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Today's morning stretch break featured guest star A.J. Nelson. A.J. is an elite triathlete, who qualified this year for both the World and National Championships. We caught him coming from his first Pilates class at Yogaworks Soho, and he was shocked...
"She crushed me!" he said. "I'm can ride a bike for five hours at 21 miles per hour, and I couldn't do half the exercises. She was laughing at me!"
Love that. A.J. had his mind blown, and can't wait to go back. He's hopeful that three Pilates classes a week, plus two yoga classes will make him more flexible and help ward off injuries. Of course, this means adding six more hours of exercise to his already packed workout schedule.
"How many hours do you work out each week?" asked von Hottie, while leaning gently on his muscular shoulder.
"Well, if you count the new stuff, I'm probably up to 26 hours a week."
Wow. OK, so we're not all elite triathletes, but if A.J. can manage 26 hours of exercise while holding down a real job, the rest of us can manage to eek out at least 4 or five hours, no?
More on A.J. here:
Personal Goals


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When Henry Grant and Darielle Davis were high school seniors in 2006-07, we wrote about their college aspirations. Grant, then an Oakland High School student and All-City Council president, was looking at private, out-of-state colleges. Davis, valedictorian of EXCEL High School in West Oakland, was headed for UC Berkeley.
This spring, we learned they were about to graduate from college. We caught up with them to hear about their college experiences. They told us how they kept going, despite unexpected, life-changing events, and how they found college-level work. (Both said writing was a major challenge at first.)

subset: commoncrawl


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Tunis — The National Constituent Assembly (NCA), Monday, closed the general debate on the chapter entitled "legislative power, executive powers and relationships among them," in the preliminary draft of the constitution.
This chapter would determine the nature of the political regime in the new Constitution.
President of the commission on legislative power, executive power and relationships among them Amor Chetoui said NCA members have made 366 amending proposals in the preliminary draft of the constitution which will be taken into account in the constitution drafting commissions.
Major observations made by NCA members involve, particularly, constitutionalisation of the rights of the opposition and the independence of the central bank, he said.
Some deputies advocated a parliamentary regime while there was consensus in the commission around the mixed regime including positive aspects of both parliamentary and presidential regimes, he noted.


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I"m looking for a phone that has a working NFC.
I went to the detailed pages and I saw that the I727 Skyrocket has 'NFC' in the description but the I777 does not.
If someone can confirm I727 does have NFC enabled I'll buy it now. Can someone?
There was no mention of NFC with the I777 but there was with the Skyrocket. This is cut and pasted.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket has a beautiful 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display along with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, an NFC chip, and support for AT&T's LTE network
©2013 AT&T Intellectual Property.All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.


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Materials remind tobacco retailers that, if a consumer appears to be less than 27 years of age, they must ask for photo I.D. Retailers may not sell any tobacco products to customers who are younger than 18 years of age.
Materials are offered free of charge at www.maclearinghouse.com.
- Manager's Guide to Training Employees
- Factsheets for Training
- Pre-Post Test for Training
- Pre-Post Test Answer Key
This information is provided by the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Program within the Department of Public Health.


text:
Out of Stock
© 2015 Replacements, Ltd. All rights reserved.
With Our "Find This For Me" Service we notify you via email once we have stock!
Piece Code: G
Piece Name: Water Goblet
© 2015 Replacements, Ltd. All rights reserved
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Piece Name: Wine Glass
Piece Code: MAR
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Piece Code: CS
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Piece Name: Lid for Cocktail Shaker


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Looking for an authentic taste of New York Deli style food? Look no further than Naked Lunch NYC.
We are a small deli in Newbury giving everyone a taste of the Big Apple without having to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to get your taste buds satisfied.
Open from the crack of dawn to the early evening, we are the only place you should be visiting if you wants bagels for breakfast, sub style sandwiches for lunch, and a proper slice of pizza for dinner.
Open 7 days a week, we make sure you always have the chance to eat like you would in the city that never sleeps.
Take a look at our menu, gallery and what customers have to say about our food.


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Dr Oz: Sleep Apnea vs Snoring
Dr Oz did a segment on the difference between Sleep Apnea and Snoring, which is something that could save you or your partner's life! Doctor Oz also showed the latest Sleep Apnea At-Home Test called the Ares Sleep Apnea Test. A lady named Mabel joined Dr Oz because she said that she gets woken up all night long by her husband's snoring. She is so tired everyday from a lack of sleep due to the snoring, and she often goes to sleep on the couch. She has tried everything, even shaking him and waking him up, but nothing ever seems to help.
Dr Oz: What is Sleep Apnea?
Dr Oz said that when Mabel's husband, Mike, goes to sleep, his tongue hits against the back of his throat and vibrates, which causes the snoring sound as he tries to suck air in through his mouth and nose. The bigger problem happens when your tongue gets stuck in the back of the throat though. When you have Sleep Apnea, your tongue actually blocks off your airway and eventually you get to the point where you cannot move air anymore and you basically begin to suffocate. Mabel said that when Mike is not snoring, she shakes him to make sure that he is alive, so it sounds like he quite possibly could have Sleep Apnea.
Dr Oz: Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Doctor Oz asked Mabel which of the following three is the most important Sleep Apnea Symptom to look for:
1. Snoring loud enough to wake you up?
2. Breathing disrupted during sleep?
3. Excessively tired during the day?
The answer is that the most important Sleep Apnea Symptom to look for is #2 – breathing disrupted during sleep. When your tongue collapses, your breathing stops and you often wake-up, so it is one of the earliest signs that we can use to diagnose ourselves.
Dr Oz: Ares At-Home Sleep Apnea Test
Dr Oz said that the Ares Sleep Apnea Test is a new device that costs around $200 and you can use it at home to figure out if you really have Sleep Apnea or not. The best thing about the Ares Test is that you do not have to go to a Sleep Clinic and you can do it in the comfort of your own home. Sleep Apnea causes Cardiovascular problems, makes you more likely to have a stroke, and increases your risk of High Blood Pressure by 3-fold. So if you suspect that you have Sleep Apnea, you should seriously consider getting tested. Doctor Oz also said that obesity is the number one reason that you have Sleep Apnea, so dealing with Sleep Apnea and losing weight tend to go hand-in-hand.


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I cut out New Year's resolutions a few years ago after making too many unfulfilled promises to myself and feeling bad about it. I'm not knocking them if you're a fan, I'm just no good with such a big weight on my shoulders. (I'll lose 50 lbs. I'll . I'll single-handedly be responsible for world peace.)
I'm more of a believer that instead of resolving to do something, we should try to make smaller life decisions that are part of our day to day existences. I plan on trying to drink more water, keeping in closer touch with friends and family and starting to landscape around my house. Easy enough because I know they're all possible without too much trouble. What are your goals for 2010?
And because I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks, some of my favorite posts that have graced my reader recently:
+ DIY Origami Box Ornaments with a great step-by-step tutorial :: Creature Comforts
+ Super cute free holiday tags, perfect for a homemade goodie gift! :: Creature Comforts
+ A bevy of holiday packaging freebies :: Benign Objects
+ A clever free printable holiday card :: Creature Comforts
+ Sad I didn't see these really well designed desktop wallpapers sooner! Downloaded for next year :: Nien Studios
+ A great Christmas mix of songs both new and old :: m.writes
+ And a fantastic mixcast full of indie Christmas tunes, too :: kitsune noir
+ Pretty red and aqua holiday downloads :: Eat. Drink. Chic.
+ Loving these type-centric gift tags :: Wiley Valentine
+ And these gift tags :: Creature Comforts
+ And these tags and labels :: Creature Comforts
+ And these gift tags, too! :: heysusy
+ Did you see Livy's gorgeous vintage village that she made? :: A Field Journal
+ 12 Days of Christmas boxes for you to fill with goodies :: The Dieline
+ Insta-gift: print these free recipe cards and labels :: mstetson design
+ I'll be busy printing out this 2010 calendar this weekend! :: poppytalk
+ And this one :: redblackbrown
+ I can hardly believe this printable pocket calendar is f-r-e-e! :: Creature Comforts
Happy Weekend + Best Wishes in 2010!
Melissa Y. Allam
I used to hate the resolutions too, but started to just make lists or goals in the past 2 years and look back in the New Year to see what I need to carry over. It can be a never ending list to carry over, but I do know that I at least accomplish a few things. I'm more about realistic goals too. I have few goals for 2010, but I have settled on all the details yet. I hope to do that next week. Happy New Year to you!
01-01-10 » 12:20 am »
internet therapy
I agree. Day to day changes that you can incorporate seem like much more of an achievable goal that these idealistic dreams we have come Jan. 1. Happy New Year to you and may 2010 bring you much happiness and success!
01-01-10 » 2:45 am »
abby try again
Happy New Year, dear!
In 2010 I plan on taking life less seriously and laughing more. Cheers to you
01-01-10 » 7:02 pm »
Agent AKA
I am not a fan of resolutions either. I like just setting small daily or weekly goals. but some seemingly little goals like mine: stay organized. It will be a nightmare to complete.
I love all the creature comfort stuff on this post. Their stuff is sooo cute.
01-01-10 » 7:21 pm »
I made only one resolution this year: quit complaining about high class problems.
Happy New Year!
01-01-10 » 8:55 pm »
lots of great posts! happy new year to you!
01-03-10 » 3:40 am »
A big one for me is to try to be more patient with people.
01-03-10 » 9:09 am »
Make, Do & Send
I realised today that I need to sloooow down and get more organised so I'm not always rushing around in a panic at the last minute! I think this is a goal I should tackle this year
01-04-10 » 9:40 pm »
Make, Do & Send
I realised today that I need to sloooow down and get more organised so I'm not always rushing around in a panic at the last minute! I think this is a goal I should tackle this year
01-04-10 » 9:40 pm »
I am saving this post and coming back to it again.. to enjoy the great posts and the free stuff here.. What a wonderful New Year Gift!!.. I love your blog.. Have been looking for a fresh breather for soometime n i think i have got one now.. really enjoyed..
01-11-10 » 9:21 pm »


