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March 2017
"In the distance, a black haze that looked like mountains. The heaviest clouds she'd ever seen
were rolling toward them."
~ from Rae Meadows'
I Will Send Rain
Recent Releases
Ms. Bixby's Last Day
John David Anderson; narrated by Jesse Bernstein, Ramon de Ocampo, and Maxwell Glick
Juvenile Fiction: By the time they reach 6th grade, classmates Topher, Steve, and Brand have been taught by all kinds of teachers, but they've never had one quite like Ms. Bixby. She's one of "the Good Ones," the kind of teacher who really understands. When Ms. Bixby has to leave the school to start cancer treatments (sooner than expected), the three boys band together to cut class, sneak into the hospital, and give their teacher the kind of send-off she deserves. Topher, Steve, and Brand (distinctly voiced by the narrators) take turns describing their offbeat (and not entirely legal) plan, as well as the different ways in which Ms. Bixby changed their lives.
Serafina and the Twisted Staff
Robert Beatty; narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Juvenile Fiction: Though she's firmly rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Serafina is stuck between two worlds: in one, she's the Chief Rat Catcher at the grand, recently completed Biltmore Estate, but in the other, she's learning the ways of the wild from her mother, a shape-shifting catamount. When several unusual visitors arrive at the Estate just as the local animals begin acting strangely, Serafina realizes that it's up to her to figure out what's really going on. Narrator Cassandra Campbell quickly places readers in the "unrelenting action and excitement" (
), but be sure to read Serafina's 1st adventure,
Serafina and the Black Cloak
(also voiced by Campbell) before you dive into this sequel.
The Muse
Jessie Burton; narrated by Bahni Turpin and Maria Elena Infantino
Adult Fiction: An aspiring writer, Odelle Bastien arrives in London from Trinidad in the 1960s. Though literary success eludes her, she finds a job as a typist in a posh art gallery, where she becomes the protégée of eccentric Marjorie Quick. Thirty years earlier, painter Olive Schloss is living in Spain with her Viennese art dealer parents when she meets Teresa and Isaac Robles, half-siblings who will change her life forever. Connecting Odelle's and Olive's stories is a mysterious painting whose secrets are gradually revealed in this intricately plotted novel of intrigue.
The Muse
's complex female characters, strong atmosphere, and sparkling prose may appeal to fans of Dominic Smith's
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos
The Reader
Traci Chee; narrated by Kim Mai Guest
Juvenile Fiction: The flat, hard package was the only thing Sefia saved after her father's horrific murder, and she's protected it, unopened, for years, hiding in the wilderness of Kelanna and learning survival skills from her wily aunt Nin. But now Nin has been kidnapped, and Sefia needs clues, so she opens the package and finds a dangerous, highly illegal object: a book. Her discovery kicks off a powerful, multi-layered tale of vicious assassins, unexpected allies, and hidden powers, effectively portrayed by narrator Kim Mai Guest. This debut, which is the 1st in a series, ends in a cliffhanger that will leave you eager for volume 2.
The Fortunes
Peter Ho Davies; narrated by James Chen
Adult Fiction: This absorbing journey through over 100 years of American history and culture is told by four Chinese Americans (three of whom are inspired by real people). From the building of the transcontinental railroad in the mid-19th century to a modern-day, biracial Chinese American visiting China to adopt a baby girl with his white wife, their thought-provoking perspectives tie fact and fiction together, providing insight into the Asian American experience. Themes of identity and belonging emerge throughout this thoughtful, perceptive novel, which narrator James Chen illuminates with his "understated portrayals" (
Murder Has Nine Lives
Laura Levine; narrated by Brittany Pressley
Adult Fiction: Things are looking up for California freelance writer Jaine Austen. There's a vacation to Hawaii on the horizon, a client has hired her to write a new brochure, she's got a date with the client's handsome nephew, and her cantankerous cat Prozac will star in a commercial for Skinny Kitty diet cat food. But things don't go well, especially once Prozac loses it on set and a murderer strikes shortly afterwards. The police have plenty of suspects, including Jaine, so she decides to solve the crime herself in this 14th entry in a fun series. Narrator Brittany Pressley delivers Jaine's narrative with excellent timing, but the best parts, says
Publishers Weekly
, are "the woozy conversations between Jaine and Prozac."
I Will Send Rain
Rae Meadows; narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith
Adult Fiction: As dust storms bear down on Mulehead, Oklahoma, dashing the region's farmers' hope for rain, the Bell family struggles to survive. Patriarch Samuel turns to religious fanaticism, while wife Annie reflects on how her life might have been different had she stayed home in Kansas instead of following Samuel to Oklahoma. The Bell children, Birdie and Fred, have their own problems, including the pains of first love and living with chronic illness. Vivid imagery and lyrical prose evoke the Depression-era setting, while the novel's emotional weight comes from its moving depiction of a family in crisis. Emily Sutton-Smith's narration deepens the novel's "portrait of yearning as penetrating as the dust storms" (
Darktown: A Novel
Thomas Mullen; narrated by André Holland
Adult Fiction: It's 1948: Atlanta's eight new African American police officers have severe restrictions (no driving a police car, no entering police headquarters, no policing white parts of town, etc.), and they face hostility from their white colleagues as well as distrust from their own community. One night on their beat, officers Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith see a white man driving a car erratically with a young African American woman inside. When the woman is found dead, the men investigate despite the risk to their careers and maybe their lives. Blending history with mystery, this gritty 1st in a planned new series has already been optioned for TV.
Publishers Weekly
both praise actor
Holland's evocative and steady narration.
The Best Man
Richard Peck; narrated by Michael Crouch
Juvenile Fiction: Some kids might feel weird about having their teacher marry their uncle, but sixth-grader Archer Magill just feels lucky. Besides his dad, his grandfather, and his Uncle Paul, Mr. McLeod (student teacher, National Guardsman, reluctant Twitter celebrity) is the person Archer admires most. And honestly, Uncle Paul and Mr. McLeod's wedding is just the most recent in the constant stream of changes Archer has been through lately, which include confronting school bullies, dealing with heartbreaking loss, and finally starting middle school. Narrator Michael Crouch is a "natural with kid voices" (
) while clearly differentiating among all the characters, child and adult. This funny, down-to-earth slice of life is hard to resist.
Loner: A Novel
Teddy Wayne; narrated by David Bendena
Adult Fiction: It's clear from the get-go that David Federman is pretty smart but not particularly memorable. Overlooked in high school, he hopes to make a name for himself at Harvard, but (unsurprisingly) things don't get off to a great start. Overlooking friendly overtures from another girl, he becomes enamored of fellow freshman Veronica, and does everything and anything he can to ingratiate himself with her. Soon, his self-absorbed attempts move from pathetic to disconcerting to downright creepy, and we're left wondering exactly what is going on in this page-turner, vividly rendered by narrator David Bendena.
Contact your librarian for more great audiobooks!
Des Plaines Public Library
1501 Ellinwood St.
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016


