text:
Her publisher surely meant well, but the cover of Anne Tyler's new novel "The Beginner's Goodbye" (Knopf) is all wrong.
The cover — a pair of elegant cups and saucers displayed against a doily-white background — might reasonably be subtitled "Sunday Tea at Grandma's." While I am a fan of both tea and grandmas, and currently have no disputes pending with doilies, the cover just doesn't work.
The novel supposedly summarized by this gentle, simple, even soporific image is neither gentle nor simple. And its insights will keep you up nights.
I sympathize with the designer's dilemma. Concocting a cover for a Tyler novel would be a daunting task. Tyler, like Alice McDermott, Penelope Lively, William Trevor and a handful of other like-souled contemporary authors, typically writes more about moods and ideas and inclinations than tangible things. Her people do more leaning than plunging. More head-scratching than trigger-pulling. They tend to look at life sideways instead of straight on.
How, then, to illustrate the essence of a Tyler character like Aaron Woolcott, whimsical narrator of "The Beginner's Goodbye"? How to indicate in a visual way the particular character of Aaron's thinking — which is hesitant, diffident, roundabout, but finally stubborn and self-assured? A lot goes on in a Tyler story, but it's not the kind of action that lends itself to pictures. A graphic novel based on "The Beginner's Goodbye" would consist of little more than a tree, a stethoscope, a book and a swing set. Everything else happens inside Aaron's mind.
The novel features a killer of an opening sentence: "The strangest thing about my wife's return from the dead was how other people reacted." Uh-oh, you think. We're back in the oft-traveled land of "Ghost," the 1990 movie starring Demi Moore as the widow who doesn't know her dead husband is stalking her.
Well, no. We're not. It's true that Aaron sees his deceased wife, Dorothy, around town, but only occasionally. And that's not his biggest issue. His biggest issue is the realization that he and Dorothy were not terribly well-matched. Is your grief still legitimate if the spouse for whom you're grieving was obtuse, temperamental, self-absorbed? Does an early death like Dorothy's — from a freak accident — lose its poignancy if your memories of the deceased are not all happy ones?
Aaron's union with Dorothy was "difficult," he concedes. "Out of sync. Uncoordinated. It seemed we just never quite got the hang of being a couple the way other people did. We should have taken lessons or something: that's what I tell myself." Dorothy, he recalls, "looked a little bit like a bulldog." And could act like one as well.
For fans of Tyler, who does not exactly flood the market with her work, this is a special spring: Along with "The Beginner's Goodbye," she also wrote the introduction to "Midstream" (Scribner) by the late Reynolds Price, a new memoir put together from the author's papers after his death in 2011. Price, an extravagantly talented novelist in his own right, was Tyler's teacher during her days as an undergraduate at Duke University.
Her nonfiction is as measured and thoughtful as her fiction. She takes pains to describe Price's teaching style, the "ebullience" that made fledgling writers believe in themselves and their work — without becoming ebullient herself. "He was an exclamation point in a landscape of mostly declarative sentences," Tyler writes, and that is as enthusiastic as she allows herself to be about a man she clearly revered.
"The Beginner's Goodbye," brief as it is, ranks high in the hierarchy of Tyler's works. And what a lineup that is: Her best-known novels are "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" (1982) and "The Accidental Tourist" (1985); the latter was made into a quirky, entertaining film in 1988 that starred William Hurt. Her novel "The Amateur Marriage" (2004) was one of the best of the decade, profound in its understanding of how we force ourselves to try, time and time again, to form attachments, and then watch helplessly as, time and time again, they fail.
"The Beginner's Goodbye" is, come to think of it, a sort of condensed version of "The Amateur Marriage." You'll also hear echoes of "The Accidental Tourist."
But don't let those teacups on the cover fool you. This is no mild-mannered trip down memory lane, no sweet nostalgic ramble. This is — despite its domestic setting and pillow-soft prose — a tough-minded, even severe novel, filled with hard truths and complex surprises. Just when you think Tyler must be the coldest fish in the world, she describes two characters who are falling in love — not, heaven knows, Aaron and Dorothy — and she does it with beauty and brevity:
"They were almost touching but not quite; there was perhaps an inch or two of empty space between them, and you could tell somehow that both of them were very conscious of this space — acutely conscious, electrically conscious."
The magic of that passage lies in its unexpectedness. Tyler doesn't gush. Love exists, she seems to say, but it is rare. And thus when it comes, it is all the more radiant.
JULIA KELLER, the Chicago Tribune's cultural critic, won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for feature writing.


text:
Eastern Bearded Dragon
These reptiles, with their characteristic 'beard', which they puff up when threatened, are a special favourite with children visiting Healesville Sanctuary.
Eastern Bearded Dragons are classed as 'least concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (on the IUCN 'red list'). Although the species is not considered to be vulnerable, they suffer from habitat loss with land clearing for agriculture.
Meeting the Eastern Bearded Dragons at Healesville Sanctuary is an important way to connect with the reptiles of Australia, and to learn about the Sanctuary's conservation programs, especially those aimed at conserving threatened native species. The money you spend helps to support the Sanctuary's conservation programs and its care of native wildlife as well as fight species extinction.
Eastern Bearded Dragons are native to Australia and found in eastern and south-eastern Australia (NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria).
An adult is grey-black with occasional colour variations. Males grow up to 60cm and weigh up to 600g.
Eastern Bearded Dragons are mostly insectivorous and herbivorous.
Their preferred habitat is dry woodlands but they are sometimes also seen in urban areas, often basking in the sun. They are quick and agile tree climbers, using trees to escape from threats and watch out for predators and prey.
Eggs are laid in the soil in sunny locations. A female may lay 10 to 20 eggs, perhaps two or three times in a breeding season. The eggs incubate for 2 months.
- Werribee Open Range Zoo
- Healesville Sanctuary
- Melbourne Zoo

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The official Cloud Foundry blog has confirmed that Spring 3.1 is now available from the Maven repository along with Grails 2.0. The new release is billed as providing a "significant upgrade" to the Spring framework with environment profiles, caching abstraction, and Java 7 and Hibernate 4.0 support. Alongside the new Spring 3.1 offering, Grails 2.0 will now add an interactive mode, console enhancements, a reloading agent, and numerous testing and error-handling improvements.
The VMware-originated Cloud Foundry team has said that support for both frameworks in CloudFoundry.com and Micro Cloud Foundry will follow suit after this news. The new Spring 3.1 environment profiles features will include cloud profiles used by Cloud Foundry itself and lend themselves towards Java-based application configuration, declarative caching, and Servlet 3.0 support.
Cofounder of the Spring framework project Juergen Hoeller will reportedly detail the full functionality of this release's mechanics in a forthcoming webinar in January 2012. Hoeller will discuss how to use Spring for cloud computing, HTML 5 applications, and the future of enterprise Java application architecture.
According to the Cloud Foundry blog, the Grails plugin for Cloud Foundry makes it easy to put applications into the cloud: "The forthcoming Grails 2.0 provides an important evolution of the popular Groovy-based productivity framework. The new release will provide an interactive command line, new unit-testing capabilities covering in-memory GORM and full REST testing, an updated resource plug-in to improve web content modularity, database migration tools, and substantial GORM improvements."
Looking ahead, the Cloud Foundry team has said that it is working hard to create the best developer experience to these two "incredibly productive application frameworks" — and, concurrently, Hoeller himself has pointed out that Spring 3.1 adds dedicated conversation management facilities and many further improvements in Spring MVC, as well as explicit support for Servlet 3.0 and Tomcat 7 features. In his webinar session, he will focus on selected key themes of Spring 3.1 in the context of modern web applications.


text:
A woman visiting Okunoshima Island in Japan was recently bun-rushed by a stampede of hungry rabbits. You can tell from her laughter (and the bag of rabbit snacks in her hand) that the whole thing made her pretty giddy.
Okunoshima, also known as Rabbit Island (Usagi Jima), draws a steady stream of visitors who like to pet and feed the flop-eared residents.
Some tourists even like to participate in the Running of the Buns. (See video, above.)
No one really knows how the rabbits got there. The Japanese Imperial Army used the island as a secret base to manufacture poison gas from 1929 to 1945. Some people believe the rabbits were brought as test subjects and then released after World War II. Others are convinced a group of schoolchildren must have introduced the rabbits.
But with no natural predators and world-class breeding habits, the rabbit population has grown sizable. And very, very cute.


text:
Next Episode of Eurotrash is
not planed. TV Show was canceled.
Boasting spectacular sets, cheeky yarns, gargantuan boobies, oddball antics, and of course - naked people in places you wouldn't expect to see naked people.
Jean Paul Gaultier(Presenter)
Maria McErlane(Voiceover)
Antoine de Caunes(Presenter)
Looks like something went completely wrong!
But don't worry - it can happen to the best of us,
- and it just happened to you.
Please try again later or contact us.


