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In 2006, U.S. rice producers fought for their farming livelihoods in a knockdown, drag-out rumble against adverse weather, high costs and a few scattered, but market-killing grains of microscopic mayhem. Here's more from rice experts and producers attending the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Las Vegas:
The 2006 season "was one of amazing achievement for Arkansas rice producers, accomplished under extraordinarily difficult climatic, economic and political conditions, with the added uncertainty of the biotech issue," said Arkansas Extension economist Bobby Coats.
Arkansas rice producers harvested 1.4 million acres of rice in 2006, a 14 percent reduction from 2005. All-rice yields of 6,820 pounds per acre produced a crop of 95.5 million hundredweight, the fifth largest crop on record and about 49 percent of the rice produced in the United States.
But many battled high costs that threatened profitability. Rice producer Dean Wall of Walnut Ridge, Ark., "had a pretty decent year, yield-wise, but net returns aren't what they used to be. Our cost of production was up about 15 percent to 20 percent over the year before, which was 15 percent to 20 percent over the year before.
"The GE rice situation caught us off guard, and we had some weather problems in our area, an unusually dry summer. We missed almost all the summer rains."
Wall, who farms about 1,500 acres of rice, did not plant any acreage of Cheniere (the variety in which GE rice was discovered) in 2006, "but I'm not isolated from the problem. We all sell rice into the same markets. When countries require overly sensitive testing or no tolerance, it dampers our prices and our ability to export and sell rice. So whether you grow Cheniere or not, you're suffering the consequences."
Davis Bell and his son, Greg, of Des Arc, Ark., produced a cheaper rice crop, but only average yields. "We were really disappointed in some fields, but we were pleasantly surprised in others," Davis said.
"There seemed to be less disease pressure than normal, irrigation expenses were up a little but only because our rotation put some rice fields on power units that cost more to run. But all in all, our input costs were down 5 percent to 7 percent. So we saved a little money."
On an industry plan to remove GE rice from the U.S. seed supply, including not planting Cheniere in 2007, Bell noted, "We have a lot to do in a very short time. In saying that, the plan is definitely a living organism. It's going to change as we go. But I'm excited about the plan. We're trying to cover all the bases we can to get the seed supply as pure as possible."
Greg Bell, who has been farming with his father since 2004, said the year "flew by for me. We picked up some more ground and everything went surprisingly smoothly from planting to harvest."
In 2007, Coats expects Arkansas producers to harvest around 1.3 million acres of rice, a 6.5 percent drop from 2006 and a 20 percent drop from 2005. He expects a total production of around 93 million hundredweight, a decrease of 1.8 percent from 2006.
Coats noted that global economic momentum remains strong, "which implies a strong demand for commodities. Grains may be undervalued relative to many other investments in the world, which attracts attention from the large investors. The price trend in the grain market is up, but navigating these price trends in difficult.
"Pricing opportunities remain for the 2006-07 crop. Uncertainty surrounds the rice biotech issue and only time will identify its total impact.
"Crop subsidies and crop substitutes are issues that will increasingly be addressed as we move forward."
Louisiana suffered "a huge hit in rice acreage" in 2006, with area sliding from 525,000 acres in 2005 to 345,000 acres, noted Johnny Saichuk, rice specialist with the LSU AgCenter. The declines were due primarily to the lingering effects of Hurricane Rita, which included soil salinity problems, and to the economic situation in some parishes.
"It was the most challenging year I've ever faced," Saichuk said.
"We were still feeling the hangover from Rita, and we had chemical injury problems as soon as we got going. Even after all that, it looked like we were going to have a decent crop, and the crop was attacked by narrow brown leaf spot. Then the GE issue hit.
"Crop yields also took a real hit this year, and I think our yields are even lower than USDA projections. Recent surveys indicate we'll be anywhere from 5,300 to 5,500 pounds per acre."
According to Saichuk, about 24 percent of Louisiana rice acreage was planted to Cheniere in 2006. Commercial supplies of this variety were found to have traces of an unapproved genetically-engineered organism, the presence of which has wrecked export sales to some European countries.
The variety will not be offered for commercial planting in 2007. "That's going to be important for us. How are we going to fill in the gap? I suspect that we will see some of that filled with Clearfield rice, especially if CL 151 comes on the market. We will also see an increase in hybrid acreage."
The loss of Cheniere has been tough on seed dealers, too, Saichuk noted. "A lot of dealers have already sold their Cheniere for grain. They paid premiums to the guys who grew it, so that cost has to be passed on. Dealing with rice planted following Cheniere could be a problem, too."
Mississippi lost significant acreage in 2006, going from 265,000 acres in 2005 to 190,000 acres, a 25 percent decrease. Steve Martin, an economist with Mississippi State University, sees acres for 2007 steady, or higher, to as much as 220,000 acres.
One reason for optimism is Martin doesn't expect drastic increases in input costs next year.
Fuel prices are holding steady for the moment, and the futures market indicates the trend may continue.
According to Nathan Buehring, Mississippi Extension rice specialist, "about 15,000 acres of rice had to be replanted in the state due to glyphosate drift. "The largest area was 1,226 acres, which wiped out an entire farm. We tracked the drift from up to 4 miles away from the site of the target.
"Most drift complaints were on aerial applications, Buehring said.
"We haven't gotten a lot accomplished in regulation of drift. Maximum fines for applicators are only $2,000, even for multiple complaints — there are no suspended licenses.
"With these rules, we are going to fight this problem again, especially with Flex cotton coming on the market."
According to Andy Kendig, a weed scientist with the Delta Center, Missouri rice area remained steady in 2006 at about 214,000 acres.
Substantial rainfall fell in southeast Missouri in September, "right in the middle of rice harvest, which created several war stories and lodging problems. But we came out of it with only minor inconvenience."
Yields increased slightly from 2005, which combined with an increase in acreage "gave us a production of just over 14 million hundredweight."
Just over 20 percent of the Missouri crop was planted to Cheniere, "which is going to be an issue this coming year, with it not being available to us."
Kendig believes that in 2007, cotton acreage will decline and corn acreage will increase. "But with our precision leveling, we will tend to not rotate away from rice."
According to Christopher Greer, farm advisor at the University of California, the 2006 growing season began in an all too familiar fashion, with a cool, wet spring. "That led to delayed planting and wet seedbeds, which creates weed management problems. We had high, sustained temperatures in July, then it cooled off in August very rapidly.
"We had some issues with the early-planted varieties, including blanking from high temperatures. We had some cold weather blanking on the late-planted rice."
California benefited from very favorable harvest conditions early in the season, but later-planted rice was still being harvested around Thanksgiving, when conditions were not as favorable.
Yields were below average, but better than last year, according to Greer. "We had generally very good milling quality early during the season, but it started coming down on some of the later harvested rice."
California acreage was largely unchanged from the previous year's 526,000 acres. Yields were 7,600 hundredweight per acre, a slight increase from last year, "but not as good as we'd like to see it."
Total production in the state came in at 40 million hundredweight, a slight increase over 2005.
This added to a carryin of 3.5 million hundredweight is right at consumption levels (exports plus use) of between 40 million and 44 million hundredweight. With this fairly tight supply situation, and with good planting weather, Greer expects 2007 area to possibly exceed 550,000 acres.
According to Ted Wilson, director, Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Beaumont, Texas, rice acres are expected to increase about 10 percent from the 2006 level of around 148,000 acres.
"Our ratoon crop data from 2006 is just now starting to come in. If the ratoon crop performs as well as we think it will, we may have a record year in terms of average total yield for Texas.
"We're seeing a slight decrease in the percent of acreage going to conventional rice, with hybrids up to about 16 percent in 2006.
"Yields varied tremendously in 2006, with an overall average of slightly over 7,000 pounds."
Total production is just shy of 11 million hundredweight, according to Wilson.


