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March, 2008
We undertook a series of studies to investigate how aesthetic ability and arts education correlate with improvements in children's reading abilities. As part of this research, we developed new analysis tools for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a method that identifies likely connections among brain regions involved in the development of reading skills. We also studied how exposure to the visual arts might relate to phonological awareness (the ability to manipulate speech sounds), which is correlated with reading ability. Further, based on an incidental finding in that research, we initiated a study to explore the relationship between exposure to the visual arts and children's math calculation abilities.
Our study included 49 children, aged 7 to 12, who were enrolled in an NIH-funded longitudinal study of the development of reading skills and the brain structures associated with this development. To this study, we added measures to determine the effects of arts training on the children's reading fluency and phonological awareness. We collected data, through parental questionnaires, on the extent of children's training in visual arts, music, dance, and drama/theater. We also collected parent-reported data on their children's temperament and openness to experience. We then correlated the arts training data with the children's test scores in reading fluency and phonological awareness over a three-year period.
The findings indicate that the amount of musical training the children underwent in the first year of our study correlated with the amount of improvements in the children's reading fluency over the three-year study period.
Additionally, we used DTI in each child to relate these behavioral measurements to individual differences in the anatomy of the corpus callosum- a structure that connects the brain's left and right hemispheres. We measured the tissue properties of specific connections between brain regions (communication cables) to identify structural differences between strong and weak readers. We found that diffusion in the bundle of axons that connect the brain's temporal lobes is correlated with all our measures of reading ability; phonological awareness showed the strongest correlation. We also found a weak correlation between visual arts experience and phonological awareness. Finally, based on an incidental finding from this research, preliminary data suggest that exposure to visual arts may be correlated with improvements in children's math calculation abilities.
Our team had two principal goals as part of the consortium. One was to develop and disseminate tools, to all Consortium grantees, for using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the brain's white matter. White matter consists of axons (the brain cells' communication cables), which enable communication from one brain area to another. Our second goal was to investigate how aesthetic ability and arts education correlate with behavioral development of reading skills, and to investigate with DTI how these behavioral measurements correlate with the development of brain structures. To achieve these goals, we integrated this Consortium research into a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded longitudinal study of reading development in children ages 7 to 12, in which we assessed development of the children's reading skills over a three-year period. We have successfully advanced the two Consortium research goals over the past three years.
In the first section of this report, we describe the new behavioral measurements we created for assessing correlations between aesthetic ability and arts education, based on Deutsch's essential work on acquiring and analyzing arts questionnaires. In the second section, we briefly describe the new tools we developed for analyzing DTI, largely through Akers' creation of DTI software. In the third section, we describe preliminary results revealing a relationship between brain structure and behaviors that are essential for reading.
One of our major findings from these studies was that the amount of musical training measured in year 1 was significantly correlated with the amount of improvement in Reading Fluency demonstrated in children over the three-year period of our study.
Additionally, we discuss an incidental finding in section four: in our sample, we found a correlation between exposure to the visual arts and improvement in math calculation, as measured by children's calculation test scores. For this new research direction, we have initiated a collaboration with consortium investigators, Dehaene and Spelke from Harvard, and with our Stanford colleagues in the School of Education, Professor Richard Shavelson and Jessica Tsang.
Section 1: Reading, Arts Education, and Aesthetics
In conjunction with the NIH-funded longitudinal study of reading development, we explored the relationship among training in the arts, children's temperament, and reading fluency. We developed an arts education questionnaire, and used a modified version of the Child Temperament and Personality Questionnaire (CTPQ) developed by Victor, Rothbart, and Baker (2003). The arts education questionnaire explores four areas of arts education: 1) Visual Arts 2) Music 3) Dance and 4) Drama/Theater, and includes in-school education, as well as formal training and independent practice, in each of these four areas.
Parents reported the number of hours per week their child received formal training outside of school, spent time in independent practice, and received in-school instruction. Parents also rated their child's skill level. Aesthetic ability was measured by the Child Temperament and Personality Questionnaire. Between year 1 and year 2 of the reading study, we obtained questionnaire data on 49 children (ages 7 through 12). At year 3 of the reading study, we obtained questionnaire data on 41 of these children.
We examined the relationship among behavioral and imaging measures and the Openness to Experience Scale, which is comprised of four factors: 1) Ideas 2) Aesthetics 3) Intellect/Quick to Learn and 4) Perceptual Sensitivity. An exploratory principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted using SPSS (statistical software) to investigate the items from the Child Temperament and Personality Questionnaire in our sample of children (n=49). PCA analysis revealed five components, identified (in order of measured importance) as 1) Intelligence/Quick to Learn, 2) Aesthetics, 3) Perceptual Sensitivity, 4) Distractibility, and 5) Ideas. These explained, respectively, 22.5%, 18.1%, 10.1%, 7.3%, and 5.3% of the variance. The items generally weighted on the same components identified by the original Child Temperament and Personality Questionnaire. Parents' ratings of their children on the Intelligence/Quick to Learn factor was significantly correlated with several of the IQ and Reading Fluency measures. The correlations ranged from r=.42, (statistically significant at p < .005) to r=.57 (statistically significant at p < .001). Hence, parents' reports about their children were generally consistent with measurements using standardized tests of IQ and Reading.
The simplest and most compelling observation was this: The amount of musical training measured in year 1 was significantly correlated with the amount of improvement in Reading Fluency between years 1 and 3 (Figure 1.1). We hasten to add that this correlation does not imply that music training caused the reading improvement. It is possible that children who are intellectually capable of pursuing musical training are also ready for reading. The observed correlation should be followed-up with a controlled study to analyze the possibility of a causal connection.
(All graphs and images courtesy of Wandell Lab)
A second, and more surprising, observation was a relationship between early visual arts experience and phonological awareness (attention to patterns of speech sounds). Phonological awareness is an auditory skill that is reliably correlated with reading ability. In the first year of our study, children who had early training in the visual arts had a higher degree of phonological awareness than children with no such training. There was no significant age difference between these groups (mean ages were 10.2 and 10.9). The difference in phonological awareness scores between the two groups, shown in Figure 1.2, was quite large and highly significant (statistically) in the first year of our study. Two years later, however, when the group ages were roughly 12.5y, the difference in phonological awareness scores had disappeared. This phenomenon – an early correlation that dissipates with time – is commonly observed in the developmental literature. The explanation for the disappearance is thought to be that many factors contribute to skill learning. As children develop, they find many ways to master a skill. Hence, the impact of the factor revealed by the early association becomes less and less important with time.
Figure 1.2. Subjects with any visual arts experience prior to age 4 (blue, N=37, 37, 34, for y1, y2, y3 respectively) score higher than those without such training (red; N=11, 9, 7) in the first year (t=2.01, p<0.05). The difference decreases in year 2 and disappears by year 3.
We find this correlation between visual arts training and phonological awareness surprising. Perhaps an explanation can be found in the amount of attention to training provided by the parents, or by attendance to preschool, which provides training in both skills. The visual arts score may be an indicator of intense parental involvement and, with increasing years of schooling, the measured parental effect is reduced. Admittedly, the effect is based on a small sample and may disappear in repeated examination in a larger sample.
As part of our new collaboration with Professor Shavelson, we will extend our analysis of the reading data to item-specific analyses. We plan to complete the study of the full range of reading and general intelligence measures, as well as the correlations with arts experience.
Section 2: Diffusion Analysis and Visualization Tools
Methods for identifying the paths and properties of the large groups of white matter fibers (fascicles), the tracts of brain cell axons that facilitate cellular communication in the human brain, are an important component in understanding human brain organization and development. We have made substantial progress in developing computational algorithms to identify and measure these pathways.
Interpreting the pathways, estimated from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, requires not only skilled scientists but also extensive visualization tools. David Akers developed a beautiful graphical interface for selecting, editing, and visualizing DTI white matter fiber tracts. He performed a systematic study of our work flow, and developed a software application that can assist all Consortium investigators who interact with DTI data. Figure 2.1 is from David's paper (published in the Computer-Human Interaction proceedings) and shows the interface to the software.
Figure 2.1. DTI visualization tool (Akers 2006).
