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Geller Reversal, The Law Is a Ass, It's All in the Mind, That Magnet Claim From Last Week, Highway of Holiness, Dowsing Update, Remember TM?, Good Comment, Miracle Substance For Sale, The Q-Ray Swindle in Canada, In Closing…
Didn't I tell you that Uri Geller, due to the recent exposures of his tricks on YouTube and on live TV, was no longer able to support the mythology that he is psychic, and now has to back away from the firm claims to genuine psychic power that he's made for the last 35 years? Well, he's done so. Reader Stefan Pochmann writes:
At youtube.com/watch?v=zGrn1IkMXbE you can see Geller in a recent German show completely failing to guess a picture of a square with four dots in it. Then at 2:14 into the video he explains:
Sometimes when I do things, this is not a trick. Do you understand me?
Interesting comment! This implies that he sometimes has a miracle happen in his hands, though he usually uses trickery. He's got to keep some woo-woo in there, it seems… I must add that the reason Geller didn't come up with the identity of the sealed drawing, just might be that it was prepared by the highly-skeptical host without Geller being present (see randi.org/jr/12-15-2000.html for the Geller method) and the spoons, etc., were kept away from him, too. But, Geller did manage to minimally bend a key, by his usual method, which was quite visible on camera.
Then in November of 2007, in an interview with Magische Welt (Magic World) he said, clearly and plainly:
I'll no longer say that I have supernatural powers. I am an entertainer. I want to do a good show. My entire character has changed.
No, Mr. Geller, just because you've run out of options and have to retreat, your character hasn't changed at all. You're still the man who lied – for 35+ years – to the media, to your sponsors, to the public, to researchers, to naïve scientists, and to government officials, saying that you were not a magician, that you didn't and couldn't do magic tricks, that you had genuine psychic abilities. And you said all this knowing that these people would choose to believe you and would commit themselves to promoting and endorsing your spurious claims.
Try to remember these names, Mr. Geller: Andrija Puharich, Brian Inglis, Byron Janis, Charles Panati, Claiborne Pell, Colin Wilson, Edgar Bronfman, Edgar Mitchell, Eldon Byrd, Guy Lyon Playfair, Harold Puthoff, John Hasted, John Taylor, Jonathan Margolis, Jose Lopez Portillo, Maria Janis, Moshe Dayan, Russell Targ, Ted Bastin, Val Duncan, Wernher von Braun, Wilbur Franklin, William Cox, and Yascha Katz. These are just a couple dozen of the hundreds of people you lied to, people who put money into your pocket, wrote supportive books about you, validated your claims, brought you to the attention of prominent persons, or otherwise helped you because they believed you when you told them you were the real thing, and played your tricks on them! Now you've admitted that it was all just a big joke?
Now, it certainly can be argued these people were naïve. They were out of their fields of expertise, and assumed they couldn't be fooled – but they were wrong. You took full advantage of their naivety, used them up, and discarded them when you were finished with them. That's what a predator does.
Well after Geller had done his turnabout, on January 13th, 2008, reports Mark Schmidt of the German Skeptics group GWUP, the newspaper Berliner Kurier published an interview that contained this exchange:
Question: Do you have telepathic abilities?
Answer: Without any doubt.
Says Mark:
So there was no waffling around. Asked for proof of this claim, he agreed, but did a "proof" for telekinesis, when he moved the hands of a clock.
On the second of his German TV series, Geller – having seen the damning "Stern" article, said of the performers on that on the show, "Nobody is claiming supernatural powers."
Reader Robert Matic in Melbourne, Australia, informs us that it appears Australia is the latest to jump onto the "Successor" band-wagon (see www.c21media.net/news/article=39308). Bad decision, guys…
There are other very interesting facets of this German edition of the TV series. We got copies of the contracts signed by the performers, and I understand that votes for their choice of best performer from the home audience on the program, cost US75¢ each. I have to wonder who gets that money… Back in 1989 in the USA, on a similar live program, Geller's arrangement with Lexington Broadcasting – unknown to me – was that he received the vote-by-phone fees that were called in, which was a swindle of the viewers because votes from three of the U.S. time zones never got a chance to be counted, though the callers paid for that privilege; the results were announced, live, after only the votes from the first time zone – the Eastern – were counted up, though the rest of America continued to phone in, thinking their votes were being counted…!
More importantly, the German contract states that those votes won't necessarily be counted, but that a panel might decide, rather than the voting process! Incredible! Then what are the voters in Germany paying for…?
No one sees this long period of mendacity as a joke, Mr. Geller. Those who will never see their academic careers restored, those who poured money into projects based on your claims, those who can never again face their colleagues because they were charmed by a charlatan, are not at all amused. And the media can never again take you seriously, of course. But I'm well aware – as you are – of the fact that the media doesn't much care about whether or not a colorful character is telling the truth; the story is the be-all and end-all with them, integrity be damned. So you'll coast along. But I just wonder whether any of those you damaged, will decide to go to the law – as you so frequently have – to redress that damage.
It will be interesting to see…
Next week I'll give you the actual tricky phrasing of that contract, and we'll be hosting a TV crew from Germany here at the JREF as we prepare a full video exposure of all the Geller tricks – the ones that he used to say were genuine miracles – and I guarantee that it will be very informative. More on this, anon…
Reader Brian Peck, from Raleigh, North Carolina, tells us about their "Divining Rod Sheriff":
Looks like law enforcement is embarrassing itself again. I'm sure you have read about the missing (now found dead) pregnant Marine here in North Carolina. In an article in The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), Final Edition, of Saturday January 12, 2008, is a picture with the following caption:
Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown with a divining rod that was used in the search of the backyard of Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Lauren. Divining rods are rods are thought by some to dip downward to indicate the presence of subsurface water or mineral deposits.
The picture shows Sheriff Brown in a lovely teal jacket holding a single dousing rod that looks like an old hanger bent sort of straight. At least the taxpayers didn't have to buy him those fancy mail order dousing rods. Why dousing rods were needed for this search, I don't know. The search area was a pretty bare backyard with a recently turned area of earth in the center where the presumed remains have been found. Also, I sort of thought you needed two rods to make this work. I have been unable to find the picture on the N&Os Web site, but will keep looking. Another giant leap in law enforcement technology.
Brian, I'm amazed at your ignorance! A really experienced dowser/douser can use just one rod!
And, lest too many fingers get bruised jumping to the keyboard to correct the title of this item, it is an exact quote from Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," spoken by Mr. Bumble. Look it up!
Reader Terry Austin points us to an interesting bit of research which indicates just how suggestible we are. A study by researchers from the California Institute of Technology and Stanford's business school, just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that the pleasant sensation that people experience when tasting wine can be linked directly to its apparent price. And that's true even when, unbeknownst to the test subjects, it's exactly the same wine with a dramatically different price tag! You see, the researchers just affix more expensive labels to the bottles they wish to be better appreciated! It's been found that with the apparently higher-priced wines, more blood – and thus oxygen – is sent to a part of the brain called the medial orbitofrontal cortex, whose activity registers pleasure. FMRI – Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging – brain scanning showed evidence for the researchers' findings that
…changes in the price of a product can influence neural computations associated with experienced pleasantness.
This research, along with other studies the authors allude to, seem to deny the idea that experienced pleasantness, worth, or effectiveness of a product is based on its intrinsic qualities. The tests even showed that
Even more intriguingly, changing the price at which an "energy" drink is purchased, can influence the consumers ability to solve puzzles!
Reader Bob DeMers gives us more on violins to follow our item at randi.org/jr/2006-12/120806landmark.html#i3, which proves the same point:
I heard a story recently (on public radio I think) describing an incident with violinist Jascha Heifetz. After a performance, He overheard a critic say "Of course he sounds great, he has a Stradivarius." Heifetz was so annoyed that he went out and bought a pawnshop violin and used it in the next performance before that same set of critics. After the usual glowing response to his performance, he smashed the violin to splinters in front of everyone's shocked eyes and then revealed the ruse. I can't find a specific reference for this story, but I did find this reference to Heifetz: home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/shosrev/brilliant6429.htm Most people will assume that only Stradivarius violins "sound really good" and that other violins will have inferior sound. But as Jascha Heifetz proved in many experiments, nobody, not even the critics, could tell whether he was playing his Guarnerius or a modern copy; then, if he announced which violin he was playing, the critics would hear what they expected to hear. So, when he would announce he was playing a copy and go ahead and play the Guarnerius, the critics would complain it didn't sound good. Or he would announce the Guarnerius and play the copy and the critics would rhapsodize over the tone. But the point is, Heifetz could tell. Sure, a Stradivarius or a Guarnerius sounds good, but mainly it is much easier to play, especially if you're Heifetz.
Can we continue to have any doubts about the ability of quacks to get repeat business for worthless remedies?
I was hoping for some input from qualified observers on the item we had at www.randi.org/joom/content/view/145/27/#i10. That wish has been met. Patrick Chipman, M.Sc. at the University of Memphis, a doctoral candidate in cognitive psychology, while he admits that he's not – yet – a physiologist or a physicist, says that he likes to think that he has a bit of a handle on experimental design:
The Skalak article basically argues that there is a time-and-dose dependent effect on inflammation as a result of exposure to magnets. Presumably, the design is single-blind, with only the rats blinded to the manipulations (pg. 6). The article makes no mention as to whether the experimenters were blinded, so we really have to assume that they weren't. Another potential problem in their design is that the sham treatment isn't really a good sham; normally, you replicate everything, including faking all of the equipment. It seems that their sham treatment had a visible difference (no magnet was present) (pg. 7), which could influence the results. It would certainly destroy any blinding of the experimenters, if there was any. Of course, I'm sure they'd argue that blinding the experimenters isn't necessary and the rats were unconscious anyway, so what did it matter if the sham was imperfect? There's another concern in the seeming random use of de-ionized water or saline as controls, with no justification whatsoever for the change. I may not be a physiologist, but I'm pretty sure de-ionized water and saline are going to have different effects in the body because they have different effects on blood electrolyte levels. As for the induction of inflammation, I don't know enough about how inflammation is typically induced to give an informed opinion on that. The most troubling concerns for me don't show up until the results section. It's worrying that the results are reported in a way that makes verification difficult. Effect sizes aren't reported, nor do we have any means or standard deviations to work with. There's literally no way to verify Skalak's statistical claims and to determine if they're meaningful or not, based on the information provided. Take, for example, the most show-stopping claim (pg. 27, figure 2C). The chart is quite misleading, for one, as it has a different scale from some of the other charts. More importantly, a 27% volume change for the sham treatment is compared to a 16% volume change for the magnet treatment. Is an 11% difference meaningfully significant? There's really no way to know. Are his error bars accurate? Again, there's no way to know without having the means and standard deviations of the "raw" data available. Whenever I see an article without a table of means for each condition, I raise an eyebrow. If you combine that with relative measurements based on rescaling instead of raw results, I start getting paranoid. Another worry that pops up on page 27 is the number of rats in each condition. Why, I wonder, are the numbers different – not just between different tests (different graphs), but in the same test? If he had access to a number of rats, as presumably a biomedical researcher would, why are his group sizes unequal? Did some of the rats refuse to be part of the experiment? Did they die? Did he just ignore the data from the rats that didn't fit his model? Why isn't this addressed anywhere in the paper? My take on this article is that there's some sort of smokescreen going on in the statistics, and possibly one in the experimental manipulation (the more I think about it, the more the saline/DI water switch worries me). There's definitely shenanigans in the group sizes, as reported on page 27. If there's a particular section of the article you'd like me to try to decipher, I'd be happy to give it a try. I'm a long-time reader of SWIFT, and I'm more than willing to lend some time to help out.
I know just enough about experimental design and protocol to see that the question of whether the tests were double-blinded, the effect- and group-sizes, the standard deviation, and the differing scales, can all be very meaningful. I'm also concerned and puzzled over why the number of rats involved, varied…
Let's see what the general reaction of the academic world is to these results…
There's no limit to the amount of significance that the True Believers can summon up from co-incidental relationships. Any combination of letters, numbers, shapes, or sounds, such pareidolic events as natural clouds or rock formations, patterns in smoke, accidents of wood-grain configurations or dried tea-leaves, continue to bring hosannas and jubilation to otherwise drab lives. We've seen The Virgin Mary and Jesus in pancakes and grilled-cheese sandwiches, in wall on subway walls, and on plywood doors. Remember the "Bible Code" excitement? See randi.org/jr/091704a.html#2. Examinations of sacred texts – in any given language – provide The Faithful with obscure errors in which any fanciful relationship is accepted with gasps of elation as evidence of a deity – or a demon! – conveying a message to those who are sensitive enough to perceive the subtleties of supernatural intervention in the humdrum lives of the miracle-embracers.
Well, it's now been discovered that an Interstate Highway stretching from Laredo, Texas, to Duluth, Minnesota, was prophesized centuries ago in The Holy Bible! You see, "Isaiah 35" - to the obsessed believers - refers to U.S. Interstate Highway I-35. It's obvious, says Pastor Cindy Jacobs, who was granted a revelation when thumbing through her well-thumbed Bible. Searching about for something – anything – in the thousands of words in Isaiah, she came upon chapter-and-verse 35:8, where she read:
And there shall be a causeway there which shall be called the Way of Holiness, and the unclean shall not pass along it; it shall become a pilgrim's way, no fool shall trespass on it. (New English Bible)
The same passage from the King James version reads:
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
No, I don't understand how these two versions can mean the same thing, either. First, a "causeway" is a raised road, to cross over wet ground or a body of water. But this road is supposed to be constructed in the desert! Duh. And why or how these "fools" will stay off the causeway or highway, is not at all clear, unless the KJV means, they won't make the mistake of going there… These interpretations are just full of problems.
That verse, Cindy found, is supported (?) by Isaiah 40:3, where we see:
There is a voice that cried: Prepare a road for the Lord through the wilderness, clear a highway across the desert for our God. (New English Bible)
In the King James version, this appears as:
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
When the news services showed us video of hysterical preachers at the "purity sieges" and "prayer vigils" that were organized to celebrate this revelation, I saw what looked like anything but a "desert," but then I'm admittedly picky, picky, picky. The "unclean" reference, however, was clear: there were roadside establishments advertising certain sensual services for men, not to my surprise.
Pastor Cindy Jacobs – not at all convincingly – tied all this in with the JFK assassination and the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis, which she pointed out occurred "at or near I-35"! She said:
Let's pray that there will be safety for everyone on this highway.
I dunno how safe it will be, with preachers literally screeching at the sides of the road. Pastor Steve Hill, who looks relatively calm and organized when he's not haranguing drivers-by, was shouting:
Millions live up and down this highway, Lamb of God, touch Oklahoma, Lord Jesus, touch Texas, Lamb of God. Oh, Lord, touch Minnesota, sweet Jesus…
Just don't drive off the highway while wondering what this man is doing out there yelling.
Reader Jim Boskus, who you met back at randi.org/jr/2007-04/042007todd.html#i5, writes:
I just wanted to update you on developments regarding the dowsing class. As you predicted, I have not heard back from Ms. Karen Turcio. I received the one communication from her and there have been no replies to my subsequent emails. Now I see what you must deal with on a near daily basis. This organization recently held a public meet-and-greet. I, along with a like-minded friend, stopped by to ask why they are sponsoring nonsense. We actually met the organization's president who said he didn't know if dowsing really worked, but he has seen demonstrations where dowsers were able to find water. We explained that water is nearly EVERYWHERE and if you pick a random spot and dig there is a good chance you'll hit water. In addition, we pointed out that dowsing has never been demonstrated to work in a controlled scientific experiment. We also told him about your foundation and the million dollar challenge. This man had never heard of either. He did seem intrigued by the million dollar challenge. We asked him to forward the challenge (I gave him a copy of your email) to Dr. Carter. He said he would. I guess we'll see what happens. I'll let you know if I hear anything further, but I'm not holding my breath....
Good decision, Jim! As far as these folks are concerned, they just want all this to go away, so they've closed it off and resigned from any discussion. Either they found that they were wrong, or they just decided to go on being misinformed. That's what I told you to expect. Facts are embarrassing to such folks.
There was a time in the 60s when Transcendental Meditation – TM – was all the rage. Robed devotees were seen in parks and at meetings, even the Beatles had a brief fling with the notion. Well, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who started the whole thing back in 1955, has announced his official retirement.
The announcement of this event – I have a version here in truncated form – has to take some sort of prize, in my opinion. I invite you to read it and gain some insight – not spiritual! – into what drives these strange folks. Here are the words of John Hagelin, known to his followers as "Jai Guru Dev, Raja of Invincible America." No comment is needed. We've placed it here in SWIFT so that you can download all 1,130 words (!) or just take my word for it that it's as saccharine as can be legally done. If you think you can stand it, go to: JaiGuruDev.html
My friend Andrew Skolnick, the science and medical reporter who wrote an exposé on Deepak Chopra and the Transcendental Mediation Movement's entry into the snake oil business, back in 1991, has a pertinent comment on this document:
Oh, this truly is a Cosmic Cross Road moment. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is retiring from carrying the weight of world upon his shoulders. I don't know whether to cry, to rejoice, or to laugh my ass off. I would do the latter if I didn't need it so much to break my falls on the icy streets of Buffalo. You may not have noticed – what with rise of fascists in America, Bush's endless war in Iraq, his threat of war against Iran, the collapsing U.S. economy, global warming, and all that – but we have been blessed with "the complete transformation of the world from the depths of ignorance and suffering of Kali Yuga to the perpetual sunshine of Sat Yuga." What can I say except, Huzzah and hallelujah. I only wish that this glorious moment had happened 16 years ago so that I might take credit for Maharishi's withdrawal from the TMountain top (as some people wrongly credited me after Deepak Chopra split from Maharishi's side to build his own lucrative mountain top in southern California). For now, I'll just grab some popcorn, sit back, and watch with amusement the Balkanization of the TM empire. Can't wait to see which of the Divine Rajas throws the first dagger. Hope you enjoy as much as I have, the prose of John Hagelin, "Raja of Invincible America," a.k.a. the greatest physicist since Isaac Newton, the twice Natural Law Party candidate for President of the U.S., and the guy that once tried to explain away my JAMA expose on TM as an angry hit piece from someone who wrongly blames Maharishi Ayurveda for the death of a "close friend with AIDS" (wink, wink). He later apologized for mixing me up with someone else. So much for Cosmic Consciousness. When Raja Hagelin speaks of the "the growing signs of peace in the world," I can't help but think of "Comical Ali," Saddam Hussein's propaganda minister who stood smiling before the news cameras and insisted that the U.S. invasion had been crushed even though the U.S.'s rapidly advancing forces could be seen and heard in the Iraq capitol just a few miles away. Jai Guru Dev, Andrew
I received an interesting objection from "LeeTheAgent" – how I wish I could address these folks by real names! – last week. He wrote, first quoting me as I explained how the JREF challenge was going to be discontinued:
…we never thought, for a moment, that the "Big Fish" out there – persons such as James Van Praagh, John Edward, Sylvia Browne, even Uri Geller – might actually step forward to be tested on their claims.
Then he asked me, quite properly:
Wait wait wait... wasn't the whole damn point of changing the Challenge Rules to go after these frauds? Ok so now what? The current rules (going after the big fish) is pointless? And they never expected the new rules to produce anything? I mean, hell, I've been waiting for an all out attack on the previously mentioned loonies since they changed their rules, and now they're saying it doesn't even matter? I'm sorry, I love Randi, I love the JREF, but there comes a time when you have to be skeptical of the skeptical. With their new rule change, doesn't this mean that virtually no testing will be made anymore? And we skeptics will no longer have the JREF challenge to wield against the believers? Then what exactly can the JREF do now? So many of us skeptics were looking forward to the new Randi challenge, to be proactive and take the battle to them, and now this? I really don't understand.
It's understood that you don't understand, Lee. We've issued strong challenges to these specific persons, in SWIFT and media articles, on TV, radio, and podcasts. They're insulated by their handlers and their money, and of course can continue to operate because the media won't put their noses to the grindstone. I'm willing to listen to any suggestions about how the JREF can pursue the Bad Guys…
One ray of hope: we're setting out to raise enough cash to be able to purchase a quarter-page display ad in The New York Times, openly challenging Van Praagh, John Edward, and Sylvia Browne, but not Uri Geller, since he's now resigned from deity status. That just might alert enough of the public to sit up and start complaining…
Reader Andrew Garvey thinks that he has an interesting story for us, and I agree. He writes:
I stumbled across "Orbitally Rearranged Monatomic Elements" yesterday and spent the rest of the day absorbed in the fascinating, inspiring literature about the history of "powdered white gold" "gold ash" "the philosophers' stone" "the tree of life" "mfkzt" [not a typo] and all the other names attributed to this miracle substance. This stuff is incredible! Not only did it turn the Ark of the Covenant into a monster capacitor that knocked down walls, not only did it levitate pyramids, put pharaohs in touch with the gods and grow hell-of-a-big oranges, but I can buy a one-ounce bottle of it at www.whitepowdergold.com/ for $89.99 plus $10 shipping and handling. Naturally I was intrigued, and being a skeptic I went ahead and sent the company an email:
Hello, I was very interested in buying a vial of white powder gold but the expense is a bit high for me. Is it possible to merely buy the powder and mix it in water myself? Is there any kind of coupon I can use? Seasonal discounts? Anything I can use so I don't have to spend nearly so much?
Despite their busy schedule, the company found the time to write back:
Hello Andrew, Thank you for your email. Unfortunately we don't offer the product in powder form. In fact, due to the anti-gravital effects of the product it would be practically impossible to even measure it in powdered form – which is why we suspend it in water. The only discounts we are offering at this time are for multiple bottle orders, for instance, an order for 7- one ounce bottles or more is discounted 10%, for 12-one ounce bottles or more it is discounted 15%. I believe that if you tried our products that you would feel as our current clients do, that it is well worth the investment. There are other products on the market claiming to be similar to ours, however, as far as we know, ours has the highest parts per million count of any of the others out there. If there is anything else I can be of help with please let me know. Have a terrific weekend! Melissa Hill White Powder Gold
Yep, you guessed it. It levitates in its pure form! How cool is THAT? A room-temperature SUPERCONDUCTOR! A shame, I suppose, that I'd have to spend nearly seven hundred dollars before I started getting a 10% discount. With the price of gold climbing nowadays, I suppose it's no wonder. So I started looking around for ways to make my own, and sure enough, I came across some videos detailing how, for about $10 of Celtic sea salt and grapeseed oil, I, too, can enter the realm of the gods, grow monster walnuts and make my plants glow and spark. See tinyurl.com/yo7vzz. But I wasn't so enthusiastic about the idea of a second-rate product that I made myself. I wrote back to the people at White Powder Gold asking how they go about measuring their proportions for mixing ORMUS since the pure form makes any scale lighter than it was before. I even mentioned that I was a little skeptical of their claims. Here's what she sent me:
Hello, I am sorry you are still a skeptic. I am unsure what else I can say. As for how we measure it, I am unable to reveal that to you or give out any info regarding our processing methods. Best of luck to you in your search for answers. Melissa
Damn proprietary rights! It's like they're always hatin' on the little guy. That's the culture of corporatism for you. So, James, I'll just have to go out and make my own "mfkzt" and hope I don't make monatomic arsenic instead. I'll be sure to keep you informed of my progress, and when I attain enlightenment – both metaphorically and literally – and am able to fly around my house, grow back my cat's tail and make my microwaved ravioli reside outside of space-time, I might be nice enough to share my secrets on this incredible journey with your readers. And hopefully I won't be so enlightened that I'll claim proprietary rights. That's like, OT VIII for mfkzt.
Reader Jed Sutherland informs us:
Re your discussion of this blatantly fake device: We in Canada have been subjected to endless TV ads for the bracelet for the last few years. Finally, CBC's Marketplace program carried out an investigation into whether the claims were true by: 1. Interviewing Mr. Park Junior (who avoided explaining how the bracelet is "ionized" by averring that "it's a secret known only by the manufacturer"). 2. Having a scientist examine a bracelet using an electron microscope and try to determine whether any evidence of ionization was present (he couldn't see any evidence). 3. Speaking to people who wear this junk jewelry. Not that this was a huge sample, but all of the wearers swore that the bracelet relieved their pain. One guy said that even if it was a placebo, it worked for him and that's all that mattered. In the end, people want to be fooled. The Canadian Health and Consumer agencies have been conspicuous by their absence and disinterest in dealing with these con men.
Jed, politicians are the same in every country, and their inertia is legendary. It takes a huge amount of influence and threats to get them to do anything; the popular attitude is that people should be smarter than to fall for such nonsense. I find that stance totally unacceptable.
However, reader Robert Jones has taken me to task in regard to last week's Q-Ray item – see randi.org/joom/content/view/145/27/#i17. Robert writes:
I think you owe an apology to the hard-working people at the FTC. They are allies of the reality-based community and don't deserve the contempt you recently threw their way. In your 01/11/08 Swift commentary on the judgment against Q-Ray, you pointed out that you had first mentioned the flummery that is the Q-Ray Bracelet in November of 2002. You then asked the question:
What does it take to get our FTC to act promptly on evidence? Did they wait this long so that Mr. Park and his associates would have sufficient assets to retire comfortably?
The fact is, the Commission filed a complaint with the courts on May 27, 2003, after several months of investigation and preparation for litigation. (see ftc.gov/os/caselist/0323011/qtinccmp.pdf) The subsequent four-and-a-half years until the final judgment last week were not the result of "…inertia by a federal bureau…" but a result of complex, protracted litigation. It's not the FTC's fault it takes so long for matters to work through the court system. As I'm sure you know, the FTC doesn't have dictatorial powers. They can't just remove products from the marketplace, no matter how ridiculous the marketing claim. The Commission has to build a case under the law and sue in federal court. It's unfortunate, as it does allow these scam artists to operate openly for years, but that's the law. You wrote:
We have an FTC that is simply indolent, incompetent, or stupid – and don't give me the tired old song-and-dance routine about insufficient staffing and/or funding. There's a solution for that: hire Judge Frank Easterbrook to do the job.
You're right about the staffing and funding. Given the thousands and thousands of scam artists operating in America today, the Commission couldn't make much of a dent if it had ten times the staff and funding, yes, even if they hired Judge Easterbrook. The Commission worked years to stop just one scam artist, the makers of Q-Ray, from bilking gullible consumers. If you want real change don't blame those working hard to stop this nonsense, change will have to come from Congress and the President. The Commission is going after these charlatans every day of every year. When the Commission does win a long, hard-fought victory, calling them "indolent, incompetent or stupid" is simply unfair.
Robert, what I'm trying to express here is, first, that these con artists are allowed to stay in business for so long, that when they're finally brought to ground, they've already made their fortunes and they can just quietly move away, and laugh over their shoulders at their victims and the agencies that finally – far too late – closed them down. Second, some – though not all – of these schemes are so obviously spurious and fraudulent, that any high-school student can immediately spot them as such. Yes, I know that proper legal procedures have to be initiated, but surely there can be a "stop" put on these advertising campaigns and sales pitches? Drugs and medical devices have to be kept from the market until shown to be legitimate. Why are these toys – masquerading as legitimate medical devices – allowed to go on sale any more readily than pills or syrups making similar claims…?
The pseudoscientific language, the perfectly juvenile claims, the inadequate descriptions, and the ludicrous theories behind some of the claims, are not supported in any way, yet the FTC cannot do anything to prevent a huge market being developed, and vast millions of dollars being raked in? I cannot believe that our system is that helpless in the hands of the scam artists.
Still, I grant you that I was perhaps overly harsh on those in the FTC – and in other agencies – who may have been asking the same questions as I have, and may be similarly affronted and frustrated. To them, I apologize.
And, there are other suggested corrections on the last SWIFT. Re the item on the magnetized rats, I referred to the notion that started this nonsense, the claim that the magnets affected the iron-in-the-blood. Reader Robert Biermann wrote that though the presence of only one iron atom in the hemoglobin molecule would not make the molecule magnetic, the oxygen content (203 atoms) is paramagnetic and could also be attracted by an external magnetic field. That's true, but the magnetic field applied is so very weak, that I still can't imagine any effect…
Reader Markus Kompa sends us to youtube.com/watch?v=g1_1KYAYinQ for his latest fork/spoon bending demo. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic, though Uri Geller has told us that one has to really "believe" in the magic, for it to work…
And reader Lee Causseaux shares with those of us peripherally informed about the mysteries of the upper reaches of physics, an exercise in science:
I do not know if you have seen this, but I found it an amusing bit...a well executed tongue in cheek study of homeopathic medicine through quantum physics. www.cs.rug.nl/~michael/qthair.pdf.
A Kurt Vonnegut quotation just sent to me, taken from "Cat's Cradle":
New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth… The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.
Well said…
And Rod Clark of the Skeptic's Circle directs your attention to: skepticscircle.blogspot.com/. Drop in and visit awhile…


