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CPS apologises for DNA disc blunder
Civil Service pass-the-parcel
The Crown Prosecution Service has apologised unreservedly for misplacing a disc of DNA profiles sent by Dutch authorities in January 2007.
The 2,159 DNA profiles from crime scenes were not checked against the UK database until February 2008. This resulted in 15 matches. Because of the delay in dealing with the disc, 11 of the 15 suspects had already gone on to commit further crimes in the UK.
The disc contained DNA profiles but no identifying information - the idea was to find matches between the two databases first, then get the legal clearance to link those to actual database entries.
A review by Peter Lewis, chief executive of the CPS, found the disc was sent unexpectedly to the CPS - it should have gone to Mutual Legal Assistance, which deals with international exchanges of police information and evidence.
Instead, it was sent by business post in an envelope addressed to CPS's Ludgate Hill office, but not to an individual or even a department.
The disc arrived 29 February 2007. On 2 March a senior manager noticed the disc and contacted Dutch authorities, who told him the right lawyer to contact within the CPS.
The review said: "By March 2007 the Dutch disk was in the hands of the lawyer who, although not expecting the disk, was aware of the background to Operation Thread [as the Anglo-Dutch co-operation was known], knew what was likely to be contained on the disk and should have understood its importance to the investigation of crime in the Netherlands.
"All that was now required was for the disk to be placed in a safe or secure cabinet and for contact to be made quickly with the police to arrange for the secure collection or transfer of the disk. This was a simple task that could and should have been undertaken immediately."
But this "simple task" was not carried out. The disc did not get delivered to the police until almost a year later - January 2008.
The report gave a brief summary of the disc's travels, or lack thereof, in that period.
The lawyer who had the disc took an unexpected and lengthy leave of absence in early April 2007. This person did not tell their manager about the disc. In late April Dutch authorities asked about the disc, but nothing was done.
In August 2007 the CPS searched for the disc and could not find it. On 14 August the Home Office cheekily asked the Dutch if they could pop another copy in the post. The report notes: "The Dutch Authorities were more concerned about the whereabouts of the original disk and the matter was not pursued."
In late October the lawyer returned from their leave of absence. The disc was found and police contacted 21 November.
The report said: "There followed an almost casual exchange of correspondence over the next two months... The disk was eventually collected by NDNADB [National DNA Database] on 11 January 2008."
No evidence was found that the disk was copied or ever left the CPS offices.
The report is circumspect about actual crimes committed as a result of this failure, because: "A number of individuals who may have felt they had successfully escaped justice in the Netherlands are now at risk of arrest and it would be very unfortunate if a fuller reporting of Operation Thread alerted them to their vulnerability and caused them to go into hiding, flee the jurisdiction or impede investigations in the Netherlands."
The report made several recommendations for improving data transfer in future, but said: "It is essential that understandable concerns caused by both the delay in executing Operation Thread, and the uncertainty of its final outcome, do not in any way diminish enthusiasm for similar exchange agreements with other partner states in the future." ®

subset: commoncrawl


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Scoop Theatre
416 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard,
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Walnut Street Theatre opened in Louisville on August 29, 1910 as a vaudeville house. The theatre was strongly believed to be one of the early vaudeville houses designed by John Eberson. Research of records indicate that he was the architect along with the firm of McDonald and Dodd. The theatre is described as composed of brick with decorative ornament in stone and colored tile or polychromatic terracotta. The building is a three story structure of eclectic style. Classical and arts and crafts motifs are both present in the facade.
The theatre changed hands several times as after vaudeville houses became less popular. In 1942 it became know as the Scoop Theatre and at first showed only newsreels. A broadcasting studio was set up on the first floor which broadcast news into the theatre. The canopy was replaced by a more standard marquee.
The building is currently undergoing a renovation to restore the first floor facade to be more in line with the orginal design. There is also windows being added down the side so light can reach the offices. The building has a tunnel through part of the first floor which is used by cars to reach a parking structure behind the building. This adaption was a creative way of keeping the building from the wrecking ball.
The building was listed on the National Register on Historic Places in 1978.
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The Walnut Street Theatre was renovated and re-named the Drury Lane Theatre in 1933. In use as a live theatre, the opening production was "Candle Light" by P.G.Woodhouse performed by a new stock company.
Incidently, in editions of Film Daily Yearbook's that I have the seating capacity of the Drury Lane is given as 500 (closed) in both 1941 & 1943. As the Scoop Theatre in 1950 the F.D.Y. lists a seating capacity of 700.
My mother's step sister/mother was a singer in vaudeville in Louisville in the 20's. Are there any records for entertainers that appeared there? She was Galena Wade/Piemontesse/other. She was very young and I do have a picture of her on stage of some theater. My grandfather and grandmother also might have been in the theater as musicians: Oreste Natiello and Pauline (Winscott) Hamlin.
My father, Lloyd M. Mills, was the Scoop Theater manager from 1949 to 1953. During this time the theater was plagued by an ongoing strike. The Scoop was the scene of frequent vandalism during this period including the release of several stench bombings. By 1953 the cumulative effect of these attacks lead to a drop off in attendance and the Scoop closed. During this time the Scoop was an "Art" theater playing many foreign films plus a few older American movies. I have many fond memories of this period and the many films that I saw there as a grade school and high school (Flaget) student.
According to a Courier-Journal story, the Scoop was closed in the late 1940s and converted to convention space for the nearby Brown Hotel.
Here are some photos on a real estate site. I think the renovations are finished.
Trade journal The Moving Picture World for August 2, 1913, had this to say about the conversion of the Walnut Theatre into a movie house:
"The Walnut Theater, Louisville, will shortly open as a moving picture theater, according to a recent announcement. The Gus Sun Theatrical Company, of Cincinnati, is the power behind the project, it is said. Twenty-five and fifty cents will be the fees, and the way In which this announcement is received by the Louisville public will be watched with a good deal of interest by exhibitors and others interested in the business. It is the plan of the Sun people to show only high class feature films, running from five to seven reels in length. This also is an Innovation in Louisville. Whether the public prefers the lengthy subjects to the short single reels has been a subject of discussion among exhibitors for some time, and the reception accorded the Walnut policy will be noted carefully. Women as ushers, cashiers, ticket-takers and other employees will be a feature, and about the only man around the theater will be the manager. The attaches will be attired in natty uniforms."
The claim in the headnote that the Scoop was only one of five theaters in the country that showed only newsreels is very inaccurate. Almost every major city in America had one newsreel theater at one time or another from the late 1930's up until the 1950's when newsreels were killed off by TV. There were a dozen or more Telenews theaters in the U.S., and others with names such as Time, Newsreel, etc.
The University of Louisville's collection of digitized photos includes two depicting this house as the Scoop Theatre.
This one is dated circa 1942.
Here is a closer view from the same period.
April 17th, 1942 grand opening ad in photo section. close-up at http://courier-journal.newspapers.com/clip/3429610/scoop_newsreel_opening/
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater


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CHICAGO – Chicago Blackhawks sweaters are commonplace around the city these days—though not all wearers realize that's what hockey players and die-hard fans call those "jerseys."
As the Blackhawks have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals with the Boston Bruins, Chicago is awash in red and black hats, T-shirts and jerseys—er, sweaters. But because hockey is a mystery to many—a game played largely by bearded men with hard-to-pronounce names—this particular season's bandwagon is loaded with fans who don't know the difference between the blue lines on the ice and the Blue Line train that runs out to O'Hare.
"A lot of these people, all they know is that somebody in Chicago is going for a championship," said Jordan Goldberg, manager of the Third Rail, a tavern a few blocks from the United Center, where the Blackhawks play.
The throngs filling the bars during the games include a fair number of people who are caught up in the party atmosphere, but barely watching the game.
"When a goal is scored, they yell like everyone else but then they go back to what they were doing" said Curtis Tinnell, a computer analyst who donned a well-loved Blackhawks T-shirt and cap as he walked through downtown.
Those fans probably also don't know that it's superstition that keeps hockey players from shaving during the playoffs. But the 29-year-old bearded Tinnell does: The last time he grew one was during the 2010 playoffs, which ended with the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup.
That's not to say Chicago doesn't have its share of rabid fans, with intimate knowledge of the team's Original Six history, the game's rules and the fact that those two blue lines are used to determine if a player is offside. But the half-century Stanley Cup drought that preceded the 2010 championship, the fact it the team didn't televise home games until a few years ago and recent NHL lockouts have certainly contributed to a waning collective interest.
So Bob McDermott, owner of The Beer Bistro in Chicago's West Loop, now finds himself fielding questions about everything from why the jerseys are called sweaters (because it's cold on the ice) to why the players suddenly stop playing for no apparent reason.
"They ask if it is a time out and I say it's not really a time out but part of the game, kind of like a foul ball," McDermott said.
Out on the street, it's tough to tell who the real fans are. Stores and souvenir stands sell slightly tattered hats and pre-faded shirts.
But it's also difficult to get people to admit they're getting swept up in the frenzy over a game they don't quite understand.
"I don't think anyone wants to own up to it,' said Jessica Hegarthy, a 42-year-old attorney who was buying a T-shirt for her 6-year-old son. Hegarthy herself grew a bit sheepish when she said that while her husband and son were watching the triple-overtime Game 1 on Wednesday night, "I was upstairs watching 'Real Housewives.'"
But the bandwagon fans do give it away sometimes.
"One of my employees came up to me and said how excited she was and then she said, 'If they lose tonight they're done, right?'" said Monique Mendoza, a 21-year-old theatre manager, who said she passed on the opportunity to explain it wasn't a one-and-done series. "I was like, 'Get out of here.'"
In Boston, bar manager Jason DeSantis insists that most fans who come out understand what they're watching.
"We have people who don't show their colours until the playoffs (but) they know the sport, they know the teams, they know the players," said DeSantis of the Cask n' Flagon, across the street from Fenway Park. "Without a doubt, this is still a hockey town."
And Chicagoans seem to be catching on. Jason Braz, who mans a souvenir stand about a mile from the United Center, said there are far more informed Blackhawks fans now than in 2010. Back then, when fans wanted merchandise with the name of Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, (pronounced TAVES), they instead would say "toes."
But now, "the number who say 'toes' and not 'taves' is much smaller," he said. "The fan base is definitely growing."


