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Posted 25 February 2008 - 01:39 PM
Posted 25 February 2008 - 01:55 PM
I was sickened by Watson's comments on Drew's Channel 5 news link. People that love diving with sharks should pull together when a terrible accident like this happens. If Jim needs any testimonials to his safe operation the line will be long. John
It is really bad what happend, and i think we sharklovers/divers need to do somthing now!
All the stupid comments i am getting sick of it!
I am leaving in 4 weeks for 2 trips in a row shark diving with the other boat there "Dolphin Dream" and i do not have eny problem going in with these lovely annimals even after this unlucky accident!
Posted 25 February 2008 - 02:11 PM
I think no matter what your opinion is on shark chumming or shark feeding then right now our thoughts have to be with the family of the deceased. Also god knows what's going through the minds of the boat operators right now. I don't know Jim Abernathy personally, but I've heard nothing but praise for him and his operation in the past and I'm sure he's devastated by this incident.
On this website we all know that diving with large predatory sharks could potentially be dangerous, even life threatening, but it's a chance that we take as photographers, videographers and more importantly shark lovers. There will be plenty of time to debate the repercussions, but for now I'm just terribly sad for all kinds of reasons, not least the additional bad publicity that it's going to create in addition to those I've already expressed.
It truly is a sad, sad day
Posted 25 February 2008 - 02:45 PM
Nullzeit.at also reports that Dr. Ritter was approached by officials to investigate the case. I think Jim Abernethy will be very happy to hear about that. Just as I am,... As today Dr. Ritter started a lawsuit with DIGIDEEP.com accusing us to demote his academic title in public.
Dr. Erich Ritter im Gespraech mit nullzeit.at meinte, war der Unfall insgesamt auch vorherzusehen. "Bereits im Jaenner habe ich vor einem demnaechst drohenden Unfall bei dieser Art des Haitauchens gewarnt, doch es wollte niemand auf mich hoeren", erklaert der renommierte Haiforscher gegenueber nulzeit.at.
For those who do not understand German, please use these links,
to translate the German reports @ nullzeit.at and DIGIDEEP.com.
Here is also a link to the German Echoes in our Forum, which is very
similar to the responses seen with WETPIXEL users, here. No Surprise...
market overview of the essential equipment for digital uw photography
Posted 25 February 2008 - 03:34 PM
For those who do not understand German, please use these links,
to translate the German reports @ nullzeit.at and DIGIDEEP.com.
The first German report includes the following, which I found interesting. If it is correct, he didn't die from the bite, but perhaps from PE due to rapid (panic) ascent.
> According to last news was the cause of death also is not the Haibiss, but apparently the panic was too fast rise of the diver to the surface...The resulting pulmonary embolism may have caused the deaths. <
I doubt the media will highlight that not-insignificant detail... <_<
Bruce Yates
Lumix GX8 in Nauticam, Canon 5DMkII in Aquatica, 1DsMkII in Seacam, G15 in RecSea...Inon Z240's...too many lenses
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damned fool about it." WC Fields
Posted 25 February 2008 - 03:45 PM
Posted 25 February 2008 - 04:43 PM
I doubt the media will highlight that not-insignificant detail... <_<
The cause of death in the reports is all speculation and really does not change the situation nor would it change the underlying fact that the person died from a shark bite - yes the ascent could be the cause and the press may ignore it, but it does not serve the interest of anyone (at least IMO) who involved in trying to stop sharks from being potrayed in a certain way to say "the shark did not cause this person's death." As divers we understand the difference between the two.
As Simon mentioned, just a sad story for all involved - the diver, his friends and family and Jim and the others.
Posted 25 February 2008 - 07:21 PM
GATES DEEP EPIC Based in Sydney
Posted 25 February 2008 - 07:39 PM
I'm also sickened by the news channels and reporting of misinformation. They should wait till the get the real story. You'd think it happened off Ft. Lauderdale from some of the reports.
I for one will certainly be more careful. I'm leaving on March 5th for Tiger Beach, hopefully this will not cause the trip to not go or cause a wonderful experience like shark diving to be shut down.
Subal/Light and Motion Bluefin HD Pro w/ultra wide (weitwinkel) Angle Lens, Flip Macro CU
2- Ikelite DS125's/Substrobe 225/Sunray 2000 LED's Sunray Pro HID's, Sunray Elite set
TLC Arms/L&M Balljoint arms/L&M Bluefin HD Pro ultra wide (weitwinkel) Mac G5 Dual 2/4 GB ram/Final Cut Studio 2
Posted 25 February 2008 - 08:16 PM
We'd love a place to collect stories about Jim's dedication to sharks. If you've got a cool story about how Jim or his crew made you love sharks or gave you the best shark dive of your life, please share it with us! We're also interested in anecdotes about his operation and character. If you have a story about Markus Groh (whom I did not know), please share it here, as well.
Please only comment if you've been out on the Shear Water or if you knew Markus personally. This is not the venue for sharing random speculation.
Share your stories here: http://wetpixel.com/...-v-shear-water/
Posted 25 February 2008 - 08:58 PM
All we do know is he died after being bitten by a shark. Let's not join in the hysteria of speculation that has already started.
Wetpixel has already been quoted on WPTV 5 as a source. I think to be responsible, we should minimize the conjecture and speculation and wait for the ME's final word.
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."
"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.
Posted 25 February 2008 - 10:11 PM
Posted 26 February 2008 - 12:35 AM
As today Dr. Ritter started a lawsuit with DIGIDEEP.com accusing us to demote his academic title in public
Whoopsy Daisy.
It seems he is getting more popular with each passing day.
Is there anyone he doesn`t want to add to his long list .................?
Posted 26 February 2008 - 12:48 AM
Posted 26 February 2008 - 12:48 AM
I think there's enough mud slinging going around without having more about someone else. There'll be plenty of time in the days ahead to do the rest. Please try to keep on topic for this thread for obvious reasons.
Whoopsy Daisy.
It seems he is getting more popular with each passing day.
Is there anyone he doesn`t want to add to his long list .................?
Thanks for your understanding.
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."
"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.
Posted 26 February 2008 - 12:59 AM
I have been on the Shearwater three times, on many dives with bait in the water and tiger and lemon sharks around. The Shearwater crew always stressed safety and appreciation of these animals. The sad fact is no matter how safe you are and how you follow the rules, it is not reasonable to assume this activity is without risk. Its a risk every diver who stepped off the boat was aware of, but unfortunately not many see as a serious possibility once the sharks showed up and the shutters started clicking.
Its only natural to want to blame someone for such senseless losses - the shark, Jim Abernathy, the dive industry. The fact of the matter is someone who exposed themselves to a risk paid the ultimate price, but they did it doing something they loved.
My sincere condolences and prayers go to the family of this diver.
Philip Lewin
Posted 26 February 2008 - 04:42 AM
Edited by loftus, 26 February 2008 - 04:48 AM.
Posted 26 February 2008 - 07:41 AM
Thats what sets the team at JASA head & shoulders above any other operation I have ever dived with, and the reason that I and others like me come back year after year - its like nothing else - anywhere else !
My condolences to the family & friends of Markus Groh , and passengers and crew on board the Shearwater.
Almighty God,
Our Heavenly Father,
we, who descend into the depths of the seas,
beseech Thee to protect and guide us in Your Aquatic Kingdom.
We pray that Thee can find a worth in those who search the waters of the Seven Seas to increase the knowledge of man,
to seek and understand the vast mysteries of our past as well as that abundant world which lives below the surface of the water,
and to enjoy this new found world and all it has to offer.
As we small people work below ,
Dear God, watch over us and help us to return safely to our earth-world.
But, Heavenly Father, should we perish in this watery-world,
we beg that Thee will forgive our earthly sins,
cleanse our hearts and souls, and lead us to Thy Celestial Kingdom to serve Thee forever and ever.
Posted 26 February 2008 - 08:47 AM
PS -- River rat -- GO!
Mike Oelrich
Canon EOS 40D in Seatool housing, 100mm macro, Tokina 10-17, INON Z-240s.
Posted 26 February 2008 - 09:32 AM
Bruce Yates
Lumix GX8 in Nauticam, Canon 5DMkII in Aquatica, 1DsMkII in Seacam, G15 in RecSea...Inon Z240's...too many lenses
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damned fool about it." WC Fields


