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PowerShell Environment Roundup: SAPIEN PrimalScript
This is the first in a series of reviews of major PowerShell commercial script editors; this is pretty lengthy (it's meant to be comprehensive), so grab a cup of coffee before you dive in.
For this series of reviews, I developed a standard criteria against which I evaluated each product. You'll see me referring to sections of that criteria within each review; the criteria is mainly intended to help me stay objective, and to make sure I'm covering each product equally in terms of features.
SAPIEN's PrimalScript is one of the most venerable commercial script editors out there, having been around for… oh, about forever. The company's been around long enough, in fact, to expand into book publishing (sapienpress.com) and training (scriptingtraining.com). PrimalScript 2009 retails for $300; for $540 you can get a "Studio" package that includes a SQL tool, file merge/compare tool, standalone debugger, source control system, XML editor, and PowerShell GUI builder. A cool $1000 nabs you all that plus a handful of eBooks, video training, and so on.
Full disclosure: Many of you may be aware that I used to be employed by SAPIEN; in fact, most of their video training titles were my work, as are a couple of the books. I've not been employed by them since mid-2008. SAPIEN provided me with free copies of their software for this review, and they still hires me from time to time to teach instructor-led PowerShell classes.
PrimalScript's biggest claim to fame is its breadth of scripting language support: Some 40-odd programming languages, in all, are supported to some degree or another. For this review, we'll look solely at the PowerShell-related features and support. Bear the other languages in mind, though; if you're still working in VBScript or occasionally need - I don't know, HTML or XML or ActionScript or something - PrimalScript is one of the few commercial options out that that can carry you through (note that this series of reviews is focused on commercial tools, rather than free ones, since most folks are well aware of the free options and frankly aren't risking anything by procuring one).
Let's begin with core editing features. PrimalScript supports syntax highlighting, meaning it color-codes commands, variables, and so forth, making complex scripts a bit easier to read. It supports auto-indentation that help keep constructs neatly formatted, and it has all the basic copy/edit/paste/undo functions you'd expect. Its Undo is actually a standout feature: Undo information is stored in a separate filestream, along with the file (provided it's on an NTFS partition), so you can continue undoing mistakes from far in the past as soon as you re-open a file. Live syntax checking for PowerShell is supported, meaning you'll get a Word-like red broken underline when the editor thinks you have a syntax error.
"Code hinting" is present in the form of pop-up tool tips that display when you hover over a cmdlet name; a problem with these is that they don't word-wrap, meaning any reasonably-long cmdlet syntax (like Get-WmiObject) scrolls off-screen. When you're actually typing the command (as opposed to hovering over it), you do get a nicely-formatted, word-wrapped pop-up syntax reminder. "Code completion," those "IntelliSense-like" pop-up menus that can finish typing a cmdlet for you, works well for cmdlets as well as parameters. It does not provide code-completion for file paths and filenames, something other editors do that I actually find annoying and distracting. "Code folding" is also supported: This is the ability to "collapse" a section of code, like an entire function, so that it's hidden from view. That can be useful when working on a long script. There's also dynamic help, which brings up help for a cmdlet in a separate docked or floating pane.
I have two nitpicks with the software's code completion: First, if you type "Get-WmiObject," it's happy to prompt you with possible parameters. However, if you type the alias "gwmi," you don't get parameter assistance. Second, it's not aware of parameter sets. That is, if I've already used the -recurse parameter with Get-WmiObject, I shouldn't be offered the -filter parameter, since it isn't present in the parameter set that includes -recurse.
Brace matching is the one feature I wish was very slightly stronger. This feature is designed to highlight matching pairs of braces or other punctuation, so that you know you have a matched set. I don't quite understand the logic behind PrimalScript's implementation; it seems to highlight braces when you move the cursor before the opening brace, and after the closing brace - but only if the closing brace has a space or character in front of it, meaning it won't match if you move your cursor in front of a closing brace that's on a line by itself.
There are also numerous extra features, like my favorite: The ability to go through a script and convert all aliases to their full cmdlet names, making it easier to share the script with others and making long-term maintenance easier. I wish it did the same thing for parameter names, but it doesn't. Overall, then, PrimalScript gets 4.5 stars out of 5 for editing features.
In the category of "helping you get things done faster," PrimalScript has a WMI, ADSI, and Logon Script Wizard, but unfortunately none of them produce PowerShell code at this time. PrimalScript does provide a Snippets feature: Youc an type the name of a Snippet and press Ctrl+J to get the full snippet in your script, or you can drag snippets from a tree view browser. You can also highlight any block of code and right-click to create your own snippet. The included snippets include ADSI, database, and WMI selections, along with basic language constructs. Interestingly, there's also a "VBScript to PowerShell" set of snippets: Type a VBScript keyword and press Ctrl+J to see the PowerShell equivalent. There's no integration with online code repositories such as PoshCode.org. In this category, PrimalScript gets 2 stars out of 5, mainly on the strength of the included snippets.
In the "Packaging and Distribution" arena, PrimalScript includes a full script packager that can create semi-independent EXEs from your scripts (PowerShell still needs to be present for the EXE to run). You get a pretty granular level of control over the final executable, including custom manifests, icons, and the ability to bundle additional support files. It can also run your script under alternate credentials, which are encrypted and stored within the package. PrimalScript also supports .psd1 and .psm1 files, although in the build I used it did not activate PowerShell syntax support for .psm1 Script Module files; it was easy for me to add the .psm1 file extension in the tool's options, and I suspect a future build will include that as a default. In this category, 5 stars out of 5, with a minor wish that the flexibility of the script packager didn't make it seem so complex - you almost want a wizard for it when you're just trying to quickly pump out an EXE.
Now for "Integration." PrimalScript has a robust database browser, and can execute SQL queries and display their results, all within the product - very useful when you're working with database-centric scripts. There's a basic graphic WMI browser (hidden in the generic "Object Browser" panel), although frankly SAPIEN has a far superior "WMI Explorer" tool that's free from www.primaltools.com (click on "Community Downloads"). There's a built-in FTP client, and built-in support for XML files (which PowerShell makes heavy use of for its own configuration files). Although not configured to use PowerShell by default, you can easily change the "Comamnd Window" docked/floating pane to use PowerShell, so you get an in-editor interactive command-line. However, I noticed that that command window doesn't scroll automatically, which means you're constantly reaching for the scroll bar to bring the prompt back into view - that's a definite downside. Still, tor integration, PrimalScript gets 4.5 stars.
A caveat with that: Unlike most other editors, PrimalScript maintains a separate runspace for scripts and for that interactive command-line window. That is, loading a module in the command-line window doesn't make that module available to whatever script's you're writing. Each time you run a script, in fact, that script gets an all-new runspace. I don't consider this behavior to be either good or bad; it just is. There are pros and cons to this and other approaches, and every administrator will likely have a strong opinion of how they prefer it to work.
For "Remote Management," however, I have to give PrimalScript 0 stars, as it provides no inbuilt support for PowerShell remoting. That's a shame. The tool does have a "Remote Script" function, but that depends on a SAPIEN-provided service being installed on the remote machines, and seems to only work for Windows Script Host scripts. I'd like to see that extended to support PowerShell, using v2's built-in remoting.
Now for "Advanced Features." PrimalScript does not include a visual forms builder, although one is included in the "Studio" and "Universal" bundles, and is available for standalone purchase. PrimalForms, as it's called, kicks butt. It even has lightweight editing capabilities that surpass Microsoft's own ISE, while giving you a Visual Studio-like forms-building and -coding experience. Combined with the ability to package scripts into EXEs, it rocks - and it can send scripts to PrimalScript for more intensive editing. There's also built-in source control connectivity to CSV/Subversion as well as any Microsoft SourceSafe-compatible system, as well as SAPIEN's own ChangeVue system. Finally, there's a full visual file comparison/diff tool, although the add-on PrimalDiff product provides far superior functionality. 5 stars.
In the "PowerShell Environment / Security" category, PrimalScript does well. It offers full support for applying digital signatures to scripts, including the ability to sign scripts automatically upon saving them. It provides control over the shell's execution policy. It also loads your PowerShell profile script, which is a great way to make sure any PSSnapins or modules are available for your scripts. I wish it actually had a dialog box that let you specify which snap-ins and/or modules to load, rather than making you have a profile script for that purpose. However, the profile script approach does help it more closely emulate a "standalone" PowerShell environment, where you're just opening the shell on its own and relying on what's in your profile script. PrimalScript does not, as described earlier, support multiple runspaces: Each tab in the editor is a script, and gets a fresh runspace each time you run it. 4.5 stars, here.
Now for the "Debugging" category. PrimalScript offers a full visual debugger, and in my quick tests didn't have any problems with any script I threw at it. You can manage breakpoints by clicking in a side margin area, and you get a full visual breakdown of all defined variables and their values whenever the script is paused. You don't get an "immediate window," meaning the ability to execute commands while in suspend mode. That's something both PowerShell's console and ISE do give you, and it'd be a nice feature for a future version. You also have the ability to highlight one or more lines and just execute those lines - a handy way to test code. You can't, however, do this with a shortcut key (at least not by default) as you can in the ISE. That's a shortcoming, because it places the final hurdle in the way of using PrimalScript as a combo editor/interactive tool; I'd like to see a default keyboard shortcut a la the ISE. 4 stars, because the debugger seems rock-solid, although the lack of fast and easy access to "run one line at a time" is a shortcoming.
For the "Overall" competition. PrimalScript's UI is very Visual Studio-like. You can select from several color schemes, but it's a very traditional toolbar-and-pane based environment. Some will like that; I think it's great for advanced users, but intimidating for new ones. So much of the UI isn't useful for PowerShell, for example, that you get a lot of grayed-out options on a lot of menus, which is just wasted space. You can configure and save workspaces, so with some time you can create a pretty custom layout and have that pop up whenever you like. In terms of customization, the sky's the limit: You can maneuver docking panes to the top, left, right, or bottom of the main window, and can split the main editor in two either vertically or horizontally. Docked panes can be floated, as well, which is useful if you have a large monitor or multiple monitors. PrimalScript even provides separate output tabs for normal script output and for debugger (Write-Debug) output, which is tremendously useful. In this category, 4 stars out of 5 - I'd like to see the option for a more trimmed-down interface for someone just working in PowerShell. I think the UI, as it is, is very complete and sophisticated - but it's overwhelming for administrators who don't have a scripting background, almost as much as Visual Studio would be. Some folks might prefer a ribbon-style UI, but I'm not including that in the rating because I know just as many people hate that kind of UI.
Finally, the last rating is "How well does this completely replace PowerShell's console and ISE?" That is, could you ever use PrimalScript completely in lieu of Microsoft's two interfaces? I don't think so, and for that reason PrimalScript gets just 1 star out of 5. True, you can have the PowerShell console in a pane - but that's not replacing Microsoft's console, it's embedding Microsoft's console. That pane doesn't integrate in any other way with the rest of the tool: There's no code hinting or completion in it, for example. PrimalScript is an editing/debugging environment first and foremost; it is not geared for use as an interactive shell. This is unfortunately a major shortcoming given that many administrators are looking for a stronger SHELL experience that integrates script editing capabilities; PrimalScript's focus is as a SCRIPTING environment that integrates a shell for convenience.
Out of 50 stars total, PrimalScript earned 34.5, or 69%. Key weaknesses mainly revolve around the tool's use as an interactive shell replacement, and to be fair, when PrimalScript was invented there was no reason for it to be such a thing. The way PowerShell blurs the line between "scripting" and "shell" is challenging for more mature products like PrimalScript. If you're mainly a scripter, you'll find that the software's maturity brings you a wealth of features - plus the bonus of support for languages like VBScript, JScript, and so on, all in the same package, and all with the same toolset. The wealth of add-in tools for SQL, XML, file compare, source control, and so on make for a truly complete package, if you can afford the sticker price. The additional availability of training, video training, and books suggests that SAPIEN is really focused on this market - and indeed, they don't make any products that don't have something to do with scripting.
PrimalScript's license is generous, allowing you to install it on multiple computers that you own or use - so you can have it on your desktop as well as your laptop, for a single price.
Also note that PrimalScript is updated VERY frequently - in fact, as I was closing out this article, a new update has been posted that promises to fix a couple of the shortcomings I've noted here, including the integration of PowerShell remoting in their Remote Script Execution, and the problem I noted with brace matching.
Also note that - like with most tools of this nature - your personal habits and needs will really determine what's best for you. PrimalScript is available in a 45-day trial, and the other editors I'll be reviewing are also available in free trials; your best bet is to try 'em.
My next review will be Idera's PowerShell Plus, which is a younger and somewhat more hybrid-style of PowerShell editor. We'll see how it fares.
Want more PowerShell articles, along with FAQs and more? Visit http://windowsitpro.com/go/DonJonesPowerShell.
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Performance-enhancing drugs can be tempting for teen athletes. Understand the warning signs and what you can do to keep your teen from using shortcuts to improve athletic performance.
We're all familiar with famous athletes who've admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. So it's no surprise that as many as 1 in 20 teenagers reports using steroids to increase muscle mass.
If you're the parent of a teen, talk with your teen about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. By explaining the consequences of using performance-enhancing drugs, you can help your teen steer clear.
Among teens, common performance-enhancing drugs and supplements include:
Some teens experiment with performance-enhancing drugs as a way to cope with body image insecurities or to fit in with a group of peers. Others might be influenced by pressure to make a team or get a competitive edge. Factors that might increase the chances that a teen will use performance-enhancing drugs include:
Steroids and their precursors can have severe, long-lasting health effects. In growing adolescents one of the major risks of using anabolic steroid precursors is the permanent stunting of height. Other side effects include:
Creatine can also cause nausea, abdominal pain and kidney damage.
Possible red flags of performance-enhancing drug use include:
To prevent your teen from using performance-enhancing drugs or supplements:
If you suspect that your teen is using performance-enhancing drugs, talk to him or her. If your teen admits to using performance-enhancing drugs, encourage him or her to stop immediately. Make an appointment for your teen to see his or her doctor for a medical evaluation and counseling.
Consider informing your teen's coach, so he or she is aware of the problem. In addition, tell your teen that you're disappointed and enforce the consequences that you've established — such as quitting the team. Most importantly, emphasize the healthy alternatives to achieving his or her goals.
Don't put off talking with your teen about performance-enhancing drugs. Help your teen understand the risks, as well as healthier ways to support athletic performance and a good body image.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/performance-enhancing-drugs/art-20046620
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Getting Involved with ReactOS
There are many different ways to get involved with ReactOS. Immense time and effort went into creating the NT family of operating systems, including Windows XP and 2003. As ReactOS aspires to be a replacement for Windows, the same amount of resources would ensure the rapid progress of the project. This is where you can play a part.


