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Customize your control. With a D-pad that transforms from a plus to a disc, the new Wireless Controller provides ultimate precision, accuracy and control for both directional as well as sweeping movements. This distinctively-designed controller features a special edition matte silver color with a unique and premium button design, and comes complete with a Play and Charge kit to keep the game going strong.


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Thanks Again and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) have joined forces to offer airport customers valuable rewards. Now you can earn up to 5 miles per dollar spent when you park, shop, or dine at RDU and many other Airports across the United States!
For example, earn 1 mile per dollar spent when you park, shop or dine at RDU!
Plus qualify for bonus miles! Click here to learn more.
Register any credit or debit card in your wallet to earn airline miles or other rewards automatically when you use a registered credit or debit card at Airports nationwide. Click here for a list of participating Airports.
Registration only takes a few minutes and it's FREE and SECURE!

subset: commoncrawl


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Posting Independently Designed Color Guides
Ecco Tabs
Posting Independently Designed Guides on the Rapid Color Guides Website Español
Robin Foster firstname.lastname@example.com - December 2009
Environment, Culture & Conservation Division, The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 USA
The advantages of having us produce your guide, instead of posting something you have designed as described here, is that it: saves you the trouble; we can use our experience in Photoshop and design to make images and pages that usually look better than most people seem to do; we can quickly edit names or replace photos when changes are needed; and we provide ~20 free laminated (2-sided) sheets to the author.
The disadvantage is that we have a backlog of guides to make, so there is a delay, and the guide may not be designed in a way that you need or like. We are reluctant to make complicated guides that are different from our standard formats, since those take longer to produce. But you may want to take that time, and design a guide differently.
The guides that are not really produced by us, but are posted on this website after our approval, are numbered starting with X. If you review the "X" guides we have posted, you can see that some are much better than others. In almost all cases we wish we could improve some of the images or the design, and it pains us that we cannot, but we approve them anyway because they meet the basic requisites: that the images are good enough to distinguish the species, the information is mostly correct, and the guide will be useful to others.
Some details we require on the posted guides are:
- a title that is appropriate to the content, i.e. not 'Araceae of the Upper Amazon' when it is really 'Araceae of Reserva Bruja' or something like that
- appropriate acknowledgment of funding sources and other assistance, without being excessive
- recognition of the photographers, other than the authors, for each photo, either under the photo or listed in the titles
- serious consideration to making another person co-author if they either took a large percentage of the photos or identified a large percentage of the species
- the e-mail address of the author(s) so that people who want to suggest corrections or make comments will contact the author first, and not us
- a version number and date in the lower-right of the titles section, such as version 1, 01/2009.
You can get ideas on styles from the more recent of our guides. We need to re-do the titles on many of our older guides. We suggest that the guides have bilingual title information (most practical on alternate pages) to be attractive to a broader audience, but we will accept guides using only one language. We also suggest that you try not to waste space and to keep the number of pages to a minimum, so that it will not be so expensive for people who want to print it. High-quality color printing is still expensive.
Our method in Photoshop, when the original image is on the screen:
- Click on the cropping tool, set at the top of the screen to Width: 375 px, Height: 500 px, Resolution: 250 pixels/inch, to optimally sample the pixels of the large image to make the smaller one.
- Lightly "burn" excessively light areas of the background and "dodge" dark areas of the plant, and adjust the sharpness, contrast, and light levels as needed.
- "Save As" the reduced and modified image with a different file name (usually with abbreviations for family, genus, species, etc.) or in a different folder so as not to lose the original by replacing it. Always a good idea to keep a back-up of the originals before working on them.
All guides posted on our site can also be posted on any other site that the author chooses. Or another site can place a link to connect to a guide on this site. On our site we keep records of how many times and to what countries they are downloaded every week. There are now on average of more than 3000 full guides downloaded from our site each week, and each guide is usually downloaded in 60 or more countries.


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Email your pictures to Doug Darr. Let me know the date caught and the bait used. Send me the name if the angler, if you want the name posted.
We are still looking to certify lake record largemouth bass (8-pound minimum) and spotted bass (4-pound minimum). We also have an angler recognition program for other sport fish.
About Us | Contact | Links | Photo Gallery | Alabama.Gov | Legal Information | En Español
Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources©2008 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130


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The Montauk Lighthouse, via Alex.Benn/Flickr.
Guest Post by Alexandra Jacobs
When people think of an ideal green vacation spot, The Hamptons might not be the first place to come to mind – but it should be. With green B&B's, tons of outdoor activities, miles of beach and plenty of local food, you can even get there from NYC via public transportation (can't get more eco-friendly than that).
Located on the far-east end of Long Island, New York, The Hamptons draws crowds of all ages, from retired power couples to twenty-something fashionistas. Once a vacation destination for the rich and famous, (and it is still that) the area known as the Hamptons, which is comprised of the towns and hamlets of Easthampton and Southampton, plus surrounding areas, offer accommodations and activities for a variety of budgets. Despite being known for some of the most expensive real estate in the United States, travelers will be pleased to know that not everything in The Hamptons will break the bank.
Image courtesy of the Art House B&B.
Stay and Chill Out, Hamptons-Style
The towns that make up the Hamptons could definitely be described as a bit 'quaint' and offer travelers a unique experience filled with charm and mini-adventures. To gain a true Hamptons experience, the traveler doesn't have to own a Hamptons House but rather just stay at a famed bed and breakfast (or you can rent a house, a popular option in the summertime months).
One of the most popular B&B's is A Butler's Manor, in Southampton. With rooms ranging in price from $150-$395, visitors can expect to receive charming accommodations, gluten-free breakfasts, and an intimate common room with log-fire, (as well as dinner and tour suggestions offered by the veteran-resident owners of the Manor). With a little help from these locals, you'll find whatever it is that you're into discovering (even if that's just sleeping in followed by a great latte).
East Hampton Art House Bed and Breakfast is another top rated bed and breakfast in East Hampton. While rooms are a little on the pricey side (starting at $500 a night), travelers will not be disappointed when they step inside this impressive bed and breakfast, complete with giant pool, hot tub with waterfall, and just a one-block walk to the nearby Clearwater Beach Preserve and Marina. "Step outside into the silent beauty of a country setting; be greeted by a million stars at night or perhaps a giant moon rising in the woods surrounding the house; sight deer, turtles, possum, wild turkeys." Need we say the breakfast is pretty amazing too?
The Mill House Inn in East Hampton has rooms ranging in price from a couple hundred a night to quadruple that, but for all guests, the Inn is an eco- friendly facility, down to details that include linens made of natural materials. The breakfast menu is extensive and includes the house-specialty lobster frittata and the 'not-so-traditional' omlettes like one that includes shrimp, tasso and andouille and even 'sandwiches for breakfast'. Vegans and those seeking organic options will be glad to know that The Mill House Inn can accommodate all sorts of diets.
A Southampton beach, taken by spacebarpark/Flickr
Go, See, Do
There's plenty to do in the Hamptons and perhaps surprisingly, the area has a large number of activities that are either inexpensive or free. In an area as lovely as it is, simply being outside can satisfy the interests of nature lovers. Biking, hiking, and boating are all recreational options that are both inexpensive and fun.
Of course, The Hamptons is known for its beaches, like the 7-mile long Coopers Beach (which was named best in the United States) and Gin Beach, are popular among both tourists and locals. But there are plenty more – check out New York Magazine's list of the top 10 in and around the area, and make it a goal to check out at least half of them (vacation challenge!).