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I stumbled across this yesterday night. It didnt help stop the ringing sound completely but it did make it significantly better.
Put the palms of your hands over your ears. The fingers are on the back of the head. The middle fingers point towards each other and are on the base of the skull just above the point where the skull ends. Now lift the index fingers and place them on top of the middle fingers and then snap the index fingers off the middle fingers so that they beat the skull like a drum. In fact, with your hands covering your ears, the sound may be quite loud and may indeed sound like the beating of a drum. Repeat the drumming about 40 to 50 times.
took it from here: http://health.learninginfo.org/tinnitus.htm. there is also a video showing how to do it.
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Plastic Is Fantastic
Plastic Is Fantastic
"I love Hollywood," Andy Warhol once declared. "Everybody's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic." Apparently Warhol isn't the only one with synthetic exuberance syndrome. The spring collections are having a decidedly celluloid moment, and designers have decreed that no part of the body shall go unadorned by plastic. From dresses to tunics to short shorts, this season's garments and accessories are gleaming with acrylic, vinyl and cellophane. Warhol would have been positively giddy.
In Paris, Karl Lagerfeld went plasticus extremis at Chanel, sending several gleaming head-to-toe looks down the runway. One entirely plastic ensemble—a peach-hued pantsuit and green booties—had a distinctly shuffleboard-in-Boca-Raton flair. There was also a shorts and clear vinyl jacket look intended for the beach.