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Portland group launches initiative to protect downtown plaza, other urban spaces
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) � A group is launching an effort to save a downtown Portland plaza and almost three dozen other city spaces from being sold and developed.
The Portland Press Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1aU0DCs ) that the Friends of Congress Square Park filed an affidavit for a citizen's initiative on Friday. It would add Congress Square Plaza and several other city properties to the Portland's land bank.
The group is trying to change the city's land bank ordinance to require eight City Council votes or six votes and a citywide referendum to sell a property in the city's land bank.
The council is scheduled to vote on Monday on whether to sell two-thirds of the plaza to Rockbridge Capital for $524,000.
The group must collect 1,500 signatures for a referendum.
Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com


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You probably recognize the name of this cocktail as Oprah's favorite. Around our circle of friends, we know it as Chuck's favorite. He loved it so much that he gave everyone Copper Mugs as wedding gifts. Don't worry if you don't have a copper mugs, you can still make this great drink.
Moscow Mules usually contain sugar syrup - which involves melting sugar and water together. To make it easier, I add Sierra Mist Natural as the sweetener instead of the sugar syrup... and did you know it is made with real sugar, no artificial ingredients, 100% natural flavoring? The addition of Sierra Mist adds a light, sparkling touch without adding too much sweetness. Your guests will love this potent cocktail that is refreshingly tart and very easy going down. A sprig of rosemary dresses it up for the holidays!
Moscow Mist
with Sierra Mist Natural
1/2 lime, in wedges
1 ounce vodka
Fresh lime juice
1/4 cup ginger beer
1/4 cup of Sierra Mist
sprig of Rosemary
I also made some other cocktails using Sierra Mist Natural:
Candy Cane Cranberry Cocktail
Meet Me At The Mist-letoe
Create your own Sierra Mist Natural Cocktail! Share your most creative cocktail recipes with me for a chance to win a Sierra Mist Natural holiday gift pack (shaker, drink garnish/sugars, party glasses & a $50 AMEX Gift Card) to help them do their own holiday entertaining. Leave a comment with a link to your cocktail recipe!
"Like" the Sierra Mist Natural Facebook for more cocktail recipe ideas!


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Sometimes a good picture — a photograph, for example, or even a detailed drawing — can mean the difference between scientific progress and scientific stagnation.
Take this recently published artist's rendition of a giant rabbit, for example. When vertebrate paleontologist Darren Naish first caught sight of this picture, he instantly knew something didn't look right with the shape of the creature's neck.
He immediately brought this to the attention of the authors of the publication, noting that an "s-shaped" curve in the neck was far more anatomically feasible, and accompanied his observation with x-ray photos of two other rabbit necks to illustrate what he believed to be a more likely neck-shape for the rabbit in the original drawing.
"Alright, alright," you're saying. "So some paleontologists got into it over a drawing of a giant bunny. So WHAT?"
The point, as Scientific American's Kalliopi Monoyios points out in this very astute blog post, is that even more important than who is ultimately right about the position of the rabbit's neck "is the clear fact that this conversation could never even have happened without the impeccably clear image that [the authors] included in their paper on the giant bunnies."
In a time when media should be opening up communication between scientists in ways that drive science forward, Monoyios notes that the absence of clearly-depicted, let alone compelling, visual evidence ultimately leads to an unhealthy break in the scientific conversation — an abrupt halt in science's march towards better understanding through shared ideas.
You can read Monoios's entire piece over at Scientific American
Images via Scientific American


