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- Common Name:
- Fennec Fox
- Scientific Name:
- Vulpes zerda
- Type:
- Mammals
- Diet:
- Omnivore
- Size:
- Head and body: 9.5 to 16 inches; tail: 7 to 12.2 inches
- Weight:
- 2.2 to 3.3 pounds
- IUCN Red List Status:
- Least concern
- Current Population Trend:
- Stable
The fennec fox is the smallest of all the world's foxes, but its large ears, measuring 6 inches, appear to be on loan from a bigger relative.
Desert Adaptations
Fennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and elsewhere in North Africa. Their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing heat of the desert environment, and some physical adaptations help as well.
Their distinctive, batlike ears radiate body heat and help keep the foxes cool. They also have long, thick hair that insulates them during cold nights and protects them from hot sun during the day. Even the fox's feet are hairy, which helps them perform like snowshoes and protects them from extremely hot sand. The fox's feet are also effective shovels for frequent digging—fennec foxes live in underground dens.
Diet and Behavior
These foxes dwell in small communities, each inhabited by perhaps ten individuals. Like other canids, male fennecs mark their territory with urine and become aggressive competitors when mating season arrives each year.
Fennec foxes are opportunistic eaters. They forage for plants but also eat rodents, eggs, reptiles, and insects. Like most desert dwellers, the fennec fox has developed the ability to go for long periods without water.
These foxes are cream-colored with black-tipped tails. Their adorable appearance makes them favorites of the captive pet trade, and local peoples also hunt the fennec fox for its fur. Little is known about the status of wild fennec fox populations.


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The Spoked-B on those Bruins sweaters last night might as well have stood for bullies because it was clear from the drop of the puck that the Bruins planned to begin their Stanley Cup title defense by dropping the Capitals early and often.
This was a game of two teams with distinctly different styles. It was force (Bruins) vs. finesse (Capitals). The Bruins imposed both their will and their game on the Washington Capitals last night at TD Garden, outlasting Alexander Ovechkin and Caps kid goalie Braden Holtby to score a 1-0 overtime win and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.
Yes, these aren't your older brother's Capitals. They've abandoned their ping-pong style of hockey and no longer act like they're fatally allergic to defense. They play a more measured, responsible game.
But the Bruins clearly felt that they could push Washington around a bit and wasted no time doing so, setting the tone for the game and the series. A game that was short on goals was not on physical contact. The Bruins served Washington a heaping helping of bangers and mash, and I'm not talking about the traditional English dish.
"We don't want to let them play their fancy hockey and their skill game," said Bruins forward Brad Marchand. "We want to focus on playing physical and keeping it simple and playing hard and being tough to play against. We did a pretty good job of that tonight. It's only one game. There is still a lot of time left."
The Black and Gold's Big Bang theory worked on night one.
Boston made its presence felt early with some big hits, and defenseman Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg made a point of knocking around Ovechkin to try to knock him off his game. To his credit, Ovechkin seemed like one of a few Capitals willing to consistently engage in the physical stuff with the bruising Bruins. Most of his teammates were looking for salvation in form of the referee's whistle.
The Russian goal machine gave as good as he got and had a building-shaking collision with Seidenberg in front of the benches in the second period that sent both men tumbling to the ice.
Ovechkin registered a game-high seven hits, but just one shot on goal, a power play laser that Tim Thomas turned aside in the third period. Even with Ovechkin playing a physical game, the Bruins exceeded the Capitals hit count, 40-29.
The Bruins will be more than happy to have nights like last night where Ovechkin, who even in a down year finished fifth in the NHL in goals scored, takes more shots at Chara and Seidenberg than he puts on Thomas.
"That's what it's about -- trying to shut him down because he is their biggest offensive threat," said Seidenberg. "We just got to play tough and try to disrupt his speed and time ... He likes to play a physical game. We do too. It's fun. I think we all like it out there. It's been fair."
This is what the Bruins do. They did it to Vancouver last year. They intimidate and instigate and aggravate. They force teams to fight for every inch of ice. They tilt the rink to their favor and their terms. Finesse teams like the Canucks and Capitals can either whine to the media and the officials or fight through it and try to hurt the Bruins where it counts -- on the scoreboard. Of course, that is easier said than done with the Bruins' commitment to defensive responsibility and a tuned-in Thomas in net.
The Bruins, who tied for second in the NHL this season in goals scored with 260, have enough skill to compete with Washington in a more wide-open game, but to do so would allow the Capitals to get comfortable.
Instead, the Bruins instituted Capitals punishment all night and took Washington out of its comfort zone in Game 1, locking it into a pucks tractor-pull that wasn't decided until Chris Kelly blasted a slapper past Holtby at 1:18 of overtime, the goal set up by a well-executed Bruins' counter-attack.
Don't let the score fool you. The Bruins dominated this game for long stretches. They outshot the Capitals by a 17-2 count in the second period and after two periods the shots totals stood at a lopsided 26 for Boston to just 7 for Washington. Holtby, making his first career playoff start, was keeping the Bruins at bay with a stream of steady, if unspectacular, stops.
If the Bruins' power play hadn't resorted to its feckless playoff form (0-4) then perhaps additional time wouldn't have been needed at all. Coach Claude Julien admitted after the game that if the Bruins had lost the talk of the evening would have been a power play that failed to convert on a four-minute man advantage and a 4-on-3.
That could come back to haunt the Bruins in series where they're playing against Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and offensive-minded defenseman Mike Green.
The Bruins sent a message to the Capitals in Game 1 about what kind of series this is going to be. It's the type that Capitals coach Dale Hunter would have embraced during his rough and tumble playing days. Whether his team is built for that type of hockey remains to be seen.
We already know it's tailor-made for boys in the Spoked-B sweaters.
"They have a ton of skill, and a way to kind of slow them down is to be physical, and we have a physical team," said Marchand. "When we're playing that way we're playing our best hockey. It was just something we wanted to establish early and just continue to build off it."
The Bruins have established their tactics in this series -- hit 'em hard and hit 'em often. They delivered the blows, including the decisive one in Game 1, now we'll see in Game 2 Saturday afternoon at TD Garden what the Capitals have planned for a counterpunch.

subset: commoncrawl


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A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that in every state in the country, the bottom 20% of households pay more of their income in state and local taxes than does the top 1%. Washington state was the worst, where the bottom 20% pay a whopping 17.3% of their income in state and local taxes. This was followed by Florida at 13.5% and Illinois at 13.0%. Though the report hints at an exception, a reading of their appendix shows that the only one is the District of Columbia.
As the report points out, such high taxation increases the burden of poverty on the people who, by definition, can least afford it. Moreover, this runs counter to the federal tax system, which in its overall effect (see table below) is progressive. On average, the top 1% pay federal taxes equal to 30% of their income, compared to 1.1% for the lowest 20%.
Source: Tax Policy Center
Between these two reports, we can see that the bottom 20% of taxpayers pays a much higher portion of their income in state and local taxes than they do in federal taxes. ITEP therefore recommends four major policies to make state and local taxation less regressive.
1) Enact a refundable earned income tax credit for state income tax;
2) Enact property tax circuit-breaker caps for all low-income taxpayers, including renters;
3) Enact other refundable income tax credits for childless households below the poverty level;
4) Enact or increase child tax credits, and make them refundable.
Of course, it should go without needing to be said, but to make federal tax more progressive (think of Mitt Romney and his tax rate below the average 15.1% paid by those in the third income quintile), we should tax capital gains and carried interest the same as ordinary income.
I grew up in a middle-class family, the first to go to college full-time and the first to earn a Ph.D. The economic policies of the last 40 years have reduced the middle class's security, and this blog is a small contribution to reversing that.
Comments Guidelines
All comments are pre-moderated. No spam, slurs, personal attacks, or foul language will be allowed.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Every State's State/Local Tax System Taxes the Poor More than the Wealthy--And All Exceed Federal Taxes
Posted by Kenneth Thomas at 9:10:00 PM
Labels: inequality, taxation
2 comments:
- Paul Day-LucoreSeptember 26, 2012 at 12:38 AM
You get the feeling that the upper 1% and the large companies they run don't really "have any skin in the game" of state governments.ReplyDeleteReplies
That's a good way of putting it!Delete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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EarthLink To Announce First Quarter 2013 Earnings
11 Apr, 2013, 09:08 ET
ATLANTA, April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK) today announced it will host a conference call on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2013 financial results. Leading the call will be EarthLink's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rolla P. Huff and Chief Financial Officer Bradley A. Ferguson. EarthLink plans to issue its earnings press release at 7:00 a.m. ET on May 2.
Conference Call Details
Dial-in Number: 800-706-0730
Participants should reference the conference ID number 33812687 or "EarthLink's 1st Quarter 2013 Conference Call" and dial in 10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.
A live Webcast of the conference call will be available at: http://ir.earthlink.net/index.cfm
Replay available from 11:30 a.m. ET on May 2 through 12:00 midnight on May 9, 2013. Dial toll-free 855-859-2056. The replay confirmation code is 33812687.
The Webcast will be archived on the company's website at: http://ir.earthlink.net/events.cfm
About EarthLink
EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK) is a leading IT services and communications provider to more than 150,000 businesses and one million consumers nationwide. EarthLink empowers customers with managed services including cloud computing, managed and private cloud, and virtualization services such as managed hosting and cloud workspace. EarthLink also offers a robust portfolio of IT security, application hosting, colocation and IT support services. The company operates an extensive network spanning 28,800 route fiber miles with 90 metro fiber rings and 4 secure data centers providing ubiquitous nationwide data and voice IP service coverage across more than 90 percent of the country. Founded in 1994, EarthLink's award-winning reputation for outstanding service and product innovation is supported by an experienced team of professionals focused on best-in-class customer care. For more information, visit EarthLink's website at www.earthlink.net.
SOURCE EarthLink, Inc.


