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INTERPOL to expand DNA identification assistance to member countries
Cooperation with Netherlands Forensic Institute to enhance DNA matching capabilities
LYON, France – INTERPOL is to expand its ability to assist member countries to identify missing persons, victims of disasters and other complex identifications using DNA comparison.
INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble told the 7th INTERPOL International DNA User's Conference for Investigative Officers, meeting at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon this week (6 - 8 November), that the world police body is to work with the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) which has created the 'Bonaparte' software designed for quick and reliable human identification.
The 'Bonaparte' tool, developed with SMART Research which is affiliated to Radboud University Nijmegen, will enable INTERPOL and its member countries to conduct 'kinship' DNA searching procedures for the swift identification of family members.
Secretary General Noble pointed to the recent case where INTERPOL had issued a Yellow Notice, or missing persons alert at the request of Greek authorities to identify a young girl found in a Roma settlement, and also asked member countries to provide DNA profiles of individuals claiming to be Maria's relatives.
"To compare those profiles we would have been required to ask member countries or entities like the NFI to do the comparisons because INTERPOL's current DNA Gateway does not allow kinship comparisons," said Mr Noble.
"By linking to the NFI and 'Bonaparte' this is about to change and all INTERPOL countries will benefit as a result. We will now be able to use our Gateway to identify missing persons based on DNA from biological relatives, which has proved essential in many cases at the national level," added the INTERPOL Chief.
With 2013 marking the 15th anniversary for INTERPOL in the field of DNA, Secretary General Noble pointed to several of the successes already achieved via INTERPOL's DNA database including in April this year the identification of a man suspected of involvement in a violent gang rape in Norway in 2008.
Following the man's arrest for theft in Austria, a check against the INTERPOL DNA database revealed his connection to the Norway attack, and he was subsequently extradited and a second suspect also identified.
"The use of DNA to support the pursuit of justice continues to evolve. There are increased capabilities emerging in many INTERPOL member countries and an expansion into important areas such as missing persons and transnational crime," said Dr Simon Walsh of the Australian Federal Police and Chairman of the INTERPOL DNA Monitoring Expert Group.
The use of DNA in non-human cases was also highlighted, with an INTERPOL Investigative Support Team deployed in July to Sri Lanka where samples were taken from more than 350 elephant tusks seized from an illegal consignment. Through the use of DNA and isotope analysis, poaching hotspots could be located in Africa, which will help police better target criminal networks involved in wildlife crime.


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Nicole Pence '06 Joins Indy's WXIN, Will Anchor 11 p.m. Newscast
April 28, 2014
Nicole Pence, a 2006 graduate of DePauw University, is joining Indianapolis Fox affiliate WXIN-TV to anchor the station's new 11 p.m. newscast. The program, Fox 59 NewsPoint at 11, is scheduled to premiere June 30.
Pence's resume includes working as an anchor/reporter at WTHR in Indianapolis and as morning news anchor at WLEX in Lexington, Kentucky.
"Fox 59 also plans to roll out a 7 p.m. newscast in the fall," reports the Indianapolis Business Journal. "The additional programming will give Fox 59 66 hours of scheduled newscasts each week, the most of any station in the Indianapolis market, according to the broadcaster."
"Over the past several years, Fox 59 News has seen tremendous growth in terms of news hours and viewers," said Paul Rennie, president of Fox 59 and sister station WTTV. "The addition of the Fox 59 News at 7 and NewsPoint at 11 is the next logical step in our expansion. We're excited to bring viewers in central Indiana more options to watch news when and how they want it."
Read more at IBJ's website.
Nicole R. Pence double-majored in Spanish and communication at DePauw. She recently earned a Master's of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) from the the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI).Back

subset: commoncrawl


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Hope you'll forgive posting this personal stuff here — Matt already did. I promised I'd supply media from the event, and here it is! I'm posting here instead of my main blog because half the guests were ACA friends, thanks for coming.
We knew early on that we wanted to have a not-so-serious wedding, and we quickly settled on theming it after a certain movie series we've both loved for a long time. We rented out the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater and screened Back to the Future 3, followed by this.
Script! (Contains links to audio cuts as well as the PowerPoint file we used to project "credits" on screen, just click them when they appear.)


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Join us at the American Café. Every weekend, host Ira Mellman introduces you to stories from and about the United States of America - whether it's a topic making headlines, a discussion of new trends, or just sharing a slice of life.


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RICHMOND, VA. -- The Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour will head to Richmond this weekend and many top story lines are expected to emerge. Here are five things to watch for this weekend.
1. Hand-ling the Top Spot
More than a few players nationwide are challenging Da'Shawn Hand for the top spot in the Rivals100. In fact, there will be three other five-stars looking to knock Hand off his perch in Richmond. Hand, a defensive end from Woodbridge (Va.) Woodbridge Senior, is one of those rare prospects who only comes around every few years. His unique combination of size, quickness and athleticism makes him nearly unstoppable. Hand has also been developing his skills in the open field, hoping to prove he can cover running backs or play as an outside linebacker.
Fellow five-star defensive linemen Andrew Brown and Kentavious Street will be gunning for the top ranking in Richmond. Brown is a beast at his defensive tackle position, overpowering offensive linemen. He also has the quickness and technique to get around the opposing lineman.
Street may not be as athletic as Hand, but he is probably stronger. He could be a serious contender to take Hand's top spot if he can show improved technique and athleticism off the edge.
Also watch out for the nation's top safety prospect and Virginia commit, Quin Blanding. The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder from Virginia Beach (Va.) Bayside is the total package. He covers a lot of ground, sees the field well, is very physical and has great leaping ability to make a ton of plays on the ball. If Blanding can shut down the top receivers in Richmond, he could overtake Hand at the top of the Rivals100.
2. All-Star D-Line
Hand, Brown and Street won't be the only big names on the defensive line on April 13. Jalyn Holmes, Derrick Nnadi, Ricky Walker, Vincent Mihota, Tim Settle, Adam McLean and plenty of other studs will be trying make it a long day for the offensive linemen.
Holmes and Nnadi are both top 40 players in the country who can dominate an opposing offensive line. Walker is rated as the nation's No. 15 defensive tackle and Mihota, a Virginia Tech commit, is the No. 13 strongside defensive end in the country. Both have been itching to get out and improve their ranking.
The young talent on the defensive line is very impressive. Class of 2015 prospects Settle and McLean already have a few FBS offers, while Camaron Spence and Brian Manuel have been rumored to be the next big things on the defensive line.
3. Air Traffic Control
There will be an insane amount of talent in the defensive backfield in Richmond. Of course, there is Blanding, the lone five-star defensive back, but the list certainly does not stop there. Rivals250 members Jalen Tabor, D'Andre Payne and C.J. Reavis will also be manning the secondary.
There will be an abundance of talented three-star players looking to prove they deserve their fourth star. This group is headlined by Marvin Stewart, Marcus Allen, Alameen Murphy, Daejuan Funderburk and Georgia Tech commit Miles Taylor.
Young guns Garrett Taylor, Robbie Robinson and others will be looking to show they can shut down older, more experienced receivers.
4. Up-and-comers
One of the most exciting parts of the Richmond camp will be the chance to compare top players from the younger classes to the seniors. This crop of underclassmen looks like it could give the upperclassmen a run for their money.
Settle, McLean, Manuel and Spence are adding their names to an already deep group of defensive linemen. Matthew Burrell, Patrick Allen and the rest of the offensive linemen will have the daunting task of trying to block this one-of-a-kind defensive line group.
The headline underclassmen at the skills positions have to be linebacker Ricky DeBerry and cornerback Garrett Taylor. The two are from Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's and have been raking in offers faster than almost every other recruit in the 2015 class.
Other rising players that will be in Richmond include Eric Kumah, Chuck Davis, Keon Paye, Robbie Robinson, Kasim Hill, Keandre Jones and Lorenzo Harrison. Kumah is a 2016 receiver with a Tennessee offer. Davis and Paye are 2015 defensive backs with North Carolina offers. Jones is a 2016 athlete with an offer from Virginia.
5. 757 Dominance
Talented players from all over the Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., area will be descending on Deep Run High School, but no area is sending a more talented group of players than the Virginia Beach area known as "the 757."
Five-stars Andrew Brown (Oscar Smith) and Quin Blanding (Bayside) hail from this corner of Virginia, as do Rivals250 players Jalyn Holmes (Lake Taylor), Derrick Nnadi (Ocean Lakes) and Jamil Kamara (Bishop Sullivan Catholic). Four-star defensive tackle Ricky Walker from Hampton (Va.) Bethel will be there as well.
Three-stars Aaron Glover (Princess Anne), Tyrique Booth (Western Branch) and Virginia Tech commit Marshawn Williams (Phoebus) are going to show off their skills. So will underclassmen Jaason Lewis (Ocean Lakes) and Robbie Robinson (Phoebus). Other areas are sending some very good players to the event, but none have a list that is this deep.
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Pope John Paul II Joining Facebook
The Vatican next week will unveil a Facebook page for the late Pope John Paul II to promote his beatification on May 1. Monsignor Paul Tighe, the Vatican's number two man in the social media department, told the AP, "What we found is that Facebook doesn't just share information, it creates community."
And the Vatican isn't stopping with the Pope's Facebook page — it's launching a Vatican news portal on Easter so the Catholic Church can spread its message in 140 characters or less:
That interactivity — and the potential it brings to the church's evangelization mission — is behind the Vatican's new social media push, the culmination of which will be launched at Easter with a new Vatican information web portal whose contents are specifically designed to be tweeted, posted and blogged.
Three years from now, we predict the Vatican will join Tumblr, too.
[Image via AP]