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Used 2017 FordMustang
- Stock: 7080A
- Odometer
- 26,632 miles
- Fuel Economy
- 15.0/25.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Other
- Interior Color
- Other
- Engine
Ford Mustang
Detailed Specifications
- Max seating capacity: 4
- Fuel tank capacity: 16
- Horsepower: 435
Dealer Notes
CARFAX One-Owner. **CALIFORNIA SPECIAL PACKAGE**.***MUST HEAR** **5.0 GT PKG**, **PADDLE SHIFT ON STEERING WHEEL**, **FOGLIGHTS**, **REMOTE START**, **BACKUP CAMERA**, **POWER PASSENGER SEAT**, **POWE
KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 5.0
Who doesn't love a Mustang
By SD Jones on Saturday, August 10, 2019I was looking for something sporty that I can use as a daily driver that didn't have as stiff a ride as my outgoing Subaru WRX. I was drawn to the mustang for several reasons, but one was the current incentives. Once I test drove the car, I just fell in love with it. Awesome classic Mustang styling both on the interior and exterior. I love the 8 inch infotainment screen with the Apple CarPlay and voice activation. I choose a package with with all season Goodyear F1 tires and upgraded rims with black inlay over chrome . Great ride quality. 5 driving modes. Wet,sport,normal,track & drag. I got a great deal on a 19 left over. 5k off sticker. 0% financing for 72 months.
- 4.0
That's a lot of PERFORMANCE for only $26,000 bucks
By the next pony boy on Tuesday, July 16, 2019So out of the blue I decided to get a 2019 Mustang 2.3 coupe. I was not even considering a Mustang,but a great deal fell into my lap , and now I'm Pony boy...fun to drive with a lot of curb appeal. I don't want to here how the back seats are cramped,in this segment of cars all back seats have short comings....Besides the awesome performance, I was really surprised how well the fuel economy is in this beast, I avg 22 MPG overall, that's only 2 milles less per gallon then my prevoius car that had only 170 hp vs. the Stang at 310 hp.One more surprise, a huge trunk....PONY BOY OVER AN OUT.
- 5.0
Great Vehicle
By ZoomZoom on Sunday, July 21, 2019The combination of features, design and performance are unbeatable at this price point. I have a 2015 and it feels well built, especially for a launch year car after 30k miles. I still get walked up to at gas stations and admiration driving it, something not many much more expensive cars get. I think the EB is an excellent application, it goes when you want it to, or gets 28 MPG on the highway if cruising, it really is the best of both. With BLIS, cooled seats and full touchscreen it has everything you would want, and the styling has an endearing quality to it even after a refresh. Seats are comfortable if a little short, and the ride is firm. I have driven a Challenger and it feels so ponderous and huge by comparison, and a Camaro feels like driving a mail slot. If you're looking for a sporty car that wont break the bank or be on the side of the road look no further!
New Arrivals
2017 CADILLAC XT5 Luxury FWD C…
- $25,995
Quick Specs
- Crossover
- Black Exterior
- V6 Cylinder Engine


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15-06-18, 05:26 PM #1Paknam Web Online Staff
News Editor at "Thailand Scribe"
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Richard Barrow-Sign a petition to urge convenience stores and supermarkets to charge
Sign a petition to urge convenience stores and supermarkets to charge for plastic bags
June 15, 2018 Richard Barrow
One of the biggest complaints many of us have are with convenience stores like 7-Eleven that give you plastic bags, straws and spoons for literally everything. Even if you dont want it. No, I dont need a plastic straw for my bottle of beer. I am not a kid. No, I dont need a plastic bag for my bottle of water. I am going to drink it straight away. No, I dont need a separate plastic bag for everything. You can just put it in one plastic bag, which incidentally I will re-use in my home later. Actually, to be fair to the clerks at my local convenience store, they are getting the message as they no longer automatically put my goods in a plastic bag. But, now it is time for us to put pressure on the owners of these convenience stores, supermarkets and department stores to cut down on the amount of plastic that they use every day. And we can all play a part in this by signing a petition right now over on change.org.
"Information is Power "
My Thailand Photos l Richard Barrow In Thailand l Thai Travel News l Paknam Web Network l
Re: Richard Barrow-Sign a petition to urge convenience stores and supermarkets to cha
I wish somebody would do something like this in Japan...Follow me on Twitter. I mostly tweet about hotels and resorts in Thailand. |
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Feng shui gets furry.
All this time I thought my dogs were digging nests under the shed in my backyard because it's cooler under there. But a recent conversation with animal communicator and feng shui practitioner Paula Brown suggests the dogs are really ramping up energy to bring more wealth into my life.
Brown, a Black Hat Sect practitioner in Southern California, is the author of "Fur Shui: An Introduction to Animal Feng Shui." I interviewed her to get some advice on how to create a pet-friendly landscape for my Room cover story on that subject.
Brown advises pet owners to pay attention to their animals' environmental behavior because they are tapping into powerful chi, or energy, that will benefit their humans.
The diagram above is the bagua, which feng shui practitioners use to define nine key categories of life. Those sections are: career, helpful people, creativity/children, love/relationships, fame, prosperity/wealth, family/community, skills/knowledge, and health. It can also be applied to pets and their owners. If you visualize placing the bagua in the yard where your pet hangs out, with the black career section at the door leading outside, you can get subtle clues about how your pet is trying to help you out, and create a more positive flow of energy for both of you.
Since I have been trying to start up a business outside of journalism, Brown is convinced my dogs have been digging under the shed in the "wealth" section. Animals carry fire chi wherever they go, she says, so they naturally amp up the flow of energy in that space by a thousand-fold.
"They are trying to please you," Brown says. "They read your energies and sense your needs. Then they go to those areas where you need help and where they feel comfortable. If they stay in a certain area in your yard, they are trying to change the energy for you or them."
She also says that by instinctually placing the dogs' water dish near the back patio door, I was unknowingly trying to enhance their health as well as my own.
Want to train a dog for a show, Frisbee or agility competition? Brown suggests placing the doghouse in the "skills and knowledge" corner of the bagua, or the lower left-hand side of the backyard, and also holding training sessions there.
She adds that homeowners can promote certain energies by decorating that space in the corresponding bagua colors. For instance, to empower the bagua's gold "health" section, plant yellow sunflowers or hoist a yellow umbrella in the center of the yard.


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US intelligence has found evidence that sarin gas, a chemical weapon, has been used in Syria on a small scale, the White House said on Thursday.
However, in a letter to the US Congress, the administration of US President Barack Obama said it did not believe the evidence was conclusive, saying it only had "varying amounts of confidence" in its reliability. Nor did the evidence prove beyond any doubt that the Syrian government had been responsible for using sarin, though this was "very likely" to be the case.
Later, US Secretary of State John Kerry said chemical weapons were believed to have been used in two separate attacks. If the evidence was confirmed, the White House said, "the United States and the international community have a number of responses available, and no option is off the table."
"Our intelligence community does assess with varying degrees of confidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale ... specifically the chemical agent sarin," the White House letter to Senators John McCain and Carl Levin said. "This assessment is based in part on physiological samples. Our standard of evidence must build on these intelligence assessments as we seek to establish credible and corroborated facts."
The letter said the "chain of custody [paper trail]" by which the samples were thought to have made their way from Syria to the West, was "not clear, so we cannot confirm how the exposure occurred and under what conditions."
"We do believe that any use of chemical weapons in Syria would very likely have originated with the [Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad regime. Thus far, we believe that the al-Assad regime maintains custody of these weapons, and has demonstrated a willingness to escalate its horrific use of violence against the Syrian people," the letter said.
It was signed by Miguel Rodriguez, an assistant to Obama charged with managing relations with Congress.
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who was in Abu Dhabi as part of a tour of the Middle East, said the US administration had reached its conclusion over the past 24 hours.
"As I've said, this is serious business — we need all the facts," he said.
McCain, who has long advocated US-led military intervention in Syria, said the letter showed that the "red line" had been crossed. The wording of the letter suggested the administration was not ready to make that assessment. However, it did bring US assessments more in line with British, French and Israeli claims.
The careful use of language and the phrase "varying degrees of confidence" suggests that there remain disagreements among the various US intelligence agencies over the strength of the evidence and that the administration was seeking to keep its options open on whether and how to respond.
Obama has said the al-Assad regime's use of chemical weapons would be a "game changer" that could trigger a US military response.
Yesterday's letter restated that position.
"However, precisely because the president takes this issue so seriously, we have an obligation to fully investigate any and all evidence of chemical weapons use within Syria," it said, repeating calls for a UN investigation to "credibly evaluate the evidence and establish what took place."
However, for now, US and European officials appear ready to wait for the results of a UN inquiry into claims and counterclaims by both the Syrian opposition and the al-Assad regime that the other had used such weapons. UN investigators are due to visit survivors of alleged chemical weapon attacks in refugee camps, and analyze soil samples taken by Western intelligence agencies.


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2 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp vegetable oil
4 tsp baking powder
250g caster sugar
320g plain flour
50g unsalted butter, melted
2 lightly beaten eggs
175ml buttermilk
2 peeled finely diced apples
Turn the oven to 175 degrees (350F). Line a cupcake tin with paper liners (this recipe makes 12 decent sized cupcakes)
In a bowl combine the sifted dry ingredients.
In a large bowl beat the liquid ingredients until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat until nearly combined. Stir in the apples - careful not to overmix!
Bake for 20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes, and then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack. Top with brown sugar frosting. These keep for up to 2 days or freeze (without icing for up to 3 months).


