text:
UN Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan is in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin aimed at intensifying pressure on the Syrian regime through UN Security Council sanctions, but Russia expert Dimitri Simes says that while Russia might at some point get fed up with Bashar al-Assad and see that his government is losing ground, it isn't "as opposed to the Damascus regime as the Obama administration and many other governments." Putin is generally committed to "maintaining the sovereignty of existing states," especially since "most of the regimes that were changed after the Cold War were the regimes that were friendly to Russia," says Simes. Additionally, says Simes, Putin "is more skeptical of U.S. and Western intentions, particularly U.S. intentions," than former president [Dmitry] Medvedev, who had forged a good relationship with President Obama.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has indicated that Russia is not going to change its position about sanctions. Why is Moscow so supportive of the regime of Bashar al-Assad?
I don't think they're that supportive of the Damascus regime. A better way to put it is that they're not as opposed to the Damascus regime as the Obama administration and many other governments. Clearly, Russia has a rather different view of Assad. I don't think you can say Assad is a Moscow client. He certainly was not taking guidance from Moscow. He also for a number of months has stopped paying his bills, so he's not a reliable customer. He also is an embarrassment in terms of Russian relations, not only with the United States, but with most Arab countries and with Israel, a country economically more important to Russia than Syria.
More on:
Then explain Moscow's resistance to taking more concerted action against Syria.
The Putin government is opposed to the concept of regime change because Russia has a more traditional view of international law. Their emphasis is not on humanitarian principles, but on maintaining the sovereignty of existing states. After the end of the Cold War, most of the regimes that were changed were regimes that were friendly to Russia, whether you're talking about the Balkans, with the ouster of President Slobodan Milošević in Yugoslavia, or whether you're talking more recently about Libya.
How much is the loyalty to Assad due to weapons sales?
If Russians are viewed as totally unreliable by such governments, their whole arms trade may go down the drain, and this is an important source of their income.
Assad is not in a position to buy new Russian weapons, but Russia has legal obligations under old contracts. It's already difficult for Russia to sell weapons abroad because their weapons are considered of inferior quality, certainly less reliable than those made in the West. One reason the Russians are still able to sell their weapons internationally is that they sell their weapons to governments that are not popular in the United States and NATO. If Russians are viewed as totally unreliable by such governments, their whole arms trade may go down the drain, and this is an important source of their income.
Russia and China abstained a year ago when the Security Council passed a resolution for a no-fly zone that allowed NATO military force to be used against Muammar al-Qaddafi's forces. Does Putin, who was then prime minister and is now president, regret not vetoing the resolution?
I was in Moscow when this resolution was passed, and I talked to a senior foreign minister official who told me that they could not vote for the resolution as drafted. He supported the resolution's intent, but said the resolution required a lot of work because of too many ambiguities that could be interpreted by the United States and NATO in a more far-reaching way than Russia was comfortable with.
More on:
The next day, I went back to the ministry. By that time Russia had already abstained on the resolution. I bumped into the official I saw the day before, and he looked at me and smiled. He said, "Our president has his way of making decisions." Then I talked to people who were more representative of Putin's thinking, and they were quite flabbergasted. They said that this was Medvedev's decision, that President Obama talked to President Medvedev and proved to be very persuasive with him. They felt Medvedev was too deferential, and they predicted the United States would not be satisfied with the kind of conservative interpretation of a no-fly zone, and that it would inevitably lead to a NATO aerial assault. They were proven right. The Libya episode energized the Putin camp, and gave them evidence that Medvedev could not be trusted to stay as president and to run Russian national security.
How would you describe U.S.-Russian relations right now?
Putin was one of the first who called President George Bush after September 11 and offered his support. So it was not as if Putin had started as a dedicated opponent of the United States. But then his relationship with the Bush administration went downhill. President Putin, as did many in Russia, came to the conviction that Russia was not treated sufficiently as a great power by the United States, and that the United States was more committed to changes around Russia, [such as] bringing former Soviet republics and allies into NATO or the European Union, than in having a constructive relationship with Russia.
Despite the "reset" under President Obama and President Medvedev, many people around Putin were not persuaded that there was a qualitative change in the U.S.-Russian relationship.
Despite the "reset" under President Obama and President Medvedev, many people around Putin were not persuaded there was a qualitative change in the U.S.-Russian relationship. The bottom line is that Putin is more hard-nosed; he is more skeptical of U.S. and Western intentions, particularly U.S. intentions, and he's not personally mesmerized by President Obama the way Medvedev was.
Russia has proposed extending the UN observer mission in Syria, which is due to expire on July 20 unless it's extended. Lavrov suggested that the Western countries are trying to blackmail Russia by saying that they would not vote for an extension of the observer mission if Russia did not support the resolution to put more sanctions on Syria.
Shaming Russia publicly, the way Secretary Hillary Clinton has done on several occasions, [is] unlikely to work on Putin and only toughens his stand. What may change the Russian perspective is what is happening inside Syria. If you look at Russian TV coverage of Syria, it is quite clear that they're now hedging their bets, that they understand Assad is losing ground; they're reporting recent prominent defections from Assad's inner circle.
At some point they may decide to give up on him and to start looking for bringing about regime change. They're not quite there yet.
At a certain point, Russians may say to themselves that the game is all over in Syria, or at least almost over. They would not want to be the last ones to be committed to this man who is not viewed in Moscow as the same kind of villain he's viewed as in Washington, but he's not quite a hero either. At some point they may decide to give up on him and to start looking for bringing about regime change. They're not quite there yet. Movement in that direction is driven by opposition successes on the ground, not by public pressure from the Obama administration. Also, Russians think the Obama administration is a little hypocritical, because as they have told Washington, [if] it is so committed to removing Assad, they certainly can do it the way it was done in Iraq, the way it was done during the liberation of Kosovo from Serbia, without Security Council blessing. The Russians are saying it would be a mistake, they would criticize it, but they would not resist it militarily, and it would not be a defining issue in the Russian-American relationship. Russian officials believe the Obama administration really does not want to intervene in Syria, but they're using Russia as a whipping boy, to blame on Russia what the Obama administration does not quite want to do itself.
What does Washington say?
The administration acts under the assumption that they can have their cake and eat it too in relations with anyone in the world, including proud powers such as China and Russia. Secretary Clinton, for instance, while she's trying to persuade the Russians to support a tough Syrian resolution, at the same time went to St. Petersburg and organized a meeting with opposition activists and promised that the United States would find some creative way to support Russian opposition groups despite new legislation passed by the Russian Duma, which requires such groups, if they accept foreign money and engage in political activity, to be registered as foreign agents. Do I like this legislation passed by the Russian Duma? Absolutely not. This legislation is counterproductive for Russia and will be a problem in the U.S.-Russian relationship. But at the same time, if Syria is such a central problem for the United States, wouldn't it be wise for the secretary of state on this particular trip to Russia not to meet with opposition activists? Because it creates an impression in Moscow that the only reason the United States is not calling for an end to the Putin government is because Russia is a major nuclear power. That impression certainly does not make Russia more forthcoming on issues of concern to the United States.


text: Brian McLaren best known for his image on the popular heretic trading cards found in Calvin Crunch Cereal, revealed what A New Kind of Christian will look like when his New Kind of Christianity will be implemented across the globe. The audience gasped in horror as Brian McLaren (Also known for a couple of books he has written) showed pictures of the first of the New Kind of Christians that have been spotted on the New Frontier. This new "Christian" is called the Ankoc, which we know that if translated into Hebrew, then Greek, then Latin, then back into English, then adding a m and an l we get Mollok. Mollok is close to Molech that is also close to Rupert Murdoch who sells porn as well as Rick Warren books. As you can see this is much more complicated that it needs be. If you just take our word for it, you will be safe to know that we know and we are saying is all of Satan somehow. We must also be aware that Brian McLaren is using OUR OWN TECHNIQUES of linking to ourselves! Ken Silva who is the master at incestuous self linking who realized that by doing so raises your Google rating and gives the appearance of high volume readership, seems to have taught Brian McLaren this technique! Of course Ken Silva is master enough to call Brian out for using Ken's original idea.

subset: commoncrawl


text: "I would highly recommend Pet Stop because of my local Dealer. Nine years ago they trained my neighbor's dog, so I hired him immediately to train my Boston terrier. I hired him again four years ago to train my French bulldog. He is truly wonderful with animals, and I would not use any other company. Excellent service!"


