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Square Enix. Masters of ... sucking my wallet dry by repackaging some of their best work.
Two years ago, Square Enix released a 20th anniversary box set of music for the SaGa series (20 CDs plus one DVD). This time, they're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Seiken Densetsu (or "Mana") series. Since the series has less music to sport than the previous, we're down one disc (19 CDs and one DVD), but we get the arranged CDs released (so far) that the SaGa box didn't get.
Now, this item isn't exactly a box. It's more like a book, as the title suggests. This video from my friend Jayson Napolitano at Original Sound Version should give you an idea of how the packaging works. It's an effective way to keep things consolidated, especially in contrast to the do-it-yourself packaging that the SaGa box offered. In short, I love the packaging. Very nice layout, lots of nice artwork too.
Let's quickly run down through the contents, and then I'll give some semi-detailed analysis on each soundtrack. The soundtrack order isn't based on chronological publishing. Rather, it runs through the four "main" games in the series, then hits up the three "side" titles, and then wraps up with the two arranged albums.
There's a "Disc 00" DVD which has a great, 10 minute medley orchestral performance, as well as some interview footage. The Sword of Mana Premium Soundtrack is included as discs 2 and 3, and that stupid 8cm single-track bonus disc had its contents folded into disc 3, so that's good. Also, the two exclusive tracks from "Breath of Mana" (a promotional CD for Seiken Densetsu 4) were stuck at the end of disc 11.
Renaming of albums happened without much hesitation. What used to be referred to as Original Sound Versions are now Original Soundtracks, and the final disc, "Secret of Mana+" just had the plus sign removed altogether. In its place, it's just called "Seiken Densetsu 2 Arrange Version ~ Secret of Mana." Alright then.
Here's the point, though: the collection is mighty close to complete. What's it missing? Mostly, it's missing scattered arrangements found on other discs, like "Chill SQ" or "drammatica" or the Kenji Ito piano works album. And, of course, there are those three arrange albums coming in the next few months, one by each of the Mana series' main composers: Ito, Kikuta, and Shimomura. Completionists like me will probably have to order those out of habit after buying this book.
Well then, let's get to the music itself.
The 20th Anniversary Medley
The 10 minute medley track, arranged by Sachiko Miyano, gives a fair shake to each of the titles represented on this box. Usually, it's just one song per game, but a solid minute is given to that song. The "transitions," if you can call them that, are rather weak. It's less a medley, and more a collage. There's nothing done musically to really connect these pieces in a way that makes sense. Miyano-san could take notes from the Symphonic Fantasies arrangements. In any case, though, the orchestra does a fantastic job, and I love watching the video since they put the three composers in the audience, humming along and listening intently to their babies (now all grown up in orchestral form).
Final Fantasy Adventure
What can I say? Kenji Ito was a master of Game Boy chip music. His compositions for SaGa 2 are some of my favorites, but they are blown out of the water by this original score. Rising Sun, Endless Battlefield, Mana Palace, the dungeon and battle themes... sweet merciful Mary, it's all too much. I've said it in other reviews, but I'll say it here for the uninitiated: when the composer is limited to 3 channels of basic audio input, the onus is placed on the composer to come up with fantastic melodies, catchy bass lines, and sweeping arpeggiations to make up for the lack of real instrumentation. Some of the best music has come because composers have had to get "back to basics" on the Game Boy. Listen to these audio samples for proof.
Sword of Mana
Ito returned over a decade later to upgrade his own work and add some new music in this remake of the original Game Boy classic. Though the GBA synth tends to be little more than a tinny equivalent of SNES and PS1-era sequenced music, it doesn't matter because the original melodies were so strong. The new tracks, sadly, show their weakness in comparison to the originals. Again, I turn your attention to Mana Palace and Endless Battlefield. These songs are mainstays in my heart.
The Sword of Mana, or "Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu," soundtrack is categorized into four "Story" sections. I like the layout of the tracklist, it flows very well when listening. Putting the Dwarves' Theme further out, for example, was a big plus. Too much town music at once can be grating on the nerves.
The second disc for Sword of Mana are actually arranged tracks, but since they were packaged with the OST back in the day, the creators of this book decided to pair it with the OST. First, we have seven reverb-heavy piano arrangements performed by Ito-Ken himself. Then, at the end, there's a synth orchestra piece of the two big themes from this game: Rising Sun and Endless Battlefield. Be sure to check out "Lost Scene," which contains the arrangement for Mana Palace. If you haven't put it together yet, Mana Palace is basically one of my favorite songs ever. It also serves as the game's final dungeon theme. Few RPGs have had final dungeon themes to surpass Mana Palace, in my opinion.
Seiken Densetsu 2
The game that you probably know better as "Secret of Mana" probably suffered the greatest injustice for this release. Everyone knows that the unlooped, single-disc layout of the OST is bonkers, and that if there was one thing this box set needed to remedy, it was this. I want a two disc SD2 soundtrack, and I want it in this box. Sadly, no such luck. Instead, I'm treated to unlooped, 1-minute versions of some of Hiroki Kikuta's best compositions. And these were his first (for a videogame)! I wouldn't call it beginner's luck per se, but the Secret of Mana soundtrack shines in ways that some of his later works simply couldn't (see Koudelka, for example).
Part of what makes this soundtrack so great is the unique synth found here. I recently met Kikuta-san at a convention, and he spoke to the problems of the Super NES "FM Synth" system. Basically, you could create your own sound bank, but it had to be super compressed. The level of compression was somewhat flexible, but you were limited as to how much space you got. So Kikuta decided to give high-compression to certain instruments, and low-compression to others. He created his own sound bank with the help of Square's sound programmers, and the end result is really something special. Anyone who's listened to the music can attest to this. The opening track gives you chills, the first "overworld" song you hear ("Into the Thick of It") makes you want to go on an adventure, and the boss battle themes are very catchy.
Seiken Densetsu 3
Of all the Mana games represented here, this is the only one yet to be granted a North American audience. And it's a shame, because it has a lot to offer. In terms of gameplay, it's similar to SD2, except there are six characters instead of three, and your adventure is sculpted in different paths depending on whom you choose to be your main and alternates in your three-person party. In terms of music, Kikuta-san used a similar sound bank to the previous game, but wrote over 60 songs this time, so there's even more love to share.
It should also be noted that, among the soundtracks found in the book, SD3 seems to be strangely hard to find, even with the NTT reprints a few years back. So, if you're on the fence about this book and you don't own the SD3 soundtrack, these three discs might be enough to make you go overboard. But you probably only have a few weeks after this review is published to get a copy. Keep your eyes peeled!
The best tracks from this set of music, in my opinion, are the end boss tracks. The three "Sacrifice" tracks, followed by "Reincarnation," is one of those priceless bits of music, on par with Uematsu's "Dancing Mad" four-part instrumental rock opera. The good news isn't just that Kikuta reaches such heights on this soundtrack, but that he nears that same peak elsewhere throughout the SD3 soundtrack.
Seiken Densetsu 4
Oh, how the mighty fall. At least in terms of gameplay. This PS2 title, known to you as "Dawn of Mana," received low marks in virtually every department. One place it did well, though, was the music. A team led by Kenji Ito, assisted by some of SE's other (at-the-time) resident musicians, made a soundtrack that rivals Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song. Those are bold words if you know my take on that soundtrack.
The sound quality of the SD4 soundtrack is insane. It sounds lifelike, and that's because many of the tracks actually have real recording by professional musicians. Electric guitar, drums, violin, piano, winds, vocals ... lots of good stuff has been recorded for this soundtrack.
But it's not just the sound quality. No, the music itself is quite strong. Ito isn't always one to impress me, but on Dawn of Mana, he really did a great job. Not only that, he also takes music from Kikuta, Shimomura, and himself and arranges it for this new title. Disc 11 has a lot of that, but there's also some found on the other discs. A beautiful blend of old and new, these four discs are fantastic. They are, however, overwhelming as well. When I first got the Seiken Densetsu Book in the mail, it was around this point I had to stop listening and take a break. This is a lot of music for a single game.
Legend of Mana
This is one of the first soundtracks I owned. Of course, to help pay for college, I sold it within a year of buying it. But now it's back in the collection. Permanently. I'm happy to have it, because it marks the beginning of my love for Shimomura.
Now, a quick Shimomura history lesson. Discounting her "hidden" work for Capcom (Breath of Fire, some early Mega Man titles), Shimomura's game music starts with Square. First she did Live A Live (a game that, sadly, still hasn't come to North America). Then Super Mario RPG. Then Parasite Eve. And then Legend of Mana. It was this game that really got me hooked to her writing style. She is a master of string-based melodic lines. She makes violins sound so awesome, sometimes it hurts. In a good kind of way.
She's also a master of catchy, syncopated rhythms. Songs like "Earth Painting" and "To the Sea" feature awesome percussion (including pitched percussion, such as marimba) to keep the music moving along in a quick, lively sort of way. Throw some interesting melodic work on top and you've got yourself a song, and it doesn't need any cowbell. Take that Bruce! (or, um, Christopher Walken...).
Fast songs aside, Shimomura also showed a softer side with the vocal theme "Song of Mana" and the beautifully sad "City of Flickering Destruction." These two discs are the ones I find myself most drawn to. I could listen to these on loop, forgetting that there are 17 other discs in the set. But I promise not to neglect the others. Seriously, I promise!
Children of Mana
This is the only soundtrack I knew nothing about when I ordered the SD book. The soundtrack was previously a digital-only iTunes kind of thing, and up til the present, that just wasn't my kind of thing. I mean look at me, I'm shelling out the kind of money you could use to buy a new PS Vita to collect music CDs. I'm an artifact kind of guy, here!
Not only that, Children of Mana is the only game in the series I've never touched. I never beat Dawn of Mana, but I played enough of it to know I didn't want anymore. Children of Mana, I never even borrowed or rented this game. I had no interest in it.
The soundtrack is put together by a diverse team. Yes, it's mostly Kenji Ito, but it also includes work from Masaharu Iwata and Takayuki Aihara. These individuals bring something very special to the table, an added spice that you won't find elsewhere in the Mana series.
There are some very pretty pieces of music to be found here. Among them, I believe my favorite is disc 15 track 2, "Hymn of Light." But if you're willing to search, you'll find more. There isn't that much to go through here: 33 songs taking up a little more than 80 minutes of your time. But, being new to me, I found myself enjoying the surprise. I thought the lack of a physical CD release in the past meant the music wasn't very good. Turns out I was wrong.
Heroes of Mana
Some games have soundtracks that are worth much more than the games themselves. Not just on price point, but in terms of sheer value. One classic Square Enix example of this is UNLIMITED:SaGa. That game was railed against by virtually anyone who bothered to touch the game, but most everyone agrees that Hamauzu's music for it was fantastic. Such game don't deserve their awesome soundtrack counterparts. Throw Heroes of Mana into this category, if you please.
Heroes of Mana is some bastardized RTS on the DS with Hero control. It precedes FFXII Revenant Wings, and is basically a very unbalanced, not-so-fun version of said game. I despised Heroes of Mana. Totally, totally disappointed in it.
The soundtrack, on the other hand? Shimomura put her all into this, and the end result is something that nearly reaches the mountaintop experience that is the Legend of Mana soundtrack.
The source material is improved upon even further on the "drammatica" disc, and I suspect Shimomura will also make good use of it in her upcoming Mana series arranged disc. For now, I find myself trying to keep the soundtrack at arm's length, because I have such bad memories of the game. But if I can instead distance myself from those memories and just enjoy this soundtrack, see it as a bonus extension of the Legend of Mana OST, I think I'll be in good shape. Seriously, it's got all the same bouncy stylings, punctuated by heartfelt, swelling, emotional ballad-esque pieces.
Let Your Thoughts Ride On Knowledge
Editor's note: I've been told that this title is translated all wrong by the fans who have attempted to popularize this "Thoughts Ride On Knowledge" thing. I've since been told it's more accurately translated as "Put Your Thoughts To Music." Heck if I can decide which is better, but I'm sticking with the way we've always listed it at RPGFan.
Takayuki Hattori is a godsend. He did the orchestration for this album and another one before it, the "Final Fantasy Symphonic Suite." These two albums were produced as though they were rivals to Koichi Sugiyama's massively successful Dragon Quest Symphonic Suites. And gues what? They do rival the DQ albums. And in my opinion, among early DQ, early FF, and this disc, this disc wins. Hands down.
And that's in spite of the oldschool recording quality and the true-to-form, vanilla orchestration. It's as I said many paragraphs ago: Kenji Ito wrote his heart out when he made the FF Adventure soundtrack. So translating it to a live orchestral performance just goes to show how absolutely brilliant it really is.
These seven tracks are medley pieces, and throughout them, nearly every song from the old Game Boy soundtrack is given some treatment. Just ... listen to them. I can't put my thoughts to music. Or words. Or knowledge. Just listen. Heck, just buy the album. If you don't want (or can't afford) this box, just get the Seiken Densetsu Sound Collection. It has the Game Boy OST and these seven tracks all on one disc. That's a keeper right there.
Secret of Mana Plus, Minus Plus
It's been over a decade since I first heard this single-track work of art from Hiroki Kikuta. And I'm still not quite sure what to make of it.
On the one hand, it's this completely large and inaccessible slice of music with so many style shifts and references to the original source that I get totally lost.
On the other hand, I've never heard anything quite like it, and that's usually what makes me come back for more. I mean, I've never heard anyone use water and telephones to make good music like this.
If ever there were an arranged album that was designed to help you lose yourself in the music, this is it. Though Square Enix may have changed the album's name for this box set, the content has not changed. I just can't help but wonder, when it comes time for Kikuta to release his new arrange album (which will cover both SD2 and SD3), will it be like this, or something totally different?
Re-Learning To Read
I'm not a big collector of audiobooks. But this is one book you'll need your ears for. It makes me think differently about collected works. This is such a strange amalgam of music from different composers, across 20 years of videogame history. I really like it, but on the other hand... let's face it, this thing is expensive. After shipping and handling, I paid nearly $250 for this beast.
Hence, like all things expensive, I have to label it "for collectors only." But if you're a serious collector, now's your chance. This is a fantastic collection, and so close to "complete" for the series, it's so hard not to jump at the opportunity. And, unless buying this makes it impossible for you to pay your rent, I doubt you'd have buyer's remorse. There's just too much good music to keep you occupied for years to come. You'll note that I said nary a single negative thing about the music itself. And I stand by that critical silence. I have well-respected peers who would disagree with me, as they find fault with this song or the other, this soundtrack or the other – but me? I'm just basking in the glory of the whole set of audio.
Reviewed by: Patrick Gann
Sunday, September 16
Wild ARMs 5 • 10am PDT/1pm EDT
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals • 3pm PDT/6pm EDT
Star Ocean: Till The End of Time • 3:00pm PDT/5:30pm EDT
Wild ARMs 2 • 5:30pm 7pm PDT/10pm EDT
Wild ARMs 2 • 7pm PDT/10pm EDT
Kingdom Hearts - Re:Chain of Memories • 2:30pm PDT/5:30pm EDT
Wild ARMs 2 • 7pm PDT/10pm EDT
Final Fantasy IX • 3pm PDT/6pm EDT
Friday Super Variety Night • 7pm PDT/10pm EDT
Week in Review: Live Edition • 11am PDT/2pm EDT
Wild ARMs 2 • 5pm PDT/8pm EDT


