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From GigaOM:
Machine learning startup Wise.io, whose founders are University of California, Berkeley, astrophysicists, has raised a $2.5 million series A round of of venture capital. The company claims its software, which was built to analyze telescope imagery, can simplify the process of predicting customer behavior.
And from Wise.io's website:
Read how one fast growing Internet company turned to Wise to get a Lead Scoring Application, scrapped their plans to hire a Data Scientist and replaced their custom code with an end-to-end Leading scoring Application in a couple of weeks.
Uh oh. Pretty soon no one's going to hire data scientists!*
[Aside: Editors will still be needed. How about "lead scoring application" instead of "Leading scoring Application?" Heh. Aside to the aside: predictive lead scoring is among the easiest of data science problems currently confronting humans.]
But it's not that easy to "toolify" data analysis. We need human data scientists for now, because humans are able to:
- Frame problems
- Design features
- Unfool themselves
What we're talking about here is freestyle data science – humans supported with advanced data science tools. [See: Tyler Cowen on freestyle chess.]
Not just any old humans. Humans who know how to do data science.
Frame problems
Data science projects do not arrive on an analyst's desk like graduate school data analysis projects, with the question you are supposed to answer given to you. Instead, data scientists work with business experts to identify areas potentially amenable to optimization with data-based approaches. Then the data scientist does the difficult work of turning an intuition about how data might help into a machine learning problem. She formulates decision problems in terms of expected value calculations. She selects machine learning algorithms that may be useful. She figures out what data might be relevant. She gathers it and preps it (see below) and explores it.
Design features
Just as real-world data science projects do not arrive with a neat question and preselected algorithm preformulated, they also do not arrive with variables all prepped and ready. You start with a set of transaction records (or file system full of logs… or text corpus… or image database) and then you think, "O human self, how can I make this mess of numbers and characters and yeses and nos representative of what's going on in the real world?" You might log-transform or bin currency amounts. You might need to think about time and how to represent changing trends (exponentially weighted moving average?) You might distill your data – mapping countries to regions for example. You might enrich it – gathering firmographics from Dun & Bradstreet.
You also must think about missing values and outliers. Do you ignore them? Impute and replace them? Machines can be given instruction in how to handle these but they may do it crudely, without understanding the problem domain and without being able to investigate why certain values are missing or outlandish.
Unfool themselves
We humans have an uncanny ability to fool ourselves. And in data analysis, it seems easier than ever to do so. We fool ourselves with leakage. We fool ourselves by cross-validating with correlated data. We fool ourselves when we think a just-so story captures truth. We fool ourselves when we think that big data means we can analyze everything and we don't need to sample.
[Aside: We are always sampling. We sample in time. We sample from confluences of causes. Analyzing all the data that exists doesn't mean that we have analyzed all the data that a particular data generation mechanism could generate.]
What humans can do is unfool ourselves. Machines cannot do that because they don't understand the world well enough. How do we do so? By careful thought about the problem domain and questioning of too-good predictive results. With carefully designed observational studies. With carefully designed and executed experiments.
Care: that's what humans bring to machine learning and machines do not. We care about the problem domain and the question we want to answer. We care about developing meaningful measures of things going on in that domain. We care about ensuring we don't fool ourselves.
* Even if we can toolify data science and I have no doubt we will move ever towards that, the tool vendors will still need data scientists. I predict continued full employment. But I may be fooling myself.


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HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 14, 2012) – International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch (29-2, 21 KOs) has warned challenger Yusaf Mack (31-4, 17 KOs) that he will pay for his pre-fight jibes when the pair meet Saturday, headlining the "True Brit" pay-per-view event (in the U.S.), live from Nottingham, United Kingdom.
"True Brit," presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Mack appeared live on Ringside after the first press conference for the clash and called Froch, "a fake Joe Calzaghe." The pair came face-to-face again at yesterday's press conference at the Capital FM Arena, and "The Cobra" told the challenger that he will "face his wrath" in his ninth consecutive World title fight.
"I was just letting him know that he said too much when my back was turned and it might be inside his mind that I'm a bit wound up," said Froch, a huge 1-18 favorite by Betfair to retain the title and 1-4 to do so inside the distance. "I just wanted him to know he talked a load of rubbish on Ringside about Joe Calzaghe, but he probably spoke without thinking, so I put him right on that.
"I have to put on a good performance, be strong, sharp and confident, put my work together and put educated pressure on him because he could be dangerous. He's not a big and tall light heavyweight, so he could be better at super middleweight. I'm not taking anything for granted and I am making sure that I do my work right and that will be enough to defend my title in style."
Mack is a big 15-1 underdog with Betfair to claim Froch's IBF crown but the Philadelphian is confident that he has "The Cobra" rattled and he will be able to use that to shock the world.
"I got under his skin with the Calzaghe comment and I hope that's to my advantage on the night," Mack added. "On Saturday, I'm going to prove that I'm ready for this fight. I've lived in the gym and I've given myself the chance to show that I am the fighter I can be. I really believe I'm going to be taking the belt home.
"I haven't come to fight the crowd. I'll block them out on Saturday and I have nothing to prove to them. Froch has the pressure to impress them, not me; he's said he's going to knock me out so the pressure is on him to do that. When I'm still standing there after the sixth round, when people think I'm going to tire, what's he going to do? I don't fade and he can't beat me."
(L-R) Carl Froch & Yusaf Mack
(Phobo by Lawrence Lustig)
World-rated light heavyweight Tony Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) takes on South American champion Roberto Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Championship, which is also an official WBC eliminator to become champion "Bad" Chad Dawson's mandatory challenger.
Bellew, rated No. 10 by The Ring Magazine, has lost only once as a professional, last year in his only World title challenge fight to undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly in a hotly-contested 12-round majority decision.
Bolonti, who is rated No. 5 by the WBC, as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and IBF, is shooting for his 27th consecutive victory, fighting for the first time outside of his native Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The PPV card will also showcase some of Britain's top, young fighters, including bantamweight prospect Khalid "Kal" Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 Great Britain Olympian, vs. Pro Antonio Nettunio (7-5), lightweight Scott "Scotty" Cardle (5-0, 1 KO) vs. Joe Elfidh (7-2) and, time permitting, highlights from other undercard bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hobby Lobby: The 9 justices
In a rare 90-minute session, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dug deep into the religious-freedom challenge Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties are mounting against the Obamacare contraception mandate.
As in other high-profile cases, court-watchers examined every question, comment, twitch and grimace in a quest to divine where the justices are headed. Of course, it's a truism that justices' remarks at arguments don't always reflect where they will ultimately come down in a case.
Story Continued Below
But the comments — and quips — are still our best guide to where justices are at the moment. In that spirit, here's POLITICO's take on where the nine justices appear to stand after Tuesday's proceedings:
( PHOTOS: Hobby Lobby protests)
Justice Anthony Kennedy
On the fence, but leaning toward the companies
Kennedy is often the man to watch in hotly contested Supreme Court cases, and he didn't disappoint on Tuesday, asking questions that tracked with both sides' arguments and managed to obscure his overall view.
At the outset of the arguments, Kennedy seemed troubled by the idea of allowing employers' religious choices to override those of their workers. "You can have hypotheticals about the employer makes them, wants to make them wear burkas and so forth. That's not in this case. The employee may not agree with these religious beliefs of the employer. Does the religious beliefs just trump? Is that the way it works?"
Later, Kennedy threw a slow-pitch softball to Solicitor General Donald Verrilli about how allowing exemptions for for-profit companies would undercut the overall operation of the health care law.
( Also on POLITICO: Honey, I shrunk the mandate)
"Is it your position that part of the compelling interest here is that you have to protect the integrity — the operational integrity of the whole act?" the justice asked.
"It is part of our argument, absolutely," Verrilli replied.
That prompted Kennedy to joke that the court better look at the whole law then — something it memorably did two years ago.
However, the Reagan appointee quickly turned on the government. First, there were several biting questions about exemptions the administration granted to various entities, undercutting arguments that protecting for-profit companies' religious beliefs would unravel Obamacare.
Then, Kennedy walked Verrilli into a buzzsaw, claiming that the administration's position was that companies could lawfully be required to provide not only contraception, but also surgical abortion if a law required it.
( Also on POLITICO: Taxpayers fund teaching creationism)
"Under your view, a [for-]profit corporation … could be forced in principle to pay for abortions," he said. "Your reasoning would permit that."
At the end, Kennedy's vote still seemed up in the air, but his use of the powerful abortion example, coupled with his references to already-granted exemptions, suggest he'll rule that the law requires the Obama administration to accommodate the family-owned firms' religious concerns.
Justice Stephen Breyer
Too cagey to call
Breyer won the award for most mysterious at Tuesday's arguments. He asked no questions whatsoever of the lawyer for the companies, Paul Clement, during Clement's first 40 minutes at the lectern or his five-minute rebuttal.
When Breyer opened his mouth about an hour into the session, one of the first things that came out was a kind of disclaimer.
"My question reflects no point of view at all on my behalf," the Clinton appointee insisted before suggesting there was a "less restrictive way" to provide contraception coverage by having the government pay for it when employers with religious objections didn't want to. "This is not coming from any point of view," Breyer claimed again, implausibly, while also demanding a "precise" answer from Verrilli.
( Also on POLITICO: Justices skeptical of W.H. position on Hobby Lobby)
Breyer did fret a bit about the implications of allowing taxpayers to withhold taxes to be spent on things they disagree with, but he also seemed to doubt that Jewish or Muslim butchers who organize companies would not have some religious rights. "I don't think it matters whether they call themselves a corporation or whether they call themselves individuals," he said, before claiming again that his question was just a question.
Despite his defensiveness, Breyer sounded like a less than sure vote for the administration, though his history suggests he'd be reluctant to allow exemptions that could upend a complex law like Obamacare.
Chief Justice John Roberts
For the companies, but just ones like these
Roberts also gave the administration little to be happy about but did indicate he favors limiting protection to "closely held" companies controlled by families or no more than a few individuals — where the business can really be seen as an extension of the owners.
"Whether it applies in the other situations is a question that we'll have to await another case when a large publicly traded corporation comes in and says: 'We have religious principles.' The sort of situation that I don't think is going to happen," he said.
( PHOTOS: Obamacare in the Mississippi Delta)
Roberts also reminded everyone that the court wasn't considering a definitive constitutional ruling, but just one applying a law Congress passed in 1993, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. "If Congress feels as strongly about this as you suggest," he told Verrilli, "they can always pass an exemption, an exception to RFRA, which they have done on other occasions. And they haven't done it here."
Justice Elena Kagan
Favors the administration, but not down the line
Kagan was the administration's most vocal advocate Tuesday, but it was a measure of the tough time Verrilli had that even she expressed doubts about the government's argument that for-profit corporations simply lack religious rights.
"I'm not sure I understand it as a threshold claim," Kagan said bluntly late in the arguments.
Other than that, though, Kagan was a tenacious defender of applying Obamacare broadly and limiting any new religious exemptions. She rejected out of hand that the owners of Hobby Lobby and the other businesses were being coerced to give up their religious beliefs.
"It's not saying you must do something that violates your religion. It's giving you a choice," Kagan insisted.
( PHOTOS: 20 quotes: More Obamacare, less work)
The former Obama solicitor general also warned that religious exemptions could render Obamacare and other laws a kind of ineffective patchwork.
"One religious group could opt out of this, and another religious group could opt out of that, and everything would be piecemeal and nothing would be uniform," Kagan said.
Despite her wavering on one argument, Kagan seems like a sure vote for the government.