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- Tom Hamilton
- Joey Kramer
- Joe Perry
- Steven Tyler
- Brad Whitford
Aerosmith sound like the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones having a battle of the bands at a low-key dive bar.
In other words, the Boston-based bad boys—led by the combustible, magnetic duo of frontman Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry— ooze confidence, danger and rebellion.
The secret to their success? Gigantic riffs, swaggering grooves and plenty of devil-may-care attitude.
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler always wanted to be a rock star. Even as a rabble-rousing teenager, when he was drumming in bands such as the Strangeurs and Chain Reaction, the New York City native had designs on being famous.
Unlike many other kids with this fantasy, however, Tyler's dream actually came true. Not only was he blessed with magnetic charisma, a raspy vocal yowl and the ability to channel Mick Jagger, but he found bandmates that possessed as much ambition as he did.
Guitarist Joe Perry—who dug Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced?, Jeff Beck, John Mayall and Cream—in particular possessed a sleazy, bluesy style that matched Tyler's swagger. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the pair discovered they also had dynamic songwriting chemistry—as heard on "Walk This Way," "Toys In The Attic," "Back In The Saddle," "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Love In An Elevator."
Tyler's life changed thanks to a fortuitous August 1969 night out in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire, when he caught Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton playing with their group the Jam Band. Tyler was blown away after seeing the group run through Led Zeppelin, MC5 and early Fleetwood Mac tunes, and felt drawn to the musicians.
The next summer, the trio decided to form a band. Tyler joined Perry and Hamilton in Boston, where the pair had moved in September 1970 to pursue music. Drummer Joey Kramer, who actually went to school with Tyler back in New York, linked up with the nascent group next. A Berklee School of Music student, Kramer brought the idea for the band's name—Aerosmith—and ensured his old acquaintance could finally retire his drumsticks and move to the spotlight.
Aerosmith started writing songs and playing shows, and gained steam after guitarist Brad Whitford joined in summer 1971. The now-quintet's hard work paid off the following year, with a $125,000 major label record deal with Columbia. A self-titled debut followed in 1973, and while the LP wasn't a hit at the time, Tyler's harrowing ballad "Dream On" and the hard-edged "Mama Kin" became live staples.
Although comparisons to the Rolling Stones dogged the group early on, Aerosmith found their footing in a big way on their next three albums: 1974's Get Your Wings, 1975's Toys In The Attic and 1976's Rocks. This triptych found the band members growing into their influences–the Yardbirds-popularized barnstorming boogie "Train Kept A-Rollin'" and bluesy "Same Old Song and Dance"—and covering new ground: the rebel-with-a-cause jam "Toys In The Attic" the sinewy grooves of "Sweet Emotion" and hard rock strut "Walk This Way."
Post-Rocks, Aerosmith were also finally a huge live draw playing arenas and then stadiums. Their offstage lives were also larger-than-life: Perry and Tyler became known as the Toxic Twins due to their mutual fondness for illicit substances.
Such indulgences would soon become a problem for all of Aerosmith on the downside of the decade, as diminishing commercial success and band members' drug use culminated in turmoil. Perry left the band after a 1979 show in Cleveland, and Whitford followed in 1981.
Aerosmith kept chugging along, but tours and albums with replacement members didn't connect. Even a 1984 reunion with Perry and Whitford—and 1985's Done With Mirrors LP—didn't turn their fortunes around.
Things started looking up after Perry and Tyler collaborated with future Rock Hall inductees Run-D.M.C. for a 1986 remake of "Walk This Way," a worldwide hit which bridged the (perceived) sonic and cultural gap between rock and hip-hop. A band intervention to get Tyler off drugs helped even more—and soon Aerosmith, improbably, was on their way to even greater heights.
Both 1987's Permanent Vacation and 1989's Pump boasted radio-ready, contemporary updates of Aerosmith's ragged '70s boogie, highlighted by the winking "Love In An Elevator," power ballad "Angel" and loose-hipped, bluesy heartbreak of "What It Takes." The band also embraced MTV, although that wasn't without controversy: The David Fincher-directed clip for "Janie's Got A Gun" especially had a controversial storyline hinting at violence and incest.
In the '90s, Aerosmith continued their multiplatinum ways and career renaissance with 1993's Get A Grip—whose videos for "Cryin'" and "Crazy" helped raise the profile of actress Alicia Silverstone—and 1997's Nine Lives. The band even had a No. 1 pop hit with the ballad "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing," a crucial part of the movie Armageddon.
No matter how slick or commercial Aerosmith sounded on tape, however, they remained a fiery live act. In fact, the band honored their roots with 2004's blues-based covers record, Honkin' On Bobo, and returned to hardscrabble hard-rock form with their most recent studio album, 2012's Music From Another Dimension! After 45-plus years together, Aerosmith sound as hungry and urgent as they did back in their early days.
Inductees: Tom Hamilton (bass; born December 31, 1951), Joey Kramer (drums; born June 21, 1950), Joe Perry (guitar; born September 10, 1950), Steven Tyler (vocals; born March 26, 1948), Brad Whitford (guitar; born February 23, 1952)

subset: commoncrawl


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The Expatriate Indian community living in Bahrain has played an important role in the country's development, said Labor and Social Affairs Minister Abdulnabi Al Shaoala.
Describing India as great example of a country that holds fast to its traditions while also moving into the modern world, the minister praised the expatriate community - its clubs, societies, organizations and churches, in Bahrian's social and cultural development, the Gulf daily news reports. He made the comments during the community's 50th Republic Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, the University of Bahrain is preparing to launch a high quality Arabic language training course for the country's expatriate community, according to the Bahrain Tribune Daily. The 16-week course will focus on teaching the basics in spoken and Modern Standard Arabic. It will be conducted by the College of Art's Arabic and Islamic Studies Department at the Isa Town campus and will be four hours a week. The cost is BD120. The original course will be geared toward beginners who will be able to learn script, phonology, vocabulary, basic grammar and writing. For more information, call the Arabic Department at 449-302 or send a fax to 449-655.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)


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James Patterson's children's book imprint
We want every kid who finishes a JIMMY Book to say "PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER BOOK."
How I Came to Love Captain Underpants
Why kids love this gross-out series
I-Hated-to-Read-Til-I-Read-This Booklist for Boys
Books that turn reluctant readers into non-stop reading machine.
James Patterson's "10 tips to get your kids reading
Click for the ten tips. They're easy and fun
Judge the Cover. Buy the Book.
May be you should judge a book by its cover.
Spotlight On: University of Alabama's James Patterson Teacher Education Scholars
James is supporting the future teachers of America.Read their stories.
Tailgate Book Club
Make the most out of Sunday football with this great list of sports books and games day activities.
An important step
Readkiddoreadand join the biggest get-your-kids-reading movement on the web. Get and share tips and ideas with thousands of like minded parents.


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Skip to Content
Home > Health Information > Health Library > Preventing Breath-Holding Spells in Children
As children learn to deal with frustration, fear, and anger, breath-holding spells become less frequent.
Parents may be able to prevent some spells by seeing that their child gets plenty of rest and that he or she feels secure. Some ways to help your child get enough rest include:
Here are some ways you can help your child feel secure and less frustrated:
Encouraging your child to play alone will help your child develop a more positive self-image. This also can reduce feelings of frustration.
Some parents are so upset by breath-holding spells that they shelter the child from any and all frustrating situations or may fail to set consistent limits for the child in an effort to prevent the spells. As a result, the child doesn't learn other ways to express his or her frustration and anger.
Even if the parents' efforts succeed in preventing breath-holding spells, the behavior problems may remain. To avoid this problem:
If you struggle with any of these issues, parenting classes or counseling can sometimes be helpful.
Current as of: December 12, 2018
Author: Healthwise StaffMedical Review: John Pope MD - PediatricsKathleen Romito MD - Family MedicineLouis Pellegrino MD - Developmental Pediatrics
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Current as of:
December 12, 2018
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:John Pope MD - Pediatrics & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Louis Pellegrino MD - Developmental Pediatrics
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To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
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With Reflection, this pet can turn the tide in battles. Just got hit by a Whirlpool? Bring in the Flayer Youngling when it's about to explode and not only take no damage, but damage the enemy instead. The humanoid passive ability helps in keeping his life up longer.
Flayer Youngling
Flayer Youngling
|Battle Pet
Pet Battle: Hellfire Peninsula
This pet is not tradeable.
"A brash fel orc once tried to enslave these critters as his personal soldiers. Pieces of him are still scattered across Outland."


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How Hot is Hot? Chile Peppers in Our Global Kitchen main content.
by AMNH on
When it comes to chile peppers, how hot is hot? Visitors to Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture can see a chart ranking varieties of peppers by their level of Scoville Heat Units (SHU), a score created in 1912 by Detroit chemist Wilbur Scoville.
Scoville's "Organoleptic Test" was simple: he mixed an extract of ground-up peppers with sugar water and fed the solution, at increasingly diluted concentrations, to a panel of taste-testers until they could no longer detect the heat. The higher the score, the hotter the pepper, from the benign bell pepper (0 SHU) to the jalapeño (2,500-4,000 SHU) and the Trinidad moruga scorpion pepper (up to a stratospheric 2 million SHU).
The Scoville test is still used by some chile enthusiasts but scientists, producers, and processors commonly use a more precise method. Called high performance liquid chromatography, it helps determine the level of capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their pungency.
Together with related compounds, capsaicin serves an important evolutionary function: protecting plants from threatening microbes, animals, and insects. For example, capsaicin targets a pain receptor in mammals and repels predators like deer and mice, whose chewing can destroy seeds. But it does not affect birds, which digest the seeds intact and disperse them widely, boosting the pepper population's survival rates.
Of course, not all mammal species are deterred by capsaicin's sting. Archaeological evidence indicates that humans gathered wild peppers as early as 10,000 years ago in the Central Andes. Cultivation began 6,000 years ago, and in addition to eating the fruit, early farmers likely took advantage of peppers' antimicrobial properties for food preservation.
Humans soon found medicinal applications as well: the Mayas used Capsicum to treat asthma, infections, and sore throats, and the Aztecs used chiles to relieve toothaches. Today, chiles are found in everything from chocolate to beer to pharmaceuticals.
By the way, although seeds are thought to be the hottest part of a pepper, the fire resides in the white inner membrane where seeds attach. Drinking water will not stop hot peppers from burning your mouth because capsaicin is not water-soluble. Milk products offer a better remedy because they contain casein, a substance that surrounds the capsaicin molecules so they can be washed away.
Learn more in Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture, open for just one more month, through Sunday, August 11.
The exclusive corporate sponsor for Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture is J.P. Morgan.
Additional support for Our Global Kitchen and its related educational and online resources has been provided by GRACE Communications Foundation.
The Kitchen Experience is presented by Whole Foods Market.
A version of this story appears in the summer 2013 issue of Rotunda, the Member magazine.


