text:
Study Targets Interaction of Vitamin D Receptor, Gut BacteriaStudy Targets Interaction of Vitamin D Receptor, Gut Bacteria
July 7, 2010
Now scientists have found that the vitamin D receptor is a key player amid the gut bacteria -- what scientists refer to matter-of-factly as the "gut flora" – helping govern their activity, responding to their cues, and sometimes countering their presence. The work was published online recently in the American Journal of Pathology.
The findings deliver a new lead to scientists investigating how bacteria might play a role in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulceractive colitis. The work complements studies suggesting that Salmonella infection can increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
"Vitamin D deficiency is a known factor in the pathology of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer," said microbiologist Jun Sun, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester Medical Center, "but there have been very few reports about how bacteria might play a role by targeting the vitamin D receptor. Our work suggests one possible mechanism, by working through the vitamin D receptor, a sensor and regulator for the majority of functions of vitamin D."
Sun specializes in the actions of bacteria in the body and how their interactions within the body contribute to disease. She has shown that bacteria often found in the human intestine affect molecular signals known to contribute to inflammatory response and cell growth.
Her work with the vitamin D receptor takes place at a time when the molecule is coming under increasing scrutiny. Scientists have associated vitamin D and the receptor with many types of cancer, as well as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and infection.
Sun's team took a close look at the vitamin D receptor in mice and its interactions with bacteria in the colon. The team studied normal mice; mice in which the vitamin D receptor had been knocked out; and mice that were completely free of any germs. Scientists observed how the mice responded to infection with either a harmless strain of E. coli or a pathogenic strain of Salmonella Typhimurium.
The team found that Salmonella is able to regulate the vitamin D receptor, increasing its activity and determining where in the colon the receptor is active. In the presence of Salmonella, the receptor was more prevalent than usual deep within folded intestinal structures known as crypts.
Sun's team also discovered that the vitamin D receptor plays a key role in defending the body from assault by Salmonella and squelching inflammation. The receptor stops a molecule known as NF-Kappa B, a well-known master player in the world of inflammation, by binding to it and preventing it from activating other inflammatory molecules. While scientists have known that the receptor interacts with NF-Kappa B, details of the interaction modulated by bacteria in the colon are new.
The scientists found that Salmonella was much more virulent and aggressive in mice in which the vitamin D receptor had been turned off. These mice showed higher levels of activity of inflammatory molecules, and they lost weight more quickly and were much more likely to die in response to infection.
"We live together in a mutually beneficial state with most of the bacteria in our gut," said Sun, assistant professor in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division of the Department of Medicine. "They help us digest foods like fruits and vegetables, and we provide them a place to live and thrive. We co-exist peacefully -- most of the time.
"But we aren't able to culture most of these bacteria in the laboratory, and we don't know what most of them are doing. We need to understand our gut flora much more than we do. This is particularly important for understanding how we might manipulate the natural gut flora to stop an invader like Salmonella," added Sun, who also has appointments in the JamesP.WilmotCancerCenter and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
In addition to Sun, authors of the study from Rochester include the first author, post-doctoral associate Shaoping Wu, Ph.D., of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division; Jian-Dong Li, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology; former technician Anne P. Liao; and former research assistant Yinglin Xia, Ph.D.
Other authors include Yan Chun Li, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago, who supplied the vitamin D receptor "knockout" mice, and R. Balfour Sartor, M.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who supplied the specialized germ-free mice through the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Diseases Gnotobiotic Core Facility and the NationalGnotobioticRodentResourceCenter.
This work was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Guest Services Manager
| Estimated Pay
|$27 per hour
|Full-time, Part-time
| 682 South Grand Avenue
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
About this job
Who We Are
Pizza Ranch, a fast casual restaurant chain based in Orange City, Iowa, has grown from a single location in 1981 to over 200 locations in 14 states. Consistent growth has been a Pizza Ranch staple, as the brand has become a beacon of community involvement and exceptional food. The Pizza Ranch buffet features legendary pizzas, Crispy Ranch Chicken®, salads and desserts, along with carryout and delivery options.
Our company is fueled by a powerful Vision "to glorify God by positively impacting the world" and a Mission "to give every guest a legendary experience." If this sounds like an environment where you would like to work, we are always looking for enthusiastic, guest-oriented people who pursue excellence in their work and love to be of service to others.
At Pizza Ranch, we view our management team as a vital part of what makes our business so successful. As a Guest Services Manager you will be challenged to exceed the expectations of our guests by delivering on the Pizza Ranch Product standards. You will also be expected to assist the Assistant General Manager in leading the day to day operations and support the management of the of the guest experience through Market Force data and feedback. At the Pizza Ranch you will have the ability to drive store level profitability and sales goals by controlling food and labor costs. Most importantly you will have the opportunity to provide genuine care for all of our staff and guests and to create legendary impact to those you come in to contact with.
Key Accountabilities:
- Guest Satisfaction
- Effective Business Management
- Appropriate and Fair Business Practices
- Training and Development
Qualifications, Skills, and/or Competencies:
- Passion for leading and developing people
- Proven record of management, communication, and organizational skills
- The ability to prioritize multiple situations
- Effective communicator, and listener with good oral and written communication skills
- Restaurant Management experience preferred
- Proficient in basic computer skills
- High School graduate or equivalent education
- Possess business acumen