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Hello all
I've a last minute place for the RPF Ultra. I'm running Berlin which is 2 weeks before so going to take this steady. Has anyone done this one before??
Great race report James and you smashed sub-4 on your first mara - impressive stuff. The congestion of Paris puts me off. Would you do it again?
Have to say this forum has helped me achieve my target. Kept me on target and inspired. Thanks James and all.
I enjoyed Manchester. Pretty flat, good support in places, perfect temp for running. I was ready for the isolated bits at 19 miles to 21/22 miles. Beyond 22 miles my legs did get heavy but it was bearable. There was a great sign from 2 people saying 'pain is temporary, chip times are forever'. Definitely spurred me on. I was trying to encourage the walker in the final mile to get running again - someone thanked me afterwards as they jogged again.
As Andy said we saw each other at the finish. Not sure I was as fresh as he thought I was! Really enjoyed the finish though. I was sprinting in with a girl just ahead of me. I turned to look at her to say well done, and she turned out to be from my running club! Never spoken to her before so nice to have a little chat.
So, as James said, has anyone got anymore races planned? I'm doing the Nike 'we own the night' 10km in Viccy Park (where my running club trains). Also got Berlin marathon booked in September. I really, really want to do London and New York over the next couple of years too.
Great running all
very well done malcs for achieveing your aim. for those of you doing London I'm helping with bags on the lorries in the morning. Will probably wear my pink hat so if you see me, give me a holla!
All, just to say well done us all for getting this far. Have fantastic runs at the weekend. I'm well jel of James C and Sophie in Paris, Manchester just isn't so glamorous! I'm excited and nervous at the same time, but know that I've got a solid 16 weeks of training in the bag to call on and I'm streets ahead training wise compared to last year's mara attempt. Can't wait to hear how you all get on!
Well done on your 4milers James C and Sophie. I did a session on the treadmill this morning (my only one in 16 weeks).
Reiki, would love to see your list!
JamesLinney - I have the same plan for Manc as you! Also off the booze this week (ended up having an impromptu all-day drinking on Saturday, love the Summery weather). Being off the booze made a lot harder by the fact my boyf got really good job news, ah well, we've got Sunday afternoon for a few celebratory drinks I'm sure!
James C - yay to positive attitude. Got my number through from Manc yesterday - makes it seem a lot more real!
Ooh reikirabbit I'm doing Spitfire. Thanks for the tips on the hills. May follow your pacing lead, unless you want to plod around together?? Apparently they do good bacon sarnies.
Visit the official Runner's World page
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*This part replaces obsolete part #: 2615302213 and 529430970.
If the tool is not used for a long period of time it can become brittle and break.
We do send out quite a few of these, it may be wise to order an extra one just to have one on hand.
This part is compatible with the following machines:


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Do you know how RT works? It's very different from other ratatings, it's just a percentage of critics who were satisfied with the movie. It you see 9.5 on IMDb, yeah, likely it's a masterpiece or something really great. But 95% of RT means nothing but the odd what it's likely to be a good movie, satisfy you. Nothing more.
Rating, expectations, and experiments
Last night I watched Snowpiercer. I'd heard good things about it online, I like to support simultaneous releases on iTunes, and it had a whopping 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I was hugely disappointed. It wasn't a terrible movie. It wasn't a great movie either. But that 95% had set such an expectation for me that when I watched it, the massive flaws made it so much worse, perceptively, that if I'd gone in thinking it was a 40% to 60% movie. I watch all sorts of silly sci-fi, and enjoy it. I just go into it expecting silly sci-fi. How the rating influenced by perception and enjoyment of the film got me thinking. How do we rate things on iMore, and how can we do it better?
Ratings systems are something almost every organization that reviews almost anything has to figure out. (Even if that figuring leads to them not using a ratings system at all.) There are different systems and pros and cons to each, as well at to using one or not.
By way of another example, I recently tried out a game that I didn't like. I found the first run experience and the design to be less than good. Georgia really liked the gameplay, however, and Chris the community. We all cared about different things. How do you account for that?
5-star scales are common. iTunes uses them. Amazon uses them. Each star can either be whole, allowing for a 5-point spread (0 to 100% in increments of 20), or halved, allowing for a 10-point spread (0 to 100% in increments of 10). They also allow for relative measure. A 4-star app is better than a 3-star app, for example. They're not so good at qualifying those measures. Why is the 4-star app better?
Thumbs up vs. thumbs down — recommended vs. not recommended — are also common. Instead of a lack of positives, they actually highlight negatives as well (-100% to +100% with potentially 0 in the middle). You can easily tell if some apps are good and other bad, but they any relative measures. You can't tell how good or bad they are compared to other apps.
Sometimes elements of both are combined, and you get a recommendation scale. For example, must avoid, not recommended, recommended, must have.
All of them can suffer from similar problems. Should 1-star or 2-star, or non-recommended apps be reviewed at all? What's the real difference between a 3-star and 4-star or recommended and must-have app, beyond the personal opinion of the reviewer?
What happens if you rate an app 5-stars and a better app comes along? If that app gets better? What happens if part of an app are great and others... not so much.
Most of all, how do you overcome the lack of nuance and specificity that, while making ratings highly glance-able, also make them incredibly shallow.
One of the things I've been thinking about it to tie ratings to specific criteria. It dawned on me during Apple's user experience evangelist Mike Stern's talk on Designing Intuitive User Interfaces at WWDC 2013 that a lot of ideals set for developers and designers could be used as measures for the resulting apps.
For example, how usable is an app? How simple, clear and intuitive are the navigation and controls? How useful is it? Are the features well defined, focused, and implemented? How well designed is it? Is the interface attractive and the interactions enjoyable? How accessible is it? Can it be used by as wide a range of people as possible?
I've not yet finished thinking it through, and there's a lot still to consider, weight, and figure out how to map to ratings, but I think it could ultimately lead to something that provides really glance-able information that's backed by solid criteria. Especially if that criteria is elaborated upon in the review that includes the rating, then it lets everyone know not only relative measures and like or dislike, but areas where apps excel and where they don't. The information density increases, the precision increases, and hopefully the value increases.
So, here's where I ask for all of your help. What ratings systems do you like most? What provides you with the most value? What would you like to see on iMore?
Assorted other stuff:
- I also saw Guardians of the Galaxy, which is at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. I find that score equally ridiculous, but I also enjoyed the hell out of it. It wasn't transcendent by any means, but it was a ton of fun.
- Here's some more of Rotten Tomatoes at the movies: Star Wars at 92%, The Matrix at 87%, The Avengers at 92%, the Godfather at 100%, and so on.
- Guy English had some smart follow up to our recent Debug podcast with Marco Arment of Overcast and he posted on [Kickinbear] (http://kickingbear.com/blog/archives/464)
- Speaking of smart stuff, read Ben Thompson's piece on the app business being a business.
- Our friends Cali Lewis and John P. opened their new Geek House over the weekend. Huge congrats to both of them. Phil Nickinson went to celebrate along with them on our behalf.
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!
Reader comments
Rating, expectations, and experiments
Yes, I know how RT works. 95% fresh is a fairly high satisfaction rate. Tremendous implications come along with that, especially for a sci-fi movie. i.e. through story and acting it did the job it was hired to do for almost all critics.
That's tough to reconcile with this film.
Anyone who doesn't see that Snowpiercer is pure shite and not actually science-fiction (which requires believability by definition), is a fool or someone who knows little about literature, history and indeed, science-fiction.
I found the discussion of star systems interesting though in that they are all (to me) fatally flawed in that they DON'T actually go from "0% to 100%." It is rare that a star system is ever used that allows the user to rate the movie (use the system), and yet give the movie zero stars. So every single rating of a movie that the user does is actually enforced positivity (you must give it at least one star), and there is no way to actually register a negative reaction to a movie.
In other words a seriously flawed and "gamed" system from the very start, every time.
The actual spread of 5 stars is commonly smaller than it seems, as most systems do not allow for zero stars at all.
A rating must be valid when it is made, worrying about giving 5 stars and a future app being better will lead to not rating or writing anything at all.
Your misinterpretation of RT brings up a good point though: it should be obvious for the reader what the ratings mean. 1 through 5 means nothing.
We do use the 5 star rating for reviews in our corporate portal and have provided the following legend: 1 - Can't be used for the purpose advertised, 2 - Performs advertised functions, but has stability or usability issues, 3 - Does everything as advertised, 4 - Better than 3 by performing ahead of expectations in one discipline (functionality, usability, design, workflow support), 5 - Better than 3 by performing ahead of expectations in more than one discipline.
Obviously, this approach is targeting productivity apps, the same decode would not work well for games. But it provides a very clear guideline for reviewers and readers, guaranteeing that ratings convey a consistent meaning.
I would not try to compare movie (book, album, TV show) review approaches with software reviews though. Even if Hollywood claims otherwise, there is no universal criteria for a good movie. Art can only be rated against its own claims/goals, and even that is subjective.
I understand RT just fine thanks :)
That's not a bad star rating legend.
Things like interface, interactivity, etc. are personal even on apps, as are the way functions are implemented (Twitterrific vs. Tweetbot is a classic example) so I'm not sure there can be purely objective ratings for apps either.
Same experience here. Figured the studio was maybe trying to test a new delivery style and give a good movie at the same time. It was reminiscent of Waterworld. Stuck on a train. Lol
I like the systems which incorporate a number of different levels in the ratings. For example the iTunes store or Amazon which have the 1 to 5 star rating, then the reviews that customers have left and finally the yes/no on whether the review was helpful. I feel that by combining the different levels I get a reasonable picture of whats being reviewed.
I find the biggest problem with any rating systems at the moment is the pressure being placed on the reviewers to give a 5 star (or equivalent). The number of app developers which want a 5 star review because it affects their lively hood, or my local car dealership which wants at least a 9/10 review after they service my car because "anything lower reflects poorly on them". Instead of having a system which reflects whether a person likes or dislikes the product or service we end up with skewed result which is meaningless and in some cases can be misleading.
What the solution is I don't know, for the time being I just rely on the reviews that other people find most useful.
Exactly. The app store rating system is fast becoming synonymous with the type of thing eBay does wherein everyone is basically forced (and threatened with expulsion if they don't comply) to ALWAYS give everyone five stars (unless you had a serious problem). The only allowable exceptions are if you can prove that something horrible happened, then they will allow you to make it three or four stars.
Any rating system that doesn't allow for negative ratings (or even average ratings), is a gigantic FAIL and irrelevance just waiting to happen. Because the money is made off of the rating, the only pressure on ratings is for them to always be positive and to go up and up and up. It's already the case on the app store, that negative ratings and intelligent, reasoned reviews are marginalised at best. Smothered, and drowning in a sea of irrelevant positivity that tells the user nothing about the product, and is unable to weed out the bad product.
Take Sharknado, Sharknado 2 and the upcoming Sharknado 3 - schlock but will get high ratings for enjoyment factors even though Sharknadoes are improbable. Take a look at the Original Unedited Star Wars Trilogy, there are clear flaws that you can see (see-through speeder console "Empire Strikes Back", but people enjoy it.
Wait, they are making a 3rd sharknado? WTF?!?! One was bad enough.
You might want to look at my series of articles on the design of rating systems starting at http://www.lifewithalacrity.com/2005/12/collective_choi.html — a lot of analysis about what makes a good rating system, why 5 star rating systems have problems, and a variety of other issues. In subsequent articles in this series we implemented some of our own research and ended up with a rating system with measurably better results.


