text:
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Jim Larranaga was in the Miami locker room before a game during this regular season, talking about the importance of defense, when he decided words were not going to be enough to illustrate his point.
So the 63-year-old, two-time-hip-replacement-patient, white-haired, suit-wearing man fell backward like he was taking a charge, then started shouting.
"When you see that," said senior guard Durand Scott, "you want to run through a wall for this guy."
The wall had no chance. Larranaga's team went out, fully energized, and beat North Carolina by 26.
Larranaga has taken charge of what not long ago looked like a wayward Hurricane program — leading Miami to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, a 27-6 record, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and quite possibly putting a school that hadn't been to the men's version of the Big Dance since 2008 in position to win a national title.
Miami plays Pacific (22-12) in Austin, Texas on Friday. So on Monday, other than consenting to about a dozen media interviews, Larranaga tried to rest.
"We've got to turn the page," Larranaga said Monday. "When non-conference season was over, we turned the page. Regular season over, turn the page. ACC tournament is over, turn the page. One does not have anything to do with the next. They're all separate events and we need our guys to get some rest, because it was a long, grueling tournament."
Larranaga and the Hurricanes made getting out of that ACC tournament look easy.
Not bad for a guy who, when he decided to pursue the Miami job two years ago, was absolutely convinced he had zero chance of being hired.
"He's a great teacher," Miami President Donna Shalala told The Associated Press. "When you get right down to it, in higher education, there are a handful of really great teachers. Sometimes they're in chemistry, sometimes they're in English, and sometimes they're the basketball coach.
"When we heard he wanted the job, I thought this was an opportunity of a lifetime for the University of Miami."
She might have been right.
At a time when the athletic department has been rocked by a scandal involving a former booster who prompted a long and still-unresolved NCAA investigation — over things that occurred long before Larranaga arrived — this men's basketball season has clearly been a ray of light in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes' arena was sold out for many games, bringing Shalala to tears at least once. A pair of ACC titles will be commemorated by banners. The team seems to be an in-vogue pick to win it all.
And whether he wants it or not, Larranaga — a likely national coach of the year candidate — is getting much of the credit.
That's why, when the bus carrying the ACC champions arrived back on campus Sunday night, outside the on-campus arena and practice facility that Miami built a few years apart, Larranaga was the first to exit and start giving hundreds of high-fives to delirious, screaming fans. Players waited about a minute before joining the celebration.
"That was his moment," said senior forward-center Kenny Kadji, who carried the trophy off the bus. "That was for him."
Best known for leading George Mason to the Final Four in 2006, Larranaga was a hire at Miami that raised some eyebrows after Frank Haith left for Missouri in 2011.
He arrived with the school very much in a transitional phase, with a change imminent in the athletic director's office, the news of the NCAA scandal about to hit and only a few months after Al Golden was hired to lead the football program. By the time Larranaga even registered a blip on Miami's potential-hire list, the Hurricanes had interviewed five other people and the consensus pick was that Frank Martin — a Miami native — would get the job.
Then Larranaga got a phone call, telling him that Martin would not be Miami's guy and urging him to fly to Boston and meet with Miami's hiring committee. Larranaga took the trip, believing Tommy Amaker would be the eventual Hurricanes coach. His interview lasted only an hour, cut short by the news that Miami had hired Shawn Eichorst as athletic director and that he would take over the lead role on the basketball search.
"I told my wife, I got a token interview," Larranaga said.
Eichorst and Larranaga eventually spoke briefly. Eight days passed before they spoke again — when Eichorst offered the job.
"We're not perfect, but he brings the best out of everybody," Scott said. "He's the one that did it. He came here and told everybody their role, everybody plays their role and everybody's fine with it. When you're winning, everybody's happy."
With all his success, Larranaga has never lost sight of who he is and where he's from.
As a kid who spent 50 cents a day on the 10 Reese's peanut butter cups that served as his lunch, Larranaga played for the legendary Jack Curran at Archbishop Malloy High in New York. Curran died last week, just days before Miami began play in the ACC tournament. Even with a trip to the NCAAs looming — accompanied by endless hours of preparation for an opponent he and his staff knew little about when the pairings were revealed — Larranaga will fly to New York on Tuesday for the services for his mentor, then quickly return home without even interrupting the Hurricanes' practice schedule.
"He was like my best friend throughout my life," Larranaga said. "Losing him on Wednesday was very sad for me. But I said to him, 'I'm going to do everything I can to help my team win this ACC tournament in your honor.' And he helped me stay calm throughout the weekend."
It wasn't just that weekend. Players have noticed it all year.
"It was very important and it trickles throughout the team," senior Julian Gamble said. "He's our leader. Throughout the chaos, he stayed even-keeled and told us to keep having fun. You have to control the things you can control, and truth is, there are very few of them."
Some symmetry might be at play for Miami in this tournament. George Mason earned its Final Four ticket by winning two games at the Verizon Center in Washington. If the Hurricanes win two games in Austin, they'll be heading to that very same arena, with a chance to get Larranaga — who still has plenty of friends and fans in that area — back to the national semifinals.
Players speak about it openly: Naturally, they want the title, but when pressed to identify a top reason why they want to win, they say for Larranaga.
"Magical seasons don't happen very often," Shalala said. "The great thing about sports is you get the unexpected. You don't get that in many other professions because you sort of build up to it and see it coming. But in sports, on any given day, in any given year, something extraordinary can happen. And that's what happened at the University of Miami."


text:
Birth Control UpdateMedlinePlus sent this bulletin at 08/04/2014 01:15 PM EDT
New on the MedlinePlus Birth Control page:
High-dose estrogen formulations linked to greater risk in women under 50, experts find
Source: HealthDay
Some Birth Control Pills May Up Breast Cancer Risk
High-dose estrogen formulations linked to greater risk in women under 50, experts find
THURSDAY, July 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Birth control pills containing high doses of estrogen, along with some other formulations, may increase the risk of breast cancer in women under 50, new preliminary research suggests.
"There are numerous oral contraceptive formulations," explained lead researcher Elisabeth Beaber, a staff scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. "Some of these formulations increase breast cancer risk while other formulations do not raise risk."
Overall, birth control pill use within the past year was associated with a 50 percent increased risk of breast cancer risk compared with former use or no use of birth control pills, Beaber found.
This study was designed to find a possible link between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer risk in younger women. But, it wasn't designed to prove that birth control pills definitively cause the increased risk. However, the researchers did take into account other factors that increase breast cancer risk, such as family history. In addition, they found that the link was slightly stronger -- though not statistically significant -- for breast cancers termed estrogen-receptor positive. This type of cancer needs estrogen to grow, which might help explain why high-dose estrogen pills elevated risk.
The researchers also found variations in risk among different formulas, with low-dose estrogen pills appearing safest. "Recent use of oral contraceptives containing low-dose estrogen [20 micrograms ethinyl estradiol] did not appear to increase breast cancer risk," Beaber said.
These lower-dose pills account for an increasing number of prescriptions written today, Beaber said.
Which formulations seemed to raise the risk of breast cancer? High-dose estrogen pills -- those containing 50 micrograms ethinyl estradiol or 80 micrograms mestranol -- were associated with nearly a three-fold higher risk of breast cancer, she said. Triphasic combination pills with 0.75 milligrams of norethindrone were linked to more than a three-fold higher risk of breast cancer, according to Beaber.
Pills with ethynodiol diacetate -- a progestin -- appeared to increase the risk of breast 2.6 fold, Beaber said.
Risks seemed lower with moderate-dose estrogen pills -- those with 30 to 35 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol or 50 micrograms mestranol were linked to a 1.6 times higher risk of breast cancer.
How can a woman tell if she's taking a formulation linked to a higher risk? "The specific doses and types of hormones used in oral contraceptives are included in packaging information," Beaber said.
The study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, was published Aug. 1 in the journal Cancer Research.
Beaber stressed that the study results need to be confirmed before any recommendations can be made to women. The results are based on data about recent oral contraceptive use who were diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 22,000 healthy women who served as the comparison group. The women were all between the ages of 20 and 49.
The researchers used electronic pharmacy records to gather information on prescriptions filled and information on formulas. The study looked at the years 1990 through 2009.
The researchers evaluated the risks of breast cancer in women who had taken birth control pills in the past year compared to former or never users. They then looked at risk with the specific formulas of birth control pills.
The study results suggest that the lower-dose estrogen pills, which became popular in the 1990s, are not a problem, said Dr. Courtney Vito, a breast surgeon and assistant clinical professor of surgical oncology at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, Ca.
While the researchers made a good attempt to answer the question about risks associated with different birth control formulas, ''the study has some flaws that are inherent in this type of study design," Vito said. For instance, they could not control for all factors that could increase breast cancer risk.
And, as the researchers also noted, the duration of time they evaluated was relatively brief.
The best advice for women taking birth control pills? " Talk to your doctor about considering a lower dose estrogen birth control pill that does not have the higher-risk progesterone in it," Vito said.
"Although these results suggest an increased risk of breast cancer, the many established health benefits associated with oral contraceptive use... must also be considered when making individual choices," wrote the study's authors.
The study's authors also pointed out that any potential increased risk likely goes down when a woman stops using birth control pills.
SOURCES: Courtney Vito, M.D., breast surgeon and assistant clinical professor of surgical oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, Ca.; Elisabeth Beaber, Ph.D., M.P.H., staff scientist, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle; Aug. 1, 2014 Cancer Research
Copyright (c) 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
- More Health News on:
- Breast Cancer