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more all for only $19.99...
Abbot of Malmesbury and Bishop of Sherborne, Latin poet and ecclesiastical writer (c. 639-709). Aldhelm, also written Ealdhelm, Ældhelm, Adelelmus, Althelmus, and Adelme, was a kinsman of Ine, King of Wessex, and apparently received his early education at Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, under an Irish Christian teacher named Maildubh. It is curious that Malmesbury, in early documents, is styled both Maildulfsburgh and Ealdhelmsbyrig, so that it is disputed whether the present name is commemorative of Maildubh or Ealdhelm, or, by "contamination," possibly of both (Plummer's "Bede," II, 310). Aldhelm himself attributes his progress in letters to the famous Adrian, a native of Roman Africa, but formerly a monk of Monte Cassino, who came to England in the train of Archbishop Theodore and was made Abbot of St. Augustine's, Canterbury. Seeing, however, that Theodore came to England only in 671, Aldhelm must then have been thirty or forty years of age. The Saxon scholar's turgid style and his partiality for Greek and extravagant terms have been traced with some probability to Adrian's influence (Hahn, "Bonifaz und Lul," p. 14). On returning to settle in Malmesbury our Saint, probably already a monk, seems to have succeeded his former teacher Maildubh, both in the direction of the Malmesbury School, and also as Abbot of the Monastery; but the exact dates given by some of the Saint's biographers cannot be trusted, since they depend upon charters of very doubtful authenticity. As abbot his life was most austere, and it is particularly recorded of him that he was wont to recite the entire Psalter standing up to his neck in ice-cold water. Under his rule the Abbey of Malmesbury prospered greatly, other monasteries were founded from it, and a chapel (ecclesiola), dedicated to St. Lawrence, built by Aldhelm in the village of Bradford-on-Avon, is standing to this day. (A. Freeman, "Academy," 1886, XXX, 154.) During the pontificate of Pope Sergius (687-701), the Saint visited Rome, and is said to have brought back from the Pope a privilege of exemption for his monastery. Unfortunately, however, the document which in the twelfth century passed for the Bull of Pope Sergius is undoubtedly spurious. At the request of a synod, held in Wessex, Aldhelm wrote a letter to the Britons of Devon and Cornwall upon the Paschal question, by which many of them are said to have been brought back to unity. In the year 705 Hedda, Bishop of the West Saxons, died, and, his diocese being divided, the western portion was assigned to Aldhelm, who reluctantly became the first Bishop of Sherborne. His episcopate was short in duration. Some of the stone-work of a church he built at Sherborne still remains. He died at Doulting (Somerset), in 709. His body was conveyed to Malmesbury, a distance of fifty miles, and crosses were erected along the way at each halting place where his remains rested for the night. Many miracles were attributed to the Saint both before and after his death. His feast was on May the 25th, and in 857 King Ethelwulf erected a magnificent silver shrine at Malmesbury in his honour.
"Aldhelm was the first Englishman who cultivated classical learning with any success, and the first of whom any literary remains are preserved" (Stubbs). Both from Ireland and from the Continent men wrote to ask him questions on points of learning. His chief prose work is a treatise, "De laude virginitatis" ("In praise of virginity"), preserved to us in a large number of manuscripts, some as early as the eighth century. This treatise, in imitation of Sedulius, Aldhelm afterwards versified. The metrical version is also still extant, and Ehwald has recently shown that it forms one piece with another poem, "De octo principalibus vitiis" (On the eight deadly sins"). The prose treatise on virginity was dedicated to the Abbess and nuns of Barking, a community which seems to have included more than one of the Saint's own relatives. Besides the tractate on the Paschal controversy already mentioned, several other letters of Aldhelm are preserved. One of these, addressed to Acircius, i.e. Ealdfrith, King of Northumbria, is a work of importance on the laws of prosody. To illustrate the rules laid down, the writer incorporates in his treatise a large collection of metrical Latin riddles. A few shorter extant poems are interesting, like all Aldhelm's writings, for the light which they throw upon religious thought in England at the close of the seventh century. We are struck by the writer's earnest devotion to the Mother of God, by the veneration paid to the saints, and notably to St. Peter, "the key-bearer," by the importance attached to the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and to prayer for the dead, and by the esteem in which he held the monastic profession. Aldhelm's vocabulary is very extravagant, and his style artificial and involved. His latinity might perhaps appear to more advantage if it were critically edited. An authoritative edition of his works is much needed. To this day, on account of the misinterpretation of two lines which really refer to Our Blessed Lady, his poem on virginity is still printed as if it were dedicated to a certain Abbess Maxima. Aldhelm also composed poetry in his native tongue, but of this no specimen survives. The best edition of Aldhelm's works, though very unsatisfactory, is that of Dr. Giles (Oxford, 1844). It has been reprinted in Migne (P.L., LXXXIX, 83 sqq.). Some of his letters have been edited among those of St. Boniface in the "Monumenta Germaniae" (Epist. Aevi Merovingici, I).
ABBOT FARICIUS in an eleventh-century biography [Acta SS., May (VI)]; WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY, Gesta Pontificum, V; WILDMAN, Life of St. Ealdhelm (London, 1905); BROWNE, St. Aldhelm (London, 1903); LINGARD, Anglo-Saxon Church; MONTALEMBERT, The Monks of the West (tr.), V; HUNT in Dict. of Nat. Biog.; STUBBS in Dict. of Christ. Biog.; BIRON in Dict. de theol. cath.; BONHOFF, Aldhelm von Malmesbury (Dresden, 1894); SANDYS, A History of Classical Scholarship (Cambridge, 1903), 430; MANITIUS, Geschichte der christlich-lateinischen Poesie (Stuttgart, 1891), 489-496; Sitzungsberichte Akad. Wien. Phil. Hist. cl. CXII, 536-634; EBERT, Geschichte der Litteratur des M. A. (2d ed., Leipzig, 1889), I, 623-634; TRAUBE, Karolingischen Dichtungen (Berlin, 1888); Sitzungsberichte des Bayer. Akad. phil. philolog. cl. (Munich, 1900), 477; EHWALD, Aldhelm's Gedicht de Virginitate (Gotha, 1904); bibliography in CHEVALIER'S Repertoire, etc., Bio-Bibliogr. (2d ed., Paris, 1905), 45, 46.
APA citation. (1907). St. Aldhelm. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01280b.htm
MLA citation. "St. Aldhelm." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01280b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Laura Ouellette.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.


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Very often, when we talk or write about data quality in our industry, the discussion seems to be superficial and lacking depth. There is a lot of room for misunderstandings making the discussion as a whole obsolete. This post should help to classify arguments in the quality discussion and bring more depth into it.
The Five Dimensions of Quality
Let's start with a general framework of quality to locate arguments in their semantic field. According to David Garmin (1984) there are five principal approaches to quality.
Transcendent Approach
According to the transcendent approach quality is defined as an innate excellence that is absolute and universal. "High quality data needs to be perfect and flawless". A general problem is that it's actually pretty hard to tell what "perfect data" looks like and how to achieve it. However, this approach is fairly common in research. Validity as a "transcendent goal" for example very often leads to the trouble of finding a good trade-off between internal and external validity.
Product-based Approach
The product-based approach views quality as a result of the right ingredients and attributes of the product, – in our case data. "High quality data has carefully selected respondents in the sample, who write a lot of word into open text fields." Here, data quality is quite tangible and can be measured precisely. However, this understanding of quality is very formalistic and, therefore, too superficial.
User-based Approach
The user-based approach starts from the premise that different users may have different wants and requirements. Here, the highest data quality is what best satisfies these needs. Hence, data quality is highly individual and subjective: high quality for one user can be average or poor data quality for another.
Manufacturing-based Approach
The manufacturing-based definition focuses on the process of producing data, – or in research terminology: they focus on methodology. "Good data is collected in adherence to the scientific standards and the best-practices of our industry". While this approach makes data highly comparable, it sometimes doesn't fit to the researcher's task at hand.
Value-based Approach
Last but not least, there is a value-based approach, that sees quality as a positive return on investment (or more specific: Return On Insight). Here, data has a high quality if the costs of collecting it are minimal while the benefit from using it is maximum. At first sight, this approach seems legit, but it also has its downsides. This approach doesn't tell much about the data properties itself, but more about the information needs of the user.
Competing Views on Quality
All these approaches very often lead to competing views on quality. Data collectors, for example, may pay attention to methodology and data formats, while research buyers rather focus on their individual needs and the Return on Insight. And even within companies, there can be different perspectives. Members of the sales or marketing department may see the customers' perspectives as paramount, while project managers see quality as well-defined specifications and processes. Being aware of these different views can help to improve the communication about quality, and consequently improve the quality itself.
But even if you have everyone on the same page, you may have difficulties to find the right approach. Let's take observation data as an example. This method can be the best choice to answer your research questions but you may also run into the problem of complex data formats, missing values or outliers. This again can have an impact on the return on insight and demand a different approach.
To keep it short, it's not easy to tell, what data quality actually is. Everyone is claiming to have it, but a closer look reveals that the corresponding arguments very often fall apart. Probably, it would be naïve to merely call for a more holistic perspective, as the different approaches are in an innate tension. It doesn't mean, data quality is just an illusion or arbitrary, but it reminds us that data quality requires some effort and doesn't fall into place by itself. In any case, good data quality starts with good communication of what is expected.
Let's bring some quality into the quality discussion!
Continue: What is Data Quality? (Part 2/2)


