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Lily Collins: New 'Mortal Instruments' Trailer & Stills!
Lily Collins hops on the back of a motorcycle with Jamie Campbell Bower in this new still from The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
Set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager, Clary Fray (Collins), discovers she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect our world from demons.
After the disappearance of her mother (Lena Headey), Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters, who introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld, filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other deadly creatures.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones opens August 21st! 10+ pics inside…
Posted to: Jamie Campbell Bower, Jemima West, Lily Collins, Robert Sheehan


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|Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections: Georgia (UNAIDS, 2000, 12 p.)
Mapping the geographical distribution of HIV sentinel sites for different population groups may assist interpreting both the national coverage of the HIV surveillance system and explaining differences in levels and trends of prevalence. The UNAIDS/WHO Working Group on Global HIV/AIDS and STI Surveillance, in collaboration with the UNICEF/WHO HealthMap Programme, has produced maps showing the location and HIV prevalence of HIV sentinel sites in relation to population density, major urban areas and communication routes. Maps illustrate separately the most recent results from HIV sentinel surveillance in pregnant women and in sub-populations at higher risk of HIV infection.

subset: commoncrawl


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7 May 2013 11:35:36 AM
12 Weird Facts About Point-Deductions in the UFC [MMA STATS]
The tireless researchers at MMADecisions.com have just released a chart detailing every referee point-deduction in UFC history, for fights that went to decision. It's a surprisingly short list, but it reveals some very interesting facts. We've screen-capped the chart above; click it to enlarge, and visit the "History of Point Deductions" page on MMADecisions to learn more about each individual fight.
Now, what does this chart tell us? Well…
1. In over 11 years of UFC events since 2001, only 22 points have been deducted during fights that went to the judges.
2. None of those point-deductions happened in 2003-2005, for some reason.
3. Herb Dean is the leading point-docker on the list with five points total. John McCarthy, Mario Yamasaki, and Steve Mazzagatti all trail him with four apiece.
4. Kicks to the groin lead the list of most-frequently penalized infractions (five deducted points total), with illegal upkicks to a downed opponent coming in second place (four deducted points). Eye pokes show up only once on the list. Still no love for the balls of the face.Read More DIGG THIS


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Velez Genuine Women Medium Brown Leather Travel Saddlebag Crossbody HandbagsU|Honey Honey U
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AUBURN, N.Y. (AP) — For a few hours, he was just Uncle Joe.
Vice President Joe Biden was in the Syracuse area on Saturday to see his niece get married.
The Post-Standard reports (http://bit.ly/TsSVIR) Biden tried his best to keep the focus on bride Marren Hunter and groom Gregory Felter, despite his usual Secret Service detail tagging along.
Hunter's father is the brother of Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter. She died in a car accident in 1972.
The newspaper reports Biden sat with Neilia's family in the third row.
He didn't speak during the service and wasn't mentioned in the wedding program, which included a tribute to Neilia.
Biden's son, Beau, also attended the wedding. He's the attorney general of Delaware.
Joe Biden waved to onlookers as he entered church through a side door.
Information from: The Post-Standard, http://www.syracuse.com


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The Lumia 920 is available at Amazon Germany with prices starting from €319 for the grey variant. Multiple colours available provides consumers ample choice when it comes to wanting to personalise their experience with a unique model. The Nokia flagship is still very relevant today, even with the release of the Lumia 1020 and Lumia 925.
So how much will you be looking to pay for the Lumia 920? Here's a list of versions available on Amazon's website:
Will you be picking one up? Let us know in the comments.
via: Reddit
This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.


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Philadelphia Information Locator Service
Agency Information
Kingsessing, Township of[Record group 210]
Agency Function
- The functions of the various districts, townships and boroughs were assumed by the Consolidated City of Philadelphia after passage of the Act of Consolidation on 2 February 1854.
- Agency History
- Unavailable
- Archival Records
- 210.1 Supervisors of Public Roads and Highways. Tax Duplicate and Highways (September 1763-April 1765)
Links to related information...
PhILS Home
-->City Agencies
---->Current Agency Information Sheet. (Graphical version of this page)
Send your comments to firstname.lastname@example.com
Last updated on July 9, 1999


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Covelin Women s Genuine Leather Tote Bag Retro Middle Size Shoulder HandbagBrown Brown -
Limited Price on Brown. 100% Genuine Cowhide Leather; Superior Hardware; High Quality Polyester.
Dimension: 9.1\" x 5.5\" x 8.7\"(Length x Width x Height), a Middle Size handbag. Interior features 3 main compartments; 2 middle zippered pockets; 2 small open slip pockets and a small zippered pocket. Magnetic snap closure.
Wear it at your Own Style! The length of shoulder strap is fully adjustable, this bag works as a tote bag, a shoulder bag and a crossbody bag.
Gorgeous and Elegant Look; simple and classic; the leather is sturdy and smooth. It will amaze everyone with its elegant beauty and style.
One-Year-Warranty for guarantee! No worry about the quality. There are four metal rivets at the bottom protecting the bag from abrasion. Covelin is an American brand.
Shoulder Bags


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Drunken Cowboy Beans
Drunken Cowboy Beans
By Chef Sheamus Feeley, Executive Chef & Partner, Farmstead Restaurant
I only use Rancho Gordo beans in the restaurant, as I feel they are the best dried bean available. I never have to soak them, and they cook fast, with great-tasting pot liquor. Pinquito beans are a classic side to Central Coast barbecue (Santa Maria style) here in California. I call them "Cowboy Beans" when I serve them with my whole-hog barbecue. But with a little Maker's Mark® Bourbon... I think 'Drunken Cowboy Beans' is a better title.
Servings: 8 cups
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Ready In:
Cook Time:
Ready In:
- 1 pound Rancho Gordo dried pinquito beans, soaked in cold water overnight
- 1 small onion, peeled and quartered with the root still intact
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and quartered
- 2 stalks of celery, cut into 3" pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 bouquet garni (1 bay leaf, 1 sprig thyme, 8 peppercorns), tied up in cheesecloth
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 8 cups water
- 2/3 cup Maker's Mark® Bourbon
- 1 pound Benton's Slab Bacon, cut 1/4" x 1/4"
- 1-1/2 cup yellow onion, minced
- 1/4 cup garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons cumin seed, toasted and ground
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 4 cups chicken stock or pot liquor from beans
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- Cooked beans (recipe below)
- 2 cups barbecue sauce, vinegar based
- Salt to taste
- For cooked beans, combine beans, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bouquet garni, kosher salt and water in a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to a medium simmer and cook the beans until they are tender, but still firm, about 30 minutes.
- Drain the beans and discard the vegetables and aromatics, reserving 4 cups of the cooking liquid.
- For Cowboy Beans, render the bacon until crisp in a large pot over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
- Add the onion and sweat on low heat for 3-4 minutes. Do not brown.
- Add the garlic and cook for 10 seconds. Do not brown.
- Add remaining ingredients, except for the barbecue sauce and Maker's Mark® Bourbon.
- Simmer for an hour.
- Remove from the flame and stir in the bourbon and barbecue sauce.
- Return the pot to the heat and cook for an additional 15 minutes on low heat, until alcohol is not "hot."
- Adjust the seasoning with salt.
- Place in a cast iron skillet or casserole dish and bake at 500°F (about 8–10 minutes) until the sides begin to caramelize and bubble.
- Serve immediately.
Tags: Recipes, Side Dishes, Beans, Onions, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Kosher Salt, Water, Bacon, Yellow Onions, Cumin Seed, Chili Powder, Oregano, Chicken Stock, Allspice, Barbecue Sauce, Salt, Hungry


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Easy nutritious summer treat! Thanks again to Catherine McCord from weelicous.com for posting this idea! These were so easy to make, full of protein and taste like peanut butter ice cream...YUM.
Peanut Butter Banana Pops
Recipe adapted by www.weelicious.com
1/2 cup peanut butter (or any nut butter will do).
1 cup almond milk (or any milk you drink).
2 Tb. honey
1/2 banana chopped
Whisk together peanut butter, almond milk, and honey. Mix in chopped bananas. Divide mixture into Popsicle molds or Dixie cups with Popsicle sticks. Freeze and enjoy!!