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Rochester Community Schools Foundation
Pino Insurance Agency Excellence in Education Award
Why: The Rochester Community Schools Foundation recognizes that the most valuable resource of the school district is the staff of individuals who interact with students and the community. It is our desire to acknowledge the strength of those individuals whose exemplary commitment sets a standard of excellence in our district.
What: The Rochester Community Schools Foundation developed the Excellence in Education Award to encourage outstanding efforts throughout the school district. A $500 to $1,000 award will be granted for up to six employees or employee teams per year for their efforts to improve the quality of education at Rochester Community Schools. Award dollars are to be used to purchase materials or services to enhance a school district classroom, curriculum or facility. The award must be spent during the current school year or no later than one semester into the new school year. This is a one-time only grant that is not renewable.
Who: Any employee of the district who has demonstrated exemplary performance towards improving the quality of teaching and learning or the overall environment of the school district is eligible. Winners must be currently employed by the district. Rochester Community Schools Foundation Board Members are not eligible to participate.
How: The process is simple. Nominations may come from any person in the school or community. In addition, employees may nominate themselves for the award. The Foundation Committee will select the award winners. Please refer to the selection criteria when completing the nomination form. Application forms can be obtained via an email that went out or on the district website. Nominations and letters of recommendations are due in March each year. Nominees will be notified the following month in April. Winners are required to submit a letter, within one month of notification, detailing how they plan to spend their award. Award recipients will be required to submit a final report by December, detailing expenses and a narrative summary of how they spent the awarded grant.
For more information contact the RCS Foundation at 248-726-3190 or visit the RCS Foundation website at www.rochester.k12.mi.us.

subset: commoncrawl


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InformationWeek is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them.Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Business Technology: Fighting For Survival, Or Global Opportunity? How will Wal-Mart's secondary and tertiary suppliers handle its 2005 RFID mandate for the mega-retailer's top 100 suppliers? Opportunities abound for those willing to take the leap into a global supply network, where innovation and flexibility are indispensable.
High-Tech Cure President Bush will appoint a national health-technology coordinator as the government takes on a bigger role in pushing the health-care industry to embrace IT
Wal-Mart Takes First Shipments Of RFID-Tagged Products Cases and pallets of merchandise with the product-tracking tags arrived at seven of the retailer's stores in the Dallas area.
Wal-Mart Tests RFID With Eight Suppliers Mandate for tags marches forward, but companies still struggle with accuracy rates
Down And Downer Stocks capped a month-long downturn Friday as investors worried that better economic news could lead to higher interest rates.
Worms Are Big Business For Antivirus Vendors Symantec and Network Associates will face competition in the next year.
AutoZone Fights Back SCO Group lawsuit defendant asks court to stall case until a related suit is resolved
Dell And SAP Team To Lower Customer Costs SAP needs to fulfill a promise it made to customers, CEO Kagermann says
Security Pros Doubt Gates' Spam-Killing Pledge The large majority of security pros at a London trade show say the Microsoft leader's anti-spam initiative won't do the job in just two years.
Software Vendors See Growth In Data Analysis Microsoft acquisition is latest sign of app vendors' embrace of business intelligence
PDA Sales Drop; Microsoft Gains In Operating-System Share Gartner says year-over-year worldwide shipments fell nearly 5% in the first quarter, with Microsoft pulling into a dead heat with Palm in sales of handheld operating systems.
Recording Industry Sues Music Pirates The industry's association plans to pursue 477 people that it claims have illegally downloaded copyrighted recordings.
Regional Bells Cool To AT&T Proposal BellSouth, Qwest, and SBC all were ooposed to AT&T's latest offer on access fees.
Travel Sites Extend Agreement With Hyatt Expedia.com and Hotels.com will continue to offer rooms at Hyatt hotels.
Taking Stock: Can Investors Hear Verizon Now? Verizon's stock may not be exciting, but it's been slow and steady.
Retiree Drives Off With Porsche In AOL Contest Charles Chase won the sports car, which was confiscated from a spammer as the result of a suit filed by America Online last year.
Senate Votes To Restore Ban On Taxing Internet Connections It voted to restore the ban for four years, stopping short of the permanent ban OK'd by the House of Represntatives.
California Senate OKs Bill To Limit RFID Use The bill would limit use of the technology in stores and libraries, but it faces much tougher sledding in the state Assembly.
I2 Tries To Reassure Shaky Buyers With New Investments The company's CEO and a private-equity firm sink $120 million into the dot-com-bust survivor.
IT Spending Seen On Rise Again IT spending is not only recovering, it is building a base that will power it to even higher levels in the coming months, according to a survey of more than 130,000 IT decision makers conducted by the Wendover Corp.
Acquisition Boosts Business Objects Revenue soared in the first full quarter after the business-intelligence vendor acquired Crystal Decisions.
California Senate OKs Bill To Limit RFID Use The bill would limit use of the technology in stores and libraries, but it faces much tougher sledding in the state Assembly.
Acquisition Boosts Business Objects Revenue soared in the first full quarter after the business-intelligence vendor acquired Crystal Decisions.
Application Monitoring Saves The Day Wily Technology's Introscope 5.0 alerted Northern Trust Corp. to a developers' error that could have slowed the following day's business.
Interest-Rate Fears Chill Markets Concerns that interest rates are going to rise took their toll on Wall Street, especially on technology stocks.
BMC Snaps Up Marimba It's spending $239 million to acquire technology that will help expand the capabilities of its software, which ties systems and applications management with business objectives.
Ballmer Memo Touts Microsoft's Work To Improve Software Management Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Wednesday sent a letter to customers that trumpets the company's Dynamic Systems Initiative and management software lineup, including the planned Systems Center 2005, and points out its work with ISV partners to enable management of mixed systems and applications in the data center.
Bot Attacks Vulnerable Windows Systems; Microsoft Patch Buggy The scrambling revolves around a pair of vulnerabilities that Microsoft disclosed this month as part of a release of Windows patches.
House Panel Probes Spyware Both the House and Senate have introduced bills to limit the unwanted applications placed on users' PCs without their permission or knowledge.
U.S. Charges Four Under Can-Spam Law The criminal charges are the first to be filed under the govvernment's new anti-spam law.
Google Files Long-Awaited IPO The Internet search-engine leader aims to raise $2.7 billion with an initial offering.
Application Monitoring Saves The Day Wily Technology's Introscope alerted Northern Trust Corp. to a developers' error that could have slowed the following day's reporting.
HP To Ship First RFID-Ready Goods Saturday After some experimentation, HP says, it's getting 100% read rates on tagged cases and pallets.
IBM And Genesys To Deliver Speech-Enabled Self-Service Systems A suite of new offerings will tie self-service applications to back-end enterprise systems.
Clarke Says CA Is Ready To Move Forward The software vendor's new chief operating officer says CA has eliminated the issues that triggered a government probe, and has a solid business model, balance sheet, and vision.
EU: Court Ruling On Monopolies Doesn't Undermine Microsoft Case The European Court of Justice spelled out three circumstances for delcaring a dominant company can be found guilty of breaking antitrust law for refusing to license copyrighted material to rivals.
Symantec Closes Out Big Year Revenue and net income soared thanks to the continuing spate of new virus and worm attacks.
HP To Ship First RFID-Ready Goods After some experimentation, HP says, it's getting 100% read rates on tagged cases and pallets.
State CIOs Don't Offshore Much--But Many Would Like To Panel members at the National Association of State CIOs midyear conference say they actually outsource very little work to vendors who use offshore employees--but mostly because of politics, not economics.
The InformationWeek 100 Falls 2.5% Blame it on numerous domestic and geopolitical woes.
SAP Maps CRM Push SAP America CEO Bill McDermott says customer demand for integrated app suites catering to individual industries plays right into his company's hands.
AutoZone Wants Delay In Its Case Against SCO AutoZone has asked a judge to delay court proceedings in its case or at least make SCO amend its complaint.


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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite research indicating that women who had cancer as girls have difficulty getting pregnant, a new study suggests that most can conceive, though it might take longer than usual.
Researchers from the U.S. and Canada found that female childhood cancer survivors tended to take longer to conceive than their sisters, but nearly two-thirds of the infertile survivors eventually did get pregnant.
"The main message counters what some people have thought, which is if you had cancer you won't be able to get pregnant or have children," said Dr. Lisa Diller, the study's senior author, from the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
Historically, childhood cancer survivors have been counseled that they may be unable to get pregnant because cancer-fighting chemotherapy and radiation can damage their ovaries.
For the new study, Diller and her colleagues used data from questionnaires in an ongoing study of 3,531 cancer survivors and 1,366 of their sisters between the ages of 18 and 39 years old.
The survivors were all diagnosed before age 21 with cancer at one of 26 medical centers in the U.S. or Canada from 1970 through 1986. The women had all been cancer free for at least five years.
Compared to their sisters, cancer survivors were more likely to be clinically infertile, which means they had been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for more than a year.
Thirteen percent of survivors were clinically infertile, compared to 10 percent of their sisters.
Still, 64 percent of the 455 clinically infertile survivors eventually got pregnant.
That pregnancy rate is similar to what has been observed in clinically infertile women without a history of cancer, Richard Anderson, a professor of clinical reproductive science at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, writes in an editorial accompanying the new study in the journal Lancet Oncology.
The same proportion of cancer survivors and their sisters sought help from fertility specialists - about 3 percent, but the researchers found that survivors were less likely to opt for treatments to help improve their chances of getting pregnant.
"We don't know what the reason for that is. That wasn't specifically pursued in the questionnaire," said Dr. Elizabeth Ginsburg, medical director of assisted reproductive technologies at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and one of the study's authors.
It also took survivors longer to get pregnant, compared to their sisters.
Overall, it took 13 percent of cancer survivors more than a year to get pregnant, compared to 8 percent of the sisters who had never had cancer.
But Dr. Mitchell Rosen, director of the University of California, San Francisco Fertility Preservation Center, cautions that the new study cannot predict how childhood cancer survivors' fertility will change as they get into their late 30s or their 40s.
Rosen, who wasn't involved in the new study, told Reuters Health that getting pregnant gets harder about 10 years before women go through menopause and childhood cancer survivors tend to go through early menopause.
That means childhood cancer survivors' fertility problems may be amplified in their late thirties and early forties, compared to women without a history of cancer.
"I think the awareness is important that these patients may be affected and if we want to optimize their care, improve their quality of life… then we all have to be aware and prompt consultations are important," said Rosen.
Ginsburg agreed that cancer survivors may have an increasingly difficult time getting pregnant the longer they wait, but she said the study provides hope for women who are survivors of childhood cancer.
"If people aren't totally sterilized by their chemotherapy, they have a pretty good chance of getting pregnant," Ginsburg said.
SOURCE: bit.ly/12rRw3y and bit.ly/12rRtVI Lancet Oncology, online July 12, 2013.


