text:
Cishek congratulates, apologizes to Fernandez
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
MIAMI -- For the way Jose Fernandez pitched in his big league debut on Sunday at New York, Steve Cishek offered a heart-felt congratulations shortly after the game.
The Marlins closer also used the time to apologize for blowing the save, as the Mets rallied to a 4-3 win with two runs in the ninth inning.
Fernandez, who gave up one run in five innings, was in line for the win. Instead, the 20-year-old rookie received a no-decision.
"I walked over to him and congratulated him," Cishek said on Monday. "I apologized for blowing it for him. I just said, 'Congratulations, that was awesome. I'm very proud of you.' He pitched great. If he fills up the strike zone like that, he's going to have a very bright future. There's going to be more opportunities for him to get a win."
As for his own performance, Cishek said he didn't have a feel for his slider, which ended up hurting him in the ninth. The pitch that he felt turned everything around was grazing Ruben Tejada's jersey with one out and a 1-2 count.
The Mets seized the opening and won it on Marlon Byrd's two-run single.
"I felt good, but my slider was garbage," Cishek said. "Usually, my slider is my good pitch. If I fall behind, I can flip it over for a strike. I like to put away lefties with it. I didn't have a feel for it out there. One pitch, I thought that killed me, was hitting Tejada."
Could Fernandez create D-Train-type stir in Miami?
MIAMI -- Mania has a way of happening. It isn't manufactured.
The Marlins experienced it in 2003 when Dontrelle Willis, then a little known left-hander with a herky-jerky delivery, gave birth to D-Train mania.
Willis became an immediate rage in a season he won National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Could Jose Fernandez mania be next in Miami?
If the 20-year-old's MLB debut on Sunday was an indication, Fernandez has the makings of a rising star. The right-hander struck out eight and allowed one run in five innings against the Mets at Citi Field.
"Will the fans embrace it?" Marlins president David Samson said. "We didn't know the fans would embrace Dontrelle like they did. You never know when it's going to happen. It's hard to plan it."
Fernandez is an inspiring story. A Cuban defector who was Miami's first-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, he has made the leap from Class A ball to the big leagues.
Mike Redmond was the Marlins' backup catcher in '03 when Willis inspired the team. The new Miami manager believes Fernandez can give the '13 Marlins a similar impact to what Willis did a decade ago.
"His stuff is so good," the first-year skipper said. "His stuff is so polished as a pitcher. He is throwing the 94-95 mph fastball, and it's amazing how good his secondary pitches are. He threw some nasty changeups and some great curveballs as well.
"We've definitely got a couple of guys banged up. We need guys to go out there and step up. A lot of times you don't say, 'Hey, it's going to be a 20-year-old rookie to be the guy.' But, it could be."
The Marlins are closely monitoring Fernandez, limiting him to between 150-170 innings. That's why his afternoon was done after 80 pitches at New York in his debut.
With Fernandez, the team is taking it easy. They are easing him in to what promises to be big-time success.
The righty's next start is set for Saturday night against the Phillies.
"We're not doing a Jose Fernandez section in the ballpark, or a Jose Fernandez bobblehead," Samson said. "If he starts 12-0 with a 1.25 [ERA] like Dontrelle, or whatever he did, then those things are going to happen."
Resting Eovaldi close to throwing again
MIAMI -- Chances of Nathan Eovaldi returning to the big league games in April may be slim, but the right-hander should be resuming his throwing program soon.
Initially listed as the Marlins' No. 2 starter, Eovaldi was placed on the 15-day disabled list on March 31, retroactive to March 24, with right shoulder inflammation.
The right-hander has been doing his rehab at the team's Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla. On Monday, he was at Marlins Park for the team's home opener against the Braves.
Technically, Eovaldi has biceps tendinitis, at the point where the biceps reaches up to the front of his right shoulder. Right now, he continues to rest, but it could be a matter of days before he is back throwing.
A recent MRI exam came back clean, showing inflammation but no structural damage.
"They say if you give it time and let it go away, it shouldn't come back," Eovaldi said. "It wasn't anything that I was pitching through, it was a little tightness."
Eovaldi said he experienced some tightness during his six-inning Spring Training start against the Cardinals on March 23.
"I didn't think anything of it," he said. "The next day it was still tight. I thought maybe it was still soreness."
He did some light throwing a day or two after that start before he was shut down.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Horse owners and veterinarians can already garner substantial information from a horse's poop—ranging from whether he's dehydrated to if he needs his teeth floated. But one researcher says veterinarians can get even more diagnostic cues from manure and even detect potentially serious ailments using a tool that alerts the user to the presence of blood in the feces.
At the 2014 Italian Society for Equine Veterinarians International Congress, held in Milan, Italy, in February, Derek Knottenbelt, OBE, BVM &S, DVM, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, delivered two presentations: one focused on diagnosing intestinal disease in horses and the other on gastrointestinal neoplasia (tumors). During those lectures, he introduced attendees to his and his colleagues' experience using a commercially available fecal blood test (made by SUCCEED). He later caught up with The Horse to discuss what he learned.
Knottenbelt, a professor of equine medicine at the University of Liverpool, England, and large animal clinical sciences and public health at the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, said the stall-side test quickly and simply identifies the presence of blood in a fresh pile of horse feces.
"But I think, much more importantly, it does indicate to us that there are issues that we, so far, do not diagnose clinically; this mostly involves the area of the gut that we can't get at by any other satisfactory means," he explained.
This, he said, could open diagnostic doors the way other veterinary developments have in the past.
"I remember when the first endoscopes came out; they were rigid and we suddenly found that we could diagnose things inside the pharynx (throat)," Knottenbelt recalled. "And then we found the flexible endoscope, and that meant we could diagnose the guttural pouches and the airways of the horse. Then, we got the long, flexible, video endoscope, which has enabled us to examine the stomach. And now, suddenly, we find that gastric ulcers are a big issue.
"But the fact of the matter is, (after the stomach) the horse has got 65 feet of small intestine, plus about 20 feet of large intestine, plus another eight feet of small colon that we can't get at by any means at the moment," due to the organs' location deep within the horse's body, he continued. "So this test, I believe, has considerable potential in trying to confirm the existence of some pathology somewhere in the gut," something that has been difficult to confirm except during surgery or at necropsy.
"There are some tests available, ultrasound and laparoscopy for example, that are very good for examining limited areas of the gut," including those close to the skin's surface and those reachable via rectal examination, he said. "But they're all limited by what you can see and what you can feel."
The stall-side assay Knottenbelt describes confirms or denies the presence of hemoglobin and albumin in a horse's manure, which "could point to a variety of conditions in the hindgut that veterinarians currently have a hard time testing for or diagnosing" in the live horse for the reasons described, he continued. These include right dorsal colitis (a condition to which his wife's horse succumbed a decade ago because a diagnosis couldn't be reached); fungal, parasitic, or bacterial infections; duodenal and colonic ulcers; eosinophilic enteritis; and intestinal tumors, among other ailments.
However, Knottenbelt cautioned, a positive test doesn't point directly to a hindgut issue; blood in the feces can come from nearly anywhere in the horse's body, from blood swallowed due to a loose tooth or a mild episode of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage to a bleeding mouth or gastric ulcer. Ultimately, he said, it's up to the attending veterinarian to continue the examination and find the blood's source should a horse produce a positive test.
Knottenbelt said he's currently involved in studies aimed at better pinpointing what the test's results could tell veterinarians.
"It's very early yet … but we are doing some interesting things, and we're finding out a little more about how the test varies and how it can be made more specific," he said. "We're doing a postmortem study—testing the horses before they go for necropsy and then seeing what they've got, and then trying to correlate the two things. I think there will be some very interesting outcomes coming from this particular part of the research we're doing."
Ultimately, Knottenbelt believes the test's simplicity is one of its biggest advantages: "It should not be criticized for its simplicity," he relayed. "It should be used because it is elegantly simple, and therefore it should enable the clinician to say, 'Hang on. There's something else going on here, and we have to find what it is.' I think that's where the test is at its best at the moment."
About the Author
Erica Larson, News Editor
Erica Larson, news editor, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.
Related Content
Veterinary Ethics (AAEP Convention 2012)
'Learning Theory' to Improve Veterinarian Safety
Study Evaluates Unintentional Weight Loss in Horses
Laminitis Research Project Inclusion Criteria Expanded
Researchers Evaluate Horses as Model of Human Depression
Researchers Seeking Horse Owner Help in Laminitis Study
Study Evaluates Injectable Treatment for Tendon Injuries
Effects of Food Deprivation on Horses' Cardiac Function
'Pinch Grafting' for Equine Lower Limb Wounds (AAEP 2011)
Alternative Treatment for "Roaring" in Horses (AAEP 2011)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I drank Moet with Medusa, give her shotguns in hell
From the spliff that I lift and inhale, it ain't hard to tell!!!
Goal-Oriented, Positive, God-fearing, and hard working woman. Hip-Hop fan since 83'. Nas fan since "Illmatic".
Hello Everyone, I am very excited about joining Nas' new website and look forward to meeting some you. Much Love and Peace. Kisha


text:
To allow us to present you with a list of approved childcarers suited to your family,
please tell us the age of your youngest child (so that we can include only those
childcarers with relevant experience).
If you have a date and time in mind for a babysitting booking, please enter the
details here, so that we can check the availability of babysitters local to you.
Sorry! If your return time is later than 03:00 you will need an Overnight Booking
Minimum booking is 2 hours
If you don't have a specific date in mind, that's fine - just leave this section
To view a list of Sitters approved childcarers suited to your family please tell us your name and email address below.
You'll receive background information about their experience and candid reviews from other Sitters parents who have met them.
We respect your privacy and promise never to pass your details on to anyone else.
Click the button below to view childcarers we recommend for your family.
Any details regarding childcare you arrange will be confirmed by email.
Since 1967 we've been providing experienced, referenced babysitters to parents at home, in hotels and on holiday – across the UK.
You can make a booking online – even with just a couple of hours' notice (for last minute nights out!). Just tell us where and when you need childcare and we'll take care of the rest
We're proud to be Britain's favourite babysitters - 99% of parents using Sitters rate us as 'Excellent' or 'Good'
I really liked Linda. From the minute she came into my home her focus was on making sure my daughter was settled and ok. She made an immediate positive impact so much so I was able to head almost straight out the door (after showing Linda where the coffee was!) She texted me in the middle of the evening to let me know my daughter had gone to sleep and everything was ok, which was very reassuring. A lovely lady and my daughter has already asked when she's coming back to sit for her! Recommended.
Marianna was wonderful - so quiet and calm - I felt completely happy leaving my 4 year old with her. As it was, my son didn't stir, but he met Marianna before going to sleep and felt comfortable enough to answer her questions - a very good sign, and quite unusual. Marianna arrived early; presented her ID unprompted (very professional, I thought); and sent text updates to let us know that all was well. I would be very happy indeed for Marianna to sit for us again.
This was the first time we had left our children (age 3) before bedtime and so we were a little nervous. But Jackie did us proud! She sat with them through tea then got them ready for bed and even brought a book with her to read them at bedtime. She was confident, calm and friendly and as a result the boys were happy and settled. We would wholeheartedly recommend Jackie as a babysitter and we hope to meet her again soon!


