text:
Beginning in 2005, if a pesticide use violation causes illness or injury, violators will be legally responsible to pay certain medical costs of victims.
The new requirement was passed and signed into law in 2004 (Senate Bill 391, Florez). The new law squarely places the financial burden to Pay for acute medical costs on those businesses that are responsible for the harm. It also increases penalties the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) can impose for pesticide violations.
The law was prompted by several incidents in which large numbers of persons living near agricultural fields were made ill by pesticide drift. Many were without medical insurance, and did not have the means to pay for medical treatment themselves.
No. The CACs enforce pesticide laws locally and are responsible for investigating pesticide illnesses and incidents in their jurisdictions.
After determining whether pesticide laws were violated, a CAC has a variety of enforcement options including administrative civil penalties. The law also increases the level of civil penalty authority for CACs.
The major emphasis of the law involves the responsibility of the violator to pay for medical costs.
Under the new law, if a pesticide use violation causes illness or injury, the penalty action a CAC issues will also include a statement notifying the violator of his or her responsibility to pay the uncompensated medical costs of those who suffered acute illness or injury and sought immediate medical treatment Section 12997.5[a] [b], Food and agricultural Code [FAC]).
There is no obligation, expectation or authority for the CAC to oversee the reimbursement process.
After the final enforcement order is issued, the violator has 30 days to submit a written plan to DPR, detailing how unreimbursed medical costs will be paid (FAC 12997.5[c]).
No. Although the county will probably identify most individuals who were made ill, neither the CAC nor DPR are obligated to determine the amount of uncompensated medical costs, or who qualifies for reimbursement.
The violator is ultimately responsible for covering the costs of those affected.
The violator must compensate the injured individuals or their medical providers, such as ambulance companies, doctors, and hospitals.
Determining the scope of the incident and interviewing victims is
part of an investigation. By the time an investigation is complete and an enforcement order issued, the CAC usually has the names of those made ill by the illegal application. The CAC can provide a list to the responsible party as soon as possible.
However, under the law, it is not the responsibility of the CAC to identify all persons entitled to medical reimbursement. If additional individuals who suffered acute illness and sought immediate medical care are identified later, they can contact the violator to claim medical reimbursement.
Violators who refuse to comply with their legal responsibility are subject to enforcement actions by DPR as needed. Additionally, the violator may be subject to lawsuits by private individuals.
The new law strongly encourages the CACs to complete investigations of and take appropriate action on these incidents within 45 days, and DPR will assist the counties in this effort (FAC 12997.5 [g]). Violators would not be responsible under the law to pay for medical costs until they have exhausted due process appeal rights.
However, the law provides an incentive for persons responsible for the application to pay medical costs before an investigation is complete. If the responsible party pays medical costs immediately, the law gives CACs the option of reducing penalties by as much as 50 percent. (FAC 12997.5[g])
However, the amount of a fine reduction does not affect the costs a responsible party must pay in medical expenses.
Yes. The law says that accepting payment of emergency medical costs does not affect a victim's right to file suit. However, any damages awarded by a court must be reduced by the amount the victim received in medical reimbursement from the violator. (FAC 12997.5[e])
No, it applies only to incidents in which pesticides were used in production of an agricultural commodity. Furthermore, the medical payment provisions are limited to persons who at the time of exposure were not performing work as an employee.
Under pre-existing law, medical costs of employees are already covered by the workers' compensation system. These provisions are unaffected by the new law. Workers who are injured follow the same procedure as before: employers are required to see that they get medical treatment immediately, and costs are covered by the workers' compensation system.
These provisions of the law are broader than the medical reimbursement requirements. SB 391 authorizes DPR and the CACs to levy a separate penalty for each person who is injured or made ill by a pesticide violation.
DPR and the CACs had previously been allowed to levy separate penalties only for multiple violations of worker safety regulations, the number of workers injured did not increase the penalty, only the number of code sections violated.
Now, a one person/one violation provision applies to violations involving workers as well as victims in non-occupational settings. DPR and CACs have the authority to multiply the amount of the penalty by the number of victims.
What this means is that DPR and the CACs could levy a penalty of up
to $5,000 for each person injured or made ill as a result of a violation of any pesticide law or regulation, significantly increasing the potential penalties. (FAC 12996.5[b])
The new requirements went into effect on January 1, 2005. There are no provisions in the law to apply it retroactively. This means the law was not written to apply to people injured before January 2005.
The new law only applies to incidents that occur after January 1, 2005, in which violations occur and there are non-occupational injuries.
The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) is taking the lead on this element of the law. Over the next year, Cal/EPA will work with the County Agricultural Commissioners, local health officers, other local government agencies, and affected community members on standard protocols"—
standardized operating procedures - for pesticide incidents. The goal will be to improve procedures used to:
Contact DPR's chief legal counsel, Polly Frenkel, 916-324-2666, or via email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Department of
Pesticide Regulation
1001 I Street
P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) protects human health and the environment by regulating pesticide sales and use and by fostering reduced-risk pest management. DPR's strict oversight includes product evaluation and registration, environmental monitoring, residue testing of fresh produce, and local use enforcement through the county agricultural commissioners. DPR is one of six boards and departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency.
3401 University Ave.
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 826-5321
Email: email@example.com
|Mon - Fri
|8:00am - 5:00pm
|Closed on Weekends and Major Holidays


text:
Magneticum: Simulating Large Scale Structure Formation in the Universe
Principal Investigator: Klaus Dolag, University Observatory Munich (Germany)
HPC Platform: SuperMUC of LRZ
LRZ Project ID: pr83li
Large-scale cosmological simulations utilizing the modern supercomputers play a significant role in the theoretical studies of the structure formation in the Universe. They are essential tools to accurately calculate theoretical predictions of the distribution and state of the baryonic and dark matter in the Universe. Especially in the non-linear regime of the gravitational dynamics and hydrodynamics, where galaxies and clusters of galaxies form out of the large scale structure, they are of utmost importance. But even if simulations comprise several billion particles, the resulting resolution is still poor (~30kpc) – and such simulations do not even properly resolve individual galaxies.
To overcome this shortcoming, simulations must be able to calculate 1011 particles and beyond, following various physical processes. If one wants to fully exploit the potential of the upcoming large sky surveys for cosmology and study of the effects of Dark Energy, it is necessary to improve the predictions of how the large-scale structures are traced by the luminous matter. This demands a detailed description of various, complex, non-gravitational, physical processes in the simulation codes, which determine the evolution of the cosmic baryons and impact their observational properties. Amongst them are the star formation and related feedback; chemical pollution by SN Ia (Supernova Type Ia), SN II (Supernova Type II) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) winds; transport processes like the thermal conduction; the evolution of black holes and their related active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback as well as magnetic fields. All these must be self-consistently coupled with the underlying hydrodynamics. Being able to perform such a large volume, high-resolution cosmological simulations which follow all those details will allow to produce a theoretical counterpart to interpret the data coming from the current and the forthcoming astronomical surveys or instruments, e.g. PLANCK, SPT, DES and eROSITA.
Over the last years, a lot of efforts have been put together to reach this goal. For example, the development of the Gadget code has been pushed forward to improve the performance and scalability within the KONWIHR-III project Tuning a cosmo Gadget for SuperMUC. It is now possible to run Gadget3 exploiting 16 islands (i.e. 131,072 cores) of LRZ HPC system SuperMUC. Furthermore, first pioneering simulations handling almost 1010 particles (e.g. Magneticum Pathfinder, Fig. 1) have been performed. These simulations are used among various other projects for interpreting the observations by PLANCK and SPT to study the cluster properties in the X-ray band for future high energy resolution instruments like the Athena/Astro-H and also to produce first mock observations for the forthcoming eROSITA.
In this project, the scientists are going to perform a set of simulations and the most computational intensive of them covers a cosmic volume of 1 Gpc3. This covers a large enough volume with high enough spatial/mass resolution to follow the evolution of galaxies in detail and, especially, the AGN population. This will be supplemented by one low resolution but larger volume (40 Gpc3) simulation needed to reach a simulated volume comparable to the ongoing/future survey sizes. A final element of the simulation campaign will be a set of intermediate size simulations to explore the impact induced by the current uncertainty of the most important cosmological parameters. All simulations will follow the physical processes described above. This will allow the researchers, for the very first time, to self consistently study galaxy clusters and groups, galaxies, and AGNs within an enormously large volume of the Universe. And it will produce the above mentioned theoretical counterpart to efficiently interpret the forthcoming data.
Copyright: © Klaus Dolag, Universitätssternwarte, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
High resolution animation Sources:
1. http://zoom.it/Qf4J -- 2. http://zoom.it/N7rY -- 3. http://zoom.it/UQFi
Shown are visualizations of Magneticum Pathfinder simulations. The left panel shows the largest volume simulation, done with low resolution. The middle column shows a smaller volume (the size corresponds to the dashed square in the left panel) done with much higher resolution. The increased level of detail can be best appreciated by exploring the zoom onto a galaxy cluster forming in the high resolution simulation (right panel). Visualized is the gas which fills the space between the galaxies (colour coded according to its temperature from cold/brown to hot/light blue) together with the galaxies and stars forming in the simulation (coloured in white). The lower images offer an interactive zoom and panning through high resolution versions of these visualizations. The GAUSS-Project Magneticum aims, for the first time, to combine such simulations and to simulate a very large volume of the universe with very high resolution
Full article in inSiDE, Vol. 11 No. 2
Project members:
Dolag, KlausA; Petkova, MargaritaB; Hammer, NicolayC
[A] Universitätssternwarte, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (USM, LMU)
[B] Excellence Cluster Universe, Boltzmannstr. 2, D-85748, Garching, Germany
[C] Leibniz-Rechenzentrum (LRZ)
Klaus Dolag
University Observatory Munich
Faculty of Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University
Scheinerstr. 1, D-81679 Munich/Germany
e-mail: email@example.com
March 2014
LRZ project ID: pr83li