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Villages of Quechee • White River Junction • Hartford • West Hartford • Wilder
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2590 North Hartland Road
White River Jct., Vt 05001
Hours of Operation - Monday through Saturday 8am to 4pm
The Town of Hartford operates a Solid Waste/Recycling Transfer Center at the site of the former Town landfill at 2590 North Hartland Road that sits on about 19 acres of property. The facility also includes a Construction and Demolition (C&D) facility. The five villages in the Town of Hartford (Hartford, Quechee, White River Junction, Wilder and West Hartford) are eligible to use the facility. The facility is also used by the 10 towns who are members of the Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District. Several towns from New Hampshire are allowed to use the construction and demolition area.
At the facility recycling can either be done in a heated building which allows users to separate and dispose of accepted recyclables. Accepted recyclables are: glass, plastics #1-7, corrugated cardboard, boxboard, newspapers, mixed paper, and metal cans. We also offer free electronics: televisions and computers and computer related equipment, free fluorescent bulbs and also automotive batteries, refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, tires, used motor oil and antifreeze for a fee. With guidance from our staff large quantities of separated recyclables can be disposed of down back directly into the appropriate roll off container.
Beneficial reuse opportunities exist on site at the transfer station beyond traditional recycling. The Town leases space to the Good Buy Store (802) 296-6373 which is operated by SEVCA. SEVCA is a non-profit organization that takes in donations and resells them at a reduced price. This organization helps us reduce the amount of material being sent to the landfill by accepting clothing, shoes, furniture, and household items.
The Solid Waste complex houses an Education Building, Recycling Building, Scale House, HHW Building and the Administrative office. Staffing is provided by a supervisor, 2 full time attendants, an administrative assistant and 2 part time attendants.
WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING: Refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and freezers. ($15.00 per unit)
Town of Hartford is now a Vermont E-Cycle location.
State of Vermont Residents - Electronics Accepted click here.HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION INFORMATIONclick here.
2014 Holiday Schedule click here.
Residential Permit Application click here.
Commercial Hauler Permit & Registration Application click here.
Waste Management Ordinance Fee Return Sheet click here.
2014 Curbside Zero Sort Yearly Calendar click here.
Curbside Zero Sort Recycling Pick up Schedule click here.
Rules and Guidelines click here.
State of Vermont Residents - Electronics Accepted click here.
Hazardous Waste Collections 2014


