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MODELING HUMAN REACHING AND GRASPING: CORTEX, REHABILITATION AND LATERALIZATION by Cheol Han ________________________________________________________________________ A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (COMPUTER SCIENCE) December 2009 Copyright 2009 Cheol Han
Object Description
|Modeling human reaching and grasping: cortex, rehabilitation and lateralization
|Han, Cheol
|Author email
|firstname.lastname@example.com; firstname.lastname@example.com
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|Computer Science
|Viterbi School of Engineering
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Restricted until
|Restricted until 11 Mar. 2010.
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Arbib, Michael A.
|Advisor (committee member)
Schweighofer, Nicolas
Schaal, Stefan
Gordon, James
|Reach-to-grasp action is a principal action in our daily lives; writing, eating, and using tools, first of all, start with a reach-to-grasp. Despite abundant experiments and models, underlying mechanism of reach-to-grasp action is still unclear. This study proposed three different models to identifying underlying mechanisms of reach-to-grasp in terms of how action selection facilitates skill learning, how an action is planned, and how a plan is executed.; The first model studied nonlinear interaction between action selection and motor execution. Constraint-induced therapy reverses unilateral effects of stroke in terms of arm use and motor function. If daily uses may form training, motor function may be regained without further expensive therapy (Winstein et al., 2004). Using a computational model, I showed that if affected arm use exceeds a threshold after a certain amount of therapy, effects of stroke may be reversed through daily activities.; The second model is about variability in reach-to-grasp coordination. Contrasting that previous models capture a typical behavior, a new experimental data (Tretriluxana et al.), which researched right-handers' reach-to-grasp directly or detouring to avoid an obstacle, showed that healthy adults do not exhibit this typical reach-to-grasp coordination. I quantized the data and showed existence of distinct coordination patterns. Then extending Hoff-Arbib model (Hoff & Arbib, 1993), I reproduced those different patterns.; The third one hypothesized the role of the motor cortex with its high level coding and low level coding in reaching. Despite abundance of experimental results on the motor cortex, underlying motor control mechanism with a map representation is still in debate, whether the motor cortex encodes reaching movements as movement directions or muscle synergies. Considering that motor control procedure may include coordinates transformation, I hypothesized that the motor cortex contains both coding, where muscle synergies are primary. A biologically plausible cortical model, first, learned a motor output map (projection from the motor cortex to the spinal cord), encoding muscle synergies, and learned a motor input map (projection from supra-motor cortices to the motor cortex) which activates the motor cortex appropriately, aligning a given movement direction to a muscle synergy direction. I called this structure `dual map'.
|individualization; motor control; motor cortex; neuronal coding; rehabilitation; stroke
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
|Publisher (of the digital version)
|University of Southern California. Libraries
|Electronically uploaded by the author
|Legacy record ID
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Han, Cheol
|Repository name
|Libraries, University of Southern California
|Repository address
|Los Angeles, California
|Repository email
|Archival file
|Page 1
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Repository email
|Full text
|MODELING HUMAN REACHING AND GRASPING: CORTEX, REHABILITATION AND LATERALIZATION by Cheol Han ________________________________________________________________________ A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (COMPUTER SCIENCE) December 2009 Copyright 2009 Cheol Han


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Celebrate the season with Dean Walters, Law'89, and catch-up with colleagues, fellow alumni, and friends for an evening not to be missed!
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At the February USDA Outlook Forum, the USDA released the first 2014/15 marketing-year supply and demand projections for wheat, corn, and soybeans. These projections are not "official" in that they were generated by a computer model rather than with survey data. Official estimates will be released in the May 9, 2014 WASDE report.
These projections should be taken with a "grain of salt." However, these projections will set the benchmarks for market analysts to project 2014/15 marketing year prices.
The 2014/15 U.S. wheat ending stocks (stocks on January 31, 2015) were estimated to be 587 million bushels compared to the current estimated 2013/14 wheat ending stocks of 558 million bushels. The five-year average ending stocks (2009/10 – 2013/14) is 771 million bushels.
USDA's projected 2014/15 marketing-year average wheat price is $5.30, compared to an estimated 2013/14 marketing-year average price of $6.80. The five-year average price of U.S. wheat is $6.48. With below-average stocks, it is hard to understand USDA's $5.30 marketing-year average price. The $5.30 price is $1.18 below the five-year average with projected below average stocks.
For more information on grain and other markets, please check out Southwest Farm Press Daily and receive the latest news right to your inbox.
Also note that $5.30 is the average annual 2014/15 price. This price implies that during the 2014/15 wheat marketing-year, wheat prices will be above $5.30 and below $5.30. My best guess is for wheat prices to peak in the July/August time period and decline into the fall.
Planted wheat acres were estimated to be 55.5 million acres compared to 56.2 million last year and a five-year average of 55.8 million acres. Harvested acres are projected to be 85 percent of the planted acres (47.2 million) compared to 45.2 million acres harvested last year.
The average wheat yield is projected to be 45.8 bushels per acre compared to 47.2 bushels last year and a five-year average of 46.9 bushels per acre.
High cotton quality supporting cotton.
USDA's wheat supply and demand estimates appear reasonable except for the $5.30 marketing-year average price. Given that the five-year average price is $6.48 and ending stocks are projected to be below average, the price projection doesn't match economic theory. Below- average supply with average demand implies above-average prices.
For the 2013/14 wheat marketing year, wheat ending stocks are projected to be 558 million bushels compared to the five-year average of 771 million bushels. The 2014/15 marketing-year average price is projected to be $6.80 compared to a five-year average of $6.48.
The argument could be made that 2014/15 world wheat production and world wheat stocks will be above average, which will result in below-average world wheat prices. If this situation becomes the case, export demand for U.S. wheat would be less than USDA's projected 1.05 billion bushels, and U.S. wheat ending stocks would be greater than USDA's 587 million bushels projections. The result would be lower U.S. wheat prices.
Lower wheat prices may be caused by increased corn stocks and lower corn prices. USDA projects corn's 2014/15 marketing-year production to be 13.985 billion bushels compared to 13.925 in 2013. The 2014/15 corn ending stocks are projected to be 2.111 billion bushels compared to 1.481 billion bushel in 2013/14.
The 2014/15 marketing-year average corn price is projected to be $3.90 compared to $4.50 in 2013/14 and $6.89 in 2012/13. Corn prices do match ending stocks: 2012/13 – 821 million bushels and $6.89; 2013/14 – 1.481 billion bushels and $4.50; 2014/15 – 2.111 billion bushels and $3.90.
The hypothesis could be that lower corn prices would result in less wheat used for feed. But, the USDA lowered wheat for feed and residual 388 million bushels in 2012/13; 250 million bushels in 2013/14; and 190 million bushels in 2014/15.
From a management planning view, realize that USDA's price projection could be correct. If this is the case, a prudent marketing plan may be to sell more wheat than normal at harvest.
More on Southwest crops:
Increasing wheat yield requires genetics, management


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When a salesman
approached and you had to say "just looking", or you could just look
at the Buying Guides and wish? Now... You haven´t seen any of
those "wish list" items since.... Elvis left the building! Way back
then, cost and production efficiency did not control the consumer hifi
market. Research and premium materials resulted in an aura of absolute
quality; It was what the market demanded!
You'll find
a great deal of information, as well as images for Marantz Receivers,
Tuners, Amplifiers, Preamplifiers, Consoles, Integrated Amplifiers,
Turntables and Tape Decks. We also have a complete
NEW! Audio
Classifieds section, and various other pages that are of
interest to any Marantz Classics fan. Please surf around the site and
check everything out, particularly the FAQ
and the Tips
and Tricks pages, which contain all kinds of little nuggets of information.
Through these
pages, you'll be able to browse through a veritable gold mine of specifications,
images and much more. There are many excellent and still playable pieces
yet to be discovered. Hifi is meant to be fun, it should enrich live´s
beautiful moments by a further dimension. So why not start "playing"
If you have any additional
knowledge of any kind about any of the units mentioned here (or
not mentioned here!), I would very much appreciate it if you would EMAIL
that information to me so I can improve the pages for the benefit of
all Marantz Classics fans.


text:
2012 Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio ends with enthusiastic spectators and participants
The 2012 Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio was welcomed enthusiastically in Palermo, where the event came to an end with a parade on Viale della Libertà last night. The participants, clients of the Prancig Horse from all over the world, were thrilled by the event over three days, crossing some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, discovering ancient culture along the way of the over 900 km in Sicily.
The regularity race of the 2012 Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio was won by the 512 TR (1992) with Verghini-Fuso, ahead of the Scuderia Spider 16M (2009) with Zobele/Trentinaglia Zobele and the 328 GTS (1986) with Mehl/Mehl.


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George E. Pataki, New York State Urban Development
Corporation, Bruce C. Ratner,
James P. Stuckey, Forest City Enterprises, Inc., Forest City Ratner Company,
Ratner Group, Inc., BR FCRC, LLC, BR Land, LLC, FCR Land, LLC, Brooklyn
Arena, LLC, Atlantic Yards Development Company, LLC, Michael Bloomberg,
Daniel Doctoroff, Andrew M.Alper, Joshua Sirefman, City of New York and
New York City Economic Development Corporation.
Judge Robert M. Levy's Report & Recommendation to presiding Judge
Nicholas Garaufis
Friday, March 30, 2007. 11 AM
Hearing on Magistrate Levy's Report
& Recommendation
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
225 Cadman Plaza East. Room 4D


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Recall 12V594000
The Hood May Open Unexpectedly While Driving
Recall Details
The front hood is secured by two latches, the primary and secondary latch. The secondary latch prevents the hood from opening when the primary latch has been activated. These vehicles are being recalled because some may have been assembled without a secondary hood latch. With this latch missing, if the primary latch is not properly engaged the hood could open unexpectedly while driving. This could obstruct the view of the driver, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the hood on the affected vehicles to correct this concern.
Our Quick Take
The hood may open unexpectedly while driving due to a missing secondary hood latch.
What Should You Do?
General Motors will notify owners of affected vehicles beginning January 17, 2013. There may be no symptoms related to this recall. If you see excessive movement of the hood while driving, you should pull over to a safe location and make sure the hood is secure before proceeding. If you don't receive notification and you feel you should have, please contact your dealer. It's helpful to have your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy when you call. The General Motors recall number is 12319.


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内嵌 Portlet
内嵌 Portlet
Boost is our online technical support service for students.
Staff and students can access technical assistance from Boost by logging in to boost.kristin.school.nz. Here they can then register an issue with the ICT Services team and access online resources in the FAQ section. Alternatively, students can email their issue or question directly to Boost.
Our ICT Services team provides support for our students and staff and general enquiries for parents. This can be anything from missing data, lost property, laptop repairs, security updates, installations or log-in issues - you name it, we deal with it, and are the one-stop shop for ICT enquiries.
Parents who require technical assistance should email ICT Services.
Operational Hours
Monday – Friday (during term), 8am - 4.30pm
Email Boost
09 415 9566 Ext 2414
Our ICT support team is located on the first floor of the Library Information Centre (LIC) building. Whilst on campus, students and staff can visit us throughout the day. Appointments are required during term breaks.


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- Andhra Sweets
- Assorted Sweets
- Badam Mithai
- Bal Mithai
- Barfi
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- Candy
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- Laddoo
- Low Sugar Mithai
- Mysore Pak
- Panjiri
- Patisa
- Pedha
- Petha
- Pinni
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- Rosogolla
- Sandesh
- Sohan Halwa
- Sohan Papdi
- Sutarfeni
- Rewari
- Load Less...
Food Type
Tangy Jars
Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Malai LaddooSet of 2 Packets(200 Gms each) |Rs. 209
Buy Sweets Online at Place of OriginRemember the sweets you savoured at every function you attended as a child, and then as an adult?.Sweets are a part of what makes an occasion happy. As we savour the sugar, it takes us to another world, where nothing can go wrong. Sweets give a flavour to every occasion and we even have certain kinds of sweets that are made for particular festivals. We, in India, take pride in the sweets we make as the history of this delicacy can be traced back to our country. We carry boxes of sweets along when we're visiting a dear one. We also give sweets as thank yous and the gesture is now common across the world.
It takes a lot to say no to a sugary delicacy from our favorite store across the street. The craving we feel for a mithai from our hometown is quite insatiable with any substitute. But, why worry when you can buy sweets online? Getting sweets online makes gift giving a breeze too.Better still, Place of Origin comes to your rescue with its range of delectables. We have sweets ranging from candied lemon and orange peels to bandar laddoos and date holiges. Our chitti khajas from Vishakhapatnam, panjiri laddoos from Punjab and kaju pootharekulus from Atreyapuram will make your mouth water. You even have the option of buying gift boxes full of sweets to send to your sister to let her know you miss her or getting a box of sugar free sweets for your sweet-toothed father for the festival. Get this gift boxes delivered home for the festival to help your mom out with preparations - our festival sweets are as delectable as any you've ever tasted. Online sweets shopping is made easier with our easy payment options. You can have them delivered to your doorstep, from the comfort of your couch, by making payments through Net Banking, Credit Cards or Debit Cards. Hasslefree payment is just another perk you get when you buy sweets online at Place of Origin.
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What's New
Fixes crash at levels 14 and 15.
Also, please try our Arcade Bowling game. Get the full version, which is currently free.
App Description
Help Slyde the Frog land safely on his lily pad and nab his dinner—or even his princess. You'll need to be quick! Those lily pads aren't always so easy to land on, especially when they come with spikes or venus flytraps. It's Flip the Frog "on steroids"!
From SKYWORKS®, creators of the best quality and most fun sports and arcade games on the iPhone/iPod touch, comes Slyde the Frog™, easily one of our most addicting games to date.
With a slide of your finger, send Slyde the Frog flying toward the lily pads and try to land on the flies. As the levels progress, you'll need to aim more and more precisely as the lily pads start moving faster and faster. Oh, and you'll also need to watch out for those spikes and hungry venus flytraps. Get your timing right!
Earn extra points by bouncing off walls or landing on the frog princess. Set your high score and battle your friends on Game Center. Instantly addicting, you'll constantly be challenged and every level presents different obstacles you'll have to flip over.
Flipping for more Slyde the Frog fun? Download the full version to get two new 15-level game packs.
Key Features:
- Awesome realistic physics
- Tons of challenging levels
- More level packs available for in-app purchase
- Global High Score Boards and Achievements with Game Center integration
- Use your Facebook login to share your score with friends
- Fun, zany sound effects
After playing Slyde the Frog, why not mix it up and try out ARCADE HOOPS BASKETBALL™, as well as other hit titles from Skyworks, including WORLD CUP TABLE TENNIS™ and ARCADE BOWLING™. Or, just search for "Skyworks" in the App Store search bar, find your favorite games, and have a BLAST!
If you're liking our games, show us some love on Twitter (@SkyworksGames) and Facebook (http://on.fb.me/skyworks)! Thanks, and get to playing!
App Changes
- July 17, 2011 Initial release
- August 11, 2011 New version 1.2
- October 05, 2011 New version 1.3
- September 11, 2012 New version 1.4


text:
It is a touring tyre that offers superior ride comfort and reduced tyre noise without compromising on the performance. Wide jagged central rib not only improves high speed handling but also helps in improved braking.
Ideal for- Highway drives
Key Features & Benefits
- Wide jagged central rib makes for high speed handling
- Innovative tread pattern makes for improved wet and dry braking
- Wide tread lugs make for a comfortable ride quality
- Extra supple sidewalls make for improved cornering capabilities
- Optimized tread pattern makes for a quiet ride quality
- Width185
185 is the width in millimetres of the tyres cross section.
- Aspect Ratio60
60 is the Aspect Ratio, it is the ratio of the sidewall height to the cross section width.
- ConstructionR
Radial construction. R stands for radial-ply construction.
- Rim15
15 inches, stands for the diameter of the wheel that the tyre is designed to fit.
- Load Rating84
84 (500 kg) is the load index i.e. the maximum weight each tyre can carry at full speed.
- Speed RatingT
T (190 kmph) is the speed rating i.e. the maximum speed for the tyre at full load.


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Bicycles and Bibles
It seemed to many gathered at Ford Arena on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, that Bicycles and Bibles, an annual event, might just have been a little extra special this year. For some reason the spirit of the crowd gathered inside the big arena seemed to radiate a need to be together, to be whole, to be happy, and to understand the wonder of being blessed during this Christmas Season. Kids often said, "Thank you," to passing strangers, and one could sense they meant it deeply. Young people were not concentrating on themselves but on others, and tireless volunteers worked through the entire day seeing that the event went off without a hitch. Hundreds of fire department and police personnel were on hand to make certain the event was safe and secure for every guest in attendance.
Reaud Family Foundation Executive Director Jon Reaud explained that what was seen on Saturday was only the culmination of an entire year's worth of hard work by many faithful community volunteers, public servants, business owners, church staff members, and those who simply wanted to be a part of something exciting, helpful, motivating and hopeful. Some had been working for three days and nights getting the more than 1,000 bicycles purchased from Academy Sports and Outdoors put together and on display side by side. Others had prepared food to tempt any palette and yet others were staffing the many tables and booths set up to distribute wonderful Christmas gifts to children who might not have had any otherwise.
Bicycles and Bibles is the brainchild of local attorney Wayne Reaud, who along with his brother, Jon, and other members of his family, set out to make this huge day of giving something every child who attended would always remember. Reaud shared that he well remembered the day he received his first bicycle and how proud he was of the new gift. He treasured it and he said that as he meditated on the goodness of the Lord to him and his family, the thought came to him to perhaps share bicycles with boys and girls all across the area. The plan was born and other additions were soon included. One of Dana Reaud's favorite gifts is that of a brand new children's Bible for each guest published by David C. Cook Publishing Company. Dana enjoyed handing each child a Bible, sharing briefly what it is and how it can help them in their young lives. She was often seen pointing to a particular verse or quoting a passage that had become important in her life.
Wayne Reaud often mentions his own mom, Gena Reaud, who he credits with helping to guide him and his brother in the ways of the Lord. "She helped teach us compassion for others," he said. "Her teaching set the foundation from which this program sprang." Wayne added, "I believe that if we can teach a child that the fundamentals needed for life are found in the Word of God, he or she can formulate a code to live by each and every day."
But this December day was about Christmas and fun, and it was filled with surprises and good gifts. Jon Reaud showed that every gift lining the huge display tables around the interior of Ford Arena in Beaumont was nothing less than first class. "There is nothing second class here today," he told the crowd to loud applause. "Everything you are receiving, you can be proud of, I promise." Not only did the kids each receive the new bike, the Bible, and wonderful food for the day, but they were also given basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, candy-filled stockings, a windbreaker suit, a new pair of Converse tennis shoes, a London Fog jacket, a sweat suit, bike helmet forsafety, hats, a beautiful teddy bear complete with a Bible verse, a new backpack for school, T-shirts, a hoodie, and several other gifts. Each guest left with a big bag filled to the top. Some had to have help getting the bag to their vehicles along with the shiny new bike.
Good friends join the Reauds in this venture every year, and many have been involved for several years. Tables were staffed by local attorneys and their families, business owners, pastors, staff members, police officers, firefighters, emergency service personnel, football players, and so many more. The entire Lamar University ladies basketball team and their coach were on hand to help. Members of several youth groups, including Legacy Christian Academy and Christian Fellowship Worship Center, the Singles Christian Connection, Cathedral in the Pines, the Apostolic Church of Beaumont, high school students and entire families of volunteers worked tirelessly to see that every guest felt special and loved.
Members of the staff of the Reaud, Morgan & Quinn Law Firm were on hand to help where needed. Some, such as longtime volunteers Glen and Teri Morgan, had their own booths for distribution, doling out Christmas cheer along with lovely gifts to each child.
Jon Reaud praised the Morgans for their dedication to the event, and also called attention to longtime volunteers in an unrelated Morgan family - Bob Morgan and his entire clan were handing out gifts, helping to deliver bikes to waiting cars and trucks, and serving food.
"We couldn't do this event without people like Bob Morgan who are willing to give so much," Jon Reaud said.
More than 450 volunteers serve annually. The largest group ever assembled made this 14th year of Bicycles and Bibles a resounding success.
Clowns "Happy" and "Cutie Pie" were on hand delighting children with their balloon tricks and stopping to pose for photographs. "Happy," who hails from China, has been making children and adults laugh for some 19 years, and she said she wouldn't miss this event for anything in the world. "It is just a wonderful day for everyone," she said, smiling brightly through her colorful makeup. "I love what I do, and I will keep on doing it for as long as I can."
The entire John Werner family was busy handing out soccer balls, and if you happened to catch the local attorney taking a short break, you might even caught him demonstrating his own soccer playing skills. His daughter, Katherine, seemed to enjoy working with her dad while her mom, Suzanne, and other family members handled the other side of the building.
Local business owner Larry Tillery and wife Judy of Daylight Motors and attorney Hubert Oxford III and wife, Cindy, were having as much fun as the children upon whom they were piling gifts. Cotton Cargo owner Robert Bertrand was busy running about handling various chores as well as distributing monogrammed stocking hats for cooler days and nights. His wife, Cheryl, and many of his staff members helped him.
The younger guests enjoyed a puppet show presented by Power Castle Ministries, and everyone bragged on the various foods that were offered. Cotton candy and popcorn were big hits, but the corn dogs and hot pizza were not far behind in popularity. Jon Reaud said, "I know it sounds like a broken record, but we could not do what we do without the contributions of these amazing vendors. The pizzas alone would cost a small fortune." The pizza was served by Little Caesar's Pizza and came piping hot and delicious. Kaleidoscopes Ice Cream was on hand and was a favorite stop not only for kids, but for parents and grandparents as well. The Beaumont Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Carlito's Mexican Restaurant added to the festivities.
Area churches, charities and teachers nominated the children who are chosen to attend before they are vetted by the Reaud Family Foundation. Nothing is happenstance. Parents and children happily clutched their certificates in hand alerting each that they had been chosen to participate and receive the goodies.
When the program became a bit serious, the children behaved well and listened to the instructions given to them from the podium. The Fire House Band entertained the audience during the time the food was served, and then Dr. Larry Holly welcomed the crowd and led attendees in prayer. Boy Scout Troop No. 85 from St. Anne's led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag, and then the leader asked for a moment of silence from everyone to honor the victims of the Connecticut school shooting that took place only the Friday before. Tears could be seen rolling down the faces of many of the parents who reached to hold their little ones tighter.
John Adolph, senior pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, was the keynote speaker for this year's Bicycles and Bibles, and he was clearly moved by the crowd that awaited his message. He came prepared with helpers to teach his message, and many will not forget it anytime soon. Pastor Adolph told the crowd that he needed their help to bring the message, and little ears took note, and little eyes did not move from his face as he spoke. He spoke of Christmas and what it truly means, and as he described the event, he had children from his church come on stage to demonstrate his words with a letter of the alphabet. As the message continued, the word "Christ" was spelled out with both the letter and an example of the truth he was teaching. "'C' is for the Christ child," boomed his big voice. "'H' is for holy, for He is holy. 'R' is for redeemed, and 'I' is for Israel; 'S' is for salvation." He ended his message with "T" for the treasure we received on that long ago Christmas morn. The pastor said that some of the treasures we enjoy are hope, love, peace and joy, and that they are especially rich at this time of the year.
Pastor Adolph closed his message by asking every person in the giant room to close his or her eyes and to listen quietly. He then explained God's simple plan of salvation and asked all those who would like to ask Christ to come into their hearts and lives to please raise their hands, and he assured them he would pray for them earnestly.
The pastor then addressed the Reaud family and friends by saying, "This community owes you a debt of gratitude. We are indeed grateful that God has touched your hearts to help spread His love and cheer at this special time of the year. Thank you for what you have given to others. May you ever be blessed. Merry Christmas to you."
And then the numbers were called as children orderly formed lines to begin receiving their long-awaited gifts. "Merry Christmas" and "thank you" could be heard all around and many hugs and kisses sealed the day as happy kids of all ages (and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guardians and pastors) helped them with their bikes to waiting vehicles.
Kevin King contributed to this article.
For a related story, click the link below:


text:
Product features:
Side Table made in melted metal and it is gold plated.
Arts and Techniques: Foundry, Varnishing and Polish.
Materials and Finishes: Melted metal, Gold Brass Patina, Gold Brass Dark Patina, Gold Brass Rose Patina.
Product Options: Available in a mahogany structure with lacquered finishing.
Customization: Custom sizes and colors are available with an upcharge.
Observations for mounting: It contains pads on the base to protect the support area.
Clean and Care: Dry cloth metal cleaner.


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SN 1 | EP 19 | Team Close the Gap
Available: Netflix
In-studio contestants play a family-friendly competition in which they try to complete 10 deceptively simple games for $1 million. The contestants have 60 seconds to complete each challenge, which increase in difficulty as the game progresses, or they are eliminated. A contestant may stop at any point and keep any money earned. If all 10 tasks are completed within the time limit, the player wins $1 million. The challenges are easy to replicate so the audience can play along at home.
Guy Fieri,


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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College women's volleyball team (3-13, 1-8 PBC) fell at Peach Belt Conference (PBC) leader Francis Marion University (11-1, 6-0 PBC) in three sets Saturday afternoon.
Francis Marion started the match strong, winning the first set 25-13. The Bobcats made it tighter the rest of the way, losing the second 27-25 and the third set 25-21.
Georgia College's Rachel Reynolds (Marietta, Ga.), Caroline Long (Roswell, Ga.), and Blake Willoughby (Savannah, Ga.) all tied for most kills with seven. The PBC's leading attacker in both kills and kills per set, this marks the first time since Sept. 17 at Fort Valley State University that Reynolds has not had the solo lead in kills for her squad.
Caroline Ham (Marietta, Ga.) once again led the Bobcats with a total of 16 digs for the night. Ham helped the offense with five of the team's six aces as well. She was aided by Ella Anastasiadas (Atlanta, Ga.) with 11 digs and Haley Ashworth (Cumming, Ga.) with seven. Micayla Patterson (Tyrone, Ga.) added 29 assists to the cause.
The Bobcats were out-hit as they averaged .113 to Francis Marion's .203. The Patriots were led by Emily Sears at 14 kills. She was helped by Jessica Imbimbo with 13.
The Bobcats will be traveling to Palm Beach Atlantic University for a two-day tournament, starting with the host squad Friday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


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NEWPORT, R.I., July 11 (UPI) -- Michael Russell and Nicolas Mahut earned semifinal berths Thursday at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championship in Newport, R.I.
Russell will be trying to reach the first ATP final of his career when he meets Mahut Saturday.
In the second of the day's two quarterfinal matches, Russell surprised No. 3 seed Igor Sijsling 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5). Russell is ranked 95th in the world.
Mahut, who was the runner-up in this tournament six years ago, defeated Michael Przysiezny 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
The other quarterfinals will be contested on Friday with two-time defending champion John Isner taking on Ivo Karlovic and Lleyton Hewitt facing Jan Hernych. Isner defeated Hewitt in last year's final.
The Hall of Fame tournament is the ATP Tour's only grass court event played in the United States.


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Bruce goes the other way to get his bat going
CINCINNATI -- Lost in Cincinnati's six-homer, 15-run explosion against Washington on Friday night were the two opposite-field doubles logged by struggling Jay Bruce.
The Reds' right fielder went into the game with one hit -- a double off the left-center-field wall on Wednesday -- and seven strikeouts in 13 at-bats. The left-handed batter was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Friday before doubling off the left-center-field wall in each of his last two at-bats.
Those kinds of hits usually indicate that a batter is keeping his head in and not pulling off the ball, which often is a sign that he's breaking out of a slump.
"Everything I've gotten has been to the opposite field," Bruce said before Saturday's game. "I feel fine. It's early."
Manager Dusty Baker learned a long time ago from former Dodgers outfielder Tommy Davis that going the other way can be an effective way to get a bat back on track.
"[Davis] won a couple of batting titles and an RBI title," Baker pointed out. "He told me that going to the off field is a good way to march your way back."
Bruce went 2-for-6 in Saturday's game to raise his average to .208.


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The Deficit Scare: Myth vs. Reality
If right-wing deficit hawks get their way, they will eliminate an essential tool for fighting economic recessions and cripple our ability to make the crucial public investments in education, technology, and infrastructure that would lay the groundwork for future economic expansion.
In recent years, a new and dangerous front has opened up in the conservative war on government: the battle over deficits and debt. The anti-government forces have tried to portray their position as merely one of fiscal common sense. They say that it is simply a matter of not spending more money than one earns. But make no mistake: this anti-debt crusade is a highly politicized effort to fundamentally undermine liberal programs and progressive government in this country.
If the deficit hawks are successful, they will do major damage to society and the economy. They are promoting a deficit hysteria in an effort to force the government to enact deep cuts in vital social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This fiscal austerity movement would also prevent the government from using deficit spending to speed the recovery of the economy when it is in recession. And it would inhibit us from making the crucial public investments in education, technology, energy, and transportation that are necessary to improve society and lay the foundations for future economic growth.
The Anti-Deficit Campaign
First, let's be clear on the terminology. The "deficit" is the yearly difference between the money the government takes in and what it spends, while the "national debt" is the accumulation of the yearly deficits. The debt is funded by the federal government selling Treasury securities like T-bills, notes, Treasury Inflation-Protected securities, and savings bonds to the public.
Since the election of President Obama, the Republicans have been working diligently to whip up public panic about growing deficits and the debt. Conservative commentators like Glenn Beck have been pushing this issue hard in their daily tirades against overspending "socialist" government. These ideologues maintain that deficits hurt economic growth and that the national debt is putting an unfair burden on the future generations. The only answer, they argue, is to reduce government, rein in public spending, and to move toward balanced budgets.
Also leading the charge to alarm the public has been private-equity billionaire Peter G. Peterson. For 25 years he has been warning that the growing national debt would lead the economy into a disastrous collapse – even during the Clinton administration when many economists predicted many coming years of budget surpluses. In recent years he has pledged to spend a billion dollars to convince lawmakers that we must drastically curtail spending and reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits. He has funded a foundation dedicated to this cause, produced a documentary shown on PBS, and created an on-line newspaper, Fiscal Times, to spread his alarmist point of view.
Despite the fact that Peterson's anti-deficit arguments rely on highly questionable predictions and fuzzy math (more on that later), he has been effective in his efforts to woo lawmakers to his cause, even some Democrats. And all these conservative propaganda efforts are having an effect on public opinion, with more Americans saying that deficits are one of the most serious problems facing our country.
Clearly this anti-deficit campaign is part of the larger "starving the beast" strategy that was discussed in another article. But deficits and debt are complicated topics that merit some analysis on their own. This article takes on the "deficit hawks" and critically examines their arguments. It will show that (1) Republicans only care about deficits when the money is being spent on liberal programs; (2) our current large deficits have not been caused by overspending by the Obama administration; (3) deficit spending is an essential tool for combating economic recessions and depressions; (4) public debt can fuel vital public investments in education, technology, and infrastructure that lay the groundwork for future economic expansion; (5) the inflated and misleading right-wing rhetoric about deficits and debt is distracting from a more rational and helpful discussion of the financial problems that we do face as a nation.
Deficit Hypocrites
Before considering what exactly is wrong with the conservative critique of deficits, it is first useful to see just how hypocritical many of them are about this topic. In reality, most conservative politicians don't care nearly as much about deficits as they claim. Consider the evidence: most Republicans in Congress did not become deficit hawks until after President Obama was elected. During the previous administration they were busy helping President Bush turn the budget surpluses of the Clinton era into large deficits. Most conservatives did not see this rapid increase in the national debt as a problem at all. Vice-President Cheney blithely dismissed those issues at the time by saying, "Reagan proved deficits don't matter."
So clearly many Republicans think deficits are just fine when they are spending the public's money on their own political priorities. It didn't bother them to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by massive deficit spending. And they were all too glad to add hundreds of billions to the national debt by passing several enormous tax cuts – money that went largely to the wealthy. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated that those wars and tax cuts will eventually contribute a whopping $7 trillion to federal deficits by 2019.1
Many Republicans know – or should know – that almost all the projected deficits in the coming years have nothing to do with "out of control and irresponsible spending" by the Obama administration. Consider, for example, the projected deficit for 2013 of $962 billion. A study has shown that 42% ($402 billion) of that deficit will be due to the Bush-era tax cuts. Costs of the Bush initiated wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will account for 16% ($153 billion). Another 41% ($395 billion) of the deficit will be caused by the economic downturn that began in 2008.2 This last figure includes lost tax revenues, money for the bailout that was necessary to prevent a complete economic meltdown, and money for an economic stimulus package to speed economic recovery. All these factors together will amount to 99% of the deficit in 2013! But this reality is being ignored by Republican politicians who continue to erroneously claim that Democrats and their policies are the main cause of our deficit problems.
Further evidence of Republican hypocrisy about deficits can be found in the way they ignore obvious ways of addressing this problem. If they really cared about reducing deficits, they would be enthusiastic about letting the Bush tax cuts expire. This would be the single most immediate and effective way to help rein in deficit spending. But instead, in 2010 they refused to extend unemployment benefits to millions of Americans until the Democrats agreed to extend all of these tax cuts – thus adding hundreds of billions to the national debt. Apparently, preserving low taxes, especially for the rich, is the real number one priority for Republicans, not cutting the deficits.
As their behavior indicates, many Republicans are not in principle against deficits, only deficit spending they don't agree with. It is only when the Democrats want to spend money on things like making health care more accessible, improving education, or extending unemployment benefits that suddenly deficits matter and we are "broke" and "can't afford" these "irresponsible" expenditures.


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Documents: Cheniere Fuels ALEC's New Push for Fracked Gas ExportsRead time: 8 mins
Steve Horn | July 31, 2014
By Steve Horn • Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 13:42
Today, legislative and lobbyist members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) voted on model legislation promoting both exports of gas obtained via hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") and vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Dubbed a "corporate bill mill" by its critics, ALEC is heavily engaged in a state-level effort to attack renewable energy and grease the skids for exports of U.S. oil and gas. Today's bills up for a vote — as conveyed in an ALEC mailer sent out on June 25 by ALEC's Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force — are titled "Resolution In Support of Expanded Liquefied Natural Gas Exports" and "Weights and Measures and Standards for Dispensing CNG and LNG Motor Fuels."
An exclusive investigation conducted by DeSmogBlog reveals that Cheniere — the first U.S. company to receive a final liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permit by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) — has acted as the lead corporate backer of the LNG exports model resolution.
Further, Clean Energy Fuels Corporation, owned by energy baron T. Boone Pickens, of Pickens Plan fame, and trade associations it is a member of, served as the main pusher of the CNG model resolution.
ALEC has served as a key vehicle through which the fracking industry has curried favor and pushed for policies favorable to their bottom lines in statehouses nationwide. Now ALEC and its corporate backers have upped the ante, pushing policies that will lock in downstream demand for fracked gas for years to come.
With Cheniere becoming an ALEC dues-paying member in May 2013 and with America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) — the fracking industry's tour de force — crowned an ALEC member in August 2013, it looks like many more fracking-friendly model bills could arise out of ALEC in the months and years ahead.


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Coming to London but worried you don't have enough spending money? Well you're in luck. Our handy guide to free and cheap London will show you how to enjoy London on a budget.
Free London attractions
London is packed with world-famous attractions, from royal palaces and historic landmarks to museums, galleries and street markets. And the great news is loads of them are free.
Let's start with the iconic landmarks. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye – you can see all of these, take your selfie, hang out with your sandwiches, all without spending a penny (but you will have to pay if you want to snoop around inside).
Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Turner Prize pieces, a dinosaur gallery and life-sized blue whale – they all live in London, and you can see them all for nothing. London is home to more than 300 museums and galleries, and many of them with free admission. Don't miss the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the V&A Museum. If you're with the family, take the kids to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum for a day packed with giant artefacts and hands-on experiments.
Park life
In the mood for a romantic stroll, a run or a picnic in the sun? Head to one of London's 8 Royal Parks. Beautifully landscaped and completely free, they're the perfect place to unwind. You'll probably stumble across some of the city's best attractions too – Kensington Palace is tucked away in Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace is perched on the edge of Green Park and Greenwich Park is home to the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum.
London's famous West End on a budget
Travelling on a budget doesn't mean you have to miss out on London's world-famous West End theatre scene. If you're after cheap theatre tickets, head to the official tkts booth in Leicester Square where you'll find the best seats in theatre at half the normal price. And don't worry about being palmed off with fakes - tkts is operated by the Society of London Theatre, the industry body that represents London theatres. If half price theatre tickets are still stretching your budget, we'll let you in on a little secret. Every night, The Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square offers standing tickets for 10p. But you have to be quick, these are first-come-first-served and there are only 8 of them available each night.
Getting around
The secret to getting around London on the cheap is to do it like a Londoner. So make sure your first purchase is an Oyster card – it's the fastest and cheapest way to travel around London by public transport. If you're travelling like a Londoner, you won't need to shell out for an organised bus tour. Hop on the top deck of a London bus for a whistle-stop tour of the city's sights at a fraction of the price. Here are some of our favourite sightseeing bus routes:
- Number 11 from Fulham to Liverpool Street, taking in the fancy King's Road and Sloane Square, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral and ending up at the trendy Shoreditch
- Number 24 from the leafy Hampstead Heath to Pimlico, via Camden Town, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Westminster
- Number 74 from Putney to Baker Street, calling at South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, Marble Arch and Baker Street.
As you wander around London, you'll come across bike racks with bikes for hire; these are part of the Santander Cycles self-service, bike-sharing scheme for short journeys. They're easy to use and a great way to see the city without getting on a bus or tube. Simply use your debit or credit card to pay a small access fee for a bike, then take it out for a ride! You're charged for the time your bike is checked out of the dock, but if you dock your bike back within 30 minutes of the last check out, you won't be charged a usage fee.
How to eat cheaply
Forget the Michelin-starred restaurants – if you're looking for the best food in London, head to the markets. Portobello Road, Camden, Greenwich, Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets offer a great range of cheap and delicious street food from every corner of the world. A treat for your tastebuds and your wallet. If you're looking for somewhere to eat cheaply at night, head to the nearest high street, where you're sure to find chain restaurants like Pizza Express, Café Rouge, Wagamama, GBK and more, all serving tasty food at very reasonable prices. But don't overlook the independent local restaurants, many of them run great value meal deals to compete with the bigger chains.
Camping - yes, camping
Believe it or not, there are several excellent campsites within striking distance of central London. You can save a huge amount by camping in the capital and it's more convenient than you might think. Try Abbey Wood campsite in south London near Greenwich, only 35 minutes by train to the centre, or Crystal Palace Caravan Club that's on a bus route to Oxford Street.


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Chief Sam Somers says ten-thousand city households are now part of the Nextdoor social media network. Nextdoor allows neighbors and police a secure place to talk online or by way of smart phone about anything happening in the neighborhood.
"We have the community's buy-in," says Somers. "We have to have the community support. We have to have the community involved. We have to have their eyes and ears. Because, if we don't have that, there's not enough of us to be able to police this city to make it the safest."
Somers says he believes the seven-point-seven-percent drop in the crime rate and a 30-percent decrease in shootings from last year is partly a result of new crime-prevention programs that began this year.
Kris Levy lives in Land Park. When a police helicopter flew over her neighborhood a few nights ago, she went to the website.
"They were communicating back and forth and we finally got some cross streets," she says. "The police were involved and they apprehended two suspects in a crime that took place right there."
Ten-thousand sign-ups meet a police department goal seven months ahead of schedule.
The department hopes to double the number of sign-ups by June.


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1+ years
Recommended for adult cats over 1 year of age
Meat and animal derivatives, fish and fish derivatives ﴾4% ocean fish﴿, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals.
Vitamins: Vitamin D₃: 250IU/kg, Vitamin E: 150mg/kg.
Trace elements: Manganous sulphate monohydrate: 2.15mg/kg, Zinc sulphate monohydrate: 33.3mg/kg.
When switching to 8in1, gradually introduce over 4 days. For an adult cat, feed 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 pouches per 4 kg body weight per day. Always ensure fresh water is available.


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DE-108-016-2-PI - 1/2" x 1-1/4" Pine Decorative Embossed - $2.32/ft
This is a 1/2" x 1-1/4" Pine Decorative Embossed molding.Reference ID: 5.2, 5.2
All Available Species: Pine
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Be sure to speak with a Live Chat agent before checking out, we want to ensure we have the lengths that you need.


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At this rate I've never going to finish working on my rebuttal…
[then again if this keeps up maybe I won't have to lol]
Captain Richard T. Holder wrote:Neither White Sands nor Holloman had an object that would compare to the object described.
Is anyone truly surprised they didn't have a "two-legged egg shaped" object?
Captain Richard T. Holder wrote:There was no known firing mission in progress at the time of the occurrence that would produce the conditions reported.
Keyword "known"…again not too surprising after only a couple of days (over a weekend) into the investigation when this statement was made (on Monday) don't you think?
[I suppose now's a good time to mention that ironically (coincidentally?) the northern range tracking radar at White Sands had been turned off for the day (on Friday) prior to the time of Zamora's sighting.]
Captain Quintanilla contacted the FTD liaison office at Holloman AFB regarding the Socorro sighting and requested that he, Maj Mitchell make discreet inquiry as to a possible vehicle which may have caused the sighting.
During the latter part of May Lt Col Conkey visited W-P AFB, and at this time informed Capt Quintanilla that he had no knowledge of a vehicle at White Sands capable of causing the sighting as described by Lonnie Zamora.
So ("officially") he couldn't find a "two legged egg shaped" object either? Hmm… could that be because whoever was responsible didn't want to be "caught"? After all "they" sure took off in a hurry when the cops showed up!
Serpentime wrote:O.K. Maybe Quintanilla didn't say that...
...but some of the other investigators on this case DID.
So perhaps Quintanilla might have drawn the same conclusion - given this additional intelligence?
If that was the case it's not reflected in the conclusion Quintanilla's boss came to based on his (and the other investigator's) inputs…
1. Mr Zamora claims the object had two legs slanted outwards, towards the ground and he also claims that he distinctly heard two or three loud thumps, like someone possibly shutting or opening a door.
2. It is my belief that Mr Zamora is telling the truth and that he did in fact see a man made object which probably belongs to one of the services. There is no indication that the vehicle which Mr Zamora saw came from outer space, now or ever.
Eric T de Jonckheere
Colonel, USAF
Deputy for Technology and Subsystems
Honestly I don't see what all the fuss is about.
Serpentime wrote:Yes. A Bell 47G certainly had the range to reach Socorro.
But mathematical analysis appears to show that said helicopter could NOT have accounted for the physical evidence that was documented at the site.
Who says the helicopter had to create the "Holes-In-The-Ground"? By the same token can you say with any certainty that a helicopter (assuming it missed all the rocks lol) should have left some distinct (unambiguous) markings in what was described as soft sand (in the bottom of the dry arroyo or "creek") after taking off? In fact in many respects a helicopter may account for what was (perhaps more importantly) NOT found at the site. For example why aren't there more "footprints"?
For Heaven's sake man think outside the box!
[OK "trapezoid" lol]
Yes, we know the Blue Book investigators "failed" to identify the "stimulus". So what? If they couldn't do it no one can?
Serpentime wrote:In addition (as I previously pointed out), my own reading of the available Surveyor documents has raised serious concern on my part that none of the T-2H helicopter flights carried any Vernier propulsion system at all?
I agree that's definitely a possibility (why do you think I brought it to your attention?) but like I tried to tell you it may not even matter. For example according to this "Surveyor Project Status Report" dated 27 NOV 64 (well after the Socorro incident)…
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi. ... 001352.pdf
…the T-2H Tests & Evaluation (p. 12) were completed in October of 1963 and shows no T-2 (or S-8 for that matter) tests of any kind for 1964 while the Master Schedule (p. 7) shows that T-2 testing at AFMDC was scheduled to be completed by the end of February of 1964!
[there's those damn date discrepancies again lol]
Of course we know according to other documents that this simply isn't true so is it possible the "T-2H" test scheduled for the date of Zamora's sighting wasn't actually related (other than in type designation) to the tests described in the documentation?
Serpentime wrote:To the best of my discernment, the available evidence suggests that only ONE (?) Surveyor test vehicle was equipped with both RADVS and Vernier rockets - and that this single test article was only evaluated from tether tests.
And if so you have a problem with this vehicle (or the S-8 w/o RADVS) being attached to the helicopter in place of the "RADVS only" test article (if that's the case) to accomplish some specific test because?
If it's because such a test isn't specifically documented in the available evidence then I suggest for example these Hughes documents relevant to the T-2 Test Program may offer some additional clues…
2254.6/410 11/10/64 Final T-2H Test Phase Report QA-I Model RADVS Testing on the Bell 47G Helicopter
228103 4/30/65 T-2N Vehicle System Functional Test Plan Vol. I
2254/204 5/65 T-2N Model and Functional Description
225462 Rev. A 10/14/65 T-2N Tethered Test Plan, Vol. I
n/a 11/11/65 T-2N-1 RADVS Problems, Special Review at AFMDC
2254/273 6/66 T-2N-1 Surveyor Test Vehicle Descent Test No. 6 Mission
SSD 68154I 6/66 T-2N Surveyor Test Vehicle Mission Report Descent Test No. 8 - T2N-I Descent No. 5
SSD 68149R 7/66 T-2N Surveyor Test Vehicles. Tether and Descent Test Series Final Report
…or perhaps it wasn't documented for some reason.
[I can think of at least one lol]
In either case any attempt to rule out the Surveyor hypothesis based solely on the evidence available and presented so far is in my opinion premature and unscientific.
Also let me remind you I'm not the origin of Surveyor "hypothesis"…
In 1995, a colleague of Moore's who ran the Skyhook Balloon program at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, Bernard "Duke" Gildenberg, learned from Capt. James McAndrew, the AF's point man on Roswell, that on April 24, 1964, there were special tests being conducted at the north end of the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) involving a helicopter used to carry a Lunar Surveyor around for some tests.
…so presumably the evidence (or some "inside" knowledge) exists.
Serpentime wrote:Access Denied wrote:(assuming, among other things, they weren't simply a clever diversion created by the crew of the Bell 47G or anyone else) "Holes-In-The-Ground".
As you stated, that is an assumption. ~ Unless further evidence exists that can prove / establish such a "deception operation"?
~ As I stated earlier (quoting Carl Sagan, of course...):
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Will a 12 to 16 inch wide shovel that was operational in 1964 do?
Serpentime wrote:Besides, the absconding "crew of the Bell 47G or anyone else" must have paid much more attention to positioning these "Holes-In-The-Ground" at near 90 degree axes to each other, than they did to creating any semblance of a reasonable (non-trapezoidal?) "landing gear" arrrangement - given all of the activities they must have been responsible for within the span of about ten minutes (?), or less, on the ground.
OK now you're scaring me… I'm sorry but that sounds like something Hoaxland would say. Should we also be looking for any 19.5 or 33 degree angles and cross-checking the latitude and longitude in relation to the positions of Sirius and Orion on the horizon on that date?
Just how long do you think it would take to dig four 2 inch deep holes in soft sand? I'm thinking not much longer than it would take to walk between each one and take one scoop with a shovel and fling it. This isn't a crop circle we're talking about.
Serpentime wrote:They must have brought some digging tools, too?
Well now that you mention it, assuming they didn't go out on their own, somebody had to put out those fires. Hmm… four burn marks and four "Holes-In-The-Ground". Coincidence?
As someone I admire wisely pointed out today in an unrelated discussion I've been following elsewhere "as usual, the devil is not in the details but in the assumptions."


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Joe Jordan, who has overseen the Orioles' past seven drafts as director of amateur scouting, is leaving the organization to become the Philadelphia Phillies' director of player development.
The Phillies asked for and received permission from the Orioles to interview Jordan, 49, and met with him Monday. He agreed to the deal Wednesday. Now, instead of choosing the players -- something for which Jordan has received mixed reviews -- he will be helping to develop them into major leaguers.
"I'm very excited about the fact that the Phillies wanted me," Jordan said. "I'm very excited to join a very strong and respected organization. I just feel very fortunate that they initiated this and came after me hard and we could work something out."
Jordan's contract with the Orioles expires in December, and with Andy MacPhail, the club's president of baseball operations, stepping down last week, there was uncertainty as to how the front office would shake out.
Manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that no one in the Orioles' front office is happy to see Jordan leave, but his departure might make it a bit easier for the club to lure a top-quality candidate to replace MacPhail. Top baseball executives usually like to have a say in the makeup of their front office staffs.
"I think the world of Joe," Showalter said. "He's a hard worker with a passion for scouting and player development. The Orioles are going to miss him. The Phillies got a good man. If he's leaving us, I'm glad he's going to the National League."
Jordan is the second the second executive to leave for Philadelphia in recent years. Scott Proefrock, the Orioles' baseball administration director, left for the Phillies before the 2009 season to become assistant general manager. Proefrock is considered a potential candidate for the Orioles' vacant GM/president job.
The Phillies have been looking to fill the player-development position since assistant GM for development Chuck LaMar resigned last month.
A former scout with the Montreal Expos and national cross-checker with the Florida Marlins, Jordan was hired by the Orioles in November 2004 to replace Tony DeMacio. In the past seven drafts, Jordan was responsible for selecting several of the players who make up the Orioles' young nucleus, including catcher Matt Wieters and starters Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton.
Shortstop Manny Machado, whom Jordan selected out of Brito High in Miami with the third overall pick in 2010, is considered one of the game's best prospects. Right-handed starter Dylan Bundy, whom Jordan took fourth overall in June, then signed to a $6.25 million major league deal, was viewed by some as the most talented player in the 2011 draft.
However, Jordan had been the subject of increasing criticism because of the organization's alarming lack of depth and, specifically, its dearth of position prospects. He also has had his share of high-profile misses, none bigger than the selection of New Jersey prep infielder Billy Rowell with the ninth overall pick in 2006.
Rowell, who was considered the best high school hitter in the draft, has been a bust, spending three mostly disappointing years at High-A Frederick before suffering through an injury-marred and unproductive year at Double-A Bowie this past season. The player selected one pick after him -- whom the Orioles considering taking -- was two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who helped lead the San Francisco Giants to the 2010 World Series crown.
Jordan's first top pick, Brandon Snyder, a Virginia prep catcher taken 13th overall in 2005, also has not panned out. Then there's the case of right-handed pitcher Matt Hobgood, who was projected as a late first-round pick in 2009. Jordan drafted the California prep pitcher fifth overall amid criticism that he made the selection largely because of budgetary concerns, an accusation he has vehemently denied.
Hobgood's conditioning was a major issue in 2010, and he missed most of this past season with a shoulder injury, finishing the year at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Meanwhile, several pitchers drafted after him in 2009 have already had some success in the big leagues, including the Washington Nationals' Drew Storen, the Kansas City Royals' Aaron Crow, the Detroit Tigers' Jacob Turner and the Cincinnati Reds' Mike Leake.
Jordan put some of the money saved with the Hobgood pick into several other selections, paying well above slot for second-round choice Mychal Givens, ninth-round pick Ryan Berry, 11th-round selection Michael Ohlman and 22nd-round choice Cameron Coffey. None of the selections has paid off yet.
Under Jordan, the Orioles have picked among the top five for five consecutive years and in the top 15 for all seven of his drafts. A restless fan base has questioned why the organization's American League East rivals, who have mostly drafted well behind the Orioles in recent years, are churning out far more prospects.
Despite the criticism, Jordan has been mostly praised by draft pundits for helping retool the barren farm system. DeMacio, who oversaw the Orioles' drafts from 1999 to 2004, wore a lot of the blame for a laundry list of first-round misses that included Beau Hale (2000), Chris Smith (2001) and Wade Townsend (2004).
One of Jordan's most successful picks was Wieters, the switch-hitting catcher out of Georgia Tech taken fifth overall in 2007 and signed to a franchise-record $6 million signing bonus. Wieters made the All-Star team this past season and has emerged as a team leader and one of the top defensive backstops in the league.
Matusz, the left-handed starter who was the fourth overall pick in 2008, also was a widely praised selection, though he had a nightmarish 2011 season.
Jordan had also found talent after the first round, nabbing Arrieta (fifth round in 2007), Britton (third round in 2006), Jason Berken (sixth round in 2006) and David Hernandez (16th round in 2005).
"It was a great seven years," Jordan said. "I felt like that professionally and personally. I'm disappointed that I will not be able to be there when they [the Orioles] turn things around, because I think that will happen. I had a wonderful job, and I was allowed to do it the way I wanted to."
Baltimore Sun reporters Peter Schmuck and Jeff Zrebiec contributed to this article.


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According to Bloomberg sources, Dell is considering taking its company off the public stock market. Trading has been halted on the company for the time being while the situation plays out. Dell has told CNBC that it won't comment on "rumours and speculation".
Dell taking its company private, if that were to happen, would mean that all of the publicly traded shares would be bought up by a private firm. Being private means looser regulatory issues to deal with, and could be an opportune way for shareholders to cash out. We'll update you with more information as it's available. [Bloomberg]


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Two technologies currently under research by IBM may hold the key to processing and storing the exabyte (1018) of data expected to flow per day from the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope project.
The company, which is part of a research consortium that includes Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Curtin University of Technology and the University of Western Australia, is currently working down a technology roadmap that leads to the development of exaflop machine — the processing equivalent of about a billion PCs. It is also developing a new form of solid state storage, 'Racetrack Memory', which may hold the key to enabling the storage of the SKA's vast amount of astronomical data.
Much of the progress toward solving the massive engineering problems posed by the SKA is still at the whiteboard and analysis stage, but real progress was being made, said the director of IBM's Australia Development Laboratory for ANZ, Glenn Wightwick.
"In the last year or two IBM has built machines in the order of a petaflop and in the last couple of weeks IBM announced an ongoing partnership with the US Department of Energy to build a 20 petaflop machine by 2011-2012," he said.
"[But] we know we need to build an exabyte machine for the SKA over the next 10 years — that's 50 times larger and equivalent to about 1 billion PCs — so, that gives you a sense of the size of the problem."
Despite the size of the challenge, Wightwick said IBM's roadmaps and belief that the processor technology could be driven much further meant that it was unlikely that a billion cores would be required in 10 years' time.
"We will need machines which probably have hundreds of thousands of processor cores in them and we roughly know how we can go about engineering it," he said. "It wouldn't be cost- or technically-feasible to bolt together 50 20-petaflop machines… and the power consumed would be crazy. By the time we deliver the 20 petaflop machine we will be well on the way to an exaflop machine."
Given the need to process data streaming off the SKA telescope in real time, it was unlikely IBM or the rest of the SKA research consortium would look to utilise grid or cloud computing environments, Wightwick said.
"Moving that much data around is a challenging problem. It's therefore likely to be a machine or machines that are scaled large enough to process the volume," he said. "In the past you might have just thought about how many processors you need and whether you can put enough of them together.
"Today, we have to think about how many processors we can feasibly put together, how much power and cooling we can get, where the machine can be sited, how much data we can transfer. It is a really interesting challenge."
Storage is also an equally challenging problem, Wightwick said. To address this, the SKA project was likely to use some form of stream computing to analyse data on the fly, sending useful data to storage and discarding the rest.
"There will still be a massive storage capability and we aren't even sure what it might look like," he said. "Disk drives are approaching 1.5TB and we will continue to see increases in drive technology, but there are a lot of interesting storage technologies coming on board (such as Racetrack Memory).
"It is very fast, unlike flash, and is denser. It is still a research project but we know — based on these projects — what it is capable of. Five or 10 years out, it may be applicable to deploy in this project."
IBM was also working with the CSIRO on developing advanced algorithms in areas such as correlation, which facilitate the integration of high volumes of data from multiple telescopes to create more detailed astronomical images.
IBM also recently announced that it had partnered with Western Australia's International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) on the technology for the SKA.
The telescope, 50 times more sensitive than current instruments, will use approximately 3,600 antennae spread over thousands of kilometres to peer into deep space.
The SKA will capture data on the evolution of galaxies, dark matter and energy, providing insight into the origins of the universe around 13 billion years ago.
Email Computerworld or follow @computerworldau on Twitter.


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Santa Cruz, CA
She used to worry that she'd miss the answers she was seeking.
Till she asked that they be shown in a way even she could not miss...
and began to see them in more obvious ways.
She relaxed a little after that.
Liquid Rocks
Earth, wind, water, fire... in slightly different clothes than their native style, gather together to confer.
Shark Fin Cove - Panorama
Ay, matey... thar's a mighty mystery beneath the fin.
Only the hardiest & bravest need apply.
The rest of ye scalliwags... continue on yer way t'safer waters.
(6-shot Panorama)
and the island will join you.
Davenport, California
In California, we can have long periods of blue sky, with no clouds. As a landscape photographer, this always makes me sad, since without a dramatic backdrop, images seem flat.
When we do have the kind of weather system that paints dramatic skies, I always drop everything! This happens most effectively during monsoon season in mid-late summer... which is when this was taken.
There's nothing like the light of a technicolor sunset bouncing off of the ocean and cliffs of the California coast!
I always use a tripod when I photograph scenes like this.. and here, used a slower shutter speed to soften the water just a bit. The waves and textures of the surf contributed to the active drama in this one, so I wasn't going for such a long exposure that it would eliminate the character. My goal was simply to soften it a bit, so it appeared dreamy but still real.
Moments like this, standing on the bluffs over looking the ocean always make me feel like I can fly!
Davenport Piers, Davenport, CA
How does one stand the test of time?
Only time will tell.
It's a test, you see.
Sometimes you have to reach, stretch, and let your light shine much further than you ever imagined.
Only in those times can you realize how the light works through you, in you and for… you.
And you for it.
We are a team for the ages.
Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz, CA
The icons meet... sunset, the endless circle, the surfer.
Oh, and Zuvuya? Just think in terms of "The Force" and the endless circle of time/space and you'll be in the ballpark.
Big Sur, Pfiefer Beach
(this shot is only possible 1x per year.)
... is that Joy is the key to your heart and all that you desire.
Big Sur, CA - Pfiefer Beach
Inspiration began to pour forth, like a waking dream; but it was real this time.
Happening right before her.
Her heart picked up its pace in anticipation.
Could this finally be it? New time, the era she'd been waiting for?
The light at the end of an impossibly long tunnel seemed to be racing toward her now...
and a new world began to open, gently, in all its true living life and color, through a gossamer mist of possibility.
Breathe In, Stir & Swirl
So many wonderful, new things were coming her way...
Flowing in and filling in nooks and crannies she didn't even know she had.
It was exciting, watching a form take shape where there had been none before.
She took a big breath in, mentally stirring the simmerpot of her own consciousness.
She loved the swirls that happened when she did that.
The Light At My Back
You truly are the light at my back,
Protecting me from what I can't see,
Illuminating the way ahead.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Somewhere over that rainbow,
after the storm,
over the hump,
through the jungle, the battle, the angst...
lies smooth sailing on sunlit waters.
Right there.
For you.
Capitola, CA
Peering, leering, staring too
Why'd you have to make me blue?
Sneering, jeering, shouting names
I'm not one to point the blame.
But if you sneer and leer and jeer
Remember this, and crystal clear
the thoughts you think, the words you use,
Will lift you, build you, or abuse.
So will you once upon this day
Speak only that which you would say
To lovers, sweethearts those you love
And shower glory from above.
Capitola Pier, California
Davenport, CA
Never-ending waves of emotion
could wear even a rock to a nub.
Pink Overlooking
Eagle Falls, CA
A Horsetail Falls
A horsetail falls irrevocably towards the ground.
Until it swishes at a fly.
Its namesake don' stop for no stinkin' flies.
Between Santa Cruz & Davenport
Water, meet land... land, water.
Let the erosional sculpting begin.
We'll check back in a few hundred thousand years.
Play nice!
The Pearl That We Love
All at once, she knew what her teacher had meant by "the pearl beyond price". If the planet had a soul, this had to be a piece of it, gleaming in the sun for all who could gain the perspective to see it.
Point Lobos, CA
After a lifetime of admiring Point Lobos through masterful, black and white Edward Weston photographs... imagine my delight at its vividness of colordom!
No, really - imagine it. hehheh.
It's always good to have a point to meet, greet and agree upon.
When that point involves land, sea, sky and your camera... well now, that's a find moment indeed.
Bixby Bridge near Big Sur
Soar, roar and ask for more,
As water, air and time do.
It is nature...
it is us,
The Boardwalk of Glenorchy
A haunting sense of mystery.
A leading question... a suggestion.
Never an absolute answer.
The brushstroke of an infinite gesture.
I love that.
Peppers in a Pod
In a tasty splash of color - just like my two favorite kinds of peppers.
In that moment, she realized that courage was knowing the odds, but sailing on anyway. Radiantly. With panache.
In stillness... movement.
In chill... warmth.
In falling... soft landings.
In a moment... a lifetime.
There are always dichotomies and contrasts, with their constant opportunity to See Things Different.
Rushing Home to You
There's something in my nature
that makes me always want to
rush home to you.
Pools Rush In
Just open up your heart and let
This pool rush in.
It's a Rush
Yuba River, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California
It was a flood winter. Instead of the usual several feet of snow, we got inches and inches of rain. Added that to the rains melting of what snow we DID already have- and you have mountain rivers raging. They're dramatic... and dangerous.
It's more challenging than you might think to show the power and beauty of these conditions. You need the right background, lighting, section of the river to really capture it. Even then, there's something about flooding that just isn't generally translated by anything less than an entire town shown from the air, submerged. This wasn't that.
I wasn't happy with my initial ideas about how to photograph the swollen river; showing how high it came didn't matter unless you knew how high it was normally. A stone house surrounded by water means nothing unless you already know that under the water is a full yard and patio, now swept away.
Then a new thought struck. Aside from the height of the water, what was the other feature of this day? Speed. The Yuba River was running so fast that if you fell in, you'd never get out until it spit you out.
So I set up close to the water's edge (vowing NOT to take a plunge that day!) and slowed my shutter down. Not too much though... I wanted the ribbony effect in the water. That shows motion - and speed. I wanted the splashes to remain, because they tell the story of water impacting granite. And I wanted the motion to start off-frame, rush like mad through it, then disappear around the corner like a crazy mad hatter on some wild chase.
The complementary sunset colors were a bonus... and gave the feeling that the river was powering on to quench the flames of a distant inferno. I loved how the juxtaposition of all the elements spoke of nature's fury without having to be entirely literal about it.
That's how I roll.
So did the river that day.
Red House On The Roaring River
Winter 2010-11 kicked our butts. I know we weren't alone, but up here in the Sierra Nevadas, we had match-point record snowfall.
At 50-60 feet depending on where you were standing, it didn't actually break all the records… but it was jawdropping all the same.
And interminable. I mean, people tunneled down into their homes, okaayyy? I mention this because when you have record snowfall, it means record snowmelt too.
This was the Yuba River near Big Bend on July 4th. Water level higher even than it was 2 weeks before… and so dangerous even the gnarliest kayakers were benched.
This house had the best view… although I think if you lived there, you'd have gone deaf from the constant roar.
Man, nature amazes me.
©Karen Hutton - Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 3.0)


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Darren McFadden picked up where he left off before a foot injury cut last season short by gaining 38 yards on Oakland's first three plays of the exhibition season and the Raiders went on to lose to the Dallas Cowboys 3-0 Monday night.
McFadden, who missed the last nine games of 2011 with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, opened with a 4-yard run, an 18-yard reception and a 16-yard run to delight of the Raiders fans.
But Carson Palmer threw an interception to Gerald Sensabaugh on the next play for Oakland (tied for No. 23 in the AP Pro32).
Dan Bailey's 33-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half for Dallas provided the only scoring.


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The Panthers made a change at their best-funded position, but not the one that gave their fans a Twitter heart attack for a moment.
According to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers fired running backs coach John Settle Tuesday, the first staff change after head coach Ron Rivera was retained this weekend.
More changes could be coming, while it's believed that offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will remain.
The Panthers finished ninth in the league in rushing, despite DeAngelo Williams being benched at one point and his replacement Jonathan Stewart missing seven games with an ankle injury.
Of course, Stewart's future was a concern earlier in the afternoon, when a message that said "I no longer play for the panthers got cutt," showed up on his Twitter account.
Stewart quickly deleted the tweet, and said he was "hacked."
That's either the world's laziest or least imaginative hacker, or else Stewart has to stop leaving his phone laying around where Williams can get his hands on it.


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Make the most of your teenage dating years by keeping it casual.
Let's see if you can correctly answer the following question: At what age are Latter-day Saint youth allowed to date?
Of course, you probably immediately said, "16," showing you've paid attention to For the Strength of Youth, as well as your parents and Church leaders.
OK, then, how about this one: At what age are you allowed to have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
You may be thinking, "Um, 16. Didn't I just answer that?"
Just because you can date when you turn 16 doesn't mean you should immediately start looking for a steady boyfriend or girlfriend.
Well, if that was your answer, then, even though you aced the first question, you missed the second one. Just because you can date when you turn 16 doesn't mean you should immediately start looking for a steady boyfriend or girlfriend.
For decades, prophets have preached that youth who are in no position to marry should not pair off exclusively. For instance, President Hinckley (1910–2008) said, "When you are young, do not get involved in steady dating. When you reach an age where you think of marriage, then is the time to become so involved. But you boys who are in high school don't need this, and neither do the girls" ("Some Thoughts on Temples, Retention of Converts, and Missionary Service," Ensign, Nov. 1997, 51; italics added).
So what does this counsel really mean, and what are the reasons for it?
Two Kinds of Dating
To begin with, the general term dating may be a little confusing, since nowadays it sometimes seems to imply something a little more serious than what we intend it to mean in relation to youth in the Church. There are two different types of dating: casual dating and steady (or serious) dating. The distinction between the two has to do with exclusivity.
Casual Dating. With casual dating, there is no exclusivity. The two people aren't "a couple" or "an item," and they don't refer to each other as a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend." They don't pair off. People who are casually dating are simply friends. This is the kind of dating the Church encourages you to do after you turn 16. You should put aside a need to find a "one and only." If you're dating casually, you don't expect a relationship to become a romance. You have fun; you do a variety of things with a variety of people.
Steady Dating. On the other hand, steady dating means the couple is exclusive with one another. They expect each other not to date anyone else or to be emotionally or physically close with other people. Couples who date seriously consider the future, because there is a real possibility they could stay together. This is the kind of dating the Church encourages young adults (generally, people in their 20s) to progress toward, because that's the age when they should be thinking of marrying.
You should avoid becoming exclusive as teenagers, because an exclusive relationship requires a high level of commitment from both partners, and you're not in a position to make that kind of commitment as teens—neither emotionally, physically, nor in terms of your future plans.
An exclusive relationship requires a high level of commitment from both partners, and you're not in a position to make that kind of commitment as teens.
As President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has said to youth, "Avoid steady dating. Steady dating is courtship, and surely the beginning of courtship ought to be delayed until you have emerged from your teens" ("You're in the Driver's Seat," New Era, June 2004, 8).
Emotional Intimacy
The problem is, a lot of teenagers jump the gun. They think these friendship-type relationships are only for younger kids, and they plunge into romantic relationships more appropriate for young adults (people in their 20s), who are in a position to think about marriage.
These romantic relationships have two components: physical and emotional. Generally speaking, boys crave the physical part more than girls do, and girls crave the emotional part more than boys do. Because boys have less of a desire for emotional closeness, they are usually in control of how deep this aspect of the relationship will become. Likewise, because girls are less driven by a desire for a physical relationship, they are generally in control of how far that aspect of the relationship will go. Marriage is where these two components come together in more perfect harmony.
Though LDS youth generally know the kinds of physical contact they should avoid (sexual transgressions and inappropriate touching), they often wonder when it is OK to hug or kiss or do other such things. But these questions ignore the emotional half of the equation.
The question is not simply where you put your hands, but it's where you put your heart. Often two teens (especially LDS youth who know the Lord's commandments) will be tempted to become physical only if they've already established the kind of relationship that would permit it—one that has already reached a level of emotional connectedness and commitment.
After high school (and a mission, for a young man), if young adults become emotionally intimate and naturally desire physical intimacy, they are in a position to do something about it: they could get married. But if teens become emotionally intimate and naturally desire physical intimacy, they can't do anything about it. They're not in a position to marry, so they either break the law of chastity or break one another's hearts by ending the relationship.
President Hinckley said, "Steady dating at an early age leads so often to tragedy. Studies have shown that the longer a boy and girl date one another, the more likely they are to get into trouble. It is better … to date a variety of companions until you are ready to marry" ("A Prophet's Counsel and Prayer for Youth," New Era, Jan. 2001, 13).
Fostering Friendship
Relationships have different stages of emotional connectedness (see the figure on "The Funnel Theory"). The important stages for teenagers to experience in their relationships are friendship and casual dating.
If you choose to date after turning 16, the Church encourages you to date in groups. The brilliance of group dating is that it prevents you from becoming too attached to one person of the opposite sex.
Friendship is when two people discover they have similar interests, similar views—things in common. They talk with one another, validate one another's views, and choose to spend time together. They may hang out in the same social circle, study together, or participate in activities they both enjoy. In the teen years, friendships between guys and girls should look like regular friendships, which have an inclusive attitude of "the more the merrier." Casual dating has the same basic characteristics as friendship, except the friends may be paired up for the duration of an event or activity.
If you choose to date after turning 16, the Church encourages you to date in groups. The brilliance of group dating is that it prevents you from becoming too attached to one person of the opposite sex. It allows you to get to know a number of people and to interact with everybody else in the group, fostering a feeling of friendship. Friends follow a philosophy of inclusion—friendship is casual, no-pressure fun that keeps you from getting too serious with one person.
Whether you're old enough to date or not, remember that "good friendships can and should be developed at every age" (For the Strength of Youth [2001], 24). And the teen years are a great time to be building those kinds of friendships, whether you're dating or not.
As you take to heart the counsel of modern prophets, you will see how fulfilling your relationships can be, without having to deal with the complications (and potential sorrow) of teenage romance.
Fabulous Friendships for Teens
Here are some reasons why, for teenagers, friendship is healthier than romance.
Friendship is more about fun. You get to do more things, meet more people, learn more about the world, and become more well-rounded than when you're in a romantic relationship as a teen.
Friendship is less stressful. It's not as scary when the person you're with really believes in friendship rather than romance. Friendship is casual. The stakes aren't so high.
Without romance, you can better balance your time between all of your friends, both male and female. There is less pettiness, jealousy, and disappointment in friendships among teens.
Friendships can last a lifetime. Without the complications of romance, you can build healthy friendships that can continue far beyond high school.
It's easier to be authentic. Teens have an easier time being honest in a friendship than a romance. Friends accept each other. They feel less of a need to put on a show or try to impress the other person.
Friends are more likely to boost your self-worth. Friendship among teens is more often based on something like character or common values rather than looks or attractiveness. The one will help you feel better about yourself, the other has a greater potential to make you feel worse about yourself.
Without the complications of romance, you can build healthy friendships that can continue far beyond high school.
Friendship is a foundation. When people are mature enough to engage in romance and decide to fall in love, they are more likely to succeed if they first were friends, having built a foundation of trust.
You can find true compatibility. Friends can determine what they truly like about each other (character, personality, sense of humor) rather than having to deal with the complications of romance.
Friendship makes you better at choosing a marriage partner. Youth who choose a wide variety of friends rather than restricting themselves to a single relationship will be better informed in choosing a marriage partner.
Friendship makes you better at marriage. Friends learn to communicate honestly, to make personal sacrifices, to be independent, dependable, and decisive. Dysfunctional adolescent relationships put people at greater risk of having dysfunctional adult relationships. Functional, healthy adolescent relationships—friendships—are the best preparation for healthy, unscarred adult relationships.
The Funnel Theory
This diagram shows stages in relationships with members of the opposite sex. The top three stages can be categorized generally as "friendship" stages. Most relationships will stay in the Acquaintance and Friendship stages. The bottom three belong to the "romance" category. As you progress through these stages toward marriage, the number of members of the opposite sex you interact with gets smaller and the depth or seriousness of the relationship gets greater.
Stage One: Acquaintance—You know or have met each other.
Stage Two: Friendship—You have things in common with and choose to do things with each other.
Stage Three: Casual Dating—Same as friendship, except you're paired together for an activity.
Stage Four: Serious Dating—You are in a position to marry and commit to date each other exclusively.
Stage Five: Engagement and Courtship—You have decided to marry one another.
Stage Six: Marriage—You enter a sacred covenant together and are sealed to one another eternally.
If you're dating casually, you don't expect a relationship to become a romance. You have fun; you do a variety of things with a variety of people.
Relationships have different stages of emotional connectedness. The important stages for teenagers in their relationships are friendship and casual dating.
Casual dating has the same basic characteristics as friendship. It is casual, no-pressure fun that keeps you from getting too serious with one person.


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High-profile clubs may be knocking at the door but Swansea boss Michael Laudrup insists he has no plans to walk away from Liberty Stadium.
The Danish legend has been a revelation since arriving in South Wales last summer, guiding the Swans to the League Cup final against Bradford on February 24 and, perhaps more importantly, all but assuring safety in the Premier League for another season with the club currently seventh in the standings.
His work hasn't gone unnoticed with Real Madrid, who Laudrup spent two seasons at during his glittering playing career, and Chelsea both reportedly keen for his services.
Swansea officials are desperate to tie down the former Juventus and Barcelona star until 2015 at least and are set to meet with his agent in the coming days. But while Laudrup wouldn't speculate on those negotiations, he claims he fully intends to see out the remaining 18 months of his current deal.
"My intention is to stay," said Laudrup, in Dubai with Swansea as part of a week-long training camp at Dubai Sport City.
"I have a contract for next year as well and I think it's a very interesting team we're building up and again we will try to build on in the summer as well. But now we have to stay in the present and the present in the league is to get as many points as possible and to win the Cup final and then lets see what happens next season. With new players coming in, the possibility of playing in Europe, it will be a very exciting season but first of all we have to finish this one."
Asked if it was his ambition to manage a side of Real's stature, Laudrup added: "I've been a player at the top level for 17, 18 years so I know you have to live in the present because you never know what will happen in the future."
While nowhere near the level of his playing days, Laudrup has enjoyed a relatively successful start to his managerial career, winning trophies with Brøndby in Denmark and taking Getafe to the final of the Copa del Rey in 2008.
However, the 48-year-old admitted even he was surprised at how well he's adjusted to life in the Premier League. "We are way, way ahead of what I could have imagined," Laudrup said.
"Being in a Cup final is definitely success for everybody. But the daily bread, if we can call it that, the league - 37 points at this stage, 12 games to go. You're talking about the magic 40 points and in 95 per cent of the cases means you will have another season and we're just three points away form that with 36 more points at stake."
Marvin France
Via SyndiGate.info
© 2019 Al Sidra Media LLC


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Out of more than 1300 entries to last week's promo five winners were electronically chosen via Random.org.
These train cases will go to:
Cherry Santos of Novaliches, Quezon City
Marloe Uy of Camputhaw, Cebu City
Anne Vera Candelaria of Mandaluyong City
Fabico Anton of Tandang Sora, Quezon City
Kristina Viray of Antipolo City
Inside: Special notebooks illustrated by Ana Maria Zamora for Mayor Lani Cayetano of Taguig, CarbTrim weight management mixes, Botong Francisco x Freeway mousepad, and Mich Dulce x BENCH accessories
Winners, please check your email about getting your prizes.
Thanks very much and watch for my next giveaway!