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Press Release: Carnegie Mellon Celebrates National Robotics Week With Daniel Wilson Lecture, Robot Races and Demonstrations
National Event Emphasizes Growing Importance of Tech Education
Contact: Byron Spice / 412-268-9068 / email@example.com
PITTSBURGH-Carnegie Mellon University will celebrate National Robotics Week with a lecture by author and Robotics Institute alumnus Daniel H. Wilson, the annual Mobot mobile robot races and robot demonstrations by Robotics Institute researchers.
These public events will be April 18-19, coinciding with the university's annual Spring Carnival. National Robotics Week this year is geared toward inspiring the next generation of innovators to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Wilson, who earned his Ph.D. in robotics at CMU in 2005, is the author of the best-selling "Robopocalypse," a techno-thriller about a robot uprising that is slated to be made into a movie directed by Stephen Spielberg, and "Amped," a thriller set in Pittsburgh's Allderdice High School involving students with neural implants that give them superior intelligence.
Wilson will draw on his experience in both real-world robotics and in science fiction as he presents the annual Teruko Yata Memorial Lecture. In his talk, "Sci-fi Destroys the Future, Science Builds It," he will explore how the exchange of ideas between Hollywood and academia may help prepare humankind for the disruptive changes that accompany new technology. The lecture is at noon on April 18 in the Rashid Auditorium in the Gates and Hillman centers.
The School of Computer Science will host the 19th annual Mobot Races from noon to 2 p.m. on April 19. Participants, including undergraduates and alumni, will race small autonomous vehicles through a slalom course on the paved walk outside Doherty and Wean halls. The award ceremony is at 3 p.m. in Rashid Auditorium.
Also on April 19, the Robotics Institute, the largest university-affiliated robotics research group in the world, will host exhibits and demonstrations from noon to 4 p.m. in the Planetary Robotics Laboratory on the first floor of the Gates and Hillman centers. Tours of two additional labs are available for a limited number of participants who pre-register.
Pre-registration is requested for the Wilson lecture as well as the Robotics Institute tours. More information on CMU's National Robotics Week events is available at http://www.ri.cmu.edu/rinrw.
Congress established National Robotics Week in 2010 to raise awareness about robots and their important role in shaping the future of education, industry and the U.S. economy. Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania's 14th District and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Robotics, introduced the enabling resolution. More than 125 events are scheduled across all 50 states.
Follow the School of Computer Science on Twitter @SCSatCMU.
Pictured above is Daniel H. Wilson, who earned his Ph.D. in robotics at CMU in 2005. He is the New York Times best-selling author of "Robopocalypse."


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Words of strength. The WTA lined up its stars in Japan to voice their support for a country that has struggled since the massive earthquake this spring caused severe tsunami damage and the radiation and flooding disasters. Classy move, gals.
TSF Vault: Clijsters lends a hand to Japan | The men, too
More: WTA Japan photos


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PAWTUCKET, R.I. – This is not the Easy-Bake Oven you remember.
The latest version of the famous toy oven first marketed in 1963 with a carrying handle and a fake stove top is now all curves and purple and snazzy graphics. And — perhaps most shocking of all — it comes with a new instruction: No light bulb necessary.
Chalk it up as an unintended consequence of the federal government's move to phase out the incandescent light bulb. The compact fluorescents that are becoming the new standard for household use are so energy efficient that they're useless in baking a brownie — or any of the other miniature treats the Easy-Bake has been cooking up for nearly 50 years.
Initially, news of the death of the 100-watt bulb prompted rumors that the Easy-Bake might be going the same way. Instead, the toy got its 11th redesign, at the heart of which is a new heating element much like that of a traditional oven.
The forced re-engineering also handed Hasbro an excuse to give the Easy-Bake — which in the 1960s and 1970s came in the era's popular kitchen décor colors — its most modern makeover yet.
"This gave us a reason to do it completely differently," said Michelle Paolino, a vice president of global brand strategy and marketing at Hasbro.
"We wanted it to look more like a real appliance, not a plastic toy," she said.
About the size of a big bread box, the Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven is clearly designed to fit on any kitchen counter, assuming a parent is willing to shell out $49.99, a steep hike from the last model's price tag of $29.99.
"It looks sort of like an Art Deco toaster with wings — a purple one," said Patricia Hogan, curator at The Strong, which includes the National Museum of Play and the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y. "It's just so cool."
The oven targets girls between 8 and 12. The beauty of the oven, the company and users say, is that children can mix and bake mostly themselves — the food gets pushed in one end of the oven, cooks, then comes out the other side. Still, Hasbro says parental supervision is required.
The company says the cooking chamber temperature of the new model can reach approximately 375 degrees; the outside of the oven remains only warm to the touch.
Hasbro says the product, voluntarily recalled in 2007 because of reports of burns, meets all safety regulations. Nearly a million ovens were recalled after reports of children getting their fingers or hands stuck in its opening and suffering sometimes serious burns; a 5-year-old girl was injured so badly she had to have part of her finger amputated.
Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2006, the Easy-Bake Oven has become something of an icon, spawning at least one "gourmet" cookbook that includes recipes from Food Network chef Bobby Flay. Some families, to be frugal, would use regular, less expensive cake mixes than the Easy-Bake ones, or create their own.
Jenn Romig, 31, of Denver, got an Easy-Bake for Christmas in the 1980s and loved it. Her favorite was the heart-shaped pan, which she used to make little cakes that she served to her two brothers.
"I think they wanted to" use the oven themselves, she said, "but it seemed girly. So they just would eat whatever I made."
She didn't know at first what was behind the oven's magic — until one day the bulb needed changing.
"It was kind of sad for me," she said.
Joe Cacciola, president of Fuzion Design Inc., the Pawtucket-based firm that worked with Hasbro on the Easy-Bake's redesign over the last two years, says having to eliminate the light bulb has been something of a blessing.
He says the new heating element allows for more consistent heat — no hotspots near the bulb — and an overall better bake. There's also no need for parents to open the insides to screw in a bulb.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the redesign has also brought an up-sizing of portions. Cacciola says the heating chamber is about 50 percent larger, and the new rectangular cooking pan, a departure from the traditional round one, can hold more and bigger snacks.
Cacciola knows a thing or two about the Easy-Bake, having worked for Hasbro himself, including on that toy line. (He also helped launch the Queasy Bake Cookerator, an ill-fated attempt to get boys in on the fun by allowing them to bake grossly named edibles like Chocolate Crud Cake and Dip 'N Drool Dog Bones.) He says the approach designers took on the new Ultimate Oven was a blend of evolution with revolution.
The first Easy-Bake, manufactured by Kenner, now a division of Hasbro, came on the market in 1963. It was turquoise, boxy and cost $15.95; parents bought 500,000 in the first year alone. The oven has always reflected the times, at least in part: In 1965, Hasbro introduced TV-dinner-like trays that were split into three sections. The kid-cooked mini-meal consisted of beef and macaroni, peas and carrots.
By the 1980s, the oven was white and had a high-low setting switch. By 1993, it had gone pink.
In 2003, Hasbro introduced a version of the oven without a light bulb, called the Real Meal Oven, which looked less like an oven and more like a microwave. But it opted to go back to the light bulb with the next redesign.
Along with the latest model comes a new line of Easy-Bake mixes; Paolino says they're trendier snacks. There's a pink-and-brown "checkerboard" cake, for instance, along with whoopie pies, party pretzel "dippers" and cinnamon twists.
The cook time is about the same with the new heating element, about 15 minutes on average.
"It's just like a real oven," says Paolino, before reflecting on the Easy-Bake the way it once was: "It's pretty amazing what a 100-watt light bulb can do."


