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Q & A With Senior Goalkeeper Jessica McGovern
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After defeating 12th-ranked Sonoma State and Humboldt State last week to improve to 9-1-2 overall and 4-0-2 in conference play, the UC San Diego women's soccer team is back atop the CCAA Southern Division standings, tied for first place with Cal State Dominguez Hills entering a Northern California swing this weekend. Senior goalkeeper Jessica McGovern and the Triton defense have been outstanding so far in 2008, allowing a conference-best eight goals in their 12 games this season. Individually, the Reseda, Calif. native ranks second among CCAA keepers with a goals against average of 0.66 and has posted four shutouts, a figure that also ranks second. McGovern, who notched the 24th shutout of her career in Sunday's 3-0 rout of the Lumberjacks, took a break from her busy schedule to answer a few questions for UCSDtritons.com.
Q: As a goalkeeper, your numbers have gotten better each and every year and you╣ve already recorded four shutouts in 2008. What is the secret to your success?
McGOVERN: I've been fortunate to have great defenders every season. They work incredibly hard and I try to return the favor. I also make a game out of trying to play better than the opposing goalkeeper.
Q: Have you always played that position? When did you know that you were a special player between the posts?
McGOVERN: I have not always played goalkeeper. I used to play center mid and GK with another teammate. I was a little bit crazier than she was and I enjoyed GK a bit more. In some way it always seemed like a natural fit. I finally moved to GK full-time my freshman year of high school.
Q: The team just moved back into first place in the CCAA South Division. What does the squad need to do to finish the season strong and win the CCAA Tournament Championship?
McGOVERN: Having such a young team means that our players gain a significant amount of experience with each game. We will continue to grow with each game we play and hopefully we will peak just in time for playoffs. Our players are all talented. We just need to keep playing with passion and strength.
Q: What is your favorite thing about head coach Brian McManus? How has he made you a better player?
McGOVERN: I love the things he says on the field, especially with his accent. I also love that he truly cares about his players and how that shows through when he emphasizes the little things at practice to keep us healthy. His dissatisfaction with mediocrity and his understanding of the game have pushed me outside my comfort zone and to new, higher levels.
Q: What is your most memorable moment playing soccer and why?
McGOVERN: Beating Sonoma State 4-0 in the CCAA playoffs two years ago was the most memorable because we scored the four most awesome goals ever, including a diving header from Lauren Segars.
Q: What do you usually do to prepare for a game?
McGOVERN: I am not too superstitious about rituals, but I do try and get my head right before every game. I get pumped up with our pre-game locker room music and talks and then focus when the warm up begins.
Q: If you could play any sport other than soccer, what would it be and why?
McGOVERN: I've always wanted to play basketball. I wanted to play in high school, but it was during the same season as soccer. A little part of me wonders what could have been. Basketball seems intense throughout the whole game and I admire how effortless it looks for our UCSD teams to make shots.
Q: Who is your biggest role model and why?
McGOVERN: Brianna Scurry was my biggest role model growing up because she was such an awesome goalkeeper while she was playing for the U.S. national team. She seemed to have this incredible ability to read where the ball was going before the incoming forward even took the shot. I definitely aspire to be like her.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
McGOVERN: In 10 years I hope to have earned my Ph.D. in clinical psychology and I would like to be working with severe mental populations, such as people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Q: What is your biggest fear?
McGOVERN: My biggest fear would have to be not living up to my potential.
Q: What is something most people don╣t know about you?
McGOVERN: I love singing really loudly in my car.
Q: If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
McGOVERN: competitive, adventurous, funny
Q: What does being a Triton mean to you?
McGOVERN: Being a Triton means being the most competitive person you can be and achieving at the highest level you can.
Previous Q&A Articles:
Bre Schofield (Cross Country) September 26, 2008
Tony Fernandez (Men's Soccer) September 18,2008
Kimberly Carpenter (Women's Volleyball) September 12, 2008
A.J. Kotanjian (Men's Water Polo) September 2, 2008
Peter Akman (Men's Soccer) August 21, 2008
Natasha Belak-Berger (Women's Soccer) August 15, 2008
Jake LaVieux (Men's Cross Country) August 8, 2008
Dr. Penny Rue (Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs) July 30, 2008
Michelle Torres (Women's Volleyball) July 15, 2008
Jon Pascale (Men's Soccer Head Coach) July 1, 2008
Julie Ertel (Athletics) June 16, 2008
Clint Allard (Men's Basketball) June 9, 2008
Jen Myers (Women's Crew) May 27, 2008
Casey Ryan (Men's Track and Field and Men's Basketball) May 21, 2008
Keith Noe (Baseball) May 13, 2008
Liz LaPlante (Women's Tennis Head Coach) April 30, 2008
Sydney Gstettenbauer (Women's Water Polo) April 22, 2008
Sarah Hendy (Women's Track and Field) April 17, 2008
Eric Leserman (Men's Volleyball) April 9, 2008
Danielle Lukk (Softball) April 4, 2008
Chris Franco (Baseball) March 24, 2008
Dan Perdew (Swimming) March 18, 2008
Evan Hsiao (Swimming) March 9, 2008
Eric Rubens (Men's Tennis) February 27, 2008
Melissa Ward (Softball) February 20, 2008
Cameron Sprowles (Fencing) February 13, 2008
Kim Hockett (Women's Water Polo) February 6, 2008
Trevor Decker (Baseball) January 31, 2008
Jordan Lawley (Men's Basketball) January 23, 2008
Jason Spangler (Men's Volleyball) January 5, 2008
Andrew Skewes (Men's Diving) December 26, 2007
Alexis Gaskin (Women's Basketball) December 17, 2007
Aubrey Panis (Women's Swimming) December 2, 2007
Andrew Hatch (Men's Basketball) November 26, 2007
Kevin Klein (Men's Cross Country) November 12, 2007
Kim Adams (Women's Volleyball) November 7, 2007
Ben Miller (Men's Water Polo) October 31, 2007
Alie Avina (Women's Soccer) October 19, 2007
Charity Elliott (Women's Basketball Head Coach) October 15, 2007


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Back in 2007, Tamie Odom bought her husband something any guy would want for his birthday - a pirate ship.
And five years later, they're finally bring the Compass Rose home to Lake Texoma.
"We sailed her from Florida to Freeport, had her de-commissioned and then two trucks later, we got her here," she said. "So it's been a work of art, and pain and suffering sometimes."
The Compass Rose was built in 1968 as an 1800s replica ship. Odom said the ship has circumnavigated the globe twice and has even been in a few movies.
She said Grandpappy Point is helping with reconstruction, letting them use their shop and supplies.
"They actually built us a dock, and didn't charge us for it," she said. "Just said yes, come, join our family."
Tuesday, they attached yardarms to the mast. Odom said they'll put in the second mast on Wednesday.
Odom said they plan to use the ship for historical and educational tours for the general public.
"So just have a lot of fun with her," she said. "We want to share her with the community at large."
Mark Nagel is quartermaster of the ship. He's been friends with the Odoms for years, and has been a part of the project since the beginning.
"When the opportunity came up to work for the ship as a quartermaster, and I was like 'get paid for sailing?' You betcha! I'm there!' That's how I got involved," he said.
He's been doing a little bit of everything to help with restoring. But he said the most rewarding aspect will be hitting the water.
And Odom agrees.
"And literally, when you get on the decks of this boat, something happens to you," she said.
She described it as a magical experience.
"When everything is here, the parts, pieces, the sails and everything, you are in the 1800s," she said. "You are in a different time, and I just fell in love with this boat."
Odom said they plan to hold a christening party at Grandpappy Point on November 3. She said the party - a family event during the day and an adults only party at night - will double as a fundraiser for CASA.

