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For the first time, Audi has participated in the Conference and Workshop on Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) that begun from 5 December 2016 and will go on untill 10 December 2016. The event presents advances in the fields of machine learning and computational neuroscience and is regarded as one of the world's most important specialist conferences for artificial intelligence. Audi is the only automaker represented at NIPS with its own stand and has brought some of their hi-tech toys to the Barcelona event to showcase its expertise.
With the help of a scale model Audi has demonstrated as to how a car develops intelligent parking strategies. The 1:8 scale model car used is dubbed as the 'Audi Q2 deep learning concept'. It can autonomously search for and find a suitable parking space in the form of a metal frame, and then park itself there. All of this can be executed by the little Audi Q2 on an area measuring 3 x 3 meters. Self-learning systems are a key technology for piloted driving cars. That's why Audi has already built up a wealth of know-how in machine learning. The company is the only automaker represented at NIPS with its own stand and a showcase.
The Audi Q2 deep learning concept is a pre-development project of Audi Electronics Venture (AEV). The developers at AEV are planning to transfer the parking space search process to a real car soon.
The tech on the Audi Q2 deep learning concept's consists of:
The concept executes its parking skill in the following process:
Deep reinforcement learning helps the model car in parking. The folks at Audi states that the system essentially learns through trial and error. To begin, the car selects its direction of travel at random. An algorithm autonomously identifies the successful actions, thus continually refining the parking strategy. So in the end, the system is able to solve even difficult problems autonomously.
Audi is working with partners including Mobileye who have an expertise in the field of image recognition. The two companies have teamed up to develop deep-learning-based software for environment perception systems and will use the software for the first time in 2017. Audi will be using the software in the central driver assistance controller (zFAS) in the new generation of the Audi A8. Nvidia was an important partner in the development of the zFAS.

subset: commoncrawl


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You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Blogroll' category.
The stats on ಅಲ್ಲಿದೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ indicated today was the day with the highest number of hits in the last 7+ years! A quick look showed most of the people were searching for the phrase "Kannada Rajyostava" reached my post from 3 years ago. It's then I found that I never posted an audio of the Varna (my composition in Raga Madhuvanti) that I promised to do in that post.
Anyway, let me cut the chaff. A Varna is a musical composition that generally has a romantic theme, and the words go as a conversation between two friends, where in the nAyika is telling about her lover to her friend. Varnas are set to music such that they give a very good overview of the various musical phrases any given raga accommodates. Generally sung at the beginning of a concert in multiple speeds, a Varna is often employed by performers as a quick way of 'getting to the form' when on stage.
The lyrics of a large number of Varnas are in Telugu, but that does not mean there aren't any Varnas with words in other languages such as Kannada, Tamizh or Samskrta. Since this is Kannada Rajyotsava, I am sharing a Varna I composed, with it's sahitya lines in Kannada.
True to the style of Varnas, the lyrics stick to a romantic format. The Varna is in raga Madhuvanti, a northern import to Karnataka sangeeta, and is set to 2 kaLe Adi tALa. The lines are are inspired by a shloka of Bilvamangala in his classic Krishna Karna Karnamrta.
ಗೋಕುಲವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕೊಳಲಿನ ಇನಿದನಿಯಲಿ ತುಂಬಿದನೇ ||
gOkulavellA koLalina inidaniyali tumbidanE
(Translation: He filled Gokula with the melodies his flute)
ಅನುಪಲ್ಲವಿ: ಆಕಳ ಮಂದೆಯ ಕಾಯುತ ಗೋಪಿಯರ ತಾನು ಗೆಲಿದನೇ || ಗೋಕುಲವೆಲ್ಲಾ||
AkaLa mandeya kAyuta gOpiyarellare gelidanE
(Translation: The cowherd, won over the hearts of all gopis)
ಚರಣ: ಮಾತೇ ಮಧುವಂತಿದೆ! ಸಖೀ, ಇವನ || ಮಾತೇ||
mAtE madhuvantide! sakhi ! ivana || mAte||
(Translation: His speech is like honey! Oh my dear!)
The charaNa line was totally my imagination, to include rAga name "madhuvanti" (technically called the ragamudre),
You can listen to a recording of the Varna, played on the flute by Vidwan Vijay Kannan:
For those of you interested in the notation, click the following links:
A-Varna-in-Madhuvanti (Kannada version)
A-Varna-in-Madhuvanti (Notation in English)
ಎಲ್ಲ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೂ ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು!
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here's a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. This blog was viewed about 42,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see it.
In 2010, there were 31 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 159 posts. There were 214 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 73mb. That's about 4 pictures per week.
The busiest day of the year was January 28th with 326 views. The most popular post that day was What's Wrong With Michael Wood's 'The Story of India'?.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were rasikas.org, sampada.net, twitter.com, facebook.com, and kn.wordpress.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for tirupati, tirupati balaji, eclipse, balaji, and tirupati temple.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
What's Wrong With Michael Wood's 'The Story of India'? January 2009
10 comments
ದೀಪವು ನಿನ್ನದೆ, ಗಾಳಿಯು ನಿನ್ನದೆ September 2007
26 comments
Lord Venkateshwara and Udupi Restaurants … February 2009
6 comments
The Great Indian Eclipse? June 2009
2 comments
Govinda Smarane and Blog Hits March 2009
3 comments
Why did I post this? Since there was no typing (well, almost) involved 🙂
Happy new year 2011 to all the visitors to "Allide namma mane"!
We all have some treasures that we cherish and wish to keep them ourselves. But there are some treasures that multiply when we share them with others!
न चोरहार्यम् न च राजहार्यम् न भ्रातृभाज्यम् न च भारकारि ।
व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यम् विद्या धनम् सर्वधनप्रदानम् ॥
na chOra hAryam na cha rAja hAryam na bhAatr bhAjyam nacha bhArakAri
vyayE krtE vardhata Eva nityam vidyA dhanam sarva dhana pradhAnam
Yes; there is one treasure that grows as you spend it. This treasure can not be robbed by thieves, nor could this treasure be taxed by the government. It can't be divided among siblings nor is it a heavy load to carry. Unlike other treasures, this one grows when you spend it! This treasure called the 'knowledge' (Vidya) is the most important treasure that you could ever possess.
The best way to share your knowledge is by choosing a teaching profession. But do not despair if you are not in a position to do that. If it were a couple of decades ago, it would almost be impossible for you to share with others what you know in a meaningful way, unless you happened to be an author, or a teacher of some sort. Not the same case anymore. The Internet age has made it possible for anyone to spread the knowledge they have much more meaningfully, and also made it easier to target that knowledge very specifically to those for whom it is useful.
Sure, it may be possible for you to market your skills outside your current profession to make some money. But everyone does not have the time and resources such a second vocation demands. So what should you do?
Share. As in freely sharing what you know. The possibilities are limit-less, and confined only by how much time you can spare, and your imagination.
Consider becoming a blogger and start writing about things you care or you know well. You will definitely make new friends who share your interests. You can share information useful to your blog visitors, and you will also end up learning quite a bit in the process. Although blogs were initially supposed to be some kind of web diaries, these days you can see lot's of 'how to' blogs that can teach you anything from planting tomato seeds to installing hardwood floors!
Another good way to share your knowledge is becoming a member of a community blog or a specialty forum. I have been participating in different music related forums for quite sometime. This has enabled me to enjoy it better than what I would have done otherwise. I also have the satisfaction of answering question others with similar interests might have.
A bit more involved way which takes a bit of extra effort from you is going the Wikipedia way. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, available in more than 200 languages. You can a contribute articles to Wikipedia on any subject you good at. If you are proficient in more than one language and you don't want to be involved in the reference-citing that Wikipedia requires when you write articles, you can translate existing articles in one language into another, thus opening up a knowledge base to new readers.
So, what are you waiting for? Follow my suggestions, and share your treasures the e-way. I promise you won't be disappointed, and find it very fulfilling.
But if you aren't faint-at-heart like I am, and want to go the extra mile, you should set someone like my fellow blogger Vidya as an example. Dr P P Narayana Swamy and Vidya, after publishing the English translation of Subburama Dikshitar's Sangeetha Sampradaya Pradarshini (SSP) on the web a few years ago, now have published the first volume of SSP in print!
May their tribe increase!
p.s: Parts of this post came from a speech I did at my Toastmasters club a while ago.
Since today is the first full moon of the year, and since it also happens to be the brightest and largest moon of the year, I thought 'Chandra Jyothi' which means 'moon light' makes an apt title for this post.
If you did not notice yet, all full moons are not made equal, and some are bigger than others. And the full moon on January 29,2010 happens to be the biggest, brightest full moon of the year.
But why is today the biggest full moon of the year? We know the Moon's path around the earth is an ellipse. So, the Moon is closer to us at some parts of this path than in other parts. The point where the Moon is closest to the Earth is called the perigee. If a full moon occurs when the Moon is at, or near the perigee in it's monthly travel, then that full moon would be brighter than those when the full moon occurs when the Moon is at other points on its orbit.
To add to this effect, recall Earth moves around the Sun in an elliptical path too. That makes Earth closest to the Sun (and hence the Moon closest to the Sun) in early January every year. So if a full moon closer to perigee occurs around this time of the year, you get an extra bright moon, like today.
Since today is the day with the brightest 'chandra jyOthi' (moon light), it is no surprise I was reminded of couple of compositions of Tyagaraja in the raga Chandra Jyothi as I was writing this post!
Tyagaraja, the innovator he was, tried out a lot of new melodies that did not exist before his time, and Chandrajyothi is also a raga in which he is the first known composer. He has couple of compositions – and incidentally one starting with the words 'Shashi vadana bhakta janaavana' (Shashi is one of the words that mean 'Moon' in Samskrta). His other composition in raga Chandra jyothi , which is probably heard more often in concerts is Bagayenayya. Listen to this composition on flute by V K Raman.
All this discussion about the Moon, almost made me forget that I got the Superior Scribbler award from another 'Moon' – Shashi Kulkarni of 'rasAyana'. Yippee!!
And I am really glad to pass this to five other Superior Scribbler fellow bloggers.
So here goes my list:
Sallaapa: A wonderful weblog in Kannada by Sunaath, mostly about literary works in Kannada
MountainTop: I am a fan of Vidya's posts on music, samskrta and alternate history
Mouna Gaala: Kannada blog by Sushruta Dodderi, who specializes in ಲಲಿತ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ
Subhashita Manjari: Regular posts of Samskrta subhashitas – often I use those posted here for my translations to Kannada!
NadhaSudharasa: A very musical blog by Musical Scientist, and Shreekrishna – who, I must admit, are even more Guruguhaphiles than I am! Not recommended for those un-initiated in Karnataka Sangeetha 😉