text:
|XP is just a number
Re: A puzzled garbage character issues by use Perl-DBIby afoken (Chancellor)
|on Jun 17, 2009 at 12:18 UTC ( #772361=note: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
If you mean Unicode with "Asian character", make sure every component knows that you are using Unicode. Perl should set the utf8-Flag on all strings containing Unicode, the DBI driver should know that your data may contain Unicode both while storing and while fetching, and your database should know that as well.
The Unicode setup of the database is very different from RDBMS to RDBMS. Oracle and PostgreSQL store Unicode in any CHAR or VARCHAR/VARCHAR2, MS SQL Server needs NVARCHAR or NCHAR instead of VARCHAR or CHAR, and MySQL -- I don't know. I prefer RDBMSes with less surprises.
See also the tests t/40UnicodeRoundTrip.t and t/41Unicode.t in DBD::ODBC
Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)
In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom


text:
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
G+ Dwimmermount This Week
If you're a backer who's interested, can make the times, and has access to G+, make a comment below and I'll randomly determine several of you to fill the available slots. I'll let everyone know the results of the random rolls by Thursday evening, which will give us plenty of time to make changes, in case something comes up for anyone between then and the time of the game. Last week, things were a little chaotic and I had to scramble to choose some new players in time to get moving by 9pm.
21 comments:
Is there a chance any of these sessions will be run on a day other than Friday?ReplyDelete
9 pm EST, so 10 pm EDT? I can make that if I leave MMA on time. :)ReplyDelete
Please put me in for a slot! If you choose me, let me know if I need to roll up my own PC or if you'll provide one.Replies
- AnonymousMarch 13, 2012 at 10:36 PM
Excellent question - as an Aussie I'm not sure of the protocol - does "EST" refer to what a clock on the wall in New York says right now (i.e. EDT) or whether it specifically does not include daylight savings (what I think EST means). James, could you please elaborate?Delete
Yes, definitely. Friday is easiest for me, given my own schedule, but I have plans to run some on days other than Friday -- just not this week.ReplyDelete
I, too, would like to play.ReplyDelete
Definitely interested!ReplyDelete
Wouldn't mind lurking, but I'd watch a recording with equal happiness. This will teach me more about on-line play techniques. If you want to reserve the slots for players, no worries.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 13, 2012 at 10:37 PM
I would love to play. I'm a backer - Dallas Mc.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 13, 2012 at 10:47 PM
I would also like to play if possible. (Backer name is Steve Bode)ReplyDelete
Throw me in the pool!ReplyDelete
I would love to play. -Roger BrasslettReplyDelete
I'd love to play as well. -TaarkothReplyDelete
I'll throw my name into the hat. By the sounds of it it'll be starting at 9-10am Saturday morning from my timezone :D Name - John Da Silva PolaReplyDelete
I just signed up on the kickstarter, I could play if you needed alternates, but I can't guarantee I'd be there... but if you're allowing spectators I'd be grateful if there was an open invite.ReplyDelete
Consider me a candidate for play. However, I've never played a version of D&D that was released before 1995. If selected, should I hunt down the LL rules and have a character rolled up and waiting?ReplyDelete
I live in France. Any chance that some sessions will be set up in the late morning / early afternoon time frame?ReplyDelete
I would love to play again, but would also like others to get a chance. Please consider me as an "alternate."ReplyDelete
Regarding the EST vs. EDT. I suspect James means 9PM EDT, or 9PM Eastern as we Easterners sometimes say.Replies
Well if that's true, I can't play after all. Bummer.Delete
Yes, "EST" is "Eastern Standard Time." I'd forgotten that we're on Daylight Saving Time already. Bah.Delete
I'm still confused! :)Delete
I'll take it to me that you mean 9 pm EDT, clock-on-the-wall time. I can't make that and therefore I withdraw my application to play.


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Final Fantasy XIV Community Team member Fernehalwes has just posted a mini-tour of the developers' meeting room in Tokyo. Check out the pictures below to see their workplace and an exceptional view of the city!
Discuss this in the ZAM Forums!
Good afternoon! Fernehalwes here in one of the FINAL FANTASY XIV meeting rooms, taking a break after a long session with the P about cutscene dialogue windows, angry treants, and homemade hot-sauce.
And, well, all that constructive dialogue got me wondering: do we have meetings because we are busy, or are we busy because we have meetings? The answer to this question may elude us for eternity, but with a view like this......wait, what was it I was talking about again?
Ah right! The walls! It's difficult to tell from the picture above, but almost every single wall in the team's workspace, including those in the meeting rooms, are dry-erase whiteboards, so people can jot down ideas anywhere and everywhere they like--a kindergartner's dream realized by middle-aged game creators, who, when you think about it, are all still kids at heart.
Albeit some mind-boggingly talented kids...
Note: This is a work in progress, and by the evening will probably have Dragon Quest slimes, ascii cats, and piles of doggie doo scribbled all over it.


text:
Keeps Out Dirt Dust Liquids and Contaminants, Keyboard Not Included.
Helps to inhibit the ability of microbes to grow and spread on the surface of keyboards.
Protect and prolong the life of your Viziflex keyboard against microbes and bacteria, Dirt dust liquids and contaminants can ruin a computer keyboard in seconds.
Viziflex Seels keyboard covers prevent this potentially damaging situation by protecting your keyboard while you type.
Molded to fit precisely over the keyboard they provide reliable protection all day long without interfering with keyboard operation.
The non glare matte finish gives clear visibility of all keyboard markings.
Made of a durable flexible and strong polyurethane material that is not an issue for Latex sensitive people.
Makes it easier to wipe down your keyboard keeping surfaces clean and germ free and preventing the spread of bacteria.
Easy to install with self adhesive tabs that attach to the bottom of the keyboard
Note Keyboard not included.
International Keyboards,Gamers, Shortcut Editing, Wireless Bluetooth Keyboards, Large Print, Computer Mice, Computer Keyboard Covers,
Computer Accessories & Peripherals, Computers & Accessories, Protect Computer Products, Custom Keyboard Covers
AramediA On Social Media


text:
This was clearly a pretty important game for the Lakers. They played with a lot of intensity and urgency. Unfortunately many of the ills that befell them thus far this season reared their head again—turnovers, missed foul shots and poor late game execution.
Last night was another game where the Lakers couldn't hit the big shot when they needed to down the stretch. Danny Green stepped up and hit a big three to put the Spurs up by 2. The best the Lakers could do on the other end was a desperation Gasol three. Granted the Spurs did a great job locking down the passing lanes and not really giving Gasol an option, but the execution was poor. The desperation three was something you'd expect from a young team, not the most veteran team in the league.
Offensively the Lakers lack of a perimeter game allowed the Spurs to double Howard in the paint. The Spurs pressure forced Howard into six turnovers and several other wasted possessions where the Lakers threw up less than an ideal shot. You have to wonder how healthy Howard is at this point. He's clearly not playing up to his standard defensively and doesn't have the explosiveness yet. Until the Lakers prove they can consistently hit a jump shot teams are going to continue to double-team Howard, forcing him to do a lot of work inside and probably not the best for his recovery from surgery. If he has to expend so much energy on the offensive end how will his defense not suffer?
The Lakers lack of bench was again a factor in the sheer number of minutes the top unit played. The foursome of Gasol, Howard, Bryant and World Peace averaged 38 minutes between them with Howard playing 41 minutes. Contrast this to the Spurs starting five who averaged just 31 minutes. Whether it's Bernie Bickerstaff or Mike Brown there's simply no confidence in the Lakers bench players. With Mike D'Antoni and his high-octane offense coming in its questionable how five players over thirty-two years old will hold up over the long run.
Bickerstaff only went nine deep in the rotation with three of those bench players (Chris Duhon, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks) going a combined -22. Contrast this with the Spurs Bench that went a combined +23. Although these numbers don't necessarily take into account the natural ebb and flow of the game the Spurs there was a +45 bench swing in favor of the Spurs. Pop was able to play is starters limited minutes and get quality from the bench.
There's really no relief in sight for the top unit. Antawn Jamison is clearly diminished as a player and at thirty-six likely has nothing left in the tank. There are Steve Blake trade rumors but who are they really going to get for Steve Blake at this point? On his podcast Bill Simmons floated the idea of a package deal that would bring Josh Smith to LA. Smith would clearly fit in the D'Antoni system, but what would motivate the Hawks to make that trade? They'd get some value for Smith when it's questionable whether they can re-sign them. Gasol's contract would also give them cap flexibility in the near future as well as an elite center to combine with Al Horford. It's a compelling idea if they can pull it off.
We'll sit back and see what happens when D'Antoni takes over. He'll have his work cut out for him.