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Everybody's Freaking Out About the Times Pay Wall
You knew this was coming, people.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
You knew this was coming, people.
C'est comme ça.
Lunchers were felled by digestive problems.
The stylish Italian joint hopes to reopen in February.
Because two Times Square bowling alleys weren't enough?
The weekday and Saturday editions will start costing $2 in June, and the Sunday paper will go up to $5 here in the city.
Was a fired design team the cause of the delay?
A $225 million sale-leaseback caused a bump in New York Times Company stock.
Shouting and grilling means Tracy Jordan can finally stop hanging at Benihana.
It's going to be one of those weeks. Er, another one of those weeks.


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Composite Views
by Evin
In my last post on bindings, I talked about Rule #2 (The '-Path' Convention) which started a bit of buzz on when and why it is used. First off, it is a naming convention that my team and I have come up with to deal with passing binding paths around in a composite view. A composite view is just a custom view that is made up of using other views in some special way. Composite Views are a great organizational construct but they can be easily misused…
What is a Composite View?
As stated before, a composite view is a custom view that you build that is mainly made up of other views that operates in a special way. You would often use this when you are developing a structure of views in your '.lproj' layer and you find yourself repeating a paradigm or wanting a group of views or view structure to operate in a specific manner. Examples of these can be a composite view made up of a textfield, labels, buttons that change the look and appearance of view. View that have special mouse functionality like a popup window or similar structure that makes passing some simple information for bindings or content to a internal child view.
I will use a very simplistic example of a composite view for a master list view with a search bar. I call this composite view the MasterView and it will consist of a SC.TextFieldView and a SC.ListView. You usually don't want to do such a simplistic view as this, but it will work for the purposes of illustration. The code might look like this:
myApp.MasterView = SC.View.extend( /** @scope myApp.MasterView.prototype */ { classNames: ['master-view'], /** Necessary config elements to set up binding in the composite view */ contentPath: '', // Binding Path for the content of the ListView selectionPath: '', // Binding Path for the selection on the ListView searchPath: '', // Binding Path for the text searching contentValueKey: '', // ContentValueKey to be passed to the ListView /** Overwritten createChildView where you set up all the internal child view and where we are going to use the Binding Paths */ createChildViews: function() { var childViews = [], view; //Add the search text field view = this.createChildView( SC.TextFieldView.design({ layout: {/* layout here */}, valueBinding: this.get('searchPath') }), { rootElementPath: [0] } ); childViews.push(view); view = this.createChildView( SC.ListView.design({ layout: { /* layout here */ }, contentValueKey: this.get('contentValueKey'), contentBinding: this.get('contentPath'), selectionBinding: this.get('selectionPath'), }), { rootElementPath: [1] } ); childViews.push(view); this.set('childViews', childViews); }, /* Do Special Stuff as Needed */ });
Then, as you need to create instances of your composite view in the '.lproj' layer it would look something like this:
aRealMasterView: myApp.MasterView.design({ layout: { /* layout here */ }, contentPath: 'myApp.myRecordsController.arrangedObjects', selectionPath: 'myApp.myRecordsController.selection', searchPath: 'myApp.myRecordsController.search', contentValueKey: 'name' })
Its as simple as this. Now you are able to pass your bindings around without creating superfluous bindings that have to be updated, but have no real using in your composite view layer. The '-Binding' convention is a great convenience, but unless you specifically want to create a binding in that view layer it is easily misuse and can cause performance hits.


