text:
In an effort to save $150 million, Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Monday the closure of 259 U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) offices. Most of the savings have
come from reducing travel and supplies, whereas the office closings will result
in about $60 million in savings. The
closures will impact offices at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C., 46
states, and one U.S. territory and include 12 Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) programs in ten locations. In public
statement, Vilsack said, "the Blueprint for Stronger Service effectively
means that in an era of reduced budgets, we're not going to see reduced
service." Vilsack added that if the USDA
did not undertake the consolidation of offices with zero to two employees in
many cases, the remaining option would be furloughs or a reduction in
workforce, ultimately leading to a reduction in service.
Despite Visack's commitment to stronger service, some
raise concerns about effects on food safety as the USDA plans to close five of
the fifteen Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) district offices
throughout the United States. Undersecretary
for Food Safety, Elisabeth Hagen says that although the offices are being
consolidated, there would be no reduction in inspectors or inspection
work. "Not only do we have a statutory
obligation to be in every facility, we have an unwavering commitment to food
safety," Hagen said in a statement. "We
will still be on the job, in every facility, every day." It will be clear in time whether the USDA can maintain its
current standard of service following the closures.
Additional information regarding the USDA office
you may be aware, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently
approved the Grant Reform and New Transparency (GRANT) Act, H.R. 3433.
The bill, which the full House has not considered, is intended to provide more
transparency in the federal grant-making process by requiring all federal
agencies to publicize the selection procedures for each grant program. It also mandates the White House Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) create a single, comprehensive website for all
federal grant opportunities, among other provisions.
Many in the research community have concerns with the bill's
transparency requirements in the peer-review process, which include the posting
of full copies of funded proposals online (albeit with an exception for
information that is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)). Although many efforts have been made to
effect positive changes in the bill, the amount of disclosure required is still
potentially damaging to the peer-review process. As such, Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ) and
David Price (D-NC) have drafted a "Dear Colleague" letter to the House
leadership urging them to fix these remaining issues; Reps. Holt and Price also
are seeking additional signatories to the letter from among their
ASPB is closely
monitoring this bill and working to remove damaging provisions in the
legislation. If you have concerns with
the GRANT Act, you can share them with your Representative and/or encourage
them to sign on to the Holt-Price Dear Colleague letter. Contact information for your
Representative is available at http://house.gov/representatives/. You
can either call their Washington, D.C., office or send an e-mail via your
Representative's website. If you do not
know who your Representative is, you can enter your zip code into the above
website to find out. The deadline for additional signatories to
the Dear Colleague letter is Friday, January 13.
If you'd like help reaching out to your Representative,
please contact ASPB's Public Affairs Manager, Kathy Munkvold, at email@example.com.
Lewis-Burke Associates LLC – December 2011
The U.S. Congress voted to accept a package of fiscal
year (FY) 2012 appropriations measures to avoid a shutdown of a significant
portion of the Federal Government as the current Continuing Resolution was set
to expire Friday night. This action followed months of wrangling over the
federal debt and deficit and reducing federal spending. The final bills
represent real compromise and sustain important investments in federal research
and education programs, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Department of Defense (DOD) basic
research, and Pell grants, at current levels or with modest increases.
The House of Representatives passed the package early on Friday while
the Senate passed the bills on Saturday.
The final conference agreement details funding amounts
and agency directives for federal agencies, including:
The $915 billion Consolidated Appropriations bill
includes $30.698 billion for NIH for an increase of $299 million (0.7 percent)
above FY 2011. The final bill creates the National Center for Advancing
Translational Sciences (NCATS), which is the top priority for NIH Director
Francis Collins, and includes $10 million for the new Cures Acceleration
Network (CAN). The bill decreases the NIH salary cap from Executive Level
I ($199,700) to Executive Level II ($179,700)—a better outcome than the House
draft bill, which recommended Executive Level III, but the first time Congress
has decreased the NIH salary cap.
The DOE Office of Science would receive $4.889 billion,
an increase of $46.34 million (about one percent) above FY 2011. The
final bill provides $20 million each to establish two new Energy Innovation
Hubs – one on Batteries and Energy Storage and one on Critical Materials.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs of the Department
are slated for level funding at $1.825 billion. The Advanced Research
Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), will receive $275 million, half of the $550
million requested by the President.
DOD basic and applied research programs remain a priority
within the bill as the overall increase for the Department was held to $5
billion above the FY 2011 level, a compromise between the House's $17 billion
increase and the Senate's proposed freeze. For DOD research overall, a total
of $72.4 billion is approved. While this represents a $2.5 billion
decrease below the current level, the reduction is less than experienced by
other aspects of the defense budget.
The final bill includes the necessary funding to continue
the maximum Pell grant award at $5,550, while
making changes to the program to reduce cost. However, the program is
still expected to face increased funding pressures because of the overall
growth of the program.
Additionally, the Senate rejected, in a 43 to 56 vote, a
resolution that would have triggered a 1.83 percent across-the-board reduction
against all discretionary spending except for defense, military construction,
and veterans programs. The reduction was designed to pay for an
additional $8.1 billion in disaster relief appropriations, which will now be
provided as emergency spending following Senate approval of that
The Congress also passed, and the President has signed, a
bill to extend the Continuing Resolution through December 23rd to allow the
President to review and sign the Consolidated Appropriations bill into law this
week. These actions will finally complete the FY 2012 appropriations
The California Council on Science and Technology
(CCST) has announced that applications are now being accepted for
the 2012-2013 California Science and Technology Policy
Fellowships based in Sacramento.
The S&T Policy Fellowship, a unique one-year professional
development opportunity, provides the selected fellows with hands-on
experience working with the California Legislature to incorporate science and
technology into public policy. The fellowships build on the highly successful
model of the Science and Technology Policy Fellowships offered by the American
Advancement for Science (AAAS) each year. Eligible applicants are PhD-level
(or equivalent) scientists and engineers who have a sincere interest in
California current events, the state legislative process, and a strong
desire to learn how policy decisions are made.
Application information can be found here: http://fellows.ccst.us/apply.php. All
applications must be submitted online by February
29, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. PST. Applications received after the deadline will
not be reviewed. More information is available at http://fellows.ccst.us.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS), the Charles
Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation (RMF), and the World Food Prize Foundation (WFPF)
invite nominations for the 2012 AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture
to be held in Spring 2012 at AAAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The lecture was named for the Missouri
research entomologist, Charles Valentine Riley, known for implementing one of
the first successful uses of biological control of an insect pest. The annual lecture,
which commenced in 2010, is aimed at highlighting the important role of
agricultural research as the most basic human endeavor and to enhance
agriculture through increased scientific knowledge.
Prior lecturers include ASPB members Roger Beachy (2010),
then USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) director, and
Pamela Ronald (2011), Professor, Department of Plant Pathology at the
University of California, Davis.
The 2012 nominees
should be well-respected scientists working at the forefront of a pressing
issue at the nexus of agriculture and society (see lecturer eligibility
specifics below). They should have outstanding scientific contributions or
significant policy accomplishments related to agriculture with demonstrated
societal impact. The lecture carries an honorarium of $5,000.
should be typed and include: (1) the nominator's name, title, institutional
affiliation, email address, and phone number; (2) the nominee's name, title,
institutional affiliation, address, email address, and phone number; (3) a
summary of the basis of the nomination (not to exceed 500 words); (4) a
curriculum vitae (3 page maximum); (5) any documentation (books, articles, or
other materials) that exemplify the nominee's accomplishments with respect to
agriculture and society (optional).
Please submit all
nominations in PDF or Word format via email to Anne Moraske at firstname.lastname@example.com by January 10, 2012. For
more information, please send Ms. Moraske an email or call 202-326-6759.
Lecturer eligibility:
Information regarding the sponsors and program for last
year's 2011 AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture can be found here: https://www.signup4.net/public/ap.aspx?EID=AAAS11E&OID=50.
The Lawrence
Award honors mid-career, U.S. scientists for exceptional advances in
research and development congruent with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
mission to advance the economic and energy security of the United States. The
award is given to scientists through the DOE's Office of Science in the
following eight categories: Atomic, Molecular, and Chemical Sciences;
Biological and Environmental Sciences; Computer, Information, and Knowledge
Sciences; Condensed Matter and Materials Sciences; Energy Science and
Innovation; Fusion and Plasma Sciences; High Energy and Nuclear Physics; and
National Security and Nonproliferation.
The Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award was established in 1959
in honor of a scientist who helped elevate American physics to world
leadership. E. O. Lawrence was the inventor of the cyclotron, an accelerator of
subatomic particles, and a 1939 Nobel Laureate in physics for that achievement.
The Radiation Laboratory he developed at Berkeley during the 1930s ushered in
the era of "big science," in which experiments were no longer done by
an individual researcher and a few assistants on the table-top of an academic
lab but by large, multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers in entire
buildings full of sophisticated equipment and huge scientific machines. During
World War II, Lawrence and his accelerators contributed to the Manhattan
Project, and he later played a leading role in establishing the U.S. system of
national laboratories, two of which (Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore)
now bear his name.
Each Lawrence Award category winner receives a citation
signed by the Secretary of Energy, a gold medal bearing the likeness of Ernest
Orlando Lawrence, and a $20,000 honorarium; if there are co-winners in a
category, the honorarium is shared equally.
Nominations and selection guidelines can be found here: http://science.energy.gov/lawrence/nomination-and-selection-guidelines/.
Briefly, nominations are made by submitting a letter of justification, a
statement explaining the nominee's connection to DOE support, a separate
bibliography comprising no more than five significant publications related to
the achievement, a curriculum
vitae, at least three and no more than six letters of support, and
a suggested citation. Submission of all nomination materials, including letters
of support, in PDF format, is made online at http://www.orau.gov/lawrence/.
For a list of previous Lawrence Award laureates see http://science.energy.gov/lawrence/award-laureates/.
All nomination materials and support letters for the 2012
E. O. Lawrence Award must be received by
March 15, 2012, 11:00 PM, ET. No materials will be accepted
after the submission deadline has passed.
Indirect costs, also known as facilities and
administration costs, included in many USDA National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA) funded grants have previously been limited to at most
22%. The FY
2012 minibus appropriations bill provides language (see below) that allows
for up to 30% for indirect costs, at least for grants funded in FY 2012. Indirect cost rates for most research
institutions hover around 50%. This
change in policy at the USDA represents a major step towards rates honored at
other science funding agencies.
Text from the appropriations bill:
720. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay indirect costs
charged against any agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards
issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture that exceed 30 percent
of total Federal funds provided under each award: Provided, That
notwithstanding section 1462 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310), funds provided by this Act for
grants awarded competitively by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
shall be available to pay full allowable indirect costs for each grant awarded
under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
This post includes content provided by ASPB's external government relations consultant, Lewis-Burke Associates LLC.
Media attention has focused on the failure of the 12-member
congressional Supercommittee to reach agreement on a package to reduce the
federal deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next nine years. However,
universities and science organizations are not the victims of the deficit
impasse. Generally, federal funding for scientific research is not the target
of deficit reduction for several reasons: (1) the amount of domestic
discretionary funding for science is not large enough to have significant
impact on deficit reduction; (2) science has bipartisan support among
politicians since it is part of the innovation economy upon which the country's
financial recovery is partially dependent; and (3) dismantling the scientific infrastructure of the country is counter-productive in the global
technology-driven forces of the 21st century. There are aspects of the current
federal deficit paralysis that indirectly affect higher education –
particularly relating to student aid, academic health centers, and tax policy –
but reducing direct federal support of scientific research at academic
institutions is not front-and-center.
Now, many are trying to determine what happens next as Congress
still has much work to do before adjourning next month. With funding fully
enacted for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative (AFRI) the competitive funding arm of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), with modest increases (NSF and NOAA), flat funding (AFRI)
or a slight reduction (NASA), completion of the fiscal year (FY) 2012
appropriations process, especially for NIH funding, is an important challenge.
In addition to funding the remaining appropriations bills, which are currently
operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) through December 16th, there are
other issues looming before Congress, such as extension of unemployment
benefits, doctor payments, and tax extenders. This report describes the impact
of the collapse of the Supercommittee at the federal level; however, actions
