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The Client Game
This story appears in the July 2000 issue of . Subscribe »
Your clients often have a voracious appetite and demanding nature. An out-of-control client whose expectations haven't been properly managed can eat you out of business. While the nature of doing good business is to accept that the client is always right, you can avoid problems before they begin. How can you keep expectations at a reasonable level? Here are some tips to review before you go out and get your first client.
- The primary rule of client care is to establish what your role is and what you expect the client's role to be. Then outline, in writing, what each of your responsibilities are going to be. In the initial proposals and subsequent contracts, make sure you make a list of your deliverables and attach a timeline.
- Have your client sign off on the written descriptions of roles and responsibilities, lists of deliverables and timelines. Save all documents, especially signed ones, in a safe place for future reference.
- Use e-mail to your advantage. When I first started my business, I obsessively e-mailed each client after every single conversation, repeating what was just said. Not only did this give me needed documentation, but it also worked as a preventive measure against trivial miscommunications.
- If you wear all the company hats- manager, bookkeeper, office manager- aside time each day or week to evaluate the progress of your clients' accounts. When possible, assign an account manager to the account- who is not bogged down or distracted by anything other than the continuous care of the client.
- Think of your relationship with your client as long-term, not temporary. I looked at each client as a reflection of my own business ethic. I would only work with those people I liked and whose products I could get behind. I wanted my clients and their Web sites to be successful because it meant more exposure and credit for my company.
Aliza Sherman is an entrepreneur and author of Cybergrrl: A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web (Ballantine Books, $12, 800-726-0600). She is currently working on her next book and new company.
The Irate Client
At some point, there's bound to be a misunderstanding or two with your client. Do not despair! Careful documentation along the way allows for a quick resolution if you mutually review the paper trail (hard copy or electronic).
Sometimes your client may become angry because of something you have or have not done. If the issue is your fault, such as a failure to deliver according to the timeline you both have established and signed off on, then own up to the mistake and figure out how to make amends. Often, if the fault is your own, the remedy will come out of your profits.
If the fault lies in the client's camp, then politely reconstruct the situation with your files and documents and offer solutions for solving the problem. In this case, get your client to agree to pay any additional charges that you will incur as you take the necessary steps to make things right. And get it all in writing.
New And Improved
Despite the ups and downs of having a client, don't resist getting another. Go for it! The best way to get clients is through positive word-of-mouth. The better you care for the ones you have, the more likely they will spread the word to others. Easily 75 percent of my clients came by other clients' referrals.
Be smart about getting that new client, says Gerri Detweiler, a former financial education consultant and co-founder of MoneyForMail.com, a permission-based marketing engine. "The harder you work, the more difficult the work will be. Look for clients who respect your judgment and credentials and who trust you'll do a good job."
How do you get in the right frame of mind to keep clients happy? Look at them as a crucial element of your business. If they go, you go. That's business!
OK, now that you've got clients...how do you know when to get rid of 'em? Turn to "Sell"/*create link to article titled "Sell"*/.


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Categorical mediator
Mplus Discussion
Categorical Data Modeling
Christian Niyonkuru
posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 9:17 am
I'm trying to fit 2 different models, in model I have an ordinal (3 categories) as a mediating variable and the response is binary. Is it right that the mediating variable should be (or treated as) continuous? In one my second model, both the mediating and response variable are binary. Please let me know.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 9:47 am
In Mplus, with logistic regression a categorical mediator is treated as a continuous variable. In probit regession, a categorical mediator is treated as an underlying latent response variable.
Christian Niyonkuru
posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 7:03 am
Thank you for your quick reply. If I specify the mediator as categorical using the categorical command, it will be treated as categorical (ordinal). Am I right about this?
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 9:20 am
No, in Mplus, with logistic regression and maximum likelihood estimation, a categorical mediator is treated as a continuous variable even though it is declared categorical. In probit regession with weighted least squares estimation, a categorical mediator is treated as an underlying latent response variable.
Christian Niyonkuru
posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 8:55 am
Thanks for your response. Another question: I'm trying to use the PLOT command to get the estimated probabilities but all I get is scatterplots and histograms. Could you give me an example say when your dependent (u1) is binary and 2 independent are continuous (x1 and x2)? Thanks.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 9:03 am
In regression with a binary dependent variable, Mplus plot command does not give you estimated probabilities for each individual.
Angela Wolff
posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 3:00 pm
I am looking at mediator variable and receive this warning....
*** WARNING in MODEL INDIRECT command
There is an indirect effect involving a path between the following
variables, but no indirect or direct path exists in the model.
Indirect effect: EE IND INDCON
did I specify something incorrectly? the model is wtih categorical DV.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 3:05 pm
It seems you are specifying an indirect effect that does not exist in the model. If you can't see the problem, send the full output and your license number to
Angela Wolff
posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 6:55 am
THanks, I managed to identify my misspecification.
james rosenthal
posted on Saturday, October 25, 2008 - 12:15 pm
I am new to Mplus.
I have a path model with two ordered categorical variables, so defined in Mplus. One is purely independent and the other has a mediating role in the model (is both dependent and independent).
Where the ordered categorical variable is purely independent, does Mplus treat it as indicative of any underlying latent variable or does it treat it as, in effect, a numeric variable? Suppose, for instance, the variable is coded: 0,1,2,3,4. Is the coefficient for its effect on a dependent simply that of a similarly coded numeric variable, or is it something different?
Now, suppose the variable is a mediating variable. Regarding its effects on other variables my questions are the same as those in the prior paragraph. In other words, is there any difference from the purely independent situation?
Second, consider the (mediating) variable in its role as a dependent variable. Is it simply a numeric variable or have we now shifted to a probit model and, thus, interpretation has shifted accordingly (for instance, variability would determined by the conventions of probit analysis).
Thank-you for your help.
Jim Rosenthal
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Saturday, October 25, 2008 - 12:24 pm
For both the IV and DV situation you have a choice between (1) working with the observed variable, treating the scores as continuous, or (2) working with an underlying continuous latent response variable that relates to the observed via thresholds.
For the IV case, if you don't put the variable on the categorical list, (1) will be used, and if you put it on the categ list, (2) will be used. I tend to prefer (1) if I think this results in approximately linear regressions.
For the DV case, (1) will be used when applying ML. When applying WLSMV, (2) will be used. The choice doesn't matter when considering the DV regressed on its predictors because then (1) and (2) are equivalent. The choice does matter a bit when considering the equation where the DV is a predictor. The choice depends on the substance of the application.
posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 7:10 am
Dear Linda,
I have y,m1,m2,m3 and x all binary. I also have covariates z. I want to estimate the indirect effect of x on y through m1,m2 and m3. I would like the indirect effect to have odds ratio interpretation. What is the code for doing this? I was trying the following. I appreciate your help.
y on m1 z;
y on m2 z;
y on m3 z;
m1 m2 m3 on x z;
model indirect:
y ind m1 x;
y ind m2 x;
y ind m2 x;
Matthew McBee
posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 1:22 pm
I'd like to follow up to Linda's post on March 25, 2008:
"No, in Mplus, with logistic regression and maximum likelihood estimation, a categorical mediator is treated as a continuous variable even though it is declared categorical. In probit regession with weighted least squares estimation, a categorical mediator is treated as an underlying latent response variable."
I am struggling with this. Imagine a system where X -> Y -> Z and Y is categorical. If the intervening variable is categorical, then the indirect effect can only be transmitted from X to Z if Y changes state in response to X. Otherwise no indirect effect can be transmitted from X to Z. It would seem like any calculation of the indirect effect from X to Z through Y would have to be weighted by the probability of Y changing state.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 8:31 am
Yang: I think this only makes sense in the probit case with the weighted least squares estimator. With probit regression, there is not a constant odds ratio.
Matthew: The quote refers to how the mediator is treated in its role as a covariate.
When a mediator is categorical, I believe only the weighted least squares approach yields meaningful results.
posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 1:27 pm
Thank you Linda. I have a follow up question.
If I would like to create a latent variable that summarizes m1,m2 and m3
h by m1 m2 m3
1) what is the estimation technique used for
h on x z
y on h z
I am not sure about the first one. In the second, I would think it will be logit or probit depending on my choice of estimator.
2) what is the parameter being estimated using the following code (which is the indirect effect of x through h)
y ind h x
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 2:36 pm
1. h is a continuous latent variable so a linear regression is estimated for h ON x z. If y is binary, a probit regression is estimated if the weighted least squares estimator is used. If the maximum likelihood estimator is used, a logistic regression coefficient is estimated as the default. A probit link is also available.
2. I would only do this with weighted least squares. This product is a linear regression coefficient of the indirect effect x on y* where y* is the continuous latent response variable underlying y. See the MacKinnon et al. article in Clinical Trials for further information which is on our website.
Oliver Arranz-Becker
posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 7:34 am
we have a model with a binary exogenous predictor (X), several mediators (M, some binary, some continuous) and a binary DV (Y). We used a ML estimation, declaring all binary mediators and the DV as categorical. Now we have to questions:
1. We are interested in the residual covariances between all mediators. However, we get a error message ("Covariances for categorical, censored, count or nominal variables with other observed variables are not defined.") when using the corresponding WITH syntax. What can we do about this?
2. We compared two models: (a) X and M are predictors of Y (like in standard logistic regression), and (b) a "causal chain" X -> M -> Y (with an additional direct effect of X on Y). We observed that the effects of M on Y are identical in both models. Could you explain the reason for this?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 8:48 am
1. See Example 7.16 for a way to specify a residual covariances with categorical indicators and maximum likelihood estimation. Note that in this case, each residual covariance is one dimension of integration. If you want a lot of residual covariances, you should use weighted least squares estimation.
