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Given a partitioned table and a simple SELECT query that compares the partitioning column to a single literal value, why does SQL Server read all the partitions when it seems obvious that only one partition needs to be examined?
The following script creates a table, partitioned on the char(3) column 'Div', and populates it with 100,000 rows of data:
USE Sandpit;
CREATE PARTITION FUNCTION PF (char(3))
'1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9',
CREATE TABLE dbo.Test
Div char(3) NOT NULL,
Data char(50) NOT NULL,
ON PS(Div);
INSERT dbo.Test WITH (TABLOCKX)
(Div, Data)
CONVERT(char(3), CONVERT(char(36), NEWID())),
CONVERT(char(50), REPLICATE('X', 50))
FROM sys.columns AS c
CROSS JOIN sys.columns AS c2
CROSS JOIN sys.columns AS c3;
Sample data:
The 'Div' column is pseudo-random so your results will be slightly different, but this is the distribution across partitions I saw:
PartitionID = F.PartitionID,
RowCnt = COUNT_BIG(*)
FROM dbo.Test AS t WITH (TABLOCK)
CROSS APPLY (VALUES($PARTITION.PF(t.Div))) AS F (PartitionID)
(The partition function defines a total of 36 partitions but only 16 are used by the sample data.)
FROM dbo.Test AS t
t.Div = 'ABF';
Since 'Div' is the partitioning column, the expectation is that only one partition will be scanned to count the rows that match the WHERE clause predicate. However, the execution plan shows that query execution scans all 36 partitions (a full table scan):
Why did SQL Server not just look at the one partition it knows the value 'ABF' must lie in?
The answer lies in the predicate:
The value 'ABF' is nowhere to be seen; it has been replaced by [@1]. This means the query has been considered for simple parameterization by SQL Server to promote query plan reuse. The presence of the [@1] does not mean that simple parameterization was successful (considered safe for all possible values by the optimizer). We have to check the plan cache to see if an associated prepared plan exists and is reused for different 'parameter' values. It turns out that this time the simple parameterization attempt is considered safe, so a prepared plan is created and is reused for different values. The full parameterized text is:
(@1 varchar(8000))SELECT COUNT_BIG(*) [RowCnt] FROM [dbo].[Test] [t] WHERE [t].[Div]=@1
The reason SQL Server cannot apply static partition elimination (determining the partition number at compile time) is that the plan now contains a parameter. Subsequent executions that reuse the plan might specify a different value for the parameter, so static elimination would not be safe. It is not possible to disable simple parameterization, but we can prevent it applying to this query in a number of ways. One way is to incorporate an inequality predicate of the form expression <> constant:
t.Div = 'ABF'
The redundant 1 <> 2 predicate is completely removed by the optimizer, and the query still qualifies for TRIVIAL optimization as it did previously:
There are a number of interesting things to notice here:
The problem with this plan is that it cannot be reused for different predicate values – so you could end up with a separate cached plan for each possible literal value.
Adding OPTION (RECOMPILE) also defeats simple parameterization and therefore achieves static elimination. In an ad-hoc SQL batch, OPTION (RECOMPILE) also means the query plan will not be cached (stored procedures are not so lucky). The downside is a fresh trip through the optimizer on each call. This query does qualify for trivial plan, so optimization time is minimal, but more complex queries with the same desire for partition elimination might well require full optimization.
Ideally, we would like a query plan that is reusable but still only touches one partition for any given string literal value. What we need is dynamic partition elimination. In case the concept is new to you, the optimizer can produce plans that determine the correct partition at execution time (rather than at compile-time, as for static elimination). To achieve this, the optimizer builds a plan that uses an internal function called RangePartitionNew(). One might think the original simple-parameterized plan ought to have included this feature; the reason it didn't is quite interesting.
When SQL Server parameterizes a query using simple or forced parameterization, it has to decide on a data type for the parameter. For string literals, it always chooses varchar(8000) for non-Unicode strings and nvarchar(4000) for Unicode strings. If it chose a specific type like varchar(3), we could end up with the same plan cache bloating and non-reuse problem as for the non-parameterized case – and there are potentially 8000 different lengths for varchar. Also, prior to SQL Server 2005 SP2, the parameter-declaration part of the query text was not included in the hash value used to decide in which cache bucket to store the plan. This could result in hundreds of same-text plans (with different parameters) occupying the same hash bucket (this does not work well).
Anyway, faced with the parameterized predicate Div = [@1], where Div is char(3) and [@1] is varchar(8000), dynamic partition elimination does not occur because the value of [@1] might be truncated. One way to address this is to explicitly convert the to-be-parameterized string literal to the same type as the target column (char(3)):
t.Div = CONVERT(char(3), 'CDC');
Now we have a parameterized query plan that uses dynamic partition elimination:
This plan has all the interesting features of the static elimination plan, but the heap seek no longer selects a hard-coded partition ID. The single partition searched is the one returned at runtime by the call to RangePartitionNew(). The explicit convert prevents data truncation when the parameterized value is compared with the partition boundary values (defined as char(3) in the partition function). The extra CONVERT_IMPLICIT to char(3) is required for internal reasons, and only appears with non-Unicode partition function types.
If we explicitly convert to char(4) instead of char(3), the possibility of truncation arises again and we are back to scanning all 36 partitions:
Using varchar(3) instead of char(3) also results in dynamic elimination, which surprises some people:
An alternative explanation I have seen for the original behaviour is that the string literal 'ABF' is implicitly typed as a varchar(3) by SQL Server and data type precedence means the char(3) 'Div' column has to be implicitly converted to varchar(3) to perform the comparison. This is incorrect, but it is interesting to look at why that is so:
We can see the implicit type of the string literal 'ABF' using a query:
BaseType = SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY(V.v, 'BaseType'),
MaxLength = SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY(V.v, 'MaxLength')
FROM (VALUES(CONVERT(sql_variant, 'ABF'))) AS V (v);
The implied type of 'ABF' does seem to be varchar(3), so that checks out.
The data type precedence table in Books Online shows that varchar does indeed have a higher precedence than char:
Also, from the Books Online topic Data Types (Transact-SQL):
The example below uses a UNION ALL over char(5) and varchar(3) columns:
DECLARE @T1 AS TABLE (col1 char(5) NOT NULL);
DECLARE @T2 AS TABLE (col1 varchar(3) NOT NULL);
BaseType = SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY(CONVERT(sql_variant, t.col1), 'BaseType'),
MaxLength = SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY(CONVERT(sql_variant, t.col1), 'MaxLength'),
SELECT col1 FROM @T1
SELECT col1 FROM @T2
) AS t;
The result column 'col1' has to have a well-defined type. As expected, the result is varchar(5) since varchar has a higher precedence than char and 5 is the maximum length of the result. All good so far.
We get used to seeing (and preferably avoiding) implicit conversions in query plans where two mismatched types are compared:
DECLARE @T1 AS TABLE (col1 integer NULL);
DECLARE @v tinyint;
SELECT col1 FROM @T1 AS t WHERE col1 = @v;
The plan shows the tinyint variable being implicitly converted to the higher-precedence integer data type, as expected. Now let's do the same thing with varchar and char (perhaps expecting char to be converted to the higher-precedence varchar):
DECLARE @T1 AS TABLE (col1 varchar(5) NULL);
DECLARE @v char(3);
Note the lack of an implicit conversion in the predicate.
SQL Server can compare char with varchar without performing a conversion. They are fundamentally the same type, it's just that one is fixed-length and the other is variable-length. The SQL standard requires padding for the character strings used in comparisons so that their lengths match before comparing, thereby removing the only distinction between char and varchar. The same optimization can apply to a comparison between nchar and nvarchar (though not to Unicode versus non-Unicode comparisons, since they are genuinely different types of course).
The present case involves a predicate "WHERE Div = 'ABF'". This is a comparison that can use this optimization, so there is no implicit conversion. This is the reason the explicit conversion to varchar(3) works in the main example – the precedence rules do not need to be invoked, and the data column is not converted from char(3) to varchar(3).
In case you were wondering, the only reason I chose a partitioned heap for this post is just because I could (it's more interesting in many ways). All the demonstrations work just as well for a partitioned clustered table. A complete script using a clustered partitioned table is below:
ID integer IDENTITY NOT NULL,
CONSTRAINT PK__dbo_Test_Div_ID
PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED (Div, ID)
ON PS(Div)
-- Show the distribution of data
-- Seek on all 36 partitions
-- Static elimination = 1 hard-coded partition ID
-- Cached plan unlikely to be reused
-- Static elimination
-- Compilation overhead
-- Dynamic elimination with convert to char(3)
-- Reusable plan
t.Div = CONVERT(char(3), 'ABF');
-- Dynamic elimination with convert to varchar(3)
-- Data type precedence not applied:
-- varchar(3) convert does not cause the char(3)
-- column Div to be converted (would prevent a seek)
t.Div = CONVERT(varchar(3), 'ABF');
-- char(4) means truncation could occur when
-- comparing with the char(3) partition function
-- No partition elimination, seek on 36 partitions
t.Div = CONVERT(char(4), 'ABF');
-- Clean up
DROP TABLE dbo.Test;
This post applies to SQL Server 2008, 2008 R2 and 2012 only (partitioned table query execution was very different in 2005). As far as I can tell, SQL Server 2005 did not attempt simple parameterization on a partitioned table. I'm in two minds whether the SQL Server 2008+ behaviour is a bug, an oversight, or an undesirable consequence of fixing something else…so I opened a Connect item for it. Update: fixing this is under consideration for the next release.
Sean Broadley raises an important practical point in the comments below – the issue highlighted in this post only occurs when a literal value is used. By correctly parameterizing your queries (including application code and dynamic SQL) you will avoid simple parameterization, achieve dynamic partition elimination, and cache a more reusable query plan.
Thanks to Jonathan Kehayias (blog | twitter) who first altered me to the MSDN forum question that prompted this post.
Paul White
Twitter: @SQL_Kiwi
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2012 Paul White – All rights reserved
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If you have a table with indexed varchar columns, but you write code that passes a parameter to a query against those columns as nvarchar, then there is a performance killing index scan vs. the index lookup you get if you passed a varchar.
What SEEMS to be happening is that it's converting for each row, rather than converting the type once and then doing a lookup.
I've never seen this discussed before, but when you're dealing with tables with millions of rows, something this simple is a major performance killer and isn't really intuitive.
Hi pmbAustin,
That depends on the collation of the varchar column. There's a good (code page) reason an nvarchar value can't be used to seek a varchar index with a SQL collation:
-- Seek (thanks to heroic efforts by the optimizer)
DECLARE @T TABLE (col1 varchar(10) COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AI UNIQUE)
SELECT * FROM @T WHERE col1 = N'a';
-- Scan
DECLARE @T TABLE (col1 varchar(10) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AI UNIQUE)
It's an interesting point you raise about varchar versus nvarchar, but that's not really what this post is about :c)
Your aside about the original query (on the heap) being ORDERED=FALSE, but the Static Elimination example being ORDERED=TRUE gives me an opening to ask a (slightly?) off-topic Q I've had for a while. :-)
I've been under the impression that ORDERED=TRUE was the optimizer's way of informing qualified iterators lower in the tree of a certain iterator's ordering needs... in other words, if there were no ordering needs, ORDERED would be FALSE even if the iso level & data structure would lead to ordered access.
However, in this case, the Scalar Aggregate has no need for ordered data (clearly, as it didn't have it for the original query), but seems to require it for the second?
Or perhaps the underlying algorithm is merely opportunistic, and always requests it if convenient? (The Clustered Index example produces ORDERED=TRUE for both of the queries I've mentioned)
Hi Aaron,
The ordered property on a seek or scan indicates whether the iterator requires an ordered stream of rows (or not) from the storage engine in order for the execution plan to produce correct results. On an exchange operator, the ordered property indicates whether the operator preserves the already-existing order of rows per thread.
There are internal ordering guarantees available where order preservation across operators is required for correct results by a later operation (e.g. a merge join) but these optimizer properties are not visible to users.
It is true to say though that ordered:true may be set as a part of the internal guarantees, but how long that ordering is maintained depends on internal code guarantees between the optimizer, storage engine, and the query executor.
I wrote a bit more about the ordered flag in http://sqlblog.com/blogs/paul_white/archive/2010/09/23/a-tale-of-two-index-hints.aspx
There is a way to reveal at least some of the sort order enforcement with DBCC commands - I wrote about that in http://sqlblog.com/blogs/paul_white/archive/2010/09/01/inside-the-optimizer-plan-costing.aspx
So overall, the ordered flag is helpful in understanding some aspects of query optimization and execution, but we should not extrapolate its meaning too far.
So is it correct that the simple parameterization feature has parameterized a literal although doing that changed the query plan to the worse? If that is true this might be considered a bug in the simple parameterization feature. It should not perform this transformation because it affects the query plan.
Thanks Paul, I appreciate the in-depth answer.
I also noticed last night the statement "seek operations *always* have the Ordered:True attribute" in your previous blog post: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/paul_white/archive/2011/02/17/so-is-it-a-seek-or-a-scan.aspx
so it would be easy to apply this to the seek on the heap that we get when partition elimination takes effect.
But as you advised, I'll reign in my extrapolation. :-)
Thanks again,
Hi tobi,
That's part of it, though the real problem is that the possibility of truncating the implicit varchar(8000) type of the parameterized form prevents the partition elimination logic from being applied.
As far as changing the plan is concerned, it depends on how you look at that issue. Parameterizing a query increases the chances of reuse, but means the plan is not optimized for a single specific value any more. This is just a logical thing, not a particular feature of simple parameterization.
Yes seeks always have ordered:true (strictly this is also based on observation and could, possibly, change one day) and explains the 'heap seek' thing. The implied order there (which may not be maintained) is partition id order.
Extrapolation is good for wondering about things and experimenting with the observed behaviour of the engine. I do this all the time, so I don't specifically want to dissuade anyone from that, just bear in mind what guarantees the engine provides, and which things just 'seem to always work that way'.
Fun, isn't it?
Hmmm. Interesting.
Just catching up on what this means for my C# code. If I understand you right, then the answer is to apply correct parameterization myself. That is, to execute something like:
SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(
RowCnt = COUNT_BIG(*)
t.Div = @P1");
command.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@P1", "ABF",SqlDbType.Char, 3);
Hi Sean,
Yes that's right - and a good point to raise. Using an explicit parameter will enable dynamic partition elimination (and you get query plan reuse as well).
Hi Paul,
This is quite same with this one:
My issue here is when using GetDate() function, even though I applied a CAST I still did not get the same results. But when I used it as a parameter the partition elimination works fine.
It seems that SQL wasn't able to evaluate the GETDATE()first? or is this bug that should be reported to MS? Maybe you have an explanation on this?
SQL Server does not 'sniff' the value of GETDATE() when OPTION (RECOMPILE) is used - it is handled differently, as a runtime constant. This still results in dynamic partition elimination (RangePartitionNew) so partitions will still be eliminated at execution time.
I tried creating a sample DB partitioning and it seems working fine. Now I have to investigate further what cause this failure.
this is one of the most detailed articles I have come across explaining a problem which is not easily seen by ppl like me. This brought down my execution time drastically. Thanks for a great explanation.
For the record, the connect item was closed "wont fix"
Hi Paul
Thanks for a great post. I know you wrote it two years ago, but now i'm working with spatial index on a partitioned table by year and Partition Elimination doesn't work. I look for a solution and found the following post: http://aboutsqlserver.com/2013/09/03/optimizing-sql-server-spatial-queries-with-bounding-box/
but this isn't the answer I expected. Is it possible that the dynamic partition elimination works with spatial index on a partitioned table?
John Paul,
I honestly have no idea. I'll have to look into it sometime!
I'll be awaiting your next publications about it =) ... thanks!
Thanks for this... We have a very big table with more than 6000 partitions and even with a date explicitly set, sql server scanned all partitions... By using the 'cast' I ended up by using the correct partition saving us time and disks...
I finally found a better alternative to the "cast" option, is to use the hint Option (optimize for unknown).
This does the trick.
Anyway, I end up with another problem... We have so many partitions that I decided to have one table for each year. So I have a partition function for each table with different value.
I want to use a view on top of that so the query will still call the same name but sql should do it...
Unfortunately, sql sees the partition, but doesn't eliminate them in the view...
Any idea ?


