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DORAL, Fla. – Tiger Woods' back still isn't right.
But his game certainly was Saturday in the third round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Trump International Doral.
So was leader Patrick Reed's.
A day after the re-designed, muscled-up Blue Monster course united with high winds to batter the players nearly into submission, Woods and many in the field of 68 healed amid soft breezes and gentle temperatures and exacted a touch of revenge on Donald Trump's layout.
Despite a sore back – Woods played 26 holes Friday and immediately sought treatment -- the world's No. 1 sped up the leader board Saturday with a 6-under-par 66, the day's lowest round. With eight birdies to more than offset two bogeys, Woods got into contention for the first time this season, which has seen him miss the 54-hole cut in the Farmers Insurance Open, tie for 41st in the Dubai Desert Classic and withdraw after 13 holes in the final round of last week's Honda Classic.
VIDEO: Tiger's tremendous day
"I was pretty sore last night, but my therapists are doing a fantastic job of getting me out here and playing," said Woods, who added that he did not get through the round without thinking about his back.
No one has played better than Reed through 54 holes. This year's Humana Challenge winner fired a 69 to move to 4 under for the tournament and into a two-shot lead on Jason Dufner (68) and Hunter Mahan (71).
Woods started the day six behind the leaders but shot his lowest round in relation to par this season. It moved him to 1 under for the tournament and into a tie for fourth with Jamie Donaldson (71). Four strokes back is the group of Zach Johnson (71), Dustin Johnson (73) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (69). In a group at 1 over are Graeme McDowell (73), Bubba Watson (72) and Jimmy Walker (67), who is the season's only three-time winner.
In ideal scoring conditions, nine players broke 70; in the second round, no one did. The field averaged 72.57 in the third round; in the second, 76.00.
"The main thing with this kind of golf course is with how firm and fast and tough it's playing, you have to stay patient," said Reed, who ignited his round with an eagle on the eighth hold and added three birdies against a lone bogey on the back nine. "And I felt like I stuck to my game plan all day and stayed real patient and felt like I got a lot out of my round. I feel like I left some shots out there but I feel comfortable going into (Sunday) especially with the lead and hopefully go do the same thing. ...
"To me it's another golf tournament. Of course, it's a World Golf Championship event and there's a lot more on the line. But at the same time, I have to treat every round and every event like it's just a normal event and another round of golf. If I can continue to what I'm supposed to be doing and keep making putts, coming down that 72nd hole, I'll have a chance to win."
Mahan said there is still plenty of danger on the Blue Monster even in calm conditions, which he said sets up an old-fashioned shootout for Sunday. The forecast calls for calm winds not exceeding 10 mph,
"You've still got to hit good shots, and the margins for error are pretty slim," Mahan said. "This tournament will not be over until the last putt drops on 18. I think that always happens, but it seems like you just can't coast in here and you just can't get in the clubhouse with a two‑ or three-shot lead with a couple to go. So I don't think anyone is going to be too bothered if someone gets out to a three‑ or four-shot lead, because there's so much golf out there, and there's so much that can happen, good and bad."
Woods got his round going early with birdies on two of his first three holes. After a three-putt bogey on the fourth, he rattled off four birdies over his next eight holes. His other bogey came at 14 but was washed out with birdies on the 15th and 16th.
TWITTER: Tiger's assessment
"I held it together (Friday), which was a long day, a long, tough day, and that gave me a chance today," said Woods, who said his round was his most "complete" of the season, as he hit 14 greens and needed just 25 putts. "I figured, hey, I'm only six back, that's definitely doable, especially with the conditions and how difficult this golf course is playing.
"If I just get back to even par for the tournament, I'll be right there, and I did one better. ... It was nice to get back in the tournament again."
Dufner was saying the same after making a comeback in his third round. He was 2 over for his round and 4 over for the tournament before he went on a scoring binge with six birdies in eight holes.
"That's part of being a professional … to put rounds behind you and realize what you did well and maybe what you didn't do well, and get on with it, so to speak," Dufner said. "Yesterday was kind of a rough day for everybody. Everybody experienced the same conditions. I probably got a little bit lucky, because it actually kind of died down there for the last four or five holes that I played. Some guys had to play in that stuff all day.
"But I knew that I was playing pretty well. Sometimes the scores don't indicate how you're playing. I tried to stay patient, focused on what I was doing well and kind of put yesterday behind me. And we had a pretty good scoreable day out there."


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subset: commoncrawl


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Lego Batman fans: Ready for an all-new challenge?
This fall "Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham" hits stores. A new trailer for the game was unveiled Tuesday.
Check it out below.
Clearly, the "Beyond Gotham" in the title is an understatement — in this installment of Batman's Lego adventures, the Caped Crusader travels to space, realizing that he will need to team up with the Justice League and, believe it or not, the Legion of Doom to stop Brainiac.
The villain is armed with the power of the Lantern Rings and ready to create universal chaos.
With this third edition, the "Lego Batman" franchise has received a major expansion in player options and choices. As with previous versions, it stars the Dynamic Duo, but now players will also have 150 characters from the DC Comics universe to choose from, including familiar faces from the League of Justice and the Legion of Doom.
Players will be able to travel to the Hall of Justice, the Batcave and the Justice League Watchtower, and they'll be able to access Batman's training modules on the Bat Computer, in addition to taking part in various challenges, battles and races.
Judging by the trailer, the game's trademark sense of humor is still firmly in place. A brooding Dark Knight attempts to set the scene in space with a serious monologue but is interrupted by the Man of Steel, who repeatedly attempts to compliment his new, space-friendly Batsuit.
Before Batman can begin again, the Justice League gets into the act, although Wonder Woman seems less than impressed with the suit.
"Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham" is due out this fall for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 3DS, Vita and PC.
What do you think of the new trailer? Are you excited to play "Lego Batman 3"? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
– Justin Sullivan | @LATherocomplex
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Gal Gadot cast as Wonder Woman in Snyder film
Gal Gadot casting: Comics world reacts on Twitter
Ben Affleck: Whom would you rather see as Batman?
Ben Affleck: Roles that might inform Batman


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East Tennessee State junior Jackie Baird from Girls Preparatory School was the Atlantic Sun Conference softball player of the week after batting .647 in three wins at the College of Charleston Classic. She hit the winning home run in the seventh inning against the host Cougars and also had four doubles, drove in four runs and scored three while going 11-for-17. She has reached base in all nine of the Bucs' games this season and has a .577 average with a .633 on-base percentage and .846 slugging percentage.
• Senior Susanna Kirby from Baylor School was part of the 400 freestyle relay that completed a final-day Rhodes College surge past Sewanee to second place in the inaugural Southern Athletic Association women's swimming and diving meet Saturday at Birmingham. The Lynx foursome set a school record by six seconds in finishing second to Centre. Earlier, Kirby set a personal best with a sixth-place 200 butterfly finish and Rhodes freshman Mary Portera from GPS won the 3-meter diving event to go with her 1-meter win and seal her designation as SAA diver of the year.
• The Appalachian Athletic Conference basketball tournament will tip off Wednesday in Kingsport, Tenn., with three play-in games, the first two involving women's teams. Bryan's Lady Lions (17-11) are seeded fourth and will play at 10:15 a.m. Thursday against fifth seed Reinhardt (16-14). Tennessee Wesleyan's second-seeded Lady Bulldogs (17-10) play at 8:30 that night against the Montreat/St. Andrews winner. Wesleyan's top-seeded men (22-7) also will face Montreat or St. Andrews, at noon Thursday, and the third-seeded Bryan Lions (13-15) take on sixth seed Union College (15-13) at 9:15 p.m. Thursday.
• Hollie German and Jenna Adams had 18 and 16 points and eight and 12 rebounds as the Lee University women's basketball team won 59-50 in a Southern States game Monday evening at Brenau. Last Thursday, Lee retired the jersey of Brooke McKinnon-Evans, who came from Tellico Plains and scored 2,216 points (No. 2 all-time) for Lady Flames teams that went 118-22. The SSAC player of the year in 2011, she now is the director of women's basketball operations at Tennessee Tech. "Brooke is one of the best people you will ever meet and was so important to building our program on the national level," Lee coach Marty Rowe said.
• Making five of eight 3-point tries, Chad Lee had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Lee men's basketball team, ranked second in NAIA Division I, routed visiting Hiwassee 106-73 in a nonconference game Monday night in Cleveland. Jamorris Gaines and Steve Bennett had 23 and 14 points with eight rebounds apiece for the Flames (26-1), and Will Barnes scored 19 points. Justin Browner scored 19 for Hiwassee.
• Georgia Northwestern won the coin toss with co-champion West Georgia Tech to be the top seed in the NJCAA Region XVII women's basketball tournament this weekend in Warner Robins, and GNTC's Jim Williams was the coach of the year for the third season in a row. His Lady Bobcats will play Southern Crescent Tech at 4 p.m. Saturday. GNTC's Odessa Person was first-team all-region after leading the league with 13 rebounds a game, and Kiarra Parks (from Cleveland, Tenn.) and Alyssa Nichelson were second-teamers with scoring averages of 11 points. The GNTC men open region-tourney play Friday at 5:30 against West Georgia Tech.
• The UTC women's golfers are in 10th place out of 12 teams after 36 holes of the Central District Invitational at Parrish, Fla. UTC's Mette Kryger shot a 71 in the first round and is tied for 18th at 151, with Emily McLennan, Jordan Britt and Marion Duvernay at 154, 156 and 158.
• The Lee University baseball team is 11-2 after beating Rio Grande 14-1 Monday in Cleveland. Karsten Strieby was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Corey Davis singled and tripled in four runs in the first two innings, Brandon Rader and Josh Silver each had two RBIs and Danny Canela was 3-for-4 for Lee, while Mike Guinane and three relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter.
• Cleveland State's baseball team won 8-5 and 10-3 against the Piedmont junior varsity Monday in Demorest, Ga. Cody Hiefnar singled and homered for three runs in the first game for the Cougars (7-3), who got a tiebreaking three-run triple from Keith Buckhault in the last inning. DeAndre Allen had a two-RBI triple in a six-run second inning in game two. Zach Janes, Evan Speicher and Chase Edwards had RBI singles in that outburst.