text:
of degrees
& programs
Fall: July 15
Spring: November 1
Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic and research competence.
A foundation in the Biological Sciences is required. Coursework in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Neurobiology is considered relevant.
Not required.
All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.
The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.
The GRE is required. Scores of greater than 600 on the verbal and quantitative sections are typical of applicants.
In place of GRE scores, MCAT scores may be submitted for consideration.
Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.
Graduate credit that is comparable to coursework at Temple University may be transferred from other graduate or professional programs (e.g., M.D., V.M.D.) The maximum number of credits that can be transferred and applied to the Ph.D. is 26.
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 44-46, not inclusive of variable research credit (3-6 s.h.), preliminary examination credit (1 s.h.), and post-candidacy dissertation credit (6 s.h.)
Required Courses:
The Biomedical Neuroscience graduate program is integrated into the "Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences," as described at http://www.temple.edu/medicine/education/grad_programs.htm. The program requires Ph.D. and M.S. students in all programs to take two interdisciplinary foundation courses (IFC) and two integrated bioscience courses (17 s.h.):
Students are required to take two integrated bioscience courses from the list below:
In addition, 3 courses (9 s.h.) are required in discipline electives and 9 s.h. are required in Dissertation Proposal, Research, and post-candidacy writing.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Additional Requirements:
Ph.D. students are required to participate in the Department of Neuroscience's Journal Club, Invited Lecture Series, and Departmental Research Seminar Series. Students will also attend an annual outstanding lecture in neuroscience and bi-annual, one-day workshops in specific areas of neuroscience.
Research Rotations:
Graduate students are encouraged to meet with potential research advisors in their first semester in the fall, allowing them to begin research rotations in selected laboratories. Three rotations are recommended for Ph.D. students, although a student may opt out of additional rotations once an arrangement for thesis work is established. After completion of a seven-week rotation, a student may request to remain in the laboratory to perform thesis-directed research. Most students are supported by Research Assistantships and Fellowships. The decision for a student to remain in a laboratory will require evidence of available support from the principal investigator and/or fellowship support from the department.
Research Proposal and Preliminary Exam:
By the beginning of the fourth semester of graduate studies, a doctoral candidate in Biomedical Neuroscience should have sufficient research experience to begin writing a research proposal for the Ph.D. degree. The proposal is mentored and approved by a faculty member who serves as the thesis advisor at the time of submission of the proposal. An examining committee of three Department of Neuroscience Graduate Faculty will review the written proposal and, if satisfactory, conduct an oral examination on the proposal and the scientific context of the proposal, in the absence of the thesis advisor. If the proposal is unsatisfactory at the time of submission, the student may be given one opportunity for a rewrite at the discretion of the committee members. If the oral defense of the proposal is unsatisfactory or if the student fails to demonstrate adequate general scientific knowledge, the student may be given the opportunity to retake the oral exam within a period of three months. If the student passes the oral examination, s/he is elevated to candidacy for the Ph.D.
Doctoral Thesis:
A Thesis Advisory Committee will be constituted including the student's research advisor and at least three additional Neuroscience Graduate Faculty members. An additional "Outside Examiner" will be selected who is an expert in an area relevant to the thesis project and a full-time faculty member at an institution other than Temple University. The Chair of this committee will be selected from among the Temple University Neuroscience Graduate Faculty serving on the committee exclusive of the thesis advisor. Formal annual reviews of research progress are carried out and documented by reports from the committee. Once a first draft of a doctoral thesis is completed, a formal "Preliminary Defense" of the thesis will be held which includes the thesis committee and an external examiner. This defense should result in an explicit plan to complete the research and writing of the thesis. When the thesis is revised and completed according to the satisfaction of the Thesis Advisory Committee, a "Final Defense" of the thesis will be held.
The Final Thesis Defense will be open to the public satisfying all Graduate School requirements for the defense of a dissertation. It is expected that the thesis work will result in at least one peer-reviewed publication in the scientific literature. However, most doctoral students will have several papers published by the time of the defense of the doctoral thesis. In a rare case, the thesis itself may serve the publication requirement.
www.temple.edu/medicine/. . . /neuroscience.htm
Dept. of Neuroscience
Temple University School of Medicine
1900 N. 12th Street, Room 203
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Rosalynn H. Heth
Program Coordinator:
Graduate Program Chairperson:
Jay Rappaport, Ph.D.
Department Chairperson:
Kamel Khalili, Ph.D.
The Department of Neuroscience at the Temple University School of Medicine is committed to fostering the critical inquiry of our students into areas of medicine and science. The curriculum supports an interdisciplinary approach to research training, providing new pathways for learning and discovery. Under this program, students have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research projects directed toward the treatment and/or cure of HIV/AIDS, as well as neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors. World-renowned scientists supervise this academic program.
The Ph.D. program is intended to educate premier investigators who will be tomorrow's leaders in Biomedical Neuroscience. Toward this end, the graduate emphasizes training in neurological/neurodegenerative disease research that is translational, with the goal of developing improvements in patient care through interdisciplinary interactions involving clinical and basic scientists.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years
Health Sciences, Main
Full-time study is required.
The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework and research among faculty and students with interest in Neuroscience, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cancer Biology, Psychology, and Engineering. Interaction with clinical divisions within the School of Medicine is also encouraged to foster translational research and bench-to-bedside discoveries and advances. Each student is mentored on a one-to-one basis by a Graduate Faculty member. Faculty co-mentors also are assigned to foster an expanded interdisciplinary experience and to bolster mentoring by junior faculty members. Additional mentors include more senior graduate students and post-doctoral trainees. This multi-level mentoring approach is designed to provide a supportive network to maximally benefit each student. In addition, our students have the opportunity to train with renowned scientists from around the world, as well as many supporting faculty representing a wide array of other fields in the School of Medicine.
Not applicable.
Research in Biomedical Neuroscience is laboratory-based.
The program is designed to prepare Ph.D. students for careers as researchers or teachers and M.D./Ph.D. students for careers as physician scientists.
Courses are restricted to matriculated students.
Successful candidates will be supported by research assistantships, teaching assistantships, training grants, research grants, or internal funding.
Updated 3.1.07


text:
For example, orangutans chew leaves to make sponges to soak up water in tree cavities when other sources of water dry up or are difficult to locate. The next time someone tries to tell me that we're more creative than animals, I'm going to ask him if he can claim he invented the sponge.
I also hesitate to say that we, as humans, are smarter than those "below" us. I just found out that mushrooms are geniuses and can save the planet.
So, assuming we're not going to be saving the planet any time soon, we will probably continue our smoking habits, and the sponge has already been invented, we have no choice but to relish in our ability to cook things. While we're at it, let's eat the smartest thing possible: mushrooms!
Today's issue of Techfast featured a Breakfast Strata from Ellie Krieger, renowned chef on The Food Network. A satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs strata has the effect of making one feel as though it's Christmas morning all morning long. (Or whichever wintry holiday you celebrate post-solstice, pre-new year.) And this broccoli and mushroom strata is no different. Plus, you'll be ingesting the brains of the planet, and will thus glean wisdom and understanding, perhaps even enough to get your kid to let go of his cell phone for a hot second.
TMCnet's Carrie Schmelkin wrote about this rising problem of the cell phone inhibiting our children's social, and possibly educational, growth as "HackCollege found the following key statistics: 25 percent of students whip out their cell phone every single class period; 94 percent of students text every day; 73 percent make calls every day; 60 percent state that they sometimes feel too 'addicted' to their phone; and 75 percent of students sleep next to their phones."
Regardless of whether or not this growing dependency calls for a national "Yikes!" moment, we can all consciously take a step back, acknowledge that we should be aware of this bodily dependence on our technology, and just check out the beautiful fall foliage for a second. After all, self-reflection might be another divergence in our existences versus that of orangutans'.
Yes, I am fully aware of the irony surrounding the fact that I took this picture with my cell phone.
Check out more news from the Techfast eNewsletter, and get it delivered straight to your inbox for the hottest tech news and the most savory of breakfast ideas!


text: Back in October, before the line-up for Right Foot Forward had been announced, Kellen James, Bobby Worrest, and Matt Beach went up to Chris Ray's in Sacramento to get some clips under their belts. Chris had Sacto and all its surrounding cities on lock with spots for days. Some real good sh-t went down, which you'll see this July when the video drops. For now, here's some fun flicks of what went down in the downtime. Big thanks to Ray Ray and Hoanger for the hospitality.—Blair


text:
Shining Rock Wilderness
IntroductionThe United States Congress designated the Shining Rock Wilderness (map) in 1964 and it now has a total of 18,479 acres. All of this wilderness is located in North Carolina and is managed by the Forest Service. The Shining Rock Wilderness is bordered by the Middle Prong Wilderness to the southwest.
DescriptionNamed for a micaceous rock outcrop, Shining Rock became one of the original components of the National Wilderness Preservation System in September 1964, a few months after garnering designation as a Wild area. It is now the largest Wilderness in North Carolina, separated by only a road from Middle Prong Wilderness to the southwest. Standing at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet and boasting five peaks exceeding 6,000 feet (three within the Wilderness boundaries), Shining Rock Ledge forms the backbone of this area. Here in this series of high ridges on the north slopes of Pisgah Ridge, you'll find extremely steep and rugged terrain ranging in elevation from 3,200 feet on the banks of the West Fork of Pigeon River, a major tributary of the Tennessee River, to 6,030 feet on Cold Mountain. Streams abound, cutting narrow passages through the mountains on their way to either the East or West Forks of the Pigeon River. Loggers cut down the forest between 1906 and 1926 and fires raged through the area in 1925 and 1942. These two factors account for Shining Rock's grassy "balds" and unique vegetation. Almost all the trails in the area rate as difficult, and they can be hard to follow. Nevertheless, this Wilderness is one of the most trampled in the state, especially along the trails of Art Loeb (11.6 miles), Ivester Gap (1.6 miles), and Shining Creek (3.4 miles). The entry at the Big East Fork Trailhead also sees heavy use. Off-trail you will see few other humans. No campfires are permitted, and group size is limited to 10.
Planning to Visit the Shining Rock Wilderness?
- Print a fact sheet
- General things to consider when visiting any wilderness
- Regulations
- Contact the Forest Service
- Visit the National Forest wilderness website
Leave No TraceHow to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Shining Rock Wilderness.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors


text:
How have screen-printing operations coped with changes in the market for point-of-purchase graphics? Our discussion with a panel of experts in this field reveals the latest market trends and strategies for remaining competitive as a P-O-P producer.
By Lori Leaman
An expanding range of media, new printing-equipment options, and increasing customer expectations for fast turnaround and high print quality make point-of-purchase a challenging market to serve. To find how print providers are adapting to the changes in P-O-P, Screen Printing magazine recently spoke to the leaders of five highvolume printing companies that are heavily involved in this market. Here's what they had to say:
SP: What are some of the most significant changes you've seen in the P-O-P industry during the past five years?
We have seen a significant amount of permanent P-O-P display manufacturing moving to China, along with huge amounts of textile printing. Our industry is faced with the same challenges as other manufacturing concerns in the US. You have to expect these things to continue and specialize in areas that foreign competition can't easily overcome, namely time and distance.
The continuing explosion in computer technology such as electronic file transmission, FTP sites, and remote proofing systems has shortened production timelines tremendously. I believe this technology has made customers expect us to produce as fast as they can transfer files over the Internet. We have streamlined our operations and invested in faster production methods to address this trend, but I don't think we will ever be able to print at the speed of light.
We've seen recently that P-O-P has become permanent and semi-permanent graphics, not just the 50- to 60-day wonder material that gets put up and then taken down. The other significant change is digital printing technology, as well as the need for speed and other services beyond printing graphics, particularly fulfillment.
Turnaround times are a major change in the last five years. In the past, we would do maybe one large project a month with a 48-hour deadline. Today, we do that two to three times a week. The second change is the buyers not being able to keep up with all the information on all the digital devices in the marketplace. It makes it hard to have them understand what an HP TJ8500 does, let alone how it can lower their costs. We are in the industry, and it is hard to keep up with the Joneses next door when it comes to buying equipment.
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine.


text: Acacia Squires Every Senior At This Struggling High School Was Accepted To College By Acacia Squires • Jun 29, 2017 Editor's note, Nov. 30: Since this story was originally published, we've done additional reporting. We spoke with 11 current and recent Ballou teachers and four recent Ballou graduates, and we reviewed hundreds of attendance documents, class rosters and emails. They show that many students graduated despite chronic absenteeism. Records show half the graduates missed more than three months of school, or 60 days. Confused About Your Student Loans? You're Not Alone By Acacia Squires • Feb 7, 2016 Americans have about $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. And there's yet another survey out that shows students in this country are confused about their loans, in the dark when it comes to knowing what they've borrowed, uncertain about how to pay them back.


text:
Reindeer, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.
This upcoming February I hope to be writing about how I researched my childhood neighborhood and what memories I have of it. There was an annual Christmas door contest and this reindeer was made by my father and painted by my mother for that year.
Yes, I still have this and if it is not a snowy winter, I try to put it out to remember my parents.


text:
Bride Bribed $10,000 To Change Maid Of Honour
Reddit user and bride-to-be, Richebiche, has revealed a story about her older sister on the site that will have you questioning humanity.
Here's the story. The bride-to-be is the middle child, with both an older and a younger sister.
The bride's older sister, Mary, was not cool with the bride asking their youngest sister, Anne, to be her maid of honour. That's right, queue the fireworks!
So how did older sister Mary handle it? Rather than sucking it up like a normal person, Mary offered the bride a $10,000 bribe if she took the title away from their younger sister Anne and gave it to her instead!
Richebiche wrote:
"My older sister is a terrible person and we aren't close. It's a LOT of money for my fiancé and me but it's also (hopefully) my only wedding day. I don't know what to do."
"My older sister Mary was always daddy's little girl and she grew up cruel, selfish, and conceited just like him. My little sister and I have never been close with her or our father but we've always been there for each other."
"When my father passed last year he left Mary the bulk of his estate. Mary is flashing about town with the cash while my sister and I have been struggling to help our ailing mother get by. Mary visits our mum once in awhile and spends her time there making the kind of cruel comments our father made and texting. I really don't like her but she mostly ignored me until now."
"My younger sister Anne has always been the great beauty of the three of us and my older sister has always reserved the best of her vitriol for Anne. I know showing up Anne is probably the only reason Mary wants to be my maid of honour."
This is next level sibling rivalry. Does this make your family sound just a little bit more normal at least?
Source: Cosmopolitan


text:
Vladimir Bukovsky is the incredibly brave Soviet dissident who spent 12 years in prison and political psychiatric hospitals before his expulsion from the Soviet Union in 1976. His memoir — To Build a Castle — one of the great documents of the era (and now out of print).
Today Bukovsky turns 70. Michael Ledeen celebrates the occasion with this arresting observation:
We've been friends for a long time, ever since he came to America to study at Stanford, which he left after the university president bestowed an award on a phony group of Soviet physicians who had been actively involved in Bukovsky's torture.
Interested readers may want to check out Claire Berlinski's City Journal essay "A hidden history of evil," which draws on Bukovsky's work.


text:
Radio host Chris Baker on Palin's appearance at VP debate: "Shoulda had a little cleavage going ... I noticed a panty line on her."
Video ››› ››› JOCELYN FONG
Minneapolis radio host Chris Baker said Gov. Sarah Palin "shoulda had a little cleavage going" during the vice-presidential debate, and that he "noticed a panty line on her."
Loading the player reg...
During the October 3 broadcast of Minneapolis radio station KTLK's The Chris Baker Show, Baker and fellow KTLK host Langdon Perry discussed Gov. Sarah Palin's "hotness." After Baker asserted that Palin is "hot," Perry responded, "She's the hottest vice-presidential candidate ever, but I don't think she's -- but I don't think she's standalone hot." Baker also said that Palin "shoulda had a little cleavage going" during the October 2 vice-presidential debate to "[d]istract [Sen.] Joe Biden a little bit," and added: "[S]how your stuff, you know what I'm saying? Use all your assets." He then said: "By the way, I noticed a panty line on her. ... When they turned to walk to the podium, I saw a panty line."
Baker went on to say: "By the way, I would say some of the shallowest political analysis you'll find anywhere on the airwaves -- but more real world. Tell me that people weren't looking at her and going, 'Oh whoa.' " Perry then remarked that Palin's "wink was a -- that wink was as 'come hither' a wink as I've seen."
As Media Matters for America documented, Baker said on October 2 that "I'm not that excited about women voting" and declared on September 18 that "it's rare to find a woman worthy of serving in political office."
From the October 3 broadcast of 100.3 KTLK-FM's The Chris Baker Show:
PERRY: I really, I actually ended up liking Sarah Palin more after last night than I had before, but I still don't get the Palin-mania. I mean, I thought she made some decent points, I thought she handled herself better than I expected, and I think she's likable in a lot of ways. She's got a nice smile, and she seems likable.
BAKER: Hot.
PERRY: See, I think she's hot for a vice-presidential candidate. She's the hottest vice-presidential candidate ever, but I don't think she's -- but I don't think she's standalone hot.
BAKER: Really?
PERRY: In other words, if you just saw her on the street, I don't know if you'd go, "Man, she's hot."
BAKER: Oh, I do.
PERRY: She's hot for a vice -- it's the Mark Bauer theory of relative hotness -- but I think she's hot for --
BAKER: Wait a minute, can you break down the Mark Bauer theory of -- well, let's do this. Let's take our first little break here.
BAKER: Did Sarah Palin change your mind? Now, we all remember, Sarah Palin will not be the president. But after watching that debate last night, I am certainly happier that, as the vice president, she's going to have John McCain's ear. I like that little wink to the crowd last night: "Oh, I'm going to try to turn him on that ANWR thing."
PERRY: That was a "come-hither" wink.
BAKER: Was it?
PERRY: Oh, yeah. That was one of those -- that was --
BAKER: And I -- and you know what else I got a kick out of was the shout-out to the elementary school kids.
PERRY: That was so -- I hated every second of --
BAKER: What do you mean you hated that?
PERRY: It was so cute. She's so precious sometimes. It's just a little over the top for me.
BAKER: And she's got glasses, and I've always had a thing for women with glasses. So, see, I'm honest.
PERRY: See, yeah. So, did you notice her high heels last night?
BAKER: Love those.
PERRY: 'Cause I think she was going all business upstairs and then she just went with the high heels for just a little "whoa, wow, hey" --
BAKER: She's always wearing some, ahem, pumps, if you catch my drift. And that's good. Why not?
PERRY: That's exactly what I called them this morning.
BAKER: Very -- you know what, but women do that.
PERRY: Yeah.
BAKER: I mean, come on. Why do women -- why do women have to turn it down? I think she shoulda had a
PERRY: I'm not saying she should have to.
BAKER: -- shoulda had a little cleavage going there.
PERRY: No, I just asked if you noticed --
BAKER: Distract Joe Biden a little bit.
PERRY: I didn't say she had to do anything. I just asked if you noticed.
BAKER: A little action. Show your stuff. You know what I'm saying? Use all your assets. Anyway, 65 -- by the way, I noticed a panty line on her.
PERRY: Did ya?
BAKER: Saw it, yeah, at the beginning of the debate when they turned --
PERRY: I truthfully did not look.
BAKER: -- when they turned to walk to the podium, I saw a panty line.
JORDAN (producer): I have to ask, for all guys, what kind of panties?
PERRY: He didn't say he saw her panties.
JORDAN: No, but he saw the line, though. You can kind of tell from the line.
PERRY: You can?
JORDAN: You should be able to.
BAKER: Are you -- Jordan, it answers -- the statement itself answers the question.
BAKER: Panty line.
JORDAN: All right, never mind.
BAKER: 651-989-5855. Chris Baker radio show. By the way, I would say some of the shallowest political analysis you'll find anywhere on the airwaves -- but more real world. Tell me that people weren't looking at her and going, "Oh whoa."
PERRY: The wink was a -- that wink was as "come-hither" a wink as I've seen.
BAKER: You think?
PERRY: She did two winks. She did the wink early, which was, "Hey."
BAKER: But that's her.
PERRY: Well, I didn't say it wasn't her. I just said it was a "come-hither wink." I didn't say it wasn't her.
BAKER: All right, your phone calls next. It's the Chris Baker radio show.
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July 13, 2006
Now he can focus on Beijing.
"I've had my sights set on the 2008 Olympics from the moment I stepped off the mat in Athens," Fresno State great and Olympics medal winner Stephen Abas said Tuesday afternoon.
The 28-year-old Abas had just stepped off a mat at the Knowling Fieldhouse after spending four hours working with 40 campers at the Wabash Summer Wrestling Camp.
Abas, who stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 121 pounds, was invited to participate in the camp by his former college coach, Kevin Lake. Lake also served as an instructor at the camp.
Working with youngsters from seven years old to high school age sparked memories for Abas, who won a freestyle silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He recalled the days when he was their age:
"I grew up around wrestling. I'm the youngest of seven kids. My older brothers wrestled. It's a sport I've known all my life."
Attired in shorts and a t-shirt, Abas said working with the youngsters was an "opportunity to be that older brother to someone else.
"I get to pass along my love of the sport to someone who may become an Olympian in another 10 years. I know some of the things I threw at them today were fairly advanced and very technical moves. The kids paid attention and really worked hard to pick up a lot of the moves."
Youngsters weren't the only people who benefited from Abas' teaching. The advanced moves he used as an Olympian and as a three-time NCAA national champion caught the attention of adults, too.
"It's great for the campers, and even for us as coaches, to pick up moves we might never see in a regular match," Wabash head wrestling coach Brian Anderson said. "Some of the techniques Stephen taught us are on the cutting edge of wrestling.
"To have contact with an athlete of Stephen's abilities is amazing. He works so well with high school students, then transfers that teaching ability in his work with the younger students."
Now Abas will go to work for himself, hoping to do even better in Beijing in 2008 than he did two years ago in Athens.
In Greece he defeated 2003 World silver medalist Ghenadie Tulvea from Modova and Cuba's Roberto Montero, the 2002 World champion.
It's no wonder, then, that Abas was named to the NCAA and National Wrestling Coaches Association 75th Anniversary team as one of best in the history of the sport.
But Abas has unfinished business.
"I feel as if I've worked hard to this point, and will continue to work toward earning the gold meal in Beijing," he said. "I've done all of the preliminary work. Now I just have to go out and get it."
Photos: (top left) Stephen Abas watches as the campers practice one of the new wrestling techniques.
(Middle right) Abas works with two of the younger members of the wrestling camp.
(Sports main page) Wabash wrestler Garrett Pino, an instructor at the camp, and Abas show a takedown move to the campers.


