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The mid-nineties were a wild time to be alive: O.J. Simpson dominated the news cycle, Jeff Buckley ruined sex scenes forever with his cover of "Hallelujah", and Professor X was murdered by his son Legion. Then, in 1994, a new breed of superhero hit store shelves in the form of Dark Horse's X, the story of the eponymous defender of Arcadia who doesn't shy away from cracking a few skulls to deliver his hardline brand of justice. Now, Dark Horse is bringing back the ultraviolent hero and putting them in the hands of writer Duane Swierczynski and artist Eric Nguyen. Their reboot is not for the faint of heart, as X indiscriminately fills Arcadia's criminals with lead and ensures the city's safety at any cost. To get the inside scoop, I caught up with the brains behind the book to find out
Nerdist: How familiar were you with the original X series during the '90s? What are some of the challenges in rebooting a character like this who has been out of the spotlight for a little bit?
Duane Swierczynski: I'll be honest: not at all. The early 90s is exactly when I wasn't reading comics (due to being in college and broke). But it was great fun to catch up with X via the two omnibus editions. X is a kind of character I love to write: bad-ass and mysterious with his own code of ethics. I don't think it matters that he's been gone for two decades; what matters is that he's back now, and he's going to turn your hand into hot link sausages.
Eric Nguyen: I was a big fan of the book in the 90s and still have the first issue with the Frank Miller cover tucked away somewhere. I wouldn't call it a challenge, per se, but I think when you're redesigning a character that fans are already familiar with, you want to walk a line between paying homage and modernizing. When Patrick, the editor, asked me if I would be interested in the reboot, I said yes almost immediately. I think his exact words were "…dark, gore, and a little weird…." He had me at gore. After a short discussion, we decided that X had to be more urban, his costume more functional, and he needed to step away from the spandex tights that had come before.
N: How true to the original character is the series? Did you want to go your own way or do something in the spirit of the original?
DS: While I tried to honor X's past, I didn't want to be mired in it, either. It's a balancing act, to be sure, but Dark Horse has been absolutely great about giving me the freedom to take X down different alleys. For one thing, the criminals and villains he faces are all new. Eric and I have been having some great fun with anthropomorphism. You've got pigs in the first arc, but keep your eyes peeled for rats and dogs, too….
EN: Absolutely. I think we've been able to capture the essence of the character while also putting our own stamp on who he is. X isn't a guy with a lot of pillow talk. He's a man of action and not words. Personally, I really enjoy the relationship that Duane has created between X and Leigh, and believe it adds another side to the book that was missing previously.
N: This is some seriously hardboiled stuff. Tell us a bit about what we can expect from the series as it goes forward.
DS: More hardboiled stuff! But seriously, I'm excited about exploring both X and his city, layer by layer. The mystery of X — who he is, why he does what he does, can he enjoy 3D movies or not — will be examined piece by piece, just like the sordid saga of Arcadia, and how it got that way. I'm seeing my run on X (however long as it may be) as an epic crime novel. And the fun of writing crime novels (which is what I do when I'm not writing comics) is exploring a character and his/her environment chapter by chapter. I love old pulpy vintage novels not so much for the wild plot hijinx, but because it's a guided tour through the past — how people behaved, what they ate and drank, and how they screwed each other over. My goal is to bring that kind of depth to X.
EN: Man, what can readers expect? Well, they'll definitely be surprised. Duane has brewed some seriously twisted therapy sessions up for X.
N: Talk to us about designing the city of Arcadia – both visually and narratively. So far, it's giving off a The Wire-meets-Clockwork Orange vibe (which I mean in the best possible way).
DS: That's the best description of Arcadia that I've ever heard. This is definitely more Eric's question, but The Wire is a huge influence on this series, as well as books about dying American cities (practically a subgenre now) and a whole slew of newspaper and magazine pieces.
EN: I think this book gives me a perfect outlet to show readers how I've always wanted to depict a dark book. Prior to X, I had been trying to get on a darker book at one of the big two. When the opportunity to draw X came up, I couldn't have been happier. All that energy and inspiration I had been building up allowed me to just go nuts on X with textures. You'll see that I try to make everything in X have grit. I incorporated wall textures, and city's street grit scrubbed into the characters' line art. It was a very deliberate decision to try and have the city mingle with the characters. I want the world to seem dark and seedy. Arcadia isn't a place for the weak. I would also like to praise Michelle, who is our fabulous colorist, who has done a fantastic job giving the book the right palette and saturation for Arcadia.
N: There's definitely a bit of the ol' ultraviolence in here. Was that always part of the plan or was it something that came up naturally as you went along?
EN: The credit lays squarely on the shoulders of Patrick and Duane. They knew exactly how explicit the book needed to be, and I agreed.
DS: The violence just flowed from the character. X is super-passionate about saving his city; he likens his campaign to doing surgery, and well, you know surgery can get awful messy.
N: Are there any things that Duane suggests that are too gruesome for you, Eric? Likewise, have any of Eric's drawings made your stomach churn, Duane?
DS: Only in the best possible way. Eric has this genius way of making something look nightmarish, even if it's just some dude at a lunch counter snarfing down a baloney sandwich.
EN: I've mentioned this to Duane personally. He is doing a fantastic job and routinely provides me scenes that allow me the perfect foundation to springboard from. His scripts are brutal, his pacing perfect and it allows me to really let loose. I hope we work together for a long time.
N: What comics are you reading and enjoying right now?
EN: That's a question with a long answer. Right now I'm enjoying more creator-owned books than ever before. I've been picking up Jupiter's Legacy (love Frank Quitely), Saga (Fiona's a gem), Bedlam, Nowhere Men, Luther Strode, Invincible, and Walking Dead. I know there's probably more. What Kirkman has done with The Walking Dead is incredible and inspiring. To tell stories for almost a decade while keeping the property exciting is refreshing and something this industry really needs. I'm excited for whatever becomes the next Walking Dead.
DS: My taste in comics tends to run towards crime, horror and the just plain weird. I just ordered Matt Kindt's MIND MGMT and Brain Michael Bendis's Jinx collection (which I've been meaning to read, oh, for a decade now). Loving Ed Brubaker's and Sean Phillips' Fatale, and as well as Matz's Killer series. Also read and really dug Charles Soule's Strange Attractors a few weeks ago.
N: What would be inside your ideal burrito?
EN: YES! Finally, we get down to the most important question of the interview. I'll need caloric free carne asada, jalapenos, caloric free beans, black beans, pinto beans, refried beans (all of them!), caloric free guacamole, and with a small bucket of hot sauce to bath my delicious, foot long beauty in. Did I mention caloric free? Yes, If science could make it all calorie free, my waist line would appreciate it.
DS: Another burrito.
Dark Horse's X #2 hits your local comic book shop today. For more on Duane and Eric's adventures, you can follow them on Twitter.


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I created this card for Karen Burniston's Designer Challenge. Each designer is using a different insert and I picked the Multi-Tier Insert from Karen's new Snippets collection. I love how it turned out, love the red with the white.
I combined the Multi-Tier Insert with two sets of thinlit dies and several Lawn Fawn Stamp sets.
For the front of the card, I used a border from the Banners & Borders Thinlits. I absolutely love the look of the swirls!!! The stamps are from two different Lawn Fawn sets, Critters in the Forest and Happy Everything.
On the inside of the card, I used the Labels & Stitched Frames. The stitches are the bomb! I used stamps from the Sweet Christmas Lawn Fawn set on the inside.
When I used the thinlit dies, I used the Magnetic Platform. I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again – it's freaking fantastic!!!
Other: Rouge: Weave Cardstock (American Crafts), Playful Stripes (Walk In the Park, Echo Park).
Check out Karen Burniston's entire Snippets line here: Snippets by Karen Burniston
Connect with Karen Burniston
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest
I hope you like Karen's designs as much as I do. I look forward to all the new things she'll be designing with Elizabeth Craft Designs so stay tuned for more awesomeness in 2014!

subset: commoncrawl


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Shuttle has built a respectable name at the market as a maker of compact and high-quality barebones and miniPC systems. Earlier this year the company refreshed its XS35 series, which now includes models with integrated or discrete graphics. The XS35 series now includes the XS35V2, XS35V3, XS35GTA V2 and the XS35GTA V3 models.
The main difference between the latest "V3" models - the Shuttle XS35GTA V3 and the XS35V3 - is related to their graphics power. Depending on your needs, you may choose the XS35V3 that uses the Intel GMA 3650 GPU onboard or the XS35GTA V3, which is equipped with an AMD Radeon HD 7410M GPU. Both models feature HDMI and VGA outputs.
Today we will take a look to the most interesting model of the new series, the XS35GTA V3. The device is powered by an Intel Atom D2700 processor (2.13 GHz), it has two SO-DIMM ports to hold up to 4GB DDR3 RAM and also offers enough space to fit a 2.5" SSD/HDD drive along with a slim-type optical disc drive. A second 2.5" drive can be also fitted instead of the optical drive using the optional PHD2 accessory.
The 36 mm thin PC also comes with a card reader, WLAN (n) and Gigabit LAN ports. Peripheral devices (e.g. TV tuner, USB sticks, multi-functional devices etc.) can be connected to the five USB 2.0 ports. Finally, the XS35GTA V3 can be operated in upright position using their seatbase or otherwise attached to the rear side of a monitor using the optional VESA PV01 mount. The recommended retail price for the XS35GTA V3 is €233.00 (ex VAT).
- Specifications
Below are the full specifications for the XS35GTA V3 (also called XS35GS V3 outside EU).