subset: commoncrawl


text:
How can I stay hard for our first time?
Heather Corinna replies:I am a 21 year old guy and I am a virgin. So is my girlfriend. We wanted to wait until we were 21. We were planing on having sex for the first time last week. The night we tried it, I was very aroused and hard right up until it was time for me to enter her. As soon as I was ready to go in, I lost my erection. Realizing that we couldn't complete the act, we gave each other manual orgasms. (As soon as that started, I got very erect again). Every time we try to have sex I have the same problem. I am hard right before, I can get hard right after, but not when it counts. What can I do to avoid this? Should I drink a little alcohol before to loosen up? Take pills? Any advice will be helpful.
Jay: the thing about alcohol and sex is that, for some people, a little does tend to make relaxing a bit easier, but at a certain point (amount of drink), which varies for people based on their own individual chemistries and tolerance, it actually inhibits arousal, erection, and sexual performance. On top of that, even when you're legal to drink, it isn't advisable overall to mix drugs or alcohol with sex.
I know, I know, that's a helluva thing to say, since people do it all the time (myself included). But it has been very clearly shown to create some real problems in terms of not just performance, but safety and judgment (a majority of date rapes occur with booze in the mix, for instance), so we can pretty clearly say it's best to approach sex sober.
Sounds to me like, for sure, your nerves aren't being kind to you, and that's utterly normal, especially when intercourse is brand new. One thing that might help is to take any pressure off of yourself -- coming from yourself and/or your partner -- to keep an erection or to have intercourse. Since, ultimately, it doesn't matter overmuch HOW we achieve sexual satisfaction, it can be helpful to bear that in mind and not make it a HUGE deal whether intercourse happens or not. Arousal is a mental endeavor, so when the pressure's on, it often turns our arousal off.
One other suggestion I might make is your partner being in the driver's seat a bit: for instance, in an evening you want to attempt intercourse, you might do whatever it is that gets you both excited (like the mutual manual sex, for instance), and with you on the bottom, have her put on your condom, and get on top when it feels like a good time. Sometimes, one pressure a guy can feel is also the pressure to be in charge of the whole works. So, if you're feeling any of that, shifting how you both do things so it feels more like you're both in the driver's seat -- and you're not responsible for delivering the whole thing yourself -- might be of help to you, too.


text:
ASCT Services, Inc.
ASCT Services, Inc. is a unique business qualified to administer and manage cytology laboratory inspections and surveys. ASCT Services' personnel include highly-trained cytopathologists and cytotechnologists who have extensive knowledge and experience with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations and cytology laboratory management. Our skilled survey teams have evaluated laboratories of all sizes, volumes and accreditations. To learn more about our organization, view this short video Click here.
Microscopic Review
Microscopic review is the most effective method for evaluating a cytology laboratory's specimen processing and diagnostic accuracy. This is successfully accomplished by using highly qualified cytology professionals. Surveys performed by ASCT Services are fundamentally important to ensuring diagnostic accuracy of cytology specimens. ASCT Services impacts and improves patient care by upholding cytology CLIA regulations and individual laboratory standards and procedures.


text:
Condoms do not kill the mood nor do they make intercourse significantly less enjoyable, a new study finds. This flies in the face of the anecdotal evidence and life experience-based wisdom of all the teenage males who helped get their girlfriends cast on episodes of 16 and Pregnant.
The study—which was conducted at Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion and published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine—used data from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior that questioned over 1,600 men and women, ages 18 - 59, who have all had sex. Researchers found that "sexual arousal, ease of erection, overall pleasure and orgasm weren't much different" in those who used condoms compared to those who raw dogged.
However, the national survey was funded by Church & Dwight Co. Inc., the company behind Trojan condoms. But Debby Herbenick, the lead researcher on the study, said that the company did not influence her findings, some of which were not in favor of condoms:
[M]en who didn't use condoms or lubricant had significantly higher arousal ratings than men who used condoms without lubricant.
According to Herbenick, heightened sexual pleasure isn't really about condoms, but about lube. It's not the meat—it's the lotion.
[M]ost people who use a lubricant apply it to the outside of the condom. But adding a small amount at the inside tip can enhance the experience for the man. More enjoyment, she suggested, could mean that men will be happier to use them, increasing safety.
Ultimately though, sex just feels good, and it's likely that a guy would rather put his boner in a condom than back in his pants.
Image via prapass/Shutterstock
Despite bad rap, condoms no barrier to good sex, study finds [MSNBC]


text:
Monterey One Water
Formerly known as the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA), Monterey One Water was established in 1979 to administer water rationing in response to severe drought conditions [1]. MRWPCA was formed under a Joint Powers Authority agreement between the City of Monterey, the City of Pacific Grove and the Seaside County Sanitation District as a peninsula-wide effort to resolve area's water issues [2]. MRWPCA operates the Regional Treatment Plant, the Salinas River Diversion Facility, the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project, sewage collection pipelines, and 25 wastewater pump stations [2].
Monterey One Water[3], formerly Move Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA), was established in November, 1972, as a joint effort between the Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Seaside Sanitation districts in order to meet increased water treatment standards set in place by the Federal Clean Water Act. Before the establishment of Monterey One Water, each individual community was responsible for the management of their own wastewater, which was often discharged discharge directly into the bay.
In addition to meeting the water quality standards outlined in the clean water act, Monterey One Water was responsible addressing the region deteriorating groundwater supply. By the mid-1970s, excessive groundwater pumping of for agricultural purposes resulted in an overdraft of the underlying aquifer, exacerbating the effects of saltwater intrusion. The continued encroachment of saltwater into the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin began to pose a serious threat to the regions multi-billion dollar agricultural industry, as well as limiting the drinking water supply for the City of Salinas. Community leaders began discussing possible solutions to address the growing concerns of saltwater intrusion, eventually deciding on the use of recycled wastewater to supplement crop irrigation, reducing the need to deplete groundwater reserves. After an extensive 11-year study the Monterey Wastewater Reclamation Study for Agriculture[4] final report was released on April 3rd, 1987. This document outline the feasibility of using reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation and address concerns about potential heath impacts associated with consuming crops grown with recycled water.
In 1983, Monterey One Water was ready to implement its plan of unified sanitation district. This process included the construction of a wastewater conveyance[5] system that utilized neighboring treatment plant stations to distribute wastewater to one centralized facility. These treatment plants were decommissioned in February, 1990, after the new 29.6 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) Regional Treatment Plant began opwaeration.
Today Monterey One Water is responsible for operating and maintaining 25 pump stations, 35 pressure-vacuum stations, and approximately 750 miles of pipeline and the Regional Treatment Plant treats and distributes 18.5 MGD for agricultural and domestic use.
Projects and Facilities
- Pure Water Monterey
- Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project
- Salinas River Diversion Facility
- Regional Treatment Plant
Public Engagement
- ↑ http://www.mrwpca.org/recycling/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.mpwaterreplenishment.org/docs/Final%20GWR%20NOP%2030May2013%20with%20figures.pdf
- ↑ Monterey One Water Homepage http://montereyonewater.org/
- ↑ Monterey Wastewater Reclamation Study for Agriculture http://montereyonewater.org/docs/about/mwrsa.pdf
- ↑ Wastewater Conveyance http://montereyonewater.org/facilities_conveyance.html
This page may contain students' work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.


text:
25063 Instock
- Sale price
- Regular price
- $1,895.00
INSTOCK & Ready for Immediate Delivery
Exclusively created in Southern California by a second generation family business established over 45 years ago, Boyd Art's Canvas Art Series is a vibrant collection of hand finished and framed giclee prints. All works of art are high quality reproductions of original paintings created in-house by authentic artists sharing their individual styles and techniques, capturing a refined creative movement.
Technical Specs
Material Information:
Original painting by Artist FORM Design Studio, printed on quality Giclee canvas with Image Brush Gel finish. Framed in a thin timber Matte Black Gallery Float and supplied with dual hangers.
Country of Origin:
648 W x 851 H mm
Brand Materials Information:
Assembly Required:
Warranty Information:
Boyd Blue warrants this Boyd product for one year from date of tax invoice against defects in materials and workmanship. Further warranty details are available in Resources – Limited Warranties.
- choosing a selection results in a full page refresh
- press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection


text:
Clayton and Emerson in Downtown Disney-Emerson has a Mickey pretzel with sprinkles-9/3/09
We started our wonderful vacation on Thursday and flew down to Orlando. We arrived around 4pm, picked up a rental car and then checked in to the Wilderness Lodge Resort. We drove to Downtown Disney and had dinner at The House of Blues. After that, we went to a candy shop that had all kinds of goodies and then strolled along the shops.


text:
Bud Rank Elementary School serves 677 students in grades Kindergarten-6.
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 70% (which is higher than the California state average of 40%) for the 2018-19 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 77% (which is higher than the California state average of 51%) for the 2018-19 school year.
The student:teacher ratio of 22:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 51% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2023-24)
- Grades: Kindergarten-6
- Enrollment: 677 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 22:1
- Minority Enrollment: 51%
- Math Proficiency: 70%
- Reading Proficiency: 77%
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Bud Rank Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:
School Overview
Bud Rank Elementary School's student population of 677 students has declined by 22% over five school years.
The teacher population of 31 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-6
Total Students
677 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
31 teachers
Students by Grade
School Calendar
School Rankings
The diversity score of Bud Rank Elementary School is 0.67, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms 2021-2022 School Year Data
This School
State Level (CA)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)(18-19)
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)(18-19)
Student : Teacher Ratio
American Indian
Two or more races
All Ethnic Groups
Diversity Score
Eligible for Free Lunch
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: 2021-2022 (latest school year available) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
70% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 40% CA state average), while 77% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 51% CA state average).
How many students attend Bud Rank Elementary School?
677 students attend Bud Rank Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
49% of Bud Rank Elementary School students are White, 27% of students are Hispanic, 15% of students are Asian, 5% of students are Two or more races, and 4% of students are Black.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Bud Rank Elementary School?
Bud Rank Elementary School has a student ration of 22:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.
What grades does Bud Rank Elementary School offer ?
Bud Rank Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-6
What school district is Bud Rank Elementary School part of?
Bud Rank Elementary School is part of Clovis Unified School District.
School Reviews
Review Bud Rank Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
The Link between Music and a Child's Math Abilities
Learn about the influence of music on a child's cognitive mathematical abilities.
August 04, 2023Preparing for a Successful 'Back to School'
A one-stop guide for parents navigating the 'back to school' season, providing practical and effective strategies tailored to every grade level - from pre-K to high school.
July 25, 2023The Evolving Role of Interim Assessments
Explore the often-overlooked tool in K-12 education - interim assessments. Understand what they are, their importance, and how they can enhance your child's learning experience. Dive into real-world case studies and find out how technology is changing the game. This informative, parent-friendly article aims to shed light on the value of these assessments in today's educational landscape.