might be taken by state and local governments to respond to possible
implications associated with the collapse of the Supercommittee process.
Outlook for Science Funding
Among its many to-dos, Congress must still complete nine
remaining FY 2012 appropriations bills, including bills that fund the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of
Defense (DOD), and the Department of Education (ED). It is expected that this
will be done through one large "omnibus" package before the end of the calendar
year. As previously reported, other science agencies for which appropriations
bills have been passed—namely NSF, NASA, NOAA, and the Department of
Agriculture (USDA)—fared relatively well in FY 2012, receiving budgets that are
about flat or slightly increased above the FY 2011 enacted level. A similar
outcome is expected for basic research in agencies like NIH and DOE in the
final appropriations agreement.
One caveat is that it is not uncommon for a modest
across-the-board reduction to be included in an omnibus appropriations bill
should it be warranted to keep discretionary appropriations within the overall
cap of $1.043 trillion enacted in the Budget Control Act (debt limit agreement).
Should the appropriations process stall, there has been some discussion of extending
the current CR into early next year, which would result in a freeze for all
programs at the current (FY 2011) level until Congress completes an omnibus
bill or enacts a CR for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Planning is also underway by agencies for the President's FY
2013 budget request which is expected to be more conservative than in past
years and may even be delayed due to the uncertainty of future budget cuts. The
FY 2013 process remains very uncertain at the moment with flat funding for
federal research agencies considered "a win" in the coming years.
Scenarios for FY 2014 and Beyond
In August, the Budget Control Act enacted a process that would
institute automatic across-the-board budget cuts over nine years, known as
sequestration, in the event that the Supercommittee could not reach a deal.
However, given that the cuts are not scheduled to go into effect until January
2013 (after the election) and are subject to subsequent revision by Congress,
it is possible they will be delayed or never triggered at all. In the event no
changes are made to the automatic budget cuts, the White House Office of
Management and Budget would be required to reduce the discretionary
appropriated budget by $109 billion per year for nine years, allocated equally
between defense spending and nondefense spending.
Reductions in discretionary spending from 2014 to 2021 would be
achieved by reducing the aggregate overall caps on such spending for each year.
While the President could propose specific cuts to agencies such as NIH and
NSF, specific appropriations would still be subject to the annual congressional
appropriations process and program funding could be increased or further
decreased within the overall capped amount for all discretionary spending. As a
general rule of thumb, if these cuts were allocated proportionately, it would
mean 6 to 8 percent reductions to the domestic spending agencies.
Concerns are already being expressed by the Administration and
by both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress over the magnitude of
potential spending cuts to defense. The Congressional Budget Office estimates
that the DOD budget could be cut by as much as 10 percent in FY 2013 under the
mandated sequester with additional reductions in discretionary defense spending
over the nine-year period to estimated savings of about 8.5 percent in FY 2021.
Such reductions, totaling an estimated $492 billion, could impact big defense
programs already at issue in Congress, as well as drive changes in the
structure and mobility of the nation's military services already under
consideration. Additional reductions in mandatory defense spending are also
likely under current law. While some want to undo the sequester for defense,
the President has threatened to veto any bill that focuses only on exempting
defense spending.
In short, the budget outlook for the next several years is
uncertain at best. The main question on the table is whether and how to skirt
the automatic cuts that would be levied against FY 2013 appropriations as
required under the Budget Control Act. However, flat funding for science agencies
remains a possibility over the next few years and should be viewed as a "win"
in the current budget climate.
The House and Senate have come to a conference agreement on
the first fiscal year (FY) 2012 "minibus" bill (H.R. 2112), which combines
three appropriations bills into one package – the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration bill; the Commerce, Justice, Science
bill; and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill. These
bills provide funding for federal research agencies, including the National
Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture (NIFA), among others. While science agencies did
well overall, with most gaining modest increases over FY 2011 levels,
Administration priorities such as the Sustainable Communities Initiative and
high-speed rail were zeroed out, signaling trouble for other White House
initiatives in upcoming appropriations bills. The minibus would also
include a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the rest of the federal government
through December 16, 2011.
The House is expected to pass the conference report on
Thursday, November 17, with the Senate following suit on Friday, November
18. The President is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday before
the current short-term CR expires. While the Senate had hoped to continue
work on additional minibus bills, that effort has stalled and appropriators are
now looking at packaging the remaining appropriations bills into one large
omnibus bill.
Below is additional information on funding amounts and
agency directives provided for NSF, USDA, and the Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), included in the minibus agreement.
Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF fares well in the conference agreement receiving a total
budget of $7.033 billion, which is $173 million or 2.5 percent over FY 2011 and
higher than both the House and Senate marks. Within this amount, Research
and Related Activities (R&RA) would receive $5.719 billion, $155 million or
2.8 percent over FY 2011 and also higher than both the House and Senate marks.
The report is supportive of NSF's R&RA termination and reduction
proposals, including the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory,
Research Initiation to Broaden Participation in Biology, and the Synchrotron
Radiation Center, but does not accept the requested reduction to the radio
astronomy program. The report approves of NSF prioritization of advanced
manufacturing and cybersecurity, and calls for NSF to fully fund cybersecurity
at the budget request level of $156.55 million. As in the House report,
neuroscience is highlighted as a key area and the report encourages NSF to
"establish a cognitive sciences and neurosciences crosscutting theme."
The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
(MREFC) account would receive $167.055 million, which is $50 million or 43
percent above the FY 2011 level and higher than both the House and Senate
marks. As in the House bill, no funding levels are listed for specific projects,
and the report instead directs NSF to prioritize projects nearing
completion. The report includes language allowing transfer of funds from
R&RA to MREFC, but this authority has been modified to allow $50 million to
be transferred rather than the $100 million allowed by the Senate report.
As in the House report, NSF is instructed to review its current portfolio of
MREFC projects and their out-year funding profiles to make certain they are in
line with appropriated funding for FY 2011 and FY 2012. Should
adjustments be needed, the Committee directs NSF to report revised profiles to
the Committee and to include the new funding profiles in the FY 2013 budget
request. Also as in the House report, the Committee directs NSF to
strengthen oversight of contingency funding and incentivize grantees to bring
projects in under budget. The Committee directs NSF to report on its
efforts to limit the use of contingency funding and ensure return of excess
funds for large facility projects within 90 days of enactment.
The Education and Human Resources (EHR) account would be
funded at $829 million, $32 million or 3.7 percent below the FY 2011 level and
equal to the Senate-proposed level. As in the House report, the
Conference Committee does not support the proposed reductions to the Robert
Noyce Scholarship program and the Math and Science Partnership program, but
does approve of all other proposed reductions and terminations in the EHR
budget request. Like the Senate, the Committee would also provide an
additional $20 million above the request level to expand the Federal Cyber
Service: Scholarships for Service program. As in the House report, the
Committee directs NSF to distribute the National Research Council's report,
Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and provide an evaluation plan within
12 months of enactment regarding the steps NSF and other Federal agencies
should take to implement the plan. On the topic of broadening
participation programs, after some discussion over the last several years
regarding the creation of a separate Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)
program, the Committee directs NSF to provide a report on how the needs of HSIs
will be addressed in FY 2012 and any future plans to establish an HSI program
in FY 2013. The Committee also supports the FY 2011 levels for the
existing broadening participation programs.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The conference agreement includes
nearly $2.3 billion for research throughout USDA, a reduction of $51.1 million
(2 percent) below the FY 2011 enacted level. The conferees recommend
$1.095 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to support USDA's
intramural research programs, disagreeing with the President's request to
terminate extramural research through ARS. The conferees do concur with
the Administration's proposal to close 12 research laboratories at 10 locations
and they request a report on the disposition of the facilities by January 20,
For the extramural research
programs of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the final bill
includes $705.6 million for research and education activities, an increase of
$104.8 million (17 percent) above the House recommendation and $4.2 million
below the Senate-passed level. The conferees express their strong support
for USDA's agricultural research, extension, and education activities through
NIFA, but they note concerns about the focus of the research programs,
especially projects through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
(AFRI). The conferees strongly encourage USDA to fund only the highest
priority agricultural research authorized by Congress. The conferees
approve $9 million for the Graduate Fellowship Grants, Institution Challenge
Grants, and Multicultural Scholars Program.
Within NIFA, a total of $264.5
million is approved for competitive extramural agricultural research through
AFRI, which is the same as the FY 2011 enacted level. For the formula or
capacity-building programs, the final bill includes $236.3 million for the
Hatch Act, the same as the FY 2011 level, and $32.9 million for
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry.
The conferees do not fund the
Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities Endowment Fund proposed
at $10 million by the President.
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
The conference agreement would
provide OSTP with $4.5 million for FY 2012, which is $2.1 million or 32 percent
below the FY 2011 level, $1.5 million above the House level, and $1.5 million
below the Senate mark. The conferees support OSTP's
efforts to improve coordination of federal STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics) education programs and to develop a
government-wide STEM education strategic plan. The bill also directs OSTP
to include in this strategic plan goals to improve distribution of STEM
education research and best practices. The bill further encourages OSTP
to establish an interagency working group through the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC) to coordinate investments in neuroscience
research. The report language specifically highlights the need to develop
future clinical treatments for traumatic brain injuries and an improved
understanding of cognition and learning, Alzheimer's disease, and childhood
development disorders. Also, in light of the recent Government
Accountability Office (GAO) report in May stating OSTP illegally engaged in
bilateral activities with China, the bill restricts
OSTP from engaging in any activities that would risk transferring sensitive
technology and data and harm U.S. economic and national security
interests. The bill does allow OSTP to carry out other activities with
China, such as public health planning and disaster response.
The complete report is located here:
The language for the report is located
This post has not been tagged.
Now, the second key principle I
alluded to earlier centers on sustaining agricultural productivity.
Farmers and ranchers and growers must be able to produce an affordable and
appealing product each and every year.Our farmers are the most
productive in the world, and that leadership position must be maintained.
Today there's no question that American farmers can produce enough to feed our
nation, but that hasn't always been the case. Over the past 60 years,
yields per acre of major crops—corn, soy, wheat, and cotton—have doubled,
tripled, and in some cases even quadrupled. At the same time, livestock
production and specialty crop production have become far more efficient.
Now, this evolution was not pre-ordained. Producers embraced new science and
new technologies and production techniques we see here at this plant. We laid
the foundation for this incredible productivity through a sustained investment
in research; and Congress must find ways to support research that is focused on
crop production and protection, on livestock production and protection.Studies have shown that public
investments in agricultural research earn a 20 dollars-to-1 return of
investment in the U.S. economy. Once that information is disseminated to
farmers, ranchers, and producers, they take it and make—make it work. And
these benefits extend beyond just economic returns. Research also leads
to improved soil and water and air quality, and they help us to design
strategies that will enable us to deal with the impacts of the changing
climate.Public funding for agricultural
research has remained basically flat-lined since the 1990s, clearly not keeping
pace with other federally-supported research; and a recent USDA study sounded a
warning signal to all of us that there is a direct link between increases in
agricultural investment on research and agricultural productivity. If we
continue to flat-line our commitment to research, our productivity will likely
suffer; this at a time when our productivity will have to continue to increase
to meet the global demand for food.
Farm Bill
Another priority worthy of protection is agricultural research. Without continued investment, food production in this country and around the globe will not be able to keep up with challenges posed by growing populations, climate change, invasive pests, and other threats. According to the Economic Research Service, global demand for food will grow 70 to 100 percent by 2050. To meet that demand, our production capacity will have to increase. Those increases will not happen without sustained emphasis on agricultural research. Senator Blunt and I have worked hard to protect these investments, often at the expense of other USDA programs.
White House
White House
9/28/2015The Origin and Spread of "Emperor's Rice"
8/25/2015ASPB joins AIBS letter to Senate Commerce on reauthorization of COMPETES
8/21/2015New Edition of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants Launches
6/1/2016 » 6/30/2016Bringing RNA-Seq into Undergraduate Education: Virtual Workshop, June 2016
6/19/2016 » 6/24/2016GORDON CONFERENCE ON MITOCHONDRIA AND CHLOROPLASTS Evolution, Biogenesis and Quality Control
6/21/2016 » 6/25/201622nd International Conference on Plant Growth Substances
7/9/2016 » 7/13/2016Plant Biology 2016
15501 Monona Drive
Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA
Phone: 301-251-0560
Fax: 301-279-2996
© Copyright American Society of Plant Biologists 2014 (All Rights Reserved)