text:
Hansgrohe Focus 70 Basin Mixer
Product Information
Hansgrohe are known throughout the world for developing high quality bathroom fittings that combine the latest technologies with stunning designs from a portfolio of prominent global designers. Whether you are buying a simple basin mixer tap from the Hansgrohe brand, or a complete coordinated bathroom from the Axor Design collection, you can be sure that you are buying something made to the highest of standards.
For anyone who is planning to newly furnish a bathroom or kitchen, there are very good reasons to opt for products from the Hansgrohe and Axor brands. Hansgrohe helps you transform your bathroom and kitchen into havens of well-being; for an exhilarating start to the day and a relaxing end to it. Since 1901, Hansgrohe have been at the forefront of bathroom technology and they are committed to building on that tradition whilst also committing to an environmentally-focussed approach to a sustainable future.
Hansgrohe offer a comprehensive 5 year guarantee on their products, which includes working parts. They also guarantee to hold spare parts for 10 years after product discontinuation, leaving you safe in the knowledge that spares can be obtained easily if ever needed.
- ComfortZone 70 provides space for greater freedom of movement
- spout 101 mm long
- normal spray
- operating pressure: min. 1 bar / max. 10 bar
- deck mounted
- ceramic cartridge
- maximum temperature can be adjusted on installation
- QuickClean system for easy limescale removal
- Please specify when ordering if required for low pressure.
- AirPower Technology: With this shower technology, Hansgrohe mixes water with air, and you feel pleasantly sparkling AirPower all over your skin. As water enriched with air makes the droplets plumper, lighter and softer. This means you use your water more efficiently.
- EcoSmart Technology: Hansgrohe mixers and showers, which are fitted with EcoSmart technology, require up to 60% less water than conventional products – without any loss of comfort. This means you can reduce your water and energy costs and conserve valuable resources.
- QuickClean Technology: Who really likes cleaning? Our invention, QuickClean, rapidly removes dirt and limescale deposits from mixers and showers. Flexible silicon naps make sure of this. Beware of copies: this QuickClean logo is the only guarantee of genuine Hansgrohe quality
Your shopping basket will automatically update the shipping charge you pay as you add items. You will only pay once for delivery depending on the items you select. For shipping to Northern & Republic of Ireland, Isle of Wight and Isle of Man please select from the delivery dropdown on the basket page.
Delivery times will vary depending on a number of factors including type of product ordered and whether it is an item that is carried in stock or a special order.
Look out for the delivery times displayed on the product pages that act as a guide to delivery estimates.
On larger items when your order is ready to dispatch, a member of our team will call to arrange a suitable delivery date with you.
On smaller items you will receive a text or email with delivery date and time window for delivery.
Please note our delivery lead times are working days - if an order is placed on a weekend your order will be processed on a Monday.
If you have any problems and need to return any items just call us on 01226 770383
Or email: firstname.lastname@example.com
We will sort the rest for you.
If you have any queries what so ever please call one of our team on 01226 770383
There haven't been any reviews yet. You can review all our product reviews on our feefo account.
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text:
A Sandwich a Day: Pan de Chicharron at Raymi
A new sandwich every day.
In this great city of ours, one could eat a different sandwich every day of the year—so that's what we'll do. Here's A Sandwich a Day, our daily look at sandwiches around New York. Got a sandwich we should check out? Let us know. —The Mgmt.
Although Raymi features a prominent ceviche bar and Pisco selection, they've got sandwiches on the lunch menu, and their Pan de Chicharron ($12) measures up well to the other bites we've enjoyed. It's stuffed with confit pork, sweet potato, rocoto (a Peruvian chili) mayo, and a salsa criolla made with oilve oil, red onions, lime, and a touch of micro-cilantro.
The pork is impressively tender, juicy and flavorful, but also fairly salty, so the sweet potato adds some crucial sweetness. The spicy mayo is subtle but complex, and the salsa lends the acidity to cut through it all. It's definitely a sandwich to eat at the restaurant, not to-go—the soft bread will sog up from the moist, porky filling.
43 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10010 (map)
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Naations - DJsounds Show 2018
Fri 06.04.2018
Check out Naations on the DJsounds Show featuring the inimitable vocals of Nat Dunn and Nicky Night Time mixing and deconstructing their original productions across the CDJs, DJS-1000 and TORAIZ AS-1. FRESH. Listen out for their hit with Gorgon City, Real Life and their new single Touch Me.


text:
Made in the U.S. of 100% fade-resistant nylon with canvas heading and brass grommets. Great for indoor, outdoor, and marine use. Available in six sizes.
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text:
Tag: Thomas Vaughn
written wordLatest
How's Your Momma?
Floods. Fires. Droughts. Sickness. It's understood that help isn't coming from anywhere but within. This is the way it's always been. We know that we are largely forgotten by the rest of the world. We shoulder the heaviness instead of avoiding it. We endure together.
Matamoros Refugee Camp
Matamoros refugee camp January 2020
Thomas Vaughn
Dr. Thomas Vaughn is communication professor, colleague and friend. He's spent a lot of time studying the world of cults, conspiracy theories and apocalyptic rhetoric.
No More Time
Everyone who could have done something, didn't. And I've watched Minneapolis burn for three straight days as a result. Try as I might, the only thing I can come up with is they earned what they're getting.
A Pirate's Guide to Seedy PlacesLatest
Shorty's Place
What can I say? It's definitely a locals' hangout and a bonafide dive bar. The beer is cold and comes in bottles. It's the kind of place you probably won't get stabbed as long as you're not a jerk, but you might get tossed out the door by the patrons if you're rude to the bartender.
New Orleans Field Guide
Home to good-timers and romantics, New Orleans retains an unmistakable sense of itself, an honest, eccentric, deep-feeling city that embraces of its ghosts and its newcomers alike.