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Eagles coach Andy Reid said he and cornerback Asante Samuel talked after Samuel's recent comments on 97.5. The Fanatic and that they are moving on.
Reid said he and Samuel agreed to have no further comment. Earlier this week, Samuel laughingly told reporters that Reid had put a gag order on him.
Samuel told the radio station it was obvious the Eagles don't want him, citing reports that the team made it known he was available at the Oct. 18 trade deadline. Today, Reid tried to dismiss the significance of trade talk involving Samuel before the deadline, reiterating that everybody calls everybody.
* Reid said everyone will practice today. Trent Cole (calf) and Jason Peters (hamstring) are good to return after missing games before the bye with injuries. Reid said that Todd Herremans will remain at right tackle, with Evan Mathis at left guard, the alignment the team had prior to Peters' injury. Right tackle Winston Justice, who saw his first action of 2011 against the Redskins before the bye and played well, was asked if he is disappointed that performance didn't get him back into the lineup. "I want what's best for the team," Justice said. I'm behind the coaches' decision."
* Reid said he will see how it goes with DE Brandon Graham this week. The Eagles have 21 days from Monday to make a decision on his status. Graham, sidelined since knee surgery last year, took part in his first practice Monday when the Eagles returned from the bye. Reid didn't rule out Graham playing this week against Dallas, but given his lengthy layoff, that seems unlikely.
* Reid said the voided trade of Ronnie Brown to the Detroit Lions would have given Brown more of an opportunity to play; he indicated that was the impetus behind the deal. Reid said Brown has been a "complete pleasure" to work with. He also wished the best to Jerome Harrison, who had surgery late last week after a brain tumor was detected during his Eagles physical after the trade.
* Reid said he thought defenses would need more time to come together than offenses after the lockout. He said we will see in the next few weeks whether that happens. He said he wants his defense to build on the confidence they have gained over the last 2 weeks and focus on the Cowboys.
*Punter Chas Henry said he wasn't surprised or dismayed to learn the Eagles worked out a couple of punters Tuesday. "That's part of the business," said Henry, who said he feels he needs to be more consistent to hold onto the job he won as a n undrafted rookie out of Florida this summer.

