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Studying the Abyss
5 Ebrill 2016,
Often, people announce - with a knowing look in their eye – that Science knows more of the surface of the moon than it does of the deep oceans of our own planet. This platitude is probably vague enough to be considered accurate, but it ignores a salient fact about Earth: a lot more is happening here, especially in the oceans, and even the smallest sample of abyssal mud contains a wealth of life sufficient for years of study. Oceanographic missions are rare because each one produces a superabundance of data and specimens that require decades of work to describe and interpret. The simple problem of man-hours and scarcity of expertise in niche fields is what limits the scope of modern oceanography (and the funding available to it).
Blue-sky thinking
The index case for this problem was that of the Challenger expedition of 1872-76, a sprawling endeavor to "investigate the physical conditions of the deep sea in the great ocean basins" - scarcely has an expedition brief been bolder or more vague – with a navy vessel and a small group of gentleman-scientists headed by Charles Wyville Thomson. Wyville Thomson had headed earlier voyages to chart the waters around the British Isles, discovering life down to depths of 1200 metres; he had become the patriarch of the nascent discipline of oceanography, which – before Challenger – was limited to a hazy understanding that a lot of the oceans were very deep indeed. The vessel set out with a complement of around 250 men of all ranks and stations, weighing anchor in Portsmouth in December 1872 and zigzagging down the Atlantic coast of Europe before striking out towards the Caribbean. She would sail on for almost eighty thousand miles, crossing and re-crossing the Atlantic before swooping down to the sub Antarctic Kerguelen archipelago, circling Australia and the Pacific, and finally passing through the Straits of Magellan at the tip of South America on her way home.
A challenging legacy
This, however, is not the end of the story. On her voyage, the Challenger measured depth and temperature and collected biota, samples of living organisms from the sea floor, at 360 stations along the route of her voyage. The vessel was fitted with a fully-equipped laboratory, and vast volumes of specimens, data, and readings were amassed during the three years at sea; sediment samples sealed in meticulously-labelled bottles and countless specimens steeped in alcohol, volumes upon volumes of log-books and charts, water samples, and photographic negatives. There is a limit to the amount of useful scientific study that can be done by half-a-dozen scientists on a ship, so the massed volume of potential information was stored for the journey before being distributed across the country upon the ship's return, each major grouping of specimens going to an organisation or individual most proficient in the study of that given group. Thus began the process of documentation, interpretation, and publication which follows any respectable scientific endeavour; but from the start it was fraught with difficulty, and the project would outstrip the length of the voyage six fold in terms of years spent upon it.
Tome after tome…
The grandly-titled 'Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the Years 1873-76', and its associated texts, started trickling from the presses almost as soon as the ship returned to port, but publication would drag on across fifty volumes and more than 29,500 pages. These shelves of heavy tomes contained the distilled data of the expedition, beautifully illustrated with hand-coloured lithographs depicting the litany of species which described as new to science. Wyville Thomson oversaw the publications, but the stress of the project overwhelmed him and he withdrew in 1881, dying shortly afterwards. His place was taken by John Murray, his friend and fellow oceanographer on the voyage; the Report would not be completed until nineteen years after the Challenger docked, a vast, sprawling and prohibitively expensive manuscript which has yet to be matched in terms of vision, boldness and scope (and quite possibly cost) to this day. In the current climate of meandering austerity and profit-motivated science, it seems inconceivable that such a dedicated blue-skies expedition, and the years of follow-up, could be mounted in the 21st century; modern oceanography exists as a passenger, travelling alongside the oil industry and the world's navies, everywhere studying the workings of nature through the lens of humanity's impact upon it.
Echoes of Challenger
Echoes of Challenger appear everywhere in the study of samples from the deep ocean. Besides the heavy, leather-bound volumes that sit in the Mollusca Library at the Museum, the Ted Phorson collection which I'm currently working on contains swathes of sub-millimetre-sized mollusc shells (and other, stranger things) sampled from the North Atlantic by a remote vehicle (R.V.) designated vessel named Challenger, and Phorson himself worked on some of Charles Wyville Thomson's still-unsorted specimens in the late 1970s, almost a hundred years on from when they were first collected. Modern scientific literature on the fauna of the deep oceans refers frequently to the Challenger Report, as so few works have tackled these organisms at the same level of detail since, and it seems unlikely that the oceanographers of the future will be able to; the days of the explorers are surely long gone. It is easy to feel a twinge of nostalgia for the scientific buccaneers of Challenger and, before it, the Beagle voyage – free from want for time and money, invested not with a desire for the wealth of nature, nor with a noble wish to save the oceans from man's depredations, but instead willing to cast themselves out into the boundless wastes of the sea in search of the heady drug of knowledge, a pure and stupefying substance that raises one above the clouds, denied to us pragmatic, modern mortals. It is comforting to think of the vast mines of secrets that remain undreamt amid the vastness of the abyss, waiting for the explorers of the far future to uncover. Perhaps it is just as well that the days of the old sojourners are over, for now – after all, they have left the better part of their work undone.


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This year it is estimated that fully 80% of new commercial computer enterprise applications will have a cloud-based offering. Whether this turns out to be true, when it comes to the future of information processing, virtually every forecast sees clouds on the horizon in leading roles. It's a market seen as too disruptive to ignore, expected to top $200 billion in revenues before 2020. It threatens the status quo, much as did the rise of the Internet itself. (Microsoft was late in embracing the Internet. Don't look for it to be as slow when it comes to clouds.)
The question now seems only to be the form that the revolution will take, whether it will evolve into "Platform as a Service," "Software as a Service," or remain more broad-based as Enterprise Content Management markets, all which fall under the general industry of cloud computing. Additionally, security issues have to be resolved to the point that businesses will feel comfortable storing customer-sensitive data in clouds.
Cloud computing is simply a way to deliver software and applications over the Internet and manage data stored remotely. For the customers of cloud providers, it eliminates the need for your PC to be connected to a server. The information accessed by users is found in the "cloud," data and software stored in remote servers. Space on these servers is usually leased from the cloud provider. Software can be modified company-wide much more quickly, lowering upgrade costs and downtime. It also permits employees to work remotely from any place they can establish an Internet connection. Furthermore, the expense of maintaining the cloud is passed on to the cloud provider.
The key revenue drivers in this industry are licensing revenue (income from leasing software and applications to end-users), leasing revenue (income from leasing data-storage space), consulting revenue, and sales income from the sale of specific software and applications to the end users. Any company that uses computers could potentially benefit from cloud computing. The distribution channel is the same for all providers: the Internet. Companies in this sector can literally compete on a global basis because all the customer needs is a reliable Internet connection.
Consolidation is anticipated among providers, so underlying it all, of course, is the question of who will gobble up whom. IBM (NYSE: IBM), SAP (NYSE: SAP), and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) have all sought to acquire cloud and SaaS technology companies, a quick way to establish a cloud presence. In the meantime, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) have already planted their flags.
• Amazon Web Services offers a cloud computing platform through a collection of web services for remote computing, such as EC2 and S3, designed primarily to help developers. EC2, for example, offers developers Amazon's strong computing environment, essentially renting virtual computers, allowing developers to build failure-resistant applications.
• Apple's iCloud allows users to store music, photos, and documents, which can then be seamlessly grabbed by any user devices, meaning total 24/7 wireless access. The result is the company's latest step toward a fully cloud-based central processing station and warehouse for all things Apple.
• Google Cloud Connect brings a cloud to MS Office (or brings Office to a cloud). It lets users share, backup, and edit MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents over a cloud, with a system that coordinates activities in order to avoid confusion. Documents can even be edited offline, and synchronized later when online.
A brief sampling of the investment opportunities in cloud computing can be found by looking at the following 3 companies, one new-comer, and 2 old-hands:
• GlobalWise Investments (OTCBB: GWIV), via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Intellinetics, is an example of a company that offers investors a chance to experience significant growth. GWIV has developed a platform that defines a new industry benchmark and game-changing approach by combining advanced virtualization and automated content management with an open and service-oriented architecture using web services. Trading at $1.55 a share, the company has a market cap of $50.51M. Because GlobalWise only recently became a publicly traded company, available historical financial data is limited. However, revenues increased 26.7% YOY for 2010 to 2011. Gross profit increased 26% in the same period. The company has multiple growth initiatives in place to accelerate the pace of future expansion.
• Broadvision (NASDAQ: BVSN) offers a cloud-based "network of networks" enterprise social platform, for the virtual, mobile, social enterprise. Basically, it's designed to help businesses connect with employees, customers, and partners, and it's fully cloud-based. Trading at $25.29 a share, the company has a market cap of $116.11M. Although recently falling on hard times — last year, revenues declined by approximately 19.8% compared to the numbers reported for 2010 — the company is well established in the industry and could be poised for a turnaround.
• More risk-adverse investors wanting a piece of the cloud action should look at Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM). Salesforce.com, an enterprise cloud computing company, provides a social enterprise cloud platform and apps to help employees collaborate easily and connect with customers. Trading at $154.67 a share, the company has a market cap of $21.11B. Revenues for 2011 were 37.1% greater than the value reported for the prior year. According to MSN Money, over the last five years revenues have grown by an average of 35.45% per year.
As with any industry, cloud computing does have risks. Successful implementation of cloud technology is complex, and very easy to get wrong. There are constantly changing security-related and cost-related questions, issues which may not be fully appreciated at first consideration. Moreover, in spite of what is sometimes promised, cloud-based applications can be difficult to manage and to grow if not planned correctly. Although in-house processing and storage carries risks, working in a shared cloud environment means accepting and dealing with different degrees and types of processing and data risks to which some users may not easily adjust. In addition, individual user needs are dynamic, fluctuating as products change, and cloud options and pricing are changing at the same time, making it a singularly difficult world to predict.
Nevertheless, the move to the cloud by companies big and small is only accelerating, with new product and service offerings appearing daily, reminiscent of the 1990s when people first started hearing names like eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) and Amazon. Some companies offer limited applications, some offer comprehensive platforms, but all can benefit customers by providing reduced software and hardware costs, simpler IT infrastructure, and increased efficiencies: all which can directly boost net income.
Investors wanting growth or diversification should take a close look at the clouds. In so doing, they will get a forecast of the future of large-scale computing and the companies that will provide out-sourced IT services, an area that shows potential signs of significant growth.
Let us hear your thoughts below:

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to the land of insanity.
Here we will talk about the latest report, or in this case, perhaps, misreport about Apple. It's a bit in the weeds, so be patient as we walk through this one.
The big story in the land of Apple this week is that it's working on a cheap iPhone. DigiTimes, the Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg all says Apple has a less expensive iPhone in the works for this year. Of course, they've been saying this for a long time! So who knows if they're right this time.
Apple is getting smoked in developing markets because the iPhone is so expensive. A cheap iPhone could help fix that. But it runs contrary to Apple's DNA, which is to make high-quality, high-priced items.
Apple's SVP of marketing Phil Schiller did an interview with the Shanghai Evening News this week. He was asked about the cheap iPhone. He seemed to shoot it down. But, there's a twist. His interview may have been misinterpreted.
Apple has confirmed that the interview happened to The Next Web. What Apple has not confirmed, it seems, is exactly what Schiller said.
The Next Web translated the interview and came up with this:
"At first, non-smartphones were popular in the Chinese market, now cheap smartphones are more popular and non-smartphones are out," Schiller added later. "Despite the popularity of cheap smartphones, this will never be the future of Apple's products. In fact, although Apple's market share of smartphones is just about 20%, we own the 75% of the profit."
We had our own native-Chinese speaker look at the story yesterday. She's not a native English speaker, so her translation was a little rough:
Schiller said, every new product created by Apple, Apples thinks about using the best techniques, which including production process, retina screen, aluminum alloy one molding etc. , providing a best product for the market. "We don't, like other companies, launch several products around the same time, then which customers will like one of those products. There are around 700 thousand apps that can be used in the Apple smart phones. Our competitors launched new products with several size options, but after people bought their products, they found out, there are no suitable software for them, which have poor user experience." During the interview, he emphasized the user experience many times, and believed the key success of Apple is the user experience.
There are rumors that Apple will use the lower-end product with lower price to capture the market share. Shiller said, "In Chinese Market, there are a lot of people using functional machines. Now some manufactures are trying to use the cheap smartphone to replace the functional cellphone. However, this is not the develop trend of Apple product. Actually, although Apple only has around 20% market share, in the smartphone market, it took over 75% market profit."
We reached out to Apple for clarity about exactly what Schiller said. We didn't hear anything back.
The Next Web story went viral yesterday with just about every major and minor news organization picking up on Schiller's comments.
Then a funny thing happened this morning. Reuters retracted its story based on the Shanghai Evening News. Under the headline, "Apple dismisses cheaper iPhone story withdrawn," Reuters wrote:
Reuters has withdrawn the story headlined "Apple exec dismisses cheaper phone as a market share grab-report" which was based on a Shanghai Evening News report that was subsequently updated with substantial changes to its content.
No replacement story will be issued.
This is very unusual! And the baffling thing is that the original story doesn't appear to have had any major changes. Everyone is looking for the changes, and they can't find anything.
So, what is going on here in the land of insanity?
Well, for one, we're all way too obsessed with what Schiller did or did not say and what it does or does not mean. Apple was led by Steve Jobs the master of saying one thing and meaning another. If you think you can figure out what Schiller was really saying, even after a translation from Chinese, kudos to you!
If Reuters is pulling its story and not replacing it, it suggests something significant has been lost in translation and Schiller's dismissal of a cheap iPhone might not have happened at all.
None of this would be necessary if Apple just told the dozens of reporters emailing asking exactly what Schiller said. For some reason, that's not how Apple chooses to do its business.
And thus, here we are. Guessing about what a translation of its SVP of marketing means about the future of the company's core business.


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At Signs By Tomorrow of Rochester Hills, we work with any type of architectural signage and messaging, by designing and producing durable, high-quality business signs for commercial building fronts, including metal letters, dimensional logos and bronze plaques.
Our design consultants work with you to identify the best way to brand your commercial business, real estate property or construction project with prominently displayed, professionally created, and highly durable building signs.
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New Hampshire has black fly season, Vermont has mud season, California has wildfire season.
Here in Connecticut, we have crumb season.
That's right. Twice a year, just a couple of weeks before and after the spring and autumn equinoxes, the light from the south shines at a very unique angle. In some ways, I look forward to it, because it shines in and lights up areas that only are hit by the sun in spring and fall. In that way, I know that spring and/or autumn is on the way.
The light from the south also shines at such an angle that EVERY bit and crumb that doesn't get swept/vacuumed/wiped up shows on any horizontal service, usually in high enough relief to throw a shadow!!!!
And great leapin' fragglerockers, it drives me right over the edge!!
I spend an inordinate amount of time wiping, bending down to check for crumbs, wiping, bending down to check for crumbs, etc. Let me repeat that word — inordinate!!!!
Sometimes, out of total frustration, I use the vacuum cleaner. Is that gross? I guess it is, if I have to ask.
Sometimes I just wipe the whole counter/table/stove down and sweep the floor after.
Also gross? Don't care!
Thanks to this bi-yearly phenomenon, at a time when I should be cheering the light that is heralding spring, I'm longing for night so that I can turn on soft lighting that won't show the rage inducing particles.
I am normally so able to let many things just go that would drive other people to distraction — but this just pokes at me like a rock in my shoe.
Thankfully, it's only twice a year. It's like having your teeth cleaned, and easily as much fun!


