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It has being a crazy week, I was stressing out having to give my first ever presentation at the Libraries of the future seminar (with the new presentation tool Prezi !).
Google decided to make things more complicated by sending me an Invite to Google Wave! I promptly gave it out to librarians I knew on Twitter and settled down to play with it.
First off , it's supposed to work in Firefox and Google Chrome. But many people have reported that it's slow and unstable in Firefox, and that has being my experience as well, so I use Google Chrome for now. It's still slow and not totally stable but it's far worse in Firefox.
Google wave as a email/IM hybrid
Google wave is hard to describe, but it's basically a Email/IM/Wiki hybrid.
You "wave" to one or more googlewave accounts by adding your contacts to a new wave, similar to the way you add email addresses when emailing. If people you have on your google contacts have a wave account they automatically appear as one of the possible contacts. The image below shows me starting a new wav.
Chances are though , you will have no one to wave to at first, so you have to figure out what their wave addresses are, or find some public waves to interact in.
What are public waves?
Like email conversations, you can usually only read waves you were added to as a contact. It is however possible to make a wave "public", so anyone with a wave account can read it (see this on how to make a wave public).
You can do a search with:public keyword search in the middle pane, to find public waves. I like to do a search with:public librarians
There are waves such as the Librarians wave directory that lists librarians on Google Wave, or you can go to any wave, click on the row of accounts listed in the wave, and add them to your contacts
The interesting part is that if the people you wave to are online, you can see them type their responses in real-time and by real-time I mean you can see them type their responses letter by letter! You can also respond in real time, so you can respond mid-way even before the other party has answered.
It's a novel experience, particularly if you have not used real time collaborative tools like Etherpad or Googledocs before.
Each wave you see would include a threaded history of the conversation so far, and you can add new people to the wave at any time, and they would have access to the whole conversation.
When you view any wave that has changed, any new wavelet (a message in the wave) or changed wavelet (see later) will have a green border around it. You can click on space bar, to quickly jump to these wavelets.
There is also a "playback" mode that allows you to see how the wave changed with time, who added new wavelets etc.
At this level of use Google Wave is just a email replacement, with the added advantage of being able to react in real time like IM, if your contacts are online. The presentation also reminds me of a threaded web-based Bulletin Board forum
Google Wave as a email-IM-Wiki Hybrid
An interesting twist is that the messages you type as well as those added by others can be edited/revised at anytime by anybody already on the wave.
This is of course based on the wiki concept, with similar history tracking features.
Embedding widgets, robots
Google Wave also makes it easy to embed widgets from IGoogle or OpenSocial gadget. But I found this really interesting extension that allow you to embed anything or html into the wave! So you can embed anything from Slideshare widgets to searchbox widgets or anything else with the correct html sniplet.
Google Wave also allows you to create robots which are automated agents that respond to events in the wave to carry out automated tasks. I don't have the programming chops to work this out yet, but here's a interesting bot that looks for ISBN13 and replaces with a book cover.
You can also embed the wave into blogs, webpages etc, but it isn't as easy as simply copying and pasting html. In this area, Friendfeed is much more user-friendly with similar real-time functions. Mashable has a nice explanation of this and more.
First thoughts
Google wave adds yet another possible communication tool to libraries. With libraries struggling with new communication channels such as Instant Messaging, Text messaging, Twitter, Facebook and more, it is a interesting problem to have.
To me the obvious use of Google wave would be as a replacement to email. Once Google Wave becomes ubiquitous like email or gmail or if institutions implement their own Wave platforms (it's an open platform), I suspect all libraries would use this routinely to answer queries.
It has all the features of email with added functions of Instant messaging. My experience manning email library accounts is that more often then not, library users give you insufficient information to help them and you desperately want to ask them more questions in real-time. Currently I either pick up the phone and call them, or possibly invite them to a meebo chat site or use services like Tinychat.
Not all of them will respond and even if they do, bringing the conversation to another location, means needing to keep track of the transaction on another communication platform (logs etc).
Google Wave makes all this seamless.
I've being racking my brain to see if anything currently done with wave cannot be done with email and so far I haven't come up with much.
Currently there are many issues with Google Wave, which is not surprising given the innovative nature of the service.
I think it's quite complicated to use, and being beta the interface needs tons of work, so much so that many people (almost all whom are geeky early adopters) are struggling with it. So it definitely isn't ready for the masses for a long while.
The main one is that I haven't found a way to be automatically notified in a popup that someone waved to me, or added me to a wave. (The 'Ping' mechanism is clumsy), leading to a strange situation where people are co-coordinating with each other via Twitter/IM first before going to Google wave to communicate.
For instance I have being using Twitter with @digicmb and @mlibrarianus to connect with them first before going to test wave.
My first library transaction over wave
Somewhat interestingly, I got a wave from a library user which would be my very first ever library transaction conducted via Wave (permission granted from user).
Nothing particularly interesting, at this level it works just like email, or rather gmail with threaded conversations or a normal web-based forum, particularly since we were not both online at the same time. If only Google wave could send me a popup notification of a reply, so I could respond instantly if desired.
The wiki-like functions of Google Wave isn't necessary a boon, in most cases, I don't really see the need to allow anyone to edit everything. Currently there doesn't seem to be any controls allowing you to turn that off, though there seems to be a provision for "read-only" messages that hasn't be turned on yet.
Also as @eagledawg on Twitter pointed out to me, while waves are private by default, anyone you include in a wave, can invite anyone else to join, there is no way to control this.
Other use cases
Obviously people are still trying to figure out Google wave. I have written in the past about mashups/services such as
- Creating information dashboards for service points
- Aggregating sources for research
- Sharing research links with users
These pieces were written with the full understanding that Google Wave might make all the ideas there irrelevant eventually. In theory Google wave could be a component of the use cases above (probably as a replacement for meebo, or Friendfeed real-time widget), or it could be used on its own.
For instance the Rssybot which allows you to watch RSS feeds in wave, seems to have a lot of potential.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is Viliana Dakova, or 'Gymkhana Girl' winning a small-time car control competition in Varna, Bulgaria. As you can tell, she's a better driver than you.
I, for one, couldn't hope to keep any car sliding perfectly through a tight obstacle course. Dqkova does it in a Lada. The gauntlet has been thrown down, fellas.


text: VOA Interviews: Sonam Dolma, Contemporary Visual Artist Known for her abstract paintings and sculptural installations, Sonam Dolma is possibly the only Tibetan female contemporary artist of her generation. She was born in Tibet, grew up in India and immigrated to Switzerland in 1973 at the age of 19. She says that abstraction of form allows her to experiment with her inner feelings and worldviews, and enables her to express them more easily. Sonam Dolma's works have been exhibited at galleries in Europe and the United States.


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text:
Microsoft Fixes 11 Bugs in April Patch Tuesday
Microsoft fixed 11 vulnerabilities in Windows and several significant applications, including Internet Explorer, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Office, as part of April's Patch Tuesday release.
Of the six security bulletins, four are rated "critical" and would result in remote code execution, Microsoft said in its Patch Tuesday advisory, released Apr. 10. The other two were rated "important." The top three bulletins that administrators should prioritize are the Internet Explorer update (MS12-023), a fix for Windows Common Controls affecting multiple Microsoft products (MS12-027), and the Authenticode patch (MS12-024) affecting all current versions of Windows.
Microsoft has already seen exploits in the wild targeting Windows Common Controls as part of "limited attacks." Attackers have been embedding the exploit into an RTF document tricking users into opening the malicious attachment on emails. Attackers could also redirect users to malicious Websites booby-trapped to attack Internet Explorer.
Windows Common Controls: Core Vulnerability
The Windows Common Controls component "is included in so many Microsoft programs it affects almost every Microsoft user on the planet," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle. The security hole exists in Microsoft Office 2003 through 2010 on Windows, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 through 2008 R2, BizTalk Server 2002, Commerce Server 2002 through 2009 R2, Visual FoxPro 8 and Visual Basic 6 Runtime.
Even though there aren't a lot of security bulletins this month (six is usually considered a light month), the fact that MS12-027 affects so many products means system administrators will still have a heavy load.
"The work involved in patching every platform affected by MS12-027 may overwhelm smaller shops," said Tyler Reguly, technical manager of security research and development.
Patch All Windows Systems
The Authenticode flaw in Windows (MS12-024), if exploited would result in remote code execution on all current Windows operating systems. The flaw affects third-party signed code as it allows an attacker modify existing applications without invalidating the existing signature, said Kurt Baumgartner, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab. The user would be silently infected in the middle of installing a legitimate application if the executable has been modified in this way.
The other Windows patch fixed a critical remote code execution flaw in all Windows operating systems running the .NET framework. Attackers could exploit the security hole to remotely execute code if a user views a specially crafted Web page using a Web browser that can run XAML Browser Applications (XBAPs). For administrators who can't patch systems running .NET immediately, Microsoft recommended disabling XAML applications in the browser security settings for the time being.
Although the Microsoft Office flaw (MS12-028) was rated important, Rapid7's Marcus Carey felt it could be considered critical because it is easy to exploit and also would result in remote code execution. The other important bulletin fixed an information disclosure issue in ForeFront Unified Access Gateway.


