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Technology Update: Leg-wheeled hybrid mobile robot
Integrated hardware and software helped with a mobile robotic design that uses the best attributes of legs and wheels, two widely adopted methodologies for ground locomotion.
Legs of most ground animals are agile, powerful, and capable of moving animals smoothly and rapidly on uneven, natural terrains. Humans invented wheels for specialized locomotion on flat ground, providing excellent power efficiency and smooth travel at high speeds on flat ground, exceeding capabilities of legged locomotion.
Combining wheeled mobility on flat ground and legs on rough terrain, the Bio-Inspired Robotic Laboratory (BioRoLa) team at National Taiwan University aimed to design a leg-wheeled hybrid robot to handle flat or rough terrain.
Mechanism design
Compared to most hybrid platforms, which have separate mechanisms and actuators for wheels and legs, the Quattroped leg-wheeled hybrid mobile robot uses a "transformation mechanism" that deforms a specific portion of the body to act as a wheel or a leg.
From a geometrical point of view, a wheel usually has a circular rim and a rotational axis located at the center of the rim. The rim contacts the ground, and the rotational axis connects to the robot body at a point hereafter referred to as the "hip joint." With most wheeled locomotion on flat ground, the wheel rotates continuously and the ground-contact point of the wheel is located directly below the hip joint with a fixed distance. In contrast, in legged locomotion the leg moves in a periodic manner without specific geometrical configuration between the hip joint and the ground-contact point. The relative position of the legs varies frequently and periodically during locomotion.
Shifting the hip joint out of the center of the circular rim and changing the continuous rotation motion to other motion patterns implies the locomotion switches from wheeled mode to legged mode. This provided design motivation for a mechanism that directly controls the relative position of the circular rim with respect to the hip joint so it can generate wheeled and legged motions. Because the circular rim is a two-dimensional object, adding a second degree of freedom (DOF) can adjust the relative position of the hip joint to the center of the circular rim along the radial direction. Two DOF motions are orthogonal to each other. The same set of actuation power can be efficiently used in wheeled and legged modes.
Robot computation is mainly powered by a 400 MHz real-time embedded control system operating at a loop rate of 1 kHz with a gate field-programmable gate array (FPGA) embedded chassis running at 10 kHz. The real-time control system microprocessor communicates to a remote-control (RC) PC laptop via standard IEEE 802.11 wireless protocols. The FPGA connects to digital and analog I/O modules, which connect to robot sensors and actuators.
Robot sensors include temperature sensors on the motors and power amplifier chips for health monitoring; voltage and current measurement sensors for power management; Hall-effect sensors for leg-wheel configuration calibration; a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a 2-axis inclinometer for body state measurement; and three infrared (IR) distance sensors to measure ground clearance. Various sensors, such as GPS, vision, and laser ranger, are also used to improve the robot's perception ability. Actuators on the robot include eight dc brushed motors for driving the robot, two high-torque remote-controlled servos for front leg-wheel turning, and four small remote controlled servos and four small dc brushed motors for leg-wheel switching.
Software, three cores
Three computation cores (PC, real time, and FPGA) running object-oriented control software are responsible for different tasks. A remote-control PC operated by the user exchanges only essential information with the microprocessor of the real-time controller, such as high-level commands to drive the robot in different modes, passing back crucial motor and electronic status for health monitoring and logging state data.
Most computation is executed within the onboard real-time processor. Some algorithms that require high-speed signal exchanges are compiled within the FPGA, such as proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control for the dc motors, encoder readings, and pulse-width-modulation (PWM)-based RC servo commands. The robot is programmed with various state machines, and each state represents one of the robot's particular operating behaviors.
After the robot is powered on, motors are calibrated to define the absolute geometric configurations of the two active DOFs on each leg-wheel. Calibration is achieved by matching the relative position between Hall-effect sensors installed on the body and magnets mounted within the leg-wheel. The calibrated robot can be operated in legged mode or in wheeled mode, depending on the current rim configurations (that is, wheel or half-circle leg). Leg-wheel switching transforms the leg-wheel configuration.
In wheeled mode, the robot can stand, drive, and sit. Standing and sitting are two transient states to bridge the initial on-the-ground configuration and the driving behavior. When driving, the forward speed and turning rate are continuously adjustable. In legged-mode operation, standing and sitting behaviors also are included for transient states. After the robot stands, it can perform various behaviors, including walking, trotting, step crossing, bar crossing, and stair climbing.
Hardware, software benefits
Robots, in general, are high-DOF complex systems. Successful robot development requires time and effort to properly integrate various mechanical, electrical, and computer systems. For the BioRoLa team at National Taiwan University (mainly students with mechanical engineering backgrounds), a reliable, modular, easy-to-use, and well-integrated mechatronic system suitable for rapid prototyping helped robot development.
The graphical programming interface makes it easy for students to construct logic flow followed by coding and to understand the programs created by other developers. A compact, durable, and modular controller helps mobile robot development where the size, weight, performance, and learning time are important factors. Software and hardware compatibility reduces the time and efforts of developers in performing system integration.
Sensors, perception
On the hardware side, various sensors are being integrated into the current mechatronic system to improve the perception capabilities of the robot. On the behavioral side, legged behaviors are being refined with a closed-loop feature to improve robot mobility on various challenging terrains and to explore dynamic legged gaits.
At a glance: Leg-wheeled hybrid mobile robot application, software and hardware
NI LabVIEW software, CompactRIO hardware, and I/O modules are used to rapidly integrate mechanical design, mechatronics, and programming for a functional robot prototype that combines the best attributes of wheels and legs for locomotion. The system includes the following NI hardware and software.
- Computation is mainly powered by a 400 MHz NI cRIO-9014 real-time embedded control system operating at a loop rate of 1 kHz with an NI cRIO-9104 3M gate field-programmable gate array (FPGA) embedded chassis running at 10 kHz.
- FPGA connects to NI 9205 and NI 9264 analog I/O modules and NI 9401 and NI 9403 digital I/O modules, which connect to robot sensors and actuators.
- Three computation cores (PC, real time, and FPGA) run LabVIEW 8.6. A remote-control PC operated by the user exchanges essential information (high-level commands to drive the robot in different modes) with the microprocessor of the real-time CompactRIO controller. It passes back crucial motor and electronic status for health monitoring and logging state data.
- NI LabVIEW graphical programming interface makes it easy for students to construct logic flow followed by coding and to understand the programs created by other developers.
- Compact, durable, and modular CompactRIO system is extremely suitable for mobile robot development where the size, weight, performance, and learning time are important factors.
- Well-defined integration between LabVIEW and NI hardware significantly reduces the time and effort of developers in performing system integration.
The authors thank NI Taiwan for kind support in equipment provision and technical consulting.
– Authors, from Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University, are Pei-Chun Lin, Shen-Chiang Chen, Ke Jung Huang, Shuan-Yu Shen, and Cheng-Hsin Li. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com
AIMing for Automated Vehicles blog www.controleng.com/blogs


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10:00 pm
Inventions That Shook The World "The 1960's" The decade is filled with both cultural and technological change. A weather satellite that can save lives by tracing weather patterns and predicting hurricanes is launched into orbit. Robots begin to appear in the workplace, taking over some menial tasks, freeing workers to focus on more complicated jobs. Part 7 of 10G
11:00 pm
Transplant: A Gift for Life TRANSPLANT: A GIFT FOR LIFE reveals the powerful emotions and cutting-edge science involved in vital organ transplant. Told through multiple real-life stories, this one-hour documentary demonstrates how the tragic death -- or inspirational generosity -- of one person can pull another back from the brink, offering a second chance at life. We meet a daughter who shares half of her liver to save her father's life; the recipient of a lung transplant who reaches out to his deceased donor's family; and two mothers who nurse their sons through multiple transplants. D