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Big 12 Campus Correspondent
Missouri baseball has a long history of Friday night aces, and after a hot start in his debut season last year, Eric Anderson looked to join their ranks. One torn labrum later, his journey to the starting spot took a difficult turn.
After offseason surgery, Anderson is back, and relishing every moment.
"It feels great [to be back]," Anderson said. "Going through an injury like that makes you not take anything for granted anymore. It feels good to get back out there."
His return could not have come at a better time for the Tigers. Since rehabbing from his injury, Anderson started the first four conference series for Missouri, and emerged victorious in each of those starts.
Although Anderson only pitched two innings in his first appearance since his surgery, an 11-4 victory over Central Arkansas this March, he was able to shake off the rust and warm up for some powerhouse conference performances.
"It was a pretty big deal for me," Anderson said of his first game back. "After all the work I had gone through, it was great. A lot of hard work goes into all the rehab, so it meant a lot to me."
Injuries often prove just as debilitating mentally as physically. Although having his freshman season cut short was challenging for Anderson, he says the obstacle helped him gain a fresh perspective on the sport he loves.
"It was a really big motivator for me," Anderson said. "I have to go out there every day and not take it for granted. At any point, you might not be healthy, so I can't take baseball for granted at all. It taught me to enjoy the game as much as anything."
While there are still steps to take in his recovery, Anderson has showed flashes of the enormous potential he has in several outings this season. Perhaps his most impressive was an 11-1 victory over Texas Tech, in which he pitched seven shutout innings, throwing a season-high 93 pitches, 61 of which were for strikes.
His 4-0 start to the conference season provided a much-needed spark for a Missouri team that has struggled at times, but always found a way to keep hope alive.
"I'm trying to do as much as I can to contribute," Anderson said. "My start to the season means a lot, and it just happened to work out that I was able to be a part of some big wins."
He has an opportunity to be a part of some even bigger ones. Missouri clinched its ninth straight Big 12 Tournament appearance over the weekend against Nebraska, and will face top-seeded Texas this Wednesday as the No. 8 overall seed. After a strong finish to the season, Anderson believes the team has a chance to be competitive in the tournament.
"I think we'll do great," Anderson said. "I think our team is the hot team right now, and the hot team in baseball has a good chance to win. I think we have a good shot going into this tournament."


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The International Pavilion at the all new 100% Design exhibition during the London Design Festival led the way with a selection of amazing eco-designs from across the globe. Our favorite finds included everything from solar-powered candles to clever cardboard furniture and lamps made of reclaimed wood - read on for a closer look!
Marco Stefanelli' Breccias collection repurposes natural objects which have reached the end of their life – including sawmill scraps, pieces of urban architecture, and logs carried by the river. He gives them a second chance by "pulling the light from the subject and amplifying the sensory experience."
Laokoon is a flexible fabric that can be made from various materials including wood and cork. It can be used in interiors and fashion in place of synthetic materials like plastic.
Studio Inbetween's One Piece of Lamp is made from a single sheet of aviation plywood, making it lightweight and compact for transportation, thus reducing its environmental impact.
CIGA Design Co presented these solar-powered LED candles, which provide a safe and green alternative to the real thing.
Bravo! unveiled a collection of La Familia tableware made from two materials abundant in Brazil – wood and copper. The collection supports the local economy, and combining traditional crafts with new technology provides investment in both fields.
Capellino presented a range of sustainable cardboard furniture including this Linea chair (shown above), a coffee table and even a light shade.
CDC represented the young designer scene in Portugal and showed a range of sustainable cork products including these bird houses.
And finally Nautinox showed Green Book – a bookcase planter that takes the concept of 'green design' quite literally.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara University president, will sign the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment at 1 p.m. on Nov. 15, which also happens to be America Recycles Day. The pledge signifies the university's plan to eliminate the campus' net emissions of greenhouse gases over a period of time.
The Presidents' Climate Commitment is an initiative that commits the university to taking actions to achieve climate neutrality for the university. Climate neutrality means that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from the university's activities are either eliminated directly by reducing fossil fuel energy use or offset by new activities that retain those gases, such as tree planting.
The PCC requires the following:
• *Create a committee to oversee the implementation of the PCC.
• *Complete a greenhouse gas inventory of the university.
• *Create a climate action plan within two years to reduce waste and eventually aim for carbon neutrality.
•Create a timeline for implementing the components of the climate action plan.
•Incorporate sustainability into the curriculum.
•Provide public access to all reports, progress and achievements of the PCC.
*Niagara has already fulfilled these items.
"Signing this pledge is just one measure of Niagara University's commitment to creating a sustainable campus community," Levesque said. "We pride ourselves in modeling this pledge to environmental awareness in hopes that our students, alumni and friends will join us in addressing the human causes of global warming."
For years, Niagara University has charged a sustainability task force with driving its impetus toward creating a more environmentally friendly campus.
When classrooms in DePaul Hall were renovated in 2010, they were outfitted with energy-efficient windows, low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials and low-odor paints. DePaul's classroom windows are now drawn with shades that reduce solar heat gain and conserve energy. Even the furniture within the classrooms is "green," made by Herman Miller, a company whose strong commitment to corporate sustainability includes minimizing the environmental impact of each of their products.
In 2007, when the Academic Complex/Bisgrove Hall was constructed on Niagara's campus, the facility was built to meet LEED specifications. University officials are also striving to ensure that the B. Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, when it opens next fall, meets LEED Silver certification guidelines.
Additionally, Niagara has already adopted a program that calls for the university to exclusively purchase Energy Star certified appliances.
"This commitment is an important step for Niagara University to indicate our obligation to sustainability and emerge as a national leader in this area," said Dave Ederer, chair of the sustainability task force at NU. "We're excited about being part of this initiative."
The PCC, which has been signed by 661 presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities to date, expresses concern about "the unprecedented scale and speed of global warming and its potential for large-scale, adverse health, social, economic and ecological effects."
The college and university presidents and chancellors who are joining and leading the commitment have said that exerting leadership in addressing climate change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding and increase the support of alumni and local communities.
For additional information on the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, visit www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.


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While there is no question they shut it down after Jon Bostic's pick-six last week, Florida's offense is what it is because it is what it is.
Boy, I can't wait for this afternoon.
Thanksgiving is over, which means Christmas is up next, and, apparently we are getting an early gift today.
Because I have talked to so many Gator fans who strongly believe Florida has been "saving something" for Florida State and it will be unveiled today.
Oh, goody.
Can't wait.
What do you think it will be?
The wishbone?
A triple-reverse pass?
Tim Tebow gets another year of eligibility?
I can understand why Florida fans would want to believe the Gators have been holding back. Over the last four games, they have scored five offensive touchdowns and that might be acceptable against LSU and Alabama, but not Louisiana-Lafayette and Jacksonville State.
So they must be sandbagging, right?
Wishful thinking. While there is no question they shut it down after Jon Bostic's pick-six last week, Florida's offense is what it is because it is what it is. You can't tell me they were saving something two weeks ago when they were on the verge of losing on Homecoming Day to Louisiana-Lafayette or when Missouri was threatening to send a low-scoring game to overtime.
Or even last week when the Gators played the whole first half knowing that a blocked punt for a score or some fluke play could pull Jax State within a field goal.
No, Florida isn't saving anything for FSU. The Gators will play with more emotion than they did the last two weeks, but no more than they did against Georgia. There may be a trick play in the game plan, but there are always one or two there. It's just a matter of whether or not they choose to run them.
If Florida is to win today in Tallahassee, there will be no magical offensive potion. It will win the same way it has all year — by playing great defense, winning the special teams and doing just enough on offense to score more points than the other team.
That has been the formula all season. Will Muschamp has said all along he recognized what this team was in the spring.
You might not have seen 10-1 and a chance to play for the national title with that formula, but aren't coaches always optimistic?
This offense is just short of pedestrian for a number of reasons.
For one thing, they have missed badly at wide receiver when it comes to recruiting. Look at the last three years. Three four-star receivers were signed who never played a down. Ja'Juan Story is at TCU, Chris Dunkley has been suspended at South Florida and Adrian Coxson is at his third school.
Mistakes were made. The players who are here — guys like Quinton Dunbar and the injured Solomon Patton — have been solid but not spectacular. And there's nobody on this team who overwhelms you with his ability to go up and get the football when it's in the air.
The offensive line looked so good early in the season when it pushed around LSU. But that line has struggled to stay together because of injuries, and the backups have been less-than-stellar.
There have been some pretty good offensive coaches at UF over the last three years. You see what Urban Meyer is doing at Ohio State, Steve Addazio has done well at Temple, Charlie Weis may be struggling but he still has an excellent offensive mind, and Brent Pease did great work at Boise State before coming here.
With those coaches, Florida has ranked 83rd, 89th and now 106th in offense the last three years.
So you have to point to the players (Florida already has four wide receivers and two running backs committed for next year).
But there is also a lack of creativity on the part of the coaches.
Florida, this season, has not aspired to be great on offense. And as defenses figured out during the season what Florida wants to do, they have taken it away from them. Muschamp has been stubborn about sticking with the plan, a plan that has produced 10 wins.
(I think Florida's offense was also hurt by an early bye week. Teams with later bye weeks use the chance to self-scout. But that's just a theory.)
For Steve Spurrier-era Gators, this season has been hard to watch. They have to go home after games and put on tapes of the destruction of Tennessee in 1995 or 52-20 to clean their palates. Urban Meyer-era Gators find this a little easier to watch because of his last year at UF, but they still long for the days of the blowouts.
But isn't winning good enough? Isn't being in this position at this point of the season a testament to this coaching staff, that they are fourth in the BCS and in need of just one break and one big win to play for a national title with this offense?
Florida will be back offensively. Muschamp has talked about how his team needs more explosiveness and is not where it needs to be. It's not that he enjoys winning the way Florida has, but he believes it's the only way for this team to win.
We'll see if it can do it one more time. It will try to win the same way it has been winning, and it may be hard on the eyes.
But saving something for the Seminoles?
I don't think so.
Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at email@example.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.