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One day while in the shop cleaning up, I was looking at the reflectors I modified for the halogen bulbs and noticed a pair of stainless bowls sitting beside them. I had just purchased the stainless bowls to use in the shop for cleaning small parts. As I was looking at them, I noticed that they appeared to be very similar in size and shape as the Model A Ford reflectors. All of a sudden an idea came to mind, why not use these bowls as reflectors if they fit in the headlight pots. I picked up one of the bowls and placed it in the headlight pot. It fit perfectly!! There was even enough clearance in between the back of the bowl and the headlight pot for the halogen bulb and socket. The bowls came from the Dollar Store had a decent amount of reflective shine on the inside of the bowls. So, this is how my next project developed for the 1929 Ford hot rod.
I already had another set of halogen headlights removed from a Ford Explorer and everything else to make my new reflectors for the hot rod headlights. The day was still early so why not make my rather unconventional headlight reflectors and save a few dollars. In the end the project only cost me $12. The bowls were a $1 each, two new signal light bulbs $5, and a bit of foam seal tape $5. I did sell the first pair of vintage reflectors that I converted on Kijiji for $25.
To purchase new aftermarket chrome plated reflectors with halogen bulbs and amber turn signal bulbs would cost about $100 plus shipping. Sure, my cheap alternative doesn't have the correct parabolic reflector shape or the best reflective finish. But, do remember, this conversion will offer more lighting than the original reflectors with the stock incandescent light bulbs that came with the headlights back in 1928-31. Secondly, I suspect that I am also using a higher wattage halogen bulb compared to the one that comes with aftermarket kit for the Model A Ford. For now, this will do till I get some of the more expensive parts to finish the hot rod first and on the road. I will have a better idea about the quality of this unconventional and very cheap set-up once I see how the light focuses on the road and the distance of the lighting. Rat rod builders should love this conversion, as they focus on being just a bit different then everyone else, and that's great that they do. That is what makes this car hobby so very interesting.
Below is a video I took of the process involved with this conversion.


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Social Media Marketing
Budget £20-250 GBP
Require help to set up Facebook Business Manager.
This includes;
Product Catalogue
Ad Manager
Help setting up Apps.
Basically helping to set up Facebook for maximum efficiency.
19 freelance hanno fatto un'offerta media di £138 per questo lavoro
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Cris Carter knows what issues scare NFL teams. Heck, he had plenty of them early in his career.
That's why he thinks his son, Duron, has a chance to make it on the professional level, even after a once-promising college career sputtered through four schools, a bunch of academic issues, only nine games played and plenty of questions about his work ethic from coaches and teammates who thought Duron's effort didn't match his ability level.
"He didn't commit a crime, he has no tattoos, he has no kids, and he's a pleasant kid. His thing is he hates school, though," Cris Carter told USA TODAY Sports. "And I'm his dad. He's really bright; he's got an IQ over 130. He just hates school. We gave him the pretest on the Wonderlic. He got a 28."
BELL: Patterson worth the risk
TOP FIVE: Austin, Hopkins among the best
Once more, Cris repeated with emphasis on each word: "He. Just. Hates. (Bleeping). School."
Well, that's part of the issue for the son of a former NFL star who arrived at Ohio State, his father's alma mater, with high expectations, but left with many more class absences in one semester than receptions (13) in 2009. Before practices for the Rose Bowl began that year, Carter received an e-mail telling him he was academically ineligible.
From there, it was on to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, which has served as a junior college stop for many a talented player ineligible because of transfer issues. Former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson are among those who have made stops at Coffeyville.
Carter's statistics during that one season were impressive (44 receptions for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns), as was his five-touchdown game in a 72-7 blowout of Dodge City. What didn't impress, apparently, was his work ethic.
"The team that drafts Duron Carter will get the most lazy, whiny & non-work ethic player the nfl has ever seen," Cayden Cochran, Coffeyville's starting quarterback for Carter's season there, wrote on his Twitter account in February. "I played w/him. Horrible person & will be a complete cancer to any team on the board."
PHOTOS: Top 50 NFL draft prospects
Carter doesn't deny allegations he wasn't the hardest worker, but he said he learned important lessons, the biggest of which is accountability.
"Really, just being a man of your word, being prompt, organized and on time," he said.
It's a message Nick Saban tried to pass along to him but couldn't. After transferring to Alabama, Carter couldn't get himself academically eligible and was suspended for undisclosed reasons the next spring. He left the program and headed to Florida Atlantic.
"Nick Saban thought he was going to go there, play one year and go into the league," Cris said. "That's what Nick told us."
That was assuming Duron would take care of his business off the field. He didn't.
Carter didn't play a down for the Alabama or for Florida Atlantic, though his father and coach say he made a turnaround last year. Despite being unable to obtain a waiver to play for FAU in 2012, Carter attended practice, worked hard and then watched the team play on Saturdays. His GPA was better than 3.0 and, after being kicked out of practice last summer, his work ethic improved.
As Cris noted, Duron had plenty of chances to quit but didn't because "he's always pictured himself in the NFL."
He has what Cris terms a rare combination of size and speed. But he will most likely go undrafted. That's the penalty for slacking off the past few years.
"I know there aren't a lot of better receivers than him in this draft. That's not a guess; I know. I know wide receivers," Cris said. "Yes, it might take him some time. I just believe in pro football, it's all football. You get millions of reps. And what's the worst-case scenario? Maybe it takes him 16 months.
"But when you see his talent, you'll be like, 'He's a pro.'"
Jarrett Bell, Robert Klemko, Mike Garafolo, and NFL draft analyst Russ Lande discusss.


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A tiny-brained African beetle is the first insect known to navigate by the stars.
Like sailors of old and Saharan nomads, the scarab can orientate itself by watching the sky.
On clear nights, a myriad of stars shine over the deserts and savannahs where the beetle makes its home.
The scarab, or dung beetle, uses the light of the Milky Way to keep it on a straight course, scientists found.
The beetles feed on animal dung, which they fashion into a ball and roll away to a safe spot where it is less likely to be stolen.
Rolling the ball in a straight line ensures they do not circle back to the dungheap, where other scarabs might have gathered.
Scientists wondered how they were able to do this in the dark.
"Even on clear, moonless nights, many dung beetles still manage to orientate along straight paths," said Dr Marie Dacke from Lund University in Sweden.
"This led us to suspect that the beetles exploit the starry sky for orientation - a feat that had, to our knowledge, never before been demonstrated in an insect."
Field experiments on a South African game reserve showed that the beetles were able to roll their dung balls along straight paths under starlit skies, but not in overcast conditions.
For the tests, the beetles were fitted with tiny cardboard caps to alter their field of vision.
They were placed in a circular arena surrounded by a metre-high black cloth, making it impossible for them to see landmarks.
With no moon, it took much less time for the beetles to roll a dung ball from the centre of the arena to the edge when they were able to see the sky.
When they could not look up, the time taken increased from 40 seconds to 124 as they wandered aimlessly around.
The experiment was repeated in a Johannesburg planetarium, with similar results.
The beetles performed equally well under a full sky of stars, and when only the glow of the Milky Way was visible.
Most stars would be too dim for the beetles' tiny compound eyes to see, said the researchers. While unable to pick out constellations, the scarabs could detect the light of the Milky Way arcing over their heads.
"This finding represents the first convincing demonstration for the use of the starry sky for orientation in insects and provides the first documented use of the Milky Way for orientation in the animal kingdom," the researchers wrote in the journal Current Biology.
Previously only birds, seals and humans were known to navigate by the stars.
Dung beetles also use the sun and moon as compass cues, said the scientists.
They added: "Although this is the first description of an insect using the Milky Way for their orientation, this ability might turn out to be widespread in the animal kingdom."