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A man was fatally shot in Southwest Baltimore on Monday night, police said.
The man was shot in the 200 block of Diener Place in the Irvington neighborhood before 9 p.m., police said.
His identity and more information on the incident were not immediately available.
The homicide was Baltimore's 127th of this year.


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In spite of concerns about "sticker shock," rates for individual coverage on the new health insurance marketplaces appear to be lower than expected in most states due mainly to robust competition among insurers, the Obama administration reported Wednesday.
With prices all but finalized in most states, a new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that monthly premiums in 47 states and the District of Columbia, on average, will be 16 percent lower next year than the Congressional Budget Office projected they would be in 2016 – when the marketplaces are at full capacity.
Roughly 95 percent of uninsured people who are eligible for marketplace coverage live in states where average monthly premiums for individual coverage is lower than expected, the report found. And the states with the lowest premiums have more than twice the number of plans offering coverage than states with the highest premiums.
Administration officials were clearly buoyed by the findings, which appear to support their claims that the Affordable Care Act would give consumers more choices and better rates by bringing more insurers into the markets.
In the 36 states where the federal government will fully or jointly run the marketplaces, the report found consumers will choose from an average of 53 health plans. Overall, about 95 percent of people will be able to choose plans from two or more insurers, roughly 25 percent of which are offering individual coverage for the first time, the report finds.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius touted the report's findings that rates would more affordable than anticipated.
"Dallas families earning $15,000 dollars a year will be able to buy quality coverage for as little as $26 a month," Sebelius said during a press briefing. "Across the board, six in 10 uninsured Americans will be able to find coverage for less than $100 dollars per month."
The good news about prices won't be spread evenly among all consumers, however. The Affordable Care Act requires the lowest-income tax credit recipients to pay a minimum of 2 percent of their annual income toward health coverage. In addition, they also get the largest tax credits. But the highest-earning tax credit recipients can pay up to 9.5 percent of their earnings for health care, while receiving the smallest tax credits.
In addition, experts say it's impossible to compare current rates in the individual market to the new proposed rates under Obamacare because insurers currently charge more for coverage or deny it altogether to people with pre-existing health problems. So rates under Obamacare may be higher for some, but the health law significantly beefs up individual coverage and forbids insurers from denying coverage because of a person's medical conditions.
The insurance marketplaces, which begin enrolling people for 2014 coverage on Oct. 1, divide health plans into categories based on the share of medical costs they cover. Silver plans – the second lowest-priced plans – cover 70 percent of medical expenses. Tax credits that will go to low- and middle-income families are based on the price of the Silver plan, which is known as the "benchmark plan" for a given area.
The report found that the average premium for benchmark plans nationwide will be $328 a month before applying tax credits that will drive the rate down even further for people earning between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
"Some Silver plans will cost $768 dollars less per year than original estimates, a 16 percent difference," Sebelius said.
The report was based on rates submitted by insurers that have yet to be OK'd by HHS. But a department official said they were not likely to change significantly.


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Following tradition, since I compiled this list in 2010, 2011, and 2012, here are the most popular posts from our splendid selection of guest bloggers.
I've listed these according to the number of pageviews, though it's not all about quantity, and some excellent posts just missed out on this list.
I'd also like to say a big thank-you to all of Econsultancy's guest bloggers for their valuable contributions to the blog this year on a range of subjects.
- Parry Malm takes the crown this year with 152 killer keywords for email subject lines (and 137 crappy ones). We know lists worked, but Parry outdid us with bigger numbers.
- At number two, it's Tim Aldiss with this excellent look at 33 examples of great meta descriptions for search.
- Justin Rondeau from WhichTestWon takes third with this: Do bigger images mean improved conversion rates? Three case studies (the answer is yes btw).
- Marcus Taylor looks at the success of interactive infographics: Five exceptional interactive infographics and why they worked.
- Linkbait with a point by Andrew Girdwood: SEO is D.E.A.D.
- Some great examples and lovely screenshots by Andrew King: Responsive email design: 10 great examples.
- Damion Brown explains the significance of Universal Analytics: Eight ways Google Universal Analytics will change the way businesses use data.
- Greg Randall has written some excellent posts this year, but this was the most popular: Ecommerce product pages: where to place 30 elements and why.
- A nice round up of examples from Peter Meinerzhagen: Eight physical product landing pages to inspire you in your next project.
- A great analysis of the possible impacts of the Hummingbird update by David Towers: Has Hummingbird changed SEO forever?
- Pratik Dholakiya's first post gets him in the top 25: Nine examples of small businesses using social media for branding.
- With a title reminiscent of George Dangerfield's book on the Liberal Party, Phillip Klein looks at The slow death of the homepage.
- No-reply email addresses are crap. Michael Linthorst explains why: Five reasons you should stop using no-reply email addresses right now.
- Kelvin Newman topped this list for the past two years, but this year can only make 14: 19 tools to improve your content marketing strategy.
- Kasia Piekut made her guest blogging debut with this: Four great examples of brands using Instagram to break free of the browser.
- Kevin Gibbons makes this chart with his 99th guest post for Econsultancy: Integrated vs Specialist: have agency models changed in 2013?
- Google's Daniel Weisberg makes the list with his first post, an excellent primer on using Google Analytics: How to get up and running with Google Analytics in six steps.
- Chris Liversedge with a mobile SEO warning: 2014: the mobile SEO timebomb.
- Handy Twitter tips from Simon Hawtin: 29 useful Twitter tips for beginners.
- Rhian Simms critiques some retailers' emails: Abandoned basket emails: the good, the bad and the ugly.
- Rishi Lakhani with some valuable SEO tips: Seven quick tips for anchor text links in 2013.
- A detailed look at Enhanced Campaigns from Andy Heaps: Google AdWords changes the game with enhanced campaigns.
- This, from Dave Gowans, was one of my personal favourites from 2013: Nine conversion techniques from the 1920s to try today.
- Paul Rouke makes the list with this detailed look at Nixon's responsive design. Not sure what happened to part two though ;) A responsive ecommerce masterclass from Nixon: part one.
- And finally, some useful tips from Paul Rogers: How to avoid duplicate content issues in ecommerce.
Once again, thanks to all our guest bloggers for their efforts over the year. And good luck to @henweb for next year's list!
Comments (4)
And a big thanks to Graham and the Econsultancy team for opening up your platform to guest bloggers! Have a great break and see you in 2014. I'll be spending the holidays thinking of an EVEN BIGGER LIST!!!
Great this post. These are very basics and essentials, every blogger need to follow more engaging content. I agree with you that don't just write for search engines, write for people. It's important to write from the heart. Thanks for sharing this post. Hope to read more interesting information from you. Great job!
A superb list Graham - well done to all the guest authors that have contributed in 2013. I did especially like Parry Malm's guest post - lots of useful takeaways to implement - so thanks for that. Keep the quality posts coming! Happy New Year to everyone :-)


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School board rejects window project bid
Replacement of windows in the old portion of the Brady school building has been delayed again after school board members rejected a single bid offered during special meeting April 18.
CG Architects of North Platte had estimated the project would cost between $185,000 and $210,000.
District superintendent Bill Porter said only one bid of $249,800 came in from Steele's Roofing and Construction of North Platte.
While there is money in the district's building fund for the project, Porter said there isn't that much.
"I think it might be kind of late in the year for this process," Porter said.
The district now must wait for direction from the architect to proceed.
Porter said board members will meet with the architect to see if there is a way to lower the cost. If not, the board will reopen the project for bids a second time.
In other business, the district hired two new teachers for the 2012-13 school year.
Anthony Munter, a first-year teacher from North Platte, will be the 7-12 science teacher.
He replaces Erin Duncan, who resigned after one year in the school system.
Heather Wolf of Cozad, also a first-year teacher, will replace Cindy Kuklis as language arts teacher and media specialist.
Health issues have forced Kuklis to retire. She joined the Brady staff in 2000.
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- Brady places champ and runner-up at State FCCLA
- Swedes continue conference domination
- Dancing With The Stars changes venues
- Middle-of-the-Pack Finishes For Swede Boys and Girls
- Girls Show Support for Teacher's Cancer Fight