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Major Brand 12mm Santo Andre Brazilian Cherry Laminate
Quick Installation Tips:
Please note this product does not have attached padding.
***Order quantities limited to 1000 sf per household.***
Lumber Liquidators recommends the use of our Bellawood Premium underlayment or ECO Silent Sound underlayment. These quality underlayments will best support the joints while ensuring superior thermal sound reduction qualities and are highly recommended for use with condominium associations, project planners and building specifiers.
Summary of Advantages:
- No nails, and no glue needed!
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Please click here to download Adobe Reader.
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Best Uses
Reviewed by 14 customers
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We installed this laminates in our basement (~800sq ft). My husband and I did not have any experience doing any flooring or any DIY projects at home prior to this. I was surprised at how easy it was and how beautiful it turned out! Everyone thought we had them installed professionally.
Best Uses
This product is quite poor. I am a very handy person who put vinyl plank flooring down the day before I did this laminate. This floor was a disaster. It doesn't "click". It separates, and gaps on you. Poor quality and performance.
Best Uses
Looks great
Best Uses
Love finished look of product. Sorry it didn't have attached padding. Extra work.
Best Uses
Awesome. Went together with a little wiggle waggle to get the joint going and then it snaps into place. My 4th click-lock floor.
Service and delivery comments:
The Beltsville MD store was awesome. Nina created my account over the phone and immediately took my order. I told her I needed the product with 2 weeks and she said, "Baby, that won't be a problem!". Sure enough, 1 week later and I got the call. The warehouse crew loaded my car within 10 minutes of my arrival at the store. Finally, all invoicing was spot on even with the tax exempt certificate I had AND the returns of reducer pieces I had to make. Can't say enough about this store. Thanks
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The overall look and end resultswas great. The only con is that it seems to dent easily. There are a few scratched from having assembled a desk on top of the laminate.
Best Uses
I own a painting and remodeling company. We had the boxes in the house for a week before we put it down, and it was bowed and sideways warped. Would have taken it back, but we are 60 miles away, it was already 7 PM, and our last day on the job. The edges would not click together nor go together with any amount of coaxing. The laminate was delaminating on some edges.
I would never use this product again, would certainly not recommend it. Had to use every trick learned over the past 30 some odd years to make this look presentable in the client's home. Thank goodness it was a small job- about 67 square feet. If it had been a larger job, we would have waited over the weekend to take this stuff back and get something that worked.
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Nice, high quality, cheap price.
Best Uses
I was glad to support American industry directly by buying this laminate. It was easy to intall, very low price, and dramatically improves the look and resale value of my home.
Best Uses
The flooring is a little hard to put together if your walls are not even, but at 12mm floor with that color in a 5600sq house looks wonderful.
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AnswerBox - Get answers from Staff Experts and real customers by clicking "Ask a question"
or click here to ask our Customer Service Team
Q:Is this product made in the USA? If not, where is this made?
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A:This is made in the USA.
Q:We recently bought a 25 year old manufactured home. But it definitely needs all new floor coverings. But the center of some the rooms you can tell where the 2 sides came together. So my question IS: are we going to have to put down a sub floor or will the padding/sound barrier be sufficient enough to camouflage the flaws of the seam?
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A:Please call our Tech and Installation Dept. @ (800) 366-4204 for a detailed answer to your question. Thank you for your inquiry.
Q:what does floating floor mean ? also , my floor is slanted from water damage and settling how can I use this ?
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A:Please call our Tech and Installation Dept. @ (800) 366-4204 for a detailed answer to your question. Thank you for your inquiry.
Q:Can I install this product in my basement on a concrete slab ?
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A:Yes this product can go in a basement. Thank you for your inquiry
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A:Neither; this is a laminate floor. Laminate flooring is a manmade product typically constructed with a high density fiber board core sandwiched in-between a melamine laminate backing, making them very water resistant, though not water proof. On the surface is a high quality photographic paper that has an image of wood or ceramic topped with abrasion resistant wear layer finish. Laminates with an (AC 3) Abrasion Criteria rating of 3 are well suited for light commercial applications and all Laminates or perfect for radiant heat and cement installations. Most Laminates are equipped with a built-on pre-attached pad on the back, those that do not will require an underlayment. Warranty duration in years are related to wear layer thickness and warrantees are only applicable to normal foot traffic and board construction, not moisture, scratches and dents, these are site related issues.
Q:is it padded
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A:This product does not have attached padding. Thank you for your inquiry
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A:This limited residential warranty is valid from the date of purchase of the flooring up to the number of years indicated on your invoice. Thank you for your inquiry
Q:What is the length of the individual pieces of flooring?
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A:7.96 inches. Thank you for your inquiry
Q:can it be installed in a basement on a concrete slab
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A:Yes you can. I will send the installation instructions directly to your email. Thank you for your inquiry.


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Aguanga is located in California.
Aguanga, California has a population of
Aguanga is
family-centric than the surrounding county with
12.87% of the households
containing married families with children.
The county average for households married with children is 36.3%.
The median household income in Aguanga, California is
The median household income for the surrounding county is $53,142
compared to the national median of $50,935.
The median age of people living in Aguanga is
53.1 years.
The average high temperature in July is 98.5
degrees, with an average low temperature in January of 38.3 degrees.
The average rainfall is approximately 10.3 inches
per year, with 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Real Living Lifestyles
16236 San Dieguito Rd. #4-13
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Real Estate Agents & Staff


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RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press
The Clinton Herald
---- — IOWA CITY — After leaders of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation summoned an agent to Des Moines to be fired, they mistakenly allowed him to drive two hours home in a state car equipped with a shotgun, the agency acknowledged this week.
A spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, which includes the DCI, downplayed the severity of the incident but called it an error that would not be repeated. A workplace safety consultant called the situation a major blunder, saying it created serious safety and liability concerns and showed a lack of respect for the employee, special agent Andrew Harrelson, who has recently been ordered reinstated.
"That's just stupid. You don't ever terminate someone and give them access to a company vehicle, let alone one with a shotgun in it," said Carol Fredrickson, whose Phoenix-based consulting firm advises companies on how to safely fire employees. "There's a huge liability for them. Had he shot himself, had he shot somebody else, they would have been liable."
DCI officials ordered Harrelson, a gaming enforcement officer based in Council Bluffs, in the far western part of the state, to a meeting at their Des Moines headquarters on Feb. 6. They were planning to terminate his employment after Harrelson was accused of rubbing powder on the buttocks of a male state trooper during a hazing attack at the basic training academy in 2008. Harrelson has adamantly denied the allegation.
As a first-level special agent, Harrelson was not assigned his own car. To attend the meeting, he checked out a vehicle from a state pool for the two-hour, 125-mile trip along Interstate 80, said Sgt. Scott Bright, the department spokesman.


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White and Cream Male (Skeeter)
• Male • $600
White and Cream Male (Cricket)
Pekingese-Shih Tzu Mix Puppy
• Male • $799
Red and White Parti male
• Male • $1,500
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BREED: Pekingese Puppy
INCLUDES: Upgrade now for complete access
Puppies come with FREE Pet Insurance when adopted from NextDayPets.com! *Please ensure your breeder participates
Angela Molock
Member Since: May 2008
Location: Austin, Texas


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Journal Sentinel TV and film critic Duane Dudek looks at life on the small and big screen, and some of the cool stuff on both.
Wednesday morning hot mess
I return like Rip Van Winkle.
But I haven't been sleeping, I've been in a state of hyper vigilance, looking for things of interest to pass on. I'll be working on my "Thor" review as well. Spoiler alert, I loved it!
"Thor" also contains the first blatant product placement of the summer, for this item.
Keep track of these summer movie mentions. There will be a quiz later this summer.
With fabulous prizes. Seriously.
UWM alumnus Mark Rylance wasn't the only actor with local ties to be nominated for a Tony Award - for "Jerusalem." Judith Light was also nominated for "Lombardi," for her role as the wife of the Green Bay Packers coach. The New York Times reports the play will close May 22.
Is the CBS series "The Defenders," produced by Whitefish Bay native Niels Mueller on the verge of cancellation? The LA Times calls it "likely" in this look at what shows will return. The show gets a frowny face emoticon on this graph of various shows on the bubble.
"The Defenders" also stars area native Tanya Fischer.
Perhaps he should have called it "Eating With the Stars." Episodes of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" - which promotes good nutrition -has been cancelled for the May ratings sweeps period.
Is it hot in here, or is it Dan Rather talking about his man crush on new CBS news anchor Scott Pelley?
Poynter discusses how should news media should handle gruesome photos of Bin Laden's death, if they are released.
Shave and a haircut. Conan's beard becomes a thing of the past.
Tags: Thor : Jerusalem : Rylance : Lombardi : Dan Rather : Scvott Pelley : The Defenders : Jim Belushi : Jamie Oliver : Conan's beard
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The Student Code of Conduct (SCC) is adopted by the Chicago Board of Education each year to help create a safe environment for all students and school personnel. The SCC sets forth the expected behaviors for students and a transparent process for administrators to redirect inappropriate behavior.
Parents are expected to review the SCC with their children, and encourage their children to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Students are also expected to sign the SCC receipt and exhibit appropriate behavior by following all school rules and Board policies.
The SCC is only a resource. It will take the collective efforts of students, parents, teachers and administrators to create a safe learning environment where all students can excel.
2013-2014 Chicago Public School Student Code of Conduct (English).
2013-2014 Chicago Public School Student Code of Conduct (Spanish).
2013-2014 Chicago Public School Student Code of Conduct (Polish).
Section 1: Student and Parent/Guardian Rights and Responsibilities.
Section 2: Student Code of Conduct.
Section 3: Anti-Bullying Policy.
Section 4: Additional Resources.
To view some of the documents provided on this page, you need Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, click download Adobe Acrobat Reader now and follow the instructions.


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It began in a single room at Mission Hospital more than forty years ago and this week it was announced that the Health Adventure in Asheville will close July 14th. In 1992 the Health Adventure became a part of Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center. A couple of years ago it relocated to the Biltmore Square Mall.
David Hurand spoke with the Chair of the Health Adventure Board of Advisors, Dr. Mark Knollman
about the decision to close its' doors.
The Asheville Art Museum presents a summer concert series featuring artists from the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute and Festival. WCQS is proud to partner with the museum and BMC to bring these three outstanding concerts to Asheville.
The National Education Association annual meeting is underway in Atlanta. the NEA claims to be the largest professional organization in the U.S. David Hurand spoke with the President of the North Carolina Association of Educators Rodney Ellis about the future of public education in our state. Ellis leads an organization with the stated mission of advocating for …equal access to a quality public education that is adequately and equitably funded."
Ellis is attending the NEA meeting.
Tony Kiss previews the Fourth of July holiday entertainment scene. There's quite a range of options. Joshua Bell Brevard Music Center, Ice Cube at the Orange Peel, Story-Telling, and Shindig on the Green to mention just a few of the many great things to do.
WCQS gardening expert Alison Arnold says the Summer Solstice serves as a reminder it maybe time to harvest the garlic.
Civil Rights Activists expressed surprise with the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling throwing out key provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. David Hurand spoke with University of North Carolina Asheville political scientist Dolly Jenkins Mullen about the ruling.
Western North Carolina advocates for gay rights and the right to marry are hailing today's Supreme Court ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. The Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, Reverend Jasmine Beach-Ferrara says the ruling is a big step forward but much work remains to be done in North Carolina. She spoke with David Hurand
WCQS partners with ASAP -- the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project -- for tailgate market updates, heard Thursdays and Fridays during Morning Edition (5am - 9am).
Summer is officially here! Although the season's full bounty has yet to arrive to area tailgates, produce ambassadors have been dispatched from the fields to tantalize taste buds and tell of what's to come.
The 2013 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book finds that children in the U.S. continue to make gains in education and health, despite the growing number of children who live in poverty. David Hurand spoke with Laura Speer about the well being of children living in North Carolina.
The Brevard Music Festival has begun it's 2013 season and once again WCQS is there to bring you the excitement and artistry of live concerts from this nationally known center of music performance and education.
Listen throughout the summer as WCQS and our colleagues from WDAV Davidson bring you concerts of orchestral and chamber music performed by internationally known artists such as Joshua Bell, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Keith Lockhart, JoAnn Falletta and Matthias Bamert, as well as Brevard's own artist-faculty from across the United States.