subset: commoncrawl


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An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small, battery-operated device that monitors the heart's rhythm and provides appropriate treatment. Most ICDs have both pacemaker and defibrillator functions. If the heart beats too slowly, the ICD can help the heart beat at a normal pace. If the heart begins to beat in a disorganized way, the device provides a shock to restore a normal rhythm. ICD implantation is the surgical insertion of an ICD.
Reasons for Procedure
Certain heart rhythms are extremely dangerous and can lead to sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrest. Some irregular rhythms that may require an ICD implant include:
- Bradycardia—heart beating too slowly
- Ventricular tachycardia—heart beating too rapidly
- Ventricular fibrillation—heart muscle not pumping, but just quivering
ICDs are implanted in patients who:
- Have had 1 or more episodes of serious irregular heart rhythms
- Have had a heart attack and are at high risk for arrhythmias
- Have a high risk of dangerous arrhythmias
- Have a weakened heart muscle
- Have a high likelihood of developing an arrhythmia
- Have the condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is an enlarged heart muscle that does not function properly
Possible Complications
If you are planning to have a defibrillator implanted, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
- Damage to the heart or lungs
- Damage to blood vessels
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Inappropriate shocks or device malfunction
Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Obesity
- History of smoking
- History of excess alcohol consumption
- Bleeding or blood-clotting problems
- Use of certain medications
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
The following test may be conducted prior to your procedure:
- Blood tests
- Chest x-ray—a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body
- Electrocardiogram (ECG), implantable loop recorders (ILR), electrophysiology study (EPS)—tests that record the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
- Echocardiogram—ultrasound to evaluate heart structure and function
- Stress testing or cardiac catheterization—to evaluate for coronary artery disease
Leading up to your procedure:
- Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to 1 week before the procedure.
- The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- Ask your doctor if you should take your daily medications with a sip of water on the day of the procedure.
For the implantation of the ICD, light sedation and a local anesthesia will usually be used.
After the ICD is in place, it will need to be tested. General anesthesia will be used for this step.
Description of the Procedure
The area where the ICD is to be implanted will be washed with antiseptic. A small incision will be made below the collarbone on the left or right side.
A wire, called a lead, will be threaded through a vein in the upper chest to the heart. An x-ray monitor will be used to watch the lead move through the vein to the heart. The signals between the heart and the ICD will be carried on this lead.
A pocket will be created under the skin at the incision site. The ICD will be implanted into the pocket.
When the ICD is in place, the sedation will be increased. The ICD will be tested to make sure that it shocks the heart appropriately. Every precaution will be taken to ensure that this is a safe process. When it is determined the ICD is working properly and in the right place, the incision will be closed with stitches.
Immediately After Procedure
You will be taken to a recovery room after the procedure. Your pulse, blood pressure, and incision site will be checked regularly. Chest x-rays will ensure the ICD and leads are in the proper place.
How Long Will It Take?
About 1-3 hours
How Much Will It Hurt?
You may feel some pushing and tugging on the skin during the procedure. The anesthesia should minimize any pain. After the procedure, you may experience some pain or stiffness at the incision site. Pain medication may be prescribed.
Average Hospital Stay
1-3 days
Postoperative Care
The day after your implant, you will have an ECG and blood tests. The ICD function may be checked again. This will require sedation.
Do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
You may need to avoid:
- MRI scans
- Heat therapy, which is often used in physical therapy
- High-voltage or radar machinery, such as electric arc welders, high-tension wires, radar installations, or smelting furnaces
- Contact with radio or television transmitters
- Prolonged contact with household appliances, such as microwave ovens
- Do not carry a cell phone in a pocket directly over the device. Keep your phone on the side away from the device. Also, headphones worn with MP3 players may cause interference.
- Turn off car or boat motors when working on them. They may temporarily confuse your device.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you have a device before a surgical procedure.
- Check with your doctor about the safety of going through airport security detectors with your particular device. Do not linger in security devices.
- Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.
You will get an ID card that contains important information about your ICD. It is important that you show this card to any doctor, nurse, dentist, or other healthcare professional at the beginning of an office visit or hospital admission.
If your heart requires a shock from your ICD, you may be able to feel it. You may feel lightheaded before the shock. This is from the heart rhythm. The shock administered by the ICD may feel like a light thump or a strong kick in the chest. If you feel a shock, try to stay calm and sit or lie down. If someone is with you, ask him or her to stay. If you feel okay after the shock, contact your doctor's office to let them know. This is not an emergency. Your doctor may want you to come in for a check-up, particularly if this is the first shock you have received. If you receive multiple shocks in a row or multiple shocks in a day, you should go to the emergency room.
Call Your Doctor
Contact your doctor if your recovery is not progressing as expected or you develop complications such as:
- You feel a shock
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
- Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
- Cough or severe nausea or vomiting
These symptoms are medical emergencies. Call for medical help right away if you:
- Have chest pain or shortness of breath
- Feel lightheaded and do not feel a shock
- You are still feeling symptoms after a shock
- You feel 3 or more shocks in a row
In case of an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC
- Review Date: 06/2016 -
- Update Date: 05/11/2013 -


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Our mission is to conduct visionary research in pursuit of the world's next great advances while providing a world-class education to tomorrow's leaders in the fields of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
The Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has roots at Cornell that go back to the founding of the University in 1865. Since then the Sibley School has grown to become one of the largest academic units in the University. Currently housed in Thurston, Kimball, Upson, Grumman and Rhodes Halls, the Sibley School is home of the mechanical engineering (ME) B.S. degree program as well as graduate programs in the fields of mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering (AE) and theoretical and applied mechanics (TAM).


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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It would be helpful if you posted their myspace links RFWill :yaya:
Reality TV World: Do you think that the upcoming swap will bail Joel out a bit, seeing as how the Fans won't be so weak anymore with your absence? Mikey B: I don't think so. To me, he's proven that he is a back stabber and that he will do anything that he can to keep himself around. So I don't think it's going to bail him out. If anything, I think it's going to save the older folks because they're like a token vote for anybody that wants to keep them around. They're not dangerous at that point.
We can see on next week's episode that Chet is right back to his old ways, frustrating everybody in challenges. Does it make you at least a little happy that they're going to have to suffer with him for awhile?Well, it would have if they didn't switch the tribes. It's bittersweet, you know what I mean? I want bad things to happen to all the fans in the game, but at the same time it hurts me that they weren't able to see how strong we could have been had we worked as a united tribe.Do you think a fan has the ability to make it to the finals? I predict it's going to be all favorites, but I'm wondering what you think.I don't think anybody on the tribe of the fans has the brains to make it to the finals.
My Hollywood insider sleuths are reporting to me this afternoon that recent Survivor contestant Mikey B only appeared on the show so that he could be on television, and didnt care one bit about the actual competition of the game.Mikey B, a bar manager and one-time brick mason from Boston, MA, has apparently wanted to be on TV since he was a young boy. Childhood friend and wannabe rapper Cram N Slam said Mikey B Always wanted attention from the ladies but he was too fat, yo. He always wished he was famous so he could get the nappy dugout. Now, since slimming up after college, Mikey B put away his morals and exploited the popular TV contest Survivor, a show that America still loves almost as much as apple pie.Jeff Probst, whose name has become synonymous with the beloved American past time, commented that Mikey B was a solid contestant on the show. However, if he was, in fact, only appearing on the show to achieve some sort of fame or popularity, then I would have to strongly oppose his viewpoint in order to maintain the integrity of Survivor: Micronesia, Fans vs. Favorites.No word yet on what Mikey B plans to do with his newfound acclaim and notoriety, but the mumbling around the Hollywood hot spots is that he is looking for an acting career, which only adds insult to injury to Probst as well as to America.It cuts deep when someone pretends to really be into the spirit of competition and compete at the high level that Survivor demands and then turns around and stabs you in the back by going after some sort of celebrity status, added Probst, But at the same time, he did used to be a fat kid and I dont pretend to know how awful that must be.
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* Pentagon facing 'perfect storm' of fiscal problems- Panetta
* Department will pay a 'hell of a price' if cuts go into effect
By David Alexander
VICENZA, Italy, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday that Congress should "suck it up" and show the leadership needed to fix the fiscal crisis that has thrown Pentagon budgeting into confusion and threatened national security.
Responding to questions from Army soldiers worried about looming spending cuts, Panetta said the Defense Department faced a "perfect storm" in the coming months. He cited the need for the U.S. debt ceiling to be raised, the Pentagon's current funding approval due to expire, and $500 billion in spending cuts about to go into effect.
Panetta, on a week-long trip to Europe that is likely to be his last as defense secretary, had few words of comfort to offer the troops if the Pentagon has to implement another $500 billion in spending cuts over 10 years beginning on March 1.
"If I face another half a trillion in cuts, you know, all bets are off," Panetta told about 150 members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy. "I don't know what to tell you at that point. We're all going to pay a hell of a price. I hope it doesn't come to that."
The Pentagon has begun implementing $487 billion in cuts to projected spending over 10 years that were ordered in the 2011 Budget Control Act, which was aimed at reducing the United States' trillion dollar budget deficits.
The act also directed the government to implement another $1 trillion in across-the-board cuts, including $500 billion from defense, unless Congress agreed on a compromise package of alternatives that would reduce spending by an equivalent amount.
The cuts, under a mechanism known as sequester, were due to go into effect on Jan. 2. But Congress passed a law on New Year's Day that delayed the spending reductions for two months to give them more time to hammer out a deal.
At the same time, Congress has not appropriated funds for the Defense Department for the 2013 fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Instead, it passed a deal to keep the department operating through most of March, but at reduced funding levels.
And the government has reached the limit of its borrowing capacity and needs Congress to raise it sometime in March to avoid a default.
The timing of the three financial measures has caused some officials to voice concern that the Defense Department cuts may be allowed to go into effect because Congress may be more concerned about the debt ceiling and 2013 appropriations.
"The greatest threat we face right now is continuing uncertainty in Washington as to just exactly what will happen on the budget," Panetta told the troops.
"If suddenly they cut us and then if this damn sequester goes into effect, we're facing huge cuts," he added. "Largely, that would have to come out of readiness and maintenance."
Panetta said if the cuts bite, the Pentagon would have to send out notices to the department's nearly 800,000 civilian employees that they may have to take a month of unpaid leave before Sept. 30 to achieve needed spending reductions.
"It's going to affect us," he said. While troops preparing to deploy would receive training, for "everybody else, training is going to be cut, readiness is going to be cut ... ships that should go into maintenance won't go into maintenance."
Panetta said the Pentagon needed greater budget stability and the flexibility to make spending reductions strategically, rather than across-the-board as under sequestration.
"This is not an unsolvable problem," he said. "People have just got to suck it up and take on some of the risk and ... challenges that are required by people in leadership."
Panetta noted that members of the 173rd put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"All we're asking of our elected leaders is to take a small part of the risk that maybe they'll piss off some constituents. But the fact is that they'll be doing what is right for the country." (Reporting By David Alexander; Editing by Mark Heinrich)