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The enterprise storage buyer: Why I stick with the big guys
Known knowns better than known unknowns
Enterprise storage suppliers are a picky bunch and will buy storage from outsiders only if they build a better mousetrap than their current suppliers.
That's the view of "Mike", a senior storage strategy guy in a European enterprise, a Fortune 500-type company, with more than 10PB of storage capacity, I spoke to recently.
And what Mike thinks is bad news for the second tier storage suppliers, such as 3PAR, Compellent, Oracle, Pillar Data and Xiotech as they try to compete against enterprise storage incumbents like EMC, NetApp, IBM and HP.
Our storage strategy guy says his current EMC block storage and NetApp file storage-dominated estate is good, workable and a known risk, so why should he buy from suppliers who present an unknown risk? He won't unless they enable a much better storage service to his users, since it's not primarily about money (although that is a factor).
Mike notes the huge economies of scale of EMC and other tier ones, and that suppliers such as Pillar and Xiotech should regard initial sales into enterprises as loss-leaders. For instance, Pillar should match the pricing of the CLARiiON AX - a "good piece of inexpensive kit".
Good enough
Regarding Pillar he says CLARiiON is "good enough" and Pillar doesn't offer enough advantages over CLARiiON. Knowing that Larry Ellison funds Pillar does not impress him: "Larry spends more on his yachts than he does on Pillar."
Besides that, Oracle has Sun, and the Sun 7000 with ZFS has unique features like in-line deduplication and compression with clustered controllers. This means Oracle and its 7000 is much more likely to cross the chasm into his enterprise data centres than Pillar, but Oracle needs to build a dedicated storage sales force, probably by raiding EMC, NetApp and other enterprise storage suppliers.
And what about HP? When will it address the lagging EVA? It isn't enterprise-capable in Mike's view and HP isn't selling to him. The XP is a recycled Hitachi USP and our storage strategy guy is not impressed. The mooted EVA refresh needs to deliver much more than just a move to X86 controllers. He's impatient for HP's EMC recruit, David Donatelli who is responsible for HP servers, storage and networking, to work his magic, which he expects to happen - but time is passing, and nothing is coming his way that encourages him.
Mike thinks 3PAR comes close to crossing the chasm into selling to enterprises like his - but hasn't made it yet. Compared to the Symmetrix V-Max it isn't a better mousetrap, in his view. There's a rumour that Deutsche Bank is now a 3PAR customer and that credibility would be good, but pricing could be an issue, referencing the loss-leader idea mentioned before.
Mike thinks it would be neat if HP bought 3PAR, as that would open the door to HP selling an enterprise-credible array to him which currently it cannot do. It would also solve the "where does 3PAR go next to grow" problem.
Xiotech is not even close to entering his firm's data centres, although it has very impressive technology. Mike is unhappy that people have to go into his data centres once a day at least to replace failed disk drives in suppliers' arrays. He thinks having people working inside data centres means human error is an ever-present risk. Xiotech's ISE sealed enclosure technology and five-year warranty would help stop this happening and he thinks this is a strong benefit.
Close but no cigar
Seen this way the ISE is a better storage mousetrap, but there is no way Mike could buy them. Xiotech's strategy is to rely on upper levels in the storage stack telling the ISEs what to do and that means he could only get Xiotech iron into his data centres if an enterprise-credible storage supplier adopted the technology. What Mike would like would be for EMC to supply Xiotech ISE enclosures as part of V-MAX or CLARiiON arrays. So far such OEM deals have eluded Xiotech.
Compellent is not even on his radar screen, but then Compellent is not focusing its sales and technology developments on Fortune 500 enterprises.
For him and for now, EMC is the largest supplier to his storage estate but the wind, the storage trade wind, is changing to favour file storage more, and block storage less. NetApp is better positioned than EMC to take advantage of this.
Oracle with its 7000 storage line is a potential supplier but other companies have little chance of entering his data centre unless they do so as part of an existing supplier through acquisition or an OEM supply deal.
OK, so this is Mike's opinion only. But he says much that other people in similar positions have mentioned in passing. He represents a common enterprise storage buying viewpoint and we pass it on in that spirit. ®


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Who regulates cable rates?
Under federal law, the Cable Division regulates rates for basic service and equipment. Expanded basic, pay-per-view and premium services are unregulated.
Basic cable service is the lowest level of cable service available to subscribers. Basic service usually consists of broadcast channels, any local channels available to a community, and any other channels an operator chooses to provide. The Cable Division regulates basic service rates for all communities in Massachusetts that have requested rate regulation. The Cable Division's review of basic rates is conducted according to specific guidelines established by the FCC.
In February 1996, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 . The Act retained the Cable Division's role in setting basic cable programming and equipment rates until cable operators face effective competition in a franchise area.
Based on a mandate in the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the rates for cable programming services (sometimes called "expanded basic"), became unregulated as of March 31, 1999.
How Does the Cable Division regulate rates?
A cable operator submits an FCC form to the Cable Division for approval. The Cable Division reviews the filing, holds public and evidentiary hearings and sometimes sends the cable operator written questions regarding its calculations and/or methodology in preparing the form. Once it has enough information the Division issues a decision setting a "maximum permitted rate" (the highest rate an operator can charge under FCC regulations) and order refunds (as necessary) to subscribers.
How do Cable Operators justify a basic cable rate increase?
The FCC allows cable operators to recover costs associated with the following:
- Inflation
- Channel additions
- Programming cost and copyright fee increases
- Franchise costs
- Non license required upgrades
When these costs fluctuate rates may increase as well.
What type of information are Cable Operators required to file when requesting a rate increase, and how is the information submitted?
Cable operators are required to submit cost data on FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Forms. The Forms are used to calculate a "maximum permitted rate" (the highest rate a Cable operator can charge under FCC Regulations) for a particular level of service. There are seven FCC Forms used in this process.
How often does a cable operator file the FCC Forms?
There are three forms that cable operators file on a continuing basis to justify the reasonableness of basic service tier rate increases or decreases. These are the FCC Form 1205 and 1210 or 1240. The FCC Form 1210 can be filed quarterly. The FCC Form 1240 is filed on an annual basis. The FCC Form 1205, which is used to justify equipment rates, is filed annually.
What role, if any, do citizens and towns play in the rate regulatory process?
In the process of reviewing Cable operators' filings a public hearing is conducted. The public hearing is an integral part of the process of reviewing the cable operator's filing. Any member of the public may attend the hearing and offer comment on the pending rate proposal. In addition, persons who are specifically and substantially affected by the proceeding may petition to intervene as a full party.
Why do cable rates from town to town vary?
There are several factors that cause rates to vary among communities:
- Variations in the number of channels and the costs associated with providing programming.
- Rates in effect at the initial date of regulation (i.e. if the rate was higher before regulation it would likely remain higher after regulation)
- The amount of local (financial) franchise obligations.
- The number of years a community has been wired for cable.
- Which forms the cable operator chooses to file (i.e. what method the cable operator uses to justify its rates)
- The size of the cable operator and the number of subscribers.
I heard all the talk about rate regulation and prices decreasing because of it. My rates never went down. Why?
Basic tier rate regulation was established through the 1992 Cable Act as a result of significant increases in cable rates between 1984 and 1992. The intent of the Act was to slow down the occurrence of rate increases by requiring the cable operator to justify rate changes.
The rules established are also designed to prevent cable operators from making basic-only subscribers pay for costs unrelated to providing basic service. Cable operators are required to separate all basic tier costs and rates. All basic tier increases must be related to inflation, external cost increases or channel additions and deletions and subject to review by the Cable Division.
Are any cable operators exempt from this process?
Systems serving 15,000 or fewer subscribers that are owned by a small cable companies of 400,00 or fewer subscribers are eligible for relief through streamlined rate regulations.


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ANGLER'S MAIL is charting the recording of a new tribute TV series to the legendary Mr Crabtree fishing cartoons.
The latest session is detailed by John Bailey, our brilliant magazine columnist.
Here, in another online bonus for you Mail fans, we bring you some bonus photos from the session where young Michael Leeming got his rod bent on some fine carp.
Be sure to follow John's Thinking Angler every week in the magazine, for insight into the making of In The Footsteps of Mr Crabtree, and also lots of great fishing tips and fishing advice.
Once again, it looks like a fun and productive session and another fine tribute to those classic famous Daily Mirror cartoons. Thanks to Toast Entertainment Group for these bonus photos!
VIDEO COMING SOON!! We will have a video from this Crabtree carp session online here soon.
Related posts:
Crabtree video after its stars enjoy pike and perch spree


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Dec 18, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Pontiac rule
check out my TA
check out my TA
May 27, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I have a 71 firdebird with the formula hood, its a 350 with 3 speed manual. i am not going to use this motor or transmission. I need front end parts and full rear quarter panels. Cant find them anywhere.