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The bears at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Mont., are repeat offenders, chronic trash bears who have resisted repeated attempts to move them away from populated areas.
They faced euthanization if they hadn't found a final home at the sanctuary.
Now, like hackers who have gone to work for the government chasing other hackers, the bears put their trash skills up against human ingenuity in protecting garbage.
Bears and trash
Bear/trash cam: Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center 's bear cam
Info: For more information about bear-resistant product testing, visit grizzlydiscoveryctr.com
All products that carry the bear-resistant label have to be tested here and withstand an hour of sustained assault by a team of experienced grizzly bears.
The products, which range from dumpsters and roll-outs to panniers for horses and coolers, are filled with favorite foods — fish, meat, peanut butter and honey — and placed in the bears' 2-acre habitat.
The bears are released from their dens in small groups in a rotation, with up to five bears in the habitat at a time. If a bear loses interest in a container after less than an hour, the container remains in the enclosure until other bears have completed the hour of testing.
The product also has to still function after the bear assault and open, close and latch with ease.
Randy Gravatt, the center's facilities manager and testing coordinator, said they tested 52 products last year. Just 30 of them passed.
"A lot of people have that idea that they can do it, and they're very surprised how strong and how smart bears are," he said. "The product gets destroyed in 30 seconds."
The bears range in size from 350 pounds to 600 pounds.
Most products don't have to withstand the center's monster, a 1,000-pound grizzly bear, unless the manufacturer wants to sell it in Alaska.
The fee to test a product varies depending on the size. A residential garbage can costs $250 to test.
Gravatt said the center will re-test for a reduced fee if the person who made the container thinks a small modification, like a different sized bolt, will help it pass.
Gravatt said people at the center want designers to succeed.
"We want the containers to pass," he said. "We're rooting for them. Every successful bear-resistant container means fewer dead bears."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Erica Meltzer at 303-473-1355, email@example.com or twitter.com/meltzere.


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First-and-10: On the caring scale, Bo Pelini and Urban Meyer need adjustments
1. I don't want to get on a soapbox, but …
He stepped right in it without even knowing it.
Bo Pelini explained the state of Nebraska football Monday, providing a clear view to the one thing that has sucked the very life from the once proud and powerful program.
MORE: Big Ten trophies | SEC icons | Top 10 freshmen
"I don't believe the state of our program," Pelini said, "is any different than it was a week ago."
Or a year ago. Or a decade ago.
And that should make every Huskers fan from Omaha to Chadron reach for a sick bucket.
It's bad enough that Nebraska was physically manhandled last weekend in an ugly loss to Minnesota. It's worse when that galling loss is simply another humbling reminder that this program has tumbled into the worst possible hole since the retirement of legendary coach Tom Osborne.
It's not that the Huskers aren't winning like they used to. It's that it doesn't seem to matter.
Because if it did matter, Pelini wouldn't have made it past his fifth straight season of four losses. If it did matter, Pelini wouldn't have made it past Sunday morning.
If it did matter, Pelini wouldn't have made it past Monday afternoon, after he said today's players lacked—I can't believe I'm writing this—"natural football instinct" and "common sense" from those of years past. Hey, you, at Alabama, you lack instinct.
If you think that's an unfair comparison, consider this: the last team to win three of four national championships before the Tide did so was none other than Nebraska from 1994-97. So yeah, you better believe it's fair.
You better believe Nebraska, for all that is was, can be that way again. I'm not buying the excuses that Nebraska is land-locked and the state doesn't produce elite high school talent and boom of college football on television has diminished Nebraska's impact to recruit nationally because it's not the only program on the tube anymore.
That's almost as ridiculous as players lacking common sense and natural football instinct.
It's all about the coach. Get the right one, and Nebraska will be Nebraska again.
Baylor got the right coach, and look what has happened to one of the worst programs in the game. Stanford got the right coach twice, and look at the metamorphosis on The Farm.
You know who else got the right guy? Florida State. They got the right guy to follow a legend, and the next thing you know he's recruiting his tail off, he's beating SEC schools for elite recruits and he has FSU crawling out from its self-proclaimed lost decade.
Guess what other former power has been lost for a decade?
In the 15 years before Nebraska reeled off three national titles in four years, Osborne's Huskers won eight conference championships and lost 29 games. In the 15-plus years since he retired, Nebraska has one conference championship and has lost 61 games.
The most damning evidence of all for Pelini: these last two-plus years of nothingness has come against maybe the worst dip in talent ever in the Big Ten. What happens when the league cycles back up?
I mean, if anyone in the state of Nebraska cares anymore.
2. The bitter side of ball
I think I can speak for us all—and Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett—when I say: it's a flipping game, Missouri fans (warning: bad language in this story about fans' reaction).
Now go back to cutting lettuce at your local fast food joint.
MORE: Bowl projections | The remaining undefeated teams
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer won't win many votes with his call for a review against Penn State. (AP Photo)
3. The dirty deed
Your team is winning by 49 points with about one quarter of football to play, your opponent is driving, and on fourth down, apparently gets enough yards for a first down at your 20.
So what do you do as coach? You call for a replay, which overturns the spot of the ball and gives you and your 56-7 lead possession on downs.
This, ladies and gentleman, is a coach who simply can't check his ego.
If this fall doesn't work out for Ohio State; if the Buckeyes go unbeaten and don't play for the BCS National Championship, Urban Meyer will have no one to blame but himself. You don't pull that stunt and not feel the ramifications from the coaches poll or the Harris Poll, where former coaches and administrators vote.
Those two polls account for two-thirds of the BCS process, and can all but eliminate a team from consideration. Don't think for a moment that—all things being equal, and if it comes down to three or four teams for two spots—last week's stunt won't be on the mind of voters.
Let's not get confused here. What Meyer did wasn't running up the score. It was much worse.
What he did was tell the 65 scholarship players at Penn State—a team with 20 less scholarship players than his own, and a team that has lived hell the last two seasons through no fault of its own—that a 49-point humiliation wasn't disheartening enough. You've had the worst night of your life, young men.
And now I'm going to make it worse.
I called or texted 10 BCS coaches in the last few days, and each made it a point to say that Meyer's decision had nothing to do with running up the score. Pouring it on, they all said, is leaving starters in the game.
Meyer had his starters out midway through the third quarter.
"That wasn't running up the score," said one BCS coach. "That's being a (expletive deleted)."
4. One man's gold is another's trash
This is what it has come to in college football: instead of celebrating Duke's remarkable upset of Virginia Tech and focusing on the Blue Devils' first back-to-back bowl eligible seasons ever, we focus on the negative.
The Duke win isn't important in the grand scheme; the VT loss is. Because the VT loss means Alabama's second-best win now looks weak.
If you follow that twisted logic, we've got more:
— Tennessee: a great win in a rivalry game for Alabama against a suddenly surging team. A who cares win for Oregon against a sorry SEC team that lost to Kentucky two years ago.
— Wisconsin. If the Badgers didn't get hosed by Pac-12 officials, they'd have been ranked in the top 10 when they played Ohio State—and they'd be ranked in the top 15 right now with one loss. This, of course, ignores the reality that the combined record of Wisconsin's opponents not named Ohio State is 17-29.
— Baylor. The Bears have played a creampuff schedule that includes Buffalo, Louisiana-Monroe and the bottom of the Big 12. Ohio State beat Buffalo by 20; the Bears won by 63.
Look hard enough, everyone, numbers can say anything.
5. The Weekly Five
Nathan Creer, the father of Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase, has been banned from Illinois games for a year after an incident during last weekend's loss to Michigan State. Five other disturbances we're sure to see before the Illini end their 17-game Big Ten losing streak:
1. A turnover. Created by the Illini defense.
2. A sideline violation, as Illinois is lining up in the Victory formation, that somehow gives Purdue the ball and leads to another loss.
3. A completely flustered and frustrated "Tobacco" Tim Beckman decides to coach the season finale in a smoking jacket.
4. An all-out melee in the stands as 16,700 desperate and fed up fans try to get thrown out of the stadium, too.
5. Ron Zook parachuting into Memorial Stadium with a streamer behind him that reads, "Told you."
MORE: Exit Poll—can Miami hang with FSU? | Linemakers: Five teams with best BCS odds
Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, right, has made a name for himself working with Nick Saban. (AP Photo)
6. Against the grain
They'll soon be searching again, looking for that one magical fit that can make everything bad go away (see: Nebraska).
Some advice for presidents and athletic directors searching for new coaches (this means you, too, USC): embrace the coordinator.
Time after time, we see big programs in search of a coach proclaiming they want head coaching experience. The obvious question: why limit yourself when so many coordinators with zero experience have proven track records.
In the last decade alone, Chip Kelly, Dabo Swinney, Jimbo Fisher, Mark Dantonio, Pat Fitzgerald and David Shaw (among others) have proven over and over the right fit doesn't have to have experience in the big chair. Then there are two of the best hires in program history at two heavyweights: Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and Mark Richt (Georgia).
The USC job is open, Texas could be open, and undoubtedly there will be more when December rolls around. The top five coordinators for hire:
1. Chad Morris, Clemson offensive coordinator: His offense is fantastic, a system skill players love to play in. He's also a meticulous organizer.
2. Kirby Smart, Alabama defensive coordinator: His defenses at Alabama have been fantastic—he runs the show, not head coach Nick Saban. Also doesn't hurt to be part of the Saban coaching tree.
3. Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason: The Cardinal have become more physical and active in the front seven under Mason, a team that plays more like an SEC defense than a Pac-12 unit.
4. Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman: A rare offensive mind and well-respected in the coaching community. Similar to Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, whose reputation among his peers was elite while he was coordinator for the Ducks.
5. Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery: It's coach Art Briles' offense, but Montgomery has gained more control of it (and play calling) with each passing season. Has spent 15 years with Briles at the high school and college level, and understands the building process.
7. Strength of schedule
So here we are in the SEC East race, where Florida and Georgia meet this weekend in their annual rivalry game that suddenly has more intrigue after Missouri lost to South Carolina.
In fact, everyone is still alive in the East, including winless Kentucky—which can tie (not win) the East Division. It's a long, drawn out process, but understand this: if it happens, imagine Alabama fans screaming about that quality victory.
PHOTOS: Manziel Halloween costumes | Drew Brees at Purdue | All the upsets
8. So much for East Coast bias
I feel as though it's my duty to remind poll voters that Stanford actually did lose to Utah earlier this month.
The same Utah that has one Pac-12 win (Stanford).
The same Utah that has four Pac-12 losses, and has lost three of its last four overall (the only win vs. Stanford).
The same Utah that scored three points against USC, which was using walk-ons in
critical positions because of injuries.
The same Utah that, if it's lucky, will win the season finale against Colorado and finish 5-7.
I ask you, is that loss a "good loss" that should keep Stanford in the BCS top 5?
Dear Pac-12 brethren:
You can no longer complain about East Coast bias.
The rest of college football
9. The curious case of Southern Miss
Here's the crazy thing about Southern Miss and its 17-game losing streak: it's not like Larry Fedora walked away after the 2011 season and left nothing.
Southern Miss was coming off a C-USA championship season—a season where the Eagles' only two losses were by six points to Marshall and three to UAB. Southern Miss returned 12 starters in 2012, and had benefited from Fedora's strong recruiting the previous four seasons.
Now look: in 10 of those 17 losses, USM has given up at least 40 points, including back-to-back 55-14 losses to ECU and North Texas the last two weeks. The last loss to North Texas assured USM of its second consecutive losing season—for the first time in nearly 80 years.
If USM loses out, the Eagles will be the first team with back-to-back winless seasons since Northwestern in 1980-81. USM's best chance to end the streak: UAB in the last game of the season—and the Blazers have won the last four games between the teams.
10. No. 1 with a bang
Octavias McKoy, Renaissance Man.