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Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon
This recipe is from Cooking Light magazine. I'm going to say that again, because you'd never expect it from the title, and it definitely bears repeating. This recipe is from Cooking Light magazine. It was very tasty, but somehow manages to be good for you (relative to other alfredo recipes, at least.
The sauce wasn't quite as thick as I would've liked, so I may adjust the amount of flour next time. Using bacon drippings for a roux was a nice touch, as it added a smoky, salty flavor that wouldn't have been included in the traditional butter. Normally, you don't need a roux, of course, but it helps to compensate for the 1% milk in the place of the more traditionally heavy cream.
This wasn't the best alfredo sauce I've ever had, but it was absolutely the tastiest "light" alfredo sauce I've ever tried. We'll be making this again.
Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon
Adapted from Cooking Light magazine, January 2010
- 1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated fresh fettuccine (I substituted a high-quality dry pasta)
- 2 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 1% low-fat milk
- 2/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
2. While pasta cooks, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings. Add garlic to drippings in pan; sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Sprinkle flour over garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly; cook 2 minutes or until bubbly and slightly thick, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low. Gradually add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in salt. Add hot pasta to pan; toss well to combine. Sprinkle with bacon, parsley, and pepper.
Note: Even with all that cheese, the sauce wasn't terribly thick. The original recipe suggested using some of the starchy pasta-cooking water to make the sauce, but I skipped it because I was afraid the results would be too watery. I think that was the right call. We had some leftover grilled chicken, so I threw that on top, but it would be fine without the chicken. whatever you prefer.
Tags: bacon, cheese, chicken breasts, healthy, italian, parmesan cheese, pasta


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This Article From Issue
November-December 2011
Volume 99, Number 6
Page 503
POX: An American History. Michael Willrich. x + 422 pp. The Penguin Press, 2011. $27.95.
Historian John Duffy has noted that, in the late 19th century, "The diseases which were most effective in precipitating social change were those with the greatest shock value." And throughout human history, few diseases have shocked communities so greatly as smallpox. In Pox: An American History, Michael Willrich describes a five-year wave of smallpox epidemics that swept the United States starting in 1898. "The history of these American epidemics," he notes, "is, inescapably, a history of violence, social conflict, and political contention." And as he shows in this engrossing book, the epidemics did precipitate social change: Smallpox became a key battleground in the struggle for individual rights in the Progressive Era.
Smallpox wasn't the most dreaded disease of the Victorian era—cholera and yellow fever generally took pride of place. But variola had some unique characteristics: An effective, but imperfect, vaccine for it existed; and a new, less deadly strain of smallpox had recently emerged, cutting the fatality rate from 25 percent to 1 percent. In addition, vaccination for smallpox was risky—it could cause pain, sickness and even death. Those facts led many to question the extreme tactics often employed to counter the disease.
Those extreme tactics, which were used by both civilian and military medical teams, are vividly portrayed in the book. Here's Willrich's description of steps taken during a New York outbreak in 1901:
They followed the same method on each block. With policemen stationed on the roofs, at the front doors, and in the backyards, doctors and police entered the tenements and rapped on doors, rousing men, women, and children. Frightened and furious, the residents moved into the lighted areas, where doctors inspected their faces for pocks and their arms for the mark of vaccination. . . . Everyone lacking a good mark had to submit to vaccination.
Willrich tells of one North Carolina official who opined that the best cure for lingering doubts about vaccination was "a good first-class case of small-pox." He also notes that health officials across the country called smallpox "the fool-killer." The emergence of smallpox in a community "killed fools" in more ways than one: It encouraged the unvaccinated to get vaccinated, and it preferentially infected those who chose not to.
But Willrich is clearly most passionate about the legal history. He devotes most of a chapter to the fascinating story of Jacobson v. Massachusetts, a case that he says became the epidemic's "most important legacy." Henning Jacobson was a Swedish-born Lutheran minister in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who refused to comply with the town's mandatory vaccination order during a moderate epidemic. Found guilty of "the crime of refusing vaccination," rather than pay the $5 fine levied against those who did not submit, Jacobson appealed his conviction, first to Middlesex County Superior Court, then to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and finally to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming that the compulsory vaccination law "violated . . . the 'spirit of the Constitution.'" Jacobson maintained that he had experienced "great and extreme suffering" when he had been vaccinated as a child in Sweden, and that one of his children had also experienced adverse effects when vaccinated, so he was convinced that some hereditary condition made smallpox vaccine hazardous for his family. His attorney argued that because the law made an exception for children, but not adults, with special health conditions, the law violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause.
The court's 7–2 decision in favor of Massachusetts's compulsory vaccination law became, and remains, a hallmark of progressive jurisprudence. Justice John Marshall Harlan stated in his opinion that
Society based on the rule that each one is a law unto himself would soon be confronted with disorder and anarchy. Real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual to use his own, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others.
The decision did, however, put some limitations on police power, and Harlan stated in his opinion that the statute was not applicable to an adult for whom vaccination would be cruel and inhuman because of some particular condition of his or her health. (He did not believe, though, that Jacobson should be exempted.)
The Jacobson case occurred at a tumultuous time for the country and was central to the transformation of the relationship between the individual and the state that took place during the Progressive Era. Willrich makes it clear that antivaccinationism at the turn of the century was not just an antiscience Luddite movement, but also an expression of tensions over increasing governmental activism. As scientific medicine made vaccination safe and effective, and government began to compel its adoption, a serious movement rose to challenge what was, at the time, a change in the nature of the relationship between the individual and the state.
The question of what the limits of state intervention should be is overbroad, for the answer varies depending on the intervention and can change over time as circumstances change. In this regard, the law, and society more generally, must evolve in response to scientific progress. Questions about individual inviolability do not arise unless there is a necessity to act (the threat of disease) and effective action that can be taken (vaccination).
Given the risks and benefits of both action and inaction, the issue is, What role should the state play in regulating individual and group choices? There is no place for absolute constraints, although in practice some constraints are universally objectionable (those prohibited by the First Amendment, for example). But when a minor intrusion would yield a major benefit, and we believe ourselves constrained—whether from philosophy, religion, or law—from acting, perhaps we should acknowledge the fallibility of our abstract ethical reasoning, and do the thing that saves lives.
Through the prism of one disease and our efforts as a society to control it, Willrich gives us a microcosm of American political thinking in the decade spanning the turn of the century. The questions asked then are not unlike those we confront today—none more so than, What should be the limits of state power in regard to human health?
Ryan Seals is a graduate student in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.


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Terminal Services
Featuring 4 Papers as of February 14, 2007
Server Security in a Citrix Presentation/Terminal Server Environment by Shane Wescott - February 14, 2007
This document serves to discuss the special security needs of this environment, and to recommend strategies for its implementation
Secure Remote Access using Windows Terminal Services 2003 by Darlene Flstcher - March 25, 2004
Microsoft's Terminal Server has improved considerably since its release in 1998 in functionality, performance and security. With the increasing demand for flexible, simple and fast remote access for the endless variety of users including vendor support staff, home users, mobile workers and remote offices, Terminal Server is now becoming an attractive and inexpensive solution particularly for smaller, less complex environments.
Sun Ray Thin-Client and Smart Cards: An Old Concept With New Muscle by Surachet Tanwongsval - April 5, 2002
The purpose of this paper is to discuss security in thin-client technology with a focus on Sun Ray(TM) thin-client systems from Sun Microsystems.
Understanding and Implementing Microsoft Terminal Services & Citrix MetaFrame by Chris Johnson - December 10, 2001
This paper focuses on the implementing a combination of Microsoft Windows Terminal Services and Citrix MetaFrame in order to provide employees with secure access to corporate data and various applications from remote sites.
Most of the computer security white papers in the Reading Room have been written by students seeking GIAC certification to fulfill part of their certification requirements and are provided by SANS as a resource to benefit the security community at large. SANS attempts to ensure the accuracy of information, but papers are published "as is". Errors or inconsistencies may exist or may be introduced over time as material becomes dated. If you suspect a serious error, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
All papers are copyrighted. No re-posting or distribution of papers is permitted.
STI Graduate Student Research - This paper was created by a SANS Technology Institute student as part of the graduate program curriculum.


text:
With energetics as its primary differentiator, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc.) seeks to deliver mission critical hardware and system solutions, integrating complementary technologies and partnerships to broaden its markets, add value, and grow. EBAD is the global leader in energetic systems used in minefield and obstacle breaching, military demolition, vehicle protection, tactical weapons, and space & strategic systems. No other company can match the range of innovative energetic solutions that we manufacture.
Our long history as a low-cost source for highly reliable products has enabled us to sustain long-term growth and remain an employer with a strong, continuing legacy. EBAD's success is achieved through an entrepreneurial culture focused on our customers' success. We offer excellent benefits, competitive compensation and exciting advancement opportunities for those who excel in a participative environment where self-management, mutual respect, creativity and leadership are expected from everybody on the team. In all our activities we are driven by the understanding that each of us has a personal stake in the company's future.
If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD might be the place for you.
Click on Career Opportunities to search our open positions.


