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Perhaps it's something in the water (or, more likely, something in the smoke), but yet another musical project formed by former metal musicians has created a masterful jazz-inspired, soul, R&B, decidedly not-metal album. The band in question is Zelliack (a portmanteau of the two members' first names, Zack [Ordway] and Elliot [Coleman]), and it is the sexy, loungy phoenix that rose from the ashes of metalcore/electronicore band Sky Eats Airplane.
Although many fans (me included) still mourn the loss of SEA, Zelliack's "smoove" touch on Noir Tone EP, released Feb. 1, is more than enough to soothe the wound. Even though they are from such a different part of the musical spectrum, Zack and Elliot together again is cause for celebration (preferably with copious amounts of Cristal, or whatever the sexy-party crowd is drinking these days).
Zelliack was born of an impromptu jam session that took place backstage at a Sky Eats Airplane show between the two members, and the music flowed from there (for those interested, the session in question may be located on YouTube). The chemistry between Zack and Elliot throughout this five-song EP is truly remarkable – especially since said chemistry is palpable through a mere studio recording. But, sadly, fans may never see the group replicate this amazing meshing live, since Zack Ordway plays guitar (his main musical squeeze), bass and drums, and programs the electronic aspects himself. Elliot's jobs are limited to creating and singing vocal melodies.
Still, with only two minds collaborating, it sure makes for a streamlined EP of – to use the old clich? – all killer, no filler.
Excellent though it is, what exactly does the EP sound like? Zelliack is, like all truly great, accomplished and challenging music, difficult to place in a box. Perhaps the most accurate descriptor is a cross between R&B and soul. In fact, listening to the group's material is a bit like stepping through a time capsule to different decades of music, from the swing of the '50s (the aptly titled "Call Me Old Fashioned"), to disco of the '70s plus a bit of Latin flair ("Hargrove"), easy listening of the '80s ("Without a Doubt"), R&B of the '90s ("These Hands"), and jazz-tinged rock of the 2000s ("Autumn in Analog"). Every song brings something fresh to the table, which, in combination with the too-short length of the EP and its consistently stellar quality, makes it impossible to become bored at any point during the 22-minute runtime. Zelliack has created something special here.
While both Zack and Elliot are extremely talented musicians, Zack's performance on the album is not technically challenging; the type of music they dance around has no room for bombastic shredding or ear-blasting drumming. Rather, the focus is on songwriting. Even the few guitar solos that grace the album are filled with emotion and only add to the song as a whole, rather than hog the spotlight.
Another possible reason for the somewhat reserved nature of the musicianship is the vocal presence of Elliot. Fans of metal or metalcore music will recognize Elliot from his vocal contributions to the aforementioned Sky Eats Airplane, Misha Mansoor's (of Periphery fame) side-project Of Man Not of Machine, djent pioneers TesseracT, and frequent collaborations with Periphery and Haunted Shores. His voice has a somewhat feminine, operatic quality about it, and, while certainly not for everyone, the sound is gorgeous and a perfect fit for Zelliack's music. Elliot explores the entirety of his range on the EP and dominates the clearly vocal-centric music while still contributing to, not outshining, the cohesiveness and balance of the song-writing.
As overused as this word has become in this review, "sexy" is the only way to describe the vocals that flood the listener's speakers when playing the Noir Tone EP. The lyrics are fittingly sexy throughout the album as well, and fit with the retro, time capsule feel of the compositions. Unfortunately, the words that Elliot croons are the one low point of the otherwise stellar songs: Some of the lyrics reach a cheese factor of 15-year aged cheddar on a scale of colby to limburger and may cause listeners to cringe a bit. Still, if taken as an effect to keep the listener in the mood of the music, they are passable and even fun.
In a phrase, the Noir Tone EP is all about songwriting and emotion, which it displays almost effortlessly. Zack and Elliot are a match made in heaven for fans of immensely enjoyable music, as they prove time and time again on their first release together. Their musical output will be this columnist's soundtrack to spring, and Zelliack had better get working on new material soon so I have a soundtrack for my summer.
4.5 stars out of 5
Regen McCracken ([email protected]) is a junior who intends to major in journalism. He has a love for video games, metal, jazz and all things that make one think. He also writes and performs his own music, while not writing these ever-interesting columns, or studying himself to sleep.


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WHY BIEBS PREFERS PEEING IN MOP BUCKETS DEPT.: Attending an LA Clippers basketball game at the Staples Center, JUSTIN BIEBER suddenly raced to the men's john, accompanied by his burly bodyguard, then freaked when he found it crowded and – like the arrogant little snotnose he is – actually tried to cut the line!
Said an eyewitness: "Guys immediately started screaming, 'Get back in line and wait your f****** turn!' Unbelievably, Bodyguard bellowed that everyone should step aside and 'let Justin use the urinal in private!' Instantly, the 20-odd guys waiting yelled that Justin and Bodyguard should 'get your ass out of here – or STAND IN LINE!' Suddenly realizing that if all the guys got violent, he'd NEVER be able to fight them off single-handedly, Bodyguard turned to Justin and said, 'You're gonna have to wait!'" Not used to being told "NO," Spoiled GirlyMan stormed out in a snit… and here's the un-Belieber-ble KICKER: As the guys jeered, Bodyguard looked back over his shoulder and flashed them a BIG smile!
Said the source: "It was obvious that even HE was happy his punk had been put in his place!"
KICKER 2: When Dwieber's kisser was flashed on the Jumbotron, the whole stadium burst into BOOs!

subset: commoncrawl


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A WOMAN who devoted her career to working on humanitarian projects around the world has died aged 52.
Josie Buxton was an entomologist, a zoologist specialising in insects, who took a leading role for Oxford charity Oxfam, taking innovative approaches in aid to countries such as Kenya, Sierra Leone, Burma and South Africa.
Her work championed schemes which offered grants and loans to help those in need start enterprises, instead of donations of goods, money or food. She also looked at the impact of insects on crops.
In the time Ms Buxton worked for Oxfam, she is thought to have had positive impact on thousands of lives.
Josie Buxton was born on May 8, 1961 in Warrington, Cheshire, to parents Maurice and Pauline Buxton.
She grew up in Liverpool with siblings Tony, 54, Michael, 49, and Elizabeth, 47.
After attending Booker Avenue Primary School and Aigburth Vale secondary school, she briefly started training as a nurse.
However, she changed her mind in 1980, instead moving to London to attend the Polytechnic of Central London, now the University of Westminster.
There she completed a biology degree in 1983 and went on to study applied entomology at Imperial College from 1984-1985. In 1986 she worked as an entomology assistant in Sierra Leone, before continuing similar work back at Imperial College from 1989 to 1992.
In 1993 and 1994 she went on a research trip to Nairobi, Kenya, investigating forest ecosystems.
This was followed by a brief spell at a Guildford scientific research laboratory in 1995 and 1996.
It was the next phase of her life that proved to be the most defining, however.
In 1996 she gave birth to her daughter, Megan, now 17, and moved to South Oxford, where she was to keep a home for the rest of her life.
This was to prepare for the job at Oxfam she took in 1998 as a humanitarian officer.
That saw her seconded to a number of global posts administering programmes, including Kenya from 2003-2009 and Burma from 2009-2012.
Ms Buxton, who was divorced, had hobbies including camping, local politics and gardening, and she tended an allotment off the Abingdon Road for a number of years.
She was also a strong advocate of human rights and campaigned at numerous demonstrations of the anti-apartheid movement in London in the 1980s.
Josie Buxton died on February 17, in Sobell House hospice, Headington, from pancreatic cancer.
A funeral was held at Oxford Town Hall on March 6 which saw some 150 people attend, many of whom she had met through her international work at Oxfam.
She is survived by her mother Pauline, 82, sister, two brothers and her daughter.


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Bishkek. The Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, which is officially outlawed in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries, has stepped up its activities in penitentiaries across Kyrgyzstan, which has led to an increase in the number of its supporters among convicts, Kyrgyz expert Kadyr Malikov said.
"There has been a sharp rise in the number of supporters of the Hizb ut-Tahrir extremist organization in the system of the Justice Ministry's Chief Penitentiary Institutions Department," Malikov, who is director of Kyrgyzstan's analytical and research center of religion, law and politics, told journalists on Wednesday.
"The party has changed some instruments of its work. For instance, Hizb ut-Tahrir pledges to provide complete or partial financial assistance for the families of its members who are currently serving their prison sentences," the expert said (...)(...more)


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The Wales football manager and father-of-two, who was found hanged at his home by his wife, Louise on Sunday, said his family meant "everything" to him - far more than all the medals and accolades he won during his illustrious career.
In the interview with FourFourTwo magazine, Speed said: "The item I cherish the most isn't material. I don't even know where my Leeds championship medal is.
"So I'd say family. We're an item and they mean everything to me."
Yesterday, an inquest was opened in Warrington to establish the circumstances of the 42-year-old footballer's untimely death. A post-mortem examination found he died from hanging. The inquest has been adjourned until January 30.
Detective Inspector Peter Lawless, of Cheshire Police, told coroner Nicholas Rheinberg there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances.Speed's sister Lesley Haylock said on Twitter that her brother was an "inspiration". "I have lost my brother, my friend, my inspiration. I hope you are at peace now Gary. I miss you so much," she wrote.


text: I have a question I am a Razr Maxx user who is going overseas in a few days I got a sim card from Mobal and was going to use it on an old Vzw D2 but remember I had a new still in the box My Touch Fender Edition I won so I bought a code to unlock it and now I can't get past the Google Log In Screen because I can't get on a network, I don't know of any way of getting it on WiFi as long as that stops me. Anyone have any clue what I can do or a work around. Thanks In Advance TheMiz


