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By Jessica Nall and Janice Reicher
Despite the white collar defense community's intense focus on the subject of internal corporate investigations in recent years, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) leaders have expressed growing dissatisfaction with the "superficial" quality of some investigations. A "check-the-box" approach to internal investigations can lead the government to redo an investigation at enormous cost to the client or worse, increase the client's exposure. What does it take to satisfy the government? A careful review of the history of internal investigations, evolving SEC and DOJ guidance, recent published decisions and press releases, and the authors' experience conducting investigations suggest at least one x-factor unifying the elements of a successful investigation: getting inside the mind of the government investigator.
Dissatisfaction on the part of prosecutors towards allegedly superficial internal investigations is hardly novel. Enron is an example. In 2001, a large international law firm conducted an investigation of complaints by Enron finance executive Sherron Watkins, who warned in a letter that the company might "implode in a wave of accounting scandals."1 The inquiry, which did not probe reports by the company's accounting firm or undertake a full-scale document review, absolved Enron of any wrongdoing. One week after the firm reported its findings and recommended no additional scrutiny of the company's finances, the SEC announced its own formal investigation of Enron.2 SEC spokesman John Heine described the need for a formal SEC investigation this way: "[T]he opening of a formal inquiry enabled the commission to subpoena documents and was used when SEC staff members thought that the companies or executives were not responding voluntarily to their questions."3 The SEC's full-scale investigation was followed by extensive DOJ and FBI investigations, among others.4 These outside investigations resulted in numerous enforcement actions, as well as the criminal conviction of Enron's chief executive officer.5 The firm conducting Enron's internal investigation found itself accused of undertaking a "whitewash."6
More than a decade after Enron, high-ranking government lawyers have begun a drumbeat of criticism about a supposed trend of superficiality in internal investigations, expressing frustration with both the quality of internal investigations and, in their view, questionable defense counsel tactics. In a 2012 interview with Thomson Reuters, former SEC Division of Enforcement Director Robert Khuzami observed: "We are also seeing an increasing frequency of internal investigations that are not as objective and searching. These tend to be more like advocacy pieces for current management rather than reflecting what is in the best interest of the real client, the shareholders who own the company."7 Khuzami also cited the "troubling trend" of attorneys making overly broad assertions of attorney-client privilege for documents not entitled to this protection.8
At a presentation on Jan. 31, 2013, in San Francisco, former SEC Regional Director Mark Fagel and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Melinda Haag similarly commented on emerging trends and challenges in government enforcement, expressing the perception that the quality of independent investigations is deteriorating.9 Fagel noted an increasing problem of counsel conducting superficial internal investigations and failing to undertake seemingly obvious steps in objective fact-finding. According to Fagel and Haag, counsel have been vague in reporting their findings and have attempted to prevent disclosure of substantive facts based on allegedly improper claims of attorney-client privilege. Across the country, Fagel said, the practice of conducting superficial investigations is diminishing the value of corporations' cooperation with the government.
In a recent roundtable discussion on trends in white collar crime published in April 2013, a 13-year veteran AUSA in the Northern District of California, Doug Sprague, similarly noted that "[r]ecently some prosecutors have opined about a lack of quality in internal investigations. Not only compared to the stock options backdating time period, but generally."10 Sprague continued, noting "more [investigations] in the mediocre to poor category, in my opinion." Asked what indicates to him a poor quality investigation, Sprague responded, "There are certain questions that people … should anticipate will be asked by the [government] recipients of their presentations. One factor in the quality of an investigation is how many of those basic questions are they unable to answer without going back to the drawing board, sometimes repeatedly. Are there large troves of plainly relevant documents that were never reviewed? Are there large troves of plainly relevant documents that come up months later that the internal investigators apparently didn't know of at the time? Are some facts shaded or not revealed, thus possibly indicating an unfair bias to the investigation?"11
Unfortunately, there is no instruction manual outlining what constitutes a sufficiently thorough investigation. The SEC's and DOJ's published guides generally discuss the importance of company cooperation, emphasizing that such cooperation can be demonstrated by a thorough internal investigation and forthcoming disclosure of pertinent facts. Applying these high-level admonitions in the real world, where counsel must navigate conflicting interests and practical constraints — often within a short time period — requires thoughtful consideration of the goals that internal investigations are meant to achieve and the principles guiding government enforcement.
In the effort to derive principles for achieving credibility in internal investigations, it is useful to consider the needs that these investigations were historically intended to meet. In the 1960s, the SEC started a campaign of aggressive enforcement, appointing receivers at the time of corporate settlements to ensure that corporate actors refrained from future illegal activities.12 As an alternative to receivership, corporations proposed the use of internal investigations conducted by special counsel.13 By the 1970s, these investigations had become commonplace, allowing corporations greater autonomy in their compliance efforts and reducing the costs of government supervision.14 It became evident to corporate counsel that internal investigations conducted prior to or parallel with a government investigation were a valuable tool for corporations faced with government and regulatory enforcement.15
In 1975, the SEC began what became known as the Voluntary Disclosure Program.16 This initiative was meant to encourage corporations that found evidence of potential improprieties to self-report to the SEC, conduct independent internal investigations, and report their findings to the SEC. Under this program, the corporation's board of directors had a responsibility to: (1) declare an end to violations of law; (2) authorize a committee of independent auditors to use independent counsel and auditors to internally investigate the corporation's practices; (3) provide information about the investigation's progress and results to the SEC; and (4) give the SEC access to any information discovered through the investigation.17 The basic anatomy of an internal investigation has not changed to the present day, except that the SEC clarified in 2010 that counsel are not compelled to waive attorney-client privilege or work product protection when presenting their findings to the government.18
With the passage of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977, internal investigations became even more prevalent. By this point, internal investigations had become a mechanism for corporations to promote corporate accountability and gain some control in the effort to avoid or mitigate a government enforcement action.19 Investigating counsel in a sense were intended to serve as government proxies, objectively seeking to uncover the facts that the government would itself be seeking. This objective fact discovery has become the central focus for both counsel conducting an internal investigation and government staff tasked with evaluating the credibility of an investigation and the corresponding value of a company's cooperation. Objective fact discovery is where the company and government's interests appear to overlap.
Investigating counsel's and the government's interests, however, are not perfectly aligned. Unlike the government, investigating counsel are in an attorney-client relationship with the company or a board committee of the company and thus bound by the ethical duties that flow from that relationship. This gives rise to a multitude of challenges for investigating counsel working to achieve the maximum degree of benefit for clients from an internal investigation.
Of utmost importance is counsel's ability to establish and maintain credibility with the government. Investigating counsel must show the government that they know what it takes to conduct an adequate investigation, have secured the required resources and cooperation from the company, and have undertaken the tasks necessary to uncover the relevant facts. This process is easy to understand in theory, but in execution is far more art than science. If the government does not feel that investigating counsel have interviewed enough witnesses, collected enough documents, asked the right questions, or are committed to learning the truth, it might decide to redo the entire investigation at great cost to the company. The government might also decide to discount the value of the company's cooperation in determining whether (and whom) to prosecute or bring an enforcement action.
Investigating counsel must also consider several diverse constituencies whose key interests are not always aligned. These constituencies include the Board of Directors or Audit Committee, who often oversees investigations and acts as the client contact, especially in public company investigations; the individual directors on the Board or Audit Committee; the company's officers, directors, and employees; shareholders; and the company's outside auditors. While minimizing investigation costs is typically a priority for many of these stakeholders, reasonable minds may differ as to how deep and searching an effective investigation must be. Investigating counsel's primary responsibility is to probe deeply enough to cover all of the questions anticipated from the SEC or DOJ while mitigating the various costs to and business considerations of the company and its shareholders. This is not often an easy task.
There is no doubt that internal investigations can be very expensive. As one example, Wal-Mart reported that it spent $157 million in fiscal year 2013 in professional fees and expenses related to its internal investigations regarding alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Mexico.20 Notably, Siemens A.G. paid over $1 billion — a record — for its global internal investigation into bribes paid to foreign officials.21 Companies confronting potential violations must weigh the cost of self-reporting to the government and initiating an internal investigation against the risk of bringing upon themselves, in some cases, enforcement proceedings by multiple agencies in different jurisdictions. Many companies have considered this question and determined that internal investigations, with or without self-reporting, are worth the cost. It has fallen on investigating counsel, in subsequent dealings with the government, to prove them right.
At first glance, the degree of thoroughness necessary to establish credibility with the government may be in tension with the good-faith interests of some stakeholders. The government expects counsel to do as much as possible to uncover potential wrongdoing, while the company's interest is usually in keeping costs down, keeping the business running, and, where possible, avoiding liability. The lack of clear guidelines from the government regarding what constitutes a sufficient investigation means that counsel are constantly playing a judgment game. With financial reporting deadlines looming, should counsel interview 20 employees who likely have knowledge of the issues at hand, or are sweeping interviews-for-the-sake-of-interviews of 50 employees — many tangential, with little or no knowledge of the issues — a better course? Is it enough to collect employee emails from the past three years when relevant conduct was likely to have occurred, or will the government want to see documents from the past five for the sake of thoroughness? The answers to these practical questions cannot be found in any enforcement manual, and the government's view as to the "correct" answer is almost always formed with the benefit (or detriment) of hindsight, as well as government counsel's own subjective judgment.
Identifying the optimal means of cooperation with the government is crucial because in some cases the rewards for self-reporting can be outweighed by an increased risk of both exposure and liability.22 Indiscriminately turning over nonrelevant and superfluous documents may lead to new lines of questioning that have no bearing on the company's liability or scope of the investigation, thus increasing costs for the company and wasting government enforcement resources.
More importantly, inattention to these concerns may present thorny privilege-waiver issues. Investigating counsel must keep in mind selective waiver considerations: waiving privilege for the purposes of seeking cooperation credit with the government can render otherwise confidential materials discoverable in future civil actions. United States v. Bergonzi illustrates this point. Bergonzi involved allegations of securities, mail, and wire fraud against former executives of McKesson and its recently acquired subsidiary HBOC.23 The McKesson Audit Committee retained a firm to conduct an internal investigation regarding accounting irregularities associated with the merger. The law firm initially entered into confidentiality agreements with the SEC and U.S. Attorney's Office, agreeing that voluntary submissions of their future reports and back-up materials would remain confidential unless the government determined that disclosure was required, and that the submissions would not constitute waiver of any applicable attorney-client privilege or work product protection.24 After the government accidentally produced interview memoranda to former executives who were defendants in the case and one defendant refused to return them, the court held those privileges did not apply.25 The court reasoned that the reports and materials were created for the purpose of relaying the information to the government, a third-party, and thus were not protected by the attorney-client privilege.26 It further held that the production of work product to the government, an adverse party, constituted waiver of work product protection.27 The court would not allow McKesson to reap the benefits of cooperation with the government while simultaneously avoiding the detriments of disclosure. In addition to waiver of privilege in work product, the indiscriminate production of less-relevant documents may benefit future litigants in unrelated subsequent actions against the company. Thus, investigating counsel must carefully guard the company's privilege and scope of disclosure while ensuring sufficient disclosure and production to the government to maintain the investigation's credibility.
Cleary, proceeding in the uncertain terrain of an internal investigation presents a variety of challenges. Investigating counsel must conduct a sufficiently thorough investigation that will accurately show that the client is cooperative and worthy of government leniency, while also working within inevitable constraints. Approaching an investigation half-heartedly and with insufficient resources is unlikely to earn the company cooperation credit. However, producing too much to the government without adequately protecting applicable attorney-client privilege and work product protections may increase costs and risk greater subsequent liability for the client. How can investigating counsel devise an approach that is most likely to satisfy the myriad, often conflicting goals of keeping the investigation efficient, managing the company's risk of liability where appropriate, and obtaining the optimal result in any subsequent government action?
The historical roots of internal investigations reveal how investigating counsel have been expected to stand in for the government as fact-finders. Unsurprisingly then, commentators have noted that a successful internal investigation will often track a government investigation.28 Considering the goals that the government hopes to achieve in prosecuting corporations may thus help guide counsel in forming a helpful frame of mind. The principles articulated in government enforcement guides, such as the DOJ's Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations29 in the U.S. Attorneys' Manual and the SEC's Enforcement Manual30 (Red Book), though not a complete map, provide a good starting point.