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This simple laptop stand has nothing more than you need in a portable laptop stand; a shelf to the side holds small items or paper, and your laptop sits open at an angle for easy viewing and typing. Adjusts to standing or sitting positions.
Height-Adjustable Laptop Stand Features:
Viewing assembly instructions requires Adobe Reader. You can download the latest version of Adobe Reader here.


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Availability: Hotel Indigo Paris - Opera
Please enter your travel dates.
4-star residence in Paris (Opera - Department Stores) near Paris Opera
Located in the heart of Paris, this residence is within walking distance of Edward VII Theater, Paris Opera, and Galeries Lafayette. Also nearby are Place de la Concorde and Louvre Museum.
Property Features
In addition to complimentary wireless Internet access, Hotel Indigo Paris - Opera provides a 24-hour business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and laundry facilities.
Room Amenities
Flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels. Guestrooms also feature kitchenettes, complimentary wireless Internet access, and refrigerators.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Indigo Paris - Opera Amenities
- General
Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. This 4-star property offers access to a 24-hour business center and a meeting/conference room. This Paris residence also offers multilingual staff, coffee/tea in the lobby, and concierge services.
- One meeting room
- Luggage storage
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- 24-hour business center
- Number of floors - 6
- Free Wi-Fi
- Concierge services
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
- Supervised childcare/activities (surcharge)
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Multilingual staff
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 57
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Laundry facilities
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Elevator/lift
- Internet
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi
- Room Amenities
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Bathtub only
- Flat-panel TV
- Free Wi-Fi
- Dishwasher
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Soundproofed rooms
- Climate control
- Air conditioning
- Kitchenette
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Complimentary toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Hair dryer (on request)
- Satellite TV service
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Dining
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7 AM and 10 AM.
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible path of travel
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Indigo Paris - Opera Policies & Fees
- Check-in
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
- Check-out
Check-out time is noon
- Payment types
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Diners Club, JCB International, MasterCard, Visa
- Pets
Pets allowed, Maximum number of pets per room 2
- General
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- Unless otherwise indicated, the charges below are not included in the overall room price. If not included in the overall room price, they will be charged by the property at check-in or check-out. Charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book. This property told us they will charge you for the following:
We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 1.5 per person, per night
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Breakfast fee: EUR 20 per person (approximately)
- Self parking fee: EUR 30 per day
- Pet fee: EUR 10 per pet
- Additional Details
Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section).
National Rating
- Details
This hotel has received its official star rating from the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France.


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New Zealand biologists have undertaken an extraordinary – and probably unique – effort to save a colony of endangered lesser short-tailed bats, the most land-based of the world's bats. First, they captured pregnant females, which gave birth and raised a total of 20 pups in captivity. Then they released the pups in a predator-free forest reserve on Kapiti Island, in hopes that will assign their homing instinct to this new home.
The problem that has plagued efforts to transplant bats from areas of high risk to more congenial sites is their very strong homing instinct. A previous attempt to transfer adult bats from one island to another failed when, from all indications, the bats simply flew back to their original home. New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter says that if this "cunning solution" works, it could invaluable for preserving New Zealand's two surviving bat species.
Both species, found only in New Zealand, evolved in a land almost free of ground-based predators. But now they are under constant attack by non-native animals – rats, feral cats, ferrets, weasels and possums – and by the continuing loss of habitat to farms and towns.
The lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) survives now only in a handful of locations in New Zealand. These remarkable bats spend much of the night running up tree trunks and along branches or burrowing in the leaf litter and humus on the forest floor searching for food. Such scampering is possible because of a unique method of folding their delicate wings to protect them from injury. They walk on robust hind legs and feet and use their forearms as front legs.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation captured the pregnant bats from a threatened colony on Tararua Forest Park and took them to the Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre. The 20 pups were born between Christmas 2004 and late January 2005. For about four weeks, pups were nursed by their mothers. After the young learned to fly, however, the mothers were returned to their Tararua home, and the pups were introduced to carefully selected habitat areas on Kapiti Island.
So far, the bats seem to be accepting their new home and staying put on the island.
All articles in this issue:
How much is a bat worth?
Millions of Mexican free-tailed bats live in caves and under bridges in the farm country west of San Antonio, Texas. Some farmers ...
Transplanting Endangered Baby Bats
New Zealand biologists have undertaken an extraordinary – and probably unique – effort to save a colony of endangered lesser ...
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CARRBORO — North Carolina's second-ever "bike summit" of elected officials, traffic engineers, town planners and bicycle advocates will be this weekend in Carrboro, a town that has become a nationally recognized model for bicycle-friendly communities.
The three-day event, which is modeled on an annual national summit, starts Friday morning. It was in Raleigh last year, but it moved to Carrboro this time because the town is the only municipality in the state rated as "Silver Level Bicycle Friendly" by the national League of American Bicyclists, said Heidi Perry, one of the organizers.
There will be keynote panels on topics that include municipal success stories in planning for bikes and cycling as an economic development tool. Consultants will use the event to unveil a draft of Chapel Hill's new bike master plan.
Among the host of breakout sessions will be one on municipal bike-sharing programs, focusing on the relatively new one in Charlotte and the preliminary plans for one in Raleigh.
Several other sessions will focus on aspects of bike safety, something that's foremost in local riders' thoughts after a hit-and-run accident just a few miles from the summit site on Sept. 19 that killed two cyclists. The driver still hasn't been found.
Most of the summit will be at the Hampton Inn and Suites on East Main Street in Carrboro.
The lighter side of the event includes a food truck-and-local microbrew movie night Friday at 7:30. There will be an outdoor showing of the feature film "Ride the Divide," about a 2,700-mile mountain bike race billed as the world's toughest. Presenting the film will be Carrboro resident Matt Lee, who has won the race several times.
There also will be several group rides on Sunday. The rides as well as the movie night are all open to the public without registering for the summit.
More information on the summit, including schedules, locations and how to register, is at www.ncactive.org/content/nc-bicycle-summit.
Price: 919-829-4526


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Have you gorged on scones and French fries, whirled and twirled yourself sick on rides, and checked out the amazing products that were grown, raised or made by fellow Washingtonians?
Thanks to the generosity of the folks at the Puyallup Fair, Patch was happy to give away 280 tickets this month to give readers a chance at all that and more.
We'd love to see your photos and hear about your trips to the fair, so be sure to post in "Pics & Clips," or even write a blog post. Or just tell us in the comments what you loved about the fair this year.
We've wrapped up our contest, but the fair runs through Sept. 23. So even if you didn't win tickets with Patch, you can still enjoy the last of the summer weather and take in some entertainment. You'll find fair deals and discounts here.


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The Peak
We walked on a little bit more and we finally saw a sign that points to the left!
Yay, we found it! That's where we got our combo tickets to The Peak and Madame Tussauds. We saw a lot of people in suits and formal wear...we wondered why....probably attending some event 'cause we sure didn't see them up at The Peak...
While waiting for the tram, we 'chooped' our place otherwise we might get left behind and have to wait for the next tram. We're not 'kiasu' but there were a lot of tourists from China who were damn rude. They shoved and pushed their way in and teach their kids to do the same...and when we gave them a hard look and told them off, they acted like they did nothing wrong. There were a lot of 'ang mohs' too but they were very polite. Well, most of them at least. They don't push and shove their way through...but then again, they didn't need to...looking at their sizes....you have no choice but to give way or you'll get squashed like a cockroach.
Nope, I didn't tilt the camera...just that everything looked slanted when we were in the moving tram. We got a bit of ear pressure too at a higher point. We headed for Madame Tussauds first(see previous post on 'Meet the Stars' - May archive). After that, we went about 2 or 3 escalators up to the roof to reach The Peak. Once you're at the top, the view is TRULY beautiful. We were there at night so we could see the lighted up buildings and the moon shining over....oh I don't how to describe it but it was really pretty. The strong breeze and cold air probably froze our camera...so a lot of pics came out blurry. We loved The Peak. The view was magnificent...although I was afraid of heights...hehe...but i do wanna try jumping out of a plane someday :D ...with a parachute of course! Sky diving! Thrilling!
This is how Hong Kong Island looks like at night from atop.
There were these big houses on the hills like what you see in the picture above. We think it's where the super rich people live.
We came out of the washroom and discovered a door that led to a pathway where we can take a walk out and climb the stairs to somewhere...we didnt bother to explore around 'cause we were too cold and wanted to get back inside the buiding. The wind was very strong that night. Check out my latest lion hairdo. Haha.
Back in the building, we found this place that was nice to just relax and enjoy a warm drink for a bit. Especially after walking around so much for days and days...we appreciated the short break...our poor feet needed it. Shiella and I shared a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallow bits! Did I already mention that Hong Kong has some really nice yummy sweet stuffs? :D Oh and we brought home their serviettes as souvenirs! We were planning to put those together with our pics in a nice album...hmm...I wonder if we'll ever get that one done...From where we were seating, we could see the Symphony of Lights show which starts at 8pm nightly. Will tell you more about that one in my next post!
How we got there:
There are 3 ways to get there.
1) By Peak Tram *Recommended!*- Take the Peak Tram to the Peak Tower.
2) By Bus -
Route No. 15 - First Bus
Central (Exchange Square) to The Peak
Daily: 6:15am - 12:15am (from Central)
Daily: 7:00am - 1:00am (from The Peak)
Frequency: 13-30 minutes
Route No. 15B - First Bus
Tin Hau to The Peak
Sundays and Public Holidays only :
10:00am - 7:00pm (from Tin Hau)
10:40am - 7:40pm (from The Peak)
Frequency: 20 minutes
3) By Mini Bus - Minibus No. 1
Central (Two IFC) to The Peak
Daily: 6:30am - 12:00am (from Central)
Daily: 7:10am - 12:25am(from The Peak)
Frequency: 10-12 minutes
Opening hours: Viewing Terrace, Sky Gallery Roof Top (10am-11pm)
Admission Fee: Admission is free for Viewing Terrace and Sky Gallery Roof. The only fees you have to pay is the ride up to The Peak, depending on which of the 3 modes of transport you choose.
1) Peak Tram: HK$22 (Single), HK$33 (Return). We bought the package combo (Madame Tussauds + 2-Way Peak Tram Ride) which is much cheaper.
2) Bus: HK$9.2 (Route No. 15), HK$9.1 (Route No. 15B)
3) Mini Bus: HK$8
Taxis are also a convenient way of getting to the peak, although it's slightly more expensive compared to the other modes of travel.
For more information, visit http://www.thepeak.com.hk/full/en/peak_tram.php
Shieza A.


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Preterm birth is one of our most challenging public health issues. It is the major cause for infant death in North Carolina and a key reason we rank among the top 10 states in infant mortality.
Senate Bill 132 requires that the state's health curriculum teach preventable causes of preterm birth including induced abortion, smoking, alcohol consumption, illicit drug use and poor prenatal care. Opponents of SB132 say its purpose is to promote a nonscientific, pro-life agenda in public schools. This is a misrepresentation of the indisputable evidence demonstrating that a prior abortion increases a woman's risk for future preterm birth.
There are 137 studies reporting on the abortion-prematurity link. In 2006 the Institute of Medicine published the most complete review of preterm birth. The IOM called abortion an "immutable risk factor for preterm birth," meaning a woman having an abortion always has an increased chance for future preterm birth.
Two well-designed meta-analyses in 2009 combined data from 41 abortion-prematurity studies. A meta-analysis combines multiple studies on a research topic. It is the gold standard for establishing association between a risky behavior, like abortion or smoking, and an outcome like preterm birth.
The results showed that after one abortion, risk for a future preterm birth before 37 weeks increases by 36 percent and risk for a future very preterm birth before 32 weeks increases by 64 percent. When a woman has multiple abortions, risk for a future preterm birth increases by 93 percent. There are no meta-analyses that refute this association. The abortion-preterm birth link is settled science.
This evidence dwarfs what the IOM called "modest and inconsistent evidence" that smoking increases risk for preterm birth, yet since 1985 Surgeon General Warnings on tobacco products have warned of an increased risk for preterm birth in pregnant women who smoke. Many are familiar with other commonly discussed risk factors described in SB132. Never discussed is the established abortion-prematurity link, which is estimated to be responsible for 31 percent of all very preterm births.
In 2009, Dr. Phil Steer, the distinguished editor of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, commented on one 2009 meta-analysis by Dr. Prakesh Shah: "A key finding is that compared to women with no abortion history, even allowing for the expected higher incidence of socio-economic disadvantage, women with just one abortion had increased odds of future preterm birth. We have known for a long time that repeated abortions predispose to early delivery in a subsequent pregnancy. However, the finding that even one abortion increases the risk of preterm birth means we should continue to search for ways of making abortion less traumatic."
Steer accepts that abortion increases risk for future preterm birth. He also reports, "We have known for a long time that repeated abortions predispose to early delivery in a subsequent pregnancy." Who has known this? Planned Parenthood denies any future preterm birth risk from abortion. Why have there been no organized efforts to educate the public on what Steer says we have known for a long time?
The goal of SB132 is to educate potentially sexually active students on the risk that a common birth control method and surgical procedure places on future pregnancies. In his meta-analysis, Shah stated: "More than a million abortions are performed in the U.S. yearly. Of these, more than 75 percent of women wish to get pregnant again. Women should know risks associated with abortion, for their health and their future reproductive potential. Potential areas for knowledge transfer include education of girls and women enrolled at schools or colleges."
The N.C. Child Fatality Task Force supports SB132, but other major professional organizations have not officially affirmed the abortion-prematurity link. These organizations, and most abortion providers, still deny the truth that abortion imposes future pregnancy risks.
One abortion clinic in Charlotte acknowledges the truth. Its abortion consent form requires that patients agree with, "Cervical Incompetence: I understand that the abortion procedure may result in cervical incompetency which means I may have problems maintaining a pregnancy in the future, possible miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery."
If we are serious about reducing infant mortality and the toll preterm birth takes on our state, we must educate about the abortion-preterm birth link. Those who would stifle education and reduce SB132 to a political battle do a grave disservice to North Carolina residents.
Martin J McCaffrey, M.D., a retired U.S. Navy captain, is a professor of pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine.


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About the Book
After 2,500 Years of Mystery, the Truth About the Ark of the Covenant Is Revealed
The Lost Ark of the Covenant is the real-life account of an astounding quest—professor Tudor Parfitt's effort to recover the revered artifact that contained the Ten Commandments, sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. With painstaking historical scholarship, groundbreaking genetic science, and fascinating on-the-ground discoveries, Parfitt, who the Wall Street Journal calls "a British Indiana Jones," debunks the previous myths and reveals the shocking history of the Ark and its keepers.
Educator and Librarian Resources
Critical Praise
"It's worthy of a Spielberg epic: an intrepid British don's 20-year mission to find the Lost Ark of the Covenant." —Daily Mail
"Parfitt's passionately crafted new theory, like his first, could eventually be proven right…" —Time Magazine
"Parfitt's scholarly, fascinating work explains and explodes a pervasive myth." —The Times
"Deemed 'the British Indiana Jones' by the Wall Street Journal, Parfitt is both scholar and adventurer. This real-life account [is] a gripping…yarn. Recommended." —Library Journal
Product Details
- Imprint: HarperOne
- On Sale: 03/17/2009
- Format: Paperback
- Trimsize: 8.000
- Pages: 384
- List Price: 14.99 USD


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TRAVERSE CITY — A Grand Traverse County sheriff's deputy who's been accused of striking his girlfriend at a local tavern could face an additional criminal charge because he also had physical contact with a man during the same incident, newly released police reports show.
Ryan Salisbury, 35, faces domestic violence and disturbing the peace charges after a Dec. 6 incident at Union Street Station.
Police reports obtained Friday by the Record-Eagle through a state Freedom of Information Act request provide more details. The reports state Salisbury walked into the bar that night at 11:15 p.m. to speak with his girlfriend, who sat near another man.
Salisbury directed profanities at the woman, then said, "What are you doing?" and hit her "with a elbow strike to the neck area, which caused her head to jerk backwards," an officer wrote in a probable cause arrest form.
Police said Salisbury confronted another man nearby and witnesses "observed him strike (the man) in the shoulder."
Salisbury then made "a punching motion" towards the woman, but "witnesses could not say for sure whether he had made contact with her face."
Salisbury denied wrongdoing.
"Salisbury denied any assaultive behavior during this incident," the reports state. "Salisbury indicated he was mad when he saw (a man) sitting next to his girlfriend at the bar. Salisbury did approach (the man) and advised him to 'stop calling her' and then left."
Witnesses said the incident unfolded in about 30 seconds. An officer who talked to Salisbury that night said it "did not sound as if Salisbury was intoxicated, and he (Salisbury) could not believe that someone was accusing him of assault."
Police did not observe any visible signs of injury on the female victim.
Special Prosecutor Charles Koop of Antrim County said he may file at least one more criminal charge because of the contact made with the man who sat next to Salisbury's girlfriend.
"I'm waiting for some supplemental reports concerning some statements that were made," Koop said. "I think he'll be charged as to the assault of the other person."
Salisbury pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. He is currently on administrative leave with pay.


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Cellar/Tasting Notes The wine is a dark ruby with a youthful purple hue. Integrated nose,with hints of berries along with subtle herbaceous, mineral, spice, clove, cherry and currant notes. Full bodied the wines is rich and opulent with a solid core of fresh fruit backed by firm ripe tannins. Good balance, well..
Cellar/Tasting Notes
"It is one of
our favorite affordable Pomerols:
Rich, smooth and mouth filling with
Cellar/Tasting Notes "... it displays plenty of kirsch, sweet cherries and red currants along with some sandy/loamy soil and roasted herb notes in a very sexy, up-front, lush, medium to full-bodied style. There's not a hard edge to be found in this La Croix de Gay ..."


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Photos and VideosMore Photos and Videos
** FILE ** Former New York Yankees baseball pitcher Roger Clemens testifies before the House Oversight, and Government Reform Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Feb. 13, 2008 file photo. Roger Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin tells The New York Times Saturday July 4, 2009 that the pitcher was not among the more than 100 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. Hardin said he was revealing the results now because other players recently have been linked to the list. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Roger Clemens' charitable foundation paid for the disgraced pitcher's performance-enhancing drugs, his former trainer told investigators.
Brian McNamee told feds probing whether Clemens lied to Congress that the retired pitcher's nonprofit organization paid him for his training services, including providing the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with performance-enhancing drugs, The New York Times reported.
McNamee told authorities the Roger Clemens Foundation paid him from 1998 through 2001, according to several people briefed on the investigation, the Times reported. McNamee, who claims he injected Clemens with steroids, said he was also paid in cash and personal checks.
Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin disputed McNamee's claims, saying it is McNamee who is the liar.
"Obviously, Roger never paid him for any drugs anytime and he never paid him out of the foundation for his training services at any time," Hardin said. "The foundation's records will show that."
McNamee could not produce documents to support his accusations, according to the Times.
Clemens is under investigation for perjury stemming from his statements under oath to Congress in February 2008 in which he denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.


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Amanda Wilde
Amanda Wilde, host of The Swing Years and Beyond, presents American popular music from the 1920s through the 1950s. Amanda hosts Saturday and Sunday afternoons on KUOW as well. She produces interviews ranging from in–depth historical interviews to interviews with artists and cultural figures. Her segment, Sounds Familiar, focuses on the little–known history behind the icons of popular music.
Amanda's keen interest in working with sound and showcasing musical connections led her to public radio. A key figure in the development of Seattle music station KEXP, she hosted their afternoon drive for 12 years.
Amanda came to KUOW in 2003, already well–known to listeners around the world for her eclectic knowledge of music and her in–depth interviews. Her unique perspective draws on a combination of geographical and personal influences with the happy result of reaching a steadily increasing global audience.
A featured DJ in "The Rough Guide to Internet Radio," Amanda has been showcased in The Seattle Times, MSNBC, and "Best Places Seattle." In 2007, she was recognized for her interview work with a national award from Public Radio News Directors Incorporated. In 2014, Seattle Women In Jazz presented Amanda with the first annual "Amanda Wilde Inspire Award" for outstanding contributions to the jazz community.
Swing Years And Beyond
Listen online: Windows Media | MP3 high
The Swing Years And Beyond features popular music of the 1920s - 1950s, from familiar favorites to lesser-known gems. A mix of Jazz, swing, ballads, blues, show tunes and bebop showcases the relationships between these various musical styles. The program highlights the personalities, history and popular culture of the time through music and explores the enduring nature of this uniquely American art form.
Playlists: Find the playlists here


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Linux Distributions
When people first start looking at Linux there are some hurdles. The first one is understanding that Linux is free. Because so much software is licensed, the idea that you can get a copy and legally give it to all your friends and use it on all your computers seems to take some getting used to.
Once people get over that hurdle, the next problem seems to be "which distribution should I get?". This is because there isn't just one Linux—a concept that is familiar to many Unix system users but fairly foreign to the MS-DOS or MS-Windows user. This article addresses that question. Hopefully the third question, where do I get it, can be answered by our advertisers.
Historically, the word Linux had a somewhat different meaning. It was really just the operating system kernel. People would then collect various pieces of software (a compiler from one place, login code from another and so on) and put together their own system. The problem is that this took a lot of time, and as the amount of support software available grew the choices grew as well.
The solution was for someone to make a distribution, a collection of software consisting of the kernel and all the support programs that a user would need. What happened is that more than one "someone" did this because of differing needs. And each of these distributions was called "Linux".
What's wrong with calling them Linux? Nothing, if we can avoid the confusion that it initially introduces. The confusion comes from two areas:
Different distributions contain different programs.
Linux is really the kernel. When we lump all the other programs in and still call the contents Linux we are ignoring the work of others including FSF for the C compiler and most of the utilities, and the University of California at Berkeley for Ingres and Postgres.
I am sure the label Linux will stick, but I do think it is important that we recognize that there's a lot more to what we get in a distribution than code written by those who would be considered Linux developers.
Now, on to distributions. This isn't intended to be a complete list, just a quick look for beginners. I encourage anyone with a different distribution that they consider important to write to us and tell us about it.
The first complete Linux distribution was SLS. Although the most recent release is sorely out of date today, I mention it for historical reasons. Many people who are using Linux started with this distribution, which was produced by Peter MacDonald. It also offered the basis for other distributions like Slackware.
Developed at the University of Manchester, MCC was designed to be quickly installed by anyone. It has excellent documentation and is both compact and very stable. MCC was designed to be installed on 386 systems in a lab used by computer science students. It includes networking via ethernet and a complete development system but lacks such things as print spooling, uucp and X windows. Because of its excellent documentation and compact size (easily fits in 30MB of hard disk space; distribution is 8 floppies) it is a great place to start-particularly if you have little or no Unix experience.
At the time of this writing (February, 1994), the MCC distribution is based on a rather old kernel. It is, however, very stable and well tested.
Slackware evolved from the ideas behind SLS, a complete Linux system with an installation system that makes it possible to pick and choose what you want. It isn't perfect but it is very current, well supported and very reliable. The imperfections are generally in terms of a missing link or wrong permission. Here at Linux Journal we have two systems running Slackware, and the only serious problem we encountered was with smail. After talking to other Unix users we determined that the problem was actually an smail bug, not a Linux bug. We replaced smail with sendmail+IDA and all seems to be fine now. Some distributors (such as Trans-Ameritech) are distributing Slackware on CD-ROM.
Available only on CD-ROM, this is a very popular distribution. Current and complete, it offers a quick way to get a working system up and running. It includes X-windows (in fact, it requires you to load X to do system configuration) and a pretty amazing set of tools. Like most of the up-to-date distributions, it has a few bugs. It is, however, a great choice for someone who wants to get a working Linux system with X up and running quickly. I also feel it is well worth the $50 for the amount of source code you get in a compact form. We have one Linux system in the office running Yggdrasil.
Linux has become a key foundation for supporting today's rapidly growing IT environments. Linux is being used to deploy business applications and databases, trading on its reputation as a low-cost operating environment. For many IT organizations, Linux is a mainstay for deploying Web servers and has evolved from handling basic file, print, and utility workloads to running mission-critical applications and databases, physically, virtually, and in the cloud. As Linux grows in importance in terms of value to the business, managing Linux environments to high standards of service quality — availability, security, and performance — becomes an essential requirement for business success.
Sponsored by Red Hat
If you already use virtualized infrastructure, you are well on your way to leveraging the power of the cloud. Virtualization offers the promise of limitless resources, but how do you manage that scalability when your DevOps team doesn't scale? In today's hypercompetitive markets, fast results can make a difference between leading the pack vs. obsolescence. Organizations need more benefits from cloud computing than just raw resources. They need agility, flexibility, convenience, ROI, and control.
Stackato private Platform-as-a-Service technology from ActiveState extends your private cloud infrastructure by creating a private PaaS to provide on-demand availability, flexibility, control, and ultimately, faster time-to-market for your enterprise.
Sponsored by ActiveState
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The Meridian Star
Mr. Jerry Martin Scott, Jr., departed this life on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 at a residence. Family memorial services will be held today, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012.
He is survived by three sons, Michael Scott (Meridian); Austin and Alex Scott; one daughter, Emily Phipps, all of Nomax, N.C.; two sisters, Patti Howington (Meridian) and Rita Hill (Newton, Miss.); one granddaughter, nieces LaTreasha Martinez and Steely Hill (Meridian); a nephew, Damon Hill (Newton); and special friends Albert Salazar and Steve Shehea, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Enterprise Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.