text:
March ECB buys every month assets for 60 billion. Euro in an attempt to revive inflation. Chief economist at Bank Peter Praet said last week that the financial institution is willing to do more as the risks that the ECB may not reach its target for inflation, increased.
But unlike previous years, when weaknesses in the eurozone countries were the main factor influencing inflation is now the main external, which the ECB can hardly influence. Oil prices fell by nearly 40% since May, while the price of iron ore is close to its lowest level in history because of concerns that the Chinese economy will continue to slow down.
While the economic picture remains positive in the euro area, the ECB may be reluctant new actions, economists said.
"The ECB will be forced by the current market turbulence to extend or increase its program of quantitative easing," said PIMCO portfolio manager Andrew Bosamuart. According to him, it is too early to say how this will affect the eurozone, the slower growth in external demand from emerging markets, especially so in China.


text:
Careers Career Opportunities
Career Opportunities
Effective regulation of the energy industry requires a diverse set of talents and skills. We employ over 1,400 federal employees in the areas of Accounting, Engineering, Economics, Finance, Law, Information Technology, Business, and the Sciences. Check out our exciting career paths below to see if your interests and skill sets are a good match:
- » Accountant
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- » Environmental Specialists
- » Human Resources Specialists
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In addition to these career opportunities, FERC employs budget analysts, human resources specialists, paralegal specialists, and communication specialists who help to accomplish the mission.


text:
Department of Primatology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 200
fax: +49 (341) 3550 - 299
Technical- and research reports/ thesis (in reverse chronological order)
Campbell, G., Junker, J., Boesch, C. & Kuehl, H. 2012. Global A.P.E.S. status report. A report with information from the A.P.E.S. Project. Internal report compiled on request of the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP).
Arandjelovic, M., Boesch, C., Campbell, G., Head, J., Hohmann, G., Junker, J., Kouakou, Y. C., Kuehl, H., Leendertz, F., Leinert, V., Moebius, Y., Murai, M., Oelze, V., Rabanal, L., Robbins, M., Vergnes, V. & Wagner, O. Pan African Programme. The cultured chimpanzee. Guidelines for research and data collection. Max-Planck Gesellschaft. Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. June 2012.
Junker, J., N'Goran, P., Kouakou, Y. C. & Kuehl, H. Field guide. Survey training workshop Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, February/March 2009.
Junker, J., N'Goran, P., Kouakou, Y. C. & Kuehl, H. Biomonitoring guide. Survey training workshop Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, February/March 2009.
Junker, J. 2008. An analysis of numerical trends in African elephant populations. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MSc in Zoology, at the Conservation Ecology Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Junker, J. 2005. A meta-analysis of elephant (Loxodonta africana) population trends across southern Africa. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree BSc(Hons) in Zoology at the Conservation Ecology Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Junker, J. 2001. Experiential Training Report, Etosha National Park. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the National Diploma in Nature Conservation at the Cape Technikon, South Africa.
Junker, J. & Stander, P. 2001. The demography and home ranges of marked lions (Panthera leo) between 1981- 2001 in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Predator Research Programme, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia.
Refereed journal articles and book chapters (in reverse chronological order)
Junker, J., Boesch, C., Mundry, R., Stephens, C., Lormie, M., Tweh, C., Kühl, H. S. (2015). Education and access to fish but not economic development predict chimpanzee and mammal occurrence in West Africa. Biological Conservation, 182, 27-35.
Junker, J., Boesch, C., Freeman, T., Mundry, R., Stephens, C. and Kühl, H.S. (in review). Integrating wildlife conservation with conflicting economic land-use goals in a West African biodiversity hotspot.
Junker, J., Boesch, C., Mundry, R. and Kühl, H. S. 2013. Spatial heterogeneity in socio-economic conditions predicts patterns of large mammal species richness and chimpanzee density across a regional landscape in West Africa. Ecology and Society, in review.
Tweh, C. G., Kouakou, C. Y., Hillers, A., Kühl, H. S., Lormie, M. M. and Junker, J. 2013. Closing the data gap - results of the first nationwide chimpanzee Pan troglodytes verus and mammal survey across Liberia. Oryx, in press.
J. Junker, S. Blake, C. Boesch, G. Campbell, L. du Toit, C. Duvall, A. Ekobo, G. Etoga, A. Galat-Luong, J. Gamys, J. Ganas-Swaray, S. Gatti, A. Ghiurghi, N. Granier, J. Hart, J. Head, I. Herbinger, T. C. Hicks, B. Huijbregts, I. S. Imong, N. Kuempel, S. Lahm, J. Lindsell, F. Maisels, M. McLennan, L. Martinez, B. Morgan, D. Morgan, F. Mulindahabi, R. Mundry, K. P. N'Goran, E. Normand, A. Ntongho, D. T. Okon, C.-A. Petre, A. Plumptre, H. Rainey, S. Regnaut, C. Sanz, E. Stokes, A. Tondossama, S. Tranquilli, J. Sunderland-Groves, P. Walsh, Y. Warren, E. A. Williamson and H. S. Kuehl. 2012. Recent decline in suitable environmental conditions for African great apes. Diversity and Distribution, 18, 1077–1091.
van Aarde, R., Ferreira, S., Page, B., Jackson, T., Junker, J., Gough, K., Ott, T., Trimble, M., Olivier, P., Guldemond, R. and de Beer, Y. 2008. Elephant population biology and ecology. Chapter 2. In: Bob Scholes (Ed.), South African elephant assessment. Wits University Press, Johannesburg.
Junker, J., van Aarde, R. and Ferreira, S. 2008. Temporal trends in elephant Loxodonta africana numbers and densities in northern Botswana: is the population really increasing? Oryx, 42, 58-65. [pdf]
Various media coverage (in reverse chronological order)
Tecee Boley, 17 October 2012. Wildlife at risk: experts warn hunting, deforestation killing Liberia's future. FrontPageAfrica Newspaper. [pdf]
FM4 ORF.at Radio interview. Apes facing habitat loss. Chris Cummins examines a comprehensive new study that shows an alarming loss of habitat for the world's apes. [Link]
Catherine Vincent, 5 October 2012. L'habitat des grands singes est réduit à peau de chagrin. Le Monde.
Matt Walker (Editor, BBC Nature), 28 September 2012. Great ape habitat in Africa has dramatically declined. BBC Nature. [Link]
Research News – Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 25 September 2012. Dwindling space for Africa's great apes. The first continent-wide perspective of the distribution of African ape habitat shows dramatic declines in recent years. [Link]
Vaidyanathan, G. 2011.The cultured chimpanzee. Do chimpanzees have traditions? As wild populations dwindle, researchers are racing to find out. Nature476, 266-269. [pdf]


text:
The Bakery Cottage
Stop in for some delicious treats!!
My name is Linda McClure and my husband is Jeff. We have been making custom wedding cakes for years. It's time to expand our business, so we opened a small bakery in Vidalia. Along with our custom-designed cakes, we will have fresh baked cupcakes in several flavors.
We now offer custom cookies! We make our cookie cutter to match any design. Check out our cookie page to see some of the cookie designs we have made.
Beautiful wedding cakes for your special day
Each wedding cake is designed to reflect the theme of your wedding. Whether your cake is whimsical or elegant, it will be perfect for your special day.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to meet with us please call 318-336-5900. We will be happy to sit down with you to design the wedding cake that will be perfect for your special day. You will be able to taste several of our flavors to help you decide the flavors you would like for your cake. Appointments usually last for 1 hour, There is a $25.00 consultation fee for your appointment and if you decide to book your date with us then an additional $50.00 booking fee is required. This will reserve your date. The consultation and booking fee will be applied to the final cost of your cake. An estimate sent to you does not constitute an order. If you do not pay the deposit to reserve your date within two weeks of the consulation, we cannot hold your spot.
All wedding cakes are paid in full 2 weeks befroe the wedding date. There is no refund for cancelled cake orders.
We are located at 207 Carter St, Vidalia, LA
Our phone number is 318-336-5900.
Hours of operation:
Tuesday through Friday - 10-5
Saturday - 10-12 (noon)
Closed Sunday and Monday
email me at email@example.com
Birthday cakes, baby shower cakes, or just a cake to enjoy, we will be happy to make that great tasting cake for you.
Stop by the bakery for fresh baked cupcakes.
Our daily cupcake flavors are:
vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting
lemon cupcake with lemon buttercream frosting
chocolate cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting
red velvet cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting
strawberry cupcake with strawberry buttercream frosting
ALSO: the flavor of the day
cupcakes are $1.50 each


