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Sky Atlantic's much-anticipated new crime series is a slow thaw, but it has a great cast and a terrific setting
|In cold blood – murder comes to Fortitude, with Stanley Tucci, Sofie Grabol and Christopher Eccleston. Pics: Sky
Rating: ★★★½
Sky Atlantic: starts Thursday, 29 January, 9pm
Story: In the close-knit community of Fortitude in the Arctic Circle, a murder touches everyone and the unsettling horror of the crime threatens the future of the town itself.
AN AVALANCHE of hype has accompanied Sky's Arctic thriller. At a rumoured £25million it has cost more than the entire budget of the Sky Arts channel, apparently. It's meant to pitch Sky Atlantic into the HBO league of major drama creators. It's the network's most ambitious series ever etc etc.
|Sheriff Dan doesn't think the town is big enough for him and Morton
With a terrific international roster of actors including Stanley Tucci, Sofie Grabol, Michael Gambon, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Dormer and Sienna Guillory, it certainly grabs the attention. And devotees of recent dark mysteries such as The Killing and Broadchurch will also be intrigued by an unusual 11-parter set in an almost surreal frozen setting.
But, on viewing it, how does Fortitude measure up? I thought it got off to a slightly bewildering start.
Sofie Grabol is Fortitude's governor
|Wildlife photographer Henry makes a horrid discovery
The opening feature-length episode is stunningly set in an Icelandic town, but it hurriedly throws so many characters and storylines at you that the first hour leaves you a bit, well, cold.
It begins with Michael Gambon's Henry stumbling on a savage scene on the seafront, which is immediately disconcerting. Then a young lad is stricken with a mystery illness and is left by his father, who's having illicit sex with a hotel receptionist.
Meanwhile, the discovery of a mammoth's remains by two chancers threatens the plans of the governor, Hildur (The Killing's Sofie Grabol), to redevelop Fortitude.
We also meet the town's odd but charming PCs Ingrid and Petra, and new arrival Vincent (played by Luke Treadaway), who's here to help Professor Stoddart (Christopher Eccleston).
Stanley Tucci as DCI Morton
There's more, but the blizzard of plotlines comes to a halt when a grisly murder is discovered, and the town with no crime is abruptly revealed to actually harbour very dark undercurrents.
|Ingrid and Petra
It is when Stanley Tucci's character, DCI Eugene Morton, arrives from London that the drama gels and we get our bearings (though how an American with FBI credentials happens to be working for London's Metropolitan Police is again confusing).
Morton is confronted by the antagonistic sheriff (Richard Dormer), which sets up the juicy prospect of a running battle between the pair.
After what is a messy opening episode, Fortitude could well develop into a sharp and intriguing drama. Created by Simon Donald, who wrote C4's gritty crime series Low Winter Sun, it is certainly original, with a savage but beautiful setting.
Sofie Grabol shows her versatility by throwing off her strutting detective Sarah Lund from The Killing to play an under-pressure politician with an agenda. Tucci is very watchable as the outsider poking his nose in, and there are certainly enough murky goings-on to keep viewers guessing.
|Newcomer Vincent (Luke Treadaway) meets Natalie (Sienna Guillory)
I've seen it compared to Twin Peaks, which is misleading. But Fortitude is in the rich vein of contemporary dark crime series full of compromised heroes.
Sky will be anxious that it snowballs into a bigger hit than its previously acclaimed series The Take (2009) and Mad Dogs (2011), but, while refreshingly bold, it doesn't put them in the same league as HBO and True Detective just yet.
Cast: Richard Dormer Sheriff Dan Anderssen, Stanley Tucci DCI Eugene Morton, Michael Gambon Henry Tyson, Sofie Grabol Governor Hildur Odegard, Christopher Eccleston Professor Charlie Stoddart, Luke Treadaway Vincent Rattrey, Jessica Raine Jules Sutter, Nicholas Pinnock Frank Sutter, Johnny Harris Ronnie Morgan, Veronica Echegui Elena Ledesma, Sienna Guillory Natalie Yelburton, Darren Boyd Markus Huseklepp, Mia Jexen PC Ingrid, Alexandra Moen PC Petra, Darwin Brokenbro Liam Sutter, Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips Carrie Morgan, Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson Eric Odegard, Chipo Chung Trish Stoddart, Phoebe Nicholls Doctor Allerdyce


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Apex Millwork
Subcategory: Balustrade Systems, Decorative Accents, Decorative Columns, Moulding, Mounts, Posts, Surrounds & Casings, Vents
Material: Polyurethane Foam
Apex Urethane Millwork balustrade systems are manufactured by molding high-density urethane around galvanized steel pipe or PVC pipe to ensure structural integrity.
Subcategory: Vents
Material: Polyurethane
Like louvers, E-Vents help the attic breathe. They extend life expectancy of roofs and attic insulation by reducing moisture and heat buildup.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tastings - A Wine Experience
Try wine from Indianapolis' largest by-the-taste venue. The wine bar, set on the corner of Washington and Illinois Street, adjoins Conrad Indianapolis at ground level.
Sip a little or take home a bottle from Tastings, voted "Best Wine Bar" by Indy A-List three years in a row. Tastings is a one-of-a-kind wine bar offering new levels of experience to everyone from the novice to the sommelier. With over 200 wines in stock, Tastings boasts one of the largest selections in the world for wines-by-the-taste. The entire selection is available by the taste, glass, and by the bottle. With innovative tasting stations that reduce the presence of oxygen to preserve the peak condition of our wines, you can enjoy a glass of award-winning wine and be confident that it is being served in its prime.
Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere inside or grab a couch on the outdoor patio for some of the best people watching the city has to offer. Choose from a wide array of cheese platters, savory appetizers and small plates from the tapas style menu to compliment your wine selection. The impressive spirit selection and local beers on tap ensure there's something for every palate.
Wine Wednesdays
Tastings is teaming up with Conrad to deliver novices and aficionados alike the answer to their mid-week wine craving. Explore wines from around the world with rotating featured tastings, which includes wine tastings with small plate accompaniments. Visit tastingsbar.com/upcoming-events for the full Wine Wednesday lineup.
$25-30 per person
Seating at 6:00 p.m.
RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com or 317.423.2400.
Opening Hours:
|15:00 - 23:00
|15:00 - 00:00
|Tuesday to Thursday
|11:00 - 00:00
|Friday to Saturday
|11:00 - 01:00


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Per G. H. Lofberg on Opportunity
On April 21, Tepper School of Business students discussed the dynamic healthcare industry with Per G. H. Lofberg (MSIA '73), as part of the W.L. Mellon Speaker Series. Lofberg highlighted opportunities – his own and the many open to Tepper School graduates.
Lofberg opened his remarks with fond memories of his time as a student at the Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA), as the Tepper School was then known, and painted a colorful picture of a Pittsburgh where steel mills lined the rivers.
He'd come to GSIA from Sweden to take advantage of the school's novel quantitative approach and vision in utilizing computer science, expressing his gratitude for the education he received.
"Joining the graduate program here at GSIA was a profound and quite transformative opportunity for me, both personally and professionally," he said.
After graduation, Lofberg joined the Boston Consulting Group, where he gained experience with colleagues like Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu. He described the unique environment as "Darwinian; brutal but effective" and "a second transformative opportunity."
In response to the fundamental changes triggered by managed care, Lofberg helped to create a group specializing in healthcare, an industry in which he would remain throughout his career. All the while, he relied on "the quantitative approach of Carnegie Mellon. It has shaped my whole philosophy and approach to business up to this day," he observed.
Lofberg then elaborated on the pharmacy benefit management business and the ever-changing healthcare industry.
"The transition from fee-for-service to managed care actually continues to this day and is far from complete," said Lofberg. "It is at the core of the healthcare debate in this country, especially as it relates to the tension between access to care, quality of care, and affordability of care."
"I believe that tension is actually very good," he added. "It generates innovation and competition. It's not coincidence, I think, that pretty much all of the innovation in healthcare happens in this country."
Lofberg then opened the floor to numerous student questions.
He offered his advice for entering the consulting field, highlighting the benefit of experiencing a variety of business situations balanced by a demanding schedule that can impact family life.
He commented on his appreciation for the team-oriented culture at CVS and on the topic of educational depth vs. breadth, noted that he had specialized at BCG against the mold and enjoyed his "generalist stage."
In answer to a question regarding ethics in his industry, Lofberg advised, "You're not going to succeed in healthcare if all you focus on is the bottom line. You really have to have a higher mission, a goal to do something that's really good for people and put that at the top of the priority list."
In conclusion, Lofberg offered his industry views and hopes for the students.
"The pressures and changes in healthcare are by no means settling down," he said. "In fact, I'd say they're accelerating and this is going to create and an extremely dynamic, interesting environment in the coming years."
"There's a lot to do here, lots of opportunity to add value," Lofberg continued. "I really hope that some of you will be part of this future and also that you have many opportunities, just like I've had, to make a difference. I do think that here at the Tepper School is a great place to start. Good luck to all of you."
View the presentation
Flickr Gallery
2014-2015 W.L. Mellon Speaker Series


