzzle I did today. This kind of puzzle is called Paint-by-Number, Nonogram, Pic-a-Pix, etc. The numbers in the grid guide the pixels, and if you solve the puzzle correctly (only one answer), you get a picture. Music = Prelude - composed by me and played by me. This puzzle was a little more difficult than I anticipated. I got stuck in the middle and had to resort to a little trial and error (kind of fun to watch in time-lapse). In this time-lapse, 1 second is roughly 1 minute.
Maze-a-Pix Time Lapse (Captured with camera)
From the creator: This is me completing a Maze-a-Pix from Conceptispuzzles.com. Lots of fun. Check it out. The music is a Phish song called Magilla from their album Pictures of Nectar What I wrote at the end that you can't see is: I love these Mazes!! Thanks for watching.
Fill-a-Pix Time Lapse (Screen captured)
From the creator: Because making time lapse videos of Conceptis puzzle is the rage these days, I hear. As you can see, it takes me about 2.8 times as long to solve an Advanced Logic Fill-a-Pix as it takes me to solve a Basic Logic one. Music is Calming House Puzzle by okfox. Inspired by the Mega Fill-a-Pix time lapse.
Share your time-lapse videos!
Have you created a time-lapse video of one of our puzzles? Please share it by posting the link on the comment form below or by contacting us and we may feature it on this website.
Related resources
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Two people were rescued from the Bush River in southern Harford County late Wednesday after their canoe capsized, the Harford Fire & EMS Association said.
A call for a boat rescue was dispatched at 5 p.m. by Harford County emergency radio.
According to the monitored broadcast, two people were in the water of the Bush River between Church Creek east of Aberdeen and the Amtrak Railroad bridge that crosses the river linking Perryman and Edgewood.
The Fire and EMS Association reported on its media Facebook the incident occurred behind Water Park Drive, which runs along the river in the Waters Edge development in Belcamp.


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CycleOps Fluid2 Trainer
Item: 40-1408
The CycleOps Fluid2 Trainer with PowerTuned technology gives you an improved "road-like" feel, offers the widest resistance range, and provides the most true-to-life speed versus power contingency, no matter how fast or slow you ride. PowerTuned technology allows your wheel to accelerate and decelerate on an infinite resistance curve, just like it does outside. Larger flywheel delivers twice the inertia to further enhance a realistic road feel. Progressive fluid resistance increases exponentially with speed, sealed cartridge bearings are nearly noise-free, and tough frame with asymmetrical feet guarantees a stable ride, no matter what surface you're on.
- PowerTuned technology offers the widest resistance range and excellent balance of inertia with real-world feel
- Large precision-balanced flywheel with patented fan design keeps the unit performing better and longer
- Quick-load cam-lever returns to the last used resistance level
- Sealed cartridge bearings for an ultra-quiet ride
- Sturdy, 2" diameter, 16 gauge steel frame
- Adjustable footpads for stability
- Folding legs for easy storage
- Lifetime Warranty


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Berlin concept store SOTO has teamed up with Tuscan brand President's on a set of Hawaii shirts for Spring/Summer 2013. Made of premium Japanese fabric, the shirt comes in black and burgundy and is the perfect companion for the hotter days of the year. The store produced a small lookbook for its latest collaboration, with the shirts being modeled by Berlin tastemakers Joey Elgersma and Lee Stuart.
The two limited edition shirts are now available here.