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(5/17/2013) OCEAN PINES — Patrick Joseph Fennell, 81, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at his home in Ocean Pines. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Brennan Fennell in 2009.
Mr. Fennell was born and raised in Washington Heights, N.Y. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School and went on to college on a track scholarship at St. John's University, in New York. He was the loyal and loving husband to his wife, Peggy, his high school sweetheart, and the love of his life.
He was the devoted father of five children, Kevin Fennell, Jessica Hoopes, Jennifer Fennell, Pamela Jacobs and Patricia Restivo. He adored his grandchildren, Rachael, Patrick, Tommy, Danny, Jessica, Courtney and Nicholas; as well as his sons-in law, Tom, Fred and Mark.
Mr. Fennell was a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, who patriotically served two tours in Vietnam. He worked with the National Security Agency during the Cold War and was trained in Russian and Spanish for specific missions. He was a decorated and distinguished leader, who put serving his country first and made his family proud.
Committed to public service, he did graduate work at American University in city planning and enjoyed a second career as the city manager in Salisbury.
A special project, while in Salisbury, was working with the Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, who formed Joseph's House, a nonprofit charity established to help the poor and homeless.
He also was an active member of Saint John Neumann Catholic Church near Ocean Pines. He took great pride in serving the church as the head usher for the past 20 years.
Mr. Fennell was the patriarch and leader of a great and loving family. He was also a very well respected and cherished member of the community. He will be missed, utterly and completely, by all who knew him.
A service was held Friday May 10, at Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. The funeral Mass was at St. John Neumann Church on Saturday, May 11. Interment will be at Arlington Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Joseph House, 411 N. Poplar Hill Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801. Expressions of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.burbagefuneralhome.com.


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In the event you withdraw from a class, we are happy to refund your fees according to the policy set forth below. Refunds take approximately 2-3 weeks and are issued by the Business Office in the form of a check.
If you cannot attend, please be sure to notify the Office of Continuing Education at 305-809-3185 prior to the first day of the class.
In rare instances, classes with low enrollment may be canceled. We will make every effort to notify you of changes or cancellations. In the event of a cancellation or change by us, we will provide the student with a 100% refund or transfer to an equivalent class.
Refund Policy:
Students withdrawing from non-credit courses consisting of 3 or fewer class meetings must withdraw before the first class meeting to receive a 100% refund. If a non-credit course consists of more than 3 class meetings, the student must withdraw before the second class meeting to receive a full refund.
For classes that provide CEU credits, you must attend a minimum of 80% of all classes to receive CEU credits and completion certificates. Classes which meet four (4) or less sessions require 100% attendance to meet this requirement.


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RICO presents challenges in Atlanta cheating case
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Callaway Chair Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson was quoted by the Associated Press regarding the challenges presented in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating case. The article appeared in the Athens Banner-Herald on 4/1/13 and was written by Christina A. Cassidy. Read the full article
Related articles:
Atlanta testing scandal begins long march to justice by John Bacon and Larry Copeland for USA TODAY on 4/3//13


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|Horror novelist Roger Cobb (Katt) moves into his dead aunt's supposedly haunted house only to find that the monsters don't necessarily stay in the closets. His worst nightmares come to life as he writes about his Vietnam experiences and is forced to relive the tragic events, but these aren't the only visions that start springing to life. It sounds depressing, but is actually a funny, intelligent "horror" flick. Followed by several lesser sequels.
|Directed by:
|Steve Miner
|New World Pictures.
|William Katt, George Wendt, Richard Moll, Kay Lenz, Michael Ensign, Mary Stavin, Susan French


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This is the one I've got, can't be beat...http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-SPS-40-SuperSteel-Stainless/dp/B000X1OLJW/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1366165191&sr=1-2&keywords=update+international+stainless+40
Thanks for the input so far! I do like the Blichmann Bollermaker 10 gal, with all the options but a bit on the pricey side. I like the keggle too, but it looks so big. I think a sight glass is a must have option.
In priority I think a big pot is #1, #2 is drain, #3 is screen, #4 is thermometer and #5 is sight tube "Freedom is temporary unless you are also Brave!" - Patriot


text: The Two-Way Pelosi Names Three To Finalize Debt 'Super Committee' August 11, 2011 The 12 members of the Debt "Super Committee" are now official, as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi named her three appointees Thursday. She chose Reps. James Clyburn of South Carolina, Xavier Becerra of California, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. The special panel must create a plan to shave $1.2 trillion off the federal deficit over the next decade.