Existing algorithms for tracing white matter tract pathways were analyzed by Anthony Sherbondy, a student in the Electrical Engineering department, together with Robert Dougherty and Professor Wandell. They identified several limitations in these algorithms that cause investigators to miss important fascicles (groups of axon fibers), limiting our ability to estimate the probability that two locations of "gray matter" (regions of nerve cell bodies) are connected, via their axons. Sherbondy, Wandell, and Dougherty developed new probabilistic tracking tools to better estimate these fascicles.
Robert Dougherty, who managed the software development efforts, integrated Aker's and Sherbondy's contributions with mrDiffusion, our general laboratory measurement tools for DIT analyses. This package is currently available for download (http://sirl.stanford.edu/software/).
Figure 2.2. DTI tractography and tools (Sherbondy, Akers et al. 2005).
These improved tractography algorithms and analysis tools were integrated into our software for distribution to Consortium investigators as an update to our mrDiffusion package. For instance, Consortium investigators Posner and Neville plan to use our software tools in their research (through efforts by Akers and Dougherty, working with Yalchin Abdullaev, Jolinda Smith and Mark Dow at the University of Oregon Lewis Center for Neuroimaging.) These software development efforts also have been shared with the scientific community broadly. A paper describing the new white matter path-finding methods and algorithms that we developed is currently under review for publication. Further, Akers collaborated with NIH staff to incorporate the DTI visualization methods into the NIH neuroimaging tools, AFNI. This tool is used in hundreds of labs around the world.
Section 3: White Matter Pathways, Reading, and Arts Training
The third component of our research is focused on making specific behavioral and neural measurements. Identifying the main axon fiber tracts in each brain is an important step in tracking brain development. Therefore, Arvel Hernandez developed a protocol for defining specific axonal fiber pathways in each child's brain and applied that protocol to all the brains.
The survey data from the 49 children who participated in our NIH-supported longitudinal study of reading development inform us about the parents' and children's experience with the arts. Described below are results of studies connecting the behavioral measurements with brain structure.
Our initial effort has been to identify the major pathways of axons that pass through the brain's corpus callosum (Figure 3.1), the structure that connects the brain's left and right hemispheres. This major commissure, connecting the human brain's two hemispheres, is comprised of more than 300 million axons. From anterior to posterior (front to back), the fibers in the corpus callosum systematically connect different regions of the brain's cortex. We have adapted and extended a callosal segmentation scheme proposed by (Huang, Zhang et al. (2005). This method allows us to segment individual corpus callosi and measure development that is localized to specific white matter (axonal) pathways.
Figure 3.1. Segmenting a child's corpus callosum.
A callosal segmentation in the brain of one child is shown in Figure 3.1. The different colors correspond to the zones where the various axon fiber bundles pass through the callosum. We expect that these zones develop at different rates, and that their diffusion properties will correlate with distinct aspects of cognitive development. For example, visual and auditory information must be integrated rapidly between the brain's two hemispheres in order to create a unified percept, while axon fibers that communicate between executive frontal lobe control-circuits may not need fast electrical conduction velocities.
Thus, across all humans, the brain's sensory pathways should exhibit diffusion properties that are indicative of large, fast-conducting axons when compared to the diffusion properties of the executive control pathways. Further, different sets of callosal pathways are likely to be important for different cognitive and behavioral skills. For example, we expect the pathways connecting the brain's temporal lobes to be important for sound and music perception, and the pathways connecting visual cortices to be important for vision. Thus, individual variation in the diffusion properties in these pathways may vary according to the relevant behavioral measures.
The callosum itself is a dynamically changing brain region between the ages of seven through the early teens, exhibiting substantial changes in size and shape during this time (e.g., Thompson, Vidal et al. 2001). These morphological changes reflect changes at the cellular level (Aboitiz, Scheibel et al. 1992). We expect that many of these developmental changes are specific to particular pathways at different ages. For example, Thompson et al. suggest that temporal and parietal pathways in the posterior callosum are changing the most in children during their development from 6 to 12 years of age, possibly reflecting the development of complex linguistic and visuo-spatial reasoning ability.
These measurements, however, do not identify which specific axon fiber pathways are developing. Further, there is a distinct gap in the existing measurements. Studies in the brains of people who have died (post-mortem studies) provide excellent data at the cellular level, but behavioral or physiological measurements cannot, of course, be undertaken. Conversely, the gross anatomical studies (at the macroscopic, rather than microscopic, level) such as those of Thompson et al. provide compelling data on living subjects, but cannot go beyond gross morphology (form and structure). To fill this gap, we are using DTI to measure development of the brain's white matter. DTI shows networks of axons by analyzing the diffusion of water molecules in the brain, which tend to diffuse along the axons. Because the diffusion of water in the brain acts as a probe for microscopic tissue structures, DTI provides a non-invasive window into the cellular changes in humans that occur during development.
Using these tools, we discovered that strong and weak readers differ at a particular location within the posterior segment of the corpus callosum. The diffusivity of water in the direction perpendicular to the callosal fibers is highly correlated with phonological awareness and reading skill (Ben-Shachar, Dougherty et al. 2007; Dougherty, Ben-Shachar et al. 2007).
We discovered that diffusion in the axon fiber bundles that connect the brain's temporal lobes is most strongly correlated with phonological awareness, an auditory skill that is reliably correlated with reading ability. Children with better phonological awareness skills have fewer and perhaps larger axons passing through the part of the callosum that connects the temporal lobes. While the arts training measures did not correlate with the first year callosal measurements, the behavioral correlation between music training and reading fluency improvement described in our studies above suggests that we may detect a relationship between music training and the development of the diffusion properties. We are currently in the process of making such measurements.
Section 4: Future directions- arts training and math abilities
Our group has acquired longitudinal imaging and behavioral measurements on a group of children with a wide range of reading skills. That study, funded in large part by the NIH, is now at its final year of data acquisition. In analyzing the Dana-supported study results of the arts questionnaires with our behavioral measures, we measured variables that were not part of the NIH study. As a result, we noticed an interesting relationship between visual arts experience and math skills (measured by the Woodcock–Johnson III Calculation test). The correlation between visual art experience and Woodcock-Johnson result is shown in Figure 4.1.
Figure 4.1. Visual art experience is correlated with math skills. The horizontal axis shows a weekly average of hours spent on visual art activities in school by y1. The vertical axis shows an age standardized score of calculation measured in year 1 (Woodcock-Johnson III). Pearson r = 0.34 (± 0.14), p=0.017, N=48. The gray line is fitted to the data points minimizing the mean least square error.
We also identified a moderate correlation (r=0.40, p<0.01) between music experience outside of school and how well children could remember a series of numbers (CTOPP Memory for Digits test). That test is a reliable measure of working (short-term) memory, which is important for cognitive functions including calculations with larger numbers.
Our estimation of math skills was limited to one test, which was administered only in the first year of our study, given that our original focus had been on reading development. To further explore the relationship between arts experience, math skills, and brain structures, we are measuring performance on a variety of math skills. Ultimately, we will examine the relationship between these measures and the longitudinal DTI measurements and arts questionnaires.
The new mathematical skills measurements are based on two major findings on arithmetic in the adult brain. First, it has been shown that recalling answers from memory to arithmetic questions and fully calculating answers are dissociable functions (Dehaene and Cohen, 1997). Second, adults use different brain areas to estimate arithmetic sums compared with calculating exact answers (Dehaene, Spelke et al., 1999). These findings suggest that three different types of arithmetic processing exist in the adult brain: recall, estimation, and exact calculation.
Based on these findings, we have piloted a task that may clarify how different arithmetic processes develop. In the task, participants see an arithmetic problem on a computer screen along with two answer options. They select the correct answer by pushing a button corresponding to the side of the screen on which the answer appears. We present three types of problems in blocks: simple multiplication and additions problems that can be answered by recalling memorized facts; two-digit addition problems in which the participant selects the exact answer; and two-digit addition problems in which the participant chooses the answer option that best approximates the right answer (estimation task). In addition to the computerized task, we have included a standard age-normed assessment of math ability, the WRAT-4 (Wide Range Achievement Test 4). This will be a measure of math achievement as it is traditionally tested.
Our pilot data from the computer task show that children spend different amounts of time answering the different types of problems, such that the problems recalled from memory take the shortest amount of time, the estimation problems the second shortest amount of time, and the exact calculation problems the longest.
