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Lingering doubts in Europe over whether glyphosate, the world's most ubiquitous herbicide, causes cancer in humans are in no small part due to the efforts of one man: Christopher Portier.
Since 2015, food safety agencies across the globe from the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. to the Australian Pesticides Authority have concluded that glyphosate — whose license for use in the EU was narrowly approved last year — does not cause cancer in humans.
There's one exception: The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the one international body not to agree by classifying it as a "probable" carcinogen.
Portier, a semi-retired carcinogenicity expert, was an invited specialist used by an IARC working group in its 2015 assessment. He has since embarked on a multifaceted campaign to tell the world to discount the broad consensus about glyphosate and instead have faith in the WHO's cancer agency based in Lyon, France.
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Portier, 62, is no rookie. He is armed with more than 30 years of research experience in the U.S. federal government, including a role as a division chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has a Ph.D. in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina and used his expertise to undermine a 2015 opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stating that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans.
Along the way, he's challenged the findings of Germany's top food safety regulator — another agency that gave a green light to glyphosate's safety — and received around $160,000 from attorneys seeking expert advice in a case suing Monsanto, the world's largest single manufacturer of glyphosate, on behalf of rural dwellers who allege the herbicide causes cancer. Last year, he spurred a well-oiled lobbying campaign aimed at Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, and other senior commissioners to revoke glyphosate's license in the EU.
The thrust behind his critique is that world food safety agencies fail to carry out any independent scientific studies themselves and instead rely heavily on experiments paid for by the pesticide industry.
"Agencies need to write their own reviews and not rely upon reviews written by industry," Portier, a balding man with a calm, even voice, said during a hearing in the European Parliament last month when evaluating the quality of EFSA's assessment on glyphosate. "As I've pointed out to all of my students over the years, he who writes the first draft sets the tone of the paper. Allowing industry to write their own reviews is certainly likely to bias the evaluation."
Email correspondences from Portier, an American citizen, and senior officials in EFSA obtained by POLITICO show how deep-rooted the standoff between the two global agencies has become even as Europe makes efforts to align how IARC and EFSA communicate their findings to the public.
A fierce battle
Between November 2015, when EFSA updated its risk assessment of glyphosate, and June 2016, EFSA Executive Director Bernhard Url battled with how to contain a growing public relations debacle stemming from Portier's campaign to place doubt on Europe's findings on glyphosate, the emails show. As an invited specialist who played an integral role in IARC's statistical analysis of glyphosate, the emails shows that Portier took it upon himself to engage in a "counteroffensive policy" — as it was described by one IARC scientist — to deflect any reputational damage to IARC's review by criticizing both Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and EFSA's assessments of glyphosate.
The war of words over glyphosate's carcinogenicity led to claims from environmental groups that EFSA had copied and pasted huge chunks of scientific literature paid for by Monsanto into its own scientific assessment.
In a November 9, 2015, email to Consolato Maria Sergi, an IARC scientist, Portier said EFSA's review would create two problems. First, it would weaken the strength of IARC's assessment, and second suggest IARC did not do its job properly.
"I do not intend to let this happen," Portier wrote, explaining that he would draft an open letter to the European Commission raising deep concerns about EFSA's decision. "I would like as many members of the Working Group to be co-authors of this as possible," he wrote.
Portier's email generated support from several key supporters of IARC's work, including Hans Kromhout, a professor at Utrecht University, and Philippe Grandjean, an adjunct professor at the Harvard School of Public Health. In an email to Portier on November 11, Grandjean called Portier's campaign an "important initiative" and raised questions about EFSA's independence when assessing glyphosate.
"I was on one of EFSA's panels for six years and had to resign because I did not like the culture ... Although each opinion has a section on uncertainties, only lip service is paid to this issue and basically in the absence of solid evidence, the substance is innocuous," Grandjean wrote. "The glyphosate controversy is not the first sign that EFSA has serious bias problems."
Asked about EFSA's independence or any specifics related to how to assess glyphosate, Grandjean declined to comment. "I'm fully aware of the critique, and I share much of it, but I believe that working with EFSA can be productive and should not be compromised," he wrote in an email.
A spokesperson for EFSA rejected claims of bias inside the institution, underlining that all decisions are reached by consensus, with individual experts being allowed "to express minority opinions should they disagree with the view of their peers."
Manolis Kogevinas, a professor at the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, also replied to Portier, stating in an email that "EFSA obviously has less experience in these types of evaluations" than IARC.
Portier, meanwhile, has been accused of having a conflict of interest at the time he sought the signature of scientists on his letter to the Commission.
In the end, Portier's efforts culminated in a letter signed by 96 scientists to European Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, expressing "deep concern" over EFSA's assessment on glyphosate. The letter stated that IARC's decision is "by far the more credible."
Portier's battle with EFSA and his insistence that regulators in both Parma — where EFSA is based — and Berlin failed to consider eight studies linking increased numbers of tumors to animals exposed to glyphosate, are part of a growing list of recent incidents that have placed doubt on EFSA's findings.
Last year, the war of words over glyphosate's carcinogenicity led to claims from environmental groups that EFSA had copied and pasted huge chunks of scientific literature paid for by Monsanto into its own scientific assessment. EFSA played down the allegation, arguing that the language in question was peer-reviewed.
IARC was also at the heart of several investigations — including a report in POLITICO — into claims that it had seen unpublished but acclaimed research finding no evidence of a link between glyphosate and cancer but chose not to include the findings in its review.
Frustration in Parma
Confronted with a spiraling war of words over which agency does the more reliable work, EFSA's Url decided to weigh in. On June 7, 2016, the EFSA chief wrote to Christopher Wild, IARC's director, expressing a need to defuse the situation. He also made his disappointment known that officials from both IARC and EFSA had failed to hold meetings on February 17 to iron out their differences.
"With this in mind — and given the high level of public concern about glyphosate — I strongly believe that there is value in going ahead with the planned meeting between EFSA and IARC," he wrote. "I also believe that a face-to-face meeting is the best way to address any remaining misunderstandings between our two organizations, which inevitably are difficult to avoid through written communication alone."
The meeting never took place, despite several attempts from EFSA. IARC's Wild wrote to Url on February 5 explaining that his institution would not meet with EFSA unless it deleted certain statements in its assessment of glyphosate such as one claiming that "EFSA assessed more evidence including additional key studies that were not considered by IARC."
Portier, meanwhile, has been accused of having a conflict of interest at the time he sought the signature of scientists on his letter to the Commission. Lawyers from Monsanto have challenged Portier being used as a specialist in an ongoing court case between cancer patients and the pesticide maker, going after him for accepting roughly $160,000 in payments from the plaintiffs' lawyers while he was holding discussions with regulatory agencies in both the U.S. and Europe about glyphosate.
Asked about his decision to publicly question EFSA's scientific standards, Portier stood by his actions and urged EFSA to convene with scientists from IARC so that their methodologies on how to evaluate scientific data can be aligned.
Portier and those who paid him note that all of Portier's work conducted with IARC concluded before his services were retained by plaintiffs.
"Portier had already arrived at the conclusion of the probable carcinogenicity by the time he became an expert for us," said Michael Baum, an attorney at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, which represents plaintiffs in the case. "His expert report and opinions confirm and reiterate what he had already concluded before we retained him."
"He's worked for decades inside federal agencies, so it's not like he's some sort of left-wing liberal. We are not very environmentally progressive in the U.S. and yet he has consistently said the same things time and time again about glyphosate," added Robin Greenwald, an attorney at Weitz & Luxenberg, who is representing cancer patients in lawsuits against Monsanto in Missouri. "Chris has been consistent throughout with all of his various statements ... He probably knows his stuff better than anyone."
Graeme Taylor, a senior lobbyist with the European Crop Protection Association, which represents the interests of companies such as Monsanto and Syngenta, however, said that "efforts to undermine confidence in the European system benefit no one." "There were significant concerns over the IARC assessment of which Portier was part, not to mention the conflicts of interest he acknowledged," he added.
IARC declined to comment on the role played by Portier's in supporting IARC's work and placing doubt on the quality of EFSA's assessment.
But asked about his decision to publicly question EFSA's scientific standards, Portier stood by his actions and urged EFSA to convene with scientists from IARC so that their methodologies on how to evaluate scientific data can be aligned.
"I would not do anything differently. EFSA has scientific shortfalls and flaws in the evaluation of glyphosate and they have yet to fix those scientific flaws," Portier said in a phone interview. "If you want to align the two agencies there needs to be a scientific meeting on how to evaluate the data and the references behind it. EFSA did not even find instances of tumors because they did not re-analyze the data themselves."
Portier said that IARC's evaluation of data, particularly in the field of epidemiology, was far superior to that of EFSA, which was part of the reason IARC came out with its opinion that glyphosate "probably causes cancer in humans."
An EFSA spokesperson questioned Portier's partiality on the glyphosate issue at the time when he drafted the letter signed by 96 scientists and criticized EFSA.
"EFSA respects the right of any individual to express his or her personal views regarding its scientific conclusions," the spokesperson said. "We also believe that for the sake of transparency any relevant interest should be declared when expressing a view or initiating a campaign, something that Professor Portier admittedly failed to do when signing this letter."