subset: commoncrawl


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It often surprises people who know even a little bit about LIFE to learn that the magazine didn't cover Elvis Presley all that much. One might think that a publication so devoted to keeping its millions of weekly readers in the know would frequently feature, celebrate, analyze and dissect a phenomenon as stirring as the career of The King.
And yet . . . LIFE didn't.
It's not that the magazine completely ignored the man who quickly became — and, in some very fundamental ways, has remained — the biggest rock and roll star of the 20th century; but one gets the sense that the magazine was sometimes more fascinated by what might be called the ancillary impact of Elvis, rather than by the performer, or by his music. Little kids getting Elvis haircuts? Teens trying to dance like their idol? That sort of thing can be found in the pages of the magazine — while Elvis himself appears somewhat rarely.
In 1956, though, LIFE did publish a feature on the young Mississippi native whose voice, looks and live performances were causing girls to scream and swoon; armies of boys to pick up guitars of their own; and legions of commentators, guardians of public morals and pop-culture critics to predict the end of civilization as they knew it if Elvis' ungodly onstage gyrations were allowed to continue unchecked.
For its part, LIFE reported rather drily on the uproar, choosing to remain above the fray — perhaps in hopes that Elvis would, eventually, just go away:
Up to a point [LIFE wrote in August 1956] the country can withstand the impact of Elvis Presley as a familiar and acceptable phenomenon. Wherever the lean, 21-year-old Tennessean goes to howl out his combination of hillbilly and rock and roll, he is beset by teenage girls yelling for him. They dote on his sideburns and pegged pants, cherish cups of water dipped from his swimming pool, covet strands of his hair, boycott disc jockeys who dislike his records (they have sold some six million copies). All this the country has seen before — with Ray, Sinatra and all the way back to Rudy Vallee.
But with Elvis Presley the daffiness has been deeply disturbing to civic leaders, clergymen, some parents. He does not just bounce to accent his heavy beat. He uses a bump and grind routine usually seen only in burlesque. His young audiences , unexposed to such goings-on, do not just shout their approval. They get set off by shock waves of hysteria, going into frenzies of screeching and wailing, ending up in tears.
In Miami, one newspaper columnist called Presley's performance "obscene." In Jacksonville, he was threatened with jail. His impact had brought Presley a welcome taste of wealth and fame. But now it was bringing him some unwelcome attention.
Here, LIFE.com presents photos of Elvis — several of which never ran in LIFE magazine — when he was a young, reckless, charming, thrilling and, for some, downright frightening rocker.
We all know his gruesome, terribly sad fate: dead on a bathroom floor at the age of 42: utterly alone, yet surrounded by sycophants; addicted to drugs; a bloated caricature of his early self. That is how one American legend came to a close. Here, we choose to remember how the legend itself began. . . .


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Application Process for International Students - College of Chiropractic
Step 1 – Complete the application
Complete the College of Chiropractic application by following the instructions on How to Apply.
Step 2 – Verify English competency
- English speaking countries: Submit an English Competency Form (PDF) OR submit your birth certificate.
- Non-English speaking countries and Quebec: Please complete a TOEFL® exam. TOEFL® results must be sent to Northwestern. Our code is B591.
- Paper exam score must be 540 or greater
- Computer-based exam score must be 207 or greater
- Internet exam score must be 76 or greater
We reserve the right to request proof of English proficiency of any applicant.
Step 3 – Proof of financial resources
- Provide evidence of financial resources to complete a minimum of at least one year of education. Official bank statement indicating sufficient funds is required. Proof of financial resources must be current within 9 months of your enrollment date.
- Submit International Certificate Of Finances 2018-19 (PDF)
Step 4 – International transcript evaluation
International transcripts need to be evaluated by World Education Services®. Official copies of the course-by-course evaluation must be forwarded directly to both Northwestern and the student. Please note: Canadian students may not be required to complete this step and are encouraged to reach out to admissions for details.
To obtain a WES application:
- Submit an online WES application for FREE – save $30
- Download a WES application form (pdf) – $30 processing fee
- Request a form from the Office of Admissions – $30 processing fee
Northwestern reserves the right to request a transcript review by an evaluation service for any courses completed outside of the United States.


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This tropical twist on the French classic Moules Marinières serves up briny mussels in a tangy coconut broth enhanced with ginger, lime leaves, lemongrass, shallots and red curry paste. Light and aromatic with plenty of flavourful Thai-inspired broth, this is a gorgeous starter or light summer supper, delicious served with a loaf of crusty bread and glass of chilled Rosé.
Garlic, shallots, lemongrass and lime leaves sautéed in a little vegetable oil
Add a cup of coconut milk and 2 tbsp of red curry paste
Steamed Mussels with Curried Coconut Broth & Cilantro
Serves 4
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 plum tomatoes, finely chopped
2 large shallots, finely chopped
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
2 kaffir lime leaves, shredded
1 stalk lemon grass, white part only, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
1/8 cup red curry paste
3 lb cultivated mussels, scrubbed
3 scallions, white and light green part, thinly sliced
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
Kosher salt and freshly milled black pepper
In a large saucepan heat the oil over medium heat. Add the tomatoes, shallots, ginger, lime leaves and lemongrass, if using, and the garlic and cook over medium-low heat, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the coconut milk and curry paste and bring to a simmer. Add the mussels, cover tightly, and steam them over medium heat, transferring them with tongs to a bowl as they open, about 6 minutes total. Discard any mussels that do not open.
Add the ime juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Transfer the mussels to a large serving bowl, ladle the sauce over them and garnish with scallions and cilantro. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread and enjoy!


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Encaustic Tile • jwa010
Encaustic Tile • jwa010
Deep: 2 - Length: 4 - Width: 4
The word ENCAUSTIC comes from the Greek "Enkaustikos", which means "to burn in". It's an ancient technique, in which beeswax is mixed with pigment and Damar crystal to produce a luminous, intensely colored wax that is melted and used as paint. Some of the Greek encaustic portraits, affixed to mummies, have survived over 3000 years.
Add To Cart


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Brazil police suspend 4 officers in Rio de Janeiro
SAO PAULO (AP) — Four police officers have been suspended after being caught on video as they beat journalists during an anti-World Cup protest, the Rio de Janeiro police department said Wednesday.
A police department press officer said the four will remain suspended until the conclusion of the investigation. He did not elaborate. The press officer spoke on condition of anonymity, citing departmental rules.
The department said in a statement it "repudiates the acts of violence practiced by police officers," which were shown on the videotaped images shot on July 13, the tournament's last day.
Bernardo Moura, a spokesman for the Rio de Janeiro journalists' union, said 15 journalists were injured at the protest including a Canadian, Peruvian and Italian and two Brazilians working for foreign news agencies. None of the injuries were serious.
The union said in a statement that the journalists were covering a demonstration by about 200 people protesting the billions of dollars spent to host the World Cup — money they said should go toward better hospitals, schools and transportation projects.
"For two hours journalists and protesters were not allowed to leave the Saens Pena Plaza (where the rally was held) and had put up with the physical aggressions and tear gas of the police," the statement said.
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The content available is no longer being updated and as a result you may encounter hyperlinks which no longer function. You should also bear in mind that this content may contain text and references which are no longer applicable as a result of changes in law, regulation and/or administration.
We are pleased to make available the 2003 Combined Federal Campaign National List. As always, unless we notify you of any changes to the contrary, this list must be reproduced exactly in your local campaign brochure and on the Federal agency's electronic information system, if available.
The list is being provided on our website (U.S. Office of Personnel Management http://www.opm.gov/aboutus/CombinedFederalCampaign/) in two formats -- Microsoft Word 7.0 and Excel 7.0. In addition, we are making available a Table of Contents, alphabetical and numerical indexes and a version of the national list without the 25 word description for use by smaller campaigns.
The CFC regulations require that the categories of charities be rotated annually. This year the order is: 1) International Organizations 2) Local Organizations, and 3) National/International Organizations. The order of these categories and order of federations in each category cannot be altered by campaigns.
The National List provided by OPM consists of two types of organizations. Organizations that provide services that are either National and/or International in scope and those that are defined only as International in scope. National Unaffiliated Organizations (those that are not part of a federation) are listed in the National section unless they specifically noted in their 2003 CFC application that they wished to be included in the International section.
There are minor changes to the Preface and Introduction this year. Of note is the revised language under the definition of a "Federation." The Preface and Introduction must be reproduced exactly in your local campaign brochure and on the Federal agency's electronic information system, if available.
The Preface and Introduction also informs donors that the EIN is part of each listing and also includes a reference to several resource organizations that provide information about charity finances and accountability, as well as trends in giving and volunteering.
Alphabetical and numerical indexes for the National list are available on the CFC home page. In addition, we have included a version of the National list without 25-word statements. This format may be used by campaigns that received less than $100,000 in contributions in the 2002 CFC.
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*This organization has administrative and fundraising expenses above 25 percent, and is taking the steps necessary to bring these expenses below the 25 percent level.
Copies of the brochure must be made available to all Federal employees. Use of agency computer systems may not replace the availability of printed brochures.
Please note that this MEMO and the list will not be mailed to Principal Combined Fund Organizations or Local Federal Coordinating Committee. The National List will only be available on the CFC home page: http://www.opm.gov/aboutus/CombinedFederalCampaign/.
If you have questions about accessing this list or any problems associated with the format, please email Valinda Pittman at firstname.lastname@example.com. She will be happy to assist you.
Best wishes for a successful campaign!