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subset: commoncrawl


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Miley Cyrus Calls Herself a 'Stoner' in Birthday Video
Tsk tsk. Some people never learn, and it looks like the lovely and talented Miley Cyrus may be one of them. The teen took plenty of media hits, not to mention one to her squeaky clean image, last year after a video of her smoking a substance from a bong went viral. Cyrus apologized and said she was smoking salvia, which is a plant in the mint family. She claimed she felt horrible for letting her largely teen fanbase down.
Turns out that Miley used more bad judgment, this time courtesy of her words.
At party at Los Angeles' Roosevelt Hotel celebrating her 19th birthday –- the big day was Nov. 23 — Cyrus referred herself to as a "stoner."
The video, leaked by The Daily, is 40 seconds long and starts out with Miley and friends singing 50 Cent's 'In Da Club.' You know, that whole "We gonna party like it's your birthday" line is lyrically appropriate. There's a person in a panda suit behind Miss Miley and Kelly Osbourne to her side. Regular birthday fun, right?
When Miley addressed the crowd, she thanked them for waiting for three hours. She doesn't explain the source of her tardiness. Once the cake was wheeled out, complete with sparklers, Cyrus joked about the confection, saying, "You know you're a stoner when friends make you a Bob Marley cake. You know you smoke way too much f—in' weed."
Now, at first, we thought about the context of the statement. Perhaps Cyrus was referring to her friends who made her a Marley cake. But it really doesn't seem that way. Then her friend Osbourne replied, "I thought salvia was your problem."
Miley, Miley, Miley. It doesn't matter if you didn't know someone was filming your words, but just when people had forgotten about the salvia bong and how it tarnished your image, you drag it right back to the forefront of our minds. You have to watch what you say when you're a public figure.
It's also worth a mention that a photo of Cyrus smoking surfaced in August. Surprisingly, there wasn't much backlash from fans about that photo, nor was it heavily addressed in the media.
We're anticipating some sort of media frenzy and/or apology from Cyrus over her comments.
Watch Miley Cyrus Call Herself a Stoner


text:
Manhattan Beach police on Tuesday asked for the public's help in identifying a man suspected of holding a cellphone under a woman's skirt this summer and fleeing.
The incident happened about 4 p.m. Aug. 19 at a Chevron gas station store at 3633 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
The victim saw a flash go off while the phone was pointed under her clothing, police said. The suspect then ran out of the store without buying anything and got into a white Honda Accord that headed southbound on Sepulveda.
Officer Stephanie Martin, a department spokeswoman, said detectives decided to turn to the public for help in hopes of finding new leads.
The suspect is described as a black man in his 30s with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective M. Allard at email@example.com or 310-802-5125
– Kristin S. Agostoni


