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Product Round-Up: Instrumentation & control
Probes, monitors, sensors, gauges--they're lined up for readers' review and inspection
Food and beverage processors and system-level users who spend excessive amounts of time configuring and installing motor starters into existing applications now have a cost-effective, time-saving solution. The Allen-Bradley ArmorStart distributed starter is a pre-engineered, pre-configured combination motor starter that requires no additional enclosures and features a modular, plug-and-play design for quick and reliable installation. Since a traditional enclosure is not required, the starter can be quickly and easily mounted on the machine near the motor. The integrated, machine-mount design uses fewer cables, which simplifies wiring, minimizes panel space requirements, and allows faster and more accurate connections.
Rockwell Automation; Bloomington, Minn.
800-223-5354 x1630; www.rockwellautomation.com
Vortex for mass measurement
Two new instruments, the Prowirl 72 and Prowirl 73, join the Proline family of vortex flow measurement devices. They measure steam, gas and liquid, even in hazardous areas. They provide reliable and safe mass measurements using patented Differential Switched Capacitor sensor technology. The units are immune to vibrations up to 1g, extreme temperature shocks, clogging, water hammer and high pressures. The 73 model introduces direct mass measurement without the need of an additional thermometer and flow computer.
Endress+Hauser; Greenwood, Ind.
317-535-7138; www.us.endress.com
Moisture analyzer finds the best method
The HR83 halogen moisture analyzer is particularly useful for method development and regulation compliance. It combines a precision-regulated halogen radiator with the company's proven weighing technology. The unit allows the user to specify the reference point, then automatically performs repeat sample runs until the optimum method is found to give the correct results for a given sample. It includes a GLP/GMP-compliant reporting mechanism.
Mettler Toledo; Columbus, Ohio
614-438-4511; www.mt.com
pH is sensor is unbreakable
The Durafet III pH electrode is a non-glass and unbreakable ISFET-based pH sensor. Featuring a new Vario Pin watertight connection, it provides fast, accurate and dependable pH measurements. A sanitary version is available to meet 3A standards for food and dairy, pharmaceutical and biotech applications. The new IP68-rated Vario Pin connector assures a watertight cable connection, enabling easy and reliable electrode replacement without twisting cables. The probe eliminates problems commonly associated with conventional glass electrodes such as: frequent probe replacement due to breakage; slow response due to probe aging; frequent calibration; and limited temperature and pH range.
Honeywell Industrial Measurement and Control; Fort Washington, Pa.
215-641-3798; www.honeywell.com
Level in vivid color
LevelStar is a bi-color LED indicator for the Magnicator II line of magnetic level gauges. It uses a patent-pending design and technology to deliver clear-across-the-plant visibility in both day and night conditions. The vivid level lights provide a long field of view and have a continuous service life that exceeds 80,000 hours. There are no mechanical or moving parts and the units are field-upgradeable.
Jerguson; Strongsville, Ohio
440-572-1500; www.clark-reliance.com
Reading temps by satellite
The company has developed a real-time data management system that links its RFID-based Tempasure temperature monitoring system with GPRS and satellite technology, allowing processors, transportation companies and retailers to track perishable and temperature-sensitive products and monitor conditions anywhere in the world, in real time, through an internet portal.
Syscan International; Montreal
613-762-4262; www.syscan.com
FM approved for level
The FM-approved LS 5000 Series level switches for liquid applications, including those in food processing, have a rugged tuning fork measuring system. It is unaffected by product variations in density, conductivity, dielectric constant or viscosity and is insensitive to foam, air bubbles, turbulence, pressure and temperature variations, strong external vibrations or varying products. Other features include simple set-up without adjustment and integrated fault monitoring. Certain models have surfaces especially polished for applications in hygienic industries.
Krohne; Peabody, Mass.
978-535-6060; www.krohne.com
Plug and play temp sensors
Infosense-P plug and play sensors improve the accuracy of thermocouples by three times, RTD sensors by 10 times, the vendor claims. They provide a high level of accuracy and convenience through automatically linking the customer's application to the vendor's NIST-traceable calibration lab. The sensors incorporate an EEPROM memory chip, preprogrammed with each sensor's part number, manufacturing information, and full range temperature calibration. Using IEEE 1451.4 technology, when a sensor is wired or connected to IEEE 1451.4 compatible electronics, the controller accesses the information provided and performs a full high-order curve fit to correct for all known error.
Watlow; St. Louis
800-492-8569; www.watlow.com
Colorimeter inspects
The stand-alone, handheld CR-400 is a colorimeter that measures samples, compares to targets, displays data, stores up to 1,000 readings and interfaces with a PC or the vendor's DP-400 processor. It offers pulsed Xenon, d/0° measurement geometry, plus choice of 8mm or 50mm aperture models. It measures color using up to six user- or industry-specific color indices, and reads color and color difference for 14 standard color scales.
Konica Minolta;
888-473-2656; www.konicaminolta.us
Temperature and humidity sensor
The HS-2000 sensor combines capacitive-polymer sensing technology with a novel measurement method, eliminating the need for temperature correction and calibration by the user. The factory-calibrated sensor, which includes a thermistor and circuitry to correct for temperature and calculate true relative humidity, provides both humidity and temperature outputs and is accurate to +/- 2%. The digital version, priced at less than $20 in volume, communicates via an RS232 link. Analog versions are available with a 4-20 mA or 0-5 volt output.
Precon Inc.; Memphis, Tenn.
901-388-9137; www.preconusa.com
Keep an eye on wastewater
The 3300 series ultrasonic flow monitoring system provides high-accuracy flow measurement especially for water treatment and wastewater streams. The use of Doppler ultrasound technology and advanced spectrum signal processing measures the entire flow stream. It operates from a 9 VDC power source or AC power using a converter, plus there's an optional solar panel. A vandal-resistant dual-password system allows for local or remote downloading of data.
George Fischer Signet; Tustin, Calif.
800-854-4090; www.gfsignet.com
Gripping temp probes
Six new temperature probes have been added to the SureGrip line. Designed for plant and laboratory technicians who use digital thermometers, the new line includes probes for taking measurements of air, liquids, large surfaces, small areas and insulation-covered surfaces. The 80PK-22, for instance, is an immersion temperature probe for use in liquids or gels, is compatible with K-type instruments, and has a range from -40° to 1090° C.
Fluke Corp.; Everett, Wash.
888-492-7542; www.fluke.com
Instant surface temps
ThermoTrace waterproof low-temp infrared thermometer, Model 15006-40, is completely waterproof (IP67 compliant) and can be washed and sanitized. It is especially well suited for uses in the food industry because of its temperature display range, -40° F to 428° F (-40° C to 220° C), useful for instant, surface temperature screening of food during hot holding, in chilled displays and refrigerated storage for HACCP and food safety procedures. It is also a diagnostic tool for refrigeration technicians, and can be used to read temperatures of moving parts or to check surfaces in hard-to-reach places. Features include normal or continuous reading mode, a memory function that holds up to 99 points of temperature data, and a 15:1 field of view with laser sighting of an object as small as 2.6 inches.
DeltaTrak; Pleasanton, Calif.
800-962-6776; www.deltatrak.com
Non-intrusive level gauge
The non-intrusive design of the MagnaStar magnetic liquid level gauge provides accurate level readings while protecting operators from high pressure and high-temperature fluids in a tank, process vessel or boiler. The rugged design minimizes operating costs by eliminating downtime due to leaks or required maintenance. The gauge has no glass tube to replace or multiple gaskets to maintain. The two-color indicator, easily read from a distance, is mounted on the gage chamber but completely isolated from the process fluid.
L. J. Star Inc.; Twinsburg, Ohio
330-405-3040; www.ljstar.com
Portable hygrometer
The Hygro-Thermometer is a small, portable, multifunctional data logger that can take up to 15,000 humidity, temperature, dew point and wet bulb measurements. Time- and date-stamped data is available in list or graph form using the supplied Windows-compatible software. The meter provides real-time measurements of two customer-selected parameters on its large LCD display. It's suitable for monitoring any space where these measurements are critical, including many food plant applications.
Telatemp Corp.; Fullerton, Calif.
714-879-2901; www.telatemp.com
Make sense of oxygen
OxySense 4000 is a noninvasive oxygen measurement sensor with built-in processor and automatic infrared temperature sensor. Using optical technology, it measures oxygen concentrations within containers, bottles and packages without puncturing or destroying the seal. Multiple measurements can be made over time on the same package, producing more accurate results with fewer containers and at a lower cost, making the system ideal for R&D, quality control and shelf-life studies. It is fully portable and self-contained, has an integrated 8.4-in. display and standard PC keyboard and mouse.
OxySense Inc.; Dallas
214-575-7600; www.oxysense.com
Measure powder granules
The Powder Flow Analyzer is a system for accurately measuring the flow properties of powder granules and wet mixes. It helps manufacturers of food and nutraceuticals to avoid common problems such as batch and source variation of ingredients, caking during storage, bridging in hoppers and sticking during production. Rapid analysis of ingredients, blends and finished products, as diverse as flours, dried fruits, pulses, herbs and milk powder can be measured. The patented blade causes controlled flow and can be mathematically described, negating the need for complex torque measuring systems.
Stable Micro Systems/Texture Technologies; Scarsdale, N.Y.
914-472-0531; www.texturetechnologies.com
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We Make Our Plans
Stephanie Penland
We make our plans; then God sits back and has a good laugh.
The story of Ezra's birth begins many years before his actual birth. At one point I thought I was pregnant. I was nauseas and sick for 6 weeks. My sense of smell was heightened a hundred fold. I woke up every morning at 6 am sharp fully awake and ready to go. My world was turned upside down. However, no matter how many pregnancy tests I took, it said negative. At exactly six weeks from the morning I woke up I experience the worst pain and bleeding I've ever had and I've had some pretty terrible periods.
I was ready to be mom, ready to be pregnant. My husband however was not; so I tabled the idea and waited for Mike to catch up. I prayed that Mike would tell me specifically that it was time to start a family. A year and a half later he told me just that. So we went off the pill and started trying. It took four months to conceive.
On January 4th, the day before my birthday, I woke up and knew that I was pregnant. The events of the day proved my suspicions. I am, or was, a vegetarian who eats fish. At lunch, I craved meat so bad that I ate 2 chicken sliders, 2 beef sliders, a side of boneless Buffalo wings, and a plate of shrimp all in one sitting. Then I went home and had a steak for dinner, consisting of more meat then I had in the past 10 years.
Ten day later on January 14th at 7:00 am, the pee test was positive.
I started my prenatal visits like most women in America by making an appointment with the OB. After two visits, I was struck by how institutionalized my appointments were. I felt my convenient 15-minute appointments were just sterile. Now don't get me wrong, I love my OB. She has always been attentive, and very good at what she does. It so happens she was pregnant when I saw her for my first appointment at 6 or 8 weeks and then I didn't see her again for another two months. When she came back to work her outlook on water birth and home birth seemed to be different. She encouraged me to research these things and was supportive if I chose to go that route.
I started seeing Maria around my 5th month. From the moment I met her, I knew she was the midwife I wanted at my birth. My pregnancy was not a hard one, though I suffered with severe nausea that didn't subside or lessen. I tried everything to make it go away and finally found Zophran, which just went generic. If I took this medicine, I could function normally; if I did not, I was sick as a dog and bedridden.
One of the best things about having a midwife instead of an OB as my caregiver is that Maria actually touched my stomach. She felt the baby every time and also used an old-fashioned stethoscope. Our appointments were also an hour long instead of 15-20 minutes.
The Birth
We went to dinner, Thai food. I felt great, like I was on top of the world yet scared and excited all in one and not quite sure of myself. I look back now and see that I was ready, preparing to give birth.
Tuesday Sept 29, 2009 11pm
Wake up to go to the bathroom. On the way there a warm liquid soaked my pjs. It wasn't much and all I could see of it was my mucus plug, which had the same greenish snot color. The water didn't appear to have any color. We called Maria and Christina my mentor to come over and then went back to sleep.
Contractions were at the 511 stages already. I was really confused, as they seemed to be very fast and hard this early in the game. My mother and I woke up my husband and called Maria.
My thoughts at this point are excited. I am fully aware of my body, my mind is intact and I am ready for this. This is what I have been preparing for. It seems I almost instantly know what do yet at the same time I have no idea what I am doing.
My husband is the best supporter. He holds me, caresses me, and gives me words of encouragement. He does everything I ask. I remember back to our prenatal class with Jane Austin and the question was asked, "What is my role in all this?" Jane answered, "Whatever she needs you to do." Well I needed Michael to do a lot of things. I needed drinks, I needed to be held up, but most of all I needed his hand on my tailbone.
6 hours into it I was starting to get agitated. Maria suggested that I go into the shower. This was the best idea. The moment the water touched my skin I felt relief, and an awe, almost an ecstasy between contractions.
Earlier that evening I had given my mom the camera and showed her a few basic ways to use it and instructed her to take pictures, even though she was reluctant because she thinks she has no talent for these things. It turns out this was the best use of her. She took pictures while I was in the shower. Looking back at them now I am amazed at what I looked liked. I can feel the moment deep with in my bones, my belly is huge and bulging yet beautiful and just how it should be.
Morning 6am – 4pm
We try the tub. This is yet another miracle moment for me, a wave of pure lightness. As the contractions rush through my body I am able to lift my legs and hips off the ground and suspend myself in the tub. This is a most exhilarating feeling of floating and tensing up. Michael has now been applying pressure on my tailbone for about an hour. It turns out over the next two days his hand is on my tailbone almost the entire time.
After the tub we walked up and down the hall. At the end of the hall I would collapse into my husband's arm as my body shook with the rush. It was as if I no longer existed but my body took over and the pain and tension and joy was all there was. Maria suggested I sit on the toilet for a while. By 1:00, we checked and I was still not fully dilated, only about 4. The whole day really passed in a blur of water, rubs, walking.
Evening 4pm – 11pm
At this point I was tired and my husband says that I looked at Maria and said, "Am I almost done?" I don't remember this but I do remember thinking he was never going to come out and my tailbone was going to split in two.
The second midwife came and was very quite and calm. She checked me vaginally as well to get a second opinion, which was that I was 8cm or even 7 but that there was a lip over the baby's head. They did try to move the lip while I was having a contraction. This was very uncomfortable, as was the catheter Maria also used to help the process.
In the evening my contractions started to slow down. They were irregular in time and in strength so we tried acupuncture. This worked really well for a time. It brought on the contractions really hard but didn't keep them consistent. We tried homeopathic herbs with no results. Maria sat us down and gave us our options about going to the hospital or staying home. By late evening we were tired and I felt that I needed to sleep but my husband wanted to try more. So he walked me up and down the hall. Helped me with leg stretches and squats until I couldn't hold myself up any more. At one point I was laying on the floor waiting for the next one and all of a sudden I threw up. Not just a little but everything I had eaten 20 hours earlier. Apparently I didn't digest any of my dinner. It was embarrassing but honestly I was glad to get rid of it. Then the tears came and from what I remember, the rest of the evening was done. I slept on the couch waking up every ½ hour or hour for a contraction. My mother kept track of them, how long they lasted and how far apart. By morning I was feeling better but still very tired.
Thursday Oct 1
Morning Day 2
Michael and I decided to have a talk in the bedroom about our options. I told him that if I had to go through another day of this with no results, I didn't think I'd have the strength to go the hospital. I would not be able to resist getting drugs or worse yet, they might have to do a cesarean. We prayed and felt the answer was to go to the hospital. When we told Maria what we wanted, she agreed that it was the best thing to do and that she was proud of me. That I had done a great job and did all I could.
I had a small bag packed just in case we went to the hospital. The car ride there was not fun. Thankfully I didn't have a contraction in the car but his head was already so far down that nothing I did helped. Upon arriving at the hospital, my good friend Jackie was waiting for us. They got us situated with an IV and started fluids right away as I was slightly dehydrated even though Mike did a great job of making me drink the whole time. The nurses gave me a relaxer to calm me down because I was so tense but warned me that it would not help the pain of the contractions. They were right.
Now that I had the pitocin coming in strong and regular it was hard to get into a groove again. At home, it was easy as I was in familiar surroundings; I had all my props and comforts. I was now 8 cm and felt like things were going well until the head doctor on staff came in and informed me that if I wasn't dilated at least 1 more cm by the time he came back in an hour then we would have to talk about cesarean birth. I freaked out. Thank God I had my support team there. Maria was great, she calmed me down and told me that it wasn't going to happen, that we were so close, it would just take a little longer.
I spent most of the day in the shower. That is where I found my groove. Swaying back and forth, squatting with the water on my back was heavenly and hellish all at the same time. Jackie came in and told me that my contractions were 1 minute apart and that they were off the charts. She actually went and got the nurse who turned them down. I remember this because I was so far in my head that I was not able to speak. The nurses kept coming into the room asking me questions and pulling me out of this primal place. My husband, God bless him, kept them away as much as he could. They really wanted to make sure I wanted an epidural. He told me to just ignore anyone who comes in, to face the wall and keep doing what I was doing.
By late afternoon something had changed in me. Now I was out of the shower, the nurses changed me and dried me which was so helpful. For the next two hours, I was finally really pushing him out. I squatted, holding the back of the chair and screamed a real loud scream that I had not done yet. Maria suggested that I tuck my chin and instead of a high pitch scream, that I grunt down. When I did this, I felt his head move off my tail bone and down in the canal even further. It only took a few more of these to know that he was on his way. I was so tired, physically my legs could no longer hold me up. I had to rest so I got on the bed and that is where I stayed.
Michael was very tired as well. He would hold me up with each contraction, and my mom would put her hands on his back to keep him up. Jackie and Michael were amazing at keeping my spirits up, encouraging me and helping me physically. My mom was amazing too though at one point I looked over at her and she had the most depressing look on her face. I said, "Mom, that look on your face is not helping." So she put away her fears and focused on my needs and that was the end of that.
Once on the bed and pushing really began, Dr. Norell came. She was the doctor we had seen for our hospital visit and we loved her. I was so happy that she was the one that was going to deliver my baby. Everyone was crowded around me. My legs were spread and my mother pushed one knee down and Jackie the other. I can't explain how much it helped to have them pushing my legs to the bed. It was as if my body was a giant rubber band that needed to be stretched and maintained.
Someone said I can see the head, and he has hair. I was so excited. They asked if I wanted to touch but I was so inside, so concentrating that I did not dare. Then for no reason at all I put my hand down there and felt his head, and he really did have a lot of hair. After that my pushes were very strong. I wanted him out. They describe the head coming out like a ring of fire. To me it was like every pain, every anxiety, every hope and every fear all wrapped into one sensation. My belly was lopsided as I pushed him out. The moment he came out, the belly fell. There was a lot of commotion, excitement and still some pain. I can't even describe the rush of emotions that hit me as his head passed the threshold and his body slid out. He was given to Michael to place on my chest. Everyone had a hand in pulling him out, my mom and Jackie both.
Oct 1st 6:27 pm
As he was coming to me I said, "Is this my baby? Is this my baby?" At the sound of my voice, his eyes found mine. He knew who I was and he pierced me with such a stare that I'll never forget that moment and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was a God. That this baby that grew inside of me for the past 9 months was a miracle and was special.
They cleaned him while he was laying on me. I was unaware at the time that I was naked and looking back at the pictures my breasts are in every picture but I do not see myself as naked but as one with my baby in a pure and perfect state. The first cry he made was on my chest. Then they took him with Michael to the other side of the room to get cleaned up, measured and weighed. When he was placed on the scale at 8lbs 12oz, a cry of, "Oh my God" came out. No one expected him to be that big. I was still in a lot of pain and the placenta had not come out yet. Then I felt a shudder and gave a push and it slid out like a little fish. Now this may seem weird but it was almost orgasmic pushing out the placenta. It was so soft and supple compared to the hard head of my baby.
I can't remember when he took his first suckle but I do remember it was amazing. A sensation and emotion I had never felt before.
I needed three small stitches. I have one real fear and that is getting stitches. I can't believe the first time I get them is in my vagina of all places. I was rather numb from the birth and the shot they gave me before hand made me completely numb. Jackie held my hand because though I could not feel it, I could see the needle. It wasn't that bad and at that point I felt like I could have gone through anything.
After the Birth
I feel like I was really prepared for all that had happened. I knew about each step. What home birth and hospital birth mean for procedures and care. I did not however realize what birth would do to my body the next few days and weeks. The first time I stood up a gush of liquid followed me all the way to the shower. Gallons of pee that had been blocked by my enormous baby fell out. I have to say here that the nurses were so kind and helpful, assuring me that it was not a problem at all. They brought us food, which was amazing, and helped us with all that we needed.
I was so sore, and the stinging was out of control. I expected this but not to this magnitude. Because my birth was so long and he was on my tailbone for almost 2 days, there was a lot of damage done inside. At six weeks when I had my last appointment, though the stinging had stopped, I was still sore.
We stayed in the hospital for two days. I could hardly move and didn't want to leave in that condition. My baby was born. My husband was by my side. My mother, now a grandmother was waiting at home for us. It felt like the whole world stopped for us and life had just begun.

subset: commoncrawl


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Yes, this Iowa bull got stuck in a large tractor tire
M.A.D. Confession, a show bull at Weeping Fox Ranch in the northwestern Iowa town of Hartley, appears to be tangled in a large tractor tire as shown in a video posted July 7 on the ranch's Facebook page. Video courtesy of Weeping Fox Ranch
DES MOINES — Forget the proverbial china shop. And we're just as confused as the bull in this viral video.
M.A.D. Confession, a show bull at Weeping Fox Ranch in the northwestern Iowa town of Hartley, appears to be tangled in a large tractor tire as shown in a video posted July 7 on the ranch's Facebook page.
Todd Vogel of Weeping Fox Ranch told the Des Moines Register on Thursday that Confession is an 11-month-old purebred Hereford bull — which speaks for his playful activity.
"Bulls that age are like teenage boys: They have endless energy and they're not happy till they're rolling something on the ground," Vogel said.
Vogel said that the ranch uses those large tires in the off-season (winter months) to feed their bulls, adding that "they like to stand in those and scratch their stomachs."
When the Vogel family discovered that Confession was wearing the tire, they wanted to capture the moment on video.
"New attire at the Weeping Fox Ranch for this Hereford bull," Todd Vogel's wife, Kris, is heard saying at the start of the 19-second clip. "Don't know how he did it, and I don't know how it's coming off."
The video has more than 536,000 views and 10,300 shares as of 2:15 p.m. CT Thursday. It was posted with the caption: "Crazy things that happen with silly bulls."
Todd Vogel said they put a bull halter on Confession, tied him up and put him in a cabin in the barn to try and remove the tire.
It wasn't as bad as you might assume.
"It took a little bit of wiggling, but we put it off over his tail and over his butt end," Todd Vogel said. "It really wasn't that big of a chore.
"… Honestly, since he cooperated, it was probably a five-minute deal."
For what it's worth: Confession was playing with the trouble-making tire the next day, Todd Vogel said.
"We never ever in our wildest dreams expected that to happen," Todd Vogel said.
Follow Aaron Young on Twitter: @AaYoung15


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European Cups - Albanian teams
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Tuthilltown Hudson Maple Cask Rye: 'Flavored' Whiskey Done Right
New brands and bottles you should know.
Don't tell the bees, but maple is the new honey. After a brief fling with the nectar of those orderly arthropods, it seems that the whiskey industry is turning towards the marriage of sap and spirit. While there were already a handful of whiskey/maple liqueurs on the market, the recent release of Knob Creek's Smoked Maple Bourbon heralded a new age in the movement to grow whiskey product lineups.
But adding flavors to spirits, especially whiskey with such a complex profile to begin with, is a tricky proposition at best. At worst, it's a quality disaster and an insult to both whiskey novices and hardline purists. But today's whiskey, Hudson Maple Cask Rye, is the exception to the rule. The latest release from Hudson Valley distillery Tuthilltown Spirits, it threads the needle perfectly and delivers a spirit that is an evolution in tradition.
Tuthilltown has been leading the charge in small batch spirits distilled from local grains for nearly a decade (see our behind the scenes tour for a look at the shop's inner workings). Their Hudson Maple Cask Rye is an extension of a barrel exchange program they've been running with maple syrup producers. Tuthilltown would sell their used bourbon barrels to the syrup guys for the creation bourbon barrel aged maple syrups. But Tuthilltown realized that the program would work even better as a two-way street. They began to buy back ex-whiskey, ex-maple barrels to experiment with, settled on rye as the base spirit, and the rest is history.
The Hudson Maple Cask Rye Whiskey has a 100% rye mash bill from local New York grain, which gets double distilled in a pot still, and then aged under 4 years in new charred oak barrels. The final step, which takes it off the beaten path, is finishing the spirit in maple syrup cured whiskey barrels before bottling at 92 proof.
It's an absolute knockout. The young rye spirit gives it a fresh, spicy, minty scent which mingles beautifully with deep maple and brown sugar notes. The taste is surprisingly soft and round, with a chewy body and flavors of black tea, deep maple, and hot rye bite. It's a wonderful marriage of flavors that combine to be more than the sum of their parts.
The only issue is price, but that's been the common sticking point for Tuthilltown's hand-crafted spirits for some time. Available in limited distribution in New York and California for $44 per 375mL bottle, it's priced quite high for the flavored whiskey market. However, since it is not a whiskey with flavoring added, but instead a uniquely finished whiskey, it's a standard bearer for the way forward in the all-but-inevitable growth of the flavored whiskey market.
Kudos to Tuthilltown for thinking outside of the box, and delivering a high quality product that will satisfy whiskey geeks and novices alike.
Tasting sample provided for review consideration.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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- Fixation nut
- Mousseur
- Ceramic headpart
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- WELS Label : 1 Tick
- 5 Years Warranty (Terms and Conditions applies)
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BBC News
- Brexit: UK offers no solution to replace backstop, says EU
- Paratroopers win Colchester barracks racial harassment claim
- Guardian apologises for David Cameron editorial
- Ceara Thacker: Dead student's father hits out at university
- Top bodybuilder branded steroid 'disgrace'
- Peter Duncan murder: Boy admits Eldon Square screwdriver killing
- Muslim website defends Home Office funding
- Blenheim Palace gold toilet theft 'like heist movie'
- Sir Rod Stewart says he's 'in the clear' after cancer diagnosis
- Christopher Eccleston: 'I'm a lifelong body-hater'
- Bethany Fields: Tributes paid to Huddersfield street victim
- County lines: Wales 'drowning in drugs with worse to come'
- Is a clean break Brexit possible?
- What can restaurants do to help customers with allergies?
- Fuel prices: A really simple guide to why they go up and down
- Rutland: England's only county without a McDonald's
- Passports and nationality: The Brits going Dutch over Brexit
- The parents keeping their child's sex a secret
- Hundreds join in giant Hokey Cokey in Dorchester street
- Dorset chef says women could solve the curry crisis
- The missed generation of women's football
- Vaginismus: 'My body won't let me have sex'
- Riley Siswick: Murder police 'failed to treat child's death as suspicious'
- Caledonian Sleeper staff set strike date
- Saoirse Smyth: Sniffer dogs search Omeath woods
- Borth dog walker death: Man sectioned under Mental Health Act
Picture Gallery
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Astro Nuts - 8mm 8 pack - GRN MNSTR Roller Sports is proud to bring you Astro Nuts, the lightest after market Axel Nuts on the market. Astro Nuts come in 7 different astronomical colors. Astro Nuts are ONLY available in 8mm, and are packaged in sets of 8.
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Mindlessness: Pleasures and pretense of a mechanical man
The New Deal
at Starr Hill Music Hall
Sunday, October 26, 2003
When The New Deal's drummer Darren Shearer beatboxed Sunday night, October 26, he nearly replicated the actual sounds of drums being hit. How awful!
Beatboxing is a charming act; it thrives on the appearance of human approximation, the silly wonder of non-verbal blurts and growls. Yet The New Deal, whose impetus is to improvise house music, stifle their own creative freedom in studied, mechanical technique, a performance as concrete, useful, and obvious as a road. And there were so many places the band could have gone.
"You guys feelin' all right?" Shearer asked the enthusiastic crowd. "That's what we're all here for, right? Keeping it live!"
Indeed, the bass and drums sounded richer and more pleasant without technological compression, but it's an insult to DJ culture to suggest that the band's compositions are more sophisticated. Sure, there are catchy dub breaks, beautiful fills, and tangents into '70s fusion and drum-and-bass. But these variations felt like a multiple-choice survey: gimmicks, rather than inspiration.
The timbral palette never strayed far from the keyboards demo presets (a multiple-choice exam on electronic whoops). The tempo changes weren't just gradual, they were telegraphed in advance. Even the solos seemed perfunctory, the illusion of "character," computer graphics recast in oil paintings.
The band might as well not have shown up; we couldn't even see them on the dim, smoky stage, a '50s-film dream scene. Pretty girls and sweat-shirted boys bobbed and waved, just smiling at themselves– the way they felt, the way they moved. And at every little break or stutter from the trance came a rest stop– a communal "Woooo!" from the heavy, collegiate crowd to say, "Yes, we're all experiencing this at the same time!"
These were the moments when a song really worked, when you thought, "Now! That's how the song is supposed to sound!"– when The New Deal most predictably followed the generic conventions of Guitar Center techno. The blue glow of the flashing lights reminded me of a television: Here was the instant gratification of getting exactly what you already expect. Affectless and warm, it made people dance, and it made me happy.
But it's so, so sad to resort to a prescription, or a placebo, or a rehashed resin.
Their live-house mission is absurd, and their success is impressive and frightening. Consider the terrible, pitiable irony: The New Deal prove exactly why today's music doesn't need live musicians.
The New Deal


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Click image to enlarge
PS: The "little bit of everything" is on the reverse side, for those who must know.
Ad for tourism in Indiana?
Almost convinces me to become a hospitalist in this unnamed state & hospital (and no, I'm not on a hospitalist track AT all). Marketers are geniuses.
I would like to know which state this is, tho'. I'd hope to leave the East Coast hustle & bustle after residency.
An ad for someplace in Colorado (or Wyoming. or Montana, or someplace up there?
PGYx -
Like Tim, I think its for a rural hospital system in Indiana.
Careful, though. I always worry if a picture of the center is not included. Also, if you grew up in Indiana, it might make sense to move there - going to a location where you have little to no connection (especially when coming from an East Coast environment), you might feel incredibly isolated.
More important to ask yourself: what's the community's perception of the hospital? Whom will I be competing with (yes, there's still competition for patients out there)? What's the turnover rate for other hospitalists in this group? Can you talk to someone who's just left? How many facilities will I be covering? Hours? Who decides?
This is not about golf, or snowmobiling, or attending YMCA's or concerts - it's about your workplace - your home away from home if you will - and your professional (not just personal) satisfaction.
No matter what: do your homework.
Snail-mail is an old form of social media. Deceptive ads abound.
If you Google "The James Ford Historic House" (pictured on the front) that puts you in the heart of Wabash, Indiana.
I get these all the time too.
Dr. Wes, thank you for sharing the things I should look for in a post-residency job.
I feel so fortunate to have done my internship at a hospital very well-respected by the community and dedicated to continuous quality improvement. My residents and attendings are well-educated and eager to teach me what they know. I would be very happy to have myself or a family member receive care there.
In contrast, one of my new co-residents did her IM prelim year at a big inner city hospital. She described subpar teaching and a terribly inefficient system: 3 hours & multiple calls to get a "STAT" chest x-ray. 2 hours to start placing a central line after searching multiple floors to locate adequate supplies, yikes!
It's important to me to have sufficient financial and intellectual resources to allow me to provide excellent care. I plan to keep this in mind when I seek my next job!


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Undergraduate Degrees, Majors and Concentrations
ENVS4700 - Senior Thesis
Summer 2019
This is an elective course that can serve as a capstone course for the BS/BS degree in environmental sciences. The student works with his/her advisor to identify a project of mutual interest and researches the topic and prepares a significant written document or other work of scholarship that outlines the methods of investigation, the scope of the project, the results of the project, and the significance of the results. Extensive literature research and/or laboratory study are to be part of the senior thesis. Presentation of the results of the work at a departmental seminar is required
Prerequisite: Permission of the department head
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with ENVS4700
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It's a funny thing about chocolate.
I like chocolate. I even love chocolate at times. But I will be honest. Once it starts getting discussed in "Fair Trade certified...90% cacao" terms, I kind of zone out. I am not trying to be disrespectful, because I realize that Fair Trade and purity are respectable characteristics of chocolate. But I find myself wondering "when do I get to eat it?".
But even though I admittedly don't "know" chocolate, I know that sometimes a chocolate comes along that kind of makes me hum a little bit like a tuning fork. It's really an interesting sensation. "Chocolate buzz"?
And recently, I had such an experience with the drinking chocolates by Kakawa Chocolate House of New Mexico.
Called "elixirs" (oh how worldly!), they come in little round cakes that can be melted with water or milk or cream (see how I resisted calling them "balls", though just look at them...), and have an interesting backstory:
The drinking chocolate elixirs at Kakawa are one of our most famous and popular items. These elixirs are deep, rich drinking chocolates based on recipes we have recreated from historical sources. They have been described as a kind of "time traveling" for thepalette, and range from pre- Colombian drinking chocolate to colonial American drinking chocolate as well as a few of our own inventions.
We first re-created several elixirs based upon the chocolate that was consumed in pre-Colombian
America. These exceptional drinks were reserved for the powerful elite and for special ceremonies (Cortez, for example, drank chocolate with Montezuma when he first arrived in Tenochtitlan). These elixirs are full of intense flavor, highly spiced with a wide variety of native herbs, flowers, and chiles.
and, even further, they appeal to food geeks because they are available in historically accurate bites (or sips): Mesoamerican varieties (unsweetened, like the Aztec Warriors would have imbibed), Historic European varieties (I recently bought SpyMom the Marie-Antoinette era variety; other types include the 1631 Spanish Elixir, based on a recipe from 1631 written by Antonio Colmenero de Ledesma which describes how the Spaniards preferred their chocolate), and a most fascinating 1790s Jeffersonian Elixir, a sort of crossover to what we now consider american hot chocolate, described thusly:
Representative of the historic drinking chocolate of the American colonies from the early 1700s to the mid 1800s. The first chocolate company in America was started by the Walter Baker Co. in Massachusetts in 1765. Thomas Jefferson loved chocolate and consumed it at Monticello. Due to its expense American drinking chocolate was simplified with less chocolate used. The drink became thinner and sweeter then European chocolate. Modern American hot chocolate is a direct descendant of this historic evolution.
There are also "Contemporary" versions, and while delightful, weren't quite as compelling to this spy in terms of doing the whole "tasting time travel" thing.
So, we've established that this drinking chocolate is interesting. But how does it taste?
The Mesoamerican varieties are compelling: deep and dark, and spicy--but to American hot chocolate drinkers, these are going to taste...well, maybe strange. For one thing, most of them are unsweetened. They're more like an espresso or turkish coffee--with a different, richer taste--and they will give you a powerful energy kick, but they're definitely not like the creamy variety at Cafe Angelina, for instance. So while I loved trying them for historical perspective, I don't think they're going to become part of my regular rotation.
For me, the favored varieties were the European ones--especially the 1631 Spanish variety and the Jeffersonian one. Both were accessible to my sweet-starved palate, but still dark and complex enough that you could see how the transition was made from the unsweetened varieties to the sweeter American style. But they were still dark and slightly bitter, so there is no mistaking these for, say, hot chocolate from 7-11.
One thing was true for all of the varieties, though: with such a concentrated, pure chocolate flavor, it is impossible to drink these "elixirs" without getting a total buzz afterward. Maybe that's why the Aztecs dug it so much?
Moreover though, what is clear is that Kakawa Chocolates is passionate not only about what they are doing, but about preserving the history of chocolate and educating their consumers.
And that, friends, is totally sweet.
Shop on the Kakawa site for elixirs as well as confections, truffles, and caramels. They're online here and on facebook here.


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Yahoo has ~18,000 employees and contractors.
It should probably have about 10,000 fewer.
That's the view of smart outsiders like Marc Andreessen and long-time Yahoo insiders too.
CEO Marissa Mayer knows she has to get rid of lots of Yahoo employees.
She knew it when she took the job in July.
"That's a gimme," says a source close to the company. "Wall Street expects that and employees expect that."
So, how will Mayer do it?
For now, we're told by this source, Mayer is not planning to fire these people all at once. She's not going to up and "tell 10,000 people to go home."
Mass layoffs, like the kind we're used to seeing from Yahoo over the past years, are not Mayer's style.
Instead, we're told to expect her to cut costs "very surgically, very carefully."
Mayer needs to be careful. Sniper-style layoffs can degrade morale because employees feel like they will never end, and that they will be next. Sometimes its better to just rip off the band-aid.
Mayer's cuts are already underway.
Last month, Yahoo eliminated 200 jobs in Korea. Yesterday, we learned that Yahoo will "sunset" the Yahoo! Mobile Blog.
During a conference call to go over Yahoo's third quarter earnings, Mayer dropped a huge hint about where she'll be cutting.
Specifically, she said that she wants half of Yahoo's developers to be mobile developers.
Right now, Yahoo is mostly a Web development shop. A vast majority of its engineers do not know how to build apps for iPhones and Android phones.
Lots of Yahoo developers need to learn how to build apps for mobile, or they will find themselves without jobs.
Get the latest Yahoo stock price here.