text:
The Getaway takes you into the underbelly of today's London, a world filled with lowlifes, gangsters and scum. Mark Hammond, an ex-con turned legit businessman, is sucked back into the criminal underworld after his son is kidnapped by feared gang boss Charlie Jolson. With his boy's life on the line, Hammond is forced to revert back to his old ways, doing Jolson's dirty work and all the while ducking, diving and weaving to avoid the clutches of the police. Playing both as Hammond and as Frank Carter, a vigilante cop from the Flying Squad, your job is to rescue Hammond's son and take down Jolson. It's a dangerous and brutal mission that takes in Charlie's turf in the East End, a seemingly classy art gallery in Hyde Park, a Yardie crackhouse south of the river and plenty of other places you won't find in your London tourist guide.
Far and away the most ambitious project ever undertaken by a SCEE studio, The Getaway is a unique plot driven adventure set against the gritty backdrop of urban London. As you meet Jolson's increasingly psychotic demands, you'll undertake a variety of missions as you criss-cross London, often with coppers tailing or chasing you. The city of London, recreated in astonishing detail from thousands of reference photos, can be traversed on foot or by car; there's a total of 60 vehicles that can be 'acquired' (read nicked), all with their own physics and handling. Vehicles range from the unassuming Nissan Micra through to the Lexus IS20, the Police Vectra and the good old fashioned black cab.
With a hard hitting storyline that doesn't pull any punches in depicting London's brutal criminal element, The Getaway is definitely a title for the more mature gamer. The compelling storyline, played out by a full cast of professional actors, blends seamlessly with gameplay to stunning effect, making The Getaway as close to a movie as a game has ever come. Realism is an important aspect of the game, with no health bars, ammo meters or other on-screen indicators to detract from the action. If your character's hit, he bleeds and slows down, clutching his wounds; if you're in a high speed chase or on your way to a location, your car's indicators signal the best route. Everything's designed to suck you in to the world of The Getaway and keep you there.
Having been almost three years in the making, The Getaway represents the cutting edge of videogame production. The list of technical innovations in the areas of graphics, animation and even motion capture is far too long to go into here, but the results speak for themselves. Visually, The Getaway is absolutely stunning - the living, breathing in-game London has to be seen to be believed - while the classic gangster film style narrative adds surprising depth to the winning mix of driving and action.
1 Players
1 Player Types
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text:
Janus Adams: A leap of faith forward
Lat week the Episcopal Church voted to change the world. Lest there be any doubt of its intent, the church, in its bicameral wisdom, held two official votes.
On July 16, by a vote of 111 to 41, the House of Bishops approved a new official liturgy. On July 17, the church's House of Deputies (made up of lay members and clergy) sanctioned that decision 171 to 50.
With 105 words and a leap (forward) of faith, so begins a new era in which the church will, with "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant," give official tribute to same-sex couples:
Dear friends in Christ,
we have gathered together today
to witness [name] and [name] publicly committing themselves to one another
and, in the name of the Church, to bless their union:
a relationship of mutual fidelity and steadfast love,
forsaking all others,
holding one another in tenderness and respect,
in strength and bravery,
as long as they live.
Therefore, in the name of Christ, let us pray
that they may be strengthened for the promises they make this day,
and that we will have the generosity
to support them in what they undertake
and the wisdom to see God at work in their life together.
Whew. In the extended Reformation begun in the days when Martin Luther tacked up his 95 Theses (telling all they were as entitled as Vatican emissaries to commune with God) and King Henry VIII needed a divorce, it's been a long time coming.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God ... to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony" wasn't bad for its time. But, this matrimonial liturgy dating back to 1662 and intoned nearly verbatim ever since has its limitations.
It's the whole spectacle of the thing. It's the bride being ushered into the church, veiled, to be "given away" -- the ownership of her transferred, like any other less-romantic property deed -- from father to husband-to-be.
It's the union they become -- man and wife; Man's Name and Mrs. Man's Name. He's gaining a wife and she's forfeiting her identity to be his appendage.
It's the vows they make to each other. His vow: "I (name) take thee (name)... to love and to cherish..." And, her vow: I (name) take thee (name) ... to love, cherish, and to obey..."
There it is, that "obey" thing to which a woman, once transferred to her husband's ownership, was bound.
Thank God for the women's movement.
When my husband and I married in the `70s, my father being deceased, my mother and stepfather jointly deposited me into my husband's arms.
As for the vows, I had given up on the Episcopal liturgy within days of speaking its words as the Bishop confirmed me into the fold.
Question: What is thy duty towards thy Neighbor?
Answer: To love him as myself ... To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors, and masters. To order myself lowly and reverently unto my betters....
As a child of the Civil Rights era, that last part about "ordering" myself "lowly" unto my "betters" did not sit well with me -- or with my grandfather, once I raised the subject with him.
That phrase wasn't used by those who would sing "Rule Brittania," "rule the waves," and "never, never, never shall be slaves," it was added to the Books of Common Prayer of those the British would enslave and subjugate. In various configurations, it was to be used by the Irish, "Eskimos," the colonies of Africa and the Caribbean, and segregated congregations in the U.S.
The vows my husband and I exchanged before our inter-denominational minister, therefore, came straight from "The Prophet" -- the then-sacred text of Khalil Gibran.
"Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you."
"Stand together yet not too near together: for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."
Thank God for gays, I say, too, as an Episcopalian born, baptized, christened, and lapsed.
As African Americans would bring inclusivity to the church; as women would bring equity; as the disabled would give us accessibility; gays have ushered in a new era of understanding.
As gay children of God (and straight parents) asking little more than the inclusivity, equity, and accessibility afforded their siblings, they have brought about a long-overdue liturgy, grounded in fidelity and generosity. What more could anyone ask?
Columnist Janus Adams is an author, historian, and social commentator. Her email address is firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Cheap monitors are easy to find. Go to most computer hardware outlets and you'll see plenty of off-brand, "get the job done" monitors (and by "job" I mean delivering images to your optics) awaiting your dollar.
However, just because you're paying $150 or less for a monitor doesn't mean you're necessarily getting a great deal. Paying $150 for a monitor with a paltry feature set, thoughtless design, or lackluster performance could induce an annoying and probably unexpected sense of buyer's remorse. Despite how little you paid.
Luckily, there are plenty of monitors that pay off with excellent performance, practical design, and plentiful features. You'll have to pay more for them, but in the long term you're getting more for your money.
Now, if you simply want a device that translates ones and zeros into images your eyes can decipher, then stick with the cheap monitors; however, if you're looking for an actual monitor deal, keep reading.
Monitors in the list below top out at $500 in price. The reason being that most consumers have a difficult time paying more than $500 for a monitor while still considering it a "value."
The LG IPS235V IPS monitor is one of the least expensive monitors on this list yet it achieves impressive performance in games, movies, and photos. Despite this, it's also one of the most basic monitors on the list. It's a good deal for the price due to its accurate color and wide viewing angles but it lacks build quality plus the connections and OSD aren't the easiest to deal with. Read the full review of the LG IPS235V.
HP x2301
It's not just the fact that the HP x2301 is available for less than $250. There are plenty of monitors available at that price. But, from build-quality to performance to connection options (HDMI, DVI, and VGA), the monitor gives much more than what $200 usually buys. If you're going low price, go here. Read the full review of the HP x2301.
For as low as $300, the LG W2363D drops in two HDMI ports, Nvidia 3D Vision support, a headphone jack, and good overall performance. It's still one of the best 3D monitors (if not the best) I've ever reviewed. Read the full review of the LG W2363D.
Asus PA248Q
The Asus PA248Q monitor matches its good performance and features with a good price. At $330 it is less expensive than its predecessor, the PA246Q (Spoiler alert: it's the monitor featured below this one), but it can't compare to the PA246Q's high color performance. The PA248Q is a less expensive but still impressive IPS monitor that has a variety of ergonomic options, connections, and useful OSD features. Read the full review of the Asus PA248Q.
Asus PA246Q
The PA246Q barely squeaks in under the price criteria, but thanks to excellent performance, great ergo support, and a unique and plentiful OSD, the monitor is well worth its asking price. Features like the grid overlay and photo alignment tool are unique and, even more importantly, useful. Read the full review of the Asus PA246Q.
Dell UltraSharp U2412
Backed by the fantastic four of ergo options, the U2412 also has the performance, design sense, and price to be the most compelling values here. If you can look past the lack of HDMI, it's clear that the U2412 combines features and affordability like no other. Read the full review of the Dell UltraSharp U2412.
Looking for specs and pricing? Compare these monitors head-to-head.


text:
Export 8 results:Author Title [ Type] Year
Filters: Author is Maithili Iyer [Clear All Filters]
Conference Paper
Establishing a Commercial Buildings Energy Data Framework for India: A Comprehensive Look at Data Collection Approaches, Use Cases and Institutions. 2016. LBNL-1006427..
Implementing End-use Efficiency Improvements in India: Drawing from Experience in the US and Other Countries. USAID|INDIA, 2006. LBNL-60035..
Strategies for Low Carbon Growth In India: Industry and Non Residential Sectors. LBNL, 2011. LBNL-4557E..
Techno-economic Analysis for Labeling Color Televisions in India. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2007..


text:
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 45 results[ Title]
Filters: Author is Mark R Zonfrillo [Clear All Filters]
Management of pediatric penetrating oropharyngeal trauma." Pediatr Emerg Care. 2008;24(3):172-5."
The Knockout Game: Recreational Assault and Traumatic Brain Injury." The Lancet. 2014;383(9916):513-514."
Incidence and Costs of Injuries to Children and Adults in the United States." Inj Epidemiol. 2018;5(1):37."
Head impact contact points for restrained child occupants." Traffic Inj Prev. 2012;13(2):172-81."
Factors Associated With Unrestrained Young Passengers in Motor Vehicle Crashes." Pediatrics. 2019;143(3)."
Factors Associated with Cell Phone Use While Driving: A Survey of Parents and Caregivers of Children Ages 4-10 Years." The Journal of Pediatrics. 2018."
Extending the value of police crash reports for traffic safety research: collecting supplemental data via surveys of drivers." Inj. Prev.. 2014."
Evaluating the Effect of a Mechanical Adjunct to Improve the Installation of Child Restraint Systems to Vehicles." Traffic Inj Prev. 2015;16 Suppl 2:S24-31."
Epidural cerebrospinal fluid collection after lumbar puncture." Pediatr Emerg Care. 2009;25(7):467-8."
Emergency physicians' knowledge and provision of child passenger safety information." Acad Emerg Med. 2011;18(2):145-51."
Emergency Department Visits and Head Computed Tomography Utilization for Concussion Patients From 2006 to 2011." Academic Emergency Medicine. 2015."
Emergency department evaluation and management of blunt abdominal trauma in children." Curr. Opin. Pediatr.. 2007;19(3):265-9."
Differences in thoracic injury causation patterns between seat belt restrained children and adults." Ann Adv Automot Med. 2012;56:213-21."
Cognitive Rest and School-Based Recommendations Following Pediatric Concussion: The Need for Primary Care Support Tools." Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2013."
Child passenger safety: protecting your patients on every trip." J Pediatr (Rio J). 2012;88(4):283-5."
The association of weight percentile and motor vehicle crash injury among 3 to 8 year old children." Ann Adv Automot Med. 2010;54:193-9."
The association of overweight and ankle injuries in children." Ambul Pediatr. 2008;8(1):66-9."
Association between weight and risk of crash-related injuries for children in child restraints." Pediatrics. 2011;128(6):1148-52."