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The 15 Best Foods for Nursing Momsby LYNETTE ARCENEAUX
Lynette Arceneaux
Based in Southern California, Lynette Arceneaux has worked as a writer and editor since 1995. Her works have appeared in anthologies, such as "From the Trenches" and "Black Box," in the magazine "Neo-opsis," and on numerous websites. Arceneaux, who holds a Master of Arts degree, currently focuses on the topics of health and wellness, lifestyle, family and pets.
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Jon Gosselin has possibly hit a new low in his life regarding his public image and family. RadarOnline is now reporting that the former Jon & Kate Plus 8 dad will be willing to allow TLC to film his children again under one condition — if they drop their lawsuit against him.
Jon is currently being sued by TLC for breaching the contract he signed with them. This all started when TLC decided they no longer wanted Jon on the hit reality show due to his deteriorating public image and publicity stunts. TLC decided they would still pay Jon though he would no longer be on the show. Even more importantly, Jon would be free to do whatever new show or business endeavors he wished.
For some strange reason, Jon decided the above wasn't good enough and banned TLC from filming his kids just days after TLC announced it wanted to change the name of the show to Kate Plus Eight. Jon lied claimed back then that he had an epiphany that the show was damaging to his children.
TLC had no choice but to stop filming the children. They however in return decided to sue Jon for a breach of contract, and even hired one of the best law-firms in the country. They won a preliminary injunction against Jon last December, prohibiting him from engaging in behavior that violates the non-compete clause in his contract, meaning Jon was no longer allow to do any paid or non paid interviews, as well as sell photos of himself and his children.
His children's well being be damned, Jon is now ready to make a deal according to Radar. And the deal is simple, he will allow TLC to begin filming his children again as long as they drop the lawsuit against him.
A source however tells RadarOnline, that no matter what TLC decides, Jon would never return to the hit show. "You can be sure that if the kids come back to TLC it will be only with Kate, not with Jon. And there's no guarantee that will happen either."
TLC has since moved on and have been working a new show for Kate Gosselin, one that does not involve the children. It is however possible that Kate Plus 8 could return as several specials, rather than a regular series.
As of now, TLC has yet to respond to Jon's offer, and all the talk about a settlement is coming from Jon only, who is clearly getting the short end of the stick in the litigation. He's been restricted from making money off his reality TV fame and is no longer receiving a TLC paycheck. His trial is scheduled to begin in the Spring.
There are also reports that Jon was ordered to pay $10,000 a month in child support to ex-wife Kate. This is addition to the $90,000 he allegedly owes his ex girlfriend Hailey Glassman. Jon's attorney Mark Heller however threatens the public promises RadarOnline: "You haven't seen the last of Jon Gosselin."


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Backed with millions of dollars and potentially millions of supporters, a new group aiming to curb gun violence will launch Wednesday.
Everytown for Gun Safety will include Mayors Against Illegal Guns, founded by former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of mothers.
That group was founded the day after the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
According to a press release, "Everytown will ask Americans to join the fight to reduce the gun violence that kills 86 Americans every day and affects every town – big cities and small towns alike. This means continuing to press for change in Washington and moving beyond Congress to bring the fight for common-sense gun policies to state capitols, corporate boards, and state and federal elections – fields of play formerly occupied almost solely by the gun lobby."
Backers plan to support candidates and bills promoting their efforts. Bloomberg told the New York Times he plans to spend at least $50 million "s educational and advocacy efforts and through personal expenditures," the group's statement said.
More from the release:
"The group draws its name from the grim math of gun violence in America: 86 Americans are killed with guns every day. "This isn't just an urban problem, or a mass shooting problem. It can, and it does, happen in every town," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "And it will take every mayor, every mom, and every one of us to persuade our policymakers that we have to do more to protect our kids and our communities.""
Moms, mayors, gun violence survivors, law enforcement officials, gun owners, faith leaders and everyday Americans will also gather at events across the country today to kick off Everytown. The events will be held in Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; St. Petersburg, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Concord, New Hampshire; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Austin, Texas and Seattle, Washington.
"At the events, Everytown will launch the 'Gun Sense Voter' campaign that, for the first time, will mobilize one million voters to support leaders and laws that promote gun safety. Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, the group's advocacy arm, will also issue candidate questionnaires and announce candidate scorecards to guide its supporters and the public in state and federal elections in November. The Action Fund will also form a separate, supporter-funded political action committee."
The group has an uphill battle; gun control legislation has gone nowhere in this Congress, and prospects remain dim.


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Frederick, Maryland – BB&T Bank recently presented its annual contribution of $50,000 to Mount St. Mary's University's Bolte School of Business, in support of the Mount's BB&T Center for the Study of the Moral Foundations of Capitalism.
"BB&T is proud to be partnering with the Mount and we are excited about the coming year for the BB&T Center for the Study of the Moral Foundations of Capitalism. The Mount is committed to addressing social challenges and they have a history of strong leadership and social responsibility," said Robert L. Tuggle, senior vice president at BB&T.
Founded in 2010 with a 10-year $500,000 grant from the BB&T Charitable Foundation, the BB&T Center coordinates academic programs and community outreach initiatives on topics related to the moral foundations of capitalism, markets and morality, business ethics, and the appropriate role of government in economic activity. The Center advances current dialogue in business ethics, the role of the public sector in a capitalist economy, and the vibrancy of free market capitalism and promotes student, faculty, community, and corporate discussions about the political, social and economic strengths and challenges inherent in capitalism.
The donation was received by Karl Einolf, Ph.D., dean of the Bolte School of Business; John Larrivee, Ph.D., associate professor of economics; and Robert Brennan, vice president of advancement.
"We are grateful to have BB&T's support of our academic business programs. We share a common vision with BB&T to make the communities in which we operate better places to be. Our partnership allows us to improve the ways we educate students and prepare leaders for the challenges and opportunities they will face in the future," Einolf said.
"Larrivee has been named to the honorary post of BB&T Scholar. He will serve a three-year renewable term and will work with Einolf and the Bolte School on the planning and implementation of events associated with the BB&T Center. He replaces Business Lecturer Sandra Sjoberg, who was appointed in 2012.
We are excited about John's appointment and look forward to his leadership as the Mount's BB&T Scholar," said Einolf. "We would also like thank Sandra for her exemplary work in developing and coordinating many new academic programs and activities for the Center and significantly increasing the Center's outreach both on campus and in the Frederick business community."
Visit www.msmary.edu/bbt for more information about the Center and its programs.


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Carve a pumpkin with your children and then have fun making this special recipe. A serving of pumpkin seeds is 1/4 cup.
Prepare as directed, omitting the salt and choosing one of the following flavorings to toss with each 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds before roasting. Spicy: 2 tsp. GOOD SEASONS Dressing Mix. (Try Italian, Cheese Garlic or Asian Sesame Flavor.) Sweet: 2 tsp. maple syrup and 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon. Increase baking time to 8 to 10 min. or until golden brown. Cool in pan. Break apart if necessary. Cheesy: 4 tsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese. Make all the different flavors and serve at your next Halloween party.
When buying your pumpkin, make sure it has a level bottom and one smooth unblemished side for the jack-'o-lantern's face. Children can take part by drawing the jack-'o-lantern's face with a permanent marker before the adult cuts it out. Store the pumpkin outside until it is ready to be carved.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.


text: This new line of screw-on cuffs are made of 80D PVC and screw onto Flex-Tube PU transfer hoses and FlexStat static dissipative hoses for creating fully OEM-ready hose assemblies. Featuring a smooth, soft, and durable clamping surface that provides a tight seal, the cuffs screw onto the hose O.D. and are matched to the I.D. to assure efficient airflow and material transfer. Fully compatible with the hoses, the cuffs come in sizes from 1.25 to 4 in. I.D. in white and various colors, and accommodate the embedded copper grounding wire in FlexStat static dissipative hoses. Flex-Tube PU transfer hoses are made of medium-weight coextruded thermoplastic ether based polyurethane with an ABS helix and provide superior abrasion and puncture resistance. Flexaust, Warsaw, IN 800-343-0428 www.flexaust.comFlexaust


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When Star Wars in Concert transfers to the O2 Arena, Dublin on March 7 for the start of the European leg, the visual reinforcement for this multi-media extravaganza will lean heavily on GLP Impressions, designed into the plot by Director/Designer, Steven Cohen, and Associate Production Designer / Lighting Director, Seth Jackson.
The unique concert, featuring John Williams' music from all six of the Star Wars movies, is narrated throughout by the actor who played C-3PO, Anthony Daniels, and features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage taken from the films, and displayed on a high-definition big screen.
Steven Cohen says there were a couple of compelling reasons for selecting the ten Impression LED heads as a key element. "It is a stunning fixture close up, and as a part of the set, it has all the qualities of a set piece as well as a functioning lighting instrument."
He also used this source as the primary back light for the orchestra. "We were able to get plenty of spread and yet there is a beam quality that carves the light out from the extremely overpowering LED screen. It is quick, and as a set piece in chrome it is a stunning fixture that brings the technology alive when the performance moves into darkness.
"It's nice to have a lighting fixture pull double duty like that."
The Impressions received further endorsement from Seth Jackson: "These fixtures play a critical role in the visual of Star Wars in Concert. Despite being surrounded by lights of far greater size and power, they cut through with brilliant colour and intensity."
This is because the fixture uses 90 high brightness Luxeon K2 LEDs (30 LEDs per colour), pans 660° in as little as two seconds and tilts up to 300° in one second. The optical system features a standard 10° beam angle, with an optional 25° lens assembly for a wider spread, yet it maintains even colour mixing. Impression is extremely compact and light (weighing just 16lbs) — and one reason for this is that while still having an onboard power supply it also has a uniquely tiny base.
Star Wars in Concert is produced by Another Planet Touring in conjunction with Lucasfilm and John Williams himself. The original two performances were staged at the O2 Arena in London in April of 2009 — and the tour will return there for a matinee and an evening show on both Easter Saturday (April 3) and Easter Sunday (April 4).
For more information, please e-mail [email protected] or call +1 (310) 891-0773


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Hunger Task Force hosting peanut butter drive for families in need
Peanut butter collection begins Monday
The Hunger Task Force is asking for peanut butter donations starting Monday. The group's goal is to collect as many jars as they can for families in need.
VIDEO: Hunger Task Force asking for peanut butter
"You can have it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, kids love it," said Scott Marshall, who works with the task force. "It's a great source of protein and just because it's so flexible and just because it does taste pretty great, we want to make sure our pantries are stocked with it."
The organization collected more than 100,000 jars of peanut butter during the 2013 drive. Marshall said families told organizers it's a great all-purpose food item.
"They were so excited that they were able to be able to put it in their pantry and take it out and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for their kid, or mix it in a cereal, or just anything to make sure that their kids are eating healthy," Marshall said.
The Hunger Task Force is working with Walgreens and dozens of area fire stations that serve as drop-off locations. They said after holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, when people are focused on food and sharing, donations tend to slow down. But they said they need to feed people every day and hope the peanut butter drive is successful.
The peanut butter drive runs through Feb. 28.


