text:
First Published on July 3, 2007:
With the U.S. celebrating Independence Day — carnivals, fireworks, BBQs, parades and other customs that have, at best, only a tangential connection to our "independence," — we thought it an opportune moment to return to its source in search of some situationism. No doubt, the Declaration of Independence is typically thought of as containing a dispositionist message (though few would express it in those terms) — all that language about individuals freely pursuing their own happiness. Great stuff, but arguably built on a dubious model of the human animal.
That's not the debate we want to provoke here. Instead, we are interested in simply highlighting some less familiar language in that same document that reveals something special about the mindset and celebrated courage of those behind the colonists' revolt. Specifically, as Thomas Jefferson penned, "all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
Part of what made the July 4th heroes heroic, in our view, was their willingness to break from that disposition to suffer evils. They reacted, mobilized, strategized, resisted, and fought because they recognized that their suffering was not legitimate — a conclusion that many in the U.S. and abroad vehemently rejected.
Situationist contributor John Jost has researched and written extensively about a related topic — the widespread tendency to justify existing systems of power despite any unfair suffering that they may entail. As he and his co-authors recently summarized:
Whether because of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, social class, gender, or sexual orientation or because of policies and programs that privilege some at the expense of others, or even because of historical accidents, genetic disparities, or the fickleness of fate, certain social systems serve the interests of some stakeholders better than others. Yet historical and social scientific evidence shows that most of the time the majority of people – regardless of their own social class or position – accept and even defend the legitimacy of their social and economic systems and manage to maintain a "belief in a just world."
If we truly want to emulate and celebrate the "founding fathers" of this republic, perhaps we should begin by taking seriously the possibility that what "is" is not always what "ought to be."
Happy Fourth!
* * *
To read a couple of related Situationist posts, see "Thanksgiving as "System Justification"?" and "Patriots Lose: Justice Restored!"


text:
Van Nicholas: 'Dutch Bike' Redefined
Based on my understanding of the sizing, I asked for a 54cm bike. The bikes are customizable, and so I also asked for it to be fitted with swept back handlebars, a leather saddle and flat pedals. The American distributor (EU Cycling Imports) sent the demo model to the Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington MA, and they put the bicycle together for me. I took it home to test ride and brought it back two weeks later, after which the bike was returned to the distributor. It should be noted that the Ride Studio Cafe carries a certain local brand of titanium bicycles, which is technically a competitor of Van Nicholas. But this did not seem to bother anyone and the RSC displayed the Van Nicholas right on the sales floor along with the Seven bikes for customers to admire. It was a treat to see two different titanium brands side by side.
stem, seatpost and seat collar are also titanium, branded with Van Nicholas insignia.
fork that comes with the bike is carbon fiber, labeled "VNT Elements" - a house brand I think. There are cantilever/v-brake bosses on it, which sort of horrifies me even though I know this is not uncommon nowadays (but how does the carbon fork withstand the force of the mighty v-brake?..).
Taking the bike on its maiden test ride, I headed straight for the hills of Lexington MA to test this hypothesis. And my hypothesis proved to be incorrect. I approached a long, unpleasant hill and was able to climb it at a leisurely pace by utilizing the 3rd and 2nd gears. I did not feel the bike's rear-heaviness whilst in motion and spun without getting out of breath or even especially exerting myself. If I lived in a seriously hilly area, I could travel to work like this in ordinary clothing without getting sweaty. Later I rode the bike to my art studio, which is also on top of a steep hill, and in 4th gear I did not feel this hill at all. The Rohloff hub is heavy and that has its drawbacks, but I found the range of gearing it provided to be very satisfactory and on par with my derailleur-geared bikes. I am wondering now to what extent the performance of the hub in this case had to do with its interaction with the titanium frame. On a heavier frame, would it still get me up the same hills? This question remains open, so please keep in mind that my experience with the Rohloff so far is limited to this specific bike.
It's been explained to me how Rohloff hubs work, and apparently it is like having an internal derailleur with a double crankset. So if I understand this correctly, there is a gear at which point the mechanism automatically switches not just between the internal rear cogs, but also from one internal chainring to another. A couple of owners of older model Rohloff hubs tell me that whatever gear this happens on can be problematic - either sticking or misfiring when one attempts to switch in or out of it. I tried to figure out which gear this was, and judging by the extra grunting/clicking I was hearing, it appeared to be the 6th gear - a gear I only used when going uphill. I made a point to switch in and out of it a few times and did not experience any problems in the course of my test rides. In general, neither the Rohloff hub nor the Gates belt drive gave me any trouble over the 55 miles I spent riding this bike through the hilly countryside and stop-and-go city traffic. The drivetrain was very quiet and sort of faded into the background.
saddle bag. There were also no provisions for dynamo lighting, and I used my own battery lights.
Freeload rack on the bike, so that I could transport packages and my laptop pannier. Aside from one ride done for the sole purpose of testing the bike on hills and over longer distances, I mostly rode the Van Nicholas for transportation, since that was the context in which I was testing it. Its proportions work well for this purpose. The long (456mm) chainstays allow for optimal pannier clearance; the relaxed head tube angle and long top tube prevent toe overlap with the front wheel. I wore my chunkiest winter boots to test ride the bike and there was not even a chance of toe overlap, which was great.
several titanium bikes so far, so I don't think it would be out of line to speculate that the titanium plays a role here.
my own bike. I should note that Van Nicholas does make a ladies version of the Amazon, but I find the MTB step-through frame design unbearably ugly. Looks are not everything, but the welded titanium and the carbon fork already stretch the limits of my open-mindedness and I am only human. If they managed to make a more attractive step-through or mixte option however (like this please!), I would be in trouble and would desire this bicycle very badly. Offering a dynamo lighting package would also be a huge plus on a bicycle like this - whether it is used for touring or transportation.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
# Type at least 1 character to search # Hit enter to search or ESC to close
Instant Food & Beverages
In Stock
Brand: Lijjat
If your order contains Fruits & Veggie: For Weekend Delivery eligible customers, order will be delivered on Sunday. For Non Weekend Delivery eligible customer, order will be dispatched on Monday.
Check date of expiry before adding to cart.
Fruits & Veggie marked as Non-Refundable will not be eligible for a refund.


text:
COS women's basketball: Lady Eagles down Corsairs 87-58
Thanks to double digit scoring by the starting five, the College of the Siskiyou Lady Eagles cruised to a 87-58 Golden Valley Conference win against the College of the Redwood Corsairs Thursday night.
COS began the game on a 18-0 run before the Corsairs finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a free throw with 16:03 remaining in the first half. With 9:49 left in the half, COS had taken a very commanding 35-6 lead and showed why they are again contenders for the conference title, which they won last season. COR was able to get a few more points on the board and trailed 45-21 at the half.
In the second half it was all Eagles as COS came away with the 29-point victory.
Leading the way for COS was Yreka High graduate Carrie Watson with 21 points. Shyanna Ashworth had 19 points for the Eagles. Brianne Burnside chipped in 16 points, and Hailey Wales had 15 points. Anna Cameron finished with 10 points for COS. COS improved to 14-3 overall and 2-0 in the GVC.
COS head coach Tom Powers commended his team for the way they played on Thursday.
"Everything worked out for us tonight," he said. "We came out and did what we needed to do." The Lady Eagles face Butte on the road next Thursday and Shasta at home next Saturday. The game begins at 5:30 p.m.


text:
Charlemont House, the home of Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, was commissioned by James Caulfeild (1728-1799), 4th Viscount Charlemont and 1st Earl of Charlemont and built in 1765. In 1746, aged 18, Charlemont went on the grand tour of Europe which was favoured by the aristocracy in the eighteenth century, thus developing his lifelong interest in the Classical arts. A fluent Latin, Italian and French speaker, Charlemont was the first president of the Royal Irish Academy.
In 1763 Charlemont commissioned the young Scottish born architect William Chambers (1723-96), whom he had met in Rome, to design his new town house at the top of Parnell Square, formerly Rutland Square. Because of the smaller scale of investment in Dublin, the squares and streets lacked the uniformity of design found in the grand squares in English cities. However, the design for Charlemont House was unique in that it provided a majestic centrepiece for the streetscape and was unrivalled in Irish Georgian squares.
Charlemont House is limestone-clad and set back from the street, framed by curved walls with rustic details. The house and its interior are designed on strict Classical lines. In 1929 the gardens of the house were built upon to accommodate the Gallery. The refurbishment was carried out by the City Architect, Horace T. O'Rourke. The body of the main house has changed very little, and the upstairs rooms retain some fine fireplaces including one by the renowned Italian craftsman Pietro Bossi.
In 1933 Charlemont House opened as the permanent location of the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. For further information see 'Charlemont House: A Critical History' by Sean O'Reilly in Images and Insights, and in Hugh Lane: Founder of A Gallery of Modern Art for Ireland.


text:
Hush Puppies - Becket KC
My review for Becket KCRequired fields are marked with *
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 15 days of delivery for an exchange of size and color of the item. We do not issue refunds. If you need to return an item, you can contact our customer service representatives at firstname.lastname@example.com. In case of a return, online orders are applicable for reverse shipping depending on your location. Additionally, all items can be taken to any Hush Puppies operated stores for return and exchange within 15 days of receiving the item).
In case of damage to the item, customers can submit a claim within 3 months of receiving the item. The minimum time to submit a claim is 1 month after receiving the item. Claims will be processed and verified. Once a claim is verified as authentic, we will repair the item free of cost. If damage is done to the sole, customers will have to pay for the repair.
We can ship to virtually any address nation-wide. When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and your location. Depending on these two factors we will provide an estimated delivery date on the shipping quotes page. If your item is available and you are not located in a remote area, we will ship to you in 5-7 working days. If the item is unavailable or you are located in a remote area, we will ship to you in 10-20 working days.