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Sackett Earns Conference Honors
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Freshman outside hitter Hannah Sackett has been named Big 12 Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, the conference office announced today.
Sackett becomes the fourth student-athlete since the Rookie award was established in 2008 to earn both the Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week honor in the same week. The feat was accomplished three times in 2011.
The Somers, Mont., native claimed the MVP of the Mountaineer Invitational after posting 54 kills, 4.91 kills per set, a .371 hitting percentage, six service aces and 23 digs over three matches last weekend. After the opening weekend of play, she leads the Big 12 in kills and kills per set. WVU has not had a player average more than 2.93 kills per set since 2007. She totaled 62.5 points on the weekend and also ranks in the league top-10 in hitting percentage and service aces. As a team, WVU recorded a match and season-high 100 digs in the match.
The Mountaineers will host their first Big 12 opponent, the No.2-ranked Texas Longhorns, on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum. Texas will be the first Big 12 opponent to visit Morgantown since joining the league on July 1.
Football: KJ Dillon Preseason
Football: Tony Gibson Preseason
Football: Skyler Howard Preseason
Coach Dana Holgorsen
2015 Bob Huggins Fantasy Camp
Womens Soccer: Ashley Lawrence Goal vs. NL


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Take a nighttime tour of the sky, book a planetarium show or observatory visit. Kid-friendly, English-speaking options are available from north to south.
12 top Israeli bands to watch in 2015
Israel's vibrant music scene is pumping out originality and groove that's attracting attention worldwide. ISRAEL21c puts together a list of the best bands to watch.
TYP tops the dance charts
The Israeli electro-pop sensation The Young Professionals is being buzzed as one of the most exciting new acts to hit the music scene.
Israel's Tamir Grinberg – the new Otis Redding
'My name is Tamir Grinberg, I'm 18, I'm from Tel Aviv, and I do music.' That may be the understatement of the year.
Sparkup Magical Book Reader
New Israeli tech toy takes kids away from screens and into books recorded by parents, grandparents or even themselves.
Oud players string together Arab and Jewish culture
Jerusalem's International Oud Festival marks its 14th year with songs and melodies from a cross-section of traditions.
NightRun Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv has a marathon too, but the NightRun gives a whole different vibe to the scene as thousands of runners hit the streets.
The top eight things to do in Israel on the eight days of Hanukkah
ISRAEL21c brings you eight awesome ideas for celebrating the Festival of Lights in Israel, where it all happened back in the year 165.
Dogs go wild on Tel Aviv's first ever four-legged marathon
Tel Aviv's first ever Doggie Run gets pet owners and their dogs out into the sunshine for a good workout and lots of fun.
WiShi has your (Halloween) style
Americans turn to hot new Israeli crowd-sourcing fashion platform for DIY Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry costumes.
Dances with kippah
Israel's all-male Ka'et Ensemble is a unique dance troupe of religious men who merge the worlds of spirituality and movement.


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The last line of The Myth of Sisyphus is, "One must imagine Sisyphus happy."
But for a while we were like Sisyphus pushing that rock up the mountain.
And a deal becomes possible only after all sides are exhausted—just like Sisyphus on the Hill.
King of Corinth, famed as "the craftiest of men," he was condemned in the afterlife to roll uphill a stone which perpetually rolls down again; Greek Sisyphos, a name of unknown origin. Liddell and Scott suggest a reduplication of syphos "the crafty" (with Aeolic -u- for -o-), but Klein calls this folk-etymology.
A king in classical mythology who offended Zeus and was punished in Hades by being forced to roll an enormous boulder to the top of a steep hill. Every time the boulder neared the top, it would roll back down, and Sisyphus would have to start over.
Note: A difficult and futile endeavor may be called a "labor of Sisyphus" or a "Sisyphean task."


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The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is wholly committed to the discovery and development of an effective treatment, and a cure, for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. To date, the ADDF has invested more than $70 million to fund over 450 drug research programs at academic centers and biotechnology companies in 18 countries.
Where We Fund
The ADDF is supporting some of the most promising and diverse research projects in the world. Currently, we are investing in researchers in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
What We Fund
The ADDF is focused on translating the knowledge we have gained about the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease into drugs. We fund programs in both academia and biotechnology companies worldwide, with priority funding in drug discovery and preclinical drug development, early detection, clinical trials and prevention.
What We've Accomplished
In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Amyvid™, the first-ever diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disesase, which was seed-funded by the ADDF. This successful technology is an important proof-of-concept for the ADDF model, showcasing how early financial support for high-risk projects can lead to and accelerate the development of innovative drugs and diagnostics in Alzheimer's.
The ADDF has also provided initial funding for a number of exciting drug discovery research initiatives that have advanced to the clinical trial phase.


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Attending college eight hours away was very unsettling at first. The thought of being away from family and friends was unnerving, but then I remembered, I had been prepared for this exact moment because of CHAMPS.
Denise J. Neely
YO! Baltimore Tutoring Project President
Johns Hopkins University, Public Health 2011
I am very much appreciative of the CHAMPS Program. A result of being in the program was that I learned how to be confident and self-aware. In school I was always very introverted. I never knew the other side to my personality until I met my fellow cohorts in the program. That in turn helped me with my social skills, as I learned how to communicate academically as well as casually. I met some lifelong friends through this program. Friends who hold me accountable in numerous facets of life including professionally and spiritually. I am thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of the CHAMPS program for so many years, and I pray I am able to contribute in the future.
Tiasha Jones
Becoming a mentor was a way for me to give back to the program and be a light to students within. Each year I learn more from them than ever. My relationships built with the students are the most important part of the program that I hold dearly. CHAMPS is a part of my life. I never forget the friendships, connections, life skills I have learned and made throughout my many years. CHAMPS is growing, and I will always keep it close to my heart.
Demario Watts
CHAMPS mentor and former student
Lots of "c" words jump out at me as I think about what CHAMPS means to me: community, college, courage, character, and many more. However, perhaps the most important "c" word that helps to define the program would be "challenge." It challenges everyone involved to be a better person. That is obvious when considering the students.
Doug Daniel
PC Math Professor


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Native American Heritage Exhibit Returns
Native American Heritage Exhibit Returns to Minnaert Center Gallery
South Puget Sound Community College welcomes back the Native American Heritage Art Exhibit for its second year on Sunday, April 4 at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery.
The exhibit returns as part of the second annual Native American Heritage Celebration at South Puget Sound, which is Saturday, April 17, also at the Minnaert Center. The Minnaert Center Gallery will display the exhibition, which runs through May 3. Gallery hours are Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. On April 17, the gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the celebration.
The exhibit features paintings, prints, jewelry, sculpture and other media from Native American artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, as submissions were accepted nationally.
The gallery exhibit, like all activities during the celebration, are open to the public and free. For more information about the Native American Heritage Celebration, contact Dave Rector, the Dean of Student Life at South Puget Sound, at (360) 596-5306. For questions about the gallery exhibition, contact the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts at (360) 596-5501.
ABOUT THE MINNAERT CENTER: The Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts, South Puget Sound Community College's signature building, houses a 500-seat main stage theater, the Black Box Theater, an art gallery and state-of-the-art music facilities. In addition, the building's classrooms for art labs and choral and instrumental music rehearsals offer home bases for the college's humanities and communication programs.


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Select the store nearest you to check available inventory* on item #: JRC7887
*We highly recommend that you call to verify the information shown above before visiting the store.
Economical stand made of chrome plated steel with anodized aluminum support rings.
Ace Mart™ is a registered trademark of Ace Mart Restaurant Supply Co.
© Ace Mart Restaurant Supply Co. All rights reserved.
Call Customer Service Toll Free: 1-888-898-8079 or
Email Us


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I recently purchased Framework 2.4.1 Developer and deployed, however, footer columns now don't show correctly as they show more than one column! In the Lite version they showed a single column correctly.
Website URL: ocrblogs.org.uk
Framework Version: 2.4.1
WordPress Version: 3.5.1
Plugins in Use: N/a
Server/Host: Self Hosted
Was something changed in the Framework build? I've looked through the documentation to see how to enable footers, and it should be correct.
Thanks in adavance.