The DOJ cites several key tenets in its Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations. It notes that the prosecution of responsible individuals within the corporation is the strongest deterrent against future corporate wrongdoing, and emphasizes that those individuals should be pursued even when the charges against the corporation have been resolved.31 Both punishment and deterrence may be accomplished through the imposition of substantial fines, mandatory restitution, and the institution of compliance measures.32 The goal of rehabilitation is met when corporations move forward by reinforcing their compliance programs and otherwise work to ensure that violations will not occur again.33 The DOJ manual also highlights the prosecutors' role in protecting the public, as in cases of environmental crimes or widespread financial frauds.34 The principles set forth in the DOJ's manual map directly onto some of the fundamental purposes of criminal law — deterrence, punishment, rehabilitation, and protection of the public.35
In deciding whether to charge a corporation, the DOJ considers several factors. These include the corporation's timely and voluntary disclosure of wrongdoing and its willingness to cooperate with the government.36 The corporation's remedial actions, including efforts to implement or improve a compliance program, discipline or terminate wrongdoers, pay restitution, and cooperate with the relevant government agencies, may also be considered.37 Corporate conduct intended to impede the investigation, including inappropriate instruction of employees to be untruthful or to conceal relevant facts, is taken into account as well.38 The DOJ values serious commitment to discovering violations, vigorous pursuit of the underlying facts, and fulsome disclosure by counsel. Notably, whether a company waives attorney-client or work product privilege is not a factor the government may consider in evaluating cooperation credit.39
The SEC's enforcement principles appear to be very similar to the DOJ's. For the SEC, deterrence is also a central principle.40 This includes deterring a company and its individuals from misconduct. Although the SEC Red Book does not mention punishment specifically, it references the interest of holding individuals accountable for their actions.41 Remediation and rehabilitation of companies are also important values that the SEC considers in evaluating a company's cooperation.42 The Commission also considers whether the misconduct at issue caused widespread harm to investors and other victims and values the protection of the investing public.43 Broadly, the fundamental principles arising from the SEC and DOJ manuals are deterrence of illegal activity, punishment for harm caused, rehabilitation of offending corporations, and protection of the public and markets.44
Though it is not investigating counsel's task to further the principles of enforcement directly, understanding the government's motivations is crucial to devising an investigation that those entities are more likely to find adequate. For example, if the government wishes to prosecute individuals within the corporation in order to punish them and deter them from future misconduct, it would benefit counsel to present their factual findings in a way that would help the government justify their prosecutorial decisions. Digging more deeply into the facts related to such individuals and presenting the facts clearly to situate their involvement in the broader context of the issues under investigation may allow the government to make this determination more easily.45 Under this analysis, counsel's approach to each stage of an internal investigation requires a certain empathy for the enforcer's frame of mind.
Examining how the government has translated its enforcement principles into practical guidelines provides further insights into the enforcer's frame of mind. The government's major priorities include establishing the facts, maximizing the impact of limited resources, and determining credibility.
The SEC has also made clear that it values cooperation from companies. The Commission's Exchange Act Release No. 44969 (Seaboard Report) released in October 2001 outlined several factors that the SEC considers in valuing that cooperation and determining whether to charge a company.46 In the Seaboard case, an employee of a public company's subsidiary had entered inaccurate books and records that led to misstated periodic reports and a subsequent cover-up effort. The SEC decided not to take action against the parent company, Seaboard, because the company had taken quick action to remedy the errors within a week of learning of the employee's misconduct. Seaboard completed a preliminary review, hired an outside law firm to conduct a thorough, independent inquiry, dismissed the employees at fault, and pledged complete cooperation with the SEC. The company produced the details of the internal investigation, including notes and transcripts of employee interviews, gave all information regarding the underlying violations, and waived attorney-client privilege and work product protection.47
The Seaboard Report emphasized self-policing, self-reporting, remediation, and cooperation with law enforcement as critical to the SEC's decision not to pursue an enforcement action.48 Applying the report's nonexhaustive list of considerations will generally vary according to the nature of the misconduct, the harm caused to investors and other corporate constituencies, and the company's response to the misconduct. But of particular interest to investigating counsel scoping an investigation are guiding questions such as: Did the company commit to learn the truth, fully and expeditiously? Did the company make available to the SEC the result of its review and provide sufficient documentation? Did the company facilitate prompt action against those who violated the law?49 The SEC wants counsel to commit to learning the truth "fully and expeditiously," to probe more deeply into areas where violations may exist, and to disclose the findings to the government with sufficient documentation.
The government typically keeps its investigations confidential until it charges a target company or reaches a settlement with the party.50 However, counsel may make important inferences into the government's thought process by looking to its press releases and court pleadings. For example, the McKesson investigation, discussed above in the context of the Bergonzi case on privilege, may offer guidance into what the SEC seeks from investigating counsel.51
Investigating counsel in the McKesson case, working with an outside accounting firm, conducted 55 interviews of 37 present and former employees of McKesson and HBOC, preparing interview memoranda for each individual interviewed. They prepared and produced a report of their conclusions and back-up materials, including the interview memoranda, to the SEC and U.S. Attorney's Office.52 In the dispute over whether the reports were privileged, an SEC administrator said that the reports "proved invaluable in focusing the SEC's investigation on the primary wrongdoers and providing evidence of the wrongdoers' intentional fraudulent conduct and allowed the SEC to tailor its investigation in a manner that allowed the government to save both time and money."53 An AUSA involved in the case further noted that the report was a "useful initial road map that concisely summarized the basic facts leading to the Restatement" and the "interview memoranda served as useful factual summaries."54 Unfortunately for McKesson, the court's holding that the disclosures were not privileged meant that counsel had delivered this road map not only to the government but to future adversaries as well.55
The publicity surrounding the McKesson case does not reveal whether the government approved of investigating counsel's methodology for the review or the scope of the investigation, including the number of interviews conducted. It does show, however, what the government valued in that investigation: providing a factual report of the evidence of wrongdoing that could help the government focus its investigation and optimize its use of time and resources. In other words, according to the government, investigating counsel should not limit focus solely to constraining client costs. Understanding the enforcer's frame of mind also means thinking about how to minimize the government's costs as well.
The Panalpina case in 2010 also provides insight into what the government expects of investigating counsel and the virtues of understanding, if not adopting, the enforcer's mentality. The DOJ had investigated Panalpina, Inc. after receiving evidence that the company had a longstanding practice of paying bribes to foreign government officials on behalf of its customers, generally to circumvent the customs process for imports and exports of goods.56 Panalpina's investigating counsel undertook a comprehensive investigation of operations in nine countries, and expanded the scope of its investigation when they encountered new evidence of wrongdoing.57 Importantly, when counsel found potential issues in 36 additional countries, they investigated each of those issues and the company remediated them. In resolving its case against Panalpina, the DOJ informed the district court of its deferred prosecution agreement with Panalpina and cited the company's "exemplary" cooperation with the Department's investigation.58
The DOJ touted Panalpina's internal investigation efforts as a "comprehensive internal investigation that fully supported and paralleled the Department's investigation."59 The company hired an outside audit firm to perform forensic analysis and supplied the DOJ and SEC with information from interviews and documentary evidence regarding potential violations. They also made over 300 current and former employees available for interviews to counsel and the government.
Investigating counsel for Panalpina appear to have successfully put themselves in the position of the government in digging deeper when encountering evidence of wrongdoing outside their investigation's initial scope. Where potential issues arose outside of the principal countries under investigation, counsel expanded their scope to identify and address those issues as they emerged. Notably, in declining to prosecute the DOJ cited how the company's investigation "paralleled" the DOJ's own review.60
The FCPA Resource Guide, published jointly by the SEC and DOJ in 2012, also highlights the merits of understanding an enforcer's thought processes in the context of FCPA investigations.61 The Guide states that once an allegation is made, companies should have in place an efficient, reliable, and properly funded process for investigating the allegation.62 While it does not specify how counsel should conduct investigations, it provides some helpful anonymized examples of matters the DOJ and SEC have declined to pursue based on the scope and conduct of preceding internal investigations.
In one example of a decision to decline prosecution, the Guide describes a case in which a company discovered that its employees were receiving competitor bid information from a third-party agent with ties to a foreign government.63 The company conducted an internal investigation to uncover FCPA red flags and disclosed them to the DOJ and SEC. In another case, the DOJ and SEC declined to pursue a publicly held oil and gas services company for small bribes paid by a foreign subsidiary's customs agent. The government considered that the company self-reported the misconduct and investigated whether any of its subsidiaries in the same region had engaged in misconduct.64 In the government's view, the company's willingness to look into its subsidiaries after self-reporting evidence of misconduct lent the company credibility.
Of particular note is the SEC's first deferred prosecution agreement for FCPA violations in May 2011.65 That case involved allegations that Tenaris, a global manufacturer of steel pipe products, violated the FCPA by bribing Uzbekistan government officials in bidding to supply pipelines for transporting oil and natural gas. The FCPA Guide cites the company's thorough internal investigation, and complete, real-time cooperation with the government, as well as extensive remediation efforts, as the basis for the decision to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement.66 Outside counsel's investigation included a worldwide inquiry into Tenaris' operations and control, as well as extensive and complete disclosure of wrongful conduct.67 The SEC touted the company's decision to investigate its business conduct worldwide. Tenaris' counsel appear to have taken the enforcer's approach in their commitment to uncovering wrongdoing, and the government rewarded the company with leniency.
While the government's statements regarding investigations are valuable, it is important to recognize that they reflect only the "best" of internal investigations in the government's view. The SEC and DOJ are, of course, incentivized to publish information about these "exemplary" internal investigations in order to raise the bar for investigating counsel and target companies in future cases. The government, unsurprisingly, does not fully take into account the practical constraints on these investigations, and indeed every internal investigation, or the risks of increased liability that counsel must consider when expanding the scope of their investigations and disclosing information to the government.
In many of the cases cited above, the government praises the companies' extensive, worldwide inquiries into company operations and interviews of numerous witnesses. In reality, not every company has the resources to expand an investigation from a scope of nine countries to 36, as Panalpina did. For multibillion-dollar companies such as Wal-Mart or Siemens, A.G., the government's expectation that the company would allocate substantial resources for an in-depth probe is arguably more defensible. The government would likely consider anything less to be a sign of the company's unwillingness to probe deeply into the misconduct — an attempt to keep the inquiry at a more superficial level in order to avoid liability. But it may be less reasonable to expect these sweeping steps to be taken by a much smaller company or by a company on the verge of financial collapse.
Nonetheless, the government's views of internal investigations as reflected in the cases and guides provide significant insight into what government agencies value in internal investigations and what principles and precedents may inform an enforcer's mindset. The government wants investigating counsel to establish the facts surrounding potential violations and go beyond the minimum requirements. It wants counsel to commit to learning the truth of what happened — the who, what, when, where, and why. Counsel's actions in the fact-finding phase of the investigation will evidence this commitment and allow the government to determine whether counsel are credible and their investigation is reliable. The government wants counsel to lay out the facts in a way that gives the government a road map for the most critical issues and individuals to pursue so that it can focus its time and resources. All this must, of course, be balanced against the practical realities of particular client representations and resource constraints.
Devising and conducting a "successful" internal investigation thus requires a multitude of balancing acts. Success depends not only on competent execution of fact-finding tasks, but also on skillfully navigating competing interests and risks. Counsel must undertake the difficult job of balancing the pursuit of government credibility with the protection of their clients' broader interests. Providing the government nonrelevant and superfluous information may increase the client's exposure to government enforcement or liability in future civil actions. Yet failing to investigate thoroughly and disclose sufficient information could drive up the company's (and the government's) costs on the back end if the government decides to "do it all over again," or worse, charge the client criminally. There are questions defense lawyers should ask themselves at every stage of the investigation: What are the government's goals? How can I demonstrate that this investigation is furthering these goals? How can I do this while faithfully discharging my duties to the client and advancing their interests? Always anticipating the government's next question and thinking ahead about the implications of disclosing various materials is crucial, as is proper and judicious invocation of the attorney-client privilege. Until the government publishes a step-by-step manual for conducting internal investigations, counsel's best guide to serving their clients as powerful advocates begins with understanding the enforcer's frame of mind. Even then, achieving sterling results in internal investigations depends on employing investigating counsel experienced in the art of balancing.
Benjamin C. Geiger, a senior associate at Farella Braun + Martel LLP, also contributed to this article.
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My head spins, my throat closes, a tear spills, another piece breaks.
Don't you see? Don't you see me?
My eyes close, my fists clench, my stomach drops, another piece breaks.
Do you hear? Do you hear me?
A light shines, a sparrow sings, I love, one more piece breaks.
Can you feel? Can you feel me?
My way gets lost, my mind reels, I lose my footing, another piece breaks.
Won't you touch? Why won't you touch me?
It's dark, it's gloomy, it's depressing, and another piece breaks.
Don't you help? Don't you help me?
I cry, I scream, I call out, I plead
Another piece breaks.
I hurt. Can you save me?
Can someone please help me?
Yup, that about sums it up. Any comments??