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Rep. Peter Roskam is in his third term in the U.S. House, but the politician is a fresh face to many McHenry County residents because his 6th Congressional District was redrawn to include Algonquin Township.
The Republican, who lives in west suburban Wheaton with his wife of 24 years, Elizabeth, also serves as chief deputy whip of the House.
In that role, he has been dubbed the "listener in chief."
"This leadership role requires that to accomplish anything, you need 218 people to agree on something," said Roskam, 51.
"Many times, ideas can be very far apart, but over a period of time, with patience, you listen and work toward a solution and build a consensus," he said.
Roskam's love of politics started at an early age, although he didn't grow up in a political family.
"I was the kid in fourth grade who couldn't get enough of our state of Illinois project, and the one in eighth grade who loved the Constitution test," he said. "My mom and dad voted, and that was it. I didn't grow up in a Kennedy household."
Roskam graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before earning a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
He met his wife in Washington, D.C., while she was an interior designer. The couple has four children.
"I have been very fortunate because my family has been incredibly supportive," Roskam said. "My kids have been involved basically their entire lives. This has been very much a family effort."
Life as a parent also has benefited Roskam as a politician.
"Being a parent helps you take a longer view on things," he said. "It also gives you a perspective on incremental changes for the good, which over time can be cumulative and add up to something significant."
Roskam's listening skills will make the transition to a redrawn district easier, said Darlene Ruscitti, chairman of the DuPage County Republicans.
"One of his strengths is getting to know people," she said. "I truly believe he works for the common good, and he asks really good questions to get to the heart of the issues and a better understanding of where the voters are coming from."
The early portion of Roskam's career was spent being mentored by former Rep. Henry Hyde, an Illinois Republican who served for more than 30 years. Hyde led the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton and championed government restrictions on funding abortions.
It was during his time with Hyde, who died in 2007, that Roskam said he learned what it meant to represent the people.
"I saw up close how one person could make a significant difference in the direction of our country," Roskam said. "He was brilliant, quick on his feet, quick to laugh and also very good to his staff. When he spoke, his colleagues listened. That attitude and demeanor is something we should all emulate."
Before being elected to the House, Roskam spent time in Springfield alongside then-state-Sen. Barack Obama. The two were members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where they worked successfully on significant death penalty reforms.
"The president and I were able to come together across party lines and philosophical lines to work toward something for the common good," Roskam said. "The things I have been involved with in the past have prepared me for how important this moment is right now."


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Sen. Lindsey Graham is on a mission to convince Republican presidential hopefuls to stop ignoring national security, traditionally a key issue in the South Carolina primary but one that is likely to be eclipsed by the economy this time around.
Graham's crusade could get a boost from a scheduled Nov. 15 GOP presidential primary debate that is set to focus solely on foreign policy and national defense. And the South Carolina Republican said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) have all begun to give foreign policy issues more attention lately.
But Graham remains dissatisfied and warned that overlooking international affairs could carry a high political price.
In a brief telephone interview with Roll Call, Graham said the Republican White House field "would be wise to talk about" national security, saying the typically important issue "is ripe for the taking" and could elevate a candidate's prospects in his early primary state. Graham said the Republican presidential hopefuls need to "make distinctions" between their approaches to foreign policy and national defense, and that of President Barack Obama.
"This is a big part of being president," Graham said. "Our candidates for president need to challenge him."
The issues have taken on more salience given Obama's recent foreign policy and national security successes, from killing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to supporting Libyan rebels as they ousted Moammar Gadhafi. Recent polls have shown that Obama's favorability has increased since Gadhafi's demise and the president's decision to pull American troops out of Iraq by year's end. Both the Libya and Iraq strategies have angered many of the GOP faithful, including Graham.
He said last week that the top tier of the Republican White House field has made strides in its discussions of national security. "It's not what I would like, but it's heading in the right direction," he said. But in an interview on "Fox News Sunday" a few days before Graham spoke with Roll Call, South Carolina's senior Senator said the reason he accepted the Sunday interview request was to push the candidates to home in on foreign policy and national defense. Graham indicated that he was concerned about the support expressed in some quarters of the GOP for pulling out of Afghanistan and Iraq independent of victory, suggesting that such positions hewed too closely to Obama's strategy.
Graham said that the candidates' focus on Iraq, the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Iran and nuclear weapons, the terrorist threat and Israel thus far "has not been robust enough." He did, however, compliment Santorum for providing "the closest thing we have to a Ronald Reagan voice." Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who resigned earlier this year as Obama's ambassador to China, has been among the most ardent advocates of paring down U.S. military commitments abroad.
Graham called Huntsman a friend, but he said "that's not a road that leads to victory with South Carolina primary voters."
"If I hear a Republican nominee embracing leading from behind, they will have a very difficult time in South Carolina," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday." "The issues that I'm talking about: Iran having a nuclear weapon — a nation without a viable jail on the war on terror, Iraq now being compromised, Afghanistan being compromised, our best friend in Israel feeling they can't trust us — all these issues are worth more discussion on our side."
But not all South Carolina Republicans agree that a candidate's national security positions will influence voters as it has in past years.
The nation's struggling economy, which has been felt in the Palmetto State, has had a significant effect on how South Carolinians are viewing the 2012 elections. In parts of the state where social issues or national security might dominate, the economy has been at the fore of voters' concerns, a dynamic that shows no signs of abating according to many state political operatives.
National security tends to be most influential among Republicans who live near and along the Atlantic coast, as well as in the lowcountry region that encompasses Charleston. Even there, however, it's all about the economy, said Rep. Tim Scott, a freshman Republican from Charleston, whose district also includes Myrtle Beach. National security is "always important," he said in an interview. "But overshadowing all issues is the jobs situation. Between now and the primary, that won't change."
Scott, who won his seat last year on the strength of tea party support, has been holding town hall meetings with the Republican presidential candidates. Next on his schedule are events with Santorum and former Speaker Newt Gingrich. (Ga.). Scott referred to new frontrunner Herman Cain, a Georgia businessman and talk-show host, as the "hottest ticket in the party right now." Romney, Scott added, has been "consistent."
Graham, an Air Force reservist, is a leading Republican voice in the Senate on national security. A hawk, he is closely aligned with Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain (R-Ariz.), whom he staunchly supported for president in 2008. McCain won South Carolina's primary that year on his way to securing the GOP nomination. Graham has yet to endorse a candidate in the 2012 contest.
Though Graham's opinions carry some weight, Sen. Jim DeMint has emerged as the state's most influential elected Republican over the past few years. He has helped boost conservative Senate candidates running in other states through his Senate Conservatives Fund political action committee, while shaping opinion on fiscal issues inside and outside the Palmetto State. DeMint's outlook on national security is similar to Graham's, but his focus in the presidential primary has been on the economy and the candidates' positions on related issues.
At least one South Carolina Republican sides with Graham that national security will play its typically significant role in the primary. State Rep. Phyllis Henderson, who has not endorsed a candidate, said Obama's decision to pull all troops from Iraq could reignite foreign policy and national defense as major campaign issues.
Henderson said it remains unclear whether Republican voters will take the hawkish view, as they have in the past, or if the stagnant economy and high federal deficit will create support for military retrenchment. "If Republicans try to say we shouldn't leave Iraq, I think there's a lot of hardcore Republican primary voters" who might disagree, she said.


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Spyderco C172CFTIP Domino Flipper 3.13" CTS-XHP Blade, Carbon Fiber Laminate and Titanium Handles
SP172CFTIP: C172CFTIP Domino
One of Spyderco's guiding principles is "No more than necessary; no less than perfect." Our Domino folding knife is a shining example of this concept, combining an understated, but highly efficient "flipper" with the advanced ergonomics and high-performance cutting capability that make Spyderco knives unique. Designed by Eric Glesser, this performance-driven knife is our second model to feature a flipper (the first was the Southard Folder). Originally developed by custom knifemaker Kit Carson, a flipper is a small integral tab that extends from the edge side of the blade's tang. When the knife is closed, it protrudes slightly from the back of the handle, where a slight pull of the index finger provides leverage to overcome the blade detent and rotate the blade into the open position.
The Domino's flipper is a minimalist design that does not interfere with the knife's refined ergonomics or prevent it from being opened via the blade's Trademark Round Hole™. It is perfectly positioned to offer optimal leverage and is supported by special ball-bearing washers in the pivot that reduce friction to guarantee a smooth, reliable opening. In the open position, the flipper practically disappears into the grip-friendly contours of the handle.
Precision machined from CTS® XHP stainless steel, the Domino's blade features a full-flat grind for superior edge geometry and a distal taper that ensures an acute point. It is mated to a handle that consists of a solid titanium scale on one side and a titanium liner and carbon fiber/G-10 laminate scale on the other. The solid titanium scale forms the foundation of the Domino's sturdy Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L.), which features a hardened steel interface that ensures a long service life and doubles as an overtravel stop for the lock. On the other side of the handle the Cubic Check carbon fiber/G-10 laminate scale boasts an intricate geometric pattern that is both visually stunning and provides an enhanced grip texture.
Designed to be carried and used, the Domino has a slim, pocket-friendly profile and an open-backed construction that reduces weight and allows easy cleaning. The Domino also boasts a four-position pocket clip—a unique feature for a flipper-style knife—that allows tip-up or tip-down carry on both the left and right sides of the body. Its long textured thumb ramp and forefinger choil (finger groove) comfortably support a wide range of grip options and ensure positive control during use. The Domino is a vivid reflection of Spyderco's design philosophy that integrates all the defining characteristics of our approach to knifemaking into a uniquely functional cutting tool. We're confident that you'll be as excited about it as we are.
Information from Spyderco.
- Closed: 4.55" (116 mm)
- Overall: 7.68" (195 mm)
- Blade: 3.13" (80 mm)
- Edge: 2.94" (75 mm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.118" (3 mm)
- Blade Steel: CTS XHP
- Grind: Full-flat
- Handle Material: Titanium and Carbon Fiber Laminate
- Weight: 4.1 oz. (116 g)
- Made in Taiwan
UPC Code: 716104009572
Developed by Chris Reeve, it functions like a liner lock but the lock is comprised of one of the handle scales. It's an extremely strong and easy to manipulate lock.
Includes a pocket clip for easy accessibility and a more secure carry.
Very strong and lightweight material. Provides an upscale and modern feel.
$79.99 On Sale: $39.95
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$105.95 $79.46
$218.75 $175.00
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$39.99 $25.95
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$235.00 $188.00
$99.99 On Sale: $55.95
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$43.95 $32.96