text:
Speech by Morten Kjærum, FRA's Director, to the conference The Hate Factor In Political Speech, Warsaw, 18 September 2013. Check against delivery.
Ladies and gentlemen,
First of all, I'd like to thank the organisers for this very timely and important event. There appear to be a number of initiatives in Europe at present that address the issues of hate speech and hate crime, so we need to grab the momentum and try to get down to the specifics. For that reason too, I'm very pleased to see that the Polish government is so engaged. Hopefully, this will be the case with more governments over the course of this year and the years to come.
Unfortunately, there is more than enough to be done. As we've already heard today, the issue of hate speech is very topical. The platforms from which it can be expressed are multiplying, with new social media platforms and blogs starting up almost daily. And of course, these new options and possibilities are seized on by those who want to stir up hatred.
It is good that the topic of today's conference focuses on the political level, because we tend to forget that politicians and other opinion makers who have very easy access to media, to the big microphones, have a particular responsibility. For it is their voices that are amplified and multiplied whenever they speak.
We have to consider what it does to our societies when we hear expressions such as "Roma are unfit for coexistence." Or take another statement we heard recently, where one politician compared a minister to an orang-utan, again setting a clear agenda. It is of course very difficult to quantify the effect of such expressions on society as a whole. But I would like to show you a slide to demonstrate what these hate tirades do to their victims.
This is from our recent LGBT survey, which surveyed 93,000 respondents from all 28 EU Member States. Here you see that on average:
When we correlate this with other elements of our survey, we see that the countries at the top of this table also have the highest levels of discrimination. This is an issue that would need further investigation to come to definite conclusions, but it's worth reflecting on.
Another survey that we'll be releasing a few weeks from now concerns experiences of violence and discrimination against the Jewish populations of eight EU countries. Here,
In the survey, we see that in those countries in which the respondents reported a high degree of anti-Jewish sentiment, there is also antisemitic reporting in the media. So our research appears to have identified an interaction between the media and the political level that also needs investigating further.
Of course, a lot of these assertions that we've been talking about, including the ones I cited above, are extreme statements, where there is no doubt that we're talking about hate speech. But there is also another issue, namely the more subtle expressions of prejudice and discrimination that still convey exactly the same message in the end as the more blunt statements.
When we hear these more subtle expressions or jokes about disabled people or ethnic minorities, it sometimes reminds me of what is called 'Chinese water torture' – and this image also captures some of the complexities we are dealing with when it comes to hate speech. This form of torture consists in putting a person in a chair and letting one drop fall on their head. Then comes another drop, then another, then four, then five, and then after a while the person loses their mind. How can you describe that sequence of seemingly innocent drops? How can you encapsulate the effect they have in relation to our discussion today?
First of all is the effect on the victims, those groups in whom fear is instilled. That's something that we study in the survey on LGBT people in Europe as well as in our work on Antisemitism. The fear factor inculcated by hate speech and hate crime is very strong. Because although hate crime in particular targets a specific person, it also has a huge impact on the group as a whole. The knowledge that membership of a particular group constitutes the only reason for becoming a potential victim of hate crime engenders a huge sense of insecurity. And then, in addition, there is often the perception that seeking assistance from the police will have no effect.
But then there is the question of what these statements do to the others, to the majority who do not belong to the group that has been targeted. The longer and the more persistent the stereotypes of the 'other' are communicated without being adequately countered, the more they will shape the views of that 'other'. The more minorities and their habits, cultures and religions are talked about negatively, the more these stereotypes will be perceived as real and in turn shape reality. This correlation can be seen in FRA's LGBT survey, and is also well known from many works on Antisemitism.
So what can be done?
At the legal level, the Council of Europe standards as adopted by the Committee of Ministers Recommendation of 1997 and the body of case law developed by the European Court of Human Rights provide a strong framework and set some clear boundaries. It is not therefore the case that "anything goes," but simply that there is diversity in Europe which needs to be respected. So do we need an international definition of hate speech? I'm not really sure we do. I think we would be better off going back to what is laid down in the EU's Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia, which respects the diversity of the different European traditions on how to deal with these issues.
So the two recommendations I would make here today are:
To conclude,
Hate speech can be direct and offensive as well as indirect and insidious. However, whichever form it takes, it has a profound impact that we must not underestimate. We need to examine it and work on standards of public speech from the bottom up. But while we should emphasise that all of us have a responsibility for what we say and how we say it, we also need to remember: the easier your access is to a microphone, the greater your responsibility.


text:
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Friday, March 30, 2012
Friday Fricassee
So I want to respond to several of your comments that suggested more in-depth query critique would be helpful; that hinted at the desire to offer more than one sentence--to go into more detail.
Some of you prefaced your comments with the equivalent of, "I know you're opposed to query critique, but..."
I'd like to clarify. I'm not "opposed to query critique." I would venture to say that I am a critique junkie, addicted to the solid fact that nobody's writing goes ANYWHERE without critique. And that includes queries.
What I am opposed to is what I call the OVER-SHOPPED QUERY LETTER. And I've already blogged about it here.
In short, opening a query letter to in-depth critique by a pool of critters, and then responding to as many of the suggestions as possible, runs the risk of producing a query that isn't really yours. In the end, my view of the query letter is that it's a business communique (as I outline in Agent: Demystified), plain and simple. Of course, unlike a business letter, it needs a HOOK, which is unique to the worlds of writing and film. But other than that, it's a professional letter that hopes to initiate a professional relationship. End of story.
Yes, we DO need feedback on whether or not we're hooking. But I'd prefer to err on the side of caution and not subject posted queries to the grist mill.
So please take a minute to read the almost-3-years-old blog post so that you understand where I'm coming from.
And have a MARVELOUS weekend!
14 comments:
I agree with this. Wholeheartedly. It's great to put your query up somewhere to get feedback and see if you're really hooking someone? But at the same time -- I think too many people try to tell you what to write and that's a problem. In the end, you wind up losing your voice.ReplyDelete
There's a vast difference between hearing x,y,z confused me and hearing "I don't like this sentence, it should be this instead". One lets you flesh the query out a bit more. The other... runs the risk of losing your voice and the tone you wanted in your query.
AAAAAND I'll get down off my soapbox. Ahem.
My last attempt at public query critique on my blog had a lot of sweet, helpful people commenting...but I'm afraid it did just that. Overshopped it.ReplyDelete
All the "how to" posts suggest that you have a TON of people tear apart your query letter, but I've been suspicious that maybe the best people to be looking at them *is* people who have actually read the book.
I've already shot myself in the foot by sending out what may be a generic query letter (and it actually may be the reason for my VERY low req rate,) but when it's time to query the next MS, I'm definitely taking this to heart.
Thanks, Authoress. :)
Oh man, you'd hate my query. I posted it everywhere :-)ReplyDelete
But even looking at it now, I can't see anything in it that isn't my voice. Whenever people made suggestions, I did the same thing I do with novel critiques: I consider it, then mold it into something I would've actually written.
I think it really depends on what advice your critiquers are giving. If they're specifically telling you what sentences to write, then yes, the voice will get lost. But if they're just giving you general advice and leaving it to you to sort out, then the query will still be in your own voice, but the query will be better focused.ReplyDelete
As one one of those who received query critiques in this contest, I found the shorter critiques immensely helpful. Many people said, "You don't need Y in there, what I'm really more interested in is hearing more about X." Taking their advice didn't require changing my voice, just my focus.
The one-sentence limit probably helped in this -- it kept anyone from nitpicking individual words and sentences. I think allowing 2-3 sentences would work just as well, but once you get into whole paragraphs, it gives people the space to be specific, which leads to the destruction of original voice that you worry about.
I am on my way to reading your old post, but I tend to agree with you. When you open up to full critiques you end up with people doing full-scale rewrites: "Hey, this paragraph doesn't work for me, try it like this" and the next thing you know, they've redone the whole thing. I think it's probably better to hear something like "I don't get a sense of the MC" or "Stakes don't feel high enough." Of course, getting too much of that can also lead to Paralysis by Analysis, but that's another story. Or at least a different side of the coin.ReplyDelete
I'm not at the querying stage yet -- still polishing at the moment -- but I've read A LOT of queries and A LOT of advice and I have to say, I think you're right. The queries I've seen get crit in public forums are just remolded into the same format and generic voice as everything else.ReplyDelete
Certainly, there is a lot crit can help with -- such as identifying a weak premise or hook, or character soup issues -- but really, we as authors need to learn to look at what we write with a critical eye, and think 'How is this selling my writing?' as well as 'How is this selling my concept?'
Thanks for this post, it's really made me think. Now I must stop, for my cat has started to dig under the laptop in the hopes of dislodging it from my lap and my attention.
I hope this doesn't come accross as snarky, but I think, from my own experience, that you know you're ready to submit a manuscript when you are able to write the query without help. Sure, it's important to have a few readers, but shopping it? I'm totally with you.ReplyDelete
Writing the query is just the first part of that type of writing. Once you get an agent/editor, there will be website content as well as blurbs galore that you will need to take part in. So if you can't come up with a reasonably enticing brief synopsis, you're toast.
yeah i agree. I don't have a problem with posting the query and getting thoughts on it, but i'm always very careful to throw out anything that i strikes me as even a little apart from what i'm going for.ReplyDelete
And i really liked the one sentence critique.
- Karen E.March 31, 2012 at 8:27 AM
My Dear Authoress,ReplyDelete
I read your "almost-3-years-old blog post," in which you advise against fretting over one's query letter, which is "not the big, scary monster it's been made out to be."
I beg to differ. It's horribly frightening. It keeps me up at night, eyes wide open, heart pounding. It haunts my dreams.
Without a fabulously-written query letter, I fear my work shall forever languish in the dreaded pile of the slush. I write and rewrite my query letter, but it never seems to capture the essense of my writing style, or me. Advisors tell me, "Start here, cut this, say that, rework this line, put this in, turn that around, toss it, burn it, shred it, forget it."
I write an amazing novel and yet, I can't write a decent query letter to save my soul.
And you tell us not to fret? How can we not?
My dear Karen E --ReplyDelete
In order to be successful at anything, we must STOP FRETTING.
Once you learn to view it as a business letter instead of a main artery attached to your novel and your soul, it will stop keeping you up at night. I promise.
You CAN write a decent query letter. You just need some perspective first. :-)
- Karen E.March 31, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Dear Authoress,ReplyDelete
You're right. The query letter is a business letter. It must be succinct and impeccably written so as not to irritate the agent or waste a drop of the agent's precious time. Accepted guidelines relative to content and length are followed implicitly. The letter's singular purpose is to pique the agent's interest enough for her to take a second look.
You're right, Authoress. Of course, you're right.
But the query letter is as much a part of the writer's novel as it is the writer who penned it. The novelist creates something out of nothing, in spite of everything, and dares hope that she somehow spun her gossamer tale into a work of substance and purpose; that she molded it into something—if not of beauty, then, at least, of value.
Did she?
The question and its implications are moot if the query letter fails to do its job. . .and so, in effect, everything is riding on that letter; don't you see?
Karen E.
Of course I see, Karen. But one has to rise above all that to be effective. It is the bane of the aspiring author--having to rise above the emotional implications inherent to the art form in order to approach the entire thing as a business venture.ReplyDelete
It's necessary for survival - and success! :-)
- Karen E.March 31, 2012 at 7:05 PM
I know you're right, but it's so hard to separate everything from the task. It's so hard to do that.
I know you're right.
Thank you. Karen
*hugs* It IS hard. But you CAN do it. :-)ReplyDelete