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For years The Blue Duck Bakery Cafe has been serving delicious baked goods and breads to the residents of Southampton and Southold. Now The Blue Duck has opened a third location on Main Street in Riverhead. This hotspot offers The Blue Duck's baked goods, plus soups, salads and sandwiches.
When you first walk in, you can smell all of the goodies The Blue Duck has to offer. The aroma of fresh baked bread envelopes you. One of the owners, Nancy Kouris, greeted us as my boyfriend and me approached the counter to look at her offerings for lunch. We both ordered a panino and a soup from the specials board and after receiving our tray we sat at one of the quaint tables in front.
First we dug into our soups, which were piping hot. I ordered the butternut squash soup, which had bits of apple running through it. It was creamy and luscious, and the apple gave it a boost of flavor. My boyfriend had the chicken noodle soup, which tasted just as if Grandma had made it. The noodles weren't soggy and the chunks of chicken were sizeable.
Next we tried our sandwiches, all gooey and warm from the panini press. I had mushroom with Parmesan cheese, caramelized, onions and pesto on mine. The mushrooms were tender and the Parmesan gave the grilled sandwich a great salty flavor. My boyfriend tried a chicken, roasted bell pepper, fresh mozzarella and pesto panino on rosemary focaccia. The rosemary was baked into the focaccia, instead of just sprinkled on top, which really infused the bread with great herbaceous flavor.
For dessert we split one of The Blue Duck's giant rainbow cookies and a red velvet cupcake. The rainbow cookie had a thick chocolate layer on top that crunched when we bit into it, and the raspberry jelly in the middle was fantastic. The red velvet cupcake wasn't as red as you would expect it to be, and it had more cocoa, but it was delicious and moist with a light, fluffy buttercream on top. After we had finished our lovely lunch and thanked Nancy, she insisted that we take some bread home to try. We selected the cranberry walnut, as well as the chocolate bread.
Once we got home, we just had to taste a slice of each. It was incredible how the chocolate bread smelled like dark, bitter chocolate, and tasted like it too, with its massive chunks of baked-in chocolate. The cranberry walnut bread was also mouthwatering with the sweetness from the cranberries and the crunch from the walnuts.
The Blue Duck Bakery Cafe has so many great baked goods, and these are just a few. Their éclairs are gigantic and so are the turnovers!
Next time you're in Riverhead stop by The Blue Duck and pick up a sweet or savory treat.
The Blue Duck Bakery Cafe, is located at 309 Main Street in Riverhead. Call 631-591-2711 or visit www.blueduckbakerycafe.com for more info. Also try their other locations at 30 Hampton Road in Southampton, 631-204-1701, and 56275 Route 25 in Southold, 631-629-4123.