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Taking a look into optimal pH levels when growing cannabis and their associated nutrient availability. The first thing any cannabis cultivator needs to check when growing cannabis for optimal results, is the pH levels of the medium being usedand of course the nutrients/water being feed to them.
The cannabis plant thrives in slightly acidic pH levels. Soil growers should aim for a pH range of 6 - 6.7 , Where as Hydro growers should go slightly
lower which helps prevent pythium and other forms of root rot keeping that in mind the ideal range for a hydro grower is between 5.6 - 6.2 the only exception to this in a hydro ponic medium is in the case of coco where the ph should be closer to the range used in soil grows however not allowed to fluctuate past 6.5


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Voting Members speak at the microphones during the debate on the ELCA Studies on Sexuality.
Pr. Herbert Chilstrom during Plenary Session Nine
Pr. Gerald Kieshnick; President; The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS)
Bp. Stephen Blaire, chair of the Bishops, Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Assembly prays before each major vote.
Folks from Good Soil - wearing rainbow stoles - and Solid Rock Lutherans - with Luther Rose stickers - fill the visitor section today.
Visitors listen as intently as Voting Members.
Voting Members seriously consider the actions before them.
Even late in the plenary session, this crossword puzzle has not even been started.
Big screens help Voting Members keep track of Assembly business. There are seven big screens and two smaller monitors in the plenary hall.
Voting Members express appreciation for the open captioning.
"Go to Worship!"
Voting Members head to worship after the morning Plenary Session on the consideration of recommendations on the ELCA Studies on Sexuality.
Bishop April Ulring Larson, La Crosse Area Synod
Sr. Anne Keefer, Director, ELCA Deaconness Community, Chicago, read the lessons for Friday's Holy Communion service.
Passing of Peace
Passing of Peace amongst Ecumenical guests at the morning Worship service.
Passing of Peace during Friday morning's Worship service.
Communion Assistants
Cindy Cowen, Pr. Victoria Hamilton and Janet Brewer
The Rev. Kenneth M. Ruppar from Lutheran Church of Our Saviour wears a Davey and Goliath pin in support of bringing the original episodes back to television.
Signs from different groups wanting to influence the decisions of the Assembly.
Visitors to the Churchwide Assembly (along with some Voting Members) stand in the Voting Members section of the plenary hall.
The Assembly considers changes to recommendation three concerning the ordination of people in committed same-sex unions.
The Assembly considers recommendation three concerning the ordination of people in committed same-sex unions. The recommendation failed.
Bp. Stephen Blaire (chair of the Bishops Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) commented on the Assemblys theme Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever, on the Roman Catholic Lutheran Joint Declaration on Justification by Faith, and the desire to share Holy Communion. Bp. Blaire brought greetings from the Roman Catholic Church to the Assembly.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson entertained questions at a news conference after the Assembly decisions on the Sexuality Studies recommendations.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook has warned of "dire consequences" if tech companies can't protect the privacy of those who use their products.
Giving up our privacy to digital technologies exposes us to greater risks than just identity theft and financial losses—serious though those things are, Cook said in a brief speech at a cybersecurity summit in Silicon Valley on Friday.
"History has shown us that sacrificing our right to privacy can have dire consequences," Cook said.
"We still live in a world where all people are not treated equally," he said, "where too many people do not feel free to practice their religion or express their opinion or love who they choose, a world in which that information can make the difference between life or death."
He may have been alluding to oppressive regimes that punish citizens for political beliefs or their sexual orientation. But speaking to an audience that includes U.S. policy makers, Cook's remarks are also a reminder of the government's need to protect privacy as it conducts its digital surveillance campaigns.
"If those of us in positions of responsibility fail to do everything in our power to protect the right of privacy, we risk something far more valuable than money. We risk our way of life," he said.
Cook spoke at a summit convened by the White House, where President Barack Obama was expected to sign an executive order later Friday making it easier for the government to share sensitive information about cyberthreats with the private sector.
Google, Microsoft and other big tech companies sent representatives to the summit, but Apple was the only one that sent its CEO, possibly reflecting divisions between Silicon Valley and the U.S. government over its surveillance programs.
Cook spoke for only 12 minutes but crammed a lot in. He took a jab at companies like Google and Facebook whose business models are based largely on personal data they collect about their users.
"We have a business model that focuses on selling the best products and services in the world, not on selling your personal data," Cook said.
Apple's products are built with security in mind from their inception, he said.
Still, Apple has been far from perfect in protecting privacy. iCloud was hacked last year and nude photographs of dozens of celebrities were stolen and posted on the Internet. Apple had to strengthen its security afterward to try to prevent a repeat.
Cook also plugged Apple Pay, which he presented as a more secure alternative to debit cards. Starting in September, he said, people will be able to use the mobile payment service for certain federal government transactions, like gaining access to national parks.
"We can imagine a day in the not distant future when the wallet becomes a remnant of the past," Cook said.
Until then, the threat of identity theft and financial crimes remains very real. "The personal impact of these security breaches can be devastating," Cook said.