text:
An underestimated aspect of Doom, Bobby Prince's score adds an entirely new dimension to the game. Those with 16-bit soundcards cannot fully appreciate the effort that went into the creation of the Doom music; therefore, we have available for download here every Doom and Doom 2 song in .MP2 format, recorded by Michael Massay on a Roland SCC1 sound card. You think you've heard Doom music? Think again.
If you do not have a .MP2/3 player, go here. People with a 16-bit sound card and at least a Pentium 66 can try out the Yamaha SYG20 Soft Synthesizer, which emulates the sound quality of a 32-bit sound card. Also, the Doom music can be purchased in CD form, with sonically enhanced tracks and additional live instrumentation, here.
And if you ever happen to get tired of the original tracks (but how could you), or if you're looking for some fresh blood to feed your demons, we have a nice little Remix section for your revival pleasure. Many of the individual remixes are mirrored here. This section is maintained by Bloodshedder.


text:
Adapted from a response by Fr. Lawrence Farley, OCA
In my years as a priest and of sharing the Gospel, I have heard many reasons offered for not becoming a Christian: scandals associated with clergy, the wealth of the Church, the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc, etc. I thought I had more or less heard it all, and so was unprepared for a reason one young man offered to justify his rejection of the faith—namely, that dinosaurs were not in the Bible. I blinked a few times, and was left temporarily speechless (something of a rarity with me, to which those who know me well can attest). His idea was that since dinosaurs obviously existed (their skeletons adorn our museums), then if the Bible was God's Word, he should be able to read about dinosaurs in the Bible. Since he could not find them there (I refrained from mentioning certain fundamentalist interpretations of Leviathan and Behemoth in the Book of Job), then obviously the Bible could not be God's Word and he could not remain a Christian. He was referring of course to the old supposed conflict between science and religion, and in this arm-wrestling match, it was clear to him that Science had won. No biblical dinosaurs, no more church-going.
So, what's the deal about dinosaurs? Why aren't they in the creation stories in Genesis? Apart from the absurdity of supposing they're not there because they aren't mentioned by name (the duck-billed platypus isn't mentioned by name either), it's a valid question, and one that leads us headlong into the question of how to interpret the early chapters of Genesis.
Interpretation of the creation stories too often degenerates into an argument between the theory of evolution vs. what is sometimes called "creation science". By "evolution" the average non-scientific person means the notion that man descended from the apes, or from a common ancestor of apes and men. The name Darwin is usually thrown about, regardless of how the ideas in his On the Origin of Species have fared in the scientific community since Darwin wrote it in 1859, and most people's knowledge of evolution is confined to looking at the famous evolutionary chart in National Geographic, showing how smaller hominids kept walking until they became human beings like us. By "creation science" is meant the view that the Genesis stories are to be taken as scientifically or historically factual, so that the earth (often considered to be comparatively young) was created by God in six twenty-four hour days. Since the time of the Scopes Monkey Trial, the argument between "evolutionists" and "creationists" has been going strong and is often fought in the nation's courts and departments of education. Arm-wrestling indeed.
Happily for people with weak arms like myself, the Church does not call us to take part in this arm-wrestling match. The creation stories in Genesis were not written, I suggest, to give us a blow-by-blow account of how we got here. Rather, they were written to reveal something fundamental about the God of Israel and the privileged status of the people who worshipped Him. We assume today that the ancients wanted to know how we got here and how we were created. In fact, they were mostly uninterested in such cosmic questions, and the creation myths that existed in the ancient near east spoke to other issues. Most people back then, if they thought of the question of cosmic origins at all, assumed that the world had always existed, and the various gods they worshipped were simply part of that eternal backdrop. That is where the creation stories were truly revolutionary. Their main point was not merely that God created the world; it was that the tribal God of the Jewish people was sovereign over the world.
We take monotheism for granted, and spell "god" with a capital "G". For us, God is singular and unique by definition. It was otherwise in the ancient near east. That age was populated by different gods, each with his or her own power, agenda, and career. And this is the point: in the Genesis stories, none of these gods are there. In the opening verses we read, "In the beginning God (Hebrew Elohim, a Jewish name for their God) created the heavens and the earth" and "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made earth and heaven." The creating deity is called "Elohim" and "Yahweh"—the names for the Jewish God. It is as if other rival deities do not exist. The opening verse of Genesis is a salvo fired into the world of polytheism, a ringing declaration that their gods were nobodies.
We keep reading and discover that this Jewish God made everything that existed by His simple word of command. He simply said, "Light—exist!" (two words in the original Hebrew), and light sprang into existence. For Him, a simple sovereign word suffices. In fact, in the first chapter of Genesis, all the cosmos was brought into being by Him uttering ten simple commands (yep, it does foreshadow the Ten Commandments).
And man is portrayed in these stories as the sum and crown of creation, giving the human person a dignity never before known. Man is said to have been made "in the image of God"—a revolutionary statement, since in those days only kings were thought to be in the divine image. Genesis invests the common man with this royal dignity. And even more: it says that woman shares this image and rule with him. In the ancient near east, women were chattel; in Genesis, she is a co-ruler of creation with the man.
The stories of Genesis cannot be read apart from their original cultural context. When we read them as they were meant to be read, we see that the creation story was a gauntlet thrown down before the prevailing culture of its time. The creation stories affirmed that the Jewish God, the tribal deity of a small and internationally unimportant people, alone made the whole cosmos. That meant that He was able to protect His People. It meant that, properly speaking, all the pagan nations should abandon their old gods and worship Him. These stories affirm that the Jewish God is powerful enough to have created everything by a few simple orders. They affirm that humankind is not the mere tool and slave of the gods, whose job it is to feed the deities and care for their temples. Rather, men are a co-ruler with God, His own image and viceroy on earth. And woman is not a thing to be sold, inferior to man as she shares man's calling and dignity.
These are the real lessons of Genesis. It has nothing to say, for or against, the theory of evolution. Its true lessons are located elsewhere.


text:
Our adorable Farmhouse Holly stem w/Jar would look very cute on a side table or bookshelf. Simple and beautiful.
Includes one holly stem in a jar.
$5.99 flat rate shipping fee on all orders (Excludes Furniture, lighting & oversized items).
All Sales Are Final. We operate a small business and change our inventory frequently. In order to maintain our high standards for quality items, we cannot accept any returns or issue store credit on any of the items listed below.
What happens after I pay and place my order?
What happens if I receive a broken or damaged item?
We work very hard to package your items very carefully, but sometimes breakage may occur along the way to your home. Please follow the hassle-free steps below to ensure a quick resolve! We will work very hard to either replace the item, exchange (if possible) or issue store credit.
Do you offer exchanges? Due to the nature of our products, quantities and one-of-a-kind items, we are unable to offer exchanges. We only offer store credit.
Do you provide refunds? We are so thankful for you supporting our small business. We only offer store credit. We do not offer refunds.
If you have any questions, then please send us an email to : firstname.lastname@example.com
Will House Market pay for my shipping on returned items? It is the customers responsibility to pay for shipping when returning items back to House Market. Shipping will not be refunded on any returned items.
Will House Market provide return shipping labels? We do not provide return shipping labels.
Will I receive a refund or store credit for my return shipping charges? You will not receive a refund or store credit for returning shipping charges.
Do you ship internationally? No. We only ship in the United States.
SHIPPING (Furniture, Lighting, Sconces & Oversized Decor) We charge a flat rate of $120 for deliveries. Some additional charges may vary depending on surcharges from our vendors, order and on your state. Please direct any questions about special deliveries to firstname.lastname@example.com before placing an order. Special white-glove delivery service fees will apply for furniture deliveries.
Please note that there may also be additional surcharges and additional shipping charges on any furniture or oversized deliveries. Please contact us if you have any questions.