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THE DOSSIER: NAME: Kourtney Kardashian. TRADE: Reality TV personality, co-owner of DASH boutiques. VIBE: Alice in Wonderland meets Beetlejuice. ABODE: Four-bedroom, four-and-one-half-bath house in Calabasas, Los Angeles, CA.
Scott Disick describes the home that he and Kourtney Kardashian share with their two kids as "Alice in Wonderland meets Beetlejuice," and what's more fun than that? House hunting, apparently. "I love every single thing about this house, but I'm excited to take on a new project," she says. The reality star tells us she plans to put their four-bedroom gated Calabasas community Colonial on the market next week, even though she and interior designer Jeff Andrews just finished decorating it this fall.
"When we first started decorating, I wanted all white walls and for everything to be really simple," she says. "Then I started saying, 'I'm too young. This is my first house: I want to have fun!'" Andrews tells us he gradually introduced her to interesting wall coverings, colors, patterns, and textures, "which got her excited about going more bold and experimenting on a different kind of design level."
Kardashian admits she "became obsessive over interior decor and designing," and immersed herself in the project. "It was definitely a collaboration between Jeff and I," she recalls. "I am really hands-on and really a perfectionist — especially when it comes to interior design — so I was 100 percent involved." Andrews tells us, "Kourtney is as obsessed with design as I am and has a great eye. We spent many nights on the phone looking through websites together and traded thousands of texts and emails brainstorming."
The goal, Andrews says, was to create "a chic yet comfortable retreat where she could go to creatively recharge, but it also needed to be kid-friendly." The pair also wanted Kardashian's home to feel curated and completely original: "Kourtney loves unique vintage finds and negotiating a good deal, so between her shopping and my custom designs and visions, our collaboration was a great combination of talents," he says.
Space tops the priority list when it comes to Kardashian's new home. "Our family is bigger since we moved in," she says. "I'd like to have a guest room and more space outside for the kids."
As for what the next design will bring, Kardashian says, "I kind of want to just start all over. Certain pieces are sentimental, and I'll always have them. While I love what we did, I definitely want to do something different. We just have to see what the vibe of the new house will be."
Be sure to check out our Kourtney Kardashian board on Pinterest for even more images and bold products to help you get the look of Kardashian's home.
|Urchin Chandelier
Jean de Merry
|Neon Sign
Curtis Kulig
|Children's Rugs
Madeline Weinrib
|Family Room Area Rug
Mansour Modern
|Master Bed Sham Fabric
|Kitchen Wallpaper
Osborne & Little
|Black Leather and Metal Armchairs
Lawson Fenning
|Kitchen Pendant Lights
Tom Dixon
|Entry Bench
|Ventana Three-Tier Chandelier, $1475, Jonathan Adler
|"Marimekko Korsi Wallpaper", $150, AllModern
|Orbit Spitfire Chair, $1499,
RH Baby & Child
|Lulu Cotton Carpet, From $525, Madeline Weinrib
|"Volte Face Wallpaper" #W-5333-03, Price Upon Request, Osborne & Little
|Ceramic Stallion, $140,
Z Gallerie
|Anouk Luxury Gray Wolf Faux Fur Throw, $999, Taigan
|Void Light, Price Upon Request,
Tom Dixon
|Stein World Arm Chair, $230, Wayfair
Photographs: Grey Crawford for Jeff Andrews Design


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SIPS Hooded Sweatshirt with HydraPocket Technology, 100% Polyester
Item # WX2-221988
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- Details & Specs
SIPS Hooded Sweatshirt with HydraPocket Technology keeps you warm and your drink chilled!!
A clever twist on an old favorite! This 100% polyester Hoodie features a kangaroo pocket with a special hidden insulated pocket that'll keep your water bottle or soda nice and cold on the go!
- Soft, quick-drying, long-lasting 100% polyester construction
- Kangaroo pocket also features an opening for ear buds
- Double needle stitching at armhole, cuffs, bottoms, hood opening and kangaroo pocket
- Spandex rib knit hem
- Machine wash / dry. Imported.
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32" Inseam "Famous Maker" Flat-front Easy care PantsBuyer's Club $19.99 Non-Members $19.99


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Bromsgrove girls impress in Redditch (From Droitwich Advertiser)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting BA NEWS to 80360 or e-mail us
Bromsgrove girls impress in Redditch
12:00pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in Sport
A HOST of personal best times were set by Bromsgrove Swimming Club members at the Girls Only Gala held in Redditch.
First place finishes were recorded by Jenny Gearey in the 10-year-old 50-metre freestyle, Hattie Goff in the 12-year-old 50m freestyle and Sam Gearey in the 14-year-old 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke races.
Second place finishes went to Gearey (10-year-old 50m backstroke), Catrin Carter (11-year-olds 50m freestyle), Goff (12-year-old 100m individual medley), Ruby Picken (12-year-olds 50m butterfly) and Sam Gearey (14-year-olds 100m individual medley and 100m butterfly).
The 12-year-old 4x25m medley and freestyle relay teams of Goff, Bethany Steel, Picken, Bethany O'Brien and Catrin Carter also finished runners-up in their races.
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Oakley Film Project Brings Seth Morrison, Kye Petersen to Chamonix-Mont Blanc
Chamonix is a place I have never skied in all my years as a skier so this was a real treat. Kye Petersen and I came here with an Oakley film crew to document our steps as we scouted our lines for an upcoming late spring trip. Gaining experience through different types of training for these huge lift accessed mountains. Chamonix is not a place to be taken lightly, danger lurks at every moment of the day and you're not ever really safe until you at the valley floor drinking a beer with your bro's reflecting on the days adventure. Its unlike anything I have ever done. One day at a time and working our way into it was the routine.
For the most part the snow was hard pack, this made the steeps that much steeper and the degrees of the runs are the real deal, not what others would say elsewhere, most of these areas have been climbed and thats where the steepness ratings come from. Seeing as I was skiing on powder skis the entire time, it was an added challenge to keep one focused on the hardpack conditions. No fall skiing was the course. Focus was the main concern as we practiced some ice climbing, familiarizing ourselves with crampons, ice tools, rappelling and other needed bits of exposure to the world of Chamonix. Skiing with a much heavier pack than usual filled with gear you normally wouldn't carry at your local ski area keep you mindful of each turn. For the most part we were skiing on or around glaciers the entire time. Each day was filled with some sort of hike/skin or rappel to get to the line. 9000 vert runs loom off the Aiguille Du Midi and even 11,000 vert off the Mont Blanc. This place is big and real. Fear of rock fall, falling into a crevice, avalanche, serac fall, or falling sit in the back of your mind every run.
The bottom line is the lifts take you to places that would take many hours to climb from the bottom and even then you wouldn't think of going to them without the lifts taking you there. There are regular ski runs in the valley, but thats not why went there. It was for the mind and life changing experience of being in these mountains. Skiing around with some seasoned seasonal American Mountain Freaks, gave us a look into their world which only compares to Chamonix itself. You see the reason why people go there year after year and wonder when you will get to be there again yourself. In this place it doesn't matter how good you are or how rad you think you are. Looking around you see people doing things much crazier than you and what your doing doesn't really matter other than getting down in one piece. That's why a celebration is in order at the end of everyday. Not your typical ski vacation.