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Apple is reportedly acquiring mapping app developer Embark, in a move that could lend more real-time navigation features for public transit to Apple's own Maps app.
The acquisition, which was first reported by tech journalist Jessica Lessin, follows several other recent mapping purchases for Apple: HopStop, another maker of apps for public transit directions; and Locationary, which provides data about local businesses; and WifiSLAM, an indoor location and mapping company.
[ Apple's Cook: Use Google, Bing, Nokia -- anything but Apple Maps. | For quick, smart takes on the news you'll be talking about, check out InfoWorld Tech Brief -- subscribe today. | Read Bill Snyder's Tech's Bottom Line blog for what the key business trends mean to you. ]
Apple did not directly confirm its acquisition of Embark, but in an emailed statement said, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
Apple declined to comment further on the deal.
Apple has faced some serious challenges over the past year in providing a consistently solid mapping product with its Maps app. Last September Apple CEO Tim Cook was forced to publicly apologize for a series of issues plaguing the company's Maps app in Apple's iOS 6 operating system.
Embark is a company based in the San Francisco Bay Area that makes a mobile mapping app designed to help people navigate mass transit systems. The company's app provides "tailored trips" specific to the user's region, along with notifications for late-running trains and other advisories and closures.
Embark's technology, if it does find its way into a future Apple product, could enhance Apple's mapping products and make the company a stronger competitor to rivals like Google. Google's Maps app already offers real-time public transit navigation features, as do some smaller players like iTransitBuddy.
Embark's app is available for free on the iPhone for 10 transit systems including Boston's MBTA, Chicago's L, the New York City Subway, and San Francisco's BART and Caltrain systems, with more on the way, according to Embark's website.
It is not clear whether Embark's app will be shut down as part of the acquisition. The app was still available in Apple's App Store at the time of this article's posting.
Embark's team could not be immediately reached to comment on the deal.
Google, meanwhile, has been rolling out a series of enhancements to its Maps app in recent weeks. The service got more real-time traffic alerts just this week, based on Google's recent acquisition of crowdsourced mapping developer Waze. Separately, the Google Maps app received some other navigation tools last month, which came from other data providers such as TomTom.
Zach Miners covers social networking, search and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow Zach on Twitter at @zachminers. Zach's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Greystone was built following the famous Kirkbride Plan by architect Samuel Sloan. The original building was 673,700 square feet and was deemed as the largest single building in the United States until surpassed by the Pentagon in 1943. The center main section of Greystone was for administrative purposes with various patient wings sprawling outwards from the center. Each wing was first set up to roughly house 20 patients each. The hospital had 40 wards which split into two wings detaching from the administrative section. The wings were separated by sex.
By the late 1890's, the hospital was already operating over capacity. Initially, the facility was set to hold 800 patients, by the late 1890's it was housing around 1,189 patients. In the early 1900's, the complex began building more dormitory buildings to accommodate the increase in patients. In 1912, a tuberculosis pavilion was constructed on the grounds to meet the needs of the expanding outbreak in the time period. Annexes were placed in the dormitory buildings in 1917 due to the patient population still seeing a significant increase each year. Cottages were constructed with the intent to have nurses and physicians live within their own separate quarters. Most notable are the Voorhees Cottage and the Knight Cottage. The Clinic Building was built in 1923 and all medical procedures were to be performed within the specific building. The Curry Building, named after Superintendent Marcus Curry, opened in 1927 as the new reception building. Through the years of 1929 and 1930, 3 fires broke out within the main building. The most devastating destroyed the central tower on November 26, 1930. In 1947, Greystone participated with Columbia University in a major study regarding lobotomies. They concluded the practice was barbaric and not causing any form of relief in patients. This changed the world of mental health care as the report called for the halting of the practice altogether.
In the modern era, Greystone struggled with the same problems as most large state-run mental health facilities. New psychiatric drugs were causing the need for such large facilities to become obsolete. The giant Kirkbride building was becoming expensive to maintain. A new hospital building was set to be built by Governor Todd Whitman and completed in the early 2000's. During the years of 2005-2008, the state began to demolish most of the "out buildings" that fell into disrepair. On July 16, 2008, all patients were moved to the new hospital. The beautiful Kirkbride soon fell completely vacant after administrative services made the move shortly after.
Morris County had purchased the land from the state and began construction on the park that occupies the land today off Central Ave. In 2013, the State of New Jersey announced the proposal of demolition of the historic Kirkbride. This caused an uproar in the community across the entire state and a group called Preserve Greystone was formed. The following years proved to be one of the most corrupt times with the State of NJ Government, leading to the complete demolition in 2015. Please visit our friends over at Antiquity Echoes to learn, with great detail, the entire timeline of corrupt demolition of one of the most historic buildings in America.
I think it would be easier for me to try and remember what I ate on the first Saturday afternoon of July of '98 than to be able to type all of my thoughts about Greystone into a few small paragraphs for this website. Yet, here we are, so I'll give it a shot. Much like Marlboro or Overbrook, my friends and I grew up in the "Weird NJ" era of reading the urban legends behind these infamous institutions, to finally being old enough to get in the car and drive ourselves to them and get the facts firsthand. Nothing could have prepared us for how massive Greystone would actually be the first time we laid eyes on it driving up Central Ave. At that time, several of the outbuildings still remained. There were no soccer fields or playgrounds, at least none that I can really recall. Maybe a few recreational spots further down the road, but this end of Central Ave belonged to Greystone, and nothing more. Never in a million years would I have ever expected this to change, even as the landscape slowly shape-shifted over the next half-decade or so. Eventually, Greystone was reduced to nothing more than dust and memories. But that's something I don't care to talk about often, if at all.
I prefer to remember Greystone very differently than I'm sure would be acceptable to the average person in New Jersey. It was so much more to me than bricks and stones. Really only one word comes to mind for me to describe it: dualism. Greystone was a powerhouse of history, both of architecture and of medicine. At the same time, it was by far the most incredible place I have ever explored. It's almost contradictory to be in love with a place so much that you want it to be resurrected from the dead and restored back to the life, but at the same time are still trying to discover every single secret the place has to offer. I always felt very selfish not wanting to give up our playground, but ultimately I always stood by the preservation efforts. Some of my fondest memories I hold dear to me are the various adventures to Greystone. The first times we went there, my general rule of "just casually walk up and I'm sure there's a way in" always panned out. I was somehow arranging meet-ups for a dozen or more people at a time, escorting them inside the building, coming back out, going to QuickChek to grab everyone snacks, shuttling the next group in and so on. At points, I felt like a sort of unofficial tour guide of the Kirkbride. People would message me from different states asking to come pay a visit, and I would happily oblige. It took me a few years before I fully realized how much of a prize Greystone truly was.
Although I spent a lot of time there, I still feel like it wasn't enough. During the demolition, we made it a point to be there on an almost daily basis. Each time I watched the machines take another dig at the building, I would think "there's no way this is going to keep going, someone is going to stop this." Ultimately, we all know how that turned out. One of the final times I was in there was when the wings had already been taken down, and demolition of admin had begun. It was risky and exceptionally dangerous. I remember the crisp summer night, the nearly full moon, just enough light between that and the streetlights. There were holes in the side of the building, huge chunks of stone and pipes dangling overhead. It looked like a war zone. We made a run for it, and we were in. We paid our final respects in the chapel, took a few more looks around, and not long after, the fabled asylum was no more.
My epitaph for this location will always remain "Greystone: A Victim of Political Greed".
Greystone [Part 1] (2012)
Greystone [Part 2] (2012)
Greystone Raw Footage (2015 Demolition)
A Tribute to Greystone (2015)
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SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Earthquakes announced on Tuesday that longtime captain Ramiro Corrales will retire following the 2013 season. Corrales, 36, is the last remaining player in Major League Soccer to appear in a match during the league's inaugural season in 1996.
"It's been an honor playing much of my career here in San Jose," Corrales said. "I have a lot of great memories, from that first season in 1996 to the MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003 to the expansion season in 2008. It's been a great ride and I'd like to thank everybody – fans, players, coaches – for their support along the way."
Corrales' name litters the Earthquakes' record books. He is the club's all-time leader in games played (249), starts (227) and minutes played (20,117). The Salinas native is also No. 4 in Earthquakes history with 32 assists and No. 11 with 16 goals. Corrales is also No. 17 in MLS history with 306 appearances.
"Ramiro was a phenomenal player and one of the best this club has ever had," said Earthquakes general manager John Doyle. "I think it was great to be able to play with Ramiro and see him mature from a 19-year-old kid to a grown man. His contributions over the years have meant a lot to this organization."
The 15-year MLS veteran began his career as the No. 81 overall pick by the Columbus Crew in the 1996 Inaugural Player Draft. He was immediately traded to the San Jose Clash for a second round pick in the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft and made his debut on April 28, 1996 against the LA Galaxy as an 87th-minute substitute for Victor Melia.
Corrales played two seasons with the Clash before joining the Miami Fusion via the 1997 Expansion Draft. After starting the 1998 season with the Fusion and making one appearance, Corrales was on the move again, this time heading to the MetroStars in exchange for defender Carlos Parra. During the next two and a half years, Corrales recorded five assists in 56 appearances with the MetroStars and helped them reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in 1998 and 2000.
On February 22, 2001, Corrales was on his way back to San Jose after the Earthquakes traded goalkeeper Paul Grafer to the MetroStars for the veteran defender. Corrales became a key member of the squad during its most successful stint in the league, helping San Jose to MLS Cup titles in 2001 and 2003. He recorded career highs in goals and assists in 2002 with three and nine, respectively, and was a mainstay in the starting lineup from 2002-04.
After four successful seasons in San Jose, Corrales decided to make a move to Europe. He signed with Norwegian side Hamarkameratene (Ham-Kam) following the 2004 MLS season and remained there until being transferred to SK Brann in 2007. He was named team MVP with Ham-Kam in 2006 and helped SK Brann win its first league title in 44 years in 2007.
Corrales returned to San Jose for good in 2008. The Earthquakes traded for Corrales' right of first refusal from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for allocation money, paving the way for his homecoming. Since his return, Corrales has notched seven goals and 18 assists in 128 games. He had one of the best seasons of his career at 35 years old in 2012, turning in two goals and seven assists while helping the club to its second Supporters' Shield.
"On behalf of the Earthquakes, I would like to thank Ramiro Corrales for his tremendous achievements with the club," said club president Dave Kaval. "Ramiro has literally grown up with this team, from its creation in 1996 to where we are now. He's meant a great deal to the organization over the years and we wish him all the best in his post-playing career."
Internationally, Corrales earned six caps for the United States National Team and represented his home country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia. His first appearance for the senior team came on Oct. 16 against Peru in Lima.
Courtesy San Jose Earthquakes media services


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5 Reasons Why the Celtics Can Still Win the Series
1. Ray Allen will not have a repeat performance. After his historic performance in Game 2, Allen looked flat out terrible last night. He shot 0-13 from the field, 0-8 from downtown, and scored only two points. After his best ever performance in Boston's lone win in the series, this was undoubtedly the worst of his career. Personally, I think there's no way in hell that happens again. If Ray makes four of his shots from the field and a two of the treys, the Celtics win that game. The fact that the game was so close and the Celtics were essentially playing without one of their top scorers, tells me Boston can easily win this series. The rest of the starting five were solid. None of them had a negative +/-. L.A. guard Derek Fisher knows this was a one time thing, "Ray Allen's not going to miss all of his shots, Thursday night, that's not going to happen."
3. Games 4 and 5 are in Boston. I realize L.A. just won Game 3 in the Garden, and I realize home-court advantage hasn't done much for the Celts so far this year. I know Boston can win on the road, but a packed TD Banknorth Garden will show them the support they need to take these next two games. More importantly, the referees may actually give them a few more calls than they did in the first two games in Los Angeles. The Lakers shot ten more free throws than the Celtics in Games 1 and 2. In Game 3, both teams had 24 attempts from the charity stripe. Hopefully the trend continues and the C's can get some more points while the clocks not running.
4. Fish won't be left open again. Derek Fisher is not a playmaker. He is unable to create off the dribble, but he does knock down open shots. The Celts gave him those open looks and as Doc put it, "Derek Fisher was the difference in the game." Most of his points came off of the 1-2 pick and roll he was running with Kobe. It's really a great play as the Celtics can't really switch as that would leave Rondo on Bryant. However, if Rondo could just get over the screen a little quicker and the big man on the block would step up; this play would not be nearly as successful. Those "chase" type plays are perfect for guys like Big Baby get in position and take a charge. Unfortunately, in Game 3, the big man always watched the play and got stuck under the basket. I'm sure Doc is hitting on that play repeatedly in the film session, and the C's will come out prepared for it Thursday night.