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Youth learn at different paces and in different ways. Youth should have access to supportive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, both in and out-of-school that challenge them to develop a range of knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as build upon their interests and strengths. Learning should be competency-based, allowing youth to advance upon demonstration of mastery of challenging material. Youth should have voice and choice in their education and be supported by caring, competent mentors, teachers, and counselors who help each youth find success. To obtain a more comprehensive view of learning & teaching strategies please see below:
Issue Areas
Assessment refers to the evaluation of student learning and could include innovative instruments and measures beyond standardized testing, such as performance-based assessments to evaluate student mastery and growth.
Deeper Learning refers to the accumulation of six interrelated competencies: mastery of rigorous core academic content, critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork and collaboration, effective communication, learning how to learn, and cultivation of an academic mindset.
Educator Preparation and Professional Development is the process of earning or maintaining professional credentials and technical skills through academic degrees, training and coursework, attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities grounded in practice.
Personalized Learning refers to tailoring learning and supports to individual student strengths, needs, and interests and fostering student voice and choice in what, how, when, and where they learn.
Service learning consists of a variety of activities outside the traditional school setting that connects community service and civic engagement to academic content to enrich learning as well as benefit others and the community.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to the accumulation of a range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Resource Highlights
Teaching for Change: Honoring History, Identity, and DiversityRead more
An interactive, introductory workshop on creating curriculum that honors history, identity, and diversity.
Supporting Students' Learning Through COVID-19: A Conversation With Big Picture LearningRead more
This webinar discussed the importance of student agency, how to tackle persistent learning challenges encountered during the pandemic, and the value of their o…
- October 28, 2021
Teaching for Change
Keesha introduces Teaching for Change, with an introduction from Stephanie, AYPF's executive director.
Teaching for Change: Honoring History, Identity, and Diversity
An interactive, introductory workshop on creating curriculum that honors history, identity, and diversity.


text:
I have a bunch of posts that each have multiple tags, and I'm trying to find a way to output all of them on a single page, organized under an alphabetical listing of their respective tags. E.g. if Post1 has the tags A, B and D and Post2 has the tags A, C and D, the output would look like this:
Tag A
Tag B
Post 1
Tag C
Tag D
EDIT: I've gotten it working with categories, but I'd still love to have it work with tags instead. (All of the excluded IDs are because I'm technically using categories for other organization.) The functional code is:
<?php $cat_args = array(
'orderby' => 'title',
'order' => 'ASC',
'exclude' => '26,27,32,52,36,31,42,38,41'
$categories = get_categories($cat_args);
foreach ($categories as $category)
$catID = $category->term_id;
$catName = $category->name;
echo ''.$catName.'';
global $post; // required
$pArgs = array('category' => $catID,'post_type' => 'shows','orderby' => 'title', 'order' => 'ASC');
$custom_posts = get_posts($pArgs);
foreach($custom_posts as $post) : setup_postdata($post); ?>

<a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">
<?php the_post_thumbnail("show"); ?>