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Lesbians at Risk for HIV, GMHC Report Shows
New York, NY -- On Thursday, June 25, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) released a report on the vulnerability of lesbians, bisexuals and other women who have sex with women (WSW) to HIV infection, a complicated public health issue that is perplexing to some and ignored by many.
The review of research found that while there are no documented cases of female-to-female HIV transmission, lesbians and bisexual women are still at risk of contracting HIV. Some homosexually active women also have sex with men or inject drugs.
One 2005 study described in the GMHC report, found that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to inject drugs than heterosexual women. Another study found lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to seek health care than heterosexual women, a risk factor for receiving a late HIV diagnosis.
With more than 15 years of experience, the Lesbian AIDS Project (LAP) at GMHC knows firsthand that there are lesbians and WSW living with HIV/AIDS. GMHC researched the risks lesbians and WSW face as there were growing indications that some lesbians/WSW engage in high risk behaviors that place them at risk for HIV transmission. The objective of the report is not to debate that lesbians/WSW are at the same risk as their heterosexual counterparts, but to acknowledge that there is significant risk of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and additional health disparities for lesbians.
"These risks are exacerbated by racial disparities in health care access, as well as by homophobia, sexism, and stigma," said Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "We seek to clarify confusion regarding lesbians and WSW risk in order to create visibility for this marginalized subpopulation of women. Prevention and policy interventions must reach more deeply into communities of women and take into account the context of their lives."
The report underscores the range of risks that lesbians could face in contracting HIV which are directly related to experiences and behaviors, and not solely determined by the use of labels to identify an individual's sexuality and sexual identity.
LAP is part of the Women's Institute at GMHC. Click here to review the report.
The GMHC report connects to an article in the June issue of POZ Magazine entitled, "The L+ Word." The article focuses on lesbians living with HIV/AIDS, the Lesbian AIDS Project and safer sex tips to prevent woman-to-woman transmission of HIV. Click here to review the article.


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A meeting of the SHARE Bibliographic and Cataloging Standards Committee.Thursday, April 26, 201310:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.There are two options for attendance--in person at the IHLS Decatur office, or by vtel at the following locations:IHLS Champaign OfficeIHLS Edwardsville OfficeIHLS Carterville OfficeIllinois State LibraryFor more information contact Edie Elliott (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Categories: LLSAP
This event is sponsored by Illinois Heartland Library System.
Last day to cancel registrations is: 4/25/2013
Questions? Please contact Edie Elliott.
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Dog Playing Fetch by Himself
There's nothing in the world like owning a pet. If you don't have a dog or cat, but think you would like to have on, I would strongly suggest that you stop out to the Sioux Falls Humane Society. They always have some great prospects for you to take home.
I know a lot of people like a fully trained dog. But how about one that would actually lay fetch...'by himself!'
Once upon a time, there was an engineer, who owned a dog named Sparky. Sparky had a lot of energy!
Engineer says to himself, 'I have to do something to help keep Sparky occupied.'
I stumbled across a video too cute to not share with you.


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The Home of Fashion Film and Live Fashion Broadcasting
"@TimeOutShopping: Super wearable icy lace and pink silky loungewear at Giles with long grandma death wigs" yes, that sounds super wearable
Kristen McMenamy opening Giles http://t.co/vdqRhEuf
Giles show about to start. Tallulah Harlech and Mary Charteris on the frow! Nope, me neither. Must be in Hollyoaks or something!!! #LFW
everyone getting Cara ready for Giles #lfw http://t.co/iY7WWbA7
Paul Hanlon working his magic backstage at Giles for @toniandguyUK. http://t.co/RaBzhaix
The always-amazing backstage area for toniandguyuk at Giles #lfw http://t.co/P72ehZnw
The plush backdrop for Giles' hair & make-up. http://t.co/8xChHVZc
Wispy long teenage locks and Wednesday Addams waves backstage at GILES #aw13 #lfw http://t.co/GTSPewf5
Wally dog antics on the Giles ticket #fashion #LFW http://t.co/r42QCJiH


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Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, still seeking a wide player capable of running at opposing back lines, has called time on Bell Gardens native Hector Jimenez turning into that player.
The 25-year-old midfielder, drafted by the Galaxy in 2011, was traded Tuesday to the Columbus Crew with the 17th overall pick in Thursday's SuperDraft in exchange for the 23rd overall pick and allocation money.
Jimenez scored four goals in 43 Galaxy appearances including three goals in 14 starts last year. The lightweight, 140-pound Jimenez struggled to become the consistent attacking threat Arena was looking for — much like fellow winger Robbie Rogers — and apparently former Galaxy assistant coach and Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter found Jimenez more convincing than Arena did.
"Hector is an exciting young player and we are pleased to welcome him to our club," Berhalter said in a statement. "He is a player that possesses several strong attacking attributes and will help our squad immediately."
The trade means the Galaxy have no first-round draft pick for the first time since 2007, an indication Arena is not impressed with the quality of available players. The Galaxy also have a fourth-round pick (72nd overall) acquired in a July 2012 trade with the New York Red Bulls.