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Thorsten Kühlmeyer
Head of Analysis
Forecasting leads to better corporate planning
Telefónica O2 discovers that forecasting helps drive better corporate planning
Given market saturation and margin pressures, telecoms need early, precise forecasts in order to navigate whatever may develop. That's why for its decision-support needs Telefónica O2 Germany uses SAS® Forecast Server.
In the past, the company used a system composed of local SPSS single-user installations that were not networked. "We used it to create analyses and forecasts for our corporate management and planning," explains Thorsten Kühlmeyer, Head of Analysis at Telefónica O2's Business Intelligence Center (BIC). "However, the pressure from the competition and the demands from management meant continuously shorter update cycles – our existing solution was just not up to the task."
Moreover, the single-user solution made it difficult to collaborate. And the available portfolio and forecast methods no longer met the increased demands for a business analytics solution.
"The inquiries we receive from the strategic environment differ greatly, and most of them are extremely time-critical," says Kühlmeyer. Results of those inquiries support corporate planning and management decisions.
So Kühlmeyer and his team sought out a high-performance analytics solution that could meet their demands.
Before, we were achieving approximately 80 percent for last-minute sales forecasts. Today, we are right 98 percent of the time.
Thorsten Kühlmeyer
The solution
With SAS Forecast Server and other solutions, such as SAS Enterprise Guide®, analysts and power users access data that is consolidated and stored at dedicated sites across the company and analyze it to expose hidden connections and dependencies.
"We were able to enhance the precision of our forecasts considerably," says Kühlmeyer. "Before, we were achieving approximately 80 percent for last-minute sales forecasts. Today, we are right 98 percent of the time."
Andreas Gimber, Senior BIC Project Manager, adds: "Moreover, we have become much faster, thanks to the uniform central data layout we now use – three times faster than before, to be precise."
The BIC supports top management with the analytics required to set corporate strategy.
"We use SAS to help us with different analytical tasks," says Kühlmeyer, "whether for last-minute, extremely important ad hoc evaluations or analyses – for example, customer value models as a basis for CRM quotes – or for complex forecasts for the specialty departments and management."
"The switch to SAS has proven itself to be the absolutely right strategic step," says Markus Heimann, Vice President of Business Intelligence. "With it, we have been able to expand our analytical competence in the field of BI considerably – and take the corporate planning and management at Telefónica O2 a decisive step further."
The project
For Kühlmeyer and Gimber, the decision to go with SAS Forecast Server was easy: "It was not only SAS' analytics that were convincing, but the infrastructure as well," says Kühlmeyer.
"Moreover, we rely on SAS in other parts of Telefónica O2 as well – so the solutions really complement one another," adds Gimber.
The project was realized in three phases: First, the technical infrastructure was put in place. Next, after necessary expansions to the analytical data layer, the technical and process standards were implemented. The final step was to train the employees. "The training effort was minimal," says Kühlmeyer. "There was a two-day workshop during which SAS provided our employees with the basic information about SAS Forecast Server – everything followed the principle of on-the-job training."
However, says Kühlmeyer, it was more than just the precise technical and methodical employee training that ensured the project's success. He encourages future users to become involved at an early stage of the planning.
"Implementing a new infrastructure always means that the users will have to change how they think," he says. "Thus, it is important to be able to identify with the new solution and to emphasize the advantages and benefits to the users."
Moreover, he recognizes the value of targeted expectation management: "You have to be careful that the users and management do not expect a magic box that performs miracles at the press of a button," he says. "It is important to make it very clear to all users and future customers that the success of the solution depends on precise planning, clear specifications and a healthy database."
Create a forecasting solution for corporate planning and management.
- Precision: Forecasts more reliable than before.
- Speed: Forecast models created up to three times faster than before.
- Versatility: Forecasting functions expand analytical portfolio.
- Scalability: Even as the inquiries increase, SAS performs securely, soundly.
- Integration: Integrates into existing BI environment.


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If you use Twitter, and follow lots of people who post photos from Instagram, you may notice that those photos don't look quite right.
That's because Instagram has decided to pull its support for Twitter Cards, a tool that can embed photos, videos or text into tweets with links in them. Without the use of Twitter Cards, Instagram photos may appear cropped, and the only way you can see the full photo is by clicking a link to Instagram's website.
To be clear, you can still post an image from Instagram to Twitter, it just won't look right unless your followers view it directly on Instagram's website. (My actual experience varied. With a test image, Twitter's website showed the full photo. Twitter for iPhone showed a cropped photo, while Twitter for Android only showed the link, with no photo preview at all.)
As you may suspect, the decision is all about business. Instagram expanded to the web in November, after growing its network solely through its popular iPhone and Android apps. Now that the website's there, Instagram would prefer that you visit it. Or as Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom put it, the company wants people to be "where their content lives originally," The Verge reports. He denied that the move has anything to do with Instagram being acquired by Facebook, or with Twitter's recent decision to block Instagram users from finding new friends based on their Twitter contacts.
Of course, Systrom said the move will be better for users in the long run. What he didn't say outright, but seems to be the case, is that Instagram wants to control the flow of user data and maintain its chances of making money through its website down the line.
Tempting as it might be to begrudge Instagram, this is pretty much what Twitter itself has been doing over the last year, as it cracks down on third-party Twitter clients. Apps like TweetBot and Tweetro have felt the squeeze of Twitter's newfound "token" limits, which cap the number of users these services can have. As a result, these apps charge a higher price than they would have otherwise, and more people are encouraged to use Twitter's own apps instead. That's the point; Twitter gets more control over the user experience–including the advertisements that are now popping up in users' timelines.
Bad for users? Certainly. But this is the inevitable outcome when free web services without business models get huge and need to start thinking about making money.
If that makes you angry, maybe this awesome video making fun of Instagram users will cheer you up. Or, if you're feeling crafty and want to employ a workaround, Circa's Daniel Bentley suggests using the web service IFTTT to automatically post Instagram photos as native Twitter images, so they'll appear in full.