2. Please send the two outputs and your license number to
james rosenthal
posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 8:42 am
Kindly consider this path model :
Use variables are:
catTime01 catTime12
numTime1 numTime2;
categorical are catTime12;
numTime1 on catTime01;
numTime2 on numTime1 catTime12;
catTime12 on numTime1 catTime01;
catTime1 and catTime2 take on the values of 0,1, or 2. numTime1 and numTime2 are quantitative variables. This analysis (one quite similar) was carried out using the MLR estimator:
Consider the regression on numTime2. In its role as a predictor in this regression, is catTime12 treated as a numeric variable � in other words, is it treated in the same way as catTime01 is treated in the regression on numTime1. Or, on the other hand, is it treated as some kind of latent variable (say as a logistically distributed variable with its variance defined in some particular way)? This comes down to how I interpret the coefficient for catTime12 � if catTime12 is treated as numeric then the interpretation is: as catTime12 increases by 1 unit � either from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 2 � then numTime2 changes by X units. But if it is treated as a latent variable then I need assistance with interpretation.
I apologize for my confusion. I posted a similar question under the categorical mediator thread on October 25, 2008 and received a response but thought I should double check this. See also March 25, 2008 responses on this same thread.
Jim Rosenthal
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 9:07 am
I see no regression where numTime2 is a covariate. Please restate your question.
james rosenthal
posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 3:27 pm
Sorry if I am not being clear.
Suppose the following:
One has several regressions in their model.
One uses the MLR estimator.
Variable Z takes on the values of 0 or 1.
Z is defined to be categorical.
In one regression, Y is regressed on Z.
In this regression, the regression coefficient for Z is .5
Would the interpretation of this coefficient be: when Z has the value of 1, the predicted value of Y is .5 units higher than when Z has the value of 0? (In other words, in this regression, is Z treated as a numeric variable?)
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 11:15 am
Is z a mediator or an exogenous variable? I think it is a mediator because you say it is defined as categorical but I want to be certain.
james rosenthal
posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 11:27 am
I am interested both when Z is purely exogenous and when it is a mediator.
In my actual model, which models several waves of data, Z takes on both of these roles. even though in the first wave of data Z is exogenous, i nevertheless defined it as categorical. (i didn't think it would do any harm to define a purely exogenous variable as categorical, but tell me if I am wrong.) My actual model is much like the following where Z1 represents Z at time 1 and Z2 does so at time 2 (and Q1 and Q2 are continuuous variables at times 1 and 2):
Use variables are:
categorical are Z1 Z2;
Q1 on Z1;
Q2 on Q1 Z2;
Z2 on Q1 Z1;
Thank-you again for your help.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Saturday, May 22, 2010 - 8:54 am
In regression, covariates can be binary or continuous. In both cases, they are treated as continuous. The binary variable z1 is exogenous. The regression coefficent is the difference in going from category 0 to category 1. Note that z1 is not a mediator and should not be on the categorical list. The binary covariate z2 is a mediator. It is treated as a continuous observed variable using maximum likelihood estimation and a continuous latent resposnse variable using weighted least squares estimation.
gibbon lab
posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 11:07 am
Hi Dr. Muthen,
If I have such a path analysis:
z on y;
y on x;
where z and x are continuous and y is a binary variable (0/1). I declared that y is categorical and used the weighted least squares estimation under THETA parameterization. I am not sure how I should interpret the indirect effect from x to z. Suppose the Mplus output provides a beta coefficient=0.05 for the indirect path x->y->z. Is the 0.05 interpreted as the amount of increase in y if x increases by 1 unit? Thanks.
gibbon lab
posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 11:10 am
Sorry. There is a typo in my last sentence in the above post. It should be "Is the 0.05 interpreted as the amount of increase in z if x increases by 1 unit?" Thanks.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 1:39 pm
This sounds correct.
gibbon lab
posted on Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 11:22 am
Dr. Muthen,
Can you help me understand the interpretation of the indirect effect thru the two direct paths? Here is my thought, if the beta coef=0.5 for the first path x->y. Under THETA parameterization, the link is probit. So the interpretation is that the probability of y=1 increases by 0.5 under probit scale when x increases by 1 unit.
Now if the coef=0.1 for the second path y->z, the interpretation would be that z increases by 0.1 if y changes from 0 to 1 since this is just regular linear regression.
Do we get the beta coef for indirect path by 0.5*0.1=0.05? It looks strange to me because x only affect the probability of y=1 and the effect of y on z (0.1) has nothing to do with that probability. Thanks.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 1:09 pm
I think y is your mediator, and it is binary. With WLSMV you then have a probit regression of y on x. This is linear regression of y* (the cont's latent response variable) on x. Then you have y->z, where z is continuous, which is translated to z on y* in Mplus, also a linear regression. Note that it is not z on y.
To answer your first paragraph, it is not the probability that increases 0.5 but the probit, that is, y*. That then has to be translated into a probability change.
To answer your second paragraph, it is not a matter of y changing from 0 to 1, but y* changing.
The indirect effect is 0.5*0.1 but interpreted as above.
You should also read:
MacKinnon, D.P., Lockwood, C.M., Brown, C.H., Wang, W., & Hoffman, J.M. (2007). The intermediate endpoint effect in logistic and probit regression. Clinical Trials, 4, 499-513.
which is on our web site under Papers, Mediational Modeling.
Xu, Man
posted on Monday, January 16, 2012 - 10:45 am
Dear Dr. Muthen,
Thank you so much for your recent help on TSCORE and missing data. It has been very very helpful to me! I now have resolved my analysis regarding these issues. However, a new dilema arises while I try to look at the mediation effect of an ordinal variable on the intercept and slope parameter of the second order growth curve model. And this growth curve was as you know already fitted using the TSCORE fuction. Now I have strated looking at how predicators earlier in life can predict cognitive decline as modelled with the growth curve. This involves mediating variables, and one of them is ordinal (education attainment).
I noticed that in the model output that regression paths of the earliest variables to this ordinal mediator had logit links, and there were linear regression paths from this ordinal mediator to the later outcomes (the slope and the intercept of the growth curve).
I don't get the mediation effect from the output as it was noted that MODEL INDIRECT is not possible in the case of TYPE=RANDOM.
I was just wondering, how do you think I should specify the model in order to calculate the mediation effects here?
Here are some estimation specifiaiton that the programme has asked for:
The estimator showed in output was mlr. Link was logit.
Thanks a lot!
Best wishes,
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 3:55 pm
You can treat you mediator as continuous and use MODEL CONSTRAINT to create the indirect effect as the product of the two linear regression coefficients. For another option, see the following paper which is available on the website:
Muth�n, B. (2011). Applications of causally defined direct and indirect effects in mediation analysis using SEM in Mplus.
Xu, Man
posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 7:08 am
Thank you! I will first try to have a read at this paper.
Jan Zirk
posted on Monday, July 16, 2012 - 8:26 am
Dear Linda or Bengt,
I have two competing models: M1) P on S S on G G on F W on F
M2) P on S S on G F on G W on F
G is a binary group variable.
First I estimated the two models with MLR and found that model 1) when G
defined as categorical performs better on AIC than 2)
in which G is not defined as categorical variable (because here G is only an independent binary variable).
Next I estimated them with Bayesian approach and again 1) fits better (in M1 PPP=.125 vs. in M2 PPP=.000), but there
is a difference in the number of free parameters between these 2 models (M1: 11, M2: 12).
Because of the categorical mediator in M1, DIC for this model is not available.
Is comparison of this 2 models based only on 95%CI_chi2 and PPP correct, despite they have different number
of free parameters?
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 11:17 am
The variable g is dependent in one model and independent in the other. As a result the scales of the AIC's are different.
Jan Zirk
posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 11:55 am
Actually, I meant to report in the paper only on the Bayesian analyses because of small n and hence my question if comparison of PPP is enough to making preference of model 1 over model 2?
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 6:06 pm
You can compare two non-nested models using PPP. However, there is no way to test if the two PPP's are significantly different from each other.
Jan Zirk
posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 6:23 pm
Ooh, I see; that is great
Thanks very much, this is what I needed.
All the best,
Sarah Whittle
posted on Saturday, January 05, 2013 - 3:56 pm
I apologise if this is a silly question, but I am fairly new to MPlus.
I am running a mediation model with a binary mediator variable (and 3 covariates, C1-C3).
My syntax is as follows:
bootstrap = 5000;
estimator = WLSMV;
M on X C1 C2 C3;
Y on X M C1 C2 C3;
Running this, the effect of M on X is highly non-significant.
However, I know that M and X are significantly related. That is, if I just run the regression:
M on X C1 C2 C3;
the effect of M on X is highly significant.
How is this possible??
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Saturday, January 05, 2013 - 4:33 pm
Perhaps you get different sample sizes in the two analyses. You should get the same result running the model with M as the only DV or with M and Y since the latter model is just-identified.
Sarah Whittle
posted on Saturday, January 05, 2013 - 6:19 pm
Thanks for your quick reply!
Both models have exactly the same sample size.
I think I may have figured out the cause of the problem (maybe). My x variable is highly skewed. When I converted it to a binary variable and re-ran both analyses (above) I get the same results (i.e., M on X significant in both cases).
Do you think skewness was the problem here?
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Saturday, January 05, 2013 - 9:31 pm
To see what's happening, you need to send both of your original 2 runs to
Sarah Whittle
posted on Saturday, January 05, 2013 - 10:28 pm
Will do. Thanks.