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With a spotlight on their childrens physical, mental and social well-being, most parents know the basics of keeping children healthy. But when they get sick or are diagnosed with an ailment or disorder, the myriad of treatment options can be daunting for parents to decipher.
One of the most common mental disorders that develop in children, and parents must subsequently address, is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school and in relationships with peers.
Symptoms of ADHD can include:
Impulsiveness: a child who acts quickly without thinking first.
Hyperactivity: a child who can't sit still, walks, runs or climbs around when others are seated, talks when others are talking.
Inattention: a child who daydreams or seems to be in another world, is sidetracked by what is going on around him or her.
If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood, so diligent parents should ensure their children are properly diagnosed.
If the disorder is suspected, the diagnosis should be made by a professional with training in ADHD, including child psychiatrists, psychologists, developmental/behavioral pediatricians, behavioral neurologists and clinical social workers.
Once the diagnosis is made, a multitude of treatment options can be considered, including the traditional method of prescribing medication or alternative methods.
Most experts agree that combining medication treatments with extended behavior management is the most effective way to manage ADHD in children and adolescents. Other experts are supporting alternative treatments for ADHD that can include allergy treatment, megavitamins, biofeedback, restricted diets, anti-motion sickness and eye training.
Massage therapy can also be one effective treatment for kids with ADHD, according to studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami. As an alternative medicine technique, massage therapy touches the skin, affects the muscles directly under it and helps in making sure that blood flows in the body more effectively. As a result, it greatly improves the mood and behavior of kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
The studies showed that children with ADHD showed more on-task behavior in the classroom and were rated as less hyperactive by their teachers following one month of twice weekly massages.
Observational studies suggest that chiropractic manipulation as a natural treatment alternative can help with ADHD and attention issues. This alternative to ADHD medication works best for those whose ADHD symptoms are caused by spinal nerve pressure or irritation, according to the American Chiropractic Association.
Many chiropractors incorporate neuromusculoskeletal adjustment alongside diet modifications and nutritional supplementation to treat ADHD. There is debate about the safety of chiropractic manipulation on children.
Acupuncture as a natural treatment alternative to ADHD medication follows a similar vein of thinking as chiropractic, but instead of aligning the spine, acupuncture works to align and balance energy paths within the body. Acupressure is used for children afraid of needles. In acupressure, finger or hand pressure is used instead of needles. These alternatives to ADHD medication likely receives the most criticism by Western medicine as quackery, but some parents report benefits from using acupuncture or acupressure on their children. The acupuncturist might also include herbal and homeopathic remedy treatment alongside acupuncture or acupressure.
Many alternative treatments use natural substances such as herbs, botanicals, homeopathics, nutritional supplements and whole foods. There is a general belief among naturopathic doctors that the use of whole or natural products to treat maladies adds more to the healing process than their synthesized counterparts. While many synthesized pharmaceuticals may be more potent and fast acting, they also may come with unpleasant side effects. While on the other hand, natural substances are believed to produce fewer side effects.
Many parents report great success with a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet that cuts out milk and wheat. Another common starting point for hyperactive kids is the Feingold diet, which bans artificial flavors, colors and some preservatives.
According to research or other evidence, the following may be helpful:
Supplement with essential fatty acids as getting approximately 186 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), 480 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), 96 mg of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), 864 mg of linoleic acid, and 42 mg of arachidonic acid supplies fatty acids important for brain function.
Check out L-carnitine to improve behavior, take 100 mg of this supplement for each 2.2 pounds of body weight a day, with a maximum of 4 grams a day.
Give magnesium a go as 200 mg a day can address possible deficiency of this mineral that may influence ADHD.
B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6, have also been used for ADHD.
The World Health Organization, in its Guidelines for the Assessment of Herbal Medicines, states that a substance's historical use is a valid way to document safety and efficacy in the absence of scientific evidence to the contrary. You can reasonably assume that licensed alternative providers use treatments and techniques that are safe when used correctly, according to WHO.
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of the doctor or pharmacist, but they can be a consideration by parents when choosing treatment options for ADHD.


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The Sophisticated Print You Can Wear For Work Or Play
Now the print is rendered in modern, sophisticated silhouettes we can't wait to wear all summer. This fine china-inspired trend, which Carven referenced in their spring collection with their memorable Toile de Jouy print, is incredibly versatile, whether you want a polished or playful look. Click through our slideshow to shop everything from a slim pencil skirt that's perfect for the office to a pair of sneakers for a casual chic outfit.
Photo:5 Inch And Up
On Sandra:
Zara coat; Supermuse Queen of Hearts Blouse ($89); Alexander Wang shoes.
Brushed Mohair Long Sleeved Embroidered Dress With Tulip Skirt ($3980)
Photo:Tuula Vintage
Photo:Just Cavalli
Woven Printed Top ($435) and Printed Leather Shorts ($2020)
Printed Trousers ($60)
Style Zara's tapered trousers with a fitted, tucked-in top and add lace-up oxfords for a cool, offbeat vibe.
Toile de Jouy Blazer ($995)
The toile print on this blazer adds an element of charm to a polished sleeveless shell and slim trousers.
Ode Dress ($245)
Images of windmills and forest animals appear on this sweet, girly frock, which offers an understated take on the fine china trend.
Textured Mosaic Beach Towel ($125)
As if you needed another reason to hit the nearest beach! Ralph Lauren's elegant towel simply begs for a resort getaway--or just a stylish day in the sun.
Champion Floral Sneakers ($45) in White/Blue
The classic canvas sneaker gets updated with a floral print. Slip on this pair to liven up a t-shirt and skinny blue jeans.
Printed Leather Shorts ($2020)
Just Cavalli's white leather shorts gives porcelain prints a decidedly cool spin. Wear them with wedge heels for a weekend lunch date.
River Silk Blouse ($195)
Keep this blouse's distinctive cobalt blue and white print the focal point of your outfit by complementing it with crisp white separates.
Floral-Print Leather Wallet ($160)
The fine china obsession hasn't escaped accessories. Diane von Furstenberg's bold printed wallet is an easy way to work the trend into your repertoire.
Toile de Jouy-Print Cotton-Blend Skirt ($1165)
This streamlined pencil skirt means business, but the fanciful print is still utterly feminine and fashionable. Team it with a silky button-down shirt and pointy-toe heels.
- Explore More:
- Runway Trends
- Summer Trends
- Fine China Prints


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Don't worry it'll only attack you if you're wet… meet the goliath tigerfish of the river Congo.
He's a smasher isn't he! One learned friend of The Proceedings described him as '…the fiercest fish that swims. Let others hold forth as advocates for the mako shark, the barracudas or the blue fish of the Atlantic. To them I say 'Pish and Tush''. Strong words I know, and I can only apologize that such offensive language has been used in front of lady folk, however I felt it prudent to establish just what a vicious brute he is.
A huge bollard of darting fishy muscle, the goliath tigerfish is quite simply an eating machine. Those teeth are set into a hard bony jaw so that when it snaps its unbelievable gob shut they interlock like a set of shears. If you happen to have rolled up your trousers for a paddle in the Congo it would be clever thinking to keep the noise down, as the goliath tigerfish's sense of hearing is absolutely tip-top, a small bone connects its ear to its swim bladder which acts like an amplifier. The other rather brilliant news about this highly-astute uber-strong swimming set of gnashers is that they shoal… in huge numbers. Attacks on humans have been reported but not verified.
Though there has to be a bit more than 'bitiness' to get you into The Proceedings of the Ever So Strange. You see all around the world wildly different creatures look a bit similar. One reason for this is that there are only so many things in the world that make a sufficient supper. What's more evolution only has what it's given to work with… much like the Royal families' portrait artist. The foot of an elephant contain the same bones as the foot of a mouse. The neck of a giraffe has exactly the same amount of vertebrae as that of Winston Churchill. Combine this fact with there are only so many meal tickets in the wild, you get animals that aren't closely related who look remarkably similar… like the anteaters, the aardvarks and the pangolins for example. Evolution has come up with the same answer to the same question, just in a different place. Convergent evolution as learned types call it. Why all these musings I hear you cry, well put simply the goliath tigerfish is Africa's version of the river Amazon's renowned piranha… and indeed it is incredibly similar… just much much bigger.