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What would Russian hackers want with a billion email account credentials?
My phone and email have been flooded with questions and interview requests from various media outlets since security consultancy Hold Security dropped the news that a Russian gang has stolen more than a billion email account credentials. Rather than respond to each of these requests in turn, allow me to add a bit of perspective here in the most direct way possible: The Q&A.
Q: Who the heck is Alex Holden?
A: I've known Hold Security's founder Alex Holden for nearly seven years. Coincidentally, I initially met him in Las Vegas at the Black Hat security convention (where I am now). Alex is a talented and tireless researcher, as well as a forthright and honest guy. He is originally from Ukraine, and speaks/reads Russian and Ukrainian fluently. His research has been central to several of my big scoops over the past year, including the breach at Adobe that exposed tens of millions of customer records.
Q: Is this for real?
A: Alex isn't keen on disclosing his methods, but I have seen his research and data firsthand and can say it's definitely for real. Without spilling his secrets or methods, it is clear that he has a first-hand view on the day-to-day activities of some very active organised cybercrime networks and actors.
Q: Ok, but more than a billion credentials? That seems like a lot.
A: For those unfamiliar with the operations of large-scale organised crime syndicates, yes, it does. Unfortunately, there are more than a few successful cybercrooks who are quite good at what they do, and do it full-time. These actors — mostly spammers and malware purveyors (usually both) — focus on acquiring as many email addresses and account credentials as they can. Their favorite methods of gathering this information include SQL injection (exploiting weaknesses in websites that can be used to force the site to cough up user data) and abusing stolen credentials to steal even more credentials from victim organisations.
One micro example of this: Last year, I wrote about a botnet that enslaved thousands of hacked computers which disguised itself as a legitimate add-on for Mozilla Firefox and forced infected PCs to scour websites for SQL vulnerabilities.
Q: What would a crime network even do with a billion credentials?
A: Spam, spam and ... oh, spam. Junk email is primarily sent in bulk using large botnets — collections of hacked PCs. A core component of the malware that powers these crime machines is the theft of passwords that users store on their computers and the interception of credentials submitted by victims in the process of browsing the web. It is quite common for major spammers to rely on lists of billions of email addresses for distributing their malware and whatever junk products they are getting paid to promote.
Another major method of spamming (called "webspam") involves the use of stolen email account credentials — such as Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook — to send spam from victim accounts, particularly to all of the addresses in the contacts list of the compromised accounts.
Spam is such a core and fundamental component of any large-scale cybercrime operation that I spent the last four years writing an entire book about it, describing how these networks are created, the crooks that run them, and the cybercrime kingpins who make it worth their while.
Q: Should I be concerned about this?
A: That depends. If you are the type of person who re-uses passwords at multiple sites — including email accounts — then the answer is yes. If you re-use your email password at another site and that other site gets hacked, there is an excellent chance that cyber crooks are plundering your inbox and using it to spam your friends and family to spread malware and to perpetuate the cybercrime food chain.
For a primer that attempts to explain the many other reasons that crooks might want to hack your inbox, your inbox's relative market value, and what you can do to secure it, please seeThe Value of a Hacked Email Account and Tools for a Safer PC.
Brian Krebs is on Alex Holden's advisory board.
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News & Events
For the Media
Michael Twiss Promoted to Full Professor at Clarkson University
[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/mtwiss.jpg .]
Clarkson University President Tony Collins has announced that Michael R. Twiss has been promoted from associate professor to full professor of biology in the School of Arts & Sciences. Promotion to professor is considered to be virtually the highest honor that a university can bestow upon its faculty.
Twiss is a limnologist (fresh water scientist) with expertise in the microbial plankton ecology of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system and interactions of plankton with elements in the water column.
His research aims to understand the impact that microbes have on the geochemical fate of nutrients and metals in natural waters and how plankton respond to changes in their natural environment. His research is conducted in the field on research vessels and in the laboratory using organisms isolated from nature.
Twiss holds an honours bachelor of science degree from Trent University (Canada) in biology and environmental science, a master's degree from the University of Toronto in botany and environmental studies, and a Ph.D. in science de l'eau (limnology) from the Université du Québec, where his thesis was awarded the Governor General of Canada Gold Medal for Academic Excellence.
Twiss conducted a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 1996-1998, and worked briefly at Ryerson University in Toronto (1998-2002) prior to coming to Clarkson University. At Clarkson, he teaches courses in limnology, microbiology, and Great Lakes water protection.
Twiss has published 59 peer-reviewed journal articles that have been cited more than 1,100 times. He has contributed to more than 95 conference presentations since his arrival at Clarkson.
His research has been funded by such agencies as the National Science Foundation, the St. Lawrence River Research and Education Fund of the New York Power Authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York Sea Grant, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and others.
Twiss provides service to his profession as a member of the St. Lawrence River at Massena Area of Concern Remedial Action Committee, panel reviewer for granting agencies (NSF, NSERC), and as an editor. Twiss was associate editor of the Journal of Phycology from 2005 to 2012, and is currently on the editorial board of Frontiers in Aquatic Microbiology.
Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.


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I'm using the following code to put the contents of a a file into a 2D array.
This is working fine for my purposes, but I can't figure out how to do any type of "substr" operations on the array. I want to extract the first 8 characters of each getTheLine[s] component and display it. As of now, I'm using something similar toCode:getline(readFile, line, '\n'); while (!readFile.eof()) { strcpy(getTheLine[s], line.c_str()); getline(readFile, line, '\n'); s++; }
which looks horrible. There has to be a better way to do it? Thanks in advance.Code:for... cout << getTheLines[i][0] << getTheLines[i][1] << getTheLines[i][2]


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ASCE Tuesday issued its "2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure" assessing 16 of the nation's major infrastructure categories, including transportation; "Rail" includes both passenger and freight railroads. AAR noted the ASCE report gave Rail an overall C+, up from a C-, with private investments resulting in greater rail efficiency and connectivity as a key reason for the improved grade.
Overall ASCE gave a D+ to U.S. infrastructure, up from a straight D in 2009, the last time ASCE issued grades, and equal to the grade ASCE first issued in its first study in 2001.
"It is truly gratifying that the world's premier organization of engineering experts recognizes the value and benefits that have resulted from freight railroads making private investments in our country's rail network infrastructure," said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. "It's also reassuring that ASCE recognizes that freight railroads need a regulatory and financial environment that will continue to make those private investments possible."
Noted ASCE: "Railroads are experiencing a competitive resurgence as both an energy-efficient freight transportation option and a viable city-to-city passenger service. In 2012, Amtrak recorded its highest year of ridership with 31.2 million passengers, almost doubling ridership since 2000, with growth anticipated to continue. Both freight and passenger rail have been investing heavily in their tracks, bridges, and tunnels as well as adding new capacity for freight and passengers. In 2010 alone, freight railroads renewed the rails on more than 3,100 miles of railroad track, equivalent to going coast to coast. Since 2009, capital investment from both freight and passenger railroads has exceeded $75 billion, actually increasing investment during the recession when materials prices were lower and trains ran less frequently."
Along with the grade, AAR said, ASCE included several policy recommendations, such as the need to "support a regulatory and financial environment that encourages continued private investment in the nation's freight railroad system."
Hamberger noted that even during the recent economic downturn, freight railroads have invested roughly $22 billion each year to build, maintain and upgrade the country's nationwide rail network that serves both passenger and freight rail customers. In 2013 alone, freight railroads estimate they will spend a record $24.5 billio—investments made so that taxpayers don't have to, he pointed out.
"Freight railroads are the backbone of our nation's logistics supply chain," Hamberger said. "But freight rail's success also relies on the health and well-being of the other modes of transportation to which we connect to serve our customers. If railroads are to move more people and more goods, and help American businesses compete in a global marketplace, we must support transportation policies that make private investments possible and that can translate into action."
As for passenger rail, ASCE cited Amtrak's record-high year for ridership as a factor boosting Rail's overall grade. According to ASCE, "railroads are experiencing a competitive resurgence as both an energy efficient freight transportation option, and a viable city-to-city passenger service."