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Most Brazilian girls look like half-Middle Eastern and half-Western European, darker than Argentine girls but lighter than girls from other South American countries. Since Brazil is similar to the United States with its large immigrant influence, it's harder to pin down their physical features as easily as the Argentine girl.
If the average girl in a US club ranks a 5, and in an Argentina club she ranks a 7, in Brazil she'd be somewhere between a 6 and 7. This means the average Brazilian girl is bangable, but what separates Brazilian girls from the others is their vibe. If you are a guy and you look at a Brazilian girl, your mind jumps to sexual thoughts much faster than usual. Since it is not because she is more attractive, I think it's a combination of body and body language. Having a larger than average ass helps. Argentine girls are beautiful dolls you want to show off on your arm, but Brazilian girls you want to get to the bedroom. American girls are a mixture, excelling at neither.
Most Brazilian girls in Rio speak English, and it's not hard to see why with an English school on every other block. Your approach will be the same as on American girls, and their initial response will be the same as well (sometimes a little aloof), but what's different in that if the Brazilian girl is feeling your game, things ramp up quickly and within two minutes it will be obvious if things will progress. She will ask you a bunch of questions, ask you to dance, or ask you to come hang out with her friends. You will get the "kiss me" vibe much faster than other girls as well, and the head turn you see in Argentine girls simply doesn't exist here. Brazilian girls can be extremely aggressive if they like you, which means grabbing you or kissing you outright. To me that is novel and fun, but to some Brazilian guys it is annoying.
Argentina is the biggest conformist culture I've seen, more so than the United States. Argentine girls have the exact same hair, shoes, jeans, and even cut-off shirts. And they all smoke. One reason it's so hard to select an Argentine girl out of a group you approached is being they are carbon copies of each other, but Brazil's culture is more individualistic where creativity is rewarded (wait until you see pictures from the Carnival parade). Girls in the same group are very different so it will be rare you are debating between two of them.
Some problems that exist in the United States exist in Brazil as well. If you move up the socioeconomic ladder to the Brazilians who are wealthy and hold Western culture as their idol, their attitude will be just as bad or as worse than the yuppie lawyers you may hit on in DC. But there is less of a problem that a girl who ranks a 7 in Brazil will pretend she is an 8 or higher, as is common in some U.S. cities.
The best thing about Brazilian girls is they play far fewer games. I think it's because they simply don't know how. Many times I'm dealing with a Brazilian girl and think, "Doesn't she know she is making it so obvious she likes me?" They show affection fast and often. On the other hand, American girls are professionals at playing games that slow down the interaction. If you show genuine affection to an American girl you are casually dating, you will be punished in some way. The interaction always has to be breezy so no one is showing "too much" interest, whatever too much is. (A person cannot handle affection if they don't know how to give it.) The Brazilian girl is so unbreezy that you don't have to think about regulating or keeping track of the affecting you give—in fact you won't even be able to keep up with her. The way I view and interact with women would be completely different if I was raised dating Brazilian girls; I would put so much less mental energy into girls this blog probably wouldn't exist.
If you liked this post then I think you'll like Roosh's Brazil Compendium, a 98-page strategy guide designed to help you sleep with Brazilian women in Brazil without paying for it. It contains dozens of moves, lines, tips, and city guides learned after seven months of research in the country, where I dedicated my existence to cracking the code of Brazilian women. Click here to learn more.


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All of us love our jobs and we love our customers, but you know what? Sometimes we don't love our jobs, and sometimes instead of spending the day talking to people who get Surly and love it for what it is, we spend the day talking to folks who WISHED they got Surly and so want us to change Surly so it better suits them. Most people understand that with a name like "Surly" we just might be a little surly every now and then. We get a ton of emails and we read every one of them. We even save some of those so we can go back and reminisce from time to time. I'd like to share some bits and pieces of a few of my favorite emails with you.
These are all cut and paste from the original emails with no corrections. Please enjoy responsibly.
P.S. My mother is in a nursing home. I took great offense at what you find hilarious.
I'd love to know what spurred this on.
If you don't mind some feedback from a potential paying customer, lose the cockroaches.
The cockroaches are gone since our website facelift a couple of years ago, not because of people like this but because we really needed it updated. Anyways, I kind of like cockroaches-They remind me of an apartment I had in Detroit.
I wouldn't be so bothered by it if somehow alcohol werre actually related to bicycling in some way.
What world does this guy live on?
Go back to engineering school, MORONS.
This person didn't like the standover height on our Karate Monkeys.
Do you have any thoughts of doing a single speed cross frame?
Horizontal dropouts are like Italian threaded bottom brackets to some people.
I am becoming very dissapointed in Surly. I have received some strange and annoying responses from them
Now, I don't know what the "strange and annoying responses" were but judging by the complete email I pulled this from I'm thinking they were well deserved.
I was wondering if you had a shaft driven fixed gear.
If I had a nickel every time someone asked me this…
P.S. I do not admire your insinuation that I am in the wrong in this situation, this is clearly an issue of mis-information/non-existant information. My "undies" are not "in a bunch" for no reason.
You crushed the chainstays while you were installing a kick stand on your LHT and that is our fault?
hey, can i get a rockshox on my crosscheck?
Sure, why not.
Do you have any pictures of the black that you use for the Karate Monkey? I saw a lot of black bikes on your website, and despite looking similar, they all have different color names.
The re-naming of the color black from model year to model year on our framesets and bikes finally confused someone.
I'm going to mail you back my new-condition Snake Plisken Wants One sticker so you can shove it up your ass.
I'm still waiting for this sticker to arrive because I never got one.
Its good to have a picture so I know who you are in case we ever cross paths. I'll kick your ass man.
That's exactly why we have our pictures up on the website.
Seriously, man, WTF? Like it would KILL YOU to give it some stinkin fender eyelets for crissakes?
This guy was bent out of shape because his Steamroller didn't have any stinking eyelets for fenders.
Hey guys, just wondering when or if ever we will see a 1x1 29er?
Karate Monkey, check it out.
It seems like the top shaft connected to the fork is too long. Even with all the spacers, the brake cable holder, and handlebars there is still about 1.5 inches of extra shaft.
This is why we want you to have your bike assemItbled by somebody that knows what the hell they're doing.
I've been vegan for over 20 years and have a psychological predisposition against a colour names Beef Gravy Brown
I quit reading after "vegan"
I was wondering if you guys would ever design a bike like the big dummy but specifically designed to be for trail
She didn't like our TT version.
I love my long haul trucker that I flipped in a rut about an hour ago and bent the front wheel all to hell and gone
This one is very special to us all because we ended up hiring this guy a few years later.
I am absolutely desperate for a 1" threaded/threadless carbon road fork with mudguard eyelets if possible
I wonder if they ever found one.
And does the frame of my bike same as the surly frames. They kind of look the same.
Another sizing question. Sometimes this is all we have to work with.
I have last years crosscheck. I was hoping to see if you guys would trade me my last year fork for a crosscheck fork for this year.
Sometimes, when we introduce a new color for one of our bikes, people ask us if we can swap the old color for the new.
Is there a standard for how I should adjust the for/aft position of my seat?
Again, this is why we ask you to work with a bike shop when you're building one of our bikes.
I hope this isn't some dumbass's idea of marketing, trust me your not achieving the desired effect, your just pissing people off
Marketing is stupid. I just said that to piss a few people off.
Thanks for offering substandard crap to the world. Makes me proud to be an American.
When you live near a rainforest on the coast it's never a good idea to leave your bike chained up to the fence year round and never maintain it. Steel has been known to rust.
I was taken aback today when I saw the f*bomb on your front page. Please, please...do not use foul language on your site.
Not a Fuckin chance.
I think you've damaged your reputation by posting the deer hunter pic on Facebook.
Some people don't want to know what their food looked like before it was turned into food.
How disappointing it is to see this kind of attitude in today's modern society
The name is Surly Bikes.
Necromancy - the practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to predict the future. Necromancer - a person who practices necromancy. Thought you might want to know. Seems like a strange name for a bicycle.
You don't say? Maybe we should have Googled that or something.
I'm a experienced professional Bike Mechanic Old guy, and son of a machinist who made weapons of war.
This guy was pointing out that he could design bikes better suited for the modern day battlefield or something.
This entire email was written in caps, it wasn't short and it was good and crazy.
You confuse potential buyers and then let them know you are a bunch of assholes simply by the stupid shit you write in your FAQ.
A perfect example of someone that just doesn't get it.
after seeing how much you charge for accesories i think you all should choke on your own puke and die YOU SUCK!
I think our accessories are priced pretty fairly but I think this guy would disagree.
I expect to see some great emails the next few days so don't let me down.
Keep the rubber side down.