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Alabama Governors
Forrest Hood (Fob) James, Jr.
Governor Fob James was sworn in at 1:15 p.m. January 16, 1995.
Governor James was re-elected governor on November 8, 1994. The governor is the only Alabamian who first was elected governor as a Democrat (1978) and then later switched parties (April 8, 1994), ran as a Republican and won re-election.
He was born September 15, 1934, to Forrest Hood Sr. and Rebecca (Ellington) James in the Chambers county town of Lanett in east Alabama. He now resides in the Baldwin County town of Magnolia Springs in south Alabama.
Married 39 years to the former Bobbie Mooney of Decatur, they have three sons: Fob III, a Birmingham attorney, and Tim and Patrick, Greenville businessmen. They have six grandchildren. Another son, Greg, died of cystic fibrosis in 1967 at the age of eight.
Governor James attended public school in Lanett and Baylor Military Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering at Auburn Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) where he was selected as an All-American halfback on the Auburn football team. In 1956 James played professional football with the Montreal Alouettes before entering the Army to serve two years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
James founded Diversified Products, Inc., an athletic equipment company, in Opelika in 1962. The company manufactured equipment for physical fitness and ballast and counterweights for farms, industry and trucking. Ultimately the company employed 1,500 people. From 1972 to 1974 he served as president of the Alabama Citizens for Transportation, a statewide committee which developed a twenty year highway program subsequently adopted by the Alabama Legislature.
In 1978, following a switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party, James entered the gubernatorial race. In the first primary, he defeated Bill Baxley 296,196 votes to 210,089 votes. In the second primary, James easily outdistanced Baxley and defeated the Republican candidate, Guy Hunt, in the November general election.
During James' first administration, the state faced considerable financial difficulties; however, James was reasonably successful in attaining his education reform package, improving the state's mental health system, rectifying some prison overcrowding problems and re-establishing the once financially strapped Medicaid system. Furthermore, James consolidated various state agencies to reduce state spending. He also worked to acquire stiffer penalties for convicted drug traffickers. However, James was unsuccessful in his attempts to: have a new state constitution drafted, levy a fuel tax, rectify the court-ordered desegregation of some of the state's post-secondary institutions and secure passage of his bill to eliminate income tax deductions for Social Security payments. During the aforementioned economic crisis, James implemented a ten percent State spending cut, instituted a hiring freeze and laid off a considerable number of the state employee workforce. James also was quite instrumental in the improvement of the state's highways as a result of earmarking a substantial amount of money for such improvements from the state's oil windfall funds.
Governor James was part owner of the Orange Beach Marina for several years. He is CEO of Coastal Erosion Control, Inc., a company developing methods to prevent coastal erosion on the eastern seaboard. He is CEO of the Escambia County Environmental Corporation which develops state-of-the-art disposal facilities for nontoxic solid waste materials.
Governor Fob James Biographical Sketch, 1995.
Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1979.
"Stranger Than Fiction," Alabama News Magazine, January 1979.
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Governors Clipping Files.


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|Syneos Health
US-TX, Territory Sales Specialist 3625483-MZ
Do you have a noticeable passion for results?
You re bold, empathetic, and very resourceful, especially when results are at stake. You have what it takes: a competitive drive coupled with the exceptional ability to communicate the science behind our client s products and build lasting business relationships. Such talent and passion make you the right fit for this unique sales role with Syneos Health.
This opportunity with our Selling Solutions team, which partners with top tier pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies to develop and execute sales and marketing strategies that deliver. This challenging role provides a chance to sell a new concept in the growing pediatric market: a non-prescription food blend designed to prevent food allergies through early exposure. You will present clinical data to pediatricians in order for them to recommend the products to young families. It s an opportunity to build new relationships in your territory and educate doctors on this new category and its impact on their practice and prescribing options.
ResponsibilitiesWhile reporting to the Regional Sales Director for Before Brands, this role will provide critical support promoting the product(s) in the assigned territory. Frequent collaboration with the Regional Sales Director to respond to their day-to-day sales and strategy direction related to product promotion activities. Analyze local market, develop, execute and monitor performance and results to maximize the appropriate use of the product in defined territory. The Representative will act as the key link between our company and our target healthcare professionals, and you will aim to exceed sales and activity targets. The Representative will analyze targets and trends to effectively build relationships, manage budgets and all related sales activity while complying with industry and corporate policy.
Job Requirements
Along with a results-oriented mindset, self-assurance and an engaging manner, the ideal candidate has:
Full Syneos Health Selling Solutions benefits which include:
Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Vets/Disabled)
Syneos Health has launched more than 120 sales teams in the last 5 years across all major Therapeutic Areas more than the top 25 pharma companies combined. We offer you more than just one job. The diversification and breadth of Syneos Health creates a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities. Our client roster consists of more than 550 organizations including all 50 of the largest global biopharmaceutical companies.
Please visit our website at commercialcareers.syneoshealth.com


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I created several content types in the content type hub. Next, I have created a site out of the default team site with several document libraries and lists on my site which utilize these content types published from the hub.
I have created a site template out of my site and was able to successfully use it for the new site creation.
Now there is a request to change 4 fields. 3 which are managed metadata should be changed from single choice to multiple choice, and 1 which was a single choice field to multiple choice field. After implementing changes successfully in the CT hub, I republished the content types and they were nicely picked by the document libraries and the lists in my site.
Next, I needed a new site template. I created it, but when I wanted to make a new site using that template it failed with the following error message:
Cannot change this column to allow multiple values because it is currently being indexed.
I am not sure which of the column(s) are causing the problems. I know that the indexing won't work on the multiple choice fields, but how do I resolve this? Thanks.


text:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The NZ dollar jumped to post-float highs this week against the British pound and the Japanese yen. It also rose to a three-and-a-half year high against the Australian dollar.
On a trade-weighted basis, the kiwi flew to within a smidgen of its July 24, 2007, high.
It's a wonderful time to be an importer. This strong NZ dollar means it costs a lot less, in NZ dollars, to buy a car, a flat-screen television or an iPad. It's a fantastic time to go on holiday. It means you can travel for longer, stay in fancier hotels and buy more souvenirs to clog up the closet.
It's also a time for consumers to be cautious, and just a little bit ruthless. One big risk in times like this is that importers and retailers keep their prices at the same levels as when the NZ dollar was lower. That means the wholesaler, importer and/or retailer essentially pocket the price reduction on the way through.
That's why consumers need to be especially vigilant and demanding. They should know where the product was imported from and how much the NZ dollar has risen in recent months. Remember that most importers and wholesalers will order items months in advance. If there has been a big rise in the currency in the meantime, some will not benefit because they paid in advance or hedged. Others will be able to sell at the same NZ dollar price, but pay much less in the base currency of the imported good.
Some will genuinely be able to say they had already paid for the item at the depressed rate months ago and are not pocketing the difference. Whatever the case, with just-in-time inventory systems and air freight advances, that delay is rapidly telescoping down to not much. Certainly ask the retailer when they actually paid the wholesale price.
If in doubt simply demand a price cut, using the currency's rise as your ammunition. For your information, in the past six months the NZ dollar has risen 6 per cent against the US dollar (which also means for Chinese imports, given the greenback is the main currency used in trade with China), has risen 9.2 per cent against the pound, is flat against the euro and is up a stonking 25 per cent against the yen.
That means push the hardest on Japanese-made items, especially used imported cars.
This currency strength is of course painful for exporters and those who compete with imports. It is costing thousands of jobs. However, consumers who follow the signals sent by the currency will buy imports rather than locally made items, or outsource production or services.
The high currency is great in the short term for consumers, just as long as they have a job and income - or a very good line of credit.
Buy now and pay later - it's the kiwi dollar way.