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April 11, 2008
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Auburn's Quan Prowell has been selected to participate in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational through Saturday in Portsmouth, Va. For the past 55 years, the P.I.T. has invited 64 of the best college basketball players (seniors) from across the nation to participate in a four-day, 12-game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team.
Prowell's team, Norfolk Sports Club, will play its opening game Thursday night at 8 pm Central. Teammates include Tennessee's Chris Lofton, Arkansas' Steven Hill, Xavier's Drew Lavender, Georgetown's Jonathan Wallace, Houston's Dion Dowell, Winona State's Jonte Flowers and Ole Miss' Dwayne Curtis.
"I am very happy for Quan to be selected to this highly regarded tournament," said head coach Jeff Lebo. "This is an important step in the NBA Draft process, and I wish Quan the best."
Prowell ranked 16th in the SEC in two categories as he averaged 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a senior this season for the Tigers.
The Columbus, Ga., native ranked seventh in the league shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 17th with 32.52 minutes played per game.
He scored a career-high 31 points on 7-fo-10 three-point shooting at Mississippi State Feb. 27 to go along with eight rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
Prowell scored a game-high 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field in Auburn's 90-78 victory at NIT semifinalist Ole Miss on Feb. 16. He was also 3-of-5 from 3-point range and had five assists, four rebounds and four steals in playing 39 minutes. On the defensive end, he guarded Ole Miss center Dwayne Curtis and held him to eight points and six rebounds, which were seven points and three rebounds below his average coming into the game.
Consolation and semifinal games will be played Friday while consolation
and the Championship game will be played Saturday.
For more information, please go to www.portsmouthinvitational.com.


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In a press release sent out this morning, Sony has listed several movies that will be made available with the launch of the European version of the video store. It has taken Europe quite awhile to gain the same feature as North America, but the list of opening movies isn't too shabby and should make up a bit for the wait. An excerpt from the press release is included below.
"From action packed thrillers to a little something for the kids, there will be a host of fantastic films that all the family are sure to enjoy, some of which include: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Bruno, Angels & Demons, Casino Royale, Crank 2: High Voltage and The Hills Have Eyes."
It would appear that there is a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy whether it's some action packed Jason Statham goodness or you're just looking for a little Craig Bond action. Regardless, it's good to see Europe finally getting some love.


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Electricity meter fire at Dereham house
PUBLISHED: 17:39 13 February 2013 | UPDATED: 17:39 13 February 2013
Firefighters have been called to reports of an electricity meter fire at a house in Dereham this afternoon.
Two crews of firefighters from Dereham went to the building on Jubilee Avenue at 3.50pm.
They used reel jets and breathing apparatus while tackling the fire, which a fire service spokesman said caused minimal damage to kitchen units.
There were no reports of any injuries.
The firefighters' role in the incident was declared over at 4.30pm, and the electricity company arrived at 4.50pm.


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Rihanna on 'Take Care' Video: 'It's Beautiful'
Fans have been waiting patiently to see Rihanna and Drake teamed up in the 'Take Care' video. Besides black-and-white photos of the pair embracing that was leaked from the video set, we don't know much about the Yoann Lemoine-directed video, though RiRi did tease fans with one more detail this weekend.
During an interview Capital FM, Rihanna wouldn't divulge the details about the video but she insists it's worth the wait. "I can't wait to see what all my fans think," she says. "I saw it a couple of days a go, I love it. It's beautiful [and] it's different from anything Drake has ever done."
Meanwhile, Rihanna is already developing ideas for her next album. "I'm definitely thinking about the next record. I'm a multi-tasker," she says. "Right now we're working on collecting and creating the sound first before we even start working on the lyrical direction or melodies. I kind of have an idea though, and it's very rough right now. So I'm eager to start that. Before that we'll be getting into more fashion stuff and, I can't really talk about it, but my fans will be very happy, especially my British fans."
Fans can see Rihanna next on the big screen in the upcoming action flick 'Battleship,' which hits theaters in May.


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violet: i sigh, i didnt have anything against vampires, but they hate me...i sit on a small bench and daydream
If I were a cat, I'd spend all my nine lives with you.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade and leave the world wondering how you'd do it.
If they can see through your false smiles and laughs, keep them close and keep them dear.


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If I believed in the resurrection…
My friend Lionel from "A View from the Woods" has been away for a while. But, he came back into the blogging world yesterday with a huge post called "10 Reasons I Don't Believe in the Resurrection!!!!"
Before you start throwing around the term "heresy," you should definitely read his post. You may even find that, like Lionel, you don't live as if you believe in the resurrection either.
What is he talking about? Well, here are four of Lionel's reasons:
1. If I believed in the resurrection, the American dream would be appalling.
2. If I believed in the resurrection I would support missions wrecklessly.
3. If I believed in the resurrection I wouldn't be embarrassed about Jesus.
4. If I believed in the resurrection I would forgive as I have been forgiven.
So, I have to admit, sometimes I live as if I don't believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ actually happened…
8 Comments
Comments are closed. If you would like to discuss this post, send an email to alan [at] alanknox [dot] net.
And this is why I call myself a radical because posts like this make me throw up in my mouth a little.
I do forgive radically. I am not embarrassed about my savoir & Lord Yeshua.
I live my life giving away things that most people do not have to spare.
At the same time I can read my Bible and only remember the beggar in the parable of Lazarus being actually literally poor.
Abraham was wealthy, so was Noah, So was Job before and after his trial. It was not first world opulence but they were not all John the baptists existing in the wilderness off locus and wild honey.
Some of us are called to affluence for the glory of the kingdom of God.
Affluence is higher than the American dream you are right.
A house
2.5 kids
The white picket fence
A dog (maybe a cat)
A decent job that pays for it all
I can see nothing inherently appalling about that.
I enjoyed that article. Single mamma I would say that we have missed the mark if we need a house as part of our identity! However I am assuming that your a single mum because of your handle…and its part of the Christian identity to raise and look after children well and having a house could be part of that responsibility.
Yet and I do say Yet; it does seem within the Christian circles that many who do have a decent job, good car, and house don't car much for the wider church, those who are worse of from them – instead seek more for themselves and its this framework of being that I believe the article is critiquing….
What would you do if the Lord called you to sell all you have and go and live and minister to the homeless? I think that is a telling question regarding our position in the Lord.
I agree with you Alan which is why I dislike reading "If I believed in the resurrection, the American dream would be appalling."
Craig hasn't read my blog.
Yes I am a single mother. I have never owned a house. I am currently car less and serving God. My care died last November. Living without one is annoying but it is not the only trial I have walked through knowing full well that God is allowing it although it is stressful and uncomfortable.
I understand the labels of the church. Some well deserved labels of pettiness, carnalness, selfishness, short sightedness unChristian like behavior and all the rest.
I read Fridays post "The Downward Path of Jesus" and did not comment. However knowing so many in the church can't say they have embraced not having the American dream at the expense of their spiritual growth I started my comment on this post saying I will keep my self imposed title of Radical.
My post was about identity. I also have a 3 kids, work in Corporate America, have a ife, I have a tall wooden stained fence as to not see in my neighbors yard, live in an affluent community with top tier schooling. The post was introspective. Also I hope you used a little mout wash after you read the post 😮


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- Krell: "I am Krell, a Zotar."
- Prue: "Hi, I'm Prue, a Scorpio. Where's Belthazor?"
- — The sisters meet a hunter.[src]
Demonic Bounty Hunters are low-level demons that hunt and capture other demons or magical beings in order to gain the bounty attached to the target. These demons are typically hired by more powerful demons, such as the Source of All Evil or the Triad, to hunt fugitive demons and converted magical beings.
History Edit
Krell was a Zotar, a special kind of Demonic Bounty Hunter. He was hired to hunt Belthazor after he betrayed and vanquished the Triad. He worked with Piper and Prue Halliwell to get to Belthazor, who they later discover to be Cole Turner. However, Krell was vanquished by Cole instead when Krell tried to kill Phoebe who had got in the way.
Stephen and AnnetteEdit
Stephen and Annette were two demons posing as foster parents sent to look after the young Firestarter, Tyler Michaels. They were sent by the Source of All Evil in order to have Tyler trained to serve as a bodyguard at the academy run by the demon Ludlow. However, they were vanquished by Tyler.
Burke was a bounty hunter who froze his victims and made them his personal trophies. His weapon of choice was a crossbow. Burke agreed to "freeze" Leo in order to stop the Angel of Death from getting him, however he was vanquished shortly after by the Triad for disobeying their rules.
Other Bounty HuntersEdit
On the morning of Prue Halliwell's funeral, two bounty hunters attacked the church, targeting Cole for helping Phoebe and Leo escape the Underworld. They were both vanquished by Cole, though their attack greatly upset Piper for disturbed the funeral. When Piper was kidnapped by the Source and trapped in an illusion, Cole allowed himself to be captured by bounty hunters so Leo could follow them to her location. One of them vanquished the other with a lightning attack meant for Leo, and was later vanquished by Cole.
The Sorcerer who made a deal with Drake dè Mon to make him human, hired a bounty hunter named Rathbone to track him down when the year was almost up.
Powers and AbilitiesEdit
Active Powers
- Glistening: The ability to teleport through light, leaving a glistening contour of the body for a moment.
- Electrokinesis: The ability to create and manipulate electricity and fire bolts of lightning.
- Energy Balls: The ability to throw balls of energy that resemble electrical discharges.
- Super Strength: The power of having magically augmented physical strength and stamina.
- Sensing: The ability to sense the location of other beings.
Other Powers
- Enhanced Senses: The ability to possess enhanced senses or to enhance one of the five senses.
Book of ShadowsEdit
- Demonic Bounty Hunter
- Driven by greed,
- these heartless low-level
- demons will stop at nothing
- to collect their bounty.
- They have the
- power to fire energy balls
- and lightning bolts and
- can materialize at will.
- Bounty hunters
- track down fugitive demons,
- but if the price is right they
- will go after anyone.
Gallery Edit
Notes and TriviaEdit
- While Krell, Stephen and Annette were shown to possess similar powers, Burke's ablities and method of teleportation were quite different.
Demonic Bounty Hunters appeared in a total of 7 episodes over the course of the series.
- Season 3
- Sleuthing with the Enemy
- Season 4
- Charmed Again, Part 1
- Charmed Again, Part 2
- Brain Drain
- Lost and Bound
- Season 7
- Carpe Demon
- Season 8