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Hero Lawyer to Save the Marlboro Man
Earlier this year, the government passed a new law that totally kneecapped the ability of marketing wizards to educate the public on how awesome cigarettes are, in Flavor Country (America). Luckily, the media's favorite lawyer is on the case!
Floyd Abrams—probably the most famous First Amendment lawyer in America, father of Dan Abrams, and frequent attorney for the New York Times—is representing the tobacco giant Lorillard in a lawsuit against the new law, which restricts everything from cigarette packaging to sponsorships, and virtually bans the marketing of "light" cigarettes. Also it would seriously fuck with magazine advertising! Wake up, bureaucrats! This law will actually prevent Big Tobacco from saving people's lives:
Combined with the existing ban on advertising on television and radio, and a new ban on outdoor advertising within 1,000 feet of any school of playground, the companies said it would be almost impossible to communicate with adults even about what it claims are "reduced harm" products.
Representing society's most odious institutions just gives Floyd Abrams more street cred.


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Everyone collectively take a deep breath, and hold it..
….Hold it a little longer…
.. Now, exhale.
You can relax, there is no need to panic.
The Leafs are 17 games into the season, they are 10-6-1 and they've hit a rough patch. Nobody thought this team was going to play great all season, did they? Yes, there are many troubling signs (which I'll get to), but there are also a ton of positives (which we'll look at first).
All the Leafs have managed to do at this point – and it isn't much – is not blow their playoff chances. They've built up a slight cushion, but the New Jersey Devils sit in ninth, four points behind the Leafs with two games in hand. If anyone thought the Leafs gave themselves a ton of breathing room with their solid start, consider that your reality check.
– Jake Gardiner is nearly a top four defenseman on this team already and well on his way to becoming a very good player in this league. In his first eleven games he played over 20 minutes three times, but in his last four he's played over that mark each time. He's the most dynamic young defenseman to come through this organization in quite some time. While you don't want to throw too much praise on him this early into his career, he's going to be a good one. His poise with the puck is tremendous; in overtime against the Blues, under pressure against the Sens and through a tight zone/borderline trap against the Devils, he's shown he can beat anything thrown his way and maintain a calm presence.
– Again, it's early (and that has to be kept in mind when every single thing – good and bad – about this team is taken into consideration right now), but the powerplay is improved without question. They sit 16th right now and have shown a lot of positive signs. Even against the Senators, while they did not score – and that hurt them – they did have a lot of zone time and moved the puck around relatively well. They will learn how and when to shoot as the season goes on and as they get more comfortable with each other, but for now you have to like what you've seen from this unit. Against the Blues, the way they moved it so efficiently was almost mesmerizing, showing better confidence and poise. John Michael Liles in particular made a fantastic initial saucer pass to start the play that led to the Phil Kessel goal against the Blues.
– Between the way Liles moves with and without the puck on his stick, along with his vision, and his ability to suck in defenders and distribute the puck off to the open man, there's no question he's a better player than Tomas Kaberle was for the Leafs in his last couple of seasons here. He's fit in on this team like a glove.
– By the way, Tomas Kaberle is on pace for 19 points right now, glean from that what you will.
– Sometimes things are so obvious they get neglected, and although Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul have had their fair share of publicity, it has to be said that their chemistry is marvelous and the way they've actually built off last year is a great sign. In the summer I wondered to myself how long of a stop-gap Lupul would be, but he'll quickly turn into a keeper if he keeps this up.
– To keep that positive vibe going, they do have this guy named Joe Colborne in the minors whose developing along nicely and really starting to use his size. Don't look now, but in a couple of years the Leafs could have an actual dominant – yes, dominant – first line in Lupul-Colborne-Kessel.
– Kulemin played 18:57 against the Senators, didn't record a shot, and didn't make a hit worth noting. He's on pace for over 50 less shots than he had last season and that's a telling stat. He has one of the best shots on the team but you wouldn't know it from watching gameplay, because he's hardly using it.
– Clarke MacArthur is on pace for over 30 less shots and Mikhail Grabovski over 60 less shots than last year. Putting pucks on net and hungrily chasing them alone will make the Grabovski line substantially better. Imagine if they did that and started passing the puck better, too. Of course it always sounds easier than it really is.
– Â I wanted to touch on Nazem Kadri. There were reports regarding the possibility of him requesting a trade a little while ago. It may or may not be true, I have no idea, but regardless my stance on him hasn't changed. As far as I'm concerned, he's done nothing to deserve a roster spot with the big club. He's played okay, but he has never forced the Leafs to make a decision and sit someone out. At the end of the day that's what it's all about. Look what Jake Gardiner did this training camp, he forced the Leafs hand by playing lights out, Kadri has done no such thing. Think about it, a year ago today, Kadri's stock was significantly higher than Gardiner's (I mean Gardiner was in a package deal to get Francois Beauchemin).
– I said this last week and it's still true, I like Kadri – he has a high ceiling and that hasn't changed – but until he forces the Leafs to play him as an NHL regular, they shouldn't. Even in the AHL he still makes those one or two plays a game that drive you insane as a fan, so imagine how coaches and management feel when they happen.
– That said, if the scoring woes continue they're going to have to call him up eventually because he creativity is undeniable. It would give him a great opportunity to really push Clarke MacArthur for his job with the way the incumbent is playing right now.
– For the record, while Frattin hasn't exactly played lights out either, he is bigger, faster, stronger and has a heavier shot than Kadri. There's no question the Leafs should be calling up Frattin instead of Kadri right now. Frattin plays a solid game and can slot in anywhere up and down the lineup. Conversely, if Kadri isn't scoring, he isn't doing anything. And while I think (and hope) everyone here knows I appreciate the little things in hockey like winning battles, finishing checks and so on, at the end of the day Kadri has 13 points in 33 games. It is what it is, he isn't making this decision tough on anybody. While Frattin isn't scoring either, he at least offers other dimensions.
– The Blues game was an excellent example of Frattin's much superior two-way play. In the second period the puck sprawled out to a wide open Jamie Langenbrunner out front and Frattin came down and knocked the puck away, preventing a goal. Kadri has yet to show that kind of defensive awareness. On the same play, Frattin got the puck out, crossed center ice, dumped it in, and got a change. That's winning hockey. With Kadri, you never know what he's going to do with the puck.
– Frattin only played 9:03 against the Senators, and it might be time to start exploring giving him a true look in the top six.
– Wilson is doing everything he can to get the Grabovski line going. He's held back their minutes, he's played them a ton (as he did against Ottawa) and he's altered their look by trying Lombardi and Frattin on the wing opposite of Kulemin and Grabovski. If this line does not start producing, the Leafs won't be winning many games and everyone knows it. Eventually you have to think something dramatic will happen here as we're approaching game 20.
– Some things they can do to help their own cause is stop the over passing. It's a clear lack of confidence right now from that unit; they are looking for tap-in, easy goals, instead of doing what they do best – throwing the puck at the goalie and crashing the net hard. Teams are negating their space right now and the line isn't getting the time they had last season to look up, pick a corner, and shoot it. It's up to the entire unit to adjust and start simplifying their game. They talked at length last season about how they all enjoyed playing a north-south game, but none of them have been flying down their lanes and causing havoc. Time to cut the cuteness here and get back to basics.
– Not even 20 games into the season and with a solid record to start the season, nobody should be hitting the panic button on this line just yet, but everyone should definitely be concerned. I'll be curious to see how long management stays patient with them, because they need to win this year.
– Rewatched almost the entire past Leaf season this summer and a lot of the time I caught myself watching Tyler Bozak and thinking to myself "if he just finished that opportunity" or "if he didn't hit the post with that shot" or "why doesn't he use his shot more?" On Saturday he used his shot and beat Craig Anderson pretty cleanly from the top of the circle. He has an accurate, hard, clean wrist shot with a deceptive release, and he has to start using it more. With Phil Kessel he's shown he can produce and capitalize a little, so if he can carry over his 42 point pace to the third line, the Leafs will be a much better team.
– Very confused as to why the coaches were being criticized after the Sens game because of the penalty kill. Did anyone seriously think the third ranked powerplay in the league wasn't going to score on a 1:58 second two-man advantage with a third string goalie in net? Beyond that, they scored on a breakaway due to poor gap management. I know some people think this happens, but coaches don't sit there in practice and work on how close defensemen should be when standing up on the blueline. It's common sense and you learn it at age 10. Obviously, the Leafs missed the memo because they've allowed enough breakaways to last the season, but at some point the players have to be accountable. On a five on three the defensemen were each at the offside dots. While I don't like to criticize rookies, Jake Gardiner watched Nick Foligno skate right by him, but only decided to act once he got the puck. Too little, too late.
– Don't mind hearing criticism of the coaches, but it has to be warranted. Don't think there was anything Wilson could have done, or practiced, or taught that would have avoided that 5 on 3 goal. The players have to be held accountable. The organization is clearly trying to do that, but the fans have not embraced it.
– I remember during the JFJ era when fans always wanted the slow rebuild and tear down to take place, instead of the quick-fix that was always in attempt. Now, ironically, everyone wants the quick fix because they think magically changing coaches will fix every problem with this team, but that's highly unlikely. That's a full drawn out article though. Coaching is important, don't get me wrong, but it's overvalued in this market. It's not the be all and end all. Barry Trotz didn't make the playoffs in his first five years with Nashville and he finally advanced passed the first round this season for the first time ever, yet I don't hear anyone calling him a terrible coach. In fact he's known as a great coach (cause he is), but the point is, you're only as good as the team you've been provided with. The Leafs overachieved their first year under Wilson and in the next two they finished right around what the quality of their team suggested they would.
– But when it comes to criticizing the coaches, I thought it was ridiculous to see Luke Schenn and Jake Gardiner out on the ice in the dying minutes of the St. Louis game. Protecting a lead on the road when you've been dominated for nearly two periods and that's the defense pairing you put out there? Beyond questionable.
– Interestingly enough, against the Senators both the Phaneuf pairing and the Liles pairing each had two shifts before Gardiner and Schenn stepped on the ice. Talk about mixed messages.
– Eventually the Leafs have to try Matt Frattin on the powerplay. It is absolutely killing me. In college he played the point on the powerplay and what he did to college hockey was just embarrassing. His one-timer is only bested by Dion Phaneuf and Cody Franson. Â He needs to get out there with some open ice and be able to unleash it. It's tough for any coach to put two rookies on the point in the NHL but eventually it's looking as if a Matt Frattin-Jake Gardiner second powerplay point pairing is the way to go.