text:
Inefficient Nature
[An expanded, corrected and illustrated update of this article appears in The Lost Inventions of Buckminster Fuller.]
R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 – 1983) claimed that nature was efficient. Fuller claimed the efficiency of nature was the model he used for his inventions, inventions with which he attempted to 'do more with less.' As part of a critical analysis of Fuller and what he called comprehensive anticipatory design science, this essay will demonstrate that Fuller's claim is false.
Fuller used the words nature, Universe, everything, all and similar words as synonyms. This essay will use the single word nature to reference what Fuller spoke of by each of these words. Nature is "the totality of both all that is known and all that is unknown." [1056.13: this an all other numbered citations are from Fuller's Synergetics and Synergetics 2] Nature "consisting always of observer plus the observed." [540.03] Fuller's use of the words nature or efficiency are not unusual or strained or vague. When Fuller spoke of nature, he spoke of all that is.
Humans are part of what is known and unknown. Humans are in part observer and in part observed. Fuller claimed humans are part of nature. Humans are "an essential metaphysical function of Universe." [326.24] Fuller claimed that humans have a function in nature. This claim will be more fully addressed in a future essay. For this essay, it is sufficient to note that the function of humans is addressed only as evidence that Fuller claimed humans are part of nature. Fuller claimed that humans have a "cosmically unique [function] in the generalized design scheme of Universe." [165] Scientific and artistic discoveries are the "the gradual discovery of the function in Universe which humanity has been designed to fulfill." [174] "Humans were included in the cosmic system's design to fulfill critical functions in respect to maintenance of the integrity of eternally regenerative Scenario Universe." [265.01]
Fuller applied his claim that humans are a part of nature and that humans have a function in nature to humanity as a species and to individual humans. "The individual metaphysical human viewpoint – the individual ego of the human – is indeed an essential function of the eternally regenerative integrity of complex law-governed Universe." [310.13] "[Each] one of us is where the problem-solving of Universe is being transacted […] each of us might be a department of the mind of what we might call god […] each of us humans is an important function in sustaining the eternally regenerative integrity of Universe." [311.14-15]
The above quotations establish that Fuller claimed nature was all-inclusive, and that humans (as a species and as individuals) are part of nature. Fuller also claimed that nature was efficient. Like his use of the words nature, Universe, everything, all, etc. as synonyms, Fuller used a number of words as synonyms for efficiency. These include economical, least effort, most comfortable and others. This essay will use the single word efficiency to reference what Fuller spoke of by each of these words. Fuller was clear about where nature's efficiency could be found by using words such as only, always, all, 100%. Fuller claimed that there were absolutely no exceptions to nature's efficiency.
Fuller claimed "There are no straight lines, physical or metaphysical. There are only geodesic, i.e., most economical, interrelationships (vectors)." [240.25] These vectors "are always the most economical event interrelationships." [240.27] Nature "always operates most economically" [260.33], "always employs only the most economical intertransformative and omnicosmic interrelatedness behavioral stratagems" [537.06], "always operates in the most economical ways." [990.03] Nature is "100-percent-efficient." [987.031] Efficiency is found in "all design of all pattern integrity of Universe." [539.05] "All the forces operative in Universe result in a complex progression of most comfortable – i.e., least effort, rearrangings." [601.01] "All the physicists' experiments show that nature always employs the most energy-economical strategies." [950.21]
Fuller clearly claimed that nature was always efficient and that humans were part of nature. Criticism of these claims yields logical contradictions, internal contradictions and contradictions with evidence.
If all things are part of nature, and if all of nature is efficient, then how can one know that nature is efficient? There is no non-natural thing to measure efficiency against, and there is no non-efficient thing to measure nature against. Equating nature and efficiency and removing the possibility that there is a non-natural or non-efficient thing makes either nature or efficiency or both impossible to observe.
If humans (as a species and as individuals) are a part of nature then all inventions by humans (as a species and as individuals) are equally based on nature. Fuller's inventions are neither more or less based on nature than any other invention by any other person. No invention by Fuller is any more or less efficient than any any other invention by any other person.
Fuller contradicts himself when he claims "The cosmic design often employs precession to guide the ignorant players into inadvertently producing the evolutionarily necessary regenerative integrity functions, while the ignorant are consciously preoccupied only in vain and selfishly expedient ends." [541.18] Are humans efficient or not?
Efficiency is inherently a singular state. But Fuller writes "Nature employs only one or another of the most equieconomical relationships." [1023.15] If a thing or process is most efficient, that must mean that all other things and processes are less efficient. How can there be more than one "most equieconomical relationship?"
Fuller may have been aware of some of the claims in his contradictions. When he usually writes about humans in absolute terms (always, only, all, etc.), at least once Fuller left himself an out by speaking of humans in relative terms (it could be, if, might, etc.). "So it could be that human beings, wherever they occur in Universe, may be introduced as a means of coping metaphysically with the most complex kinds of local Universe problems, so that each one of us is where the problem-solving of Universe is being transacted. If we were to think of ourselves as things – as china dolls, as kinds of china dolls that would just get smashed up or would just get worn or eroded away – that wouldn't be very good thinking. It would be much closer to actual Universe to think of ourselves as an absolutely continuous complex process. We are quite possibly the most complex of the problem-solving challenges of the invention that is eternally regenerative Scenario Universe. In this way each of us might be a department of the mind of what we might call god." [311.14]
Fuller's contradictory claims about nature and efficiency have three sources: the powers and responsibilities he claimed as part of his revelation of 1927, his theism and his misunderstanding of the scientific method. Fuller's revelation will be more fully addressed in a future essay. For this essay, it is sufficient to note that Fuller claimed to know "the coordinate system of Universe." Fuller "need not await temporal attestations to [his] thoughts, [for he thought] the truth." Where science is the process of making claims and subjecting them to criticism, design science (Fuller) was exempt from criticism. Fuller claimed that evolution was deliberately not working in any area addressed by others. [250.51] Fuller's theism will also be more fully addressed in a future essay. For this essay it is sufficient to note that Fuller advocated teleology, the interpretation of apparent order as deliberate design. This essay will address the role of efficiency in science.
Nature does not appear to be especially driven by efficiency. Universe has changed over time; wouldn't it have been more efficient for the Universe to occur at it's present 'most efficient' state (or some future 'most efficient' state)? The human body is replete with examples of 'inefficiency.' These include the ratio of the human head (large) to the birth canal (small), breech birth, genetic disorders and congenital diseases, wisdom teeth and more. Was Fuller's wife Annie's cancer 'efficient?' Was Fuller's own heart attack?
Evolution, the change found in nature, is the non-random endurance of traits influenced by random internal and external events. Evolution is an accumulation of what has not yet been chipped away, not the accumulation of fitness. Science is the process of attentiveness to error, what has been chipped away, and not the accumulation of facts. While the apparent inefficiency of the human body contradicts any claim that nature is always efficient or intelligently designed, the process of evolution is a claim by science that fits the evidence.
There is a flawed but serviceable method for humanity to measure and increase efficiency. That method is science. Claims can be made about the efficiency of an object or process, those claims can be submitted to tests, and those objects or processes that do not fail can be provisionally held to be efficient. These objects or processes can be submitted to repeated and hopefully more critical tests. Such testing will not breed efficiency into an object or process. It will not discover an inherent efficiency in an object or process, like a fairy of growth in the green garden. But scientific testing may breed out inefficiency.
The scientific method cannot guarantee to breed out inefficiency but it is the only method known to work on occasion. Nor is science bound to breeding out inefficiency only in housing or transportation or education. Science can also breed out inefficiency in weaponry and war. Perhaps what remains of value in Fuller's design science is Fuller's claim that scientists can elect to apply their skills and resources to peaceful ends. This claim does not make design science exempt from criticism, or resolve its contradictions, or distinguish it from 'non-design science' science. But science applied to peaceful ends is a laudable goal and in that Fuller is to be commended.
– Trevor Blake
Trevor Blake is the author of the Buckminster Fuller Bibliography, available at synchronofile.com
Fuller, R. Buckminster: Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking. Macmillan: New York 1975.
Fuller, R. Buckminster: Synergetics 2: Further Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking. Macmillan: New York 1979.
- "Lost Inventions" and "Bibliography" Going Out of Print January 2016
- Buckminster Fuller at 120
- Buckminster Fuller's Ultra-Micro Computer
- Buckminster Fuller's Automatic Cotton Mill
- Synergetics Stew July 2013
- How Much Does Your Archive Weigh?
- The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller
- Energetic-Synergetic Geometry 1962
- The Lost Inventions of Buckminster Fuller – Kindle Edition
- The Nestable Structural Joggled Diamond Shingles Geodesic
- Buckminster Fuller Bibliography – Kindle Edition
- Fuller in Fashion
- Synergetics Stew June 2011
- R. Buckminster Fuller's Influence on Science Fiction Films and Television
- R. Buckminster Fuller: A Verb on Two Legs
- Dymaxion Deployment Units Still Standing
- R. Buckminster Fuller and Technocracy Incorporated
- Geodesic Domes and Earthquakes
- LOST Domes
- Opening of the BFI Study Center
- Synergetics Stew January 2009
- 4D Syndicate, The First Google Wave for Buckminster Fuller
- 4d House Paper Model
- Who Am I?
- Dymaxion Car Restored
- Buckminster Fuller, Creationist
- 4D House in 3D
- R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE
- Buckminster Fuller and the Twelfth of July
- Buckminster Fuller, Literary Critic
- Buckminster Fuller and the Homeless of New York
- The Lost Inventions of Buckminster Fuller (Part 3 of 3)
- The Lost Inventions of Buckminster Fuller (Part 2 of 3)
- The Lost Inventions of Buckminster Fuller (Part 1 of 3)
- Inefficient Nature
- The Puppets of Buckminster Fuller
- The Approximately Omnidirectional Ephemeralization of Richard Buckminster Fuller
- Dymaxion Portland
- R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Frenzy-ing strategy
View Single Post
Join Date
: Dec 2005
: 104
Ok guys, I spent 2 whole days playing online,trying to get legendary status. I got 64, even more medals for frenzy. Still there is no elite rifle.This is what I found in one of the hints to the game.(
) I'm sure rules for x-box arte the same, althought i play pc version.Notice the last sentence.
Unlockable Medals and Award Weapons
You start off with all your medals at 0. This is Green status.
To unlock an award weapon for a specific medal you must first gain 4 medals in that category to achieve Veteran status for that medal. Then when you successfully obtain the medal you will gain your award weapon. You must switch to it to use it.
Veteran status allows you to gain an award weapon and also gives you a 30 second grace period in which if you die, you will respawn with the award weapon. If you die after this 30 second grace period, you have to earn the medal/weapon again.
Elite Status gives you the advantage of lowering the requirement for that particular medal by 25% e.g. Elite status in Frenzy will let you gain the Frenzy award with only 9 kills instead of 12, therefore making it easier to gain.
Legendary Status allows you to permanently unlock the Award for that medal. You still start with the default weapon and must switch to the Award Weapon after entering combat.
Heroes cannot obtain medals, except in the case of the Mos Eisley Assault level, where you can earn Endurance, Guardian and War Hero.
These are all gained in Single Player mode. Can only be used on XBL if the server allows it.
Its strange because you have grace priod, that means you can have elite status in multiplayer. I am sure i got 64 plus medals in frenzy by now, I counted them as I earned them. Still....no elite rifle. Why??? Did lucasarts turn of legendary status for multiplayer?
Is there anyone with permanent elite rifle or other permanent award weapons in MULTIPLAYER????? I havn't met anyone yet.
you may:
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by jake123456


