text:
Welcome to the LA Angels Insider Offseason Tracker! The five-day window to negotiate with Angels players will be eligible for free agency has begun! Wonder if they will work something out with David Freese. Do they need another starting pitcher? How much bullpen help do they need? Is Carlos Perez ready to be the new every day catcher? There are needs in left field, third base, and catcher that definitely need to be addressed. How much pitching they need is up in the air. But we'll find out soon enough.
Friday, November 6
- The Angels did not offer third baseman David Freese a qualifying offer on Friday. This was no surprise, given that Freese is mainly a solid average-to-above average player at the hot corner, although he deepened the bottom of the Halos' batting order when healthy. There is every possibility Freese will re-sign, but he has enough value to test the free agent market and receive significant offers. The one problem the Halos are facing is that if Freese walks, there is a very, very thin third base market out there. As of right now, unless Billy Eppler pulls a rabbit out and acquires an Evan Longoria-type, the best option is to bring Freese back.
- David DeJesus had his $5 million dollar option declined by the Angels. This is no surprise either. And I don't think I really need to go into detail about this one.
- Former Angels catcher Jose Molina was hired by the organization as catching coordinator. Jose was the Halos backup catcher to his brother Bengie from 2001-2007. Molina will instruct the Angels' minor league catchers, aiding in the club's quest to improve it's system. The Angels have to had the same high-quality catching tandem since the Molina Brothers. But young backstop Carlos Perez is showing similar promise. Molina will be a source of elite instruction for Angels catchers.
Wednesday, November 4
- David Murphy's $7 million dollar option was declined, and will instead pay the left-handed hitting outfielder a $500k buyout. The Angels acquired Murphy on July 28 from the Cleveland Indians for minor-league infielder Eric Stamens. In 48 games for the Angels, Murphy slashed .265/.281/.400 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI over 162 plate appearances, playing almost exclusively against right-handed pitchers.
- The Angels may try to bring Murphy back at a lower salary. The only thing standing in their way, besides other offers, would be that Murphy is 34, and that his career stats stats show he's much better against righties. That would mean the Halos would still have to rely on yet another platoon bat in left field in 2016.
Tuesday, November 3
- Former Major League starting pitcher Charles Nagy is now the Angels' new pitching coach. The announcement was made on the evening of Monday, November 2. Nagy, a former All-Star with the Cleveland Indians in the mid-to-late-1990's, recently helmed the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff. The former righty was also the Halos' AAA pitching coach in 2006-2007. So there's a past connection which probably helped both parties with this decision. He will be replacing Mike Butcher, who was recently dismissed as pitching coach.
- Reports have been flying in about the likelihood of assistant hitting coach Dave Hansen being promoted to hitting coach. This seems to make a lot of sense, as Angels hitters are familiar with Hansen. The former Dodger lefty pinch-hitting specialist has worked hands on with the club's offense the last two seasons, and reported to primary hitting coach Don Baylor, who was recently let go along with Butcher on the same day.
Here is the remaining offseason deadline schedule:
- Nov. 7: Players are eligible to sign with any team they choose.
- Nov. 13: Deadline for players to decide on qualifying offers. Deadline: 5pm ET.
- Nov. 9-12: General Managers Meetings in Florida.
- Dec. 2: Non-tender deadline.
- Dec. 7-10: Winter Meetings in Nashville.
- Dec. 10: Rule 5 Draft.
We will have updates as more stories develop!


text: Over the past few months, I have been revisiting episodes of the original Star Trek on Netflix. It has been a great experience for me, as I have seen ever episode of the original show at least once, but haven't seen many of them in years! It brings to mind a few questions I have regarding whether the show is being presented in high-def. This is the first time I have watched the show on a high definition television set, and the picture looks great! Was the image restored for the 2005 DVD release, or is this something that was done for the blu ray release? I'm not a fan of the CGI effects. Does anybody know why most of the space effects were replaced with what is, by today's standards, very cheap looking CGI? I can understand offering an enhanced effects version, similar to the original Star Wars, but the show should be preserved in it's original form as well. Is the series available on DVD with the original effects? One thing I have noticed about the show in high-def is the number of details that were obviously not noticeable in the show's original broadcast. Of course, for years it has been easy to spot stunt doubles in nearly every fight as their faces are far more easily identifiable today than on a 1960's television set. In one episode I was looking at back-lit screens above the bridge stations and noticed on all of them that the transparencies were warped and on the verge of peeling off! Of course, this isn't something that was ever meant to be visible on television. Has anybody else noticed such oddities that were not visible before? Or is there a site I could be referred to that explores them further?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rollins, a native of Searcy, went 2-0 with a save at the ASC First Pitch Tournament in Farmers Branch, Texas, including tossing a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts against Howard Payne on Friday. Rollins walked just one batter in the gem. On the week, she allowed just five hits and one run in 14 innings of work, striking out 24. Opponents hit just .089 off of her.
The graduate of Searcy High School and three-time all-stater currently leads the conference in strikeouts with 42. She owns a 3-1 record and a 3.19 ERA in 31.0 innings of work. Last season, Rollins earned ASC East freshman of the year and all-conference second team.
Ozarks (5-3) will host Hendrix College on March 12 in a double-header.
Erickson, a native of Cabot, tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts to win the opener of a three-game series against Hardin-Simmons on Friday. Erickson walked just one batter and allowed only five base runners over the seven innings. The 6-foot, 195-pound right-hander gave up just one hit in the first three innings to help keep his record perfect at 3-0.
This season, the Cabot High School graduate who earned all-conference honors his junior and senior seasons has tossed 23.2 innings, struck out 18 and owns a 2.66 ERA.
Ozarks (8-6) will open American Southwest Conference play this weekend when it hosts Texas-Dallas (7-8) in a three-game set starting at 2 p.m. Friday.


text:
South Side Hitmen return in rout
Five White Sox home runs set ALDS record
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
Those sort of wholesale changes usually are a byproduct of a blowout, win or lose. But the White Sox were fortunate to be on the right side of a 14-2 shellacking of the defending World Series champions from Boston.
Actually, 'fortunate' doesn't seem to be an apt word where Tuesday's game was concerned. There was nothing lucky about the White Sox first playoff win at home since Game 1 of the 1959 World Series against Los Angeles, ending a streak of nine straight losses.
It was the team's first postseason victory overall since Game 3 of the 1993 American League Championship Series at Skydome, snapping a five-game skid. And the 14 runs scored Tuesday were seven more than the White Sox total from Seattle's entire three-game sweep of the Division Series in 2000.
"I guess we were due," said first baseman Paul Konerko, with his typical deadpan delivery. Konerko's third-inning blast off losing pitcher Matt Clement was one of the five home runs hit by the White Sox, tying a postseason club record.
The long balls ranged from the expected, where Konerko and Juan Uribe were concerned, to the bonus shots, with two coming from A.J. Pierzynski, and even the complete and utter surprise. With two on and one out in the sixth, Scott Podsednik launched his first home run since Sept. 30, 2004, at St. Louis, when he was playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Podsednik has reached double-digit home runs in a season previously but made his focus in 2005 simply to get on base and forego any sort of power stroke. Yet, he didn't think a move to the cleanup spot in the order was in the offing after his long-ball heroics.
"They aren't going to call me in the office and reprimand me," said Podsednik, who finished with two hits and a stolen base. "But I'm most valuable to this club on base and that's been the focus all season."
"We have been telling him all year he's going to hit one," added Pierzynski, who joined Ted Kluszewski as the only players in White Sox history to hit two home runs in a postseason game. "He waited for the right time, and I couldn't be happier for Scott."
The White Sox followed a perfect plan laid out by hitting coach Greg Walker on Monday afternoon, in that they scored early, starting pitcher Jose Contreras held Boston at bay and his offense built on the lead. Five runs in the first inning against Clement pretty much did enough damage to carry the team.
Podsednik was hit by a pitch to open the rally, as was Jermaine Dye, one out later. Podsednik swiped third base and scored the first run on Konerko's fielder's choice groundout. Carl Everett singled to right, on a ball Trot Nixon appeared to lose in the sun, and Aaron Rowand singled home the second run.
Boston scored twice in the fourth, after Konerko's first postseason home run in the third raised the lead to 6-0, and had Kevin Millar on second with nobody out. But Tadahito Iguchi fielded Bill Mueller's hard-hit ground ball to second and fired a strike across the infield to Joe Crede, nailing Millar at third for the inning's first out. The Red Sox would not score again.
"Thank God it was a short hop," said Crede of Iguchi's throw, which hit the dirt first, before Crede could apply the tag. "I was trying to get his attention to make the play."
"There were no outs," added Iguchi of the defensive gem, through a translator. "If it's one out, it's a completely different situation. I saw [Millar] stop, and then I made my decision."
Contreras struck out six and didn't walk a batter over 7 2/3 innings. It was his ninth straight victory overall and raised his record to 12-2 since the All-Star break. He also managed to exorcise a few demons against the Red Sox.
David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the thunderous middle of the highly charged Boston offense, batted with runners in scoring position during two of the first three innings. But Contreras set them down without a run scoring, establishing a dominant tone early.
"Basically, just don't make a mistake," said Contreras through a translator of handling the explosive duo. "Just throw strikes and keep the ball out. That's about it."
The right-hander exited with two outs in the seventh to a standing ovation. He received one of three curtain calls from the White Sox fans, an unofficial playoff record.
But the White Sox are not getting too caught up in one victory, albeit one important, decisive victory. They understand what Boston went through in 2004 and know nothing is close to over. They certainly won't argue the opening results.
"It's a great first step, but I don't think it means all that much," Konerko said. "I said earlier these guys were down, 0-3, in the LCS and they weren't scared or lost composure then. I doubt they are going to lose it after one game in this series."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Alfred Brendel
Jennifer Taylor for The New York Times
News about Alfred Brendel, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Highlights From the Archives
Out of Adventurous, Reactionary Vienna
Do not look for the Viennese soul in the waltzes of Johann Strauss. Try instead the dark places of Anton Webern's Six Pieces for Orchestra or Alban Berg's Three Orchestra Pieces, both played by James Levine and his Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on Sunday.February 19, 2008 artsReview
If Brendel Were a Bagel, He Would Be an Everything
The pianist Alfred Brendel, 73, who is famous for his single-mindedness, will be appearing twice next week with his son, Adrian, 28, a cellist.April 22, 2004 artsNews
Appreciating Brendel at 75
The literary editor of The New Republic offers his thoughts on the pianist Alfred Brendel's approach to life and music.January 27, 2006 artsNews
Two Honors for Brendel: A Premiere and a Farewell
The Tuesday and Wednesday evening Proms concerts each featured a premiere by a well-known composer and had a a piano soloist long noted for deeply musical work in the German repertory.August 20, 2004 artsReview
Classical Music This Week: Schubert, Bloland and Lip-Synching 'Salome'
This week's look ahead at the world of classical music.
May 27, 2015, Wednesday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Classical Music , American Symphony Orchestra , Bargemusic , Bavarian State Opera , New York Philharmonic , Opera Lafayette , Talea Ensemble , Berman, Donald , Bostridge, Ian , Botstein, Leon , Brendel, Alfred , Hadelich, Augustin , Honeck, Manfred , Wheeler, Scott , Zorn, John
Wait, You Need to Suffer Some More
Musicians discuss whether suffering and world experience are needed to play pieces from Beethoven and other masterworks.
January 4, 2015, Sunday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Music , Classical Music , Andsnes, Leif Ove , Brendel, Alfred , Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Haydn Recordings: A Legacy Reconsidered
To commemorate the bicentennial of Haydn's death, the classical music critics of The New York Times look back over those recordings and suggest their favorites.
September 11, 2009, Friday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Classical Music , McCreesh, Paul , Jacobs, Rene , Haydn, Franz Joseph , Recordings and Downloads (Audio) , Harnoncourt, Nikolaus , Gardiner, John Eliot , Davis, Colin , Hamelin, Marc-Andre , Battle, Kathleen , Dorati, Antal , Brendel, Alfred
Brendel Completes His Farewell Tour
The pianist Alfred Brendel, below, concluded his 60-year performing career with a concert on Thursday night at the Musikverein in Vienna.
December 20, 2008, Saturday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Classical Music , Brendel, Alfred
A Pianist Bids Farewell With Schubertian Grace
The Austrian pianist ended the New York chapter of his 60-year career displaying undiminished focus and utter integrity at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday.
February 22, 2008, Friday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Classical Music , Brendel, Alfred , Carnegie Hall
Arts, Briefly
Alfred Brendel to retire, Brad Pitt backs out of "State of Play," an Alvin Ailey tribute to Maurice Béjart and more.
November 23, 2007, Friday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Ailey, Alvin, American Dance Theater , Brendel, Alfred , Pitt, Brad
Alfred Brendel To Retire
Alfred Brendel, below, a master of the classical piano repertory, will retire from the concert stage at the end of next year, The Associated Press reported. Mr. Brendel, who turns 77 in January, will give his final concert on Dec. 18, 2008. ''He i...
November 23, 2007, Friday
An Outsider's Delicate Approach to a Well-Worn Repertory
The pianist played Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart with stubborn diligence and spiritual energy on Wednesday at Carnegie Hall.
April 6, 2007, Friday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Classical Music , Brendel, Alfred
Classical Context; Downloading Films; Clyfford Still
March 25, 2007, Sunday
MORE ON ALFRED BRENDEL AND: Tommasini, Anthony , Brendel, Alfred , Hatto, Joyce , Still, Clyfford
Unearthing Spontaneity In Viennese Sonatas
Mr. Brendel's ideas about Haydn, Mozart and Schubert continue to evolve, as proven in his program on Monday at Carnegie Hall.
March 1, 2006, Wednesday
Rss Feeds On Alfred Brendel
Subscribe to an RSS feed on this topic. What is RSS?
Get Alerts On Alfred Brendel
Receive My Alerts e-mails on topics covered on this page.More Alerts >>