text:
SEATTLE, July 22 (UPI) -- A 13-year-old Seattle boy returned home for the first time since he moved to Tibet to study Buddhism seven years ago.
Asanga Rinpoche Sakya, a royal Tibetan Buddhist leader, left his family in 2005 to study at a Sakya Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu, The Seattle Times reported.
Sakya Buddhism differs from the religion's other sects in that its teachings and instructions are passed down through blood lineage, which requires a male heir to keep it going. Two of Asanga's male cousins are also studying Buddhism in Tibet.
"I wanted to know about Tibet, study the scripture and how to read and write," he said of his choice to leave his family.
In June, the 13-year-old returned to the United States for the first time since he moved to Tibet.
"I was wondering what it would be like, 'cause I couldn't remember that much about Seattle," Asanga said of his return.
In Tibet, Asanga's daily routine consists of mostly studying and praying, in preparation to give his own religious teachings and possibly one day lead the more than 100,000 Sakya Buddhists worldwide.
But at home in Seattle, he has been hanging out with his two younger sisters, Aloki, 11 and Mamaki, 6, and has a trip to California planned to visit with other family members and go to Disneyland.


text:
Via JacksonRathboneSource
- Lorabell
Some Jackson is one's life is always good!!!ReplyDelete
The man with a 1,000 looks and always lookin goooodddd!!ReplyDelete
Just more proof that whoever's in charge of the wigs for the Twilight Saga should be fired! Jackson is gorgeous and they make him look like a poodle.ReplyDelete
OMG!!!! He's soooooo handsome!!! Those eyes are hypnotizing! He really is so cute and I agree they make him look so ugly in the movies!ReplyDelete
yes he is very handsome now go vote for rob at hello magazine because he is loosing and it's pitty to loose over this guy. wake up and vote pleaseReplyDelete
does anyone else have the problem that the big picture doesn't load?? :(
Hales Yeah, he is so hot ^.^
I agree, they need to stop with whatever they're doing to his hair in the Twilight Sagas >.>
HALE! lol totally agree 17foreverlisa, totally agree....ReplyDelete


text:
All your curry needs can be satisfied at Garden Patch Indian Market, where a sweeping selection of Indian spices, curry meat and curry paste lines the shelves.
The frozen section also includes favorite foods samosas, okra and paratha, or flatbread.
Mitsuwa is packed with Japanese produce, fish and all those cutely packaged confectionaries you've been searching for, including Hello Kitty candies, a medley of mochi and even matcha green tea Kit Kat bars when they're in season.
Got rice? Mitsuwa has you covered – with several brands of rice cookers, too. In the fish and meat sections, shoppers can also pick up fresh sushi and thinly sliced shabu shabu meat, while the food court features popular ramen house Santouka.
Shoppers should come for the Thursday through Sunday sales, and rice is at its lowest price on Wednesdays.
Mitsuwa's recipe: Wasabi-flavored beef rice ball
Similar to sandwiches, rice balls are an easy snack when you're on the go. Though typically triangle-shaped, the seaweed-wrapped treat can be made into any shape or size with whatever fillings in your fridge.
3 cups of white rice
6 ounces of Ajinomoto Gyudon no Moto (microwavable frozen cooked beef bowl mix)
Nickel-sized dab of wasabi
Roasted seaweed sheets for onigri rice balls
1/4 tablespoon of sea salt
Plastic wrap
1. Cook rice.
2. Microwave the beef bowl mix according to package directions.
3. Transfer cooked rice into a large mixing bowl.
4. Mix in sea salt and wasabi. If you want more of a kick, add more wasabi. For more flavor, you can also add rice seasoning, which may contain seaweed, sesame seeds and fish flakes depending on the variety.
5. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on table, and then put one scoop of rice on the wrap.
6. Mold a small hole in the middle of the rice and place some beef bowl mix inside. You can use any filling you want – fish, egg, vegetables.
7. Wrap the rice into a ball using the plastic wrap as a cover, and then mold into a rough triangle shape.
8. Discard the plastic wrap, and then fold the roasted seaweed around the rice ball according to package directions. Do not take off the plastic on the roasted seaweed before wrapping.
If you're trying to stay healthy, you've come to the right place.
The rows at Mother's Market & Kitchen are packed with local, organic, non-genetically modified, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, low carb, low-fat, low-sodium foods – anything you need to stick to a specific diet plan.
Located in the business district, the market also features a full-service restaurant to keep those worker bees energized during lunch hours.
Persian and Iranian foods are in stock at Super Irvine Market, which includes a full butchery of halal meat.
Patrons can also pick up a selection of spices, oils, paper-thin sheets of phyllo dough and saffron-flavored ice creams.
A bakery in the back also offers sangak, or traditional Persian bread that's chewy with a slight sesame taste.
Recipe: Smooth hummus
This simple recipe uses canned rather than dried chickpeas, making the preparation process for this popular Middle Easten dip much faster. You'll also need a mesh strainer or colander, food processor, silicone spatula, measuring cups and spoons.
One 15-ounce can of chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, about 1 large lemon
1/4 cup tahini, a creamy paste made from sesame seeds
Half of a large garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 to 3 tablespoons water
Dash of ground paprika for serving
Preparing the Hummus
1. Mix tahini and lemon juice in a food processor for one minute. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl, then process for 30 seconds. This extra time helps "whip" or "cream" the tahini.
2. Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin and salt to the mixture and process for 30 seconds. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl, and process for another 30 seconds.
3. Drain the liquid from the can of chickpeas and rinse well with water. Add half of the chickpeas to the mixture and process for one minute. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl, add remaining chickpeas and process for one to two minutes or until thick and smooth.
4. The hummus will most likely be too thick or still have tiny bits of chickpea. With the food processor turned on, slowly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until the consistency is perfect.
5. Scrape the hummus into a bowl, then drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the top and sprinkle with paprika.
6. Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one week
This international specialty market features ingredients and cuisines from Europe, the Middle East, Russia, South Africa, India, Mexico, Southeast Asia and Japan.
Wholesome Choice also features a dessert bakery, deli and cheese section, but Yelp reviewers particularly rave about the food court, where you can pick up sangak flatbread, pineapple curry or kebabs all in one place.
This Korean supermarket has all the staples of Asian grocers, including rice, candies, instant noodles and frozen dumplings. A few items that you can only find here: seaweed from Boryeong, South Korea, as well as snacks and drinks from E-Mart, the largest retailer in South Korea.
The deli section features a multitude of banchan offerings, or the small dishes of food served alongside cooked rice at Korean restaurants and buffets.
The crowds come for weekly sales that start on Friday and produce sales on the weekends.
Recipe: Bulgogi
The grilled, marinated beef dish is a sweet favorite at Korean barbecue restaurants, where most patrons cook it themselves already.
1-1.5 pounds of thinly sliced rib-eye steak
1/2 cup of Sempio soy sauce
3 tablespoons of white sugar
1 tablespoon of Kadoya sesame oil or Ottogi sesame seed oil
3 cloves of minced garlic
1/4 of a medium yellow onion, halved and sliced into medium moon shaped slivers
2 green onions including the white parts, finely sliced into small pieces
2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon of Wang red pepper flakes
2 pinches of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of finely minced ginger (optional)
1. Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl except the beef and onions. Mix until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Add beef and onion slices and rub the marinade thoroughly into the beef. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for about one to two hours.
3. Pan fry the marinated beef in an oiled frying pan until the meat is cooked. Cook until desired preference.
4. Enjoy with a bowl of rice.
Compiled by Lauren Jow, Orange County Register
It's not always a creamy pasta or chicken dinner kind of night.
Maybe you're craving culinary treasures from around the world – curries or kebabs, sushi or kimchi. Or maybe you're on a new diet that cuts out all the fun stuff – sodium, sugar, carbs, dairy.
For your gustatory gusto, we rounded up some of Irvine's specialty supermarkets that cater to hungry residents hankering for a dash of something extra.
When you're looking to mix it up, where do you go? Send your grocery tips to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Anyone been following The Bridge on FX? Is it worth getting into?
Anyone been following The Bridge on FX? Is it worth getting into?
I dont know why I continue to do it, but yet again I watched the newest episode of under the dome. Even if I didnt read the book, I dont see how this show is likable. The acting has got to be some of the worst ive ever seen. The lines are so damn cheesy. The whole dad of norrie thing was just dumb. They had to make a stupid sob story and then not to mention the whole how would he even know she was there in the first place? And after IDK 15 years just out of no where wants to see her. That whole thing was not thought out very well at all. Then linda telling rusty his brother died. god that was a horrible scene.
Stephen king is one of the best authors of all time and I love him and his work for everything he has done, but I have no idea how he gave the green light on this.
Gunner44 (07-25-2013)
Last edited by cinredsfan2000; 07-26-2013 at 07:51 PM.
Arise and walk, come through. A world beyond that door is calling out for you. Arise and walk, come through. It's calling out for you.
I'm DVRing Morgan Spurlock's Inside Man on CNN tonight, because he's going to focus on a woman I'd known for about forty years--his grandmother. Back in the seventies, Dad rented a store from his grandfather, Froud. Morgan's aunt was my high school speech teacher/coach, and his uncle dated my oldest sister for a little while. His great grandfather was a deacon where I grew up going to church.
Morgan's father had moved away (to Beckley) before I knew his family, so I didn't know him, but I've known one member of his family or the other all of my life, and tonight he's reporting from home.
Last edited by marcshoe; 07-28-2013 at 11:01 PM.
"What would your feelings be, seriously, if your cat or your dog began to talk to you, and to dispute with you in human accents? You would be overwhelmed with horror. I am sure of it. And if the roses in your garden sang a weird song, you would go mad." --Arthur Machen
Started watching The Fall on Netflix. It's a British serial killer show. Two episodes in (there are only 5) and it's really good so far.
Orange is the New Black.
Fantastic show so far. Only a few episodes left.
2017 Reds record when I'm attending: 16-14 FINAL2017 Dragons record when I'm attending: 1-0 FINAL
"We want to be the band to dance to when the bomb drops." - Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.