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Our Wednesday evening story on the NCAA's latest unethical behavior in the UM case is below, for those who may have not seen it yet.
But first, a six pack of Thursday quick hits:
### The Dolphins view defensive lineman Vaughn Martin, who agreed to terms with Miami on Thursday, as an upgrade over Tony McDaniel in their d-line rotation. Martin, who can play end or tackle, started 12 games for the Chargers as a 3-4 end last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him just 33rd of 34 qualifying 3-4 ends, including 30th against the run. He had one sack.
Martin started 15 games for the Chargers in 2011. He has three sacks in four NFL seasons.
But several teams reportedly were interested in him. He could play some end in Miami's 4-3 if needed, but his primary role likely will be as a member of the tackle rotation with Paul Soliai and Randy Starks.
### Some reaction to the Heat streak ending --- Kobe Bryant: "The Lakers winning 33 in a row was phenomenal, but the Heat's [streak of 27] was just as impressive." Jerry West, a member of the 1971-72 Lakers team that won 33 straight, told ESPN last night: "I really thought they were going to do it. This was great for basketball. People will talk about this forever.... I think [the Heat] is looking for bigger fish to fry." As in another championship.
### The Dolphins never made an offer to longtime Jets starting guard Brandon Moore, deciding that Lance Louis was better. Louis, signed Thursday, is the favorite to beat out John Jerry at right guard. The Bears considered Louis their best offensive lineman last year before his November knee injury. Pro Football Focus, which analyzes every snap, ranked Louis only barely ahead of Jerry; Louis was 47th, Jerry 49th, among 81 guards. Louis allowed two sacks and seven QB hurries. Jerry allowed two and 15.
### UM's Jim Larranaga said Miami's regional semifinal opponent tonight, Marquette, "plays harder than maybe any team we've played. That's a tremendous offensive rebounding team." Kenny Kadji, Julian Gamble and UM's perimeter players must be especially alert on the defensive boards.
### Al Golden said today that converted defensive end Jake O'Donnell has been a "surprise" at tight end and that tight end Asante Cleveland is "having as good a spring as anyone."
### Golden said Gray Crow is "on the heels" of Ryan Williams for the No.2 quarterback job. "The real competition is Gray and Ryan," Golden said, noting Williams is ahead in his ability to recognize defenses.
Here's that UM story:
### The NCAA investigator who took over the University of Miami case last May attempted, as her fired predecessor did, to use Nevin Shapiro's attorney to help build a case against Miami – a detail curiously omitted from the NCAA-commissioned report detailing the NCAA's improper handling of the case, according to an email exchange between the parties that was relayed to me by two people.
Meanwhile, UM also will allege that NCAA investigators lied to interview subjects by claiming that other people interviewed made comments they never made, in order to trick the subjects into revealing incriminating information they otherwise might not have, according to multiple officials familiar with the NCAA's case against UM and former coaches. UM believes such behavior is unethical, and it clearly is.
Both of these details will be included in UM's motion to dismiss the case that will be submitted to the NCAA on Friday.
UM also will claim that significant charges made against UM in the NCAA's notice of allegations are uncorroborated by anyone besides Shapiro, and that tainted evidence has not been fully purged from the case.
The NCAA already has informed UM that the infractions committee does not have the authority to dismiss the case before a full hearing in mid-June, but UM is disputing that contention.
Among the new details in the case: Stephanie Hannah, an NCAA director of enforcement who took over the UM case late last May from fired Ameen Najjar, continued Najjar's policy of working with Shapiro's attorney, Maria Elena Perez, to try to build a case against UM.
The Cadwalader law firm, asked by the NCAA to investigate its handling of the case, indicated that Najjar ignored the NCAA legal counsel's instructions and accepted Perez's proposal to use bankruptcy subpoenas to compel depositions from witnesses who had refused to cooperate with the NCAA. In exchange, Perez would be paid; Perez claimed it would be for her time and expenses, Najjar claimed it would be only for expenses.
"The Perez proposal was unquestionably a bad idea for the NCAA," the report said.
After taking over for Najjar, Hannah attempted to work with Perez on obtaining information from Shapiro's bodyguard, Mario Sanchez, who was subpoenaed to appear in a bankruptcy hearing. The deposition with Sanchez never materialized, and the bankruptcy trustee told us today that it wouldn't have been of interest to the bankruptcy trustee, anyway.
In an e-mail exchange with Perez last July, Hannah wrote: "Regarding the enforcement staff's interest in questioning [name redacted], attached is a document that outlines questions/topics to discuss with him."
The name redacted was Sanchez, according to multiple sources.
Hannah's e-mail came to light because Perez included it in her response to the Florida Bar complaint filed against her by Sean Allen, the former UM assistant equipment manager who was subpoenaed by Perez for a bankruptcy court deposition in December 2011.
The NCAA tossed the Allen deposition from evidence because it was obtained improperly, and the matter ultimately led to the firing of NCAA vice president of enforcement Julie Roe Lach.
Ken Wainstein, from the Cadwalader law firm, e-mailed on Wednesday that he was busy on a personal matter and could not immediately explain why Hannah's behavior was omitted from his report.
This evening, Wainstein e-mailed again after our story hit the wire. He did not offer a specific reason for not including it in his report but said that "after Mr. Najjar left the NCAA, Ms. Hannah became responsible for the U. Miami investigation. As we explained in evaluating Ms. Hannah's conduct, Ms. Hannah had not been involved in the initial arrangements with Ms. Perez and believed that there was nothing amiss and that it had been blessed prior to her involvement.
"We understand that she provided questions and areas of interest for Ms. Perez to use in preparing to interview Mr. Sanchez in July 2012, similar to how Mr. Najjar had provided questions in advance of Mr. Allen's deposition. Mr. Sanchez was never deposed, however, for a variety of reasons including logistics regarding service of a subpoena."
The NCAA declined to comment.
"It's troubling because it places Hannah's culpability on the same level of Najjar's," said one official, on the UM/former coach side of the NCAA case, who asked not to be identified. "She should know better than to do this, having been there 20 years. Why did they cover that up?"
Wainstein's report assigned no accountability to Hannah, saying: "Ms. Hannah assumed there was nothing amiss about the arrangement [with Perez] and that it had been completely blessed prior to her involvement in the case. In light of those circumstances, it is understandable that she raised no alarms about the Perez arrangement."
The NCAA ended its working relationship with Perez shortly after NCAA associate general counsel Naima Stevensen reiterated last September what she had told Najjar a year earlier – that this arrangement was a bad idea and didn't have the legal department's blessing.
Hannah's e-mail with Perez was the second significant matter not included in the Wainstein report. The other: Najjar wrote a letter to Shapiro's judge shortly before his sentencing for operating a Ponzi scheme saying the NCAA might someday hire him as a consultant.
Wainstein said he didn't mention the letter because the report "was not intended… to describe all aspects of Mr. Shapiro's relationship with the enforcement staff."
In an ESPN interview this week, NCAA President Mark Emmert insisted that once the NCAA found part of the UM case had been mishandled, "I'm confident we did exactly the right thing. We did it the right way…
"For those saying, 'Fire Emmert!'it's like saying if the assistant coach did something wrong, fire the [university] president."
Please see the last post, from late Tuesday night, for Heat, Dolphins, Canes.


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In greater numbers than ever before, Islanders are looking for - and finding - the help to get clean and sober.
At the counseling branch of Martha's Vineyard Community Services, the caseload of clients hoping to kick a drug or alcohol habit has nearly tripled in the last four years. In 1996, substance abuse counselors there worked with 109 clients. In 2000, that number grew to 312.
In that same time period, advocates supplied a missing link on the Island when they established Vineyard House 1 and 2, residential homes for recovering addicts to get back on their feet after treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Leaders of that group now plan to buy a third house to meet the needs of women in recovery.
Working closely with both Island Counseling and Vineyard House, the hospital is also doing its share to get services to people who need it. Most recently, the hospital has provided a home for a new acupuncture treatment program for people hooked on drugs, alcohol, tobacco or caffeine.
And finally, counselors say police here are increasingly willing to funnel some Islanders with drug or alcohol problems into treatment or counseling, and not straight into the court system.
"There are just many more treatment programs available on the Island now. It's sort of a case of if you build it they will come," said Jane Dreeben, the head of substance abuse counseling at Island Counseling.
Dr. Alan Hirshberg, the head of emergency services at the hospital, agrees. "As these programs become available, people are using them," he said. "There has been a need for a long time, and now people are reaching out."
Ms. Dreeben is reluctant to blame the increase in her agency's caseload on an alarming rise in drug or alcohol abuse across the Island. Rather, she points to population growth on the Island and a changing awareness about drugs and alcohol.
"I think that information about these issues is more accessible," she said. "The media is more interested, and substance abuse is more spoken about. People are looking at their own situations and thinking, 'Maybe there's something going on here.' "
To be sure, the Vineyard is fertile territory for such problems. Counselors point to the isolation of Island life, especially in the bleak winter months, combined with the financial stresses brought on by a seasonal tourist economy. And according to West Tisbury police chief Beth Toomey, the more viable shoulder seasons coupled with a shortage of workers mean that many Islanders who own a business now get less downtime.
The Island also seems to attract newcomers who are seeking a place to recover from hard times. Hazel Teagan, the alcohol counselor at the hospital, acknowledged the notion that some people come here with broken wings, hoping to heal.
"People come here, thinking it's a utopia and that all their problems will go away," she sad. "But they actually just bring their problems with them."
Those problems get played out every day in the hospital, where many visits to the emergency room can be linked to alcohol or drugs - accidents, anxiety, dementia or depression, just to name a few, said Ms. Teagan.
"Substance abuse is not uncommonly part of the picture," said Dr. Hirshberg, adding that emergency room staff follow a protocol to refer such patients for alcohol counseling. In some cases, that's enough to get action, but doctors also run into resistance. "If a person is not willing to speak with a counselor or denies it's a problem, it's very difficult to assist them in getting the treatment," he said. Still, the track record is improving as health care providers in various agencies have established a close network.
"We see it as a team that is running more smoothly now," said Tom Bennett, head of Island Counseling. "We're all trying to coordinate and collaborate better."
Island Counseling is the only Island agency licensed to offer outpatient treatment and counseling for substance abuse. Their menu of services is broad. An early recovery group meets twice a week at the hospital for people who are thinking about stopping or have decided to quit their alcohol or drug use. In addition to individual counseling, there are family groups and sessions geared toward teenagers.
The newest additions are a community corrections programs, offering counseling to jail inmates and as an alternative to serving jail time, and an acupuncture detox service. Mr. Bennett said the majority of his agency's clients have no private health insurance, and he said that lack of insurance should not deter anyone from seeking out services.
The hospital once operated a substance abuse clinic, but that service was cut during the bankruptcy crisis five years ago. Now, the hospital offers emergency and evaluative services for people in trouble with substance abuse, and, as of October, has provided office space for the acupuncture detox center.
Other developments have also beefed up services. Mr. Bennett said the arrival of Dr. Charles Silberstein, a psychiatrist specializing in addiction, five years ago has made a difference. Dr. Silberstein was among the group that helped establish the the first Vineyard House, giving a home to recovering addicts and filling a gap on the Island.
"Before Vineyard House, we would send people to detox, and they would come back to outpatient treatment. But they'd end up in the same environment, and they would relapse," said Mr. Bennett. Now, residents of the Vineyard Houses commit to a one-year stay, and they attend at least four 12-step meetings a week.
None of the counselors who spoke with the Gazette this week underestimated the strength of 12-step programs on the Island. Indeed, they feel their work is bolstered by the presence of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. "They do tremendous work," said Mr. Bennett. And there are also the Al-Anon groups where family members of drug addicts or alcoholics can find help.
Another front where Island Counseling has focused is the high school, where rates of substance abuse are known to be high, according to a recent survey of risk behaviors. Last week, Rob Doyle, a counselor at Island Counseling, invited a social worker from Maine to meet with school counselors and plan for a series of workshops in March.
Stephen Andrew of Portland, Me., said he hopes to get people to see teenagers here in a different light. "We need to invite students, parents and providers into a conversation about what works in the community and what needs to be enhanced," he said. "What doesn't work is for all the adults to gather and talk about kids, but that's the usual model."
Mr. Andrew said the goal should be focusing on teenagers' strengths and how to enhance them. "The fact that you have 99 kids in a SafeRides program," he said, "is amazing for a small Island."
While counselors are collaborating with the high school to address substance abuse among teens, they have also developed a new relationship with Island police. According to Mr. Bennett, "Most law enforcement here would prefer to see people get help."
Oak Bluffs police chief Joseph Carter, a member of the board at Vineyard House, put it this way. "It's important that we go after and detect illegal traffickers and dealers, but there are also a lot of folks who are sick. It's an illness, and they need help," he said. "We're very selective about who we approach and who we feel needs to be steered toward Island Counseling or Vineyard House."
Chief Carter said he intentionally got involved with the Vineyard House leadership to send a message to his officers. "I wanted to set an example that there's more than one approach," he said. "We can't lock everybody up."