Selahadin Ibrahim
posted on Tuesday, January 08, 2013 - 1:47 pm
Hi Dr. Muthen,
I have a question about some unusual results I observed when modeling multiple mediators.
My exposure is a five-category ordinal variable (age), my outcome is a binary variable (claim status), and my two mediators are binary (diabetes and depression).
I get the exact same indirect estimates for each mediator when I include them in one model (multiple mediator model) as I do when I put each mediator in a separate model (two single mediator models).
I would have expected the estimates to be different. Do you find this result unusual? If not, could you help me understand why these indirect estimates are consistent across these two models?
Thanks for considering this question,
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, January 08, 2013 - 3:13 pm
Is your two-mediator model unrestricted (zero df); are your mediators uncorrelated?
Selahadin Ibrahim
posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2013 - 5:23 am
Thanks Bengt. The df of the multiple mediator model is one. we did not correlate the errors of the mediators.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2013 - 2:30 pm
How does the comparison come out when you correlate the errors?
Selahadin Ibrahim
posted on Thursday, January 10, 2013 - 6:29 am
Thanks Bengt. The results are identical when I correlate the errors.
posted on Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 3:33 am
Dear Dr. Muthen,
I have a model with two binary response variables, one of them acting as mediator. Suppose we have
Y1 on Y2 X
Y2 on X
where X is centered at its mean.
Since I have used WLSMV with THETA parameterization coefficients are in the probit scale but I would like to compare and calculate the probability of Y1 when Y2 (instead of Y2*) goes from 0 to 1. Is there a method for obtaining such probablities? I have thought of averaging Y1 probabilities over Y2*<Threshold for Y2=0 and over Y2* greater than Threshold for Y2=1. Then such averaged probabilities could be compared. Is this ok or should I do it in a different manner?
Thank you,
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Sunday, March 30, 2014 - 4:53 pm
This would be calculated using a bivariate normal distribution function, and it is not directly available via Mplus output. I don't see how you would get numbers to be able to average over Y2* being lower/higher than the threshold. The reason for the complication is that your modeling does not center on Y2 but Y2*. For probability-oriented mediation modeling, see the case of a binary mediator and a binary outcome discussed in the paper on our website:
Muth�n, B. (2011). Applications of causally defined direct and indirect effects in mediation analysis using SEM in Mplus. Click here to view the Technical appendix that goes with this paper and click here for the Mplus input appendix. Click here to view Mplus inputs, data, and outputs used in this paper.
posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 12:58 am
Thank you for your kind response,
I decided to use the bivariate normal distribution function obtained as:
f(y1*|y2*)f(y2*) = f(y1*,y2*)
My model can be represented as:
y1* = k1 + by2* + e1
y2* = k2 + e2
Where e1 and e2 are both Normal(0,1) and uncorrelated. Constants k1, k2 are just the linear predictors (excluding the endogenous variable y2* in the first equation) evaluated at the mean of exogenous covariates.
Once I got the joint distribution f(y1*,y2*) I integrated it from threshold1-k1-by2* to infinity with respect to y1* and then with respect to y2* from threshold-k2 to infinity for obtaining P(Y1=1,Y2=1)
Does this makes sense to you?
I have also looked at the 2011 paper which I find interesting but would need more time to study it more in depth.
Thank you very much,
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 5:03 pm
This makes sense. It sounds like you have the technical background to do this.
posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 8:57 pm
Dear Dr. Muthen,
Thanks for the support, this discussion board has been of great help.
posted on Sunday, April 06, 2014 - 8:53 pm
Dear Dr. Muthen,
I have noticed that if f(y1*,y2*) is used for obtainig probabilites, the limits of integration should include thresholds but not the linear predictor part (i.e. k1+by2* in the y1* equation, k2 in the y2* equation).
It seems to me that this is so because y1* and y2* when transformed (from the bivariate vector e1,e2 to y1*,y2*) have been already centered at k1+by2* and at k2, respectively. If the standard bivariate normal distribution were used then the integration limits that included the linear predictor part gave the same computed probabilities.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Monday, April 07, 2014 - 4:35 pm
If you are working with f(y1*,y2*) you just get the means, variances, and covariance for these 2 variables as estimated by the model (taking X into account) and get the bivariate probabilities using these 4 quantities together with the 2 thresholds.
posted on Thursday, April 10, 2014 - 3:33 pm
Dear Dr Muthen,
I randomly generated two correlated errors (r=-0.5). Then I also generated an extra uniform variable "u". The latent variables y1*, y2* were generated as:
y1* = 0.6y2* + e1
y2* = 0.8u + e2
I also generated the binary variables with artitrary thresholds:
y1 = 1 when y1*>0.3 and zero otherwise
y2 = 1 when y2*>-0.1 and zero otherwise
Then I run the model on MPlus:
CATEGORICAL are
y1 y2;
y1 ON y2;
y2 ON u;
y1 WITH y2;
I was able to reproduce the theorical model very closely as indicated by the estimated equations. Also, The calculated probabilites reproduced the raw probabilities in the data remarkably well.
The question I have relates to reporting probabilities without the endogeneity induced by the correlated errors. When errors in this model are negatively correlated, not specifying correlated errors results in a dramatically biased coefficient of y2. In some instances, the bias can yield a significant coefficient with the opposite sign.
Do you have any suggestion for reporting the effect of y2 on y1 without the endogeneity problem but using probabilities instead of the probit scaled coefficient from the structural equations?
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Friday, April 11, 2014 - 11:24 am
Are you saying that you don't get any identification warning when you say:
CATEGORICAL are
y1 y2;
y1 ON y2;
y2 ON u;
y1 WITH y2;
In a typical situation where y1 is also regressed on u, the residual covariance y1 WITH Y2 makes the model non-identified. Instrumental variable estimation could be tried instead to avoid bias.
Regarding reporting the effect of y2 on y1 using probabilities, I would recommend what I write about in my 2011 paper.
posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 9:23 pm
Dear Dr. Muthen,
The model is just identified, I was using "u" as an instrument so I did not included it in the y1 equation.
I will get into the 2011 paper,
Leakhena Heng
posted on Monday, February 23, 2015 - 8:25 pm
Hello all,
I am new to MPLUS and need some help figuring out what type of analyses/model to run in MPLUS.
I have three waves of data.
w2ipvg2, categorical variable with two level (IPV victimization experiences wave 2: yes and no)
w3_ipvg2, categorical variable with four levels (IPV experiences wave 3: none, victimization, perpetration, reciprocal)
depw3, continuous variable (depression wave 3)
subtuse, continuous variable (substance use wave 3)
edupath, ordinal variable with six levels (educational paths wave 4: no high school, high school, vocational training, some college, bachelor's degree, graduate degree)
empp1, ordinal variable with three levels (employment paths wave 4: unemployed, part time employed, full time employed)
The wave 3 variables: w3_ipvg2, depw3, and subtuse are mediators. Some of my categorical variables are ordinal and some are not. What type of analyses/model should I use, and where can I find the syntax for it. Is it possible to run something like this in MPLUS? Are there articles I can read to help me understand this type of modeling?
Thanks for any help.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 7:44 am
Mplus can analyze longitudinal data on repeated measures in many different ways and Mplus can do mediation modeling. But it is not clear how you intend to relate your repeated measures over time, or how the mediation relates to an ultimate outcome. You may want to ask this type of general research strategy question on SEMNET.
Leakhena Heng
posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 9:44 am
Thank you, Dr. Muthen. I will search/ask on SEMNET.
julie schiro
posted on Sunday, December 06, 2015 - 4:37 pm
I'm running a mediation model where X and Y are continuous and M is dichotomous (-1,1).
m on x; y on x m;
y via m x;
I ran this model twice, once without specifying that M is categorical and once specifying: CATEGORICAL ARE m. This change results in different p-values for parameters in the model Y on X M. Why? Isn't Y on X M equivalent to an ANOVA where x is continuous and m is categorical, i.e., y = b0 + b1 (X) + B1 (m)? If so, then why is the p-value different for X and M different depending on the "categorical" specification?
M treated as continuous
Estimate S.E. Est./S.E. P-Value
0.229 0.041 5.646 0.000
Estimate S.E. Est./S.E. P-Value
0.132 0.075 1.760 0.078
0.285 0.103 2.781 0.005
M treated as dichotomous:
M ON X (makes sense)
Estimate S.E. Est./S.E. P-Value
0.332 0.075 4.398 0.000
Y ON X M (does not make sense)
Estimate S.E. Est./S.E. P-Value
0.084 0.085 0.987 0.324
0.340 0.123 2.771 0.006
julie schiro
posted on Sunday, December 06, 2015 - 5:26 pm
RE my last post, I think I figured it out, but would you confirm? When m is treated as continuous, the estimator is ML. When m is treated as categorical, the estimator is WLSMV. When I tried to constrain this model to ML, it would not estimate the indirect path:
bootstrap = 5000;
m on x; y on x m;
y via m x;
Hence, I'm assuming that I need to use WLSMV to estimate an indirect path where m is categorical. This also explains why a, b, and c' are different.
A follow-up question, then: when I report the parameters in my paper, do I need to report the WLSMV estimates for the a, b, and c' paths, or can I report the ML estimates which will be easier for me to explain? The ab path would still use WLSMV. Is this proper to do?
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Sunday, December 06, 2015 - 6:12 pm
WLSMV treats the mediator as the continuous latent response variable M* behind the observed binary mediator M. That affects the regression of the outcome on the mediator in that WLSMV regresses Y ON M*, whereas the ML run you did regresses Y ON M.