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Of course, I'll be having black-eyed peas and collard greens for New Year's Day. It has become more than a tradition. It's almost downright superstition, though I hate to admit that.
And, of course, I'll make the usual resolutions. I'll commit those stubborn 6 pounds to a diet, pledge to work out more than once a week, promise to be kinder to those who are meaner and read my Bible daily. It is safe to say that I will not miss peas and collards on the first day of the new year and, by sometime in February, I already will have failed at all these resolutions. However, if I can stay away from a problem with the phone company, I may have a chance of stretching the "kinder to meaner" resolution to March.
This year, however, I'm brave enough about my past failures to audaciously add some brand spanking new ones. That's because I have a brand new husband, and I realize that it is my wifely duty to help to make him a better man. I'll happily use some of my resolutions to do that. Since you and I are such good friends, I don't mind sharing them with you, and since my husband is a faithful reader of this column, he'll have a copy, too.
1. I plan to introduce him to a check register. It's helpful device that lists checks that are written and keeps a tally of money in the account. Now you should know, I'm fervent in book keeping and counting my pennies. He, though, totes checks in his pockets, writes them at will and never thinks to record them. "I know what a check register is," he will say indignantly when I question whether he has ever seen one. This year, I resolve that he will prove those words to me.
2. I will challenge him daily to show me that he is carrying a pocket knife. Every farmer or Southern man knows that a pocket knife is indispensable. "I need something to cut the twine on these bales of hay for the horses," he said the other day. I smiled. "That's why you're suppose to carry a pocket knife with you. You never know when you need to whip it out and cut something." A wedding gift from our friend, Mike, was a pocket knife. "Every man needs a pocket knife," Mike explained then tossed a nod in my direction. "And she really likes men who carry pocket knives. She says it's sexy."
3. There needs to be more reverence around our house paid to that great and mighty warrior, Gen. Robert E. Lee. I expect his birthday on Jan. 19 to be treated with somber respect, and there should be no head shaking over the fact that some Southern states declare his birthday to be a state holiday. Gen. Lee is to the South what bush hogs are to farmers - a hero.
4. I am going to promote less hand washing around here. My husband, who is not a doctor but often writes one on television, goes through a bar of soap every two days, while a bottle of liquid soap lasts less than a week. I believe that a few germs make us healthier. If you keep your body stripped of germs, how can you build up immunity to them? I will say, though, that of all my resolutions relating to the man of our house, this is the one I have the least faith in. It's probably a safer bet that I will succeed in reading the Bible daily as opposed to this one. He likes clean.
So, those are my new, never-used-before resolutions. Maybe my husband will clip out this column, put it on the refrigerator and practice these things.
Or maybe I'll be repeating these resolutions again next year. Just like all my previous resolutions.
• Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of "There's A Better Day A-Comin'." Visit www.rondarich.com to sign up for her weekly newsletter.


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2 NY firefighters shot when responding to blaze make progress, speak out; 2 others died
- Image 1 of 2
- Image 2 of 2
WEBSTER, N.Y. – The upstate New York firefighters wounded by a gunman as they responded to a blaze are on the mend and thankful for the outpouring of support.
Joseph Hofstetter and Theodore Scardino said in a statement released by Strong Memorial Hospital that they are "humbled and overwhelmed."
Police say William Spengler Jr. set his house ablaze Monday and then opened fire on responders, killing two. Spengler then killed himself. Seven houses burned down.
Hofstetter was hit in the pelvis and Scardino was hit in the shoulder and knee. Surgeon Nicole Stassen says they're doing well and were being upgraded to satisfactory condition Wednesday.
The firefighters ask that acts of kindness be directed to others, including those who lost homes in the blaze.


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July 2008
Glossary of Common Evaluation Terms
Control group refers to the population of subjects (e.g., students) who do not receive or participate in the treatment being studied (e.g., an online class) but whose performance or other outcomes are being compared to those of students who will receive or participate in the treatment.
Formative evaluations generate information aimed at helping program stakeholders better understand a program or its participants, often by examining the delivery or implementation of a program. Findings from these evaluations are generally used to make program improvements or influence future decisions.
Hierarchical linear modeling, also called multi-level modeling, is used for the same purpose as regression analysis—to understand what factors are the best predictors of an outcome, such as a test score. But researchers use hierarchical linear modeling to take into account factors at different levels of an education system, such as the characteristics of the class or school in which students are situated. Hierarchical linear modeling helps statisticians address the fact that students are generally not grouped randomly within classes or schools and that classroom- and school-level factors are often related to student outcomes.
Quasi-experiments are experimental studies in which subjects are not assigned at random to treatment and control groups, as with RCTs (see below). Quasi-experimental studies may be used, for example, when controlled trials are infeasible (e.g., when evaluators cannot assign students randomly to participate in a treatment) or are considered too expensive. According to the U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse, strong evidence of a program's effectiveness can be obtained from a quasi-experimental study based on one of three designs: one that "equates" treatment and control groups, either by matching groups based on key characteristics of participants or by using statistical methods to account for differences between groups; one that employs a discontinuity design in which participants are assigned to the treatment and control groups based on a cutoff score on a pretreatment measure that typically assesses need or merit; or one that uses a "single-case design" involving repeated measurement of a single subject (e.g., a student or a classroom) in different conditions or phases over time.19
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are experimental studies that randomly assign some study participants to receive a treatment (e.g., participation in a class or program) and others to not receive the treatment. This latter is known as the control group. In an RCT, evaluators compare the outcomes (e.g., test scores) of the treatment group with those of the control group; these results are used to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. RCTs can provide strong evidence of a program's effectiveness.
Regression analysis is a statistical technique used in research to determine the factors or characteristics (e.g., gender, family income level, whether a student participated in a particular program) that are the best predictors of an outcome. Regression analyses help statisticians isolate the relationships between individual factors and an outcome and, thus, are useful when trying to understand the relationship of a program to student achievement.
Summative evaluations examine the effects or outcomes of a program. Findings from these evaluations are generally used to assess how well a program is meeting its stated goals.
Treatment group refers to the population of subjects (in this case, students) who receive or participate in the treatment being studied (e.g., an online class).