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Unified Data Center IQ Challenge : Two more weeks to win
As a quick reminder , to participate to this 6 weeks challenge and have a chance to win every week a new iPAD , you want to visit our Facebook page. The questions are submitted on Sunday midnight PST, and answers have to be provided at the end of the week . Participation is easy and fun and allow you to collect points to compete for the highest IQ score. This best Unified Data Center "brain" will be the winner of the Grand Prize (valued US $2000). Every week-end , you can answer bonus questions, which give you additional points to catch up for the Grand Prize
Just a quick note today to share with our numerous participants to the contest that this week challenge will be extended to Friday midnight PST (instead of Friday noon) due to an outage on Monday , which impacted the access to the questions most of the day .
It's a pleasure to introduce to you our last week winner Trevor Roberts Jr. (@VMtrooper)
Trevor is a 15-year veteran of the IT industry. As an Architect for VCE, he helps customers see the value of Cisco Data Center Solutions for Virtualization and Cloud Deployments.
Trevor believes the programmability of the Cisco UCS platform, especially, facilitates DevOps personnel realizing automation and orchestration goals that are challenging to achieve on other platforms. This versatility allows IT departments and businesses to respond much quicker to customer demands. Further, Trevor is excited to see how Cisco's Software-Defined Networking (SDN) initiatives will spur the next evolution of Data Center Automation.
In his free time, Trevor enjoys travelling and blogging about applications of Cisco UCS and Nexus 1000V for Cloud at www.VMTrooper.com
If you haven't entered the contest this week in answering the questions on virtualization it's your opportunity to shine and win a new iPAD.
The questions as usual are pretty easy with multiple choice – You just need one correct answer to be eligible to win the weekly prize – Check out – If you know one answer you'd better go right away to Facebook to fill the form – All what we need is your e-mail address and your choices
- Part of the Cisco multi-hypervisor strategy for Cisco Nexus 1000V , which solution is currently in beta?
- Nexus 1000V virtual switch on the Citrix XenServer virtualization platform
- Nexus 1000V virtual switch on Microsoft Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012
- Nexus 1000V virtual switch the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) open source hypervisor for Linux
- Nexus 1000V virtual switch on the VMware vSphere hypervisor
- Which Citrix solution Cisco will include in its "Cloud Network Services" portfolio
- High-performance NetScaler MPX appliances
- Multi-tenant NetScaler SDX platforms
- Software-based NetScaler VPX virtual appliances
- All of the above
- Cisco acquired recently Virtuata and vCider. Which statement is obviously wrong?
- vCider's expertise will strengthen capabilities for Cisco's network overlay technologies like VXLAN and LISP, especially in the areas of provisioning and automation via Openstack Quantum
- The Virtuata technology will give our customers the ability to have sophisticated and consistent security for VMs across multi-hypervisor and multi-cloud environments
- vCider team's technology and expertise in provisioning and automation will be leveraged to further enhance Quantum plug-in development for Nexus 7000
- vCider's overlay-centric placement technology and best practices will help enhance the capabilities of our software controller
- In a single Layer 2 network domain, VXLAN scales to over
- 16 million virtual networks
- 12 million virtual networks
- 20 million virtual networks
- 18 milllion virtual networks
- Give the three (3) major Cisco hardware elements of the VXI solution?
- ACE, Catalyst 6500, Nexus 5548
- Nexus 1000V, MDS 9100, Catalyst 6500
- WAAS, Nexus 5548, VXC 6215
The Bonus questions will be posted Friday midnight and will be on Big Data and security
Next week questions, starting Sunday midnight will be dedicated to Unified Fabric
To get clues follow @drombaut and @ciscodc – To visit this week www.slideshare.com/ciscodatacenter would be also a good idea.
Good luck
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.


text:
Mayan Jersey necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 19 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
Professional, web friendly, web 2.0 widget design that is icon driven to creatively capture our features and functionality. ***Winning designer preferred for follow-on web design work.***
This contest is to design a friendly and intuitive widget called Geowake. This widget makes accessible NOAA nautical charts (maps), Points of interest, Google Map imagery, marine weather and approach navigational courses, and car directions.
The widget will be accessible to embed in website, blogs and social pages (Facebook)
draft concept:
Coastal business (marina, restaurant, bar, service) ack the ability to easily visualize their locations from nautical charts. Bloggers would like to visualize their boating trips simply on their blog. Simple examples our widget will resolve and meet this need.
Widget will go on sites like:
Geowake is a leader in marine data distribution through widgets and open social solutions. This widget is to break into the market. Winning designer will be prefered for follow-on work.
- Provide image file (i.e. .psd)
- Color Scheme: Light grays, dark blues, orange, yellows.( http://www.cbmmag.net) Be imaginative and offer your own ideas.
- Friendly, welcoming Web 2.0 widget
- widget dimension 400 (h) x 320 (w)
- Control bar should be creative, stylish, and sleek. - Control bar is semi-transparent. Leave some space between bottom and widget frame (4 pixles height) to show base maps. Idea is to make bar look less intrusive to map. Add your own suggestions here.
- Control bar contents will change per user selection. Bar needs to provide space for controls and content
- Control bar icons to be Web 2.0, Clear, square icons similiar to iPhone application icons - "WP+" Icon = Feature to designate a location of interest on the map.
- "Course" Icon = Feature to draw a line on the map
- "Weather" Icon = Feature to display weather
- Provide titles to each icon (WP+, Course, Weather) - easy to read font style, color.
- Clean, Click me attitude, and prominent "Chart" button (web 2.0 look, shine)
- "login" link - Log-in link clean and non-obtrusive map zoom control in upper left of frame.
- Two separate upper right map type controls - Map type = Water
- Map type = Land
- Be creative, not sure if icons are intuitive enough here. May need text.
- cheesy interface with blocky, polygon features (basically the sample I created)
- no cartoonish features or fonts


text:
Watch Movie Tusk Full StreamingFull Movie Tusk Movie Streaming with duration 102 Min and released on 2014-09-19 with MPAA rating is 7.
- Original Title : Tusk
- Movie title in your country : Tusk
- Year of movie : 2014
- Genres of movie : Comedy, Horror,
- Status of movie : Released
- Release date of movie : 2014-09-19
- Companies of movie :
- Countries of movie :
- Language of movie :
- Durationof movie : 102 Min
- Average vote of movie : 5.8
- Translation of movie : EN,RU,
- Actors of movie :
- Michael Parks ( Howard Howe )
- Justin Long ( )
- Haley Joel Osment ( Teddy )
- Genesis Rodriguez ( Allison )
- Ralph Garman ( )
- Johnny Depp ( )
- Genesis Rodriguez ( Allison )
Tusk Synopsis:
Online Streaming Tusk When his best friend and podcast co-host goes missing in the backwoods of Canada, a young guy joins forces with his friend's girlfriend to search for him. Download Tusk For Free
You can watch Tusk Full Streaming in HD Now. Play and free download Tusk online movie with single fill out the form by clicking on the image of the sign up button. Enjoy all the albums new movie with all Faves Movie Streaming In ! Just play it Tusk full and free online movie. This is truly spectacular and could one of those rare amazing. The quality was great all around. Management, images and visual effects were all very innovative and brilliant. The pleasure of the script, often humorous and has a lot of heart for all his characters are all very well developed.
... Download Tusk HD 1080p ...
Director : Kevin Smith, Writer : Kevin Smith, Associate Producer : Jordan Monsanto, Executive Producer : Jennifer Schwalbach Smith,
Yes, now you can Watch Movie Tusk Full Movie Streaming and get the link to Tusk In HD


text:
More images!The focus is on Khaana Peena today. I am waiting for Federer to finish off the damn match - don't really care who wins. Both men are like machines. I prefer emotion and drama on Centre Court - a few tantrums, orgasmic grunts and groans. Not two robots playing technically superb but essentially passionless tennis.
Fire-fighting took on an entirely new meaning when Mumbai's Mantralaya went up in flames recently. Timing ki baat hai, boss. There was a fire. A pretty major one. But nobody to fight it! Howcome? Well, what is the point of a well-planned fire if it's going to be efficiently put out? Of course, that nasty word 'árson' was scrupulously avoided by babudom the morning after the night before. 'Accident'sounded so much better.White washing of the iconic building began hours later.Literal and metaphorical damage control was set into motion phataphat! I live pretty close to the Mantralaya and drive past it nearly every day. Looking at it from the outside, nobody can guess that a massive and mysterious fire recently destroyed such a large portion of the building, or that behind the hastily painted exterior there is a charred shell where floors ( and more importantly, incriminating files) once existed. So accurately executed was the short circuit,even the flames knew exactly what to look for and destroy. What clever flames!
Then came a man with an impressive Chambal Valley style handlebar moustache.Just looking at him should have scared the daylights out of a few ministers. Maybe that's exactly what happened. CBI Joint Director,RishiRaj Singh, was abruptly shunted out after the charge sheet in the Adarsh Society scandal was filed. Evidently, the devastating fire had not completed its job. There was unfinished business that Rishi Raj Singh had unwisely made his own. One former C.M. ( Ashok Chavan) had been boldly named by him. But two more NCP ministers were about to be exposed.... and that wasn't fun. Marching orders were promptly issued to the man who had spent the past four years with the Anti-Corruption Wing handling some really hot cases involving mighty names. He wasn't due for a transfer till May 2013.
While all this was going on, what were the people of the State of Maharashtra doing?Wringing their hands in frustration and grumbling, but nothing more than that. Fat lot of good that does. It's not just about the disgraceful history of one building, 'Adarsh''( which has aptly been labelled The Tower of Corruption).It is about the brazenness which has come to define the running of this once great State. Look at the shambles it is in... Chief Ministers come and go with the frequency of recycled stale samosas, musical chairs are played with top bureaucrats - the ones who are out of favour with current political bosses, go to jail, the others waltz around freely offering pathetic alibis, our cops are ridiculed and mocked for chasing teenagers, the cops armed with hockey sticks, while the really big fish ( terrorists included) roam around the city freely picking their next targets to bomb. Civic officials talk about converting Mumbai into Tokyo, a comment that makes Mumbaikars gag ( when did Tokyo displace Shanghai?).... all this nonsensical talk while India's premier city rots. Literally. Each year we act like heavy rains are a huge surprise - a rare , freaky weather phenomenon, when for centuries we have suffered monsoon devastation. Confronted by these routine hazards, our successive Chief Ministers either grin fatuously (Vilasrao Deshmukh), or scowl menacingly ( Prithviraj Chavan). Solutions? You must be kidding. Responsibility? Don't joke.
Meanwhile our precious Prime Minister gives himself a generous character certificate and declares there has been 'no explosion in corruption' under his watch. So, what is Manmohan Singh waiting for? A corruption holocaust that wipes us out? But he adds self-righteously, "I have maintained a high standard of integrity in my conduct." Matlab? It's okay to look the other way when party colleagues are looting the nation, so long as his own hands are clean? Come on, Mr. Singh. Ever heard of collateral damage? If this is the message filtering down from the very top, it is inevitable that we shall have to live with more fires breaking out in various government departments over the next few months. It is the season for short circuits. Our over worked, under paid firemen are going to be really, really busy as they rush from one inferno to the next. Of course, there will be poor water pressure when they get to the scene of the crime ... sorry... accident. By then, most of the evidence... sorry... files, would have been reduced to ashes. And Mr. Handle Bar Moustache won't be around to do his job, either. That will leave us. I know what we, as citizens, must do... join the fire brigade.Train as firefighters. Short circuit the system. Water hose the guilty. And get Ram Gopal Verma to make 'Mumbaikar ki Aag' and keep our fingers crossed the film is a bigger hit than his earlier turkey.