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Termite Inspection Cost Near Me North Stratford NH 03590
As a purchaser, you ought to be advised about which company is doing the inspection and in specific locations North Stratford, NH as a buyer you can perhaps make the selection. When it pertains to a home inspection, you will need to understand what's major and what isn't really. An substantial house inspection North Stratford, NH will take some time due to the fact that there are lots of areas to check in a house.
Termites can result in major structural damage to your property and considering that they live in nests that can number from numerous hundred thousand to several million, it's crucial to be proactive. Now that you know why termites and termite damage ought to stress you, it is essential to defend your house North Stratford, NH, your relative, and your financial resources. Everyone appears to concur that termites ought to not be neglected and employing the pros is an excellent idea. Considering that below ground termites generally have a substantial colony when they attack a structure they generally produce damage quite quickly.
The price is totally related to lots of elements. It's important to weigh the costs and the advantages in selecting whether to carry out such a job all by yourself or set the care of your home in the hands of an expert North Stratford, NH. The repair expense is based upon the degree of the damage.
The termite baiting, for instance, can be readily done within the duration of an hour, as sets are easy to obtain in stores for purchase, and they're simple to install. It is definitely an appealing choice for property owners North Stratford, NH who aren't thinking about filling their home with a great deal of toxic chemicals. It is a simple process that can eliminate termites in one's house forever, and it's not really pricey.
A pest inspection is essential prior to closing in many areas of the united states. Termite inspections are very important to get a protected and pest complimentary residence or office North Stratford, NH. In addition, a termite inspection could conserve the home-owner a substantial amount of money in repairs by recognizing problems early! It serves quite a few applications. It will be able to recognize where issue areas are, and offer recommendations regarding how the property owner can decrease their risk of infestations. Star Termite Inspection is dedicated to safeguarding your privacy.
The inspector will give a treatment plan for your house, and a composed price quote. A state-licensed inspector will perform each service and offer a thorough report on any existence of wood destroying organisms in your house. Appropriate cost and discovered a lot of extra repair work which other inspectors North Stratford, NH missed.
Do not lose acquiring an excellent house because it has termites. Quite merely, there's an incredibly effective treatment of eliminating termites however the treatment and repair work expense could be costly. Below ground termites are the most regular type in the usa.
Whether there are termites in your house, our home termite inspection group will make certain to find them. Afterwards, the termites will search for elsewhere to expand their colony North Stratford, NH, so if there's the presence of disposed of wings around your home, then it's likely that they've dealt with to take roost within. Our termites professionals acquire all the wetness they desire from the wood itself.
Local Termite Inspection Company North Stratford
The price is entirely related to lots of factors. It's important to weigh the costs and the benefits in choosing whether to undertake such a project by yourself or set the care of your house in the hands of an expert. The general cost to the homeowner is truly based on the quantity of attention he is ready to pay in applying all kinds of termite treatment to his residence.
While the termite will leave enormous structure damage in the vicinity of your house, they are quite tiny in dimension. Afterwards, the termites will start looking for somewhere else to expand their colony, so if there's the presence of discarded wings around your house, then it's possible that they've resolved to take roost within. Understanding how to kill termites in your home may appear simple initially, but it's can be more challenging than you think if you're not mindful of the type of termites infecting your house.
Your house may be infested by termites right now and you're not even conscious of it. A home is among an individual's biggest investment, and the very last thing you will need is to get it devalued by termites. The type of foundation it has may factor into the price depending on how easy it is to do a visual inspection. If you intend to sell your house within two or three years, a contract would be advisable.
The termite baiting, as an example, can be readily done within the period of an hour, as kits are easy to get in stores for purchase, and they're simple to install. It is certainly an attractive option for homeowners who aren't interested in filling their home with a lot of poisonous chemicals. It is a simple process that can eliminate termites in one's home forever, and it's not very expensive.
You have to start looking for indicators of termites. Termites are extremely destructive and can damage a building structure in a really brief time period, since they don't get the job done alone, only in groups. In the event the termites did not finish the procedure, then there would be a whole lot of dead trees standing around that would potentially grow to be a harbor for bacteria and fungus development. Subterranean termites are the most frequent type in the usa.
During your inspection you have to look for indications of termites. Termites will merely consume materials made from cellulose. There are many different kinds of termites that inhibit American homes, which make it quite hard to determine, which type is invading your house. Now that you know why termites and termite damage should worry you, it is essential to defend your house, your family members, and your finances. Still, you will locate some tips below to prevent termites from infiltrating your house. Termites actually get the job done pretty slowly, particularly when you consider that a few nests can harbor thousands and thousands of hungry mouths to feed. The very first sign you'll see of subterranean termite are shelter tubes made from mud they build towards and about their food resource.


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As we blast across the lonely, undulating terrain of the Southern California desert east of San Diego, in a trio of Flint Gray CLS63 AMGs, it occurs to me that I'm only one misplaced rock away from never seeing home again. As I reflect on past incidents, on debris I've hit and tires that've blown, I'm reminded that at none of those times was I all the way on the floor with 525 hp underfoot.
But then again, such is the seasoning of life. A little existential Tabasco if you will.
For 2011, the AMG-tuned CLS retains its "63" designation, even though it doesn't retain the same big 6.2-liter V8 as before. Rather, like other V8s in the AMG range, this 63's engine displacement has shrunk by 0.7 liters to 5.5. And like the others, it also picked up two turbochargers along the way.
By the numbers, this engine's horsepower and torque curves are intimately intertwined, soul mates of applied physics—peak power of 525 hp at just 5250 rpm, and a walloping 516 lb-ft dollop of max torque that starts at 1750 rpm and flatlines to 5000. The two graphs overlap in such a way that the CLS63 is never really at a loss for acceleration. It just flat-out hauls ass at basically any engine speed beyond idle. And as its hurtling 4,100-pound mass crests triple digits, the implications simultaneously become both frightening and maddening.
In addition to making it very fast, the engine also makes the car incredibly communicative if you've got an ear to listen. It says things like You vould like to overtake ze car in front? Ja, zis is not a problem.
The turbo V8 is hooked to an iteration of the excellent seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT gearbox, termed a "sports transmission" by Mercedes-AMG. Unlike a traditional automatic, the MCT loses its torque converter in favor of a compact wet clutch. You can select gears yourself using the wheel-mounted shift paddles; however, put the car in Sport mode and the gearbox will mediate the gears for you with a seeming clairvoyance. It'll hold gears and downshift on braking almost as though there were wires running from the trans to electrodes inside your skull. In a car this size, it's an ideal conduit for unleashing the engine's fury.
So then, to help this thunderbolt-hurling powertrain go somewhat more green—very, very marginally more green—the CLS63 features a new stop/start engine function as standard. Permanently active in the transmission's Controlled Efficiency (C) mode, it will switch the engine off when the car comes to a complete stop, and fire it back up as you step on the accelerator to motor away. You might expect a delay, but there is none; it just pops on and goes. Stop/start only works in C. In the other drive modes—Sport (S), Sport plus (S+) and Manual (M)—engine management partially suppresses the V8's cylinders, interrupting ignition and injection under full loads to enable faster gear changes.
The chassis harnesses the CLS63's ferocious high-tech drive system via AMG's equally high-tech Ride Control suspension. Engineered to provide the seeming paradox of both a comfortable ride and a more aggressive, sporting one, it uses steel struts at the front axle and air suspension struts at the rear. The gas-filled dampers are electronically controlled and actively adapt to reduce body roll during hard cornering, squat under hard acceleration, or dive on hard braking, so the vehicle is always kept as level and flat as possible through a variety of conditions.
The brakes—they are suitably massive to control such a heavy vehicle with an inherent propensity to building such massive amounts of moving inertia. Perforated, internally ventilated 360mm (14.2-inch) rotors are used all around, with motorsport-derived composite technology at the front. For even greater bite, even larger ceramic-composite rotors are available as an option.
Speaking of mass: To keep weight to a reasonable level, if you want to call two tons and change reasonable, lightweight construction has been employed throughout, like through the use of full aluminum doors that use deep-drawn aluminum panels with extruded sections; they're reportedly 50 pounds lighter than conventional steel doors. Panels like the hood, front quarter-panels and trunklid are also aluminum constructs, as well as strategic sections of the underlying chassis itself.
For added safety as you careen down your imaginary autobahn, the CLS63 is available with a pair of new driver aid systems, Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist. The first uses short-range radar to monitor the, yes, blind spots in adjacent lanes. If the car comes too close to a vehicle the system detects, it will actually apply braking force to the wheels on the vehicle's opposite side via the ESP stability program, creating yaw that counteracts the impending collision. Lane Keeping Assist works in a similar way, first warning the driver of lane departure and then intervening with ESP.
If you feel the need for expanded performance, an AMG Performance package is available. Special engine management increases peak power to 557 hp at 5750 rpm, and torque by about 74 lb-ft. This will knock a tenth or two off the zero to 60 time and possibly tilt the Earth's axis by a degree or so. The Performance package also includes a carbon-fiber engine cover and carbon trunklid spoiler, red-painted brake calipers and an Alcantara-accented steering wheel. There's also what's called the AMG Driver's Package, which includes participation in the AMG Driving Academy and elimination of the 155-mph speed restrictor, allowing access to the CLS63's actual top speed of 186 mph.
Do you actually need to drive at 186 mph? And can you legally attempt such a feat on public roads in the United States of America? Of course not, and hell no. But that isn't saying it wouldn't be nice to have the capability. You know, in case the need should eventually arise. All in all, the CLS63 AMG seems ideal for just such a prospect.
2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG
5.5-liter V8, dohc, 32-valve,
Seven-speed automatic
Three-link front with anti-dive, multilink rear with anti-squat and anti-dive, coil springs, AMG Ride Control electronically controlled dampers, stabilizer bars
Internally ventilated and perforated composite rotors, ABS, ESP, Brake Assist
Length/Width/Height (in.): 196.7/74.1/55.4
Wheelbase: 113.1 in.
Curb Weight: 4,123 lb
Peak Power: 525 hp @ 5250 rpm
Peak Torque: 516 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
0-62 mph: 4.4 sec.
Top Speed: 155 mph (limited)