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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he never talks to the team after a loss.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he never talks to the team after a loss.
He made an exception following a 3-2 shoot-out loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Winter Classic on Wednesday that saw an announced crowd of 105,491 fill Michigan Stadium.
"I just said you should be proud, you got an off day tomorrow, enjoy your family today," Babcock said.
"Be thankful for the experience, remember the experience. I said it yesterday, life's about moments. You only remember moments, you don't remember everything. This is one of those things, for a fan today, those kids that were skating on the ice, the kids that were introduced for the Olympians, all those things were very special."
The U.S. Olympic team was introduced following the game, which ended with another tough shoot-out loss for the Wings.
Tyler Bozak, who gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead in the third period, scored the deciding goal in the shootout.
Daniel Alfredsson, who scored in the second period to give the Wings a 1-0 lead, missed on a backhand in the shootout, as did Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk, who tied the game at 1 in the final minute of the second period.
Pavel Datsyuk lifted a backhand past Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier in the second round of the shootout. Joffrey Lupul answered Datsyuk's goal, beating Jimmy Howard five-hole.
Tomas Tatar missed trying to go five-hole on Bernier and Bozak ended the contest with a wrister.
Bernier finished with 41 saves for the Leafs. Howard finished with 24 saves for the Wings.
The Wings tied the game at 2-2 with 5:32 remaining in the third.
Brendan Smith sent a pass from the side boards and Justin Abdelkader redirected the puck on a backhand past Bernier.
"It was just a game where you want to minimize your mistakes," Abdelkader said. "When you got the puck down low, you were trying to hang onto it. A lot of times it would hit snow or something weird would happen. You had to just try to make simple plays. I think that was our game plan all along."
The Wings were disappointed to lose another game in a shootout, but Abdelkader said: "With this game, with the elements, with the snow, I guess, if you want to say it's kind of fitting to end in a shoot-out. It wasn't an easy game to play, but I think both teams played hard. We did a lot of good things, unfortunately, we didn't get that next one to go in for us. I think everyone is going to take away the experience here and look forward to the second half."
The Wings had opened the scoring at 13:14 of the second period. On a 2-on-1, Henrik Zetterberg sent a pass to Alfredsson. The puck went in off Alfredsson's skate.
It was Alfredsson's fourth goal and sixth point in his last five games.
From the side of the net, van Riemsdyk knocked the puck in out of the air like he was playing baseball. He tied the game at 19:23 of the second.
Bozak's tip-in off a shot from Phaneuf at 4:41 of the third gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead. Off a face-off win, Phaneuf fired the puck and Bozak's stick was ruled to be under the crossbar.
The snow caused a winter wonderland on the ice at Michigan Stadium. Everyone wondered when pucks were going to stop as they got caught in an accumulation of snow along the boards or whether an odd bounce would lead to a bad goal.
A crew of about a dozen shovelers was responsible for clearing the snow during stoppages in play.
Niklas Kronwall said with the wind and snow, it probably looked like an alumni game at times.
"We fought back and got a point," Kronwall said.
The players weren't affected by the cold, Kronwall said, because there were heaters on the benches.
"The conditions made it so some of the skill in the game was eliminated," Babcock said. "I thought our team played real well. We had the puck tons. It was a good game for our team. All in all it was a good day."
(c)2014 Detroit Free Press
Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services


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From Noisebridge
What's in your bag?[edit]
We're all nerds, geeks, freaks. We like keeping stuff with us that's useful and handy. We also like sharing knowledge. Bag Porn is a day were we get together, dump out our bags and show off what we keep with us. Bring your bag, backpack, purse, murse, butt pack and pockets and lay it all out.
Still don't understand what I'm talking about? Check out this Flickr group.
==When?== Next one is Monday January 25th 2010, 19:30 at Noisebridg