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Your donation will go towards ensuring the long term sustainability of the City's park system. Park facilities continuously age and wear out. They need to be replaced on a regular basis. The parks and open spaces would also benefit from your donation by adding resources for planting, replacing, and enhancing the natural environment. This includes flowers, trees, shrubs, and other landscaping materials. Facilities (picnic table, park bench, play equipment) $50 to $1,000 Environment (flowers, tree, shrubs) $50 to $1,000 Binoculars $250
The Farrel-McWhirter Farm and Riding Club provides a unique and valuable experience for the Redmond Community with a year-round public farm and equestrian programs. Our Riding Club is an organized group of kids 12-16 years old that learn valuable horse skills while developing lifelong characteristics of responsibility, leadership, and self confidence while providing public volunteer service for the farm programs. Your donation would greatly enhance our operation.
3-4 horse trailer for transporting animals $10,000 to $12,000
3 large Adult English saddles $500 Each
Small storage shed for arena equipment $3,000
Adaptive Eastern WA grain alfalfa or Timothy Hay $800 per month
4 Wheel Carriage and Harness $
4 Youth Western Saddles $500 Each
Scholarship Program: Help provide recreation opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities by supporting the Redmond Parks and Recreation Department's scholarship program. This scholarship program supports recreational opportunities for Sports, Socials, Outings, Classes, Arts, and Day Camps. $100 each
Building a stronger, more fit Redmond is top priority for the Sports and Fitness team at Redmond Parks and Recreation! Your donation will assist us in our efforts to build and diversify our program offerings for our community.
Gym Scoreboard (Community Center) $10,000
Youth Health/Fitness Scholarships (each) $75
Rich in history, the Old Redmond Schoolhouse offers a unique old-world charm for all activities. Built in 1922, the two-story red brick schoolhouse has been a focus of community activities for 85 years. During its first half century, the school was the gathering place for holiday programs, dances, theatrical productions, annual carnivals, and special events. Help us keep the tradition alive.
Sound Equipment for Gym $15,000
Public Computer Stations (Internet Café) $4,000 to $6,000
Scholarships for Programs and Classes $100 to $500
Sports Equipment, Art Supplies, Kitchen Supplies $100 to $500
Audio/Visual Equipment $1,000
Presentation Supplies: Podiums, microphones, mic stands, etc. $100 to $500


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The Envy Of The World Down At Westminster part 01
Composer: Lloyd, Arthur
Medium: Lithograph
Date: 1882
G. H. MacDermott (1845-1901) was known as 'The Statesman of the Halls', he was renowned for his risqué and sensational songs which meant that many Music Hall managers were reluctant to employ him. Many of his songs were comments about political situations and he was thought to have greatly influenced public opinion. This music cover is a parody of Parliament, it shows a school room with 'Britannia' as the teacher and caricatures of contemporary politicians as her pupils. There is a globe in the foreground which shows the British Empire.


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Release Date: 2002 |
Album Rating: 3.5OK so 3.5 is 'great' by Sputnik's standards. I didn't think it was a great album but i thought 3/5 was maybe too low. This rating also takes into account the little PS point that I made...Thanks for reading and commenting
Yeah, I can understand you rating it against NOLA, I would do exactly the same. this album was such a dissapointment after hearing NOLA first, where did the riffs go? It's not particuarly bad, just not great.
Good review.
Album Rating: 2.5Phil's vocals are getting tired. I can't stand them on Down II. They were easier to handle in Down's debut though. The 2.5/5 rating pretty much goes to Pepper Keenan for his guitar work.
***my weird account still makes me post twice. thank you mods for not deleting my posts -roy***
i don't get you guys.
DOWN II is like NOLA but better. it expands more and holds my interest still. i have been listening to these albums non-stop for the last two weeks. can't wait for DOWN III!This Message Edited On 02.06.07
Album Rating: 4.5I personally love this album.
good review, I personnally agree with you, NOLA seems to unfortunately shadow II, although it is a good album you cant help but feel a little disappointed.
Cant wait for Down III!! i have high hopes for it
Album Rating: 2.5Listening to this for the first time in four years I think, and its right now at a 2.5/5 unless something special comes I'm turning it off. Dosen't even touch NOLA. The recording qauilty sucks, Anslemo is pretty shity on this, and the guitars are really really sloppy. Hopefully when I buy Down III today it will be better.
Nah its better than that
Might review this
Album Rating: 4.0NOLA is the best but I wouldn't say Down II dissapoinedt me in any way.. it's totally different vibe, there's heaviness like in There's something on my side but also a lot of blues - just listen to Learn from this mistake or Where I'm going, or you can have it both - beautifully depressed for example.
And vocals are simply superb, totally different from NOLA - and I like them more than on Down III. Every time I'm listening to it I feel like I'm somewhere in New Orleans, LA sitting in some dark, muggy club smoking weed, watching some local band - and I think that's what they're trying to achieve on this album. Or maybe I smoke to much hahaha what you guys think?? before you post comment - play Where I'm going and you know what I'm talking about.....
Album Rating: 4.5This album is awesome. Too many good songs to pick favorites. The whole story of how they made the album is interesting in itself, and is probably the reason all the songs have the same vibe to them. I'd say this is a little better than Nola, or equal to it. Nola and this are definitely better than Down III, but that album is great too.
Album Rating: 4.5Yeah, if comparing this album to NOLA, then you would be disappointed with this album. But if you think about it, this came out 6 or 7 years after NOLA? I am sure they wanted to experiment a little bit, and see what else they could come up with. And with that, it became more bluesy and jammy. But this album has many awesome tunes on it when looking at individually. NOLA was a mix of Crowbar riffs and COC's southern rock/metal hybrid with Phil doing the vocals, where II is more of it's own entity.
Album Rating: 5.0Down 2 is a classic example of what a great super group type of album should sound like.I love the diversity and was quite impressed that they would take it to this level.
Album Rating: 4.0not as good as NOLA, but more experimental and still really badass
this has grown on me lately
also, DOG TIRED
Simply the best Down album
This is awesome but Nola pips it.
Album Rating: 4.0Blasting my ear drums with this & nola ehile getting dddddrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuunnnnnnkkkkkk oh yeah!!!!
Album Rating: 4.0Listened to this today, still awesome but not as good as NOLA or Over the Under
Album Rating: 4.0Review is dead-on. I love the delta blues of 'Where I'm Going'. Writing and recording down in the Louisiana swamps had a definite influence on this one. Very cool atmosphere.
Album Rating: 4.0I like this better than III -- that one just sounded too polished or commercial or something. this one and NOLA both had that rough, dirty, southern/bluesy edge that made them exciting listens, whereas III sounded like a standard BLS album or something to me.
not that it's bad, just not as cool as the first two.
Album Rating: 4.0^Musically, I agree. But the vocals are better on III, in my opinion. And the lyrics really affect me much more on 'Over the Under'.
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


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Oh my! FaceBook Business pages have been all the rage the last couple of years. People sold mass product about how to build your brands Facebook page. Brands moved into facebook by the truckloads, some even went as far as to make their FB page their main connection to the world.
Hmm, are they now regretting that they spent all that time and money to only be sent down the rails?
I guess they haven't really been sent all the way down the tracks…they can always pay to have their updates seen. Heck, some already have so much invested what's a little more, eh?
Take a look at "broken on purpose".
My theory is that Facebook is manipulating pages. While they may say it is for the users so they don't get swamped with ads…why can't the users just UnLike the page if it takes up to much of their stream? If a user is following 100+ pages then they should have expected a LOT of post adding up. If someone follows a page, then didn't they "like" it so they COULD see the updates?
Now that I am seeing so many promoted post in my Facebook stream, shouldn't I have the chance to block those pages. It will keep me from getting pissed off and the brand can stop wasting their money showing crap I don't want.
I seriously strongly dislike facebook and having crap shoved at me is not helping. One of the only reasons I even dealt with FB was because "Brands need to be there". If that is gone then I have no real reason to go back.
What do you think?
Sheryl Loch