text:
Biz Bits: Six ways to use social media in your job search
Tip of the Week
Resume? Check. Cover letter? Check. Now you're ready to begin that job search, right? Wrong. There may be some very important things you're forgetting about that could dramatically enhance your job search.
Nowadays, job searches involve much more than simply submitting hundreds of resumes and cover letters. "Today's job search requires a strategy that uses social media as well as traditional vehicles," says Wendy Wagner, career services director for The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
According to a 2012 Jobvite survey, 92 percent of U.S. companies use social networks to find talent, with LinkedIn the most popular. "Make sure you have a social media strategy to augment traditional methods such as face-to-face networking and informational interviews," says Lyndsay Cooper, career services director for The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta.
Wagner and Cooper offer the following tips to give yourself an edge in your job search.
- Brand consistency. Make sure your profile is professional and reflects the job you're looking for across all social media platforms. Ensure your privacy settings are secure (especially on Facebook). On LinkedIn, make sure your profile is complete, including skills and recommendations. On Twitter, link to your website, blog or online resume. And don't forget Pinterest, YouTube, Google Plus and Foursquare.
- Know your audience. Your audience in Facebook is different from your audience in Twitter or LinkedIn. Make sure your updates reflect that. On LinkedIn, share articles and blogs on industry-related topics. On Facebook, post more personal (but not too detailed) updates to remind your friends that you're in the job market.
- Be proactive. Use social media to connect with recruiters, employers and employees of companies you'd like to work for. Join - and participate in - organizations, groups and blogs in your industry or alumni groups. Become an industry expert or thought leader.
- Research. Use social media to create your target list of companies, then research those companies and their employees. Use hashtags on Twitter to find jobs. For example, if you are interested in fashion, search #fashionjobs. Sites like Technorati or Twellow let you search people's bios and the URLs in their bios; you can easily find, follow and engage key employees of those companies so they get to know you before you approach them for a job. Prepare for a job interview by using social media to research the interviewer and find common topics to break the ice.
- Network online. Expand your network and engage others with similar interests by posting, sharing/forwarding, tweeting and retweeting relevant articles and blogs. This raises your online profile, and encourages others to do the same for you. Twitter works well for this.
- Know your online profile. Google yourself and make sure what you see is what you want it to be. Go to Klout.com so you can see your "klout" score, which reports how influential and engaged you are across platforms. Another great site is wefollow.com, a Twitter directory organized by shared interests or categories. Users can add themselves to the categories that best fit their interests.
- Brandpoint
BBB Watch
The excitement of the holidays creates a tendency for consumers to overspend, but planning ahead can lessen the impact when credit card bills start rolling in. The Better Business Bureau offers financial tips to help make sure your holidays, and the days after, are merry and bright!
Less is more: Reduce gift-giving. For work gatherings, have everyone draw a name and give one gift. Set limits with family members and then get creative about finding something in your new, lower price range. For the person who has everything, consider making a charitable donation in his or her name.
Do it yourself: Homemade crafts and decorations can be fun to make and to give. Consider baking or canning your gifts this year. Give gift certificates for future services (babysitting, dog walking, leaf raking) or special events after the holidays (shows, ice skating, sleigh rides).
Reduce, reuse, recycle: Use less of everything, because little things add up. Is it necessary to giftwrap that huge box? How about putting a "clue" under the tree instead and have the recipient find the present hidden someplace else in the house. Reuse gift bags - they are sturdy enough to be used five or six times. Make your own gift tags and decorations. Spray paint old candleholders gold or silver instead of buying new ones.
Trim energy costs: Switch to LED lights. You'll not only burn less energy, and you'll need fewer strands because the lights are brighter. Turn off your outside decorations when you go to bed. Turn down the thermostat when no one is home. Combine shopping trips and errands, and carpool to family gatherings.
For more information on holiday shopping and finding businesses you can trust, visit www.bbb.org.
The List
According to The Street, here are the top three tech stocks of 2013:
Tech Talk
According to Appolicious, these are the best grocery apps:
Grocery IQ
Real Simple Recipes: No Time to Cook?
Pushpins Grocery Coupons & Lists
In Bloom
GateHouse News Service


text:
Export 8 results:
Filters: Author is Sven Hammarling [Clear All Filters]
A Set of Batched Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms," ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, October 2020."
PLASMA: Parallel Linear Algebra Software for Multicore Using OpenMP," ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, vol. 45, issue 2, June 2019. DOI: 10.1145/3264491 (7.5 MB)"
Batched BLAS (Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms) 2018 Specification , July 2018. (483.05 KB)
The Design and Performance of Batched BLAS on Modern High-Performance Computing Systems," International Conference on Computational Science (ICCS 2017), Zürich, Switzerland, Elsevier, June 2017. DOI: DOI:10.1016/j.procs.2017.05.138 (446.14 KB)"
Optimized Batched Linear Algebra for Modern Architectures," Euro-Par 2017, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Springer, August 2017. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-64203-1_37 (618.33 KB)"
An Updated Set of Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS)," ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 135-151, December 2002. DOI: 10.1145/567806.567807 (228.33 KB)"
Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS)," (an update), submitted to ACM TOMS, February 2001. (228.33 KB)"
LAPACK Users' Guide, 3rd ed.," Philadelphia: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, January 1999."


text:
Joola Dual Function Outdoor Table Cover
Ping Pong Accessories
Start playing like a champion on equipment developed for champions! JOOLA is a proud sponsor of the US National Team.
We want to make sure that your experience with Olhausen Online.com is the best, and that is why we provide a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on every product we sell. If you are not satisfied with your purchase within the first 30 days, you may return it to us for a refund or exchange. This includes pool cues that have been chalked. After the first 30 days, will accept returns for exchanges only. This excludes custom ordered cues, pool table covers or any other custom made products. In order to return a product, please email our returns department at firstname.lastname@example.com (please be sure to include your contact information and reason for returning the product.) Once we receive your request, we will send you a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number for you to reference on your return shipment. Please note the RMA number on the side of the box. Customers will be responsible for all shipping charges to return any items, including any shipping costs that were incurred sending out your order, unless we shipped an incorrect or damaged item. In addition, if there were any special orders or customizations done on a product, such as a pool table cover, tip change or engraving, we cannot refund the cost of those services. Almost all pool table covers are custom ordered and cannot be exchanged or returned please check if you are not sure what kind over cover you need
Olhausen Online will ship any order using ground and air transportation services within the contiguous 48 states. Olhausen Online may reserve the right to use FedEx, UPS, USPS and trucking companies depending on your location and the products that you are ordering. If your order is being shipped out of the contiguous 48 states, or wish to expedite your shipping, you can calculate your actual shipping cost by placing the desired items into the shopping cart and filling in the "ship to" information then press continue to get an estimate. You can expect to receive your order within 5-12 business days after the order ships with standard standard FedEx, UPS, or USPS shipping. Any items that are to large or heavy to go by FedEx, UPS, or USPS will be shipped by common ground carrier. Depending on where you live in the United States shipping times will vary. All items that ship by common carrier will be shipped on a pallet or cardboard box delivered to your driveway. The shipping company and Olhausen Online are not responsible for getting the purchased items delivered or setup in your home. Some companies may offer this service buy additional fees may apply. This policy does not affect the customer not being completely satisfied with a product due to the freight company's policies.
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the 'Complete Orders' link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.


text:
Christina Aguilera Shows Off Weight Loss
TV Guide
Xtina's back! After battling with weight gain (and horrendous outfits), Christina Aguilera appeared at The Voice premiere Wednesday looking like her old, stylish self.
Photos: Relive Christina Aguilera's biggest fashion flops
During her tenure on The Voice, Aguilera attracted attention for her over-the-top makeup, skintight dresses and odd accessories. But at the event on Wednesday, Aguilera forwent the fans and top hats in favor of a flattering black-and-white dress that showed off her recent weight loss and new style.
Looking good! Check out dramatic celebrity weight loss
How do you think Xtina looks?
View original Christina Aguilera Shows Off Weight Loss at TVGuide.com
Other Links From TVGuide.com