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Obama cautious as violent protests sweep Tehran
TEHRAN, Iran — Violence flared across Iran on Monday with the first reported death from anti-government riots, as hundreds of thousands of defiant Tehranis took to the streets demanding "Where is my vote?" after Friday's disputed presidential election.
The unrest, possibly Iran's worst political crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution, confounded predictions that the regime would be able to contain the fallout from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's unexpected claim of a landslide victory.
President Barack Obama spoke cautiously in his first comments about the election, in an apparent attempt to preserve his initiative for direct diplomacy with Iran on a range of issues, including its nuclear program.
He said he was "deeply troubled" by the violence against the protesters, but that it was "up to Iran to determine its own leaders," and as "odious as I consider some of President Ahmadinejad's statements," he was determined to continue pursuing "tough, direct dialogue."
European leaders were tougher. German Chancellor Angela Merkel decried what she called "signs of irregularities," and French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned "violence against demonstrators, arrests of opponents and of politicians, restrictions of public freedoms, freedom of speech and of communication, and obstacles to the work of foreign and Iranian journalists."
Unknown gunmen killed one person and wounded others in Azadi, or Freedom, Square, the Associated Press reported, citing a photographer who witnessed the shooting. Photos posted on the Internet showed that at least four people had been shot, and there were reports that clashes were spreading across Tehran and raging in other cities, including Isfahan.
Dramatic video aired by Britain's Channel 4 television showed a crowd throwing rocks and setting fire to a building that belonged to the pro-government Basij militia. A helmeted militiaman on the roof fired his AK-47 rifle into the air before retreating from a shower of stones.
Iranians who were feeding the Twitter online social-networking service reported clashes between Mousavi supporters and security forces and the Basij militia in Shiraz, Mashad, Babool and Tabriz.
As flames licked from the building's windows, the militiaman returned to the front of the roof and fired multiple shots into the screaming crowd. The video showed at least one young man, reportedly dead, being carried from the scene.
The bulk of the protests — held despite warnings by the Interior Ministry — were peaceful, with anti-Ahmadinejad crowds honking car horns, flashing victory signs and shouting "Allahu Akbar!" — "God is great" — from rooftops well after dark.
In a bid to defuse the growing pressure from backers of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced that the powerful Guardian Council will investigate Mousavi's complaints of vote-rigging.
However, Khamenei's assurances seemed unlikely to produce a reversal of the election's reported lopsided outcome in favor of the hard-line Ahmadinejad. Mousavi said he was "not very optimistic" about the council's judgment. "Many of its members during the election were not impartial and supported the government candidate," he said on his Web site.
The size and persistence of the protests appear to have caught the regime off-guard, and it's vacillated between using force to put them down and trying to appease the mostly young protesters.
Special anti-riot forces and motorcycle-riding Basiji militiamen have beaten and chased Mousavi supporters through the streets. At times, however, the protesters have fought back.
Earlier on Monday, the Interior Ministry warned that the mass rally was illegal and would be dealt with severely.
Thousands of Tehranis streamed down wide boulevards on foot and motorbike into Enghelab (Revolution) Square anyway, however, as riot police in helmets and shields stood immobile on the square's rim. Fashionably dressed women wore sandwich board-like signs that read, "Where is my vote?"
Mousavi, in his first public appearance since Friday's vote, addressed the crowd from the edge of the square.
It was later in the evening that the deaths were reported.
Iran hasn't seen such violence since student riots a decade ago during the tenure of former President Mohammed Khatami.
The crisis appears to have sent Iran, an oil-rich nation of 70 million people with nuclear ambitions, into uncharted waters, said Suzanne Maloney, a specialist at the Washington-based Brookings Institution.
"This . . . to my mind represents the most serious threat to the Islamic Republic's stability since 1979," Maloney said. While there have been many past "moments of turbulence," she said, the outrage over an election thought to have been stolen goes beyond students or any other single group.
Additionally, she said, "this time around there is a political leader who at least so far has been unwilling to back down even at the explicit instruction of the supreme leader. Mousavi's mild-mannered defiance is perhaps the most important factor in potentially moving this situation to a dramatic break from the past."
The students and others are demanding that Mousavi be given the presidency — which they say is rightfully his — but they've stopped short of calling for overthrowing the theocratic regime. The presidency is at best the No. 2 position in Iran, under Supreme Leader Khamenei.
The crisis appears to be playing out on two levels, one on the streets and the other in intense consultations among members of Iran's political elite.
Mousavi, who met Sunday with Khamenei, had demanded a review by the Guardian Council, whose 12 members vet election candidates and certify the results. Mousavi also has reached out for support to clerics in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom. Not all the clerics support the conservative Ahmadinejad.
Khamenei urged Mousavi to pursue his complaints "legally and calmly," but it's unclear whether the crowds will do as he asks. Mousavi's wife, Zahra Rhanavard, told a crowd at Tehran University on Sunday night that the Monday rally had been canceled, and Mousavi himself tried to get that message out Monday morning.
"Mr. Mousavi does not want any violence," Saeed Laylaz, a top adviser involved in campaign strategy sessions, told McClatchy by telephone.
The Interior Ministry said that Ahmadinejad had received 24.6 million votes, compared with 13.3 million for Mousavi and fewer than a million each for the two other candidates.
The province-by-province breakdown of votes was highly suspect, however, Ahmadinejad opponents said. For example, it showed the hard-line incumbent winning East Azerbaijan province, home to Mousavi and millions of his fellow ethnic Azeris.
(Jonathan S. Landay contributed to this article from Washington.)
Iran limits Facebook, texting as it cracks down on protests
Police in Iran beat protesters after huge Ahmadinejad win
Iran election result makes Obama's outreach efforts harder
Pakistan Taliban leader faces threat from fellow tribesman
Follow national-security news at McClatchy's Nukes & Spooks