<?php the_title(); ?>

<?php endforeach; ?>
<?php } ?>


text:
Galaxy S6 Edge review: the high-end Samsung revolution
Following the poor reception of the Galaxy S5, Samsung brought two Galaxy S series flagships to the table: the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge, which showcased an all-new curved display. The demand for the Galaxy S6 Edge has been high, but is Samsung's flagship all it's cracked up to be? Find out in our Galaxy S6 Edge review.
- Inventive new design
- Simplified software interface
- Stunning display and video quality
- One hour charge for 100% battery
- Non-removable battery
- No microSD card support
- Steep asking price
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge release date and price
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge release date was April 10 2015, and the Galaxy S6 Edge price is around US$580. At the time of its release, the S6 Edge cost US$800 off-contract.
While these prices are considerably high, it's important to note that with this device, Samsung has set the bar for premium smartphones in 2015 – and perhaps even started a revolution – with its clever innovation. Much like in 2011 when Samsung introduced the term 'phablet' with the Galaxy Note, it's entirely possible that the S6 Edge is the beginning of a new smartphone trend.
- Buy Now: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge from Verizon | T-Mobile | AT&T | Amazon.com
- Buy Now: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge from O2 | EE | Vodafone | Amazon.co.uk
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge design and build quality
The Galaxy S6 Edge is one sleek machine. It has the glass and metal finish that many have been crying out for from Samsung, the first time that the manufacturer has used these materials on a high-end smartphone. It's slim, sophisticated and surprisingly lightweight.
The side-panels of the Galaxy S6 Edge are narrow and slim, making it feel slightly sharp. After using it for several weeks, we can't say that the design got any more comfortable to hold. This seems to be the current price to pay for a dual-edged screen though.
The dedicated volume buttons are located at the top of the left edge, and the lock/power button is just above the middle of the device on the right-hand side. The button placement is well-suited to right- or left-handers, but your index finger might naturally sit a little higher than the lock/power button if you're holding the S6 Edge in your left, and your thumb will be a little higher up when holding it in your right.
It feels slightly awkward to have to slide down to access the power button every time you unlock the phone, but it's not uncomfortable, as such.
In daily use, the smartphone can be held and operated in one hand without any problems, and it has a strong grip. Maybe too strong – the rear glass will quickly become masked in fingerprints. Still, this is preferable to a device that slips out of the hand too easily.
The design of the Galaxy S6 Edge does favor style over comfort. It's beautifully thin, but this means that it's not an especially pleasing device to hold. How much this matters will depend on your personal taste; it's certainly not a deal breaker. I'd predict that the majority of those who purchase an S6 Edge will never complain about its thin sides.
What people might complain about, however, is the lack of removable battery and microSD card slot. Samsung has done away with these features on both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, but despite a mass of complaints, the lack of expandable storage and removable battery doesn't seem so significant to us. There are plenty of online storage options available to users now, and Samsung has included some excellent charging solutions to pacify removable battery fans (more on this later).
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge display
The Galaxy S6 Edge has one of the highest resolution displays that can currently be found on an Android device, and it's one of the best we've ever seen. The display comes in at 5.1 inches, similar to that of the Galaxy S6, and it's loaded with pixels; picking them out individually is near-impossible.
The screen technology is super AMOLED, which Samsung has been using since the Galaxy S, and it has a QHD (1,440 x 2,560 pixels) resolution. The Galaxy S5, by comparison, has a Full HD (1,080 x 1,920 pixels) display.
The biggest thing that sets the Galaxy S6 Edge apart from other devices is, of course, the sloping sides of its screen. These sloping sides provide additional functionality, but also work to great when watching videos. It's not 3D, but it somehow gives videos a more "energetic" feel that you don't get with other smartphones.
The S6 Edge displays houses around 577 pixels per inch. This is an impressive number, and the Edge has an impressive screen tone to boot. If you find it too garish, however, it is possible to change the contrasts with four pre-set options (adaptive, cinema, photo and basic).
The S6 Edge is protected by Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and the back. The fourth generation of Corning's glass improves display durability by an estimated 80 percent compared with conventional glass on other smartphones and tablets.
The screen is a joy to look at; it's extremely detailed and has rich color and contrast. It is hard to avoid some glare from the sloping sides, but this is a small complaint, and the subtle 'wipe' animation when you lock the device is an elegant overtone. In terms of screen responsiveness, taps and swipes on the display are interpreted almost instantly by the S6 Edge. It's a real gem.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge special features
Among the standout features of the S6 Edge is the fingerprint scanner which can be accessed in lock screen settings. You can configure multiple fingerprints to unlock your device, as well as adding a backup password to use in case the fingerprint scanner malfunctions. Not only can your fingerprint be used to unlock your device, you can also connect to the Web, check your Samsung account, or make a payment with Paypal.
Some argue that the fingerprint reader greatly enhances security, but we're not sold on this. What's more, you must place your finger at a specific point on the home button in order for it to be recognized, and it occasionally doesn't work. It's a good idea, but it's not 100 percent perfect yet.
The Galaxy S6 Edge also incorporates a heart-rate monitor, just like the S5 did. You can find it within the S Health app, and it measures your heart rate using a sensor below the flash on the rear of the camera.
When you hold your finger against it, a red light is displayed while it monitors your heart rate. It's more consistent than the previous iteration on the Galaxy S5, and is a neat function for anybody concerned with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge software
The S6 Edge arrives with Android 5.0.2 and Samsung's TouchWiz UI, but it's now been upgraded to Android 5.1.1. It's expected to get Android Marshmallow, but Samsung hasn't officially confirmed this.
Samsung's latest user-interface provides the freedom to uninstall most of its pre-installed applications, except those that are crucial to the system, which is a welcome change from typically bloatware-filled Samsung devices.
With the curved edges, Samsung has introduced a brand new concept to the smartphone market, but what use do they have, besides looking good?
First up, People Edge. This feature lets you configure up to five favorite contacts which can be assigned to a side of the screen. Swiping in from the side of the screen will bring these favorite contacts into view, where you can easily SMS or email them.
The second feature, Edge Lighting, works in combination with the first. When your phone is on its stomach, the side screen will project a color onto the surface it rests on when one of your favorite contacts calls you. Because each of your favorite contacts has been assigned their own color, you can see who is contacting you at a glance.
It's a fantastic USP because it produces such a strong visual effect, making it excellent for Samsung's marketing campaign. For the end-user, though, the novelty quickly wears off.
Samsung's Information Stream is more interesting. This feature is activated by sliding your finger along the screen edge. The edge will then display information such as the current temperature, time, date, news feeds and even Twitter updates. Samsung's intention is for it to be used at night (or early morning) while the device is lying flat on a bedside table; it means you can see useful information without having to pick up the handset.
This seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, though. I'd rather pick up my phone and use if properly than perform a slide motion gesture to access to some limited functions. Information Stream just isn't all that relevant.
There are many other features to be found with the new version of TouchWiz, on top of those relating to the side display. TouchWiz now provides access to a wide range of customization options, as well as all-new themes, while Download Booster makes a welcome return.
Located in the additional connection settings, Download Booster combines Wi-Fi and LTE networks for faster download speeds for files larger than 30 MB. This feature isn't new, but it's still excellent.
There is also a new gesture command, which enables you to launch the camera by tapping twice on the home button. It's convenient, super fast, and reduces the chances of you missing a perfect photo opportunity because you were waiting for your camera app to launch. It's a fantastic idea, which has been perfectly implemented.
Sadly, Samsung has not followed LG's lead with a "knock on" effect, in which you can wake the screen by tapping on it twice. If you've never had a phone with this function before, you probably won't mind, but if you have, you'll miss it.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge performance
The performance dished out by the Galaxy S6 Edge is generally very impressive. During our first few weeks with the device we noted how Samsung's UI would stutter from time to time, but a few updates later, it seems that this has now been addressed.
When we discuss performance, this concerns all of the device components including the touch screen, processor, graphics chip, RAM, internal memory, cameras and connectivity.
After splitting with Qualcomm, reportedly over fears that the Snapdragon 810 chipset was overheating in some devices, Samsung decided to use its own Exynos 7420 processor for the S6 Edge release in the west. Whether this was a good decision or not, I'm pleased to report that the S6 Edge suffered no overheating issues throughout my time with the device, even after running an intensive performance test for 30 minutes.
The graphical capability of the Galaxy S6 Edge is outstanding, the only disappointment is that few apps and games can make full use of such power yet.
With powerful components together and well-optimized software, the S6 Edge is one of the fastest devices around. Its Antutu benchmark results provided an average of 61,493, which is a very respectable score. To provide some context, in our independent tests, the S6 Edge+ achieved an average score of 69,456, the Nexus 6P came out with 52,845, and the Galaxy S5 averaged 44,095 when running Android Lollipop.
What this means is that the Galaxy S6 Edge is a capable handset and will be for the next few years. Check out our fastest Android phones article for further insights into current flagship performance.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge audio
When confronted with a high-end smartphone worth more than 800 dollars, I expected superior audio quality. With only a single speaker for music playback, the Galaxy S6 Edge audio is substandard compared with other modern flagships, although Samsung has introduced a Sound quality and effects section to try to make up for what it lacks in hardware.
Within this menu there are three options, the first of which is called Adapt Sound, which allows you to configure a personal sound setting for when you make calls, listen to music or watch videos.
The second option is SoundAlive+, which simulates a surround sound effect, and the third is Tube Amp, which recreates the warm tone of a tube amplifier. It's an good package of sound enhancements for use with headphones, but none of them add anything substantial to the single speaker playback.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge camera
Both the rear and front cameras on the Galaxy S6 Edge are best-in-class. Samsung can always be relied upon to deliver on its flagship smartphone displays and cameras, and once again it proves itself in the photography stakes with truly outstanding image quality.
The rear camera has approximately 16 million pixels, meaning it can take photos with up to 5,312 x 2,988 pixels in 16:9 ratio. On the video side, you can choose any resolution from VGA (640 x 480) up to UHD (3840 x 2160). There are a number of devices out there right now that are capable of the same raw numbers, and have been since last year. It's Samsung's image processing software that sets this handset apart.
Samsung has optimized its own image processing technology to ensure that photos and videos taken in dark environments look better than ever before. The image quality is always lower at night than during the day, but low-light photos taken with Samsung's S6 and S6 Edge show significantly less noise than the competition.
The camera installed on the front is a 5 MP snapper, capable of taking pictures up to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels in 4:3 aspect ratio. Here once again the pictures are of an excellent quality. Video calling in Hangouts or Skype looks great, as do selfies.
It was recently confirmed that not all Galaxy S6 Edge models use the same camera, but whether you end up with the Sony IMX240 image sensor or the Samsung ISOCELL equivalent, it's still possible to capture stunning photos and videos both indoors and outdoors. Check out video below for an explanation of some of the Galaxy S6's camera features – the same can be found on the S6 Edge.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge battery
The Galaxy S6 Edge's glorious QHD display and lightning fast processor come at a price: the Edge can't survive for more than a day under intensive use. This is somewhat unsurprising given that this could be the best display currently on the platform, and the display is where most of the battery life is used up. Still, be prepared to charge the Galaxy S6 Edge often.
Thankfully, Samsung has introduced some solutions to soften the blow of quickly diminishing battery life. The first is a quick-charge function provided by the Samsung charger, which enables you to charge the S6 Edge to 100 percent battery life in about an hour.
This is an outstanding feature and should be a regular fixture on every smartphone in the future. While it's useless if you don't have access to a power source, the chances are most people will encounter one at least once within a 24-hour period, and the ability to significantly top up your phone in just 10 or 15 minutes is wonderful.
The second feature is the ability to charge the device wirelessly with an optional Qi charger. This doesn't charge the S6 Edge as quickly as the regular charger does, but it makes things a little more convenient. Neither of these solutions affect how battery life is consumed, necessarily, just how it is recovered.
Beyond the charging features, it is possible to extend the Galaxy S6 Edge's battery life with two power saving modes. The first can limit processor performance, frame rate, screen brightness, and device vibration to add minutes, or even hours of battery.
The second, Ultra Power Saving mode, can double or even triple the battery life. It turns your device to grayscale and limits the number of usable applications, effectively reducing your device to minimum processing. The features that remain are: Phone, Message (SMS), Internet, Calculator, Voice Recorder, Facebook, Google+, Clock, Notepad, Twitter and WhatsApp. Here you can expect two days of battery, but it comes at the cost of a significant reduction in functionality.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge technical specifications
Final verdict
With the Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung has proven it is capable of the innovation that many thought it lacked. This smartphone opens up unexplored horizons and bring new ideas to the market, which has long since revolved around iteration rather than revolution.
Samsung has cut the fat from its typically bloated interface, presenting an airy UI with no unnecessary additions. What's more, the S6 Edge has introduced inventive features such as lightning-fast charging and a quick-launch camera gesture, as well as delivering on the essentials with outstanding performance, a sensational display and probably the best smartphone camera on the market.
Samsung has taken a big risk introducing the curvy S6 Edge, but I think that it could be the start of a whole new line of smartphones – from Samsung, and other manufacturers alike. The Edge functions might not set the world on fire right now, but we can't wait to see how this technology can be developed in future.


