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I've been thinking about evolution, and it has occurred to me that there are 3 problems with it. 1.) evolution by definition is a reactionary process, so how can it look forward - eg how can we as end results of the process ask "what if?" 2.) humanity has the potential to self destruct - Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged recognised that we were the only species that could do that - how can an evolved / reactive process develop a self-destruct mechanism? 3.) At what point along the evolutionary process did it decide to split out into separate genders, and where can we point to to demonstrate this? Any thoughts?
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Vaya bien - regressa despues de leyendo los libros --
Oh, and Eric, I spoke only for myself, and we all know it, so don't try to blame your departure on me. A very sweet, bright young lady theist, Anna Silva, came on the board recently, and it was clear that she was not very knowledgeable regarding how evolution works, and you are just another case of that - I recommended to you no more, no less than I did to her.
Although you appeared honest, open, and interested in learning, the fact that you kept coming back to the "What if" issue, over and over, after being told repeatedly that it bore no relevance, even referring to it in your closing remarks, leads me to believe that you may, in fact, have had a covert agenda, one that required we accept as valid your "What if" premise, but realizing that you were never going to get us to do so, decided not to waste any more of your time.
If I'm right, we've seen the last of you; if I'm not, you'll read the Dawkins book and return, in which case, I look forward to additional dialogue with you, as I'd hope others do as well.
Anything but answer my question, eh?
I am not sure why I am saying this since Mr. James is apparently gone, but I feel the need to say it anyway. I will not think ill thoughts towards him because of this discussion. I am grateful for the understanding I have about evolution, and looking forward to learning more. I really don't find myself thinking, "What if...? very often in this regard. It doesn't seem to be necessary.


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Has anyone ever considered a new reality TV show called Trading Spaces for agents and writers?? I think it would be a run-a-way hit. I would love to be traded and have an agent slave over a rewrite of my novel based on agents' suggestions while I swill gin and read a partial as I donate blood. I could have dinner with George Clooney at The Rainbow Room, and the lucky agent could sleep with my husband (just kidding!!)
Do you have HBO?
Can I bring the poodle?