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The Secret Beyond Matter
Prophet Solomon (pbuh)
Prophet Solomons (pbuh) Death
Then when We decreed that he [Solomon] should die, nothing divulged his death to them except the earthworm that ate his staff; so that when he fell down, it was made clear to the jinns that if they had truly had knowledge of the Unseen, they need not have stayed there, suffering humiliating punishment. (Qur'an, 34:14)
The Qur'an does not contain much information about the prophets' deaths. However, it does relate some important details about Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) death. For example, at the moment of his death he was surrounded by jinns who probably were trying to complete their assigned tasks. Not realizing that he was dead, they continued to work. This verse suggests that the jinns do not have any true knowledge of the Unseen, for if they did, they would have stopped working. As this verse emphasizes the words humiliating punishment, they were working very hard on a task and were afraid of Prophet Solomon (pbuh). Thus, they did not stop when he died as they did not realize he was dead until the staff broke.
The words in Arabic translated here as earthworm are dabbat al-ard. Dabba means animal or beast. Coming from debbe, which means a light walking or to struggle, it is used for animals and insects. Ard means ground or floor. Therefore, the expression dabbat al-ard can be thought of as referring to any animal, not just the earthworm.


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SA Orthopaedic Journal
On-line version ISSN 2309-8309
Print version ISSN 1681-150X
SA orthop. j. vol.10 n.2 Centurion Jan. 2011
Infection following open reduction and internal fixation of an unstable thoracolumbar fracture of the spine the need to know the HIV status of patients - a case report
M Lukhele
Prof. MBChB, FCS(Orth)SA, MMed(Orth) Head of Department, Division of Orthopaedics, University of Witwatersrand
The prevalence of HIV-positive patient is high in the sub-Saharan region. This is a report of two unknown asymptomatic HIV carriers presenting with major thoracolumbar fractures for emergency management. The patients' results were complicated by delayed infection. The cases demonstrate the need to know the HIV status in a major orthopaedic trauma setting to enable additional treatment to be implemented that may improve the treatment outcome.
Key words: infection, spine trauma, asymptomatic HIV carrier
Case 1
A 28-year-old male taxi driver fell from the third floor of a building and presented with a painful back. He was generally well. He was tender over the thoracolumbar spine and had no neurological fallout. X-rays and CT scan of the thoracolumbar spine confirmed a flexion distraction injury at L1/L2 (AO type B1). He also had a stable right pubic ramus fracture. Two days later the spine was stabilised with rods and pedicle screws at L1 and L2. A bone graft was inserted between L1 and L2. After surgery he rehabilitated well. He was discharged home nine days post operation, walking independently without any aids. At the six-week follow-up visit, he was well and walking independently, and the wounds had healed with no signs of infection. He did not report for the subsequent scheduled follow up visits.
Four years later he presented with progressive back pain which he had had over the past year. He had recently noticed fluid draining from the operation scar. He looked chronically ill and had generalised lymphadenopathy. He had altered sensation on the left lower limb with weakness of Oxford grade 4 from L2 level on that limb. Blood examinations confirmed him to be HIV positive with a CD4 count of 100 cells/ml and an albumin of 27 gm/l. X-rays showed sclerosis suggestive of chronic osteitis at L1/L2 with loosening and backing out of the pedicle screws (Figure 1). Staphylococcus aureus which was sensitive to cloxacillin was cultured from the draining scar.
While waiting for removal of implants on an elective theatre list, he lost his bladder and bowel sphincter control. His motor power to the lower limbs deteriorated to Oxford grade 0 on the right and grade 2 on the left.
An urgent MRI showed a collection of pus at the level of L3 compressing the cauda equina (Figure 2). He was taken to the operating theatre as an emergency where all the pus was drained and the spine implants were removed. The fusion at L1/L2 was found to be solid. Post operation he was started on antiretroviral treatment and a high protein diet. The wound continued to drain. He later developed diarrhoea and hypotension. He was managed for septic shock with the assistance of the intensive care physicians but failed to respond and later demised.
Case 2
A 44-year-old farm worker overturned a tractor and presented with complete paraplegia from T12. X-rays showed a fracture dislocation at T12 L1 (Figure 3). The fractures were stabilised using posterior instrumentation (Figure 4). Three days later he developed swelling of the left leg. A venogram showed an iliac vein thrombosis (Figure 5). This was managed medically and a filter was inserted in the inferior vena cava. Three weeks later he developed wound sepsis. A CT scan confirmed a big prevertebral abscess around the fracture site. At that stage an HIV test was performed which confirmed that he was HIV positive with a CD4 count of 104 cells/ml and an albumin of 26 grams/l. The abscess was drained using a CT-guided 'pig tail' (Figure 6). He was placed on antiretroviral medications, antibiotics and a high protein diet. The sepsis cleared after 6 weeks.
In the meantime he was rehabilitated for the paraplegia. At last follow-up at 8 months he was mobilising independently on his wheelchair. His CD4 count had improved to 320 cells/ml.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected by HIV worldwide and an estimated number of 5.7 million of South Africans are living with HIV.1 The South African Department of Health Study conducted in 2009 estimates that 29.4% of pregnant woman were living with HIV.2 The South African National HIV Survey conducted in 2008 found the national prevalence of HIV to be 10.9%.2 This was a population-based study with only 64% of eligible participants agreeing to tests. From these national surveys it can be expected that HIV/Aids is high in patients presenting in emergency trauma settings. At Johannesburg Hospital level 1 trauma unit Bowley et al reported a 30% seroprevalence of HIV in patients being attended for major trauma.3 In our own unit the seroprevalence of patients admitted for orthopaedic trauma was found to be 22% (Dr Sefeane's MMed dissertation).
Patients with HIV/Aids have been shown to have an increased wound infection rate: 3.5% for closed fractures and 11% for open fractures.4 HIV-positive patients have also been reported to present with late infection of implants following elective operation for closed fractures.5 Bahenbeck et al compared the immediate and early outcome of orthopaedic implant surgery in HIV carriers with less than 500 CD4/ml treated with protective antiretroviral and prolonged prophylactic antibiotic therapy in one group (group A), HIV carriers with more than 500 CD4/ml (group B) and non-HIV carriers (group C) treated conventionally.6 In this study they concluded that if prolonged prophylactic antibiotics and systematic antiretroviral therapy are given in HIV immune-depressed carriers, their postoperative infection risk was close to non-HIV carriers.
The current practice in most trauma orthopaedic services is to manage each fracture appropriately on its own merit - meaning that fractures which need stabilisation undergo internal fixation using implants. Before these two cases one did not routinely test for HIV status in patients presenting with thoracolumbar fractures, which may be the case in other centres. In unknown and untreated HIV-positive patients the progressive depletion and dysfunction of the CD4 coupled with defects in macrophages and monocyte function will predispose the patients to infection. If the HIV status of the patient is known, antiretroviral treatment and prolonged prophylactic antibiotics may be administered in addition to the standard management of the fracture and that may prevent wound infection and even deep venous thrombosis which is common in HIV patients.
The author recommends that the HIV status of patients undergoing major orthopaedic trauma procedures should be established before or immediately after the procedure to be able to start early appropriate treatment.
1. UNAIDS/WHO. Sub-Sahara latest epidemiological trends 2009 available from: http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/dataimport/pub/factsheet/2009/20091124_fs_ssa_en.pdf [ Links ]
2. South Africa HID and AIDS Statistics from: http://www.avert.org/safricastats.htm [ Links ]
3. Bowley DM, Cherry R, Synman T et al. Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in major trauma patient in Johannesburg. South African Medical Journal 2002 Oct; 92(10):792-93. [ Links ]
4. Harrison WJ, Lewis CP and Levy CB. Wound healing after implant surgery in HIV-positive patients. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2002 Aug;84(6):802-806. [ Links ]
5. Brijlall S, Lioma ID and Govender S. Implant sepsis in the HIV-infected patient. SA Orthopaedic Journal 2003;2(3):26-30. [ Links ]
6. Bahenbeck J, Handy Eone D, Ngo Nonga B et al. Implant orthopaedic surgery in HIV asymptomatic carriers: management and early outcome. Injury, Int J Care Injured 2009;40:1147-50. [ Links ]
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Prof M Lukhele
Division of Orthopaedics Wits Medical School
7 York Road Parktown
No benefits of any form have been derived by the author from any commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article