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My friends survived a massive crash dec 28th driving home from a family trip. They got rammed by a pickup truck that ran a stop sign at full speed.
It hit Phil's side but Ashley sustained most of the damage. Both were life-flighted to Mercy St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo, Ohio where they are being given the best possible care.
Phil has several broken bones and will be off from work for several months. Ashley's road to recovery is a bit more long and we're taking it day by day. Along with her internal injuries, she also has a broken hip which will need rehab and attention.
If you can find it in your heart to donate any little to the cause, please do so in the link above.
I went over to see them a couple of days ago and they're doing pretty well considering the shape of the car. They were lucky they weren't in his Mazdaspeed Miata or their Tacoma. Their injuries sound much worse than they actually are. She is lucky to still have full function of her legs (hugely lucky there). It was bad but still not as bad as it could have been
I'm not one to normally post something like this but as a Jalop it's still my duty to do so.


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Tag Archives: oppo r9 features
Oppo R9 Smartphone with 4GB RAM, 64GB Internal Memory and 4G Connectivity
Oppo R9 smartphone sports a 5.5 inches Full HD display. It is loaded with the Android Lollipop OS. It is powered by the 2.0GHz octa-core processor. It comes with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory storage and a


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Since Patch 2.2 went live on Tuesday there has been a flurry of information flying around about upcoming class changes in 2.3. Warriors (and tanking) are no exception! Here is a run down of the changes that are said to be coming for Warriors:
- Yes, we do plan to reduce the chance for Mace Specialization to occur in patch 2.3, but it will provide 7 rage instead of 6. (Bornakk)
- We also plan to have healing reduction effects affect all drain spells and abilities. As the example that most people bring up, Mortal Strike will affect Drain Life. (Bornakk)
- While arms/fury warriors aren't meant to be as good as protection warriors at tanking, we do plan to make an additional to Tactical Mastery that may help them out. This talent will grant greatly increased threat from Mortal Strike and Bloodthirst when in Defensive Stance. (Bornakk)
- It may also simplify things a bit to when we make Devastate combine the effects of Sunder Armor into it's effect and be affected by all talents and items that affect Sunder Armor. We plan to make this happen in 2.3. (Bornakk)
- The Arms talent Weapon Mastery is going to be significantly changed. Instead of providing 50/100% chance to avoid Disarm effects, it is going to reduce the duration of Disarm effects by 25/50%. The reason for this is that having full immunity with this talent really took the idea of disarming out of the game and we want it to be more viable. (Bornakk)
Several changes in there directed at PVP, but there are some nice tanking changes coming too in allowing Arms/Fury tanks better threat generation as well as the combined effect of Devastate. The Devastate change will be very nice!
Patch 2.3 and you: Warrior edition [UPDATE: Weapon Mastery nerfed] – WOW Insider


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Eleven Hope College track and field athletes have been awarded all-conference honors by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).
Highlighting the honors is the selection of junior Cameron Lampkin [pictured] of Oak Park (Berkley HS) as the league's outstanding male track performer. Lampkin was the conference champion in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. The last time a Hope sprinter received MVP recognition was 1986.
Three athletes are receiving All-MIAA honors for a third consecutive year -- senior Jeffrey Minkus of Glen Elyn, Ill. (Glenbard West HS), junior Nick Rinck of Hudsonville (Hudsonville HS), and junior Kara Vandeguchte of Hamilton (Hamilton HS).
Honored for a second time are junior John Donkersloot of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS) and senior Aaron Treiber of Auburn (Valley Lutheran HS).
First-time honorees include freshman Elliott Barney of South Holland, Ill. (Seton Academy HS), senior Bryan DeKoekkoek of Martin (Kalamazoo Christian HS), freshman Shaelie Harper of Holland (Holland HS), freshman Taylor Mattarella of Traverse City (Traverse City Central HS), and sophomore Sarah Venlet of Zeeland (Holland Christian HS).
Both Hope teams finished second in the MIAA standings as athletes captured the gold medal in 13 events. The teams are coached by Kevin Cole.


text:
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Colour-changing clothing inspired by the chameleon of the sea could take camouflage to a whole new level.
It's hard to stump a cuttlefish.
The eight-armed relative of the squid and octopus is a genius with disguise, displaying an ability to blend into nearly any background. While swimming along the sandy seafloor, for instance, its skin turns a light tan, a perfect match for the ground beneath it. Nestled into a bed of gravel, the animal's skin turns a mottled black and white. As it approaches a mass of algae, this black and white pattern slowly fades out and is replaced by a brownish green hue.
One scientist even tested a cuttlefish's camouflage skills by putting it in a tank with a black-and-white checkerboard pattern. The cuttlefish responded by displaying crude white squares on its back.
Soon, we may be able to perform similar feats, thanks to the work of Jonathan Rossiter and Andrew Conn, engineers at the University of Bristol in the UK. The pair have now engineered soft materials that that mimic a cuttlefish's colour-changing skin, paving the way for "smart clothing" that might help us take camouflage to a whole new level.
The cuttlefish owes its talents to millions of specialised cells packed under its skin called chromatophores, which contain miniature sacs full of black, brown, yellow or other coloured pigment. When the cuttlefish's brain sends the signal to change colour, muscles surrounding the sacs quickly contract, stretching the sacs and allowing the pigment inside to cover a larger surface area – with the result that the colour and pattern of the animal's skin appears to change to the outside observer. Because of the tight coupling between the brain and the nerves surrounding the chromatophores, this remarkable transformation happens at lightning speed, allowing wild cuttlefish to quickly change colour to evade predators, sneak up on prey, or attract mates.
Artificial skin
Rossiter and Conn set out to replicate this process by engineering artificial chromatophores out of small devices known as dielectric elastomer actuators. A DEA, as it's known, consists of a thin, rubberised membrane sandwiched between two flexible electrodes. The electrodes are connected to a power supply; flip the switch and electricity goes surging into the system. The electrodes take on opposite charges and attract each other, squeezing the rubber membrane between them.
To create a colour-changing effect, Rossiter and Conn built a clear "artificial skin" studded with circular DEAs, each of which contained a thin disc of black rubber sitting between two circular electrodes. When the researchers turned on the power supply, the electrodes squashed the black membranes, which expanded in surface area as they were flattened. "You have a small spot, and you apply electricity and it becomes a big spot," Rossiter says. Expand all these black spots at the same time, and it looks like the skin is suddenly darkening. The colour change happens fast, within "tens of milliseconds," says Rossiter.
While they were at it, the researchers also decided to model a second colour-changing organism: the zebrafish, a black-and-white-striped swimmer than can make itself appear darker in response to environmental stimuli. In zebrafish, cells known as melanophores contain reservoirs of black fluid; muscle contractions pump this fluid to the skin's surface, where the liquid spreads out, darkening the fish. (This process is triggered by hormones – rather than directly by the brain – so the colour change in zebrafish takes longer than it does in cuttlefish. In zebrafish, "there's a reasonably slow diffusion of chemicals through the body," says Rossiter, "but they produce a really striking visual effect.")
Flash display
To mimic the zebrafish, Rossiter and Conn constructed an artificial ink cell by mounting a flat, oval-shaped silicone display chamber between two glass microscope slides. They used a thin tube to connect a well of black ink to the display chamber; when the researchers gave the command, a small pump pushed the black fluid into the transparent chamber, turning it from clear to an opaque black. To reverse the effect, the researchers turned on a second pump, which sent a supply of clear liquid into the chamber and pushed the black fluid back into its reservoir. (The organic clear fluid and the black water-based ink do not mix.)
Just like in nature, the zebrafish-inspired chromataphores work more slowly than those modelled on the cuttlefish, but the final effect is dramatic. In just a few seconds, the transparent display chamber turns a rich, dark black.
The next step, Rossiter says, is to refine the bio-inspired chromataphores and to network more and more of them together. "We'll put these things together to produce larger arrays and at the same time we'll miniaturise them," he says. By layering different chromatophores and pigment cells, engineers could create a soft material capable of a variety of sophisticated effects, including multiple colour changes and moving patterns that appear to ripple across the fabric.
Such colour-changing materials have obvious military applications, allowing soldiers to blend into different environments with the flick of a switch. But, Rossiter points out, we could also use such clothing to make ourselves more conspicuous. "In modern society," he says, "you may want to display yourself." Imagine, for instance, a shirt that turns bright orange when you're walking or biking along a heavily trafficked road. Or a jacket that can flash bright colours if you get lost in the woods, making it easier for search parties to spot you.
For his part, Rossiter imagines teens coveting cuttlefish-inspired clothing simply for fun and fashion. They could even go out to a nightclub and put on colour-changing displays to impress potential mates, just like their cephalopod cousins.
If you would like to comment on this article or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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Jan. 8, 2011
Swimming Meet One Results
Swimming Meet Two Results
Diving Day One Results
Diving Day Two Results
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara swimmers were handed tough losses by USC on Saturday as the Gaucho women fell, 156-92, to the fifth-ranked Trojans and the men were handed two losses in a doubleheader meet against the ninth-ranked Trojan men, falling 140-44 and 136-47 at McDonald's Swim Stadium.
USC opened strong claiming first in the 200 medley relay on both sides. The men finished in 1:30.39, beating the Gaucho `A' team of Kevin Ferguson, Tim Freeman, Max Horrell and Chris Peterson (1:31.09). On the women's end, the Trojan `A' and `B' relays went one-two as UCSB's top-team of Allie Knight, Anne Peanasky, Miranda Schneider and Kendall Neely grabbed the remaining two points in the event with a mark of 1:47.96.
The Trojans dominated the men's 1,000 free, sweeping first through fourth place. Evan Simoni, the lone Gaucho representative in the event took fifth in 10:07.24. On the women's end, Andrea Ward was the top UCSB finisher in the 1,000, placing fourth in 10:10.53. She later took second in the 500 free with a mark of 4:57.35.
In the men's 50 free, Chris Peterson grabbed second place, finishing in 20.21. Vladimir Morozov won the event in 19.91 seconds. Peterson later returned the favor to Morozov, edging out the Trojan by .07 seconds in the 100 free with his mark of 44.70. Andrew Latimer took third in the 100, going 47.61.
Allie Knight and Mariah Tharp went two-three in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in 58.79 and 1:01.12, respectively. Presley Bard won the event in 56.27. Knight took third in the 200 back later in the meet (2:05.24).
In the men's 100 back, Kevin Ferguson was out-touched by .13 seconds by Alex Lendrum of USC, who finished in 49.19.
Tim Freeman also faced a close race in the 100 breaststroke. He came up short to Dillon Connolly with his time of 56.45, which was .43 off of the event winner's.
The Gaucho women had strong showings in the sprint events. In the 50 free, Kendall Neely (23.87) and Mariah Tharp (24.43) went two-three, finishing behind Kasey Carlson of USC (23.51). Then, in the 100 free, the Gauchos swept second through fourth-place. Hunt (53.17), Katie Tomkinson (53.21) and Neely (53.45) collected nine points for UCSB in the event.
The men's teams also swam an additional 10 events, which included several events that are not swum at the NCAA level.
In the second men's meet, the Trojans took first in nine of the 10 events. The USC `A' 100 yard medley relay out-touched the Gaucho team of Ferguson, Freeman, Horrell and Peterson by .47 seconds with its time of 41.09.
UCSB's lone first-place was Peterson's repeat win in the 100 free, this time in 44.80 seconds.
The Gauchos captured three second-place finishes in individual swims: Ferguson in the 50 free (21.11), Max Horrell in the 50 fly (23.35) and Freeman in the 50 breast (26.28).
UCSB concluded the meet with a second-place in the 100 free relay with a time of 37.17 posted by Peterson, Ferguson, Andrew Latimer and Alex Campbell. They finished .25 seconds behind the USC `A' relay team. The final score for the second men's meet had USC ahead, 136-47.
Meanwhile, in diving news, UCSB competed at UCLA's Bruin Invitational this weekend.
On Friday, sophomore Toby Moyneur placed 13th on the one-meter board with a score of 178.10. He posted a score of 179.20 during the semifinals earlier in the day. For the women, Missy Burley posted a score of 159.75 and was 32nd in the three-meter preliminaries.
During Saturday's one-meter competition, Burley took 35th with 136.40 points. Moyneur once again had his best showing in the semifinals, posting a score of 142.80 on the three-meter board. He finished 12th in the finals with 116.60 points.
UCSB will be back in action on Jan. 22 when it travels to UNLV for a meet against the Rebels at 11 a.m. The women's team will also take-on Northern Arizona at the same meet.