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Since the world learned that Elizabeth Edwards is, in fact, not a saint but a monster, the internet fur has been flying. And the Daily Beast has yet another narrative for us:
Lee Siegel's piece is a thoughtful one that basically states: Elizabeth Edwards is neither a saint nor a monster, but a very human woman whose exact circumstances we can't know. But then he undoes a lot of that by presenting his own, equally speculative "counter-narrative":
The death of their oldest son in 1996, when he was about 17, changed the Edwards' lives. They blamed themselves; they blamed each other. Politics kept them together; politics drove them apart. The more John triumphed, the further he drifted away from Elizabeth. His triumphs made Elizabeth satisfied; they also made her desperate. Her cancer brought death back into their lives. He grew distant; she became enraged. He found a new image of himself, a new woman who bought it, and started a new life with her, free of death: his son's, his wife's. Elizabeth kept him with her to console herself with an imaginary future, and to punish him. The lying, the delusion, the denial-they were all honest falsehoods pouring out of real emotions. John's self-destruction was how he almost consciously paid himself back for his delusions. (The thing he most wanted was for splendid John Edwards to be president; the last thing he wanted was for inadequate, shameful John Edwards to win anything.) Elizabeth's destructiveness toward the campaign was how she paid John and his supporters back for having no choice but to cling to his illusions along with him.It all turned to shit. They didn't hurt anyone but themselves. Why do we hate them?
This is more of the same, a speculation that's perhaps human (and certainly encouraged by a world in which reality TV encourages us to judge strangers' 2-D lives) but frankly asinine. Is this a more sensitive interpretation? Sure. Is it pure guesswork? You bet. And in one regard, this account feels disingenuous: "they didn't hurt anyone but themselves" does away tidily with anyone who contributed time, money and even just idealism to a cause that both seemed to have known was doomed. And "leave Elizabeth Alone?" She's a figure who's gone voluntarily into the public eye, largely on her own terms. I might chafe at the tone of her coverage and bemoan the predictable forms that criticism takes - but it's an insult to her to suggest that she can't handle a lot worse.
Leave Elizabeth Alone [Daily Beast]


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As an over-consumer of food magazines and Pinterest images, I've come to miss the cookie and cake pictures this month.
Now that the holidays are over, it seems like many of us have taken a hiatus from baking. January is supposedly the time for salads and soups and juice cleanses, right? At least, that's what all the cooking magazines are telling me.
And healthy-eating-wise, I've been doing okay so far. I don't get bagels with cream cheese or pizza slices three or four times a week anymore. But the baking? No no no. It's so impossible to ween myself off it that I'm not even going to try.
Green tea pound cake is one of those foods that just has a lovely sound to it. It's fragrant, light, complex, yet indulgent at the same time. As for this particular cake, the texture is nice and buttery like a pound cake should be, but also airy and doesn't make you feel weighed down, even after a eating a few slices more than you should.
So if you, like me, haven't taken a break from baking in January, do give this green tea pound cake a try. I adapted the original recipe from Food.com slightly, the biggest changes being adding more butter to make it less dry and green tea powder. (Love the stuff. What can I say?) It works in both a large or small loaf pan; the 9"x5" pan will yield a flatter cake, and a 8.5"x4.5" pan will yield a taller cake.
What are you baking or want to be baking this month?
Matcha (Green Tea) Pound Cake
Makes 1 loaf
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons green tea powder
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and green tea powder.
- In a separate large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in the eggs. Add the sifted flour mixture and mix until well-combined.
- Pour the batter into a buttered loaf pan (9"x5" pan will yield a flatter cake, 8.5"x4.5" will yield a taller cake). Bake for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.
Adapted from Food.com.
More green tea desserts to try:
- Green Tea Shortbread Cookies
- Matcha Sea Salt Cookies from Cooking Tackle
- Matcha Green Tea Macarons from Bake Noir
- Green Tea Ice Cream from Ichigo Shortcake
- Matcha Sesame Cheesecakes from Hungry Rabbit
- Matcha and Cherry Chip Cookies from Sugar Swings


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Israeli police sent on wild-goose chase The Israeli police knew they didn't have a shred of evidence against me other than some hateful letter filled with false accusations that misled them.
I received a call (at the Palm Youth Hostel in Jerusalem where I lived and legally worked) from a friend in the United States that "KP" sent him a copy of a letter he reportedly also sent to the Israeli authorities, claiming I was involved in some plot to blow up the mosques to stop the peace process and prepare the way for the Temple; was involved in arms smuggling (distorting my travels through the war-zone of Yugoslavia by train from Germany and visit to South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as other adventures - thanks to a gracious inheritance from my Hoover grandparents) and that I wasn't Jewish. I told my friend the Israeli police would recognize "KP" was a crackpot and would dismiss his bizarre letter. I wasn't worried about it...
(read more ...)
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Will Israel right the wrong?
Posted by David Ben-Ariel at 5:51 PM
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LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Friday that the major distractions he has faced this week and during the last few months will not have an effect on his title fight against Marcos Maidana on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mayweather revealed on Showtime's All-Access reality show Wednesday that his longtime live-in fiancee, Chantal Jackson, was pregnant with Mayweather's twins three months ago and is no longer pregnant. The two have since broken up.
TOUGH BREAKUP: 'No question' Mayweather distracted
FIGHTER'S CHANCE?: Maidana set to prove doubters wrong
"My job is to go out there and do what I do best," Mayweather said after weighing in at 146 pounds, one under the welterweight limit. "I perform better under pressure. I look forward to going out there and being Floyd Mayweather and taking my time, keeping my composure and doing what I do best.
"Pressure. I love it. I love it. The main thing is, as long as God loves me, I'm OK."
After the weigh-in, there was another controversy involving the gloves that Mayweather and Maidana will use for the fight. Mayweather's camp rejected the 8-ounce gloves Maidana selected because they did not have enough padding in the knuckle area. The two sides will undoubtedly come to an agreement by fight time.
Mayweather's weigh-ins are more than a pre-fight requirement. They are full-blown events. More than 9,500 people -- hundreds were turned away -- packed the arena to watch Mayweather and his opponent, Maidana, along with their star-studded undercard, weigh in for Saturday's welterweight title unification bout (Showtime pay-per-view, 9 p.m. ET).
RETIREMENT?: Mayweather says it crosses his mind
A free performance by Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist 2 Chainz primed the fans for the main event, and undoubtedly brought in a good chunk of the crowd. Also Golden Boy Promotions had a parade of Champions. Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman and Deontay Wilder were among the 14 champions, as well as former champion Paul Williams, who is paralyzed after a motorcycle accident a few years ago.
Maidana weighed in at 146.5 pounds, just under the welterweight limit of 147.
"I'm calm and relaxed and ready for the fight," Maidana said. Asked why he was so calm, Maidana said, "Well, because of my style. I know Mayweather's great and all that, but since he's so big, that's why I want to beat him."
Mayweather is 45-0 with 29 KOs, while Maidana is 35-3 with 31 KOs.
Former champions Amir Khan (28-3, 19 KOs) and Luis Collazo (35-5, 18 KOs) are fighting on the main televised undercard, a 12-round welterweight bout for minor titles.
"I believe our fight can definitely steal the show on Saturday night," Khan said. "It's my first fight at 147, I just can't wait to put on a great performance. I just can't wait to put on a great performance."
Golden Boy has said that the winner of the Khan-Collazo fight could get a shot against Mayweather in September.
Adrien Broner (27-1, 22 KOs), who was nearly knocked out by Maidana last December, takes on Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round non-title bout.
PHOTOS: Floyd Mayweather Jr. through the years


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Why you want to be a part of Alt.Net Israel
Saturday, August 9, 2008
I was fortunate today to take part in the first Alt.Net "unconference" to be held in Israel and let me tell you - it was an awesome experience! The concept of Alt.Net is that a group of .net enthusiasts get together and organize a conference by themselves for themselves to discuss .net, its past, present and future. Simply put, the audience organizes and gives the talks. Here's a more profound explanation: http://davybrion.com/blog/2008/08/altnet-what-does-it-mean/ The first Alt.Net Israel meeting was held at the Ramat Gan offices of the Sela Group who were kind enough to host us on short notice. The...
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In recognition of National
Hispanic Heritage Month,
this video highlights the wartime experiences of three Hispanic Americans.
Across the nation, Americans are uniting to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Japanese American the Honorable
Eric Shinseki Discusses His Experiences During the Vietnam War.
In recognition of Asian/Pacific American
Heritage Month, this video highlights the wartime experiences of three Asian/Pacific Americans.
In recognition of Asian/Pacific American
Heritage Month, this video highlights the wartime experiences of Mr. Allen K. Hoe.
General Robert B. Neller, Commandant of The United
States Marine Corps
Admiral John Richardson,
Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Karl Schultz,
Commandant of The United
States Coast Guard
General David L. Goldfein,
Air Force Chief of Staff
Vietnam veterans CW3 Doris
"Lucki" Allen, USA (RET), Linda
Swallow, USAF, and Carmen Marshall Adams, USN, Share Their Stories During a Difficult Time in Our Nation's History.
General Joseph L. Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard Bureau
The Honorable Robert Wilkie,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of The United States Army
Army Nurse Donna Rowe Discusses Her Experiences During the Vietnam War
African-American Veterans Discuss Their Experiences in Vietnam - Part II
African-American Veterans Discuss
Their Experiences in Vietnam - Part I
2018 Director's Holiday Message
5th Marines Vietnam War Memorial Arrival
We Want To Thank You
Debt of Gratitude
On the Other Side of the Mic
President Trump Presents the Medal of Honor
Obama Presents Medal of Honor to Vietnam Vet
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CLEAN VEHICLE HISTORY, LOW MILES, ONE OWNER, SUNROOF, APPLE CAR PLAY & GOOGLE ANDROID, Bluetooth, Heated & Cooled Front Seats, Heated Steering Wheel, Adaptive Cruise, Blind Spot & Cross Path Detection, Rear Park Assist, Rearview Camera, Remote Start, Pushbutton Start, Sport Mode, Power 6-Way Driver Seat, 18 Speakers Premium Audio System, 8.4 Touchscreen Display, harman/kardon GreenEdge Amp, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Steering wheel audio controls, Wheels: 20 x 8.0 Granite Crystal Aluminum.
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- Premier League
Parker: Arsenal have been deflated by Spurs
Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker believes Gareth Bale's stunning last-minute winner against West Ham on Monday night will have rocked Arsenal back onto their heels ahead of this weekend's north London derby at White Hart Lane.
Victory for Spurs in Sunday's showdown will give them a seven-point lead over Arsenal ten games from the end of the season, with Parker hoping the Gunners will feel the weight of pressure in a fixture they cannot really afford to lose.
"I've been in that position when you're playing and you're watching the scores come in and you hear there's been a last-minute goal in a game that's important for your side," said Parker. "You're praying it's gone the way you wanted it to and then you hear it's a goal for the team you didn't want to score. So it is deflating for a player watching, and I'm sure the Arsenal players are like that.
"Gareth is a world-class player and at the moment he is scoring last-minute goals that are winning games for us. He was fantastic at West Ham and stepped up again to get us the three points."
Parker believes the current Spurs squad is a step ahead of the pool of players Arsene Wenger has assembled at Arsenal, yet he is quick to play down suggestions that the balance of power in North London football has already tilted in the direction of Andre Villas-Boas' men - reflecting on Tottenham's end-of-season collapse a year ago to emphasise his point.
"We've got players in our squad that Arsenal would want any day of the week," Parker said. "Arsenal are still a top club and a top team but we have narrowed the gap, that is clear. You can never say anything for certain but a win in that game would put us in a good position.
"What happened last year is a focus and something we're aware of. We've worked really hard to get into this position and we can't afford to fall off now. Arsenal will be thinking that if they can beat us the gap will be only one point, so it is going to be tight.
"The race for fourth place isn't over but we fully deserved the win against West Ham. Their goalkeeper had a world-class game, but we still managed to get the three points."
Bale has now hit nine goals in his last seven games for club and country and has scored in his last four Premier League games.


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May existing home sales plunged far below expectations, coming in at an annualized -2.2% rate, compared to consensus of 6.0%, and a revised 8% in April. This is the second worst monthly drop in history, and shows just how very wrong economists are, and how they will all have to revise their outlooks lower, for all macro indicators including GDP. The plunge occurred even despite near record low 30 year mortgage rates: the Freddie 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.89 percent in May from 5.10 percent in April; the rate was 4.86 percent in May 2009. The push forward effect of the administration's various subsidies is now over and a double dip is likely now inevitable unless yet another stimulus plan is implemented. There is nothing quite like the administration finding a scapegoat du jour: first it was snow in winter, then hot weather in the spring, now it is the oil spill: "Florida and Louisiana, also impacted by the oil spill, have the highest percentage of homes that require flood insurance."
From NAR press release:
Existing-home sales remained at elevated levels in May on buyer response to the tax credit, characterized by stabilizing home prices and historically low mortgage interest rates, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Gains in the West and South were offset by a decline in the Northeast; the Midwest was steady.
Existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.66 million units in May, down 2.2 percent from an upwardly revised surge of 5.79 million units in April. May closings are 19.2 percent above the 4.75 million-unit level in May 2009; April sales were revised to show an 8.0 percent monthly gain.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said he expects one more month of elevated home sales. "We are witnessing the ongoing effects of the home buyer tax credit, which we'll also see in June real estate closings," he said. "However, approximately 180,000 home buyers who signed a contract in good faith to receive the tax credit may not be able to finalize by the end of June due to delays in the mortgage process, particularly for short sales.
"In addition, many potential sales are being delayed by an interruption in the National Flood Insurance Program. Florida and Louisiana, also impacted by the oil spill, have the highest percentage of homes that require flood insurance."As the leading advocate for homeownership issues, NAR is supporting Senate amendments to extend the home buyer tax credit closing deadline through September 30 for contracts written by April 30, and to renew the flood insurance program. "Sales and related local economic activity would have been higher without delays in the closing process or flood insurance issues," Yun noted.


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This is probably well know, and maybe even trivial, but not to me. Consider for concreteness the subgroup $$ \pm\Gamma_0(3)=\left\{\begin{pmatrix}a & b \\ c & d\end{pmatrix}:\;a,b,c,d\in\mathbb{Z},ad-bc=\pm1, c\equiv 0\pmod 3\right\} $$ of $GL_2(\mathbb{Z})$. This has of course index 4 in $GL_2(\mathbb{Z})$. The first (possibly completely ridiculous) question is
Does $\pm\Gamma_0(3)$ contain a subgroup isomorphic to $GL_2(\mathbb{Z})$?
It's not even obvious to me that the two are not isomorphic as abstract groups. The second question is
Does $GL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ contain subgroups that are isomorphic to $\pm\Gamma_0(3)$ with finite index other than 4? If the answer is yes, then what is the least common multiple of all such indices? E.g. is there a subgroup of index 3 (or 5, or 7, or...) in $GL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ isomorphic to $\pm\Gamma_0(3)$? Or will all such indices be multiples of 4?
An answer or technique that is applicable to other congruence subgroups and to other values of 2 would be a great bonus, but for now I would happily settle for an answer to this concrete question.


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I'm a sucker for Pixar short films, and from the looks of it, I'll also be a sucker for The Blue Umbrella, the new one coming from the Toy Story-makers.
This tease, posted at The Wall Street Journal, pretty much confirms it: Yep, I'm going to love this. The final video will play in front of Monsters University, which opens in June.
How are you all doing? Everyone have a good weekend? Ready to tackle 2013 with the first full week of the year? Hope so. Feel free to talk about anything you like, here or over in the Talk Amongst Yourselves forum. Have good chatting, see you tomorrow.
Via Laughing Squid