text:
What makes jambalaya so tasty is the browning of the chicken and andouille sausage, mixing in the veggies like celery and onion, some liquid (some people like to use chicken stock in place of water) and then the rice to cook in all those tasty seasonings and juices.
It's a fabulous one-pot meal that is easy to make and a real crowd pleaser.
Tell the world how you really feel about coming back to work* * * Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new!


text:
Intermittent normobaric-hypoxia exposure conditioning program
Altitude acclimatization allows personnel to achieve maximum physical and cognitive performance and decrease their susceptibility to altitude illness during operations at high altitude. Prior studies support the efficacy of staging1,7 and intermittent altitude exposures2,3,5 above 5,000 ft to induce effective altitude acclimatization for subsequent rapid ascent to altitudes up to ~14000 ft. However, many personnel residing below ~5,000 ft do not have access to high altitude regions where they can reside for several days or more to acquire altitude acclimatization. Alternatively, several hours exposure per day in unpressurized aircraft above 5,000 ft may induce beneficial acclimatization, but may not be feasible. A commercially-available simulation of altitude is provided by normobaric hypoxic devices. These devices use technology to separate the oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the air allowing the user to "dial down" the percentage of inhaled oxygen from the normal 21% to below 16%, simulating the hypoxia of high altitudes. Users can be exposed to the low oxygen gas breathing through a mask or inside a confined space, such as a small tent or sealed room during sleep or while exercising.
Myths and/or Claims
Manufacturers of normobaric hypoxic devices promote the use of intermittent normobaric hypoxic exposure (INHE) conditioning programs. They claim that individuals using their products will stimulate physiological adaptations that will increase physical performance capacity greater than achievable using a physical conditioning program alone while residing at low altitude. The manufacturers also claim that individuals can "pre-acclimatize" to high altitude prior to leaving a low altitude location. Promoters of these devices and INHE conditioning programs frequently cite the established benefits of the "live high, train low" conditioning programs developed and tested using actual high altitude exposure. Manufacturers also frequently cite "testimonials" from athletes, mountaineers, etc., that claim use of these devices improved their performance.
Manufacturer claims of the benefits derived from INHE conditioning programs are largely unfounded. Published peer-reviewed evaluations of the efficacy of INHE conditioning programs to decrease susceptibility to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and improve work performance during actual high altitude exposures report only small reductions in AMS, no improvement in work performance4,6,12, and no improvement in sleep quality at high altitude9. Recent results of two INHE studies by our Institute indicate only small reductions (~25%) in AMS during a subsequent rapid ascent to ~14,000 ft, and no improvement in physical work performance. One study evaluated a conditioning program consisting of daily INHE (2 hours at 14,800 ft resting, and 1 hour at 10,000 ft exercising) for 6-7 days11. The other INHE program used an overnight sleep period exposure with simulated altitude increasing nightly from 7,000 to 10,000 ft over 7 nights. The sleep INHE treatment did improve sleep breathing during subsequent ascent to 14,000 ft, but did not reduce AMS during the first 24 hours at high altitude8. Published peer-reviewed reports indicate that daily 3-12 hour long INHE treatment sessions do induce some of the physiological adaptations characteristic of altitude acclimatization10, but appear only to be expressed when measured under INHE conditions. However, the results of INHE studies when compared to those carried out under true altitude conditions suggest that decreasing the barometric pressure is an important, if not critical, component to inducing effective altitude acclimatization. No commercially available normobaric hypoxic system is capable of simulating the actual high altitude environment, i.e., low pressure and low oxygen.
There are no reports of adverse effects of an INHE conditioning program in healthy, fit individuals. However, sudden exposure to severe hypoxia (less than 14.4%, or simulating an altitude above 10,000 ft) can cause dizziness, and/or syncope that could result in an injury. Exposure to severe hypoxia for more than 4-6 hours can cause development of acute mountain sickness in some individuals just starting an INHE conditioning program.
Compared to traditional approaches (staging and graded ascents) to induce altitude acclimatization1,7, INHE conditioning programs are not an effective approach to inducing functionally useful altitude acclimatization in personnel based at low altitudes. Actual exposure and residence at high altitudes (above 5,000 ft) is the most effective approach to inducing effective altitude acclimatization.
Personnel based at low altitude (below 5,000 ft) may obtain a modest reduction in their risk of developing acute mountain sickness by participating in an INHE conditioning program prior to ascending to high altitudes. Personnel should not expect an INHE conditioning program to produce any improvement in physical work performance at high altitude. Actual ascent and residence at high altitude (above 5,000 ft) is by far the most effective method for decreasing risk of altitude sickness and improving work performance at high altitudes. Likewise, daily ascents of a few hours duration to very high altitudes (~14,000 ft) are also effective at inducing altitude acclimatization.
- Beidleman BA, Fulco CS, Muza SR, Rock PB, Staab JE, Forte VA, Brothers MD and Cymerman A. Effect of six days of staging on physiologic adjustments and acute mountain sickness during ascent to 4300 meters. High Alt Med Biol 10: 253-260, 2009.
- Beidleman BA, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Cymerman A, Ditlzer DT, Stulz D, Staab JE, Skrinar GS, Lewis SF and Sawka MN. Intermittent altitude exposures reduce acute mountain sickness at 4300 M. Clin Sci (Lond) 106: 321-328, 2004.
- Beidleman BA, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Cymerman A, Sawka MN, Lewis SF and Skrinar GS. Seven intermittent exposures to altitude improves exercise performance at 4300 m. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40: 141-148, 2008.
- Beidleman BA, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Jones JE, Lammi E, Staab JE and Cymerman A. Intermittent hypoxic exposure does not improve endurance performance at altitude. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41: 1317-1325, 2009.
- Beidleman BA, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Cymerman A, Ditzler DT, Stulz D, Staab JE, Robinson SR, Skrinar GS, Lewis SF and Sawka MN. Intermittent altitude exposures improve muscular performance at 4,300 m. J Appl Physiol 95: 1824-1832, 2003.
- Faulhaber M, Gatterer H, Haider T, Patterson C and Burtscher M. Intermittent hypoxia does not affect endurance performance at moderate altitude in well-trained athletes. J Sports Sci 28: 513-519, 2010.
- Fulco CS, Muza SR, Beidleman B, Jones J, Staab J, Rock PB and Cymerman A. Exercise performance of sea-level residents at 4300 m after 6 days at 2200 m. Aviat Space Environ Med 80: 955-961, 2009.
- Fulco CS, Muza SR, Beidleman BA, Demes R, Staab J, Jones JE and Cymerman A. Acute Mountain Sickness and Exercise Performance at High Altitude After Inducing Ventilatory Acclimatization Using Normobaric Hypoxia Exposure at Sea Level. J Appl Physiol in review: 0, 2010.
- Jones JE, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Beidleman BA, Tapia ML and Cymerman A. Intermittent hypoxic exposure does not improve sleep at 4300 m. High Alt Med Biol 9: 281-287, 2008.
- Muza SR. Military applications of hypoxic training for high-altitude operations. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39: 1625-1631, 2007.
- Muza SR, Fulco CS, Beidleman BA, Jones JE and Cymerman A. Evaluation of an intermittent normobaric hypoxic exposure program to reduce AMS at 4300 m. High Alt Med Biol in review: 2010.
- Schommer K, Wiesegart N, Menold E, Haas U, Lahr K, Buhl H, Bartsch P and Dehnert C. Training in normobaric hypoxia and its effects on acute mountain sickness after rapid ascent to 4559 m. High Alt Med Biol 11: 19-25, 2010.
04 August 2016


text:
Stop Calling Electronic Espionage Cyberwar
from the because-it's-not dept
Cyberwar. Cyberwar never changes, mostly because it has never existed. Since the dawn of the new millenium, when the movie Hackers was still Congress's best approximation of the threat of compromised computers, thoughts have been spilled in the name of expunging this stupid hyperbole, this made-up threat with a trumped-up enemy. We're told the threats are everywhere, from an Iranian government that provides more laughs than danger, to a pirate wing of the Chinese military, to simple psychotic terror-hacking wings. Sadly, it is left to a pathetically small few media members to push back against the nonsense.
If stealing secrets is an act of war then America is currently at war with all of its allies. Espionage is what governments do so they don't have to go to war...directly. What appears to be upsetting the Congressman is that the Chinese are using espionage to make money in a way that the United States didn't think of first.In the year 2013, after millenia of technological progress coupled with man's fear of it, the tidal wave of a complicit mainstream media could hold itself back no longer. As such, the world has been plunged into an abyss of cyber-nuclear threats, and bullshit.
The Times wasn't content with using other peoples' reports based on circumstantial evidence so it went out and got one of its own. The study by Mandiant has come under some fairly withering criticism.But this threat has not, as some have predicted, caused the end of the world. Instead, the fake apocalypse was just the prologue to another crappy chapter of human history. For man had succeded destroying the fourth estate for the betterment of the cyber-defense industry.
-It doesn't appear to say anything new. CEO Kevin Mandia: "Mandiant's not the first company to blame China for the hacks, but it was our turn to carry the ball for a little bit." Translation = "We were working for the NYT and that's some golden PR."
-Did I mention it was based on circumstantial evidence? Jeffrey Carr does a superb job of explaining why Mandiant saw exactly what it expected to find and then offers several other equally valid possible perpetrators, including Russia, France and Israel.
Here is my boilerplate response on the security weakness of U.S. utilities in regards to cyber attacks: "Yes, there is a problem. It is not a crisis. To do any significant damage any such attack would most likely have to be associated with a physical attack." (The sky is not falling, Chicken Little, but I bet I could make a whole lot of money convincing you otherwise.)Cyberwar. Cyberwar never changes, because it has never existed.
Filed Under: cybersecurity, cyberwar, espionage, exaggeration