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Yale Moves To 3-1 In Ivy League
PHILADELPHIA – It seems whenever the Yale men's soccer team has needed a big goal this season, one of the seniors has stepped up and delivered. Saturday, it was Charlie Paris. Paris scored 4 minutes, 37 seconds into the second overtime period to lift the Bulldogs to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Penn at Rhodes Field.
Paris' game-winner came when he settled a short pass from Chris Dennen, took one touch and fired a shot past Penn goalkeeper Max Kurtzman. Five of Yale's game-winning goals this season have come from seniors. It was the second for Paris, who also did it in the win over Dartmouth.
"It's really pleasing to me to see our seniors stepping up at critical times, especially in Ivy League games," said Yale head coach Brian Tompkins.
With the win, the Bulldogs moved into sole possession of second place. Brown and Cornell played a 1-1 tie earlier Saturday, so Yale trails first-place Cornell by one point.
The Bulldogs (7-5-2, 3-1 Ivy) had played their first three Ivy games at home.
"This was a really good road performance against a good team," Tompkins said. "Penn attacks more quickly than any other team in the league, and we really weathered the storm, especially early in the game."
The Quakers (6-6-2, 1-3 Ivy) had a 10-5 edge in shots in the first half, but Yale goalkeeper Bobby Thalman made three saves, and the game was scoreless at the intermission.
Yale grabbed the lead at 56:18 and again it was a pair of seniors that accounted for the goal. Marcus DiLallo sent a long ball forward to Dennen, who controlled the bouncing ball and fired a shot into the right side of the goal.
Penn, though, tied it with 7:51 left in the second half when Christian Barreiro curled a free kick into the lower right corner from just outside the box.
Yale had the first two shots of the first overtime but couldn't capitalize. Paris' goal came on the Bulldogs' second shot of the second extra period.
The Quakers outshot Yale 24-16 in the game.
Thalman finished with eight saves to earn the victory.
"It was an exciting and bitterly contested game," Tompkins said. "Both teams really went for it and played with great spirit and conviction."
The Bulldogs are back on the road next Saturday. They travel to New York City to meet Columbia. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


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Reviewed by Anthony G. (age 9)
The Dragon's Coming After You illustration will appear here.
I like the author's writing because it is my favorite writing. There is no series of this book. It?s not similar to any book that much. You would love this book as much as I do. I felt happy as I read this book. It?s really cool. The story did not remind me of anything that I?ve done. I don?t really wonder much when I read this book.
I recommend this book to 8&9 year olds because it is great and so are the characters.


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Sailing was first introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1996 as a demonstration sport and became a medal sport for the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney.
Three boats will be raced at the 2008 Paralympic Games: the 2.4mR, a single-person keelboat, the SKUD-18, a two-person keelboat and the Sonar, a three-person keelboat. The high performance SKUD-18 makes its Paralympic debut this year in the coastal city of Qingdao, China. According to the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS), a SKUD-18 team must include one female and one person deemed a Functional Classification System (FCS) "1," or severely disabled, like a quadriplegic. Sailors are seated on the centerline for Paralympic events, but the boat can be sailed with or without either of the seats and configured to suit different sailors' needs.
Because of its design and control, the 2.4mR was selected for single-person races. The boat's ease of use allows for a level playing field, making tactical knowledge the dominant factor in competition.
The Sonar uses a versatile crew-friendly design that is accommodating to athletes with physical disabilities. It is used by sailors of all experience and ability levels, from the novice to international competitors.
Paralympic sailing competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation/limb loss, blindness/visual impairment, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.
For the latest news, bios and photos of the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team, please visit the U.S. Sailing Web site.
E-mail your questions about sailing. Find a local program in your community - visit the Paralympic Resource Network.
For more information on disabled sailing, please visit:
International Foundation for Disabled Sailing
SKUD-18 Association
Sonar Class Association
International 2.4m Class Association Sailors with Disabilities


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Welcome to NikonCafe.com—a friendly Nikon camera & photography discussion forum!If you are thinking of buying a camera or need help with your photos, you will find our forum members full of advice! Click here to join for free!
Filming Hummingbird
Discussion in 'Other Cool Gear, Camera Bags, Camera Straps' started by MMRadman, Jun 16, 2011.