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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
First Tooth!
Baby Arthur's first tooth popped though today. It is the culmination of a lot of work for the little guy and he can't stop feeling his newly added pearly white with his tongue. If it was up to him he would probably chow down on a steak to celebrate. The boy loves his food!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Happy Birthday, Ol' Chap!
Today our oldest son Liam turns four. Four years old! We like to make Liam's birthday a big deal around our household. We've always had some sort of theme for each of Liam's previous birthday parties. Well, we didn't really have a theme for his first birthday. It was more of a color scheme since he had yet to express any interest in anything besides sweet potatoes. For his second birthday, we had a Sesame Street theme. Last year, we had a superhero theme (Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman being the focus). This year however he was very adamant about a theme. Weeks (possibly months?) before his birthday he told us he wanted a Superman-themed party.
This was both a good and bad thing. Good in the sense that Liam was expressing himself and that he knew what he wanted. Bad because now that he had told us what he wanted, we had to put together an awesome party for our boy. Why was this such a bad thing? Simple: I hate Superman. I thought it would be near impossible to create a party around a character I don't like and that my wife knows little to nothing about. I think he's a completely out-of-date comic character, but Liam seems to love him. Thus, we forged on to make our boy happy but we were confronted by a roadblock. Apparently, everyone else seems to not like Superman as well. We could not find any Superman party supplies locally and we found ourselves having to put our heads together to be creative and pull a party together. (Did I mention that we only had two weeks to get the party together due to scheduling?)
First, the invitation! Every year I make some themed-related leaflet-type invitation to email and post on the Facebook event page. (With only two weeks notice it was easier to go the digital route) This year I went with the classic Daily Planet front page. Take a picture of Liam at the zoo, a blurry photo of him at Halloween (he was an Aquabat!), type up some articles, and hint at some party goodies at the bottom of the page and you have an invitation. I must admit that I've had lots of fun making these invitations each year.
Goodie bags! These are a must at a children's party. Most kids look forward to the end of the party knowing they will receive a lovely parting gift. With no Superman bags to be found, Amber printed off a bunch up Superman logos on sticker paper, cut them out, and (carefully) stuck them on blue bags. A simple solution indeed. Of course, all the kids really only cared about was what was inside. (Not pictured: the Superman Pez dispenser we tied to the bags. Amber hunted down as many as she could but it's never enough.)
Kryptonite! Superman's weakness but also very tasty. (Why don't all Superman's enemies just carry it in their pocket?) Lime rock candy put into tiny zip-lock bags with a custom label added.(Hopefully my Photoshop skills improve by next year.) I have no idea if Lex Luthor even sells Kryptonite in the comic, but it seems like something an evil dude would do.
The entertainment! Liam loves a good bounce house. He's had one of these bad boys every year since his second birthday. The company we rented from had this particular model readily available because, I can only assume, everyone else (except Liam) dislikes Superman. Again, Liam was happy, the kids were jumping, everyone wins.
Cake! Nom. Our local store did not have a Superman-themed cake kit so Amber had to make something up. We ordered a cake with the right color scheme and Amber created a large Superman logo out of royal icing. Cake + Ice Cream = Happy Liam.
And so, another birthday is in the books. I can only imagine what type of party Liam will want next year. In the meantime, we need to start planning Arthur's first birthday (only 186 days away!)
Posted by Arthur at 4:41 PM Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
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Garmin Forerunner 15 GPS Watch with HRM
$169.99 $199.99*
Save $30.00 (15%)
Product Information:
Stay on top of your fitness goals and take your training to the next level with the Garmin® Forerunner 15. The Forerunner's heart rate monitor accurately tracks your intensity level, keeping you in the zone, while the Forerunner is GPS enabled to stay on top of your distance and pace. Precisely keeping your steps, calories and distance, the Garmin® Forerunner 15 GPS Watch with HRM gives you the tools you need to become a healthier you.
- Accurately tracks steps, calories burned and distance throughout the day
- GPS-enabled, Forerunner accurately tracks your distance and pace statistics
- Forerunner 15 will alert you when you have reached a personal record - be it fastest mile or longest run
- Heart Rate Monitor tracks your heart rate and heart rate zone data throughout activity
- Auto Step Goal pushes you to reach goals set
- Inactivity Indicator reminds you when it's time to move
- Garmin Connect™ Mobile App on your smartphone pairs with your watch to provide instant updates
- Garmin Connect™ allows you to relive your run, follow your heart rate, track daily goals and see the leaderboard among your friends and family
- GPS Watch is compatible with free training plans on Garmin Connect™ and allows you to save, plan and share your runs
- Included: Forerunner 15 GPS Watch, Heart Rate Monitor, Charging/Data Clip, Manual
- Style: 010-01241-40, 010-01241-41, 010-01241-60, 010-01241-61, 010-01241-62
- Garmin
- Battery Life: 8 hours in training mode; 5 weeks in watch mode
- Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion
- Display Resolution: 55 x 32 pixels
- Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters
- History: 7 activities
- GPS Enabled: Yes
Country of Origin: United StatesWeb ID: 33553916
Customer Reviews:
Garmin Forerunner 15 GPS Watch with HRM 3 3
Great GPS watch. I use this watch for running and mountain biking. I love knowing how far I have traveled while biking or running. Now I don't have to map out my route beforehand. The heart rate monitor works great as well. The fitness feature will track your steps but I turned that setting off for two reasons. The main reason was that I didn't buy the product to keep track of my steps, I bought it for the GPS feature and heart rate. Secondly, the step tracking didn't seem that accurate. Based on a short test, it appeared to calculate steps just by moving my arm. Aside from that I love the watch and it does what I need. October 4, 2014
Great for value I am satisfied with this Garmin. Although it isn't as fancy as the more expensive models, it does the job just fine. I especially like the link to the website at Garmin that tracks your runs. The GPS wasn't exact, but was very, very close. Great product if you're just interested in something that is not super expensive and meets your needs. July 21, 2014
Love it I love it! Steps are accurate and it fits comfortably. I like the heart rest monitor it fits nicely as well. The battery has good life and syncing is fast. July 5, 2014
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Tennessee Senior Olympics
Tennessee Senior Olympics
Live Broadcast: Monday, June 21st at 7:00 pm.
Encore (pre-recorded) Broadcast: Friday, June 25th at 8:00 pm.
The Tennessee Senior Olympics, Inc. is an annual sporting event for athletes ages 50 and older. Our mission is to promote healthy lifestyles for seniors through fitness and sports.
Ten district competitions are held all around the state in the spring of each year. Participants from the district competition are eligible for the state finals held each summer.
Athletes compete within five year age-groups and at skill levels. A wide variety of sports are offered.
WCTE depends upon the support of our membership to produce and broadcast quality programming like this. Please help us continue this 30+ year tradition of community involvement by contributing to WCTE today.
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Lawn Decor
Design and decorate your back yard. Add a swing for two or Adirondack chairs and a table. Make the expansive lawn look lovely with a pretty fountain. Place a pool if you like then landscape and you're done. There are dozens of options and combination to choose from so have a delightful time placing Lawn Decor!


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$195 million gap is low-end of original estimate; Solve includes spending reductions, transfers of surplus funds
To close the gap, the Governor is proposing to reduce funding in certain programs; transfer surplus funds from a state transportation account and redirect some savings from recent Medicaid decisions.
"In these challenging economic times, it is critical we maintain our safety net services for residents most in need," said Governor Patrick. "Our plan for closing this budget gap ensures that we can continue to provide vital services like health care and shelter while managing state resources in a fiscally responsible way."
"As we continue to manage the budget and remain good fiscal stewards, we look for more opportunities to promote efficiencies in an effort to close the budget gap while maintaining critical state programs," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.
In the course of its regular budget review with Executive Branch agencies this month, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) announced that it had preliminarily identified a new estimated gap of $195 million to $295 million, caused primarily by caseload increases in MassHealth and other safety net programs and unavoidable costs like the special U.S. Senate election held in January.
After completing its review this week, A&F has determined that a significant portion of this gap can be managed by agencies internally, resulting in a budget gap of $195 million. Because much of this new spending would be reimbursed by the federal government, the portion of the budget gap that must be closed using state resources is $118 million.
"The steps we are taking today will responsibly close the gap and preserve funding for critical programs and services," said Secretary Jay Gonzalez. "This is another example of the prompt and proactive budget management that the Governor has exercised to ensure fiscal stability in the face of the unprecedented fiscal challenges facing the Commonwealth."
The Secretary of A&F sent a letter to legislative leaders today requesting they include the budget fixes in a supplemental budget currently pending before the Senate. Specifically, the Governor is seeking authorization to reduce spending in 10 accounts by $38 million and transfer $50 million in surplus funds from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund to the General Fund to support certain transportation spending.
Additionally, the Governor will use $30 million in Rainy Day funds. Those funds are part of an estimated $80 million in Medicaid "clawback" savings the Governor announced earlier this month. The remaining $50 million will provide a cushion for the remainder of the fiscal year in the event that revenues fall short of benchmarks.
As directed by the Governor, A&F will also further tighten spending controls to ensure the state budget remains balanced for the remainder of the year.
As he has throughout this global economic downturn, the Governor will continue to manage the budget and the challenges facing the Commonwealth. The Governor's proactive and prudent fiscal management to date has resulted in continued affirmation of the state's strong AA bond rating, allowing the state to make critical investments, while saving taxpayers money.


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|All Content
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By Jenny Brundin
West Valley City, UT – Through September 20, the Women's Art Center at 345 Pierpont Avenue in Salt Lake City presents the exhibit, "Visions and Voices," featuring Utah artists with mental illness.
Click the links below for more information.
Nami Utah.
Women's Art Center.