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UW-Madison: For plastics knowledge, India looks to UW-Madison engineers
Contact: Tim Osswald, 608-263-9538, email@example.com
MADISON - One of the oldest and most respected polymer engineering research and educational programs in the United States is contributing its expertise to a new plastics university in India.
Representatives of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Polymer Engineering Center signed a memorandum of understanding in Dehli, India, this month with the PlastIndia Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
The three entities will collaborate to develop curriculum for the PlastIndia International University, an institution dedicated to plastics research, higher education, management and entrepreneurship.
Expected to break ground later in 2012 and open within three years, the new university will be located in Vapi in the state of Gujarat, one of the largest plastics manufacturing regions in India.
Both Massachusetts and UW-Madison are well positioned to contribute to the effort, says plastics expert Tim Osswald, the Kuo K. and Cindy F. Wang professor of mechanical engineering at UW-Madison.
"U-Mass, Lowell, has a whole undergrad program dedicated to plastics engineering, while UW-Madison is well-known for its industry partnerships, leading-edge research and plastics courses integrated into our mechanical engineering degree program," he says.
The plastics industry is among the fastest growing industries in India. Currently, about 4 percent of the world's plastics products are produced in India-and the industry is growing at approximately 12 percent each year.
The PlastIndia Foundation, India's largest plastics trade association, recognized that growth, says Osswald.
"One of the major bottlenecks is that they don't produce enough plastics engineers," he says. "So, they decided to create a university that will actually produce plastics engineers. And they needed help from schools that have experience teaching and doing research in plastics."
The PlastIndia Foundation sought that expertise from U-Mass, Lowell, and UW-Madison, says Bipin M. Shah, vice president of the PlastIndia Foundation.
As a chemical engineer trained in plastic processing in the United States, Shah was exposed to the landmark 1960 textbook, "Transport Phenomena," authored by UW-Madison chemical engineers R. Byron Bird, Warren Stewart and Edwin Lightfoot.
"The contributions by your esteemed university in the field of polymer engineering are second to none," says Shah. "Thus, we selected UW-Madison. India needs education from very imminent scholars for continuous growth, where hands-on training as well as processing knowledge of polymers is a must. [UW-Madison], as well as U-Mass, Lowell, would be a very complimentary combination."
At UW-Madison, plastics science and engineering dates back to 1946, when mechanical engineer Ron Daggett began teaching plastics processes courses. At the same time, John Ferry, a chemistry professor at the university, made key research contributions in polymer physics, while chemical engineer Bird linked the two fields with fundamental discoveries in polymer fluid dynamics and rheology.
Today, the UW-Madison plastics faculty includes international experts in plastics rheology, injection molding, moldless manufacturing techniques, plastics simulation, and biomedical applications for plastics, among others.
Through the Polymer Engineering Center Industrial Consortium, UW-Madison polymer engineers collaborate closely with industry partners ranging from multinational companies to Wisconsin businesses such as Phillips Plastics Corp. of Hudson, Bemis Manufacturing of Sheboygan Falls and Extrusion Dies Industries of Chippewa Falls.
"We've always kept our eye on industry and know the industry's needs," says Osswald.
Many of those local and international companies have their roots in plastics undergraduate and graduate education at UW-Madison, where faculty literally wrote the accepted textbooks in use worldwide on polymer engineering.
Osswald alone is author of 12 books, among them "Materials Science of Polymers for Engineers," "Understanding Polymer Processing," and the "International Plastics Handbook" and the polymer engineering faculty use technologies such as video and podcasting to meet students' educational needs.
In addition, UW-Madison students learn about plastics and put that knowledge to the test in an operational polymer laboratory that houses more than a dozen state-of-the-art polymer-processing machines.
"We have 100 kids coming out of the Department of Mechanical Engineering every semester who understand plastics-and that's unique," says Osswald. "Not many schools have that."
The partnership with PlastIndia International University will include an exchange program for both faculty and students. As a result, says Osswald, UW-Madison graduates will enter the profession knowing how the plastics industry in India works.
"A really important aspect of our education here is to create graduates who can think globally," he says. "And that's going to be beneficial to our industry and our economy."
Rather than view the Indian plastics industry as competition, a variety of U.S. industries could support and benefit from its growth, says Osswald. While one barrier India faces is the lack of plastics engineers, it also must replace outdated equipment, operate manufacturing facilities in environmentally sustainable ways, and generate enough energy to fuel the industry as a whole.
U.S. industry is poised to provide India technology in all of these areas. In Wisconsin-home to a thriving plastics industry-Extrusion Dies Industries, for example, is a global leader in manufacturing flat extrusion dies for film for packaging, while RTP Co. of Winona, Minn., develops specialty polymer compounds for applications ranging from electronics and appliances to medical, sports and automotive.
In fact, both companies were exhibitors at the PlastIndia 2012 international plastics exhibition and conference when the U.S. and Indian collaborators signed the memorandum of understanding.
"There's going to be business on both sides," says Osswald. "We will benefit from India having a strong plastics industry."


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Newtown shooting theory-the government did it.
This was in the St. Paul paper this morning. I don't know how much press it will get.
This will make everyone throw up. This guy must be completely nuts.
Retired UMD professor theorizes that government behind Newtown massacre
By Jana Hollingsworth
Duluth News Tribune
Posted: 01/04/2013 12:01:00 AM CST
Updated: 01/04/2013 06:19:15 PM CST
A retired University of Minnesota-Duluth professor known for his conspiracy theories on John F. Kennedy's assassination, the 9/11 attacks and the Paul Wellstone plane crash has found himself in the news again -- this time for claiming the U.S. government was involved in the Newtown, Conn., school shootings.
In his online writings, James Fetzer cites chief among his credentials his ties to UMD, a fact lamented by at least one professor at another university.
Fetzer, also an author and former Marine Corps officer, claims in an online journal that Israeli Mossad death squads and the U.S. government might have been behind the school shootings in Connecticut. At the end of his piece, Fetzer describes himself as an emeritus professor at UMD, and he uses his UMD e-mail address as his contact.
UMD officials say Fetzer has the right to express his views -- but he also has the responsibility to make clear he's not speaking for the university.
Other retired UMD faculty members have been identified as emeriti when writing opinion pieces in the pages of the News Tribune, including physician Robert Goldish and American Indian studies professor Robert Powless.
Fetzer's Newtown conspiracy theory earned him a mention by writer Michael Moynihan in the online magazine "Daily Beast," an article titled: "Newtown Conspiracy Theories: Obama, Iran, and Other Culprits." Beneath that, a secondary headline reads: "The government was behind the school massacre. Wait, it was Obama,
in a ruse to take our guns away. No, it was Iran! Israel! Batman! Michael Moynihan on the paranoid wing's 'real truth' about Sandy Hook."
Fetzer writes in his online column, published on "Press TV and "Veterans Today": "The Sandy Hook massacre appears to have been a psy op intended to strike fear in the hearts of Americans by the sheer brutality of the massacre, where the killing of children is a signature of terror ops conducted by agents of Israel."
The act, Fetzer said in an interview with the News Tribune, "is part of an escalating series of covert operations intended to create hysteria in the American people in order to support gun control legislation that completely subverts the Second Amendment."
Fetzer lists his UMD e-mail address as the way for readers to contact him, which was granted to him as part of his retirement package. He says he doesn't speak for UMD and that UMD hasn't suggested he refrain from connecting himself to the university.
"There is something called freedom of research, freedom of inquiry," he said, "which the University of Minnesota has respected. I can't imagine why any university would want to discourage its faculty from exercising their independent thought and critical reasoning ability."
Faculty, including faculty emeriti, are protected by the Regents Policy on Academic Freedom and Responsibility, according to Andrea Schokker, executive vice chancellor of academic affairs at UMD. The policy protects the freedom of creative expression and to speak or write on matters of public interest without institutional discipline or restraint. That comes with the responsibility to make it clear that one isn't speaking for the institution, she said.
But to the average person who reads the Fetzer piece, it appears Fetzer represents UMD, said Donna Halper, an associate professor of communication at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. Fetzer identifies himself as a UMD professor emeritus and notes his faculty page on UMD's website.
"For a professor to be spreading stereotypes under the guise of academic freedom is profoundly disappointing," said Halper, whose earlier career in radio led her to Duluth several times. She found Duluth to be tolerant and compassionate, she said, and she was surprised to read Fetzer's work, which she classified as a "fringe view."
"I'm not saying he doesn't have the right to speak, but ... when it comes from a professor, it makes me wonder: What did he teach his students?" asked Halper, who teaches courses on philosophy and communication ethics. "Here you have someone who is allegedly an educated person spreading such uneducated opinions in the name of Duluth. That's outrageous."
Fetzer, of Oregon, Wis., and a professor of philosophy, spent 35 years teaching at universities, 19 of those years at UMD. He was awarded a McKnight Professorship from the University of Minnesota in 1996, which included a $100,000 research grant. He retired from UMD in 2006.
He has an Internet radio show, has written more than two dozen books and has become a well-known voice among those who claim that Kennedy was assassinated by his own government. He also theorizes that the U.S. government was involved in the Wellstone plane crash and the 9/11 attacks.
As a philosopher, Fetzer said, he cares about the truth, and his scientific research has revealed that "the government lies to us."
Last edited by displacedinMN; 01-05-2013 at 09:32 AM..
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Nope. Your post 293 didn't refute any points but implied I had a break with reality.
My pov was that they wanted to eradicate gun rights which would be under the banner of gun control. Even Hillary thought it was odious earlier. It's a fact that there is a planned discussion in NY for more gun regs.
There is no doubt in my mind that people like Obama, and other leftists would love to strangle us with more gun regs to defang our rights gradually to the point of disarmament.
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Did you say something?
Nah! It was just some noise.
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The whole story isn't being told, regardless... plus, the story keeps changing. I'm still undecided on this event.
Here's an article from the Newtown Bee Newspaper...
The interesting tip in this story... is in the last sentence.
Turn down your volume on this thing before watching...
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Blue Plate
Blue Plate Mayonnaise was one of the first commercially prepared mayonnaise brands in the country. Its legend continues to spread, perking up food wherever it's found.
Bring out the flavor in all your favorite foods, from salads and sandwiches to dips, dressings, and sauces. Our tasty mayonnaise is the perfect addition to any meal. Visit the Blue Plate® Mayonnaise site.
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As a wholesale nursery, we do not sell directly to the public, but do sell to many retail nurseries and landscape professionals, as noted on our Sales Policy Page. If you would like to locate a retail nursery selling our plants, please visit our Retail Nursery Locator. Please also consult with your local retail nursery first with any questions about plants that we list on our website. If we have time and feel a question directed to our contact us page merits our attention, we will try to answer it, but please do not take offense should we not.
If you are in the nursery or landscape profession, please request a password to view price information by clicking on "New User" at the top of this, or any other page. Please note that we only ship using our own trucks and only within California. Any shipping arrangements for outside of our delivery areas will need to be made by the receiver.