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The MIT men's soccer team collected four All-Conference honors as announced by the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) on Tuesday. This was the 11th year in a row in which the Engineers have earned at least two awards from the league.
Zachary Kabelac, the reigning Rookie of the Year, was tabbed for
his second straight First-Team selection along with fellow forward
Christian Therkelsen. Max Stein-Golenbock was named to the
All-Conference Second Team for the second year in a row while
rookie Ben Lewis was also a Second-Team pick.
Kabelac paced the NEWMAC in goals per game, points, and points per game; ranked second in goals, tied for third in game-winning goals, and was eighth in assists. In addition, he led the squad with 14 goals and 31 points. Therkelsen ranked second in the NEWMAC in assists per game, third in assists and points per game, fourth in points, fifth in goals per game, and tied for fifth in goals. He finished the season as MIT's team leader in assists (nine) and was second in goals (nine) and points (27).
Stein-Golenbock and Lewis provided stability and consistency in the Cardinal and Gray's midfield this past season. Stein-Golenbock ranked third on the team with three assists while Lewis placed third on the squad in goals (four) and points (10).

subset: commoncrawl


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Where To Ultra Find Adidas Ultra To Boost St Women'S Stability Running Shoes f42c11
By Thanh Pham | 2 comments
I got this question from a student a couple days ago, and I thought I'd share it with you because I get it a lot.
"I start feeling bored by the time I get to the end of my morning routine. Should I change up the order I do things in?"
My question back was to find out how long the student, David, spends on his morning routine. His answer? Two hours.
That's way too long (it should be 90 minutes max). The clue that tipped me off was David asking if he should switch up the order of the parts of his morning routine. A lot of people who are into productivity love experimenting and fine-tuning in their constant quest for improvement.
Which is good, of course. But when it comes to a morning routine, that can spell doom. Let's say a friend tells you he's started drinking green smoothies in the morning and it keeps him full until lunch. Great! Try it out. Then you read that drinking tea in the morning is a good idea. "Cool," you think, "I'll try it out." Then you read about this awesome seven-minute circuit workout you can do at home without any equipment. Better add it.
Then you've got all these moving parts, but what order should they go in? Better fine-tune that, too…
You can see where I'm going with this. For productivity nuts like us, it can be hard to put a limit on experimentation. But at some point, you have to.
What you need to do is cut stuff out. Here are five simple ways to cut down your morning routine:
- Spend less time on breakfast. If you work from home, try just having your morning tea or coffee and see how long you can go without breakfast. If you commute, what's the bare minimum you can eat to get you through to lunch? See if you can get breakfast down to 10 minutes.
- Cut down your journalling time by mapping out what you want to write about. If you're tracking certain goals or states of mind, simply address those specific points in your journal. Follow the same format every time, and your journalling will speed up significantly.
- Lay things out the night before. Pour a glass of water to have as soon as you wake up. Lay out your workout clothes so you don't have to spend any time getting them out in the morning.
- Write your entire routine down, so you don't waste time trying to remember your routine or the order your steps go in.
- Set yourself a timer for each part of your morning routine to keep yourself on track.
It's important with your morning ritual to keep your momentum going. If you feel your energy flagging — or if your morning ritual is taking longer than 90 minutes — try one of these tips, and let me know how it goes.
Where To Ultra Find Adidas Ultra To Boost St Women'S Stability Running Shoes f42c11
This one lifehack led to the biggest breakthrough of my career. People like Steve Jobs and Oprah have used it to catapult their success, and now you can too.
Posted by John Doe | April 11, 2016 at 2:24AM | Reply
See how long you can go without breakfast? Is that a good idea?
Posted by Niraj | March 9, 2016 at 9:15AM | Reply
Excellent article, Thanh. Actionable tips. A solid routine is indeed a great way to set the tempo for rest of the day. Thanks, Niraj (Founder at hiverhq.com)


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Taliban kill 4 in Kabul election office attack
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban launched a brazen assault in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, with a suicide bomber detonating his vehicle outside an election office on the edge of Kabul while two other gunmen stormed into the building, killing four people and trapping dozens of employees inside.
Insurgents also carried out a number of attacks elsewhere across the country killing at least 10 people, many of them members of the country's security forces, including a woman police official in southern Helmand province.
In Kabul, a candidate for a seat on a provincial council was among those killed when insurgents stormed the election office. Two election workers and a policeman were also among the dead, Kabul Police Chief Gen. Mohammed Zahir said.
The attack triggered a standoff that lasted more than four hours. Zahir said another four people were wounded, including two policemen.
Inside the three-story commission office, windows and doors were blown out by the explosion and walls were riddled with bullet holes. Office equipment lay in ruins on the floor. The firefight between police and the insurgents took place on the second and third floors of the office.
The trapped employees hid in the basement. Police and guards prevented the insurgents from getting to the basement.
The assault was the latest in the insurgents' violent campaign against the country's April 5 elections, when Afghans are to choose their next president and local provincial council members. The Taliban have vowed to disrupt the polls.
Since campaigning began in January insurgents have attacked candidates' convoys, their campaign workers and killed one election commission official. Also, an election observer from Paraguay was among the nine people who were killed last Thursday when the Taliban attacked the Serena Hotel in Kabul.
Still Zia-ul Haq Amerkhiel, chief electoral officer with the Independent Election Commission, said the attack will not deter staff ahead of next month's polling.
"We are conducting elections in the middle of a war, but the important thing is the election commission is committed to conducting the elections, and the Afghan people are committed to participating in these elections," he said. "We have a clear message to the Afghan people to participate in the upcoming elections and vote for (your) candidate of choice."
Fierce gunfire reverberated across the neighborhood of Karte Char throughout the afternoon as heavily armed troops from the Afghan rapid response force surrounded the election office building, located near the home of presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Ahmadzai was not at home at the time and was not the target of the attack, officials said.
Police official Sayed Gul Aga Hashmi said the assault started with one suicide bomber detonating his car, paving the way for other attackers to storm inside the building.
The Taliban claimed responsibility in a statement to media, saying their target was the election office.
Also Tuesday, insurgents carried out a number of attacks across the country.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in northern Kunduz province. while in northeastern Kunar province three insurgents stormed the state-owned New Kabul Bank. In eastern Khost province, dozens of insurgents attacked a police outpost on the border with Pakistan.
In southern Helmand province, where the Taliban control vast areas, a woman police official was shot and killed in her home. The Taliban have killed four women police officials in Helmand in the last two years.
Five people were killed and another 20 were wounded in northern Kunduz province when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a traditional buzkashi match __ which features a headless goat, said provincial police chief Gen. Mustafa Mohsini.
So far the Taliban have not taken responsibility for this attack or the killing of the woman police official in southern Helmand.
However their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement sent to the news media took responsibility for a deadly attack on the government-owned New Kabul Bank in Asadabad, the capital of northeastern Kunar province.
Two policemen were killed and three others wounded in the attack carried out by three insurgents with suicide vests. The insurgents also died, said provincial police chief Abdul Habib Sayidkhili.
In eastern Khost province, dozens of insurgents armed with rocket propelled grenades and heavy machine guns laid siege to a border outpost. Provincial Police Chief Faizullah Ghyrat said two police border guards were killed, along with five insurgents.
The Taliban took responsibility for the Khost attack.
In other developments, Afghan police said they detained eight senior employees of a private security company that provided guards to the Kabul hotel attacked by the Taliban last week.
The interior ministry said in a statement that the company employed by the Serena Hotel was negligent, which enabled the four attackers to hide small handguns in their shoes and avoid detection to enter the premises on Thursday evening.
The gunmen opened fire inside the hotel restaurant, killing nine people, including two children and four foreigners. The attackers were killed by police.


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The Applied Petroleum Technology Academy ("APTA") is a non-profit organization created to teach energy companies how to apply cost-effective technology in order to extend the lives of aging oil and gas fields around the world. APTA's mission statement is simple:
"Provide practical training of oilfield practices in a mature oilfield environment emphasizing cost savings with ample opportunity for field visitation and research."
Recent Schools
APTAPB is the host organization...
APTAPB and associates has begun the process of bringing a series of ideal exchange videos to the general public. The intent of these videos is to encourage better practice and information exchange throughout the industry.
Your imput would be greatly appriciated.