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OAKLAND — Cremated remains discovered in a foreclosed Delaware funeral home have stirred up painful memories of the Jonestown Massacre, when more than 900 Americans — many from the Bay Area — died in a mass suicide-murder in Guyana.
The surprise discovery of the ashes of nine bodies has stunned some survivors and family members nearly 36 years after Peoples Temple cult leader Jim Jones ordered his followers to drink cyanide-laced punch at their remote South American jungle settlement.
"I'm saddened, I'm really saddened, that these nine people don't have a final resting place," said Jim Jones, Jr., the cult leader's son, who runs a memorial fund for victims. "The important thing is, how can we — if the families are unable — work to remedy this situation?"
Until this week, Oakland's Evergreen Cemetery was thought to be the home of all unclaimed and unidentified remains from the Nov. 18, 1978 tragedy. The cemetery in 1979 volunteered to accept 409 bodies — many of them children — after cemeteries in Marin and San Mateo counties rejected them following residents' complaints. A memorial was erected in 2011 over the hillside East Oakland burial ground.
But how at least nine other remains ended up sitting in urns at the former Minus Funeral Home, in Dover, Del., is a mystery.
The most likely explanation has something to do with the mortuary's proximity to Dover Air Force Base, where the U.S. military brings home fallen soldiers and others who die overseas, said Dover Police Cpl. Mark Hoffman. The federal government flew all 913 bodies to the Delaware base, embalmed them, put them in airtight steel coffins and stacked them in hangars pending burial arrangements, according to Oakland Tribune archives. The government then contracted with local morticians.
One woman who lost two sisters in the massacre said she remembers that funeral home vividly.
"The bodies of my two sisters — Carolyn Moore Layton and Ann Elizabeth Moore — were processed at Minus Funeral Home," said Rebecca Moore, a religion professor at San Diego State University, in an email Thursday.
"I imagine that other families dealt with this funeral home as well, but I don't know who they might be. I will say that Mr. and Mrs. Minus were very kind to us, when we woke them up in the middle of the night, asking for help."
Hoffman said the funeral homeowner is deceased. Someone touring the dilapidated bank-owned home last week found 38 containers holding cremated remains spanning a period between 1970 and the 1990s. Of that group, nine have been identified as Jonestown victims.
"There's no criminal element to this, no foul play suspected," Hoffman said of the long-forgotten remains. "Everything was apparently stored properly."
Moore has been critical of the U.S. government's process for recovering the bodies and investigating their deaths, but in an essay she remembered the Minus home fondly: "The owner and his wife were like many members of the Temple itself: concerned, friendly, and black. They listened to us explain our need for autopsies and agreed to help us find a pathologist somewhere in the state who would perform them," because the Justice Department at first refused to do so.
Delaware's Division of Forensic Science is now trying to notify relatives and declined to release the victims' names. "We're in the early stages right now," said spokeswoman Kimberly Chandler.
Jones Jr., of Pacifica, said he suspected that the remains might belong to victims whose families originally sought to retrieve them but never did.
"It was a horrific event," he said. "Some family members were so distraught, they couldn't get with it … some people economically were unable to make arrangements."
His father ran the Peoples Temple in San Francisco in the early 1970s after moving it from rural Mendocino County. He established a free health clinic and a drug rehabilitation program, eventually emerging as a political force. But allegations of wrongdoing mounted, and Jones moved the settlement to Guyana. The cult leader believed he would be safe there from what he perceived as media and police persecution. Hundreds of followers moved to Jonestown, seeking socialism and racial harmony.
On Nov. 18, 1978, gunmen from the Peoples Temple cult ambushed and killed U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan, D-San Mateo, three journalists and a defector from the group at a remote airstrip as they visited on a fact-finding mission to investigate reports of abuses of members.
Hayward resident Sherwin Harris, now 78, was one of several parents of cult members who went on the trip hoping to get their children to come back home. He met with his daughter, Liane, in the capital, Georgetown, but a short time later "she was dragged upstairs and murdered along with her half-brother, and sister, and mother," he said.
Jones orchestrated a ritual of mass murder and suicide at the temple's agricultural commune, ordering followers to drink cyanide-laced grape punch. Most of them complied, although survivors described some people being shot, injected with poison, or forced to drink the deadly beverage when they resisted.
Harris said he might have been the only person to bring home a slain loved one home on his own, using the same plane ticket he bought for her return. She was buried in a family plot in Colma. He said he thinks about her every day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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WASHINGTON -- Marine Corps Pvt. Lazzaric T. Caldwell slit his wrists and spurred a legal debate that's consuming the Pentagon, as well as the nation's top military appeals court.
On Tuesday, the court wrestled with the wisdom of prosecuting Caldwell after his January 2010 suicide attempt. Though Caldwell pleaded guilty, he and his attorneys now question his original plea and the broader military law that makes "self-injury" a potential criminal offense.
The questions resonate amid what Pentagon leaders have called an "epidemic" of military suicides.
"If suicide is indeed the worst enemy the armed forces have," Senior Judge Walter T. Cox III said, "then why should we criminalize it when it fails?"
For 40 minutes Tuesday morning, Cox and the four other members of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces sounded deeply ambivalent about the complexities involved in prosecuting members of the military who try to kill themselves. While several judges sounded skeptical about the government's claim that Caldwell's actions brought discredit to the Marine Corps, judges also sounded hesitant about ruling out prosecution altogether.
"I question whether it's up to us to say that under no circumstance can someone be prosecuted," Judge Scott W. Stucky said. "Isn't that up to Congress?"
Congress and the White House might, in fact, get into the act.
Earlier this year, Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson asked a Pentagon advisory committee to consider recommendations revising the Manual for Courts-Martial so that a "genuine attempt at suicide" may not require disciplinary action. The Joint Service Committee on Military Justice will make a suggestion eventually.
Everyone agrees there's a problem.
Last year, the 301 known military suicides accounted for 20 percent of U.S. military deaths. From 2001 to August 2012, the U.S. military counted 2,676 suicides.
It's also becoming more common among veterans. Though timely numbers are elusive, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported that 3,871 veterans who were enrolled in VA care killed themselves in 2008 and 2009.
Active-duty members of the military who succeed in killing themselves are treated as having died honorably. Active-duty members who try and fail may be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice if the suicide attempt is deemed conduct that causes "prejudice to good order and discipline" or has a "tendency to bring the service into disrepute."
"You don't think people will think less well of the military if people are killing themselves?" Judge Margaret A. Ryan asked rhetorically.
The Marine Corps recorded 163 suicide attempts last year and 157 attempts so far this year, according to the service's Suicide Prevention Program. Statistics for other branches weren't immediately available. Prosecutions are infrequent, but they do occur.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Darren Evans faces murder charges in the death of his roommate at Camp Pendleton in California. Prosecutors also have charged Evans with self-injury because he subsequently threw himself from the third story of his barracks.
On the other hand, Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corps veteran Dakota Meyer recounts in his 2012 memoir that he once put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger in a moment of post-combat distress. The gun wasn't loaded, and Meyer was neither caught nor prosecuted.
Now a civilian resident of Oceanside, Calif., Caldwell was a 23-year-old Marine private in January 2010. He'd been diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after suffering through other personal problems. After Caldwell was told he was being sent to the brig over the alleged theft of a belt, he slit his wrists with a razor in the barracks at Camp Schwab, Okinawa.
"The public today views suicide attempts like this as an illness," Caldwell's appellate attorney, Navy Lt. Michael B. Hanzel, told judges Tuesday.
Caldwell eventually pleaded guilty to self-injury and received a bad conduct discharge after being convicted of larceny, driving without a license and possessing the drug known as "spice."
"This case is not about prosecuting suicide or attempted suicide," Marine Corps Maj. David N. Roberts said Tuesday. "It's about prosecuting an act that was prejudicial to good order and discipline."
Roberts conceded under questioning, though, that even the trial judge thought self-injury was an "odd charge" for military prosecutors to levy. Pressing the point, Chief Judge James E. Baker asked skeptically whether the military would charge someone who'd developed post-traumatic stress after five combat tours.
Hanzel suggested one potential solution: telling judges they could set a rule that once a reasonable case had been made that a suicide attempt was genuine, the burden would shift to the government to prove otherwise. It might require an additional policy change, from military and political leaders, to treat suicide attempts as something other than a crime.


