text:
ICANN has suspended the Digital Archery contest part of its new Generic Top-level Domain (gTLD) Program, which was destined to decide which gTLD applications would be handled first, the organization announced on Saturday. The future of this application process is still to be determined, ICANN said during a news conference in Prague on Monday.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers received over 1,900 applications to create new generic top-level domains such as "news", "sex" or "pizza." However, the organization can only handle 500 gTLD applications at a time, and so needs a way to determine which applications would be handled first. Each batch takes approximately 5 months to evaluate, according to ICANN, giving companies who end up in the first batch a potential head-start launching their gTLD.
The method initially chosen, Digital Archery, is an online competition for applicants for new generic top-level domain calling for them to shoot a digital arrow as close as they could to a selected time to determine in which batch their application would be dealt with.
ICANN cancelled the Digital Archery competition over the weekend, though, leaving applicants in doubt about the batch selection process. The primary reason to suspend that part of the program was complaints about the timestamp system returning unexpected results, due to network latency and as a result of how the timestamp system responds under differing circumstances, ICANN announced.
Applicants had until June 28 to register timestamps, and approximately 20 percent had already done so when the registration system was suspended, ICANN said.
ICANN can not yet reveal what the next step in the process will be, President and CEO Rod Beckstrom said at the Prague news conference. "There are numerous discussions taking place this week," he said, adding that the community was asked to give feedback on the Digital Archery suspension. ICANN will be meeting this week in Prague.
Chief Operating Officer Akram Atallah said the organization will review the procedure and make the results available for everyone to see. The information gathered from the community in Prague will be weighed by the gTLD Committee of the ICANN Board.
Beckstrom could not say if the companies who already aimed for the first of bulls eye were out of luck. If the Digital Archery process is cancelled this could affect companies who already invested time, or perhaps money, in the process. One company, Pool.com, stepped forward to offer to hit the batch-one bulls eye on behalf of applicants for a $25,000 fee.
Beckstrom said ICANN had no opinion on such services, and added that individual actions of third parties around the gTLD application process are not under the influence of ICANN.
"Our clients, other archery service clients and other applicants who have followed the rules undertaking investments to compete at the highest level are now subject to harm should the digital archery process not be re-established," said Peter LaMantia of digitalarcheryexperts.com in an email. He said the service has several clients, but would not disclose what he would charge for a batch-one bulls eye.
"ICANN established the digital archery rules and it needs to follow through with the process," said LaMantia. Although he reckons that ICANN's suspension of the service was probably carefully considered and in the best interest of the new gTLD program as a whole, he thinks the Digital Archery program still has to be executed. Failure to do so will discredit the integrity of the body, demonstrating that future decisions and rules can be altered as a result of a few vocal dissenting voices, he said.
In related news, ICANN announced a replacement for Beckstrom, who had previously announced that he will step down as president and CEO on July 1. Fadi Chehadé, most recently CEO of Vocado, a provider of cloud software to school administrations, will take over the posts by Oct. 1, ICANN said. Until then, Atallah, the COO, will act as interim CEO.
ICANN's next meeting will be held in Beijing in April.


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
"I had good luck with firewire direct from my cable box." What is a firewire?
Dude, are you fucking dense?http://hometheater.about.com/od/televisions/qt/feb172009date.htmread point 3, and re-read your options again. I'm getting tired of you arguing with me.Cable companies are also killing their analogue bandwidth to make more room for the digital transmissions... THIS MEANS, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE TUNER CAN, AND THAT YOU WILL NEED TO USE A CABLE BOX.-Thomp.s. do not use the PVR-350, notice it wasn't in my list. It only provides MPEG-2 accelleration for output, and is otherwise nothing more than a slow frame buffer.


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Evening Light
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The Glow of Inspiration
Doubling Light
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Summer Dreams
My Boudoir
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In the Thick
Light the Way


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Topic: Got a 5k ? (Read 9510 times)
Posts: 48
Karma: +3/-0
Zevenaar, The Netherlands
Got a 5k ?
October 15, 2015, 04:43:07 PM »
Wow, cool, a seperate 5k section !
As I'm from time to time strolling the internet for info about 5k's in use, I think it'd be cool to have a list of consoles still active. I don't expect this list would be getting very long though....
So, if you've got a 5k mixer of any kind , please post here !
Original, cutdown, sidecar, or self compiled, all is fine by me. Although I'd say that it must have at least 1 summed stereo output, otherwise it wouldn't be a mixer, right? Ok, just to please Matt : 7.1 will do as well !
And pics of your 5k would be nice
I'll shoot one of small 5k asap and post it here too.
[edit 19-11-15 :]
And, why not making a list of the original SSL 5k consoles.
About 120 made in total.
here's a start :
3 were made for Skywalker Sound. (contained flying faders). All are sold in the late 90s, and at least one is parted out as I seen the fadermodules for sale.
3 made for switzerland broadcasting company Zürich (only 1 still exists, currently setup in Austria, the other 2 are parted out).
1 made for ESPN US, dismantled. (16mono+32stereo 8bus broadcastversion)
Current studios with 5k consoles :
Germany :
- Matt (no website)
Netherlands :
- Helterbelter (no website)
Australia :
Last Edit: November 19, 2015, 10:39:54 AM by Helterbelter
Posts: 9
Karma: +3/-1
Sound makes Sense
Paris Area - France
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #1 on:
October 27, 2015, 11:09:39 AM »
Hello !
I'm in : with the very last one in France (I guess).
A 1988 babe : 32 channels, 24 Mic SL 501 I/P, 8 SL 505 dual line I/P, 28 EQ SL 502 and aux sends, 8 compressors in the center part, no automation, and the total recall module which has been removed.
It still work great on music recording and mixing, although it wasn't meant so.
I had the chance te get also lots of spare parts when 2 studios closed around Paris. So I have a really good bundle of stock for my own maintenance.
Who's next ?
Myriam, Studio d'IKKEN
P1040536 - selfie.jpg
(2166.68 kB, 4000x3000 - viewed 780 times.)
Posts: 48
Karma: +3/-0
Zevenaar, The Netherlands
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #2 on:
October 30, 2015, 10:58:54 AM »
Hi Myriam !
Nice !
Do you happen to know who the original owner was ?
And, I tried to make a selfie, but it didn't turn out that well.....
As promised, here are a few pics of mine.
a self compiled 5k .
6 mono channels with EQ,
2 stereochannels with EQ
8 stereochannels without EQ.
3 subgroups
2 aux
1 stereo mainbus
DAW controllers
2x Spectrum analyzers and 1 multipurpose computer (analyzer/midi/vca controller)
some patchable eq's/dynamics, most are DIY clones. I used original 5k blanks that I sent out to Frank NRG for engraving. Some of the DIY modules aren't shown in the pictures below, but i also have a stereo neumann W492 clone module (single width), a racked up stereo Amek BC3 eq module, and 2 x MS insertswitchers with lowcultfilters (I cloned the SL501 18dB/octave filters), gain, and balanced MS insert and balanced stereo insert. One of these is currently mounted in subgroup 1. The second isn't entirely ready yet.
Picture below :
upper row : 3x Windows computers with touchscreens. The one in the middle is currently turned off : I'm going to use this one to add VCA automatable stereo Auxes from all channels. But I can also use it to display an analyzer.
middle row , fltr : dual Amek JP301 micpres + 5k meters / dual 9k Clones + 5k meters / stereo optolimitercompressor project (not ready yet, will be something unique) / Steffen's Supersidechain module, with Crush and Blend function. Mainbusamp and compressor (original SL552 with gssl sidechain added, and of course a nice matching frontpanel !) / switchmodule for the analyzercomputers, including dimmer for the displays, Sl544 meterswitcher, programVU meters, stereo and MS PPM meter.
lower row fltr: 2x Trident S80 clones, 2x Nite 3d EQ clones, 2x SL510, 557F talkbackcompressor modified for linelevel usage, empty module, SL550,SL555. Then a part of the DAW channelcontroller.
DAW channelcontroller (cnc engraving by Grandmaster audio-UK)
Modules :
On the left of the mouse :
1-channelmotorfader +solos, Maybe I'll add a motor-off switch. And replace the motorfader with one that's touchsensitive.
Middle row :
2-switches for write/read enable, rec enable, eq bypass, insertbypass.
3-EQ :4xeq gain (Alps hi speed motorpots), 4x eq-q (Alps encoders), 4x eq freq (encoders).
4+5- 2x aux/FX send motorfaders + on/off and pre/post switches (need to be finished)
upper row :
6-Panning (alps Hi speed motorfader) + mute and selector for on-screen channeldisplay. Here I used a 507 frontpanel, so it also contains a few pots that aren't connected
7-eq display - ugly and of no use because it's missing a legend. Maybe I'll make a new one, or I dismiss it and put something else in. Or just leave it as it is.
8-a set of switches, 4 for programming the controller, and 4 that are freely assignable.
DAW fadercontroller (cnc engraving by Grandmaster audio-UK)
Simply a bank of 8 motorfaders and an amount of set switches to switch between sets of faders. Right now I've numbered them (DAW 1-8, 9-16, etc, up to buses, to be followed by the channels of the SSL), but it'd make much more sense to switch between instrumentsets. Hindsight..... or hindsigh, hahaha. On the other hand, I barely use the fadercontroller, probably because the link to the SSL channels isn't ready yet.
It also has an encodergroup with 8 encoders 4 assignable switches, and 4 bankselectors for the encodergroup.
By the way, in essense, the controllers are BCF-2000s.
Notes about the console :
-Frame and wiring is completely DIYed, although I used original guiderails, and most buscards are also original (not all though).
It did cost me about 5 years to collect the necessary manuals, and to figure out how to get everything working. Most of the modules need to have slight modifications to get them working.
-the channels without IO modules have 285501 debalancing circuits made on DIY boards.
-The gathered modules are purchased from different sellers in the US, UK, Uruguay, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, France, and Russia. Most of the parts come from a decomissioned console in Zürich though.
-Original 5000 PSU.
-No instant reset, no battery backup.
-internal routing through original 5k Broadcast style routingswitches cards.
Last Edit: October 31, 2015, 09:38:34 AM by Helterbelter
Matt Sartori
Hero Member
Posts: 732
Karma: +21/-0
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #3 on:
October 30, 2015, 12:28:37 PM »
well done both of you!
they look gorgeous!
Artur D'Assumpção
Hero Member
Posts: 661
Karma: +23/-0
Sintra, Portugal
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #4 on:
October 30, 2015, 06:50:42 PM »
Lovely consoles! Congratulations!
Never seen a 5k with such a variety and customization of modules. Great work!
Always loved those 5k meters... much cooler than the plasma meters!
Posts: 48
Karma: +3/-0
Zevenaar, The Netherlands
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #5 on:
October 30, 2015, 09:08:40 PM »
Thanks guys !
I will explain more about the setup later on, but I'll do this in a seperate topic. Its setup is thoroughly thought thru, even the amount of channels (3 years back I had more channels and more auxes). There are a few minor things in the controllers that didn't turn out as what I had in mind , and I do have a few experimental additions for the console itself in mind, but other than that... this is the console I wished for. Or actually, the mix summingbox . It's really meant for partial OTB mixing/summing. And a luxurious summingbox it is, hahaha !
By the way, for tracking I mainly use a cutdown DDA and a bunch of 19"channelstrips (Focusrite, Neve, SPL). Even though the SSL works very well to track with, but doesn't have that enough channels for tracking drums.
Jr. Member
Posts: 93
Karma: +2/-0
Reutlingen, Germany
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #6 on:
November 02, 2015, 10:54:56 AM »
Wow - that's a beauty.
Completely customized hybrid beast .... great work.
What exactly did you use for the upper row windows computers ?
Last Edit: November 02, 2015, 11:04:29 AM by matt
Posts: 48
Karma: +3/-0
Zevenaar, The Netherlands
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #7 on:
November 02, 2015, 12:36:47 PM »
Thanks Matthias !
These are used communication aid computers, based on ETX computers, and they're running on Windows XP. Can't really recall the price specs, but it's something like an 800mHz processor with 512 MB ram. Maybe 1024MB.... I took the computers out of the original enclosures and put them in a selfmade enclosure of aluminium.
Performancewise they're not very interesting, obviously, but they perform well enough for Pinguin (audioanalyzer software), and random Midi stuff. I used cheap Behringer stereo audiointerfaces on these for the AD converion, and the latency together with the Pinguin software is near-zero. They respond just as fast as the SL574 PPM LCD meters, maybe even faster. The Phase meter function is faster than the SSL SL575 phasemeter though.
The plus on these is that the processorcooling is fanless, and the C-drives are compactflashcards of 8 GB. So, they're already almost noiseless from the start. The only audible noise is from the backlight inverters, but on 2 of the three computers I replaced the TL backlight with with LED backlights, so I was able to remove the inverter. Also, because the LEDs are dimmable, I used a normal LM317 type of regulator for it with a pot for the adjustment. I placed the pot externally, in the switchpanel next to the SL544 meterswitcher..
They're powered from the same 230v group as the audiointerfaces, dawcontrollers and the screens, which are automatically turned on when I turn on the DAW computer. In the windows startupfolder of these ETXes I placed a link to the Pinguin software, so I don't need to use a mouse with these. Pinguin starts automatically. And, because Pinguin doesn't need to remember any settings or makes any changes in Windows, you can simply power off the computer by shutting down the 230v, without doing harm to the software.
But Matt, when are you showing your 5k ?
I have a picture of yours on my computer, but it's not up-to-date. I suspect you have the very last Film console in the world by the way......
Last Edit: November 02, 2015, 03:23:00 PM by Helterbelter
Jr. Member
Posts: 93
Karma: +2/-0
Reutlingen, Germany
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #8 on:
November 03, 2015, 09:12:31 AM »
I have a hard time finding these ETX thingies used somewhere .... they match perfectly with the penthouse size of the console.
If you have a source for these - let me know.
About showing my console .... I am afraid you have the most current picture.
I was browsing through my files and the youngest one I found was from 2010.
It's at a very small size and I can't seem to find the original :-(.
Anyway, here it is :
Even if it might be the last 5k film console in the world ..... I am trying to modify it a little to support the audio needs as well.
Like : it doesn't have a master fader yet for stereo downmixes.
Current status
is :
- 48 Mono channels with surround panning (was 56 but I needed space for the stereo channels)
- 4 Stereo channels (still to be completed - not to be seen on the pic)
- 7.1 surround capabilities
- G+ Ultimation (disabled at the moment until the final configuration is set up)
- 32 mono busses
- 2 Joysticks
- 6 x mono aux
- 2 x stereo aux
to come :
- Master fader
- better stereo monitoring/talkback functions (SL550 / SL555)
- 4 more stereo channels (maybe)
- 4 stereo subgroups
- 4 Independent main outputs
- Mono / Stereo compressors (patchable)
- different multitrack control
- improved stereo routing
- Total Recall computer SL590
- probably improved routing (about the hardest to come by)
- improved optical monitoring with TFTs in the centre section penthouse (like the ETXes :-) .. )
- DAW machine control at the fingertips
I love the integration of the DAW keyboard and trackball (you remember that one, Paul - still thankful you gave it to me).
But it chews up space for more modules.
So I was also thinking of expanding the centre section to the left (half bay maybe).
I guess we'll see a lot more pics in the first half of 2016.
The room is way to small but this is something I can't change at the moment.
If someone is interested, I can post some pics of the disassembly / assembly - maybe in an extra thread.
Posts: 3
Karma: +0/-0
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #9 on:
August 05, 2017, 07:09:06 PM »
SSL SL5032M, 2013 installed in Jamor Studio, Prague, Czech Republic,
originally ordered 1987 for czech recording label Supraphone, later out of work somewhere int the corner. Now mostly working, but having some troubles with IR, duplex cards and multitrack routing buzz on a few channels. (sorry for silly photo)
Ondrej Jezek
Last Edit: August 05, 2017, 07:11:26 PM by jamorstudio
Posts: 48
Karma: +3/-0
Zevenaar, The Netherlands
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #10 on:
August 06, 2017, 04:41:05 PM »
Nice console !
a pity to hear about the problems. Or is it only while switching ?
So, I understand it also has the Multitrackrouting. This is the typical music production setup. Not many were made this way, and actually, most people that talk about the 5k, all say it's made for film or broadcast and NOT for music. This is the proof that it's also made for Music recording.
32 monochannels of which 16 are in-line. Into 4 stereo busses plus a master stereobus. 2 aux. I don't see any 552 IMO modules. And no masterbuscompressor ? Not that it matters much, the 520 doesn't have that typical 4k compresseor character, IMHO....
Anyway, cool console !
Posts: 3
Karma: +0/-0
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #11 on:
August 23, 2017, 05:12:34 PM »
according order papers there were four 520 comps, but they were removed with their connection boards before i got this console.
no sl552, there is 557, multitrack to 16 and instant reset experiencing kind of troubles now, so we are looking for any help with this, see separate topic please. thanks a lot.
Posts: 8
Karma: +0/-1
Re: Got a 5k ?
Reply #12 on:
December 11, 2017, 08:00:51 AM »
my console
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
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« VorigeDoorgaan »
THE love I dedicate to your Lordship is without end; whereof this pamphlet, without beginning, is but a superfluous moiety.* The warrant I have of your honourable disposition, not the worth of my
Moiety. In Henry IV., Part I.,' and in Lear,' Shakspere uses moiety as it is here used, meaning a portion, not a half.
untutored lines, makes it assured of acceptance. What I have done is yours, what I have to do is yours; being part in all I have, devoted yours. Were my worth greater my duty would show greater: meantime, as it is, it is bound to your Lordship; to whom I wish long life, still lengthened with all happiness.
Your Lordship's in all duty,
LUCIUS TARQUINIUS (for his excessive pride surnamed Superbus), after he had caused his own father-in-law, Servius Tullius, to be cruelly murdered, and, contrary to the Roman laws and customs, not requiring or staying for the people's suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom, went, accompanied with his sons and other noblemen of Rome, to besiege Ardea. During which siege the principal men of the army meeting one evening at the tent of Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son, in their discourses after supper, every one commended the virtues of his own wife; among whom, Collatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife Lucretia. In that pleasant humour they all posted to Rome; and intending, by their secret and sudden arrival, to make trial of that which every one had before avouched, only Collatinus finds his wife (though it were late in the night) spinning amongst her maids: the other ladies were all found dancing and revelling, or in several disports. Whereupon the noblemen yielded Collatinus the victory, and his wife the fame. At that time Sextus Tarquinius, being inflamed with Lucrece' beauty, yet smothering his passions for the present, departed with the rest back to the camp; from whence he shortly after privily withdrew himself, and was (according to his estate) royally entertained and lodged by Lucrece at Collatium. The same night he treacherously stealeth into her chamber, violently ravished her, and early in the morning speedeth away. Lucrece, in this lamentable plight, hastily despatcheth messengers, one to Rome for her father, another to the camp for Collatine. They came, the one accompanied with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius ; and, finding Lucrece attired in mourning habit, demanded the cause of her sorrow. She, first taking an oath of them for her revenge, revealed the actor, and whole manner of his dealing, and withal suddenly stabbed herself. Which done, with one consent they all vowed to root out the whole hated family of the Tarquins; and bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus acquainted the people with the doer and manner of the vile deed, with a bitter invective against the tyranny of the king: wherewith the people were so moved, that with one consent and a general acclamation the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government changed from kings to consuls.


text: Back Alpha Lipoic Acid Other name(s): ALA, alpha-lipoic acid, TA, thioctic acid General description Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; it is both water and fat soluble in the body. Demonstrated uses The primary established use for ALA is the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy consists of sensory changes, sometimes described as stinging, burning, painful, numb, etc., that are localized to areas of the skin. Intravenous ALA is used to treat neuropathy associated with long-standing diabetes and poorly controlled blood sugar. Advanced diabetic neuropathy leads to numbness. With loss of feeling the patient becomes unaware of trauma to the area, and sores may go unnoticed until they become serious or even life-threatening. This is common in the feet. Treatment with ALA appears to slow or stop progression of the neuropathy, and in the case of minimal early damage to the nerves it may even reverse some of the nerve damage. Several small studies have also shown that ALA can help to increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, but more study is needed to confirm this. ALA is a potent antioxidant. This antioxidant function is thought to protect nerve tissue from damage. Diseases or conditions such as diabetes that cause oxidative stress appear to be helped in varying degrees by antioxidants such as ALA. Claims Please note that this section reports on claims that have NOT yet been substantiated through scientific studies. ALA may also be useful in helping to prevent cataracts. Suggested dosage ALA is available in commercial preparations for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Typical doses of ALA range from 200 to 800 mg per day. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a physician before taking any dietary supplements. Side effects There are no side effects at recommended doses. Toxicity is extremely low. Interactions There are no known significant food or drug interactions, except for the fact that ALA can reduce the required insulin or oral diabetes drugs doses. Close monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended. Additional information Click here for a list of reputable websites with general information on nutrition.


text:
The stripped-down nostalgic style was born in the '60s, but the power of the Milwaukee-Eight® 107 engine brings it all into the right now, fast.
Vehicle shown may vary visually by market and may differ from vehicles manufactured and delivered. Availability may vary by market, please see your local dealer for details.


text:
If you've been following this space at Grantland for a while now, you've seen a variety of advanced concepts and statistical rules of thumb pop up with regard to measuring football performance. With the season rapidly approaching, now seems like a good time to review those concepts, explain why they work, and apply them to the 2011 season. We've already started with our previews of the 49ers, Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Broncos from two weeks ago, but there are 28 other teams worth considering, too.
Before we start, though, a quick acknowledgment about football statistics. For a variety of reasons, they are less meaningful and harbor less authority than their big brothers in baseball. Football statistics are about where Bill James was in 1986, just with additional computing power. There are still reams of data to be compiled, stunning concepts to be proven, and a billion arguments to be had. Even then, though, football has far fewer discrete events and games than baseball does. Our collective knowledge of football through numbers is going to improve, but it's never going to catch up.
While wins are obviously very important for measuring team performance, as a statistic they limit the possibilities and reduce entire games to single data points. Using point differential or an advanced metric like DVOA to measure a team's performance is best because you can think about it in the context of plays as opposed to games. The average team from 2011 was involved in about 2,035 plays, and you can score or be scored upon on just about every single snap. That's 2,035 chances to prove how strong or weak you are. You only have 16 opportunities to record a win or loss, and you might only get three or four opportunities to win a close game. And those close games might come down to how you do on one play. Those three or four plays might mean a whole lot to your win-loss record, but they aren't the best indicators of how you're going to do on those four plays in the future; obviously, 2,035 is a much larger sample than 16 or four.
The four concepts below are some of the core underlying indicators of team performance. Historically, they've each shown great significance in projecting a team's performance into the future, so keep them in mind as you prepare for the 2012 season.
Football's Pythagorean Theorem
In a Sentence: Point differential is a better indicator of future winning percentage than winning percentage itself.
How It Works: Created by Bill James for baseball and modified for football in the early '90s by current Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, the Pythagorean theorem (or "Pythagorean expectation") is a formula that translates a team's points scored and allowed into an "expected" winning percentage. That formula isn't exactly for the faint of heart:
Points For2.37 / (Points For2.37 + Points Against2.37)
As an example, let's take the 2011 Chiefs, who went 7-9 while scoring 212 points and allowing 338. Our formula is 2122.37 / (2122.37 + 3382.37) = 0.248. That's the Chiefs' expected winning percentage from their point differential, and if we multiply it by 16 games, we get a total of just 4.0 wins. The Pythagorean theorem suggests that the Chiefs outperformed their true level of performance by three full wins.
Why It Works: Because all wins aren't created equal. During Kansas City's three-game winning streak last year, they beat the Raiders 28-0 in a game in which they forced six interceptions. Pretty impressive. A week later, they beat the Chargers 23-20 in overtime during that game in which Philip Rivers fumbled a meaningless snap moments before San Diego could attempt a game-winning field goal. For each of those two performances, Kansas City got the same exact mark on their record: one win. Nobody in his right mind would think that Kansas City looked equally good in both of those games, even if they got the same result. That's where the "All that matters is the W" argument falls apart. It's like saying the pass/fail system is just as useful as the traditional grading scale when figuring out how well somebody did in a class.
Prove That It Works: The simplest way to show off the efficacy of the Pythagorean expectation is to show off the impact it has on a team's record during the following year. The chart below lumps teams from 1983 to 2010 into groups by the difference between their expected win total and their actual win total, and then notes how that team's win total changed during the following year.
The Chiefs and their difference, a full three wins, would fit into the very last category within the table, one that suggests that they'll decline by 2.5 wins this season. Of course, that's just the average change, and the Chiefs may benefit greatly from full years with Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles, and Matt Cassel; like every bit of information that surrounds a team, it's important to blend the statistics with the specific context to which they're being applied.
It also works on the half-seasonal level. The 30 teams from 1994 to 2011 that "underperformed" their Pythagorean win totals by the largest amount during their first eight games of the year saw their win totals more than double during the second eight, going from winning an average of 1.8 games in the first half to 3.7 in the second half. Likewise, the 30 teams that "overperformed" by garnering win totals that put their point expectations to shame suffered dramatic dropoffs; after winning an average of 6.1 of their first eight games, they averaged just 4.3 wins over the second half. In both cases, the gap between our outliers' expected win totals and their actual win totals went from an enormous first-half total to a second-half total of essentially zero. You can cheat Pythagoras, but not for long.
Apply It to 2012: The table below lists the five teams with the biggest positive and negative differences between their actual win totals and their Pythagorean expectations from last year.
It will be really interesting to see if the Packers retreat toward league-average. Teams with great quarterbacks are more likely to outplay their Pythagorean expectations than teams without them, but that hadn't been the case with the Packers and Aaron Rodgers before last year. During Rodgers's first three years as the Packers' starter, Green Bay underperformed their Pythagorean expectation by a total of six full wins.
Record in Close Games
In a Sentence: Teams are incredibly inconsistent from year to year when it comes to winning games that are decided by one touchdown or less.
How It Works: No obtuse formula here. Just count up each team's number of games that were decided by one touchdown or less, check their winning percentage, and then see if they were similarly good or bad during the following season. When you do, we bet that you'll find it's essentially random.
Why It Works: Because, as we mentioned in the intro, a few close games per year isn't enough to draw any conclusions.
Prove That It Works: Let's start with a group of teams that were dominant in close games during given NFL seasons. Our arbitrary group of teams played six or more games that were decided by a touchdown or less in those seasons and each of them won 75 percent or more of those games. In all, those teams went a combined 449-102 (81.5 percent) in close contests. If there were really something consistent about how a team performs in the tight ones, these teams would at least emulate their record during the following season. Instead, they went a combined 256-249 (50.7 percent) in those same close games the following year.
On the other side of the tracks are the teams that couldn't pull out those close games, the ones that didn't know how to win or finish or whatever. They were the ones that played six or more games and won only 25 percent or less of them. In their downtrodden year, they went a combined 103-479 (17.7 percent). The following year? 241-284 (45.9 percent). Winning the close ones just isn't a sustainable way to make the playoffs year in and year out.
If there's an exception to the rule, as with the Pythagorean expectation, it's having a great quarterback. Peyton Manning was 64-33 in those games with the Colts, and it's not surprising when you consider how well he managed endgame scenarios. Tom Brady is 43-15 in those same games. On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers is 13-17 in one-touchdown games, and Drew Brees is 22-16 during his time in New Orleans (after going 14-14 as the Chargers starter). So some great quarterbacks seem to drastically outperform the expected regressions, but others don't.
Apply It to 2012: Here are 10 teams that stood out on either side of the coin in close games last year.
The Raiders won just one game by more than a touchdown last year, and that was a 10-pointer over the Jets in which they sacked Mark Sanchez on the Oakland 2-yard line on fourth down with 52 seconds left.1 You might consider the case that having a talented kicker like Sebastian Janikowski would produce a few extra close wins, but the Raiders were exactly 9-9 in games decided by a touchdown or less over the previous three seasons.
Minnesota, meanwhile, lost as many games by seven points or fewer as any team has since the advent of the 16-game season. Three other teams have lost nine games by one touchdown or less in a given season; the following year, two bounced back to relatively normal records in close games and improved by four wins each, while a third — the 1989 Chargers — failed to win one of their five close games the subsequent year.
The Plexiglass Principle
In a Sentence: Teams that make a significant leap in their performance (or an aspect thereof) over a given season often give back some of those gains during the following year.
How It Works: By observing the performance of a team after it made a dramatic improvement, relative to the rest of the league, in a given aspect of play during the previous season. Under the league's current 32-team setup, an improvement of 20 spots in the rankings in a given statistic (e.g., wins, points allowed, etc.) might be a good place to start concerning oneself with the Plexiglass Principle.
Why It Works: Because too many things have to go right for a team to make an extreme leap, and those things don't often happen in consecutive seasons. Take the 2008 Dolphins, who went from winning just one game in 2007 to 11 wins in 2008. That's a classic Plexiglass scenario. Those Dolphins were 7-2 in games decided by a touchdown or less and beat their Pythagorean expectation by 2.2 wins. We already know that's not sustainable.
Getting past the statistics, though, consider what happened to their personnel. After an injury-filled 2007, the 2008 Dolphins got healthy seasons from the vast majority of their starters. That included quarterback Chad Pennington and halfback Ronnie Brown, who, as a pair, had combined for just one healthy 16-game season in nine beforehand. They lasted a total of 12 games the following year. Miami also faced the fifth-easiest schedule in football and implemented a gimmicky new offensive tactic (the Wildcat) that worked in 2008 but was likely to wear off with future exposure. It took all those little lucky breaks to get the Dolphins to improve by 10 wins, and while some of the genuine improvements (an upgrade in coaching from Cam Cameron to Tony Sparano, quality drafts under Bill Parcells/Jeff Ireland, some modicum of health and vestiges of the Wildcat) stuck around, they didn't have quite the impact they did during 2008.
Prove That It Works: Check out the first table in the Buccaneers preview from August 8 to see how the Plexiglass Principle affects win totals from year to year.
It also holds water when focused onto individual aspects of team performance, such as scoring points. Since 1989, 10 teams have suffered a drop of 20 spots or more in the league's rankings for points scored over a given season. Most recently, the Colts went from fourth in scoring in 2010 to 28th last year. In the year after their precipitous collapse, those teams have improved by an average of more than eight spots in the rankings. Eleven teams have moved up by 20 spots or more in the rankings, and those teams declined by more than 11 spots in the following season.
And, as you're probably guessing, it also applies to a team's defensive performance. Using the same sample size as for offense, 15 teams have improved their points-allowed placements in the league ranking by 20 spots or more in a given year, as the Texans (29th to fourth) did last season. Those organizations declined by an average of more than eight spots in the rankings during the subsequent year. The 22 teams that saw their defensive performances drop by 20 or more spots, like the Buccaneers (ninth to 32nd) last season, improved by an average of more than 11 spots. Take a lot, give a little back.
Apply It to 2012: In addition to the teams mentioned above and their shifts on one particular side of the ball, here are the teams with the biggest shifts in win totals from 2010 to 2011:
Team Turnover Margin
In a Sentence: The turnover margins produced by teams over a 16-game season are markedly inconsistent from year to year.
How It Works: We overestimate just how random turnovers can be from year to year. While teams are historically consistently effective at forcing fumbles, they struggle to recover a consistently high percentage of those fumbles from year to year, suggesting that randomness overruns that incredibly important type of play. Interceptions are perhaps more stable, but as mentioned regarding Alex Smith in the Niners preview, even they can vary dramatically from year to year.
Why It Works: Physics. When players who aren't regular ballcarriers try to scoop up an oblong spheroid, funny things tend to happen. Like this Derrick Mason fumble recovery against the Cowboys in 2008.
Prove That It Works: The aforementioned Niners (positive) and Buccaneers (negative) pieces note what happens to teams living on the very extremes of the turnover margin; they tend to bounce almost all the way back toward a seasonal turnover margin of zero, and their records shift about two games toward average.
Apply It to 2012: Beyond the Niners and Bucs, here are the teams with the largest turnover margins from last year:
There are other factors that also exhibit meaning when used properly, like strength of schedule, average starting field position, penalty rates, and the "hidden" aspects of special-teams performance on things like field goal percentage allowed and kickoff distance against.2
Detractors of statistics often say that metrics reduce a fascinating game to numbers or work in service of those who would prefer to see the games played on paper. In baseball, these sorts of straw-man arguments end up glorifying triples as some Holy Grail of meaning beyond numbers.3 We don't agree, obviously, but it's less about how the numbers work and more about how you use them. Football is always going to be a mysterious game, even to those who played it. At their best, statistical concepts in any sport don't remove the mystery of the triple or force the game onto paper; they give us a way to navigate and try to understand the void, to make sense of millions of helmets crashing into each other on weekends.
The concepts above are little bits of mystery reclaimed as knowledge, but they're still subject to incredible amounts of randomness. We might know that the Niners' turnover margin is going to decline 97 percent of the time, but we have no idea what it's going to decline to. It could go from plus-28 to minus-15, and they could go from 13-3 to 5-11, or it could fall to plus-15, and they could stick at 13-3. Maybe they'll be the exception to the rule that keeps their turnover rate at plus-31 and they go 14-2. We don't know for sure and won't until the season is over, and that's fine. The goal with using statistics in sports isn't to know, because truly knowing something over a 16-game schedule before it even happens is impossible; it's to learn. Stuff like the Pythagorean expectation and the Plexiglass Principle? That's what we've learned so far about football.


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The Karate Kid1984 Action/Adventure | Drama | Program | Romance | Family
Newly arrived in California from New Jersey, teenager Daniel (Ralph Macchio) almost immediately runs afoul of karate-trained high school bullies. He is rescued by Japanese janitor Miyagi (Noriyuki Pat Morita), who agrees to teach Daniel how to harness karate for good instead of brutality. The film culminates in a championship karate bout, pitting Daniel against his sworn enemy Johnny (William Zabka) - the cruel and thuggish boyfriend of Ali (Elisabeth Shue) with whom Daniel has fallen in love (and vice-versa). Real-life karate champ Chuck Norris was offered the role of Kreese, the sadistic coach who goads Johnny into fighting dirty, but Norris turned down the role, refusing to be shown utilizing his skills negatively on screen. Vastly popular, The Karate Kid spawned three sequels of rapidly descending merit, as well as a Saturday morning cartoon series.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide


text: Morris County Hospital is a county‑owned, not-for‑profit, 21 bed critical access hospital located in historic Council Grove, Kansas. Personal, high tech care is available to all ages from the newborn to the elderly. We believe the support process is very important to the healing process and we encourage the patient and their family to be involved in decisions and care.


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Urban Meyer is trying to make his presence felt in rival territory.
The new Ohio State coach was at a Michigan high school Wednesday, one of several coaches on hand at a football camp just outside of Detroit. Meyer gave a brief speech to the campers, who came from all over the country to attend the Sound Mind, Sound Body Academy at Southfield High School.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke, Eastern Michigan coach Ron English, Alabama-Birmingham coach Garrick McGee and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi were also there and held a news conference with Meyer.
For the most part, the mood among the coaches was casual, with Meyer and Hoke even having some ribs together following the news conference.
None of the 25 players Ohio State introduced on signing day this year came from Michigan. Meyer was asked about Ohio State's ability to land good recruits from Michigan.
''If we have not, we will,'' he said.
The camp, sponsored by Adidas, is in its eighth year, and college coaches are allowed to participate. Meyer said the arrangement took him by surprise when he first learned of it.
''This is so unusual. I can't believe we're allowed to do this,'' Meyer said. ''When I first heard of this ... I started laughing. I said, 'You can't do that.' And then our compliance said, 'You sure can.'''
The coaches were supportive of the camp's mission, and this was a chance for them to interact with campers away from a college campus.
''For us, obviously, at the University of Michigan, this is an important part of development that we want to help within the community,'' Hoke said. ''It's us trying to help kids.''
Meyer concurred.
''What an opportunity for a 17-, 18-year-old young person to hear from some great coaches from some great schools, not just about football, but about academics, about commitment,'' Meyer said. ''It's a great opportunity for them, but it's a great opportunity for us as well.''
Meyer says he's concerned about the difficulty some prospects have in traveling to schools and hopes the process can become easier in the future.
''It's almost anti-student athlete, where they have to come to us to camp, and how many kids can afford to fly or drive that far?'' he said. ''It's just so hard for a young person to even come visit the campus, now. ... There has to be easier ways for the student-athlete to do it the right way and go visit the campus, or bring the campus to the student-athlete, like what's happening today.''


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Chris Reber poconorecord.com Three people died Monday night when a gunman opened fire on a Ross Township municipal meeting, indiscriminately shooting into the building, authorities said. Eyewitnesses at the scene and state police identified the gunman as Rockne Newell, a self-proclaimed junk collector who has had a long-simmering feud with the township for keeping a junkyard on his property. Monday night state police were seeking a search warrant from a district judge for Newell's property, according to Trooper First Class Michael Sniscak. As of 11 p.m., however, there was a delay in returning to his property, authorities said. Fearful that his property might be booby-trapped, police said that they might bring in bomb-sniffing dogs as a precaution. A meeting attendee tackled Newell, who was shot with his own gun, according to witnesses. Pocono Record reporter Chris Reber, who was attending a Ross Township meeting for the first time, described hearing at least 10 shots. He described plaster flying out, blowing out through the walls. Witnesses would later tell him they saw pictures exploding away from the wall. Resident Betty Broad said, "First we jumped up. Patricia was pushing on me. I was starting to turn to see what was going on when someone took the big round table and protected us. Nothing can prepare you "»" Secretary Treasurer Doris Price said, "No one wanted to move. Everyone was hiding." Reber, who had escaped the meeting room to take cover behind an SUV in the parking lot, said the gunman emptied his first weapon and that he saw the gunman go to his car to retrieve a second weapon. Police said Monday night that Newell had two weapons. Newell was outside, firing into the meeting room, where about 15 people had gathered. "I had view of Rockne coming in. I saw Bernie (Kozen) struggling with him. Bernie got the gun and shot him in the leg twice," Ross Township Supervisor Tina Drake said. West End Park and Open Space Commission Executive Director Bernie Kozen was sitting on the side of the room. He described his actions to subdue the shooter: "When he came back in, he didn't see me. I guess he was hellbent on "»" His voice trailed off. "I was working on Dave Fleetwood and he walked by me into the meeting room, I guess to shoot more people," Kozen said. "That's when I came up behind him and wrestled the gun from him with the help of Mr. Kresh." Drake said Kresh helped to hold the shooter down. She said she was behind Solicitor John Dunn, two women and three men. Cleoria Campodonico was also at the meeting. "I'll never get those images out of my head. Those poor, innocent people," she said. "David Fleetwood pushed me out of the way and got shot twice in the belly." Township supervisor Howard Beers' daughter, Alissa Rutt, got a call from her dad. He said, "Just listen to what I have to say. No matter what you hear, I'm ok." She then called her sister, who was on her way to the scene. Her girlfriends had gotten news alerts on their cell phones. She spotted her dad and was allowed past the barricade. They hugged each other. The identities of the victims was not available at 11 p.m. Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen described the fatalities as three men. Two were dead on the scene and one died after being taken by a medical helicopter, Allen said. One remained in surgery at 11:30 p.m., according to state police. The man identified by witnesses and police as the gunman — Rockne Newell — has had a long-running feud with the township. He got a building permit from the township to have a storage structure on the property, but then built a dwelling without first getting a zoning permit or certificate of occupancy from the township. Over the years, authorities have responded to Newell's property as a result of neighbor complaints and on one occasion in 2009 found human fecal matter in buckets there, according to previous reports in the Pocono Record. The township determined he was improperly disposing of sewage with no septic system or permit for one. In a previous article, Newell said he couldn't afford septic hookup fees. "If I lose this property, I have nowhere else to go," Newell told the Pocono Record in June. "What they're doing to me, what they've been doing to me for so long, it's wrong." The outbreak of violence in this West End Monroe County community stands in stark contrast to its quiet, rural character. The meeting was winding down at 7:23 p.m. when the shooting broke out. Witnesses described a scene of carnage and chaos following the shooting at the Anchorage Road building. "There were real heroes here," Reber said. "People who did not consider their own lives in protecting others."
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Space StationTricorder
+ Play Audio | + Download Audio | + Join mailing list
May 9, 2008: Any Trekkies out there? Remember the tricorder? Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock both carried them, and they came in mighty handy exploring "strange new worlds ...where no one has gone before."
On the International Space Station, astronauts are carrying an experimental device that looks strikingly similar: LOCAD-PTS, short for Lab-On-a-Chip Application Development Portable Test System. This handheld biological lab is the first step along the path to developing something akin to Dr. McCoy's medical tricorder.
Above: Astronaut Suni Williams (with flowing "microgravity locks" of hair) uses LOCAD-PTS onboard the International Space Station.
"LOCAD is like that tricorder in that it is portable, rapid, and detects a biochemical molecule," says Heather Morris, LOCAD scientist from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and an admitted Star Trek fan. But while tricorders could do almost anything from checking vital signs to finding alien life, LOCAD is a little more specialized: "LOCAD is specifically designed to detect and identify microbes on space station surfaces."
LOCAD keeps track of these tiny lifeforms.
Here's how it works: An ISS crewmember uses a dry swab to take samples of surfaces where microbes might be lurking. Flushing sterile water through the swab converts the sample to liquid form, and the astronaut puts a few drops into the LOCAD. What's in the sample? The system gives its answer less than 15 minutes later. The whole easy procedure is done on location. Nothing has to be sent back to a lab on Earth, which would take time and introduce the possibility of contamination en route.
"It's important to monitor bacteria on the space station so we can find the best way to keep them under control," says Morris, who adds this curiosity: "LOCAD can't yet distinguish between live and dead bacteria." So no one can cry out, it's dead, Jim! "We're working to add this capability in the future."
In addition to detecting Gram-negative1 bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, the latest LOCAD cartridges just sent up to station aboard shuttle mission STS-123 can alert the crew to fungi. Since fungi actually decomposed some electronics on the Russian Space Station MIR, they have become unwelcome "house guests." LOCAD can detect low concentrations of a common fungal compound; this allows LOCAD to find fungi on surfaces before the fungi have a chance to multiply.
By the end of the year, yet another cartridge will be available for the space station. This one will detect the presence of Gram-positive bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus.
"Ultimately we want to provide cartridges for all kinds of micro-organisms and chemical compounds," says Morris. "We'd even like to be able to use our system to figure out what 'bug' an astronaut has if he or she becomes ill."
Lisa Monaco, LOCAD scientist, adds her vision of the future: "What we are developing at MSFC has use not only on the ISS, but also on lunar missions, long duration stays on other planets, and most certainly here on Earth."
In the years ahead, as space voyages become longer and longer, it will be even more imperative to have ways of checking astronauts' health and monitoring electronics. For the record, no astronaut has ever become seriously ill on any space mission. However, the scientists point out that if an astronaut did ever get sick, it would take too much time to send a sample back to Earth, have it tested, and receive a long-distance answer. With next-generation LOCAD technologies, detection and diagnosis would be quick, easy, and on the spot.
Dr. McCoy, here we come.
Author: Dauna Coulter | Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
|more information
LOCAD-PTS --home page
Gram staining (or Gram's method) is an empirical method of differentiating bacterial species into two large groups (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) based on the chemical and physical properties of their cell walls.
The method is named after its inventor, the Danish scientist Hans Christian Gram (1853 – 1938), who developed the technique in 1884 to discriminate between pneumococci and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria.
1Gram-negative bacteria are those bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol Gram-positive bacteria will retain the crystal violet dye when washed in a decolorizing solution. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain (commonly safranin) is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria a red or pink color. The test itself is useful in classifying two distinct types of bacteria based on structural differences in their cell walls.
Many species of Gram-negative bacteria are pathogenic, meaning they can cause disease in a host organism. This pathogenic capability is usually associated with certain components of Gram-negative cell walls, in particular the lipopolysaccharide (also known as LPS or endotoxin) layer. In humans, LPS triggers an innate immune response characterized by cytokine production and immune system activation. Inflammation is a common result of cytokine production, which can also produce host toxicity.
NASA's Future: US Space Exploration Policy


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Five Infant Deaths Linked to Portable Baby Recliners
Federal authorities are taking the makers of the Nap Nanny to court for failing to voluntarily recall its product.
At least five infant deaths and more than 70 complaints of children falling out of the Nap Nanny baby recliner have been reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
In an administrative complaint filed yesterday, the agency says the manufacturer isn't doing enough to warn customers about the risks associated with the product.
The Nap Nanny is a baby recliner designed for sleep, rest, and play. The recliner includes a shaped foam pad with a fabric cover and three-point harness.
The CPSC recalled the Nap Nanny Generation One recliner in July 2010 after the first infant death was reported. At that time, 22 reports of infants hanging or falling out over the side of the Nap Nanny had been reported, even though most of the infants had been placed in the harness.
Since then, the agency says the product's manufacturer, Baby Matters LLC of Berwyn, Pa., has failed to adequately warn customers of the product's risks.
Nap Nanny Safety Risk at Issue
In the lawsuit, the CPSC says the Nap Nanny Generation One and Two, and Chill model baby recliners, contain defects in the design, warnings, and instructions that pose a substantial risk of death and injury to infants.
The complaint requests that the manufacturer stop selling the products, notify the public of the defect, and offer consumers a full refund.
The CPSC says it took the matter to court after discussions with Baby Matters LLC failed to result in an adequate voluntary recall plan that would address the hazards posed by use of the product in a crib or without the harness straps being securely fastened.
In a statement posted on Nap Nanny's web site, company founder and owner Leslie Gudel says they stand behind the safety of the product when used as instructed.
"The loss of an infant is an unthinkable tragedy, and I am truly heartbroken for the families who have lost a child," Gudel says. "But the fact that infants have died 'while using' the Nap Nanny improperly, such as when used in a crib where the child could suffocate on a crib bumper or a blanket, does not mean our product caused the child's death or is hazardous."
The CPSC says 5,000 Nap Nanny Generation One and 50,000 Generation Two models were sold between 2009 and early 2012 and have been discontinued. An additional 100,000 Chill models have been sold since January 2011. All were priced around $130.
Jennifer Warner - WebMD


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Samantha's note about her Kindle seems to have hit a nerve with many of you. As commenter ae wrote, "The 'it's MY Kindle you know' line would have gotten me the "Oh, did you pay for it with your own money?' line from my parents."
Well, Lea in Los Angeles seems to come from that same school of parenting. When she and her husband found this demand stuck to the cereal box this morning, they decided to teach their daughter, Chela, a little lesson.
related: My evil Mom


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professor plum
Last Activity: 3 Days Ago 7:44 AM
Moderator of Feedback & Support and The Signal (Administrator)
About Me
- About professor plum
- Quick Self-Introduction
- Hi, there! I was a staff member from 2009-2011. Now I'm back & gayer than ever. Feel free to say hi :)
- Biography
- I live in Louisiana with my boyfriend and two cats. The company I work for allows me to work from home instead of in an office, so I'm a homebody now.
PC History:
‣ From Apr 2009 to Aug 2011, I modded DPPt/Trade Corner/Battle sections.
‣ I joined PC's Social Media team April 8, 2018.
‣ I joined the Discord Moderoid team July 9, 2018.
‣ I became the team leader for the Facebook team August 1, 2018.
‣ I became the moderator for PC's Off-Topic section August 27, 2018.
‣ I became a team leader for PC's Mod Team October 23, 2018.
‣ I became a team leader for PC's Discord Team December 18, 2018.
‣ I became an administrator on February 2, 2019.
- Interests
- Pop music, theatre, cats, video games
- Location
- louisiana
- Gender
- Male ♂
- Pronouns
- he/him/his
- Occupation
- :coolcat:
- Nature
- Bold
- Also Known As
- Tyler
- Favorite Pokémon
- Ditto & Jynx
- Go Team
- Mystic
- Discord Nickname
- erik_destler
- (\__/)
('')_('')This Is Bunny. Copy And Paste Bunny Into
Your Signature To Help Him Gain World Domination!!!!
Chat with us on Discord! | Have you been to Off-Topic lately?
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View professor plum's BlogRecent Entries
Latest Blog Entry
Posted June 16th, 2019 at 3:45 PM by professor plum Comments 2
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Posted June 18th, 2017 at 6:04 AM by professor plum Comments 3
I'm so old, y'all.
By the way, meet Smoky Quartz:
She's our new cat.
By the way, meet Smoky Quartz:
She's our new cat.
Posted October 7th, 2014 at 5:44 PM by professor plum Comments 1
hey i've been incredibly busy
i pretty much rarely have free time these days. my life has basically been:
i pretty much rarely have free time these days. my life has basically been:
- summer musical (mystery of edwin drood) finished up in july.
- went directly into a play that the director wrote
- got my puppy Renly
- He's like four months old now.
- I started another show in a town about
Posted June 24th, 2014 at 6:43 PM by professor plum Comments 3
He's a corgi. I'll be getting him towards the end of July.
Problem is, I haven't chosen a name yet.
I'm leaning towards Renly and Apollo.
I've included photos of said angel. Keep in mind, he's about three and a half weeks old. Well, okay. His is May 30th.
Problem is, I haven't chosen a name yet.
I'm leaning towards Renly and Apollo.
I've included photos of said angel. Keep in mind, he's about three and a half weeks old. Well, okay. His is May 30th.
Posted April 24th, 2014 at 4:40 PM by professor plum Comments 2
Posted in PokéCommunity
And we had a daughter, Rachel??
And she went to Hawaii??
And she went to Hawaii??
Good times.
it's hard being divorced and raising a daughter by yourself
it's hard being divorced and raising a daughter by yourself
Recent Comments
The art of disco stick...
Posted December 18th, 2021 at 10:30 PM by gifeho1727
kitty :)
Posted June 25th, 2017 at 11:46 AM by Meganium


text:
The description of BaconReader for Reddit
"The Reddit App You've Always Wanted" – AndroidGuys
"Top 25 Best Free Android Apps" – Mashable
"15 Must Have Android Apps" – Datamation
BaconReader for Reddit lets you enjoy all of the best content and features of popular social news site Reddit. Access news and entertainment content, post links, pics and comments, and upvote and downvote to your heart's content right from your Android phone or tablet. Now featuring a brand new material design interface and a comprehensive list of features, stay informed and entertained in the tastiest app available.
Tasty features include:
* Beautiful Material Design Interface* Color-coded comment threads* Themes with light, dark, and black backgrounds* Multiple font sizes ranging from extra small to huge* Split-screen mode optimized for tablet use* List view, card view and slideshow mode* Full user profile support including trophy case* Moderator tools: modmail, spam, removal/approval* Multiple widgets: rotate, scroll, subreddit* Full-featured inbox with orange envelope indicator* Discover something new with "random" subreddit feature* Supports rageface, look of disapproval, and MLP pony emotes* Comprehensive search: this subreddit, subreddits, all posts, for a subreddit, for a user* Draw mode with meme creator for creating original content or modifying images* Advanced filtering: domain, keyword, NSFW, subreddit* Spoiler tag support for standard CSS subreddits* Reddit Gold: Give gold on posts and comments, My Random, full subscribed subreddit list, no ads* Secure login via Reddit OAUTH* Multiple account support* Multireddit support* Cakeday notification
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Well done! Now you can play BaconReader for Reddit on PC, just like BaconReader for Reddit for PC version.


text:
24 Comments
HAHA. Oh, this I love. As long as it's not Comic Sans, Lucinda Cursive, and a few others I despise, it'll slide.ReplyDelete
You are too funny and I've secretly stalked/re-pinned most of your jedi pins...but I have more :p
Totally agree with Jen...comic sans has to be the worst!ReplyDelete
Font snobs Unite!!!!!!!!
this makes me VERY self conscious about my picnikified button. ;)ReplyDelete
don't judge me.
font discernment is one of your spiritual gifts. thanks for doing your part for the body.ReplyDelete
its okay I judge the people with automatic start music playersReplyDelete
Ha!! I am such a font snob, I helped a friend with a flier on Saturday at their house...and then told them I had to finish it at my house. Their fonts were no good!ReplyDelete
p.s. what's this font name? :)ReplyDelete
Font snob to font snob, check out this "kill Comic Sans" game: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2011/10/kill-comic-sans-game.html :)ReplyDelete
HA! I posted something similar today about how I can't stand Papyrus, Eccentric or Zapfino.ReplyDelete
this makes me LOLReplyDelete
You are too funny! I love it! lolReplyDelete
affordable insurance
Now I have font insecurity issues.
Too funny. You've cheered me up today!ReplyDelete
I'm not sure which is my most hated: Comic Sans or Papyrus.
LMBO!!!!!!!!!! funnyReplyDelete
Just try to keep in mind, that we all love a good font, but some people {ahem...me} don't know how to implement other fonts! ;)ReplyDelete
I think I neeed a "rad font" tutorial... Please...ReplyDelete
cracking up!! a bad font can totally discredit a piece of work.ReplyDelete
Oh no...how do I know if I'm breaking these rules???ReplyDelete
Haha SO true! I mentioned a font on someone's blog (um, someone's blog that I was a FAN of, by the way), and they got mad at me for not being too crazy about it. It was SO hard to read that I wanted to barf. Anyways. I didn't say it like that, but you get my point :)ReplyDelete
Something 2 Write About
Ha! this is so true! there's so many blogs whos fonts i can't read and it drives me crazy! you're so funny!ReplyDelete
i have told you about the ice cream place in my town that i can't bare to go to because of the font on the sign right???ReplyDelete
i really get weird in the parking lot!!
it BUGS!
Totally, totally cracking up.ReplyDelete
And not admitting that I do the same thing.
But laughing madly about it.
About that thing... you know... that I don't do.


text:
Financial Accounting Foundation Makes Public an Independent Study of the Purposes of State and Local Government Financial Accounting and ReportingNorwalk, CT, August 6, 2012—The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) today makes public an independent academic study exploring the purposes of financial accounting and reporting of state and local governments. The FAF, as part of its oversight of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), commissioned the study to provide insights to the Board of Trustees on how the GASB can best serve stakeholders within the context of its mission. The final report is now available at the FAF website.
Three independent researchers from three universities, working as a team, conducted the study. The research was intended to provide greater understanding of the needs and expectations of governmental financial report stakeholders – preparers, auditors, and users. The study also sought to examine stakeholders' understanding and expectations of the role of financial accounting and reporting standards in enabling users of financial reports to assess the "accountability" of reporting governments.
Over the next several months, the FAF Trustees will review the study's findings and explore the potential of better defining the nature of GASB's authority in setting standards of financial accounting and reporting for state and local governments. The Trustees will also consider whether process or procedural enhancements will help clarify GASB's scope of authority and better enable the GASB to serve stakeholders within the context of its mission.
The Trustees' evaluation will include pursuing further opportunities to engage with stakeholders on these matters.
About the Financial Accounting Foundation
The FAF is responsible for the oversight, administration, and finances of both the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The Foundation is also responsible for selecting the members of both Boards and their respective Advisory Councils.
About the Governmental Accounting Standards Board
The GASB is the independent, not-for-profit organization formed in 1984 that establishes and improves financial accounting and reporting standards for state and local governments. Its seven members are drawn from the Board's diverse constituency, including preparers and auditors of government financial statements, users of those statements, and members of the academic community. More information about the GASB can be found at its website, www.gasb.org.


text:
Introduction to JSON
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format (if you are new to JSON, you can read more about it on the JSON website). It is notably used by APIs all over the web and is a fast alternative to XML in Ajax requests. Prototype 1.5.1 finally features JSON encoding and parsing support.
Prototype's JSON implementation is largely based on the work of Douglas Crockford which will most likely be natively included in future versions of the main browsers. Crockford's implementation is unfortunately unsuitable for use with Prototype because of the way it extends
Object.prototype. (Note that this will no longer be an issue once it is natively implemented.)
Prototype's JSON encoding slightly differs from Crockford's implementation as it does not extend
Object.prototype. The following methods are available:
Date#toJSON, and
If you are unsure of what type the data you need to encode is, your best bet is to use
Object.toJSON like so:
var data = {name: 'Violet', occupation: 'character', age: 25 };
//-> '{"name": "Violet", "occupation": "character", "age": 25}'
In other cases (i.e. if you know that your data is not an instance of
Object), you can invoke the
toJSON method instead:
$H({name: 'Violet', occupation: 'character', age: 25 }).toJSON();
//-> '{"name": "Violet", "occupation": "character", "age": 25}'
Furthermore, if you are using custom objects, you can set your own
toJSON method which will be used by
Object.toJSON. For example:
var Person = Class.create({
initialize: function(name, age) {
this.name = name;
this.age = age;
toJSON: function() {
return ('My name is ' + this.name +
' and I am ' + this.age + ' years old.').toJSON();
var john = new Person('John', 49);
//-> '"My name is John and I am 49 years old."'
Finally, using
Element.addMethods you can create custom
toJSON methods targeted at specific elements.
<input id="firstname" name="firstname" value="john" />
Element.addMethods('input', {
toJSON: function(element) {
element = $(element);
return element.name.toJSON() + ": " + element.getValue().toJSON();
//-> '"firstname": "john"'
Parsing JSON
In JavaScript, parsing JSON is typically done by evaluating the content of a JSON string. Prototype introduces
String#evalJSON to deal with this:
var data = '{ "name": "Violet", "occupation": "character" }'.evalJSON();
//-> "Violet"
String#evalJSON takes an optional
sanitize parameter, which, if set to
true, checks the string for possible malicious attempts and prevents the evaluation and throws a
SyntaxError if one is detected.
var data = 'grabUserPassword()'.evalJSON(true)
//-> SyntaxError: Badly formated JSON string: 'grabUserPassword()'
You should always set the
sanitize parameter to
true and an appropriate content-type header (
application/json) for data coming from untrusted sources (external or user-created content) to prevent XSS attacks.
String#evalJSON internally calls
String#unfilterJSON and automatically removes optional security comment delimiters (defined in
person = '/*-secure-\n{"name": "Violet", "occupation": "character"}\n*/'.evalJSON()
//-> "Violet"
You should always set security comment delimiters (
/*-secure-\n...*/) around sensitive JSON or JavaScript data to prevent Hijacking. (See this PDF document for more details.)
Using JSON with Ajax
Using JSON with Ajax is very straightforward, simply invoke
String#evalJSON on the transport's
responseText property:
new Ajax.Request('/some_url', {
onSuccess: function(transport){
var json = transport.responseText.evalJSON();
If your data comes from an untrusted source, be sure to sanitize it:
new Ajax.Request('/some_url', {
requestHeaders: {Accept: 'application/json'},
onSuccess: function(transport){
var json = transport.responseText.evalJSON(true);


text:
Hubbard Radio Washington DC, LLC. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Hubbard Radio Washington DC, LLC. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
By Michael O'Connell
Web Editor
Troops always complain about food, but maybe a little less in recent years. The Defense Department has been on a 20-year effort to improve the field rations known as MREs, or meals ready-to-eat.
"Even as far back as Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, that was really when the MRE improvement program came to fruition," said Robert Trottier, team leader for combat rations at the DoD's Combat Feeding Directorate in Natick, Mass. "We thought we put out a good product. But the reality was that we didn't spend a lot of effort improving it, and it wasn't getting consumed."
In 1991, Trottier's boss, Gerry Darsch, was called down to the Pentagon to meet with Gen. Colin Powell. When Darsch entered the room, Powell told him not to sit down. Instead, he was showed Darsch an MRE and told him to fix it.
How can agencies better reach underserved populations as we head into open season? Join Jory Heckman on Oct. 4 as he discusses tools and analytics to improve the customer experience with TransUnion's Scott Straub. Register today!
"That was what started our continuous improvement projects," Trottier told The Federal Drive with Tom Temin on Thursday. "On an annual basis, we replace items in the MRE, in fact all of our rations, based on what's currently popular with warfighters."
Changing the menu
According to Trottier, a team of food scientists, nutritionists, microbiologists, chemists, plastic engineers and packaging scientists are all focused on the impact that rations have on a warfighter's mood, morale and performance.
"We have based our lab capabilities on improving the family of combat rations," he said. This includes advanced labs covering food processing, chemistry and food packaging, as well as a sensory and consumer testing lab where hundreds of products are evaluated annually.
"Rations have to be shelf stable for up to three years at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, that net requirement alone differentiates us from a lot of the commercial industry," Trottier said. Approximately 70 percent of the items in an MRE are of commercial origin, provided they meet the CFD's shelf-life, weight, volume and nutritional requirements.
In the last 10 years, as troops were deployed in Iraq, CFD has added 100 items to the MRE and removed an equivalent number that are no longer popular or acceptable.
"We make sure that the current version of the MRE and all of our rations are as up-to-date as possible in terms of products soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines want to eat," he said.
Warfighters who don't like the taste of the MREs typically turn to what they can obtain from home or in their theater of operation, which means that they may not be receiving as nutritionally balanced a meal as an MRE provides. Taste of the food and familiarity of the selection are important considerations when designing the contents of the MRE.
"We are certainly meeting the Army regulations for the minimum recommended daily intakes of all the necessary macro and micro nutrients that any warfighter needs," Trottier said. "If they're not eating rations, they're not getting the proper nutrition."
Serving a diverse palate
One of the challenges that CFD faces as it comes up with new MRE entrees is ensuring that they appeal to the varied palate of a diverse fighting force. In 2012, warfighters can expect to find new entrees in their MREs, such as jalapeno beef patties, beef taco filling, Mexican chicken stew, chicken and pesto pasta with feta cheese and tomato, ratatouille, garlic mashed potatoes and instant Irish cream coffee.
Ultimately, it's the warfighter who decides what entrees will be included in the MRE.
"We designed our programs to be very warfighter-centric," Trottier said. "We take our items on a yearly basis out to warfighters and we test them. We find out what they like in the current MREs. We find out what they don't like in the current MREs. And we offer them, maybe, half a dozen to a dozen new potential entrees of which they are the deciders in terms of what's going to go in."
Once the warfighter testing is done and Trottier and his colleagues determine that the products meet all of their requirements, they bring their new menus to a joint service board once a year for approval.
"Once that approval is given, that's what we transition into the field," he said.
Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Daily photos of things happening in and around the federal government.


text: Born in Indianapolis, IN on May 21, 1985, Marie McCray (aka Sheila, Marie, Michelle) was about 22 years old when she made her XXX debut, at first as a strawberry blonde but later with her natural red hair. Marie mostly has been cast in mainstream porn flicks that play upon her angelic beauty and innocent aura, including volumes one and six of the Mother-Daughter Exchange Club series and "Too Big for Teens." She proves that she can hang with the hard-loving crowd with a sloppy-sexy orgy scene in "Rocco's Bitch Party 2." In the raunchy, fun "Filthy Family," Marie learns about sex from a girlfriend and then tries out her new skills by blowing and fucking her friend's dad! One thing's for sure: Marie has the capability to straddle the line between classy eroticism and good old, straight-up fuck flicks.


text:
The massive storm that started out as Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast and morphed into a huge and problematic system, killing at least 94 people in the United States. Power outages now stand at more than 3.6 million homes and businesses, down from a peak of 8.5 million. Here's a snapshot of what is happening, state by state.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says federal government will offer help. Pelican sighted on beach illustrates how massive storm carried birds from as far away as Europe and the Arctic. Deaths: 3. Power outages: 241,000, down from a peak of 625,000.
Residents suffer without power after heavy snow in western mountains. Biologists measure pollution and other effects on Chesapeake Bay. Deaths: 4. Power outages: 28,600, down from 365,700.
Massachusetts' federally-owned T.S. Kennedy heading to Elizabeth, N.J., on Sunday. The 540-foot ship will serve as a "hotel" for emergency workers, power crews and others helping the region get back on its feet. Deaths: None. Power outages: 7,200, down from 400,000.
Utility crews may work into Saturday to fully restore power. Deaths: None. Power outages: 5,000, down from 154,000.
Officials estimate it will be the weekend before power is fully restored. Deaths: 1. Power outages: 1,300, down from 210,000.
Atlantic City's 12 casinos given the OK to reopen. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood views the storm damage in Ocean County. Motorists face another day of long lines for gas. Deaths: 14. Power outages: 1.5 million, down from 2.7 million.
Fuel shortages. Motorists fume in long lines at gas stations around New York City. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Administrator Richard Serino planned to tour Staten Island. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders create a $100 million fund to help people hit hardest. Deaths: 46, including 39 in New York City. Power outages: more than 1.3 million, down from 2.2 million.
Coast Guard orders a formal investigation into the sinking of the famous HMS Bounty off Cape Hatteras during the hurricane Monday. One crew member died and the captain is missing. Deaths: 2. Power outages: None, down from 126,000.
Dozens of residents staying in Red Cross shelters and many schools remain closed as power outages linger around Cleveland. Deaths: 2. Power outages: 66,000, down from more than 250,000.
Between 250 and 300 polling places remain without power just days before Tuesday's election. New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, on a stop in State College, Pa., launches into a heart-wrenching rendition of "My City of Ruins." Deaths: 14. Power outages: 307,000, down from 1.2 million.
Residents allowed back into a community of beach cottages for the first time find homes ripped from their foundations, businesses destroyed and roads impassable. Deaths: none. Power outages: 7,800, down from more than 122,000.
Amtrak service disrupted Friday because of the storm. Deaths: none. Power outages: mostly restored, down from more than 10,000.
Port of Virginia starts receiving cargo diverted from New York. Deaths: 2. Power outages: 6,100, down from more than 180,000.
Governor to ask president for a federal disaster declaration after nearly 3 feet of snow. Deaths: 6. Power outages: Fewer than 99,000, down from about 271,000.


text:
Clinical trial results support strategy for reversing type 1 diabetes
A phase I clinical trial has confirmed that use of a generic vaccine to raise levels of an immune system modulator can cause the death of autoimmune cells targeting the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas and temporarily restore insulin secretion in human patients with type 1 diabetes. Results of the study led by Denise Faustman, MD, PhD, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Immunobiology Laboratory are being published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, and a larger Phase II trial is currently underway.
Faustman's team first reported in 2001 that inducing expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), previously shown to destroy insulin-autoreactive T cells, cured type 1 diabetes in mice by permitting pancreatic islets to regenerate. Since high doses of TNF are toxic to humans, the clinical trials use the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which safely elevates TNF levels. The Iacocca Family Foundation has been the primary supporter of this work.
"We believe we have validated in humans the treatment pathway we originally reported in mice and are seeing early evidence of effectiveness," says Faustman. "Our findings show that this simple, inexpensive vaccine modifies the autoimmunity underlying type 1 diabetes, boosting TNF production and killing the disease-causing T cells, which appears to briefly restore pancreatic beta-cell function. This is not a prevention trial. We are trying to create a regimen that will actually reverse type 1 diabetes in people who are living with the disease. We anticipate that the Phase II trial will give us more direction for turning BCG into a more sustained treatment, including the right dose and the frequency of vaccination needed to sustain a therapeutic response."
A generic drug with over 90 years of clinical use, BCG is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for vaccination against tuberculosis and for the treatment of bladder cancer. The double-blind Phase I trial enrolled six long-term type 1 diabetes patients diagnosed for an average of 15 years who were randomly assigned to receive two doses of either BCG or a placebo spaced four weeks apart. Blood samples from the participants with diabetes were also compared with samples from six nondiabetic control participants and with samples from 75 additional individuals with diabetes and 15 without. Frequent blood tests measured participants' blood levels of insulin-autoreactive T cells, of an autoantibody, of regulatory T cells that help control the immune response, and of C-peptide, a marker of pancreatic insulin secretion.
During the 20-week study period, two of the three participants treated with BCG showed increases in the death of insulin-autoreactive T cells and in levels of protective regulatory T cells. A temporary but statistically significant elevation in C-peptide levels, suggesting a restoration of insulin production, was also observed in the BCG-treated patients. Unexpectedly, the same responses were seen in one of the placebo-treated patients who, after enrolling in the study, coincidently developed infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, which is known to induce expression of TNF. There were no significant adverse events. The researchers expect that more frequent or higher BCG dosing than was used in this trial will be needed for long-term elimination of insulin-autoreactive T cells and a sustained restoration of C-peptide secretion and insulin production.
"This is an exciting time for type 1 diabetes research," says Paul Burn, PhD, chair and director emeritus of the Sanford Project and professor of Pediatrics at the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota. "Dr. Faustman and her team's clinical research data indicate that modifying the autoimmunity underlying type 1 diabetes allows for a safe and temporary restoration of insulin-secreting beta-cell function in patients with established type 1 diabetes. Restoring beta-cell function is a promising first step towards a cure. During my tenure in industry, at Sanford Health and at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, I have seen how hard it is to get a project from mice into humans, and these are very impressive results."
These findings are consistent with recent trials in Italy that showed BCG vaccination could decrease disease activity and prevent progression of brain lesions in advanced multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease also caused by autoreactive T cells vulnerable to TNF-triggered cell death. A recent Turkish study suggested that repeat BCG administration, but not single a BCG vaccination, could prevent diabetes onset in children and that childhood BCG vaccinations prevent the formation of autoantibodies. The PLoS One paper reflects a 20-year journey for the Faustman lab from understanding the role of TNF to developing a way to measure death of the disease-causing T cells in type 1 diabetes and redefining how the pancreas functions in individuals who have had diabetes for decades.
In addition to providing major funding for the now-completed Phase I trial, the Iacocca Family Foundation has committed to a leadership role in the Phase II clinical trial. Currently, $11 million has been raised out of a total of $25 million needed to conduct the Phase II study over the next three years. "The Iacocca Family Foundation is so pleased that our ongoing support for Dr. Faustman's research has generated such meaningful results. This research has been an important part of our family's commitment to find a cure for type 1 diabetes," said Kathryn Iacocca Hentz, president of the Iacocca Family Foundation.


text:
As a presidential candidate, Gov. Thomas Dewey of New York was not a glad-hander, not a flesh-presser. He was stiff and tended toward pomposity. "The only man who could strut sitting down" was the crack that made the rounds. But on Nov. 2, 1948, Election Day, an overwhelming sense of inevitability hung about the Republican nominee. The polls and the pundits left no room for doubt: Dewey was going to defeat President Harry S. Truman. And the Tribune would be the first to report it.
Arguably the most famous headline in the newspaper's 150-year history, DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN is every publisher's nightmare on every election night.
Like most newspapers, the Tribune, which had dismissed him on its editorial page as a "nincompoop," was lulled into a false sense of security by polls that repeatedly predicted a Dewey victory. Critically important, though, was a printers' strike, which forced the paper to go to press hours before it normally would.
RELATED: Dewey defeats Truman Chicago Tribune print page
As the first-edition deadline approached, managing editor J. Loy "Pat" Maloney had to make the headline call, although many East Coast tallies were not yet in. Maloney banked on the track record of Arthur Sears Henning, the paper's longtime Washington correspondent.
Henning said Dewey. Henning was rarely wrong. Besides, Life magazine had just carried a big photo of Dewey with the caption "The next President of the United States."
The ink was hardly dry on 150,000 copies of the paper when radio bulletins reported that the race was surprisingly close. The headline was changed to DEMOCRATS MAKE SWEEP OF STATE OFFICES for the second edition. Truman went on to take Illinois and much of the Midwest in this whopping election surprise. Radio comedian Fred Allen noted Truman was the "first president to lose in a Gallup and win in a walk." The Tribune blamed the pollsters for its mistake.
RELATED: Dewey defeats Truman jigsaw puzzle
The headline might well have been quickly forgotten but for a chance encounter two days later in St. Louis.
Truman, traveling by rail to Washington, stepped to the rear platform of the train and was handed a copy of the Tribune early edition. He had as low an opinion of the Tribune as it did of him. Truman held the paper up, and photographers preserved the moment for history.
This story was originally published on Dec. 19, 2007.


text:
The thinking behind the concept
Massaud and Toyota defined three primary aims for the concept: -
Pertinence – their vision for the car is passionate but considered. The concept should be adaptable to a wide variety of lifestyles as well as displaying high quality and innovation.
Synthesis – a move away from motor industry tradition to remove excess and suggest a new way of responding to people's behaviour and expectations. The concept should propose an alternative synthesis based on personal choices about vehicle architecture, lower running costs and the way the vehicle will be used.
Modernity – challenge conventions and seek change in designing a car that goes beyond just looking good through the experience it offers, its intelligent solutions and its ability to exceed the needs of the owner. This should be a car that reflects the values of forward-thinking people rather than simply their social status.
ED2 and Massaud combined their expertise to produce a car that reflects a quest for change in personal mobility. While cars have increasingly become subject to restrictions, they have put road users – drivers and pedestrians – at the heart of their thinking. The focus is on the desire for freedom, pleasure, emotion and the ability to travel free from constraints, while at the same time addressing people's sense of personal responsibility and commitment to good citizenship.
The result is car that takes a modern, global view of travel and forms part of a wider view on how to adapt to the environmental challenges that will shape the future of personal mobility. It is a no-extras package, conceived as an "anti-excess" vehicle. In short, the Toyota ME.WE represents the transition from the culture of "more" to the culture of "better".
The vehicle
ME.WE seeks to resolve a number of real-life contradictions, not through reinvention of what a car is, but by taking a different approach that is simpler, more appropriate and realistic – an alternative to cars that are about "passion and status". The goal was do more and create better while using less. By reducing the pool of resources and constraints, it was possible to increase capability, quality and pleasure.
Light and resilient: ME.WE has a tubular aluminium structure, on to which light and hard-wearing polypropylene panels are fitted.
Individual and standard: the moulded panels are made using a cost-efficient standard production system, but they are easy to personalise.
Freedom and responsibility: ME.WE is a pick-up, convertible, off-roader and small city car in one. It appeals to a wide range of users, and has a small eco-footprint thanks to its light weight and the materials used in its construction.
ME and WE: the concept's name expresses its simultaneous concern for personal well-being (ME) and that of others (WE).
ME.WE is electric-powered, using the same in-wheel motors as the Toyota i-ROAD, with batteries located under the floor, as in the iQ EV. With none of the traditional packaging restraints associated with conventional powertrains, the entire interior could be devoted to the vehicle's occupants and luggage.
The lightweight construction using aluminium and polypropylene panels helps keep the car's weight down to a target 750kg, about 20 per cent less than a conventional steel-built supermini. The body panels, which are 100 per cent recyclable, weight just 14kg.
Bamboo is used in the construction of the floor and for the cabin's horizontal surfaces, chosen both for being a renewable resource and aesthetically pleasing. ME.WE is easy to keep clean with a simple wash, inside and out.
ME.WE is an intelligent response to the ecological threats posed by mass production and the increasing number of cars on the world's roads, as it is made from materials that help reduce the energy it consumes and the CO2 and harmful emissions it produces.
The simplicity of its design is matched by it ease of use. The in-wheel motor system means it can be operated in two or four-wheel drive, allowing it to tackle rougher terrain than a traditional car, and without the weight penalty of a 4×4 transmission system.
In the cabin priority is given to driver and passengers, so luggage can be carried on the roof beneath a fold-out, weatherproof neoprene cover. However, the rear luggage space can be extended into a platform like that found in a pick-up.
The rear bench seat is mounted on floor rails and when not in use can be folded and stored beneath the front seat. It can also be removed altogether and even used for ad-hoc picnic seating.
The simplicity of the design is also evident in the instrumentation, which comprises a single screen above the steering wheel which displays vehicle speed, battery charge, journey information and navigation instructions, delivered via a smartphone. The phone itself is mounted below the screen so the driver can personalise the cabin environment with music and other apps, as well as controlling on-board temperature.
The heating and air conditioning are delivered by a low-energy air pump and electric seat heaters to minimise power consumption. And to achieve a cabriolet-like open air feel, all the windows can be opened, even the windscreen.
Toyota Press