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Survival of the Dead2010 SciFi/Fantasy | Horror
Off the coast of Delaware sits the cozy Plum Island where two families are locked in a struggle for power, as it has been for generations. The O'Flynn's, headed by patriarch Patrick O'Flynn approach the zombie plague with a shoot-to-kill attitude. The Muldoons, headed by Shamus Muldoon, feel that the zombies should be quarantined and kept "alive," in hopes that a solution will someday be found. The O'Flynn's, who are clearly outnumbered, are forced to exile Patrick by boat to the mainland, where he meets up with a band of soldiers, headed by Guardsman Sarge. They join forces and return to the island, to find that the zombie plague has fully gripped the divided community.


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2010 Steelers Men's Fantasy Camp presented by Rolling Rock e-mail blast
Scheduled Tuesday February 23
Attention Steelers Fans! If you ever wanted to fulfill a dream of experiencing Steelers Training Camp for an entire weekend – this is now your chance! You can stay in the same dorm rooms as the players, eat in the team cafeteria and practice on the same field as the Six Time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers have done for the past 43 years at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. Registration will be open on Monday March 1 on www.steelers.com for the eighth annual Steelers Men's Fantasy Camp presented by Rolling Rock!
Join Steelers Alumni such as Levon Kirkland, Yancey Thigpen, Jon Kolb, John Banaszak, Mike Wagner, Tunch Ilkin, Craig Wolfley and more. Our special guest on Saturday evening will be Steelers Hall of Fame member John Stallworth.
The Pittsburgh Steelers invite you to join us at Steelers Training Camp from Friday June 4 - Sunday June 6, 2010. This dream weekend begins with a tour of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon at either 12:00 or 2:00 pm. Your weekend at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe will begin with registration at 5:00 pm Friday.
In addition to the Friday evening activities, your entire weekend includes:
· A Steelers Training Camp gold mesh jersey with your name and the number of your choice on the back.
· Dorm housing, meals and a special Steelers gift bag
· Two on-field practices Saturday afternoon conducted by Steelers Alumni such as Levon Kirkland, Yancey Thigpen, Jon Kolb, John Banaszak, Mike Wagner and others.
· Steelers Alumni Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley will be present all weekend as your hosts.
· A Saturday afternoon Team Meeting conducted by a current Steelers coach/front office member
· A Saturday evening banquet featuring Steelers Hall of Fame member John Stallworth.
· Tickets to all 2010 Steelers home games will be raffled off on Saturday evening.
· A Skills Competition divided by age groups on Sunday with great prizes for the winners.
· Your cost for this all inclusive weekend is $629 per person.* *
· On Sunday, the Dinner and the awards ceremony will conclude by 1:30 pm.
More details will be available at www.steelers.com on Monday March 1 or* *you can contact us at 412-697-7713. We hope to see you in Latrobe!
Marketing Department
Pittsburgh Steelers