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Telcos team to test '4G' in Cornwall
Large Throughput Expected?
BT and Orange/T-Mobile owner Everything Everywhere will be trialling LTE mobile connectivity later this year, in Newquay.
The area, favoured by surfers, will presumably soon get the thumbs-up from web surfers too. Ahem.
Both partners are calling the trial a test of 4G technology, though there's no discussion as whether the speeds delivered meet those defined by the ITU as indicative of 4G.
The test will use two 10MHz bands within the 800MHz spectrum, and will be used to link remote sites to BT's fixed-line network as much as provide high speeds to mobile punters.
The Newquay trial zone
According to the ITU, if these folk get 4G, it means the latter will experience speeds of 100Mb/s for those on the move and up to 1Gb/s for people in homes and offices. LTE, in its current form, maxes out at 100Mb/s for users who are stationary.
In any case, the companies can't yet make the technology available commercially. Telecoms regulator Ofcom has yet to auction off the spectrum, and that's not expected to happen until 2012.
Interested members of the public can express their desire to take part in the tests at the 4G Superfast Broadband Trial website. ®
Special Report WTF is... 4G?


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State Agencies |
Online Services
Find more...
These tools create a framework from the standards and model curriculum for planning units around big ideas/concepts, sequencing units to the school year, intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary connections, diverse learner considerations, technology integration, assessment practices (formative, summative and performance-based) and resources.
This is a link to a brief instruction video that will help guide users through the transitioning and implementation steps.
Last Modified: 8/28/2014 3:10:01 PM
Pursuant to ORC 3301.079 (B) (3) and 3313.60, it is the responsibility of Ohio's local boards of education to vet and approve curriculum and educational materials for use in the public schools within their district. The use of any materials posted or linked to on the Ohio Department of Education website, including materials within Ohio's Learning Standards or Appendices or any state model curricula or other educational resource material, is entirely up to the discretion of each local board of education.


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Help Desk
Work Orders
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ECU News Services
About Us
ECU Now Blog
'Gap year' an adventure for ECU physician
Dr. Dennis Sinar learned stone masonry in Alaska during his "year of adventure." He's now back at work at the Brody School of Medicine. Contributed photo
GREENVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2009) — It's commonly known as a "gap year," the term normally reserved for teenagers who spend the year between high school and college working, traveling, volunteering or all three, but Dr. Dennis Sinar called it his "year of adventure."
From July 2007 through last June, Sinar traveled to Alaska, Nepal, Romania and New Jersey, learning and practicing skills he wants to use at work and away from work.
A gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Sinar learned stonework in Alaska, eastern medicine in Nepal, furniture refinishing in New Jersey and archeology in Romania.
"Everyone I've talked to who's 50 or older says, 'I wish I could do that.' Well, you can," Sinar said. "It's rejuvenating to do it."
Sinar, 61, chose the four trips to complement his vocation - medicine - and one of his favorite avocations - restoring old houses.
"At the start, I needed to break out of a routine," said Sinar, who has been on the ECU faculty since 1981. "In Alaska and Nepal I learned artistry from a stone mason, compassion and a commitment to patient care from eastern medical physicians, and countless lessons from the people of Alaska and Nepal. In New Jersey I learned artistry. In Romania, I felt curiosity about life in the USA from a people who produced Vlad Dracula. I felt their sprit in the rugged and beautiful hills of Transylvania. Any of these lessons required some work on my part to take the first step, but the reward was well worth it."
Overcoming fears about cost, time away from work, family commitments and other topics is the first step to taking a gap period, said Holly Bull, president of the Center for Interim Programs, who helped Sinar set up his travels. "A lot of my job is permission-giving," Bull said. "The reality is you can take this kind of time, and you don't have to take a full year." Even a month, she said, "can give you that infusion of energy."
Sinar returned home between each leg of his travels. He kept costs low with no-frills accommodations, often sharing quarters with others. That also provided more local flavor to his travels, such as in Nepal, where he stayed with a Tibetan family and a pair of Buddhist trainee volunteers.
"They had heard that I was an astrologer - apparently the local translation for 'gastroenterologist' - and were disappointed I could not map their star charts," he said.
Sinar has put his stonework skills to use on brickwork at his home in Washington. He also said the travels reaffirmed why he went into medicine - the patient contact - and he has used listening skills he learned while away.
"In Nepal, all of the patients I saw with my preceptor spoke either Tibetan or Nepali, so the interview was done in their native language by the preceptor," Sinar said. "I relearned that a lot of information can be gained in the medical interview by nonverbal clues. The language difference made me focus more on those nonverbal clues of body language, vocal tone, facial expressions to assess the patient's complaint. I do more of that form of listening with my patients now, and think I gain more information than I did before."
For people who don't even have a month to spare or cannot afford to be gone that long, Bull's organization can set up programs as brief as a weekend. "It can really be tailored to your situation," she said. "For people who are thinking about a sabbatical, this is a way to do some interesting things."
Sinar worked out a schedule for the year that suited him and his partner, Kathryn.
"Kathryn was incredibly understanding of my need to do this year," he said. "I planned it so that I was gone for a block of time, then home for a block, so I was home for about half the year, working with her on our house remodeling projects.
Doug Boyd
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East Carolina University
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You are here
Pour Over Coffee Brewers
Control freak car fiends drive stick shifts. Control freak computer nerds use Linux. Control freak coffee geeks... well, they pick pour over! These brewers are now mainstream in specialty coffee shops, and for good reason. With a quality burr grinder, goosenecked pouring kettle, conical or cylindrical filter holder, receiving vessel, and a small arsenal of accessories, you can easily manipulate brewing variables and dial in your method. Some of the best coffee we've had has been brewed with a pour over device and we're confident that these fine products can help you make your favorite cup of coffee. For pour over brewing guides and side-by-sides, check out our Beginner's Guide to Pour Over Coffee Brewing.


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We all heard about the Chuck Norris Facts, right?
Well if you're a fan of security you have to be familiar with Bruce Schneier and his excellent blog.
What I didn't know is that he also has a collection of facts!
Just how cool is that???
Here are some I found funny:
- For Bruce Schneier, SHA-1 is merely a compression algorithm.
- Bruce Schneier once compressed a single bit of information to half its size.
- Bruce Schneier doesn't need backups because his hard drive knows that failure is not an option.
- Bruce Schneier shaves with Occam's razor.
- Bruce Schneier knows the last digit of pi. He won't say it because it's considered a matter of national security.
- Setting SSID of an open Wi-Fi network to "bruceschneier" makes it completely secure.
- Santa Clause doesn't know if Bruce Schneier has been good or bad
- When Bruce Schneier observes a quantum particle, it remains in the same state until he has finished observing it.
- When you email Bruce Schneier, you don't need to press "send".
- Deep Blue couldn't beat Kasparov until Schneier pwned it.
Read others here.
Print | posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:19 AM |
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A HEADTEACHER has blamed the lure of cheap flights for parents taking children out of school during term.
Susan Tranter, the headteacher of Fitzharrys School in Abingdon, said the fact parents continued to take holidays during term time was still "a matter of concern".
Her comments came as new figures showed the number of schoolchildren in Oxfordshire regularly missing school had dropped for the second year running.
Mrs Tranter said: "Regrettably, for some parents the lure of cheap flights is too great so they will book a holiday in term time.
"Cheap flights are not a good reason for why a holiday should be taken during term time and, although we do try to work with parents, we do have to apply the rules which class this as unauthorised absence."
New figures from the autumn and spring terms of 2007/08 show Fitzharrys, which has just under 900 pupils, had the worst record of unauthorised absences at secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Unauthorised absences are measured as a percentage of all the half days every pupil at schools across the county are expected to attend, but have missed.
For the 2007/08 autumn and spring terms, figures recently released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families showed that at an average of 2.8 per cent of half days were missed by Fitzharrys pupils – the equivalent of roughly eight half-days each.
Mrs Tranter said term-time holidays accounted for virtually all the school's unauthorised absences and stressed truancy was not an issue at Fitzharrys.
She said: "We are trying to provide children with more work to do when they are on holiday so we can minimise the impact of children missing their crucial education."
The figures also revealed that at 81 of Oxfordshire's 234 primary schools there were no unauthorised absences during the two terms.
The school with the highest proportion of unauthorised absence was St Joseph's Primary School in Carterton, where three per cent of half days were missed without parents giving schools an acceptable reason.
One in 20, or five per cent of schoolchildren in the county, was classed as a persistent absentee — missing school one day a week or more — in the 2007/08 school year.
In all, 798 primary school pupils and 1,825 secondary school pupils were deemed persistently absent.
The previous year, the figure was 5.5 per cent and in 2005/06 it was 6.2 per cent. The figures were lower than the England and South East averages, at 7.34 per cent and 7.43 per cent respectively.
The percentage of half days missed overall had also dropped.
A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said: "We have a strong track record of working co-operatively with parents and schools to achieve high attendance levels. On occasions it has been necessary to resort to the courts where persuasion has not worked.
"We are happy with the progress that has been made but will not take our eye off the ball."


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April 22. 2011 11:39AM
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center
Pinkham Notch
Gorham, NH 03581
Ph: 603-466-2333
The Great Glen Trails offer activities for all ages and abilities.
In winter there's everything from cross-country skiing and snow shoeing to snow tubing. A complete ski school offers tips for novices and seasoned pros alike. There's also a sno-cat shuttle which takes 12 passengers halfway up the Auto Road for a glide down on either cross-country or telemark skis.
The timber frame base lodge features rental and retail shops, sundecks overlooking the Presidential Range and a dining area complete with a floor to ceiling stone fireplace. Fly-fishing, canoeing, kayaking, guided hikes and other weekly offerings scheduled all season long. Also available for weddings, receptions, corporate outings and holiday parties.