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Kidney damage and chemotherapy
Some chemotherapy drugs can damage the kidneys (nephrotoxicity). The kidneys break down and remove many chemotherapy drugs from the body. When chemotherapy drugs break down, they make products that can damage cells in the kidneys, ureters and bladder. The potential for kidney damage varies with the type of chemotherapy drug used.
Chemotherapy drugs that can cause kidney damage include:
- cisplatin (Platinol AQ)
- carboplatin (Paraplatin)
- nitrosureas, such as carmustine (BiCNU, BCNU)
- mitomycin (Mutamycin)
- methotrexate – especially if high doses are used
Whether or not a chemotherapy drug will cause kidney damage depends on:
- the dose of the drug used
- if other drugs, which also have the potential to damage the kidney, are used at the same time
- if the person already has kidney disease
Some symptoms that may suggest kidney damage and impaired kidney (renal) function include:
- headache
- fatigue
- weakness
- nausea
- vomiting
- increased blood pressure
- less urination
- edema (swelling or puffiness) of the hands, feet or other areas of the body
Symptoms can occur during chemotherapy treatment and may be temporary. Kidney function can be affected for several years and may be permanent. Damage may be mild to severe. If severe, it can lead to kidney failure.
Before chemotherapy starts, kidney function may be checked to make sure there are no major problems. This can also be done during treatments to ensure that nothing has changed. Blood tests are usually done to check kidney function and to check fluid and electrolyte balance.
Prevention and management
The healthcare team takes measures to help prevent and manage kidney problems that may occur because of chemotherapy. Some of these measures include:
- Extra fluids may be given intravenously (into a vein) to help flush the products produced when chemotherapy drugs break down from the kidneys.
- Fluid and electrolyte levels in blood or urine samples are checked during treatment.
- These levels tell the healthcare team how well the kidneys are working.
- They also help the healthcare team detect kidney damage early, especially in people with existing kidney disease.
- A drug called amifostine (Ethyol) may be given to protect the kidneys when high doses of cisplatin are given.
- The dose of the drug may be lowered or the drug may be stopped completely if kidney damage occurs.
- Dialysis may be done to clean waste products from the blood if severe kidney damage occurs and causes the kidneys to fail.
- Dialysis can be done using a special solution and tissues within the abdomen (peritoneal dialysis) or with an artificial kidney machine (hemodialysis).
Tell the doctor or healthcare team about any swelling or puffiness that happens suddenly. Let them know about any changes in urination.
You can help prevent kidney problems and cope with symptoms by taking the following steps:
- Drink plenty of fluids to ensure a regular flow of urine.
- Eat less salt and salty foods (such as chips, prepared foods, luncheon meats or pickles). Replace salt with herb seasonings or pepper.
- Raise legs if feet are swollen.
- Avoid wearing tight or constrictive clothing.
For more detailed information on specific drugs, go to sources of drug information.
How can you stop cancer before it starts?
Discover how 16 factors affect your cancer risk and how you can take action with our interactive tool – It's My Life! Presented in partnership with Desjardins.


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Here's an arguably heady (but hopefully useful) piece on what I call Skinthink (from "History of the Next Big Bang;" it's a psychoanalytic socio-cosmology in the tradition of Russian Cosmism and Vedic Cosmology).
Mind is Skin
Made of skin, mind thinks like skin. It is a fact of human embryonic development that CNS [Central Nervous System], the seat of human intelligence, begins as nothing more than involution (envagination) of ectoderm. The ectoderm enfolds onto itself (through a process called neural tubing) and becomes centralized, externally, as a brain, and, internally, as a mind.
The first and foremost job of any skin is to separate the inner from the outer, the self from the other. The skin divides and so do we. Made of skin, we mind dualistically and dichotomously. Each mind, like a pair of scissors, divides the Oneness of the Universe in half (initially into "self' and "other"[4]) and then in half again and again and again. This Skinthink is inevitable.
The Original Duality
There are all kinds of dualities. We can divide the world into "this" or "that," "life" or "death," "good" or "bad," "black" or "white," "Republicans" and "Democrats," "Ego" and "Eco." You name it! But the Original Duality – the original crack in the monolith of Oneness – is the Duality of Self and Other, that of Subject and Object. There is no shedding of this Skinthink.
Duality is Subjectivity, Subjectivity is Duality
Objectively, all – inseparably – is one and one – inseparably – is all. Subjectively, however, we experience the world not as oneness but as a pluraility of stand-alone forms, as a multitude of separated selves. Subjectivity is fundamentally dualistic as it presupposes a point-of-view, i.e. a perceiving self, and an "object" – out there – to perceive.
All Awareness is Dualistic
Awareness is directional: to be aware, one must be aware of something other than one's self. Awareness is necessarily a Subject-Object duality: to be aware of something the Subject must be first aware of one's self as being separate from one's Object of awareness. While this separation of all that is into Subject-Self and the Other-Objects is, of course, objectively Maya (illusion in Sanskrit), subjectively this separation is real. Self-awareness is other-awareness. Without this illusory duality of Self and Other, there can be no sense of self. Thus, Skinthink is existentially inevitable.
Skinthink is the Mechanism of Differentiation
The Universe is alive but confused: it dreams the nightmare of separateness. Each life-form – to be its own self – dreams its own dream of separateness. This Skinthink is both the cause and the consequence of continuous differentiation of One into Many.
Skinthink is Samsara
Skinthink, the Self-Other Duality, is what drives the metamorphosis of the Universe. The Universe dreams itself into endless zero-sum scenario. This is the Samsara ("wheel of suffering") of our divided existence. Divided by our subjectivity, we compete against our own – shared – interest. This happens at every level of existence – from the Brownian motion of molecules – to the fields of political football – to ethnic cleansing and international warfare.
Two Vectors of Skinthink
Subject-Object/Self-Other Skinthink is ego-building. It is centripetally myopic and inevitably self-serving. There are – as I see it – two ways for ego to grow: sociopathically or narcissistically. Sociopathic growth is blatant conquest, ethically unrestrained zero-sum conduct, pure jungle. Narcissistic growth is the expansion of the radius of identification. Whereas a sociopathic ego simply takes what it needs or wants, a narcissistic ego recruits the resources with varying degree of developmental sophistication. Narcissism ranges from primitive (individualistic, relational) to political (ethnic, cultural, social) to sublimated (Bodhisattva). A bacterium that engulfs another bacterium acts sociopathically. A bacterium that forms a symbiosis with another bacterium is sublimating its self-serving into organism-building. But whether we take the sociopathic short-cut or the so-called "high road" of cooperation, there is no way around the fundamental Skinthink of our motives. As long as there is a self, the self is self-serving. This is neither good, nor bad. It just is.
Culture is Skinthink
Continued differentiation and acquisition of power lead to the establishment of rules of engagement and arms of enforcement. Clothing (our second skin) leads to housing (third skin) which in its turn leads to emergence of nuclear families (fourth skin) which leads to social identification and culture-formation (fifth skin) which is further codified into intra-cultural rules of conduct and morality. Cultures – dreamed by minds that are made of skin – are divisive and, thus, combative. As the size of the evolutionary opponents grows, so does the size and magnitude of their armamentarium. Whereas two nuclear families can carry out a centuries-old vendetta with nothing but kitchen knives, any two (or more) geopolitical powers need nuclear arms. In sum, inter-personal, let alone, inter-national frictions come at progressively greater costs.
Skinthink is expensive.
Strike that: skinthink is unaffordable. And yet it is inevitable.
That's the paradox of our existence.
Reference: History of the Next Big Bang: Theory of Nothinglessness
Woman's torso photo available from Shutterstock.


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While burning, the major hazards of wildfires to children are fire and smoke.
The aftermath of a wildfire also poses dangers for children.
Be alert to your child's emotional health and psychological well-being. Grief associated with loss, stress, or anxiety from the disaster may cause emotional distress.
Continue your child's established routines as much as possible and provide a listening ear. Encourage your child to express feelings through a variety of ways, such as music, art, journaling, talking, or playing with toys or dolls. Avoid exposing your child to excessive or unnecessary TV or other media coverage of the wildfire. Answer your child's questions openly and honestly, as appropriate for your child's age. Be patient and remain calm, because children often take cues on how to act based on their parents and their environment. Your reactions communicate an unspoken message to your child, and may add to a child's feeling of distress.
In some cases, the whole family may benefit from supportive counseling. It is important to remember that it is not a sign of mental illness to accept professional support during times of emotional distress.
Getting Ready for the Worst
How to Prepare for Disasters
Understanding Disasters
Family Disaster Supplies List
Promoting Adjustment and Helping Children Cope (AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council)
Wildfires (AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council)
Emergency Preparedness and Response: Wildfires (CDC)
Fires and Wildfires (NIH)
Talking to Children about Wildfires and other Natural Disasters (American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry)
Wildfires (Ready.gov)
Safe Cleanup of Fire Ash (California Environmental Protection Agency)