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OpenOffice 4.1.13
Screenshots of OpenOffice
OpenOffice Editor's Review
Create stunning, MS Office compatible documents with this industry leading office suite.
Over the years, I've had a number of people come to me asking for help picking a word processor, spreadsheet, Office component or full suite. While MS Office is the defacto standard for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, it IS rather expensive. Not everyone can afford its heavy down stroke, even though it can be heavily discounted. That's why I'm thankful for things like Oracle's OpenOffice.org. It's an MS Office compatible free office suite and its available for multiple platforms.
OpenOffice.org is the leading open-source office suite, and includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in a standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages, including Microsoft Office.
OpenOffice.org is easy to learn. If you've used Microsoft Office, or a similar set of tools, OpenOffice.org will be familiar and comfortable to you. Best of all, this Open Office Download can be used for free.
Pros: Free, Reads MS Office documents.
Cons: MS Office Compatibility is NOT 100%, doesn't write back native MS Office file formats.
Conclusion: Having a free, open source alternative to Microsoft Office, especially for budget conscious families and students is important. Though Microsoft has a student version of Office, it's still somewhat expensive. OpenOffice offers Microsoft Office (as well as other) suite compatibility in a familiar environment. The tools are intuitive and easy to use, especially if you've used Office Suite products before, and at this price point, it's really hard to beat.
Caution should be exercised however, when reading and writing MS Office (and other suite) compatible file formats. While OpenOffice.org is MS Office compatible, it is NOT MS Office. Basic formatting in all your documents (bold, italics, bullets, etc.) will likely transfer in and out of OpenOffice without issues or concerns. Some of your heavily formatted documents may be read and worked with under the OpenOffice component in question, but upon reediting in MS Office, the formatting of the information in the file may be corrupted, requiring a great deal of rework.
OpenOffice Publisher's Description
OpenOffice.org is an Open Source, community-developed, multiplatform office-productivity suite. It includes the key desktop applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to other office suites. Sophisticated and flexible, OpenOffice.org also works transparentlyRead more
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Last week, a whopping 93.5% of you agreed that the Jaguar E-type should be given a parking spot in our Fantasy Garage. To put that in perspective, the Ferrari 250 GTO, a car considered by many to be the greatest ever built, received a 95.2% positive vote. The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe? 93.9%. This week we're sponsoring a car for induction we bet will beat them all. That's right kids, it's Mercedes-Benz's postwar miracle, the 300 SL. Sometimes called the Widowmaker because of all the rich, (suddenly) single women it left behind, you and me know it better as the Gullwing Mercedes.
Before we can get to the car we're actually talking about, we need to first discuss the world-beating racecar the 300 SL was based on. And that car is... the 300 SL. There is a difference; the racer was known internally as W194, while the production car's designation was W198. Prior to the war after the war that ended all wars, Mercedes-Benz was an established motorsports marquee. In fact, its track prowess extended back to the 1900s when MB's ultra-low (comparatively) Simplex purpose built-racer dominated the competition for almost a decade, up to triple-batshit Silver Arrow racers of the 30s pumping out nearly 650 supercharged horses, hitting top speeds of 270 mph and battling neck and neck with Auto Unions of the day (including the midengined, 500 horsepower, 6.0-liter V16 monsters). But then Hitler had to go all crazy and the German car industry... well, you know the rest.
300 SL W194 Racecar
Wanting to get back into the thick of it, Mercedes introduced the 300 SL (W194) to the world in 1952. And the world scratched its head. Sure, the 300 SL was a hot looking little number, but a 170-horsepower race car? Really? Yeah, really. Immediately following WWII Mercedes-Benz could do little to get back on its once mighty feet other than produce Dodge clones with an MB grill tacked on (180 & 220). The company eventually started producing the upscale 300 (W186) in 1951 with its relatively modern 3.0-liter inline-six good for 115 hp. That engine, fitted with three carbs, found its way into the 300 SL racer, pumping out around 170 horses. Despite the lack of muscle, the 300 SL took second and fourth at its Mille Miglia debut, took first and second at Le Mans, finished 1, 2, 3 at the Nürburgring and 1 and 2 at the Carrera Panamericana. How? An extremely lightweight chassis and body from the extensive use of aluminum, sophisticated aerodynamics and superior, never-say-die reliability.
Obviously, a roadgoing version of such a superstar would be bona fide. But Mercedes had no plans to build any. The problem was Germans didn't have any money. But guess what? Americans did. A lot it. Yes, the postwar years were kind to the US of A. Capitalism, democracy and freedom had triumphed (unless you lived within the Soviet sphere) and our wallets were bulging. We needed shit to buy. Expensive shit. Enter Max Hoffman. For those who don't know, Hoffman was the guy who (besides living in a Frank Lloyd Wright home and getting Wright to design his Manhattan Jaguar dealership) brought both the Porsche 356 and the BMW 507 to American soil. The Austrian born "Maxi" also convinced Daimler-Benz that a roadgoing version of the 300 SL would be economically viable. In fact, Hoffman took (and sold) 80% of all the 300 SLs built (about 1400 total) and helped to establish Mercedes-Benz's considerable reputation in the States by doing so.
Let's talk doors. To create such a lightweight vehicle, Mercedes ditched the traditional platform-type chassis and opted for a tubular spaceframe. To give the high-tech chassis strength, engineers were unable to cut into the sills where normal doors would go. So, they (ingeniously) hinged them to the roof. At first Mercedes was worried that the unusual setup might cheese off racing officials, but after pouring over the rulebook racing chief Alfred Neubauer famously said, "Nowhere is it written that a door can only open sideways." Getting in and out of the racecar was a nightmare, and only partly helped by the production car's lower sills. The steering wheel was hinged so you could flip it up during ingress/egress. Put it this way; Britney, wear panties. And that's how timeless design icons are born.
The engine was the first series production car ever fitted with fuel injection. Little-known fact: There are two bumps on the SL's hood. One is for the fuel injectors and the other is only for the sake of symmetry. Stunningly advanced for its time (and Project Car Hell worthy today) the mechanical Bosch units increased the engine's power from 115 horses in the 300 sedan to 215 in the SL. That's officially. But, as certain 300 SLs could hit 161 mph — making them the fastest production cars ever built in 1954 — actual output was probably closer to 240 horsepower. As much as we love those numbers, we love the fact that the mechanical fuel pump (one of three) would continue atomizing fuel and forcing it into the cylinders after the engine was turned off even more. This would dilute the engine oil, especially if the motor hadn't been wrung out enough to generate enough heat to evaporate the gas. Hence, Mercedes recommended oil changes at 1,000 mile intervals. Many owners wound up disconnecting the oil cooler altogether. Stoichiometry at all costs, right? Thank God the Fantasy Garage has that mechanic.
Everything about the 300 SL was epic. The 3.0-liter engine, which had to be mounted at a 50-degree angle to clear the hood, requires 10 liters of oil. The gas tank holds 34.7 gallons and the car gets 22 mpg. That's a 760-mile range. At a time when American cars were ballooning faster than the XBox generation's waistline, the trim super coupe weighed just 2,866 pounds. All four wheels had their own suspension setup at a time when most cars still rode around like buggies.
The internet abounds with owners' tales of driving the car for four hours straight at 120 mph through Death Valley in utter comfort. Both personally (the roof featured flow-through ventilation outlets) and mechanically (that's what you get with production endurance race winners). And we believe them, for how could grand touring get any better? The price when new was more than a house, but that was just for the normal steel bodied car (though the hood, doors and deck were aluminum). For more than double the price you could purchase one of 29 all-aluminum examples, which dropped the curb weight by more than 500 pounds (to a stupid-svelte 2,351!). By the by, the alloy-bodied coupes were the cars that could hit 161 mph.
Even The Convertible Makes You Drool
And never mind any of that. Just look up. That, my dear friends, is timeless indisputable beauty. Even when they hacked the top off it the 300 SL managed to remain gorgeous. Stunningly gorgeous. To summarize: looks that slaughter, 'Ring-crushing handling, massive top speed, technically innovative, a range of over 750 miles and Gullwing doors. I can't think of anything else to say except, happy voting.
[The Jalopnik Fantasy Garage appears every Wednesday at noon. Readers vote the cars in or out. The idea is that we'll have 50 cars in our Fantasy Garage, the world's greatest mechanic and endless wads of cash. Would you like to nominate a car for the Fantasy Garage? Write firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject line "Fantasy."]
The Jalopnik Fantasy Garage, So Far:
RUF RT12 | 1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage | Honda 1300 Coupe 9 | 1931 Daimler Double Six 50 Corsica Drophead Coupe | Ferrari 288 GTO | Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 | 1970 Buick GSX 455 | First Generation BMW M Coupe | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 | Ford GT | Citroen SM | Porsche 928 | Jensen FF | DeTomaso Vallelunga | Audi Quattro S1 | Buick GNX | Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R | Honorary Fantasy Garager: The LS1 Powered Rotus | Lamborghini LM002 | Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe | Ferrari 250 GTO | Bentley Speed Six | Talbot-Lago T150C SS Figoni et Falaschi Raindrop/Teardrop Coupe | Porsche 917 | Audi RS4 Avant | Maybach Exelero | Lamborghini Miura | Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 | BMW E39 M5 | Jaguar E-type


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Upgrade my monitored domain to a backorder
Upgrading a monitored domain to a backorder will give you the chance to acquire a registered domain. You'll still get notifications if there are any updates to the domain after upgrading
- Log in to your GoDaddy Domain Control Center.(Need help logging in? Find your username or password.)
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Biblical Archaeology Review
Biblical Archaeology Review is the flagship publication of the Biblical Archaeology Society. For more than 40 years it has been making the world of archaeology in the lands of the Bible come alive for the interested layperson. Full of vivid images and articles written by leading scholars, this is a must read for anyone interested in the archaeology of the ancient Near East.
Bible Review
Bible Review opens the realm of Biblical scholarship to a non-academic audience. World-renown scholars detail the latest in Biblical interpretation and why it matters. These important pieces are paired with stunning art, which makes the text come to life before your eyes. Anyone interested in the Bible should read this seminal magazine.
Archaeology Odyssey
Archaeology Odyssey takes the reader on a journey through the classical world as seen through the eyes of the top archaeologists in the discipline. Written with you in mind, the experts explain the latest in classical research in a way that is accessible to the general public. Read the complete series today!
Ideal for university libraries, high schools, churches and synagogues and interested laypersons
- Over 7,000 full text articles
- Over 22,000 images with captions
- Robust search engine, including images and Bible passages
- Updated with the latest publications six times a year
- A variety of print options available
- The ability to view original pagination
- Completely mobile friendly
- Includes video lectures, special collections, and links to articles noted in BAR
- Library support material available through multi-media
- Integrated Bible passages, footnotes and abbreviation definitions are included for every article
New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land
The most comprehensive description ever produced of archaeological finds in the Holy Land in recent years, volume 5 updates the set published in 1993. Contributors read like a Who's Who of Biblical archaeology. The volume includes sites in both Israel and Jordan that relevant to both Testaments.
The complete collaborative book series by the Biblical Archaeology Society and the Smithsonian Institution is contained within the library and is also fully searchable. These meaningful and clear works explore topics relating to archaeology and the Bible using a multi-perspective approach of significant theorists.
While the BAS Library is completely searchable by topic, author, title and keyword, we have also puttogether a number of "Special Collections" that allow you to browse a selection of relevant articles on popular topics in one place. Take this opportunity to access excellent scholarship on specific topics, easily and quickly.
World-renowned master teachers present lectures on the latest key issues in archaeology and the Bible, including "The Archaeology of Jewish Christianity" and "Isaiah in the Dead Sea Scrolls." In addition, Hershel Shanks hosts a series of informal interviews with five prominent Dead Sea Scrolls scholars.


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Teen FAQs
What's this page all about?
It's simple. We're here to help you connect with books, activities, interesting sites we've found on the Internet and, of course, other teens who also enjoy the library. Maybe, along the way, you'll discover other connections: to memorable characters in books, to fantastic universes you've never before imagined, and to a wider, more complex world.
Welcome to TeenConnect!
How do I get a library card?
Teens 13 and up can get cards without the help of a parent. You need to bring something to the library that proves you either live in Saco, or if you don't, that you attend school here. Some things you could use: the envelope from mail you received at your Saco home address, your driver's license or learner's permit, your school ID card or your official school schedule.
What if I'm not 13 yet?
You will need to have your parent or guardian fill out and sign the application card.
Can you help me with my homework?
We can help you find the resources to get help. Our site contains many links to online homework help. In addition, we have lots of helpful books (bet you knew that!) Unfortunately, none of us are chemistry or calculus experts… [
Click here for a list of helpful links
I love to read. Can you suggest a good book?
We love to read, too. So, yes we can! Just ask. Tell us what you've enjoyed before and we can help you find similar books, or even steer you in an entirely different direction. If you're feeling shy, try Novelist on the MARVEL databases link for excellent suggestions. [
Click here to link to MARVEL
We're always looking for teens to read and provide us with an opinion of some of our new books. If you're interested, please talk to Laura Vickery in the children's room.
What kinds of programs do you have for teens?
What kinds of programs would you like? Please provide us with some suggestions! Here is a link to programs we have scheduled. [
Click here for a current list
Dyer Library/Saco Museum | 371 Main Street | Saco, Maine, 04072 | (207) 283-3861


