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The chairman of the University of Colorado committee tasked with investigating the university's treatment of tenured sociology professor Patti Adler stepped down Friday over controversial comments he made at a Boulder Faculty Assembly meeting.
Mike Klymkowsky, a professor in CU's molecular, cellular and developmental biology department, resigned from his volunteer post as chairman of the committee created to look into the processes and procedures followed by university administrators in Adler's situation.
Adler drew national attention in recent months after she said university administrators pushed her toward an early retirement over concerns about a prostitution skit in her long-running course, "Deviance in U.S. Society."
In January, the Boulder Faculty Assembly created two ad hoc committees, one to investigate what happened to Adler and another to look into the university's Office of Discrimination and Harassment, the body that investigates all complaints of discrimination and harassment when the accused party is a university employee.
Both committees are expected to produce a report of their findings by May 1.
At a Thursday general meeting of the Boulder Faculty Assembly, Klymkowsky spoke to the group about his committee's charge — to look into the processes and procedures the university used or did not use in Adler's case.
He asserted that he felt academic freedom was not an issue in Adler's case, and that Adler had committed "malpractice" by asking teaching assistants to portray prostitutes for her class.
Several faculty members voiced their discomfort with Klymkowsky leading the committee after the opinions he expressed.
"I have to say that almost everything you have said since you stood up there, I'm uncomfortable with," said Mike Ritzwoller, a CU physics professor and member of the Adler committee. "I'm concerned about the procedures we're going to put in place to ensure the committee members have an equal say because I can barely sit in my seat after listening to this."
Paul Chinowsky, the assembly's chairman, said the committee is working to find a replacement for Klymkowsky, who in addition to stepping down as chairman removed himself from the committee entirely.
He said the assembly is committed to conducting an unbiased investigation into what happened in Adler's case.
"It's very important to (the faculty) that this whole process stay unbiased and professional," Chinowsky said. "That's what you're seeing. We're taking the steps necessary to make sure that's the way it is. If we think there's not impartiality from the beginning, we're going to make sure that that's taken care of up front. We want everybody to feel like the process is being looked at fairly and evenly."
Klymkowsky wrote in a letter he emailed to the Adler committee that he cannot lead the committee because he has already formed an opinion.
"I feel like I had made it too clear what I think," Klymkowsky said in an interview with the Daily Camera. "I'm probably not the tabula rasa that other people might like. I'm an opinionated fella. I have strong opinions. I realize I was not the right person for the job. I realized that I had a pretty clear understanding of what was going on and I didn't feel the committee was comfortable with it. I was just not the right person to do it."
Adler, who is not a member of the assembly and was not present at Thursday's meeting, said she heard from colleagues about Klymkowsky's comments.
When she heard Klymkowsky had stepped down, Adler said she was relieved.
"I welcome it," she said. "I certainly hope they contact me and communicate with me for information."
Committee will not investigate philosophy
Klymkowsky wrote in the letter that he thought the Adler committee would also look into the processes and procedures the university followed surrounding the philosophy department. An independent report released last week found pervasive sexual harassment within that department, but philosophy faculty members said they were blindsided when what they thought was a confidential report was made public.
In his letter, Klymkowsky wrote that after discussion at a Boulder Faculty Assembly executive committee meeting, he was under the impression "that the committee was expected to consider the situation in philosophy, and was taken aback when that idea was quickly quashed."
At the Thursday assembly meeting, Chinowsky told the group that the Adler committee would not look into the situation in the philosophy department.
"What (executive committee members) said was, 'We need to keep these separate,'" Chinowsky said. "'We don't know enough about the facts in philosophy; let's keep them separate.' So that may have been where the confusion was."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Sarah Kuta at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Welcome to Your Library's New Catalog Page
Say hello to our new online catalog! PLS is happy to introduce our new interactive library catalog that incorporates social networking and web 2.0 features such as user ratings and virtual shelves,in addition to all of the traditional catalog functions (searching, online renewals, placing holds, checking fines)... 7012319417
Please Select Your Home Library To Begin Using Our New Catalog Today!
Each jurisdiction now has its own homepage. Please select your home library and don't forget to bookmark it for future use.
This link will take you to the (681) 522-0774

subset: commoncrawl


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This Week for Children @ the Bay View Library (4/013/14-4/19/14)
Story Time: This week we will be celebrating the Easter holiday with a special story time.  Stories about eggs and egg hunts will be shared followed by a basket craft. Afterwards join us for the great library egg hunt. Story time takes place every Thursday at 10:30. Ages 2-4.
This Tuesday's Kids Club: This week is week two of our four week series featuring Artists Working in Education. A.W.E. does a great job of using children's books to illustrate art techniques and then helping kids create their own works of art. Tuesdays, April 8, 15, 22, 29. 6-7:30 p.m. Grades K5- 5th. http://www.awe-inc.org/
Many Milwaukee Public Libraries have A.W.E. workshops: http://www.mpl.org/file/kids_calendar_spring.pdf
Teacher in the Library will not take place this week as M.P.S. is out for spring break but Mrs Karen will return next week.


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Bill Introduced to Protect Farmer Identities, Disaster Relief Available
- A fairly important little piece of agricultural news as legislation was recently co-sponsored to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from releasing personal data on livestock producers to the public.
The bill responds to an incident last year in which the EPA released personal data including names, telephone numbers and email addresses on a number of agricultural operations when responding to a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
House Resolution 4157, the Farmer Identity Protection Act, would prohibit the EPA from releasing such data when complying with FOIA requests.
- A recent public service announcement had the administrator of the USDA's Farm service agency, Juan Garcia, telling livestock producers that disasters such as droughts and storms fires and unexpected freezes have caused serious economic hardships.
Garcia said thanks to the new farm bill, the FSA is now able to offer livestock disaster assistance in order to help ranchers.