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One of the dating services for meeting local people is Delaware speed dating. Based on a series of short planned introductions Delaware speed dating allow singles to quickly meet people face to face in a safe and fun environment. Imagine meeting people online in a similar fashion through matchmaker.com'sinnovative new Cupid feature which emails you introductions of singles in the Delaware speed dating area without ever having to leave your home.
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Meet people from all different backgrounds and lifestyles around the world or someone in the local Delaware neighborhood at matchmaker.com. There are thousands of singles from the around the world looking for a long term relationship. Find love and romance with a Delaware speed dating style of matchmaking.


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Observe and Report
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Observe and Report (2009) is a black comedy film written and directed by Jody Hill, starring Seth Rogen and Anna Faris.
|This film article is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it.
Ronnie Barnhart[edit]
- That's a big question now, isn't it? I have a dream... most nights. It starts on a playground; there's kids, you know swinging, laughing. Dogs barking, butterflies flapping their wings. And then you hear a rumbling. And over the horizon comes a black cloud. And it's made of cancer. And pus. And it starts sweeping over the playground and everyone starts screaming and clawing their eyes, pulling at their hair and saying "Help! What do we do?!" You know what happens next? Out steps me, wielding the biggest fucking shotgun you've ever seen in your life, and you know what I do? I blow every-fucking-thing away. I am getting God's work done. When the whole thing is over and the dust has settled, the whole world gathers below me, and they say "Thank you, Ronnie, thank you for helping, being a great man, and doing this for us!" And you know what I say? "You don't need to thank me. I'm just a guy with a gun. I'm just a cop."
- In these dark times, people need something to believe in. I believe that good will win through in the end. It's only a matter of time until the clouds part and the sun shines... I'm gonna start that again. It's only a matter of time until the clouds part and the sun shines down. They'll be here soon and my mission will be complete. I will leave a mark so big that it will be felt for years to come... ...and history will remember my name. There's no turning back. I must stand fast in my resolve. The world has no use for another scared man. Right now, the world needs a fucking hero.
- Sit the fuck down do you hear me you sit the fuck down. Don't fucking talk back to me. Thats what the fuck I thought you little asshole.
Boom. Fuck you
Boom Baby!!
External links[edit]
- Observe and Report quotes at the Internet Movie Database
- Observe and Report at Rotten Tomatoes


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239 Comments
What The Heck Is Going On with Angelina Jolie's Face? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Angelina was photographed today in Venice, and we're totally puzzled — Is it bad plastic surgery? Bad lighting? An Angelina mask?
It's the mystery of the day at HollywoodLife.com — what in the name of webbed feet is going on with Angelina Jolie's jawline?
The actress was shot today in Venice, where she's filming her next movie, The Tourist. We've dispatched an extensive team of dermatologists, plastic surgeons, forensic scientists, Mission: Impossible devotees, and alien life-form specialists to investigate. Check back later for our findings.
But for now, tell us what you think is going on here!
Get More on Angelina:
- Angelina Jolie's Face! Alien? A Mask? Altered? Find Out What You Decided!
- Angelina Jolie, Did You Have Plastic Surgery?
- Ahh! Shiloh Is Brad & Angie's Little Monkey! And Zahara's a Brad Mini-Me!
- La Dolce Vita! Brangelina Look Even More Loved-Up in Venice Than Ever!
- Aww! Brad & Angelina Took Their Brood Out For A Valentine's Day Dinner!


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Ex Libris Student Writing Award
About the Ex Libris Student Writing Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize superior student writing and to enhance the professional development of students through publication of the winning manuscript in LITA's primary journal, Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL).
2012 Winner(s)
Cynthia Cohen
graduate of the San José State University School of Library and Information Science
Cohen's paper, titled "Extending LOCKSS: The Preservation Risks of Private LOCKSS Networks", provides a review of the basics of the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) project, originally designed to ensure long-term preservation of and access to e-journal content, and considers the potential preservation risks of private LOCKSS networks (PLNs) which are exploring how to extend LOCKSS in preserving collections more diverse and less predictable than e-journal content.
"The members of the LITA/Ex Libris Student Writing Award Committee and I are pleased to acknowledge and honor with this award Cynthia Cohen's clear and cogent manuscript, which presents a balanced view in an area in which opinions are very divided," said Heidi Hanson, chair of the committee. "Ms. Cohen's paper examines both the technology being applied to the task of preserving digital content and the philosophical questions and challenging decisions facing organizations interested in more specialized applications of the LOCKSS technology to support a common preservation mission for unique special collections."


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Baja Designs unique use of O-ring seals instead of silicone allows users to change their beam pattern and lenses with ease. Other LED lights are silicone sealed so their patterns are not customizable and a rock chip requires you to return the light to the manufacturer for service or purchase a completely new light. On the other hand, if a BD lens happens to get scratched or you need a different light pattern, simply unscrew BD's water and dust proof lens and custom O-ring seal and install the replacements.
Baja Designs engineers are off road enthusiasts and racers and know what's important when it comes to LED lights. "You wouldn't throw out your car if your windshield cracks, would you? No, you'd just replace the windshield. So why would anyone design a disposable LED driving light? That's crazy!" – Alan Roach, Baja Designs Engineer, Founder and Racer.


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I guess it's par for the course. If you go on a Housewives franchise, chances are people will dig up dirt on your past. Even better? If you don't have a juicy past, they'll make up some stories! Just ask Real Housewives of Miami's Joanna Krupa. She was recently accused by The Dirty (because that's a legit site) of being a high priced call girl. As you know, the story was quickly retracted (or taken down…I doubt anyone at The Dirty knows the meaning of the word "retracted") when the supermodel threatened legal action.
So, what have we learned? The Polish beauty never accepted money in exchange for boring, rich, socially awkward men's attention. Color me shocked…not. However, the reason her name (and picture) was brought into this crazy gossip has finally come to light. It's basically the ol' bait and switch…some millionaire Madame shared Joanna's pictures on her website, and when men would request the leggy blonde, said madame would do her best to hook him up with a lookalike. That is not shady at all…said no one EVER.


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Want to be like Mike? Here's a little trivia about the Fire forward.
Favorite Chicago spot: Jam in Logan Square. His cousin owns the joint.
Best brunch: Tavern on Rush
Need something healthy: Protein Bar in River North
Hot dog joint: "I don't do hot dogs. But Mr. Beef is my spot."
Pizza place: Armand's Pizza. Or Giordano's, if you can't find an Armand's.
Best music venue: House of Blues
Memorable Chicago moments: "Bears and Bulls games were always my kind of thing." He sat through most of the Michael Jordan era and was at Super Bowl XLI, which the Bears lost to Indianapolis. "That was devastating. The first 10 seconds were great though."
Wants to score a goal on: Brett Favre
If he didn't play soccer: "I like to think I'd be playing baseball, I was decent. If you're not thinking sports? I'd probably be a bum."
Who is Mike Magee: "I'm just somebody who like to laugh and likes to be around my family."
Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye Sports' Facebook page.


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About Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib
In their collaborative video installations, Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib explore the effects of translating the images and forms of painting, sculpture, and photography into the language and conventions of digital video, animation, and computer art. Many of their works involve the superimposition of digital imagery onto photographic images, or the display of serialized images and text. The artists test the boundaries of narrative construction, and explore the confusion that can arise between representation and reality. As they explain, "Audiences...tend to bring a lot of expectations to video and moving-image art, simply by its ubiquity in contemporary culture and daily life—so we're engaging viewers, to some extent, on different terms than artists working in other media."
American, b. 1975


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By Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is concerned about troubles facing Syria's Western-backed opposition but it will keep supporting Free Syrian Army leader General Salim Idris and the moderate opposition, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Thursday.
The United States and Britain suspended non-lethal aid to northern Syria after reports that Islamist fighters seized Western-backed rebel weapons warehouses, highlighting fears that supplies could end up in hostile hands.
The opposition to President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday said its military arm had invited Islamist fighters to secure its weapons depots on the Turkish frontier after an attack by al Qaeda militants.
"What has occurred here in the last couple of days is a clear reflection on how complicated and dangerous this situation is and how unpredictable it is," Hagel told a Pentagon news conference.
Hagel explicitly stated that Washington still supported Idris and would keep helping with humanitarian relief.
"But this is a problem, what has occurred here, a big problem. And we're going to have to work through it and manage through it with General Idris and the moderate opposition."
Still, the U.S. and British aid cut-off underlined a crisis in the rebel leadership, which seeks international backing to reinforce its credibility and to keep fighters from joining al Qaeda-backed groups now leading the struggle against Assad.
The opposition's inability to control its own storehouses without help from Islamist groups has exposed its military weakness.
The 2-3/4 year conflict has killed more than 100,000 people, driven more than 2 million abroad as refugees and left many millions more dependent on aid.
Asked what the solution might be, Hagel said: "When the moderate opposition is set back, that's not good. But that's what we deal with."
"But we take it straight up, work with the moderate opposition, with our allies in the area, and we'll continue to do that," he added.
He also voiced U.S. hopes for an eventual diplomatic solution to the crisis.
But while divided world powers continue to try to bring rebels and Syria's government together for talks, Islamist militants appear to be gaining more momentum compared with moderate forces backed by the West.
"There are many dangerous elements. We know al-Nusra (Front), we know al Qaeda, we know Hezbollah, extremist groups, terrorist groups, are involved in this (conflict)," Hagel said.
"So it's not a matter of just an easy choice between the good guys and the bad guys here."
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Missy Ryan; Editing by Vicki Allen)