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Latest Features
Wild Second Period Sinks Crunch, Griffins Take 2-0 Lead in Finals
It was an emotional chain of events that rival most blockbusters.
After demanding a review, the Syracuse Crunch were credited with the game-tying goal. Moments later -- 26 seconds on the amended scoresheet despite more than two minutes mistakenly being added to the clock -- the Grand Rapids Griffins scored a power play goal that stood as the game-winner.
While the Griffins' Francis Pare provided the movie-like twist with a goal in the closing minutes of the six-goal, 20-plus minute second period, Jan Mursak gave the curtain call with a breakaway goal late in the third, as the Griffins topped the Crunch 6-4 in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals at the Onondaga County War Memorial Sunday.
"To me, that was the game," said Crunch coach Rob Zettler of the turn of events in the second. "That was huge. We had a lot of momentum, the building was rocking, fans were into it, the players were into it. There was a lot of excitement on the bench."
Syracuse trails the series 2-0, as it travels to Grand Rapids Wednesday for Game 3. Game 4 is set for Friday.
"There was a high point and then followed by a quick low," said Syracuse forward JT Brown, whose goal went through the net and wasn't credited until the review. "We've just got to try to stay consistent, instead of getting too high or too low, just kind of ride it out in the middle."
"When we've got the momentum like that we've got to hold on to it," said Crunch captain Mike Angelidis. "We can't give it up so fast. We have to stay even keel, and keep our emotions in check and just keep playing hockey."
After jumping out to a two-goal lead on tallies by Tomas Tatar and Tristan Grant, Grand Rapids had an answer to every Syracuse goal.
Andrej Sustr's first playoff goal brought the Crunch back to within one before first intermission, but the Griffins' Landon Ferraro scored six minutes into the second period. When Richard Panik responded with the first of two Syracuse power play goals midway through the second period, Tomas Jurco again gave the Griffins a two-goal lead.
Brett Connolly's power play tally with less than four minutes remaining in the second brought the Crunch back to within one, and Brown's reviewed goal set off the wild chain of events minutes later.
"It's one thing we've got to work on from here on out is working on that shift after a goal and making sure we keep the pressure on," Brown said.
Despite making some outstanding saves, Cedrick Desjardins finished with 23 saves on 29 shots. At the other end of the ice, Petr Mrazek made 30 saves.
"You give up six, it's not good enough," Zettler said. "We scored four. Four should win you a hockey game."
"We haven't played our best, I don't think," Angelidis said. "We've shown it, but we haven't consistently played a solid 60 minutes."
With the next two -- three if necessary -- games at Grand Rapids, the Crunch are hoping to keep their perfect playoff road record alive.
"The good part is, we're the best road team in the league," Zettler said, admitting the team was in a big hole.
"It's what every coach is going to tell you now -- one game at a time, one shift at a time," he added. "That's literally the way we've got to approach it."
Pictured: The Griffins' Triston Grant and Mitch Callahan celebrate a goal against the Crunch at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.
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8 Text-Based Artists to Collect
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Signature: With incised signature, date and numbering 48/99 (there were also 25 artist's proofs), published by the artist.
One of the central figures of the Pop Art movement, Robert Indiana takes his inspiration from commercial signs, claiming: "There are more signs than trees in America. There are more signs than leaves. So I think of myself as a painter of American landscape." In his paintings, sculptures, and prints, he mimics and re-arranges the words and numbers of a myriad of signs, including the Phillips 66 gas station logo and the "Yield" traffic sign. He is most famous for his "LOVE" paintings and sculptures, first produced in the 1960s. Creating a block out of the word—with the "L" and the "O" set atop the "V" and the "E"—Indiana has effectively inserted his own sign into the mix.
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8 Text-Based Artists to Collect
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An art collector who was part of Andy Warhol's scene died when a fire broke out in his Trump Tower apartment over the weekend.
Artsy Editorial
The Little-Known Manhattan Neighborhood Where Agnes Martin, James Rosenquist, and Robert Indiana Made Art
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BBC TV boss George Entwistle nabs director general post
Ofcom's Ed Richards sent back to his spreadsheets
George Entwistle, a BBC insider since 1989, was today appointed the corporation's new director general and will replace Mark Thompson.
Entwistle has the strongest programme-making background of the shortlisted hopefuls for the top job. He is currently in charge of TV - or "director of vision" as the BBC calls the post.
That means no prize for Ofcom technocrat Ed Richards: he was the one candidate with no media experience beyond his one-time role as corporate strategy wonk at the Beeb, although he had stretched the concept of media "plurality" in the UK in a BBC-friendly direction as the watchdog's boss.
Entwistle worked on TV news flagship Newsnight between 1994 and 2004 (before it truly dumbed down), squeezing in a two-year stint editing Tomorrow's World. He received criticism for Auntie's "moronic" coverage of the Jubilee flotilla.
He is likely to be DG during the next review of the TV licence fee, which will remain £145.50 a year for viewers until March 2017. The ethical dilemma, as ever, is continuing to levy a full charge on people who don't consume swaths of BBC output - obliging them to subsidise the often wealthier people who do (think Radio 4). Across some demographic segments, consumption of BBC media is almost zero.
Fixing this shouldn't be rocket science - it can be alleviated by raising much more revenue from media consumers globally, in English-speaking countries, and by charging for on-demand access to the archive. Currently, however, much of the expense of enforcing the TV poll tax collection is carried by the court system, which creates 142,000 new criminals a year.
A trawl through Entwistle's public expense claims may surprise critics. He prefers to travel by rail in cattle class; his receipts are considerably more modest than the lavish claims of his BBC executive peers. In 2009, though, he claimed £2.20 in expenses during a meeting on "Media Literacy". Entwistle was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire. These latter two facts may not be unrelated. ®


text:
Fear not, readers! The Transfer Window may have just shut, but WOTT is still here!
And what's more, Goal.com can exclusively reveal that WOTT has signed a lucrative long-term contract in which its future with the site has been extended indefinitely. Terms have been agreed and agents have been made rich, so without further ado, let's get cracking!
Footballers across the land have been reacting to the melodrama that was the Peter Odemwingie saga - the West Brom striker doing all he could to force a move to QPR on deadline day, but in vain.
Elsewhere, Jermaine Jenas claims he is Happy as Harry to link up with Redknapp again, while Greg Halford has his eyes in the sky. All this and more in today's Word on the Tweet...
"Where does Peter Odemwengie go from here?"
Swansea winger Wayne Routledge asks the questions we all want to know the answer to.
"On odemwingie.. I can see laps for him tomorrow... Leave the boots,Get your spikes on son"
Robbie Fowler (pictured) more or less paraphrases Mr T in predicting 'Pain!' for the West Brom striker after his desperate late bid to join QPR.
"New song by Odemwingie "Sign Me Maybe"..."Hey, I just drove here. And this is crazy. I'm in your car park. So sign me maybe" hahaha class"
Everton midfielder Darron Gibson shares one of the better Odemwingie jokes on Twitter. Oh yes, WOTT approves.
"Delighted to have joined qpr and looking forward to getting started tomorrow at training and seeing all u fans on Saturday!"
Legitimate new QPR singing Jermaine Jenas announces his joy at making the short trip from White Hart Lane to Loftus Road. Will a fresh start provide a bright future for the 29-year-old midfielder?
"Looking forward to the game tomorrow. Hoping to get a few more minutes under my belt."
Andy Carroll reveals his intentions to get stuck into the action when West Ham host Swansea this Saturday.
"Just finished training and got 15/20 minutes to spare... not done one of these in a while so #AskBale"
Ah, how kind. No, seriously, WOTT thinks it's great of Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale to spare some time for his adoring fans. Here's one for you, Gareth - do you think Spurs will make the top four this season?
"Thinking out loud: Are the government doing enough for sports in schools in UK??"
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks out loud. That's a good question, Rio... a good question indeed.
"Window closed deadline day madness over and back to normality . Train to London now where FIFA champs will be decided tonight @Grantholt31"
Norwich's Robert Snodgrass reveals that - unlike most - he is actually delighted that deadline day is over. But WOTT asks whether FIFA should really be the priority ahead of a weekend of Premier League action!
"Can't wait to start flying this and start spying on people."
Nottingham Forest defender Greg Halford confirms his plans to terrorise the local neighbourhood with his new remote control helicopter. Looks like Halford has gone from defensive stopper... to aerial chopper, am I right?
"Walking past my gaff when a little kid starts singing Karacan can can he's our local kebab man haha! Classic!"
Reading's Jem Karacan (pictured) revels in a witty chant dedicated exclusively to him. Well in there, Jem.
"Was always 1 miserable old dude who wouldn't give you your ball back from his garden! Revenge=knock door run! (don't judge me or do this)LOL"
Sone Aluko of Hull City reminisces to a simpler time in his life. Don't worry, Sone, WOTT won't judge you. But do the readers?
""@TheManayem: @Luke_shaw3 here is a question: Eminem or Kanye West?"Kayne"
Luke Shaw makes a controversial revelation about what music might be played in the Southampton dressing room. WOTT remains completely impartial...and distinctly unimpressed.
"Once again thanks to listeners of @bbc606 we had best quarter for over a year, over 60,000 more of the real football fans listen !"
BBC pundit Robbie Savage revels in the news of high listening figures for BBC Radio Five Live. We real football fans certainly are tremendous, aren't we?
"'Pundit' is a blanket word, often with negative connotations. Excellent standards & poor should be acknowledged, like in any other industry"
In what is perhaps a less optimistic tweet about the football media world, Stan Collymore concludes a lengthy (trust us, readers, he had a lot to say) speech about his scientific approach towards punditry.