As we continue to explore mathematical skills, we will be able to analyze whether these differences develop with age, how they relate to performance on other cognitive measures, and how they relate to white matter brain structures. The specific neuroanatomical hypothesis we are investigating concerns the anterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus (see Figure 4.2). This is a large pathway that connects cortical regions consistently activated in arithmetic tasks. This bilateral fiber tract may be important for working memory as well as for mathematical skills. We are in the processing of identifying this tract in the brains of all the children in our study.
Fig. 4.2. Dorsal fibers of the arcuate fasciculus connecting the inferior frontal cortex with inferior parietal and posterior temporal cortex in a single child (7 year old female good reader). The anterior segment (cyan) is found bilaterally, while the long segment (orange) is found in the left hemisphere only.
Our Consortium research resulted in three advances. First, we developed and distributed advanced software tools for analyzing and visualizing DTI data. These tools can be used to study the neural basis for the development of cognitive skills. Second, our data on the relationship between arts training and cognitive development revealed a correlation between the amount of music training and the amount of improvement in reading fluency in children. Third, we discovered a correlation between brain structure—the diffusion properties of a part of the corpus callosum—and reading ability as well as phonological awareness, an auditory skill that is closely related to reading ability.
Additionally, we have preliminary data on a relationship between mathematical skills and the arts. We have noticed a surprising correlation between visual arts training and math calculation skill, as measured by the Woodcock-Johnson III Calculation test. We have piloted a new set of experimental studies, based on the cognitive hypotheses from Dehaene and Spelke, and are undertaking studies to determine whether the anterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus might be a biological indicator of mathematical skill development, and whether this same segment may be encouraged to develop by training in the visual arts.
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Aboitiz, F., A.B. Scheibel, et al. (1992). "Individual differences in brain asymmetries and fiber composition in the human corpus callosum." Brain Res 598(1-2): 154-61.
Akers, D. (2006). CINCH: A Cooperatively Designed Marking Interface for 3D Pathway Selection. UIST Montreux, Switzerland.
Ben-Shachar, M., R.F. Dougherty, et al. (2007). "White matter pathways in reading." Curr Opin Neurobiol 17(2): 258-70.
Dehaene, S. and L. Cohen (1997). "Cerebral pathways for calculation: double dissociation between rote verbal and quantitative knowledge of arithmetic." Cortex 33(2): 219-50.
Dehaene, S., E. Spelke, et al. (1999). "Sources of mathematical thinking: behavioral and brain-imaging evidence." Science 284(5416): 970-4.
Dougherty, R.F., M. Ben-Shachar, et al. (2007). "Temporal-callosal pathway diffusivity predicts phonological skills in children." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104(20): 8556-61.
Huang, H., J. Zhang, et al. (2005). "DTI tractography based parcellation of white matter: application to the mid-sagittal morphology of corpus callosum." Neuroimage 26(1): 195-205.
Sherbondy, A., D. Akers, et al. (2005). "Exploring connectivity of the brain's white matter with dynamic queries." IEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph 11(4): 419-30.
Thompson, P.M., C. Vidal, et al. (2001). "Mapping adolescent brain change reveals dynamic wave of accelerated gray matter loss in very early-onset schizophrenia." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98(20): 11650-5.
Victor, J., M. Rothbart, et al. (2003). Developing an Integrated Assessment of Children's Temperament and Personality. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Children
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Blackstone Valley Tourism Council announces 2013 award winners
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council announces 2013 award winners
Honoring those who make the Blackstone Valley "a better place to live and work," the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council will hold its 28th annual meeting and award ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Twin River Event Center, 100 Twin River Road in Lincoln.
Donna Houle, manager of special projects for the Pawtucket-based organization that promotes art and culture in the cities and towns north of Providence, said the tourism council believes it is important to recognize area organizations and businesses.
"It's people who make a difference in the community," she said. BVTC will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of its 40-passenger riverboat, Blackstone Valley Exporer, a tour boat that since 1993 has taken more than 25,000 passengers annually out on the Blackstone River to learn about the river's role in the Industrial Revolution.
This year's award recognitions are:
* Footprints in History - Stillwater Mill Complex, Harrisville.
This award, "to highlight a historical building or place and bring it to the forefront," Houle explained, will be given to the once abandoned mill that has been transformed into residential apartments and retail space. It is now home to the town's Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library.
* Blackstone Valley Distinction in Business - Central Falls Provisions, Central Falls; and Athena's Home Novelties, Woonsocket.
Three generations of the Skoczylka family have kept the business of creating kielbasas and specialty sausages going for 90 years, since it opened in 1923.
"We think that's something to celebrate," Houle said.
Houle said that Athena's, an adult novelty business based in Woonsocket and owned by Jennifer Jolicoeur, should be recognized for being led by a woman and earning national recognition. The business also works to raise money for breast cancer research.
* Blackstone Valley Excellence in Arts and Business - Herb Weiss, Pawtucket's economic and cultural affairs officer.
"He's done a lot for the city of Pawtucket," Houle said. "He's very instrumental in the Pawtucket Arts Festival."
Weiss brings business to the city, Houle said, and has worked to establish an arts presence.
* Rhode Island Achievement in Renewable Initiatives and Sustainable Tourism Award, or ARISTA - Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland.
The theater on Broad Street in Cumberland opened in 1996, renovating the former Unity Masonic Lodge with support by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, the town of Cumberland and several area businesses. The work was spearheaded by Russell Gusetti and Bob Drouin, also of the Rhode Island based Celtic and folk band Pendragon.
"It's really great that they're bringing this type of music to northern Rhode Island," Houle said, adding that they highlight the immigrant experience in New England. "They're very deserving of this because of all the work they do in the area."
* New England ARISTA - William Cantania, president of Cantania Hospitality Group.
The Hyannis, Mass.-based company is celebrating its 40th year in business, owning and operating a collection of Massachusetts hotels, spas and restaurants, including the Hearth & Kettle.
* National ARISTA - Alex and Ani LLC, Cranston.
Designed by Carolyn Rafaelian and made in America out of recycled materials, the Alex and Ani jewelry business has expanded to include Teas & Javas, Sakonnet Vineyards and the Belcourt Castle mansion.
"We really believe in their mission statement," Houle said, "and they support communities and organizations."
* William Blackstone Society Inductions - Michael Hebert, Rhode Island Department of Transportation supervising historical preservationist and archaeologist; and Daryl Sherman, internationally acclaimed singer and pianist.
Hebert has worked for RIDOT for 24 years, and also serves on the American-French Genealogical Society, National Register Review Board of the Rhode Island Preservation & Heritage Commission, Association of Transportation Archaeologists, and the Rhode Island Historical Records Advisory Board.
Hebert is responsible for the care of archives found during state digs.
"He archives all these things that have Rhode Island roots," Houle said.
Sherman, a Woonsocket native, performed for 14 years at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. She has won recognition and awards for her jazz and cabaret talents, as well as working as artistic director for several performances.
Sherman and Grammy award-winner Mike Renzi will perform a half-hour show during dinner, which Houle said will be "the highlight of the night."
The event reception and silent auction begin at 5:30 p.m., and dinner starts at 7 p.m. Award recognitions take place at 8 p.m. Cost is $59 per person, or $550 for a table of 10. Proceeds will go to the BVTC.
Reserve a spot by visiting www.tourblackstone.com or calling 401-724-2200.

subset: commoncrawl


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Maybe this page should be renamed as "Pim" to fit in better with /Projects/Edu and /Projects/Oxygen. Then maybe it should be linked to from Projects
Please state what is "Krazy Clean" --Tstaerk 15:45, 25 July 2007 (CEST)
What means Ui4? --msoeken 10:58 27 August 2007 (CEST)
Moved to PIM -jstaniek 11:44, 20 December 2007 (CET)


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New Construction Homes in New Hampshire & Massachusetts
Single Family Homes
Ashton Park at London BRidge
Windham, NH
Wake up to New Hampshire's breathtaking beauty each morning and at the end of the day, come home to your peaceful haven in an exclusive, sought-after community. This exclusive new neighborhood features 13 home sites surrounded by undeveloped wooded open spaces. Homes will feature a classic design with many options and amentities to suit your individual needs.