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My Modus Operandi (in brief):
Curiosity + Rationality = A Mind Capable of Evolving
I believe that while curiosity promotes cognitive development and wards off sclerosis of the belief-system, rationality can help us distinguish between those theories, arguments, and bits of evidence that are strong, and those that are weak. Although our years of schooling (formal education) are limited, learning is something we do every day of our lives. Not only do we constantly learn new pieces of information, but we occasionally learn new ways of thinking about information.
Curiosity and rationality are essential to becoming better learners — to improving both what and how we think. When pulled into learning by curiosity, we are likely to fully explore the material before us and to freely contemplate its significance. We are also more likely to seek and gather information beyond our short-term and sometimes biased objectives. The curious mind is forever asking questions and is continually receptive to new information. Whether or not that information is considered valid is the work of rationality.
Rationality can be viewed as the conscious weighing of information (and any argumentation used to convey and make sense of it) to come to a decision or conclusion. Decisions and conclusions can be more or less rational depending upon the information they are based upon and the strength or weakness of the reasoning employed. Less rational conclusions tend to result from too little information, poor quality information, a biased selection of information, the improper weighing of information and/or weak argumentation.
Not coincidentally, rationality is the bedrock scientific thinking is built upon. Science, as you are probably aware, has proven to be the best way to advance our understanding of the universe. It should be emphasized, however, that scientific thinking is no esoteric process. Einstein once described science as the refinement of everyday thinking. There is nothing alien or anti-human about science, as there is nothing alien or anti-human about rationality. Both should be embraced as the working of a refined mind. And that refinement is a work in progress.


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I wanted to do a cool tutorial on a character that I know a lot of members will recognize. The furry friends are from Raymen, and they can be seen on Cartoon Network sometime in 2013. The show will be called Raving Rabbids, and supposedly it is going to be one funny series. The only problem that I have is there is no information on these Rabbid figures. Here is "how to draw Rabbids", step by step. They will be depicted the same way they are in the video game so there won't be any surprises there. The character is pretty simple to draw because as you can see Rabbids aren't that difficult to replicate. I really enjoyed this lesson because it was one of the easier ones for me to do today. I still have two more tuts coming your way so try and stay tuned in for more drawing fun. Adios people and have an awesome night.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will provide nearly $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres of enrollment this year.
"The Conservation Stewardship Program is different than other USDA financial assistance programs," said Vilsack.
"CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. It's about conservation activities on the entire operation focusing on multiple resource concerns."
Vilsack explained that although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners interested in CSP should submit applications by May 31 to their local NRCS office to ensure they are considered for this year's funding.
The voluntary program allows producers to go the extra mile in conserving natural resources while also maintaining or increasing the productivity of their operations.
Playing a significant part in conserving and improving our nation's resources, producers enrolled an additional 12.1 million acres in CSP last year, bringing the total number of acres to more than 50 million.
Many of the CSP enhancements improve soil quality, which helps land become more resilient to extreme weather.
Several other improvements are available for producers, including intensive rotational grazing, intercropping and wildlife friendly fencing.
Because of the extreme weather in 2012, more interest and participation in the cover crop enhancements is expected this year, according to NRCS experts.
A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.
For the checklist and additional information, visit the CSP website
(http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/) or visit your local USDA NRCS office.


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Is It Possible to Make Dangerous Reporting Safe?
Michael Kelly was killed in a Humvee accident in Iraq. Bob Woodruff was blown up by an I.E.D. Damn near every reporter covering the Egyptian revolution was assaulted one way or another, including Lara Logan, in the most awful possible way. Hundreds of reporters around the world are attacked every year on the job. Is that a necessity?
The Lara Logan story was shocking enough that this conversation is inevitable. First, we'll hear the questions of blame: Did CBS do enough to protect her? Did she do enough to protect herself? Who was responsible for her safety? Who's the culprit?
Reporting, in certain situations—wars, revolutions, assorted uprisings of all types—is an inherently dangerous business. To the extent that we mitigate that danger, we often mitigate the value of the reporting, as well. Embedding journalists with a battalion of Marines is safer for the journalists themselves than roaming free; it also severely limits the scope of their reporting, and tends to encourage a sort of Stockholm Syndrome that's not conducive to free and independent journalism. Likewise, covering a revolution from a hotel balcony, or covering the Iraq War exclusively from inside the Green Zone, means being willing to leave unknown such a large part of the story that your entire justification for being there is thrown into question.
So, intrepid reporters go out in the streets to cover the story, as they should. And it's dangerous out there. And sometimes reporters get hurt. Would a ring of bodyguards help? Maybe. But the more conspicuous they were the more they'd interfere with the reporting, and the less conspicuous they were the less effective they'd be. Besides that, maximizing safety would seem to involve just doing things that all competent media outlets already do: hiring good local fixers, listening to security consultants, etc.
So what's the bright idea that will keep a Lara Logan incident from happening again? It doesn't exist. We have no magic solution. All we have are a series of choices, trade-offs between safety and freedom of movement, between protecting the reporter and letting the reporter do his or her job to the fullest. Do we want to stop sending female reporters on dangerous assignments? No. Do we want to surround female reporters with ostentatious brigades of bodyguards? No.
News organizations do take the safety of their reporters seriously. The only ones to "blame" in the Lara Logan incident are the people who committed the crime. Reporters will keep reporting, and, sometimes, being attacked, or hurt, or even killed. I don't know what else to do, except for everyone to do their best. Do you?
[Photo: AP]


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The show: "These Paper Bullets!", a Yale Repertory Theatre production at the University Theatre in New Haven.
What makes it special?: World premiere of Rolin Jones' "modish rip-off of William Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing,' " with new songs by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong.
First impressions?: Taking the Bard's romantic comedy and setting it in London in the '60s and centering on a wildly popular rock band (think Beatles) may sound like an audacious idea and, well, it is. But it somehow, improbably, delightfully works in what is the most playful, exuberant show of the season.
Rolin Jones' witty, puckish mash-up of a script, Jackson Gay's giddy direction, Armstrong's terrific musical homage (and where do I get the record?), and the ever-buoyant cast of mods and rockers —- and did I mention the nifty costumes, sets, arrangements and a guest appearance by the Queen of England? It all adds up to the most fun I've had at the theater since —- the night, before when I reviewed another show brimming with sass and joy, "The Book of Mormon" at the Bushnell. What a way to welcome in spring.
Sounds like you liked it: I loved it.
What's the story?: A hot rocking band of cheeky Liverpool lads returns to London triumphantly after conquering America on tour. One of the bandmates, Claude (Bryan Fenkart) falls for a Twiggy-like fashion mode named Higgy (Ariana Venturi), while another bandmate Ben (David Wilson Barnes) who has "a merry war" with Mary Quant-like fashion designer named Bea (Jeanine Serralles).
A Peter Best-type musician named Don Best (Adam O'Byrne), who was dropped from the band before it hit big, seeks revenge by creating a phony photo of Higgy with another man before her wedding to Claude. The wedding is a p.r. disaster, Higgy is heartbroken, her father Leo (Stephen DeRosa) is disgraced and the group splits up, but a group of Scotland Yard cops, led by an ass of a detective named Berry (Greg Stuhr) saves the day and all's well that ends well as the band —- hell, everyone —- ends up the roof of the swank hotel getting their grove on.
But that's from the Beatles "Let It Be" period?: No matter. It's a smart and silly mash-up, mate, and that's where the fun comes from.
Sounds awfully complicated: It all comes together quite fluidly during the 2:45 running time, propelled at "A Hard Day's Night" pace, wonderful bits of comedy and all those Armstrong pastiche-plus tunes: some jangly, infectious pop songs ("Give It All to You,", "It Keeps Me Satisfied," among others) a woozy ballad ("Baby Blue") and one killer number ("Regretfully Yours") that combines the best of two rock worlds.
Does it match up with "Much Ado?": Remarkably well. And in more than one case (sorry, Will), improved. There are some combined characters, fanciful diversions, a more credible motivation of one character and a dropped plot resolution in favor of something that is much cooler.
And the cast?: Splendid, each with his or her own style and quirks, yet all fitting beautifully together. Barnes is delightfully striking in his low-key persona, so perfect for the above-it-all Ben; Serralles is sharp and commanding as Bea (and her eavesdropping scene is a hoot); Venturi is also a riot as the 'luded up, not-always-articulate bride, as is Fenkart's charming Claude who also nails the big 11 o'clock song. I loved Lucas Papaelias' deadpan Balth as much as I did Keira Naughton's hysterically funny, strung-out Ulcie.
Greg Stuhr's idiot detective is great fun as is Andrew Musselman's Boris and James Barry's Pedro. Quick shout-outs to Anthony Manna, Ceci Fernandez, Brian McManamon, Brad Heberlee, James Lloyd Reynolds, Liz Wisan, Jabari Brisport and especially Christopher Geary, who is the last word of a queen. Literally.
Production values?: The Rep, thanks to special funding, pulls out all the stops and, boy does it show. Michael Yeargan's set captures the slick, sleek spirit of the times and navigates the action well —- and when it doesn't allow for an amusing vaudeville turn by a thoroughly engaging DeRosa. Jessica Ford's costumes are absolutely fabulous and makes you long for the days when fashion was so much colorful and fun.
Who will like?: Fans of the Bard, the Beatles, Billie Joe Armstrong, Monty Python, John Cleese, Ab-Fab, James Bond, and the Ealing Studios.
Who won't?: Some Bard purists, but c'mon, loosen up, it's the '60s.
For the kids?: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Twitter review in 140 character or less: Fab fashion, music and words combine in happy mix that celebrates Shakespeare, Beatles and young crazy love.
Thoughts on leaving the parking lot?: I wouldn't be surprised to see the show moving on to bigger stages. Why should New Haven have all the fun?
The basics: The show runs through April 5 at the University Theatre at 222 York St., New Haven. The running time is two hours and 45 minutes, including one intermission. Tickets are $57 to $98. Information at 203-432-1234 and www.yalerep.org.