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Be Happy.
Gift Shop
My DailyOM
About Us
DailyOM - Mother Earth Spirituality by Ed Mcgaa
Mother Earth Spirituality
Mother Earth Spirituality
BY Ed Mcgaa
In this book, Ed McGaa, also known as Eagle Man, explores how the Scientific Revolution and the mechanistic world view of modern science has sanctioned the exploitation of nature, unrestrained commercial expansion, and a new socioeconomic order that subordinates women.
Chapter One
Buffalo Calf Woman:
The Coming of the Sacred Pipe
The Sioux were taught and understood that all things are of the Great Spirit. Trees, rivers, mountains, grass, four-legged animals, two-legged animals, and winged creatures all came from the Great Spirit, called Wakan Tanka, who is the Supreme Being. In modern times, traditional Sioux still practice their Way. Holy men and holy women can be found on the reservations, and the ceremonies are still conducted. Some of these ceremonies are now taking place in the non-Indian world.
Before the appearance of the Buffalo Calf Woman, the Indian honored the Great Spirit. But among the Sioux, the coming of Buffalo Calf Woman brought a most important instrument, the pipe, which is now used in all ceremonies.
The sacred pipe came into being many, many years ago. Two men of a small band of the Sioux tribe, the Sans Arc, were hunting and saw something approaching in the distance. As the figure drew close, they observed a beautiful maiden, dressed in white buckskin, carrying a bundle wrapped in buffalo hide.
Behold me.
Behold me,
For in a sacred manner
I am walking.
She sang this out and repeated the song as she walked slowly toward them.
One of the men had evil thoughts about this maiden and moved toward her. The other hunter tried forcibly to restrain him, but the evil man pushed the good warrior away A cloud descended on the evil one, and when it lifted, his body was a skeleton being devoured by worms. This symbolized that one who lives in ignorance and has evil in his heart may be destroyed by his own actions.
The good hunter knelt in fear, trembling as the buckskin-clad woman approached. She spoke to him, telling him not to be afraid, but to return to his people and prepare them for her coming. This was done, and the beautiful maiden appeared in their midst, walking among them in a sunwise, or clockwise, direction. She held forth her bundle and said:
This is a sacred gift
And must always be treated in a holy way.
In this bundle is a sacred pipe
Which no impure man or woman should ever see.
With this sacred pipe
You will send your voices to Wakan Tanka.
The Great Spirit, Creator of All.
Your Father and Grandfather.
With this sacred pipe
You will walk upon the Earth
Which is your Grandmother and Mother.
All your steps should be holy.
The bowl of the pipe is red stone
Which represents the earth.
A buffalo calf is carved in the stone facing the center
And symbolizes the four-legged creatures
Who live as brothers among you.
The stem is wood and represents all growing things.
Twelve feathers hang from where the stem fits the bowl
And are from the Spotted Eagle.
These represent all the winged brothers
Who live among you.
All these things are joined to you
Who will smoke the pipe and send voices to Wakan Tanka.
When you use this pipe to pray,
You will pray for and with every thing.
The sacred pipe binds you to all your relatives;
Your Grandfather and Father,
Your Grandmother and Mother.
The red stone represents the Mother Earth
On which you will live.
The Earth is red
And the two-legged creatures who live upon it are also red.
Wakan Tanka has given you a red road--
A good and straight road-to travel,
And you must remember that all people
Who stand on this earth are sacred.
From this day,
The sacred pipe will stand on the red earth,
And you will send your voices to Wakan Tanka.
There are seven circles on the stone
Which represent the seven rites
In which you will use the pipe.
The Buffalo Calf Woman then instructed the people to send runners to the distant bands of the Sioux nation, to bring in the many leaders, the medicine people, and the holy men and holy women. This they did.
When the people gathered, she instructed them in the sacred ceremonies. She told them of the first rite, that of the Keeping of the Soul. She told them that the remaining six rites would be made known to them through visions. As she started to leave, she said:
Remember how sacred the pipe is
And treat it in a sacred manner,
For it will be with you always.
Remember also that in me are four ages.
I shall leave you now,
But shall look upon you in every age
And will return in the end.
The Sioux begged the spirit woman to stay with them; they promised to erect a fine lodge and to give her a fine man to provide for her, but she declined their offer.
No, the Creator above,
The Great Spirit,
Is happy with you,
You, the grandchildren.
You have listened well to my teachings.
Now I must return to the spirit world.
She walked some distance away from them and sat down. When she rose, she had become a white buffalo calf. She walked farther, bowed to the four quarters of the universe, and then disappeared into the distance. Her sacred bundle was left with the people; and to this day, a traditional Sioux family, the "Keepers of the Sacred Bundle," still guards the bundle and its contents on one of the Sioux reservations.
Since the revival of our Sun Dance Ceremony, several Sun Dances have been held close to where the sacred bundle is kept. It is in a place we call Green Grass. Green Grass was where I danced my sixth, and last, Sun Dance. It is a sacred place, and one knows instinctively that something wakan, something very holy, is near.
Published by HarperOne