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As millions of boomers enter, or get close to retirement, concern grows on whether they'll have enough retirement income.
In a time of recession, rising taxes, increased deficits and depleted retirement accounts, many people will struggle to fund the financial situation they need to have to enjoy their later years.
Whether this is achieved by privately funded retirement accounts or pension based promises, Americans need to have a solution to fund their needed retirement income.
A recent article I posted on this site about "Pension Envy" discussed the rift that exists between Americans who plan on funding their retirement income needs with promised public based pensions and those who depend upon their privately funded investment accounts, subject to the lack of promises by the markets and their own investment abilities.
After receiving over 100 very emotional comments and fiery debates related to the article, it's clear to me that this is a topic that is not only timely and emotional, but is one that is potentially dividing this country. Which doesn't bode well for the reality that this is a concern that requires a solution, not polarization.
But can we really find a solution on a topic that is causing this "great divide" in America?
A Bloomberg article by Amity Shlaes that ran one week before the last Presidential election discussed this reality. You remember the recent election, the one in which the "taxpayer divide" played out between Romney and Obama. Interestingly enough, this article stated the following, "The tax gap isn't the deepest divide in America. The deepest gap is the pension divide, between those few who have a guaranteed cushion in the form of defined benefit pensions, which promise a fixed annuity at retirement, and those who don't."
The article goes on to ominously state, "The reality is that a big public pension crash, which will eventually occur no matter who wins the election, will make clear that the government employees won't get what is promised. It will reveal the truth: We are all in the same boat fiscally and even financially."
There was little heard during the election about this issue by the candidates and even now, little is being heard by the administration about this issue. So is it really something that we should get so concerned about?
If you read the conversations and debates in the discussion area of my recent article, you'd know that the average person, public or private employee, clearly feels that it's an area of concern.
The Pew Center provided a report in June of 2012 called 'The Widening Gap Update" that showed a $1.38 trillion gap between the assets of states and their obligation for public sector retirement benefits in fiscal year 2010 (this includes pension promises and retiree health care). The report states, "states continue to lose ground in their efforts to cover the long-term costs of their employees' pensions and retiree health care."
The study does report that states are acting on the issue; "states have responded with an unprecedented number of reforms that, with strong investment gains, may improve the funding situation they face going forward, but continued fiscal discipline and additional reforms will be needed to put states on a firm footing."
These solutions include the reality that "nearly every state has reduced pension benefits or increased employee contributions in the last three years."
But will it be enough? What impact will it have on those who will be entering the retirement landscape from the public sector with reduced benefits? Or for those in the private sector who already see lowered retirement account values and the resulting lengthening of their employment.
It's a tough issue and certainly as we've seen, one that is emotional. I'll reiterate the point I made in my last article:
"There may be many options to solve these issues and the argument shouldn't focus on depriving one group at the expense of another."
However, as with many things in this country, I wonder if that's possible?
I invite you to continue the discussion below by providing me your thoughts on the solutions that may potentially exist. We've seen our politicians be unable to find solutions to America's tough problems, so maybe the American people need to provide the ideas and solutions to address this issue.
If we don't, I fear we will not only face the reality that this is "the great divide" in this country, but that our entire economic future may depend upon it.
Thanks for being part of the discussion and hopefully, the solution. What do you think?


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Bloomsburg University's interdisciplinary major offers two tracks of study--advanced studies and university studies- that require students to complete 30 credit hours of upper division (300 or 400 level) courses. A minimum of nine credits from upper‐division courses in each of two or more academic departments are required, plus a 3 credit integrative senior capstone experience in the form of an independent study project or internship.
The Advanced Studies track will offer students with unconventional academic interests, superior ability, and exceptional self-discipline the opportunity to design their own program of study. These students' intellectual interests may have led them out of the center of an established major into an area which interacts with one or more other disciplines. This track will target students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher; however, applications from students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 will be considered. This track requires students to complete 3 credits of an integrative senior capstone experience in the form of an independent study project, including all of the pre-requisites for that capstone course and a written or electronic portfolio that showcases their work.
Students typically will apply for acceptance into this track after completing a minimum of 30 credits but fewer than 60 credits. Students who pursue this track also may complete a major in a department that has not been integrated into their interdisciplinary major. Courses from a program in which a student is receiving a second major can be used as art of the INTSTUDY major as long as those course credits are not being used to fulfill requirements for the second major.
The University Studies track will benefit students whose undergraduate studies have been delayed or interrupted due to circumstances such as — but not limited to — military service, health-related issues, or family matters. This track also may appeal to experienced learners (e.g., transfer students who enter Bloomsburg University with 60 credits completed) and non-traditional students who are returning to college for personal or career advancement.
Students typically will apply for acceptance into this track after exploring the University's undergraduate programs of study in established disciplines (i.e., after completing a minimum of 75 credits but fewer than 90 credits). This track requires students to complete a 3-credit integrative capstone service project culminating in a written or electronic portfolio. Students who pursue this track may not pursue a second undergraduate major at Bloomsburg University.
Director of Interdisciplinary Major
Mark Decker | firstname.lastname@example.com
Why an Interdisciplinary Major?
The Interdisciplinary Major may benefit two different groups of students.
The Advanced Studies track will offer students with superior ability, exceptional self-discipline, and unconventional academic interests the opportunity to design their own program of study.
The University Studies track will benefit students whose undergraduate studies have been delayed or interrupted due to exceptional circumstances, experienced learners (e.g., transfer students who enter Bloomsburg University with 60 credits completed), and non-traditional students who are returning to college for personal growth or career advancement.
Is there an Interdisciplinary Minor?
Questions about the Interdisciplinary Major?
Questions about the Interdisciplinary Major should be directed to the chairperson of the Director of the Interdisciplinary Major.
Can this major combine academic departments?
Yes. For example, if a student wishes to pursue a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience, that student's program of study may include courses from the following departments: Psychology (College of Liberal Arts), and Biology (College of Science and Technology).
Students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Major must meet all of the University's requirements for graduation (e.g., General Education requirements, a minimum of 120 credits earned, and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0). For the purpose of program assessment, students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Major (Advanced Studies track or University Studies track) will document their academic and professional development through a portfolio (electronic or otherwise) and they will take the ETS Proficiency Profile (or its equivalent) upon the completion of their program of study.
The Interdisciplinary Major cannot be used to satisfy current licensure requirements or to gain admittance into competitive undergraduate degree programs (e.g., Education or Nursing). Students whose academic interests can be addressed through regular departmental majors will be referred to those programs.
Degree Completion — Students seeking to complete their degree may find Interdisciplinary studies a viable option to meet their degree degree completion needs. Degree completion in Interdisciplinary Studies allows students to complete their degree in a timely fashion in an area of study with a curriculum they create in close consultation with a faculty advisor. This option allows the student to create a curriculum of study that is personally meaningful and best addresses the unique curriculum needs of the student.


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"Family stories did not explain the mystery surrounding the accidental death of Joseph Kennedy, Juanita's Great Grandfather at Fremont Slough, Nebraska, on May 29, 1863. With the assistance of Paper Trail, we discovered a journal by George Hamerick that gave details. Paper Trail offers a vital service for those families engaged in genealogy research with ancestors that made the trip west."
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The Oregon-California Trails Association, known as OCTA, is the guardian and promoter of the exciting story of the 19th Century westward American migration. Paper Trail is the website created by OCTA based on a searchable index of these remarkable journeys, with names, places and a survey of the text. This database includes a list of libraries where the original historic documents may be found.
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May 5, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - On Thursday night, the No. 3 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos edged out the No. 1 USC Trojans for the second time in five days in the NCAA Semifinals to advance to the Championship Match, which will take place on Saturday, May 7. Dylan Davis led the way for the Gauchos, as the sophomore set an NCAA tourney record with an .882 hitting percentage on 15 kills. Davis's 15 kills tied for the team lead with senior opposite Cullen Irons, who had another strong two-way game for UCSB. The win brought the Gaucho's record to 18-14. Their fourth consecutive victory, UCSB's current run represents the longest winning streak they have recorded all year. On the other side of the coin, USC (23-4) had their second consecutive loss (both against UCSB), which represented their longest losing streak of the season.
Appearing in just their fifth NCAA Final Four in school history, the Gauchos relied on a team effort to overcome USC once again. That team play was especially necessary on Thursday night, as senior outside hitter Jeff Menzel, a first-team All-American and AVCA Player of the Week, was held in check relative to his monster output in the MPSF final. Jeff finished with 13 kills and a .071 hitting percentage, the lowest both stats have been since Apr. 14 at Pepperdine. Davis's career night was the highlight for the Gauchos, as he recorded a career-high 15 kills and smashed the NCAA tourney record for hitting percentage with an .882 clip. The record was previously held by Jeff Nygaard, currently an assistant coach with the Trojans, at .867. Cullen Irons also had a night to remember, co-leading the Gauchos with 15 kills and having another strong defensive match, picking up six digs and a season-high six blocks, which also led the team. As a team, the Gauchos hit .394, nearly identical to the .395 clip in their last matchup against USC.
The second set started right where the first had ended, as Slaughter and Irons teamed up to put away the first point of the set. An ace from Menzel that put the Gauchos up 3-1 was the largest lead the team would get all set, as the teams deadlocked once again to a 20-20 tie. A Murphy Troy ace on the first extra point of the game would end the set in the Trojan's favor. The second game was almost as closely contested as the first, featuring 13 ties and three lead changes.
UCSB rebounded from losing the second game immediately at the onset of the third, claiming the first four points. That lead was not relinquished throughout the set. Dylan Davis had recorded kills on his first eight attacks, but that streak was ended in the third game, as his ninth attack was digged. The teams were relatively close up until 14-12, but the Gauchos went on a run in which they claimed 11 of the next 14 points. Davis really shined in the third, picking up seven kills- his highest single-game total of his career. Cullen Irons added three blocks.
In the fourth set, USC won the first point for the first time all night. However, UCSB came roaring right back, taking the lead 2-1 and never letting the Trojans establish a strong lead. Jeff Menzel came alive for the Gauchos in the fourth, turning in five kills, while Irons chipped in six more. Irons hit .857 for the game. It was a Menzel kill at 6-6 that sparked the Gauchos to the game, and match, victory, as they never relinquished the lead after that point. UCSB was simply content to trade points with USC after gaining some separation on the scoreboard. A Cullen Irons kill clinched the match, sending the Gauchos to the NCAA Championship Match for the first time since 1988.
Asked what it felt like to secure the game-winning kill, Irons said "It was awesome. I can hardly believe it right now. It's an amazing feeling. I've had a down couple of weeks and finally I'm getting back into the rhythm and it's just at the right time."
Head Coach McLaughlin reflected on the match by saying "We knew it was going to be a battle. [USC] came to play tonight. The pressure was on there for a pretty long time, but we just hung in there like these guys do. They're a tough group of guys. They won't let this season end and we've got one more match."
That "one match" will be this Saturday, at 4 p.m. PDT, against the other semifinal winner, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Gauchos have never lost to the Buckeyes in school history. The Gauchos have also never won a national championship, so something has to give.
Like the semifinals, the NCAA Championship Match will be broadcasted live over the ESPN family of networks. ESPN2 will be providing television coverage, while the match can also be accessed on espn3.com and on the new espnmobile app.
A donation to the Gaucho Fund - regardless of the sport it supports - will be part of the One Donation is Gold system. This allows donors to purchase priority/premium seating and parking at UCSB games across several sports in addition to other benefits.
GKids is the official kids club of UCSB Athletics. Members receive a free GKids t-shirt, free admittance to tons of Gaucho games, opportunities to be ball boys and girls at games, a special birthday greeting from Olie (the GKids mascot) and much, much more! For more information on GKids, or to become a member, please click here.