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IPad Altering Interaction Between Pharma Sales Forces, Physicians, & Consumers
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The integration of the iPad into the pharmaceutical industry has had a substantial impact on the sector's interactions with physicians and payers. The growth of tablet technology is rapidly transforming how field sales forces in the pharmaceutical industry communicate with physicians and payers.
While the implementation of the iPad has been rapid and exponential, effectively integrating iPads into the field requires significant planning and training to make the investment a success. A new benchmark study completed by research and consulting firm Best Practices, LLC uncovered strategies for measuring the effectiveness of the iPad as an inventive sales tool.
The report, Deploying the iPad to Sales & Managed Markets Teams: Training and Effectiveness Benchmark, focuses on key challenges and best practices when deploying iPads or Android-Based tablets to large customer-facing commercial groups within pharmaceutical and medical device organizations.
Among the findings that Best Practices uncovered:
- Approximately one in five companies have already issued iPads to their managed markets teams, with an overall majority of benchmark companies planning to do so in the next 12 months.
- Training
- Systems Integration and Application Development
- Security and Compliance
- Applications that Increase Productivity
- Field Usage and Measuring Effectiveness
- Challenges and Best Practices in Making the Investment a Success
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Back to:
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TO: Editors and Reporters
FROM: Judy Berthiaume
DATE: Sept. 13, 2006
SUBJECT: Updated UW-Eau Claire Experts Directory Now Available
The UW-Eau Claire News Bureau has made changes to its online Experts Directory that will make it easier for reporters and editors to search for campus sources.
The online directory is now searchable by topic and by expert. Rather than scrolling through long lists of topics and faculty/staff names, users can type in a topic or name in the search box provided.
The Experts Directory can be found at www.uwec.edu/ucomm/experts.
The UW-Eau Claire Experts Directory provides a list of campus experts who can comment to the media on a variety of topics and issues and who may be available to speak to service and professional groups.
The Experts Directory provides only a sampling of UW-Eau Claire's faculty/staff experts and does not include every topic of interest. If you do not find a resource for a specific topic or have difficulty reaching a source, please contact the UW-Eau Claire News Bureau at 715-836-4741, and we'll help you make your connections.
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Aetna considers fecal bacteriotherapy medically necessary for persons with Clostridium difficile infection, with infection confirmed by a postive stool test for C. difficle toxin, that has recurred following at least one course of adequate antibiotic therapy (10 or more days of vancomycin at a dose of greater than or equal to 125 mg four times per day or 10 or more days of metronidazole at a dose of 500 mg three times per day). Aetna considers fecal bacteriotherapy experimental and investigational for all other indications.
Fecal bacteriotherapy (FT, also known as fecal microbiota transplantation fecal transplant, fecal transfusion, and probiotic infusion) is the transfer of a liquid suspension of stool from a healthy donor to the patient and is proposed for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which can result in mild diarrhea to life-threatening fulminant pseudomembraneous colitis. Treatment involves discontinuation of the offending antibody and oral administration of metronidazole or vancomycin. In some cases, patients non-responsive to medical management are treated by surgical colectomy which has a motality rate of 35 % to 57 %. One of the risks with FT is the transfer of contagious agents (e.g., fungi, parasites, and viruses) from the donor (You et al, 2008; Bakken et al, 2009).
A randomized controlled clinical trial by van Nood, et al. (2013) found that infusion of donor feces was significantly more effective for the treatment of recurrent C. difficile infection than the use of vancomycin. Included in the study were patients who were at least 18 years of age and who had a life expectancy of at least 3 months and a relapse of C. difficile infection after at least one course of adequate antibiotic therapy (≥ 10 days of vancomycin at a dose of ≥ 125 mg four times per day or ≥ 10 days of metronidazole at a dose of 500 mg three times per day). C. difficile infection was defined as diarrhea (≥ 3 loose or watery stools per day for at least 2 consecutive days or ≥ 8 loose stools in 48 hours) and a positive stool test for C. difficile toxin. Available isolates were characterized by PCR. Investigators randomly assigned patients with recurrent C. difficle infection to receive one of three therapies: an initial vancomycin regimen (500 mg orally four times per day for 4 days), followed by bowel lavage and subsequent infusion of a solution of donor feces through a nasoduodenal tube; a standard vancomycin regimen (500 mg orally four times per day for 14 days); or a standard vancomycin regimen with bowel lavage. The primary end point was the resolution of diarrhea associated with C. difficile infection without relapse after 10 weeks. The study was stopped after an interim analysis. Of 16 patients in the infusion group, 13 (81%) had resolution of C. difficile-associated diarrhea after the first infusion. The 3 remaining patients received a second infusion with feces from a different donor, with resolution in 2 patients. The investigators reported that resolution of C. difficile infection occurred in 4 of 13 patients (31%) receiving vancomycin alone and in 3 of 13 patients (23%) receiving vancomycin with bowel lavage (p < 0.001 for both comparisons with the infusion group). No significant differences in adverse events among the three study groups were observed except for mild diarrhea and abdominal cramping in the infusion group on the infusion day. After donor-feces infusion, patients showed increased fecal bacterial diversity, similar to that in healthy donors, with an increase in Bacteroidetes species and clostridium clusters IV and XIVa and a decrease in Proteobacteria species. An accompanying editorial (Kelly, 2013) stated that the study by van Nood et al. is an important confirmation of the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplant for recurrent C. difficile infection.
Baddour (2013) commented that the findings of this study by van Nood, et al. will garner much attention and will likely increase the use of fecal transplantation (FT) in the treatment of recurrent C. difficle infection. These happenings, coupled with our increasing understanding of the gut microbiome, should markedly advance our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of C. difficile infection.
This clinical trial is consistent with the results of earlier studies of fecal bacteriotherapy. Guo et al (2012) critically appraised the clinical research evidence on the safety and effectiveness of FT compared with standard care in the treatment of patients with clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). A comprehensive literature search was conducted by a research librarian to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2011. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews and Web of Science were searched. Methodological quality of the included case series studies was assessed in terms of patient selection criteria, consecutive recruitment, prospective data collection, reporting of lost to follow-up, and follow-up rates. No controlled studies were found. Based on the weak evidence from 7 full-text case series studies of 124 patients with recurrent/refractory CDAD, FT appears to be a safe and effective procedure. In most cases (83 %) symptoms improved immediately after the first FT procedure, and some patients stayed diarrhea-free for several months or years. The authors concluded that although these results appear to be promising, the treatment effects of FT can not be determined definitively in the absence of a control group. Results from RCTs that compare FT to oral vancomycin without or with a taper regimen will help to better define the role of FT in the management of recurrent CDAD.
Brandt and Reddy (2011) stated that with the increasing prevalence of recurrent/refractory CDI, alternative treatments to the standard antibiotic therapies are being sought. One of the more controversial of such alternative treatments is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Although the notion of FMT is foreign -- even startling -- and not esthetic to most people, the concept has been around for many decades. Its benefit and effectiveness dated back more than 50 years to its use for staphylococcal pseudomembranous colitis, and now FMT is showing a great promise as an inexpensive, safe, and highly efficient treatment for recurrent and refractory CDI. Moreover, with a better understanding of the intricacies of the colonic microbiome and its role in colonic pathophysiology, FMT has the potential to become the standard of care for CDI treatment, and a potential answer to other intestinal disorders in years to come.


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Who do you think looks best today? (5 photos)
The best street style from London Fashion Week: http://ow.ly/p48HS via @StyleCaster
Beauty Products We Love
Our holiday fragrance lineup just got more decadent thanks to #Marni's...
Hannah Simone supported her New Girl co-star at Tommy Hilfiger's "To Tommy From Zooey" event also wearing one of the collection?s designsa navy fringe LWD with a nautical motif. Two-toned platform pumps rounded out her look.Read MoreLess


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- You are here:
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crash tests
Well at least it wasn't the governor of San Luis Potosi, Mexico who was crash-testing a Via Motors extended-range plug-in hybrid truck. Because that would've been weird. This week, Via opened its first-ever production assembly line – located in that central Mexican state – and ...
What a difference 120 pounds make. That's the weight difference between a standard Toyota Prius hatchback and its newer, slightly heavier plug-in hybrid version, and that's the reason why the plug-in didn't match the standard's five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety ...


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Should I Buy iPad Tablets for my Small Business?
Question: Should I buy iPad Tablets for my Small Business? …or another manufacturer's Tablets?
Answer: This is an easy answer – YES!. For now, you should buy an iPad Tablet! In 2011, 85-90% of all Tablets sold are Apple iPads. They own the market.
However, there are a few exceptions that you should check out:
- If you just hate Apple and Apple products, buy the Samsung Android 10″ Tablet. Do not buy the Motorola Tablets…yet.
- If you love RIM (Blackberry Smartphones), you should look at the RIM Tablet… and wait until next year for the new model.
- If you love HP (or the old Palm), sorry… as of 8/18/2011 HP cancelled the product line. Look at the Samsung Android Tablets.
- If you love Google (Android), you should buy the Samsung 10″ Tablet. It is the best product next to the Apple iPad.
- If you are Tech Nerd or Geek, you should buy the Samsung 10″ Tablet…. but first look at the Apple iPad. You maybe very surprised.
- If you love the Amazon (Kindle eBook Reader), you could buy the new Amazon Kindle 7″ Fire Tablet…or you may want to wait until Q2 2012 to see if Amazon comes out with a new 10″ Tablet. The 10″ Tablet is expected to be a much better product than the 1st 7″ Tablet announced in September 2011.
That's about it!
Top 5 reasons for buying the iPad (over other Tablets) for your Small Business:
- The Easy of Use & User Interface is so much better than all the other Tablets – Greatly Reduces Your Training and Support Costs
- There are significantly more applications that can make your people much more productive when working.
- Boost Employee Morale (and Productivity) – This is one of the few products that greatly improves productivity and employee morale at the same time.
- Better Security – The iPad App Store is a closed system that greatly reduces the potential for applications with viruses.
- In our experience, the Apple Store is a great place for FREE help. The AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and Best Buy Stores are not much help.
We purchased the Apple iPad to test in May 2011. The bottom line is that it's one of the most useful business products we have ever used.
In 2012, there will be another round of new Tablet products that should dramatically expand the alternatives for Small Business tablets. However, for now, the new iPad is the superior product according to almost all top analysts.
Please contact us if you have any questions, need more info… or just reply with a comment below.
Tags: Android, Apple, IOS, iPad, Samsung, Small Business, SMB, Tablet


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Wood carver Curtis Ingvodlstad, from Nerstrand, Minnesota, has created a log sculpture near the Lake Bemidji shoreline behind Hobson Memorial Union on the Bemidji State University campus. The 17-foot-tall white pine log, which came from the trees removed from Chet Anderson Stadium during the 2013 turf renovation project, has been transformed to depict wildlife found in the water, land and air near campus.
Cypriot painter Angel Mihaylov makes U.S. debut in Bemidji State's Talley Gallery
Dec 9th,200913.44 Mb


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Brad Paisley On SNL Parody: 'It Was Awesome'
What did Brad Paisley think of the Saturday Night Live parody of his and LL Cool J's song "Accidental Racist" that aired this past weekend? Three words: "It was awesome." In an interview this morning with Lisa Dent and Ramblin' Ray of Chicago's US99.5, […]
Watch SNL Spoof 'Accidental Racist' With 'Brad Paisley' And 'LL Cool J'
After the real Brad Paisley and LL Cool J made the rounds of talk shows all last week, speaking about their new collaborative song "Accidental Racist," it figures that Saturday Night Live would get in on the action, too. And sure enough, this past weekend, SNL included a skit about the […]
Should Blake Shelton host 'Saturday Night Live'?
He and many others are being suggested as both host and musical guest for the late night show.
SNL Spoofs Scotty McCreery In "Christmas Duets" [Video]
[photogallerylink id=87916 align=right] Michael Buble was part of a hilarious skit on SNL for his new album, "Christmas Duets"! The video pokes fun at some of this year's hottest stars, including Taylor Swift and Scotty […]
Lady A To Appear On Saturday Night Live
[photogallerylink id=62804 align=right] Lady A is set to make their 'Saturday Night Live' debut on the October 1 episode. Hosting the show will be Melissa MCarthy of 'Mike and Molly' and 'Bridesmaids' fame.
Gwyneth Paltrow Plays Taylor Swift
When you just break into a business, you should sorta mind your P's and Q's. Well, seems like Gwyneth Paltrow is living by the prison mentality; take a shot at one of the biggest and […]
Betty White "SNL" Skits
Betty White was the host of SNL this past Sat. If you want to see clips of the "SNL" skits there is a link on the next page.