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SLUS984C November 2009 – April 2018 TPS51200-Q1
To receive notification of documentation updates, navigate to the device product folder on ti.com. In the upper right corner, click on Alert me to register and receive a weekly digest of any product information that has changed. For change details, review the revision history included in any revised document.

subset: commoncrawl


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Upfront Costs of Homeownership
Start Your VA Home Loan
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Buying a home is going to come with some upfront costs. But how much cash you'll need on hand can vary widely depending on the type of mortgage, the size of the loan and more. Some homebuyers will face steeper upfront costs than others.
Here's a look at five major expenses homebuyers may have to contend with:
Preparing for Upfront Expenses
Buying a home is going to come with some upfront costs. But how much cash you'll need on hand can vary widely depending on the type of mortgage, the size of the loan and more. Some homebuyers will face steeper upfront costs than others.
Here's a look at five major expenses homebuyers may have to contend with:
Down Payment
VA and USDA loans don't require a down payment, which is a tremendous benefit. Conventional loans typically require a down payment of at least 5 percent, although some lenders may go as low as 3 percent. For FHA loans, the minimum is 3.5 percent. On a $200,000 mortgage, that's $10,000 for the traditional conventional down payment and $7,000 for an FHA down payment.
Needless to say, it can take prospective buyers years to save that kind of cash. Buyers may be able to use gift funds or down payment assistance programs to help secure home financing, but policies vary depending on the loan type, the lender and more.
Earnest Money
Borrowers will often need to include a "good faith" deposit when they make a purchase offer on a home. This deposit, known as earnest money, signifies you're a serious buyer. There's no hard-and-fast rule for how much you need. Some buyers might put down $200, while others will write a check for $2,000.
Buyers can typically get this money back if the deal falters; otherwise it's often applied to a down payment or closing costs. VA buyers often put this money toward closing costs – or get it back in full – because of the program's $0 down benefit.
Appraisals are a key part of the VA homebuying journey. This is a two-part process that assesses both the fair market value and the broad health and safety conditions of the property. We'll talk about the VA appraisal process in greater detail later in this course. For now, it's important to understand that you'll be required to pay for an appraisal upfront.
Costs can vary by state and the property type. Buyers can view the current appraisal fees at the VA's website. VA borrowers can look to recoup this cost from the seller at closing as part of their closing cost negotiations.
Home Inspections
Appraisals and home inspections are not the same thing. They look at different parts of a home in very different ways. Buyers aren't required to get a home inspection, but it's strongly recommended, as they're much more detailed and granular than an appraisal.
A home inspection can find defects that appraisals won't uncover, and borrowers can use the findings of a home inspection to renegotiate or even walk away from a contract. Costs will vary, but a good range is $300 to $500.
Closing Costs
There are costs and fees associated with originating and closing on your home loan. Closing costs can vary widely depending on the type of loan, where in the country you're purchasing and what you're able to negotiate with a seller. You'll get an estimate of your closing costs fairly early in the home loan process.
From there, you'll want to talk with your real estate agent about how to proceed. You can negotiate the payment of these costs with the home seller. The VA allows sellers to pay all of buyer's mortgage-related closing costs and up to 4 percent in concessions, which can cover things like prepaid taxes and insurance and even paying off a buyer's collections or judgments at closing.
It's not uncommon for VA borrowers to have a seller pay most or all of their closing costs. But that's not always feasible. Communicate with your lending team early and often about how much money, if any, you'll need for closing costs.


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It is a show-tell-and-play on the arrays of science devices:Imagine a mini Maker's Faire at MOAH! Indeed, our education insturctors are the proud builders of all the hands-on activities. Just to name a few neat science gadgets they have made for this event: photo-electric dominoes; "Whack-A-Mole", "Stomp-A-Mole" mat; and hovering electromagnetic globes (Bob). Where else can you play with lightning without qualms? Under supervision, attendees were "up-close-and personal" in front of the Tesla Coil and directly in contact with 100,000+ volts of current!
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The Risks Associated With Getting A Tattoo
While many tattoos are given with success, there are some that do not have such a happy outcome. There are risks of getting a tattoo that cannot be discounted. Among them, the risk of contracting a disease from unsanitary equipment. In addition, a tattoo recipient may be subject to a skin infection if the tattoo is not properly cleaned and cared for after it's creation.
Any type of problems that may arise as a result of getting a tattoo will likely have to be handled with the help of a licensed physician. This may include medication to treat any illness or infection that may occur. In addition to the immediate concerns, there may be a later need for a physician if the tattoo recipient should later decide to have it removed. In this scenario, the only way to remove a tattoo is through surgery.
If a tattoo recipient decides to have the image removed, there are even more risks associated with surgery. And, since the surgery is to remove a tattoo, these risks may be considered as a direct result of the tattoo itself. With tattoo removal, the patient may experience either an out-patient or brief stay in the hospital. This will depend on whether or not any complications occur during surgery. Some of the most common risks associated with surgery include infection, allergic reactions to medication or permanent scarring. Depending on the health of the patient, more serious complications may arise and questions relating to these possibilities will be addressed by a qualified physician.
A cosmetic risk, but not necessarily one relating to health, is the possibility that a tattoo artist is not experienced and may not properly design or seal the tattoo. If a design is not done properly, it can look unprofessional and may be an embarrassment to the tattoo recipient. While this may not present a direct health risk, it may force the patient to attempt ways at covering the tattoo that he/she had once planned to showcase. If a tattoo is done incorrectly, some customers may elect for removal surgery and this can carry the risks as mentioned above.
This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.


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The next big Assassin's Creed game and the first to appear exclusively on next-generation consoles won't let people play as female assassins in a new cooperative multiplayer mode, Ubisoft said this week at E3.
Speaking in an interview with Polygon, Unity creative director Alex Amancio said that while they originally planned to include female assassins, the "reality of production" made adding the additional characters too costly.
The studio "had to" cut female assassins from the co-op mode, Amancio explained in response to a question from Polygon's Ben Kuchera, because keeping them in would have doubled the cost of pretty much everything: "it's double the animations, double the voices, all that stuff, double the visual assets—especially because we have customizable assassins."
As a result, "it was really a lot of extra production work," Amancio continued. "And it's not like we could cut our main character Arno."
The developer's explanation struck many Assassin's Creed fans as odd since Ubisoft's popular series of historically-themed open-world murder simulators has featured female assassins in a number of playable and non-playable roles for years now. Since 2010's Brotherhood, players have been able to suit up as female killers in competitive multiplayer modes and enlist female recruits into the team of assassins they amass during single player campaigns. Assassin's Creed: Liberation, a 2012 installment for the PlayStation Vita, even had a women of color in its starring role.
Other game developers such as Naughty Dog animator and former Ubisoft animation director (for Assassin's Creed III, no less) Jonathan Cooper have been raising their eyebrows at the logic here:
And while Amancio highlighted development cost as a deciding factor here, his comments don't jibe so neatly with other stuff Ubisoft has been saying this week about the new game. First, as a next-gen exclusive Assassin's Creed game, Unity is being developed for fewer systems than last year's pirate-themed installment, Black Flag.
Also, the developers told Kotaku's Stephen Totilo this week that the game's version of French Revolution-era Paris "will be the largest city in the series' history," so Ubisoft has clearly pulled the stops out on other parts of the game's development.
Oh, and one more thing: Ubisoft also said that there won't be any competitive multiplayer in Unity—the first time a core Assassin's Creed game hasn't had it since the mode debuted in 2010's Brotherhood. Since the co-op is effectively replacing it as Unity's multiplayer offering, why is rehashing something that already existed in previous titles prohibitively expensive for a spiffy next-gen-only sequel?
This is hardly the first time a major game company has waved off including a more diverse set of characters by citing logistical hurdles, however. Earlier this year, another set of Ubisoft developers said that the company won't be introducing gay protagonists any time soon "because of fears that it'll impact sales."
Kotaku is still on the ground at E3, so we'll continue to look into this issue as the day progresses.
Update 2:30 PM EDT: Ubisoft has issued a response, which you can read here.
To contact the author of this post, write to email@example.com or find him on Twitter at @YannickLeJacq.


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Product Search by Model
Scheibner Mega-M.A.X. Chassis Analysis
Have you ever wondered why your bike was shaking, pushing, tucking, chattering, losing traction, or won't turn? Perhaps you've crashed and it doesn't quite feel the same.
Race Tech has identified the need for bikes to be measured and has formed an alliance with Scheibner Ltd. of Germany! Using the most advanced technology in the motorcycle industry the Mega-M.A.X. precisely measures and analyzes the chassis' geometry and alignment. The Scheibner Mega-M.A.X. allows the technicians to optimize the motorcycle's chassis, steering geometry, swingarm and fork assemblies.
Mega-M.A.X. services are available for all types of motorcycles: Street, Dirt, Supermoto, Cruisers, H-D, not just road race bikes. Virtually all skill level riders can experience increased performance by utilizing Mega-M.A.X. technology. This is a vital, and often overlooked part of handling performance.
Your bike can only ride to its full potential with the proper blend of Rake, Trail, Swingarm Angle, Wheelbase and a straight chassis!
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Redesigned with an up to 50 gram reduction in weight, this classic Raven with Grip by Black Diamond optimizes comfort and ease of use when glacier traveling and mountaineering. Like all of our piolets, the anodized shaft is built from lightweight, aircraft aluminum alloy for high strength. The investment-cast, one-piece stainless steel head is comfortable to wrap your fingers around, and the slim, neutral pick and aggressive teeth are engineered for secure self-arrest. The Raven with Grip is equipped with a Slider Leash and a dual-density, molded grip for when the going gets steep or when you need to chop steps or a bivy platform.
The Raven with Grip by Black Diamond. Traditional mountaineer's piolet for classic alpine climbs.
FINAL SALE: For safety reasons, we cannot accept returns on load-bearing climbing equipment. Sorry for being so mean.