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Officer Present: President Jessica Soto, Vice President Penelope Tomlin, and Parliamentarian Faustino Angel (Secretary Jeffery Scott was absent for no stated reason and Reporter Jameika Marshall was out sick). Others present David Hudson, Kais Cooper, Joanna Martel, Angela Gribble, Whitney McBride, and Becky Gullette.
Mr. Naples read the minutes from the previous meeting. The minutes were accepted as read. Mr. Naples noted that the budget remained unchanged.
Penelope Tomlin read the Calendar of Events. The most notable events were the volleyball game for breast cancer awareness on Saturday, Oct 19th, and the Choir performance on Oct 29th at 7 pm.
President Soto raised the first order of business- Operation Gratitude. SGA was originally to hold a drive for Operation Gratitude during fall frolic. When fall frolic was cancelled, SGA had to amend its plans. SGA devised the following plan.
- On Monday (21st) SGA will attend the Civil War Reenactment, handing out flyers on donated goods, pass out post cards for students to sign, and set up a table for students to make paracord bracelets. The following students will man the tables at the stated times.
- 8-9 am: Soto and Tomlin
- 9-10 am: Kais Cooper
- 10-11 am: Angela Gribble
- On Wednesday (23rd), SGA will place a table in the Science Building where they will hand out flyers on donation goods, pass out post cards for students to sign, and set up a table for students to make paracord bracelets. The following students will man the tables at the stated times.
- 8-9 am: Soto and Tomlin
- 9-10 am: Kais Cooper
- 10-11 am: Angela Gribble
- 11:30-12:30 am: David Hudson
- SGA will collect donations from students and the community between the dates Oct. 28th and Nov. 1st. Ms. Gullette and Mr. Naples will give extra credit to students who donate to the cause.
The discussion was closed.
President Soto opened the floor for discussion on the Trunk or Treat. The Trunk or Treat will be held on Thursday, October 31 in front of the student center between the hours of 7 and 8 pm. SGA will ask all participants to show up at least 1 hour before the event begins for preparations. Students who come in the best costumes will win a prize (prize is yet to be determined). Judging of the costumes will take place after the trunk or treat is over. When the costume contest is over, students who linger around may participate in a late night capture the flag game.
Part of the Halloween experience will be a pumpkin carving contest. This contest will be sponsored by Krystn Davis. Originally, the contest was to take place on Tuesday, October 29th at 7pm. However, Ms. Gullette noted that Tuesday is the same night as the Choir concert. Upon motion by Mr. Naples and second motion by President Soto, SGA unanimously voted to move the pumpkin carving to Monday, Oct 28th (providing Krystn Davis can still sponsor the contest).
Mr. Naples noted SGA needs to get administrative approval for the Halloween event and that it needs to advertise on the radio and with a press release. Mr. Naples further noted that SGA was invited to Marshall Texas for a Halloween event. After brief discussion, SGA decided it would take up the Marshall Halloween event next year.
Discussion was closed.
President Soto Opened the floor for discussion on the food drive. The Fill-the-bus food drive is scheduled for November 15th. SGA has plans to set up a food drive table on November 1st outside of Wal-Mart. SGA discussed plans to hold a food and recycling drive from November 4th through November 8th. The main part of the drive will be on Friday, November 8th. SGA will need to make a public announcement/press release to gain community participation. SGA will also need to see if the college bus is available for Friday, November 15th to transport the canned goods to Marshall.
Friday, November 15th is also the date of the regional conference. The trip to the conference still needs approval from administration. Since the conference is on the same day as the Food drive, SGA will have to find student representatives to go with the bus to Marshall while the officers attend the regional conference. The food drive still needs to be approved by college administration.
Discussion was closed.
Mr. Naples noted that SGA has been approved by administration to take a bus of 54 students to the Louisiana State Fair. The bus has been reserved. Mr. Naples simply needs to gain student participants. The bus will leave the campus at 1pm and return to campus by 7.
Mr. Naples made a motion to remove Jeffery Scott from office for repeated, unexcused absences. David Hudson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned.


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Arsenal are the 2/1 favourites to sign Schalke midfielder - and reported Manchester United target - Julian Draxler in January, according to SkyBet.
The Germany international has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with suitors allegedly ready to meet the player's £40million buy-out clause.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been credited with an interest in bringing Draxler to the Emirates Stadium, with the Daily Star reporting over the weekend that the Frenchman will attempt to negotiate a deal before the transfer window closes.
Manchester United have also been mooted as admirers of the 20-year-old, with David Moyes on the lookout for creative midfield reinforcements at Old Trafford this month.
However, the Red Devils are priced at 9/1 by SkyBet, behind Chelsea (8/1) and Bayern Munich (13/2), who appear to be Arsenal's biggest rivals in the race to secure Draxler's signature.
The Bundesliga star still has four years to run on his existing deal at the Veltins-Arena, but has made no secret of his desire to join a leading European club.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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Armed man robs Greensboro hotel
Armed man robs Greensboro hotel
A man is wanted on suspicion of robbing a hotel while armed with a gun late Monday night.
The incident was reported around 11:40 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express at 3111 Cedar park Dr.
The hotel clerk told Greensboro police the suspect entered the hotel and demanded cash while showing a gun. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money.
The suspect was described as a man 30-40 years old standing 6 feet tall. He was wearing a red shirt and a blue hat with some sort of writing.
Anyone with information on the incident or a possible suspect is asked to call Crimestoppers at (336) 373-1000.


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Malli - did you contact the SBTCA?? I'm surprised Sarah with Elmo and Tully hasn't seen this!?! http://www.sbcta.com - they also have a forum/group: (email) email@example.com; (group): http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/SBTrescue/
There are a few SBT owners in Canada that I've seen on the forums....
There is also a huge international forum called 'Bull Breeds Online' (BBO).
Those are some great places to start if you haven't made any/much progress yet.
OOOPs - didn't see the post about them agreeing to work on things... that is good!!!


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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
42 Lb. dressed. I have plenty of mouths to feed.Kalli anastasi everyone.
Christ is Risen!Tamara,You have these recipes with Lamb, I dont... dolmas made with lamb, Kibee made with lamb (an Lebanese/Syrian specialty), and Pasticho made with lamb!send them to me or post them on the Recipe in Family Forum.thanksThomas
How in Mor's good nameone hundred fifty four postsNo Rachel Weisz picSelam
I'm just curious and ignorant - at what point or age does a lamb become a sheep? I see people bragging about 50 and 60 pounders they grilled for Pascha. Isn't that pert neer a half-growd' sheep? As you can guess, we just don't know nothing much about sheep down here in the Lone Star state.
Page created in 0.089 seconds with 26 queries.


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Sebastian writes: "After ages and ages of "real-soon-now" comments, we finally have our ZAP! Apache module ready for public release. ZAP! allows you to build WWW-based Z39.50 clients by filling in "templates" for each page in your interface. It is simple to do basic things, and yet it is possible to build quite advanced gateways. In the Apache mode, it can be extremely efficient, but it also runs as a conventional CGI script. It is freeware, but we have certain commercial options available." Nice... tried it on Yale's ORBIS using the demo page and it seems to work pretty clean.
Sebastian writes: "Index Data has just made its first release of a Z39.50 Server module for Perl. It provides a pretty simple API which hides most of the complexities of Z39.50 and network programming in general, so all you have to do is provide a bit of code to interface to your resource. You can draw on all the usual Perl tools to talk to back-end databases, create response records in XML, MARC, etc." Built using YAZ by the people who brought us YAZ to begin with... definitely worth a close look.
from freshmeat: "This is a small example application using the DigitalConvergence Cat: Optical Reader. The application allows you to scan the ISBN barcode of a book and retrieve its information from the Library of Congress. Optionally, this data can be stored in a local database table." Download the perl code here. Hmm, doing z39.50 by hand it seems...
Rob S. writes: "Cheshire is an OSS (Berkeley style licence) z39.50 search engine/server in active development. Also being developed is an extension
to Mozilla for the z39.50 protocol."
TNRD Library System Catalogue
Adam Chandler writes in about the Thompson-Nicolo Regional District Library System Web Based Catalogue, a web catalog (sp!) front end with freeware indexing and z39.50 pieces on the back end. Has anyone else tried this?
free Z39.50 implementations page -- who knows one?
the LOC Z39.50 Software page has been up a long time, but is probably ready for someone to do a comparison. can anyone recommend any of these tools (at least one is under GPL)? i'd love to be able to plug MARC.pm onto ZETA, for instance, and pull data out for Jake... anyone tried something similar?
SLRI: web to Z39.50
the Simon Fraser University Library Research Instrument (SLRI) is "a web to Z39.50 client interface" brought to you by the good folks at SFU. it's an adaptation of the web to Z39.50 gateway developed by Harold Finkbeiner at Stanford, licensed under GPL and recently spied at sourceforge.net as well.