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Demi Lovato Reveals Z100 Jingle Ball 2011 Lineup
Demi Lovato was dressed to impress as she hit the red carpet and the stage at a Z100-hosted shindig this weekend. The party was meant to kick off the buzz about the New York City radio station's annual Jingle Ball, a holiday concert that boasts a killer lineup this year: Lovato (of course), Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Kelly Clarkson, David Guetta, LMFAO, Foster the People, Gym Class Heroes and Hot Chelle Rae. Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian Odom, Lamar Odom and Karmin are set to appear as special guest hosts during the show, which takes place on Dec. 9.
As seen in the pictures above, Lovato looked flawless in a short and flowy white dress, sharp leather jacket, matching belt and black booties. The singer — who released her new album 'Unbroken' last month — topped her camera-ready outfit with a bold red lip and loose curls. She looked put together yet sassy. The biker jacket gave her classic look just enough edge, while the cherry lipstick provided a welcome splash of color to her black-and-white ensemble.
After strutting the red carpet and announcing the Z100 Jingle Ball 2011 lineup, Lovato entertained the crowd with a live performance — and judging from the huge grin seen in the pictures of her time onstage, she was loving every moment of it.
In other news about Lovato, she's been chosen to sing the National Anthem at Game 5 of the World Series on Monday, Oct. 24. Tune in to the game tomorrow night to catch Lovato kill it, but for now, take a minute to flip through these gorgeous pictures and watch the video below of her performing 'My Love Is Like a Star.'
Watch Demi Lovato Sing 'My Love Is Like a Star' at the Z100 Jingle Ball Kick Off Party


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Oldham County is scheduled to go live with the new court system's Accounts Receivable program on August 1. There are 22 Kentucky counties using the AR program.
The Accounts Receivable program allows the KYCOURTS case management system to speak electronically to the Receipts/Bookkeeping system. The Judicial Branch is required to report monies owed to the state general fund and the new AR program makes it possible to report this information electronically. Previously, this information was available only through a time-consuming manual process.
Friday, July 18 – YMCA 5K race
Beginning at 7 p.m. the following roads may be closed and/or traffic stopped for the one mile race – Allen Lane from train tracks to Jefferson St., Anchor Ave, Dawkins Road, Woodlawn Ave., Jefferson St. (Ky. 146) from Springhouse Pike to Franklin Ave.
A local business was able to get a political update from one of the top Congressional leaders this week.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stopped by Fastline Publications in Buckner Monday to speak to employees, local residents and leaders about the state of the country.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 5 Office advises motorists of the temporary closure of KY 146 (La Grange Road) in Oldham County. This roadway will be closed to through traffic between Spann Lane and the Oldham/Henry County line to allow for cross-drain repairs (mile points 13.6 to 14.8).
Closure of KY 146 is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8 from 5 p.m. until midnight. Local access will be allowed during this work. All other traffic should follow the signed detour via KY 2855 (Ft. Pickens Road), KY 3223 (Old Sligo Road) and Ballard School Road.
A decline in funding, partnered with increasing retirement expenses is leading to reductions in personnel and services at the Oldham County Health Department.
Starting July 6, the department will be releasing two contract employees and reducing three full-time employees to part-time, Teresa Gamsky, the director of public health, said.
A dispute over the use of a property on U.S. 42 in Goshen will likely continue with litigation after another hearing in front of the county's Board of Adjustments.
The property in question, 9051 W. U.S. 42, is currently owned by Anthony Zeppa and only has an accessory structure on the property currently.
After receiving initial approval in May 2013 to have the secondary structure on the property without a home also on the grounds, problems arose in January about the misuse of a variance on the property.
Project consultants, URS Corporation and Qk4, have completed the final design for reconstructing KY 3084 (Old Henry Road) starting just west of the intersection of Bush Farm Road and ending at KY 362 (Ash Avenue). Right of way acquisition is the next step prior to utility relocations and then construction.
The Kentucky Attorney General has put an ordinance amending the City of La Grange's business licensing tax into question.
After the city council approved the changes 5-4 in their March meeting, the Kentucky Bar Association asked the Attorney General for a legal opinion on the constitutionality of the law.
The Oldham County Fiscal Court has approved a nearly $26 million budget to operate on for the next year.
The budget doesn't include any new raises for county employees or magistrates and is mostly mirrors the previous year's budget.
It includes $13.7 million for the county's general fund and nearly $3 million in the road fund.
An important stretch of Highway 22 in Crestwood will still be expanded and rerouted, despite slow progress.
Nicknamed the Bridge Hill project, the changes will take place from just west of the Highway 329 Bypass to just past Abbott Lane, according to Andrea Clifford, spokeswoman for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5.
Copyright © 2019
The Oldham Era is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Oldham County and LaGrange, Kentucky, and the surrounding area.


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Monday, August 10, 2009
Cali vs World contest - Pack 9
Bobby Meacham (L.A.)
Fernando Venezuela (Mexico) - Throwing the ol' scroogie.
Kirk McCaskill (Canada) - The first Canuck we've pulled.
Jimmy Key (Huntsville, AL) - Bama Boy! My 7th grade Social Studies teacher claimed that he was a former student of hers. She was a little nuts, though, so who knows. Key had a decent career. Four-time All-Star, twice was a Cy Young runner-up.
Jim Presley
Ken Landreaux (L.A.)
Luis Aguayo (P.R.)
Jim Clancy
Phil Bradley
Mickey Tettleton
Jerry Don Gleaton
Mike Greenwell - The Sons of Sam Horn exult.
Rangers Leaders - They look like they are having a great time.
Blue Jays Leaders
Joe Hesketh
Willie Randolph - All-Star
Luis Salazar (Venezuela)
Cardinals Leaders
Steve Lombardozzi
Duane Ward
Jeff Stone
Shawon Dunston - Looking every bit of those 175 lbs.
Dave Henderson (Mercedes, CA) - Hendu lights up the card with a toothy smile.
Jeff Musselman - Rookie Cup = scan. Jeff here graduated from Harvard in '85.
Red Sox Leaders - That's four Leaders cards in the pack. This one has Wade Boggs and someone who is not Wade Boggs.
Bert Blyleven (Holland) - Should be in the Hall.
World - 5Cali - 3
The World goes global, adding Mexico, Canada, and the Netherlands to their roster, but they can only put a dent in Cali's lead. Cali 52, World 31. Bama Boys: 2.
2 comments:
- Kris said...
In one of Bill James' early Baseball Abstracts, he did something on why such a disproportionate amount of ball players hailed from California.
I've long sold the books for a couple grand (who woulda thunk it,) but I seemingly recall he couldn't find a single variable that correlated properly and ended with "it just does."
- skoormit said...
Well, it's a lot of population and a lot of sunshine year round.
Texas and Florida can make the same claim, but football is a bigger deal in those states, so they produce a lot of football players, although I think I remember a study from about five years ago that found that the most D-1 football players per capita was produced by Alabama. I would not be surprised to find that Cali produces the most D-1 baseball players per capita.


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Since the recent updates to both GTKRadiant and UrT I have been able to playtest my map with bots.... no crashes. Very cool. So, I finished the map and here it is: just change the .zip to .pk3 and place in your q3ut4 directory. It will list as Dogleg RC1. I plan no changes at this time, final version.
This is a fairly dense brawlers map. The action should always be fast paced and nearby. Support for FFA, TDM, CTF and Bomb (LMS, TS, etc) and the bots are not completely stupid. This is my first UrT map and its pretty simple but I expect it will be fun once a few humans figure some things out. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. On to my next map.