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I think between November and February is the best time to
visit the Thailand, because it rains the least and it is not too hot. This
period is also the main season for festivals in Thailand, like Loi Krathong.


text:
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text:
Ariana Grande's older half-brother is following the pop star into the limelight after signing up as a contestant on the new season of reality show Big Brother.
Aspiring actor/dancer Frankie Grande will have cameras follow his every move as he tries to survive elimination, while living in the Big Brother house as part of a group of 16 strangers, in a bid to win a $500,000 cash prize.
But the 31 year old, who has his own following on his YouTube.com channel, admits he will be keeping the identity of his famous sibling a secret from housemates at first - and will be entering the three-month competition using his dad's surname.
He tells People.com, "I'm going to drop Grande and just use my father's last name, Marchione."
However, Frankie insists he has the full support of his singing sister: "I got to call Ariana on camera and tell her what I was doing and she just said, 'I know how much you love the show. Go make them fall in love with you... but don't show them all of you, because a lot of people will hate you for that.'"
The Problem hitmaker has also sent Frankie her best wishes via Twitter.com.
In a post on Thursday (19Jun14), she writes, "congrats to my big brother on being cast in season 16 of big brother... so proud of u / I'm a nervous wreck #bb16 you're gonna kill it (sic)".
The new season of Big Brother kicks off on 25 June (14).


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5 Oct 2011 07:37:24 AM
End of an Era: Honoring the Greatest Moments From UFC on Versus
By Jason Moles
Over the last 18 months, we've been lucky enough to get six live fight cards on Versus, completely free of charge. This past Saturday marked the end of Versus's run as the "home away from home" for the UFC on basic cable. Not to worry, though: More free, live fights will be coming your way soon on FOX, FX, and Fuel TV. We thought we'd take a look back at the best of the best from the "UFC Live" series, but first, here's how those sixty-five fights were decided: 24 (T)KOs, 15 Submissions, 23 Judges Decision, 2 Doctor Stoppages, and 1 No Contest.
Now let's hand out some hardware, shall we?
Biggest Upset: Charlie Brenneman Beating Rick StoryRead More DIGG THIS


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Long Realty is pleased to bring you tips for Living in Arizona, courtesy of our local Long Advantage business partners. The articles below covers an array of helpful and insightful tips for the Arizona lifestyle. We hope you find this information useful.
Security/Protection Systems for Homeowners
February 5, 2016
Security Protection and Home Automation Services are often discussed subjects with homeowners. Protecting and safeguarding the largest investment in most people's lives encompasses many forms. Insurance, for one, does exactly this; however, this cost protects the lender from loss, not the homeowner's physical well-being or its inhabitants and pets. Below are a couple helpful tips for the consumer on how to best ensure safety and protection for their home.
There are many smart-home technologies that are becoming more popular on the market. These allows the homeowner to remotely manage their home safety features, such as locks, lights, or utilities from any smart phone, tablet, or laptop, from anywhere in the world.
Fire protection and medical alert devises are now also quite common in homes and in new home construction. Pre-wired smoke detectors are merely "sounders;" as the devices do not notify the fire departments or any other emergency responders. If a smoke event occurs, regardless of where in the home, all the alarms scream a loud sound. But how is the homeowner or its occupants notified if not on the premise? And what happens to the home's utility systems, of which many have multiple units running and thus fueling a potential fire? A modern, state-of-the-art security system not only warns its owners and inhabitants against invasion or of some breach on the entire perimeter of the structure, but the right system also shuts down utilities in the house if fire is detected. Additionally, a monitoring agent is on the phone with you immediately no matter where you are in the world, communicating with you that an event has occurred.
A monitored system can be used for medical emergencies as well. According to AARP, for instance, eighty percent of all medical alerts originate in the home. Having a live 24/7 monitoring service, easily reached with a push of a button, saves time, and perhaps lives.
More Living in Arizona TipsLoo & John Get an Update
Organizing Your Home
Scream for Ice Cream!
Cultivating a Home Gallery
Help Your Dog Beat the Heat!
Don't Let Your A/C Break the Bank
House Plumbing Problems and Solutions
Home Buyer's Tips
Caring for Your Arizona Landscape in Winter
Creating a Home Office
How the American Home Has Evolved
Learn What to Look for When Choosing a Moving Company
Prepare Your Pool for Summer Fun
Time to Change Those Air Filters!
How to Keep Your Plants Cozy this Winter
Considering the Tucson Valley's Many Climate Zones
Taking Care of Ceramic Tile
What To Do When Your Washer Won't Drain
Security/Protection Systems for Homeowners
Cozy Home - Safe Home… Heating Season Tips
Sprucing Up Your Landscape for Fall
Benefits of Induction Cooking
Itching for Summer Vacation?
Maintaining Your Carpets
Getting Your Pool Ready for Summer
Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home
Home Weatherizing Tips
Caring For Your Carpets
Three Easy Washer Maintenance Tips
Keep Cool for Less
Give the heart of your home a fresh new look in just 2-3 days!
Getting Your Pool Ready for Summer
Spring Cleaning Tips
Keep your drains running smoothly and smelling great!
What To Look For In A Moving Company
Caring for your Arizona landscape in Winter
Managing Winter Pests
Don't Forget About Your Pool This Winter
Choosing Home Accessories
It's Hot Out There
Ants Everywhere
Prepare Your Home for Monsoon Season Now
Tips for a Great Staycation
Dont Let Your A/C Break The Bank
How to Prevent Mold after Water Damage
Create a New Look in Your Home for Spring
Improving your Wireless Internet Experience
Families of the Sonoran Desert
Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
Preparing for Fall
Is Your Home Under Attack?
Becoming Green Clean Minded
Protect your recreational vehicles from extreme desert heat
Until there's a cure… Cleaning for a Reason
Arizona Lightning and Lightning Safety
Monsoon Season and Your Home
Keep Cool This Summer with Air Conditioning Maintenance
Be on the Lookout for Bees As Temperatures Rise
The information contained in these articles are provided by local area businesses. We believe this information to be accurate and reliable, but it is not guaranteed.