text: ANNA WILLIAMS BIO ANNA WILLIAMS was born in Richmond and studied photography at the University of the South under professor Pradip Malde. "The instant I saw the image emerge onto paper in the developer tray, it was like magic." After graduation, visiting professor Owen Butler gave her a simple piece of advice: "If you want to shoot, start assisting." So Anna moved to New York and converted a tiny East Village bathroom into a darkroom while assisting some of the greatest commercial photographers of the time, including Stephen Lewis, Bill Abranowicz and Gentl + Hyers. A few years later she was out on her own, and in 2000 Anna was recognized by PDN's 30 under 30 for her outstanding work. Since then, Anna has been shooting for a diverse range of clients such as Google, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Westin Hotels, Burt's Bees, Anthropologie, Michael Kors, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, 11 James, Walmart, Chik-fil-A and T Galleria. She has been honored with numerous industry awards by Communication Arts, Society of Publication Designers, the PDN Photo Annual, American Photography and American Photographic Artists. In 2010 Anna launched The Voracity, a project exploring themes of hunger, consumption and beauty through a wide range of styles and technique. Meant to push her on both creative and technical levels, each series explores a different visual approach and expands Anna's personal vision. The project is a collaborative effort involving the work of a large network of artists, stylists and designers. Featured in the 2012 Photo District News photo annual, The Voracity continues to evolve and grow into an inspiring force of creative exploration.


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- Union Station-Grimshaw GruenToday the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors announced that Grimshaw Architects and Gruen Associates have won a competition to redesign LA's historic Union Station. The Grimshaw + Gruen team competed against five other internationally recognized teams, and they were awarded the contract as a result of their combined experience in designing transit centers.1
- LAs Union StationIn a press release, Martha Welborne, Executive Director at Metro Countywide Planning stated, "We were pleased to have six world class teams submit proposals. It was a very tough decision as these are all very strong teams with relevant experience. However, the Gruen/Grimshaw team stood out with its combination of project management strength, spot-on experience in reinventing some of the world's most admired rail line facilities, and an extraordinary vision for Union Station as both an icon and catalyst to improve passenger experience, community connectivity and economic development."2
- LAs Union StationHistoric Union Station and the MTA building as they stand currently3
- LAs Union StationThe interior of Union Station.4
- LAs Union StationAerial photograph of the station from the late 1990s.5
- Union Station-Grimshaw GruenVision Board depicting Union Station in 2050 created by Grimshaw and Gruen to begin dialogue about the future of the area.6
- Grinshaw Paddington StationGrimshaw was tasked to long-term futures, improve the functionality and boost performance for rail, bus, taxi and private auto transportation at Paddington Station in London.7
- Grimshaw Fulton Station New YorkGrimshaw is responsible for the design of the new Fulton Street Station in New York City.8
- Grimshaw Bijlmer Station AmersterdamGrimshaw redeveloped Bijlmer ArenA Station in Amsterdam to link it with a nearby stadium.9


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Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (Issued 6/97)
This Statement establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports issued to shareholders. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas, and major customers. This Statement supersedes FASB Statement No. 14, Financial Reporting for Segments of a Business Enterprise, but retains the requirement to reportin formation about major customers. It amends FASB Statement No. 94, Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries, to remove the special disclosure requirements for previously unconsolidated subsidiaries. This Statement does not apply to nonpublic business enterprises or to not-for-profit organizations.
This Statement requires that a public business enterprise report financial and descriptive information about its reportable operating segments. Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Generally, financial information is required to be reported on the basis that it is used internally for evaluating segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources to segments.
This Statement requires that a public business enterprise report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain specific revenue and expense items, and segment assets. It requires reconciliations of total segment revenues, total segment profit or loss, total segment assets, and other amounts disclosed for segments to corresponding amounts in the enterprise's general-purpose financial statements. It requires that all public business enterprises report information about the revenues derived from the enterprise's products or services (or groups of similar products and services), about the countries in which the enterprise earns revenues and holds assets, and about major customers regardless of whether that information is used in making operating decisions. However, this Statement does not require an enterprise to report information that is not prepared for internal use if reporting it would be impracticable.
This Statement also requires that a public business enterprise report descriptive information about the way that the operating segments were determined, the products and services provided by the operating segments, differences between the measurements used in reporting segment information and those used in the enterprise's general-purpose financial statements, and changes in the measurement of segment amounts from period to period.
This Statement is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after December 15, 1997. In the initial year of application, comparative information for earlier years is to be restated. This Statement need not be applied to interim financial statements in the initial year of its application, but comparative information for interim periods in the initial year of application is to be reported in financial statements for interim periods in the second year of application.


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The 1966 Dodge Dart models were seeking rebel drivers
The year 1966 was a great year for automotive sales in the U.S. Many car manufacturers were doing very well for the economy and in 1966 the average cost for a new Dodge vehicle sold for $ 2,280 and the price of gasoline for 32 cents a gallon.
The Chrysler Corporation was also doing very well within the automotive markets with its popular Dodge Dart models. The 1966 Dodge Dart models made their debut in Dodge dealerships on September 30, 1965.
The Dart was a traditional family car design that many Americans enjoyed and loved driving with its popular slant six engine. The Dart models including the convertible (see photos in story) offered bold new styling on the outside and new elegance on the inside.
The stylish new line for had received an updated look for 1966. The Dart models had much success since its introduction as a compact leader since 1963. The Dart models had a great reputation among car buyers as a fine value and dependable automobile that gave great service.
Engineering improvements in the automatic transmission provided smoother, quieter operations. Changes in the three-speed manual transmission allowed easier shifting. The new models provided a choice of 17 exterior colors and nine two-tone combinations for its customers. Styling features included a new grille and headlamp frames along with a new hood and new front fenders and tail lights.
The Dodge Dart convertible offered new moldings and ornamentation that many customers liked; they were available in a Dart GT and 270 series models. The Dart interior included a new instrument panel and cluster that was very exciting for many customers. Dodge offered the compact Dart in three series and with a choice of either a Slant Six or V-8 engine.
The Dodge Dart convertible came with a price tag of $2,828. Standard safety equipment in the Dart models included front and rear seat belts, padded instrument panel, windshield washer, multi-speed windshield wipers, back-up lights and left outside rear view mirror. Also the power steering had been improved at the time to give the driver greater assistance when parking.
In comparison, the 1966 Dart models had a strong resemblance to the previous model year of 1965, however Dodge models were still very popular among the driving public with Dodge ranking as the 7th bestselling vehicle in the United States.
In conjunction with the new models, the Dodge advertising team tried a different approach to market the Dart: Join the Dodge Rebellion was a very popular theme for its customers in 1966.
The Dodge Dart convertible advertising campaign for 1966 featured a young lady with a muzzle loading rifle and a Dodge Dart convertible automobile. The copy for the advertising stated Careful, it's loaded. Check these Dart 66 options and accessories. Complete? You bet. The Dart theory: no reason you shouldn't enjoy all the comfort and conveniences you want in a car just because it sells at a compact price. Another statement from the advertising copy was, Fire up that snarl under the hood.
These kinds of automotive advertising themes would not possibly work in today's automotive marketing and society.
And for those of you who can remember the popular song by Nancy Sinatra in 1966, These Boots are made for Walkin, this vintage Dodge advertising almost takes me back to that time period in our culture when Go-go boots became the fashion trend for most American women.
In conclusion, each automaker needed the best way to spread its message to the right crowd and for Dodge the theme was all about the new leader of the Dodge Rebellion and that will always be a part of our American culture and history.
A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for contributing this story to the MotorCities Story of the Week Program. (Bibliography: McPherson A. Thomas, The Dodge Story Crestline Publishing 1975; Frumkin MJ, Classic Muscle Car Advertising The Art of selling horsepower, 2002)
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If you would like to contribute an article for the MotorCities newsletter, email Communications Coordinator Austen Smith at
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A Day in Dharavi, April 2012.
In the center of Bombay lies Dharavi, one of the largest slums in Asia. An estimated one million people live in Dharavi at a density of 4 per square meter. Dharavi is a fully functioning community with hundreds of small businesses and industries that produce an estimated half billion Euro worth of goods each year. Shantytowns like Dharavi are scattered all over Bombay and are home to about half of the city's 16 million residents. The one day I spent in Dharavi with my guide Dinesh was an amazingly positive experience. Everywhere we came we were kindly welcomed and people were proud to be photographed doing their business. For more on the politics and longer term plans with Dharavi see this interesting National Geographic article.Read More


