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Methylmercury poisoning is brain and nervous system damage from the chemical methylmercury.
This article is for information only. Do NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.
Minamata Bay disease; Basra poison grain poisoning
Methylmercury is a type of mercury, a metal that is liquid at room temperature. A nickname for mercury is quicksilver. Most compounds containing mercury are poisonous. Methylmercury is a very poisonous form of mercury. It forms when bacteria react with mercury in water, soil, or plants. It has been used to preserve grain that is fed to animals.
Methylmercury poisoning has occurred in people who have eaten meat from animals that ate grain that was treated with this from of mercury. Poisoning from eating fish from water that is contaminated with methylmercury has also occurred. One such body of water is Minamata Bay in Japan.
Methylmercury is used in fluorescent lights, batteries, polyvinyl chloride, and latex paint. It is a common pollutant of air and water.
Unborn babies and infants are very sensitive to methylmercury's effects. Methylmercury causes
The FDA recommends that women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant, and nursing mothers avoid fish that may contain unsafe levels of methylmercury. This includes swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tilefish. Infants should not eat these fish, either. No one should eat any of these fish caught by friends and family. Check with your local or state health department for warnings against locally caught, noncommercial fish.
Some health care providers have raised concerns about ethyl mercury (thiomersal), a chemical used in some vaccines. However, research shows that childhood vaccines do not lead to dangerous mercury levels in the body. Vaccines used in children today only contain trace amounts of thiomersal. Thiomersal-free vaccines are available.
Symptoms of methylmercury poisoning include:
Tests will vary, depending on a person's symptoms.
Methylmercury damage cannot be reversed. Treatment will depend on how severe a person's condition is. It is similar to treatment for cerebral palsy. The person should be moved away from the source of exposure to methylmercury. Treatment may involve:
The symptoms cannot be reversed. However, they do not usually get worse unless there is a new exposure to methylmercury, or the person is still exposed to the original source.
Complications depend on how severe a person's condition is, and what their specific symptoms are (such as
Methylmercury poisoning has been linked to an increased heart attack rate.
Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
Avoiding any foods contaminated with methylmercury will prevent poisoning. Because of manufacturing, mercury has become so common in the environment that trace amounts of methylmercury are present in many foods from the ocean, including deep-sea tuna. Fortunately, the levels are low enough that most of these foods remain safe.
Avoid contact with industrial products that contain mercury. Contact poison control if you believe you may have been exposed.
Long H, Nelson LS. Metals and metalloids. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 184.
Rusyniak DE, Arroyo A, Froberg B, Furbee B. Heavy metals. In: Vincent J-L, Abraham E, Moore FA, Kochanek PM, Fink MP, eds. Textbook of Critical Care. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 178.
Velez LI, O'Connell EJ. Heavy metals. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 157.
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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


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"We reject the view that copyright owners and their licensees are required to provide consumers with perpetual access to creative works." — Steven Metalitz, legal representative of the American motion picture and record industry associations, in a letter to the Copyright Office.
Required? Of course not. But both Apple and Amazon prefer DRM-free content in their music stores as consumers learned repeatedly that any music they bought could stop playing just because the company they bought it from lost interest in the market. That same lesson is now being relearned by early adopters of electronic books.
Required? No. But if you don't sell products people want to purchase at a price they're willing to pay, you're going out of business,. Unmourned.
Every so often there's a meme that goes around inviting bloggers and diarists to pen a letter to themselves as a child or a teenager, telling themselves all the things they now wish they had known at that age. Some are well written and poignant, like Stephen Fry's contribution to the genre, but most I've read boil down to "Cheer up, it's not nearly as bad as you think, avoid [some big mistake] and learn a musical instrument."
I've always balked at writing such a letter myself because, after stumbling through my borderline depressive self-loathing 20's, I've managed to turn against all odds into somebody I'm quite happy being. There are all sorts of things I could have done better, mistakes I could have avoided and different directions I could have taken, but all the things I've done wrong contributed as much to who I am today as the things I did right. If I changed them I'd be somebody else, and I don't want to be somebody else any more.
Sure, I could go back and tell my teenage self not to give up playing the piano, but would that just leave me in my 30's dreading another gig in the bar of some hotel waiting for the inevitable tooth-grinding moment some drunk tourist requests 'Piano Man' for the sixty thousandth time? Would I hunch over the keys, bang out those first chords and wish to my core I could go back in time and advise my teenage self to teach himself Perl?
So I pondered. And I thought. And I finally came up with the one important, nay vital bit of advice I would give myself if I had the chance.
This is your future self. I'm 33 now and I've been given the opportunity to reach back in time and give you one piece of advice. You won't understand it today but if you hold it close to your heart you will one day thank me for it.
Whatever you do, prefer composition over inheritance.
See you in 17 years,
A recent story on Mashable reported of a Facebook user discovering their photo being used in an advertisement for a dating site. After much to-ing and fro-ing it was determined that while Facebook do reserve the right to use your likeness in advertising, this particular ad came from a third party network.
Colour me not particularly surprised. A couple of days ago I spotted this advertisement gracing the right-hand side of my Facebook page:
"Wait a minite!" I thought. "That fellow in the picture looks remarkably familiar. I wonder if I can find something like it on the Internet?"
If you were playing at home, you're absolutely right. It's Edward Norton playing a skinhead murderer in the movie American History X. That little black blob carefully cropped out of the frame? A swastika tattoo.
Oh dear.
Reputable sites often run disreputable adverts, but generally they blame their provider and take steps to avoid the offending ads appearing again. Facebook, though, is the provider. The fact that this sort of thing is a par for the course on the site is a bad sign. It suggests Facebook is so desperate to get anyone to advertise that they can't afford to exercise any quality control.
Donna: If I had to be trapped on a desert island with only one person, it would be you.
Charles: If I had to be trapped on a desert island with only one person, I'd want someone who looked remarkably like a boat.
Donna: If we ever get engaged, you don't have to buy me a ring. Just get me one of those new iPhones.
Charles: Er… something you'll want to replace after a year when a better version comes out?
Agnes: So Donna's into World of Warcraft?
Charles: Yeah. It's like one of those movies.
"Hey, Charles is lost. We'd better send in a search party to find him."
"Great. Now we've lost the search party too."

subset: commoncrawl


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Member since 10/18/2012
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Recent comments from JSXT
True, that's not the way it is in the "real world" and I'm not suggesting that we get rid of tipping altogether. I'm merely suggesting that service professions, such as hair stylists/colorists, that require extensive... READ COMMENT
Actually, hair stylists should do as any other professional service does and charge for their service without expecting tips...and I got this from a hair stylist/colorist! I don't go to chain salons, so I don't know about what they do..... READ COMMENT