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In 2009, swimming's governing body banned the full-body "supersuits" worn by many athletes at the 2008 Olympics. more...
November 14 , 1972 : The Dow Jones closed higher than 1,000 for the first time in history. more...
Learn something new every day
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Coleonema is the name given to a variety of evergreen shrubs native to South Africa. There are eight species under the Coleonema genus. Filmy in appearance and frail in structure, these flowering plants often tend to have slender branches and slim leaves. Their leaves are known to let off a scented aroma when brushed or bruised. This genus produces signature tiny white flowers that are borne liberally from spring to winter.
Coleonema album is a compact shrub that produces small, dainty flowers. It grows erectly and is finely branched, developing new shoots at the tips of aged branches. Its bark is grayish in color, often rough and with horizontal leaf scars. The flowers bloom in a great plethora and are often used for decorative purposes. When the flowers are in full bloom, this shrub looks like a bush of white cloud.
Coleonema aspalathoides forms a dense shrub that grows in an erect position, starting from around 1.5 feet (0.5 m) to 3 feet (1 m) in height. It has needle-like, aromatic green leaves that are more subtly scented than other species in the same family. Flowers from this shrubbery are bright pink in color and grow in great abundance. Seeds are expelled out of the plant when they ripen, which is a phenomenon known as ballistic dispersal.
Coleonema calycinum is one of the fastest growing species of the family. This shrub stands from a single stem at ground level, and the branches are numerous. It can grow to a height of around 6.5 feet (2 m) and is the tallest in its family. The plants are more commonly known as the broom buchu, as their branches are used to make brooms. This plant also produces a scent similar to that of rum.
Coleonema pulchellum grows into an erect, dense shrub at the maximum height of 3 feet (1 m). It forms a single base stem with many long, slender branches. Its leaves are needle-like and broad and can grow as long as 0.3 inches (1 cm). Star-shaped blooms are formed and crowded toward the top of the branches.
The Coleonema genus is more likely to be found in warm areas. It does not grow well in places with excessive humidity, as it can be affected with fungal problems. This variety of shrubbery is often used in flower arrangements and decorations. It is also called a confetti bush and breath of heaven.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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'We can bring a picnic,' I exclaimed, as if it were an original, breathtaking idea to bring food on a hike. The prospect of eating a meal in the glories of a mountain wilderness, you see, tends to fill me with inordinate glee. 'Oh, oh, yes,' I continued, squirming with excitement, 'we must bring a flask of whiskey.' My boyfriend (a.k.a. The Texan) looked mildly alarmed. 'Lets go buy some now,' I suggested. The Texan's expression deepened and tinged with doubt as I grabbed his arm and began maneuvering towards the liquor store across the street. It was the look of a man quietly reassessing the sagacity of his love.
I should point out that I am not an alcoholic. There is a big difference, as I explained to The Texan, between slurping whiskey and gingers in front of the TV and enjoying a warming nip from your flask on the summit of a mountain. The latter might take place at midday, but it does not count as daytime drinking in the pejorative sense. Also, unlike a brawny glass of Old Crow and Schweppes, a hip flask is elegant, rather romantic, and decidedly appropriate for a chilly autumn hike. Furthermore, a little liquor might be useful on a mountain; might even be thought of as a precautionary measure. What if we got lost or injured? I demanded, making my case as we left the store with a bottle of bourbon. It would get dark and freezing; then you'd really appreciate a tipple.
Hip flasks (again, unlike Old Crow and Schweppes) have a long and notable history. They first appeared in the 18th century and were common among the rich, who could afford the expensive silver and ornate engravings. It was said that silver did not spoil the flavor of the spirits it held, unlike other cheaper metals. Even so, flasks grew in popularity and were soon fashioned from more affordable pewter. In the United States, these sleek, hip-hugging containers became popular during prohibition, when all aids to covert boozing were in high demand. And they stayed in fashion during WWII when they proved convenient for soldiers in the field.
I find much to admire in hip flasks. Delicate or tough, ornate or functional, they are interesting and often beautiful. My brother has one that belonged to our grandfather. It is small and sturdy, a burnished silvery-gold metal displays his initials and a band of leather encircles its width. It is a weighty flask. I also like the air of determined independence—rebellion almost—that a flask exudes. Not only the shape itself, which was designed to be carried easily and fit sleigh against the body, but the dark interior too is a mystery. No one but the flask's wearer knows what's inside. It is made to conceal.
* * *
The day looked promising as we left the Mount Pilchuck trailhead and began climbing through heavy woods, a soft sun filtering through the branches. But as we clambered above the tree line a dense mist descended and obscured the surrounding expanse of mountains, a breath-taking view on a clear day. It was a short sharp hike, three miles and about 2,500 feet, and we were tired and hungry by the time we summited the peak. Settling on a cold patch of rock we ate sandwiches, teeth chattering and enveloped in a thick, damp fog. Any meal after a climb is satisfying, but this was not the most idyllic picnic. And although I am not sure The Texan was convinced—taking the proffered flask with a slight shake of the head but drinking anyway—I for one was glad of a warming swig of Bulleit Bourbon. A little fire and then honey; a little kindling for my feet on the trail home.


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Vesicular Stomatitis Virus is a Malleable Oncolytic Vector for the Treatment of Various Malignancies
Publication Date
Open access
Embargo Period
Degree Type
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Microbiology and Immunology (Medicine)
Date of Defense
First Committee Member
Glen N. Barber
Second Committee Member
XiangXi Xu
Third Committee Member
Samita Andreansky
Fourth Committee Member
Enrique A. Mesri
Fifth Committee Member
Jaime Merchan
Sixth Committee Member
Balveen Kaur
Oncolytic virotherapy is an exciting field that is currently generating a significant amount of interest. Several viruses have recently been approved for clinical use and there are many more in clinical trials awaiting approval. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) has performed remarkably well in many preclinical studies and several strains have entered clinical trials across the world. VSV is a negative strand ssRNA virus in the Rhabdoviridae family and mainly infects livestock which produce sores on the mucus membranes. VSV infection in humans is extremely rare and most often asymptomatic due to its inability to overcome the innate and adaptive immune response of healthy individuals. However, upon infection of many types of cancerous cells VSV displays rapid growth kinetics and significant oncolytic potential due to defects in innate immune and translational control pathways commonly seen in cancer cells. VSV is of significant research interest partly due to its simple genome that is highly malleable. The entire 11kb genome has been cloned into a cDNA plasmid and the insertion and deletion of different genes allows for a highly customizable virus that researchers can take advantage. One such modification in our lab is the replacement of the VSV glycoprotein with a fusion protein created using domains of HIV-1 gp160 and VSV-G. The fusion protein dubbed gp160G was properly incorporated into VSV virions and successfully altered the tropism of the virus. VSV-gp160G was selective for CD4+ cells and induced significant amounts of syncytia and apoptosis during infection of Hela CD4+ and adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells. When used as a therapeutic in an ATL mouse model, VSV-gp160G improved survival time of tumor bearing mice and significantly reduced the onset of metastasis. The success of VSV-gp160G as a targeted therapy in ATL mouse models warrants further study as the virus could be an important therapeutic option to treat ATL in the clinic.
VSV; cancer; oncolytic virotherapy; ATL
Recommended Citation
Betancourt, Dillon M., "Vesicular Stomatitis Virus is a Malleable Oncolytic Vector for the Treatment of Various Malignancies" (2017). Open Access Dissertations. 1873.


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|WizFiTM - The Easiset Way to Connect Devices to the Internet, Wirelessly
|Launching WLAN AP Module, WizFi630
WIZnet is releasing the WizFi630, a high-performance 802.11b/g/n embedde Wi-Fi module. WizFi630 enables an embdded device with RS-232 serial interace to connect to TCP/IP network through Wi-Fi. As it has an switch inside for IP-Router function, WizFi630 operates as a Serial to Wi-Fi gateway and access point simultanesouly.
|WizFi630 Application References


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Good news for farmers! Public support for British farming has increased for the 5th year in a row.
Our survey for the NFU found that two-thirds of the respondents say they actively support farming. 92% of the 2,000 adults in England and Wales think that farming is important to the economy, with 91% agreeing that a productive farming industry is important.
In fact, 77% think farmers have a fairly to very beneficial effect on the environment, which is the highest figure since this question was first asked in 2013. There was also a positive increase in the number of people who think farmers should continue to receive support payments; rising from 57% to 68% since 2012.
The survey was featured by a range of farming sector sites including Farmers Weekly, Farmers Guardian, Meat Info and The Poultry Site, as well as regional news sites such as the Yorkshire Post and the Daily Post.


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POLICE have closed Boyer Rd at the Bridgewater end following a fatal crash involving two vehicles shortly before noon. The road will be closed until further notice and police urge all motorists to drive safely in today's wintry conditions.
The Mercury has more.
Check here for weather-related road closures today.