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Tyler the Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma is known professionally as Tyler the Creator, he is an all-round creative from the United States of America. Tyler is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, fashion designer and graphic designer.
He is the co-founder of the hip-hop collective Odd Future. Okonma has created all the artwork for the group's releases and has also designed the group's clothing and other merchandise. As a solo artist, Tyler released and produced one mixtape and five studio albums. His fifth and newest studio album (2019) is named Igor, it debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. As a fashion designer Tyler Okonma has a clothing company named Golf Wang.
Pink Poster
We are sure that Tyler the Creator has done much more but since this is our first encounter with the artist (bare with us, we are older citizens) we'll leave it at the list above. The stunning pink poster was the reason we got to know about the artist. Also the fact that we love a blonde bob.
(info found on wikipedia, imagecredits: mimi berlin)


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Research led by David H. Martin, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has found that a common sexually transmitted infection-causing parasite "cultivates" bacteria beneficial to it, changing thinking about which comes firstinfection or bacteria. The researchers also discovered a previously unknown species of these bacteria.
The research was published ahead of print online in Advance Access in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, and was published online April 2, 2013 in Research Highlights in Nature Reviews Urology.
Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite and is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in women where it causes vaginal discharge, a higher rate of premature deliveries, and greater susceptibility to infection with the AIDS virus. Many women have this infection and do not know it.
It is known that a change in vaginal bacteria causes a problem known as bacterial vaginosis, and women with this condition are at increased risk of acquiring a trichomonas infection. The researchers wondered if, among women with bacterial vaginosis, there were unique bacterial communities which would make women more susceptible to infection with trichomonas.
"We discovered that there are two unique bacterial communities that are very strongly associated with trichomonas infection," notes Martin. "In part what is unique about these communities is high concentrations of bacteria known as mycoplasmas. In fact one of these is a completely unknown bacterium which we have named Mnola because it is a mycoplasma discovered in NOLA."
The mycoplasma associated with the other unique bacterial community is Mycoplasma hominis, a well known bacterial pathogen. The data indicate that women with trichomonas and this unique bacterial community suffer from worse disease than the other trichomonas-infected women. They have greater amounts of discharge and redness of the vaginal wall.
"We think that this group might also be at especially high risk for infection with HIV," adds Martin.
An especially interesting result of this research is that the evidence suggests that the trichomonas parasite is responsible in some way for the appearance these unique mycoplasma dominated bacterial communities.
"So instead of these unique communities predisposing a woman to infection as originally thought, we now believe that trichomonas takes on the role of a farmer in the vaginal environment by cultivating bacterial communities that are in some way beneficial to itself. Proving this hypothesis and figuring out how these bacteria interact with trichomonas will be the subject of future research," Martin adds.
Other members of the LSUHSC research team included Marcela Zozaya, Rebecca Lillis, M. Jacques Nsuami, and Michael J. Ferris from the Section of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine, the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology, the Department of Pediatrics, and the Research Institute for Children.
The research was supported by grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Louisiana Board of Regents.


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Struggling to keep up with the maddening pace of monthly publications, churning out new recipes at every turn, it's easy to lose sight of once beloved dishes. With barely enough hours in a day to complete any assigned cooking ventures, cherished classics are slowly forgotten, sealed within the pages of cookbooks collecting dust. Sad to say, but unless it's for a review, I never touch my cookbook shelf anymore. As much as I love each and every mouth-watering text, one can only bake so many cakes, or cook so many dinners, within a limited space of free time.
That's why it's the ultimate luxury not to visit a restaurant or bakery, but to to revisit those tried-and-true recipes from other equally prolific authors. Something as simple as a chocolate cookie can make my heart sing, if only for the comforting familiarity and good memories each bite brings. I could never claim to create the elusive "perfect" chocolate cookie for any magazine or cookbook, but thankfully, Isa's fool-proof formula means that I never need to. For this rare recipe repeat, I chose to shake things up a bit, adding in dried cherries and taking the opportunity to try out some cherry extract. Just a splash provided the flavor boost I sought, effectively refreshing the golden standard as a unique treat- Proof positive that good recipes have no expiration date.


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SEATTLE – July 13, 2012 – Women who want to lose weight should faithfully keep a food journal, and avoid skipping meals and eating in restaurants – especially at lunch – suggests new research from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
The findings by Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues – from the first study to look at the impact of a wide range of self-monitoring and diet-related behaviors and meal patterns on weight change among overweight and obese postmenopausal women – are published online in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the Journal of the American Dietetic Association).
"When it comes to weight loss, evidence from randomized, controlled trials comparing different diets finds that restricting total calories is more important than diet composition such as low-fat versus low-carbohydrate. Therefore, the specific aim of our study was to identify behaviors that supported the global goal of calorie reduction," McTiernan said.
Specifically, McTiernan and colleagues found that:
"For individuals who are trying to lose weight, the No. 1 piece of advice based on these study results would be to keep a food journal to help meet daily calorie goals. It is difficult to make changes to your diet when you are not paying close attention to what you are eating," said McTiernan, director of the Hutchinson Center's Prevention Center and a member of its Public Health Sciences Division.
Study participants were given the following tips for keeping a food journal:
"While the study provided a printed booklet for the women to record their food and beverage consumption, a food journal doesn't have to be anything fancy," McTiernan said. "Any notebook or pad of paper that is easily carried or an online program that can be accessed any time through a smart phone or tablet should work fine."
In addition to documenting every morsel that passes one's lips, another good weight-loss strategy is to eat at regular intervals and avoid skipping meals. "The mechanism is not completely clear, but we think that skipping meals or fasting might cause you to respond more favorably to high-calorie foods and therefore take in more calories overall," she said. "We also think skipping meals might cluster together with other behaviors. For instance, the lack of time and effort spent on planning and preparing meals may lead a person to skip meals and/or eat out more."
Eating out frequently, another factor associated with less weight loss, may be a barrier for making healthful dietary choices. "Eating in restaurants usually means less individual control over ingredients and cooking methods, as well as larger portion sizes," the authors wrote.
The analysis was based on data from 123 overweight-to-obese, sedentary, Seattle-area women, ages 50 to 75, who were randomly assigned to two arms of a controlled, randomized year-long dietary weight-loss intervention study: diet only and exercise plus diet. Study participants filled out a series of questionnaires to assess dietary intake, eating-related weight-control strategies, self-monitoring behaviors and meal patterns. They were also asked to complete a 120-item food-frequency questionnaire to assess dietary change from the beginning to the end of the study.
At the end of the study, participants in both arms lost an average of 10 percent of their starting weight, which was the goal of the intervention.
"We think our findings are promising because it shows that basic strategies such as maintaining food journals, eating out less often and eating at regular intervals are simple tools that postmenopausal women – a group commonly at greater risk for weight gain – can use to help them lose weight successfully," McTiernan said.
The National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Research Resources funded the study, which involved collaborators at the NCI, the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota.
Note for media only: To obtain a copy of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics paper, "Self-monitoring and Eating-related Behaviors are Associated with 12-month Weight Loss Among Postmenopausal Overweight-to-obese Women in a Dietary Weight Loss Intervention," please contact Kristen Woodward in Hutchinson Center media relations at email@example.com or 206-667-5095.
Kristen Woodward
# # #
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more information, please visit fhcrc.org.


text: Salice 021 RW sunglasses – White gold The Salice 021 RW glasses have an aerodynamic design, they are perfect for cycling, running and many other sports. Excellent field of vision and, thanks to the air flow guaranteed by the nasal bridge, prevents fogging and overheating. Frame color: White. Lens 1: RW Gold. Lens 2: Transparent. Hydrophobic and anti-reflective treatment. Hard Case. Replacement nose pad.


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Stockings for Sept and OctSunday, November 8, 2009
The patterns are written and handed off to the printer. We still have another proofing process to go through and then they will be printed. The projected completion date is next Friday and will ship out to the distributors then. This means they will be in the shops in about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks. Loose feathers will follow a couple of weeks after the stocking patterns. We are a little behind....but will catch up someday....not sure exactly when that will be, but we are always hopeful!
Don't forget the drawing will be on Monday morning.
Friday morning, Barb and I will leave for Spring Green, WI. We are driving to Country Sampler to teach a quilting class. The project is a long harvest table runner. Maggie Bonanomi and Stacy Nash will be there too. Hope to see you there! I think the shop will be decorated for Christmas, so we can hardly wait to see.
Until later!
41 comments
Hi, Alma! Thanks for sharing pictures of the latest stockings! They are wonderfully autumnal--can't wait to stitch them.ReplyDelete
They are beautiful. Fun to stitch whenever they get here.ReplyDelete
Oh I love the latest stockings!!!! Can't wait! And I so wish I lived close to the Country Sampler. Sounds like such a wonderful class experience. :( Have fun!ReplyDelete
Woohoo! More lovely stockings. Great job! I can't wait to stitch them. Enjoy your Country Sampler trip--I would LOVE to go to that shop sometime!ReplyDelete
Love those stockings. I enjoy doing mini cross stitches like that and those would make great gifts.ReplyDelete
The stockings are just beautiful!ReplyDelete
This is such a happy time of year, and seeing shops decorated for the holidays just makes the mood more so. Enjoy your trip to Wisconsin!
I am sooo excited! I am taking the classes at Boxwood and Berries. I can't wait to meet all of you great designers! Have a safe trip.ReplyDelete
The stockings are absolutely gorgeous. I am really enjoying this series!! Have fun in WI!ReplyDelete
Love those stockings--I am thinking--I may just have to plan some time in next years quilting time to do some of the stocking--I miss doing some cross stitch and I am a big stocking fan---sooooo!!!ReplyDelete
Hugs, Di
Beautiful stockings but look at those huge green acorns! My squirrels would think they are in heaven. :o)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2009 at 8:17 PM
The new stocking are wonderful as usual. Can't wait to get the charts. The Halloween ones are coming along as is the project from Va. Beach. Have a great, safe trip and enjoy WI. Nancy in VAReplyDelete
I just received 2 of your quilt and project books and one of m bonanomi.....what absolute wonder,ReplyDelete
makes me happy happy happy
clap clap clap
thanks ever so much
what fun to have you all in one locale....lucky attendees
those stockings are lovely....as always
Wow the stockings are just wonderful...can't wait to stitch one myself.....ReplyDelete
Safe travels.
- AnonymousNovember 9, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Congratulations on another wonder stocking group for the series.ReplyDelete
What fun to have a class with other terrific designers!!
Pam R.
I love the latest stockings!ReplyDelete
Hope, you'll show pictures from your Country Sampler trip!
Oh how pretty they are! Thanks for the sneak peek!ReplyDelete
Hi Alma -ReplyDelete
These are lovely!
Didn't it break your heart to light the little squirrel, it's so cute! Pretty post - thanks.
Great stocking designs! Well worth the wait! Have fun teaching at the Country Sampler... sure wish I could be there! 'tis the time of year to be over busy! :-)ReplyDelete
The stockings are wonderful!ReplyDelete
Alma - Love the autumnal stockings. I can't wait to get the booklets. These might be my favorites so far.ReplyDelete
Your get-together in Wisconsin sounds wonderful. Have fun and travel safely!
Bobbi - Ohio
Wonderful stockings in beautiful autumn colours!ReplyDelete
These new stockings are gorgeous! Love the colors and designs. Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
latest stockings are adorable.. thanks for the sneak peakReplyDelete
Love the new stockings... so pretty... and hope you will have fun at Country Sampler... hope you wont have " trouble" with some friends of mine that are going...lol.. No Im sure they will act their best..:o) Im pretty envious of them!! :o)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 9, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Thanks for the tutorial on the angler - always wondered how it worked. Now I want one. Hope to win.ReplyDelete
Terry in So. Calif.
the stocking look lovely--will be a long 2 1/2 weeks!ReplyDelete
Love the new stockings.ReplyDelete
Lois Anne
- AnonymousNovember 9, 2009 at 1:07 PM
I LOVE this stocking series. Don't worry about the delay as I am just catching up on the previous ones! I would LOVE to see a Valentine set like the Halloween set. Think about it!!! Thank you for a wonderful stitch.ReplyDelete
Wonderful stockings, I love the little stockings, it has been so many years since I have stitched something that really I am a beginner...still... so they are fun giving gifts.ReplyDelete
Have a wonderful time in Green Spring...some day I will make one of the many events you teach at, until then I can dream.
The stockings are sooo pretty!ReplyDelete
Hugs Ullis in Sweden
Hi Alma. Beautiful new stockings! Can't wait to start stitching them.ReplyDelete
The stockings are lovely. Could wait until they're available in the shops.ReplyDelete
Wow.. I've been reading here today, and what a nice blogs! My English isn't very good (so sorry if my writing is bad). Those stockings are beautifull!ReplyDelete
Wish I could be at Country Sampler for the classes - great store and great teachers!ReplyDelete
I love the Country Sampler in Spring Green. Wish I lived closer and could take the class. Have a wonderful day.ReplyDelete
I hope you are having a great time in Wisconsin,ReplyDelete
I am looking forward to my new quilting class, in Kimball, Minn.
Beautiful stockings thank-you for all the stocking patterns.
I love the new stocking designs. The colors are wonderful. I can hardly wait to see what else is in store for all of us.ReplyDelete
Happy Stitching, Connie
can't wait - I love these little stockings, they are so adorable!!ReplyDelete
How I would love to attend one of your classes. A bit too far for me unfortunately! the stockings are fantastic!ReplyDelete
Hip Hip Hip Hourra !!!ReplyDelete
I will finish my collection and my Advent guirland !!!
Great !!
Nice week-end
I just love these stockings. Because of your blog and some others I just "discovered" counted cross stitch and am now addicted. I would LOVE to win these patterns. They would make very special Xmas gifts for both my mom and sister. KristieReplyDelete