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Arizona bounces back, handles Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- One loss in Oregon was enough for fourth-ranked Arizona.
After falling to the Ducks on Thursday night, the Wildcats bounced back with an 80-70 victory over the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday.
"As a team, we didn't let that (loss) affect us," guard Mark Lyons said. "One loss isn't going to hurt us, unless it's in March."
Solomon Hill had 16 points, including five 3-pointers for the Wildcats, who stepped up their defense to keep the Beavers winless in conference play. Lyons added 16 points and freshman Grant Jerrett had six blocks, a season high for the team.
Arizona (15-1, 3-1 Pac-12) was coming off a 70-66 defeat Thursday night just down the road against Oregon. While the Wildcats had pulled off several close victories, their luck ran out against the Ducks.
"They were storming the court, that's hard to go through," Jerrett said. "You just have to let it go."
There was no nail-biting finish against the Beavers (10-6, 0-3), who trailed by as many as 17 points in their third straight loss. Ahmad Starks led Oregon State with 18 points.
"The focus is just not there," said Devon Collier, who had 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Beavers.
The Wildcats pulled ahead 13-6 early on Jerrett's 3-pointer, but Oregon State did its best to keep up and pulled to 17-16 on Starks' 3-pointer with 12:18 to go in the first half.
The Beavers closed to 24-23 on another 3 from Starks, but Hill answered with a 3-pointer for the Wildcats.
Lyons hit a layup that put Arizona up 32-27, but Langston Morris-Walker hit on a long jumper and Collier dunked on a fast break to keep Oregon State close.
Trailing 34-33, the Beavers had a chance to go ahead but Jamal Reid missed a pair of free throws. The Wildcats finished out with a 9-2 run to lead 43-34 at the break.
Brandon Ashley's layup early in the second half pushed Arizona's lead to double digits before Kevin Parrom's 3-pointer made it 60-45 and Hill's 3 extended the lead to 67-50 midway through the half. The Wildcats cruised the rest of the way.
Hill's five 3-pointers were a career high.
"He is a great example of how you have to stay with it -- and if you're talented good things will come," Arizona coach Sean Miller said about his 6-foot-7 senior forward who is averaging more than 13 points a game.
It was somewhat unusual for the Wildcats to win by such a margin.
The Wildcats defeated then-No. 5 Florida 65-64 back in mid-December on senior Mark Lyons' heavily contested layup with 7 seconds left. Arizona got another one-point win over a ranked opponent when they beat San Diego State 68-67 at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.
To start the new year, a banked-in 3-pointer by Colorado's Sabatino Chen at the end of regulation was waved off by the officials after a replay and the Wildcats went on to beat the Buffaloes in overtime. Then Arizona lucked out when what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer by Utah bounced off the rim for a 60-57 Wildcats win.
`'One of the things we didn't do in the last three games was defend," Miller said. "So it was good to see that in this one."
Oregon State played for the second straight without sophomore forward Eric Moreland, who had started Oregon State's first 14 games before he was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules along with teammate Victor Robbins.
Moreland, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, was averaging 10.8 points and 11.1 rebounds while Robbins played about 63 minutes off the bench in nine games this season.
Moreland sat on the bench for Saturday's game dressed in street clothes.
Coach Craig Robinson would not say why the pair was suspended. Robbins was expected to return next Saturday at USC.
Robinson said he would decide on Monday when Moreland would return.
"I've been very pleased with their reaction, and their disappointment, and their contrition," Robinson said.
Arizona is the highest ranked team Robinson has faced as head coach of the Beavers. Oregon State has upset a top five-ranked team 10 times, with the last two victories coming against Arizona in 2000 and 1989.