text:
Increase in Ohio responder crashes prompts review
The number of crashes of responders increased this year, but none resulted in deaths
GROVE CITY, Ohio — They are the crews you call in an emergency, but lately, medics and firefighters from Jackson Township have needed some help of their own.
Jackson Township Fire Department Chief Lloyd Sheets said that the number of crashes involving first responders is up this year. Now, they are reviewing how they respond to calls.
"We're always concerned about auto accidents," Sheets said. "Twenty five percent of firefighters who die every year in the United States die from auto accidents." Sheets said that none of the crashes involving his department have resulted in death or serious injury, but he admits the number of crashes this year worry him.
Full story: Number Of Crashes Involving Jackson Township First Responders Up This Year


text:
BI 111N: Ecology and Evolution
Introduction to the basic concepts of ecology and evolution and how they relate to the diversity, structure, and function of life on earth.
BI 112N: Cells and Genes
Introduction to the primary concepts of cell biology and the fundamentals of genetics as they relate to the diversity, structure, and function of organisms.
BI 114: Integrated Cells and Genes
Integrates topics across the biology-chemistry interface: concepts of cell biology, fundamentals of genetics related to diversity, structure, and function of organisms. Prerequisite: CH 121N with a grade of C- or better, concurrent enrollment CH 123.
BI 200: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
A phylogenetic perspective on the origin, evolution, and function of vertebrate anatomy and how vertebrate evolution is reflected in human anatomy. Prerequisites: (BI 111N, ES 270N or MS 102N) and (BI 112N or BI 211N)
BI 204: Microbiology
Biology of microorganisms; microbiological techniques, isolation and identification of unknown organisms. Prerequisite: (BI 111N, ES 270N or MS 102N) and (BI 112N or BI 211N)
BI 207N: Medical Ethics
Are you state property? Explore the subtleties of decisions made by you and about you in the biomedical world. Topics to be covered include pharmaceutical development, human experimentation, medical crises, and individual case studies.
BI 211: Cellular Processes
Non-laboratory course focused on cellular organization and function, including biological molecules, cellular respiration, mitosis, cytoskeleton, cell signaling, and fundamentals of genetics. Intended for Marine Science students. Prerequisites: MS 101N and MS 102N.
BI 212: Genetics and Molecular Biology
Mendelian and transcription genetics from historical perpective. Experimental approach emphasized. Small lab groups participate in experimental design, and develop research skills in both classical genetic systems and molecular biology. The prerequisites: BI112N or BI211 with a grade of C- or better. Corequisite: CH 122.
BI 214: Animal Nutrition
Aspects of nutrition for domestic animals including dogs, cats, cattle, horses. Fundamentals of nutrition including vitamins and energetics. Also digestive anatomy and physiology and history of nutrition. Prerequisites: (BI 111N and BI 112N) or (MS 102N and BI 211).
BI 221: Plant Biology
This course is devoted to the understanding of the origins of plant life and the evolution of form and function of the major plant groups. Prerequisite: BI 111N and BI 112N or equivalent.
BI 222: Principles of Zoology
This course is devoted to the understanding of the origin and diversification of animal life and the evolution of form and function of major animal groups. Prerequisite: BI 111N and BI 112N or equivalent.
BI 301: Principles of Ecology
Physical, chemical and biological relationships in natural communities. Field work in nearby ponds and Gulf shoreline. Prerequisite: BI 212 and Junior or Senior standing.
BI 308: General and Molecular Physiology
Mammalian nervous, endocrine, muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, immune, reproductive systems. Macro and molecular aspects. Prerequisites: (BI 112N or BI 212) and CH 122, and Junior or Senior standing.
BI 314: Comparative Physiology
Physiological mechanisms of animals and general principles revealed through application of comparative methods. Creative project lab to develop research skills. Prerequisites: (BI 112N or BI 212) and CH 122.
BI 342: Field Botany
Study the plants of Florida with an emphasis on plant taxonomy, field botany techniques, and local ecosystems. This course will integrate lectures with practical activities and hands-on field trips to local natural areas. Prerequisites: BI 111N, ES 270N, or MS 102N.
BI 344: Cases in Neuropathology
This course will examine the current knowledge on molecular mechanisms of neuropathology found in 5 diseases/syndromes that are important in biomedicine today: Alzheimer?s, autism, epilepsy, Parkinson?s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Patient cases will be used.
BI 351: Plant Ecology
Relationship of plants with their biological, physical, and chemical environments. Includes understanding the coexistence of plants in communities, landscape dynamics, productivity, environmental stresses, and principles of restoration exology. Prerequisite: BI 212
BI 352: Behavioral Ecology
Application of ecological principles to the study of animal behavior. Field course in local terrestrial and marine environments. Prerequisites: Junior standing and (MS 102N and BI 211) or (BI 111N and BI 112N).
BI 362: Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
Synthesis of fundamental concepts in biology through the study of amphibians and reptiles. Includes extensive field work and an independent research project. Prerequisites: BI 111N and BI 112N and either BI 200 or BI 222.
BI 371: Conservation Biology
Examine problems such as species decline and endangerment, invasion by non-native species, habitat destruction and fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, and potential solutions, such as endangered species management, habitat restoration, ecosystem management. Prerequisite: ES 270N or BI 111N or MS 102N and any statistics course.
BI 372: Parasitology
An ecological and evolutionary approach to parasitism. A broad survey of parasites of humans and animals, with emphasis on parasite life cycles and anatomy. Genetic, immunological, pathological and economic aspects of parasite-host relationships. Prerequisites: BI 212.
BI 373: Restoration Ecology
Focuses on understanding how natural processes recover from a variety of disturbances. Study of practices for restoring ecosystems. A multi-scale approach will be used with distinct emphasis on coastal wetlands. Prerequisites: ES 207N or the combination of (MS 288 or BI 111N) and (MS 289 or BI 112N).
BI 397: Neuroscience
This course covers topics in neuroscience: whole body--basics of the central and peripheral nervous systems and molecular level--neurotransmission and biochemical regulation. Neurological function and dysfunction will also be considered. Prerequisite: BI 112N or BI 211, BI 212, and CH 122.
BI 406: Advanced Topics in Botany
Subjects investigated determined by student interest. Prerequisite: BI 221 or MS 288.
BI 412: Receptor Pharmacology
Investigate major classes of therapeutic drugs, cell surface receptors, and intracellular signaling pathways. Explore rationales and mechanisms underlying clinical pharmacotherapy for a variety of human diseases. Prerequisites: BI 112 or BI 211, BI 212, CH 122, and Junior or Senior standing.
BI 420: Advanced Ecology and Evolution
Read and evaluate scientific literature and conduct a semester-long independent field research project on selected topic. Prerequisites: B or better in BI 301.
BI 422: Advanced Molecular Topics
Selected topics and techniques from contemporary genetics and molecular biology research. Processing of clinical/environmental specimens, next-generation sequencing analysis, advanced probe-based imaging and microscopy. Prerequisite: BI 212.
BI 424: Developmental Biology
Molecular and morphological mechanisms underlying the development of body plans and organ systems in the embryos of marine and terrestrial species. Current scientific literature, modern experimental techniques, independent laboratory research projects. Prerequisites: BI 112N and BI 212.
BI 430: Independent Research: Biology
For students interested in pursuing careers in biology, intensive instruction in use of laboratory and/or field equipment. Various methodology approaches, current and historical, used in scientific investigation. Prerequisites: CH 222, BI 212, and instructor's permission.
BI1 498: Biology Capstone - Depth
Exploration of a major theme in biology with emphasis on depth of understanding via close reading of the scientific literature, student presentations, and student-led discussions. BI1 498 Biology Capstone 1 and BI2 498 Biology Capstone 2 are required for one course credit. Required for both BA and BS. Seniors only. Prerequisite: BI 212.
BI2 498: Biology Capstone - Breadth
Synthesis across the major areas of biology with emphasis on breadth of understanding via close reading of the scientific literature, and faculty and student-led discussions. BI1 498 Biology Capstone 1 and BI2 498 Biology Capstone 2 are required for one course credit. Required for both BA and BS. Seniors only. Prerequisite: BI1 498.
BI 499: Independent Research - Thesis
Upon invitation, Seniors may design and carry out a creative research program, usually resulting in a written dissertation which is defended in the spring of the senior year.