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Home Team
Terriers carried by QB Lawson
TAMPA - When senior kicker Chris Sato sent a 22-yard field goal through the uprights to cap Hillsborough's opening drive against Class 6A-District 8 opponent Armwood on Thursday, it was hard to believe 3-0 would be the final score, but 40-plus minutes of football later and the Terriers had held on for the win against the three-time state champs at home. In the game's aftermath, longtime coach Earl Garcia said he has been inundated with at least 50 phone calls and text messages from well-wishers. He said he heard from former players, fellow coaches and friends. He even got a call from a former player from 30 years ago whom he had not heard from in decades. A lot of the credit has to go to a sophomore who never made the end zone but kept the Terriers offense running all night — quarterback Dwayne Lawson. Lawson had 235 total yards, including 27 carries for 114 yards. After the game, Lawson said he couldn't remember carrying the ball that many times at any level of football."Coach said he was going to call my number a lot of times tonight, but this is crazy," Lawson said. "I played little league and I didn't carry the ball that many times. And that was more yards (gained) tonight than I had the whole season." Though hyperbolic, he's close to being right. Before Thursday night, he had 38 carries for 115 yards, one more yard than he had against the Hawks. The Terriers' win came just six days after Hillsborough (6-1, 4-1 in 6A-8) dropped a tough one-point game, 23-22, to Sickles. The Hawks will have an equally tough challenge ahead as they prepare for defending 8A state champion Plant on the road Friday. Hawks coach Sean Callahan said his young Armwood team has a lot of work to do to put away this loss and move forward, but regardless it would be a learning experience for his team. "I've been with teams like this before that are young and inexperienced," Callahan said. "You just have to get through the tough times. I've always told you if you're going to beat Armwood High School, this is the year to beat us. Every third or fourth year, it's going to be like this." He added that this would be a good week to see how his team was going to respond to a tough loss. "We're going to find out real quick," Callahan said. "We play a great team (four-time state champion Plant on Friday)." In Hamilton we trust For Durant coach Mike Gottman, Thursday's 38-28 win over Newsome was about who would make the fewest mistakes. Fortunately for his now 7-0 Cougars, it was the four-turnover advantage the team had that was the big difference. And of course once Durant has the lead, Gottman has more often than not been able to take a breath as he knows he can then hoist his team's hopes onto the sturdy frame of Jamarlon Hamilton. Hamilton's 957 rushing yards this season probably aren't going to shatter any county records, but his consistency, especially late in the game, to make holes where there are none, to find space and explode, and most importantly, to find first-down markers and brutally stretch out drives has Gottman all smiles. "Jamarlon Hamilton is a stud and one of the best running backs I've ever coached," Gottman said. "He's tough and gritty and a true workhorse for us." Hamilton, who averages 8-plus yards a carry, has found the end zone 13 times this season, including twice against Newsome (11- and 13-yard runs). "He's going to get positive yards," Gottman said. "When we have to get first downs, he seems to be the guy to do it." "They'll have him bottled up and he finds a way to squirt through and get 4 or 5 yards when it looks like he was stopped at the line of scrimmage. He has an uncanny ability to get positive yards."
Staff writer Bill Ward contributed to this story.
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9.3x62mm Mauser Ammo
9.3x62mm Mauser ammunition is a powerful cartridge with a long history of use by big game hunters. The round is frequently used to hunt moose, bear, and bison as well as a variety of African game such as giraffe and zebra and was introduced in 1905.
Loads for this caliber use heavy 231, 250, or 285 grain bullets with muzzle velocities of around 2,500 feet per second. That's typically what you'll find in-stock and for sale here at Widener's for U.S. civilian shooters (mostly hunters).
Available ammunition for the 9.3x62mm include a soft point load from Sellier & Bellot and an entry in Hornady's Dangerous Game line."
Hornady Dangerous Game Series 9.3 x 62mm Mauser 286 Grain InterLock SP-RP - 20 Rounds$39.00
Manufacturer Hornady Condition New Bullet Weight 286 Grain Bullet Type Soft-Point (SP) Use Type hunting big game, hunting whitetail deer Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 9.3x62 Manufacturer SKU 82303 Primer Type Boxer UPC Barcode 090255823035 Cost Per Round $1.95 per round
20 rounds of Hornady 9.3x62 ammo that'll have your gun firing for a while and your face smiling for even longer! The Boxer primer, 286 Grain Soft-Point (SP) bullet and Brass cases on these New rounds make for the perfect companion for hunting big game, hunting whitetail deer. Pick up some rounds today and you'll get fast shipping along with Widener's world class service.
Sellier & Bellot 9.3x62mm Mauser 285 Grain SP - 20 Rounds$47.00
Manufacturer Sellier & Bellot Condition New Bullet Weight 285 Grain Bullet Type Soft-Point (SP) Use Type hunting whitetail deer Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 9.3x62 Manufacturer SKU SB9362A Primer Type Boxer UPC Barcode 754908510641 Cost Per Round $2.35 per round
Soft-Point (SP) ammo that's as ready as you are for hunting whitetail deer. Made by Sellier & Bellot, this 9.3x62 ammunition is Brass-cased, Boxer-primed with a 285 Grain bullet. These are trusted New rounds so sleep easy knowing you're picking up 20 rounds of 9.3x62 that promises reliable feeding and extraction shot after shot.
Federal Cape-Shok 9.3x62 Mauser 286 Grain Barnes Banded Solid - 20 Rounds$88.75
Manufacturer Federal Condition New Bullet Weight 286 Grain Bullet Type Banded Solid Flat Nose Use Type really big game hunting Casing Type Nickel-Plated Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 9.3x62 Manufacturer SKU P9362D Primer Type Boxer UPC Barcode 029465061371 Cost Per Round $4.44 per round
This is a great round for really big game hunting. From Federal, this 9.3x62 ammunition is New with a Banded Solid Flat Nose 286 Grain bullet. You'll get 20 rounds of Nickel-Plated Brass cased ammo that's ready for your next trip out to shoot. Like every round for sale, we stand behind this ammo and have your back so rest assured you're not only getting a good deal, you're getting the peace of mind that comes along with a trusted supplier.


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Get Code::Blocks to use a Terminal Emulator Other Than XTerm
Title should be pretty self expanitory. When making console applications, or debugging GUI ones, it uses xterm. IS there a way to get it to use others? Or is xterm hard-coded?
I don't recall what configuration file it is in but many DE give you a GUI tool for "Perfered Applications" . In XFCE it is under Settings.
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:29 AM.


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WBEZ News
Despite Sandy's havoc, New York gallery owner travels to Chicago
One of Chicago's major international arts fairs, Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA), opened at Navy Pier Thursday. But some participants from the East Coast almost didn't make it.
Shoko Aono owns a gallery in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood.
Earlier this week, she was planning to take a plane to Chicago to come to SOFA, but Hurricane Sandy forced her to change her plans.
So, late Wednesday, Aono carried her two suitcases in the dark down the stairs from her 12th floor apartment, got into a hired car, and rode all the way to Chicago.
"Fifteen hours. I could make it to fly to Japan," she lauged. Even though the trip cost $7500, she says she's relieved she made it in time.
"It was such an adventurous moment," she said. "For me, the darkest hour, but it was also the brightest hour."
Since her Chelsea gallery is flooded, Aono says this weekend's fair is especially important to her livelihood.