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Half Dome Infrared
Yosemite B&W Workshop
Half Dome
Moon Rise Glacier Point
Sentinel Beach Reflections
El Capitan
Half Dome Glacier Point
View from the Merced
A Quiet Place
Along the Merced River in Yosemite National Park
Links On the River
Along the Merced River, Yosemite National Park
Soft light on the redwoods
Taft Point Shadows
Early morning at Taft Point, Yosemite National Park
After the fires in Yosemite
Taft Point Ridge Line
Taft Point Duo
South Fork River Stones
South Fork in the Eastern Sierra
South Fork
Weir Pond in the Eastern Sierra
Falls on Fire
Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite National Park
Bishop Creek
Eastern Sierra
South Lake Sunrise
Sunrise in the Eastern Sierra
Fall in the Eastern Sierra
Along the Merced in the Eastern Sierra
River Rapid
Mono Lake Sunrise
Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra
Listening to the Milky Way
C.A.R.M.A. radio telescopes in the Inyo Mountains
Mobius Arch
Mobius Arch in the Alabama Hills, Eastern Sierra Mountains
Alabama Hills Sunrise
Sunrise in the Alabama Hills , Eastern Sierra
Bristle Cone Infrared
Bristlecone Forest
Thousand year old bristlecone pines . High altitude keeps them small.
Yosemite Falls by Night
Night photography in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley
Falls Reflections
Tunnel View Sunset
Tunnel View, Yosemite National Park
Tunnel View 2
Bridalveil Sunset
Bridalview Falls, Yosemite National Park
Merced River, Yosemite National Park
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park


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2006 Amstar Hummer H3 Buildup - Wilderness Ready H3
Chrome Won't Get You Home
The Hummer H3 is a competent off-road vehicle right off the showroom floor. A number of companies are offering very fine suspensions for them already. The big news is that AM General and Tecstar have joined together to form AmStar, a company dedicated to building wilderness-ready H3s that you can order directly from your Hummer dealer, or you can order pieces to install yourself. AmStar's motto, "Chrome won't get you home," gives us an idea of how serious the company is.
That's right. You can get your H3 built and ready for anything right from your dealer. And we're talking built - not with useless garbage bolted on, but with needed parts. Those parts include a front Eaton ELocker (remember, you can get a rear ELocker already), Hutchinson dual (inner and outer beads) beadlock wheels just like on the H1, Goodyear MT/R tires, Rod Hall shock absorbers by Fox, and enough racks and armor to satisfy the most dedicated backcountry explorer.
By now, everyone knows the advantages of a locking differential. The Eaton ELocker, which is an available option on the H3, is a reliable locker that you can engage when it's needed and disengage when it's not. Adding one up front doubles your off-road capability. The front ELocker works with the H3's traction control system and StabiliTrak stability control system, making the AmStar H3 one of the most capable out-of-the-dealer off-road sport utilities ever offered.
The Wilderness Ready H3 also features great storage. Cargo-area drawers give you a place to store all your tools, parts, and other gear safely out of the way, yet easy to access. An onboard compressor is also included so you can air up your tires at the end of a long trip. Available outside racks, both on top of the H3 and over the rear spare tire, are very strong and capable of carrying larger, bulkier items.
Underneath, chassis armor similar to that on the H1 is an available option for the H3 that keeps nasty rocks from stopping you miles from anywhere. AmStar offers integrated rocker-panel protection/steps that work with the underbody protection and are strong enough to actually protect the body. A rearend skidplate protects the differential from rocks. The Wilderness Ready integrated winch bumper and brushguard carries a Warn 9.5xp winch and guards the front from tree branches and bushes.
Let's face it - there is a lot of garbage out there for sport utility vehicles and trucks that's built for profit and not real use. We had a chance to take a close look at AmStar's new Wilderness Ready Hummer H3 and were very impressed. This is a genuine effort of an OEM (AM General) and an OE supplier (Tecstar) to offer strong, reliable products to backcountry explorers. For those neophyte explorers who know they want something that works but just don't know what, the Wilderness Ready H3 can be ordered from their local Hummer dealer, and it arrives ready to hit the trail. For those who want to pick their parts, we understand that by the time you read this, parts will be available from AmStar's website.
Any company that tells us, "Chrome won't get you home," just has to build great products.


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This story has been corrected. Read below
CHICAGO -- Mike Holmgren won't be finishing the job he went to do in Cleveland.
New Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III said Tuesday that Holmgren was out as team president, although the Super Bowl-winning coach will remain with the franchise to help in the transition.
Haslam was introduced as the Browns' new boss after the 32 NFL owners unanimously approved his $1 billion purchase of the team from Randy Lerner. Moments later, Haslam announced that former Eagles President Joe Banner would become chief executive officer. The move takes effect Oct. 25 when the sale is concluded.
Haslam plans no other personnel changes before 2013, meaning the jobs of coach Pat Shurmur and his staff and general manager Tom Heckert appear safe.
"I told Pat on Saturday night that this was the only personnel move until the end of the season," Haslam said, "But I am not at all saying we'll make changes at the end of the season."
The Browns were the last team to win a game this year, beating Cincinnati on Sunday after five losses. They are tied with Kansas City for the worst record in the league.
The 57-year-old Haslam, who built his fortune with Pilot Flying J truck stops, has been a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and is in the process of divesting that stock.
He said Holmgren and Banner will "work together until the end of the season to transition in a seamless fashion."
"He has been and still is committed to doing everything he can to make the Cleveland Browns a winning football team," Haslam said of Holmgren, whose Browns are 10-28 since he was hired by Lerner to run football operations in 2010.
Haslam spoke at length with Holmgren in the 2½ months since he agreed to purchase the Browns. They met Sunday to work out the logistics of the transition.
"Mike was brought into do a certain role and I don't think he wanted a different role," Haslam said.
Holmgren led the Green Bay Packers to the 1996 NFL championship and lost in the Super Bowl the next year to Denver. He left the Packers in 1999 to become coach and general manager in Seattle. Six years later, the Seahawks won the NFC title -- Holmgren had given up much of his personnel duties by then to concentrate on coaching -- and fell to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
His time in Cleveland has been far from successful, though. Indeed, Haslam has said his mission is to bring winning football back to Cleveland; the Browns have made the playoffs once since returning to the NFL in 1999.
"I would never stand here and say we need to have `X' number of wins, but we want to see a positive direction," Haslam said. "I think we want to see continued improvement and we want to see them play hard."
Banner left the Eagles in June. He was been with them since 1994 and was team president when he resigned.
"His track record in Philadelphia has been impressive," Haslam said. "Joe is in charge of day-to-day operations of the company. Any big decisions, we will be involved in. Football (operations) will report to Joe."
The late Al Lerner, Randy's father, purchased the franchise from the NFL in 1998 for $530 million after the original Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996 and became the Ravens. The elder Lerner died in 2002.
The Browns made the playoffs in 2002 and lost to Pittsburgh in the first round. They've had only two winning records in 13 seasons.
Before the sale was approved, the owners amended an anti-tampering resolution. Three days before a player becomes a free agent, teams will be permitted to contact the player's agent and begin contract negotiations. But a contract can't be completed until after free agency begins, and no direct contact is allowed with the player before his contract expires -- except by his current team.
An Oct. 16 Associated Press story on ESPN.com incorrectly said what conference the Seattle Seahawks represented when they played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks were in the NFC.