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In Fort Lauderdale there is a sanctuary for artists lucky enough to survive a year long waiting list known as the Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts. In this low-rent "wonderland" (as this writer deems to portray it) lives a visual pop artist, who paints smirks on all who lay eyes on her witty candy colored images. Her name is Lisa Bulten Rockford, a graduate of the esteemed Art Institute of Chicago, who upon completing her Masters launched headstrong into the competitive arena of fine art. In prolific fashion she exhibited all across the nation before settling in South Florida as an instructor at Broward College in 2006. She draws inspirations from both her loving parents who in one way or the other, shaped her art today.
A series entitled "Barbie Magic Reveal" are humorous illustrations much in the style of your supermarket "Coloring & Activity Books" made for children (and some strange adults). It exhibits her playfulness yet engaging deconstruction, and reconstruction, of familiar pop images and content.
3 Floors of 1310 Gallery will be covered in her work from Jan. 16th - Feb.12th 2010.
2 Distinct Painting series will survey the portrayals of gender and romance.
Only 1 Twist - That it will be a TWIST. Yeah, that's the name of this wonderfully twisted exhibition of art coolness. You simply must put your mind in a TWIST @ the 1310 Gallery, Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts, 1310 SW 2nd Ct. (Middle St.), Ft. Lauderdale, 33312. Admission: Free & Open to the Public


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This is how you sell tech gear:
Yesterday I walked into B&H Photo in New York, which claims to be the country's largest non-chain camera store, and asked one of the many sales representatives if he was an expert on tripods. He smiled and responded: "It's a ball and three legs so you really don't need to be an expert."
I told him I needed to upgrade my tripod and he showed me how to get more life out of my old one. A few weeks ago, a B&H sales person helped me understand the right way to clean my sensor and even spent time advising me on lenses, neutral density filters, and about snapping pics of Monument Valley.
No hard sell. No shrugging off questions and moving on to the next customer. Yesterday I left the store, which was founded in 1973, the way I typically do: relieved that I didn't have to spend a lot of money and more excited about my still relatively new hobby. B&H isn't just a good camera store. Managers there are masters at retail.
I couldn't help thinking that Best Buy, the struggling technology chain based in Minneapolis, could learn from these guys. The past year has been a disaster for Best Buy. The company has lost market share to online retailers. When it comes to the shopping experience Best Buy offers, ask anyone about it and you're likely to hear about how hard it is to find salespeople and almost impossible to find someone who is knowledgeable.
Best Buy has of course also been hamstrung by distracting side shows. Brian Dunn, the former CEO, resigned following a company investigation into a questionable relationship he entered into with an employee. Then, after losing his chairmanship because of the Dunn matter, founder Dick Schulze is trying to acquire the company but the amount he's offered so far isn't close to enticing investors. This morning, the company's shares traded at $11.46, not far off the 52-week low of $11.20.
One strategy might be for the company to go back to spending on employee training and retention and creating more enticing showrooms. If the online stores are going to undercut Best Buy on price, then the chain should concentrate on creating a superior shopping experience. TVs, PCs, computer tablets, cell phones, cameras and other gear are a passion for many consumers but understanding how to get the most out of them isn't always easy.
Best Buy could benefit by becoming an information hub as well as an outlet for these consumer goods. Best Buy's sales reps should try to help customers understand their purchases and be given the time to do it.
The strategy seems to be working for B&H. Yesterday, the store was a mob scene, but as usual, there was plenty of staff and checking out was a breeze.


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Compounded annual growth rate - CAGR
|This article is part of WikiProject Definitions. Consider editing to improve it. View articles referencing this definition.
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is the rate at which something (e.g., revenue, savings, population) grows over a period of years, taking into account the effect of annual compounding.
A compound is composed of two or more parts. In the case of compound growth, the two parts are principal and the amount of change in the principal over a certain time period, which is called "interest" in some circumstances.
This is sometimes called "growth on growth" because it measures periodic growth of a value that is itself growing periodically. If we are calculating the annual compound growth rate, then each year the new basis is the previous basis plus the growth over the previous period.
In looking at an investment, the CAGR is a measure that is commonly used to show how quickly the investment, or certain aspects of it, such as gross sales, have been growing. Investment analysts often look at five-year periods to discern a trend. A specific company's rate of growth is often then compared with that of competitors or with the industry as a whole.
For example, Company A had a revenue CAGR of 8.5% over the past five years. One of its direct competitors has grown by 9.4% and two others have seen slower growth. The industry as a whole has seen revenues grow by 7.3% per year, compounded annually. On this basis one would conclude that Company A is doing well and in fact might be gaining market share. Of course, other factors need to be looked at, such as debt and the outlook for the industry.
The formula for compound annual growth rate is:
(A financial calculator may be useful for performing this calculation.)
There are five variables in a compound growth rate calculation:
You need to know four of these values to make the calculation of the fifth.
For example, Company A had revenues of $1.35 billion in 2002. Revenues grew by a CAGR of 8.5% through 2007, a period of five years. We know the beginning value, the length of time, the periodic scale (years) and the periodic rate of change. Now we can determine what the revenue was in 2007.
Average annual change is not to be confused with compound annual change. Average annual change is simply the growth rate over a period, say 50% over ten years, divided by the number of years, which yields 5.0% in this case. That is higher than the CAGR, which is 4.1%.
Compound interest. Useful when there is a set interest rate, as in a savings account. The interest rate is applied to the beginning principal and also to all accumulated interest. Sometimes there is an annual interest rate compounded monthly. Say you deposit $10,000 at an annual interest rate of 12% (you wish!), compounded monthly. At the end of the first month your $10,000 has grown by 1.0% (12%/12), or $100. During the next month the basis is $10,100 and it grows another 1%, or $101, making the balance $10, 201. At the end of one year the balance grows to $11,268. Compare that with $10,000 invested at a simple annual interest rate of 12%, which yields $11,120, which is $148 less.


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FLAIRS 2000 Conference Report
The Thirteenth Annual International Conference of the Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society was held in Orlando, Florida, on 22 to 24 May. The conference included sessions on 11 topics. The session on validation, verification, and system certification was the most extensive. The conference also included panel discussions and invited talks by Subrata Dasgupta, Jim Hendler, and Janet Kolodner.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1609/aimag.v22i1.1550
Copyright © 2018, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved.


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Aluminum Tube RedCote™ Crook
Use this neck crook for grabbing animals as they are passing by or singling one out of a group.
- 54" long
- Red plastic outer finish with black rubber handles and tips
Listed below are recommended optional components or related items. Your particular situation may require alternative recommendations. Please call and talk to our consultants if there are any questions at 800-282-6631.
Restraint and Control
Gambrel Restrainer - largeItem #811000 -
Restrain and control sheep and goats of all sizes with this gambrel restrain, fits over the animals neck and locks their front legs in place.$18.00
Restraint and Control
Restraint Cuff, small, 24 mmItem #811030 -
Strong clasp can contain any build of sheep and it comes in different sizes for your convenience. Animal can't stand or walk when the cuff is in place.$10.00
Restraint and Control
Restraint Cuff, large, 29 mmItem #811032 -
Strong clasp can contain any build of sheep and it comes in different sizes for your convenience. Animal can't stand or walk when the cuff is in place.$11.00
Shepherd's Dog WhistleItem #818000 -
A variable-pitch dog whistle to aid in livestock herding. Often used to train and transmit commands to sheepdogs.$2.25
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Juan C from Tijuana, Mexico
Great product very useful to catch the sheep, and feels great light, strong, I will make sure to have always one or two in my farm.
Excelente prodcuto muy util para atrapar a los borregos, muy ligero y fuerte, Siempre tendre uno o dos en mi rancho.
Robert B from Colorado
I have had two of these crooks for years. They are light, strong, fast and if they bend you can correct the bend quickly. This is my favorite crook and I have tried 4 or 5 types. Great product.
Charles K from Missouri
Heavier than I thought it would be. Appears to be quite sturdy. My normally friendly ram kept his distance the first time I took it with me in the pasture. I used it to hook and release his front leg.
Mary H from Tennessee
Great for when I have to catch a single sheep. Lock everyone in the feeding area and reach for the one I want.
Paul & Kara M from Iowa
This is the second one we have bought- one for our farm and now one for my dad. The one down fall we think is when the crook bends it cracks the paint. We raise Boer goats and they work well, they will bend when used on a larger, stronger goat- but it can bent back or still used. It definitely makes it easier to catch some of our wilder goats.
Good product for the price!