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Through floristic assessments, we know of our amazing plant diversity. Rock Cress, Drummond's Aster, Rattlesnake Fern, and Marsh Marigold, all endangered or county records, have been found in Dublin's parks along with a more common, but diverse list of plants. Regardless of the time of year you can find something blooming with each season taking on its own color scheme.
Invasive Plants
We are home to several of the plants listed on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources top ten most invasive plants. The Department reports that about one quarter of all plants currently in the state of Ohio are non-native. We encourage you to plant native perennials.
Our Green Team along with scouting groups works on non-native plant eradication in designated areas. If you are interested in doing more, let us know. Please note that it is illegal to remove any plant from public property.
Spring Ephemerals
Many of our woodlots and tree lines are filled with spring blooming plants. Darree Fields, M.L. Red Trabue Nature Reserve, Donegal Cliffs, Wellington Park and Heather Glen Park all are breathtaking and include many of the following.
- Dutchman's Breeches
- Trillium
- Phlox
- Violets
- May Apple
- Spring Beauty
- Cut-leaved Toothwort
- Jack in the Pulpit
- Bloodroot
- Wild Ginger
- Hepatica
- Dog tooth Violet
- Jacob's Latter
- Skunk Cabbage
- Wild Geraniu
- Wood Anemone Jacob's Ladder
- Bellwort
- Waterleaf
Because Dublin is so diverse in habitat and has the Scioto River corridor along with several other stream corridors, it is rich in wildlife. Exciting birds along with many interesting mammals, amphibians and reptiles are reported yearly.
Birding and Bluebird trails have been established and maintained in many of our parks through volunteer efforts.
Many species of birds can be seen in Dublin and if you're keeping a bird list you might be surprised at what passes through each spring and fall along the Scioto River corridor.
Several warblers, including the Prothonotary Warbler, migrate through or take up residency. Indigo buntings, Baltimore oreoles, Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Woodcocks, Bald eagles and Eastern Bluebird are among the favorites.
City offering Bluebird Box Maintenance educational session
Who doesn't get a thrill out of seeing a blue sky and hearing the song of birds? Eastern Bluebirds are a combination of the color of sky and happiness and the beautiful blue of their feathers lightens the hearts of our residents. We have created a volunteer program to ensure continued success of this bird.
The purpose of this volunteer group is to create a core network of trained volunteers to maintain bluebird boxes in our parks. Bluebirds are secondary cavity nesters, meaning they need a tree or other type of cavity to nest in but cannot build it themselves. They typically rely on woodpecker cavities or human structures such as bird boxes.
By establishing bluebird trails, small groups of boxes, throughout Dublin we can insure healthy populations of bluebirds for generations to come.
Discover the Bluebird Boxes: http://maps.dublin.oh.us/birdboxes
Butterflies and Hummingbirds
This garden at Scioto Park was established to draw butterflies and hummingbirds into view for visitors and to educate the public. Watch carefully and you might spot several species of butterflies flitting from flower to flower, or observe the ruby-throated hummingbird aggressively defending its territory.
Familiarity with the needs of an animal over its life span helps to provide the environment most favorable for the animal. This brochure describes feeding habits and life cycles of butterflies and hummingbirds. Information is also given about starting a garden at home.
Feeding Habits
Both butterflies and hummingbirds feed on nectar, which is found inside flowers. Butterflies are attracted to masses of soft flower color and are also drawn by flower scent and shape. Hummingbirds are lured to food sources by flower color. They prefer red flowering plants, such as coral bells and bee balm.
Nectar is not the only source of nourishment for hummingbirds and butterflies. For example, butterflies will drink tree sap or abstract nutrients from fruit. They can also draw minerals and salts from mud or nutrients from rotting fish. Hummingbirds mostly drink nectar but also supplement their diet with insects and spiders.
Life Cycles
The ruby throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird found in Ohio, migrating north to Ohio in the spring and staying through September. Females nest in dense thickets where they can easily hide. Nests are very small – about the size of a silver dollar – and are commonly made from hair, downy seed material, spider webs and lichen. A female normally lays two eggs and cares for the young on her own.
Butterflies have a particularly complex life cycle, with stages of development that differ considerably from one another. Adult butterflies lay eggs on a host plant. Eggs hatch into caterpillars and caterpillars feed on leaves of the host plant to store the needed energy to enter into the next stage, the chrysalis. As a chrysalis, the caterpillar forms a hard outer case and sheds its skin. After a period of time, an adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
Creating Your Own Garden
Loss of habitat has an adverse effect on butterflies and hummingbirds. The Scioto garden demonstrates how anyone can create a haven for these animals with just a little time and space.
Site your garden in a sunny location. Butterflies are cold blooded animals and require sunlight for temperature regulation and for navigation. Avoid windy sites, as they are not favored by butterflies and hummingbirds.
Choose plants particularly for their value as food sources. Using a variety of plants and extending the bloom period as long as possible will attract the greatest numbers of butterflies and hummingbirds. Many different annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs and trees are available to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Be careful about using pesticides, as they can be harmful to these creatures. Because butterfly caterpillars feed on plant foliage, a certain amount of damage may be present. Generally this damage will not kill the host plant and simply needs to be tolerated by the gardener. Many books and reference sources are available about butterflies and hummingbirds. Your local library can provide a wealth of additional information.
Plants For A Butterfly And Hummingbird Garden
The listing below contains plants used in the Scioto Garden. However, many other plants are also available which will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) B, H
- Judd Viburnum (Viburnum x juddii) B
- Perennials
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) H
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) B, H
- Wild Sweet William (Phlox maculata) B, H
- Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea) H
- Autumn Joy Sedum (Sedum x '
- Autumn Joy') B
- Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) B
- Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) B
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) B, H
- B = attracts butterflies
- H = attracts hummingbirds
Coyotes are currently found throughout the U.S., although prior to the 1900s they were generally located west of the Mississippi River. The first sighting of a coyote in Ohio was recorded in 1919 and today this wild dog can be found in all 88 counties. Highly adaptable, research shows the coyotes can live in most habitats as long as their needs are met. While some wildlife species have avoided developed areas and often decline as a result of man's expansion, coyotes seem to succeed.
Coyotes are more easily seen in winter months because of the lack of vegetation and harsher conditions sometimes force them to hunt during daylight hours. They also look much larger than they actually are because of extremely dense winter coats. Central Ohio and Midwest research has revealed that coyotes weigh around 35 pounds on average. Although this is common knowledge amongst scientists, many still believe they weigh much more due to their appearance.
Habitat and Habits
The coyote is a nocturnal animal, mostly active during the nighttime and early morning hours. However, when it is less threatened by humans, it will hunt/move from place to place during the day. Furthermore, coyotes are more often seen in winter months when snow cover and harsh conditions cause them to hunt for food in daylight hours.
Considered carnivores, more than half of their diet consists of small mammals including shrews, voles, rabbits and mice. Plants can also be a significant part of a coyote's diet. Coyotes will eat fruits, grasses, vegetables, insects and carrion. Ample food can also be found in dumpsters or garbage cans as well as bird feeders.
Dispelling Rumors about Coyotes
Because of their diet, it is not common for suburban coyotes to hunt in packs. A group of coyotes is more likely to be a family in which the young are not yet mature enough to survive independently. In areas where winter food consists mainly of herd animals, they do sometimes feed in groups. However, this is less common in central Ohio. As opportunists, coyotes will pursue severely young, injured, and/or dying animals such as deer. As with all animals, coyotes tend to go after the easiest meal and expend as little energy possible.
Coyotes are highly unlikely to attack a person unless provoked or threatened. Coyotes are shy and cautious albeit curious creatures and most often they avoid humans. Across North America, including Canada, there have been less than 150 attacks (an average of 3 per year). Domestic dog attacks are far more common with hundreds happening in Franklin County, Ohio in any given year. Some humans have reported being followed by a coyote. However, most often it was when they were walking a pet.
Domestic cats and dogs are not necessarily seen as a food source, but rather a threat to a coyote's territory. Coyotes are extremely territorial. They protect their food, their mate (they mate for life), and their young. They scent mark their territories and most often do not cross into another coyote's territory. Our domestic dogs do not necessarily know how to read coyote signs and are simply seen as an intruder that could possibly do harm. We often unknowingly walk our pets through coyote territories.
Vocalization does not equal aggression. At times the city receives calls about coyotes howling and many believe they're hunting at this time. Oppositely, they're bonding as a family and just announcing their territory. Any animal hunting is going to be as quiet as possible.
Many believe the state of Ohio has open hunting season on coyotes because they are bad or evil animals. This however, is not true. Many animals, including woodchucks are so prolific and adaptable that according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, they can be hunted year round without detriment to the species. Of course permits can be obtained for many nuisance animals including coyotes, on private property.
The Case against Trapping
When coyotes are spotted in urban and suburban settings, people often contact their local wildlife agency requesting that coyotes be trapped and relocated. Others advocate lethal trapping, poisoning or shooting. There are good reasons why these are neither appropriate nor effective responses to the presence of coyotes.
Perhaps the primary argument against attempting to remove coyotes from an area is based on coyote reproduction and behavior facts. In areas where there have been reductions in the coyote population due to human efforts, coyotes typically increase their litter size until the population is again brought to the level that the habitat can sustain. Empty territories also attract coyotes that migrate to fill the void. Therefore, if coyotes are not causing damage in an area then they will protect this territory from coyotes that might pose problems.
Basic Steps to Deter Coyotes
First and foremost it is important to understand that human behavior is the key to keeping pets and people safe when it comes to all wildlife. Often even those captivated by wildlife unknowingly cause harm. Standing and starring at any wild animal or leaving out of fear allows animals to think people are safe or that we'll leave. On the contrary, animals should leave, moving in the opposite direction of a human. We are a predator and we want wildlife to remember this. Humans should never coax a wild animal closer with food or a soft voice. Potential for harm increases when humans try to interact with wildlife.
Hazing is a great way to safely remind coyotes that they should steer clear of humans. Throw rocks or items in the direction of the coyote, spray water from a garden hose, wave your arms, yell, and look as big as you can. Never leave before the coyote. Wait for it to leave first.
Coyotes are protective, instinctual, and opportunists. They will be attracted to residential yards if a food source is available. Birdbaths, feeders, outside pet bowls, trash, unpicked fruits, and vegetable can attract an assortment of unwanted wildlife. Keeping yards free of these items can be helpful in deterring coyotes.
Never let small pets outside unattended. Not only coyotes, but also large birds of prey, domestic dogs, and automobiles can all be hazardous to our pets. If you are walking your dog through an area where you suspect coyotes are present, carry pepper spray, vinegar in a spray bottle, or even a walking stick. Furthermore, never let a dog off leash in these areas. Studies have shown that dogs on a leash six feet or less in length are far less likely to be attacked due to their proximity to humans.
Lastly, keep yourself safe. Some people are fearful of wildlife and are uncomfortable with any interaction, including the before mentioned hazing techniques. Only do what is comfortable and teach children to do the same.
For more information:
White-tailed deer are an Ohio comeback success story. Ohio deer were eliminated from the state in the 1800s. With no hunting regulations and radical environmental changes due to clear cutting and farming, deer were once seldom seen. Spotting a deer was headline news in local papers. With regulated hunting, reintroduction of deer in the early 1900s and the return of woodlands over time, deer populations have increased tremendously, especially in urban areas were deer are not hunted and there are few natural predators.
White-tailed deer are common throughout Dublin. Ohio 's largest herbivore, white-tails feed on a variety of foods. Depending on the season their diet may consist of bark, fruits, twigs, acorns and an assortment of plants.
Their coloration changes from red tones in the summer to more grey/brown tones in winter. White-tailed deer rely on stealth to hide themselves. They tend to move slowly and deliberately, blending in with their surroundings. They rely on their speed to escape danger.
White-tailed deer can reach speeds over 30 mph. They are named for their white tail, which signals danger to other deer and tells predators they are leaving. Deer also have an incredible sense of smell, great eyesight and fantastic hearing, all of which help them detect danger.
Rearing one to three young per year, does are more communal and are frequently seen in groups, especially in winter months. Female offspring often stay with their mother for more than a year, but young bucks separate from their mother after about 12 months.
More solitary, bucks start growing antlers in the spring. Antler size has less to do with age than with genetics and health. Antlers are shed in late winter and are quickly eaten by many small mammals for their high vitamin and nutrient content.
Signs of Deer Activity
Because deer have no upper front teeth they tend to leave uneven, scraggly bite marks on plants they've been eating. Other animals such as rabbits tend to leave much cleaner, angled cuts. Additionally, deer sometimes leave a squared off bite.
Deer also leave rubs or scrapes on trees. Scrapes are made by the lower front teeth and are usually mistaken for rubs which are made by antlers. Usually rubs occur in the fall when a buck is shedding the velvet off his antlers. Rubbing not only helps remove velvet, but also scents the tree, helping the deer mark his territory.
Foot prints and droppings are further signs that deer have visited your yard. Droppings – usually oblong, rounded and dark in color – are usually left in feeding areas. Footprints have a somewhat heart-shaped appearance with two lobes forming a point at the toe.
Avoiding Deer While Driving
- Drive more cautiously and reduce your speed in areas marked with deer-crossing signs. Road signs typically mark high traveled areas with previous accidents.
- Deer often travel together. Therefore, if you see one deer assume others are following.
- Be aware that fall is mating time for deer and a time when they are typically more active, traveling at odd times of day.
- Do not feed deer or place salt blocks out for them. Although many homeowners love to see wildlife close up, it is best to let them find food naturally. Feeding can cause higher populations in an area, therefore causing an increase in disease and property damage.
Deterring Deer from Your Property
If a female deer (doe) is behaving oddly in your yard, it is likely there is a fawn involved. Does hide their fawns and only visit them a few times a day to feed them. However, the mother is nearby and can be very protective of their young.
What should you do? Do not approach a deer. Keep dogs and children away from deer. Make a lot of noise and use a water hose if necessary to encourage the doe to move the fawn to a new location.
Canada Geese are extremely adaptable. However, they are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and it is illegal to remove the birds, eggs, or nests while in use unless proper permits have been acquired through the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
The best practice is to prevent geese from taking up residence and efforts must be prompt and persistent. Geese need proximity to water and cover for their nesting sites.
Canada geese mainly feed on Kentucky bluegrass in Dublin. This the primary grass planted throughout the city. Geese also like easy access to ponds, especially when molting renders them flightless.
Feeding waterfowl is prohibited in the City of Dublin. Feeding encourages animals to congregate and this often leads to the spread of disease and property damage. Furthermore, food provided by humans often lacks proper nutrition for wildlife. For more information on Canada Geese or to obtain permits to remove nests visit: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/nuisance-wildlife
To see the city's ordinance visit: http://dublinohiousa.gov/government/city-code/
A few tips to deter geese are:
- Plant trees and shrubs to block flight paths.
- Allow tall plants to grow around ponds, blocking easy access to water.
- Use frightening devices such as flags, balloons, scarecrows, and motion activated sprinklers.
- Allow ponds to freeze in winter (turn off aerators and fountains).
- Be persistent and constantly chase geese off your property early in the spring, before nesting.
Striped Skunk
Once thought to be more closely related to Weasels (Mustelidae), skunks now have their own family (Mephitidae). Distinctive white stripes on a black coat warn of the skunk's defense which makes the skunk one of the most known mammals in the United States. Although many color variations exist with brown, white, grey, and black reported, the majority of skunks have two white stripes that form a "V" at the neck and extend down the back. Common throughout the United States and found in all 88 counties in Ohio, the Striped Skunk is adaptable and eats a variety of foods. Striped Skunks are active primarily at night foraging for worms, insects, fruits, eggs, plant matter, small rodents and easy meals left by humans such as trash and pet or bird food. They can weigh from 4 to 14 pounds.
Although they do store fat and stay in winter dens for long periods of time, Striped Skunks do not hibernate and sometimes roam about on warmer winter nights in search of food. Mating occurs in late February through March. This is a typical time of year to smell skunk spray as they are more active. 2 to 10 kits are born after a gestation of 63 days. Kits are born blind and hairless. Young typically emerge from the den around six weeks of age; usually this is in late July. They are often seen following the mother in single file and learning foraging techniques. Late summer is another time when it's typical to smell skunk spray.
Skunks most often do not feel threatened by humans and therefore rarely use their defense against us. However, they do see dogs and cats as predators. Skunks aim and spray with amazing accuracy usually hitting the olfactory senses where the spray burns the eyes and overwhelms the nose. Skunks can hit their target easily from 10 or more feet away. This defensive tactic works and again, this is why skunks advertise their ability with their bold color pattern. They have no need to camouflage into the landscape like other animals.
Skunks are preyed upon by many animals including coyote, fox, and hawks. However, Great Horned Owls are the skunk's primary predator. Because the owl attacks its prey from the air and also because of its poor sense of smell, it is not as deterred by a skunk's defensive spray.
Ways to Deter Nuisance Skunks
Removing wildlife from the landscape is not always a viable answer. If habitat remains unchanged critters will continue to utilize an area. If the landscape and habitat were appropriate for one skunk, it will be appropriate for another. Modifications in behavior and area can often help with wildlife issues. Furthermore, it is hopeful that homeowners recognize that wildlife including skunks play a vital role in the ecosystem. This does not mean that it is ok for dogs to be sprayed. It simply means that perhaps skunk spray can be tolerated outside from time to time. In return skunks will continue to keep down rodent and insect populations, playing their role in the ecosystem.
- If you know a skunk is in your area then monitor your pet closely. Step out the door before your pet and make a lot of noise. Stomping your feet and turning a porch light on and off are great ways to warn critters that something big is coming.
- Using a leash during this time might seem like extra work, but it's better to be inconvenienced than it is to worry about skunk spray in your home.
- Make sure recycling containers and trash can lids are secure and pick up any uneaten food (garden and pet) from your property.
- Watch the amount of bird food placed in feeders. Place just enough food for daylight hours. Anything that falls to the ground or is left over becomes an easy meal for wildlife, including skunks.
- Skirting and properly installed hardware clothe around decks, crawl spaces, and sheds can deter wildlife from utilizing these warm, dry spaces.
Temporary Deterrents:
- Temporary deterrents can include motion activated sprinklers or children's toys to scare wildlife from an area.
- Strong smells, such as ammonia soaked rags can deter critters from tight spots. Using moth balls is discouraged as chemicals are harmful to humans and other wildlife.
- Effigies such as owl or coyote can also be used to scare skunks but become ineffectual if they go unmoved for more than a day.
- Mylar tape, lights, and radios can deter skunks for short periods of time.
- Filling in holes utilized by skunks can also discourage skunks. However, make sure the den is unused prior to filling it in by placing wadded up news paper at the entrance. When the paper hasn't been pushed in and out for more than a day, the hole is safe to fill in.
Need More Information?
If you have more specific questions concerning skunks, please contact one of the following:
The City of Dublin
The Ohio Wildlife Center (OWC)
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, Central Office
Problem Animals
The following are common "problem animals" in central Ohio and suggestions for deterring them from taking up residence in your home, yard, garden, etc.
Squirrels & Raccoons
Look for gnawed, chewed, or loose shingles and boards. After all animals have left the nest seal the entry/exit points with metal flashing or 1/4-inch hardware cloth. Chimney guards also keep these "critters" from gaining access to your house by way of "falling" down the chimney. If an animal does fall down the chimney try suspending a rope from the top to give the animal some assistance in climbing out. Baiting the rope also might help.
If an animal does get into your house close all interior doors, open exterior doors and windows to provide an exit and leave the room. Chasing the animal will frighten it and may cause it to "hole up" in a convenient hiding place (such as under a sofa) or may cause it to display aggressive behavior.
Groundhogs (Woodchucks)
Groundhogs often come into conflict with humans when the animal's burrowing damages building foundation, gardens, fruit trees or ornamental shrubs/grasses. The groundhog's preferred diet consists of grasses, clover, legumes, peas, lettuce and apples. The most common locations for burrows are along fence rows, creeks, stone walls, roadsides, building foundations and bases of trees. Burrows have more than one entry point and several passages and rooms. A burrow may be from one foot to twelve feet long with a main entrance point of 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Groundhogs use their burrows for hibernating in winter, mating in spring, and raising their young until they are ready to leave the nest. Other animals such as rabbits, skunks, opossums and foxes may use the burrows as well. Groundhogs are also good climbers and can climb fences and trees. Placing fences along the bottoms of buildings and around gardens will help deter the groundhogs. Fences should be at least three feet high, and made of heavy, two-inch woven wire. Because of the animals' burrowing and climbing abilities the bottom edge of the fence should be buried 10 to 12 inches and the top 15 inches should be bent at a 45 degree angle. Professional exterminators may use gas cartridges, aluminum phoside, or trapping to remove the animals. Property owners should be aware that the use of gas cartridges can produce a fire hazard.
Bats can gain access to buildings through cracks, holes, vents, and uncapped chimneys. To exclude bats, seal cracks and crevices and screen off vents and chimneys. Bats can crawl through cracks as small as 1/3 inch. The best time to seal the entry/exit points is in August when young bats are learning to fly. Never touch or pick up a bat. If a bat has gained access to your home open a window to allow it to escape or trap the bat against a wall with a large can, then slide a piece of thin cardboard between the wall and the can opening to capture it.
Rats & Mice
Rats and mice are the most commonly encountered nuisance animals and represent the greatest health threat to humans and pets. Rats are known to transmit plague, typhus, food poisoning, leptospirosis, ratbite fever, trichinosis and other diseases. Mice transmit lymphocytic choriomeningitis and rickettsialpoy. Additionally, rats and mice deposit urine and feces everywhere they travel. The also carry fleas and mites that can transmit disease.
Rats and mice prefer dark, enclosed areas that are not regularly cleaned and are close to sources of food and water. Likely locations for nests include:
- Double walls
- Wooden floors in basements
- Staircases
- Wooden sidewalks
- Boxed-in plumbing
- Closed platformsUnder furniture
- In piles of rubbish and ashes
- In/around old boxes
- Abandoned automobiles
- Piles of old paper
- In rag piles
- Discarded furniture and bedding
- Lumber & stored building materials
Rats and mice also can burrow. Rats can burrow up to four feet deep and have connecting tunnels with multiple exits.
To avoid infestation by rats and mice:
- Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
- Don't store refuse or discarded items.
- Pick up litter or refuse left on the ground.
- Make sure doors and windows fit snugly within their frames and are free of holes or gaps. Rotted or gnawed through panels should be replaced or repaired with metal channels or flashing
- Replace broken window panes promptly.
- Fill in openings in foundation walls with masonry or metal collars/shields (it only takes a half inch opening for a rat to enter).
- Make sure floor drains have covers with openings less than half an inch in diameter and are in good repair.
- Screen openings on roofs, ventilators, clothes dryer vents, etc. with hardware cloth.
- Avoid feeding pets outside when possible. If feeding pets outside is unavoidable, empty any uneaten food at least daily (this will help deter rats and mice as well as help protect your pets from disease transmitted by rats and mice).
If infestation does occur it is permissible for property owners to kill rats and mice using traps and/or poison. Remember these traps and poisons can be harmful to humans and pets so follow all label directions carefully. Check the traps and bait (poison) locations frequently. Wear rubber gloves when handling dead animals, traps, and poisons. Place dead animals in sealed plastic bags and place inside trash receptacles for normal weekly refuse collection.
Rabbits are active all year, live virtually everywhere, and eat most succulent plants. While rabbits do not dig their own burrows they will use other animals' burrows. They will nest almost anywhere with an easily accessible food supply including open fields, pastures, orchards, mowed lawns, brushy fence rows, rose hedges, young pine plantings, brushy stream banks and dry drainage ditches. Nests are usually shallow depressions in the ground about 4-to-6 inches wide and 4-to-5 inches deep.
Rabbits prefer succulent plants such as clover, dandelion, ragweed, flowers, most vegetables (especially peas, beans, beets, and carrots), raspberry, blackberry, and ear corn. When the preferred food is scarce they will eat hay and the bark of fruit, shade and ornamental trees.
The best deterrent methods include:
- Removing ground cover such as brush piles
- Removing/cutting vegetation along fence rows and ditching
- Frequent mowing of lawns
- Placing low fences around gardens or shrubs (fences should be tight to the ground so the rabbits do not go under them).
- Placing hardware cloth cylinders around trees. The cylinders should be one to two inches from the trunk and should extend beyond the animals reach when standing on snow cover.
Additionally there are chemical taste and odor repellents that homeowners may apply. Remember some repellents are poisonous and all label directions should be carefully followed. Check with a local nursery or garden center for suggested repellents. Usually, taste repellents are the most successful. Professional exterminators may be hired to perform live trapping and relocation of the animals.
Chimney Swifts
Chimney swifts are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal to remove the birds, eggs, or nests while in use. Have the chimney cleaned in the Fall and instruct the chimney sweep to destroy all nests at that time. Chimney guards will help prevent the birds from re-entering the chimney.
Canada Geese
Canada Geese are extremely adaptable. However, they are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and it is illegal to remove the birds, eggs, or nests while in use.
The best practice is to prevent the geese from taking up residence and efforts must be prompt and persistent to accomplish this. Geese need proximity to water and cover for the nesting sites. To deter geese:
- Do Not Feed Them. Although most people will welcome a pair of geese that pair can easily become 50 geese within five years.
- Eliminate vegetation in and around ponds.
- Plant trees and shrubs to block flight paths.
- Use frightening devices such as flags, balloons, scarecrows, and water spraying devices.
- Allow ponds to freeze in winter (turn off aerators and fountains).
- Be persistent and constantly chase geese off your property early in the spring. Do not let them feel comfortable; chase them to encourage them to move elsewhere.
Aside from droppings the most common complaint from human-goose interaction involves injuries to humans as a result of a gander protecting the female, the nest, or the nesting territory. After hatching both the male and female will protect the goslings.