subset: commoncrawl


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Both.... Koeman for letting Galloway go on loan and Walsh for not getting one in.... assuming Koeman asked him for one. Saying that, they were probably too pre-occupied with Sigurdsson and his agent for 2 months.
Think he let Galloway go cos he isn't good enough
Think they must be more civilised and more diplomatic, it always seems to be strife over here.
Im looking forward to the Chelsea game now. Havent felt like that for too long now. I am not the only one, so just for that Koeman deserved to go. Im very optimistic for the future now, I hope Unsworth gets the job till atleast Xmas. Can see the positive vibe emanate throughout the whole club now. Players who havent been performing hopefully will get a new lease of life and we will move up the table rapidly. I even fancy us against Chelsea. Unsy gets the club from all angles and his knowledge of the under 23s will help us too. COYFBB
He's got a twat of a start though.... Chelsea, Leicester and Lyon all away.We need to be realistic. We could easily be out of 2 cup competitions and still in the bottom 3 by the time we open our advent calendar's..... but thats not his doing. I hope the crowd stick with him through it. I hope he proves his worth.
To be fair Galloway isn't getting a game at Sunderland.
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Hi, I'm Peter Thomas Senese, the Founding Director of the I CARE Foundation and as the summer school vacation period approaches, I would like to share with you the assortment of warning signs and risk factors associated international parental child abduction that targets thousands upon thousands of unsuspecting parents and defenseless children each year primarily who are a product of a multi-national relationship or marriage that is or has ended. In sharing some key warning signs today, it is my hope that children will be protected from kidnapping and overwhelming abuse.
Now if you're like hundreds of thousands of parents around the world the term international parental child abduction may be one you are not familiar with. . . . . . until a child you know is kidnapped and illegally detained in a foreign country by the child's other parent.
Before I go any further, let me say this: the vast majority of children abducted abroad never come home. Tragically, some can't – they are gone forever.
According to United States Federal Law, the illegal removal of a child from the country without consent of a court or the child's other parent is a criminal act of kidnapping. The conspiracy that leads up to the child snatching is generally filled with a host of illegal activities, including false allegations toward the targeted parent of abuse toward the child or other parent. This is something I will touch upon later. However, one thing more than anything else should be clear: parental child abduction is not just an act of kidnapping against an innocent child, but inherently, an abducted child becomes a prisoner of the kidnapper forced to follow and obey the predators instruction under the deplorable acts of parental alienation that the kidnapper deploys as they need to rationalize their behavior toward the child-victim.
Generally, the vast majority of abductions are well-planned and are orchestrated so that the other parent is off-guard when the abduction occurs. Blindsided by the act of international parental child abduction – that tragically is treated very differently than a stranger abduction by law enforcement despite the act being a federal crime of kidnapping - parents who attempt to reunite with their child often enter a dark and dangerous world that will change their world forever.
But what are we fighting for?
We're fighting for a child's life.
Filicide – a term you may not know - is the act of child murder by a parent. In the United States, hundreds of children are murdered by their parents each year. This is not a phenomenon – parental child murder is a reality that knows no borders.
In cases of parental child abduction the kidnapper uses the child as a pawn to cause hurt and suffering toward the other parent. Denying that parent access to the child is a common theme and often the reason why abduction occurs.
The fear is – the reality is – that many abductors exhibiting sociopath behavior often believe that if they can't have sole custody of a child – nobody will. Additionally, there appears to be a strong correlation of adult suicides connected to child abduction victims.
None of its easy to discuss yet we're all only three degrees of separation from knowing someone who may be a target of abduction.
In the course of events leading up to the actual abduction or attempted abduction there are clear warning signs that may allow a parent to protect themselves and their children. And with the summer months upon us – the time of year when most child kidnappings take place – I hope that some insight I will share may be of use to you.
On behalf of my colleagues at the I CARE Foundation, one thing is certain: raising awareness and stewarding the message about the warning signs of international parental child abduction has played a role in reducing the number of reported outbound child kidnapping cases originating in the United States by 15% during the last two consecutive years after nearly 30 years of continued growth.
Make no mistake; the reality is that tens of thousands of children living in cities and on farms across our nation are targeted for kidnapping each year. It is carefully estimated that only 10% of these children will ever come home when we consider the 'reported' and 'unreported' cases of abduction.
Do you really want to play those odds?
Now before I get into a list of warning signs of international abduction you may ask yourself why is international parental child abduction affecting tens of thousands of families?
The answer is complex, but in general terms, we are seeing a substantial increase in multi-national relationships, which personally I think is great; however, with the notion of 'global citizenship' comes some challenges.
You see, as our world becomes a closer, more connected society, individuals from different nations develop relationships with one another, some leading to the birth of a child. Unfortunately, some of these relationships end, and when they do, the foreign-born national parent often desires to return to their home country – and when they do – they usually have a desire to take the child with them.
Except they have one problem: the other parent does not want their child to live abroad after being born and raised in their home country.
Knowing that the likelihood of a court granting them permission to live abroad with their child more than likely will not occur, the parent seeking to relocate to a foreign country often creates a clever, well thought-out plan to either abduct the child from the child's country of original jurisdiction, or, they will create a deceitful scheme that will enable them to legally remove the child from the country they live in – such as plans to travel on a family vacation with intentions of permanent removal.
Once they are abroad, the scheming parent will often lay a host of criminal charges against the other parent, including domestic physical and mental abuse, threats of murder, and outlandish acts of child abuse and neglect – all for one purpose: to sever the other parent's relationship with the child and to gain legal actions to the foreign courts they are now physically located in by having the targeted parent arrested and prevented from seeing either them or the child.
Now what most individuals do not realize is that once that child steps foot on foreign soil, that child's temporary welfare becomes the responsibility of the rules of law and courts of the country they are located in.
Which means this: the police and courts must follow the procedures established under their law: the targeted parent more than likely will be arrested, issued restraining orders against them, and have their access to their child denied until an investigation is done. In the meanwhile, the scheming taking parent files a host of legal motions in the country that will further restrain the targeted parent.
Welcome to a scheming kidnappers idea of a vacation.
Sometimes - and I have seen this happen many times – but a kidnapper will say that the other parent actually consented to have the child relocate . . . so that they can litigate 'what's in the child's best interest' abroad – in their country of origin – and at a tremendous disadvantage to the child's other parent.
I want to make this very clear: the scheme of a parental child abductor does not discriminate by gender. Men and women generally abduct equally and often cite abuse and mistreatment as the reason why they abducted. They make the claim that they are not abductors but liberators fleeing abuse. The majority of these claims are false. They are lies created to defend against Federal kidnapping charges. They are lies created in hope a court would sanction the abduction under Article 13 of the Hague Convention – a rule that allows an abductor the ability to relocate if they can prove it is not in the child's best interest to return to their home country. These lies are intended to cruelly cause the targeted parent suffering, including arrest in hope to make any litigation they may bring to reunite with their child difficult or impossible.
So if you think that since you may have a U.S. custody order, and that THAT order will allow you to simply go and bring your child home, you should know this: that once your child is in a foreign country, the pragmatic reality of the custody order you are in possession of may mean very little, especially if the abductor has made a criminal complaint against you and/or filed a civil action for custody. Usually, they happen at the same time.
And so here's your reality: should you attempt to remove your child and take them home with you, you may be violating laws in the country you and your child are located in and you may be arrested . . . . Your custody order is at least temporarily, useless. Welcome to the world of parental child abduction.
But like Dante' descending into the Inferno, your nightmare as a targeted chasing parent has only just begun. For example, as an American citizen, do you know that even though the abduction was a criminal act toward you and your child, you are responsible for 100% of all costs associated with finding, monitoring, and litigating your case, including the costs to bring your child home unless you become dead-broke – which often occurs for many targeted parents because the cost to reunite with a child often costs parents hundreds of thousands of dollars. So if you don't have a large amount of money available, chances are you're not going to bring your child home. But that's not it: you still have to deal with the false charges and claims, and litigate abroad. If you don't think foreign courts have prejudice, you are sadly mistaken.
And if you think you'll simply be able to get an arrest warrant issued and seek extradition proceedings against the kidnapping parent, you're in line for some serious disappointment because numerous countries that the United States has extradition agreements with do not have agreements in place regarding parental abduction. In fact, in certain countries, this is not even a crime!
Do you get the sense of hopelessness? If you do – welcome to the world of many chasing parents.
Add to it that while your child is gone, he or she is taught by the abductor to think you are a bad mother or father out to hurt them and their taking parent. Yes, parental alienation and parental isolation are alive and well – and in its abuse, it destroys the innocence and very fabric of your child.
So as the summer approaches, this is the time of year when parents need to be aware of the warning signs of parental child abduction.
I have often heard from parents who tragically stuck their head in the sand and didn't pay attention to the warning signs that 'Their partner was not that clever', to find out just how cunning and deceitful they really were only after their child or children were gone.
The key to stopping child abduction is to prevent it from happening.
The MOST IMPORTANT WARNING sign of abduction is to understand the present relationship you have with the child's other parent and ask yourself 'May that parent have the intent, desire, ability, and means to take your child to another country without your permission, or possible intent to keep your child in a foreign country should you grant permission for your child to travel abroad with you, the other parent, or both of you?
Abduction often occurs as a prelude to parents separating or beginning divorce proceedings, though there are a significant number of abductions that occur post-divorce commencement litigation. In many cases, the abduction is a planned scheme, which means that generally, the parent intending to abduct a child will try to create an atmosphere that is opposite of their intent: meaning that they will try lull the other parent to thinking that they are committed to the relationship, when in fact they are not. This is a critical issue because it is easier to abduct a child when the targeted parent is not seeking to prevent abduction. So having the targeted parent think that there is a loving, committed relationship is critical for the abductor.
So - if you have been in a difficult, strained relationship with a person who has deep ties to a foreign country, and suddenly that person is demonstrating a new-found love or new-found commitment . . . and they eventually pose the idea of traveling abroad with the child so the child could visit that person's family, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS WARNING SIGN that abduction may be planned.
Remember, even if you are invited to travel with the other parent and child, this does not mean you or your child are safe. I know many parents who traveled abroad with the other parent and child who were in possession of custody orders - only to have false claims of abuse, neglect, or acts of violence made against them within days of touching down in the foreign country. Once that happens, the legal nightmare begins - despite possessing joint custody, there is very little that the targeted parent can do to remove the child from the inbound country because the abducting parent usually has filed legal documents seeking court relief to remain abroad - typically in their country of origin.
So here we are - the school summer vacation season is upon us. Parents need to ask themselves this question: Has my relationship with my child's other parent been strained, and all of a sudden there is a new-found love or commitment by that parent - and is there a trip abroad being suggested or planned? Because if so - you should be very concerned.
As touched upon earlier, if you believe the other parent may remove or retain the child abroad in order to gain an advantage in expected or pending child-custody proceedings by seeking the jurisdiction of the courts located in their country of origin, you should be very concerned.
For example, if a child is taken to a nation in the Middle East, there is a high probability that that nation will allow the abductor to keep the child abroad since the legal environment or cultural traditions may provide the abductor the safe harbor they seek.
In fact, there are many nations who simply do not return internationally kidnapped children, and this includes the majority of countries found in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, who outrageously, are not signatory members of international treaties on abduction. And before I let you think that having a child abducted to European or South American countries is any better you better think again. For example, I have a good friend who is a highly decorated police officer in New York who had his daughter abducted to Germany. For nearly 4 years this loving, honest, compassionate father has fought to reunite with his child. Yet she remains in Germany and he is as close as bringing her home today as he was when the kidnapping first occurred.
Unfortunately, there are countries, particularly in the Middle East, that have cultural environments that make it very difficult for a woman to recover their child. Cultural norms in Asia make it equally difficult for a man to recover their child. But child recovery and reunification is rare. In fact, there are many cases when the international courts order for a child to be returned to their country of original jurisdiction, and the kidnapping parent does not follow the court orders and does so without fear of retribution or arrest . . . . its a common theme.
Now back to the WARNING SIGNS - If the other parent threatens you that they will take your child abroad and you will never see them, don't take this threat as a non-event. Many abductors who have successfully kept a child abroad did in fact make at least one threat that they were returning to their own country of origin.
Another WARNING SIGN is if the other parent presses you to sign a passport application for your child to obtain a passport from their country of their origin. Remember - your child has a right to dual citizenship if their other parent is a foreign born national.
BEWARE that many nations do not require a second parent's signature in order to obtain travel documents for a dual national child. . . for example France - so you very well may not know if the other parent has a secondary passport issued from another country. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT because even though the U.S. courts may obtain or even cancel your child's American passports, they have no control on passports issued by another country. The fact is that even though a U.S. court order may restrict international travel for the child - passports issued by a foreign country are accepted without question at points of departure from the U.S. "
So if abduction is going to occur - there is a high probability that foreign issued passports will be used to leave the United States.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, if you discover a foreign passport for your child issued from another country that you were not aware of, you have a serious problem on your hand.
Often the scheming parent will use a sudden illness of a family member abroad as a scheme to play on the targeted parent's heart, often seeking to have their child, 'See their grandmother or grandfather before they pass away.' I can't even begin to tell you how many scenarios like that I am aware of - when the targeted parent who let their child travel with the other parent - soon finds out that there was no family emergency, but instead - an abduction scheme.
A CRITICAL WARNING SIGN is if you soon realize that the other parent is sending large sums of money or other personal belongings abroad - or if they are removing all financial ties to the country they presently live in . . . such as selling their home, quitting their job, selling their car. You get the idea.
There is one other VERY IMPORTANT WARNING SIGN that I would like to touch upon here: if there is a false police complaint and incident report filed by your child's other parent against you, there is a likelihood that they are establishing a case against you based upon domestic violence and abuse which will be very beneficial to them in court should they abduct your child.
Disgracefully, both men and women abductors are known to make false claims of abuse toward the other parent when planning to abduct . . . if you think it can't happen to you – you better think again.
With false police complaints in mind, there is something every parent should be aware of: generally, a parent seeking to abduct a child will often make a false police report against the other parent on Thursday afternoons thru Friday afternoon in hope to have their targeted parent arrested and detained by law enforcement over the weekend so that while the child's other parent is in jail, they have an unimpeded path to depart the country.
When the abductor arrives in the inbound country where they had schemed to abduct the child to - they have established a paper trail of domestic abuse or violence reports that may provide the court in the foreign country with all the evidence they need to allow the abductor the right to keep the child there, thus becoming a 'liberator' as opposed to an 'abductor' because they created the false appearance that they had to run to protect their lives.
Remember, children under 16 years of age living in the United States, Canada, or Mexico are not required to present a valid passport when traveling within North America so long as they travel by land or sea under policies established by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative . . . . which means that a closed circuit cruise ship that starts and ends in the same port, but that may travel to foreign ports, is in fact a vehicle for abductors to use.
Hopefully the I CARE Foundation's efforts will cause our government to modify this policy and mandate that children traveling abroad, regardless of age must present a valid passport.
The Truth is that there are a substantial amount of warning signs of abduction, and parents need to pay attention to them TODAY.
Should you believe that your child is at risk of abduction, please contact a qualified attorney who has true experience litigating international child abduction prevention cases.
If child abduction is in process, please contact law enforcement immediately as well as a qualified attorney familiar with abduction. You should also immediately contact the United States Department of State's OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S ISSUES.
As the summer approaches, the reality is that thousands of children will be targeted for abduction. It is anticipated that several thousand children will be kidnapped abroad when combining reported and unreported cases of abduction.
Of these children taken, only a small number will ever return home . . . ever see their targeted parent again . . . ever return to the community they were raised in . . . ever see their family now left behind.
In the process, their identity will be stolen . . . who they are will be denied . . . they will learn to know hatred because that is what an abductor will preach to them in order to have that child hate their left behind parent . . . and they will live a life as a fugitive.
Most of all they will become prisoners illegally detained by a vengeful abductor who is using that child to cause harm and destruction to the other parent.
Tragically, these children will lose their innocence. As I said earlier, many will never come home . . . some simply will never have the opportunity to . . . . they can't.
For more information I urge you to visit the I CARE Foundation's website. You may also visit the official website for Chasing The Cyclone, which is the website of my deeply inspired novel about international child abduction that contains an extensive amount of resources. And of course, you should visit the United States Department Of States Official Website, particularly if abduction is in progress.
Protect yourself and your child. Educate yourself.
Click here to read how to stop international parental child abduction when a child may be issued two dual passports.
The I CARE Foundation is a leading global non-profit organization dedicated to preventing international parental child abduction. The I CARE Foundation's groundbreaking International Travel Child Consent Form has been hailed as a landmark global child abduction prevention tool by the international legal community including Hague Permanent Bureau Senior Officers. Since our inception in 2009, the reported U.S. outbound child abduction rate has decline by 38%.