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The purpose of the Dominant lethal (DL) test is to investigate whether chemical agents produce mutations resulting from chromosomal aberrations in germ cells. In addition, the dominant lethal test is relevant to assessing genotoxicity because, although they may vary among species, factors of in vivo metabolism, pharmacokinetics and DNA-repair processes are active and contribute to the response. Induction of a DL mutation after exposure to a test chemical indicates that the chemical has affected germinal tissue of the test animal.
This modified version of the Test Guideline reflects more than thirty years of experience with this test and the potential for integrating or combining this test with other toxicity tests such as developmental, reproductive toxicity, or genotoxicity studies; however due to its limitations and the use of a large number of animals this assay is not intended for use as a primary method, but rather as a supplemental test method which can only be used when there is no alternative for regulatory requirements.
The in vitro mammalian cell gene mutation test can be used to detect gene mutations induced by chemical substances. This TG includes two distinct in vitro mammalian gene mutation assays requiring two specific tk heterozygous cells lines: L5178Y tk+/-3.7.2C cells for the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) and TK6 tk+/- cells for the TK6 assay. Genetic events detected using the tk locus include both gene mutations and chromosomal events.
Cells in suspension or monolayer culture are exposed to, at least four analysable concentrations of the test substance, both with and without metabolic activation, for a suitable period of time. They are subcultured to determine cytotoxicity and to allow phenotypic expression prior to mutant selection. Cytotoxicity is usually determined by measuring the relative cloning efficiency (survival) or relative total growth of the cultures after the treatment period. The treated cultures are maintained in growth medium for a sufficient period of time, characteristic of each selected locus and cell type, to allow near-optimal phenotypic expression of induced mutations. Mutant frequency is determined by seeding known numbers of cells in medium containing the selective agent to detect mutant cells, and in medium without selective agent to determine the cloning efficiency (viability). After a suitable incubation time, colonies are counted.
This screening Test Guideline describes the effects of a test chemical on male and female reproductive performance. It has been updated with endocrine disruptor endpoints, in particular measure of anogenital distance and male nipple retention in pups and thyroid examination.
The test substance is administered in graduated doses to several groups of males and females. Males should be dosed for a minimum of four weeks. Females should be dosed throughout the study, so approximately 63 days. Matings "one male to one female" should normally be used in this study. This Test Guideline is designed for use with the rat. It is recommended that each group be started with at least 10 animals of each sex. Generally, at least three test groups and a control group should be used. Dose levels may be based on information from acute toxicity tests or on results from repeated dose studies. The test substance is administered orally and daily. The results of this study include clinical observations, body weight and food/water consumption, oestrous cycle monitoring, offspring parameters observation/measurement, thyroid hormone measurement, as well as gross necropsy and histopathology. The findings of this toxicity study should be evaluated in terms of the observed effects, necropsy and microscopic findings. Because of the short period of treatment of the male, the histopathology of the testis and epididymus should be considered along with the fertility data, when assessing male reproductive effects.
This test measures structural chromosomal aberrations (both chromosome- and chromatid-type) in dividing spermatogonial germ cells and is, therefore, expected to be predictive of induction of heritable mutations in these germ cells. The purpose of the in vivo mammalian spermatogonial chromosomal aberration test is to identify those chemicals that cause structural chromosomal aberrations in mammalian spermatogonial cells (1) (2) (3). In addition, this test is relevant to assessing genetoxicity because, although they may vary among species, factors of in vivo metabolism, pharmacokinetics and DNA-repair processes are active and contribute to the response.
The original Test Guideline 483 was adopted in 1997. This modified version of the Test Guideline reflects many years of experience with this assay and the potential for integrating or combining this test with other toxicity or genotoxicity studies.
This Performance-Based Test Guideline (PBTG) describes in vitro assays, which provide the methodology of Stably Transfected Transactivation to detect Estrogen Receptor Agonists and Antagonists (ER TA assays). It comprises mechanistically and functionally similar test methods for the identification of estrogen receptor agonists and antagonists and should facilitate the development of new similar or modified test methods. The two reference test methods that provide the basis for this PBTG are: the Stably Transfected TA (STTA) assay using the (h) ERα-HeLa-9903 cell line, derived from a human cervical tumor, and the BG1Luc ER TA assay using the BG1Luc-4E2 cell line, derived from a human ovarian adenocarcinoma. The cell lines used in these assays express ER and have been stably transfected with an ER responsive luciferase reporter gene. The assays are used to identify chemicals that activate (i.e. act as agonists) and also suppress (i.e. act as antagonists) ER- dependent transcription. ER are activated following ligand binding, after which the receptor-ligand complex binds to specific DNA response elements and transactivates the reporter gene, resulting in increased cellular expression of a marker enzyme (e.g. luciferase in luciferase based systems). The enzyme then transforms the substrate to a bioluminescent product that can be quantitatively measured with a luminometer. These test methods are being proposed for screening and prioritisation purposes, but also provide mechanistic information that can be used in a weight of evidence approach.
The programme (or BioPesticides including microbials - bacteria, algae, protozoa viruses, fungi -, pheromones and semiochemicals, macrobials/invertebrates such as insects and nematodes, and plant extracts/botanicals) helps member countries to harmonise the methods and approaches used to assess biological pesticides.
Engineered nano-objects and their agglomerates and aggregates are handled today in workplaces that span broad occupational environments. The three-tiered approach described in this document is not intended to be a risk assessment strategy, but part of a risk management and mitigation strategy.
The OECD eChemPortal, a web portal which offers comprehensive information on chemical substances, has been updated to offer better access to chemical classifications according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Today the OECD marks the end of a seven year experimental testing programme, investigating 11 commercially viable nanomaterials across 110 chemical tests. The results were co-ordinated across 11 countries with tests and data generated from government agencies, universities, research institutions and businesses. Over 780 studies on the specific properties of nanomaterials were undertaken.
The new version of the IOMC Toolbox for Decision Making in Chemicals Management provides a set of interactive features allowing governments to use it as a platform for collaboration among ministries, agencies, and other stakeholders such as industry. Users can save their information, add comments, and share and discuss issues with colleagues and partners.


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The Missionary and the Libertine: Love and War in East and West (Paperback)
Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
From Naipaul's India to the last days of Hong Kong, and from the ghosts of Pearl Harbor to Benazir Bhutto, Buruma delivers an engaging and incisive look at the ways East and West understand-and misunderstand-each other.
At home in both worlds, Buruma traverses the realms of journalism, literary criticism, and political analysis, to examine the dialogue of fact and fantasy that affects our perception of far-away lands. Whether deconstructing the films of Satyajit Ray or the novels of Yoshimoto Banana, Buruma offers a splendid counterbalance to fashionable theories of clashing civilizations and uniquely Asian values. In twenty-five illuminating, often humorous essays, The Missionary and the Libertine shows us why Buruma's reputation for writing the most compelling commentary on the faultlines of the East-West divide is so secure.
About the Author
The author of five previous books, Ian Buruma lives in London.
Praise For…
"Trenchant and sophisticated…. Buruma evokes a rich panorama of East and West."–The New York Times
"Eclectic and intimate."–Talk
"Buruma has dizzying freewheeling powers of observation."–Los Angeles Times


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Newsroom tips part 1: add your social media feeds
6th May 2015
Category: How to..., Newsroom tips
Everyone who has distributed a press release through SourceWire has a complementary SourceWire Newsroom. Are you making the most of yours?
Make your SourceWire Newsroom engaging to journalists and stakeholders alike with your full range of personalisation options.
What can I personalise?
A great way to get started is by adding your social media feeds. You can add Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn feeds to your newsroom.
What is the benefit?
Make all your social updates available to journalists in one easily accessible place for an integrated online campaign.
How do I get started?
Login to your account at SourceWire.com and select the social media tab.
For more information or to request login details call 0345 370 7777 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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LUAS: A Tale of Two Trams
Since its launch in 2004, the LUAS has become a moving landmark of Dublin. A Tale Of Two Trams goes behind the scenes of Dublin's light rail LUAS system, to tell the stories of some of the 80,000 passengers and the staff who support them: from the good, the bad to the anti-social behaviour and fare evaders.
The trams run on two separate lines: the Green and the Red. The tracks run through vastly different areas of Dublin: from the leafy affluent suburbs of south Dublin on the Green to the more traditional working class communities of west Dublin on the Red.
Work has now just begun to finally connect the LUAS system across the city converging at O'Connell Street-with a due date expected in 2017.
Anti-social behaviour has always been a problem on the LUAS and it's on the rise. Last year more than 1000 incidents were reported with 75% taking place on the Red Line.
The documentary goes on the beat with Operation Tramwatch: a major initiative to clamp down on fare evaders. It joins the patrol of private STT Security Agents. It gives an inside glimpse into the systems HUB at the Red Cow where the entire CCTV system is monitored.
With a quarter of the LUAS staff coming from beyond Ireland, A Tale Of Two Trams also reveals some of the issues frontline workers face daily, from racist to sexist comments and threats of violence.
The programme also brings viewers behind the scenes to show what it takes to keep the tram system on track - from the logistics of bringing crowds to a One Direction concert in the O2 to the engineers and cleaning staff who work through the night.
A Tale Of Two Trams is a slice of two sides of contemporary life in Dublin with unique access to the people behind the public transport system.
Like any city centre there's a darker side and you do see more of it in a job like this one." (Stephen Lane, LUAS Traffic Supervisor)