Starting at $709,900
Weirs Beach Village
Laconia, NH
A place where everyone knows your name and you can wave to your neighbors, who will become lifelong friends. The street names say it all — from Memory Lane to Tranquility Lane — you will find an inviting new community.
Starting at $249,000
Weatherstone Estates
Litchfield, NH
New Hampshire's premier new sub-division, with 34 lots and options to suit a variety of lifestyles. Choose from a variety of home styles, including colonials, first-floor masters, and ranch-style layouts. This new community borders Manchester and other suburban areas of Greater Boston and is just a short drive to shopping, restaurants, golf and the Manchester-Boston Regional airport.
Homes starting at $469,900
Long HIll
Milford, NH
You will find a unique neighborhood set high on a scenic ridge in an oasis of peace and quiet. There are 45 exceptional home sites nestled amidst a majestic 126 acres with a breathtaking 68 natural wooded acres of permanent open space.
Starting at $299,900
Pelham, NH
Skyview's hilltop location is just minutes to the Massachusetts border. Its beautiful home sites are surrounded by more than 200 acres of conservation land.
Starting at $535,500
River View Estates
Raymond, NH
Be a part of Raymond's newest neighborhood along the Exeter River and surrounded by conservation land.
Long Pond Woods
Auburn, NH
Long Pond Woods is Auburn's newest neighborhood with 28 wooded home sites. Beautifully-appointed floor plans and generous allowances await you. Situated just minutes from Rt. 93 and 45 minutes from the beach or Boston. Be one of the lucky ones to call this home.
Tioga Ridge
Belmont, NH
Tioga Ridge is a quiet neighborhood located minutes from downtown Belmont. Enjoy scenic views in a neighborhood that abuts over 35 acres of conservation land with opportunities for hiking, snowmobiling, ATVs, and more. These homes are situated approximately 20 minutes from downtown Concord and I-93, minutes from Sargent Lake, and 20 minutes to skiing at Gunstock or boating on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Starting at $290,000
Swift River valley
Conway, NH
The Swift Valley neighborhood will delight you with opportunities to purchase lots to build your dream home, while offering quick access to all outdoor activities.
Homes starting at $307,000
Summit View
Hooksett & Bow, NH
Located less than 10 minutes to downtown or any of the major highway interchanges surrounding Manchester, you can see why Summit View is such a perfect location.
Detached Condos
Oxbow Bluff
Concord, NH
Nestled at the bend in the Merrimack River in Concord, NH, you will find a beautiful community of traditional style homes with your choice of floor plans.
Starting at $299,900
THE PONDS AT Crown Point Village
Merrimack, NH
The Ponds at Crown Point Village is an exclusive community offering one- and two-story open concept homes located in the quaint, historic town of Merrimack, NH. Your new home is just minutes from the Massachusetts border, and less than an hour to Boston, the seacoast and the Lakes Region.
Starting at $399,000
Land Opportunities
Swift River Valley
Conway, NH
The Swift Valley neighborhood will delight you with opportunities to purchase lots to build your dream home, while offering quick access to all outdoor activities.
Starting at $39,900
Upper Parish Settlement Drive
Belmont, NH
Proposed 36-lot cluster subdivision; 204 acres with plenty of gravel on site. Call Gail Nickerson, New Homes Division, (603) 845-2129.
Starting at $400,000
Center Road
Lyndeborough, NH
12.3 ac. in Old Lyndeborough Center at the top of the hill. Only one home can be built to preserve historic character. Adjoining open field and potential view, lot perfect for home and barn with riding trails established.
245 Province Road
Barnstead, NH
Three available lots. Very level, gently-sloping from the back side with views of rolling hillside. Surveyed, perc tested, well is located, and the driveway location is approved.
$46,500 each. Contact Deb Buck for more information: (603) 552-8010 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Huskies eager to prove their worth
Philadelphia, PA – Hey there Huskies of Northern Illinois. You've just won your second straight Mid-American Conference title on the back of 12 straight victories and as a result, you've been rewarded with a berth in the 2013 Orange Bowl.
When that announcement came down last December, NIU Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher said, "This will go down as a seminal day in the history of our university and of our football program. It's a day that all of our alumni, current students and fans will remember forever with tremendous pride. I am confident our fans and alumni will respond with a great presence in Miami for this game. I know the Orange Bowl Committee and the city of Miami will provide a great experience for Huskie Nation."
Congratulations were certainly in order for a team that deserved a ton of credit for a job well done, but with the positive often comes the negative, and there were a whole host of pundits who lined up to take pot shots at the little team that could, stating the somewhat obvious, which is ... 'you really have no business playing in one of the biggest bowl games as a member of the BCS upper crust'. Plain and simple.
Even the Orange Bowl itself, which Compher had hoped would offer a top-notch experience for his student-athletes and the hordes of Husky backers set to invade the Magic City, took umbrage with your selection, with one bowl official apparently going so far as to declare, "We don't want you. You don't deserve to be here".
Ouch! Not exactly the hospitable welcome NIU was hoping for when it became the first team in MAC history to earn a BCS bowl bid.
There are some who thought the Huskies would use the diss to their advantage and make their detractors eat a whole bunch of crow, but that wasn't the case as their opponent, the Florida State Seminoles, weren't buying the hype either and pulled away late en route to a 31-10 victory.
Head coach Dave Doeren parlayed his limited yet resounding success (23-4 in two years in DeKalb) into a cushy new job at NC State, missing out on the Orange Bowl and leaving the reins to former offensive coordinator Rod Carey to, well ... carry on.
Carey will try to make those still involved with the program forget the unpleasantness of their most recent foray into the postseason, but despite his exuberance in landing his first head coaching gig, he is quick to point out that he doesn't intend to reinvent the wheel.
"When you have a program like this, it's not about what you can change; it's about what you can keep. We've got great players and we want to keep this ball rolling."
Prior to their record-setting effort last season, the Huskies posted back-to- back 11-win campaigns and have now played in five straight bowl games, seven in the last nine seasons overall. The 2012 senior class went down as the winningest in school history (41 victories), and the 2011 MAC crown earned by the team was its first since way back in 1983. NIU finished this past season ranked No. 16 in both major polls, while finishing at No. 15 in the final BCS rankings.
Despite all the good vibes surrounding the Huskies the last few years, don't expect Carey and company to rest on their laurels as we all know that prior success doesn't guarantee future performance. Still, the return of several key players should assure NIU another stellar season, particularly if All-America quarterback Jordan Lynch plays as well as a senior as he did as a junior when he threw for 3,138 yards, 25 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions, while also finishing fourth in the country in rushing with 1,815 yards and 19 scores.
The 2012 season marked Lynch's first as a starter, but he enters this new campaign as a bona fide Heisman candidate, despite playing for a school and in a conference that gets very little respect on the national stage, the majority of the time.
The Huskies kick off the 2013 season with a pair of road games, at Iowa and Idaho, before playing their home opener versus FCS foe Eastern Illinois. Making the trek to face a second Big Ten Conference team in Purdue follows, before they embark on what should be another exciting run against MAC rivals.
Winning a third straight conference crown won't be easy, but if Lynch stays healthy and Carey is able to rally the troops in an effort to stay the course set in place by his predecessor, folks in DeKalb should be all smiles once again.


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Contig Sequence
Contig name: BC000006755 (Nimblegen Contig name: CONTIG77810)
Contains SNP BS00011280 at position 164 (ambiguity code highlighted in red in the sequence below).
Note: The ambiguity code R, highlighted in red, translates to A or G).
The highlighted SNP has not been mapped. Any other SNPs on the same contig are reported in the table below.
All SNPs on contig
There is only one putative SNP on this contig, the one you entered. If mapping information obtained from varietal crosses is available, it is shown in the table. When the SNP has NOT been mapped in a particular cross, the corresponding fields in the table are left blank.
|SNPs id
|Map Location AxC
|Map Location SxR
|Map Location SxO
BLAST information
To BLAST the above sequence against our SNP database click on the 'Query' button below. You may select an e-value cut-off for this search.