text:
Agreed. I love the parity. This is what makes football (NFL) a great sport. I would hate to live in a city that never has any hope to make the playoffs.
Look around the league, outside of the Texans and Ravens, there isn't an AFC team with a record better than 3-3.
Yes it's early, yes there's a long way to go. But the sky isn't falling. All this frustration and perceived mediocrity, every team goes through that in some sort of way.
We could be in first place this time next week, we might not be. But all isn't over, and the possibilities are endless.
Stop complaining and let's have fun.
Agreed. I love the parity. This is what makes football (NFL) a great sport. I would hate to live in a city that never has any hope to make the playoffs.
AFC is pretty horrible this season. Jets can stay in the wildcard race all year as long as they hover around .500
Bah. Jets are in 1st place. Percentage Points are crap, IMO.
DIVISION WINS are what matter and the Jets have more than New England(at the moment).....
If the playoffs started today, the Jets would win the division and host the pats in the first round.
i suspect this may be the high point of the season...
Although many posters here felt that the Miami win was a low point (due to the nature of the win / overall performance), I think it could be huge come season's end. Away wins are tough to get at the best of times, away wins against a division foe are even harder.
And how come after so many years of suckitude, the NFC West suddenly gets hot the year we play them?
While I agree that right now it looks good, I said it after the game and I will say it again.
I just feel like this win was one of the worst thing that could have happened to the Jets this season as far as playoff chances go. The amount of false confidence after this win over the Colts has saved Sanchez's job and built over confidence in the fan base that will mask this team's very obvious problems for at least another 3 weeks.
By then it will be past the trade line and too late to do anything about it. Green's running yesterday was a total aberration and I'm willing to stick by that until the Jets can do it against a decent defense.
Not too late to trade for a good running back, but the fan base has been placated by this win enough, that I feel no pressure will be placed on the front office to do anything about this season before the trade line.
FWIW, Ravens D may be in trouble coming up. Schefter reporting Ray Lewis may be out for the year, Ngata with a knee injury (MCL), Ladarius Webb out as well. That D hasn't been it's normal self as is, so this injury bug might slow that team down a bit. Maybe other teams try to exploit similar deficiencies found by the Packers. This was a big week of fail for the AFC leaders, maybe even more parity coming.
I read this morning that if the playoffs started today the Jets would be the 5th seed.
Whichfan sucks as a fan, an Im sure that sucka s mentaility extends to other areas of his life.
So - the only 'expected' AFC teams on the outs at the moment would be the Bengals, Steelers and Denver - Miami if you really want to count them. So, basically 10 teams with a realistic view to 6 spots. The Jets could easily have the tie-breaker over both the Bills and Dolphins.
Its premature to think about playoffs, but the Jets currently rank no worse than 8th in the AFC playoff picture. That SD home game is shaping up as an important one.


text:
First 'Successful' Australian Cirrus Chute Pull Ends Well
Australia recorded its first "successful" Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) Nov. 21, according to the Australian Transportation Safety Board, and pilot John Nixon's cellphone self-portraiture told the story pretty well. After the engine on the SR22 G3 he and a friend were flying lost oil pressure and seized near Gilgandra, New South Wales, Nixon told the Daily Liberal that he first looked for an airstrip or country road to set down on but as he ran out of options he decided to pull the chute. "Adrenalin kicked in and I automatically did what was needed," Nixon, a private pilot with about 1,950 hours, told the newspaper. "We were on the ground less than a minute after the oil gauge indicated the problem." It was third time a Cirrus pilot has pulled the chute in Australia but the other incidents didn't work out so well.
In February of 2009 the chute on a Cirrus failed to extract and the pilot made a forced landing instead with minor injuries to the pilot and passenger. In December of 2009 a pilot was seriously injured in a low-level (441-foot) deployment of the chute. However, things went more or less according to plan in last Wednesday's incident. The aircraft settled hard enough to collapse the gear and Nixon got a black eye by kneeing himself in the impact. He said he and his passenger got out of the plane immediately in case it caught fire but soon went back to retrieve his cellphone. He called air traffic control to let them know about the situation and then snapped a few pictures of the scene. Nixon's was the 39th recorded deployment of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). Number 38 happened Nov. 16 near Holbrook, Ariz. An oil pressure issue also preceded that event. The aircraft ended up on its back and the pilot and lone occupant suffered minor injuries.


text:
Support Your Local Hamfest
32 comments post a comment
This past weekend I visited the Huntsville Hamfest and had a wonderful time, not the least that I picked up all sorts of weird and wonderful things to play with.
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from my chum, Rick Curl, asking if I was planning on going to the Huntsville Hamfest. In case you are unfamiliar with this term, a Hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts. It often involves a combination of a tradeshow, a flea market, and a variety of activities of interest to amateur radio operators, a.k.a. "hams."
I responded that I hadnt planned on it for a number of reasons, the main one being that I didnt even know that there was a hamfest planned. Of course, there was also the fact that I dont have a great deal of interest in amateur radio. Rick replied that the Huntsville Hamfest was a lot of fun and that it involved a lot of general electronics "stuff" in addition to the radio side of things.
Based on what Rick told me, I decided to go down, and I'm so glad I did because I had a blast. I got there early and was one of the first in (I don't like to miss anything). The picture below was taken just a few minutes after the show opened -- at that time there were really long lines of people still queuing up outside waiting to buy tickets:
About 30 minutes after the above picture was taken, the show was absolutely jam-packed. As Rick had promised, although many booths were focused on radios, there was much more on offer. One vendor, for example, focused on vacuum tubes. As you can see in the photograph below, this guy's table was laden with boxes of old tubes:
Now, one of my ongoing hobby projects is to build a "Man vs. Woman Display-O-Meter" (dont ask). As part of this, I've been slowly accumulating old analog meters. I've picked up a couple from eBay, and a few from my local electronics recycling facility, but generally speaking they are horrendously expensive and few and far between. So you can only imagine the squeal of delight that ensued when my gaze fell upon the scene shown below:
Can you see the sign saying "All Meters $2.00 each"? Suffice it to say that my heart was pounding and I could hear a ringing sound in my ears. It was around this time that I began to curse myself for not bringing a backpack. I quickly purchased a substantial number of these little scamps, which are now sitting proudly on the bookshelves in my office.
The bottom line is that you couldnt hope to meet a nicer (or stranger) bunch of people. Also, you get to root around through mountains of modern and antique electronic parts and products. What more could one ask from a Saturday morning? I've already marked my calendar for the 2014 Huntsville Hamfest, and I'll be keeping my ears open for any similar events occurring in my area.
How about you: Have you ever attended one of these happenings in your own locale? Are there any shows like this that you would recommend? If so, please share your thoughts and experiences with the rest of us.
Related posts:


text:
- Find an Item
- About Us
- About the Library
- Suggestion Box
- Board of Trustees
- Friends of the Library
- Library Policies
- Library Affiliations
- Library Financial Audit 2016
- Events
- Children
- Teens
- What's New
- Research
- Local History
"A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read." - Mark Twain
I've spent the last couple months working on one of the more difficult aspects of my job: weeding. Weeding (or "deaccessioning," to use the formal term) is the process of removing outdated, damaged, or significantly underused materials from the collection to make room for newer, more useful (and hopefully more appealing) titles. The first of couple categories are usually pretty easy to deal with-- no one's going to be checking out a title on exciting new computing careers from 1987, or a book that's been chewed on and smells like old gym socks. It's the last category where weeding gets painful for me, particularly in speculative fiction.
Sure, there are titles that are easier to weed than others-- those that never lived up to their hype, or had a brief spurt of popularity but no staying power. Some may be great reads (they wouldn't be in our collection if they weren't well-reviewed) but just aren't a good fit for us-- they don't appeal to our local reading community. My mantra when I'm weeding titles like these is "every book, its reader." They may not be fulfilling their potential on our shelves, but getting weeded won't be the end for these books. They'll go on our sale shelves, and hopefully find a good home with someone else to love them. (And if they don't... let me live with my illusions.)
There's a last category of dusty books, though, that really makes my librarianly heart sad: the unread classics. At the risk of sounding stodgy, these are the books that really deserve to be read at least once by all fans (or prospective fans) of the genre. True, these titles are at little risk for discard; they frequently wind up on assigned reading lists, or as the subject of major motion pictures. Future use aside, I also have to consider the impact of my weeding choices on the collection as a whole-- New City has a great selection of classic spec fic, and I want to maintain that strength. I'd no more toss out Stanislaw Lem than I'd toss, say, Charles Dickens. (Given personal preference I'd be more willing to toss Dickens.) Still, it always pains me to see a classic title come up on the chopping block.
I believe there's a reason these works are underread, and it has far more to do with people's preconceptions about them than it does with their readability. In his introduction to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Stephen King notes, "I think most of us have a slight inferiority complex about books." This is doubly true of any book branded a classic, particularly when it's been loaded down with literary awards. To a lot of us, the word "classic" smells of schoolwork and required reading; we expect something dense and dry. Who wants to slog through that in their time off? I suspect many people are even a bit intimidated by the label, fearing that whatever wears it will be beyond their comprehension. Classics are for people with degrees in literature, they might think. Maybe they could just catch the movie version sometime-- that'd be just as good, right? (Usually not-- and expecting book and movie versions to be the same is another oft-damaging preconception.) Other readers may be turned off by the age factor: how could a book written in 1886 possibly speak to people from 2011?
You might be surprised. The library's speculative fiction book group, "In Other Worlds," has been reading classic spec fic for our spring selections: Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and (this coming Wednesday) Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. None of them have been the trite "creature features" to which Hollywood has largely reduced them. Stevenson, for example, brings Jack the Ripper's London alive for the modern reader: he describes a city by turns genteel and menacing, with thick fogs that steal away familiar streets and turn them into a nebulous alien landscape overnight. He introduces us to a man with a sterling reputation in society who performs unspeakable acts when his conscience is freed by a mask of supposed anonymity. (Sound like any politicians you know?) Of course, the villain's true identity was no surprise to anyone in our group (or to any English-speaking 21st century audience, I imagine), but Stevenson still managed to grip us all with his compelling descriptions, the slow, winding suspense of his plot, and his unexpected glimmers of humor and courage.
If you're still hesitant to pick up a classic, bear in mind that most of speculative fiction's masterpieces didn't start out as capital-L "Literature"-- until recently, most critics tended to regard our genre as the dregs of literature. (Some still do, alas.) A lot of SF's classic works were published as serials or pulps, written on dime-store paper with an adventure-craving (but otherwise average) fan in mind as audience. Books like these didn't become classics because they impressed the critics. No, these are the books that fans read and re-read until the bindings fell apart, and new fans continue to do that with them today.
Classic books, like classic cars and classic clothes, are simply stories that never go out of fashion. They've stood the test of time, and endured. They're not about specific technologies, or social issues that can be confined to a specific era or place. Classics are about us, those questions and contradictions and moments of pain and beauty that make us human. They have something that appeals to every generation, to every class, race, and gender. (They're also the books that inspired many of our favorite modern authors.) As fabulist Italo Calvino put it, "A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say."
If you're looking for a really great read to kick off your summer, why not give one of those titles you "always meant to read" a try? Those worn covers often hide something wonderful. If you won't do it for yourself... think of the dusties. Do it for your librarian.
Here's a sampling of underread classic speculative fiction, just to get you started:
The Exorcist by Willam Peter Blatty (Horror Blatty)
The Ages of Chaos by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Fantasy Bradley)
Wild Seed by Octavia Butler (SF Butler)
Alone with the Horrors by Ramsey Campbell (Horror Campbell)
Nova by Samuel R. Delany (SF Delany)
Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick (SF Dick)
The Dragon and the George by Gordon R. Dickson (Fantasy Dickson)
The Between by Tananarive Due (Horror Due)
Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist (Horror Feist)
The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney (Horror Finney)
Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison (SF Harrison)
Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock (Fantasy Holdstock)
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson (Horror Short Stories Jackson)
It by Stephen King (Horror King)
Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury (SF Kingsbury)
Nine Hundred Grandmothers by R. A. Lafferty (SF Lafferty)
The Secret Books of Paradys by Tanith Lee (Horror Lee)
The Three of Swords by Fritz Leiber (Fantasy Leiber)
The Futurological Congress: From the Memoirs of Ijon Tichy by Stanislaw Lem (SF Lem)
Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos by H. P. Lovecraft (Horror Short Stories Lovecraft)
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (Fantasy Martin)
Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock (Fantasy Moorcock)
Black God's Kiss by C. L. Moore (Fantasy Moore)
The Solar Queen by Andre Norton (SF Norton)
Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin (SF Panshin)
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake (Fantasy Peake)
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe (Horror Poe)
The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (SF Pohl)
The Healer's War by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Fantasy Scarborough)
City by Clifford D. Simak (SF Simak)
Norstrilia by Cordwainer Smith (SF Smith)
Galveston by Sean Stewart (SF Stewart)
Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr. (SF Tiptree)
The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge (SF Vinge)
The First Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny (Fantasy Zelazny)


text:
By Amanda Wicks
The woman who accused Chris Brown of pointing a gun at her may have been working to set him up. Miss California Regional 2016, Baylee Curran, allegedly sent a text message to a friend vowing to get revenge on Brown for kicking her out of his house.
Related: Chris Brown Released on $250,000 Bail
Curran claimed Brown pulled out a weapon when he saw her getting to close to a diamond cross necklace he owns. "Chris came in, pulled out his gun and said, 'I'm getting so sick of you people,' pointed the gun at me, [and told me] to get the 'F' out of the house,'" she told US Weekly. After a 14 hour standoff with police, Brown was later arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and was eventually released on $250,000 bail.
Now his lawyer is working to verify the text message Curran allegedly sent to her friend Safari. It reads, "Hey safari don't you know this freak Chris brown is kicking me out of his house because I called his friend jewelry fake can you come get me my Uber is messing up if not I'm going to set him up and call the cops and say that he tried to shoot me and that will teach him a lesson I'm going to set his ass up. Lol come get me."
Safari texted her back, writing, "Really that's f— up you ain't going to do that your wrong if you do" (via TMZ).
As TMZ points out, the text message Curran allegedly sent Safari contains information he couldn't have possibly have known. Curran contacted another friend to pick her up when the Lyft she ordered drove off after not seeing her because she was hiding under her car at the time. Curran mentions that—"Uber is messing up"—but Safari wouldn't have known that to fabricate it. According to TMZ, though, Safari claimed Curran stole his Rolex last year and they haven't spoken since, which does make it strange that she reached out to him in that moment.
This story is developing.


text:
Thank you. That is a very accurate rephrasing of what I was trying to ask. I rose the question because I was looking at getting a three piece tailor-made in Japan for 50,000 yen (Kyoto Bespoke...for reference, their shirts start at 6,000 yen and are better than the store-bought shirt I got for the same price). That seemed like a pretty reasonable price for me. I'm guessing that what you said in your last paragraph is correct, and what you make up for in fit you'll lose in material quality and design.
On the other hand, I have also seen tailor-made suits in Ginza Tokyo at Wako for several thousand, so you can match Burberry with a tailor. Like you said, significantly more expensive due to economics of scale. I'm mostly concerned with fit, so I imagine I'll go for the local tailor when I have a little extra money laying around.
After 3 years with my trusty Clubmasters I've decided I want to change things up with some Persol 649s or 714s:
Just got to scrape together £200
Last edited by William Colman; 28-08-2012 at 10:47 AM.
Also want to develop my bold print shirt collection with this little number from Allsaints:
I've seen a few similar shirts from All Saints from their 2008/9 collection on eBay so keep an eye out. They're not very popular and sell quite cheap.