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Hello MyIGNers! This is the first review that I've ever done a game review! Sure, I've played games before sharing my thoughts and suggestions, but this the first time I've really delved into a game, taken notes, thought hard about every detail, and put them into review format. I hope that I not only did well, but I hope I did a good enough job to where you the reader will fancy it and possibly share your thoughts! Enjoy!
If you've played any of the normal past Kirby games such as Nightmare in Dreamland or Kirby 64 (the ones I just happened to have played), then that is pretty much what you're going to get with Return to Dreamland. It's a 2D side-scroller with 3D graphics (or 2.5D) similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
If you've never played any previous titles, Kirby has the ability to consume or spit an enemy back out as a projectile (not as gruesome as it sounds). If the enemy is consumed, Kirby uses that power against his foes. There are some new additions to Return to Dreamland. Instead of only having one move like in past installments, you get several different moves to use with each power. It's nice because it keeps the game fresh and less repetitive. Also new are these "mega power-ups" that deal some serious damage for a limited time. There are also items that Kirby can pick up and use against enemies for a short time.
The Main Story for the most part was pretty easy. It didn't get challenging until the last two levels and even then it wasn't too difficult. It's not so easy though that it makes the game boring.
I didn't play co-op, but I heard from IGN's review that everyone shares a collection of lives. If someone who isn't player one dies, then one life is taken from the collection of lives and they can easily hop back in. However, if player one dies, then everyone has to start back from the nearest checkpoint or restart the entire level. I have personally never seen this in a co-op game before and it seems like something that could have easily been fixed or taken out. Maybe it was added for more challenge…?
Score: 8
The story is pretty straightforward. Kirby and his pals are playing around one day when suddenly they see a space ship crashing to the ground. As the ship is crashing, there are numerous parts of the ship falling into different various places around Popstar, their home planet. Kirby and friends investigate the ship and discover a creature named Magalor. They offer to help Magalor return to his home planet by recovering the five missing pieces to his ship *cough Pikmin*, the Lor Starcutter, which are conveniently spread across the five corners of Popstar and navigated Mario-hub-world style.
Score: 7
Throughout the game there is an option to collect 120 Energy Spheres through the stories levels. These are not only fun to collect, but the more you collect, the more challenges are unlocked. These challenges consist of Kirby using one of his powers to collect coins while simultaneously trying to reach the end of the level before time runs out all for the sake a higher score. These are pretty fun, as it takes some strategy and level-studying to figure out how to get a gold medal.
There are also two Subgames that can each be played with three other friends. One is Scope Shot where you must take down robots with a scope-gun before time runs out. The other is Ninja Dojo where you use the wiimote to fling ninja stars at moving targets. Even on the hardest difficulties, neither of the subgames were engaging and not really worth going back to play again.
Once the Main Story is beaten, a few different things are unlocked. Extra Mode is essentially the Main Story except more difficult. All enemies are bigger (which means tougher to take out) and numerous. The bosses also have extra features that make them more difficult. This mode is more fun to play than the Main Story mode. Another feature is the Sound Booth, which lets you go through not only all of the soundtracks in the game, but the sound effects as well. Last but not least is The Arena, a mode where you engage bosses in a random order until they are all defeated or until Kirby runs out of health. Each of these modes added more value to Kirby's Return to Dreamland.
Score 8
There is not much to say about the graphics for Return to Dreamland. They aren't exactly great, but they're not bad either. It is quite colorful and I'll admit (even as a guy) that just about everything is cute and adorable. The game also never once hiccupped or slowed down even when multiple things were happening on the screen at once, and that's always a good thing in any game.
Score: 8
If you are a fan of the Kirby series, Return to Dreamland is perfect for you. If you have never played any Kirby game or didn't like past games but are interested in Return to Dreamland, then I would suggest renting before purchasing. The easiness could potentially turn off people, but if you know someone well that is thirteen years or younger and they're looking for something to do on their Wii, then this game definitely has a good amount of replay value.
Final Score: 7.75
Well, what did you think of the review? Did I analyze things well enough? Was it an interesting read? Was I too biased? Was my photoshoping legit? Can you think of another question I could ask you to make my reviews in the future better? Tell me everything, and thanks for reading!


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Home > microRNA PCR > miRCURY™ microRNA QC PCR Panel
Quick and easy quality control of RNA samples to ensure that only optimal samples are used for your qPCR profiling studies. Use the 96 or 384 well PCR panels to check the quality of your isolated RNA, look for outlier samples, identify the presence of nucleases and PCR inhibitors and look for signs of hemolysis. Avoid spending time and resources on suboptimal samples.
Related products
Manuals and tech notes
Panel overview
View list of microRNA PCR panels


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The acronym, AGS, stands for Alpha Gamma Sigma: The Community College Honor Scholarship Society. The Greek title represents the following words:
Alpha means "arête," or "good character and virtue"Gamma means "gnosis," or "knowledge"Sigma means "sophrosyne," or "good judgment"
The following are some of the benefits of membership in AGS:
You qualify to become an AGS member if you:
Fill out an application along with membership dues: $35.00 (checks made to AGS)
For further information, visit the state website: AGS Honors Society Web Site
About Us | Getting Started | For Students | Courses & Programs | Online Learning | Faculty & Staff | Site Map | Contact Us
SCCCD | Reedley College | Madera Center | Oakhurst Center | Clovis Community College
Fresno City College - 1101 E. University Avenue Fresno, Ca. 93741. (559) 442-4600
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Yellow Canvases
Special Yellow canvas selection, showcasing all our yellow or yellow themed canvases. Available in a range of sizes to fit the special wall in your home or office. A wide range of yellow canvases all printed on professional 12-colour Canon printing presses and 100% cotton canvas. Every yellow themed canvas is hand crafted here at Canvart in Cheshire and gallery wrapped on extra chunky 38mm kiln dried frames and will be couriered to you free and arrive ready to hang out of the box.
London City Of Arts Framed Canvas Wall Art Picture
Regular Price: £28.99
Special Price £25.08


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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
April 4, 2014
BP Unfiltered
This Week's New Pitching Lines
Two years ago, in one of my first articles for Baseball Prospectus, I wrote about pitching lines: the ones we see over and over, and the ones we've never seen. It went like this:
There are, technically, infinite possibilities for a starters' pitching line, but realistically, almost all will:
This year, fearing that all of life is happening while I fail to notice, I decided I wanted to notice those new lines when they happen.
The best new line of the week: Mark Buehrle's 8.2/4/0/0/1/11
Had Buehrle not been pulled, and had he retired the next batter, he would have joined a group of nine other pitchers (most recently Jason Schmidt) who threw a 9/4/0/0/1/11. For that matter, had his manager pulled him after eight so that the ninth could start with a fresh reliever, he'd have joined four other pitchers with an 8/4/0/0/1/11. Further, here's the frequency of starts in major-league history by innings:
What that means is that most starts that go 8 ⅔ create a new pitching line. Baseball flat out hates the 8 ⅔ inning start.
Looking at Buehrle's start, you can appreciate the confluence of events needed to get us to this line. Most importantly, it had to be early in the season, because Buehrle was on a tighter pitch count than usual. If Buerhle throws this start in May, this line never happens.
The worst new line of the week: Jorge De La Rosa's 4.1/4/5/5/2/6
The most surprisingly new line of the week: Martin Perez's 5.2/7/2/2/0/7
Other new lines:
Sam Miller is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @SamMillerBB
1 comment has been left for this article.
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This photo is a tree limb convered in ice from the 2011 Ice Storm in Columbus Ohio.
I am very excited to transition my photo into canvas art!
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The Comerica Office Perks Program for businesses and employees is offering a $200 business checking bonus, a $50 business referral bonus for each referred employee, plus a $100 new personal checking bonus for each employee who opens a Comerica account, valid through November 12, 2010.
If you are new to Comerica, open a business checking account and make a $5,000 deposit to receive a $200 bonus.
You'll also receive a $50 referral bonus for each employee who registers their new account, plus your employees will receive a $100 bonus when they open a new Comerica personal checking account and complete the requirements.
Check out this Comerica Office Perks Program Bonus Offer for more details.
You can apply at a Comerica Banking Center or call 1-800-979-0850 to register for this promotion.
Comerica Office Perks Bonuses
1. $200 for new customers opening a business checking account and making a $5,000 deposit.
2. $50 referral bonus provided to the business for each employee who opens an account and registers.
3. $100 bonus provided to each employee for opening a personal checking account and completing other requirements.
How to Start the Comerica Office Perks Program
1. Open an account. If you do not currently have a Comerica business-deposit account, you are eligible for a $200 Office Perk. To open an account, find a Banking Center or call 1-800-979-0850.
2. Register for Office Perks. Enter your account number to get the promotion code when registering. Your employees will use the promotion code to enroll in the Office Perks program.
3. Share the offer. After registering for Office Perks, you will receive a link to a personalized page with your unique promotion code, a downloadable PDF brochure, and a sample email to help you let your team know about the offer.
In order for employees to receive a $100 Office Perk and the business checking account to receive a $50 Office Perk, employees will need to open an account and register for the Office Perks program using the promotion code you will receive after your company has been registered. Employees will then need to select Comerica offerings that meet their needs.
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New checking account must remain open and active (5 or more transactions per statement cycle) and be in good standing at the time the bonus is paid.
Comerica will verify that you have met the offer terms during the tracking period of October 2010 to February 2011 and qualifying bonus payments will be credited to your Comerica checking account by April 15, 2011, provided your account and service(s) qualify.
The maximum bonus any consumer may receive is $100.
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Take advantage of the Comerica Office Perks Program to get cash bonuses for your business and your employees.
Register your business for the Comerica Office Perks Program today to get cash rewards with business checking accounts and employee personal checking accounts.