subset: commoncrawl


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NEW YORK, N.Y. - You can just barely see them through the window of the No. 7 subway as it rattles into the elevated station in Corona, Queens: a gigantic steel sphere, two rocket ships, and towers that appear to be capped by flying saucers.
These unusual landmarks are among a number of attractions still standing from the 1964 World's Fair, which opened in Flushing Meadows Corona Park 50 years ago, with marvels ranging from microwave ovens to Disney's "it's a small world" ride to Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.
But visiting the area today is as much about 21st century Queens as it is a walk down memory lane. Many of Queens' contemporary cultural institutions — like the Queens Museum and the New York Hall of Science — grew out of fair attractions and incorporate original fair exhibits.
Other relics are stupendous in their own right, like the Unisphere, a 12-story steel globe so glorious to behold, you almost feel like you're seeing Earth from outer space. There's also a modern zoo, an antique carousel and outdoor sculptures.
Here's a guide to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World's Fair on a visit to Queens.
On weekends, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is packed with people from the dozens of ethnic groups that populate Queens, speaking many languages, eating food from around the world and playing soccer with a seriousness of purpose often found among those who grew up with the sport. That makes for "a wonderful unique experience," said Janice Melnick, Flushing Meadows Corona Park administrator.
And yet, as you walk out of the 111th Street train station, there's something about Corona that also brings to mind an older, simpler New York. No hipsters here; no luxury condo skyscrapers. Instead, you'll find modest brick apartment buildings and single-family homes, pizzerias and diners, barber shops and variety stores. That throwback sensibility adds a layer of nostalgia to the experience of revisiting fair sites, especially for boomers who attended the event as kids.
"I think for many people, the fair represents this last moment of true optimism," said Melnick. "We were looking into the future, and the future was going to be bright. That really struck a chord with a lot of people."
The fair's best-known symbol, an elegant steel globe, has appeared in movies like "Men in Black" and "Iron Man 2." Visitors enjoy setting up photos so that they appear to be holding the world in their hands. Located in the park, outside the Queens Museum of Art.
You can't miss the towers topped by flying saucers, surrounded by 100-foot-high (30-meter-high) concrete pillars. This was the New York State Pavilion, where visitors rode elevators to an observation deck above an enormous suspended roof of translucent colored tiles. Today the structure is padlocked, rusted and cracked, with preservationists and critics fighting over its future.
The museum is housed in a building that dates to the 1939 World's Fair, which marks its 75th anniversary this year. It also briefly housed the United Nations General Assembly after World War II. Exhibits include posters from both fairs and a replica of Michelangelo's "Pieta," which was shown in the Vatican Pavilion during the '64 fair.
The museum's most famous display, the "Panorama of the City of New York," is a scale model of the city that debuted at the '64 fair. The panorama includes models of each of the city's 895,000 buildings built before 1992, along with every street, park and bridge, on a scale of 1 to 1,200. The island of Manhattan is 70 feet long (21 metres), the Empire State building 15 inches tall (38 centimetres).
Opening April 27 is an exhibit of posters that pop artist Andy Warhol did for the '64 World's Fair, inspired by mug shots of the city's 13 most-wanted criminals from 1962. The posters were too controversial for the fair and were never shown.
Located in the park, near the Willets Point stop on the No. 7 train. Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.; adults, $8, children under 12, free.
Two NASA rockets stand 100 feet high (30 metres) outside the New York Hall of Science, a museum that opened a few years after the '64 fair, replacing a temporary pavilion. The rockets were part of a space park at the fair that captured the excitement of the era's quest to get a man on the moon.
Towering over the Hall of Sciences is an undulating concrete building called the Great Hall, an architectural marvel that was an original fair site. Undergoing renovation now, it's due to reopen in October, when visitors will be able to experience the other-worldly interior covered in blue stained glass.
The Hall of Science has undergone a series of renovations over the years and today houses exhibits exploring everything from microbes to the science of basketball. It also has a small but worthwhile display in a second-floor hallway of brochures, tickets and other memorabilia from the fair, along with a first-floor display of photos of World's Fairs going back to the 19th century.
Located at 47-1 111th St. Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; adults, $11, children 2-17, $8.
A geodesic dome from the '64 fair serves as the zoo's walk-through aviary. The zoo specializes in North and South American animals, ranging from bears to pumas.
Located at 53-51 111th St. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (5:30 p.m. on weekends); adults, $8, children 3-12, $5.
The carousel dates to the early 1900s and was brought to Queens for the '64 fair from Coney Island, Brooklyn. Located outside the zoo, near 111th Street and 55th Avenue. Open weekends and school holidays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., $3.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park is home to several sculptures commissioned for the fair, including "Rocket Thrower," ''Freedom of the Human Spirit," ''Form" and "Forms in Transit."
Many events and exhibits will mark the anniversary, including "A Taste of Queens," April 29 at the Sheraton in Flushing, $100 a person, with a variety of food vendors and an appearance by the woman who came from Belgium to sell Belgian waffles at the fair. Information at http://www.itsinqueens.com/WorldsFair/ and http://www.nycgo.com/worldsfair .
No. 7 train to 111th Street in Queens; walk down Roosevelt Avenue toward the Hall of Science at 47th Avenue. You'll see the rocket ships come into view over an auto parts store. The zoo, Unisphere and art museum are nearby, though it's a lot of walking. The next stop on the train, Mets-Willets Point, is closer to the Unisphere, art museum and a bike rental station. By car, take the Grand Central Parkway to the Tennis Center.


text: Every once in a while I get asked if I can prescribe medication to a patient. Once I explain that chiropractors do not prescribe drugs, explain the mechanisms of a healing body, it is common to be his with. "Yah, but Advil is okay right?" or "I'll justRead More >


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Urquart is the surname of a pure-blood wizarding family. They are related to the Muggle/half-blood McGonagalls and, by extention, to the wizarding Rosses.[1]
Known family members
- Elphinstone Urquart (d. 1985), a senior officer at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in the 1950s.
- Minerva McGonagall (b. 1935), celebrated Head of the Transfiguration department and Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Briefly married to Elphinstone Urquart in the 1980s, despite never having taken the family name due to her feminist beliefs.
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)