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
Minimum entropy does not mean anything special.
That's when no particles exist and only pure unusable energy is the last to go.It's the direction that is important.
Not correct. Analysis of toddlers has revealed that they process information better that the greatest geniuses known in history. Our abilities to adapt,process and conform to changes in our environment decreases every moment from conception on.
Civilization? I think you lost that without my rebuttal.
So, going to respond to the rest of my post?


text:
December 18, 2013
This article was reported by SFGate.com (San Francisco).
SFGate reported that the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) launched an early intervention program that connected newly diagnosed people to HIV treatment on the day of diagnosis. The program's prime target was people with acute HIV infections -- high virus levels in the blood, "but almost no immune reaction from the body." With rapid treatment, HIV drugs could reduce the virus to undetectable levels quickly, benefitting the patient and preventing the spread of HIV to the patient's sexual partners.
Dr. Hiroyu Hatano explained that city health clinics and the hospital coordinated to implement the program. When a person received an HIV diagnosis at a city clinic, health workers determined whether the infection was acute and alerted Hatano or another HIV specialist. The patient went directly to SFGH's HIV clinic, where patients received counseling, and a social worker assisted them with paperwork to pay for HIV drugs. Doctors also observed the patients taking their first dose of HIV drugs and provided enough drugs to last until the patients secured insurance coverage or federal aid.
Hatano believed early intervention was essential to San Francisco's goal of eradicating HIV from the city. She hoped to expand the program to every newly diagnosed HIV patient by the end of 2014. In addition to the "treatment as prevention" strategy, the city had other advantages in addressing HIV/AIDS. The HIV-infected population was composed largely of gay men, which made highly targeted interventions possible. San Francisco also had a "large and active support network." In contrast, the population of HIV-infected people was much more diverse and hard to reach in communities such as Oakland, Calif., other cities, and other nations.
Public health officials estimated that only 7 percent of HIV-infected persons in San Francisco were unaware of their status. HIV diagnoses declined from 534 in 2007 to 413 in 2012.
No comments have been made.
The content on this page is free of advertiser influence and was produced by our editorial team. See our content and advertising policies.


text:
Here is another case of "We just did the engagement shoot, and I'd better get the images out because the wedding is tomorrow!" It does have a certain efficiency to it.
Karen and Kamil have flown me out to California to document their Malibu wedding, and if I thought I was excited before, I've reached Ludicrous Excitement after how much fun our engagement shoot was at their alma mater, Harvey Mudd College.
Have you ever seen Real Genius? If not, go rent it. It's one of the best movies of all time. If you have, though, you remember a scene with a dorm literally bursting with anarchic, geeky energy in every corner. A place like this could only exist in the movies, right?
Wrong. West Dorm, where both Karen and Kamil spent all four years, surpasses every stereotype of every college movie I've ever seen. There are pirate flags, and bonfires, and motorcycles, and shopping carts with Pabst Blue Ribbon cup holders. It is college at its most primal, both revelled in and enjoyed ironically.
For the first time, I actually can't show some of my favorite images from the shoot, because so much of the West decor is Not Safe for Work.
So when I tell couples to find places that have meaning for them, and not just the prettiest possible place, I mean it.


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"Will You Maldives Me?", destination Paris and the Maldives for an exceptionnal wedding!
Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte, is now opening its doors to happy couples celebrating their special day.
With "Will you Maldives me?" Shangri-La Hotel, Paris is treating couples who choose to celebrate their wedding at the hotel to a heavenly honeymoon in the Maldives.
The hotel's historic salons provide the perfect setting to receive guests in elegance. The expert teams will be there to take care of everything, down to the last detail: bespoke service, refined cuisine from the two Michelin-starred Chef Philippe Labbé, floral décor and a romantic atmosphere… No effort will be spared to make the day an unforgettable occasion for the couple and their loved ones.
After the celebrations the spouses will be able to retire to one of the 101 fabulous rooms and suites of the hotel for the wedding night: The Eiffel Tower will never have been so close…
Next, they will fly to the Maldives for eight days of delight in an exceptional setting: Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives. Located at the southernmost tip of the Maldives island chain, at the heart of Addu Atoll, this luxury resort offers a cosy private retreat in an enchanting setting, surrounded by stunning natural beauty; 17,000 coconut trees, stately banyans, and white sandy beaches await.
Here the newlyweds will enjoy an idyllic, peaceful week for two, in a luxury villa with a private pool and terrace, and a clear, unobstructed view of the intensely turquoise lagoon.
Our restaurant Javvu is ready and waiting for breakfast, with a warm welcome and a contemporary feel, and a delightful, varied menu created by Head Chef Brian Porteus.
The resorts offers various activities – a great opportunity to try out something new such as a 9-hole golf course, a first for the Maldives, and walking, cycling, and snorkeling, to better explore the island and lagoon…
After a fabulous Parisian wedding in the sublime and historic setting of Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, the happy couple will fly away to a deliciously private honeymoon at Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives for a unique and memorable experience.
"Will you Maldives me?"
The wedding packages « Opale, Emeraud, Perle and Jade » in Shangri-La Hotel, Paris include:
Stay of 8 days and 7 nights for the bride & groom, a villa with private pool and terrace in Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives and breakfast in Javvu restaurant.
The wedding packages do not include the following elements: the lunches and dinners, the beverages, the personal expenses and activities, the domestic and international flights.
The offer is only applicable for guests having their wedding at Shangri-La Hotel, Paris for a budget starting at a total package cost of 30 000€ including VAT. This offer is not combinable, not exchangeable, not transferable and not refundable and not applicable from December 27th 2014 to January, 3rd 2015. Offer is exclusively for two persons. For more information, please contact our Event department on (33 1) 53 67 19 38 email@example.com.


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Carbon Neutral
Free Shipping
If raw food seems like a good idea,
but you worry that your pet won't take to a raw food diet, read on! The benefits
of a raw food diet can be astounding, and if you make the commitment and persevere,
your pet can greatly benefit from your efforts. Here are some tips to get you started:
Take Your Time – Incorporating raw food into your pet's diet is a big step,
and your pet's digestive system and palate need time to adjust to the change. Plan
to transition your pet over a 2-4 week timeframe, depending on how picky your pet
is and the state of their health. Gradually increase the proportions of new to old
food so your pet's system has time to adjust. If you are concerned about your
pet not getting enough to eat while they are trying raw food, alternate meals,
giving raw in the morning (when appetite is keenest and pets are usually most
open to whatever you offer) and give the usual canned or dry at night.
Skip the Stress!
- Some pet parents unknowingly ruin the "fair trial" experiment with new foods
with their own anxiety. Your pet picks up on your mood and subtle body language
signals when you offer them a new food. If you are feeling anxious or worried,
your pet may think, "Mom sure is worried about this food - now I'm a little
worried myself!" Not every pet will like every food, but remember to act and
talk positively when you are giving your pet a new healthy food. Say "Oooh, what
a lucky one you are! You get some raw food today!" Then retreat from the kitchen
and let your pet try out your offering without your hovering anxiously nearby!
Taste Test First – You don't have to go all out and buy pre-packaged raw
pet food from the get-go! Try giving your pet a small bit of raw meat when you are
preparing meat for family meals - this can give you an idea of how receptive your
pet may be to a raw food diet. Try different meats and see if your pet has a preference.
Often a pet that dislikes raw beef will take to raw turkey or chicken. Many cats
prefer small "game" meats like chicken, duck or rabbit that are most like what
their wild ancestors ate.
Whet Your Pet's Appetite – If your pet is used to free feeding (having dry
food left out all day), start by cutting back to two or three meals per day. This
is healthier for your pet's digestive system, and will increase your pet's appetite
- and usually, their willingness to try whatever you put down at meal time. You
can also try adding a tasty "topper" to encourage your pet to try something new.
We have many excellent
freeze-dried treats and our
Only Natural Pet Freeze-Dried Nibblets that can
be crumbled on top or mixed in with raw food to get them more interested. Also,
canned tripe foods or
freeze-dried tripe treats can help whet your companion's appetite for raw or
any new food. Even just a tasty
natural canned food can do the trick. We especially
Nature's Variety,
Natura (Innova & California Natural) and
Weruva for fresh flavors
that help pets transition to raw foods.
Take Baby Steps – Especially for picky pets, a change to raw food may
best be done gradually. Start out slow, and try mixing a bit of raw meat into your pet's
usual canned food or kibble. Many pets will accept raw food more easily if you warm
it up, or even cook it lightly first by pan searing the outside to release the aroma.
Over time, you can cook it less until your pet accepts it raw. Also, consider
that raw doesn't just have to be meat. Many dogs and some cats eat salad greens
- especially when tossed with a bit of
salmon oil or
canned food "dressing." Try
fresh or steamed veggies and even fruits - we know of one cat that is crazy for
cantaloupe! Keep trying - the
results are worth it!
Raw food can enhance your pet's quality of life and overall health, and help them
live a longer life. It's easy to take our pets for granted, and investing in a raw
food diet is one of the best ways to give back to your pet for all of the love they
give you every day.
For more transitioning tips, see our
Raw Food Articles in our
Holistic Healthcare Library.
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text:
We managed to spend some near and dear time with the recently announced HTC 8X and the HTC 8S. What can we say besides that we love the new look for HTC--bold colors, smooth designs, excellent screens--we see a bright and popular future for the new HTC series.
The HTC 8X features a 4.3" 720p display with a whopping 344ppi and a dual-core 1.5GHz, meanwhile the 8S features a more modest WVGA resolution but in an also outstanding design.
Don't believe us? Watch the video above and decide for yourself.


text:
Community Policy development Policy proposals
Staff Assessment - Anycast Assignments in the AFRINIC region
Analysis and assessment of proposal AFPUB-2012-V4-001-DRAFT-01 (Anycast Assignments in the AFRINIC region) || Date of Assessment: 10-02-2013
How the staff understands the proposal
The proposal allows the issuance of IPv4 space (/24 minimum) explicitly for anycast services.
Staff Comments
- Previous requests for anycast services have been denied, since the requested /24 (or other size) must meet the immediate 50% utilization requirement in the End User policy. Most anycast services need a few IP addresses immediately, not the entire /24, hence would be denied under current policy. This proposal guides AFRINIC appropriately when handling and evaluating these types of requests.
- The proposal would be implemented with minimal impact on internal AFRINIC resources.
Legal Aspects
At the moment we do not foresee any legal aspects and if they are envisaged in due course, our legal counsel will advise.
Discussions are taking place on the policy working group mailing list if you want to subscribe to the mailing send your subscription request to rpd-request [at] afrinic.net with 'Subscribe' as subject line
Mailing list archives can be found at https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/rpd


text:
March 15. 2013 10:19PM
BAE warning systems headed for Mideast
NASHUA - BAE Electronic Systems was awarded a $66 million contract on March 6 for the production of missile warning systems that will be sold to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System is the detection component of a suite of countermeasures used to protect combat, airlift and special operations aircraft from infrared guided missiles.
All the work will be performed in Nashua, with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2015. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received.
BAE worked with ATK, an multi-national aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 21 states, to develop the AN/AAR-47 and AN/AAR-57 missile warning systems for the U.S. military and its allies.
BAE Electronic Systems employs about 9,000 people in approximately 23 locations, including Nashua, Hudson and Merrimack. Roughly 3,500 employees are in New Hampshire.