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HSI is working to save more than 100 million animals from suffering and death in laboratories around the world.
Safety Testing and Health Research for the 21st Century
HSI's team of scientists and policy experts work across the globe to see outdated animal tests replaced with cutting-edge non-animal techniques. Join our End Animal Testing campaign to promote science without suffering and read our new report "Advancing Safety Science and Health Research with Innovative, Non-Animal Tools" to find out more about the technology revolution taking place in pharmaceutical and chemical safety testing.Learn More
Take Action Through Our Issues
Advancing Humane Science
Imagine a world where lab rats are replaced by lab robots, with high-tech computer models instead of lethal tests on animals. It's not science fiction—it's the new scientific mainstream. New tools
Be Cruelty-Free
From Europe to Brazil, Canada, India and beyond, our Be Cruelty-Free campaign is working to achieve a world where no animal has to suffer to test cosmetics. Take the pledge
Chemical & Product Testing
Nine out of every 10 new drugs that appear safe and effective in animals turn out to be unsafe or ineffective in people. Time for a change? Reducing requirements
Biomedical Research
Health research aims to discover the causes of human illnesses and to prevent or treat them, but the benefits of today's health research are becoming harder to see. Failure of animal models
About Animal Testing
Health research and safety testing still rely heavily on methods developed more than half a century ago, despite evidence that animal "models" are often poor predictors of real-world human responses. Get the FAQs here
Humane Scientists Blog
HSI Director of Research & Toxicology Troy Seidle writes about the latest in alternatives to animal testing.On HuffPost.com
Our campaigns have saved millions of animals by eliminating inhumane tests and advancing acceptance of alternatives. See our 2014 results See our 2013 results
Learn More
End Animal Testing News
December 1, 2014
Australian Senate Motion Against Cosmetics Animal Testing Welcomed by #BeCrueltyFree Campaigners
The Australian Senate passed a motion in support of ending cruel animal testing for cosmetics. The motion was drafted following discussions with #BeCrueltyFree Australia.
November 17, 2014
Singer Anna Coddington Urges Kiwis to Leave Cosmetics Cruelty on the Shelf this Christmas
New Zealand singer-songwriter Anna Coddington is the latest Kiwi star to join the #BeCrueltyFree campaign for a ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
November 17, 2014
"True Blood" Actress Kristin Bauer Urges Canadians to Leave Cosmetics Cruelty on the Shelf this Christmas
"True Blood" actress and animal advocate, Kristin Bauer van Straten, is urging Canadians to take a stand against animal testing for cosmetics by buying cruelty-free this holiday season. Kristin is supporting Animal Alliance of Canada and Humane Society International's #BeCrueltyFree campaign.
November 7, 2014
REACHing Beyond Animal Testing
HSI and HSUS scientists and policy experts are working behind-the-scenes, changing laws and regulations across the globe to replace decades-old animal tests with modern alternatives.One of HSI's top areas of focus has been on reforming Europe's chemicals law, known as REACH.


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Mon, Mar 30, 2009
Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration
downgraded Israel's aviation safety standard rating from Category
One to Category Two, putting it on the same level as Third World
The FAA assessment isn't a measure of airline safety - but is a
determination of whether civil aviation authorities meet
international safety standards. The move has significant
consequences for Israel's air carriers, tourism and economy, and
has spurred government officials to the matter in hand.
Last week, a report presented by a panel of experts to Israel's
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the country's
aviation safety rating, and provided recommendations to fix
problems that caused the downgrade, Haaretz reported.
"The panel understood that according to the director of the
Civil Aviation Authority Major General Giora Rom, allocating the
necessary resources will make it possible for Israel to restore its
rank to '1' in the U.S. [in terms of flight safety]," the report
The panel pointed out that "the steps that need to be undertaken
could have been concluded two to three years ago," and outlined
three major areas for improvement: quick legislation with high
priority for Law on Flight; additional budget allocations for the
Civil Aviation Authority; and approval for 10-15 more positions for
supervisors at the CAA.
"The lowering of the air-safety ranking makes it difficult for
Israeli airlines, which are prevented from adding more routes and
undermines their ability to establish joint ventures with foreign
airlines," the panel said.
Airborne 12.24.14: UAS America NPRM, YOUR Perfect Cub?, NYC Pol Wants To Ban UAVs
Airborne 12.22.14: More Pilots In Congress, NAHF Class Of '15, JetBlue Sisters Soar!
Airborne 12.19.14: Falcon 8X Unveiled, Sporty's 172LITE, Bizarre CA AvGas Lawsuit Settled
See All
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© 2007 - 2014 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC


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June 15th, 2000 Oregon Charity Event Breaks $1 Million Mark The Classic Wines Auction drew record-breaking proceeds in its 16th annual event benefiting Metropolitan Family Service, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income families, children and the elderly in Portland, Ore.
For the full article, check out the new issue of Wine Spectator, on newsstands June 15, 2000.
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Broker Support Technician
MW Appointments City of London£25000 - £27000 per annum + benefits
Our client is a leading international independent insurance broker specialising in emerging market risk. They offer clients a range of niche products such as specialist trade credit , investors and lenders protection and political risks cover. They are seeking to hire a technical assistant to join a central technical support hub which offers technical and administrative support to the various broking divisions. This is an internal facing role, working closely with account executives, technicians, brokers, accounts and compliance colleagues. You will be responsible for collating risk data, assist with creating placing presentations for underwriters, creating MRC market documents, logging client information, updating XL spreadsheets, work with Xchanging and carry out other ad hoc duties. Candidates MUST have a working knowledge of the documentation and processes for placing risks into the Lloyds/London insurance market. Attention to detail, effective written & verbal communication skills and strong/advanced XL spreadsheet skills are all essential. This is a progressive role and would suit someone looking to develop their career who wishes to expand their skills and knowledge through training and support. Ref: 1202-64MW Appointments is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
- Posted
- 13 April 2012
- Closes
- 20 April 2012
- Ref
- 1202-64
- Contact
- MW Appointments
- Job Function
- Broking, Insurance Broker
About MW Appointments
MW Appointments was founded in 1992 by Michelle Wagner FREC. We specialise in all aspects of Insurance and Reinsurance Recruitment providing a first class solution for clients and candidates alike.
More jobs like this