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In the past 6-9 months or so new slang has entered into the WoW vocabulary. I'm not entirely sure how it happened or where it came from, but it's there. I'm sure you have all heard it, are familiar with it and perhaps even use it! The term that I'm referring to is "pro".
As far as I can tell, to be "pro" is to do something exceptionally well.
The problem is, I hate the phrase. Perhaps it's just my old age coming through, and my dislike of this new-fangled term is just me being stodgy. (Hell, let's face it, I still find Tom Selleck, circa Magnum PI, as the pinnacle of a gorgeous man!). I mean I also disliked it when people said "Money" or "$$" back when it was the term du jour in Vanilla WoW. Maybe I just dislike all slang terms, and am a stuck up goody tooshoes, who knows. I just know that every time I see/hear the phrase "pro" I cringe a little bit on the inside.
Because I dislike the term, I thought perhaps I should try to pinpoint exactly why I don't like it. So I started thinking about what it is about the phrase that rubs me the wrong way. What is it that makes me /sigh every time I hear or read the term. I mean, it's just a word right? Why does it bother me so damn much? And ultimately I think it comes down to the fact that I think the word, or the phrases, are somewhat degrading and condescending.
I know, I know. Those of you that find this word in your vocabulary probably think that I'm off my rocker. But really, I think this is why I dislike the usage of this word about 98% of the time! Let's take a few examples of its usage, and see if I can better pinpoint or analyze my feelings.
- Pro Tip – To me, this just says "I'm awesome, and this is the awesome way to do it". Really? Why couldn't something just be some "advice" or "a tip that might help"? To me tossing "pro" on it seems to indicate that you, the tip giver, are superior to those that you are providing with advice and that really bothers me some. Toss on top of that the fact that usually when this is used it is actually in a negative fashion, such as when someone is struggling with something and asking for advice. And someone pops in and says "pro tip, blah blah blah" as if the "pro tip" should have been obvious to begin with.
- That was Pro – This is generally used as a compliment when someone did something that was pretty outstanding. In this setting, the word doesn't bother me so much (this would be that 2%). I mean, I would probably convey my feelings differently. Perhaps I'd say "man, that was really great!" or "I have no idea how you pulled that off, that was amazing", but I don't think I'd actually utilize the terminology "that was pro". But, because I think this is a way of offering a compliment, I can tolerate the usage of the word, because it doesn't seem that there is any negative attachment to telling someone they did well.
- Just be Pro – Utilizing this as a way to tell people not to fuck up I think is perhaps where it rankles me the most. I think this is because 1) the person making the statement is in essence saying "I'm pro" and that's a got a little bit of ego attached to it that likely rubs people a little bit wrong, even if it's not your intention for it to convey "I'm better than you" (and I think most likely it's not the speakers intention), I think a lot of times that's what people hear; 2) it's automatically assuming that people aren't going to make an effort to do a good job, or be "pro" and 3) it doesn't actually communicate anything! It doesn't analyze issues that need correcting, it doesn't tell you anything about the encounter, it just says "hey don't fuck it up". To me that's not particularly productive!
I don't necessarily think that people who use "pro" mean it to come off in a negative or condescending way. I don't think that people mean for "pro" to even come out as them saying "I"m better than you", but a lot of times, I think the usage of the word has that effect. As a matter of fact, I'd say probably 80% of the people that use the term use it to indicate something good. The problem is that some of the underlying connotations with the term are a little bit negative. At least that's how I kinda view it.
Then again, I could be completely off base, and it could just be that I am showing my age a little bit as far as the usage of this particular piece of slang is concerned. Perhaps saying "pro" is utilizing one word for what my overly verbose self would say in 5-10 words. Maybe I'm just getting rankled for no reason whatsoever. Maybe when someone says "be pro", I'm just offended that they are assuming I'm not "pro" and my id is screaming back. Who knows.
Hell, I'm not even entirely sure why it rubs me the wrong way so many times when I see it! And the thing is, people that I really respect and like utilize the word in their everyday vocabulary, be it in game or in a blog somewhere. I've seen any number of people that I really enjoy conversation with tossing out "pro" with a growing frequency. Maybe my dislike really truly is just a case of me not adjusting well with the times.
So what is it about this word? Am I way off base? Am I just being a grump? Does "pro" rub anyone else the wrong way?


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Financial planner Steve Juetten is a "Downton Abbey" fanatic. He says the blockbuster PBS weekly series, which focuses on an early 20th century British family about to lose their estate because of bad decisions, is a gold mine of retirement planning wisdom.
Continue Reading Below
Juetten, who is a principal in Juetten Personal Financial Planning in Bellevue, Wash., says these are four of the show's best retirement lessons:
Diversify, diversify, diversify. Lord Grantham was in shock after he put most of his wife's fortune in the stock of Canadian Railroad company just before it went bankrupt. "Remember the tech bubble that crashed in 2000? People who lost money in that crash had to put off retirement. Then it happened again in 2009 to people who put all their money in real estate. We preach to people on the verge of retirement, 'Don't double up because you don't have time to catch up,'" Juetten says.
Health care expenses are costly and inevitable. Mrs. Patmore had eye surgery last season. Mrs. Hughes is sick this season. Neither has medical insurance, and both are struggling to pay the bills. "One of the scariest parts of retirement is health care," Juetten says. "Health care is one of the reasons that you need to replace 100% of your pre-retirement income. Your expenses related to work may be less, but your health care expenses are going to be more."
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In the second season, Thomas the valet tried to make a quick profit by selling things on the post-World War I black market -- until his supplier double-crossed him. As Juetten quips, "Do I need to say Bernie Madoff?"
Luck isn't a plan. Matthew Crawley looks like "Downton Abbey's" luckiest man, inheriting a fortune and marrying a beautiful woman, but the season isn't over yet. Juetten says, "You know how often I hear, 'We don't have to save because my wife's family has money and when they die, we'll inherit it'? That kind of luck doesn't happen to most people. You have to have a plan and focus on things you can control -- not on your long-lost uncle dying in time to save you."
Now you have another reason to watch Downton Abbey -- you're learning about retirement planning.


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Now that the comic has started again, so does the excuses for not updating on time. For most of last week I was RPGing with some friends, and then I played Dwarf Fortress (unnecessarily as it turned out).
stubby wrote:Pay no attention to bfenix, Paint is a style all its own.
Magic Soap wrote:I like them. And also, it's obvious the humour is what we're all here for. No one would be impressed by some flashy photoshop comic with no soul, now, would they?
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PAGOSA SPRINGS Dark green ponderosa pines and the steam from Pagosa Springs geothermal pools provided the backdrop for a gathering of about 70 people from across the state to talk about renewable-energy development in the states rural mountain towns.
It was a fitting scene for the symposium, as the two most local projects, spearheaded by Pagosa Springs residents, depend on the same resources that define the outdoor scenery.
Using those local resources in a way that sustains and protects them is just one goal of the men, J.R. Ford and Jerome Smith.
Both men are blazing the trail locally in creating unique models for renewable energy generation that are sustainable, revenue generating and helping stimulate economic growth, all key components in the face of skepticism about government subsidies to renewable energy ventures and declining federal stimulus dollars.
What we need in Colorado is a base load economy (that provides) year-round jobs, said Smith, who is working to bring a geothermal power generation project to Pagosa Springs.
Smiths company, Pagosa Verde, hosted the Thursday symposium that featured speakers involved in renewable-energy ventures across the state. The emphasis was on how participants ideas and experiences could help benefit Colorado mountain and resort communities on a practical basis.
The symposiums goal was to offer ideas about creating vibrant growth in harmony with common environmental and cultural concerns, its brochure said.
Community power, community benefit
Fords operation plans to harvest biomass within a 30-mile radius of Pagosa Springs, chip the wood locally and funnel the chips into a gassifier, which would power an internal combustion engine on the same site. The five megawatts of energy it is expected to produce is about enough to supply one-third of Pagosa Springs energy needs at peak usage, Ford said. He expects the plant to be operational at the end of 2013.
I made a business plan that is also a community plan, Ford said. (Forest) thinning, jobs and power all come from and go to the same community.
The biomass plant will provide the type of well-paying, professional jobs the county wants to attract to the community, Archuleta County Manager Greg Schulte said.
When the biomass plant is up and running, Ford estimated the entire operation would create about 30 jobs.
The project is a new model that state officials are studying closely, said Joani Matranga, the market development manager with the Colorado Energy Office.
Local geothermal power generation would also benefit the local economy through jobs creation and would add a different source of power to the mix, which creates a more secure and outage-resistant system, Smith said.
He expects geothermal projects to attract outside investment as well.
Money is on the sidelines watching and waiting, Smith said.
Geothermal is a way for communities that rely on their environment to develop power generation while preserving the beauty and the recreational appeal of their surroundings, he said.
How do you develop energy when you have tourism? You cant build a big coal plant or drill a lot of wells, he said.
Plus, clean power generation provides a branding opportunity and a way to increase marketing attractiveness of a community, Smith said.
Local power generation in general has a distinct economic development bent, said Ed Morlan, executive director of Region 9 Economic Development District.
Theres a concept of economic multiplier. The more you produce, more value is added at the local level, he said. Its a matter of value added investment in local communities.
Building a successful business model
Every component of Fords business model was developed to create a profitable, sustainable venture. He will use a whole tree chipper that eliminates the need to strip the trees of pine needles and branches. He will chip the wood on site and harvest biomass within a nearby radius of Pagosa Springs. Any farther and the hauling costs would outweigh the revenue from milling and chipping the wood. He also plans to buy a small-scale mill to process bigger trees into blocks to be used for things like beams, wooden posts and molding.
Another key ingredient in the venture was a 10-year $4.5 million stewardship contract with the U.S. Forest Service to remove biomass and forest products in the wildland-urban interface around Pagosa Springs. The contract helps with fire mitigation and maintains forest health, but it also provides the 40,000 to 50,000 tons of wood chips annually to fuel the plant.
People are getting hung up on renewable energy, but were a forest health company and the only way to make it economic is to gas fire (the biomass), Ford said.
Fords goal is to prove the technology and package it in a size that will work in other mountain communities.
Smiths work also focuses on creating a self-supporting business model. Part of his challenge is reforming the current regulatory process. A more understandable and predictable permitting processes is key to attracting development, Smith said.
Whether you want to do solar farm or biomass or generation, if it keeps taking this long all investment will continue to go to California, Idaho and New Mexico, he said.
Smith is working with a task force attended by state officials, local entrepreneurs and led by Morlan that aims to clarify and simplify the permitting process to drill geothermal wells.
Smith also is working with local governments in other counties with geothermal potential to create uniform regulations so investors can easily develop projects.
Interest in geothermal has grown statewide over the last three or four years, said Matt Sares, hydrological services manager with the Colorado Division of Water Resources. But actual development has been slower to follow and there are no geothermal power plants in the state right now.
Ford and Smith still have several steps to complete, including working out a power purchase agreement with La Plata Electric Association. Fords biomass plant is awaiting approval by the Archuleta County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. Smith is still working to test for geothermal potential, build partnerships with other counties interested in geothermal development, streamline regulations and court investment groups.
Its hard to say, Smith said about when work may begin on a local geothermal power plant. It could be next week, it could be next year.