text:
One of those angles, Outcalt explained, is to double back with everyone considering the league for 2013 to see if anyone can step up sooner since only Maui, Yuma and newcomer San Rafael remain. We know this includes Prescott, AZ and Fullerton, CA, with the latter "a real possibility", according to Outcalt.
Longtime Golden League and NAL member Chico, CA is only a "small chance", the CEO admitted, with the sticking point being that the league wants a three-year commitment from Chico State and the university is only offering a one year agreement to use its stadium.
"Everyone is really disappointed in the way they (Edmonton) did it", added Outcalt. He explained that the Capitals had been very involved in developing a schedule, which was finalized last Friday "and we were to announce it on Monday." He went on to say "I do think there is a relief throughout the league that there will be no teams in Canada", which in the past increased issues in scheduling, travel and moving players across the border from the United States.
The NAL's Southern Division has six teams in Texas, and has its own independent schedule.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER FOR 2012. Subscriptions to the Insider $48 from now through December, 2012.
Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions


text:
You might have scratched your head in wonderment when a 10-year-old cheese sandwich sold at auction for a cool $28,000 simply because people thought they saw the face of the Virgin Mary in the folds of the stale food.
But there's a long history of people finding meaning in mundane objects. And scientists now say they know why this happens -- and how it works.
We're wired to pay attention when we see objects that remind us of something we already know, says Joel Voss, an assistant professor at Northwestern University. Our brains automatically identify similar objects and then organize them according to type. That's why we can look at a baseball cap and a fedora and know right away that both are hats, Voss explains.
After noticing so many examples of people seeing familiar -- and highly meaningful -- images in ordinary objects, Voss and his colleagues started to wonder what parts of the brain might be sparking when this happens.
So the researchers rounded up 10 volunteers who were willing to lie in a brain scanner while looking at a bunch of squiggles. The study volunteers were asked to rate the squiggles on a scale of 1 to 5 as being meaningful, or not, as the images flashed by.
By meaningful, the researchers meant, did the abstract scrawls remind volunteers of something real, like an animal or a face?
Each time a squiggle passed by, various parts of the visual cortex flashed bright, including a region at the front known to be involved in analyzing the meaning and importance of data that the eyes are transmitting to the brain.
Next the volunteers were then asked to look at a larger series of squiggles -- which also contained the ones that had already been viewed. The instructions to the volunteers this time were to pick out the ones that had flashed by in the first part of the experiment.
Again, various regions of the visual cortex lit up as the volunteers watched the squiggles flash by. But, intriguingly, the frontal region stayed quiet when "meaningful" squiggles flashed by again.
Story: Jesus toast under the Christmas Tree?
What this means, Voss says, is that the volunteers' brains had cataloged these squiggles in the earlier viewing as faces or animals or something else meaningful to them. That meant that this time there was no need to analyze the shapes again.
The purpose for all this brain circuitry is most likely to promote our survival, Voss says. Back when we were evolving on the savannah it was important to recognize anything that looked like a predator.
Thus, if you were wandering out at night you needed to recognize which shadows might be menacing. "If you failed to identify the shadow that looked vaguely like an animal, you might get eaten," Voss says.
In the modern world, we still are looking for important patterns. So now, when we see potato chip that looks like Elvis, our brains just think they're seeing another manifestation of The King, himself.


text:
Kenner, Louisiana Fire Extinguishers
Portable, wheeled and fixed unit fire extinguishers are an invaluable tool if they are readily available and properly functioning in the event of fire emergencies. Fire extinguishers are designed for specific use and should be matched to the Class of Fire it was designed to fight, such as Class A, B, C, D or Class K (Types of Fire Extinguishers) installing them near their specific designated fire hazards in vehicles, buildings, facilities or structures as described by Insurance Company, OSHA, Federal or Government Agency and Fire & Safety Codes in Kenner, Louisiana.
Fire Extinguisher Sales
Fire Extinguisher Service in Kenner, Louisiana


text:
One-Stop Selection & Value
TOPS is always looking to bring you more products that can help you stretch your budget. That's why we're introducing Valu Time, offering more than 200 everyday items, from canned vegetables to cleaning supplies, at the best prices in town. We compare our Valu Time prices to our competitors' prices to ensure that you're always getting the best deal at TOPS! Look for Valu Time products down every aisle!
SavingStar ECoupons Now At TOPS!
At TOPS, one of our top priorities is giving our customers more ways to save than any other grocery store. That's why we're pleased to announce our partnership with SavingStar, a new program that offers you access to a wide variety of eCoupons, just for signing up for an account. Once signed up, you can link your SavingStar account to your TOPS BonusPlus® account and start saving at SavingStar.com today!
Applegate Natural & Organic Meats
At TOPS, we're always looking to introduce new products that are as tasty as they are healthy. That's why we're proud to introduce Applegate natural and organic meats, featuring a wide selection of bacon, chicken strips, deli meats, and even organic hot dogs! You can find Applegate products in the meat and deli departments, so try some today!
Two New Lines of Gluten-Free and Sugar-Free Baked Goods
Many TOPS customers often ask for more variety and selection of gluten-free and sugar-free products. We're pleased to announce the addition of two new brands of baked goods Butterfly and WOW to the TOPS Bakery. If you're looking for something sweet that's healthy and diabetic-friendly, try one of our new brands today!
Wholesome Family Meals Now MORE Options at TOPS!
At TOPS, we're always looking for more ways to help you provide quick, wholesome meals for your family. That's why we're expanding our selection of hot meals to go with Jennie-O rotisserie turkey breast and turkey pot roast. Pick one up on your way home or choose from our variety of rotisserie chicken, soups, salads and more to satisfy your family tonight!
TOPS Continues to Add Ways to Help Others
TOPS is always looking for more ways to enable and encourage customers to help others in our communities. That's why TOPS continues to support Goodwill Industries by adding drop-off sites for unneeded, gently used clothing and housewares at our stores. Ten of the sixteen Goodwill drop-off sites in WNY are located at TOPS stores, making it convenient for shoppers to support our communities.
TOPS Introduces How-To Videos to Help Make Thanksgiving Easy!
We know how important your Thanksgiving meal is, from the preparation to the leftovers. That's why we're offering a series of how-to videos called "Share Something Delicious" from Campbell's Kitchen. In these videos, you'll find advice about how to plan your Thanksgiving meal, how to properly prepare a turkey, and even tips on what to do with leftovers! Visit TopsMarkets.com to watch the series now.
Your Better Health Store Provides Solutions to Make Healthy Easy
TOPS is committed to providing you with practical health solutions and tools to make it easy to be healthy. That's why we're excited to bring chef and Type 1 diabetic Sam Talbot from Bravo's Top Chef to our Amherst, NY location November 7th. Chef Talbot will reveal his personal recipes and secrets for eating and living well with diabetes and sign his new book, 'The Sweet Life: Diabetes Without Boundaries.' This health event will include a sampling of healthy products, family meal ideas and more!
TOPS Goes Even Greener with Sustainable Seafood
At TOPS, we know that supporting a healthy planet is essential to being able to provide delicious healthy food to our customers. That's why we're expanding our commitment to sustainable seafood by working closely with the Global Aquaculture Alliance for certification of our farm-raised and wild-caught seafood. This commitment ensures that the food on your plate is good for both your family and the environment.
TOPS Strengthens Efforts in the Fight Against Cancer
Together with 1,500 runners for the Roswell 5/10K, TOPS was able to donate $174,000 that will directly support research and care programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. But our commitment to cancer research won't stop there; you can join us in the fight by purchasing our Breast Cancer Awareness reusable bags. For every bag purchased, TOPS will donate $1 towards local Susan G. Komen affiliates.
Extended Hours at In-Store Citizens Banks!
At TOPS, we're always looking for more ways to make your life easier. And now, it's easier than ever to do your banking with extended hours at our in-store Citizens Bank branches. We're open longer for you, so you can get your banking and shopping done all in one convenient trip!
Flu Shots Without Appointments at TOPS!
With flu season approaching, TOPS is offering you an extra dose of convenience. Your TOPS Pharmacy is now offering flu shots* during regular pharmacy hours, so you can save the time it takes for a trip to the doctor's office! Vaccinations will take place in a private and confidential setting. Contact your local TOPS Pharmacist or visit TopsMarkets.com/FluShot for details.
*When immunizing pharmacist on duty. Patient must be 19 years or older. While vaccine supplies last.
A Brand New Variety of Corn - 20 Years in the Making
TOPS is committed to bringing to market unique, farm-fresh products with incredible flavor. Now, through our partnership with Eden Valley growers we are proud to introduce TOPS shoppers to Amaize white sweet corn. It's super sweet with amazing crunch and excellent texture. Pick up our sweetest new idea, exclusively at TOPS and only for a limited time.
eLabels for EducationSM. Earn Points fro Your School!
Starting Sunday, 8/19 - another Plus of TOPS BonusPlus®. Electronically earn 1 point for each participating Labels for Education® product you purchase at TOPS with your TOPS BonusPlus®. Points earned will be credited to your school's Labels for Education® account automatically. You can still clip and redeem UPSCs to earn, too! Visit TopsMarkets.com/eLFE to learn more.
Help Your Favorite School Raise Money! You Shop. TOPS Donates.
Introducing TOPS in Education, a new fundraising program designed to help area schools raise much-needed funds. Throughout the school year, every time you buy participating TOPS brand, Full Circle™ or TopCare® products, TOPS contributes a percentage of the purchase to the school of your choice (grades K-12). Visit TopsMarkets.com/Education for all the details on how you can help your favorite school receive free money from TOPS!
Pick 5! Mix or Match 5 and Save!
When TOPS shoppers ask for MORE ways to stretch the family budget, we listen. That's why TOPS is bringing you special savings with Signature Pick 5. Pick 5 lets you pick any 5 popular breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees and sides for just $1.99 (or $4.99 each when you purchase individually)! Choose from over 15 frozen items like breakfast sausage biscuits, onion rings, pizza, chicken fingers and MORE! Mix or match and save big when you Pick 5! Look for the frozen Signature Pick 5 display in selected stores.
TOPS Coupon Central® on TopsMarkets.com
TOPS Coupon Central® brings the latest coupon deals together all in one place! Whether you like to add coupons directly to your TOPS BonusPlusTM account with Click-to-Card e-Coupons or find coupons online and print them out, TopsMarkets.com makes it easy for you to get the most out of every shopping trip.
Trendy Treats at TOPS - Gourmet Cupcakes!
For 50 years, TOPS has brought new tastes and entertaining ideas to our customers - especially for party planning. That's why we've introduced TOPS signature gourmet cupcakes and cupcake towers, now with an expanded selection, so every guest at your party can enjoy these fun, delicious and personal-sized treats!
TOPS BonusPlus Click-To-Card eCoupons!
At TOPS, we're always looking for more ways to save you money. With the introduction of TOPS BonusPlus® Click-to-Card coupons you can now add e-COUPONS directly to your TOPS BonusPlus® with the simple click of a mouse! Visit TopsMarkets.com/CouponCentral to learn more and start clicking coupons today!
More Ways to Scream for Ice Cream!
At TOPS, we're constantly working with our suppliers to bring the best brands and newest flavors to you and your family. With over 300 flavors, you'll always find the largest selection of ice cream, including light, no sugar added and lactose-free selections. So whether you're looking for something new or your long-time childhood favorite, you're sure to find the ice cream you're screamin' for at your neighborhood TOPS.
TOPS Welcomes Our Newest Local Growing Partners!
At TOPS, we're always looking for new partners in order to bring you the freshest produce at the peak of perfection and support our local community. With over 200 growing partners across NY and northern PA already, we are proud to welcome ScottOoOhms Farm & Greenhouse from Sinclairville, NY, Klenz Farm from North East, PA and Partyka Farms from Kendall, NY this homegrown season.
Monthly Natural, Organics and Speciality Foods Magazine
Each month at TOPS, pick up our FREE magazine, where you'll find featured selections and special savings on Natural, Organic and Speciality foods. As your neighborhood store, we are committed to offering a complete mix of natural, organic and mainstream products at affordable prices. TOPS has everything you want to get healthy, stay healthy and live healthy - all in one place.
20-Minute Prescription Promise PLUS! TOPS Will Email You When Your Rx Is Ready!
We've just made our 20-minute prescription promise even more convenient for you! Bring your prescription to your local TOPS Pharmacy or visit TopsMarkets.com and TOPS will email you when your prescription is ready to be picked up!
GasPoints® with Gift Cards
Here's a great idea to help you earn even more TOPS GasPoints® this summer. Buy gift cards at TOPS before you head off to your favorite retailer, restaurant, or movie theater. Then use them just like cash. You'll earn one TOPS GasPoint for every dollar you spend on gift cards at TOPS. The same goes for VISA, American Express, e-tailer gift cards and prepaid phone cards too. Gift cards aren't just for gift giving this summer. At TOPS they're a great way to save on fuel too!
New Restaurant-Quality Flavors for Summer Grilling!
At TOPS, we constantly monitor current food trends and new restaurant-quality flavors. Then we bring those ideas to you so you can prepare the same great tastes at home, like TOPS Fresh Creations. All summer long, TOPS butchers will add your choice of our premium, signature Fresh Creations spices to your fresh meat or seafood selection for FREE! It's our way of saving you prep time in the kitchen and adding new flavors to your summer grilling.
Expanded Selection of Natural & Organic Products
At TOPS, we're continually working with new partners to bring our customers more healthy options. We now offer a much larger variety and expanded selection of natural and organic products, including popular new offerings like Nancy's Organic Yogurts, Charlie's Non-Toxic Good for Mother Earth Cleaners & Soaps, Eat Natural Fruit & Nut Bars and more Gluten Free selections.
Get Rewarded for Reusing!
At TOPS, we know how important it is to reduce, reuse and recycle. Every day our stores collect, bundle and ship our cardboard, plastic bags and packaging materials to recyclers to reduce our landfill footprint. And we encourage you to join us in helping the environment. That's why every time you use a reusable shopping bag at checkout, you're automatically entered for a chance to win a $1,000 TOPS shopping spree! See store or TopsMarkets.com for details.
More Sausage Choices! More Exciting Flavors!
TOPS now carries more than 20 brands and 200+ different varieties of sausage - from traditional pork to chicken and turkey. At TOPS you'll find the best sausage selections, with a huge assortment of breakfast, dinner and smoked sausages. So whether you're looking for national brands or local favorites, TOPS is your store for MORE Sausage Choices!
TOPS Allergy Relief Club
At TOPS, we know that as soon as spring arrives so do your allergies. We also know treating those allergies can be expensive. Introducing TOPS Allergy Relief Club. Now you can earn points toward FREE over the counter allergy medications.
Forget to Bring Your Card? No Problem!
You can now use your phone number at the cash register to receive all the money-saving TOPS BonusPlus® deals and your TOPS GasPoints® when you check out at TOPS. To protect your points, you will still need your TOPS BonusPlus® when you redeem.
TOPS BonusPlus!
Introducing TOPS BonusPlus! Your BonusPlus has been automatically upgraded to give you great pluses like twice as many deals on the brands you love and the items you buy most - over 10,000 deals every week! Plus, look for more great features coming soon.
Mix Six...Create Your Own Six Pack!
Mix and match beer varieties from our single bottle select display to create your own six pack! Simply grab a carrier and combine your favorites or mix things up and try a new brew today!
Get FREE Diapers!
For every $1 you spend with your TOPS BonusPlus® on any brand of diapers, automatically receive 1 diaper point. Collect 100 diaper points and receive a coupon at checkout for $20 Off your next diaper purchase!
Find It First at TOPS!
TOPS shoppers deserve the latest and greatest. That's why we work with our major suppliers and manufacturers to bring the newest products and varieties to our stores. So when a new product hits the market, we make sure it hits TOPS shelves first!
Healthy Baked Cod Dinner
A new addition to our famous fish fry dinners, TOPS introduces our baked cod dinner. Prepared fresh throughout the day, this healthy option includes your choice of sides and cocktail or tartar sauce for just $6.99. Try it tonight!
No more wondering if you took your meds. The RxTimer:Cap remembers for you! The built-in LCD timer automatically counts the minutes and hours since you last took your medication. Ask your TOPS Pharmacist about the RxTimer:Cap today.
Click here to opt in to receive emails from TOPS to get a sneak peek at the TOPS weekly ad, receive exclusive coupon savings and much more!