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Friday, April 25, 2008
I've taken ages to post about this. I finished in March. It's been hard to find a time when me, a charged camera battery, a photographer and light have all be in the same place, but it's also because I haven't entirely decided whether to give it a thumbs up or down.
Its Demi, from Rowan Vintage Style made in Cash Iroha bought half-price in the John Lewis sale. All details in the ravelry page. I'd been wanting to make demi for years. Faced with a sweater's worth of aran weight yarn after the sale, I was desperate to demi-it.
I checked through ravelry for other FOs in the yarn, and again and again the same line came up "Oh, Cash Iroha, how you do grow!" I knew demi shouldn't be loose, so I asked around and was told it didn't grow that much. And I was good. Not only did I swatch properly, but I washed and seriously blocked it before taking stitch and row measurements. I went down several needle sizes and it all seemed to be on track. But, you can guess. It grew.
The pattern does work as a baggy jumper. The side-shaping and twisted rib keep the looseness of the yarn in check, meaning its still reasonably comfortable and (relatively) flattering. Most people seem to use the hourglass sweater patten with Cash Iroha for the same reason. Still, it's not the image I had of the pattern in my mind. Demi is a tight, fitted and nipped in smart garment, not a big softy-sack. And you have to remember that I've had that image in my head for years.
In conclusion, it's a thumbs up of an FO. But my craving for a demi is not sated. Next autumn I'll make another one in a more conventional yarn. It'll be re-gauged to dk, and as a top-down raglan. Because life's too short for all those back-to-front purls on the WS of the twisted rib, and I think the shoulder button detail will look cute on the raglan angle.
In the meantime, I'm looking for a stitch pattern with virtually no stretch. Any ideas?
18 comments:
Having just finished and blogged about a pattern and yarn (Silky Wool) that grew, despite my best efforts, from a fitted vest to a roomy one, I feel your pain. But the sweater is gorgeous - I love the stitch detail, and the colour. I agree about life being too short for the twisted stitch on the WS!
- Friday, April 25, 2008
- pigbook1 said...
so cute! I love that color. Normally any bump/bobble anything really irritates me but this is amazing. Wonderful job!
- Friday, April 25, 2008
So cute! I don't usually like bobbles but they work great on that pattern. Although I am not sure I would make it for myself it looks great on you.
- Friday, April 25, 2008
- Ann said...
I think it looks great! And done at a tighter gauge, it will look like a totally different sweater, so I say go for a second one. (plus you'll have the added bonus of knowing your way around the pattern).
tight stitch patterns: look for linen stitch, honeycomb, herringbone, etc. the stitch pattern from my so-called-scarf is a good one. Anything with a slipped stitch should keep things snug.
- Friday, April 25, 2008
- Anushka said...
I think it's pretty, especially the colour, although I do know what you mean when you have a picture in your head. As for a stitch pattern that doesn't stretch - herringbone stitch? Linen stitch?
- Friday, April 25, 2008
Lovely sweater! The recommendations already given are good ones, and there's another stitch from one of the Barbara Walker treasuries you might check out. It's called Twice-Turned Check, and I think it's from book #2, but I'm not totally sure.
- Friday, April 25, 2008
- Elizabeth said...
I think it's still lovely, especially the color on you. But I hear you about yarns that grow when you don't want them to - that's always a bummer. Knitting this in a nice springy wool next year will provide you with another gorgeous sweater.
- Saturday, April 26, 2008
- Knittripps said...
It is still stunning.
- Saturday, April 26, 2008
- gleek said...
it IS really stunning. i love the color... but i really love this idea of making it a top-down raglan. be sure to post back here on how you did it all!
- Saturday, April 26, 2008
- Daisy said...
I hate it when that happens! But it does still look fab.
- Sunday, April 27, 2008
- Stacey said...
it is beautiful! what an amazing purple color!!!! i think it works well with a little ease to it...
- Monday, April 28, 2008
- KGLO said...
How disappointing that it didn't turn out the way you hoped. It seemed so promising...the color is fantastic, by the way.
- Monday, April 28, 2008
- Veronique said...
Lovely sweater! I know what you mean about it not fitting your vision of it though... I hate it when that happens :(
Be sure to show us all the details when you turn it into a top down raglan!
- Monday, April 28, 2008
- Lolly said...
It is definitely a thumbs up! way up! very nice sweater, and lovely yarn color too. i have thought about this one on and off for years.
- Tuesday, April 29, 2008
- Specs said...
It actually doesn't look sack-like in the photos, and the color looks great on you. Also: congrats for sticking with those WS purls. I think the end result was worth it.
I've been eyeing this one for ages, too, trying to decide if it's too much for me. The buttons on the shoulder have me nearly sold.
- Wednesday, April 30, 2008
- donnac368 said...
It's beautiful! Wear it often!!!
- Saturday, August 02, 2008
- escorts valencia said...
I fully tie in with everything you have printed.
- Friday, September 23, 2011
- www.zaragoza-3d.com said...
It can't really have effect, I believe this way.
- Wednesday, October 12, 2011


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From staff reports
There is just one day left in the 2012-13 regular season and 15 of the 16 total possible playoff spots have been wrapped up (Utah and the L.A. Lakers are still slugging it out for the last berth in the West). While things get a little clearer each day, here's a look at which teams are headed where — and which teams can still change their fate.
- No. 1 Heat (65-16) — Clinched Southeast Division, No. 1 in East, No. 1 overall seed in playoffs
- No. 2 Knicks (53-28) — Clinched Atlantic Division, No. 2 in East
- No. 3 Pacers (49-31) — Clinched Central Division, No. 3 in East
- No. 4 Nets (48-33) — Clinched No. 4 in East
- No. 5 Bulls (44-37) — owns tiebreaker (won season series with Atlanta 2-1); (1 game left — April 17 vs. Wizards)
- No. 6 Hawks (44-37) — trail Bulls for No. 5 by virtue of tie-breaker rules; (1 game left — April 17 @ Knicks)
- No. 7 Celtics (41-39) — Clinched No. 7 in East
- No. 8 Bucks (37-44) — Clinched No. 8 in East
The quick recap: Miami is assured of home court throughout the playoffs and the division-winning Knicks and Pacers have locked up the No. 2 and 3 spots. The Nets, Celtics and Bucks are all locked into their playoff spots as well, leaving the No. 5 and No. 6 spots (which are between Atlanta and Chicago) up for grabs.
ATLANTA: The Hawks (seeded No. 6 as of Wednesday morning) and the Bulls (No. 5) can still swap spots if Atlanta finishes with a better record than Chicago. But, the Hawks do not have the tie-breaker as they lost the season series to the Bulls, 2-1.
CHICAGO: Has tiebreaker (season-series victory) over Atlanta for the No. 5 seed. The Bulls have one game left on the schedule (April 17 vs. Washington) and, should they finish tied with the Hawks record-wise, Chicago would pass Atlanta and clinch No. 5 in the East.
- No. 1 Thunder (60-21) — Clinched Northwest Division, No. 1 overall in West
- No. 2 Spurs (58-23) — Clinched Southwest Division, No. 2 in West
- No. 3 Nuggets (56-25) — No. 3 in West; Assured of home court in first round; Can clinch No. 3 with a win Wednesday against Phoenix OR if the Clips lose finale (April 17 @ Kings).
- No. 4 L.A. Clippers (55-26) — Clinched Pacific Division; Clinched at least No. 4 in West; May or may not have home court in first round; needs either a win (April 17 @ Kings) or a Grizzlies loss (April 17 vs. Jazz) to clinch home court.
- No. 5 Grizzlies (55-26) — Clinched No. 5 in West
- No. 6 Warriors (46-35) — No. 6 in West; Cannot fall lower than No. 7
- No. 7 Rockets (45-36) — No. 7 in West; Can climb up or fall one spot
- No. 8 Lakers (44-37) — No. 8 in West; controls own fate (April 17 vs. Houston); can move as high as No. 7
- No. 9 Jazz (43-38) — 1/2 game behind Lakers for No. 8 seed; owns tiebreaker with Lakers (won season series 2-1); can only clinch No. 8 spot
The quick recap: The Thunder have home court throughout the Western Conference playoffs, the Spurs are the No. 2 seed and the Grizzlies are the No. 5 seed. Other than that, there are still plenty of things left to be decided.
DENVER: The Nuggets are assured of home court in the first round, but their seeding can still change. Denver can clinch No. 3 with a win Wednesday against Phoenix OR if the Clips lose either of their last two games. If the Clippers and Nuggets finish with the same record, the Clippers own the tiebreaker advantage; although the Nuggets won the season series with the Clips, the Clippers' division title trumps a head-to-head series win. In this case, the Clippers would be the No. 3 seed and the Nuggets would be the No. 4 seed.
L.A. CLIPPERS: By virtue of winning a division, they can't fall further than No. 4. However, they can lose home court in the first round despite the division title. Memphis is locked into the 5th seed and can't pass Denver, and the Clippers are guaranteed a top 4 seed. But, if Memphis finishes with a better record than the L.A. Clippers, they would host a Grizzlies-Clippers series despite being the lower-seeded team.
GOLDEN STATE: They can clinch the No. 6 spot by winning their season finale in Portland on April 17. But if they lose and the No. 7-seeded Rockets win their season finale against the Lakers, Golden State loses the tiebreaker with Houston and falls to No. 7 in the West.
HOUSTON: The Rockets can finish anywhere from No. 6 to No. 8 in the West. Here's how:
They climb to No. 6 if: They beat the Lakers in their season finale and the Warriors lose in Portland. Houston won the season series with Golden State 3-1.
They stay at No. 7 if: The Warriors win their season finale in Portland. The Rockets would be unable to catch Golden State in the standings.
They fall to No. 8 if: They lose to the Lakers in their season finale on April 17. With a victory, the Lakers would tie the season series with Houston and, by virtue of the next tiebreaker (record against conference foes), would leapfrog Houston. In that scenario, the Warriors would be the No. 6 seed, the Lakers would be the No. 7 seed and the Rockets would be the No. 8 seed.
L.A. LAKERS: First things first — they control their own playoff fate. Win on April 17 against the Rockets (or have Utah lose in Memphis earlier in the night) and L.A. clinches the last playoff berth still available. A victory by Utah coupled with a loss to Houston means L.A. misses the playoffs by virtue of the Jazz winning the season series, 2-1.
They will be No. 8 if: They lose, but the Jazz lose to the Grizzlies, too.
They will be No. 7 if: They defeat Houston in their season finale.
They miss the playoffs if: They lose to Houston in their season finale and the Jazz defeat the Grizzlies.
UTAH: The Jazz need to win their season finale in Memphis … and then hope the Lakers lose at home to the Rockets (who, as you can read above, could fall to No. 8 if they lose). If the Jazz get in, they can't move up higher than No. 8, even if the Warriors lose and Rockets win their final games. Both teams would finish with better records than the Jazz.


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O2 calls for consumers to lease iPhones
Spreads out upfront costs but takes phones back
O2 claims to have become the first UK network operating to offer a leasing programme for smartphones. Customers will be able to rent iPhones for a year, eliminating the need for long-term commitment and large upfront costs.
For £55 a month, O2 Lease offers folk an insured 16GB iPhone 4S, with 750 minutes' call time, unlimited texts and 500MB of data. Those after a 32GB device will pay a tenner more each month.
While the deal is essentially a high-priced 12-month contract, customers can at least pick up a smartphone without longer-term contract shackles and having to pay extra for the handset at the outset.
The downside is that when the year finishes, the phone must be returned to O2.
This means forking out £660 over twelve months, only to have to give back the handset at the end of it.
To put things into perspective, a 12-month contract with O2 for a 16GB iPhone 4S, currently available to upgrading customers only, costs £36 each month with upfront costs of £240. That works out to £672 over the year. That may be £12 more, but the handset is yours to keep.
The service is more appealing to businesses, though, providing the annual upgrades and free insurance for a tenner less each month than the fees regular punters must pay. ®


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ReleasesBack to
Horace Silver
This obscure Horace Silver LP features two separate sessions by the pianist/composer. On three selections he is joined by trumpeter Randy Brecker, tenor great Michael Brecker, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass and drummer Mickey Roker. The other four numbers feature vibraphonist David Friedman in a quartet with Silver, Cranshaw and Roker, a very unusual sound for a Horace Silver set. But no matter what the instrumentation, the style is pure Silver, hard-driving and melodic hard bop with a strong dose of funky soul. ~ Scott Yanow


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2014 nissan murano-crosscabriolet Model Overview
Vehicle Overview
It's safe to say that Nissan like to push its boundaries. Take for example the GT-R supercar titan, which is undoubtedly one of the fastest accelerating vehicles we've ever tested. Then there's the funky Cube, which boasts obscure styling cues such as the wrap-around window. Finally, there's the Murano CrossCabriolet, which left people scratching their heads over the thought of an all-wheel drive crossover convertible.
Nissan is proud to say the unique <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/news/2011-nissan-murano-cross-cabriolet/viewall.html
">Murano CrossCabriolet is the world's first convertible crossover, and although it may look funny to some, it seems to occupy a segment with actual buyers because Land Rover is reportedly following suit with a convertible Evoque. Until that comes to market, the CrossCabriolet is truly one-of-a-kind. Its underpinnings, however, are all too familiar, as it's based on the midsize Murano crossover. Both share the same 3.5-liter V-6, except the convertible's engine has been uprated a hair to produce 265 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. Compared to its fixed-roof twin, the 400-pound-heavier CrossCabriolet runs about a half-second slower, taking 7.7 seconds to hit 60 mph. Another difference is that the doors each grew 7.9 inches longer for better rear-seat access, however, the longer doors could be problematic in smaller parking spaces.
As for ride and handling, the convertible is not that much different. "Shuttling passengers feels much the same as in a loaded Murano, except with wind noise and minimal cargo space. With side glass down and top stowed, road noise is no major distraction for front occupants. Things in the back seat, however, start to get hectic at around 40 mph," we said the last time we reviewed the Murano CrossCabriolet. Although you'll gain the sensation of getting the wind blown through your hair, you'll lose efficiency, but only slightly, as the CrossCabriolet loses 1 mpg on both the city and highway compared to the Murano AWD at 17/22 mpg city/highway.
What's New for 2014
No changes have been made to the CrossCabriolet for the 2014 model year.
You'll Like
- Knowing you have a world's first
- Long list of standard amenities
- Refined interior
You Won't Like
- Lots of wind noise
- Reduced trunk space
- Long doors
Key Competitors
- Range Rover Evoque
- Jeep Wrangler
- Audi A5 convertible
- Chrysler 200 convertible


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State fans continue to prove why they are regarded as the best in the nation as they flocked to Beaver Stadium during Bill O'Brien's first season as head coach.
For the 22nd consecutive season, Penn State's passionate and enthusiastic fans ranked among the Top Five in the nation in average home attendance. Led by an electric sellout throng of 107,818 for the primetime clash with Ohio State, the Nittany Lions averaged 96,730 fans during the 2012 campaign.
Penn State ranked fifth in average home attendance among the nation's 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams, according to the NCAA.
Penn State fans, including the energetic student section of 21,000-strong, have played a vital role in helping the Nittany Lions post a 48-10 (82.8 percent) on-field home record since 2005.
"I thought our crowds were fantastic," O'Brien stated. "They were into the game, loud, and made it tough for the opposing offenses. We have the best student body in the nation and our players feed off their energy."
During the 2012 season, fans attending games in Beaver Stadium witnessed:
-- O'Brien's first career victory, 34-7 over Navy, as Matt McGloin threw four touchdown passes and sophomore Mike Hull returned a fumble 74 yards for a touchdown
-- The Nittany Lions rally to post a dramatic 24-21 overtime win over eventual Big Ten Champion Wisconsin on Senior Day
-- The Nittany Lions' 22-point fourth quarter outburst to give No. 24 Northwestern its first loss in a 39-28 thriller
-- McGloin throw for 395 yards, the second-highest total in school history, with three touchdown passes to All-Big Ten sophomore Allen Robinson, in a 45-22 victory over Indiana
-- Penn State gaining 491 yards in a 24-13 win over Temple, as McGloin threw for 318 yards and ran for two scores and Michael Zordich ran for a career-high 75 yards
-- Approximately 600 Penn State student-athletes and coaches and deans from 11 of Penn State's colleges joining the Blue Band on the field to form a tunnel the football team ran through prior to the Ohio game.
Led by O'Brien, the ESPN and Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year, the Nittany Lions posted an 8-4 overall mark and finished second in the Big Ten Leaders Division with a 6-2 record. Penn State won eight of its final 10 games, with the only losses coming against division winners Ohio State and Nebraska.
Season tickets are available for the 2013 season. The Nittany Lions will host three teams that finished in the 2012 BCS Top 25: Michigan (Oct. 12-Homecoming), Nebraska (Nov. 23) and Kent State (Sept. 21). Purdue, Illinois, Virginia and Eastern Michigan also will visit Beaver Stadium next year.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can go to www.GoPSUsports.com or call 800-NITTANY from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Penn State Athletics is on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions) and Twitter (http://www.gopsusports.com/ot/twitter.html).