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Wildcat Tickets is your source for event tickets at CWU. We offer three convenient ways to purchase tickets: online, in person and over the phone.
For online ticket purchases 24 hours a day please click on the link below to view all events currently on sale.
Wildcat Tickets on sale now!
To purchase tickets in person please visit the Wildcat Shop located in the Student Union & Recreation center or CWU's Welcome Center on the corner of University Way and Walnut Street - 707 N. Walnut Street . Welcome Center hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Want to purchase over the phone? Call the Wildcat Tickets line at (509) 963-1429.
Tickets for events are also available at the door at least one hour ahead of showtime (subject to ticket availability.)
Need help? E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


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Better (but still not great) job news for Obama: 163,000 jobs added in July, while unemployment rate ticks up to 8.3%... An ode to Congress on its August recess: We salute you -- for not getting much done… Put up or shut up: More Harry Reid vs. Mitt Romney… And Romney camp/RNC try to distract the Obama campaign.
Evan Vucci / AP
President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign stop at Loudoun County High School on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 in Leesburg, Va.
*** Better (but still not great) job news for Obama: Well, the July jobs numbers are in, and they are better news for President Obama than they've been since the early spring. Here's the AP's write-up: "U.S. employers added 163,000 jobs in July, a hopeful sign after three months of sluggish hiring. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate rose to 8.3% from 8.2 % in June. July's hiring was the best since February. Still, the economy has added an average of 151,000 jobs a month this year, roughly the same as last year's pace." As we said before, anything above 150,000 new jobs per month is good news for Obama. But expect Mitt Romney and the Republicans to focus on the slight tick up in the unemployment rate. The president will likely comment on the job numbers at his 11:45 am ET event at the White House, which is scheduled to press Congress to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class. Meanwhile, we'll certainly get reaction from Romney, who campaigns in Las Vegas around the very same time.
*** An ode to Congress on its recess: For those who have departed on their August recess, we salute you -- for going down as one of the most unproductive, contentious, and unpopular Congresses in modern history. So in addition to last summer's debt-ceiling debacle, the Super Committee's failure, and the near-government shutdown during 2011, Congress has failed to come together to pass a comprehensive farm bill. And Senate Republicans yesterday filibustered a cybersecurity bill. So here's your current Congress: Republicans are working to block or dismantle laws; Democrats are focusing on protecting what's already law; and no one is getting stuff done. As we wrote earlier this week, one of the most profound changes on Capitol Hill is the job requirement. It's no longer about bringing home deliverables to your state or congressional district (like roads, bridges, or new schools). Instead, it's about scoring ideological points and waging partisan crusades.
Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, joins Morning Joe formally announced he won't seek a 10th term in office, citing extreme polarization as his reason for retiring. LaTourette joins Morning Joe to further discuss his reason for leaving Congress.
*** Put up or shut up: It's now pretty clear that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is accomplishing what he set out to do: get under Mitt Romney's skin. After Reid doubled down on his baseless charge that Romney might not have paid taxes over a 10-year period, the Republican presidential candidate responded on Sean Hannity's radio program, "It's time for Harry to put up or shut up." More Romney: "It's untrue, dishonest and inaccurate. It's wrong. So I'm looking forward to have Harry reveal his sources and we'll probably find out that it's the White House." But Romney's put-up-or-shut-up reply gave Reid precisely the opening he was looking for. "When it comes to answering the legitimate questions the American people have about whether he avoided paying his fair share in taxes or why he opened a Swiss bank account, Romney has shut up," Reid said in a statement last night. "But as a presidential candidate, it's his obligation to put up, and release several years' worth of tax returns just like nominees of both parties have done for decades. It's clear Romney is hiding something, and the American people deserve to know what it is."
*** Fatal Distraction: And while Reid is trying to get under Romney's skin, it's clear that the GOP is trying to do the same thing to Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina. Earlier this week, the Romney camp and the RNC seized on reports that Messina -- when he was working at the White House -- sent work-related emails from a private account and held meetings at a coffee shop near the White House to avoid showing up in the White House's visitor logs. This GOP hit on Messina, as well as yesterday's hit on Obama Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter, has a simple goal: to distract the people running the Obama campaign. But the Romney/RNC attack on transparency falls short when they aren't promising more transparency under a potential Romney administration. In fact, by not releasing the identity of its bundlers or the candidate's tax returns, the Romney campaign so far has been less transparent than the most recent past presidential candidates.
Countdown to GOP convention: 24 days
Countdown to Dem convention: 31 days
Countdown to 1st presidential debate: 61 days
Countdown to VP debate: 69 days
Countdown to 2nd presidential debate: 74 days
Countdown to 3rd presidential debate: 80 days
Countdown to Election Day: 95 days
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Faith and Kindness
It is a value I cherish.
"Is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"
To me, to be kind and have faith in others, is a virtue.
Last Thursday, I received such a thoughtful gift from a friend I've never met. Her name, well, it's just about the coolest, most amazingly awesome name ever...
Maria :)
I "met" Maria a few weeks after starting my blog, back in April. I remember where I was when my phone beeped, letting me know I had an email. It was a comment from her, on one of my posts. She let me know I wasn't alone. That she too had known the pain of loss after loss after loss. I was in Target (where else), ironically, in the baby section, looking for a gift for a friend's new baby. I remember pulling up Maria's story on my phone as soon as I got to my car. And since, I have come to know the sweet and faithful woman that she is.
After reading many, many infertility and loss blogs over the past half year, I have learned A LOT. And if there is one thing I can say...we are all in this together. We all may not have the same exact stories, yet all of us are working towards the same thing. We all hope and pray for that same miracle at the end of it all.
Maria has two beautiful sons. Truly adorable little boys. Don't believe me, wait until you check out her page. But it wasn't an easy road. She endured 6 miscarriages in a row after the birth of her first son, Gavin. After time, much hope and prayers, she was blessed with her second son, Joey. Maria devotes herself 110% to her family and two boys. Something I admire so greatly. She shares so much of herself in her blog. Every post, I gain insight. She has a way of putting things into perspective; displaying what truly matters in life. I find myself telling her that often, in my comments on her page.
She puts so much passion into her blog - Life, Loss and Other Things Worth Mentioning
She puts her energy into things that bring her peace and happiness- http://www.chapteroneherbs.com/
And uses her knowledge, if even of heartbreaking matters, to help others.