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September 29, 2005
"Have you been given a gift, in a sense?"
Reid refers to a list of names, which he's conveyed to the President, of persons who are unacceptable to the Democrats, whose nomination would be felt as "a poke in the eye with a sharp stick." That turns out to be another way of saying these are the nominees we would filibuster.
For some reason, he emphasizes that he wants a nominee who is more of a trial lawyer. He seems passionate faulting John Roberts for never having argued to a jury or taken a deposition. What's that about?
UPDATE: Well, Harry, I hope you like Harriet.
22 comments:
- Jack Roy said...
Experience? Roberts, despite his obvious brilliance, had only been a judge for what, two years? A lifetime of litigation experience is an imperfect replacement for a solid career on the bench, to say the least, but I'm guessing Reid thinks it would at least be something.
Just guessin'.
- Simon said...
How bizarre - a candidate to sit on an appellate court is solely experienced in appellate practise! The horror! Yawn.
Reid refers to a list of names, which he's conveyed to the President, of persons who are unacceptable to the Democrats, whose nomination would be felt as "a poke in the eye with a sharp stick."
Given their abominable performance "interviewing" Chief Justice Roberts, does anyone else think that "a poke in the eye with a sharp stick" might qualify as due process for several members of the Senate Judiciary Committee?
The whole filibuster thing is an incredibly silly strategy for democrats. I've observed before that I think the nuclear option is unconstitutional (see Judicial filibusters - my take, but cf. In defense of the Judges and Not a victory for Democrats), but I think the whole thing was best summed up by a cartoon that I had in my head at the time (but sadly lacked the skill to draw) of a hyperventilating donkey holding a gun to his head, saying "don't think I won't do it! don't make me do this!", while a disinterested and slightly bemused looking elephant ambled away in the other direction.
How exactly you draw an elephant who is simultaneously disinterested and slightly bemused is as much a mystery as to how to draw a fountain pen with a shark's mouth...
- Simon said...
Jack, let me refer you to comments I made here ("[T]he suggestion that [Roberts] is inexperienced, I feel, is moot. Of his sixteen predecessors, only seven had ANY judicial experience - and three of those had less or barely more experience than Roberts - Rutledge (2 years), Hughes (6 years) and Vinson (less than a year). Only White and Stone (16 years apiece), Burger (13 years) and Rehquist (15 years) had what we would now regard as "substantial judicial experience". But chief Justices Jay, Ellsworth, Marshall, Taney, Chase, Waite, Fuller, Taft and Warren - more than half of the men ever to hold that position - had never sat on the bench a day of their lives when appointed").
- TigerHawk said...
I don't find it the least bit surprising that Harry Reid wants somebody who is "more of a trial lawyer." As we all know, the term "trial lawyer" does not mean "litigator who has trial experience." It is code for "plaintiff's lawyer" specializing in tort, business fraud or employment discrimination cases. Such people are a bedrock constituency for the Democrats, and deeply threatened by the prospect of a Justice who would uphold legislated caps on damages and such. In calling for a nominee who is a "trial lawyer," Reid is sucking up to his contributors -- nothing more and nothing less.
- Jack Roy said...
Nice brief you write there. You wanna tell me what else "chief Justices Jay, Ellsworth, Marshall, Taney, Chase, Waite, Fuller, Taft" have in common?
I have more medical training than the guys who applied leeches in the 18th century, being as I had a semester of biology and I understand in a vague way what "germs" are. It doesn't mean I would qualify myself as a doctor simply because those guys did.
Further, let's make a qualitative judgment: Jay and Marshall never had a meaningful chance to sit on the bench before appointment, but look at all the Chiefs of the 20th century you'd qualify as good (i.e., not Vinson) or great. I'm guessing Stone, Warren, Burger and Rehnquist would make the list, depending on your personal ideology. Warren was state AG and Governor for his entire career, but all the others had pretty substantial judicial experience.
Look, if you think Roberts's comparative inexperience doesn't disqualify him from the job, then you and I agree about something. But pretending that there is no issue of his inexperience because Chief Justice Ellsworth served less time is the height of delusional self-affirmation.
- Sloanasaurus said...
Bush, should nominate Janice Rodgers Brown. It is the most politically smart thing to do. In my opinion the pool of acceptable "known" candidates is small and includes really only Brown and white men.
If Janice Brown gets confirmed, then we get the superb, brilliant,and qualified justice taht we all wanted. If Brown goes down to a filibuster, Bush then has earned political capital to nominate anyone including white males.
- Steve Donohue said...
I would be prepared to argue that John Marshall's knowledge of the law far surpasses Jack Roy's, despite Marshall having practiced in the time of doctors applying leeches.
Roberts isn't exactly a legal greenhorn. He's an accomplished attorney widely recognized in his field as possessing a brilliant legal mind.
And as for your list, Warren never served as a judge, and few would put Burger in the list of great Chief Justices, or even good. Rehnquist and Stone had experience and were both good chiefs, but how about Hughes, who had only six years on the bench and was a far more politicized figure than Roberts is (imagine someone nominating Al Gore to SCOTUS). With only 6 years he did just fine, and I'd be prepared to argue he'd probably wouldn't have needed the six years.
- Simon said...
What Steven said. I certainly wouldn't accept that Warren or Burger were great chief Justices, and IIRC, Stone is not exactly revered as a great chief justice either. The point is that, historically, judicial experience has not been regarded as the sine qua non of the Chief Justice position.
I'm certainly not defending Roberts, because as I've mentioned before (1, 2, 3), I have serious concerns that the President has blundered. But if you're going to attack him, for crying out loud use something more relevant than how many years he's been a Judge. Clarence Thomas was barely a judge for five minutes before he was a Justice, but he's shaped up to be one of the best Justices on the court.
- Goesh said...
The best way to counter a filibuster is to present We the People with a Black, female former California Supreme Court Judge. I now have 3 crisp 20s that says it's so. Make 'em gnash their teeth, George - you can do it, baby, you can do it! ( I think even Mr. Karl would agree with this)
Are you serious, "what's that about?"
You're a law professor, maybe you can help us break this down. Of your graduating students that practice law in some fashion, what percentage participate in trials, take depositions, etc?
Where do most of the cases that come before the Supreme Court start? Before an appellate court or in a lower court?
Given their power to make the rules that lower courts must follow, how are they to obtain a real understanding of what the lower courts do and what real life constraints they undergo without having real experience in those courts as lawyers or judges?
And let me echo those that say your letter captcha is sometimes maddening.
- Jack Roy said...
We're in an odd tango, don't you think: I'm not saying that Roberts isn't qualified or shouldn't be confirmed, and you aren't defending him.
Let's be clear: I believe Roberts will and should be concerned. But my belief to that effect is in spite of legitimate concerns that Roberts may be too inexperienced for the job. I have a hard time accepting that those concerns in an of themselves are sufficient reason to reject his nomination, for all the reasons you put forward (certainly less-experienced judges have been successful; judicial experience isn't the sine qua non, as was said).
That much conceded, I don't see how one can argue that the lack of meaningful judicial experience is irrelevant or "moot." (And before you accuse me of shifting the issue, please point out where I'm "attacking" the nominee. I'm only saying it's relevant and worth consideration.)
PS: Chief Justice Stone most certainly is revered as one of the better 20th century Chiefs; it's just that you don't like him because you don't like the jurisprudence. It may be your own opinion that Clarence Thomas is the best Justice on the Court, and that's a valid opinion. But it's by no stretch the consensus. You may suspect, correctly, that I don't care for the Rehnquist Court. But I was good enough to include Rehnquist on the list of top four 20th C. CJs, because I recognize that not all Court-watchers agree with me. Just sayin'.
- aidan maconachy said...
Ann said - "He seems passionate faulting John Roberts for never having argued to a jury or taken a deposition. What's that about?"
Aidan says - "grabbing at straws"
- Simon said...
A strange tango indeed - you believe Roberts will and should be confirmed, in spite of your concerns that Roberts may be too inexperienced for the job, while I believe he was and shouldn't have been confirmed, and that his relative lack of experience is no bar! ;)
Justice Thomas is not my favorite o the court, and in fairness, the Rehnqist court has never been the Rehnquist court in anything other than name; it was the O'Connor-Kennedy court, and suffered for the lack of a firm theoretical underpinning on the parts of those jurists, produing "narrow, case-by-case results", or "incoherent, unprincipled results", depending on one's point of view.
- me said...
Trial experience, while helpful, is not a pre-requisite to being a good Supreme Court Justice. Roberts probably has the best resume of any candidate in the last 20 years.
What would have been nice and interesting is if Roberts hadn't had to have a gag order, so he could say what he really thinks. Unfortunately, the Bork hearings destroyed any possible intellectual discussion before confirmation.
If you want to be confirmed, you must keep your mouth shut.
Let's hope Bush's next pick is as well qualified as Roberts.
- The Mojician said...
President Bush needs to appoint either someone with first name of "Thomas" or last name of "John" so that we can have a "Before & After" just like Earl Warren Burger.
- Goesh said...
Hail to the Chief! He just got the nod of approval.
- anselm said...
Trial experience would give a justice a little insight on the value of clarity, a much-ignored virtue as of late. Usable standards that don't just result in more dinging around in the lower courts of appeal.
Also, an experiences justice could approach criminal procedure with an understanding of how the criminal courts work on the ground rather than total credulity of law enforcement.
- Simon said...
Trial experience would give a justice a little insight on the value of clarity, a much-ignored virtue as of late. Usable standards that don't just result in more dinging around in the lower courts of appeal.
Getting rid of O'Connor and Kennedy would achieve precisely that. One down!
- vnjagvet said...
Interestingly, the new Chief Justice would have had about the same judicial experience as most of the judges nominated to that position but for the U.S. Senate's failure to confirm him in the early 90's.
What he gained, IMO, was experience practicing law with real clients. Not only was he arguing cases, but he also was advising a wide range of clients on appellate litigation matters covering not only constitutional law issues, but also knotty federal administrative and statutory legal issues. This is experience other justices lack.
As a trial lawyer of nearly forty years, I am not unmindful of the value of such experience, especially in matters involving trial practice such as jury makeup, evidence, privilege and the like.
But I think the experience of practicing law and having to advise clients on matters involving litigation is even more important.
- Simon said...
Interestingly, the new Chief Justice would have had about the same judicial experience as most of the judges nominated to that position but for the U.S. Senate's failure to confirm him in the early 90's.
Respectfully, I think that's something of a canard. If the Senate had confirmed him in the 1990s, Bush would most likely not have nominated him to the Supreme Court. The two biggest strikes in Roberts' favor for the nomination were the absence of a paper trail (which wouldn't have been the case had he been a judge for a decade) and that he was one of the President's own men, and the President has great faith in his own judgement of people (and, had he been confirmed in the early '90s, he wouldn't have been one of Bush's men).
- Justin said...
the trial lawyer comment is based on a long-running argument on the left, which is that since the retirement of Marshall and Brennan, the court has lacked someone with a real understanding of a record or the application of their decisions to the mechanics of trials. Given the absurdity of some of the recent criminal law procedure decisions, I think this is essentially correct.
- whit said...
I did't read the whole thread but in case someone else said consider this a second.
I think Harry Reid and his ilk should get "a poke in the eye" as well as a black eye and a bloody nose for good measure. He and Pelosi are despicable.


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Genre: Comedy, Drama
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A handful of soldiers are faced with the ultimate temptation, which impacts their ethical standards in different ways in this comedy-drama from Colombia.
Perlaza (Carlos Manuel Vesga), Lloreda (Diego Cadavid), Venegas (Juan Sebastian Aragon) and Porras (Manuel Jose Chaves) are four G.I.'s in the Colombian Army who are part of a counter-guerilla unit dedicated to ferreting out revolutionaries who've set up camp in the nation's jungles.
Porras is married and a dedicated family man, while the others are single and like to party hard when they're not on duty. While cleaning up after they're ambushed by guerillas, one of the soldiers makes a surprising discovery -- several tubs buried in the jungle which hold $40 million in cash, hidden by drug kingpins in cahoots with the guerillas.
While Porras predictably maintains they should leave the money alone and tell their commander Lizarazo (Marlon Moreno) about it, the others want to take the fortune for themselves. However, hiding $40 million from Lizarazo proves to be a difficult task, and spending the money without drawing attention to themselves isn't much easier.
Directed by Rodrigo Triana, an established name in Colombian television, Sonar No Cuesta Nada (aka A Ton Of Luck) was based on a true story and became a major box-office attraction at home when it opened as its real-life counterparts were on trial.