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ASPCA Names Labradors Most Mischievous Pet
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has made a top 10 list of most mischievous pets, and the ever-popular Labrador Retriever tops the list!
Qualifications for ranking were made based on curiosity, intelligence (a bored animal is a mischievous animal) and likelihood of getting into non-foods and medications.
The Top 5 Mischievous Pets are...
1. Labrador
2. Domestic Cats
3. Chihuahuas
4. Golden Retrievers
5. Yorkshire Terriers
- Reposted by


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Honda Aero Inc. is projected to begin production of the new HondaJet engine in 2014 after the Federal Aviation Administration provides certifications for the engine.
Company officials had expected the certification to be completed in 2012 but the engine failed an ice slab engine test. Since then, officials have successfully completed testing on the engine with 8,400 hours of total test time completed to date, said Honda Aero Vice President of Plant Operations Tony Brandewie.
Brandewie said Friday that company officials announced earlier in the week at the National Business Aviation Association�s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition held in Las Vegas that the new engine�s certification test has been completed.
The engine must next receive a type certification and a production certification from the FAA before production can begin in Burlington. A type certification from the FAA would mean the engine�s design meets required standards while a production certification paves the way for engine assembly and production to begin.
Brandewie said Honda Aero is in the beginning stages of hiring new employees to manufacture the new HondaJet engine.
Honda Aero�s site in Burlington is located on 90 acres at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport. The engine manufacturing facility will build the HF120 engine developed by Honda and GE, which will power the HondaJet.
Work on engine prototypes began in 1986 and included the HF 118, the engine that powered the first test flight of the HondaJet in December 2003.
In July 2007, company officials announced that Honda Aero would initially invest $27 million in construction and equipment at the Burlington site and employ 70 workers within a year of the start of production at the 58,400-square-foot-plant.


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So i understand when you seed/leech a torrent, your IP is available to others who are also connected to the swarm. But I've read that its also possible to find all the files you're seeding/leeching based on your IP. Is this true? Wouldn't you need a copy of all the torrents for all the files you're seeding in order to do this? Or do you just need one torrent to join the tracker, and then see all files for that tracker youre seeding? So you'd need at least one torrent per tracker you're connected to in order to find all files being torrented.
Can the torrent itself identify you? Say i have a torrent and seed. If i turn on a VPN, my IP has changed. But does the torrent uniquely identify me as the same person, regardless of the IP change? Is this different for public vs private trackers?
So what info can be obtained from using a torrent?
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LibGuides – Enterprise 2.0 for the Library
Currently I am completing a Request for Proposal document outlining a web 2.0 implementation plan for the QUT Library. After investigating the Library's current situation and identifying the tools they are currently offering their clients, I have come across one in particular which I am going to discuss in this post. This tool is known as LibGuides.
LibGuides is a software package developed by Springshare, a company who has made it their goal "to develop practical web 2.0 applications built specifically for libraries and educational institutions," (Springshare, 2009). LibGuides is a "web 2.0 content management and library knowledge sharing system" that can be used to create attractive, multimedia rich web pages to share resources, content and knowledge collaboratively amongst users. LibGuides puts the power of content creation in Librarian's hands. It provides a flexible and easy to use interface from which Librarians can create customised pages specific to the content they wish to display.
Below is a fairly long and unintersting video about the uses and benefits of LibGuides… but if you don't feel like watching it all (Iwon't blame you) I'll give you the low down of how LibGuides works, what it offers and the benefits it provides.
How does it work?
The benefit of LibGuides comes from the ability for Librarians to customise the look and feel of the website and add content modules to the page similar to MySpace's Profile 2.0 system. Dragging and dropping modules onto the page is simple and these modules range from plaintext modules to fully-fledged RSS modules, multimedia modules, Delicious tag cloud modules and so on. These modules or widgets depending on what you prefer, can be further customised to enable commenting, polls and so on to enable participation from its users.
What does it offer?
LibGuides offers Librarians with an unlimited potential to create meaningful, attractive and useful content for their clients. With the ability to drop LibGuide modules onto the page, multimedia, tag clouds, polls, commenting systems, social media integration and sharing are all at the finger tips of the Librarian without the need for profound technical knowledge.
What are the benefits of LibGuides?
- Integrating and embracing Web 2.0 technologies such as Twitter, syndication in the form of RSS feeds, social media sites such as Facebook, wikis and blogs has never been easier and with thousands of pre-made templates designing is even simpler.
- Creating communities, sharing resources, monitoring usage and catalysing learning is much easier.
- Receiving user opinions and running polls or questionnaires is as simple as dropping a module onto the page and customising a few fields. But for advanced users, customisation is powerful and can be used to adjust the appearance, look, behaviour and content of a module.
All in all I believe LibGuides is a huge step in the right direction for Libraries wanting to embrace web 2.0 concepts. It offers more flexibility and control in areas such as subject guides, learning portals and so forth allowing content to be customised and encouraging, enhancing and increasing collaboration and sharing in ways that Web 2.0 can only offer. You can try out LibGuides in use at the QUT Library's subject guides: http://libguides.library.qut.edu.au/
Or if you are looking for more information on LibGuides you can visit their website at: http://www.springshare.com/libguides/index.html


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Mohammed Azeem
BRN No: 31655
+971 55 664 5631
3 Bedroom Apartment with full Golf Course View for Sale at The Hills
Live in harmony with nature at The Hills, Emaars stylish new apartment community centrally located near Dubais business growth corridor.
The Hills is an elegantly designed community, featuring low-rise apartments that overlook the rolling greens of the Emirates Golf Club. The one, two, and three-bedroom homes in The Hills are set in two buildings of 12 and 15 storeys, and offer easy access from Sheikh Zayed Road, the main thoroughfare.
To add to the quality of life, The Hills offers an array of amenities including an immaculately-maintained yoga lawn, barbeque deck, health and fitness facilities, childrens play area and welcome lobby. All homes sport contemporary finishes and modern fittings.
Key features:
Unit Size: 2,067 Sqft
Location: The Hills, Emirates Living
Type: Apartment
View: Golf Course View
Selling Price: AED 2,768,888
For Viewing Details Please Contact:
Mr. Mohammed Azeem +971 55 664 5631 / +971 55 623 4888
Office: 04 330 6661
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: www.bespokere.ae
* Kindly note if the consultant is busy please call the alternate mobile number.
BESPOKE Real Estate Dubai has earned the trust of its clients and the respect of its colleagues in the real estate industry. We keep confidences and represent each party with the highest level of service while bringing intelligence and skill to every transaction, large or small. Each member of the team comes with a unique multinational perspective and a wealth of multi-sector experience.
BESPOKE Real Estate Dubais agents offer in-depth market expertise and have intimate knowledge of Dubairsquo;s most desirable neighborhoods and buildings. Our heightened level of attentiveness and understanding helps us match buyers with homes that reflect their lifestyles, needs, and personalities. And while our approach is ever thoughtful, our responsive agents move quickly in order to ensure that buyers have access to the newest and best properties on the market.
We remain involved at every stage of the purchase: initial home search, negotiation, going to contract, NOC and transfer at DLD. Our goal is to make the buying process as seamless as possible, exceeding our clientrsquo;s expectations every step of the way. It is one of the reasons that the majority of our business comes from referrals. Our comprehensive and success-oriented approach ensures that clients return to us again and again throughout their lifetimes and endorse the Residence Dubais name from one generation to the next.
Why Bespoke
Purchasing a home is an investment in the future. Market knowledge and a depth of market experience are vital when making such an important decision. Ongoing and personalized service and follow-through are equally crucial. This translates into efficient use of your time and effective management of your assets. Dubai offers a wealth of options for residential buyers. From the secluded villas in Emirates Hills to modern glass tower condos in Dubai Marina, and from posh Downtown lofts to beautiful Palm Jumeirah villas, the choices seem almost limitless.
Therefore, you must work with an experienced and knowledgeable agent who can offer a wealth of information along with strong negotiating, and problem-solving skills. In a city with over 1000 residential real estate firms, choosing the right BESPOKE broker makes all the difference. Thats the reason we suggest our clients to GO BESPOKE.
Bespoke Real Estate is tied-up with all the Major
Developers in UAE
Follow Us On