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Wasn't he a lovely baby ?
This is him with my oldest son who is now 19 - he'll kill me if he sees this pic of him on here
Wasn't he a lovely baby ?
This is him with my oldest son who is now 19 - he'll kill me if he sees this pic of him on here
Gotta love little pudgy puppy bellies!!
Loving mom to Jake, Shelby and Micah
Oh what a cutie pie icon_heartthrob
Son obviously adores the wee fellow, so I'm sure he won't mind you sharing that
Nicki and Kayla (Shih Tzu )
Supporting www.rupertsfund.com and www.cavaliermatters.org
Oh yes he does Nicki, both my boys do. That particular son wanted a tuna sandwich the other day and so opened a big tin to give Maxx half as he didn't want him to feel left out LOL
He went to visit some friends in Somerset (where we used to live) and phoned his old boss at the butchers to ask him to cut some marrow bones into small bones and freeze them for him for the next day - then he brought them home and made me cook and re-freeze them for HIS baby [/b]
That's lovely Donna, and I bet Maxx enjoyed your son's efforts.
What a lovely puppy he was, the quality shows and his is a very handsome lad now.
Warm wishes,
Donna Maxx was such a cute puppy. I just love those little fat bellies.
Julie M
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
what age was that little cutie when the picture was taken?. and i mean the puppy
What a sweet puppy!
Janet V.
Heritage Cavaliers
Originally Posted by cleopatra
I think he must have been about 5 or 6 months there Cleopatra


text:
Sure there was some turmoil before they got married and a whisper or two about infidelity, but Eva Longoria and Tony Parker seemed so happy over the years. Now it looks like things are over between the Desperate Housewife and her NBA baller hubby. We take a look back to see if maybe there were signs we missed along the way...
1. Eva & Tony 1
At the beginning of their relationship, Tony and Eva were glowing as they arrive for the premiere of Hustle and Flow on July 20, 2005 in Hollywood, California.
2. Eva & Tony 2
Eva and Tony were clearly enamored and couldn't take their eyes of each other as they walked the red carpet for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 29, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.
3. Eva & Tony 3
The love fest continued at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Tony and Eva showed up looking dapper and happy and would announce their engagement just a few months later in November.
4. Eva & Tony 4
Tony and Eva attended the 2007 NCLR ALMA Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 1, 2007 just a month before they married on July 7th.
5. Eva & Tony 5
Eva was a regular courtside presence at Tony's basketball games and was there to help him celebrate the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals victory on June 14, 2007. Tony was a champion both on and off the court that month; he married Eva just a few weeks later in an extravagant celebration in France.
6. Eva & Tony 6
Tony and his now wife Eva Longoria partied it up in France at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome on September 08, 2008. Maybe it was just the fact that the couple was in the romantic City of Lights, but there was definitely still love in the air for these two.
7. Eva & Tony 7
Eva Longoria Parker looked pretty in peach as she and her husband Tony Parker attended the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards cocktail party on January 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The duo appeared to be closer than ever.
8. Eva & Tony 8
Eva and Tony couldn't keep their hands off of each other as they walked the red carpet for the Bright Star premiere during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2009 in Cannes, France.
9. Eva & Tony 9
Could this have been the first sign of trouble? Eva looks positively bored as she takes in an exhibition game between the U.S. and France during the World Basketball Festival alongside soccer star Thierry Henry and her hubby on August 15, 2010.
10. Eva & Tony 10
Eva and Tony appear affectionate at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's 33rd Annual Awards Gala on September 15, 2010—but it's clear that this kiss isn't the only thing Eva is thinking about.


text:
Here is a picture of two brothers, Enoch and William Thomas Ashcraft. William Thomas was born 11 February 1864 in Dresden, Greene, Indiana and died 2 November 1935 in Adrian, Malheur, Oregon. Enoch Ashcraft was born 11 January 1868 in Greene County, Indiana and died 4 December 1938 in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho.
The two brothers were born to Jacob Ashcraft and Elizabeth Page Ashcraft. Jacob was born 10 April 1827 in Bladensburg, Knox, Ohio and died 2 May 1915 in Benson, Cache, Utah. Elizabeth was born 9 April 1829 in East Union, Coshocton, Ohio and died 15 July 1905 in Hyde Park, Cache, Utah.


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County deputies take over in Cornelius
The Washington County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) will take over law enforcement services from the Cornelius Police Department effective Tuesday, July 1.
Lt. Gene Moss of WCSO will replace Cornelius Police Chief Ken Summers at that date. Moss will remain part of the WCSO, but will still report to Cornelius City Manager Rob Drake, just as Summers did.
Officers serving in Cornelius will continue to wear Cornelius Police Department (CPD) uniforms and use police cars with the CPD logo, but they will officially be WCSO deputies. Their paychecks will come from the county, and they will use WCSO firearms.
The Cornelius Police Departments firearms and tasers were auctioned off last week (officers will keep their weapons until July 1, and then the buyers will claim them), with the few thousand dollars raised in the sale going to the citys general fund.
The 13 current CPD officers will receive two months of county training. On Sept. 1, about half the officers will stay in Cornelius, and the rest will be spread throughout the county as deputies.
I want the citizens to know that virtually every officer working in Cornelius after the merger is there because they asked to be there, Summers said. They arent looking toward greener pastures. They competed to be here.
The citys contract with WCSO will cost the city roughly $2.4 million a year, with slight annual increases anticipated. The departments management structure has been stripped down from five positions to three a chief, a sergeant and a corporal in order to get more patrol officers on the street.
In addition, the WCSO will use the Cornelius station as a west precinct, which will afford the city extra coverage as WCSO patrol deputies move in and out of the office.


text:
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A wrinkle in the HealthCare.gov website that temporarily left some children without insurance coverage has been fixed, federal officials said Friday.
Children who have been denied Medicaid coverage can now be added to a subsidized plan, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a letter to a New Hampshire congresswoman.
U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter wrote to CMS after report by The Associated Press revealed the glitch last month.
Children who qualify for Medicaid cannot be covered under subsidized family plans purchased through the federal online markets. That left some without coverage until their Medicaid eligibility was determined while others who were rejected for Medicaid still couldn't be added to their parents' plans.
In a letter to Shea-Porter on Friday, CMS says consumers can now use the website to report if someone was denied coverage and take steps to add the child to a subsidized plan.
"This fix comes as a relief to families who had been stuck in a difficult situation," Shea-Porter said. "I'm glad CMS addressed my inquiry quickly, and I'll continue working to ensure that the Affordable Care Act works for New Hampshire families."
The web fix will also allow consumers to easily fix an error in their record such as a wrong birthday or Social Security number, CMS said.
Individuals shopping for insurance through the new online markets are referred to state Medicaid offices if they might qualify for the safety-net program for the poor and disabled. But the situation is more complicated for families, because in some states children can be eligible for Medicaid at significantly higher income levels than their parents.
The problems some parents faced came up at a recent meeting of New Hampshire's Health Exchange Advisory Board.
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


text:
Beamsville Maid / Cleaning Service
We are Beamsville Best Maid / Cleaning Service. We Specialize in making your home or office look sparkling clean! You work hard enough, let us do the dirty work for you. We will clean your entire house, office, or commercial property top to bottom and we'll have a team of cleaners at your door in no time at all! Usually we come in pairs offering a partnership of cleanliness and speed. We don't skip over anything! We have a 5% price match guarantee! We will beat any reasonable price quoted by any of our competitors by 5%, we are the best deal around! No job is too big, no job is too small!
Home and Office Cleaning
A Few More of our Services:


text:
by Richard Lee
I entirely agree with the critics of Chestnut Hills' parking kiosks, both merchants and disgruntled Hill shoppers (or are they former shoppers?): The Hill's kiosks are our unwanted green-haired stepchildren, and they are business-busters.
The present state of Hill parking reminds me of George Orwell's "Animal Farm," in which it was famously written, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." Among Hill parkers, the most equal are those (like me, sometimes) who snag free spots on back and side streets not that far off Germantown Avenue – and, no, I'm not sharing my hard-earned knowledge.
The somewhat less equal are meter parkers on the Avenue, who get an equitable and long-standing deal: six minutes for a nickel, twelve minutes for a dime, a half hour for a quarter, and on up to the two-hour max. After certain hours and on Sundays, meter parking is free.
Finally, there are the totally unequal, those forced to use the green-haired stepkids, where small change won't work, every parking rate is twice that of the meters, a car-to-machine-to-car walk is required, and enforcement is near-constant.
When I wrote "forced to use" I wasn't kidding. As a weekly user of the lot off Evergreen Avenue when all else fails, that lot was nearly always filled on Thursday mornings in pre-stepchild days. Now it's three-quarters empty at that day and time. Makes me wonder: Where have all these parkers gone? Onto the Avenue, when they could? Or away from the Hill entirely?
Parking kiosks have their place, and it's Center City and University City – not Chestnut Hill. They are an entirely appropriate alternative to stratospheric-priced lots (one recent parking garage toll for a three-hour evening event near 15th and Locust was $26 – ironically the same cost as a stepchild-generated parking ticket!). On the plus side, a kiosk in University City saved me beaucoup bucks for an evening event on the Penn campus.
Speaking of the $26 parking fine – which I have of late paid twice, each time for a five-minute violation – I learned something I suspect not everyone knows. This is either fact or urban legend (I make no guarantee of veracity): If you have a handicapped tag or display a handicapped placard, even in a non-handicapped meter space or among the stepchildren, the enforcers will cut you some slack.
I didn't know this gem the first time I got socked. The second time I was tagged – again for five minutes' overtime – I sent a copy of my placard, which I had NOT displayed on my windshield, with the ticket – but like a dunce, I also paid the fine, with the check marked "paid under protest." The City wrote me back, saying, in essence, "you could have appealed, but you lost that right when you sent us the check." (At least, I got an answer from Traffic Court.)
In the immortal words of Charlie Brown, "Argh! Rats!"
Chestnut Hill has mighty competition for its merchants' goods and services. The 8 percent state sales tax, for one, versus 6 percent in the rest of Pennsylvania, and the zero tax (and often, free shipping) on Amazon.com and elsewhere on the Internet. Need I mention the free parking in nearby malls and at suburban stores and restaurants? In its own self-interest, the Hill should send the green-haired kiosk stepchildren back to the orphanage and – if it must – install street meters at each parking space in its lots, or rethink the whole parking fiasco, for such it has become.
Richard Lee is a semi-retired marketing writer, Local contributor and Certified Curmudgeon. He lives in Flourtown.


text:
Immigration Information in Newspapers
This article originally appeared in "Newspapers" by Loretto Dennis Szucs, FUGA, and James L. Hansen, FASG in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy
Newspapers are especially helpful in tracing migrations from one place to another. Indexes and electronic records have become powerful tools for accessing newspapers and other records from around the world. In the personal and local news columns, we can trace trips to see distant relatives, farewell parties for families about to move, and visits back home from those who had moved away. Sometimes letters back home were published in the newspaper, especially those that reported on the destination. Announcements, letters to the editor, and 'Marine Intelligence' include such useful entries as lists, and names of ships docking or cleared for departure.
Historical information about policies and attitudes that regulated immigration can often be best understood by reading newspapers of the time period being studied. For example, the common question of what happened to immigrants who were sent to Ward's Island was addressed in the 3 June 1858 edition of the New York Times that follows:
- Commissioners of Emigration
- The Commissioners paid a visit of inspection, accompanied by several invited guests, to the Institutions on Ward's Island yesterday. The number of immigrants now there is about 1,100, of whom about 700 are in the hospitals. The conduct of the Institution appeared to be exceedingly judicious and the result is shown in the greatly improved appearance of the grounds and the still more marked improvement in the finances of the Board. The old system of maintaining the inmates in idleness, and paying servants to do all the work of the Island, farming, gardening, smoothing the grounds, cooking and even washing and ironing for them, has been discarded and all the inmates who are well are required to work. The result has been an immense economy in the administration of the Institution on the island. The grounds are kept in order, an extensive and very fine sea wall has been built, fifty or sixty acres of land are in excellent cultivation, and this work as well as other building services of the other buildings is done almost wholly by the inmates.
Now, did you ever think to look at Ward's Island in the census if your ancestor is missing in that timeframe?
It may be impossible to learn much about a specific shipping incident or shipwreck, however, a careful search of newspapers in port cities may yield helpful information, or clues for furthering a search. An item published in the Ohio Repository (Canton, Ohio), 27 August 1856, provided some sobering statistics under the headline 'Perils of the Deep.' The article stated: 'During the six months ending July 1, 1856, 333 vessels have been reported either lost or damaged, among which were 110 ships, 91 schooners, 60 brigs, 54 barks, and 18 steamers.' If family tradition holds that an individual was shipwrecked or involved in any unusual event on the high seas, the best course is to learn everything possible about the incident. Some newspaper accounts will provide whatever details were available from witnesses, if any. Some newspapers even named those who perished in shipwrecks, though these accounts may not be entirely reliable.
Coming soon...


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Never one to pass up an opportunity to spread a little doom and gloom, I felt compelled to emerge from blog-writing hibernation to bring you the latest bummer food news. Today, Consumer Reports released "Arsenic in Your Food," a report describing its recent investigation of arsenic levels in rice. The results are unsettling. According to the report, analysis of 65 rice and rice products (including infant cereals, hot cereals, ready-to-eat cereals, rice cakes, rice crackers, rice pasta, rice flour and rice drinks) revealed that samples of almost every product contained measurable levels of total arsenic, including organic and inorganic forms.
Sound like cause for concern? It is. Inorganic arsenic is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and is known to cause bladder, lung and skin cancer (and may cause liver, kidney and prostate cancer as well). Organic arsenic is less toxic, but still not exactly something you want to sprinkle on your sandwich; the forms DMA and MMA are classified as possible carcinogens.
Although arsenic levels varied significantly in the products tested by Consumer Reports, nearly all contained inorganic arsenic – sometimes in concentrations sufficient to raise red flags. (Find the complete test results on the CR website.) According to Consumer Reports, the investigation also revealed the following trends:
- White rice grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas generally had higher levels of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic than rice samples from elsewhere (India, Thailand and California combined).
- Within tested brands offering brown and white rice versions, brown rice had higher average total and inorganic arsenic than their white rice counterparts.
- Some brown rice samples were lower in arsenic compared to some white rice samples which may be explained by agricultural practices or geographic location.
- Infant rice cereals and drink products also contained worrisome levels of arsenic. Consumer Reports advises that children under the age of 5 not be given rice drinks as part of their daily diet, similar to advice given in the United Kingdom regarding rice milk.
- People who ate rice had arsenic levels that were at least 44 percent greater than those who had not according to Consumer Reports' analysis of federal health data. Certain ethnic groups were more highly affected, including Mexicans, other Hispanics, and a broad category that included Asians.
- Some food companies are concerned. And methods have been introduced to try to reduce levels of arsenic in products.
What's Up With All This Arsenic?
When plants are grown in soil or water that contains arsenic, they can absorb it. Although some arsenic exists naturally in soils due to the weathering of certain minerals, most contamination is the result of human activity. In the US, for instance, 1.6 million tons of arsenic have been used since 1910, in large part due to extensive use of arsenic-based pesticides for crop production, and the inclusion of arsenicals in animal feed. The latter application is among the dirty / totally mind-blowing secrets of industrial livestock production – see, arsenicals are added to poultry feed in order to promote rapid growth. It works! But it also causes pretty serious pollution. (This is an example of the sort of "negative externality" I describe when ranting about economics and the true cost of industrial ag.)
It's important to note that rice isn't the only food affected by arsenic; in January, Consumer Reports discovered high levels in apple and grape juices, and a 2009-2010 EPA study found that vegetables contribute as much as 24% of dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic. However, rice is able to absorb arsenic particularly effectively. Furthermore, most domestic rice is grown in the south-central US, where cotton producers once used tremendous quantities of arsenical pesticides to stave off the boll weevil beetle. Bad news for those who enjoy rice, rice products or, as we mentioned on Ecocentric earlier this year, energy bars and other foods sweetened with organic brown rice syrup (OBRS).
Where's the Regulation?
Given the human health threat posed by arsenic, the EPA established a threshold of 10 parts per billion (ppb) in drinking water. In a bold nod to safety and caution, New Jersey adopted a threshold of 5 ppb (which is actually the standard that was originally proposed by the EPA). In a bold move to head off criticism, the FDA announced this morning (coinciding directly with the release of the CR report) that it is working on a plan to establish regulatory limits for arsenic in food.
Given the high levels of arsenic documented during its investigations, Consumer Reports is calling on the FDA to set arsenic limits for rice products, apple juice and grape juice. CR also recommends that the EPA phase out use of arsenical pesticides, that the FDA ban use of arsenic in livestock feed, that the EPA and USDA prohibit use of arsenic-contaminated manure as a crop fertilizer and (this one's my favorite) that producers be prevented from feeding manure to animals (because yes, this practice now occurs regularly, thanks to masters of the gross-out, Big Ag).
What Can I Do About Arsenic? Should I Freak Out?
Don't freak out; arsenic concentrations aren't so high that you're going to keel over halfway through your rice krispies. But the cumulative impact of exposure to arsenic – even at low concentrations – can be harmful, so it's best to avoid (especially if you're a pregnant woman or an infant). According to Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Safety and Sustainability at Consumer Reports, "The goal of our report is to inform – not alarm – consumers about the importance of reducing arsenic exposure and offer actions they can take moving forward, such as limiting their rice consumption."
You can reduce arsenic exposure by limiting consumption of rice products to the quantities listed in the chart at the top of this post. Consumer Reports also makes the following recommendations:
- Rinse raw rice thoroughly before cooking and use a ratio of 6 cups water to 1 cup rice for cooking (draining the excess water afterward). Research has shown this can reduce arsenic levels.
- Experiment with other grains. Though not arsenic-free, other studies have shown wheat and oats tend to have lower levels than rice.
- Eat a varied diet to help minimize risk of exposure.
- Keep in mind that some vegetables can accumulate arsenic when grown in contaminated soil. To help, clean vegetables thoroughly, especially potato skins.
- Limit the consumption of other high-arsenic food. Some fruit juices such as apple and grape juice can be high in arsenic, as Consumer Reports' previous tests showed.
- Consumers' whose home water is not on a public water system should have it tested for arsenic and lead. To find a certified lab, contact the local health department or call the federal Safe Drinking Water hotline at 800-426-4791.
Finally, you can urge the government to safeguard public health by implementing prudent arsenic policy. Visit the Consumers Union arsenic action page to get started.