– When Tim Connolly has been healthy along with Tyler Bozak, Matt Lombardi does not get any penalty killing time at all. In fact, neither Lombardi or Brown saw a second of PK time against Columbus while Bozak and Connolly both played over four minutes on it. Obviously this goes to show that, when they finally become healthy, Brown and Lombardi may not see much time short handed. Adding to that fact will be Colby Armstrong's return.
– Basically, this won't be a good statistical PK this season, but in the second half we could end up seeing them some great penalty killing. Once everyone is finally healthy and acclimated, the pieces are there for this to still be a good unit.
– Pretty mind blowing to me that in two games that were over in the third period -Blue Jackets and Panthers games – Luke Schenn still didn't play more than 12:38. You'd think in that situation they would send him out and have him log a ton of minutes to get his confidence up.
– On the positive, he did play 16:57 against St. Louis, and he physically dominated Chris Stewart a couple of times. That said, it's amazing how good goaltending makes a player look better. Schenn was physical, but he was soft on the puck, highlighted by a backhand pass that he tried to saucer to Jake Gardiner behind his net that was easily picked off.
– On that note, I still hear a lot of Mike Komisarek criticism. Look, he's the least of the Leafs worries right now. At least he clears the net and looks to take the body. Players are much to liberally going right to the net and right through the crease. The conundrum is that the Leafs penalty kill sucks, but at the same time you'd like to see these guys stand up for their goalies, even if it meant taking a penalty. It just gets to a point where maybe you have to lose the battle to win the war there. You might get a penalty, and you might get scored on during that kill, but if you teach a guy a lesson for touching your goalie, it's worth it.
-One thing the Bruins in particular do very well is that, when losing, they make teams pay physically and it really sets a tone for the next game. The Bruins have now spanked the Leafs twice, and they have not paid at all physically. It's one thing to lose a game, it's another to not even give the opposition something to think about for next time. That's what's disappointing, to me at least.
– Speaking of the Bruins and goalies, I keep wondering what would have been the reaction had Milan Lucic ran over James Reimer the way he did Ryan Miller. Frankly, I'd be scared to find out, because I fear it would be nothing, just as Buffalo has done. We all like certain characteristics of hockey and it's players. Personally, I've always appreciated players who play on the edge, cross it a couple of times and are a little dirty. Chris Neil, Patrick Kaleta, Brad Marchand, these kind of guys are, for a lack of a better way to say it, dirt bags, and I'd take them every time. Maybe that's just me. But I more than suspect that kind of player would make this edition of the Leafs dramatically better.
– Can't imagine this sits well with Burke either, to see a Boston team in their own division that is extremely superior physically. He would most likely love some toughness. On the bright side, Tyler Biggs will probably only need one more year in the NCAA after this one, so he's coming soon-ish. But that's also a discussion for another time.
– Can't help but think of those great wins over Boston late last season and wonder what the difference is. The first is how easily the Grabovski line was dominating the Bruins second defense pairing, which caused the Bruins fits and forced them to match Zdeno Chara against them and away from Phil (who went on to dominate Seidenberg due to that). This year, so far, the Bruins defense pairings have generally had their way with the Leafs forwards. Simply put, nine and a half times out of 10, Zdeno Chara is going to stop Phil Kessel. He has too much reach, size and strength that negates Phil's speed, and it's pretty doubtful that Kessel's going to walk over the blueline and beat Tim Thomas on a wrister. So really, the key to beating Boston (among other teams) is the play of the Grabovski line.
Secondly, you have to think of Keith Aulie. Phaneuf-Aulie were so physically imposing that they dictated play against the Bruins forwards regardless of who had the puck. Luke Schenn was also playing great hockey. Right now the Leafs have one good big defenseman in Phaneuf, an okay one in Komisarek and a struggling one in Luke Schenn. That makes it tough for Toronto against a big team, and St. Louis was another example of that.
– But heck, the Senators without Chris Neil out hit the Leafs by a wide margin and there's no excuse for that.
– Dave Steckel only played 9:35 against the Panthers despite going almost 63% in the faceoff dot. The Leafs got away from their puck possession game, and in games when things are looking like they could get out of hand, you want to go out there and have a nice steadying shift of puck possession and cycling. The coaches obviously reviewed that game and thought the same thing, and moved Steckel up to the third line, which is an excellent move. Also, Lombardi went 5/13 on the dot, something your third line center simply can't be doing.
– Obviously playing towards the Leafs strength – depth – was something the coaching staff wanted to get back to after the Florida game and they set the tone right away with that by starting the Steckel line off the opening faceoff against St. Louis. Only Mike Brown averaged under 10 minutes on the ice.
Last season only two teams had all their regulars averaging over 10 minutes a game. That would be Detroit and Boston. Currently, every Leaf regular except Mike Brown at 9:53 (including Dupuis, excluding the two enforcers) averages at least 10 minutes of ice time a game. It's a game of depth.
– Steckel is an example of why you should always look at a player first yourself before trusting others' opinions. Countless people told me he isn't physical at all, yet he leads the Leaf forwards in hits and finishes his check whenever he can. Even if he didn't hit, his 6'5 frame alone has a presence on the ice that the Leafs sorely lacked last season.
– Everyone also knows Phillipe Dupuis is third in Leaf hits by a forward, right? He might not make big hits in the open ice, but he throws heavy, heavy hits along that boards that hurt you. He laid a great hit on Jason Arnott who I guaranteed felt it in his ribs the next morning. Hits aren't always about being flashy, they are about being effective, separating the man from the puck and making guys think twice. Dupuis does that regularly.
One really stupid penalty doesn't make him a bad player by the way. It happens to the best of us, move on.
-Brian Burke has four options with his goalie conundrum:
1) Keep status quo, move nobody, Scrivens goes back to the minors once Reimer returns due to his waiver exemption.
2) Same thing as number one, except get rid of Gustavsson once Reimer is healthy.
2) Acquire a veteran, tandem him with Gustavsson and buy time to trade The Monster until Reimer returns, then go Reimer + a veteran goalie.
3) Get rid of Gustavsson, bring in a veteran to split starts with Scrivens until Reimer is healthy, then send Scrivens down once Reimer returns.
– On the positive side, against the Devils it was really apparent just how talented the Leafs are. The first line was toying with New Jersey all night and there was a particular play in the third period where Connolly threw it to the middle of the ice in the offensive zone to a streaking Phil Kessel, who – mid stride – toe-dragged Ilya Kovalchuk. That is unbelievably hard to do at the speed Kessel did it at and it just shows how talented he is. Kessel is far too often labeled as "just" a sniper, but really, offensively he can do it all.
– Very interesting – Jake Gardiner played 2:55 short handed against the Blues, while John Michael Liles didn't even register a second of short handed ice time. And Dion Phaneuf had three penalties in that game. Against the Senators, same story. Liles didn't touch the ice on the penalty kill, Gardiner played 1:48 on it.
– The best thing I saw in the Panthers game happened with under 30 seconds left, when it was clear the Leafs had lost. As Panthers broke out on a 2-on-1 from their own zone with the two forwards being at the center ice line, Nikolai Kulemin was at the Panther blueline, put his head down, and worked his ass off to get back in the play. It was already a long shift for that line and the Panther players were definitely looking to get a goal despite the score but Kulemin's effort helped force a bad pass. It's easy to do things like take a hit to make a play when your team is winning, but when you're down and out, and refuse to quit, well that just shows how much Kulemin cares and the kind of character this guy has.
– You have to like Joffrey Lupul's effort in a losing cause too. He dominated Florida most of the night and he went hard all third period. It's just a hunch, but I'm sure he was all over Kessel and Bozak on the bench saying they need to at least get a goal in the third period there. It might not make a difference to a lot of people, but Kessel scoring in the third period was important and Lupul did most of the work for that goal. It prevented them from getting shutout a second straight game, and it halted any sort of goalless streak Kessel could have potentially went on. The scrutiny the Leafs are facing right now would have been multiplied by a significant amount if both those things were added to the equation.
– Also thought it was an excellent move by Ron Wilson to keep the lines together against the Panthers. There's no purpose to shake things up when you're down by a large amount. The top two lines will be what they are most of the season unless a ridiculous goal scoring drought occurs. Keep them together and let them work through their funks, one of the lines got on the board, and the other line did everything but. The time to shake line combinations up mid-game is when you're down by a goal or two and you aren't creating anything.
– The Leafs are actually at their best when they are rolling four lines and all their forwards are playing between 10 and 17 minutes. The fourth line is critical to the Leafs' success because they are physical and work the corners hard. They wear out defensemen each shift and that's important; any sort of mental or physical fatigue by opposing defensemen – if only for a second – will be exploited by the rest of the Leafs forwards, who are just so fast.
-If everyone ever gets healthy at the same time for this team, the ideal third line for the Leafs is Lombardi-Bozak-Armstrong. There is constant talk of the Leafs looking to make moves and all that, but it has to be remembered that nobody has seen this line play even one shift together. Realistically speaking, each player on this line can be a 40 point guy, or a point every two games guy. That changes the look of the Leafs big time and adds a lot more of an offensive dimension to the overall team.
– Even though St. Louis dominated the Leafs for two periods and did tie the game, you have to give the Leafs credit for coming back strong right after they were scored on. That hasn't been their pattern this season, but as soon as St. Louis tied it, the Grabovski line went on and dominated, and almost scored. Give credit where it's due there.
– That St. Louis game was a tough overall game. They were getting dominated and they didn't get a call. In the third period alone, Steckel got slashed and had a breakaway taken away, Grabovski got clobbered twice before he touched the puck, Lupul took a hard one to the wrist, and Komisarek nearly had his wrist taken off by Jason Arnott. Meanwhile, the Leafs had some rather interesting calls go against them. So, they were on the road, getting dominated, not getting the calls, blew a lead, and still managed to win. That's really, really tough.
– Scrivens was fantastic against the Blues, but on the St. Louis powerplay goal, he has to play that puck better behind the net. The four penalty killers were clearly expecting that puck to be stopped and they got thrown off when it wasn't. Either you stop it or stay in your net.
– Also in the Blues game, when Langenbrunner was left in front of the net and had a great opportunity towards the end of the first period, it started with Jake Gardiner skating all the way up to the top of the circle to challenge the St. Louis forward. It's one thing to be aggressive, it's another to be reckless. Players have to stay within their zone and their limits.
– Carl Gunnarsson wrote a piece on his history (either that or it was transcribed) and it's on The Hockey News here. Making the NHL is a crazy journey, no matter who you are, and we as fans forget that all the time. It was very cool to read Gunnarsson's experiences and it shows you how grounded he is as a person and the character of the family he comes from. It's the reason I try to rationalize player and coaching decisions first and foremost, because everyone has a reason for doing something in their own mind, and it's much easier to simply criticize than to take the time and think about it.
The Leafs play home Tuesday against Phoenix, visit Nashville Thursday, host Washington on Saturday and are back on the road Sunday in Carolina. Tough week. Let's see how they respond to some true adversity.