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What is the purpose of examinations?
The Civil Service Law mandates that applicants for positions in classified titles be examined on the basis of "merit and fitness." The examinations are intended to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for gaining employment at CUNY.
Must I take this examination in order to be considered for the position?
Yes, all permanent appointments to competitively classified positions must be filled by an unbiased examination of each applicant applying for such positions. In accordance with New York State Civil Service Law, permanent appointments to positions in competitive class titles can only be filled through the use of eligibility lists, which are generated as a result of an unbiased examination of all applicants.
What does it mean when a position is "classified?"
Classified means that the position has been assigned to an appropriate title based on the duties and/or the qualifications of the position. Classified titles have formal written statements that define the general character and scope of the duties and responsibilities of positions within that class.
What does "competitive" mean?
Competitive simply means that it is possible to administer an examination where applicants can compete with one another, on the basis of merit and fitness, for a given job opening.
How does the examination process fit into the overall hiring process?
Examinations are the second step in the overall hiring process, after the recruitment of applicants and before the selection process. In order to recruit the largest pool of applicants, positions are announced on the CUNY website, on job boards, and in newspapers. Next, interested persons must obtain a Notice of Exam (NOE), which includes an application for employment and a job description. The employment application must be completed before you are allowed to participate in an examination.
You will receive notification of when and where the exam will be given, after your filing fee and application have been processed. If you pass the exam and meet the minimum qualifications of the position, you will be placed on an eligibility list. Once a list has been established, then the selection phase of the hiring process begins. Depending upon your score and the needs of The University, you may be invited to a hiring pool, where candidates are interviewed and appointed to positions.
How can I find out about upcoming examinations?
Information about upcoming exams is posted on the CUNY website. Also, CUNY examinations are frequently advertised in The Chief, America's Job Bank, various community service organizations, and at CUNY Colleges.
What are the different types of examinations?
There are three types of examinations:
- Open-competitive exams are exams any person meeting all the minimum requirements can apply to take;
- Promotional examinations are open only to employees already in permanent lower level eligible positions;
- Continuous recruitment examinations are examinations for which applications are accepted on an on-going basis and are used for job titles where there is a lot of hiring activity or for job titles that are very specialized and there may be a limited number of applicants.
What does continuous recruitment mean?
Continuous recruitment means that applications are accepted on a continuous basis. Continuous recruitments tend to be restricted to examinations of education and experience. If an applicant passes the examination he or she becomes eligible for a possible appointment for a period of up to two years.
Do I need to pay two separate filing fees, if I apply for a position both promotionally and open-competitively?
Civil Service Law states that separate eligibility lists are to be generated for promotional and open-competitive opportunities; thus it is necessary to pay two separate filing fees. Also, the filing fees must be in the form of separate U.S. Postal Money Orders, one for each exam you wish to take.
Why are only money orders without an expiration date accepted?
This standard practice to require certified funds at the time of filing for an examination in order to ensure that your application is not eliminated due to nonpayment of the filing fee, as there can often be unanticipated problems with the processing of both personal checks and credit card payments. However, for examinations for which Internet registration is mandatory, only credit or debt card payments are accepted.
Can the filing fee ever be waived?
No, the examination of applicants is a fee-for-service operation. The fees charged are to cover the expense of exam materials and other administrative examination costs.
What if I want a refund of my examination fee?
An applicant who was unable to take or complete an examination may apply for refund of the filing fee by submitting a written request to the CUNY Civil Service Examinations Unit within sixty (60) days from the date the exam was held. Only applicants who were unable to appear may apply for a refund and must provide verification that such absence was due to: (a) compulsory attendance before a court or other public body or official having power to compel attendance (b) hospitalization, or (c) manifest error or mistakes for which the University is responsible. An applicant who was unable to take an open-competitive examination because of active military service with the Armed Forces of the United States of America may apply for refund of the filing fee by submitting a written request with verification of such service to the University Human Resource Director no later than sixty (60) days from the termination of military duty. There are no refunds for failing scores.
How do I know if I am approved to take the written test?
If you have paid your filing fee, then you will be allowed to take the examination. However, if the review of your application shows that you were not minimally qualified to take the exam, you will not be given an exam score and your filing fee will NOT be returned to you. It is important for you to carefully read the minimum qualifications before you apply.
When and how will I be notified about taking the exam?
You will receive your Admission Card Notice Letter by mail no later than ten (10) business days before the scheduled date of the exam. The Admission Card Notice Letter will advise you of the date, time, and location of the exam.
What happens if I move to a new residence after applying for or taking an examination?
Once CUNY puts a letter in the U.S. Mail, it is deemed to be "delivered" and we hold no responsibility for your failing to receive the information contained in that letter. Therefore, if you move, it is your responsibility to provide written notice of your change of address. You must include your name, SSN, the exam number, your old address and your new address, along with a telephone number where you can be reached, should there be a need to contact you. Failure to update CUNY with changes in your contact information could lead to you not being considered for employment.
How can I study for the exam?
When an exam contains questions designed to assess you knowledge of facts or information in your field, then you can contact your union, trade, or other professional organization for guidebooks, reports, or other materials that will help you prepare for the exam. Moreover, bookstores and libraries have trade books and study guides for all kinds of jobs. Anyone who stays up to date with the changes in their chosen field of work should already be adequately prepared for an exam.
What is the standard examination administration procedure?
There is no standard examination procedure. The procedure followed depends upon the type of exam given (i.e., Education & Experience vs. Knowledge-based tests) and if CUNY has elected to participate in an exam to be given by New York State or by New York City. The University Civil Service Examinations Unit makes every effort to let applicants know all of the relevant examination procedures before the date of the exam.
What do I need to bring with me to the exam?
In order to be admitted to the exam, you will be required to present your registration confirmation letter and to show an item of state-issued photo identification, either in the form of a state ID or valid driver's license from any of the 50 States. Additionally, you need to have several sharpened No. 2 pencils, and, it is a good idea to bring your own pencil sharpener. Unless it is expressly stated, you may NOT bring any study aids, calculators, or other similar items into the examination room.
What if I need special accommodations to take an exam?
CUNY seeks to have a diverse workforce, so any reasonable request for accommodation will be carefully reviewed and considered. Accommodations for disabilities and Sabbath observers may be requested. If your request is granted, you will need to contact our office to set up a time for an alternate examination date. You can request a special accommodation by filling out the Special Accommodations Request Form, which is available from any CUNY campus Human Resources office. All supporting documents must be included at the time you submit your completed request form.
What happens after I take an exam?
After you take the exam, the exam will be scored, which can take as long as three months. After exams are scored, those applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and have passing scores will be placed on an eligibility list. Persons placed on an eligibility list may be invited for an interview at a hiring pool; this is dependent upon your rank on the list, CUNY's hiring needs, and the life of the list. [Note: Eligibility lists expire.]
What happens if I miss the exam?
If you miss the exam due to an illness, a death of someone close to you, or a religious observance, you may be permitted to make up the exam on an alternate test date. In order to request a makeup exam, you must contact the University Civil Service Examinations Unit and be prepared to provide written proof in support of your stated reason for missing the exam's originally scheduled date. See the relevant Notice of Examination for details.
After I take an exam, how soon will I find out my score?
On average, you can expect to receive a letter containing your exam score within approximately three months. If you take an exam via the Internet and pay the filing fee online, then you will receive your exam score as soon as your payment is processed
How will I be notified about my examination score?
You will be notified via U.S. Mail or online.
What are selection bands?
Selection bands are merely a way to group scores, so it is easier for an applicant to understand his or her score and its relationship to the scores of other applicants who took the same exam. People within a given band are treated equally and have the same opportunity for employment as the others in that same band.
Is there Veteran's preference?
Yes, honorably discharged veterans who served during a time of war are eligible to have veteran's points credited to their final exam score. For open-competitive exams, veterans could possibly receive 5 additional points, while disabled veterans could receive 10 extra points. For promotional exams, veterans are eligible for an additional 2.5 points, while disabled veterans could possibly receive an additional 5 points. You will be required to submit documentation of your veteran's status before any additional points will be added to your score. [Note: Veteran's credits are only added to passing scores. Anyone who did not receive a passing score will not be given the credits; failing scores cannot become passing scores due to an applicant's qualifying for the application of veteran's credits. Credits may only be used one time to gain an appointment or promotion from an eligibility list.]
Can I appeal my exam score?
Yes, you have the right to appeal your exam score. The instructions on how to appeal and the date by which you must initiate your appeal are provided to you in your examination results letter.
What about my privacy?
The City University of New York (CUNY) is committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information. In particular, CUNY views Social Security Numbers as confidential information and treats them with the utmost concern. CUNY does not share your personal information with any outside entities and said information is only used for the purposes for which it was given.


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All #WorcesterLine Trains will operate 10-15 minutes behind schedule due to a signal problem near Newtonville.
Huh? There are no trains operating in Newton. #Construction. Why would signal prob there be a prob?
This is anticipated for tomorrow due to an ongoing signal issue.
ALL trains tomorrow? That's not what msg said - may want to consider edit and resend. Is this related to Bost landing const?
Framingham/Worcester Line: A signal problem may delay trains 10-15 minutes as they pass through the Newtonville area tomorrow.
Framingham/Worcester Line: The signal issue causing delays today through the Newtonville area has been resolved.
Rockingham Racer wrote:This thread is 33 pages in length. What a poor testimony to the quality of service in the Boston area. And I think it's the only part of the country that has a thread on this forum dedicated to delays. Get with it, Boston.
Return to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
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Lobbyists: Background
Members of the lobbying industry have the task of representing clients -- including corporations, trade groups and nonprofit organizations -- and advocating on their behalf in the nation's capital.
The relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers is complicated. On one hand, lobbyists pursue relationships with lawmakers in order to shape legislation so that it benefits clients who would be affected by new laws or regulations. On the other hand, lobbyists are frequently targeted by lawmakers as sources of campaign money, which the lobbyists feel beholden to give to improve their clients' prospects of success.
Upon his inauguration in January 2009, President Barack Obama issued a new rule barring federally registered lobbyists from serving in his administration.
Lobbyists and lobby shops frequently make their own contributions to federal candidates and political committees. These contributions have steadily increased, reaching a peak of around $41.6 million during the 2012 presidential cycle, before falling to around $31.2 million in the 2014 midterms. For most election cycles since 1990, contributions have been roughly split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.
In 2014, the top entities that gave money to to candidates and parties were the WPP Group (close to $1.4 million), Podesta Group (around $951,000) and Capitol Counsel (over $663,000).
However, lawmakers are sometimes wary of these donations, which the public sometimes interprets as evidence of corruption. Lobbyists are more likely than other contributors to have their donations refunded by politicians.
And yes, lobbyists hire lobbyists, too. In 2014, lobbying levels reached around $6.4 million, with GC Barnes Group ($510,000), Livingston Group (nearly $470,000) and Gottlieb Strategic Consulting ($370,000) as the top spenders. The industry seeks to influence legislation on a broad variety of issues; some of the most common include appropriations, taxes and consumer protection.
-- Alex Lazar
Updated September 2015
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.