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All of the days have been blending together. The only way I'm able to figure out the difference between a weekday and a weekend is whether or not there's a food truck outside the brewery.
A delicious Arepa Verde – a Colombian-style corn cake topped with avocado mayo, crispy pork, cilantro and lime juice from SoBe Fort Collins.
Nomad Street Cuisine came on Saturday and I had one of the best burgers I've ever consumed. I don't give out those labels lightly, my friends.
Creamy Camobozola cheese, spicy arugula and sweet 'n savory bacon jam on a juicy patty, served in a tender brioche bun. This was on par with my favorite burger of all time – The LAB burger. Seriously, it's that good.
I could tell is was Sunday because the brewery was in use. We brewed our first guest beer – pumpkin ale!
Caramelized with a blow torch. Just because we can.
100lbs of torch-caramelized pumpkin went into the brew. I'm beyond excited to finally taste it!
My recipe development for Snowbank Brewing has been going slowly, but surely. After the Chimichurri and Pale Ale Infused Artichoke I ran out of time to cook for a while. This latest recipe was inspired by our traditional brunch we attend every Sunday.
Bloody Mary Sundays at Gravity 1020, redux.
I'd like to start by saying that I do not like Bloody Mary's. I'd only had two in my life and they just were not for me. Until this.
Colorado Mary
|Prep time
|10 minutes
|Meal type
- 4 cups tomato juice
- 1 cup Colorado Red ale
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 + 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- 1/4 cup vinegar (I used the vinegar that came in the banana pepper jar)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 Small pinch of ghost pepper powder
- 1 Large celery stalk
- 1 dill pickle
- 1 Large piece of bacon
|Step 1
|In a pitcher combine the tomato juice, Colorado Red ale, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery salt, vinegar, freshly ground black pepper and ghost pepper and stir well.
|Step 2
|Using a lime, rim a shaker pint with salt, add ice cubes and Colorado Mary mixture and garnish as desired. Bacon is highly recommended.
This spicy twist on the traditional Bloody Mary with the addition of beer makes all the difference. The sweet malts and tomato juice are balanced out by the tangy vinegar and fiery ghost pepper. Add bacon. You just have to.
And now I must head back to the brewery for yet another day of work. We have a special tasting with Tasty Harmony this evening for an exciting upcoming project. It's no food truck, but I'm sure not complaining!


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Monster's Ball
There are 28 days left until Halloween. Which is really the perfect time to watch a scary movie.
Also, to start planning a kick-ass All Hallow's Eve party.
Sure, you can stock up on the usual cobwebs and skeletons, but below are five bloody good additions that will transform your party into the ultimate graveyard smash.
We promise, heads will roll.
For the door: Give your guests fair warning with colorful GiftCraft signs that tell them exactly what they're in for. $12.80, SoHa Living, Kahala Mall.
For the table: Spook up your spreads with a pair of Ganz butter knives shaped like a (dare we say) hot witch's legs and skirt. $18.75, The Compleat Kitchen, Kahala Mall.
For the glass: Guests will have a frightfully good time stirring their witches brew with Horror d'Oeuvres drink stirrers. $12.50 for set of 6, Red Pineapple, Ward Centre.
For the bathroom: Give your bathroom a spiritual cleanse with glow-in-the-dark hand soaps that screech when pressed, then show ghosts the light with a fun luminary. $14.50 Eerie Apple hand soap, $5.50 Jack O'Lantern mini drop in candleholder, Bath & Body Works, Ala Moana Center.
For the favors: Give guests an extra treat by tucking candy into the hidden compartments of these hauntingly adorable kokeshi. $12 Dracula and Frankenstein kokeshi, $6 Ghost kokeshi, available at Shop Toast, 3434 Waialae Ave., #3 and online.


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Word of the Day
I've seen, and been inspired by, many "photo a day" projects, so I thought I'd try one myself, with my own little grammarian spin: create a photo using a Word of the Day gadget on my Google homepage for guidance and inspiration. And what better day than January 27, my thirtieth birthday, to begin such an undertaking? (Okay, maybe new year's day, but I was too lazy to bother then.) This project is also to help keep me thinking and creating images the way DGrin's Last Photographer Standing contest has challenged me to do--a challenge I've found really enjoyable and creatively stimulating. Wish me luck (and perseverance) in this endeavor!Read More