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Aries Spears got the hint early in life.
Aries Spears got the hint early in life.
"When you're in elementary school," he said, "when you're constantly getting in trouble for making people laugh, that's a sign."
Now, more than 20 years into his career as a professional comedian known for his array of satirical impressions and voices, Spears' signs keep pointing up.
"You know, before it's all said and done, I'd someday like to be added to the Mount Rushmore of comedy."
With whom? "Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle."
Spears, known for his comic characterizations (Mother Love, the Klump Family, El Diablo Negro and Talkin' American) on Fox's "MADtv" series, makes his case Saturday at Stockton's Bob Hope Theatre.
Dewayne "Insane Wayne" Jackson, a Stockton resident who won the 2011 Bay Area Black Comedy Competition, opens Spears' 75-minute, "probably R-rated" stand-up show.
Also a film and TV actor, Spears' trademark impressions are humorous and uniquely diverse: Shaquille O'Neal, Robert DeNiro, Denzel Washington, LL Cool J, Eddie Murphy, Snoop Dogg and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In one bit, he mimics an Al Pacino-DeNiro movie scene (from "Heat," 1995) with Sylvester Stallone and Schwarzenegger, the former action hero and California governor, as the antagonists.
"It's always something I've seemed able to do since I was a young child," Spears, 37, said recently from a tour stop in Baton Rouge, La. "I've had it all the way 'til now. I've been blessed with talent."
His genetic history might have helped. Doris Spears, his mother, is a jazz and blues singer who toured with Lionel Hampton's band in the 1980s.
She didn't name Aries for his astrological sign (he was born April 3): "My mother smoked a lot of weed every now and then," he joked.
At age 8, Spears "probably was imitating stuff I saw on TV. Just things. Human behavior. Just normal stuff. Normal people. I'd imitate people at family events."
His entertainer mom and dad, salesman James Martin, encouraged him.
"Oh, definitely," Spears said. "They were very supportive. A lot of times, my mom would take me to gigs, auditions and stuff like that."
Born in Chicago and raised in New Brunswick, N.J., and New York, Spears began performing in local comedy clubs at 15. He got even more serious after being kicked out of high school at 17 for fighting.
Murphy was his comedic role model: "He was the comic of the era I grew up in. On 'Saturday Night Live.' "
While doing a show at the Peppermint Lounge in East Orange, N.J., Spears was spotted by a fellow comedian who helped Russell Simmons develop "Def Comedy Jam" (1992-97) for HBO.
"It was probably the biggest thing going in terms of urban comedy," said Spears of his youthful role on the show. "It was nerve-racking, but something I looked forward to doing. It's something that felt comfortable to me."
After a "couple of different ideas that didn't go" with Fox, Spears joined the cast of "MADtv," a weekly hour of sketch comedy inspired by the zaniness and irreverence of MAD magazine.
"It could be anything," said Spears, who appeared in 198 episodes between 1997 and 2005. "Just a range of a bunch of different things."
That included Belma Buttons, comedic co-host of "Reality Check," a fictional BET-style show; James Brown Jr.; Emcee Esher, a provocative rapper; and the host of "Real ... Talk with Dollar Bill Montgomery," a satire of HBO's Bill Maher.
Spears, who now lives in Northridge, also has established himself on the L.A. comedy-club circuit. In 2011, he created a Showtime stand-up special ("Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling").
There's one impression he doesn't do, though he remains a major fan of Michael Jordan, the former National Basketball Association superstar.
"Who wasn't?" Spears said of his no-impression devotion. "No. Not at all."
Plus, the non-athletic Spears can't dunk.
Contact reporter Tony Sauro at (209) 546-8267 or email@example.com.


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As Senior Bowl all-star practices kicked off Monday in Mobile, NFL Network's Mike Mayock released his top-five player rankings at each position. Mayock's ranks have not yet made their way onto NFL.com, so after reading this writeup, consider yourself early to the party. We don't like to be late.(* = underclassman.)Quarterbacks1. Andrew Luck*, Stanford2. Robert Griffin III*, Baylor3. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M4-5. Open to competition.Notes: Mayock left open slots four and five and says he's waiting for the next tier to create separation. Per Mayock, the "next" group is comprised of Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State), Brock Osweiler* (Arizona State), Nick Foles (Arizona), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), and Ryan Lindley (San Diego State). In terms of potential to be top-five draft-eligible passers, undersized Kellen Moore (Boise State) and Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) did not warrant mentions from Mayock, although he did praise Moore's football intelligence and compared Wilson to Doug Flutie.Running Backs1. Trent Richardson*, Alabama2. David Wilson*, Virginia Tech3. Lamar Miller*, Miami4. Doug Martin, Boise State5. LaMichael James*, OregonNotes: Mayock's rankings tend to change throughout "draft season," but Richardson won't be challenged for the top spot in this year's tailback class. Wilson and Miller are speed merchants in the Jamaal Charles/Chris Johnson/LeSean McCoy mold. There are mixed opinions about James, who has a reputation for shying from contact. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead could pass James before this week is through.Wide Receivers1. Justin Blackmon*, Oklahoma State2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame3. Kendall Wright, Baylor4. Alshon Jeffery*, South Carolina5. Chris Givens*, Wake ForestNotes: Givens' inclusion was interesting because he has received little fanfare since declaring for the draft on December 31. Givens beat out more high-profile receivers like Dwight Jones (North Carolina) and T.J. Graham (NC State) for first-team All-ACC honors as a junior and is expected to run in the 4.38-4.44 range at February's Scouting Combine. It's worth noting that Givens tallied 96 total yards in Wake Forest's 2011 matchup with Notre Dame. Mayock was in attendance as the Fighting Irish color commentator. Amid concerns about Jeffery's fitness and ability to beat press coverage, Blackmon, Wright, and Floyd seem to have emerged as the draft's consensus top-three receivers. Unfortunately, none of the above is attending the Senior Bowl.Tight Ends1. Dwayne Allen*, Clemson2. Coby Fleener, Stanford3. Orson Charles*, Georgia4. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette5. Michael Egnew, MissouriNotes: Fleener, who has drawn generous comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, declined a Senior Bowl invite for undisclosed reasons. Fleener remains this year's clear-cut top "in-line" tight end with the ability to impact games both as a blocker and receiver. Allen and Charles are "joker" tight ends, as Josh Norris likes to call them, posing matchup problems for defenses by lining up in the slot and stretching the field vertically. Green, who is in Mobile, has added ten pounds in the last year and should run in the 4.6s at the Combine. He is a lanky tight end at 6-foot-6, 237. Another terrific athlete, Egnew ran a 4.6-flat last spring and goes 6-foot-5, 251. Coming from Mizzou's Mike Leach-like spread offense, Egnew has Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman working against him as former Tigers tight ends who could catch but block too poorly for an NFL impact.Offensive Tackles1. Riley Reiff*, Iowa2. Matt Kalil*, USC3. Jonathan Martin*, Stanford4. James Brown, Troy5. Zebrie Sanders, Florida StateNotes: Mayock's ranking of Reiff as this year's top tackle goes against conventional wisdom, as Kalil is widely considered the best pass protector eligible for the 2012 draft. We'll be looking for an explanation in the coming months. Martin protected Andrew Luck's blind side for the Cardinal. Brown is a sleeper from the Sun Belt Conference. Mayock did not include Ohio State's Mike Adams, who by all accounts dominated on the first day of Senior Bowl practice.Interior Offensive Linemen1. David DeCastro*, Stanford2. Peter Konz*, Wisconsin3. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin4. Cordy Glenn, Georgia5. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa StateNotes: Glenn and Osemele are college tackles slated to move inside as pros. DeCastro is often compared to Steve Hutchinson as an NFL-ready guard coming from Stanford's pro-style offense. He is the lone guard tentatively expected to be drafted in the first round this April.
Defensive Ends1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina3. Whitney Mercilus*, Illinois4. Nick Perry*, USC5. (tie) Chandler Jones*, SyracuseAndre Branch, ClemsonNotes: Coples measured in at an impressive 6-foot-6 and 281 pounds during Monday's Senior Bowl weigh-in and was the nation's highest rated senior entering the last college season. His production dipped a bit in 2011, however, and NFL scouts were concerned that Coples played "not to get hurt." Ingram is a freak athlete with rare versatility, capable of playing defensive end, tackle, and perhaps even outside linebacker in a 3-4. Draftniks are divided on Mercilus, who led the NCAA in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (9) before declaring for the draft on January 3.Defensive Tackles1. Devon Still, Penn State2. Jerel Worthy*, Michigan State3. Michael Brockers*, LSU4. Brandon Thompson, Clemson5. (tie) Fletcher Cox*, Mississippi StateDontari Poe*, MemphisNotes: Out for the Senior Bowl with a sprained big toe, Still is considered far and away the top 4-3 tackle eligible for the 2012 draft. At the Combine, Still is expected to measure in at around 6-foot-5, 307. "Scheme versatile," he should appeal to 3-4 teams as well at that size. Brockers, a redshirt sophomore, is a less experienced version of Still. Worthy is more of a 4-3 tackle only at a listed 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. Poe (6'4/350, listed) may be the top true nose tackle in 2012.Linebackers1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama2. Luke Kuechly*, Boston College3. Dont'a Hightower*, Alabama4. Zach Brown, North Carolina5. Vontaze Burfict*, Arizona StateNotes: Mayock uses the term "linebacker" loosely with Upshaw, who played outside 'backer in Nick Saban's 3-4 defense. Upshaw is a power player and may land on the line as a 4-3 end in the pros. Kuechly is this year's top true middle linebacker prospect. Hightower will likely play inside in a 3-4. Brown is a weak-side prospect for 4-3 teams. Burfict has a big name after earning first-team All-American honors as a sophomore. His performance dropped off significantly as a junior, however, and Burfict did not even earn 2011 all-conference honors in the Pac 12.Cornerbacks1. Morris Claiborne*, LSU2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska4. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State5. Dre Kirkpatrick*, AlabamaNotes: Mayock presumably ranked Jenkins based on his 2010 tape at Florida, because buzz among small-school insiders is that he was not dominant in one year at North Alabama. Mayock has compared Johnson to Kansas City's Brandon Flowers for his highly competitive play. Claiborne won the 2011 Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and is a consensus top-five player. Kirkpatrick is ranked relatively low here, perhaps due to his recent marijuana arrest.Safeties1. Mark Barron, Alabama2. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame3. George Iloka, Boise State4. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State5. (tie) Janzen Jackson*, McNeese StateAntonio Allen, South CarolinaNotes: Barron was among the top-rated prospects to decline Senior Bowl invites, but Smith, Iloka, Martin, and Allen are all in Mobile. Per Mayock, some NFL teams have first-round grades on Smith, whom he describes as physical with underrated range. Be wary of most draftniks' "scouting reports" on safeties, because without All-22 film defensive backs that play deep in the secondary are impossible to properly evaluate. Mayock does have the All-22 access.