text:
So I've just started playing around with python. My first script was to spool through a pipe deliminated csv.
I noticed this language is slightly more strict than PHP I receive an error when trying to assign a non existant variable to a new list.
#open csv file
ifile = open('/tmp/file.dat', "rb")
reader = csv.reader(ifile,delimiter='|')
for row in reader:
op = {
'column': row[4]
If row[4] happens to be null for that row, then it will error out. I've come across a few solutions such as setdefault. But I'm curious how some of your setups might be, especially for something dynamic like spooling a csv.
I notice the Python code around me does lots and lots and lots of try-excepts. Which I guess is good. The main thing with those being, to keepy the try parts as small as possible... some people stuff everything into their try statements which is a bit dumb since now there could be many different types of exceptions that your 'except' won't catch. I do the bare-minimum test in my try's and then after the except, I stuff everything else in the Else.
A non-Pythonic answer I've seen states a regex to match the value against in an if statement before attempting assignment. That seems more Perlish really.
In many instances where there are classes and defs, the arguments fed to it are keyword vars with var=None as a default... that's super common.
One thing I really liked going from Javascript to Python is the named variables and default var values in functions.
As Stomme said, try using try-excepts, or test for the presence of what you've been returned (the example below is terrible, but you can do it if you really want):
if 4 < len(row):
See here for more info: http://stackoverflow.com/a/8570694
I would use the following approach
import csv
ifile = open('/tmp/file.dat', "rb")
reader = csv.reader(ifile,delimiter='|')
column_values = [row[4] if len(row) > 4 else None for row in reader]
This uses a list comprehension (which is neater and faster than a for loop) and returns all the values of column 5 as a list.Also, you are assigning the value of row[4] to a dictionary in your example code, so a list comprehension may not suit your use case in this instance. However, I would personally gather the desired values first, then perform operations on them, which is why I have used a list comprehension here.
My example doesn't use try/excepttry/except is usually pretty fast, unless the exception is triggered - see how fast are exceptionsIn this case I assume the exception will be triggered, and thus the check for len(row) is the better option. You would only know which method was faster by profiling your particular code and data, which I have not done in this case. In general I avoid using try / except (unless it makes more sense than a conditional check).
If list comprehensions tickle your fancy, also check out generators. For this problem I would actually use a generator not a list comprehension, but as you are a beginner a list comprehension is probably an easier way to be introduced to the concepts at play.
Hopefully this makes sense and suits your needs.
Great point made here about python and preferring Easier To Ask For Forgiveness Than Permission vs Look Before You Leap
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. This common Python coding style assumes the existence of valid keys or attributes and catches exceptions if the assumption proves false. This clean and fast style is characterized by the presence of many try and except statements. The technique contrasts with the LBYL style common to many other languages such as C.
It's very common to use try/except in python code, so please don't interpret my preference to 'only use them where it makes sense' as 'use try/except sparingly', just that I prefer not to use a short for loop when I can use a list comprehension.
Code style is an interesting thing.
Well I guess I provided a bad example. Im not referring to adding a single item. I'm referring to doing an operation for each item in row, not just row[4].
You could still use the list comprehension, with a variable in place of the 4.Since I don't think in list comprehensions, I usually write out first two for loops, one nested in the other. Then I can change that around into a list comp.
Pythonistas encourage list comprehensions over for loops and for loops over while loops because people have been tweaking the interpreter to be more efficient with those, so in many cases they're the fastest option (use timeit to check any given case, though I've seen people on LinkedIn showing differences between for example 32- and 64-bit architecture...).
Off-topic,There's a French dude on SO, e-satis, who has a couple of really nice "answers" describing decorators and generators, with code details and everything. Look him up, they're fun to read.