text:
Is it possible to suffer a misfortune or a harm of which we are completely unaware? At first sight the idea seem ridiculous. It's like someone telling you they have just discovered that yesterday they had been suffering a toothache all day but were quite unaware of it at the time!
Consider the following situation, however...
John is universally judged to be a competent manager. A new project is mooted by higher management and "water-cooler" conversations lead to the informal proposal that John should be earmarked to lead the project. It will mean a higher salary for him, more responsibility, higher status and greater job satisfaction. Everyone agrees that he is the right man for the job and that he would enjoy the challenge. However, Alan has it in for John and fabricates evidence that John has had mental problems in the past. The management simply accept what Alan says on face value and quietly drop the idea of promoting John to project leader. Years later, after all the characters in our drama have passed away, John's biographer comes across evidence of Alan's deceit. He judges that what Alan did indeed harm John and writes in his biography that John's career was blighted by the malice of Alan.
The biographer's judgement seems to me to be quite correct. Had Alan not acted in the way that he did John would have experienced a benefit that, in the event, he was denied. Alan has clearly done John a harm. But the problem is that this contradicts our previous intuition for John has not experienced anything disagreeable.
Many people balk at the idea that a third-party's judgement (such as the biographer's) can override or somehow negate the subjective judgement of the person themselves. After all, what right have I got to gainsay your claim that you are happy? Surely you are the ultimate authority on your own happiness? However, if we insist that a misfortune is only a misfortune if you experience it then we have to conclude that Alan has done John no harm. Furthermore, any betrayal, gossip, infidelity or theft that remains undiscovered is never wrong in itself. It only becomes wrong when it is discovered and the resultant distress is experienced; what renders something wrong is only consequent bad experiences.
This would put a colleague who learnt about Alan's deceit in a paradoxical position. If he informs John about the loss of the job opportunity, John will feel anger and disappointment and so the colleague automatically will come to share responsibility with Alan for causing a harm to John! Without his action John will not have suffered anger and disappointment. This clearly goes against our common-sense beliefs about harms for we usually praise people who bring injustices to light - not blame them for causing distress - even though their actions may lead to the experience of distress. If John discovers the wrong done to him by Alan through his colleague's information then the distress he experiences will be as a result of what Alan did - not as a result of his colleague bringing it to light. The colleague cannot share the blame of the harm just for making John aware of it. In addition, the law does not treat the wrongness of a crime as consisting in the distressing awareness of it. If a fraud was committed two months ago it was wrong then - not just when I discover and report it.
I think the problem of our contradictory intuitions lies in what appears to be a conflict between two opposing viewpoints. On the one hand we have the first-person viewpoint of John ("I am happy and contented") and the third-person viewpoint of the biographer ("John has suffered and so is unhappy"). It seems illegitimate for someone to make such a judgement in the face of an authoritative judgement made by a person about their own state of mind.
The answer is that the third-person perspective is bit more subtle than I have described it. The biographer is not really saying "I judge John to have suffered a misfortune". Rather, he is putting himself in John's place, empathetically, and saying "If John had known about Alan's action then I judge he would have been distressed because he would recognise that an objective harm had been done to him. Therefore, he has suffered a misfortune even though he did not discover the deceit and experienced the distress".
The implication of this is that our individual lives cannot be seen and evaluated simply in terms of our here and now subjectivity - the flow of conscious experiences - but have to be viewed as stories in an objective world in which the third-person perspective is as important as the first.


text: Since 1976 our Family Owned business has provided the best in customer service to all of our valued customers. We stock a huge inventory of Casement Window Operators in our warehouses but only show the more popular pieces online. Don't see your window part? Just call or email us a picture to email@example.com We have it all!!!


text:
Myrexis, Inc. Announces Board Approval of Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution
SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myrexis, Inc. (Nasdaq:MYRX) today announced that its Board of Directors has determined, after extensive and careful consideration of potential strategic alternatives, that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to dissolve the Company and liquidate its assets. In connection with the dissolution and liquidation, which is subject to shareholder approval, the Company intends to distribute to its shareholders all available cash, except such cash as is required for paying or making reasonable provision for known and potential liabilities and other obligations of the Company.
Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved the dissolution and liquidation of the Company, subject to shareholder approval. The Company intends to call a special meeting of the shareholders to seek approval of a Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution (the "Plan of Dissolution") and will file proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as practicable.
"After evaluating the Company's strategic options, the Board of Directors reached the conclusion that it is in the best interest of the shareholders to dissolve and liquidate the Company," stated Gerald P. Belle, Chairman of Myrexis' Board of Directors. "The Board of Directors and management, together with its external advisors, devoted substantial time and effort in identifying and pursuing opportunities to enhance shareholder value; however, that process did not yield a potential transaction which the Board viewed as reasonably likely to provide greater realizable value to its shareholders than the complete dissolution and liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Plan of Dissolution."
The Plan of Dissolution contemplates an orderly wind down of the Company's business and operations. If the Company's shareholders approve the Plan of Dissolution, the Company intends to file a certificate of dissolution, delist its shares from The NASDAQ Global Market, satisfy or resolve its remaining liabilities and obligations, including but not limited to contingent liabilities and claims and costs associated with the dissolution and liquidation, make reasonable provisions for unknown claims and liabilities, attempt to convert all of its remaining assets into cash or cash equivalents, and make distributions to its shareholders of cash available for distribution based upon their proportionate ownership at the time of the dissolution, subject to applicable legal requirements.
The Company currently estimates that it will establish a reserve of between $7 million and $12 million, which will be used to pay all expenses (including operating expenses up until the dissolution) and other known, non-contingent liabilities, and includes reasonable provision for expenses of liquidation and contingent and unknown liabilities as required by Delaware law. Based on this estimated reserve, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate amount of an initial liquidating distribution to shareholders will be between $72.9 million and $77.9 million, or between $2.72 to $2.91 per share, based on 26,817,294 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 2, 2012. The Company expects to make an initial liquidating distribution as soon as practicable following the dissolution.
The amount distributable to shareholders, however, may vary substantially from this estimate based on a number of factors, including the resolution of outstanding known and contingent liabilities, the possible assertion of claims that are currently unknown to the Company and costs incurred to wind down the Company's business. In particular, pursuant to the Company's Separation and Distribution Agreement with its former parent, Myriad Genetics, Inc., at the time of the Company's separation from Myriad Genetics in 2009, the Company assumed liability for certain pending or threatened legal matters related to the Company's business, and is obligated to indemnify Myriad Genetics for any liability arising out of such matters, including any costs of litigating such matters. Although the Company does not believe that any obligation it assumed under the Separation and Distribution Agreement will result in a material liability, it cannot predict with certainty the amount or timing of such liability, if any. The Board of Directors, in consultation with its advisors, has evaluated this contingent liability, as well as other matters, in order to make a determination about reasonable amounts to reserve, which is reflected in the estimated reserve described above. Although the Board of Directors believes there is a reasonable possibility that a substantial amount of the contingency portion of the reserve will ultimately be distributed to the shareholders, Delaware law requires that the Company's Board of Directors make reasonable provision for contingent and unknown obligations in connection with a dissolution and liquidation of the Company, which requires that a portion of the Company's assets be reserved until the resolution of such matters. Further, if additional amounts are ultimately determined to be necessary to satisfy any of these obligations, shareholders may receive substantially less than the current estimates.
If, prior to its dissolution, the Company receives an offer for a transaction that will, in the view of the Board, provide superior value to shareholders than the value of the estimated distributions under the Plan of Dissolution, taking into account all factors that could affect valuation, including timing and certainty of payment or closing, credit market risks, proposed terms and other factors, the Plan of Dissolution and the dissolution could be abandoned in favor of such a transaction.
This press release is for informational purposes only. It is neither a solicitation of a proxy, an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Myrexis, Inc. In connection with the proposed Plan of Dissolution, the Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a proxy statement and other relevant materials. THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PLAN OF DISSOLUTION. Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and the other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the Company will mail a copy of the definitive proxy statement to shareholders of record on the record date when it becomes available. A free copy of the proxy statement when it becomes available and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company may also be obtained free of charge on the "Investors" section of Myrexis' website at www.myrexis.com or by directing a written request to: Myrexis, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 305 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, or by contacting the Investor Relations department of Myrexis, Inc. at (801) 214-7800.
Participants in the Solicitation
Myrexis and its executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders with respect to the proposed Plan of Dissolution. Information regarding their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, in the solicitation will be included in the proxy statement filed by Myrexis with the SEC.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Stockholders
The following summary describes certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of Myrexis common stock related to the Plan of Dissolution. Unless otherwise specifically indicated herein, this summary addresses the tax consequences only to a beneficial owner of Myrexis common stock that for U.S. income tax purposes is: (1) a citizen or individual resident of the U.S., (2) a corporation organized in or under the laws of the U.S. or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (4) any trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person (a "U.S. holder"), and, even with respect to such beneficial owners, this summary does not address special considerations that may be applicable to certain specific categories of investors.
Amounts received by stockholders pursuant to the Plan of Dissolution will be applied against and reduce a stockholder's tax basis in his, her or its shares of stock. Gain will be recognized as a result of a liquidating distribution to the extent that the aggregate value of the distribution and any prior liquidating distributions received by a stockholder with respect to a share exceeds his, her or its tax basis for that share. If the Company makes more than one liquidating distribution, each liquidating distribution will be allocated proportionately to each share of stock owned by a stockholder. Any loss will generally be recognized only when the final distribution from the Company has been received and then only if the aggregate value of all liquidating distributions with respect to a share is less than the stockholder's tax basis for that share. Gain or loss recognized by a stockholder will be capital gain or loss provided the shares are held as capital assets, and will be long term capital gain or loss if the stock has been held for more than one year. If no distributions are made to the stockholders, each stockholder will generally recognize a capital loss equal to the stockholder's basis in his, her or its shares. Such loss will be recognized on the last day of the year in which the stock became worthless as if sold on that day. Although we currently do not intend to make distributions of property other than cash, in the event of a distribution of property, the stockholder's tax basis in such property immediately after the distribution will be the fair market value of such property at the time of distribution.
The tax consequences of the Plan of Dissolution may vary depending upon the particular circumstances of the stockholder. The Company recommends that each stockholder consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the federal income tax consequences of the Plan of Dissolution as well as the state, local and foreign tax consequences. Furthermore, each stockholder should review the more detailed discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. stockholders that will be included in the proxy statement to be filed with the SEC.
Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements relating to the estimate of the reserve to be established to pay all expenses and other known, non-contingent liabilities, expenses of liquidation and contingent and unknown liabilities and the estimate of an initial liquidating distribution. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," the negative of these terms or other terminology.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including failure of the Company's shareholders to approve the proposed Plan of Dissolution, the Company's ability to settle, make reasonable provision for or otherwise resolve its liabilities and obligations, including the establishment of an adequate contingency reserve, and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, as updated from time to time in the Company's subsequent SEC filings. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the dissolution and liquidation of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Plan of Dissolution, the availability, amount or timing of liquidating distributions to shareholders, the adequacy of reserves established to satisfy the Company's obligations and the belief that a substantial amount of the contingency portion of the reserve will ultimately be distributed to the shareholders, and other statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts, are only estimates or predictions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law.
The Myrexis, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9929
CONTACT: Myrexis
Andrea Kendell
Chief Financial Officer
(801) 214-7879
The Ruth Group (on behalf of Myrexis)
Stephanie Carrington (investors)
(646) 536-7017
Tracy Lessor, Ph.D. (media)
(646) 536-7006