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Need Help with Son hitting puberty
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,808
My kid gets OWL.
Our Whole Lives.
It can be bought at the UUA bookstore and you can catch you kid up to his age level. It's done in "layers" over the years to teach the child things a bit more each time around.
UU Poly
is field testing the Poly curriculum of "Love Makes a Family" so I don't know when that track is available.
If he's hitting the naturally curious age, ask him what he wants to see/read about. But tell him hitting random porn things online is not wise because some of that stuff is produced well and some of that teaches very poor values -- treating people like THINGS rather than PEOPLE. Some of those things are also scammy and could give the computer a virus or steal credit card info or personal info -- your rule is in place for much more than just sex safety. It's all kinds of safety.
To address the curious -- ask him. What would he like to treat his future partners like? How would he like to be treated like when he is ready for romance and a grown up sex life? Does he think fatherhood is in his future life picture? What makes a good father? If he does NOT want to be a father, how does he control that? What can he do? What kinds of resources does he want access to now that you could help him to find? Does he have questions about his own development? You don't have to answer all his questions. It may be enough to start a list with him of "things I want to know about eventually" so you both can keep track. You are encouraging him to TALK to you above all else.
I have a girl so
"The Care and keeping of You"
was good. I'm sure there's good boy ones out there on boy development -- I'm just not up on the boy side myself. For BOTH boys and girls, maybe you can snag a copy of
"What's The Big Secret?"
"It's so Amazing!"
Then if he wants to see nakedness -- see about sourcing less offensive naked to be looking at WITH YOU. Take him to a museum, go see naked art. The human body is hardly offensive in its natural state. There's tame comic books like
Small Favors
by Collen Coover -- that show some naked women but keep it in the land of sweet for the most part. Could google that and see some of the images for preview. It doesn't address safer sex practices but it does address a spirit of playful sex, liking each other, etc.
My kid visited
at toddler age because she wanted to know about that "beard" I had.
It was a bathroom question in some restroom and she was little so I had her in the stall with me while I took a pee. She was running around in the stall and suddenly was asking me why I had "a beard down there." My response of "This is not a beard. That's pubic hair, and when you are grown up lady you will have that too" was overheard by some lady near the sinks who told me it was so cute when we came out of the stall to wash our hands.
The Femalia book is just close up shots of female genitalia -- all colors, ages, shapes. My kid walked away feeling fine -- like "Yep. People come in all shapes and colors. Alright. I'll have one of those when I grow up" and there. The curiosity was satisfied but more important -- I wanted her to KEEP COMING TO ME for honest, straight up answers. A few years later she wanted to look at a penis because DH was having a vasectomy. So we told her ok, gives us a bit of time to find her a penis picture then. DH and I had to google something age appropriate. It ended up being one of those "as you grow" things with a baby boy, a toddler boy, a teen boy-man, and a man, and then an old man. She was satisfied.
"The Body"
"Love and Desire"
by William Ewing might be photos you could consider as conversation starters with the 10 yr old.
If you want a honkin' encylopedia thing,
Sexualia Mundi
is awesome. It cannot cover everything ever, but it sure tries to give it a whirl!
If you want trivia bits to look ahead to teen years maybe
"Sexy Origins of Intimate things"
could the be the conversation starter.
Could have him look things up at the Planned Parenthood websites and talk about their FAQs. Then you are teaching him how to get himself health care too, not just safer sex bits. Every 10 year old is so different. Some are emotionally mature and ready to talk about it, some of them are not. You assess your son wherever he happens to be at right now.
But could raise him to respect a Good Sex Share -- it is a SHARE. Not a think to be TAKEN by force. If you hammer nothing else into his head, hammer that in, how to ask nicely for consent, and safer sex practices so his mental health, emotional health, physical health, and spiritual health as an adult are in decent shape. One can always masturbate to take the edge off -- if he needs information about that -- get it for him.
But start looking around now to prepare YOU before he gets to wherever he goes to next in his development. You may not have had this yourself from your parents, but you can be how you want to be as a parent to your own kid. Focus on what you want to achieve with him and go for it.
What your DH does about his GF is a whole other problem. I think that's better in a separate thread maybe?
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Microsoft Office 365, launched formally in June 2011, is a strategic project for Microsoft. The signs are that Microsoft has been successful in convincing many companies of the solution's advantages.
As a subscriber, I'm happy with Office 365, despite some hiccups that have marred its reliability record. Still, I'm amused by the hype that surrounds many Office 365 discussions. In this article, I bring together 10 points that supporters often stress when making a case for Office 365 -- and I seek to balance the debate with 10 points of caution. You undoubtedly have your own view, but each of these arguments has sense to it -- so read both lists with an open mind!
10 Advantages of Office 365
Given the enormous investment that Microsoft has made in data centers, software engineering, operations, and staff to build, deploy, and manage Office 365, it's not surprising that the service is an easy sell. This list describes the top 10 advantages that companies can gain if they move to Office 365.
1 Predictable ongoing costs. Knowing what your costs will be on a month-to-month basis is the number-one advantage put forward by Office 365 supporters. Microsoft offers a range of Office 365 plans, each represented by different functionality. You can host email only (the Exchange Online plan). Or you can go higher, through plans that are designed for professionals and small businesses (the P plans), up to those intended for use by larger enterprises (the E plans). In March 2012, Microsoft reduced the prices for some plans to reflect competitive needs and to take account of customer feedback. In particular, the four E plans received reductions of 18 to 20 percent. Even though Microsoft hasn't reduced the monthly cost of the Office 365 Plan P subscription from $6, it's still a relative bargain for the functionality. This is especially true if you already have a copy of Office 2013, 2010, or 2007 that you can use to connect to Office 365. (The array of available plans can be confusing at first, so it pays to consult someone who is familiar with Office 365 to determine the best plan for your business.)
Whichever plan you choose, the key factor in realizing benefits from Office 365 is to ensure that current IT spending is reallocated to productive purposes rather than to areas that don't contribute to the bottom line. For example, opting for a cloud service releases funds that would otherwise be spent on servers, storage, and hardware maintenance. These funds could be used to develop new software applications that improve and streamline business processes. Or they could be used to fund investment in some other area of technology, such as equipping the sales force with new mobile devices.
2 Service expandability. It's great to be able to add or remove subscriptions at will and pay only for what you use on a monthly basis. Although you might end up paying for unused subscriptions (in the same way that on-premises licenses are often unused after purchase), the nature of the monthly payment draws natural attention to the number of subscriptions and makes it easier for small-to-midsized businesses (SMBs) to track costs.
Microsoft still has some work to do. Making better usage reporting available through the administration portal would be appreciated. It would also be useful if Microsoft would remove the block that stops small companies that use Plan P subscriptions from easily moving to Plan E. This block just doesn't make sense: You never know when growth will come to a company, and it's unnatural for a cloud service to build in artificial blocks that inhibit expandability.
3 No more software maintenance. Eliminating software maintenance is a big deal, especially for anyone running Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 or Exchange Server 2003 and wondering about the cost and effort required to migrate to Exchange Server 2013. Add the necessity of keeping track as Microsoft releases service packs, roll-up updates, and future versions -- and the need to determine that nothing in them will cause problems within your environment. (This is an issue that we've seen with roll-up updates for Exchange 2010 during 2011 and 2012.)
4 Reliability. The reliability factor of Office 365 isn't so much a 99.9 percent service level agreement (SLA); Microsoft hasn't actually achieved this level of performance for any reasonable length of time. (Four notable outages have occurred while Office 365 has been in full production, but it's fair to say that these outages did not affect all users of the service.) At this point, Microsoft needs to keep plugging away to meet its own SLA goals and then match the performance that Google has achieved for its cloud services.
I prefer to focus on the fact that Office 365 delivers better availability to users than most SMB IT organizations can provide. Let's face it: There's no comparison between the availability that can be provided by a server in an office (the anecdotal computer under the desk) and the power of a modern data center. That being said, even the oldest computer in a local office delivers better availability if you can't connect to a remote data center because of some Internet problem or insufficient bandwidth.
5 Client choice. Fat and feature-rich clients such as Microsoft Outlook often get the most attention when the discussion turns to clients. But it's much more interesting to consider the recent work that Microsoft has done in the area of web and mobile clients. In the case of Exchange, the Outlook Web App (OWA) client runs on Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and other browsers and does a pretty good job across multiple platforms. But if you're using a mobile client, you're more likely to use one that takes advantage of the many Microsoft ActiveSync licensing deals that the company has made with major mobile device vendors over the past few years. From iOS to Android to Windows Phone to Windows RT, ActiveSync makes a connection possible.
6 Access. SMBs (or sometimes even large companies) can find it difficult to build and operate an infrastructure that supports secure remote access for users. You immediately get this access on a worldwide basis when you subscribe to Office 365 -- and you can use all the clients that we've just discussed. After you experience anywhere access, you'll never want to go back to traveling to the office to read email or access a Microsoft SharePoint site. It's just so much more productive to be able to work anytime, anywhere. Although Office 365 supports dual-factor authentication methods that might be insufficient for some companies that have specific requirements, I suspect that many of these access issues will be solved as time goes by.
7 An array of on-premises and hybrid options. Cloud services are absolutely the right choice for some companies. Others will never want to go near the cloud for reasons that make sense in context. And a large group in the middle can make use of cloud services for some purposes but want to keep a portion of their capability on-premises. The choice of available deployment options for Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync -- as well as the work that Microsoft has done to enable essential features such as single-sign on (SSO) and the ability to move data freely between platforms -- delivers huge flexibility to companies as they consider their options. More work to continually improve and make hybrid configurations easier to create and maintain will likely happen over the next few years. For example, the creation of the Hybrid Configuration Wizard in Exchange 2010 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a great example of how to automate many manual steps.
Another point to consider is how on-premises deployments should benefit from the improvements in system automation and other aspects of systems administration that Microsoft simply must deliver to drive efficiencies in its data centers. I see a lot of this focus in Windows Server 2012. It will be interesting to see this story evolve over the next several years.
8 Additional value pools to exploit. Many companies will see sufficient value in moving to Office 365 for email alone. They can replace their current (and potentially old) Exchange servers with Exchange Online, a discussion that's bound to take place as companies that run Exchange 2003 today consider their future options. The nice thing about Office 365 is that email is a great start, but it's only that -- a start. Enormous value can be extracted by enabling online collaboration with Lync Online or document management with SharePoint. And Exchange administrators who worry about losing their jobs as work transitions to the cloud can deliver new value working with SharePoint and Lync.
9 Security. Microsoft has exerted enormous effort to ensure that its data centers meet every conceivable security and audit requirement that pertains under multiple jurisdictions. Some issues exist (e.g., the potential requirement for Microsoft to make data available under the US Patriot Act, making its data centers less attractive for non-American companies). Still, anyone who has had the opportunity to visit a Microsoft data center can attest to the physical security that exists to prevent unauthorized access. The same dedication exists at the software level. Microsoft understands that a breach of security that exposes Office 365 customer data to unauthorized access would have a huge and continuing impact on its business. Given the experience and expertise available to Microsoft in both its engineering groups and data-center operations, I suspect that the company will do a better job of keeping customer data secure than even those customers' IT departments can do.
10 Ease of transition. Office 365 supports a variety of transition options to meet the requirements of differently sized companies. Some will be able to move to Office 365 with a certain amount of planning and a single "big bang" operation over a weekend. Others will use a phased approach and move tens, hundreds, or even thousands of users weekly until the whole company has been transitioned. And others will maintain a hybrid configuration on an ongoing basis.
The important thing is that there are sufficient high-quality tools available to migrate from older versions of Microsoft technology as well as from other platforms (e.g., Novell GroupWise, Lotus Notes, and IMAP or POP3 email systems). Some of these tools must be bought from third parties; others are free from Microsoft. All take a certain amount of planning. The old truism that each hour's preparation pays big benefits is as valid here as in any software project.
This list makes Office 365 look good. In fact, for some it's a pretty compelling offering. But there are downsides to consuming a cloud service. After all, you don't expect to exert much control over the Apple iTunes service or to tell Amazon how to run its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). We must therefore consider the downside before plunging into the cloud.
10 Potential Problems with Office 365
Much value can be extracted from Office 365. And it's natural for small companies that aren't IT literate to dedicate resources doing what they do best rather than figuring out the complexities of deploying and managing software. It's easy to imagine that a large proportion of SMBs with IT based around Windows Small Business Server and the associated applications will move to Office 365 over the next few years (assuming that sufficient Internet connectivity is available). However, the decision to move platforms becomes more complex as the number of users grows.
The following list offers some points that might negatively influence the decision to move to Office 365. Like any technology debate, it's important to put the negative points in context and weigh them up against the advantages, to arrive at a balanced decision for your company.
1 Reliability. Yes, this item is also on the list of advantages. After all, Office 365 delivers a reliable and robust service -- most of the time. However, several high-profile outages have taken some gloss from the service. The root causes appear to be operational lapses of the type that you would hope wouldn't occur. These outages might be indicative of growing pains that have been eliminated and will not recur. But the first goal for Office 365 is to first meet its own 99.9 percent SLA over an extended period, then to surpass the service performance delivered by its major rival. In the end, whether reliability comes in as a plus or a minus depends on your company.
2 Lack of flexibility. Office 365 is a bounded service. In other words, if what you want to do is already available, you'll be happy. But don't ask for additional features. The Office 365 team can't provide specific features for individual customers. Everyone gets to use the same service and access the same feature set. Microsoft will update Office 365 with bug fixes, service packs, new features, and new versions according to its own schedule. It's entirely possible that a desired feature might appear in one of these updates. If not, you'll need to wait.
Another potential issue relates to integration. You won't enjoy the flexibility you might expect in connecting applications to support business processes. For example, many companies integrate application provisioning (e.g., creating an Active Directory -- AD -- account, setting up an Exchange mailbox, and populating a SharePoint personal site) into the process of adding new employees. (Or conversely, they integrate the process of eliminating these items when employees leave.) By using Windows PowerShell, this approach might still be possible with Office 365, but it's definitely something you need to confirm first.
3 Support for older clients. Many companies still use Outlook 2003, a client that Office 365 doesn't support, at least not for Messaging API (MAPI) connections. The reason is simple: Office 365 doesn't support public folders, so it can't offer the free/busy and Offline Address Book (OAB) service to Outlook clients that depend on public folders. This isn't an issue if you have plans to deploy a more modern client (Outlook 2010 or 2013 is recommended), but companies are often surprised when they discover that older clients can't be connected. (Note that Exchange 2013 doesn't support Outlook 2003 clients either, so you'll also face the question about what to do with these clients if you plan to stay on-premises.)
4 Migrations. Smiles break out on administrator faces whenever migrations are proposed. It's such a fun activity. Seriously though, migrations are usually costly, extended affairs with a high potential for error. Given sufficient preparation, small companies with a few hundred users can migrate to Office 365 over a weekend. Larger companies, especially those that want to keep some work on-premises, have a lot more work to do over a longer period. They might need to deploy additional hardware and software -- for example, to support AD Federation Services (ADFS) -- or use the services of external consultants who have experience linking to Office 365, especially when complex AD configurations are in use. All this results in additional cost that must be factored into the overall project.
5 Realistic cost assessment. Making the decision to pay $6/month for 10 users isn't going to break the bank and is usually a cost-effective move for a small company. The calculation isn't so straightforward as the number of users rises. Many IT administrators figure that they can provide a better service to their company for the same amount as Office 365 will charge, after everything is factored into the decision. Therefore, it's important to think past the simple, low-cost-per-month equation that marketing and sales teams push and look at the overall cost to deploy, manage, and maintain the systems that you need over a reasonable period (i.e., 3 or 4 years).
You might be able to save money by squeezing some additional time out of server hardware, not upgrading client software, or eliminating software licenses that you don't need. In this respect, you should focus on what people need to do their jobs rather than on headline features. For example, access to email on the road is now a business essential; a 25GB mailbox is a nice-to-have (it takes so long for most people to accumulate that much email). On the credit side, you might be able to deliver a better and more flexible service than the "all-in-one" service from Office 365. A focus on adding value to the business by solving business problems rather than simply delivering technology is always appreciated and might tip the balance.
6 Inconsistency across Office 365 applications. Despite the existence of Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), a previous iteration of online applications that proved to be as reliable as its name was unloved, much of the Office 365 infrastructure is very much in its first version. (Microsoft will upgrade the Exchange, Lync, and SharePoint applications in 2013.) The actual user clients, such as OWA, are well-developed and functional. However, the administrative interfaces were clearly developed by three engineering groups who obviously didn't spend much time talking to one another. Of course, Microsoft is in the middle of a transition from traditional server-management techniques to the kind of remote management that's envisaged in Server 2012, so it's probably understandable that the three Office 365 applications present different views of how to manage settings. More consistency is expected in the future.
7 The one-in-a-crowd support experience. Office 365 depends on email and phone support and encourages users to help themselves with online troubleshooting tools and forums. Although this approach is perfectly understandable in terms of reducing costs, DIY support might come as a culture shock for companies that have become accustomed to the more personal interaction that often occurs with a local Microsoft office. Even if your local Microsoft team remains engaged, it won't be able to assist when problems occur with Office 365. Support for Office 365 follows a factory model with extremely tight and well-defined processes that apply to everyone. Thus, instead of being an individual customer who receives individual support based on a support plan that was negotiated with the local Microsoft office, you become one in a million and receive exactly the same support -- good or bad -- as everyone else.
8 Public folders. As mentioned earlier, Office 365 doesn't support public folders. Microsoft has published a guide to migration from public folders, which essentially recommends that anyone using Exchange public folders today should move to other repositories, such as Exchange shared mailboxes or SharePoint Online. This approach is viable when public folders are used for simple storage or document management. Everything becomes much more complex when users depend on electronic forms or any other enhanced use of public folders. Unless the applications are no longer required or can be replaced with something like an intelligent Microsoft Excel worksheet, you might need to rewrite applications. That's usually an expensive and long process. Microsoft does plan to support "modern" public folders when Exchange 2013 is used by Office 365. However, the migration path is uncertain, untested, and unknown at this point.
[Update: since this article was written Microsoft introduced support for public folders to Office 365, but only the modern variety supported by Exchange 2013. A migration is required to move old-style public folders to the new type. The bad news is that the migration process is very manual. See this article for more information.]
9 Inflexible administration tools. Compared with on-premises deployment, the administrative tools that are available for Office 365 can be inflexible. Microsoft's response will probably be that the tools are designed to work within a well-defined structure and to serve the needs of service users. The point is that when you control your own administrative environment, you can make whichever changes make sense. For example, you can deploy a specific mobile-device monitoring tool to ensure that your ActiveSync-compliant devices are functioning properly. Or you can install programs to analyze Exchange message-tracking logs, to extract statistics about message volume, top senders, and so on. But when you opt for a cloud service, you must accept that the service is bounded and therefore can't be tailored to meet individual requirements; doing so would create a support nightmare. APIs such as Exchange Web Services do expose data that can be used. But there's a dearth of third-party products available that work against Office 365, compared with on-premises servers. The balance will likely shift eventually, but that hasn't happened yet.
10 No Plan B. Microsoft obviously offers a lot of support to companies that want to move to Office 365. But what's the situation if a company decides that the cloud doesn't work for it?
Those who run hybrid Exchange deployments can move mailboxes back to on-premises servers reasonably easily, gradually backing out of Office 365. After the last mailbox is moved, the federation trust can be broken to isolate the on-premises servers. To complete the move, any data that resides in SharePoint Online must be moved to on-premises servers; conferencing must be moved to on-premises Lync servers. This is all possible, but as far as I know, it hasn't been done to date. Things are a little more complex for companies that have gone through a big-bang migration. These companies have no link to on-premises servers and therefore must plan for a second big-bang migration to move back to their own computing resources. Mailboxes can be exported to personal folder stores (PSTs) and imported back onto on-premises servers; SharePoint documents can likewise be exported and imported; and Lync servers are set up to take over conferencing. Once again, these approaches are all possible but probably expensive in terms of planning and execution.
It's All Up to You
At the end of the day, the decision to stay with on-premises technology or to move to a cloud computing service is highly specific to the stresses and demands that exist within individual companies. The points that I've outlined here are rather broad and represent only a starting point for the debate. The decision will be easy for some and thorny for others. In either case, carry out the necessary due diligence before making your choice.