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Alex Knapp, Forbes Staff
I write about the future of science, technology, and culture.
This is the first part of my look at Charlie Stross' three arguments against the Singularity. You can read part two here and part three here.
Science Fiction author Charlie Stross offers three arguments against the Singularity, which are worth exploring. I'd like to comment on this as well as some of the backlash against Stross's arguments. The three arguments revolve around human-level artificial intelligence, the ability to upload the mind into a computer and the ability to live in a simulation. For this post, I'll focus on human-level intelligence. Over the next two days, I'll cover the other two.
Before I begin, though, I'm going to repeat Stross' caveat:
I'm going to take it as read that you've read Vernor Vinge's essay on the coming technological singularity (1993), are familiar with Hans Moravec's concept of mind uploading, and know about Nick Bostrom's Simulation argument. If not, stop right now and read them before you continue with this piece. Otherwise you're missing out on the fertilizer in which the whole field of singularitarian SF, not to mention posthuman thought, is rooted. It's probably a good idea to also be familiar with Extropianism and to have read the posthumanism FAQ, because if you haven't you'll have missed out on the salient social point that posthumanism has a posse.
The first point that Stross makes is simple: one of the necessary steps for the Singularity to happen is the creation of human-level artificial intelligence, which he sees as unlikely.
First: super-intelligent AI is unlikely because, if you pursue Vernor's program, you get there incrementally by way of human-equivalent AI, and human-equivalent AI is unlikely. The reason it's unlikely is that human intelligence is an emergent phenomenon of human physiology, and it only survived the filtering effect of evolution by enhancing human survival fitness in some way. Enhancements to primate evolutionary fitness are not much use to a machine, or to people who want to extract useful payback (in the shape of work) from a machine they spent lots of time and effort developing. We may want machines that can recognize and respond to our motivations and needs, but we're likely to leave out the annoying bits, like needing to sleep for roughly 30% of the time, being lazy or emotionally unstable, and having motivations of its own.
I think that this is a salient point. I also think that human-level AI is unlikely for a number of reasons – more than a few of them related to the differences between biological and machine intelligence. For one thing, we're approaching the end of Moore's Law in about a decade and a half or so, and generalized quantum computing isn't likely to be with us anytime soon yet. For example, D-Wave's adiabatic quantum computer isn't a general computer – it's focused on optimization problems. But even with that, the differences between human, animal and machine intelligence are profound.
Singularity advocate Michael Anissimov takes issue with Stross' point, stating:
If Stross' objections turn out to be a problem in AI development, the "workaround" is to create generally intelligent AI that doesn't depend on primate embodiment or adaptations.
Couldn't the above argument also be used to argue that Deep Blue could never play human-level chess, or that Watson could never do human-level Jeopardy?
But Anissmov's first point here is just magical thinking. At the present time, a lot of the ways that human beings think is simply unknown. To argue that we can simply "workaround" the issue misses the underlying point that we can't yet quantify the difference between human intelligence and machine intelligence. Indeed, it's become pretty clear that even human thinking and animal thinking is quite different. For example, it's clear that apes, octopii, dolphins and even parrots are, to certain degrees quite intelligent and capable of using logical reasoning to solve problems. But their intelligence is sharply different than that of humans. And I don't mean on a different level — I mean actually different. On this point, I'd highly recommend reading Temple Grandin, who's done some brilliant work on how animals and neurotypical humans are starkly different in their perceptions of the same environment.
As to Anissmov's second point, it's definitely worth noting that computers don't play "human-level" chess. Although computers are competitive with grandmasters, they aren't truly intelligent in a general sense – they are, basically, chess-solving machines. And while they're superior at tactics, they are woefully deficient at strategy, which is why grandmasters still win against/draw against computers. Indeed, as I noted in April, Garry Kasparov's development of Advanced Chess (where humans have access to computers) demonstrates that human and machine intelligence, as applied to chess, are wonderful complements to each other. Humans lose to computers because humans, when they're distracted or tired, make short-term, tactical blunders. But computers lose to humans because they are simply no match for humans at creating long-term chess strategy. What Advanced Chess does is, in essence, allow humans to double check their moves on a computer to make sure they don't make a short term mistake. And putting them together creates absolute dominance for humans. As Kasparov wrote:
The teams of human plus machine dominated even the strongest computers. The chess machine Hydra, which is a chess-specific supercomputer like Deep Blue, was no match for a strong human player using a relatively weak laptop. Human strategic guidance combined with the tactical acuity of a computer was overwhelming.
As for Watson's ability to play Jeopardy!, it's important to note that while Watson did win the Jeopardy tournament he played in, it's worth noting that Watson's primary advantage was being able to beat humans to the buzzer (electric relays are faster than chemical ones). Moreover, as many who watched the tournament (such as myself) noted, Watson got worse the more abstract the questions got. For pure questions of fact, Watson was better – but so what? We already know that computers have faster memory retrieval systems than humans. But when it came to plays on words or ambiguity, Watson was terrible. And it's also worth noting that Watson got trounced by Representative Rush Holt, Jr. in an Exhibition game – one in which there were far more abstract categories than were the rounds shown on TV where Watson won.
What computers are smart at are brute-force calculations and memory retrieval. They're not nearly as good at pattern recognition or the ability to parse meaning and ambiguity, nor are they good at learning. To continue with the subject of gaming, it's worth noting that when it comes to games that are tougher to solve mathematically, computers aren't as good as humans. And when it comes to strategy games, such as Starcraft 2 or the Civilization games, long-time gamers know that the computer AI doesn't beat humans by being smarter – it beats humans by cheating: the program allows the AI, at higher levels, to do things faster than it allows the human players to. In essence, it handicaps the humans by forcing them to operate under less advantageous rules.
Now, I don't doubt that computers are going to get better and smarter in the coming decades. But there are more than a few limitations on human-level AI, not the least of which are the actual physical limitations coming with the end of Moore's Law and the simple fact that, in the realm of science, we're only just beginning to understand what intelligence, consciousness, and sentience even are, and that's going to be a fundamental limitation on artificial intelligence for a long time to come. Personally, I think that's going to be the case for centuries.
To use my tried-and true analogizing to Star Trek, I won't be surprised if we're able to develop a computer as smart as, say, the Enterprise computer within a century or so. But the Enterprise computer is a long, long way from Data.
There is no clearly accepted definition of "life" — do you take that as objection to synthetic biology? There is also no clearly accepted definition of "good Internet search" (the field of information retrieval has a host of criteria, all flawed) — do you take that an objection to Google and Bing existing? There's also no clearly accepted definition of "health" yet doctors work toward it…. The argument against AGI because of the lack of a clearly accepted definition is bogus. In my particular AGI project I know what I'm working toward, and that's what matters — not whether everyone in the field agrees on the same exact goal.
Also, you say in your comment that "magical thinking" is not disparaging, and note that
Some of the most brilliant scientific discoveries in history have been driven by ultimately magical thinking! Archimedes, Averroes, Jabir, Newton – brilliant minds all!
OK, fine, I'll accept that — but I think you know perfectly well that when you use the phrase in your article it comes across as disparaging. It's as if I called you "stupid" publicly, but then later clarified that I think all humans are stupid compared to hypothetical super-AIs, so "stupid" isn't really an insult coming from me ;-p …
In Gebser's theory of the evolution of culture, for example, "magical thinking" refers to a way of thinking predating the emergence of science and abstract rationality, typical of pre-civilized tribes doing ancestor-worship and so forth. I am guessing you are quite aware of these overtones when you use the phrase.
I don't doubt the complexity of human hardware, I just don't see the relevance of it. Digital computers are amazing when it comes to brute-forcing their way through inconceivably complex things.
The hardware is irrelevant if you can demonstrate on a neuronal-level that the human brain is turing complete. Although the human brain is highly concurrent in its processing (MANY neural activations simulatenously, branching and converging), its been proven that any parallel turing machine can be serialized in an equivant turing machine. This implies that with sufficient computational power, the human brain can be simulated on serialized hardware.
Alex, you wrote: "For one thing, we're approaching the end of Moore's Law in about a decade and a half or so, and generalized quantum computing isn't likely to be with us anytime soon yet."
But generalized quantum computing is very possible by then: http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2010/7216.html – "It is widely believed that a quantum computer will not become a reality for at least another 25 years. However, we believe, using our new technique, a quantum computer could, in less than ten years, be performing calculations that are outside the capabilities of conventional computers."
IBM's forecast of sugar-cube-sized supercomputers (1 exa-FLOPS minimum) by 2021 is also noteworthy.
PS. It's funny to see you accuse Mike and Ben of magical thinking. Transhumanists often throw the magical thinking smear at myself. It seems the more forward thinking a person is the more magical they are.
I get that some problems can't be reasonably brute-forced, but this isn't just a matter of complexity. It has to do with scalability; some things become exponentially harder with small increases in complexity, whereas others are more linear. I don't think intelligence is likely to fall in the former category, given that it has been implemented biologically already.


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» English Conference Premier 2012-2013 : Results
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Scunthorpe have confirmed the site for their new £18million-stadium is part of the Lincolnshire Lakes Project close to the M181.25 Jul » SkySports.com
Kidderminster sign striker Reece Hales and defender Jake Green on one-year deals after trialling with the club25 Jul » BBC Sport
Conference Premier side Dartford sign winger Luke Daley following a successful trial period during pre-season.25 Jul » BBC Sport
Defender Michael Smith joins Peterborough United from Bristol Rovers on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.25 Jul » BBC Sport
Nuneaton Town sign goalkeeper James Wren on a free transfer from Tamworth on a one-year contract.25 Jul » BBC Sport
Ex-Chester FC full back Kevin McIntyre has signed a 12-month contract with Welsh Premier League side Gap Connah's Quay.25 Jul » WelshPremier.com
Assistant coach claims the Dutchman has the same aura as his predecessor and the tactical acumen to make Manchester United great under again24 Jul » Telegraph


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Tips to Lower Your Car Insurance Costs
The Secret to Boosting Confidence in Seconds
Fashionable Cocktail Dresses
How to Navigate Forever 21 Like a Pro
8 Things Your Boss Doesn't Need To Know
An Open Letter to Women, From Men
The Best Kept Beauty Secret: Apple Cider Vinegar
Short Stuff: 14 Tips And Tricks For Looking Taller
The Last Thing Guys Are Looking At
5 Things You Should Never Pay Full Price For
Modern Man: The 20 Best Minimalist Wallets
Quiz: What's Your Body Type and Shape?
11 Items You Should Never Wear to Work
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6 Foods That Beat Bloating and Flatten Your Stomach
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15 Frequently Overlooked Red Flags in Relationships
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The Most Breathtaking Bridal Show Ever
10 Genius Tips for Organizing Your Closet
Engagement Rings for the Glamorous Bride
10 Cities with the Most Gold Diggers
12 Ways to Look Thinner in Your Swimsuit


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A group of U.S. manufacturers of central air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps has signed an agreement with a number of the nation's largest energy efficiency advocacy groups to establish new federal standards for these products, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
The agreement was signed by AHRI and the following organizations:
Under the agreement, the U.S. is divided into three regions, each with its own energy efficiency standards, to account for climate differences among them.
For example, in the North, most furnaces will by required to have an efficiency of 90% or more, essentially requiring condensing furnaces, according to a joint news release from the participating organizations. This is an improvement from the current national standard of 78%.
In the South, central air conditioners will be required to have a SEER of 14, up from the present national requirement of SEER 13.
The standards for heat pumps and oil furnaces will rise on a national basis.
The standards apply to residential single-phase air conditioners and heat pumps of less than 65,-000 BTU/h cooling capacity, and single-phase weatherized and non-weatherized forced-air furnaces of below 225,000 BTU/h heat input.
Read the full news release here.
Read and/or download a fact sheet on the new standards here.