text:
|« President
|Prince, Princess »
The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter, signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin.—The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as belonging to a ritual earlier than the time of Abraham. Melchizedek is "the priest of the most high God." (Genesis 14:18) In the worship of the patriarchs themselves, the chief of the family, as such, acted as the priest. The office descended with the birthright, and might apparently he transferred with it. When established.—The priesthood was first established in the family of Aaron, and all the sons of Aaron were priests. They stood between the high priest on the one hand and the Levites on the other. [HIGH PRIEST; LEVITES] The ceremony of their consecration is described in HIGH PRIEST - 1986 (Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 8:1) ... Dress.—The dress which the priests wore during their ministrations consisted of linen drawers, with a close-fitting cassock, also of linen, white, but with a diamond or chess-board pattern on it. This came nearly to the feet, and was to be worn in its garment shape. Comp. (John 19:23) The white cassock was gathered round the body with a girdle of needle work, in which, as in the more gorgeous belt of the high priest, blue, purple and scarlet were intermingled with white, and worked in the form of flowers. (Exodus 28:39,40; 39:2; Ezekiel 44:17-19) Upon their heads the were to wear caps or bonnets in the form of a cup-shaped flower, also of fine linen. In all their acts of ministration they were to be bare footed. Duties .—The chief duties of the priests were to watch over the fire on the altar of burnt offering, and to keep it burning evermore both by day and night, (Leviticus 6:12; 2 Chronicles 13:11) to feed the golden lamp outside the vail with oil (Exodus 27:20,21; Leviticus 24:2) to offer the morning and evening sacrifices, each accompanied with a meet offering and a drink offering, at the door of the tabernacle. (Exodus 29:38-44) They were also to teach the children of Israel the statutes of the Lord. (Leviticus 10:11; 33:10; 2 Chronicles 15:3; Ezekiel 44:23,24) During the journeys in the wilderness it belonged to them to cover the ark and all the vessels of the sanctuary with a purple or scarlet cloth before the Levites might approach them. (Numbers 4:5-15) As the people started on each days march they were to blow "an alarm" with long silver trumpets. (Numbers 10:1-8) Other instruments of music might be used by the more highly-trained Levites and the schools of the prophets, but the trumpets belonged only to the priests, The presence of the priests on the held of battle, (1 Chronicles 12:23,27; 2 Chronicles 20:21,22) led, in the later periods of Jewish history, to the special appointment at such times of a war priest. Other functions were hinted at in Deuteronomy which might have given them greater influence as the educators and civilizers of the people. They were to act (whether individually or collectively does not distinctly appear) as a court of appeal in the more difficult controversies in criminal or civil cases. (17:8-13) It must remain doubtful however how far this order kept its ground during the storms and changes that followed, Functions such as these were clearly incompatible with the common activities of men. Provision for support .—This consisted—
- Of one tenth of the tithes which the people paid to the Levites, i.e. one per cent on the whole produce of the country. (Numbers 18:26-28)
- Of a special tithe every third year. (14:28; 26:12)
- Of the redemption money, paid at the fixed rate of five shekels a head, for the first-born of man or beast. (Numbers 18:14-19)
- Of the redemption money paid in like manner for men or things specially dedicated to the Lord. (Leviticus 27:5)
- Of spoil, captives, cattle and the like, taken in war. (Numbers 31:25-47)
- Of the shew-bread, the flesh of the burnt offerings, peace offerings, trespass offerings, (Leviticus 6:26,29; 7:6-10; Numbers 18:8-14) and in particular the heave-shoulder and the wave-breast. (Leviticus 10:12-15)
- Of an undefined amount of the firstfruits of corn, wine and oil. (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 2:14; 26:1-10)
- On their settlement in Canaan the priestly families had thirteen cities assigned them, with "suburbs" or pasture-grounds for their flocks. (Joshua 21:13-19) These provisions were obviously intended to secure the religion of Israel against the dangers of a caste of pauper priests, needy and dependent, and unable to bear their witness to the true faith. They were, on the other hand as far as possible removed from the condition of a wealthy order. Coarses .—The priesthood was divided into four and twenty "courses" or orders, (1 Chronicles 24:1-19; 2 Chronicles 23:8; Luke 1:5) each of which was to serve in rotation for one week, while the further assignment of special services during the week was determined by lot. (Luke 1:9) Each course appears to have commenced its work on the Sabbath, the outgoing priests taking the morning sacrifice, and leaving that of the evening to their successors. (2 Chronicles 23:8) Numbers—If we may accept the numbers given by Jewish writers as at all trustworthy, the proportion of the priesthood population of Palestine during the last century of their existence as an order, must have been far greater than that of the clergy has ever been in any Christian nation. Over and above those that were scattered in the country and took their turn there were not fewer than 24,000 stationed permanently at Jerusalem, and 12,000 at Jericho. It was almost inevitable that the great mass of the order, under such circumstances, should sink in character and reputation. The reigns of the two kings David and Solomon were the culminating period of the glory of the Jewish priesthood. It will be interesting to bring together the few facts that indicate the position of the priests in the New Testament period of their history. The number scattered throughout Palestine was, as has been stated, very large. Of these the greater number were poor and ignorant. The priestly order, like the nation, was divided between contending sects. In the scenes of the last tragedy of Jewish history the order passes away without honor, "dying as a fool dieth." The high priesthood is given to the lowest and vilest of the adherents of the frenzied Zealots. Other priests appear as deserting to the enemy. The destruction of Jerusalem deprived the order at one blow of all but an honorary distinction.
|« President
|Prince, Princess »


text:
This example demonstrates four Scheduler views: Day, Week, Work Week, and Month. You can use the View Switcher above the timetable to switch between them.
To add these views to your Scheduler, list them in the views array. If you do not declare this array, users can switch only between the Day and Week views. To activate a specific view at application startup, use the currentView property.
For more information about supported view types, refer to the following help topic: View Types.