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Unified CCE on UCS Deployment Certification Requirements and Ordering Information
From DocWiki
Partner Certification Requirements
B-Series Partner Certification Requirements
In order to be able to sell Unified Contact Center Enterprise (Unified CCE) on UCS B-server, partners must have Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUC) Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) certification status in addition to the Unified CCE ATP certification. See Data Center Unified Computing – Partner Central for DCUC ATP (also known as UCS ATP)information.
Note that the DCUC ATP certification program has the following prerequisites:
- Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure (DCNI) specialization.
- Cisco Data Center Storage Networking (DCSN) specialization
See Specialized Partner - Partner Central for Data Center Networking Infrastructure and Data Center Storage Networking Specialization information.
In addition to the above certifications, the partners must have VMware training and it is strongly recommended to have VMware Premier or Enterprise Partner status or VMware Professional certification.
ATP partners who do not have the necessary above certifications would be best served by partnering with partners who do.
C-Series Partner Certification Requirements
Partners who want to sell Unified Contact Center Enterprise on UCS C-Series do not require Data Center certification.
As long as the C-Series is not in the data center, an AUC, or Unified CCE ATP or CVP ATP or Master UC, or Business Edition Partner can sell it. This also means an Advanced Unified Communications Express (Express UC) cannot sell C-series since all they are allowed is Communication Manager.
(AUC = Advanced Unified Communication Specialized. It is also the prerequisite for Unified CCE ATP and CVP ATP. Masters' is a higher level of AUC).
Partners Training for UCCE on UCS
Partners can attend two courses related to Unified Communications (UC) on UCS. This is also applicable to UCCE on UCS since UCCE is a part of the UC applications. The first is two day UCS Mini-eCamp. The second is a UC on UCS hands on lab course. The hands-on course is by invitation only after an engineer has attended the Mini-eCamp. For more information on UCS partner training, see Cisco Community Central: Community: Unified Computing System (UCS) or https://www.myciscocommunity.com/community/partner/collaboration/calendar.
UCS Server Ordering Information
Unified CCE does not have specific UCS SKUs. For deploying the Unified CCE application on UCS, UCS servers may be purchased using either the Voice Technology Group (VTG) Collaboration SKUs or the Data Center SKUs via the 'build-to-order' process.
VTG Collaboration SKUs
The Part Number Syntax for the VTG UCS Collaboration SKUs is
- "UCS-" is to distinguish these SKUs from Cisco MCS 7800 SKUs.
- xxxx is the server model as described at http://www.cisco.com/go/ucs: For example, "B200" is the server model.
- yy is the server generation as described at http://www.cisco.com/go/ucs: For example, "M1" is the server generation.
- VCzz is a suffix indicating a unique hardware configuration. The following suffixes are used:
- VCS1: "Virtualized Collaboration", "SAN storage", 1st configuration
- VCD1: "Virtualized Collaboration", "Disks (or DAS) storage", 1st configuration
For VTG UCS Collaboration SKUs and ordering information, refer to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/voicesw/ps6790/ps5748/ps378/solution_overview_c22-597556.html.
Note that for Cisco UCS B series, the VTG UCS Collaboration SKU is available only for the blade component. The rest of the UCS B system/blade server components have to be ordered using the Data Center SKUs. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with the following resources to help you quote a Unified CCE on UCS B-series solution:
- Visit the following document for information on how to order Cisco UCS B-Series blade servers, Cisco UCS 5100 Blade Server Chassis, Cisco UCS 2100 Series Fabric Extenders, and Cisco UCS 6100 Fabric Interconnect Switches.
Data Center SKUs - Build-To-Order
A Cisco UCS server may also be quoted using a "build-to-order" mechanism with Data Center SKUs/Part Numbers.
For UCS C-series, the servers may be ordered via standard Cisco ordering tools.
For UCS B-series, the server must be ordered using a designated tool described in the following document. See http://www.cisco.com/go/swonly for the reference configuration as well as the alternative server configurations that are supported.
As described earlier, the Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Server solution requires several other components - Cisco UCS 5100 Blade Server Chassis, Cisco UCS 2100 Fabric Extenders, and Cisco UCS 6100 Fabric Interconnect Switches. These components are available only as Cisco Data Center part numbers. You must use the NetformX DesignXpert ordering tool "UCS Advisor" to properly configure and quote these components. For example configurations, see http://www.cisco.com/go/swonly.
At least one Cisco UCS 5100 Blade Server Chassis is required for every eight blades. Additional chassis are needed if you want redundant chassis and/or split servers across multiple sites.
Each chassis will require two Cisco UCS 2100 Fabric Extenders for CCE deployment.
Each site requires two Cisco UCS 6100 series Fabric Interconnect Switches for CCE deployment.
Port Licenses may be required to connect all chassis, and interface modules are required for interconnect to customer's LAN and SAN networks.
Cisco UCS B-series requires the use of SAN. For further SAN ordering information, please refer to Chapter 4 of the following document.
Important Notes on Cisco UCS Service and Support
Cisco UCS does not use Cisco SMARTnet support; instead it uses an extended 3-year warranty with optional value-add services.
Unified CCE on UCS hardware may be serviced at the blade level or component level. Blade server replacements are attempted only after component replacement efforts have failed.
Service contracts MUST be purchased for the UCS hardware, VMware software, Unified CCE software, and storage environment to cover the entire solution.
As with other Cisco UCS hardware, Warranty Plus services are also offered. For more information on Warranty Plus, see http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10321/serv_home.html.
For details of service contract SKUs for UCS hardware and VMware software, please refer to Chapter 4 of the following document .


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The students and staff of Veronica Connor Middle School have shown their generosity and compassion this holiday season by participating in numerous fundraisers.
One fundraiser was organized in an effort to raise money for the Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island. Students were asked to "Give Change to Make a Change." Several teachers participated in the fundraiser by placing containers in their rooms for students to drop their change in. The students raised $1,653.33. Classrooms that raised more than $300 each were Sarah Slaght's math classes and Deanna MacDougall's first-mod science class.
Faculty and staff have also worked together to donate several toys for the season. In addition to this, students have been bringing in canned goods and non-perishable items to donate. More than 3,000 items were brought in to help neighbors right here on Grand Island.
Many people also participated in Karen Grande's annual blanket-making drive. More than 50 blankets were assembled and will be donated to the Salvation Army. Students also wrote letters to Santa to show their support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Many students wrote heartfelt letters demonstrating their unselfish character. Almost 600 letters were written. Macy's department store will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter that was written.


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The Back Nine comes to you on this most special of days and wishes you all a glorious holiday.
The Back Nine comes to you on this most special of days and wishes you all a glorious holiday. Especially, let us all send mental hugs to my poor mother, who at 85 took a terrible fall this week and looks like Rocky Balboa after his first fight with Apollo Creed. Get well, Mom, we love you.
10. As we approach the end of another year that went by too fast, it's a good time to reflect on the college football season that is still going on, but for the most part is just playing games for fun the rest of the way. (Unless you're serious about the Pinstripes Bowl). It was another fun season with so many great games and plays. Here are my top three moments from this season — 1. At Texas A&M. There wasn't one play or snapshot. It was the whole experience of finally seeing what it's like there, then seeing the first college snaps for the young man who would eventually win the Heisman, then telling a group of writers at halftime that the second half would decide Florida's season, then watching the Gators rally to win an all-important game, then listening to Will Muschamp's voice get really loud in the post-game presser. It was one of those days I'll never forget; 2. Sitting on my back porch at the Dooley Dome, enjoying a great dinner with some of my best friends and watching a classic SEC Championship Game that came down to the last play. Look, the Saturdays I get to just watch football are hard to beat; 3. Watching a Florida-FSU game that reminded me of the way Florida and FSU used to play. It was a great season and I'm glad we still have some games to watch. Don't blink or it will be March Madness.
11. Speaking of which, isn't it amazing how the national opinion of Florida turned so drastically in eight days? They went from a Final Four team to a team with major flaws in the space of eight days. The Gators' RPI has dropped to 16th in the country and ankles are snapping as fans and media members jump off the bandwagon. I have received several tweets and emails about how Florida misses Erving Walker this year. Never thought I'd hear that, but it's true. Walker had a toughness and was a one-man press breaker. But he's not getting another year of eligibility, so this team needs to figure some things out. Maybe they hit an early wall after so many practices because they looked that way in the first half against Kansas State. But, hey, it's a long season.
12. And it has been a long year for Tim Tebow. It obviously will be his last with the Jets, especially after the story broke over the weekend that he begged out of playing wildcat plays because he was passed over for the starting job. That smells like an agent getting into his business to me, but the headlines in the New York Post referred to The Chosen One as "Me-Bow." I know there are still a lot of people in the Jacksonville organization who don't want Tebow because it would mean a circus-like atmosphere. Uh, which would you rather want Jags — the dumpster fire of a team you have now or the circus coming to town? You need a circus.
13. I don't claim to be an NFL expert. I watch games on Sunday but never stay up to see the end of the late games and I don't study salary caps or injury lists. My fantasy team went 5-8 this year. But with that said — and again I'm just a casual observer of The King — it seems to the Back Nine that it's wide open this year. Take that information to Vegas if you'd like, but I watch teams that are supposed to be great lay eggs and teams that are in trouble play great and I just have no earthly idea who will win it all. But I am looking forward to the playoffs.
14. The Florida women's basketball team is off to a great start at 10-3 and is currently ranked No. 30 in RPI and a lot of credit has to go to Amanda Butler. It's not easy to build a program in the shadow of the elite teams of the SEC (even at a place with the resources of Florida) but she definitely has it going in the right direction. They certainly are not among the elite teams, but it does look like they'll be going back to the NCAA Tourney, which is a huge step. Florida has a real shot at going to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in 10 years.
15. I'm working on another book and it has been fascinating to see how much information is out there if you just keep looking. Among the videos I found was one of a play that I had totally forgotten about. Remember when Steve Spurrier would have the quarterback drop back and the entire backfield would huddle around the ball and then peel off one by one and you didn't know who had the ball? It never really picked up a lot of yardage but it was hilarious to watch.
16. As we approach New Year's and the resolutions that will come with the changing of the calendar (one year I resolved not to eat chicken wings and the bowl game the next day served them for lunch; that was a record for breaking a resolution) I would like to see everyone try this — let's not get so angry when our favorite team loses or so venomous towards our rivals. We have had so many painful reminders this year about how fortunate we all our to be alive and enjoying life. Let's not waste so much energy on hate. These are games, everybody, and the Back Nine gets into them as much as anybody. They are entertainment. Enjoy them for what they are.
17. The Tweet of the Week (and I was waiting for it) comes from actor Jason Alexander — "oh - and ... A VERY HAPPY FESTIVUS TO YOU ALL. Let the airing of grievances begin!" I've got a lot of problems with you people. Gotta love Festivus, for the rest of us.
18. A lot of Christmas music in the house this week. And in the car. And the elevators. And restaurants. And yet, it doesn't get old. Here are my three highly-recommended downloads — "Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon, "Christmas All Over Again" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and for the old school in you "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" by Andy Williams because it makes me think of bowl games.