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As we look forward to the start of the 2014-15 school year, I am calling on my fellow Pennsylvania citizens to join me in demanding a halt to the implementation of the Keystone Exams as proposed.
In short: The Keystone Exams, if adopted as is, will require Pennsylvania high school students in general to take and pass state-based standardized tests in certain subjects in order to graduate from their local high school. That is, these state tests can effectively override the graduation standards and student evaluations (i.e., 'grades') as set, monitored and implemented by local communities via their locally elected school boards and local teachers and administrators. To put it bluntly: The general rule will be that your children or grandchildren are not going to receive their high school diploma without passing these state tests.
My objection to this 'reform' of education is based on several considerations. This approach to education is an unrealistic and unfair evaluation of students' overall academic career. Single tests should not be the determinant as to whether a high school diploma has been earned. I say that as someone who thinks there is a time and place for so-called 'high-stakes' exams, for various further educational and/or career opportunities individuals might pursue in their lives, but ascertaining 'worthiness' for a high school diploma is not such circumstances.
The negative and unnecessary impacts on school curricula and thriving local schools are real and profound. The reality is that the official and unofficial ways that schools respond (understandably from a 'rational actor' perspective) in their efforts to 'pass' standardized tests subverts too much of the overall education process to test preparation. Districts in our area report that upward of one-half of classroom time is effectively about activities related to test preparation at some level.
A full-scale implementation of Keystone Exams will serve as yet another nail in the coffin of the liberal arts model of education. The logistical and pedagogical outcome of more standardized testing atop of the already existing ones is an education model in which the range of topics taught, how they are taught, and what is the 'right' answers become much more narrow and prescriptive. This dulls the critical thinking, the creativity and the talents of students and teachers alike. Let's remember too, the students of today are, among other life roles, the employees and leaders of society for tomorrow.
Exacerbating the costs to education per se because of the Keystone Exams, there also would be direct dollar costs to the state and local school districts. Districts and their local taxpayers will be confronted with a need to hire additional teachers and staff to deal with operational realities in several manners because of the imposition of these exams upon local districts. These exams as is will end up triggering millions of dollars in spending to put in place and to operate ... for dubious education value and outcomes.
Please, join me in sending back the proposed Keystone Exams for a rewrite. As your state House representative, you know how I stand based on all of the foregoing. The matter is currently with the state Senate, which will approve or disapprove the measure before the bill might be sent over to the state House, where I can vote on it. Contact the state senators and urge them to 'flunk' the proposed Keystone Exams. The time to act is now.
State Rep. Duane D. Milne of Willistown is a Republican who represents the 167th House District in portions of Chester County.


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Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
Applying Connections
|Introduction | Decorative Boxes | Classroom Practice | Connections in Action | Classroom Checklist | Your Journal
In the previous sections, you focused on a variety of connections embedded in rich mathematical problems, reflected on student problem-solving processes, used connections to solve a problem, and examined ways that connections can help in the teaching of skills.
Working on problems that arise from contexts outside of mathematics can help make advanced understanding and problem solving possible. A fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Levy, developed a woodworking project for his students, in which they made wooden pencil boxes. In the course of the project, students were asked to figure out the amount and cost of the stain that would be used to color the interior and exterior of all of the boxes. In order to do this, the fourth-graders explored the surface area of rectangular and circular prisms and performed unit conversions and calculations all without initial formal instruction about what the problem required.
Now that you are more familiar with the Connections Standard and some of its aspects, we'd like you to apply your new awareness of connections. You will now have an opportunity to look for the connections imbedded in a project similar to the one Mr. Levy set for his students.
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Rory McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a professional golfer from Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland. He has represented Ireland, Europe, and Great Britain & Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007. Later that year he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour. He had his first win on the European Tour in 2009, and on the PGA Tour in 2010. He represented Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup.
On 19 June 2011, he won the U.S. Open, his first major. He finished with a record score of 16-under-par on his way to an eight-shot victory, as the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923. He has been cited as the most exciting young prospect in golf and having the potential to become one of the highest earners in sports in terms of endorsements. The victory lifted McIlroy's position in the Official World Golf Ranking to a career high of number four.
McIlroy was born in Holywood, County Down, a port town of 12,000 people in Northern Ireland, located close to the capital city Belfast. He is the only child of Gerry and Rosie (McDonald) McIlroy; he attended St. Patrick's primary school and then the Sullivan Upper School.


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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Kings
How they got here: Chicago defeated St. Louis in six games and Minnesota in six games; the Kings defeated San Jose in seven games and the Ducks in seven games.
Playoff power play: Blackhawks: 18.2% (eighth); Kings 22.9% (seventh).
Playoff penalty killing: Blackhawks 91.3% (first); Kings 83.9% (eighth).
Leading scorers: Blackhawks — Marian Hossa and Brent Seabrook each at 2 goals, 9 assists — 11 points; Kings — Anze Kopitar 5-14 — 19.
Outlook: This is a rematch of last season's West finals, which the Blackhawks won in five games over the banged-up Kings. Both teams had first-round scares this season: the Blackhawks lost their first two games against St. Louis before winning the next four, and the Kings lost their first three to San Jose before becoming the fourth NHL team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The Kings also trailed the Ducks, 3-2, in the second round. The Blackhawks, who led the NHL with 266 goals this season, are the top defensive team in the playoffs thanks to goaltender Corey Crawford (playoff-best 1.97 goals-against, second-best .931 save percentage). The Kings, one of the NHL's lowest-scoring teams, rank second in goals per game at 3.21. The top playoff scorers through Friday were Kopitar — who has points in 13 of 14 games — and winger Marian Gaborik (nine goals, 15 points). Right wing Patrick Kane and left wing Bryan Bickell share the Blackhawks goal-scoring lead with six each, and the team's speed could pose a problem for the Kings' defense, which still lacks the injured Willie Mitchell and Robyn Regehr. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (2.72, .914) has been superb in six elimination games this spring.
Prediction: As good as Crawford has been, Quick is still better. Kings in seven.