text:
"I just got into town."
"Great, we'll get together."
"Time for an eating adventure."
"As always."
"What's it gonna be?"
"I have excellent alternatives in mind; we merely have to make a choice."
I'm discussing plans with my brother, Kurt. I drove into Denver a few minutes before I made the call. He is Code Blue, ready for action.
"What about tonight," asks Kurt. "Want to go somewhere tonight? We can take Kathy and Kathy and Kelsey. What are you in the mood for?"
My mood is no guide; I am always in the mood … for just about anything.
"Indian, sushi, northern Italian?," he asks.
"How about Thai?"
I love Indian and Pakistani food, so they are possibilities. Sushi is out, Kathy won't agree to it. Northern Italian? Too heavy. Thai? Yep, Thai. That's the ticket.
I make the call, Kurt names the place: a little joint in a shopette (what a surprise!) on Colorado Boulevard — twelve small tables, one waitress, one host, three cooks busting hump like tweakers in meth overdrive.
"Try the drunken noodles," says Kurt. "Had 'em the other night. Fantastic."
The menu says we can pick a heat level one to four. I like heat, so I ask Kurt if he has ordered level four. He smiles.
"There's a lot more levels, Karl, a lot more. They aren't on the menu. I usually opt for seven to ten."
The waitress is listening.
"One time," she interjects, "man come in, ask how high we go. I tell him, 'infinity.' He a real wise guy. He order 252."
Kurt smiles, the smile of a man who has been there. "Did his head explode?"
"He hurt. He hurt bad. Never come back."
My chicken drunken noodles, level 10, are excellent, and even better in the company of a couple cold Singhas.
We are satisfied, but the dinner is a mere rehearsal.
"Tomorrow," says Kurt, "you and I go out, just the two of us. I have ideas."
When Kurt's idea factory opens, mighty fine products roll off the assembly line.
"First, we go to the spice store. There are some things I need to pick up there. Then, it's a pile, bro. We are eating a pile."
I have employed the term "pile" on numerous occasions, writing about food over the years. When used as a unit of measure in my recipes, it has usually meant "bigger than a lot, smaller than massive."
"So, we're going to overindulge, encounter serious volume?"
"Oh, yeah, that's guaranteed. We are going to order a pile, literally, a pile. Then, we're going to wrap up parts of the pile and eat them. We'll do this quite a few times, depending on how big a pile is put on the table."
"What kind of pile?"
"Vietnamese, with a special touch. No more questions; you're going to like it."
The next day, we motor to a spice shop located across the river from downtown Denver — a wonderful little establishment on the first floor of an old bottling plant building in which, many years ago, several friends maintained shabby, huge art studios. The times have changed: where once tattered and drug-fogged bohos exorcized demons on canvases, nattily-clad country club moms now scan shelves for coriander and teas. We wander the store. The smells are amazing — issuing from the spices and the moms. There are small shaker bottles from which we sprinkle samples on the backs of our hands in order to taste the wares. Though tempted, I do not try to taste a country club mom.
Kurt shifts into max-consumer mode and purchases a variety of items.
I opt for a bottle of hot, smoked Spanish paprika and a batch of zippy garam masala.
Then, we're off to Pileville.
Kurt wheels into the parking lot in front of a southwest Denver shopette (what a surprise!). He has a look in his eye that reminds me of a predator on the hunt, a starving carnivore fast on the heels of a wounded bunny. We come to a halt in front of a Vietnamese restaurant, one that has occupied the space for years.
"New owners," says Kurt as he leaps from the car. "New owners, new attitude, great food. The pile is the stuff of legend." He's amped up. I am fairly certain he is under the influence of an herb found somewhere other than the spice shop.
The menu features pages of items. Kurt turns to a page, points at No. 122.
"That's it. It's a medium pile here. Anywhere else, it would be a major pile."
The waiter appears, Kurt orders and we add a couple beers to the ticket.
When the food arrives it is, indeed, a pile. The plate is oval, large and deep. The bed of the pile is a tangle of rice noodles that rises like an ancient king's burial mound on a broad, flat plain.
On top of the noodles, a layer of skewers bearing strips of grilled, marinated meats — chicken, beef, pork, lamb. Grilled shrimps ring the fleshy array. At the peak of the pile rest six more skewers, of … what?
Another dish arrives, with a second pile, this time vegetable matter: julienned carrot and cucumber, lettuce leaves, tangles of fresh mint and cilantro.
A large bowl of extremely hot water is put at the end of the table and next to it, a plate with a stack of brittle rice paper wrappers.
Here's the drill: Take a rice paper wrapper, dip it in the hot water and it becomes a relatively soft, tortilla-like round. Don't soak too long or disaster is certain.
Put the soft wrapper on a plate, shovel on some noodles, empty a skewer or two of meat on the noodles, scatter some veggies and herbs on top of that, spritz on a healthy dose of sriracha, wrap the thing like a burrito, dip it in one or both of the sauces — a satay-like peanut sauce and a fish sauce-based concoction — and chow down. Follow bite with swallow of cold beer. Repeat as many times as possible.
Kurt is hard at work, head down, his focus intense. He gets so worked up he shoots a stream of sriracha across the table onto the front of my shirt. My white shirt.
"Save the skewers on top for a special treat," he says as he wolfs down his first bite of the pile.
What is the special treat, you ask, the mystery substance on the six skewers at the peak of pile mountain?
Grilled shrimp and pork paste.
Kurt explains. "Shrimp gets pulverized, spiced, mixed with pork fat, some binders and flavor-enhancers, is shaped on a skewer and grilled. You wrap it in a lettuce leaf, hit it with sriracha, dip it in the sauce. You're gonna love it."
I do.
Kurt and I make it three-quarters of the way through the pile. We demolish the proteins but can't quite do the same with the noodles and vegetables.
"If we wait a half-hour or so, I believe we can finish it," says my brother, his hands palms down on the sauce-splashed table. He looks like an interrogated prisoner who has, after a noble battle, surrendered to his tormentors. He is finished. As am I. Bravado is pointless.
We waddle from the restaurant, sated, me trying to wipe the deep red stain from my white shirt with a wet paper napkin.
As I fight to stay awake on the drive back to Kurt's house, I promise myself I will whip up a version of shrimp and pork paste. It won't match the restaurant product, but I will make sure it is tasty. I might even invite several people to dinner to try my version of the pile.
Shrimp and pork. How can I go wrong?
Shrimps: A pound, fresh, deveined, chopped into hunks.
The pork fat: a quarter pound of hunks of pig flab simmered for a while in lightly salted water, then chopped into smaller hunks.
A mess of garlic — five or six cloves, chopped and smushed.
As many shallots, same treatment.
One egg, beaten.
A couple ounces raw cane sugar or brown sugar.
A tablespoon or a bit more of cornstarch.
Four or five teaspoons of high-quality fish sauce. The better the sauce, the funkier the smell (unlike a county club mom).
A tablespoon of ground, roasted peanuts.
Salt and pepper.
Mix it all together, put it in a processor and pulse until I have a sticky paste.
Ideally, the mix is formed around homemade sugar cane skewers. I am sure the market here in Siberia With a View stocks sugar cane stalks, but I haven't found them yet. The stockers probably mistakenly placed them in the kosher section. As a result, regular wooden skewers, soaked for a couple hours in water, or a set of metal skewers, will do.
Oil the hands, divide the paste into eight equal parts, shape each wad of paste around a skewer, slightly flattening it. Grill for a few minutes on one side, flip and grill a few minutes more. At the same time, grill skewered strips of chicken and skirt steak, and a bunch of deveined shrimps — all marinated in a oily, garlicky, oniony, gingery, limey, fish-saucy bath for several hours. Go easy on the citrus — don't "cook" the meat or fish prior to grilling them.
When the grilling is finished, pop the skewers on top of a mound of cooked rice vermicelli.
Everything else should be ready ahead of time. I'll make a simple peanut sauce, cooking creamy peanut butter with hoisin sauce, a bit of finely minced white onion, mushed garlic, a bit of dark soy and some fish sauce, and I'll prepare a version of a standard dipper made with fish sauce, garlic, chiles, lime juice, sugar and a teensy bit of water. I will taste these babies as they are born and adjust the ingredients in each as I go.
The julienned veggies, the herbs and the large bowl of very hot water will be brought to the table and the race to the bottom of the pile will begin.
Be careful with that bottle of sriracha.
The stains don't come out.


text:
San Antonio, TX - SABCS 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium - EJ Blok speaks during the GENERAL SESSION 1 here today, Wednesday December 7, 2016. during the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium being held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. Over 7,500 physicians, researchers, patient advocates and healthcare professionals from over 90 countries attended the meeting which features the latest research on breast cancer treatment and prevention. Photo by © MedMeetingImages/Todd Buchanan 2016 Technical Questions: firstname.lastname@example.com
EJ Blok speaks during the GENERAL SESSION 1 SABCS 2016


text:
The conditions were better, the courts were (mostly) drier and the power and topspin returned to Rafael Nadal's game. It took Nadal less than an hour today to break Djokovic's serve twice and win the fourth set, 7-5, continuing yesterday's suspended match and take his seventh French Open.
This is a huge win. Tennis's new rivalry needed it. The Nadal-Djokovic rivalry was heading in one not-so-encouraging direction: Djokovic was all dominant. He had beaten Rafa in three consecutive Grand Slam finals. He had taken seven out of their last nine matches together. Rafa has previously admitted that Djokovic had gotten in his head—possibly the first player ever to do that.
And then yesterday, with Rafa finally dominating in a Grand Slam final, Djokovic reeled off eight straight games in the third/beginning-of-the-fourth set. Against Nadal. On clay. It looked as if we were in Greg Norman '96 Masters territory. Then they finally called the match due to rain, and Rafa benefited from the better conditions today (and god knows what lecture from Uncle Toni overnight).
And how did the match end? With a gut-punching double fault. Djokovic's double was all the more shocking coming from the guy who saved match points against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last week, just like he did against Federer the year before in the U.S. Open semifinals, just like he did the year before that. Maybe Nadal had gotten in his head.


text: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 21:30:52 A request to join the MAILSCANNER JISCmail list (MailScanner mailing list) has been received from Paul R <pdr at EVANSTON.FLUENT.COM> You can, at your discretion, send the following command to jiscmail at JISCMAIL.AC.UK to add this person to the JISCmail list: add MAILSCANNER pdr at EVANSTON.FLUENT.COM Paul R PS: In order to facilitate the task, this message has been specially formatted so that you only need to forward it back to jiscmail at JISCMAIL.AC.UK and fill in the password below to have the command executed. Note that while the formats produced by the forwarding function of most mail packages are supported, replying will seldom work, so make sure to forward and not reply. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- // JOB PW=XXXXXXXX ADD MAILSCANNER pdr at EVANSTON.FLUENT.COM Paul R // EOJ


text:
With the ski season wrapping up, it tends to feel pretty peaceful in the Mad River Valley during April and May. We will strive to keep you informed about the fun to be had in our corner of Vermont while the snow disappears and green buds poke out over all the branches.
How about Dinner and a Movie?
Seven miles north of our Bed and Breakfast in Warren VT is popular local hangout, with an international flair: Big Picture Cafe and Theater. An eatery and theater for both film and live action, this makes a good destination for a couple taking a getaway with a low-stress itinerary.
Along with current films, enjoy live music and comedy. No matter the event, take your meal and your drinks inside the theater. That's right, you can order your dinner, cocktails or beer, then bring it into the theater with you to enjoy during the movie or performance. How fun is that?! There are some tables but mostly stadium-style seating, so come early unless you are okay with eating from your lap.
Check out music and other events taking place in April at the Big Picture on their website.
Romantic Touches for a Weekend Away
Just because you're taking a low-stress getaway, doesn't mean there isn't time for a few delicious details. An example: for only $45, enjoy a chilled bottle of French Champagne upon your arrival at the inn in Warren, or whenever you would like! We will also provide two Champagne flutes for you to bring home with you. See other special add-ons for your stay at the B&B.
Anytime you need, we are here to help you relax, unwind and reconnect. Let West Hill House be your home away from home, where we do the cooking, wash the dishes and make the beds!