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Eighteen years never seems so short until the day you move your child to college.
When I moved my oldest daughter into her dorm five years ago, I was determined to stay upbeat and excited for her big transition and send her off on a positive note. But truth be told, I was a mess. Every time I turned around, I swear she looked three again. And yet, here was my beautiful 18-year-old, ready to embrace her independence and impending adulthood. I, on the other, wanted to wrap her up in my arms and take her back to preschool.
I will be moving my 18-year-old twin girls to their respective dorms in just a few short weeks. And the emotions are bubbling just below the surface already. But I did learn a few things the first time around, so if you're in the same boat this fall, here are six quick tips for parents of new college students that I'd pass along. And before I forget—pack extra Kleenex.
Don't ask them if they're homesick. ?The power of suggestion can be a dangerous thing. Yes, your student will miss you. But the first few weeks of a freshman's schedule are filled with new classes, fun activities and new friends, so let them focus on those things. Chances are good they'll have moments of homesickness, yes. But it's better to let them bring that up. No need to remind them.
Stay in touch. Sometimes. Think you're going to talk to your child every day? Think again. College is busy, and your child will hopefully embrace all it has to offer—that's what you want to happen, anyway. So give them space and don't bombard them with calls, texts and emails every day. Of course, stay in touch. But let your student set the pace.
Mail stuff. Your college student will love receiving care packages, and you'll get in a good dose of parenting by assembling them. A monthly reminder of home may go a long way in treating homesickness. Just remember that if you're sending something through snail mail, let your student know, as college kids don't often check their mailboxes regularly.
Never call the professor, department chair or dean. There are no parent-teacher conferences in college. In fact, professors don't want to hear from you. And regardless of the class, it's up to your student to address any issues that arise. Not you. Your child is pursuing his or her own future—and this means allowing him or her to take responsibility.
Don't install a GPS on your kid. Many well-meaning parents want to track their student's every move at college, and with technology these days, you almost can. But resist this. Your baby is growing up, whether you like it or not. Let your young adult develop a sense of independence and personal responsibility.
Be an anchor. Keep your child informed about changes at home. College students want their parents to accept all the changes they're making, but they want things to stay the same at home. This is just part of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. It's important to let them know about things like room changes, news about pets, what's happening in their siblings' lives—anything that makes them feel involved as a family member.
Before you shop: As a parent, nothing is more rewarding and heartbreaking at the same time as moving your child to college. Check out some of our other great tips to help with the transition and the emotional impact.


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screencap Friday: what the flick? #95
Friday fun! Here's a screen capture from one of the DVDs in my collection (and it's definitely from a movie, not a TV show). Guess the movie for fun and, well, fun. No prizes, just bragging rights. But hey: one guess per comment — no fair hogging all the guesses.
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/flick/public_html/wptest/wp-content/themes/FlickFilosopher/loop-single.php on line 106


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She's back! Former 'SNL' head writer, 'Weekend Update' hostess and Sarah Palin mimic extraordinaire Tina Fey will be back on 'Saturday Night Live,' if only for a night.
Fey is slated to host the show's season premiere on Sept. 28 with musical guests Arcade Fire.
E! Online reports that following Fey's triumphant return is none other than Miley Cyrus, who will turn in double duty as both host and musical guest on Oct. 5.
Other guests on the long-running series include Bruce Willis as host with musical guest Katy Perry, as well as a rumored double-duty performance and hosting by none other than Lady Gaga. Considering how well Gaga's video short with Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake, 'Three-Way,' went, we bet the New York City native will get all the 'Applause' she deserves.
Авторский пост


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The goal of NSO is to help students feel prepared as they begin their journey at UFV. It is a great opportunity to get to know the campus, meet fellow students and talk to staff and faculty about what is happening at UFV.
The program is designed to ease the transition from where you are now, as a high school student, transfer student or mature student, to the life and culture at UFV. The New Student Orientation is your free one-day introduction to life as a UFV student. It is designed to help you succeed as a student, especially in your first year.
During Orientation you will:
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to get ahead on your first day of classes!
Visit Current Students to learn more about the NSO and how you can register.


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This bottle green tie comes pre-tied and fastens with a hook.
Made from 100% polyester and will accommodate all sizes with the adjustment strap.
A simple change in tie colour can breath new life into a kilt outfit.
If you have any questions about the tie or can't find what you're looking for, please contact us.
Delivery is made using Royal Mail and delivery time is usually within 2-4 working days once the order has been placed. You can also choose to collect your purchase within one of our stores at no extra cost. Returns are accepted within 28 days of purchase and are fully refundable, subject to the item not having been worn. You can also return your unworn items to any of our stores, please take your dispatch note with you as proof of purchase.


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Window & Door Wedge Glazing Gasket Seal W006 White Pack of 6 Metres
- Product Code: W006_White_6 Metres
- Availability: In Stock
In Stock
Same day dispatch if ordered before 3pm
uPVC Double Glazing Wedge Gasket Seal
All windows and doors are fitted with rubber gasket seal. It is used to weather seal the opening sash to the frame.
No adhesive is required to fit this gasket, the gasket is designed to simply push in to a groove located around a sash or frame.
Fitting new gaskets can solve many problems, draughty and leaking windows are one of the many symptoms of a failing gasket. Over the year many gaskets will lose their flexibility, start to shrink and even disintegrate.
Replacing your gasket is by far the best way to stop draughts and cold!
- Dynamic and static applications
- Trade standard materials conforming to BS7412
- Alternative colour finishes
- Superior ageing properties
- Unaffected by most aqueous oils and oil based fluids
- UV stable
The sample pack
|6 Metres
|Gasket Type
At GB DIY Store we understand that when you've placed an order you want your goods as soon as possible. Any orders which are placed before 3pm will be despatched the very same day, Monday - Friday. Any orders made after that time will be despatched the following day. Orders placed on a weekend or bank holiday will be despatched the next working day.
More information about deliveries can be Found here.