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Over a year ago I tried to get Google Voice working natively on the iPhone via Sprint. The whole system has been plagued with problems and I finally gave up today. See my post on TechCrunch for details.
Over a year ago I tried to get Google Voice working natively on the iPhone via Sprint. The whole system has been plagued with problems and I finally gave up today. See my post on TechCrunch for details.
I've been waiting for this! I've been a GV user since before it was GV and have grown more and more frustrated with the product. Of course my rant means nothing to them, but hopefully Google will take notice of your decision and decide to refocus their energy.
Not that it's an excuse, but they broadcast my Sprint number anytime I'm on Verizon. So close and yet so far.
I've had a great experience with Sprint and GV so far. Maybe I've been inured by years of spotty AT&T coverage here in Chicago, but Sprint works better in my house and I've noticed LTE coverage popping up around here.
I ported my number from AT&T to Sprint when the iPhone 5 came out. Then I "enabled" the number in GV rather than porting it over, so now I only have one number to deal with. I turned off Text Forwarding in the mobile app and turned off iMessage in the iOS settings so I only get and send texts in GV (Group Messaging and MMS still go thru the Messages App).
It's been working great and I love answering calls to my actual number through Gmail. So cool.
And now I'm about to port my parents number over to GV and set it up with an Obihai device. Hopefully I'll have a better experience than you did there as well.
Here is MY issue with the evil Google voice + Sprint = charging my phone bill landline minutes instead of being free call per Google's promise!!!!! After so much frustration, high phone bill(s) is that it now disclose that GV is charging your phone bill with the iPhone, it didn't before. Now you can test drive my research by having the airplane mode on and if you can still make calls via wifi, congrats and you're lucky! If you can't make calls then guess what, you're screwed! So to clarify you receive free calls to you GV# but the calls OUT are billed. Good luck! And please post your research!
Doesn't make a good case for a lot of others who've had a great time with GV. But yeah, the service has been buggy all along for a lot and I don't think Google's overall approach to the product is as if there's a problem.
Ever since I got an iPhone 5 my GV isn't letting me sign in and is notifying me that I don't have a GV account. I even made a new account and even THAT didnt work. You have a better chance with another app.
How do I get my GV to work on my Iphone 5?
I want to share some vital info i figured out for fixing Sprint/iPhone/GoogleVoice text and voicemail problems. When i switched from Android to iPhone months ago, half of my incoming texts would no longer forward to the GoogleVoice app on my computer; and after 3 days of calls to tech support (and speaking to 6 or 7 different Customer Care providers), finally someone found the problem: You must turn off Apple's iMessage application on the iPhone, and THEN the super-handy feature of texts and voicemails going to GoogleVoice will work once again. Without making this setting change, i would only receive maybe 50% of my texts.. and it turns out these were from the non-iPhone users. Now all texts work again, and i can do business when i'm outside Sprint reception,… as long as i have internet connection (like overseas 🙂 I hope this helps somebody out there!
Has anyone had problems MAKING calls using a Spring Iphone with an integrated GV number? Sometimes When I place calls I just get a busy signal, like 5 times in a row, before the call will go through…. Very Annoying! Any suggestions? Thanks!


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The Westin Buckhead Atlanta is situated in the heart of the action, on Peachtree Road amid world-class shopping and dining destinations.
Those seeking a little retail therapy need look no further than adjacent, high-end shopping venues such as Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza. Families hoping to keep the kids entertained can reach LEGOLAND, the Georgia Aquarium—the world's largest aquarium—and the new World of Coca-Cola within minutes.
Brimming with history and culture, the area boasts countless attractions such as the Margaret Mitchell House, Martin Luther King's birthplace, the High Museum of Art, and Atlantic Station. Of course, Buckhead's rolling hills and tree-lined streets make the neighborhood ideal for a leisurely stroll or an invigorating run.
View Local Area Map


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Electric Vehicles International (EVI) Ramping Up in Preparation for Increased Demand in 2013
Vehicle manufacturer steadily ramping manufacturing capability and expanding component supply base to meet increased demand for 2013 spurred by more aggressive government incentives in California, New York and Chicago
Feb 22, 2013, 07:54 EST
STOCKTON, Calif., Feb. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- EVI, a producer of Alternative Energy Vehicles (AEVs), is proud to announce significant and early 2013 gains in the medium and heavy duty truck manufacturing industry sectors.
"This is an exciting time for EVI, and consumers worldwide", noted Ricky Hanna, President and CEO of EVI. "We're proud to provide a commercial zero emission solution for today's goods movement industry that sets the stage for stable and sustainable fleet management for decades to come."
Most recently, EVI was recognized by Governor Brown for manufacturing and delivering over 15 trucks a month for UPS's landmark 100-vehicle purchase order. EVI has manufactured and successfully deployed 50 of those medium duty trucks to date and employs roughly 60 staff in its Stockton California facility.
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) has joined forces with EVI in an effort to Co-Promote its all-electric Walk-In Van, which is built on an FCCC chassis. As part of this effort, FCCC and EVI will jointly work together to target electric vehicle compatible fleets. FCCC will display EVI's Walk-In Van in Freightliner's booth at the Association for The Work Truck Industry (NTEA) trade show next month.
"FCCC has been a longtime leader in developing alternative-fuel propulsion chassis, and we see our work with EVI in the development of all-electric products as an important area of focus and opportunity," said Bob Harbin, President of FCCC. "As you can see, EVI has experienced strong interest in this product, and we are excited about what the future holds for the development and expansion of all-electric products in the light- and medium-duty truck market."
Several states including California and New York and most recently the City of Chicago have begun offering much needed deployment incentives to companies willing to be early adopters of electric medium duty trucks. EVI, realizing a rich market opportunity, is also currently considering expanding its enterprise in to the Midwest over the long-term so we can continue growing our customer base. The company is excited to be working with several industry leading companies actively looking to expand their electric vehicle fleets.
John Boesel, President and Chief Executive Officer of CALSTART noted that states with policies in place which incentivize clean transportation technology are rapidly reaping the environmental and economic rewards involved. "It's heartening to see companies like EVI which take full advantage of these financial incentives succeed on so many levels. Indeed, they are the ones setting the stage for a clean transportation future."
As EVI and the industry continue to grow, the company seeks the best innovative products at the most competitive pricing. Accordingly, EVI will be inviting all perspective vendors to submit a competitive bid for the products listed below:
Charging systems
EVSE (Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment)
Die Casting and Metal fabrication
Details of Bid process
- On March 1, 2013 all current suppliers will receive the open bid process invitation and anticipated 2013 product volumes.
- Please provide EVI with the requested price bid or a letter indicating that you do not wish to quote a price for the 2013 competitive bid. 2013 bids are due to EVI by 4:00pm on Friday, March 22nd 2013.
- Vendors will be notified of accepted proposals once all of the quotes have been reviewed and verified.
If you are not currently a supplier to EVI and would like to be considered please send a request to firstname.lastname@example.com. In addition EVI will be strategically sending out request for quotes to specifically targeted suppliers that have proven technology.
Should you have any questions please contact Robert Falcon at (209) 507-7531.
About EVI
Electric Vehicles International, LLC (EVI) has been established for 20 years, has shipped over 1,000 alternative energy vehicles (AEVs) worldwide, and has alliances with some of the industry's most respected and reliable companies for component parts, such as chassis, cabs, and batteries. To learn more, visit the EVI website at: http://evi-usa.com/
About Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation manufactures premium chassis for the motorhome, delivery walk-in van, and school bus and shuttle bus markets. Visit the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation website at www.freightlinerchassis.com for additional FCCC news and product information. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.
About CALSTART
CALSTART is a member-supported organization of more than 140 firms, fleets and agencies worldwide dedicated to supporting a growing high-tech, clean transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs, cuts imported oil and reduces global warming emissions. CALSTART provides services and consulting to spur advanced transportation technologies, fuels, systems and the companies that make them. To learn more, visit: http://www.calstart.org/Homepage.aspx


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Improving Outcomes in the PCMH
by Kosta Deligiannides, MD, MPH
in each pod, to tackle a specific project aimed at improving our quality indicators.In the blue pod, Drs. Blumhofer and Davidson are working on improving our rates of cervical cancer screening. Drs. Sahd and Hayden are improving gonorrhea and chlamydia screening in the green pod. Drs. Cersosimo and Boucher are improving breast cancer screening in the purple pod. Drs. Cornelio and Chang are working on colon cancer screening.Each team includes not only the residents but staff from the pods to pilot approaches in their pods. Following successful PDSA cycles the strategies are then spread to other areas of the health center. In addition, Dr. Trotter, the Behavioral Science Fellow, is working on improving our approach topatients with depression.Quarterly full staff meetings are used to disseminate the plans and progress of the projects with discussion led by the residents. During monthly QI committee meetings, we talk about QI concepts (such as goal and measure setting, PDSA cycles and process mapping), and the residents are work on the IHI Open School modules in order to receive certification by graduation. It's a pleasure to see residents tackling QI projects and learning about QI, as they will no doubt use these skills in their future work settings, wherever they may be, to lead change and health care improvement.