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SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AT MILE HIGH — Next week's game against Oakland looks a little more interesting, doesn't it?
The Raiders beat the Steelers on the last-second field goal, giving Dennis Allen his first win as a head coach. The Raiders and Broncos are now tied at 1-2, and both have a win against Pittsburgh.
Kansas City also got its first win today (in New Orleans) to join that three-way tie for second in the division.
The Chargers lost at home to Atlanta to fall to 2-1 on the season, yet still maintain first-place in the division.


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Your body could soon be the backbone of a broadband personal data network linking your mobile phone or MP3 player to a cordless headset, your digital camera to a PC or printer, and all the gadgets you carry around to each other.
These personal area networks are already possible using radio-based technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or just plain old cables to connect devices. But NTT, the Japanese communications company, has developed a technology called RedTacton, which it claims can send data over the surface of the skin at speeds of up to 2Mbps -- equivalent to a fast broadband data connection.
Using RedTacton-enabled devices, music from an MP3 player in your pocket would pass through your clothing and shoot over your body to headphones in your ears. Instead of fiddling around with a cable to connect your digital camera to your computer, you could transfer pictures just by touching the PC while the camera is around your neck. And since data can pass from one body to another, you could also exchange electronic business cards by shaking hands, trade music files by dancing cheek to cheek, or swap phone numbers just by kissing.
NTT is not the first company to use the human body as a conduit for data: IBM pioneered the field in 1996 with a system that could transfer small amounts of data at very low speeds, and last June, Microsoft was granted a patent for "a method and apparatus for transmitting power and data using the human body."
But RedTacton is arguably the first practical system because, unlike IBM's or Microsoft's, it doesn't need transmitters to be in direct contact with the skin -- they can be built into gadgets, carried in pockets or bags, and will work within about 20cm of your body. RedTacton doesn't introduce an electric current into the body -- instead, it makes use of the minute electric field that occurs naturally on the surface of every human body. A transmitter attached to a device, such as an MP3 player, uses this field to send data by modulating the field minutely in the same way that a radio carrier wave is modulated to carry information.
Receiving data is more complicated because the strength of the electric field involved is so low. RedTacton gets around this using a technique called electric field photonics: A laser is passed though an electro-optic crystal, which deflects light differently according to the strength of the field across it. These deflections are measured and converted back into electrical signals to retrieve the transmitted data.
An obvious question, however, is why anyone would bother networking though their body when proven radio-based personal area networking technologies, such as Bluetooth, already exist? Tom Zimmerman, the inventor of the original IBM system, says body-based networking is more secure than broadcast systems, such as Bluetooth, which have a range of about 10m.
"With Bluetooth, it is difficult to rein in the signal and restrict it to the device you are trying to connect to," says Zimmerman. "You usually want to communicate with one particular thing, but in a busy place there could be hundreds of Bluetooth devices within range."
As human beings are ineffective aerials, it is very hard to pick up stray electronic signals radiating from the body, he says. "This is good for security because even if you encrypt data it is still possible that it could be decoded, but if you can't pick it up it can't be cracked."


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Smithsonian parallels Emancipation, Civil Rights
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington for Civil Rights were 100 years apart, but both changed the nation and expanded freedoms.
Beginning Friday, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is presenting a walk back in time through two eras. A new exhibit, "Changing America," parallels the 1863 emancipation of slaves with the 1963 March on Washington.
An inkwell Lincoln used to draft what would become the Emancipation Proclamation is on display on one side of the timeline, while the pen President Lyndon Johnson used to sign the Civil Rights Act is on the other.
A rare signed copy of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery — once owned by abolitionist House Speaker Schuyler Colfax, who helped push the resolution through Congress — is on loan from businessman David Rubenstein. It echoes the plotline of the current movie "Lincoln."
At times when some believed slavery would never end and later that segregation would never end, history shows that creative leadership can "find a way to perfect America," museum Director Lonnie Bunch said.
"It took courage, it took strategy, it took loss," he said. "But ultimately, it changed America for the better."
The exhibit is on view through September at the National Museum of American History while the black history museum is under construction.
The Smithsonian is publicly displaying several artifacts from slave life for the first time to set the scene for emancipation. They include the Bible that belonged to Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in Virginia, and a shawl given to abolitionist Harriet Tubman by Queen Victoria. Another section includes shackles used to chain children, a slave whip and buttons used to identify people as property.
A broadside advertising a slave sale announces that "plantation hands" would be auctioned in the rotunda of the St. Louis Hotel.
The museum also acquired a tent from a "contraband camp" or "freedmen's village" that sprung up to house slaves that had self-emancipated by crossing over Union lines.
"Slaves were not passive recipients of freedom," Bunch said. "In essence, their action of running away forced the federal government to create policies that culminated in the Emancipation Proclamation."
Facing the former slave's tent in the exhibit is Lincoln's everyday suit with a long black jacket, bow tie and his iconic top hat from the Smithsonian collection.
It is likely the first time Lincoln's suit has been next to an encampment that housed formerly enslaved people since 1865, said Harry Rubenstein, a curator of political history at the Smithsonian.
Displaying Lincoln's suit this way "tells a powerful story of him, in a sense, facing this encampment," Rubenstein said. Lincoln encountered such scenes every day in his final years, seeing encampments of freed slaves in Washington as he rode about town.
The Civil Rights section includes posters and placards carried in the March on Washington and shards of stained glass from the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., where four young black girls were killed in an explosion.
Bunch said he wanted to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1 and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington in August. He also wanted to reach the crowds attending President Barack Obama's inauguration in January. A passage from Obama's first inaugural speech is quoted in the exhibition opposite a quotation from abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
"I realized that the inauguration is a time when people begin to look back," Bunch said, "to understand who we once were as we also begin to look at who we might become."
article by Brett Zongker via thegrio.com