text: We offer replacement seat covers for: -BSA 441, A65, B50, Rocket 3 -BMW R/2,R/5, F650, R65, K series. -Honda CBR, VFR, VTR, Shadow - Kawasaki Ninja, KLX, KLR -Suzuki V-Strom, Bandit, DRZ400 -Vespa ET4, P-series, -Yamaha Fazer, Riva, Razz, BWS and many other seat covers from scooters to Cruisers Have a look at them all in our online store: www.nw.classic.com If you see something you like, contact us with your postal code for a shipping quote. We use the highest quality vinyl available to make our replacement seat covers. The vinyl is designed for heavy duty exterior applications and will provide superior wear and durability for all riding conditions. We are located near Victoria on Vancouver Island and will ship to any location. Contact us by email with any questions or for shipping rates to your location.


text:
I saw people in bikinis today. People. In. Bikinis.
Friends… apparently it's time. Granted, I live in Los Angeles. It's SunnySunTown.
Just a few days ago I was eager and ready for summer. Summer is great, right!? Well… I was mostly thinking about watermelon, picnics, and late night tacos. I was NOT thinking about bikinis. I'm not ready to think about bikinis. I'm medium ready to think about tankinis… and that's about as far as it goes.
I tend to have really strange reactions to seeing people in bikinis. I make muffins. It's sort of a knee-jerk reaction. People are wearing very little clothes in public? Right… right. I'll be right back. I have to go make a dozen, and eat at least two muffins. (brb. no bigs)
I want to pack these muffins with as much flavor as possible.
In my kitchen, flavor generally starts with browned butter.
The process of browning butter takes the cold stick of yellow butter, and makes it a golden brown, nutty smelling, butter liquid.
It is divinity.
I made simple sugar fragrant and utterly lovely by adding fresh vanilla bean.
I split a vanilla bean, scraped out the seeds and rubbed it into granulated sugar. I used my clean fingers. This pretty much creates the best perfume ever.
Next flavor? Espresso!
Instant espresso powder is one of my secret weapons in the kitchen. …I'll throw it in the eyes on any burglar that breaks in my house.
It also adds an amazing depth to chocolate desserts. Brownies and chocolate cakes are brilliant with just a touch of instant espresso powder re-hydrated in a bit of hot water.
In these muffins, the espresso powder isn't hidden behind dreamy chocolate. The coffee flavor is combined with browned butter and vanilla sugar to create… well, a dang lovely breakfast muffin batter.
I filled the muffin cups halfway with the vanilla, brown butter batter… then I stirred the espresso mixture into the remaining batter and topped off the muffin cups. Yea… vanilla and coffee in these humble little muffins. No biggie.
Streusel and cinnamon too! It wouldn't be coffee cake without a streusel.
These are good thinking and planning muffins. Grab your calender and coffee… settle in. Avoid any and all thoughts about bikinis.
Or! Put on a pair of cowboy boots and a little dress and take these muffins for brunch times. Totally the right move.
These muffins are tender and flavorful. The coffee flavor is alluring and not too sweet. They're like little cupcakes you can totally get away with enjoying in the morning. It's just good breakfast eating.
Coffee Coffee Cake Muffins
makes 12 muffins
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
2 large eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons istant espresso powder mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
For the Topping
3 Tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Put a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Keep an eye on the butter. Melt and cook down the butter until little brown bits appear in the pan. The crackling will subside and butter will begin to brown fairly quickly after that. Keep a close eye. Remove from heat.
If using vanilla bean, split the vanilla bean down the center, scrape the seeds out, and in a small bowl, rub the vanilla beans into the granulated sugar. I used my fingers and it worked like a charm. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla. Add the brown butter and stir to combine.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl Add milk and butter mixture all at once, and stir gently to combine.
Divide half of the batter among muffin cups. Stir the espresso and water mixture into the remaining batter. Divide the espresso batter between the twelve muffin cups.
To make the topping combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the batter in the cups.
Bake until golden and crisp and a wooden pick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Keep an eye on them… they dry out quickly. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes then remove from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.


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That said, I did feel compelled to Trixify this just a pinch. The original called for both olive oil and sesame oil, but I subbed tahini for the sesame oil fearing that it would feel too ... um, oily ... otherwise. The BHG recipe also wanted just one measly garlic clove, and as you may imagine I quadrupled it. Instead of water I used the liquid from the chick pea can. Finally, I wanted to up the acid, so I added both lemon juice and 2 whole heads of black garlic, which lends a subtle sweetness to the overall dish.
As I know from several months of working in a Middle Eastern(ish) cafe, making hummus is not rocket science. And while a restaurant needs to have a recipe that's set in stone in order to maintain consistency, those of us at home are free to taste and tweak as we go until it's perfect. That's what I did here, so please keep in mind that the amounts are up for interpretation by your taste buds.


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Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Vital Records Section
State Department of Health
1330 West Michigan Street
PO Box 7125
Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125
Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $1.00 each. For earlier records, write to Health Officer in city or county where event occurred.
Check or money order should be made payable to Indiana State Department of Health. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (317) 383-6274 . Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available at: http://www.in.gov/isdh/
Ancestry.com Indiana State Database
A large collection of databases of births, deaths, marriages, census, obituaries, directories, estate records, and service records. Get 14 Days Free Access!!!
State office has birth records beginning October 1907. Cost: $10.00
State office has death records beginning October 1907. Cost: $8.00
Browning Genealogy Databases
The Browning Genealogy Database is the lifetime work of Charles Browning, who compiled the obituary records of Vanderburgh County and surrounding southwestern Indiana from the Evansville newspapers: The Evansville Courier, The Evansville Press, and now The Evansville Courier and Press.
Write to County Clerk in city or county where divorce was granted.
Ancestry.com Indiana Marriages to 1850
This database of Indiana marriages to 1850 contains nearly 200,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
The marriage date is usually the date of marriage as given in the original entry. However, when no marriage date is given (e.g., the "marriage return" was not provided to the record keeper), the date of the license is used. In a few cases, a marriage will be listed twice, but in two different counties. This most often happened when a couple obtained a license in one county, but were actually married in another. (Free Database)
Marriage index since 1958 for some counties. Certified copies are not available from State Health Department or State Library but must be obtained from county where event occurred.
Database to an Index of Indiana Marriages Through 1850.


text: Architecture (M.Arch) In connection with the Design Workshop—a design-build program within the School of Constructed Environments—Juanita Wichienkuer, MArch '06, researched sustainable furniture resources for the new headquarters of the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG). That research was the beginning of Yellow Laboratory, a design-build firm Wichienkuer and former Parsons classmate Rory Connors founded in 2005. "The challenge with the NYRAG job was to recycle what was essentially trash that we found within a three-block radius of the building site," says Wichienkuer. "We ended up designing and making tables out of parts of a bed and old Masonite pallets, and it was so successful that people wanted to buy them." Yellow Lab's clients have included the New Museum, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and Parsons, for which she and Connors have designed furniture, installations, prototypes, and interiors. "When I think back on my Parsons experience," says Wichienkuer, "the Design Workshop was definitely the high point." In the workshop—in which students take on small and medium-sized design projects for nonprofit clients—Wichienkuer created collapsible interiors for the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and worked on restoring the Prince George Ballroom Gallery. "There's something about actually building what you design that makes your process smoother and more efficient," she explains, "and nothing will give you a greater appreciation for building than being part of a construction crew."Having completed the apprenticeship requirements, Wichienkuer plans to get her architecture license within the year while working a day job as project manager for Alcon Builders Group, a general contractor in New York. "We are close to making Yellow Laboratory a full-time business," she says. "And while we may not always build what we design in the future, I can't imagine designing without the kind of experimentation and play that was part of our process at Parsons."