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Broward County encourages residents to greatly enhance water conservation and decrease runoff. Many of the County's residents are unfamiliar with the unique growing and environmental conditions of South Florida. Faced with diverse and often unfamiliar environmental conditions, well-meaning individuals often waste water, fertilizers, pesticides, and energy through inappropriate landscape designs and improper landscape practices. The Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Program is designed to assist homeowners to landscape the Florida-Friendly way, using low maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides a way to significantly augment the resources of the county Urban Horticulture Extension Agent. Urban and Commercial Horticulture synergize to respond to pest alerts, water restrictions, and other environmental crises affecting our water, plant, and soil resources.
Urban Horticultural Extension Has...
UF-IFAS/Broward County Urban Horticulture formulates implementation policy for the UF-IFAS Florida Yards and Neighborhoods residential and commercial developments in Broward County. As new research is produced at the UF-IFAS Research and Education Centers across the state, Extension Agents work to produce Best Management Practices for sustainable, Florida-Friendly Landscapes and horticultural and structural integrated pest management, and to publish and distribute UF-IFAS EDIS (Electronic Data Information Source) publications, locally produced fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, and other literature backed by research results.
Some of our most popular literature and information is provided below:
Note: Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM is a service-marked name of the University of Florida- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Required plug-ins: Adobe® Reader®, Microsoft PowerPoint Reader®


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"It was just a matter of time," Emlyn said. "There are too many girls playing hockey -- it was inevitable."The most ridiculous lawsuit of the century I thought was going to be settled somewhere in America (in Southern California to be exact). I was wrong. Apparently a B.C. court a hockey mom, Jane Emlyn of Lumby, in the Okanagan Valley, filed suit to the human rights mediator claiming that the sub-standard conditions for co-ed hockey teams discriminated against her young daughter.
Emlyn lodged a complaint because she felt her 14-year-old daughter Jewel's rights were violated when girls were barred from using the same changing rooms as the rest of their minor league hockey teams.What camaraderie? The right to get your ass slapped by a wet towel?
She argued they missed out on important coaching sessions, as well as team camaraderie. She also said girls occasionally had to use substandard facilities, such as boiler rooms and referee rooms, when separate changing rooms weren't available.
Don't get me wrong, I'm always all for equal funding for teams. Instead, pass a law and grant rinks all over Canada money to build separate locker rooms for those facilities that haven't already upgraded. Makes more sense, I think. Since we are dealing with young juniors, wouldn't it be better for all the boys from both teams use the visitors rooms and all the girls get the home facilities. There! Problem solved.
[Via: Edmonton Journal]


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I am greatly honored and humbled to learn that my Whitetail Wisdom blog has been included in the list 25 Hunting Bloggers You Should Follow on Twitter.
The list was compiled this week by Steven Remington and Will Jenkins, and includes hunters, anglers and trappers from across the country. Steve is an accomplished author, blogger, deer hunter and founder of Skinny Moose Media. Will is an avid deer hunter from Virginia. He is a regular contributor for BowAmerica, and is also the author of The Will to Hunt website and blog.
If you're not on Twitter, you should really join. It's a free, fun and an easy way to keep up with current events and trends in the deer hunting world.
Also included on the list is D&DH online pro staffer Mark Kenyon. Mark writes the popular WiredtoHunt website and blog.
To view the entire list of hunting bloggers, check out it out here.


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ECU student earns Nickelodeon service, leadership award
October 30, 2012
By Kathryn Kennedy
ECU News Services
An East Carolina University sophomore is among four young adults who will be honored next month for service and leadership as part of a nationally televised award ceremony.
Taylor Waters, 19, will be featured in this year's TeenNick HALO Awards, scheduled to air on Nickelodeon on Nov. 19. The award recognizes teens who are "Helping and Leading Others" (HALO), according to network sources. She founded and is president of the Red Cross at East Carolina University student organization.
Waters learned of the award after she agreed to be featured in a Nickelodeon segment about teen volunteers. Filming took place at ECU on Oct. 19, and in her hometown, Sanford.
She realized that feature was only half the story as she was filmed leading a student organization meeting in the Mendenhall Student Center's Cynthia Lounge. During a scavenger hunt, a familiar face appeared holding a Red Cross duffle bag.
Actor and TV personality Nick Cannon, who hosts and produces the HALO awards, presented her with the news and an oversized check for $10,000 that afternoon.
"I was in complete and total shock," Waters recalled in an interview this week. "I had no idea why he was there and what was happening."
Waters, an elementary education major and Teaching Fellows scholar, first got involved with the Red Cross when her grandmother's house burned down in January 2010.
"As painful as it was for my family and I, the Red Cross volunteers held our hands and prepared my grandmother for the next steps in coping," she recalled. "Following the disaster and being able to see my grandmother move on, I recall the words in Luke 12:48 when Luke told us: 'To whom much is given, much will be required.'"
Cannon lauded Waters' "selfless" work.
"I believe she'll do the right things with (the money)," he added. "That's the beauty of being able to put money into hands of people that want to do positive things. I'm pretty sure she'll come up with some creative ideas to help further her mission and her cause."
After the filming, Waters was flown to Los Angeles to meet actor Josh Duhamel. He supports disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross, as well as his hometown's Minot Area Community Foundation in North Dakota, which establishes permanently endowed funds to support both local and national charities and charitable causes.
"The experience…has truly been, and continues to be, amazing," Waters gushed.
Segments for Waters' portion of the fourth annual HALO Awards were shot in the Mendenhall Student Center, Dowdy Student Stores and at other locations around campus.
More information about the HALO Awards is available online at http://www.teennick.com/halo.


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Brighten up things with a pop of turquoise.
Say good-by to the winter blues and add a pop of colour to brighten up your home. A splash of turquoise will go a long way to lifting your spirits as well! This winter the focus is on colour and texture, think cable knit cushions, cosy throws and cups of tea by the fire. Why not add a touch of whimsy with this cool pendant light and fun turquoise clock.
Melissah xox
Check out Coastal Style Pinterest