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Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. Supercross is pretty cool, huh? Ho, ho. The season opener is always special, but this one really drove it home. There wasn't a fan in the world that wasn't going crazy at the sight of Trey Canard and Davi Millsaps throwing down. I had an idea that Trey was going to have winning speed coming in so he didn't surprise me. Canard won the east region 250 supercross title as a rookie, defeating Ryan Villopoto. He has won at every level since graduating to big bikes at Loretta Lynn's. Canard was top three (or winning) every race he entered until he broke his femur... the second time. When you see that image of him being carried off the track last year then watched him go for the win last weekend it was simply magic. He is a very young man to have had so many comebacks. But, you can't call this a comeback. He picked up right where he left off.
Finding speed has never been an issue for Canard.
Carl Stone Photo
Millsaps owns a different story. It's been a long time since Davi has won, or challenged for wins consistently. He's bounced around from factory ride to factory ride, and left most scratching their heads when it didn't come together. None of those former bosses should have been surprised to see 'Saps near the top of the practice charts. I wasn't at all. I was a little bewildered that he smoked James Stewart and Canard in his heat race. But I was downright astonished when he battled back to pass for the win on the last lap showing tough as nails stamina and salty determination. He was the man. His bike looked and handled great while Davi rode his best all day long. Millsaps at his best has always been the stuff to get the job done and he did it big that time. Not enough accolade now a days for the winner. Congratulations to Rockstar Energy Racing and Davi on one of the biggest victories the sport has seen in a very long time. In the big picture, I think his win made supercross look outstanding. It proved the factories can be beaten. It proved that you can be down but not out, and it proved that even a semi-god like Ryan Villopoto can bleed. You can bet your ass RV1 has some scabs on his elbows coming into Phoenix.
Millsaps is back with a newfound determination and better yet, the points lead.
Simon Cudby photo
So, now Phoenix. As much as we've gone on about with Anaheim, the fire is rising for round two. Contenders like Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, and Jake Weimer can breathe a little easier. That said, I look for those three to mirror their opening efforts for a while. We won't see Reed come into his own for a few more rounds and the other two are going to be 3rd through 5th guys all year. It's going to be tough for those three to beat the confidence of Millsaps and the speed of Canard this weekend. This is where we enter Villopoto. Should he panic about finishing 16th? No, not at all. In fact, I think RV will have the points lead, or be very close to it by the time they leave Anaheim 3.
What about Justin Barcia? He was fast as expected and over the years I've learned to watch the bikes attitude as much or more as the riders. The factory Honda's were the best on the track last weekend, in my opinion. Barcia is close to finding the right relationship between his rage and his machine. They're not together yet, but very close. He might be the guy this weekend in the unlikely event that RV short-circuits again. This creates a bit of a rub. If the defending champion doesn't win this weekend, something is wrong.
Barcia has the ability to capture his first 450SX main event win.
Simon Cudby photo
Speaking of wrong, James Stewart getting injured in practice at the season opener is a bad deal. If his ACL is torn it is only a matter of time before it pops. He's in Robert Griffin III territory in that he won't be what he was before the injury. Unlike RG3, Stewart is no longer a young man in motocross years. His situation perforates sadness with me because I love watching that guy race. He is a terrific competitor and I'll never understand why his racing career turned out the way it did. If that sounds cryptic, that's because it is. I don't know what he'll be able to do this weekend, or the rounds to come, but I hope it's a miracle and he can make it work enough to race. He's a warrior and he'll race until he can't race anymore.
Stewart's health will be a question mark going into Phoenix.
Simon Cudby photo
In the 250SX class, boy is it simple. Eli Tomac will have a year like Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, and James Stewart had during their last season on tiddler machines. Over the top domination. Ken Roczen, Cole Seely, and Tyla Rattray and maybe a couple others will knock on the door and there will be furious racing in the wild, wild, west... but Eli's gone. Nobody can do anything with him whatsoever, but it is a hornet's nest behind him.
Phoenix. It's already time to do it again. Did everyone have a merry little go of it watching the show last Saturday night? It was all the way badass, heart-pounding awesome! What I loved the most about it was watching Davi and Trey racing their hearts out for the win. Not a part of the press conference, not a single race win in 2012, yet just as much talent as anyone and they made it happen. How do you make it happen in pro supercross? You get in shape, get good starts and race with confidence. There are a half dozen riders that can make it happen for round two. Last weekend was like shooting a bottle rocket into an evergreen patch. Sparks flew in a lot of directions and a few fires were lit. Time to watch the fires grow. And grow they will.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.


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This 30-card standard-size set of the 1992 Hamilton Redbirds, a Class A New York-Penn League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, features white-bordered posed color player photos on its fronts. The player's name, team, and position appear at the bottom. The white back is framed by a thin red line and carries the player's name and position at the top, followed by biography, statistics and team logos.
|Price Low
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It's Official; Kylie's A Catamount
ORLEANS-With the official college signing session in full swing, one of Lake Region's best hoopsters, senior Kylie Atwood, signed on the dotted line locking in her post high school hoop career. Atwood agreed to sign with the University of Vermont Catamounts starting in the fall of 2012. That insures Atwood playing at the Division One level at the state's biggest and only DI sports Institution.Atwood, 18 of Albany overcame an ACL injury that knocked her out of nine games last season. Her Ranger teammates made it all the way to the finals without her, losing to Windsor. They compiled a 22-2 record with both losses occurring with Atwood on the sideline. Atwood garnered the top state award in basketball as she was named the state's Gatorade Player of the year, a first for any Lady Ranger hoopster.Kylie , despite missing twelve games over the last two years at LRUHS, still has 857 career points. She has an excellent shot at the 1000 plateau and considering she averages 18 points a game she would probably be the all-time Ranger leader in scoring male or female without the injury that cost her a dozen games.With a stellar season this upcoming winter , she can still accomplish those individual goals. Atwood was a fine softball and soccer player before basketball took over. Despite focusing on one sport now, Kylie is considered to be the last of the true blue chip group of female and male athletes on the Orleans campus. That collective group recently have led LRUHS to an unparalleled five year multi sport success from 2007 to 2011 capped by last year's 2010-11 girls class that went 44-11, the most wins put together in one year by a girls team. While the boys programs tailed off last year after a four year run, in the 2010-11 season the girls programs continued to flourish.Only the 2007-08 season for the boys, who won 46 games thru the three sport season including the only boys state championship in school history, had more victories in Lake Region history than last years girls teams.The girl's basketball program under Head coach Mark Tinker has been the most successful of all teams at LRUHS. During the streak that started in the 2006-2007 season and covering the last four years, the program amassed an 87-9 record and a 66-6 mark during Atwood's time at the Orleans based school.While the school has produced many outstanding girls multi-sport athletes recently Atwood stands out. She has outstanding court vision and great range inside and outside. She is the best mid-range jumpshooter the school has seen and her ability to deliver the ball to teammates from all angles to the level she can sets her apart..Her senior year may be the most challenging yet. After being part of a Donna Lawson led 2009 state championship team her freshman year with many standout athletes around her, this year's team will have a new look. Three strong, skilled, physical and experienced starters graduated leaving just Atwood and fellow starter Cailyn Gallup plus three other players with serious game experience to carry the torch. With the Lady Rangers looking less feared than usual, getting double teamed may be a fact of life for Kylie. But with her skill set, Atwood is up to the challenge. Atwood concedes, "It's really a relief to have it done. I was cleared to play over a month ago and now I can just focus on the upcoming season and prepare for my major, which will probably be nursing. I think Lake Region will have a good year, maybe not as athletic as last year, but I think we will have both good chemistry and a good team."The Lady Rangers begin practice on the 28th.