text:
Reginald L. Myles
Position: DB
Height: 5-11 Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: October 10, 1979 in Pascagoula, MS
High School: Pascagoula
College: Alabama (school history) (Myles college stats)
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 2 (11632nd overall since 1950)
Other SR Links: College Football at Sports-Reference.com
Sponsor this page for $5 and help Pro-Football-Reference.com provide this service. Your message will replace this ad.
Output includes all games from 1920 to 2015.


text:
These are heady times for Mariners fans in Seattle. They have an unexpected shot at the AL West divisional title (only 4.5 guys out!), they have the most exciting young pitcher in baseball (and the best cheering section in the majors, specifically for him), and now they even have the country's pre-eminent "Thriller" dancer of a sub-Bar Mitzvah age. In a game last week against the San Diego Padres, the Mariners dubbed it '80s night, wore fantastic throwback uniforms, and showcased a small child performing a dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on the JumboTron. Said young'n does the zombie moves, the moonwalk, MJ points, and even curls his M's cap on his arm and onto his head.
The kid's swag is indeed phenomenal, but what really makes the clip a must-watch is the commentary of those filming, as they remark "Swag, bro, swag" and shout "It's OVER!" like Kenny Smith at the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest, as if there was another, much less-talented 11-year-old doing the "Billie Jean" dance on the other side of the field. Check it:


text:
Jan. 11, 2014
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
East Carolina Head Coach Jeff Lebo
Opening Statement
"This was a tough game for us, especially on the defensive end of the floor. (Keenan) Palmore dominated the game. Their guards got to the painted area. We've tried to mask our inability to defend the ball, but they exposed it tonight at the guard spots. We started with Akeem on Palmore, and he had a tough night trying to defend him in that area. We wanted to try to keep Paris (Roberts-Campbell) on (Aaron) Bacote as much as possible, but their ability to beat us 1-on-1 was the bottom line. They got to the rim area and got into the painted area too easily. We offered no resistance for most of the night. Petar came in off the bench, looked confident and made four 3s. Paris's first half was terrific, but not enough to go with him especially on the defensive end. Again, it was a tough game and we couldn't get enough shots. We missed some shots at a crucial times, and we could never really get the momentum going offensively because of those misses."
On Akeem Richmond's performance
"He's got to find a way to help us as a basketball player. You can't let your offense define you as a player. This game is more than just shooting the ball -- there's rebounding, defense, and leadership. There's a lot of other things that define a good basketball. Typically a young player has a problem with that, not a senior, and he's got to learn that. People are going to be physical with him and not let him get his shots like he usually gets them."
On the defensive performance performance: "It was a frustrating night on the defensive end. It was nothing that they threw at us. When things broke down they set a ball screen and just drove us and took it right to the paint. They had their way with us. You saw it, I saw it, everybody out there saw it. That's just the way it was."
Old Dominion Head Coach Jeff Jones
Opening Statement
"Terrific win for our team. Our guys certainly were emotional for the first Conference USA tilt for us. Our guys were certainly ready to play. The message right before the game was channel that emotion, and I think that by all counts these guys did a great job of that. Paris Roberts-Campbell in the first half kind of thwarted our defensive plan. He was terrific in that first half, but over the course of the game I thought these guys did a terrific job. Keenan made Richmond work. He's such a dynamic player, no one is going to really shut him out. He takes them and can make difficult shots. Keenan was there and that was obviously key."
Senior guard Akeem Richmond
On ODU's offensive success
"They weren't doing anything too tricky; we just didn't have a good game defensively. Guys were just beating us 1-on-1. Ball screens really hurt us. I don't want to make up any excuses, we were just sloppy."
On having a short memory
"We definitely have to have amnesia. We can't get down on ourselves, we can't panic or anything like that. We have to really stay positive and keep working."
Senior Guard Petar Torlak
On playing meaningful minutes
"I just try to help my team when I get in the game. Use my minutes, shoot the ball, do whatever I can. But, defensively I didn't play at a high level tonight."
On ODU's Offensive success
"Like Akeem said, they didn't do anything tricky. We just have to be tougher on the ball, and on ball screens. As the seniors need to step up and do that and show the new guys how it's done."