text:
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 20540-4730
Thomas E. Franklin's photographs are protected by copyright. Privacy
and publicity rights may also apply.
Access: Permitted; subject to P&P policy on serving
Reproduction (photocopying, hand-held camera copying,
photoduplication and other forms of copying allowed by "fair
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has stipulated may not be made) and for photocopying (which is prohibited
by the Division's policy on copying.)
Publication and other forms of distribution: Restricted.
Mr. Franklin's photographs are restricted by copyright. Works created
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(See P&P Collection Files.) In addition, in providing photographs for
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Credit Line: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs
Division, photograph by Thomas E. Franklin, published and distributed
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Farpoint has a long-standing tradition of raising funds through a series of auctions to benefit local charities.
Your generosity helps us support our permanent charity, the Julien Fleming Memorial Fund (jfmf.org), devoted to helping families with critically ill children by providing one-time grants. In addition, each year we select a second organization benefitting the local community.
Farpoint's tradition of caring continues in 2018!
Since 2014, we have raised almost $10,000 for JFMF and charities such as the William Books Education Trust, North Shore Animal League, the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) and The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland (GLCCB).
Like competition? Don't miss our two Live Auctions, the first Friday night during the Opening Ceremonies, and the other Saturday night at Masquerade half-time. It's pulse-pounding excitement as bidders battle it out for unique collectables.
If you prefer a more peaceful atmosphere, visit the Silent Auction taking place in the Art Show room on Friday and Saturday. There you can place bids on a variety of fannish items and the highest written bids as of Saturday night can claim their items during the Art Auction checkout on Sunday morning. Hate competition and want to take it home now? If there's a Buy Now price listed and no bids, you can purchase the item immediately and the money will go straight into our charity donation coffer.
And don't forget our great Trunk Sale of loose toys and games, with prices starting at 25 cents! Kids of all ages are encouraged to search for the perfect dinosaur, race care, or mini-figure.
We're looking for a few good donations!
Do you have some cool fannish items that you're just not that into anymore? Do you need to free up a little space around the house? Do you want to help out a good cause?
Well, help us help you help us! If you are interested in donating items for the Farpoint 2017 Charity Auction, please contact our auction coordinator, Ethan Wilson at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Geoffrey Lawrence
Geoffrey Lawrence is Nevada's Assistant Controller where he oversees the state's financial reporting and transparency efforts along with Nevada's elected controller, Ron Knecht. Geoffrey is a frequent commentator on public policy in print, radio and television news in Nevada and his work appears regularly in publications around the state and the nation. Geoffrey previously served as NPRI's Director of Research and Legislative Affairs until December 2014. He holds an M.A. in International Economics from American University in Washington, D.C. and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Accounting from Western Governors University.