Alternatively, if you wish to perform a BLASTN search with this sequence, please use the drop-down fields below to select the parameters (database and e-value cutoff value) you wish to use and then click the grey 'BLAST' button.   At present your search can only be performed against Brachypodium distachyon, rice ( Oryza sativa ) or rye ( Secale cereale ) libraries.   However, this site is actively being worked on and we hope to be able to add additional libraries.
Based at the University of Bristol with support from BBSRC.
Maintained by Paul Wilkinson.


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The historic sports action face-off of the video game industry now comes to the Nintendo DS in
dual-screen glory with new DS-only features! Utilizing the Touch Screen and stylus technology,
players will make their favorite characters - including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi and
Tails - run faster, jump higher and compete like true champions. Up to four friends can connect
wirelessly and compete for the much sought after gold medal in actual Olympic events from
track & field to swimming in the ultimate showdown between Team Mario and Team Sonic.


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The official HKU Sandy Bay RFC app
Loading tweets by HKUSandybayRFC
Stanley Ho Sports Centre Sha Wan Drive Pok Fu Lam Hong Kong PFL View with Google Maps
This website is part of the Pitchero Rugby Union network. Create your own free Rugby Union club website with Pitchero.
Digital advertising by Minute Media
© Pitch Hero Ltd 2008-2019
Pitch Hero Ltd Registered in ENGLAND | WF3 1DR | Company Number - 636 1033


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Lets have some fun pretty much saying this that are stupid and more often then not have no meaning lol, ok you know what I mean.
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As a woman, your breasts are a crucial part of your femininity. They should make you feel comfortable, beautiful, and yourself. Thanks to technological advancements today, you can improve the appearance of your breasts by either using implants or natural breast augmentation with body fat. Prior to the use of natural breast augmentation enhancement procedures, silicone and saline implants were the common procedures offered by many doctors. However, many people dislike the idea of going under the knife and having foreign materials inserted in their bodies to enhance their breasts. Many prefer a more natural breast enhancement method.
At Boston Breast Center, we offer natural breast augmentation using the method of fat grafting or fat transfer. Our MD, Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio, is a world-renowned cosmetic surgeon who specializes in this method of breast enhancement because of its many merits over the use of implants.
Breast augmentation with fat transfer, or fat grafting, is simply a natural breast enhancement method. This procedure uses advanced techniques to increase and improve the overall shape of breasts, using your own body fat. The method entails extracting excess fat cells from one region of your body through liposuction, commonly through the buttocks, arms, thighs, waist, abdomen or back, and transferring them to the breasts until the desired outcome is achieved. There are no breast implants utilized in this method, no major surgical procedure, no stitches, no general anesthesia, no long recovery time, no IV sedation, and no possible side-effects like there would be in the case of silicone and saline implants. Plus, with Dr. Daniel, you can be assured of beautiful and natural looking results.
Natural breast surgery, or breast enlargement/reconstruction with fat, is a revolutionary innovation that satisfies the large number of women who desire increased breast size or breast reconstruction without the need for large scars, flaps, or breast implants.
Natural breast augmentation provides plenty of benefits for women with different needs and concerns. Depending on your desires, health goals, and cosmetic ambitions, our natural breast enhancement services will be able to help you with:
The process could take up to 4 hours depending on the extent of fat transfer. However, recovery is much faster with this method due to no major surgical procedure. Typically, patients take about 7 days only to recover from the procedure.
Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio holds a B.A. degree summa cum laude from Yale University, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and completed his residency in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital. After that he completed a fellowship in craniofacial surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1998, Dr Del Vecchio received an MBA at Columbia Business School, where he specialized in corporate finance. Since 1998, he has worked as a consultant at Ferrer Freeman and Company ("FFC"), a private investment firm focusing on healthcare. Dr. Del Vecchio specializes in medical device technology.
Since completing his cosmetic surgery training over a decade ago, Dr. Del Vecchio has continued to remain in an academic environment and to educate others in the field of cosmetic surgery. He has published papers in the plastic surgery literature, has written chapters in major plastic surgery textbooks, and has spoken at national meetings on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Del Vecchio has also been involved in the training of surgical residents at Tufts New England Medical Center, where he was an Assistant Professor of Surgery, and at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital where he is currently a member of the Consulting Staff in the Division of Plastic Surgery.
In summary, there are a few important facts that you should know:


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Managing Resources in Ubuntu 8.04
When any Linux system is operating there hundreds of processes that could be running. A basic understanding of how these processes function is a great advantage to a Linux user. There are a number of ways to view these processes and the resources that they may use.
System Monitor on the Gnome desktop gives you excellent access to the workings of your computer. The graphical charts provide a quick glimpse of activity on the system and the process Listing allows you to switch between the processes that you are running, all processes and active processes. If you go to System/Administration and System Monitor you will find excellent tools to monitor your Ubuntu 8.04 system. The first tab will display you Linux Kernel, memory, CPU and available disk space.
The second tab describes the processes that are running on your system. These processes provide you with an excellent tool to see where the most memory or CPU time is going. This is great for trouble shooting.
The third tab is a easy way to glance at a graphical output showing your CPU usage, memory and network connections.
The last tab will show you how your system is partitioned.
A common method of viewing processes is by using the terminal. The ps command generates a snapshot of the currently running processes. In order to really see the whole picture three options are usually added to the command:
ps aux
a shows processes used by other users
u the user format showing user names ans start times
x includes processes not started from a terminal like a daemon such as ftp
The results show several important categories;the user, PID (Process ID), % of CPU usage, % of Memory and the start time. This is an easy way to locate a process that is taking too many resources or too large a percentage of CPU and Memory on the system that can cause all other processes to be very slow. This is a good way to review your system to look for problems.
The pstree command not only shows the processes but it also shows how each process is related to other processes, a tree if you will.
Use this command to see the tree with the process ID;
pstree -p
This is a very interesting way to view the system processes and helps you understand how it is all working together.
The final command that is often used to view processes is the top command:
The top command is just filled with information. The upper section of the screen gives you a summary of the whole system:
uptime – how long the system has been running
users – how many users are currently logged in
load average
tasks – the example shows 87 tasks with one running and 86 sleeping
zombie – programs that are running but are dead
CPU – user %, System %, idle % –all interesting stuff
Memory Usage
Swap Space usage
In addition, top gives you the PID, user, etc. that the other commands do. From this information you can get a feel for what is happening on the system as well as locate bottlenecks and programs that are misbehaving.


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California's Rep. Devin Nunes will be a member of the executive committee leading President-elect Donald Trump's Presidential Transition Team, according to the campaign.
The seven-term Republican from Tulare is chairman of the House Select Intelligence Committee.
Nunes and the 15 others on the team, including Trump's children and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, will help make hiring decisions ahead of Trump's January swearing-in.
Film icons, social justice activists and a renowned baseball player were among those inducted Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown into the California Hall of Fame, where honorees paid tribute to the "spirit of equality," innovation and contributions of immigrants in the state.
"We want to look back and understand how California has come to be... the people who have built it in so many different ways," Brown said. "We are always creating new things out of the soil that has preceded us."
The newest class of inductees were actors Harrison Ford and George Takei, former San Diego Padres slugger Tony Gwynn, author Isabel Allende, former U.S. secretary of Defense William Perry, Tower Records founder Russ Solomon and artist Corita Kent.
The race may be over between Rep. Darrell Issa and challenger Doug Applegate, but one piece of business from the campaign may linger a long time.
The day before the Nov. 8 election, Issa sued Applegate for libel, claiming that two political ads have damaged his reputation.
Issa also named Applegate's campaign manager, Robert Dempsey, and the campaign itself in the lawsuit filed in San Diego County Superior Court. The incumbent, one of the wealthiest members in Congress, is seeking $10 million in damages and said he'll donate any money awarded by the court to charity.
Author Isabel Allende, film star Harrison Ford and actor/activist George Takei are among eight inductees to the California Hall of Fame who will be honored Wednesday in a state ceremony at the California Museum.
Gov. Jerry Brown and first lady Anne Gust Brown will present each with a Spirit of California medal. Among the other inductees is journalist and former California first lady Maria Shriver, who founded the Hall of Fame in 2006 when Arnold Schwarzenegger, her husband from whom she is separated, was governor.
Since then, 96 people have been honored for making a mark on California history.