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Sipapu's slopeside lodging units are full of history and rich with character. Many units have been a part of the property since Lloyd and Olive Bolander founded the resort in 1952. Very few of our units are exactly alike, and we offer lodging specials all year long. Questions? Call us at 800-587-2240.
(Sleeps 2 to 4)
Our two-story hotel is located near the Rio Pueblo. Stay FREE in our hotel when you purchase one $45 lift ticket on select dates.


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Marie Severin was born in Long Island, New York. She had secretly aspired to be a stained glass artist, but was encouraged by her brother, John Severin, to work as a comics colorist at EC Comics. She colored nearly all the classic EC titles, providing an important role on the comics' atmosphere. When EC continued with solely the black-and-white magazine MAD, Marie worked as a colorist for Atlas/Marvel for many years, and touched nearly every single Marvel character ever created.
As an artist, Marie Severin has worked on titles like 'The Incredible Hulk', 'Tales to Astonish', 'Strange Tales', 'Sub-Mariner', 'X-Men' and, together with her brother John, 'Kull the Conqueror'. Between 1967 and 1969 she was a prominent artist for Marvel's parody title 'Not Brand Ecch', and later worked for the company's other humor titles Spoof, Crazy! and Arrgh!. Marie was assigned to Special Projects under Sol Brodsky and John Romita Sr. in the 1980s. Special Projects handled any non-comic book licensing job, from toy maquettes to designing movie costumes. They also handled movie and television tie-ins like 'The A-Team'. They initiated the short-lived Marvel Books children's book division.


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The days of unknown Europeans surprising well-known Americans in Ryder Cup play are gone.
MEDINAH, Ill. — The question used to come up every other year when the Americans began looking ahead to the Ryder Cup.
"Who's their Peter Baker?"
Europe always had at least one player the Americans didn't know anything about until losing to him. Baker played in only one Ryder Cup, going 3-1 in 1993 and winning a singles match against Corey Pavin, one of the toughest guys to beat in match play.
Those days are gone.
Eight of the Europeans have joint membership on the PGA Tour. Luke Donald of England, who has the best winning percentage of anyone at Medinah, lives about 45 minutes away on the north side of Chicago. The only Ryder Cup rookie for Europe is Nicolas Colsaerts, the big hitter from Belgium. He already has played eight times in America this year.
There are no surprises in this Ryder Cup, only stars.
"Both teams are pretty much even, and it's going to be a close match," European captain Jose Maria Olazabal said.
When the matches get under way today at Medinah, they will feature the two strongest teams in the 85-year history of the Ryder Cup. The entire 12-man team for the United States was part of the 30-man field at the Tour Championship last week in Atlanta, joined by five of the seven Europeans who were eligible.
For the first time, the 24 players from both sides are among the top 35 in the world ranking.
Europe has four major champions and four players who have been No. 1 in the world. Three of the four rookies for the U.S. team have won majors in the last 13 months — Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson. The Americans have experience at the top — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk collectively have played in 21 Ryder Cups and 90 matches. The Europeans have experience where it matters — winning.
It all starts to unfold this morning before a raucous crowd in the Chicago suburbs with a Ryder Cup that has all the trappings of a heavyweight prize fight. About the only thing missing has been fodder for the tabloids.
"This is not a war. It's a golf match," U.S. captain Davis Love III said. "It's a friendly golf match."
It wasn't always that way, especially when Europe began to win and then the Americans started to care. Seve Ballesteros was the spiritual leader of those European teams, using the Ryder Cup as a chance for them to prove they were not second-class citizens to the PGA Tour. And it didn't help when the marketing slogans promoted a contentious week, whether it was the "War on the Shore" or the "Battle at Brookline."
By the sound of so many players, they might as well be cuddling in Chicago.
"Love Ian Poulter to death," Watson said Wednesday.
Most evident about this shift in the Ryder Cup was Monday afternoon at an airport some 45 minutes away. Olazabal flew over from London with the gold Ryder Cup trophy. Only three players from his team traveled with him because the rest already were in America.
Paul Lawrie, back after a 13-year absence in the Ryder Cup, remembers 11 players on the plane when they traveled to Boston in 1999. The exception was Jesper Parnevik, who had moved to Florida years earlier.
"I think there's definitely less of a 'them-and-us' type of thing now from everybody's point of view," Lee Westwood said. "The players play with each other a lot more regularly."
Has it become too friendly?
The mere suggestion that the Ryder Cup turns soft was enough to make Poulter shudder.
"It means too much," Poulter said. "It means too much to Europe. It means too much to us for it to ever lose that edge."
Not even Medinah figures to produce much of an advantage to the Americans. About half the members on each team played in the PGA Championship on this tree-lined course in 2006, and so many of them play an American brand of golf these days, anyway. They are used to fast greens.


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In a 4-page motion, Upshur County Dist. Atty. Billy Byrd argued the purported relationship means that "motivation likely exists to potentially tamper with the jury panel." No ruling has been made on his request because 115th District Judge Lauren Parish recused herself Monday from hearing the cases, and a new judge has not yet been assigned to them.
The 52-year-old Crabtree, who is married, and his 29-year-old son, Todd Allen Crabtree, face multiple felony charges stemming from an allegation that they held a state game warden at gunpoint in a confrontation last Oct. 6.
The cases involved in Byrd's motion are in a 3-count indictment for "aggravated assault (by) threaten(ing) with deadly weapon against public servant." The elder Crabtree is accused of threatening Game Warden Shane Bailey, Big Sandy Police Officer Gary Pettis and Upshur County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Brasher while armed with a .22 rifle during the confrontation on private property.
Judge Parish disqualified herself from hearing any of the five cases against Lloyd Crabtree, saying her court coordinator, former Chief Deputy District Clerk Teena Henson, may be called as a witness in pretrial matters. An administrative judge in Dallas will assign a new judge to the cases, and no trial date has been scheduled, Byrd said Monday.
Longview attorney Clifton (Scrappy) Holmes, who represents Lloyd Crabtree, told The Mirror Tuesday it "really doesn't make me any difference how" prospective jurors are summoned, but declined comment on Byrd's statement about Crabtree's purported relationship with a deputy clerk. District Clerk Carolyn Parrott also declined comment on that Tuesday.
A call by The Mirror to Crabtree's listed home phone number Thursday reached a recording saying the number had been disconnected or was no longer in service.
In the motion, Byrd says Crabtree's cell phone was seized after his Oct. 6 arrest, and that Judge Parish signed a search warrant allowing an unidentified "expert" to analyze it.
"The findings by the expert included, but were not limited to, phone calls and text messages. In preparing for trial, the State found text messages to a phone number that was recognized. Upon further investigation, one particular phone number belongs to a Deputy District Clerk," Byrd's motion stated.
"Based on the language and words used in the text messages that occurred prior to his arrest, the defendant has allegedly been in a personal relationship that goes beyond friendship. Due to the dialogue that includes both what the defendant says and also contains the returning texts from the Deputy District Clerk, the State immediately notified counsel for the defendant and directed counsel where to look for this information within the Discovery." (Discovery is the process by which the defense can compel the prosecution to disclose information.)
Noting that the District Clerk is responsible for summonsing prospective jurors to state district court, Byrd said the state asked Miss Henson about the mechanics of doing that. Miss Henson, who had recently left her job in the clerk's office, discussed and demonstrated how a jury is summoned, Byrd said.
"Therefore, it is the State's belief that potential jury members can be tampered with and removed from the prospective juror lists and never be seated in the (jury) panel," he wrote.
"The extent of the relationship, while not bearing on guilt or innocence, would more likely become admissable during the punishment phase of trial. Therefore, motivation likely exists to potentiallly tamper with the jury panel so that the punishment phase is less likely to occur. Further, the State has evidence to offer that will prove that communication has continued even after the seizure of the defendant's phone. . .," Byrd's motion added.
No clue is given to the deputy clerk's identity in the motion, but Byrd said Tuesday it is not Miss Henson.
"While the state does not wish to bring ill will on any employee of the District Clerk's Office, every avenue to resolve this matter prior to this motion being filed has been exhausted," Byrd wrote. "The State represents to this Court that without direct supervision of the panel being drawn and summoned, the State would be in a position where it could not receive a fair trial for the potential tampering that could occur."