text:
Family: Amaranthaceae
Giant-Seed Mock Goosefoot, more...mapleleaf goosefoot
[Chenopodium gigantospermum Aellen, moreChenopodium hybridum subsp. gigantospermum (Aellen) Hultén, Chenopodium hybridum var. gigantospermum (Aellen) Rouleau, Chenopodium hybridum var. simplex Torr., Chenopodium simplex (Torr.) Raf.]
Stems erect, branched, 3-15 dm, glabrous. Leaves nonaromatic; petiole 0.15-0.45 cm; blade ovate to triangular, 3.5-15 × 2-9 cm, base cordate to truncate, margins sinuate -dentate with 1-5 coarse, acute teeth, distal leaves entire or with few small teeth, apex acute, glabrous. Inflorescences glomerules in terminal and lateral spikes and panicles, 6-15 cm; glomerules irregularly globose, flowers in different stages of development, 0.5-2 mm diam.; bracts absent. Flowers: perianth segments 5, connate into 0.5 mm tube; lobes ovate to lanceolate, 0.7-1 × 0.4-0.6 mm, apex retuse, slightly keeled, glabrous, margins meeting or separated by as much as their width, exposing more than 1/2 fruit at maturity; stamens 5; stigmas 2, 0.1 mm. Achenes depressed-ovoid; pericarp adherent, chartaceous, smooth. Seeds lenticular, 1.3-1.9 mm diam.; seed coat black, indistinctly honeycombed to nearly smooth, margins rounded. 2n = 18. Fruiting Jul-Oct. Woods, thickets, hardwood slopes, wooded tallus, nutrient-rich woods, sometimes in waste places and fields; 0-1800 m; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., Que., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo. A closely related Eurasian diploid species, Chenopodium hybridum Linnaeus, probably also occurs in North America as introduced. Its occurrence in the New World needs confirmation. Chenopodium simplex differs from its Eurasian counterpart in having a smoother seed coat, a yellowish pericarp that is more adherent to the seed, and a different chromosome number (A. I. Baranov 1964; R. D. Dorn 1988b).
Annual herb 30 cm - 1.5 m tall Stem: upright, branched. Leaves: alternate, stalked, 3.5 - 15 cm long, 2 - 9 cm wide, triangular to egg-shaped with a flat to heart-shaped base and pointed tip, wavy-toothed, with one to five large teeth on each side. Inflorescence: a 0.5 - 2 mm wide, irregularly round cluster of flowers (glomerule), which together form spikes and larger branched inflorescences (panicles) that are 6 - 15 cm long. Flowers: greenish, small, without petals, with five sepals fused into a 0.5 mm long tube. Sepal lobes to 1 mm long, lance-shaped to egg-shaped with a notched apex, slightly keeled. Stamens five. Stigmas two. Fruit: one-seeded (achene), partially enclosed in the persistent, incurved sepals, depressed egg-shaped, thin-walled. Wall (pericarp) adhered to the seed, papery. Seed horizontal, black, shiny, 1 - 2 mm wide, lenticular (lens-shaped), round-margined, obscurely honeycombed to almost smooth.
Similar species: No information at this time.
Flowering: June to mid-September
Habitat and ecology: Widely distributed in the Chicago Region but not abundant as a weed. Often found in disturbed areas where competition has been reduced, such as where logging or fire has recently occurred.
Occurence in the Chicago region: native
Etymology: Chenopodium comes from the Greek words chen, meaning goose, and podion, meaning "little foot," referring to the leaf shape of some species. Simplex means simple or unbranched.
Author: The Morton Arboretum
Erect, bright green annual to 1.5 m; lvs long- petioled, broadly ovate to deltoid, 5-20 cm, acute or acuminate, truncate to rounded or cordate at base, bearing on each side 1-4 large, salient teeth separated by broadly rounded sinuses; infl a loose, sparsely fld, terminal panicle of short, interrupted spikes, the branches often white-mealy; cal sparsely or not at all mealy; seeds horizontal, loosely or tightly enclosed in the readily separable pericarp, shiny-black, obscurely striolate, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, with a bluntly keeled margin; 2n=36. Disturbed ground and moist woods; Que. to Yukon, s. to Va., Ky., Ark., Tex., and Calif. (C. gigantospermum) Closely allied to the European diploid C. hybridum.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam
All specimens from America identified as C. hybridum L. should be referred to this species. Its more or less smooth seed with its relatively easily detachable perianth separates it clearly from the European plant. It occurs in sandy fallow fields, and open or moist woods.
Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = null, non-native
Wetland Indicator Status: UPL
Diagnostic Traits: principal leaf blades truncate to sub-cordate at base, with 1-3 (-4) coarse teeth on each side; fruiting calyx without wings or spines, shorter than the mature fruits; seeds sharply angled.