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Learn how to notate music in Finale, the industry recognized music notation software, and create professional lead sheets, tablature, or orchestral scores.
Create music in real time, on stage, or while producing in the studio, with Ableton Live.
Shows how to notate musical scores that range from simple lead sheets and guitar tablature parts to detailed scores, bring them to life with instruments, and share them with an audience.
A comprehensive overview of Ableton's live audio and MIDI sequencing software and the techniques required to compose, record, and edit music.
"Since joining lynda.com, my technical skills and creativity have improved tremendously. Kudos for making learning fun." —Jim F.
more from our members »


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We are the Steven Cohen Team.
We are the Steven Cohen Team.
At the Steven Cohen Team, we provide expert insight, guidance and representation for discerning residential property buyers and sellers in Boston's South End neighborhood.
Watch this video to get a behind the scenes peek at our customer-centered approach and agile team structure, which keep us #1 on MLS in South End transactions year after year.
We've listed and sold real estate on every block in the South End. We'll start by developing a listing strategy tailored to your property.
Homes in the South End and surrounding neighborhoods are often bid on before they're even listed. Let us know your list of must-have features so we can keep our eye on new inventory for you. Contact us.
We work with landlords and tenants to place qualified residents in luxury apartments.
The South End is a dynamic urban neighborhood in Boston with a rich history and enormous charm. Residential real estate in the South End offers luxury lofts, beautiful brownstones and single-family homes nestled between Boston's best restaurants, independent shops and a vibrant art scene.
Some of our favorite resources for learning about the South End are:
Under the leadership of Steven Cohen, a veteran Boston real estate agent, our team is made up of buyer, seller, rental and transaction specialists.
Our agile team structure allows us to deliver superior service.
We put you, the client, at the center of our process to ensure the best-suited team member takes on whatever task is at hand.
That means you'll never have to work around one agent's schedule, and you'll always gain from our collective experience. We perform as a true team, resulting in the smoothest transaction possible.


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by Worthington Daily Globe
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May be the coolest thing ever….
- April 28th, 2011
- Posted in News
- By Jessica
- Write comment
I need a moment…and a towel. I'm overwhelmed… This is an add on for Call of Duty Black Ops that will be released at some point. And I….I just don't know what to do when Freddy, Buffy, Machete, and Rooker come together to fight zombies.
(thanks to Robb for the heads up)Tweet


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If you have started planning your garden theme for next year, you may be thinking about injecting a little extra something to it but aren't quite sure what. With all of our garden statues on sale right now, you can truly let your imagination go wild. One theme that you can work with that will surely not be replicated elsewhere on the block is the theme of the wild. Our animal garden statues will not only bring out the wild in you, but they are as adorable as they are fierce.
Who doesn't love an elephant? Choose an outdoor elephant statue or outdoor garden water fountains featuring your favourite character. Whether you are using Tiny as an outdoor sculpture or as a sprinkler system won't matter, he will capture anyone's attention.
You also don't have to go extreme if you are bringing the wild into your outdoor space with an outdoor animal statue. All you need to do is think of your favourite animal, and browse from our huge selection. You can create an entire zooland if you want, or simply just add an adorable face peeking around from one of your treasured bushes or shrubs. No matter how wild or tame you go, any animal brought into your garden is going to add an element of personality that nothing else will.


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SCAD history
The Savannah College of Art and Design was founded in 1978 by Richard G. Rowan, Paula S. Wallace, May L. Poetter and Paul E. Poetter to provide college degree programs not previously available in southeast Georgia and to create a specialized professional art college to attract students from throughout the United States and abroad. The curriculum was established with dual goals of excellent arts education and effective career preparation for students. Today, with multiple locations and online distance education offerings, SCAD continues to assiduously adhere to these goals.
SCAD was legally incorporated in the state of Georgia Sept. 29, 1978. A board of trustees was established, and the search was begun for a competent faculty and an appropriate facility.
In the spring of 1979, SCAD purchased and renovated the Savannah Volunteer Guard Armory to serve as the first classroom and administration building. The historic significance of the 1892 structure was recognized by its nomination for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Named Poetter Hall in honor of two of the founders, the building remains in active use by SCAD today.
SCAD exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizing learning through individual attention in a positively oriented university environment. The goal of the university is to nurture and cultivate the unique qualities of each student through an interesting curriculum, in an inspiring environment, under the leadership of involved professors.
SCAD is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; telephone number 404.679.4500) to award bachelor's and master's degrees. The university confers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Urban Design degrees, as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates. The professional M.Arch. degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. SCAD is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The SCAD interior design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, 206 Grandville Ave., Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. SCAD Hong Kong courses of study are registered with the Hong Kong Education Bureau (registration numbers 261958-261971), are accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, and are recognized on the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework with a validity period of May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2016.
Class size is small, allowing each student the opportunity to receive individual attention. Faculty members have distinguished backgrounds in their fields. The international faculty and student body come from all 50 states and 100 countries. An English as a Second Language program and dedicated international student services staff are available to assist international students with the adjustment to university life in the United States.
SCAD athletics
Initially a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics from 1987 to 1992, SCAD then transitioned to Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The SCAD Bees sent 20 teams to NCAA postseason competition between 1996 and 2003, and every SCAD athletics team logged a winning record during the 2001-02 season.
Before the start of the 2003-04 season, SCAD renewed its membership with the NAIA and now competes in the Sun Conference (formerly the Florida Sun Conference). In Fall 2010, SCAD Atlanta began competing at the intercollegiate level in NAIA men's and women's cross country, golf and tennis.
In recent years, SCAD athletic teams have been ranked among the nation's top 25 teams. SCAD athletics has established an outstanding legacy by recruiting talented student-athletes and fielding teams in the tradition of excellence for which SCAD is best known.
SCAD had eight different teams ranked in their respective NAIA national rankings during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. The Bees had eight teams that competed at their respective national championships.
The men's and women's swimming teams secured five national titles, all in national record time. The women's swimming team won one individual and two relay titles; the men won two individual titles. In 2011 the equestrian program captured its seventh Affiliated National Riding Commission's National Intercollegiate Riding Championship title. The men's and women's swimming teams have won a total of 31 individual national titles since their inception, and the equestrian program has won 24 national titles.


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Jun 22, 2011
2011 Democracy Award
Acceptance Speech of Jamel Bettaieb
First, I want to thank the martyrs of democracy in Tunisia and Egypt. I thank also American civil society and especially the NED for caring about the democracy in our country. Tunisian people suffered for 50 years from the dictatorship, so, now, we would like a political life based on democracy and respect for human rights. What we want now from the US, as I told President Obama, is promotion of American investment in Tunisia, sending tourists to Tunisia, and helping Tunisia to have elections. That's all.
Finally, I want to say a poem from the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Delrish
(An excerpt from 'On Man' or 'On Humanity')
Oh who have the bloody hands and the bloody feet the night is going to end.
The chamber of torture nor the chains will stay in place
Neron (who tried to burn Rome) is forgotten and Rome is still a striving beautiful city.
For more visit the 2011 Democracy Award page :: MORE
Utility Menu
Primary links
- Where We Work
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SHOCKING HEIST: Robbers Armed With Axes Ride Motorcycles Into London Mall, Rob Jewelry Store
No, they're not shooting a movie in the clip below.
It actually shows a shockingly brazen robbery that took place at a London mall Tuesday morning. Six men, armed with bats and axes, rode motorcycles into the mall and pulled up to the Fraser Hart jewelry store.
A few guarded the entrance, while others ran inside and threw jewewlry into a large sack. The whole thing only took a few minutes. Police recovered the bikes but are still looking for the suspects, whose faces were hidden by helmets.
Watch the robbery unfold:


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Never said it wasn't- I said #3 was.
Terrible addition to the franchise. Never shoulda been made.
Hey man.
You going to be online tonight? Could do with a chat.
I'm watching Lion King.
An update on your Rage stuff please man?
That's ok, whatever works for you man. I'd like to get the show up tomorrow night though (and by tomorrow night I mean tomorrow night my time).
Where's that promo at man?.
When you get a sec, can you post Seahawks revamped bio?
Hey how goes that promo?
make room!
Send an Instant Message to TTC Using...
Fresh Member
The Trinity
Black Ninja!
© 2011 eWrestlingNews, All Rights Reserved.