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Kingston University admissions tutors are urging students to make sure they are well prepared to finalise plans for heading to university. With A-level results out shortly, the university's student recruitment manager Anthony Allen said there was still time to consider applying for a degree.
Students with offers that depended on their A-level grades needed to know what to do as soon as results came out on August 14, he added. "On A-level results day, official lists of course vacancies will be published," Mr Allen said. "This is the chance for people without places to find the course that is right for them. "Openings will disappear quickly though, so students have to be prepared to pick up the telephone and act fast."
Listings are carried in the Independent, the Daily Mirror and on the University and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) website. Kingston University is also publishing a list of its own vacancies online at www.kingston.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/clearing/.
Students who have applied to go to university but have been unsuccessful in getting a place will automatically be sent a Clearing entry form. Mr Allen advises, however, that they should not to wait for it to arrive in the post. "The best thing for them to do is get straight on the telephone to universities running the courses they like armed with their A-level and GSCE results," he said. "If they have the right entry points, they will speak to an admissions tutor who'll decide whether to offer them a place."
Students who have just missed out on the place originally offered to them should not despair either. "Some universities may able to still offer students a spot on the course they hoped to take and most will be able to suggest other options that are very similar," Mr Allen said.
Kingston University is staging a special weekend drop-in service for students still not quite sure about their course options. Friendly, fully-trained staff will be available to talk students through the challenges of going to university and settling on the right subject. Based in the main hall at the University's Penrhyn Road campus, the drop-in centre will be open between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August.
General enquiries:
Journalists only:
General enquiries:
Journalists only:


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1492 Pictures is teaming with CJ Entertainment & Media to acquire remake rights to Andre Ovredal's Norwegian film "Troll Hunter" reports Deadline.
The pseudo-doco film follows a group of students whose investigation into a series of mysterious bear killings leads to something sinister. They wind up following and documenting a mystery man who turns out to be a troll hunter.
Marc Haimes is set to write the script while Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, John M. Jacobsen, Sveinung Golimo and Mark Radcliffe will produce. Magnolia opens the original today in the United States and on V.O.D.


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The new Samsung Galaxy S 4 is here. The phone is fast, giant, thin, pixel heavy, and looks just like the Galaxy S III… which is like the iPhone… SO naturally we are kicking back waiting for a lawsuit.
The new juggernaut is going to launch with the latest version of Android 4.2 before really any other device. It is also loaded with tons of neat features like eye tracking, handwaving gestures, a 13 Megapixel camera on the back, a 1080p display, and panther blood.
As a smartphone addict that has tried all the other Galaxies from Samsung, I guess I am left feeling like Apple fans did when they came out with the iPhone 5. Yea it is a power beast, with a bigger and better screen… but it isn't completely revolutionary from the previous version. From the front, who is going to know that I shelled out some guap for this puppy?
That being said, I still want one because the front screen is giant and dense with pixels, and the camera is great for when I don't have my new trusty D600 with me.
I leave you with a load of videos from across the internet previewing this behemoth.