Have a pregnancy or fertility related question or answer...Check out her new site anytime - http://www.ttcquestions.com/
What matters most to me each day is - love, hope, trust, kindness, and faith (and taco bell. heyyyy, "the bell" hasn't made an appearance in quite a few posts. cut me some slack.)
Maria lives such a faithful life. A life full of love. She trusts. She hopes. She is kind.
*and she enjoys the occasional taco bell run :)
And I am so blessed to have met her.
When opening my gift, my eyes lit up and teared up as I read her beautiful card.
In the box were two cookie cutters and a wonderful book.
I smiled so big at the first cookie cutter.
A kitty cat. Does she know this crazy cat lady, or what?!
I had to show Muffin, who by the way, was and still is, loving the box they were shipped in. Just see for yourself.
I can't wait to make and decorate some crazy cat lady cookies! :)
The second cutter...
Well, like I said to Maria in her thank you message, "I had no idea at first, what the next cutter was. I thought maybe it was a cat standing up. Then Steve said, Uhhh, Maria it's Pennsylvania." *Steve smirks and shakes head*
Yea, geography still isn't my subject. HAHAHA
Maria laughed when I told her and said, "Wow, that is one malformed cat!!"
Let me try to show you and Maria what I saw...
Here is the cutter.
And here is what my brain processed...
Come on, you know you guys see it too!!?! LOL
"Many people plant words in their lives like seeds being planted in the ground. But instead of planting seeds of hope and faith, they plants seeds of doubt and bitterness"
Though the big message I gained from this book may seem "obvious", it touched me and added more hope and faith...something I can never have too much of.
With all of life's doubts and obstacles, at the end of the day, there is always faith. And without faith, I wouldn't be able to keep on truckin'.
As the book states from the beginning, "God doesn't change"
Muffin (thoroughly enjoying the packing from the box) and I just have one more thing to say...
Thank you so very much, Maria. Where you may have thought it was just a "small" gift. It was so much GREATER than that.
Keepin' the Faith,
22 comments:
- Judy Haughton-James said...
This is such a touching post. I am glad you have met such a wonderful person who has been so kind and helpful. I hope everything will work out for you. Take care and God Bless.
- September 14, 2011 at 3:10 AM
- Kelly @ Stay at Home Trader said...
Ok, first I have to get my laugh out, because that cookie cutter soooooo doesn't look like a cat! Hahhahahahahahha the paint version made me wake up the whole house! Hahhaahhahahahahahaha!
What a sweet and thoughtful gift from your friend. I love that she sent u the cookie cutters and the beautiful book. If there are two things I have never lost sight of, it's my faith and prayer. Whether it is for my struggles or others. Just look at Diana!!! She prayed and even prayed to St. Gerarard like I did!
This is such a beautiful post, and nothing is sweeter than receiving something from a new friend you've never met.
Hope you have a great day!
- September 14, 2011 at 3:59 AM
- MrsV said...
Maybe just maybe I might be able to understand (with help of your artistic skills) why you thought it was a cat....
Or maybe not... ;) lol
Your too cute and funny cats on the brain for sure!
This was a nice sweet post to start my morning with :)
- September 14, 2011 at 4:25 AM
- firstname.lastname@example.com said...
I am awful at geography as well! Idaho is an easy state to recognize so I am lucky. ;)
You are amazing. Keep hope in your heart and keep the faith!
Some quotes I pinned that make me think of you:
PS-I want some crazy cat cookies! ;)
- September 14, 2011 at 5:32 AM
- Stephanie of Gumdrop Pass said...
:) I love this post. I love that bloggy land has brought you such an amazing friend! And lastly, I love the cat/Penn cookie cutter and your explanation. ;)
Have a great day! Keep the faith! :)
- September 14, 2011 at 6:28 AM
- Rebecca and John said...
OK, I saw a standing up cat. But probably because you said it first. What a nice gift! You are so lucky to have such a great support system. I have to go check out her page.
- September 14, 2011 at 6:50 AM
- LOVE MELISSA:) said...
What a touching post! The cookie cutter is adorable! I'm glad you get in touch with such a great friend
- September 14, 2011 at 6:52 AM
- Diana said...
I loved the cookie cutters!!! Hahaha ur so funny :) I suck at geography too! I know my state of Texas though! Lol
I love this post and I love that u talk about faith. Faith is so powerful. I don't want to talk religion but honestly, havin faith DOES help. I would be lost without it. Hoping your days are going great. Thinking and praying for ya sista!
- September 14, 2011 at 7:14 AM
- Tina said...
What a sweet gift!!! And, no...that didn't look like a cat to me, but you are quite a lovely painter. :)
- September 14, 2011 at 7:20 AM
- Stephanie said...
What a wonderful gift! And I totally see the cat in that cookie-cutter too! :)
- September 14, 2011 at 9:19 AM
- Maria said...
You are so sweet and deserve to have as many kitty cutters as the cookie animal control will allow. I thank you for being you and being so supportive. It shouldn't, but it amazes me how God draws these connections between people. A reason, A season, or a lifetime. I don't know which one yet, but I am thrilled that He made our paths cross!
- September 14, 2011 at 10:35 AM
- Moosey Mommy said...
LOL That so didn't look like a cat! You certainly have cat on the brain if that's how you processed it! :) What a neat gift, though! Have a lovely day!
- September 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM
- Nikki {Christian Mommy Blogger} said...
I found you through WIld Wednesday...love your blog and am following you! I like finding other Christian Mamas!
- September 14, 2011 at 10:42 PM
- KERRY said...
Firstly, you had me laughing out loud at your version of the cookie cutter :)
Secondly, what a beautiful gift! Friends come from where you least expect them to sometimes and are a true blessing...
- September 14, 2011 at 11:14 PM
- Jordan Marie @ hottlt.com said...
wow! what a special gift!
i am sending love and prayers your way everyday..
thanks for the kind comments and visiting my blog..
you'll have yours soon! you deserve it so much!!
love ya,
- September 15, 2011 at 12:20 AM
- Chavonne said...
Hello, I am a new GFC follower of your beautiful blog :)
Would love for you to check out mine and follow if you like thanks.
Love that kitty cookie cutter smile.
- September 15, 2011 at 3:40 AM
- Marina said...
It's so nice to read this kind of stories.. It's wonderful that you've found someone so nice here.. New friend. That's fantastic!
- September 15, 2011 at 1:09 PM
- Irene said...
Hi Maria! Your post is very uplifting! That cookie cutter IS shaped like a cat and it's cute!
And Maria's story is very inspiring. I'm heading to her blog after I'm done stalking yours. ;-)
- September 16, 2011 at 1:41 AM
- lisa said...
I'm so glad through blogging you've met someone as wonderful as Maria! I know I met a pretty awesome Maria a few months back when she commented on my blog. ;)
I don't know if you feel the same way as I do, but blogging has brought so many awesome people into my life and has been so incredibly therapeutic too.
I fully expect to see some pics of your crazy cat lady cookies! :)
- September 18, 2011 at 10:11 AM
- Rebecca said...
Cute blog! I'm a new follower and would love it if you could follow me back :)
- September 19, 2011 at 5:01 PM
- Diana said...
Hello my beautiful friend! Hope u had an awesome Bday!!!! I ate TacoBell just for u last night :) I hope it was a fabulous one but I'm pretty sure it was and u were spoiled all day by Steve :) I'm off tomorrow so I'll be sending you a little something ... (couldn't do it this weekend like I had planned) yeaaaaa didn't u know that's how it's done in Texas?? We mail things out late! Hahaha.
looking forward to reading what's in the mind of Maria! :) love u girlfriend! Xoxo
- September 20, 2011 at 5:18 AM
- waitingforarainbow said...
Thank you for sharing that inspiring quote. I LOVE IT!
Also thanks for the good laugh you gave me with the cookie cutter picture. :o)
- September 20, 2011 at 1:06 PM