text:
Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease 09/30/2015This Celiac.com FAQ on celiac disease will guide you to all of the basic information you will need to know about the disease, its diagnosis, testing methods, a gluten-free diet, etc. Subscribe to Celiac.com's FREE weekly eNewsletter What are the major symptoms of celiac disease? Celiac Disease Symptoms What testing is available for celiac disease? Celiac Disease Screening Interpretation of Celiac Disease Blood Test Results Can I be tested even though I am eating gluten free? How long must gluten be taken for the serological tests to be meaningful? The Gluten-Free Diet 101 - A Beginner's Guide to Going Gluten-Free Is celiac inherited? Should my children be tested? Ten Facts About Celiac Disease Genetic Testing Is there a link between celiac and other autoimmune diseases? Celiac Disease Research: Associated Diseases and Disorders Is there a list of gluten foods to avoid? Unsafe Gluten-Free Food List (Unsafe Ingredients) Is there a list of gluten free foods? Safe Gluten-Free Food List (Safe Ingredients) Gluten-Free Alcoholic Beverages Distilled Spirits (Grain Alcohols) and Vinegar: Are they Gluten-Free? Where does gluten hide? Additional Things to Beware of to Maintain a 100% Gluten-Free Diet What if my doctor won't listen to me? An Open Letter to Skeptical Health Care Practitioners Gluten-Free recipes: Gluten-Free Recipes
allergyproneAdvanced Members
Content count83
Last visited
Community Reputation9 Neutral
About allergyprone
Advanced Community Member
Profile Information
Not Telling
Does Anyone Know Anything About Disaccharidase Deficiency
allergyprone posted a topic in Other Food Intolerance and Leaky Gut IssuesHey guys I went to my Gastro yesterday and because I'm almost done with college and I might be moving she gave me a copy of all of my records. Since being gluten free (5 years) I have had almost no relief from any symptoms and I'm looking for some answers, and no one has been able to give me any. While I was reading through my records I stumbled across my original biopsy (the evil one that confirmed Celiacs) There was an addendum with a disaccharidase analysis. According to this test I was significantly deficient in lactase, maltase, sucrase, and palatase and it commented that I had a disaccharidase deficiency. I was never told any of this by any of my last 3 gastroenterologists. I have done a little reading and it fits my symptoms, but I don't want to jump to conclusions. Does anyone have any experience with Disaccharidase deficiency? Is this something to pursue and bring up to a Dr.? Thanks, AP
Rice Allergy
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Other Food Intolerance and Leaky Gut IssuesThank you guys, StephanieL -- I got the allergy testing done because I started having more digestive issues than before I went gluten free. I had been eliminating out foods that I thought were bothering me, and was down to almost nothing. I'm not 100% certain but rice seems to cause me heartburn and bloating type reaction. The allergist tested me for all the items that I had eliminated as well as common food allergies in my family (pork, grapefruit). My Dr recommends me going 2 weeks without and then testing it too see the exact reaction, which I am going to do.
Rice Allergy
allergyprone posted a topic in Other Food Intolerance and Leaky Gut IssuesHi guys, I recently (yesterday) was diagnosed via a prick test that I have allergies to rice, walnuts, pork and grapefruit. I have already am pork, walnut, and grapefruit free, but I am having trouble finding gluten free and rice free foods. Does anyone know any good gluten and rice free recipes? or products. I am also trying to limit corn. And to top it all off I am a college student without a job, so would it just be a good idea to cut out all grains? like the paleo diet? (I haven't done much research on this so I may be thinking of something else) Thanks AP
The Song Name Game
allergyprone replied to navigator's topic in Gab/Chat Room - To Discuss Anything BUT Celiac Disease / Gluten-Free Dietsong of the cebu - VeggieTales
Could I Have A Thyroid Problem?
allergyprone posted a topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchHey guys I have been having strange symptoms: extreme energy levels causing me insomnia, general weakness, shaking mostly in my hands but occasionally my entire body, jumpiness, dry eyes, turning blue when tired, headache, hives, muscle twitching, hiccups, feeling out of breath and heart burn. They have been really bad since December, but they seem to be getting better. I'm worried that they may be autoimmune related and will come back. I got a blood test but by the time I got it my symptoms were starting to dissipate and all of the results are with in the normal range, but several of them are, in my opinion, boarder line. But at this point my dr told me that it's all in my head and that I'll just have to live with it, and even my parents are starting to believe I'm making it up. TSH 2.48 ref. <0.47-4.68> Free Thyroxine 0.78 ref <0.78-2.19> Sodium 142 ref <137-145> Potassium 3.8 ref<3.5-5.1> Chloride 107 ref<98-107> CO2 26 ref<26-30> Anion Gap 13 ref<10-20> Blood urea nitrogen 8 ref<7-20> Serum creatinine 0.7 ref<0.6-1.3> BUN/creatinine ratio 11.4 ref<7.1-23.5> I'm sorry I've been posting so much, I just want an answer and to feel like myself again, Thanks AP
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & Researchthanks frieze That is what it looks like when i turn blue, although mine is very temporary it goes away about a minute or two after I get up and move, and when I turn blue it is pretty much my whole body, although recently it seems to be affecting single places at a time, like the other day my knees turned purple/blue when I was sitting at my desk but the rest of me was fine. it lasted about 3 minutes and then went away, there was no pain, numbness, or tingling. AP
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchI finally got my test results back, the dr told me that they were all normal and then just kind of brushed me off. here are my results, some of them are on the edge of normal. I am curious about the thyroid results because my symptoms seem to be similar to thyroid problems. glucose 83 <74-106> Calcium 9.2 <8.4-10.2> Total Bilirubin 0.3 <0.2-1.3> AST/SGOT 22 <15-46> ALT/SGPT 22 <13-69> Total Protein 6.8 <6.3-8.2> CRP Inflammatory <0.5 <0.0-1.0> Albumin 4.2 <3.5-5.0> Albumin/Globulin RA 1.6 <1.0-2.0> Alkaline Phosphatas 61 <38-126> TSH 2.48 <0.47-4.68> Free Thyroxine 0.78 <0.78-2.19> WBC 5.1 <4.8-10.8> RBC 4.46 <4.20-10.8> Hemoglobin 13.5 <12.0-16.0> Hematocrit 40 <37-47> MCV 90.6 <81.0-99.0> MCH 30.4 <27.0-31.0> MCHC 33.5 <30.0-37.0> RDW 12.6 <11.5-14.5> Platelet count 241 <130-400> NEUT % Auto 58.4 <37.0-80.0> Lymph % Auto 32.5 <10.0-50.0> Mono % Auto 6.7 <0.0-12.0> EOS % Auto 2.0 <0.0-7.0> BASO % Auto 0.40 <0.0-2.50> Neut # Auto 3.00 <2.00-6.90> Lymp # Auto 1.70 <0.60-3.40> Mono # Auto 0.30 <0.0-0.90> Eos # Auto 0.10 <0.0-0.20> Baso # Auto 0.0 <0.0-0.20> Erythrocyte sed rate 3 <0-20> Sodium 142 <137-145> Potassium 3.8 <3.5-5.1> Chloride 107 <98-107> Carbon Dioxide 26 <26-30> Anion Gap 13 <10-20> Blood Urea Nitrogen 8 <7-20> Serum Creatinine 0.7 <0.6-1.3> Bun/Creatinine rati 11.4 <7.1-23.5> Thanks Guys
The Song Name Game
allergyprone replied to navigator's topic in Gab/Chat Room - To Discuss Anything BUT Celiac Disease / Gluten-Free Dietfly like an eagle- steve miller
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchThanks for the ideas Cavernio - I have looked into Reynauds syndrome and it doesn't really fit my symptoms because it doesn't seem to be related to stress or cold, mainly it is sleep or triggered by my position. I started having the symptom before I started taking any medications so I don't think its that. I am taking amitryptaline as a sleep aid instead of a antidepressant. My HMO doesn't cover anything prescribed by anyone other my general practitioner so they tried to keep it cheap. They are going to try and get some blood work but I have to work it out with my insurance first Thanks AP
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & Researchbeachbirdie- thanks for the reply. I have been trying to get a new doctor recently but I am from a small town where there aren't any doctors taking patients I also have an HMO which only covers certain doctors but I did manage to get into see a different doctor at student health services. It was kind of a fluke though. I went back because I've started having nightmares and I have been extremely jumpy. the new dr did a full neurological exam and listened to my heart and lungs. she didn't find anything and she was stumped. She said the same thing my other dr said that she would do more research to try and figure it out. she told me that she wanted to test my thyroid, and do a cbc and a complete metabolic work up. she told me to come back in 2 weeks. but she doesn't want to test me until she has a better idea of what she is looking for. mean while she told me to up my omeprozole for heartburn and that it was my choice to continue the amitryptaline or not, as she has no idea if it is causing my nightmares. Thanks guys AP
allergyprone replied to kareng's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchI would stay away from accutane I have 2 friends that took it and after finishing treatment they both became allergic to fragrances. one of my friends gets hives when she goes near/uses fragrances like lotions or candles, and the other gets a migrain and her skin itches even though she doesn't get hives. they also say that their skin is a lot more sensitive now as well. I hope you find something that helps, my acne cleared up when I went completely gluten free. Good luck AP
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchThanks again guys, ravenwoodglass - it kind of looks like that but not quite as red, mine is more of a blue gray hue. I am really particular about what I eat and I make all of my own food and don't really eat with non-gluten free people, so I don't think I'm getting CC if I am I have no idea how. I do know that I have other sensitivities/intolerances and I am pretty good about staying away from them. Does your livedo get worse when you've had less sleep? I went to student health and the RNP wants me to try amitriptyline for a week to see if it will help me sleep, and if it doesn't she wants to test my thyroid. she didn't even seem interested/concerned that I have been turning blue. she also said that she doesn't think my main symptoms (blueness, heartburn, and not being able to sleep) are not connected. thanks again, AP
Is Anyone Here Rh-negative?
allergyprone replied to Ellenor Whitty's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchI'm A- and have celiac all of the girls in my family are rh neg and both my dad and my brother are rh pos. but I'm the only one with celiacs
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone replied to allergyprone's topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchThanks for the ideas guys Madagascar- the temperature doesn't seem to effect me turning blue, but I have noticed that the less sleep I get the more frequently it happens, also I asked my dr if it could be raynauds but he doubts it. I have not had my heart or circulation checked recently, I had an ekg about 5 years ago and it was fine, I was told I had a heart murmer last year, but the dr said I was dehydrated and it went away within a couple days. I talked to my dr today because my heartburn was to the point where it hurt to eat anything and my mom is concerned that I am only getting about 2 hours of sleep a night. He prescribed omeprazole for my heartburn and told me to go to student health about my sleep problems (as I am attending school 9 hours from home). I have been looking into other autoimmune diseases and found that I fit the symptoms of Graves disease pretty well, (insomnia, hyperactive, heartburn, increased d, increased hunger and thirst, feeling of something in my throat...) How would I go about getting this tested as my dr. doesn't want to test me for anything until my symptoms increase. Thanks, AP
I Keep Turning Blue
allergyprone posted a topic in Celiac Disease - Related Disorders & ResearchHas anyone experienced their entire body (hands/arms, torso, legs/feet) turning blue/gray randomly, I have talked to my dr already but he seems stumped, and doesn't want to do tests until its worse. It started this past summer it happened like 2 or 3 times and it always happened when I had been laying on a flat wooden surface, and it didn't happen again until about 2 months ago. In the past 2 months or so it has happened at least 4 times but now it seem random when it happens, like I was sitting in class on thursday and it started with my hands and then pretty soon I had a blue/gray hue. When it happens, (anytime of day/night) I'm not usually cold, but my extremities start to ache and sometime my hands will tingle, and they get really hard to use like I'm wearing gloves even after the color returns, basically I turn a gray/blue color and my veins become prominent. I also have other symptoms, I have too much energy to sleep, I get about 2 hours of sleep a night, for as energetic as I am I feel really weak, I have had really bad heartburn and indigestion the past couple of weeks, and I have this weird feeling in my throat, kind of dry and like I have food stuck or something. Any ideas that I can take to my Dr. would be much appreciated. Thanks AP celiac - March 2009 dishydrotic excema - May 2011


text:
|download printable copy
Considered and Passed:
o Motion to Instruct Conferees - Passed
· Offered by Mr. Latham (IA) (212-193)
Bills Adopted Under Suspension of the Rules (18):
1. H.Con.Res. 199 - Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the activation of Echo Company of the 100th Battalion of the 442d Infantry, and the sacrifice of the soldiers and families in support of the United States (Rep. Sablan - Armed Services)
2. H.Con.Res. 206 - Commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation (Rep. Broun - Armed Services)
3. H.Res. 940 - Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary (Rep. Latta - Armed Services)
4. H.Res. 845 - Recognizing the United States Air Force and Dyess Air Force Base for their success in achieving energy savings and developing energy-saving innovations during Energy Awareness Month (Rep. Neugebauer - Armed Services)
5. H.R. 2278 - To direct the President to transmit to Congress a report on anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East (Rep. Bilirakis - Foreign Affairs)
6. H.R. 2134 - Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act of 2009 (Rep. Engel - Foreign Affairs)
7. H.Res. 915 - Encouraging the Republic of Hungary to respect the rule of law, treat foreign investors fairly, and promote a free and independent press (Rep. Donnelly - Foreign Affairs)
8. H.Con.Res. 213 - Expressing the sense of Congress for and solidarity with the people of El Salvador as they persevere through the aftermath of torrential rains which caused devastating flooding and deadly mudslides (Rep. Mack - Foreign Affairs)
9. H.Con.Res. 218 - Expressing sympathy for the 57 civilians who were killed in the southern Philippines on November 23, 2009 (Rep. Berman - Foreign Affairs)
10. H.R. 2711 - FBI Families of Fallen Heroes Act (Rep. Rogers (MI) - Oversight and Government Reform)
11. H.Res. 907 - Recognizing the Grand Concourse on its 100th anniversary as the preeminent thoroughfare in the borough of the Bronx and an important nexus of commerce and culture for the City of New York (Rep. Serrano – Transportation and Infrastructure)
12. H.R. 4165 - To extend through December 31, 2010, the authority of the Secretary of the Army to accept and expend funds contributed by non-Federal public entities to expedite the processing of permits (Rep. Larsen – Transportation and Infrastructure)
13. H.R. 1854 - To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California (Rep. Lewis (CA) – Transportation and Infrastructure)
14. H.R. 3224 - To authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct a vehicle maintenance building at the vehicle maintenance branch of the Smithsonian Institution located in Suitland, Maryland (Rep. Becerra - House Administration)
15. H.R. 2221 - Data Accountability and Trust Act (Rep. Rush - Energy and Commerce)
16. H.R. 1319 - Informed P2P User Act (Rep. Bono Mack - Energy and Commerce)
17. H.R. 4217 - Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act (Rep. Rangel – Ways and Means)
18. H.R. 4218 - To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to prohibit retroactive payments to individuals during periods for which such individuals are prisoners, fugitive felons, or probation or parole violators (Rep. Tanner - Ways and Means)
Postponed Suspension Votes (6):
1. H.R. 3951 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2000 Louisiana Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the "Roy Rondeno, Sr. Post Office Building" (Rep. Cao - Oversight and Government Reform)
2. H.R. 4017 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 43 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, as the "Ann Marie Blute Post Office" (Rep. McGovern - Oversight and Government Reform)
3. H.Res. 35 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should provide increased Federal funding for continued type 1 diabetes research (Rep. Gene Green - Energy and Commerce)
4. H.Res. 55 - Expressing support for the designation of a National Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month to raise awareness of and promote research into this challenging disorder (Rep. Royce - Energy and Commerce)
5. H.R. 3603 - To rename the Ocmulgee National Monument (Rep. Marshall - Natural Resources)
6. H.R. 86 - To eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by bringing the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County's rocks and small islands (Rep. Campbell - Natural Resources)


text:
ByChristopher John Farley
At the end of the Seattle Seahawks' playoff victory over the San Francisco 49ers last night to earn the right to go to the Super Bowl, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman, after knocking away a pass that led to the game-clinching interception, ran up to San Francisco wideout Michael Crabtree, mockingly slapped him on the butt and said something that provoked his just-beaten opponent to give him a stiff-arm to the face.
Sherman then did a live TV interview declaring that "Well, I'm the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you gonna get! Don't you ever talk about me!"
I erased my DVR of the game and clicked off the TV. I certainly didn't want my 11-year-old son talking about Sherman and his terrible sportsmanship, or emulating the way he was acting after the game.
Then, however, I decided that Sherman was wrong. He was worth talking about.
The truth is, that as much as we love to scold braggarts, we love the confidence that bragging represents. As much as sports fans may be horrified by loudmouths, we can't stop talking and writing and reading about them. The quiet stars, the Tim Duncans, the Big Fundamentals, are admired, but they aren't necessarily Mt. Rushmored.
I grew up admiring Muhammad Ali, not just for his boxing, but for his braggadocio. His boasts that he was "The Greatest" boxer weren't just hot air–they were well-crafted gamesmanship. He enraged his rivals, baiting them into mistakes, but his stinging words were typically delivered with a knowing wink. Ali's bombast in sports was coupled with his outspokenness on social issues–including race, poverty and war. During the heat of the American Civil Rights struggle, Ali's bravado was an inspiration to his fans to take pride in their culture and their own power.
Sports stars who talk a good game are often dismissed as loudmouths, and Sherman is certainly more than that. He's excellent at his position, and after attending Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif., he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in communications. According the website of Fritz Martin Management, the company that represents Sherman, "Despite receiving numerous scholarship offers to play at top programs all over the country, Sherman chose to go to Stanford over local powerhouse USC because he wanted to make a statement about the importance of education."
A spokesperson for Sherman didn't return a request for comment about his post-game encounter with Crabtree. But Sherman ended up apologizing via text message to ESPN. "I apologize for attacking an individual and taking the attention away from the fantastic game by my teammates … That was not my intent," Sherman said.
There's a long history in America of beloved luminaries who sing their own praises, and stars who, to paraphrase the blustery but talented author Norman Mailer, put out advertisements for themselves. Mailer once wrote "God like Us suffers the ambition to make a destiny more extraordinary than was conceived for Him, yes God is like me, only more so."
In Jack McCallum's book "Dream Team," he reports that before the NBA's first three-point shooting contest in 1986, Larry Bird, the Celtics great, once strode into a locker room full of fellow All-Stars and declared "Who's comin' in second?" He backed up that boast by winning the contest.
McCallum writes "It was Bird's bravado, his utter belief in himself, his trash talk (legendary around the league, if largely unknown to the general public, since Bird did it subtly), the street game that came wrapped in a pasty package that made the early-to-mid-1980s his game, his time."
In his coming book "Showtime," Jeff Pearlman writes about the first time Laker guard-forward Michael Cooper was asked to play defense on Bird. The first words Bird spoke to him were a profane brag/challenge/threat: "I'm getting ready to wear your f—ing a– out." Bird proceeded to do just that.
Sherman seems to believe that there's a double standard at work when it comes black athletes and swagger. This note was posted on his Twitter page after his game against the 49ers: "Last night shows that racism is still alive and well… And that's so sad…. At Least some people respect MLKs dream."
Indeed, a number of recent tweets directed at Sherman have been laced with hatred. "Richard Sherman is a dumb n—– thug," read one. Another stated "I know you are not supposed to hate people…But I HATE Richard Sherman."
In an essay posted after the furor, Sherman wrote "I show passion on the football field—but that's only a small part of who I am. If you want to judge me, I can handle it."
Bragging can serve as a challenge, not just to others, but to the person making the brag. Announcing that you're the best at something suddenly makes what may have only been a fantasy into something real, it turns a dream into a goal. If you talk it, you have to try and walk it.
In her book "Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It," Peggy Klaus writes "Learning to brag is not about becoming something you aren't or trying to put something over on someone. In fact, bragging as an art is just the opposite. It's about becoming more of who you are and bringing forward your best parts with authenticity, pride and enthusiasm."
Bragging, then, can be seen not as a coarsening of public discourse, but as a path to the personal realization of one's most dynamic self. Kanye West, the rapper and producer, has compared himself to Steve Jobs, Picasso and Jesus. His swagger has inspired critics to mock his attitude–but he still finished first on The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop poll that picks the year's best album.
On his song "Rap God," Eminem captures the braggart's drive beautifully with his line that he's "full of myself/ but still hungry."
The problem with Sherman's boasts is that they have been delivered largely without winks or style. And mocking a person you just beat as he walks off the field seems unnecessary at best, outrageously poor sportsmanship at worst, and completely weaselly pretty much any way you look at it. Who knows what Crabtree was saying during the game, or before it? But Sherman's team won and is heading to the Super Bowl–so does it really matter what the guy he beat said?
During my son's basketball games, every so often a rival player will be a Sore Winner. One time a kid broke into what appeared to be a Maori war dance after hitting a layup–and then the kid's team went on to lose the game. I always tell my son to resist on-court theatrics. As Lao-tzu says in the "Tao Te Ching," "The Master doesn't talk, he acts." Or as Jay-Z raps on his song "Tom Ford," "numbers don't lie, check the scoreboard."
Also, when pro players get mocked, they sometimes go home to a big house, fast cars and massive bank accounts. Grade school kids sometimes go home to just the echoes of the mockery in their heads.
I'm not someone who thinks sports stars should be seen but not heard. I enjoy Super Bowl Shuffles and Usain Bolt lightning stances and Carmelo Anthony pointing "three to the dome" after a three-point shot. As Mailer suggested, there's something divine about celebrating success and willing oneself to do more. And Sherman's personal story and Stanford achievement is even more inspiring than what he's done as a pro athlete. But mocking the defeated is for losers. Winners are better than that.
Follow me @cjfarley on Twitter and look out for my coming book "Game World."


text:
Stillpath Recovery Center would be located at 16350 Skyline Blvd. in unincorporated Woodside, the current site of the Stillheart Institute. The proposed change in use would not involve demolition of the meditation center, nor would it involve new construction other than a new smoking lounge on the site of an existing swimming pool.
The commission held three hearings in as many months before coming to its decision. Opposition was fierce and fearful among neighbors in Skyline Boulevard communities.
In a county report, the Planning Commission staff addressed each of 11 neighbor concerns. Among them:
• Would a recovering addict drop a lit cigarette and inadvertently start a forest fire? As a condition of the commission's approval, the facility management must restrict smoking to a designated interior lounge to be built on the site of an existing swimming pool.
• If there were an emergency, would the facility's remote location prevent a timely response? The rehab facility will have nursing staff on site, and paramedics are located at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection fire station 1.5 miles away, near the intersection of Skyline and La Honda Road.
• What about the impacts on Skyline Boulevard traffic? The facility will be residential and clients will not be allowed to have vehicles. The staff estimate of 16 additional vehicle trips would increase by 0.5 percent the existing traffic volume on Skyline, which is only 12 percent of its maximum capacity.
• Would the rehab facility monopolize the supply of fresh water for these mountain communities? The report did not address the fresh water supply, but an earlier staff report described two fresh-water tanks already on the site: a 100,000-gallon tank to be used for fire suppression and a 2,500-gallon pressurized tank for domestic water.
The county has 287 beds for treatment of substance abuse and theoretically, based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services figures, some 65,700 people in need of treatment, the report says, adding: "Stillpath will provide a public health service by providing a necessary substance abuse treatment facility to County residents that is geographically near the County's urban populations."
One of the neighbors' concerns: How will administrators prevent smoking on balconies that overlook the forest? With the drought conditions, it won't take much to cause a conflagration.
The facility reportedly has a water main designed for a house and the overall water system is at 90 percent of its capacity, a local firefighter said.
Commissioner Laurie Simonson voted against approving the new use based on her assessment that the proposal requires a full environmental impact report before going ahead, a neighbor said.
The decision is all but certain to be appealed to the Board of Supervisors, the neighbor said in an interview. Paperwork for an appeal was underway outside the chambers while the meeting was going on, she said.
This story contains 502 words.
Stories older than 90 days are available only to subscribing members. Please help sustain quality local journalism by becoming a subscribing member today.
If you are already a subscriber, please log in so you can continue to enjoy unlimited access to stories and archives. Subscriptions start at $5 per month and may be cancelled at any time.


text:
Neck stiffness to keep Markakis out a few days
By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Nick Markakis said he will be out at least a few more days, as the O's right fielder is dealing with neck stiffness that has sidelined him since Sunday.
"I don't know if I did it lifting or something, but I just went home a couple nights ago and started getting a pain in my neck, and I tried to stretch it out and that didn't help, obviously," Markakis said. "The next morning I woke up and it was real stiff and bothering me. I've never had anything like it, so I didn't know what to expect."
Markakis was examined by team doctors on Sunday and there was no structural damage found, and he said Tuesday it's gradually feeling better, which is a good sign.
"The good thing is I wasn't getting any numbness or any pain down my arm or leg or anything, so we've kind of ruled out anything with a disk probably," he said. "That's good. Today's better than yesterday, so that's all we can hope for and we move on from there.
"If the season was going on today, I would probably be able to play. But it's spring, so we'll take it easy -- nice and slow, no rush."
Markakis is coming off season-ending thumb surgery, and he has played in at least 160 games in three of the last four years. He's played in four games this spring, going 3-for-12 with an RBI and two strikeouts, and he traditionally hasn't needed a lot of Grapefruit League action to get ready for the season.
Markakis hasn't done any baseball activities since Sunday, and he will continue to get treatment and be re-evaluated from there. Veteran starters like Markakis typically only play home games during the early portion of camp, and the Orioles play at home on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, and follow her on Twitter @britt_ghiroli. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
All prices are in All prices are in USD
Hover over main image to zoom
The Merkaba is a powerful healing and protection tool.
The Merkaba pendant is based on the flow of Prana energy (life force energy) in our body. By utilizing the ancient Prana breathing technique, we are able to restore the Prana flow through the pineal gland at the center of our brain.
The Merkaba pendant is great for healing and protection. The Merkaba assists us in our spiritual growth and connects us to our higher self. It enables us to feel unconditional love, thus healing ourselves as well as others. The Merkaba gives us the possibility of creating any kind of harmonious reality we desire.
The Merkaba pendant is a powerful symbol with special healing and protective characteristics.


text: Let's say for whatever reason, the Enterprise E is caught in the Delta Quadrant, and finds itself right were Voyager was at Scorpion. How would the crew handle the situation? I'm looking to pick up an old story idea I had, and flesh out to maybe a few movie-style stories or perhaps a mini-series length fanfic. A few details: -Picard decides to rescue Seven from the Borg, has her join the crew, acts like a father figure to her -Seven wears a normal uniform -Data gives her lessons on being human The question would be, how do you see Scorpion playing out? How does Picard's crew handle Species 8472, and how does Picard handle being put back face to face with the Borg so soon after First Contact? How would Picard handle the Equinox' crew? And any particular in-betweens that should be touched on or would be particularly better off had the Enterprise been there? How do you see Data, Geordi, Riker, Picard, and the rest of the crew interacting with her? I'm guessing Data will give her 'lessons' in being human; Picard would insist on her using her real name; Geordi might try to act like a friend to her; Riker I'm not sure of; Troi would try to get her to explore her emotions, running up against the emotional inhibitor, which might need to be addressed earlier. Ideas?


text: Just watched the Paul Haarhuis/Rios match live at the Albert Hall and it was not far off disgraceful. Rios was shameful in is effort levels. He just went through the motions for most of the match, and then would suddenly reel off 5 or 6 clean winners from nowhere and the shut down again. In one service game he made 1 attempt at a serve return and even walked to the duece side from the ad side as Harrhuuis went through his service action. Haarhuis was clearly unnerved by all this and gave him some cheap junk but thankfully pulled the match out. I was really excited about seeing Rios play as i'd never had the chance before and was looking forward to seeing some of his exceptional shot making, and there were a few, but for all that talent you'd think he make an effort and FIND a way to at least compete. That is the mark of a great player, one who can have a c*@p day but still dig deep and find a way to compete. Very very dissapointing.


text:
No Hidden Fees - No Credit Card Surcharges - Low Shipping Rates
Images shown may not be an exact representation of the actual product.You may contact us if you have questions about the exact specifications of this item.
Barrels are chambered in 7.62mm NATO, and commercial .308 Winchester ammo may be used.
All rifles are finished in a parkerized and anodized finish. Rifles feature Side Folding Belgian Aluminum Para Stock, Synthetic Pistol Grip, Belgian Type Synthetic Hand Guards, and Belgian Short Flash Hider.
Rifles are equipped with original Belgian Type fixed front sight and Para rear sight. Standard para trooper top cover included on rifle and DSA Scope mount or Rail hand guard system can be installed by customer.
Rifles come with (1) 20 rd Magazine, Hard Case, and Owner's manual.
Approximate weight of rifle with empty 20 round magazine is 9.0 Pounds. Overall Length is: 16" rifle 38" 18" rifles are 40". This is end of the flash hider to heel of stock.
Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and accessories. Shop online through our 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encrypted online gun store 24 hours a day!


text:
Paging via Phone
This will send a page to the pager with a message of your phone number so that the person you are paging knows who to contact.
- Dial x7950
- Enter the pager number.
- Enter your phone number, followed by the # sign.
Paging via Email
To contact a pager via email, send a plain text message to pager (at) nmt.edu. You cannot send a page via the Outlook web front end.
In the subject line, enter the pager number you want to reach. If there are two or more pagers you want to send the same message to, separate each pager number with a comma.
The body of the message is what will be sent to the pager(s). This text should be no longer than 80 characters.
Offsite Paging Gateway
For your convenience, we currently provide paging to the following service providers:
- Verizon: verizon (at) admin.nmt.edu
- T-Mobile: tmobile (at) admin.nmt.edu
- Sprint: sprint (at) admin.nmt.edu
The subject of the message is the phone number, including area code, such as 5055551212.
The message must be plain text.
Pager Manuals:


text:
"We will all be part of it, whether we're prepared or not."
"It" could be anything from a house fire to the Cascadia earthquake and tsunami forecast to strike the Pacific Northwest. Lianne Thompson is working to get local residents more prepared for whatever emergency event may strike as Clatsop County's new CERT coordinator.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are volunteer, citizen-based groups trained and organized to provide assistance during a variety of events, including storms, fires, floods, evacuations and missing-person searches. Four communities – Astoria, Seaside, Jewell and Lewis and Clark – currently have CERT teams, which are sponsored by their respective local fire departments.
In her new role Thompson serves as a liaison between not only the CERT teams but other local stakeholders involved in emergency response including fire departments, hospitals and the Red Cross, and participates in emergency planning with various local, state and federal agencies.
Thompson assumes the coordinator role from Bill and Dorothy Davidson, who organized local CERT training for several years. The couple continues to lead the Astoria CERT team.
"Bill and Dorothy not only have performed great service for the county as coordinators of our local CERT teams, they also lead one of the best-organized teams in the region," said Dean Perez, Clatsop County Emergency Management director.
CERT training provides new volunteers with basic skills in fire safety, basic disaster medical care, team organization and light search-and-rescue. CERT teams conduct ongoing training for members, including disaster simulations.
A key part of CERT coordination is matching teams and individuals to tasks based on their level of training, in order to make sure volunteers are as useful as possible, Thompson said.
Along with coordinating the county's existing CERT teams, Thompson is also organizing the formation of a new team for south Clatsop County. She is working with organizers in northern Tillamook County communities, many of which have well-organized and active emergency preparedness programs, to ensure good coordination and cooperation across the county line.
As a resident of Falcon Cove, located to the south of the Highway 101 tunnel at Arch Cape, she appreciates how easily communities can be isolated from one another in an emergency, she said.
"When we have an event, it will not be respectful of the dividing lines of the counties," she said.
CERT training is useful even if a person's primary focus is simply caring for him- or herself and family during an emergency, Thompson said.
"If we're prepared, we can live our lives more comfortably.


text:
Comments from the drivers at the halfway point:
Originally Posted by Jorg Mueller (Car 78)
Originally Posted by Dirk Werner (Car 79)
ahhh! Just got home, but glad to see we're still up there!
BMW Motorsport finished in third and fourth place at the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours. Normally, this would be considered a great result in a field that was so tightly packed. However, BMW led the race for over 20 hours. A victory was all but assured as the leading BMW had a 2 lap margin on the trailing Porsche. Suddenly the left-front track rod gave out and the M3 crashed into the barriers. The damage was repaired in the pits but by that time the lead was lost with no time left to recoup it.
This is a huge disappointment for a BMW team that dominated the race. The M3's even ran 1st and 2nd at one point before conditions became very harsh. Even with the 3rd place finish BMW still has the most victories at this endurance race with 21 to its name.
What the drivers had to say:
Dammit, always something like this, even when we're so close


text:
SUITE CONSISTS OF: 1 x Bed ; 2 x bedsides ; 1 x dresser ; 1 x mirror.
COLOUR: Walnut.
BEDROOM SUITE SIZE: Double or queen size.
MATERIAL: Solid timber.
- Bedhead: 1020(H).
- Slat system: Timber 35mm beam slat system.
ORIGIN: Imported.
GUARANTEE: 12 month manufacturer's warranty.
PACKAGING: Bed is flat-packed for easy assembly - all other items are fully assembled in cartons.
CLEANING: Wipe clean with a damp/dry cloth.


text:
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake are looking to repeat the defensive performance from their midweek shutout of Chicago. Seattle are looking to keep a five-game winning streak going.
And that means things are about as normal as ever for these two titans of the Western Conference, set for a showdown at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Saturday (10 pm ET; watch LIVE online). It's a match in which RSL will need to put the clamps on a Sounders attack that is just heating up.
"I think Seattle's a much more dangerous team than Chicago, that's for sure," said defender Nat Borchers as he got set to board the team's flight to the Emerald City. "So we're going to have our hands full."
Borchers pointed out shutting down service from wide positions as just one of the challenges that they are likely to face.
"I think if you look where a lot of their service is coming from, where the goals are coming from, I think [Mauro] Rosales really unlocks things for them," explained Borchers. "I think we're going to have to get tight to him. We're going to have to double team him in certain situations if we can."
But Borchers pointed out that there are other talented players to look out for on the Sounders squad, and the defense will need to be aware of each of the threats that exist.
"We're going to have to make sure we look after another guy named [Fredy] Montero," Borchers deadpanned. "He's pretty good, pretty crafty."
While Montero is a terror for opposing defenses inside the penalty area and at the top of the box, left back Chris Wingert still believes that the wide play is likely the key in this one.
"It's gonna be important for us on the outside to do well," he explained. "They have really good wide midfield play."
In the center of the midfield, however, RSL are going to be a man short. Talismanic playmaker Javier Morales didn't make the trip to Seattle after picking up a quad strain midweek against Chicago. Youngster Luis Gil is likely to start in his place.
It's nothing new for RSL, who've dealt with injuries all season. And Seattle have, too – they're probably going to be without Álvaro Fernández, and attacker Steve Zakuani is still a month or more away from making his return.
Even without those two, however, Wingert still doesn't see any chinks in the armor for the men in Rave Green. And that means the RSL defense will need to be sharp for a full 90 minutes.
"I think they're so good because of their balance," said Wingert. "I don't really see any major weaknesses in their team."