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A while ago I posted that I was beginning to teach myself (and with the help of an awesome friend) how to make repeating patterns. I took a break for a while to work on other things but I'm getting back into it. When I first started playing around with patterns I felt like they had to be crisp, clean, vectorized, and shiny. When I worked in illustrator, I hate to sound cliche, but I would lose my "style". So I've been experimenting with sharpies, live tracing, and drawing with the pencil tool straight on the tablet to get the hand drawn quality that I'm looking for. So far I'm loving the results and very excited to get better with pattern making.
Monday, June 27, 2011
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American dollars buying ode to bin Laden
U.S. supported rebels sing praises of terrorist
A new video has emerged showing a large crowd of supporters of the Syrian rebellion singing an apparent ode to the 9/11 attacks that celebrates Osama bin Laden as "America's worst nightmare."
The rebellion against the rule of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad enjoys the backing of the Obama administration, which recently recognized its political wing, the so-called Syrian National Coalition, as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Syrian people.
Moreover, if numerous reports in the mainstream media are to be believed, the administration's support for the rebellion has gone beyond mere diplomatic or "moral" support and includes the provision of logistical aid to rebel forces. Reuters reported in August that President Obama had signed a secret order authorizing such support to be provided by the CIA and other American agencies.
While American support for the rebellion appears not to have included the direct provision of arms, according to reports in both The Washington Post and The New York Times, it has included the coordination of arms shipments underwritten by regional powers Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The administration has publicly admitted to providing around $50 million in "non-lethal" aid to Syrian opposition groups.
According to both a date stamp on the video and writing on a piece of paper held up to the camera, the rally documented in the footage occurred on Dec. 14. The Arabic writing on the paper identifies the place as Yabroud, a Syrian city some 50 miles to the north of the capital Damascus.
The writing on the paper further declares, "No to the American intervention. We are all Jabhat al-Nusra."
The motto refers to the Al-Nusra Front: a powerful rebel group that late last year was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The designation, more specifically, treats Jabhat al-Nusra as an offshoot of al-Qaida in Iraq: the Iraqi al-Qaida affiliate that spearheaded an insurrection against American troops and their Iraqi government allies and that gained notoriety for its gruesome executions of American and other hostages.
The designation was made public on Dec. 10, sparking protests from numerous Syrian opposition groups and a call for rallies to be held the following Friday under the motto, "No to the American intervention. We are all Jabhat al-Nusra."
A banner that is held up by members of the crowd in the Yabroud video likewise features the motto.
The crowd is taken through its paces by a chant-leader wearing a black headband with the shahada or Islamic declaration of faith printed on it. Members of the crowd can be seen waving both the black flag of jihad and the green, white and black flag of the Syrian rebellion.
According to English sub-titles added to the video by the Facebook page SyrianRebelWatch, the crowd sings about the twin towers of the World Trade Center disappearing in the "blink of an eye" and concludes "how sweet is the memory."
The next line of the song celebrates Osama bin Laden as "America's worst nightmare," who fought with the "power of our faith" and "our weapon the PK machine gun."
As the words "Osama bin Laden" are uttered, a cheer goes up throughout the crowd. The song continues, "If they call me a terrorist, I will consider it an honor."
Although recently re-posted with the subtitles by SyrianRebelWatch, the video was originally posted on the very day of the rally by YouTube user "Yabroud Direct."
Yabroud Direct links in turn to the clearly pro-rebellion websites Yabroud Revolution and YabCoordination. The piece of paper held up in the video likewise mentions the "Coordination of the Town of Yabroud," apparently a reference to the local organizers of the rally.
Yabroud Direct has also posted several other videos of the December 14 rally. One of these videos even includes a series of messages in both Arabic and English, which are held up to the camera on small pieces of paper.
The first message reads "Our way is al-Jihad, Our Demand is Islamic Polity." Another asks, "Secular America: Are you afraid from [sic] Islam?" A third declares, "All of the World should know: Our ISLAM is Red Line."
While stigmatizing Jabhat al-Nusra, the Obama administration has sought to depict the terror group as somehow alien to the Syrian rebellion as such, which it continues to support.
Thus, commenting on the designation of Jabhat al-Nusra as a terror organization,
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland dismissed the group as "an attempt by AQI [Al-Qaida in Iraq] to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes."
"The violent, sectarian vision of al-Nusrah is at odds with the aspirations of the Syrian people," Nuland continued, "including the overwhelming majority of the Syrian opposition, who seek a free, democratic, and inclusive Syria."
But the outpourings of support for Jabhat al-Nusra in the aftermath of the designation belie the state department's assurances in this regard.
As the motto "We are all Jabhat al-Nusra" makes clear, actual partisans of the rebellion in Syria reject the distinction made by the administration and openly embrace the al-Qaida affiliate.
Unless otherwise noted, translations from Arabic by Maureen Millington-Brodie.


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by Michael Caruso
Although many institutions and organizations — churches included — continue cutting back on their activities due to the slow pace of the nation and region's economic recovery, the music program at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill continues to grow. Zach Hemenway, St. Paul's music director, pointed to its "Five Fridays" series of intimate recitals, its season of seven Sunday afternoon Choral Evensong services plus an additional two Carols & Lessons services during Advent and Holy Week, and the impressive growth and development in its choral programs, especially the children's choir.
Speaking of the 25 young choristers last Friday afternoon, Hemenway exclaimed, "They're awesome. They've developed so well. They're now able to produce a big cathedral choir sound — nothing thin and feeble — and they're singing serious music and having a fun time doing it."
Hemenway emphasized that young people may join the choir at any time, that no prior musical training or experience is required or expected, and that there are no expenses or fees. The choir is open to parishioners and non-parishioners and Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians alike.
Hemenway was quick to offer equal praise for his adult choir of 45 singers. "We're able to draw the finest volunteers to sing in our choir because, once again, we sing great music that features sound theology in its texts. If you wish to establish and maintain a high musical standard, you've got to offer your singers the highest quality of music."
Especially dear to Hemenway's heart is the "Five Fridays" series of recitals, all of which are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and are approximately an hour in length without intermission. The first is scheduled for Oct. 26 and features pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine in music by Beethoven, Liszt and Scriabin.
"The proceeds go to 'Face to Face Germantown' and the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Northwest Philadelphia," Hemenway explained. The former provides services for the homeless while the latter helps the homeless transition from temporary to permanent housing.
St. Paul's first Choral Evensong is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30. The choir will sing music by Herbert Howells, Michael Sitton and Percy Whitlock. Visit www.stpaulschestnuthill.org for more information.
The Opera Company of Philadelphia will open its 1012-13 season with that perennial favorite, "La Boheme," by Giocomo Puccini, with five performances in the Academy of Music and an extra outdoor performance on Independence Mall.
"La Boheme," an opera in four acts, was composed by Puccini to a libretto written by Giuseppe Giacose and Luigi Illica after Henry Murger's novel, "Scenes de la vie de boheme" (Scenes from the Life of the Bohemians). "Boheme" joins "Tosca" and "Madame Butterfly" as the three most popular of Puccini's operas, and it has remained one of the pillars of the Italian operatic repertoire. Only Puccini's illustrious predecessor, Giuseppe Verdi, composed more operas that continue to hold their place in the Italian standard repertoire.
OCP's production will mark the return of two locally trained singers in the cast. Tenor Bryan Hymel will sing the part of Rodolfo, and bass Jeremy Miller will essay the role of Colline. Both Hymel and Miller are recent graduates of the Academy of Vocal Arts. The production will feature projections of French masterpieces from the Barnes Foundation and Philadelphia Museum of Art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in keeping with Puccini's setting of the opera.
Performances in the Academy of Music are at 8 p.m. Fridays, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, 2:30 p.m.; Sundays, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7; 2:30 p.m.; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3. The Independence Mall performance is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. For more information, visit www.operaphila.org.