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Several mock drafts had the Padres selecting shortstop Carlos Correa with the No. 7 pick. The Padres almost certainly would've chosen Correa had he fallen to them. He was second on their draft board. The Astros, however, took Correa with the first pick and signed him for $4.8 million. Richard Justice of MLB.com passed along his recent story about the Astros and Correa. Here, following, is an excerpt:
The Astros swear that it was "a baseball decision" to draft Carlos Correa instead of Boras client Mark Appel with the No. 1 pick. Besides that, they used the 41st pick on a Boras client, Lance McCullers Jr., and are prepared for the usual games. They got Correa signed for $4.8 million, which could free up some money for McCullers.
On May 27, they invited Correa, 17, to extended spring to see how he handled fastballs on his hands. He had 12-15 at-bats and swung and missed once.
"He looked like he fit in," (GM Jeff) Luhnow said. "He was three or four years younger than most of the players on the field. He absolutely stood out. It gave me confirmation that this is the type of player we're looking for. This is an impact player that we need for the future of this organization. Carlos has a chance to be a star."
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Posted by Tom Krasovic at 10:03 AM
1 comment:
- AnonymousJune 11, 2012 at 3:01 PM
I'm consoled by the fact the Padres recognized the star potential early, even though they didn't get him. After decades of horrible drafts, there's at least the sense that the Padres now know what they're doing.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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WILD RICE, N.D. (AP) — Lillian Johnson has buried her husband and other family members in a tiny southeastern North Dakota cemetery that would be threatened by a flood protection project meant to save the state's largest city. The 90-year-old plans to join her loved ones someday, come hell or high water.
Johnson is among a group of mostly rural and small-town residents opposed to a proposed channel that would move water around the Fargo area in times of serious flooding and would instead inundate farmland and other rural areas, including at least six cemeteries.
Measures proposed so far to spare the cemeteries — including moving or anchoring graves or building dikes around the sites — aren't sitting well with family members.
"There's something about a cemetery, you just can't do that to it. It's just too much," Johnson said. "And people are there and this is their final resting place and it's a place to come home to. I just don't see it."
The 36-mile diversion would move water from the north-flowing Red River around Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota, which battled major flooding for three straight years starting with a record crest in 2009. Backers of the nearly $2 billion plan say it's the only way to save North Dakota's largest city from an eventual catastrophic event.
The U.S. House and Senate last week approved authorization for the project, but that doesn't include funding.
Opponents have filed a federal lawsuit asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design a cheaper project that doesn't call for rural flooding. In the meantime, a group representing 16 North Dakota and Minnesota cemeteries are wondering what will happen to their gravesites.
"It's hard to look at something that your ancestors picked 120 years ago to bury someone because it was a good site, and now all of a sudden because of development in Fargo, they think they can force water on us," said Luke Brakke, who has four generations of family members buried in the Clara Cemetery near Comstock, Minnesota.
Army Corps spokeswoman Terry Williams said she understands the angst among people connected to the cemeteries, but said the corps only recently completed a preliminary study on impacts and possible solutions.
"We are impacting people. We are impacting their homes, we are impacting their land, we are impacting the places where they are burying their loved ones," Williams said. "We do try to be sensitive to that."
Short of moving the cemeteries, the most likely solution would be building levees or ring dikes — grass-covered clay walls of various dimensions — around the sites. Members of the Upstream Cemetery Authority worry the structures would ruin the natural beauty around sacred ground.
Other options include anchoring gravestones and coffins, stabilizing areas where there is potential for erosion — or just cleaning up after flooding.
"The reason that the Upstream Cemetery Authority was formed was to honor and respect those who lay at rest in our cemeteries," said Joel Hanson, who represents the authority.
"To my knowledge, the different cemeteries have not had a say in any of the planning in regards to what will happen to the cemeteries," he said.
Darrell Vanyo, chairman of the Red River Diversion Authority, said some cemeteries actually would benefit from the project — noting three of the six identified as being affected by diverted water would flood in the event of a so-called 100-year flood anyway.
"And those three, we're bringing 17 inches to one, 8 1/2 inches to another and 3 1/2 inches to another," he said. "So we haven't spoken directly to those people as to what their choices would be. But it seems logical to me that a foot and a half can be protected by a levee as well as 8 1/2 or 3 1/2 inches."


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From Beet Burgers to Sweet Potato Sliders: 10 Unique Veggie Burger Recipes
Beans and grains, we love you in veggie burgers, but we're asking you to take a backseat for this one. Like their namesake, the star ingredients in these 10 recipes are all vegetables. From beets to micro sprouts, broccoli to corn, your veggie burger just got a lot more colorful and garden-friendly.
• 1 Beets: The Best Ever Beet Veggie Burger from Northstar Cafe via The Kitchn
• 2 Micro Sprouts: Ultimate Veggie Burger Recipe via 101cookbooks
• 3 Broccoli: Baked Broccoli Burgers via One Green Planet
• 4 Cauliflower + Potato: Spicy Cauliflower Potato Burger via One Green Planet
• 5 Sweet Potato: Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers via Love and Lemons
• 6 Rainbow Chard: Rainbow Chard Veggie Burger via Strawberry Pepper
• 7 Corn: Mark Bittman's Summer Vegetable Burger via Ultimate Veggie Burgers
• 8 Zucchini: Veggie Burger No 1 via Mango Power Girl
• 9 Eggplant: Baked Eggplant Burgers via The Tolerant Vegan
• 10 Kale: Brooklyn Eats' Kale Burger via Veggie Grettie
Related: Expert Advice: 4 Tips for Building a Better Veggie Burger
(Images: as linked)


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ERRORS IN CREDIT REPORTS: One in four consumers had an error in a credit report issued by a major agency, according to a government study.
MAY PAY MORE: The Federal Trade Commission study also said that 5 percent of the consumers identified errors in their reports that could lead to them paying more for mortgages, auto loans or other financial products.
IT PAYS TO CHECK: The FTC says the findings underline the importance of consumers checking their credit reports. Consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report each year from each of the three reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.


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Core Courses
722: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
723: Systems and Translational Neuroscience
(Cross listed as PHYI and PHCO 722-723)
Course Director: Jay Brenman, PhD
2018-2019 Schedule
Course Description
Purpose of the course:
The purpose of this course in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience is to explore the experimental and theoretical basis for our current concepts of nervous system function. The course runs as a series of three Blocks in the fall semester and three Blocks in the spring semester. This is NOT a survey course in neurobiology. The goals of the course are not so much to inform as to foster an understanding of how we accumulate our knowledge and hypotheses; not to provide a complete textbook picture of the functioning nervous system as we know it in 2015, but to provide the intellectual tools and skills to evaluate current and future hypotheses; not so much to provide answers to questions as to attempt to define the unanswered questions.
In order to create a climate for active discussion and exploration of ideas, each Block is limited to 24 students. All students are required to obtain permission from the Course Director to enroll. Because of the BBSP, we do not know how many applicants we will have for the course in Fall. Priority is given to (1) students entering the Neuroscience Curriculum, as they are required to take the entire course, and to (2) students from departments affiliated with the course and who intend to register for all six Blocks of the course. Students should acquaint themselves with the course description and schedule and, if they are willing to take on the responsibilities of the course, email Denise Kenney for permission to enroll; Denise will contact the Course Director. The email should state for how many Blocks the student intends to register and why he or she wants to take the course.
Neuroscience as an experimental and health science:
We strive to enhance the development of our graduate students not only as experimentalists, but also as health professionals who are cognizant of the diseases that affect our society. Thus, an entire block of the required course is devoted to disease mechanisms. In addition a number of our students take additional training in translational science in an HHMI funded "Grad-to-Med" training program.
Competencies that we aim to achieve related to experimental science include:
- Knowledge and application of the scientific method.
- Determination of the accuracy and validity of scientific results.
- Understanding of the methodology of measurements conducted in biological systems
- Proficiency with the interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative experimental data.
- Exposure and training in scientific ethics as applied to the neurosciences.
Competencies that we aim to achieve related to health science include:
- Understanding the impact of neurobiological disease on health and society.
- Understanding the importance of translational research bridging the basic and clinical sciences.
Teaching methods:
Instructors in NBIO 722 and 723 achieve these goals using a variety of teaching methods to convey core information as well as to shape students' scientific thinking and perspective. Students are instructed using a variety of active learning techniques.
- Didactic instruction: Lectures serve to convey and synthesize a body of complex material. While didactic lectures are usually perceived as a passive teaching tool, this does not have be to be case (Hansen, 2002, Richardson, 2008). To engage students and encourage discussion, we limit enrollment to approximately 18 students (a few non-NBIO students can enroll with permission). Most students must take all 6 blocks so faculty and students get to know each other well. Faculty continually encourage discussion by asking students to address limitations related to the current state of the literature.
- Paper based discussions: Paper based discussion is used throughout to immerse students in the primary literature as well as to give students training in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of original investigations. The class is broken into 4 small groups. Groups take turns presenting papers while the rest of the class critiques and asks questions related to the study. Importantly, paper based discussion counts toward students' final grades.
- Workshops and group projects: In the first two blocks, workshops and group projects are designed to provide background knowledge and to actively engage students. One example is a planned module centered on the Allen Brain Atlas. Working in small groups, students will be assigned genes implicated in neurobiological disorders. Students will then examine gene expression profiles, research neuroanatomical connectivity between genetically defined cell types, and design experiments to manipulate gene expression or neural circuit activity within these defined cell populations.
- Problem sets: In many of the blocks, problem sets are handed out as homework assignments to actively engage students and further reinforce material.
- Open Book Exams: Blocks end in an open book, take-home exam. Exam questions often ask students to design an experiment of set of experiments to address a particular hypothesis, complete with controls and a discussion of feasibility (as one must do in preparing a grant application). In addition to testing knowledge of block material, the exams encourage students to develop elegance and clarity in writing.
BLOCK 1 – Neuroscience Bootcamp: Introduction to Techniques Used in Studying the Nervous System/Electrical Signaling (NBIO 722A) Because the students taking the Core course have diverse backgrounds, this block is divided into two sections.
Block 1a: Neuroscience Bootcamp: Introduction to Techniques Used in Studying the Nervous System Because the students taking the Core course have diverse backgrounds, the first block serves as an introduction to neurobiology as well as an overview of many of the techniques students will encounter while reading materials and papers for the rest of the course. Examples of topics covered include statistics and hypothesis testing, molecular biology and genetic engineering, confocal microscopy, and functional anatomy of the rodent brain.
Block 1b: Electrical Signaling This block introduces materials related to electrical excitability of neurons. Topics include ion channels, membrane potentials, generation and propagation of action potentials, dendritic excitability, and computational neuroscience as it relates to electrical signaling of neurons.
BLOCK 2 – Synaptic Transmission and Intracellular Signaling (NBIO 722B) This block focuses on neurotransmitter signaling through distinct receptor subclasses. Topics include G-protein coupled receptors and associated signaling, receptor binding theory, ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate and GABA receptors, receptor trafficking and localization.
BLOCK 3 – Receptors (NBIO 722C) This block focuses on synaptic mechanisms of neurotransmitter release and termination of signaling, as well as intracellular signaling cascades that are regulated by synaptic transmission. Topics include electrophysiological and molecular analysis of neurotransmitter release, short-term plasticity in neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, calcium signaling and regulation of intracellular signaling cascades and gene expression.
BLOCK 4 – Development of the Nervous System (NBIO 723A) This block focuses on molecular mechanisms of neuronal development and their relation to disease. Topics include neurogenesis, neural stem cells, molecular control of axonal guidance and neuronal migration, and cell and synaptic adhesions molecules.
BLOCK 5 – Anatomy and Function of Sensory and Motor Systems (NBIO 723B) This block focuses on the neural circuitry that comprises sensory and motor systems. Topics include organization and function of the retina, and visual cortex, mechanosensation, genetically defined circuits for nociception, organization and function of somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, basal ganglia neural circuitry, and cerebellar organization and function.
BLOCK 6 – Neurobiology of Disease (NBIO 723C) This block focuses on the neurobiological underpinnings of disease. For each topic, the disease and its impact on society is introduced, and then detailed discussions of the molecular, genetic underpinnings and circuit and behavioral consequences of the disorder are presented. Topics include epilepsy, addiction, fear and anxiety circuitry, schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. This block also includes two classes devoted to human neuroimaging methods such at fMRI and DTI.
NBIO 850 Communication of Scientific Results
(Cross-listed: PHYI 705/706)
Course Director: Spencer Smith, PhD
Also known as PClass, this course is focused on the principles for effective scientific communication. The major component is focused on developing and giving scientific talks. The course also covers how to introduce speakers, prepare slides, and speak with the public about science. Finally, a written component is focused on preparation of specific aims for fellowship and grant application. Spencer Smith currently directs the course, with additional faculty participating. The class is limited to Neuroscience Curriculum students. Students prepare talks, refine them in small groups (3-4 students), and then present them in class. The in-class talk is videotaped, and these tapes are reviewed by the students in a session with their peers. After another round of refining with their small group, the students give their polished talks to the department in a formal setting. Writing is critiqued in class, with peers and guest faculty all offering input. Together, these components help the students develop their own effective speaking and writing methods, and prepare students for the next stage in their scientific careers. Fall semester.
BBSP 610 Statistics for Lab Scientists
Course Director: Eric Bair, PhD
BBSP 610 introduces the basic concepts and methods of statistics with emphasis on applications in the experimental biological sciences. Students should have a basic understanding of algebra and arithmetic. No previous background in probability or statistics is required, nor is experience with statistical computing. The objectives of this course are to provide graduate students in biomedical research programs familiarity with basic experimental design and elementary statistical methods. By the end of the course, students should understand the principles of experimental design, be familiar with basic statistical methods (and how they are implemented in R), and know which methods are appropriate in a given circumstance.