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Getting the Best Home Coffee Grinders
Making good coffee and great espresso at home hinges on the quality of your grinder. While coffee brewers and espresso machines will work with store-bought ground coffee, that pre-packaged coffee has already lost much of its quality while sitting on the shelf at the store waiting for you to come pick it up. You need fresh grounds to get the best results from your brewer and espresso machine, which means you're going to have to get the best coffee grinder.
There are different types of grinders that operate using different mechanisms and deliver varying results. The grinder that best suits you will consistently deliver evenly ground coffee that will serve as the best possible raw material for the perfect shot of espresso, or perfect cup of brewed coffee. Below are the two grinders, first one is manual and the second is automatic. Choose as per your budget and requirements. Both are validated as best ones in their categories and are awarded as best sellers in many stores.
BEST MANUAL – Hario Skerton Hand Coffee Grinder
This grinder will turn roasted coffee beans into even grounds as fast as you can crank it – usually 2 to 3 minutes. It is great for making fresh ground coffee for use in your coffee brewer and will give you a great arm workout! It comes with an adjustable conical burr grinder that can produce different size particles while ensuring an even particle size. It retails for around US$28, making it quite affordable.
However, if you're using your grounds to make espresso, then a manual grinder like this is not the best option. A manual grinder is just not quick enough to deliver the grounds within the 30 to 45 second window when the coffee is still at its best quality for making espresso. That brings us to the next type of coffee grinder – automatic.
BEST AUTOMATED – Baratza Virtuoso
This coffee grinder is the superstar of affordable automated grinders. It retails at a reasonable US$229 and is versatile enough to satisfy all your coffee grounds needs. A bit costly than the others, but it's reasonable because of the durability and sturdiness packed within it. Once you've bought it, you will be proud to owe it. It comes with an array of grind settings from "fine" for espresso to "super-coarse" for a French press coffee maker. It is equipped with professional-grade conical burrs operated by a powerful 480W DC motor that will deliver an even grind every time. The burrs are easy to clean and are replaceable at very little cost when they have run their course. Generally, this nifty grinder gets the job done quickly, while looking good on your counter.
Now that you have all the necessary information it's time to go forth and shop for your best home coffee grinder! Tell us in the comments how your shopping expedition went, and also share details about the results of your first home grind.