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Monica Perez, Anarcho-Capitalist Soccer Mom
Michael W. Dean interviews Stanford MBA / Radio Talk Show Host / Anarcho-Capitalist Soccer Mom Monica Perez, and proves once and for all that the Liberty Mission is NOT a sausage fest. Monica talks about why anarcho-capitalism is the only ethical outlook, dealing with leftie anarchists, abortion and Catholics, raising a child with Down Syndrome, computer security, nanny staters, fed goons, spying on citizens, why the Constitution is wrong, population reduction by the overlords, redemption in the third act, and finding and following your dream.
Check out the Monica Perez Show every Sunday 1PM-3PM East Coast time on 750AM News/Talk WSB, 95.5FM in Atlanta and online.
1 response to "Monica Perez, Anarcho-Capitalist Soccer Mom"
"7 Reasons Libertarians Can Be Happy Romney Lost" as mentioned in this episode


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Weep not for me, mother. I am alive in my grave. 1. A choir of angels glorified the greatest hour, The heavens melted into flames. To his father he said, 'Why hast thou forsaken me!' But to his mother, 'Weep not for me. . .' [1940. Fontannyi Dom] 2. Magdalena smote herself and wept, The favourite disciple turned to stone, But there, where the mother stood silent, Not one person dared to look. [1943. Tashkent]
Anna Akhmatova: Crucifixion, 1.10.7 from Requiem, 1935-1940 (first published in 1963, but not in complete form until 1987); translation by Sasha Soldatow, 1993
Portrait of Anna Akhmatova: Natan Altman, 1914, oil on canvas (State Russian Museum)
Nikolai Gumilev (1886-1921), Lev Gumilev (1912-1992) and Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966): photographer unknown, 1913 or 1916
Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (detail): Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599 - 1660), c. 1618, oil on canvas, 60 x 103,5 cm (National Gallery, London)
Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (after 1969 restoration): Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599-1660), c. 1618, oil on canvas, 60 x 103.5 cm (National Gallery, London)


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Things would have turned out differently if the Pilgrims landed in California instead of what was it, uh, Chrysler Rock. The East Coast is so steeped in what it likes to think of as tradition. Everything started back there and there is no life on that other coast in this mindset. One always hears about those great party races like Sebring, Daytona or the Glen. Well dude, they pale against the non-stop party that has raged out here since 1975.
It was said after the success of the inaugural street race, featuring a full grid of Formula 5000 cars piloted by an international cast of drivers, that Long Beach was the only city capable of pulling this off. Other cities have tried street races and reactions have been indifferent at best. Long Beach, on the other hand, has been rocking and rolling for 30-plus years. Styles, trends and music have come and gone only to be retro-sized, and there is no better barometer than the mixture and mass of cultural identities that exist for a few days every April just off Ocean's four lanes of asphalt. Think Coachella Festival meets Hollywood Bowl and a surfing marathon.
The layout of the circuit has gone through many variations and lengths since the inception of the event. Those who witnessed the first-lap frolics that featured F1 World Champion James Hunt's McLaren M23 being launched will never forget that image, or the late-race pass of Mario Andretti in his Lotus over Jody Scheckter in a season that eventually saw Andretti become the first American World Champion since Phil Hill.
Formula One departed after 1983 and was replaced by the Indy open-wheelers as championed by CART. While there was considerable resentment from the diehard fans who viewed Long Beach as the American version of the Grand Prix of Monaco in terms of prestige and hipness, the move to CART was made out of financial necessity to ensure the survival of the GP.
For the F1 establishment, losing Long Beach was a disaster that took years to overcome. Only now that Indianapolis is part of the F1 calendar can the championship be considered international. Long Beach has continued to survive by constantly reinventing itself. Various support races have come and gone according to what is considered to be relevant to the "show." Super Vee, touring cars, Trans Am have all taken their turns at supporting the featured show of open-wheel dramatics.
For 2006, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (you need a title sponsor these days) added the Speed World Challenge and the Grand American Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes to the mix. The Grand Am is making a serious attempt to remake sports car racing in a new mold by offering a stable set of rules that offers a variety of powerplants. Lexus, BMW, Ford, Pontiac and Porsche have all answered the call; however, the major focus was on the new entry of ALMS stalwart Alex Job Racing and its Porsche-powered Crawford that generated the most interest based on the team's performance at Daytona and Homestead. A qualifying run that netted second on the grid followed by a strong second overall on race day behind the winning Lexus only brought the team more notoriety. Of the six featured events, the most exciting may have been the Speed World Challenge GT. The Speed series never fails to provide that "in-car stomach-churning dive-deep brake-late" action that is part reality series and part video game. Then there's the crowd at Long Beach that's as much a part of the show as anything seen on the track. The road may end at the water's edge, but the party never seems to end.


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As a Primary Teacher in the Kimberley I have utilised ARKive's resources over several years as the content is engaging and relevant to the knowledge base of my students; 77% of whom are Aboriginal from many different language groups across the Kimberley; an area three times the size of the UK.
I thought I would share a couple of examples of how I have used ARKive education resources and how they have worked for me and my students.
Keys and classification
With the implementation of The Australian Curriculum I have found ARKive's classification resources specifically meet the Year 7 Biological Science content descriptor ACSSU111 which states "There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity" (ACARA).
My students particularly enjoy the 'Sharks and Rays Identification' activities as our community is located on the edge of a crocodile infested tidal mangrove habitat and most students engage in recreational fishing and hunting activities. Students of all abilities are able to navigate the identification keys easily and the accompanying presentations on shark and ray identification and classification resources make the lesson preparation seamless. The other activities provided engage students over a series of lessons and I normally conclude the unit by getting my students out of the classroom with a visit to a Munkayarra Wetland. During the visit students use an identification key similar to the ARKive keys to identify macro invertebrates they collected.
Human Impacts on the Environment
Although my students have some idea of the impact of plastic in the marine environment the 'Human Impacts on the Environment' resource was certainly an eye opener for many of them. The module explores the different ways humans can have negative impacts on the environment and endangered species. I recommend it highly as a resource for Sustainability, Science as a Human Endeavour and also Chemical Science.
Spreading the word
I easily keep up to date with new resources through the ARKive facebook page and share the resources with other teachers and environmental groups.
Thanks for providing a growing useable resource for teachers globally!
Barbara Sing Derby District High School (K-12), West Kimberley, Western Australia


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Transportation Secretary Wants To Ban All Driver Talking (Except To Other Passengers)
from the yeah,-that'll-work dept
Again, we've discussed repeatedly that we agree such things can be quite dangerous, though you can argue if talking to OnStar or to someone on the phone is really that much more dangerous than talking to a passenger. However, it's becoming increasingly clear that these sorts of laws don't actually help. They don't stop people from doing these actions, and seem to only get more people doing them in even more dangerous ways. Continuing down this path, that already doesn't work, is a huge mistake, and you would think that someone in a position like LaHood would actually pay attention to the evidence that this isn't working, and wouldn't suggest making the problem worse.
Of course, if this ban does go into effect, and the reports of accidents continue to rise, how long will it be until LaHood also bans talking to passengers in your car?


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A Developer.com Site
An Eweek.com Site
Just a quick question but, how much do mac's generally cost?
*Dr Toker takes out his lighter and flicks it with a smile. He notices that Jroc is standing in a pile of hay. This is too easy.
It is better to be HATED for who you are, than LOVED for who you are NOT.
THC/IP Version 4.2
*Faqt happens to be walking by and slips Dr Toker a book of matches, just to make it a little easier
If you want to make God laugh....make plans.
I don't get this lol
*Rewandythal, who is also walking by, 'accidentally' drops a tank of gas into the general vicinity, just to make absolutely sure!!
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them.
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
(The Lord Of The Rings)
/me hands dr.toker 1 pound of c4 and 2-45 gallon drums of napalm....that might be enough...let me know if you need more...lol
I used to be With IT. But then they changed what IT was. Now what I'm with isn't IT, and what's IT seems scary and weird." - Abe Simpson
God I didn't think I was that hated.
Your being flamed in third person veiw.
Why am I being flamed? and what exactly is third person view?
1) we don't "hate' you...you are however pissing some people off just a wee bit...
2) you wanna know how much macs cost...go to freaking apple.com...not AO...
ask intelligent questions ...get intelligent answers...ask stupid questions...it's the firey wrath of ao for you
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Industry News
DeLeon Promoted at Goldwell and KMS California
Andrea DeLeon has been promoted to vice president of marketing for Kao USA Inc., Salon and will direct the marketing of all Goldwell and KMS California brands in the U.S. The announcement was made by Trevor Attenborough, president and general manager of Kao USA Inc., Salon.
"Andrea has made a number of significant and important contributions during her tenure including architecting every major launch in Kao USA Salon," says Attenborough. "She is ideally suited to set the vision and drive the overall branding and marketing strategy for the company's products in her new role. In addition, Andrea's deep understanding of both domestic and international marketing will be an invaluable asset to us as a global company."
DeLeon joined Kao USA in 2005. In her previous position of senior director of marketing, she oversaw the restages of KMS California and Goldwell Colorance. She also led initiatives to expand the overall marketing capabilities of both companies.
"I am excited to assume the role of vice president of marketing," says DeLeon. "I look forward to working with our partner salons and distributors to build their business and ours with our exceptional Goldwell and KMS California brands." Visit goldwellusa.com or kmscalifornia.com.