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P.J. LonerganFree Agent
Ht: | Wt:
News | Stats | Stat vs. Team | Targets | Injury | Depth Chart | Roster
|Bears | Nine UDFAs signed
Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:22:24 -0700
The Chicago Bears have signed undrafted free-agent RB Michael Ford (Louisiana State), WR Mark Harrison (Rutgers), CB Demontre Hurst (Oklahoma), WR Josh Lenz (Iowa State), C P.J. Lonergan (Louisiana State), WR Marcus Rucker (Memphis), DT Brent Russell (Georgia Southern), P Tress Way (Oklahoma) and CB C.J. Wilson (North Carolina State). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
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|| Source: ESPNChicago.com - Michael C. Wright
|NFL | P.J. Lonergan runs the 40
Sat, 23 Feb 2013 08:29:54 -0800
Louisiana State C P.J. Lonergan posted a time of 5.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
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|NFL | Centers check in at bench press
Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:38:06 -0800
South Carolina C T.J. Johnson led all centers with 32 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine Friday, Feb. 22. California C Brian Schwenke posted 32 reps, while Louisiana State C P.J. Lonergan checked in with 25 reps.
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|| Source: CBSSports.com - Rob Rang


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US Public Radio Series
America Abroad is an award-winning documentary radio program distributed by Public Radio International (PRI) and broadcast on public radio stations nationwide. Each month, we take an in-depth look at one critical issue in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy.
Recent terrorist attacks on Western soil, including the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris and the shooting in Garland, Texas, have galvanized people on both sides of the Atlantic to take stronger action to counter violent extremism in Muslim communities.
Women around the world are striving for full gender equality in how they speak, work, and pray. But feminism takes on new meaning when viewed through the lens of Islam.
"I started growing opium nearby my village, because we were all very poor," says a man in his 40s, who wants to remain anonymous. He lives in Tonzang, a small town of around 6,000 inhabitants, high above the clouds in the mountains of northern Chin state in Burma. It's one of the country's poorest and most underdeveloped regions.
"There are no jobs there that can give you a sustainable income. Many families around us were already growing it and making money from it, so I decided to start too."
In this video, reporter Emily Johnson looks at the 969 Buddhist nationalist movement, which has been blamed for inciting violence against Burma's minority Muslim population. She talks to U Wirathu, the movement's spiritual leader, and visits the burned out remains of Meiktila's Muslim quarter.
While working on this program, we looked for young people who could speak about the experience of living in Burma as the country goes through some major changes. We met Bawi Za Kham through one of his teachers, Deb Fowler, shown here. He inspired her (and us!) with his courageous story of leaving Burma to pursue his education, and his endless drive to help his family. Some of Bawi's story is below.


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Watching your shapeless body every morning in the mirror can be a really depressing. You tend to overlook it and just get on with the day. But a man or a woman in his/her prime of health takes pleasure in watching their bodies in the mirror and feel glad that they did not miss out on their workout sessions the previous day.
So finally when you have decided that you are going to do something good for your body have a look around your place and look at what excites you the most. It's not necessary that you join the neighbor hood gym where every third guy who is coming out has bulging biceps or a girl with a well toned body and you obviously get excited by looking at that. If you are not too much of a gym guy/girl types, the chances of dropping out from the gym are even higher and your strong determination of working your body out will come down crashing.
There are plenty of options available these days. Try to associate workouts with fun, then only it can prove to be real stress buster considering your hard day's work. Bring out the kid out in you. Ask yourself that if you were a kid right now, what would you have loved doing the most ? Go swimming, martial arts. dancing, kick boxing, badminton, lawn tennis, tables tennis, basket ball, etc. Find out what options your locality offers to you and choose what excites you the most. Aerobics can be real fun or else brisk walking or jogging can be done any time. If you are looking for something more peaceful then there is nothing better than Yoga.
Once you have decided, please avoid going for second opinions. There are people who will try to find out flaws in your personal interests and will pull down your morale. Just go ahead and do it. But all the more it will be tremendously helpful if you could find a partner who shares a common interest. Your probability of attending the activity almost everyday will automatically increase. If your partner is your girlfriend/boyfriend or husband/wife then nothing like it. Not only will you be able to workout together but also will be able to spend some quality time with each other.
So, bring out the kid in you and just do it.


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School of Medicine
Showing 1-10 of 59 Results
Maral Tajerian
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
BioChronic pain affects millions of people worldwide and is a serious socioeconomic problem. Unfortunately, pain mechanisms are poorly understood, often resulting in inadequate treatment outcomes where the vast majority of individuals suffer for years with little relief. Fortunately, in the last decade, we have witnessed an increased enthusiasm in the field of pain research; a trend that is very encouraging for the millions of pain sufferers worldwide.
My PhD work has focused on a very prevalent condition: chronic low back pain. The main emphasis was on the mechanisms of back pain in a mouse model and we were fortunate enough to translate our findings to humans. Interestingly, we were also the first group to report the link between DNA methylation and pain; a field that is currently advancing very rapidly since it provides a molecular mechanism of environment-gene interactions. In addition to our back pain studies, we have also carried out research examining the brain changes that occur after peripheral nerve injury, with particular emphasis on reversible methylation changes in the prefrontal cortex. Our findings provide the molecular link between peripheral nerve injury and changes in the brain, thus helping us account for the co-morbidities associated with pain. These formative years at the Alan Edwards Center for Research on Pain (AECRP) have given me a solid training in the field of pain research.
I began my postdoctoral training at Stanford University in 2013, where I chose to study another debilitating chronic pain condition, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Using a previously-validated mouse model of CRPS, we could show that pain-associated comorbidities are paralleled by dendritic architectural changes in various brain regions. In parallel, I developed a novel interest in the autoimmune mechanisms of CRPS, an area that remains largely unexplored. We believe this line of investigation to be paradigm shifting; indeed, approaching CRPS as an autoimmune disease opens entirely new experimental pathways to identifying specific supporting mechanisms and provides opportunities for novel therapeutic development.
In addition to laboratory research, I am passionate about science outreach in general and pain outreach in particular. I believe it is our responsibility as scientists to disseminate our knowledge to the layperson, particularly since chronic pain is a widespread condition with significant socioeconomic impact. To that end, I am an avid participant in pain awareness efforts through public lectures and social media involvement.
Michal Tal
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInvestigating how the CD47-SIRPa axis modulates multiple facets of immunity


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Fall 2011 Issue
From inmate to academic
Female prisoners receive business training and a renewed sense of self thanks to Barry's Entrepreneurial Institute
By Gladys Amador email@example.com
The last time Anne Lanzetta was a free woman, she lived alone. She was divorced, and her children had been taken away by state welfare workers. Lanzetta paid her bills by using the credit card of a friend suffering from multiple sclerosis. In 2009, she was arrested and served 20 months in prison for exploiting the elderly or handicapped. Today, the 55-year-old is once again free and plans to open her own business − a Christian book store she hopes to name Glad Tidings.
"I've made a lot of bad choices, things I'm not proud of," Lanzetta says of her life before prison. "I threw it all away, but now I am going to rebuild it."
Thanks to an innovative four-month program co-directed by Barry's Entrepreneurial Institute, Lanzetta's new life actually started behind bars, before her release date. During her prison stint, Lanzetta was one of 11 other women at the Broward Correctional Institute (BCI) who took part in L.E.A.P. (Ladies Empowerment and Action Program), a curriculum designed to teach female inmates how to reintegrate into society. The classes cover everything from life skills lessons to how to start and operate a small business.
L.E.A.P. is the first program of its kind in Florida. Taught inside the prison's chapel, it caters to women, convicted of non-violent offenses, who are about to be released. It is unique because it is geared exclusively toward women, and teaches both social rehabilitation and business entrepreneurship.
Gemma Betancourt and Pat Glover, or the "L.E.A.P. Ladies" as they are known by the inmates, started the nonprofit organization in 2009, after they volunteered for another faith-based group working with inmates. Through the help of Beverly Kovach, assistant vice president and compliance officer at Mercantil Commercebank, the ladies found the missing piece in Barry.
"We really believe this program makes a huge impact not only in a person's life but in society," Betancourt said. "It's a greater good that keeps recidivism rates down, keeps them from going back in."
While they may be in short supply in Florida and nationwide, the need for programs such as L.E.A.P. has never been greater. Women constitute the fastest growing demographic of prisoners in the nation. As of 2006, there were half a million women in prison worldwide; one-third of which were in the United States. According to the Federal Bureau of Justice, the recidivism rate is above 65 percent nationally. L.E.A.P.'s goal is to empower ex-offenders with the tools they will need to start their own business, be hired or become economically self-sustained and less likely to commit another crime. It is currently in its third chapter.
"It takes many people to do good work, community work," said Dr. Philip Mann, professor and director of the Entrepreneurial Institute at Barry's Institute for Community and Economic Development (BICED). The grant-based initiative from the Andreas School of Business provides expertise and counsel to existing and aspiring business owners as well as to nonprofits working with or representing economically disadvantaged communities.
"There's a strong social-emotional effect that is a byproduct of L.E.A.P. It is almost as important as the [class] content that the inmates get," Mann added, noting that there is a sobering moment when parents and friends come into a prison and see a member of their family graduate from a business preparation program. He believes it imparts hopefulness and gives families a sense that the problems that contributed to incarceration, such as domestic violence, poverty and substance abuse, are not completely insurmountable.
"The good feelings L.E.A.P. generates are great motivators as they prepare to leave incarceration," said Mann, who committed to the project last year. "Life outside prison is going to be difficult enough."
In order to prevent the inmates from becoming overwhelmed by the challenges they face, the L.E.A.P. ladies commit to staying connected with the women for up to one year after their release, to help them stay on track for a successful transition to the outside world.
During training, inmates are asked to complete full business plans that include marketing, branding, management and bookkeeping. Guest speakers teach them about coping with stress outside prison walls, time management, dressing for interviews and computer skills, among other topics.
Dr. Anne Fiedler, a management professor at Barry's Andreas School of Business, was hesitant when approached about teaching inmates inside a prison compound, but said she soon found she looked forward to coming back each week.
"When I gave them an assignment, they put their heart into it," said Fiedler. "I'm not used to that kind of enthusiasm. Often my students complete assignments simply because I tell them to, but these women really wanted my feedback."
Above all, Fiedler says that she goes back to teach because these women don't have resources, in or out of prison, and education is the only way to break that cycle of crime and poverty.
For Lanzetta, the classroom setting helped to rebuild a sense of self that had been lost in an institution where the women are known by inmate numbers, not their first names.
"For a long time, I didn't respond to the name Anne," she said. "I was called by my last name, or as an inmate."
For now, Lanzetta is working part time for a cruise line selling customers upgrades for their vacations, and lives in a Pompano Beach halfway house with several other women striving to build their futures.
She meets with her probation officer regularly, and attends substance abuse support meetings and Bible study once a week.
"I have a plan," she said. "I know it's not going to happen overnight, but my dreams of owning my business are real."
Lanzetta explained the idea of owning a Christian bookstore stemmed from some advice she received during her L.E.A.P. training, that a good business venture required passion.
"My passion for books and study combined with my passion for the Word is the basis behind Glad Tidings," said Lanzetta. "I can do the Lord's work."
As for other program graduates, thanks to L.E.A.P. and Barry's Entrepreneurial Institute, their plans include opening up a salon, a mobile food truck and an electrical contracting company, among many other enterprises.
"Education is among the most powerful tools for change at our disposal; these women serve as the physical embodiment of this truth," said Glover, L.E.A.P.'s co-founder.
On Dec. 1, 2010, the program's first graduation day, Lanzetta told fellow inmates, the L.E.A.P. ladies, family members and Barry University professors in attendance how she already felt like something in her life had changed.
"For three hours a day, I step through those doors into this chapel and I am no longer a convicted felon serving time in prison, but an academic."
That morning, the first group of graduates wore white caps and gowns. The guest speaker was Barry University President Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD, who moved the inmates to tears.
"On the first of every month, know you did this for yourselves," Bevilacqua said. "Remember, this is not your identity. You are all bound, not by the fact you were in this facility, but because you walked together in this journey as 'leapers.' "