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Hello. We started using, in one of our applications, the LOCK ... NOWAIT functionality. It works as it's supposed to, but there is one, albeit tiny, annoyance about it. When the LOCK cannot be immediately obtained, this statement logs an ERROR message. But in this case, I think it is not appropriate to call this event an error, since I am well aware it might happen and actually expect it, since I use the NOWAIT switch. Why is it an annoyance? We monitor the logs for ERROR messages and act upon them, but in this case we have to filter it out or ignore it. I wonder, if there isn't a possibility to change this reporting behavior (well, probably no, but I am asking just in case). Or if no, you might take it as a suggestion for next release. Bye. -- Michal Táborský chief systems architect Internet Mall, a.s. <http://www.MALL.cz>
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Further Study: Ellen G. White, Repentance, p. 23-32, in Steps to Christ. We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ. — Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 26. As we behold the Lamb of God upon the cross of Calvary, the … [Click to read more …]
When in faith we recognize our need, repent, confess our sins, and claim Christ's righteousness for ourselves, we become His disciples. During His ministry, Jesus called different people, such as Peter and James and John, to be His disciples, a call that implied leaving everything in order to follow Him (Matt. 4:20, 22; Mark 10:28; … [Click to read more …]
His name was Nelson Mandela. He is enshrined in history as a testament to the greater impulses of man. After being imprisoned 27 years of his life, much of it in brutal conditions, Mandela emerged with a message of forgiveness and tolerance. His witness was so compelling that his name has become synonymous with greatness, … [Click to read more …]
Jesus sat before the people and uttered what must have been to them shocking words: Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:20, NKJV). Few were more scrupulous in the observance of the letter of the law than were the … [Click to read more …]
You can view a discussion of the current lesson in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week's lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School Site. … [Click to read more …]
Key Thought : God wants everyone to be saved, and the process of coming to Him is simple and available to all. [Lesson Plan for How to Be Saved July 28, 2014] 1. Have a volunteer read Luke 5:27-32. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text … [Click to read more …]
True repentance goes hand in hand with faith in Jesus as our only Savior. Jesus frequently talked about the need to believe in Him in order to receive His blessings. If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23, NKJV). Faith is essential if we are to be saved. Satan … [Click to read more …]
The summer of 2000 was brutally hot in Texas. It was not a good time to be trained in as a UPS delivery driver. I had worked a couple years inside the hub as a sorter, and jumped at the opportunity to become a delivery guy, but being a UPS delivery guy was unlike any … [Click to read more …]
Recognizing our sins is not enough; it must be accompanied by repentance. The biblical meaning of repentance includes three aspects: acknowledgment of one's sin, sorrow for having sinned, and the desire not to sin any more. If one is lacking, there is no true repentance. For example, Judas admitted his sin, but he lacked grief … [Click to read more …]
Read Luke 5:27-32. How can you know which group you are in? Many people are physically healthy and have no need of a physician. Who, though, is truly spiritually healthy? Of all human beings there is none who does good, no, not one (Ps. 14:3, NKJV); nobody is righteous by themselves (Rom. 3:10). We may … [Click to read more …]
Read for This Week's Study: Luke 5:27-32; Luke 13:1-5; Matt. 22:2-14; Zech. 3:1-5; John 8:30-31; Luke 14:25-27. Memory Text: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-15, NKJV). As the … [Click to read more …]
God sent Allen and Kelley Fowler a dream to minister among the Navajo people of northern Arizona, U.S.A. They went as volunteers, praying that God would use them to reach the people they loved. They ministered to the Navajos living on the reservation and in the nearby town of Page in any way they could. … [Click to read more …]