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Real-time Technology Assessment
Published on
I would like to describe a social technology that my colleagues at Arizona State University (ASU) and I call "real-time technology assessment," which is the core intellectual idea and practice behind the recently created and NSF-funded Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State (CNS-ASU).
Real-time technology assessment (RTTA) is a social technology that relies on fundamental understandings of the social, moral, political, and economic dynamics of knowledge-based innovation that have developed over the past three decades. These understandings reveal the complex, value-laden choices in knowledge production and application. The goal of RTTA is to redesign knowledge production and application to make these choices more explicit, informed, transparent, accountable, and participatory.
At CNS-ASU, RTTA combines problem-oriented empirical research and dynamics of nanotechnology with research on and engagement with the values that both nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) researchers and various publics hold. By creating opportunities for researchers and members of the public to reflect on those values (and on their interactions themselves), CNS-ASU hopes to 1) anticipate socio-technical developments so that more effective deliberation and social learning can occur earlier in the innovation process, and 2) increase the likelihood that decisions and outcomes will be more attuned to the needs and aspirations of the broader society.
In the mid-1970s, the research community in the United States incorporated a new social technology, lodged in Institutional Review Boards and framed by informed consent, aimed at preventing the abuse of human research subjects. In the 1980s, the university research community incorporated a new social technology, lodged in offices of technology transfer and framed by intellectual property as a measure of economic contribution, aimed at improving the connection between academic research and some of society's economic aspirations.
What I envision for NSE and other emerging technologies is that the public and private sector research communities will incorporate a new social technology, lodged in diverse collaborations for research, education, and engagement and framed by the reflexive approach to innovation articulated by RTTA, aimed at improving the vast array of economic and noneconomic connections between research and societal outcomes.
David Guston is professor of political science and associate director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University. He is also director of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS-ASU), an NSF-designated Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. CNS-ASU is beginning the first year of its five-year, $6.2 million grant from NSF to explore the societal implications of nanotechnologies.
Guston's book, Between Politics and Science: Assuring the Integrity and Productivity of Research, won the 2002 Don K. Price Prize from the American Political Science Association for best book about science and technology policy.
Guston is the North American editor of the peer-reviewed journal Science and Public Policy, and he is co-vice chair of the 2006 Gordon Research Conference on Science and Technology Policy.
In 2002, he was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and he is the current chair of the AAAS Section on Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering.
Guston holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a PhD from MIT. He did his postdoctoral training at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Fowler Hall, Purdue University


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Preparing New Techdirt CwF+RtB Offerings, And Extending The Crystal Ball For Those Who Bought
from the cooking-in-the-kitchen dept
Unfortunately, it's been a busy couple of months... and one of the reasons why we still haven't released the new offerings is that some of them actually involve some backend development on our part, which is ongoing. After realizing that we weren't going to have everything we wanted in place by now, we've actually extended everyone's 12-month Crystal Ball for an extra 12 months -- and we hope that when we're ready to release the new offerings, you'll find them worth buying as well.
In the meantime, as we're working on new offerings, I did want to see if anyone had other ideas of what they'd like to see as an offering. No promises, of course, but we're already planning to incorporate some user suggestions, and it would be great to hear about what others might find compelling.


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Florida Oranges in Hot Wooder?Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
Cynthia Green enjoyed both our Rebel-Yankee Tests and sent us this report:
"I took both of the tests and loved them. Fabulous job; it's so interesting to see dialects presented in such a fun way."
"My mother was raised in Florida and chronically "mispronounced" two words in particular to the neverending amusement of my sister and I. To her, an orange is an 'AH-runj', and the stuff that flows from the tap is 'wood-er'."
"I have never in my life heard anyone else use that pronunciation of H2O, and I've always been curious to know if this is a south Floridian thing or if my mom has been messing with my head for the past 35 years. :)"
I replied:
AH-runj is the careful pronunciation of "orange" pretty much throughout the South. Where I come from in central NC, however, we whittled this word down to one syllable: ahrnge (AHRNJ), i.e. iron (AHRN) plus a simple J. I pronounced it that way myself until cured in graduate school.
Pronouncing "water" (WAH-duh or WAR-der) as WOOD-er is a new one on me. It must be limited to a small area of Florida and I have no idea where it comes from—there must be something in your "wooder" down there.
In rural NC, this word was and is pronounced WAR-der. In the cities, however, where the accent of the upperclass British immigration prevailed, the preferred pronunciation is WAW-duh—no Rs. Today I pronounce it WATT-er, the result of living 50 years among the Yankee. But wooder? I can't imagine. Must be something that drifted down there with the new immigration from New (as opposed to old) Jersey.


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- Week 47. Fall. What was fall like where and when you grew up? Describe not only the climate, but how the season influenced your activities, food choices, etc.
Fall. As this comes around, it's late fall here in Minnesota, and in fact I've been watching the first serious snowfall of the season all day. So on a day that feels more like Winter, what can I say about Fall?
I've been Minnesotan virtually all of my life, so Fall as most people know it starts in early September with the days starting to get noticeably shorter, the leaves begin to change colors, and the temperatures get cooler. One can start to smell wood smoke in the air as people use fireplaces in the evening. The big yellow school buses start roaming the streets, and the kids who walk to and from school clog the sidewalks for brief periods in the morning and afternoon.
We don't usually get a hard frost until late September or early October. That's about the time people bring in the last of the garden produce, and prep the flower beds for winter. People begin raking leaves, as they are usually falling in earnest by this time. One of the best things to do on a sunny fall weekend is to go somewhere and view the fall colors, which peak over several weeks in different parts of the state. Usually late September to early October is peak color up north along the north shore of Lake Superior, with many miles of excellent hiking trails and state parks to visit. By the end of October, the colors have all faded to browns and a few dull yellows, and most of the leaves have dropped off.
Halloween has always been one of my favorite times. My wife and I even met while working in a haunted house many years back! Late October is a bit dicey with regards to weather in Minnesota, though. It rains for Halloween fairly often, and in 1991 there was even a major blizzard that made national news. I was in the Navy at that time, and missed it. People get used to trying to make costumes fit over snowmobile suits or heavy coats if there's a sudden cold snap.
Fall usually brings in the holidays, family gatherings and the traditional meals of turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce, and so on are anticipated by everyone. Deer hunters go out hoping to fill the larder with venison of all sorts for the winter. Duck, goose and pheasant are also prized.
Fall this year has been rather extended. It's mid-November and we're just getting our first serious snowfall, which usually comes earlier in the month, and sometimes in October, though it doesn't always stick around if it comes that early. At this point, though, any snow we get is usually with us until spring. Minnesota is noted for its winters, and people here know what to expect, so any extension we get to nice fall weather is appreciated by everyone except people who sell snow gear. People use the extra time to do home maintenance projects, more yard work, or whatever they can that lets them enjoy the outdoors just a bit longer. They know that soon enough, it'll be winter for months!
As I looked at what I've written, it occurred to me that the title of the blog is Indiana Dillmans, and I've only talked about my experience in Minnesota. What was Fall like for my Indiana ancestors? Indiana is further south, and situated on the other side of the Great Lakes which moderates their climate somewhat, so they don't get the massive snowfalls and extended deep freeze that Minnesota takes as a matter of course. Still, it can get very cold, and their houses were not built the way our modern ones are, being far less-well insulated, and heated by wood stoves instead of oil or natural gas. A big part of their annual work must have been cutting wood to prepare for the coming cold season, alongside the farming that most of my ancestors did. Hard, heavy work. Shorter days, meaning less hours of daylight in which to get the work done, let alone any hobbies or pleasurable activities. How did they cope?
This and all other articles on this blog are © copyright 2011 by Daniel G. Dillman