text:
After the death of their grandfather Johann von Wolfhause, the brothers Jan and Todd Wolfhouse travel to Munich to fulfill a family tradition, spreading the ashes of Johann during the Oktoberfest. Their contact brings them to a secret beer competition, the Beerfest", where they are offended by Baron Wolfgang von Wolfhausen and the German branch of their family that accuse their great-grandmother of being a prostitute and their grandfather of stealing an old recipe of the best beer in Germany. Jan and Todd returns to USA humiliated and decide to organize a beer team to dispute the next Beerfest. They join Landfill, Barry and Fink and train long the year to participate in the competition. When they find the lost recipe hidden in a dummy, they feel that their German relatives told the truth. But the team is ready for the tough dispute.
720p BluRay
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
A Call to Prepare
More Given – More Required
"And that servant, which knew his lord's will,
and prepared not himself,
neither did according to his will,
shall be beaten with many stripes"
A Word to those who feel secure in being part of the remnant. The remnant are they who prepare themselves for the DAY that is upon us. The remnant are they whose obedience is full; for Obedience is the revelation of our submission to Him! God is not interested in what we know or think we know; HE covers those who hide themselves in HIM.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"
2 Corinthians 5:17
The depth of our being in Him is correspondingly expressed by the new life which is exhibited in our daily living*. This is a word to God's people. This is a word concerning today. Somehow we have to come to think that being born again is like a "get out of jail free" card; we no longer have responsibility or accountability for how we live our daily lives. The context of this scripture is one that should cause us to radically consider our ways and our concept of what it means to be His own.
"But and if that servant say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" LUKE 12:45-48
From these very words we can clearly see that HE REQUIRES MORE of His people than of the world. The more we know of HIS Kingdom the more shall be required of us. Greater understanding brings greater accountability. Rather than being puffed up with knowledge we need to be sober and filled with fear and trembling as we walk before Him. The "fear of the Lord is the beginning (chief part) of wisdom". Men who do not fear Him do not know Him. Men who seek and desire preeminent places of standing, who seek recognition and favor from others, know not God. It is a day to walk lowly and humbly before our God. It is a day to prepare ourselves for the fury of that which is about to break forth in our land.
The Greek word used here for prepare** is the same Greek word translated in the Gospels when speaking of John the Baptist's ministration as a fore runner to prepare the way of the Lord. It is a warning to us that we are to be prepared. In the Greek it is an active verb which means it is incumbent upon us to be ACTIVE in the fulfilling of this word. The judgment comes to those who do not PREPARE themselves and they who know and do not are in greater judgment than those who knew not. Let us take heed to this. Let us know that our boldness in the day of Judgment is determined by our likeness to Him.
"Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world"
How we are in this world determines our day of Judgment. The Day of preparation is all about the heart. It is about right motives and intentions; for it is the PURE IN HEART who shall SEE GOD. Our greatest need in this hour is to SEE HIM for that is the only hope we have of becoming like HIM (2 Corinthians 3:18). Malachi prophesying of our day speaks of Him coming to His people as a refiner's fire…
"But who may abide the day of his coming?
and who shall stand when he appeareth?
for he is like a refiner's fire,
and like fullers 'soap: And he shall sit
as a refiner and purifier of silver…"
The DAY of HIS appearing is unfolding before our eyes. The distress of nations is upon us. Fear is beginning to grip men's hearts. The very foundations of society are being removed and men do not know where to put their trust. It is for this Day that the scriptures warn us to be a people who ARE preparing ourselves and are warning those around us as to the day and the hour in which we are living. It is not the Day for business as usual. This is no time for routine Sunday sermons and fire-less prayer meetings; casual Biblical discussions that do not bring conviction, the fear of the Lord and a stirring of the heart unto love and devotion to Jesus.
Many will say in that day "Lord, Lord…" to which Jesus will respond "I never knew you…"
May God stir our hearts afresh to be vigilant and sober that we be not overtaken by the slumber and apathy of this hour.
"Prepare ye the Way of the Lord"
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it"
It is in view of these truths that I am sending this out to anyone anywhere who desires to meet together, seek His face and cry out unto Him for change, purity of heart and to be found completely HID in Him. Many are seeing the apathy all around us but somewhere we MUST come to a new abiding place in Him. A knowing of a fresh new faith which brings His resources to us in order that we may live beyond our own abilities. There is a call going forth to gather ourselves unto Him even as Anna and Simeon who spent their days in prayer for they KNEW HE was coming; and they saw HIM!
God's Word to me the other day…
"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"
Genesis 6:8
This was Noah's portion BEFORE the Flood.
"Come together, make everyone come together, O nation without shame; Before the Lord sends you violently away in flight like the waste from the grain; before the burning wrath of the Lord comes on you, before the day of the Lord's wrath comes on you. Make search for the Lord, all you quiet ones of the earth, who have done what is right in his eyes; make search for righteousness and a quiet heart: it may be that you will be safely covered in the day of the Lord's wrath"
Zephaniah 2:1-3 (BBE)
**NOTE: ἑτοιμάζω
1. To make ready, prepare
2. To make the necessary preparations,
get everything ready
3 Metaphorically drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before Kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable (Isaiah 40:3-4)
To prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings.
BLB Greek Lexicon
Brian Troxel


