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College Football 2012 – Week Three Preview
We've had our first round of big upsets, with Arkansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin all falling out of the Top 25. And with some big games on tap next Saturday (Clemson vs. Florida State, Kansas State vs. Oklahoma, Michigan vs. Notre Dame), a bunch of big names better not get caught looking ahead this week.
Here is what to watch for in college football this weekend.
#1 Alabama (2-0) at Arkansas (1-1)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 3:30 PM ET on CBS]
A week ago, this looked like it would be one of the season's most anticipated games between two Top Ten teams. But that was before Arkansas suffered one of the more stunning upsets in college football history and dropped from #8 to unranked, the second-largest drop ever in the AP Poll. Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson suffered a head injury (Arkansas hasn't called it a concussion, but won't clarify) in the ULM loss and the Razorbacks blew a 21-point lead in his absence before finally falling in overtime. Wilson's status for this weekend's game is unknown. If he can't go, coach John L. Smith has not said whether freshman Brandon Allen or converted receiver Brandon Mitchell will get the start. Whoever is under center could be in for a long day against a swarming Alabama defense that is fifth in the nation in scoring, shut down Denard Robinson and has already forced seven turnovers this season. Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron threw for a career-high four touchdown passes last week and will now be facing a decimated Arkansas secondary that gave up 412 passing yards last week and will be without injured cornerback Tevin Mitchel. Stranger things have happened, but on paper it certainly doesn't look like Alabama will need the fourth-quarter rally they did the last time they played in Fayetteville.
#2 Southern Cal (2-0) at #21 Stanford (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 7:30 PM ET on Fox]
Last year, it took a Heisman finalist and three overtimes for Stanford to knock off Southern Cal. But this year, it is the Trojans bringing the Heisman frontrunner into the game. Matt Barkley has already thrown for 10 touchdowns this season while completing 68% of his passes. The potent aerial attack of Barkley and receivers Marquise Lee and Robert Woods has already accounted for 398 yards and eight scores. Penn State transfer running back Silas Redd has paid immediate dividends, leading the team in rushing with 163 yards and a touchdown. For Stanford, quarterback Josh Nunes threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns against Duke after struggling in Week One. But Stanford hopes to put this game in the hands of its stifling defense, which held Duke to just 29 rushing yards and forced four turnovers last week, and running back Stepfan Taylor, who is averaging over 4.6 yards per carry and has amassed 214 total yards and two touchdowns this season. Stanford has won three straight in this series, and four of the last five. But, in the 107-year history of this rivalry, the Cardinal has never won four straight.
Idaho (0-2) at #3 Louisiana State (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN Gameplan]
After winning its first two games by a combined 82-17, it's unlikely that LSU will have much trouble with an Idaho squad averaging just eight points a game. The Vandals currently rank 122nd nationally in scoring and 106th in total offense. And that was against Eastern Washington and Bowling Green. Now they'll be facing a Tigers defense that ranks eighth in the country in scoring and has given up just 122 rushing yards in two games. Barring an Arkansas-sized meltdown by the Tigers, this one should be over early.
Tennessee Tech (2-0) at #4 Oregon (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 3:00 PM ET on PAC-12 Network]
Critics can point to the fact that Oregon has been outscored 43-14 after halftime this season, but that stat really shows just how dominant the Ducks have been as their starters generally sit out the second half. Oregon is averaging 49.5 points and 568.5 yards per game this season, both top ten in the country. They have scored 30 points in 15 straight games, the second-longest such streak in the nation. Running back Kenjon Barner is coming off a career-high 201 yards last week, and the running back duo of Barner and De'Anthony Thomas has already contributed 433 yards and eight scores this season. The only bright spot for Tennessee Tech is that they play a fast, no-huddle offense similar to Oregon. So the Tech defense should at least be somewhat prepared for the Ducks' offensive pace. But they are 0-27 all-time against FBS teams.
Wake Forest (2-0) at #5 Florida State (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN]
Florida State is currently second in the nation in both scoring offense and scoring defense, although those lofty rankings were gained against overmatched FCS opponents. Despite playing in just over three quarters this season, Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel ranks sixth nationally in passing efficiency. Wake Forest is led by quarterback Tanner Price, who was named ACC Player of the Week after last week's win over North Carolina and who threw for three touchdowns in last year's win over the Seminoles. However, while Wake may be better competition than Savannah State or Murray State, they're not exactly world-beaters either—the Demon Deacons' two wins (against Liberty and North Carolina) have been by a combined four points. Wake Forest has won four of the past six in this series, including two of the previous three in Tallahassee. However, after losing to Wake last season, the Seminoles have won nine of their ten games since.
#5 Oklahoma BYE
The Sooners have a week off to prepare for their first conference game and first real test of the season against #15 Kansas State.
Florida Atlantic (1-1) at #7 Georgia (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 7:30 PM ET on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic/ESPN Gameplan]
The good news for FAU and new coach Carl Pelini is that they won their season opener against Wagner, matching their win total for all of 2011. The bad news is that they lost last week to Middle Tennessee and now have back-to-back games at Georgia and Alabama. For their part, the Bulldogs are coming off a big win against new SEC foe Missouri, moving them to 2-0 for the first time since 2008. With linebacker Chase Vasser and cornerback Sanders Commings back after serving a suspension, the Georgia defense should be even more potent against an Owls offense averaging just 12 points per game. The Owls are 0-9 all-time against ranked teams.
Alabama-Birmingham (0-1) at #8 South Carolina (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 7:00 PM ET on Fox Sports South]
South Carolina didn't miss a beat without injured quarterback Connor Shaw, as backup Dylan Thompson threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns against East Carolina. As of press time, coach Steve Spurrier has not yet made an announcement about Shaw's status or who will start for the Gamecocks on Saturday. Thompson completed passes to 11 differeny receivers and, somewhat surprisingly, South Carolina leaned heavily on the passing game instead of all-star running back Marcus Lattimore. The Gamecocks young secondary should get a decent test this week from UAB quarterback Jonathan Perry, who threw for 317 yards and two scores in the Blazers season-opening loss to Troy. Spurrier, who is seeking his 200th career win, is 45-0 against non-BCS conference teams.
James Madison (2-0) vs. #9 West Virginia (1-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 4:30 PM ET on Root Sports Pittsburgh; game played at FedEx Field in Landover, MD]
West Virginia has had a week off to rest from its 69 point explosion in Week One, the highest scoring season-opener in school history. Senior quarterback Geno Smith threw for 323 yard and four touchdowns and running back Shawne Alston added a career-high 123 yards and two touchdowns as the Mountaineers rolled over Marshall. They'll be facing one of the better FCS teams out there (JMU has outscored its opponents this season 97-10), but could be without its star player. Running back Dae'Quan Scott was named Colonial Athletic Association offensive player of the week after recording 270 total yards and five touchdowns in last week's win over Alcorn State. However, the junior suffered an ankle injury late in the game and, as of press time, his status is unknown. JMU upset Virginia Tech in 2010, a fact of which West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen has certainly reminded his players this week.
#20 Notre Dame (2-0) at #10 Michigan State
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC]
After disastrous losses by Nebraska and Wisconsin, Michigan State is carrying the banner as the Big Ten's best team. The Spartans defense, which led them to the Big Ten Championship game last year, remains strong. They rank eighth in the nation in total defense and have yet to give up an offensive touchdown this season. Notre Dame, however, may have two quarterbacks to try to change that. Sophomore Everett Golson will start the game for the Fighting Irish, but he was pulled late in the game against Purdue in favor of former starter Tommy Rees, who led the Irish on a 12-play, 55-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal. Notre Dame will also have top running back Cierre Wood in the huddle for the first time this season. Wood was the team's leading rusher last year, but was suspended the first two games this season for violating team rules. The matchup to watch here could be the Fighting Irish defense against bruising Michigan State tailback Le'Veon Bell. Bell has rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns this year, but was held to just 27 yards on seven carries in last year's matchup. Notre Dame's last road win against a ranked opponent was October 1, 2005—a streak of six straight losses—while Michigan State has won four straight home games against ranked opponents, including this year's season opener against Boise State. The last time the two teams met in East Lansing, the Spartans won on a fake field goal that went for a touchdown in overtime.
Furman (0-2) at #11 Clemson (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 3:00 PM ET on Fox Sports Net]
Clemson's biggest obstacle this week may be not looking ahead to next week's big conference matchup against #5 Florida State. The FCS Furman Paladins have lost 29 straight in this series and have given up over 35 points per game this year to Samford and Coastal Carolina. So they could be in for a long day against an already potent Clemson offense (39 points per game) that is welcoming back All-American receiver Sammy Watkins from a two-game suspension.
California (1-1) at #12 Ohio State (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 12:00 PM ET on ABC]
California's defense has struggled, giving up 31 points in each of its first two games against Nevada and Southern Utah. Now, they must travel across three time zones and face Braxton Miller, who is the early leader for Big Ten offensive player of the year. The sophomore quarterback has already accounted for 664 yards and seven touchdowns through two games as the triggerman in coach Urban Meyer's spread offense. The junior will likely once again carry the load for the Buckeyes as top running back Carlos Hyde is expected to miss the game with an MCL sprain. After going 0-3 against PAC-12 teams last week, the Big Ten is hoping Urban Meyer's squad can provide a little redemption.
#13 Virginia Tech (2-0) at Pittsburgh (0-2)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 12:00 PM ET on ESPNU]
After season-opening losses to Youngstown State and Cincinnati, things don't get any easier for the Panthers with Virginia Tech coming to town. After struggling in a Week One overtime win against Georgia Tech, the Hokies had strong showings in all three phases of the game last week against an admittedly overmatched Austin Peay. Virginia Tech's offense has yet to click on all cylinders, but could be potent if and when quarterback Logan Thomas—the school record holder for total offense—finds his rhythm. Pitt currently ranks 111th in the nation in scoring and must face a Hokies defense that is giving up less than 255 yards per game (17th best in the nation). Beginning next year, this will be an annual conference rivalry as the Panthers join Virginia Tech in the ACC Coastal Division. The Hokies are currently riding an ACC-record 13-game road winning streak.
#14 Texas (2-0) at Mississippi (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 9:15 PM ET on ESPN]
After easy wins over Wyoming and New Mexico, the Longhorns face their first real test of the season as they make a rare non-conference visit to SEC country against the surprising Rebels. After going 6-18 in the previous two years, new coach Hugh Freeze appears to have Ole Miss heading in the right direction with the school aiming for its first 3-0 start since 1989. The Rebels lead the SEC in offense (551.5 yards per game; 10th nationally). It will be an interesting matchup to see if a Texas defense that ranks eighth in scoring but gave up 206 rushing yards last weekend can slow Ole Miss running back Jeff Scott, who rushed for 111 yards on 12 carries in his only game action this season. Texas quarterback David Ash has completed over 73% of his passes this season and will be going against an Ole Miss secondary depleted by the loss of freshman defensive back Trae Elston, who was suspended by the SEC for a flagrant foul during last week's game.
North Texas (1-1) at #15 Kansas State (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 7:00 PM ET on Fox Sports Net]
After blowing out Miami, 52-13, the Wildcats will try to avoid a letdown as they look ahead to next week's big matchup with #5 Oklahoma. Quarterback Collin Klein has been a one-man wrecking crew this year, already accounting for 504 yards and six touchdowns for a Kansas State offense that ranks ninth in the nation in scoring and sixth in rushing. After struggling in Week One, the Wildcat defense returned to form last week, registering five sacks, forcing three turnovers and holding Miami out of the end zone until there were less than four minutes left in the game. This week, they'll face a different challenge from a North Texas squad that rushed for 352 yards last week.
#16 Texas Christian (1-0) at Kansas (1-1)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 12:00 PM ET on FX]
The Horned Frogs season opener was about as perfect as you can get—the defense kept Grambling off the scoreboard while TCU quarterbacks Casey Paschall and Trevone Boykin combined to go 17-for-17, an FBS record for most passes in a game without an incompletion. TCU outgained the Tigers 531 to 70. However, this week TCU gets its first taste of Big 12 play when it heads to Lawrence to face the Jayhawks and first-year coach Charlie Weis. Kansas gave up 403 yards of total offense in their Week Two loss to Rice, and could have problems containing the potent TCU passing attack. Since transferring Notre Dame, Kansas quarterback Dayne Crist has struggled in Weis' offense, completing just 51.6% of his passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Jayhawks have lost six straight games—by an average of 31.5 points per game—to ranked opponents.
Massachusetts (0-2) at #17 Michigan (1-1)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 3:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network]
This may be the strangest stat you'll see all season: in last week's game, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson had more total yards (426) than the Michigan offense had as a team (422). Yes, you read that right—the rest of the Wolverines had a collective minus-four yards of offense while Robinson carried the team to victory over Air Force. So look for the Wolverines to intentionally try to implement a more balanced offense this week as they tune up for Big Ten play. In its first season in the FBS, UMass has been outscored 82-6 by Connecticut and Indiana. So don't expect them to put up much of a fight in this one.
#18 Florida (2-0) at #23 Tennessee (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN]
Remember when this game used to have huge SEC and national title implications? The two programs have fallen from their once-lofty heights, but that doesn't mean this rivalry has diminished much. And with both teams 2-0 and hopeful for the future, this game could have long-term ramifications. Tennessee is ranked for the first time since the 2008 preseason poll after outscoring their first two opponents 86-34. After struggling in recent years to find a consistent offense or quarterback play, the Volunteers currently rank 10th nationally in passing offense and 20th in scoring. Quarterback Tyler Bray leads the SEC in passing yards and total offense This game could hinge on the matchup of the Tennessee defense against Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel. The Gators rank 104th in the nation in passing offense and Driskel was sacked eight times last week by Texas A&M. But if Driskel can make some plays and keep the defense on its heels for running back Mike Gillislee (231 yards and four touchdowns this year), the Gators could pull off the road upset. Tennessee has not beaten Florida since 2004. The Vols have lost 11 straight games to Top 25 opponents, while Florida has lost nine consecutive games to ranked teams.
North Carolina (1-1) at #19 Louisville (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN2]
After two big wins over Kentucky and Missouri State, the Cardinals will face their first real test against an improving North Carolina squad and new coach Larry Fedora. Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has starred for the Cardinals, completing almost 82 percent of his passes for 576 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions this season. And he has a nice complement in the running back tandem of Senorise Perry and Jeremy Wright, who have combined for 328 yards and five touchdowns on the ground this year. They will be facing the task of outscoring a Tarheels offense that ranks 15th in the nation in scoring (44.5 points per game). However, the Tarheels offensive success could be determined partly by the status of running back Giovani Bernard (93 yards and a touchdown I Week One), who missed last week's loss to Wake Forest with a knee injury. Bernard is still listed as questionable, but has been able to practice this week and is expected to play. Louisville is seeking i'ts first 3-0 start since 2006, a year that ended with the schools only BCS win over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.
Houston (0-2) at #22 UCLA (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 10:30 PM ET on PAC-12 Network]
After rolling up 653 yards of total offense against Nebraska (the second-most ever against the Cornhuskers), the resurgent UCLA Bruins find themselves in the unfamiliar spot of being in the Top 25 for the first time since 2008. At the opposite end of the spectrum, after going 13-1 just a season ago, Houston finds itself in the unenviable position of trying to avoid going 0-3 for the first time since 2001 (when they finished 0-11). Redshirt freshman quarterback Bret Hundley has been a star for the Bruins, throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns against Nebraska. With him under center, UCLA's offense now ranks third nationally in total offense, second in rushing, 23rd in passing and 19th in scoring. Houston beat UCLA 38-34 last year, but had lost three straight to the Bruins prior to that.
South Carolina State (1-1) at #24 Arizona (2-0)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 10:30 PM ET on PAC-12 Network]
After upsetting Oklahoma State last week, the Arizona Wildcats now have a week to regroup against an FCS opponent before next week's shoot out at #4 Oregon. Senior quarterback Matt Scott leads the nation in total offense, completing two-thirds of his passes for 707 yards, four touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 129 yards and a score. He's also helped by the emergence of running back Ka'Deem Carey, who has rushed for 273 yards and four touchdowns.
#25 Brigham Young (2-0) at Utah (1-1)
[Saturday, Sep. 15 at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN2]
Considered by many a dark horse to challenge USC and Oregon for PAC-12 dominance, Utah now finds itself reeling after a 27-20 overtime loss to Utah State and a career-ending injury to quarterback Jordan Wynn. And it won't get any easier this week against a BYU squad seeking its first 3-0 start since 2009. Coach Kyle Wittingham has not yet announced wither longtime backup senior Jon Hays or true freshman Travis Wilson will be under center for the Utes. Regardless of who is at quarterback, expect a healthy dose of running back John White, who has rushed for 215 yards and a score this year (he ran for 174 yards and a career-high three touchdowns against BYU last season). But he'll have to run against a stingy BYU defense that ranks 10th in the nation in both total defense and scoring defense and is holding opponents to just 55 rushing yards per game. BYU has lost four of the last five at Utah and would love to avenge last season's 54-10 home loss to the Utes. Utah faces ranked teams (#25 BYU, #2 USC and #22 UCLA) in three of the next four weeks.