text:
3D Hoodie Lion 3D All Over Printed Hoodie
Bomber Jacket
Each jacket is constructed with a premium polyester blend and ultra-soft and incredibly comfortable polyester inner lining.
Features a specialty high definition heat dye application that ensures long lasting color vibrancy even after machine washing.
A high-quality no-snag zipper allows for easy on and off access perfect for every season.
Ribbed collar, cuff and waist line ensure a stylish fit and a classic look.
Fabric is durable and resistant to wrinkles, shrinking and mildew.
– Hoodie, Zip Hoodie
Fashion 3D digital print drawstring hoodies, long sleeve with the big pocket front. It's a good gift for birthday/Christmas and so on.
Material Type: 35% Cotton – 65% Polyester.
The soft material feels great on your skin and very light.
Features pronounced sleeve cuffs, prominent waistband hem, and kangaroo pocket fringes.
Taped neck and shoulders for comfort and style.
Print: Dye-sublimation printing, colors won't fade or peel
Wash Care: Recommendation Wash it by hand in below 30-degree water, hang to dry in shade, prohibit bleaching, Low Iron if Necessary.
The real color of the item may be slightly different from the pictures shown on the website caused by many factors such as the brightness of your monitor and light brightness.
The print on the item might be slightly different from pictures for different batch productions.
There may be 1-2 cm deviation in different sizes, locations, and stretch of fabrics. The size chart is for reference only, there may be a little difference with what you get.
This a quality 100% cotton product with a screen printed design. Machine wash cold with like colors, dry low heat Perfect to wear at home or out on the town. Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve, and bottom hem.
Production Time:
3-5 days. Each of our shirts is handcrafted only for you so the production time will be a little bit longer than usual. Please be patient as good things take time and all the things we want is to bring you – our beloved customers the finest product ever.
Shipping Time:
Items usually take between 10 – 15 business days to arrive at their destination.
We ship to more than 200 countries (United States US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, etc…), and you can enjoy on all items sold on the Store.
Change or cancel order:
We only allow order modification within 24 hours since the payment.
Please contact us via our email: [email protected] to make any changes
Return and exchange:
If something that you have purchased is wrong sizes, wrong products; incorrectly described; doesn't do what we said it would; you can return for a full refund or exchange.
Return policy:
If for any reason you are not fully satisfied with your order, we gladly offer 30 days return policy starting the day you receive your order. Please note that the following rules must apply for the product(s) that you would like to return:
- Provide us with your proof of purchase
- Item must be in original condition (including packaging)
- Using Gift cards are not eligible for a refund or exchange
- Please note that all required pictures must be sent. Otherwise, we cannot provide return/replacement items.
You can provide us required pictures as below:
- Picture of shipping label
- Picture of product SKU
- Picture of the product and the error you found out (material flawed, different design, different size)
Special Return Note: do not return your product(s) without fist contacting our customer service team. We will provide you with specific guide for the return.
24/7 Customer Support
We takes pride in providing excellent customer service and satisfaction. Please email to [email protected] to let us know if you have any questions . All of your questions will be answered by us within 12 hours.
SHARE it with your friends, buy 2 shirts or more and you will save on shipping.


text:
Explore what is changing the lives of tens of thousands of people in more than 170 countries around the world.
Explore what the 3 key tools of Access are and how you can use them to start creating the change you desire.
Receive tips of what you can choose to get started. You know what will work for you!
Hear from people all over the world about how they are different after Access Consciousness.
Read news articles, watch videos, listen to pods and radio shows – you can find Access Consciousness in many media channels!
Explore some of the most frequently asked questions about Access Consciousness.
There are thousands of Access Consciousness events and classes offered weekly around the world. You can search for a class by topic, facilitator, language or location in our class calendar.
Gary Douglas travels extensively facilitating advanced Access Consciousness classes as well as a range of evening and several day workshops on specific topics from Choice and Possibilities, to Money, Benevolent Capitalism, Relationships and more.
Dr. Dain Heer offers classes on a wide array of topics through out the world and is best known for his transformation process The Energetic Synthesis of Being as well as the Being You, Changing the World events.
Simone Milasas travels extensively facilitating advanced Access Consciousness classes as well as a range of evening and several day workshops on specific topics from Choice and Possibilities, Relationship Done Different, Business Done Different, Getting Out of Debt Joyfully and more.
The Access Bars are the very core and foundation of Access Consciousness. It can be the starting point of a great adventure and it can be something you add to your life that will assist you in creating a greater ease with everything.
Dr. Dain Heer offers classes on a wide array of topics through out the world and is best known for his transformation process The Energetic Synthesis of Being (ESB).
Dr. Dain Heer offers classes on a wide array of topics through out the world and is well known for his Being You, Changing the World events, based on his bestselling Being You, Changing the World book.
The Access Special Classes are branches of Access Consciousness where you can dive deeper into particular topics with specialized facilitators. Each program offer introductory classes, advanced classes and certification facilitator training.
Access Consciousness have many ways of engaging with the tools worldwide via expos, meet ups, radio shows, tele summits, google hangouts and more.
Are you looking for more change? There are over 13,000 facilitators and practitioners available in more than 173 countries.
Find a facilitator or practitioner near you!
Find an article on almost any topic you could think of! Where would you like your adventure to begin?
There are many videos about Access Consciousness that you can explore! Here are a few that we recommend starting with, in no particular order. What speaks to you and tickles your curiosity?
You can also continue on to the Access media pages, as well as the Access Youtube channel. Or learn more about our livestream channel Access TV to discover even more possibilities.
Video Access Consciousness offers you tools and questions that empower you to know that you know and to know that you always have choice.
Video What if a gentle touch could change everything? The Bars are the very core and foundation of Access Consciousness.
Video What does the Earth know about you? What if you allowed yourself to be the contribution to it that you are?
Video ... is what changes everything? What if when you are being you, when you follow your knowing, the walls to limitation dissolve?
Video Ask and you shall receive. One of the main places we stop ourselves is in the area of receiving – From the Being You Book Club Video Series.
Video What would it be like to not separate you from you? What if you lived in a world where everything exists and nothing is judged?
Video What occurs in the brain before and after an Access Bars session? Presented by neuroscientist Dr. Jeffrey L. Fannin.
Video When things seem difficult, what if that is when you're awareness is growing and has the capacity to carve out a completely new space?
Video What if you could always be the creative edge of consciousness? Welcome to CEOC, a monthly membership with Access tools!
Video What if there was an alternative to feeling defeated? An intimate chat between Shannon O'Hara and Dr. Dain Heer.
Video What if you could create a sustainable future by maximizing greater possibilities not only for your business, but for everyone?
Video ... anything! What if your reality is different from almost everyone else's? From the Tour of Consciousness video series.
Video What is a Being You class? What if you could go from having a life run on autopilot into becoming fully alive and present without judgment?
Video Documentary shown at film festivals worldwide! Are you willing to be the difference for a greater future?
Video Explore a level of communion with the Earth that nothing else can give you. Described by Gary Douglas.
Video Gary Douglas and Access Facilitators from around the globe discuss what else is possible beyond judgements of race, religion and culture.
Would you like to know more? Then please visit the Access Consciousness Youtube channel and subscribe to get a notion of the latest videos!Subscribe
Gary Douglas, Dr. Dain Heer and many other Access Facilitators make regular appearances in various media outlets around the world. Explore the latest news videos and audios here.Explore more media
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more.
We do NOT track your IP address or use analytics, pixels or cookies for retarget advertising. If you like us, just come back and visit us online again!


text:
Filters: Tags: urban growth (X) > partyWithName: University of Vermont (X) > Types: Map Service (X) > Extensions: ArcGIS Service Definition (X)1 result (77ms)
Date Range
Tag Types
Tag Schemes
Probability of Development, Northeast U.S. is one of a suite of products from the Nature's Network project (naturesnetwork.org). Nature's Network is a collaborative effort to identify shared priorities for conservation in the Northeast, considering the value of fish and wildlife species and the natural areas they inhabit. This index represents the integrated probability of development occurring sometime between 2010 and 2080 at the 30 m cell level. It was based on models of historical patterns of urban growth in the Northeast, including the type (low intensity, medium intensity and high intensity), amount and spatial pattern of development, and incorporates the influence of factors such as geophysical conditions...
Categories: Data; Types: ArcGIS REST Map Service, ArcGIS Service Definition, Citation, Downloadable, Map Service; Tags: 2080, 2080, Data, LCC Network Science Catalog, North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative Data.gov,


text: Feb 25, 2018 - Awesome Trendy Decor Ideas from 36 Cozy House Decorations collection is the most trending home decor this winter. This Gorgeous look was carefully discovered by our interior design designers and defined as most wanted and expected this time of the year. This Trendy Decor Ideas look will definitely surprise anyone who is up for Latest Interior Design and Home decoration.