The last day of November in an even-numbered year is almost always quiet in the Capitol, but it's a big day according to state law: The end of a two-year legislative session.
Midnight marks what the California Constitution calls sine die, the final official day of the session that began on Dec. 1, 2014. For all 80 members of the Assembly and half of the 40-member Senate, this is the last day of their term in office.
Twenty members are leaving due to term limits. Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) tweeted a goodbye to his constituents.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) came to the Senate floor Wednesday to praise his longtime friend and fellow retiring senator, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).
The House and Senate are expected to recess for the year next week, and the farewell speeches are beginning for members such as Boxer and Reid, who have worked together in Washington for 34 years.
In a nearly 15-minute speech, Reid praised the California delegation for taking him into its fold when he came to Congress and was the only Democrat representing Nevada. He spoke about Boxer's efforts in preserving the wilderness and protecting Planned Parenthood and their work together with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to protect Lake Tahoe.
Former state Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, the first openly gay person to hold the post and a forceful former labor organizer, said he is considering a run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Politico first reported the news Wednesday.
Perez, who served as speaker from 2010-14 and ran unsuccessfully for state controller two years ago, on Wednesday said party leaders from across the nation have contacted him over the past several weeks to encourage him to run.
With President-elect Donald Trump about to enter the White House and Republicans in control of the Senate and House of Representatives, he said the national Democratic Party could learn from the methods used by California Democrats to win political dominance in the nation's largest state.
In a 98-96 vote, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier) was elected the next vice chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday, making her the first Latina to ever serve in House leadership.
"We always knew it takes a lot of hard work to get a majority of your colleagues on board with something, I've been working at this for more than a year, worked diligently, and I knew today whatever the outcome, I left it all out on the field," Sanchez said after the vote.
Earlier in the day, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco fended off a challenge for her post from a group of younger members, some of whom had grumbled about how long some of the senior members have been in power, and whether newer members of the caucus had a voice.
Several congressional Democrats urged President-elect Donald Trump to protect so-called Dreamers, students and youth who were brought into the U.S. illegally as children, when he takes office next month.
In tweets and Facebook posts, elected officials urged Trump not to reverse President Obama's Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals plan, which put off deportations for Dreamers, as he had promised to do on the campaign trail.
The online campaign uses an image that reads "We are a nation of immigrants" and the hashtag "SaveDACA" in reference to the program.
Senator-elect Kamala Harris is making her first hiring move, announcing Wednesday that her chief deputy in the attorney general's office, Nathan Barankin, will be her chief of staff when she replaces Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in November.
"Nathan has been my trusted advisor and right hand for many years in the Attorney General's office. He is an exceptional lawyer, legislative expert, and career public servant. He has served three different Attorneys General of California in executive roles and has worked as a constitutional litigator and an advisor to the California Senate leadership for many years. I look forward to continuing to work with Nathan in the United States Senate," Harris said in a statement.
New senators are sworn in Jan. 3. Harris also announced half a dozen people to help set up her new office, including advisors Debbie Mesloh, Michael Troncoso and Tony West.


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The members are united by a common passion for sailing, and dedicated to improving the sport. Over three days many topics were thoroughly discussed. Each committee member has a different sailing background that enhances the discussion.
The Executive Committee (EC) met in the offices of the ISAF Secretariat in Southampton. Members of the ISAF staff gave an overview of the activities and responsibilities of each department.
The EC discussed the priorities of ISAF for the next four year period. The EC is of the opinion that marketing (increasing revenues for the sport) combined with a development of ISAF properties such as the ISAF World Cup should be one of the primary goals. Other focus areas will be development, training, sport promotion, sport presentation, TV, the governance system of ISAF, and continuing the increase of women's participation on ISAF Committees.
An efficient co-operation between the Committees and the EC is essential. A meeting with all committee chairs and the EC is planned for Sunday 12 May in Copenhagen in order to exchange ideas and focus on the tasks ahead. A working party will be established to review and update the Olympic Commission report and recommend a strategy for 2013-2016.
The EC also received progress reports on future ISAF events, the Olympics and Youth Olympic Games. A number of management groups dealing with the preparation and organisation of the ISAF Events were approved. With regard to the ISAF Recognized Training Accreditation it was felt that this programme should be as accessible as possible and therefore it was decided to remove the annual recognition fee.
Decisions were taken on shortening the length of the ISAF Annual Conference and giving the Commissions and Sub-committees more time and opportunity to do their work without the need for meeting only for a short time at the Annual Conference. A study will also take place as whether it would be more cost efficient and desirable for both ISAF and the MNAs to fix the venue of the Annual Conference in the same place every year.
Following reports of Government interference in the elections and affairs of at least 4 MNAs it was decided to introduce rules to protect the autonomy of an MNA. If an MNA is being, or is, compromised it is proposed that the EC be entitled to take any appropriate actions decisions in order to protect the interests of the sport of Sailing in the Country or that MNA. This could include temporary suspension of membership. Any actions initiated by the EC would be later submitted to the Council for approval or not.
The report on the Review of the Disciplinary Process of ISAF that was discussed at the 2012 November meeting was noted. It was decided to set up a new independent Disciplinary Commission to deal with all disciplinary cases. They would develop standard procedures; carry out investigations and conduct hearings of all disciplinary complaints. With the exception of doping, any appeal from a decision of the Disciplinary Commission will be to the Review Board. The relevant changes to the ISAF Regulations will be put forward for decisions at the ISAF Mid-Year Meetings to be held from 9-12 May in Copenhagen, Denmark. ISAF will offer template procedures on disciplinary cases and publish on the ISAF website for the use of MNAs and as a service to MNAs.
Finally, it was announced that in addition to those who received ISAF Medals in November the following ISAF medals will be awarded. Gold Medal: Jack Caldwell, Charley Cook, Teresa Lara, Alberto Predieri, Ralph Roberts and Eric Tulla. A Silver Medal will be awarded to Jack Lloyd.
The next meeting of the EC will take place on 9 May 2013, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
World Sailing Newsletter
World Sailing Newsletter is the weekly online newsletter of World Sailing.
It features the latest news and events from the sailing world together with features and info in an easy-to-use format.
It features the latest news and events from the sailing world together with features and info in an easy-to-use format.


text: Mourinho (R) is spending his time talking to his assistants instead of the press [EPA]Real Madrid decided against holding their traditional pre-match news conference on Friday in an apparent attempt to defuse the war of words between coach Jose Mourinho and members of his squad.The nine-times European champions visit Espanyol on Saturday when a failure to win would gift leaders Barcelona their fourth La Liga title in five years.Even if they do triumph, Barca only need two more points to secure the trophy, which they could achieve at third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Mourinho's dig at captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas a week ago, followed by defender Pepe's subsequent defence of his team mate last Saturday, has brought divisions within the dressing room to the fore. "Perhaps now is the moment to say enough, to move on from the controversies with the boss, with Iker, with Pepe" Real defender Sergio Ramos Club president Florentino Perez took the rare step of entering the fray on Monday to call for unity for the last three weeks of the season, but Mourinho ignored his request and spoke out against Casillas and Pepe again on Tuesday.The Bernabeu crowd cheered Casillas's name when it was read out among the substitutes before the 6-2 La Liga victory over Malaga on Wednesday, while Mourinho's was met with whistles and jeers from a large section of the stadium.After the game, Spanish internationals Xabi Alonso and Raul Albiol both appealed for club unity ahead of the King's Cup final against Atletico Madrid on May 17th, which will be the side's last chance for major silverware this season.Mourinho's future in the Spanish capital, despite him having a contract until 2016, has been the subject of a great deal of speculation since Real failed to reach the Champions League final last week.The 50-year-old has done little to quash the rumours of his possible return to former club Chelsea, while his public attacks on Casillas and Pepe have been interpreted as further evidence that his time in Madrid is nearing the end."Perhaps now is the moment to say enough, to move on from the controversies with the boss, with Iker, with Pepe," Real defender Sergio Ramos, a senior figure in the squad, told Spanish broadcaster La Sexta at the Madrid Open tennis tournament on Thursday."It's a question of thinking only about the final which is the most important thing, and of trying to win it."Let's leave behind the controversy and the individual egos and focus on the union of the team which is fundamental, and without which success is impossible." SOURCE: Reuters Sport Football


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Too often, great works of literature arrive on screen weighed down by their reputations, immobilized in a straitjacket of cultural prestige. Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" is a wild emanation of Victorian genius half-tamed by time and term papers, and Andrea Arnold's new film adaptation is an admirable, frustrating attempt to strip away the novel's inherited "classic" status and restore its raw and earthy passion.