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"A true revolution of values will lay hand on the world order and say of war, "This way of settling differences is not just." This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.
"America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from reordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood." --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (.pdf), the U.S. spends around $700 billion per year on the military. That sum roughly doubled since 2001, and it accounts for about 43 percent of all military spending in the world in 2010. Yet, even in the context of an ongoing unemployment crisis and widespread opposition for the major war in which the U.S. is embroiled, the Pentagon had the audacity to drop a spending plan (.pdf) earlier this month that calls for a continued increase in military spending and to portray the massive levels of outlays on war made at the height of the Iraq War as "breaking faith" with the military. To paraphrase Dr. King, to use for violence these resources better spent rescuing the 50 percent of Americans now in or near poverty is demonic.The giant named Militarism is nothing if not nimble: last year at this time, the Pentagon used the words of a friend of the King family to insinuate that, though King's plain words decry all forms of violence and war, today's wars are different and he would "understand" them. That's almost as brazen as war industry giant Boeing's attempt to capture the King mojo for their public relations efforts, donating to the fund for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial fund while making billions from the "business of burning human beings." We need a new phrase--"King-washing," maybe?--to describe the efforts of career militarists and war profiteers to grasp at the King mantle.
It is natural for people and organizations to want to associate with King. He was a true prophet in the best sense of the word, someone whose courage, dignity and clear moral vision burned so hot and bright that his after-image remains in our eyes long after he's gone. But there is a deep, deep difference between trying to associate by emulation and association by manipulation.
Today is MLK Day. For many, it will be a day of service, and that's certainly an incredibly powerful way to honor King's memory. But equally powerful is the demand that we hear his message--his whole message, including his condemnation of war as a means to settle conflict--and use it as a genuine opportunity for reflection and action. This year it is especially critical that we do so, as the policy choices waiting in the wings in Washington, D.C. over the next few months so tragically resemble those made regarding the poverty programs of King's day and the Vietnam War.
Please take a moment to share our latest video. Then, write to President Obama and tell him to honor Dr. King by repudiating the Pentagon's bid to grow while other programs are cut. Tell him you want him to lead the revolution of values talked about by King--and that that revolution must start by shutting off the "demonic, destructive suction tube" at the Pentagon.
Join the War Costs campaign on Facebook, and follow Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe on Twitter.


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Automatic segmentation of microcystic macular edema in OCT
Automatic Segmentation of Microcystic macular edema in OCT
Andrew Lang, Aaron Carass, Emily K. Swingle, Omar Al-Louzi, Pavan Bhargava, Shiv Saidha, Howard S. Ying, Peter A. Calabresi, and Jerry L. Prince
To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports outside of our own prior work (Swingle et. al.) describing the automatic segmentation of pseudocysts in Microcystic Macular Edema (MME), a form of Macular Edema present in about 5% of all Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. A variety of methods for the segmentation of more general cystic changes in the retina have been reported, in paticular methods for segmentation in diabetic macular edema, retinal detachment, and age related macular degeneration (Fernandez) (Zheng et. al.) (Chen et. al.) (Chiu et. al.)(Wilkins et. al.) (Pilch et. al.). These methods use a variety of techniques to segment the cystoid spaces, but the cysts found using these algorithms for their targeted diseases are generally much larger than pseudocysts found in MS and therefore these existing methods are inappropriate for application to MME in MS. In this paper we present a segmentation algorithm for the detection of pseudocysts due to MME in macular OCT scans acquired on the Spectralis scanner. Our algorithm leverages the ability of a random forest classifier (RFC) to learn the probability that a pixel belongs to a pseudocyst given a set of features. The presented method improves on our previous algorithm (Swingle et. al.) and includes a validation study on a larger cohort of subjects.
We will now overview our algorithm for automatically segmenting pseudocysts from macular OCT images. Our method follows a pixel classification approach. For each pixel in a given B-scan, we compute several different features which a classifier then uses to decide which class the pixel belongs to—the two classes being pseudocysts or background. We use a RFC to do this classification (Breiman). The RF algorithm was chosen for several reasons including its comparable accuracy to other state-of-the-art algorithms, its simplicity and efficiency, the relatively small number of turnable parameters, and a history of successful use for image segmentation tasks, including OCT-related applications (Lang. et. al.) (Antony et. al.). Also, the RFC outputs a soft classification, or probability, instead of only a binary result, providing a measure of confidence at each pixel that we will take advantage of.
Before classifying the pixels, we first normalize the intensities of each volume to provide better consistency both between subjects and between B-scans of the same subject. After this normalization, we compute a set of 18 features at each pixel (16 being derived from intensities and 2 from the spatial position). The list of features implemented can be found in Table 1. The features are used by the RFC to generate MME probability maps for each image. We then follow a three stage threshold scheme to produce the final segmentation of the data. First, the resulting RFC probabilities are thresholded at a value of 0.5 to generate candidate cystic lesions. This threshold was empirically chosen to represent a majority voting scheme commonly used for binary classification problems. A second threshold is used to remove any connected regions (defined using 8-connectivity) that do not have any pixels with a probability of greater than 0.85. Thus, we encourage only those pseudocysts that are highly probable. Due to the noise and variability of the pseudocyst appearance, we do not expect a high probability everywhere within a given lesion. As a final step, we remove all connected components with fewer than 5 pixels thus removing spurious areas potentially found due to noise. All remaining pixels are then classified as pseudocysts. This final threshold makes sense since there were very few (25 total) manually delineated pseudocysts smaller than this threshold.
To explore the performance of the algorithm, we used a leave-one-out approach for training the classifier. Since we had data from nine subjects, we left one subject out instead of one scan to avoid any bias that including the opposite eye may introduce. Thus, each classifier was trained on data from eight scans. For subjects with scans from both eyes, either the left or right eye was randomly used. However evaluations were done on all 12 scans. To additionally show how the algorithm performs on data without MME, we ran the algorithm on 10 healthy control (HC) subjects and 10 MS patients, with each scan manually examined and found not to have any pseudocysts. The classifier for these experiments was trained on data from all of the subjects (9 scans). Table 2 lists the results of the algorithm both divided into the low and high density groups as well as the overall results. The measures are generally lower for the low density subjects with a larger spread as measured by the interquartile range (IQR). We also looked at the total MME volume, the total number of MME pixels in each scan. Comparing the manual and automatic segmentation, we get a correlation coefficient of 0.98(p < 1 x 10-7) which indicates excellent agreement. Table 3 shows a comparison of the differences between the algorithm and ground truth where we see that the algorithm consistently underestimates the volume for the low density subjects and overestimates for the high density subjects. Since the low density subjects generally have smaller pseudocysts which are more difficult to segment, the total volume difference in the high density subjects can also partially be attributed to overestimation of the pseudocyst size by the algorithm. In Fig. 4, we display the results of the algorithm on one B-scan each from four subjects, two low and two high density subjects. While the algorithm clearly has no trouble finding the larger, darker pseudocysts, many of the false negatives and false positives are due to having a much lighter appearance. Indeed many of the false positives could be argued to actually be pseudocysts but were simply not designated so by the rater. Also note the general appearance of a red ring around the pseudocysts indicating that the algorithm found slightly larger lesions.
In this work, we developed an automated algorithm for segmentation of MME in macular OCT scans with a focus on data from the Spectralis scanner. The performance was quite good, finding 79% of the pseudocysts within the data. Using a simple classifier based only on the number of pseudocysts found, the classifier correctly labeled all of the non-MME data. While the algorithm is straightforward, using an RFC in a pixel-wise fashion, the addition of a novel intensity normalization method proved to increase the performance of the algorithm. The major limitation of this study was the amount of MME scans available to use. More data would allow us to include more training data for the RFC which could improve both the accuracy and robustness of the algorithm. Finally we note that although the proposed algorithm has been developed for segmentation of MME specifically, it should be able to identify larger cysts found in other eye diseases removal of the spatial features may be necessary in these cases, especially if the cysts are not expected to appear in a consistent location within the retina.
This work was supported by the NIH/NEI under grants R21-EY022150 & R01-EY024655 and the NIH/NINDS under grant R01-NS082347
- A. Lang, A. Carass, E.K. Swingle, O. Al-Louzi, P. Bhargava, S. Saidha, H.S. Ying, P.A. Calabresi, and J.L. Prince, "Automatic segmentation of microcystic macular edema in OCT", Biomedical Optics Express, 6(1):155-169, 2015. (doi)
- E.K. Swingle, A. Carass, A. Lang, P.A. Calabresi, H.S. Ying, and J.L. Prince, "Microcystic macular edema detection in retina OCT images", Proceedings of SPIE Medical Imaging (SPIE-MI 2014), San Diego, CA, February 15-20, 2014. (doi)
- D. Fernandez. Delineating fluid-filled region boundaries in optical coherence tomography images of the retina. IEEE Trans. Med. Imag. 24, 929-945, 2005.
- Y. Zheng, J. Sahni, C. Campa A.N. Stangos, A. Raj, and S.P. Harding. computerized assessment of intraretinal and subretinal fluid regions in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images of the retina. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 155, 277-286, 2013.
- X. Chen, M. Niemeijer, L. Zhang, K. Lee, M. Abramoff, and M. Sonka. Three-dimensional segmentation of fluid-associated abnormalities in retinal OCT: Probability constrained graph-search-graph-cut. IEEE Trans. Med. Imag. 31, 1521-1531, 2012.
- S.J. Chiu, C.A. Toth, C.B. Rickman, J.A. Izalt, and S. Farsiu. Automatic segmentation of closed-contour features in ophthalmic images using graph theory and dynamic programming. Biomed. Opt. Express. 3, 1127-1140, 2012.
- G. Wilkins, O Houghton, and A. Oldenburg. Automated segmentation of intraretinal cystoid fluid in optical coherence tomography. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 59, 1109-1114, 2012.
- M. Pilch, K. Stieger, Y. Wenner M.N. Preising, C. Friedburg, E. Meyer zu Bexten, and B. Lorenz. Automated segmentation of pathological cavities in optical coherence tomography scans. Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 54, 4385-4393, 2013.
- A. Lang, A. Carass, M. Hauser, E.S. Sotirchos, P.A. Calabresi, H.S. Ying, and J.L. Prince, "Retinal layer segmentation of macular OCT images using boundary classification", Biomedical Optics Express, 4(7):1133-1152, 2013. (PDF) (doi) (PMCID 3704094)
- B.J. Antony, M.D. Abramoff, M.M. Harper, W. Jeong, E.H. Sohn, Y.H. Kwon, R. Kardon, and M.K. Garvin. A combined machine-learning and graph based framework for the segmentation of retinal surfeces in SD-OCT volumes. Biomed. Opt. Express. 4, 2712-2728, 2013.
- L. Breiman. Random forests. Machine Learning. 45, 5-32, 2001.