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New Scientific Paper Rebuts Contrarian Cloud Claims
New Scientific Paper Rebuts Contrarian Cloud Claims
Clouds only amplify climate change, says a Texas A&M University professor in a study that rebuts recent claims that clouds are actually the root cause of climate change.
Andrew Dessler, a Texas A&M atmospheric sciences professor considered one of the nation's experts on climate variations, says years of data support the mainstream and long-held view that clouds are primarily acting as a so-called feedback that amplifies warming from human activity. His work is published today in the American Geophysical Union's peer-reveiwed journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Dessler studied El Nino and La Nina cycles over the past 10 years and calculated the Earth's "energy budget" over this time. El Nino and La Nina are times of the year when waters in the central Pacific Ocean tend to get warmer or colder, and these changes have a huge impact on much of the world's weather systems for months.
Dessler found that clouds played a very small role in initiating these climate variations — in agreement with mainstream climate science and in direct opposition to these previous claims.
"The bottom line is that clouds have not replaced humans as the cause of the recent warming the Earth is experiencing," Dessler explains.
Texas is currently in one of the worst droughts in the state's history, and most scientists believe it is a direct result of La Nina conditions that have lingered in the Pacific Ocean for many months.
Dessler added that, "Over a century, however, clouds can indeed play an important role amplifying climate change."
"I hope my analysis puts an end to this claim that clouds are causing climate change," he adds.
Contact: Andy Dessler at (979) 862-1427 or firstname.lastname@example.com or Keith Randall, News & Information Services, at (979) 845-4644 or email@example.com
COLLEGE STATION, Sept. 6, 2011
For a discussion of one of the fallacious contrarian papers refuted by Dessler, see paper #2 by Spencer et al HERE, in the essay The Contrarians? that discusses contrarians / deniers / faux skeptics in depth.
For a summary of mainstream climate science click HERE.
Here is the published paper:
Cloud variations and the Earth's energy budget
Key Points
- Clouds are not causing climate change
- Observations are not in disagreement with models on this point
- Previous work on this is flawed
Author: Andrew E. Dessler
The question of whether clouds are the cause of surface temperature changes, rather than acting as a feedback in response to those temperature changes, is explored using data obtained between 2000 and 2010. An energy budget calculation shows that the energy trapped by clouds accounts for little of the observed climate variations. And observations of the lagged response of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) energy fluxes to surface temperature variations are not evidence that clouds are causing climate change.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, doi:10.1029/2011GL049236
Here is a list of other posts on this topic compiled by Prof. Scott Mandia, whose own post is a real gem:
Roy Spencer Wants You to Believe the Magician Really Cuts Her Body in Half - Scott MandiaResignations, retractions and the process of science - Realclimate
Andrew Dessler's New Paper Debunks Both Roy Spencer And Richard Lindzen - Skeptical Science
Latest Research Shows That Clouds Do NOT Cause Global Warming - Greg Laden
Editor-in-chief resigns as a new paper identifies errors in "fundamentally flawed" climate paper - Brian Angliss
Roy Spencer Persecuted By Own Data - Barry Bickmore
The Eternal Return or: The Unbearable Wrongness of Spencer and Braswell - The Policy Lass
Science Stunner: Editor of Journal that Published Flawed Denier Bunk Apologizes, Resigns, Slams Spencer for Exaggerations – Joe Romm
Journal editor resigns over 'flawed' paper co-authored by climate sceptic - Leo Hickman
Journal editor resigns over 'problematic' climate paper - Richard Black
Journal Editor Resigns After Publishing Flawed Climate Study Touted By Forbes, Fox - Jocelyn Fong
Editor who published controversial climate paper resigns, blasts media - John Timmer
Paper Disputing Basic Science of Climate Change is "Fundamentally Flawed,"
Editor Resigns, Apologizes - Peter Gleick
Spencer & Braswell and the Review Process - John Nielsen-Gammon
Remote Sensing Editor Resigns Over Spencer/Braswell Paper - Barry Bickmore
Dessler shows that clouds aren't causing climate change, refuting Spencer and Braswell - Tim Lambert
A Reality Check on Clouds and Climate - Andrew Revkin
Climate Change 'Sceptics' Exploit Weaknesses in Journal Review Processes - Bob Ward
Spencer and Braswell fundamentally flawed, journal editor resigns - Bart Verheggen
Climate Skeptic Science: Approach with Caution – Peter Sinclair
Spencer/Braswell: This is not New. This is the Way it's Done. – Peter Sinclair
Bombshell: Journal Editor Resigns over Flawed Spencer paper – Peter Sinclair
Why Questionable "Science" Gets Published, Pounced On in the Media, Retracted, Causes Resignations…Rinse and Repeat – Chris Mooney
GRL doi:10.1029/2011GL049236 Andy Dessler does not like Spencer and Braswell very
much – Eli Rabett
Eli predicts that Roy's Tuesday is not going to be much better than his Friday - Eli Rabett
Wagner Apologized - Eli Rabett
Holy editor resignation, Batman! - William M. Connelly
On the Misdiagnosis of Surface Temperature Feedbacks from Variations in Earth's Radiant Energy Balance - Greg Laden
Climate noise amplification - Jason Thibeault
Bad Week for Roy "Wrong-Way" Spencer – Peter Sinclair
New Research Examines Role of Clouds in Climate Change - Scientific American
Roy Spencer Responds With More Shoddy Statistics and Excuses - Barry Bickmore
Cloud picture at the top from Wikipedia


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Eric Bruno is a contributing editor to Dr. Dobb's and co-author of JavaFX: Developing Rich Internet Applications.
JavaFX contains a bevy of controls to do all sorts of things: a list view to scroll through and select from; a drop-down list view; button; text box; label; progress bar; slider; the list goes on. However, the list view control lacks one feature I've found a need for many times: multi-select. I simply want to be able to select more than one item in the list, and then get back an array of the items selected when I query for them. But alas, the stock JavaFX list view control won't do it. How did I work around this problem? Like any good developer, I rolled my own.
While I don't advocate reinventing the wheel at the drop of a hat, I've a real need for this feature, and JavaFX does support the notion of creating custom controls. In fact, I found that it's quite easy to do. With little effort, and relatively little code, I was able to build exactly what I needed. Before we get into the details of my multi-select list view control, let's examine custom controls in general.
Custom Controls
You have two choices to build a custom control in JavaFX. First, you can write a class that extends javafx.scene.CustomNode. Since all UI components in JavaFX are Node objects, this approach is reasonable. To begin, extend CustomNode, override the children variable with your own Node content, and then implement your new Node's behavior. Voila! custom control.
The second choice is to extend the javafx.scene.control.Control class. This seems to make more sense to me, since what you have as a result is a class that "is a" Control in terms of the object relationship. That happens to be exactly what you intend to do: build a custom control. As a result, the choice I made was to extend the Control class. This has some benefits:
- Since you need to define a CustomSkin class, your control is skin-able
- Your control is more easily managed by the JavaFX layout manager
The only requirement, as mentioned above, is to define two classes: one that extends Control, and another that extends javafx.scene.control.Skin. Your custom Skin class will mainly define how the control looks, while your Control class will mainly define its behavior. In a custom control, both of these classes will know about each other through member variables, as in Figure 1.
Now that we've discussed custom controls in general, let's take a look at how to build the multi-select list view control in detail. For a helpful code template to get you started building your own controls, you can use the code for this project as a start, or see the JavaFX Control Template (Johannes Schneider).


text:
- About us
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Some nights ago I was heading to a local theater with some (non-nerd) friends. We did not recall very well the address, so I brought out my phone (LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.4.2 and Google Chrome) and googled for it. I found the theater's official site and started looking for the contact info, when Chrome suddenly opened a popup window pointing me to a Russian web site (novostivkontakte.ru) urging me to update my Flash Player. I laughed loudly and showed them to my (again, totally non-nerd) friends saying that the site had been owned. One of them went on and opened the site with her own phone (Samsung Galaxy S Advance with Android 4.4.1 and the default Android WebKit browser). To make a long story short, after a few instants her phone was downloading a file without even asking her for confirmation. So: Chrome on my Nexus 4 was using social engineering to have me click on a link and manually download the file; Android's WebKit on her Galaxy S Advance was instead downloading the file straight away: interesting! However, we were a bit late and we had to run for the comedy, so I did not even bother to see what the heck she had downloaded, I only made sure she hadn't opened it. I thought it was just the usual exploit kit trying to infect PCs by serving fake Flash Player updates, seen tons of those. While waiting for the comedy to begin, I quickly submitted the compromised site to three different services, the first three ones that came to my mind: HoneyProxy Client, Wepawet and Unmask Parasites, then turned off my phone and enjoyed the show.
The day after, I decided to spend some minutes analyzing that exploit kit (you know, just in case...). First of all, the compromised site was made with Joomla 1.7, an older release that has a quite long list of security updates in its short history (http://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_1.7_version_history) and is now deprecated in favor of Joomla 2.5. I wish I had access to that web server's logs, those would be quite funny!
However, looking at the source code of the compromised pages, I saw that the malicious javascript was injected at the very beginning of the page, as shown here.
I reported the breach to the site owners right after finishing the analysis, on December 30 and they answered on December 31 saying they would clean it as soon as possible. This afternoon (January 7) I checked and the site was clean, but tonight it's compromised again, so it looks like the owners did not patch the vulnerability, and the exploit is probably being spread in a mechanized way and a quick Google search seems to confirm this hypothesis, as the malicious code was injected in more than 82,100 different pages, and those are probably only the ones that did not get compromised since the inject failed and the javascript code is showing up as text instead of being executed (see here).
Well, after that, I looked at the results of the three scans I had ran the night before. To my surprise, there was almost nothing in them:
And that was all. So, I decided to run the site through Thug with the default personality (winxpie60) and - man! - that was deceiving! Nothing found. Absolutely nothing. Not even a single tiny call to a .ru domain or anything of the like. The only external site was www.facebook.com, which was a legitimate content of the theater's site.
Fortunately, Thug's author Angelo "Buffer" Dell'Aera (our Boss, our Leader, our Shining Star) was wise enough to provide his wonderful tool with an awesome set of different personalities: if the exploit kit did not like Internet Explorer 6, maybe I may fool it with a Galaxy S II with Google Chrome 18 and Android 4.0.3, since it was checking for mobile phones. Guess what, that did the trick! This time, after a few seconds, Thug got redirected to "novostivkontakte.ru", which in turn pointed to "raykola.net", then to "real-chudo.ru" and "klub0-raduga.ru", from which three different APKs were downloaded.
For those interested, this is a small excerpt of Thug's JSON logs:
The three APK files are actually the same app, with three different small changes in their configuration to talk to three different Command&Control servers, but we'll talk about this in a later post. For now, we'll only say they're all three named "video.apk" and that their MD5 sums are 10859e82697955eb2561822e14460463, 91f302fd7c2d1b8fb54248ea128d19e0 and f6ad9ced69913916038f5bb94433848d.
To sum up things, in this post we've seen about a peculiar Exploit Kit that's being actively spread by some mechanized mean and has already compromised several thousands sites. The exploit kit is behaving in a quite peculiar way as it seems to have been designed with special attention to mobile users (that are currently the only ones that get infected by it), and it's distributing some malicious APKs that are (more or less) well recognized by AV vendors on VirusTotal (23/47). Last but not least, Angelo "Buffer" Dell'Aera confirmed that it's the first time he's seen APKs being distributed that way by an exploit kit, and - to his pride - Thug is able to get them all!
Stay tuned for some further analysis of those APKs by my friend and fellow Sysenter Chapter contributor Andrea De Pasquale!
January 12, 2014 Update: Even if my original entry point (the theatre's web site) has now been cleaned, the exploit kit is still online and, since January 8, it's using a different domain to serve the APK files. The whole chain is now:
[infected site] --> novostivkontakte.ru --> raykola.net --> luchikmail.ru
They also changed the EK's code to better filter the User-Agent strings: now you only get redirected to the APKs if you give a true Android User-Agent; if you give an iPad User-Agent you get redirected to the domain "vk.com" where essentially nothing happens (at least for now).
To know more about the served APKs, here's two interesting posts you may want to read:


text:
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beyerdynamic appoints AVL Electronics L.L.C as distributor for UAE
From January 2013 on, AVL Electronics L.L.C will be the distributor for beyerdynamic`s complete product range for the territory of the United Arab Emirates.
Heilbronn, December 2012 /EM:
From January 2013 on, AVL Electronics L.L.C will be the distributor for beyerdynamic`s complete product range for the territory of the United Arab Emirates.
beyerdynamic is a leading German manufacturer for high quality audio products and conferencing equipment. "Over the last couple of years beyerdynamic sales in the international markets have grown continuously and the cooperation with AVL Electronics will further strengthen our presence and activities internationally" stated Elmira Moraveji , Area Sales Manager at beyerdynamic.
"Dubai based company AVL Electronics is a leading distributor of high quality AV equipment.
Mr. Mohammad Reza and the whole AVL Electronics team convinced us that they can meet our expectations for the future. The staff is very well known in the market and has a lot of experience in the business, with excellent relations to existing dealers and institutions; therefore they can provide the best support for customer."
About beyerdynamic
Since the Eugen Beyer electrical engineering factory was founded in 1924, beyerdynamic has been synonymous with German-made applied high technology in the professional audio electronics sector.
Until this very day, Eugen Beyer's heirs feel bound by the company's tradition and by its visionary, pioneering founder's values. Technological advance, constant innovation and maximum quality standards ensure the company leads the field in sound technology worldwide. More than eighty-five years after its foundation, beyerdynamic still develops premium headphones and microphones in Germany, which are carefully handcrafted in the southern city of Heilbronn. Each of our products contains true passion and know-how for an excellent sound experience.
For further information:
beyerdynamic GmbH & Co. KG
Elmira Moraveji
Area Sales Manager, MENA
Theresienstrasse 8
D-74072 Heilbronn
Tel.: +49 (0)7131-617212
Fax: +49 (0)7131-617-399
AVL Electronics L.L.C
Amir Bagheri
No.3,Dar Al Salam Bldg.,Salahuddin St.
Deira , Dubai


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The faculty and student of Tabor College, in cooperation with Hillsboro Kiwanis will host a Special Olympics basketball tournament from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the main gym and student activity center.
Teams from four counties will be participating. Divisions are made up of teams with similar ability levels. The tournament is designed to give teams experience before the Kansas Special Olympic State Tournament in March at Fort Hays State University.
For further questions, contact Deb Collier at (316) 283-4263.


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Beavercreek, OH – Gravity Spa's Floatation tanks are the first and only floatation tanks service in the Dayton area. As more and more people realize the relaxation effects of floatation, the Gravity Spa installed a brand new Floatation Tank for a more immersive experience along with a group of friends or family.
As she revisited heir inspiration to provide this unique service, company owner, Ms. Melony says, "Ever since my first float, I knew this would be a business I'd like to be involved with. This is a business where I am not concerned primarily about profitability, but more so by providing a great service to my friends, family, and others in the community. When you experience the amazing effects of flotation, you'll see what all of the hype is about. Pair that with a massage and you will be one happy camper!"
Ms. Melony Wimer, Gravity Spa's owner, established the business in 2011. They first started accepting clients in 2012 and have successfully gained positive feedbacks from their clients. But it is not just about the floatation, Gravity Spa is also known for their excellent massage service; making the two a perfect pair after a long and stressful day at work. Interested clients may visit https://www.gravityspa.com/services/massage-therapy for a list of massage therapy services by Gravity Spa.
What keeps their floatation plus massage a day treat is due to the services they provide. Since everything is backed up with excellent research, providing positive results is easy. According to their research, as the brain battles with gravity everyday, it adds up to the onslaught of other stimuli. Whenever their patient floats inside the floatation tank, the brain then releases its work to combat the effects of gravity, therefore allowing it to relax. One may enter an extreme relaxation state or meditation as it allows the logical side of the brain to synchronize with the other part of the brain.
Discover massage services by visiting the website at: https://www.gravityspa.com/massage-beavercreek-ohio
Most especially for people who are looking for pain relief, relaxation, sport enhancement, or even heightened creativity and super learning, the Gravity Spa will surely satisfy those. Experience the wonders of floatation tanks at 1905 Woods Dr, Beavercreek, Ohio 45432.
For queries, contact them via phone at 937-696-9595 or via email at email@example.com
For their client's convenience, they also accept online booking, just visit their website at https://www.gravityspa.com and proceed to Book Now.
Media Contact
Company Name: Gravity Spa
Contact Person: Ms. Melony
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 937-696-9595
Address:1905 Woods Dr
City: Beavercreek
State: Ohio
Country: United States
Website: https://www.gravityspa.com


text:
Nice work! Enjoy the show!
Link Copied!
Europe stocks look cheap - but no one wants them
Opening Sequence
Democratic candidates decry Trump's attacks
Trump says U.S. ship destroyed Iranian drone
Court papers point to Trump's role in hush money
Jeffrey Epstein denied bail in sex trafficking trial
Japan mourns victims of suspected arson attack
Canadian police bust 9 members of alleged mafia clan
The moon now a 'proving ground' for Mars
World in Pictures
Closing Sequence


text: I am pleased to announce that we are testing a new live chat server. Please feel free to login and give it a try. This is a great way to get prospective players together and chat about your game before making an invite, or even to run games online. You'll find the link to login on the sidebar navigation menu on the home page (http://www.penandpapergames.com). For more information and to login to the new server, visit this page (http://www.penandpapergames.com/index.php?page=chat).


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My Kind of Life: I Love My Androgel
What I really love about my Androgel I can't write about in a family magazine, but my editor demanded to know. Alright, when I have leftover Androgel at the end of the month, I rub it on myself and my partner and we go into a frenzy. We have a great time in the bedroom.
One of HIV's most popular affect on our system is hypogonadism, which is the medical term for a low testosterone level. The statistics say maybe as many as 30-50% of HIV-positive men have low testosterone counts.
Symptoms of low testosterone may include fatigue, depression, inability to concentrate and (gasp!) erectile dysfunction or decreased sex drive. If left unchecked for a long period of time there is the possibility of losing bone mass leading to osteoporosis, loss of hair and loss of muscle tissue.
Luckily there is hope, and it's cheap and simple with hardly any bad side effects. Testosterone injections are an option and work just fine for many. However, some people, like moi, cannot handle the sudden surge of testosterone and there are others who just hate an extra needle stick in their bun.
Most people who go on testosterone replacement therapy notice an improvement in their energy level overnight. Some notice an improvement in their bedroom that same night. Before long your energy level may be back to a place you may not remember because it was sometime way before the HIV infection occurred. There can be side effects, as with any other drug, which may manifest as headaches, hypertension, acne or prostrate disorders. There are also concerns for people with heart, kidney and liver disease, and it is not recommended for pregnant women. Aside from a small percentage of those who fit this criteria, testosterone is very well tolerated by most people, especially HIV positive men who need this hormone.
People hate side effects and most people cringe when they hear steroid or hormone because we cling to the negative and sensational stories we've heard. There was bad news when athletes like wrestling super hunk Kyle Hazard died from steroid abuse years back and then there were the many scandalous stories of Olympic champions caught cheating while "on the juice." The Olympics brings up the bar on the hysteria factor because it's an international event.
These stories are blown out of proportion. These people either were caught because they used the substance to cheat in an athletic performance or worse yet they overdosed. Those who overdose are sometimes taking thousand of milligrams per injection, which may be more than you would take during a controlled cycle monitored by your doctor.
Testosterone replacement may help you feel better, therefore making it easier for you to get to the gym or start jogging. It's not just about the ego. Depression has a sly way of slipping into your life. A few days turn into a few weeks then winter comes and you look at yourself one day and shriek in horror because you've been locked up all winter waiting for your disability payments and now you can't fit into last years' jeans. Testosterone replacement therapy may be the kick you need in your jeans.
Some people receiving testosterone injections feel aggression or anxiety or experience mood swings. This is from the spike of testosterone hitting your blood stream. Imagine your testosterone level being at a low and suddenly you're fully charged. It can make you feel like an angry AIDS activist acting out in San Francisco's City Hall! I experienced some "roid rage" while taking the injections and I didn't care for the way it made me feel. I was feeling great for the first time in a long time, my energy and libido was back and the other benefits started to show as well, which is the burning of fat and the enhancement of lean muscle tissue. However, I found that I became angry and easily frustrated. On a few occasions I was ready to punch out that idiot driver in front of me ... how dare he drive like an imbecile! I discussed this with my doctor and we figured the surge of testosterone was causing an urge.
Then my doctor suggested a cream that was made with testosterone but you had to get it by mail order from a women's clinic in Wisconsin. It had a lower concentration of testosterone so I would apply it daily instead of the weekly intra-muscular shot. They literally crushed it up in a pestle and mortar to your doctors' order. The original intent of the cream was to control symptoms of menopause. Since there was no other choice on the market I tried it. I had to lather it on my scrotum and then wait, sort of hanging there, and let it absorb through the skin. It was icky but it worked like a charm. Within the first week I was able to pop out of my house and I started feeling like my old, or should I say younger, self again.
In June of 2000 Unimed Pharmaceuticals brought Androgel to market. I think I had my doctor write the script in June 2000! It is one of the best innovations in medicine and my chosen option instead of that shot that can sometimes leave you limping for hours. The gel is so easy to apply, you just rub it on and it instantly dries. You may rub it on your shoulders, thighs, or abdomen. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after applying the gel because you do not want to forget and then rub your eyes (ouch!), and if you have any finger food it will taste very wrong.
Androgel is intended for people with below normal levels of testosterone. By applying one packet per day you should expect to see a positive result in your blood work by the next time you see your doctor. It is not meant to be an anabolic supplement. Do not expect to apply a few packets and start bursting out of your shirts. To deal with wasting syndrome you would need to take higher dosages of testosterone and probably combine it with other anabolic steroids, in controlled cycles as prescribed by your physician. With time, however, the daily applications will have a very positive effect on your figure, so if you can faithfully apply the gel and go to the gym regularly you will burn fat and gain lean muscle tissue. After all, testosterone is what makes "the mens" a man.
Androgel is a great product. It comes in handy little packets that deliver 50, 75 or 100 milligrams of testosterone through your skin and into your wonderful bloodstream. You get all the benefits from testosterone replacement without the added trips to the doctor's office for the shot. You also get smoother delivery of the drug because you are applying a smaller amount of it daily instead of getting a weekly shot that will cause a sudden spike in your circulatory system. It is covered by insurance as long as it's prescribed and it's a breeze to use. It should be applied when you do not expect to shower since you should allow up to four hours for full absorption. You should not apply anything before the gel like moisturizing cream as this will create a barrier and not let the testosterone be fully absorbed.
Keep in mind that our body's natural release of testosterone peaks around 6 to 8 in the morning so it would be advantageous to get your shower done by this time so you can apply your gel and still mimic your own body's cycle of testosterone. Even individuals with hypogonadism release some testosterone during early morning, however, not enough to sustain day-to-day life.
There are two other types of testosterone replacement therapies. Testim made by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals was approved in October 2002. Testim works great, it is much the same as Androgel. It is absorbed even faster than Androgel, thus, requiring only a two-hour period for maximum absorption before showering. Once applied Testim gives you an almost instant rush of energy. The drawback is it comes with a very '70s musk oil fragrance that was too strong for me. The reason for the scent is not from adding fragrance but from pentadecalactone. This oil is used as an emollient that helps with better absorption and it moisturizes too! And this oil has a sweet, powdery, musky, woody odor, which is why I was getting all the weird looks at the gym.
This is a great product and if you don't mind the smell ask your physician about it. Auxilium has an information packet, which you may request directly from them or your doctor that can even save you some cash on the co-pay end of the prescription.
The next type of testosterone replacement therapy will be a "buccal tablet" which delivers the testosterone transmucosally. It will be developed so it dissolves underneath your tongue or inside your cheek. The buccal tablet is further down the pipeline of testosterone replacement therapies, but at least we have more options to get the juice back into you with or without that needle stick.