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Saturday, August 8, 2009
My Current View of the Global Warming Controversy
We skeptics (okay, "planetary traitors" if you prefer) actually hold a wide range of views. I'm tired of being labeled a "denier" of some unspecified received truth. I do not deny, for instance, that there has been some global warming this century. My doubts about the claimed (and possibly real) consensus concern other beliefs. To set the record straight (and to make it a bit harder for people like Treder to misrepresent me), here are my current views, as of early August 2009:
• It's highly probable that there has been some global warming this century—probably about 0.7 degrees C.
• The climate is dynamic and is continually changing. Further, it changes in different ways in different places. For instance, it may be warming in some areas while it cools in others. Local, specific examples are not good evidence for a global trend.
• There has been no warming over the past 12 years—despite continued human-related emissions.
• Over the next century, it's extremely uncertain how much, if any, further GW/AGW to expect.
• Climate models are not proven reliable or accurate. Climate modeling is still an infant science.
• GW is far from the most urgent or important global issue for us to deal with. (See the work of The Copenhagen Consensus. Also see this [yes, it's from a Cato blog, so start up your ad hominems]. Some problems that are more deserving of attention: Hunger, malaria, and unsafe water.
• Enormously expensive actions to reduce/stop GW by severely restricting CO2 emissions are premature. (Global wealth decades in the future will be far higher than with restrictions; mitigation is vastly more efficient, to whatever extent it might be needed.)
• Given the considerable uncertainty (and also taking in account geopolitical and health considerations), it probably makes sense to move strongly toward nuclear power (and more solar, wind, and wave power where feasible) and to encourage or even subsidize research into alternative energy sources.
• The extent to which global warming is anthropogenic is much more uncertain than asserted by the "consensus"/orthodoxy.
• The extent to which a consensus actually exists is not clear, nor is it clear on what exactly the consensus agrees (beyond the fact of some warming over the last century and some contribution by human activities).
I reserve the right to change these views as I continue to study this interrelated set of complex issues.
10 comments:
I think that GW (increased GW) will be a good thing in the end, after a period of adjustment has passed.
A higher temperature and higher humidity seem to go together. AGW could lead us out of this ca. 5000 year old cold period with frozen poles and huge desert towards a future with significantly more arable land available then today.
It would be foolish to fear change just because it's change: Never assume the worst. Never underestimate the chance for the best.
This planet has managed a long, long time without us and it has survived worse then anything we are capable of putting it through. Life will adapt and when possible it will move in the direction "more" and away from "less".
- August 8, 2009 at 5:31 PM
- Stefano Vaj said...
Max's post sounds balanced and plausible, even though I remain personally reluctant to form an opinion on the merits of AGW.
What I should like to point out, as I already did a few times, is that AGW is an issue composed by several different questions, namely:
The issues of course are:
- does GW exists?
- irrespective of whether it is anthropic or not, would gas emission reduction materially affect it?
- irrespective of whether gas emission reduction would materially
affect it, is it really a bad thing (in fact, only a massive
propaganda keeps it unpopular amongst the inhabitants of really cold regions...)?
- if it is, how bad? or rather, how much would we really like to
reduce it? what costs would we be ready to pay for it? if planet
cooling is an unconditional goal, why not reliquishing altogether the
use of fossil fuels in a six-month time, damn any other concern,
welcome back to paleolithic?
Because the measures aimed at fighting GW, even admitting that the latter exist and that they are not futile, have a *cost". A cost which can be measured in reduced or delayed growth, in investments diverted from other targets, in a massive redirection of technoscientific
research, and ultimately, for the utilitarians possibly amongst us, in human lives and human suffering.
And costs which should be compared, at the best of our ability to assess both, with the costs of GW multiplied by the probability factors of other abovementioned hypotheses and parameters, which as high as one may deem them to be are by definition lower than 1.
Taking also into account that besides the crucial issue of
geoengineering as a necessary, albeit repressed and denied, part of the equation, we might well end up calculating that the breaking point in the tradeoff between keeping our planet "terraformed" and modifying our economic and ultimately biological requirements could be found at a level less obvious than expected.
I remain perplexed about AGW, and still assume that its "proponents"
might be perfectly right. But it is disquieting to see how even in
transhumanist ranks all the issues above are dismissed out of hand in
favour of being, no matter what, on the "cool" side (pun intended).
And since I have no expertise nor training to express a meaningful
opinion on the merits, and my claims to competence lay instead in the area of politics, legislative mechanism, mass psychology and cultural
trends, I am mostly concerned with those aspects.
- August 9, 2009 at 11:12 AM
- Mark said...
I agree with much of what Max says. Perhaps this is not surprising given the vague generalities he asserts. I do not intend 'vagueness' as an criticism. Given the complexities of the issue it would be hard to be more precise and plausible in a short blog post. That said, I wonder on what basis Max is able to make consistent these two claims:
"[1] Over the next century, it's extremely uncertain how much, if any, further GW/AGW to expect, but some is quite plausible."
[2] Climate models are not proven reliable or accurate. Climate modeling is still an infant science.
Surely the reason for asserting that it is plausible that some "further GW/AGW" ..."is quite plausible", cannot be on the basis of climate models. For we are told in [2] that climate models are "not proven reliable or accurate". Perhaps the idea is that we have evidence for GW simply by applying Richenbach's straight rule: there has been GW in the last century so barring additional information we ought to expect more. Still, that would not explain the claim that it is plausible that some AGW is plausible. If this is not made on the basis of climate models, then what reason should we accept it?
This problem aside, I suggest some part of the slippage in the debate between skeptics like Max, and myself has to do with issues of 'accuracy'. Any time we speak of 'accuracy' we need to know by what standard and/or for what purpose. Take a road map of the US. If it were drawn to scale we should expect US highways to be 50 miles wide. The map is not accurate to that level of detail, but it may well get you to where you want to go. Climate models are typically doubly qualified. Each provides a range of estimates, e.g., 1 degree to 5 degrees of GW in a century's time, as well as an estimate (e.g., 80%) of how reliable the model itself is. Of course these two measures are intimately intertwined. Typically, the larger the range of estimate, the more confident that we can be that the model is accurate within the range. Perhaps Max agrees that part of the problem is that policy makers and public debate seems incapable of assimilating such nuances.
I'm glad to see that Max thinks it is prudent to switch from fossil fuels, given the uncertainty. I'm not a big fan of nuclear, however. I think companies like nanosolar and esolar have shown that solar is ready for prime time. (See the Scientific American article "A Solar Grand Plan" for the nuts and bolts on how to proceed). I would like to see fossil fuels taxed out of existence. The best way to do this, in my opinion, is to have a progressive tax that because draconian only near the end of this period. This would give the market the appropriate information to retool and spur innovation.
- August 9, 2009 at 2:16 PM
- Max More said...
Very well, Mark, I'm removing the clause: "but some is quite plausible." All I intended was to say that this would be a continuation of multi-decade trends (though not of more recent trends) and so I would not be surprised at warming in the future. I was NOT saying that I have a reliable model of climate change that leads me to expect further warming.
- August 9, 2009 at 3:43 PM
- ethnopunk said...
Yes we are living in a dynamic system in which humans are possibly an unnecessary adjunct to evolution.
I don't like what I see in so much uncritical dialogue on the subject, but be that as it may, the fact remains, the permafrost is melting. Glaciers are receding. If this is not the result of Global Warming caused as a result of human intervention, then what is the cause?
Surely not Solar Flares or an increase in Solar activity? We would have noticed it if that were the case.
The only plausible explanation is that we are heading towards an environment which resembles Venus, and we should rather be doing everything we can to get a second habitat seeded on Mars.
We could just float the ISS over to Mars, and proceed from there! Would take less than a generation, and we could make some progress towards actually building a Second Earth!
- August 10, 2009 at 4:47 AM
- Stefano Vaj said...
Max: Very well, Mark, I'm removing the clause: "but some is quite plausible."
Or perhaps you need not. Correct me if I am wrong, but plausible is simply the opposite of "implausible" and does not imply an especially high degree of probability, as in "War and peace are equally plausible outcomes of this scenario".
- August 10, 2009 at 7:28 AM
- Mark said...
Stefano: First, I agree with many of the comments you have made previously about the issue. Two of which may be summarized as (1) nature does not determine the good and the right, (2) some differences at the level of empirical prediction may not be important at the level of policy. As for your suggestion that Max might find AGW as plausible as its denial, I'm not sure that he can consistently. Recall, that I think Max has good reason to support the idea that there will be GW based on the straight-rule: there has been a rise in global temperature in the last century so it is a good bet that it will continue in the future. My question was about the tepid endorsement of a causal model AGW; Max said he thought was plausible causal mecahanism. My question was whether he can consistently say this in absence of any significant credence in climate models. I'm not sure your suggestion will work in all cases, e.g., either magic gnomes are the cause of global warming or not. Surely these are not equally plausible alternatives. The general problem is this: there are millions of causal explanations for GW, and if we were completely in the dark about how nature works we should assign an equal but small probability to each. Of course we reject most of these because they are implausible given our current science. But this response raises the difficult bit of homework for Max in the philosophy of science: if he is going to go down this road he must say that we should have enough credence in science to eliminate many of the non-standard explanations (gnomes, wrath of God, etc.), yet not so much credence that we accept the consensus of the overwhelming majority of climate scientists that AGW is the correct causal mechanism. In other words, if this is the road Max wants to explore then he needs to tell us where the good science ends and where bad science begins, and it would also help to know why so many scientists fall into the trap of bad science despite training most of their adult lives to avoid it.
- August 10, 2009 at 8:55 AM
- Roko said...
"mitigation is vastly more efficient, to whatever extent it might be needed."
I don't agree with this. I haven't seen a thorough analysis of the risks that mitigation efforts would come with.
It seems clear to me that, all other things being equal, reducing CO2 emissions is better than mitigating against them. But all other things aren't equal: I want to see an analysis that weighs up the risks of mitigation against the lost economic growth from CO2 reduction.
Otherwise, great post.
- August 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM
- Roko said...
I also disliked Treder's article. I have a post up questioning his unjustified attacks on your views here.
- August 10, 2009 at 12:26 PM
- Mitchell said...
Max - may I suggest you look into air-capture technology, i.e. technologies which can capture atmospheric CO2 and lock it away. (And then for extra cognitive dissonance, look into the idea of reconstituting energy-rich hydrocarbons from atmospheric CO2.) It's not going to make the difference in views between you and your opponents go away, but it's a neglected variable in most discussion.
- August 13, 2009 at 6:09 AM