text:
When it comes to operating systems for computers, Microsoft holds the vast majority of the market even when there are free alternatives like Linux. However, when it comes to mobile operating systems for smartphones, Microsoft isn't nearly as strong.
WMPoweruser reports that Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system is in third place behind Symbian and RIM. Microsoft is looking to gain some market share in the smartphone arena though and is saying that it will increase spending on the mobile OS.
Microsoft reportedly spends $900 million per year and devotes 2,000 employees to its Windows Mobile OS, but the mobile operating system is still what Microsoft terms a "somewhat unprofitable" business. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a keynote at Mobile World Congress that Windows Mobile 7 would be coming next year.
Ballmer also stated that Microsoft would not be entering into the phone market and preferred the licensing model it currently uses. That means any Zune fans hoping to see a Zune phone challenge the iPhone will be unhappy.
Ballmer also said in the keynote that Microsoft has plans to extend revenue-making opportunities to services. Ballmer also touched on other things during his keynote and mentioned that the software giant was prevented from bundling Live services with PCs running Windows because of a Consent Decree resulting from a decade old antitrust ruling.
At MWC 2009, Microsoft did announce Windows Mobile 6.5 and Ballmer did say that the expansion of the smartphone segment into the whole phone segment should help Windows Mobile to grow despite the poor economy. Many consumers are opting for smartphones that can serve more than one purpose during the slow economy, leading to continued growth.
Microsoft sees Windows and Windows Mobile as two sides of the same coin according to Ballmer and going forward the two operating systems will share even more technology. Specifically, features like the browser, presentation surface, and possibly the kernel will be shared.
Source: DailyTech


text:
On Brother Brian's Bluegrass show you'll hear some old and new bluegrass, some ballads, old country and southern gospel. You'll get weather updates, information on upcoming festivals and even a few feeble attempts at humour. Tune in Sunday mornings from 8-11amon CFRC 101.9fm.
- October 09, 2016 at 8:00am – 11am


text:
This single story plan includes 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, as well as a study and dining area. Enjoy dual vanities in the master bath, a large kitchen and family room and a covered patio, great for outdoor relaxation. Additional features include extensive trim work, custom architectural detail throughout, tile floors in all wet areas, security system and so much more! Don't forget, with every First Texas, Gallery Custom or Harwood Home you will have the flexibility to customize our plans to fit your family perfectly.
Other Plans in the Neighborhood
Information on our site is deemed liable, but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Status and prices can be changed at any time. Please contact us directly for updated pricing, status updates, and accurate details on each property. The images shown are a representation of the plan. You agree to all these terms by using this site. All images are owned by each Builder.
Copyright © 2021 North Texas Real Estate Information Systems. All Rights Reserved.


text:
'Poopetrator' causing stir on Yale campus
Laundry at Saybrook College soiled by human excrement
Yale University hopes to solve a case of whodungit by identifying the stinker who has been soiling students' laundry by sticking human feces inside clothes dryers.
The culprit has been dubbed the "poopetrator" and is being blamed for at least four incidents in the past month in the laundry room at Saybrook College.
"We have asked our students not to leave their laundry unattended, the affected machines have been thoroughly disinfected and we are actively seeking information about who the perpetrator might be," Saybrook Master Paul Hudak told the Yale Daily News. "That's about all we can do."
Hudak said Yale police are investigating. Officials at the Ivy League school also are considering changes to laundry room access.
Yale police declined to comment in the investigation.
Lucy Fleming was one of the first victims. She opened a dryer in the Saybrook College laundry room on Sept. 7 and found her clothes soiled by human feces. Someone also urinated on them. She tried to rewash them, but they were ruined.
"I simultaneously wanted to throw up, cry and punch someone," Fleming told the Daily News.
The suspect apparently struck again on Friday by hanging up a clothesline with soiled clothes in a courtyard of Berkeley College. A person claiming to be the culprit alerted students and the Daily News about it.
"Some people think the whole thing is funny; some think it is scary; and everyone thinks it is gross," Yale sophomore David Steiner told the New Haven Register.
Steiner received two emails on Friday that apparently were from the culprit, the Register reported. The name on the emails was "Copro Philiac." Coprophilia is an abnormal interest in fecal matter.


text:
Our team of specialists and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
Ankle pain is often due to an ankle sprain but can also be caused by ankle instability, arthritis, gout, tendonitis, fracture, nerve compression (tarsal tunnel syndrome), infection and poor structural alignment of the leg or foot. Ankle pain can be associated with swelling, stiffness, redness, and warmth in the involved area. The pain is often described as an intense dull ache that occurs upon weight bearing and ankle motion.
Initial treatment may consist of rest, ice, elevation, and immobilization, but may also include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, physical therapy, and cortisone injection. A foot and ankle surgeon can best determine the cause of the ankle pain and appropriate treatment options.
For more information on ankle pain see these valuable topics and articles:
Old Ankle Sprains Increase Risk for Newly Active Baby Boomers
Achilles tendon
ankle instability
peroneal tendon injuries
talar dome lesion
tarsal tunnel syndrome (nerve compression)


text:
€ 97,-
International Criminal Law from a Swedish PerspectiveVerschijnt 24 maart 2011
This book describes and analyses the Swedish legal rules and practices regarding jurisdiction, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition and the EU arrest warrant. The Swedish law and practice in international criminal law is particularly significant for two main reasons. It is a system which is both logical and coherent. It displays a considerable Germanic theoretical influence, but its sophistication is tempered by pragmatism,...Paperback


text:
Vans Slip-On Tonal Checkerboard Skate Shoe - Spectra Yellow
Stroll down memory lane in style with the timeless look of the new Slip-On Tonal Checkerboard Skate Shoe from Vans! Made with durable canvas uppers, the Slip-On Tonal Checkerboard Skate Shoe features the iconic checkerboard graphics re-imagined in a lively color-matched print. Available exclusively at Journeys!
Color: Spectra Yellow
Style ID: 497505
- Durable canvas uppers with tonal checkerboard graphics
- Padded collar for added comfort and support
- Cushioned footbed provides all-day comfort
- Rubber toe bumper for increased abrasion resistance
- Vulcanized rubber outsole with signature waffle tread delivers premium traction
Vans® is the original action sports footwear and apparel brand. Since day one, Vans® has celebrated the lifestyle and creative self-expression of musicians, artists, and athletes on boards and bikes all around the world. From timeless footwear, apparel, accessories, and snowboard boots, to progressive events like the Vans Warped Tour® and surfing's most prestigious contest, the Vans US Open of Surfing®, Vans® continues to support today's innovators and those who live "Off the Wall".
Point the camera at your feet to see the shoes!
Show Us Your Style
Show us your style by tagging us @journeys on social media.


text:
While focused research is vital it can also unintentionally lead to what is called "inattentional blindness," that is, looking without seeing[1]. In other words, if you are looking for one thing–one name, for example–you might miss other things.
Take a look at the following video:
Are you guilty of this when researching?
When you are searching tax lists or census records, do you focus tightly on certain names or surnames? Or do you search with your eyes open, noticing what else is happening in the records? You might be surprised at what you see in the records when you simply pay attention.
[1] David McRaney, "Inattentional Blindness," in You Are Not So Smart: A Celebration of Self-Delusion blog, posted 1 October 2009 (http://youarenotsosmart.com/ : accessed 21 Nov 2011).


text:
Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films.
A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it.
I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films.
[Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]
I Know Where I'm Going!
A Celebration of This Well Loved Mull Film
The 2015 weekend


text:
Formula One Triple World Champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany becomes first driver to sample the new Grand Prix venue at Sochi Olympic Park on 21 April 2013 in Sochi, Russia. Photo by Victor Fraile / The Power of Sport Images
Copyright: © 2013 The Power of Sport Images. All rights reserved.


text:
Review: Optoma PT100 PlayTime Projector
Optoma PT100 PlayTime Projector
|$180 optoma.com
|Key Features
|• DLP projector with LED light engine
• 854 x 480 native resolution (16:9)
• Manual focus; no zoom or lens shift
• Built-in speaker
• Inputs: composite-video/stereo audio; RGB PC
• 7.8 x 3.2 x 7.8 inches; 1.7 lb
Providing a big picture at a relatively small price has been a Holy Grail-like pursuit for many display companies. Into the mix comes Optoma's PT100 PlayTime projector, a pint-sized LED-based DLP model that straddles the no-man's-land territory between a toy projector and a full-fledged home theater model.
Given its native 480p resolution and sub-$200 price tag, the PT100 isn't intended to replace either your HDTV or home theater projector. Instead, it's designed as a secondary, portable display best used for impromptu showings of movies and videogames almost anywhere there's a light-colored wall. With its small size—about 8 inches by 8 inches, and 3 inches high—and under 2-pound weight, the PT100 looks a bit like an Optoma home theater projector that's been zapped by a shrink ray.
LED-based DLP projectors, which use red, green and blue LEDs instead of a conventional bulb and a spinning color wheel, have a few advantages. One is that, unlike bulbs, LEDs don't have to be replaced. Another is that they're very energy efficient. And with no color wheel, there's less chance of the rainbow effect—intermittent flashes of color—common to most single-chip DLP-based projectors. The tradeoff, however, is fairly limited brightness — in this case a claimed 50 lumens. By comparison, my Optoma HD8000 projector—no light cannon itself—has a claimed light output of about 1,300 lumens, which is fine only because my home theater can go completely dark.
The unit's front panel houses just the projection lens, plus a small fan vent for dissipating heat from the LED light source. In my use, the projector always ran cool, and the fan was fairly quiet, unlike several Optoma home theater projectors I've tested. Connections are on the back, and with no HDMI or component-video inputs, there's no pretense of high-def glory — perhaps appropriate given the projector's 854 x 480-pixel native resolution. Instead, you'll find a composite-video jack, plus a VGA port for connecting a computer (though no VGA cable). There are also stereo RCA audio jacks, and a DC input for connecting the included power adapter.
All the controls—buttons for power, menu, and source, plus a triangular directional pad with up/down and left/right arrow buttons—are on the top of the unit. Fortunately, they're easily accessible, as there's no remote control. The up/down and left/right arrow buttons are used to control the volume, and to navigate the on-screen display. Using the menu, you can adjust the aspect ratio, image brightness, language preference, and image orientation, and select sources. Located just above the lens is a focus wheel, and a perforated area toward the rear acts as a grille for the built-in speaker, which is powered by a 1.5-watt amp.


text:
I haven't forgotten my promise to include my review of the Ancestry.com webinar on African-American research. Been so busy lately. My own course on African-American genealogical research is now available at GenClass. Take a look if you are interested in this subject at all. The first session will begin April 1.
I really wanted to mention & post a link to a great video that Dan Lawyer created for his blog, Taking Genealogy to the Common Person. It is a quick and simple "concept map" view of genealogy — its goals & methods. Very nice!
I know this is a short entry — is Twitter shortening my attention span?


text:
It is Follow Friday! This is a blogging meme in which authors recommend other blogs, websites, repositories, or anything else. In keeping with the theme of this blog, I will spotlight different resources for professional and aspiring professional genealogists each week: not only genealogy-related, but also others of interest.
I was surprised this past week, that the post with the most views was "21st Century business card designs," despite having two recent posts on source citations (usually a popular subject) and one about the book Evidence Explained. The uptick in visits came as a result of mentions in two other popular genealogy blogs, ClueWagon and Olive Tree Genealogy. Apparently this is a topic that genealogists find interesting.
With that note, I would like to share another blog about design: Design Woop.
Design Woop generally discusses minimalist design, with popular posts like "18 Best Minimal WordPress Themes" and "20 Minimalist & Typographic Brochure Designs."
But the blog discusses other aspects of design as well. My favorite ongoing series is the monthly business card design series:
- "22 Clever Business Card Designs From September 2011"
- "20 Creative & Unique Business Card Designs From August 2011"
- "20 New & Creative Business Cards From July 2011"
Other interesting recent posts include:
- "20 Free Fonts For Beautiful Headline Typography"
- "Resume Inspiration: 30 Of The Best Résumé Designs"
- "30 Examples Of Large Background Images In Web Design"
- "Ten Productivity Tips To Increase Your Work Day"
If you are at all interested in design, and how it can affect your business marketing (as well as other aspects of your business), take a look at DesignWoop.


text:
Tyler Morrison turns to music to help him move on from past
Dreyfoos School of the Arts student has grown up in foster care
Tyler Morrison is a gifted musician.
He's set to graduate from the Dreyfoos School of the Arts on Tuesday. Given what his life has been like so far, graduating is quite an accomplishment.
"My mom and I had a lot of trouble growing up," Morrison said. "We were close but we struggled."
Morrison's mother left him when he was only 13. He was dropped off at the Boca Raton Police Department and placed into foster care.
"It's definitely scary not to know where you're going to live, not to know where you're going to get your next meal," he said.
For five years, Morrison bounced from residence to residence. He never stayed long and never found a home.
"You didn't have any kind of loving parents to cling on to and help and were available to take care of you," he said.
His only escape was Dreyfoos, where he has flourished as an oboe player. As things went from bad to worse, Morrison immersed himself in art.
"Through all of the placements and everything that's changed, foster care, the one thing that stayed the same, the only thing that stayed the same, was music," he said.
Morrison's talent and valiant struggle have captured the attention of many organizations in South Florida. He was invited to play with the Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches, which also granted him a scholarship for college.
Plenty of individuals have also stepped up, offering him a place to stay and donations for education.
But it hasn't been enough. Morrison leaves next week for the University of Illinois to study music with one of the world's greatest oboe players. Morrison isn't sure how he will pay for it.
If you'd like to help, you can to Morrison's education fund. The fund is set up at:
605 North Olive Ave.
West Palm Beach, Fla. 33401
You can make checks payable to "Tyler Morrison College Fund."


text:
Afghan killings case testing military system
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — The U.S. military has been criticized for its spotty record on convicting troops of killing civilians, but a hearing against Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales involving a massacre in Afghanistan has shown that it isn't like most cases.
Government prosecutors have built a strong eyewitness case against the veteran soldier, with troops recounting how they saw Bales return to the base covered in blood. And in unusual testimony in a military court, Afghan civilians questioned via a video link described the horror of seeing 16 people killed, mostly children, in their villages.
Law experts say the case could test whether the military, aided by technology, is able to embark on a new era of accountability.
Bales faces 16 counts of premeditated murder and six counts of attempted murder. The preliminary hearing, which began Nov. 5 and is scheduled to end with closing arguments Tuesday, will determine whether he faces a court-martial. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
The U.S. military system's record has shown it is slow to convict service members of alleged war crimes.
A range of factors make prosecuting troops for civilian deaths in foreign lands difficult, including gathering eyewitness testimony and collecting evidence at a crime scene in the midst of a war.
At Bales' preliminary hearing, the prosecution accommodated the Afghan witnesses, including children, by providing the video link and holding the sessions at night. The military said it intends to fly the witnesses from Afghanistan to Joint Base Lewis-McChord if there is a court martial.
"I think it shows they're going to prosecute this case no matter what it takes," said Greg Rinckey, a former Army lawyer from 1999-2004 who is now in private practice. "This was an atrocity. This is not the fog of war. It's not like we were calling in artillery and an artillery shell landed in a village."
Prosecutors say Bales, 39, slipped away from remote Camp Belambay to attack two villages early on March 11, killing 16 civilians, including nine children. The slayings drew such angry protests that the U.S. temporarily halted combat operations in Afghanistan, and it was three weeks before American investigators could reach the crime scenes.
Through a video monitor in a military courtroom near Seattle, Bales saw young Afghan girls smile beneath bright head coverings before they described the bloodbath he's accused of committing. He saw boys fidget as they remembered how they hid behind curtains when a gunman killed people in their village and one other.
And he saw dignified, thick-bearded men who spoke of unspeakable carnage — the piled, burned bodies of children and parents alike.
From the other side of that video link, in Afghanistan, one of the men saw something else — signs that justice will be done.
"I saw the person who killed my brother sitting there, head down with guilt," Haji Mullah Baraan said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. "He didn't look up toward the camera."
Baraan was one of many Afghan witnesses who testified in Bales' case by live video link over the weekend.
"We got great hope from this and we are sure that we will get justice," Baraan said.
Throughout history, troops have been accused of heinous crimes involving civilians in countries where wars are waged. But rarely have villagers who witnessed the horror testified in a U.S. military court — often because of the costs and logistics of bringing them to the United States.
Villagers may be leery to leave their homeland to go to a foreign country and confront members of one of the mightiest militaries in the world. And as foreign nationals, they cannot be subpoenaed.
While there have been cases of troops being sentenced to life in prison for committing atrocities, the vast majority of those convicted for extrajudicial killings have been let off with little to no jail time for crimes that in civilian courts could carry hefty sentences, legal experts say.
Former U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston — who was invited by the United States to examine extrajudicial killings in Iraq and Afghanistan — pointed out the January 2006 sentencing of Chief Warrant Officer Lewis E. Welshofer Jr.
He was given two months confinement to his base, a fine of $6,000, and a letter of reprimand after being found guilty of negligent homicide and negligent dereliction of duty for the death of an Iraqi general who had turned himself in to military authorities.
"Military records released in Freedom of Information Act litigation make clear that the Welshofer sentence is not an anomaly," Alston wrote in a 2010 report.
The military hasn't executed a service member since 1961, when an Army ammunition handler was hanged for raping an 11-year-old girl in Austria.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the death penalty is possible if Bales is found guilty.
Afghan witnesses recounted the villagers who lived in the attacked compounds and listed the names of those killed. The bodies were buried quickly under Islamic custom, and no forensic evidence was available to prove the number of victims.
The witnesses included Zardana, 8, who sipped from a pink juice box before she testified. She suffered a gunshot wound to the top of her head, but after two months at a military hospital in Afghanistan and three more at a Navy hospital in San Diego, she can walk and talk again.
None of the Afghan witnesses were able to identify Bales as the shooter, but other evidence, including tests of the blood on his clothes, implicated him, according to testimony from a DNA expert.
Several soldiers testified that Bales returned to the base alone just before dawn the morning of the attacks, covered in blood, and that he made incriminating statements such as, "I thought I was doing the right thing."
Prosecutors say he also made a mid-massacre confession, returning to the base to wake another soldier and report his activities before heading out to the other village. The soldier testified that he didn't believe Bales and went back to sleep.
Bales, an Ohio native and father of two from Lake Tapps, Wash., has not entered a plea and was not expected to testify at the preliminary hearing. His attorneys say he has post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered a concussive head injury while serving in Iraq.
Watson contributed from San Diego. Associated Press Writer Mirwais Khan in Kandahar also contributed to this report.


text:
971 Butternut Dr., Holland, MI 49424, (616) 399-3600
Call: (616) 399-3600
It is our goal to keep your mouth healthy, your teeth fully functional, and your smile bright — and we are proud of all the services we offer to do exactly that. At the same time, we want you to understand all that modern dentistry in general has to offer you. To that end, we have assembled a first-rate dental library in which you can find a wealth of information on various dental topics, including:
From a thorough professional cleaning to a full smile makeover, there is an amazing array of services that cosmetic and general dentists offer to make sure your teeth stay healthy, function well and look great. If your smile is not all you want it to be, this is the place to start. Read more about Cosmetic & General Dentistry.
When you have a dental emergency — whether it's caused by a sudden accident or chronic disease — your teeth and/or the tissues of the mouth that surround them need to receive proper care right away. It's also important to be aware, before you're actually in the situation, of what you can do to ensure the best outcome. Read more about Emergency Dental Care.
This is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the inside of the tooth — specifically the root canals and sensitive, inner pulp (nerve) tissue. When this tissue becomes inflamed or infected, a root canal procedure may become necessary. But contrary to the popular myth, a root canal doesn't cause pain, it relives it. Read more about Endodontics.
If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants offer the comfort and security of a permanent replacement that looks and functions just like your natural teeth. Dental implants also help preserve the tooth-supporting bone in your jaw that naturally deteriorates when even one tooth is lost. Read more about Implant Dentistry.
Oral health is an essential component of general health and well-being. Good oral health means a mouth that's free of disease; a bite that functions well enough for you to eat without pain and get ample nutrition; and a smile that lets you express your happiest emotions with confidence. Read more about Oral Health.
A major goal of modern dentistry is to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. By following a conscientious program of oral hygiene at home, and coming to the dental office for routine cleanings and exams, you have the best chance of making this goal a reality. Read more about Oral Hygiene.
The word "surgery" often brings to mind a stay in the hospital, general anesthesia, and perhaps a lengthy recovery period. However, the experience of having oral surgery is usually very different from that. Some common oral surgery procedures include: tooth extractions, dental implant placement, and biopsies of suspicious oral lesions. Read more about Oral Surgery.
Adults and kids alike can benefit from the boost in self-confidence that comes from having a great-looking smile with beautifully aligned teeth. Orthodontic treatment can even improve chewing, speaking and oral hygiene in certain cases. And with today's virtually invisible orthodontic appliances, it's possible to keep your treatment a private matter… until your new smile is unveiled, of course! Read more about Orthodontics.
It's never too early to get your child started on the path toward a lifetime of good oral health, and there are many services to do exactly that. Monitoring your child's dental growth and development, and preventing and intercepting dental diseases along the way, is the primary focus of pediatric dentistry. Read more about Pediatric Dentistry.
If you want to keep your teeth for life — a completely reasonable goal in this day and age — you need to make sure the tissues that surround them are also healthy. Should gum problems arise, you may need periodontal therapy to restore diseased tissues to health. Read more about Periodontal Therapy.
In the field of dentistry, new technology is constantly changing the way diseases are diagnosed, routine procedures are performed, and illnesses are prevented. Although they may seem unfamiliar at first, new and improved dental technologies offer plenty of real benefits for patients. Read more about Technology.
Orthodontists are dental specialists who diagnose and treat problems with the position, alignment or spacing of the teeth, and related irregularities in the face and the jaw. A number of special treatments, including braces and other oral appliances, are used to correct these problems.
There are two good reasons: aesthetics and function. Having an attractive smile not only changes the way people see you — it enhances your own self-image as well. Orthodontic treatment also allows your teeth to function better and makes it easier to keep them clean, which can improve your overall health.
You're never too old to begin orthodontic treatment — but if you start at an earlier age, your problems may be easier to treat. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child who may need orthodontic treatment should come in for a first visit around age 7.
Teeth that are protruding, crowded together or erupting out of position are clear indications that treatment is needed (View Examples). Less obvious signs are mouth breathing, frequent biting of the cheek or palate, speech difficulties, and thumb sucking that goes past 3-4 years of age. If teeth don't meet properly when the mouth closes, or if jaws make sounds or shift as they move, this may also indicate an orthodontic problem.
Having braces put on is generally painless. Some people experience minor aches and pains in the first couple of days or so, as they adjust to wearing their appliances; periodic adjustments may sometimes cause soreness as well, though it typically lasts only a short time. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to alleviate any discomfort, but are usually unnecessary.
It's different for each person, but generally the active stage of treatment (that is, wearing braces or other appliances) may take from 6-30 months. After that, a retainer is worn for at least several months more.
It depends on what's being done, and how often you need to be monitored. During active treatment, you'll typically visit the office once every 4 to 10 weeks.
If your teeth are severely crowded (because your mouth is too small to properly accommodate all of them) — or if you have impacted teeth (teeth that are trapped beneath the gum line by other teeth) — then extraction may be necessary. In the case of younger patients, early treatment may make extraction unnecessary.
Yes — you should pass up the types of foods that could damage or become trapped in your braces. Some of these include raw vegetables, hard candy, caramel, taffy and ice cubes (fortunately, ice cream is OK). You will receive a list of foods to avoid.
In a word: Yes. Of course, whether you wear braces or not, we recommend you wear a mouthguard when playing most sports. Musicians are generally able to play their instruments just as they did before, but they may need a short adjustment period after getting braces.
You do — in fact, it's more important than ever! Keeping teeth free of plaque (and potentially, decay) can be challenging when you're wearing braces. Your dentist can help you avoid these problems with frequent cleanings and exams.
Almost always, the answer is yes: If you don't wear a retainer, your teeth can rapidly shift out of position — and then all the effort put into your treatment is lost! Your retainer helps you maintain that good-looking smile for a lifetime.
Orthodontic care is a long-term investment in your health and well-being. Yet its cost hasn't increased as fast as many other consumer prices, and many financing options are available that make orthodontic care affordable. Weighed against the true cost of living with problem teeth, however, orthodontic treatment can be a wise investment indeed.
The Magic of Orthodontics Proper alignment of the teeth is basic to "Smile Design." Their position dictates how they work together and affects the way you look and smile. Only orthodontic treatment can move teeth into the right position. Simply put, when things look right, they probably are right. Learn the basics of smile analysis and design and whether the magic of orthodontics will work for you... Read Article
Orthodontics for the Older Adult Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, so there's no such thing as "too old" for braces. In fact, nowadays about one out of every five orthodontic patients is an adult. Yet this figure represents only a small portion of adults who could actually benefit from orthodontic treatment... Read Article


text:
Eight hours after leaving Laguardia Airport, I must go back.
I've got the underwear and striped shirts of a Mr Mbutu Alibekoglu (not his real name) from Fort Wayne Indiana (not his real location) in a suitcase that looked just like ours when I grabbed it off the American Airlines luggage carousel at Laguardia late last night.
I'll return Mr Alibekoglu's suitcase; hopefully ours will still be there. American Airlines Lost Luggage couldn't tell me, mainly because they never answer their phone.
In other news, my office phone was out all weekend, but Verizon seems to be fixing the problem remotely this morning. Already, the phone works again in a buzzy, clicky, clacky, poppy way.
Not that I'll need an office phone where I'm going.
I'm going to Laguardia, lugging a stranger's suitcase I picked up by mistake at the end of a weary day. It's the kind of error you make when tired and travelling with a toddler. You beat yourself up for it, blowing the whole thing out of proportion. But it's a mistake, not a moral failing; a three-hour chore, not a descent into hell.
Mr Mbutu Alibekoglu's suitcase contains underwear and socks, not anthrax and grenade launchers. The FBI won't pounce on you and whisk you to Gitmo when you drag his suitcase into the airport.


text:
The state of South Australia has a new election law that went into effect January 6, and its effect was shocking: anonymous political speech on the Internet was simply destroyed.
The law required anyone posting a political comment online during an election period to supply their real name and address or face a fine of up to AUS$1,250. The measure was grossly discriminatory—it applied only to bloggers and commenters, not to online "journals" (newspapers or magazine which are written by Real Journalists).
Politicians had apparently developed a thin skin to anonymous commentary, some of which no doubt did devolve into rank defamation, but Australia already has defamation laws that could be used against truly egregious material. Ending online anonymous speech was an extreme solution, one not appreciated by the targets of the law.
AdelaideNow was one of the main sites caught in the crosshairs. The site provides a forum for discussion of local affairs, and it railed in an editorial this morning about the rule, both for practical and principled reasons.
"It's hard to imagine South Australia's Electoral Commissioner will prowl the Internet day after day during the election campaign policing such a ridiculous law," said the paper. "Realistically and logically, there is no need. All blogs and comments published on AdelaideNow are moderated. Broadcasters monitor and moderate what is broadcast. All also abide by extensive laws that prevent the publication or broadcast of defamatory and other illegal material."
Then came the expected comparison to China; "It is instructive that similar laws were also enacted in China last year, a country which has yet to embrace free speech."
The law was backed by South Australia's Attorney General, Michael Atkinson. Atkinson took the radio yesterday to defend the new rule, saying that anonymity was being used by political opponents to attack him in secret.
"I'll give you an example: repeatedly in the AdelaideNow website one will see commentary from Aaron Fornarino of West Croydon. That person doesn't exist," Atkinson said on the air. "That name has been created by the Liberal Party in order to run Liberal Party commentary."
This morning, AdelaideNow took great delight in posting a picture of Fornarino posing with a Mac and his young daughter. He's a second-year law student who moved to the area last year and "lives in a flat on Port Rd, about 500m from Mr. Atkinson's electorate office."
The fine art of the "backdown"
The cries of the outraged citizenry have had an effect. While defending the new rules as recently as yesterday, Atkinson suddenly backed off from them today. He sent a statement to AdelaideNow, one remarkable for its candor.
"From the feedback we've received through AdelaideNow, the blogging generation believes that the law supported by all MPs and all political parties is unduly restrictive. I have listened. I will immediately after the election move to repeal the law retrospectively... It may be humiliating for me, but that's politics in a democracy and I'll take my lumps."
South Australia's Premier, Mike Rann, knows his way around the tweet-o-sphere, and he backed up Atkinson's comments with his own Twitter commentary.
"For many young people, and even the not so young, internet is their parliament of ideas and information," said one. Then, immediately after: "AG has listened. So no debate will be stifled. No political censorship of blogs or on-line comments whether named or anon."
So—a victory for people power? Sure. But don't let one bad law obscure the point that anonymous activity really can lead to problems (see malware, creation and distribution of). Case in point: Engadget today took the dramatic step of actually turning off its comments after they became "mean, ugly, pointless, and frankly threatening in some situations" over the last few days.
At least they left us with an awesome picture involving lasers and dinosaurs—and at least the government wasn't mandating the action.