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Dell to offer preloaded Citrix/XenSource hypervisor?
Two weeks ago at LinuxWorld conference Kevin Kettler, CTO at Dell, showed an OptiPlex 745 running Windows and Linux virtual machines on top of XenSource hypervisor.
Reports from sevearl news sources are vague and very different: InformationWeekk and others are reporting Dell will preload XenSource (now acquired by Citrix) hypervisor on its server line, while Linux Insider and others are reporting such offering will be available on consumers PCs as well, as soon as early 2008.
First scenario is very likely, considering Dell is working with VMware on upcoming ESX Server hardware appliance: the hardware vendor may want to offer more than one hypervisor to its customers.
virtualization.info Newest articles
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Yesterday VMware announced the release of version 4.5, available for…
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VMware vRealize Automation 7.3 release notes can be found at this link.
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said VMware's CEO Pat Gelsinger talking about…
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Encryption of virtual machines is something that has been requested for years by the security community. VMware continued to postpone its implementation due to the negative operational impact that many…
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2016 edition of VMworld US has been quite turbulent, on the other hand during VMworld Europe, happening these days in Barcelona, the company announced a few more products for the…
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Yesterday VMware announced Log Insight's new major…
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During Oracle OpenWorld 2016 the company released version 3.4.2 of its enterprise virtualization solution.
Oracle VM is available for both x86 and SPARC based processor architectures and uses the Xen hypervisor…
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Part of National Museums Liverpool
Also in this section…?
As well as caring for and displaying our collections, curators at Walker Art Gallery also carry out research projects. These can be to find out more about a particular artist or movement, locate lost works or produce books or papers on different areas of art history, for example. Often this work goes on away from the public eye. Sometimes, however, their work is publicised. Other times they may meet a dead end in their research and need help.
Here you can take a look at what some of the curators have been working on.
Our Pride and Prejudice research project is identifying items with an LGBT connection from our fine and decorative art collections, as well as from Museum of Liverpool's urban history collections.
Help us find out more about this Croatian artist who had strong links with Liverpool. Vlaho Bukovac research project
These pages contain lists of works from Walker Art Gallery's collection whose provenance is either incomplete or uncertain. They are published to assist with the search for works of art that may have been wrongfully taken during the Holocaust and World war Two. View the Walker Spoliation list
Here you can see the continental European paintings, drawings and sculptures purchased since the last catalogue of this part of our collection was published in 1984. View the list.
We use cookies to make our website work better for visitors. They allow improved functionality, personalised services or advertising and the ability to analyse traffic on our website. For more information on how we use cookies, please read our Cookies Policy.
© Copyright 2019


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Decision on Charges Expected in St. Louis Shooting
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Charges could be filed Wednesday morning in the shooting at a downtown St. Louis business school.
Susan Ryan, spokeswoman for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, says the office is reviewing a police report and will likely make an announcement on charges before noon.
A part-time student walked into an office at Stevens Institute of Business & Arts Tuesday and shot a longtime administrator in the chest, before turning the gun on himself. About 40 students in the building scrambled to safety. No one else was hurt.
The wounded men remain hospitalized Wednesday. A spokesman at Saint Louis University Hospital declined to discuss their conditions. Their names have not been released.
Police have not disclosed a motive but Police Chief Sam Dotson described it as a targeted shooting.


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Wednesday September 19, 2007 12:17 pm
Darth Vader Hangs Out on Your Nightstand
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Movies
Let the force be with you, even at night. The Darth Vader Alarm Clock projects the time onto the ceiling, with a red snooze alarm button that doubles as a nightlight. Of course Darth's lightsaber also lights up, just in case you can't sleep and want a middle of the night challenge to the evil dude. Available next month, $29.99 is a small price to pay to contribute to your Star Wars collection of useless, yet beloved memorabilia.
Read More | Star Wars Shop
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Prior to the use of protease inhibitors, one of the greatest fears of a person living with HIV/AIDS was having the "look" of a person with HIV-associated wasting.
Loss of lean body mass and fat caused this skeletal appearance. Even in the era of HAART, HIV-associated wasting still occurs and has a significant effect on quality of life, illness and death.
The fact that wasting is not talked about much, not recognized or even monitored may be due to the focus placed on the body shape or metabolic (elevated blood fats, insulin resistance) changes occurring today. Wasting still occurs and to properly manage wasting, early detection and frequent monitoring is necessary.
A Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) test is one tool to estimate body composition and monitor for wasting. For more than four years, AIDS Project Los Angeles' HIV & Nutrition Program has performed BIA tests on people with HIV/AIDS.
Body Composition
Part of a person's body weight is comprised of bone, water, muscle, organs, blood and other materials and is referred to as lean body mass or sometimes called fat free mass. The rest of a person's body weight is fat.
A specific part of the lean body mass plays a crucial role in fighting infections and performing the day-to-day chores the body must do to keep functioning. This part is called body cell mass and includes skeletal muscle, organs, other cells and fluid. A minimal amount of body cell mass must be maintained by the body to support its day-to-day activities plus fight infection. Loss of body cell mass is wasting.
Q&A on BIA
What about taking a scale weight or using those scales that give body fat percentage?
Scale weight alone is not an adequate indicator of internal health. When someone loses, gains or even maintains weight, the composition of that weight needs to be frequently assessed and monitored.
If weight gain has occurred, was it in fat or body cell mass? If weight loss has taken place, was it in fat or body cell mass? And if weight has remained stable, has the makeup of that weight changed internally?
Frequent monitoring with a BIA test can provide answers to these questions. Other machines on the market may only give weight and fat percentage and not provide the body cell mass component. Not to downplay the need to monitor fat stores and at the same time satisfy everyone's curiosity, the body cell mass is the component associated with wasting and survival.
How can I preserve and increase body cell mass?
Adequate intake of calories from protein, carbohydrates and fats, plus adequate fluid, are part the solution. Viral suppression, exercise, hormonal regulation and absence of opportunistic infections are also needed to maintain and increase body cell mass. If you are experiencing loss of appetite or side effects that interfere with food intake, speak to your doctor and dietitian for suggestions. Not eating enough leads to weight loss and can further compromise your health.
Does the test hurt?
No, the test is painless. A person lies on a massage table and electrodes are placed on your hand, wrist, foot and ankle. The test requires less than 2-3 minutes to perform. No blood is drawn for a BIA test.
Where Can I Get a Test?
Ask your doctor for a BIA test. Some doctors are doing BIA tests and that way your test results get put into your medical chart to help direct the course of your medical care. If your doctor does not do BIAs, APLA offers a Preserve Lean Body Mass Class with BIA workshop twice each month. During this workshop, measurements of the waist, mid-arm, chest, plus a tricep skinfold measurement are taken to track changes associated with body shape. A BIA test should be done more than once to monitor any changes over time. Clients are urged to return and repeat the test every 4 months.
If you are interested in attending the class and having a BIA test or any other classes, please call Janelle L'Heureux, M.S., R.D. at (213) 201-1556 or Marcy Fenton, M.S., R.D. at (213) 201-1611.
|Janelle L'Heureux, M.S., R.D., is a nutritionist in APLA's Treatment Education Program. She can be reached by calling (213) 201-1556 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
This article has been reprinted at The Body with the permission of AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).