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For a thousand years, the Temple of the Lost Gods was the seat of power of the dominant religion in the land – until the Madness Plague devastated the country and made the people doubt the power of the Lost Gods. Today, all that remains is ruins, and the whispered rumors that someone – or something – stirs within . . .
Temple of the Lost Gods is an adventure setting for GURPS Third Edition that can be used in any fantasy or historical campaign, right up to the modern day. Written by Chad Underkoffler (of Pyramid Magazine's "Campaign In a Box" fame), Temple of the Lost Gods has six distinct settings, from the very beginnings of a new religion, through its glorious rise to power, and on to its tragic fall. Each setting features character templates and gorgeous maps by Scott Reeves – 12 in all! Underkoffler also has an alternate magic system for GURPS Third Edition specially designed for this setting. And the whole thing uses only the rules in Third Edition GURPS Lite, so it's great for beginners or groups that want fewer rules and more action!
Visit the official web page for more info, resources, product support, and links.
Written by Chad Underkoffler


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by Susan Collins Thoms : Noah's Ark
ISBN : #1402785496 | Date : 2013-01-01
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PDF-ce767 | One of the most popular and child-friendly Bible stories gets a lush, whimsical, and inviting treatment by artist Naoko Stoop. Stoop painted her jewel-toned illustrations entirely on planks of wood specifically handpicked for their unique character. Her charming pictures capture the sweet spirit of the animals on the ark, as well as Noah's gentle stewardship. This is truly a gorgeous book for pare… Noah's Ark
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Comparing books to ebooks is like comparing mechanical watches to digital watches, or manual cars to automatic cars. No one doubts the convenience, reach, and flexibility of the ebook format, but it will never convincingly replicate the experience of a paper book—nor does it need to. Ebooks are a fundamentally new medium, stuck in an awkward growing stage.
Ebooks will never replace paper books. But they don't have to.
The problem with ebooks as they exist now is the lack of user experience innovation. Like the first television shows that only played grainy recordings of theater shows, the ebook is a new medium that has yet to see any true innovation, and resorts to imitating an old medium. This is obvious in skeuomorphic visual cues of ebook apps. Designers have tried incredibly hard to mimic the page-turns and sound effects of a real book, but these ersatz interactions satisfy a bibliophile as much as a picture of water satisfies a man in the desert.
There is no reason I need to turn fake pages. If I'm using a computer to read, I should be able to leverage the connectivity and processing power of that computer to augment my reading experience: ebooks should allow me to read on an infinite sheet, or I should be able to double blink to scroll. I should be able to practice language immersion by replacing words and phrases in my favorite books with other languages, or highlight sections to send to Quora or Mechanical Turk for analysis. There are endless possibilities for ebooks to make reading more accessible and immersvie than ever, but as long as ebooks try to be paper books, they will remain stuck in an uncanny valley of disappointment.
Another misstep in the growth of ebooks was the complete incompatability of previous libraries. People who have amassed libraries of paper books over many years were left behind by ebook distributors. Unlike music or photographs, there is no way to migrate an old book library into a new one. Over the past decade, I've been able to convert my tapes to CDs, my CDs to MP3s, and now import my MP3s into Spotify and listen to music over the cloud. Yet, if I want to read my favorite books on my Nexus 7, I have to pay for a separate ebook version, assuming one even exists.
It makes sense to have a third tier of book: paper + digital access. I am more than willing to pay a little extra for a book if it means that I have a copy for my library shelves and I can read it on a tablet on the subway. Amazon in particular is well positioned to implement this pricing structure. Better yet, why not a subscription service? $20/mo for all the books I can read? Unfortunately, as of now, the only options for paper book fans that want to use ebooks for convenience are to pay twice, or maintain two disjoint book libraries. Like its content, ebook pricing models cling to the past.
The full potential of ebooks lies in its digital nature. Distribution costs are zero. The paradigm of a "book" – a chunk of a few hundred pages of writing, is no longer necessary to be cost effective. Authors can distribute serialized portions of stories on a regular basis, and reach millions of readers instantly. All the things that made the internet culture grow – memes, viral content, instant sharing – can be leveraged by writers of ebooks. Authors, no longer dependent on publishers, are afforded previously unheard of flexibility with story telling. A novella can seamlessly grow into a thousand page epic, one chapter a week, urged by a growing fan base. Small steps in this direction are being made by companies such as Plympton, but it would be unwise to underestimate the potential for new sources of content through the democratization of publication.
So ebooks, stop trying to be paper books; break free of the page and the book paradigms and realize your potential as a fully digital medium. As for me, and readers like me, you will never replace our beloved paper books – but if done correctly, I will be proud to own a library of ebooks. Until then, I only use you to avoid carrying books like IQ84 in my backpack.
Kane Hsieh is a venture capitalist at RRE Ventures in New York City. His thoughts on technology and design in popular culture can be found at his blog.


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DARPA Plugs Contest for Watson-like System to Deflect Hackers
Cyber Grand Challenge winners will take home $2 million to create an unmanned hacker-stopper.
In the wake of an alleged hack that stole the passwords of two million Facebook, Google and other Internet users, Pentagon officials are plugging a new contest to build a Watson-like system that can find and eradicate Achilles heels in software.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the test tube branch of the Pentagon, announced the Cyber Grand Challenge on Oct. 22. The winning team will take home $2 million for creating an unmanned hacker-halter that finds and repairs bugs in software connected to a network, without disrupting the software program.
"As the lessons of how to do this emerge -- what we're hoping for is that we will have automated systems that can recognize novel flaws, novel threats, in networks and remediate them in real-time," DARPA program manager Mike Walker told reporters on Friday. Software flaws that let in hackers include, among other things, weak verification of data, user interface errors and authentication problems.
The two-year race will finish too late to stop hackers from weaponizing the 60-some software bugs in Microsoft and other popular software that boutique companies find and sell every day. But the goal is for the match itself to jumpstart industry investment in robotic analysis.
DARPA has tried this gambit before. Previous grand challenge contests dared scientists to invent robotic vehicles, spurring what Walker called "the dawn of the self-driving car revolution." Everybody failed the first year in 2004. But during the 2005 grand challenge, four autonomous vehicles made it through a 132-mile desert route within the 10-hour time limit. And now a smattering of states nationwide are allowing Google's driverless cars on roads.
At the end of the vehicle challenges, "those prototypes were not ready to roll off the contest raceway and on to American highways, but what did transition out of that first race was the dream that vehicles could actually pilot themselves on complex courses," Walker said.
Programmers in need of financial support for the cyber challenge have until Jan. 14, 2014 to submit a grant proposal. This money -- $750,000 per year -- is separate from the prize money and funding is limited. An unlimited number of self-funded participants can enter. Walker would not disclose the number of registrants but said officials "have seen a lot of interest."
Workshops for potential entrants were held in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Monday, West Coast coders can attend a session in San Francisco.
Web companies for years have been working on manual and piecemeal mechanized systems for identifying bugs. Using a tool called SAGE, Microsoft researchers found and fixed one-third of the flaws in Windows 7 before the operating system was released.
Walker compared DARPA's project to the development of automated chess systems in the 1970s. "By playing each other, chess systems were able to figure out what approaches work," he said. The cyber challenge will "hopefully follow in the footsteps of systems like Deep Blue, like Watson, and let these systems someday play the experts at their own game."
An earlier version of this story misstated the deadline for grant proposals. Submissions are due Jan. 14, 2014.


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Super-popular Japanese masked-action show Kamen Rider Ryuki has gotten an American version, courtesy of the CW. Just like the old Power Rangers, it's got American actors mixed with Japanese stunts. We talked to the producers.
The brothers Steve and Mike Wang were approached to create an American version of Kamen Rider Ryuki by Toei Studios a few years ago. They did a sort of "test pilot" for the American version, and the studio loved it.
In the U.S. version, called Kamen Rider Dragon Knight, a young guy named Kit Taylor is constantly getting into trouble and being wrongly accused of being a juvenile delinquent, while he broods about his missing father. And it turns out his dad was actually kidnapped to another dimension by the evil General Xaviax, who is imprisoning and enslaving humans. Then Kit gets hold of an Advent Deck that lets him create weapons and armor, and he gets recruited by a Dragon Knight named Len, who teaches him to be a Dragon Knight too. It's a fun kids' show, and the stunts, from the original Japanese version, are pretty awesome.
The Wang brothers explained that they use a lot of the Japanese action and special-effects footage for budgetary reasons. But their version doesn't follow the original Japanese storyline at all. They used some of the concepts and a few of the characters, but for the most part it's all an original story.
"The original Japanese story is really different. It's way darker than we'd be allowed to do in America," explains Mike Wang. "It's very bloody. People get kidnapped. [And] it's way complicated. When i was watching the subtitled version, I didn't understand what was happening sometimes." Also, the Japanese version doesn't have one main villain, like General Xaviax. Instead it's more like Highlander, with people dueling and battling, and whoever wins gets a wish granted. Also, the Japanese version has a new Kamen Rider ever year, and the Wang brothers aren't sure if they'll follow that model in a second season.
The American version is more of a coming-of-age tale, with a strong focus on good versus evil and saving the world. Kit faces a lot of situations that aren't easy to face, and has to make a lot of tough decisions. So far, the response from fans of the Japanese show has been pretty positive, except for a few die-hards.
"For us, it was a big honor to do this show," says Steve Wang. "We're treating it with a lot of respect." So it's great that some fans like their version better than the original.
Another change from the Japanese version: The Wang brothers expanded the roles of a few of the main riders. One of them is a female Kamen Rider, the first in the history of the franchise. "It's important to us to expand her role," says Steve Wang. She shows up in episode 21 (out of 40) and plays a really important role in the story.
Kamen Rider is more mature and sophisticated than Power Rangers, the Wang brothers insist. There's more of a serialized story, and less monster-of-the-week stuff. Doing a more episodic format was not even an option for Kamen Rider becuase of the nature of the Japanese footage. They want it to be along the lines of other addictive serialized shows, like Macross/Robotech.
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight appears Saturdays at 11:30 on the CW.