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Open Box (Mint) Ludwig Legacy Classic Liverpool 4 Tom 13 x 9 in. Black Oyster Pearl
(13 x 9 in.Black Oyster Pearl)
Sku #582780004700018
Mounted Toms
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The exciting return of an American classic.
Ludwig proudly presents their Legacy Classic Liverpool 4 series drums, reissues of the drums that comprised the classic kit that launched so many drummers. This 13" x 9" tom drum is covered in a faithful reproduction of the original "Oyster Black" pearl finish with Classic lugs and tom bracket.
Tradition, craftsmanship, and visionary excellence: these are the values at the center of Ludwig's classic legacy. With these values comes a commitment as true as the care and pride that goes into each drum, hand-crafted at Ludwig's manufacturing facility in the North Carolina foothills. It is with this ethic in mind that Ludwig celebrates the return of a true American classic.
Combining the benefits of today's most advanced drum-making processes with the know-how that comes with making drums for nearly a century, Ludwig's Legacy Classic Series tom drum revives the distinctive sound of these famous drums. These custom-built, American-made drums are based on a modern rethinking of the legendary, reinforced 3-ply Ludwig drum shells that set the standard for popular music throughout the 20th Century.
Incorporating many of the same methods used throughout its long and illustrious history, Ludwig's exclusive Legacy Classic Liverpool 4 shells are made in-house from the choicest cuts of hand-selected North American hardwoods. At the core of the Ludwig tom is a single 1/8" ply of premium poplar for unyielding warmth and resonance. Inner and outer plies of 1/16" premium-grade North American maple are then cross-laminated to the core to reproduce that magical balance of power and clarity for the modern era. This proven design is then augmented with 1/4" single-ply maple reinforcement hoops, and rounded, classic-cut bearing edges for thundering lows and pronounced cut in any musical situation. The attractive maple outer drum shells are then treated in durable lacquer finishes. All Legacy Classic Liverpool 4 drums also feature Ludwig's Classic mini-lugs and traditional "Keystone" badges.
But Legacy Classic Liverpool 4 tom drum is not merely a blast from the past. These drums take full advantage of state-of-the-art manufacturing, careful quality control, and a host of upgrades and innovations that only a company with Ludwig's experience and expertise can offer. For the discriminating professional, serious part-time player, and vintage and contemporary collector alike, Ludwig Legacy Classic tom drum is truly the best of today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
- USA Made
- 13" x 9" 3-ply maple/poplar/maple shell
- Single-ply maple reinforcement hoops
- Classic-cut bearing edges
- Oyster Black pearl finish
- Triple-flange hoops
- Classic lugs
- Classic tom bracket
A revered brand in drums that lives up to its name with the Legacy Classic. Order yours today.


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January 13, 2013 (CHICAGO) --A group of high-profile business leaders say legalizing gay marriage in Illinois will help create a more competitive and thriving business climate.
The group publicly released a letter Sunday that'll be sent to lawmakers this week. It says allowing same sex couples to marry would generate between $39 million and $72 million in revenues for Illinois businesses.
Those who've signed include the heads of Navistar International, Johnson Publishing and Morningstar Inc., along with the heads of restaurants and hotels.
Lawmakers did not take up legalizing gay marriage during the lame-duck session which ended last week before new lawmakers were sworn in. The legislation would offer same-sex couples marriage rights now only available to heterosexual couples.
Several religious groups oppose allowing same-sex marriage in Illinois calling it "dangerous" to religious freedom.


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While landscape architects are a diverse group of individuals, they seem to share certain common traits. Landscape architects care for and respect the natural environment. Landscape architects are concerned for the quality of the human environment as well. They are creative...that is they can visualize things that don't yet exist. Landscape architects enjoy the process of analyzing and resolving complex problems.
Landscape architects are often found with their pen and sketchbook in hand. Drawing and sketching is both business and pleasure for many of these design professionals. But while abilities in drawing and sketching are important tools for communicating design solutions, verbal communication and writing skills are equally important. Landscape architects take pride in their dedication to the stewardship of our natural environment.
Landscape architects are creative problem solvers who combine a genuine concern for our environment with analytical, process-oriented methodologies. Human beings cannot live without nature. Of this we are certain. It is equally true, however, that we cannot live in nature without altering it. Whenever humans endeavor to alter the world's landscape, landscape architects offer their unique set of skills to ensure a harmonious marriage of nature and people.
What are some of the ways that people alter the landscape? People build cities and towns; parks and plazas; golf courses; parkways and highways; airports; office buildings; retail facilities; resorts and hotels; residential communities. The list goes on. Landscape architects plan and design all of these and more. A landscape architect often works on a multi-disciplinary team with architects, engineers, environmentalists, urban designers and others to plan these facilities.
A landscape architect is a designer. Landscape architects utilize a creative approach to determine inventive and innovative solutions to development problems. They study alternative solutions utilizing tools that range from sketches to computers...from pencils to digitizers.
A landscape architect is a planner. Landscape architects must possess a vision for the future, and a plan for getting there. The processes utilized by landscape architects apply to all scales of projects, ranging from a single residence to a master-plan for the development of thousands of acres.
A landscape architect is a communicator. The world's landscape is a precious resource. Our clients, co-workers, agencies and the public have the need and the right to understand the nature of any changes that are being proposed to their environment. Landscape architects must possess the graphic and verbal skills to articulate their visions clearly if they hope to gain the support and approvals necessary to proceed with a plan.
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Mixed up by the message
To the Editor:
Your story on the recycling changes was on point but the comments by the mayor threw me for a loop where he's stating that the city is moving to no longer pick up regular garbage without a recycling bucket on the curb. I understand in cities with low recycling rates it seems like a good practice, but in Warwick this seems like a slap in the face from a few perspectives.
I work for MetLife and we had the pleasure of a Rhode Island Resource Recovery director come to a lunch and learn back in April to explain the new process to us. And at her direction, I've been mixing recycling types for two months now. In my household, we prefer to serve fresh vegetables instead of canned goods and we don't drink milk, so the majority of our recycling is cat food cans, the occasional Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee cup and the Beacon and Journal, which we get only on the weekends. I've been putting everything mixed into my blue bucket. I can tell you that even mixing trash, I only need to put out the blue bucket every two to three biweekly cycles. In fact, this past week I only put out the blue bucket as the regular trash was only one-third full. Next week when the trash is two-thirds full, I will put it out but with only about 4 inches of recycling in my bucket. With the mayor's plan, my garbage will not be picked up unless I trot out my nearly empty blue bucket.
Does this seem like a good use of manpower, equipment and time for the city worker to empty two days of newspaper, four cat cans and two iced coffee cups in my blue bucket? At a time when we should be looking for ways to cut back on city resources and expenses, this seems to be contrary to that plan. I'm not even asking to layoff sanitation people; perhaps reassign them to other areas in city government, like pothole repairs or park cleaning, etc. And with the dramatic increase in what's able to be recycled now, the garbage to recycling percentage will be much less, thus our cost to use the landfill for dumping will be reduced. I'd like to think the mayor has also considered this expense reduction in his 2012-2013 budget.
Scott Nerney


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The last article Ted Solotaroff wrote for The Nation was a short tribute to Emile Capouya, an essayist, short story writer, book editor and, from 1970 to 1976, this magazine's literary editor. When his article was published in 2005, Ted was immersed in writing a memoir about his own days as a literary editor and critic. "Adventures in Editing," the second part of which will appear in the next issue of The Nation, is an edited version of that memoir, which was left unfinished when Ted died in August. "Adventures in Editing" concerns Ted's first magazine gig: the years he worked under the tutelage of Norman Podhoretz at Commentary in the early 1960s. As Ted honed his editorial chops, befriended writers and clashed with his boss, he also gradually awakened to the conviction that would soon guide his work on the phenomenal little magazine New American Review: "Literature was too important a democratic resource to be left to the literati." One can also see Ted fashioning what book editor Gerald Howard has called his "exquisitely calibrated openness to the new with old-school rigor." We are especially grateful to Ted's literary executor, Maura Spiegel, for her assistance in publishing this article; to his son Isaac Solotaroff for providing photographs of Ted; and to Adam Bright for research. –John Palattella
I began working at Commentary in September 1960, some nine months after Norman Podhoretz had taken over, invigorating the magazine and steering it in a less Jewish and more leftward direction. By leading off his first three issues with long excerpts from Growing Up Absurd by Paul Goodman, the surprise witness whose testimony would soon change the terms of the debate about American society from conformist to deformed, Norman made it clear that the magazine would hold its own as the suddenly prominent new voice of a new decade. It was a great place to be, and a vastly unexpected one for someone who had been about to begin teaching two sections of Factual Writing for Forestry Students at the University of Washington.
The first morning, I was shown into my office by Sherry Abel, the managing editor, a large, graceful, middle-aged woman with a droll air. "Norman wants you to read these," she said, indicating a file folder on the desk with several manuscripts. "They're for the meeting this afternoon. After that you can look through those." She nodded toward two stacks of manuscripts, their return envelopes attached to them like lepers' bells. "They're from what we call the slush pile. You'll soon see why."