text:
I can't wait until Geno suits up and shuts all the BS up. I've never heard so much BS about a 2nd round pick.....he MUST be good
I can't wait until Geno suits up and shuts all the BS up. I've never heard so much BS about a 2nd round pick.....he MUST be good
Apologies if this was already posted, but this guy defends our boy wonderfully...
Gregg Doyle CBSSPORTS.com
In a perfect world, Geno Smith becomes a star. He wins the starting job for the New York Jets. He wins games, awards, maybe even the Lombardi Trophy some day.
Know who would lose, in that scenario?
His critics. The gutless ones in the NFL who have savaged Smith for weeks behind the veil of anonymity. The mean-spirited ones in the media who have savaged Smith because it's safe, because everyone else is doing it, so here's another story ripping him! The guy from the scouting service, a guy whose name you recognize in 2013 if only because he did the same thing to Cam Newton in 2011.
I want Geno Smith to be right, because I want all those people to be wrong. Bad guys shouldn't win, and if Geno Smith becomes a star, they won't.
Maybe, just maybe, Smith is a bad guy himself. Time will tell, but today is not that time. Today is a day to stop swallowing what is being pushed toward your throat and start thinking for yourself. Who is attacking Geno Smith, and why? And where is the "information" coming from?
How, in a matter of months, did Geno Smith devolve from a humble, smart, hard-working kid at West Virginia to the scourge of the 2013 draft -- a cocky, disinterested, future flop in the NFL?
It started with Nolan Nawrocki. Well, it did. He's the guy from that scouting service who ambushed Cam Newton before the 2011 draft as being "disingenuous" and having a "fake smile" and then getting to the actual football by writing that Newton "will not prove worthy of an early investment. An overhyped, high-risk, high-reward selection with a glaring bust factor."
Cam Newton was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011. He went to the Pro Bowl, threw for 4,051 yards, ran for 708 yards. And then he put up similar numbers in 2012.
Glaring bust, my ass.
Undeterred, Nawrocki went in on Geno Smith this year, predicting Smith would "be overdrafted and struggle to produce against NFL defensive complexities [because he] did not show an understanding of concepts on the white board [and is] not a student of the game."
Translation: Geno Smith is lazy and not very smart.
We don't know Nawrocki's sources, but we know the sources for these stories about Geno Smith from this past season at West Virginia, one in the Washington Post and another in the New York Times. According to these stories Geno Smith is academically gifted, so smart that teachers offered to let him skip a grade in elementary school. By high school Smith was reading to hospital patients and working with teammates to help clean streets in Miramar, Fla.
Bad kid, Geno Smith? He sounds damn near perfect. He played chess. Wrote poetry. Won an oratorical contest by reciting a poem by Langston Hughes. And West Virginia offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson told the Post that Smith studied more film than any quarterback he'd ever seen.
But that's not the real Geno Smith, we're supposed to believe. And again, maybe it's not. Maybe he changed before the draft. Maybe stardom got to him. I'm not telling you it didn't happen; I'm telling you, I don't believe it happened just because anonymous sources with their own, unknown motivations say it did. My theory on this stuff? If you're going to rip somebody, put your name on it or shut the hell up. Anything less than full disclosure forces us to fill in the gaps, and I fill them in like so:
I don't believe you.
After Smith fell out of the first round, ESPN reported that he was going home. It didn't quote Smith, just reported it. People believed it. Smith stayed, and said his plan was always to stay. People didn't believe that. Why? Because the water already had been polluted by Nawrocki, and further muddied by Smith's fall out of the first round, and now it was open season on Geno Smith.
Pro Football Talk piled on like an absolute champ with a story that dared Smith not to show up for Day 2 of the draft:
"If Smith doesn't return," the story waxed moronically, "he'll be confirming in the minds of many that he can't show grit and resolve under pressure. That he'll sink his head and slump his shoulders when the team is 14 points behind in the third quarter."
Lord have mercy.
Smith did return, but it was too late. Anonymous sources were everywhere, and Smith gave them fodder by firing his agents after his humiliating draft slide. The New York Daily News reported that he fired his agents because of his "belief that he would have -- and should have -- been the No. 1 overall pick ... even though he was given no assurances of his draft position."
... even though he was given no assurances of his draft position.
Who do you suppose leaked that?
Smith countered that he fired his agents because they gave him bad advice -- to skip the Senior Bowl. EJ Manuel went to the Senior Bowl and won MVP and was the only quarterback drafted in the first round. Geno Smith skipped it and slipped to Round 2, though he acknowledged that skipping the Senior Bowl "was a decision I ultimately made."
Mature response. No matter. The wolves were out. Yahoo reported that Smith spent too much time on the phone when he was visiting with teams before the draft. ESPN.com had a source who couldn't come up with anything specific to smear him with, just the overall sense that Smith "is coming off as a spoiled, pampered brat."
Again, for the final time, maybe he is. Maybe. But that's not who Geno Smith was in college. It's not who Geno Smith was in high school. It's not who he was before that, when he was ripping through school so easily, so earnestly, that he was given the option of skipping a grade.
But that's who Geno Smith is now? I don't believe it.
Be great, Geno Smith. For yourself.
And them.
Awesome news. I guess this mean Championship!!!


text: On Tue, 12 Sep 2000, Sahil Rewari wrote: > Hi, > Just wanted to know that in order to achieve 1 GFLOP what would the hardware requirements for a Linux cluster be? > I am about to begin on making my first cluster for research in mainly two fields which are parallel input / output systems and the further development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. > I stay in Mumbai (INDIA) and am finding it difficult to get likeminded people to work on these projects. Linux in general is used by very few people here. The inadequate availability of service and support professionals and training for Linux probably is the cause to this. My entire research work is done with the availability of resources on the Internet and through other people working on such projects. Are there any other people working on similar projects? Please do write to me at nesol at bol.net.in As Greg already said, this depends strongly on your application and the design of your cluster. One answer might be as few as two machines, for example (and you might be able to get there in one) if the bulk of your application (the core loop) is tiny and can run entirely in L1 cache on a (say) 800 or 900 MHz PIII CPU. On the other hand, if it is big and highly nonlocal in memory, it might be as many as 25 e.g. 500 MHz Celeron CPUs, and this is assuming that the application itself is embarrassingly parallel so the parallel design of the cluster is mostly irrelevant. If the application is coarse to medium grained and has some significant fraction of interprocessor communications (IPC's) during its execution, then it is probably that you cannot just add up the FLOPS of N cpus to get N*FLOPS performance. Indeed, you may well not be able to get to a GFLOP at all with any number of CPUs with certain beowulf designs. It sounds like you need to do a bit of reading on parallel program design and speedup scaling and then run some benchmarks on candidate systems to come up with a quantitative answer, if this really matters to you. On the other hand, if you are just interested in generating a big number (or a justifiable number:-) for a grant proposal, then by all means, just add up the MFLOPS for N nodes. This number will represent a kind of peak (for embarrassingly parallel or very coarse grained applications) but is the "best" number your cluster might achieve. To find some help in learning about parallel program design and scaling and all that, look for links under: http://www.phy.duke.edu/brahma where there are a number of papers and presentations that discuss speedup scaling and application profiling. To get a very nice set of microbenchmarking tools to run on a prospective node, check out lmbench at http://www.bitmover.com lmbench is used by (among many others) Linus Torvalds and the kernel development folks to tune and optimize the kernel; it is a well-designed and reliable package that I hope to talk about some at the ALSC next month. HTH, rgb > Any help / suggestions regarding the above will be highly appreciated. > Thanks in Advance, > > Regards, > Sahil Rewari > -- Robert G. Brown http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/ Duke University Dept. of Physics, Box 90305 Durham, N.C. 27708-0305 Phone: 1-919-660-2567 Fax: 919-660-2525 email:rgb at phy.duke.edu _______________________________________________ Beowulf mailing list Beowulf at beowulf.org http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf


text:
[RELATED: Ragan's biggest social media conference returns to the Walt Disney World Resort in April!]
Women have been underrepresented in history in almost all fields: science, school curricula, business, politics -- and, sadly, doodles -- despite incredible contributions both directly and behind the scenes. We've been working to fix the imbalance in our doodles.
This year we're hoping to have women and men equally represented. So far this year we've done doodles for as many women as men, a big shift from figures below 20 percent in past years.
We're asking Google to make improvements, but this project is bigger than Google Doodles. It's is about becoming visible in a society that erases our history and our existence; it's about acknowledging and celebrating our part in building this world. So we're asking Google to Doodle Us. Not the SPARK team specifically, but people like us: women, people of color, people with disabilities, queer people, trans people. We're asking Google to draw our histories, our achievements, our strength, our heroes, our fighters and foremothers. You can't keep ignoring us. We're here, and we've always been here.
Home | Social Media | Media Relations | Crisis | Marketing | Writing & Editing | Events | Training | Awards | Videos
Ragan.com | PRDaily.com | Ragan Consulting | HealthCareCommunication.com | HRCommunication.com
About Us | Contributors | Contact Us | FAQ | RSS | Store | Privacy Policy | Site Map


text:
Our Recommendations
Discover One-of-a-Kind Gifts
VOM FASS has elevated gift giving to an art form. We pride ourselves on our unique line of high quality oils, vinegars, and spirits, exquisitely bottled and packaged to your company's exacting needs. Please explore our brochure and once you discover that VOM FASS is the solution to your corporate gifting needs, contact us and request our Corporate Gift Ordering Guide to complete your transaction. Let VOM FASS make gifting easy.
Explore our Whiskey Brochure
Whether you are a novice or an expert when it comes to whiskey, you are sure to love this beautiful and informational brochure. We pulled together everything you'd ever need to know about whiskey. From best ways to enjoy this beloved spirit to key definitions to the origins and history, this brochure will have you appreciate the rich tradition behind whiskey and why we love this distillate so much. Indulge your curiosity here: Whiskey Brochure


text: It was soooo painfully obvious they don't want to sell plasma it was almost painful! ALL the plasmas I looked at, save for those that do not have a LCD equivalent, were set up so wrong, theyt looked like crap compared to even cheaper LCD's. I sell commercial plasmas, and commercial CLASS LCD so know what the margin is on both, the margin on plasma being about 1/3rd what it is on LCD. So I know what they are doing. PLUS they don't have to answer all the OLD ASS plasma problem questions everyone seems to remember from five years ago that have all now been addressed. AND they don't have to sell a competitive technology against one they make more money on. I asked the sales man for the remote for the Panasonic TC-P50ST30 so I could set it up right and he looked at me funny then got it. I set it up nice, and the guy with the other sales man walked away form the 55in LED TV he was looking at to look at this plasma...he saw the picture was far superior and started asking about the plasma....the sales guy that was trying to sell him on the 55in LED was pissed since the 55 was about 500 more than the 50in plasma....and the margin thing.... Well, I actually saw the sales guy who got me the remote reset it to their set up whilst I was up at the counter paying for a product! He intentionally set it up to look like shit!!!! And I saw him do it! After paying for my box I went and asked him about it, he said Store policy man. I walked out shaking my head hoping for a better day.


text:
Puppy: Cooper
Website: www.flickr.com/photos/tishajohnson
Profile: My boyfriend and I found Cooper's picture on Adopt-a-Pet's website and fell in love with him immediately. Straight away, we were off to the Petco adoption to meet him. He was from a litter of six puppies who were abandoned in the desert by the owners of their parents. His brothers and sisters all look like Australian Shepherds or Labrador Retrievers. Our little guy is a bit of both and German Shepherd as well ! He is super sweet and full of love and energy. He loves being around other animals, especially other dogs, and he loves people. He's incredibly smart and loyal and he has huge paws. Coop is gonna be a big dog, my friends. And he already has a million nicknames :) We love him very much.
Friends: 6
Member Since: February 14, 2011Add to Friends


text:
DRx Romanelli x Stussy Taipei Capsule Collection
International tastemaker Darren Romanelli—know to those "in the know" as DrX.—recently collaborated with streetwear clothing company Stussy to produce some vibrant pieces for the upcoming season.
Romanelli's capsule collection was developed over a few years, and features patterns Stussy has used dating back to the 80s. Looking at the patterns will genuinely make any self-proclaimed style addict's mouth water. The African/tribal-inspired prints pair amazingly with an array of materials, like a few meticulously executed leather panel jackets. It's gonna takes a seriously stylish person to take on these bold and eclectic designs.
The new capsule collection is available exclusively at the Stussy Taipei chapter store.