text:
Friday Night Music with Scott Cossu
|Fri, Jul 11, 2014
|6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
|Three Rivers Winery
|Tickets may be purchased online below or by calling 509-526-9463 x1
Join us for a casual evening of locally catered food, Three Rivers wines and music by Scott Cossu while enjoying stunning views of the Blue Mountains and our surrounding vineyards. Walla Walla Bread Company will be onsite selling tasty pizzas fresh from their mobile wood-fired pizza oven. Wines will be available for purchase by the glass or by the bottle. There will be one featured wine on special at 15% off. No outside food or drink may be brought on site, thank you for understanding.
Scott is an internationally known, composer, pianist and recording artist. He was up front when New Age was just beginning over 30 years ago. He will be performing a wide variety of music during his performance, including several tunes from his repertoire of music with the Windham Hill catalog, along with his most recent recording " Jazz, Boogie and Deja Blues."
Learn More About Scott Cossu:
All ages are welcome.
Advance ticket purchases are appreciated for proper staffing and catering of the event, but are not required. Reservations may be made online or by calling 509-526-9463 x1.


text:
Penn, Fitch fight to draw at UFC 127
Report by Anthony Springer, Jr.
Photos courtesty of Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Fitch and Penn go toe-to-toe, neither man emerges victorious
For the second time in as many months, a UFC main event ended with no winner and lots of discussion.
Perennial 170-pound title contender Jon Fitch and former two-division champion BJ Penn went at each other for 15-minutes—and both came up on the short end of the stick. Like Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard on New Year's Day, the bout ended in a majority draw.
"The Prodigy" struck first in the opening round, taking down the former Purdue University wrestler. On the mat, Penn threatened with a rear naked choke but was unable to finish the scrappy Fitch.
Penn came out hard again in the second frame, finding a home in the top position. A second failed rear naked choke attempt allowed Fitch a chance to reverse roles. A late rally from Fitch tied the bout up in the minds of many fans in attendance.
Facing a possible two round deficit heading into the third, the American Kickboxing Academy fighter went for broke. Over the course of five minutes, Fitch battered Penn with punches and elbows. The effort, likely the most blistering attack Penn has seen in his MMA career, was nearly a consensus 10-8 round.
The judges scored the bout 29-28 for Fitch and 28-28 twice.
Both men remain open to the possibility of a rematch.
Rivera down by "The Count"
Michael Bisping was steaming heading into Saturday night's co-main event with Jorge Rivera. In the run up to the fight, the Ultimate Fighter winner's opponent had verbally jabbed at him through a series of Internet videos. The verbal barbs worked as Bisping, in uncharacteristic fashion, vowed to send Rivera back to the undercards with a loss.
He made good on his word.
"The Count" earned a controversial TKO victory, finishing off Rivera with strikes at 1:54 in the second round.
Early in the opener, Rivera found himself on the receiving end of an illegal knee to the face. The move cost Bisping a point, but clearly fazed Rivera who soldiered on after the blow.
Other than a big right hand in the second frame, the hard hitting Rivera had few answers for Bisping's more polished and technical striking. A barrage of combos, knees and elbows sealed Rivera's fate as the referee rushed in to halt the bout.
Siver derails Sotiropolous
Prior to UFC 127, talks of a potential title shot swirled around submission specialist George Sotiropolous. He just had to get past German striker Dennis Siver first.
As everyone knows, submissions can't occur if a fighter can't get the bout to the ground. Dennis Siver used stellar takedown defense to keep the fight standing en route to a surprising—but dominant—unanimous decision victory over the Australian. Unable to get the fight to the ground, Sotiropolous found himself playing Siver's game. The opening round set the tone for the remainder of the contest as Siver floored his foe twice.
The judges scored the contest 29-28, 30-28 and 30-27.
Ebersole makes good on debut, stuns scrappy Lytle
Brian Ebersole went toe-to-toe with Chris Lytle and earned a unanimous decision win and new fans in the process.
Ebersole, making his UFC debut battered "Lights Out" with heavy hands and a thorough ground attack over the course of the fight. A strong finish in the closing moments of the bout, in which Ebersole finished with a big elbow made picking a winner an easy decision.
The judges scored the bout 30-37 and 29-28 twice.
Noke shines on home turf, chokes out Camozzi
Kyle Noke made short work of fellow TUF housemate, Chris Camozzi, earning a victory by rear naked choke in the opening round.
It took Noke just 1:35 to secure a takedown, flatten out Camozzi and sink in the fight ending hold.
The Undercard
Ross Pearson defeated the always tough Spencer Fisher via unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 30-27 and 29-28 twice.
Alexander Gustafsson used a rear naked choke to stop James Te Huna at 4:27 in the opening round.
Riki Fukuda earned a hard fought decision win over Nick Ring. The final scores read 28-28, 29-28 and 29-28.
Anthony Perosh defeated Tom Blackledge by rear naked choke at 2:45 in the opening frame.
Tiequan Zhang emerged victorious over Jason Reinhardt via guillotine choke in just 48 seconds of the first round.
Veteran fighter Mark Hunt stopped fellow heavyweight Chris Tuchscherer with punches. The TKO win came at 1:41 in the second round.
Curt Warburton opened up the night with a decision win over Maciej Jewtuszko. All three judges scored the bout 29-28.
© 2010 by Fightnews.com.


text:
"Lisa Keller suggests in her new book that in New York City the scales may be tipping toward less liberty and more order," says Sam Roberts of the New York Times.
"The provocative book forces us to reconsider our priorities as the British and American governments use the excuse of both terror and traffic to resist even the possibility of public expression in public places," says Kenneth Jackson of Columbia University.
In "Triumph of Order: Democracy and Public Space in New York and London," Lisa Keller, professor of history at Purchase College State University of New York offers "stimulating and sobering insights into the challenges and constraints of big-city living in our own day," says Sir David Cannadine of the University of London.
The book examines how urban environments were created where residents work, live and prosper with minimal disruption. New York and London established a network of laws, policing, and municipal government in the nineteenth century aimed at building the confidence of the citizenry and creating stability for economic growth. At the same time these two world cities attempted to maintain an expansive level of free speech and assembly, concepts deeply ingrained in both national cultures. As democracy expanded in tandem with the size of the cities themselves, the two goals clashed, resulting in tensions over their compatibility.
The results of this clash continue to resonate in our society today. Treating nineteenth-century London and New York as case studies, Lisa Keller examines the critical development of sanctioned free speech, controlled public assembly, new urban regulations, and the quelling of riots, all in the name of a proper regard for order.
Drawing on rich archival sources that include the unpublished correspondence of government officials and ordinary citizens, Keller paints an intimate portrait of daily life in these two cities and the intricacies of their emerging bureaucracies. She finds that New York eventually settled on a policy of preempting disruption before it occurred, while London chose a path of greater tolerance toward street activities.
Dividing her history into five categories—cities, police and militia, the public, free speech and assembly, and the law—Keller concludes with an assessment of freedom in these cities today and asks whether the scales have been tipped too strongly on the side of order and control. Public officials increasingly use permits, fees, and bureaucratic hassles to frustrate the ability of reformers and protesters to make their voices heard, and by doing so, she argues, they strike at the very foundations of democracy.
Lisa Keller is the founding director of the Journalism Program at Purchase College, a professor of history, and recipient of a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. She has a bachelor's degree from Vassar College and a PhD from Cambridge University
The book is published by Columbia University Press, $45.
Lisa Keller will participate in a panel on April 2 at the Museum of the City of New York called "The Resilient City: New York Facing Adversity" in which she will discuss her observations. Joining her will be moderator Kenneth Jackson of Columbia university, Nicholas Bloom of the New York Institute of Technology, and Fred Kameny of Duke University. For tickets call 212-534-1672 ext. 3395.


text:
TC TO LEIGH HUNT ; 31 December 1839; DOI: 10.1215/lt-18390000-TC-JHLH-01; CL 11: 238
My Dear Sir,
Your little German Annual for 1791, not uninteresting otherwise, does seem rather questionable in the part you suspect. It treats there of Father Origen's feat, in Language as good as Gibbons;1 but warns its lady-readers (as it well enough may) to "look only thro' their fans" at such a thing.— I fear you must not send it.
How often has your kind soliloquy an exact counterpart within my own person!— I am good for nothing at all, during these late weeks; sunk in confusion of dyspepsia, dispiritment, and the impossiblity to make any way in my confused work. Tonight or tomorrow night, you shall have share of my dulness since I have nothing better to impart—
God bless you!
Yours always, /


text:
What do men, women, dogs, cats, beer and CPR have in common ? The answer to this riddle is in this article.
Hands only CPR is being suggested as an alternative to the traditional CPR ( cardiopulmonary resuscitation ) method of using rescue breaths to give immediate care to a person whose heart has stopped beating for whatever reason until more advanced emergency help arrives.
While many in the public agree that only using our hands would encourage more people to help out a victim without having to put their mouth on top of a complete stranger to give those rescue breaths that we learn to give in CPR class with a breathing barrier of some kind, there is still science supporting the traditional two rescue breaths for each cycle of 30 compressions and for good reason.
Wikipedia.org tells us that the air you and I breathe in contains ONLY 21% oxygen and about 0.04% carbon dioxide and other gases . Here's the payoff: The air WE BREATHE OUT and/or into a CPR victim in each of those two rescue breaths, contain somewhere between 13.6% to 16% OXYGEN that the victim CAN USE to sustain her/his own body's respiratory gas exchange system that may sustain the major organs through limited CPR blood circulation until emergency responders arrive on the scene.
As my mother used to tell me way back in my childhood trying to help me learn math and my multiplication tables homework at night , she would say, " Doug, a little of something is better than zero percent of nothing". What mother taught me as a child then, is also good for CPR victims , TODAY.
Some oxygen into the victim through the two rescue breaths for every 30 compressions, is sure better than zero percent of nothing, don't you think ?
Carbon dioxide is produced by the fermentation of sugars in beer and winemaking and by respiration of all living organisms. Some may think what we breathe out only has the carbon dioxide and there is really nothing left that would benefit a CPR victim. Well, don't hold your breath because your breath could save a life.
Happy Heartbeats, Friend !