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From the July 20 edition of Nomad Wide Screen, my appreciation of Kay Kendall in Minnelli's The Reluctant Debutante. For the record, I adore Les Girls , and Kendall is a joy in that one as well.
When certain killjoys decide to amuse themselves by asserting that MGM, the most widely known and successful of the major Golden Age studios, wasn't really a great studio at all, I try several methods to silence them. I start with George Cukor, move on through The Wizard of Oz, wave the flag for the Freed unit. If the conversation really gets irksome, however, I play my trump: Vincente Minnelli.
It's a curious thing, then, at least for auteurists, that the spirit that dominates Minnelli's The Reluctant Debutante isn't that of the director, but of the star, Kay Kendall. The plot hews to every convention possible; you could take it and graft it onto a mass-market romance paperback with scarcely a single change. The charm of the film is tied closely to Minnelli's eye for beauty, but even more than that it's in the playing, and the players are led by Kendall. It was her penultimate movie, and when she made it she was already gravely ill with the leukemia that would kill her two years later. But it's a bright, vivacious performance, the only hint of her health coming from how thin she is.
Kendall had an exceptionally lovely speaking voice, pitched right mid-range with the merest hint of huskiness and an occasional crack in it that is oddly redolent of a British Jean Arthur. She was a tall woman with limbs that seemed to go everywhere at once, but her control of her body was impeccable. Nobody stumbled quite like Kay Kendall--up go the arms, the legs bend and curve, then glide back. It's a bit like watching a Mobius strip try to straighten itself. She had huge eyes, a flawless complexion and a long, strong-boned face; "Careful how you photograph my Cyrano nose, darling," she told Vincente Minnelli before filming. Nose or no nose, the overall effect was gorgeous. Kendall belongs to that rare sorority of beautiful women who are also great clowns.
From the Aug. 2 Nomad Wide Screen, a considerably rewritten and spruced-up version of a post I once did on The Big Clock:
Not all film noir takes place in a seedy underworld; sometimes noir arrives on the commuter train wearing a custom-made suit. So it goes with John Farrow's The Big Clock (1948), which sets its dark doings and flashback narrative in a top-flight New York corporation that occupies a swank (if somberly lit) Midtown office tower.
The hero (or if you prefer, since this is film noir, the primary sap) is family man George Stroud (Ray Milland), an executive in the massive publishing empire of Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton). One night Stroud gets himself into a terrible pickle by getting drunk with Pauline York, played by Rita Johnson as a trampy soul with a chic exterior. Unfortunately for Stroud, Pauline is also Janoth's mistress, and Stroud must exit her couch the next morning when their boss drops by unexpectedly. Mistress and magnate fight, and fifty years before anyone ever saw a Viagra ad, Pauline's tirade shows off some choice euphemisms for "impotent": "You think you could make any woman happy?...You flabby, flabby..." And that last word is one of the last Pauline utters, as Janoth bludgeons her to death with a sundial.
Well, what's a self-respecting titan to do in such a situation, except use every last bit of his power to pin the blame on someone else? And the someone else just happens to be Stroud. The main twist in Jonathan Latimer's highly twisty script (based on a novel by Kenneth Fearing) is that Janoth doesn't know who he's after, and Stroud must extricate himself without Janoth's finding out...
it is Laughton who rules over The Big Clock. In Hollywood movies, most tyrannical managers are openly and loudly abusive. Laughton as Janoth keeps his voice low, forcing subordinates to lean close, which they wouldn't do otherwise. That's because getting close means they have to look at Janoth's weedy little moustache and the way he strokes it with one finger, in a gesture as suggestive as it is repulsive. He won't make eye contact, emphasizing his employees' wormlike status. And Laughton speaks every word in an affected, maddeningly casual drawl, underlining that he doesn't give a hoot if he just screwed up someone's life.
Finally, yesterday was the 100th birthday of the fabulous Lucille Ball, and there was a blogathon ball which the Siren, dearly though she loves all of Lucy's incarnations, could not attend, alas, as her opera gloves were at the cleaners. However, the roundup post is right here at True Classics, and the Siren strongly suggests that all Lucy fans click and start reading. The Siren has been working her way through all of them, and is in heaven. Some highlights (so far): Caftan Woman on Lucy's four films with Bob Hope; Clara at Villa Margutta 51 on the use of Spanish dialogue in I Love Lucy; old friend Ivan G. Shreve at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear on I Love Lucy's radio antecedents; R.D. Finch of The Movie Projector on fifteen character actors who appeared on the television show (jaw-dropping, the amount of talent it attracted); a post about Lucy's memoirs at Erin's Silver Screen Scribblings; Ivan again at Edward Copeland's wonderful blog with a 360-degree tour of Lucy's career; and Vince of Carole & Co. on the friendship between Lombard and Ball.
(The wonderful image of Lucille Ball in Stage Door, a movie that is high on the Siren's list of the best of the 1930s, is from the terrific tumblr blog Classic Film Heroines, which is full of such goodies.)