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Arnold's rant: Where is his city budget plan?
March 04. 2013 5:28PM
Apparently Manchester Alderman Patrick Arnold has stopped creating secret political action committees long enough to comment on the city budget. Good for him. Now if only he would stop keeping his full views on city spending and taxation secret too.
Arnold is running for Mayor Ted Gatsas' job this year. Last week, while Gatsas vacationed, Arnold attacked Gatsas' budget proposal as "smoke and mirrors" and "budgetary fiction." He said, ironically, "you can tell it's an election year" because of Gatsas' budget numbers. It is ironic because Gatsas always presents budgets that are under the spending cap, but Arnold does not always throw a public fit about them. Why do so now? Well, you know, it's an election year.
Arnold lobbed a lot of hyperbole at the vacationing mayor. He did not lob a lot of facts. For instance, he complained that Gatsas' budget "guarantees personnel and service reductions," implying that it reduces spending. It increases city spending by 2.16 percent, just under the spending cap.
Presumably, Arnold would advocate a bigger-spending budget. But he was not bold enough to say how much more he would spend or how high he thinks taxes should be raised. Last year Arnold said he would vote to override the spending cap. Would he do so this year? Does he think the cap, which he clearly finds inconvenient, should be abolished?
Last month the state Attorney General's Office ruled that Arnold formed a political action committee to advocate for the defeat of Sen. David Boutin, R-Hooksett, last year, but did not report it, which is illegal. It seems that Arnold enjoys keeping secrets from the voters. We wonder why.


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[Picture from Facehunter]
It's time for us all to start dressing like Lightspeed Champion. Seriously. Take a look at any highstreet store and you're bound to see a mixture of chunky cardigans, clear lens glasses and trapper hats. Add these together and you have Lightspeed Champion's look. Out of these three defining pieces, the trapper hat is the one that looks to make a big comeback.
As usual, Topman are quickest off the mark, covering all bases of the trapper hat from (fake) fur hats to Number Nine-like knitted ones. ASOS are also stocking up on trapper hats, with three currently in stock; even River Island's online store – usually pretty threadbare – has a trapper hat available. [You can check these hats for yourself after the jump]
Given that it's only the start of September, it's fair to say that this will be a key headpiece for this season. The only question is whether Lightspeed Champion will carry on wearing them when he sees so many people copying his style.
Topman's trapper hat collection
Far left: River Island's hat; The rest are from ASOS


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As if Melissa didn't get enough of cruel blood-sucking vampires in Channahon author Denise Baran-Unland's first book, Bryony, she falls into the same trap in the second one, Visage, just released in November.
And these aren't the romantic fun-loving vampires of the "Edward" variety. The vampire Melissa falls head over heels in love with in the Bryony trilogy is a quietly conniving, cold villain who uses her devotion to him for his own ends.
In this second installment, Melissa, a young college student, knows her vampire lover John is long gone — destroyed in a fire at his lavish mansion in northern Michigan. She had tried to save him through his plan of blood "vaccinations," little by little, until he had changed over from a vampire to a real human again, but the plan failed. Or did it?
As she attends her first university classes, she comes across a music instructor who bears an uncanny resemblance to John. And also just like her vampire, John composes for the piano and is a master classical pianist. Maybe the human transformation worked, she thinks, although he shows no outward signs that he recognizes her in any way.
Sensing something there, however, Melissa finds herself suddenly blurting out a date proposal to the professor and beginning a whole new relationship with a man who may or may not be the dangerous but irresistibly attractive John.
Unland, a full-time freelance newspaper writer, mother and grandmother, finds time for her new hobby of writing vampire novels on the weekends and in the wee hours of morning when all is still quiet at home. Both writing and vampires have been passions of hers since she was a little girl.
"I read a lot of classical and early 20th century vampire stories, things with a supernatural twist," she said of when she was a schoolgirl.
By junior high, all her stories included a main character by the name of Melissa, also the main character in Bryony. She majored in journalism in college, but left early to get married and begin a family. Her dream of writing a novel was always kept tucked safely in the back of her mind.
The first book of the trilogy was written in bits and pieces, here and there, as she found time. It began its life as a novella as a gift for one of her children, but grew with her expanding plot ideas.
"The first one was on and off in drafts," she said. "In the fall of 2008, I started getting serious with it."
Then the popular vampire series Twilight was released, and Unland decided to take a break.
"I stopped when Twilight came out," she said. "I thought, wow, I should have written that."
It didn't take long for her ideas to woo her back to her novel, though. The plots and notions behind Bryony were quite different than those in Twilight.
"I had so much fun doing that first one, that I sat down and wrote the second one," she said with a laugh.
"It was just me and the computer. The art of writing a book is completely different than writing for the newspaper. I had to come up with all the dialogue for one thing. People did not give that to me like they do with articles, and that was hard."
Visage, which means appearance, is the second installment of Unland's trilogy, and the third will be Staked, available next year.
She has also released a cookbook to go along with the Victorian era and 1970s America, where Bryony takes place, the proceeds of which go toward Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
The book itself is described as one of "obsession, danger, and appetites." Information about the Bryony series can be obtained at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries, and the books can be purchased or downloaded for the Kindle at www.amazon.com or at www.bryonyseries.com.