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Customs Then and Now: A Historical Gathering
Shortly after the buzz from the historic race car display at the 2010 Grand National Roadster Show had worn off, rumors began floating around about some sort of custom exhibit to take place the following year. Well, it didn't take long before the hearsay turned to fact, and before we knew it, Customs Then and Now: A Historical Gathering was officially one of the premier attractions to be seen at the 62nd GNRS at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.
As the days leading up to the show drew shorter, the list of custom car attendees grew longer, ultimately reaching nearly 75 in all. With the historic creations ranging from early era Westergard to modern-era Dick Dean, Ayala Brothers to Gary Howard, never before had so many significant customsspanning so many decadesbeen on public display together. But together they were, and by the time all was said and done as the show ended, Customs Then and Now did indeed live up to being one of the GNRS's premier attractions. It was pretty awe-inspiring to be among so many iconic cars that, up until now, had only been seen in magazines for many of those in attendance.
But of course there was moreplenty moreto be seen at this year's GNRS. Whether in the main hall, where two R&C cover alumni were proudly on display (this month's Takeout T of Russ Freund and last issue's '40 Merc) along with the contenders for America's Most Beautiful Roadster award, which ultimately was bestowed upon Daryl Wolfwinkel's '34 Ford (courtesy of Squeeg's Kustoms), or in any of the adjacent buildings, the show had plenty to offer above and beyond the customs. That said, it should go without saying where we spent most of our time over the course of the weekendand it wasn't at a beer stand or clamored around one of the over-the-hill '70s TV stars signing autographs, either.
Whatever they have in store for next year's GNRS, it's going to be hard to top this one. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Till next time


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I was playing with another design concept for a tribal tattoo and unlike some others, I decided to go ahead and play with an idea based on a tribal butterfly. Now even though I worked hard on this drawing, I'm really not that fond of the finished results. The only thing I can suggests you guys to do if you decide to tackle this tutorial on "how to draw a tribal butterfly", is tweak it a bit so that there is a wide wingspan which will eventually lead to a more predictable design. I'm not saying that the drawing is bad; I'm just saying I should have made the wings more like that of a butterfly. I was just trying to make something a bit different than your typical butterfly design. Regardless of the end results, I still belive that you will have fun as you learn the ropes to drawing a tribal butterfly of your own. Thanks for joining me with this lesson, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it; even if I didn't like the finished product, it was still fun to draw. Peace out people!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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In the US, The Eleventh Hour, by Steven Moffat, hits TV screens on BBC America tonight (Saturday), at 9 p.m. ET. The opening episode will be preceded at 8 p.m. ET by Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide, a documentary introducing the world of Doctor Who to new viewers.
Canada premieres The Eleventh Hour tonight (Saturday) on SPACE, also at 9 p.m. ET, with Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide showing before it at 8 p.m. ET.
In Australia, The Eleventh Hour will be broadcast on ABC 1 on Sunday (April 18) at 7.30 p.m. The series has already premiered in Australia on ABC iView, the station's Internet broadcasting service. Also, Series 1 of K9 continues to be broadcast weekly on Saturdays on Channel Ten.
The new series is receiving masses of press attention in all three countries. Digital Journal continues its coverage, running three separate pieces for the US launch, the Canadian launch and the Australian launch.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Matt Smith's Series 1 (Doctor Who, Series 31) continues tonight on BBC 1 at 6.30 p.m. with Victory of the Daleks, by Mark Gatiss. A report on the history of the metal menace has appeared on BBC News. As reported by us yesterday, immediately after this episode, there will be a trailer on BBC 1 for the fortcoming downloadable episodes of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games. Episode 3 of Doctor Who Confidential follows on BBC 3 at 7.15 p.m.


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Body of New Haven airman missing since 1968 to be laid to rest at Arlington
NEW HAVEN >> When U.S. Air Force Col. Francis J. McGouldrick Jr. is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Friday, 45 years to the day after his plane went down over Laos, family from Greater New Haven and around the country will be there to honor his memory.
"He was my Uncle Jay," said Debbie Shanley of Milford, who will attend the burial with her husband and four children. "He was extremely outgoing and happy, always in command and great at sports. He was very dedicated to his country and to his family."
McGouldrick went missing Dec. 13, 1968, after his B-57 aircraft collided with a C-123 during a night strike. Earlier this year, the government positively identified McGouldrick's remains by matching his DNA with samples provided decades earlier by family members in Connecticut.
Shanley's son, Sean, provided a DNA sample, as did Shanley's sister, Linda Petillo of Woodbridge.
McGouldrick was born in Syracuse, N.Y., Dec. 19, 1928, but spent most of his youth in New Haven, where his father worked as a railroad purchasing agent.
"Daddy grew up on Edgewood Avenue," said one of McGouldrick's four daughters, Megan Genheimer of Dublin, Ohio. "He went to Roger Sherman grammar school, Troup Junior High School and Hillhouse High School."
It also was in New Haven where he met his wife, Jacquelyn. One of their favorite haunts downtown was the restaurant George and Harry's. They were married in 1954 at St. Brendan's Church.
After graduating from Fairfield University, McGouldrick enlisted in the Air Force. He trained as a pilot, navigator and bombadier, and his assignments took him and his young family to Texas, Japan and Columbus, Ohio. He was an Air Force ROTC instructor at Ohio State University when he got the order sending him to Vietnam in 1968. He was 39.
"He was such a good man," Genheimer said, pausing for a moment to collect herself. "Just a grounded, good man."
Genheimer was 12 when her father went missing. Her older sister, Melisa, was 13; her younger sisters, Michele and Marri, were 11 and 4.
"We grew up with this," Genheimer said. "We didn't know any different."
The sisters and their mother watched over the years as soldiers returned from Vietnam, but their airman didn't. In 1978, the government changed McGouldrick's status from missing in action to presumed killed in action. There was a burial service at Arlington with an empty casket.
In 1980, Jacquelyn McGouldrick died from breast cancer. She was 46.
Still, the family continued to hope for closure. Genheimer said the family was informed each time the government sent teams to search for McGouldrick and other missing airmen in Laos. According to the Department of Defense, there are 1,644 American service members unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
Finally, in 2007, a joint U.S.-Lao People's Democratic Republic team found a possible crash site near the village of Keng Keuk. Teams conducted digs there in the years that followed, on a rotating basis with other sites.
"We knew this was in the distance for us, someday," Genheimer said. "And someday came."
The family learned of the positive identification in September.
"We're elated to finally put this all to rest," Shanley said. "It's been hard not to know."
Family members from Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Connecticut are gathering for the burial. Genheimer said there will be a morning service for the family at the Air Force Memorial, followed by the ceremony at Arlington. McGouldrick will be buried there with his wife.
Call Jim Shelton at 203-789-5664. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.
CORRECTION: Vietnam has been taken out of the headline, which previously read "Body of New Haven airman missing from Vietnam since 1968 to be laid to rest at Arlington." The airman's plane went down over Laos, not Vietnam.


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Sir John Digby Mills
1 of 2 portraits of Sir John Digby Mills
Sir John Digby Mills
by Lafayette
half-plate nitrate negative, 25 February 1932
Given by Pinewood Studios via Victoria and Albert Museum, 1989
Photographs Collection
NPG x48058
Sitterback to top
- Sir John Digby Mills (1879-1972), Church commissioner. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd) (founded 1880), Photographers. Artist associated with 6906 portraits.
Events of 1932back to top
Current affairsSir Oswald Mosley forms the British Union of Fascists. Mosley's party - nicknamed the Black Shirts after their uniform - was founded along the lines of Mussolini's Fascist Party in Italy and called for the replacement of parliamentary democracy with a system of elected executives. During the war Mosley was interned and the BUF was proscribed.
Art and scienceJohn Cockcroft and Ernest Walton 'split the atom'. In fact, Cockcroft and Walton's achievement was to change the nucleus of one element into another by bombarding it with protons, rather than to literally spit an atom apart. Nevertheless 'splitting the atom' has become the popular way of describing this important stage in the development of nuclear technology.
InternationalSaudi Arabia is formed by the unification of the Kingdoms of Hijaz and Nejd under King Abdul Aziz.
Iraq is granted independence from the British mandate established by the League of Nations in 1919-20.
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Syria Saturday, December 1, gave the green light to the establishment of private banks "in the form of private or mixed shareholding companies", and of a stock exchange, the official SANA news agency reported.
The measure was approved at a meeting of the ruling Baath party, chaired by President Bashar al-Assad after several months of work on the project aimed at reforming the banking sector, which was fully nationalized in 1963.
The party's regional command also instructed the country's banks to look into the issue of foreign currencies being traded at their real values, it added.
Syrian rates vary from 11 to 46 Syrian pounds to the dollar, depending on the nature of the transaction. The effective street rate of the dollar is around 50 pounds.
However, Mohammad Ayman Izzat Midani, a leading Syrian economist, warned in an article published on Saturday by the daily newspaper Tishrin, that hasty liberalization will not benefit the Syrian economy.
According to Mohammad Midani, the Syrian economy would suffer greatly if Syria and the European Union (EU) were to sign a trade agreement before the implementation of economic reforms.
Midani warned Syrian authorities against the dangers of exposing the Syrian market to cheaper and better quality European products.
A new round of Syrian-European negotiations are to take place in Brussels November 18 and 19. In May 1998, both parties began talks aimed at creating a free-trade zone by 2010.
In neighbouring Lebanon, where Syria wields huge influence, Prime minister Rafiq Hariri decided Friday to slash tax on import duties in a move welcomed by EU officials, as he works towards opening his country's economy to European products.
"These measures are an important step towards creating an Arab common market", Hariri told the London-published Arabic daily Asharq al-Awsat on Thursday. — (AFP)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)


text: Ultimately, whether or not you consider Australia to be secular depends on the definition of secularism used. shutterstock May 14, 2015 Is Australia a secular country? It depends what you mean Renae Barker, University of Western Australia Australia has a form of secularism where religion is allowed in the public sphere. As long as religion remains one voice and one option among many, the nation will still be secular.