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ELKHART — Leveraging its newly-formed partnership with Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC, Breckenridge will be introducing the all-new LakeView destination trailer during this week's Elkhart RV Open House, the company reported today.
The LakeView caters to a growing market of consumers looking for a destination trailer that can be pulled to a seasonal site or lakefront property, a release noted. The line will be produced from a dedicated facility in Indiana's Elkhart County that allows Breckenridge to build units year-round.
"We are very excited about this new product," said Bob Phillips, Breckenridge general manager. "Breckenridge has always placed a major emphasis on the park model sector, but the market is changing. We want to be one of the first RV manufacturers that it truly committed to the destination trailer business."
The LakeView features a comfortable, residential-style interior highlighted by panoramic windows to maximize scenic settings, Phillips noted, adding that in addition to several "set-apart" amenities, the LakeView would be sharply priced compared to the competition.
"Unlike other manufacturers, we will not operate in the travel trailer and fifth-wheel markets so we can focus on our two core segments – park models and destination trailers," he said. "I believe our dealers will find that very refreshing. By providing them with a very fair territory and year-round delivery of product, I am confident dealers will see this type of partnership as an opportunity to grow their business."
Breckenridge, founded in 1991, has strong brand recognition with consumers as a forerunner in the park model and destination trailer industries, he added.
"Breckenridge has an unbelievable name in Elkhart County," said Chris Hermon, president of Breckenridge. "And in talking with dealers, I realized what a great reputation the company has across the country.
"It's all about people and Breckenridge has put together a tremendous team. I expect Breckenridge and its LakeView product to hit the ground running," he added.
Breckenridge will be displaying at the open house as part of Thor Industries Inc.'s expansive display at the RV/MH Hall of Fame.
SOURCE: Heartland Recreational Vehicles press release


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A Crawley boy is feared drowned in Egypt.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed a British National died in Sharm el Sheikh on Tuesday (July 7).
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Fuel Management Service
Fuelwatch "all in one"
As today's transport world impacts on the increasingly narrow margins for haulage firms, the main focus is on cutting costs and CO2 emissions.
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The Fuel Management Service will provide you with a thorough review of your overall fuel consumption. Changes are then implemented in order to enhance fuel efficiency, by managing driver behaviour, thus reducing operating costs and environmental impact.
Lower fuel consumption contributes to reduced carbon dioxide emissions (1 litre of diesel saved = 2.6 Kg of CO2 emissions) and demonstrates the positive link between good business sense and a healthy environment.
The whole programme is managed by the Volvo Fuel Management Service Team and all resources are provided.


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NM Tech Geoscientists Present Research at GSA Annual Meeting, Oct. 26, 2007
by George Zamora
DENVER, Oct. 26, 2007 – Several New Mexico Tech geoscientists are in Denver this weekend and early next week, not to take in a World Series game, but to present talks and posters about their current research at the 119th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), which is being held October 27-31 at the Colorado Convention Center.
Approximately 6,300 geoscientists from throughout the world are expected to attend this year's conference. In all, 19 New Mexico Tech professors, researchers, and graduate students will give 20 scientific presentations at the annual convention.
The New Mexico Tech geoscientists scheduled to make presentations at the GSA meeting in Denver (preceded by the title of their presentations) are:
- "Episodic Granitic Magmatism in Space and Time: Constraints from Igneous and Detrital Zircon Age Spectra" presented by Kent C. Condie;
- "110 Years of Research in the Salinization of the Rio Grande" presented by Fred M. Phillips;
- "Influence of Depositional Environment on Covariation of Oxygen and Carbon Isotopes in Marine Dolomite Cements" presented by Peter S. Mozley;
- "Speleogenetic Evolution from Rising to Descending Fluids: Gypsum Karst of Southeastern New Mexico and Far West Texas" presented by Kevin W. Stafford;
- "Hydrothermal Circulation in Subducting Crust Reduces Subduction Zone Temperatures" presented by Glenn A. Spinelli;
- "On Earth, Caves are Wet; On Mars, Caves are . . .?" presented by Penelope J. Boston;
- "Field Evaluation of Surfactant-Modified Zeolite System for Removal of Organics from Produced Water" presented by Robert S. Bowman;
- "A Geomicrobiological and Geochemical Analysis of the Biogenicity of Moonmilk Cave Formations: Potential as Biosignatures" presented by Megan D. Curry;
- "Cenozoic Extension across the Western Rio Grande Rift Margin in the Northern Jemez Mountains and Adjoining Colorado Plateau, North-Central New Mexico" and "Exhumation History of the Colorado Plateau" presented by Shari A. Kelley;
- "Modeling Impact-Induced Subsurface Cavity Formation on Mars: Astrobiological and Geological Implications" presented by Erin K. Kay;
- "Tectonic Evolution of the Española Basin, Rio Grande Rift, North-Central New Mexico" presented by Daniel J. Koning;
"Characterization of Nonequilibrium Sorption of Produced-Water Components by Surfactant-Modified Zeolite" presented by Joshua A. Simpson;
- "Late Mesoproterozoic Basin Formation and Deformation of the Unkar Group of Grand Canyon, Arizona: New Insights from Intracratonic Greenville-Age Deposits" presented by Michael J. Timmons;
- "K-Feldspar 40Ar/39Ar Thermochronology of Western U.S.A. Precambrian Lithosphere: Improved Understanding of Systematics Toward More Accurate Geological Models" presented by Matthew T. Heizler;
- "Mantle Structure of the Colorado Plateau and Its Margins Revealed by La Ristra" presented by Richard C. Aster;
- "Evolution of Hydrologic Science: The New Mexico Tech Example" presented by John L. Wilson;
- "Timing of Exhumation, Deformation, and Fluid-Flow Preserved in Microtexturally Complex K-Feldspar, Sangre de Cristo Range, New Mexico" presented by Robert E. Sanders;
- "Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization Associated with a Copper-Molybdenum Porphyry System, Webster Pass Area, Park and Summit Counties, Colorado" presented by Josh C. Crook; and,
- "Using Exploration-Stage Mineralogy and Geochemistry to Anticipate Environmental Consequences of Mining" presented by William X. Chavez, Jr.


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Archive for the 'Garment Rails' Category
New Heavy Duty Garment Rails - Black
Box Base Heavy Duty Garment Rail - Carried in Stock for quick despatch.
Height 1625mm
Lengths 3′4′5′6′
Fitted With 3″ Rubber Tyre Wheels.
Optional 4″ 5″ Wheels
Colour Black.
Other Colours available.
Standard Top Rail.
New Garment Rails - c/w adjustable mid rail
Garment Rail - Silver
Size: 1275mm x 530mm x 1780mm overall height
Nestable garment rail with fixed height top rail and adjustable mid height rail.
Tubular construction with RHS base frame.
Fitted with 4 Off swivel
Straw passivate finish.
Available delivered in knock-down form or built up.
Contact the office for further details.
Tel : 0113 2168392.


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Why Does Oscar Hopeful 'The Artist' Have Fans Screaming for a Refund?
After picking up three trophies at Sunday night's Golden Globes ceremony, 'The Artist' is poised for a big Oscar season, as well — but some moviegoers apparently don't know that much about it, because they've asked for refunds after discovering it's actually a silent film.
The flick is a tribute to 1920s Hollywood, an era before actors' voices could be heard in movies. Not only is it silent and shot in black-and-white, it was also purposely reduced to a smaller screen size to give it the authentic look of the original films so popular from the late 19th century to the early 30s.
All of this, by the way, has been part and parcel of the film's marketing campaign and repeatedly mentioned by critics who've lavished the movie with praise — so it's baffling that ticket-buyers would be surprised.
Regardless, one theater spokesman in Liverpool, England said it had "issued a small number of refunds to guests who were unaware that [it] was a silent film."
Michel Hazanavicius, who directed 'The Artist,' finds it all terribly amusing, saying, "If I could give any advice to people it would be that they should ask for their money back whenever they see a film they don't expect. If it's not written on the poster 'this is a bad movie' and they think it's a bad movie, ask for a refund!"
He also recounts an anecdote about the sometimes-unexpected hurdles of language barriers: "It's funny because we don't have the same word in French for 'silent', we say 'mute'. And in the beginning people kept asking, 'Is this a movie about mute and deaf people?'"
If you haven't seen it yet, here's a trailer for the movie that's causing some oddly-sheltered people so much unnecessary angst:


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Alux Table / Lamp by Christian Vivanco
The Alux Table / Lamp by Christian Vivanco seems to be a perfect solution for a small space. Its dual functionality would make it a perfect bedside table or a a hallway lamp. We love this clean and modern design.
We previously posted about Christian Vivanco's desk and storage unit. Christian was born in Mexico and currently resides in Barcelona. In 2008 he was chosen by Wallpaper magazine as one of the top emerging designers to follow. His projects are about simplify and function. Christian's optimistic outlook on life is reflected in his designs.
Visit his website to check out more of his work.
(Images: Christian Vivanco)


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Alyson Truog and Nicholas Gruhlke were united in marriage at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville on July 29, 2011. Officiant of the ceremony was Monsignor Michael Sernett. Parents of the couple are Dean and Sue Truog and Dave and Michelle Gruhlke of Estherville. Grandparents of the couple are Clara Truog of Mallard, Joan Lampe of Havelock, Don and Mary Schiltz and Audra Gruhlke of Estherville. The couple currently resides in La Vista, Neb.
Article Photos
Alyson and Nick