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Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden at The New York Botanical Garden
Friday, October 25, 2013
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
This event repeats every week on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10/8/2013 and 10/27/2013.
Please note: This event has already taken place. Please use the Search options on the right to find upcoming events.
The chrysanthemum—kiku in Japanese—is the most celebrated of Japan's fall-flowering plants, and hundreds of meticulously trained kiku will be on display in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden presents these magnificent chrysanthemums, in homage to hanami (the traditional custom of enjoying the ephemeral beauty of flowers), spotlighting a centerpiece of unforgettable kiku trained to grow in a mesmerizing variety of shapes and styles.
Learn more about the show and the designers. Complement your visit with a special taste of Japan in Stephen STARR Event's limited-run Japanese Pop-Up Restaurant.
Special weekend events spotlight the arts of bonsai and ikebana, as well as taiko drumming.
Please visit the New York Botanical Garden's web site below for admission prices
Event Organizer
Contact Number
(718) 817-8700
Contact Email
Related Links
Nature, Art, Fall Foliage, Fall Festivals


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arthritis, Carla Kienast, dr. burkhead, Humira, Osteoarthritis, replacement surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, Shoulder Surgery, surgery
Today I got my staples out — all 14 of them. For the not squeamish among you, I have uploaded a picture of the incision along with a picture of the bruises that are still on the back of my hand from trying to start the IV. Click on the shoulder surgery pics page link.
Had a good weekend. Got out of the house for the first time since surgery. Went to the store Saturday and Sunday went to dinner for our wedding anniversary.
My home health nurse is going to check to see if I can restart my Humira and Celebrex. My rheumatologist said 2 weeks after surgery if I was healing like I should, and the nurse said everything looked great. I'll be glad to be back on the medication. I think I'll feel better over all.
I think that's about all I know for now. I'm just getting really tired of being house bound. Thanks for checking in.


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MizHandmaiden wants to talk to Tennessee legislators about their proposed "Don't Say Gay Bill", which would force teachers to out students.
Look, Tennessee, there are easier ways to teach kids about The Crucible and McCarthyism...
Seriously. Maybe they're taking such a tough stand because we never fucking learn. Or maybe it's because their a bunch of intolerant bigots? Either way, MizHandmaiden's excellent comment stands. Tennessee, your turn.
Submit nominations to the Comment of the Day tag page. Click on the comment's time stamp, and post the comment's URL to the forum. (Replying to a comment with "#cotd" does not work; you need to go to the forum.) For meetups, use the meetup forum!


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Nana's Warm & Modern Kitchen
The residents of this home got to work very closely with their architect to make sure their dream home turned out perfectly. They got extra special attention because their architect is also the head of the household, Nana herself. That perfect home included one special warm and modern kitchen.
The kitchen features sleek lines and a super modern color palette. The stainless steel backsplash is a really nice touch and certainly makes cleaning easy. It also matches the appliances so the space has a certain flow that I just really love.
The white countertops were a perfect choice because the white helps balance the gray cabinets and dark floors. To avoid the space from becoming too monochromatic, Nana added a punch of color in the cubbyhole next to the window. The vibrant yellow works perfectly with the gray and white.
There's certainly no lack of storage in this kitchen!
See the full tour: Nana's Warm and Modern Family Home
Related: Doub's Free Spirited Kitchen
(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux)


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Luisa Bambozzi
When you call Melges Europe and a beautiful voice answers, it is that of General Manager Luisa Bambozzi. A superior sailor in her own right, Luisa understands that no matter what a customer needs, Melges Europe's customers take first priority and offers up only the very best in customer service.
If you are looking to order a new boat, purchase parts, schedule service or need assistance with the task of regatta registration, Luisa is always standing by to make sure that ever owner and team is take care of — first class.
Luisa Bambozzi,
General Manager, Melges Europe


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The human recorder presses play.
This Russian girl came into the shop today. I recognized her from somewhere, but I couldn't peg it. Then it hit me, a couple months ago N+P's web stats had a referrer coming from a Moscow based blog,- that's where I recognized her from, her blog. Weird. Here she was in the flesh, but I didn't say anything to her about it. Strangely enough, I had this Russian coin in my pocket that I accidentally grabbed a couple days ago at home when I was scrounging for change (it was with a bunch of other foreign change on the shelf from my travels). I was going to try and covertly give it back to the Russian girl when she bought some stuff at the shop, but alas she used a credit card so the coin stays in my pocket... (She scurried out before I was able to snap her photo).
I sat on hold a long time today.
It's tourist season, when boring straight people come visit friends in SF, their friends often want to show them how "freaky" the city is and they bring them to Needles & Pens. It makes me feel kind of wierd.
The Black Lips played a secret show at Carlos' house in Oakland.
It could've been the greatest show ever.
(subliminal doodle)
But, somebody posted it on myspace.... so, it was pretty crowded.
Voltron lazers!


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A.J. Burnett outdueled by Felix Hernandez as Pirates lose to Mariners 2-1
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PITTSBURGH – A.J. Burnett knew his margin for error was slim. It tends to happen when the other guy on the mound is one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Yet Burnett was nearly flawless for seven innings against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, matching Seattle ace Felix Hernandez pitch for pitch. By his estimate, Burnett made two mistakes.
Or, at least one too many.
A wild pitch led to one run and Jesus Montero's solo shot to center in the seventh broke a tie as the Mariners escaped with a 2-1 win and a split of the brief two-game interleague series.
"You know it's going to be a close ballgame," Burnett said. "You try to throw up zeroes just like he did. You know he's going to go out there and compete as much as I like to compete. It was fun."
Even if it could have — and maybe should have — been a win.
Burnett (3-3) gave up two runs on two hits in seven innings, striking out nine to boost his National League-leading total to 66. Yet he bounced a 2-2 curveball in front of backup catcher Mike McKenry that let Michael Saunders scamper home for a run in the fourth. The wild pitch came just after a Burnett fastball was ruled just a bit outside by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber.
The call could have gone either way. Yet instead of being out of the inning, the Mariners found a way to tie the score.
"I thought it was a close pitch," Burnett said of the borderline call before adding with a laugh "sometimes think my stuff's nasty, so sometimes (umpires) miss it too."
Burnett's other mistake came when Montero took a 91 mph heater and sent it just beyond the reach of centerfielder Andrew McCutchen for his third homer of the season.
"One ball that comes over, he could have popped it up, he could have done anything with it," Burnett said. "He put a decent swing on it. He's a strong kid. I've seen that before. And he got it, so what can you do?"
Starling Marte had two hits for Pittsburgh and Andrew McCutchen added an RBI single but the Pirates couldn't take advantage of a brief wobble by Hernandez in the first. Marte led off with a double and scored when McCutchen singled to center. Garrett Jones followed with a walk, but the inning ended with McKenry grounding into a double play.
The Pirates went just 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and have made a habit of squandering early opportunities.
"It just seems that we've got to find a better answer," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "Maybe it's our mindset but we're getting pitched tough. It's not like it's chopped liver we've been facing."
Hernandez (5-2) struck out five and walked one to improve to 4-0 in his last five starts while shaving his ERA to 1.53. Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth for his ninth save.
The showdown between the two staff aces lived up to its billing. Hernandez entered the game ranked in the top five in the American League in ERA and strikeouts while Burnett came in unbeaten in nearly a month and second in the National League in strikeouts behind New York's Matt Harvey.
"The game was advertised with two pitchers out there battling like two kids in the backyard," Hurdle said.
Outside of the two walks in the fourth, Burnett had little trouble with one of the worst offenses in the majors until the seventh, when Montero took a 91 mph fastball and put it in the first row of seats in center. Hernandez and Wilhelmsen took care of the rest as the Mariners improved to 8-4 in their last 12 games as they try to bounce back from a horrific start.
"I was OK," Hernandez said. "I didn't have my very best stuff but I battled hard. I knew I would have to battle because A.J. is a very good pitcher and he was on his game today. It was a tough game. Luckily, I kept us in the game and we were able to win."
NOTES: The Pirates released RHP Jonathan Sanchez on Wednesday. The team designated him for assignment last week ... The Mariners are off on Thursday then host Oakland for a weekend series starting Friday. Hisashi Iwakuma (3-1, 1.61) starts for Seattle against Dan Straily (1-0, 5.94) ... Pittsburgh begins a four-game set in New York against the Mets on Thursday. Jeff Locke (3-1, 3.21) faces New York's Dillon Gee (2-4, 6.16) ... The Pirates called up 2007 second-round pick RHP Duke Welker on Wednesday. Welker was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA at Triple-A Indianapolis this season.