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Irritating Your Customers Is Almost Never A Good Business Strategy
from the customers-first dept
At a minimum, Facebook should revise its guidelines to make it clear that applications should, as much as possible, allow users to interact with them without formally signing up with the application themselves. Of course, applications have a strong incentive to ignore this advice in the interest of viral growth. One way to help enforce the guidelines would be for Facebook to put a complaint button right next to all application installation requests. The applications that received the most complaints could be investigated by Facebook staff and asked to clean up their act. One problem is that, as Templeton points out, Facebook itself hardly has clean hands on this issue. When you get a message on Facebook, you receive an email without the body of the message in it. Facebook ought to set a good example by switching this default.
It's true that in the short run that would moderately reduce website traffic. But that's a short-sighted way of looking at it. As I pointed out on Wednesday, one of the reasons Google has been so successful is that they almost never degrade the user experience in pursuit of other objectives like revenue maximization. That enhances their brand and increases user loyalty. By the same token, we at Techdirt provide full-text feeds despite the fact that partial feeds would generate more traffic in the short term. In both cases, the focus is on building the long-term value of the product, and sometimes that means giving up some short-term benefits in order to enhance the user experience. If Facebook doesn't learn this lesson, they are vulnerable to a competitor that offers similar functionality and a better user experience.


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- Home »
- Catalog »
- Shop By Brand »
- Metal Mulisha »
- Metal Mulisha Handlebars
Motoworld Racing - Metal Mulisha Handlebars
Shop MotoWorld Racing for the best selection of Metal Mulisha Dirt Bike and Motocross handlebars.
MotoWorld Racing was started in 1993 with a vision to offer hardcore Dirt Bike and Motocross enthusiasts the best quality riding gear, apparel and products they can trust at the lowest prices online from great brands such as Metal Mulisha.
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Let the sequence $u_1, u_2, \ldots$ satisfy $u_{n+1} = u_n - u_n^2 + O(u_n^3)$. Then it can be shown that if $u_n \to 0$ as $n \to \infty$, then $u_n = n^{-1} + O(n^{-2} \log n)$. (See N. G. de Bruijn, Asymptotic methods in analysis, Section 8.5.)
This can be used to obtain asymptotics for $v_{n+1} = Av_n - Bv_n^2 + O(v_n^3)$, where $A$ and $B$ are constants. Let $w_n = A^{-n} v_n$; this gives $$ A^{n+1} w_{n+1} = A^{n+1} w_n - B A^n w_n^2 + O(A^n w_n^3)$$ and so $$ w_{n+1} = w_n - BA^{-1} w_n^2 + O(w_n^3). $$ Then let $w_n = Ax_n/B$ to get $$ Ax_{n+1}/B = Ax_n/B - B/A \cdot (Ax_n/B)^2 + O(x_n^3) $$ and after simplifying $ x_{n+1} = x_n - x_n^2 + O(x_n^3)$. This satisfies the initial requirements for $u_n$ (with some checking of the side condition); then substitute back.
But say I actually know that $u_{n+1} = P(u_n)$ for some polynomial $P$, with $P(z) = z - z^2 + a_3 z^3 + \cdots + a_d z^d.$ In this case it seems like it should be possible to get more explicit information about $u_n$. Is there a known algorithm for computing an asymptotic series for $u_n$ as $n \to \infty$?