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PHP wordpress fixes
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What was always a search engine is now a developer platform. That's how Microsoft wants us to now regard Bing after the company announced that it was opening up Bing's Entity API along with programmer access to its speech capabilities.
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Microsoft has also opened up developer channels to optical character recognition, and translation technologies The Maps API will now also move under the purview of the Bing Services.
NOTE: Bing developer services are restricted to Microsoft Windows environments including Windows 8 and the currently technical preview status Windows 8.1 release, with the Xbox platform also included.
The Entity API is probably the most interesting element of the new Bing services announced here.
Microsoft says the Bing Entity API previewed at Build 2013 allows developers to create applications that are aware of the things that surround us every day and build scenarios that augment users' abilities to discover and interact with their world faster and more easily than they can do today.
According to the Microsoft developer blog, "The new services will focus on three broad categories of capabilities your applications can take advantage: services to bring entities and the world's knowledge to your applications, services to enable your applications to deliver more natural and intuitive user experiences, and services which bring an awareness of the physical world into your applications."
Microsoft says that the new streamlined Bing Developer Center puts all the content programmers will need in one single location, with links to documentation, downloads, sample code, how-to's, as well as links to partner blogs where you can find even more technical content.
"Being able to naturally converse with a device has long been a science fiction dream. The Bing Speech Control for Windows 8.1 showcases how users can interact with apps using their voice. While that control will be available in a few months, Bing's Text-to-Speech (TTS) API for Windows 8.1 is available today. The API gives devices and applications a voice by allowing them to speak out loud to make user interactions more natural and intuitive," said the company.


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The Altena 53 custom trawler is a very robust and seaworthy Dutch quality yacht. The stage of completion meets the highest demands and on board you will find all the luxuries that make life onboard enjoyable. The boat has the CE-A license and is therefore suitable for ocean crossings.
The bold dark blue hull and ice-blue superstructure contrasts splendidly with the heavy duty stainless steel deck fittings and teak decks. Compared to the original design, both the deck and flybridge were extended. Also a swimming platform is built on the transom. Steering and navigating can be done both inside the comfortable cockpit and on the flybridge. There is an extensive Furuno navigation system with large LCD screens. With bow and stern thruster, the boat can easily be controlled from the two steering positions when maneuvering in small ports. There is an extensive hydraulic system that operates bow and stern thruster, anchor winch, crane for dinghy and winches on the aft. The engine compartment is found through the hatch in the aft deck. The space below decks is divided in two. At the back we find the battery bank, dive compressor and watermaker. Up front, the two John Deere engines and other technical equipment are installed in the well-insulated engine room. The engine compartment is closed with a watertight door.
Through the double doors we enter the spacious lounge. Chosen was a classic interior with teak paneling and light upholstery. In the rear of the saloon is the lounge with left from the table a sofa and right two armchairs. There is a great audio and video system that allows for separate rooms different music to be heard. The LCD TV comes up out of a cabinet in which it is beautifully hidden when not in use. The kitchen is also found in the salon and is equipped with refrigerator, oven / microwave and waste compactor. The bedrooms can be reached via the stairs in the wheelhouse. The master cabin is in the bow with queen bed and ensuite toilet and bathroom. Downstairs are two double guest cabins with separate toilet and bathroom. The entire boat is heated by under floor heating. Moreover, there is an air conditioning system so that the boat is pleasant to stay on in all weather conditions.
The Altena 53 custom was launched in 2009 after a construction period of approximately 18 months and is in perfect condition. If you are looking for a high quality yacht and want to sail right away, this is a unique opportunity. We welcome you aboard for a visit in Amsterdam.


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读诗亭亮相北京 爱心读诗亭亮相北京!排队等候的有耄耋老人,也有孩童 Read poetry Pavilion debut in Beijing love reading poetry Pavilion debut in Beijing! The queue is the oldest old, also have childrenBy admin. Filed in Health & Fitness |
据了解,本次"你读一首诗 我捐一本书"是大型公益活动"带本书给家乡的孩子"的第五季,这个夏天,一座座"爱心读诗亭"将面向公众免费开放,它不仅会常设在北京图书大厦、王府井书店,还会前往首都各大高校和中小学校,流转到具有浓浓文化气息的国子监及首都各大图书馆,并现身人潮涌动的机场、火车站和各大商圈。
Love to read poetry Pavilion debut in Beijing! The queue is the oldest old, also have children
Yesterday, in the Qianmen Street north exit, a written "love poems" Pavilion of the Red Pavilion led people to stop, the Beijing morning news reporters on the scene, although the hot weather, but still lined up outside the pavilion, which is the oldest old, there are eight or nine year old children. Reporters learned that the event is co sponsored by the Beijing municipal Party committee, Beijing TV station and Beijing publishing group, Beijing publishing group and the public welfare activities, as long as people walked into the pavilion, read a poem forwarded to the circle of friends, will be able to donate a book for children of the mountains.
Yesterday morning shortly after 10 p.m., Qianmen Street north exit of a small red Pavilion is particularly conspicuous, the reporter saw the Red Pavilion written on the "love poetry Pavilion" words, the Red Pavilion lined up more than ten meters long queue. In the book of poetry, the team from the Tsinghua University, came to the old man, there are eight or nine year olds. The child told reporters that he would not only read poetry, but also bring a book. "I have read it, I think it is very good, and I hope it will be read by my little friends in the countryside, too."".
It is understood that this time you read a poem I donate a book "is a large public events with a book to their children" in the fifth quarter, this summer, a "love poetry Pavilion" will be free and open to the public, it will not only standing in the Beijing book building, Wangfujing bookstore, will go to the capital of the major universities and schools, and transfer to the imperial capital culture has thick large libraries, and appeared in the crowded airport, train station and major shopping district.
Person in charge of the scene, from the 2015 Spring Festival onwards, has sent more than 12 copies of love books to 21 provinces and autonomous regions of more than 200 poor primary schools, in the country have established 23 love library.相关的主题文章:


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We meal plan. Saves our lives I swear. Aside from switching to cash only spending it is my favorite thing we started this year. Grocery shopping with purpose not only saves ALOT of money, but you use up all the food in the pantry and fridge, not throw out half of it when it goes bad! It's brilliant! Oh, and knowing at 4pm what you're starting for dinner instead of having to figure out what you have..heaven. Pour a glass of wine, put on songza and cook away :)
Here are a few things on our plan this week-
Bacon + avocado sandwiches. They actually fill you up. I'm going to mix up a little quinoa salad to go with it. I switch out the bun to gluten free bread to make it g free-
quinoa salad with pears, walnuts + chick peas
Shephards pie. OMG, it's delish. The personal ramekins ( I use french onion soup bowls because that's what I have ) are so fun. The kids love it too. This one is gluten free-
Asian lettuce wraps, so fun for everyone to get their hands messy ;)
Gallery Wall just went past the 600 item sold mark. Thank you SO much. I have so much fun with the paintings and answering your $10 questions. If you don't see quite what you'd like in the shop have a peek through the sold items, I can remake any piece there for you, custom for the same $10 price :) Colors + styles can all be switched up to make it work for you! xx
design philosophy | providing a foundation to grow and alter through the years, I keep the core basic and layer in the current, creating a room that is innately yours. I believe great interiors are not found in one shop. I know you should feel a sense of calm in your space as well as balance, and revel in that gut feeling that it's the right fit. DESIGN SERVICES start at only 10.00. See Sarah Swanson Design at the top left of this blog!
February 8, 2013
what's for dinner, drink wine instead of worrying + a huge thanks to you!
posted by Unknown at 8.2.13
3 comments:
- Julie said...
I couldn't agree more about meal planning. There are so many benefits to it. I really love hearing about your budgeting and that you've gone cash only. It's motivation for those of us who are doing the same. Have a wonderful weekend!
- February 8, 2013 at 11:18 AM
- Natalie {Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers} said...
I need to be better at meal planning. I might have to try out the Sheppards Pie and the Asian lettuce wraps! Yummy!
- February 8, 2013 at 1:05 PM
- Sarah said...
Love all the food - the avocado and bacon sounds delish - have a great weekend! ;-)
- February 8, 2013 at 4:42 PM
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Chinese is spoken by more people than any other language in the world. Since estimates of the current population of China are only approximate, figures for the number of speakers of Chinese must likewise be approximate. An educated guess would be about 1.1 billion in the People's Republic of China, to which must be added another 20 million on Taiwan, 5 million in Hong Kong, 4 million in Malaysia, l¾ million in Singapore, one million in Vietnam, and lesser numbers in other countries including the United States. Thus Chinese has more than twice the number of speakers of English, though of course it lacks the universality of English and is spoken by few people not of Chinese origin. Chinese has been an official language of the United Nations since the founding of the organization in 1945.
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Hi all, I'm 29 male looking for tennis partners, between 4.0 and 5.0 (male or female), for hitting and playing matches this weekend anytime.
I'm near the Galleria Area, but I can move if the court is not so far away.
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Hi Tino, what about playing sat around 4 pm?
I'm new in the city, I'll check for courts around the Galleria.
Do you know any court? Do we need to book in advance?
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If you're afraid of flying, you don't apply for a job in the cockpit for United or American Airlines. If you cannot descend a ladder in full three-alarm regalia with a properly weighted sandbag slung over your shoulder, firefighting shouldn't be your bag. And if you accept employment at a Wall Street firm, you don't stroll in on your first morning making demands about "green" investing and the dress code.
Well, you can try, I suppose. That's what Royce White continues to do in the ill-advised stand he's taking against the Houston Rockets, who suspended the rookie forward on Jan. 6 for refusing to report to their NBA Development League affiliate.
Two days later, White sat for an interview with HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" show that will air Tuesday. He explained to correspondent Bernard Goldberg why he wants the Rockets to hire a mental health professional who could, on an ongoing basis, assess his fitness to play through the anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders he suffers.
Asked what it would mean if, for instance, the doctor determined that White wasn't mentally capable of playing in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on a given night, the 6-foot-8, 270-pound product of Iowa State said: "Then I can't play against the Lakers."
He continued:
"Just like if your doc … if your orthopedist says, 'Royce's left toe has a crack in it and he shouldn't run or jump against the Lakers tonight,' then I can't run or jump against the Lakers tonight."
White said the only difference between his disorder and an orthopedic injury is "you can't see mine. There's no swelling, so to speak. It's not purple."
Emotions over White's difficult and delayed first season with the Rockets intensified when the player went public with demands that his contract be re-written to include binding medical protocols to treat his disorders like any physical condition. That would violate the NBA standard player's contract.
In the HBO interview, White told Goldberg that not playing or practicing without the necessary precaution of a neutral physician's input would be "risking my life."
"What comes along with mental health that goes untreated? Alcohol abuse. Marijuana abuse. Suicidal behavior. Homicidal behavior. Those are things I'm not willing to risk to play basketball, to have money, to have fame."
The Rockets declined to be interviewed for the 16-minute segment. White's $3.3 million guaranteed rookie contract is dwindling while he's suspended. Goldberg asks Royce in the piece to respond to a fan's perspective of "Who do you think you are? … Who are you to tell a team what the rules are?"
That is the bottom line for many. Some see White as a pioneer for mental health assessments within pro sports. Others want him to shut up and play, or go find another job where he can be healthy and happy.
Remember, the NBA process of seeding new talent each spring – though it's called a draft – doesn't compel young players to participate. White is free to pursue any line of work that he chooses – his ability to stay employed hinges on satisfying his bosses.
And even in a culture where a school teacher can sue her district because she has a phobia of young children, some people don't embrace the idea of a new hire dictating terms to the private workplace.
White tells Goldberg that the power of his argument shouldn't be based on how many points or rebounds he already has accrued as a basketball player. "I'm a human being, that's it," he says.
And – to his credit, if he's being honest – the Rockets' estranged rookie says that that he is willing to forego his NBA career, if that's the alternative.
"Yes," White said, "but I'm not going to accept it without a fight."


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Bits and Pieces
This is a new type of entry that will just be some pieces of information that I've gotten, mostly just some scouting rumblings about trends on players.
The first entry is obviously not about new information from the past month or so, but just trends that have evolved since the summer showcases. This newer info shapes follow lists for the coming scouting season, so just keep these in mind when looking at players.
–Justin O'Conner has indeed been working on a possible full-time transition from shortstop to catcher, and a successful transition would vault O'Conner's stock into the mid first-round range. He's got the tools for it, but so do other big prep catching busts, so nothing's certain yet.
-O'Conner's catching stock may be going up, but less scouts are sure of Stefan Sabol's future behind the plate. There's a good possibility that teams won't even be looking at Sabol as a catcher anymore, as there's a strong possibility he'll be an outfielder in the long-run. O'Conner's transition will greatly impact Sabol's future, since a successful transition for O'Conner would likely tank Sabol's stock, as he'd no longer be in consideration for the top prep catching spot.
–Yordy Cabrera probably won't be drafted with shortstop in mind for his long-term future. That probably doesn't come as a shock to most people, but I'm finding less and less scouts that want to even give Cabrera a long look at the position, with third base or the outfield being the possible destinations. I like Cabrera's chances at the hot corner.
-I think we're all well-versed in the James Paxton situation by now, but I just wanted to touch on it quickly. There's a lot more volatility in what might happen between now and February 19 (Kentucky's opener), and more prospects than Paxton have roles on that team that are on the line. The Wildcats carry four highly-scouted pitchers including Paxton, with Alex Meyer, Logan Darnell, and Braden Kapteyn all having their possible roles undefined in the event of a Paxton suspension. Darnell's the only 2010 pitcher in the bunch, but this sort of fluidity has a big impact on a team.
-One name that I keep hearing is that of Dylan Covey. When I did my first 2010 mock, Covey was clearly behind the triumvirate of Taillon, Cole, and Whitson, but many scouts I've talked to now prefer Covey to Whitson, and Covey offers a little less projection, but a tad more polish than Cole, leading some to wonder if Covey if this year's Matt Hobgood. I don't have a big enough handle on it yet, but I get the feeling that Covey could explode with a big spring, and his upside is better than Hobgood's.
-Guys with sinking draft stock currently include Kris Bryant, Yasmani Grandal, Drew Pomeranz, and Kevin Keyes. Keyes was never in the class of the other names here, but with his weight balloon and shift to first base, he's lost a lot of scouting value.
These are just a few bits of information that I wanted to share before I get to work on some more 2010 pieces. The draft order is getting a little more settled, and when Jason Bay's deal is official, Matt Holliday's finally made his decision, which looks more and more like a return to St. Louis, and Jose Valverde has signed, the 2010 first-round draft order will be in place.
At that point, I'll release my updated 2010 mock, which will be more accurate to current scouting profiles.
Hope you and yours had a great holiday season.


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Alternative Modalities
> Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Related terms
Related Terms
asana, Ashtanga yoga, Ayurveda, bheda, Bikram yoga, brahma nadi, chakra, chanting, cleansing techniques, dhyana, gentle yoga, guided imagery, hatha yoga, hot yoga, householder yoga, Iyengar yoga, Integral yoga, Jivamukti yoga, kirtan, Kripalu yoga, kriya, laya yoga, mantra, meditation, muladhara chakra, poses, postures, potential energy, power yoga, prana, pranayama, proprioceptive physical activity, raja, relaxation, Yoya Yoga, Sahaja Yoga, shavasana, subtle body, Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), therapeutic yoga, transcendental meditation (TM), visualization, yoga nidra, yoga therapy, yogic breathing, yui.
Not included in this review
: Forms of yoga other than Kundalini Yoga. For a review of related evidence, please visit Natural Standard's Complementary Practices Database, or click on these links to selected topics:
Relaxation therapy
Kundalini Yoga is one of many traditions of yoga that share common roots in ancient Indian philosophy. It is comprehensive in that it combines physical poses with breath control exercises, chanting (mantras), meditations, prayer, visualizations, and guided relaxation. It is an elaborate system focused on healing and "purifying" the mind, body, and emotions. Kundalini Yoga incorporates many aspects of other forms of yoga as well as related techniques of meditation and relaxation. It also offers teachings for all aspects of life including diet (vegetarian), serving others, and yogic life skills such as conscious parenting and partnering. However, the emphasis is more on breathing and meditation exercises, and less on challenging physical postures to build strength or flexibility, as is the emphasis in some other forms of yoga. Kundalini Yoga uses
, specially formulated sets of exercises. There are traditional Indian kriyas and there are adapted Western versions.
Kundalini Yoga is advocated as a way to keep the body in good condition and train the mind to be resilient and flexible in response to stress and change. Advocates claim that it increases oxygen capacity, boosts blood flow, balances the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system, and increases self-awareness, vitality, peace of mind, concentration, and self-confidence. It is recommended for people of all ages.
The word "kundalini" stems from a Sanskrit term meaning "circular, coiled". It refers to the concept of the original creative energy of the universe, which is believed to be coiled up in a dormant state at the base of the spine in the coccyx. The practices are intended to awaken and activate this primal energy. It is believed that as kundalini awakens it uncoils and rises upward through the body, purifying the person in body, mind and spirit.
The famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung was interested in Kundalini Yoga as a supplement to his psychological theories. In 1932, Jung gave a series of lectures on Kundalini Yoga in Zurich (published under the title
The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga
by Princeton University Press in 1966). Yogi Bhajan, founder of the 3HO Foundation, introduced Kundalini Yoga in the West in 1969 with the goal of helping ordinary people to live healthy, conscious lives.
While research in the broader field of yoga has documented benefits for stress reduction and quality of life in a variety of health conditions, including cancer, there has been little formal research in the techniques specific to Kundalini Yoga. More studies are needed to evaluate the contributions of Kundalini Yoga practices in health.
Kundalini Yoga regards the human being as having an energy system through which the energies of life circulate.
There are two basic kinds of energy of interest in Kundalini Yoga:
Prana is the name for the life force or vital energy. Prana is believed to circulate through a network of energy channels called
which roughly parallel the nervous system. Prana is taken in through the breath (the term "pranayama" refers to a variety of breathing exercises used in Kundalini Yoga).
Kundalini energy, the original creative force of the universe, is a powerful and transformative force, which is only aroused through diligent and dedicated practice of Kundalini Yoga.
Prana and kundalini energy, when awakened, circulate through three major nadis (the
, the
, and the
), which begin at the base of the spine and intertwine as they make their way to the crown of the head.
There are seven major energy centers where the nadis intertwine called
. These are vertically aligned up the center of the body from the base of the pelvis to the crown of the head. The chakras are like spinning discs or spheres of energy, and function like portals or gateways through which energy enters and leaves the body. Each chakra is believed to govern and energize a particular part of our physiology.
The chakras, their locations, and the biological systems they are believed to influence are as follows:
First charka
: Location: perineum. Influences: urogenital system.
Second chakra
: Location: just below navel. Influences: urogenital system.
Third chakra
: Location: solar plexus. Influences: digestive system.
Fourth chakra
: Location: heart. Influences: circulatory system.
Fifth chakra
: Location: throat. Influences: respiratory system.
Sixth chakra
: Location: forehead. Influences: central nervous system.
Seventh chakra
: Location: crown of head. Influences: central nervous system.
There are lesser nadis, which spread out from the major nadis bringing prana throughout the body. There are many smaller chakras as well, such as in the palms of the hands and finger tips.
The seven chakras are also believed to be connected to seven subtle energy bodies, believed to comprise the human
or energy field surrounding the body. These subtle bodies are believed to be layered over the physical body, beginning at the surface of the skin and extending out several inches.
With proper practice of Kundalini Yoga and much patience, it is believed that the powerful kundalini energy lying dormant at the base of the spine awakens and makes its journey up through the chakra system, in turn fully energizing each chakra and enabling the person to realize his or her potential as a fully integrated, spiritual being.
Evidence Table
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.
One case series report, but no formal clinical trials, suggests that breathing techniques used in Kundalini Yoga may help people with angina pectoris reduce symptoms and need for medication (
). Formal clinical trials are needed to explore this application of Kundalini Yoga before a conclusion can be made regarding efficacy.
A specific breathing technique of Kundalini Yoga reputed to help prevent heart attacks was examined in one study to determine its effects on heart function. The technique is a one breath per minute respiratory exercise with slow inspiration for 20 seconds, breath retention for 20 seconds, and slow expiration for 20 seconds, for 31 consecutive minutes. The technique was found to stabilize the heart's electrical wave patterns, which may have preventive value in heart health. More studies are needed to determine whether this exercise has tangible effects on heart-related problems (
Breathing exercises are an important part of Kundalini Yoga. There is some evidence from studies with healthy volunteers that use of certain breathing techniques (e.g., breathing solely through one nostril or the other) may improve different aspects of cognitive functioning (
). More studies are needed to determine if these techniques can reliably be used to improve cognitive performance and possibly aid in treating cognitive and nervous system disorders.
There is evidence from one small clinical trial where Kundlini Yoga was practiced (combination of asana, pranayama, and meditation), suggesting benefit in depression (
). More trials are needed to establish whether this is a viable therapy for depression before a recommendation can be made.
One small study suggests improved sleep quality with the help of a regime of Kundalini Yoga practices (
). However, there is insufficient evidence on which to base recommendations for or against this intervention for insomnia.
Two small clinical trials have examined a specific multi-faceted regime of Kundalini Yoga techniques for obsessive-compulsive disorder. These two studies suggested broad psychological benefits (reduced anxiety and depression) from the practices as well as reduced symptoms of OCD for up to 19 months (
). Both studies were limited by small sample size, inadequate control group, and incomplete description of randomization, therefore more studies are needed before recommendations for or against this approach can be made for OCD.
* Key to grades
: Strong scientific evidence for this use
: Good scientific evidence for this use
: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
Tradition / Theory
The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.
Addiction (), altitude sickness (), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), back pain, cancer, childbirth preparation, chronic pain, depressive disorder (major), dyslexia, dyspnea (), epilepsy (), fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders (due to stress relief) (), grief, heart attack (), HIV/AIDS, joint pain/stiffness, hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood), lung infections, menopause, mental illness (), migraine (), multiple sclerosis (), musculoskeletal conditions, neck pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, overall well being, phobias, premenstrual syndrome, psychiatric disorders, rehabilitation (;), rheumatoid arthritis (), seasonal affective disorder, sensory integration disorder, sex offender rehabilitation (), shortness of breath, sleep disorders, slow (delayed) ejaculation, stomach upset, stress, stress (occupational) (), substance abuse, thyroid disease, upper respiratory infections.
Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.
The breathing exercises can be adapted for a wide variety of specific needs, including for people who are bed-ridden or wheelchair-bound. The techniques are believed to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding when practiced under the guidance of expert instruction - in fact, the popular Lamaze techniques are based on yogic breathing.
Some of the breathing techniques can induce an altered state of consciousness. People with mental disorders should use these techniques only under the guidance of a qualified teacher of Kundalini Yoga.
The postures used in Kundalini Yoga are generally considered to be safe in healthy individuals when practiced appropriately, and have been well tolerated in studies with few side effects. However, some yoga positions and postures should not be used by people with certain conditions or illnesses. People with disc disease of the spine, fragile or atherosclerotic neck arteries, risk for blood clots, extremely high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, detachment of the retina, ear problems, severe osteoporosis, or cervical spondylitis should avoid some poses. Any yoga should be supervised by a well-qualified teacher.
Teachers of yoga are generally not medically qualified and should not be regarded as sources of medical advice for management of clinical conditions.
This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (
Friedell, A. Automatic attentive breathing in angina pectoris. Minnesota Medicine 1948;31:875-881.
Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S. An introduction to Kundalini yoga meditation techniques that are specific for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. J Altern.Complement Med 2004;10(1):91-101.
Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S., Boyle, M. R., and Buebel, M. E. The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on cognition. Int J Neurosci. 1991;57(3-4):239-249.
Jella, S. A. and Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S. The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on cognitive performance. Int.J Neurosci. 1993;73(1-2):61-68.
Devi S, Chansouria JP, Malhotra OP, and et al. Certain neuroendocrine responses following the practice of Kundalini yoga. Alternative Medicine 1986;1(3):247-255.
Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. Complementary healthcare practices. Stress management for gastrointestinal disorders: the use of kundalini yoga meditation techniques. Gastroenterol.Nurs. 2002;25(3):126-129.
Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S. and Beckett, L. R. Clinical case report: efficacy of yogic techniques in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorders. Int J Neurosci. 1996;85(1-2):1-17.
Shannahoff-Khalsa DS, Ray LE, Levine S, and et al. Randomized controlled trial of yogic meditation techniques for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. CNS Spectrums 1999;4(12):34-47.
Nespor, K. and Cs, emy L. [Alcohol and drugs in Central Europe--problems and possible solutions]. Cas.Lek.Cesk. 8-22-1994;133(16):483-486.
Bernardi, L., Passino, C., Wilmerding, V., Dallam, G. M., Parker, D. L., Robergs, R. A., and Appenzeller, O. Breathing patterns and cardiovascular autonomic modulation during hypoxia induced by simulated altitude. J Hypertens. 2001;19(5):947-958.
Maevskii, A. A. [A complex of breathing exercises (hatha yoga) to arrest the developing attacks of dyspnea in bronchial asthma]. Klin Med (Mosk) 1995;73(4):87-88.
Puskarich, C. A., Whitman, S., Dell, J., Hughes, J. R., Rosen, A. J., and Hermann, B. P. Controlled examination of effects of progressive relaxation training on seizure reduction. Epilepsia 1992;33(4):675-680.
Bulavin, V. V., Kliuzhev, V. M., Kliachkin, L. M., Lakshmankumar, Zuikhin, N. D., and Vlasova, T. N. [Elements of yoga therapy in the combined rehabilitation of myocardial infarct patients in the functional recovery period]. Vopr.Kurortol.Fizioter.Lech.Fiz Kult. 1993;(4):7-9.
Sharma, I. and Singh, P. Treatment of neurotic illnesses by yogic techniques. Indian J Med Sci. 1989;43(3):76-79.
Reilly, R. Acute and prophylactic treatment of migraine. Nurs.Times 7-20-1994;90(29):35-36.