text:
Get Fit for Less
You do the rowing machine at the gym and walk outdoors when weather permits. So why does your back hurt and why don't your skinny jeans still fit? Poor form can up injury risks and common calorie-burning misconceptions can sabotage weight-loss results. Here, top experts share the biggest exercise mistakes women make and safer ways to get the most out of your favorite workouts.
Sure, it feels easier because you're partially supporting your body weight as you walk, but you cheat yourself out of a greater calorie burn, says Michele Olson, PhD, CSCS, a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM) and a professor of exercise science at Auburn University in Montgomery, AL. "Plus, you risk injury from using improper form."
Fitness fix: Stand firm and place only your fingertips on the rails. "If you need to grab the rails because of the incline, the grade isn't appropriate for you," says Dr. Olson.
We Lost 354 Pounds!


text:
Both beauty and space abound in this unique home at 1755 Oak Grove Drive that is anything but an ordinary ranch.
Both beauty and space abound in this unique home at 1755 Oak Grove Drive that is anything but an ordinary ranch.
The home has a great layout with lots of room for a big family. It offers a bonus great room, finished basement, huge eat-in kitchen, master suite, three stall heated garage, possible fifth bedroom, and more.
Add hardwood floors, tile, granite, a fireplaced living room, and skylights, and this home has everything a buyer craves.
The home has a low maintenance clapboard exterior in light beige with emerald green shutters. Professionally manicured grounds surround the two-acre property.
The front door opens into a tiled entryway and offers an immediate view of the shiny hardwood floors and spacious living areas.
The eat-in kitchen has everything a cook needs and wants in a work space that is pretty and functional. The island with a built-in cooktop and black granite top to match the counters offers seating for six. The kitchen boasts all maple cabinets, and tiled backsplash and floor. All black appliances, including a wall oven and built-in microwave, are included.
Skylights and the cathedral ceiling make a grand statement. The large dining area has a fireplace. The space could be used as another living room or other space.
Doors go out to a huge deck with maintenance-free Trex decking. The backyard is private and quiet and backed by trees.
French doors lead to an open designed living and dining room with a brick fireplace with white wood mantle. The dining room offers more possibilities. It would also make a nice space for a sitting room, music room, or library.
The master bedroom suite is down the hall. The master bedroom has wall-to-wall gray carpeting and his and hers walk-in closets. The attached bathroom offers a tiled floor and granite topped sink vanity, a Whirlpool soaking tub, and walk-in shower.
Laundry facilities are in a closet off the hall.
There is a second bedroom on the main level with double closets. A full bathroom off the hall offers a combination tub and shower.
Two sets of staircases lead to individual wings. One set leads to the great room. The other goes to more bedrooms.
The great room is a large space that could be used for another bedroom. Another separate room is being used as an office.
At the other end of the second level are two more bedrooms and a bathroom.
The 600-foot finished basement, down a set of carpeted stairs, offers a large space fitted with a built-in bar. It has lots of space for a media room or pool table. A slider leads out to the backyard.
The home, built in 1999, has both oil and electric baseboard heat, a 200 amp circuit breaker system, security system, and intercom.
Email Deborah Allard at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Enter Search Terms Below:
Savery Creek Outfitters - New Zealand Ranch - Come Hunt with Us!Red Stag, Fallow Deer, Sika Deer, Sambar Deer, Rusa Deer, Wild Goats, Arapawa Rams, Tahr, Chamois. Savery Creek Outfitters has teamed up with Kaweka Hunting to bring you world class hunting on the edge of Hawke's Bay wine country in New Zealand. The excellent genetic quality and variety in the Red Stag and other exotic herds found on the ranch place the Kaweka Hunting acerage firmly at the forefront of deer hunting in the South Pacific. Under a rugged mountain range amongst native New Zealand bush and wide open clearings awaits your hunter's paradise. We offer world class Red Stag, Sika, Fallow, White Stag, Sambar, Elk, Rusa, Rams and Goats. We also have access to ranches on the South Island and can offer any of the species found there including Chamois and Tahr. Kaweka Hunting bucks the mass market trend and crowds of New Zealand's largest outfitters. Our hunters enjoy an expansive uncrowded environment where comraderie in the field is appreciated by our guests as much as the years of professional guiding experience. For More Information On Our Hunts CLICK HERE.
Hunters will find the World's greatest red deer herds on offer in New Zealand, with the magnificent red stag being the most sought after trophy hunted at Kaweka Hunting. Introduced into New Zealand in 1851 from top Scottish and English herds, red stag thrive in our country due to the mild climate and lack of predators.
A red stag hunt in New Zealand is a soulful experience every hunter should enjoy at least once in a lifetime. The regal 'air' of the majestic red stag is such that once out in the field it is easy for the hunter to imagine why red stag hunting was once regarded as the 'Sport of Kings'
Trophy South Pacific Elk, most commonly referred to as Wapiti are from the blood lines of the Rocky Mountain Elk and were originally gifted to New Zealand in the early 1900's by Theodore Roosevelt. Trophy Elk can only be hunted in game estates in New Zealand, as free ranging populations have almost all disappeared. Good genetic quality ensures a rewarding elk hunt in New Zealand, with trophy elk scoring up to and over SCI 400. For More Information On Our Hunts CLICK HERE.
The distinctive paddles will often give a Fallow buck away as he watches from a warm valley. Always alert, a Fallow buck will often spot the eager hunter from high on an open ridge. It can be thrilling to hunt Fallow in New Zealand during the rut. Usually timid and small in body size, the Fallow buck is very aggressive during the rut when hunters can occasionally witness vicious and even fatal fights between the bucks of this species often accompanied by a guttural croaking noise.
The Sika deer herd at Kaweka Hunting is known in New Zealand for its impressive genetic quality, with a possible World #2 taken in April 2008. Our superior herd is highly sought after, with several large trophies over SCI 140 taken each season. Sika deer are a favourite of many New Zealand hunters and of international trophy hunters alike. Regarded as a handsome deer a sika stag makes a beautiful trophy. Exciting to hunt, sika are particularly vocal when disturbed or alarmed. For More Information On Our Hunts CLICK HERE.Liberated into the nearby Kaweka Ranges during 1905, New Zealand's only free range sika deer herd is located in the central north island. Authentic free range sika hunting is accessible from our wilderness hut at the top of our ranch, where hunters can camp out for a night or two.Typical Sika have 8 points (4x4) and are significantly smaller than red deer, with a dark 'dorsal' strip running from neck to tail.At Kaweka Hunting, our friendly team is dedicated to indulging your passion whether it's hunting, wildlife watching, photography, fishing, exploring the local wine region or even travelling the rest of New Zealand. We offer more than a great hunting experience!Check out our videos from last year's hunt. This year's hunt will start in mid February 2013 and continue through late April 2013. This includes the rut. No advance tags needed, contact us today CLICK HERE! To Request More Information On Our Quality Hunts CLICK HERE.
Contact this Outfitter directly for details and rates on booking your Hunting Adventure 100% Spam Free! Your Privacy is our top concern!


text:
Mount Shasta
|[ Sizes: Orig | Large | Med | Small | Thumb ]
Mount Shasta holds dominion above fall colors near Edgewood. Casaval Ridge is the long slope on the right. Shastina's bulk can be observed in front of Shasta. Diller Canyon is the long triangular patch of snow on the lower right side of Shastina.
[ Post a Comment ]
Rate This Image
Current Score: 97.19%
Log In To Vote
[ View 66 Votes | Post Comment ]
California Cascades (Area/Range)
Bubba Suess's Image Gallery
Mount Shasta (Mountain/Rock)
Shastina (Mountain/Rock)
Fall / autumn colors and moods (Album)
Volcanoes of the World (Album)
Mount Shasta (Album)
Mount Shasta: 2007-2008 (Album)
California 2,000 ft Prominence Peaks (List)
Prominence Lists (List)
Contiguous 14ers with 2,000 ft. of Prominence (List)
Image Data
Image ID: 350145
Hits: 17662
Lat/Lon: 41.40940°N / 122.1939°W
Object Title: Mount Shasta