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Christian Coigny
La salle de bainAbout this photograph
«It all began because women eluded me, I used photography to get closer to them and in fact I distanced myself because I sublimated them. It was naturally subconscious.» CCRead more Read less
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At 20 years old, he started at the Vevey School of Photography but ended up spending only a few months there. He went to San Francisco where he lived for 5 years.Vitra entrusted him with the Personnalités campaign consisting of photographing 130 personalities on seats designed by Charles Eames, Citterio, Jasper Morrison... Parallel to his commissioned work, continually prompted by his passion for photography in its purest form, Christian Coi


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On Saturday 31st January 2009 at around 14:40 UTC something "historical" happened. Google virtually stopped working. It might as well died. Every single search result was marked with "This site may harm your computer.". And it redirected you to a warning page.
Of course this was probably because of some bug in their harmful content detection software or a failed upgrade or something similar. I doubt it was a virus. It doesn't really matter why but for an hour I was forced to use Live search. Yahoo was just too much typing in the address bar. :)
However this brings on an interesting thought. What would happen if this search outage happened on a Wednesday which is usually the busiest week day. This would result in huge loss of revenue and traffic for everyone. If we just take a look at this blog: 95% of all traffic comes from Google searches. Yep… that's 95% !! And others have pretty much the same deal. You do the numbers for other sites that have several tens of thousands of users per day. This was a worldwide failure. USA, Central and South America, Europe and Asia (I haven't talked with anyone from the African continent). You name it, it failed.
And the best thing is that Google only provides a service you're not committed to using so you can't do anything about your lost revenue. And as much fun as this brought to people imagine the consequences on a larger scale.
Today around 1.5 billion people use the internet. Of them on average 70% use Google Search. That's a bit over 1 billion people. So let's make a really pessimistic estimate that each of those people spend $1 per day on the internet. They spend it because they found something they wanted to buy. Using equal hourly distribution for the day (earth spins :) and Google was down 1 hour) we get little less than $42 million loss. And remember that's just for $1 per person per day. There are no real statistics I could find on this but i wouldn't be surprised if the real estimate was 10 times higher. Some might argue that people would just go search somewhere else. Wrong. If you're reading this then you're not an average internet user. An average internet user is set in their way. if something doesn't work they go away and forget about it.
I know Google's slogan is Don't be evil, but still… are you sure about that? Are you prepared to be totally dependent on them? What can you do about it? I know I have no clue, do you? They still provide me with 95% of traffic :)
On to Live search. I have to say that they're improving. I actually found what i was looking for there.
But change is hard. It's interesting to see how my eye and arm/mouse movements are synced with Google's search layout. It simply hurts to switch. Ok… it doesn't hurt but it's still annoying.
Which begs the question: "Why change your search engine at all?" I know I have no other reason then when the primary one fails.
Search results were pretty much the same now that I can cross reference them on Google. Therefore if Microsoft has any plans to steal people form Google they'll have to have some added value in their search. I have no clue as to what that might be, but I'm not a marketing guru. :)
And of course here's a picture to prove the "historical" event for posterity with a bit of irony:
Print | posted on Saturday, January 31, 2009 5:40 PM |
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ISLAMABAD (AP) — Police say a tourist van has plunged off the road in rugged terrain near a hill resort in northern Pakistan, killing 10 people.
Police officer Mudassir Abbasi says the tourists, all Pakistanis, were returning Sunday evening to the garrison city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad after spending the weekend in the resort town of Murree. The accident happened near Salgaran village.
Abbasi said rescuers have recovered the bodies and the eight injured after struggling with metal twisted by the van's 30-meter (100 foot) fall.
He said speeding at a sharp curve apparently caused the accident but police were investigating the matter.
Battered roads, poorly maintained passengers vehicles and massive disregard for traffic rules often cause such accidents in Pakistan.


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Advice on short sessions
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:51 am
Hi Guys/Girls wondering if you guys can lend a bit of advice, im getting back on the bike after really two years of very limited riding (almost none in fact). Since the birth of my two boys one two years ago and one 3 months ago I've found it incredibly hard to keep up the riding. Having said that both me and the missus reckon its time to get back into it, Im really starting to add the old kg's on so we are leaving the kids with their Nannna and going for short 2-3hr rides mainly on the weekend with a couple during the week maybe shorter. Anyway long story short I'm trying to get some idea on what the best way of getting some fitness back fast. We have done a fair bit of riding on the flat so the missus can get used to riding again and also get some base fitness (though im skeptical as to how much base we've gained) and have now start doing some hill climbs (Norton Summit for those that know Adelaide). Im over 100kg and im certainly not flying up those climbs but can get up not too far behind everyone else in the group. Was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and what they found worked or didnt or anyone for that matter.


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Wednesday, August 13, 2014--6:21 am CST
I'm still in shock on the death of Robin Williams. I wonder how Jim reacted to the news. Now it seems that people are looking after Jim Carrey, because he too suffers from severed depression. I've read all kinds of Tweets about him. Look like people are concerned about Jim .
I really love it.
Terry Marvin (Dallas, Texas)


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ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) — From Darren Clarke in 2011 to Phil Mickelson in 2013, the last three winners of the British Open have honed their links-course game at the Scottish Open a week earlier.
So perhaps it's no surprise that trend has lured many top players to the northern tip of Scotland this week, not just for a tilt at the $850,000 top prize but also for some practice of the type of shots that will be required at the year's third major at Hoylake.
Mickelson is a Scottish Open regular who won the tournament last year before going on to capture the claret jug at Muirfield. He will face competition this year from the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and fellow Americans Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler when the tournament gets underway at Royal Aberdeen on Thursday.
The Scottish Open has regained its luster after a couple of lean years with weak fields, which comes as no surprise to Mickelson.
"I really believe coming here and playing the week before the Open, playing in a great links test like this, is a real asset, an asset for players from overseas to get acclimatized to the time and really get acclimatized to these conditions," Mickelson said on Wednesday.
McIlroy played with Mickelson for the first two rounds at Muirfield last year and saw close up how attuned the American was to links golf.
"Phil definitely opened the eyes of a lot of guys," McIlroy said. "He was ready. He was sharp."
After three years at Castle Stuart in Inverness, the Scottish Open has relocated east to the par-71 Royal Aberdeen, founded in 1780. It's the world's sixth oldest golf course.
Mickelson is a big fan of the old Scottish courses — and of Scotland in general. And he has learned to embrace the quirky challenges that characterize links golf, such as playing in fierce winds and dealing with the unpredictable bounce on undulating fairways, which is some feat given his Californian roots.
He mastered it in that stunning two-week span last summer, culminating in a 6-under 66 on the final day at Muirfield that allowed him to pip Lee Westwood for victory at a third different major.
Mickelson said he wants some "terrible" weather this week to test his game.
"I would love to be able to get out and play in that stuff that I never get a chance to back home, and have actually started to play pretty well in over the years," he said. "I've played some of my best golf in bad weather."
McIlroy has had mixed success in Europe this season, winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth — the European Tour's flagship event — in May in the midst of his high-profile split with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki but then missing the cut at his home Irish Open a month later.
McIlroy hasn't played at the Scottish Open since 2009 because he felt Loch Lomond and Castle Stuart — the last two venues — didn't provide a "true links test."
Royal Aberdeen promises to be much more penal, with rain and wind forecast on Thursday, and that's something McIlroy is relishing.
"I'm trying to adopt more of that mindset, especially for these couple of weeks a year," he said. "Back when I was 15, 16, 17, playing links golf all the time, it wasn't anything to put your wet gear on. Now, we're so spoiled playing in great conditions."
Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open winner, ended a yearlong title drought with a victory at the Quicken Loans National on the U.S. PGA Tour two weeks ago.
Former top-ranked Donald won the Scottish Open in 2011 and will partner with Mickelson in the first two rounds this year.
Nick Faldo, a six-time major winner, is also in the field and will be playing his first regular European Tour event since 2010.


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American Physical Society Sites|APS|Journals|PhysicsCentral|Physics
- American Physical Society Sites
- Publications
- Meetings & Events
- Programs
- Membership
- Policy & Advocacy
- Careers In Physics
- Newsroom
- About APS
- Become a Member
My name is Gasper Martinez and I will be attending Stanford University. I live in Los Angeles, specifically the South Central Area. Attending Loyola High School seems to have been a major influence in my choice to study physics. My chemistry teacher in my junior year had worked for NASA, while his wife worked at JPL. He decided to start a club, a physics club to be exact. I was already a three year veteran of a geology club, and I decided, why not join another science club. But this was not just a science club. The first meeting consisted of a lesson of wave harmonics, which was followed by some actual homework. Fundamentally, I was opposed to homework, but this was actually interesting. Pretty soon, we were visiting the UCLA Plasma Lab and designing rockets to compete in a competition. My chemistry teacher also arranged for an astrophysicist to come talk to us about her work with radio telescopes. This encounter, in essence, solidified my love for physics and made me promise myself to do something in the field of physics.
In my senior year, I took a physics course, which gave me some direction as to what type of physics I would like to study. After skimming the surface of astrophysics and astronomy, I knew I wanted to study astrophysics. After some individual study of cosmology and astronomy, I came to the realization that I wanted to study this stuff with my own eyes. I decided that I would become an astronomical engineer, where I would revolutionize space technology as we know it, designing satellites with better resolution, interplanetary probes that were faster and more equipped to take all sorts of measurements, and spacecraft that made interplanetary travel, much more economical and practical.