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Story highlights
- CNN Digital staff shares favorite books from adolescence
- List ranges from obvious -- "Are You There, God?" -- to obscure
- Do you agree? What did we miss? Tell us in the comments!
What makes a book memorable? Its ability to shock, sadden or awaken some sort of emotion? Or, is it the extent to which you see yourself in the characters or the worlds they inhabit?
All these characteristics and then some, judging from the responses we got to the question, "Which young adult books changed your life?"
We posed the question to members of the CNN Digital newsroom to find out which books have stuck with them since adolescence. Is it definitive? No. But what library is? To even things out, we sought input from the millennials in the newsroom, too.
Share your favorites in the comments or on Facebook to contribute to a reader-sourced list to publish later in the month.
"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott, 1868
It's a classic young adult book from before the young adult section existed in the bookstore (or, before there were even bookstores as we know them?). And it has withstood the test of time. Don't believe us? Consider: The tale of the March sisters' journey from childhood into adulthood was made into a Hollywood movie in 1994, more than 100 years after it was first published.
"Growing up with a single mom and two sisters in a family struggling to make ends meet, 'Little Women' spoke to me in countless ways and remains one of my favorite books to this day," CNN Digital Correspondent Kelly Wallace said.
"Sure, the unmistakable power of women and girls was part of it, but so were the characters, namely Jo March and her relentless and opinionated spirit, her desire to chart a unique path and her sense that she could do something really great when she grew up. I saw a lot of myself in Jo -- or wanted to see a lot of myself in her character. I, too, had big dreams and a sense of doing something really important when I got older. Reading 'Little Women' on my couch in my Brooklyn home during my tween years confirmed it was possible."
"Chronicles of Narnia" C.S. Lewis, 1950 to 1956
Who didn't have a Narnia moment at some point growing up in the latter half of the 20th century? Through seven novels, C.S. Lewis staged battles between good and evil in a magical kingdom of talking animals and nobility, bewitching children of all ages.
"'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' opened my eyes to the idea that a complex alternate world could be imagined in such a detailed way," CNN iReport's Henry Hanks said. "It opened up my imagination and inspired me to seek out other stories of science fiction and fantasy."
The rest of the books in the series proved equally gripping, both within the pages and the images.
"As wonderful and influential as Lewis' first story in the series is, I have always thought 'The Magician's Nephew' was a more exciting story," said CNN Living's Ann Hoevel. "The White Witch -- as flawed and evil as she was -- was one of the most powerful women characters I'd ever read about. Jadis intimidated all the men with her physical strength and beauty and made her desires a reality by sheer force of will. To this day, I'm a sucker for antique rings and origin stories, and it is all this book's fault."
"Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh, 1964
"Harriet Welsch's life looked nothing like mine; I remember looking up 'dumbwaiter' and 'egg cream' in the dictionary, and having a long think about why an 11-year-old might need a nanny," CNN Living's Jamie Gumbrecht said.
"But when I read 'Harriet the Spy' in fifth grade, I was taken by Harriet's habit of wandering, observing and writing. The book inspired a temporary fixation with tomato sandwiches, a still-strong tendency to wear jeans and sweatshirts no matter the weather and maybe a journalism career. It was then, after all, that I first stopped caring what people thought, and just started writing everything down. I've still got my copy of 'Harriet,' and all those ridiculous notebooks."
"A Wrinkle in Time," by Madeleine L'Engle, 1968, and other books in the Time Quintet series
The heroines of Madeleine L'Engle novels taught a generation of girls that being smart could come in handy and that they could be attractive for being smart. Meg Murry O'Keefe, Vicky Austin, Camilla Dickinson and Katherine Forrester love science, poetry and music -- pursuits that sometimes set them at arm's length from their peers, but eventually lead them to fulfilling careers and adventurous, loving lives.
"The heroines are never the pretty, popular girls (though they, too, are drawn in a nuanced way). They're the smart, awkward, introspective and unexpectedly brave young misfits who succeed later in life," Eatocracy's Kat Kinsman said. "While they might suffer some social and emotional punishment for their dedication to their craft, it's trusting in themselves intellectually and artistically that gives them the capacity to love and be loved later in life."
"My notion of a desirable woman, up until that time, consisted of Charlie's Angels and Solid Gold dancers, who all had impossibly long hair and meticulously painted faces. And those ladies had nothing to do with the sorts of stories I found interesting," Ann Hoevel said.
"Fantasy adventures set in exotic lands that relied on a battle of wills or the power of intellectually dependent magic were -- and still are! -- my jam. And usually, it's the men who figure everything out in those kinds of stories, even if a heroine is central to the plot. Meg Murry (and her scientist mom, who was certainly no slouch) changed that. Thank goodness!"
"The Outsiders," by S.E. Hinton, 1967
S.E. Hinton was 15 when she started writing "The Outsiders," about an Oklahoma band of roughneck kids called the Greasers and their battle with the outwardly refined but no less violent Socs from the other side of the tracks. It was the perennial in-group, out-group tale that teens live for, made all the more poignant because Hinton lived it as she wrote it.
"The reason the book works so well is because the story is told through the eyes and heart of Ponyboy Curtis, a sensitive kid on the edge of deciding who he wants to be, who's being swallowed up by a world that threatens to make the choice for him," CNN Living's Melonyce McAfee said.
"I gobbled the book up in a marathon reading after checking it out of the school library in what must have been fifth grade. I identified with the kindhearted and book smart protagonist and his desire to be accepted by the well-healed in-group but still be true to his dirt-poor roots. In Sodapop, Ponyboy, and Darry I saw my own family, and in reading their story I realized that I better start making choices of my own before my origins sealed my destiny."
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" by Judy Blume, 1970
If you were born before 1990, this book probably needs no introduction. For everyone else, it's the novel that launched author Judy Blume's career and introduced a generation to real talk about periods and sex.
"Thank you, Judy Blume, because without you and your book, 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret,' I am pretty sure I would have remained clueless about periods and puberty during my tween and early teen years," CNN Digital Correspondent Kelly Wallace said.
"We never had the 'period' talk in my household, and I can't really remember any deep discussions about how my body might change, either. I loved Margaret, and reading about her first period and buying her first bra opened my eyes to what would happen to me one day. ... It was one of the most popular books among my friends, and is a book I look forward to giving to my daughters when the time is right."
"This book taught me how Spin the Bottle is played, and made me daydream about that game going the way I wanted (alas, I never played)," said CNN Health's Elizabeth Landau.
"More seriously, it brought up issues of multiple identities that have stayed with me for many years. Margaret is the daughter of a Jewish father and a Christian mother, so she has numerous conflicts about who she is and what she believes and where she fits in. Both of my parents are Jewish, so I don't have this precise struggle. But I am sharply cognizant of all kinds of divisions of myself: Being a Jew and an American, being a journalist and an American, being a Northerner living in the South, etc., etc. And what do any of these specific identities really mean, and how do we weigh the values and ideas and beliefs of one against another? I think that this book introduced me to the idea that we all juggle multiple aspects of ourselves, and there are no clear cut answers as to who we really are. "
"Then Again, Maybe I Won't" and "Forever" by Judy Blume, 1971 and 1975
The two closest runners-up behind "Are You There God" got a few votes for their frank depictions of sex -- another prominent theme in young adult books.
"The former taught me what a 'wet dream' was and helped me to realize that boys were just as confused about their bodies and emotions as I was. The latter was about the sexual awakening of a teen couple -- and let's just say I could relate to the swirling emotions and hormones!" CNN Entertainment producer Lisa France said.
"The Face in the Frost," "The House With a Clock in Its Walls" and "The Chessmen of Doom" by John Bellairs, 1969, 1973 and 1989
Young adult books aren't all about girls and periods. Fantasy and science-fiction novels offer young readers a glimpse of alternate worlds before they become jaded adults.
"Like many children, I was a tasty gazelle in the wild savannah of grade school. Sometimes things could be scary, but as I got older, the works of John Bellairs were of some comfort: At least my concerns didn't foretell the end of the world. Johnny, Lewis and Anthony had far bigger problems to solve and I ate up their stories," CNN's Nicole Saidi said.
"Now that I am a writer, and an adult, I can feel the influences of the freaky, fantastic setting details from 'The Face in the Frost' when I think about how to describe a place in a compelling way."
"The Chocolate War," by Robert Cormier, 1974
In the face of overwhelming pressure to bend to the status quo and join his classmates in Trinity High's annual chocolate sale, freshman Jerry Renault just quietly said no. His adversaries weren't just garden variety high school lunks, but rather a decades-old secret, sadistic cabal of students operating with the full cooperation of the faculty. Having recently lost his mother -- and the attention of his father, still mourning her loss -- Jerry wasn't about to give up the one thing he had left: his free will.
"A quote from 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock' stuck up in Jerry's locker acts as his emotional compass, asking 'Do I dare disturb the universe?' He does, merely by refusing to play along and facing the physical and emotional punishment he knows he'll incur as a result. It's a powerful lesson about standing by what you believe in, even if you must do so alone," Kat Kinsman said.
"Morning Is a Long Time Coming," by Bette Greene, 1978
"Summer of My German Soldier" is a frequent inclusion in high school English curriculums, but far fewer people followed along to find out what happened to the teenage protagonist, Patty Bergen, after the German soldier she'd been harboring was caught and summarily executed.
"Anton Riker had been one of the few people to ever treat Patty (the eldest daughter of the only Jewish family in town) as a creature of worth, so after reform school and graduation, she leaves Jenkinsville, Arkansas, behind and travels to Europe to find the family who made him into the kind, insightful person he was," Kat Kinsman said.
"Little does she know that freed from the stigma, shame and abuse she weathered back home, she'll finally be able to see and accept herself as a person who's always been worth loving -- and that the people around her were just too limited to see it. Home and family, she finds, are where you make them."
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," by Douglas Adams 1979
"I read a Scotch tape-reinforced copy of the 'Hitchhiker's Guide' snagged from an English teacher's classroom sometime in the mid-1990s. I laughed and laughed and laughed, but had no idea there were more books, that it had started as a radio show or that it was a mortifyingly awful-amazing TV show," Jamie Gumbrecht said.
"One morning, I happened to catch a radio interview about it, and was stunned to realize that there was more Douglas Adams out there to read and apparently, I wasn't the only one doing so. (Oh, high school.) Shortly thereafter, I fell in with a grand group of friends, the kind of kids who made high school memorable and giggled when you answered "42" on a tough Quiz Bowl question. (Oh, high school.) And you know what? I read it now, and I still laugh and laugh and laugh."
"Anastasia Krupnik," by Lois Lowry, 1979
"I grew up idolizing Anastasia Krupnik, the star of a series by Lois Lowry, my favorite young adult author," said CNNI's Jill Martin Wrenn. "Anastasia is sarcastic, precocious, and a little bit goofy (but in Middle School, aren't we all?). And, she dotes on her younger brother. She navigates a first crush, a move to the suburbs and a disastrous effort to make a gourmet meal with humor and resilience. Because she cares about her grades in school, and gets along with her parents, she's not a bad role model for a tween. I look forward to introducing her to my daughter."
"Both Sides of Time," by Caroline B. Cooney, 1995
"This is the first time I remember feeling like I belonged when I picked up a book," CNN's Ashley Strickland said.
"Like 15-year-old Annie Lockwood, I, too, felt like a hopeless romantic living in the wrong century. It's an overwhelming age, trying to figure out who you are and where you'll end up. Cooney captured that sentiment perfectly and placed it at the heart of her writing. I was a literature and history nerd fascinated by the past, eager to explore it, and here was a character with the chance to do so over a quartet of wonderfully written books. It seemed like Cooney was able to reach into my soul and write the exact story I wanted. So naturally, I read them over and over."
"Sirena," by Donna Jo Napoli, 1998
"As a precocious reader without many young adult choices, I was always turning to mythology. And then Napoli wove together this lyrical retelling of the Philoctetes story from Greek mythology," Ashley Strickland said. "Rather than pandering to younger readers, she poured out a poignant tale of relatable longing with the most beautiful language. The lesson was also unforgettable: Don't change yourself for anyone."
"Shadowland" by Meg Cabot (under pseudonym Jenny Carroll), 2000
"Stumbling upon Cabot was probably one of the best discoveries I made as a young reader," Ashley Strickland said.
"She got it, where other authors were making the effort but falling flat. Reading her effortless writing style was like catching up with your best friend in the hallway after a long weekend. She knew the stories that teens wanted to read, where we could find ourselves on the page and be able to laugh at the awkwardness we so well recognized. Although this series is about a girl who mediates between the living and the dead, it remains incredibly relatable. Any situation feels overwhelming when you're the new girl just trying to survive high school. Through her books and heroines, Cabot offered escapism and empowerment right when I needed it most."