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The insecure and subsequently conservative demographic personified by Rush Limbaugh. As a rule, they hate both affirmative action and rap music (but may secretly listen to Eminem).
An example of developing angry white males (angry white boys) are the teenagers who committed the series of school shootings in the late 90's.
by sean piniero February 13, 2005
a man who is angry and white,anger mostly coming from jealous of a black or Mexican man doing something better than white man.
by ilikevikes November 05, 2009


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Preparation neutralizes network problems before they grow into a full-blown crisis.
If you wait until a crisis strikes before you consider how to reduce the frequency and effects of network problems, you'll be too late. Instead, take a proactive approach and implement a strategy geared toward preventing network problems before they have a chance to shut down your system. If you pay attention to the physical aspects of the system and the way it transfers data, you'll be closer to achieving a failure-free network.
Start with the physical installation.
Improper grounding is a major contributor to network failure. In an effort to reduce noise, many installers devise grounding schemes based on unsound theory. Regardless of what the manufacturer's installation manual says, you must ensure your network conforms to IEEE Standard 142 and NEC Art. 250. If your warranty is bound to a configuration that violates these standards, work with the manufacturer — and possibly your legal department — to resolve the issue. Otherwise, you not only risk personal liability but loss of warranty, as well.
Unbonded grounding electrodes (misapplication of "isolated ground") and ground loops (often due to neutral-ground bonds at the equipment) are the two most common grounding errors in these systems. If these design errors exist in your system, you have a personnel danger that needs immediate repair. And even a properly designed system can have broken wires and poor connections, so give the whole system a thorough inspection. Cable connectors are the most common weak points in a networking installation. Because cable connectors expose unshielded wire, they leave communications susceptible to environmental factors such as radiated noise and corrosive chemicals.
Environmental noise can enter a system through several key points, such as the chassis, I/O connections, or communications lines. While walking down your network, list the potential noise sources and note their severity. You must determine what noise sources are potentially most damaging to the system operation. High-frequency interference and transients, such as lightning and electromechanical interference (EMI), are examples of noise that can cause or complicate problems. It's possible to solve noise problems with such mitigation techniques as special shielding and careful routing, or you may cope with noise problems by de-rating system performance.
Moving beyond the physical.
The physical installation is not always the source of network troubles, but it must be correct to avoid problems. Once you've ensured it's correct, you are ready to address other potential problem sources.
Consider performance and bandwidth issues, such as event-basing communications, messaging format optimization, detecting and handling communications loss, and splitting networks. When sending data, base the transfer on an event that indicates fresh data are available. For example, if your refresh rate is every 5 sec., it is not necessary to read data three times per second. Reading the same data multiple times wastes the network communications bandwidth and robs other devices and users of this limited resource.
If you effectively manage data flow, you may find it unnecessary to upgrade to equipment that provides faster data rates. It's wise to calculate approximate communications thresholds by knowing the amount of data, how frequently transfers occur, and device-buffering limitations. Once a system is in place, measure the network performance empirically and become familiar with how much bandwidth users actually consume. Being aware of these factors will help determine where a problem originates and how you might resolve it.
Diagnostic tools.
Although troubleshooting tools have long been available for networks like Ethernet, similar devices now exist for plant-floor buses. The following tools can help you determine when physical network problems are present, provide information on signal levels of the network, and confirm that devices are sending data that meet the protocol specification:
A time domain reflectometer (TDR) identifies faults or points of discontinuity via a reflection.
Passive network tools (Photo on page 58) go beyond the capabilities of a TDR by offering the ability to detect split pairs, extract cable parameters, and determine wire-mapping errors.
The digital multimeter (DMM) measures resistance on a cable and detects broken wires.
Beyond the cable, devices like an active network tool allow you to measure address-specific signal levels and quality on the network. Such a device also provides feedback on specific nodes that do not like the signal or data being received.
The most sophisticated tool, however, is a network traffic analyzer. This device records exactly what is happening on a network, which devices are communicating, the frequency of their communications, and specific details of their communications for a given period. You can analyze the details off-line to determine problems in network traffic.
Your suspicions about what is happening on the network are often wrong. To provide insight, analyzers show the biggest bandwidth users and display the actual data flow between devices. While one node may claim to send data, the other will reply only if the sent data use the protocol perfectly. In this case, the analyzer provides proof that data are on the wire and are flawless. However, few people use analyzers, unless they are developers or network specialists trained to read the results.
How to get help.
Many resources, such as user manuals, Web sites, and industry associations can provide valuable information when problems occur. You need to look, investigate, and record what you find. Maintenance people often call vendor tech support to say their system has stopped working — but fail to provide any critical information, like error codes or system diagnostics, which burns valuable time and does little good. Before calling vendor support, always view the status indicators on a device — which will clue you in to the nature of the problem. These instantaneous, easy-to-read alarms can help you avoid more detailed and time-consuming troubleshooting steps.
Additional outlets for help.
Network station diagnostics are also useful because they provide a point of reference to characterize problems. A network with several token-related errors, for instance, can mean performance problems exist or a device is dropping off of the network by not accepting the token. Understanding the diagnostics gives direction for expert troubleshooting and helps to identify the problem.
Taking advantage of product updates is important, because more recent revisions of products can offer faster data-transfer rates and support additional communications protocols — giving you more options when trying to solve plant-floor troubles. Keeping information like catalog or model number, series, firmware, and hardware and software revisions readily accessible prepares you for effective troubleshooting that may lie ahead.
Putting it all together.
With the numerous and varied forms of help available today, there are few reasons for you to suffer through a networking nightmare. The key to keeping your plant-floor networks operating is awareness of available resources. Each tool available will help you understand your current network requirements, characterize behavior, and plan for future growth. In short, education and awareness give you the ammunition needed to fire back at networking problems.


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The original gym floor was destroyed by a flood in August of 2007.
According to Fullum, although the school had flood insurance, reimbursement fell short of the cost of replacing the floor. When the school turned to FEMA, they discovered that the government agency only provides assistance to homeowners. Fullum said the Diocese of Brooklyn did offer the parish a loan.
"We just didn't want to go down that road," Fullum said.
It was at this point that the community rallied together behind the school.
Kerrie Hansen, whose son Steven attends Sacred Heart, said the recently formed Sacred Heart Glendale Educational Foundation took up the new floor as its flagship cause in February.
"We formed this group to start looking at grants and preserving the school for the future," said Hansen. "We didn't anticipate the gym floor being our first project."
According to Hansen, the original goal of the foundation was to raise $110,000. Through a series of fundraisers, including selling plaques, raffles, and a pasta night hosted by the Kiwanis, as well as corporate donations, the foundation was able to secure the funds needed to replace the damaged floor.
Many students also aided the foundation in raising funds the best ways they knew how. Fifth grader Steven Hansen collected cans, while classmate Brandonn Taphouse contributed his birthday money to the cause.
According to Principal Joanne Gangi, the fundraising work exceeded her expectations.
"It was a huge undertaking," said Gangi. "I wasn't expecting that. It was amazing."
Fullum agreed, and said he is thankful for the efforts of all who played a part in raising funds for the new floor.
"If it wasn't for [the community], we'd all be standing in mud," he said.
Pat Rampolla, who donated to the cause as well as attended Friday's event, said she was happy to help because of how important the school has been to her family.
"We've been here a long time," said Rampolla, a 1965 alumna, who says she can remember playing 21 for rosaries in the gymnasium.
In years past, Rampolla's mother-in-law taught at the school and her late husband coached. Her children attended Sacred Heart before going on to coach basketball at the school themselves.
"It means a lot to my family," Rampolla said.