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Australian-Israeli man Ben Zygier may have been planning to expose the use of fraudulent Australian passports in Israeli intelligence operations before he was arrested by that country and died in prison.
Mr Zygier "may well have been about to blow the whistle, but he never got the chance", an Australian security official has told Fairfax Media.
Sources in Canberra are insistent that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was not informed by its Israeli counterparts of the precise nature of the espionage allegations against Mr Zygier.
However, it is understood that the Melbourne law graduate had been in contact with Australian intelligence officers, Fairfax reports.
Israeli intelligence informed ASIO of the arrest and detention of Mr Zygier just eight days after authorities in Dubai had revealed that suspected Israeli agents had used fraudulent Australian passports in the assassination of a Palestinian militant.
The consequent crisis in Australian-Israeli intelligence relations provided the context in which the Australian diplomats did not seek consular access to Mr Zygier. He was regarded by Australian security officials as a potential whistleblower on Israeli intelligence operations.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr's office declined to respond when Fairfax asked on Thursday about the government's precise knowledge of Israeli allegations about Mr Zygier and the reasons for his secret detention.


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Midtown: Community
Arts Notes, May 29
Wake Forest concert series set
The Six Sundays in Spring concert series continues from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2, with old-time string band Big Medicine, in the amphitheater at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest. An area band will begin playing at 3, and then the featured artists will perform from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov.
OakCity7 outdoor concert series begins
The OakCity7 concert series will begin for this summer from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at City Plaza on the 400 block of Fayetteville Street in Raleigh. The biweekly event will feature notable local and regional bands and local and craft beers. The performers on May 30 include Orquesta GarDel, Old Quarter, Erin Nenni Band and Peak City Blues. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.oakcity7.com.
NCSU Summer Theatrefest
N.C. State University will hold its Summer Theatrefest May 30-June 30 at Frank Thompson Hall, 2241 E. Dunn Ave., Raleigh. Performances of "Daddy's Dyin', Who's Got the Will" will be held May 30, 31 and June 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 14. Performances of "Murder at the Howard Johnson's" will be held June 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22 and 23. Finally, performances of "Black Coffee" will be held June 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. and matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $5 for NCSU students. Reservations are required. Tickets can be purchase at the box office by calling 919-515-1100 or online at www.ncsu.edu/ticketcentral.
Metalfest at Southland Ballroom
The Capital City Metalfest will be held from 1:30 to 9 p.m. June 1-2 at Southland Ballroom, 614 N. West St., Raleigh. More than 40 bands will be featured. Tickets cost $10 or $15 for a two-day pass. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.southlandballroom.com.
Sunday in the Park concert
The Sunday in the Park series will continue with folk and Americana band Milagro Saints at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Fletcher Park, 802 Clay St., Raleigh. .
Caribbean drumming
A Caribbean and West African percussion class will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays June 5-Aug.28 in the Community Center at Eastgate Park, 4200 Quail Hollow Drive, Raleigh. Students will learn basic drumming techniques, styles and rhythms. Admission is free, and registration is required at reclink.raleighnc.gov.
Outdoor films at NCMA
The N.C. Museum of Art will offer outdoor films June through September at Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" – 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1
"Life of Pi" – 9 p.m. Friday, June 14
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" – 9 p.m. Friday, June 21
"Skyfall" – 9 p.m. Saturday, June 22
"Madagascar 3" – 9 p.m. Friday, June 28
"Silver Linings Playbook" – 9 p.m. Friday, July 19
"Argo" – 9 p.m. Saturday, July 20
"Cars" – 9 p.m. Friday, July 26
"Drive" – 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2
"Glory" – 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9
"Lincoln" – 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10
"Moonrise Kingdom" – 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16
"Vertigo" – 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23
"The Big Lebowski" – 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7
Tickets are free for NCMA members and $5 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.ncartmuseum.org.
Raleigh Film Festival screenings
The Raleigh Film Festival will begin its monthly screenings of films by local and national independent directors from 7 to 10 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Mosaic Wine Lounge, 517 W. Jones St., Raleigh. Screenings will also be held from 7:30 to 11 p.m. the second Friday of each month at Club Phantom, 1505 Capital Blvd., Raleigh. For more information, call 919-926-8642 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Make It, Take It: Decorate It!
Make It, Take It: Decorate It! is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. Watch North Carolina potters and decorate an ornament in the tradition of 18th-century artisans.
Artist at Work: Hal Pugh
Hal Pugh, owner of New Salem Pottery, will make traditional 17th, 18th and 19th century earthenware pottery from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. For more information, call 919-807-7900.
Art, auction at NCMA
The third annual Art of the Auction will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the N.C. Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh. Items to be auctioned include a wedding package, custom-designed pieces from local fashion designers and a trip to Napa Valley. Proceeds will benefit the museum's exhibitions and education programs. For more information, contact Mary Blake at 919-664-6807.
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker concert
The Music of the Carolinas concert series will continue from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. Sparky and Rhonda Rucker will perform songs and stories about slavery, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. For more information, call 919-807-7900.
Make It, Take It: Clay Creations
Make It, Take It: Clay Creations is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. Watch regional potters and work a little clay of your own.
Artist at Work: Bob Meier
Bob Meier of Doe Ridge Pottery will demonstrate the art of turning clay on a wheel from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. He will make pottery with contemporary designs.
Raleigh Drum Circle
The Raleigh Drum Circle meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month. The next session will be Monday, June 17, at the boathouse at Lake Johnson Park, 4601 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh. Loaner drums will be available. The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family.
Wine tasting to benefit VAE
A summer wine tasting and fundraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 21, at Visual Art Exchange Galleries, 309 W. Martin St., Raleigh. The event will also feature heavy hors d'oeuvres from Empire Eats restaurants, a chance to meet artists and a raffle for an N.C. getaway or landscaping services. The cost is $20 for VAE members and $25 for nonmembers. Proceeds will benefit VAE's program for artists. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.tasteofsummervae.eventbrite.com.
Free concert at Red Hat venue
Red Hat will hold a free concert from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh. Alternative rockers Silversun Pickups will headline. The concert will be held in celebration of Red Hat's one-year anniversary sponsorship of the downtown concert venue and serves as a thank-you to the downtown Raleigh community. For more information, visit www.redhatamphitheater.com.
Raleigh Festival Orchestra concert
The Raleigh Festival Orchestra will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Millbrook High School, 2201 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh. The concert will feature works from Strauss, Beethoven, Dvorak and Mozart and an original piece from composer Joseph House.
The Raleigh Festival Orchestra is a student-founded and student-run program for students who want to play music during the summer with an ensemble. Donations will be accepted to help continue the orchestra. For more information, call 919-696-2132 or go to raleighorchestra.wix.com/home.
Porsche show coming to museum
Tickets are on sale to the N.C. Museum of Art's first-ever design show, "Porsche By Design: Seducing Speed," which opens Oct. 12.
The exhibition will feature more than 20 Porsche cars, including Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche Type 356C Cabriolet, Steve McQueen's iconic Porsche Speedster and a rare Type 804 Formula One race car. The museum is also releasing a series of short-format videos featuring interviews with Porsche collectors, including Jay Leno. The videos include archival images of the Porsche family, a close look at signature design details and footage of historic car races.
Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for seniors, military, groups of 10 or more and college students with ID; $12 for ages 7-18; and free for others. Tickets are available through ncartmuseum.org/buy-tickets/ or 919-715-5923.
Senior communities outreach program
A free outreach program for senior communities titled From Here to There: Celebrating the Art of Travel will be offered October through January by the N.C. Museum of Art. Participants will discuss the art of travel in paintings and sculptures and create postcards. To schedule a visit to your facility, call Diana Phillips at 919-664-6779.