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This is pretty cool news for Apple and Honda fans.
The latter's 2013 vehicles will provide support for Siri Eyes Free.
Engadget reports that it will be a dealer-installed feature for the Accord, and the Acura RDX and ILX.
According to the carmaker this will enhance hands-free functionality while reducing driver distraction. Let's hope Siri's listening ability continues to improve.
It's one thing for Siri to misunderstand you when you're sitting at your desk or couch and quite another when you're behind the wheel of a moving car.
Now if you wanted to start your car with Siri, that's another matter. (For that, you'd probably want to look up this Viper SmartStart thing …)
Read more about Siri Eyes Free from Engadget here.


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Every Tuesday, from 01/08/2019 to 03/19/2019, 6:15 AM - 7:30 AM
More than ever our world needs men who know God's Word, who live it in their daily lives, and who are equipped to share it with others.
Connect with other men from First Pres and our local community as we dig into the New Testament together. For the curious and the well-seasoned disciple alike, this intergenerational gathering is an ideal opportunity to learn from one another and become genuine men of the Word.
Each week, after a brief introduction, we'll study Scripture on the spot (no advance preparation required) using provided resources. Then, in facilitated small groups, we'll seek to gain a better understanding of God's Word and practical ways of applying it to our everyday lives.
Men, rise up and join us early Tuesday mornings—this hurting world needs well-equipped men of God.


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Special Offers
Special offers are available for a short time only as they are usually end of line or from a limited supply. Super savings to be had here!
Products In Special Offers(Total Products 1, Showing: 1 -> 1)
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Events for December 13, 2018
Events Search and Views Navigation
All Day
Fantasy In Lights – The South's Christmas Tradition
Treat your family to a fun, relaxing tradition that's filled with holiday cheer! It's Christmas at Callaway, featuring Fantasy In Lights, one of National Geographic's Top 10 Light Displays. Come make merry in the Christmas Village, meet holiday characters up close, and drive through the dazzling illuminated forest. Extend the celebration with an overnight stay, […]Find out more »
Garden Lights
Stroll through a winter wonderland of acres of twinkling, glimmering and flashing lights at Garden Lights, Holiday Nights November 11 – January 7 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The seventh annual in-town holiday tradition features new and enhanced displays comprised of millions of low energy-consuming LED lights.Find out more »
Magical Nights of Lights
Welcome to the 25th anniversary of Magical Nights of Lights. Like many great traditions, we mixed a little old, with a little new to bring you best light show ever! On this 25th anniversary we're bringing back the '12 Days of Christmas' display. After a two-year hiatus, the 13-display attraction returns better than before. You […]Find out more »


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Now settle in and see what has been going on in kitchens around the world. We certainly received some tempting dishes this month. Let us start with the soups.
Winter Warmer Spicy Cashew Soup With Plantain Croutons
Chef: Wonderlusting
Blog: Wonderlusting
Location: UK
This cook is nuts about cashews and this spicy bowl includes raw cashew nuts, roasted cashew nuts and cashew nut butter. They come together with dried red chilies, tomatoes and peppers. No croutons are required, but I'm glad these plantain croutons made their way into the bowl.
Broccoli, Courgette and Stilton Soup
Chef: Caroline
Blog: Caroline Makes
Location: London, UK
On a quest to eat more vegetables and also to use up some cheese left over from Christmas, Caroline tricks herself by sneaking broccoli and zucchini into this creamy and cheesy blended soup. A fine way to serve up a healthy dose of veggies.
Thai-Inspired Sweet Potato Kidney Bean Soup
Chef: Lisa
Blog: Lisa's Kitchen
Location: Ontario, Canada
This fragrant and colorful soup is my contribution this month. Sweet potatoes and earthy, robust kidney beans are simmered in a spicy Thai-inspired broth, complete with homemade Thai red curry paste. Just what I needed on a cold winter night.
Vegan Hot and Sour Soup
Chef: Deena
Blog: Oh! You Cook!
Location: US
I never can resist mushrooms and they make an appearance in this brothy soup along with scallions, garlic, ginger, tofu, rice vinegar and soy sauce. Deena tells us it comes together in hardly anytime at all and is very warming.
Holy Moley Veggie and Rice Soup
Chef: Janet
Blog: The Taste Space
Location: US
Inspired by recent trip to Mexico City, Janet cooked up with this mouthwatering mole that surprisingly includes chocolate. The dark chocolate is an intriguing backdrop to the vegetables, chickpeas, rice and seasoning and spices that come together in this hearty soup.
Lentil and Vegetable Potage
Chef: Linzi
Blog: Lancashire Food
Location: Lancashire, UK
This lovely and creamy soup combines the goodness of lentils, carrots, onions, garlic and potatoes. The addition of lentils provides "a smooth rib sticking velvety feel" to the potage. Served with some crusty bread, this would certainly be a satisfying winter evening meal.
Chipotle Black Bean Soup with Orange and Red Onion Salsa
Chef: Gayathri
Blog: Spices Galore
Location: US
Gayathri didn't want to brave frigid conditions outdoors so she raided her pantry and came up with this beautiful silky and spicy soup. Earthly black beans are complemented by smoky chipotles and aromatics and spices. It's topped off with a delightful fruity salsa with lime for extra sweet and sour flair.
Chili Chickpea Lentil Soup
Chef: Nutritious Deliciousness
Blog: Nutritious Deliciousness
Location: ?
Chickpeas please! Here they come together with lentils, red onion, tomatoes and a bit of spice. The soup is garnished with flax seeds and a good dollop of yogurt. Warming and packed full of protein.
Quick-a-leekie Easy Leek and Potato Soup
Chef: Sarah
Blog: Dinner with Crayons
Location: UK
Soup is a Saturday ritual at Sarah's house, and she shares this easy blended soup that makes good use of leftover bits from the fridge. Leeks and potatoes are blended with vegetable stock and cream and then garnished with homemade croutons. Yet another warming soup to add to your menus.
Roast Cauliflower Cheese Soup
Chef: Vanesther
Blog: Bangers and Mash
Location: UK
Those that aren't fussy on cauliflower ought to give this soup a try. In this case, the cauliflower is roasted along with onion and smoked paprika for a deeper flavor and then simmered in vegetable stock. Cheddar and Lancashire cheese are stirred in at the end to complete this flavorful dish.
Farmer's Market Vegetable Soup
Chef: Sally
Blog: My Custard Pie
Location: Middle East
On a mission to clean out her fridge and waste nothing, Sally makes up this delightful vegetable packed soup. Onion, fennel and celery come together with tomatoes, shredded cabbage, a bit of pasta, green beans and fresh herbs. Served with crusty bread, you are in for a treat.
Spicy Thai Noodle Soup
Chef: Katie
Blog: Feeding Boys and a Firefighter
Location: UK
There certainly isn't anything boring about Katie's refreshing Thai inspired soup that she served up for lunch. Rice noodles and pak choi are served in a delicious broth of coconut milk, green curry paste, ginger, lime, peanut butter, soy sauce and lime. Garnish with peanuts to fill it out a bit more.
Parsnip, Carrot and Lentil Soup
Chef: Jacqueline
Blog: Tinned Tomatoes
Location: Scotland, UK
My dear friend Jacqueline and co-host of this event came up with soup to use up some parsnips lingering in the fridge. Here they come together with chopped and grated carrots, onion, garlic, a bit of spice and red lentils. Surely a satisfying winter soup with interesting texture.
Parsnip, Apple and Leek Soup
Chef: Laura
Blog: Knead Whine
Location: UK
Laura was faced with an abundance of parsnips, so she made them the focal point of a soup. They are joined here by leeks, apples and rosemary. Easy to prepare with earthy flavors, the apples add some nice sweetness. Blended soups are always a comfort.
Vegetable Soup With Pasta and Garbanzo Beans
Chef: Pravina
Blog: Indo Global Food
Location: US
Being an especially cold winter, soups are certainly a must. Pravina decided to make slow-cooked soup that was a breeze to prepare and nice and warm for dinner. Carrots and chickpeas are simmered in a onion tomato gravy. Pasta is added part way through the cooking time along with bell pepper and the hearty soup is then garnished with fresh herbs.
Jerusalem Artichoke and Rosemary Soup with Jerusalem Artichoke Crisps
Chef: Shaheen
Blog: Allotment to Kitchen
Location: UK
Shaheen takes advantage of artichokes which she says is an under appreciated winter vegetable. Here they shine with rosemary. The best part is she tops her soup with homemade artichoke crisps that are sprinkled with rosemary salt. Time to seek out some Jerusalem artichokes.
And now for some salads that you might wish to consider serving alongside some soup:
Jamie Oliver's Grated Rainbow Vegetable Salad with Sesame Feta Fritters
Chef: Corina
Blog: Searching for Spice
Location: UK
Needing a cleanse after the holidays, Corina offers up a satisfying salad consisting of grated carrot, onion and cucumber dressed with olive oil and vinegar. It's served over couscous, and topped with divine sounding sesame feta fritters and homemade pita bread croutons.
Spiced Orange, Date, Green Olive & Parsley Salad
Chef: Laura
Blog: How to Cook Good Food
Location: UK
Inspired by the flavors of Morocco, Laura presents this intriguing salad made up of chili spiced oranges, sticky dates, salty tangy olives and refreshing parsley with a splash of extra virgin olive oil. I would be going back for seconds.
Citrus and Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
Chef: Kellie
Blog: Food to Glow
Location: UK
Kellie takes advantage of winter produce with this cheering and colorful salad. Mingling here are beets, carrots, parsnips, oranges and parsley. Everything is dressed with pomegranate molasses, vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil and cumin. Wonderful blend of flavors here.
Butter Lettuce Salad with Persimmon, Avocado and Almonds
Chef: Simona
Blog: Briciole
Location: US
Romaine lettuce gets the royal treatment here. Simona begins with soft and crisp butterhead lettuce and then adds naturally sweet persimmon, lightly toasted almonds and some aromatics. Everything comes together with ripe avocado, lemon juice and sea salt. Simple perfection indeed.
Black Salsify and Wild Mushrooms Warm Salad
Chef: Galina
Blog: Chez Maximka
Location: UK
I've never tried black salsify before, but I would be sure to enjoy it. Galina tells us that it is delicately flavored root vegetable. She makes up a salad that includes wild mushrooms. Add some garlic into the mix, along with olive oil, butter, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and pine nuts and you have one fine winter salad.
Beetroot and Watercress Salad
Chef: Antonia
Blog: A Little Bit Greedy
Location: UK
Antonia is typically not a big fan of beetroot, but when one arrived in her vegetable box, she decided to try something different. Here orangey beet comes together with watercress, pine nuts, chilies, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Delicious.
Vegan Caesar Salad
Chef: Johanna
Blog: Green Gourmet Giraffe
Location: Melbourne, Australia
For the first time, Johanna made and enjoyed a Caesar Salad. This vegan version features lettuce, and also tempeh bacon and homemade sourdough bread croutons. The salad base is served alongside a tofu besan omelet and drizzled with a dressing that features cashew butter, garlic, tamari, olive oil and lemon juice. I'm intrigued!
Creamy, Crunchy, Bean and Avocado Salad
Chef: Vohn
Blog: Vohn's Vittles
Location: Scotland, UK
In a quest to eat healthier, Vohn tosses together this luscious salad. Lettuce, cabbage, bell pepper, spring onions, olives and mixed beans are dressed with mashed avocado and lime juice. Love the different flavors and textures at play here.
And that concludes the roundup for this month. Jacqueline will be hosting the February edition of NCR. Be sure to visit her blog at the beginning of the month for the announcement.