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MOUNT LAUREL, New Jersey — The state-to-state march to legalize gay marriage across the left-leaning northeastern United States has lost more momentum since a major setback three weeks ago at the ballot box in Maine.
Since then, legislatures in New York and New Jersey have failed to schedule long-expected votes on bills to recognize the unions in those states.
"If they are unable to pass gay marriage in New York and New Jersey, combined with the loss in Maine, it will confirm that gay marriage is not the inevitable wave of the future," said Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which mobilizes social conservatives to fight against same-sex unions.
Gay rights activists insist that's not the case and say hope is still alive.
"In any civil rights struggle there are going to be periods of creeping and periods of leaping," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry.
This decade has had some of both across the U.S. The most significant was the leap the issue made from abstraction to reality in 2003 when the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that gay couples had the right to get married.
The fallout was widespread: Thirty states have amended their constitutions to specify that marriage can only be between a man and a woman; all but three of those amendments were adopted since the Massachusetts ruling.
But in America's liberal Northeast, progress has been much smoother for gay rights advocates.
The Connecticut Supreme Court recognized same-sex marriages last year.
Lawmakers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine all adopted gay marriage bills this year.
The only state outside the Northeast that recognizes same-sex marriage is Iowa, where the state Supreme Court mandated it earlier this year.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
But last month, voters in Maine — the only northeastern state where the issue has been put on a ballot — overturned a gay-marriage law before it could take effect.
New York and New Jersey appeared to be the next logical battlegrounds.
New York is seen as relatively gay-friendly. Court rulings, including one from the state's highest court just last week, have found that gay couples married outside New York are entitled to some government benefits.
New Jersey offers the legal rights afforded to married couples but calls them civil unions, not marriages. Recent public opinion polls have shown narrow support for allowing gay marriage in the state. However, a new poll out Wednesday from Quinnipiac University finds voters oppose gay marriage by a 49 to 46 margin, with a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Both states have Democratic governors eager to sign bills legalizing gay marriage.
But now it's not clear if bills will ever get to their desks. There could be national implications if they don't.
Video: Is politics unfair? "If this goes down in both states, it will be seen by both sides as building on the momentum that opponents sort of got coming out of Maine," said David Masci, a senior researcher at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
There's a sense of urgency in New Jersey. This month, voters elected Republican Chris Christie over incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. Corzine has said he'll sign a gay marriage bill. Christie promised a veto.
As a result, activists are pushing hard to get a bill passed before Christie takes office on Jan. 19.
But since the election, key Democrats have said they don't intend to put the bill up for a vote unless they know it will pass. And so far, they say, that's not assured. On Monday, when lawmakers met for the first time since the election, the issue was in legislative limbo — not scheduled but not declared dead either.
Len Deo, president of the conservative New Jersey Family Policy Council, said he believes some lawmakers who were undecided before the election would now vote against a gay marriage bill.
"Observing what happened in the general election, I think that took the wind out of the sails of the same-sex marriage movement," he said.
Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, the state's main gay rights organization, acknowledges his side has lost some support in Trenton, the state capital.
"Was marriage equality in the bag before the election? Nothing in politics is ever in the bag, but we were looking pretty damn excellent," Goldstein said.
Despite the uncertainty, Goldstein says he still expects a vote this year. "Now, we're looking pretty damn good," he said.
The situation in New York is similar to New Jersey's, with no clear sign of whether there will be a vote in the state Senate. The state Assembly has already adopted a marriage bill.
Some conservatives say the special election this fall in New York's rural 23rd Congressional District may have sent a signal to politicians. A conservative third-party candidate who opposes same-sex marriage forced the more moderate Republican — who supported same-sex marriage — to suspend her campaign. Democrat Bill Owens ultimately won the race.
Dan Poust, of the New York State Catholic Conference, said that pokes a hole in the notion that gay marriage was certainly headed for passage there this year. "Clearly that was premature, because the people are not there," he said.
New York Sen. Thomas Duane, an openly gay lawmaker sponsoring the same-sex marriage bill, said Tuesday he still expects the state Senate to vote on and pass a bill by the end of the year.
Social conservatives have long told politicians they could lose their seats if they support gay marriage. But Kenneth Sherrill, a political scientist at Hunter College in New York, said politics has grown more complicated as same-sex marriage has become a major issue.
"It's not as if politicians only have to fear an enraged group of people opposed to gay rights," he said. "Politicians also have to be concerned about angry supporters of gay rights."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Very clearly marked menu, I never had to remind our server to make anything GF once it was mentioned once he had it. Only thing to be mindful of for celiac is if anyone you're eating with doesn't have all GF meats have them cook those last. Otherwise this was a simple and very enjoyable experience!
Great place to celebrate our Anniversary. Everything we had was gluten free and this location in Virginia Beach had gluten free bread too !
Worked with Gluten Intolerance Group on their gluten-free menu. Special training is required for staff.
Since having celiac this is my favorite gluten free restaurant to frequent, very knowledgeable staff regarding gluten free options and the seriousness regarding such in people with celiac disease
So many certified gluten free options. Seafood, steak, chicken, duck, etc. Never a bad experience and have been here around seven visits or so with no issues.
Fun experience. They have gluten free bread and are very knowledgeable. Can have almost everything except for teriyaki chicken/steak and one sauce. Everything is clearly marked on the menu.
We went to the Melting Pot for dinner, and after discussing celiac with the waiter AND verifying they have GF bread for the cheese course and requesting it, he brought out not GF bread. After we had eaten it all, he came rushing to us in a panic to tell us I've didn't serve is the GF bread. They have many GF menu options, but please triple and quadruple check before eating anything!
My wife and I have eaten here for years and always enjoy it. She was diagnosed with Celiac a few weeks ago. We were happy to see that they are certified gluten free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. The server was careful to keep my gluten items separate from my wife's and quickly replaced my gluten items with gluten free ones when I pointed out that it wouldn't be safe for me to dip them in the fondue.
Fantastic! They have gluten free bread, cakes, brownies, and the selection of all the foods is so extensive! Definitely reccomend.
I had an amazing dinner and time. I did the 4-course menu. I did make reservations with gluten free in the comments. Everyone was wonderful. Addy our server was VERY knowledgeable. She did explain that it may take a little extra time because she had to make sure we had a bread board that was ran through the dishwasher for no possible cross contamination. She also identified everything I could eat.
Thank god for Melting Pot. The staff is extremely knowledgeable. Our whole meal was ordered as GF but they still stated out loud "gluten free bread, gluten free brownie, etc." as they set the food down. They went over the list of sauces to me and specified which were not GF and what they could substitute with. I appreciated the extra care and concern!
We love going to the melting pot! Very knowledgeable about GF and have tons of options!
Great food, did not get sick afterward. They were very accommodating. I did have to remind the waiter to bring out gf dessert. Very yummy!
Most of the menu labels GF!! Staff very knowledgeable about what is safe to have !
The Melting Pot used to be one of my favorite places in town. However come of the service has gone drastically downhill in the last few years. The last trip Hi took here was about 3 weeks ago. My boyfriend called the day before to make a reservation and told the person taking the reservation that I have a gluten allergy. When we arrived, no one had any record of that. At the table, we told them again that I had a gluten allergy. They brought us food that was supposed to be gluten free. However, there was definitely cross contamination because I spent the last hour of our meal in the bathroom and the next day in excruciating pain.
Everything on the menu is labeled whether it is gluten free or not. Most cheeses are gluten free, just the dippers are not. My server was super nice and would always double check to make sure something was GF and I got my own pot of fondue and separate tray of dippers with GF bread and veggies so theres no cross contamination. For dessert there is wonderful dippers like GF brownies which were so good. Highly recommend if you have celiac!!
For my sons 9th birthday I decided to bring him here, I'm so glad I did he loved it and there Knowledge of gluten free was wonderful.
Great place to go.. very knowledgeable about celiac... best meal... and Alaina was the best waitress!!!! We made reservations for another night while we were there !!!!
Great selection of gluten free options
The staff was TERRIBLE. We went over needing gluten free and our options before we ordered. He showed up with gluten bread and gluten beer for the cheese. And said "I forgot". The awful service made me highly doubt the gluten free options. He had no idea what he was talking about.
Always a great safe spot in old town. Waitress knew all about celiac and cross contamination.
Our waitress and the kitchen staff went above and beyond to make sure my daughter was safe. Lots of GF options including bread, brownies, and cake.
Update- had dinner on 8/26/19. They were awesome. My husband and I had a great time. He's not GF but everything we ordered was. The dippers were great from the cheese coarse to the chocolate. They explained everything and made sure we knew what was and wasn't GF. Update- Had dinner there 1/3/19. They were fantastic. They have gf down and are extremely knowledgeable. I had a great meal. I had dinner there two days ago 6/19/18. It was amazing. I dined with non-celiac friends so needless to say I was concerned about cross contamination. It was great! We had cheese and chocolate, which were both gluten free. Instead of having the whole table deal with the gluten free dippers ( bread), I opted to get separate bowls to put my cheese and chocolate selections in although there was no way to keep it hot. I took my portion first. They brought out separate dippers for me on a glass tray, not the wooden one. The waiter told me about each ingredient as he put everything together. They used Udis multigrain rolls which worked well with the cheese along with apples and veggies. I also got GF brownies, snickerdoodles, and marshmallows to go with my fruit for the chocolate. Definitely would recommend. They are also approved by the GIG. https://www.gluten.org/branchnews/gluten-intolerance-group-awards-melting-pot-restaurants-inc-gffs-certification/
Staff was very careful with providing gluten free options. My boyfriend is very very careful when it comes to breads, etc even when they are labeled gluten free but he ate the gf bread/cupcake/brownies here and had no issues.
Went with my family and I am the only one with a gluten Sensitivity. My mom let them know ahead of time and I had a separate plate for everything. My waiter, Alex, was amazing on his own but he was great to explain the differences and my options. It was a great experience!
Great staff but honestly it's just not safe. There were left over bread crumbs on the bowl, it was dirty inside the bowl from other meals....... great people truly but just not safe They know the talk but they can't walk the walk
I wish zero stars was an option. This was one of the most disgusting dining experiences of my life. The food( that was very expensive by the way) was old and dried out and had obviously been shipped in and not prepared fresh. I'm terrified to know how old the stale bread was. We took two bites canceled the rest of our order and left. I did not get sick at least, but don't waste your money at this place.
Our waitress was very knowledgeable on what was gluten free. There were gluten free options for every course! Delicious and felt fine afterwards. Would go again!
As someone who worked at this Melting Pot, I can say for certain that they NOT Celiac friendly. Servers would cut bread directly next to the salad dressing, dipped bread into sauce containers, and overall had no concern for guests' allergy restrictions. Not all locations are like this, but the one in Montgomery/Cincinnati should absolutely be AVOIDED.
My experience at this location was much more positive than what was described in the older comments. I had called ahead to make a reservation for two adults for a two-course meal with a note about my need to eat gluten-free, as recommended on the website. The service was just okay (the waiter was a bit odd), but at least the wait staff was knowledgeable about what was safe for me to eat. This is just a personal preference, but I wish I had had less raw vegetables and more gluten-free bread with my Classic Alpine cheese fondue, as I am not a big fan of raw veggies. The cheese fondue was very flavorful and filling. The chocolate fondue (bananas foster, in our case) was delicious and definitely the highlight of the meal. There were even gluten-free yellow cake and brownies to dip in the pot! For anyone unaware: I would use caution with the fondue, as it can be very hot and easily burn your tongue. Despite only ordering the two-course meal, the other party and I felt satisfied without feeling stuffed. The pricing for our meal was reasonable, given that dessert, in the form of chocolate fondue, was included. I would definitely consider eating here again.
I go here all the time and have never had any problems. The food is amazing and all my friends say that the gf brownies taste better then the regular ones!
It's a must go!! It's a great place for something different and fancy. Great GF menu. We made the whole table gf and had a great time. Save two hours for fun!!
Super super gluten free place. Have gluten free bread for dipping in melted cheese. Meats, vegetables and you cook them at the table in a separate pot from others not eating gluten free. The best is the melted chocolate for dessert...separate fondue for gf and gf pound cake, brownie, fruits, marshmallows for dipping in the chocolate. And our waitress also ate gluten free....she was a great help.
Our waiter had no idea what cross-contamination is. They do offer gluten free but they took no precautions whatsoever. Carrying, pouring, stirring, dripping stuff across the plates of gluten free food and person we had just told him was extremely sensitive to gluten. My daughter ended up eating nothing at all there.
Gf options at every corse! Gf bread to dunk cheese into, and GF cupcake and brownies to dunk into chocolate for dessert.
They did not have many options. The staff were not knowledgeable about my gluten allergy. Their broth actually contained gluten after I had them pull out the box with the nutritional label.
Staff is knowledgeable, food is great. Go there quite a bit and never any issues
Staff was helpful, friendly and seemed to understand what was needed for someone with Celiac.. However, even after being served absolutely plain vegetables and filet mignon, which was cooked on a tabletop grill (new option).. I did become ill.. granted, I'm a very sensitive Celiac, but I will probably not eat there again. I feel that there may have been some cross contamination issue in the kitchen due to personnel not well trained in handling food for people with my sensitivity. We were a party of seven with 6 normal diners who had a great time.
Super friendly staff and lots of GF options.
This was a great experience, they were very helpful, and the food was delicious! We had a gluten-free dairy free meal and we are supersensitive and did not get sick. Nice to eat with the rest of the family! This place was a lot of fun. We had a party of nine and they give you two burners. Four of us had to eat gluten free dairy free so there was no cross-contamination. You can't get more than two burners on the table I don't think. Highly recommend! They have a vegan gf cheese and they use Redbridge gluten free beer in the cheese fondue. We had a four course meal - cheese fondue, salad, entree and dessert that uses Enjoy Life dark chocolate.
Wonderful gluten free choices. The cheddar fondue can be made with gluten free beer and served with a soft fresh gluten free bread along with the appetizer veggies. Then great options for meats and lobster. The dessert chocolate fondue comes with fantastic gluten free chocolate brownies and vanilla cake. We can't wait to return! No bad reactions.
Yum! I'm so happy with my experience! Gabriel was our server and he was very informative and protective of us.
Expensive but an amazing GF option. Gluten free cakes and brownies and desserts
Went here to eat with five of my friends, and the staff were so acommodating! And most of the dishes can be made gluten-free so there are plenty of options. Great food.
The staff is very knowledgeable and accommodating for those with celiac. The food is great and it is a wonderful experience. It is quite expensive but a fun experience.
My husband has celiacs. We have been to the melting pot twice and had a great experience both times. Staff seems very knowledgeable.
Wow! We haven't been here in 10 years. I looked at their menus the other day, realizing they now did gluten free I was so excited to be able to take our son. We had a table of 3 and we all did gluten free so there was no cross contamination. They were so accommodating! Bonus they don't charge extra for GF! we will def be back.
Went for my anniversary and it was wonderful! We had the California salad, Wisconsin Cheddar cheese fondue, and the Bananas Foster chocolate fondue. They really understand Celiac and all was done well, except that the waiter brought out a plate of non-gluten free dippers with dessert. I figured it out before we ate it though because there were just too many options there for it to be GF. The cheese fondue was made with Red Bridge beer and the dippers that came with it included a brownish GF bread (as opposed to the gluten filled white), apples, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and grape tomatoes. The chocolate fondue dippers had a gluten free angel food cake, marshmallows, bananas, strawberries, and pineapple.
They do GF right. Server very knowledgeable. We do fondue every Christmas and went here this year. All of us really enjoyed it, including the 2 Celiac people
Teriyaki sauce brought to our table which was not gluten free. Stale bread (Udi's tasted like mold). Both my celiac friend and myself got gluten hits.
We had an excellent experience. Wendy, Kristen, and a gentleman whose name we didn't catch (but worked previously in healthcare /GI ) were knowledgeable about gluten free requirements and went out of their way to provide a gluten free dining experience.
Tried a new thing last night for Valentine's day. The food was good, and for the most part it was fun. We made sure to inform the restaurant when we made the reservation that I had celiac disease, they said they would be able to easily accommodate me and they would write down a note. We also told our waiter as soon as we sat, we told him that because we would be sharing the pot my husband's food would be gluten free as well because cross contamination was a big issue for me. Despite all of this prepping the waiter still brought out honey WHEAT bread, croutons on my salad, raviolis and a meat that was not gluten free! I had to babysit my waiter the whole night! Twice they turned off the burner and forgot to turn it back on making our food pot cool, and impossible to cook our main course. To add insult to injury the Valentine's day package included a picture. The picture is awful, the low lighting plus flash resulted in an extremely washed out shot. Not worth the very high price.
The staff made every effort to make sure that my experience was gluten free and had options for every course. They even have gluten free bread for the cheese fondue and gluten free brownies & snickerdoodles for the chocolate fondue. A wonderful experience!!