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LA PORTE, Texas - A former La Porte high school teacher and coach has been accused of having an improper relationship with a student.
Kevin Andrew Wheeler, 31, has been charged with two counts of improper relationship between educator and student.
La Porte police said Wheeler was a teacher and coach when the relationship with his 17-year-old female algebra student allegedly occurred during the 2011-2012 school year. According to court documents, Wheeler and the student had sexual contact in his classroom in May during school hours.
Wheeler appeared in court on Thursday for the second time this week, bringing his mother and defense attorney.
"He's not making any statements. We've entered a plea of not guilty and we haven't seen any evidence yet," defense attorney Ed Barnett said.
Detectives said that the girl sent Wheeler a Facebook friend request in August and the two then began exchanging messages that were sexual in nature. The two also communicated on cellphones and through private email accounts, police said.
Wheeler asked the girl to send nude photographs of herself to his cellphone, and she did, according to court documents.
Police said that they interviewed Wheeler and he admitted to exchanging inappropriate messages with the girl. He also admitted to having limited sexual contact with the girl, but he denied most of what the girl claimed, investigators said.
La Porte Independent School District officials said Wheeler's employment has been terminated.
Wheeler was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Harris County Jail. He was released on $100,000 bond after his first court appearance.
La Porte ISD issued the following statement:
"Based on allegations regarding the sexual impropriety of a La Porte High School teacher with a 17-year-old female student, the district immediately notified the La Porte Police Department, and the teacher was placed on leave on May 16. Also that day, the district reported its findings to the State Board for Educator Certification for possible action against the teacher's credentials. The teacher was terminated from the district at the June 12 Board of Trustees meeting. The district cooperated fully with the La Porte Police Department during its investigation. All other questions should be directed to the Police Department."
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Every year, CBR wraps our coverage of the comics industry with the Top 100 Comics of the Year - a massive, extensive and intensive cataloging of the best comics released over the past twelve months. To make our rankings, every CBR staffer -- from the homepage news hounds to the pontificating columnists and from the up-to-the-minute bloggers to our intelligent reviewers -- chips in their list of favorite comic books, webcomics and graphic novels for an all-out cage match to determine the Top 100.
2013 saw a record number of participants in this experiment with just over 40 staffers nominating over 200 comics for consideration. While the comics industry continued its strong swing of sales and critical love this year, the prevailing sentiment amongst the staff was that there were few undeniable breakout comics published of late. That's not to say there weren't many amazing and entertaining books written, drawn and released in 2013. But while past years have had obvious hot ticket favorites amongst readers, this year was more of a wide open field. Who'll take #1? You'll have to wait to find out.
Yesterday, we covered #100-76, and today, we continue with part two, counting down from #75 to 51! The first half of our list is rounded out with probably the biggest comics crossover hit of the past decade, the penultimate chapters of one of the longest running manga serials in American comics publishing, breakout creator-owned and digital first superhero series, new work from acclaimed alt comix mainstays and more.
Read on for the full list, talk about our choices on Twitter with #cbrtop100 and check back on Monday at noon Pacific for our third installment! And while you're at it, revisit our Top 100 lists from previous years!
- CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2012
- CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2011
- CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2010
- CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2009
- CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2008
Written by Robert Kirkman
Drawn by Charlie Adlard
Published by Image Comics
"'The Walking Dead' continues to be one of the most engaging and exciting comics published today, which is no small accomplishment considering it just celebrated its 10th birthday. Robert Kirkman has kept the story moving by raising the stakes and challenging Rick and the other survivors constantly, without ever becoming predictable or cliche. With the first few chapters of 'All Out War' underway, it's clear the biggest threat in this world is from their fellow man, which makes the story that much more perilous and frightening. Charlie Adlard continues to grow as an artist, bringing the action and emotion home with beautiful line work in every issue; a lesser artist would have a hard time clearly differentiating so many cast members, but Adlard does so with seeming ease. And in terms of attracting new readers, no other book is as important to growing the audience as 'The Walking Dead' has proven to be."
-- CBR Executive Producer Jonah Weiland
Written by Peter J Tomasi
Drawn by Patrick Gleason
Published by DC Comics
"'Batman and Robin' lingered on the pain, guilt, and desperation that plagued Bruce Wayne after the death of Damian like no other Bat-book.
The fluid nature of comic book death undermines the value of fixating on the emotional aftermath, but Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason cowered Batman in an affecting way with the wordless #18 and a trip through the stages of grief."
-- CBR Contributor Jason Tabrys
Written by Jai Nitz
Drawn by Greg Smallwood
Published by Dark Horse Comics
"'Dream Thief' is the comic book that fans are constantly asking for: An original take on the superhero paradigm told in a quick, vicious style. Greg Smallwood earns a status as a 'next big thing' waiting to happen with his assured cartooning and inventive page design, but for all the boundary pushing the book does, Jai Nitz's script still delivers the meat and potatoes of character, action and ideas."
-- CBR News Editor Kiel Phegley
72. All-New X-Men/Uncanny X-Men
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Chris Bachalo and Frazer Irving (Uncanny), Stuart Immonen (All-New)
Published by Marvel Comics
"Brian Bendis' corner of the mutant universe is exciting because he's writing more than just good X-Men stories, more even than Really Good X-Men Stories; he's writing stories that are both entirely true to the X-Men concept and wholly new. In 'Uncanny,' Scott Summers is balancing two legacies, reviving Xavier's school as a safe haven and training ground for young mutants, but also Magneto's Brotherhood, taking a more aggressive stand against those who would harm his people. Meanwhile, in 'All-New,' the five heroes who launched Xavier's dream are thrown into a world where it's failed or failing-and get to see what they become when they grow up. Taken together and individually, the books are fun, action-packed, and thought-provoking."
-- CBR Contributor Shaun Manning
"What a surprise this book was for me this year. I mean, I always enjoy the X-Men, so I was sure to check it out, and I've always been a fan of Chris Bachalo's work, but I just didn't know what to expect, and when I look back I'm not entirely sure what I got, just that I enjoyed the hell out of these comics that felt bold and funny, and somehow modern and fresh while also like a throwback to some of the things I used to love about the X-Men when I was a teenager. There's a soapy aspect -- complex character relationships, high drama even though not a lot is actually happening -- that feels right for an X-Men title, and 'Uncanny X-Men' nailed it. Add to that some of the most beautifully drawn superhero books on stands this year thanks to Chris Bachalo and Frazer Irving, and it just seemed like magic."
-- CBR Reviewer Kelly Thompson
"Marvel's 'All-New X-Men' started promisingly in 2012, and delivered on that promise in 2013. Throughout the 16 issues released this year -- Brian Michael Bendis remains as prolific as ever -- the book fully committed to the 'original X-Men in the present day' premise that many figured would only be a short-term gimmick. With the Original Five driving stories like 'Battle of the Atom,' the time-displaced mutants have instead begun to define an X-Men era, providing the tricky balance of shifting the status quo while retaining a familiar appeal. With art from the likes of Stuart Immonen, David Marquez and Brandon Peterson, 'Bendis writes the X-Men!' has been just as enjoyable as fans of his Avengers run hoped it would be, while proving X-skeptics wrong."
-- CBR Senior Editor Albert Ching
Written by Jeff Parker & Tom Peyer
Drawn by Jonathan Case, Joe Quinones, Sandy Jarrell, Ruben Procopio, Ty Templeton & Collen Coover
Published by DC Comics
"This comic plain just makes me happy. It could have been done as a too-cool-for-school exercise in smugness and snark, and I was worried that was what DC had in mind when it was initially announced... but instead Jeff Parker has found that wonderful sweet spot between absurdity and sheer exhilarating adventure that the original TV show itself lost after its first season. And it showed up like a summer miracle, just when I was convinced that DC was determined to make Batman comics the most joyless things ever published."
-- Comics Should Be Good Writer Greg Hatcher
Written by Frank J. Barbiere
Drawn by Chris Mooneyham
Published by Image Comics
"'Five Ghosts' is 'Indiana Jones' meets 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' but twice as fun. Featuring the spirits of five nameless but clearly recognizable literary figures, Frank J. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham's book is a delight for the average reader and literature aficionados alike. Using plot points like the dream stone, Barbiere has a lot to say about the power of imagination and he has a damn good time doing it. However, Barbiere's story wouldn't be nearly as effective without Mooneyham's gorgeously whimsical style. Their collaborative effort taps into literary history in a fantastic new way which leaves readers hankering for more."
-- CBR Reviewer Meagan Damore
Written by Steven T. Seagle
Drawn by Teddy Kristiansen
Published by First Second Books
"Steven T. Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen manage to bring out the best in each other, and in this compact book they tell the story of a scientist, examine the myth of Einstein, look at different forms of intelligence and take the reader and characters through trauma and uncertainty into a more hopeful space with new possibilities."
-- CBR Staff Writer Alex Dueben
"Kristiansen uses a subtle color palette and roughly-hewn line work to express the struggle faced by a physicist when he discovers a world-altering secret. As the protagonist examines his life, weighing his options in an attempt to make a decision, we begin to feel the immediacy and intimacy of his internal struggle. Seagle and Kristiansen work together like a well-oiled machine, taking turns to let the words and imagery tell the story in equal measure to far greater effect than if one or the other dominated."
-- Comics Should Be Good Columnist Sonia Harris
Written by Jordan Mechner
Drawn by LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland
Published by First Second Books
"Writer Jordan Mechner and artists LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland were obviously influenced by great literature like 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.' What's so remarkable about 'Templar' - the fictionalized, but extremely well researched account of the fall of the Templar Order - is that it can also stand proudly next to those influences in terms of quality. If Dumas and Hugo had been writing comics, those would have looked like 'Templar.'"
-- Robot 6 Blogger Michael May
Written & Drawn by Hiroaki Samura
Published by Dark Horse Comics
"Hiroaki Samura's samurai epic continues to be an absolutely amazing read, as it speeds to its climax. Samura's long been a master of fight scenes, and in 2013's two volumes, he gets to show off his chops while delivering a blood-soaked showdown years in the making. The aftermath is surprisingly touching and emotional, and it serves to highlight what a vicious cycle revenge can be, while also displaying Samura's other skill that's helped make 'Blade of the Immortal' so amazing: His ability to handle the quieter, more emotional scenes as adeptly as the action scenes. With only a handful of volumes left in the series, I can't help but anticipate the climax and dread it, as well. To paraphrase John Travolta from 'Face/Off,' I'm gonna hate to see it go, but I'm gonna love watching it leave."
-- Comics Should Be Good Columnist Ken Haley
Written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker
Drawn by Various
Published by Archaia
"The ridiculously creative minds of Ben Acker and Ben Blacker have provided years of entertainment for listeners of the 'Thrilling Adventure Hour' podcast with characters like Sparks Nevada, Captain Laserbeam, Frank and Sadie Doyle and Colonel TickTock, among others. Another wonderful result of Kickstarter support, 2013 brought readers the hardcover graphic novel from Archaia. A gorgeous finished product, and hopefully the first of many, features artwork from Tom Fowler, Joel Priddy, Joanna Estep, Lar deSouza, Chris Moreno, Doc Shaner, Randy Bishop, Jeff Stokely, Natalie Nourigat, and Evan Larson. This anthology presents the first opportunity for fans of the characters to have comic adventures of the same to enjoy. Thankfully this book is a hardcover, which is more resistant to the perpetual wear and tear multiple reads would deliver to such a glorious collection."
-- CBR Reviewer Doug Zawisza
65. Gold Pollen & Other Stories
Written & Drawn by Seiichi Hayashi
Published by Picture Box Inc.
"Oh man, this book. Elliptical, elusive, haunting stories about painful mother/son relationships, occasionally drawing upon Japanese folklore when not thinking about how to apply the tactics of the French New Wave to comics. Hayashi's minimalist style, especially on stories like 'Red Dragonfly,' carry a near-indescribable power that is unlike any other comic I read this year, Japanese or otherwise. For me at least, this was the best book of 2013, no question."
-- Robot 6 Blogger Chris Mautner
Written by Enrique Carrion
Drawn by John Upchurch
Published by Image Comics
"Science fiction and fantasy woven together with intrigue and sexy storytelling. For mature readers, certainly, as they can appreciate the complexity."
-- CBR Columnist Hannibal Tabu
Written & Drawn by Zander Cannon
Published by Top Shelf
"'Heck's' title has a double meaning, as it stars Hector Hammarskjöl, a former high school football star who finds a portal to Hell in the house he's inherited. He uses that portal to start a business where he and his sidekick/former high school fan Elliot contact the recently departed to settle inheritance issues. His old girlfriend shows up, wanting him to deliver a letter to her dead husband, and as Heck and Elliot head into the underworld, things don't go as planned. It's a cool twist on 'Dante's Inferno' -- Zander Cannon's storytelling is smart, at times funny, often quietly disturbing and ultimately heart-wrenching."
-- Robot 6 Blogger JK Parkin
62. Porcelain: A Gothic Fairy Tale
Written by Benjamin Read
Drawn by Chris Wildgoose
Published by Improper Books
"This was one of the best books I've seen this year. It blew me out of my chair with its exquisite craft; I gather that Porcelain is the first outing for Improper Books, and if the books that follow are as amazing as this one it's going to be an imprint to watch. Both Benjamin Read's script and Chris Wildgoose's extraordinary artwork were just a delight. In terms of story, 'Porcelain' is drawing pretty heavily on a classic tradition. There are echoes of 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Bluebeard,' 'The Secret Garden'... it's not a daringly innovative plot or anything, but what sells it is the emotional reality that grounds everything. You absolutely believe in both the Porcelain Maker and Child, and a lot of that isn't the script -- it's Wildgoose's terrifically subtle art. The way he leads your eye with the panel layouts, and the way he renders faces and facial expressions, just left me awed. In a just world this would be a best-seller, and I want more people to know about it. so it gets the top spot."
-- Comics Should Be Good Writer Greg Hatcher
Written by Colin Bell
Drawn by Neil Slorance
Published by Do Gooder Comics
"Only released very recently, 'Dungeon Fun' was the single most brilliant work of comics I've read in a very long time. Taking an irresistible premise and filling it with silliness and manic goodness, Colin Bell and Neil Slorance's first issue is hugely clever, stonkingly funny, gorgeously made and charming beyond belief. If you want to show somebody the best that comics has to offer -- hand them 'Dungeon Fun.'"
-- CBR Contributor Steve Morris
Written by Joe Casey
Drawn by Tom Scioli
Published by Image Comics
"Expectations were high after years of promise of the big Finale, and they were not just met -- they were surpassed. Joe Casey and Tom Scioli delivered the transcendent cosmic superhero epic comicbook to end transcendent cosmic superhero epic comicbooks. Sprawling, hopeful, mesmerizing and, above all, damn entertaining. My mind was blown as the onion was peeled one last time by this particular team."
-- Comics Should Be Good Writer Chad Nevett
Written & Drawn by Mardou
Published by Yam Books
"Especially [in] 'The Sky in Stereo' #2 from Mardou, the Manchester-born cartoonist, has created a wonderful revaluation / meditation of the youth/adult transition. Aside from gut attachment, what makes Mardou's comic so rich is her dedication to concise, clear narrative. In a sea of abstract, poetic alternative work and overblown corporate mega-series, it's easy to forget how sweet conscious storytelling is, and remembering so takes us back to the cornerstones of why we gander at this shit at all."
-- Comics Should Be Good Columnist Alec Berry
Written & Drawn by Seth
Published by Drawn & Quarterly
"Though the 20th installment of Seth's long-running series reinvented 'Palookaville' for a life after the death of the alternative comics floppy, this year's hardcover edition saw the cartoonist perfect his new format. That 'Palookaville' #21 is a shimmering, beautiful object comes as no surprise given Seth's strengths, but this time the interiors prove as ambitious as the total design. The latest chapter of his years in the making 'Clyde Fans' serial is as emotionally satisfying as the story has ever been and wraps with as close to a cliffhanger as Seth can provide. Meanwhile, the first part of a new diary comic 'Nothing Lasts' (How's that for a Seth title?!) is a personal, engaging portrait of the artist as a young man. Two years is too long to wait for more."
-- CBR News Editor Kiel Phegley
Written by Jeff Lemire
Drawn by Andrea Sorrentino
Published by DC Comics
"'Hannibal' Smith always loved it when a plan came together. Well, DC Comics has found a new A-Team on 'Green Arrow' with writer Jeff Lemire and artist Andrea Sorrentino. Reworking a superhero is nothing new as the publisher just relaunched its whole line two years ago, but what Lemire and Sorrentino have done in only nine issues is reminiscent of Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's game-changing run on Marvel's "Daredevil" in the late seventies and early eighties. 'Green Arrow' is a film noir, crime book with superheroes. Oliver Queen just doesn't know it yet. "
-- CBR Staff Writer Jeffrey Renaud
Written by Matt Gagnon & Michael Alan Nelson
Drawn by Brian Stelfreeze
Published by BOOM! Studios
"Vampires have been done to death lately, yet writers Matt Gagnon & Michael Alan Nelson and artist Brian Stelfreeze have breathed new life into them with 'Day Men.' The series focuses on David Reid, the human enforcer for a vampire clan who kicks way more ass with a cane than should be humanly possible. "
-- CBR Staff Writer TJ Dietsch
Written & Drawn by Ed Piskor
Published by Fantagraphics Books
"A comprehensive lesson in the world of hip hop in comic book form. Piskor's stories have a warmth and familiarity to them that makes you feel like you are part of the story."
-- CBR Contributor Dave Scheidt
Written by Dennis Hopeless, Christos Gage
Drawn by Kev Walker, Alessandro Vitti, Ricardo Burchielli, Karl Moline
Published by Marvel Comics
"Dismissed by many as a shameless 'Hunger Games'/'Battle Royale'/'Lord of the Flies' rip-off before the first issue even hit the stands in December of 2012 -- playfully tweaked by a series of covers imitating the aforementioned projects' movie posters and book covers -- Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker's story pitting teenaged superhero against teenaged superhero in a manipulative game of death instead breathed new life into a variety of Marvel's young characters, even as some of them were seemingly removed from comics forever. Throughout 2013, fans have been treated to deaths, resurrections and more twists and turns in a single series than you typically find in half a dozen different comics. Here's hoping Hopeless and Walker's inventiveness transfers to their 'Arena' spinoff series, 'Avengers Undercover.'"
-- CBR Senior Editor Stephen Gerding
53. Hellboy: The Midnight Circus
Written by Mike Mignola
Drawn by Duncan Fegredo
Published by Dark Horse Comics
"One of the best Hellboy stories, ever. Told with a sense of wonder and sincerity and masterfully illustrated by Duncan Fegredo. Though it's a part of the longer running series, it would be a fantastic introduction for non-Hellboy readers."
-- CBR Contributor Dave Scheidt
Written by Brian Azzarello
Drawn by Cliff Chiang
Published by DC Comics
"Every year I nominate the latest arc of 'Wonder Woman,' because every year the comic reestablishes itself of one of the best DC has to offer. With their First Born/God Down story, Azzarello and Chiang upended the Diana V. War dynamic, paying homage to William Marston's classic 1940s themes in a gritty and bittersweet modern setting. From casual readers to Wonder Woman purists, Azzarello and Chiang's breakout hit has something for everyone."
-- CBR Staff Writer Josie Campbell
Written & Drawn by Vasilis Lolos
Published by Oni Press
"Vasilis Lolos is terribly insane, and comics is lucky to have him. Who else could come up with the concept of a ghost train where a murderer is -- get this -- murdering ghosts? Part J-horror, part manga, 'Last Call' Volume 2 is a quick read, but only because it's full of this electric air that shocks you and keeps you in your seat, your eyes peeled open, hungry for that next page. His character designs are hip, his pacing is incredible and his ideas (see: voodoo gum becoming a voodoo mask) are just super rad."
-- CBR Contributor Ryan Burton
Don't stop reading now! Check out entries #50-26 and #25-11 right now!


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Ariel Sharon: A Life
Random House, 2006 - Biography & Autobiography - 490 pages
Warrior, statesman, peacemaker-few world leaders have had as dramatic and pivotal a life story as Ariel Sharon. And as this riveting new biography shows, perhaps no modern leader's life has been as tightly woven into the history of his nation.
Born in 1928 and raised in spartan circumstances on a kibbutz, Ariel Sharon was taught by his parents to take principled stands and then to plow ahead, to "always go see what lies over the next hill." And for decades to come, Sharon would do just that, forging a life of strength, resilience, and sometimes, according to his detractors, reckless and embittered action, indifferent to the violence it unleashed on his enemies.
Based on unprecedented access to many of the key players in Sharon's life, hundreds of interviews, and thousands of pages of documents, Ariel Sharon presents a leader who was first and foremost a military man. Sharon fought in Israel's War of Independence (in which he was left for dead on the battlefield); assembled Israel's first special forces brigade, the wild Unit 101; and led the Lebanon War, the most controversial campaign in Israel's history. As a general, he directed military campaigns that are still studied in military academies across the world.
Yet Sharon was also a political animal. This book explores his fraught relationships with prime ministers David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Rabin, as well as with legendary minister of defense Moshe Dayan; Sharon's removal as defense minister after the massacre in the Palestinian refugee camps in Sabra and Shatila; his thirty-year championing of the settlement movement in Gaza and the West Bank; his visit to the Temple Mount in 2000, which lit the fuse for the second Intifada; and his startling decision as prime minister to initiate "disengagement," uprooting settlers, destroying settlements, and dividing his country.
Sharon's personal life has been equally tumultuous and dramatic, as this book grippingly recounts-his first wife, Margalit, was killed in a car accident; his eldest son, Gur, wounded by an accidental rifle discharge, died in his arms. His second wife, Lily (Margalit's younger sister), died of cancer, concluding one of the great love stories of Israeli public life. And ultimately came the stroke that felled Sharon, removing him from power at a time when the Israeli people needed his leadership most.
Often mired in controversy and scandal, Sharon was a man of inscrutable character, and his epochal life and elusive personality are both vividly portrayed in this book. Sharon was fueled by a rare combination of qualities: courage, love of power, unbridled tenacity, pragmatism, and, above all, a creed that never changed-complete and uncondtional security for Jews.
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ARIEL SHARON: A LifeUser Review - Kirkus
An admiring, if critical, life of the Israeli warrior/politician.When Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke in January 2006, he "cast Israel's future in a nebulous light." So write Hefez and Bloom, editors ... Read full review
Ariel Sharon: a lifeUser Review - Not Available - Book Verdict
Ariel Sharon played a massive role in the modern history of Israel-as a courageous soldier in the War of Independence, a military leader in successive campaigns, a key member of conservative ... Read full review
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Kate Shilling
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Kate is responsible for the company order processing, from placing orders with suppliers to invoicing and shipping. She is also involved in the day-to-day administration of the office which includes quoting customers and answering general enquiries. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and keeping fit.
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King Arthur's Disasters follows the insane adventures of King Arthur (voiced by Rik Mayall) on his various quests to satisfy Princess Guinevere's (voiced by Morwenna Banks) need for exotic presents, in the vain hope that she will finally agree to marry him.
King Arthur's enthusiasm is as limitless as the quests are futile and with his doddery magician, Merlin (voiced by Matt Lucas), he must confront the likes of cunning pigs, pink knights, blood thirsty squirrels and the inevitable Robin Hood (voiced by Phil Cornwell) and his not so merry men and women. Characters King Arthur - The legendary King of England, is here, but not how we may have first perceived him. King Arthur is constantly trying to meet the needs of the love of his life, Guinevere, hoping that she'll give him her hand in marriage. Unfortunately he is accident prone, but still occasionally manages to outwit and foes who cross his path. Merlin - Merlin is Arthur's trusted friend and a loyal servant, he is


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Brazil is the world's ninth biggest economy and in the last three year it has spent billions hosting the Olympic Games and the football World Cup.
Not by any reasonable measure is it a poor country.
So it is highly questionable, to say the least, why it should get £80million from our bloated foreign aid budget. Especially as, like many countries where we hand out aid spending, it has an appalling record for corruption.
Our ministers carry on handing over tens of millions to economic powerhouses like India and China. They are also pumping nearly £2billion a year into countries with disgraceful human rights records. Meanwhile, our military capacity is dangerously cut-back, our social care system is collapsing and our overcrowded jails are erupting in violence. And to think this government seems to be the best choice right now.
Granville V. Stone


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New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg today unveiled plans to transform Staten Island's waterfront by building the world's tallest Ferris Wheel. At 625ft, the structure will be taller than the London Eye or the 'High Roller' wheel proposed for the Las Vegas Strip and is expected to carry 4.5 million riders a year.
Dubbed the New York Wheel, the attraction will anchor Harbor Commons, a 470,000 sq ft retail complex that will include approximately 100 designer outlet stores and a 200-room hotel. Designed by SHoP Architects for BFC Partners, Harbor Commons is expected to generate $480m of private investment and create over 1,200 construction jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs.
In a press conference held today, Mayor Bloomberg said: "Our Administration has made major investments all along the North Shore of Staten Island, because we know that this area is full of potential for growth. But the newest plan is the most exciting of all. The New York Wheel will be an attraction unlike any other in New York City - even unlike any other on the planet. It will offer unparalleled and breathtaking views, and is sure to become one of the premier attractions in New York City and the latest addition to our newly revitalized waterfront."
The Wheel is expected to be open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Construction will begin in early 2014 with a grand opening planned for the end of 2015. It will be designed by Starenth, the team that built the London Eye. At its base will sit a 100,000 sq ft terminal building, which will include various commercial uses, such as retail, restaurant and theatre space, as well exhibitions about New York City history, alternative energy and environmental sustainability. The Wheel and terminal building will strive for Platinum LEED Certification.
Harbor Commons as envisioned by SHoP, will feature expansive open corridors to the water, contemporary materials reflective of the industrial waterfront, and a sweeping sustainable green roof visible from the Harbor. It will have celebratory vertical circulation elements such as grand staircases, glass elevators and streamlined escalators to guide shoppers as they move to and from the waterfront. Construction of it is expected to begin in the winter of 2014 with completion slated for 2016.
Sharon McHugh
US Correspondent


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Fresh Air Fantasies
Spring fever is upon me so what makes a great outdoor room? In Baroque Italy it might have included finely clipped box hedges, stone benches, a bubbling fountain, the odd grotto, and perhaps a running stream for keeping wine bottles cool (those thirsty cardinals and popes!). In the late 1920s the famous modern architect Le Corbusier designed a roof garden for an eccentric client in Paris that was a surrealist living room: an ornate fireplace, a rug-like lawn, and the
Arc de Triomphe peeking over one wall like the fragment of a floating cornice (photo courtesy Studio International). More recently architects and designers have continued to push boundaries, literally, and they have shown how almost every room in the house can move outdoors. Here's a quick round-up of indoor functions that migrate.
Living. Of course a patio sitting area becomes a secondary living room, as
landscape architect Bernard Trainor shows in this arrangement around a fire pit, where the gravel floor and perimeter plantings neatly define the space (photo courtesy Bernard Trainor). Crisp edges, smooth ground, two chairs and perhaps a shade umbrella are really all you need. A built-in bench protected from the sun
by a retractable canopy is another way to go as shown in this example by architect Buzz Yudell, of Moore Ruble Yudell Architects, and architectural colorist Tina Beebe, where the pillows seem to embody the weight and color of shade itself — lighter to darker green.
Cooking. Outdoor kitchens have grown in popularity and run the gamut from simple built-in barbecues with an adjacent counter to grand food preparation
zones with a full complement of appliances designed for outdoor use, not to mention pizza ovens and flat screen televisions. (The example above is from Plan 496-14, by Leon Meyer.) The arrival of versatile folding wall systems — pioneered by Nanawall from the US, with other companies like Centor from Australia adding to the mix — have made it possible to turn any kitchen with an outside wall into an outdoor kitchen. (This Nanawall example is courtesy
Shannon, Scarlett, Taylor Architects).
Dining. In good weather everyone wants to be outside, especially at mealtime,
and here's an especially serene space for alfresco dining by Aidlin Darling Design. I hope that after this compelling image was made the owners added a little more seating — otherwise the fire seems to be entertaining itself (photo courtesy Aidlin Darling via Custom Home). Architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen is known for supremely elegant houses where outdoor rooms are proportioned
like interior ones, as this hip-roofed patio dining pavilion demonstrates (courtesy Architectural Digest).
Bathing. Where the climate is temperate and there's enough privacy even bathrooms can move outside, as this dramatic example by the firm of
Backen Gillam Kroeger Architects demonstrates. When the walls slide away you can really soak in the sunset! (Photo courtesy BGK Architects.)
Sleeping. It's a summertime pleasure to sleep in the open air. Certainly it can be done with a sleeping bag, but there are other ways to go. The Mexican modern architects Legoretta and Legoretta turned an entire bedroom
at a house in Hawaii into a breezeway. The corner disappears — no sleepwalking allowed (photo courtesy Architectural Digest). But simply installing a hammock
on the porch (visible in the distance, house design by and photo courtesy of Walker Warner Architects) might be enough. Or why not hang your bed from the
rafters for the ultimate relaxation room, and let your house rock you to sleep (photo courtesy Chomec.com).