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DEL NORTE, Colo. Authorities say a colossal wildfire near a popular summer retreat in southern Colorado continues to be driven by winds and fueled by dead trees in a drought-stricken area.
The conditions have prevented fire crews from making containment lines around the blaze, which grew overnight to 108 square miles, up from 100 on Saturday.
No structures have been lost in the fire, and no injuries have been reported.
Officials say the fire burning near South Fork is the largest the region has seen. They say it is doubtful fire crews could establish any containment lines until there's a break in the weather, possibly Tuesday.
Officials remain optimistic they can protect the town, however.
The fire's rapid advance prompted the evacuation of hundreds of summer visitors and South Fork's 400 permanent residents Friday. It could be days before people are allowed back into their homes, cabins and RV parks.
South Fork's mayor says up to 1,500 people were forced to flee.
The wildfire, a complex of three blazes, has been fueled by dry, hot, windy weather and a stand of dead trees, killed by a beetle infestation.
- Hot, windy weather drives Colo. wildfires
- Fire threatens Colorado mountain town of 400
- Hundreds more evacuated in Colo. wildfires
- Colo. wildfire arson? How investigators will track down blaze origins
But the fire's spread had slowed by Saturday morning after the flames hit a healthy section of forest. Fire crews remained alert as more hot, dry and windy weather was forecast.
"We were very, very lucky," Rio Grande County Commissioner Carla Shriver told evacuees at Del Norte High School. "They are saying they haven't quite seen one like this in years. There is so much fuel up there."
As many as 16 fires are burning across Colorado.
Another wildfire burning in the foothills about 30 miles southwest of Denver is expected to be fully contained soon and evacuation orders have been lifted.
Fire officials say they expect the Lime Gulch Fire near Conifer to be contained by Sunday evening. It is currently 90 percent contained.
No structures have been destroyed and no injuries have been reported. The fire has burned 511 acres.
Fire officials say they believe the blaze started by lightning on Wednesday. It forced about 100 people to leave their homes. Those evacuation orders were lifted Saturday night.


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Friday, April 13, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.
Dan Klaich and the university system regents want to do to our colleges what the Eastern establishment has done to public schools. They want to fund colleges based on graduation rates. When high schools in some districts were commanded to increase graduation rates, they responded by tossing merit out the window and pushing students through the system based on "social promotions."
Graduation rate is the wrong metric, especially for community and urban colleges. At these sorts of institutions, students migrate in and out over the course of years. Students attend classes when their work schedule and finances permit. In many cases, work or family situations arise and students withdraw from class or just quit attending.
Other citizens will take a few classes to hone existing skills or update their familiarity with new technology, or take a class or two for personal enrichment. Does anyone think the aforementioned students, who were never seeking a degree in the first place, should be counted against their college as failures?
I hope our legislators will see the fallacy of using graduation rates as a measure of success and send the Nevada System of Higher Education back to the drawing board.


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These are fairly hard to find - they're published by World International, the same publishers of the annuals and "The Fruit of Evil" and "One Enchanters' Eve" books (but are called Mini World because they're smaller - the size of the mini comics).
They appear from time-to-time on eBay. I wouldn't say "Catra's Prize Catch" is the most common. It was the last one I lay my hands on - I always felt "Princess Adora Imprisoned" was the easiest to find. The books are good and are some of the few publications that feature Scorpia (she's in two of them, but only drawn in one - "Threat to Crystal Castle" is especially good).
The other book is "The Red Stone of Darkmor".


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10 Things to Know About Don Jon
After screening at both Sundance and South by Southwest, this weekend sees Don Jon hitting theaters. It is a well-crafted and confident debut for Joseph Gordon-Levitt who stars, directs, and writes. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, and Tony Danza; it follows a man and his addictions as they bleed into various parts of his life, revealing the various ways objectification stunts our relationships. Here are 10 things you may not have known about the film that made waves at festivals and is now unleashed on theaters nationwide.
- The original title for the film was Don Jon's Addiction, but was later changed to simply Don Jon because the latter was short, sweet, and punchy. It also took less emphasis off of pornography which although acts as the main symbolic crux of the film, is not the sole focus.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt not only stars but makes his written and directorial debut. Wearing many different hats for the film gave him different perspectives on the filmmaking process.
- After getting Final Cut Pro for his 21st birthday, Gordon Levitt made tons of shorts which helped familiarize him with aspects of the filmmaking process beyond acting. Editing and sound mixing in particular play a vital role in the film.
- A strong supporting cast knocks it out of the park. From Scarlett Johansson's turn as a bombastic Jersey girl, to Brie Larson, to Tony Danza's great turn as patriarch.
- Artists from Gordon-Levitt's creative crowd source community, HitRecord, contributed to the film. Although HitRecord was not a large part of the filmmaking process, Gordon-Levitt hopes to one day make a film purely from Hitrecord.
- The script adheres closely to the final cut of the film, with most changes arising from a strong cast further adding to what was on paper.
- Autobiographical only in the sense of how objectification plays so deeply in our lives. And how media perception shapes how we view life and love.
- Nathan Johnson, who also worked on Looper and Brick, did the music. Typically, a film's edit is locked and then given to the composer to fit music to the cut. However, Gordon-Levitt was emphatic about not locking picture and having the film shaped by music and sound editing.
- An Angels in the Outfield reunion with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tony Danza.
- In theaters now!