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Pets and secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke is believed to be no better for pets than for people, according to a study published in the journal Tobacco Control.
The study found that one in three smokers said they would willingly kick the habit to protect their pet's health, according to an article about the study in Chicago-based Medill Reports.
The study, done by researchers at Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System Center, found that an overwhelming majority of smoking pet owners would be more motivated to quit if more information on the dangers of second-hand smoke on pets were available.
While research has not been done to prove secondhand smoke effects on pets, recent studies have shown there may be a link, according to the article.
• Researchers at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., found in 2007 that the incidence of mouth cancer was significantly higher among cats living in a smoking environment compared with those living in a smoke-free home.
• Researchers at Colorado State University in Fort Collins found in 2001 that long-nosed dogs, such as collies, living in smoking environments had a higher incidence of nasal tumors. It was shown that short-nosed dogs, such as pugs, had a higher rate of lung cancer.
The Henry Ford survey, which nearly 3,300 adult pet owners took online, revealed that one in five were cigarette smokers.
Heemeyer, my black Lab, is going under the knife soon to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right rear leg. As best I can determine, he got it stepping into a hole while chasing a ball.
After surgery he'll have therapy, including paddling sessions in a small pool of water. The whole thing is going to cost thousands of dollars.
It's no wonder that an increasing number of people are buying pet insurance. According to research reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the pet insurance industry grew 20 percent annually between 2003 and 2007. Though that growth may have slowed during the recession, it is common to find pet insurance brochures in your local vet's office.
Barks and laughs
The Denver-based Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue is holding a benefit comedy night April 25 at Wit's End Comedy Club in Westerminster, starring comedian Dak Rakow. For further information check staff@goldenretrieverfreedom or call the hotline at 303-749-8499.
Ella's Walk
The Longmont Humane Society is putting on Ella's Walk: In Memory of Meredith Hope Emerson, featuring the Furry Friends Festival, May 16 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Emerson was a community volunteer who was killed last year and Ella is her pet Lab. For more information contact email@example.com.
Reach John Davidson at firstname.lastname@example.com


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ANAHEIM >> The Angels were a team in transition on May 21, 1996. Marcel Lachemann, the first of three managers that season, was responsible for the lineup card that night against the Baltimore Orioles. A pair of stopgap veterans, Rex Hudler and Don Slaught, batted first and second.
A strange thing happened: Hudler and Slaught both homered to lead off the game. That had never happened before in franchise history. It didn't happen again until Tuesday night, when Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout greeted Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish with a pair of home runs in the bottom of the first inning.
True to form, the Rangers came back, scoring one run in the eighth inning and four more in the ninth to beat the Angels 8-3 before an announced crowd of 34,233 at Angel Stadium.
Like they were 17 years ago, the Angels are a team in transition again, this time with a younger cast. Three-quarters of their infield were playing in Triple-A as little as 10 days ago.
The cast will change some more, manager Mike Scioscia said, if the Angels make more of the mistakes that doomed them Tuesday and prompted a closed-door meeting after the game.
"The reality of it is, if this is going to become an instructional league," Scioscia said, "we have to make some changes, because guys up here should be able to do a better job."
Actually, the youngsters mostly escaped the manager's ire. Scioscia was most bothered about six stolen bases by the Rangers in six attempts.
Catcher Chris Iannetta was 0 for 6 in throwing out runners, but Scioscia said those were "not on Chris at all."
"Chris is throwing the ball well," he continued. "This is about the inability of some of our pitchers to make the adjustments they need to make."
The young guys often offered an enticing glimpse at the Angels' future, often the best hope for a team that's 13 games out of first place in the AL West with less than two months in the season.
Rookie Grant Green singled in his first at-bat as an Angel in the second inning for his first major-league hit. He singled again off Darvish in the fourth and made a pair of slick defensive plays in the field at second base.
Calhoun's home run was his third in five games and temporarily raised his batting average to .345.
The Angels got their only other run off Darvish (11-5) when rookie J.B. Shuck drove in Erick Aybar with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Angels right-hander Garrett Richards, making his third start since taking Joe Blanton's place in the rotation, turned in another quality start for the Angels. The 25-year-old allowed six hits and three runs in six innings, while walking one and striking out five. He has a 2.50 earned-run average since being promoted from the bullpen.
And then there was Trout, who turns 22 years old today. He is third player ever to hit 65 doubles, 15 triples and 50 home runs before turning 22, joining Al Kaline and Mickey Mantle. Only two American League players, Rickey Henderson and Ty Cobb, have stolen more bases than Trout (77) by that age.
If only the old guys were as helpful to the Angels' cause.
Iannetta seemed helpless with runners in motion, and did little to stop three wild pitches by Angels pitchers.
With the score tied 3-3, Elvis Andrus led off the eighth inning with a single off veteran right-hander Kevin Jepsen (1-3). Andrus stole second base and went to third on an Ian Kinsler groundout.
The next batter, Adrian Beltre, singled through a drawn-in infield to score Andrus with the go-ahead run.
Texas scored four more runs and stole two bases in the ninth inning, putting a close game out of reach. Two unearned runs were charged to left-hander Nick Maronde; former closer Ernesto Frieri allowed two earned runs in one-third of an inning.
The most consistently underperforming veteran, Josh Hamilton, came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 3-3. He flied out to center field to end the threat. That left Hamilton batting .143 (2 for 14) with the bases loaded this season and .167 (15 for 90) with runners in scoring position.
And it left the Angels in a familiar rut.
"We saw Texas last week. We had leads. At the end we couldn't hold them," Scioscia said. "It seems like we're sliding back and some things that we need to get better at are right now biting us.
"We're going to keep addressing it. We're going to be out here early tomorrow working on stuff and we're going to be addressing some of the things we need to do better. … They're coming too slowly for what we need."


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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Dyami Starks scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half as Bryant built a 16-point lead, then held off Brown 68-61 Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs (2-2), who beat the Bears (2-2) for the first time in 12 tries, led 45-29 with 13:23 remaining before a 21-9 run Brown cut it to 54-50 with 5:59 left. Freshman Cedric Kuakumensah had three baskets during the run and finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bears cooled off down the stretch, however, making just three of their final 11 shots and just half of their free throws (3 of 6) the rest of the way.
Starks scored 12 points in the final 6:13 for Bryant.
Alex Francis added 18 points for the Bulldogs, 12 in the first half, and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Sean McGonagill scored 14 for Brown, tying Kuakumensah for team scoring honors, and Rafael Maia had 12 points.


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Saturday, July 11, 2015
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Love: The First of the 7 Virtues
Opening reception: Sat, February 14th, 5 – 7 PM
Exhibition dates: February 14th- December 6, 2015
It is with great enthusiasm that HVCCA launches a year of exhibitions and education programs exploring the artistic representation of Love: The First of the 7 Virtues and its antithesis, Seven Deadly Sins: Lust (scheduled to open April 19, 2015). Developed as an FWMA (Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance) collaboration, each museum will explore a different sin and, in some instances, its parallel virtue.
The concepts of 'Virtue' and 'Sin' emerge from a theological exploration of the good and evil that drive human behavior. Love, when it is the operative and dominant emotion, can mute those drives which lead human beings to be greedy, gluttonous, avaricious and lustful. Though chastity is technically the foil for lust, chastity implies specific sexual infractions, whereas love is much broader in scope.
Love takes many forms, but in the 20th-21st centuries varying kinds of love are more overt in presentation and more openly discussed. Love involves heterosexual, homosexual and transsexual relationships; it speaks to inter- family relationships; love can involve an adoration and anthropomorphic view of nature; love of God and religious devotion can carry the intensity of emotion, comparable to the strongest of human relationships, and love of animals can sometimes go well beyond those of an inter-human nature.
From Robert Indiana's iconic sculpture that manifests the power of the word 'LOVE' to the poignant red roses of Jackie O. in the sculpture of Keith Edmier, from the bucolic scenes of Hernan Bas and the empathic painting of Richard Wathen to the religiously charged work of Djordje Ozbolt, HVCCA invites the viewer to walk through the power of LOVE to build bridges to understanding and to an appreciation for the diversity of human nature.
Artists included in the exhibition are drawn from communities around the globe:
Thordis Adalsteinsdottir, Emil Alzamora, Matthew Barney, Hernan Bas, Marius Bercea, Derek Boshier, Birgit Brenner, Skyler Brickley, Ross Chisholm, Debbie Davis, Keith Edmier, Carole Feuerman, Moyna Flannigan, Stefanie Gutheil, Dieter Hacker, Bendix Harms, Ridley Howard, Robert Indiana, Sam Jinks, Sherry Kerlin, Keegan Korchuk, Charles LeDray, Marin Majic, Robert Mapplethorpe, Nick Mauss, Shirin Neshat, Jonathan Newman, John Newsom, Joel Otterson, Djordje Ozbolt, Paul Pretzer, Saul Raskin, Nathan Ritterpusch, Christoph Ruckhäberle, Athi-Patra Ruga, Helen Sadler, Maria Tomasula, and Richard Wathen.
Event Location and Ticket Information
1701 Main Street
Peekskill, NY 10556
Handicap Accessible? Yes
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2015
Times: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Ticket pricing:
Free event
Presenter: Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art