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Chris Hedges has written up a decent article outlining the persecution by the State of Stanley Cohen.
He's a legend and a mensch.
|Lord Ahmed of Rotherham
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|Sir John Henniker
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|Lord Greville Janner
|Sir Adrian Fulford - Special Advisor to the Queen
|Lord Hunt of Tamworth
|Baron Montague of Beaulieu
|Cyril Smith MBE
|Sir William Straubenzee
|Sir Keith Joseph
|Baron Leon Brittan
|Lord Boothby
|Lord Falkland
|Sir Michael Havers
|Lord McAlpine
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|Lord Robertson
|Sir Jimmy Savile Knight of Malta
|Sir Anthony Blunt
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|Sir Cliff Richard (Alleged)
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|Sir Jimmy Savile Knight Bachelor
|Jimmy Savile OBE
|Sir Maurice Oldfield Head of MI6
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|Sir Peter Morrison (Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher)
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Legendary McLaren F1-designer Gordon Murray has been obsessed with his T.25 and T.27 city cars lately, and now it looks like engine-maker Yamaha could put some of Murray's fascinating ideas into production with the Yamaha MOTIV. Just think of it as a Smart Car you'd want to drive.
Murray's latest revolutionary babies are supposed to hit the dealerships in 2016, but in the meantime, Yamaha decided to get a piece of the action and commissioned him to come up with something better than Daimler's Smart or Toyota's IQ. We know Yamaha for building bikes, ATVs and brilliant engines, but getting into the car business is something new from them.
The MOTIV and MOTIV.e are based on Gordon Murray Design's iStream building process, which uses a tubular frame reinforced with sheets of composites, while the outer skin is made from non-load bearing impact resistant plastic. Easy to build and lighter while also stronger than the regular welded steel cars.
Gone is Murray's three-seater layout, but his patented iLink strut-type independent rear suspension system and the thin shell composite seats remain, while the engine is mounted low in front of the rear axle. It can be either a 33 hp electric motor (thus the MOTIV.e) built by Zytec, or Yamaha's 1-liter three cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a six-speed dual clutch transmission.
The 8.8-kWh battery pack should give it a a 0-60 mph time of 15 seconds and a range of more than 100 miles with a three-hour recharge time from a domestic socket, or one-hour with something punchier.
The gasoline version should have around 80 horsepower on tap, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of about 100 horsepower per ton and a top speed of around 100 mph.
If it makes the cut, don't expect a budget car, but more like something in the Smart's price range. Murray says 200,000 can be made annually using the iStream process.
Any takers?


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Fewer women are getting married and they're waiting longer to tie the knot when they do decide to walk down the aisle. That's according to a new Family Profile from the National Center for Family and Marriage Research (NCFMR) at Bowling Green State University.
According to "Marriage: More than a Century of Change," the U.S. marriage rate is 31.1, the lowest it's been in over a century. That equals roughly 31 marriages per 1,000 married women. Compare that to 1920, when the marriage rate was a staggering 92.3.
Since 1970, the marriage rate has declined by almost 60 percent. "Marriage is no longer compulsory," said Dr. Susan Brown, co-director of the NCFMR. "It's just one of an array of options. Increasingly, many couples choose to cohabit and still others prefer to remain single."
Furthermore, a woman's average age at first marriage is the highest it's been in over a century, at nearly 27 years old. "The age at first marriage for women and men is at a historic highpoint and has been increasing at a steady pace," states Dr. Wendy Manning, co-director of the Center.
There has also been a dramatic increase in the proportion of women who are separated or divorced. In 1920, less than 1 percent of women held that distinction. Today, that number is 15 percent. "The divorce rate remains high in the U.S., and individuals today are less likely to remarry than they were in the past," reports Brown.
The marriage rate has declined for all racial and ethnic groups, but the greatest decline is among African Americans. Similarly, the education divide in marriage has grown. In the last 50 years there have been only modest changes in the percentage of women married among the college educated and the greatest declines among women without a high school diploma.
Researchers used data from the National Vital Statistics "100 Years of Marriage and Divorce Statistics United States 1867-1967," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The project was supported with a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
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|Llewellyn's 2019 Daily Planetary Guide
|Yoga for the Creative Soul
|The Pure Heart of Yoga
Scottish Rite is the second largest rite, and like York Rite, it confers the three degrees of Symbolic Masonry in Blue Lodge. However, in the United States, the symbolic degrees are not conferred by the Northern or Southern Masonic Jurisdictions; they are given only by lodges duly and lawfully chartered by a Grand Lodge.
From there, however, the number of degrees expands considerably, up to and including the famous Thirty-third Degree, or the Sovereign Grand Inspector General, which is given by the Supreme Council and is the administrative head of the rite for the jurisdiction under its authority. Below the Thirty-third Degree are twenty-nine other degrees, which are divided into groups, each with its own governing body subservient to the Supreme Council. In general, these bodies are as follows: Fourth Degree through Fourteenth Degree are conferred in a Lodge of Perfection; Fifteenth and Sixteenth degrees are conferred in a Council of Princes of Jerusalem; Seventeenth and Eighteenth degrees are conferred in a Chapter of Rose-Croix; the Nineteenth through Thirtieth degrees are conferred in a Council of Kadosh; and finally, the Thirty-first and Thirty-second degrees are conferred in a Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret. Of course, like all things Masonic, there is some variation in these assignments according to jurisdiction.
Lodge of Perfection—These degrees elaborate on King Solomon's Temple and the search for the Lost Word or unspoken name of God. They are similar to Royal Arch Degrees in York Rite.
Council of Princes of Jerusalem—These degrees consist of the rebuilding of the Temple of Solomon. This particular division does not exist in all Masonic jurisdictions, and these degrees are included in the Chapter of Rose-Croix.
Chapter of Rose-Croix—While Christian in tone, these degrees contain alchemical symbolism and suggest a Rosicrucian influence in Masonic development.
Council of Kadosh—This is a particular classification for governing the Nineteenth through Thirtieth degrees within the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. Kadosh is Hebrew for "holy" or "consecrated to God" and denotes the nature of the philosophic instruction of these degrees. There is a Templar connection as well.
Consistory—This is an administrative designation and consists of the meeting of members of the Thirty-first and Thirty-second degrees for the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction and the Nineteenth through Thirty-second degrees for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. There is a distinct Templar association with the Thirty-first and Thirty-second degrees, and as such, it is clear why Council of Kadosh is included in Consistory in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction to reduce this redundancy.
The size and scope of these degrees constitute small theatrical productions, becoming a form of initiation combined with a morality or teaching play. In the United States, these degrees are rarely given to a single member at a time but rather to groups of men, often in an auditorium or theater specially designed for the purpose of degrees. In Europe and elsewhere, the degrees are conferred on a smaller scale with less theatrics, but the fundamental nature, teaching, and lesson of the degrees are the same.
Excerpted from Freemasonry, by Mark Stavish.


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Diets Review – Simple And Easy
Diets are a craze that never seems to slow down. There has always been one new diet after another with the promises of losing weight quickly with the newly formulated plan. Some work and some do not. There are pills, drinks, and meals to lose weight. Women have always been concerned about their diet and even more are obsessed with the weight loss aspect of the diet. Many want a fast solution to their weight issues.
The fact remains that for any diet to work a person needs to change how they approach food. By this it is meant, how is food consumed? How is food prepared? For a diet to really work, a person needs to change how they cook their food, how they eat their food, and how they use their food. Many people have unhealthy eating habits so they have gained weight. They need to change their eating habits to lose weight and to keep it off.
Learning to change the eating habits is only half of the dieting system. The other half is implementing exercise. Yet this article is about the right diet of foods for extended weight loss. So keep in mind this is only the first half of the weight loss solution.
There are foods that need to be removed from the diet in order to lose weight and to maintain a healthy weight. The food that fried should be avoided as much as possible, the added fats in the food are stored in the body and turned to fat when you do not burn the additives.
Eating foods high in protein such as whey, lean beef, chicken, tuna, turkey, salmon, and eggs help with weight loss when added to the diet. The fatty acids in the fish are beneficial for a healthy diet including stronger bones, teeth, nails, and hair.
Remove dairy products that are high in fat content. Try to replace the fattening foods with a low fat dairy product to limit the consumption of the fat in the dairy products. This also includes limiting the intake of the high fat snacks, which add pounds and inches.
Add essential fatty acids foods that include nuts, seeds, and flax oil to your diet. They are great sources of the essential fatty acids that are needed by the body to function properly. Eat the nuts and seeds as a snack instead of the chips or other unhealthy snacks.
Add water to your diet. You should consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. The water helps to hydrate the body and to flush out harmful toxins. Water will also help to make you feel fuller and eat less too.
Add a good quality multi-vitamin to your daily diet. The vitamins will help your body with the essential nutrients your normal diet does not contain.
Changing your eating habits to a healthier diet will help you lose weight and maintain the desired weight you want to have.