Abandoning the lush and stately romanticism of most earlier filmed versions (like William Wyler's 1939 swoon fest, with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier as Cathy and Heathcliff), Ms. Arnold's "Wuthering Heights," with the screen's first black Heathcliff (played by two different actors), emphasizes mud, misery and savage, inarticulate feelings. Shot in a boxy format with a drab, harsh palette that suits the weather and the mood of emotional and material deprivation, the movie intersperses vertiginous Yorkshire vistas with almost microscopic examinations of the local flora and fauna. There are close-ups of moths, beetles, lichen and weeds, provided as background for a Darwinian study of lust and domination.
Rabbits are killed, puppies tormented and livestock roughly treated. Horses are granted at least a measure of dignity, perhaps more than the human residents of this elemental world. We first encounter a mature Heathcliff (James Howson) doing violence to himself, beating his head against a wall in a fit of rage and despair, and we quickly perceive that his earlier life was no less brutal.
In this foreshortened telling of Brontë's tale (the action in the film roughly corresponds to the first half of the book) Young Heathcliff (Solomon Glave) arrives at the Earnshaw home in the midst of a torrential nocturnal downpour, one of several storms that punctuate the narrative and amplify its tempestuous moods.
The love of his life, Cathy (Shannon Beer), welcomes him by spitting in his face, and he greets his new family with growls and curses. Mr. Earnshaw, the patriarch (Paul Hilton), is stern but compassionate, though his severe discipline is better than the vengeful sadism of his son, Hindley (Lee Shaw), who takes over the household after the old man dies.Continue reading the main story
Harsh natural and domestic circumstances provide fertile ground for the ardor that blossoms between Heathcliff and Cathy. They are more attuned than their kin or the neighbors to the rhythms of life and death. Ms. Arnold, who wrote the screenplay with Olivia Hetreed, depicts their sometimes rough intimacy as a primordial state of hunger, deeper than language, reason or even sexual desire. She has a particular knack for bringing alive the inchoate, angry urges of adolescence and for turning the sullen faces and slack postures of young, untrained actors into frighteningly expressive instruments.
Anyone who saw Ms. Arnold's "Fish Tank" (2010), set in a modern northern England of housing projects and shabby town centers, is likely to have been haunted (and persuaded) by its portrait of teenage fury and social dysfunction. "Wuthering Heights" extends that vision backward.
The novel, first published pseudonymously in 1847, takes place mostly at the end of the previous century. Ms. Arnold imagines the past not as a simpler, more innocent time but as an era blighted by older versions of the same cruelties — rooted in differences of sex, race and social position — that afflict our own.
Cathy, a stout, windswept lass, grows up into a willowy lady (played by Kaya Scodelario) with finer clothes and a house far grander and cleaner than the Earnshaw property that gives the film its name. (She also has a pathetic husband, Edgar, played in boyhood by Jonathan Powell and as a man by James Northcote.)
For his part, Heathcliff, having made a mysterious fortune, trades the rags of his wretched youth for a velvet coat and breeches. But the film, like the hearts of its protagonists, continues to dwell in a state of unruly, unbuttoned intensity.
Or at least it tries. The jump cuts, off-kilter angles and hurtling hand-held camerawork; the guttural stammerings of the actors; and the ambient muck of the production design are signs of what has become a familiar aesthetic agenda. These techniques are meant to create a sense of immediacy, a supremely powerful naturalism.
But in this case, curiously enough, the effect is the opposite. The grunts and howls seem every bit as mannered as the florid diction of Olivier and Oberon, perhaps even more so. Their artifice, like Brontë's own, was overt, whereas Ms. Arnold strives to disguise hers in the trappings of authenticity. And as a result, the impact — the grandeur, the art — of "Wuthering Heights" is diminished.Continue reading the main story


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What makes this stool unique is the telescoping legs that allow for two seating positions. With the legs extended, the stool has a regular three-legged stance. With the legs retracted, the base has a single broad foot that allows pivoting while crouched, reducing pressure on one's back and knees.
The stool has a nylon mesh seat that breathes, aluminum legs, and broad rubber-tipped feet that resist sinking into soft soils.
Supplied in a carry bag, each model is capable of supporting more than 400 lb. Refer to the chart below for stool height, seat width and weight, and weight and height capacity. Highly recommended.
The Walkstool® Steady accessory is useful where there is risk of having the rubber feet sink into the ground, such as with sand or soft soil. Adjustable to fit any of the stool sizes, it connects quickly to the bottoms of the legs, distributing the weight over a wider surface to help stabilize the stool and prevent the feet from digging in.


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Made with Love Mondays was a recurring weekly series to promote, share and celebrate foods make entirely from-scratch. Always Fresh, Always From-Scratch. No transfats, no food dyes, no high fructose corn syrup. Browse Recipe Index
Please Note: The Made with Love Mondays series has been retired. The series is not accepting new additions and existing posts and information is for reference purposes only. Please enjoy.
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Galveston.com "Large Pelican"
The Galveston Island CVB offers professional assistance in every area of meeting and convention activity including hotel request for proposals (RFP), planning, promotion, registration and spousal programs.
For group tour operators, we offer hotel rate proposals, sample itineraries, collateral materials and coordination assistance. For family reunions and weddings, we offer hotel rate proposals, collateral materials and coordination assistance.
The GALVESTON ISLAND PASS is your key to adventure and savings while exploring the numerous attractions that make Galveston so special.
Select four or more participating attractions and save up to 40% off retail price.
"Large Pelican"
1609 Postoffice StreetGalveston, TX 77550
This sculpture located at 1609 Postoffice Street is entitled "Large Pelican," by artist Jim Phillips.
This sculpture located at 1609 Postoffice Street is entitled "Large Pelican," by artist Jim Phillips.
On September 13th, 2008, Hurricane Ike covered most of the Island in a tidal surge. The damaging combination of powerful wind and waves immediately uprooted many trees, but ultimately the salty storm waters led to the demise of the thousands of others. Ike forced Galveston to say a sad goodbye to so much of its beautiful tree canopy.
Years later, sculpture artists have breathed second life into something Mother Nature attempted to destroy. Whimsical sculptures have replaced the majestic oaks that once lined many neighborhood streets and shaded homes. Tucked into gardens and nestled in side yards the sculptures are there for the public to enjoy.
Stop by the Galveston Visitors Center located at Ashton Villa for a complimentary Tree Sculptures brochure for a map of all of the sculptures, or click here to download.
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Bizav Security Ramps Up
In the decade since 9/11, many new guidelines and rules have been applied to business aviation flights. More could be on the way.
The latest buzz from Washington is that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is about to issue revised security guidelines for private aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds—about the size of a Beechcraft King Air 250 turboprop.
Of course, many such guidelines already apply. Private aircraft, along with their crews, mechanics and owners, have been under increased government scrutiny and regulation in the years following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. And in 2004, the TSA published "Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports." That document outlined common signs of potential or impending terrorism and methodologies for risk-based threat analysis.
General aviation (GA) trade associations embraced much of this content in security programs they developed for their members. The National Air Transportation Association's "Safety 1st" ground audit program, for example, has a large security component, according to John McGraw, the group's director of regulatory affairs. Additionally, NATA participates with the Air Charter Safety Foundation's safety programs. The nonprofit ACSF, which was founded in 2007, has established a best-practices standard for security and compliance for air charter and fractional aircraft ownership operations.
Individual FBOs also have regular interaction with the TSA and have fostered good relationships with the organization, says Tim Lewis, director of training for FBO chain Landmark Aviation. "We have a lot of sites on commercial airports," notes Lewis, whose company has locations at 52 airports in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. "A lot of our guests have received TSA training and they are badged for their home airports and work areas as well, per TSA requirements. Transient traffic on non-sterile areas of the airport is escorted. Everybody is watched."