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When his priceless Chewbacca costume from Star Wars is stolen, Molly's (Erin Richards) uncle Peter Mayhew turns to Contra to get it back. And though Oz (Christian Slater) plans to use the hefty reward to buy his company back from OCP, he still finds himself relying on Veronica (Megan Mullally) for help.
As Oz (Christian Slater) squares off in a fight to the finish with his longtime nemesis Henry Shaw (guest star Samm Levine), Cameron's (Bret Harrison) marriage to Molly (Erin Richards) is threatened by the unexpected return of his ex-girlfriend and Contra's lock-picking expert, Melanie (Odette Annable).
After she's banned from Contra's boys' night out, Veronica (Megan Mullally) rallies the women for their own night on the town. But as Cameron (Bret Harrison) worries about being the subject of the girls' gossip, the disappearance of a prized trophy forces Contra's men and women to join forces to find it.
Veronica (Megan Mullally) believes her career is in jeopardy when longtime corporate rival Heather O'Brien (guest star Perrey Reeves) decides to give Contra a makeover. Hoping to woo Heather's lovely assistant, Cameron (Bret Harrison) tries to make his phony green card marriage to Molly (Erin Richards) appear legitimate.
As Veronica (Megan Mullally) moves to take over Contra, Oz (Christian Slater) resists her efforts to transform the company into a bland corporate subsidiary as he tries to retain the loyalty of his staff.
When her visa expires, Molly's (Erin Richards) imminent deportation leads her into a sham marriage with Cameron (Bret Harrison). Meanwhile, Oz (Christian Slater) discovers that he is still married to his ex-wife Amy (guest star Alyssa Milano).
As Veronica (Megan Mullally) dupes Cameron (Bret Harrison) into being her date for a wedding, Oz (Christian Slater) plots to help Cash (Alphonso McAuley) land a date with Molly (Erin Richards).
Losing a new account to his former protégé (guest star Samm Levine) forces Oz (Christian Slater) to admit that he's been harboring a costly secret. Meanwhile, Cameron (Bret Harrison) looks to break Cash (Alphonso McAuley) of his online auction habit.
After Veronica's careless office behavior threatens to undermine Oz's authority, Oz retaliates by turning Veronica's assistant (Molly) against her through a series of CIA-level deprogramming steps. However, the plan goes horribly wrong when Molly develops a crush on Oz, forcing him to enlist Cash as his "Cyrano De Nerdgerac" to repel the smitten Molly.
Oz's (Christian Slater) plan to cover up an embezzlement scheme inside of Contra backfires when co-conspirator Cash (Alphonso McAuley) decides to turn an imaginary employee into Indiana Jones. Meanwhile, Veronica's (Megan Mullally) employee roast manages to turn the whole office against Cameron (Bret Harrison).
As a new case brings them face to face with a crafty 14-year-old computer hacker, Veronica (Megan Mullally) and Oz (Christian Slater) are at odds over how to handle the youthful offender. Meanwhile, Cameron (Bret Harrison) and Melanie (Odette Annable) struggle with their feelings for each other.
With the company hitting financial hard times, Veronica (Megan Mullally) orders Oz (Christian Slater) to turn down a pro bono Maxim lingerie party assignment and focus on getting clients who can pay.
As Cameron (Bret Harrison), Cash (Alphonso McAuley) and Melanie (Odette Annable) look to prank their ditzy new receptionist (Megan Mullally), they discover that Oz (Christian Slater) is secretly negotiating to sell Contra Security.
Following Oz's (Christian Slater) orders to work for Mike Tyson, Cameron (Bret Harrison) enlists his Contra Security co-workers to help a geeky teenager who is being bullied by a high school classmate. Upon arriving at school, Cameron finds an old friend of his working there, too.
When their bickering causes them to fail at an important assignment, Oz (Christian Slater) orders a team-building exercise that strands everyone inside the office. But as they work to escape, Cameron (Bret Harrison) struggles with the news that Melanie (Odette Annable) is moving in with her boyfriend, Dutch (Michael Rosenbaum).
When a film studio looks to secure its copy of a legendary cult film prior to a screening at the Comic Con convention, they turn to Contra Security. As Oz (Christian Slater) stays behind to indulge his latest videogame obsession, Cameron (Bret Harrison), Cash (Alphonso McAuley) and the rest of the team join forces to keep the movie out of the hands of its crazed fans.
Working at Contra Security is anything but a typical office experience. The Contra team is led be a larger-than-life man of mystery and master of manipulation, OZ (Christian Slater). Then there's Oz's go-to guy, Cameron Price (Bret Harrison), the team's computer hacker and cyber cracker. Cameron's best buddy in the office is CASH SPARKS (Alphonso McAuley), a fanboy who specializes in gadgets, logistics and office pranks that only a geek mastermind could think up. But what happens when the company is bought out by a stuffy, multi-billion dollar, global corporation, and these high-IQ oddballs are suddenly forced to play by the rules? Contra Security has always been a hip, exciting place to work. One thing's for sure: OZ is going to have a hard time taking orders - especially from their calculating new boss VERONICA MANN (Emmy Award winner Megan Mullally). Yep, that's right. The Contra mavericks are now working for the "Mann." Veronica is sassy and brassy, but a joy to work for... as long as you do exactly what she wants.
"Contra Security, corporate America's answer to ""The A-Team,"" gives clients a sense of security by first ripping it away. The firm is led by OZ (Christian Slater), a larger-than-life head honcho who is a man of mystery and master of manipulation. The members of the odd squad include alluring bad girl MELANIE (Odette Yustman), who is in charge of lock-picking, safe-cracking and heart-breaking; and CASH (Alphonso McAuley), a fanboy who specializes in strategy, logistics and office pranks only a mad genius could think up.
Oz's newest recruit, plucked right out of college, is lovable and charming computer hacker CAMERON PRICE (Bret Harrison). Unfortunately for Cameron, cracking into state-of-the-art security systems is a lot easier than dealing with his co-workers. Between Melanie's sex appeal and Cash's hazing, Cameron has more than a few obstacles to overcome if he wants to cement his status as part of the team and become Oz's go-to guy."
Watch a Sneak Peek of Fox's Breaking In, starring Christian Slater, Bret Harrison, Odette Annable, Alphonso McAuley.
10 things you don't know about Erin Richards.
Download the TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and Android!


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20 Video Game Easter Eggs and Where to Find Them20 Video Game Easter Eggs and Where to Find Them
Egg Hunting
The tradition of the Easter Egg hunt where children search for decorated or candy eggs hidden throughout the house or garden has long ago made the leap from meatspace to cyberspace, with many game developers working in little "Easter Eggs" throughout their works. These include allusions to pop culture, favorite works, previews of future games, and running gags across entire series. Here are a few of our favorites, and feel free to add your own in the comments section below!
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Peter Schiff
and Jim Rogers agree that inflation is coming and the place to invest
is in gold and commodities. Schiff feels that the dollar is going
to continue to get weaker which will only strengthen the value of
commodities. In a recent interview with CNBC Schiff said, "I
don't know when [the dollar] is going to strengthen. The dollar
isn't the new yen, it's unfortunately the new peso."
Rogers agrees as he told CNBC, "The true inflation rate in
America? It's certainly at least 6 or 7 percent, the US government
lies about it, as you know, everybody who shops knows that prices
are up, everybody except the US government, and I wish we knew where
they shopped so we can shop there too and get good prices."
Schiff and
Rogers agree that we are still very early in this bull market for
gold. The price of gold bottomed in 2001 at around $225 an ounce.
Gold currently trades at over $1000 an ounce and many gold bull
investors feel there is much upside potential. Schiff actually said
that he sees gold reaching $5000 an ounce in the future.
5, 2009


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Daniel Markham's Pretty Bitchin'
By Kelly Dearmore
Americans Under 30 the Most Cynical Bunch Ever
By Jim Schutze
13 of the Best Female-Fronted Bands in DFW
By Rachel Watts
Your Baseball Season Guide to Pre- and Post-Game Eats...
By Lauren Drewes Daniels
The Bizarre Life and Troubling Death of DarkSide
By Anna Merlan
The Ten Most Badass Band Names in DFW
By Lee Escobedo
The Cheap Bastard Guide to Dallas
By Alice Laussade
A.A. Bondy is well into his second act as a musician after the dissolution of his band, Verbena. That Alabama outfit released one of the best unsung albums of the '90s, 1997's Dave Fridmann-produced Souls For Sale (Merge), full of delicious boy/girl harmonies and Sticky Fingers-era Stonesy country-rock swagger. They went out with a whimper rather than a bang after two under-promoted Capitol Records releases. Bondy sold all his equipment, gave up music and moved to upstate New York. But as fate would have it, he married Clare Felice around the time her brothers were launching their own careers, prompting Bondy to restart his.
2548 Elm St.
Dallas, TX 75226-1420
Category: Bars and Clubs
Region: Downtown & Deep Ellum
"Some of what they were doing rubbed off on me in terms of they don't give a fuck. They only do what they want to do," Bondy says. His solo debut, 2007's American Hearts, explored minimalist folk-blues. The 2009 follow-up When the Devil's Loose embraces a band setting, though it's still pretty austere. Nonetheless the album is more fleshed out, its foreboding melancholia and stories of lives in transit dovetailing with the collapse of Bondy's marriage. His new album, Believers, retains the loping pace and late-night longing, but the mood's more spectral and dreamy, supported by supple organ peals and a sense of resigned acceptance.
Sponsor Content


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Dana Abbott is an outstanding coach and leader in high school swimming not only in his state of
Texas but throughout the nation. He has been a role-model for the thousands of high school swimmers
he has coached since 1971 and an inspiration for the hundreds of coaches who have attended his clinics
and lectures. He has been a Texas State Coach of theYear three times and District/Regional Coach
numerous times. With 25 years as Head Coach of Katy High School and two years at Pope John
XXIII, he has developed numerous swimming, diving and academic All-Americans, but Dana's contribution
to high school swimming goes beyond his love of working with the students. He is a leader
in the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) having served on the national
level as Marketing Director, President and President Elect. He will soon assume the President's position for a second
time, the first time in the 75 year history of the organization that has occurred. His leadership has helped to increase the
organization's financial sponsorship. He co-authored the NISCA Constitution and By-Law Revisions. As a member of
TISCA, he is the only person to hold all the four elected offices in Texas.As a clinician, Dana has spoken in over seven
states in the nation and his writings have been published in the NISCAJournal, SwimmingWorld Magazine and Swim-
Info.com. He was a contributor to the joint ASCA/NISCA/USA Swimming treatise on mutual cooperation of competitive
swimming programs.


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Narrow your search
Here are seven things we could see from Apple in the coming year, ranging from services to new, bigger iPads.
Samsung's back with a new smart fridge -- is it any better than their first one?
If you're looking for a reliable, no-frills electric range with a fashionably modern look, this Whirlpool fits the bill.
Toyota brings back the spirit of the Supra and its racing heritage with the FT-1 concept, which unfortunately won't be produced but you can drive it in the new Gran Turismo game.
At the 2014 Detroit auto show, Toyota unveiled its FT-1 concept car, which signals a return to dramatic design.
Toyota unveiled its FT-1 concept car at the 2014 Detroit auto show, marking a sea change in its styling.
The 20-inch monitor's low price is a good deal, if you don't mind its low resolution.
While we love the idea of greater connectivity with our kitchen appliances, this LG oven doesn't deliver enough in cooking prowess or connectivity to merit a strong recommendation.
We've seen other high-power, high-capacity cookers that cost a lot less. Reheating almost anything at the touch of a button is a tempting feature, but unless you think you'd use it often, you'll probably want something less expensive.
Take a spin with this mega-sized microwave.