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In 2007, Gettysburg College became a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), joining dozens of other colleges and universities in the attempt of enhanced sustainability.
This pledge, signed by President Janet Morgan Riggs, makes a commitment to becoming carbon neutral in the foreseeable future. By signing this agreement the college promises to create a comprehensive sustainability plan and conduct greenhouse gas emissions inventories for all new buildings, encourage the use of public transportation, purchase EnergyStar appliances, among many more conditions.
Gettysburg College is a charter signatory of the national Presidents Climate Commitment. Member institutions commit to becoming carbon neutral through a series of directives and benchmarked modifications to both infrastructure and curriculum.
Presidents' Climate Commitment
Executive Summary of the Implementation Guide for the Sustainability Committee


text:
Sony develops little'n'large OLED TV panels
HD ready
CES 2007 Sony this week used the Consumer Electronics Show to demo a pair of large-format widescreen OLED panels it's developing for future TVs. The two displays, bevels included, were just 5mm thick.
The first display is a compact, 11in model with a native resolution of 1,024 x 600. It will be pitched at portable televisions, Sony indicated. It uses eight-bit per channel RGB colour and offers a contrast ratio greater than a million-to-one contrast. Its all-white brightness is 200cdm², peaking at more than 600cdm²
The second display is a larger model. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080, the 27in, 16:9 panel will be capable of displaying a 1080 HD image. The bigger screen has the same contrast and brightness as the small model, but it can display colurs defined using ten bits per channel.
Both screens are based on what Sony calls its 'Super Top Emission' technology. STE uses a pitted organic film - the pits are called micro-cavities - to reflect out of the display light that has bounced back off the display's semi-transparent cathode, the negatively charged material used to send electrons through the OLED's organic film, generating light.
The colours themselves are produced by through STE's colour filters, placed above the cathode.
Sony didn't say when its STE OLED technology might make it to market.


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There are 2 games left in the regular season and three teams still alive for 1 playoff spot in the California League's South Division.
The Quakes entered Saturday leading Lake Elsinore by 1 game, but lost 10-7 at Bakersfield.
But that loss wasn't a huge blow as Lake Elsinore lost to the 66ers, 9-1.
Lake Elsinore remains 1 back. And the 66ers are still alive, just 2 games back. If the 66ers win their final 2 and the Quakes lose their final 2, there would be a one-game playoff on Tuesday.
The Quakes and Lake Elsinore could also finish in a tie for a playoff spot. Should that happen, the Quakes would host the game on Tuesday based on the head-to-head regular-season record, won by the Quakes, 17-10.
However, if the Quakes and 66ers finish tied, that game would be in San Bernardino on Tuesday, because the 66ers own an 18-7 head-to-head edge on the Quakes.


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Mendo kids are kids who go to either Mendocino Grammar, middle, or high school. They have very fun loving personalities and are easy to get along with. They're usually found smiling, dancing, singing, painting, etc etc. Mendo kids are like one big family, not 10 different cliques. They love earth and love to have fun. They're usually out going and make great jokes. They're also usually very attractive, but not all of them. They have an incredible sense of fashion and great hair (well most do...) They don't like picking fights, but they love sports, like lacrosse and volleyball and soccer and football. They don't mind Fort Braggers, even if they are usually fags.
Fort Bragg kids are so lame, I think It's time we start hanging out with some Mendo Kids!
by Iknowwhoyourmomis! March 19, 2009


text:
Conservation Lands are America's newest system of conservation and are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. As the crown jewels of all BLM lands, the National Landscape Conservation System plays a critical role in the heritage and economies of the western landscape.
Where are these Conservation Lands? This series of maps illustrates the location of these treasures within the public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
National Landscape Conservation System
These lands offer world-class outdoor recreation opportunities for hikers, paddlers, climbers and hunters in addition to outstanding cultural, ecological and scientific values. When the BLM prioritizes conservation of natural and cultural resources, as was intended by the creation of this system, we can be sure that these benefits are available for generations to come.
Threats and challenges
The Conservation System faces many challenges: it is understaffed, underfunded and vulnerable to shifting political priorities. Its lands and waters are threatened by development, vandalism and neglect as well. Reducing threats to BLM Conservation Lands is a priority for The Wilderness Society.
Management and guidance
How the BLM manages its Conservation Lands can impact how well they are preserved. We're working to make sure the BLM makes the right decisions about these great western landscapes.
Publications and communication
Learn more about the National Landscape Conservation System through our blogs, press releases, reports and publications.
Helpful links
- Bureau of Land Management's National Landscape Conservation System:
Wilderness is a precious resource with many human, natural and economic benefits that we need to protect.
Learn more about issues affecting the places we work to protect with our Notes from the Field.
Hear artists, activists and adventurers share what the ownership and legacy of these American wildlands means to them.


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NHIAA Boys' Lacrosse: Fast start helps Bedford to 31st straight winBy HARRY KOZLOWSKI
Special to the Union Leader
May 08. 2013 11:11PM
BEDFORD - Bedford boys' lacrosse coach Matt Guerard says he likes keeping his Division II team sharp by playing programs from higher divisions. He may need to find something higher than Division I.
Guerard's Bulldogs came out scoring, jumping to a 5-0 lead after just seven minutes Wednesday in a 16-6 defeat of Division I Londonderry.
Guerard said he wanted his players to come out ready to play. "Our intensity had to be up from the start," he said. and they delivered. The Lancers did not get on the scoreboard until the 11-minute mark of the first quarter.
Tyler Sullivan had five goals and an assist, while Taylor Wallace added four goals for Bedford.
Brendan Wall was the top scorer for the Lancers with two goals.
Guerard didn't think the Lancers expected such speed from Bedford.
"I think it shocked them," said Guerard. "I don't think they were ready for our midfield speed or our ball movement."
Londonderry coach Joseph McCune admitted it was a challenge to contain the Bulldog attack.
Bedford controlled the play with a smothering defense, often forcing Lancer turnovers as they tried to break out of their zone. Several turnovers resulted directly to Bedford goals.
Londonderry is the third team from Division I Bedford has defeated this season. The team is now 12-0 and is on a 31-game winning streak from last season.
A team that wins as much as Bedford runs the risk of getting complacent but Guerard demands complete focus from his players.
"I told the guys I wanted 48 good, hard minutes. I think I got 42 so I'm very happy with that" said Guerard.
Guerard aims for his team to make the jump to Division I as soon as next year.
"We hope for next year. We're not exactly sure how the realignment will work out but we want to be in Division I," said Guerard.
The way they've handled themselves against D-1 teams this year, they should fit right in.


text:
Evening and Mothers dresses 5803
- Brand: Alyce Black Label
- Style #: 5803 - Quick Delivery*
- Availability: In Stock
- $460
Trumpet style crepe dress with a beaded caplet bateau neckline and a closed back zipper.
Quick Delivery:
- Midnight: 2, 6
*A style on our web site listed as in-stock can usually be shipped today or next day for immediate delivery or quick delivery. An item listed as �Ships Today� can be sent the same business day as long as the order is placed before the cutoff time.


text:
I've not been able to get the 1.7 (stable or developmnet) build working on the few WinCE devices that I have. Tried on a Dell Axion x30, and 3 different HTC phones.
The last stable release of 1.5 works great on all these devices and a 1.6 daily build I have does as well.
Can anyone test and confirm if they have success with any builds from 1.7?