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On this page you can download "Alex Goot - What Makes You Beautiful" mp3 free. For Downloading this music click on "Download" button. For playing "Alex Goot - What Makes You Beautiful" online click on play button on the mp3 player. All songs on searchmp3.mobi is presented for preview proposes only, If you are the copyright owner for this song, please send us an abuse message by clicking on this Abuse link.
96 mp3 were found. Search results for What Makes You Beautiful:


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Nairobi — The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) in collaboration with Safaricom is rolling out a sensitisation programme on the government's Integrated Public Safety Communication and Surveillance System.
Through an initiative dubbed Usalama Mitaani, the alliance says the programme will enhance public knowledge on the project which it says if implemented will largely boost the security situation in the country.
The Sh14.9 billion project is set to be initially rolled out by Safaricom in Nairobi and Mombasa counties.
KARA Chairman Richard Nyaga has called on Kenyans to support the initiative saying security should be the responsibility of all citizens.
"We recognise and appreciate the government's resolve to put in place security measures that will ensure the safety of Kenyans. One such measure is the plan to roll the Integrated Public Safety Communication and Surveillance System in partnership with Safaricom," he stated.
"We at KARA are aware that there has been a lot of public debate around the initiative and both the Government and Safaricom have been put to task to clarify a number of issues."
"It is also clear that some of the issues being raised regarding the initiative stems from lack of adequate and proper information and understanding of various aspects of the project."
He said the initiative will help the debate around the project "shift to objective and positive aspects of this initiative thereby generating an understanding of its immense benefits to the nation and citizenry."
The Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo in a speech read by Nairobi Police Chief Benson Kibue said police response will be enhanced if the project is approved.
He says the project will help police have sufficient evidence when prosecuting criminals since the project come with new advanced security features.
"This is a great response to crime, which will enhance deterrence and other capacities to be able to tackle emerging threats," he stated.
"Our national security is evaluated as the level of our capacity to control security situation."
On Thursday, the project got approval from the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security.
Under the system, police will be able to relay videos and pictures while at a crime scene once the system is rolled out by December.
Police will be issued with new walkie-talkies fitted with a camera and other advanced security features.
The new system cannot be infiltrated; it's better manned and will enhance real-time security once rolled out.
The new system will be controlled from the Jogoo House command centre where all police officers can be tracked while undertaking their duties.
In case a police officer is under attack or needs reinforcement, the officer will just need to press a distress button and automatically the walkie-talkie will send a video to the command centre showing how the situation is.
A total of 7,600 police officers can be served at a go but it will be scaled to 50,000 officers later on.
It will first be implemented in Nairobi and Mombasa with over 1,000 cameras set to be fitted in strategic positions.
The system uses three high definition cameras; infra-red camera, box camera and dome cameras.
The dome camera can cover a 360 degree area while the infra-red camera will have ability to capture images in low light areas.
Police will easily track lost vehicles or one which has been used to commit crime due to number plate recognition.
Police are just required to feed the system with the car details and every time it passes an area fitted with the cameras, an alert will go to the command system.
Also under the new system there will be clusters formed in which junior officers can address their boss. Every member of the cluster is set to get any ongoing communication.
Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore explained that the service will strictly be accessed by the National Police Service, while dispelling fears of hacking.
He said police network will be entirely independent from that of Safaricom.


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'The Legend of Korra': Co-creators discuss the Season 3 finale and future - VideoAdd to Favorites | The Legend of Korra
Korra's recovery, Zaheer's fate, and airbender antics are all discussed in a new video interview with "The Legend of Korra" co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino. Speaking to IGN in a new video interview, Konietzko and DiMartino shared their thoughts on the epic finale of "The Legend of Korra" Season 3 -- and hinted at the Avatar's upcoming tribulations.
According to Mike DiMartino, who heads the show's writing team, "The Legend of Korra" was structured "around Korra's big sacrificial moment of saving the Air Nation and giving her that really big heroic moment. But," he notes, "it definitely came at a big price -- a big cost to her emotionally and physically." "It's a bittersweet victory for Korra," DiMartino observes. In Book 4, he says, Korra will have "some recovering to do."
The co-creators also address the unprecedented intensity and drama of Book 3. "There were some discussions [with Nickelodeon] about how far we could take it," DiMartino admits, discussing the euphemistic language the show had to employ to avoid words like "death" or "killed."
But "we weren't just trying to do it because we like doing mean things to our characters. We had to back Zaheer's talk up with this very serious action."
Though fans were intrigued by Zaheer and the Red Lotus, the co-creators don't intend to set up the lone survivor as Korra's nemesis for Book 4. "He's not dead," Konitezko confirms, "but we do have a new threat and a new enemy for Korra to face." "But it all ties in ... to Book 3," he teases. Similarly, fans can expect to see "the residual effects" of Tenzin's new mandate for the airbenders in Book 4.
As a wide-scale peacekeeping force, the Air Nation can take some of the burden of maintaining balance off of Korra's shoulders - though many fans question whether or not Korra will welcome this change. Konietzko and DiMartino also speak about the upcoming "Legend of Korra" video game, which they considered a "fun, rewarding and positive" experience.
With a story written by staff writer Tim Hedrick and "an awesome new villain," the co-creators seem just as eager as fans to get their hands on the new downloadable game.
What are your thoughts on 'The Legend of Korra' Season 3 overall? Be sure and check out Hypable's recap of the Season 3 finale.
Photo/Video credit: IGN / Nickelodeon


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Narrow your search
SpeedDate.com announces an iPad application for its online dating service.
SpeedDate.com launches an iPhone app that allows for accessing certain functions of the sites via an iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPod Touch.
Date with speed, and without leaving the house with SpeedDate.
A backlash to the Google Buzz backlash indicates that people have grown comfortable relinquishing their privacy. Call it Generation X-hibitionist, developing on Web sites like Loopt, FriendFeed, Flickr, and Blippy.
Single? Looking for love? If that's you then the new iPhone app from Match.com can help you find the love of your life and the iRomantic app helps you retain that love.
The somewhat popular Oregon Trail Facebook application has been acquired by SpeedDate.com and will be turning into a dating application in the coming days.


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Here's where you can play any of the audio or video files available in our podcasting directory. Simply select a podcast Category below, then a program Title. The file will begin playing immediately. Enjoy!
|Munch on Sports
|14 episodes available
|The Really Big Show
|90 episodes available
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|76 episodes available
|Tony Grossi Podcast
|45 episodes available
|ESPN Cleveland Audio
|3 episodes available
|Best of ESPN Cleveland
|8 episodes available
|The Golden Boyz
|53 episodes available
|Brian Windhorst
|56 episodes available
|Jimmy Hanlin w/ The Really Big Show (14:29)
|Sound Check (15:17)
|Movies and Video Games with RJ (13:43)
|Survey Wednesday (13:29)
|Rizz's Old Job (8:41)
|Pat McManamon w/ The Really Big Show (39:18)
|Jeremy Fowler w/ The Really Big Show (13:24)
|Can Johnny play in the NFL? (25:59)
|Michael Symon w/ The Really Big Show (11:09)
|Fontana goes to Jail (18:35)
|Movies with RJ (14:49)
|Survey Wednesday (20:25)
|What is wrong with the Indians? (32:40)
|The Whole Shabang (25:12)
|Jimmy Hanlin w/ The Really Big Show (13:50)
|Lebron vs. Blatt (23:14)
|Johnny Manziel and Bad Callers (38:51)
|Movies with RJ/Video Game debate (22:11)
|Who will still be with the Cavs next year? (36:17)
|Austin Carr w/ The Really Big Show (8:21)
|Dave McMenamin w/ The Really Big Show (8:23)
|Game 5 reactions and critiques (18:51)
|Roman Reigns w/ The Really Big Show (8:47)
|Is Buster Skrine good? (13:04)
|Cavs Drop Game 4 (18:01)
|Fred McLeod w/ The Really Big Show (6:24)
|Cavs Superstitions (21:59)
|Cavs win Game 3 (27:22)
|Harold Varner w/ The Really Big Show (11:12)
|Rizz is done with the curse (9:17)


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Maryland's AFL-CIO, a 300,000-member strong labor union, will back the same-sex marriage legislation, marking a key endorsement from a powerful political force in the state.
The group last month passed a resolution supportive of gay unions, and will hold a news conference Thursday. The same-sex marriage debate is expected to be a fierce one this year, and advocates on both sides of the issue are already planning events.


text:
All Topics
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Track topics on Twitter Track topics that are important to you
The aim of this study is to get new information on the whole blood-plasma-oral fluid ratios of psychoactive drugs which are encountered in traffic.
Samples are taken from drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs or medicines. The samples are analysed with immunological methods and GC-MS.
Observations from Police and a physician on impairment are combined with the results of the different bodily fluids. Observational evaluations and substance concentrations are compared.
Observational Model: Case Control
Driving Under the Influence
National Public Health Institute
National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
Development of a Valid Test Battery for Assessing Driving Ability When Influenced by Drugs.
The purpose of the validation study is to develop a valid test battery for assessing driving ability in a driving simulator when influenced by drugs. Ethanol has known, well-documented and...
Impact of Cholinesterase Inhibitors on Driving Ability in Healthy Older Adults
The goal of the study is to assess the role of cholinesterase inhibitors in affecting the driving ability of cognitively intact seniors using driving simulators. We hypothesize that the us...
Calibration and Validation of the STISIM Driving Simulator
The aim of this study is to calibrate the STISIM driving simulator under influence of three different dosages of ethanol (0.05%, 0.08% and 0.11% BAC). The levels of performance decrement f...
Young Driver Intervention Study: Preventing Motor Vehicle Crashes
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce teen crashes and risky driving by increasing parental monitoring and restriction of their adolesc...
Validation of Driving Simulator to Blood Alcohol Concentration Standards for Impaired Driving
The proposed study will validate and determine sensitivity of our new driving simulator, created to evaluate driving ability in a related study to show similar driving performance between ...
Dangerous Driving in a Chinese Sample: Associations with Morningness-Eveningness Preference and Personality.
Individual differences in morningness-eveningness preference may influence susceptibility and response to sleepiness. These differences could influence driving performance, but the influence of mornin...
The influence of highly automated driving on the self-perception of drivers in the context of Conduct-by-Wire.
Today, new driving paradigms are being introduced that aim to reduce the number of standalone driver assistance systems by combining these into one overarching system. This is done to reduce the deman...
Driving under the influence among frequent ecstasy consumers in Australia: Trends over time and the role of risk perceptions.
Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and illicit drugs is a serious road safety concern. This research aimed to examine trends in DUI across time and changes in attitudes towards the risks (cr...
The Influence of Synthetic Cannabinoid UR-144 on Human Psychomotor Performance - A Case Report Demonstrating Road Traffic Risks.
UR-144 [(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)(2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)-methanone] is a synthetic cannabinoid, which has been detected in many 'legal highs' seized from the global drug market since the begin...
State All-Driver Distracted Driving Laws and High School Students' Texting While Driving Behavior.
Texting while driving is highly prevalent among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Texting while driving can significantly increase the risk of road crashes and is associated with othe...
Automobile Driving
The effect of environmental or physiological factors on the driver and driving ability. Included are driving fatigue, and the effect of drugs, disease, and physical disabilities on driving.
Automobile Driver Examination
Government required written and driving test given to individuals prior to obtaining an operator's license.
Airway Resistance
Physiologically, the opposition to flow of air caused by the forces of friction. As a part of pulmonary function testing, it is the ratio of driving pressure to the rate of air flow.
Consideration and concern for others, as opposed to self-love or egoism, which can be a motivating influence.
The deliberate attempt to influence attitudes and beliefs for furthering one's cause or damaging an opponent's cause.
Latest News Clinical Trials Research Drugs Reports Corporate
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells (in animals) – such as nutrients and oxygen – and transports waste products away from those same cells. In vertebrates, it is composed of blo...
Public Health
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Alternative Medicine Cleft Palate Complementary & Alternative Medicine Congenital Diseases Dentistry Ear Nose & Throat Food Safety Geriatrics Healthcare Hearing Medical Devices MRSA Muscular Dyst...
Latest News Clinical Trials Research Drugs Reports Corporate
Within medicine, nutrition (the study of food and the effect of its components on the body) has many different roles. Appropriate nutrition can help prevent certain diseases, or treat others. In critically ill patients, artificial feeding by tubes need t...
Search Clinical Trials Database