text:
Welcome to Local 6 Theme World
October 14, 2013
Avatarland is Real
Two years after the surprise announcement, Disney and Jim Cameron finally are showing off concept art and a model for what Pandora will really look like when it comes to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Now due in 2017. Wow. That's a long way off. And almost 2 years after the original planned opening.
The Mouse calls this the largest expansion in the history of the park. It also means that when it opens, Avatarland will bring the first new attractions to Disney's 4th gate since Expedition Everest & Finding Nemo: The Musical in 2006. That means 11 years will pass with no major opening, for those keeping track.
Well, after all of this time, lets look at the art now released and what it tells us about what is coming.
First of all -- yep. It's pretty. That's a rough look at what entering the new land will feel like. The picture of the model (below) gives us a more realistic feel of what it will actually take to make this a reality. Expect lots of blending between real greenery and imagineered plants to bring Avatar to life.
It is still hard to see how this all fits together, but it does feel very lush and "Animal Kingdomy." I understand many details have been hammered back and forth for months now.
What the other images show are the two rides planned for the area.
That's the smaller of the two attractions - a "boat ride" through the bioluminescent forests of the moon. The other major ride will let you experience what it is like to "fly" on the backs of the giant beasts nicknamed banshees.
I understand this will be a simulator, but much more advanced than, say, Star Tours 2.0. though exact details on the ride system are being kept close to the vest. It will, however, feature 3-d animation from the same artists who worked on the movie and its 3 upcoming sequels.
Disney also announced that, for those not interested in giant blue people, the expansion will also feature a new night-time version of the park's signature Kilamanjaro Safari (which actually was tested out in 1998 and abandoned) It will also feature a new nighttime spectacular on the Discovery River, centered on the park's iconic Tree of Life.
In all -- this is an impressive, if long overdue, addition to what is personally my favorite park to enjoy. Avatarland has many critics, but the artwork shows how the area can still be gorgeous and enjoyable if you have never seen the movie(s).
What many find curious is the timing. The art was presented at the first D23 convention in Japan. I understand Disney's execs wanted something to "wow" those who came to this event. CEO Bob Iger has made it clear that he wants to see versions of Avatar appear at some of its other resorts. Getting fans excited in Japan could be part of a push to get the Oriental Land Company (which 100% owns Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and the Tokyo Disney Resort) to whip out the checkbook.
Others are asking: is Disney doing enough? Keep in mind in the time it takes to clear out Camp Minnie-Mickey, then build and open Avatar, Universal will open Harry Potter Part 2, Cabana Bay, and at least two other major attractions not yet revealed. I understand announcements for the future of Hollywood Studios should come much sooner than later, but the scope of that project has reportedly changed several times. There are also rumblings about something being done to improve Epcot's Imagination pavilion. That may or may not happen. As it stands now, there is NOTHING announced or under construction at the other 3 Disney parks, aside from a restaurant in Epcot's Morocco and the how-the-heck-long-can-it-possibly-take-to-build Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster in Fantasyland. Will the promise of Avatar be enough to keep you coming back to the mouse house?
Meanwhile -- for a closer look at the Avatar additions -- below is the video Disney and Jim Cameron put out about it. It shows a bit more of the model and a brief test of the simulator. Avatarland at Disney
Keep your emails, questions, tips and comments coming! I always appreciate the feedback.
Here's a link to my most recent Theme World blog entries.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
phpUA is a PHP script that enables gaming server administrators
to manage their servers via a website interface and to display
server information including live statistics to the public.
Plug-ins allow for game, language and website design compatibility.
This is a plug-in for Call of Duty.
WWW: http://phpua.sourceforge.net/
No installation instructions: this port has been deleted.
The package name of this deleted port was: phpua-plugin_cod
PKGNAME: phpua-plugin_cod
distinfo: There is no distinfo for this port.
NOTE: FreshPorts displays only information on required and default dependencies. Optional dependencies are not covered.
No options to configure
Number of commits found: 18
2011-11-01 games/phpua-ut2003: depends on phpua-engine
2011-11-01 games/phpua-engine: apache13 is deprecated, migrate to 2.2.x+ now
2011-11-01 games/phpua-hl: depends on phpua-engine
2011-11-01 games/phpua-ut: depends on phpua-engine
2011-11-01 games/phpua-cod: depends on phpua-engine
2011-11-01 games/uox3: No more public distfiles
2011-11-01 games/phpua-q3: depends on phpua-engine
2011-11-01 games/phpua-bf: depends on phpua-engine
2011-10-30 graphics/kallery: does not build; last release 20010511
2011-10-28 graphics/gtksee: depends on unfetchable port archivers/bzip; last
release 2004
2011-11-01 mail/mailscanner-mrtg: apache13 is deprecated, migrate to 2.2.x+ now
2011-10-31 net-p2p/qbittorrent-28-nox11: Please migrate to
2011-10-31 net-p2p/qbittorrent-28: Please migrate to net-p2p/qbittorrent-29
2011-10-31 net-p2p/dctc-gui-qt No more public distfiles
2011-10-31 net-p2p/dctc-gui No more public distfiles
2011-09-01 net-p2p/dctc: No more public distfiles
2011-11-01 www/slash: apache13 is deprecated, migrate to 2.2.x+ now
2011-11-01 databases/maatkit: Upstream support dropped. Please consider using
2011-11-01 databases/mysqlman: apache13 is deprecated, migrate to 2.2.x+ now
2011-11-01 databases/mysql-editor: apache13 is deprecated, migrate to 2.2.x+ now
2011-09-30 databases/gnats: Security issues
- Set EXPIRATION_DATE to an actual date (9.0 is behind, so guess 2 months from
- This can be changed later as needed, if at all, either way we won't remove
until after 9.0 is released.
With Hat: apache@
Reported by: dvl via freshports
- set EXPIRATION_DATE to "one week after FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE-p0"
with hat apache@
-remove MD5
For ports maintained by firstname.lastname@example.com, remove names and/or
e-mail addresses from the pkg-descr file that could reasonably
be mistaken for maintainer contact information in order to avoid
confusion on the part of users looking for support. As a pleasant
side effect this also avoids confusion and/or frustration for people
who are no longer maintaining those ports.
- Switch SourceForge ports to the new File Release System: categories starting
with G
- Reset firstname.lastname@example.com due to long period of inactivity.
Approved by: portmgr (linimon)
Change my email address to farrokhi@ in all ports that I maintain.
Approved by: miwi (mentor)
- Mark unbroken
- Pass maintainership to submitter
- Fix plist
PR: ports/99741
Submitted by: Babak Farrokhi <babak(at)farrokhi.net>
Approved by: krion (mentor)
Mark as BROKEN due to failure to install properly.
- Add SHA256
Reset bouncing maintainer addresses.
Source: distfile survey
Hat: portmgr
- Really fix the ownership of installed files
Approved by: portmgr (kris)
- Fix file ownership in packages
Reported by: krionmail
Approved by: portmgr (krion)
- Rename USER and GROUP variables to PHPUA_USER and PHPUA_GROUP to avoid
collision with environment variables
- Use WWWOWN and WWWGRP as default values for PHPUA_USER and PHPUA_GROUP
Approved by: portmgr (clement)
update mainterainer address
Submitted by: Hideki Machida <firstname.lastname@example.com> (maintainer)
Add phpua-cod, Call of Duty plug-in for phpUA.
PR: ports/65192
Submitted by: Hideki Machida <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Servers and bandwidth provided byNew York Internet, SuperNews, and RootBSD
8 vulnerabilities affecting 41 ports have been reported in the past 14 days
* - modified, not new
All vulnerabilities
Last updated:2018-01-17 20:50:47


text:
Debra Wood, RN
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a group of symptoms throughout the body. This illness can progress rapidly. It can lead to a failure of multiple body systems. Toxic shock syndrome can be fatal.
There are 2 types of TSS:
TSS is caused by toxins released from specific bacteria.
Bacteria infects the body through cuts or sores. The bacteria can create toxins as it grows. These toxins are harmful to many of your body's systems. The damage to your body is what causes the range of symptoms.
TSS was originally associated with tampon use. It was common in women who used a particular type of highly absorbent tampons. As a result, these tampons were removed from the market. The number of TSS infections due to tampons has since significantly decreased.
Factors that increase your risk of TSS include:
A person with TSS often appears very ill. Symptoms usually come on suddenly. Fever, chills, and body aches may start up to 4 days before other symptoms develop such as:
Symptoms of severe TSS include:
The infection can lead to severe complications such as:
A physical and pelvic exam will be done. The diagnosis is most often based on fever, rash, low blood pressure, and problems affecting multiple body systems.
Your bodily fluids and tissues may be tested. This can be done with:
The goal of treatment is to support life and reverse the process of organ decline. You may need to be monitored in the intensive care unit.
Treatment includes:
The wound will be opened. Sterile saline will be poured over the wound to clean the area. Any packing from a previous procedure will be removed.
If a birth control device is in the vagina, it will be taken out. If the TSS is menstrual type, the vagina may be flushed with saline.
To support your body while you heal:
You can decrease your risk of menstrual-associated TSS with the following steps:
Most other forms of the disease are not currently preventable.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Women's Health Matters
Imöhl M, van der Linden M, Reinert RR, Ritter K. Invasive group A
streptococcal disease and association with varicella in Germany, 1996-2009.
FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2011;62(1):101-109.
•Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome . EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114492/Staphylococcal-toxic-shock-syndrome. Updated August 12, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2016.
Tampons and asbestos, dioxin and toxic shock syndrome. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PatientAlerts/ucm070003.htm. Updated March 20, 2013. Accessed January 22, 2015.
Toxic shock syndrome. Nemours Kids Health website. Available at:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/toxic_shock.html. Updated June 2014. Accessed January 22, 2015.
Tyner HL, Schlievert PM, Baddour LM. Beta-hemolytic streptococcal erythroderma syndrome: a clinical and pathogenic analysis.
Am J Med Sci. 2011;342(4):343-344.
Last reviewed February 2017 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
David L. Horn, MD
EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Information Services. All rights reserved.