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Pretty cool wallet
Reviewer: Shane
It's a really good quality wallet, but it's quite big. I bought a chain for it so I wouldn't lose it out of my back pocket since it slipped out a few times. Otherwise it looks really cool and is basically what I was expecting. Plenty of room for money in the center pocket, but not a lot of room for cards. The card pockets are pretty small. The added velcro at the top was much needed so cards don't slide out, otherwise I'm pretty sure they would.
Overall I like it. I'm happy I got it.
Overall I like it. I'm happy I got it.
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HAIX Announces NTOA Approval For Newest Boots
HAIX® North America, subsidiary of HAIX® Schuhe Produktions und Vertriebs, GmbH, a prominent German footwear manufacturer, recently obtained NTOA approval on their two newest additions to the HAIX® law enforcement/military line up, the Airpower® P7 High and the Airpower® P9 Desert.
Through NTOA's (National Tactical Officer's Association) Member Tested and Recommended Products Program, NTOA field testers put boots through their paces in real life situations. This testing program is designed to provide law enforcement manufacturers with a process by which their products can be field tested and rated independently by the law enforcement community. Products must have an overall average score of 3 out of 5 to receive NTOA Field Tester Recommended status. Sandy Longarzo, marketing manager for HAIX® North America, Inc., stated that "HAIX® considers this to be a valuable testament to the quality of the shoes we manufacture."
The HAIX® Airpower® P7 High is a 9" all leather multi-purpose tactical/patrol boot which features the HAIX® built in Arch Support System. A waterproof yet breathable boot that is lightweight with nonslip nitrile soles that are self cleaning, antistatic, non-marking and shock absorbent. This boot was recently approved for use by the New York State Police.
The HAIX® Airpower® P9 Desert is an 8 1/4 " combination suede and nylon fabric waterproof boot. Anatomically formed and lightweight, the boot features the built in Arch Support System and built in leather reinforcement on both sides of the arch as well as additional leather reinforcement on each inside leg.
The HAIX® Airpower® P7 High and Airpower® P9 Desert were on display at the Shot Show in Las Vegas, February 2-5, 2008.


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Solaris Device Driver:
Device Type:
SYM22910 (both channel A and B support SE and LVD mode), SYM21002 (channel A supports SE only, channel B supports both SE and LVD mode)
Bus Type:
For Ultra2 SCSI LVD transfer, make sure you use Ultra2 SCSI LVD-compliant SCSI cable. Also, for best performance, keep the devices 6 to 8 inches apart.
If both the 53C896 chip and an older 53C8xx chip are embedded on the motherboard, when your system boots, the system BIOS recognizes the older 53C8xx chip first. In this case, wait until the newer version of the Symbios SDMS BIOS, which supports the newer 53C896 chip, recognizes all 53C8xx chips embedded on your motherboard before proceeding.
To prevent the older BIOS utility from coming up, reflash the older 53C8xx BIOS of the add-in controller.
You can download the latest Symbios SDMS BIOS from http://www.symbios.com/techsupport/pci_sw.htm#Symbios CPI BIOS & Flash Utility.
Due to a hardware problem in revisions B0 and C0 of the 53C896 chip, the symhisl driver does not work properly with 64-bit PCI slots. The symhisl driver issues a SCSI bus reset when the problem occurs. To avoid this problem, upgrade to revision C1 of the 53C896 chip.
Other revisions of the 53C896 chip may exhibit hardware incompatibilities with earlier PCI chips and designs. For a complete list of errata about each revision of the 53C896 chip, see LSI Logic's Web site (http://www.lsil.com).
Under some conditions, LVD technology may exhibit firmware incompatibilities. If you experience SCSI errors with a correctly configured LVD SCSI bus, contact the manufacturer for updated firmware.