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Entegy wrote:
So I ask you as well Baruch, if you were to upgrade to Windows 8, would you go out of your way to disable Windows Defender since in Win8, Defender is MSE rebranded? My experience simply doesn't jive with yours on any system, even netbooks or the machine from 2001 I gave my uncle.
Yep. In fact, I'm running Windows 8 Consumer Preview on a spare laptop and I have Defender disabled.


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At UPMC Senior Care, we provide primary care to older adults who have complex health care needs as well as consultations for patients with specific geriatric conditions. In addition, we partner with primary care physicians to co-manage care of older adults who may have multiple health issues that require an interdisciplinary team approach.
Our goal is to help older patients stay independent, optimize self-care ability, and maintain quality of life. We begin with a health assessment with the goal of encouraging wellness and independent function. We recognize the significant role of the caregiver in caring for the older adult and include their needs as part of our assessment. The assessment leads to targeted interventions including more complete evaluations by experts from our interdisciplinary team. Based on the findings, we establish an ongoing treatment plan, keeping in mind the values, goals, and wishes of our patient.
Our interdisciplinary team includes geriatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and physical therapists, who have special training in caring for older adults. Following a description of each of our team members' qualifications and roles in providing care for older adults.
A geriatrician is a physician who is board-certified in either internal medicine or family practice medicine and who has an additional one to two years of training and board certification in geriatric medicine.
Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders affecting older adults. Psychiatrists specializing in geriatrics have an additional one or two years of training in geriatric psychiatry.
A psychologist is a specially trained, non-physician who specializes in psychological problems of older adults. Our team has neuropsychologists who assist geriatricians with screening, assessment, and treatment of memory disorder problems in older adults.
Nurse practitioners (NP) are nurses who have advanced training. Our NPs are trained in gerontology and work in partnership with our geriatricians. They treat both physical and mental conditions. NPs also serve as a patient's "point of entry" into our program if immediate attention is needed.
Nurses help facilitate the care of the older adult in our practice. Nurses are licensed professionals and assist the physician with history taking, screening for vital signs and symptoms, updating information on medications, and other key health care issues.
Geriatric social workers have advanced training. They assist patients and their caregivers with counseling on psychosocial issues such as dealing with difficult family and caregiving situations, advance planning, finding community resources, assisting with placement options, and other suggestions to help reduce stress for both the older patient and their caregiver.
Geriatric pharmacists have advanced training.They assist geriatricians, older adults, and the caregiver with the management of complex medication regimens and make suggestions to help optimize the financial resources spent by the patient on medications.
Geriatric physical therapists have advanced training. They help the physician with physical assessment and treatment for balance and gait if needed.
The first visit to UPMC Senior Care may last about two hours. It is helpful for family members or caregivers to accompany the patient and bring all medications, including herbal and over-the-counter medications to the visit. The geriatrician will take a thorough medical history by talking with both the patient and his/her family members and will perform and age-appropriate physical examination.
UPMC Senior Care — Oakland(Benedum Geriatric Center)UPMC Montefiore4 East 3459 Fifth Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3236412-692-4200
UPMC Senior Care — Shadyside(Senior Care Institute)5200 Centre Ave., Suite 405Pittsburgh, PA 15232-1311412-623-2700
Geriatrics is a fulfilling and rewarding career with the mission to enhance the quality of life for older adults.
Interested in a position in the geriatrics field?
Download the PDF.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
| Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


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Everyone's favourite smartphone-controlled (and controlling) robot ball Sphero, will now roll all the way from the US to 95 new countries if you part with just US$160. Order in the next two weeks and you can also get a non too shabby 10% off with the self-explanatory code GETROLLING.
There's already a nice selection of apps to take advantage of Sphero's skills – you can draw a path on your phone and Sphero will mimic it or use the ball as a controller on a smartphone platformer.
And Orbotix's new app offerings, set to hit up the App Store and Google Play this month, look pretty cool too: Chromo's memory and colour matching game could get boring after a while but MacroLabs looks like it's on to a winner – you can program your Sphero to change colour and move in different patterns plus Android users will get multiball capability. Oh yes, watch the vid if you want to know why this is important to your life.
We're going to watch it again.
Wii U is less powerful than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, say developers
Motorola RAZR Maxx release date set for May


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Please Note: By clicking a link to any resource listed on this page, you will be leaving the TeensHealth site.
Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA)
TSA is a volunteer organization working to find the cause of and cure for Tourette syndrome. It has books, pamphlets, and videos about the condition and related topics, and there are state chapters and local support groups for people with or affected by Tourette syndrome. Call: (718) 224-2999
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
NINDS offers research information related to neurological disorders.


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On a day when an ice-cream churning contest might have been more appropriate, a big crowd of people came to the Alachua County Farmer's Market for a chili cookoff.
On a day when an ice-cream churning contest might have been more appropriate, a big crowd of people came to the Alachua County Farmers Market for a chili cookoff in which a vegetarian variety was crowned king Saturday.
The inaugural event was held because chili peppers are one of the few edibles that grow around here in the summertime. It was also an attempt to boost attendance at the market during the summer stupor, said Andi Houston, assistant market manager.
"Late July is the slow season, and we wanted to draw more customers to our market in the summer to see what we have available," Houston said. "For the first time, I'm thrilled. Absolutely thrilled. There are definitely more people here than there usually would be."
The contest drew four entrants. A three-judge panel — a food blogger and cooks from two Gainesville restaurants — named the couple of Sean Lucas and Nancy Caniff as the winners for a vegetarian chili that featured a variety of peppers.
Lucas said he uses mostly local ingredients, adding that the pot of chili he served Saturday began two days ago with the soaking of beans. He calls the dish Chili con Karma.
"It's chili with love. It's all organic. I've been making this chili for four or five years," Lucas said. "This week I put, like, 10 different chiles in it. I'm just a home cook. I'm a food enthusiast. I like good food."
Caniff, who does not like super-spicy food, was the chili tester for the winning pot. They didn't want it to be too mouth-burning for the contest, Lucas said.
While many chili makers tout its Tex-Mex origins, Barbara Preston of High Springs cooked up Cincinnati Chili, a thinner version of the dish that traces its roots to Macedonian immigrants and includes cinnamon, allspice and chocolate.
"I can't remember when I stumbled on the recipe, but it's over 30 years ago," Preston said. "This is fun. It should be October though."
The contestants got prizes consisting of baskets of goods donated by the farmers vending at the market, with Lucas getting the biggest basket.
Included were chile plants, honey and other items, Houston said.
Among the vendors was Kathy Graham of Graham's Farm near Lacrosse. Graham grows chiles and makes relish and jelly from them.
But Graham said she depends on neighbors and customers to help her with recipes.
"I don't eat anything spicy," she said.
Once the judges were done sampling each chili, the contestants ladled their creations for the public.
Among the tasters was Marilene Morton, a native of England who now lives in Gainesville and tagged along with friends to the chili cookoff.
Morton said chili is not served in England but added she has grown to like it since living in the U.S.
"My favorite is actually Wendy's chili," Morton said. "I like to get it with a baked potato."