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Collection Description
Ecumenical Theological Education (World Council of Churches)
This is a collection of documents related to the Ecumenical Theological Education (ETE) programme of the World Council of Churches. ETE promotes contextual ecumenical theological education and ministerial formation and encourages theological institutions, ecumenical institutes and associations to participate in the ecumenical movement locally and globally. It works regionally to engage and strengthen the ecumenical focus of theological educators and students, and relates closely to associations of theological schools and ecumenical institutes through the use of regional consultants and staff.Through networking, the project looks at accreditation and quality standards to encourage the development of contextual, ecumenical, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to learning in theological education and ministerial formation. ETE supports exchange programmes of educators and students as well as mutual learning on areas related to teaching and research methodologies that promote ecumenical formation. In curriculum transformation, it uses an approach successfully developed for creating curricula relating to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and Asia, and the theological discourse of people with disabilities.
Theological education and ministerial formation educate church and community leaders, theologians and theological educators, and influence the directions in which churches move, or do not move, in mission, evangelism, diakonia, koinonia, ministry and ecumenism. Many theological institutions and programmes, including interdenominational or united colleges and federations of theological institutions, have experienced the effects of an increase in denominationalism, which has drawn them away from serious ecumenical engagement. Often, they lack both an ecumenical orientation and the necessary capacity and skills to offer ecumenical formation.
Source: World Council of Churches/ETE


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Equity futures are down this morning following the release of second quarter GDP. The dollar is up slightly, bonds are higher, oil is down, and gold is higher.
The GDP number came in at 2.4% while the consensus called for 2.5%. Q1 was revised upward a full percentage point, however, to 3.7%! Not only that, but the past 3 years growth numbers were revised! Hey, if you can't stand the truth, just make something up – it is now a time honored tradition in money, politics, and economic statistics.
As if the GDP numbers weren't already grossly overstated enough via manipulations with inflation and the "deflator," and by including financial engineering as productivity. The bottom line is that even with their manipulations, the trend is down and I think by the 3rd quarter it is likely to turn negative again – the ECRI has not been wrong yet with readings such as are occurring now. Here's Econoday attempting to convince you otherwise:
HighlightsA part of the revised data shows that the "recession" of 2007 to 2009 was worse than previously reported, with growth revised downward for that period – part of the trend is to under report weakness, then revise it lower later.
Despite all of the doomsayers, the recovery continued in the second quarter but at a moderate pace. Yes, the recovery is still below par but it's not a double dip so far. Second quarter GDP came in at an annualized 2.4 percent growth, following a revised first quarter gain of 3.7 percent. Today's release includes annual revisions going back three years. The second quarter advance estimate is just barely below analysts' projections for a 2.5 percent increase. But the first quarter upward revision of a full percentage point from the prior estimate of 2.7 percent is a positive surprise.
The latest quarter was led by a rebound in residential investment, a jump in investment in equipment & software, and by inventories. PCEs also posted a moderate gain along with government purchases. The big negative is a worsening in net exports.
Real final sales to domestic purchasers rose 1.3 percent, compared to up 1.1 percent in the first quarter.
Final sales of domestic product gained an annualized 4.1 percent in the second quarter, following a 1.3 percent rise the prior quarter. Final sales to domestic purchasers exclude inventory investment but include sales to consumers in the U.S., business fixed investment, residential investment, and government purchases. Final sales of domestic product include final sales to domestic purchasers and add in net exports (GDP less inventory investment).
Economy-wide inflation accelerated in the second quarter as the GDP price index rose an annualized 1.8 percent, following a 1.0 percent in the first quarter. The market forecast called for a 1.0 percent gain.
Overall, the recovery is stronger than believed but markets reacted adversely to the headline number for the latest quarter being soft.
The price index rising much stronger than expected I think reflects the recent bounce higher in oil prices. Still, that reading needs to be watched as it can pressure interest rates. Overall this report is about what I expected, a manipulated and heavily massaged attempt to placate the public.
Chicago PMI and Consumer Sentiment come out just prior to 10 Eastern.
And the world just gets even more bizarre by the day. Yesterday an idea surfaced from a MS analyst that the GSEs should simply reset every prime mortgage held to the lowest possible market rate! This would lower monthly payments and stimulate the economy according to his theory. And actually it would put more money into the hands of a few consumers, it would help the banks on one hand, but it may hurt the holders of bond and derivative holders. It would be yet another moral hazard that ultimately keeps real estate overpriced for longer, and thus it's an idea that I certainly hope does not come to pass.
Moody's says that Spain will likely lose their triple-A rating and that it's time for the U.S. to develop a clear plan regarding our deficits. This warning is pressuring equities.
Additionally, the IMF says that it completed its mini stress test on U.S. banks and that our banks will likely need to raise additional capital. Here's a snippet from Bloomberg:
July 30 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. financial system remains fragile and banks subjected to additional economic stress might need as much as $76 billion in capital, according to the results of International Monetary Fund stress tests.Since the IMF is comprised of the same central banks that they are "stress testing," isn't this the kettle calling itself black? So what's their game this time? Let's revisit that last paragraph… they want the government to "take over the GSEs' public housing mission while privatizing investment operations." Uh, huh. In other words, they want the taxpayer to pick up the tab while they run their high leverage games all backstopped by you and me… that's their game, and they absolutely need to be stopped. Again, with no adult supervision to be found, the criminals continue to run their Ponzi schemes.
The findings, released today as part of a broader IMF report on the U.S. financial system, suggested that while the nation's banking system is stable, it remains vulnerable. Home prices, commercial real estate loans and economic growth have the potential to cause shocks that could expose banks to more losses.
Under one scenario, small and regional banks as well as subsidiaries of foreign banks would need $40.5 billion in additional capital to meet a benchmark capital ratio of 6 percent Tier 1 common equity from 2010 to 2014. Under the adverse scenario, those needs rise to $76.3 billion, according to the report.
"Pockets of vulnerabilities linger," the fund said in the report. The U.S. is recovering from what the IMF called "one of the most devastating financial crises in a century."
Because the economic recovery is proceeding slowly, regulators must be especially vigilant in guarding against risks and weak spots, the report said.
The IMF also renewed its call for the Obama administration to push ahead with changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprise housing companies. The report suggested a partial privatization strategy, in which the government would take over the GSEs' public housing mission while privatizing investment operations.
The up, down, up action yesterday broke what I was tracking as the wave c channel, but did not break beneath the larger wave 2 channel. The 30 minute chart below shows these, note that the opening print fell exactly on the bottom of the larger channel, so be careful:
McHugh still believes yesterday was a part of a wave 4 movement, and that should prices fall beneath 10,300 on the DOW that it's his clue that wave 3 has begun. I personally don't see how we could still be in wave 4 as the smaller channel break means that we have likely turned into the next wave. For me, a break below the larger channel means that wave 2 is likely done and that we have entered wave 3. Regardless, it appears that the 1115 area and the 50% retrace stopped the advance without making new intraday highs and now we are likely turning.
The VIX is attempting to break above its descending upper trendline, a clean break above that line is very bearish for the market:
Bonds are substantially higher showing that money is once again flowing to "safety." Keep in mind that today is Friday and that the HFT machines are programmed to Pavlov the market prior to the close in anticipation of the coming Monday ramp job. At some point the dog is going to run out of treats, I hope that comes sooner than later as that trend is definitely tiresome.