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Bella Thorne & Tristan Klier: Disneyland with Olivia Holt!
Bella Thorne and boyfriend Tristan Klier roam around Disneyland with their family and friends on Saturday afternoon (November 3) in Anaheim, Calif.
The twosome caught up with Olivia Holt inside the park and headed off to the rides before meeting a few fans.
Bella and Tristan even shared a sweet kiss while on Grizzly River Run at California Adventure.
"Had a perfect day in disneyland with @R5band @olivia_holt @tristanklier89 @dani_thorne, our fams, @ahellerPR , laura, & disney family," Bella tweeted.
Olivia added, "Workin with @bellathorne at disneyland! love her!"
20+ pics inside…
Posted to: Bella Thorne, Olivia Holt, Tristan Klier


text:
LONDON (AP) — A tweet posted by the wife of Britain's parliamentary speaker about a politician wrongly linked to child sex abuse was libelous, the High Court ruled Friday.
A BBC report last year led to widespread Internet chatter that falsely linked politician Alistair McAlpine to decades-old child sex abuse. The broadcaster didn't name McAlpine, but has paid him damages.
Sally Bercow, wife of Speaker John Bercow, said she has settled a libel case brought by McAlpine after the High Court decided that her 2012 tweet naming the politician to her then-56,000 followers was defamatory.
Bercow had previously apologized for the tweet, which read "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? (asterisk)Innocent face(asterisk)." She had denied, however, that the message was defamatory, arguing that it was conversational.
But McAlpine's lawyers had argued that it pointed a "finger of blame" during a media firestorm, and Judge Michael Tugendhat rejected Bercow's stance that the tweet merely posed a question.
Tugendhat said that the words "innocent face" would be understood by any "reasonable reader" as being "insincere and ironical."
Following the judge's ruling, Bercow said she had accepted a previous settlement offer made by McAlpine's lawyers. Bercow didn't disclose the sums involved, but said that it would be an "understatement" to say she was surprised and disappointed by the ruling.
"Today's ruling should be seen as a warning to all social media users," Bercow added. "Things can be held to be seriously defamatory, even when you do not intend them to be defamatory and do not make any express accusation. On this, I have learned my own lesson the hard way."


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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has declared that his side can still qualify for the Champions League this season.
The Merseyside outfit posted two successive 2-2 draws in tough away fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester City over the last week.
And, with the Reds not facing an away fixture against a top 10 side in their remaining 13 games, the 32-year-old believes a late climb is possible.
"We can take a lot of belief from the way we've performed against Arsenal and Manchester City," he told reporters.
|Liverpool are 8/1 to finish between 1st and 4th in the Premier League this season with BetVictor
"City are a good side and to go away to the champions and get a point is a good result, but after the way we played we're disappointed not to get the win.
"We need to build on this and I'm feeling really confident about our ability to move up the table.
"We might not have got the results we wanted against the top sides but every time we have certainly matched them if not bettered them in games.
"No disrespect to the sides we've got coming up but if we keep playing like that then we can certainly put in a challenge for fourth place.
"If we perform like that we will pick up a lot of points between now and the end of the season.
"The team is looking really strong at the moment. Before the transfer window we were lacking a bit up front as Luis Suarez was almost having to do two jobs.
"But now Daniel Sturridge has come in and given us more options going forward. Daniel has done brilliantly for us so far.
"Not many sides go to Manchester City and completely dominant large parts of the game like we did. It's just disappointing that we weren't able to hang on and see the game out."


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Springtime arrives swiftly in the little valley of Mountain Meadows in southwestern Utah. It paints the grassy fields with fresh green and splashes of bright wildflowers.
Surrounded by hills forested with pinyons and junipers, Mountain Meadows is a place whose peacefulness belies the dreadful event that took place there in 1857: a desperate siege and brutal mass murder. This was the site of the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, which took 120 lives and left an indelible black mark on Utah's history.
Named a National Historic Landmark in 2011, Mountain Meadows offers glimpses of tough frontier times and the circumstances that contributed to the massacre. Both battlefield and graveyard, the 2,500-acre site sits just off state Route 18, 32 miles north of St. George, Utah, and about 150 miles from Las Vegas. Now owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the historic site memorializes those who died there.
To reach the site, follow Interstate 15 north 120 miles to St. George. Exit the freeway at Bluff Street. Turn left to reach Route 18, a scenic roadway that parallels the historic Mormon Trail, part of the Old Spanish Trail. The highway runs past spectacular Snow Canyon State Park and the turnoff to lovely Pine Valley.
The well-marked turnoff to the massacre site is on the left side of the highway about 30 miles from St. George. Another turnoff at milepost 31 takes visitors to the Men and Boys Memorial installed in 2011.
The main site includes several historical markers or memorials erected at various times. At the main turnoff, a paved spur road leads to a parking area. Start your stroll into the past on the paved trail from the parking area, pausing to peruse an exhibit explaining a related memorial in Arkansas. The trail takes you to a wooded knoll with an overview of Mountain Meadows.
The ill-fated Fancher-Baker wagon train, which was headed to Southern California, camped below the knoll in September 1857. In lush pastures, the party rested up for a grueling journey across the desert. The train included families from Arkansas and a few from Missouri and Illinois, areas where early Mormons had been treated badly.
Unlike many emigrant trains, the Fancher-Baker group was well-armed and well-equipped with supplies and livestock. It was the last emigrant train traveling that season through Mormon-controlled Deseret, as Utah was then known to its settlers.
Unfortunately for the travelers, their timing was poor. The Utah settlements were on high alert because of news that the federal government was sending an army to take control of the region then governed by the Mormons. Settlers were ordered to stockpile grain and other foods. Mormons established in outlying areas such as Nevada were called back to Utah. The challenges of frontier life coupled with fear for the future produced a state of war hysteria.
Local militia attacked the wagon train and a five-day siege ensued. Running low on ammunition and water, the Fancher-Baker party accepted an offer of safety in exchange for laying down its arms and surrendering its livestock.
Separated from the women and young children, the men and boys from the traveling party were escorted away by the militiamen. The militia then turned on the prisoners and, intending to leave no witnesses to the attack, killed at least 120 men, women and older children. Only 17 of the youngest children survived.
The dead were hastily buried where they fell. Livestock, wagons, supplies and baggage were dispersed locally or auctioned off. The surviving children were given to Mormon families.
Such terrible secrets could not be concealed for long. Federal investigations led to the reburial of the dead and accusations against the guilty. All but one surviving child was returned to the remaining families.
Only one man was brought to full justice: Mormon leader John D. Lee was convicted and executed by firing squad at Mountain Meadows in 1877.
Margo Bartlett Pesek's Trip of the Week column appears on Sundays.


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text:
Copies the values of Slapi_Mod structure into a Slapi_ValueSet structure.
#include "slapi-plugin.h" void slapi_valueset_set_from_smod(Slapi_ValueSet *vs, Slapi_Mod *smod);
This function takes the following parameters:
Pointer to the Slapi_ValueSet structure into which you wish to copy the values.
Pointer to the Slapi_Mod structure from which you wish to copy the values.
This function copies all of the values contained in a Slapi_Mod structure into a Slapi_ValueSet structure.
This function does not verify that the Slapi_ValueSet structure already contains values, so it is your responsibility to verify that there are no values prior to calling this function. If you do not verify this, the allocated memory space will leak. You can free existing values by calling slapi_valueset_done().


text: Desperately looking for some help! My 6 week old daughter has been very fussy while breast feeding and has a rash on her face. She cries so much like she is in a lot of pain. Pulls off the breast and then latches back on. I took her to the doctor on Monday and doc said she had microscopic blood in her stool. She diagnosed her with milk protein allergy and told me to either change my diet or start feeding her soy formula. She said if I wish to continue breast feeding, then I should feed her the soy formula and pump and dump while I clean up my diet and my body rids itself of the milk protein. I tried feeding her the soy formula but she cried even more when I fed her the bottle. I have since also tried similac alimentum and infamil nutramigen but she cries and will only take about an ounce before she wears herself out and falls asleep. I have continued to breast feed her eventhough doc said not to and she now takes the breast much better. She still seems colicky and has not pooped in 2 days now. I think it may be because of the formula I've given her. The rash is still there, the doc said it was baby acne but it is red, and seems to flare up when she gets upset. Any suggestion on what I should do? I really want to continue breast feeding her but I need her to feel better and I'm worried about the rash. Help please.


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Some sick shots were turned in this week under the tag "Pipe" (check the gallery below with some of the highlights). A couple of new bangers in there too from X Games and some recent Dew Tours, good to see.
Next weeks TAG Photo Contest is "PARK" so let's see your best shots from the Park sessions. Post 'em & Tag Them.
This weeks winner is:
"Kelly Clark at Snowpark Pipe"
Photo: Pablo Azocar
Rider: Kelly Clark
Location: Snowpark, New Zealand
– This photo is super sick! Definitely trippy with the checker board shadow cast from the Snowpark Fence. Also great Action of Kelly, big sick stalefish. I like the use of black and white in this shot, it complements the snow, the sky and the rider. Great focus and lighting. Props!
Next weeks TAG Photo Contest is "PARK" so let's see your best shots. Post 'em & Tag Them.
Remember to include a caption with the Rider Name, Location, and Photographer name.
Here's a gallery of some of the other sweet shots entered in this weeks contest, check it. Thanks everyone for taking part.