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Vienna archdiocese, we report this week, is about to start closing more than three quarters of its parishes. Over the next decade, 660 parishes will be reduced to 150 larger parishes, each served by three to five priests.
Michael Prüller, archdiocesan spokesman, said the Church had to change its "old-fashioned structures" and that the reorganisation offered "a model for Church reforms throughout Europe".
Mr Prüller suggested that priests were not needed "in every small town and village". But what about elderly or ill people who are unable to leave the house? A single priest is also, surely, more immersed in the lives of his parishioners than a community of men who are able to look after each other.
On the other hand, it is easy to see that missionary energy might be easier to maintain in a parish with a community of priests rather than one lone priest. The Apostles themselves formed a close brotherhood rather than working in isolation.
So, should dioceses around Europe follow Vienna archdiocese in slashing the number of parishes and grouping priests together? Or are parishes more effective with one lone priest fully immersed in the life of his flock?


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Vince Shlomi recently saw the light when he said he was done with hiring prostitutes.
Now the pitchman is seeing stars after a head-on collision last night on the Venetian Causeway, according to Random Pixels.
The blog reported that Shlomi, 45, was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital with injuries from the crash and Miami Beach police officers confirmed Shlomi was involved in an accident. Some people can't catch a break no matter how hard they try.
Shlomi has been carrying an unlucky charm ever since his blood bath brawl with a prostitute in a room at the Setai Hotel on South Beach in February. He escaped that incident with some bruises and a barely in tact tongue. He still faces battery charges for the fight, which landed the prostitute to the hospital.
Who knows what scars he'll be left with after this accident. Hospital officials said Shlomi was released Friday.
Let's hope it doesn't derail Shlomi's lucrative ShamWow pitch gig (and don't forget the Slap Chop) or his chances with the ladies.
We've got a pitch for Shlomi: Stay away from Miami Beach!


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At FMC Technologies we work hard to bring everything together for our customers, which is why we've opened new Supercenters in Brighton, Colorado near the Niobrara-DJ Basin, and in San Antonio, Texas near the Eagle Ford play. Each Supercenter is a 'one-stop' service and distribution facility so customers can get the service they need in one convenient location. We have also broke ground on our latest Supercenter in Odessa, Texas, near the Permian Basin.
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One-time Democratic Party rising star Jesse Jackson Jr., weeping and repentant as his famous father looked on, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to misusing about $750,000 in campaign funds on luxuries such as fur capes and a Rolex watch.
Jackson, 47, who had represented Illinois in the House of Representatives from 1995 until his resignation in November, told U.S. District Judge Robert Wilkins he had been living off his political campaign funds for years.
When Wilkins asked for Jackson's plea, he responded, "Guilty, your honor. I misled the American people."
Prosecutors said they may ask for a five-year prison sentence in the corruption case - the maximum permitted by law - while Jackson's legal team said it may argue for four or less. Sentencing is scheduled for June 28.
Jackson, once considered among the nation's most promising black politicians, expressed regret for misusing the campaign money.
"I fully understand the consequences of my actions," said Jackson, who dropped out of public view last year and underwent treatment for bipolar disorder.
Jackson's father, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson Sr., and other relatives and friends sat in the front rows of a Washington courtroom. The elder Jackson declined to answer reporters' questions after the hearing.
The former congressman's wife, Sandi, tearfully pleaded guilty at a separate hearing on Wednesday to filing false tax returns that did not report the campaign money as income. She is a former member of the Chicago City Council. She walked into the hearing holding hands with her husband just hours after he had also pleaded guilty.
Jackson signed an agreement with federal prosecutors to end an investigation into his personal finances.
The prosecutors had accused Jackson of shipping a $43,350 men's Rolex watch purchased with campaign funds to his Washington address. He also sent fur capes and parkas purchased with $5,150 in campaign funds from Beverly Hills to the home of an unnamed person, court documents said.
The government had said earlier that Jackson must forfeit tens of thousands of dollars in celebrity memorabilia derived from the alleged crimes, including a $4,600 fedora that once belonged to late pop star Michael Jackson.
His actions add up to conspiracy to commit fraud and give false statements, according to the plea agreement.
Jackson ran for Congress and won at age 30, serving from 1995 until resigning on November 21, citing health reasons and acknowledging he was under investigation by the FBI.
One of Jackson's lawyers, Reid Weingarten, told reporters afterward that the court should take Jackson's years of public service into account when he is sentenced. Jackson would not speak to the media but would make his case in court papers, Weingarten said.
Jackson may already be thinking of life after prison.
"There will be another chapter in Jesse Jackson's life, a chapter that brings joy to the people who care about him," Weingarten said.
Jackson disappeared from public view last summer and speculation swirled for weeks about his condition. At first he said he was being treated for exhaustion and in July his doctor said Jackson was receiving intensive care for a "mood disorder."
Jackson eventually was treated for at least six weeks at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder.
In accepting Jackson's plea, Wilkins went through a series of questions that are routinely asked of defendants but that took on poignancy because of Jackson's father's career as a civil rights champion: did he realize he would no longer be able to vote, serve on a jury or own a firearm due to his felony conviction?
Jackson said he did and wiped tears from his eyes.
The elder Jackson was a protege of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and campaigned for voting rights for blacks.
Wilkins' own civil rights history complicated the case. He was a leader of a group of Harvard students supporting Jackson Sr.'s 1988 presidential campaign. Wilkins, who became a judge in 2010, also had appeared on the elder Jackson's CNN television show in 1999 to discuss his successful lawsuit against the state of Maryland for racial profiling of black drivers.
Wilkins offered to step aside from the Jackson cases but neither side wanted him to do so.
Reporting by David Ingram; Editing by Howard Goller and Bill Trott