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"I don't eat school lunch anyway . . . It looks weird."
This is from a high school student, quoted in the New York Times over the weekend, in response to a seemingly "beefless" future in school cafeterias. Most of the recent media outcry surrounds "pink slime," the low-fat filler used to bulk up many processed meats. Coverage focuses on schools, where parents and administrators alike worry about students' exposure to "chemically-treated" foodstuffs and poorly-labeled processed meat.
The low-cost, nutritious school lunch has long been an American institution. Smaller school budgets and larger student populations have led to schools cutting costs wherever possible. When industrial beef producers suggested a newer, cheaper meat alternative back in the early '90s, cash-strapped school districts happily agreed.
In 2010, Michael Moss of the New York Times won a Pulitzer for reports probing the processing end of the beef industry. He was among the first to explore the sterilization process, microbial testing, and potential contamination recalls over the past decade. Today, more journalists, along with celebrity chefs, moms, and school officials have all taken up torches and pitchforks against "pink slime". Online articles address a myriad of questions: Where does this product come from, and where does it end up? Is it OK to eat? Why aren't all the ingredients labeled? How is it made, anyway?
But thus far, no one has really satiated my curiosity…what, exactly, is "pink slime?"
What Pink Slime Is, and What It's Not
Let's address the name - there's undeniably an "'ick factor'…ever heard anyone use [slime] in a positive way?" (Borrowing a pithy phrase from Deborah Blum, who covered the subject for Discover Blogs)
Well, if you come from the meat producers' camp, you instead refer to "slime" as lean, finely-textured beef, or LFTB. Connective tissue, trimmings, and scraps from industrial butcher plants are mixed in a large steel reactor, where technicians heat the mixture to 100 oF, initiating tissue lysis – fats and oils begin to rise up, while thicker bits like protein sink. After a spin on the centrifuge to separate these components, lean, squishy pink goo emerges. Ammonium hydroxide – ammonia dissolved partially in water – sterilizes the resulting mass against microbes such as E. coli or Salmonella. (Side Note: a similar product, finely textured beef, uses citric acid in place of ammonia to eliminate pathogens). Once extruded, the "slime" can be blended into hamburger, hot dogs, and other products, or frozen into pellets for shipping and storage.
But, is it nutritious? Consumers can certainly make valid arguments regarding LFTB's content: there's less overall "functional" protein than that found in other meat products. An analysis conducted at Iowa State University (A.S. Leaflet R1361) found two-and-a-half times more insoluble protein (77% vs. 30%) relative to soluble proteins in ordinary ground chuck. Nutritionally, our gut bacteria digest much of what we cannot, but there's a good bet that we can't get as much value from insoluble proteins (collagen and elastin, found largely in tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) as from their soluble siblings (myosin and actin, usually associated with muscle tissues). While these proteins may be hard to digest, on the plus side, there's less fat in LFTB (~5%) than standard ground chuck (15-20%).
For those revolted by these contents, or even the thought of anything referred to as "slime" crossing their plates, I have two comments: first, consider Jell-O. The packaging only lists a single ingredient, which reads: gelatin. If you were to tell a child that "gummy worms" and other wobbly treats were made from steamed animal bones, would they really want dessert?
Second, consider checking the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the U.S. Gov't standards used to coordinate aspects of daily life ranging from taxes to farming. In 9CFR 301.2, a collection of terms used in the meat packaging industry, we see the following definition for meat:
"The part of the muscle of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goats, which is skeletal or which is found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart, or esophagus, with or without the accompanying or overlying fat, and the portions of bone…skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels which normally accompany the muscle tissue, and are not separated from it in the process of dressing."
Pretty gruesome reading, true, but realize that this explanation covers everything bought at the butcher, so think carefully when considering catch-all meat products like grounds, mush, pastes, or loaves. In this light, "slime" doesn't seem half as bad; as a culture, we've implicitly agreed that throat, blood, and tendons are already on the menu.
Ammonia and Other Additives
Since we're checking the CFR, let's consider all the other approved meat additives we encounter there. Mosey on over to 9CFR 424.21 to find a table, no less than 20 pages in length, of all the allowable additives used in meat processing: tenderizers, emulsifiers, denuders, binders, bleaching agents, and sweeteners, all on display for the discerning diner's palate. Compared to "pink slime" seeing only brief ammonia exposure, I'm more inclined to be suspicious of sausage.
Speaking of additives, what about the ammonium hydroxide? As Blum points out, you've eaten it before: close molecular cousins ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and ammonium phosphate [(NH4)3PO4] are found in licorice and breads, respectively. Plant proteins like pectins and glutens are commonly treated with ammonia for various food applications. I'm less concerned with the ammonia treatment, but more with just how much ammonia a single batch of LFTB requires to make it "safe." Levels high enough to raise the product pH to about 9.00 rid the beef of most virulent microorganisms, but batches tested by the New York Times back in 2009 showed pH levels as low as 7.75. So what, that's not a huge difference, right? The pH scale tracks logarithmically, so a one unit variance actually corresponds to 10 times less ammonia, which might reduce odor but also increases potential bacterial contamination.
Contrary to some news reports, ammonia is not a "pink chemical," it's colorless. Nor does the level of ammonia in meat even approach that found in floor cleaners. For my money, a more worrisome butcher's helper comes from an entirely different source – carbon monoxide, which when applied to beef binds to the myoglobin and causes the tissue to develop the reassuring pink color consumers associate with freshness and quality.
One last safety note - perhaps the few examples of contamination detected really are outliers. Click here for the 40-page USDA checklist meat producers must complete to assess their sterilization measures. This document addresses all production activities, including testing regimens, sampling size, antiseptic washes, lot documentation, and cross-contamination checks. USDA even establishes a maximum target of 0.2% for lot checking; or a tolerance of 2 per thousand lots produced with positive tests (in 2007, positive tests had crept up too high, and USDA cracked down. Higher numbers of failed tests were also noted in Moss's 2009 Times article). Surprisingly, a chart buried near the middle (p.13) of the checklist indicates that processed beef has a lower overall risk of bacterial contamination relative to standard raw beef.
"That's the thing…it isn't freaking labeled."
Microbiologist Gerald Zirnstein, a meat industry critic and the man whose 2002 email inadvertently coined the term "pink slime," delivered this rebuttal in a Reuters interview this past weekend. Under current regulations, LFTB does not have to be disclosed separately on labels, with the caveat that USDA allows a 15% maximum of the stuff in any product. However, a generation of parents accustomed to fighting high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes argue for inclusion of, at least, ammonia in the final ingredient list. Since manufacturers (and the USDA) consider this a production step, it, too, doesn't need to be discretely mentioned.
So, besides loose labeling and chemical treatment, what is it about this processed meat that so unnerves customers? Certainly, it doesn't look like a traditional cut anymore, but then neither does hamburger. The "slime" moniker doesn't help matters, nor its public unfamiliarity - slicing animals into sections has a long history in human culture, but secondary processing of the remains is more recent. Blame cultural context: while steaks, chops, and ribs are on menus everywhere, LFTB is not. Perhaps we haven't had time to adapt. Yet processed food still fills a necessary societal role – it's widely available, inexpensive, and can be fortified with nutrients and vitamins.
But is LFTB really food anymore? I would say yes, in the same way those byproducts from any other organism that we consume are. Surely, most people realize that we set our table every day thanks to the labors of other life forms: honey, from bee regurgitation, yogurt, from bacterial metabolism, and multiple cheeses from calf enzymes (rennets) or via fungal decomposition. Cochineal, a crimson dye still used to color meat products (9CFR, p. 624), comes from the dried, crushed bodies of millions of tiny insects. But, compared to insects and microbes, cows hit closer to home somehow, so we revolt at a meat byproduct we don't recognize.
So, for my final thoughts: to the beef industry, clearer labeling and heightened public awareness would help to quash some of the squeamishness at LFTB's inclusion in the food pantheon. And to the schools and parents, well-documented and tested LFTB doesn't seem to be much more harmful, albeit less nutritious, than the Jell-O we already serve at dessert.
Enjoy your school lunch. Bon appétit!
Note: the top image replaced on 3/28/2012.


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Notice of Correction to Eligible Organizations for RFA-HG-10-017: Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research (U01)
Release Date: January 6, 2011
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
The NHGRI will accept applications from foreign (non-U.S.)
organizations in response to RFA-HG-10-017,
Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research (U01). In the section of RFA-HG-10-017 labeled Eligible Organizations, the text "Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities
(Foreign Organizations)" was omitted inadvertently.
The standard NIH Grants Policy regarding research proposals from foreign organizations still applies (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2010/nihgps_ch16.htm#_Toc271265275 ).
Please direct all inquiries to:
Bradley A. Ozenberger, Ph.D.
Program Director
National Human Genome Research Institute
5635 Fishers Lane
Bethesda, MD 20892-9305
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
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