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Educators use war conflicts as classroom curriculum
Just to the left of the American flag hanging in teacher Michael Stagnaro's Los Banos High School classroom is a banner displaying these words from John Adams -- "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people."
Stagnaro, who also is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, hopes he is providing his students with some of that knowledge. "Very rarely is learning just listening to a teacher," said the 32-year-old world history instructor. "The students, they have to be the ones to keep the conversation going."
But even getting that conversation started when it comes to conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia can be a challenging task for today's teachers. Just as it was after America's last controversial war, the decade it spent in Vietnam. If George Santayana is right — that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it — then teaching about war becomes a vital part of any curriculum.
The late congressman, professor and author Walter Capps knew this. Three years after the fall of Saigon, he began his famous and long-running class at UC Santa Barbara, "Religion and the Impact of Vietnam," which routinely drew 900 students and was featured three times on "60 Minutes." Capps believed that "politics is born in conversation," and he enlisted a vast array of soldiers, scholars, refugees and others to speak in his classroom. "We are strongest as a people when we are directed by that which unites us," he wrote, "rather than giving into the fears, suspicions, innuendos and paranoias that divide."
For today's students, it seems that in most classrooms, conversation about the war is off limits. With little direction from their superiors or the broader education community, many instructors find it easier to breeze over the subject or not address it at all.
Not Stagnaro. On Thursday, during a lesson on World War I refugees, the teacher passed out a news article on the estimated 1,600 Iraqi refugees who are returning home on a daily basis. Stagnaro read the article aloud to his class, asking them to imagine "the size of this school returning to Iraq today." What do you think they have to come back to, he asked his class of 30 sophomores.
"Homes," one student yelled out. "If they're there," Stagnaro quietly replied.
"Work," another kid ventured. "If they can find it," their teacher answered. "Remember that war is never pretty. War is ugly. It is unfriendly. It takes no sides and the innocent suffer."
Stagnaro has seen that side of war firsthand. After growing up in the Bay Area, attending Bethany University in Santa Cruz and earning a master's degree in 2002 from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, Stagnaro joined the Army Reserves. In October 2005, Stagnaro was deployed to Kuwait, where he served as a base camp and battalion chaplain for a year. His experience has made Stagnaro approach all of his subject matter differently from many world history teachers. "I have the students look at the human cost," he said, offering this example: "True, there were 40,000 that died in this battle, but just think about that. That's 40,000 sons, maybe 40,000 fathers, a whole generation from one town."
This kind of information is harder for some of Stagnaro's students to swallow. Eight of his 30 fourth- period world history students said they have family members stationed in the Middle East. One of them was sophomore Alyssa Aguilar, whose soldier cousin is serving in Iraq. She said his involvement makes the war very real to her. "It hits over here too," she said. "It sucks, but they're fighting so we don't have to suffer."Maci Freeman, also a Los Banos sophomore, said a close family friend is also stationed in Iraq. Before Stagnaro's class, she admitted that "I kind of had an idea (about what was going on in the Middle East), but I didn't know as much as I know now."
Other Merced County teachers have noticed that students' ears perk up when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are mentioned and use that to their advantage. "My students seem to be particularly interested in the war in Iraq," said Atwater High School world history teacher Seth Medefind. He said he often uses news stories to ignite discussions on the subject in his classroom. In order to make history more relevant, Medefind also said he has students "compare and contrast Iraq to wars in history."
How much — or how little — about the war is taught in history and government classrooms is up to the teacher. "There is no specific guidance given involving the Iraqi war," said Buhach Colony High School social studies teacher John Stimac. But, he added, teachers are expected to be objective and "teach both sides of an argument" when it comes to all controversial aspects of their curriculum.
"We are taught to be impartial on the subjects we teach in history," said Los Banos High School world history teacher Robert Arambel. "You have to show both sides of the conflict and the reasons leading up to war, then show the history behind it." Students often ask Arambel what his opinion is on various parts of history he covers, including the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "But once again, you temper that with impartiality."He added, "To be honest, their interest in the war isn't all that prevalent."
Stimac echoes Arambel's views, saying some of his students are concerned about what us happening, but most aren't. Stimac said he thinks that is because students "are not confronted with what is really happening over there on a daily basis."
This is also most likely the reason schools haven't seen the protests and debates that spread in the late 1960s and early '70s about the Vietnam War. "Unlike the 1960s, students today do not see the war as a personal threat to their lives or America," he said. "Since there is no real peace movement on college campuses, high school students haven't followed their lead."
Stagnaro said students he encounters "are just as curious about the war as anyone else would be." Unsure of how much to share, Stagnaro said he questioned what he should tell his students about his time in Kuwait. Before becoming a full-time teacher two years ago, the answer he came up with was, "You let them know your experiences because reading about war and experiencing war are two different things."
He told his classes that war was not a beautiful thing. It wasn't a Hollywood blockbuster or a mature-rated video game. "War is gut-wrenching, difficult and lonely," he said. "I was there as soldiers died," when they cried and opened up, when they celebrated and when family members shared accounts of those they'd never see again.
These kinds of stories — the "human side of war" as Stagnaro called it — is what students often ask him about and want to hear. "I'm always afraid that students will hate history," he said. "But when you have experiences that bridge the gap between the history books and students' lives, that makes it more interesting and engaging."
While sharing war stories with teenagers might help them gain perspective, those dealing with elementary school students have to use a softer touch, said Barbara Tinsley, Arizona State University's social and behavioral sciences department chair who has researched the effects of traumatic events on children. "In general, honesty is the best policy with children," she declared, keeping in mind the age and individual personality of the child.
For children under 9, Tinsley suggests that "it's best to wait for them to ask a question." Parents or teachers should then answer without going beyond what the child asked.
Nine to 13-year-olds often cope with fear by asking technical questions that might catch adults off guard, but help them wrap their minds around the confusing situation. Tinsley suggests adults take those questions — which could range from where Saddam Hussein went to college or if it's possible to poison a large body of water with germs — as they come. "They'll ask what they need to know to feel reassured," she said.
Whatever the age of child, it is just as important how a parent or teacher tells the story as what they are telling. "Children gauge adults' reactions before they decide how scared they should be," she reminded.
The Connecticut-based National Center for Children Exposed to Violence concludes that children react to war in different ways, depending on their age and personal history. While some children not directly affected by the war may not take notice, others could have a heightened concern for their personal safety or increased anxiety because of a loved one's involvement in the military.
"One of my students this year was sad one day because her friend was going back to Iraq and she was going to miss him," said Sarah Morgan, who taught kindergarten at Merced's Fremont Charter School the first half of this school year. Morgan, who has worked in the Merced City School District for many years as a Library Media Teacher, hasn't had many students approach her with questions about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Younger students seem to be more interested in sharing stories about siblings and relatives who are on their way or already are stationed overseas — a phenomenon that is putting a new spin on the term "children of war." No longer does it just refer to kids growing up in a war zone, but those who are moved by the ripples of a conflict fought thousands of miles from their schools and playgrounds.
"It's not all about the cost of the war, the soldiers or even the Iraqis," Morgan said. It's about the innocent children here at home experiencing the secondary trauma of the war. Children losing brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to a conflict that even well-educated adults have a hard time understanding — let alone a child growing up in an educational system that is more focused on standardized tests than America's most pivotal foreign policy issue. "We'll have a whole generation of these types of kids," Morgan said. "How will that change our world?"America's near- and mid-term destiny depends on whether this generation can take the knowledge they have — or haven't — gained and, as Adams hoped, preserve their country's liberty.
Reporter Abby Souza can be reached at 209 385-2407 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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I usually find out about new cameras from several blogs that I follow and from Kickstarter campaigns that I back, but I was caught off guard when Polaroid announced the OneStep 2. Being the camera addict that I am, and also that it was a new instant film camera, I couldn't restrain myself from pre-ordering one. I signed up for the newsletter which gave me a 10% discount on the camera and the initial purchase of film that I made.
The Onestep 2 looks much like its predecessor, the iconic Rainbow Polaroid OneStep, with the addition of an on camera flash. I have one of the original OneStep cameras, a Sears Special version, with a very large attachable flash unit. I took the OneStep off my Polaroid camera shelf and put a pack of the new Polaroid Originals film through it in anticipation of receiving the OneStep 2.
After waiting impatiently and emailing Polaroid Originals about the delivery of the OneStep 2, I finally received it a couple of days after the launch date of October 16th. I just assumed that when you pre-order a new camera, that it would be delivered before it was actually available on the store shelf to other customers.
Nonetheless, I am extremely happy with my purchase of the OneStep 2. I only think now that I should have gotten the graphite color to be less conspicuous when shooting photographs on the street and to better hide the eventual spots of dirt.
The camera operation is pretty straightforward - point camera at subject, press red button. The flash can be turned off if desired, but the flash is recommended. There is also a timer. That's about it for features.
In my experience with the camera so far, I need to get better at framing my shots for the parallax correction. The minimum focusing distance is two feet, with anything beyond that being in focus.
The new Polaroid Originals I-type film performs well, only that I found the need to set the exposure to the minus side on the OneStep 2. Love the camera and the new film!