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Our P-Model Quonset Hut Style Metal Building
Our buildings come with full step by step instructions and all American U.S Support. Buildings on estimate can be put up within a couple of hours with two or more people. Basic Tools will be needed to build your structure. Contact your support representative for more information +1 (800) 547-8335


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"...the Scriptures ... are not of themselves clear and intelligible even in matters of the highest importance" - Faith of Our Fathers, Gibbons, p. 73.
Many other religious people likewise claim that the average person cannot understand the Bible, even in matters essential to salvation.
* They may have tried to study the Bible and found it difficult, so they gave up.
* Some point to the confusion and division among those who claim to follow the Bible, so they conclude no one really understands it. Others want to justify the existence of these contradictory groups, so they say no one can understand and it does not matter.
* Others believe truth is subjective; so whatever you believe, that it truth for you. There is no such thing as a single proper understanding of Scripture.
* Some have been told repeatedly by religious leaders that common people cannot understand the Bible. Only trained leaders can understand, so other folks must accept the word of the "official" interpreters.
We do not claim that understanding of the Bible comes easily, nor that we can personally answer every question everyone can ask. We do defend the Bible teaching that the honest seeker for truth can understand the written word sufficient to be saved.
Consider these points:
The Bible repeatedly claims to be God's word. See 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2:10-13; Ephesians 3:3-5; John 16:13; Matthew 10:19,20; Galatians 1:8-12; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Luke 10:16.
If the Bible is God's word, it must harmonize with God's nature. When we study the Bible and when we understand God's nature, then we necessarily must believe that we can understand the Bible. To claim that we cannot understand the Bible is either to deny that it is God's word or to impugn the character of God Himself.
The following aspects of God's character prove that we can understand the Bible.
1 Timothy 2:4 - God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God does not want some to understand, but others are incapable. He wants all to know the truth.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 - The Scriptures were revealed by God to teach and instruct us in righteousness and provide us to all good works.
Romans 1:16 - The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.
Titus 1:1-3 - God manifested (make known) His word in the message which was entrusted to Paul according to God's command.
So God wants everyone to know His will, and the inspired men revealed His will so people could know it.
[Romans 16:26; Col. 1:24-29]
1 Corinthians 2:12,13 - Inspired men received God's Spirit so they could know what God revealed and could speak them in words which the Holy Spirit taught them.
Matthew 10:19,20 - Inspired men did not have to worry about how or what to speak, because it would be given them what to speak. It was not them speaking but the Spirit of the Father speaking in them.
If God gave the message to inspired men so we can know God's will, then He must have intended to give an understandable message. If we cannot understand the message, then God has failed in His purpose.
But how can an all-wise, all-powerful God fail to do what He intends to do? To claim that the word cannot be understood is to deny that God is all-wise and all-powerful: He tried to give a revelation that men could understand, but He lacked the wisdom or power to do so.
If we believe that God is all-powerful and all-wise, then we must believe that He cannot fail and He did not fail. Therefore we can understand the message of the gospel sufficiently to be saved.
[See other passages on inspiration above.]
Justice is the quality by which God treats man fairly in accordance with whether they have or have not done His will. Love is that quality by which God actively shows good will toward men, seeking our well being. Grace is the quality by which God shows favor to men that they might have the hope of eternal life, though they do not deserve it.
We have seen that God has revealed His will through inspired men so people could know what He expects of them and know how to receive eternal life. If that message cannot be understood, then is God a just, gracious, loving God?
Consider the following passages. If understanding is impossible, then how can God require these things of man and still be just, loving, and gracious?
Ephesians 5:17 - Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Does a just, loving, gracious God require what is impossible?
2 Timothy 2:15 - To be approved of God and not ashamed, we must handle rightly the word of God (ASV). How can one handle rightly a message he cannot understand?
Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:14,17 - No one can please God without faith, but faith comes by hearing God's word. Yet how can a message create faith in a heart that cannot understand the message? [John 20:30,31; 6:44,45; Luke 1:1-4]
Mark 7:14 - Jesus' teachings were intended for the common people (multitudes), and He expected and commanded them all to understand His teachings.
Luke 8:11; Matthew 13:19,23 - The seed of the gospel is the word of God. Those whom the Lord considers to be good and fruitful are those who understand the word. Those who do not understand are unacceptable.
So God requires and commands all people to understand, and we must understand to have His approval and to have faith. Yet how can God be just, loving, and gracious in these requirements, if in fact understanding is impossible?
[Colossians 1:9-11; Philippians 1:9-11; James 1:21-25]
John 12:48 - Jesus said, "The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." [Romans 2:16]
Acts 17:30,31 - These times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world by the Man whom He has ordained.
2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 - Jesus will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel ... These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.
All men will be judged according to Jesus' word. Those who do not obey the gospel will be destroyed, and ignorance will be no excuse. But God revealed His word to give us knowledge of what we must obey. If we cannot understand the message, we have no choice but to be ignorant and disobey.
How can God be just and condemn people for disobeying or being ignorant of a message that is impossible to understand? How can He say He really loves us and extends grace to save us, if we cannot understand the only means whereby we can be saved? To say we cannot understand God's word is to deny the justice, love, and grace of God.
Yet if we believe in God's justice, love, and grace, then we must conclude that we can understand the Scriptures.
[Mark 16:15,16; Acts 11:14; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:2,3]
God always speaks truth and always keeps His promises. But in the following passages He has stated or promised that we can understand His word.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 - The Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation. They are profitable to teach and instruct us and to provide us to all good works. How could they make us wise and profit us in these things if we cannot understand them?
Isaiah 55:11 - God's word will not return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what He pleases and prosper in the thing for which He sent it. But He sent it to reveal His will to men, etc. If we cannot understand it, then it does not prosper nor did it accomplish what He sent it for.
1 Corinthians 14:33 - God is not the author of confusion but of peace. But if the Bible cannot be understood, then God would be the author of confusion.
These passages are clear statements or promises that God gave a message we could understand. If we cannot understand, then God did not speak the truth and did not keep His promises. To deny that the Bible can be understood is to deny that God is truthful and faithful to His word. But if we believe that God is true and faithful, then we must believe that we can understand the Bible.
[Eph. 3:3-5; Isaiah 35:8; John 8:31,32]
God gave the Old Testament to Israel using the same methods by which He gave the New Testament to us. Consider some lessons we can learn.
Psalms 119:98,99 - You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies ... I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
Psalms 119:104,105 - Your precepts give understanding. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalms 119:130 - The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalms 19:7-11 - God's law converts the soul, makes wise the simple, and enlightens the eyes. In keeping them there is great reward.
How could the law do any of these if people could not understand them?
[Prov. 2:1-12]
Acts 17:2,3 - Paul's custom was to reason from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Jesus is the Christ. How could this prove anything if people could not understand the Scriptures?
Acts 17:11 - The Scriptures give the average man a way to know whether or not they are being told the truth. People are not expected to take preachers' word for what the Bible says. Rather, they should use the word to check out the preachers. How could the Bible accomplish this if people cannot understand it? [Matt. 15:14]
Matthew 22:29 - Jesus told the Sadducees, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." He expected them to know the Scriptures. When they did not, they were mistaken, and He held them accountable for that.
For every argument anyone could offer why we today cannot understand the New Testament, the same argument would mean that people in the first century could not have understood the Old Testament. Yet they were capable of understanding it and were expected to do so. Likewise, we today can understand God's word whereby we can be saved.
[Acts 18:24,28]
Acts 17:11 - We must "search the Scriptures daily."
2 Timothy 2:15 - To handle the Bible properly we must exercise diligence. Then we can be approved by God. Otherwise, we need to be ashamed.
People can know the truth. The Bible can be understood. But we need diligent study.
Matthew 22:29 - The Sadducees were in error because they did not know the Scriptures. But Jesus did not blame the Scriptures. He blamed the people. They could and should have studied enough to know the truth.
Hebrews 5:14 - To be able to discern good from evil, we must have our senses exercised by reason of use. These Christians lacked understanding (v12), but it was their own fault.
Some people do not know the truth, not because it cannot be understood, but simply because they have never studied it or because they have not been diligent in study.
[2 Peter 3:15,16; 1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 1:1,2; Josh. 1:8.]
Some people do not understand truth because their minds have been blinded by false teaching. These false teachings may come from preachers, family, friends, or denominational creeds.
2 Corinthians 4:2-4 - The god of this age (Satan) blinds the minds of some folks so the light of the gospel does not shine on them. This sometimes happens because teachers handle the word of God deceitfully.
Matthew 15:9,14 - Following human doctrines makes worship vain. These doctrines are often taught by blind leaders. If we follow blindly, we will be lost like they are.
Note that we could and should check teachers out in God's word (Acts 17:11). That is why God is justified in condemning folks who are deceived by false teachers. It is simply not true that we need to take a preacher's word for truth.
Galatians 1:6-9 - The Galatians were turning away from Christ because of the influence of people who were perverting the gospel of Christ. But they were not excused on the grounds they could not understand. Instead they should have compared what they were being taught to the gospel they had received from inspired men.
[Matt. 7:15-21; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 John 9-11; Prov. 3:5,6; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Col. 3:17; Rev. 22:18,19.]
Matthew 13:13-15 - People often close their eyes and ears to the truth. Why? They may be prejudiced - they may have believed a certain way for years, so they refuse to consider the evidence for other views. Or they may be too proud to admit they are wrong. As a result, they reject the truth when they hear it,
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Some people do not love truth enough, because they have pleasure in unrighteousness. They will believe a lie and be condemned.
John 8:43-47 - These Jews did not understand Jesus' words, because they wanted to do the desires of the devil. Some folks just enjoy sin and are so entangled in it that they refuse to accept truth when they hear it.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 - Some people seek preachers and religious groups that say they are acceptable, even while they continue in their sinful practices. They turn aside from truth and follow fables instead.
These folks do not understand God's word, not because it cannot be understood, but because they simply do not like what it says!
If we are ever to accept the truth, we must "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). We must honestly study what God's word says and then accept the truth with meekness and "readiness of mind" (James 1:19-21; Acts 17:11; Luke 14:26-33).
[Proverbs 18:13; 2 Kings 5:9-12; Acts 10:33; John 7:17; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; Acts 7:51; Luke 12:13-21; 1 Tim. 6:6-19; John 12:42,43; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4; Rom. 1:20-22,28; 1 Sam. 15:23; Heb. 10:26-31.]
If God is all-wise and all-powerful, then you can understand His will. If God is just, loving, and gracious, then you can understand His will. If He is truthful and faithful, then you can understand His will. His promises and the examples shown in Scripture reassure us that we can know how to be saved.
Never try to excuse yourself from doing what God's word requires on the grounds that you cannot know what He wants. If the Scriptures require you to know a thing to be saved, then you can know. But you must study diligently with an honest and open heart.
Do you know what God wants you to do to be saved?
Copyright 1996,2005, David E. Pratte; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.