text:
MySQL 8.0 Reference Manual Including MySQL NDB Cluster 8.0
The server plugin implementation comprises several components.
SQL statements:
INSTALL PLUGIN registers a
plugin in the
mysql.plugin table and
loads the plugin code.
UNINSTALL PLUGIN unregisters
a plugin from the
mysql.plugin table and
unloads the plugin code.
WITH PARSER clause for full-text
index creation associates a full-text parser plugin with a
FULLTEXT index.
SHOW PLUGINS displays
information about server plugins.
Command-line options and system variables:
--plugin-load option
enables plugins to be loaded at server startup time.
plugin_dir system
variable indicates the location of the directory where all
plugins must be installed. The value of this variable can be
specified at server startup with a
option. mysql_config --plugindir displays
the default plugin directory path name.
For additional information about plugin loading, see Section 5.6.1, "Installing and Uninstalling Plugins".
Plugin-related tables:
table contains plugin information.
mysql.plugin table lists each plugin
that was installed with
PLUGIN and is required for plugin use. For new
MySQL installations, this table is created during the
installation process.
The client plugin implementation is simpler:
For the
mysql_options() C
API function, the
MYSQL_DEFAULT_AUTH and
MYSQL_PLUGIN_DIR options enable client
programs to load authentication plugins.
There are C API functions that enable management of client plugins.
To examine how MySQL implements plugins, consult the following source files in a MySQL source distribution:
In the
include/mysql directory,
plugin.h exposes the public plugin API.
This file should be examined by anyone who wants to write a
plugin library.
files provide additional information that pertains to
specific types of plugins.
client_plugin.h contains information
specific to client plugins.
In the
sql directory,
sql_plugin.h and
sql_plugin.cc comprise the internal
plugin implementation.
sql_acl.cc is
where the server uses authentication plugins. These files
need not be consulted by plugin developers. They may be of
interest for those who want to know more about how the
server handles plugins.
In the
sql-common directory,
client_plugin.h implements the C API
client plugin functions, and
implements client authentication support. These files need
not be consulted by plugin developers. They may be of
interest for those who want to know more about how the
server handles plugins.


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The breakup between the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Michael Vick is coming this offseason. The relationship already is starting to fray at the seams.
|Take a look back at Michael Vick's career.
Ed Werder of ESPN reported Friday that Vick "questions" if his concussion really is the reason he's not playing at the moment. Vick believes he's the "victim of politics," according to Werder.
Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder spoke Friday, saying Vick has plateaued in his concussion tests. Vick could be sent to concussion specialists in Pittsburgh if he doesn't pass the test, which he's expected to take again Monday.
"There is no conspiracy here," Burkholder said, via The Associated Press. "We do not grade the ImPACT test, which he has not gotten back to baseline. ... That is an NFL rule. That has nothing to do with anything with us. He has to pass that before we can ever entertain the fact of him playing."
Burkholder added that Vick's eye movement and his balance are issues.
A report emerged Thursday that Vick could miss the rest of the season. That was countered by ESPN's report. Yahoo! Sports also reported that Vick was improving.
Burkholder hopes Vick can pass his concussion test Monday and be cleared for next week's game. Vick won't face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Neither will running back LeSean McCoy, who's also recovering from a concussion.
It's not difficult to try to connect the dots here. It'd come as little surprise if Vick's agents are showing their displeasure with how the Eagles are handling the situation by leaking these reports to ESPN and Yahoo! Sports.
The issue will come to a head if and when Vick is able to pass his concussion test. Ultimately, Vick's agents would be best served by playing the "good soldier" role. Vick almost certainly won't be back in Philadelphia at his present salary. He'll be looking for a new job, and it won't reflect well if he's seen as causing problems for the organization that took a chance on him when no one else would.
UPDATE: Vick later released a statement on the matter, via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
"I want to thank my fans for the thousands of well wishes. I also appreciate the support of the entire Eagles organization. I feel strong and healthy. As a professional athlete, I want to play in every game, but the NFL has a specific protocol to protect players. My focus is to complete this process successfully, so I can rejoin my team on the field."
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.


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First batch of Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus screenshots released
Marvelous AQL has just released their first batch of screenshots for their Playstation Vita entry to their Senran Kagura franchise titled Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus. These games are about as awkward and fun as they come. Between the action taking place on screen in this beat 'em up title and the visuals of watching these "overdeveloped" ninjas running around with their clothes shredding due to taking damage (no, I'm not kidding), it easily toys with your emotions and makes you feel ashamed for even enjoying the game.
Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus adds to this by including fully destructible clothing as a new feature. However, the games will, in fact, play a little different from their 3DS counterparts. It's a little difficult to tell in the screenshots, but if I had to take a guess… I'd say it's set up to play like a Dynasty Warriors style game. On top of the fully destructible clothing, we do have more noteworthy additions such as:
– 20 additional characters have been added
– 3D graphic battles (the others were on a 2D plain)
– 2VS2 Wi-Fi battles
Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is scheduled to release on February 28, 2013, but no pricing details have been released yet. If this information has made you bounce just as much as these girls, head on over to the screenshot gallery to check out the first images for the game! There aren't many, but you should be aware that some are NSFW. Oh and did I mention this game has fully destructible clothing?


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"THE GAME" � (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET)
"Baby Come Back" (TV-14, L) (HDTV)
ROBIN GIVENS GUEST STARS AS HERSELF IN THE SEASON FINALE � Jason (Coby Bell) meets with the new team owner, Mickey (guest star Brian McGovern), who appears to be more interested in spending time with Kelly (Brittany Daniel) than making a new deal with Jason. Malik (Hosea Chanchez) proclaims his love to Robin (Givens playing herself) and tells her he�s ready for a bigger commitment. Derwin (Pooch Hall) tracks down Melanie (Tia Mowry) to tell her the truth about how he really feels, which leads to a fight between Derwin and Jerome (guest star Mehcad Brooks). Wendy Raquel Robinson also stars. Salim Akil directed the episode written by Mara Brock Akil (#40596-042).


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Main navigation | Main content
Sir Anthony J. Leggett will deliver the 2006 Abigail and John Van Vleck Lectures. Professor Leggett's public lecture, "Does the Everyday World Really Obey Quantum Mechanics?" will be held at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 19, 2006, in 150 Physics.
A reception will follow the lecture in Physics 216. Professor Leggett will also deliver a School of Physics and Astronomy Colloquium, "Cuprate Superconductivity Without a 'Model'," at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2006 in 150 Physics.