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Getting last two picks signed tricky
With less than a week to go before Monday's deadline to sign draft picks, the A's still do not have two of their top three selections signed.
The team has been in regular contact with the advisers for USC shortstop Grant Green (13th overall) and Yuba City High School catcher Max Stassi (fourth round). General manager Billy Beane said last week that he's optimistic about getting Green signed.
Stassi could be trickier. Because it was known that Stassi was looking for a first-round-type signing bonus, he went much later than anticipated - but that has not changed what it will take to get him signed. Stassi has a full scholarship at UCLA, and adviser Greg Genske said, "Max has two great options."
Genske said put the chances of Stassi signing at 50-50. It's believed that the A's have budgeted first-round-level money for Stassi, but only to a certain point; the sum still has to make sense from a baseball standpoint, according to a team source.
Stassi, who hit .514 with 40 homers and 162 RBIs in four years at Yuba City, is playing for the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox this summer. The A's already have two Gold Sox alums, Dallas Braden and Tommy Everidge.
Duchscherer soon?: Manager Bob Geren said that 42 of the 55 pitches Justin Duchscherer threw in Sunday's rehab start were strikes and that Duchscherer, out since March elbow surgery, looked terrific.
So there is a growing possibility that Duchscherer's season debut for Oakland will come later this week against the White Sox, especially because it's unclear when Braden will return from a foot infection. The A's have an eight-man bullpen, so even though Duchscherer would be limited to 80 pitches, there would be plenty of relief help available.
Braden's foot was improved Monday, and he played catch. He might throw a side session today.


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Jennifer Axelson, LCSW, CLCP, MSCC, CCM
Martha Kern
Nursing homes, memory care facilities and assisted living communities are designed to address the needs of a homogenous community – persons living with particular impairments and who require particular forms of care, often related to age – in a group environment where safety and efficiency can be emphasized. It is a sensible concept, and one that has worked for decades.
Disrupting this care model somewhat is growth in the incidence of young residents occupying beds alongside much older patients. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that adults aged 65 to 74 represented 13% of nursing home residents in 2000 and by 2013, the percentage had risen to almost 15%.
The under-65 population in facilities is also growing. The Associated Press reported that Montgomery County in Pennsylvania saw the percentage of under-65 residents in nursing homes go from five percent in 2000 to 18% in 2016.
The Elements Driving the Trend
Younger residents occupying nursing homes and other communal facilities arrive there for a variety of reasons. Most are difficult to manage in the community due to medical or behavioral acuity, and may be contending with:
- Early onset Alzheimer's disease
- Mental illness
- Developmental disability
- Neuromuscular disease
- Physical disability stemming from injury
- Dual diagnosis of mental illness and medical challenges
Many families offer care to their loved ones to make home-based life possible. They do so at tremendous personal cost, often having to adapt their homes, give up jobs and make a host of personal sacrifices. When parents are themselves ill or unable to surrender an income stream, disabled or impaired family members find their only viable option is to reside in a facility. Medicaid, when applicable, has an "institutional bias" with available funding for nursing homes but much, much less for home-based care.
It's also true that not every condition or impairment can be safely managed at home. Many youthful facility residents received care at home initially, but because of complications or a worsening of their condition and/or behaviors, they now need to receive care in an institutional environment.
We have worked with many families who successfully rendered care to a disabled or impaired loved one at home until this individual's parents became too aged to provide the needed support. Siblings are frequently in the midst of raising families and pursuing careers and are just not in a position to take on the responsibility of a brother or sister whose needs may be significant. In situations like these, placement is often the only way forward.
Challenges for Facilities
Sometimes, younger residents exhibit behavior issues related to their illnesses and/or stemming from the depression their predicament inspires – their lives are much smaller than they might be in the community, and they may act out as a result (i.e. calling the police to report their rights are being violated). Those who can go out with friends in the community may stay out late, consume alcohol and otherwise behave like young adults. Facilities that are dominantly occupied by seniors are ill-equipped to handle such behaviors.
Residents with early onset Alzheimer's represent a particular risk when it comes to elopement. Their youth, relative to other residents of a secure memory environment, creates the impression they are visitors and they are sometimes able to slip out the door with people leaving the building. If they are prone to hitting or biting, it can be difficult to protect physically frail residents from these more able-bodied individuals when misunderstandings and disputes erupt.
Many facilities attempt to house younger residents together in the same part of the building to help allay loneliness and encourage the development of social bonds. This practice can also enable the emergence of specialized programming and staff dedicated to this unique population. Flexible meal schedules may be necessary for young residents who like to keep their own hours. Internet access is essential, and the addition of vocational and educational opportunities helps engage young residents and foster in them a sense of purpose.
Challenges for Residents
While younger residents may share ambulation issues or dietary restrictions with their older neighbors in a facility, very often they have little else in common. They don't "belong" in a community full of seniors and their emotional and social needs are markedly different from the people with whom they share a dinner table. A young man in his 20s, for instance, who has been catastrophically injured in an accident, has not lost his affinity for loud music, girlfriends and detailed discussions about football.
Youthful occupants of facilities complain about a lack of privacy, loneliness, unappealing food and activities that are designed for seniors (i.e. Bingo). Overall, they may experience a lack of connection with those in the immediate environment due to generational and age-related differences. They may well be surrounded by people for whom involved conversation is difficult due to hearing or cognitive deficits, and feelings of social isolation may result.
Professional Help
The engagement of a professional care manager to assess the individual and their residential circumstances and apply their knowledge of resources to the problem may help remedy a situation that is simply not working. There are group homes and other environments expressly intended for younger residents and, though waiting lists can be long, a professional may be able to uncover new options.
Professional care managers are often intimately familiar with facilities and can share information about placement options where there are perhaps other younger residents and programs/activities to address their specific needs and issues.
Facilities and families alike contact us when a poor fit exists between resident and environment. Knowledge of options and the insight garnered from years of field-based practice can make a care manager well equipped to find a solution. On especially complex placements or transfers, facilities who would normally deny a resident due to a problematic history might be induced to accept them if a care manager will remain involved to help solve problems.
Care managers can also help with socialization, outings into the community, and transport to visit family, as financial resources allow, to enhance quality of life. A placement that is necessary but not thoroughly embraced by the resident can be made more tolerable with outside activities, one-to-one attention, and time devoted to their individual interests and issues.
Not every disabled individual can safely and successfully reside in the community, but expert eyes on the situation may lead to an initial placement – or an alternative placement – that meets both care and social needs, and improves quality of life for the resident.
© Lifecare Innovations


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