Winterholler, M., Erbguth, F., and Neundorfer, B. [The use of alternative medicine by multiple sclerosis patients-- patient characteristics and patterns of use]. Fortschr.Neurol.Psychiatr. 1997;65(12):555-561.
Schumacher J. Rehab for the heart. Yoga Journal 1985;(May/June):15-17.
Telles, S. and Naveen, K. V. Yoga for rehabilitation: an overview. Indian J Med Sci. 1997;51(4):123-127.
Anonymous. Yoga relieves RA. Pulse of the Montana State Nurses Association 1991;May:2518.
Anonymous. Yoga, meditation, help teen sex offenders. J Psychosoc.Nurs.Ment.Health Serv. 1999;37(6):6.
Nespor, K. [Occupational stress in health personnel and its prevention. Possible use of yoga]. Cas.Lek.Cesk. 8-3-1990;129(31):961-964.
Copyright © 2011 Natural Standard (
The information in this monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. Information is based on review of scientific research data, historical practice patterns, and clinical experience. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions.
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Recently on Twitter, Barry Eisler asked with sincerity, "Why would anyone want to join the Authors Guild?"
Bestselling author and celebrated indie, CJ Lyons, whom the AG mentioned as an example of diversity, responded with, "What's your wish list for a Guild?"
Barry didn't miss a beat, and immediately replied that the Authors Guild should change its name to reflect its fundamental purpose, because the Guild clearly represents legacy publishers more than it represents writers.
Which is demonstrably true. Barry and I have done so much to prove that the Authors Guild cares more about publishers than writers that I'm not going to even bother linking to all of our posts. Do a search for "authors guild" on my blog and Barry's.
I tweeted to CJ, who is the Guild's executive Council, that she could email me and I'd give her my Guild wish list. (CJ is on the road, but she just CJ kindly responded in the comments.) It got me thinking what an actual name-representative Authors Guild would do for authors.
So here is my wish list:
1. Support the authors in the Harlequin lawsuit and fight to get their backlist rights returned. Then do the same for all members who want to get their backlist rights returned.
It's no secret I got my rights back, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other authors who want theirs back, too. It's the single most asked-question I get via email, and my required response is that my publishers and I parted amicably, which is the limit of what I can say. I can't help. But the AG could.
2. Draft a petition to raise ebook royalties for all authors. If a publisher doesn't comply, these authors will no longer submit work to that publisher. If you could align with a like-minded AAR, real change could be instituted.
The Guild has stated publicly that they don't believe 25% of net is fair. Well, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
3. Demand that unconscionable contract terms are removed in legacy boilerplate, including holding rights for term of copyright, impossible rights reversion clauses, the elimination of non-compete clauses, the elimination of first option clauses.
A guild for authors would not only pressure publishers to return rights that they're sitting on without making any discernible profit, but it would also use attorneys to get the DOJ to examine the unconscionability of publishing contracts. I can't think of a more lopsided abuse of power than the paper oligopoly controlled by the Big Publishing cartel for the last fifty years, and how many authors have been forced to take ridiculously one-sided terms in order to get their books into bookstores.
Seriously. This is perfect for a class action suit.
4. Pressure Hachette into taking one of Amazon's offers to monetarily compensate Hachette authors for the duration of the negotiations.
Hachette authors are hurting. Amazon tried three times to help them. But the AG showed its true colors; that it is more concerned about Hachette than Hachette's authors.
Barry Eisler added: Instead of reflexively supporting a publisher like Hachette in a dispute with a retailer like Amazon (can't imagine why "Publishers Guild" has become a punchline), exploit the dispute to authors' advantage. For example, communicate to Hachette that the AG will offer it no support — or better yet, that it will publicly support Amazon — unless Hachette issues a press release by a certain date promising all the reforms laid out in this blog post.
5. Find some actual group health insurance that benefits authors who live someplace other than New York.
Years ago I looked into joining the AG for that reason: affordable health insurance. Their plan was slightly worse than me paying cash for all of my medical expenses, plus my neighbor's medical expenses. A guild of 9000 members can't get a better rate than I can get for myself with Blue Cross/Blue Shield?
6. Disseminate information for heirs on dealing with IP after the author passes away. I've already paid a lawyer to do this for me. You can build off of her work. I'll send you the trust document.
7. Coordinate with David Gaughran to petition and publicly disapprove of any publisher engaged in vanity publishing. As far as I'm concerned, Gaughran should be a paid consultant for the Guild on this issue. And if the AG were behind him, with some legal muscle, predatory vanity publishers could be crippled, if not erased.
8. Issue an easy to understand public statement on what AG membership dues are being spent on, and where the AG is getting extra funds, if any.
The Guild has 9000 members each paying $90 a year... for what? Where is that money going? I know that as a non-profit their tax returns are available to the public, but I'd love to see some itemized breakdowns. As Barry asked, why should anyone join the Authors Guild?
9. Stop spending time and money trying to combat piracy. It's time and money wasted. Also, have you stopped appealing the Google ruling yet? More time and money wasted.
10. Offer a directory of vetted, recommended third parties who can assist authors in self-publishing. Cover artists, proofers, editors, ebook designers, etc.
11. An Author's Guild worthy of the name would be all over the legacy practice of paying out royalties only twice a year.
As suggested in the comments by Barry Eisler: In the 21st century, this practice is a disgrace and it's astonishing that anyone can take it remotely seriously. Yes, I know legacy publishers earn millions of dollars in interest by holding onto that money for six months at a time instead of putting it in author pockets promptly. But why does the "Authors Guild" let them get away with it?
Hint: a cynic might suspect it's because fat cats like Scott Turow, the former Guild president, get paid advances so large it's understood they will never earn out. Turow himself, in a rare moment of clarity and candor, acknowledged as much: "Best-selling authors have the market power to negotiate a higher implicit e-book royalty in our advances, even if our publishers won't admit it." So authors like Turow never get paid in royalties, meaning that for Turow, yearly, monthly, even daily payments are an irrelevance. He gets all his money upfront.
By the way, for any legacy apologist inclined to argue that paying authors more frequently than twice a year would be oh-so-difficult, Amazon pays its authors monthly. And I'd like to hear of any other business in the 21st century that pays its people twice a year.
Or to put it another way: if all legacy-publisher employees agree to switch from being paid monthly to being paid twice a year, I'll relax a bit on this issue.
I'm waiting…:)
12. Last but not least, stop censoring comments on the AG blog.
Now I realize that many of my first eleven wishes are fanciful. Maybe the Guild could help authors with estate planning, and maybe they could put together a self-pub assist directory. Those would be helpful, without requiring them to stop suckling at the legacy pub teat.
But the last one, censoring comments on their own blog when their mission statement brags they are committed to the "protection of authors' rights under the First Amendment," should be essential.
For those unfamiliar with the First Amendment, there's a small mention in it about something called Freedom of Speech.
Barry mentioned in the comments (and I should have just written this in conjunction with him since I keep adding his thoughts): On that same page the Authors Guild states it is "the nation's leading advocate for writers' interests in effective copyright protection, fair contracts and FREE EXPRESSION..."
I think any reasonable person would say that the AG censoring comments on their own blog runs contrary to the very writing freedoms they purport to defend.
Fail. A heaping plateful of fail with a side order of hypocrisy, washed down with a large glass of stupid.
This attitude extends beyond the Legacy Pub...er... Authors Guild. Pundit Mike Shatzkin has deleted so many comments, and refused to respond to critics so often, he's become a punchline. All of the critiques and fisks this blog and others have lobbed at Patterson, Turow, Russo, Maass, et al have gone unanswered. Have you no shame? Have you no pride?
Big props to Kensington CEO Steve Zacharius, who not only debated me on this blog, but has been seen all over the Internet sharing his opposing POV and signing his name to it. I also congratulate Michael Cader from Publishers Lunch for crossing enemy lines and actually engaging in debate.
But why are so many others, including the inappropriately named "Authors Guild", so afraid to reply to critics? Why, instead of debate, is there radio silence, censorship, and a refusal to even acknowledge alternate points of view? How is putting your fingers in your ears yelling "Nyah nyah nyah I can't hear you!" an effective survival skill?
(Barry also suggests: AG president Roxana Robinson might consider getting herself a thing called a "Twitter account." It would be an encouraging sign that she's remotely interested in what's happening in the provinces.)
I've literally begged people to fisk me. There is nothing I would enjoy more than being proven wrong. I want to learn. I want to grow. I want my mind changed so I can make better decisions.
Having an open mind, and being truly self-aware, takes discipline. We need to deliberately seek out contrary points of view to test them and weigh them against what we currently believe.
That's how we adapt, make progress, and thrive.
Because if we don't, we're on a one way trip to obsolescence.
Authors Guild, I'm looking right at you.
Saturday, August 02, 2014
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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
A Jewish immigrant from Ethiopia is looking to sue Israel's major banks for refusing to facilitate his efforts to raise money for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The man complains that Israel's four largest banks have not allowed him to open accounts for taking in donations toward this goal, nor have they approved any of his loan requests.
He is seeking $35 million in damages, though the lawsuit is unlikely to get off the ground, as Israel's legal system mandates a court fee equalling 2.5 percent of any large claims in order to deter frivolous lawsuits.
In his appeal to the court, the man recalled his arrival in the Land in 1991:
"We had tears in our eyes and we kissed the land when we arrived. But we later learned that the Temple was not yet built. Now God has revealed Himself to me and placed upon me the responsibility to rebuild the Temple. I have been collecting donations for this purpose, but I have been facing opposition to this plan from authorities."
While the court rejected the appeal to waive the 2.5 percent court fee, the judge was surprisingly sympathetic toward the end goal, writing, "At this point, we will have to be satisfied with the rebuilding of the Land of Israel, if not the Temple."
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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Earnings season moves into full force with technology giants and market-moving companies reporting next week.There are over 100 companies reporting earnings this week that trade over one million shares a day. For traders and investors alike, this is one of the biggest weeks of the quarter. RVBD data by YCharts
Riverbed Technology ( RVBD) Background: Riverbed Technology provides solutions to the fundamental problems associated with information technology performance across wide area networks in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Riverbed trades an average of four million shares per day with a market cap of $3.4 billion. 52-Week Range: $13.30 to $30.73 Book Value: $4.63 Price To Book: 4.68 Third-quarter earnings are highly anticipated by hopeful investors expecting reported growth report after the market closes on Thursday. The analysts' mean appraisal is presently 25 cents a share, a gain of 1 cent (4%) from 24 cents during the corresponding quarter last year. The lowest analyst estimate for this report is 25 cents per share, and the highest is 26 cents per share. If earnings come in as expected or higher, this quarter will not only beat the same period last year, but also last quarter. Despite the earnings growth, analysts are taking a tepid stand with Riverbed. A hold can mean anything, but you may be well advised to consider holds as (somewhat) glorified sell ratings. It appears 23 out of 37 now rate the company a hold, while 14 recommend buying and none of the analysts recommend selling. The stock appreciated 8.6% in the last year, and the average analyst target price for Riverbed is $21.75. The price chart illustrates analyst reluctance in endorsing the company. I like the company, but I'm not overly excited about this quarter's earnings. Listening carefully to guidance, and expect management's expectations to lead share prices for the next couple weeks. The current proportion sold short based on the float is 6.5%, and I find this much interest by short sellers worth looking at in more depth.
At the time of publication the author had no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @RobertWeinstein This article was written by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.