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Portfolio Overview
Launch of Siemens HL-class gas turbines, กันยายน 19, 2017
Siemens is developing the HL-class gas turbine series in an evolutionary development step derived from its proven SGT-8000H technology. This series consists of three engines: SGT5-9000HL, SGT6-9000HL and SGT5-8000HL. In simple-cycle operation the air-cooled SGT-9000HL gas turbine will provide a capacity of 564 megawatts (MW) for the 50-Hertz market and 386 MW in the 60-Hertz version. SGT5-8000HL will provide 465 MW in simple-cycle operation. All engines reach more than 63 percent combined cycle efficiency.
You can choose between different scopes of supply – from core turbine only, gas turbine packages up to complete gas-fired power plants.
Driving innovation, developing new technologies, applying cutting-edge manufacturing technologies – that's what we do to deliver the most advanced gas turbines that will set new standards in terms of efficiency, reliability and emission reduction.
As innovation cycles are becoming shorter, the capability to test new designs and components becomes ever more important. In addition, new manufacturing technologies enable revolutionary designs and an unmatched, state-of-the-art spare part availability.
Downloads and support
In our download section, you can find brochures, technical papers and more, or can contact us directly for specific inquiries.
Siemens AG
Freyeslebenstrasse 1
91058 Erlangen
(Charges depending on provider)
(From the German fixed network € 0.14/min.
and from the German mobile phone networks
max. € 0.42/min.)
Siemens gas turbines are operating in more than 60 countries. We provide proven technology with more than 6,900 installed heavy-duty, industrial and aeroderivative gas turbines.
Customer: Egyptian Electricity Holding Co. (EEHC)
Power output: 3 x 4.8 GW (14.4 GW total)
Efficiency: > 60 % net
Scope: 12 x SCC5-8000H (2x1), each with 2 x SGT5-8000 gas turbines, 1 x SST5-5000 steam turbine, 3 x SGen5-2000H generator, SPPA-T3000 I&C system, HRSG
Customer: Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG
Power output: 603.8 MW(e), up to 300 MW (th)
Efficiency: ~61.5%
Scope: SCC5-8000H 1S with 1 x SGT5-8000H gas turbine, 1 x SST5-5000 steam turbine, and 1 x SGen5-3000W generator
Customer: Amata B.Grimm Power Unlimited (ABP)
Scope: 18 x SGT-800 gas turbines, and 9 x SST-400 steam turbines
Nine power plants located in industrial parks within an approximately 200 km radius of Bangkok
Customer: Energia MK KF, S.A. de C.V.
Scope: 1 x SGT-750 gas turbine
Cogeneration plant to produce own electricity and steam for the textile industry
Reference map


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Sheryl Kay Gross
Sheryl Kay Gross, 64, passed away Friday, September 13, 2013.Funeral service will be 2 pm Friday, September 20, 2013 at First Southern Baptist Church in Fritch under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Her memory may be honored with a gift to Mission of Hope, please denote if you want your gift to be used toward the orphanage or church advancement, P.O. Box 6004, Fort Meyers, Florida, 33906.Sheryl was born June 30, 1949 in Leon, Iowa to Mervon and Reva Blunt. She married Dennis Gross in Indianola, Iowa on May 31, 1968. She was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Fritch and served as their secretary and treasurer. Sheryl was a substitute teacher for many years and volunteered her time to many organizations such as the CareNet Pregnancy Center, various hospice groups and the Northwest Texas Hospital baby cuddling program. She was an adopted Mother to many.She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Rick Blunt.Survivors include her husband, Dennis of the home; sons, Philip Gross and his wife, Laura of Amarillo; Nathan Gross and his wife, Shirley of Wentzville, Missouri; daughter, Rebekah Rudd and her husband, Josh of Amarillo; two grandsons, Orlando and Phoenix Rudd of Amarillo; and brother, David Blunt and his wife, Kim of Foristell, Missouri


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(Alison Frankel writes the On the Case blog for Thomson Reuters News & Insight. The views expressed are her own.)
Scott Kreppein of the law firm Hagney, Quatela, Hargraves & Mari lives and works on Long Island, where about 90 percent of the customers of the Long Island Power Authority lost power in last week's storm. He still doesn't have electricity or heat at his house in Smithtown, New York. Last week he got by on flashlights and a small gas-powered generator. Over the weekend, he and his wife fled to a hotel in Pennsylvania, and since they came back home, they've been living with relatives. Kreppein, in other words, has a personal interest in holding LIPA accountable for any failures in its restoration of power across Long Island.
But Kreppein also knows that the odds are very low of establishing LIPA's liability through a class action by disgruntled customers of the power company. In 2006, when he was working at the Morelli Ratner law firm, Kreppein represented several businesses in Queens, New York, that sued Consolidated Edison in state court for millions of dollars in damages that resulted from a week-long blackout in Astoria, Woodside and neighboring communities. According to Kreppein, there's nothing barring customers -- whether they're businesses or individual ratepayers -- from bringing such suits against power companies, even though utilities are state-regulated. To win, however, New York ratepayers have to show that their power company was not just slow or inefficient. Instead, Kreppein said, under a 1985 New York Court of Appeals ruling called Strauss v. Belle Realty, electric company customers must establish that the utility was grossly negligent -- that its conduct was way outside the bounds of reasonableness.
In the Queens power outage case, that question was not answered in court. Litigation over Con Ed's alleged negligence proceeded alongside an investigation by the New York Public Service Commission, which regulates power companies and other utilities. With intense pressure from politicians and local activists accelerating the process, Con Ed reached a global settlement in 2008, agreeing to put up $17 million for affected homes and businesses and to waive rate increases intended to pay for $40 million in plant repairs associated with the blackout.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has already committed to a PSC investigation of post-Sandy power restoration efforts, and New Jersey will almost certainly conduct a similar investigation; last year New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities reviewed the responses of the state's four power companies to Hurricane Irene and the October snowstorm. That doesn't mean, however, that the regulatory investigations will result in findings that support allegations of gross negligence against the utilities. According to Greg Reinert, a spokesman for New Jersey's BPU, ratepayers didn't bring class actions after Irene or the October storm.
Indeed, the trouble that all of the region's power companies have had in turning their customers' lights back on could hamper gross negligence claims against any one of them, according to Kreppein. "If all of the companies did the same thing, and if everyone was bad at handling outages after the storm, then that's just the facts, that's not negligence," he said.
The high bar for claims against power companies didn't deter Manhattan lawyer Richard Hershman, who filed a bare-bones class action against Con Ed on Thursday in New York State Supreme Court in Westchester. Hershman told me he and his neighbors in Tarrytown, New York, have been in the dark since last Monday and feel like they've been ignored by their power company. "We think Con Ed is responsible not just for gross negligence, but also for putting out false or misleading information," he said. According to Hershman, his neighbors' damages from the long outage range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. "My personal opinion, and what I told my neighbors, is that from the storm through Sunday was okay," he said. "It was a bad storm. (Con Ed's) response was poor, but I give them leeway. But this week, after warnings about the nor'easter? They just did not put the necessary equipment and personnel in place in Westchester."
A Con Ed representative said she could not comment on litigation and referred me to the company's website, which says that because the storm was beyond Con Ed's control, the company "is not responsible for property damage or other losses." Representatives of LIPA and power companies in New Jersey did not respond to phone and email messages, and a spokesman for New York's PSC did not return my call.
Kreppein told me he's planning to file a Freedom of Information Act request with LIPA to find out whether his power company had a plan for the storm and how it executed restoration of power. He's not ruling out litigation, depending on what he finds out. "I don't know what individual LIPA employees are doing. I'm sure they're working as hard as they can," he said. "But I'm not satisfied with LIPA's efforts. I don't have power."