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Pictured: The Harvard class of 2010 has helped Harvard reach the
NCAA tournament twice.
Photo courtesy: Gil Talbot Photography
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Live Statistics
Live Video (with subscription)
ECAC Hockey Standings
Ivy League Standings
Crimson in the Olympics: Five Alumnae to Skate in Vancouver
Ryabkina Scores Four Goals in Beanpot Semifinal Win over Boston College
The Particulars
The sixth-ranked Harvard women's hockey team will close out the home portion of its ECAC Hockey regular-season schedule, as the Crimson welcomes conference rivals Brown and Yale to Bright Hockey Center. Harvard enters the weekend in third place in ECAC Hockey with 20 points and a 9-5-2 record and in second in the Ivy League, just two points behind Cornell.
Follow From Home
GoCrimson.com will provide live statistics for this week's games, all home games and most road contests this season. Live audio and video is available for both games with a subscription on GoCrimson.com. Glenn Conway and Matt Sawyer will provide the call on GoCrimson.com
Series History
Harvard and Brown have met 70 times with the Crimson enjoying a 35-30-5 edge in the series. Harvard has won the last eight games between the schools and is unbeaten in the last 18 contests between the Ivy League rivals (16-0-2).
Harvard and Yale have played 68 times, with the Crimson holding a sizable, 58-8-2, record in those contests. Harvard has claimed wins in the last nine games against the Bulldogs, dating back to 2006.
Last Time Out
Liza Ryabkina netted four goals, while Laura Bellamy stopped all 15 shots she faced to earn the shutout in a 5-0 win over Boston College. Kate Buesser, Kelsey Romatoski and Anna McDonald chipped in with two assists apiece, while Josephine Pucci netted the other Harvard goal. The Crimson will face Northeastern, who defeated Boston University, 2-0, in a shootout, in the Beanpot championship
Hall of Fame Inductee
Former Harvard standout Tammy Shewchuk '00-01 will be inducted into the Women's Beanpot Hall of Fame during a ceremony between the consolation and championship games at Bright Hockey Center Feb. 9. Shewchuk is second all-time in Women's Beanpot history with 25 points in eight games, having scored nine goals and handed out 16 assists. She helped Harvard win three Beanpots in 1999, 2001 and '01. Other Crimson Beanpot Hall of Fame Inductees include Jennifer Botterill '02-03 (2008) and Cheryl Tate '82 (2009).
Harvard Against The Ivy League
The Crimson owns a 4-2-2 against opponents from the Ancient Eight this season. In its last six games against Ivy League teams, Harvard is 4-0-2, most recently defeating Dartmouth, 4-1, in Hanover, N.H. Jan. 29. The Crimson is two points behind Cornell (5-0-2) and one point ahead of Princeton (4-2-1) in the race.
Where's Your Beanpot?
Following its 5-0 win over Boston College in the semifinal round of the 32nd Annual Women's Beanpot, hosted by Harvard at Bright Hockey Center, the Crimson will prepare to face Northeastern in the championship game Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. The Huskies earned a 4-4 tie against Boston University, but advanced to the championship with a 2-0 win in the shootout. Northeastern has won the most Women's Beanpots (14), while Harvard has claimed 12, the second most of any school.
Hot Hand
Liza Ryabkina established a new career high, scoring four goals, including three in the third period alone, in Harvard's 5-0 win over Boston College in the semifinal round of the Beanpot Tuesday evening. Ryabkina notched two power-play tallies and scored two even strength goals. Her four goals mark the most for a Harvard player since Sarah Vaillancourt '08-09 lit the lamp four times in a 5-2 win at Cornell Feb. 13, 2009.
Senior Day
At the conclusion of Saturday's game against Yale, Harvard will honor its five seniors: Cori Bassett, Kathryn Farni, Randi Griffin, Christina Kessler and Anna McDonald.These players have helped the Crimson win two ECAC Hockey regular-season titles, one ECAC Hockey tournament, two Ivy League championships and one Beanpot. In addition, Harvard has reached the NCAA tournament twice during their careers and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2008.
Down The Stretch
With six conference games remaining entering the weekend, Harvard sits in a third-place tie in ECAC Hockey with a 9-5-2 record and 20 points. Princeton and Rensselaer also had earned 20 points and the teams sat behind Clarkson (27 points) and Cornell (23 points) in the standings.
Clean Sheets
With its 5-0 win over Boston College Feb. 2, Harvard now has recorded six shutouts this season. Laura Bellamy has earned two clean sheets, shutting down Union Jan. 22 and Boston College. Five of the Crimson's six shutouts have come at Bright Hockey Center. Senior Christina Kessler has recorded 25 shutouts during her career at Harvard, a program record.
Harvard Head Coach Katey Stone
Katey Stone is in her 16th season as the Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Ice Hockey, and she brings a 332-141-26 (.691) record into Friday's game. Stone, who ranks second all-time in Division I victories, has led Harvard to all seven of its NCAA tournament appearances and has guided the Crimson to nine Beanpot titles. Stone is also the active leader in victories among Division I women's hockey coaches.
Stone is only five wins shy of tying the all-time Division I record, held by Laura Halldorson (337 victories).
License to Kill
The Crimson boasts the nation's fifth-best penalty kill unit, stopping 80 of 89 opponent power plays (.894). Harvard has killed the last 13 power plays by opponents, dating back to Jan. 23. The Crimson also has a shorthanded goal to its credit this season, coming off the stick of Jillian Dempsey in a 4-0 win over Union Jan. 22.
Crimson Leading The League
Kate Buesser has an ECAC Hockey-best 25 points in league games and also stands first in assists with 16. Rookie Jillian Dempsey (8-10-18) ranks fourth in conference points among all players and first among freshmen in the league. Defender Leanna Coskren is fifth with five power-play points in ECAC Hockey contests. Coskren is also tied for first with three game-winning goals during conference action. Cori Bassett, meanwhile, stands third in defender scoring with 12 points on four goals and eight assists. Coskren ranks fourth among defenders with 11 points (4-7-11).
The World's Best
A trio of former Harvard standout skaters have been named to the 2010 U.S. Women's National Team, which will compete at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Angela Ruggiero '02-04, the Patty Kazmaier recipient in 2004, Julie Chu '06-07, the winner of the Patty Kazmaier trophy in 2007, and former All-American Caitlin Cahow '07-08 were named to the American team. On Team Canada, Harvard will be represented by two-time Patty Kazmaier Award winner Jennifer Botterill '02-03, and Sarah Vaillancourt '08-09, who was named the top women's college hockey player in 2008. Overall, Harvard has had nine current and former women's hockey players represent their countries in the Olympics since 1996.
When The Game Is On The Line
Nine different Harvard players have scored a game-winning goal this season -- Kaitlin Spurling, Liza Ryabkina, Jillian Dempsey, Leanna Coskren, Anna McDonald, Cori Bassett, Kathryn Farni, Kate Buesser and Randi Griffin. Coskren leads the team and ECAC Hockey with three game-winning tallies, while Ryabkina has notched two this season.
Scoring In A Bunch
As a team, Harvard ranks second in ECAC Hockey with 3.25 goals per game, having scored a league-best 52 tallies in 16 conference games entering the week.
A Balanced Attack
The Crimson has had 14 different players score at least one goal this year, as the team has netted a total of 63 goals. Sixteen players have at least one point to their credit and Harvard had 15 different players light the lamp last season as well, scoring a total of 95 goals.
First Thing's First
The Crimson was 18-0-2 when scoring first and 1-10-1 when the opponent lit the lamp first last season. So far in 2009-10, Harvard is 11-1-2 when netting the game's first goal and 2-4-2 when the opposition scores first.
It's All Over
Harvard is 105-1-5 (.968) since the start of the 2004-05 season when leading after two periods. The Crimson is 11-0-1 (.958) in this category this season.
Spreading The Puck Around
The Crimson has nine players who have reached double digits in points: Kate Buesser (28), Jillian Dempsey (20), Liza Ryabkina (15), Cori Bassett (13), Anna McDonald (12), Leanna Coskren (12), Kathryn Farni (11), Katharine Chute (10) and Randi Griffin (10).
Just Win, Christina!
Senior goaltender Christina Kessler is 64-16-6 (.779) in her career in net, placing her first on Harvard's all-time goalie wins, as she passed Ali Boe '06 with a 5-1 victory against Colgate Jan. 16. Kessler currently holds the NCAA career record with a .9413 save percentage, as she has stopped 1,863 of 1,979 shots faced during her career. Jessie Vetter (Wisconsin 2006-09) owned a .941 save percentage to set the record (2,175 of 2,312, .9407).
Welcome To The Show
Harvard freshmen have had the scoring touch this season, led by Jillian Dempsey who is tied for the team lead with eight goals and is second with 12 assists and 20 points. Josephine Pucci (3-6-9) and Kaitlin Spurling (5-3-8) have also been scoring threats.
Storied Program
With its 3-0 victory over St. Lawrence Nov. 7, Harvard earned the 500th victory in program history. The Crimson owns a 511-292-42 (.630)record over its storied 31-year history.
A Stone Wall
The Crimson earned back-to-back shutouts against Minnesota Dec. 4-5, marking the first time that the Golden Gophers were held scoreless since Feb. 2, 2007. The Crimson had not recorded consecutive shutouts since holding Cornell without a goal during the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals Feb. 27-28, 2009.
To Be The Best ...
With its 2-1 win over No. 9 Providence Jan. 29, the Crimson stands at 4-2-3 against ranked foes this year. Harvard was 2-6-1 against top 10 opponents last season.
Bright Spot
The Crimson was 9-4-2 at Bright Hockey Center last season, while posting a 9-5-1 mark on the road. In 15 games this season, Harvard owns a 9-3-3 record on home ice, and is 4-2-1 in road contests.
Hot Streak
Entering Friday's game against Brown, Harvard has won three straight games and is 3-1-1 in its last five games.
Red Lights
Harvard ranks second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 1.41 goals per game. The Crimson also ranks fourth in scoring margin (+1.45), fifth on the penalty kill (80 of 89, .899), 10th in scoring offense, 20th on the power play (15 of 106, .142) and 23rd in combined special teams (95 of 195, .487).
Rank And File
Harvard is ranked sixth in the latest USCHO.com national poll and sixth in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national poll.
Solid Start
In seven career starts, Laura Bellamy owns a 4-2-1 record with one shutout. She has stopped 132 of 141 shots faced for a .936 save percentage. She also sports an impressive 1.25 goals-against average and has won her last three games in net, stopping a career-high 37 shots in 4-1 win at Dartmouth Jan. 29.
Road Warriors
The Crimson has played six road games this season, going 3-2-1. Harvard has four road games left in the regular season, beginning with the contest at Rensselaer Feb. 12.
No. 6 Women's Hockey Welcomes Brown, Yale to Bright; Honors Seniors Saturday
Pictured: The Harvard class of 2010 has helped Harvard reach the
NCAA tournament twice.


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Items where Author is "Amin, A.A."
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Number of items: 3.
Amin, A.A. and Osman, M.Y. and Abdel-Aal, R.E. and Al-Muhtaseb, Husni (1997) New fault models and efficient BIST algorithms for dual-portmemories. Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, IEEE Transactions on, 16.
Amin, A.A. and Hamzah, A.A. and Abdel-Aal, R.E. (1996) Generic DFT approach for pattern sensitive faults in word-orientedmemories. Computers and Digital Techniques, IEE Proceedings -, 143.
Amin, A.A. and Osman, M.Y. and Abdel-Aal, R.E. and Al-Muhtaseb, Husni Efficient O(n) BIST algorithms for DDNPS faults in dual portmemories. Test Conference, 1994. Proceedings., International, 1.