Although WLSMV produces defensible effects, a better way is to use the new ML features referred to as counterfactually-defined causal effects. When you use ML together with
Model Indirect:
and declare M as categorical you will get these casual effects. The indirect effect is not as simple as the usual product of a and b. The description of this, including how to use Mplus, is given in the paper on our website:
Muth�n, B. & Asparouhov, T. (2015). Causal effects in mediation modeling: An introduction with applications to latent variables. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 22(1), 12-23. DOI:10.1080/10705511.2014.935843
julie schiro
posted on Sunday, December 06, 2015 - 6:39 pm
Thank you for the prompt reply!! I look forward to reading the paper. Thank you.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Monday, December 07, 2015 - 12:47 pm
I should have said that the causal effects are produced when saying
posted on Monday, February 15, 2016 - 1:26 am
Dear Profs. Muth�n,
I specified a 2-1-1 MSEM with a L2(YEAR) predictor (continuous), a L1 mediator (ordinal) and a L1 outcome (continuous). I used cross-classified as the data are clustered within persons and years.
Problems I ran into:
(a) When using M as cont. and L1 controls only for Y, PPC was sig. (bad model fit).
(b) When using M as cont. and L1 controls for Y AND M the PPC value was 0.158, so the model fit is ok. A strange result, because as a predictor on L1 M doesn't need controls.
(c) When using M as cat. without L1 controls, Mplus used M as DV and PPC was sig. (bad model fit).
All models yield quite similar parameter est., only model fit varies.
My questions:
(1) Is it correct that I have a latent mediator, because I analyze the mediator effect only on L2(YEAR)? This should allow for unbiased indirect/direct effects, even though M is categorical on L1?
(2) Cross-classified works with Bayes. Is it ok (in general) to use a categorical mediator and to define it as such? Is there something special to consider because of Bayes?
(3) I'm confused about the excellent model fit when I use the controls for M on L1 (which makes M a IV and a DV) despite using M as being continuous. Actually, M is ordinal...?!
(4) Do you see any problems regarding the model?
Thank you very much in advance!
posted on Monday, February 15, 2016 - 1:28 am
My model:
variable: usevar = Y ! outcome
C1 C2 C3 ! controls L1
M ! mediator
C4 ! control L2(YEAR)
C5 ! control L2(PERSON)
X; ! predictor L2(YEAR)
categorical = M;
cluster = PERSON YEAR;
within = C1 C2 C3;
between = (YEAR) C4 X;
between = (PERSON) C5;
analysis: type = crossclassified;
estimator = Bayes;
biterations = (2000);
model: %within%
Y M on C1 C2 C3;
Y on M; ! 2-1-1 MSEM
%between PERSON%
Y M on C5;
Y on M; ! 2-1-1 MSEM
%between YEAR%
Y M on C4;
M on X (a); ! 2-1-1 MSEM
Y on M (b) X; ! 2-1-1 MSEM
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Monday, February 15, 2016 - 10:08 am
We ask that posts on Mplus Discussion be limited to one window. Please send your question and related materials along with your license number to
Mihaela Johnson
posted on Monday, August 28, 2017 - 8:41 am
Hi Dr. Muth,
I read this thread and had a question about how to model a categorical mediator.
I am trying to run a model with a categorical independent variable (age - 4 categories) and a categorical mediator (4 category ordinal variable) and a continuous mediator (continuous/interval) and the dependent variable which will be continuous/interval, with a couple of control variables.
Does SEM accommodate this type of model? And what assumptions are made about the individual paths (e.g. does it assume that the categorical mediator is an indicator of an underlying continuous latent variable?)
Thank you!
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Monday, August 28, 2017 - 4:40 pm
Yes, SEM accomodates this. Use WLSMV (or Bayes) which as you say considers linear relations between underlying continuous latent response variables so that regular indirect formulas are used.
Zs�fia Csajb�k
posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - 7:26 am
Dear Dr. Muthen,
I have a continuous independent and a continuous dependent variable, with lots of continuous and binary mediators.
x -> b1-b4 c1-c4 -> y
where b1-b4 are binary; x, y, c1-c4 are continuous
I understood based on the User's Guide that I could choose between ML and WLSMV. But if I specify ML, I get a message that I should 'specify PARAMETERIZATION=RESCOV' then 'type=mixed'. Interestingly, if I don't specify anything with 'estimator=ML', it runs. I thought the baseline estimator is ML, so what is it if not ML? If I choose WLSMV it runs, but then I don't know if it differentiates between the binary and continuous variables.
So my questions are these:
1) When I have both binary and continuous mediators, I really have to choose WLSMV? Can it differentiate between the categorical and other mediators and performs different regressions? Why can't I choose the logistic regression for the binary variables? (I don't think I should assume continuous latent responses underlying my variables, e.g. sex, so logistic sounds more reasonable.)
2) What does it do when I don't specify the estimator and it runs?
3) Why do the non-standardized model results give higher than 1 correlations between the mediators?
Thank you!
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - 5:01 pm
1) With a categorical M, WLSMV and Bayes consider a continuous latent response variable M*, not M as the mediator. In this way, all regressions are linear and regular indirect effects can be computed because M* is the predictor of Y. Logistic regression instead of probit does not make a difference; M*. With ML, M is the predictor of Y. Choosing M or M* as the predictor is a substantive choice.
2) See which estimator is used in the Summary section of the output. Typically with some categorical variables, Mplus defaults to WLSMV.
3) That suggests a misspecified model. If you like, you can send your output and data to Support along with your license number so we can diagnose.
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Have I Got Nous For You
Michael Cox of Zonal Marking fame puts down his chalkboard to head to Barcelona....
Well, I must say, I'm rather disappointed. We've come all this way to Barcelona to see a game at the Nou, and it's not what I expected. OK, the little number 6 is controlling things from the centre of midfield, and the number 10 is a threat upfront, but it's a tiny little ground and it's not even full. Mes Que Un Club, seriously?
Only joking! We are indeed in Barcelona for a football match, but this is not the Nou Camp, it's the Nou Sardenya, home of CE Europa. Europa can't make any claim to being 'more than a club' – they compete in the Tercera Division, the fourth level of the Spanish pyramid, in one of eighteen regional groups.
Me enjoying a San Miguel
CE Europa 3-0 Palamós (20:03:11)
The club has a proud history, however. Their glory years came nearly 90 years ago when they won the Championat de Catalunya and were Copa del Rey runners-up in the same season, but after decades in the wilderness, they won the Copa de Catalunya back-to-back in the mid 1990s, beating the mighty FC Barcelona in the final both times. For Barcelona, it was very much a lesser competition and a reserve side was fielded on both occasions, but look at their line-up for the second final, in 1997/98, and it's still packed with big names - Hesp, Couto, Bogarde, Reiziger, Amor (Sergi), Roger, Oscar (Xavi), Giovanni, Mario, Pizzi (Anderson), Jofre (De la Peña). To beat those players is remarkable achievement for a little club like Europa.
Their opponents today are the rather less illustrious Palamos. Palamos have brought a travelling army of seven supporters, two of whom look like girlfriends of two of the other five – the girls sit together talking, paying little attention to the game but enjoying the San Miguel from Europa's quaint little clubhouse in the corner of the ground. The Palamos squad emerges from the tunnel, and with more players than fans, it's a slightly bizarre pre-match ovation between the two.
Europa come out a couple of minutes later. I immediately like their kit – white with a blue 'V' across the front, reminiscent of the Brescia away kit sported by Roberto Baggio in his final seasons as a professional. More significantly, in the wake of the previous week's tsunami, the Europa players are carrying a Japanese flag, and pose with it for the team photo. There's also a minute's silence before kick-off.
(Incidentally, this week Richard Littlejohn wrote a column in the Daily Mail on the subject of the tsunami, claiming we shouldn't feel sympathy for Japan, because of events that happened in a war some 70 years ago, in classic Littlejohn 'try and turn topical event into cause for race hate' fashion.
If you missed it, choice quote – "Before every one of the weekend's Premier League football matches, for instance, fans were forced to stand and observe a minute's silence for Japan. Why?... Of course, there is a commercial incentive here for the Premier League. No doubt the Japanese TV rights are up for renegotiation soon."
Well, I doubt there's much demand in Japan for television rights for the Spanish fourth division. Maybe people simply want to show respect? Football is actually very good at this sort of thing – more on that later.)
Anyway, there was a lovely atmosphere around the ground. Before kick off, the stand was populated mainly by elderly locals who sat reading the club's free Catalan language newspaper, but the ground filled up as the game went on – with younger fans, families, groups of girls. There's a reason for that - immediately after this match, first Europa's juniors and then their women's side plays in the same ground – it's essentially a whole Sunday of football for the price of a single admission, and with the fantastic weather and cheap drinks on offer, it's a thoroughly enjoyable experience simply sitting on the warm steps and casually watching. I recalled reading an interview with youth coach Pavl Williams on Tom Williams' (no relation) excellent blog, where he said (excuse the long quote):
"Spain, Italy and France have all won World Cups in the last 15 years and I don't think it's any coincidence that these countries have more community-focused sport programmes than we do here. For example, I went to watch some junior teams in Catalonia last year and remarked on how smart the teams looked in their full matching kit and tracksuits (they were about nine years old). A friend of mine who lived in the area picked up on this and informed me that the boys all arrived on their own team bus, having been picked up from their deportivo in the middle of their town where hundreds of locals regularly turn up to watch them play. The boys weren't playing at any sort of high standard, but the sports club was a symbol of pride for the local population and they backed it heavily. In turn the local government provides superb facilities including great playing surfaces and top coaching. This is all part of a national strategy for sport development that has a strong vision of how their football should be played."
From only three hours sitting in the sun at the Sardenya, the family spirit around the stadium was obvious, and Europa hold a place in the local community that equivalent sized clubs in England can only dream of.
There were still some proper ultras, however. Europa (like many Spanish clubs) have a designated plonker who stands behind one of the goals and chants songs throughout the game through a tannoy ("Public address system. Tannoy is a brandname." /Partridge). I say songs – often this seemed to descend into making noises in the vague tune of a classic chant, particularly the one to the tune of 'Go West' by the Pet Shop Boys. He was accompanied by a hardcore of about twelve, one of whom set off a ridiculously loud firecracker a mere thirty seconds after the minute's silence had ended.
I'd never been to a non-league game abroad before, and was very impressed by the football on show. Not necessarily by the quality itself – there were wayward passes aplenty and some terrible set-pieces – but by the intention to play good football. Europa insisted on trying to play short goal-kicks from the back – there was never a desire to hit long balls, and an artificial surface (which was watered before both halves) kept the game flowing nicely.
The standout player was the Europa number six, Ivan Alvarez, who played in front of the back four and sprayed passes from flank to flank – kind of an amateur version of Xabi Alonso, though with the appearance of Daniele De Rossi.
Europa raced into a 1-0 lead in the first few minutes, before Palamos went down to ten men later in the first period, which rather killed the game as a spectacle. There was still time for two more Europa goals, however – the second was superb, a long passing move worked its way like a rugby attack from left to right until the player at the far post, Remo, found himself in space. He brought the ball back inside, beat two players, before slotting a shot past the Pepe Reina lookalike in goal. By the time 90 minutes came, the game was long over as a contest – but, as the spectators remained in their seats or moved to the clubhouse, the day's action at the Sardenya had only just begun.
Barcelona 2-1 Getafe (19:03:11)
I was one of 850 supporters at the Sardenya – the previous night at the Camp Nou, there were one hundred times more people around me, for Barcelona's 2-1 win over Getafe.
I'd been told not to expect much of an atmosphere at the Nou Camp, that the ground was essentially another tourist stop these days – great against the top teams and for the derby against Espanyol, but soulless and quiet for the normal matches. Getafe falls into the category of a 'normal' opponent.
This was not a normal match for Barcelona fans, though. The previous Tuesday, French defender Eric Abidal received devastating news – doctors had found a tumor on his liver. As a result, this game was about Abidal – the fans flocked to the stadium to put up banners wishing him well, both sets players emerged from the tunnel wearing t-shirts saying 'We love you, Abi', and before the game a video was played of Abidal's memorable moments in a Barca shirt. There was a solid three minutes of applause whilst this played, tears from some fans around us, obvious emotion from the players. Xavi told El Mundo Deportivo that hearing the news was the worst moment he'd experienced in his career, the lowest he'd seen a dressing room – and we can assume the rest of the playing squad felt the same. Abidal watched the match from his hospital bed across the city, having undergone an operation on Thursday – Barca, of course, wanted to win for him. This, I can assure you, was the very opposite of a 'soulless' sporting atmosphere.
The game itself was decent – Barcelona played great football but wasted too many chances, and Getafe got a late goal which caused panic around the stadium. We were sat in the right-back spot for the first half, so were in a good position to watch Dani Alves – though of course, he spent most of his time much higher up the pitch. I've outlined before how important Alves is to Barcelona, and sampling his pace and stamina from close quarters was great. He is nothing if not entertaining – within seconds of the start he committed a terrible late tackle on Getafe's left winger and got himself booked, but midway through the first half he opened the scoring with an absolutely sensational swerving half-volley from 25 yards that flew into the top corner. It was an exceptional goal.
The main man, of course, was Lionel Messi. As someone who spends his time writing about tactics, I'm wary about talking too much about the football on the pitch in this piece. A large part of what makes EFW great is the detail about what happens off it – but I must make an exception for Messi, simply because he's the best player I've ever seen play. You can rest assured that if I had encountered the best burger, pint glass, ticket stub, crowd chant or toilet roll holder I've ever seen, I'd discuss those too.
Messi took my breath away twice in the first half – first with a clever flicked pass by the corner flag, played by one foot, off another, into the path of his teammate, and then again with a Zidane-style pirouette to win the ball in a 50-50 challenge. On another two occasions he did things that were so good I laughed out loud – before half time he picked up the ball on the left of the box and dribbled all the way to the right looking for a pass. Seconds later he got the ball once more, and dribbled all the way back to the left again. In the second half, he won possession on the halfway line and was fouled at least twice on his way to goal, but managed to keep his balance and, even more amazingly, the ball.
Two things struck me about him physically. One, his amazing upper body strength which helps him hold off defenders and keep on running. In an age where so many attacking players are content to fall to the floor and buy a free kick, it's brilliant to watch Messi relentlessly hold onto the ball, like a kid in the playground who knows there's no referee to give a foul, and so has to play on. Secondly, a strange one – his ability to stop quickly. He can be running at full speed and then suddenly puts the brakes on, coming to a halt within two yards. Because of that, he gets to loose balls first, and his movement becomes even more difficult to pick up. He didn't score, but he was wonderful. Ludicrously, in the newspaper Sport, a readers' poll published on the Monday showed he only received 8% of votes as Barca's best player. That only sums up how much is expected of him, as he was the best player on show by a distance.
The final relevant football trip in Barcelona was the journey up to Montjuic, a large hill in the south of the city. This area has considerable historic significance – most notably, the President of Catalunya, Lluis Companys, was executed at the castle by the Franco regime in 1940. Some 150 years earlier, the fortress at Montjuic was crucial in determining the length of the prototype metre – two French astronomers measured the distance from Dunkirk to Montjuic (the two are on the same longitude), and the 'metre' was decided as being one ten-millionth of that distance. Remember this – it will come up in a pub quiz one day…
Companys was commemorated by having the stadium at the top of the hill named after him, which was used by RCD Espanyol, the city's 'second' football club, from 1997 to 2009. It's more famous for being the main stadium in the 1992 Olympics, though, and you'll probably recognise the part of the stadium that holds the Olympic torch – famously lit by an Olympian archer firing an arrow into it in the opening ceremony.
The surrounding area formed the main Olympic Park for the 1992 games. It's a strange, mysterious, slightly eerie complex. The Olympic Stadium sits at the top of the hill as the centre point, and is in decent shape - good enough to have hosted last year's European Athletics Championships, in fact. Down the hill is the Palau Saint Jordi, which hosted the gymnastics, volleyball and handball events nineteen years ago, and now is an O2-style multipurpose venue, most frequently used for concerts. Across from that are the Piscines Bernat Picornell – an outdoor pool which appears abandoned, and an indoor pool which I thought was the same, until I saw three fully nude old men sitting on the side of the largest pool. I didn't take photos.
There's also an Olympic Museum up there (though it was closed when we went, on the Sunday), and a large plaque recalling the years when the Spanish Grand Prix was held on a Montjuic Street Circuit – which looked a bloody brilliant track, but bloody dangerous too – two-time Emerson Fittipaldi withdrew from the 1975 event because of safety concerns, and he was sadly provided right, as five spectators died following a huge crash. The race never returned to Montjuic.
It's a fascinating place to visit, but as a Londoner visiting an expensively-assembled but largely desolate Olympic Park, it does make you worry…
West Ham fans would be interested in Espanyol's decision to move away from the Companys, too. It says a lot about football that the stadium is considered fit for European athletics' most prestigious event, but not good enough for a mid-table club with modest ambitions. The stadium has a certain charm about it, but the running track and inaccessible location mean it's simply not a football stadium. 20,000 people in a 55,000 stadium looked terrible.
Espanyol now play at the Cornellà-El Prat, a proper football stadium located outside the city, not far from the main airport. The supporters are much closer to the pitch and much more numerous. Everyone's happy. The one shame is that the new stadium has not been named after Dani Jarque, the Espanyol captain who suddenly died of a heart attack aged 26, in the same month the club played their first game at the new ground.
I hardly need to tell you that Barcelona is a fabulous city – fantastic architecture, famous museums, great food. Most of what I got up to can be found in your standard guide book. However, as a British male, and therefore seeing any foreign landform as something of a challenge, I'd recommend climbing up Mount Tibatabo, previously only known to me because it was part of a joke in an episode of Friends. It's to the north of the city, and most people get up there by taking a tram and then a 'funicular' (a type of shuttle train), but if you like a mildly challenging climb, give it a go.
I couldn't find any instructions about how to get up there on foot on the whole internet, so here's a quick guide - take the Metro to Penitents, and cross the main road onto the Carreterra de Sant Cugat, the mountain road. Head up that for about 20 minutes, past a road on your right and past a couple of abandoned-looking restaurants on your left, then take a path on the left, which runs past an old house on your right. Continue upon that path until you get to a road, and when a sign points you turn right and join the mountain road, carry on along the path to the left of centre, which takes you directly to the top.
The ground is occasionally very steep and unstable, so wearing walking boots is very important - and the path was completely deserted from the bottom to the top, so probably not best to do it alone, It took about 90 minutes from the Metro to the summit.
At the top is, bizarrely, an almost completely empty theme park - the oldest amusement park in Spain, apparently, and seemingly retaining most of the original rides.
Dominoes and dice on a game of chess? This is what happens when you bring up a generation with those '99 board games in one' sets
The park isn't worth bothering with, but the beautiful church, the Sagrat Cor, certainly is. Slightly strangely, you can get a lift to the top - and then after climbing some spiral steps, you reach the highest point for mile around - and all your climbing is rewarded with this stunning view over Barcelona...
We drifted somewhat from football here, so to round this report off, here's a picture of the Olympic Stadium (just right of centre, near the coast) and the Nou Camp (dead centre) from the top of the Sagrat Cor..
Most people I've spoken to seem to have been to Barcelona already - if you haven't, I'd fully recommend it.
You can follow both Michael Cox and European Football Weekends on Twitter
Michael is the genius behind the football tactics website Zonal Marking. You can also catch him on the Football Weekly podcast and if you do Facebook - he's on there as well. (And so are we - Ed).
Like this? You might also like Juliet Jacques on Marseille v PSG
- Feel free to comment below -


text:
Best Amusement Parks For Families
The Top 10 Theme Parks to Visit With Your Kids This Summer
The Top 10 Theme Parks to Visit With Your Kids This Summer
Planning a family trip to an amusement or theme park this Summer? You've come to the right place! These 10 parks earned high marks from us for their diversity, family-friendliness, cleanliness, and ability to accommodate the needs of you and your kiddos. Hitting up an amusement park with kids in tow might not be the most low-stress form of travel, but your little ones will love you (even more) for it! Without further adieu, our top 10 . . .


text: Share: February 13, 2011 Air Pollution, Environmental Policy, Ozone There was some good news on the environment last week. In the 20-state area that participates in a cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions of nitric oxide (NOx) from power plants, the emissions declined 32 percent from 1997 to 2005.NOx is, of course, a precursor to the formation of ozone in the lower atmosphere, and ozone is a major health risk to those with asthma, emphysema and cardiovascular disease. Corresponding to the 32 percent decline in NOx is a 13 percent decline in ozone concentrations and a 16 percent decline in the deposition of NOx from the atmosphere throughout the region. These reductions represent a turnaround to the long-term increases in ozone reported in the atmosphere of much of North America and Europe.Five years ago, scientists reported that the lower emissions from power plants in the northeastern United States could be seen in satellite images of the region. Now, the Cary Institute's Tom Butler reports that regulating NOx emissions has been highly effective in reducing ozone concentrations in our region. His long-term studies of rainfall chemistry show a decline in nitrate and acidity, which are both related to NOx.The regulation of NOx has been controversial. It is well known that coal-fired power plants are a source of about 25 percent of the nation's NOx emissions — largely stemming from the nitrogen content of coal. But utilities using coal-fired power plants argued that the technology to remove NOx from their smokestacks was simply too costly. And, they argued, NOx is added to the atmosphere by a lot of other activities, including the metabolism of soil microbes.The chemical reactions by which NOx produces ozone in the atmosphere were established in the laboratory nearly 30 years ago. Long-term records show increasing ozone in the eastern United States and rising contents of nitric acid in rainfall, as a result of a series of chemical reactions in the atmosphere. But reductions in NOx during the regional blackout in 2003, produced only modest reductions in ambient ozone content, about 4 percent. Now, with Butler's long-term records of the chemical content in rainfall, we have direct evidence that a reduction in emissions from power plants shows up in lower nitrate contents in rainfall.It is worth reflecting on why environmental scientists argue for the regulation of substances that pollute our air and water. When science showed that DDT affected the reproduction of the bald eagle, whose populations were declining, scientists argued DDT should be banned.Certainly, we all like bald eagles, but the deeper concern stems from what the eagles were telling us about the potential effects of DDT on human biochemistry. Similarly, environmental scientists argue for regulations on NOx emissions, not only because they form acid rain, which harms forests, but also because they help form ozone, which harms humans.In Washington, our politicians are in a heated debate over the extent of government regulations of food, drugs and pollution. Regulations increase costs, so most business leaders prefer fewer regulations. But regulations protect the long-term health of the environment for humans and other life forms, and a lack of regulations in the past has resulted in some of the worst toxic pollutant episodes now awaiting cleanup.Regulating NOx emissions is a first step in recognizing and removing large human additions of reactive nitrogen to the environment, with a large number of effects we will come to regret in an unregulated situation. Share: Feature Data show ozone turnaround › February 13, 2011


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Watch this video from MSN about Maverick farms hosted by Anna Lappé of the Small Planet Institute
Maverick Farms is an educational non-profit farm dedicated to family farming as a community resource and reconnecting local food networks.
Maverick Farms formed in spring 2004 to preserve a small farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, an area under intense pressure from development. It operates as an open laboratory, experimenting with human-scale farming techniques and traditional food preparation.
Maverick Farms works to reclaim the pleasures of eating and sharing meals in a culture overrun by industrial agriculture and flavorless food. The project arose out of Springhouse Farm, which for 30 years sold hand-picked vegetables to local restaurants. Maverick Farms is continuing with that tradition while embarking on new education and outreach projects to connect local food producers and consumers.
They just started a new program that they call Farm Incubator and Grower Program (FIG) on mentoring aspiring young farmers and teaching them over the course of two years all that great stuff you need to know about planning crop rotations and balancing farm budgets, and running a CSA and restaurant supply business. On successful completion of the training, Maverick works with the young farmers gain access to land, financing, equipment, and a ready-made markets to launch their own farm enterprises. The program will hopefully help to reestablish local food sources in the area. Because viable local food systems are often constrained by a lack of both land under cultivation and new farmers, FIG will collaborate with local landowners, land trusts, and town and county governments to identify land that could be rented at below-market rates or deeded as common agricultural property.
I found Maverick Farms from this Grist article. Grist is great for all environmental news!


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The Woodinville Winers visit Zerba Cellars
Did you know we now have Oregon wineries right here in Woodinville? If not, let us introduce you to one of them — Zerba Cellars (www.zerbacellars.com).
Even though the Zerba vineyards are located in the Walla Walla Valley, this valley transcends the Washington-Oregon border, and the Zerba vineyards are all located south of the border, officially making Zerba an Oregon winery.
The Jon Cockburn Ranch Vineyard is located in the southeast corner of the valley, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Dad's Vineyard is located in the "Touchet Beds," near the state line, and the Winesap Road Vineyard is located in the rocky floodplain of the Walla Walla River.
Zerba Cellars is the product of Cecil and Marilyn Zerba, whose family's roots can be traced to the Walla Walla Valley back as far as the 1850s. When Cecil and Marilyn were married in September 1981, they established Zerba Gardens, a local nursery producing quality plants and produce. Over the next 20 years, Zerba Gardens grew into one of the valley's most successful and trusted local nurseries. In 2001 Cecil and Marilyn Zerba left the nursery business and founded Winesap Vineyards. The vineyards are all certified sustainable by LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), IOBC (International Organization for Biological Control) and Salmon Safe.
Greeting us was Mike who poured us two whites and three reds. The standout in the white category was the 2001 Rousanne which was nicely balanced. Two of the red wines stood out for us — the 2008 Merlot and the 2008 Syrah. The Merlot (which contains 20% Cab) showcases grapes from the ancient rocky floodplain of the Walla Walla River and from the valley hillsides. It has an exotic nose featuring mint, red cherries, anise and hints of earthiness and light tobacco. The Syrah was fruit-forward with a nice finish.
We ended our tasting with a bonus wine (Mike must have liked us) — a late harvest red blend of 67% Syrah, 33% Barbera, and a kiss of 2008 Semillon Ice Wine. This was almost like drinking a light Port wine and made for a really interesting close to our tasting. It is apparent to us why Zerba was named 2011 Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest and why a friend of ours insisted that we had to try it.
Most Zerba wines are in the $20-$30 price range, with our favorite Merlot and Syrah being $30. The tasting room is located at the Apple Farm development on the northwest corner of the main roundabout in the Woodinville Tourist District.
They are open from 12-5 p.m. on Sunday – Tuesday and 11-6 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday.


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Researchers find odorant in human sweat that attracts female mosquitoes
Male and female Anopheles mosquitoes
By Neil Brake, Vanderbilt University
Today, we know a little bit more about one of mankinds deadliest enemies, the mosquito. Scientists have taken an important step toward understanding the mosquitos sense of smell, an avenue of research that may lead to better ways to repel the deadly insect.
In a joint effort reported in the Jan. 15 issue of the journal Nature, researchers at Vanderbilt and Yale universities have verified that the antennae of female Anopheles mosquitoes that prey on humans contain receptors that respond to one of the chemical compounds found in human sweat.
David F. Salisbury | EurekAlert!
Further information:
NUI Galway highlights reproductive flexibility in hydractinia, a Galway bay jellyfish
24.02.2020 | National University of Ireland Galway
Shaping the rings of molecules
24.02.2020 | University of Montreal
The operational speed of semiconductors in various electronic and optoelectronic devices is limited to several gigahertz (a billion oscillations per second). This constrains the upper limit of the operational speed of computing. Now researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg, Germany, and the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay have explained how these processes can be sped up through the use of light waves and defected solid materials.
Light waves perform several hundred trillion oscillations per second. Hence, it is natural to envision employing light oscillations to drive the electronic...
Most natural and artificial surfaces are rough: metals and even glasses that appear smooth to the naked eye can look like jagged mountain ranges under the microscope. There is currently no uniform theory about the origin of this roughness despite it being observed on all scales, from the atomic to the tectonic. Scientists suspect that the rough surface is formed by irreversible plastic deformation that occurs in many processes of mechanical machining of components such as milling.
Prof. Dr. Lars Pastewka from the Simulation group at the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg and his team have simulated such...
Investigation of the temperature dependence of the skyrmion Hall effect reveals further insights into possible new data storage devices
The joint research project of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that had previously demonstrated...
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, recently completed a 5-year research project looking at how to make fibre optic communications systems more energy efficient. Among their proposals are smart, error-correcting data chip circuits, which they refined to be 10 times less energy consumptive. The project has yielded several scientific articles, in publications including Nature Communications.
Streaming films and music, scrolling through social media, and using cloud-based storage services are everyday activities now.
After helping develop a new approach for organic synthesis -- carbon-hydrogen functionalization -- scientists at Emory University are now showing how this approach may apply to drug discovery. Nature Catalysis published their most recent work -- a streamlined process for making a three-dimensional scaffold of keen interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
"Our tools open up whole new chemical space for potential drug targets," says Huw Davies, Emory professor of organic chemistry and senior author of the paper.
70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting: Around 70 Laureates set to meet with young scientists from approx. 100 countries
12.02.2020 | Event News
11th Advanced Battery Power Conference, March 24-25, 2020 in Münster/Germany
16.01.2020 | Event News
Laser Colloquium Hydrogen LKH2: fast and reliable fuel cell manufacturing
15.01.2020 | Event News
NUI Galway highlights reproductive flexibility in hydractinia, a Galway bay jellyfish
24.02.2020 | Life Sciences
KIST researchers develop high-capacity EV battery materials that double driving range
24.02.2020 | Materials Sciences
How earthquakes deform gravity
24.02.2020 | Earth Sciences


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Halliburton to move headquarters from Houston to Dubai
Halliburton to move headquarters to Dubai
CEO Dave Lesar says the oil giant will maintain a Houston corporate office
Halliburton Co. surprised the energy world, members of Congress and the city of Houston today by announcing it will open a new corporate headquarters in the United Arab Emirates and relocate its chief executive officer there.
The world's second-largest oilfield services company and biggest U.S. contractor operating in Iraq, said the new office in Dubai will help strengthen its presence in the Middle East, Africa and the Far East, where its business is growing.
The move raised questions about Halliburton's future in Houston, the company's corporate home since relocating from Dallas four years ago. And it sparked concerns on Capitol Hill about the national security implications of such a change.
Today, the company posted a press release on its Web site saying its chairman and CEO, Dave Lesar, had announced that he would be relocating to Dubai to open a "corporate headquarters office." Lesar made the announcement at a regional energy conference being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Halliburton, however, will still maintain a corporate office in Houston, company spokeswoman Melissa Norcross said. And several top executives, including the company's chief operating officer and chief financial officer, will remain here.
When asked if there would be layoffs among the firm's roughly 4,000 Houston employees, Norcross said, "absolutely not."
Halliburton officials skipped some of the corporate courtesies that would usually attend such an announcement, failing to notify Houston Mayor Bill White and other community leaders in advance.
White said Sunday he was not concerned about the move because he believed it would have little impact on Halliburton's local employment.
"Where a particular CEO chooses to spend his time is not something I think I would get involved with," White said.
The move comes as some of the largest oil-field services firms are eyeing growth in the Eastern Hemisphere, where state-owned oil companies are paying top dollar for western expertise that will allow them to unlock oil and natural gas reserves.
"I think it's really just emblematic of how the oilfield services business is moving West to East," said Bill Herbert, industry analyst with Simmons and Company International in Houston.
Halliburton said the move to Dubai is part of a previously-announced strategic plan that calls for expanded relations with state-owned oil companies and direct more resources and investments in growing the company's business in the Eastern Hemisphere.
"The Eastern Hemisphere is a market that is more heavily weighted toward oil exploration and production opportunities and growing our business here will bring more balance to Halliburton's overall portfolio," Lesar said today in a statement.
Moving Lesar to Dubai highlights the region's contribution thus far and potential to the company going forward, said Dan Pickering, president of Houston-based Pickering Energy Partners.
"My gut reaction is that Halliburton is telling you that the Middle East is important to us," he said.
More than 38 percent of Halliburton's $13 billion oil field services revenue last year came from sources in the eastern hemisphere, where the firm has 16,000 of its 45,000 employees.
Pickering cautioned from viewing the opening of the Dubai office as a first step in moving the entire company out of the United States. That would be a large distraction and wouldn't make sense, given that more than 50 percent of the company's business still comes from North America, he said.
And — at least for the moment — Halliburton is not just an oil-field services firm.
Through its KBR subsidiary, Halliburton also is the Pentagon's largest private contractor operating in Iraq. Under a logistics contract with the Army valued at more than $25 billion, KBR serves up meals, builds bases and provides a host of other support services for U.S. troops.
While Halliburton is in the process of splitting off its KBR operation into a separate entity, Lesar's relocation prompted questions among policy makers in Washington.
"This is a surprising development," House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said in a statement today. "I want to understand the ramifications for the U.S. taxpayer and national security."
Waxman's panel may hold a hearing on the decision.
U.S. lawmakers remain openly suspicious of the United Arab Emirates, despite the growing prominence of its bustling financial center, Dubai.
A political firestorm erupted last year when a Dubai-based marine terminal operator tried to take over operations at six major U.S. ports. Lawmakers repeatedly recalled that much of the money used to fund the Sep. 11 terrorist attacks was funneled through the United Arab Emirates' banking system.
From 1995 to 2000, Halliburton was headed by Vice President Dick Cheney. A spokeswoman for Cheney declined to comment today about Lesar's relocation plans.
Political concerns aside, Dubai represents a convenient location for an oil services company trying to win business from the national oil companies in the Middle East.
"When you look into the future, it's really going to be these (national oil companies) that are going to control the future production," noted Amy Myers Jaffe, a fellow for energy studies at Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. "Who do the oil service companies work for? They are working for the companies that are producing the oil and gas."
Jaffe was in Dubai today to discuss a report the Baker Institute has just completed on the changing role of these national oil companies.
That report points out that national oil companies controlled some 77 percent of the world's proved oil reserves in 1995. In contrast, Western international oil companies hold less than 10 percent of the global oil and gas resource base.
Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, said while he understands the attractiveness of Dubai, the move still runs counter to a longstanding trend in which the energy industry has consolidated more and more operations in Houston.
Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, said the news "is not surprising."
"It would make sense," Brady said, for an oil and gas company to "go where oil and gas is," Brady said. "America these days essentially vilifies our own energy companies."
While Halliburton officials were quick to point out that many other top executives would remain in Houston, Brady noted: "If I were a CEO, I'd want my top team with me."


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========================================================================== Ubuntu Security Notice USN-1688-1 January 15, 2013 linux-lts-backport-oneiric vulnerabilities ========================================================================== A security issue affects these releases of Ubuntu and its derivatives: - Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Summary: Several security issues were fixed in the kernel. Software Description: - linux-lts-backport-oneiric: Linux kernel backport from Oneiric Details: Jon Howell reported a flaw in the Linux kernel's KVM (Kernel-based virtual machine) subsystem's handling of the XSAVE feature. On hosts, using qemu userspace, without the XSAVE feature an unprivileged local attacker could exploit this flaw to crash the system. (CVE-2012-4461) A flaw was discovered in the Linux kernel's handling of script execution when module loading is enabled. A local attacker could exploit this flaw to cause a leak of kernel stack contents. (CVE-2012-4530) Update instructions: The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS: linux-image-3.0.0-30-generic 3.0.0-30.47~lucid1 linux-image-3.0.0-30-generic-pae 3.0.0-30.47~lucid1 linux-image-3.0.0-30-server 3.0.0-30.47~lucid1 linux-image-3.0.0-30-virtual 3.0.0-30.47~lucid1 After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes. ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed. If you use linux-restricted-modules, you have to update that package as well to get modules which work with the new kernel version. Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages (e.g. linux-generic, linux-server, linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform this as well. References: http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1688-1 CVE-2012-4461, CVE-2012-4530 Package Information: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-lts-backport-oneiric/3.0.0-30.47~lucid1
Ubuntu 1688-1: Linux kernel (Oneiric backport) vulnerabilities
Several security issues were fixed in the kernel.


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Pinocchio and Gepetto Costume
Rate this costume:
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Pinocchio and Gepetto Costume
|Costume type:
|Costumes for Boys
This homemade costume for boys entered our 2011 Halloween Costume Contest,
A word from Arlene, the 'Pinocchio and Gepetto' costume creator:
This is my 10 year old son wearing my homemade Pinocchio and Gepetto costume. I saw a similar costume online and asked him if he wanted to do that for Halloween. He was all for it.
Gepetto: His body was made from styrofoam packing material we had in boxes. I put a mask on a styrofoam wig holder/head with a wooden dowel holding it in place going into the styrofoam body. I added fun fur for the hair and mustache and the glasses were wired around the head under the fur to keep them on the mask. I added tape to the neck to help hold things together and give it a wrinkled look and painted it. I used wire (plant holders from hardware store), foam pipe insulation and lots of duct tape for the arms. His hands were rubber kitchen gloves from the dollar store painted flesh tone and stuffed. My daughter added the fingernails with nail polish. The fingers were wrapped around the dowels for Pinocchio's strings and glued in place with liquid nails. I purchased the Gepetto shirt from Good Will. The Gepetto body was put into a back pack my son was wearing and the straps were covered by the suspenders from Pinocchio's shorts. I had to do a little alterring of the pants I purchased at Goodwill for my son to wear as Gepetto's pants. My son is wearing really long soccer socks and his own shoes. I wrapped a white apron around the backpack and tied it around my son's waist to hold Gepetto in place and cover the backpack.
Pinocchio: The legs were styrofoam from packing material cut into strips and shaped then wrapped in foam. To get the hinged look at the knee, I used duct tape folded over on itself to make straps that I sandwiched between the upper and lower part of each leg. I did the same strapping idea to attach the legs to the inside of Pinocchio's shorts. Each foot is a piece of styrofoam attached to the leg, stuffed, and covered with a black sock. Pinocchio's shorts and collar were from the homemade costume I purchased on ebay. The suspenders are crossed behind my son's back to support the shorts and legs. I made Pinocchio's hat and bow tie from the pattern I received with the shorts purchased on ebay. Pinocchio's nose was made with liquid latex by my niece and attached with spirit gum. Her detail included a leaf. The yellow shirt was purchased at a hobby store. The gloves were attached to the strings with a safety pin hidden inside the gloves and a loop made in the string.
We made a few adjustments after the school parade and my son went trick or treating with the costume on without any help. The Gepetto body needed to be tied to my son to make it all feasible and the apron did that.
Similar costumes:


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Gaelic broadcasting is to continue receiving from the Scottish government.
MG Alba, which launched in September 2008 to ensure high-quality Gaelic television programmes are available to viewers in Scotland, is to receive £1 million in funding, although previous support from the UK government was cut in November.
The funding for 2016/17 follows a previous investment from the Scottish government of £1m for 2014-16 and is in addition to core funding of £11.8m.
MG Alba runs the digital television channel BBC Alba in partnership with BBC Scotland and its output has included comedy Two Days in October and Bannan, which is filmed on Skye, and is the first Gaelic drama to be made since Machair in the 1990s.
Along with CBeebies, it also commissioned a television adaption of Mairi Hedderwick's Katie Morag books. The show is filmed on Lewis in the Western Isles.
Minister for Scotland's Languages Alasdair Allan said: "I have no doubt that Gaelic broadcasting adds significant value to important areas of Gaelic development, whether that's in education, in the community or at home.
"The impact and benefits of MG Alba are felt across Scotland, and it has an impressive economic impact - this is unique and this funding will enable these areas to increase employment, skills and training."


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Hospitality PR: DIY or Hired Pro?
Ventless Equipment In Unlikely Locations
Busting the Labor Cost Myth
Toast Payroll & Team Management for Restaurants Debuts
Understanding The Science of Smoking Foods
Menu Crafting Within The Country Club Space
Hip Hop Icon DJ Maseo Named Partner of Growing Franchise Pierre's Eatery
NJ Based Rep Pecinka Ferri Set To Host Pizza Forums
Arc Cardinal Brings Sommelier And Mixologist To 2019 NRA Show
Restaurant and Foodservice Operators Head To Windy City For Annual NRA Confab
Marcum Set to Host Pair of Tri-State Conferences
Mint Drinks for Spring
Protecting the Brand (or Reputation)
Item specifics
New with tags: A brand-new, unused, unworn and undamaged item in the original packaging (such as the original box ... Read moreabout the condition
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To learn about advertising opportunities, please view our media kit. Total Food Service is the exclusive resource for communicating your message to key decision-makers at the most influential restaurants and foodservice operations with our print magazine in the Metro New York foodservice marketplace, and with our website nationally. As with any industry tailored to consumer preference, the restaurant and hospitality industry is an ever-changing business that goes through constant reformation. Those trends are also found in the Tri-State's large Business and Institution market that include Healthcare, Corporate Dining & Colleges. Whether it is hot new restaurants, healthier meals, Rossignol Predektorenweste RPG VEST SR - SAS TEC, or food trucks popping up on every other city street corner, the Metro New York foodservice industry has always adapted to change in order to satisfy its customers and increase traffic.
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How to Use the Images
Photo 1: Little Cranberry Island in 1870:
The Blue Duck (left center with end chimney)
and original Samuel Hadlock store (center).
original Samuel Hadlock store (left)
and the Blue Duck (right).
Questions for Photos 1 & 2
1. Describe each photograph and list the possible occupations of people who lived on the island.
2. In what ways would the scenes have been alike or different at the time the Hadlocks and the Gilleys lived in the region? Would the occupations of the people be likely to be the same? Do the photos show activities similar to those described in the readings?
3. In what ways would the scenes be different today? What would cause such changes over time? Describe why it is important to preserve evidence of the everyday life in the past.
* The photos on this screen have a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Photo 1 and Photo 2, but be aware that each file will take as much as 30 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.


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Wanderlust + Co Leah Choker in Gold
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Recommended Movies
Saving Mr. Banks
Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson bring to life the untold true story about the origins of one of the most treasured Disney classics of all time. John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) directs this acclaimed film that reveals the surprising backstory behind the making of Mary Poppins. Determined to fulfill a promise to his daughters, Walt Disney (Hanks) tries for 20 years to obtain the rights to author P.L. Travers' (Thompson) beloved book. Armed with his iconic creative vision, Walt pulls out all the stops, but the uncompromising Travers won't budge. Only when he reaches into his own complicated childhood does Walt discover the truth about the ghosts that haunt Travers, and together, they set Mary Poppins free!
The Lone Ranger
Tonto (Johnny Depp) and John Reid (Armie Hammer) are brought together by fate and must join forces to battle greed and corruption.
Alice in Wonderland
Tumble down the rabbit hole as a 19-year-old Alice returns to Wonderland and its fantastical characters in an all-new adventure.


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The Wranglers will perform their famous stage show with song of cowboys, gunfighters, and the Old West, plus lively instrumentals and comedy to please the whole family.
The Bar D Wranglers are celebrating 40 years of operation at the Bar D Chuckwagon in Durango. Over two million guests have enjoyed the great western stage show of the Wranglers at the Chuckwagon, and countless others have attended the Wranglers' shows from coast to coast and around the world. They have recently played at some of the world's most well-known venues, including the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The performers include Cy Scarborough who plays rhythm guitar and does comedy. Cy started the show in 1969. Gary Cook is a two-time National Flatpick Champion guitar player, and sings tenor. Matt Palmer plays a hot fiddle and sings baritone.
Joel Racheff sings, does comedy and plays upright bass, guitar, banjo, and mandolin; Levi Mullen sings lead vocals and plays guitar.
The Bar D Wranglers say they look forward to performing in Monticello November 10. Blue Mountain Entertainment says "thanks" to Doug Allen and Blue Mountain Foods for making this fun program available to the local audience. Admission to the program is by Blue Mountain Entertainment or Kigalia season memberships or by tickets purchased at the door: Families $22.50; Adults $9, and students $4.50.


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Deep Fried Chicago: New England Seafood Company
Lucky for me, the deep fryer ranks up there with most-used restaurant implements. From high end to low and everywhere in between, there's never any shortage of fried foods for me to explore. But sometimes wrenching deep fried items from a restaurant's menu can feel like squeezing water from a stone, which makes it especially nice when a restaurant does the work for me.
Enter New England Seafood Company, a recent Lakeview addition that is fast becoming a neighborhood institution for its fresh seafood counter and brisk lunch and dinner service. Save the homemade potato chips and fried calamari that I'll have to save for another day, NESC's entire fried oeuvre is represented simply and definitively in the Fisherman's Platter ($19.95). The overflowing plate arrives to the table steaming, each component given separate, loving attention. It's only proper that I do the same.
Let's work our way up from the bottom. In proper Chicago style, the Fries are skin on, twice fried, and properly salted. And just like my favorites at Redhot Ranch, they benefit from a slight steaming under the seafood's heft. If I could figure out a way to work mustard and onions into this equation... I'm actually going to stop there.
Bacon wrapped, pan seared, or part of a boil proper, I love scallops any way they come. But Fried Scallops may be the best of all. Characterized by a surprisingly deep sweetness, the scallops remain moist and toothsome even after being fried. And while the light batter wouldn't dare get in the scallops' way, its boil-bringing Old Bay crunch is much appreciated.
Featuring the same batter as the scallops, the Shrimp are a delicate and subtle version in a city whose definitive style is crisply fortified behind cornmeal. I'm a fan of both, but I appreciate how cleanly the shrimp flavor here shines through.
New England Seafood Company proudly serves Whole Belly Clams, which unlike their belly-less brethren found at lesser shops, actually feature a strong clam flavor. These appear to be a rite of passage, and for the uninitiated like myself, the first bite is a briny, textural (and slightly sandy) shock. It took the whole meal for me to decide if these really fit my preference, and I may just have to order them again to be sure.
Delicate and milky, the Fried Haddock pulls apart easily and takes well to the lemony, dill pickle-forward tartar sauce. It's tenderness camps it squarely in fork and knife territory. Though it could certainly benefit from a more aggressive pre-battering salting, its biggest issue is the excellent company it keeps. Between the sweetness of the scallops and shrimp and brininess of the clams, the mild white fish tends to get lost in the mix.
As good as their fried game is, with all the lobster rolls, chowder, and grilled seafood I saw sweeping past me, I'm going to have a hard time resisting the urge to diversify on my next stop in to New England Seafood Company. On second thought, one order of fried scallops couldn't hurt. For the table.
New England Seafood Company
3341 N Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60657 (map)
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k.d. lang – Landmarks Live in Concert
Season 46 Episode 8 | 1h 21m 45s
Celebrate the 25th anniversary Ingénue, the critically acclaimed and GRAMMY®-award winning album by superstar singer-songwriter k.d. lang with a one-night-only performance from the magnificent Majestic Theater in downtown San Antonio, Texas.
Aired: 12/14/18
Expires: 12/13/21Video has closed captioning.
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GREAT PERFORMANCES is made possible by the Irene Diamond Fund, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Rosalind P. Walter, The Agnes Varis Trust, The Starr Foundation, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Lenore Hecht Foundation, Abra Prentice Foundation, The Lewis Sonny Turner Fund for Dance, Jody and John Arnhold, Anne Ray Charitable Trust, and PBS.