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While professional skateboarder Chris Cole was shopping around for a new clothing sponsor he thought to himself, "Why just find a place to rest... Why not make a home?" With this question in mind, Chris got down to business and founded Omit Clothing in 2011 as an outlet for his creativity and a place to make his passion for American iconography more than just ideas and drawings in his sketch book.Today, Omit is proud to offer a full line of skateboard-specific clothing, including hats, beanies, jackets, long-sleeve shirts, cut-and-sew shirts, jeans, pants, cords, and accessories, all designed under the mindset, work ethic, and vision of Chris Cole and his love for American iconography and skateboarding. On top of having a wide range of amazing apparel, Omit Clothing is growing an all-star team of skateboarders to back the brand, including super pros Chris Cole, Peter Ramondetta and Jimmy Carlin, along with up-and-coming amateur skateboarders Kyle Frederick and Trevor Colden.Things are just getting started for Chris Cole's Omit Clothing Company but the future is looking very bright as production is already in full swing and the Omit team is lined up and ready to hit the road for some filming missions and cross-country tours to hype the brand and stoke the kids. With Cole's promise to continue to "set the bar high in order to make the best garments possible", you can expect nothing but great things from Omit Clothing.Zumiez proudly carries Omit hoodies, Omit t-shirts, Omit jeans, and more.
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Dear students, dear collegues and all other Faculty of Kinesiology web page guests!
Thank you for your interest in programmes and activities of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. On the menu on the left side you will find some usefull information about our teaching and scientific work, as well as about our curricula. Please do not hesistate to contact our International Relations Office for further inquiries.


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With today's jobs market in a dismal state, no buzz word has given more hope to the youthful unemployed than the word "entrepreneurship."
More and more, young men and women are striking gold — armed with a strong innovative spirit, a razor-sharp focus and an ability to hold their own in the marketplace. From coaches, automobiles and limos to T-shirts, street fashion — and, yes, the inevitable social networking tools so embraced by the 21st century, industries across the globe are seeing their very own teen tycoons-in-the-making.
Click ahead to see 10 budding young entrepreneurs who have already made it big — even in the face of today's daunting market!
By Kirsten Chang
Posted 8 August 2012
Episode one of "20 Under 20: Transforming Tomorrow" premieres Aug. 13 at 10 p.m. ET; episode 2 premieres Aug. 14 at 10 p.m. ET.


text: Ag Finance 101: What Will Your Bank Need from You? May 29, 2013 02:32 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By AgWeb.com Editors Email Your lender will need to see some financial records, but beware of repeated requests for information. By Joel Harlow Read part one of this three-part series: How to Choose the Right Lender Agricultural operations can be simple or they can be multifaceted and complex. You need to be prepared to provide your bank with financial records including IRS returns, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and a plan of operation (if you are expanding or changing your operation) that shows the financial impact. The more complex and diverse the operation, the more information the lender will need. If the operation is a partnership or corporate entity, be prepared to provide tax returns and balance sheets from the owners of the entity, as well as the entity itself. A lender must be able to project a cash flow and know the financial strengths and weaknesses of the corporation or partnership and its owners. On a smaller operation, which is typical in my area of the state, farming operations are usually shown on the personal tax returns under a schedule F, and I can get by with a good financial statement on the owner and two to three years of tax returns. However, I have financed multi-million dollar operations that were much diversified and may have as many as 20 owners. These types of producers are usually accustomed to the drill and will have everything that is needed. I typically want to see a copy of the entity's bylaws and corporation filings, as well as engage in a detailed discussion as to what the operation wants to accomplish. It will save you time and aggravation if you will give your accountant permission to provide the needed information and visit directly with the loan officer regarding your financial records. From a banker's standpoint, when a request for credit is received, they want to make the decision as quickly as possible and move on to something else. Time is money. Over the years I have dealt with many loan requests where I have literally had to drag out the information from the producer. One phrase that is a hindrance to me is when a producer says, "You already have that information from my last loan." Well, yes, I may have financials from two years ago, but these are useless in considering a loan request today. Believe me, if I don't need the information, I won't ask for it. I have heard complaints from producers who feel the bank is taking too long to act on their request. Almost always, this is due to the producer not providing requested information to allow for a loan decision. Once the initial loan is made, the amount of information needed will decrease, but a producer needs to be willing and able to provide what is needed, and this may be a relatively substantial amount of information on the first loan. From the producer's standpoint, if a banker asks for information and then comes back several times asking for additional information, this is a red flag. A good loan officer will take an application, go through it and make a list of needed information to make the loan decision. If a loan officer is constantly asking for additional information during the application process at different intervals, this is a sign that they may not understand agricultural lending and do not know what they really need to make a decision. I always make the list of what I need and check it off when it is received. The only time I call for information a second time is when the information initially requested was not furnished. Joel Harlow has 30 years' experience in agricultural banking. He is executive vice president of First State Bank of Ben Wheeler in Van Zandt County, Texas. Back to news


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Jon Gosselin: I Am Committed to Making Things Right
Jon Gosselin released a statement earlier today to speak out about the allegations that he and Nadya Suleman would be pursuing a reality show together.
"I am troubled to learn that the media has accepted as true the scurrilous rumor that I would appear in a reality television program with Nadya Suleman. This is utterly false. I do however accept that some of my previous actions have in some way lent credence to such outrageous stories," Jon wrote.
"I am well aware that my behavior over the past few months has not always reflected my personal and religious values. I further accept that I have allowed myself to become somewhat severed from my own moral anchor and be carried away by the challenges of fame. It is for this reason that I have endeavored of late to reconnect with my deeper, more spiritual, more altruistic self with regular study sessions and counseling with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, whose morality-centered-and-values-based advice, coupled with his profound commitment to fatherhood and family, I deeply respect."
"I have always endeavored to be a loving father and a devoted parent who serves as a moral exemplar to his eight children. That's what my father, a children's dentist who always extended himself to his poorest patients, was to me. My father was my inspiration and moral compass. I intend to serve the same role for my own children by taking responsibility for my errors and making right any pain I have caused to those I love."
"I ask the public to please understand the challenges I face in living under constant public scrutiny, even as I am aware that I have at times courted that scrutiny."
"I am committed to making things right with Kate and especially my children. I ask you to please give me the opportunity to prove myself."