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Selecting an Appropriate Rodent Model for Research
by Jennifer Smith, DVM, DACLAM and Szczepan Baran, VMD
The model you choose can greatly impact your research results.
Animal models are an essential component to all areas of biomedical research. These models provide results that help us to extrapolate knowledge to study a particular disease state in humans. To ensure full utilization, a model needs to reliably mimic the normal anatomy and physiology of human organs and tissues of interest, as well as accurately reflect the morphological and biochemical aspects of disease pathogenesis. During the past 20 years, rodents have emerged as a reliable research species primarily due to their small size, abbreviated life span, reproductive affluence, known genetic background, and relative ease of procurement, handling, and housing.1 Along with this shift to predominately using rodents in research has come the advent of genetic manipulations. These manipulations have allowed the modern-day researcher to purchase a rat or mouse genetically suited specifically to the human disease model they are studying.
Selecting an appropriate rodent model for research is challenging. This is made more difficult by recent advances in genetic manipulations producing hundreds of different strains of mice and rats, which can make the selection process intimidating. Rodent model selection must be based on scientific rationale while considering humane and ethical endpoints and continuing to abide by the three Rs: refinement, reduction, and replacement. The American National Research Council Committee on Animal Models for Research and Aging defines an animal model as "… one in which normative biology or behavior can be studied, or in which a spontaneous or induced pathological process can be investigated, and in which the phenomenon in one or more respects resembles the same phenomenon in humans or other species of animals."2 There are three types of animal models: homologous, isomorphic, and predictive. Animal models can be further subdivided into five groups: spontaneous, experimentally induced, genetically modified, negative, and orphan models. This article discusses the general factors that should be considered when choosing a rodent model.
The Different Classifications
Selecting an animal model requires an understanding of the types of models already established. Animal models are commonly categorized into one of five different classifications: induced, spontaneous, gene-modified, negative, and orphan.
Induced animal models are created in the laboratory, where seemingly healthy animals are manipulated in some way to induce the human condition or disease state. Common examples of induced animal models include streptozootozan induced diabetes and the surgically induced models of stroke.
Spontaneous animal models arise as a result of a naturally occurring mutation. Hundreds of these types of rodent models have been identified and characterized and are now available for commercial purchase. Common examples of spontaneous animal models include hypertension, arthritis, and diabetes.
The third category of animal model includes the genetically modified disease models. These models have arisen from the past 20 years of manipulation of the DNA in rodents creating both transgenic (rodents carrying inserted foreign DNA) and knockout models (rodents with specific genes removed from their genetic code), therefore better mimicking the condition the researcher wants to study. These models can help researchers study the genetic basis of disease, susceptibility, and resistance.
Another disease model that has been identified is the negative model: a useful research tool in which the disease state reliably does not develop in the animal model. Some rodents are resistant to a particular condition or disease. Examining why this is the case may provide answers to questions about disease resistance and its physiological basis.
The orphan model represents the final animal model to be classified. In these models the disease state occurs naturally in an animal model but has not been adequately described in the human counterpart.
Once the classification of animal models has been understood, the researcher can make an appropriate choice of animal model for his/her research.
Consider the Alternatives
Before the researcher can actually work with the animal model he/she has selected, they must also consider alternatives to the use of live animals in their research. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals3 endorses the U.S. Government Principles for Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training (IRAC 1985)4 including the consideration for alternatives to replace or reduce the use of live animals in research. As such, each IACUC protocol should include an item that requests confirmation that the principal investigator has considered all non-animal alternatives before making the decision to use a specific animal model in his/her research. The advent of Web–based alternative searching tools, such as alt- Web,5,6 makes this step in the animal model selection much easier.
After the current literature has been reviewed and the researcher is satisfied that there are no useful alternatives present, then the selection of species/model becomes paramount. The Committee on Rodents, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council (1996) provides a robust list of criteria that should be followed in selecting experimental animals.7 Subsequent model development should be a multi-stage process beginning with the selection of the appropriate animal species. Today there are several hundreds of rodent models available, including new spontaneous mutations and genetically modified animals which are continually being developed. The researcher must consider all factors when selecting the best model for his/her work, and a thorough literature search should always be conducted to determine what models are available. Specialized searching databases are available to accelerate the research process by providing a Web–based resource for comprehensive information on most animal models and subsequent human diseases.8
Here are the steps that you should follow when selecting a rodent model:
- Review the common classification of animal models
- Define the purpose of the model to be studied
- Select rodent species and specific model
- Search literature to confirm no alternatives already exist
- Scientifically evaluate the model
- Validation/Repeatability of the model
Mouse and rat species accurately represent hundreds of animal models in current-day research. The selection of a rodent animal model for research remains a multi-disciplined approach in which Web–based databases have emerged to assist in the selection process.
- Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science Volume II, CRC Press, 200
- National Research Council Committee on Animal Models for Research and Aging
- The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Academies Press, 2011
- U.S. Government Principles for Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training
- www.altweb.jhsph.edu. The global Clearinghouse for alternatives to animal testing.
- NC3Rs. www.nc3rs.org.uk.
- Committee on Rodents, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, National Academies Press, 1996
- www.lamhdi.org National Institute of Heath, National Center for Research Resource
Jennifer Smith, DVM, DACLAM is the Associate Director of Veterinary Sciences, Taconic Farms Inc., Oxnard, CA; firstname.lastname@example.com.
Szczepan Baran, VMD, MS is the President for the Veterinary Bioscience Institute. Piedmont Triad Research Park, 200 East 1st Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Dr. Baran also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He can be reached at email@example.com; www.vetbiotech.com.