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Sketch it out.
Turn your favorite photos into high quality sketches with SketchMee.
Adjust the detail.
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Select the paper color.
Select the technique.
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The photo-to-sketch app that stands out from the rest! SketchMee analyzes, interprets and redraws your photo from scratch, instead of the simple edge filtering other apps do.
For those who...
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- The ability to export your creations as PDFs instead of JPEGs will cost you an additional $2.99.
Why we love it
If you want amazing results without putting in a lot of work, check out SketchMee. Its high resolution output allows you to create fantastic prints.
App Screenshots
SketchMee is $1.99 but there are more add-ons
PDF Export
App Store Description
The photo-to-sketch app that stands out from the rest! SketchMee analyzes, interprets and redraws your photo from scratch, instead of the simple edge filtering other apps do.
- New York Times sums it up: "This app turns your photos into pencil sketches of remarkable quality."
- Long time feature under "Staff Favorites / Impress Your Friends" in the US App Store.
- Countless great reviews around the world.
Just pick an image from your photo library, and watch it being sketched into a beautiful piece of art. Have endless fun playing around with settings, exploring a vast world of art possibilities.
Extremely easy to use. A handful of simple but powerful controls make you the artist in charge, enabling a wide range of different sketch art styles.
Completely unparalleled art quality. Not even desktop computer programs come close.
Save your creations in resolutions from 480 by 320 for web use up to 2880 by 1920 (5.5 megapixels) enabling printouts in high quality.
Rock solid algorithms generate great results with any type of image content. Try portrait images, landscape scenery, people, abstract stuff, computer graphics or anything else.
Zoom as deep as you like into the finished sketches to inspect the strokes. Your art will appear perfectly sharp at any zoom level. This is because sketches are built using vector curves, not from blocky pixel data.
Input images can be of any size. Tiny web images are easily transformed into works of high resolution sketch art.
A full screen crop feature lets you define exactly what part of the source image to use. Re-crop as many times as you like.
Send your artwork as emails, save to your image library or save to the shared documents folder.
For professional or advanced users: A powerful PDF export upgrade is available for purchase inside the app (USD $2.99). PDF sketch saving is almost instant, file sizes smaller and output resolution is infinite. The PDF sketches are fully editable in vector drawing applications like Adobe Illustrator, right down to the tiniest stroke bend.
AppAdvice does not own this application and only provides images and links contained in the iTunes Search API, to help our users find the best apps to download. If you are the developer of this app and would like your information removed, please send a request to [email protected] and your information will be removed.


text: A world is nothing without the characters that make it come to life. Below you will find an ever growing collection of major characters in the world of Shaintar. These beings range from innkeepers, to kings, demons, to sorcerers and will help anyone joining the world of Shaintar to understand just how diverse it can be.


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Transform your photos into one-of-a-kind, hand painted masterpieces!
Boundary: Bleed area may not be visible.
Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired.
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by Dave Welling
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Queen duvet cover (88" x 88") featuring the image "clearing storm waterpocket fold capitol reef NP" by Dave Welling. Our soft microfiber duvet covers are hand sewn and include a hidden zipper for easy washing and assembly. Your selected image is printed on the top surface with a soft white surface underneath. All duvet covers are machine washable with cold water and a mild detergent.
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These Voynich prints are obviously awesome, so let's look at the things that could have gone wrong. I was nervous about this one because these giant prints can be too low a resolution. But no worries, this thing is a beautiful hi-res print. Despite the synthetic content, the fabric feels nice, not too sweaty. All in all, it's an amazing work; looks great, feels great. No regrets.
731350040 clearing storm light dapples the sandstone formations of the waterpocket foldl in capitol reef national park in utah. This is a copyrighted image � Dave Welling. All rights are reserved by the copyright holder, Dave Welling. No publication, republication or electronic rights, including, but not limited to, web rights of any kind, are authorized without the express written consent of the copyright holder. For information on licensing, usage, or reproduction of this image, contact Dave Welling at email@example.com.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All photographs and information herein are � Dave Welling and may not be used in any way, including any web site or electronic usage, without written authorization of Dave Welling. The copyright notice does NOT APPEAR on any purchased print or note card. Thank you for visiting and welcome to my offering of landscape and wildlife Fine Art Prints. I am a professional wildlife and nature photographer. You may use either the SHOPPING CART button above or my CUSTOM SHOPPING SITE to purchase prints or greeting cards. You may find the CUSTOM SHOPPING SITE slightly easier to navigate. Each artwork "page" has complete pricing. A PRECAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT THUMBNAILS ON FAA: the software used by Fine Art America may make some...
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If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on FineArtAmerica.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Fine Art America does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Fine Art America sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Fine Art America to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
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An Alabama woman recently filed a federal lawsuit alleging that her use
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A new lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Birmingham accuses GlaxoSmithKline
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Studies of Zofran in the past had concluded that the drug did not cause
birth defects, but the most recent studies have found that women who take
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Domina Law Group is currently investigating claims involving GlaxoSmithKline's
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If you took Zofran during your pregnancy and your son or daughter was
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Tutto Amore is now called Docle Gelato and it is the BEST! Habanaro Chocolate paired with Mango and Banana gelato… OMG.
Tutto Amore Gelato – Laguna Beach, CA20 Jun
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Hi! My name is Stephanie. I'm married to a great guy named Grant and am mom to two beautiful little boys, Remington and Desmond, and two pugs, Stella and Cioppino. We live in Los Angeles, and my husband has recently transitioned from full-time touring musician, to law student. I work full-time to support us, while also taking care of our sons as if it were the only thing in the world that mattered, because really, it is.
This blog is all about mothering, wifing, working, creating and learning how to accept change while being supportive and most pressingly, how to get through Law School... and beyond.
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MCMC toolbox for Matlab
Table of Contents
From this page you can download a set of Matlab function for some statistical MCMC analyses of mathematical models. This code might be useful to you if you are already familiar with Matlab and want to do MCMC analysis using it.
For a more comprehensive and better documented and maintained software for MCMC, see OpenBugs. There are also some MCMC functions in Mahtworks own Statistics Toolbox.
This toolbox provides tools to generate and analyse Metropolis-Hastings MCMC chain using multivariate Gaussian proposal distribution. The covariance matrix of the proposal distribution can be adapted during the simulation according to adaptive schemes described in the references.
The code can do the following
- Produce MCMC chain for user written -2*log(likelihood) and -2*log(prior) functions. These will be equal to sum-of-squares functions when using Gaussian likelihood and prior.
- In case of Gaussian error model, sample the model error variance from the conjugate inverse chi squared distribution.
- Do plots and statistical analyses based on the chain, such as basic statistics, convergence diagnostics, chain timeseries plots, 2 dimensional clouds of points, kernel densities, and histograms.
- Calculate densities, cumulative distributions, quantiles, and random variates for some useful common statistical distributions without using Mathworks own statistics toolbox.
The code is self consistent, no additional Matlab toolboxes are used. However, a quite recent version of Matlab is needed. The documentation might get better gradually, but in the mean while please look at the following page:
- Examples on using the toolbox for some statistical problems.
The main functions in the toolbox are the following.
- Matlab function for the MCMC run. The user provides her own Matlab function to calculate the "sum-of-squares" function for the likelihood part, e.g. a function that calculates minus twice the log likelihood, -2log(p(θ;data)). Optionally a prior "sum-of-squares" function can also be given, returning -2log(p(θ)). See the example and help mcmcrun for more details.
- This function plots some useful plots of the generated chain, such as chain time series, 2 dimensional marginal plots, kernel density estimates, and histograms. See help mcmcplot.
- For certain types of models is is useful to plot predictive envelopes of model functions by sampling parameter values from the generated chain. This functions calls the model function repeatedly while sampling the unknowns from the chain. It calculates probability regions with respect to a "time" variable of the model. See the examples.
- Other
- Matlab command
help mcmcstatshould display the contents of the file
NOTE: There is a similar Matlab code described in my DRAM page. That special DRAM code has fewer options then the general MCMC toolbox function. The DRAM code might be easier to read and alter if you are interested in inner workings of the code.
mcmcstat.zip(updated 2017-03-30)
- The toolbox files. Save them to a separate directory, and add the Matlab path to it.
- Some example Matlab scripts, these are described in the examples page.
Comments are welcome!
H. Haario, M. Laine, A. Mira and E. Saksman, 2006. DRAM: Efficient adaptive MCMC, Statistics and Computing 16, pp. 339-354. (10.1007/s11222-006-9438-0)
H. Haario, E. Saksman and J. Tamminen, 2001. An adaptive Metropolis algorithm Bernoulli 7, pp. 223-242.