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You can check to see if your computer settings are compatible with Excelsior College by running a System Check. The System Check application will report back to you if your computer is properly configured to work with the Excelsior College Web site and other programs.
To change your contact information, sign into your My Excelsior account, go to My Student Account tab and click on the link for My Personal Profile. You will be able to update your permanent and mailing addresses, phone numbers, as well as email address.
Click the Log in to MyExcelsior link at the top right of any page, and then click on Create a Free MyExcelsior User Account. You will be asked to enter your contact information on the initial screen. Please make sure to read and accept the Academic Honesty and Electronic Use policies.
For security reasons, you may be asked to verify your account by entering your date of birth and either the last four digits of your Social Security number or Student ID number.
The next screen will ask you to choose a username and password for the site. You will also be able to select and answer a security question. Complete your interest information and click to complete registration. This will establish and activate your user account.
Though information is available on our general pages, in order to access specific resources and services on the Excelsior College Web site, you must create a free user account. Starting at the Excelsior College homepage, click on the Log in to MyExcelsior button, then click on Create a MyExcelsior User Account.
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M83723/86W14078-LC | Mil-Spec - Straight Plug
Image is for illustrative purposes only.
Actual configuration and finish might be different.
Questions? Live Chat!
|Product Category
|Straight Plug
|MIL-DTL-83723 Series III
|Shell Style
|M83723/86 - Threaded Straight Plug With Socket Contacts
|Shell Size
|Shell Size 14
1Why can't my item ship immediately?
Most military cylindrical connectors and accessories are assembled from component form, and may require final assembly and inspection before the parts can ship.
Please contact us for expedite assembly options.
M83723/86W14078-LC Description
M83723/86 Straight Plug With Socket Contacts
The M83723/86 cable-mounted plug is the standard threaded mate for all M83723 threaded receptacles. It has socket contacts. A backshell must be used to protect wire terminations, and a variety of backshells are available within the series, including EMI/RFI, shrink boot, strain relief, and environmental. A protective cover should be used to protect the contacts and coupling system when the connector is not in use.
W - Olive Drab Cadmium
Meets performance specifications for MIL-DTL-83723 Series III. Olive drab cadmium finish, aluminum shell, corrosion and fluid resistant. 500 hrs salt spray rating. Operating temperature -85° to +347°F (–65° to +175°C).
Shell Size
M83723 connector shell size 14.


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The Radiology Department offers an ACGME-accredited fellowship in Neuroradiology to candidates who have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Diagnostic Radiology. We participate in the Neuroradiology Fellowship Match administered by the National Residency Match Program (NRMP), and use the universal fellowship application designed by the Association of Program Directors in Radiology.
Typically, interviews begin in late winter/early spring of the candidate's 3rd year with the applicant's program rankings due early that summer. Our program has been certified to accept up to 4 fellows per year. Satisfactory completion of the fellowship fulfills requirements for senior membership in the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) and enables the candidate to sit for the Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Neuroradiology offered by the American Board of Radiology.
Sandra Smith firstname.lastname@example.com
The fellowship experience encompasses a broad clinical exposure to all aspects of modern diagnostic and therapeutic Neuroradiology, including angiography, interventional Neuroradiology, myelography, CT, MR, PET, ENT and neurosonography.
The fellowship is largely clinical and procedure-oriented, with a required core of Neuroradiology subjects. Typical rotations include angio (3 months), MRI (4 months), CT (4 months), and research (1 month).
Research is encouraged and supported throughout the fellowship. Eighteen of our former fellows are in academic medicine; 3 have won the Dyke Award, and 2 are Rhodes Scholars. Active research projects include:
A robust MR physics program, with research into flow measurement, phantom design and innovative pulse sequence development, complements the neuroradiology experience. There is a 7.4T horizontal bore small animal imager/spectrometer on-site in the Department of Biochemistry; this unit is available for new research projects and members of the Neuroradiology section participate in ongoing projects in this program. A 64-slice GE CT and a 3.0 T Siemens MR scanner have been recently installed and are 100% dedicated to research.
As a result of this clinical training and didactic conferences, we expect each neuroradiology fellow who finishes training with us to be able to:
The Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center consists of a 4-year medical school and an 850-bed teaching hospital. Serving a population of over 2,000,000 people, it represents the closest academic medical center to patients in western North Carolina, southern Virginia, and western South Carolina.
The neuroradiology case load comprises a well-balanced mixture of congenital, traumatic, degenerative, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. The Medical Center houses a 150-bed children's hospital, a rehabilitation facility, and a comprehensive cancer center. The institution's faculty includes internationally recognized authorities in neurology, neurosurgery, and ENT.
Clinical equipment for neuroradiology is state-of-the-art. Such equipment includes 11 helical CT scanners, 8 of which are GE LightSpeed with 3-D rendering and CT angiographic capabilities, as well as GE's newest Discovery CT750 HD. The medical center houses 6 on-site diagnostic MRI scanners including 2 Siemens 3.0T units (1 in main MRI facility and other at the Comprehensive Cancer Center) in addition to 4 1.5T units (2 GE and 2 Siemens). Advanced techniques are available such as MRA, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), arterial spin labeled (ASL) perfusion, fMRI (BOLD activation studies), and multivoxel spectroscopy. A Siemens biplane flat panel interventional angiography suite is dedicated for neurointerventional procedures. The PET facility has a Siemens cyclotron and a GE Advance scanner that are fully under the control of the Department of Radiology.
Advanced techniques are available such as MRA, diffusion imaging, FAIR quantitative cerebral blood flow, fMRI (BOLD activation studies), multivoxel/multinuclear spectroscopy. A Siemens interventional angio suite is also available for exclusive use by neuroradiology. The PET facility has a Siemens cyclotron and a GE Advance scanner, and they are fully under the control of the Department of Radiology. A GE 1.5T MR scanner and a GE 16-slice CT scanner are available for research. Two PET/CT scanners are also in place (1 located in the radiology department and 1 for treatment planning located in the Cancer Center).
Approximate yearly workloads in each area are:
Three weeks of vacation are given each year. Each fellow is also allowed to attend an educational meeting of his/her choice with reasonable expenses paid for by the department. Additional paid meeting time is also allotted if a fellow presents a paper at a national radiology meeting. Salary and fringe benefits are on par with other nationally-recognized fellowships. A book fund is also available ($400 per year).
Christopher T. Whitlow, MD, PhD - Section HeadMichael D. Baker, MDPaul M. Bunch, MDJonathan H. Burdette, MDCarol P. Geer, MDChristopher Lack, MD, PhD - Fellowship DirectorJeffry R. Sachs, MDAdam P. Sweeney, MDThomas G. West, MDDaniel W. Williams, III, MDMichael E. Zapadka, DO
Radiology residents who desire to begin a fellowship immediately following the completion of their residency should apply in the late fall/early winter of their 3rd year of radiology residency. Minimum qualifications for the fellowship include successful completion of a diagnostic radiology residency and board certification by the ABR or equivalent, and the ability to obtain a license to practice medicine in North Carolina. A personal interview is required unless there are exceptional circumstances.
A completed application consists of the following:
Completed applications, letters of recommendation, and supporting documents should be addressed to :Chris Lack, MD, PhDMs. SmithRequests for application materials and inquiries concerning interview arrangements, the receipt of materials and administrative details of the application process should be addressed to Ms. Smith at email@example.com.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.


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Va. Tech honoring Conn. shooting victims with decal
Va. Tech honoring Conn. shooting victims with decal
BLACKSBURG, Va. —
The Virginia Tech football team is honoring the Connecticut school shooting victims and the similar tragedy on its own campus in 2007 with a helmet decal.
The Hokies are in Orlando, Fla., preparing to take on Rutgers on Friday in the Russell Athletic Bowl. The team is wearing a large ribbon on the side of their practice helmets this week.
The Roanoke Times reports that the decal is half green for Sandy Hook Elementary School and half orange for Virginia Tech with the number 58 in the center. That's the combined number of victims at the schools in the shooting incidents. It also has the word "Prevail" written across it.
A smaller decal will be placed on the back of the helmet for the bowl game.


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$2.00 to $10.99
Pet Life Multi-Flavor Biscuits are fortified with 12 essential vitamins and minerals. Resealable packaging and made in the USA. Read More
Multi-Flavor Biscuits
Fortified with 12 essential vitamins and minerals. Naturally preserved. For clean and healthy teeth. Resealable packaging to keep biscuits fresh.
Flavors include beef, chicken, vegetable, peanut butter and bacon.
Made in the USA
Never leave a pet unattended with any treat or toy!
- Country of Origin: USA
- Brand: Sunshine Mills, Inc
- Type: Biscuit
- Size: 14.5 oz Bag,4 lb,6 lb Tub
Reviews (2)
"14.5 oz bag"
I love that these are made in the USA! My dog really likes them too; next time I think I'll have to get the 8# tub. However, they're more like bite sized (approx. 2" long) treats for bigger dogs.
"USA Made & Dogs Love them"
I have gotten these treats and gave them to friends and all the dogs love them. They are a bit large but similar to other dry biscuits, easy to break in 2 or 3 pcs to make the value that much better. Love the product, Love the price, Love that they are USA made ! I'm buying more - Love Jeffers Pet
You May Also Like
Beef-Basted Dog Biscuits, 6 lbs


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Spring 2008 Issue
Tech Savvy
Barry University hosted some of the top IT representatives from South Florida businesses and universities December 7 as part of the "Skills in the 21st Century," an academic initiative put on by representatives of IBM to address the nationwide decrease of student enrollment within technical degree programs.
The gathering served as a forum between South Florida's business and higher education communities, so that the area's colleges and universities have a better understanding of the computer skills that are needed by businesses today. According to IBM, there are 70 million people expected to leave the IT workforce within the next 20 years, with only 40 million educated enough to take their place.