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From Homestar Runner Wiki
|Character: Bubs
[edit] Biography
Bubs (full name: Bubs Concession Stand, as confirmed in Homestar Ruiner and Senorial Day) is the all around fix-it man. He has a round blue head, mismatched eyes (his right eye is white with a blue circle inside while his left is simply a shiny black dot), and a permanent toothy smile (consisting of at least four visible teeth) that moves when he talks. His upper body is orange, and according to Strong Bad, Bubs has flipper arms. He has a green stripe around his middle which, according to Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, is a belt, and his lower half is colored dark gray.
Running his own concession stand, Bubs is a sharp salesman and shady black market operator who will sell almost anything, and has developed a habit for selling ridiculous items at a humorously high price. Bubs is also on the run from at least one collection agency, though at the same time he represents at least one collection agency, as seen in other days. He also has been seen operating the Baloney Sammich Truck, which he drove down to the beach in Weclome Back. Bubs claimed he only sold "exactly zero baloney sandwiches" and called it his "best year ever". The next year, Bubs returned and sold out the truck, including a popsicle-shaped sandwich (Strong Bad), multiple servings "of everything" (The King of Town), and a napkin Coach Z bought for $32.
Bubs resells Internet access, although he admits to ripping off his sole subscriber, Strong Bad, in 99 different ways (though none of them are "throttling down", as Strong Bad claims). It's likely that not all of his dealings are exactly legal, considering his reaction to a practical joke from Strong Bad in lackey, and trying to dispose of items marked EXHIBIT A and EXHIBIT B (the latter of which was presumably a human pancreas which he tried to sell to Homestar Runner) in Bug In Mouth Disease. It is hinted (sometimes subtly and sometimes not) that Bubs also has a somewhat darker nature to his personality. He resorts to violence rather quickly and sometimes for no apparent reason, and it is implied in buried and I Killed Pom Pom that he might have actually killed someone. In his spare time, Bubs reads back issues of Motor Trend magazine, and also hangs out and talks with Coach Z.
His relationship with Coach Z has been sort of a love-hate relationship, as Coach Z has done things to Bubs in the past that have offended him. For example, Coach Z did something to anger Bubs near Thanksgiving in 2005, and to get even, Bubs made a "Coach Z, you jerk!" float for the Fall Float Parade. To retaliate, Coach Z said it "serves him right" when Strong Mad marched in the parade with the concession stand, having ripped it out of the ground. In narrator (February 2006), it was shown that they had patched things up and were once again having boring conversations about Bubs's napkins. Although they still maintain a friendly relationship, Coach Z hasn't fully risen above offending Bubs, as in Most in the Graveyard (where he wanted to have a relationship with Bubs's sister) and Baddest of the Bands (where he punched Bubs in the face accidentally while performing as the Two-O-Duo).
Bubs also apparently has licenses to do a lot of different things, such as being a Bail Bondsman, Paranormal Investigator, Normal Investigator (not at all associated with "Bubs: Paranormal Investigator"), and "Dr." Bubs (TV/VCR repair). As shown in licensed, Bubs apparently has an inverted and twisted understanding of what quality of product to sell where, due to the fact that he sells apparently "consumer-safe" products on the Black Market, and hazardous products at the concession stand. (The fact that Bubs sells "consumer-safe" products on the black market isn't entirely true, as the Cheat had an allergy to some ferret ointment that Bubs was selling, and the piñatas contained broken glass which injured Homestar.) He also owns a hair salon called "Luscious Wavẽiñgs", as revealed in Fan Costumes 2016.
Bubs dances and attends night courses at Disco Tech. His facial configuration is puzzling; in Pumpkin Carve-nival, he appears to have a safety pin stuck through his face above an internal ear. In Strong Bad's record book, he was solely declared "Cutest couple."
Bubs's alter-ego is The Thnikkaman. During Decemberween, he also turns into the Dethemberween Thnikkaman. No one but Homestar seems to suspect any relationship with Bubs and the Thnikkaman.
In unnatural, Bubs was mutated into King Bubsgonzola Supreme after being flushed down the toilet while shaving. Strong Sad cured this with a bowl of kashi.
In original, Strong Bad claimed that there was another Bubs, known as Original Bubs, who had great eyesight and could always see Homestar "from over there". Bubs got angry and claimed that he was the "100% All Original Bubs". He claimed, "If I had thumbs, I'd be sticking 'em up my armpits right now!" Marzipan claims that there was no such character, but Homestar claims to miss him.
According to a discussion by The Deleteheads in fan club, Bubs has apparently been married at least twice, since Strong Sad mentions his first wife. In Most in the Graveyard, Bubs claims that many of his distant ancestors invented certain business practices: Great-great grandfather's cousin Harold, who invented the "Bait and Switch"; his brother Mort, "No Money Down"; and Zgor, another relative of Bubs. It is also mentioned that he has a sister, whom Coach Z seems to have feelings for, and that Bubs's great-great granduncle, who invented "No Payments 'Til 2010", was apparently the same person as Coach Z's great good-aunt. If true, this would make Bubs and Coach Z sixth-fourth-second-fifth cousins, thrice removed, although Bubs claims that Coach Z is lying.
[edit] Character Video Transcript
- Main article: Bubs's Character Video
BUBS: Hey there, every peoples! I'm Bubs. I run the concession stand around the way here. I'm a self-made man, I am, I am. I sell hot dogs, chili dogs, slaw dogs, ketchup dogs and mustard dogs. I got drinks, drinks, drinks, candy and snow cones. I can fix everything what needs fixing. Like cars... TVs... marriages. Ooh! I can dance, too. {starts doing the wave} Shake it once! Shake it twice, a-gimme little bit o' sugar spice! I guess the word that best describes me is: personality. Umm... because I have a good personality. Okay. I gotta get back to work. Come on by! We're always awesome! {leaves, then reappears in his Concession Stand in the background}
[edit] Fun Facts
- Bubs is based on a person The Brothers Chaps knew growing up who worked at a concession stand locally and spoke with the same gravelly voice.
- Matt has also admitted in interviews that Bubs's voice was heavily borrowed from the voice of Redd Foxx (of Sanford and Son fame).
- Bubs says he used to be able to "fly" until he said "sbu", which canceled his abilities, in the Strong Bad Email lunch special. However, Bubs says that since he gained so much weight, he could only hover a few inches off the ground, so it wasn't much of a loss. Strong Bad believes he's a big liar, and even Homestar reckons he's faking it even with the evidence before his eyes.
- Bubs may not be a very strong swimmer, as seen in the email keep cool, in which he wears water wings in the swimming pool.
- Also, as seen in Ever and More and lunch special, Bubs talks about how he gained weight, implying that at some point in his life, he was skinnier. This may be due to his glandular problem/gravy boat problem, as mentioned in Homestar Ruiner.
- Mike Chapman once noted that it is difficult to animate Bubs' elbows in The Brothers Chaps' Georgia Tech appearance. This may be the cause of his wavy arms in more recent toons.
- In crazy cartoon, it was mentioned that he voices The Wheelchair.
- The silhouette resembling Z Sabre who attacks Stinkoman throughout the tenth level of Stinkoman 20X6 is credited as "Bubs".
- An image of Bubs can be found in the game's Flash file. This may be left over from a Tweet showing Bubs in the game.
[edit] Relationships
- See main article: Character Relationships
- Homestar Runner and Bubs's Relationship
- Strong Bad and Bubs's Relationship
- Marzipan and Bubs's Relationship
- Bubs and Coach Z's Relationship
- Strong Sad and Bubs's Relationship
- Bubs and The Cheat's Relationship
[edit] Variations
- Old-Timey Bubs (Old-Timey)
- The Thnikkaman
- Shark-Tooth Bubs (Puppet Stuff)
- Baron Darin Diamonocle (From Dangeresque)
- Bubsamecium (high school)
- Zubs or Coach B
- King Bubsgonzola Supreme (unnatural)
- Dry Ragamuffin
- Original Bubs (original)
- Onion Bubs
- Bubz (Xeriouxly Forxe)
- Character 4 (Yonder Website)
[edit] Halloween Costumes
- Rerun (from What's Happening!!) in Homestarloween Party
- Mars Blackmon (from She's Gotta Have It) in The House That Gave Sucky Treats
- Captain Lou Albano in Pumpkin Carve-nival
- Mel (from Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore) in 3 Times Halloween Funjob
- One of The Three Most Important People in the World (from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure) in Halloween Fairstival
- Apollo Creed (from Rocky) in Halloween Potion-ma-jig
- Coach McGuirk (from Home Movies) in Happy Hallow-day
- Ross from You Can't Do That On Television in Jibblies 2
- The Junkyard Dog in Most in the Graveyard
- Jules Winnfield (from Pulp Fiction) in Doomy Tales of the Macabre
- Dead Guy from Die Hard in Which Ween Costumes
- Adam Yauch as MCA as Nathan Wind as Cochese (from the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" video) in I Killed Pom Pom
- Chuck Barris in The House That Gave Sucky Tricks
- Billy Mitchell in Later That Night...
- Grunkle Stan (from Gravity Falls) in Haunted Photo Booth
- Stan S. Stanman (from Monkey Island) in Mr. Poofers Must Die
- Commander Borf (from Space Ace) in The Homestar Runner Enters The Spooky Woods
- Beedle (from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) in Halloween Hijinks
- Hoagie (from Day of the Tentacle) in Halloween Hide & Seek
- Office Space in 2022 Costume Pack Now Available
[edit] Quotes of the Week
|Bubs's Quotes of the Week
[edit] See Also
[edit] External Links
- watch Bubs's character video
- watch Bubs's character video on the old Flash site
- view the Flash file for Bubs's character video
|Main Characters
Homestar Runner | Strong Bad | The Cheat | Strong Mad | Strong Sad | Pom Pom | Marzipan | Coach Z | Bubs | The King of Town | The Poopsmith | Homsar


text:
On the Inviqa techPortal today there's a new post talking about the most recent speaker at the PHP LondonRasmus Lerdorf.
July's PHP London had a particularly notable speaker – Rasmus Lerdorf himself presenting what's new in PHP. So many people wanted to attend that, with limited venue capacity, a live (and recorded) video stream was used for the first time. You can skip straight to seeing the slides and video of the session if you like, or keep reading for my impressions of the evening.
They include a brief overview of what Rasmus talked about including: a brief history and evolution of the language, a few points about PHP 5.4 and then on to the "shiny and new" of PHP 5.5. and the features it introduced. He also added in a bit at the end about two tools that his employer, Etsy, has released to help with more atomic deployments.