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The Trans Pennine Trail is the first long distance multi-user trail in the U.K. Stretching the breadth of Northern England, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, it is a journey of 215 miles (346km). The well signed route follows a mixture of well surfaced canal and railway paths, tracks and bridleways, cycle lanes and minor roads. It links Hull to Hornsea, Selby, York, Doncaster, Manchester, Liverpool and Southport and long sections are completely traffic free - ideal for families with children. For maps and more information visit the Trans Pennine Trail website.
Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, working on practical projects so people can choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment.
The charity is behind many groundbreaking projects including the National Cycle Network, over twelve thousand miles of traffic-free, quiet lanes and on-road walking and cycling routes around the UK. The charity is making a difference today so everyone can live a better tomorrow.For more information on the National Cycle Network, to buy maps and guides, or to become a Sustrans Supporter please visit the Sustrans website.
The North Sea Cycle Route is the world's longest signed international cycle route. It encircles the North Sea, passing through no fewer than 8 countries: Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland and England. From Harwich in the south to Bergen and the Shetland Islands in the North, the route has 6000 kilometres of cities, villages, beaches lowlands and uplands, with fantastic scenery. What you don't manage this year will wait until next.
You can choose one convenient section at a time, linked by the many North Sea ferries sailing out of major ports such as Amsterdam, Hamburg, Hull or Bergen. Hull forms an important hub point in the network and is a great place to start or end your adventure. For more information visit the North Sea cycle route website or contact Hull Tourist Information.
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Elaine Stewart, an alluring leading lady of the 1950s who went on to serve as a co-hostess of two hit game shows in the '70s, died Monday at her home in Beverly Hills after a long illness. She was 81.
In a pair of 1954 films, Stewart starred opposite Gene Kelly and Van Johnson as nonstop talkative socialite Jane Ashton in Brigadoon and played a sexy harem princess in The Adventures of Hajji Baba, with John Derek as the title character.
The former model and Montclair, N.J., native also appeared with Kirk Douglas in the classic Hollywood insider soap The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and with Richard Widmark and Karl Malden in the basic-training set Take the High Ground! (1953).
In all, Stewart appeared in 18 films in the '50s and graced the cover of Life magazine on March 22, 1953, in a cover story with the headline, "Budding Starlet Visits the Folks in Jersey."
On Dec. 31, 1964, Stewart married prolific game show creator Merrill Heatter (she earlier was married to actor Bill Carter) and retired from show business to start a family. But in 1972, she returned to TV as the co-hostess of the Heatter-Quigley game show Gambit, and the pairing of Stewart and emcee Wink Martindale gave CBS a daytime hit. Later, Stewart joined Alex Trebek for NBC nighttime game show High Rollers.
Born Elsy Steinberg on May 31, 1929, Stewart beat out hundreds of young models in 1952 to earn a photo layout in See Magazine, winning the title of "Miss See," and was signed by MGM to a film contract. That year, she landed her first film role in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis comedy Sailor Beware.
Other film credits include Young Bess (1953) and Night Passage (1957), which starred her future Beverly Hills neighbor and fellow dog walker Jimmy Stewart. In the '60s, she appeared in such TV dramas as Bat Masterson, The Third Man, Burke's Law and Perry Mason.
In addition to Heatter, her husband of 46 years, Stewart is survived by their children Stewart and Gabrielle.
STEWART, Elaine (Elsa H. Steinberg)
Born: 5/31/1929, Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Died: 6/27/2011, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A.
Elaine Stewart's westerns - actress:
Sky Full of Moon - 1952 (Billie)
Night Passage - 1957 (Vena Kimball)
Escort West - 1958 (Beth Drury)
Bat Masterson (TV) - 1960 (Ann Eaton)


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Docs in the dark about opioid REMS
Only 35% of physicians are aware of the FDA's class-wide safety plan for extended-release and long-acting opioids, a survey showed.
Approved in July, the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) has at its core a prescriber education program on risks and safe use. Education is to be funded by a consortium of opioid manufacturers—the REMS program companies (RPC)—making it available at no-to-nominal cost to prescribers.
The REMS doesn't require physicians to take courses. That was already expected to make it difficult for FDA to achieve its goal of training at least 60% of the estimated 320,000 prescribers of the drugs by year three of the program.
Even after physicians were presented with a summary of the REMS, their awareness only rose an additional 5% to 40% overall, found dtw Marketing Research Group, which fielded the survey in August among 103 doctors.
Asked for their opinions on the necessity of continuing educational training, some respondents to the survey said "it was an opportunity to become more informed on issues and provide strategies for safer and more effective [opioid] use," said David Rittenhouse, dtw manager of analytical services.
The program is being closely watched, not only because it's a partial response to the prescription drug abuse epidemic. "This is the first time accredited education has been used as a centerpiece of a REMS, as part of the solution," said Cynthia Kear, an SVP with the California Academy of Family Physicians.Rittenhouse said he doesn't see a direct correlation between the lack of awareness and a potential negative impact on implementing the CE portion of the REMS program. "When the FDA made it official, they indicated that the first CE offerings will be offered to physicians by March 1, 2013," he noted. "That still leaves five to six months for the word to get out to prescribers. It will be interesting to see what happens as we get closer to that date."


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Opportunities for SEC members include developing creative projects to engage students with UMMA's exhibitions and collections, interviewing artists and curators, contributing to UMMA's student blog, The Annex, planning and implementing annual events such as Student Late Night, meeting Museum staff members, organizing an installation and online exhibition, developing tours for adult and youth audiences, and building UMMA's profile on social media and around campus.
The Student Engagement Council (SEC) is a great opportunity to get experience working in a museum, and a great way to ensure that U-M students have a voice at UMMA.
The Student Engagement Council (SEC) is dedicated to supporting UMMA's mission of commitment to students and engagement with the arts.
All participants are required to attend meetings on Fridays, 2-4 p.m., and to work approximately one to two more hours per week on diverse tasks. Undergraduate Museum Studies Program students may use SEC membership to fulfill their internship requirement.
Questions? E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


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As the readers from our print magazine have come to know, our passion is mostly centered around exotic and far away destinations.
But for our writers, things were not always that way. We were young and broke students once, and during that period we spent many a summer on the road, experiencing our own backyards in the good ol' U.S.A.
The best way to do it is as follows:
- Take a long time off, so you can do it right… coast to coast, baby!
- Look into RV and camper vehicle rentals in your area. This is the most expensive option, but also provides the most comfort for the long haul.
- Sit down and have a long, well discussed plan with your family. If your kids aren't 100% on board, believe me when I tell you that they will sabotage your trip, before you even hit your first 100 miles.
What to do if an RV is not in your budget?
Well, here's a solution that one of our editors, Christina came up with. It might not be for everyone, so withhold your judgement until the end. It will however save you a lot of money, and you can always break down and get a cheap motel room if it cant.
Introducing… the car air mattress.
If you've ever known the joy (sarcasm) of sleeping on a cheap blow up bed, you might already be soured on that idea.
But there are actually high end inflatable beds that users find just as pleasureable as the real thing when it comes to controlled studies and blind testing.
The ones that are currently made for the car and truck industry are somewhere in between. The backseat car mattress phenomenon is a relatively young one, so there is still a long way to go in terms of achieving the ultimate balance of high comfort and low price. In my humble opinion, and with my old and achy body, the technology is not quite there yet, so I'm going to stick with my full camping set up.
Our editor Christina said that the inflateable car bed she bought served her well on her road trip across the country. There are a bunch that you can check out on Amazon. There isn't that much of a price range, most of the blow up truck beds for example are the same or similar price.
Oh and by the way, please do not drive your car or truck while anyone is in the backseat asleep on one of these mattresses. That is mucho no bueno, not to mention illegal in all 50 states.
Dont be stupid!
These kind of solutions are meant while you are parked only! And while we're on the subject, make sure that you are parked in a legal camping ground or other approved spot where you have the permission of the property owner.
Did you know that you can camp out in any Walmart parking lot in the country? Just be respectful, clean up after yourself, and maybe even go in and buy a thing or two as a way of showing your gratitude.
Vacations don't need to be exotic and far away to make great memories
Some of the best memories of my childhood, were camping with my Aunt and Uncle in Maryland's Assateague Island. I have yet to take my kids there, but I was recently looking at the camp ground pricing and wondered why we have not been sooner.
It's 30 bucks a night… an almost steal for the value of the entertainment you can get from the wild ponies that will walk right up to your campground on the beach.
You gotta factor in the costs of your vehicle rental (or RV if you go that route) and gas, sure. But if you decide to be cool like Christina, and crash in the backseat of your car on an air mattress… you can really save a huge chunk of change on your next summer trip.
Happy Travels!