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We are "ETSU"
The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to ask both the print and broadcast media to honor our request to be called "ETSU" ... East Tennessee State in first reference is acceptable, but subsequent references should be ETSU ... On TV graphics please use ETSU ... Our nickname is the Buccaneers, but Bucs is also acceptable.
The Bucs in the A-Sun Tournament
Entering just their sixth Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, the Buccaneers are 9-3 all-time and are currently on a six-game winning streak in tournament play ... Most recently, ETSU enjoyed a perfect 3-0 run through the event a year ago en route to a second straight conference title and trip to the NCAAs ... The Bucs' previous trips included a loss in the first round of the event in 2006, advancing to the finals in 2007, falling in the semifinals in 2008, and winning the tournament in both 2009 and 2010 ... In conference tournaments all-time (including the Southern and Ohio Valley), the Bucs are 39-21, having gone 8-3 in league championship final games.
ETSU in conference finals
The Buccaneers have played in 10 previous tournament finals and hold an impressive 7-3 mark ... The following is a breakdown of those games:
1983 -- vs. Chattanooga, 70-62 (L)
1989 -- vs. Marshall, 96-73 (W)
1990 -- vs. Appalachian State, 96-75 (W)
1991 -- vs. Appalachian State, 101-82 (W)
1992 -- vs. Chattanooga, 74-62 (W)
1993 -- vs. Chattanooga, 86-75 (L)
2003 -- vs. Chattanooga, 97-90 (W)
2004 -- vs. Chattanooga, 78-62 (W)
2007 -- vs. Belmont, 67-94 (L)
2009 -- vs. Jacksonville, 85-68 (W)
2010 -- vs. Mercer, 72-66 (W)
Bucs hoping to add one more NCAA trip
Having already made nine trips to the NCAA Tournament in its history, the ETSU men's basketball team would like to add another conference tournament trophy to the case in the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center ... The Bucs' current stretch of success under head coach Murry Bartow is arguably the second best run in ETSU hoops history ... The most memorable stretch was from 1989 to 1992, when the Bucs made four straight trips to the NCAAS, were ranked in the Top 10 nationally (1991), and defeated Arizona in the NCAA first round of the tournament in 1992 ... The Bucs only other trip prior to that run came in 1968 ... While head coach Ed DeChellis took the Bucs to the tournament in 2003, Bartow has taken the Bucs to the tournament three times (2004, 2009 and 2010), while also leading ETSU to the 2007 NIT.
The series versus Campbell
The Bucs and Camels have met 16 times, with most of those games coming since ETSU joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005-06 ... The Bucs hold an 14-2 edge in the series ... ETSU won the last meeting 66-59 less than a week ago in Buies Creek, N.C., snapping a two-game losing streak in Gore Arena ... The Bucs also ousted the Camels from the A-Sun Tournament in last year's first round. ... In that game a year ago, current senior Micah Williams (Manchester) scored a career high 32 points in a 72-64 win, which also ignited a three-game run for the Buccaneers that resulted in a second-straight A-Sun title ... Williams ultimately earned tournament MVP honors.
Last time out
BUIES CREEK, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2011) - With three of its major contributors sitting on the bench in street clothes, the ETSU men's basketball team got a career high 22 points from junior guard Adam Sollazzo (Tampa) and dominated the offensive glass en route to a 66-59 victory over Campbell in Atlantic Sun Conference hoops action Thursday night at Gore Arena. ... The short-handed Bucs, who conclude their regular season schedule at 21-10 overall, 16-4 in the A-Sun, played without the services of senior guards Mike Smith (Vandalia, Mo.) and Micah Williams (Manchester), as well as sophomore guard Sheldon Cooley (Tampa). Smith missed the game with a left ankle injury, Williams was out with a right shoulder sprain, and Cooley sat out due to an illness. All three are expected to be back for next week's A-Sun Tournament quarterfinal game Wednesday evening in Macon, Ga. ... Along with Sollazzo's 22 points, the Bucs also got 21 points and eight rebounds from junior forward Isiah Brown (Miami, Fla.), another 14 points from senior guard Justin Tubbs (Trussville, Ala.) and sophomore J.C. Ward (Marietta, Ga.) started the game and added eight rebounds. ... ETSU out-rebounded the Camels 38-21 on the night, and held an impressive 18-4 edge in offensive boards. The Bucs outscored Campbell 20-0 on second chance points, and held a 32-16 advantage in the paint. ... Both teams battled back and forth in the first half, with nine ties and five lead changes in the first 20 minutes of play. The Buccaneers utilized its size - with forwards Curtis Wilkinson (Bude, Miss.) and Lukas Poderis (Tampa) getting substantial minutes - and elected to go with three inside players much of the time, outscoring Campbell 26-4 in the paint. ... The result was a 33-30 ETSU lead at the intermission, with Brown scoring 12 points and Sollazzo adding 10 in the first half. ETSU shot 41 percent from the floor in the first half, and outrebounded Campbell 21-12. ... In the second half, the Bucs twice led by as many as nine points, but saw Campbell cut the lead to just four at 57-53 with four minutes left on the clock. From there, ETSU responded by going 7-of-10 from the free throw line to complete the victory. In the second half, the Bucs were a strong 21-of-28 from the free throw line.
Smith named A-Sun POTY, Williams second team
The Atlantic Sun Conference office announced Tuesday that senior guard Mike Smith (Vandalia, Mo.) was a unanimous pick as the 2010-11 Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, while fellow senior guard Micah Williams (Manchester) was a second team pick ... Smith becomes the ninth ETSU players all-time to win a conferenc POTY honor, and he is the fourth player to do so under head coach Murry Bartow ... He joins former Bucs Zakee Wadood (2004), Tim Smith (2006) and Courtney Pigram (2007) to win the honor under Bartow's direction ... This year, Smith led the Bucs in points (16.9 ppg), while finishing second in rebounds (6.9 rpg) ... Meanwhile, Williams finished second on the team with 14.9 points per game, and the 2010 A-Sun Tournament MVP posted 24 double-figure scoring efforts.
Smith, Williams snap starting streaks
Senior guards Mike Smith (Vandalia, Mo.) and Micah Williams (Manchester) were both nursing injuries last week ... Smith missed most of the Lipscomb game with a left ankle injury, while Williams injured his right shoulder during practice earlier this week ... Both sat out the regular season finale at Campbell ... The health issues snapped two extended streaks for consecutive starts, as Williams streak ended at 55 and Smith's at 30 straight games.
Brown making a name as a "blocking machine"
With his six-block performance against Belmont, ETSU junior forward Isiah Brown (Miami, Fla.) matched the program's single-game record ... He then picked up another three blocks in the win over Lipscomb, giving him 60 for the season and ranking him third on the ETSU all-time single season block list ... Brown joins six other ETSU players who have had six-block games, including former standouts Brad Nuckles, Eryk Thomas, Jerald Fields, Zakee Wadood, Greg Dennis and Greg Hamlin. ... He is currently six back of Zakee Wadood for second on the single season list ... Wadood also holds first place on that page, with 70 during the 2003-04 season.
Buccaneers place two plays on Sportscenter
The ETSU men's basketball team is making a habit of garnering airtime on ESPN Sportscenter's Top Plays. ... Just three weeks ago, senior Justin Tubbs (Trussville, Ala.) was selected as the No. 1 play of the day with his 360 degree slam dunk against Lipscomb on Jan. 21 in the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center. Well, the Buccaneers took it a step further against Jacksonville, placing two plays in the Top 10 and once again taking No. 1 ... Senior Micah Williams (Manchester) threw down a one-handed, alley-oop. That play was picked fourth in the countdown. ... Meanwhile, Tubbs again took the show after receiving a pass from junior guard Adam Sollazzo (Tampa). ... Tubbs again executed the same 360-degree slam with even more flair. The Sportscenter hosts described it as a Winter X Games style dunk.
Williams eclipses 1,000; mith moving up list
While senior Mike Smith (Vandalia, Mo.) was already a member of the 1,000-point club, fellow senior Micah Williams (Manchester) joined his roommate on the list against Kennesaw State (1/29) ... With a 3-pointer from the left wing at the 17:55 mark of the second half, Williams went over 1,000 for his career, becoming the 33rd ETSU player all-time to reach that number ... Meanwhile, Smith joined another select group by eclipsing 1,500 points for his career in the win over USC Upstate (1/25). Here is where they stand:
Name Place Points
Mike Smith No. 8 1,665
Micah Williams No. 33 1,132
Sollazzo rolling in last 21 games for ETSU
Junior guard Adam Sollazzo (Tampa) has really found his rhythm in the last 21 games, leading the team with 4.5 assists per game, and ranking third on the team with 12.1 points per game ... He has netted double figures in 13 of those 21 games ... In those contests, Sollazzo is shooting an impressive 83-of-157 from the field for a 53 percent clip ... he is also averaging 3.5 rpg in this stretch ... The Bucs are 17-4 in this span.
Smith's 20/20 vision leads Bucs over FGCU
With his 20-point and 20-rebound effort against Florida Gulf Coast on Jan. 8, 2011, senior guard Mike Smith (Vandalia, Mo.) made history ... According to the statistics available to the ETSU media relations office, Smith was the first Buccaneer since Feb. 14, 1959 to post a 20/20 effort ... The last was Buc great Tom Chilton, who scored 35 points and grabbed 25 rebounds in a win over Wofford during the 1959 season.
Bartow gets wins No. 250 overall and 150 at ETSU; ranks among best coaches in last five years
With his team's win over Florida Gulf Coast on Jan. 8, ETSU head coach Murry Bartow picked up his 250th career victory ... He then collected his 150th win at ETSU when the Bucs downed Jacksonville on Jan. 15 ... When looking at coaches across the country, ETSU head coach Murry Bartow stands among a select group ... Of those coaches that have been at their current school for at least five years, only 24 have averaged better than 20 wins a season ... That list includes coaches such as Dayton's Brian Gregory, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, UConn's Jim Calhoun, Florida's Billy Donovan, Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Duke's Mike Kryzewski, Louisville's Rick Pitino, Kansas' Bill Self, Maryland's Gary Williams and North Carolina's Roy Williams ... The list also includes Bartow, who is average 20.2 wins a year since 2005-06.


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How Do You Reach Millennials? Don't Advertise.Ideas Apr 11, 2016
Brands need to start earning the attention of the world's most valuable audience
So your brand wants to reach Millennials? Get in line. These days, it seems like everyone is clamoring to capture the attention and loyalty of Gen Y'ers, who fall between the ages of 18 and 34.


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When I offered my fiction writing instructor one of the cupcakes I had brought to share from my then-workplace and she declined because of being "on a cleanse," I was immediately struck by both curiosity and awful flashbacks from days of pandering to the kale-munching clientele of my then-then-workplace. I'm all too familiar with cleanses–the good, the bad, and the ugly. From behind the Whole Foods coffee bar, I watched people ring up all manner of detox supplies, from simple kits consisting of daily pills to a noxious combination of bottled water, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and maple syrup, against which I have a personal vendetta. (Ask me one day about the Master Cleanse, or, as my manager put it, "why you should never follow dietary advice from a book that looks like it was printed out of the back of a van.")
That brief foray into spicy lemonade hell, however, had been my only personal exploration of the detox fad thus far. And while I've never been sure if I would say that it's anything more than just that–a fad–I have to admit that the concept has always intrigued me. The fasting element, the severe elimination of many, if not all foods, appealed greatly to me as an approaching-overweight New Orleanian with emotional eating issues.
That night, after I yet again ate too much crappy food and failed to fit into yet another dress that hung loose on me last year, I decided to bite the bullet. I e-mailed my instructor and asked her what kind of cleanse she was on, and how it was working out for her. What she outlined to me was not what I expected: a strict, but not overly restricting, scientifically-backed, practical 3-week cleanse program developed by a certified M.D. I ordered Clean on Amazon that night and started it the following week.
There's a ton I could say about the book and the program. It's full of sound, clear, common-sense information about how your body works and what you can do nutritionally and lifestyle-wise to help it do what it was created to do. Our bodies want to function well. They are designed to be lean, mean health machines, and if given the chance, they will be. But our modern American diet and lifestyle has pretty much buried all of our body's cries for help under a huge pile of corn syrup, red meat, and Jersey Shore re-runs. I don't know if everyone in the world would agree with this assessment, for me, it resonated profoundly with what I've felt convicted about in my own lifestyle choices lately.
What was worse was the realization of just how badly I was addicted to sugar, carbohydrates, and excessive amounts of dairy (can we say cheese much?). Really, with all that Whole Foods training, I know how to eat well for my body. I know what foods to choose. But my every attempt at moderating my "bad food" intake–of having only half a scone, or skipping the queso at the restaurant–had failed miserably because my all-or-nothing brain couldn't wrap my mind around it, and the strung-out receptors in my brain were screaming "ALL!" with all the desperation of a character in Spun. I knew I needed a different approach. I needed food rehab.
The Clean book recommends that before you try the official 3-week cleanse (consisting of two liquid meals a day and one regular meal), you step down gradually by going on the "Elimination Diet" for 1-2 weeks first. On this diet, you can eat your three meals a day, and there's no strict portioning or calorie counting. You just have to eat foods within these guidelines, and abstain from the prohibited foods:
And if you skim over that list real quickly, you'll see that the Elimination Diet is far from "gradual" for most people. It completely changes the types of foods you eat and the ways that you combine them. And for me, that worked incredibly well. The list was simple and un-cheatable. Can I eat this? If it's on the yes list, sure. If it's on the no list, back off. I couldn't fudge it or second guess if I was going about it the right way. As long as I stuck to that left side of the page, the program should work.
And I'm happy to announce that so far, it most definitely has. After only the third or fourth day of the diet, I found myself having way more energy, barely any sugar/carb cravings (believe me, that one astounded me), and genuinely enjoying the healthy foods that I used to have to coerce myself into eating. Kale? Delicious. Brown rice? Bring it on.
The few drawbacks have been that yes, it does take a good bit more time and forethought to shop for and prepare my meals, and it's much harder to eat out in restaurants. But for me, I was at a point where I was so unhappy with myself and how I ate that it's a welcome trade. Well, except maybe for the whole peeing all the time thing. That's really annoying.
Since I'm visiting Nashville until the end of the week, I'm going to continue with the Elimination Diet until I get home, then start the actual cleanse. I'll post some updates periodically for anyone that cares to use me as their guinea pig.
How about ya'll? Has anyone else tried this particular program, or a different type of cleanse or detox? How did you feel about it?
Toxically yours,