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Does David Eckstein miss playing baseball?
Five-second pause.
"Am I allowed to answer that question?" Eckstein told me this afternoon from Petco Park. "Baseball is my passion. I'm happy where I am. I am happy where I am right now."
Eckstein, 37, revealed that the Padres have talked to him about working for them. He declined to say what the job would be. He said he is not eager to become a coach. But he said he has a "great relationship" with Bud Black. He had a long chat today with Tom Garfinkel, the team's president and interim CEO.
A second baseman for the Padres from 2009-10, Eckstein hasn't played baseball since the 162nd game of the 2010 season, the 3-0 loss at San Francisco that eliminated the low-payroll Padres from playoff contention. Did the Padres offer him a chance to return in 2011? "No," Eckstein said. He elaborated: "No, no, no. No offer. Clear as day." He said he "turned down everything" offered by other clubs for 2011. From his home in Florida and a second residence in Orange County, he watched a lot of baseball, Padres games included. Asked about the team's drop from 90 victories to 91 defeats, he said: "The game's a funny game. You sit there and want to see the best for them."
At the invitation of his former Angels manager, Mike Scioscia, Eckstein spent 10 days at spring training this year as an infield coach.
Eckstein said he spends most of his time working with his wife, Ashley, in her company, Her Universe, a clothing line for girls.
Readers: If you'd like to show support for this blog, please click on an ad. You'll be helping to reduce clutter on the site.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Eckstein visits
Posted by Tom Krasovic at 4:58 PM
1 comment:
Sad to think that neither Eckstein nor Hairston Jr. were kept on after that magical 2010 season. As Hudson disses his team's fans and Bartlett complains about Petco's dimensions, the Padres could've had similar production at perhaps half the cost, not to mention improving the clubhouse's intensity and leadership.ReplyDelete
Hindsight is always 20-20 I guess, though that Bartlett trade/contract was befuddling back then, too.
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How to keep your eyes healthy after the age of 60 with NHS eye tests, prescription lenses and lifestyle changes.
Because our eyesight changes as we get older, almost all of us will need to wear glasses or contact lenses by the time we're 65.
If you have regular eye tests, wear the right lenses and look after your eyes, there's a better chance your sight will remain clear.
An eye test is not just good for checking whether your glasses are up to date. It's also a vital check on the health of your eyes. An eye test can pick up eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts, as well as general health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
The good news is that if you're 60 or over, you can have a free NHS eye (sight) test as often as you need one. This is normally every two years, but may be more often in certain circumstances.
Your optometrist will be able to advise you as to how often you need to be seen.
If you can't leave your home because of illness or disability, you can have an NHS eye test at home. Contact your usual optician to find out if they can visit you at home. Otherwise, NHS England will have a list of opticians in your area that do home visits. Contact NHS England on 0300 311 22 33 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Find out more about eye tests.
An eye test will establish whether you need a different prescription for your glasses or contact lenses.
It's important to wear the correct prescription lenses. This will improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of accidents such as falls.
You may be entitled to help with the cost of NHS glasses or contact lenses, so ask your optician about this.
Find a local optician.
Read more about free NHS eye tests or optical vouchers.
As well as having regular eye tests and wearing the correct glasses, you can do several things to keep your eyes as healthy as possible:
As you get older, you become more likely to get certain eye problems:


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Slideshows. Thousands of slideshows. That's how you can burn off all of those excess calories you ingested when you opted to swing through McDonald's on the way home instead of cooking dinner for yourself. According a recent publication of Convert Anything to Calories, one Big Mac is the caloric equivialent of 350,000 mouse clicks.
That morsel of knowledge was part of a larger exploration of the effects of caloric knowledge on human decision making. In a recent study, people were given menus, some of which contained the caloric value of the items. Even further, some of those caloric values came with an estimated distance you'd have to walk to burn the meal off. Unsurprisingly, people who knew the caloric values opted for healthier meals.
People who viewed the menu without nutritional information ordered a meal totaling 1,020 calories, on average, significantly more than the average 826 calories ordered by those who viewed menus that included information about walking-distance. Study participants ordered meals adding up to averages of 927 calories and 916 calories from menus with only calorie information or calorie information plus minutes walking, respectively, although the differences between these two totals were not statistically significant. [Scientific American]


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The Body Covers: The 6th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections
Slide Session 5: Antiretroviral Therapy: New Agents and Treatment Naïve Patient Populations
February 1, 1999
A note from TheBody.com: The field of medicine is constantly evolving. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!
Reports on several new compounds addressed the growing need to develop drugs with little cross-resistance to the currently available products. Studies focusing on novel agents in the protease class (AG-1776, poster #11 and ABT-378, poster #15) and NNRTI class (AG-1549, poster #12 and DMP-961/DMP-963, poster #13) were presented on the first morning of the conference.
Of these, only ABT-378 has been studied in clinical trials (Abstract #15). Murphy reported on 101 patients who received 24 weeks of ABT-378 (200 or 400 BID) in combination with low dose RTV (100 or 200 BID) given with D4T/3TC in ARV-naïve patients. The 2-protease combination was based on PK studies indicating dramatic enhancement of ABT-378 blood levels when given with low-dose RTV. At entry, patients had a median viral load of approximately 70,000 and CD4 of approximately 350. At 24 weeks, HIV in >90% of patients was undetectable using first generation test and undetectable in 89%, using the ultrasensitive test. CD4 cells increased by about 160 cells. Furthermore, side effects were few and no patient discontinued from study due to ABT-378 side effects. This is the lead product in a group of second generation protease inhibitors with apparently little cross-resistance to the first generation of PI's.
AG-1776 in vitro data was presented (#11). This novel protease shows activity comparable to other potent PI's and is active against all strains of HIV, including HIV-2. It appears highly synergistic with RTV, IDV, and NFV. In this in vitro study, an antivirogram was compiled using viral isolates with known multiple resistance mutations, as well as clinical isolates from known virologic treatment failures. All strains had remarkable susceptibility to AG-1776, suggesting minimal cross-resistance with other PI's. Clinical trials are planned soon.
In vitro studies of AG-1549, a novel NNRTI, demonstrate similar results (#12). Specifically, using an antivirogram, little cross-resistance to the 3 approved NNRTI's was found. Similarly, two other candidate NNRTI compounds -- DMP-961/963 -- were studied in vitro (#13). They, too, showed excellent activity, including against resistant isolates, such as those with the K-103 mutant. In addition, each of these two latter drugs has a prolonged 1/2 life (>24h), suggesting potential ease of administration. All of the newer NNRTI's appear to have little protein-binding of drug.
Thus, compounds are now arriving in early clinical and pre-clinical studies that offer ease of administration, few side effects, and little cross-resistance to current agents. It remains to be seen whether they will remain promising once they are given to large numbers of patients. Preserving the durability of effectiveness of these "second generation" PI and NNRTI's will require concerted efforts from doctors and patients alike.
Abstract: New Drugs
A note from TheBody.com: The field of medicine is constantly evolving. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!
This article was provided by The Body PRO. Copyright © Body Health Resources Corporation. All rights reserved.


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Clemson will be one of the nation's top-20 public universities.
Fulfill Clemson's responsibility to students and the state of South Carolina
Invest in four strategic priorities:
The Clemson 2020 Road Map is a 10-year strategic plan that calls for investments in faculty hires, student engagement, upgraded facilities and technology, and faculty and staff compensation – with most of the funding to come from existing resources and new revenues. The plan was approved by the Board of Trustees on April 15, 2011.


text:
On Facebook, as Elsewhere, Less Can Be More
Facebook users aren't just connected to real-life friends; their online "friends" also include relatives, coworkers, former lovers and others.
And that can be stressful, since including these others brings aboard some people who aren't amused by your online persona. A UK study of 313 Facebook users, most of them college students, finds that their "friends" are drawn from an average of seven different social circles—and that the more social circles, the more likely this burgeoning online coterie was a source of stress.
Not surprisingly, having friended parents or employers was especially stressful. Facebook users, the researchers write, "are more likely to feel socially anxious as it will be difficult, if not possible, to meet the expectations of all audiences simultaneously."
The study also found that young people on Facebook are more likely to be friends with their exes (64 percent) than with their current significant other (56 percent).


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B Series
DC Tachometers
DC Tachometers with output signal between 11 and 24 volts/1000 rpm
from $373.00/ea
B-Series tach generators are designed for applications requiring output voltages between 11 and 24 V/1000 rpm. The models listed are representative of the line, although we also offer specials (not shown). As is the case with the A-Series generators, the B Series comes in instrument, industrial, and automotive configurations. Instrument models have a 0.120" shaft; industrial, a 0.187" shaft; and automotive, SAE mounting.
Features of DC Tachometers