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By CHARLES J. LEWIS
President Obama, joined by the entire congressional delegation from Connecticut, today endorsed a new federal ban on assault weapons in the wake of the Newtown school massacre where a 20-year-old man used an assault rifle to murder 20 children and six adults.
Obama is "actively supportive" of efforts to reinstate an assault weapons ban, White House spokesman Jay Carney said this afternoon. The president, in his remarks Sunday night at Newtown High School, had urged unspecified actions to curb the rash of mass shootings, though as a member of the Senate he had supported a ban.
Obama "does want to move,'' Carney told reporters. "He wants to move in the coming weeks, which is a fairly short period of time. And while he supports, and strongly, renewal of the assault weapons ban, and strongly other measures, he wants to expand the conversation beyond those specific areas of legislation to look at other ways we can address this problem."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the author of the assault weapons ban that became law in 1994 but expired in 2004, says she will introduce an "updated'' assault weapons ban when Congress convenes Jan. 3.
Her new bill would outlaw 100 specifically-named firearms, weapons that can accept detachable magazines as well as certain semiautomatic rifles, handguns and shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine and semiautomatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., took the floor of the Senate on Tuesday to describe how Adam Lanza, armed with a Bushmaster AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a 10 mm Glock handgun, a 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol, and magazines filled with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, invaded Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown and killed students and staffers.
"There is no single new law, no simple solution, that will be a cure-all'' to the violence, Blumenthal said, "but there are sound, sensible steps that we can take. . . . We need to do something to effectively ban assault weapons. I am talking about weapons that are not designed for self-defense or hunting, but rather for killing and maiming human beings, often as many as possible, as fast as possible. Weapons that are civilian versions of military weapons. There is no reason that such weapons should be for sale today in America."
Ben Marter, a spokeman for Sen.-elect Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said the incoming lawmaker "won't just vote for (a ban) — he'll work hard to make sure that it passes.''
The state's five House members — Democrats Jim Himes of Greenwich, Rosa DeLauro of New Haven, Joe Courtney of Vernon, John Larson of East Hartford and Murphy — said they supported a ban on assault weapons, though they would wait until they saw specific legislative language before endorsing any particular bill.
The drive to reinstate the assault weapons ban also picked up the endorsement of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which announced its support of the legislation that Feinstein is preparing.
Feinstein was the sponsor the 1994 ban that outlawed 18 specific models of semiautomatic weapons. The law expired in 2004 and lawmakers, mainly Republicans, refused to renew it.
By pushing for a new assault weapons ban, the Obama administration could reap political benefits among suburban voters who abhor weapons of that type. On the other hand, if House Republicans thwart any effort to renew the ban, the Obama administration could gain among those voters who would blame Republicans for blocking a new ban.
Meantime, the campaign against assault weapons broadened Tuesday to include legislation against ammunition magazines that could hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
A bill backed by Reps. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., would ban magazines for more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
"Right away we could pass . . . the ban on the assault magazine," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday. "Just to ban the magazine, the assault magazine, we could do it right now."


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Grumpy Old Man Finds Halloween Costume of Himself
Choosing the right Halloween costume requires careful thought and planning. Do you, for example, go with the season's hot new trend or a tried-and-true standard? Well, imagine his surprise when the uncle of Redditor LiarInGlass discovered he doesn't need a costume because he's already wearing one.
During a recent trip to a Halloween store, he found a bagged "old man" costume that resembled him in almost every way, down to his plaid shirt, suspenders, glasses and grumpy disposition. It was all there.
According to LiarInGlass, his uncle has an "epic life" and enjoys building machines, complaining incessantly and playing 'Doom' on an ancient PC running Windows 98. Okay, we just figured out what we want to be this Halloween.


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By using energy more efficiently, Europeans can lower their energy bills, reduce their reliance on external suppliers of oil and gas, and help protect the environment.
Energy efficiency has to be increased at all stages of the energy chain, from generation to final consumption. At the same time, the benefits of energy efficiency must outweigh the costs, for instance those that result from carrying out renovations. EU measures therefore focus on sectors where the potential for savings is greatest, such as buildings.
Energy efficiency targets for 2020 and 2030
The EU has set itself a 20% energy savings target by 2020 (when compared to the projected use of energy in 2020) – this is roughly equivalent to turning off 400 power stations.
On 30 November 2016 the Commission proposed an update to the Energy Efficiency Directive including a new 30% energy efficiency target for 2030, and measures to update the Directive to make sure the new target is met.
On 14 June 2018 the Commission, the Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement which includes a binding energy efficiency target for the EU for 2030 of 32.5%, with a clause for an upwards revision by 2023. This political agreement must now be translated into all EU languages and formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, and then published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Policies to improve energy efficiency
The EU has adopted a number of measures to improve energy efficiency in Europe. They include:
- an annual reduction of 1.5% in national energy sales
- EU countries making energy efficient renovations to at least 3% of buildings owned and occupied by central governments per year
- mandatory energy efficiency certificates accompanying the sale and rental of buildings
- minimum energy efficiency standards and labelling for a variety of products such as boilers, household appliances, lighting and televisions (ecodesign)
- the preparation of National Energy Efficiency Action Plans every three years by EU countries
- the planned rollout of close to 200 million smart meters for electricity and 45 million for gas by 2020
- large companies conducting energy audits at least every four years
- protecting the rights of consumers to receive easy and free access to data on real-time and historical energy consumption
- the Commission has published guidelines on good practice in energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency progress
Following a gradual decrease between 2007 and 2014, energy consumption increased between 2014 and 2017. This increase could partly be attributed to good economic performance since 2014, low-oil prices and colder winters. The primary energy consumption in 2017 was 5.3 % above the 2020 targets, whereas the final energy consumption was 3.3% above those targets. If energy consumption continues to increase in the coming years, the EU will not reach its 2020 target for both primary and final energy consumption. There is therefore a need to further intesify efforts to deliver energy savings in the short term.
- 2018 progress report
- 2017 progress report
- 2016 progress report
- 2015 progress report
- Assessment by EU country on energy efficiency: part 1 | part 2
EU countries have implemented energy efficiency measures in all sectors, and these have contributed considerably to a decrease in EU energy consumption. The EU's drive towards a more energy efficient future has also produced substantial benefits for Europeans. For instance:
- New buildings consume half the energy they did in the 1980s
- Energy intensity in EU industry decreased by 16% between 2005 and 2014
- More efficient appliances are expected to save consumers €100 billion annually – about €465 per household – on their energy bills by 2020
- EU countries have committed themselves to rolling out almost 200 million smart meters for electricity and 45 million for gas by 2020, leading to better information and savings for consumers
- The share of refrigerators in the highest energy efficiency labelling classes (A and above) increased from less than 5% in 1995 to more than 90% in 2010.
With the implementation of energy efficiency legislation and ambitious energy efficiency programmes in Europe, further benefits are expected in the future. They include:
- Lower demand for EU gas imports.
- Lower energy costs for people who live and work in energy efficient buildings, as well as additional benefits such as improved air quality and protection from external noise provided by energy efficient windows
- Targeted energy efficiency measures in buildings can help households with lower incomes to improve their living conditions
- Lower energy costs for companies, in particular energy-intensive industries
- Less need for additional generation and grid capacities with higher energy efficiency levels
- Boosting domestic energy efficiency investments will bring new business opportunities for European companies such as construction firms and manufacturers of energy-using or transport equipment, which is likely to have a positive impact on economic growth in Europe
- New jobs in construction, manufacturing, research, and other industries investing in energy efficiency.
Heating and cooling
Heating and cooling in our buildings and industry accounts for half of the EU's energy consumption. Moreover, 84% of heating and cooling is still generated from fossil fuels, while only 16% is generated from renewable energy. In order to fulfil the EU's climate and energy goals, the heating and cooling sector must sharply reduce its energy consumption and cut its use of fossil fuels.
In February 2016, the Commission proposed an EU heating and cooling strategy. This is a first step in exploring the issues and challenges in this sector, and solving them with EU energy policies.
Financing energy efficiency
The EU has support schemes and initiatives to accelerate energy efficiency investments.