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A Welcome from the President & CEO
We are excited to begin a new school year with a renewed effort to provide the best integrated educational and leadership development programs for our community youth. We welcome more than 300 hundred new students to ASPIRA Schools and a great group of dedicated educators and counselors. Over the last few months, ASPIRA schools and the Miguel del Valle Youth Development Center, in collaboration with many community partners, diligently planned academic and support programs that will benefit all ASPIRA students. We are building on what was accomplished last year and will continue working tirelessly to advance opportunities and progress.
Our mission is to prepare Latinos and other minority youth to achieve academic excellence, to contribute in a meaningful way to society and to become leaders in their communities. We are inspired by the legacy of Dr. Antonia Pantoja, founder of ASPIRA, and Doňa Mirta Ramirez, founder of ASPIRA Inc. of Illinois. In collaboration with parents, students and community leaders, we aspire to ensure our youth are prepared and have the resources needed to go to college, graduate and serve their communities. (Click here to see entire text)
Parents: Download an Application & Apply Today!
Download the PDF application here and submit to
Aspira Admissions
2415 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647


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|calendar>> January 9. 2014 Juche 103
Mass Rallies Vow to Carry Out Tasks Set Forth in New Year Address
| Pyongyang, January 9 (KCNA) -- Mass rallies in Kangwon Province and Nampho City Thursday vowed to thoroughly carry out the important tasks laid out by Marshal Kim Jong Un in the New Year Address.
The rallies were attended by officials of the provincial and city party, power and economic organs, working people's organizations, factories, enterprises, farms and universities and other people including youth and students.
At the rally in Kangwon Province the reporter and speakers called for actively introducing scientific farming method and doing all farm work as required by the Juche farming method and thus reap a rich harvest on all co-op farm fields in the province this year.
They stressed the need to push forward the construction of major projects including stock-breeding base in Sepho tableland, Kosan fruit farm and Wonsan Army-People Power Station and thus turn city and counties into a socialist land of bliss.
They also called for learning from the example set by those in the fisheries of the Korean People's Army to modernize fishing vessels and tackles and conduct active fishing and offshore culture in a big way.
They vowed to establish the traits of attaching importance to the military affairs and arms, actively aid the army, consolidate the great army-people unity in every way.
The reporter and speakers at Nampho City mass rally called on the Chollima Steel Complex, Taean Heavy Machine Complex and Kangso Knitwear Factory and other factories and enterprises to increase production and accelerate construction by relying on locally available raw materials and fuel and ultra-modern science and technology.
They underlined the need to uphold Kim Jong Un's New Year Address and turn Nampho city into a modern port city and give a face-lift to streets, neighborhoods and worksites.
Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.


text:
The following is an archive of a post made to our
'vox-tech mailing list'
by one of its subscribers.
Okay, I'm making MPEG4 (Bill Broadley suggested that's suitable, rather
than needing to use MPEG2), and got them 1/2 size and running at the
original 'real life' speed. (xvidcap only seemed to capture about 5-6fps)
$ mencoder foo.avi -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4 -vop scale=320:240 \
-sws 2 -fps 5 -ofps 25 -oac copy -o foo2.avi
I also discovered xvidcap had made AVIs. Oops, sorry! :^)
$ file foo.avi
foo.avi: RIFF (little-endian) data, AVI, 654 x 516, >30 fps, video:
A lot of those mencoder options were ones from "zmencoder.sh", a shell
script by someone called "Onyx4" that converts files down to a size,
bitrate and brightness suitable for playback on the Sharp Zaurus. :^)
Yay! :)
firstname.lastname@example.com New Breed Software
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/ Tux Paint 0.9.14 -- Coming soon!
vox-tech mailing list
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LUGOD: Linux Users' Group of Davis
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LUGOD is a 501(c)7 non-profit organization
based in Davis, California
and serving the Sacramento area.
"Linux" is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.


text:
OpenGL performance degrading
1 Attachment(s)
We are currently developing software to render three video stream on a dual headed display. One head displays full size 1920x1080 HD video, while other head displays two HD videos, downsized in software to 960x540. OpenGL is used to render the video streams by transferring the pixels to a texture and rendering a textured quad. We are able to render all three video streams at 30 Hz without issue. However, over time we see a performace degradation to the point where we are unable to maintain rendering at 30 Hz. We also see the same performance hit when we pause the full size video stream (stop rendering to that window) for a few seconds and then unpause (continue rendering to that window). We typically see the frame rate in all three windows drop from 30 Hz down to 20-25 Hz. After timing the execution of all steps in the video pipeline, we have found that the time spent executing the drawing of the textured quad increases noticeably.
We have been able to reproduce the issue in a simple protype program which I've attached. This program simply creates three threads, each of which creates a window (one window is 1920x1080, two are 960x540), and calls a render function for each window at a rate of 30 Hz. The render function simply copies random frame data equal to the size of each window, in this case a simple solid gray frame, to a texture and draws a textured quad. A separate thread listens for keyboard input so we can pause rendering to one of the windows. We find that after pausing and unpausing rendering to the full size window, the time to render each frame increases by about 25%. This is consistent with what have observed. With additional OpenGL processing being done on the frames in our software (drawing of overlays on the video, etc.) which also slow down, the drop in performance is large enough that we can no longer maintain 30 Hz. We have tried with this with several different driver versions including 195.36.31, 256.35, and 285.05.09. The problem exists with all three drivers tested, though does not seem quite as bad on the 195 driver.
We are using a Pny Quadro FX3800 graphics card running RHEL 5.4 with the 64 bit 126.96.36.199 kernel. It is a dual headed display running in TwinView.
Re: OpenGL performance degrading
I am able to compile this .cc file with 'g++ GL-Rendering.cc -lGL -lX11 -lboost_thread' and ran program. I found three windows will open on desktop and also prompt "Enter a window to toggle pause (0-2):". I haven't enter any input for window to toggle pause but program still continue... Can you please explain more detail reproduction steps ? If possible attach video. Do I need to configure displays in TWINVIEW before running this apps?
How to pause and unpause rendering to the full size window with keyboard ? Also attach your results.
Re: OpenGL performance degrading
1 Attachment(s)
Here is my initial o/p :
Window 0 render: 10.03 swap: 0
Window 2 render: 2 swap: 0
Window 1 render: 2 swap: 0
I paused win 0 and o/p is :
Window 1 render: 2 swap: 0
Window 2 render: 3 swap: 0
I paused win 1 and o/p is :
Window 0 render: 10.04 swap: 0
Window 2 render: 2 swap: 0
I paused win 2 and o/p is :
Window 1 render: 2 swap: 0
Window 0 render: 10.04 swap: 0
Attached logs
Re: OpenGL performance degrading
1 Attachment(s)
Sorry for the confusion. We see the problem after executing the following steps:
1. Type 0 and hit enter to pause rendering to the 1920 x 1080 window
2. Type 0 and hit enter to unpause rendering to the 1920 x 1080 window
Prior to pausing the rendering our output looks like:
Window 0 render: 12.52 swap: 0.11
Window 2 render: 3.06 swap: 0
Window 1 render: 3.08 swap: 0.01
Window 0 render: 12.54 swap: 0.08
Window 2 render: 3.07 swap: 0.01
Window 1 render: 3.12 swap: 0.02
It takes about 12.5 ms to render to the 1920 x 1080 window and about 3 ms to render to each of the smaller windows. After resuming rendering it looks like:
Window 2 render: 4.07 swap: 0.11
Window 1 render: 4 swap: 0.15
Window 0 render: 14.26 swap: 2.12
Window 2 render: 3.99 swap: 0.09
Window 0 render: 14.11 swap: 2.17
The times have jumped to about 14 ms and 4 ms, about a 20% increase in the time to render to the three windows. I've attached the entire output of a short run of the code.
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text: I'm I the only one that thinks the rule that a player has to be on the 40 man roster to be called up in September is stupid. I could see only 40 man roster player being eligible for the playoffs but for clubs like the Reds that are clearly out of contention why not let young players come up and get some ABs and a taste of the big leagues, even if they are no on the 40 man. Reward some guys who have busted ther fannies all year, or on the precipice of jumping to the next level anyway. It would go way to reward some players for hard work and/or to evaluate some of the younger guys that have some real potential. sometimes it seems that the baseball people let the lawyers run the game with stupid rules.