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The sofa in the photo below was upholstered in a beautiful chinoiserie floral in orangey-pinks, cream and green and was in my grandparents' living room in Honolulu many years ago. I've seen the photo below of my grandfather & me over the years (and I'm not sure at what point I started consciously thinking of the fabric) but it's just sort of always been one of those fabrics filed away in my mind that I think of every so often and love.
Decorative Memories in our Core
The sofa in the photo below was upholstered in a beautiful chinoiserie floral in orangey-pinks, cream and green and was in my grandparents' living room in Honolulu many years ago. I've seen the photo below of my grandfather & me over the years (and I'm not sure at what point I started consciously thinking of the fabric) but it's just sort of always been one of those fabrics filed away in my mind that I think of every so often and love.
46 comments:
- Laura Trevey said...
Such sweet memories...
Have a beautiful day Lauren!
xoxo Laura
- August 25, 2010 at 9:14 AM
- Danielle said...
You are so right. Whatever you grew up around, you gravitate towards. I just recently moved into my own place, and realized that my decorating style is much more like my mom's than I ever thought. And when she tried to throw out a print she bought a long time ago that I loved, I told her I would take it. It's now displayed in my living room like it was in hers :)
- August 25, 2010 at 9:21 AM
- Unknown said...
i really enjoyed this post, and the photo of the wooden horse! i had that exact thing as a child and it really took me back :)
you do great work!
- August 25, 2010 at 9:24 AM
- Janell @ House of Fifty said...
Wonderful photos of you with your grandparents, and that sofa and lamp on the side table are really fabulous!
I was very interested in all the fabrics and items around me growing up and putting together a home is incredibly important to me...it's more than the colors or furniture, it's how it makes you feel in the space and what that means for your life and family. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, decorating can seem very trivial, but when you start to get under the surface it has a lot of powerful emotions tied to it.
- August 25, 2010 at 9:25 AM
- Chedva @Rooms and Words said...
i love this sort of posts (though I love all your posts!).
For me, too, fabric is so much mre than fabric. Every layer revokes a memory.
Ecstatic to hear there's a fabric line in the works! Good luck with that!
- August 25, 2010 at 9:32 AM
- pve design said...
I would visit my Great Aunt Louise and admire her antiques and we would have fruit-cake and harvey's bristol cream. I refer to her as one of my "cultivators~"
I wish she were still here. She never had any children but she had so many nice pretty things. I know I owe so much to her.
Design is one part collective, one part intuitive and so personal. Our ideas are shaped so young, let's hear it for the formative years.
- August 25, 2010 at 9:42 AM
- Karen said...
There is an enormous antique mall in my area and as I walk the aisles I see so many things that remind me of my grandparents home. It's fun walking down memory lane, isn't it?
- August 25, 2010 at 9:46 AM
- Jules said...
Now you have started me on the memory trail I'm off to reminisce for awhile. Thank you!
- August 25, 2010 at 9:46 AM
- Jennifer Sergent said...
I'm totally with you -- I have powerful memories of my bedrooms growing up (loved that funky 70's jungle pattern on my sheets!), and of fabrics from upholstery. When I look at old pictures, I see the furniture before I see the people! That lovely picture of your grandmother -- that looks like a Brown Jordan chair she's sitting on? What a great post, thanks for sharing. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that you've brought back personal memories in all of us who are reading it!
- August 25, 2010 at 9:47 AM
- Muffy said...
What a lovely post! Brings back so many wonderful memories. My style was greatly influenced by both of my maternal great-grandmothers. I wish I had more pictures of their homes to remember. That picture of you with your grandmother is just darling - I hope you have that framed!
- August 25, 2010 at 9:59 AM
- Leah Moss said...
Lauren, this is such a beautiful post!
One of my favorite things in the world to do is visiting my sisters' homes and seeing all the things that remind of us of our grandmother, which they've found and worked into their own homes. So many memories inform every choice!
PS- after seeing your adorable baby pictures, there's really no doubt in the world where Christian came from :)
- August 25, 2010 at 10:38 AM
- Mrs. 5C said...
Thank you for writing this. It makes me feel less crazy. I will search for months to find the perfect throw pillow. I need that emotional response! I have very fond memories of a terribly ugly, scratchy, yellow plaid couch with a pull-out bed at my grandmother's house.
- August 25, 2010 at 10:41 AM
- Sarah said...
This is one of the best, most evocative things I have read in a long time. As I put together my first home, it became more and more obvious to me that my taste comes from my father's mother. And as members of my family have visited me, quite a few have pointed it out. This makes me want to go through my home and try to connect the dots between my choices and hers. Love it. Thank you for such an inspiring piece!
- August 25, 2010 at 10:50 AM
- Angela said...
I LOVE this post! I hate it when my favorite bloggers tell me what is "in style". I think our homes should reflect who we are, where we've been and where we want to be, instead of looking like a carbon copy of everyone elses home.
- August 25, 2010 at 11:09 AM
- D.B. said...
I love this post! I can really relate to what you have written. One of my favorite houses was my Grandmother's bungalow in a tiny town in SW Oklahoma. It was full of treasures including glass door knobs and a built in china hutch in the 1930's kitchen!
Beautiful Grandmother........I'm going to remember that one. Brilliant woman!
- August 25, 2010 at 11:27 AM
- Kathysue said...
Just one more reason to love Lauren!!! You design from the heart. That is exactly why your rooms feel as if they have evolved through a wonderful process. That is the best design of all,never trendy always personal. Great post and BTW you were a little doll and Grandma was a beautiful Grandma!! Kathysue
- August 25, 2010 at 11:29 AM
- debra @ 5th and state said...
OMG! christian looks just like you when you were a child.
as i was reading your post my mind would wander and remember long forgotten bits of long ago decor. some good, some bad........my grandmother had plastic on all the upholstery!
crazy for that last print with the tigers and deer.
- August 25, 2010 at 11:43 AM
- Robyn said...
I completely agree that decorating your home is an emotional experience. It is typically your biggest investment as well as where you spend time with loved ones. If a piece doesn't evoke an emotional or memory, it may just not be the piece for your home. I remember things both of my grandmother's had in their homes. My only living grandparent, Mawsie, just turned 92 last month. It is always a treat to sit and talk with her. Her mind is just as sharp as it was when I was a child.
- August 25, 2010 at 11:55 AM
- Jade @ Flip Flops + Pearls Design said...
Great, great, great post! Fabrics and patterns have the power to evoke emotion and nostalgia upon seeing them. And, I loved the last part where you talk about creating the same type of feeling for your own children. There's a song and it fits that perfect...talking about the "house that built me".
xo Jade
- August 25, 2010 at 11:57 AM
- Acquired Objects said...
Since I'm an antique textile dealer fabrics mean so much more to me. I'm a dealer thanks to my Grandmother who got me interested in fabrics when I was young. Love your post and what a cutie you were…ARE!…lol.
- August 25, 2010 at 12:03 PM
- Judy @ A Meek Perspective said...
The red Scandinavian horse brought back memories for me. We lived in Finland when I was 3 years old. My parents purchased a black one and it is still displayed in our family room. I think it was actually purchased in Sweden. I'll have to ask more questions about it the next time I visit.
Judy :)
- August 25, 2010 at 12:21 PM
- Visual Vamp said...
You look exactly the same today!
I too, adored my grandmother, and her home and the way she dressed has totally formed my design sensibility and style.
I wear red lipstick to this day, because I loved it on her when I was a little little girl.
A wonderful post Lauren.
xo xo
- August 25, 2010 at 12:23 PM
- Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...
Love the old photographs! Beautiful post.
- August 25, 2010 at 1:19 PM
I just love your perspective on design. So fresh and innate. Can't wait to see your fabulous fabric line!!! (and I'm totally with you on this one!)
- August 25, 2010 at 1:42 PM
- Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...
Lovely post. My style is greatly influenced by my mother's, for sure. And, when I do deviate you can tell she isn't so sure....but usually likes what I do once she sees it all pulled together. Reading your post reminded me of specific photos from my childhood where I distinctly remember the chair cushions or the wallpaper. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
- August 25, 2010 at 1:45 PM
- Karen said...
I so enjoyed this post. Having 2 sons I always wondered if my love of "nesting" would have an impact on their future homes---our oldest son and his lovely wife just bought their first home and I can say "yes" I see some of my style in their choices for furnishings.
Thank you for sharing,
Karen @ Garden, Home & Party
- August 25, 2010 at 1:55 PM
- LindsB said...
you grandmother is beautiful!! I love bringing back memories with touches around my house!
- August 25, 2010 at 3:31 PM
- Jan Jessup said...
Hi, Lauren!
The first photo of you on your grandfather's lap in Hawaii shows a sofa in a print fabric with a border. I'm pretty sure it was a Greeff fabric, as they were noted for their engineered prints. The Calico Corners stores used to buy Greeff seconds and closeouts--and I recall many such prints when I first worked there.
Greeff was purchased by F. Schumacher some years ago, and I think the name is no longer used in the design marketplace.
My mother--a very avant amateur decorator in southern California in the early 1950s--had large club chairs in the living room covered in a stylized tropical floral print on bark cloth. She even had painted concrete floors when the house was built, until they could afford to add wall-to-wall carpeting. I can still visualize that print!
- August 25, 2010 at 3:50 PM
- Stephanie Sabbe said...
Beautiful Grandmother! I am going to have to remember that. Your boys look like you when you were a baby!
- August 25, 2010 at 4:16 PM
- Travel With Lulu said...
I have been inspired by your blog all summer! In an effort to grow, I would be honored if you considered becoming a follower of my blog : )
- August 25, 2010 at 5:12 PM
- style chronicle said...
I will never forget my grandmother's aqua grasscloth wallpaper and her chinoiserie accents. Her style has deeply influenced mine. Our interior spaces tell a story that is only ours to tell!!
- August 25, 2010 at 5:20 PM
- LiveLikeYou said...
What a lovely, relevant post Lauren. If we allow ourselves to decorate and design our homes organically and honestly as who we are, and what makes you-you - we would live in truly original interiors. The whole belief behind LiveLikeYou! (btw that's Swedish dala horse)
- August 25, 2010 at 5:56 PM
WOW! I've been reading your blog for awhile and when you just listed Antioch, IL in this post I had to do a double take. My boyfriend grew up there and I grew up in a town 10 mins from there! We just moved to San Diego and are missing home terribly so it's nice to be reminded of the good ol days!
- August 25, 2010 at 6:17 PM
- kayce hughes said...
So well said. I am the exact same way and so are my kids. They notice when I make any changes.
- August 25, 2010 at 9:58 PM
- FROM THE RIGHT BANK said...
What a sweet and thoughtful post - as usual. :) Love seeing these old photos - you were ADORABLE! Thanks so much again for filling in for me while I was away! xoxo, Ally
- August 26, 2010 at 12:36 AM
I know exactly how you feel.....my grandmother made a quilt out of squares, perhaps 2 1/2 inches wide, into a king sized memory. When I look at it, I see blouses, dresses, scarfs, even curtains that all remind me of her....she has been gone for sometime now, but in the fall when I put this quilt on my bed, she is there. Smiles....
- August 26, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Thanks for leading us all to remember today, Lauren!
- August 26, 2010 at 12:03 PM
- Heather said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- August 26, 2010 at 12:21 PM
- Heather said...
You are totally right! A person's design style is shaped by their past experiences (usually childhood). I hadn't thought about it before, but I tend to wait for a "feeling" when I'm searching for the right patterns and fabrics. I must be looking for that connection to my past. My husband is always surprised that it takes me so long to choose things for our new house, but I just keep telling him that it has to "feel right".
Thanks for posting this!! You are always so inspiring!
- August 26, 2010 at 12:25 PM
- Jennifer said...
I can think of several examples, but most strongly is the way my mother's childhood bedroom looked in her parent's house when I was young. It had been decorated in the 70's and still had the same green, orange, yellow, and red oversized floral wallpaper in the late 80's. My sisters and I used to sleep in there when we visited my grandparents and I remember laying awake at night thinking about how my mom used to sleep in that room -- it blew my 6-year-old mind! I recently saved the bedsheets from being sent to the Goodwill. There are threadbare and I have no idea what I will do with them, but I felt the need to keep them -- they are just so whimsical and awesome!
- August 26, 2010 at 3:49 PM
- Unknown said...
This a great post and I completely agree with you. So much so that in some cases I own the same things that my parents and grandmother had around their houses. One being the Dala Horse. I was lucky to get the one that G'ma had. I love how beat up it is (us grand kids were a little hard on it, but it has great "patina" now). I also had to buy a few of the coffee mugs she had. I don't use them, they just make me feel comfortable that they are in my cupboard.
- August 26, 2010 at 4:48 PM
- Nutbird said...
My father was in the Air force, so we had to move every three years. We were often issued furniture, especially overseas. Because we could only bring so many pounds of household goods, we always had to give things away. I think I am buying back everything we had to give away even now after forty years. Lauren, my mother bought those white cherry blossom lamps in Japan, and I am still buying more when I see them. I still hate 50's upholstered furniture and all sorts of things orange and green. I just don't understand mid century modern. Even then most people didn't like the style much and still kept traditional furniture from the 30's and 40's. Everything about a home IS personal. A pillow is not a pillow is not a pillow. It has to be the right one, and not just something in the right color from Home Goods. Ann
- August 26, 2010 at 8:55 PM
- B said...
I think this post is amazing. I thought I was the only person on earth who felt that same type of connection with my past through seeing, smelling, remembering the littlest things. I can't wait to make my husabnd read this. Now he'll see that I am not the only human like this! :) You have inspired me, yet again, to get my act together and purge our hand-me-down-only-using-due-to-laziness-and-says-nothing-about-us furniture, and start to make our house say something about us, our style, our life. Thanks Lauren!
- August 27, 2010 at 12:38 AM
- Emily said...
I have always found things and brought them into my home because they remind me of both of my grandmothers. Such a great post Lauren!
- August 27, 2010 at 8:37 AM
- lauren @ gathering moss said...
i totally agree! this post speaks to me so strongly. as i get older and more conscious of my design choices, i realize that most of them draw on things in my past - i'll buy a planter, for example, and later realize that my mom had a very similar one on my childhood porch, or want to paint my shutters a color it turns out that house's shutters were painted - but i did not consciously realize what was influencing my taste until later. i also get a very emotional feeling about fabric patterns - like you, i can't just pick something because it "goes" and "looks good" in a space, i have to really FEEL it. it's indescribable. that sounds silly, but i bet you understand ;)
- August 27, 2010 at 5:07 PM
- Laura said...
Thank you for a wonderful post! I have so many memories of the homes of family members from growing up in Virginia: most everything was neoclassical/traditional--with a dash of 70s and 80s plastic florals thrown in for good measure, so I totally know what you mean about not everything being "good" now. ;) I, too, am drawn to patterns that remind me of those I grew up with, even in a reinterpreted way. And what a beautiful thought that the patterns and object we choose for our own homes today will become childhood memories for the little ones in our lives.
- August 31, 2010 at 11:08 AM