Lewis adds that Landmark supports the efforts of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and NATA to voluntarily work with the TSA and "keep them out of our lobbies. At the end of the day, we understand our customers and the intricacies of our business and we self-police. We match passengers to pilots. We do a lot of training for sites not regulated by TSA for applications in security. All of our guys are pretty well trained and that training is recurrent. Each location has a security plan that is individual for the site and each location has a safety and security coordinator." Lewis says that the security plans and systems at each Landmark location are audited "frequently."
Despite such efforts, the TSA saw fit to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in 2008 for a Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) for GA aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds. The impact of LASP would be to spread the security misery endured by the airline-riding public to general aviation. It came complete with burdensome recordkeeping requirements and a long list of prohibited carry-on items, including golf clubs and tools. A flood of negative public comment ensued. GA groups were quick to criticize the NPRM as unworkable and to fault the TSA for its ignorance of the industry. "We believe that the NPRM clearly reflects a lack of basic understanding of the business and general aviation communities," said a statement from the National Business Aviation Association. "Application of the elements contained within this proposal to these communities today would not enhance security without causing catastrophic and permanent damage to intrastate, interstate and international commerce and mobility." The NBAA went on to cast certain NPRM provisions as "completely nonsensical."
Partially in response to these criticisms, the TSA restarted the moribund Aviation Security Advisory Committee it had inherited from the FAA and populated it with a diverse group of aviation stakeholders, including those from GA, as a method of vetting potential policy changes.
What impact this committee will have on LASP remains to be seen. The TSA is expected to issue a revised LASP via the NPRM process soon and NATA's McGraw, for one, is hopeful that it will better address GA concerns.
What to expect at Washington's Reagan National
At Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport, significant restrictions have applied to general aviation operations since 9/11. The Transportation Security Administration allows only 48 general aviation flights into Reagan daily from gateway airports approved under the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP). [For a list of these airports, see the version of this article at bjtonline.com. —Ed.].
To qualify, an operator and its host FBO must be vetted by the TSA. Don't expect to call the TSA and get the necessary permissions the same day or even the same week you want to fly if you are not already part of the program. The approval process includes a fingerprint check of the flight crew and enhanced background screening for passengers. (If they hold identification from the TSA's PreCheck and U.S. Customs's Trusted Traveler programs, it makes the process a little easier.)
Each flight into the airport must have an armed security officer aboard who has been trained and approved by the agency. This could be a member of your corporate security staff or an off-duty law-enforcement officer. The officer must be nominated by a DASSP-approved company (or one whose approval is pending). He or she must also meet certain eligibility criteria and complete an application process that includes background, criminal history and employment verification checks. The officer must then complete two days of training conducted by the Federal Air Marshal Service and must be credentialed by the TSA.
Passenger and crew manifests must be submitted 24 hours before each flight and the start and end dates of the trip must be noted. Prequalified crew can be substituted under certain circumstances. At the gateway airports and at Reagan, the TSA will inspect passengers, crew, luggage and aircraft. This takes time, so plan accordingly. And keep in mind that the TSA reserves the right to cancel your flight at any time for any reason. Remember, you need an FAA slot reservation to fly into Reagan.
To enroll in the security program, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. —M.H.
What your security plan should include
Whether you're traveling domestically or abroad, it makes sense to have a good security plan. Here's what you need to do, according to the corporate aviation security experts with whom we spoke:
1. Research the destination. Take into account risks and emergency resources en route and at the destination.
2. Have a security coordinator back home who monitors the trip and can provide assistance and access to resources as needed.
3. Make sure every member of the trip party has an emergency number to call that is monitored 24/7 and that those in the group check regularly with the home base.
4. Select someone to be a central point of contact on the trip or for designated portions of it. Make sure this person has access to real-time in-country information about impediments like riots, political demonstrations, traffic accidents and road closures.
5. Find a trustworthy local security partner, either directly or through your handling service or security services provider. Such a partner can be invaluable in assessing hotel and ground-route security.
6. Determine trigger points for changes in security footings and evacuations. Allow for contingencies such as use of alternate airports and ground routings, fuel-tankering policies and how to expeditiously secure supplemental lift.
7. Run a tabletop exercise based on the plan with trip participants before and/or during the trip.
8. Debrief each trip, especially if a security-related event has occurred. Incorporate lessons learned into future plans. —M.H
What's the real risk?
Attacks against high-profile government targets by small aircraft or their use as terrorist vehicles are extremely rare, but not unheard of. In 1974 U.S. Army private Robert Preston stole a Huey helicopter and flew it onto the White House grounds, landing after being shot up by the Secret Service. Twenty years later, Frank Eugene Corder got drunk, stole a little two-seat Cessna 150 and crashed it into the side of the executive mansion, doing little damage other than killing himself and a tree. In 2010 a disgruntled taxpayer crashed his Piper Cherokee into the Internal Revenue Service building in Austin, Texas, killing himself and a government employee.
Corporate aircraft have almost never been used in terrorist attacks. In fact, the last such incident occurred in 1932, when a trio protesting the Constitutional Revolution in Brazil hijacked a Sikorsky S-38 flying boat and tried to fly it. (None were pilots and it didn't turn out well.)
There's a reason such events rarely occur. Owners of multimillion-dollar business aircraft tend to keep them under lock and key and thoroughly vet the comparatively small number of people who fly, work on and ride in them. Also keeping an eye on these operations are their insurers and the government, which now checks pilot medical applications against criminal databases.
The airlines have always presented a larger terrorism risk. High-profile incidents occurred during the 1970s and '80s with such flights as Air France 139 in 1976 (which led to the famous Operation Entebbe airport rescue in Uganda), Malaysian Airlines 653 in 1977 (when the airplane was intentionally crashed, killing all 100 aboard) and EgyptAir 648 in 1985 (when 60 died as troops stormed the airplane). And then came 9/11, which of course also involved airliners.
In the months following that horrible event, however, elements of the U.S. government took almost a reactionary tone when dealing with general aviation, causing related businesses to lose an estimated $400 million. For six months, three Maryland airports closed for security reasons, given their proximity to the Capitol. Months later, business owners and pilots based at these airports were given a meeting with the Secret Service. The agent-in-charge was unsympathetic, telling the frustrated audience, "Your aircraft or any aircraft can be a delivery system for chemical or biological agents." —M.H.
International security requires extra vigilance
Independent of government mandates, individual aircraft operators are showing a greater interest in security, especially on international flights, which pose the greatest risks, notes Tracie Jones, a security specialist at handling company Universal Weather and Aviation. Jones says that increasing dangers abroad have prompted more charter companies to request security briefings and toughen policies, even though doing so increases passenger costs.
Universal maintains a security database and offers its clients various levels of intelligence, including a country brief, a city-specific brief, an airport-specific brief and a hotel brief. It provides risk routing on the ground as part of the hotel brief. "People need to be a little more cautious, especially when they are flying to a location more than once, even close to their hotels," Jones emphasizes.
The company partners with outside intelligence firms to collect the most recent information and rates countries on a 1-to-5 scale, with 5 being the most dangerous. (The U.S. currently ranks 2.) Countries that rate higher on the scale also tend to have more arbitrary policies and fees when it comes to aircraft movements, Jones notes.
A good country security risk-assessment requires multiple layers of input from a variety of sources, including the U.S. State Department, in-house security departments, security vendors, ground-handlers, clients and partners in-country, employees and FBOs, says Denio Alvarado, who used to do covert security planning for Air Force One. Alvarado, who now works as head of global security for MedAire, a health and travel safety services firm, emphasizes the importance of having local knowledge about which airport to use, where to park on the airport, how much fuel to keep on the airplane, whether to hire local security to guard the aircraft and even when to visit a country.
"Having an airplane guarded on the ramp may make the owner feel good," he says, "but if it is the only aircraft being guarded on the ramp, you're increasing visibility. Don't spend the money—decrease visibility. If you absolutely have to do it, do so as clandestinely as you can or move the aircraft to a location where it is not as visible.
"You need to be in control during all phases of the trip," he cautions. "Face it, you're not going to blend in in Papua, New Guinea [especially] when you arrive in a $62 million aircraft." —M.H.
Mark Huber, a private pilot and longtime BJT contributor, writes the magazine's aircraft reviews.