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I have a very strange error when using JS Builder 2.
I defined a ressource src dir in which there is a .htaccess. JS Builder now doesn't only copy it to the deploy folder, it also adds the copyright notice to the file, which breaks the htaccess
Why does JS Builder do this? What can I do to prevent this?


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Thanks to the magic of scheduled posts, this came online just as the organ at Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit began playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring to signal the start of our wedding ceremony. Soon, my beautiful bride will walk down the aisle and we will be newlyweds. As she would undoubtedly say, "finally!"
We have both been looking forward to and planning for this day for over a year, ever since I proposed last April. And here we are; the countdown clock on our wedding website now reads 00:00:00. This should be an incredible day shared with family and friends.
I would be remiss not to mention how much we are looking forward to our reception at Henry Ford Museum this evening. We will be dancing our first dance together as husband and wife on a dance floor directly underneath a DC-3. The pilot in me is exceedingly happy about that... and Gina thinks it is pretty neat, too.
Thanks to all of you, many of whom I have met over the years through this very blog, who have sent us your kind thoughts and well-wishes for our wedding. I will share photos and video on here in the coming weeks as I know many of you will be clamoring for details! Until then, we are going to go start our new life together with a wonderful, luxurious week in the sun. Lobster for Thanksgiving, anyone? Yes, please!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Where two lives come together
Posted by Steve at 3:00 PM
Categories: Random Thoughts
5 comments:
Congratulations Steve and Gina!ReplyDelete
"What God has joined, let no man put asunder."
Great to hear the news Steve. My best wishes for a long and happy life to the both of you.ReplyDelete
Congrats to you both! What a spectacular reception venue!ReplyDelete
Hope it was great you guys!!! Yay for photos!!ReplyDelete
Thanks all - the wedding was amazing, the venues spectacular, and it all really went off without a hitch!ReplyDelete
I'll certainly share some photos and video in the coming weeks and months.
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Customer Records
| Business Records
This article is part of a series.
|Overview of Business Records
|Business Owner Records
|Practitioner Records
|Employee Records
|Customer Records
|Locating Business Records
This article originally appeared in "Business, Institution, and Organization Records" by Kay Haviland Freilich, CG, CGL, and Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy
Insurance Records
A variety of insurance records is available for research and will provide valuable personal information. At the same time, genealogists should be aware that privacy concerns might mean some of the more recent records are closed to research.
Life Insurance
Prior to 1843, a few attempts were made to develop life insurance programs (only one, the Presbyterian Ministers Fund, established in 1758, continues to function, though it is now a part of Nationwide). However, as more Americans left the relative security of the farm, the demand for life insurance, along with other kinds of insurance, notably fire and marine insurance, increased.
The growth of cities led directly to the establishment of life insurance companies.<ref>Shepard B. Clough, A Century of American Life Insurance: A History of the Mutual Life Company of New York, 1843'1943 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1946), 5.</ref> Sixteen major life insurance companies formed between 1843 and 1852 survived until at least 1942. By 1875 an additional nineteen companies were founded.
The nature of life insurance makes such records very interesting for a genealogist. Early insurance contracts were brief and loosely worded, but they did contain some data about their clients. Even then, policyholders had to provide information about their lifestyle, health, age, residence, and beneficiaries, who were usually relatives. By 1865, medical information on diseases or health conditions was included, and in 1889, Mutual Life began attaching a medical examination to the policy.<ref>Ibid., 8.</ref>
Due to the nature of life insurance, records are maintained for at least the life of the insured. About 1925, life insurance companies developed a formal file retention policy, with each company setting its own guidelines. Some general provisions follow:
- Applications, which were the basis for the insurance contract, are kept while the policy is in force. Applications not approved are destroyed after ten years, and the application of a deceased policyholder is destroyed after twenty years.
- The abstract, or history, cards are retained permanently. These cards contain a summary history of each account. Other records kept permanently include account or renewal cards (records of premium payments), accumulated dividend cards, canceled checks and bank statements, cash books, directors' minutes and committee records, ledgers, payrolls, and real estate records. Because older records are the most likely to be discarded, it is wise to search relevant records as soon as possible.
The application is most useful for genealogical purposes because it contains the most personal information. Some companies keep original applications permanently or microfilm them. Even if the application is discarded, other records may be helpful in providing relevant information about residence, health, age, and so forth.
- In 1910, one company realized it had lost contact with a considerable number of policyholders or their beneficiaries to whom large sums of money were due. It undertook systematic, often lengthy, searches to find those heirs. Their files are consequently very valuable to the family historian who finds an ancestor or relative in them.<ref>Harold F. Larkin, 'Retention of Life Insurance Records,' American Archivist 5 (April 1942): 95'98.</ref> Several examples of how to use life insurance records to help reconstruct families can be found in Duane Galles's 'Using Life Insurance Policies in Genealogical Research.'<ref>Duane Galles, 'Using Life Insurance Policies in Genealogical Research,' Genealogical Journal 20 (1992): 156'71.</ref>
The most common way of learning which company insured your ancestor is to contact living family members. Old insurance certificates or personal account books among family papers may also provide this information. Even a cancelled check or a checkbook register may lead to the name of an insurance company. Although these may be among the most difficult records to pursue, they are also among the most helpful.
An example of records that continue to be accessible to researchers are the Denver War Risk Insurance Applicants, 1916'1919. Active duty servicemen entering World War I were entitled to war insurance that provided them with compensation for disabilities or death. Beneficiaries named included wives, mother, or 'wife and child.' Premiums were deducted from pay during the active period of the war. After the war, serviceman could convert the policies to permanent life insurance policies. An index to Colorado records appears online.
In 1887, a mutual benefit society in Detroit sold life insurance to Polish Roman Catholic immigrants. Early claims were entered in ledger books and provide limited genealogical information. The records from 1912 to 1938 (later records are not available) are more helpful, and usually include a death certificate and a membership application. Researchers may find the place of birth in Poland and information on other family members. An online index of the insured is available <www.pgsa.org/directory.htm>. Scanned images of the original records may be ordered from the Polish Genealogical Society of America at PGSA ' PRCUA, 984 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622-4101.
Abstracts of Union Pacific Railroad life insurance records are available at the Family History Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and have been microfilmed for access through the Family History Library. Information may include Social Security number, sex, race, occupation, birth date, birthplace, addresses, names of parents, marriage date, death date, cause of death, place of burial, and spouse's name.
Insurance Maps
In order to calculate the risk of the loss of a building, insurance companies prepared maps of the neighborhood. These maps include detailed information about construction materials, number of floors, types of businesses in the area, and size of buildings. They provide an inventory of every home in urban areas of America. The largest creator of fire insurance maps was the Sanborn Company.
The Sanborn Company prepared maps for 12,000 cities from 1867 to the 1950s, providing details on each neighborhood. The Library of Congress houses over 700,000 sheets. Local libraries and societies have collections of the maps for their area. The maps are also available online at public and university libraries that subscribe to this resource. The Wikipedia article for Sanborn Maps provides links to a variety of ways to access these maps.
With these maps, genealogists can create a more detailed picture of their ancestor's home and neighborhood.
Property Insurance
For more than two centuries, individuals have insured their buildings'whether business or residential. Just as today, the policy holder's objective was to protect himself against financial loss in case a building was destroyed and the insurance company wanted to know the extent of its risk. Rates were determined by building materials, use, and contents. Buildings constructed of wood had higher risk levels than those of brick. Some companies would insure a factory or a livery stable only by special contract. Surveys of a property made before a policy was issued will probably provide the most detailed description available of a business or home. The policy application and history place an ancestor in a specific place at a specific time.
The Library of Virginia holds more than two hundred volumes of individual applications to the Mutual Assurance Society that date from 1796 to 1966; details of the materials and some images are available at the library's website. Applications give details about the owner and business, and include a sketch of the building, whether it was a plantation home or a modest cottage. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania holds four sets of insurance surveys in its collection. The 1812 survey of Rachel Myers' two-story brick home at 32 Christian Street in Philadelphia describes cornices, closets, mantles, and pediments of the main home and a back building that housed the kitchen 'as customary.' A final note dated 28 September 1911 notes 'this building remains as per survey.'<ref>Mutual Fire Assurance Policy for 32 Christian Street, Philadelphia.</ref>
Freedmen Bank Records
(Main article: Freedman's Savings and Trust Company)
Among the most useful sources for tracing African Americans for the period immediately after the Civil War are the records from the various branches of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company. Chartered by Congress in 1865 to benefit former slaves, branches of this bank were established throughout the South and in some northern states. The branches kept registers of depositors with some personal and family information. While the information varied from branch to branch, it often included name, age, birthplace, residence, and names of former masters and of parents, spouse, children, and siblings. These registers through 1874 have been digitized are available online at Ancestry.com. They are also available at National Archives on twenty-seven rolls of microfilm (series M816). A forty-two-volume index is available on five rolls of microfilm (series M817) or on CD-ROM.
Funeral Home Records
The final business record for many ancestors was recorded by the local mortician or funeral director. The information in these records often goes beyond date and place of burial, providing details not found elsewhere. In the case of an Irish mining family in upstate New York, the mortuary records of two sons' burials in 1939 and 1942 provided the most important clues to their origins.
The death certificate, the sexton's burial record, or the obituary, if not all three, identifies the mortician or funeral home. To locate a particular mortuary or any mortuary in a particular town, consult The Yellow Book of Funeral Directors or the National Directory of Morticians. Either of these directories should be available from a local funeral director or library. This information is also available online. If you are searching for a funeral home by city or county, use a variety of spellings. If the city is St. Louis, look under 'St. Louis,' 'St Louis,' or 'Saint Louis.' Canadian funeral homes are available online as well. Locations such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and St. Louis need to be checked as both county and city names in catalog entries.
If the mortuary has closed, research may reveal the current owner of the records. Often a larger firm buys out a small business and transfers the records to the new owner. Unless someone inquires, those records may just sit in storage unopened. If the new owner does not want the old records, a family member may place them in storage, donate the records to a historical society, or discard the records.
Records of mortuaries and funeral homes that are no longer in operation or that have changed proprietorship can often be found in the custody of the town or county clerk, the local public library or historical society, or even university collections with a local focus. Check the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections. Likewise, older records for operating funeral homes may be found at the same places. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has records for the Oliver Bair Funeral Home from 1891. Those through 1920 have been microfilmed; the later ones are the original files. The same society also has records from other establishments, which can be identified by searching the online catalog. Typical of the information is the following, which is available for Karl R. Peters:
- Residence: 421 Woodbine Avenue, Narberth, Pennsylvania
- Date of death: 1 August 1924
- Birthdate and place, age: 9 April 1880, Germany, 44
- Occupation: Mech. Eng.
- Father, mother: [blank, except to note mother was from Germany]
- Place of Burial: Hazardville, Connecticut<ref>Records for Karl R. Peters extracted from Oliver Bair Funeral Home, originals at Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.</ref>
The image to the right provides a glimpse into the life of Henry Baumeister. It states his birth date, death date, and the city in Illinois for both events. Family and friends information includes the name of his parents and where they were born, and living siblings, nieces and nephews, plus the name of the pallbearers. This record provides the cause of death, plus underlying conditions and employment history. The name of the cemetery and a plot diagram is included. Armed with this much information, a genealogist should find it easy to uncover other data on Mr. Baumeister.
A copy of the obituary is included in some funeral home records. If the obituary is not included, there is probably a reference to the name of the newspaper(s) contacted. You expect the name of the local paper(s); however, be sure to notice if it lists an out-of-town newspaper and determine why. Most likely, a close relative lived in that town or the deceased had previously lived at that location. Be sure to follow up on this type of information.
When you contact a funeral home, state your relationship to the deceased. The business may be less likely to release the records of a next-door neighbor than those of a parent or grandparent. The best time to obtain copies of these records is if you happen to be a current customer. If possible, try to remember to ask for copies of the records of previous family members when paying the bill for a current funeral. This is generally easier to remember to do if the deceased is a cousin, aunt, or uncle rather than your spouse, child, or parent.
The amount of genealogical information recorded in the early years of record keeping may be limited compared to the amount of information compiled later; however, the early records tend to list the name of the deceased, death date, place of death, cause of death, and name of the informant. Occasionally, the age, residence, occupation, birthplace, and next of kin of the deceased are included.
Modern morticians' records are more complete. The mortician gathers information needed to compile both the death certificate and obituary notice. These records are generally not available to the public, although they are available to the next of kin of the deceased.
The mortician's record should be analyzed carefully for both the information it contains and the research it suggests, such as the following:
- Occupation. If the occupation of the deceased was unusual or governed by a labor union, investigate employment or union records, respectively.
- Service in the armed forces. Request military service records if the ancestor was a veteran. If the mortician applied for veteran's burial benefits on behalf of the family, the branch of service will be in the record. Department of Defense Form 214, 'Record of Discharge,' must accompany the application for burial benefits, and a photocopy may be in the mortician's files. The branch of service may also be identified in the obituary notice.
- Name and address of the informant. You may be able to contact the informant, or if he or she is deceased, an heir of either the informant or the deceased may own or reside in the residence listed.
- Hospital, nursing home, or institution where the death occurred. These establishments maintain excellent records. Each institution differs on how long they will retain these records.
- Cemetery or crematory. If the deceased was buried in a family cemetery plot, cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions will provide information about other family members buried in that plot. The attached image is a form from the cemetery file, obtained after reviewing the obituary of George F. Myers.
- Marriage. Follow up on the marriage record to obtain details about the spouse of the deceased.
- Religious affiliation. The name and location of the church attended by the deceased may be recorded. Church records may offer extensive information about the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and children of the deceased.
- Fraternal organizations. If the deceased was a member of the Masons, Order of the Elks, Knights of Columbus, or a similar organization, any of these records may provide biographical information.
- Survivors. The list of survivors usually includes city of residence for family members as well as the names of married daughters, which provide excellent clues to other avenues of research in previously unknown locations.
- Names of pallbearers. Most likely those serving in this position had some connection to the deceased.
- Names of parents. These names can then be used to identify siblings of the deceased.
Monument Records
Monument companies keep very good records, often in the form of a card file for each tombstone etched. The name of the purchaser, the deceased, and perhaps an obituary are among their records. Some companies maintain an obituary file as a tool for future sales. They may maintain a file of all obituaries from their local newspapers or only those for burials in their area.
See Also
- Researching Business, Institution, and Organization Records
- List of Useful Business, Institution, and Organization Resources