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Do Peppered Moths Prove Evolution?
by John D. Morris, Ph.D. *
Darwin's book Origin of Species, published in 1859, proposed the concept of evolution by purely naturalistic causes, especially natural selection. His idea was that the small variations observed within a population of plants or animals would lead to large changes, given a fortuitous environmental change which favored the variant's opportunity for survival and reproduction.
In his book, Darwin cited no examples of natural selection (or of the origin of any species, by the way), for none was known at the time. It was a hypothetical concept only. He did discuss at length artificial selection—the results of animal and plant breeders, which had produced significant results. In fact, during the twenty years or so before he published, he corresponded with many plant and animal breeders. They had purposively selected particular characteristics which had some commercial value, producing new breeds of dogs, faster horses, cows with more milk, crops with greater yield, etc. Darwin reported these successes and postulated that the same could happen in a natural setting, all the while acknowledging that, left to themselves, the new variations quickly would breed back into the basic types. Furthermore, those individuals, far from the norm, were typically less fit for survival in natural settings. Nevertheless, artificial selection was the main support for his idea of natural selection.
About this same time, an episode of true natural selection was taking place, however, and Darwin seems not to have fully grasped its significance. It is such a good example of a population shift brought about by environmental changes that some have called it "Darwin's missed opportunity." Evolutionists have not missed it since then, for it appears in almost every book dealing with evolution and is touted as the proof of Darwinian (or Neo-Darwinian) style evolution. It concerns the peppered moth Biston betularia in England, and the case of "industrial melanism."
Throughout the centuries, this moth was observed to have a light color with small dark spots (pepper) 98% of the time. The other 2% possessed a dark color; same moth; two colors; all interfertile; all one species. The peppered group was well camouflaged from birds by the lichen-covered tree trunks.
In the 1800s, the industrial revolution brought air pollution and soot which killed the light-colored lichen, exposing the dark tree trunks. Now, so the story goes, the light-colored moths easily were seen by birds, while the dark moths were camouflaged better. The dark group survived and reproduced over 90% of the total population. Now that the environment is being cleaned up, the lichens are resuming, and the percentage of light moths is increasing proportionately.
The population shift has been hailed as proof of Darwinian evolution. Probably every student in public education has been taught it. However, what really happened? At the beginning, there were light and dark shades. Once the pollution darkened the environment, there were light and dark shades. There are light and dark shades now. Throughout the entire time, both shades existed and comprised a single interbreeding species. There is no evolution here.
Actually, the situation is more complex than the textbooks present. There are at least five varieties of shades forming a continuum. The "controlled" experiments by Kettlewell and others in the '50s and '60s actually employed highly abnormal population diversities and environments. Genetically, the situation is quite complex.
However, at any rate, the peppered moth demonstrates what creationists have been saying all along. Variation within a specific created type occurs all the time. Natural selection can select the variant best suited for an environment, but natural selection does not create anything new. Why, then, do evolutionists use this as Exhibit No. 1? This, obviously, must be the best evidence they have got.
* Dr. John Morris is President of the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Morris, J. 1994. Do Peppered Moths Prove Evolution? Acts & Facts. 23 (4).
Evidence for Creation › Evidence from Science › Evidence from the Life Sciences › Life Was Created Fully Functional › Variation Is Limited within Kinds
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text: Generally Americans. I can easily rattle off at least a dozen American sitcoms I love, and I couldn't give you half that number of British shows. There's a very sharp, broad, scripted quality to my favourite sitcoms (say classic era Simpsons) that, while some British shows come close to it in terms of style, few really equal. Granted, there's a bias in being exposed to so much British TV, a great deal of which is truly awful... while not seeing the worst say American TV has to offer. In short: Red Dwarf gets a couple of laughs. But I can't think of an episode of that show I've loved as much as Futurama's "Roswell That Ends Well." That's an interesting because I'd consider it a very American sitcom (even with Jane Leeves). Very much Three's Company with erudite references... and essentially it takes Cheers's slobs vs. snobs humour and just chooses to centre on the snobs instead. It doesn't much resemble most British sitcoms I've watched.


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The El Dorado News-Times reports (http://bit.ly/12yg654 ) that the group's January meeting will feature Southern Arkansas University historian Trey Berry.
Berry's presentation will review an expedition that explored the Ouachita River region in the early 19th century.
The meeting is free and open to the public. It is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 7 in the Newton House in El Dorado.


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Buzznet: What is the inspiration behind "Shooting The Moon" on the New Moon soundtrack?Damian: The song is about an astronaut involved in a conspiracy. I am not personally a doubter re: the US moon landing, but the story fascinates me. The story, that is, that would be, were the conspiracy theory true. One of the most iconic heros of all time would have to live with the guilt. He'd have to keep such a heavy, terrible secret: that this huge historical watershed was a cynical lie. As the basis of a song, it let me get at a feeling that I otherwise have a hard time describing, the feeling of dread and conviction at the same time. Of wanting to say it's going to be OK, when in fact it probably isn't. It's a feeling I have a lot. The hero knows the only way to make things better in the long run is to unleash this awful truth which is going to break everyone's heart.Buzznet: Did you create this song with the intention of having it on the New Moon soundtrack? Was "Shooting The Moon" recorded at the same time that you recorded your songs on your upcoming album?Damian: It was recorded along with the songs on our new album, but it was a perfect fit for New Moon. Our record's already nearly an hour long, so we could afford it let this one go on to greener pastures. Which is no euphemism. The song is in such great company on this soundtrack that it's probably happier in its new home.Buzznet: What is your favorite song off of the original Twilight Soundtrack?Damian: I like the Iron and Wine song a lot.Buzznet: If you were to have to choose 1 OK Go song to "set the mood" for Bella and Edward, what song would you play?Damian: Hmm. I'm gonna give a few answers. Sorta depends on their mood. They're both earnest types, so perhaps the super-honest love song is the way to go. There's one on our new album called Last Leaf, in which I tell the woman I love that I will wait for her forever, which, sentiment-wise, seems pretty on-the-nose for B&E. But whether it'd get them feeling randy, I don't know. There's a dancier love song called "I Want You So Bad I Can't Breathe," and again, bingo, right? Or do vampires breathe? To me, the sexiest song on the record is this one that we've already released online called "Skyscrapers." But I have sorta different parameters for sexy than most folks; it's probably only advisable as an aphrodisiac for the slow-jam inclined.
Read the full interview over at Buzznet
Thanks GorgeousGraham
- Lorabell
P.s. In case you're not familiar, they're the creators of this slice of genius:


text: Is he able to make Bijuu Mode clones now? If so, he's just gone to an even higher level of HAX considering the amount of time he's been fighting - he's still capable of making a clone that powerful. Also, look at the size of the Bijuu Dama he made. Insane that he's still got that much in the tank.


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Harrison available out of bullpen for Wild Card game
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
Harrison is one of four left-handers available, along with Robbie Ross, Michael Kirkman and Derek Holland."I might use him for an inning, it might be multiple innings or it might be a hitter," manager Ron Washington said. The Rangers have six right-handers in the bullpen. Mike Adams is not one of them. Adams is still working through his physical issues, and it does not look like he will be available in the ALDS if the Rangers advance. He has not pitched since Sept. 27 and has not thrown off a mound since then. The Rangers also decided to put side-arming right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama on the active roster over hard-throwing righties Tanner Scheppers and Mark Lowe.
Tateyama is one of six right-handed relievers, along with Koji Uehara, Alexi Ogando, Roy Oswalt, Scott Feldman and closer Joe Nathan. Right-handers hit .225 off Tateyama during the regular season."Tateyama gives us a different look," Washington said. "He's tough on right-handers."
Washington packs lineup with right-handed hitters
ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Ron Washington loaded up his lineup with right-handed hitters for Friday's American League Wild Card game against left-hander Joe Saunders and the Orioles.The lineup included Geovany Soto at catcher, Mike Napoli at designated hitter, Michael Young at first base and Craig Gentry in center field. Josh Hamilton, who was in left field, was the only left-handed hitter in the Rangers' lineup. David Murphy and Mitch Moreland were on the bench. Murphy had been playing against left-handers for most of the second half but finished the regular season with five hits in his last 30 at-bats.
"He's not swinging the bat like he was," Washington said. "The main thing is getting those young legs in -- Gentry running balls down in center field -- and putting as many right-handed hitters as possible in there against Saunders."During the regular season, Saunders held left-handed hitters to a .199 batting average, while right-handers hit .307 off him.
Murphy is 0-for-4 in his career off Saunders, while Gentry has never faced him. Neither has Napoli, who played with Saunders while they were with the Angels. Soto is 4-for-6 with a home run.
Rangers still believe Hamilton will carry them
ARLINGTON -- Despite Josh Hamilton's recent struggles, the Rangers are confident that he will play a big part in their postseason success again this year.Hamilton did not homer in his last nine regular-season games, had two hits in 13 at-bats when the Rangers were swept by the A's in their last series, and dropped a routine fly ball that allowed the A's to take a 7-5 lead in the regular-season finale on Wednesday. But Hamilton's 43 home runs and 128 RBIs this season, both ranking second in the Majors, -- along with the role he played in each of the last two trips the Rangers have made to the World Series -- leave his manager and teammates unconcerned. "We're certainly looking tonight to jump on his back and take a ride," manager Ron Washington said. "There's no reason to think that Hamilton isn't going to show up for us now. ... He can take a ballgame over, and you never know what that day is going to be. I'm a very optimistic guy and I believe that today is the day we can jump on Hamilton's back." Hamilton hit .357 with six homers and 12 RBIs this season against the Rangers' Friday opponent, the Orioles. Four of those home runs and eight RBIs came in one game, a 10-8 win on May 8. "We obviously depend on Josh a lot," Michael Young said. "As far as the end of the regular season, it's not on Josh. If it was on any of us, it wouldn't really matter right now anyway."
Rangers deal with unique Wild Card format
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are the host team for a first in American League playoff history. Texas and Baltimore are the first two teams to meet in the new AL Wild Card Game. Both teams, after winning 93 games during the regular season, enter the postseason facing a one-game, win-or-else playoff."I really don't know how it feels because I haven't tried to put too much emphasis on it other than the fact that let's come out here and prepare and try to just got out here and play our game," manager Ron Washington said. "I know the implications if things don't go the way we would like them to go. "I feel pretty good about my club. I walked through the clubhouse. I didn't see anything different than what they've been doing all year. I think we know what's at stake." General manager Jon Daniels said Friday felt like the playoffs only with a little bit different feel to it. "It's great for the fans," Daniels said. "It's great theater. As an industry, we're getting everything we wanted out of it."
Worth noting
Because teams can change their rosters before the ALDS, the Rangers did not have to include starters Ryan Dempster and Martin Perez on the active list Friday. Instead, Washington opted for more reliever options in case he gets in a "chess match" with Orioles manager Buck Showalter. Washington would prefer that starter Yu Darvish goes out and dominates."I'm not smart enough to play chess, because I don't know how to play chess," Washington said.
Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando turned 29 on Friday. Jurickson Profar is on the active roster for Friday night and, at age 19 years, 228 days old, he would be the eighth-youngest player to appear in postseason. Mike Olt, who is dealing with inflammation in his right heel, was not active for Friday's game. Daniels said that Olt will not be 100 percent again until Spring Training but could be an option for the playoffs if the Rangers advance.
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: What. I mean, I'm still looking forward to Prometheus, but if even half of the (very consistent from review-to-reviewer) criticisms I've read of it are accurate, it will be far, far from a perfect film. Then again, this is the guy who gave Knowing four stars, so maybe he just likes vague, choppy, and pretentious sci-fi.