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Gifts for HerGifts NewGifts For Christmas
Home > Gifts for Christmas
Brand: Border Fine Arts
Weight: 490g
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Poor Sleep May Lead to Worse Grades for College Students
Restless nights affect academic performance as much as binge drinking and smoking pot, study suggests
FRIDAY, June 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Instead of staying up studying all night, college students might want to try a new way to improve their grades: get a good night's sleep.
Researchers report that having trouble sleeping is as strong a predictor of falling grades as binge drinking or smoking marijuana. They noted that undergrads who don't sleep well are much more likely to have lower grades or withdraw from a class than other students who get enough sleep.
"Well-rested students perform better academically and are healthier physically and psychologically," study investigators Roxanne Prichard, an associate professor of psychology, and Monica Hartmann, a professor of economics, both at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
The investigators examined information collected on more than 43,000 college students in the Spring 2009 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment. Specifically, the researchers looked for factors that predicted academic problems among the students, such as lower GPA or falling grades.
Poor sleep had the same effect on students' GPA as binge drinking and marijuana use, the study revealed. This link was most obvious among freshmen. The study authors said poor sleep alone helped predict whether or not these first-year students would drop out of a class.
Trouble sleeping was linked to worse academic performance even after other possible contributing factors -- such as depression, work hours, learning disabilities or chronic health issues -- were considered. However, the association between poor sleep and poor grades does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
The authors pointed out that sufficient information on the importance of sleep is not available on most college campuses.
"Sleep problems are not systematically addressed in the same way that substance abuse problems are," Prichard said. "For colleges and universities, addressing sleep problems early in a student's academic career can have a major economic benefit through increased retention."
The study, which was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep, was presented Tuesday at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting in Minneapolis.
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about the effects of not getting enough sleep.


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1. That The Campaign could never come up with a fictional scenario that would rival the absurdity of what actually happens in our daily political discourse is an obvious point, yet one that needs to be made again nevertheless. Is any sort of shtick that Will Ferrell could dream up odder than a reality in which Newt Gingrich becomes friends with Snooki or a hot-button political debate centers on chicken sandwiches? ProPublica has a consistently hilarious tumblr of every batshit weird statement uttered by public officials and candidates this election season that's considerably funnier than The Campaign because, jeez, how could it not be? You've got Bill Clinton posing with porn stars and presidential candidates saying, "I stand by what I said, whatever it was," and Sen. John McCain co-sponsoring legislation with a giant pink pig. Beat that, Galifianakis.
2. That's to say, with politics in the place it is, who needs satire, really? (The best jokes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report usually just involve letting the boobs speak for themselves.) So The Campaign was left with two ways to differentiate itself. It could've gone ultra-dark and acerbic with the satire, Armando Iannucci-style, or it could've eliminated any real-world political context whatsoever and just become The Other Guys, except with politicians instead of cops. That's the route The Campaign chose, which is fine enough, one supposes; it's not like we expect Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis to put out a cutting, vicious parable about our rotten political culture on 3,500 screens. But it makes you wonder why they bothered making a political movie in the first place; it might have been more fun if they were just cops.
3. It doesn't matter much: The only real political bit the movie uses is the Ferrell! Versus! Galifianakis! idea, which means we should probably just be thankful they made them politicians rather than boxers. (This at least keeps their shirts on.) Ferrell plays Rep. Cam Brady, a so-obvious-they-probably-should-have-tried-something-else riff on his George W. Bush impersonation with a heavy dollop of Clinton-esque skirt-chasing thrown in. Brady, a Democrat, is usually a shoo-in for his House seat, but the evil Motch brothers (a dopey riff on the Koch brothers played by John Lithgow and a deeply depressing Dan Aykroyd) decide, improbably, to finance Marty Huggins, the lisping, socially awkward son of an old rich political operative, so that they can sell American jobs to China, or something. And that's pretty much the whole deal: The two men take turns humiliating each other and themselves, and at the end people vote.
4. The Campaign is directed by Jay Roach, who also directed the (terrific) HBO movies Recount and Game Change, so I guess I sort of expected a little more political savvy than we get here; it's obvious he's playing dumb on purpose, because those movies showed he knows how to create a convincing political atmosphere. Here, he just relies on his leads to carry the whole movie—as improvised as these movies usually are, this one feels particularly ragged—and I have to say that Galifianakis is more successful than Ferrell. He at least tries to ground Marty in a real, sweet place—he works for the tourism center of his town and loves it, and his family, in a sincere way—which gives him a lot more rope to work with when the movie turns more and more absurd. Ferrell is coasting more here, not really invested in the part and, oddly, sort of bored with the whole thing. Ferrell has attempted to stretch more in recent years, with varying success (Stranger Than Fiction worked, Everything Must Go less so), and he's sort of checked out here, doing Ferrell Schtick more than careering into the land of the blissfully surreal as he does when he's on his game. I think part of the problem here is that neither Ferrell nor Galifianakis recedes, allowing one to be the straight man to the other; the result is that you watch each men do their schtick in a vacuum. They're both occupying their own, different movies.
5. There are still laughs to be had here, if just because of the pure volume of gags. But it's still sort of the low-hanging fruit variety. Galifianakis's sweet-looking children and wife, as it turns out, are secret freaks! Campaign videos are often full of lies! These guys are such bad politicians that they punch babies! (There is a good bit with a Korean maid whose boss makes her speak like the cast of The Help, but the movie goes to the well with it once too often.) You keep waiting for the movie to say something, to find that extra level of inspiration we've seen each of these two guys reach. Or at least to justify making a political comedy in the first place. The Campaign is mild Ferrell and mild Galifianakis, and putting them together leads to diminishing returns for both. A movie like this either needs to keep it small and dark, or just go for it, balls-out surreal. The Campaign, alas, occupies that squishy middle. And seriously: Do not look directly at Dan Aykroyd.
Grade: C.
Grierson & Leitch is a regular column about the movies. Follow us on Twitter, @griersonleitch.


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Love love loveee Grimes! My new found musical crush, just love her sweet, twinkly little voice and especially in this song, Genesis. I think an album purchase may be on the cards for moi...
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This has been a strange winter. But strange or not, it's still winter, and that had me thinking soup. This soup started with a remembered ham hock not getting any younger in the freezer. My first thought was black-eyed peas, but there was also a bag of dried black beans in the pantry with similar faded youth issues. So black bean soup it was.
The prolific Anonymous once said, "Success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan." Black bean soup must be successful indeed. Its origin has been credited to Mexico, Michigan, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, Europe… Lydia over at Soup Chick even makes a delicious sounding Korean-style black bean soup. Most versions I found when I started thinking about making it took their inspiration from the American Southwest. So did I.
This is a great soup to make a day ahead. It gets better when allowed to rest in the fridge and let the flavors blend. Speaking of flavors, the many potent ingredients– cumin, garlic, celery, bell pepper and even the smoked ham hock– each add their distinctive flavors without taking over the dish. And the jalapeño pepper, while only subtly affecting the taste, brings needed heat. With the volume of soup this recipe produces, the pepper doesn't make it fiery– it just delivers a tingly kick, giving it another layer of interest.
Black bean soup with ham hocks
Serves 4 or 5 as main course
1 pound dried black beans, soaked (see Kitchen Notes for fast and slow soaking methods)
1 smoked ham hock, 3/4 to 1 pound
8 cups water
2 bay leaves
canola oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 large jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (see Kitchen Notes)
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, peeled and diced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (see Kitchen Notes)
sour cream (optional)
chopped cilantro for garnish
Place soaked beans and ham hock in large, heavy stock pot or Dutch oven. Add water and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1-1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan or skillet. Add onion, bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, carrots, and celery. Toss to coat with oil and sweat vegetables for four or five minutes, stirring frequently. Clear a space in center of pan, drizzling in extra oil if needed, and add garlic and cumin. Cook until fragrant, about 45 seconds, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat and toss vegetables to combine. Set aside.
Using tongs, transfer ham hock to shallow bowl and set aside. Remove and discard bay leaves; add vegetable mixture and tomatoes to pot. Season generously with fresh ground black pepper, but don't add any salt at this point. Transfer four cups of soup to food processor and carefully purée (do this in two batches, if necessary). Return to pot.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or more. Meanwhile, when ham hock has cooled enough to handle, remove the skin, fat and bones and chop the meat into small pieces. Return to pot. As the soup simmers, you may get a bit of foam on the top. If so, skim it off and discard. This happened late in the cooking process for me.
Add lime juice and adjust seasoning with salt, if needed– the ham hock will provide plenty of saltiness, so you probably won't need much. Ladle soup into bowls, giving it a good stir with the ladle to make sure everyone gets plenty of beans, vegetables and meat. Top with a dollop of sour cream, if using, and garnish with cilantro. Serve.
Kitchen Notes
Soaking beans. Here are two methods, the traditional slow soak and a convenient fast soak. Whichever method you choose, pick through the beans first to remove any pebbles and shriveled looking beans and give them a quick rinse.
Slow: Place beans in a large pot or bowl and cover with water by at least three inches. Soak them overnight, drain and rinse. They are now ready to cook.
Fast: I'm really liking this method these days– cuts way down on the need to plan ahead. Place picked over and rinsed beans in a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Cover with cold tap water by at least three inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for two minutes. Turn off heat, cover pot and let beans soak for one hour. Drain and rinse. They're now ready to cook.
Spice it up with the jalapeño. When you chop the jalapeño, include at least some of the seeds and ribs. They'll add just enough heat to this big pot of soup give it an interesting kick.
Buy plenty of limes. Unlike lemons, limes are notoriously stingy when it comes to producing juice. It could take three or four limes to get the needed two tablespoons of juice for this recipe. And yes, lime juice is necessary. We sampled the soup when it was fully cooked before adding the lime juice. Despite all the various big-flavored ingredients, it was surprisingly bland. The lime juice brought it to life.


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May 18, 2014
LAMA's May 18, 2014 Modern Art & Design auction achieved strong prices for blue-chip and California modern artists, commensurate with the New York and London sales. Sunday's auction offered original works and multiples by Warhol, Picasso, Ruscha, and Wesselmann that exceeded pre-sale estimates, while a Hans Wegner desk and organizer set a new auction record for the model, with total auction sales realizing $2 million, selling 110% by value.
Fine art highlights include Chanel by Andy Warhol from Ads portfolio, bringing $123,750, Tom Wesselmann's Study for Smoker #26, which more than doubled its high estimate bringing $65,625, and an early and monumental Llyn Foulkes painting that exceeded its pre-sale estimate realizing $53,125. A rare Ed Ruscha print, Sin, soared to $28,125, and a John Altoon work on paper, Untitled (Sunset Series), brought $25,000.
Design highlights include a collection of custom William "Billy" Haines furnishings for an important Beverly Hills commission, which exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $146,300, totaling $241,312. The top lot from the commission was a rare table lamp with Tang style figure of a horse (Lot 181 est. $7,000 – 9,000) that realized $46,250. Additionally, LAMA continues to achieve exceptional prices for Scandinavian design, with the standout being a selection of seven Hans Wegner lots purchased by the original owner in 1966 from Johannes Hansen. A Wegner desk and organizer (Lot 63 est. $7,000 – 9,000) realized $50,000 and set a new auction record for the model, an Executive Swivel chair (Lot 65 est. $8,000 – 12,000) brought $27,500, and a Papa chair and ottoman (Lot 67 est. $6,000 – 8,000) achieved $18,750.