text:
Julie Brown is back by super popular demand in "Homecoming Queen's Got a Musical" which is full of murder, mayhem and musical numbers! The show opens Friday, March 28 for a two week run at Cavern Club Theater, Sliverlake, CA.
Something's not right at Betty Ford High, people are starting to drop dead, but no one has time for that because there a new a Homecoming Queen to crown! Like for sure!
Join Julie Brown, as Julie Brown and her best friend Debbie Dickey (Drew Droege) as they count down the minutes and the student bodies, until Homecoming!
The cast also includes Drew Droege, Sam Pancake, Natalie Lander, Craig Taggart, Jaci Pund, Chris Pudlo, Beth Crosby, Cole Gerdes and Marsian De Lellis.
"Homecoming Queen's got a musical" is written by Julie Brown and Kurt Koehler. The show is directed by Kurt Koehler (Chico's Angels & The Legend of Billie Jean).
Julie Brown's "Homecoming Queen's Got a musical" is an 80's music video onstage. This show has it all...singing, dancing and murder! So join us for a night of total awesomeness! Blood and Mascara will run!!
Home Coming Got a Gun 80s Video: http://youtu.be/xG3yGdQYwqg
Show Run: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Dates: Friday, March – Sunday, April 6, 2014
9:00pm Fridays & Saturdays
3:00pm Sundays
Cavern Club Theater inside
Casita Del Campo Restaurant
1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles (Silverlake), CA 90027
Tickets sold at: http://juliebrown.tix.com/Schedule.aspx?OrgNum=4548


text:
When I first decided to give acting a try in 2011 – something that had been on my bucket list for quite some time! – I was approached by an audience member after my very first performance. It was the usual post-play chat, lots of people asking questions, bestowing compliments and pats on the back, a boisterous, heady time. In the midst of all the hubbub, I was asked, "How long have you been doing this?" Naturally, received the look of surprise when I explained this was my first true attempt. "Wow, and what do you do when you're not acting?" "I'm in public relations," I said. The look of surprise dissolved into one of satisfied perception. "Oh, I see, of course!"
Well, I wasn't sure I did. But after a moment's thought, I got it. In PR we all have to be thespians of a type, acting like we are oh, so happy to field a reporter's call on a weekend, smiling and acting gracious despite a TV producer's insane demands, staying politically correct with the company's top executives when you really want to shriek, "WHAT? You want to do WHAT? Are you INSANE? Do you want 60 MINUTES on our doorstep??!! AUGGHHHH!"
As the years have passed since—all three of them—I've done a few plays, and have even submitted my very first full-length work to the Baltimore Playwrights Festival (http://www.baltplayfest.org/), a non-profit organization that works hard to keep theater alive and kicking in Baltimore. Recently, I sat down with BPF president and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rodney Bonds – whom I had the great good fortune to perform with in the Fells Point Corner Theater (www.fpct.org)'s 2012 production of Eugene O'Neill's THE ICEMAN COMETH—to discuss how he keeps BPF "center stage" in local hearts and minds…
What do you do to raise BPF's profile on a limited budget?
This year we participated in Free Fall Baltimore, and we participate every year in the Kennedy Center's Page to Stage Event on Labor Day. We have, in the past been part of both Annual Baltimore Book Fair and Artscape. We appear in the Dramatist Guild of America's Resource Guide. We try to find creative ways to get our name into the various media outlets in Baltimore and we're always looking for new ways to raise the profile of the BPF.
Does BPF have an active social media presence?
We do, we have a Facebook page, and I'm always sending out "event" notifications via FB. We communicate through Facebook with several other groups, The Playwrights Group of Baltimore, Auditions!, and The Official Playwrights Group of Facebook as well as a number of Theater Groups. We're not yet on twitter or instagram but we'd like to find a young person who would be willing to help us better exploit the benefits of social media.
How do you promote BPF in the Baltimore community?
We send press releases to a large number of media outlets in Baltimore and the surrounding counties. Of course, all of the Board members are ambassadors for the BPF at every theater production we attend. I'm part of the Center Stage's Theater Community Round Table which grew out of the now defunct Baltimore Theater Alliance. Of course, the producing companies also promote the BPF on their websites and in their electronic newsletters.
How do you go about establishing relationships with local theaters and related businesses?
As Chair of the BPF I've met with several of the Board's of Directors of local theaters, in an attempt to spread the word about the BPF and it's mission. We're always looking for theater companies who are interested in producing new works. We are also working towards forging closer relationships with many of the academic institutions in the Baltimore area.
Whom do you see as BPF's "target audience" and has that changed or is it changing?
It hasn't really changed. Over the last 34 years BPF's "target audience" has always been anyone who is interested in helping us achieve our mission "...to provide an environment that nurtures the talents of Maryland and DC and Virginia playwrights through public readings, discussions, critiques and work-shopping of new plays...[and to present] these newly developed works, for the entertainment and cultural edification of our audiences." We welcome anyone who enjoys watching the development of new plays to join us at our Play Development Workshop Readings in October through March, as well as the Full Staged Productions presented during the Festival's summer season.
What's next/What's new with BPF?
As we enter our 34th season, we continue to look for new theaters to join us in our celebration and admiration of new work and our support and nurturing of our local playwrights.


text:
UPGRADE: Please report anything out of the ordinary post-upgrade in this thread: http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,66430.new.html
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
We are a Ministry Associated with the North American Synod of the Greek Evangelical Church (A Reformed Church Body) with its roots in both the 16th century reformation (Luther, Calvin Zwingly) as well the Reformation which took place in the Greek speaking world by such great leaders as the Orthodox Patriarch Cyril Loucaris and Zacharias Gerganos.
Mor is always the best
Page created in 0.068 seconds with 25 queries.


text:
Editors' Note: The "Download Now" link directs you to the Android Market where you must continue the download process. This download may not be available in some countries.
Publisher's Description+
What's new in this version:
This is a patch to the release that was just pushed, the sound setting did not work. This is what's in that release:-Control alert frequency with more granularity than just On or Off.-Change the sound for the various types of alerts.-Control how much polling for scores BetBud does.-Backup your data in case you buy a new phone.-Filter by label on the pending picks screen.-You can see your pending bankroll before the games begin.


text:
Texas Twitter Tuesday is on June 7 this month. Two guests will host the twitter chat this time around.
Elizabeth Hadley, Assistant Commissioner for Marketing at the Texas Department of Agriculture, will announce a major new initiative to promote and support restaurants that offer Texas wines. With more than two hundred wineries in Texas, it seems like more restaurants should be offering Texas wines in their wine lists, but many still don't.
Jack Gilmore, owner and chef of Jack Allen's Kitchen in Austin, is well-known for his locavore philosophy. He extends his locavore ideals to the "locapour" movement and offers Texas wines in Jack Allen's Kitchen to pair with his regional cuisine.
This month, the three wines in the virtual tasting will be:
- Fall Creek Chardonnay – Fall Creek Chardonnay has notes of tropical and citrus fruit and oak. Fall Creek Vineyards is outside of Tow, Texas, about 85 miles from Austin.
- McPherson Cellars Rose – The rose has notes of berries and cherries and rose petals. McPherson Cellars is located near Lubbock.
- Messina Hof Cabernet Franc – This blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot has notes of blackberries, vanilla, and spices. Messina Hof Winery is located near College Station.
To participate in Texas Twitter Tuesday, log in to Twitter (free to sign up) and go to the GoTexan TweetChat room. No registration or RSVP is required. Just show up at 7 p.m. on June 7, 2011 and join the discussion.


text:
Trying to convince internally that testing at an interactive prototype stage will be more effective at ridding usability issues than at a design stage. What are the benefits of testing early other than the fact it is more cost-effective?
Testing at wireframe stage can bring huge rewards and I would encourage it with any project.
The biggest and perhaps most obvious benefit being that it will quickly identify any key issues in your design, together with lesser issues that need only minimal adjustment. If not anything else, you could always think of it as a critical cost saving exercise (That's how I'd pitch it), if you get it right first time - even if it takes that little while longer - then you eradicate the need to spend hundreds of man hours / £'s on having a design built. Tested, then rebuilt and so on.
I also find that testing via wireframes allows for the exploration of multiple experiences, and indeed helps to identify and evolve those that prove to be a good fit. I can understand clients being a little apprehensive about letting a small group of users test an un-built, ghastly looking prototype, but there are people out there that are used to doing just that and will provide you with that oh so important feedback.
Approaching the best solution for an issue often is an iterative process. So, prototyping and testing at an early stage helps you in this process.
You often can prototype two or three alternative version and do a quick testing with colleagues, your mum or somebody from the street to find out which variant works best - and not which looks best.
Of course, design influences the perception of a page, a functionaliy etc. But it seldom really changes quality of the pure functionality.
Interaction is not the only aspect of usability testing. Visual design and motion design lead to discoverability, and findability as well as assisting with information hirerarchy and learnability. As a result the answer is:
YES, but..
Yes in that testing before any visual design happens is extremely beneficial and can represent a large cost savings, however, the visual and motion design can make or break the design in the ways mentioned above, so you need to test when these are in place as well. Banner blindness is a classic example of a way something might work fine in a wireframe but would fail later.