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It's official. The Brits have a big, bustling burger scene.
Two U.S. burger chains -- Five Guys and Shake Shack -- opened their doors in the heart of London this week as they look to take advantage of the city's voracious appetite for top-quality burgers.
Five Guys opened its first overseas location Thursday near London's bustling Covent Garden, and visitors lined up around the block to get their hands on an all-American-style burger.
A spokeswoman for Five Guys said the company decided to come to London because of rising demand, noting that the burger chain had a huge number of British fans on Facebook (FB) and Twitter before setting foot in the U.K.
"There's a growing better-burger market here in London. It's just a few years behind the U.S.," she said.
The company clearly has faith that customers will be clamoring for the food as it has invested in a location that can fit up to 300 people.
Five Guys has plans to open four more locations across the U.K. before the end of the year, said John Gildersleeve, one of the partners in a joint venture that is leading the company's British expansion. From there, 100 more restaurants could follow, he said.
Related: Chipotle's genetically modified burritos
Just down the street from Five Guys is Shake Shack, which opens Friday and has seating for roughly 120 people.
"We've had our eye on London for a long time," said Shake Shack's culinary director Mark Rosati.
The two U.S. chains are coming into a market already filled with high-quality burger offerings from home-grown firms such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Byron.
But it seems demand still outstrips supply. Burger fanatics will regularly wait for over an hour to get a seat at a few key popular burger joints in the city.
There's even a Burgerapp to help hungry Londoners hunt down the best grub in the city, offering ratings, reviews and information on restaurant locations.
The buzz for burgers has been building in London for over a decade and is reminiscent of the cupcake craze that started in the U.S. a few years ago but fizzled out in recent months.
The burger chains are clearly hoping business will keep booming and they'll avoid a burger bust.


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LAFD chief to shift firefighters from trucks to ambulances
Los Angeles Fire Chief Brian Cummings said Thursday he was pressing ahead with a controversial plan to move dozens of city firefighters from fire engines to ambulances, despite warnings from labor groups that the change would put lives at risk.
In the coming days, the chief plans to deploy 11 new ambulances by reassigning one firefighter per shift from 22 firetrucks across the city. Cummings says the department must adjust to fewer fires and a growing number of medical emergencies, and has limited funding to make the change.
"After asking for money and not receiving it, I am moving forward," he said.
Both candidates for mayor have expressed concern about the change.
City Controller Wendy Greuel, who has been endorsed by groups representing city firefighters and most commanders, said the new plan "continues to put our first responders and our communities at risk."
A spokesman for her rival, Eric Garcetti, said the councilman does not believe the changes should be implemented until the department can prove they make sense. "He wants to see the real data," spokesman Jeffrey Millman said.
Medical calls now account for more than 80% of 911 responses, and the chief says that figure is growing rapidly. In the first two months of this year, medical calls increased 6.2%, compared with the same period last year, Cummings recently reported.
Labor leaders said Thursday that the chief's plan was hastily drafted and thinly researched. They called on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council to provide more money to staff ambulances, rather than take firefighters from engines.
The firefighters' union president, Capt. Frank Lima, urged residents to complain to elected officials about cuts to the force in recent years. "It's time to speak up, it's time to get angry," he said.
He spoke at a news conference outside of the charred remains of a North Hollywood apartment where one person died and four others were injured earlier this week.
Two fewer firefighters would have responded to the blaze under Cummings plan, he said. "Without a doubt, there would have been more fatalities," he said.
Earlier in the day, labor officials tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Fire Commission to postpone the changes. Assistant Chief Andy Fox, president the Chief Officers' Assn., complained that Cummings had failed to show that firefighter safety would be protected.
"If you remove one firefighter, it's like asking the Dodgers to play without a center fielder," Fox said. "Yes, they can play the game. Over time, it would prove to be a very bad idea."
About 60 firefighters assigned to so-called light forces, teams made up of a ladder truck and fire engine, will be reassigned under the plan. Currently, each light force is staffed by six firefighters who perform specialized roles during fires and rescues, including car accidents.
The chief's redeployment would leave many light forces with five firefighters, but allow for the new ambulances, LAFD officials said. The ambulances would be staffed by firefighters trained to handle less serious medical emergencies not requiring a firetruck or more highly trained paramedics.
The department's fleet of non-paramedic ambulances will increase by about one-third, to 45, officials said. That will help free up about 90 paramedic units to respond to the most life-threatening calls, they said.
The shift also aims to reduce responses by heavy firetrucks to many medical calls.
"To send an aerial ladder truck, or let alone lights and sirens, to someone with abdominal pains is dangerous and foolish," said Marc Eckstein, the department's medical director.
A Villaraigosa spokesman said only that the mayor supports Cummings and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck "in their efforts to respond to the needs of the city through changes in deployment plans."
Cummings said his plan was based on solid data analysis. But so far, his office has released only a draft report of less than two pages describing the changes.
The department's planning and data analysis has been under increased scrutiny since early last year, when fire officials admitted that they published response times that made it appear that rescuers arrived at emergencies faster than they actually did.
A task force of experts found that that fire officials charged with crunching numbers were poorly qualified and previous departmental data analysis "should not be relied upon." Subsequent Times investigations found delays in processing 911 calls and summoning the nearest medical rescuers from other jurisdictions, as well as wide gaps in response times in different parts of the city.
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