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Linen Double Hemstitch Place Mats
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
- Summary
As luxuriously soft as the vintage linens that inspired them, our classic linen place mats have a wonderful heirloom feel. They're edged with double rows of hemstitching, a traditional needlework technique that creates a delicate openwork border. Like all fine linen textiles, these pieces mellow beautifully over the years, becoming softer every time they're washed.
- Woven of 100% linen.
- Finished with full hems and mitered corners.
- Machine-wash.
- Set of four.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 20" x 14".
- Made in India.
- Use & Care
- Machine washable; smooth with a warm iron, if needed.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3-5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
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The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
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For an additional charge of $17.50 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable, and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
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Linen Double Hemstitch Table Runner
Linen Double Hemstitch Napkins
Rated 1 out of 5 by aac818 from Horrible! These linen place mats are hideous. Mine just arrived today (along with matching napkins), and I am so disappointed because I had them monogrammed and cannot return them. The monogram is teeny tiny, not centered at the top, and looks horrible. I was hoping for an heirloom and am so disappointed...Date published: 2017-03-23Rated 3 out of 5 by SuSu2 from Needs Ironing Not for those of us who don't like ironing. I bought these in black which were very attractive out of the shipping bag. They are a nice size but thin. Because the Use & Care instructions on this webpage says "Machine washable; smooth with a warm iron, if needed", I was hoping I could smooth them out by hand like my other place mats. Since they need ironing, and can't be returned, I'm not sure what I'll do with them. .Date published: 2017-02-04Rated 5 out of 5 by Anna717 from Lovely, elegant I really like these placemats, (I have them in white). To me, the double hemstitch looks so much prettier than a single one, especially on these, since it is made up of delicately sized/shaped holes and spacing. In addition, the linen material itself has a nice, very subtly textured look. The result of all that is a lovely, elegant look! Note that, as another reviewer says, they are on the thin side, though for me, not too thin. I do sometimes use them on top of a thicker placemat.Date published: 2017-01-07Rated 4 out of 5 by tepsi84 from Nice place mats just not as expected. I like the color of these place mats but I was expecting them to be a bit thicker and sturdier. The material thickness seems more like something that would be used for a tablecloth or napkins.Date published: 2016-02-01


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Total posts: 5
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LOL!!! Very interesting topic.
Total posts: 22
Nothing is offensive if two people are adults and agree it's what they both want and it doesn't hurt anyone.
If you want a trophy wife then make it a point in your bio and don't get offended when the pretty girls ask about all your possessions. Nothing wrong with what makes you happy.
Total posts: 7
It's one thing to be treated like a dummy, and to have a man proud to have you on his arm and show you off.
Total posts: 1
Total posts: 6
Total posts: 132
Total posts: 333
Total posts: 3
Total posts: 8
Total posts: 161
TROPHY wives eventually become ATROPHY wives.
Total posts: 2
all men want to think that their wives are their better half; all men want to think that their wives are trophy wives though not in a negative sense that only their appearance maetters.
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text: Is it for sure that K&K, F&S, Coomes & Buckland will be at Euros? Also Alessandrini & Vaturi, I thought all these teams had pretty good injurys which kept them out of their Nats except for A&V. (Coomes & Buckland w\d after the SD.) Euros could become very interesting if some of the senior ,as in older teams don't show up. I can see B&S and H&Z on the podium behind P&B.