text:
|Submitted By:
|Show Answer
|Posted by karelmania
|Interesting but soo easy
|Posted by tissue
|Yeah, but it was fun. I think the point of it was to get it right.
|Posted by shaylor
|red in there twice...injuRED
|Posted by bluetwo
|yes, red is in there twice. also, (aside from the red thing), there are actually TWELVE colours in the paragraph... you forgot about the word "COLOUR" itself! hehehe.. =)
|Posted by horse_luver
|Aside from the red thing (which I also noticed), and the fact that blue, brown and violet were completely obvious, GR8 TEASER!
|Posted by Ilovepink4
|I thought it was kind of hard at first but it was fun.
|Posted by twixy
|love it.
|Posted by OldChinaHand
|A very nice teaser, good for the many diverse language skill levels here at Braingle. It is this diversity and not individualistic perspectives that I find most appealing here. And it is appealing to that diversity that is the challenge for contributors. So well done. 8)
|Posted by Trishgal
|Got them all ,besides in digo and I just gave up :wink: nice teaser
|Posted by qwertyopiusa
|Posted by hoyty
|easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
|Posted by pleroux
|Good teaser! Despite what some people have saids about "brown" being obvious, it was the third last one I found! :oops: Keep up the great work :D
|Posted by puttumup
|:o that was great i loved it..right up my ally :D :D :D :D .great job ..and im skimpy on the complimants,,, :D :D :D :D
|Posted by bradon182001
|This was kind of easy, but since I didn't find all of them, it was kind of hard. It really was a good test of patience to make sure I found them all. Each time I read the paragraph, I'd find another. Good job. :o
|Posted by coachpisco
|I really liked this one. :D
|Posted by goodyfish
|Fun brain teaser, but no one mentioned that PEA is also a color, so there are 12 :wink:
|Posted by locutus13ds
|Got all but Olive and Indigo. I guess I deal in primaries only.. Ha Good One. :lol:
|Posted by I_Write_Books
|Not too bad
|Posted by I_Write_Books
|enjoyable but easy
|Posted by scallio
|Darn the colors OLIVE and INDIGO! I didn't find them. I assumed you must have been referring to Peacock (blue?) and Pea (as in pea green) as colors. I must have read that paragraph 6 times! :o Thanks for a fun morning! :)
|Posted by tonjawithaj
|I missed olive and indigo too, but ah well! It was well done! Keep em coming! :D
|Posted by Synlapse
|I got all but olive, but olived it anyway. :wink:
|Posted by nikitafullmoon
|That was fun! I agree with OldChinaHand; we have to remember that we're not all from the USA. Also, to expand on that, we're all different ages, too, and what might be really easy for a 30-year old could be difficult for an 8-year old...and vice-versa, believe me...! And thanks, Ninjaxdream, for the Canadian/British spelling of "colourful"! :lol:
|Posted by iteachkids
|I had to print it out and go from there. What a FUN one! Thanx!!! :D
|Posted by amn0856
|it was such a fun teaser, I didn't find the red that you had listed because it was the first thing I found in inju(red), so I wasn't looking for it!
|Posted by bookwormRLB
|Got 10 of them! I missed black. I had wondered if it was a trick since red's in there twice.
|Posted by senther7
|YAY fun word "serch" got all the obips ones......lol :lol:
|Posted by breathesunshine
|This was fun! I also had to print it out so I could circle as I went. I found 11 but included two reds and peacock. I missed black and green. I guess if you included pea as a color there could really be 13! Keep up the good work!
|Posted by becky18567
|i liked that one! it was easy and hard at the same time :roll:
|Posted by celtic_knot
|Olive?! I don't think that's a good color. You should try to use more well known colors. But otherwise good. :D
|Posted by phyllisa
|I really liked this one! I missed pink but put in Pea as in pea green. Good one! :)
|Posted by Kelby
|I LOVE teasers like this! ! They make me excited. Submit more!
|Posted by KAMEREONE
|Guess I wasn't the only one who saw the second 'red'! Aside from that, this was great fun, had to actually wake up to see it!
|Posted by RRAMMOHAN
|Got all except Indigo. Fine teaser. WTG.
|Posted by CSIFreke10190
|Inju(RED) bothered me too.
|Posted by zaya
|Nice one, missed olive and indigo, but found both reds so I thought I was only missing one.
|Posted by vlerma
|Very nice job. I like word searches like this and for me it was very easy. You had a very nice theme to write about however. More please? :D
|Posted by Qrystal
|I enjoyed that. I also saw two "red"s, noted that "peacock" is a colour, and can keep the others company in missing "olive"... but thinking I had 11 already (plus an extra red), I stopped looking. At one point though, just for fun, I decided to try looking backwards... and I saw poo!! That can be a colour too! :P (Oh dear. :P)
|Posted by Qrystal
|OH yeah and: I appreciate seeing "colour" spelled that way! :P WOOHOO!
|Posted by teen_wiz
|Qrystal... naughty, naughty... :P I also missed olive, but got the rest. Great job!! :D
|Posted by doehead
|I guess all the little ones will enjoy this when they get home from school.Way to easy for anybody over 12. :( :( :(
|Posted by warorpeace
|that was hard cause this is my first teaser @braingle :oops:
|Posted by auntiesis
|Not too easy, not too hard. Just the way I like them. :D :D :D
|Posted by emu77alu02
|Olive stumped me! I was trying to find purple or white for the 11th. :oops: It was a really fun teaser! :D
|Posted by patiencewithaP
|Fun even though I missed olive. Great job! :D
|Posted by braingle100
|I really liked this teaser, and I got Brown, Voilet, Pink, and another easy one.
|Posted by braingle100
|blue was the other one, sorry for double posting.
|Posted by UptheHill
|Color Wonderful!!! :lol:
|Posted by leroyleroy
|very colorful--its good
|Posted by bookworm0812
|Ummmm....puting red in here twice doesn't count as 11 colors, it's only 10!
|Posted by elentir
|@ Bookworm - They weren't counting red twice. There are 11 unique colors listed above.
|Posted by crocodile
|I loved this teaser! Easy Peesy, but if there really was a Toronto Range, I'd go there! :D
|Posted by Babe
|Enjoyable one and challenging. Fun! :D
|Posted by gaylewolf
|Fun! Thanks for posting. :wink: :)
|Posted by lukasiwicz
|If one considers "pea" to be a color, there are 13 colors in the passage, not counting the dual occurrence of "red," and not counting the word "colour,": red, olive, orange, pink, indigo, vert (a shade of green), yellow, blue, brown, black, green, pea (another shade of green), and violet. So there.
|Posted by cutebug
|A little too easy. :D :D
|Posted by Caramell
|technically there is only 10 colors cos red has been used twice.
|Posted by bestgirl
|This type is not my cup of tea, but I see a lot of people like them.
|Posted by Maggiethe8th
|I only had energy/patience for the first 6 as I started my Saturday routine-loved the giggle feeling when I saw them! thank you!
|Posted by iggy39
|I thought it was well planned and fun. I missed indigo but I really enjoyed this one. Thx :D :) :) :) I was looking for other things too, like food or animals but didn't come up with a whole lot of either. Just really enjoyed this one. I said that didn't I :oops:
|Posted by catmom
|:D :D I can't believe that I got them all on the first run through. Yay! :D :D
|Posted by raisin99
|easy, but enjoyable I did find red twice
|Posted by raisin99
|easy, but enjoyable I did find red twice
|Posted by dsjt
|Actually the correct answer to the question posed is... "YES" The question was... "Can you find the eleven hidden colours in the following paragraph:"
Most Popular | Hardest | Easiest
Privacy | Terms
Copyright © 2003


text: Maybe when there beating up naruto the girl says "tell us about sasuke this is your final chance" then sakura come in to try to stop the girl but the girl grabs sakura by the hair and punches her into a wall. Then Naruto says "you hurt sakura, for that i will kick your ass!" and he starts beating her team up, crazy thought, But could be quite kl.


text:
Hot tags Anatomy Anthropology and Sociology Mental Health Neuroscience Psychology
Science subject and location tags
This tag library is an archive and is no longer updated. For current content go to ABC News.
RSS | MapUniversity of Queensland 4072
Big chill drove Antarctic ocean diversity
Friday, 19 April 2013
Antarctica's abrupt deep freeze around 34 million years ago caused a plankton explosion that transformed Southern Ocean ecosystems, new research has found.
Are Australian dugongs catching a cold?
Monday, 15 April 2013
Dugongs in one of Australia's largest populations appear to be getting sick and dying as a result of exposure to cold water, say researchers.
Aussie scientists sequence koala genome
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
The koala genome has been sequenced by two teams of Australian scientists.
Tool makes conservation profitable and fair
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
A new conservation tool could ensure the location of marine protected areas is fair to everyone who fishes, say researchers.
Antibiotic overuse fuels gastro bug fear
Monday, 25 March 2013
Unnecessary use of antibiotics could unleash a killer hypervirulent strain of gastro bug in Australia, warn infectious disease experts.
Childhood smarts partly in the genes
Thursday, 14 March 2013
On average, 20 to 40 per cent of a child's intelligence is inherited, an international team of researchers has found.
'Smoke rings' tie up physics challenge
Monday, 4 March 2013
Two US researchers have effectively created "smoke rings" in water and knotted them together for the first time.
Wild pollinators 'key' to feeding the world
Friday, 1 March 2013
Wild insects are crucial for crop pollination but they are declining, and their role cannot be compensated for by managed honeybees, say experts.
Proving the need for quantum computers
Friday, 21 December 2012
Scientists have reached a milestone in the search for proof that quantum computers are really necessary.
Coral yields precise Polynesian arrival date
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Researchers have dated ancient coral tools in Tonga to pin down the most precise date for human settlement of Polynesia yet.
Pinning down the price of biodiversity
Friday, 12 October 2012
It would cost up to US.76 billion annually to protect the planet's threatened species from extinction, estimate researchers.
Scientists probe tummy bug gene swap
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract are more likely to share genes that make them more virulent, or resistant to antibiotics if they are closely related, a new study has found.
Sewage-munching microbes to power plants
Friday, 10 August 2012
Microbes used to treat human waste might also generate enough electricity to power whole sewage plants, scientists hope.
Be happy and don't worry about being sad
Friday, 10 August 2012
Society's cult of happiness is making sad people more miserable, say researchers.
Floating pumice seeding Aussie reefs
Friday, 20 July 2012
Tonga's volcanoes may be providing new life to Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef.