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Sunday, March 20, 2011
Changing it up
I really need to get back into serious weight training as I think it helps with the running. I recently read an article in Fitness magazine where a lady training for a marathon incorporated weight training to build her upper body strength for endurance during the marathon. I never thought about that! Reading her training for the marathon helped me to realize the importance of weight training in my overall routine, not that I didn't know it wasn't important, but I just wasn't focused or into.
I have a 10K I'm participating in next month, 5 weeks away. I have the opportunity to really make a difference if I focus over the next 5 weeks. That's my goal. To really focus.
5 comments:
- Marisa @ Loser for Life said...
You can do it, Ernise!
I'm trying to stick to a weight training program, too. I don't know why I find it so hard to get into a routine with that because I really do like it!
- March 20, 2011 at 8:26 PM
- ernise said...
We must help each other out! I'm going to try to post my progress as I know it will help.
Thanks for the encouragement!
- March 20, 2011 at 9:13 PM
- Tameika said...
I truly believe weight training has seriously improved my running. Best of luck to you! I hope you find a program that's interesting and vigorous enough to help you reach your goals. Best of luck!
- March 21, 2011 at 8:29 AM
- keyalus said...
I think weights help a lot for the average runner. My upper body is strong and I think I do pretty well for someone who does not have a slim runners body and has not been running for a very long time.
Maybe some good videos or a class will help shake it up? I know I hate doing weights at the gym alone. I like home weights videos or classes though. Circuit Training is also a lot less boring than doing your standard 8-12 reps of a bunch of different exercises.
- March 21, 2011 at 1:59 PM
- ernise said...
Good to know that others co-sign weight training assist with the running. Just reinforces what I read the other day!
- March 22, 2011 at 6:21 PM


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what experience does ishmael have that provides him with sensual pleasure? what does he have visions about that night?
chapters 94 and 95
chapters 94 and 95
The crew of the Pequod squeezes the sperm from the whale caught by Stubb. Ishmael feels an "abounding, affectionate, friendly, loving feeling" at this avocation, and wishes that he could "keep squeezing that sperm forever." Ishmael then describes the particular process of preparing the whale sperm for the try-works. To develop any definitive conclusion about Ishmael's sexuality from this chapter is nearly impossible and amounts to severe revisionism, yet Melville builds a strong foundation for innuendo and conjecture without building it into anything concrete.
He finds squeezing the lumps out of the whale's sperm to be sensual;
"I found it strangely concreted into lumps, here and there rolling about in the liquid part. It was our business to squeeze these lumps back into fluid. A sweet and unctuous duty! No wonder that in old times sperm was such a favorite cosmetic. Such a clearer! such a sweetener! such a softener; such a delicious mollifier! After having my hands in it for only a few minutes, my fingers felt like eels, and began, as it were, to serpentine and spiralize."
Moby Dick
Ishmael's dream;
"But that night, in particular, a strange (and ever since inexplicable) thing occurred to me. Starting from a brief standing sleep, I was horribly conscious of something fatally wrong. The jaw-bone tiller smote my side, which leaned against it; in my ears was the low hum of sails, just beginning to shake in the wind; I thought my eyes were open; I was half conscious of putting my fingers to the lids and mechanically stretching them still further apart. But, spite of all this, I could see no compass before me to steer by; though it seemed but a minute since I had been watching the card, by the steady binnacle lamp illuminating it. Nothing seemed before me but a jet gloom, now and then made ghastly by flashes of redness. Uppermost was the impression, that whatever swift, rushing thing I stood on was not so much bound to any haven ahead as rushing from all havens astern. A stark, bewildered feeling, as of death, came over me. Convulsively my hands grasped the tiller, but with the crazy conceit that the tiller was, somehow, in some enchanted way, inverted. My God! what is the matter with me? thought I. Lo! in my brief sleep I had turned myself about, and was fronting the ship's stern, with my back to her prow and the compass. In an instant I faced back, just in time to prevent the vessel from flying up into the wind, and very probably capsizing her. How glad and how grateful the relief from this unnatural hallucination of the night, and the fatal contingency of being brought by the lee!"
This is found in Chapter 96


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5 Tips for Advertising on Reddit
How to create successful campaigns from a Reddit Brand Strategist
We've Got Your Back
Electronic Frontier Foundation Commends Reddit on Transparency
Promoted Posts Are Coming to Our Android Apps
Increasing value for any brand's advertising and engagement strategy
Reddit's Expanding to Chicago!
Our Brand Partnerships team is investing in the Midwest, hiring a new team in Chicago led by Rob Sprungman.
Reddit Gifts Is Celebrating Its 400th Gift Exchange!
Plus: eSports, Dr. Who, and a time-traveling gift swap for all things '80s.
The Best of Reddit During Super Bowl LII
Live comments, commercial memes, hockey fans, and pictures of owls—on Reddit, there's no wrong way to celebrate the Super Bowl.
The Best of Reddit in 2017
The top posts, communities, AMAs, and other highlights from the past year.
Reddit Partners With Microsoft to Deliver Intelligent Search Results and Business Intelligence Tools
Reddit Data + Microsoft AI = Search and Business Intelligence Gold
An Analysis of Net Neutrality Activism on Reddit
TL;DR: Concerned humans. Lots of them.
Presenting 'Endless Thread': A New Podcast Partnership from Reddit and WBUR
Coming to a pair of earbuds near you on January 12, 2018.
Introducing the New Reddit Ads Dashboard
New measurement and reporting functionality make Reddit Ads effective for any campaign goal
Reddit Teams up With TIME on New Editorial Partnership
The best of Reddit, summed up in one weekly article? It's about TIME.
Reddit's Headed to ONA17!
Our media partnerships team is going to DC to share how newsrooms can work with Reddit.
New on Reddit Gifts: Val Kilmer, League of Legends, Halloween, and More!
Trick-or-treating and gaming and Batman, oh my!
The Search for Better Search at Reddit
Because, certainly, we've solved it this time
Reddit Co-Founders Share How They Built the Front Page of the Internet With NPR's Guy Raz
"All people of all creeds should be able to come together and put Dwayne Johnson's arms on a parakeet."


text: I want to buy the nds lite soon, however i only havr the original ez-pass. so i would need to get either a type 2 pass or buy those passcard. but i notice most of them are sold out! any idea on where i cna get my hand on one?


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Originally posted by laiguana
Ay Ay....I'll fit right into that. It's amazing how much indoctrination our generation had to put up with. We were always told our government could do us no wrong, that it was here to protect us and guide us through our troubles. We were brought up to be demented sheep like the Cold War generation....
Originally posted by Ace High
reply to post by On the Edge
On the Edge, Thank you for the post. Yes there is a positive in everything, I think that our generation will give our children a little more direction when it comes to their ability to provide for themselves and not just how they feel about there self-esteem.
I am certainly not resentful and I currently have a very well paying job despite this economy. Of course, I am in a foreclosure on the home I first bought but I will make it through this.
Thanks for the post.
Originally posted by SEEWHATUDO
....my mom is suffering now more than you or I ever will because she did what she was told would be the best investment with her money, real estate. She worked hard all her life, built her own business, raised 2 kids and a couple of years ago she was technically a millionaire and now she is 60 yrs old and bankrupt.
Originally posted by Bluesma
...This had a very different effect in our cultural personality than the kids they had later (once they'd married and decided to clean up their act, still as self absorbed in their "Thirty Something" navel staring, but able to at least provide material comfort and security for their later born kids. I have a brother who was born later, and he is lost, as you describe. He has always had everythign he wanted, his room was crowded with toys, but he also had au pairs and nannies instead of parents, and was never ever spanked once in his entire life. He does not know what work is, nor effort (the opposite of my generation that knows only that, and for survival, not to earn luxuries or pleasures), he cannot keep a job, is usually homeless, and with this completely irrational unrealistic overblown self concept- in which despite his obvious failings at everything, he truly believes he is superior to all others, more intelligent, and probably the next messiah. It is sad. He has been handicapped by all the positive reinforcement and is totally ineffective now....
Your generation, in their theory, is the dreamers of the new society. The oens that shall imagine up the blueprints of the new way (being rasied on computer games helps this). Movies like "Avatar" are popular exactly ebcaus eyour generation is dreaming and spinning out the new vision. And your kids, having been borught up in tough living, influenced by us grandparents to be tough pirates, as well as your idealistic and fantastic dreams, shall actually BUILD the new society.
It is a rather uplifting vision, and I really woudl recommend reading it!