text:
In the Garden:
Middle South
December, 2004
Regional Report
Purple sage, marjoram, and thyme enjoy their spot on a sunny windowsill.
Windowsill Herb Gardens
The flurries flying outside my window as I write are a sure sign that winter has finally arrived. Although garden-fresh tomatoes are only a distant dream, you needn't wait until next summer for the taste and smell of fresh basil, thyme, or sage. These and many other common herbs adapt quite nicely to growing indoors.
Although growing herbs indoors is not difficult, it's also not as simple as the coffee table magazines would have you believe -- as you know if you've tried to keep a holiday rosemary topiary as the centerpiece in a dimly lit dining room. It likely shriveled up in a few weeks. But a windowsill garden is another story, and with a little planning and some good cultural techniques, your indoor herb garden will thrive.
Although many herbs will grow in part shade in the garden, indoors you want to give them as much light as possible. A sunny, south-facing window should be adequate for most herbs, but if your window configuration allows, consider setting up grow lights over the plants, too. Winter sun is much weaker than summer sun, and that, combined with the shorter days and the rays having to pass through window glass, means the plants won't get nearly as much light indoors as they would outdoors -- even in a partly shaded spot in the garden.
Overwatering, which can rot plant roots, is the most common cause of houseplants failing to thrive. On the other hand, if your herbs are in small containers they will dry out quickly, especially since most indoor heat sources dry out the air. Check plants every day, and when the soil is dry down to a depth of a half inch or so, water the soil thoroughly.
If the soil has dried so much that it has pulled away from the sides of the container, set the pot in a saucer of lukewarm water so the soil can absorb it through the drainage holes. Once the soil on top is moist, drain the extra water from the saucer. Always check the soil moisture before watering. Too much water can cause the same symptoms -- wilting, dried-out foliage -- as too little water.
Even under the best conditions, indoor herbs will grow slowly during the winter, so adjust fertilizer accordingly. For example, you might dilute fertilizer to one-quarter the recommended strength and apply it weekly. If you choose an organic fertilizer, look for one that's labeled as odor-free.
Types of Herbs
Annuals. Annual herbs, such as basil and dill, will grow for a while, then begin to get straggly. Rather than fighting this tendency, make successive plantings by sowing a potful of seeds about once a month. That way, you'll have a continuous supply of young plants to replace flagging older ones. Although indoor-grown annual herbs won't be nearly as large and vigorous as those that grow outdoors, you'll be able to harvest enough leaves to add some zip to salads or to use as garnish.
Perennials. In fall, pot up small divisions of perennial herbs, such as oregano, marjoram, thyme, and parsley, and take cuttings of sage and rosemary to root. Or purchase small plants. Although it's possible to grow these herbs from seed, it will take a long time for the seedlings to reach a size where you can begin harvesting. I've had mixed results carrying perennial herbs indoors until spring planting time, so don't feel bad if yours don't make it through the entire winter. Just enjoy them for as long as you can.
-- Don't allow foliage to touch cold windows.
-- If you want to plant multiple types of herbs in a single container, make sure they have the same cultural requirements.
-- Learn what conditions each herb prefers. For example, basil prefers warmth, while sage and rosemary like cooler temperatures.
-- Pinch back branching plants, such as basil, to keep them shrubby rather than leggy.
-- Choose compact or dwarf varieties.
Rosemary Topiaries
This time of year you'll find grocery and big-box stores carrying rosemary plants sheared to resemble miniature Christmas trees. Although they look and smell wonderful, know that they will be a challenge to keep healthy indoors. These plants have been grown under greenhouse conditions -- notably bright light and high humidity -- and invariably suffer shock upon being brought into the dimmer, dryer environment of most homes. During the warmer months, you can acclimate the plants to indoor conditions over the course of a few weeks, but this isn't possible when temperatures hover around freezing and plants are intended as holiday decorations. So consider these plants disposable, and if you're lucky enough to have yours survive into the New Year, pat yourself on the back!
Care to share your gardening thoughts, insights, triumphs, or disappointments with your fellow gardening enthusiasts? Join the lively discussions on our FaceBook page and receive free daily tips!


text:
08.06.14Tickets #amLand0806
Pinkpop Festival - Landgraaf, Netherlands
Attendance (3)
18.07.14 7:46 pm
Love you arctic monkeys . I hope i see you next year?xxx
09.06.14 6:55 pm
music. Don't know what happened there, my laptop crashed and put my comment there, but I hadn't finished yet...
Love, Stella
09.06.14 6:52 pm
I was there yesterday, too! I was standing very close to the stage when the Monkeys were performing. I really enjoyed the show. You guys were the main reason I went to Pinkpop (it was my first time) and I had a very nice day :D I really AM (ermygowd look at that pun) a big fan (I'm not saying I'm the biggest fan, but I can't deny I'm a big fan ;)) I made some really nice photos! (and a lot of crappy ones)
I don't know why I comment all this but I'm just sooooo happy that I've seen my favourite band yesterday! Love you guys, keep on making AWESOME
09.06.14 4:21 pm
I am not here to brag about being your biggest fan or you having to visit my country. I just want to show my appreciation for your music and for you as a group. I have seen you at Pinkpop yesterday and you were really good! The best bands often come from the UK. Guys, keep on with the great work!
You made my day,
Love Aimée van Zutphen
Uden, the Netherlands
P.S. Turner, you're really a man of my style!!
P.p.s. Your laters album is my personal soundtrack, the intro of do i wanna know is perfect when you're feeling like having revenge on someone who just made you angry


text:
MP says sorry for relationship
A constituent of MP Mike Hancock has won a public apology over an "inappropriate and unprofessional friendship".
The "unreserved" apology was given by the Portsmouth MP at London's High Court to a single mother known as "Annie" who first visited him in October 2009 to seek his assistance as her MP and local councillor.
Solicitors for the woman announced in a statement that the apology was part of a "confidential settlement" in which the "vulnerable woman", who suffers from mental health problems, brought a claim for damages against him.
Mr Hancock, a former Liberal Democrat and now independent MP for Portsmouth South, said in a statement addressed to the woman: "In October 2009 you first came to me as a constituent to seek my assistance as your MP and councillor.
"Subsequently and over several months I came to your home on several occasions, sometimes unannounced and conducted a friendship that was inappropriate and unprofessional.
"I understand that you felt degraded. I did not treat you with sufficient respect.
"I made you feel deeply uncomfortable and discriminated against and I crossed the line.
"As a political representative there is a significant power differential with any constituent seeking help and particularly with you given your vulnerabiltiy of which I was aware.
"You had a right to trust me. Everyone should feel safe and should be able to have confidence in their political representatives and I am sorry that I made you feel otherwise.
"I have learnt from my mistakes and pledge not to act in the same way again."
The apology was described as "extensive and profound" by the woman's solicitors Birnberg Peirce and Partners, who also called for Parliament to now consider further regulation to cover relationships between MPs and constituents.
Master Leslie, a High Court official who approved the settlement in a ten-minute hearing, was told that Mr Hancock was currently an in-patient at the Priory Hospital in Southampton, and a psychiatric report had been obtained to confirm he had capacity to make his statement.
Her solicitors described "Annie" - not the woman's real name - as a single mother who suffers from mental health problems.
She brought her damages claim against the MP for his inappropriate behaviour four years ago, which had "caused damage to her mental health", said Birnberg Peirce.
A Liberal Democrat spokesman said a disciplinary investigation into Mr Hancock, which was put on hold pending the outcome of the civil case, would now be re-started.
His membership of the party has already been suspended.
The solicitors said Annie, who has a son, attempted to complain through the police, the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards as well as the Liberal Democrat Party and Portsmouth City Council - "but has been blocked from achieving a remedy at each stage".
Her damages action was due to go to trial this week. But, following mediation two weeks ago, both sides settled the claim on confidential terms, which included the issuing of 68-year-old Mr Hancock's public apology.
A statement from Annie said: "I am pleased that there has finally been a resolution to what has been a long and hurtful ordeal for me.
"Since the incidents about which I complained happened back in 2010, my physical and mental health have suffered and I am grateful that I may now have some closure to this traumatic episode in the lives of both myself and my son."
Annie said she was pleased that Mr Hancock, from Fareham, Hants, now recognised that she did not bring her claim for financial gain but had only ever sought "justice and an apology".
She added: "Some Liberal Democrat councillors serving on Portsmouth City Council have sought publicly to discredit both myself and my motives for bringing an action against Mr Hancock, ignoring and even trying to undermine the independent investigation report commissioned by their own council from Nigel Pascoe QC."
She urged anyone else who had suffered "unwarranted approaches" from someone in public office abusing their trust "to come forward".
Birnberg Peirce solicitor Harriet Wistrich, who acted for Annie, described Mr Hancock's apology as "powerful and extensive" and importantly recognised "the in-built differential between an MP and his constituent that creates the potential for exploitation".
Ms Wistrich said: "Vulnerable adults, including those with mental health problems, suffer huge hurdles in persuading the criminal justice system of their credibility.
"I pay tribute to my client who has battled for justice for years and faced extraordinary hurdles.
"It is outrageous that she was blocked from having her complaint investigated and resolved by so many of the regulatory systems that should have been available to her.
"I hope that Members of Parliament will now consider this case and appreciate the need for the sort of regulation that already applies to most professions to be extended to these sort of relationships."


text:
STB's decision, Docket No. EP 724 (Sub-No. 2), issued June 20, 2014, is "[b]ased on concerns raised before and after the public hearing on this matter," STB said.
Said STB: "It is ordered:
"1. CP is directed to report to the Board, by June 27, 2014, its plan to resolve the backlog of grain car orders on its United States network, including its timeline for doing so, and its plan for ensuring a fluid and reliable interchange of loaded and empty grain cars with RCP&E.
"2. BNSF is directed to report to the Board, by June 27, 2014, an updated plan to resolve the backlog of grain car orders on its network, including its timeline for doing so.
"3. CP and BNSF are directed to provide weekly status reports, beginning June 27, 2014, regarding the transportation of grain on their networks (for CP, on its United States network). As part of these status reports, CP and BNSF shall provide, by state, the running total of outstanding grain car orders at the end of the week, the total number of new orders for the week, the total number of orders filled for the week, the number of orders cancelled by shippers for the week, the number of orders cancelled by CP or BNSF for the week, and the average number of days late for all outstanding grain car orders. CP and BNSF shall also report the number of cars allocated to grain car service each week, including the number of private cars in service. CP's report shall include the number of grain cars requested by RCP&E and the number of cars furnished by CP on a weekly basis. These reports will be required for each carrier until it resolves its backlog of unfilled grain car orders."
In commenting, STB noted, "Although the data submitted by both railroads indicates some initial progress toward reducing their grain car order backlogs and grain car delays, the Board remains very concerned about the limited time period until the next harvest, the large quantities of grain yet to be moved, and the railroads' paths toward meeting their respective commitments."