text:
Olympian Pistorius charged with murder
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runn...
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs.
Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said.
Hours later after undergoing police questioning, Pistorius left a police station accompanied by officers. He looked down as photographers snapped pictures, the hood on his gray workout jacket pulled up, covering most of his face. His court hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon but has been postponed until Friday to give forensic investigators time to carry out their work, said Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the prosecution.
Police said there had "previously been incidents at the home of Mr. Oscar Pistorius." Police in South Africa do not name suspects in crimes until they have appeared in court but police spokesperson Brigadier Denise Beukes said that the 26-year-old Pistorius was at his home at the time of the death of Steenkamp and "there is no other suspect involved."
"Yes there are witnesses and there have also been interviews this morning," Beukes told reporters outside the gated complex where Pistorius lived. "We are talking about neighbors and people that heard things that happened earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place."
Police said that earlier reports that Steenkamp may have been mistaken for a burglar by Pistorius did not come from the police. Several local media outlets had initially reported that the shooting may have been accidental.
"It would be very premature and very irresponsible of me to say what actually has happened," Beukes said. "There have been allegations. We are not sure."
Beukes also said there had been previous incidents and "allegations of a domestic nature" at the home of the Olympic star and double-amputee runner, who is one of South Africa's and the world's most famous sportsmen and made history at the London Games last year by being the first double-amputee runner to compete at the Olympics.
"I'm not going to elaborate on it but there have been incidents (at Pistorius' home)," Beukes said.
Capacity Relations, a talent management firm, earlier named model Steenkamp as the victim of the shooting. Police spokeswoman Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale told The Associated Press that officers received a call around 3 a.m. after the shooting.
A 9 mm pistol was recovered and a murder case opened against Pistorius.
Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive a 30-year-old woman, who had been shot four times. Mogale, who was speaking to the AP from the scene, said the woman died at the house.
Police have still not released the name of the woman, but the publicist for Steenkamp confirmed in a statement that the model was dead.
"We can confirm that Reeva Steenkamp has passed away," Steenkamp's publicist Sarit Tomlinson said. "We are in communication with people on the scene, please wait for official statements, as there is too much speculation at this moment in time. We will provide further information as soon as we are able to provide accurate information as to what transpired.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to the Steenkamp family, who have asked to have their privacy respected during this difficult time, everyone is simply devastated. She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed.
Tomlinson said Steenkamp, known simply as Reeva, was one of FHM's (formerly For Him Magazine) 100 Sexiest Women in the World for two years running, appeared in countless international and national advertisements and was one of the celebrity contestants on Tropika Island of Treasure, filmed in Jamaica.
On Twitter, she tweeted messages urging women to stand up against rape alongside her excitement about Valentine's Day. "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow?" she tweeted. "It should be a day of love for everyone."
Mogale and Beukes said the victim's family had not yet identified the body.
Pistorius made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, propelling him to the status of an athletics superstar.
Having had both his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday because of a congenital condition, he campaigned for years to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes. Having initially been banned because of his carbon fiber blades - which critics said gave him an unfair advantage - he was cleared by sport's highest court in 2008 and allowed to run at the top events.
He competed in the 400 meters and on South Africa's 4x400 relay team at the London Games, making history after having his selection confirmed on South Africa's team at the very last minute. He also retained his Paralympic title in the 400 meters in London.
South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic committee released a statement on Thursday saying they had been "inundated" with requests for comment but were not in a position to give out any details of the shooting.
"SASCOC, like the rest of the public, knows no more than what is in the public domain, which is there has been an alleged fatal shooting on the basis of a mistaken identity and an apparent assumption of a burglary," the South African Olympic committee said. "The organization is in no position to comment on the incident other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned."
The International Paralympic Committee also said it wouldn't comment in detail apart from offering its condolences to the victim's family.
"This is a police matter, with a formal investigation currently underway," the IPC said. "Therefore it would be inappropriate for the IPC to comment on this incident until the official police process has concluded. The IPC would like to offer its deepest sympathy and condolences to all families involved in this case."
South Africa has some of the world's highest murder rates, with nearly 50 people killed each day in the nation of 50 million. It also has high rates of rape, other assaults, robbery and carjackings.
U.N. statistics show South Africa has the second highest rate of shooting deaths in the world, second only to Colombia.


text:
Movies filmed in Oregon, Part 2
April 5, 2014
This is part 2 of a 3-part series on iconic Hollywood movies shot in Oregon. Last week, we looked at the era from the dawn of filmmaking through the 1950s. Today, we'll talk about movies made between 1960 and 1975.
Of course, this is not an article about popular cinema as a mirror of popular culture. But it's hard to miss the social changes these pictures showcase.
The nation that produced Shenandoah, with its faint stirrings of uneasy anti-war sentiment still wrapped up in classic Technicolor-era Western form, was profoundly different from the nation that welcomed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, just 10 years later.
Shenandoah (1965) Universal Pictures. Filmed near Eugene and Marcola. Starring James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett, Katharine Ross.
This remarkable Civil War movie was shot in various places around the Willamette-McKenzie-Mohawk delta, roughly centered on Springfield.
This area bears a striking resemblance to the Shenandoah Valley, where the story takes place. The Mohawk Covered Bridge, on Paschelke Road near Marcola, played a prominent part in the movie.
On Anne Richardson's "Oregon Movies A to Z" Website, a Fall Creek resident named Joe Dairy remembered this particular project. "We found out they were filming this movie at our next door neighbor's ranch," he wrote. "They filmed the scene on the bridge where Jimmy Stewart slaps a young soldier. We would ride our bikes to the shots, and our dog interrupted a few scenes by running on to the campfire set and scratching his fleas."
"We did not know who Jimmy Stewart was but this guy asked us about fishing the creek so we took him fishing with us in our front yard," Dairy continued. "Our dad spotted us and asked if we knew who the guy was fishing with us. We just shrugged and said no, just a nice guy from the film crew. He said, "Why, that's Jimmy Stewart."
Shenandoah tells the story of a successful Virginia farmer's unsuccessful attempt to keep the Civil War from affecting his family.
Although the movie came out well before anti-Vietnam War sentiment really stirred in American popular consciousness, it shows a dawning sense of moral ambiguity about armed conflict. There are no good guys or bad guys in this movie, and the moral of its story seems to be futility. This is particularly interesting given that Jimmy Stewart was a World War II combat veteran — a bomber pilot, in fact.
Paint Your Wagon (1969) Paramount Pictures. Starring Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg.
This extravagant production was the last dying gasp of the American musical. It was shot almost entirely on location on a picturesque little meadow in the Wallowa Mountains, about 45 miles out of Baker City.
In the movie, a rough-and-ready mining town with no women is suddenly blessed with the arrival of a Mormon man with two wives. Winkingly misogynistic hilarity ensues as the Mormon is convinced to auction off his surplus wife, and two other townspeople decide to share her, since if one man can have two wives — well, what's good for the gander is good for the goose, right?
Many locals remember a small colony of footloose, extravagantly bearded hippies camping in the park in Baker City during the production, offering their services as extras. This picture was about a bunch of hard-living miners in the 1849 Gold Rush, and Baker County in 1969 was not sufficiently rich in scruffy-looking people to keep the movie supplied; however, word had spread up and down the West Coast, and for the duration of the shooting, the average hair length of Baker County men probably quadrupled.
While the film was being shot, Clint Eastwood enjoyed fly fishing in nearby rivers, and Lee Marvin spent a lot of time drinking with locals in area taverns.
Sometimes a Great Notion (1971) Universal Pictures. Starring Paul Newman, Henry Fonda and Lee Remick.
This moderately successful flick, directed by Paul Newman, was one of two movies made from the work of Oregon literary icon Ken Kesey. It was released to generally good reviews, but subsequent history wasn't particularly kind to it.
Except in Oregon, that is. Especially in the timber towns of Oregon, where people who knew the timber industry were impressed by how right Newman got it.
And MOST especially in the towns of Lincoln County where this flick was filmed — where hundreds of people had stories of hanging out, drinking and shooting the breeze with the cast and crew of the film.
In this movie, a loggers' union has called a strike against the local big timber operator and all the gyppo operators are expected to stop work in support, but one stubborn gyppo-logging family refuses.
Rooster Cogburn (1975) Universal Pictures. Starring John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn.
This light-duty Western didn't get much respect when it was released, and it hasn't made up much ground since; however, its lighthearted tone has defused most of the criticism. It was filmed almost entirely in Oregon — mostly in Deschutes County, but also on the Rogue River.
The movie itself is a sequel to True Grit (1969). In it, the aging, hard-drinking Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Wayne) has been stripped of his badge for excessive use of force. Then he's called upon to earn his badge back by bringing a gang of bank robbers who have hijacked a wagon load of nitroglycerin to justice, with the help of a murdered preacher's adult daughter (Hepburn) seeking justice for her father.
Hilarity (and, of course, exploding nitroglycerin) ensues.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) United Artists. Starring Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield.
This movie is probably the most well-known Oregon film, and there's plenty of things about it that make it straight-up creepy. First, it was filmed on location in and around the Oregon State Hospital — then as now a working mental hospital. That means there were actual crazy people in the building while the filming was being done; many of the extras in the movie are actual hospital inmates. Richard Levine of The New York Times tells a chilling story of a press junket in which he and other reporters were escorted around the state hospital and stumbled onto a group of hospital staffers trying (successfully) to resuscitate an inmate who had apparently "coded" after an unscheduled application of electro-convulsive therapy — apparently a punishment for some disciplinary infraction.
In this movie, a slippery con man named McMurphy wangles his way out of a prison sentence by getting himself declared insane. What he thinks is a deliverance from the prison work crew turns into something worse as he finds himself stuck under the power of the evil Nurse Ratched. McMurphy makes lots of trouble, leads an inmate rebellion and ends up in a race to escape from the joint before something medically awful can be done to him.
Coming attractions
Next week, in the third and final part of this three-part series about iconic Oregon movies, we'll start things off with another movie from 1975 — one that seems a world away from the dark, subversive Cuckoo's Nest: Disney's sunny, perky, love-it-or-loathe-it Apple Dumpling Gang.
(Sources: Richardson, Anne. "Shenandoah," Oregon Movies, A to Z, http://www.talltalestruetales.com; Portland Oregonian, May 19, 2012; Levine, Richard. "A Real Mental Ward Becomes A Movie 'Cuckoo's Nest,'" The New York Times, April 13, 1975; city-data.com; imdb.com; Oregon.com)
Finn J.D. John teaches New Media at Oregon State University and is the author of "Wicked Portland," a book about the dark side of Oregon's metropolis in the 1890s. He produces a daily podcast at ofor.us/p . To contact him or suggest a topic: [email protected] or 541-357-2222.
McKenzie River Reflections