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Adventure Time with Finn and Jake is an animated cartoon series that is going to be airing on Cartoon Network very shortly. It was created by Pendleton Ward, and I guess he did an awesome job with the characters because it was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject for 2006. Now, I submitted two separate lessons on the two main characters in the series, Finn and Jake. I will give you a quick recap on what the this comedy/adventure related series is about. First of all Finn is a twelve year old boy that hangs out with his twenty eight year old dog named Jake. Now Jake has magical powers and the show focuses on the two characters that travel through the Land of Ooo. The original name for Finn is Pen and I have to say, I like watching the cartoon because it is filled with hilarious story lines, and Jake, the dog, is the best. Finn is awesome too, but it is the look and characteristics of Jake that get me every time. Anyways, if you are familiar with this cartoon series, you already know what I'm talking about. Teaching you guys "how to draw Finn and Jake, step by step" is going to be fun because they are awesome, bright looking, and very colorful. My hat goes off to the creator, Pendleton Ward, he did such a great job. That does it for me, and for this tutorial. Meet me back here again so we can have more drawing fun together. Peace peeps!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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De Gruyter Oldenbourg
With its history of more than 150 years, De Gruyter Oldenbourg is amongst the long established companies in the publishing industry. It supports researchers and scientific organisations, interested academics in employment and further education as well as students and lecturers of all institutions of higher education in their professional life and in all learning situations.
De Gruyter Oldenbourg offers a variety of books and journals, cross-media and electronic products as well as services for science, practitioners and learning. Discover our subjects:


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Man digs into child's birthday cake, gets arrested
Frosting, cake scattered everywhere as man is wrestled to the ground
One birthday celebration was almost thwarted by a confection-hungry assailant.
A woman in Washington state brought her child's birthday cake into a courthouse to keep her dog from eating it in the car while she came inside to do take care of some business, according to the Associate Press. The chocolate cake passed through a metal detector and was sitting on a table when a stranger grabbed and ate handfuls of the cake.
Several Cowlitz County sheriff's deputies attempted to apprehend the perpetrator by bringing him to the ground, only to find themselves covered in frosting, reports The Daily News of Longview.
50-year-old Robert Fredrickson was arrested for investigation of third-degree theft. The Daily News says the man had been on his way to a court appearance.


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Have you been through our program? Please leave us a testimonial through our contact page and tell other Moms about your experience.
Mommy Testimonials
"Mommy Connections West Toronto is a fantastic way to meet other new moms in the neighbourhood and to share baby wisdom. Karen has organized an amazing schedule of information sessions and fun activities to do with our babies each week. The presenters are from local businesses and the sessions are a great way to get to know resources in the area. The neighbourhood connection is key – and this is what makes this class so much better than other postnatal classes!"
"I have really enjoyed Mommy Connections. So much so that I signed up for a second go round. There is a lot of great information presented, resources I didn't even know were available. And meeting other mums and babies in my neighbourhood has been fantastic. I would recommend this to any new mum."
"This class has been fantastic! The baby & mom pilates, baby sign language, baby/infant cpr and choking to name a few activities have been great! I have participated in other 'new mom groups' but none have been as enjoyable as this one!"
"Joining Mommy Connections was one of the best things I have done since having my daughter. Not only did it give me the opportunity to meet other mommies in the neighborhood, I learned a lot from guest speakers who were very knowledgeable in their field. I would definitely recommend it to new mommies!"
"A great program for meeting local moms and just getting out of the house and trying all the activities for mom's and babies in the city."
"It is a great place to meet to new mothers, share our experiences and learn from each other. There are also weekly presenters from the area on different services available (i.e, sign language, sleep training, photography, homeopathic medicine, etc)."
"Great place to get advice on being a new mummy and great way to meet other new mummies in the area!!"
"Mommy Connections West Toronto is a wonderful way to meet other Moms in the neighbourhood! It has given me the opportunity to not only connect with some truly amazing women around me, essentially my neighbours, but also to learn about different topics that are so relevant to being a new mom, to get to know businesses and entrepreneurs in the neighbourhood that I didn't know existed (Puh-Nash) or hadn't ventured into (Sweet Flour)! Outside of the Mommy Connections weekly session I have participated in some events that have been set up on the MeetUp site and I can`t say enough good things about my experiences at these events! Karen has truly done a wonderful job in making Mommy Connections West Toronto the all around BEST group for Mom`s in our neighbourhood!! It's social, informative and FUN – it has truly been a highlight of my Mat Leave!!"
"I joined Mommy Connections when my son was almost 2 months old. I wanted to get out and meet other new moms in my neighbourhood. Through Mommy Connections I was able to do that and more. Not only did I meet a fantastic group of moms and their babies but I learned about numerous other baby related 'things' to do with my son from the various presenters. The exposure to other activities (singing, sign language, working outwith baby, massage, etc.) was excellent in helping me determine what else I would sign up for, i.e. it was a great introduction before actually committing to something. In addition, once Mommy Connections ended the moms stayed in touch through emails and regular get togethers (play dates with baby and moms nights out), which I enjoy very much as it makes being a new mom on maternity leave much more fun!" – New Mommy
"Mommy Connections West is GREAT!! Karen the program is fantastic and it was such a great opportunity to connect with new moms in the area. You did such a great job and our group is still continuing on. Good luck in Oakville! I would 100% recommend this program to anyone who has a new baby, it really does give you a bit of sanity! a great opportunity to connect with new mom's in the area. You did such a great job our group is continuing on. Good Luck in Oaklville!! I would 100% recommend this program to anyone with a new baby, it really does give you a bit of sanity." – Mommy in Toronto
"I looked forward to Mommy Connections every week. I enjoyed meeting other moms and babies. Before Mommy Connections, I didn't know other moms in the area and know I have a group that is going to continue to get together. This has made my maternity leave even more enjoyable (and bearable). I learned quite a bit in many of the sessions, especially about introducing first foods, baby proofing and infant choking and CPR. I feel more aware of these topics. The fitness sessions were a great way to get some activity and bond with baby. Thanks for starting this group!" – Mommy in Toronto
I have completed two sessions of the Mommy Connections West Toronto Program and would recommend it to any Mommy looking to get out of the house and enjoy meeting other Mommys as well as absorbing the many resources presented not to mention working off those pregnancy pounds! – Sandra
I wanted to say again how utterly impressed I am with your success and progress with Mommy Connections. Everything you do is so well put together, so professional. Obviously, the community needs exactly what you are offering because they are just eating it up! I'm so proud of you and excited for you! – Mommy of 6 month old baby boy
We are new to the city and have met so many great families through your program. Without you, I wouldn't know about J'Adore Dance, FITMOM or Music Together! All fantastic programs that are close to home and good for mom and baby. Thank you, thank you, thank you for connecting me! – Mommy of 2 month old baby girl
I can see all that went into organizing the program. You did a great job! I thought all the touches, with the coffee and cupcakes, the professional photos and swag bags were all very nice. You don't get anything with the provincial program but lots of handouts! – Mommy of 7 month old baby girl
I LOVE what you are doing and wish you were around when I was a new mom. You are really doing some outstanding things … stayed home for 5 years and would have really benefitted from your programs. – Friend of a Mommy that was registered in the January Program
Thanks for everything yesterday- I think things went really well! Thanks for putting the Mommy Connections group together. I am newer to Edmonton so it's a great way for me to meet some people in the same position as I am. I am hoping to find out some information on Daycares/Dayhomes for next summer. – Mommy of 6 month old baby girl after the first session in January
I thought the first session was great! I couldn't believe there were so many moms – and everyone seemed really friendly so it was great to meet a few of them. Thanks for organizing this – it's a great idea! – Mommy of 7 week old baby boy
I loved the chance to have a photo taken today! It looks like it will be a good class. – Mommy of 5 month old baby boy following the first session in January
Wonderful forum for mom (and babies!) to socialize, share advice and stories; everyone is super friendly. The demonstrations and guest speakers are great fun and very informative. Very well organized! – Toronto Mom
I just wanted to say thank you for creating this program. I appreciate all the work you've put into this New Mom's Group as I didn't hear of any Mom's Program through the hospital or health clinic until my daughter's 4th month vaccination which at that point I was already registered for yours (thankfully). I enjoyed yesterday's speaker [Andrea Page from FITMOM] and am happy that she "kept it real." She has a great story and is an inspiration to all moms regardless of age, status or ethnicity. – Mommy of 5 month old baby girl
I thought it was a great morning – my only regret was not being able to stay and chat with the other Mommys (next week I won't be double booked! 🙂 I am really looking forward to the next session and wanted to let you know that I I think the sessions are packed with great, relevant speakers! I was so excited to see all of the Mom's and babies – there are so many awesome new Moms out there! – Mommy of 6 month old baby boy
Today was a wonderful start to an obviously much needed program! Well Done! You have inspired me to look into ways that I might be able to use my expertise in new and exciting ways so that I might spend more time with my little one – thanks! – Mommy of 3 month old baby boy
Today met and exceeded my expectations. I think the opportunity to come together as a community with shared experiences is important. I also realized that as much as I think I don't know about being a mom, I also have a lot to offer in terms of listening and supporting others, and in fact I do know a thing or two that I can share. On a personal note, I have been reflecting on today and realized that I want my time on maternity leave to be an opportunity for personal growth, rather than just a series of play dates, poopy diapers and sleepless nights. And I drew a lot of that inspiration from Andrea [Page; FITMOM], yourself (for taking the initiative to start Mommy Connections) the cupcake lady, and all the other vendors that were highlighted today. – Mommy of 5 month old baby boy
I really enjoyed chatting with the other mom's today and look forward to continuing to build lasting connections!! Thank you for making this opportunity available to us!! – Mommy of 3 week old baby boy following the first session