text:
OCEAN CITY – As City Council members raised their hands unanimously in hopes to increase a Boardwalk amenity, they also seemingly raised some concerns about the overall safety on the Boardwalk itself.
The council voted 6-0, with President Joe Mitrecic absent, to extend the hours that bike riders can be on the Boardwalk in the summer season to 11 a.m., but also opted for the tram to continue its current start-time of 10 a.m.
Mayor Rick Meehan, who is an avid Boardwalk biker, cautioned the council not to create added congestion on the Boardwalk, especially in July and August, and was visibly displeased with the council's decision after their votes were tabulated.
"Honestly, I think the topic needs much more discussion", said Meehan. "We beat up the calendar of events for the town for the better part of an hour and we made a decision on this in about 10 minutes."
Meehan, who says he rides on the boardwalk five days a week in the summer, agrees with the idea brought forward by Don Enste, owner of Dandy Don's bike rental, to extend the hours riders are allowed on the Boardwalk, but has safety concerns about the decision not to push back the tram service to 11 a.m. as well.
"When two trams go past each other, it chokes off all traffic on the Boardwalk, and if you add a bunch of bike traffic to that equation, we could have a real problem, as the bikers have nowhere to go," said Meehan.
Meehan believes the council has "all the right intentions," but thought that the "decision was rushed a bit," perhaps due to the issue coming up at the end of an almost four-hour work session on Tuesday.
Enste admitted that the idea was in hopes to increase his business, but added that there would be benefits to all Boardwalk businesses by the change, noting the most feedback he's received from his customers over the years was simply "more time."
"People have enjoyed riding bikes up and down the Boardwalk for generations with their families, and over the last several years, our customers have expressed overwhelmingly that a little more time to ride bikes on the Boardwalk would be great," said Enste.
Councilwoman Margaret Pillas, who owns a shop on the Boardwalk, seemed to think that the extension of hours would pose few problems.
"Bikers are here to stay on the Boardwalk," said Pillas. "If you come at 9 a.m. now, there is a crowd because people are trying to get their ride in the last hour, so this might stretch it out and disperse the traffic."
Councilman Jim Hall thought that giving the idea a try for a summer would be a good move and disagreed with the mayor's idea to just extend the hours to the weekdays.
"How can you let someone ride all week until 11 and then give them a ticket on the weekend for riding after 10 a.m.?" queried Hall.
The safety concern that was created by the vote to continue the tram operation at 10 a.m. was more than likely an inadvertent mishap by the council in efforts to keep the revenue from the trams during the first hour of the day. According a graph charting revenue by hour brought in over 126 days last year (May 17-Sept. 13), the tram brings in on average $1,980 on Saturdays and Sundays between 10-11 a.m.
Over the course of 18 weeks, if the service were to be eliminated to create more space for the bike riders from 10-11 a.m., the town would lose approximately $35,640 in revenue.
It should be noted that the first-hour tram revenue during the week is rather small, with the highest revenue on average during the week being on Wednesday at $420, but with the town trying to balance a budget under tough conditions, the council appears to be trying to keep the revenue but also add a service for the visitors.
Enste said that his chief concern as a bike shop owner is always safety and that education on the "pedestrian has the right of way" is his greatest talking point. He also noted that Wildwood, N.J. allows bikers on their Boardwalk until 11 a.m. as well.
The change will now move to ordinance form and will be further discussed during the two required readings before the change becomes law.
Councilman Jim Hall said in the days that followed the meeting that a few changes will more than likely be made before or during the readings.
"It won't hurt my feelings if we stop the tram until 11 a.m.," said Hall. "After the meeting, a few people brought up some serious concerns, but the important thing is we moved it forward, and we'll fine tune it later."


text:
- Details
- Created: Thursday, 09 August 2012 13:26
Polk's Top 7
By Mark Polk, RV Education 101
Can you drive a 35-foot motorhome and still be conscious about the environment around you?
To the non-RVing onlooker, though, traveling by RV equates to a gas-guzzling behemoth that is destroying the environment. The stereotype is, RVs and the people who use them are reckless, self-serving individuals with no regard for the carbon footprint they leave behind.
The biggest culprits related to energy consumption and environmental concerns are, of course, the fossil fuels burned getting from point A to point B in our RVs. But when compared to air travel, RVs — even at 7 to 10 miles per gallon — are the better choice environmentally.
In an edition of the weekly periodical The Nation, an article stated the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by jets during air travel are around 270 percent greater than those of average emissions caused by driving the same distance. George Monbiot, the author, went on to say that this makes air travel "one of the most destructive things we can do."
At the last several RV and auto shows I have attended, it was evident that innovative RV and automobile manufacturers are designing green RVs, smaller and lighter RVs, and engines that run on alternative fuels. In addition, there are ways the energy-conscious RVer can improve the amount of energy consumed while driving down the highway.
Ways to improve RV fuel economy
For starters, we can slow down. Speeding and rapid acceleration reduces fuel economy from 5 to 33 percent, depending on your individual driving habits. Here are seven other simple ways to lower your fuel consumption:
1. Check and adjust the tire pressure to the proper pressure. This can increase fuel economy by 3 percent. It can also prevent premature tire wear and failures or blowouts caused by overinflated or underinflated tires. Tires can look normal when they are seriously underinflated.
2. Use a clean air filter. It's simple, but can improve your fuel economy by up to 10 percent.
3. Use overdrive whenever you can. It will save fuel by decreasing the engine speed.
4. Use the cruise control whenever possible. This saves fuel because it keeps the vehicle at a constant speed rather than variable speeds. Note: This applies when you are driving on a relatively flat surface.
5. Keep the RV tuned up and in top running condition. A poorly tuned engine can lower fuel economy by 10 to 20 percent.
6. Poor emissions and/or a faulty oxygen sensor can cause a 40-percent reduction in fuel economy. Can you believe that -- a 40-percent reduction!
7. Added weight, which you don't need, reduces fuel economy significantly. We're all guilty of this one.
Water consumption: house vs. RV
After arriving at your destination, the amount of energy consumed by a motorhome is far less than that of your home. By design, the RV is an environmentally friendly house. You have water-saving devices such as a 6- or 10-gallon water heater as compared to a 40- or 100-gallon water heater tank in your home. There is a water-saving toilet, and you aren't watering the lawn or using the dishwasher when you're RVing.
According to the American Water Works Association, the average U.S. residence uses about 110 gallons of water a day. I would venture to say that when we use our RV, as a family, we probably use less than 40 gallons of water a day.
In addition to the built-in water-saving features of an RV, there are many other ways we can lower the amount of water we use. Here are a few ideas touted by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service:
- When brushing your teeth, don't let the water keep running. Instead, half fill a glass and use that water to wet your brush and rinse your mouth.
- When washing your hands or shaving, do not let the water run. Fill the basin and dip your hands or razor, as needed.
- Turn off the shower while shampooing your hair.
- Teach children water-saving techniques.
- Take short showers, not baths. Limit showers to five minutes or less.
- Install flow restrictors on individual water fixtures like shower heads and faucets. They automatically reduce flow and aerate the water.
Electricity use: home vs. motorhome
On the electric side of energy consumption, your RV uses less than your home too, even when the RV is plugged in to a campground electrical service. It's more efficient to heat and cool the RV, simply because of the amount of space we are heating and/or cooling, as compared to our homes. Another reason is your RV has many devices that operate on 12-volt DC power, that at home would require 120-volt AC power to operate.
If your house uses LP-gas as an energy source for heat, cooking, and heating water, your home on wheels will use much less propane to do the same thing.
Renewable energy source: solar power
If you are really interested in reducing the carbon footprint left behind in your RV, and going green, you can start by looking at renewable energy sources. America depends on fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal for everything we do. Fossil fuels are not renewable energy sources and cause pollution whenever they are burned.
Renewable energy, unlike fossil fuels, can never be used up and does not cause pollution.
For RVers the most logical renewable energy source comes by the way of the sun. Solar energy is produced by the sun's rays. By using solar panels, batteries and inverters, we have a way to harness this renewable energy for use in our RV. Solar energy is clean energy that never can be used up, doesn't pollute and is almost always available at no charge.
Basically, a typical solar-power system for an RV would consist of solar panels, batteries, some type of charge controller and an inverter. The solar panels capture the sun's energy and produce direct current, or DC power. This captured power is stored in the RV's auxiliary batteries. A charge controller makes sure the RV batteries are fully charged, but not overcharged. The power inverter converts the DC power stored in the batteries to alternating current, or AC power, to be used by the RV's appliances.
Many of the inverters found in RVs today are inverter/chargers. This means they are inverters, battery chargers and a transfer switch all in one.
As I stated earlier, it is possible to drive a 35-foot motorhome and still be conscious about the environment. We as a country, and even more so as RVers, can and should protect the environment and leave it in as good of, if not better, condition than we found it. We can all do our part, in some way, to be good stewards of the land we enjoy so much.
One of my wishes is for my children's children, and their future generations to visit some of the same spectacular places we have visited in our RV; and when they do, to see it the same way it was when we first saw it.


text:
Read what Peter Vescey and others have to say: "David Stern wilted...had Isiah in his croos hairs", etc.
Mardy Collins committed a hard but not dirty foul, not a heinous act. Nothing Charles Oakley, Alonzo Mourning, Bill Lambeer or Ed Pinckney did not regularly do.
But the right-wing sports pundits have still not forgiven Isiah for dethroning the Bird era Celtics. They still deny Spike Lee's right to be a prominent basketball fan, just as they deny the right of Palestine to exist as a viable state, and slander Hugo Chavez as a tin-pot dictator when the reality is that a majority of the still-functioning private Venezuela press supported the 2002 coup, as did most of the opposition candidates in the 2006 election (some dictator!!).
Knick fans need to wake up to the subtext of the press hostility to the bonding of the Knicks into a real team. This team still has a long way to go, but not so much on the raw talent road, as on the bonding, on learning how to play together, smarter, more effectively, correcting fundamentals, etc.
Keep this core together and they will get better. Compare the reaction of the press, for example, to the Celtics, who threw away Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson to keep Antoine Walker - oh but those were white executives. The Knick debacle is about Dolan and Layden, not Isiah.
Has every move Isiah made worked out? No. So what? Some moves work, some don't. At least he had the courage to revamp the team he inherited.
David Lee for example is a still very young player (not even a regular starter yet) who ranks 25th in the league in ESPN's PER statistic. That ranks him as an unheralded superstar by objective standards. And Isiah found him at the 30 spot (in the draft).