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Day Trading Expenses You Can Deduct from Your Income Tax
Day traders have expenses. They buy computer equipment, subscribe to research services, pay trading commissions, and hire accountants to prepare their taxes. It adds up, and the tax code recognizes that. That's why day traders can deduct many of their costs from their income taxes.
You'll make your life as a day trader much easier if you keep track of your expenses as you incur them. You can do this in a notebook, in a spreadsheet, or through personal finance software such as Quicken.
You can deduct investment expenses as miscellaneous itemized deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040 as long as they're considered to be ordinary, necessary, and used to produce or collect income, manage property held for producing income, and directly related to the taxable income produced.
Clerical, legal, and accounting fees: You might use the services of a lawyer to help you get set up, and you'll definitely want to use an accountant who understands investment expenses to help you evaluate your trading strategy and prepare your income tax returns. You can deduct attorney and accounting fees related to your investment income.
Office expenses: If you do your day trading from an outside office, you can deduct the rent and related expenses. You can deduct the expenses of a home office, too, as long as you use it regularly and exclusively for business.
Whether or not you deduct your office, you can deduct certain office expenses for equipment and supplies used in your business. You can usually write off roughly $100,000 in computers, desks, chairs, and the like if you use them for trading more than half the time. (The limits change every year.)
Investment counsel and advice: The IRS lets you deduct fees paid for counsel and advice about investments that produce taxable income. This includes books, magazines, newspapers, and research services that help you refine your trading strategy. It also includes anything you might pay for investment advisory services.
Safe deposit box rent: Have a safe deposit box down at the bank? You can deduct the rent on it if you store any investment-related documents. If you also keep other personal items in the same box, you can only deduct part of the rent.
Investment interest: If you borrow money as part of your strategy, and most day traders do, you can deduct the interest paid on those loans as long as it isn't from a home mortgage (that interest is already deductible) and as long as you're not subject to other limitations. In most cases, this is margin interest, and for most day traders, it's relatively small because few day traders borrow money for more than a few hours at a time.
State income taxes: If you itemize your deductions, you can deduct state income taxes on interest income that is exempt from federal income tax. But you cannot deduct, as either taxes or investment expenses, state income taxes on other exempt income. In most cases, exempt income is related to government bond transactions, and few day traders will work in those markets.
The 50 states all have different rules about taxation of investment income. Some states with little or no income tax handle investments differently. Because there are so many different issues, state taxation is beyond the scope of this Web site. Check with your state revenue department and a state-savvy tax expert to see what you need to know where you live.


text:
Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland – January 17, 2013 – Molecular Partners announced today that the results of a Phase I/II study evaluating the safety and preliminary activity of MP0112, a long-acting anti-VEGF DARPin, in patients with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) have been published on-line in The American Journal of Ophthalmology (AJO).
MP0112 was shown to be safe, and to suppress VEGF-A concentrations in aqueous humor after a single intraocular injection, with a pharmacokinetic half-life of about 2 weeks. These effects were accompanied by a stabilization or improvement in visual acuity and reduction of retinal edema (measured with optical coherence tomography) for up to 12 to 16 weeks.
"The current 4 to 8 week dosing frequency of anti-VEGF therapies imposes a huge burden upon patients, physicians and healthcare systems. The ability to suppress intraocular VEGF for as long as possible is an important differentiator, and could result in a more sustainable treatment regimen in DME", said Lisa Rojkjaer, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Molecular Partners. "Publication of these exciting results in the high impact journal AJO underscores the importance of the data."
DME together with wet AMD are key causes of severe vision loss in the western world. These two indications are driven primarily by elevated ocular concentrations of VEGF.
MP0112 is a highly-potent, stable and soluble anti-VEGF DARPin, a small therapeutic protein with single-digit picomolar binding affinity for VEGF-A. In 2011, Molecular Partners licensed the molecule under an exclusive agreement to Allergan, Inc. for clinical development in retinal diseases. Allergan is currently evaluating the molecule in a phase 2b trial in 200 patients with exudative AMD based on an optimized manufacturing process and formulation (AGN-150998). Data from this study are expected in 2013.
Notes to editors:
About Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of vision loss. Patients with diabetic retinopathy have elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the vitreous and retina, causing vascular leakiness and breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, with accumulation of fluid in the retina resulting in DME. Approved therapies for DME include laser photocoagulation and more recently, the VEGF-inhibitor Lucentis®. As the global prevalence of diabetes is estimated to reach 300 million worldwide by 2025, the number of patients with DME is expected to increase significantly.
About Molecular Partners AG
Molecular Partners is a privately-owned biotech company focusing on the research, development and commercialization of a novel class of biological drugs known as DARPins®. The company is committed to create medicines for diseases with unmet medical need and to dramatically improve existing therapies. DARPins® combine the high specificity, selectivity and safety of monoclonal antibodies with many advantages of small molecules, including high stability - and adding the ability of combining multiple specificities. Molecular Partners has established a strong DARPin® pipeline that is well differentiated from standard therapeutic approaches. Molecular Partners is focusing on DARPin® drugs in inflammation, oncology, ophthalmology and other disease areas. The most advanced DARPin® is MP0112. The internal pipeline is expanded by partnered programs with leading pharmaceutical companies. Molecular Partners has established collaborations with Allergan, Janssen Biotech and others. The company is backed by a strong syndicate of investors and holds a strong patent estate covering all DARPin® applications.
About DARPins®
DARPins® are a new generation of target-binding proteins which can be isolated from large libraries. The DARPin® platform is an efficient product generating engine creating differentiated and high quality drugs at unmatched speed. Each drug candidate profits from a wide range of beneficial biophysical properties, including high stability and solubility, high yield and low-cost microbial production. Also, DARPins® show very high potencies and pharmacokinetic profiles tailored to the demand of the application, ranging from minutes to weeks. DARPins® can be effortlessly combined into multispecific drug candidates without compromising biophysical and development characteristics. This rapid and robust generation of multispecific DARPins® allows new combinatorial approaches in exploring target biology.
Issued for and on behalf of Molecular Partners AG.
To contact the Molecular Partners team at College Hill, email firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Like a groin kick that we really didn't need
But goddamn it, this sucks.
The return of Roy Halladay was one of those little moments to which Jays fans could look forward. It was going to be an opportunity to rise to our feet and salute the outstanding contribution of quite possibly the Greatest Jay, both in person at the stadium as well as in our hearts and minds. It surely would have been a moment that would have resonated with Jays fans for years to come, and may well have helped us all close the door and move on to the future of the franchise.
But now, we have the announcement that, due to security concerns around the G-20 meeting in Toronto, the Jays and MLB have agreed to move the Phillies series to the City of Battery Chucks. Talk about adding insult to injury. This feels like a kick to the groin, followed by a purple nurple, followed by a taunt of "that didn't hurt", followed by a wedgie.
And somehow, after all of that, we're supposed to wear our Blue Jays fandom with pride.
In the grown up world, where the decision to move these games was made, this is absolutely the most logical and rational solution to a series of problems. And you can feel free to debate amongst yourselves who caused those problems, but we're not sure how productive that discussion is.
What may be a more productive discussion is this: What does this team have to do to make good to its fans? Maybe they could have rationalized the player moves, or the ticket prices, or keeping the roof closed or having little or nothing in terms of promotions this season. And maybe they can make a very reasonable case that the insult of moving this, likely the most important series of the year, is beyond their control.
They could do that, and appeal to our more rational side. But being a fan isn't a rational thing.
Assuaging the hurt feelings and disappointment that is going to come from this decision has to be a priority for the team's brain trust, or they risk losing the fan base even more than they already have. It's going to take more than bland assurances from Paul Beeston and aspirational declarations from Alex Anthopoulos to make it feel all better.
While we don't want to totally lose our shit over this, there's a nagging little voice in our head telling us that this is a crucible, and the spot where some of the casual fans drop off permanently. And the thing is that it is far easier to retain the fans you have than to go out and find new ones.
19 comments:
- MC1 said...
What really bothers me the most, is the apparent request that we play Philly in interleague play next season too.
Great idea, let's make sure we play a few more games against ANOTHER one of the top teams in baseball as if our unbalanced schedule was tough enough.
Let the Rays, Red Sox or Yankees play the Marlins or Nats - we'll take 3 more against the Phillies.
- May 12, 2010 at 11:48 AM
- The Ack said...
The whole scene is fucked, man. The decision makes little sense to me (didn't even puruse neutral site?), and even more unsettling is Beeston's apparent "Big fucking deal" attitude about the whole thing.
"We did it for the fans." What the fuck? In what universe does that make sense?
For a guy who made sure he told everyone who'd listen that his goal was to win back the fans, this latest missive from Beeston fucking reeks. I've read over the press conference transcript a few times....and his rationale (or lack thereof) make less sense each time.
Really, for me, it's not even about the decision. It's how they got there and Beeston's ridiculously casual hand-wave effort to talk it away. It's insulting.
- May 12, 2010 at 11:50 AM
- RFS said...
Hey, c'mon guys. They're gonna use the DH and let the Jays be the "home" team. If that's not for the Toronot fans, I don't know what is.
- May 12, 2010 at 11:53 AM
- MC1 said...
This decision reeks of Rogers with Beeston (secretly disappointed) towing the party line.
It doesn't seem like a baseball decision, solely a (poor) business decision.
How can the rest of the NL teams be on-board with this decision too? Surely an extra 3 games at home is an unfair advantage in the wildcard race, despite the AL rules and attendance of "ACE".
Attendance be damned, Detroit or Cleveland were the only reasonable and rational options in my mind.
- May 12, 2010 at 11:58 AM
This is the biggest let down of the season for the Jays. That being said, I am still high tailing my ass down to the city of brotherly love to check this one out.
btw, with yesterday's rainout, Halladay's projected start will be on the Saturday now.
- May 12, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Does anyone know if they are providing transportation to the game? That's the only way to save face in my eyes.. a free bus ride for anyone with a passport who wants to support the "home" team.
- May 12, 2010 at 12:02 PM
- sarah said...
I don't really have any room for rationale on this one (though apparently neither does Paul Beeston), I'm just really, really sad and angry. The "we did it for the fans" bit just infuriates me, like I'm going to be less bent out of shape if it takes longer to get to the SkyDome than I would be upon hearing that the series isn't even fucking here.
Having said that, I will be in Philadelphia that weekend. Don't tase me, bros.
- May 12, 2010 at 12:04 PM
- robbgel said...
If the Jays are supposedly "Canada's team", then couldn't the game have been moved somewhere north of the border. Why not have three games in Ottawa, Montreal, or out west in Vancouver, or Calgary. There are baseball fans in other parts of the country, and I think they would be thrilled to see a game.
- May 12, 2010 at 12:07 PM
You kids seem sad. Who wants Pogos?
- May 12, 2010 at 12:34 PM
- Tao of Stieb said...
Pogos, please.
- May 12, 2010 at 12:44 PM
- Torgen said...
If you attribute getting stuck with Vegas for our AAA team with last year's leadership vacuum, moving the game to Buffalo could have helped convince them to be our AAA team for the next two years.
- May 12, 2010 at 1:20 PM
I am hoping to get down to philly, it will seem like more of a home game with more blue in the stands. Hopefully I can see a drunken Philly retard burn out his engine in the parking lot while he is passed out in the driver seat.
- May 12, 2010 at 3:25 PM
- MK Piatkowski said...
I'm hearing the Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo suggestions but it makes no sense. The Big O is a complete mess and is in no way prepared to host baseball again. Ottawa and Buffalo hold less than 20,000 and most weekend series have been drawing more than that. I don't think Vancouver or Calgary has a place that would suit either.
As for trying to have it at the dome, that would be insane. My brother lives in the condos just south of the dome and he's getting out of town because of all the security bullshit he's been told he'll have to do. Union Station's going to be shut down, the Gardiner's shut down. Front Street shut down. John and Peter/Blue Jays Way streets shut down. Do you have any idea how long it would take to navigate that?
I will call bullshit on it being in Philly though. I understand the reasoning. I just don't like it.
It doesn't seem like much is being done to accommodate Jays fans. What about people who made travel plans to come down for this series? Are they going to be reimbursed for the outlay they've already made? And what about the people who want to travel to Philly for it? Will the Jays help with accommodations, flights and tickets? They should. You're right. This is a nexus.
It's breaking my heart we can't give Doc the homecoming he deserves. Did you know the city wanted it at the CNE grounds where it would be less disruptive (and the FC would have the headache) but the Feds said no, they wanted the convention centre? Remember that when the next election comes around.
- May 12, 2010 at 7:23 PM
I had a buddy coming in from Saskatchewan for these games. We had this weekend planned since last year!! F@&cking G20!!
Guess it's gonna be a Mississauga Twins game & the Scorpions / Cinderella show.....& getting ripped watching Doc kick our ass!
- May 12, 2010 at 8:10 PM
- Leaker19 said...
Not gonna be popular, but I'm in the don't give a shit camp.
I don't think Halladay's return is bigger than any other game on the schedule. Any game in the A.L. East is more important than any dumbshit inter-league game.
I enjoyed Halladay as a Jay, but now he's just some other guy on the Phillies. Thanks for the memories Roy, but if you wanted my continued adoration, you wouldn't have started pussy aching to go join a "contender." My guys wear blue, black and gray and they're the ones I pay to see. I know, I know we got a shit ton of talent back, but none if it is on the field yet and the Jays are surprisingly competitive. It would be nice to have Halladay toeing the rubber every five days.
Also, these G-20 meetings are an absolute freak show from all the nuts that come out to protest. Google what happened in London and Pittsburgh. The G-20 brings out the moonbats. Nobody would want to go to a ballgame in the shit storm that is gonna hit Toronto. This ain't some plumbing fixture convention coming to town.
- May 12, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Geez Leaker, who pissed in your cereal?
- May 13, 2010 at 8:52 AM
- William said...
It's definitely a kicker of a decision for Toronto fans. But the decision is even worse for NL East rivals as the Phillies now get three extra home games WITH a DH. While I can understand the rationale, the games should have been pushed to a neutral site if anything.
- May 13, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Sober up and Tao and Ack, and start blogging again!
- May 13, 2010 at 9:13 PM
- Prince Nikka said...
Hi Dear
This is really great post........
Kids Party Calgary
- May 15, 2010 at 1:46 AM