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Sometimes help comes from the most unexpected of places. As Kim Kardashian fights back against critics who call her fat, stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Helena Christensen, and Jenna Dewan-Tatum have rushed to her defense, saying it's "despicable" to bully a pregnant woman for her weight. And now the reality star can add another name to her list of unlikely allies: Gloria Steinem.
Us Weekly caught up with the famed feminist on April 5 at the 4th Annual Diane Von Furstenberg Awards in New York City, where she voiced her opinion about the recent scrutiny over Kardashian's ever-evolving curves, and about society's attitude toward pregnant women in general.
"Our bodies are never public property under any circumstance," the 79-year-old activist told Us. "It's wrong, and people in the street who feel the right to touch a pregnant woman's belly ought to be arrested for harassment. Our bodies belong to us, and if we don't invite touching, we shouldn't tolerate it."
Steinem added that the mistreatment of any woman for her appearance, Kardashian included, doesn't just hurt the victim — it hurts society as a whole. Criticizing people's bodies, she said, devalues both their brains and ours.
"If our bodies are treated as ornaments instead of instruments, that's because we are rebelling because it's an effort to distract us," she explained. "So don't be distracted. Why bother getting caught up in that?"
Easier said than done, of course, especially for Kardashian. The 32-year-old mom-to-be has faced a near-constant barrage of disparaging remarks since announcing in December that she and boyfriend Kanye West are expecting their first child together.
"It's funny because Kourtney warned me that when I get pregnant, people's opinions will be on an all-time high and everyone will chime in!" she wrote on her blog last month. "So I now see what she means."
To find out how the pregnant reality star is fighting back against her critics — and how fellow mom-to-be Kate Middleton is dealing with comments that she's "too thin" — pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands Friday!
Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics and more delivered straight to your inbox!
Want stories like these delivered straight to your phone? Download the Us Weekly iPhone app now!


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Wed, 03 June 2009 at 6:49 am
Daniel Craig: 'Defiance' Out On DVD
James Bond actor Daniel Craig dons a three-piece suit as he returns to his car in London on Tuesday night (June 2).
The 41-year-old British actor had just withdrawn some money from an ATM in St John's Wood, a district of north London. Daniel was seen forcing a little smile when photogs joked his pin number might end with 007!
Mr. Craig's epic WWII drama, Defiance, is out on DVD today!
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Photos: Will Alexander/WENN Posted to: Daniel Craig
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