text:
The Jacksonville Sharks (3-6) took a blow to their playoff hopes on Saturday night, losing to the Orlando Predators (6-3), 57-50, on Saturday night.
With a minute left on the clock, Orlando was driving down 50-42. In a curious turn of events, Jacksonville called a timeout on defense. Former Shark and starting Predators QB Bernard Morris found WR Khalil Paden, who made a spinning catch and ran into the end zone for the score. WR Larry Brackins scored on the two-point conversion, and with 30 seconds left, the game was tied at 50.
Orlando kicked deep, and Jacksonville got the ball at their own three-yard line with a chance to win. QB R.J. Archer had no communication with his receivers, and after three straight incompletions forced a 4th-and-10, Fabrizio Scaccia got the call to give Jacksonville at least good field position to play for overtime. What would have been a record 64-yard field goal was wide left and short...and stayed in bounds. Orlando WR Gerald Young found enough daylight to weave around defenders for a 49-yard return touchdown, sealing a tough, physical game that started even before opening kickoff.
The Predators set the tone early, getting in Jacksonville's face during pre-game introductions and warmups. The Sharks defense, who wanted to send a message of their own, did against friend turned foe Bernard Morris. The line got early pressure, and DL Rashaad Duncan and LB Charlie Hunt combined for the first sack of the night. However, as has been a theme this season, the defense couldn't get off the field on fourth down, giving up a 47-yard TD pass for the opening score of the night.
After a lost fumble led to another Orlando score, Jacksonville finally woke up and started to make a game of things. WR London Crawford slipped a tackle and nearly scored on a long catch and run, and he did get into the end zone one play later to put the Sharks on the board.
Following another long TD pass for the Predators, R.J. Archer put together his first efficient drive of the night, following a near TD to Jeron Harvey with a scoring pass to Jomo Wilson across the middle.
Down 20-13, the calls were starting to go against Jacksonville, especially star DB Terrance Smith. DB Micheaux Robinson had an interception denied by an illegal defense penalty, but DE Jerry Turner recovered a third down fumble, ending a drive that started with a big hit on the kickoff return. It went to waste thanks to Orlando's defensive pressure. Their defensive line forced R.J. Archer to scramble, and they forced a turnover on downs.
With 45 seconds left until halftime, the teams traded quick scores, with Jomo Wilson beating a defensive back to score and cut the deficit back to seven. Jacksonville did get a fortuitous bounce on the kickoff, as the ball hit the iron on top of the net and bounced near midfield. The ball hit the wall, though, giving Orlando possession. The constant defensive pressure continued, and Micheaux Robinson got an interception in the end zone to give the Sharks a chance to tie the game. Wilson got stopped short, and Jacksonville went into halftime down 27-20.
Jacksonville caught a couple breaks to start the third quarter. First with London Crawford scoring to make up for a near touchdown on the first play, then scoring a safety when Bernard Morris fumbled into his own end zone. Then, after suffering a second down sack, R.J. Archer found WR Jeron Harvey on 3rd-and-13, leading to another Crawford score and a 36-27 lead.
Morris, known for using his legs to make plays, did just that to end the third quarter, and initially found WR Larry Brackins for a touchdown. Sharks head coach Les Moss successfully challenged the call, forcing a 3rd-and-14 after offensive pass interference. It quickly became moot when Orlando scored on the next play. Jomo Wilson answered back after DB Xavier Brewer recovered a fumble on the kickoff, but the Predators were proving ever more dangerous as the fourth quarter went on.
DE Justin Parrish sacked Bernard Morris on first down, and Terrance Smith nearly intercepted him on second down, but Orlando kept finding ways to hang around. WR Gerald Young beat Micheaux Robinson on his way into the end zone, and after the two-point conversion Jacksonville saw their lead trimmed to 43-42 with 5:59 left in the game.
The Sharks recovered the onside kick, and Jeron Harvey caught a TD pass in the corner of the end zone with 4:05 left in the game. The final fireworks began when Predators WR Greg Carr got ejected from the game after earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spiking the ball against the boards.
R.J. Archer had another solid, yet more muted performance, completing 25 of 40 passes for 271 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions, despite being sacked twice. After the game, he reflected on another tough loss. "It's not good. They're a big rival, and they pulled it out at the end." He noted the team was on the same page for most of the night, despite the tipped balls, and is moving in the right direction.
He also commented on the decision to kick at the end of the game. "We gotta be smart. We have to get the ball with position and play for OT. We can't give the team the ball in that [field] position."
In his first game at Veterans Memorial Arena since leaving Jacksonville, Bernard Morris had a typical night by his standards, completing 19 of 33 passes for 342 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. He was sacked three times, but he also ran four times for 13 yards.
Jomo Wilson and Jeron Harvey each had a game-high nine catches, for 102 and 74 yards respectively. Wilson found the end zone three times, and Harvey scored twice.
Gerald Young was the star of the night, with a game-high 222 all-purpose yards. Khalil Paden led the field with 149 receiving yards and three scores on just six catches.
Six different players recorded at least a half sack on defense. Orlando DL Ko Quaye led overall with two, and Rashaad Duncan (1.0), Justin Parrish (1.0), Jerry Turner (0.5), and Charlie Hunt (0.5) all got on the sack sheet for Jacksonville. Duncan, Parrish, and Turner also recorded tackles for loss.
It doesn't get too much easier next week, as Jacksonville goes on the road to face another division rival, the Tampa Bay Storm. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. Like every Sharks game this season, the game will be broadcast over the air on WBOB AM 600, and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network as part of their Net10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday package.
For more on the Jacksonville Sharks, including the latest news, updates, and transactions, log on to www.jaxsharks.com. For more on the rest of the Arena Football League, log on to www.arenafan.com and www.arenafootball.com.


text:
Post-Exertional Malaise, Fatigue, and Crashes
Have you lost your physical and mental stamina? Does minimal activity result in muscular and cognitive exhaustion/fatigue? Does it take days/weeks to recover? This is the place to discuss post-exertional malaise, post-exertional neuro-immune exhaustion, abnormal fatigue and crashes.
- Discussions:
- 289
Latest: Why do I feel better in the evening? Cortisol, pain and insomnia issues lansbergen, Jul 1, 2016 at 2:15 PM
- Messages:
- 6,042
Pain and Inflammation
Many with ME/CFS report a significant degree of pain or myalgia. This is the place to discuss pain, whether widespread, localized, migratory, chronic or acute. Inflammation is the localized reaction of tissue to irritation, injury, and/or infection. Pain and inflammation often go together but not always. Discuss any issues with inflammation here.
- Discussions:
- 228
Latest: Lactic Acid Pain frog_in_the_fog, Jun 27, 2016 at 9:24 PM
- Messages:
- 3,039
Do you have disturbances of taste, smell, hearing, and vision? Do you experience sensory overload, vertigo, feeling unsteady, dizziness, seizures, or disturbances of perception? This is the place to discuss neurological (related to the brain) symptoms. Discuss symptoms related to cognition (thinking, reasoning, brain fog) in the 'Cognition' forum.
- Discussions:
- 193
Latest: Ringing in ears frog_in_the_fog, Jun 27, 2016 at 9:12 PM
- Messages:
- 3,338
Physical illness often translates into cognitive difficulties. Do you experience symptoms related to attention, memory, language production, learning, reasoning, problem solving and generalized brain fog? Discuss these symptoms here. Do you experience irritability, anxiety, depression that are the result of physical illness or related to having a complex and misunderstood chronic illness? If so, this is the place to discuss them.
- Discussions:
- 126
Latest: How would you describe your brain fog? Gamboa, Jun 20, 2016
- Messages:
- 2,468
This is the place to discuss insomnia, prolonged sleep, frequent awakening, awakening early, disturbing dreams, non-refreshing sleep, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.
- Discussions:
- 246
Latest: vitamin D and sleep SwanRonson, Jun 30, 2016 at 5:05 PM
- Messages:
- 4,686
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy refers to damaged nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. This is the place to discuss nerve pain, numbness, loss of sensation, burning, twitching, and itching (unrelated to allergies).
- Discussions:
- 51
Latest: Bugs crawling sensation/formication Sidney, Jun 22, 2016
- Messages:
- 801
Do you have recurrent sore throats, flu-like symptoms, and tender lymph nodes; viral, bacterial and fungal infections; reactions to immunizations; and allergies? This is the place to discuss these symptoms.
- Discussions:
- 267
Latest: Question re: ANA results knackers323, Jul 1, 2016 at 5:03 PM
- Messages:
- 4,999
Hypersensitivity and Intolerance
Do you have symptoms related to hypersensitivity and/or intolerances to food, mold, chemicals, medications, and electromagnetic energy? Post about them here.
- Discussions:
- 164
Latest: Sun sensitivity Hope78, Jul 1, 2016 at 1:43 PM
- Messages:
- 2,749
Autonomic, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory
This is the place to discuss autonomic symptoms such as Orthostatic Intolerance (OI), Neurally-Mediated Hypotension (NMH), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and difficulty regulating body temperature. You can also discuss any issues related to the heart, circulation (e.g. poor blood flow, low blood volume), and respiration (e.g. air hunger, difficulty breathing).
- Discussions:
- 358
Latest: From POTS to bradycardia? Richard7, Jul 1, 2016 at 7:41 PM
- Messages:
- 6,777
Post about symptoms related to hormone production. This includes both endocrine (e.g. thyroid, pituitary, adrenal) and reproductive (e.g. estrogen, testosterone, progesterone) hormones.
- Discussions:
- 148
Latest: Don't Get Your Thyroid Out...Ever. Leave It In Until It Kills You. ahmo, Jul 1, 2016 at 4:18 PM
- Messages:
- 2,229
Gastrointestinal and Urinary
Do you experience nausea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, dehydration, difficulties with blood sugar, liver issues, gallbladder issues, gastritis, malabsorption, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, weight gain, leaky gut, general problems with nutrition, urinary frequency and bladder dysfunction? Post about these symptoms here.
- Discussions:
- 304
- Messages:
- 4,835
Skeleton, Skin, Muscles, Hair, Teeth, and Nails
Skin irritation, rashes, oily skin, dry skin, generalized skin changes, broken bones, fractures, stiff joints, changes in hair, dental problems, nail abnormalities, muscle issues other than pain, and connective tissue disorders? Post about them here.
- Discussions:
- 193
Latest: Changes in face Jammy88, Jun 14, 2016
- Messages:
- 2,545
General Symptoms
If your symptoms fit into multiple sub-forums or don't seem to fit into any of the sub-forums, you can post about them here.
- Discussions:
- 462
Latest: POLL: Crimson Crescents In Your Throat? Know Your Coxsackievirus B Titers? ME/CFS Onset After Mono? Jackysway, Jun 30, 2016 at 4:32 PM
- Messages:
- 7,287
Thread Display Options