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If you want to survive in the game of sports betting, Today Betting Tips Prediction in Rating then you have to use effective money management. I recommend that you follow these guidelines at all times.
- Only invest what you can realistically afford to lose. Best Football Prediction Today you have to remember that you really do not need to start with al a lot of money. I got started with only $100 dollars and I followed the system and my money has doubled over and over again over the course of years.
- Do not make your initial bet too high. Only invest 5% of your total bankroll for a flat betting system (in which you bet the same amount each time) and no more than 2% for a progressive system. You need to be patient here and allow your systems to do their slow and steady work.
- Increase your initial bets when your bankroll has increased by 25%. This will increase your earning power, Today Betting Tips Prediction just remember to stick to the suggested percentages in #2.
- Remember to Diversify your portfolio. If you have a total bankroll of $1000 and 4 systems that you would like to use, then each system should be allotted $250 and you have to keep those amounts separate.
You have to be disciplined in your use of your systems and in your money management strategy. It can be difficult especially you are doing exceptionally well or if you are losing badly. You may be tempted to deviate from the systems or the money management guidelines in either of those situations. But do not, Today Soccer Result Prediction just remain diligent and the rewards are sure to follow.
Today Betting Tips Prediction in Rating?
Sports betting offers a fun and exciting way of earning money online. It combines the fun of enjoying your favorite game and the additional excitement of getting money from your sports team's victory. There are those who make online sports betting a way of earning money. They improvise a system that will make the chance of winning higher by using facts gathered from previous games. While some bettors bet based on instinct or according to their personal favorites, bettors that aims at earning money would use a formula based on available resources to improve their chance of winning. There are websites that use sports betting system to predict winners. Look for the best sports betting website for a more reliable predictions.Luck still plays a big role in winning or losing the game. But there are measurable aspects of the game that will balance luck with probability which therefore increase the chance of winning. Bookmakers often change the weight of winning and losing stake to encourage bettors in a lopsided game. There is a choice whether to stay on the safer margin or go against the odds for a larger stake. Wise bettors tend to go safe and ensure win with lower stakes while those who like to gamble would go with the spread for a larger stake.The best sports betting strategy is to bet against the public. Bookmakers will prompt you to bet against the public whenever certain games are causing the public to bet on a match in favor of a losing team. This will cause a high percentage of winning to those who will bet in favor of the winning team. Bookmakers often require subscription to be able to get alerts on the games with a high percentage of winning against a public bet. The subscription is actually just a small amount compared to the potentially large sum of to be won through their betting against the public alert. Look for a reliable bookmaker that will provide the best sports betting strategy.Subscribing to a bookmaker for best sports betting strategy is profitable in the long run. It would give the bettor an edge over other people because he would have an access to the bookmaker's trade secret which is the alerts whenever there are games where there are rampant bet against a team with high probability to win. The subscribed bettor will be ensured of a good percentage of winning. He would still be subjected to lose in some of his bet but because of the high rate of winning against losing, he will profit in his business over a period of time.Online sports betting is a profitable business for some people. There are ways to guarantee a high percentage of win by subscribing to website that specializes in analyzing information gather from previous games. The result of the analysis becomes the basis for a team's winning percentage in their next game. These websites offer the best sports betting system in the internet. They can guarantee that bettors subscribed in their website will produce good results.
Betting on US Sports
There are punters who like the 'draw' market as it pays well. One common argument among these 'draw' punters is "Are draws independent of form, that is, are they random?". There are two views :* One view is that draws are independent of previous results, that each match is different. These punters do not accept the theory that a draw is due just because it has not happened for a long time. They believe that the match outcome depends on circumstances and conditions of that particular game, for example : attacking and defending capabilities of both teams, weather on that day, pitch condition, etc.* There are opposing punters who feel strongly that the probability of draws depends on the previous games, that it boils down to the psychology and mentality of the players of the 'drawish' teams.Irrespective of whatever camp these draw specialists are in, all of them agree that draw bets are more worthwhile compared to betting Home or Away as the average odds are more attractive.In picking winning 'draws', the following factors are to be considered :1) It is essential to choose the teams instead of choosing the matches, that draw is largely due to the style of play, such as :* Defensive style and struggling to attack will tend to draw more. * Attacking formation and tactics will not draw too often.2) If a certain team draws a few matches, analyse why :* Does the team have problems scoring? If yes, why. (Is the key striker injured?)* Is the team renowned for tight defence?* Is it psychological? Maybe a team on a long losing run may try harder just to get at least a point, that is, a draw.3) The following trends in matches ending with a draw are common :* Matches where both teams are happy with a point, for example, a draw is sufficient for both to avoid relegation or to qualify for a cup competition.* Matches played in poor weather conditions like heavy rain which usually lead to less goals and higher chance for a draw.* Derby matches where a draw may satisfy both parties.* Home team in great form against Away team in strong top table position.4) Teams which draw a lot with each other repeatedly could mean :* They are equal in strength.* There is some kind of psychological impact that it is tough for one of them to break the other down.5) Do take note of the following :* If a team has been drawing a lot, and if it has appointed a new manager, wait a few matches to determine if this team is still drawing frequently.* Be cautious with newly promoted and newly relegated teams where performance can be erratic.* Teams improving in form which may be more likely to draw playing Away.ConclusionSome leagues appear to have either a higher or lower percentage of draws compared to others. This could be due to the characteristics of the leagues in terms of competitiveness, or even prevalence of match fixing. This is why some bookmakers do not offer odds on certain minor European league matches at the end of the season.


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It may seem a bit odd to talk about a budget surplus at a time of soaring deficits, but tax receipts are coming in stronger than expected in April and the Congressional Budget Office is now projecting a record surplus for the month.
The preliminary estimate for tax receipts in April is $515 billion, about $40 billion higher than the CBO expected just a month ago, and $59 billion more than collected in April 2017. Most of the increase is from larger-than-expected individual income tax payments, likely due to stronger-than-expected economic activity since last fall. Corporate income tax payments fell by $14 billion (24 percent) compared to last year, likely driven by both lower final payments for 2017 and the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent this year.
Total spending in April increased to $297 billion, $24 billion more than a year ago. The largest increase in outlays was for net interest on the public debt, which rose by $6 billion year-over-year, or 21 percent. Social Security benefit payments increased by $4 billion (5 percent), military spending increased by $4 billion (11 percent), and Medicaid payments rose by $3 billion (10 percent).
The net result is a surplus of $218 billion in April, which breaks the record of $190 billion recorded in April 2001.
The larger trend, however, runs decidedly in the opposite direction. For the first seven months of the 2018 fiscal year, which began in October, the overall deficit came to $382 billion, $37 billion more than the first seven months of 2017. And CBO projects a full-year deficit of $804 billion in 2018, with trillion-dollar deficits coming in 2020.


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Sonny Bill Williams defeated Clarence Tillman III to become New Zealand's new heavyweight champion.
NEW Zealand's two professional heavyweight boxing title-holders won't be squaring off any time soon.
THE one thing everyone knew about the fight between Sonny Bill Williams and Clarence Tillman III was that Williams lacked the power to knock out the American.


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GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - Guards rifled through defendants' cells and seized their confidential legal documents while the accused were in the courtroom listening to assurances that no one reads their private attorney-client mail, defense lawyers charged on Thursday.
The accusations were made during a pretrial hearing at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base for five prisoners accused of plotting the September 11 hijacked plane attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
This week's hearings have focused on defense claims that the U.S. government is eavesdropping on confidential attorney-client conversations, a claim that prosecutors emphatically deny. The lawyers have also alleged that guards seized confidential legal mail from the defendants' cells and read it, something the camp's legal advisor denied in testimony on Tuesday.
Defense attorney Cherly Bormann said her client, Walid bin Attash, had returned to his cell after Tuesday's hearing to find that bins containing his legal documents had been ransacked and that confidential papers related to his defense were missing.
"We need to stop this now," Bormann said. "This affects our ability to do our jobs."
She said her client feared it would happen every time he showed up for court.
Bin Attash, a one-legged man with shoulder-length curls, stood and shouted to the judge, "In the name of God there is an important thing for you ..."
The judge, Army Colonel James Pohl, told him several times to sit down, and threatened to have him removed from the courtroom, but said bin Attash could speak later, under oath. Bin Attash is accused of running an al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan where two of the hijackers trained.
Defense attorneys said legal documents had also been seized from the cells of defendants Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the hijacked planes attack, and Ramzi Binalshibh, who has said he tried to join the hijackers but could not get a U.S. visa, while they were in court on Tuesday.
The attorneys said the seizures were making it impossible for them to prepare an adequate defense. "It causes an enormous emotional problem which makes our job close to impossible," said Binalshibh's lawyer, James Harrington.
Military lawyers who had worked at the detention camp testified earlier in the week that they were required to open detainee mail from their lawyers, inspect it for contraband such as staples and paperclips, and stamp it as legal mail after giving it a cursory scan.
One Army lawyer formerly stationed at Guantanamo said he thought he had been removed from that job because he raised ethical concerns about inspecting legal mail.
The defendants could face the death penalty if convicted of charges that include attacking civilians, conspiring with al Qaeda and murdering 2,976 people.
The judge said he would consider the legal mail issue on Tuesday after hearing testimony on another matter.
Reporting by Jane Sutton; Editing by Vicki Allen
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Saudi Electric launches $2bn sukuk
Dubai, March 26, 2013
Saudi Electricity Co (SEC), the Gulf's largest utility, has launched an offer of a $2 billion dual-tranche Islamic bond, or sukuk, with pricing due later on Tuesday, a document from lead managers said.
The offer is split between a $1 billion 10-year tranche and a $1 billion 30-year portion, with price guidance set at 155 basis points and 190 bps over benchmark US Treasuries.
Orders worth $13 billion have been pledged by investors for the deal, which should price in the morning New York time, the document added.
Deutsche Bank and HSBC Holdings are arranging the sukuk sale. - Reuters