text:
The Voice: Who Should Make the Top 12?
After months of performances, The Voiceis finally ready to reveal Season 3's Top 12 singers on Thursday. This elimination is far more crucial than in years prior since, for the first time, there is no guarantee that every coach's team will have a slot in the finals. So who has the pipes to make it to the top? Check out our picks below:
The Voice's Adam Levine talks new knockout rounds, X Factor and Season 4
Team Adam
Melanie Martinez:Melanie's quirky style has wowed us since the beginning and she continued to impress with her cover of Ray Charles' "Hit the Road." Though she isn't very comfortable being sassy yet (those shimmies!), there's still plenty of time for Melanie to find her inner diva if America and Adam give her a chance.
Brian Keith: Combining the grit of a rock star and the heart of Raffi, Brian Keith is quite the crowd-pleaser. During a cover of Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," the singer really brought his A-game (in this case, "A" stands for angst). We're sure Brian's sensitive, fedora-sporting performance easily earned him enough votes to move on to the next round.
Amanda Brown: There's no doubt that Amanda stole the show with a rendition of Aerosmith's "Dream On" that gave Steven Tyler a run for his money. Demonstrating incredible range both vocally and stylistically, Amanda is an easy in for the Top 12 — and maybe even the Top 2! (The Voice does have a good track record with backup singers.)
The Voice Video: Amanda Brown knocks out the competition in the playoffs
Team Blake
Liz Davis: Though she still needs a bit of polish, Liz delivered a solid performance of Martina McBride's "Independence Day." The sweet southern gal proved she can kick serious butt when the time's right, strutting across the stage like she owned it. And even if Liz doesn't earn the necessary audience votes to move on, it's hard to imagine Blake not saving his team's sole country singer.
Terry McDermott: Does this Scottish family man ever have an off night? Judging by what we've seen so far, no. He's pretty much perfect. That's why no one was surprised when Terry hit all the right notes once again, this time during his performance of "Don't Stop Believin.'" Though he rocks out so effortlessly, Terry's quiet confidence keeps him relatable (and oh, so lovable). This Joshua Tree-wannabe might just have what it takes to win!
Julio Cesar Castillo: This was a tough one to call. Michaela Paige really impressed with her glam-rock rendition of Neon Trees' "Everybody Talks," prompting CeeLo to name it the best performance of the night, but that was before Julio took the stage with "El Rey." It didn't seem to matter that the mariachi singer performed the song entirely in Spanish. Julio vibratoed his way into our hearts and earned the first standing ovation of the night. Whether or not the language barrier will alienate viewers is something that we'll have to wait to see, but he's got our vote!
The Voice's Final Battle: Did they save the best for last?
Team CeeLo
Trevin Hunte: Think about what you were doing at 18. Now think about what Trevin is doing at 18. If you feel pretty terrible, don't worry, it's normal. That's because at only 18, Trevin is killingiconic songs such as "How am I Supposed to Live Without You?" with the ease of a much more seasoned singer. Other than "perfect," the only word to aptly described Trevin is "butter," because he is that smooth.
Nicholas David: It looks like Nicholas got his wish. He definitely stole our hearts with his performance of Barry White's "You're the First, the Last, My Everything." And we aren't the only ones head-over-heels for the soulful singer. "I wanna make a baby now," Adam praised. As the living embodiment of everything The Voice is about, there's no way Nicholas shouldn't make it to the Top 12.
Cody Belew: From his explicit-ridden blind audition to his booty-smacking dance moves, Cody has become one of the strongest personalities of the season. Lucky for CeeLo, he's one of the strongest voices, too! Taking a break from his goofy antics, Cody brought some serious emotion to his rendition of "One More Try" by George Michael, proving that his haunting performance during the knockouts wasn't a one-time fluke. If you ask us, this guy's the complete package!
The Voice: Battle of the divas
Team Xtina
De'borah: This girl gives great 'tude! A truth Christina worked to the singer's advantage assigning the singer Pink's "Who Knew." De'Borah commanded the stage, leaping around as she brought her unique brand of swag and angst to the pop-rock ballad. We've believed De'Borah had something truly special since her blind audition and so far we haven't been proven wrong. You go, DeBo!
Devyn DeLoera: Devyn's rendition of "Bleeding Love" was running all over the place, and that's a good thing! It might not have been her best performance, but Devyn did show us a more vulnerable side of herself. Afterwards, the coaches expressed she could do better and deserved another chance. We're happy to say we agree!
Sylvia Yacoub: The typical powerhouse performer shocked us with her stripped down rendition of Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away." When she began, the pathos was palpable in the slowed down intro until Sylvia switched gears into her typical fiery vocals. All the coaches were blown away, calling it the best performance of the night and promising she has nothing to worry about. These kind words comforted both the emotional Sylvia and us, who can't imagine the Top 12 without her!
The Voice reveals the Top 12 Thursday at 8/7c on NBC.
View original The Voice: Who Should Make the Top 12? at TVGuide.com
Other Links From TVGuide.com


text:
Book Notes: A New England mystery in 'Paradise City'
"Paradise City," by Archer Mayor. Minotaur Books, New York, 2012. 306 pages. $25.99
Archer Mayor lives the stories he tells. The best-selling mystery author from Vermont is also the state medical examiner, an investigator for the sheriff's department and a longtime firefighter and EMT. Authenticity in storytelling is not one of his problems.
In his newest mystery novel, "Paradise City," Mayor's popular protagonist Joe Gunther looks into a spate of burglaries. The leader of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation team quickly realizes that these burglaries are linked to others in Boston. The discovery of a body dumped in Northampton, Mass., prompts Gunther and local police to broaden the investigation. It turns out that illegal immigrants are being trucked into Northampton to break down the stolen jewelry. They use the gems and precious metals to create contemporary pieces sold in high-end shops in Northampton and elsewhere.
Mayor pulls together an interesting assortment of law enforcement officials, criminals and victims to take this mystery to its satisfying conclusion. The bad guys — and there are several — are bad in degrees. And then there is Mina, whose grandmother was murdered during the robbery of her Beacon Hill home. Mina is fiery and driven. She humiliates the Boston detective Jimmy McAuliffe by doing what he should have done — detect. She energizes the Vermont/Massachusetts investigation with her findings. And while she is usually one step ahead of the entire investigative team, her impulsive moves imperil not just her but the whole investigation.
Gunther is still grieving the loss of two lovers, one who was killed and another who agreed that a separation was the right thing to do. Willy, one of his investigators, is also in the throes of emotional hard times. Willy suffers from PTSD and while he loves his wife and baby, he cannot tolerate the typical chaos parenting brings to a household. Willy needs quiet and pristine living conditions. And McAuliffe struggles with being one-upped by Mina. The cast of criminals is revealed, one at a time. They, too, are full of flaws and fatal weaknesses. Mayor's quirky New England characters balance a somewhat dry plot that takes him a bit of time to develop. Once he fully sets the stage in Northampton, things pick up again.
Archer Mayor is a treat for New Englanders who delight in reading about settings they know. In this book we range from Vermont to Boston to Northampton. Mayor is a skilled writer who brings these colorful locations and characters to life. His own real-life immersion in crimes and their complexities is certainly an asset, but the tedium of real-life procedural investigations can get in the way of the drama and entertainment.
Rae Padilla Francoeur's memoir, "Free Fall: A Late-in-Life Love Affair," is available online or in bookstores. Write her at firstname.lastname@example.com. Or read her blog at http://www.freefallrae.blogspot.com/ or follow her @RaeAF.