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Connect more
Use these tips to build stronger connections with the people in your life.
1. Be Interested
Sometimes we think we know someone so well that it stops us from actually seeing the person. Instead, we just see our "idea" of them. Try being open, curious, and interested in the people close to you as if you're just getting to know them for the first time. You might be surprised what you find!
2. Be Kind
People like to be around others who are kind because they feel cared about and safe with them. When you're kind, not only do other people feel good around you, you feel better too.
3. "THINK" Before You Speak
We've all said something that we later regretted. It happens. The THINK rule can help put a pause between the impulse to speak and saying something you'll later wish you hadn't. Over the next week, before you speak, ask yourself: Is it True, is it Helpful, am I the best one to say it, is it Necessary, is it Kind?
4. Be Happy for Others
Sometimes feeling happy for someone else is natural, like with your children or your spouse. Other times we need to help it along. Be on the lookout for moments when you notice positive things happening for others — someone taking good care of themselves, for example, or experiencing success. Practice saying, "Good job" or "I'm so happy for you" and notice how it feels. Being happy for others not only strengthens those relationships, it just feels good.
This copyrighted information is courtesy of Mindful.org and Elisha and Stefanie Goldstein.
Reviewed by Kaiser Permanente Clinical Ambassadors, including Mark Dreskin, MD, Sharon Smith, LPC, and/or David Kane, LCSW. September 2018.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage, Summary Plan Description or other coverage documents. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.


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- Learn to embroider
- Take a business class (I haven't started yet, but I signed up for 2!)
- Redesign my blog
- Teach a knitting class
- Start a Knitting 101 blog series
- Join an Etsy team
- Make soy candles
I'm also right on schedule to launch my new site next week! So that's another goal down. And this month I'm working really hard on paying off my credit cards, improving my photography, and being more interactive with my blogging. What goals have you accomplished so far this year?
Now it's time to announce the winner of the Michelleesque Giveaway! Drum roll please....
eclairre, please email me at wattlebirddesigns (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prizes! Thanks to all who entered.


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Fishing picks up as ice melts
Special to the Tribune
Hello fellow anglers. Things are changing in our fishing world. The days are getting longer and our higher lakes are thawing out. It's the time of year to put away the ice fishing gear and take advantage of open shore fishing. As you will read in your local fishing report.
LAKE TAHOE: Best areas have still been Dollar and Sugar Pine points. This time of year you will have to do some target fishing as the schools are always on the move. Anglers using flashers and a live minnow have found the best fishing in 160-to 190-feet of water. Again targeting schools right on the bottom. Captain Gene St Denis reports that mackinaw action is excellent right now.
Gene has fished these areas as well as the Cal-Neva point in 240 feet of water right off the spear of the point. Mackinaw has averaged 2 to 6 pounds with a few fish in the 7-to 9-pound range. Toplining is hit or miss. Last week, Gene reported he thought he hooked a buoy until the buoy fought back. After a 40-minute fight with what he thought was a big brown or a mac, the fish shook its head and said that was enough and broke the line. Best areas have been Zephyr Point, Deadman's Point or Sand Harbor. The fish are getting more active with the longer daylight and slightly warming temperatures, if you can call it warming. For more info call Blue Ribbon Fishing Charters at 530-544-6552.
CAPLES LAKE: The lake is thawing out slowly, which means keep off. John Voss said the lake should be completely thawed by the middle of May. This brings the best opportunities to do some awesome shore fishing. Remember to use caution around the edges of any lake as the ground is saturated and may be unstable. When you fish a stretch of open water, toss a night crawler or a small crappie jig right off the edge of the ice with a slow retrieve. The fish are in that area looking for food and nutrients. Hold on to your pole and loosen the drag a little. You will be amazed at what you can catch. For more information, call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.
RED LAKE: Thawing is happening on this lake as well. Two weeks ago the lake had 2 feet of ice on it. Reports have come in that the lake is becoming very mushy around the edges. Time to wait until next year to ice fish.
BLUE LAKES ROAD, BURNSIDE LAKE ROAD: Closed.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: Renee and I have gone the last three weeks to find it still frozen. I received a call from angler Robert Englehardt that reported the lake was still frozen as of last Friday. On Sunday, Renee, our friend Dana Judd and I ventured up to see 95 percent of the lake still frozen. But that is what we had hoped for. The shoreline near the dam had 15 feet of open water, just enough to toss a night crawler. We released four small rainbows voluntarily and a few fish with a long distant release. Kept four nice trout from 2 to 3.5 pounds. I do not use bells when fishing and for good reason. It was about 3:30 p.m., and I looked at Dana's pole, which I thought was going to break in half from a large fish biting the other end. Dana grabbed his pole to set the hook and the line broke. I think the part of the bell that pinched on to the pole snapped the line, or maybe the fish was just that big and never gave Dana a chance to find out. I know it was a big fish, but we will never really know for sure how big. Well, not until next week when we go back to see if we can find the big one that got away. I can also tell you alcohol and angling does not mix. Two anglers got into a rubber raft and ventured out with a long handle shovel and a claw hammer and started hacking away at the ice edge in their quest to break the ice. After 30 minutes, they had cleared about 10 feet of ice in a circular motion. It was comical to watch, but we were planning for a rescue. We were happy to see they made it back to shore to live another day.
TOPAZ LAKE: With the lake thawing out, the fishing has picked up. Most anglers are catching limits of pan-sized rainbows. There has been an average of three to five tagged fish coming in a week. Last week, Doug Douglas caught the biggest trout brought into the Topaz General Store at 2.12 pounds. Second place was Steve Nielson with a 2.11-pound trout. There are plenty more tagged fish to be caught before the end of the derby in April. So why not get paid for fishing? For more information call the Topaz Lodge at 775-266-3338.
MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE AREA: Located off Highway 95A, between Wabuska and Yerington, Nev., this area opened for fishing Feb. 9. There are restrictions for the area. It has many wetland areas, but only a few are open for anglers. Open areas are Hinkson Slough, North Pond, Crappie, Beaver, Bass and Crappie Ponds. Also, in the area is Fort Churchill Pond. Anglers can expect to catch bass, bluegill, channel catfish and trout in these waters. To get more info on this area go to the Mason Valley Wildlife Management website to find out which areas are also closed or have restricted access. Hinkson and Fort Churchill Ponds were planted with trout last week. This area good for anglers and wild life enthusiast of all kinds so don't forget to bring your camera.
Good luck on your next adventure. For the Nevada anglers, remember that your fishing license expires on Feb. 28. That is less than a week away. If you get a photo of your catch send it to firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have a question or a report for our local area, call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722.
Good fishin' and tight lines.
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Investigators and former classmates of Connecticut school shooter Adam Lanza say he was bright, but extremely shy and remote. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Updated at 8 p.m. ET: A picture of Adam Lanza slowly emerged Saturday, as acquaintances said his behavior included pressing up against walls to avoid others and clutching his briefcase. Investigators, meanwhile, said they hoped that "very good evidence" found at his home would shed light on what pushed him to kill 26 children and teachers as well as his mother.
Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance said Saturday that investigators had found "very good evidence ... that our investigators will be able to use in painting the complete picture, the 'how' and, more importantly, the 'why this occurred.'"
Adam Lanza
But he would not elaborate and the mystery deepened as education officials in Newtown, Conn., said they had found no link between Lanza's mother and the school, contrary to news reports that said she was a teacher there.
Investigators said they believe Lanza, 20, attended Sandy Hook Elementary many years ago, but they had no explanation for why he went there on Friday.
Lanza shot and killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, at the home they shared, then drove to the school in her car, forced his way inside and opened fire in two classrooms, authorities said. Within minutes, he killed 20 children, six adults and himself.
Authorities said Lanza had no criminal history; it was not clear whether he had a job.
His father, who learned about the shooting from a reporter at the Stamford Advocate, said in a statement that he was in a "state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can." Lanza said he has cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so.
Meanwhile, acquaintances described the former honor student as smart but odd and remote.
"We would hang out, and he was a good kid," Joshua Milas told The Associated Press. He said he had not seen Lanza in a few years. "He was probably one of the smartest kids I know. He was probably a genius."
"(His mother) pushed him really hard to be smarter and work harder in school," Tim Arnone told Reuters. He first met Lanza at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
"He was very different and very shy and didn't make an effort to interact with anybody" in his 10th-grade English class at Newtown High School, Olivia DeVivo told the AP. DeVivo, now a student at the University of Connecticut, said Lanza always came to school toting a briefcase and wearing his shirt buttoned all the way up.
"Now looking back, it's kind of like 'OK, he had all these signs,' but you can't say every shy person would do something like this," she said.
Richard Novia — who until 2008 was the school district's head of security and adviser to the school's technology club, of which Lanza was a member — described Lanza to the AP as "a loner."
"You had yourself a very scared young boy, who was very nervous around people," he added.
Novia said Lanza had extreme difficulties relating to fellow students and teachers, as well as a strange bodily condition: "If that boy would've burned himself, he would not have known it or felt it physically."
Lanza would also go through crises that would require his mother to come to school to deal with them. Such episodes might involve "total withdrawal from whatever he was supposed to be doing, be it a class, be it sitting and reading a book," Novia told the AP.
When people approached Lanza in the hallways, he would press himself against the wall or walk in a different direction, clutching his black briefcase "like an 8-year-old who refuses to give up his teddy bear," said Novia, who now lives in Tennessee.
Even so, Novia said his primary concern about Lanza was that he might become a target for teasing or abuse by his fellow students, not that he might become a threat himself.
"Somewhere along in the last four years there were significant changes that led to what has happened Friday morning," Novia said. "I could never have foreseen him doing that."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Authorities say the man behind one of the worst mass shootings in US history was a 20-year-old whose mother worked at the school and whose brother has told them he had a history of mental problems. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Related content from NBCNews.com:
- Lives saved by teachers, custodian and even kids
- Quiet town wonders, 'How can we be protected'?
- Bulldog and owner hope to heal Newtown one hug at a time
- Vigils, services honor school shooting victims
- Video: 'Our hearts are broken,' Obama says
- Gunman's mother owned weapons used in massacre
- 'Screams were coming over the intercom'
- Traumatized nation reels from 'day of sadness and grief'
- Video: School shooting reignites gun control debate
- How to talk to kids about the school shooting
- Massacre leaves America shocked and grieving ... again
- Connecticut school shooting is second worst in US history
- Authorities ID gunman who killed 27 in elementary school massacre
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook


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Spiced rice with prawns
Straight-from-the-wok spicy supper with rice, prawns and bacon - ideal for Autumn evenings
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal411
- fat14g
- saturates3g
- carbs50g
- sugars0g
- fibre3g
- protein25g
- salt1.63g
- 200g long grain rice
- 175g frozen peas
- 2 tbsp oil, plus a drop extra
- 1 onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 3 rashers streaky bacon, chopped
- 1 tbsp tikka masala curry paste
- 250g peeled cooked tiger prawn, thawed if frozen
- 1 egg, beaten
The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition packed with protein and a…
- soy sauce, to serve
Soy saucesoy sor-s
An Asian condiment and ingredient that comes in a variety of of varieties ranging from light to…
Tip the rice into a pan of boiling, salted water and simmer for 10 minutes, adding the peas for the last 3 minutes. Drain well.
While the rice is cooking, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add the onion and bacon and stir fry for 3-4 minutes, until the onion starts to turn golden and the bacon begins to cook. Stir in the curry paste and cook for a few seconds, then tip in the prawns and heat them through for a minute or so.
Push the prawn mixture to one side of the pan and add the drop of oil to the other side. Pour the egg into the oil, stir until cooked like scrambled eggs, then mix into the prawns. Add the rice and peas and mix well. Serve immediately, with soy sauce for sprinkling, if you like.


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- Quest: Davos is a chance to see where the political and economic landmines are in 2013
- Quest: People will be speculating about how dysfunctional the U.S. political process has become
- Quest: Davos has been consumed by eurozone sovereign debt crises for three years
Editor's note: Watch Quest Means Business on CNN International, 1900pm GMT weekdays. Quest Means Business is presented by CNN's foremost international business correspondent Richard Quest. Follow him on Twitter.
(CNN) -- It is that time of the year, again. Come January no sooner have the Christmas trees been taken down, as the winter sales are in full vicious flood the world of business start thinking about going to the world economic forum, better known as Davos.
For the past three years Davos has been consumed by the eurozone sovereign debt crises.
As it worsened the speculation became ever more frantic.....Will Greece leave the euro? Will the eurozone even survive? Was this all just a big German trick to run Europe? More extreme, more dramatic, more nonsense.
Can China be the biggest engine of growth for the global economy. Round and round in circles we have gone on these subjects until frankly I did wonder if there was anything else to say short of it's a horrible mess!
This year there is a new bogey man. The US and in particular the sorry state of the country's political and budgetary process will, I have little doubt, be the center of attention.
Read more: More 'cliffs' to come in new Congress
Not just because Congress fluffed its big test on the fiscal cliff, but because in doing so it created many more deadlines, any one of which could be deeply unsettling to global markets... There is the $100 billion budget cutbacks postponed for two months by the recent agreement; postponed to the end of February.
At exactly the same time as the US Treasury's ability to rob Peter to pay Paul on the debt ceiling crises comes to a head.
Read more: Both Obama, GOP set for tough talks ahead
The Treasury's "debt suspension period" is an extraordinary piece of financial chicanery that if we tried it with our credit cards would get us locked up!! Then there is the expiration of the latest continuing resolution, the authority by which congress is spending money.
There is the terrifying prospect that all these budget woes will conflate into one big political fist fight as the US faces cutbacks, default or shutdown!!
I am being alarmist. Most rational people believe that the worst sting will be taken out of this tail....not before we have all been to the edge...and back. And that is what Davos will have on its mind.
People will be speculating about how dysfunctional the US political process has become and is it broken beyond repair (if they are not asking that then they should be...)
They will be pondering which is more serious for risk...the US budget and debt crises or the Eurozone sovereign debt debacle. A classic case of between the devil and the deep blue sea.
The official topic this year is Resilient Dynamism. I have absolutely no idea what this means. None whatsoever. It is another of WEF's ersatz themes dreamt up to stimulate debate in what Martin Sorrell has beautifully terms "davosian language" In short everyone interprets it as they will.
What I will enjoy, as I do every year, is the chance to hear the global players speak and the brightest and best thinkers give us their take on the global problems the atmosphere becomes febrile as the rock-stars of finance and economics give speeches, talk on panels and give insight.
Of course comes of these musings, it never does at Davos. That's not the point. This is a chance to take stock and see where the political and economic landmines are in 2013. I like to think of Davos as the equivalent of Control/Alt/Delete. It allows us to reboot.
We leave at least having an idea of where people stand on the big issues provided you can see through the panegyrics of self congratulatory back slapping that always takes place whenever you get like minded people in one place... And this year, I predict the big issue being discussed in coffee bars, salons and fondue houses will be the United States and its budgetary woes.
Quest: U.S. economy to dominate Davos
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The Palestinians have been waging the war through their most effective weapon they have -- lying, and using the media to spread their lies. Fake Imagery is one of their fortes.
So...Palestinians have been using this photo everywhere on facebook and twitter to accuse Israel of "war atrocities"
The photo is from 2006, and the girl died in an accident!
So who started the campaign to smear Israel? Honest Reporting has the scoop:
Our guest post from the IDF revealed how a photo, allegedly depicting the results of Israeli air strikes in Gaza in recent days, have been proven false.Read it all at Honest Reporting.
The offending photo was originally tweeted by Khulood Badawi.
Khulood Badawi happens to work for the OCHA – the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs where, according to a UN Contact List, she works as an Information and Media Coordinator.
A Google search reveals that Badawi has a history of activism in a range of pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations, some of them radical and politicized. While this background may not in itself disqualify her from a career with the UN, it is absolutely unacceptable that a UN employee working specifically on dissemination of information to the media and public tweets malicious and false information to libel Israel.
More examples of Palestinian Fauxtography at the IDF Spokesman's Blog.
PS: Want full time war coverage? Let me know in the comments...
Visiting Israel?
Learn to Shoot at Caliber-3 with top Israeli Anti-Terror Experts!
Follow the Muqata on Twitter.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד


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HOUSTON – A masterpiece created by Picasso and defaced by local artist has been restored. The vandal was captured on a cellphone video spray-painting the Picasso painting in a Houston museum.
The video hit the Internet on Wednesday. It shows a man walking up to the original 1929 Pablo Picasso masterpiece inside the Menil Collection in Montrose. He is then seen using a stencil to spray-paint the word "conquista," which is Spanish for "couquer" on the painting before taking off.
The man who took the video did not want to be identified. He said he confronted the man after he witnessed him spray-paint it and asked him why he did it. According to the witnesses, the vandal said he was an up-and-coming artist and he did it to honor Picasso's work.
"I just thought it was pretty cool how he just went up to the painting without fear, spray painted it and just walked off," the witness told Local 2.
Other museums patrons like Bryant Bell weren't too amused at the vandal's addition to the priceless artwork.
"I just think that if you desecrate art, then you should be prosecuted," a patron said.
"He defaced a work of art," said Vance Muse, the Menil Collection's communication director. "We certainly live in a time where, you know, art is appropriated. You know that sort of thing, but there are clearly limits to that. But you know, this is an act of vandalism."
The painting has since been removed from the wall and it was immediately restored. The museum said it hopes to have the painting back on the wall later this week.
"How sad that someone would enter and do something like that to a work of art that should be enjoyed by everybody," Muse said.
So far, no criminal charges have been filed in the case.
Muse said there are surveillance cameras throughout the museum. He said he does not expect there to be any security changes.