text:
Problem with Thread
Hello My problem is the fallowing one, I have a called tool PST, which has an instance of a thread, that is to say, it creates a thread in his constructor and starts the thread. Now, when zope is restarted and it rises, thread remain like slept, So that it doesn't do what it must do. My question is, Exists some mechanism or event, so that when the Zope begins, you can say to the thread, hey you wake up. Greetings Alain Excuse my English ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/


text:
The Sufferings of Christ
Category :
Artist :
Fr. Abraham Wassef
Loading the player...
Listen Count : 2514
Lyric : The Sufferings of Christ
have not had lyric for this song
Login Form
Secret Key
Remember Me
Create an account
Forgot your username?
Forgot your password?
Navigate our Media Library for more Videos and Audio Sermons


text:
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua, the largest of the Leeward Islands, and its sister island Barbuda make up a two-island state whose temperatures and humidity around the year are very similar to those described in the general entry for the Caribbean, as are the amount and distribution of sunshine.
The tables for points on two other islands in the eastern Caribbean, Roseau on Dominica and Plymouth on Montserrat, show that near sea level, the annual rainfall is about 1,250-2,000 mm/50-80 in, well distributed throughout the year, with a wetter season from July to November.
The table for Camp Jacob on the island of Guadeloupe, also in the Leeward Islands, shows that rainfall increases at higher elevations and on the windward slopes exposed to the constant and moist northeast trade winds.
Antigua and Barbuda lie in the track of violent tropical hurricanes which are most likely to develop between August and October. Although the severest of these storms may only strike every few years, these are always the months of heaviest rainfall.
© Copyright RM, 2007. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of RM.


text:
Spring 2011
3 credits
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
1:00 - 1:50
in Redcay 170
Computational Intelligence, A
Logical Approach
by Poole, Mackworth and Goebel
Oxford University Press
Homeworks. About 7 programming assignments.
Quizzes: About 7 quizzes. You can prepare index cards with essential information and use them during the quiz.
Midterm Test: March 23. The test will be cumulative -- it will cover all the material from the beginning of the semester. During the midterm you can use two sheets of notes.
Final Exam will be cumulative -- will cover all the material discussed in the course. For the date of the exam see the final week schedule for the entire college. During the final you can use three sheets of notes.
All the text handed in to the instructor (quizzes, assignments, etc.) will be evaluated not only for merits but also for clarity of presentation and style.
While calculating the final grade the instructor will disregard one lowest grade for a quiz and one lowest grade for a homework assignment, however a poor grade for the final exam may bring the final grade down, at the discretion of the instructor.
Calculation of final grade
|Quizzes and homeworks
|Midterm test
|Final exam
|Active participation
|will count, too.


text:
asterisk* Launch Party
Celebrate the launch of asterisk* (fashion for the un-fashionable), a new, satirical, online "fashion" magazine highlighting the funny, ridiculous, and offensive messages that so-called "women" magazines constantly perpetuate to people of all genders, especially women who are assumed to be heterosexual.
Saturday, March 3
Local 16 Bar
1602 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
$5 – $20 suggested door donation.
Drink specials from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
For more information visit their webpage here.
List your event on Elixher.com for free! Email us at email@example.com.


text:
Jerome "Chef" McElroy
Jerome "Chef" McElroy
|Hair Color
|Cafeteria Chef
|Abdul Mohammed , Jabar Rauf Kareem Ali
|Christian* Muslim
|Last Appearance
|The Return of Chef
|Thomas McElroy
|Nellie McElroy
|Voiced by
|Isaac Hayes
|First Appearance
|Cartman Gets an Anal Probe
Jerome "Chef" McElroy is South Park Elementary's cafeteria cook. He is a big influence on the children, always available to help them out, give them advice, or dispense a smooth jam about making love. He is a womanizer who firmly believes in the existence of extraterrestrials (visitors). And he also helped coach the school sports teams. Sadly, he joined the Super Adventure Club in an effort to seek greater thrills, but wound up getting brainwashed, and then sadly, killed. Although Chef may have died, his body lives on in the cybernetic form of Darth Chef. His whereabouts are still unknown...
Life Lessons
- " You can't teach a gay dog straight tricks."
- " Look, children, this is all I'm going to say about drugs. STAY AWAY FROM THEM. There's a time and a place for everything and it's called COLLEGE."


text:
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
- Private transfer from your downtown Dallas, Allen, Arlington or Coppell accommodations to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Travel in comfort aboard a private sedan, SUV or stretch limousine depending on the size of your party
- Stress-free, reliable way to make sure you don't miss your flight
- Door-to-door service and luggage handling from your professional driver
- Service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
What You Can Expect
When your stay in Dallas is over, you'll be met at your hotel by a professional driver and driven in a comfortable private vehicle to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Choose from either a sedan, for up to three passengers, a sports utility vehicle, for up to five passengers, or a stretch limousine, for up to eight passengers. This airport transportation service operates from downtown Dallas, Allen, Arlington or Coppell.
Price is per person, based on three passengers per sedan, five per sports utility vehicle or eight per limousine.


text:
Pure18 - Faye Reagan, Teagan Summers, Lily Carter, Xander Corvus And Lizz Tayler {All naughty pt two}
seeders: 1
leechers: 1
Added by christian235156.76K in XXX > Video
Torrent verified. Downloaded 93 times.
Pure18 - Faye Reagan, Teagan Summers, Lily Carter, Xander Corvus And Lizz Tayler {All naughty pt... (Size: 561.74 MB)
Size: 589030457 bytes (561.74 MiB), duration: 00:50:59, avg.bitrate: 1540 kb/s
Audio: aac, 32000 Hz, mono (und)
Video: h264, yuv420p, 768x432, 29.97 fps
This week is the exciting conclusion of the naughty boarding school girls. When we left last time, the principal was about to give Teagan and Lilly their punishment by spanking their round rumps. He bent them over his lap and spanked their luscious asses until they were beet red. The girls began enjoying their spankings after a while. They wanted a more extensive punishment which required sucking and fucking the principal. They got their sweet pussies pounded and got man juice all over them.
Related Torrents
Sharing Widget
To share this torrent use the code below and insert it into comments, status messages, forum posts or your signature.Torrent: Pure18 - Faye Reagan, Teagan... Tayler {All naughty pt two}


text:
Now is the time to enjoy Ohio freshly-made maple syrup. The maple sugaring season only lasts from 4-8 weeks and before you know it, it will be gone for another season. Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland, Ohio is offering special Maple Sugaring Weekends from February 22 through March 23 filled with family-friendly and educational activities that are sure to be fun for all -- in addition to a pancake breakfast. Kirtland, Ohio is approximately a 30 minute drive from Cleveland.
Maple Sugaring Weekends Among the hands-on activities being offered that visitors can participate in are hand tapping of the sap, maple crafts, making maple flavored ice cream and watching maple candy- making demonstrations.
In addition, there will be sugar bush tours and a special "History of Maple Sugaring" exhibit.
Make sure you get your free samples of real maple syrup and maple sugar.
For those creative visitors, you can try your hand at making maple stirs (for a small additional fee).
One hundred per cent pure maple syrup made at Lake Metroparks Farmpark will be available for purchase at the Woodland Science Center on the property and the gift shop.
An Interesting Maple Syrup Fact: The maple-flavored syrups that people buy in the grocery store have less than one per cent real maple syrup in them.
While at Lake Metroparks Farmpark be sure you stop and meet Yoko the calf, the first newborn of the year in addition to other newborn lambs, piglets and goats and stop at the Visitors Center to see the Quilts 2014 exhibit featuring more than 200 handmade quilts.
Pancake Breakfast The Farmpark's J & J Cafe is serving a pancake breakfast during the Maple Sugaring Weekends (February 22 & 23 and March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23) from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ( Yes, you can get pancakes all afternoon.) Farmpark admission is required to attend the breakfast.
Admission to Lake Metroparks Farmpark is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (60+) and $4 for children (2-11). This admission permits you access to all regular Farmpark activities and to the Maple Sugaring Weekends activities. There is an additional charge for the pancake breakfast. Cost is $7 for ages 12 and up and $4 for ages 2-11.
For more information about the Maple Sugaring Weekends or the pancake breakfast call 800-366-3276 or get online at www.lakemetroparks.com.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark is located at 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd. in Kirtland, Ohio. Kirtland is 22 miles from Cleveland and it is approximately a 30 minute drive.


text:
Sony Togari might be called Xperia ZU. Xperia Z Google Edition confirmed
Sony's first phablet, currently codenamed Togari, could end up being officially called Xperia ZU. In fact, according to VR-Zone, an insider has confirmed that this would be the device's final name.
The same insider has also revealed some new details about the Xperia ZU. As previously reported, the phablet sports a massive 6.4 inch Full HD display. And it looks like it's going to be IP58-certified (like the 4.5 inch Xperia ZR), thus being waterproof and dustproof. Moreover, the rear camera of the ZU should be an 8MP one, because of a 13MP module shortage. A quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor should power the device.
Sony might announce the Togari / Xperia ZU on June 25. There is no word on when we'll be able to buy it though.
Update: a photo that may show the Xperia ZU has appeared somewhere in China (via Esato):
In other Sony news, Android Central is confirming that an Xperia Z Google Edition (with stock Android Jelly Bean) is indeed coming soon. It will be sold in the US via Google Play, but it's not clear for what price, and neither exactly when it's going to happen.
Until the Xperia Z Google Edition is launched, customers will be able to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition ($649), or the HTC One Nexus Experience ($599). Both will be released in the US – via Google Play – on June 26.