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Q. I have pain from osteoarthritis in both knees. I'm curious about the cream made from a substance in hot peppers. How does it relieve pain?
A. You're referring to capsaicin, the substance in chili peppers that gives them their hot taste. Capsaicin is an ingredient in many over-the-counter topical pain-relief preparations, which include creams, gels, lotions, patches, and sticks. When first applied, topical capsaicin causes a burning sensation. This sensation lessens within a few minutes, and also over time with repeated applications. There are few, if any, systemic side effects.
We don't know exactly how capsaicin works, but it's thought to stimulate the release of substance P, a chemical that helps transmit pain signals from sensory nerve fibers to the brain. After several applications of capsaicin, local stores of substance P (and possibly other chemical pain messengers) become depleted, and the nerve fibers in that area transmit fewer pain signals.
Studies comparing topical capsaicin with a placebo for arthritis pain have yielded inconsistent results. In one randomized trial involving people with either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, capsaicin applied to knees four times a day for four weeks was more effective than a placebo in reducing pain. But topical capsaicin showed only a moderate to poor benefit in a pooled analysis of three studies involving patients with arthritis. The authors of that study suggested that capsaicin might be useful when given along with other pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or as an option for people who can't tolerate other pain-relief treatments.
Capsaicin provides only temporary relief, so it must be applied four times a day. Before you use it on a large area, apply some on a small patch of skin to make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients. Apply enough to cover the painful area, and rub it into your skin until it disappears. Then wash your hands immediately to avoid accidentally getting it into your eyes, nose, or mouth. Don't apply capsaicin to broken or irritated skin, and don't use a heating pad on the area you're treating. It may be a week or so before you feel the full effect on your knee pain. If you don't notice any improvement after four weeks, stop using capsaicin.
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Ive finally managed to get my laptop to "download" in to Patguard but after its received the many "bytes" of info i get this message " No records were found in this data. Check that the communications settings of your test instrument are correct"
Any ideas? Ive played around with various settings in the tester but no joy. Using Europa Plus machines


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Budapest, capital of Hungary, is a beautiful city which is unfairly dismissed in the minds of families planning holidays due to its reputation as a destination for stag weekends. While it's true that the beer is very cheap indeed, the fact is that Budapest is a World Heritage Site, and frequently regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, if not the world! And having been the focus of armed uprisings and invasions as recently as 1956, its history is lively and exciting right up to the present day. English is not widely spoken, and it's not a particularly 'touristy' city, so it is a destination which might appeal more to families with slightly older children, but the wealth of beautiful architecture and historic sites mean everyone should visit Budapest at least once. And with holiday rental properties almost as cheap as the beer, you've no reason not to go as soon as possible!
You'll be packing attractions in on any visit to Budapest. The Hungarian Parliament Building, with its spectacular neo-Gothic architecture and the Hungarian crown jewels, should be one of your first ports of call, and take a good few hours to explore. If the weather's pleasant, the best way to see the outside of this building is to take an amphibious bus tour - the Hungarian equivalent of the London Duck Tours. The bright yellow amphibious vehicles are great for kids, and combine sightseeing with genuine entertainment. Once you've finished there, you definitely need to go to Heroes' Square, with the Millenary Monument in the middle (think Nelson's Column, but it looks higher!), and then the Museum of Fine Arts and the City Park among the attractions surrounding the square. Another park worth checking out is the Statue Park, a theme park with a difference. Full of Communist era statues and sculptures it looks like the title sequence to Goldeneye! Plenty of opportunities for great holiday photos posing with Soviet heroes!
There is a huge variety of family accommodation in Budapest, and something to suit almost every budget. With apartments for a family of four available from as little as £300 for a full week, you'll have plenty of shopping cash left over for the markets and shopping districts of this remarkable city. Further out from the centre of the city, you can also find houses and villas to rent, and although these tend to be a little more expensive, you'll have a lot more space to enjoy your Hungarian getaway, and quite possibly an outdoor swimming pool as well. There are a large number of golf courses out in the countryside, and you'll also have greater freedom to explore local restaurants with lots of tasty and spicy Hungarian cuisine (try the Chicken Paprikash for a milder local speciality). Whichever option you choose, a trip to Budapest will be a holiday to remember.


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As Shiite militias return to the fight, Iraqi politicians worry about sectarian war
Mohamed Thaban al Shiblawy was prepared for this moment from the time he was a boy, with lessons about the protocols of battle from tribal lore and old photos that show his rifle-toting grandfather astride a horse during the 1920 uprising against the British occupation of Iraq.
Shiblawy, 46, is now emir of his ancient tribe, the Shibil, which claims more than 250,000 members and keeps offices near Najaf in an area locals still proudly refer to as "cannon" after the British armaments they captured nearly a century ago.
So Shiblawy immediately pledged two brigades of his best fighters when Iraq's highest Shiite Muslim religious authority declared jihad last month against the country's current enemy, the al Qaida splinter group known as the Islamic State. About 1,000 are now policing the border with Saudi Arabia and another 250 are stationed along a strategic route to Anbar province to the west, part of the massive volunteer effort that rose to fill the vacuum of the Iraqi military's collapse.
Shiblawy takes personal responsibility for his men's battlefield conduct, vowing that all of them will stow away their AK-47s when the fighting ends. But Iraq's powerful tribes are only part of this paramilitary campaign, and there are widespread fears that the irregulars fielded by Iranian-backed political parties will seize the opportunity to reconstitute Shiite militias after years of U.S. and Iraqi government efforts to disband them. In Iraq's complex mosaic of armed groups, not everyone will exhibit tribal discipline.
"Let me make something clear: this fatwa from the clerics was to defend, not to attack," Shiblawy said, his tone serious. "Some of the politicians don't mention that part."
Nobody involved in the volunteer mobilization questions that these newly formed militias were needed to bolster the overwhelmed Iraqi security forces, which crumbled as Islamic State fighters claimed up to a third of the country. Besides, as Shiblawy points out, the edict from Najaf's Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani "was not a request; it was an order."
Still, as corpses turn up in Baghdad and elsewhere with all the markings of tit-for-tat killings, many leaders wonder how the weak central government of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki will be able to prevent the militias from spiraling into death squads that drag Iraq back into the sectarian bloodshed that claimed thousands of lives from 2005 to 2007.
Two blocs are of particular concern to those worried that the new formations might go rogue. One is made up of the supporters of the militant cleric Muqtada al Sadr, whose former Mahdi Army militia has been absorbed into a new defense force known as the Sarayat Salam, or Peace Brigades. The other is a Mahdi Army breakaway group called Asaib Ahl al Haq, or League of the Righteous, which has claimed thousands of attacks on U.S. and Iraqi government targets. It's led by Qais al Khazali, who was detained by the U.S. military in 2007 and released three years later in exchange for a British hostage the group was holding.
Both factions were deeply involved in previous sectarian warfare but have since gone mainstream, participating in the political process and winning seats in the Iraqi legislature. They've also both promised that the volunteers they're sending in response to Sistani's call will work only within the government's framework.
Perhaps alarmed at the speedy reconstitution of these groups, Sistani and other clerics have issued a flurry of statements emphasizing that all volunteers must work in lockstep with the official security forces. Government officials in the south who remember the years of nonstop explosions and assassinations hardly seem reassured.
Najaf Gov. Adnan al Zurufi said Khazali, the leader of Asaib Ahl al Haq, paid him a visit 10 days ago to discuss provincial security and to personally assure him that his men would work through government channels. The meeting was cordial enough, Zurufi said, before adding bluntly: "I don't trust militias. I just maintain relationships."
Zurufi was the U.S.-appointed governor in 2004, the same year the Mahdi Army fought American forces in the first Shiite uprising of the war. He left office in 2005 after losing an election but returned as governor in 2009 and made it his personal mission to rid Najaf's streets of outlaw gunmen. Under his rules, Zurufi said, even possession of a pistol could bring prison time _ that is, until the Islamic State offensive forced Sistani to issue his landmark fatwa.
"Last month was the worst month of my life, seeing people carrying weapons again in the city," Zurufi said. "ISIS pushed us back. Everything we built over 10 years is now at zero." ISIS is a reference to the Islamic State's previous name, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
"Now these groups can say, 'Sistani made a fatwa, we have to go to jihad,' Zurufi added. "But they're just trying to put themselves back into society."
In Najaf alone, 65,000 volunteers have answered Sistani's call, said Khaled al Jashaami, who heads the security committee on the provincial council. He said 5,000 already have been trained and are deployed only on the outskirts of the city to prevent the sight of plainclothes gunmen in urban areas. He said the paramilitary forces are under strict orders to answer to a uniformed security officer.
And that's just one part of what Jashaami described as a multi-pronged, $4.5 million crisis plan for Najaf. Within days, he said, a police committee will finish selecting another 4,000 men for an elite combat brigade that as of yet doesn't have a name. In addition, two other backup brigades already are training at the city's soccer stadium and police academy.
Jashaami said the government estimates only 1,500 forces from political parties are training outside the state structure, adding that even they so far have shown a willingness to coordinate.
The country's security collapse was so dire, he said, officials have little choice but to accept militiamen and hope they stick to their word.
"The government has been working to demobilize militias for years, but unfortunately the plan the government had in place to fight terrorism was a failure," Jashaami said. "The reliance on corrupt military commanders has dragged us to where we are now. Since the breakdown, it's been a necessity to rely on volunteers, militias, whatever you want to call them."
Hussein al Sharifi, an official with Sadr's movement in Najaf, said the concern over the Mahdi Army's return is precisely why a more conciliatory name was chosen for this latest incarnation of the militia. He helped to organize a recent parade of the "Peace Brigades," whose fighters marched through confetti while brandishing assault rifles and rocket launchers.
Sharifi boasted of 100 brigades in Najaf, with exponentially more in the movement's strongholds of Amara, in the deep south, and Sadr City, in Baghdad. He said the government initially was reluctant to accept their help, but warmed to the idea after Sadr issued a statement saying he wanted no part of "dirty militia wars."
Now, Sharifi said, more than 1,000 of Sadr's followers have been sent to the northern city of Samarra, to protect a golden-domed holy site. He was asked whether the brigades needed any government help or training.
"Did you see our parade?" he replied, with a chuckle. "We're fully equipped."