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Yesterday was a convergence of reality and random satellite radio surfing. As I contemplated that my first born is somehow forty years-old a song fired up from Kenny Chesney. In the lyric an interviewer asks a man celebrating his one hundred and second birthday about his secret to life. His response?
The lyrics go on to describe just how quickly this earthly journey goes by.
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed.
Wow. I am right there. I'm still a ways from the century mark though my shoulder feels that old this morning. It seems like just yesterday that I was playing sandlot baseball as a kid. Moments ago I was in high school being Attention Deficit before ADD was cool. Just yesterday I met the stunning Joni Banks and somehow conned her into dating me. Couldn't have been too long ago that I donned the hideous baby blue tux to wed my beloved. Wasn't it just weeks ago that three adorable baby boys came into our lives? How is it possible that I am now directing the baseball exploits of athletes that were not even close to being born when I started this gig?
Don't blink.
Married almost 43 years. Six grandchildren. Are you kidding me?
I have had, if I may borrow the franchise of Frank Capra, a wonderful life. Through it all we feel blessed beyond comprehension. I believe that is because we have found our reason for being here. Pastor and author Rick Warren summed it up nicely in a recent interview.
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond, In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body – but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillion of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act, the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life: The goal is to grow in character, In Christ-likeness.
If this is the warm-up act for my eternity gig on the main stage then all of this is merely preparation. Football players hate the two-a-day practices in the brutal heat. But they love the exhilaration of victory that the difficult preparation allows for later in the season. Sometimes the two-a-days of life seem cruel and without purpose. But my understanding of the God who made me and His purpose for me allows me to believe there is purpose and design. I don't always see it. I love being happy and carefree. But if my purpose is preparation for my real gig then I had better be a little more interested in living out of my new identity and trusting God for maturing me in Christ-likeness. Paul wrote this in the book of Colossians.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Col 3, NLT)
The song continues…
I was glued to my TV when it looked like he looked at me and said
"Best start putting first things first."
Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth
The songwriter is correct. We have a pre-determined number of grains in the hourglass so I choose today to live in the moment in grace and freedom. Every breath is a gift even on the toughest days. Enjoy today. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised.
In no time at all on the eternity clock I will be with my Lord and Savior. I will be home. For my fellow sojourners I pray that you will trust that truth. You may face storms and deep valleys along the way. The secret to life? Trust a God who is trustworthy. And one more thing.
Don't blink.


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One of the many items that I've acquired through my university bookstore is this, the Alvin Draft-Tec Retrac. Many drafting pencils follow a similar formula: small emergency eraser with cap, metal clip, and a long lead sleeve. So, what sets this one apart, if anything?
First, the grip is comprised of rubber and is a tiny square pattern. I found this to allow for excellent control and security. The lead sleeve itself is pretty standard, at least for a drafting pencil. It is longer than you see in many regular mechanical pencils, but it does move around a bit, and you will see why shortly.
The clip and emergency eraser are standard - they both work well, but I always use a separate eraser anyway. The cap itself is fairly long, which is helpful for removing it to use the eraser. No real excitement here, but I am pleased either way.
Okay, so here is where things become a bit different. You may have noticed that this is called the Draft-Tec Retrac, and, as such, it is a retractable drafting pencil.
Here is a front view of the pencil retracted - the lead sleeve just hides in there: no bending the lead sleeve and no unwanted stabbing while the pencil is in your pocket.
The retractable sleeve is extended by one firm push of the mechanism (much like any retractable pen), and then you just make smaller, less forceful clicks to extend the lead. To retract the sleeve, you just make another "big" click (however one describes this), and voila!
Overall, this is a very good drafting pencil, and I believe it was ~$6.00-$7.00 U.S. One thing that I don't like is that pocket lint can get in the pencil if you have it in your pocket, so I think it would be smart to keep this in your travel case or to at least be aware that stuff could get in there.
My other qualm is that the retractability of the pencil causes the lead sleeve to wobble or move a bit as you write. It is very minor, but it is still noticeable, especially if you are expecting a very solid feel in the writing performance.
For the money, this is definitely worth trying. Though I may have a few quibbles on the design, I can easily get over it. I will probably try to get this in a .9, too.
Has anyone else tried these? Let me know!


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IT security professionals still fear their own organisation's staff the most when it comes to data breaches.
At last month's Infosecurity show in London 300 attendees were polled about their data breach fears, and 71 percent said their own staff posed the biggest threat to their data.
This far outweighed that of hackers (28 percent), consultants and other third parties (seven percent), and just five percent cited domestic or foreign government agencies.
When it came to government snooping the Chinese government was the most feared, with the US and Russian governments well behind, and UK government slightly behind those two.
When looking at ways to improve security, 83 percent believed the open source community could collaborate better.
Barmak Meftah, CEO of open source data protection systems firm AlienVault, which did the survey, said: "We recognise that the way to beat the hackers is to facilitate collaboration among all members of the security community.
"But the talents and inputs of the open source community in particular are critical. They are on the front line of innovation and represent an incredibly diverse universe of organisations and geographies."
The UK needs more young people entering the IT security profession if it is to avoid a skills shortage in the near future, according to the government's special representative to business for cyber security.
"There are far too many people over 40 working in this area and not nearly enough in their twenties," Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones told delegates at the ITEC conference in London last week.
In response, one ComputerworldUK reader said: "Sorry Baroness Neville-Jones (72) it's time for you to be replaced because there are 'not nearly enough in their twenties' on the UK's Joint Intelligence Committee."
Join the newsletter!
Follow our new social and we'll keep you in the loop for exclusive events and all things security!
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Music Lessons Near Baileys Harbor, WI
Music Lessons Near Baileys Harbor, WI
Music & Concert Photos
Tips & Ideas
1.KEEP IT FUN Always try to keep it fun. Music is a wonderful activity. Try to avoid any negative feelings on what the young pianist is working on as this will directly effect his/her progress and in... Read More
Allow yourself enough time before your "entrance" to check your grooming: HAIR should look like you've combed it, not like you just tumbled out of bed What you WEAR should be appropriate to... Read More
Start by identifying which of these subjects interests you. Look online for software that is compatible with your computer (Mac or PC). Most software tools have a free version that you can try out... Read More
Being a Jazz improviser I use an improvised approach to warming up. Set a metronome to a moderate pace. Begin improvising quarter notes. Focus on even notes and control the volume. Stay as relaxed... Read More
"You know what I like about your opera?" a stage hand at McCaw Hall said to me when I was introduced to the crew during Amelia's first authorial walkabout there in 2010. Shaking his hand, I was... Read More
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on... Read More
"Should I sing in the next voice recital?" I often get asked. The answer is a resounding' "Yes!" Why Sing for my Voice Studio's Recital? There are many benefits! - An Opportunity to Share... Read More
What's the difference between Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic? Not much, as it turns out: Scottish Gaelic is basically just an older, more conservative form of Irish Gaelic. The Scots or... Read More


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Monday, September 13, 2010
Moroccan style summer squash stew
Today I stacked 2 cords of firewood in our wood shed, when I got in the house I was SO not excited to cook. My back killed and my legs ached. I still had to feed the herd...I whipped this up and I was very pleased :)
A cinnamon stick gives just the right amount of warmth. I used dried lentils but it could be changed up to chickpeas ( I didn't have any soaked).
2 tbsp olive oil
1 leek-white part- sliced
1 celery stalk- small diced
1 acorn squash- peeled and chopped
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leafs
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4 cups water
1 yellow zucchini- chopped
1 cup baby carrots- or any type
2 tomatoes- chopped
3/4 cup dried lentils
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp red wine vinegar
1 pinch sugar
sea salt
freshly ground pepper
fresh chopped parsley (for garnish)
In a large pot heat oil add leek, saute until soft. Add celery and squash. Add spices and herbs. Stir until absorbed. Add water and the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 1 hour.
Season with sea salt and pepper.
3 comments:
I can't wait to make this! Looks fantastic. Thanks Kirsten!ReplyDelete
I just made it subbing lentils for cooked chickpeas and leek for onion with an addition of 4-5 small red potatoes and it tasted absolutely incredible. It has already made its way into my recipe book! xxxReplyDelete
Yum! What a great time of year to be cooking squash! Have you ever tried butternut squash risotto? It's my fave!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Music is Life Tee
The most memorable moment of TJ Grinder's career so far has been being able to express himself through producing music for others.TJ is always pleased when someone lets him know they like one of his tracks. For feedback readers can contact TJ via email or posting on one of his social media pages. For permission to air, or play his music contact dBHeard Publishing Group Llc or Not Only Street Records.
Currently, TJ is working on producing mixtapes and collaborating with recording artist to produce. The first music video TJ saw was of Ice Cube back in the mid-90's but also inspired by Young Jeezy since 2006.
TJ first purchased a DAW in 2011 but didn't start producing till about 2016. His families are very close and are a good source of support in most areas of my life.
What makes him different than other producers is the fact that TJ is constantly trying to improve himself to be able to express himself through his music. Whether by listening to his favorite music, or trying to come up with a new track by remaining focused and plan on continuing his progress.
TJ enjoys working with underground artists because he feels like it would allow more opportunity to expand creative talents and grow.
"dBHeard Music Business Network" NOS offers everything an artist needs 'under one roof.
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Get promoted to websites social media, blogs, magazines, press releases and so much more!
Everything in the agreement will still be intact and effective during its whole duration which is two years.
We are focused on musicians and upcoming musical artists who want to make a career for themselves in the entertainment industry, but who are frustrated they lack the contacts within that industry to enable them to break in.
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We pay all our affiliates once every 14 days. This is to make sure the affiliates don't wait for weeks for their hard earned money.
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All payments will be sent automatically through Paypal. You can link your paypal account through your affiliate dashboard.
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Gender: Men
Item Type: Tops
Tops Type: Tees
Collar: O-Neck
Sleeve Style: Regular
Hooded: No
Material: Cotton
Brand Name: WINOYUHOR
Sleeve Length(cm): Short
Fabric Type: Knitted
Pattern Type: Print
Style: Casual


text:
alikamran wrote:how to save image and user id etc in oracle database any help
We have received your e-mail as well.
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Our other products can be used with external databases. Verifinger SDK 30-days trial can be downloaded from our web-site: http://neurotechnology.com/download.htm ... _sdk_trial


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ann peeples Gosh, would love that meet-up! Say hi to Sandra for me, WJ!
karilyn Hello tiki ! I agree with WJ, why don't you suggest places since you're only here for this month. I'm so excited to have a new face join us! I live and work very close to Millis and Medfield so if transportation is an issue, I might be able to assist. Looking forward to meeting you!
karilyn Heather and I are starting the adventure at the BEEF BARN,


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I love a shimmery and glittery polish – why? Because any idiot can apply a glitter polish and make it look good, present company included.
Having said that I despise removing them -urgh. But I love the effect. I either don't wear a polish or wear something quite striking, nothing inbetween.
When I spotted these Tony Moly Galaxy polishes back in June (I know, I'm so behind) I had to buy all of them! Tony Moly have a really impressive range of polishes (besides the Galaxy ones).
I like the packaging on these – they're sort of stumpy fat nail polishes. The nail polish is really glittery – like REALLY glittery. Hence Galaxy. Everyone knows the Galaxy is sparkly.
Today I am swatching the first shade, GT01 which to me has a black base with tons of micro sparkles.
There are tons of micro sparkles in this and they are completely multi coloured. It could almost be…too much.
This reminds me of a Anna Sui lipstick which is clear with tons of sparkles in it. It's complete rubbish of course.
Here is the polish – you can see it looks quite pigmented and it isn't thin at all (there isn't a smattering of glitter, it is densely packed with sparklers).
This is with 2 coats applied – you an see how well it covers the nail and the glitter is supper shiny. When it dries it feels somewhat rough because there is so much glitter in it:
Is it a pain to remove. YES!
Although the base is black you can see the tons of gold, red, blue glitters. For me the red and blue really stand out and almost clash a little. I like this one!
So that's GT01 a mish mash of mad sparkle.
What do you think of this shade?


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|October 2nd, 2008
Topic: Troubles In Port, At Sea Weigh Down Navy Ship
October 1, 2008
Pg. 1
By Steve Liewer, Staff Writer
The crew of the New Orleans could find plenty of reasons to sing the blues.
The Navy amphibious assault ship was battered by Hurricane Katrina while being built in its namesake city. It arrived at its home port of San Diego 16 months ago two years behind schedule, 90 percent over budget and needing 400,000 hours' worth of construction work.
In mid-August, the New Orleans stumbled in a major test at sea.
A report from the Navy's Bureau of Inspection and Survey described 2,600 problems, including ongoing deficiencies with the steering system and an unreliable propulsion system.
USS New Orleans was degraded in her ability to conduct sustained combat operations, the report said. The ship cannot support embarked troops, cargo or landing craft.
Navy officials said most of the problems have been fixed. They expect the ship to embark on its first deployment early next year.
The New Orleans is the second vessel in the LPD-17 class of high-tech amphibious assault ships, which ferry Marines and their equipment to and from war zones. The lead vessel, the San Antonio, took 10 years to deliver and saw its cost double from $750 million to $1.5 billion.
These ordeals make the LPD-17 series one of the most troubled shipbuilding programs ever, some Navy analysts said. It also is the latest in a line of military weapons programs especially those for the Navy and Air Force that have suffered from poor quality, extensive delays and galloping cost overruns.
Last year, the Navy scrubbed two of four San Diego-bound prototypes for its new Littoral Combat Ship because costs had more than doubled. Congress and the Pentagon also have slashed production of the new DDG-1000 destroyer from 32 ships to three, and they have trimmed purchases of the Air Force's F-22 fighter by two-thirds, according to the Congressional Research Service.
We are now getting fewer ships and aircraft for more money, and they're not working, said Winslow Wheeler, a senior analyst at the Center for Defense Information in Washington, D.C., a think tank frequently critical of Pentagon spending. The Navy and the Air Force have made laughingstocks out of themselves.
In the New Orleans report, inspectors also noted broken ventilation fans, inoperable elevators and corrosion on the flight deck. The galley had to be shut down until firefighting equipment there could be fixed.
It has a lot of problems that are surprising for a ship that's been in the fleet for about a year and a half, said Jan van Tol, retired commander of a Navy amphibious assault ship and a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington.
On an inspection trial like this, you would hope that most of the major systems would be operating, van Tol added.
But the New Orleans' top officers are upbeat.
Eighty-five percent of the deficiencies listed in the recent report were minor issues such as oversprayed paint or inoperative lights, according to a statement from the Naval Sea Systems command.
Cmdr. Scott Davies, who took over in June as the New Orleans' skipper, said his ship, crew and hundreds of Marines will go to sea for a training exercise this month. He also said he's eager to join the Boxer amphibious strike group for the New Orleans'maiden combat mission.
I'm confident the ship is safe to deploy, Davies said in a recent interview aboard the ship.
Navy officials express continuing confidence in the LPD-17 class. They are working closely with Northrop Grumman to incorporate lessons learned from the lead ship, Katie Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Naval Sea Systems Command, said in a statement.
Military analysts said the Navy blew it by accepting the San Antonio and the New Orleans from Northrop Grumman even though the ships weren't fully built. The San Antonio was 92 percent complete, and the New Orleans was 97 percent complete.
The San Antonio was delivered in shockingly bad condition, said Bob Work, a senior analyst with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
They shouldn't take a ship unless it's ready to go in a month or two, said Norman Polmar, an independent naval analyst based in Alexandria, Va. In my opinion, this borders on the criminal.
Naval officials accepted the vessels because of the need to get them into the fleet quickly to replace retiring amphibious assault ships, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Those officials also said the Navy's own repair yards could finish the ships more quickly and cheaply than Northrop Grumman.
Hurricane Katrina ravaged the company's shipyards in New Orleans and Pascagoula, Miss., in September 2005, causing an exodus of many of its best laborers.
It pushed away a lot of the work force, Work said. Anytime the percentage of (inexperienced) workers gets really high, you're going to have quality-control problems.
Some observers also said the Navy tried to pack too much technology into the LPD-17 vessels.
For decades, the Navy built amphibious assault ships with few weapons systems and plain-vanilla radar and communications equipment. Escort ships provide the firepower to keep amphibs from harm.
Not so for the LPD-17 ships.
They feature sophisticated computer networks instead of the array of gauges once found on the bridge of a naval vessel. The improvement gives skippers unprecedented command and control of all ship systems.
The San Antonio, the New Orleans and their sister ships also have long-range radar coupled with a high-tech missile system. They can travel about twice as far as older ships without refueling, said Lt. Cmdr. Darren McClurg, the New Orleans' executive officer.
And LPD-17 vessels offer creature comforts such as extra-wide passageways and sit-up bunks with pull-out trays so sailors and Marines can use laptops while in their beds.
The features that make skippers and sailors smile also make the ships immensely more complicated to build. Production costs have ballooned from a budgeted $750 million to $1.6 billion, Polmar said.
We do need amphibious lift capability, he said, but not at $1.6 billion apiece, and not one that can't sail for 2½ years.
The Navy has taken delivery of two more LPD-17s: the Mesa Verde and the Green Bay. The next deliveries include the New York, built with 24 tons of steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center and scheduled to be commissioned Sept. 11, 2009, and the San Diego in 2010.
Navy officials said the newest ships have far fewer bugs than the San Antonio and the New Orleans.
The LPD-17 class continues to improve and mature as lessons learned on early ships are rolled into (later) ships, said Roberts, the Navy spokeswoman.
Despite the early problems, the naval analyst Work also thinks the new amphibious assault ships eventually will prove worthwhile. He expects to see the LPD-17 hull adapted for other Navy uses, such as hospital or fleet command ships.
The Navy is going to be glad (the amphibious assault ships) are overdesigned, Work said. Once they get out into the fleet, they're going to be a huge hit.