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With the focus back on football, optimism abounds in the Big Easy.
Quarterback Drew Brees
METAIRIE, La. (AP) - Since Sean Payton returned from his bounty ban in January, the Saints have steered clear of scandal or contract holdouts in a blissfully uneventful offseason. With the focus back on football, optimism abounds in the Big Easy.
"Here we are, really for the first time in four years, where you feel like this is a normal offseason," quarterback Drew Brees said recently. "You come to work every day with no distractions other than just focusing on football and getting better."
The 2010 offseason was unusual in that the Saints were defending champs. In 2011, there was a lockout. Then 2012 was overshadowed by the NFL's probe of the Saints' cash-for-hits bounty system, which resulted in suspensions, fines and lost draft picks. Further complicating matters was Brees' contract holdout, which ended a couple weeks before 2012 training camp.
Brees still passed for 5,177 yards last season while leading a unit ranked second in yards per game, but such production wasn't enough to get the Saints back to the playoffs for a fourth-straight season because New Orleans' defense sank to historically low depths, yielding a single-season record 7,042 yards.
Now that Payton is back, he is refining the prolific offense he created and he's brought in new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
Five things to know about the Saints as training camp arrives:
1. PAYTON'S PRESENCE: Payton's record speaks for itself. He coached six seasons before his suspension and in that time rebranded the once-floundering Saints as one of the most exciting teams in the NFL. With his offenses regularly at the top of the league and breaking both franchise and NFL records, he led New Orleans to the playoffs four times, to the NFC title game twice and to the franchise's first Super Bowl title in 2009-10. In his last three seasons before his suspension, the Saints made the playoffs each time, twice racking up 13 regular season wins. In his return, Payton has brought not only his ability to create mismatches with his offensive play design, but also the discipline and intensity to which his players have responded well in the past.
2. DIFFERENT DEFENSE: One of the first changes Payton made upon his return from suspension was to fire 2012 defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and hire Ryan. That meant a change from the 4-3 defensive alignment to the 3-4 preferred by Ryan. The change in scheme has meant a switch in position for several players who once were considered defensive ends and now will play outside linebacker, such as Will Smith and Junior Galette. Players say the adjustment has not been all that difficult because the Saints effectively were in a 3-4 for a number of their blitz packages when Gregg Williams was the coordinator from 2009-11.
3. VETERAN ADJUSTMENTS: As defensive captains Jonathan Vilma and Smith enter their 10th NFL seasons, they are out to prove they can be effective in altered roles. Smith played his first nine seasons at right defensive end. Now he is an outside linebacker, meaning he may have to drop into pass coverage at times. Vilma has been most effective as a middle linebacker in a 4-3. While with the Jets early in his career, he struggled when that club switched to a 3-4. Now he'll be in a 3-4 again, though Payton has said he believes Vilma can be effective on the weak side, while Curtis Lofton will be the strong side middle linebacker.
4. BREES' BLINDSIDE: For the past four seasons, Brees' blind side has been protected by left tackle Jermon Bushrod, who left during free agency for Chicago. The Saints hope 2010 second-round draft choice Charles Brown is ready to step in as a starter. Brown has been injury plagued early in his career, leaving coaches anxious about his reliability. Competing with Brown will be former St. Louis first-round pick Jason Smith, who is hoping to reinvigorate his disappointing career in New Orleans, and 2013 third-round pick Terron Armstead.
5. YOUNG RECEIVERS: The Saints have several young, inexperienced receivers vying for regular playing time behind veterans Marques Colston and Lance Moore. The front-runner appears to be Joe Morgan, who joined the club as an undrafted free agent in 2011 but did not see action in 2012 after spending his rookie year on injured reserve. Nick Toon, a 2012 fourth-round draft pick who also spent his rookie year on injured reserve, and rookie Kenny Stills, a fifth-round pick, also are looking to break into the lineup.


text:
Ubuntu Activities during September 2013
Posted by Bob Jonkman on 13th September 2013
It's shaping up to be a busy few weeks for Ubuntoids in the Kitchener-Waterloo region:
Ubuntu Global Jam
Ubuntu Global Jam Kitchener Pictures!
When: Saturday, 14 September 2013 from 10:00am to 5:00pm iCal 1
Where: Computer Recycling
Location: 66 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Map 1
Entrance: Use the door on Charles Street
LoCo Event: Ubuntu Global Jam Kitchener | Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal
Info: UbuntuGlobalJam – Ubuntu Wiki
Blog: Charles' Tech Talk: Ubuntu Global Jam, Saturday, September 14, 2013
Charles McColm (@chaslinux) has arranged to use the workshop at Computer Recycling on Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, where he's got lots of computers of varying specs that we can use to test the installation of Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander. We'll document any problems with the installation procedure, any hardware incompatibilities we find, and maybe build a system or two in the process.
And for those people who don't want to get grubby with actual hardware, there's bugs to be triaged, documentation to be written, and code to be coded.
We'll set up a couple of computers so we can be online with other Jams (it's a Global Jam, after all), and Computer Recycling has a pretty good sound system so we can listen to the Hacker Freedom Song for inspiration all day long (OK, maybe not that).
Ubuntu Team Meeting in IRCWhen: Thursday, 26 September 2013 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT) iCal 2
IRC: #ubuntu-ca channel on Freenode
Webchat: Freenode Web IRC — #ubuntu-ca
LoCo Event: Ubuntu-ca Team Meeting in IRC | Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal
Agenda: Canadian Team Wiki — Meeting 2013-09-26
Every month members of the Canadian Team meet online in Internet Relay Chat to discuss all things Ubuntu — past events, upcoming events, new releases, Canonical's future direction…
Ubuntu Hour GuelphWhen: Friday, 27 September 2013 from 7:00pm onwards iCal 3
Where: Pennywhistle Pub
Location: 2 Quebec Street, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Map 3
LoCo Event: Ubuntu Hour Guelph | Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal
IRC: #ubuntu-ca-guelph channel on Freenode
Webchat: Freenode Web IRC — #ubuntu-ca-guelph
Mailing List: Ubuntu CA Guelph Chapter in Launchpad
Verdi R-D writes:
Just wanted to let you know the Guelph Ubuntu will be held this month on Friday, September 27, 2013 at the Pennywhistle Pub from 7 until 8 or whenever you feel like going.
Also, if you're in the southern Ontario area, I suggest you check out the Ubuntu Guelph oriented mailing list. It's available from Launchpad at email@example.com . We also have an IRC channel set up at #ubuntu-ca-guelph .
Continuing from last month, I plan on sending out an email with a link to the survey I designed for last meeting so that everyone can fill it out once I figure out how to make a Google Apps for free form publicly accessible.
Software Freedom Day Kitchener-Waterloo
Preliminary pictures and video from Laurel L. Russwurm
Pictures and resources from Bob Jonkman's ownCloud
When: Saturday, 28 September 2013 from 10:00am to 5:00pm iCal 4
Where: Kwartzlab Makerspace
Location: 33 Kent Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Map 4
LoCo Event: SFD Kwartlab | Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal
SFD Wiki: Kitchener-Waterloo SFD at Kwartzlab – Software Freedom Day Wiki
Sing-a-long: Celebrate Software Freedom Day Song
Bob Jonkman: Building Your Own Cloud
Stefan Chirila: to be announced
Rick Jenkins: Blender
James Kelsh: Knoppix
Charles McColm: Instant XBMC
Other Activities
- Installfest
- Bring your computer, laptop, tablet(?), phone(!) to get free software installed.
- Software giveaway
- Pick up a CD or DVD with free software, or copy some free software to your USB stick or computer.
Open Disc Project should have a new release in time for SFD
Does Ubuntu-ca-kw still have 12.04 Precise Pangolin disks?
- Free Culture
- a playlist of genuinely good CC-licenced music
- a playlist of genuinely good CC-licenced video/movies
- a bibliography of genuinely good CC-licenced books
Tags: 13.10, azend, Blender 3D, Canadian Team, Canonical, Charles McColm, chaslinux, Computer Recycling, free, freedom, Freenode, GNU/Linux, installfest, Internet Relay Chat, IRC, IRC Meeting, James Kelsh, Kitchener, Knoppix, Kwartzlab, LoCo, OpenDisc, Pennywhistle Pub, Rick Jenkins, Saucy Salamander, SFD, Software Freedom Day, Stefan Chririla, Team Meeting, Team Portal, The Working Centre, Ubuntoid, Ubuntu, Ubuntu Global Jam, Ubuntu Hour Guelph, Ubuntu Wiki, UGJ, Verdi R-D, Waterloo, XBMC
Posted in FLOSS, GNU/Linux, Operating System, Software, Ubuntu | Comments Off on Ubuntu Activities during September 2013


text:
Do you squander all your dough at the casino? Maybe it's because your DNA is telling you to take risks with your money.
OK, it's not as simplistic as that. But Northwestern University researchers say they've linked two genes with our tendency to be bold or conservative investors, according to their study set to be published tomorrow in PLoS One. The genes regulate the brain's systems of dopamine and serotonin, chemicals important in areas of the brain that are active when we take or shun risk, respectively.
The findings were based on 65 people (two-thirds women, one-third men) who answered 96 questions about how they would use $30 in real money in a computerized investment game. The participants each provided a saliva sample so that researchers could genotype their DNA.
The scientists discovered that participants with two short versions of the 5HTTLPR gene, which regulates serotonin, invested 28 percent less of their money in a risky (but potentially more profitable) fund than did people with other gene combos. Similarly, those with a long version of the DRD4 gene, which regulates dopamine, invested 25 percent more of their money in the risky fund than those with other variations of that gene.
Deficiencies of serotonin, which regulates moods, have been linked to anxiety and depression. Dopamine, a chemical central to the brain's reward system, is associated with drug, gambling and other addictions. Scientists are increasingly studying the potential effect of genes and the brain on financial decision-making, a field called neuroeconomics.
Before you ask your financial advisor for a saliva sample, though, bear in mind that only about 20 percent of the difference in risk-taking is due to genes, says study co-author Camelia Kuhnen, an assistant professor of finance at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. "I wouldn't want to oversell this as a screening device to find good traders," Kuhnen tells ScientificAmerican.com. "Even if I have a gene that predisposes me to taking a lot of financial risk, I could go through a stock market crash that will make me less risk-taking."
Previous research has suggested that high levels of testosterone are linked with more financial risk-taking. Kuhnen said there wasn't a difference in the distribution of the serotonin and dopamine genes between the study's men and women, and added that it's unknown whether the genes' link with financial risk-taking is as strong in the real world, where the stakes are much higher. "Even after we replicate these findings," Kuhnen says, "I still don't know if it would be ethical to have screening criteria based on the genetic markers of individuals, because most behavior is driven by things that are not genetic."
Image © iStockphoto/Tomislav Forgo


text:
Bandanas from Vivien of Holloway!
Protect your pin curls and rollers or create a true rockabilly 1950s look with our wide range of bandanas, made with our exclusive bespoke fabric.
Create a 1940s land girl look, 1950s pin-up or transform into Rosie the Riveter herself with our fabulous head squares.
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