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Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tropical Traditions Canadian Raw Honey Giveaway and Review
Congratulations to my winner, LAMusing #26, who said:
I follow on GFC (#1) I will e-mail you as well with the good news!
Tropical Traditions has proved once again that it is a company that offers only the highest quality food products. This Canadian Raw Honey is exquisite! It is not clear, like many honeys, but creamy and smooth. The taste is perfect! It is almost like a rich butter going onto your toast. Because it is so very good, I don't want to waste it in baking. I'll go and get a lesser quality honey to disappear into my cooking. This honey was made for eating straight! Try it, you'll see what I mean.
For first time purchasers, please use the referral code 5954910. You will receive a complimentary copy of the book 'Virgin Coconut Oil: How It Has Changed People's Lives And How It Can Change Yours' with your purchase. This book includes over 85 recipes using coconut oil and research showing the health benefits of coconut oil!
You can purchase Tropical Traditions Canadian Raw Organic Honey (17 oz.) now through July 8th for 50% off!
Tropical Traditions would like to give one of my readers a glass jar of their pure Canadian Raw Honey! Here is what you can do to win it!
Mandatory: Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me something else about their honey or honey in general!
Extra entries:
+1 Become a Facebook Fan of Tropical Traditions here! If you are already a fan, mention it in a comment!
+1 Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter! Please leave your follower name!
+1 Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. You can do this once daily for extra entries! You can copy and paste this!
"#Win @TropTraditions a 17 oz. glass jar of Canadian Raw Honey http://tiny.cc/bbl4g Ends 7/15" Leave your tweet status!
+5 Blog about this Giveaway. Leave me the post link!
+3 Grab my Button and post it on your main page! Leave me where you did it!
+2 Follow me on Google Friend!
+2 Subscribe to my RSS Feed!
Open to US and Canada (well, since the honey IS from Canada...;)
Giveaway will run through July 15th at which time the winner will be chosen through random.org and be notified through e-mail.
Good luck and thanks so much for participating!
Disclaimer: I was provided product in exchange for an honest and fair review!
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If your heart is right, then every creature is a mirror of life to you and a book of holy learning, for there is no creature - no matter how tiny or how lowly - that does not reveal God's goodness.
Thomas a Kempis - Of the Imitation of Christ (c.1420)
In part 2 of this series, we explored how the Long Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE) performed by the Lenski research group on E. Coli, demonstrates some key features of how biological "complex, specified information" (i.e. "CSI" as the ID movement terms it) arises through mutation and natural selection. To briefly recap, we noted that:
CSI does not need to arise all at once, but can arise piecemeal through independent mutation events.
Separate mutations that later combine to form CSI do not need to confer a specific advantage on their own. In other words, mutations that are "neutral" with respect to the survival of the organism can later be co-opted into CSI that does have a distinct survival advantage.
Neutral mutations may open up new future paths. In the LTEE, the brand-new ability of one bacterial population to use citrate as a food source required that a neutral mutation appear several thousand generations before it combined with other mutations to provide the CSI for using citrate.
When CSI arises, it can be pretty poor at the beginning. Nascent CSI, though poor, provides a survival advantage because it is the "best game in town" at that time. Further mutation in, and natural selection on, the offspring of the original CSI-holder quickly refine the nascent information into ever-more "specified" CSI.
And, as we noted at the close of the first post in this series, understanding how natural processes create information is in no way a threat to God's ordaining and sustaining of creation. Rather, it is an opportunity to explore some of the mechanisms by which He does so.
With these important principles in mind, we are ready to examine a second fascinating case of a novel function arising through mutation and selection: the evolutionary history of steroid hormones and their protein receptors in vertebrates.
Experimental Evolution as Textual Criticism
The elegant work by the Lenski group has one very distinct advantage that other researchers surely envy: when new structures and functions arise in the experiment, a trip to the freezer is all that is needed to resurrect and examine the relevant ancestors. For researchers who study other organisms less amenable to laboratory experimentation, or for evolutionary transitions that happened deep in the past, other methods are needed. One approach to this type of problem is to "resurrect" ancient proteins in the lab in order to study their properties.
Bringing an ancient gene back to life starts with determining what its DNA sequence was, (and thereby determining the sequence of amino acids that made its functional protein product). While researchers don't have direct access to ancient DNA, we have the next best thing: many modern examples of genes copied from the ancestral one.
For those who are familiar with textual criticism, the principles are very similar. Textual criticism is the process of recovering the words of an ancient manuscript by comparing several very similar, but still imperfect, copies. In general, as more copies agree on a certain wording, the more likely it is that the original had that wording. Also, the more widespread and older a certain wording is, the more likely it is original. Groups of manuscripts that have similar copying errors or other variations can be grouped together as more closely related, and so on. Given enough manuscripts, it is possible to recreate a copy of an ancient text with a very high degree of accuracy. As Christians, we benefit from this type of analysis daily when we read the Bible: though no two Greek manuscripts of the New Testament are exactly alike, scholars have used these methods to recover the original text with a very high degree of confidence.
And so too, for ancient gene sequences. Consider a hypothetical amino acid sequence in six modern organisms:
Though none of the modern sequences are identical, it is easy to see that there is a "consensus" at each of the 12 amino acid positions. This consensus sequence is very likely to be the ancestral sequence: explaining the pattern in any other way requires many more changes, with many changes occurring in parallel after species separate.
Once the researchers determine the correct ancestral amino acid sequence, it's a relatively small matter to engineer a DNA sequence that encodes it and give it to cells to make into protein. This protein can then be tested to see how it functions compared to the modern sequence.
What makes this type of analysis even more interesting is that sometimes related genes acquire new functions. In cases like these, bringing the ancestral gene back to life in the lab allows researchers to not only test its properties, but to test hypotheses about what the specific amino acid changes were that changed the protein's function over time:
The laboratory of Joseph Thornton at the University of Oregon has used this method (with great success) to determine how certain hormone / protein receptor complexes arose during vertebrate evolution. Hormones are small molecules that act as signals by binding to a protein target, called a receptor. The receptor / hormone pair then goes on to effect a change in the target cell by regulating other genes.
In vertebrates, two hormone – receptor pairs were of interest to the Thornton group: the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), which binds a steroid hormone called aldosterone, and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which binds a second steroid hormone called cortisol (see diagram above). Cortisol can also activate MRs, but an enzyme that breaks down cortisol is present in tissues where MR is used so cortisol cannot accumulate. Aldosterone, on the other hand, cannot activate GR – it is specific to its binding partner MR. Even though these two hormone / receptor pairs regulate different processes in modern organisms, the two receptors are the result of an ancient gene duplication that occurred early in vertebrate evolution, around 450 MYA (million years ago). As time has gone by, the derivatives of the original gene have picked up distinct binding partners and physiological roles. Thornton and colleagues wanted to tease out the details of these important changes.
They started out by determining the ancestral sequence of the original receptor gene, prior to the duplication, and recreating it in the lab. When they tested this lab-designed protein, they found that it, like modern MRs, (but not GR's)could bind either cortisol or aldosterone indicating that the ancestral protein must have been able to bind both. This result suggested that somewhere along the line the GR lost its ability to bind aldosterone and became specific to cortisol. This is interesting, because at the time the ancestral receptor was present,aldosterone didn't exist. Aldosterone is a relative newcomer on the scene: it is present only in four-limbed vertebrates (tetrapods), which arose around 390 MYA. So, the ancestral receptor present prior to 450 MYA already had the ability to bind a hormone that wouldn't evolve for tens of millions of years. Of course, the ancestral receptor "didn't mind" – it had its own binding partner - a steroid hormone closely related to cortisol and aldosterone. It wasn't sitting around doing nothing in the meantime.
This finding strongly suggested that the reason aldosterone binds only to MRs is because modern GRs, in contrast to the ancestral protein, have lost the ability to bind it. By comparing the amino acid differences between MRs and GRs, the Thornton group was able to test different combinations to see what the key changes likely were. They also did the (difficult) work of determining the precise new shape of the receptor for each of the changes that had an effect. All in all, it is an impressive body of scientific work.
Through these techniques, the Thornton group demonstrated that the loss of aldosterone sensitivity in GR occurred in a series of mutational steps that progressively remodeled the portion of the GR that binds the hormone molecule:
First, a mutation occurred that altered one of the amino acids near the hormone binding site. This change had no effect on its own (it was a neutral mutation).
Second, a change in an amino acid outside the binding pocket bent one side of the binding site into a new shape. Now the amino acid from the first neutral mutation in step #1 was thrust up against the hormone binding site. This amino acid can interact appropriately with cortisol, but not very well with aldosterone. The receptor was now strongly biased towards cortisol.
Later, several more mutations accrue that "tune" the receptor to its new specificity. Some of the mutations are neutral at first (like step #1) and then combine with later mutations to refine the receptor into its modern cortisol-specific role.
As the GR and MR lineages were becoming functionally distinct, other changes in other genes accumulated that refined their ability to regulate different processes (such as the enzyme that breaks down cortisol where MR is present, or the target genes that the two hormones regulate). While many of those details remain to be worked out, this work is an elegant demonstration of how a new function arose: gene duplication; sequence divergence with a neutral mutation that opened up a new possible trajectory; a second mutation that altered function in one of the gene copies; further mutations that refined this nascent difference; and the final result of new structures and functions that act as key regulators of important physiological processes in tetrapods, including humans.
In other words, new CSI.
Over and against these lines of evidence, however, the Intelligent Design Movement claims that such novelty is inaccessible to random mutation and natural selection. Rather, they claim that functional protein shapes are incredibly rare and therefore so isolated from each other that random mutation and natural selection cannot bridge the vast gulfs between them. Though Thornton's work (and the work of Lenski that we examined previously) refutes this claim with detailed, concrete examples, new comparative genomics tools have addressed this issue with greater power and breadth than ever before. In the next post in this series, we'll explore the question: are these examples rare, isolated cases, or indicative of a wider pattern?


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Husband charged in wife's fatal shooting
Svetlana Bell remembered as 'wonderful, mild-mannered'
NEW FAIRFIELD -- Russian immigrant Svetlana Bell, a longtime violinist with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, was killed Saturday night when she was allegedly shot to death by her husband, police said.
State police said Robert Bell, 63, shot his 47-year-old wife at least four times after a dispute at their ranch-style home in Candlewood Hills, a private residential community in northern New Fairfield tucked between Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond.
Police said they received a 911 call from Robert Bell requesting an ambulance at his 8 Hilltop Drive home shortly after 7 p.m. When they arrived at the residence, police found Svetlana Bell unresponsive on the kitchen floor with apparent gunshot wounds to the chest area.
She was taken to Danbury Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
Danbury State's Attorney Stephen Sedensky said Robert Bell has been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the shooting. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at state Superior Court in Danbury.
Sedensky said police are continuing to investigate the incident. Typically, he said, investigators will seek a search warrant for the home as part of their investigation. The Bells bought the home on Hillside Drive in 1998, according to local property records.
Detectives with the State Police Major Crime unit were still at the home Sunday afternoon. Investigators were seen examining what appeared to be a long-barrel rifle outside the home. Whether it was the weapon used in the shooting was not immediately clear.
Neighbors said the Bells appeared to be happy. Several neighbors also said they didn't recall police being called to the home in the past, nor did they recall hearing any loud arguments between the two.
"There's just a lot of confusion and shock at this point," said Kevin Mackenzie, who lives in the same New Fairfield neighborhood as the Bells.
Mackenzie said Robert Bell seemed to be a laid-back person who sometimes did yard work with his wife.
"Occasionally, they would go to Russia to visit with family," Mackenzie said. "It's tragic. Sometimes, good people do bad things. What led to this nobody knows."
The Bells have a teenager daughter believed to be a senior at New Fairfield High School. Those who know the family describe the girl as "a great kid and wonderful student,'' according to New Fairfield First Selectman John Hodge.
It is unknown if the girl was home when the shooting occurred.
Hodge said he knows Robert Bell as a man who was interested in radios and radio communication, but was unsure what Bell did for a living.
When Hodge heard who was involved in the shooting, he said he was taken aback.
"If you had to pick someone less likely to have done something like this, I would say him,'' Hodge said. "I just couldn't imagine. I don't know what was going on.''
Nancy Sudik, executive director of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra and the Danbury Music Centre, said Sunday she was still in a state of shock about Bell's death.
"This is a terrible tragedy," Sudik said. "She was a wonderful, mild-mannered woman and a talented musician."
Although Sudik said she knows Robert Bell, she shook her head when asked to comment about him, saying she couldn't imagine what might have happened between the couple.
On Sunday afternoon, the Danbury Symphony Orchestra performed its third and final performance of the "Nutcracker." Afterward, Sudik said Bell was not scheduled to play for this performance, although fellow violinists were aware of her death and were clearly shaken by the news.
Conductor Ariel Rudiakov said he was not well-acquainted with Bell, an occasional violinist with the orchestra. Rudiakov said he learned of her death just prior to Sunday's performance.
"I'm very sorry. My deepest condolences to her family,'' Rudiakov said.
Svetlana Bell attended Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and earned her bachelor's degree in music from Charter Oak State College, despite arriving in America about 20 years ago unable to speak English. In her native Russia, Bell attended the Central Music School for Gifted and Talented Students in Saransk.
"She struggled in the beginning with the English language, but worked very hard to get an education so she could be a teacher," Sudik said. "She loved teaching children and the children loved her."
Until her death, Bell worked as a strings instructor at the Cider Mill School in Wilton.
Virginia Rico, the principal of Cider Mill School, said Bell was "an outstanding educator," but declined any further comment. She said the school district would issue a statement Monday.
This is the second fatal shooting in New Fairfield in just over two months.
"It's incomprehensible,'' Hodge said of the community not known for violent crime.
In September, New Fairfield science teacher Jeff Giuliano unknowingly shot to death his adopted son, Tyler, a 10th-grader at New Fairfield High, who was believed to be breaking into his aunt's house next door.
Staff writer Nanci G. Hutson and The Associated Press contributed to this story.


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Get the Best Sound Possible—When you're ready to shock and awe the crowd with music, turntables and DJ equipment ensure you have everything you need to deliver a great experience. Select turntables for scratching and customizing your tunes. Choose bigger amps for bigger sounds, and get the volume you need to raise the roof.
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CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch's Sprint Cup All-Star race frustration continued Saturday night.
Busch, who has won six Truck Series races at Charlotte but never a Sprint Cup race, crashed in the second segment of the All-Star race to end what started off as a promising night.
It was the fifth time in nine All-Star race appearances that Busch did not finish the event.
"I hate that we're out this early," Busch said. "But you're trying to race hard and protect that average finish that you're supposed to have for the last segment and trying to pass as many cars as you can. I was going to have two right there getting into Turn 3. Those are the opportunities you have to take in the All-Star race."
Busch said being aggressive "bit me in the rear."
Busch qualified second earlier Saturday and won the first segment, putting him in good position early.
But he might have gotten a little greedy.
He tried to make a run on the top of the track, but older brother Kurt slowed up, forcing him to the low side of the track. The younger Busch tried to get around Clint Bowyer but the two cars touched, spinning out Busch in a wreck that collected Joey Logano.
Bowyer seemed as surprised as anyone that he got into Busch's fender.
"The No. 41 (Kurt Busch) got in the fence on the outside and forced his hand and then (Kyle Busch) tried to push me," Bowyer said on the radio. "I don't know how I didn't wreck. His brother forced his hand."
Logano was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with little he could do to avoid the spinning Busch.
"They were racing hard in front of me and the 18 car spun out there," Logano said. "I thought he was going to stay up by the wall and I kind of committed to running that bottom and I was trying to slow up as quick as I could, but once he started coming down the race track I kept trying to turn lower and lower and hoped he would go back up the race track and never did."
EARNHARDT'S DUMP TRUCK: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was frustrated all night with the setup of his No. 88 Chevy.
"Yeah, I've been driving a damn dump truck for two weeks, man. I don't know what's going on," Earnhardt said.
GOODNIGHT GORDON: Jeff Gordon's car failed him on the back straightaway in the fourth segment of the All-Star race causing him to slow up and take a shot from behind from Martin Truex Jr. and Greg Biffle, setting his car on fire.
All three were forced to leave the race.
Gordon wasn't exactly sure what happened after the wreck.
"Something broke in the front of my car," Gordon said. "Either a tire or something in the suspension. I hate that. We had the car to do it tonight."
EDWARDS TOOK POLE: NASCAR moved qualifying to the same day as the All-Star race and Carl Edwards grabbed the pole in the most unique qualifying session of the season. Just as they did a year ago, drivers ran three laps that included a mandatory four-tire pit stop with no pit road speed limit.
FAN FAVORITE: Josh Wise beat out Danica Patrick to win the fan vote allowing him to get into the All-Star race. He wasn't a factor, but still finished in the top 15 after seven cars ended up out of the race due to wrecks.
STARS OUT AT ALL-STAR RACE: The Sprint Cup All-Star race drew plenty of celebrities to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Country music artist Jake Owen and Grammy-winning band Train performed before the race, while Darius Rucker sang the national anthem.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly from the Carolina Panthers was the honorary pace car driver, while former South Carolina Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers and New York Mets pitcher Bobby Parnell also were present.
A GREAT VIEW, BUT ...: Scott Burns, the founder of 7 Days for the Troops, will spend the next seven days staying atop of a 20-foot tower in the Fan Zone at CMS.
He was hoisted up Saturday morning and he will remain there until the start of the NASCAR Nationwide race on May 24. Burns' goal is to raise $75,000 for Purple Heart Homes to help seven disabled service veterans ranging in age from 22 to 66 renovate their homes.