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Beaumont residents have more ways to watch TV and save money thanks to Xfinity packages from Comcast providing a variety of everyone's favorite channels. Packages include digital cable channels, DVR recording and playback, and On Demand, so Xfinity TV fits your schedule.
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Frederick Taylor
do not think that many faculty members would challenge the notion that their
universities are run by people who are primarily managers and not academics.
At the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where I work, our administrators
have never been scholars and no more so than at present when the very titles
so common to academe have been changed to reflect the managerial and business
like role those who hold these titles are expected to play. We do not go to
the Dean's office but to that of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
As any management expert will
tell you, the essence of management is control, control over every aspect of
the enterprise. In most workplaces, the one element that can impede the
ability of management to control its domain is the human element. That is why
managerial control is essentially a matter of controlling the organization's
employees, or to use a word that college teachers don't like to hear, its
workers. Over the past 150 years or so, managers have devised a number of
techniques for managing (controlling) their employees. These techniques have
been theorized and systematized, first by Frederick Taylor, and many times
since by his disciples. It is possible to learn these techniques and the
theory behind them in business schools, seminars, and journals. We must have
no doubt that our administrators have studied the theory and practice of
managerial control and that they are busy applying what they have learned.
The most comprehensive system
of managerial control has been pioneered by Japanese automobile manufacturers
and is known to its critics as "lean production." It is based on the twin
ideas that every aspect of work must be controlled to the greatest degree
possible and that the employees must be led to believe not only that this is
good for them but that they have some real say in directing their enterprise.
With our faculty senates and their ideology of shared governance, many of us
have already absorbed the second idea. The first idea is more radical, and
poorly understood by most of us.
The control over work is
necessary if management is to contain costs and enlarge the organization's
surplus. There are many aspects to lean production, some of which need not
concern us, at least yet, because they are impossible, at least so far, to
apply to teachers. For example, the job of teaching college students is not as
susceptible as are most other jobs to Tayloristic time and motion studies.
(See historian David Noble's article, "Digital Diploma Mills," Monthly
Review, February 1998, for evidence that this is being considered.) Nor is
the utilization of "just-in-time" inventory, an innovation in which a firm
keeps no stock on hand but rather has it delivered just as needed, usually by
an outside contractor. (Here again, the use of part-time teachers called on
just as needed, i.e., without advance notice, can be considered a form of
Those features of lean
production which are applicable to teaching are the detailed division of
labor, systematic hiring, stressing the system (what the Japanese call
"kaizen" or constant improvement), and mechanization. The use of the
division of labor is based on the "Babbage principle" after the
mathematician and entrepreneur, Charles Babbage (inventor of the first
computer). The idea is to substitute lesser skilled (cheaper) labor for
skilled (more expensive) labor whenever possible. This we see being done with
a vengeance with the proliferation of part-time, temporary, non-tenure, and
graduate student instructors. As more expensive faculty retire or leave, they
will be replaced whenever possible with cheaper and less secure people. For
example, it makes no sense to managers that I teach two sections of
Introduction to Economics, a course that, from their point of view, can be
taught by anyone minimally qualified. So when I leave my university, I will
likely be replaced with part-time faculty. The other courses I teach can
either be dropped, or if needed, taught by other part-timers or shifted to the
remaining teachers on an overload basis.
Systematic hiring fits in
nicely with the Babbage principle. The idea is to hire people who can be
easily controlled. Of course, most new teachers do not have to be controlled
since they have already learned that they must behave themselves if they want
to get tenure (this, in turn, is partly a function of the glut of new teachers
brought about by the use of part-timers, temporaries, etc.). Over the past 20
years at my campus, not a single new faculty member has become an active
dissident; few have been willing to take even the smallest risk. The
part-timers and other contingent teachers are, almost by definition, so
insecure that they will seldom rock the boat, no matter what an administration
The two most important
control mechanisms, in my view, are the stress now being placed on our system
and mechanization in the form of computers. On an automobile assembly line,
stress is delivered by speeding up the line, reducing the amount of materials
available to workers, or taking a person off the line. Sooner or later, a
bottleneck appears along the line, indicated by flashing lights. Then
management focuses attention on the trouble spot and the workers, usually
grouped into teams, are expected to solve the problem, but without the stress
being removed. When they solve the problem (by working faster, for example),
management has gained a reduction in unit cost. In the colleges and
universities, the stress takes the form of recurring budget cuts (these are
usually blamed by our employers on outside forces, such as state legislatures,
but they are really the result of their own plans). We are then expected to
continue to teach an increasing number of students with fewer resources. We
are encouraged to believe that we must all pull together to get through the
crisis, though a minute's reflection would tell us that the crisis is
permanent and has already consumed most of our work lives and that we suffer
(as do all of the other workers in academe, such as secretaries, maintenance
and custodial, and food service employees) disproportionately to the top
administrators who continue to draw the largest salaries and whose staffs
continue to grow. We "alleviate" the stress by teaching more overloads,
doing more class preparation, agreeing to larger class sizes, foregoing
sabbaticals, never asking for release time, paying for our own conference
trips, making fewer copies of articles, concurring with the hiring of more
part-timers and temporary instructors, and so forth.
The electronic revolution
confronts us with the most extreme assault on our traditional patterns of
work. The future will see more and more distance education, the cloning of
lectures captured on video and sent out over the web, the forcing of faculty
to put their courses online, increased electronic monitoring of faculty
effort, and other such methods of substituting capital for labor. Teaching as
traditionally practiced is labor intensive and the labor is not especially
cheap. These facts are inimical to sound business practice, so the obvious
remedy is to replace us with machines, the prices of which have been falling
for quite awhile. As David Noble puts it: "Educom, the academic-corporate
consortium, has recently established their Learning Infrastructure Initiative
which includes the detailed study of what professors do, breaking the faculty
job down in classic Tayloristic fashion into discrete tasks, and determining
what parts can be automated or outsourced. Educom believes that course design,
lectures, and even evaluation can all be standardized, mechanized, and
consigned to outside commercial vendors. 'Today you're looking at a highly
personal human mediated environment,' Educom president Robert Heterich
observed. 'The potential to remove the human mediation in some areas and
replace it with automation-smart, computer-based, network-based systems is
tremendous. It's gotta happen'."
It is reasonable to ask why
all of this is happening. The proliferation of administrative staff, the
extraordinarily high salaries paid to top administrators and research faculty,
the tremendous expansion of buildings, laboratories, and computing equipment
at universities around the country suggest that it is not a true financial
crisis which is to blame. Rather, I think that the universities have become
centers of accumulation, or, to put it more bluntly, places in which a lot of
money can be made. Universities today are more concerned about generating
patentable research, often the basis for spin-off businesses owned by
researchers and administrators, and the corresponding alliance with private
corporations (which supply computer software and hardware, purchase the
patentable research, form partnerships with researchers and administrators,
and supply employment for the higher ups in the academy when they leave
academe) than with anything else.
It may seem heretical to say
it, but most universities have no sincere commitment whatever to the education
of undergraduates. If they did, they would not be employing the lean
production techniques outlined above, all of which are harmful to the
"production" of educated human beings. If, for example, my university
cared, it would not be implementing a system of "differential teaching" in
which those who don't publish enough or bring in enough grants will be
punished by being forced to teach more. If it cared, it would not allow
professors to "buy back" their courses by hiring part-timers to teach
them. (I was once hired to teach a course at the central campus by a professor
who literally begged me to do it and who had never previously met me and knew
nothing about my background.)
Undergraduates are a major
source of the large sums of money needed to convert the university from a
school into a business. These expenses are the main reason why tuitions have
risen by a much greater percentage than have prices for so many years. Now
that further tuition increases are getting difficult to sustain, the
universities are coming after us, ruthlessly cutting the cost of instruction
and pressuring us to work harder. (I should note that some money has to be
spent on students, mainly to entertain them. In addition, students must be led
to believe that their "education" is the reason why their wages will be
higher after graduation than they would have been had they not gone to
college. It really makes no difference to the university and, sad to say, to
many students, whether they learn anything or not.)
In the face of what is
essentially an attack on the craft of teaching, the reactions of the teachers
have been remarkably passive. Some of us keep our heads firmly in the sand; a
few of us have actually become cheerleaders for lean production. A friend of
mine and I gave a talk at a conference on education and technology. In it, we
pointed out the potential downside of things such as distance learning. Our
presentation was met with derisive attacks from academics that believed that
the electronic revolution was, by definition, a good thing. They could not
grasp that technology is always embedded in a system of social relationships
and that, in a capitalist society, technology can and will be used to control
workers. There are even teachers who argue that tenure may not be a good
thing, or that the downsizing of the universities may be a blessing in
disguise because it will give us a chance to weed out superfluous departments
and programs.
At my college, many teachers
seem to believe that there are good and bad administrators; if we could just
get rid of the bad ones, our problems would disappear. They fail to understand
that all administrators are firmly positioned in the corporate hierarchies
that are implementing all of these policies. They do not act in our interests
because they cannot do so and keep their jobs. If our administrators were
really on our side, they would understand that in a war, the generals have to
do more than make private pleas. They have to rouse the troops to action. If
our branch campus wanted more money from the central university, our
administrators would try to put enough pressure on the university to get it.
They would mobilize faculty, staff, and students to write letters, send
emails, march and demonstrate in Pittsburgh and the state capitol, Harrisburg,
raise a fuss in public meetings, and other such direct actions until the
university capitulated. But, of course, this is unimaginable. No matter how
odious our administrators might think a particular university decision is they
always go along. They know who butters their bread. The university has decided
to try to break the union of maintenance and custodial workers at my campus
over pathetically small sums of money (to the university, though not to the
financially strapped and hardworking employees), a truly rotten thing to do,
but not so awful that any of our administrators would take a public stand
against it.
Probably the most common
faculty response is cynicism. We distance ourselves from our colleges and
refuse to participate much in their affairs. This is an understandable
response; after all, the crisis forced on us causes a lot of pain and anguish.
But even as we are cynical, we do continue to solve the pressures created by
the continued stressing of our system. We do give up our sabbaticals; we do
teach larger classes; we do pile on the overtime; we do not challenge our
employers when they tell us there is no money for anything; we act as if it is
impossible to do anything about the shrinking of the tenure stream faculty. We
could resist but we do not.
What is worse, the very
accommodations we now make to lean production prepare our work for its final
mechanized degradation. There are plenty of studies purporting to show that,
in terms of narrowly defined competencies, distance learning yields the same
results as classroom teaching. As we allow our work to be stressed, we
inevitably begin to take shortcuts (less writing, more "objective" tests,
less rigor, greater willingness to agree to the elimination of low enrollment
programs in difficult subjects, etc.) to ease the stress. But as we do this,
we make the learning experience more amenable to replication through
electronic means. Administrators will then say, with some truth, that we might
as well put our product on the Internet. It is a lot cheaper and the results
are the same. Of course, this will be accompanied with a lot of hype about how
electronic education allows the schools to tailor schooling to the exact needs
of individual students and to serve constituencies who otherwise could not go
to school. But this will be propaganda masking the true motive: raising large
revenues with minimum costs.
In the end, our only hope is
to organize ourselves, both at our workplaces and with teachers around the
world. Some teachers, including graduate students, have done this, but the
resulting unions have been rather tepid examples of what is needed, namely
militant organizations aimed at taking control of the schools so that they can
serve the majority of people, creatively and equally. Unfortunately, for most
faculty, any type of formal organizing is too big a step to take immediately.
So, in the short term, perhaps we can do some things to show our employers
that we know what is going on and that we do not like it. First, we can begin
to speak out in meetings and in private conversations. When administrators say
something ridiculous or simpleminded, we must challenge them. We can challenge
administrative policies with speeches, with letters, with petitions, with
emails, to them, to the media, to politicians, to board members, any way we
Second, we can refuse to
participate in our own demise. We can insist on our leaves and let the
university turn us down. (At my college, we just received a memo canceling all
sabbaticals for next year. So much for collegiality on this matter.) We can
appeal the decision and make it public. We can refuse to teach overload. We
can refuse to give up our syllabi and to put our courses on line. We can
resist any administrative prying into our classrooms. We can, at least if we
are tenured, refuse to give student evaluations; if we do give them, we can
refuse to show them to any administrator. These can only be used against us,
as is also the case for the teaching and research dossiers teachers are now
commonly required to furnish each year to their supervisors. We can refuse to
serve on committees, including those that hire new faculty members, unless
these are going to be given real authority. Third, we can offer our support to
any group on campus, such as students or other employees, who are resisting
being sacrificial lambs. If we are going to protest what is happening to us,
we had better realize that we will need the support of others and to get this,
we must give unconditional encouragement and aid to working people on and off
the campus.
Perhaps the cynics are right
and nothing will come of any efforts we make on our own behalf. I do not
believe this, and the history of resistance movements tells me that it is not
true. But even if we accomplish little, at least we will stop living on our
knees. Z