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Actress Julianne Hough has reportedly moved on from her failed romance with TV and radio personality Ryan Seacrest by embarking on a new relationship with director Ari Sandel.
The "Footloose" actress was spotted getting up close and personal with a mystery man in a Los Angeles restaurant last week, and now TMZ.com has revealed her new beau is Academy Award-winner Sandel.
The filmmaker, who won an Oscar in 2006 for his short film "West Bank Story," was snapped leaving Hough's Hollywood home early on Saturday, when the blonde beauty turned 25, and heading into a flower store. A birthday bouquet of red roses were delivered to the star's house shortly afterwards.
Hough parted ways with Seacrest, her boyfriend of two years, in March.


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Tracy Porter's 43-yard interception return late in the first half gives the Raiders an unlikely 17-14 lead.
The offense has had little to speak of other than the running of Rashad Jennings, but three forced turnovers led to all Oakland points.
New York has shown the ability to move the ball, most notably a 90-yard, 11-play drive resulting in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Reuben Randle.


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Data Structure Audits
I've already mentioned the first one: using two separate processors. I imagine that each processor had its own power supply, and probably its own connections in and out of the central office. The idea was that even a complete failure of either processor should not affect the other.
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The second strategy was that each processor was constantly monitoring the other one. If a processor stopped responding, or started behaving abnormally, the other processor would restart it. This strategy is similar to the firewall notion that I described last week: Even if one processor went haywire, it is very unlikely that the failure could affect the other processor because there was so little communication between the two. Therefore, the odds are overwhelming that if a processor failed, the other one would restart it and life would go on.
I already knew about these first two strategies. What I learned from the switching expert at this conference was that these strategies weren't good enough by themselves to meet the reliability requirements. The reason was that bugs, both hardware and software, would gradually corrupt the processors' internal data structures to the point where that corruption would interfere with the switching system's operation.
This problem lead to the third strategy: All data structures in the system were designed so that they could be audited and repaired. Whenever a processor had nothing else to do, it would go through all of the data structures in its memory, looking for anomalies in each data structure and rebuilding the structure part of that data structure from the corresponding data. He told me that this auditing strategy was so effective that when it was turned off, a processor would crash every day or two; but with auditing turned on, years could elapse between crashes.
The approach of designing data structures to be auditable, and auditing them from time to time, has two advantages. Not only does it simplify recovery after failures (and sometimes makes those failures invisible, or nearly so, if the failing component can be restarted automatically), but data-structure auditing is a powerful debugging tool.
In fact, it's more than that — it's a bug prevention tool. If you have an effective data auditor, you can call it in an assert statement at strategic points throughout your program. If it ever detects a failure, you have found a bug — even though you might never have been able to construct an external test case to trigger that bug. And even though continuously auditing your data structures may make your program unacceptably slow for production, you can always turn on
NDEBUG in the version of the program you ship. If someone sends you a test case that causes the program to fail, you can try it again with
NDEBUG turned off; perhaps the data-structure auditing will find that bug too.
In short, if you can divide your data structures into a data part and a structure part, and you can write an audit program that is capable of rebuilding the structure from the data, you can use the auditor not only to make your programs more reliable, but to get them working more quickly than you might be able to do otherwise.


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When Marley Prunty-Lara transferred to the University of Minnesota two years ago from South Dakota, she didn't bother lining up treatment for her on-going mental health issue on campus. The 22-year-old communications major is already a veteran of the mental health treatment system after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 15.
"I would fall above and beyond the limitations the university sets on the number of appointments you can have at the health clinic. I recognized I needed to utilize my private health insurance and go outside the system," she says.
Students need only come up with a $10 co-pay to get help on campus for issues ranging from anxiety to mild depression. But they're allowed only about one visit per month. Anyone with more serious problems--an eating disorder, severe depression or psychotic episodes--is referred off campus.
"We don't have the resources to deal with all the mental health issues on campus," says Ed Ehlinger, director of the U of M's Boynton Health Service, which provides clinical care for about one in five Twin Cities campus students each year.
The university operates under what Ehlinger calls the "brief therapy" model--addressing only problems that require between two visits to 12 visits.
"More chronic mental health problems that need on going services for years, those are very resource-intensive and will probably last beyond their college years and so we will try to get them into community resources so that can be an ongoing relationship that will last a long period of time," he says.
Once off campus, though, students are required to use private insurance or cash out-of-pocket for treatment. The wait to get an appointment can take months.
The shooting at Virginia Tech exposed the fine line college campuses walk with their students' mental health problems. But the issue really hit home for colleges years before. MIT student Elizabeth Shin died after setting herself on fire in her dorm room in 2000. MIT settled a nearly $28 million wrongful death lawsuit out of court.
Typically, unless a student makes specific mention of harming himself or others, mental health staff cannot contact college administrators, professors or even the student's parents.
"What we end up dealing with is liability. We have our hands tied because of laws, because of ethics. We can't breach confidentiality because someone is creepy or weird or is writing dark stories or is telling us dark story about themselves or their thoughts," according to Terri Bly, a staff counselor at Hamline University Mental Health Center.
Bly says students occasionally refuse to sign consent forms that allow her to break confidentiality.
"Sometimes they say no. And then it really is just out of our hands and we just never find out what happens next," she says.
That scenario is not too different than what happens off campus.
"We exist in a mental health system where there aren't a lot of good options," says Greg Eells, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Cornell University and active with a national foundation that works on college campus suicide prevention.
Eells says, in general, college students get the help they need. But gaps in service make it more difficult than it should be. "Other than fee-for-service, individual therapy, there are great community mental health services but frequently they're underfunded, their wait lists are longer. Students want support more immediately so they can succeed academically," he says.
Students with mental health problems can succeed academically. U of M junior Marley Prunty-Lara's says she's an example. But it takes treatment and support.
"I don't believe that as a society we should simply say that we don't want people with mental illness in our backyard or our universities or in our dorms because, where are they to go? Where are people like me to go when we are most ill?"
Prunty-Lara says after she graduates she intends to go on to help break barriers for others whose mental illness hinders their potential.


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The following includes information that the ABA requires to be reported and other information that will be useful for students considering applying for admission to the Columbus School of Law.
Other Consumer Information


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|2009-02-14, 08:35
|Link #1
Lost in my dreams...
Join Date: Jun 2006
Age: 32
This thread is for those of you with questions about the Chrome Shelled Regios anime or manga. There are many questions that don't need a whole thread to discuss them. A simple practical answer straight from the anime or manga without any speculation can solve these connundrums. If someone has such a question about Chrome Shelled Regios which can be solved by answering with facts from an official source, then please ask that question here.
Please don't post in this thread unless you are asking a question or answering one. Please remember that it only takes 1 person to answer a question. And don't speculate! You can only reply with cold, hard, merciliessly unforgivable facts. If you have to speculate, then please just tell the querrant that no answer is known, but here are some facts that might help him make up his own mind.
Make sure you use spoiler tags if your question is about the anime, manga, or any non-anime source. Untagged spoilers are risking a ban. There are two ways to create clearly marked spoiler tags, as shown in the following:
The easy way: By simply clicking on this icon which can be found in the Quick Reply or Reply to Thread template. This is how I create spoiler tags.
orThe macho way: By using those uber vB codes as shown in the following...
Spoiler Tag Example
[spoiler=title, i.e. your reason for the spoiler tag]Don't forget to use a title for the spoiler![/spoiler]...becomes...
|2009-02-15, 11:37
|Link #3
Let's Puppystyle!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Best Place In The WORLD
Age: 27
Is it officially stated anywhere that this will DEFINITELY be 12/13 or 25/26 episodes? Or is it still too early/they need to see how much attention this anime gets? Also how much does popularity factor into the whole production of the series?
|2009-02-15, 12:22
|Link #6
Let's Puppystyle!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Best Place In The WORLD
Age: 27
|2009-02-21, 14:32
|Link #9
Ha ha ha ha ha...
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Right behind you.
Age: 30
|2009-02-24, 21:28
|Link #11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Old news, but here's the official source mentioning that CRS's going to be 24 eps, posted by someone in the generic thread. Not that anyone will care but, oh well.
|2009-03-27, 07:55
|Link #13
If you mean the 3 different novels... All the novels complements each other's stories with "Legend of the Regios" as the background past story (in the anime: Guy with Engrish ), "Koukaku no Regios" as its main viewpoint/main storyline, and "Seisen no Regios" as the possible side-story of the plot in Regios. Combining the three of them, and you will get a full world-view of Regios.
|2009-03-28, 14:52
|Link #14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: in your closet
|2009-05-26, 18:51
|Link #16
Higurashi fan.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Erm, i just watched regios and some points puzzle me. So basically everything now lives in a moving fortress and the air outside is poisonous right? are there other signs of life on it besides filth beings? also, are their blood poisonous/acidic?
|2009-07-01, 01:11
|Link #18
Angeloid Type β - Nymph
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Canada, Ontario
i have a question after watching the series.
#1. why is it that Dalshena has a red uniform while other martist have a black combat uniform?
#2. i still dont get it...why did Layfon returned the Heavens Blade. Is it because he cut off a limb of a person in the underground match and that he cannot go back to Grendan and become a HB wielder again?
|2009-07-01, 03:49
|Link #19
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2009
|Thread Tools