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The top U.S. and NATO commander of the war in Afghanistan has returned to work in Kabul, more than a week after being drawn in to a sex scandal that led retired Army Gen. David Petraeus to resign as CIA director and saw the Pentagon order a review of ethics training for senior officers. Here is an updated timeline of the scandal, according to officials involved in the investigation:
Spring 2006 — Paula Broadwell meets Petraeus at Harvard University, where she is a graduate student. Petraeus is a lieutenant general working on a counterinsurgency manual and is invited to speak about his experiences in Iraq.
January 2007 — The Senate confirms Petraeus as the commanding general for U.S. troops in Iraq.
2008 — Broadwell starts studying Petraeus' leadership. On a visit to Washington, Petraeus invites Broadwell to join him and his team for a run along the Potomac River.
October 2008 — Petraeus is named commander of U.S. Central Command, based at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Fla., where socialite Jill Kelley and her husband attend events alongside the area's military elite.
June 30, 2010 — The Senate confirms Petraeus as the new commander for war in Afghanistan. Over the next year, Broadwell expands her research of Petraeus into an authorized biography. She makes multiple trips to Afghanistan and is given unprecedented access to Petraeus and his commanders.
Sept. 6, 2011 — Petraeus is sworn in as CIA director with his wife, Holly, by his side. Broadwell keeps in contact with Petraeus and is later invited to join him for events. She continues to interview him, sometimes during morning runs at the CIA and occasionally in his 7th floor office.
Fall 2011 — Jill Kelley attends an FBI "Citizens' Academy" in Florida, where Frederick W. Humphries, a veteran FBI counterterrorism investigator, gives a lecture.
November 2011 — Petraeus begins an extramarital affair with Broadwell, according to retired Army Col. Steve Boylan.
January 2012 — Broadwell's biography, "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus," is released. In an interview with her hometown paper, the Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune, Broadwell describes Petraeus as an inspirational figure who always takes care of his subordinates.
May 2012 — Anonymous emails, ultimately traced to Broadwell, were sent to Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and several other generals warning them to stay away from Kelley, the Florida socialite. The emails came from the pseudonym "Kelleypatrol" and included notes on Allen's plans to see Kelley in Washington the following week. Concerned about how anyone else would know about his personal plans, Allen forwarded the emails to Kelley to see whether she was playing a prank on them. Other generals also forward to Kelley copies of emails they received.
Early June 2012 — Kelley begins receiving additional emails directly from various anonymous email accounts claiming she's up to no good. One email mentions Petraeus and an upcoming social event in Washington.
June 2012 — Kelley discusses the emails with Humphries, the FBI agent, leading to an investigation. FBI agents are concerned that the sender of the emails is tracking the movements of Allen and Petraeus.
July 2012 — The affair between Petraeus and Broadwell ends, according to Petraeus' friend Boylan. Because of the sensitive nature of the investigation involving security issues, FBI and Justice Department officials are notified, including FBI Director Robert Mueller. Attorney General Eric Holder is notified around this time.
August 2012 — Humphries tells Kelley he's been removed from the case and complains that the FBI is moving too slowly. Meanwhile, another FBI agent involved in the investigation tells Kelley the FBI has traced the emails to Broadwell, whom Kelley has never met.
Late summer 2012 — Emails between Petraeus and Broadwell lead agents to believe the two are having an affair.
Late September — The FBI conducts the first of its two interviews with Broadwell. By this time, the FBI has long since concluded that none of Petraeus' computers had been hacked and that Petraeus was not involved in the cyber harassment of Kelley. After Broadwell was interviewed, agents search her computers and find substantial amounts of classified documents — a discovery that shifted the focus of the investigation.
October 2012 — FBI agents spend most of the month trying to resolve issues related to the classified documents that Broadwell has — working with the Pentagon to assess where she got them, their significance and whether she was authorized to have them.
Oct. 26 — The FBI conducts its first and only interview of Petraeus, during which he acknowledges the affair. Petraeus is questioned about the classified documents in Broadwell's possession and denies giving her any classified documents.
Oct. 27 — Humphries communicates with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and says he's worried the FBI isn't aggressively pursuing a possible security breach. Word of Humphries concerns first reaches Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., who arranges for Humphries to speak with Cantor.
Oct. 31 — Cantor's chief of staff calls the FBI chief of staff to inform him of the tip. Cantor is assured soon after that the FBI is on top of any possible vulnerability.
Friday, Nov. 2 — The FBI conducts what Holder later calls "a very critical interview" with Broadwell that convinces the Justice Department it knows enough about the case to inform the White House. In this second interview with Broadwell, the FBI is told how many classified documents she received and that none of them came from Petraeus.
Tuesday, Nov. 6 — As Americans cast their ballots on Election Day, the FBI informs Director of National Intelligence James Clapper of the investigation. Clapper calls Petraeus and urges him to resign.
Wednesday, Nov. 7 — The White House is first notified about the affair involving Petraeus. The retired general turns 60.
Thursday, Nov. 8 — President Barack Obama, having returned from Chicago, is told of the affair. Petraeus meets with Obama at the White House and asks to resign.
Friday, Nov. 9 — Obama accepts Petraeus' resignation. News of the resignation breaks before Congress is briefed. Broadwell's husband emails guests to cancel her 40th birthday party, scheduled for that weekend. By the evening, Broadwell has been publicly identified.
Sunday, Nov. 11 — Lawmakers complain in televised interviews that the FBI didn't alert them sooner to the investigation. Kelley's identity is revealed by The Associated Press and she issues a statement asking for privacy.
Monday, Nov. 12 — The FBI searches Broadwell's house in Charlotte, N.C., with her consent. As she has told them to expect, the agents find classified documents there. The Pentagon orders an investigation into the Allen matter.
Tuesday, Nov. 13 — Pentagon reveals that Allen is under internal investigation for thousands of "inappropriate communications" with Kelley over a two-year period, and puts on hold his nomination to be the next commander of U.S. European Command and the commander of NATO forces in Europe. MacDill Air Force Base revokes Kelley's access pass.
Wednesday, Nov. 14 — Obama says he has seen no evidence that national security was threatened by the scandal. Mueller, the FBI director, and Acting CIA Director Michael Morell meet privately with top lawmakers on intelligence committees. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, traveling abroad, says he's confident Allen can continue to lead. Broadwell's security clearance is suspended.
Thursday, Nov. 15 — Citing a string of ethical lapses by senior military officers, Panetta orders a review of ethics training. The CIA opens an "exploratory" investigation into Petraeus' general conduct. Petraeus says in a CNN interview that he never gave classified information to Broadwell. Questioning continues on Capitol Hill.
Friday, Nov. 16 — Petraeus testifies before Congress is sneaked into a secure room beneath the Capitol to testify about the attack in Benghazi, Libya. He tells lawmakers he resigned solely because of the affair. U.S. officials say just a handful of the emails between Allen and Kelley were potentially problematic, with the vast majority of the 20,000-plus pages of documents being deemed routine.
Wednesday, Nov. 21 — Allen returns to work in Kabul, Afghanistan, resuming his duties as the top U.S. and NATO commander of the war there. The Defense Department continues to look into his communications with Kelley.
Associated Press writers Adam Goldman, Pete Yost, Michael J. Sniffen, Kimberly Dozier, Eileen Sullivan, Donna Cassata and Robert Burns contributed to this report.


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Ferris wheels are totally old-school fun, but they're becoming the latest pop-up landmarks worldwide. Travel + Leisure magazine's March issue names Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier among the coolest in the world for the ride that debuted in the 19th century.
Here's why we should cherish our local spinner: It's the only solar-powered Ferris wheel on the planet, which makes it a pretty clean ride for those concerned about their carbon footprint, and at night it's illuminated with 160,000 energy-saving LED lights. For $5, you can ride and catch the views from 130 feet in the sky above Santa Monica Bay.
In the (totally subjective) ranking, the Pacific Wheel shares company with the high-profile London Eye and Singapore Flyer.
Wheels in the U.S. that also made the cut are the Wonder Wheel in Brooklyn's Coney Island (free rides on opening day this Sunday), the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel in Chicago, the Texas Star in Dallas and the upcoming Linq High Roller in Las Vegas, which hopes to be the world's tallest at 550 feet when it opens later this year.
The magazine points out that the first one debuted in 1893 at the Chicago World's Fair as a one-up to the Eiffel Tower. The creator: George Washington Gale Ferris. Check out Travel + Leisure's complete list.
Follow us on Twitter @latimestravel, like us on Facebook @Los Angeles Times Travel.


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[UPDATED] G-Dragon's Teaser Image Is Released + D-5 Video
Following the release of fellow Big Bang members TOP, Daesung, Taeyang and Seungri finally comes G-Dragon! The image was uploaded on midnight, February 17 to Naver. Each member's teaser picture was released over the week of Febrary 13. In this picture G-Dragon is wearinga military-style vest and his face is covered with ice! In the blue triangle next to his picture are the words "Alive Big Bang Blue."
The album was made available for pre-order through various online and offline stores. The group's comeback album, "Alive" will have six different packaging options. Each member will have his own cover, photo-booklet, and YG card to choose from. If you are having difficulty choosing which version to purchase there will also be an edition for the entire group.
Check out G-Dragon's talk after you look at the pics!


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It is the largest member of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) research fleet: the ATRA (Advanced Technology Research Aircraft), a modified Airbus A320, has supported research since it was brought into use in the end of 2008. From new types of vibration tests through the 'Competitive Airport' project to low-emission flying, all experiments with ATRA were successful.
Mobile vibration tests save costs and time
During Spring 2009, ATRA, equipped with its 140 acceleration sensors, taxied at the airport in Manching near Ingolstadt. The DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity in Göttingen tested the ATRA using the hitherto globally-unique taxi vibration test (TVT). The mobile TVT is a further development of the long-standing stationary vibration test, called the ground vibration test (GVT). These tests for aeroelastic stability analysis are prescribed by the regulatory authorities before the first flight of a new commercial aircraft. The main interest of the tests lies in recording vibration frequencies and shapes, such as the bending and twisting of the wing. In flight, the overlay of these modes of vibration can cause flutter which, in extreme cases could lead to the aircraft structure breaking apart.
As in the GVT, the researchers record important vibration data in the TVT. In the mobile tests this happens as the aircraft slowly taxies over the runways of an airport, which are uneven in most cases. The advantage of the TVT is that it does not require the large scale measuring equipment which is required for the stationary GVT. Just the motion of the aircraft over the uneven runway gives the researchers important basic information about its dynamic characteristics. Using this method, they identified three different forms of vibration during the tests.
In contrast to the current stationary test, the mobile test saves costs and time. A GVT for example can take several weeks, whereas the TVT can be carried out in a few days or even hours. The mobile tests cannot replace the stationary ones completely, but they can supplement them in an optimum way and reduce their length considerably.
ATRA deployed for the 'Competitive Airport'
In order to be able to meet the current growth forecasts for air traffic, the 'Competitive Airport' project (Wettbewerbsfähiger Flughafen; WFF) was set up as part of the German government's fourth aviation research programme (LuFo IV). One of the goals of this project is an improved planning system for the taxi procedure of aircraft at airports, both before and after landing. In order to maintain the capacity of German airports during unfavourable weather conditions, improved management and optimisation systems will be used in future. While the monitoring and identification of taxi traffic by air traffic controllers is already optimum, there are still gaps in the areas of planning, control and information presentation.
ATRA was deployed at Frankfurt airport for the Roll:MOPS (taxi guidance: management and optimisation systems) subproject, run by the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance in Braunschweig. The study focused on the development of a planning system (Surface Manager – SMAN) for the taxi process and the transfer of the required control information to the cockpit. SMAN automatically generates the taxi paths of aircraft and transmits them to the pilot by two methods; firstly, the pilot is shown where to taxi through the switching of the lighting on the taxiways. Secondly, the taxi route is transmitted directly by datalink to a display installed in the cockpit and shown on a digital map of the airport. This process will, in future, integrate the pilots even more actively into the taxi guidance process. Planning precision is increased, taxi times are reduced and the pilot is better able to assess the situation on the taxiway.
The field test at Frankfurt airport was preceded by a series of simulations at the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance and initial tests with two specially equipped buses which also took place at Frankfurt airport. In the field test with the ATRA, researchers tested the interaction of all the systems for the first time– from the planning system through the control of the taxi strip lighting and the datalink to the display in the cockpit.
Low-emission flying: the FAGI project
Also in October, DLR Braunschweig deployed ATRA for the first time for flight tests under the FAGI (Future Air Ground Integration) project. Using its AFMS (Advanced Flight Management System) flight path planning system, FAGI plans new, quieter and more fuel-efficient approach procedures and thus reduces emissions during flight.
The ATRA repeatedly made approaches to Braunschweig-Wolfsburg airport and immediately took off again during the flight tests. These tests were intended as a first step in adapting AFMS to the flight performance of the A320. The ATRA will implement fuel-efficient and quieter approach profiles very precisely in future using the AFMS, as did its predecessor, the DLR ATTAS (Advanced Technologies Research Aircraft) research aircraft. In conventional approaches, the altitude of the aircraft is reduced at an early stage. In contrast, AFMS is able to plan the complete approach profile, such as speed and the configuration of flaps and landing gear, in advance, taking account of the weather conditions at the time. Then, the pilot allows the engines to idle through the whole of the descent and increases thrust only shortly before landing. An increase in thrust during the final approach is necessary in order for the landing to be aborted if necessary. This future approach procedure, called ACDA (Advanced Continuous Descend Approach), cannot yet be implemented with today's standard flight planners.
The cabin and cockpit of the ATRA were equipped with computers and a special display. The computers and displays were partly systems that had already been tested using ATTAS and also some supplied with comprehensive data from the Airbus flight data measurement system. The performance of the aircraft plays an important role in the FAGI AFMS approach manager. Adaptations for the A320 were made for the flight tests. Following successful deployment of the AFMS with the standard A320 autopilot, the DLR pilots also manually flew the route specified by the AFMS and shown on the display installed in the cockpit.
In all the tests, the researchers succeeded in adjusting the parameters for the AFMS during the flight test in such a way that the calculated and actual flight path coincided precisely to within a few seconds. In the long-term, it should become possible for approach profiles to be flown automatically. For this purpose, the AFMS must have an electronic interface with the autopilot so that speed, height and course information can be accessed directly by the autopilot.
Following the successful first test flight under FAGI, the use of the AFMS for future projects in ATRA is guaranteed.
The excellent collaboration with Airbus particularly contributed to the success of all the ATRA experiments in 2009. DLR plans several more experiments with ATRA in 2010, again with the support of Airbus.


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Michelle's Gracious Craftsman Kitchen
Some kitchens just seem built for holiday cooking. This gracious kitchen from a traditional Los Angeles Craftsman home is one of those — it just looks like it was built to handle turkeys, pies, and hordes of relatives. Read on for more of this lovely kitchen with vintage built-ins and lots of light.
This kitchen is much bigger than our own, but it does remind us of our own 100-year-old bungalow home and the challenges of updating an older home while staying true to its roots. We really love this kitchen; we love how the marble and subtle gray paint are sleek and quietly modern, while complementing the old-fashioned stove and enormous bank of built-in storage.
• See the full house tour: Michelle Workman's Designer Craftsman at Apartment Therapy
Related: Kitchen Spotlight: Jeff and Martha's Restored Vintage
(Images: Jeff Ong)


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1. Re: Strings and .currentLabel in function?Ned Murphy Apr 20, 2012 4:23 AM (in response to witherton)1 person found this helpful
You probably do not want to keep e.target in there. e.target can point to something inside the object that you click, such as one of the face graphics. You should use e.currentTarget instead. currentTarget points to the object that has the event listener assigned.
As far as your comparisons go, if you are testing a string value, you only need to use the string values. Using the "two. " as you have doesn't do anything for you except probably generate an error.
if(e.currentTarget.currentLabel == "facesad" || e.currentTarget.currentLabel == "blue1")
You do not want to use "String" in your code like you did because that is a class name in AS3. If you want to do something like that then use "face"+string, where string is a variable that is assigned a String value.
2. Re: Strings and .currentLabel in function?witherton Apr 20, 2012 9:27 AM (in response to Ned Murphy)
Thanks, Ned.
The code in my project is working as I want it with the e.target, but I'll take your advice change it to avoid any future problems.
As far as the rest, I probably didn't explain myself clearly enough, but the code in your post doesn't really do what I was looking for. As I noted at the end of the post, the code I posted was streamlined for clarity. In the actual project
there are several numbered instances and there are about a dozen keyframes in those symbols. My goal is to get a specific button to react if specific instances match specific groups. To get the code to do what I want, it is important to make sure I define a specific instance and its specific state.
But I think you did point me on the right track in saying I need to assign a string value. What would that look?
3. Re: Strings and .currentLabel in function?Ned Murphy Apr 20, 2012 11:24 AM (in response to witherton)
Labels are strings, so they would look just like I showed "thisisastring" Based on your description of the intention of the code, I don't think you are going about it per what you say you want (or what I described in your other posting for this). If you want see if One and Two are displaying the same thing, then give them the same frame labels for the same things and compare the frame labels...
if(One.currentLabel == Two.currentLabel) winbutton.gotoAndStop(frame2);
4. Re: Strings and .currentLabel in function?witherton Apr 20, 2012 12:05 PM (in response to Ned Murphy)
Oh, okay You are taking into consideration some of my previous postings. What I'm trying to do now is similar, but
slightly different.
The code in your last post doesn't do quite what I need because it activates "winbutton" when the two symbols are on
matching labels (e.g. "blue1"). What I want is for the winbutton to be activated if they share labels from matching groups (e.g. "blue1,blue2,blue3", "facesad,facehappy,faceangry"). I would like to be able to exclude certain members of the group, too. For instance, if "One" is the target and its current label is "blue1", I would want "winbutton" to only be activated if its label is "blue2" or "blue3".
I hope this is a better explanation. Thanks in advance.
5. Re: Strings and .currentLabel in function?Ned Murphy Apr 20, 2012 6:53 PM (in response to witherton)
What you just attempted to explain doesn't agree with what your posting started with... " want to set it up so that "winbutton" will move to it's second frame if "One" or "Two" is pressed while it shares the same label as it's partner."
It sounds like you need to try to tackle this yourself and weather the storm to solve it, because I can't follow what you say you want now. You know what you want and just need to put the thought logic into code logic.
If what you are saying now is you want to match labels that share the "blue" or "face" text in them, then you can use the String.indexOf() method to see if they conatin a certain string value or not.
if( String(e.target.currentLabel),indexOf("face") > -1) // the labels contains "face" if this is true
Look it up in tthe help documents to get a thorough explanation of what it does.
6. Re: Strings and .currentLabel in function?witherton Apr 20, 2012 11:59 PM (in response to Ned Murphy)
Thanks, Ned. Sorry for the confusion. Sometimes while trying to explain a situation, I'm not quite sure what information to focus on. Several times I've phrased a question in a particular way that led to an answer that, while correct, I couldn't really use. I have been attempting to post the simplest example explanations and simplest example code to explain what I am trying to do , but I usually end up stumbling over my own feet. Here, I basically wanted to ask "What is the correct synstax for the string method in this situation?" but ended up asking an entirely different question! I guess I was hoping whoever answered the question would latch onto my use of the string method and I could take it from there.


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Paul Collier begins his book Wars, Guns and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places by noting that the next generation might live see the eradication of war or they might die in one. Each is a distinct possibility but he states that the face of warfare has changed. The wars of the future, he asserts, will no longer be about invasions, values and the movement of international borders; wars will be on a much smaller scale and are likely to be civil wars that affect the poorest countries on earth. It is a chilling prediction and far from believing that the atrocities of Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia are firmly in the past, Collier predicts more genocides and ethnic warfare as the governments of what he calls the "bottom billion" remain unaccountable and illegitimate.
In Wars, Guns and Votes, Paul Collier seeks to challenge some of the more popular and enduring beliefs about the politics of the "bottom billion". He begins by dissecting the role of democracy and the effects of ethnicity and then follows this with a section dedicated to guns, wars and coups with a case study of Cote d'Ivoire. The final section of the book focuses on Collier's recommendations for policy changes and his suggestions for steps that the developed world can take to ensure the development of proper governance and accountability in the countries of the bottom billion in the future.
Part 1: Denying Reality: Democrazy
In the first part of the book "Denying Reality: Democrazy" Collier debunks the notion that the revered democratic election should be the end point in the political process. Citing research and case history, he asserts that democracy does not enhance prospects of internal peace but rather increases political violence. This is because democracy has not produced accountable and legitimate governments and the way that elections are won means that bad governance and a lack of accountability is inevitable. Quite simply, it is too easy to rig elections, pick on scapegoats and minorities or lie to voters in order to win elections and once elections have been won on that basis, what incentive is there to govern properly? A government would need to continue these tactics in order to stay in power as long as possible.
Collier continues with a look at the effects of ethnicity in developing countries and observes that public services tend to be worse in ethnically diverse countries where politicians plundered the economy and transferred the proceeds to their own ethnic groups. Citing the case of Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Collier notes how the construction of a national identity can help to overcome such effects of ethnicity.
In the final section of part one, Collier notes that peacekeeping does in fact work and that while it is expensive, it costs a mere fraction of the cost of conflict. He asserts that there is a level at which the benefits of peacekeeping missions seem to even out (approximately $100 million a year) and that the aim should be to pull out eventually and phase in an over-the-horizon guarantee with the promise of a rapid response. He cites the British ten-year undertaking to fly troops into Sierra Leone should the need arise as an example.
Part 2: Facing Reality: Nasty, Brutish and Long
Part two of the book is entitled "Facing Reality: Nasty, Brutish and Long". In a discussion on guns, Collier notes that aid is leaking into military spending. As post-conflict military spending increases, there is a risk of reversion to war and thus aid is a two-edged sword. Collier states that the developed nations have a responsibility to police arms embargoes and make them more effective or that they need to be more responsible with the provision of aid and to link aid allocations to a chosen level of military spending.
In "Wars", Collier quite succinctly notes that armed struggle is development in reverse. He expands on his claim in the opening paragraphs of the book and notes that we are moving away from invasions towards an increase in rebels, insurgents and civil wars. Collier discusses several issues such as the economy, history, structure, geography and politics of a country and notes that all of these factors might be correlated with warfare but that it might be inaccurate to talk of causality. Collier warns of the dangers of reverse causality and states that it is perhaps not relevant to look at why wars happen in the developed countries but how they are allowed to happen at all. Recognising that the legacy of a civil war is another civil war, Collier states simply that we need to make civil wars more difficult.
The section entitled "Coups" is difficult in that the author obviously has a point of view that he would like to express but in the end, it is supported neither by case histories nor research data. Collier states that coups might be the only method of removing a troublesome dictator and that perhaps they should be harnessed, not eliminated. He notes that a coup is a surgical strike and is not nearly as devastating as a civil war. The problem is that coup leaders often get a taste for power and don't deliver election as promised or they may be greedy and power hungry and not necessarily seeking better governance. In fact, Collier notes, from a statistical point of view, coups are at least as likely to occur in democracies as they are in autocracies and therefore, they are less likely to throw out a truly bad government than they are to oust an acceptable, functioning regime. Despite this grim outlook, Collier maintains that the threat of a coup can keep a government in check and that coups do have a role in maintaining good governance.
Collier then presents a case study of Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) which encountered a severe economic shock which lead to the development of anti-immigrant sentiment and identity polarization in the country. In a very short period of time, the country experienced two military coups, a sham election and a rebel uprising which saw civil war erupt to devastating consequences. Collier asks the question as to whether this catastrophe could have been averted.
Part 3: Changing Reality: Accountability and Security
The final part of the book is entitled "Changing Reality: Accountability and Security". Collier insists that the answer lies in nation building and the adoption of global norms of accountability. Once again he refers to the case of President Nyerere of Tanzania and how he built a strong national identity in a previously fractured country. Collier asserts once again that only once petty ethnic divisions are neutralised within a country, can public goods be supplied on a national scale. Embarking on elections before national identity and accountability are in place is and will remain to be disastrous.
In "Better Dead Than Fed" Collier lists his three-part manifesto for ensuring accountability and security in the developing world. He states that sovereignty has been shown to be disastrous in the past (when America refused to join the League of Nations) and he argues that the time has come to join together in assisting the developing world rather than leaving such countries to their own devices. Collier states that we need to harness the threat of violence in order to ensure democracy. This means that a voluntary international standard for the conduct of elections must be developed whereby the international community will assist countries in ensuring free and fair elections but will leave a country to the threat of a coup if the elections are not fair. This must be complemented by enforcing probity in public spending. Collier argues that donor countries have an obligation to their own tax payers to ensure that money is used in the manner in which it was intended. Therefore, Collier calls for "governance conditionality" which would be based on capacity and verification. It might be the least favourable kind of aid but Collier calls for technical assistance whereby donor countries supplied skilled people to verify that the capacity they are providing is actually being used to enforce probity in public spending.
Finally, Collier calls for an international supply of security. Collier insists once again that donor countries have an obligation to link aid to the level of military spending to ensure that they are not subsidising the provision of guns and arms in countries at risk of civil war. In addition, Collier suggests that sovereignty be shared and that the international community rise to provide security to post-conflict countries. Collier states that "Some governments should provide or finance peacekeepers; some governments should provide aid; and the post-conflict government should reform economic policy, cut its military spending, and, if it chooses to hold elections, let them be free and fair". In order to be effective, these provisions need to be in place for about a decade to ensure that there is no reversion to civil war.
It is clear that Collier's views will not be welcome or popular amongst the people that already think that developed countries are already doing too much in the developing world and that taxpayers' money would be better used in domestic arenas. In the classic parlance of the economist, Collier reminds us that ignoring our responsibilities at this stage will lead to greater devastation in the future and indeed, a greater financial outlay. At times his arguments seem so simple that it is surprising that they have not been implemented previously; how is it possible, for example, that donors supplied aid without ensuring that it was not used to fuel greater war and suffering? At other times his arguments seem impossibly liberal and idealistic but the point is this: we fought two major world wars to protect freedom, sovereignty and values; why are we not prepared to act in order to ensure this for the countries of the "bottom billion"?
There does seem to be some movement in the direction that Paul Collier proposes. Collier is a professor of economics at Oxford University and is quite respected in his field. He certainly has an expanding sphere of influence and has talked at the Aspen Institute and the TED Conference. In addition, there are several organisations and initiatives hard at work to introduce notions of governance and accountability to the governments of developing countries through, for example, the Public Expenditure & Financial Accountability (PEFA) programme.
The ideas that Collier proposes in Wars, Guns and Votes are not simply theories but are based on research conducted by his own academic team and by other researchers. Collier has made a fine effort in attempting to bring complex economic issues to a mass market through books such as this and The Bottom Billion but his references to data collection and analysis might prove too technical for much of this market. There is also the ever present problem of reverse causality and a lack of reliable data to test. Collier notes that the application of statistical research is a pretty new addition in the field of economics which means that as impressive as some of the hypotheses in this book might be, they may be somewhat limited until a greater body of research can be analysed and compared. The problem is that this issue is far more urgent than that and requires decisive action.
Nevertheless, Collier has raised some intriguing points in this book and I am sure he will continue to champion the plight of the "bottom billion". It will be interesting to see how international relations and policies shift in the future and whether any of his ideas do come to fruition. This book is certainly recommended for anyone seeking an introduction to democracy and post-conflict development in developing countries and such readers would benefit from reading his previous work The Bottom Billion too.
Buy Wars Guns and Votes at Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com
Buy The Bottom Billion at Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com
This article was written by me and first published as Book Review: Wars, Guns and Votes by Paul Collier on Blogcritics.


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What about the idea of using shipping containers as a retreat or "bug out shelter?"
As it turns out, shipping containers offer some distinct advantages in being used for this kind of housing.
First of all, the containers themselves are comparatively inexpensive, when compared to many other building blocks you can use.
They also provide a handful of advantages as a result of their durability. Because shipping containers are made to be stacked and make trans-oceanic voyages, they can certainly withstand a good deal of abuse. This is extremely important for people looking to have a container home shelter as a "getaway spot."
My friend Dan recently put together a pretty cool guide for people considering the idea. His guide on using shipping containers as bug out shelters walks people through a series of questions that need to be asked (and answered!) before undertaking a project like this. Building locations, financing, foundations, and much more.If interested, check out his guide here.