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Searching for the soul of Tequila
So Tequila wants to be fancy these days, to slip on heels and carry the real Gucci purse. But with untold millions of dollars poured into hype - and several metric tons of Tequila-related press releases filling our in-boxes this past month - has the shining-up of Tequila's image made for better drinking? Just as with vodka, if you take away the branding, which bottle reigns supreme?
With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, we realized this was an important question to answer. Stat.
Staff writer Stacy Finz, our resident margarita expert (see Page K4), and I were joined by a panel of three outside experts: Duggan McDonnell, owner of Cantina, which specializes in Latin American spirits; Matt Burbach, a bartender at Fonda in Albany and several other East Bay restaurants; and Rebecca Chapa, a wine and spirits consultant who specializes in Tequila.
There are a lot of Tequilas out there. To limit ourselves, we decided to taste only unaged (blanco or plata), sold as they're distilled, without any barrel aging. This seemed the best way to focus on agave flavors and the quality of the distilling rather than the influence of aging in a reposado or anejo Tequila. And of course, we're talking all-agave Tequila; no mixto, any more than we'd put blended whiskey into a bourbon tasting.
We began with a list of our own personal faves and some well-known brands. And we reached out to San Francisco's high priest of Tequila, Julio Bermejo, for recommendations on some lesser-known don't-miss Tequilas. This proved to be a wise decision, as you'll see. (Bermejo didn't sit in on the tasting, in part because his wife has ties to one of the brands we tasted.)
So we had a running list of 16. To focus a bit more, we split the tasting by price, using a $30 dividing line. Above $30, it seemed, you're getting into fancy Tequila. Below, you can buy a guilt-free bottle for the deck.
From the cheaper batch of five, three strong contenders emerged. Our top two came down to a philosophical debate: Should we credit the Tequila with more distinct agave flavor, or the one more likely to please a crowd? Agave love won out.
When the veil was lifted? Surprise. Our top pick was Milagro, a larger but estate-grown Tequila label from the town of Tepatitlan, owned in part by large British distiller William Grant & Sons. No shock to me, as I've been buying it for a couple of years. But it is a label, McDonnell and Burbach pointed out, perhaps too mainstream to curry favor with many Bay Area bartenders - like finding out that Smirnoff was running circles around Grey Goose. Choosing it, Burbach said, was a "huge coup."
What pushed it over was that distinct vegetal agave smell, a clear reminder that you're drinking Tequila and not vodka. "You're going to be able to smell the agave in a margarita," Chapa said.
Our runner-up - the user-friendly pick - was another big name: Cazadores, part of the stable of rum giant Bacardi, which claims to be the fifth most popular Tequila brand in the world. It narrowly edged Tres Agaves, the newly unveiled, locally controlled brand produced for Eric Rubin, co-owner of the San Francisco restaurant Tres Agaves.
On to the spendy stuff. Again, we had three clear contenders. But shockingly, much of the rest ranged from uninspired (Patron was indistinct to the point of being a vodka cover band) to downright head-scratching (the Herradura evoked soft-serve vanilla ice cream, and not in a good way).
Not to pick on those two, but, considering the prices, the lack of character in this flight was troubling, as though the mainstreaming of Tequila required a bleaching of its agave soul. "They're trying to round off the edges," Chapa said.
What we liked, however, was sublime. And again, our top two came down to a debate over style: powerfully earthy and musky or clean, edgy and elegant? This time, the styles were so divergent that we couldn't choose.
Those top two? A split between the relatively unknown Paquí, a new label based out of Los Angeles and run by Javier Martinez, whose family owns the El Charro brand in Jalisco; and Partida, the boutique effort part owned by San Francisco entrepreneur Gary Shansby. Martinez says he was inspired to create Paquí because some prominent labels were "making tequila too much like vodka" - damping down the agave presence.
Partida is plenty familiar to us - if you drink Tequila in San Francisco, you've run into it - but the Paquí was a pleasant surprise (recommended, natch, by Bermejo).
Our third, also strong, was 7 Leguas, from Atotonilco El Alto, one of the region's oldest operating distilleries. It was powerful, pure and clean in its flavors, if just a bit less distinct.
To further stir the pot, we re-tasted the three cheaper finalists and the three more expensive. The spendier were a bit more refined, but the gap was narrower than expected; the panel generally liked the Milagro as much as the 7 Leguas. Considering an 80 percent price difference, that's a big thumbs-up for a cheaper choice.
As Tequila takes on the trappings - and price tag - of a fancy liquor, it was a relief to see that we could still drink well without crossing the $30 barrier.
From the notebook
Our top picks among 16 Tequilas, tasted blind in two flights. Prices are representative of Bay Area retail shops but may vary.
$30 and under
1. Milagro Silver ($25) A terrific all-purpose Tequila. Clear agave and exotic fruit and herb aromas give it an impressive nuance for the price.
2. Cazadores Blanco ($25) A lighter, user-friendly style. Peppery spice adds interest but it's a good Tequila if you want agave flavors in small doses.
3. Tres Agaves ($30) The agave flavor is rich and warm, with white-pepper and cucumber accents. The slightly bitter finish seemed a bit aggressive for the style.
Also tasted: Hornitos; Pueblo Viejo
Over $30
1-tie. Paquí Silvera ($40) Made at Autentica Tequilera in the town of Tequila from agave grown in the Tequila Valley. We loved how clean and intense its flavors were, with a balance of peppery, musky and fruity character.
1-tie. Partida Blanco ($50) Refined and complex, a connoisseur's Tequila. A pure, subtle agave presence is matched with spicy notes of coriander, eucalyptus and pepper.
3. 7 Leguas ($40) Powerful and weighty, with lots of spice. We detected the scent of ginger root and Asian spices. But panelists were split; some found the flavors less clean than the El Tesoro.
Also tasted: Cabo Wabo; Don Julio; Espolon; El Tesoro; Fortaleza; Herradura; Ocho Las Pomez 2010; and Patron.


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Great news, everyone! As of April 2012, weíve sent $1 billion to the field in support of our programs to help sponsored children and aging friends around the world.
(Read our news report here: CFCA reaches milestone in supporting families)
We're deeply humbled and grateful for the support of everyone in our community for making this possible.
As stewards of the money you, our sponsors and donors, entrust to us, we'll continue our commitment of sending the highest reasonable amount of available resources directly toward program support.
We also will continue to honor our co-founders' commitment to put the needs of those living in poverty first.
CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen put it this way at a CFCA board meeting:
"We want to promote a new view of globalization, one in which we put into international motion a true sharing of the resources of God's creation. We want the resources and goods of this earth to favor unity, not separation. In our preferential option, we favor the poor."
Because of their perseverance and the support from more than 628,000 sponsors who have "walked" with us, we're the organization that we are today. We're excited to see where the next 30 years will take us.
As always, thank you so much for your support!


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Customized Essay - Easy and Helpful Ways to write efficient Custom Essays!
by Charles Dewey on Sep 28, 2010
David Jones is the author of this article on Essay Writing UK. Find more information about Custom Essays UK here.
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text:
IVascus the Agile (equivalent to Rascus) and Stalin the Strong (equivalent to Santis) are much more powerful than the two Vladtron troops (regular Minifigs), so they should have no problems winning this encounter. Points will be awarded mainly for style rather than victory. Sir IVascus is entering on horseback from the left, carrying a banana, a fish, and an apple. His sword is slug to his back, and his shield and lance are hanging from the saddle. Sir Stalin is hiding behind the carriage on the right, carrying (for some reason) a barrel. His sword is on his back, and his shield is in his other hand.
HOW THIS WILL WORK: Everyone who's signed up (and I guess anyone who isn't signed up but wants to play anyway), choose either IVascus or Stalin, and post your choice to this thread with that character's orders for the first turn (regular posts, since I hate PMs!). I'll pair people up roughly in the order they post, as soon as I have good pairs of compatible orders for IVascus and Stalin. Once I've paired you up with somebody, you're stuck with them for this encounter.


text:
BNI Bloomsbury - London
BNI Bloomsbury - London
Event Details
Would you like the chance to make new contacts and win new business?
You have been invited by one of our members to our group's weekly breakfast meeting because we are currently looking to pass business to someone with your expertise on a regular basis.
The meeting starts at 7am prompt with some informal networking from 6.45am, which is often a useful time to make new business connections. We'll finish the formal part of the meeting by 8.30am so you can get on with running your business from the start of the working day. You are, of course, welcome to stay behind and continue networking afterwards.
Once we start you'll have the chance to:
- Network with other businesses
- Tell everyone about what you do and how you do it
- Help yourself to a delicious breakfast from the hotel's buffet
The ticket price includes your breakfast and as much tea and coffee as you can handle.
As you have been personally invited by one of our members, please book your place, so that we know to expect you and can organise a place for you with the hotel.
Please Note: This is a personal invite to you and you'll need plenty of business cards. In the past we've had people turning up and running out so make sure you bring at least 40-50 as there's nothing more frustrating than making an excellent contact and not being able to give them your card.
If you have any questions please email them to Mike Crawshaw email@example.com or visit our website www.bnibloomsbury.co.uk
Save This Event
Event Saved
When & Where
Double Tree Hilton Hotel
92 Southampton Row
WC1B 4BH London
United Kingdom
BNI Bloomsbury - London
BNI (Business Network International) is the worlds largest and most successful business referral network.
BNI Members meet weekly with the prime intention of passing each other opportunities for new business through 'word of mouth referrals'. This is the most cost-effective form of advertising possible. Being a member of Business Network Int'l (BNI) is like having sales people working for you every day who market your product or services.
BNI's sole purpose is to provide a positive, supportive and structured environment for the growth and development of the businesses of its members through the exchange of quality business referrals. In the Bloomsbury BNI (Aldwych) Chapter of BNI, members are already referring hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of business.
BNI Members commit to a strict code of ethics and a high standard of quality is both expected and monitored through the BNI system.
Your business can benefit from the services offered by BNI members. Why select unknown services from business directories and possibly regret it later!
BNI offers you the opportunity to benefit from a referred company, based on strong testimonials within the BNI network. See the list of companies and services offered within the 'Members' section.
You could gain new business...come along as a visitor to one of our meetings. See for yourself the business opportunities being passed between members, business that you could be getting a share of.


text:
802.11n Dual-Band Concurrent
WAPA-205N(P) is an 802.11an+gn Dual- Band Concurrent MIMO development board that can be tailored for specific application and requirements.
Enterprise-Scale Deployment with PoE
WAPA-205N(P) can be powered up by either Power Adapter or an integrated IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet supplying effortless deployment in various environments at a reduced cost.
Secure and Reliable Wireless Networking
WAPA-205N(P) supports several security control and encryption methods, such as 64/128-bits WEP, WPA, WPA2 to make wireless secure.


text:
Accommodation in Val Thorens - 4 matches
Your search: You haven't selected dates or number of rooms yet (showing 1-4 matches 4)
4 accommodations
Quarter Balcons
Residence | This attractive 5***** chalet, provides you with high quality, comfortable and spacious, fully equipped apartments which can hold between 4 and 14 people. Read more
South exposure Pets allowed Indoor pool Spa
Quarter Balcons
Residence | At the top of the resort, the residence Les Chalets de Rosael, located next to the slopes, welcomes you in apartments with authentic and mountain spirit with a wellness area offering a swimming pool, a steam room, a sauna and a sport shop (the spo... Read more
Pets allowed Indoor pool Restaurant Spa
Quarter Balcons
Residence | Located in the quiet part of Val Thorens, Les Balcons, the chalet Val 2400 has 27 high standing apartments which can welcome from 4 to 14 persons. Read more
South exposure Pets allowed Spa
Quarter Balcons
Residence | Enjoy an exceptional moment in this upscale residence located in the heart of Balcons de Val Thorens. This holiday resort, prestigious, was built as a cottage meeting the standards BBC (Low-energy building). Read more
Pets allowed Indoor pool Restaurant Spa
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text:
Mplus Home
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Bootstrap test for k vs k-1 classes
Mplus Discussion
Latent Variable Mixture Modeling
Calvin D. Croy
posted on Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 9:48 am
The Tech 14 output from my latent class analysis says that I requested 250 bootstrap samples, and reports 250 successful bootstrap draws.
However, the Tech 14 output contains a warning that says "The best loglikelihood value for the 7 class model for the generated data was not replicated in 11 of 17 bootstrap draws."
I'm confused. Were 250 bootstrap draws actually completed or just 17? Why does the warning mention 17 draws when the output immediately above the warning says 250 bootstrap draws were successful?
Thanks to anyone who can provide clarification!
Tihomir Asparouhov
posted on Friday, December 13, 2013 - 12:22 pm
The successful bootstrap draws are 250. In 233 bootstrap draws the LRT is bigger than the observed LRT value (so the algorithm does not care if the likelihood was replicated, even if it was not replicated adding more random starts would make it only bigger which is not of interest because it is already bigger than the observed value and it would not affect the p-value computation in any way).
Actually, the warning message is completely irrelevant in your case. Your p-value is already 0.93. Adding more random starts could potentially only increase this p-value but that has no impact on the inference because very clearly the 6-class solution could not be rejected in favor of a 7-class solution.
Calvin D. Croy
posted on Friday, December 13, 2013 - 1:45 pm
Thank you for the explanation. Now I'm curious about something else. How did you know my p value was 0.93?
I did not mention the p value in my post above, nor did I send Mplus my output, input, or data files.
Tihomir Asparouhov
posted on Friday, December 13, 2013 - 2:35 pm
0.93=233/250 which is how the p-value is computed as we compare the bootstrap generated LRT distribution with the observed value.
Tihomir Asparouhov
posted on Friday, December 13, 2013 - 2:36 pm
233 comes from 250-17
Calvin D. Croy
posted on Friday, December 13, 2013 - 3:02 pm
Thank you for your explanation again, Tihomir. Now I understand!
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Program Credits


text:
Dembinsky graduated from Mount Saint Mary College in 1996 with a
Bachelor of Arts in History / Political Science. He also earned a
Master of Science in Education from the Mount.
A native of Poughquag, New York, Matt currently resides in
Newburgh, New York, with his wife, Trisha, and his twin daughters,
Samantha and Alexandra.
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 845-569-3253


text:
Dermatology – Professional Education
Our team educates patients, medical students, physicians, residents, and the community about the newest findings in skin disease research. We rank among the best clerkships and core lectures within Penn State College of Medicine.
Contact us
To learn more about educational programs in dermatology, call
Program overview
Residencies and Fellowships
Find more information about all of our residency and fellowship programs.
Dermatology Residency
The Dermatology Residency at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a three-year, ACGME-accredited program that accepts four residents per year.
Dermatopathology Fellowship
The Dermatopathology Fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program that admits one fellow per year.
Explore Dermatopathology Fellowship
Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship
The Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship at Penn State Hershey is a one year fellowship accredited by the ACGME.
Explore Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship
Advanced Practice Clinician Dermatology Fellowship
The Advanced Practice Clinician Dermatology Fellowship at Penn State is a one-year program designed to provide advanced training in dermatology to physician assistants or nurse practitioners.
The dermatology clerkship is designed to provide the student with an extensive, in-depth exposure to clinical dermatology. Students will be involved in the evaluation and management of patients in the adult, pediatric, and surgical dermatology clinics. Clerkship students also do the initial evaluation of inpatients on the dermatology consultation service and participate in the management of these inpatients.
Dermatology Continuing EducationA variety of dermatology continuing education programs are held throughout the year. When available, registration links will appear below.
Dermatology Grand Rounds
The Department of Dermatology offers Grand Rounds once a month during the academic year, September through June.
Patient volunteers are available for examination from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Dermatology Clinic, Suite 100 of the University Physicians Center in Hershey, PA. The case discussions are held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The conferences are attended by a large number of dermatologists from the Central Pennsylvania area, many of whom invite patients with challenging diagnostic or therapeutic problems. We have several visiting professors each year. The visiting professors participate in the case conference and also present a lecture from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Dermatology Grand Rounds is recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology for AAD Category 1 CME credit, and may be used toward the American Academy of Dermatology's Continuing Medical Education Award. In addition, Penn State College of Medicine designates this educational AACME activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s).
All Pennsylvania dermatologists are welcome to attend the meetings.
- 8:30 a.m.: Patient viewing in UPC II Suite 100
- 9:30 a.m.: Patient discussion
- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Visiting professor lecture


text:
It should come as no surprise that Jackson Hole shopping is as unique as its natural surroundings. Infused with authentic Western flare, our eclectic selection of designer boutiques, galleries and outdoor shops have something that appeals to every visitor. An afternoon exploring Teton Village or downtown Jackson is a cultural adventure filled with local art, jewelry, fashion and one-of-a-kind souvenirs that you can enjoy long after you leave.
Keep up to date on the latest news and events
Search Jackson Hole Central Reservations for everything from slopeside hotels to luxurious lodges.


text:
Powers' boat finsihed fourth or better six times in 10 races (photo courtesy DSPics.com).
BRANFORD, Conn.--Senior Liz Powers and sophomore Marie Appel placed second in the 20-team B division to lead the Harvard sailing team to a seventh-place team finish at the Yale Women's Intersectional held over the weekend. The Crimson also placed eighth at the Navy Fall Intersectional, sixth at the Tufts Invite and 17th at the Captain Hurst Bowl.
Powers and Appel placed in the top five in seven of 10 weekend races at Yale. They logged a pair of runner-up finishes and totaled 62 points, 10 more than division-winner Brown. Sophomores Emily Lambert and Alexandra Jumper placed 14th in the A division, as Harvard totaled 185 team points, edging Dartmouth for seventh place and finishing nine behind sixth-place Old Dominion. The host Bulldogs won with 117.
Junior Tedd Himler paced Harvard in the four-division regatta at Navy by finishing fifth among competitors from 20 schools in the singlehanded C division. He placed outside the top 10 in just three of 20 races and had eight top-five showings. He finished second twice and finished the weekend by winning his final race to total 132 points. Harvard totaled 738 overall points, finishing seven back of Hobart & William Smith in seventh place and 49 ahead of eighth-place St. Mary's. Roger Williams won the team championship.
Juniors Alan Palmer and Grace Charles and senior Michelle Konstadt teamed up to take ninth place in the A division at Navy. Seniors Alex Bick and Ali Beyer led the Crimson at Tufts. They placed third in the B division with 20 points in three races, finishing in the top half of the 12-team field in all six competitions, notching four top-three showings and winning once.


text:
World-class Kayaking Tours and Instruction
Join us for tours and instruction on the Lower Columbia River and Oregon/Washington coast. Our owner-guides live here and have in-depth knowledge and love for the area.
We have a full calendar of events from beginner half day tours to surf and coastal journeys. Check out our calendar!
Check out the Oregon Public Broadcasting/Oregon Field Guide's recent video with Andrew and Kyleen taking them out for a spin in our neck 'o the woods:
The address for our shop in the Skamokawa Landing building is 957 Steamboat Slough Rd, office #1, Skamokawa, WA 98647. Open 12-4 Friday through Sunday.
Call 360-747-1044 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to sign up for tours or classes!
We also sell some of our favorite equipment now, including Nigel Dennis Kayaks


text:
The project is a collaborative effort bringing together county teams from the superior courts, probation departments, public defenders, district attorneys, and other justice partners. Recidivism and revocation rates will be tracked for up to three years for both participating offenders and a control group of similar offenders not participating in the project.
CalRAPP was launched in June 2009 as a joint project of the Judicial Council and the Chief Probation Officers of California. CalRAPP is funded by the National Institute of Corrections and the State Justice Institute. The grants supporting this project were awarded based on the reputation of the California courts and probation departments, and work at the October 2008 Summit of Judicial Leaders.
Participating CalRAPP pilot counties are Napa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Yolo.
Adult Probation Business Model: Improving Criminal Justice Outcomes in California, Chief Probation Officers of California
Evidence Based Practices to Reduce Recidivism: Implication for State Judiciaries, Hon. Roger K. Warren.
Commonwealth of Virginia: Roadmap for Evidence-Based Practice in Community Corrections (Crime and Justice Institute)
Improving the Effectiveness of Correctional Programs Through Research, Edward J Latessa, Ph.D.
Creation and Validation of the Ohio Risk Assessment System, Edward J. Latessa, Ph.D.


text:
Release Date: 1996 |
Fantastic review, this album is disturbing in a lot of ways. I couldn't imagine it being described better though.
swans are awesome. they border on being almost frighteningly intense in some of their stuff.
thanks for the praise, and yeah, this is a bit more subdued than some of their other stuff, but it's overall still pretty disturbing.
yay swans. i need this.
Album Rating: 3.5Been trying to get this for days. In the process now. I can't wait to dig in.
And yah, very mantastic review. I've been digging alot of this Swans oriented stuff lately.This Message Edited On 04.01.09
Digging: Envy - The Fallen Crimson
I absolutely love early Swans, but I've never listened to anything past Greed/Holy Money, which I'm not really a fan of. Not too sure how much I'd like this, but I might check it out sometime.
i need me some swans
listened to a bit of this... it's totally wacked, but seemse like something that I need to listen to a lot before I really get into it.
Album Rating: 3.5Yah. I still need to.
Album Rating: 4.5This is THE music
i just got this and oh my GOD swans are so fucking great
Album Rating: 3.5Fuck this a tough listen.
the final sacrifice punches all kinds of dick
This is incredible.
Digging: Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats - Unlocked
...That's how fucked up you are.
I can't get into this. Too much stuff to listen to in one sitting
Album Rating: 4.5take it slow
I've listened to a little Swans just to see what they're like and I loved it, especially how influential the early stuff has been. I need to get full albums soon.
Been meaning to check out the Swans for a long time - which album should I start with?
Album Rating: 4.0this is getting better and better
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


text:
The Department regulates credit unions that are chartered by the State of Georgia. The Department does not have regulatory authority over federal credit unions or credit unions chartered/headquartered in another state.
- Search for state-chartered credit unions regulated by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, use our Credit Union Search Page. NOTE - Listings DO NOT include federal credit unions*. This site only includes information regarding those credit unions chartered or regulated by the State of Georgia. Data is updated nightly (Monday - Friday)
- Download a complete list of state-chartered credit unions. Data is updated nightly (Monday - Friday). Download the zipped file (in Excel® format) - CUs.Zip
*Use the following link to find out information about credit unions chartered anywhere in the United States:
- Search for an NCUA-insured credit union in another state or obtain more detailed demographic and financial information on any credit union in the United States.


text:
ÝÝï L-carnosine
Principal Proposed Uses
ÝÝï Anti-aging nutrient
Other Proposed Uses
ÝÝï Alzheimerís Disease and Related Conditions; Autism; Cataracts; Sports and Fitness Support: Enhancing Performance
Page Navigation
ÝÝ Requirements/Sources
ÝÝ Therapeutic Dosages
ÝÝ What Is the Scientific Evidence for Carnosine?
ÝÝ Safety Issues
ÝÝ References
L-carnosine, not to be confused with L-carnitine , is a substance manufactured in the human body, made by combining the amino acids alanine and histidine. The highest levels of carnosine are found in the brain and nervous system, the lens of the eye, and skeletal muscle tissue. Its exact function in the body is not known.
The body manufactures carnosine from common dietary proteins, and for this reason there is no daily requirement of this substance.
Therapeutic Dosages
Among advocates of carnosine, there is a controversy regarding whether the proper dose is 50ñ150 mg per day or nearer to 1,000 mg daily. However, until carnosine has actually been shown to have any medical benefits, this argument cannot be settled.
What Is the Scientific Evidence for Carnosine?
Like numerous other substances, carnosine has antioxidant properties, meaning that it neutralizes dangerous, naturally occurring substances called free radicals. 22,23
Free radicals are thought to play a role in many illnesses. And, on this basis, many antioxidant substances have been studied for potential health-promoting properties. Some websites claim that carnosine acts as an antioxidant in a unique way, fighting the ìsecond waveî effects that follow attacks by free radicals. However, there is no meaningful evidence to support this theory or the hypothesis that such an effect, if it truly exists, would provide any health benefits.
Carnosine is widely marketed as an anti-aging nutrient. There are numerous studies that hint carnosine might help slow various aspects of aging. 1-20 The quality of these studies, though, is too low to provide any reliable evidence for benefit. 1-20
There is some very preliminary evidence that carnosine may be helpful for children with autistic spectrum disorders . 21 In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 31 children with autism were given either carnosine (400 mg twice daily) or placebo for a period of 8 weeks. The children given carnosine showed significant improvements compared to those given placebo.
Brain Disorders
Carnosine has been studied in Parkinsonís disease. In a small controlled trial, adding carnosine to the diet of people being treated for Parkinsonís disease improved their symptoms. 58 There is also weak evidence that carnosine may be helpful for Alzheimerís disease and other forms of dementia. 31-50 Carnosine can be found in the olfactory tissue, which is responsible for our sense of smell. Because of this, some researchers have suggested that carnosine should be administered through the nose (rather than by mouth), especially considering that people with Alzheimerís disease often have problems with their ability to detect odors. 57,60 This use for carnosine and this method of administering it are in need of further study.
Sports Performance
It has been suggested that taking supplements of the amino acid alanine can raise carnosine levels in muscle, and, in turn, enhance sports performance . In one small trial, 26 men were randomized to receive 6,400 mg daily of carnosine or a placebo over the course of 10 weeks. 54 The men then went through an exercise training program, and their physical fitness was assessed after a 10-week period. Researchers, though, did not find any significant differences between the two groups.
Other Conditions
Other weak evidence hints that oral carnosine might be helpful for cataracts , 24-29wound healing , 30 conditions of the digestive tract, 53,56 and various forms of heart disease, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). 51,52 For example, one study found that carnosine may interfere with the development of low density lipoproteins (or ìbadî cholesterol). 55
Safety Issues
The use of carnosine has not been associated with any significant side effects. However, the body deploys a range of enzymes, called carnosinases, to break down carnosine. There may be a reason for the presence of these enzymes, and overcoming them by providing large amounts of supplemental carnosine could conceivably cause harm in some as-yet unrecognized way. Maximum safe doses in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.
1. Hipkiss AR, Brownson C. A possible new role for the anti-ageing peptide carnosine. Cell Mol Life Sci . 2000;57:747ñ53.
2. Yuneva AO, Kramarenko GG, Vetreshchak TV, Gallant S, Boldyrev AA. Effect of carnosine on Drosophila melanogaster lifespan. Bull Exp Biol Med . 2002;133:559-61.
3. Hipkiss AR, Brownson C, Bertani MF, et al. Reaction of carnosine with aged proteins: another protective process? Ann N Y Acad Sci . 2002;959:285ñ94.
4. Stuerenburg HJ. The roles of carnosine in aging of skeletal muscle and in neuromuscular diseases. Biochemistry (Mosc) . 2000;65:862ñ5.
5. Gallant S, Semyonova M, Yuneva M. Carnosine as a potential anti-senescence drug. Biochemistry (Mosc) . 2000;65:866ñ8.
6. Boldyrev A, Song R, Lawrence D, et al. Carnosine protects against excitotoxic cell death independently of effects on reactive oxygen species. Neuroscience . 1999;94:571ñ7.
7. Boldyrev, AA, Gallant, SC, Suhkich, GT. Carnosine, the protective, anti-aging peptide. Biosci Rep . 1999;19:581ñ7.
8. Gille JJ, Pasman P, van Berkel CG, et al. Effect of antioxidants on hyperoxia-induced chromosomal breakage in Chinese hamster ovary cells: protection by carnosine. Mutagenesis . 1991;6:313ñ8.
9. Shao L, Li QH, Tan Z. L-carnosine reduces telomere damage and shortening rate in cultured normal fibroblasts. Biochem Biophys Res Commun . 2004;324:931ñ6.
10. Ikeda D, Wada S, Yoneda C, et al. Carnosine stimulates vimentin expression in cultured rat fibroblasts. Cell Struct Funct . 1999;24:79ñ87.
11. Kantha SS, Wada S, Tanaka H, et al. Carnosine sustains the retention of cell morphology in continuous fibroblast culture subjected to nutritional insult. Biochem Biophys Res Commun . 1996;223:278ñ82.
12. Kasai H. Analysis of a form of oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, as a marker of cellular oxidative stress during carcinogenesis. Mutat Res . 1997;387:147ñ63.
13. McFarland GA, Holliday R. Retardation of the senescence of cultured human diploid fibroblasts by carnosine. Exp Cell Res. 1994;212:167ñ75.
14. McFarland GA, Holliday R. Further evidence for the rejuvenating effects of the dipeptide L-carnosine on cultured human diploid fibroblasts. Exp Gerontol . 1999;34:35ñ45.
15. Hipkiss A, Chana H. Carnosine protects proteins against methylglyoxal-mediated modifications. BiochemBiophys Rcs Goinm . 1998.248;28ñ32.
16. Brownson C, Hipkiss AR. Carnosine reacts with a glycated protein. Free Radic Biol Med . 2000; 28:1564ñ70.
17. Schmidt AM, Yan SD, Wautier JL, et al. Activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products: a mechanism for chronic vascular dysfunction in diabetic vasculopathy and atherosclerosis. Circ Res . 1999;84:489ñ97.
18. Stuerenburg HJ, Kunze K. Concentrations of free carnosine (a putative membrane-protective antioxidant) in human muscle biopsies and rat muscles. Arch Gerontol Geriatr . 1999;29:107ñ113.
19. Wang AM, Ma C, Xie ZH, et al. Use of carnosine as a natural anti-senescence drug for human beings. Biochemistry (Moscow) . 2000;65:869ñ71.
20. Yuneva MO, Bulygina ER, Gallant SC, et al. Effect of carnosine on age-induced changes in senescence-accelerated mice. J Anti-Aging Med . 1999;2:337ñ42.
21. Chez MG, Buchanan CP, Aimonovitch MC, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of L-carnosine supplementation in children with autistic spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol . 2002;17:833ñ7.
22. Tarnha M, et al. Hydroxyl radical scavenging by carnosine and Cu(ii)-carm)sine complexes. Int J Radial Biol . 1999;75:1177ñ1188.
23. MacFarlane N, McMurray J, O'Dowd JJ, et al. Synergism of histidyl dipeptides as antioxidants. J Mol CellCardiol . 1991;23:1205ñ7.
24. Quinn PL Boldyrev AA. Formaziuk VH. Carnosine: its properties, functions and potential therapeutic applications. Mol Aspects Mod , 1992;13:379ñ444.
25. Yuneva, MO, Bulygina, ER, Gallant, SC, et al. Effect of carnosine on age-induced changes in senescence-accelerated mice. J Anti-Aging Medicine . 1999;2:337ñ342.
26. Babizhayev MA, Deyev AI, Yermakova VN, et al. Efficacy of N-acetylcarnosine in the treatment of cataracts. Drugs R D . 2002;3:87ñ103.
27. Babizhayev MA. Rejuvenation of visual functions in older adult drivers and drivers with cataract during a short-term administration of N-acetylcarnosine lubricant eye drops. Rejuvenation Res . 2004;7:186ñ98.
28. Babizhayev MA, Deyev AI, Yermakova VN, et al. N-Acetylcarnosine, a natural histidine-containing dipeptide, as a potent ophthalmic drug in treatment of human cataracts. Peptides . 2001;22:979ñ94.
29. Argirova M, Argirov O. Inhibition of ascorbic acid-induced modifications in lens proteins by peptides. J Pept Sci . 2003;9:170ñ6.
30. Nagai K, Suda T, Kawasaki K, Yamaguchi Y. Effects of L-carnosine on blood cells and biomembrane. NipponSeirigaku Zasshi . 1990;52:339ñ44.
31. Stvolinskii SL, Fedorova TN, Yuneva MO, et al. Protective effect of carnosine on Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase during impaired oxidative metabolism in the brain in vivo. Bull Exp Biol Med . 2003;135:130ñ2.
32. Preston J, et al. Toxic effects of beta-amyloid on immortalised rat brain endothelial cell: protection by carnosine, homocarnosine and beta-alanine. Neuroscience Letters . 1998,242;105ñ108.
33. MV, Aksenov MY, Markesbery WR, et al. Aging in a dish: age-dependent changes of neuronal survival, protein oxidation, and creatine kinase BB expression in long-term hippocampal cell culture. J Neurosci Res . 1999;58:308ñ17.
34. Atwood CS, Moir RD, Huang X, et al. Dramatic aggregation of Alzheimer Ab by Cu(II) is induced by conditions representing physiological acidosis. J Biol Chem . 1998;273:12817ñ26.
35. Boldyrev AA, Stvolinsky SL, Tyulina OV, et al. Biochemical and physiological evidence that carnosine is an endogenous neuroprotector against free radicals. Cell Mol Neurobiol . 1997;17:259ñ71.
36. Butterfield DA. Alzheimer's beta-amyloid peptide and free radical oxidative stress. In: Gilbert DL, Colton CA, eds. Reactive Oxygen Species in Biological Systems: An Interdisciplinary Approach . New York: Plenum; 1999:609ñ638.
37. Carney JM, Starke-Reed PE, Oliver CN, et al. Reversal of age-related increase in brain protein oxidation, decrease in enzyme activity, and loss in temporal and spatial memory by chronic administration of the spin-trapping compound N-tert-butyl-alpha phenylnitrone. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 1991;88:3633ñ6.
38. Cherny RA, Legg JT, McLean CA, et al. Aqueous dissolution of Alzheimer's disease Ab amyloid deposits by biometal depletion. J Biol Chem . 1999;274:23223ñ8.
39. Doble A. The role of excitotoxicity in neurodegenerative disease: implications for therapy. Pharmacol Ther . 1999;81:163ñ221.
40. Forster MJ, Dubey A, Dawson KM, et al. Age-related losses of cognitive function and motor skills in mice are associated with oxidative protein damage in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 1996;93:4765ñ9.
41. Horning MS, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. Endogenous mechanisms of neuroprotection: role of zinc, copper, and carnosine. Brain Res . 2000;852:56ñ61.
42. Huang X, Cuajungco MP, Atwood CS, et al. Cu(II) potentiation of Azheimer Ab neurotoxicity. Correlation with cell-free hydrogen peroxide production and metal reduction. J Biol Chem . 1999;274:37111ñ6.
43. Mark RJ, Lovell MA, Markesbery WR, et al. A role for 4-hydroxynonenal, an aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation, in disruption of ion homeostasis and neuronal death induced by amyloid beta-peptide. J Neurochem . 1997;68:255ñ64.
44. Munch G, Mayer S, Michaelis J, et al. Influence of advanced glycation end-products and AGE-inhibitors on nucleation-dependent polymerization of beta-amyloid peptide. Biochim Biophys Acta . 1997;1360:17ñ29.
45. Munch G, Schinzel R, Loske C, et al. Alzheimer's diseaseósynergistic effects of glucose deficit, oxidative stress and advanced glycation endproducts. Journal of Neural Transmission . 1998;105:439ñ61.
46. Smith MA, Sayre LM, Anderson VE, et al. Cytochemical demonstration of oxidative damage in Alzheimer disease by immunochemical enhancement of the carbonyl reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. J HistochemCytochem . 1998;46:731ñ5.
47. Stvolinsky SL, Kukley ML, Dobrota D, et al. Carnosine: an endogenous neuroprotector in the ischemic brain. Cell Mol Neurobiol . 1999;19:45ñ56.
48. Thomas T, Thomas G, McLendon C, et al. beta-Amyloidñmediated vasoactivity and vascular endothelial damage. Nature . 1996;380:168ñ71.
49. de la Torre JC. Cerebromicrovascular pathology in Alzheimer's disease compared to normal aging. Gerontology . 1997;43:26ñ43.
50. Yan SD, Chen X, Fu J, et al. RAGE and amyloid-beta peptide neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease. Nature . 1996;382:685ñ91.
51. Roberts PR, Zaloga GP. Cardiovascular effects of carnosine. Biochemistry (Mosc) . 2000;65:856ñ61.
52. Stvolinsky SL, Dobrota D. Anti-ischemic activity of carnosine. Biochemistry (Mosc) . 2000l;65:849ñ55.
53. Mahmood A, FitzGerald AJ, Marchbank T, et al. Zinc carnosine, a health food supplement that stabilises small bowel integrity and stimulates gut repair processes. Gut .2007;56:168-75.
54. Kendrick IP, Harris RC, Kim HJ, et al. The effects of 10 weeks of resistance training combined with beta-alanine supplementation on whole body strength, force production, muscular endurance and body composition. Amino Acids. 2008 Jan 4.
55. Rashid I, van Reyk DM, Davies MJ. Carnosine and its constituents inhibit glycation of low-density lipoproteins that promotes foam cell formation in vitro. FEBS Lett. 2007;581(5):1067-1070.
57. Pepper E, Farrell M, Nord G, Finkel S. Antiglycation effects of carnosine and other compounds on the long-term survival of Escherichia coli.Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2010;76(24): 7925-7930.
58. Hipkiss AR. Could carnosine or related structures suppress Alzheimerís disease? J Alzheimers Dis. 2007;11(2):229-240.
59. Boldyrev A, Fedorova T, Stepanova M, et al. Carnosine increases efficiency of DOPA therapy of Parkinson's disease: a pilot study. Rejuvenation Res. 2008;11(4):821-827.
60. Boldyrev A, Stvolinsky S, Fedorova T, Suslina Z. Carnosine as a natural antioxidant and geroprotector: from molecular mechanisms to clinical trials. Rejuvenation Res. 2010;12:156-158.
61. Hipkiss AR. Could carnosine or a carnivorous diet help suppress aging and associated pathologies? Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006;1067:369-74.
Last reviewed July 2012 by EBSCO CAM Review Board
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Evening Dresses
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Stupidest Man In Canada Cuts In Front Of Cops To Rob Starbucks
Another tip to anyone wishing to hold up a Starbucks: Not only is it a bad idea to go ahead with the robbery if there are police officers in the shop at the time, but you should probably not cut in front of the cops in order to start your hold up.
This exact scene played out over the weekend at a Starbucks in British Columbia, when two police officers watched as a 43-year-old man ignored them and the other people in line, walked right up to the register, threw a drink in an employee's face and demanded cash.
Making things even more bizarre for the cops, they had just spoken with this same man outside the Starbucks only minutes earlier.
"[The officers] looked at each other in astonishment that someone would attempt that with two uniform officers in the room," a police rep told the press afterward.
The wannabe robber was quickly apprehended and arrested by the officers. No word on whether or not they were able to get the coffee they were waiting in line for.
Cops say robber cut ahead of them in line at Starbucks [CTV]
Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.


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What does a landscape contractor do?
Landscape contractors work from outdoor architectural or design plans to build and install hardscaping or softscaping for the client, much as a general contractor uses architectural designs to build a house. Landscape contractors are experts in soil drainage, grading, hardscaping (installing concrete paths and retaining wall, building ponds, etc.), and planting. They have heavy equipment such as excavators and tractors to prepare the land as needed.
Some landscape contractors are also landscape architects or landscape designers. The titles can be compared with those in home construction: A building or landscape architect must earn a specialized architecture degree and pass an exam to have a license. A designer — whether an interior designer or a landscape designer — does not usually require a license to work. Landscape contractors are not required by law to work from plans designed by a landscape architect, so you may work directly with the landscape contractor to specify the work you'd like done. The national average cost for large-scale landscaping projects is $10,160. Pricing can vary greatly depending on the project scope, materials and design.
How do you find a good landscape architect?
Hiring a landscape architect is an investment in your home. Landscaping can reduce water bills, improve your home resale value, add to your daily living experience and significantly boost curb appeal. A landscape architect will draw the designs for your new landscape; you'll want to hire a landscape contractor to carry out the plans. Many companies provide design-build landscaping services, with a company architect creating plans for your vision and the landscape contractor executing the vision. With the proper academic background and licensing, a person can be both landscape architect and landscape contractor. Here are a few tips for finding a great landscape architect:
- Research online portfolios and find several landscape architects whose work interests you.
- Read online reviews of client experiences.
- Research whether the landscape architects you are interested in are currently licensed and in good standing with the licensing board, and check whether any complaints have been issued against them. Each state will have their own searchable database. For example, you can search for California landscape architects via the state's Department of Consumer Affairs.
- Request bids from your selected landscape architects.
- Hire the one you like the most, taking care to have a clearly written contract outlining scope of work.
For more, check out our tips for smart hiring on Thumbtack.
How much does it cost to cut a tree down?
When you're ready to have a tree on your property come down, it's time to call an arborist. The national average price range for tree-trimming costs is $270-$450. Tree removal costs can vary based on the height, diameter, location and health of the tree, and on whether you want to remove the stump. Height plays a major role in tree removal costs. Small trees, no more than 30 feet tall, are usually thinner in diameter and easier and safer for an arborist to manage. Removal of a small tree can cost anywhere from under $150 to over $450. Removal of medium-height trees, from 30 feet to 60 feet tall, could cost anywhere between $150 and $850 or more. Tall trees, typically 60 feet to 80 feet tall, may start at $500 or cost more than $1,000 to cut down. As the height and diameter increase, so does the cost.
Location is critical, too. Removing a tree in an open space is quicker and presents fewer obstacles than removing a tree that is growing flush to your house. Arborists can assess your tree and provide you with quotes based on the variables involved. For example, removing a medium-size hackberry tree that was growing too close to a home — the roots were damaging the home's foundation — cost $1,500. This price included rope-down, house protection, tree quartering and stacking, and stump removal.
How much does it cost to remove a fallen tree?
If you need to have a tree cut down, have you planned what will happen next? Arborists often charge an additional fee to quarter and remove the fallen tree from your property, so anticipate this as part of your tree removal costs. You can elect to have the wood cut for use in your fireplace, or you may prefer to have it hauled away completely.
Tree removal costs may vary based on the height and the width of the felled tree. Size affects the labor required for removal, which will be reflected in the cost. For example, a tree service company may charge an additional $100-$120 to haul away the pieces of a felled tree. The service may cost as little as $75 in some regions and more than $150 in others. Regional labor rates, the cost of living and the cost to do business in your area will be reflected in your tree removal cost.
How much does it cost to cut down a massive tree?
If you have to remove a big, beautiful tree from your property, you'll definitely need an arborist. Cutting down a massive tree without the proper tools or training can lead to major property damage or injury. A huge tree may need to be removed if it is diseased or dying and poses a safety risk, has suffered a blow from a storm and isn't safe, or is growing into your home, your home's foundation, your septic system, or your power lines. Removal costs for such large trees will depend on the tree's height, diameter, and relative safety and accessibility, as well as whether you also need the felled tree and stump removed. The bare minimum for removal of a tree over 75 or 80 feet would be $1,000. This may not include tree quartering and removal or stump grinding. Stump grinding ranges on average from $2 to $4 per inch of the stump's diameter. There is no set price as each situation is unique, so it's always best to have an arborist give you a quote and detail exactly which services are included in the price.


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"It's not your typical underwear-hanging-from-the-rafters deer shack,'' said Darrold Persson, 61, of Hibbing, a grandson who now owns the getaway nestled in the North Woods near Bear River. "It's a preserved homestead. I'm so fortunate to walk the same ground that my grandparents did, where my mom grew up. This place is a big part of me.''
"If they outlawed deer season, we'd still come. Deer season is a way to bond across generations and spend quality time together. Non-hunters don't understand, but it's not about the venison, it's the stories we have, and the pictures, the tradition.''
At 85, Persson's dad, Don, of Hibbing is the patriarch of the place. He grew up just down the road and has known Myrna Olson, daughter of Elmer and Emma, since they were kids. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
"I love this place,'' he said, relishing another season that brings family members — including those from Massachusetts and Colorado — together. "I really don't care anymore if I get a deer.''
What makes it special?
"The scenery. The quiet. The memories,'' he said. One of his four sons, Denny, died of a heart attack at age 55 in 2005, and some of his ashes are buried there.
Another son, Dale, 51, left northern Minnesota for the Twin Cities for 25 years, but now lives near Pengilly, not far from The Farm.
"I can't wait to get here, and I don't like leaving,'' he said. "For me it's the camaraderie, getting together with family, telling stories, playing cards. There's a lot of laughter. Getting a deer is just a bonus.''
At 18, Taylor Persson of Hibbing is one of the camp's youngest hunters.
"I've been coming since I was 10,'' he said. "It's a big deal. The best part is just hanging out here with these guys.''
With his grandfather now 85 years old, and his uncle Darrold 61, he knows it's up to him and the other younger hunters to keep The Farm's long deer camp tradition.
"It will be kept,'' Taylor vowed.
Not a typical camp
The place has always been called The Farm because Elmer and Emma raised a few animals and had a large garden on the 160 acres they homesteaded. All of the food raised was simply to survive. "It wasn't a commercial farm,'' Darrold said.
After Elmer Olson died in 1962, Don and Myrna Persson became caretakers.
A well and septic system were added in 1982; a bunkhouse in 1991, a front porch — the main gathering place now — in 1998.
"It's not fancy by any stretch of the imagination,'' Darrold said. "It's just comfortable.''
Besides its tidy white outside appearance, other things set The Farm apart from more typical northern Minnesota deer-hunting lodges.
"We're probably one of the few camps with a defibrillator,'' said Darrold. "We had the fire department come and give us first-aid training, too. Old guys like me want the young guys to know how to do that.''
Also the camp has its own website (www.perssonfarm.com). And when deer aren't in season, it serves broader purposes.
"It's a deer camp from October through November, but the rest of the season it's a family gathering place,'' Darrold said.
Then there are the poems, written by Darrold, hanging on the wall. In one about his grandparents, he wrote:
"For the seeds that they planted so long ago
Continue to flourish — continue to grow.
Parents and children making memories to share
A heritage preserved — ever a family affair.''
An opener to remember
As a storm dumped 3 inches of wet snow last Friday, 12 family members and friends gathered at The Farm. Though some didn't get to bed until 1:30 a.m., they all got up around 5 Saturday morning, ate a quick breakfast, climbed into blaze-orange clothing and hiked to their stands.
Darrold spotted fresh deer tracks on his trail, and climbed into his enclosed, elevated stand shortly after 6 a.m., then watched the woods slowly become visible. Light snow fell.
"It's like a Christmas card out here,'' he whispered.
A shot rang through the woods at 7:10, a second at 7:15 and a third, more distant, at 7:30. Then around 8:30 came a single shot nearby.
"The great thing about deer hunting is it only takes one deer to make a season,'' Darrold said.
True words.
As everyone gathered for lunch back at camp, Darrold's son, Dustin, 33, of Oakdale, showed off a big 8-point, 215-pound field dressed buck he bagged.
"A doe walked into my shooting lane at 7:45,'' he said. He had an antlerless permit, but didn't have a clear shot. Even if he had, he wouldn't have taken it this early in the season, in hopes of getting a buck. But 40 minutes later, he got what he was looking for. A big buck briefly stepped into the open, then disappeared into the thick woods.
"I didn't have my grunt call, so I whistled and he came back into the lane, then turned sideways,'' Dustin said, offering a perfect 75-yard shot. "I didn't have time to get nervous.'' He fired once, dropping the big whitetail.
"That's the biggest deer we've ever shot!'' Darrold said, giving his son a hug.
Another memory at The Farm.


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If you want to travel to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, you will need two days, minimum, travel time on several planes and thousands of dollars. Or you can come to El Paso.
Since 1917, structures on the campus of the former Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy have been built in the unique style of Bhutan's majestic dzongs, fortresses constructed with sloping 8-foot-thick walls and red-colored roofs. The school, now known as the University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP, has grown to 77 buildings, all constructed or retrofitted around the theme.
Even the shelter housing an ATM, the guard kiosks and a Hilton Garden Inn on the edge of campus are designed à la Bhutan. UTEP President Diana Natalicio has said that the school's parking garages are the only ones in the world in the Bhutanese style because in Bhutan no such structure exists. (The country didn't have roads until 40 years ago.) A $2-million pedestrian overpass on the campus, unveiled in August, continues the theme.
In recent years, UTEP has intensified its relationship with the kingdom, thanks to Natalicio and her affinity for the school's unusual heritage.
Bhutanese artifacts grace nearly every cranny of the campus, adding a touch of authenticity to this faux Bhutan. Fifteen Buddhist prayer flags flutter outside the Centennial Museum, where well-wishers can spin a prayer wheel that was the gift of the Bhutanese people in 2003. Three 16-foot-long, intricately embroidered scrolls known as thongdrels hang on display, two in the library, a 1984 structure that Willie Quinn of UTEP's Heritage Commission declares is "more Bhutanese than something in Bhutan."
Although there are no espresso bars in any lobbies in the Land of the Thunder Dragon — at least not yet — the magnificent 15-foot hand-painted altar adjacent to the coffee stand in the UTEP library does make it clear that this isn't your average public university campus. A copy of the world's largest book (as certified by Guinness World Records) underscores the connection. "Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom" is 5 by 8 feet and weighs 133 pounds.
Displayed throughout the library are instruments essential to traditional Bhutanese music, such as a yangchen, or dulcimer, and a dramyen, a Tibetan lute. In a nod to the country's national sport, a traditional Bhutanese bow and a quiver of arrows also are on display.
About the only aspects of the 366-acre campus that don't resemble Bhutan are the Sun Bowl and the Don Haskins Center, where UTEP's Miners basketball teams play.
What does El Paso have to do with a tiny country that borders India, Nepal and Tibet? The reason for this unusual connection has to do with two people who never met.
John Claude White, a British political officer, traveled to Bhutan at the turn of the 20th century and was the only foreigner present in 1907 at the coronation of Bhutan's first king. White filed one of the first dispatches about the mysterious kingdom to be published, a 105-page report in the April 1914 National Geographic with 88 photographs he shot during his visit.
"It is impossible to find words to express adequately the wonderful beauty and variety of scenery I met with during my journeys, the grandeur of the magnificent snow peaks and the picturesque charm of the many wonderful forts and other buildings I came across," White wrote, "but I hope my photographs may."
Half a world away, they inspired Kathleen Worrell, wife of the school's dean. When fire ravaged the campus, she suggested to her husband that it be rebuilt in the style of this faraway place; she was said to have seen a resemblance between El Paso's Franklin Mountains and the Himalayas. Architects were commissioned. With only the White photographs and his vivid language to work from, they came up with blueprints for four new buildings, setting a precedent for the look of the school.
The Bhutanese worked without written plans. "I wish our new buildings in Bhutan could be so finely built," the then-queen of Bhutan wrote to UTEP in the late '60s, after being sent photographs of the campus.
Bhutan didn't open up to outsiders until 1974, and a UTEP graduate just completed a year in Bhutan as its first international artist in residence. The school is even offering a chance to visit the real thing Dec. 29-Jan.15 for the kingly sum of $7,995 (www.admin.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=70181). But as the ties grow closer, there's one Bhutanese element you're not likely to see in El Paso: colorful painted phalli that adorn the sides of buildings to ward off evil spirits.
Lisa Napoli is the author of "Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth."
Lisa Napoli is the author of "Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth."


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Hey everyone, this is a tutorial that will show you how to sketch a rabbit using a few different methods.
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Hey, I love Conspiracy Theories. This is why I troll WND.com, some of them are to good to pass up.
I also love Reality TV. I know….I'm a glutton for punishment.
Today, I get both.
Part 1 -
Recently I started watching a new show called Bar Rescue. Similar inv vein to Kitchen Nightmares, you have a "Bar Expert" going into Bars that obviously need help (and in incredible amounts of debt) and giving them a a makeover an advice to set them back on track. I particularly like this show, as the host (Jon Taffer) does give advice and insight not only to the owners, but that can be used by anyone starting or running a bar. It's good fun.
Part 2 –
On my Monday Quick Hits, I posted about President Obama's "Uncle Omar" being arrested for DUI. While this would normally be a non-news event, this is the President's Uncle and he's in the US illegally.
Part 3 – The Coincidence?
Now normally it would be hard to put two and two together here, but today's story in the Boston Herald brings up something interesting.
A marked cruiser pulled him over just past the Chicken Bone saloon, about a mile from Onyango's single-family home.
The Bone was topic of a recent episode of Bar Rescue. In fact, The Bone is the rebranded name (originally against the Owner's wishes) of The Chicken Bone.
Conspiracy –
Talk about Coincidence and being at the right (wrong) place at the right (wrong) time. Given that this is Spike TV, what would they have to lose from a publicity stunt such as this? What a coup d'etat this would be if they could have influenced where the suspect was pulled over or "inspired" the whole event to take place.
Is it far fetched? Yes. Could it happen? Who knows? But what great (or horrible) publicity for a bar, especially if this goes national (which I think it will).
Put on your tinfoil hats and lets go for a ride.


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