text: Hello everybody, I've a question for those who know well the mature Japanese market. Do you see hackers of Java programs using phones connected to a PC or using PC wireless modems to get Java archives from premium content sites, decompiling it (it's really easy to do it), and then republishing the games for free (or not) after modifications on the source code (like modifying images and graphics part, but keeping core algorithms of code) ? We are afraid about this security threat, because official content providers could complain about source code illegal use, and loss of revenues. Have you heard about this ? Is this technically possible in Japan ? In Europe GPRS modems that you can connect to a PC are freely available. Regards, C.Nicolas Bouygues TelecomReceived on Mon Sep 1 20:36:14 2003


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Mohenjodaro's New Poster Out - Pooja Hegde, Hrithik Roshan
Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 05:26 PM
Watch the new poster of the film Mohenjodaro.The new poster has been posted by female lead Pooja Hegde of the film on her social media account.The actress is seen in a royal look.The film story is based on adventure-romance backgrounds. The film script is written, co produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Sunita A. Gowariker. The film features Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles.The film is releasing on August 12, 2016.


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Bible Explorer Software
Bible Explorer Software is included with the journal to help you learn more about the One to Whom you are praying and find Bible selections to help you pray God's Word. The software also contains a discussion and community area where you can share and discuss what you're learning and praying. The content of the journal and many other resources are included on this CD as well as the option to purchase others.
The software Includes three different Bible Versions:
- The Message
- Kings James Version
- God's Word Bible
Other study materials:
- Matthew Henry Commentary (Concise)
- Easton's Bible Dictionary
- Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
- Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- "Talking" Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary and more.
You also have the option to purchase additional resources.


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It has 2 rows of holes tuned exactly one octave apart. When both rows are played at the same time the effect is of 2 harmonicas playing simultaneously. This enables a single player to achieve a stronger, full-bodied sound not possible with a standard diatonic. Its curved body fits perfectly between your hands. Features moisture-proof synthetic combs, gold anodized covers, and 20 double holes.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 2 customers
Comments about Hohner 2504/40 Comet Harmonica:
this is my second comet harmonica the first one lasted about eight months of everyday playing and was very good . the second shows all signs of being very good as well. it is a great choice and i am very pleased.
Comments about Hohner 2504/40 Comet Harmonica:
it has very large sound cavity between the two covers. it can provide wonderful sounds due to octave reeds settings. however it takes more air to blow and draw which differs from other 10 hole pocket harmonica. it also takes me a long time to get used to bending on it. i shall recommand it for experienced users.


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Shanina Shaik By Tom Schirmacher For Harper's Bazaar Mexico August 2013/
In this fruity, natural shoot for Harper's Bazaar Mexico, model Shanina Shaik gets lensed by Tom Schirmacher as she poses with avocado's and honey, perfectly portraying a picture of health. The shoot will be out in the August issue of the magazine. Hair by Deycke Heidorn and make-up by Vincent Oquendo.


text: Midnight is just a few hours away. It will signal the start of a brand spanking new decade. Yeah! That time can't tick by quickly enough because this particular celebration is really precious to me. The list of things I am grateful to leave behind include financial losses, family illnesses, broken arms, surgery and being evacuated from my home barely two blocks North of the World Trade Center as I stood by helplessly watching as thousands died. It took years to recover but I did. And, shortly after I finally breathed a guilty survivor's sigh of relief, I suddenly found myself working for a vicious and abusive boss who brought me to my knees. Once again I've moved on and rebuilt my life and – although I bristle when other people say this – I have indeed made lemonade out of lemons by making this site that includes the videos already posted, those in progress, and meeting all of you. Continue reading


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Car shows are different in Tijuana
"You do not have to babysit the people from leaning or touching the cars."
Mike Madriaga 2:30 p.m., Sept. 19
On Tuesday, June 29, 1999, the San Diego City Council went into secret session to consider a series of financial concessions demanded by San Diego Padres owner John Moores. Although the closed-door meeting had been billed on public notices as a discussion about "real property interests in the East Village area of downtown San Diego," the real topic was the granting to Moores of almost $5 million worth of "modifications" to the Padres lease at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley.
Confidential minutes of the meeting show that all councilmembers except Juan Vargas attended, including Valerie Stallings, who, later disclosures would reveal, had just 90 days earlier, on March 31, reaped thousands of dollars by selling stock obtained in a lucrative initial offering by Neon Systems, a Texas company controlled by Moores. Later, in November 1999, four days before the council again secretly considered granting the Moores concessions, Stallings again purchased stock in Neon.
Attached to the minutes of that June meeting was a simple one-page matrix, never made public, that laid out for the council the estimated $4.68 million "cumulative impact" -- the cost to taxpayers -- of what Moores was asking for. "Ticket Revenue Cap at $25.5 million," was the first point. The "Annual City Impact" of the cap was given as "-$250,000." Point two was "Parking Increase over $6," and the "impact" was said to be "-$175,000." In all, the secret list contained 11 points, including "10 percent of Skybox Licensing Revenue," impact: "-$468,350"; "Plaza Food Court Improvement Revenues, impact: "-$120,000"; and "Revenue from 3500 Parking Spaces at Qualcomm Stadium when new Ballpark Opens (for five years)," impact: "-$262,000."
Another list provided to the council was titled "Additional Issues Not Accepted by the City." Item seven on the "not accepted" list was "Padres permitted to sell advertising on back of Tri-Visions at Qualcomm." The "Tri-Visions," two huge video displays, had been installed at the stadium by Moores under an earlier agreement, which allowed him to pull them out whenever his team vacated Qualcomm. Their backsides face the busy freeway interchange of I-15 and I-8, offering the Padres magnate a lucrative advertising venue if only Moores could convince the city to allow him to sell the space. At stake was possibly millions of dollars. So far, the city had denied him the opportunity.
Yet another list attached to the secret minutes of the June 1999 meeting was titled "Other terms being studied by city council." These included "Padres permitted to play additional games outside continental U.S."; "Padres permitted to sell naming rights for all or part of new ballpark district and license 'ballpark district' concept"; "Padres permitted to sell naming rights for all or part of new ballpark district public parking facilities"; and "Padres get additional 30 dates at new ballpark."
A fourth list was headed "Terms Padres wish city to reconsider." It consisted of a series of questions, including "Will City allow Padres to use City box at Qualcomm for party and promotional purposes?" and "Will City give Padres 371/2 percent of advertising revenue at Qualcomm (Chargers will get 371/2 percent)?"
The confidential minutes of the June 29 meeting show that Assistant City Attorney Les Girard, not the city manager, briefed the council on the proposed concessions. Then, after a discussion not recorded in the minutes, Councilwoman Judy McCarty made a motion, seconded by Councilman Byron Wear, to "approve numbers 1-11 on the [first] list, to give the negotiating team something to work with in regard to the Padres. Remove the word guarantee from the list." Like the rest of what happened in the closed session, the motion, which passed unanimously with Vargas absent, was not revealed to the public.
Five months later, on November 30, 1999, Assistant City Attorney Girard dispatched a memo, titled "Extension of Padres' Use and Occupancy of Qualcomm Stadium," to the city council. The document, which laid out the financial concessions the city was about to provide to Moores, was labled "Attorney to Client Corresponce -- For Confidential Use Only." Four days before the date of the Girard memo, on November 26, according to her later disclosure, Councilwoman Valerie Stallings purchased between $10,001 and $100,000 of stock in Neon Systems, the company controlled by Moores.
In his memo, Girard cited the authority he claimed the council had given him at the June closed session. The matter had still never been taken up in a public meeting, and none of the terms arrived upon in the closed session had ever been disclosed to the public. "Enclosed as Attachment 1 is the closed session record from the meeting of June 29, 1999, at which authorization was given. The record shows a unanimous vote (with District 8 absent) to convey the Council's concurrence to 11 specific terms.
"Enclosed as attachment 2 is a list of those terms together with their economic impact. Certain other terms offered by the Padres were rejected. Enclosed as Attachment 3 is a list of those rejected terms. The Council agreed to further consider certain additional terms. Enclosed as Attachment 4 is a list of those terms.
"The [city's negotiating] Team met again with the Padres and conveyed the terms," the memo continued. "The Padres requested that the Council reconsider certain of the rejected terms. Enclosed as Attachment 5 is the list of terms the Padres wished the Council to reconsider. The Council, in August, authorized the Team to negotiate certain of those terms within limits. The handwritten notes in the margin of Attachment 5 indicate the Council's direction with regard to the terms to be negotiated. The team met again with the Padres and discussed those additional terms."
The list of concessions provided by Girard to the council in November had grown to 15 points, with a total estimated annual "impact" on the city's so-called "Stadium Fund" of $1.68 million. The cost of the so-called "Ballpark Signage District" was given as "unknown." "Some of the costs are direct negative impacts on the Stadium Fund," the memo said, "for example conveying to the Padres the City's 10 percent share of suite-license revenue, while others are merely foregone new revenue, such as any share of a future parking increase. Most of the terms will have ongoing cost impacts as long as the Padres occupy the Stadium, while some, like the food court expansion, will only be a one-time expense. Finally, the cost impact of some of the terms may vary, such as the suite-license revenue, depending on the success of the Chargers in licensing the suites in any given year, and some, like the estimated revenue for parking at Stadium once the ballpark is open, are difficult to estimate."