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Mountain Biking in Gatineau Park
With some 90 kilometres of shared trails, there are lots of places for mountain biking in Gatineau Park. But be prepared! To tackle the Park's hilly terrain, you need to be in good shape and have a few mountain biking skills.
Gatineau Park's mountain biking season runs from May 15 to November 30. The multi-use trails are open to hikers and mountain bikers, so be sure to follow the Mountain Biking Code of Conduct.
For ecological reasons, mountain biking is not allowed on any trails other than the ones indicated in the brochure Mountain Biking in Gatineau Park: Staying on the Right Track
Please help to protect Gatineau Park and leave no trace.
Extreme Mountain Biking at Camp Fortune
For thrill-seekers, there is mountain biking at Camp Fortune, which opens its ski slopes for biking during the summer.
Mountain Biking Code of Conduct
The following rules are promoted and recognized worldwide by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. They are intended to help ensure the safety of hikers and mountain bikers, as well as protect the environment.
Use only trails that are approved for mountain biking (which are shared trails).
Bike only during the permitted biking season. In the spring and fall, the trails are particularly vulnerable to erosion.
Always yield the right-of-way to hikers.
Control your speed at all times — especially on curves and downhill portions of the trail. To avoid accidents, alert other trail users to your presence as you approach to pass them.
Plan ahead! Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding — and prepare accordingly.
There are outhouses at most parking areas near the mountain biking trails
Some parking lots charge vehicle access fees. See Mountain Biking in Gatineau Park: Staying on the Right Track and Gatineau Park summer maps for more information.
You can rent mountain bikes at the Philippe Lake campground general store. Rentals include helmets.
|Mountain Bike Rentals
(Cross-Country Rocky Mountain)
|2 hours
|4 hours
Full Day
Taxes are included.
Please note that the number of bikes available for rental is limited (first-come, first-served).
General Conditions
- Deposit with credit card and photo ID.
- Payment by cash, debit or credit card.
Hours of Service
May 8 to June 11, 2015
June 12 to September 6, 2015
Friday: 3 pm to 9:30 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 7 pm
Sunday: 9 am to 2 pm
Daily: 8:30 am to 9:30 pm
For more information, visit the section Gatineau Park's visitor information.


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Siskiyou County Farm Bureau
809 Fourth St
Yreka, CA 96097
ph: 530-842-2364
fax: 530-842-2364
Next Meeting:
January 15th, 2015
Farm Bureau Office
7:00 Board Meeting
Through a new strategic partnership between the California Farm Bureau Federation and the Buy California Marketing Agreement, Farm Bureau members in California now have access to a 50 percent discount on California Grown branding and licensing for their agricultural commodities.
CFBF, a member of the marketing agreement, will help to promote and strengthen the California Grown brand, popularized through use of a blue-and-gold "CA Grown" license-plate logo affixed to agricultural products. The joint venture provides a discounted channel for Farm Bureau members to connect with shoppers who enjoy and seek out California-grown foods and farm products.
"Farm Bureau and California Grown each recognize that people are eager to learn more about where their food comes from and how it is produced," CFBF President Paul Wenger said. "California Grown is a powerful brand that resonates with shoppers, and we look forward to helping widen its reach."
The purpose of the California Grown brand is to increase awareness and consumption of the state's agricultural products among California consumers. Established 12 years ago, the California Grown program has been successful in maintaining the integrity behind the California Grown brand.
The California Grown service mark is designed to be used in advertisements, collateral materials, in-store materials and other places to indicate support of the California Grown campaign. Farm Bureau members interested in the program and seeking more information about California Grown branding may visit the California Grown website at www.californiagrown.org or phone 916-441-5302.
A disputed fee charged to California water rights holders is invalid, a judge says in a proposed decision, because insufficient connection exists between the amount charged, the benefits received and the burdens imposed by those who pay the bill. In his proposed decision, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Raymond Cadei said that the State Water Resources Control Board should not "apply or enforce" the fee, which it has imposed since the 2003-04 fiscal year.
The California Farm Bureau Federation challenged the fee as an unconstitutional tax, because those who pay the fee bear a disproportionate burden of funding the water board's Division of Water Rights. Judge Cadei agreed, noting that "no fees are assessed against the holders of approximately 38 percent of all water rights in California," and that the fees pay more than a minimal amount "for activities that benefit the public in general."
As a result, the judge said, the fees "do not provide a fair, reasonable, and substantially proportionate assessment of all costs related to the regulation of the affected payors." Further, Judge Cadei wrote, there is no evidence that the water board considered fairly apportioning the fees before they were imposed.
"Farmers and ranchers are willing to pay their fair share to support programs that benefit them, but not to shoulder the full burden of programs just because that's a convenient way for a government agency to support itself," CFBF President Paul Wenger said. "We're encouraged by the judge's proposed decision and will continue to seek a refund of fees that have been improperly charged to farmers and ranchers."
The judge also ruled that the water board had erred by charging water contractors in the Central Valley Project for the full amount of the federal project's water permit, rather than the proportion of that water actually made available under CVP contracts, and that the board had charged "arbitrary" fees to other permit holders.
Since the water right fee was first imposed, Farm Bureau has urged holders of some 13,000 water rights to pay the bills under protest, by filing a protest form with the board when paying the fee to the Board of Equalization. CFBF also challenged the fee in court, pursuing the case all the way to the state Supreme Court, which in January 2011 directed the lower court to take more evidence and hear additional arguments.
"Farm Bureau has pursued this case for many years because we believe fees should be limited to the amount necessary to provide a service, not as a substitute for taxes," CFBF Associate Counsel Carl Borden said. "The water right fee is simply an illegal tax."
In his proposed decision, Judge Cadei said he would schedule a hearing to address whether all those who have paid the fees should be granted refunds. The case,California Farm Bureau Federation v. California State Water Resources Control Board, was consolidated with a similar challenge filed by the Northern California Water Association and other plaintiffs.
2013 Distinguished Service Award
It isn't very often I am bestowed the honor to write a speech or make an introduction for such an accomplished individual. Tonight it is my distinct pleasure to introduce the SCFB Distinguished Service Award winner.
This award is the highest honor a County Farm Bureau can give to anyone. Over the years SCFB has honored some very active and progressive farmers and politicians, including our friend Doug LaMalfa and past legends Bill Peters and Ray Platt. As well, some years the award was not given when no one seemed deserving of it in that year. This year however, that was not the case --This individual is very deserving and has truly earned the honor of being Siskiyou County Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service Award winner.
Before I call this individual up to join me, let me tell you a little about him. This individual was not born into agriculture, much like myself. He was also not able to marry into it. And, his parents are still alive, so he hasn't inherited it. He has had to build it for himself. Now, when you see this person come up and join me, you might think something of the affect of seeing how his job in town has afforded him the opportunity to become involved in this capital intensive industry we all know as production agriculture. But, I have some things to share that I bet you don't know.
Our recipient was born in the LA area and came to a more rural setting when he was nine years old. That is when it all began. He promptly joined 4-H and started raising pigs, his first and still a passion of his. He was so good at showing and raising pigs that by the time he was 12-14 years old, he was taking care of the neighbor's pigs and had a small breeding project. But it didn't stop there. In order to earn more income, he did not take the American Farmer route and finance an operation; he built it up starting small, with buying, raising, selling some eggs, and then selling the whole chicken. After he had saved up enough from his chicken and pig operation, he was finally able to buy--- you guessed it, a milk cow. Now, he began a trait that is still with him today, up early to work, work all day, and then work late at night. He milked his cow twice a day. With his earnings he saved. At Christmas time, this young man used his own money to buy presents for his family.
As this hard working young man grew up, he attended UC Davis, becoming an official Aggie, and planned on becoming a veterinarian, as he had worked in a vet's office during high school and enjoyed large animals. He majored in genetics and took some pre-med classes. However, this must be where the change happened. Somewhere in the genetics class, there must have been some shark DNA that he crossed with a pit bull, because he became infected. Our distinguished service award winner had now made a change for the dark side – he entered Mc George School of Law instead of medical school.
After Darrin became an attorney and moved to Siskiyou County, he wasted little time in becoming involved with local agriculture. The Mercier family moved here shortly before the 1996 Siskiyou Golden Fair, and Darrin with a few month old daughter, Kristen, was in attendance and involved. He has stayed involved with agriculture and continued to serve the community since. I have the distinct pleasure in serving on the Siskiyou Golden Fair Board with Darrin, and I know he is also involved in other parts of the community including, but not limited to, the Junior Livestock Auction Committee, and being a long standing and respected member of the Fairchild Medical board, too. Most of you probably know why we have chosen to honor Mr. Mercier tonight, in addition to his passion for agriculture; he is the successful victor of SCFB's most prolific feat for its members ever, the winning of the water rights case in Superior Court. We know the big shots in Sacramento did not think our little country bumpkin would be any challenge for the likes of them. How wrong they were. With the help from our members, community, some of you here tonight, and many Farm Bureaus throughout the state and the California Farm Bureau Federation, this little country attorney kicked the big shots from Sacramento right out of Siskiyou County and out of your water!
In addition to being our hired counsel in the case, Darrin also was very generous to Farm Bureau. Since his own ranch's water was at stake and his passion for agriculture, he donated more than $40,000 worth of legal fees to SCFB as well as provided his office staff, at his expense, to work all of the Friday shift serving beer at the Siskiyou Golden Fair in the Farm Bureau beef booth two years in a row—and we expect him to continue this year.
I was informed recently of Darrin's love of agriculture, that he loves his tractor more than his cell phone. Apparently Darrin is quite accomplished in placing his new smart device on top of the tractor tire, and then as we all have done, driven the tractor, firmly showing just how not farmer proof many modern electronic devices can be. See, he is one of us. He fits right in.
I have probably rambled enough now, but for those of you that know me you would expect none less when they hand me an open ended microphone. Let me introduce my friend, a friend to everyone in this room, a friend of Farm Bureau, Darrin Mercier.
- Brandon Fawaz, 2nd Vice President
What We Do
With 587+ members in Siskiyou County; 89,000 statewide, and over 5.7 million members nationwide, Farm Bureau is one of the largest grassroots agriculture organizations working on behalf of farmers and ranchers.
Farm Bureau will assist in the effort to improve ethics in government, hold elected representatives to the highest standards of public service and protect the constitutional rights of landowners, farmers and ranchers
Encourage responsible land use and accommodate new residents with needed housing and a safe, affordable, reliable food supply, Farm Bureau supports more efficient use of existing developed land and protection from inappropriate use of eminent domain.
As demands expand on growing rural areas, Farm Bureau will work to promote understanding of the farming way of life and support public investment programs to reduce crime and improve safety in rural communities.
Farm Bureau strives to protect and improve the ability of farmers and ranchers engaged in production agriculture to provide a reliable supply of food and fiber through responsible stewardship of resources.
2012 Small County of the Year
Jeff Fowle (SCFB President), Brandon Fawaz (SCFB 2nd Vice President), Jamie Johansson (CFBF 2nd Vice President)
County Supporters in CDFG Lawsuit
Jim Wilson (SOSS), Clifford Munson (SCC), Mark Baird (POW), Gayle Jenner (SCCW), Rex Houghton (SCFB), Mario Burch (SCFB)
Like us on
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Mailing Address:
809 Fourth St., Yreka, CA 96097
Phone: (530) 842-2364
Fax: (530) 842-2364
Email: email@example.com
President: Brandon Fawaz
First Vice: Jim Morris
Second Vice: Mario Burch
Secretary: Ryan Walker
Treasurer: Connor Martin
Board Members
Mario Burch, Shasta Valley
Brandon Fawaz, Scott Valley
Dennis Fitzgerald, Butte Valley
Jeff Fowle, Scott Valley
Leonard Gorden, Shasta Valley
Grant Hanna, Scott Valley
Jennifer Harrison, Shasta Valley
Brian Heffernan, Scott Valley
Rex Houghton, Shasta Valley
Connor Martin, Scott Valley
Jim Morris, Scott Valley
Scott Murphy, Scott Valley
Carolyn Pimentel, Scott Valley
Ryan Walker, Shasta Valley
District Director: Brandon Fawaz, Etna
CFBF Field Representative: Ned Coe, Alturas
California Farm Bureau Federation
2300 River Plaza Drive
Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: (916) 561-5500
Fax: (916) 561-5699
Member Help Desk: (800) 698-FARM
General Information: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web Site Inquiries: firstname.lastname@example.com
Siskiyou County Farm Bureau
809 Fourth St
Yreka, CA 96097
ph: 530-842-2364
fax: 530-842-2364