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This Girl's Mama Was Going Ham: Goes Off On Teen Girl & Her Friends Before Her Daughter Fights! (Ride Or Die)
Mom tries to talk to her first. Submitted by Happy Clapper
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The tough economy is forcing families to make grave decisions, selling off their burial plots to pay the bills.
The Wall Street Journal reports that cemeteries and funeral-property web sites have had a spike in the sale of burial plots, many of which have been in families for years.
U.S. & World
"If a customer has something that's worth $3,000, that could pay for utility bills and living expenses," Olga Fernandez, owner of California based Caskets-N-More told the Wall Street Journal. "They're not thinking of the future. They have something they're able to sell and get money for now."
Caskets-N-More, like another cemetery in Ohio, has had double the number of people liquidating their plots. One Orlando, Florida cemetery has had 44 "buybacks" in the first six months of this year, compared with 42 in all of last year, the Wall Street Journal reports.
But the recession isn't the only reason for this trend. Individuals no longer living near a family plot, and the growing acceptance of alternative death wishes like cremation, are also to blame.
Get more: The Wall Street Journal


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This is part two of a series of posts, on what to write about, when you get ready to write the European Competition Commission.
You only have seven days left to respond — now that Sanofi-Aventis is acquiring the second half of Merck's Merial animal health venture, and is also being granted the right to buy all of Intervet, post the Schering-Merck merger. [Here is the earlier part one.]
Back in the Fall of 2007, as a part of Schering-Plough's original acquisition of Organon (and Intervet), the ECC required divestitures of a slew of animal health product lines. While it is exceedingly difficult to track which concerns bought which product lines, post 2007 (out of the Organon/Intervet acquisition required divestitures), what is clear is that if Merial and Intervet are combined, even in a 50-50 joint venture between Sanofi-Aventis and "New Merck" — there will be significant, and increased, concentration in many animal health markets in Europe.
[Recall again that Sanofi-Aventis is buying Merial, from Merck, and then receiving a "call" option — to buy all of Intervet, post the Schering-Plough/Merck merger.] With me so far? Good.
We know both Merial and Intervet have substantial market positions in the multi-species rabies vaccines markets in the United Kingdom, Greece and Finland. We also know that Merial and Intervet have substantial market positions in the clostridia vaccines for ruminants markets the United Kingdom, Italy and Greece.
More specifically, by using the parties' own 2007 ECC filing data, we may infer that the following is highly-likely still true, at least to the nearest 5 to 10 percentage points of market share: These figures were derived by assuming Schering-Plough divested these lines, on Pages 37, 42 and 46 of this ECC October 2007 Filing — and then totaling Merial and Intervet's combined positions, as being the likely final outcome of the 2009-2010 proposed transactions:
. . . .Schering-Plough sells its monovalent rabies vaccine under the brands Rabdomun and Quantum. Intervet's product is marketed under the brand Nobivac. . . . At the EEA level, there are four significant competitors. The market leader is by far Merial, with a market share of [40-50]%. The other significant competitors are Intervet ([20-30]%), Virbac ([10-20]%) and Pfizer ([5-10]%). . . .
Based on data provided by the parties, the affected markets where Merial and Intervet would have a combined market share of at least 25% in the EEA at the national level are Finland, Greece and the United Kingdom:
Competitors United Kingdom Greece Finland Intervet [50-60]% [40-50]% [30-40]% Merial/Sanofi [30-40]% [40-50]% [30-40]% M/I COMBO [95-100]% [90-100]% [60-70]%
Folks — that's nearly what we call a monopoly, in two big markets — and highly concentrated in the third large market, to boot.
It would seem that the European Competition Commission ought to take the view that the proposed concentration raises serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market as regards the markets for monovalent multispecies rabies vaccines in Finland, Greece and the United Kingdom. . . .
Ruminant Vaccines
At the EEA level, Schering-Plough [even with several intervening divestitures, post 2007] and Intervet are the clear market leaders on the market for multivalent clostridia vaccines for ruminants (the term "ruminant" includes farm animals — cattle, sheep and goat, but not pigs). The other important competitors that market clostridia vaccines for ruminants in the EEA are Hipra and Merial (each with a 8-antigen vaccines for sheep, cattle and goats) and CEVA (with a 3-antigen vaccine for cattle and sheep and a 6-antigen vaccine for sheep and goats). . . .
The table below sets out the market share of the parties and of their competitors on the broader market for multivalent clostridia vaccines for ruminants, including multivalent clostridials/pasteurella vaccines in these countries in 2006 (no other participant — except whomever Schering-Plough divested to, in 2007 — had more than 20 percent share in any of these markets, as of 2006):
Competitors United Kingdom Greece Italy Intervet [80-90]% [50-60]% [20-30]% Merial/Sanofi [0-5]% [0-5]% [40-50]% M/I COMBO [85-90]% [55-60]% [65-70]%
These concentrations raise serious concerns.
. . . .[Even after divesting ECC mandated lines in 2007] Schering-Plough retained the right to manufacture the ten-strain clostridial vaccine, but agreed to re-register and rebrand it, as the trademark Covexin was transferred to the purchaser. . . .
So, this is yet a[nother] public service mailer — print, or cut and paste the above, and mail in the next ten days — if you are at all concerned about preserving European price- and product-offering competition in animal health businesses. Mail it (Old School-style) to this address:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Competition
Merger Registry
1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
"Whiskey for my men; beer for my horses. . . ."


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Time as always is marching on and here at Vintage Bazaar HQ we are busy making preparations for the first Christmas Vintage Bazaar on Saturday 15th December at The Cheese and Grain in Frome. BA11 1BE.
Hollywell will be showing Hand stitched Christmas fairies and ornaments in Velvet, Silk and Liberty Lawns.
The Washerwoman will be bringing velvet and faux fur shawls as well as 1940s costume for both ladies and gentlemen.
Donna Flower will be with us again! Hoorah!
Niki will be accompanied by her wonderful dolls and other festive delights. As always, her stand will be packed with gorgeous things.
We are delighted to showcase the latest look from The Vintage Bothy which can be described as divine, decadent and sumptuous with a Bohemian twist!
The Poacher's Pocket will be bringing her funky range of reworked Vintage Clothing.
Time after Time are joining us this time with a selection of Vintage Crockery, Kitchenalia. and other Vintage treasures.
Beyond France joins us once again. Click link to their gorgeous new website!
Alice from BBC Homes and Antiques magazine is joining us for the day with special subscription offers and Vintage Christmas goods.
Vintage Advertising Memorabilia, Enamel signs and Kitchenalia.
Texworks will be joining us with upcycled Vintage clothing and accessories.
Vintage Sparkle from Enigma Fashions!
Please join us on Saturday 15th December for a special day of Christmas shopping!


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Notice: On April 23, 2014, Statalist moved from an email list to a forum, based at statalist.org.
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Re: st: Interval censoring using intcens
Steve Samuels <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Re: st: Interval censoring using intcens
Thu, 2 Aug 2012 15:30:34 -0400
Patrick Munywoki:
I don't see a role for MI, as it requires that one knows when variables are missing. But if no infections are recorded between times t1 and t2, you can't tell: either there was no infection or one started and stopped before it could be detected.
As Stephen suggests, prior knowledge about bounds will be helpful. If, for example, the anticipated minimum duration is 3 days, then one would miss all infections that start <1 day into a four day interval, which would be about 1/8 of infections. If the anticipated minimum was 4 days, then you'd miss no infections in people who missed no visits.
Beyond this I think you need a Bayesian approach. I don't know the literature, but you might find some ideas at:
Hatfield, L.A., Boye, M.E., Hackshaw, M.D., and Carlin, B.P. (2012), ``Multilevel Bayesian models for survival times and longitudinal patient-reported outcomes with many zeros," to appear J. Amer. Statist. Assoc.
which can be found, with BUGS code, at Brad Carlin's page:
On Aug 2, 2012, at 7:13 AM, <firstname.lastname@example.com> <email@example.com> wrote:
The key additional piece of information that you now provide is that, in
your panel, there are missing data at some time points for some
One way of viewing this is to say that the interval-widths in the
interval censoring may vary from individual to individual (because of
missing data). In terms of the strategy, that I outlined, I think that
makes the programming of the likelihood more complicated because the
strategy I proposed assumed that the n'th interval along the survival
time axis is the same for all subjects. Judicious collapsing of
intervals might help get around this problem -- at least in the single
spell case -- but with multiple spells, your missing data points are
related to deciding when one spell finishes and another starts.
Whatever, the point is that you have incomplete information. So to
proceed you'll have to bring in more information of some kind in some
I see your proposal to use MI as related to that. But, as ever with MI,
and especially in your context, what is your imputation model going to
Related: one approach might be to see if some sort of bounding approach
is possible. E.g. what would happen if you filled in all gaps assuming
that they were non-infectious times points or, alternatively, were all
infectious time points? (These are 2 imputation models ... ) I think
some researchers have used these approaches when modelling poverty spell
lengths using household panel data with annual interviews, and sometimes
income is missing at the interview so annual poverty status cannot
always be ascertained. Sorry, but I can't recall references.
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 11:58:21 +0100
From: Patrick Munywoki <email@example.com>
Subject: Re: st: Interval censoring using intcens
Many thanks for the suggestions.
The main problem in my dataset is i do not have an exact date/time of
the study participants either started or stopped shedding the
virus of interest. note i sample participant twice-a-week hence there
intervals of 3 to 4 days(longer in cases where sample was not collected)
between sample collections for all the participants. Any further ideas
how to analyse this data is welcome.
I am currently thinking of using imputation techniques to determine when
the infection episodes started and ended before i proceed with the
analysis. Your thoughts on this approach is also welcome.
On 29 July 2012 13:02, <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote:
> Steve Samuels provided very good advice. Some other reflections from
> -intcens- (on SSC) is a program that fits parametric _continuous_
> survival time distributions to interval-censored survival time data
> (a.k.a. as grouped or discrete time data). The program doesn't allow
> time-varying covariates. It has one row per spell/obs -- convenient
> the maximisation by -ml-.
> I'm not sure that -stpm- (which you ask about) is appropriate for
> interval-censored data. I would check further if I were you. (If it
> then also check out -stpm2- which is more flexible and faster. Use
> -findit- to get latest version -- it's from SJ or SSC.)
> You could think more generally about models for interval-censored data
> -- see the MS and lessons off my survival analysis webpages (URL
> for discussion and references. This shows how you can fit models
> make no assumption about the shape of the underlying survival time
> distribution. (You can assume shapes for the interval-hazard if you
> wish; but can also assume interval-specific values if you wish and
> data allow it.) And time-varying covariates can be easily
> More complicated is what to do with multiple spells. (You don't
> them explicitly, but it sounds as if you have them according to your
> description.) The key issue is non-independence across spells from
> same person. Steve Samuels remarked on this and suggested clustering
> standard errors (persons as clusters). An alternative is to assume
> parametric form for the individual-specific effect that generates the
> non-independence across spells from the same person -- this is
> a.k.a. 'unobserved heterogeneity'. The most straightforward of
> this would be:
> * Reorganise (expand) your data so that you have one row in data set
> each interval that each person is at risk of infection, and create an
> event occurrence indicator y_it for person i and interval t (see my
> Lessons)
> * Create any time-varying covariates required. At minimum, this will
> some specification for the duration dependence of the interval hazard
> * fit a -xtcloglog- model with the binary outcome variable being y_it.
> This assumes that the person-specific frailty is normal (Gaussian). Or
> just fit a -cloglog- model if you want to ignore frailty. Either way,
> you would be fitting the interval-censored model corresponding to an
> underlying continuous time model that satisfies the proportional
> assumption. (That assumption can be tested using interactions between
> explanatory variables and the variables summarising duration
> dependence.) An alternative would be -xtlogit- and -logit- to data
> organised in the same way.
> [Cf. -pgmhaz8- and -hshaz- (on SSC) which also fit discrete time
> proportional hazards models with frailty (Gamma, and discrete mass
> point, respectively), but only to single spell data. -xtcloglog- and
> -xtlogit- work with multiple spell data because the frailty is
> integrated out numerically.]
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If you're anything like the gleefully obsessed "New Moon" fans we chatted with in the days leading up to the film's release, you've already seen Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner's on-screen love triangle play out multiple times. But that doesn't mean you're not going to watch it again and again when the DVD hits stores.
In honor of the disc's release on March 20, director Chris Weitz sat down with MTV News to reveal five things you probably didn't know about "New Moon." Here's what we learned.
Going for the Gold: In "Twilight," RPattz and the rest of his vegetarian vampire cohorts have gold-colored eyes as a result of abstaining from consuming human blood. For "New Moon," the vamps' eyes were clearly more golden. Why'd Weitz have his actors switch to brighter contact lenses?
"It's a more noticeable gold," Weitz said. "I thought that in the first film they hadn't popped quite enough and I wanted to have that sense of otherworldliness carry through more."
The Silent Vampire: Actress Rachelle Lefevre was notoriously replaced in her role as the vampire Victoria following "New Moon," with Bryce Dallas Howard taking over the part for "Eclipse." In "New Moon," Lefevre is seen but does not speak. Is there a connection between her lack of lines and what happened with the casting decision?
"It wasn't so much that," Weitz said. "There was a dialogue scene with her, and eventually that will show up whenever they release deleted scenes. It was one of those scenes that, when you look back at it, it's kind of a surplus to the whole storytelling requirement of the movie. So there was no ill intent there. I wrote Rachelle and explained why that scene didn't end up in the film, and in terms of filmmaking I can't regret it, although I do regret it very much if it hurt Rachelle's feelings."
Why So Torn Up, Edward?: At one point in the film, Pattinson's Edward Cullen appears in a ripped T-shirt, but we never learn why. So ... what the heck happened?
"What it's supposed to be is that he's essentially been wearing the same clothes for several months, and that eventually they've just worn out because, as you I'm sure know, his body is like stone. So he must've rubbed up against something and it ripped," Weitz said.
Our Lord?: In its Italian-set portions, "New Moon" features a significant amount of religious iconography, and Edward certainly suffers a great deal. Is he supposed to be a Christ figure?
"I think that he is in a sense he's doomed to suffer eternally," Weitz said. "He actually thinks of himself as a damned figure, but he's wrong about that. So in some senses, yeah, he is a martyr figure."
Black Eyes: In Stephenie Meyer's book, Edward's eyes go black in Italy. Why don't his eyes turn in the film?
"It's because I screwed up!" Weitz admitted.
Really? He just forgot?
"Well, yeah, I kinda did," he said. "Well, there are two reasons. One is that I messed up. The other reason is that I actually thought that onscreen it would be quite bizarre to see his eyes go completely black, and that it would be more satisfying and less jarring to have that moment of reunion be a reunion with revivified Edward. But probably, the long and the short of it, there are many details that I did not drop the ball on, and there are some that I did."
source: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1633314/story.jhtml


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Things could get hot in California this summer. Really hot.
Cal Fire, also known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, has announced that it will no longer pay for the services of one of the most effective weapons available for battling wildfires: A massive DC 10 supertanker that's been retrofitted to carry up to 12,000 gallons of fire retardant.
Included in the deal was a second DC 10 that acts as a backup. One supertanker and another on standby for the 120-day season at a cost of $7 million.
U.S. & World
So how valuable are these supertankers?
Think of it in military terms. The best way to "soften" up a target on the ground is to hit it from the air. Do what can be done from above before, or at least at the same time as the "boots on the ground".
Rick Hatton, the CEO of the company that owns the aircraft calls the move penny wise and pound-foolish.
He's got a good point.
In the face of a fast-spreading wildfire near a populated area, 12,000 gallons of retardant deployed in a single drop could mean the difference between saving a neighborhood and driveways that lead to heaps of burning ashes.
Hard to match that kind of effectiveness with smaller tankers and helicopters with Bambi buckets.
The decision comes at a time when cities like San Jose have announced the "browning out" of two fire engines each day. They've already laid off 49 firefighters and you can bet that in that city of a million people there will be delays in response time.
San Diego, however has just ended a 17-month policy that kept 8 fire engines out of the mix each day.
Officials recognized the value of a full compliment of engines when a toddler choked to death in July of 2010. Response times had slowed due to the brownouts.
Could the toddler have been saved if a response had come sooner?
The decision not to renew the contract for the supertankers is a calculated risk by the state.
Is $7 million over 120 days worth the expense?
If you're someone who's lived through a wildfire, lost a home to a wildfire or fought a wildfire the answer is yes.
But if you're in charge of scratching out the check things are different. Facing a budget crisis and no guarantee of an excessively dry, hot season, the decision is clearly a roll of the dice.
Let's just hope this season the dice don't come up "snake eyes."


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The three points looking ahead to Saturday's SuperClásico against Chivas USA…
The primary question heading into Saturday's SuperClásico will be just how many changes Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena opts to make to a squad that earned four points on a recent Pacific Northwest road swing.
Against Vancouver on Wednesday, Arena opted for a "winner's XI" by selecting the same starting lineup that earned a victory in Portland just days earlier, but the Galaxy head coach is unlikely to repeat the squad for a third time on Saturday. With eight players going at least 80-plus minutes in both games on the unforgiving turf surfaces at JELD-WEN Field and BC Place, the Galaxy are expected to shuffle the deck -- to some degree -- against Chivas. While Arena has rarely shown a willingness to make sweeping changes, the three most likely inclusions for Saturday are Juninho, Omar Gonzalez and Bryan Gaul.
In his first game back from suspension, Juninho came off the bench in the second half and played an integral part in the Galaxy's comeback against the Whitecaps. Juninho made his presence felt by not only settling an occasionally inconsistent Galaxy midfield, but also by dishing the final pass that led to Jose Villarreal's game-tying goal. Meanwhile, Gonzalez has long targeted the SuperClásico as a potential return date and could retake his starting role in central defense – for 45 minutes at least – against the Rojiblancos. While Gonzalez and Juninho's inclusions are based on form, Gaul is likely to be an injury replacement for left back Todd Dunivant, who remains hobbled by a right calf injury.
Both Chivas USA and the Galaxy head into the SuperClásico on a roll as of late, thanks to two dramatically different approaches.
Recently, the Galaxy have earned results by overwhelming clubs with an electric attack spearheaded by their three biggest stars Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane. But on the other end of The Home Depot Center hallway, Chivas' success comes from their impressive defense, which is headlined by 2012 MLS All-Star goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
While Kennedy has been stellar in net this season, the match will ultimately depend on the Galaxy's ability to place Chivas' center backs Danny Califf and John Alexander Valencia under pressure. Califf has stabilized the Rojiblancos back four since arriving from the Philadelphia Union in mid-May, but Chivas' defense has been prone to errors when matched up against an aggressive attack.
For the Galaxy to defeat Chivas USA on Saturday, they'll need their midfield to display a consistent performance after an uneven showing midweek against Vancouver.
In the first half against the Whitecaps, the Galaxy midfield found themselves deep in their own end from the start from pressure by Vancouver's Gerson Koffie and Barry Robson. However, once Arena brought on Juninho in a move that saw David Beckham sent out to the left flank, the Galaxy attack grew more dynamic and ultimately erased their two goal deficit. After their success in the late stages of the game on Wednesday, expect the Galaxy to deploy a similar high pressure system in midfield against Chivas on Saturday.
LA's quest to control the midfield on Saturday will be aided by the absence of Chivas' midfield engine Oswaldo Minda due to a shoulder injury. With Minda absent, the onus falls on Chivas' midfield combo of Nick LaBrocca and Ben Zemanski to battle with the likes of Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas for control in the center of the park.
Read Adam Serrano's LA Galaxy Insider Blog at lagalaxy.com/insider


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On a recent visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, a few of the city's most creative chefs wowed me with their integrity in using only seasonal ingredients to create exceptional award winning dishes
When you visit Nova Scotia you relax, eat well and meet families who for generations have relied on the earth and the sea . . . farmers, fisherman and artisans. Many of these people have poignant, sad and fascinating stories to tell about their bountiful and beloved Province
Halifax is closer than you think. With a rich seafaring heritage and cultural diversity is a great destination any time of the year. Food tastes better here. The fresh caught lobster was sweet and tender . . . the people warm and welcoming
The curing power of touch is an ancient mystery, as old as the world itself
They make guests feel they are in Mexico, by drawing on Mexico's rich traditions and history
Lufthansa takes the challenges of attracting and pleasing passengers very seriously, and food plays an important role in onboard entertainment
After reading several reviews on the Poesia, one of 12 cruise ships in the MSC portfolio (including the new Preziosa), I was looking forward to boarding and living my own review
Sunsets looking out to sea from The Four Seasons Punta Mita are spectacular. A large crimson sun struggles to prolong its decent into the horizon
Needless to say with its elegant décor, outdoor Jacuzzi and private massage table, it is fit for royalty, which is exactly how Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit treats all their guests
On the charming, warm and intimate veranda of Casa Velas: pet peacocks strut by and families of gold fish swim back and forth in small ponds
Aspira Spa at The Osthoff Resort is a sanctuary. Aspira means "infused with spirit", and many of the holistic treatments on the spa menu are rooted in the ancient healing wisdom of indigenous people from this region
The Osthoff Resort embraces many sacred healing traditions
TOPAZ RESTAURANT … the jewel of Istanbul is one of my favorite places for lunch or dinner. Its serene and inspiring atmosphere, with a spectacular view of the Bosporus and the Dolmabahce Mosque was created by renowned International designer Koray Ozgen
A stay at any Ritz Carlton Hotel or Resort is the ultimate in exceptional hospitality and impeccable service; every guest is treated as the hotel's most important guest. The Ritz Carlton Istanbul lives up to that reputation with rave reviews
You may not be to the manor born, but you can check into a 5 star manor that treats its guests like royalty
Conveniently located between Ft. Lauderdale beach and Miami Beach, a destination with two very different ambiances. The beachfront hotel, with almost 1,000 rooms and over 200,000 square feet of meeting space, is an ideal location for conventions and conferences
OAXACA, a colonial treasure in the south of Mexico, is proud to be considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and eritage Site in its pre and post Colombian heritage, history and culture date back more than 3,000 years
Louisiana is working hard to showcase the state as a premier culinary destination by launching and promoting Seven "hungry for adventure" Culinary Trails
The exhibit, dating back 7 million years, is fascinating and highly informative. Upon entering the exhibition space, a short film highlights Ethiopia's rich cultural history that has earned the country 8 World Heritage designated Sites
Ireland … How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways
* The fun, humor and banter of your people
* The Anglo-Irish homes and quaint fishing villages
* Where every stone you turn reveals history
* The crystal clarity of your lakes, and rivers
* Your majestic heather-covered Sperrin Mountains
Business Class service in both directions on FINNAIR was relaxing, low key and totally stress free, thanks to the highly attentive team of in-flight attendants who enjoyed lavishing passengers with excellent service and better- than- I -expected food
Hilton Head Island is one of my favorite places on the Eastern Coast
"St Louis is something for everyone, if you're open to getting out there and doing things; we're hoping more people take advantage of all the city offers"
Trailing of the Sheep Festival honors the history and culture of sheep ranching in Ketchum & Hailey, Idaho
Dave Koz and friends 4th annual Smooth Jazz Cruise sets sail on Holland America"s Westerdam . . . I am onboard to swing and sway
It is easy to fall in love with New Orleans: a feast for the palate and the soul
Terminal C at Newark Airport celebrates the launch of nonstop service to Mont-Tremblant Airport in the province of Quebec
OPIA Restaurant, on the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel at 57th Street and Lexington Avenue, is a great neighborhood hangout
The Taiwanese hip-hop group Kou Chou Ching held three concerts in New York on their 2009 World Tour. Four of the five young and highly talented members, ranging in age from 20 to 29, performed
There's no place like New York City during the holidays. It's the most festive time of the year; the world famous Christmas trees at Rockefeller Center is ablaze with thousands of bright colored lights
My friend Kris King, publisher of ejazztravel, calls me a "jazz head" now that I follow jazz beats around the world. Last November, I cruised from Lauderdale to the Caribbean with Dav Koz & friends
Todd Barkan, jazz historian, raconteur, producer and artistic director, has had a passionate love affair with music for most of his life. He is well suited for his current gig as the Programming Director of Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola,
If service is the secret to success, A Voce Columbus, the newest addition to Time Warner Center's roster of fine dining restaurants, has my endorsement
Monday, November 16th,, was a very special black-tie evening for the elegantly dressed crowd who rode the elevator to the 5th floor of the Time Warner Center to attend Jazz at Lincoln Center's festive 2009 Fall Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall
The Russian American Cultural Center celebrated their 11th Anniversary, and the success of its exhibition "Homage to Diaghilev's Enduring Legacy
The Taiwanese hip-hop group Kou Chou Ching held three concerts in New York on their 2009 World Tour
Quebec City, capital of the Province of Quebec and home to 700,000 French speaking charming and friendly people, is a very special destination, every season of the year
MONTENAPO … RESTAURANTE DELLA MODA has opened in the New York Times Building at 8th Avenue and 41st Street, where the theater and fashion districts intersect
Quebec is one big happening; Canadians love and support their Ouebec City Summer Festival, and the streets are packed with people, especially Rue Saint Jean, a narrow street lined with restaurants, cafes and shops
St. Louis Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009 in its third year was sponsored by Budweiser Select and took place at The Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels
Finlandia Vodka Cup, the annual global drink contest where bartenders from everywhere meet at the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland to showcase their talents and compete for the global trophy and the title " Finlandia Bartender of the Year"…
Helena Niskanen, the New York marketing rep for Visit Finland, and the Finland Tourist Board, suggests I extend my visit to Lapland to include 36 Hours in Helsinki
Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage steps into the role of Astrophysics Professor John Koestler in the riveting new film "KNOWING"
A Delicious Taste of Moscow in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Cartagena, the 2nd oldest city in Colombia, is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in Latin America
I highly recommend a visit to this cultural and fun treasure, "the only risk will be wanting to stay"
The Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel, originally the Santa Clara de Asis Convent, has been witness to centuries of Colombia's history
The Village Club in Sands Point was the scene of an emotional, fun and festive Project Cuddle fund raiser party and auction that attracted a well dressed crowd of Long Island residents
Spirit Airlines is flying high, expanding their dominance in the Caribbean and routes to South America
Mongolia is located between China and Russia. It is home of the legendary Chinggis Khan, nomadic herders, the Gobi desert, and rich folk tradition. Its Capital city, Ulaanbaatar, offers five-star accommodations and direct links to international hubs
At a time when the high cost of fuel is forcing airlines to eliminate or cut back on food and amenities in economy class, some airlines are flying high with gourmet cuisines to attract and indulge connoisseur Business and First Class passengers
Yachting on the SeaDream I or SeaDream II (sister ships) can best be described as "living one's dreams"
I am sorry to leave Istanbul, a city that welcomed me into its embrace and treated me like an Ottoman Princess. Turkey rates an A+ in my notebook of "Unforgettable Places and Memorable Visits"
If low key elegance and laid back pleasures are your style, welcome aboard the Papa Jo, as I was . . .
The Ritz Carlton Istanbul is the ultimate in exceptional hospitality and impeccable service; every guest is treated as the hotel's most important guest
To celebrate 500 years of pasta making, "A TASTE OF NAPOLI SWEEPSTAKES" is giving away amazing vacations to 3 lucky winners
I look out on Vancouver's snow capped mountains and one of the most picturesque cities in the world. The 180 degree view from my terrace is inspiring; fluffy clouds and mist hang low; torrential rain gives in to afternoon sun
Vancouver, one of the most picturesque cities in the world, it is also cultivating its future as a culinary innovator
I love train rides, and THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER will be remembered as one of my favorites
Majestic Banff National Park, established in 1885, the first in Canada, the third in the world, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is rich in nature, national historic sites, ski resorts and golf courses
Wrangler, the proud sponsor of Stampede 2007 is tickled pink their visionary theme: "Tough Enough To Wear Pink " raises $576,155 in just 30 hours for Canadian Breast Cancer, thanks to the support of the entire town
November 15-18, 2007, the sultry sounds of the Inaugural Blue Bay Jazz Fest on the United States Virgin Island of St.Croix
Peru is a country of unsolved ancient mysteries, priceless archeological treasures and a cuisine as diverse as the country itself
In spite of its presence in chic Peru nightclubs, Afro- Peruvian music, also known as Negro-Peruvian music, remains one of the world's best kept cultural secrets—suppressed along with the people who gave them life and nourished them


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View All
Women's Bags
Exotic textures, wild prints, bold hardware—the right bag is your outfit's pièce de résistance. Your bag exemplifies your personality and brings your full look together. No matter if it's a neutral suede or dripping in gems, you'll find the perfect bag at Sole Society. We constantly update our curated selection of handbags to include the newest trends, the best brands, and, most importantly, the best prices.
Styles of Bags We Offer
Whether you're a classic girl that rocks a genuine leather crossbody bag every day or if your motto is "the bigger, the bolder, the better", you'll find the perfect bag to complement your unique style at Sole Society. We hand select every bag you see above to ensure you find a perfect fit. Every bag is built with quality stitching, long lasting closures, and effortless style. From crossbodys to clutches to totes, we've got every style of bag ready and waiting to call your closet home.
Styling with your Bag
Your bag is more than just an accessory. It's an extension of your personality. Not only do they provide you with function, but also let you add one more element to your outfit. Not sure which bag is right for your next event? If you're headed to sushi with the girls, try a statement clutch with your black-on-black outfit. If the dance floor is in your near future, try a simple, leather crossbody bag with a secure closure so you can get your freak on without losing your valuables. Bring a styled tote out to brunch with your day-long essentials, and try a mini backpack purse for day-long festivities with the gang. We've got a bag for an and all occasions.


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Creative Spotlight: Tad Carpenter's Sad Santa Book
'Tis the season for some holiday-inspired creative work! Tad Carpenter is no stranger to us when it comes to sharing some of his great pieces of artwork. He was a part of our Creative Suite Spotlight series and was featured on our Design Center showcase for his interpretation of the 'Modern Day Venus.' This time around, we reached out to Tad regarding his recent book, Sad Santa, which was created using a number Creative Suite 6 applications.
Get a feel for his book in the below animated teaser and get an even more in-depth understanding to how Tad found his inspiration for the project in a Q&A exchange we had with him.
Adobe: What's the background and creative process for your Sad Santa book?
Tad Carpenter: Working on Sad Santa was a dream come true. It was 100% a project built on passion. It was an idea I was kicking around in my head for sometime and decided to take the time to make it a reality. I wrote the manuscript and created several examples of how I envisioned the artwork looking and the book being designed to start. I was lucky enough to have contacts with various publishers I had done work with prior and then started to shop the concept around. I was thrilled with the feedback I got from publishers, and Sterling Books quickly acquired it.
What inspired you to create this book?
This book was written and illustrated shortly after getting married to my best friend and now wife, Jessica. After planning a wedding for over a year, it came and went so quickly. We planned a huge party for all our friends and family for an entire year and then it was over. I thought, "I bet this is how Santa feels each year." He works all year for one day and just like that, it is over. No doubt December 26th has to be an awful and horrible day for Santa. So, after many conversations with Santa himself, I was right! Santa does get the post-holiday blues. When the toys are all made, the presents handed out, and the Christmas cookies eaten, Santa is miserable. Will Santa ever feel like his old holly-jolly self again? What will cheer him up? And with that, the idea for the book was born.
Do you have any useful tips to share with our community?
Passion projects are good. Sad Santa started as a little sketch and a few lines of copy in my sketchbook. I was passionate about the idea and the project. No one was initially paying me to work on this project but I knew something was there. Always trust your gut and make your vision happen.
Any other details you'd like to share with the community about the project?
One thing I want all the kids and parents to do this year and make a tradition moving forward is this: Since Santa's most difficult day of the year is December 26th after all the presents have been delivered, make sure you drop a little thank you note to Santa in the mail on that day so he knows how much you care. That will surely give the big guy a smile. 🙂


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Move over, iOS: CoreLabs Research has posted a public notification of a potential security vulnerability in Mac OS X's sandboxing mechanisms. According to CoreLabs, it's possible for sandboxed apps to trigger external processes that aren't sandboxed and possibly gain privileges not granted by a particular sandboxing profile. The revelation comes shortly after Apple announced it would force apps distributed via its Mac App Store to use sandboxing, ostensibly to increase security for Mac OS X users.
Apps that conform to Apple's sandbox design use a set of "entitlement" profiles defined by Apple; those profiles determine which system resources it can use and which are off limits. CoreLabs discovered that some of the limits in the default profiles can actually be circumvented by triggering certain Apple Events. In particular, Apple Events can cause
launchd to launch a separate process without sandbox restrictions.
CoreLabs explained that a default profile that restricts an app from network access, for instance, could open a socket via osascript, thereby working around the network access restriction. Beyond the obvious potential for a malicious app to break out of the sandbox, these default profiles also set a potentially bad example for developers who think they are locking down their apps properly. "If the no-network profile allows AppleScript events, this may result in new applications using the same restriction rules, therefore offering a false sense of security," CoreLabs explained in its vulnerability report.
Senior Product Manager Alex Horan criticized Apple's response to the vulnerability as well—the response being nothing, mostly. After being notified of the vulnerability, Apple apparently decided to merely modify its documentation to point out "that the restrictions that these particular sandbox profiles provide are limited to the process in which the sandbox is applied."
Horan believes this could leave users at risk. He noted that similar sandboxing profile vulnerabilities were discovered by security researcher Charlie Miller in 2008. "At that time Apple modified the profile to prevent the vulnerability reported from being triggered, so the question remains: why has Apple chosen not to do that in this instance?" he wrote.
If Apple's response to sandbox flaws is to ignore them—as it appears to have done in this case—then users will end up with apps limited by the sandboxing restrictions without the improved security they were promised.
Of course, developers are still debating whether Apple's sandboxing requirements will actually improve security or not. Security researcher Jonathan Zdziarski told Ars that he believes the potential downsides aren't worth the supposed security improvements. Noted Mac OS X developer Wil Shipley wrote that sandboxing simply isn't an elegant solution to security issues on the desktop as it has been on iOS. "[Sandboxing] entitlements are a binary solution—if there's a hole anywhere in it that malware authors find, then there's really not much Apple can do until they issue a full operating system patch," he wrote.


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Seeing your entire roster would help...
Sorry but I need some help A.S.A.P. Do you have time to give me your feedback on this offer?
This is a REALY hard one to accept & I need some help.
I have currently 3 injured players and not sure if I should wait it out when there all back in good shape witch could be in 4-6 weeks or take the risk of trading for Berkmarn, Atkins, Hughes & Sanchez!
Aramis Ramírez (Chc - 3B)
Kevin Youkilis (Bos - 1B,3B)
Brandon Webb (Ari - SP)
Lance Berkman (Hou - 1B)
Garrett Atkins(Col - 1B,3B)
Phil Hughes (NYY - SP)
Jonathan Sánchez (SF - SP)
Do I accept his offer?