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BARCELONA, Spain – Fernando Alonso's emotional comeback win at the European Grand Prix last Sunday has finally set one driver apart from the pack in the most tightly contested Formula One season in history.
Alonso steered his Ferrari from an 11th-place start to a dramatic victory at Valencia to become the first driver to win two races this year, opening up a 20-point gap over his nearest challenger, Red Bull's Mark Webber.
Now the Spaniard and his team are trying to focus on the British GP on July 8, when Alonso will seek to repeat his triumph at Silverstone last season.
"These 25 points will definitely not go to our heads," Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said. "We are well aware how things can change in the blink of an eye and we must continue to work on improving the car's performance because it is still not at the level we want."
Alonso called the win in front of his home fans one of the best of his 29-win career. It featured a display of daring driving as he passed various front-runners on the notoriously hard-to-overtake street circuit.
Becoming the sole driver with two victories in a season that has seen seven different winners in the first seven races also gave him a commanding lead over the other major candidates for the title.
While Alonso collected the 25 points for the win, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel failed to finish the race. After eight races Alonso has a 23-point lead over Hamilton, with Vettel another three points behind the English driver.
Even so, the two-time champion was hesitant to claim he has taken control of the championship race.
"I think we always need to be cautious and we always need to be honest with ourselves first and with our supporters, saying that we will fight, will work day and night to be competitive and to fight for the title which is the ultimate goal for Ferrari," Alonso said. "The championship should be the target, considering the history and the level of the team."
Alonso's unexpected victory underscored why he's considered one of F1's best ever, but he reminded his fans and team that only managing 11th in Saturday's qualifying showed this year's Ferrari still needs improvement. His teammate Felipe Massa struggled all weekend, qualifying 13th and then sliding to a 16th-place finish in the race.
"We were in 11th and 13th place, so we need to work," said Alonso. "It's true that we believe and we will never give up, we will have confidence in ourselves and we will arrive with optimism at every grand prix we go to, but at the same time, apart from winning today ... we know that we are not in the position that we want to be and there are a few cars quicker than us and we cannot be blind to that."
If Ferrari still had doubts following its driver's big win, then McLaren and Red Bull had even larger ones.
Hamilton was heading for a decent point haul at Valencia, hanging onto third place, when Williams driver Pastor Maldonado bumped him off the track and out of the race on the penultimate lap. The incident overshadowed McLaren's own troubles that included fading pace down the stretch due to spent tires and a botched pit stop that cost Hamilton valuable seconds and positions.
"(It) was just a bad day in the office, but that's motor racing, and I'm already looking forward to the next grand prix, my home race at Silverstone," said Hamilton, who had gone into the Spanish race at the top of the points standings.
Vettel's concerns are surely deeper as the two-time defending champion looked set to claim his third straight win at the European GP after starting from pole and opening up a huge lead, but his Red Bull suddenly stalled midway through the race.
Just a few laps later Romain Grosjean's Lotus suffered a similar shutdown, robbing the young French driver of a chance to finish on the podium.
Both cars are powered by Renault engines, suggesting a common cause.
"It was a bitterly disappointing race for Sebastian who had done everything right," said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. "He looked to be in comfortable control of the race until we had a suspected issue with the alternator, which caused him to retire. We need to get the car back to fully understand the failure which we will work through with Renault, as it looked similar to the one that Grosjean had."
Red Bull leads the constructors' title race with 176 points. McLaren has 137, Lotus 126 and Ferrari 122.


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Secular Group Threatens Lawsuit Against Ohio Holocaust Memorial Over Star of David Symbol
A Wisconsin-based secular group has sent a letter to an Ohio city promising legal action should a recently approved Holocaust Memorial design be built at a government building.
Freedom From Religion Foundation of Madison has sent correspondence to Columbus' Ohio Statehouse noting their opposition to the memorial over its inclusion of a Star of David symbol.
In a letter sent to those determining the design for the memorial last month, FFRF co-presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, argued that the Star of David in the winning design was too religious.
"I think that the Star of David is a religious symbol, and religious symbols, we have been told on several occasions, are not permissible on Statehouse grounds," wrote Barker and Gaylor.
"To align the State of Ohio with one religion and its sacred symbol - even a minority religion for a worthy memorial - would dishonor the truest protection our country has against a similar Holocaust on our shores: the precious constitutional principle separating religion from government."
Ohio's Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board approved a design Thursday for a $1.8 million privately funded Holocaust Memorial for the Ohio Statehouse.
The winning design was created by Daniel Libeskind, the architect behind the new World Trade Center and himself the son of Holocaust survivors.
Reportedly the first Holocaust Memorial for any U.S. Statehouse, Libeskind's design won the vote of everyone in the nine-member Board save Chairman Richard Finan, who voiced concerns over a possible church-state lawsuit.
Consideration of various designs, including some which lacked any religious symbols, had been going on for months up until this week.
The group Ohio Jewish Communities has overseen donations for the future memorial, with their mission statement laying out their desire to "create a memorial that would help legislators and visitors to The Statehouse understand not just the history of the Holocaust, but the fact that today we must stand against evil."
While Finan and the FFRF have voiced their opposition to the proposed memorial, others including many Jewish groups have rejoiced at the news.
Steve Freeman, director of legal affairs at the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement that the FFRF's claims of religious endorsement were invalid.
"Jews were forced to wear the star during the Holocaust. ... There's no denying the Holocaust was an attempt at genocide of the Jewish people," said Freeman.
"Certainly the Star of David is a religious symbol, but in this context, the reason they might be using it is not to endorse or promote Judaism."
While the memorial has been approved and a site at the statehouse grounds chosen, the expected date of completion has not yet been set.


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Edwardsville Kitchen Renovations
The kitchen is such a vital part of anyone's home. This is where a homemaker usually starts the day preparing food for the family. It is also where the family would get together to just talk about their day while maybe on their way to fetch some snacks. That is why it is expected for homeowners to desire kitchen renovations to liven up family interactions even more.
Good news? Sash Group is an expert in transforming your kitchen into a more attractive and functional area in your home!
We understand that everyone's kitchen is different, and it would make sense for you to feel comfortable inside that kitchen. Opting for a new look or vibe for your kitchen can be a bit daunting at the same time exciting. Aside from truly enjoying our work, that is another reason why we want to be part of your kitchen renovation journey.
Remodeling your kitchen is a project that can undoubtedly come with immense benefits but, unfortunately, also with some headaches. Tackling the work on your own may save you a more costly expenditure, but the renovation could stretch on for months, and you may need to live without a kitchen for a while.
Hiring a professional to help you work on your kitchen renovation will get the job done much faster. Although it may incur a bit more cost, the result will be a gleaming new kitchen that can make your home a much more liveable space. With Sash Group, the process will be worth every penny you will spend.
Re-imagine your kitchen, and we will help you achieve the kitchen of your dreams! With so many ideas to revamp the space and update your kitchen into a more modern version, you'll want to get started right away. Start the process with us!
Contact Sash Group at (913) 355-6311 for a free consultation with a Edwardsville kitchen renovation expert now.
Preparing for Your Kitchen Remodeling
When you start working with us, we will help you address the following factors of your kitchen revamp:
Wants and Needs
Before starting the whole renovation process, you need to go around your kitchen and identify the places you want to get fixed. Look back on the countless times you have been in your kitchen and ask yourself what the reoccurring problems you always experience are.
It would be beneficial for you to have a list of things you want your new kitchen to have and prioritize these according to their importance. Distinguishing between the wants and the needs of your kitchen will prove to be essential. It will help you and our team of renovation experts in creating a kitchen space made just for you and your family.
Reality Check
Dealing with the logistics of your remodeling and the expense involved in the work are the realities of a kitchen renovation project that you will need to confront early on.
Turning your old kitchen upside down and turning your dream kitchen into a reality is no easy feat. Working with Sash Group for your kitchen renovation will allow your workload to be much lighter, and, in no time, your dream kitchen will be yours to use and enjoy.
The Inevitable Compromise
Things may not always go the way you plan, so it is essential to establish a mindset that is willing to compromise right from the beginning. You should be willing to figure out ways to cut the costs of your kitchen remodeling project without compromising the quality of your ideal kitchen space.
You can opt to use reclaimed cabinets and other materials to create a unique vintage kitchen look that is inexpensive. Whatever your circumstances are, rest assured that Sash Group will help you with the planning, design, and management of workers.
Working with Professionals
A renovated kitchen adds value to your estate and can make your home a more comfortable living space that you can enjoy with the people you care about. With a big project such as remodeling a kitchen, it is important to work with the right people and contractors. Doing this will eliminate the extra time and effort you will lose in trying to do the work all by yourself.
Working with us will be the best choice you can make for your home. A remodeled kitchen can be a center of gathering for your family. Here in Sash Group, we have the professionals capable of providing you with the best possible service in Edwardsville, KS, intent on making sure your kitchen renovation can better serve you and your family.
Contact an expert from Sash Group at (913) 355-6311 for a free consultation and let us help you with your kitchen renovation in Edwardsville now!