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It's now a matter of history that Australians have fallen out of love with traditional family cars such as the Holden Commodore. The decision by both Ford and Holden to quit local manufacturing by 2017 underscores that sentiment.
Of course, there was a time, for 15 years in a row, when the Commodore was the firm favourite among families, but somehow, we have since fallen into step with the rest of the world, except for the United States, and the small car is king.
Witness the runaway success of the Mazda3 in this country. For the past decade or so, the Mazda hatchback and its sedan stablemate have been the most popular new-car choice among private buyers.
It's a global phenomenon. Almost 40 per cent of all Mazda sales are from the 3 catalogue and Mazda hopes that the new model will continue that trend.
''Early indications are that it will be a winner,'' says Mazda Australia senior public relations manager Steve Maciver. ''It's been [to customer clinics] here and we've had 70,000 prelaunch hand-raisers [expressions of interest] in Australia.''
In 2011, Mazda's 3 became the first imported car to top the sales charts, a feat it repeated in 2012. Last year, the Toyota Corolla snuck past to give Toyota its first top seller and reaffirm that small cars are the new black.
Mazda is boldly predicting more than 45,000 of its 3 will sell annually, a total big enough for it to top the sales charts, assuming that the imminent arrival of a Corolla sedan doesn't cause its sales to rise further.
Now that the new 3 is here, we were keen to see how good the anointed one is in its latest guise. It was also a chance to take a road trip with the old guard in the form of a Holden Calais, to see how our tastes have changed.
The temptation is to imagine that, as a nation, we've simply lost our craving for interior space. That doesn't seem to hold water when you take the Mazda to pieces and apply the tape measure. Just parking the cars side by side reveals that the biggest difference is in overall length, while the Mazda, even in hatchback guise, looks wide.
Compared with the outgoing Mazda3, the new hatchback is the same length overall, but has less front and rear overhang, maximising the space between the axles with 60 millimetres more wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels). The new 3 is also 40 millimetres wider than the old car and lower, at 1455 millimetres.
Comparing those figures with the Calais, it's obvious that the Holden is bigger, but not by as much as you might imagine. The real difference is in the overall length and, at 4966 millimetres from stem to stern, the Calais is 506 millimetres longer than the Mazda. The wheelbase is also greater, at 2915 millimetres versus 2700 millimetres, and those two figures are what give the Calais its rear-seat stretching space and its long, deep boot.
Obviously, the Mazda cannot match that luggage capacity and, while there is less knee room in the back seat of the 3, it's hardly what you'd call cramped. Crucially, it will be big enough for many families.
Exploding even further the myth that we don't like interior space is a comparison with the first Holden Commodore, the VB model of 1978. While the original Commodore did cop flak for being a bit dainty in some directions, it still found plenty of homes with Aussie families and set the tone for all future Holdens to bear the Commodore badge.
And what do you know? Compared with the new Mazda3, the first Commodore was a bit longer at 4705 millimetres (compared with the Mazda hatch's 4460 millimetres), but it was narrower at 1722 millimetres (1795 millimetres) and had a shorter wheelbase, at 2668 millimetres (2700 millimetres).
Meanwhile, just because you're losing a bit of space, it doesn't mean anybody is willing to compromise on safety, comfort or equipment levels.
The new 3 has options that were unimaginable in smaller cars (at this price point anyway) a few years ago, including a head-up display, colour touchscreen, a real-time traffic and weather update service and even radar cruise control.
There's also a hill-hold function and a reverse camera is standard on all but the most basic Neo model, a car designed primarily as the price teaser to tempt people into dealerships. While the heavily marketed runout-model Mazda3 attracted buyers mainly to the base model, the new Neo is expected to initially account for 40 per cent of sales.
An optional $1500 safety pack includes autonomous braking for low-speed crash avoidance and a blind-spot warning system.
What is almost certainly driving small-car sales more than an imaginary downsizing trend is the move towards greater fuel efficiency.
Squeezing every drop out of each petro-dollar is the name of the game now, and conventional wisdom is that big cars simply don't cut it.
That's debunked in the case of the Calais, which managed a very impressive 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres on a long stretch of freeway running.
Given the extra performance offered by the Holden's 210kW, 3.6-litre V6, that's a great result, but it pales in comparison with the Mazda's 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the same conditions. In fact, that's a result many diesel hatchbacks of the same size would struggle to match, yet it's all done with conventional technology marketed under the Skyactiv banner.
Despite a trend towards smaller engines fitted with turbochargers, the Mazda philosophy is that a well-engineered 2.0-litre engine can do the same job.
There is also a manufacturing cost advantage in remaining non-turbocharged, as well as simpler servicing for the owner and a potential fuel-consumption advantage.
Throw in the use of high-strength steel to increase strength without adding to the car's weight and excellent aerodynamics (a drag coefficient of just 0.26 for the sedan), and Mazda is claiming a massive 30 per cent cut in fuel consumption over the old car. To be fair, the Mazda3 it replaces was one of the thirstiest small cars on the market, but it has jumped to being one of the best.
Mazda will offer two petrol engines in the new 3: a 2.5-litre unit and the 2.0-litre version we drove. There will also be a 2.0-litre turbo diesel which, for the first time, will be available in the 3 with an automatic transmission. Given the fuel economy of the petrol, we can't wait to see what sort of figures the diesel will produce.
Our test car was fitted with six-speed conventional automatic transmission, Mazda again ignoring the voguish double-clutch gearboxes that work brilliantly once you're moving, but can hesitate in traffic.
Part of its Skyactiv technology, however, is a function that keeps the torque converter partially locked up even during gearshifts, so it feels taut and positive in its action.
The engine itself is much quieter and smoother than previous-generation Mazda petrol engines and, although it spins freely, it does get a tiny bit strained as you approach the 6000rpm red line.
It's not as punchy or playful as a good turbo motor, either, but it certainly does everything it needs to or would be expected of it, and that potential fuel economy just can't be underestimated.
The big bogey of previous Mazda3s was their interior noise, but here, Mazda has found a fix. There's very little wind noise, almost no suspension noise and only some tyre roar on coarse surfaces to upset the serenity of the interior.
The move to electrically assisted power steering has also resulted in a change in the preciseness. Although it feels more composed at speed, it has lost a little of its tactility through the wheel and perhaps a small measure of its eagerness to turn in.
The payoff is a much more grown-up ride at the cost of a little body roll, but the suspension settings, in particular, seem beautifully considered.
That cars like the Holden Calais of the last decade are a size bigger than they've ever been suggests that the trend had to stop somewhere. With the Mazda's all-round abilities and the fact that it has a spacious, well-presented interior, there's little reason to think this latest one won't continue its broad-ranging appeal.
Vital statistics
Price $20,490-$38,190, plus on-road and dealer costs
Mazda3 Neo $20,490 (man) $22,490 (auto)
Mazda3 Maxx $22,990 (man) $24,990 (auto)
Mazda3 Touring $25,490 (man) $27,490 (auto)
Mazda3 SP25 $25,890 (man) $27,890 (auto)
Mazda3 SP25 GT $30,590 (man) $32,590 (auto)
Mazda3 SP25 Astina $36,190 (man) $38,190 (auto)
Engine 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol (SP25, SP25 GT and SP25 Astina models)
Transmission 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
Power 138kW at 5700rpm
Torque 250Nm at 3250rpm
Claimed average fuel use 6.5L/100km (manual sedan and hatch), 6.0L/100km (auto sedan), 6.1L/100km (auto hatch)
Engine 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol (SP25, SP25 GT and SP25 Astina models)
Transmission 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
Power 138kW at 5700rpm
Torque 250Nm at 3250rpm
Claimed 6.5L/100km (manual sedan and hatch), 6.0L/100km (auto sedan), 6.1L/100km (auto hatch)
Astina returns as Mazda3 flagship
Proof that Mazda has big plans for the Mazda3 Down Under can be seen in the sheer variety of permutations that will be offered, including the return of the Astina nameplate that was once reserved for hatchbacks, but is now being applied to a flagship model that will sell from $38,190, plus on-road and dealer costs.
It's a big ask for a small car, especially considering the starting price for the entry-level Mazda3 Neo is $20,490.
As well as the two body styles (sedan and hatch), there are three engine choices: a 2.0-litre petrol with 114kW and 200Nm, a 2.5 petrol with 138kW and 250Nm and the turbo diesel to come later.
A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic (for an extra $2000) are the transmission choices.
The 2.0-litre engine range starts with the base-model Neo, which misses out on alloy wheels, and then moves to the Maxx and the Touring as the top-shelf 2.0-litre car.
The 2.5-litre engine will be fitted to the SP25 and the sportier SP25 GT, while the top-rung 2.5-litre version will again wear the Astina badge, first used by Mazda in the 1990s.
All 2.5-litre cars will have smart key entry and the 2.0-litre Touring, SP25 GT and Astina will have leather seats, heated in the latter pair.
Mazda has gone to town specifying the Astina, which will have as standard a sunroof and all the safety gear, such as blind-spot warning, forward obstruction warning (optional on all other models), lane-departure warning and radar cruise control. The head-up display will be available only on the SP25 GT and Astina.
However, all the variants will have airconditioning and cruise control, and only the base-model 2.0-litre will miss out on the seven-inch colour screen, satellite navigation, shift paddles and a reversing camera.
Mazda is tipping a 50-50 split between sedan and hatch and expects the Neo to make up about 55 per cent of sales, which could be as high as 4000 cars a month.


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Crosley electronics make a big hit in Las Vegas.
Expand Messages
- Neither Barbra Streisand nor Liza Minelli made an appearance at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Los Angeles, but Crosley Radio, itself iconic and which brought radio to the masses, was very much alive and kicking at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Founded by Powel Crosley ("The Henry Ford of Radio") in 1920, Crosley Radio grew into one of the most successful electronics manufacturers of the early 20th century. The Crosley inexpensive tuners, once a staple in American homes (including yours truly), have become highly- collectible classics sought after by collectors and Crosley fans worldwide, and they define the "retro" aesthetic we think of when we imagine a Crosley radio.
The original Crosley brand died in 1956. Fast forward to 1989, when a savvy group of investors perceived the Crosley name's value and began to develop a striking line of modern audio equipment, radios to jukeboxes which wrap Crosley's traditional good looks around the latest technology. Wood cabinets and thick fabric grilles are paired with old-fashioned knobs and dials, all fully functional in tandem with integrated iPod docks and hidden CD players. The look may be 1940, but sound quality is very 2013.
We all love to see elements of Americana evolve like this, even if there's little connection to their origins besides a name and logo and design sensibility. Sure it's contrived, but hey, if Hollywood can reinvent itself over the years, why shouldn't Crosley, the brand that brought entertainment and transportation to the masses, do the same?
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How Humans Handle the Hendra Virus Risk
- Jun 9, 2013
- Topics:
A three-year study investigating the impact of human behavior on the spread of the hendra virus was discussed at the Australian Veterinary Association's conference May 29.
Dr. Kate Sawford said that the goal of the so-called "HHALTER project" is to look at how humans respond to the threat of hendra virus, and what can be done to reduce the chance of transmission from flying foxes to horses and then to humans.
"A large number of horse owners are being asked to complete five surveys conducted at six-month intervals," she said. "The surveys investigate the factors influencing people's awareness about the risks from hendra virus and their use of prevention strategies.
"Although government agencies have been communicating about hendra virus for a number of years, more needs to be done, she continued. "The combination of a high human death rate, no cure, and no human vaccine means that hendra virus is a frightening disease. An outbreak of hendra virus on a property cannot only impact people's health, but also be financially, professionally, emotionally, and psychologically damaging.
"Research has shown that when there's a severe threat, there will be greater awareness and prevention measures taken by some people," Sawford relayed. "But a high level of risk may equally result in denial, fatalism, and avoidance behaviors in others, especially if the threat and related fear is accompanied by a feeling of helplessness or lack of control."
The first stage of the research project involved collaborating with a range of individuals and organizations that have a stake in the hendra virus challenge to refine the aims of the research study.
The first survey with horse owners and horse care providers has now been completed. This survey addressed a number of topics including:
- Awareness of the hendra virus risk;
- Perception of the hendra virus risk in relation to other diseases;
- Attitudes toward hendra virus vaccination, and intentions to vaccinate for hendra virus;
- Strategies to reduce hendra virus transmission;
- Barriers to reporting of suspect cases; and
- Knowledge of hendra virus, including clinical signs and environmental conditions that could impact disease transmission.
Another four surveys with horse owners and horse care providers will be conducted over the next two years. The results will be used to inform hendra virus communication strategies to reduce the risk of disease transmission between flying foxes and horses, and horses and humans.
To participate in the research project or find out more information please visit www.uws.edu.au/hhalter or email email@example.com.
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