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Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
CERV96 wrote:Hit or miss on real or fake. The signatures are their signatures though. I have seen the real version out there and a photocopied version. Any COA?
I really wanted this rare piece and can't seem to find it anywhere anymore.
canaan wrote:http://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198711200EDM.html ?
relantel wrote:canaan wrote:http://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198711200EDM.html ?
probably not - Ruskowski was gone by then, and Frawley's time as C, that boxscore was the only game vs Edmonton. (FWIW, this game was road black for the Pens - http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=d ... page&hl=en )
Ruskowski missed the 2/24/87 Edmonton game (home white) - so perhaps it was 12/5/86? http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NZ ... %2C2855293
no name wrote:
Mango Salsa wrote:Lemieuk?
MRandall25 wrote:Jersey probably was ruffled from his posture
jimjom wrote:Godric, I have that same photo as an 8 x 10 that I bought from a sports memorabilia show about 7 years ago for $5. I'm sure there's an original out there but it's widely mass produced it seems.
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About the tour
Penang |
234 are interested with this tour
The cost includes :
1.Sightseeing stops as indicated in the itinerary.
2.Qualified English/Chinese speaking guides or driver. (based on request)
3.Admission fees
4.Meals when indicated in the itinerary
5.Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
The cost does not include:
1. Stops do not mention in the itinerary.
2. person purchase
If make cancellation 4-7 days prior the departure day, 70% of tour fee will be refunded.
If make cancellation 3 days prior the departure day, no tour fee will be refunded.
If the activity is suspended due to the cause which can not be ascribed to the organizer, no refund will be issued.
Tripbaa will inform you of postponement or refund if there is any force majeure.


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Folk Songs' tag.
All text (c) Ita Kelly 2008
Matt Keane is a curious mixture of devilment and determination, quick witted and humorous both on and off stage but also earnest about his work and music. "I'm desperately serious at the back of the whole lot" he says, "It's determination rather than intent, when I put something into my head, nothing really moves it."
'Every picture tells a story' he says in the sleeve notes to his new album 'Pictures in Time', and this, his second release in less than two years is aptly named. 'Any collection of songs" he continues, "is a snapshot of that period in your life, although you don't realise it until you look back"
Matt is one of the renowned Keane family from Caherlistrane in Co. Galway and like his siblings has been singing all his life. "It was a very natural thing" he says. "We didn't learn music at all, we absorbed it." Although singing all his life like the rest of his family, his early forays were in musicals and operas, performing in over 25 productions with Tuam's Marian Choral Society and the Headford Musical Society. His first role in 1979 was as Detlef in 'The Student Prince.' "That gave me the confidence to go out in front of any stage" he says.
His first recording experience was in 1984 on 'Muintir Catháin', an album by Gael Linn which featured the whole family, Teresa, Pat Christina, Matt, Dolores, Noel and Seán, as well as his parents Bridie and Matt snr and his aunts Rita and Sarah.
More recently he recorded 'Echoes of the Valley' with Kevin Coyne, with whom he has performed in pubs and sessions for over fifteen years. Then in 2002 he recorded again, this time with his brothers Seán, Pat and Noel as 'Citizens Keane' and they performed a series of sell out concerts around the country.
Matt is a curious mixture of devilment and determination, quick witted and humorous both on and off stage but also earnest about his work and music "I'm desperately serious at the back of the whole lot" he says, "It's determination rather than intent, when I put something into my head, nothing really moves it."
Recording his own album was always a dream and in 2006 he began the process in earnest, putting down a song here and there, culminating in the release of 'Out in the Fields' in January 2007. A perfectly produced package, its acoustic ballads and folk songs were greeted with enormous enthusiasm and Matt has been performing to full houses at his concerts ever since.
Matt himself has five children and naturally being Keanes, they all sing as well. His second daughter Orlaith sang on Matt's first album, Mary Chapin Carpenter's 'The Moon and St. Christopher'. On 'Pictures in Time' she sings almost half of the tracks. Gaining confidence and enjoying performing since the earlier effort, Orlaith demonstrates her ability and massive potential. Matt recalls "They all would sing a song at parties and occasions like that but when Orlaith would sing, everyone would be quiet. She has something special as well as being able to sing. Lots of people can sing. I think it's more than that. Its being able to pick a song that she's able to do and make a good job of it."
Like their Dad, Orlaith and her sisters Eimear and Eilish, gave their first performance on stage with the Marion Choral Society. "I was Mr. Snow in 'Carousel'" says Matt, "and they were my children. They sang and walked around the stage with me." After that it was sessions at home, choirs and groups in school and whenever the opportunity arose to sing.
For Orlaith herself recording has been quite a new experience. "I don't think I would have ever thought about it" she says. "Daddy said one day, 'For the craic why don't you go in and do a song and see how it turns out'. It wasn't really decided, it just happened. A lot of people wouldn't get the opportunity to do it, so it's brilliant."
"Scary!" was how she described her daunting first stage appearance at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway last year. Now she looks forward to the concerts. "I love it" she says, "and there's more stuff I'd love to do."
Her interests and influences in music are quite diverse. Crystal Gayle was a great favourite of herself and her sisters growing up, now she enjoys some of the American country singers like Alison Krauss and Tricia Yearwood. Of the Irish divas, her favourite is probably Maura O' Connell, but she also likes Mary Black, and of course her aunt Dolores Keane has always been a strong influence.
On 'Pictures in Time' Orlaith showcases a variety of songs in style and tempo. The gentle country rhythm, of "I Wish it would Rain" gives way to the more up tempo beat of Alison Krauss' 'The Lucky One' and 'Candlelight and Wine', Richard Thompson's 'Farewell Farewell" and Eric Bogle's 'Leaving the Land' are thoughtful and plaintive, while Tricia Yearwood's 'Hearts in Armour' is full of emotion and feeling.
On stage Matt and Orlaith share just one song – the Dick Gaughan classic 'Both Sides the Tweed' and their harmonising is definitely something they will do more of in future, given the right material.
Matt's songs come from a variety of sources as well. 'Somebody Special' written by his good friend Don Stiffe has already become a favourite with his audiences. He covers two John Prine songs; the swinging ballad 'Souvenirs' and 'Hello in There', a song he chose because of its personal meaning to him going to visiting his mother now living in a nursing home. He takes the local ballad 'The Lovely Green Woodlands of Ower', and having researched its origins dedicates his new treatment of it to local man John Joe Garvey, who sang it as his party piece for years.
"If I try to analyse myself with a song, I would say it has to be melodic and tell a story" says Matt. "I'm drawn to songs and sometimes I don't know why I'm drawn to them. I'm drawn to writers who can paint a picture for me with words."
Sometimes songs are personal, and sometimes they are full of emotion, it's important for Matt to feel the songs and as he sings he brings that understanding out. Orlaith displays that same forthright and honest quality in her singing as well; it's a family trait.
Before going into studio, Matt always works out the initial arrangement for the songs himself. The three main musicians in his band multi instrumentalist Seán Regan, keyboard player Peter Gannon and guitarist Pat Coyne then take over. Matt refers to them as 'the three divine persons' because together they are at the core of the recording and performance. At the live gigs, the band also includes fiddle and drums.
At the moment Matt manages all the organisation around his concerts and promotions. He enjoys it but it is hard work and the future plan is to have someone else doing the management, publicity and organisation. He and Orlaith would also like to travel further afield, throughout Ireland and to Europe and America.
"We're filling a niche that nobody is filling around here" says Matt. "It's toe in the water for us at the moment. Our music needs a platform. It's hard to get the people to travel but it's easy for us to travel to them, and that's our plan, to develop it and get people to hear it."


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oregon & northern california, november 2012
It's been a couple years, so back to the west coast we go! A few days in Portland, a little drive down the coast, some Redwoods, some more coast, and finally checking out Sacramento and reuniting with lots of family at a family B'not Mitzvah. It was a little hard, as each place was worthy of way more exploration than we had time to give. An incredible trip, we look forward to a return visit.Read More
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