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The consumer magazine put seven three-wheel strollers through their paces using families to road test them, take them up and down steps, along city streets, across rough terrain, and up and down hills.
The result? Mountain Buggy urban jungle scored top. The users noted several key reasons:
- folded and unfolded easily
- handled rough terrain well
- most stable buggy
In addition to the user trials, the buggies were assessed on their construction and undertook performance tests. Mountain Buggy urban jungle scored a perfect 10 in the safety tests.


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- 5883
Gift the Gladstone
Still need to cross a few more people off your holiday list? The Art Market just listed us in their 2012 Holiday Gift Guide and we think they're onto something.
Like Bruno Billio's pure art water, sourced from suite 209 at the Gladstone Hotel where Bruno has been living as our artist in residence for the last 10 years. Available at the Gladstone Gift Shop.
Or, a Gladstone Holiday Gift Card. Perfect if you want to avoid the mall and need a last minute, artsy gift idea for someone special. Available by calling 416 531 4635 ext 0 or in person at the front desk of the hotel (1214 Queen Street West).
Now, stop procrastinating by reading things on the internet, and go out and finish your holiday shopping finally!


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Bidders who have not established credit with the Auctioneer must either furnish satisfactory credit information (including two .... Credit Card (Visa or Master Card only) and PayPal payments may be accepted up to $10, 000 from non- dealers at the sole discretion of the ... cardholdera#39;s registered and verified address, c) Auctioneer may preapprove the cardholdera#39;s credit line, d) a credit card transaction mayanbsp;...
|Heritage Numismatic Auctions US Coin Auction Catalog #1117
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|Heritage Capital Corporation - 2008-09-01
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


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In the 1920s, Robert and Helen Lynd conducted a sociological study of Muncie, Indiana, that was published in 1929 as Middletown: A Study in American Culture. The Lynds examined trends in the life of a small American city and identified six areas: "Getting a Living," "Making a Home," "Training the Young," "Using Leisure," "Engaging in Religious Practice," and "Engaging in Community Activities." Robert Lynd returned to Muncie in the later 1930s to conduct a follow-up study titled, Middletown in Transition, which was published in 1937.
A Middletown III research project was funded by the National Science Foundation from 1976-1981, followed by Middletown IV in 1999-2000. A six-part documentary series titled Middletown was filmed in the early 1980s and broadcast by the Public Broadcasting Service. These studies were just the beginning of a continuing series of articles, books, documentaries, and other examinations that would make Muncie as Middletown one of the most studied communities in America.


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If mobile gaming is your thing, then you've probably found it difficult to avoid the chatter of the latest craze sweeping though Facebook and Twitter, thanks to this simple little game.
While some are talking about the instant hit it has proven to be and some are blown away by the $180 million purchase of OMGPOP by social gaming giant Zynga, we find ourselves revelling in the simplicity of this app. Yes, it's time for us to Draw Something.
Draw Something
- Platform
- Android/iPhone/iPad
- Price
- Free
- Where
- Google Play/iTunes
Draw Something is a simple game that lets you pair up in a drawing game on your mobile phone. The aim of the game is to guess what your opponent is drawing. It is turn-based, so you're not reliant on both being online at the same time, making it well suited to casual mobile gaming.
To get playing all you have to do is signup. This can be done via Facebook, which will then produce the list of your Facebook friends also playing, so you can easily pick someone and get started. You can also email people, or tap in their username, if you happen to know it, so you can leave Facebook out of the equation if that concerns you.
Finally there is the random option, which pairs you up with a stranger. It's a game that always needs an opponent so it's great that you can play against anyone, but as far as we're concerned, it's much more fun playing against people you know, because it will lead to plenty of banter in the real world.
In each round you are presented with a list of words, each of differing difficulty and you choose one to draw. You get to change the thickness of your pen and alter the colour, but that's about it, the rest is down to skill and vision.
Once you are done, the picture is sent to your opponent who watches you drawing it and guesses, with a selection of letters to tap, so it's not complete guesswork.
Once they've worked it out, the situation reverses – and you get to see how quickly they interpreted your artwork. If you're really geeky you can check out their stats too.
Like most mobile gaming hits, the secret is in the simplicity. It's not really a new concept, as fans of Pictionary will tell you, but it's one that works. It really is down to how well to can use a basic sketch to convey the right message.
But unlike Pictionary, where you have other players to police things, Draw Something doesn't. As a result, you may well find yourself playing against people who simply write the word. Sure, adding the word "moo" to a picture will probably be accepted, but drawing a box and writing "Google", when the answer is in fact Google, may come across as a little too obvious.
And the more you play, the higher the chance of coming across things you've seen before, or words you've drawn before - at which point it gets easier.
You also earn coins, which can be exchanged for more bombs or more colours. The bombs are used to blow up the letters you have to choose from, narrowing down the options and making it easier to guess.
We've tested Draw Something on Android, iPhone and iPad, although played predominantly on the Android version. Both free and paid-for versions are available, the latter costing 62p on Google Play, which is worth the investment as the adverts are a little intrusive and it's hardly expensive.
It's addictive, fun and so very easy. It can easily fill a couple of minutes on the bus, or while away a couple of hours on a sunny afternoon. Everyone's talking about it and it's easy to see why.


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Some call it a trick. Others say its sly marketing. Either way, a new study shows that if we make vegetables sound exciting, kids will eat them. Basically, the thinking goes, since it works for junk food, why not try it for healthy food too?
Call the healthy options "Tiny Tasty Tree Tops," "X-Ray Vision Carrots" or "Silly Dilly Green Beans" and 1,000 elementary-age kids in seven New York schools will eat twice as much of them compared to if you simply label them "Food of the Day," according to a study run by Cornell University and published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine.
(MORE: Q&A: White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass on Healthy Eating)
Brian Wansink, a marketing professor and director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, told ABC News it really isn't all that hard to do what he did. He utilized the help of a high school sophomore to come up with some goofy names and track the eating habits of the youngsters. In the study, he found students exposed to produce with the fun names ate 66 percent of their vegetables, while the boring-named veggies were eaten by students just 32 percent of the time.
Wansink wants school cafeterias to pay attention to the study, according to ABC News, imploring them to devise strategies to improve healthy eating. He says that really any name that makes a food "sound unusual or special has impact" on a student's eating habits, whether at school or at home.
He claims that students are really in the cafeteria to hang out with their friends anyway, so grabbing their attention with a catchy name may be the only way to get them to dish up some all-natural vegetables on their tray.
It may seem silly to name your greens "Power Punch Broccoli" rather than just ask students to eat them. But Wansink says it works.


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If you're looking for an award-winning Microsoft Dynamics partner with supply chain expertise in distribution, manufacturing and retail, you've come to the right place.
Whether your challenge is to reduce costs, increase margins, grow your business, or all of the above, your success is our highest priority. You might even say we're obsessed with it!


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These days, I mostly make eye contact with my wife's shoulder blades. There she is in bed, lying on her left side, huddled over an iPad, its glow all over her face. She doesn't speak. Not now. Not at 9:18. Not at 9:42. I finally look over at 10. She is asleep, frozen in her pose, as if dipped in the carbonite that turned Han Solo into a very handsome brick. I peek at her iPad, the page still illuminated. I see the name in the middle of a paragraph, in a blocky serif font. Christian. Christian and my wife were no doubt in the midst of a deep, heated exchange when she drifted off. But I'm sure Christian is saying to himself, I'll see you tomorrow night.
My wife is having an affair with the star of E L James' blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, the book that's been dubbed "mom porn." The dubbers are correct. If you are a woman, and you have Lunchables in your fridge, and hand sanitizer and a Ziploc of Cheerios in your purse, you are reading Fifty Shades of Grey. It just hit 10 million copies sold.
I'm taking my wife's cheating in stride. In fact, Brandy and I have become quite casual about this literary polygamy. She talks freely about the titillating sexual vignettes. She goes on about Christian Grey's wavy hair, a reoccurring totem in the book, which is hard to hear for a guy whose hair has broken apart like the supercontinent Pangaea. A week ago, I tell Brandy that Fifty Shades of Grey is being adapted into a movie, and they are working on casting. She asks who's up for the Christian Grey role. I name a couple actors. She is unimpressed. These men do not have wavy hair.
Here's why I am complicit: I cannot compete with Christian Grey.
Christian is a billionaire. I am a thousandaire.
Christian is hot and wild, mysterious and exciting. Brandy throws away my underwear when they have holes in them.
Christian is a messed up guy ("fifty shades of f#@$ed up," is how he describes himself). He's the type of dude women love to save, to fix. After 10 years of marriage, Brandy has put her toolbox away. Renovations on her spouse are pretty much done.
But most damning, Christian is imagined, fictional, and can therefore live on in idealized infamy. He will never have to suffer the mundane day-to-day nuisances that make flesh-and-blood men seem so blah. Brandy will never have to tell Christian Grey that he forgot to take out the recycling, or that he needs to make an appointment with the dermatologist for that thing on his back.
Yesterday, I tell Brandy I'm writing a blog post about her affair with Christian. She laughs. I tell her I know how the blog is going to start (bedtime, iPad, wavy hair, Pangaea, etc.), but I don't know how it's going to end. So she finishes it for me.
"Yes, the sex is compelling, but that's not why I keep reading," she says. "Now I'm in it for the relationship. I want to see where the story goes. I don't want to stop until I know how it turns out."
Women come for the excitement, then stay for the connection. I believe my wife started this whole thing with me for the laughs, the wild times, the hair (boy it was something), the newness of it all. But she stayed for the relationship. She wants to see where the story goes.
OMG. I am Christian Grey. Or at least I was.
Dudes should be thankful. Christian Grey is here to be the guy we used to be, or perhaps more depressing, the guy we never were. He is here because real people cannot sustain the fun, the excitement, the mystery, the passion, the newness. Eventually we all become mortals. Eventually we all become the guy with the thing on his back who forgets to take out the recycling.


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Retail and food services sales rise in October
WASHINGTON — October was a pleasant surprise for retail and food services, as the advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for that month — announced Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau — showed increases that rose above expectations. Sales rose to $373.1 billion, up 1.2% from last month and 7.3% higher than October 2009 sales.
Total sales for the August through October 2010 period were up 6.3% from the year-ago period, and the August through October 2010 percent change was revised from 0.6% to 0.7%.
Among the Census Bureau's advance estimates: Health and personal care store sales, which includes pharmacies and drug stores, rose 3.4% from the year-ago period, and rose from $21,556 in October 2009 to $21,908 in October 2010. However, pharmacy and drug store sales dropped slightly from $18,433 in August 2010 to $18,197 in September 2010. Grocery store sales rose to $433,635 in the 10-month 2010 period, a 2% increase from 2009.
NACDS, NCPA claim pharmacy victory after withdrawal of Medicaid program provisions
ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association heralded the withdrawal of two provisions from the Medicaid program that would have had retail pharmacies selling generic drugs at a loss.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cut provisions that defined average manufacturer price and determined calculation of federal upper limits. The NACDS and NCPA sued CMS in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in November 2007 to obtain an injunction against the provisions, which the court granted. In response, CMS revised its definition of multiple source drugs in October 2008, though the pharmacy lobby groups amended their lawsuit to block that as well, saying it was still against the law. CMS' new rule removes that provision as well.
In a joint statement, NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson and NCPA EVP and CEO Kathleen Jaeger heralded the decision, saying the rule would have reduced patients' access to pharmacies by cutting reimbursements, thus forcing retail pharmacies to sell generic drugs at a loss.
"We insisted that this policy was not appropriate," the statement read. "Separately, we also have urged that policy-makers should recognize the ability of pharmacies and pharmacists to help improve health and reduce healthcare costs. We are gratified that this sense is reflected in the pharmacy provisions of the new healthcare-reform law. The new law contains provisions ranging from dramatically reducing the [accelerated manufacturing of pharmaceutical] cuts to advancing medication therapy management, through which pharmacists can help patients take their medications correctly, which is referred to as 'medication adherence.'"
Roadside announces partnership to further 'drive' wellness programs
BOSTON Two companies have formed a partnership to provide services for long-haul truck drivers.
Sleep HealthCenters and Roadside Medical Clinic + Lab announced a partnership Wednesday to provide sleep medicine services as part of Roadside's driver-wellness programs.
Roadside provides medical services, such as Department of Transportation-compliant physicals, drug testing, driver-wellness programs and sleep services for professional drivers on the highway and at company terminals. Sleep HealthCenters will support Roadside's programs by providing education, professional diagnosis and treatment support, which will be incorporated into the driver-wellness program.
"You cannot effectively screen, test and treat sleep apnea without addressing and improving drivers' overall health condition, such as weight, [body-mass index], stress and cardiac strength," Roadside COO Rob Scheschareg said. "By providing continuous care for drivers for sleep, fitness, health and [Department of Transportation] compliance from the terminal to the highways, Roadside Medical is able to move the needle toward better driver health."


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Thomas Zummer
Study for a Portrait of 'Sabor,' Switzerland (v.2) (1950), 2005
Graphite, carbon, erasure on paper
35.2 x 28.2 cm
Price: £1,650 framed
Please contact [email protected] to arrange pick up or for shipping options.
One of an ongoing series of 'Portraits of Robots', in which the drawings are produced rapidly with white paper ground, graphite powder of different hues, and erasure; the artist's mind simultaneously editing the source photograph. Thus the image is drawn from darkness into light, at a comparable duration to the action of the camera in early photography. The graphite is not fixed and the drawing remains unglazed; in the flesh these drawings possess a materiality which endows his non-human subject with an intense human presence. The compassion we feel for these robots demonstrates the fallacy at the core of all image-making. Zummer is interested in exposing the processes involved in the production and consumption of works of art; making drawings, and manipulating photographs digitally, form part of his arsenal in doing this.


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Yelena Matusevich
Professor of French
Office: Gruening 609C
Phone: (907) 474-5851
Email: email@example.com
Click here to go directly to website for the UAF French Department!
Usibelli Teaching Excellence Award, 2007
UAF Outstanding Advisor Award, 2003
CLA Excellence in Teaching Award, 2002
in 2005 - Visiting Fellow at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (India).
Main research interests: French and European late medieval and early modern periods, history of European thought.
Major Publications:
Books: The Golden Age of French Mysticism, in French (Paris-Milan, 2004)
Saluting Aron Ya. Gurevich: Essays in History, Literature and Related Studies. Editor & contributor. Brill Academic Publishers (Leiden, Netherlands), July 2010.
Book chapters in:
• "Jean Gerson on Virtues and Princely Education," with Istvan Bejczy, in Princely Virtues in the Middle Ages, 1200-1500. Brepols (2007), 219-236.
• "Gerson's Legacy" in A Companion to Jean Gerson. Leiden: Brill (2006), 357-400.
• "The Reconsideration of Jean Gerson's Attitude Toward Joan of Arc in the Light of His Views on Popular Devotion," in Joan of Arc and Spirituality, Palgrave/St.Martin's Press (2003), 167-183.
• "Jean Gerson-Nicolas of Cusa-Jacques Lefèvre d'Etaples: the Continuity of Ideas," in Spirituality in the Age of Cusanus, Leiden: Brill (2002), 237-265.
24 other articles.
Second career as an artist. see the blog: http://yelenam.blogspot.com


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I'm not "officially" back in the office until Wednesday, but had to get caught up here at MTC. Three days without a post would be unacceptable.
First of all, thanks to the commenters who wished me luck Friday before my Epi-Lasik eye surgery. Things are still a little blurry, but progressing. Before I went in for the procedure, I asked for words of advice on Twitter.
From Rich Hofmann: don't sneeze
And from Mike Florio: There are two areas on my body where no laser is ever going. And the eye area is one of them.
Not exactly the pep talks I was looking for, but appreciate the sentiments nonetheless.
As I spent the past few days applying eye drops every few hours, I came up with some ideas for MTC. I know some of you have expressed interest in me providing more original content and less linking, but others love the link roundups. I have an idea that I'll hopefully kick off tomorrow, which will hopefully make all parties happy.
In the meantime, some links:
** Redskins tight end Chris Cooley filled in as this week's Monday Morning Quarterback on SI.com, and I thought he was hilarious. The number of athletes who can relate to fans seems to decrease ever year, but Cooley wrote the column with a refreshing, simple tone that made a lot of sense. Along the way, he took a little jab at Donovan McNabb's blog:
I think athletes are usually terrible writers. "Cough! Donovan McNabb!" To be honest, most of the time I can't stand to read anything football players write, sorry Matt Birk. Now after stopping for a minute, I'm pretty concerned about what I've put together. Oh well, one thing's for sure, I can take a hell of a lot of criticism.
Before you start ripping Cooley, he also took a mini-shot at his teammate Albert Haynesworth and previous MMQB columnist Trent Green. As for McNabb, he could be a great writer, but it's tough to judge when he updates his blog so infrequently. On the other hand, as many of you will point out, we make front-page stories out of just about everything McNabb says/writes, regardless of its importance. When he retires and becomes a full-time member of the media, which is bound to happen, it will be interesting to see how McNabb develops his voice and opinions.
** A couple of you have e-mailed me about ESPN.com's front page, which features the headline: "Rumors: Eagles considering Warrick Dunn." The links goes to an Insider article, which like several of you, I do not have access to. But to form an educated guess, it probably references this USA Today article. The article does not say the Eagles are considering Dunn, but it does mention his name:
In the five years since Brian Westbrook became a full-time starter, only one NFL back (LaDainian Tomlinson) has more yards from scrimmage than Westbrook's 8,106, and none has produced more as a receiver (3,191 yards). Coach Andy Reid dismisses concern over Westbrook's cleanup ankle surgery but won't rule out adding a vet such as Warrick Dunn.
I wrote a couple months ago that if the Eagles were to add a veteran RB, Dunn would be the best bet. But at this point, there has been no other indication that they are going to go that route. If I'm wrong, and someone has the Insider, let us know what it's referencing.
Update: Reader Zach confirms that the ESPN rumor does link to the USA Today article as we predicted.
** NFL.com's Bucky Brooks names Donovan McNabb his third-best quarterback in the league, behind Tom Brady and Peyton Manning:
The inclusion of McNabb on this list is sure to draw the ire of some in the City of Brotherly Love, but the five-time Pro Bowler is praiseworthy based on his tremendous accomplishments. The 10-year veteran has amassed a lofty .645 winning percentage as a starter and has guided the Eagles to five NFC Championship Game appearances in the past eight seasons.
** The Sporting News provides an Eagles training camp preview and gets a quote from CBS analyst Phil Simms:
"I can never figure them out. They certainly have the coaching with Andy Reid and the quarterback. Donovan covers up a lot of stuff. He's a leader and pushes them to a high level. Brian Westbrook is a tremendous player, and of course it's going to affect them when he's out. I see the Eagles as the ultimate grinders."
** ESPN.com's Matt Mosley has the Eagles finishing 11-5, behind the Giants in the NFC East:
So I have the Giants winning the division at 12-4 and the Eagles will be right behind them at 11-5. I'm anxious to see how LeSean McCoy fits in early in the season. If he's ready for prime time, that could be a lethal offense.
** Cowboys LB Bradie James was asked on ESPN.com about losing to the Eagles in Week 17 last season:
Hey, I can tell you it was miserable. It was definitely the longest game of my life. I couldn't believe that, now not taking anything away from Philly, they played a good game, but everything that could happen wrong for us happened. We had guys fumbling. [Tony] Romo got sacked a couple of times, lost the ball. Touchdown, touchdown. It was crazy. They put us out of our misery.
And some other random thoughts that have been weighing on my mind:
** The Roy Halladay issue is not a no-brainer, but when push comes to shove, you have to do it. We see in sports all the time that the possibility of a "special year" only comes around every so often. The Phils are in great position to get back to the postseason, and a Cole Hamels/Halladay 1-2 combo in a seven-game series would be unreal. Let's go for it in 2009 and 2010 and figure the rest out later. If Kyle Drabek goes on to a Hall of Fame career, we can live with it, especially if we get to enjoy one more parade.
** Speaking of Hamels, I'm not in panic mode. The guy pitched more innings last season than ever before. Let's give him the All-Star break to recharge his battery. He's got a big second half coming.
** Two things I did not get to do this weekend due to burning, blurry vision: see Bruno or watch the first episode of Entourage. Hopefully in the next week I'll have opinions on both. I know, you're all holding your breath.
** Finally finisihed reading The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. I don't get a lot of time to read books anymore, but this one was great. And you can listen to the audio version on ITunes. A great option for entertainment on your way to and from work, class, etc.
** The mango has to be the most underrated fruit. Especially in the summer. I've been pounding 'em over the past few days. I'm stunned at the amount of people who have never had a mango.
** Thirteen days until rookies report to Lehigh. MTC will be there (more details on that later). Very much looking foward to it.


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i honestly thought i wouldn't be a competitive asshole of a parent. my parents really pushed me up the "prestige/money" path because they didn't have choices. i ended up miserable. i just want my kids to be happy, good people.
i probably am a competitive asshole deep down. but it's also hard. cause like, while i think i'm completely fine with him choosing to be a starving artist, it sure as hell better not be because i failed him in some way. so out come the music lessons. the sports, the overpriced, nurturing play-based pre-school, the constant enrichment. it's this cycle you buy into even if you don't want to.
wonder how much of my parents' pressure cooking path to misery was the same thing.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570833)
this book: https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985
fool proof. the few bad reviews claim that it's dry. and sure. but parents who can't animate and cheerleader a toddler through fifteen minutes of dryness each day are kind of lame. i just got really excited/proud of him, pulled out the voices, and bought an $11 pack of 100 mini dinosaurs on amazon and let him pick one out after we finished every lesson, with the super cool dinosaur backpack they were stored in, his "i'm a reader" present at the end.
bob books are also good to roll out around lesson 20, since they're easy enough, and the pride of reading a whole book by yourself is huge.
but seriously. learning to read is easier than i thought. lesson 12 is when your kid first reads a sentence. less than 3 weeks of 12-20 minute lessons most days. insane. and the more they do, the easier it is to keep going, because they feel pretty awesome about it.
they don't even need to know their letters or sounds first.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570853)
1) made the lessons way shorter and more manageable
2) made sense, because he's just not ready, fine motor skills wise. also, the book is a little obnoxious about handwriting. for example, it teaches the lowercase "a" isn't the one that everyone learns in school, but the one in this type font, with the dorky hat. stuff like that that was confusing/pointless.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570867)
second, the point is that it's kind of not an accomplishment. i did think the book was pretty amazing in making learning to read so straightforward. but that's what it did. pretty sure 90% of three year olds could be taught to read the same way. the whole post was more a comment about my turning into a shitty specimen of parenthood.
also, just practicing the obnoxiousness here, before i let it drop casually to parents on the park bench.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570904)
whenever i was interested in pursuing something as a kid my parents supported and encouraged it but they didn't really encourage much on their own. i turned out nicely but in retrospect i wish they had done a little more encouraging / guided me towards some shit that i never got involved in.
in any case if he's reading that soon he probably likes it. encourage it in a way that makes it satisfying and exciting for him.
and encouraging this isn't necessarily encouraging striving for money/prestige. if he's smart then you can trust him to do what he finds satisfying. know plenty of smart people who were brought up in umc families who are now in academia or teaching high school or doing some other weird shit. give him chances to explore a lot of shit and if he's a high-iqmo then he'll get into stuff and figure out what he likes on his own.
that said as a non-parentmo idk if reading at that age is really an amazing feat.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570907)
it's just harder in the moment. there's a lot of gray area between scheduling his (or rather your, since you'll never leave his side) every moment, and letting him figure out the traffic rules by abandoning him on a busy street.
i guess i wish i was just more chill. it's annoying to register and internally compare every time little lisa and prodigy bart are talked about. i didn't appreciate, before being a parent, that it's not just "Oh no, he's not doing that yet" which I think I could quiet and be fine with, but "Oh no, he's not doing that yet. What did I fuck up?" And that's the part that makes me crazy.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570918)
It's an interesting question because most parents seem to be shitty, but parenting doesn't look that hard from the outside.
IDK, it just sorta seems to me that parents aren't all that considerate, or something... like they don't really think about their kids in an adequately loving way. This sounds severe, but it's "what it looks like" to me.(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3649305&forum_id=2#33570985)


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The Life Science Licensure Handbook (PDF) will provide you with important information and guidance as you prepare for a teaching license in life science in high school, middle school/junior high, or both.
We recommend that you use this handbook and meet regularly with your advisor as you progress through your program. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to meet all requirements, and this handbook and your advisor are valuable resources.


text:
Resurgent Argentina looking to further upset home nation
Brazil's nightmare World Cup continues to get more horrifying.
Not only did Brazil crash out of its World Cup in the most embarrassing fashion, a 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals, but now it must suffer even more misery as its most-hated rival Argentina plays for the world championship.
It won't be a pleasant Sunday for Brazil. In the late afternoon, La Albiceleste will step onto the hallowed ground of Brazil's Maracana Stadium.
The ultimate indignity to this soccer-mad nation would be to have Argentine superstar Lionel Messi strutting around the stadium holding the trophy high above his head.
During the final, Brazil will have to listen to the not-so-gentle refrains of Argentines singing "Brasil, Decime Qué Se Siente" which, translated, means "Brazil, Tell Me How It Feels?"
Throughout Argentina's semifinal against the Netherlands, which the Argentines won on kicks from the penalty spot, there were confrontations in the stands between the few Brazilian fans there and Argentine supporters.
The arguments usually ended with the Argentines holding up seven fingers to remind Brazilians just how many goals Germany scored.
The song praises Messi and aggravates Brazil fans even further with its lyrics, which say "Maradona es más grande que Pelé," which translates into "Maradona is better than Pele."
It's a song that's been sung throughout this World Cup and Brazil will hear it repeatedly through Sunday and beyond.
If Brazil was in a deep depression after their loss to Germany, an Argentine will leave this country weeping for weeks.
Of the four teams in the semifinal, Argentina was the one team most people felt had no chance of making the final.
Argentina deserves full credit for their resiliency and their ability to adjust what they needed to do to win.
It became clear early on in this tournament that Argentina simply would not have the offensive horses to compete with the top teams. They had Messi who could win games in a moment on his own, and that's what he did.
But Argentina simply couldn't rely on the little magician.
So, coach Alejandro Sabella rejigged his formation so it would be difficult for the opposition to score and he would take his chances on finding a way to make things work offensively.
It may not have produced exciting soccer, but it produced winning soccer.
Argentina didn't give up a goal against Switzerland, nil against Belgium and then shutout the Netherlands over 120 minutes. Not only did they shut down the Netherlands, they also prevented any clear-cut scoring opportunities.
This was not supposed to be the way it went down.
During Argentina's World Cup qualifiers, Sabella said he "put his face in his hands and prayed" whenever the opposition would run at his team's defence. The bench boss did not have great belief in his defence.
Thus, Argentina relied on Messi. The talk has been all about Messi.
In the last three games, the talk has been about several other members of the Argentine side, mostly its defenders.
Martin Demichelis and Ezequiel Garay have had strong World Cup campaigns at the back and seem to be getting better each game.
But there is one man who has tied everything together. No one expected Javier Mascherano to play this well.
Mascherano has played a key role as a defensive midfielder slowing down opposing forwards before they can really start to run. He was tireless against the Dutch and, as the game wore on, his play frustrated Holland to an extent that they wouldn't run at him.
Sunday's final is the sixth time a European and South American team have met in a Latin American World Cup final. All five of those encounters were won by teams on this side of the ocean.
Germany will be going into the game as favourite.
At this point, the way Argentina is playing at the back, there really is no favourite.


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Reading Comprehension Practice Test 2
Passage For Question 1 to 9
Recent years have brought minority-owned businesses in the United States unprecedented opportunities-as well as new and significant risks. Civil rights activists have long argued that one of the principal reasons why Blacks, Hispanics and the other minority groups have difficulty establishing themselves in business is that they lack access to the sizable orders and subcontracts that are generated by large companies. Now congress, in apparent agreement, has required by law that businesses awarded federal contracts of more than $500,000 do their best to find minority subcontractors and record their efforts to do so on forms field with the government. Indeed, some federal and local agencies have gone so far as to set specific percentage goals for apportioning parts of public works contracts to minority enterprises. Corporate response appears to have been substantial. Accoring to figures collected in 1977, the total of corporate contracts with minority business rose from $77 to $1. 1 billion in 1977. The projected total of corporate contracts with minority business for the early 1980's is estimated to be over $3 billion per year with no letup anticipated in the next decade. Promising as it is for minority businesses, this increased patronage poses dangers for them, too. First, minority firms risk expanding too fast and overextending themselves financially, since most are small concerns and, unlike large businesses they often need to make substantial investments in new plants, staff, equipment, and the like in order to perform work subcontracted to them. If, there after, their subcontracts are for some reason reduced, such firms can face potentially crippling fixed expenses. The world of corporate purchasing can be frustrating for small entrepreneur's who get requests for elaborate formal estimates and bids. Both consume valuable time and resources and a small cmpany's efforts must soon result in orders, or both the morale and the financial health of the business will suffer. A second risk is that White-owned companies may-seek to cash inon the increasing apportion-ments through formation of joint ventures with minority-owned concerns, of course, in many instances there are legitimate reasons for joint ventures; clearly, white and minority enterprises can team up to acquire business that neither could Third, a minority enterprise that secures the business of one large corporate customer often runs the danger of becoming – and remaining dependent. Even in the best of circumstances, fierce competition from larger, more established companies makes it difficult for small concerns to broaden their customer bases; when such firms have nearly guaranteed orders from a single corporate benefactor, they may truly have to struggle against complacency arising from their current success.
Question 1
The primary purpose of the passage is to
- present a commonplace idea and its inaccuracies
- describe a situation and its potential drawbacks
- propose a temporary solution to a problem
- analyze a frequent source to a problem
- explore the implications of a findings.
Correct Answer : B
Question 2
The passage supplies information that would answer which of the following questions?
- What federal agencies have set percentage goals for the use of minority owned businesses in public works contracts?
- To which governments agencies must businesses awarded federal contracts report their efforts to find minority subcontractors?
- How widespread is the use of minority-owned concerns as "fronts; by White backers seeking to obtain subcontracts?
- How many more minority owned businesses were there in 1977 than in 1972?
- What is one set of conditions under which a small business might find itself financially overextended?
Correct Answer : E
Question 3
According to the passage, civil rights activists maintain that one disadvantage under which minority owned businesses have traditionally had to labor is that they have
- been specially vulnerable to governmental
- been denied bank loans at rates comparable to those afforded larger competitors
- not had sufficient opportunity to secure businesses created by large corporations
- not been able to advertise in those media that reach large numbers of potential customers
- not had adequate representation in the centers of government power.
Correct Answer : C
Question 4
The passage suggests that the failure of a large business to have its bids for subcontracts results quickly in order might cause it to
- experience frustrations but not serious financial harm
- face potentially crippling fixed expenses
- have to record its efforts on forms filed with the government
- increase its spending with minority subcontractors
- revise its procedure for making bids for federal contracts and subcontracts
Correct Answer : A
Question 5
The authors implied that the minority owned concern that does the greater part of its business with one large corporate customer should
- avoid competition with the larger, more established concerns by not expanding
- concentrate on securing even more business from that corporation
- try to expands its customers base to avoid becoming dependent on the corporation
- pass on some of the work to be done for the corporation to other minority owned concerns.
- use its influence with the other corporation to promote subcontracting with other minority concerns.
Correct Answer : C
Question 6
It can be inferred from the passage that, compared with the requirements of law, the percentage goals set by "some federal and local agencies" are
- more popular with large corporations
- more specific
- less controversial
- less expensive to enforce
- easier to comply with
Correct Answer : B
Question 7
Which of the following if true, would most weaken the author's assertion that, in 1970's, corporate response to federal requirements (lines 18-19) was substantial?
- Corporate contracts with minority owned business totaled about $2 billion in 1979
- Between 1970 and 1972, corporate contracts with minority owned businesses declined by 25 percent
- The figures collected 1977 underrepreented the extent of corporate contracts with minority owned businesses.
- The estimate of corporate spending with minority owned businesses in 1980 is approximately $10 million too high
- The $1.1 billion represented the same percentage of total corporate spending in 1977 as did $77 million in 1972.
Correct Answer : E
Question 8
The passage most likely appeared in
- a business magazine
- an encyclopedia of black history to 1945
- a dictionary of financial terms
- a yearbook of business statistics
- an accounting textbook
Correct Answer : A
Question 9
The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements about corporate response to working with minority subcontractors?
- Annoyed by the proliferations of "front" organizations, corporates are likely to reduce their efforts to work with minority owned subcontractors in the near future.
- Although corporations showed considerable interest in working with minority businesses in the 1970's their aversion to government paperwork made them reluctant to pursue many government contracts.
- The significant response of corporation in the 1970's is likely to be sustained and conceivably be increased throughout the 1980's
- Although corporations re eager to co-operate with minority owned businesses, a shortage of capital in the 1970's made substantial response impossible.
- The enormous corporate response has all but eliminated the dangers of over expansion that used to plague small minority owned businesses.
Correct Answer : C
Passage For Question 10 to 15
In strongly territorial birds such as the indigo bunting, song is the main mechanism for securing g, defining, and defending an adequate breeding are. When population density is high, only the strongest males can retain a suitable area. The weakest males do not breed or are forced to nest on poor or marginal territories.During the breeding season, the male indigo bunting sings in his territory; each song lasts two or three seconds with a very short pause between songs, Melodic and rhythmic characteristics are produced by rapid changes in sound frequency and some regularity of silent periods between sounds. These modulated sounds form recognizable units, called figures, each of which is reproduced again and again with remarkable consistency. Despite the large frequency range of these sounds and the rapid frequency changes that the birds makes, the n umber of figures is very limited. Further, although we found some unique figures in different geographical populations, more than 90 percent of all Indigo bunting figures are extremely stable on the geographic basis . In our studies of isolated buntings we found that male indigo buntings are capable of singing many more types of figures than they usually do. Thus, it would seem that they copy their figures from other buntings they hear signing.Realizing that the ability to distinguish the songs of one species from those of another could be an important factor in the volition of the figures, we tested species recognition of a song. When we played a tape recording of a lazuli bunting or a painted bunting, male indigo bunting did not respond; Even when a dummy of male indigo bunting was placed near the tape recorder. Playing an indigo bunting song, however, usually brought an immediate response, making it clear that a male indigo bunting can readily distinguished songs of its own species from those of other species.The role of the songs figures in interspecies recognition was then examined. We created experimental songs composed of new figures by playing a normal song backwards, which changed the detailed forms of the figures without altering frequency ranges or gross temporal features. Since the male indigos gave almost a full response to the backward song, we concluded that a wide range of figures shapes can evoke positive responses. It seems likely, therefore, that a specific configuration is not essential for interspecies recognition, but it is clear that song figures must confirm to a particular frequency range, must be within narrow limits of duration, and must be spaced at particular intervals.There is evident that new figures may arise within a population through a slow process of change and selection. This variety is probably a valuable adaptation for survival: if every bird sang only a few types of figures, in dense woods or underbrush a female might have difficulty recognizing her mate's song and a male might not be able to distinguished a neighbor from a stranger. Our studies led us to conclude that there must be a balance between song stability and conservatism, which lead to clear-cut species recognition, and song variation, which leads to individual recognition.
Question 10
The primary purpose of passage is to
- raise new issues
- explain an enigma
- refute misconceptions
- reconcile differing theories
- analyze a phenomenon
Correct Answer : E
Question 11
According to the passage, which of the following is true about the number and general nature of figures sung by the indigo bunting?
- They are established at birth
- They evolve slowly as the bird learns
- They are learned from other indigo buntings.
- They develop after the bird has been forced onto marginal breeding areas.
- The gradually develop through contact with prospective mates
Correct Answer : C
Question 12
It can be inferred that the investigation that determined the similarly among more than 90 percent of all the figures produced by birds living in different regions was undertaken to answer which of the following questions?
I.How much variations, if any, is there in the figure types produced by indigo buntings in different locales?
II.Do local populations of indigo buntings develop their own dialects of figure types?
III.Do figure similarities among indigo buntings decline with increasing geographic separation?
- II only
- III only
- I and II only
- II and III only
- I, II and III
Correct Answer : E
Question 13
It can be inferred from the passage that the existence of only a limited number of indigo bunting figures servers primarily to
- ensure species survival by increasing competition among the fittest males for the females
- increase population density by eliminating ambiguity in the figures to which the females must respond
- maintain the integrity of the species by restricting the degree of figure variation and change
- enhance species recognition by decreasing the number of figure patterns to which the bird must respond
- avoid confusion between species by clearly demarcating the figure patterns of each specials
Correct Answer : D
Question 14
It can be inferred that a dummy of a male indigo bunting was placed near the tape recorder that played the songs of different species in order to try to
- simulate the conditions in nature.
- Rule out visual cues as a factor in species recognition
- Supply an additional clue to species recognition for the indigo bunting
- Provide data on the habits of bunting species other than then indigo bunting
- Confound the indigo buntings in the experiment
Correct Answer : B
Question 15
According to the passage, the authors played a normal indigo bunting song backwards in order to determine which of the following?
- What are the limits of the frequency range that will provide recognition by the indigo bunting.
- What is the time duration necessary for recognition by the indigo bunting?
- How specific must a figure shape be for it to be recognized by the indigo bunting?
- How does variation in the pacing of song figures?
- Is the indigo bunting responding to cues other than those in the song figures?
Correct Answer : C


text:
Tonight I am going to a beach party.
It will be a pretty casual affair thongs (flip flops) and shorts.
All the locals go with their kids and it's quite a fun night
- if the weather holds up!
I'm looking forward to sausages cooked up on a the beach barbeque
wrapped up in a slice of white bread with
a glass of champagne in the other hand,
... a typical Aussie way to ring in the New Year!
Happy New Year everyone
wherever you are in the world
whatever you end up doing!
Check out my other blogs Scrapbook and Country Style Chic
Melissah xox