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SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2004--Artisan Components, Inc., (Nasdaq:ARTI), a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP), today announced it has been named on Electronic Business' list as one of 30 Best Small Electronics Companies. The list was published in the Reed Electronics Group's April 2004 issue of Electronic Business Online. The 30 companies were ranked by annual revenue growth over the past three years. Artisan is the only semiconductor IP company to make the list.
According to the Electronics Business report, the 30 Best Small Electronics Companies were selected from a list of more than 200 public electronics companies with annual revenues below $250 million that have exhibited strong annual and quarterly revenue growth. The list of 30 companies was determined by considering quantitative factors such as profitability, quarter-to-quarter revenue growth and future growth potential. Reed Business Research, who compiled the list, also took into account the companies' qualitative attributes such as innovation, leadership and technology.
This honor follows Artisan being named in Reed Electronics Group's list of "50 Companies to Watch in 2004" as part of its Electronics Industry's Movers & Shakers November 2003 supplement. The list included Artisan as one of 50 top companies that have outperformed the market and showcases some of the most interesting businesses in the world.
"Artisan's position as an industry leader has allowed us to invest in R&D as well as business expansion, bringing increasing value to our partners and customers," said Mark Templeton, president and chief executive officer of Artisan. "Artisan is honored to be included among the companies that are driving innovation and solutions in the electronics industry."
About Artisan Components
Artisan Components, Inc. is a leading provider of physical intellectual property (IP) components for the design and manufacture of complex system-on-a-chip integrated circuits. Artisan's products include embedded memory, standard cell, input/output, analog and mixed-signal components, which are designed to achieve the best combination of performance, density, power and yield for a given manufacturing process. Artisan has licensed its IP components to over 1,200 companies involved in integrated circuit design. Artisan is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. More information about Artisan Components, including free library access, can be found at access.arm.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding the future growth potential of Artisan in terms of its revenues, business and technology. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the continued demand for semiconductors including Artisan's products and the production of those semiconductors in volume; delays in the design process or delays in a customer's project that use Artisan's products; the rapid pace of technological development; Artisan's ability to negotiate, structure, monitor and enforce agreements for the determination and payment of royalties; and the acceptance of Artisan's products by existing and new customers. For additional information and considerations regarding the risks faced by Artisan, see its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other periodic reports filed with the SEC from time to time, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
Artisan Components and Artisan are registered trademarks of Artisan Components, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


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Think you want to stay home to raise your future children? Think you don't? Either way, you should read this.
A few weeks ago I was sitting with a few fellow moms and running some article ideas by them while our kids played around our feet. My friends were being kind. To one idea, "Yeah, that sounds good." To another, "Sure, that could be interesting." And then I named off one more.
"So, I was also thinking about doing something like ... you know ... things you should do before you have kids so it's financially easier to stay at home later."
They hit the roof.
"Absolutely!" one cried, practically leaping off the couch. "That's the most important thing they need to know!"
"I sooo wish someone had told me that kind of stuff," the other agreed, emphatically nodding.
And so started a 45-minute conversation on "what I wish I had known back then." It was as if we all desperately wished we could send a letter back to our 20-something selves. We wanted to tell ourselves how important staying home with our kids means to us and how we needed to shape up financially to make it easier on our 30-something realities.
Unfortunately, not possible. But we can do the next best thing — we can send a letter to you. So, this is it. Our "top 10 things we wish someone had sat down and told us back then." May it bless you on your journey to motherhood.
All the financial wisdom in the world is garbage compared to God's wisdom. As you look down the road to motherhood, place it all in God's hands. Ask Him to give you wisdom, financial and otherwise, to prepare you for this incredible voyage. As you read through this list, I hope you'll ask the Holy Spirit to come along with you. Ask Him what you need to be doing. Maybe it's on this page, maybe it's not. He'll know.
One of the mommies in our group, Ashley, hadn't thought much about staying home after her first child was born. After all, she had a "dream job." She expected to take her 12 weeks of maternity leave and dive back in.
But as the day approached for Ashley to return to work, things changed. It was "agonizing," she remembers. "I just broke down in tears at the thought of leaving my own child." So Ashley went to her husband. They knew money was going to be an issue — there was law school tuition to pay off — but both agreed that Ashley should stay home to raise Anna.
"Frankly," Ashley says, "I felt relieved. I just didn't care as much about my job as I did my new baby daughter."
You may think now that you'll want to work full time after having children. You may feel the same way after your baby is born. But you may not. Arrange your finances now as if you are going to stay home, then you'll give yourself the option.
The average four-year college graduate leaves her university with a degree and $29,400 in debt. That comes out to a payment of around $245 a month for 10 years — $490 a month for your "average" couple. Imagine trying to repay that while eliminating one income.
So what's a girl to do? Sacrifice her education? No. But do keep your educational goals in perspective with your other life goals. The simple truth is that you don't have to take on that much debt. There are steps you can take to reduce, or even eliminate, student loans.
A few years ago, an old college friend came to visit. As we were pushing our infants on swings in the back yard, she turned to me, "I wish I could stay at home like you do, but we just can't afford it." I was little incredulous. Couldn't afford it? This couple, I knew, had two homes, two beautiful cars and took wonderful vacations.
As she continued to talk, though, it became clear. Her husband was not willing to adjust their style of living — at all. She was absolutely right. With their financial commitments, they simply could not afford to lose her income.
What about your future spouse? Will he support a decision for you to raise your children? You need to find out, my friend Ashley advises. "Talk to him about what you envision happening after the birth of your child. I think we all play out scenarios in our head of what life will be like. Make sure that your scenarios are pretty close."
Ashley counts herself very lucky. "I cannot imagine what I would've done if my husband had disagreed with me." My college friend knows. She's still working.
In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens describes Jacob Marley, Scrooge's ghostly visitor and old business partner, as dragging an oppressive chain of "cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel"? Good visual, huh?
"I wear the chain I forged in life," groaned the Ghost, when questioned about it by Scrooge. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."
The chain, of course, is symbolic of Marley's greed. But it wouldn't be a bad symbol of our personal debt. How many of us have built our debt link by link, of our own free will, only to realize that it's like a prison to us.
It's so tempting to buy. But later, when you are holding something eternal in your arms, will those purchases be blessings or burdens? If you haven't already, make getting rid of any debt your No. 2 financial priority! Drive older cars, eliminate credit card debt and only buy big items once you've saved to pay for them. I promise you, you will reap the rewards. Instead of dragging your debt chain around the playground, you will feel like jumping and skipping with your kids.
This may seem a little strange, but if I'm going to advise you to cut expenses on cars and other large purchases, it would be remiss not to mention one of the biggest expenses that newly married couples have: their weddings.
According to a 2013 study, the average wedding now costs over $30,000. Wow! That's a lot of money for one day. But if it's a day you've been waiting to celebrate your whole life, it can be downright difficult to be disciplined.
So, let's look at two things you can do. One, of course, is cut the expenses. My sister got married in 2006 in an absolutely gorgeous ceremony with a wedding budget of $2,000. I saw what she did. It can be done! The second is to save like crazy for it. Will you be able to save $30,000? I'd be surprised. But you can save a lot. However much you have, you do need to commit to only spend what is in your budget. Let's all say it together: "If I need to finance it, I cannot afford it."
This is from my friend, Christine. Every time I ask her advice on what I should write an article about she says the same thing, "Tell them to live on one income when they get married!"
"Yeah, Christine," I smile. "I've done that. A couple of times."
"You can never remind them enough," she says.
The first time I heard the word "DINK" was when I was one.
"You're a DINK," a male coworker told me.
"I'm a what?"
"A DINK. You know, a Double Income No Kids," he said.
"OK, yeah, I get it."
"Soon, you'll be a SIKOM."
"Define," I said.
"A Single Income with Kids and an Oppressive Mortgage."
He was right. I'm now living on a single income. I have kids. And, though my husband and I have taken steps toward taming the mortgage, it's still there.
Housing will be your No. 1 budget expense. If you want to stay home with your kids, you need to be extraordinarily cautious about buying more house than you will be able to afford.
I freelance write. One friend teaches gymnastics lessons. Others do decorative painting, part-time public relations, photography, graphic design or makeup sales.
For many stay-at-home moms, our "side incomes" help to keep our families in the black. It may help to keep your family in the black, too. Have you thought about what you might be able to do while staying at home? The time to start developing that business is now, when you have the energy and time to devote to it.
My sister-in-law, Stacey, will soon be reaping the rewards of just such planning. Five years ago, our pastor asked her if she would be willing to teach his daughters piano lessons. Stacey had never really considered it before — she already had a full-time job. But, she says, "After praying about it, I decided to try it and see what God was up to."
Now, as Stacey expects her first child this summer, she sees exactly what God was helping her to do. "He was beginning a great work," she says. "I'm so thankful that I will be able to stay at home and teach piano lessons around the schedule of my family."
It would be unfair, though, if I didn't mention that working out of your home while your children are young can be extraordinarily challenging. Those same friends who have side jobs also have to juggle babysitting schedules, willing relatives to watch their kids, or very limited periods of productivity. Often I've found myself writing during nap times or very late at night, and am thankful for a husband and in-laws who help me to get my job done.
Does reading over this list discourage you? Are you feeling like you have so little time and so much to do? Like you'll never be able to stay at home and still make ends meet? Then, please, take this encouragement. You can do it! It may take a little sacrifice, it may take a lot, but you can do it. And I truly believe that God will delight in you and bless you for it.
Copyright 2007 Heather Koerner. All rights reserved.
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