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A Primer on Probabilistic Approaches to Visual Perception
A Primer on Probabilistic Approaches to Visual Perception
BackgroundThe first and most influential advocate of using past experience as a means of contending with the uncertain provenance of visual stimuli was Hermann von Helmholtz (1866/1924). Helmholtz summarized his conception of this empirical contribution to visual percepts by proposing that the raw "sensations" generated by the physiological infrastructure of the eye and the input stages of the visual brain could be modified by information derived from experience. Helmholtz described this process as making "unconscious inferences" about reality, thus generating perceptions more nearly aligned with stimulus sources when input-level sensations proved inadequate (op cit., vol. III, p.10 ff). Despite these speculations and the ensuing debate during the second half of the 19th C., vision science during most of the 20th C. has been understandably dominated by the enormous success of modern neurophysiology and neuroanatomy. A plausible assumption in much contemporary vision research has thus been that understanding visual perception will be best achieved by gleaning increasingly precise information about the receptive field properties of visual neurons and the synaptic connectivity that gives rise to these properties. As a result, the role of past experience in determining what observers see has, until recently, received relatively little attention.
Bayes' theoremIf the visual system uses empirical information to generate perceptions that reflect the real-world conditions and object relationships that observers have always had to respond to by appropriate visually-guided behavior, then understanding vision inevitably means understanding how, in statistical terms, physical sources are related to retinal images. By far the most popular approach to meeting this challenge has been Bayesian decision theory. Thomas Bayes was an 18th C. minister and amateur mathematician whose paper entitled "An Essay towards Solving a Problem in the Doctrine of Chances" was published posthumously in 1763. The manuscript proved a theorem showing how conditional probabilities are used in making inferences. Although Bayes' purpose in elaborating his eponymous theorem remains obscure, it has been applied to advantage in a number of disciplines as a framework for addressing statistical problems whose solution depends on an assessment of hypotheses that are only more or less likely to be true as a result of complex circumstances. In vision research, Bayes' theorem was initially used to develop pattern recognition strategies for computer vision. More recently, however, the framework provided by the theorem has been advocated as a means of rationalizing visual perception (or at least the judgments associated with visual perception). Bayes' theorem is usually written in the form
where H is a hypothesis, E the evidence pertinent to its validity and P probability. The first term on the right side of Bayes' equation, P(H), is referred to as the prior probability distribution or simply the prior, and is a statistical measure of confidence in the hypothesis, absent any present evidence pertinent to its truth or falsity. With respect to vision, the prior describes the relative probabilities of different physical states of the world pertinent to retinal images, i.e., the relative frequency of occurrence of various illuminants, surface reflectance values, object sizes and so on. The second term, P(E|H), is called the likelihood function. If hypothesis H were true, this term indicates the probability that the evidence E would have been available to support it. In the context of vision, given a particular state of the physical world (i.e., a particular combination of illumination, reflectance properties, object sizes etc.), the likelihood function describes the probability that the state would generate the retinal projection in question. The product of the prior and the likelihood function, divided by a normalization constant, P(E), gives the posterior probability distribution, P(H|E). The posterior distribution defines the probability of hypothesis H being true, given the evidence E. In vision, the posterior probability distribution thus indicates the relative probability of a given retinal image having been generated by one or another of the different physical realities that might be the source of the image.
Figure 1 / A Bayesian approach to characterizing the relationship between a visual target of luminance L and its possible physical sources. A) The prior distribution of illuminations (W) and reflectance values (R) in the physical world. The distribution (which is didactic only) shows illumination varying on an arbitrary scale of 0 to 100, and reflectance varying from 0% to 100%. B) The dashed red line on the surface of the prior distribution indicates the position where the product of illumination and reflectance equals the luminance (L) of the target. If the image formation process is assumed to be free of noise, the posterior distribution, P(W, R | L), obtained by multiplying the prior by a likelihood function is the section of the prior distribution along the dashed line. C) The addition of Gaussian noise to the image formation process makes the posterior distribution 'thicker' but does not alter the fact that the posterior is effectively a section of the prior.
Bayesian decision theoryBecause the posterior distribution indicates only the relative probabilities of a set of possible image sources, a particular source (i.e., a particular combination of illumination and reflectance in the example above) must be selected from this set if the aim is to predict what an observer will actually see. The usual way of addressing this further issue is to assume that the visual system makes this choice according to the behavioral consequences associated with each perceptual "decision". The influence of various consequences is typically expressed in terms of the discrepancy between the decision made and the actual state of the world, which over the full range of the possible choices defines a gain-loss function. Since there is no a priori way to model this function (indeed, given the enormous number of variables involved, a realistic gain-loss function for some aspect of vision would be extraordinarily difficult to determine), the relative cost of different behavioral responses is assumed. For example, a common assumption is that observers will "choose" the percept that corresponds to the maximum value in posterior probability distribution, since this choice would generally minimize the discrepancy between the percept and the actual state of the world.
Empirical ranking theoryThe application of Bayesian decision theory to vision is clearly an important advance in that it formalizes Helmholtz's general proposal about "visual inferences" as a means of contending with stimulus uncertainty. Nonetheless, its implementation presents both conceptual and practical difficulties. With respect to the conceptual implications of Bayesian theory applied to visual perception, the intuitively appealing idea that percepts correspond to physical characteristics such as surface reflectance is problematic and in many instances false (as we explain in a later section). Practical obstacles are the difficulty determining the physical parameters relevant to any specific prior, and the need for a decision rule based on an assumed gain-loss function. Is there, then, any other way of conceptualizing how vision utilizes empirical information to deal with the inverse optics problem?
Figure 2 / The empirical ranking approach to characterizing the relationship between images and their possible physical sources. A) The prior distribution of illumination and reflectance values shown in Figure 2A can be integrated along the dashed red lines (which represent only a few examples) to produce the marginal distribution in (B). Each dashed line is an iso-luminant line along which the product of illumination and reflectance is a specific luminance value. B) The marginal distribution derived by integrating the distribution in (A) along iso-luminant lines. This distribution describes the relative probability of occurrence of the physical sources of different luminance intensities in human experience. C) The cumulative probability distribution derived from (B). The cumulative probability for any specific luminance value, l, is the summed probability of occurrence of the physical sources that generate luminance values less than or equal to that luminance, derived by calculating the area underneath the curve in (B) and to the left of the position where x = l. Thus, the y-value of each point on the cumulative distribution indicates the percentage of physical sources that generate luminance values less than or equal to a specific luminance, providing a basis for ranking that luminance value in the past experience. In the example shown, luminance L' holds a higher rank (r') than luminance L (which holds rank r), and should thus be seen as brighter than L.
Bayes, T. (1763). An essay toward solving a problem in the doctrine of chances. Philos Trans R Soc, 53, 370-418.
Yang, Z, Purves, D (2004). The statistical structure of natural light patterns determines perceived light intensity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 101, 8745-8750.
Howe CQ, Purves D (2005) Perceiving Geometry: Geometrical Illusions Explained in Terms of Natural Scene Statistics. New York: Springer.
Catherine CQ, Lotto RB, Purves D (2006) Empirical approaches to understanding visual perception. J Theor Biol 241: 866-875.