text:
Announcing Max 6
I want to share some news about the next major Max upgrade, version 6, arriving this fall.
For us, Max 6 is about four things: accessibility, performance, quality, and workflow.
For some of you reading this, getting into Max was no big deal. Maybe you learned it while in school. Maybe it just clicked for you right away. Maybe the purchase was a no-brainer. However, for a lot of people who would love Max, obtaining and learning the software is too much of a challenge, and we're committed to changing that. Max 6 is the next step in our ongoing effort to increase the accessibility of our software. Let me review a few of the things we've already done in this area:
- We offer Max to students for $59 for nine months. Starting this fall, we are extending that to a full 12 months.
- We have an entire team focused entirely on user education and support. I hope you've seen some of their recent efforts including tutorials, how-to videos, and the Vizzie modular video toolkit. You'll see an expansion of user education efforts for Max 6 and beyond.
- Our web site is increasingly devoted to our users, with projects to inspire you and a toolbox of programming resources to help you realize your goals.
- Max for Live, our joint venture with Ableton, has introduced the power of Max to a new audience.
- Last but not least, our Expo '74 conference, taking place this October in Brooklyn, will be a great way to expand your Max knowledge and be inspired by the work of artists from all over the world. And now you know Max 6 will be a major focus!
But we're not stopping there.
- Effective immediately, we're lowering the retail price of Max/MSP/Jitter to $399. We're also lowering the price of some of our upgrade and academic options. And starting today, if you purchase Max 5, you'll get an upgrade to Max 6 for free.
- We're introducing a subscription plan for universities that will make it possible for our academic customers to serve to more students at a lower cost. For more details, click here.
- With Max 6, we'll be supporting a user-driven, machine-assisted cross-platform translation project for both the software and the documentation, so we can better serve the majority of the world's population that doesn't speak English fluently.
Now, I suspect you're curious as to what will be new in the software. Accessibility is a major theme here too. In Max 6, we've focused on improving the experience for both new and accomplished users. When we add a new feature, we think carefully about how you'll learn about it, even if no one tells you it's there. You might have seen our series of Did you Know videos. Even though I think these are great, I would love to get to the point where no one needs to make another one, because Max holds no secrets.
The area of performance is where Max 6 will be truly exciting for a lot of you. The big news is a completely new patching domain, which we refer to as code generation. Code generation technology will be available as an inexpensive add-on to Max 6. It focuses on areas where traditional patching has not been able to deliver the combination of performance and programmability that we wanted, namely DSP and GPU programming. What do we mean by "code generation"? Essentially, we translate the patch you make into text-based source code, and compile it on the spot. With code generation, we can optimize the entire patch, something that's impossible with existing Max-like approaches.
In the DSP realm, our new gen~ object is a new domain of low-level signal processing operators that let you build recursive filters, delays, spectral processors, and sound generators, all using 64-bit floating-point internal precision. Not only do these things sound great, but the performance gains over equivalent Max patches are simply stunning. Where you could actually implement the same algorithm with MSP objects, a gen~ version will be up to 15 times faster. And in many cases, there is simply no way to implement the same kinds of DSP algorithms with MSP objects, you'd have to write C code. Not only is gen~ cross-platform, unlike C code, but in our tests, gen~ operators are nearly as fast as equivalent MSP objects written in C.
The code generation approach is equally suited to GPU programming for Jitter. For several years, we've offered the ability to write your own shader programs in Jitter for high-performance pixel processing, but text-based shader languages are not easy to learn and never felt completely integrated within the Max environment. Now you'll be able to create high-performance image processing algorithms graphically, and our code generation technology will write the shader program for you. But the power of code generation extends beyond processing images -- you can also use it to generate materials for shading interactive 3-D objects. In this application, the code generation technology is automatic -- you just specify the parameters of the materials and we generate the shader program.
There's much more to say about code generation, but at this point all I want to say is this: stay tuned -- we'll be showing you much more in the coming weeks.
Code generation hasn't been our only performance focus. Another major area has been Javascript, where we've integrated the latest Mozilla runtime engine for significant performance gains. We've also exposed an efficient new 2D graphics API in Javascript that can be used to port existing HTML5 Canvas code to Max. We now run the audio of every top-level patcher in its own thread for effortless multicore processing. Performance improvements have taken place in many other areas as well.
Another focus of Max 6 has been quality. We think of quality in two ways: first, the quality of the output and second, the quality of the experience you have while using the software. In the former category, we put a major focus on audio quality in Max 6. The cycle~ object now uses a 16K wavetable for far better signal-to-noise performance. You'll be able to use any sampling rate you wish, thanks to high-quality resampling filters. And, to eliminate errors with large numbers, long envelopes, and recursive algorithms, MSP processes all audio with 64-bit precision. Older 32-bit third-party objects are still compatible however.
And those resampling filters I mentioned? We used MSP to develop them, using a suite of new filter design and audio analysis tools.
Beyond looking at audio quality, we wanted to help make your time with Max more enjoyable. To do this means paying attention to every detail. I think you'll generally see more clarity and refinement in the interface. For example, we've introduced curved patch cords, which make an unexpectedly dramatic improvement in understanding how a patch works.
One feature I'm particularly fond of improves the experience of editing an audio patch with the audio turned on. Whenever you make a change to your patch, we intelligently crossfade between the old and new versions, so you never hear a gap in the output. And if you have other top-level patchers playing audio, they're completely unaffected by your edits. This is just one of the benefits of our new audio mixing engine. Another is that every audio patcher has controls in the toolbar for muting or adjusting gain without the need to add any objects.
In the Jitter domain, quality means the ability to achieve visual complexity more easily. One way you can do that is with the new materials system -- an advanced toolset for high quality rendering of 3-D objects. Other ways we hope to enrich your Jitter work is though better support for 3-D model and animation files, better support for cameras and lighting, a new physics engine, and hierarchical animation and rendering tools.
As part of the Max 6 development process, we've observed and interviewed users, from those who've never seen the software before to those who've been using it for decades. On the basis of these studies, we identified areas for improving patching workflow and usability, and you'll see the results vividly in Max 6. Just to focus on one area: The act of making a new object has been dramatically enhanced, with access to documentation at every step of the process. It begins with the object box, which now offers you a way to make objects even if you can't remember their names. Then there's the message box, which tells you about the messages understood by nearby objects as you begin typing. Arguments and attributes of objects and messages are also displayed as you type.
A new object called attrui integrates attribute monitoring and editing, eliminating the need for a lot of patching. Attrui knows the best way to edit any object attribute. For example, if you want to change a color, attrui lets you edit it as a color, not four numbers.
We've also reorganized Max 6 to show the most common information first. Every help file now has a simplified initial presentation of the five or so most basic things you need to know. Advanced features are shown in a tabbed interface grouped by functional area. We've done the same with our redesigned inspector and object palette.
A common request from educators and more experienced users was the ability to manage patches that encompassed many files. Max 6 has a new Project feature, where you can see all the patchers, code, and media files you're using. Projects enable you to maintain multiple versions of files as well as archive and share your work more easily.
The Path to Max 6
Over the next few weeks, we'll be telling you more about Max 6. I promise, I've only scratched the surface of what we're up to. If you'd like to be notified when we release new information about the software, keep your eye on our website, Facebook, and Twitter.
One of the things that really inspires me is when I get a new piece of software that is both cheaper than what I've been using and better in every conceivable way. My co-workers and I are driven to do that with Max. You'll ultimately be the judge of whether we've succeeded with this new version, but now you know what we're trying to achieve. Our friends in the Max community creating extraordinary work deserve nothing less.
by David Zicarelli on
Jul 12, 2011 6:35 PM


text:
Scharnhorst and Professional Mastery
To me, being 'professional' has meant striving for excellence at my everyday job. Until I attended Command and Staff Course at the Australian War College last year, I did not appreciate that being good at my job was not the same as being a military professional. The course broadened my understanding; being a professional requires one to embrace continual learning in all aspects of the profession. I became conscious that through professional mastery, individuals, even those in junior roles, can influence organisational outcomes beyond their job.
Changes in warfare in the 16th and 17th centuries - a 'military revolution'?
The 16th and 17th century was a period of significant change in the character of war. The drivers accounting for these changes were not all based in military reforms, despite Western Europe being engaged almost continuously in war. While tactical applications is interesting, it was the beginnings of some profound changes in the development of warfare; the professional military, the standing army, scale of warfare and subsequent emergence of the state (Crown) owning the monopoly on violence and the arrival of proper naval forces.
Lessons for Military Planning in 21st Century Warfare