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Feeling lucky? A superstitions party is a unique theme for a 13th birthday, a Halloween party, or just for fun. Here's how to put it together…
Superstitions Party Invitations
Good Luck Charm Invitations — Send your guests a little hint of what's to come as an enticing invitation for your party. You could send a stuffed black cat whose collar has a tag with your party information on it, or you could make a postcard and glue a heads up penny to the front. What is your favorite superstition? Think of a way to incorporate it into your party invitation.
13 Invitations — Are you hosting a 13th birthday party? Is your party on the thirteenth of the month? Make your card in the cut out shape of a big number 13. Then invite 12 people so that including you there are thirteen total party guests!
You can always find lots of great online party invitations with a free RSVP manager at Evite,
**General Invitation Tips** — If you choose to make your own party invitations, don't forget to include the date, location, and time of your event. It is also helpful to put the host's name, RSVP by date, and either your phone number or email.
Superstition Party Decorations
For a superstition theme party, start by making a list of all the superstitions that you can think of. Then incorporate them into your party's décor. A black and white theme works well for this party. If you want to include good luck superstitions, use highlights of green (think four leaf clover or money) and gold. If you are going for the darker side of superstitions, use highlights of orange (Halloween) or red (danger).
Here are some well-known superstitions that you can use as party decorations:
Ladders — Place a large folding ladder as an archway into your home so that your guests have to walk through it to enter your house.
Black Cats — Place one or more black cats (stuffed, balloons, or cut outs) in your hall or in strategic places so that they will cross your guests' paths.
Open Umbrellas — Scatter a few open umbrellas around the house, or make a fun umbrella chandelier by removing the fabric from an umbrella frame and hanging it from the light fixture over your table. You can jazz it up by adding twinkle lights or streamers.
Tipped over Salt Shakers and Face Down Pennies — Scatter these around your table as superstitious confetti.
Broken Mirrors — Breaking a real mirror can be a bit hazardous, but you can make simulated cracks with window paint or by taping a zigzag piece of construction paper to the mirrors in your home.
Horseshoes — Balance out the unlucky superstitions by placing a horseshoe at each guest's table setting. Most craft stores sell wooden horseshoes that look great when spray painted to match your party's décor. You could even write each guest's name on their horseshoe as a place card.
Elephant with an Upturned Trunk — If you can find a decorative ceramic elephant with his trunk turned up, place him in the center of your table as a lucky centerpiece.
Superstitions Party Activities
Lucky Penny Guessing Jar — Fill a glass jar with pennies and have your guests try to make their best guess as to how many there are. Whoever gets closest gets to keep the jar. Now that's lucky!
Horseshoes — Set up a game of lucky horseshoes in the backyard.
Ouija — Break out the classic board game of Ouija and see what is revealed!
Magic 8 Ball — Have a question you are dying to have answered? Ask the Magic 8 Ball.
Fortune Teller — If you are looking for an entertainer and your budget allows, you might consider hiring a fortune teller to come give your guests some insights into the future!
Lucky (or Unlucky) Movies — Find a movie where the fates seem to lend a hand. Consider "Freaky Friday" or "Just My Luck". For the brave, there is always "Friday the 13th".
Superstitions Party Favors
Lucky elephant keychains make a fun party favor
- Lucky Horseshoes — Use the wooden ones from the table setting, or find a small lucky clover key ring or piece of jewelry.
- Magic 8 Ball — Let your guests keep asking their questions until they get the right answers with their own Magic 8 Ball.
- Lucky rabbit foot charm
- "Lucky Elephant" Keychains or toy elephants with their trunks uplifted.
Whether it's used as a Halloween party theme, a theme for a 13th birthday party, or just for fun, the superstitions party theme is sure to be something that your guests will remember long after the party is over!
If you enjoyed these superstitions party ideas, you might also enjoy these parties:
Black Light


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6 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14
This cupboard isn't bare yet, fam. There are still plenty of contributors out there on the waiver wire we can pilfer to give our rosters a boost prior to the All-Star break.
Whether it be because of a change in their role, returning from an injury, or the injury of a teammate, each of the guys below possesses higher value than he had even just a month previous. We just have to hop on before that value evaporates.
As a note, I generally make the cut-off for these recommendations at guys owned in one-third or fewer of all ESPN leagues. This means we miss out on Miguel Sano after his mid-week call-up. If you're in one of the over 50 percent of ESPN leagues in which he's available, he's a solid high-upside add to consider (and he's shortstop-eligible on Yahoo!). Without further ado, here are the rest of guys who could provide your roster the kick in the pants it needs.
Gerardo Parra, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
If you play daily fantasy baseball, you are probably aware of the types of nastiness Gerardo Parra has been dishing out lately. His production would look pretty sweet on your season-long roster, too.
Parra started seeing consistent starts in the outfield (as opposed to pinch-hitting duties) around May 29th. Since that game, he was batting .321/.366/.471 with four bombs and 21 runs scored entering yesterday. Then he went out and picked up another blast in Sunday's contest. Being at the top of the order should help him sustain his high run totals, especially if the Brewers' offense continues to trend in the right way.
Parra did not have a good season last year, hitting .261/.308/.369 with 9 home runs in 574 plate appearances. That came with a hard-hit rate of just 27.5 percent. This year, however, he has popped that all the way up to 34.0 percent (the league average is 28.5 percent). He should be due for some minor regression with his BABIP up at .349, but his hard-hit rate indicates that his success is far from a fluke.
Marlon Byrd, OF, Cincinnati Reds
It is no easy task trying to find home runs on the waiver wire in July. If your team is hurting for that pop, increase the average age of your roster by about three years with the addition of 37-year-old Marlon Byrd.
There aren't a lot of things that Byrd excels at in his advanced age, but power is still one of them. Since coming off of the disabled list on June 19th, Byrd has a .536 slugging percentage with four home runs. He's hitting at a decent spot in the order for run production, fluctuating between fifth and sixth, so he'll be able to contribute in the RBI department behind guys such as Joey Votto and Todd Frazier. He's nothing spectacular, but that doesn't mean he can't help.
David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
I've pumped David Peralta on here previously, but with the caveat of only in leagues in which you set your roster daily for when he sits against lefties. But with Ender Inciarte on the shelf, Peralta's playing time has become more consistent, and he has become more ownable as a result.
Another point of encouragement for Peralta is that he seems as though he is improving against lefties. He possesses a 35.7 percent hard-hit rate against them in his 43 plate appearances this year, leading to a .256/.326/.410. That's not Earth-shattering, but it's good enough where he won't be killing your rate categories when he's left in to face a lefty. Additionally, it could lead to a larger share of the time in the outfield when Inciarte returns.
Basically, he's a solid hitter who often bats in front of a guy as good as Paul Goldschmidt in a park conducive to runs and long balls. He should be owned in far more than 12.9 percent of ESPN leagues.
Wilin Rosario, C/1B, Colorado Rockies
Wilin Rosario has two things going for him. First, he plays his home games at Coors. Score! Second, he's eligible at catcher. What a beautiful combination.
With how he has been hitting lately, Rosario has been snatching playing time from Ben Paulsen with Justin Morneau out. He has capitalized with a .296/.318/.461 slash overall and a .378/.410/.541 slash since June 23rd. That'll work.
Obviously, in a situation like this with Rosario competing for plate appearances, he's going to miss some games. But aren't you already dealing with that predicament with most other guys that are catcher eligible? This inclines me to deal with that downside and jump on the production I get while he is on the field.
Andrew Heaney, SP, Los Angeles Angels
My goodness, it would be so much fun if Andrew Heaney were still on the Marlins. Pairing him with Jose Fernandez would be straight fire emoji. Instead, Heaney's in Los Angeles, and he has looked mighty fine nonetheless.
A quick look at Heaney's plate discipline peripherals will make the most hardened soul weep with joy. He has picked up 12.9 percent of his strikes via the whiff, which would be tied for ninth in the league if he had the innings to qualify. Opponents are making contact on 71.6 percent of their swings; that would be good for sixth in the league with a larger sample size. Homie could be on the verge of a breakout.
One little addition to the Heaney endorsement: his first two starts have come against the Yankees and Astros, who rank fourth and 12th in the league in wOBA against lefties. Those are solid teams. Outside of the Astros, Heaney pitches in the same division as the teams that rank 22nd, 24th and 25th in wOBA off of south paws. He'll have some sweet match-ups in his future. His next one comes at Coors, so you may want to hold off on inserting him in your lineup, but after that, it's a full-go, cowboy.
Patrick Corbin, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
I really don't like pumping Diamondbacks pitchers with the negative park factor that comes with tossing at Chase Field. Patrick Corbin, however, helps negate that concern with his ability to induce a decent number of ground balls and his track record of success at home.
In his career, Corbin has thrown 166.1 innings at Chase Field. In that time, he has a 2.98 ERA with a 3.33 FIP and a 3.46 xFIP. He's never going to be a high-strikeout guy, but he keeps his walks low enough to warrant consideration.
There's always the trepidation that a guy coming off of Tommy John will struggle out of the gate. Corbin's first start lasted only 76 pitches (he had a pitch limit of 90), which can't do a lot to quell that concern. However, he did throw 56 of those 76 pitches for strikes, so if he's allowed to stretch it out over the next few starts, then we should get a good sense of what he'll provide to this team for the rest of the season.