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A subsistence farm used RDP support in order to become commercially viable by investing in organic production.
Projects & Practice
An agricultural cooperative invested in setting up organic apple orchards with anti-hail nets. They also acquired agricultural machinery to support the production of organic beef.
A farm employing people with special needs set up a process line and an experimental kitchen, where non-commercial agricultural produce can be turned into new products.
A cheese-producing farm used RDP support to set up a new plant for producing speciality cheeses and ensure its long-term financial sustainability.
RDP support helped a family farm to generate added value by applying a sustainable model of production through biodynamic agriculture.
Amstelland Natuurzuivel is a cooperative of farmers in the Amstelland region who set up a milk factory to produce regional dairy products for the Amsterdam area.
A company created a modular rearing system that allows them to combine egg and quality rooster meat production, while respecting the environment and animal welfare.
A fruit and vegetables producing cooperative used RDP support to expand its cold storage capacity in order to better respond to market trends.
A marketing project to promote the high-quality Finnish oats to the international market and increase the income of small farms.
The challenge of increasing food production without harming the environment might be solved through innovative production techniques, such as aquaponics.


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Dr. Igor Mitrofanov of Russia's Institute for Space Research (IKI) in Moscow is the principal investigator of the high-energy neutron detector on the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission. Mitrofanov was responsible for the development of the instrument, including its manufacturing, testing, verification and integration into the Odyssey system, and is responsible for the instrument's operation, observations, data processing, analysis and archiving.
Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), and educated in the former Soviet Union, Mitrofanov attended a government school for gifted students with interests in higher math and physics. He studied physics at Leningrad University, focusing on quantum mechanics. After graduation from the university in 1972, he studied astrophysics at the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute in Leningrad. In 1981, he began work at Moscow's Space Research Institute (IKI) where he has remained for 20 years. Focusing on experimental high-energy astronomy, Mitrofanov participated on a Soviet-French gamma-ray spectroscopy experiment on the Soviet Phobos mission to Mars in 1988-89, and successfully detected the gamma-ray albedo of Mars by with the instrument in February 1989. He also served as the principal investigator of a Russian-U.S. gamma-ray spectroscopy experiment on Russia's Mars '96 mission.
Mitrofanov describes his experience working with American colleagues on Mars Odyssey: "I obtained the experience to work professionally side by side with Americans, to resolve problems together, to face common difficulties, to celebrate joint successes. I have observed quite different styles of behavior of Russians and Americans in many practical situations, but I was very pleased to discover that they have very similar approaches to the most basic values."


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Pottery & Porcelain Marks – Arrows: Arrows have been used as marks since the early 19th century, about 1828, and are still used today. Earliest marks are a line with an upside-down v-shaped symbol on top. Later marks have two arrows, usually crossed, with a few lines jutting outward on each side at the bottom. These marks appear most often on earthenware, but they also appear on art pottery and stoneware. Harker Pottery Co. is one of the main producers of 20th century American pottery with arrow marks.
Enter your email below to receive Kovels Komments for the latest antiques & collectibles news, answers to readers questions, marks and tips. In your inbox every Wednesday.
Current & Past Issues
Buyer's Price Guide
Words of Wisdom (Letter to Lee)


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As ABC's "Castle" hit a new season with a powerful premiere on Monday night, one plot line is even more certain than the show's weekly death -- Castle and Beckett seem destined to never get together despite an obvious mutual attraction.
Ironically, the two actors cannot even agree why their characters are still dancing around their love emotions heading into season 3.
Nathan Fillion, who plays mystery writer Richard Castle, tells us that as soon as he gets together with his beautiful police detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) the show will lose it's spark. And it's surging audience.
"If you were to get what you wish for, it's all over," he tells PopcornBiz from the "Castle" Season Three premiere party. "You stop wanting. You stop yearning."
And importantly, the fans hoping the two would-be lovers will get together can turn off their television with a satisfied expression and stop watching.
"I'm off the mind that if you are watching people fail on television, that you are enjoying yourself," says Fillion. "Because that's a position that you don't want to be in. You want to see how they are NOT doing it right."
"You have to keep the wanting," he adds. "And that's the path we're taking."
Not surprising, Katic has a differing opinion. She believes the two characters are actually too gun-shy to get together.
'They are a little bit scared," she tells us. "Every couple of episodes they start going there and then they duck back out of it."
Yet, to back up Fillion's point, television history is filled with tension-filled couples who got together and immediately lost significant chunks of audience -- from "Moonlighting" to "Cheers." Doesn't this play a factor?
"I don't believe in the 'Moonlighting' curse," she says. "They can fall in love. They can get together. And it will still be spicy."
And when will this happen? "I'm like get them together this year, whatever," Katic says. "But that's up to the show's wonderful creators and writers. I just say the words."


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A North Texas man has been sentenced to death for setting a convenience store clerk on fire during a robbery.
Matthew Johnson, 38, admitted to police that he was high on crack and drunk when he walked into 76-year-old Nancy Harris' store in Garland in May 2012. He was convicted last week of capital murder.
After about nine hours of deliberation over the course of two days, the jury of 11 women and one man unanimously sentenced Johnson to death. The jury last week returned a guilty verdict for the May 2012 death of Nancy Harris.
U.S. & World
Harris' family had a chance to speak directly to Johnson after the verdict was read.
"To begin with, you are not sorry, and you are most definitely not forgiven," the victim's granddaughter, Shelby Harris, said through tears.
"I don't know how long I'm going to grieve my mother's loss and how long I'm going to pray for yours," said Brian Harris, her son. "But I do know one thing -- I'll be there the day the state of Texas straps you to a gurney and sends you to meet your maker."
"I hope the words you hear today are not wasted on you," said Chris Harris, another of Nancy Harris' sons. "I hope they come back years from now and torture you. I hope the screams of my mother tear your soul for eternity."
Johnson showed no emotion during the family statements.
One of Johnson's attorneys, Nancy Mulder, said her client expected the sentence.
"Like he said on the witness stand and he said in his interview with police, 'I deserve the death penalty. What I did was horrible,'" she told reporters.
Because it is a death penalty case, there is an automatic appeals process, which could take up to eight years, if not longer, she said.
In surveillance video that was shown in court, Johnson is seen with a water bottle full of lighter fluid. He douses Harris in the liquid, robs her and then sets her on fire.
Harris sustained burns over 40 percent of her body and died days later.
During the two-week trial, Johnson testified that he didn't mean to set Harris on fire and was remorseful about her death.
On Monday, Johnson took the stand on his own behalf, trying to save his life.
"I just want to live long enough to see my girls grow up," he said. "I put myself and family in a bad situation and the victim's families. I feel like a coward. I have my day of redemption, and I ask forgiveness from the victims families and for the court to have mercy."
Johnson is married and has three daughters, ages 15, 11 and 3.
NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.


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Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine
Atari ST
What do you need help on? Cancel X
Grab the controls of Cybernoid - the Fighting Machine - and destroy the squadrons of pirate craft. Upgrade your Cybernoid from a humble space battle fighter to a spectacular Fighting Machine. Blast your way forward firing bounce bombs and impact mines annihilating all in your path with your invincible CyberMace. It's a fast and furious orgy of video destruction!


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A Glance into Costa Rica's Health Care System
Costa Rica – my home country – has suddenly become part of the health care debate after celebrity radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh said that he would move to Costa Rica go to Costa Rica for health care if ObamaCare were approved by Congress the federal government gets too involved in health care in the next few years.
Soon after Sunday's vote in the House of Representatives, a website was set up to buy Limbaugh a one-way, first-class ticket to Costa Rica. Liberals were quick to point out that my country has a socialized health care system that is among the best in Latin America.
People claim that in Costa Rica health care is a right, not a commodity. The problem surfaces when you actually need to exercise your "right."
Last July, La Nación newspaper carried a report about one hospital that had 5,000 people on a waiting list for surgery, some waiting up to a year. Among those on the list, 900 patients waited months to have possible cancerous tumors extracted. According to the head of the Oncology Department, "We know that 85% to 90% will be cancer cases based on previous medical tests." For many of these patients, the wait is the equivalent of a death sentence.
Stories like this are common in the Costa Rican press.
Unfortunately, the current nationalized health care system and the state-owned monopoly in health insurance stifle the development of a viable, dynamic private health care system. Thus, many Costa Ricans can't imagine life without "free" health care. That's too bad since there's nothing free about mandatory monthly contributions from workers and nothing just about being forced to pay for deadly delays in health care attention.


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|Rocky River, Ohio
|High School:
|Rocky River
2014 Outdoor: Finished 17th in the 10,000m run at the 2014 America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Vermont… Clocked his top 10k time of the season, 32:30.17, at the Colonial Relays at William and Mary… Ran his top 5k time of 15:43.22 while placing fourth in the event at the Morgan State Legacy Meet.
2013-14 Indoor: Competed in the 3,000m and 5,000m events during the winter, placing 21st in the 5k at the 2014 America East Indoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 15:31.18… Recorded his top 5k time of the season, 15:21.14, at the Armory Collegiate Invitational in New York… Posted his best 3k time of 8:38.24 while finishing fourth at the NYU Team Challenge.
2013 Outdoor: Earned a fourth-place finish in the 10,000m run at the 2013 America East Outdoor Championships… Also finished in 14th in the 5,000m event at the conference meet at Binghamton… Recorded his top time of 15:10.49 in the 10k race at the Mason Invitational... Named to the America East Honor Roll.
2012-13 Indoor: Did not compete in any meets.
2012 Outdoor: Posted a career-best time of 31:36.40 in the 10,000m run at the Duke Invitational, placing sixth in the event... His time ranks sixth-fastest in UMBC history... Finished 18th overall in the 10,000m run with a time of 32:57.96 at the America East Championships... Named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll.
2011-12 Indoor: Did not compete.
2011 Outdoor: Finished tenth overall, 32:42.03, in the 10,000m run at the America East Championships... Recorded a personal-best performance, 8:57:54, in the 3,000m run at the Maryland Invitational, a time which ranked tenth all-time in school history at the time... Named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll.
2010-11 Indoor: Finished fifth overall, 9:39.25, in the 3,000m run at the 10th Annual Gulden Relays… Set a personal best time of 8:53.52 in the 3,000m run at the Lafayette/Rider Winter Games Invitational.
Background: Named to the All-Conference First Team in 2008 and 2009 in cross country and honorable mention in track in 2008… Earned Academic All-Ohio honors in 2008 and 2009… Was a regional and state qualifier in cross country in his junior and senior seasons… Was a Scholar Athlete four times for track and field and three for cross country… Helped lead Rocky River High School to the Ohio State Cross Country Championship meet for the first time in school history in 2009… Graduated from RRHS with high honors and is a member of the French National Honors Society.
Personal: Son of Wendy and Jeff Eldridge… Has an older brother, Ryan… Majoring in chemistry… Born June 12, 1992.


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I had this to say, which may get me into trouble for that "oh oh you must have been AB-UZED!" thing (I was, though that's not the particular trauma I'm describing here), but eh. If people don't get that being changed is not the same thing as being broken, I really have nothing left to say to them:
Trinity and Ren...sorry I missed this. It's a good question. What makes me uncomfortable is cruelty. I cannot separate inflicting unnecessary pain from cruelty. Also, deriving enjoyment from infliction of pain is very troublesome for me.Rachel,
I've seen far too much pain and cruelty. It just hurts. It hurts me whether I'm involved or not. I know that may be over-identification, perhaps even intrusive. Then again, maybe not. I'm not inclined to analyze why it is painful to me, but one thing is clear: A lot of people have been victimized throughout humankind's history. An unfathomable amount of pain has been inflicted needlessly. Small cruelties are on a continuum with huge cruelty. I'm not equating small with large or gigantic; but it's on the continuum. I cannot separate unwanted pain from "voluntary pain." Intellectually, I see the difference. Emotionally, no.
I'm not trying to "defend" my position, only explain it. And since we're talking about feelings, my reactions will not be logical. That's as it should be, I think. If emotions were logical they'd stop being emotions and start being cognitions.
After writing a lot of words, it seems I've not answered the question. Right now it is the best I can do. The idea of BDSM makes me anxious, very much so. Do I condemn it? I don't think so. But I don't understand it.
Your feelings are your feelings. If something makes you anxious, it makes you anxious. You're not alone in that, and you're not in bad company either. Your feelings are your feelings, and I don't believe anyone should shame you for them.
From my observations, though (and all they are is the observations of one person, not some grand undeniable conclusion), people who've been through horrible pain deal with it in two different ways.
Some are like you: just plain hurt by it, suffering from it, overwhelmed with compassion and wanting to wipe it all out and make the world... soft and soothing and gentle after such horror.
And then there are people like me and some others, where what happens is... different, and they actually end up fascinated by pain and cruelty to an extent, and to want to play with those emotions in a controlled way. They don't like real, senseless violence, but they do have an interest in that side of humanity.
I don't know how to explain this in general, but I also think it's why some people like violent video games, aggressive music, horror movies, dark dramas, whatever.
And I don't know how to explain how it happens, other than how it happened to me. And that was that before my trauma as a teen I was one of the other kind, the kind like you. I couldn't watch horror movies or even, really, listen to heavy metal, or... anything.
And then the trauma happened, and everything I thought I knew exploded and broke. And the painless Utopia in my head that I ran to didn't comfort me any more, because it suddenly seemed horribly, horribly fake. I tried to flee from my pain and it caught up with me.
And the only thing that I found that enabled me to heal was to let myself feel all the emotions I had inside me then -- including pain, anger, the desire for revenge. I had to turn inward. I had to experience my pain and see it as a worthwhile thing, a worthwhile part of me.
And that changed me. That showed me that pain isn't all bad -- that it's part of life, just as pleasure is. That knowing myself meant experiencing my pain.
But if that's true, then how can I really be intimate with someone, really be close to someone, if sex and cuddling and togetherness is all scrubbed clean of suffering? It just doesn't make sense to me any more, because that whole way of looking at the world doesn't make sense to me any more.
Yeah, some things in life just feel awful... but I'd rather believe that my pain means something beautiful than that we're just put here to suffer and die and at least there are some laughs along the way that maybe balance it out, sort of.


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News | January 7, 2013
Kepler Gets a Little Help From Its Friends
More than 2,700 exoplanet candidate discoveries have made it the most prolific planet hunter in history. But even NASA's Kepler mission needs a little help from its friends.
Enter the Kepler follow-up observation program, a consortium of astronomers dedicated to getting in-depth with the mission's findings and verifying them to an extremely high degree of confidence.
A single Kepler observation alone is often not enough to prove that the telescope has found an exoplanet, said Nick Gautier, the mission's deputy project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., who coordinated and continues to help run Kepler's robust follow-up program.
Kepler finds exoplanets by watching for worlds that move directly between the telescope and their host stars. As they do this, they block a tiny fraction of the star's light, an event astronomers call a "transit."
"A Jupiter-size planet orbiting a sun-size star would block only one percent of its light," Gautier said. "An Earth-size planet would block much, much less."
"Just seeing a transit signal doesn't give us a high degree of confidence that what we're actually seeing is a planet," Gautier explained. "We might be seeing one star in a binary system move in front of another, or the light from a background binary star might make the same light curve as a transiting exoplanet."
Not only are these fluctuations in light incredibly tiny, but other kinds of cosmological events can look very much like transits to Kepler's camera. Astronomers need to be very careful to weed out these false alarms. The Kepler data are initially processed by a sophisticated program called the "pipeline," which weeds out transits that are obviously not exoplanets, but astronomers need to get hands-on with the Kepler data to meet the very strict criteria for what qualifies as a "confirmed" exoplanet.
One of the most common false alarms is caused by what are called "eclipsing binaries" -- two stars that orbit and pass in front of each other. "If one of the stars is smaller and dimmer than the other, it can create a light curve that looks a lot like a planet," Gautier said. A similar result can be produced when a background star is spatially close to the target star and Kepler can't tell the difference between the light of the two.
One way the Kepler follow-up team weeds out these results is by using high-resolution ground-based telescopes, especially the twin Keck telescopes in Hawaii, that collect light from the stars in question. By examining the way the star moves over time, astronomers can determine whether the transit is caused by a low-mass object like an exoplanet or a much larger-mass object like a companion star.
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which observes exoplanet atmospheres, has also been employed to separate real planet finds from eclipsing binary stars.
"Because Spitzer can look at planets in the infrared, we can tell if the object that's moving in front of the star is cool enough to be a planet and not another star," Gautier said. Spitzer's ability to determine the color and shape of the transit signal helps the Kepler science team separate real planets from the false alarms.
Sometimes, close analysis of Kepler's findings can lead to plenty of clues hidden in the data. When multiple planets orbit a star, their gravities interact and the planets tug on each other. These forces cause tiny variations in the speed of each planet's orbit, and when these planets transit their stars, Kepler can observe the variations in timing for each transit. Such Transit Timing Variations can give astronomers enough information to know, with a high degree of confidence, that they are looking at real exoplanets.
Once a Kepler planet candidate completes the gauntlet of follow-up observations, Gautier and the Kepler science team pass it through one final test. Developed by astronomers at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., the "Blender" program combines all the known information about a particular exoplanet candidate: light curve data, measurements from ground telescopes, and Spitzer data, with the currently estimated numbers of exoplanets and binary stars in the galaxy. Using these data, Blender outputs a probability that a Kepler candidate is, in fact, an actual planet.
"If Blender determines that it's 99.9 percent probable that a candidate is a real planet, then we're pretty confident at that point to call it a confirmed discovery," Gautier said. "And the more data we collect for each candidate, the more we can increase that probability."
The increasing amount of Kepler data means that some very intriguing discoveries may lie in Kepler's future, including, perhaps, many more small, Earth-size exoplanets. "We keep bootstrapping down to smaller and smaller planets and better and better probabilities as we collect data and refine the follow-up process," Gautier said. "I expect that the pace of new, confirmed Kepler discoveries is just going to continue increasing."
More information on the Kepler mission is online at: http://www.nasa.gov/kepler . More information on the Spitzer mission is at: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu . More information on NASA's planet-hunting missions is online at: http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/ .
Kepler is the first NASA mission capable of finding Earth-size planets in or near the "habitable zone," the region in a planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of an orbiting planet. NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is the home organization of the science principal investigator, and is responsible for the ground system development, mission operations, and science data analysis. JPL managed the Kepler mission's development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo., developed the Kepler flight system and supports mission operations with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore archives, hosts and distributes Kepler science data. Kepler is NASA's 10th Discovery Mission and is funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
News Media ContactWhitney Clavin 818-354-4673
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.


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WD40 Specialist fact acting degreaser will gobble through anything remotely lube based it comes into contact with.
Drivetrains are the most obvious candidates followed by bearings and contact points but it also makes short work of Waxoyl and similarly medieval potions used to preserve treasured framesets. However, in common with these substances, its environmental credentials are a little lacking so store in cool settings far from the grasp of children and pets.
WD40 has largely forgone the familiar (and invariably lost) red applicator in favour of a swish yellow smart-straw. This means the applicator turret has to be at ninety degrees before the pressurised contents are released for tackling localised areas such as cassettes/drivetrains but removing the collar allows a much broader delivery, say when degreasing a mothballed frame. It's a very powerful solvent that visibly consumes grime on contact.
Two sharp squirts saw congealed oils, gunge and ingress slide from a nine-speed cassette, forming a muddy black pool on the floor. It does clean up after itself but I wouldn't risk it on the kitchen lino.
There wasn't any call for additional coaxing from a brush or similar implement, but loose wheel and headset bearings benefit from a quick scrub, especially those dressed in super stiff marine greases.
It breezes through standard greases, wet lubes and locking compounds (Carbo grip and threadlock being obvious examples), so despite WD40's assurances to the contrary, I'd be uncomfortable about using it regularly with composites and rubber seals and the like, or allowing it prolonged contact with them. I'd rinse them thoroughly with clean water and possibly a citrus based cleaner before re-lubricating.
Powerful degreaser for general workshop duties that works a treat on drivetrains but I'd use with caution around composites and rubber seals.
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: WD40 Specialist: Fast Acting Degreaser
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
"WD-40 Specialist Fast Acting Degreaser is a solvent based solution that quickly removes grease, oil, dirt and grime without leaving any residue. It works immediately on contact and is easy to rinse away. This fast acting degreaser can be used on a wide variety of surfaces including metal, exhaust hoods, and flooring." No quibble here.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Translucent, non-viscous liquid
Organic Solvent
0.93 - 0.96
1.5 - 2.4 g/s
Partially soluble
Classed as extremely flammable under current legislation
Very efficient!
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The fast acting degreaser literally gobbles through grime on contact and is generally hard to fault-especially on chains, cassettes and other drivetrain. However, while very fragrant, only use in well ventilated areas.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Efficient, tenacious and goes on in a flash.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing given the design brief.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
About the tester
Age: 38 Height: 1m 81 Weight: 70 kilos
I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)


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Carol Thatcher's GolliwogGate
It has now been reported that Carol Thatcher, the journalist-daughter of the former prime minister of Britain, Margaret Thatcher, referred to a mixed race international tennis player as "golliwog," "half-golliwog" and "golliwog-frog" in a private conversation with her co-hosts of a BBC1 program, The One Show. Thatcher's ignorant and mindless utterances were offensive to decent people of all races.
[Global News Comment: U.K.]
It is remarkable that in the 21st century, a word such as "golliwog" has reared its ugly head.
This is a term used to describe Black people in a derogatory way, along the same line as "Sambo," "darkie," and "blackie." A golliwog is a rag doll made in the late 19th Century. It is described as a "grotesque creature with very dark, often jet black skin, large white-rimmed eyes, red or white clown lips and wild fizzy hair." It is the least known major anti-Black caricature in the United States.
It has now been reported that Carol Thatcher, the journalist-daughter of the former prime minister of Britain, Margaret Thatcher, referred to a mixed race international tennis player as "golliwog," "half-golliwog" and "golliwog-frog" in a private conversation with her co-hosts of a BBC1 program, The One Show.
These remarks were later leaked to British media and the BBC acted swiftly by firing Ms. Thatcher from the program when she refused to make a fulsome and an unconditional apology. She maintains that her remark was an off the cuff remark "made in jest."
I beg to differ. This was a racist and offensive remark.
Of course the British public were in uproar. Half was outraged that someone in the public eye who should know better could make such an offensive remark. The other half equally outraged at the BBC; calling it a totalitarian institution for its decision to sack Thatcher. It is astonishing that Thatcher could garner such support. For her to be portrayed as a victim clearly shows that race is indeed still very much an issue here.
London Mayor, Boris Johnson told a radio station LBC 97.3 that Thatcher should have been given a quiet warning about her language. To me this sounds like the type of reprimand you give to someone who suddenly develops a habit of turning up to work late. I knew there was a reason why I did not vote for Boris Johnson.
A week on and this debate, Golliwog-gate is still raging on, with Thatcher reportedly in hiding in Switzerland, having received death threats from angry individuals.
I have come across various comments Online; one in particular in The Times On line by Walt Taylor, a 68-year-old man from Preston who said that he has been called a "right Wally," (a very silly person, a fool, an idiot, or moron). Whether or not he had deserved it, he ignored it and got on with his life, he wrote.
Well, how so very gracious of Dear Walt. How can he equate being called a moron with someone being referred to with a racist slur? Could he have even been lynched for being a "Wally"? Could his wife or daughter have been raped and spat on for being "Wallies"?
The list of consequences of being a "golliwog" is endless. Moreover, Walt would do well to remember that racial abuse is a criminal offense.
Now we have news that golliwog dolls were being sold at the Queen's shop in Sandringham. They have now been removed following the Thatcher debacle. Buckingham Palace has been forced to issue an extraordinary apology.
As a race, we have come a long way—from slavery to having one elected leader of the free world. We have had to and still have to fight prejudice and discrimination in order to get ahead. We have to endure negative and constant stereotypes in the media about blackness, monkey chants in soccer stadiums, and many other forms of abuse.
Thatcher's ignorant and mindless utterances were offensive to decent people of all races.
Allimadi writes for The Black Star News from London
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- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
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UPDATE: Over the weekend, Shell quite literally ran into further problems with its near-farcical attempts to drill in the Arctic when its dilapidated drillship Noble Discoverer appeared to run aground after slipping its anchors in Dutch Harbour, Alaska, in what was described as a "stiff breeze." Whilst Shell denied its vessel had grounded, eyewitnesses painted a very different story, with one local saying that "the stern certainly struck bottom and any report to the contrary is a pure fabrication bordering on outright lies." Either way, the bizarre scene of a giant rig floating aimlessly towards the shore in such sheltered waters does not say much for the ability of Shell to operate safely in the much more extreme conditions of the icy Polar north...
Despite spending the GDP of a small country in preparation to drill in the pristine waters off Alaska this summer, the wheels suddenly seem to be coming off for Shell's Arctic oil plans.
In fact, you could even say that the company, which has ploughed well over $4bn into this northern foray, spearheading a dangerous new Arctic oil rush in the process, is starting to watch its plans unravel into the sort of organisational chaos more commonly associated with the Keystone Cops.
Earlier this month, we got the first inkling that Shell's multi-billion dollar plan to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off Alaska was starting to hit the skids. The reason, we were told, was because of that fast-disappearing Arctic commodity, ice.
The problem was that unprecedented amounts of summer ice were choking the Arctic seas around Alaska, providing a natural barrier to Shell and its drilling fleet. It does rather beg the question just what sort of ice-class vessels Shell has hired when they seemingly can't be operated in ice. Maybe they got them from this bloke. Who knows? Either way, the company intended to spud the first of up to five exploratory oil wells by mid-July, but because of ice, it now admits that drilling in the Burger, Torpedo and Sivulliq prospects will not start until the first week in August at the earliest.
Whilst we're glad Mother Nature stepped in to provide a bit of a helping hand to keep the Arctic off-limits to big oil, I can't help feeling that maybe there's a little bit more to all this than meets the eye.
The seeds of this suspicion were sown when I read two bits of news this week. The first concerned the Arctic Challenger, a rather antiquated ship that was meant to be part of Shell's Arctic armada currently at anchor in Dutch Harbour, Alaska, whilst the second was the revelation that air pollution levels of the Shell drillship Noble Discoverer were found to be above permitted levels.
A few days back it was announced that a key part of Shell's oil spill response fleet hadn't been allowed to sail to the Arctic because it did not meet US Coast Guard safety standards. The ship, Arctic Challenger, is a 36-year old barge used to drag safety equipment through sea ice. But US authorities are not happy with what they've seen on-board and didn't feel confident the Arctic Challenger could withstand the extremely harsh Arctic environment. Originally Shell agreed that the ship would be able to withstand a 100-year storm, but company engineers are now saying that it is "no longer appropriate" for the barge to meet such onerous standards (because by their very nature, one hundred year storms never occur).
To dodge the problem, Shell came up with the cunning ruse of trying to get the Arctic Challenger reclassified as a ship that requires less stringent safety rules. Whether the Coast Guard will fall for this one remains to be seen, but we're watching very closely.
And then we heard that ammonia and nitrous oxide levels on the Noble Discoverer have been found to be above permitted levels. Shell's response has been to try and get this permit watered down, at the same time also trying to get a "permit modification" for their drilling rig the Kulluk as well.
So what, you might ask, is so suspicious about all this? Surely it's prudent not to rush in to ice-choked waters? Aren't minor changes to official permits part and parcel of life at sea?
Well, yes, to a degree, but that rather misses the point.
Because it seems to me that the presence of ice in the Chukchi and Beaufort could be a bit of a red herring. After all, it's a little odd that ice-class vessels are being delayed because of, er, ice. Either it doesn't say an awful lot for their operational capability or else something fishy is going on.
I suspect that the real issue could be that Shell's own drilling fleet and support logistics are entirely unprepared to operate in the Arctic. Because if Shell is really Arctic ready, why all this last minute panicking? Why is it making all these attempts to fix the rules?
Shell claims it has a "world-class" operation in the Arctic and has gone on record as saying its spill plan is "second to none." Whether investors would agree that trying to water down safety regulations and using a decrepit barge only considered state-of-the-art the year VHS videos were invented is quite so watertight remains to be seen. On top of the company's refusal to test its new containment system in icy conditions, it is pretty clear all is not well with Shell's stuttering Arctic ambitions, which is hardly what you want from an oil company that intends to drill in the planet's most hostile environment.
Ben Ayliffe is a Polar campaigner for Greenpeace International.
(Photo: The Noble Discoverer in Dutch Harbour, Alaska © Kristjan B. Laxfoss)
A keen ornithologist who has worked on many Greenpeace issues, Ben is head of the Arctic oil campaign. He lives in London and watches a lot of Arsenal matches.
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Fourth of July celebrations offer chance to appreciate freedom, remember sacrifice
The vision for Independence Day celebrations can be traced back to a letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail, in which Adams speaks of dreams of "pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other." Although Adams originally thought America's independence would be celebrated July 2, Congress delayed the signing of the Declaration of Independence by two days. What would transpire thereafter would change the world and shape a nation. But the price for liberty was high, costing 25,000 American lives — one reason why it is so important to remember this day in history and celebrate our freedom.
Southeast Texans will have the opportunity to do just that Friday, July 4, as the city of Beaumont presents its annual Fourth of July Celebration beginning at 5 p.m. at Riverfront Park. The event is free and open to the public. Performances are free, and food and beverage booths will be set up in and around the park with park gates opening at 5 p.m. and the celebration kicking off with a special tribute to members of the armed forces and emergency services.
"It is a time to pause and remember … those who have served our country," said finance officer John Brian of the Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group, the nonprofit organization performing the multi-branch presentation. "Also to remember that our freedom is not free, that it depends on the dedication of those who not only served in the military but those who are first responders, police officers and firemen. It's a time to remember and just appreciate that we have a country where we have rights and privileges based upon the Constitution."
Several vendors will be on hand selling food, drinks, treats and novelties. Free bottled water will be available from Anchor Church.
"The city of Beaumont Fourth of July Celebration, now in its 28th year, is a safe family activity with something for everyone," said Lenny Caballero, director of the city of Beaumont's event facilities. "Thanks to our mayor and City Council, this event continues to grow and is bigger and better than ever before. It is an opportunity for everyone to come together in beautiful downtown Beaumont and celebrate Independence Day."
Following the Uniformed Heroes tribute, attendees will enjoy three live bands: Jack Edery at 5:30 p.m., The Flava Band at 6:30 p.m., and Lisa Marshall at 7:45 p.m.
Jack Edery and The Flava Band are hometown musicians, with Jack Edery known for his harsh whiskey voice and synergy of funk and blues with a punch of punk for good measure, and The Flava Band for playing a variety of favorites including rock, soul, jazz, blues and party tunes. A special treat for celebrants will be Lisa Marshall, who brings a little bit of the "Live Music Capital of the World" to Beaumont, as she performs her soul-a-licious, folk-funk dusted with rhythm and blues.
"Sweet, refreshing and 'greezy' like a mint julep on a Hot Summer Day in the French Quarter of New Orleans" is how the Austin resident's website describes her music.
Howard Dukes of www.soultracks.com describes Marshall's music as a "muscular brand of soul and blues with a little country mixed in" and "a point of view combin(ing) power packed vocals with lyrics that have a universal appeal."
And if your taste in music is a little more refined, the Symphony of Southeast Texas has just the remedy as it salutes our nation's independence with an 8 p.m. concert performance free and open to the public at Julie Rogers Theatre. Attendees can expect to hear the best in patriotic classical orchestra including "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Olympic Fanfare," "A Salute to the Big Bands," and more.
"We have some wonderful patriotic tunes in addition to great American music," said Maestro Chelsea Tipton II, music director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas. "Henry Mancini was an American music icon, and his music will be featured. There will also be some big band music in addition to some music by John Williams. We cannot celebrate this day without closing with Stars and Stripes Forever."
The symphony will also perform Sousa's "Liberty Bell March" with guest conductor Terrance Davis, a 2014 graduate of West Brook High School and resident of Boys' Haven. Davis was the recipient of a donation of the Symphony Ball's July 4 Guest Conductor auction item won by Melinda Cormier.
"Each July 4th, we like to have a young guest conductor student to come and join us on stage," Tipton said. "Terrance is going to have fun with this, and it gives a deserving young person an idea of what it is like to be a conductor and to be on stage with a professional orchestra."
The concert will also include a "Salute to the Armed Forces" honoring servicemen and women from past and present. The concert is sure to be as explosive as the fireworks show that follows. The premiere sponsor of the July 4 concert is ExxonMobil. Concert contributors include H-E-B, Mobiloil Federal Credit Union, Marine Fueling, the Symphony League of Beaumont and the City of Beaumont.
"We certainly appreciate the support of ExxonMobil for their 23 years of support of our Fourth of July Celebration and the city of Beaumont for helping to continue this tradition," Tipton said. "Our sponsors make the music come alive, and they are such a vital part of what makes Beaumont great."
Following the symphony performance is the highlight of the night — a fireworks display accompanied by patriotic music.
"Independence Day is a wonderful time for families and neighbors to get together and to celebrate the freedoms and privileges we enjoy as Americans," said Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames. "I am so pleased that the city can be a part of those memories. I think we put on a first-class celebration every year, something really special."
For more information on the city of Beaumont Fourth of July celebration, call (409) 838-3435.