text: Total ad spending up, b-to-b magazine spending down Published on March 10, 2003. Most Popular New York--Outperforming expectations, total ad spending for all media grew 4.2% in 2002 over 2001, according to ad measurement company CMR/TNS Media Intelligence, a Taylor Nelson Sofres company. CMR said total ad spending for 2002 was $117.3 billion, compared with $112.5 billion in 2001. Print advertising overall grew 1.6% to $48.2 billion, while broadcast media increased 8.4% to $60.9 billion. B-to-b magazines experienced the sharpest decrease of any medium, down 13.9% to $7.2 billion. In this article: BtoB


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Tagsbargains business connecting with others cool stuff cousins Digital History Lab education entrepreneurs family history Funai genealogy genealogy careers Groupon historical fiction history immigration involving children Leathers Living Social Lynchburg maps McKenney microhistory museums Orange County Oregon Hill podcasts population migration research Revolutionary War Richmond Riverview Cemetery Sarah Carney slavery surnames Thomas tours TV U.S. history University of Richmond Virginia Virginia Genealogical Society Virginia Historical Society
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History Is a Bore, or Is It?!
So, I have these three lovely daughters. Two are in elementary school (and the other boasts that it's her last year of preschool). The older two are both studying various aspects of Virginia history this year in their respective classes … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged education, Funai, historical fiction, history, Lynchburg, McKenney, podcasts, Richmond, Virginia 4 Comments


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Nemo Morpho AST
$565 | www.nemoequipment.com
With its inflatable beams and compact hand pump, the Morpho can be pitched in less time than traditional tents with poles.
Sigg Outdoor Cutlery
$20 | www.sigg.com
Food just tastes better when you're not eating it with a plastic spork. These utensils detach when you're ready for some grub.
Highgear TrailPilot 2
$30 | www.highgear.com
There are fancier, digital compasses, but do you really want to run out of batteries when you're lost?
Gerber Folding Saw
$22 | www.gerbergear.com
You could break wood over your knee. Or you could just bring this 15.5-inch saw along. Which would you prefer?
MSR PocketRocket/Titan Kettle Kit
$75 | www.msrcorp.com
We're all for building fires, but if you only want a cup of coffee, the world's lightest stove-pot combo will boil water in just over two minutes.
The North Face Skareb 55
$170 | www.thenorthface.com
Made of ripstop fabric, this three-pound backpack is as strong as it is comfortable.
Tecnica PacMoc
$50 | www.tecnicausa.com
When you've been in boots all day, it's nice to slip into something more comfortable for around the campfire. These sneakers pack flat for easy storing.
Sigg Flask
$30 | www.sigg.com
Constructed from a single piece of stainless steel, this 0.6-liter flask is tougher than most water bottles.
Etón FR-300
$50 | www.etoncorp.com
This radio's hand-cranked power generator can also charge your cell phone. The weather band will let you know when to go home.
Petzl Tactikka Plus
$45 | www.petzl.com
This flip-down headlamp's red filter helps preserve your night vision while lasting up to 150 hours.
Coleman LED Security Lantern
$40 | www.coleman.com
This lantern comes with a motion sensor so it's always on when you need it.
Exped Downmat 7
$140 | www.orgear.com
A light sprinkling of down in these lightweight yet thick mats helps keep you warm at night.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight .7
$26 | www.adventuremedicalkits.com
This waterproof medical kit comes with everything to help fix all of your cuts and bruises—it's the most useful 6.5oz you'll carry with you.
Brunton Wind River Range
$430 | www.brunton.com
This sturdy stove and cutting board folds into a suitcase for easy traveling.