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Wilson honored with outstanding science award
By Eddy Ball
NIEHS senior researcher Samuel Wilson, M.D., received the prestigious 2014 SER-CAT Outstanding Science Award during a ceremony April 25 in Rockville, Md., joining just ten other top scientists who have been so honored since the organization established the award in 2005. Wilson, who heads the DNA Repair and Nucleic Acid Enzymology Group, received an award plaque and delivered an invited lecture on the research related to his award.
The Southeast Regional Collaborative Access Team (SER-CAT) is an organization consisting of 21 member institutions, formed in 1997, to provide third generation X-ray capabilities to macromolecular crystallographers and structural biologists in the southeastern region of the U.S. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Photon Source at the Argonne National Library in Illinois, SER-CAT held its 11th Annual Symposium in conjunction with the 44th Mid-Atlantic Macromolecular Crystallography Meeting April 23-26 at the University of Maryland, at Shady Grove.
Wilson joins a group of distinguished researchers from three other NIH institutes and four major universities with leading biomedical research centers. He is the first NIEHS recipient of the SER-CAT Outstanding Science Award, although the organization honored visiting fellow Matthew Schellenberg, Ph.D., of the NIEHS Genome Stability Structural Biology Group headed by Scott Williams, Ph.D., with its Young Investigator Award in 2013.
In the organization's award letter to Wilson, SER-CAT Assistant Director and Science Award Committee Chair John Rose, Ph.D., of the University of Georgia, wrote, "Your paper, 'Observing a DNA Polymerase Choose Right from Wrong,' by Freudenthal et al., was judged by our review panel to have the highest scientific impact of all of the papers considered" (see story). The award committee also expressed its gratitude for Wilson's time and effort in demonstrating the technical capabilities of the SER-CAT facility in his research.
At the forefront of a rapidly advancing field
As one of the powerful structural biology techniques, X-ray crystallography offers a unique perspective into the world of proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids.
While much can be learned from amino acid or nucleic acid sequences, the strength of crystallography is in its ability to provide the important third dimension with 3-D snapshots of macromolecules involved in cell signaling, cellular disruption and defense, nucleic acid biology, and cell division. Due to its powerful nature, biochemists have been using crystallography to address questions ranging in size from small chemicals to large intermolecular protein interactions.
Wilson and his colleagues in the NIEHS Laboratory of Structural Biology enjoy an international reputation as leaders in their field, and Wilson's award adds to the prominence of NIEHS in this leading-edge research.
As NIEHS researcher Lars Pedersen, Ph.D., who has collaborated on a number of papers with Wilson's group, explained, "For many years, Sam's group has been on the forefront of using structural biology to understand the molecular details of how DNA polymerases function. The latest work by Bret Freudenthal is a great example of the contributions the Wilson lab has made in advancing the field. This award, along with Matt's award last year, demonstrates the quality of science that NIEHS is performing at SER-CAT. In addition, this work underscores how important it is to NIEHS to be a part of this outstanding consortium."
Citation: Freudenthal BD, Beard WA, Shock DD, Wilson SH. 2013. Observing a DNA polymerase choose right from wrong. Cell 154(1):157-168. Story Summary


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— Ring Of Honor has announced four matches for their July 13 show in Dearborn, Michigan. Here is the current card:
*The American Wolves vs Jay Lethal and Michael Elgin
*BJ Whitmer vs. Adam Cole
*World Tag Team Champion Bobby Fish vs. ACH
*World Tag Team Champion Kyle O'Reilly vs. Tadarius Thomas
*Non-Title: Kevin Steen vs. World TV Champion Matt Taven w/ Truth Martini
Tickets are on sale now at this here.
— Meanwhile, ROH has released a video with ROH Champion Jay Briscoe demanding to defend his title even though he has a shoulder injury.
Before you click the video, keep in mind that there is some NSFW language in it.


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A food truck favorite has opened new digs in Kendall.
Latin House Burger & Taco Bar, offering a delicious mix of flavors and spices from the "Madlove Burger" -- a half pound of ground brisket, chuck and sirloin -- to "Sneaky Nachos" -- chips thrown on the grill with three types of cheese.
Latin House Burger & Taco Bar is now open for consumption at 9565 Sunset Drive.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Avon fifth graders compete in Rube Goldberg contest
For those students in their final days of the school year, it can be a struggle to concentrate with summer vacation on the way. Students at one Avon school are using a decades-old Indiana tradition to keep their focus before summer.
It's the culmination of weeks of teamwork for students at Avon Intermediate School West, who are wrapping up their school year with an event that originated 30 years ago at Purdue University. The Rube Goldberg competition is all about designing a machine that uses the most complex process to complete a simple task.
"Well, it worked better than I thought it was going to, but it really wasn't that great," said fifth-grade student Conner Madding.
The students all take different experiences away from the contest.
"It's hard," said Gavin Padgett.
"Working with your classmates and just having fun," said Zach Rinehart.
"Yes, it has been fun," said Katie Holland. "I just like how everybody gets together for one big project for something so simple."
"There's a couple things that impress me the most. One is the students' ability to work together to solve problems and not to get aggravated with each other or frustrated. It's all about working together," said principal Dustin Lemay. "Then, really, the second thing is, they're learning at a high level, hands-on activities, student engagement. It's been awesome to watch."
Twelve classes are participating in the competition this year. They've been spending the last three weeks, about an hour a day, working on putting the contraptions together.
"Last year, we just did three classes. We tried it out and everybody loved it so much, they decided to make it the whole fifth grade. We've got nearly 300 students this year," said teacher Patrick Frepan.
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Around 30 adults worked with the students as mentors. Among them, an electrical engineering teacher from Purdue University.
"They have fun doing basic engineering and they don't even know it. They make these critical ideas and they watch them work and they're full of excitement and energy and then I get excited, too," said Purdue engineering instructor Ray DeCarlo.
In the end, all of the machines encountered their share of problems, but there was no mistaking the creativity and enthusiasm students devote to this annual event.


text: Humanitarian crisesMany drown in Iran boat accident Sixteen bodies recovered after passenger boat sinks off southern coast due to engine malfunction in stormy weather. 22 Jan 2012 14:47 GMT | Humanitarian crises, Middle East The boat's captain, among the five rescued, is being held for questioning [Reuters] At least 16 people have died after a passenger boat sank off Iran's southern coast, the official IRNA news agency has reported. The boat sank on Saturday evening while sailing between Hormuz island and the port city of Bandar Abbas on the mainland, local media reported. Rescue teams saved five passengers and recovered 16 bodies. One passenger remains missing. An eyewitness told The Associated Press news agency that most of the dead were senior citizens on a tour of nearby islands. The boat began its 18km journey despite a travel ban on light boats by authorities, due to a storm with winds of 80kph, AP reported. Provincial port authorities received a request for help from the boat after its engine had broken down because of heavy currents. Authorities have blamed the boat's captain, who was one of the five rescued, of ignoring the warnings.The captain is in detention and being questioned, officials told the semi-official Fars News Agency. Every day dozens of passenger boats travel between Bandar Abbas and nearby islands near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, some 1000km south of the capital Tehran.Source: Agencies


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Grand Slam hero Gethin Jenkins: Australia are the next target
Triple Grand Slam-winner Gethin Jenkins has set his sights on extending Walesâ upward curve Down Under this summer.
The Six Nations champions will tackle Tri-Nations title holders Australia in a three-Test series for which Wales coach Warren Gatland is already planning.
Saturdayâs 16-9 win over France sealed another Six Nations clean sweep of title, Grand Slam and Triple Crown â Walesâ third such feat in eight seasons, and second during Gatlandâs four-year reign.
But now attention turns to the June Tests against the Wallabies, who Wales have only beaten once from nine attempts in Australia, and that was 43 years ago.
âTri-Nations teams tend to beat us, and we will definitely be targeting the Australia tour,â said prop Jenkins, who took over captaincy duties at half-time in Cardiff from an injured Sam Warburton.
âThey [Australia] have put us to the sword in the last two games weâve played against them.
âIt will be a different challenge for us again in June, and that is the big target for us.â
Jenkins, together with fellow forwards Adam Jones and Ryan Jones, have now joined Welsh rugbyâs most exclusive club, taking up post-war membership alongside Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and JPR Williams as three-time Grand Slam winners. âLater in your career you cherish things like this,â admitted 31-year-old Cardiff Blues forward Jenkins.
âWhen youâve won the first two [Grand Slams] you are always hoping you can win another one.
âYou never forget the atmosphere when you are walking around the stadium at the end, that standing ovation. You never forget things like that.â