text:
"It was a pretty weird night, a very sad occasion, I must say.
It came to the point where I sang 'Yellow Brick Road' and I
thought, 'I don't have to sing this anymore,' and it made me quite
happy inside." He sighed and ran a finger along the coffee table
edge. "Yeah, it could be the last gig forever. I'm definitely not
retiring but I want to put my energies elsewhere for a
while. Y'know, I feel really strange at this particular point in
time, I always do things by instinct and I just know it's time to
cool it; I mean, who wants to be a 45-year-old entertainer in Las
Vegas like Elvis?"
Five days earlier, Elton had taken over the DJ's chair at a
radio station here to blast critics for reviews that quibbled with
his popularity and lack of musical significance. He attacked John
Rockwell of the New York Times with special relish, on-air
calling him an "asshole." And what had set him off that day?
"One glass of Dom Perignon. I was drunk and feeling goosey. I
just thought, 'Oh Christ, what an outrage.'" He shot an unsure
glance my way, then returned his eyes to the coffee table. "Really
took over, didn't I? Don't remember half the things I said. I doubt
if John Rockwell was even at the concert. It was the most piss
elegant review I've ever seen: 'Performers come and go but
we rock critics who have to deal with them . . .' I
thought, 'Who the fuck is John Rockwell!'"
Everyone said how shy Elton would be. But, always the consummate
recording expert, he played my tape machine on the table so that
later the playback was warm, lively, fun. No hint on it that Elton
barely stirred from his spot on the sofa, or rarely looked this
way. It is some flip side of his personality that gets him to
boogieing atop white pianos in spangles and feathers.
But by the time two Perrier waters were delivered to us, the
talk had loosened up -- considerably. We ranged freely over
sensitive matters, loss of privacy, his sex life, love frustrations
and the paradoxical kind of isolation felt by very popular
What do you do hiding here in a hotel suite all these
"Dusting, Hoovering, polishing . . . ha ha. [Elton has a
ready chuckle.] Naw. I go to bed after a show. I'm not one to
go clubbing. I used to but I'm too tired now and usually just play
records or watch TV. I went dancing one night at 12 West [a
downtown members-only gay disco] and that was great fun. Everyone
left me alone. They were so into their disco records and passing
their poppers. If the Queen of England had been standing in the
middle of the floor with a tiara on her head, nobody would have
paid any attention."
Is the band breaking up?
"The split is completely amicable. [Sigh, finger along the
table again] It's silly keeping them under contract for a
year, because, ah, I might never work again. On the other hand I
might, but I don't want them hanging on, or any restrictions around
my neck. I can foresee when I come back, we'll get together again.
But now they'll all be going off doing their own thing, forming
their . . . I don't know what they'll be doing. But I'm sure they
won't be inactive."
Neither will he. After a dignified solo piano concert ("possibly
in tails") at the Edinburgh Cultural Festival September 17th, he
says, he will resettle his house in Windsor, near London, and get
down to a full plate. As he polishes off Blue Moves, a
double album for November release, he will produce an album for
Kiki Dee. He and lyricist Bernie Taupin are putting together a
full-length cartoon feature of their autobiographical Captain
Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, and there is talk of his
playing the title role in a projected film version of
Candide, the recent Broadway musical. And he will be
looking after the Watford Hornets Soccer Club of which he is a fan
and the proud director.
I remind him that five years ago he said nobody stays on top
more than three years, and that he planned to quit working hard
while he was ahead.
Are you at that point?
"Yes, there has been a peaking. Every artist comes to the same
crossroads and they either cross it or they don't, and if they do
they're going to come to another crossroads. I'm at that second one
as far as recordings go, and hopefully I can cross it with Blue
Moves. It's got a few surprises. Melodically I attribute it to
the Elton John album. Lots of slow, romantic songs and
jazzy-type things in there. Three instrumentals. But who knows, I'm
not worried. That's the fun of it."
Have you included disco pop like "Don't Go Breaking My
"No, no way. That's a complete one-off single. I was messing
around in the studio one day on the electric piano and came up with
the title line. I made a hasty phone call to Barbados and said,
'Write a duet,' and Taupin nearly died 'cause he'd never done one.
It's very hard anyway."
Bernie and Elton wrote the current Number One single under the
names "Ann Orson" and "Carte Blanche," with Elton for the first
time doing part of the lyrics.
"I'd like to branch out into words. I never had the emotion in
me to get it to sound right, but I think it's beginning to come. I
used to be terribly 'moon' and 'June.' I've encouraged Bernie to
work with other composers too, why not?"
There was a decline in sales of his last two albums. Elton, the
marketing man: "Fantastic did about 2.8 million [units
sold]. Rock of the Westies about 1.9 million. Here and
There, the live album -- a total fuckin' disaster -- was to
finish off a contract and it's done better than it deserved to, oh,
about 860,000 copies. I think a lot of people liked the old band --
Nigel and Dee really had their fans -- but I don't regret
Westies one instant. Fantastic was an easy thing
to market and was selling well. Westies came out very soon
afterward; but I knew I was taking a bit of a gamble and it was
like, oh, here comes another Elton John album!
[laughs] So soon. A lot of critics said it didn't have
much depth to it and probably it doesn't have much depth
to it. I kinda like it. Greatest Hits is on the charts
still. I think it's 5 million copies now.
"'Bennie and the Jets' did about 2.8 million, and there's very
few singles selling 2 million. 'Philadelphia Freedom' did 1.7, I
think. Those two crossed over R&B . . ."
Talk of album grosses gives me a sense of deja vu -- it's
something to do with this room we're sitting in. What is it? Elton
is hunched forward, elbows to knees, feeling much better now,
talking into the mike as funny little likenesses of his face watch
us from a dozen gewgaws around the room. They are handmade gifts
sent by fans, propped up on the mantle and tabletops: Elton smiling
in oil and in tempera, Elton singing in Crayola and needlepoint,
Elton carved in -- then it comes to me. I'd been here in Suite 1005
before, a few times during the period David Bowie came to America
for his Diamond Dogs tour and camped out in these six
rooms leased by MainMan, his production company, for one year at
MainMan's mysterious chairman, Tony De Fries (whom Bowie later
broke with amid injunctions and lawsuits), liked to sit at the
windows on Fifth Avenue, enthroned behind a fake Louis XIV table,
phoning transatlantic and spouting his grosses. Cherry Vanilla, the
porn poetess, liked the floor by the fireplace. Mick Jagger
supposedly liked the Plaza across the street but he and Bowie sat
where Elton now sits and giggled about him, about "Fat Reg," the
session musician they knew of from the early days in London.
Currently, Bowie appears to be trying to start up a feud in
Playboy, admitting in an interview that he had referred to
Elton as "the Liberace, the token queen of rock." Says Bowie, "I
consider myself responsible for a whole new school of pretensions
-- they know who they are. Don't you, Elton?"
Elton: "He was obviously a little high when he did it. David's
one of those people of the moment. I mean, what is the fashion this
week? What's it going to be next week? His insults to me go by the
board. I think he's a silly boy."
What's a "new school of pretensions"?
"I've no idea. God, I mean, I happened before he ever happened.
Bowie's a little crazed, I think. I didn't understand half of the
things he came out with. Heavy things about 'the rock scene,'
y'know? Boring shit.
"I first met David when I took him out to dinner when he was
Ziggy Stardust. We had a nice time, y'know? He was with Angie and I
was with Tony King, who's now with Rocket Records. And all I
remember is his horrible manager walking in with half the cast of
Jesus Christ Superstar and they all had dinner and left me
to pay the bill. I had the feeling then that David was in for a
hard time. [Meaningful glance]
"The only other time we met was at Dino Martin's party when I
was with John Lennon and David was so stoned that I don't think he
remembers. He was out of it completely. I don't think I've seen him
since. We really can't say we have a feud going, although he
obviously doesn't like me very much. I'm not being bitchy, I just
think . . ."
A stout chambermaid had come silently into the room and stood
over the coffee table, taking her time buffing empty ashtrays.
Noticing this, Elton stopped in midsentence and grinned, then
cocked his head in a way that said, "Get her? Eavesdropping on el
rock & roll star, eh?"
Elton, I hear you can't get any peace or privacy in
New York anymore . . . (The buffing stopped.)
"Yeah, that's part of the reason I'm getting out. I mean
stopping concerts for a while. I'm getting so cheesed off.
[Exit maid. We laugh.] A couple of years ago I could deal
with three or four fans outside the hotel and walk off down
Lexington Avenue. Now it's impossible. I can't cope. I don't want
to end up my life like Elvis. I want to be somebody who's active
and involved with people and that means going outside. I've been
stuck in this hotel for two weeks and it's driving me cra-zee. I
even tried disguises but I have one of those faces and it just
doesn't work. I went to an amusement park on the tour and fifteen
people surrounded me for protection. I felt like the Pope."
Were you really slammed against the wall at a Shirley
MacLaine concert?
"No, that happened when Divine took me to Crisco Disco.
[Divine is the name of a well-fed drag queen who acts in
underground films and Crisco Disco is a Manhattan gay bar, so named
for the frying oil which is also a popular sexual lubricant.]
We went in and they looked at us. [He demonstrates with his
open-mouth trademark leer.] Everyone in New York wears jeans
or fatigues and I had one a striped jacket and the guys said, 'What
the fuck is this, Halloween?' We couldn't get in so I was a bit
high and really pissed off, and I threw an ashtray. Anyway it was
printed in the London Daily Mail that I was pushed against
a wall and got beaten up and caused a fuss. But at the Shirley
MacLaine concert, photographers knocked over an old lady and trod
on her to get to me. I'm really, really cheesed off at all this.
People say, 'Well, fucking hell, he created the problem himself,
didn't he?' Yes, I did because I was too silly not to see it would
get to these proportions. I mean, I never wanted to do this in the
first place. I only wanted to be a songwriter . . ."
He leaned back in the sofa for a moment, studying me with his
big, shortsighted eyes. There are certain questions I'd promised
myself I'd ask.
Can we get personal? Should we turn off the tape?
"Keep going . . ."
What about Elton when he comes home at night? Does he have
love and affection?
"Not really. I go home and fall in love with my vinyl . . . I
suppose I have a certain amount of love and affection as far as
'affection' goes. From friends and stuff. My sexual life? Um, I
haven't met anybody I would like to have any big scenes with. It's
strange that I haven't. I know everyone should have a certain
amount of sex, and I do, but that's it, and I desperately would
like to have an affair. I crave to be loved. That's the part of my
life I want to have come together in the next two or three years
and it's partly why I'm quitting the road. My life in the last six
years has been a Disney film and now I have to have a
person in my life. I have to -- Let me be brutally honest
about myself. I get depressed easily. Very bad moods. I don't think
anyone knows the real me. I don't even think I do.
"I don't know what I want to be exactly. I'm just going through
a stage where any sign of affection would be welcome on a
sexual level. I'd rather fall in love with a woman eventually
because I think a woman probably lasts much longer than a man. But
I really don't know. I've never talked about this before. Ha, ha.
But I'm not going to turn off the tape. I haven't met anybody that
I would like to settle down with -- of either sex."
You're bisexual?
"There's nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your
own sex. I think everybody's bisexual to a certain degree. I don't
think it's just me. It's not a bad thing to be. I think you're
bisexual. I think everybody is."
You haven't said it in print before.
"Probably not. [Laughs] It's going to be terrible with
my football club. It's so hetero, it's unbelievable. But I
mean, who cares! I just think people should be very free with sex
-- they should draw the line at goats. Shirley MacLaine said the
right thing to Tom Snyder on TV. She said, 'Oh c'mon, Tom. Let's
stop al this stupid macho business. It really is a bit passe now.'
And he didn't know what to say to that. Shirley's got the right
A TV set by the fireplace has been on all afternoon, with the
sound off. Betty Ford and Tony Orlando are doing the Bump.
"Extraordinary," Elton says.
Elton was speaking cheerfully, no hesitating, as if it's al
finally a relief.
Was the first experience a man or a woman?
"Um, when I was twenty-one, with a woman. The famous one."
"The famous woman . . ."
Oh, the "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" woman. And how soon
after that the first man?
"Um. The famous woman frightened me off sex or so long that I
don't remember really. I think it was probably a good year or
People have speculated that Elton and Bernie Taupin had been
"No, absolutely not. Everybody thinks we were, but if we had
been, I don't think we would have lasted for so long. We're more
like brothers than anything else. The press probably thought John
Reid [his manager] and I were an affair, but there's never been a
serious person the whole time. Nobody really. And it's very
dangerous to have relationships within the circle you work in. It's
too close for comfort. Bernie's whole situation is up in the air as
A lot of readers will go, Wow.
"Well, I don't think so, there shouldn't be too much reaction
but you probably know those things better than me. Nobody's had the
balls to ask me about it before. I would have said something all
along if someone had asked me, but I'm not going to come out and
say something just to be -- I do think my personal life should be
personal. I don't want to shove it over the front pages like some
people I could mention. To be on the front of newspapers with my
tongue down somebody's throat. That's really appalling. I'd like to
have some children, but I don't know if the time is right.
I just want to settle down and sort of be lazy for a while. There
are a couple people back in England. I do have a crush on somebody
but I can't say who it is, somebody I met two or three times who is
American. Yes, I think she told me that she's American. She has
children but I go for older women. Listen, Miss MacLaine would do
me fine but she's already happily set up."
Tinkly sounds of a pinball machine, that started a minute ago
from the dining room, stop now. John Reid, Elton's manager, puts
his head in the door. "When you're ready . . .," he says
"Awright," says Elton in a Bugs Bunny falsetto. Sighing and
removing his glasses, he rubs his weary eyes and then, for the
first time, turns to level them squarely on his visitor. Without
glasses, they're blue.
"But getting back to this personal thing of meeting someone --
as soon as someone tries to find out about me or tries to get to
know me, I turn off. I'm afraid of getting hurt. I was hurt so much
as a kid. I'm afraid of plunging into something that's going to
fuck me up.
"It's reached a point in my life when I get to my house and my
animals that I think, 'Who am I going to . . .?' I'm certainly not
going to bed with my horse! Ha, ha. And I think, Christ, I
wish I had somebody to share all this with . . ."