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Sorry! There are no remaining departures for "Zanzibar to Nairobi Adventure" (DTZN), but here are some similar trips.
This trip is being discontinued in 2013. If you are interested in this life changing experience for next year, have a peak at a similar trip that runs from Nairobi to Zanzibar - tour code DKT.
Inhaling the aromas of a Zanzibar spice plantation, snorkelling crystal clear waters, witnessing Mt. Kilimanjaro, searching for the 'Big 5' in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in agile 4x4 safari vehicles
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From the buzz of Zanzibar's markets to the excitement of tracking Africa's ever-elusive 'Big 5' across the Serengeti, feel the pulse of Africa on this ten-day journey. Visit spice plantations and relax on the beach, then head inland and explore the incomparable wildlife and scenery of the Ngorongoro Crater and the open savannah by small safari vehicle. Our unique overland truck will get you through the incredible scenery comfortably and safely—and some camping will keep you at the heart of the action. Our CEO will lead the way and share with you the hidden gems will have your camera's shutter working overtime.
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This trip also runs in reverse from Nairobi to Stone Town. See Nairobi to Zanzibar Adventure
Arrive at any time.
Explore markets and bazaars, guided tour of a spice plantation. Option to snorkel, scuba dive.
Ferry to Dar Es Salaam. Catch your first glimpse of the Kilimanjaro. Option to visit craft markets.
Daily game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles.
Game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles.
Travel through the lands of the Masai people to Nairobi, where the tour ends upon arrival in the late afternoon.


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Darryl Cunningham's Science Tales is a fantastic nonfiction comic book about science, skepticism and denial. Divided into short chapters with simple layouts and graphics, Cunningham's book looks into belief in chiropractic and homeopathy; denial of moon landings, climate change and evolution, the anti-vaccination movement, and related subjects. It concludes with a tremendous piece on the forces that give rise to anti-scientific/anti-evidence movements, which Cunningham attributes to the deadly cocktail of cynical corporate media-manipulation and humanity's built-in cognitive blind-spots.
Cunningham has a real gift for making complex subjects simple. If you're a Mythbusters fan, admire James Randi, enjoyed Ben Goldacre's Bad Science, and care about climate change, you'll enjoy this one. More to the point, if you're trying to discuss these subjects with smart but misguided friends and loved ones, this book might hold the key to real dialogue.
To get a taste of Science Tales, click through below for the first five pages of the MMR story, courtesy of publishers Myriad Editions.
20 Responses to "Science Tales: short comic stories about science, skepticism, evidence and woo"
Keating – Funny, out of the first eleven papers you list, Wakefield is one of the authors, the next two were withdrawn, and the others have little to absolutely nothing to say about vaccination links to autism.
Also, PROTIP: Try to stick to one crazy at a time. I appreciate a holistic approach, but it tends to show a lack of focus. Any thoughts on 9/11?
Yeesh. Keating. Seriously.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say even if it were true that vaccinations had side effects like this – which they don't – your children would be far less safe experiencing the diseases themselves.
Edit: and thank God for my chiropractor. I don't think it's anything more than fancy knuckle-cracking for your spine, but I'd be a twisted-up mess without it.
Yup. Some of the claims on chiropracty (sp?) are pretty woo, but they're lifesavers when I throw my back out.
Quite. Claims of long-term health benefits, or the ability to treat conditions other than those directly relating to the joints being manipulated, are clearly hokum — but a good joint-popping feels great, dammit, and topically soothes some joint problems for a time at least. I'd file it next to massage and heat-rub, not, y'know, actual medicine.
I get the impression that chiropractic in the US is really different from in the UK. In the US, your doctor refers you and your insurance probably covers it. And when you go, it's just physical manipulation of your body, no promises of auric cleansing. I went from frequent, severe neck and sacral pain to rare, mild neck and sacral pain after three months of chiropractic sessions. And I'm still okay after two decades.
The empirical evidence is manifest that chiropractic works, for specific problems. Saying it does not work because it won't cure polio is analogous to saying allopathic medicine doesn't work because you can't burn penicillin to fuel your car.
But maybe you're right and this is a UK thing; I dunno. I've always just assumed anti-chiro was a faith-based position; it has all the tells.
It probably depends on the chiropractor. For instance, certified yoga teachers get a minimum of five hours of 'training' in ayurvedic medicine. A few of them essentially hang out a shingle as an alternative 'doctor'. And the answer to every spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical problem is either: Eat more cucumber, eat more yogurt or eat more turmeric.
You *can* get chiropractic on the British NHS, but only "as a treatment option for one condition: persistent lower back pain", because "there is good evidence that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment[, but] there is no good evidence that [it is effective] for any other health condition" — quoting the NHS itself:
So we do non-woowoo chiropractic, too. I've never actually heard any Brits espousing the "flow of life-force" side of it, only the "makes me back feel better" side, although I've no doubt they're out there.
Insurance companies here usually pay for a certain number of visits or negotiate a reduced price with certain providers and allow patients to self-refer.
Oh, man. I'm gonna keep coming back here over the next day or two to see what kind of crazy this'll stir up. It's hit all the high water marks for conspirational BS – Vaccines, the moon landing, homeopathy, and climate change. The awesome thing is, pretty much every person who believes in one of these things will believe in two or three of 'em…
"pretty much every person who believes in one of these things will believe in two or three of 'em"
Yeah, I've noticed that. My hypothesis is a lack of critical thinking skills leads to excess credulity in all fields.
Once a person makes up his or her mind that their beliefs are more true than facts and time-tested theory, that opens the floodgates. What they know to be true in their hearts will trump reality every time. For some it is obviously cultural, others are just afraid to face the unknown without a strong, if absurd, belief system backing them up.
I believe in three of the things in your list. And I used to think that homeopathy was completely useless but my friend makes a living out of it so it has at least one use.
The whole MMR cartoon is available here – from when Xeni linked to this a couple of years ago.
I'd also like to recommend "Psychiatric Tales" by the same author. De-mystifies a lot of things about mental illness in a clear and straightforward manner.
If you're a Mythbusters fan, admire James Randi, enjoyed Ben Goldacre's Bad Science, and care about climate change, you'll enjoy this one.
Well, I care about climate change – is that enough?
Perhaps that "and" should be an "or".
I notice that 9 of the 11 entries in the first group list A(ndrew) J(eremy) Wakefield as an author. Interesting.
I selected one of the ones that didn't–the first one, "Colonic CD8 and T cell filtration with epithelial damage in children with autism"–and checked it against the claim that it "supports the findings of the original work by Wakefield."
It does not. The only mentions of "vaccine" occur in footnotes; one a study that DISAGREES with the original work by Wakefield (Taylor B, Miller E, Farrington CP, Petropoulos MC, Favot-Mayaud I, Li J, et al. Autism and measles mumps and rubella vaccine: no epidemiological evidence for a causal association. Lancet 1999;353:2026-9.)
The other is a reference to a letter that says "The second idea was the unsubstantiated reporting of an association between this new syndrome and measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine. This anecdotal reporting of a biased sample is poor science and has no place in a peer-reviewed journal."
So, essentially, it not only does NOT support Wakefield, it references two outright opponents.
I also looked at #9 (Focal-enhanced gastritis in regressive autism with features distinct from Crohn's and Helicobacter pylori gastritis), and again it has no relevance to vaccination.
This list seems to be complete bunk, and if you had bothered to check before copy/pasting it, you would know that. NONE of them support a link between vaccines and autism. None of these studies' titles even mention vaccines, for FSM's sake.
Shame on you for posting misinformation. Shame on you for trying to twist science to fit your discredited notions. Shame on you for not thinking for yourself.
@Antinous, may I be so bold as to suggest editing out all these citations? The entire list is copy-and-pasted verbatim from the link immediately above it, so anyone who actually wanted to look through them could just go there. As such, it's taking up an awful lot of scrollbar on this page for no good reason at all.
(edit: I see the entire post has been removed; for reference, the link in question was http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/05/peer-reviewed-papers-support-findings.html — enjoy the woowoo, if you like that sort of thing)
Ah, bogus citations — also used as a major tactic by "Zeitgeist". Wonks of all stripes often seem to think "more citations = more true", regardless of the actual quality or relevance of the citations. It strikes me as cargo-cult scholarship — "good scholars provide lots of citations… so if I add lots of citations, I must be a good scholar!"
This is the only citation I need, thanks:


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Thanks to a partnership with Regions Bank, all military veterans and active military personnel along with their immediate family will receive free admission to the Zoo.
Military Appreciation Day is offered in gratitude for the commitment, bravery and sacrifices made by those who serve our country. In addition to regular Zoo activities, a special children's fun zone will be set up on Festival Field with bounce houses, games and activities. Organizations designed to inform and assist military families will also be on hand.
Visitors must show their military ID, veteran organization ID, discharge papers or other official military identification to be given free admission.
There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle.
Special Keeper Talk Schedule
9:30 a.m. - Bats
10 a.m. - Rhino Iguanas
10:30 a.m. - Aviary
11 a.m. - Horse
11:30 a.m. - Meerkat
noon - Cougar
12:30 a.m. - Critter Encounter
1 p.m. - Barn owls
1:30 p.m. - Cassowary
2 p.m. - Red River Hog
2:30 p.m. - Giraffe
3 p.m. - Tiger


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King David was a man of fire
Who sang and danced for God.
The raptures of his heart's desire
Were sacred gifts from God.
(This poem, which I wrote during Lent in 1981, appears in my book, BIRDLIKE AND BARNLESS – it is based on Numbers 21: 4-9, John 3: 13-15) THE GIFT No one's raised who did not fall No …read more
2) The Hebrew scriptures, or the Old Testament, represent a religious tradition that is independent of the later Christian faith. The Hebrew scriptures aren't about Jesus, although the Christian scriptures include many references to the Hebrew scriptures. To honor the fundamental differences between the two sets of scriptures doubles the spiritual significance of the entire Bible.read more