text:
Also included in the price:
Plan your trip and book your flight to Croatia on time because the number of seats for above given prices is limited on each flight.
Travel period is not restricted, but if you buy return tickets then you have to stay in Croatia for at least three days. Ticket sale is not restricted and changes are permitted with additional surcharges. Refund is permitted only for unused taxes.
Prices of airline tickets can vary due to changes of airport taxes. Included in the above given price are: food and drinks during the flight, web check-in, inflight magazine, online seat reservation and accrual of miles "Miles & More" or any other Star Alliance frequent flyer programme.


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The growing progressive coalition that helped elect President Obama has emerged at the end of a failed and exhausted conservative era. The media now chronicle the flailings of Republican leaders slowly awakening to the weaknesses of a stale, pale and predominantly male party in today's America.
But the central challenge to this progressive coalition is not dispatching the old but rather defining what comes next. Will it be able to address the central challenge facing America at this time and reclaim the American Dream from an extreme and corrosive economic inequality?
In his inaugural address, President Obama spoke powerfully to this rising American electorate — single women, minorities, the young — by summarizing the progressive contribution to building a more perfect union from "Seneca Falls to Selma to Stonewall." He reminded all that greater social equality in America has been driven by independent movements, willing to confront the lies and limits of the conventional consensus.
Over decades, those civilizing movements have helped to free the slaves and extend greater opportunity to minorities, to women, to immigrants and now to gays and lesbians. But today, the progressive coalition must address the challenge faced by the original progressive movement, at the dawn of the last century — of extreme economic inequality, which is turning the American dream into a bygone memory.
Who can fail to see that this rising American electorate is sinking economically? More than 20 million people are in need of full-time work — and single women, minorities and the young have fared the worst. Wages are sinking. The top 1 percent captured fully 93 percent of the nation's income growth coming out of the Great Recession in 2010. The young find good jobs scarce, even as they carry record student loan debts, now higher than credit card debt.
U.S. politics seems impervious to this reality. Republicans in Congress are intent on holding the economy hostage repeatedly through May to dismantle ever more public capacity. Right-wing governors in the states continue to rig the rules to crush unions and "fix" elections. Even liberal reformers like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are comfortable espousing socially liberal but economically centrist politics that assume an economic recovery is underway.
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In reality, the old economy is coming back. Corporate profits are up; wages are falling. Good jobs are being shipped abroad, with trade deficits back over $1 billion a day. The big banks, more concentrated than ever, are reopening the casino. Making this economy work once more for working people will require a new strategy for growth — and a confrontation with the current complacency and its entrenched interests and exhausted ideas.
The president was right when he said this is the defining moment for the middle class, and for those who aspire to join it. But it will take bold citizen mobilization to challenge the current limits of the debate. This is the test of democracy.
We have witnessed extreme inequality and political corruption before, in the Gilded Age at the dawn of industrial America at the turn of the last century. But hundreds of thousands of farmers created a people's movement for a new monetary policy. Workers organized unions in the face of police billyclubs. Muckrakers exposed the tentacles of the trusts, the miseries inflicted on working people. It took years — and a Great Depression and a world war — but we built the first broad middle class the world had known.
A 21st-century movement for economic justice will find Americans receptive. It is striking how far ahead of Washington the majority of people is. Majorities support raising taxes on the wealthy while protecting Medicare, Medicaid and programs for the poor. They want to invest in America, not wage war in the far corners of the earth. They want to close corporate loopholes and shut down overseas tax dodges. They want the minimum wage lifted, and big banks broken up. They worry about deficits in part because they want Social Security protected, not put at risk. They want a trade strategy that ships goods, not jobs abroad.
But just as at Seneca Falls and Selma and Stonewall, it will take people's movements to spark the change. We've already seen the potential when the Occupy movement challenged Wall Street and transformed the national debate. That independent mobilization contributed directly to Obama's victory, helping him to find his own voice to fend off the challenge of Mitt Romney, a champion of the 1 percent. As history has shown, the central question is whether citizens of conscience will mobilize and march and make business as usual impossible. Will the rising American electorate continue to sink together? Or will its members help fuel the movement that revives the American dream? We shall see.