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Just when I thought it was safe to watch original PlayStation 3 programming, Sony returns with The Tester 2 Reunion Special, in which Big Fazeek proves once again that he is not capable of behaving like an adult.
Stop this madness! I liveblogged all of the episodes. I interviewed the winner. I put Big Fazeek's ridiculously giant head out of my mind forever, but no. Sony has to go and drag it all back up for one last hurrah on February 15. Looks like Mo' Chocolate, Scooter, Gaymer, Tripplethreat, and that other girl whose name I can never remember are back to discuss their experiences on the road to almost (except Gaymer) becoming PlayStation testers.
It almost sounds pleasant, until Dr. Asshole shows up to ruin the party.
Maybe the other guys won't notice, and I won't have to liveblog this one. Fingers crossed!


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Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background Real Name: Ravenstill. Marital Status: Single. Known Relatives: Bluejay (mother), Narasu (likely father). Group Affiliation: The Draenei. Base Of Operations: Mobile, formerly the Exodar. Height:...
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Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Powers & Abilities Clarissa seems to be about 6, and appears to be typical of a Blood Elf girl of that age. However, she evidenced a startling mastery of the repair and maintenance of the Large Daddy mecha,...
(World of Warcraft sample Player Character)
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Specifically, this profile combines : A primer about the Forsaken species in World of Warcraft. A rough translation of basic shadow priest abilities in DC Heroes terms. A discussion of modelling WoW characters in a tabletop RPG without a levelling logic. A sample Player Character with...
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Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Overview Quillboars form brutal, primitive tribes. Between the War of the Ancients and the Cataclysm, they were chiefly found in the Barrens of Kalimdor. Xenophobic and aggressive, the quillboar tribes have been...
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Context World of Warcraft (WoW) was the overwhelming successful Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) of the 2000s, and is still going strong through the 2010s. It takes place in a distinctive heroic-fantasy world called Azeroth. This profile describes the kobolds of...


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WISC Editorial Agenda 2014 – Changing Who Chooses Who – A Hearing!
Just not the one we need
In stark contrast to their legislative colleagues who have stonewalled the citizens of this state and ignored demands to reform Wisconsin's legislative redistricting process, Senators Tim Cullen of Janesville and Dale Shultz of Richland Center have not only called for reform, they've drawn examples of the maps that reform would produce. The results are dramatic. Or not depending on how you look at it.
What these non-partisan maps show is a better, fairer, more responsible way of redrawing districts every ten years would help both parties, which is just what you would expect. Using something like the non-partisan Iowa redistricting model Republicans would have done better in 2010, the year Republicans swept to power nationally, and Democrats would have done better in the "Democratic wave" year of 2012. It's that simple.
And yet Republican leaders continue to refuse to even schedule a public hearing on reform. So, Cullen and Schultz have scheduled their own. There'll be a public meeting at the State Capitol on Monday at 10 a-m. Experts like Common Cause Chair Bill Kraus, UW Professor Ken Mayer, and Iowa map-drawing agency legal counsel Ed Cook will testify. It'll be interesting to see how much longer legislators can resist logic, facts and integrity.


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The Sextravaganza is going strong! Every title below is CURRENTLY FREE!!!
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(You may notice some titles you've read already have brand new names, covers, and blurbs. For a handy cross-reference list of what you might already have to what it's called now, LOOK HERE! I don't have any desire to make you pay for something more than once…unless you really want to, of course.)
What's a Sextravaganza, you ask? Well—I have just re-released the ENTIRETY of my catalogue, updating covers and content and titles (much of which, admittedly, was in need of improvement), and to promote the re-release of so much excellently erotic content, I am GIVING AWAY tons and tons of my titles for FREE on Amazon. In the meantime, more than EIGHTY PERCENT of my titles are on Kindle Unlimited, so all of you brilliant KU users are able to get more titles than ever for just the price of admission.
So, borrow and download away! I love love LOVE my fans and want you guys to be able to read ALL the works of mine that you can for supporting me and my silly dream of writing dirty stories for your enjoyment.
For the next few weeks, I'm going to be giving away more and more of my titles, so keep checking back, because the deals will be changing every few days! The above is a sampling of the titles I have available for FREE at Amazon right now—but there's much more where that came from, so have a look around!
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Probit or logit
Mplus Discussion
Categorical Data Modeling
Courtney Bagge
posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 3:35 pm
Hi there,
I am trying to run a logistic regression model using type = complex missing h1. I wanted to first compare the models with and without taking into account my complex sampling design. First, I ran this model using type = missing h1, estimator = ML and obtained a parameter estimate for one of my variables (var1) of .264 and Est./S.E. of 1.68. Next, I ran this model using type= complex missing h1, estimator = wlmsv (default) and parameterization = theta. I obtained a parameter estimate of .334 and a Est./S.E. of 2.989.
I thought that I would have the same parameter estimate, but different standard errors when comparing the two analyses. When I am using type = missing h1 I cannot specify type = ml (to specify a logistic regression). Is the parameter estimate when using type = complex a probit instead of a logit? If so, is this why the parameter estimates differ? If I am indeed obtaining a probit is there anyway to specify a logit and if not is it possible to convert a probit into an OR?
***I am also running a multinomial logistic regression with a 4-level nominal outcome using type=complex missing h1. Are the parameters in this case probits or logits?
Thanks in advance!
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 2:27 pm
If you want to compare with and without complex survey features, you need to keep the estimator constant. Maximum likelihood give logistic regression as the default. Weighted least squares gives probit regresison. Use MLR for both analyses.
Multinomial logistic regression gives logits.
patrick sturgis
posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 7:40 am
Dear Linda/Bengt
I am estimating a growth curve model with binary outcome, clustering and weights. From the output, documentation and discussion, it seems to be the case that I cannot get any measures of model fit for my model. Is this correct?
Second, it is possible to test for differences in model fit for nested models when using MLR by using the approach set out on the mplus website. However, having read this, I am not sure how to interpret the result. The material on the website says:
Compute the chi-square difference test (TRd) as follows:
TRd = -2*(L0 - L1)/cd
= -2*(-2606 + 2583)/2.014 = 22.840
but what is one supposed to do with the 22.840? Is this a chi square value? If so, what are the degrees of freedom?
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 8:08 am
There are many situations where you get fit statistics and many when you don't. If you don't, they are not available for that model. If you want to know why in your particular case you don't get fit statsitics, send your output and license number to
The value is a chi-square value. The degrees of freedom is the difference in the number of free parameters.
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Setup duo of Cook, Doolittle suffer minor setbacks
PHOENIX -- Oakland relief duo Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook will be slowed by mild injuries in Spring Training.
Doolittle suffered a right calf strain earlier this week, while Cook is nursing an inflamed right shoulder that could prevent him from throwing for a couple of weeks.
But when asked if there's any concern the right-handed Cook could still be sidelined come Opening Day, manager Bob Melvin said, "At this point, none."
"We've shut him down here recently," Melvin explained Friday, when A's pitchers and catchers reported. "He'll probably be a couple weeks behind guys, but we don't think it's a serious thing. We just want to make sure that he's healthy come Opening Day. He'll be a little bit behind everyone as far as when he gets on the mound again, but he's thrown some bullpens to this point.
"We're just trying to be proactive with this. He feels good now, and everything he's been doing here the last few days, as far as exercises, he's done very well."
Doolittle, meanwhile, injured his calf while running a couple of days ago. The southpaw is likely to be held back from throwing on Saturday, when batterymates gather for their first official workout, but Melvin assured "he shouldn't be long after that."
Like Cook, Doolittle threw six or seven bullpen sessions leading into camp, so playing catch-up shouldn't be much of an issue.
The setup men combined for 136 1/3 innings in their second big league seasons last year, but just 53 2/3 of them were recorded after the All-Star break, as management kept a close eye on their workloads.
"Last year, based on the year before," Melvin said, "we really backed off some of our relievers with the workload, especially the younger guys. That will always be important to us."
The addition of Luke Gregerson, as well as the rapid rise of Dan Otero, will allow the A's to rotate pitchers more freely in the later innings this year, rather than rely solely on Cook and Doolittle to set up the ninth.
Cook compiled a 2.54 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 71 games in 2013 (67 1/3 innings). Doolittle appeared in 70 (69 innings), sporting a 3.13 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP while averaging 7.8 strikeouts to 1.7 walks per nine innings. Together, they totaled 11 wins and four saves.