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A spectacular, satisfying side dish that's a quick and easy partner for sausages, grilled steaks or roast lamb.
- Yield
- Serves 12
- 5 1/4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons crumbled dried rosemary
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, cut into small pieces
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter 15 x 10 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Layer potatoes in prepared dish, sprinkling each layer with salt and pepper. Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium. Add Roquefort to cream; whisk until cheese melts. Pour cream mixture over potatoes. Cover with foil. Bake until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.
- Preheat broiler. Mix breadcrumbs and rosemary in small bowl. Sprinkle over potatoes. Dot with butter. Broil until butter melts and crumb mixture is golden brown, watching closely, about 4 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Related Video
Nutritional Info
- Calories369
- Carbohydrates41 g(14%)
- Fat20 g(31%)
- Protein8 g(17%)
- Saturated Fat13 g(63%)
- Sodium271 mg(11%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
- Fiber3 g(11%)
- Monounsaturated Fat6 g
- Cholesterol65 mg(22%)


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Austin Tice, an American freelance journalist who has been missing for more than two weeks in Syria, is believed to be in government custody according to sources, The Washington Post reported.
Recent statements from Czech diplomats, rebel supporters and reports from inside Syria suggest that 31-year-old Tice was detained by Syrian government forces near the Damascus suburb of Daraya, The Miami Herald reported.
The US State Department said the Syrian government has not responded to official inquiries about Tice, but they are working with the Czech to obtain more information.
Tice, a Houston native and former Marine, has worked for The Washington Post, McClatchy Newspapers and other news outlets from Syria, according to The Associated Press.
His father, Marc Tice, told the AP, "It's not uncommon for various journalists moving in and about Syria to be out of communication. We're very hopeful that that is what is happening."
More on GlobalPost: Austin Tice, American journalist, reported missing in Syria
On Monday, Czech ambassador to Syria Eva Filipi said, "Our sources report that he is alive and that he was detained by government forces on the outskirts of Damascus, where the rebels were fighting government troops," according to The Post. The Czech embassy has been handling US interests in Syria since the American embassy closed in February.
The Miami Herald reported that Tice entered Syria without a visa in May, traveling with rebel forces and reaching Damascus in late July. He had planned to leave Syria around August 19 or 20 to meet friends in Lebanon.
More on GlobalPost: Mika Yamamoto's body flown back to Japan
Tice's parents released a statement saying, "Austin is our precious son, and we beseech the Syrian government to treat him well and return him safely to us as soon as possible," according to The Post.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, "We strongly urge all sides to ensure the safety of journalists in Syria," according to the AP.
The Post's executive editor Marcus Brauchli said in a statement, "We're focused intensively on trying to ascertain his whereabouts and ensure his safe return," while Anders Gyllenhaal, vice president for news at McClatchy, said, "Journalists like Austin from all over the world risk their lives every day to cover the news."


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Have Relationship Questions? Ask a Counselor for Answers ASAP
Thank you so much, Dr. Paige. You are right in that it is very stressful, and I have some very difficult days filled with sadness, but I will continue to be patient and do as you recommend. 2 Final questions: Is it O.K. if he does date from time to time (I know there is no one serious but I did see him driving with a woman one day!), will I look like a fool accepting this and still just being there as a friend? And finally, if he's doing this, will he even want to do a casual movie or something with me, or is that too much pressure?! Thank you!
Thanks again. And the mistakes I made were that I did not give him enough attention and nurture that he deserved, as a human being. I got into a major rut after I had kids - 2 very strong-willed and at times quite difficult girls. So, my FINAL question: I last brought up the counseling thing last weekend (during our emotional meeting). He has the names of the counselors I found (all very pro-marriage), but he hasn't gotten back to me. If I ask him to go again, after a couple of weeks, is that pushing him too much, too soon? Or should I just wait longer? You mentioned that he needs things to play out, as he's going through his own issues. My fear about counseling is that he will feel forced to do things he doesn't want to do and rebel, so to speak. I've read horrible things that counseling seldom works and even does further damage (although it worked for my parents who nearly divorced, but made it through and have been married for over 50 years). Thanks.


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GAO: State small businesses paid more for health care
GAO: State small businesses paid more for health care
WASHINGTON — Federal researchers have determined that Connecticut's small businesses and non-profits pay more than those in every other state – except Alaska – to provide health care coverage to their workers.
The Government Accountability Office studied the average premium charged by small group policy providers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and determined it cost an average of $6,080 to cover an individual in Connecticut in the first quarter of 2013. That was just before implementation of the Affordable Care Act's prohibition against considering the health or gender of members of a small group when determining premiums.
Only Alaska, with an average annual premium of $7,691, had costlier small group health insurance plans than Connecticut. Coverage was cheapest in Kentucky, which had an average premium cost of $1,311.
Some of the highest premium rates were in the Northeastern United States, which tends to have high medical costs and an aging population.
But even so, Connecticut's insurance costs were far higher than its neighbors. Maine's average premium was $4,407, Rhode Island's was $4,483, New York's was $4,756, Massachusett's was $4,470 and Vermont's was $5,232.
Connecticut Insurance Department spokeswoman Donna Tommelleo said the state-by-state comparison is skewed because "in addition to high medical costs, Connecticut also has more state-mandated covered benefits than many states." The Connecticut Insurance Department approves the rates charged by health insurance companies operating in the state.
Tommelleo said demographics and the cost of medical services by geographic location were also factors that resulted in a difference in premiums from state to state.
Although the average premium for small group coverage was high in Connecticut, it varied from company to company and type of coverage – for example, preferred provider policies (PPO's) and health maintenance organizations (HMO's) charged different premiums. Deductibles, co-pays and out-of pocket maximums also influenced premium rates.
So did the town or city where an individual in Connecticut lived.
The GAO report said "ranges could vary widely within a particular state for a number of reasons, including significant differences in the services covered, cost sharing features selected, and the factors considered when insurers set the premium rates for each small employer."
Although the ACA ended the insurer practice of considering the health and gender of its members when determining rates, age can still be a factor. And, especially before the ACA set new restrictions on insurers, so could the actions of a state insurance department.
The GAO said state regulators could limit "how insurers vary premiums for different small employers, the factors such as, age, gender, and health status of employees that could be considered when setting premiums rates for the employer group, and the range of variation among premiums rates across employers."
The study was requested by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who hoped to establish a baseline of small group premium costs before the ACA went into effect.
This story originally appeared at CTMirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization covering government, politics and public policy in the state.
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East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester. The civil parish covers an area of and had a population of 23,942 persons in the 2001 census. Nearby towns include Crawley and Horley to the west, Tunbridge Wells to the east and Redhill and Reigate to the northwest. The town is continuous with the village of Felbridge to the northwest. Until 1974 East Grinstead was the centre for local government - East Grinstead Urban District Council - and was located in the county of East Sussex. East Grinstead, along with Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, as part of the former Cuckfield Rural District Council, came together as Mid-Sussex; moving to the jurisdiction of West Sussex County Council. The town has many historic buildings and is located on the Greenwich Meridian. It is located in the Weald and Ashdown Forest lies to the south of the town.
Historical Records
Family Histories
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This growing private practice of ten geriatric physicians is looking to add another physician who is committed to patient care and interested in becoming a partner in their practice.
You will work in a brand new outpatient clinic designed by Geriatricians for Geriatricians and will be busy from day one! There is a highly trained mid-level staff to help support patient follow up and management. More importantly you have the autonomy over your own patients.
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The Community:
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If you have dreamed of living in Colorado, call me about moving your career to a location you will love.
Ben Stajduhar Jackson Physician Search 770-643-5525 firstname.lastname@example.com