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Build your dream home, winter home or family vacation spot in this beautiful secluded area near Deerpoint Lake. Multiple lots available for purchase.
For more information regarding this land, please give us a call at View Phone Number (850) 630-7820 .
Data Provided by Bay County Association of REALTORS Inc


text: Finally got around to them. Not too many - had some lens troubles that I hope to rectify before the next game..... For those that don't know, they're here: www.TxDavid.com Just click on the Photos icon and select the Bears link. and no cracks about the out-of-date front page.....I'm getting to it.....lol


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Each year 10 to 12 million kids in the U.S. participate in sports. Statistics show that hundreds of children collapse while playing sports every year, and most of those cases involve some type of underlying, previously undiagnosed heart condition.
Sudden cardiac death occurs in one child per 100,000 each year. Ninety percent of these sudden deaths occur immediately post training or during competition with football and basketball having the highest incidence.
If your child plays sports, do you need to take precautions?
Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death
Any young athlete can have a sudden cardiac arrest, when the heart abruptly stops beating. In these incidents, the person may stop breathing, become unresponsive and exhibit no detectable pulse. Unlike a heart attack, where a loss of blood supply causes the heart muscle to become dysfunctional, a sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system fails. Impulses to the heart are not able to form an organized beat, which may cause the heart to beat erratically or stop altogether.
"The common causes for sudden cardiac death are thickening of the heart muscle, enlarging of the heart, coronary artery abnormalities and disorders of the heart's electrical activity," said Dr. Michael Day, a cardiologist at Children's Medical Center.
Heart screenings
To prevent an unexpected collapse, Dr. Day recommends that every young athlete should undergo a thorough evaluation.
"Before heading to the practice field, a careful history and physical by a primary care doctor focusing on exercise-induced symptoms, family history and cardiac exam and vital signs should be performed as a precautionary measure," Dr. Day said.
Strenuous physical activity is thought to trigger cardiac episodes. Most collapses occur suddenly, but there can be observable warning signs. Studies show that about half of pediatric patients who succumb to sudden cardiac death had experienced a warning sign.
Children who have any of these conditions should take it a step further and undergo a cardiac evaluation:
- Exercise-induced symptoms such as difficulty breathing during exertion
- Chest pain
- Fast or irregular heartbeats
- Fainting during exertion
- Excessive fatigue
- Resting tachycardia (rapid heart rate in an inactive or sleeping individual)
- Resting hypertension (elevated blood pressure in an inactive or sleeping individual)
- Family history of sudden cardiac death or enlarged or thickened heart in young family members
- New onset of a heart murmur in an adolescent
- Excessive parental/child anxiety or stress
The most comprehensive cardiac evaluations for young athletes include a resting electrocardiogram (ECG), 24-hour ECG monitoring, exercise stress testing, an echocardiogram or combinations of all of these procedures.
But Dr. Day says that most parents should not worry because the conditions which cause sudden cardiac death are rare, especially for children.
In fact, a teen is about 500 times more likely to die in a car accident than while playing sports.
The one for heart health
The Heart Center at Children's offers Cardiovascular Assessments for children involved in school athletic programs, after-school sports and sports organizations for children who are advised by their pediatrician to schedule a more thorough evaluation. Children's has a team of electrophysiology specialists who have worked with the state of Texas to evaluate the assessment of student athletes.
To make an appointment with Dr. Day or our many other specialists at our locations across the metroplex, including our new Pediatric Specialty Care Center in Southlake, call 817-730-KIDS.


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Gomez treble in Bayern rout
Mario Gomez netted a first-half hat-trick as he guided Bayern Munich to a crushing 5-1 victory at home to Bayer Leverkusen in their first match since the sacking of coach Louis van Gaal.
• Saturday's Bundesliga review
• European Gallery
Simon Rolfes scored an own goal to put Bayern on the board after seven minutes, before Gomez struck in the 28th and 44th minutes and one minute into first half stoppage time for a 4-0 half-time lead.
Eren Derdiyok pulled a goal back for Leverkusen after 62, minutes before Franck Ribery made it 5-1 with 15 minutes left.
Bayern, who have not lost at home to Leverkusen since October 1989, reclaimed third place in the Bundesliga with 55 points - one point ahead of Hannover and six points behind Leverkusen.
Borussia Dortmund took a huge step to claiming their seventh Bundesliga title by beating Freiburg 3-0 at home and open an eight-point lead at the top of the table with four matches to play.
Just hours after top title contender Bayer Leverkusen lost 5-1 at Bayern Munich, Mario Gotze scored the opening goal for Dortmund in the 23rd minute and Robert Lewandowski made it 2-0 after 43 minutes. Kevin Grosskreutz finished off Freiburg for good with his score in the 78th minute.
Dortmund extended their unbeaten streak to four games as they close in on their first league crown since the 2001-02 season. Freiburg have collected just one victory in their last seven games to remain on 41 points in eighth place - seven points from a Europa League spot.
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What's On - April 24, 2014
Acoustic Emporium
Next show at the Acoustic Emporium at the Vineyard Community Centre at 45892 Wellington Ave. on April 25 is songwriter Mike Edel, who is touring with Tyson Motsenbocker. Doors open at 7 p.m., show is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Popkum Pickers play
The Popkum Pickers will be plucking for disaster world relief on April 25 at St. John's Anglican Church, 46098 Higginson Rd. from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be goodies/coffee at break time. Admission is by donation at the door.
Eclectic dance
Brought to Chilliwack by Vancouver's vibrant dance company MovEnt, Dances for a Small Stage isn't just dance with a twist, but an experience that totally recasts the dynamic between performer, stage, and audience. Show is April 25 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets call the centre box office at 604-391-SHOW (7469), visit in person or purchase online at www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca.
Ross Bollerup
Local artist Ross Bollerup's show Unexpected Garden is at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre Gallery until April 26. Relief from the cold wet spring comes in the form of this colourful art show. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
Mayan Corn Connection
A cultural fashion show at St. Thomas Anglican Church April 26 aims to broaden our knowledge and appreciation of Mayan culture. Enjoy an evening of traditional dance by Grupo Nahualli, a fashion show, wine and a delicious Mexican dinner by Fiesta Loca at the church, 46048 Gore Ave. April 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $45 each and can be purchased at the church office between 9 a.m. and noon. Reserve seats via Facebook at mayancornconnection, by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or phone 604-819-7982.
April at Branch 280
Branch 280 of the Royal Canadian Legion has special events scheduled this month. Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight with Earthmen, April 25 and 26.
Film series is back
The Chilliwack Community Arts Council and the Toronto Film Festival Circuit co-present the Spring 2014 Chilliwack International Film Series: April 30, Cas & Dylan (Canada/comedy, drama); May 7, Le WeekEnd (UK/comedy, dama). All films are at 7 p.m. at the Cottonwood 4 Cinemas. Ticket prices are $6 per screening and can be purchased from the Chilliwack Community Arts Council–The Art Room, 20-5725 Veddder Rd. or The Book Man, 45939 Wellington Ave. For more information call 604-769-ARTS (2787) or visit www.chilliwackartscouncil.com.
High school art
The Chilliwack Art Gallery at the Cultural Centre hosts the annual Chilliwack Senior High Schools Annual Art Exhibit, which features work from some of the returning grade 12s and a whole new group of grade 10 and 11 students from the three senior high schools in School District 33. Show runs May 1 to June 7. Gallery is open from Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. There will be an opening reception on May 3 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Bye Bye Birdie
A joint collaboration between G.W. Graham students and community members passionate about theatre will result in the staging of Bye Bye Birdie at the end of April. The show runs April 30 to May 10 (Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.) with a special by-donation preview on April 29 to benefit the Patrick O'Brien scholarship. Tickets are $10 to $15 and available at G.W. Graham (45955 Thomas Rd.) and the Dogfather (9701 Menzies St.).
Comedy night
Vancouver's top stand-up comics entertain the Fraser Valley May 3 at the Coast Chilliwack Hotel, 45920 First Ave. Doors and cash bar open at 8 p.m., show time 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 online in advance at www.urbanxevents.com or $25 at the door. If online tickets sell out prior to the event, tickets will not be available at the door. Must be 19-plus due to adult content. Seating is general admission.
Jeff 'Elvis' Bodner
The Chilliwack Senior Veterans Society presents Jeff "Elvis" Bodner May 4 at 2 p.m. Doors and bar open at 1 p.m. Cost is $20. Tickets available at front desk, 9233 Main St. Phone 604-792-5850.
Celebration of the Arts
The Chilliwack Visual Artists Association is pleased to announce that its' members will join in a Celebration of the Arts exhibition in the historic Royal Hotel in downtown Chilliwack from May 6 until June 8. The lobby, café and homestead room will be transformed with a free art exhibit. This is the second year of the exhibit, which includes artists in residence working near the front door. Opening hours are Sunday to Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lund landing
Country star and seven-time CCMA and Juno-award winning recording artist Corb Lund brings his Spring Thaw Tour 2014 to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on May 8. Special guest for the show is Harlan Pepper. For tickets call the centre box office at 604-391-SHOW (7469), visit in person or purchase online at www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca.
MS fundraiser
Join The Crusties fundraiser to end MS at the Royal Hotel Show Room, May 9. Doors open at 5 p.m. Entry is a minimum donation of $20, which includes a tax receipt.
Art of Wine
Chilliwack's first Art of Wine Festival, a benefit event, is May 10 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. This evening will be a celebration of British Columbia's finest wines including representation from over 25 wineries. Tickets are on sale now at box office. Call 604-391-SHOW (7469) to order or online www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca.