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Blogger and venture capitalist Fred Wilson has a dream for the future of data science. The data's out there, he says. Analyze it yourself.Call it DIY data science.In March, venture capitalist Fred Wilson blogged about what he sees as a trove of publicly available data just waiting to be mined from the Internet. What's more, he thinks hobbyists and curious Internet users--not just professional data scientists--ought to be the ones mining it.It appears that Wilson's hopes for do-it-yourself data science may be coming to fruition.Last week, blogger and New York Times tech developer Alastair
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by Dante Alighieri
Dew and Lethe's Water
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
In almost all contexts, water in Purgatory signifies purification. The one exception is the sea surrounding the island. If it were possible to be purified in that, who in his right mind would climb the mountain, right?
The idea of water as a cleansing agent is rather intuitive, especially given that Purgatory is a place for cleansing or purgation. In case you're not convinced, let's take a look at a specific instance. In Canto I, Virgil bathes Dante's face with dew at Cato's command before girding Dante with a new rush belt. The lines go:
When we had reached the point where dew contends
with the sun and, under sea winds in the shade,
wins out because it won't evaporate,
my master gently placed both his hands –
outspread – upon the grass; therefore, aware
of what his gesture and intention were,
I reached and offered him my tear-stained cheeks;
and on my cheeks, he totally revealed
the color that Inferno had concealed. (Purg. I, 121-129)
Virgil uses the dew from the grass to wipe away the tears from Dante's cheeks and "reveal the color that Inferno had concealed." In other words, he cleans all the dusty filth from Hell off Dante's face to reveal his true complexion beneath. If on the purely physical level, the dew washes away dust and grime, we might also draw an inference that it's washing away the emotional remnants of Hell as well —the fear and desperation of the damned.
Now for the rivers: Lethe is the Classical river of forgetfulness. That's right folks, Dante didn't invent it, the ancient Greeks did. But Dante has a way of giving all things Classical a Christian spin. When all the vices have been purged from a soul by the rigors of Mount Purgatory, the soul undergoes the last round of purgation by being immersed in the river Lethe, where even the memories of sin are washed away. Talk about the ultimate purgation.
Once a person has gone through the Lethe, he can't even remember his sins on earth. It seems as though Heaven doesn't want even the slightest thought of evil in its celestial realm, so the Lethe takes care of that. Once that's done, the soul is immersed one last time in the river Eunoe, which restores the individual's good, virtuous memories.
Interestingly, there is one more blatant symbol of purgation, which has nothing to do with water. Actually, it's the exact opposite—fire. Remember that on the seventh and last terrace, Dante has to walk through a wall of fire to purge himself of the final sin of lust? Instead of soaping up and gently rinsing away, lust must be burnt clean off.

subset: commoncrawl


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Organized and developed with today's reader in mind, the Anselm Academic Catholic Study Bible is an unsurpassed resource for anyone who wants to know more about the Bible. No previous knowledge of the Bible is assumed here, and newcomers and veterans alike will benefit from this Catholic Study Bible's insightful articles, sensible structure, and user-tested design. We invite you to preview the Bible's features by clicking on the View Sampler button above.The Anselm Academic Catholic Study Bible's unique features include the following:-Rigorous scholarship. Academic articles and introductions accompanying the biblical books are based on the latest research. Contributors include both established and emerging Scripture scholars.-Rich study aids. Charts, maps, timelines, and reference to online resources enhance learning. Full color and black-and-white photographs of places and objects commonly mentioned in the Bible convey a strong sense of the life and times of the biblical world.- Distinctive approach. The Catholic Study Bible addresses diverse students, practices sound pedagogy, and encourages critical thinking. Topics include those on cultural, ethnic, social, gender, and political issues and speak to today's reader, explaining the context of the Bible's writing.-Navigation-friendly organization. Two academic introductions-Anselm and NABRE-preface each of the biblical books; other resources sensibly and accessibly arranged.
Peerless in design, the Anselm Academic Catholic Study Bible is appropriate for anyone approaching the Bible from an academic perspective and who wishes to deepen their understanding of this most influential book.
The Anselm Academic Study Bible uses the New American Bible – Revised Edition (NABRE) as its core and includes introductions and academic articles written by established and emerging Scripture scholars as well as maps and charts. These informative and accessible resources are listed below:
ARTICLES The Formation of the Bible James Chukwuma Okoye, CSS Geography, Archaeology, and the Scripture Leslie J. Hoppe, OFM Social Context of the Bible Eric Stewart Deuterocanonical and Noncanonical Scriptures John Endres, SJ (OT), François Bovon (NT) The Christian Bible and the Jews Mary C. Boys Jewish Biblical Interpretation Amy-Jill Levine The Distinctiveness of Jesus Seán Charles Martin The Many Faces of Jesus Seán Charles Martin The Lectionary: a Canon within the Canon Regina Boisclair A Brief History and Practice of Biblical Criticism Marielle Frigge, OSB Critical Issues in Contemporary Biblical Interpretation Stephen J. Binz and Anselm Academic Sacred Scripture in the Catholic Tradition Stephen J. Binz Contextual and Transformative Interpretation Stephen J. BinzBIBLE CONTRIBUTERS INCLUDE: Patricia Ahearne-Kroll, Dianne Bergant, Stephen J. Binz, Mary Katherine Birge, Regina Boisclair, François Bovon Frothingham, Mary C. Boys, Laurie Brink, Susan Calef, Warren Carter, Raymond F. Collins, Mary Coloe, Linda Day, Carol J. Dempsey, John Endres, Garrett Galvin, Andrew T. Glicksman, Michael D. Guinan, Leslie J. Hoppe, James A. Kelhoffer, Dale Launderville, Amy-Jill Levine, Seán Charles Martin, Geoffrey Miller, Harry P. Nasuti, James Chukwuma Okoye, Clare K. Rothschild, Jean-Pierre Ruiz, Eric Stewart, Pauline A. Viviano, Jerome Walsh, Tatha Wiley, and Christine Roy Yoder
MAPS The Israelite Kingdoms Neo-Babylonian Empire, ca. Sixth Century BCE The Table of Nations The Tribal Territories The Kingdom Years The Assyrian Empire The Babylonian Empire Roman Empire in First Century CE Palestine at the Time of Jesus Jerusalem of David & Solomon; Jerusalem after the Exile; Jerusalem in Jesus' Time Paul's Journeys in Acts (First and Second Journeys) Paul's Journeys in Acts (Third and Fourth Journeys) Ministry of Jesus and Acts of the Apostles The Holy Land in Modern Times
CHARTS Deities of the Ancient Near East Spiritual Ancestors of the Monotheistic Faiths Prophets and Kings Wonders, Miracles, and Signs in the Old Testament Sacred Time: Festivals, Feasts, and Fasts of Judaism Practiced by Jesus, the Apostles, and Their Contemporaries Greco-Roman Rulers in the New Testament Period Titles of Jesus of Nazareth Wonders, Miracles, and Signs in the New Testament The Men Who Followed Jesus The Women Who Followed Jesus Beatitudes and Parables of Jesus The Historical Critical Method of Scripture Analysis The Gospel of Luke and Acts


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We've used canned white beans here for their convenience. If you want you can take this soup up a notch and use dry beans that you've soaked overnight and cooked until soft.
- 1/4 pound bacon, diced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups peeled, chopped potatoes (recommend Yukon Gold)
- 6 cups peeled, chopped fresh tomatoes (or canned whole tomatoes with juice)*
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 15-ounce can white beans, drained
- Salt and pepper to taste
* To peel fresh tomatoes, cut a shallow cross on one end, blanch in boiling water for about 30 seconds, remove from boiling water and the peels should easily come off.
1 Cook bacon on medium heat in a large saucepan until lightly browned and fat is rendered. Use a slotted spoon to remove bacon from the pan. Set on a plate lined with a paper towel.
2 Add the chopped onion to the pot, cook in the bacon fat on medium heat until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more. Add the chopped peeled potatoes and cook a few minutes more.
3 Add the tomatoes and chicken broth. Cook until potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes (or longer).
4 Stir in the brown sugar. Add half of the beans to the mixture. Use an immersion blender to blend about half of the soup mixture (or blend half of the soup in a standing blender and return to the pot).
5 Add bacon to the soup and the rest of the beans. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with crusty bread.


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I need a triangle like this
* *** ***** *******
I just know how to print like this :
Can you guys give me some hints. Thank you very much.
My code is:
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I need a triangle like this
* *** ***** *******
I just know how to print like this :
Can you guys give me some hints. Thank you very much.
My code is:
Last edited by Genky; August 19th, 2012 at 07:52.
Does this mean you have to input an odd number?
You would have to print spaces on every line except the last line. How many spaces on the first line? How many on the second? You can get this value with some math and an index variable from one of the loops.
Plan out what you have to make happen and then write the code to do it.
Please don't spoonfeed code. Read this:
The Problem with Spoon-feeding
Last edited by Norm; August 19th, 2012 at 07:13. Reason: spelling
mysTTerE (August 18th, 2012)
I mean I was required to show a isoceles triangle. But I don't know how to edit it in above post.
What is the pattern of what is printed on each line?
Take a piece of paper and draw on it the spaces and *s that you want to print.
What prints on the first line? X spaces and one *
What prints on the 2nd line? Y spaces, one *, Z space(s), one *
Continue writing what goes on the next 3-4 lines.
Now look at the number of leading spaces (X and Y above) and the number of inside spaces (Z) for the lines
and see how they are related to the location of the line.
I saw there are 4 lines. Each line the number of spaces decrease by one, and the number of * increase 1,3,5,7.
Can you compute the number of *s from the number of the line? Or another way would be to use a counter for the number of *s. Start at 1 and increase by 2 for each line.
Look at using loops, one to print the spaces and one to print the *
Last edited by Genky; August 19th, 2012 at 07:54.
A space is just another character. Put it inside of some "s:how to print spaces
" " for a space
"*" for an *
You mean like thisBut it just print:for (int i = 0; i <4; i++) { System.out.print(" "); for (int j = 0; j < 4; j++) { System.out.print("*"); } System.out.println(); }
Look at the steps in the algorithm you worked out for the code and get that right first.
Then write the code. Your code obviously doesn't follow the right algorithm.
Can you post the algorithm's steps so we can see how it is supposed to work?
Genky (August 19th, 2012)
-The first line it prints one *, spaces = number row - number of *
- Each line decrease number of * by 2.
Not a good algorithm.
I thought there were spaces before the * on the first line? You steps say to print an * first.The first line it prints one *
If you start with 1 and decrease by 2 there are negative numbers.Each line decrease number of * by 2.
What about the leading spaces on each line before the *s?
write an expression using the line number to compute the number of spaces
and another expression to compute the number of *s on a line
The pseudo code could be:init variables
begin loop1 for number of lines to print
compute number of spaces for this line
print the spaces
compute the number of *s for this line
print the *s
move to next line
end loop1
Does the code work? Does it compile, execute and produce the desired results?
Think this way,
int j=10;
for(int i=1 ; i<10 ; i= i+2) {
i will give you *,
j-i will give you white space
If you get a compiler error, please copy and paste the full text of the error message here. Otherwise explain what you mean by "it didn't run".It didn't run in this line
Please explain what the problem is. Show the results that the program generates and explain what is wrong with it.And int numsta =i+2 does not bring correct result.
String space = String.format("%" + (n-1) + "s"," ");
But it just prints 4 space. I don't know why.
Please explain what the problem is. Show the results that the program generates and explain what is wrong with it.
I increase each line print *+2 but it wasn't true.
Can you show the programs output and explain what the problem is.I increase each line print *+2 but it wasn't true.
I don't understand what your question is. What is *+2?
Does the value of n change? If it doesn't change then the printf() method call will print the same thing every time.But it just prints 4 space. I don't know why.
This is the out put:
The problems is : The space doesn't show correct.
I mean I've increased number of * each time in for loop = * + 2*.
Please explain what is wrong with the spaces.The space doesn't show correct.
Does that give you the right output?increased number of * each time in for loop = * + 2*.
Last edited by Norm; August 19th, 2012 at 12:22.
Genky (August 20th, 2012)


text:
Soros Calls Mahathir A 'Menace' To Malaysia
By Alan Friedman
Published: September 22, 1997
HONG KONG— The international financier George Soros on Sunday branded Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia "a menace to his own country" and "a loose cannon" who should not be taken seriously.
Mr. Soros was responding to repeated accusations by Mr. Mahathir that he and other speculators were responsible for Southeast Asia's recent currency and financial turmoil.
The blistering attack by Mr. Soros was made 24 hours after Mr. Mahathir told a World Bank gathering here that currency trading should be made illegal.
"I know I am taking a big risk to suggest it, but I am saying that currency trading is unnecessary, unproductive and immoral," Mr. Mahathir said Saturday night. "It should be stopped. It should be made illegal. We don't need currency trading. We need to buy money only when we want to finance real trade."
On Sunday, Mr. Soros said: "Dr. Mahathir suggested banning currency trading. This is such an inappropriate idea that it doesn't deserve serious consideration. Interfering with the convertibility of capital at a moment like this is a recipe for disaster. Dr. Mahathir is a menace to his own country."
The U.S. Treasury secretary, Robert Rubin, while saying he had not read Mr. Mahathir's speech, said at a news conference here Saturday that "currency trading is an inherent and very important function in a modern and global economy, and it is integral to global trade."
When Thailand's currency crisis caused the Malaysian ringgit and other regional currencies to crash last month, the Malaysian prime minister blamed hedge-fund investors such as Mr. Soros, whom he called "a moron."
In remarks that some bankers fear could trigger another sell-off in Malaysia's currency and equity markets, Mr. Mahathir said Saturday that "quite a few people who are in the media and in control of the big money seem to want to see these Southeast Asian countries and in particular Malaysia stop trying to catch up with their superiors and to know their place."
During his speech before an audience of international investors, bankers and government officials, the Malaysian leader also blamed international speculators for "the attempts to push us back by a decade through forced devaluation of our currency, through the rape of our share market." He said, however, that "we in Southeast Asia and in Asia are still keen to receive investments from Europe and America."
Mr. Mahathir said there had been "a lot of talk about our scaring away foreign, meaning Western, capital." But he stressed that "we of Southeast Asia at least are now very scared about foreign capital."
"We thought they were helping us to prosper. We conducted road shows to encourage them to invest in our share and financial markets. We will continue to do so," he said, adding: "We still believe there are sincere investors out there. But there are also quite a few rogues who can cause an avalanche forcing others to run for cover."
In the presence of the World Bank president, James Wolfensohn, who described him as a long-time friend, Mr. Soros said Sunday that he had been subjected to "all kinds of false and vile accusations" by Mr. Mahathir. He contended that the Malaysian leader was using him "as a scapegoat to cover up his own failure."
The vitriolic exchange between Mr. Mahathir and Mr. Soros was a rare occurrence against the normally sedate backdrop of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's annual meetings. By Sunday, the Soros-Mahathir dispute had riveted the attention of the thousands of bankers and government delegates.
Mr. Soros said at a news conference Sunday that Mr. Mahathir was "playing to a domestic audience" and added, "I don't think he should be taken seriously because this is all grandstanding. The local media are controlled by Dr. Mahathir, and that is what enables him to grandstand the way he does."
If the Malaysian leader's threat to ban currency trading were taken seriously, Mr. Soros said, "it would have a devastating effect on markets." Mr. Soros said that he had not sold any of Malaysia's currency until at least two months before the crisis, and had been actually buying ringgit. He did not define the starting date of the crisis.
Asked why he thought he had been singled out by Mr. Mahathir, he cited "ideological differences" between his own vision of an open society and Mr. Mahathir's notion of Asian values.
In his speech, Mr. Soros said that the emphasis on Asian values had "served as a convenient pretext for resisting democratic aspirations." The Hungarian-born Mr. Soros, who made his fortune through stock and currency trading, has donated heavily to organizations promoting free enterprise.
Paul Volcker, a former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board who was attending the meetings here, cautioned against taking Mr. Mahathir's remarks too seriously. "He is venting his frustration," Mr. Volcker said.
While bankers and officials were speculating Sunday on the potential impact of Mr. Mahathir's remarks when trading resumes in Malaysia on Monday, the prime minister's top deputy, Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim, appeared to be engaged in damage control.
"There is absolutely no change in the practice of currency trading at present," he said Sunday. The Malaysian finance minister, who earlier this month sought to woo back foreign investors frightened by Mr. Mahathir's rhetoric, claimed that the prime minister had been speaking only in the context of World Trade Organization negotiations for rules to liberalize financial services markets.
Mr. Anwar said Malaysia would "like to proceed" with the WTO talks "only on condition there are effective guidelines, mechanisms to protect emerging economies from unscrupulous speculators." But he said Kuala Lumpur remained "committed to further measures to liberalize" its economy.
Mr. Anwar's clarification marked the second time in seven days that Malaysia had followed an attack on foreign speculators with attempts to soothe foreign investors. A week ago, Mr. Mahathir sought to reassure foreign fund managers that they were still welcome in Malaysia.
Mr. Soros also conceded that he considered "the laissez-faire idea" that markets should be left to their own devices a dangerous notion because "the instability of financial markets can cause serious economic and social dislocations."
Mr. Soros contended that "Malaysia has a problem, which is the excessive credit expansion that has occurred." He said that Malaysian credit had grown by an average of 30 percent a year over the past three years and was now approaching 160 percent of gross domestic product, and that finance company loans equaled 57 percent of GDP.


text:
WSJ Experts Debate Hospital Ratings
PODCAST: A number of different systems rank health-care providers. But are they giving consumers a fair and complete picture of the quality of the services they provide?
In this Journal podcast, Leapfrog Group President and CEO Leah Binder and Commonwealth Fund CEO David Blumenthal discuss those health-care rankings with WSJ Radio's Mathew Passy. Among other things, they explore the gaps in the current data, as well as the need to standardize the rankings so that consumers can make smarter decisions, and providers are encouraged to improve their services.
Plug in your headphones and take a listen to The WSJ Experts Debate.


text:
Rome is a city that stands on seven hills with a river running through. It is inspiring, and fun for all those outdoors types. With two rivers -- the Etowah River and the Ooostanaula River -- coming together to form the Coosa River, there are lots of waterside parks with hiking and biking trails that will knock your socks off. There are also a few small colleges, a decent little downtown scene, and plenty of places for shopping, dining, drinking some brews, and enjoying the mix of natural and historic views. Speaking of historic, there are tons of quaint little houses built before 1950 that rent at very affordable rates, as well as some older brick buildings that house inexpensive apartment rentals. Or, if you want new and pricey, Rome has got some of that for you too!
Housing costs vary widely. With rental rates ranging from $75 (the bad quality of these short-term lease options shouldn't be too surprising) to over $1,100, you have a wide selection of homes to choose from. Around the city center is where you will find the most expensive and the least expensive of rental homes. There are tiny single-family houses for rent in other neighborhoods for $250 - $500. Then, there are more extravagant rental homes built in vintage Victorian style, with tons of space, lots of bedrooms, and beautiful interiors. These cost about $900 - $1,200. In both instances, the Historic Clock Tower District is within walking distance. On the outskirts of town, prices even out more. Here, you will see neighborhoods and mostly houses for rent in the $600 - $800 range. These ranch homes, old brick houses, and newer mason homes of west Rome are very popular among families.
If you are looking for a long list of amenities in Rome's apartment complexes, then you might have a tough search. Around here, apartments provide only the most basic of amenities, if any at all. The most common extras include a laundry room, gym, and playground. If you think you need the luxury resort-style swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, business centers, and the like then you may want to rethink your priorities.
Pet friendly apartments are basically nonexistent here. However, you may be able to schmooze your landlord into allowing a dog or cat when renting a single-family house. There are plenty of places with nice, big yards, not to mention some really great riverside parks to take the dog out for a game of Frisbee.
So, that's the looks of things in this fine Georgia city. You can go for the inexpensive or the opulent, but as they say, when in Rome...


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Monday, 5th April, 2010, 05:40 AM #1
Myrmidon (Lvl 10)
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So... I had the misfortune to find the PFRPG Right here, and a copy of the Bestiary, which means it has taken up more than a little of my thinking away from other topics. That and my prior enjoyment of the setting, Golarion, used in the APs and adventure books... well, yeah.
I like it because it feels like I'm in a folk tale. If that's what interests you, I'd like to try running a game for you.
You, like so many creatures in this world, are fairly low-powered. Well, you're strong and brave and all that, and perhaps wise in the ways of the world, or magic, or both; enough that you've won the odd scuffle or three; but so many things out there are just as strong as you are that it's so often a toss up. Tooth and nail every day. Not to say that a group of determined souls couldn't take on an Efreet with enough spears, (were they not creatures out of fireside stories), but for the most part you and the odd pack of wolves circling your camp are roughly even.
It's a cold night, in fact, and the steam from your campfire is thick as smoke in this air. The grass on either side of the road is frozen, and as the wolves circle among the trees you can hear it crunch beneath their paws.
The scholar you were travelling with stumbled off the log he'd been sitting on at the first howl, but gathered his wits quickly, and now waves a torch back and forth to ward off the wolves. Blasted beasts! What do they want with us? Isn't there game in these woods enough for them? He held the brand without shaking hands, though beneath his thick layers of robes he may have shuddered. He looked up to you. Well? What do you normally do when this happens?
Monday, 5th April, 2010, 06:32 AM #2
Superhero (Lvl 15)
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I'm interested in everything connected to Pf RPG
Any more info / background?
Have to go now, but will be back on Wednesday.Signature
Hi I'm a comic and rpg nerd. Don't hurt me, please.
PS: English is NOT my native language!
May the 4th be with you!
Invisible Castle
Pathfinder SRD (Pathfinder_OGC)
My Houserules
I am SpiderClan
Monday, 5th April, 2010, 07:56 AM #3
The Grand Druid (Lvl 20)
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- Feb 2007
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- Miscatonic U. professor of supernatural studies-Emeritus [Greater Nashville area, Tenn.]
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ø Block Scott DeWar
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I would normaly be very interested, but I am pretty much at my limit. The best of luck to your game.Check out Living Pathfinder!
76 83 92 102 109 115149 members and counting!!
Monday, 5th April, 2010, 01:45 PM #4
Waghalter (Lvl 7)
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- Aug 2004
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- BC, Canada
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After some thought I decided I will not be participating at this time. My apologies. Enjoy and good luck to you.
Last edited by Songdragon; Monday, 5th April, 2010 at 07:52 PM. Reason: Change of mind...
Monday, 5th April, 2010, 03:08 PM #5
Scout (Lvl 6)
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Can I also express my interest. I really like pathfinder.
Like the others, I would appreciate more information on what you are planning.
Monday, 5th April, 2010, 03:54 PM #6
Myrmidon (Lvl 10)
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Keep in mind I will be working out of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting book, the one that came out before the Beta playtest, and way before the PFRPG came out. That said, I'm not entirely sure where it'll be, though certainly in a "humanocentric" area.
DM rant starting with CharactersWell, I'm realistic and know that PBP is typically tunnel-vision for character level: if the game takes off and lasts years, you're still likely to cover only a one-or-two level span. Heck, the idea that 10 encounters is a level, getting through even one encounter takes several months, it's a great medium to run M&M games where your concept is static and going up in level actually makes it less likely you'll be playing the character you want (ie: you get more points and wolverine has to spend them, so he buys a pair of rocket boots; and is ontologically no longer Wolverine).
That said, I want to try out the PFRPG, AND I want to be able to do as much with the characters as possible, and have the freedom to tell some interesting stories.
I don't have any experience with higher level games, and the highest level game I've DM'd exploded in flames because I wasn't ready for 3e like I thought I was. That's why I switched to 4e for my RL game, as it's easier to plug in other characters than 3e was (and I admit now I'm lazy like the rest of you). That and I knew great ways to powergame in 3.5, and by level 7 I'd made a nigh-unstoppable Dwarven Fighter simply with Power Attack and weapon focus and some magical items (without NPCs having magic items, which meant the party would just have more gear when they beat every Orc... basically lots of issues)
Like I said, I want to give PFRPG a fair try, see if it did fix 3e. I'm finding 4e is good, but I want to try a less hard-and-fast system like SAGA or PFRPG, where some of the descriptions of powers are more open to interpretation.
I've been gaming for almost two decades, starting with AD&D Ravenloft basic set and the Van Richten's guides. I knows mah crunch, I likes mah stories. When I design games, I tend to want to challenge the players as much as the characters, and I try to do this with atmosphere.
That and I like Mythology. If you do also, that's a great start.
Character Creation: level 6, please. PFRPG core book, and the playtest classes of Oracle, Cavalier, Summoner and Witch are okay. No eeeeevil characters, thanks (so skip the baby-eating options), but an interesting dynamic is good.
Races should generally be human nationalities, but I encourage one or two non-human characters, but that's all. Human is the setting, with other stuff as add-ons to it.
PFSRD only, really, excepting the human races and setting information. I don't think anyone can manage a PrC, yet, though if you're gunning for it I want to know now (so I can know if we're going to level up or what you're hoping to be exactly).
No Emo characters, if you could, or destructive/pointless characters. And please give me character, as best you can, both in terms of living characters and in terms of entertaining to watch.
Also: how are you lot with folk tales? folk music? historical drama?
Stats: Hmmm... Invisible Castle only roll 4d6, drop the lowest; AND if you want to use the same numbers as another player, you can (example: everyone rolls 1s, except marty, who rolls three 18s; everyone can take his rolls). NO RE-ROLLS and I WILL BE CHECKING!!!
I'm more interested in good RP than stats, and it bugs me when people just keep rolling and rolling until they get "magic". If everyone hates their stats (and honestly), we as a group will trash the last batch and start from scratch ACROSS THE BOARD.
Equipment: Let's start with basic stuff. I'll distribute magic later, and if you kids can find it, and survive to claim it, that's great. Keep it simple. Standard gold for 6th level, roll for it.
Where: I don't know yet. It's going to be mainland, somewhere cold at night but not snowy, and likely not too far from the western side of the continent. There's wolves, and the folk have white skin, but it's not the land of the Linnorm Kings either.
However, I'm hoping you lot get into the Realms and human nations. Create a character, then pick a nation and decide how that nation would have formed them for several levels. I don't care where you come from, but there's a story behind how you got to where you are; likely banal, but there you have it.
THE MISSIONYou're escorting a Scholar from one city to another. He's a bit funny, but he pays well and doesn't fuss too much. He's been a bit jumpy, and he says it's due to a card reading he got before he hired you. Now your party is surrounded by wolves.
monstersI'm taking the bestiary as a given. Monsters more powerful I'll be adding character levels to, for the most part. So if you run into a band of Gnolls, and their leader is bigger than most of them, I've added Barbarian levels to it. The king of the Efreet (Sultan, sure) is a high level Efreet warrior/wizard/sorcerer/somethingorother. The idea that a Lich is a master of the arcane is a given; therefore 12th level is considered pretty high.
In your experience, you mostly get wolves and bandits and thieves. There are more magical creatures for sure, but it tends to be in the shadows or far from civilization. For example, a Wizard's tower in a city is more than likely to have extraplanar creatures there, a king is likely to have a garden with creatures in it. A tavern won't, but there are were-rats in the sewers. People are superstitious for sure, and don't expect magic, but know it exists.
You can find it if you look, but it's not exactly in your face.
inspirational reading/watching listJim Henson's Storyteller series'. Clash of the Titans 1981 (but upgrade to the 2010's special effects; heh). HBO's Rome. The first Mummy film, not the others. PotC: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Kurt Busiek & Cary Nord's Conan series (Dark Horse Comics). Mike Mignola's Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser book. Bulfinch's Mythology. Greek, Norse myth. European Folklore.
And while you're at it, the Pathfinder CS.
Monday, 5th April, 2010, 05:14 PM #7
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Journal: Viruses, 2010
Volume: 2
Number: 1411
Article: Role of Gag in HIV Resistance to Protease Inhibitors
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* Welcome to the Bullet pictures gallery. View Bullet pictures (high quality) from all angles and views. Images of Bullet will give you the necessary details of Bullet bike. As pictures says thousands words, Bullet pics here is equivalent to reading multiple reviews. Bullet photos listed here are not just for aesthetic but also to clearly explain you the functional elements of the bike like seating position, instrument panel and ergonomics. Detailed images also helps you understand fit and finish of the Bullet. Click on the Bullet picture to view it in larger resolution.
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WASHINGTON—A senior U.S. envoy will travel next week to China, South Korea and Japan to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
The trip comes as Washington seeks a common position among nations in the region on how to persuade Pyongyang (pyuhng-yahng) to disarm.
Glyn Davies is special representative for North Korea policy. Davies arrives in Beijing Tuesday and will meet his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei, who visited Washington in late October. The U.S. sees China's role as pivotal because of its strong ties with North Korea.
Davies then travels to Seoul and Tokyo.
North Korea says it wants to resume aid-for-disarmament negotiations it pulled out of five years ago, but without preconditions. The U.S. first wants the North to take concrete steps to show it's willing to disarm.


text: I have a 15 year old Marquis spa that is displaying an OH message which indicates that the spa has shut down due to an overheat protection sensor. Ever since refilling the spa this fall the thermostat has not been reading correctly. To keep the water temp below 106 (independent thermometer reading) the control panel has been set at 91. When the OH sensor tripped the water temperature was ~104. Do I just need to switch out the spa sensor assembly?


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U-T picks: 9 top homes of 2011
I've written 200-plus real estate stories in 2011, based on the Union-Tribune's archives.
That's a lot of articles about homes.
To reflect on the past year, I've compiled a list of the nine most notable homes I've covered, from oceanfront properties to super-green student housing.
Please note: The list is by no means complete and offers highlights. If I've missed any, please include them in the comments section below. If a hot property hits the market in the future, you also can contact me directly.
9)Point Loma listing has ties to Portuguese pioneer
8)Realtors' 'Holiday House' for sale
7)Home with Reagan connection on the market (According to Redfin, the home sold in July for $1.84 million.)
6)The architect behind UCSD's new uber-green housing
5)Former home of famed scientist back on market
4)'Million Dollar Listing' stars in Rancho Santa Fe
3)Jenny Craig home off the market
2)Coronado mansion at center of deaths to be sold
1)Buyer of 'Razor' home identified
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Posted by Wayne Root on August 5, 2011 None comments Barack Obama is my college classmate (Columbia University Class of '83). I tried to warn the country that virtually all of my classmates and professors were Marxist or socialist, despised America, and wanted to bring down capitalism. I tried to warn the country that Obama would follow the detailed plan of two Columbia professors named Cloward and Piven- a plan designed to damage or destroy capitalism by overwhelming the U.S. economy with government spending, regulations, entitlements, taxes and debt.
That is precisely why I authored what became one of the most popular commentaries on the entire Internet in 2010 entitled "The Obama Economic Plan- Purposely Overwhelming the System to Cause Crisis and Destroy Capitalism." I predicted Obama's radical tax and spend policies were designed to crash the system with debt, bring us to our knees, starve business owners (the biggest contributors to his political opposition), make us all doubt capitalism, and dependent on big government. It's all come to pass. Now for the first time in history, the USA has been stripped of its AAA credit rating.
I've written about this Obama plan for 2 ½ years now. My commentaries have predicted the destruction of the U.S. economy under Barack Obama, the decimation of small business and the middle class, and the start of not only the Obama Great Depression, but what I called "the Greatest Depression ever."
Afterall when the first Great Depression began in 1929, our country was not already saddled with $100 trillion in debt. We had no obligations for welfare, food stamps, Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. We had no illegal immigrants overwhelming the budgets of our public schools and healthcare system. We didn't have 21 million government employees with bloated salaries and unfunded $100,000 pensions. We had no Obamacare with an obligation to pay for the medical bills of every American.
Back in 1929, we also had a nation filled with hard-working citizens who believed in personal initiative and personal responsibility. All of that has changed dramatically (for the worse). Those modern government programs, entitlements and obligations add up to national catastrophe as we enter this new Obama Great Depression.
I wrote the commentary entitled "Obama The Great Jobs Killer." Time magazine quoted my line "Obama has killed so many jobs, he should be on top of the FBI's Most Wanted List." That was well over a year ago. What is happening today makes the economy and unemployment picture back then look like child's play.
I wrote "Obamageddon" a year ago about the wreckage of the U.S. economy from sea to shining sea. Today that wreckage is larger than even I imagined back then. Now our AAA credit rating is gone.
I wrote "The Unraveling of a Ponzi Scheme," "Obama- the Marxist in the Mirror," and "The Obama War Against Small Business." All of them had a common theme- Obama's goal was to target, demonize and punish the wealthy and small business owners- the very groups that pay all the taxes and create all the jobs. I predicted that the result would be economic crisis and collapse.
I wrote "The Strike- Why the Rich are Going on Strike Against Obama." I predicted that as a result of Obama's rhetoric and policies targeting, demonizing and punishing the rich, America's job creators were going on strike. I predicted the economic decline would accelerate because business owners would stop producing and stop hiring, in response to being punished for their success. Each day these predictions are confirmed by alarming new economic and unemployment reports.
I wrote that Obama's debt rampage wasn't just suicide for Obama's political career. It would bring us all down in a murder/suicide. The entire U.S. economy would come down upon not only taxpayers today, but our children and grandchildren for decades to come. And now along comes the humiliating credit downgrade of our once proud nation.
I wrote a commentary many months ago entitled "The Greatest Depression of All Time Has Begun." And so it has.
Obama has ruined this economy from sea to shining sea. From the Gulf Coast economy, to the Florida Space Coast economy. From small business, to WalMart, whose most recent sales show a dramatic and frightening slowdown in customer traffic. From a complete real estate collapse, to now a complete stock market meltdown. It's all crashing down upon us.
It's true that the odds of Obama's re-election just went down in a ball of flames, along with the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But no matter- Obama has accomplished his goal. He has taken down the entire U.S. economy with him. He has trashed the political opposition- small business owners who fund conservative candidates and causes. He has overseen the decimation of the middle class homeowners and stock owners who vote conservative. He has left retirees with few assets- houses worthless, retirement accounts decimated, bank savings eroded by massive inflation. He has made 50 states into welfare queens begging for bailouts from the federal government. This is the definition of "overwhelmed," right out of the playbook of Cloward and Piven.
Obama has left in his wake a U.S. economy in ruins. He has turned the American Dream into a nightmare. He has convinced many Americans that government feels their pain, even though it is government that caused it. He has enslaved us all under an avalanche of debt so massive it's unimaginable, and of course unsustainable. Now he has ruined the credit rating of the greatest nation on earth. Obama has turned hope into a 4 letter word.
Congratulations Mr. Obama. Mission Accomplished.
By: star53
In: Politics
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In a mechanical drawing what is intended to be drawn on layer '0', as opposed to, say, the Outline layer? (I'm referring to the AEC layer template shipped with QCAD.)
Moderator: andrew
Clive wrote:Traditionally Blocks (symbols) can be created on Layer 0 in programs like AutoCAD and Microstation with Colour, Line type and Line width set to 'by layer', once inserted the block/symbol will then have the attributes of the layer upon which it is inserted. Hope this makes sense
riverbuoy wrote:That is how it works in Autocad ....However, in QCAD
riverbuoy wrote:... to have the entities take on the values of the layer on which it is inserted.
Husky wrote:... and I'm pretty happy that this block doesn't adopts the actual Layer attributes.
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text:
I tell everyone I know how good the milkshakes are at Lil's Place.
In one day, they can go through four buckets of chocolate ice cream — and that's one flavour. Made the old fashioned way, they're served in a tall glass, along with the rest of your shake in a metal cup.
The place reminds me of home in a way — as Lubbock Texas was the home of Buddy Holly and a lot of places remained the diners they were in the 50s.
This diner was crafted with a lot of love. The running lights above the benches, the paper 57 Chevy's dangling from the ceiling, the poodle skirts. A jukebox belts out the hits my parents loved — three for a quarter.
Hidden in that jukebox is an unexpected CD. L.J. Daylee's CD — and you'll have to find it (around 12 or 13) — but I know where the artist is.
She owns the place.
Lil is enjoying the restaurant business after a successful run as a country music singer/songwriter. She put out two CDs. She toured Europe. It was maddening schedule. In 2002, she performed more than 200 shows — this with a family and young kids in Edmonton.
It took three times for the Yukon to work its spell on Lil.
The first time was in October 2002: "I just fell in love with the scenery." The culture was more laid back, too. "It's not as rushed here." And with her schedule, she'd done "rushed".
She was here for a month: "The staff made us feel welcome. They spoiled us rotten." They were invited over to the staff Thanksgiving dinner.
It was quiet and peaceful. "It had a vibe. Maybe if you are born and raised here, you might not feel that. Lot of kids I know are just dying to get outta town."
Later in March, she found herself booked for a month at the 202 again.
Her second time in Whitehorse was "darn cold". A snowstorm blew in on her birthday.
The third time had her back in June.
"That was it. I was hooked." She was still married at the time, but she said that if she had the opportunity to move up here she would.
Divorced in 2004, she found that opportunity in 2005 for a fresh start.
While recording on-hold messages in Edmonton she saw an announcement online for an ad writer for CKRW. "I came up with my two dogs and everything I owned."
She stayed for a year, met a guy and moved down to Edmonton. But she'd already been changed by the Yukon. "Edmonton was too fast, too much traffic, too many people, too many cars." She looked for an opportunity to come back.
They saw The Pasta Palace was being sold online.
"We were happy up there," she and her boyfriend remembered.
But they'd never run a restaurant.
It took her seven months to renovate the place. They laid the floors themselves, built and sewed the benches. All the tile work, the tabletops. The coke machine was her Mom's. She opened Lil's Place in December, 2007.
"The response was fabulous," she says. "The first month was a gong show in here. We didn't even turn the open sign on and people crammed in. I had no idea what I was doing. I'd never run a restaurant. We were so busy. People loved our place. But it was crazy. I kept asking anyone on the street, 'Wanna buy a restaurant?'"
She had a lot of support from the whole community. People poked their heads in and asked how she was doing. Customers lined up for shakes. "People in this town really missed Dairy Queen and milkshakes."
Well, that's my reason for being there. I'm slurping a chocolate milkshake like I think it's never gonna end. Frankie Valli's on the jukebox with that falsetto chorus and it sounds like the Yukon is singing to Lil all over again — or maybe it's singing to all of us.
"Why don't you sta-a-ay just a little bit lo-onger…"
Jerome Stueart chose this city on purpose. Maybe you did, too. He'd like to hear from you. Write to him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Author and political analyst Cornel West will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall in Ashland.
West is the author of "Race Matters," "Democracy Matters" and his memoir, "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud."
West has made TV appearances and appeared in more than 25 documentaries and films. His Ashland appearance is being hosted by Southern Oregon University and Rogue Community College.
Tickets for the event cost $30 for the public, but admission is free for SOU students and staff. Seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased at the information desk in SOU's Stevenson Union.
Location, ST | website.com


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VIDEO: Catching up with IU Volleyball's Jazzmine McDonald
Tue., Aug. 2, 2016
VIDEO: Where are they now? Catching up with former high school athletes: Ashley Benson
Tue., Jul. 5, 2016
VIDEO: IU Women's Soccer Coach Amy Berbary on the team's 2016 schedule
Tue., May. 31, 2016
VIDEO: IU Women's Soccer Coach Amy Berbary on winning the Herbert Cup
Fri., May. 27, 2016
VIDEO: Off the court with IU Volleyball
Mon., May. 16, 2016
Hoosier Morning: Weekly Roundup
Fri., May. 13, 2016
VIDEO: Off the court with IU Volleyball
Thu., May. 12, 2016
It was a sobering loss to Missouri on both sides of the ball for Indiana, Dustin writes.
Former IU wide receiver Tandon Doss made the biggest play of his career and celebrated his birthday with a punt return for touchdown in Sunday's Ravens' game, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun writes.
Robert Johnson gave Indiana the answer it wanted, even if Tom Crean didn't answer his phone on Friday, Eric Kolenich of the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote.
Missouri did what it should have against Indiana, but it was still "kind of a big deal," Joe Walljasper of the Columbia Daily Tribune wrote.
The deal Seton Hall cut by hiring IU target Isaiah Whitehead's high school coach is just another charade the NCAA shouldn't stand for, Andy Glockner of SI.com wrote.
The University of Michigan athletic department had enough money to spend on skywriting above Ann Arbor and East Lansing, Brandon Howell of MLive.com wrote.
Kind of a big deal — Anchorman.
I am so glad we got RJ Jr. But where was Crean Friday? He knew what time the kid was going to make his announcement. How could he miss two calls? He should have been off his phone during this time. Maybe it is stuff like this that is costing us players. No excuse except death of a relative for him to not be available. Geez!
Maybe he has tired of the 'bad news' received recently..?
Good read on the Seton Hall/ Whitehead/ ncaa article. Would be nice to have a principled, honourable and consistant administrator for college sports. Instead, we get the ncaa.
My take on Chap comes from an interview (HT- DD maybe?, I believe so but could be wrong) when he announced he was going to try-out for a job in the NFL and said something to the effect that (paraphrase) 'he was now going to get in shape and slim down because he had been too heavy through college'. What was Chubby doing in college? Which was the perfect definition of the attitude that prevailed when he privileged us with his appetite (not for action) and why IU had been 0-for whatever with his leadership and coaching who thought it was ok.
There is a step before you gain respect from other programs…respect yourself.
Is it just me, or does Jeremy look a bit like Ron Burgundy?
DD, apparently those who find fault with Chap during his tenure expected him to play cornerback as well. See, if he wasn't so fat and out of shape, he would have played on both sides of the ball and contributed to bringing Indiana's points against average from the mid-forties down to the low-thirties.
TT – you need to be better informed when posting on here. Chap was one of the finest gingers to play for IU and overachieved on the field and off.
A lot of coaches sure pick up pounds fast…
They're always pressed for time and likely frequently picking up junk food on the run. I guess some are probably pretty big beer guzzlers too.
It's funny how there are so many mixed messages based on the position played…We want to turn a lineman into Shamu meets Sumo wrestler, but the rest must "respect" themselves and stay lean. Different buffet lines? Twinkies and t-bone's and all things on tap for the guys up front..? Tofu, snow peas, and almond milk for the sexier positions that get to hold and catch the pigskin?
I could see how it would be purposefully get lost in the wrong buffet line.
I could see how [one could] purposefully get lost in the wrong buffet line.
Aruss- No doubt that when I'm wrong it can be pointed out by most who periodically make educated and insightful comments here. And I'll likely accept it if it has merit. But, in the very least, it's got to be by someone with a history of thought out comments, intelligence, a mature base of knowledge about athletes and sports, a critical eye based on consistent observations and an abundance of judgment justifying respect for their contributions.
In the very least the contributions have to be interesting, cerebral, add to my base knowledge about IU sports and, for art's sake,decently written.
All of the above, that ain't you.
For all, my comment was based on a quote he (Chappell) gave the HT (again, a DD story I believe). My perception has always been that getting yourself in optimum physical shape is a by-product of desire to excel, particularly when you are 'the' leader. In other words, as discussed before, doing 'all the little things that put a competitor in a position to win'.
I do remember thinking (at that time)- 'so you wait until it's time to do this for pay before deciding optimum condition is an issue?' Sorry, but it speaks loudly of where we've (the Hoosiers) have been. Hopefully, that is changing.
I do know that Chappell was very demanding of himself academically (which is a really good thing), a talented passer and, according to many sources, a good person. We shouldn't confuse issues, there seems to have been a difference between what we and what our opponents sent out on the field.
Dustin Dopirak…my point exactly. Thanks for confirming it. The factual part of your comments underline and support my point. You shouldn't need to feel the social pressure or have to justify or caress your reporting of facts. That's what you do and why they call it 'a profession'.
Harvard, you actually have a point. We do push these kids to un-natural sizes and weights; fully knowing the consequences in terms of their health later in their lives (when they have families and children to whom they are and should be accountable).
We actually have people here posting that 'we need them bigger…bigger!' And, the justification is, 'all the others are doing it'. It seems to me to be similar to coaching players 'to lead with their heads' (or put your head in the numbers) while knowing that, in many cases, their brain scans already show the indication of brain damage. (Or the way they used to deny water during practices as an indication 'for pansies').
I love the game. I'm addicted to it. But, I have to admit and recognize that the addiction- like heroin, or cocaine or marijuana- has very negative consequences. And, my addiction to the game could have absolutely awful consequences…for others.
Forcing boys and young men to carry 300+ lbs and destroying their health and futures is beyond bad. Multiply brain damage to the health damage we cause and I can only conclude that the choice faced by Theodore Roosevelt on whether or not to ban football needs to be reconsidered. Or rules concerning standards adopted.
At the very least, we should demand participation criteria that considers the long-term welfare of the competitors. Maybe setting limits to weight/height formulas, developing rules that reduce the likelihood of traumatic head injuries (for example, designing shirts that have 2-2 1/2 inch red line from shoulder to shoulder banning any hit or touch- like grabbing- above it) with a 25 yard penalty and a game suspension +1 for violators (to a minimum degree that is on the way already, only there needs to be more severity). The game itself won't change, it will just be less savage.
Why not? Wrestling (the real kind, not the pros) already has rules that limit (the other way)extreme weight loss and 'going down (X categories) to protect the health of participants.
Am I being a hypocrite? Absolutely…and I don't want to think about it,…that is my problem and my moral (or immoral) contradiction.
Like Stan says in the old movies Harvard, 'now you've done it Ollie!'
And your perceptions about Chappell seem to function in parallel to many the college basketball players that simply view college hoops as the audition for the pros.
Journalists already concluding that a "going home" party refers more to successfully readying oneself/marketing oneself to the highest degree that makes an NBA exec salivate. "Home" has nothing to do with the end-game that could make the most out of your college experience and watching your team benefit to its fullest by way of concentrating on the current job at hand. The focus has moved and the lure of the big cash makes college seem more like a rest area stop for those that possess enough size and skills to have a chance to play beyond days at what they claim an alma mater.
And though you may have your body in and game in its prime attractive state for the NBA scouts, the real crime is the fact that your mind is there instead of appreciating your teammates on the bench and the youngsters in the crowd.
In my humble opinion, "going home" should be a metaphor for giving your everything to make college ball separate and unique from the self-infatuation parties your own glory train as your pounding down the tracks to be the next MJ.
Whether fat in poundage ready step it up post-graduation at training camp or fat in arrogance while cutting college short, all the while eying the only goal of any importance(the NBA), college, for the top athletes is nothing more than bathroom break on the highway to fame..And fame is the home rather than the last humble cheer for selflessness and unstoppable grit for team. "The Movement" you take while on the way to pros. And we're supposed to drop our jaws in awe because of some mesmerizing flushes.
Po, I wouldn't be surprised if IU wins more than 7 games this year. [...]
Once again, I'm confused by Wilson's comments about his QBs. Is he pl [...]
v I'm with your thinking about this year and for the very reasons Po l [...]
Wilson is doing what he's supposed to be doing, selling IU Football to [...]
Listening to coach Wilson on BTN and reading this article Coach seems [...]
Not only does she "dope," she's extremely [...]
Find Notre Dame football coverage on NDInsider.com. © Hoosier Times Inc., all rights reserved.


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Police: Man robs pharmacy, locks self in bathroom
Suspect arrested 30 minutes later
Augusta police say a man robbed a pharmacy on Tuesday and then locked himself inside the pharmacy's bathroom.
Police say Dylan Karczewski, 19, of Augusta, entered the Rite Aid on North Belfast Avenue at about 5 p.m.
Investigators say he demanded oxycodone from employees at the pharmacy.
Police say after getting the prescription drugs, Karczewski went into the bathroom and locked himself inside and told officers he had chemical weapons.
Police say after about a half hour officers entered the bathroom and arrested Karczewski.
No chemical weapons were found.
Karczewski is charged with robbery and theft.
He is being held at the Kennebec County Jail.
Copyright 2012 by WMTW.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Treating chronic disease could help forestall onset of Alzheimer's disease
Treating chronic disease could help forestall onset of Alzheimer's disease
04.19.11 | By
With PhRMA's annual meeting completed, everyone here is getting back into their more normal routines. So, I thought I'd start the week talking about a piece in today's New York Times Health Section. The upshot is that elderly people suffering some memory loss or cognition issues may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease if underlying problems like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol are properly identified and effectively treated.
The study again underscores some things we spend a lot of time talking about here at the Catalyst. First, is the impending challenge posed to our health care system from Alzheimer's disease.
The second point, however, is that identifying, preventing and treating chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and other conditions can play a critical role not only in extending life but improving the quality of life. The cost of failure to identify, prevent and intervene early to control chronic diseases is enormous - estimated to be as much as 75 cents of every health care dollar spent in America today. But, if that isn't enough, the chance that the toll of Alzheimer's disease could be reduced by better management of chronic conditions is all the more reason to focus on improving prevention and treatment.
There's some great information about the toll of chronic disease and its impact on our economy and health care at the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. I also recommend the latest blog by Dr. Ken Thorpe on the path to improving our health. Dr. Thorpe was one of the moderators at PhRMA's annual meeting and conducted a great panel discussion on the impact of chronic disease on the cost of health care in America.


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cheshirecat • Contributing Member • Posts: 920
Wat Arun, Bangkok with E1 and 11-22mm
May 12, 2011
A brief stopover at the start of our big trip downunder. Wat Arun - Temple of the Dawn.
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Summary: Ingles Markets Inc. Jan 13
- January 2013
- Standard & Poors
The ratings on North Carolina-based supermarket chain Ingles Markets Inc. reflect Standard & Poor's Ratings Services' expectation that the company will have stable profits and credit metrics in the near term, and that our assessment of the company's financial risk will remain "aggressive." We view Ingles' business risk as "fair," based on its consistent historical operating performance, which is better than most competitors, and its vertical integration that allows for cost benefits. Ingles has a good track record of growing revenues. This is evident in recent operating results, as it yielded benefits from improving in-store experience through product initiatives and pricing strategies. We anticipate EBITDA margins will remain almost flat in fiscal 2013, at around 5.8%, as we think sales...
Companies mentioned in this report are:
- Ingles Markets Inc.
Action: Review
Standard and Poors RatingsXpress Credit Research provides in-depth coverage of international corporates, financial institutions, insurance companies, utilities, sovereigns and structured finance programs. RatingsXpress Credit Research lets users determine the credit rating of holdings and identify key factors underlying an issuer's creditworthiness, distinguishes the different risk exposures for new and existing deals, and provides an understanding of how their analysts interpret key regulatory, political and environmental events and their economic impact.
This product consists of a Summary Analysis: Bi-annual (at least). An abbreviated analysis containing Standard & Poor's issuer credit ratings as of the time the article was published. The analysis includes a rating rationale - the basis on which the rating was assigned - and an outlook section if the issuer is not on CreditWatch. Financial statistics are not included. SHOW LESS READ MORE >
- Ingles Markets Inc.


text:
Ortho Micronor
FDA Authorizes Expanded Use of Medical Abortion Pill Mifeprex »
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a request by Danco Laboratories to expand authorized use of its abortion pill Mifeprex (mifepristone), formerly known as RU-486, to 70 days of gestation from 49 days.
Read the FDA Authorizes Expanded Use of Medical Abortion Pill Mifeprex article »
Ortho Micronor
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular disease. Women who use oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke.
ORTHO MICRONOR® (norethindrone) does not contain estrogen and, therefore, this insert does not discuss the serious health risks that have been associated with the estrogen component of combined oral contraceptives (COCs). The healthcare professional is referred to the prescribing information of combined oral contraceptives for a discussion of those risks. The relationship between progestin-only oral contraceptives and these risks is not fully defined. The healthcare professional should remain alert to the earliest manifestation of symptoms of any serious disease and discontinue oral contraceptive therapy when appropriate.
Ectopic Pregnancy
The incidence of ectopic pregnancies for progestin-only oral contraceptive users is 5 per 1000 woman-years. Up to 10% of pregnancies reported in clinical studies of progestin-only oral contraceptive users are extrauterine. Although symptoms of ectopic pregnancy should be watched for, a history of ectopic pregnancy need not be considered a contraindication to use of this contraceptive method. Healthcare professionals should be alert to the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy in women who become pregnant or complain of lower abdominal pain while on progestin-only oral contraceptives.
Delayed Follicular Atresia/Ovarian Cysts
If follicular development occurs, atresia of the follicle is sometimes delayed and the follicle may continue to grow beyond the size it would attain in a normal cycle. Generally these enlarged follicles disappear spontaneously. Often they are asymptomatic; in some cases they are associated with mild abdominal pain. Rarely they may twist or rupture, requiring surgical intervention.
Irregular Genital Bleeding
Irregular menstrual patterns are common among women using progestin-only oral contraceptives. If genital bleeding is suggestive of infection, malignancy or other abnormal conditions, such nonpharmacologic causes should be ruled out. If prolonged amenorrhea occurs, the possibility of pregnancy should be evaluated.
Carcinoma of the Breast and Reproductive Organs
Some epidemiological studies of oral contraceptive users have reported an increased relative risk of developing breast cancer, particularly at a younger age and apparently related to duration of use. These studies have predominantly involved combined oral contraceptives and there is insufficient data to determine whether the use of POPs similarly increases the risk.
A meta-analysis of 54 studies found a small increase in the frequency of having breast cancer diagnosed for women who were currently using combined oral contraceptives or had used them within the past ten years.
This increase in the frequency of breast cancer diagnosis, within ten years of stopping use, was generally accounted for by cancers localized to the breast. There was no increase in the frequency of having breast cancer diagnosed ten or more years after cessation of use.
Women with breast cancer should not use oral contraceptives because the role of female hormones in breast cancer has not been fully determined.
Some studies suggest that oral contraceptive use has been associated with an increase in the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in some populations of women. However, there continues to be controversy about the extent to which such findings may be due to differences in sexual behavior and other factors. There is insufficient data to determine whether the use of POPs increases the risk of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Hepatic Neoplasia
Benign hepatic adenomas are associated with combined oral contraceptive use, although the incidence of benign tumors is rare in the United States. Rupture of benign, hepatic adenomas may cause death through intra-abdominal hemorrhage.
Studies have shown an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in combined oral contraceptive users. However, these cancers are rare in the U.S. There is insufficient data to determine whether POPs increase the risk of developing hepatic neoplasia.
Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Physical Examination and Follow up
It is considered good medical practice for sexually active women using oral contraceptives to have annual history and physical examinations. The physical examination may be deferred until after initiation of oral contraceptives if requested by the woman and judged appropriate by the healthcare professional.
Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism
Some users may experience slight deterioration in glucose tolerance, with increases in plasma insulin but women with diabetes mellitus who use progestin-only oral contraceptives do not generally experience changes in their insulin requirements. Nonetheless, prediabetic and diabetic women in particular should be carefully monitored while taking POPs.
Lipid metabolism is occasionally affected in that HDL, HDL2, and apolipoprotein A-I and A-II may be decreased; hepatic lipase may be increased. There is usually no effect on total cholesterol, HDL3, LDL, or VLDL.
See WARNINGS section.
Many studies have found no effects on fetal development associated with long-term use of contraceptive doses of oral progestins. The few studies of infant growth and development that have been conducted have not demonstrated significant adverse effects. It is nonetheless prudent to rule out suspected pregnancy before initiating any hormonal contraceptive use.
Nursing Mothers
In general, no adverse effects have been found on breastfeeding performance or on the health, growth, or development of the infant. However, isolated post-marketing cases of decreased milk production have been reported. Small amounts of progestins pass into the breast milk of nursing mothers, resulting in detectable steroid levels in infant plasma.
Pediatric Use
Safety and efficacy of ORTHO MICRONOR® (norethindrone) Tablets have been established in women of reproductive age. Safety and efficacy are expected to be the same for postpubertal adolescents under the age of 16 and for users 16 years and older. Use of this product before menarche is not indicated.
Fertility Following Discontinuation
The limited available data indicate a rapid return of normal ovulation and fertility following discontinuation of progestin-only oral contraceptives.
The onset or exacerbation of migraine or development of severe headache with focal neurological symptoms which is recurrent or persistent requires discontinuation of progestin-only contraceptives and evaluation of the cause.
Information for the Patient
- See "Detailed Patient Labeling" for detailed information.
- Counseling issues
The following points should be discussed with prospective users before prescribing progestin-only oral contraceptives:
- The necessity of taking pills at the same time every day, including throughout all bleeding episodes.
- The need to use a backup method such as condoms and spermicides for the next 48 hours whenever a progestin-only oral contraceptive is taken 3 or more hours late.
- The potential side effects of progestin-only oral contraceptives, particularly menstrual irregularities.
- The need to inform the healthcare professional of prolonged episodes of bleeding, amenorrhea or severe abdominal pain.
- The importance of using a barrier method in addition to progestin-only oral contraceptives if a woman is at risk of contracting or transmitting STDs/HIV.
Last reviewed on RxList: 7/24/2008
Ortho Micronor FDA Prescribing Information
Additional Ortho Micronor Information
Ortho Micronor - User Reviews
Ortho Micronor User Reviews
Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.
Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Ortho Micronor sorted by most helpful.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.


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Dust to Dust
Lifting the Ban
Works of Mercy
Grave Responsibilities
Ritual Rewards
Cry Aloud to God
Trappist Monks Craft Caskets
Photo by Don Nesbitt
I leaned against the old church doors and studied the people ascending the steps. Relatives, childhood friends, farm neighbors: the salt of the Minnesota prairie. Today was my father's funeral and hearts were heavy. Together, we mourned his physical separation from us and the fact that we'd no longer see his faith in action. We also gave thanks for Dad's new life.
A new Church attitude makes all the difference! Thirty years ago, any thoughts of praise succumbed to the somber tone of the Requiem Mass and black vestments. Today's Mass of Christian Burial is celebrated mainly in white vestments and inspires hope eternal, the dark of death symbolically swallowed up in the lighted paschal candle.
While I still grieve for my father, I find solace in knowing we are forever united in the communion of the saints: he on that side of the veil, I on this.
The Mass is only one of many changes in Catholic funerals. Simple wooden caskets are making a comeback. With new burial options, we can choose how we'll await the resurrection. More deceased are being waked in churches, and many parishes now offer bereavement ministry to families at the hour of death. Evening funeral Masses are allowing more of the working population to pay their last respects. Eulogies are in—and out—depending on the diocese and parish.
Dust to Dust
The biggest change in Catholic funerals is cremation. Just how many Catholics are choosing cremation is a guess: Many dioceses aren't yet tracking the trend. Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests the percentage of Catholic cremation is somewhat lower than the national average.
According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), 27 percent of Americans who died in 2001 were cremated. CANA is projecting a 37-percent cremation rate by 2010 and 44 percent by 2025. That compares with 10 percent in 1980.
Geographically, the percentage of Catholic cremations varies widely and is closely tied to state trends. Rates are highest in the far western states but substantially lower in the South, where more faithful seem to reverence the traditional funeral and burial.
In Alabama, which has the nation's lowest cremation rate (five percent in 2001), the Mobile Archdiocese reports its cremations are three percent or less. In New Orleans, whose centuries-old cemeteries are tourist attractions, cremations also remain low.
"Our above-ground tombs are family histories, with several generations buried in one location," explains Michael D. Boudreaux, director of the New Orleans archdiocesan cemeteries. "We are respectful of our past and our future."
Cremations are sharply higher in retirement states and in more transient urban areas. "In Greater Seattle, about 40 to 45 percent of Catholics are choosing cremation," estimates Richard P. Peterson, director of the Seattle archdiocesan cemeteries. That compares with Washington State's 59-percent cremation rate in 2001.
"It's rare for a person to be born and die here," says Peterson. "We don't have deep roots or the traditional family cemeteries like the Midwest or the East."
Contrary to public opinion, cost is not always the main reason for choosing cremation. In Greater Seattle, where the more affluent and highly educated Catholics are opting for cremation, ease of body disposition and ecology are cited as primary concerns.
Lifting the Ban
Long forbidden by the Church, cremation was allowed in 1963. When cremation was chosen, it became standard practice to cremate the body after the funeral Mass. When the body was cremated immediately after death (direct cremation), a memorial Mass was held instead.
In 1997 the rules were relaxed even more: American bishops received an indult that permitted the presence of cremated remains at the funeral Mass. (Canadian bishops were granted a similar indult in 1985.) A random survey by this writer suggests about 30 percent of cremations today occur before the funeral.
While cremation is becoming more accepted among U.S. Catholics, the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia, has rescinded its cremation indult. The archdiocesan Web site states, "[T]he presence of the human body better expresses the values that the Church affirms in its rites." It was the body that was baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit and did the work of the Father on earth.
"The indult was never intended to be automatic," explains Monsignor Nunzio J. Defoe, chairman of Gardens of Gethsemani cemetery in Surrey, British Columbia. "There are strings attached. Certain conditions must be met."
In the Vancouver Archdiocese, cremated remains are permitted at the funeral Mass only under extraordinary circumstances, such as when the person died in a distant place and was cremated to facilitate transportation.
Works of Mercy
Will American bishops follow suit and rescind the cremation indult here? That remains to be seen, but dioceses in both countries are beginning to think "outside the box" in ministering to the bereaved.
To help low-income families, the Denver Archdiocese in 1981 opened its own mortuary; a nonprofit, diocesan-run mortuary for the Phoenix Diocese is planned for 2005. During the 1980s, Father Eloi Arsenault and the Knights of Columbus opened the first cooperative mortuary in the Province of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Such an arrangement can save parishioners about $1,500 to $2,000 on funeral costs, says Father Arsenault, adding that dozens of cooperative mortuaries now exist in Canada's eastern provinces, some of them organized with the help of the Church.
The Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, which inherited a crematory as part of a cemetery purchase in 1981, is now opening a second one. Savings to parishioners are substantial, reports Albert Sanchez, director. Canada's first diocesan-run crematory recently opened in the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario.
Once the first call at death, the Church is now the last, lament many parishes. In a proactive move, St. Aloysius Church in Spokane, Washington, hired Sherry Fischer as the parish's on-call funeral coordinator.
"When somebody gets married, they have a year to plan for it," says Fischer, a former hospital chaplain. "When somebody dies, they have five days."
Fischer advises families on consumer rights and burial decisions (traditional vs. cremation), and helps them to plan a funeral that, within the context of Church rites, reflects the deceased.
Bereavement ministry isn't solely for survivors; it also consoles and assists the dying in planning their last rites. A few weeks before my father died, he, my sister and his pastor met to discuss his funeral. Dad had been a devout Catholic all his life and wanted the funeral to reflect his faith.
"I was comforted by the priest's willingness to work with us and respect Dad's final request," says my sister, Rita Waldref. "We chose Scripture readings and music that spoke of Dad, his faith-walk and his family." As Dad would have liked, the funeral Mass was a community and family celebration.
"I knew we had faithfully honored our father when St. Francis of Assisi unified the Mass," continues Rita. "Without consulting one another, our mother selected the Prayer of St. Francis for the memorial card, I chose the Prayer of St. Francis for the Communion hymn and, when a sister wrote the words of remembrance, she called Dad another St. Francis."
Grave Responsibilities
Burials in Catholic cemeteries are declining in some areas and their directors are concerned. Church cemeteries are more than markers and crosses, they say. They are also a public witness of faith in the coming resurrection.
In the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, about 45 to 50 percent of Catholics are being buried in Catholic cemeteries, estimates John Cherek, director of the archdiocesan-run cemeteries. That number compares with 75 to 80 percent in 1960.
Where have all the Catholics gone? To other cemeteries, for one thing: The Vatican no longer mandates that Catholics be buried in a Church cemetery. Another reason is cultural practices that suggest burial of the remains is not necessary.
"Scattering the remains or keeping them at home are not accepted practices of the Catholic Church," says Cherek. "When I ask people if they would keep a dead body at home, they are appalled at the idea. The cremated remains are still the body but in another form and deserve the respect accorded the corporeal body."
Additionally, scattering the remains may have psychological repercussions. The bereaved often discover too late they have no place to visit and remember their loved ones.
Hoping to encourage the reverent disposition of cremated remains, cemeteries are offering more burial options, including the boulder-tomb. A hole is bored into a large granite rock, the urn inserted and the hole sealed with an inscribed memorial plate.
Cremated remains may also be interred in a lawn crypt, an urn garden or a columbarium (an arrangement of niches in either a mausoleum or an outdoor stand-alone structure).
In Roswell, New Mexico, where there is no Catholic cemetery, St. Peter Church is erecting a marble columbarium in its courtyard. The unit will have 64 niches, costing about $300 each.
Some souls are making the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles their final destination. The cathedral's crypt mausoleum contains nearly 4,800 cremation niches (starting at $5,000) and 1,275 crypts for full-body burial (starting at $80,000). Proceeds are helping to fund the cathedral's maintenance endowment.
With some family members choosing traditional burial and others cremation, many cemeteries are allowing a combination grave. The cremated remains of my father are buried in the gravesite of his parents and brother in a small parish cemetery on the Minnesota prairie. On New York's Long Island, where multi-depth burials are standard practice, diocesan cemeteries now permit three cremated remains and three full-body burials in one grave.
Ritual Rewards
To eulogize or not, that is the question. In January 2003 Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, New Jersey, created a national stir when he issued a decree banning eulogies, or words of remembrance, during funeral Masses in his archdiocese.
"Any messages delivered by family members or friends shall be limited to the visitation or the graveside service and shall be ordinarily limited to a single person," the archbishop stated.
While eulogies have been a common practice in many faiths, they only became a Catholic trend when the revised Order of Christian Funerals (1989) allowed for a brief "remembrance of the deceased before the final commendation" by a family member or friend.
Concerned about the content of eulogies or remembrances (one man toasted his drinking buddy) and their length (some lasted nearly as long as the Mass itself), other dioceses began fine-tuning their guidelines. In some areas, words of remembrance are given before the funeral Mass or during the funeral luncheon.
Keeping vigil over the deceased has been a long Church tradition. Once held in private homes and then in funeral homes, more vigils or wakes are now happening in a parish setting. New churches are being designed with that purpose in mind and, in rural churches, vigils are frequently held in the parish hall.
Displaying photos of the deceased at wakes is another recent trend. Doing so inspires memories and storytelling, an important healing factor in the grieving process. Wakes are getting shorter as well; many people have moved away from their roots and have less time to gather.
Even the legendary Irish wakes are getting shorter. On the East Coast where a good Irish wake often lasted three days (because Christ spent three days in the tomb, lore has it), the norm is now one or two days.
In many Hispanic regions, the traditional wake remains a solemn ritual of death. At St. John the Baptist Church in Roswell, New Mexico, the body is brought to church the night before the funeral Mass. The rosary is recited and prayers said. Some families remain all night with the body.
"We don't shy away from death," says Father Juan Montoya, O.F.M., pastor, who conducts over 70 funerals annually in his congregation of more than 2,000 families. Mementos of the departed are placed inside the casket, and the family recites aloud the prayer of commendation.
In commemoration of its centennial in 2003, the parish dedicated a memorial wall that lists the names of its 3,500 dead. Whenever the faithful gather for Mass, the wall is a poignant reminder that death is inevitable and a gateway into eternal life.
"Death is the real birthday," says Father Montoya. It's "a birth that will last forever."
A sad but growing trend in Catholic funerals is the omitting or minimizing of Church rites. Adult children estranged from the faith may forgo the funeral Mass when their parents die. Rather than calling a priest when a Catholic dies in some retirement centers, the staff conducts a memorial service on-site. Some survivors believe abbreviating the last rites will abbreviate their grief.
These trends are unfortunate, writes Bishop James Garland of Marquette, Michigan, in a 2001 pastoral letter on Christian funerals. "This diminishes prayer for the dead and removes the opportunity to give witness to faith. It deprives those remaining of the consolation and emotional relief that the funeral rites offer."
In his letter, entitled To Pray for the Living and the Dead, Bishop Garland describes three parts—or spiritual moments—in the Order of Christian Funerals: the vigil or wake, the funeral Mass and the rites of committal. During the vigil, Scripture readings, hymns, prayers and storytelling are a balm to grieving spirits.
"With the special time afforded for the sharing of stories and memories from the life of the deceased," Bishop Garland says, "the vigil can be a good beginning for the long process of coming to terms with life now that the deceased person is gone."
The focus of the Catholic funeral is the Mass, the paschal mystery of Christ's saving death and resurrection. The eucharistic celebration symbolizes the deceased's journey from life to death to everlasting life and, for survivors, from sorrow to life without their loved one.
The last ritual in the Catholic funeral is the rite of committal. "Out of respect for the deceased, we commit the body to the earth from which it came," says Bishop Garland, "with the sure and certain hope that the dead will rise again and we shall be reunited with them in heaven."
Bishop Garland's pastoral letter can be read in its entirety at www.dioceseofmarquette.org/bishopindex.htm.
The phone never stops ringing at Trappist Caskets near Dubuque, Iowa. Another soul has gone to meet his or her maker.
Families seem to be consoled by the idea of burying their loved one in a wooden casket handcrafted by monks, says Abbot Brendan Freeman of New Melleray Abbey. "Our caskets inspire a simple, spiritual approach to death and the resurrection."
The caskets (rectangular) and coffins (wider at the shoulders and tapered at the feet) are made of black walnut, pine and oak. Prices range from $695 for a simple pine box to $1,795 for a premium black walnut casket. Cremation urns begin at $245.
Casket-making is a new occupation at the 155-year-old abbey. Struggling to make ends meet on the monastery's 3,800-acre farm, the monks looked to the next life for help in this one. They bought a cottage casket business from Sam Mulgrew, a local entrepreneur, and hired him as their general manager.
While Trappist Caskets was never intended to be high-volume, sales are climbing. The abbey sold 190 caskets and coffins in 2001 (the first full year of production) and over 700 in 2003. Sales for 2004 are expected to top 1,000 units.
"Our caskets have soul, they have personality," explains Mulgrew. "Baby boomers especially are turning away from the sterile, ostentatious caskets."
If the caskets seem peaceful, perhaps it's because some of the wood comes from the abbey's 1,400-acre sustainable forest, the second-largest privately owned forest in Iowa. Or maybe it's the contemplative lifestyle of the Trappist monks, who belong to the Cistercian tradition and follow the ancient Rule of St. Benedict.
Beginning with the Office of Readings at 3:30 a.m. and ending with Compline at 7:30 p.m., the monks pray together seven times daily. They pray for you and me—and for all of the faithfully departed.
While a dozen monks do much of the work (living up to their "Genuine Monk-made" trademark), Trappist Caskets has hired some outside help. There aren't enough monk hands to go around. The abbey boasted 150 men in the 1960s. Today the monks number 32, with an average age of about 70.
"We're averaging about one death a year," says Brother Felix Leja, 75, who trades the traditional cowl and black scapular for blue jeans and work shirt.
No nails are used in the solid wood caskets, which meet industry standards for strength and size. Corners are mitered in Old World joinery; handles and hinges are plain.
Unlike traditional caskets, there are no satin sheets or pillows; Trappist caskets are lined with white muslin, the pillows padded with organic straw grown on the monastery farm.
"It takes about 15 hours to make one casket," says Mulgrew. "Heirloom workmanship goes into each one."
Orders come in for both "pre-need" (alive) and "need" (recently departed) customers. A well-known peace negotiator in Ireland was laid to rest in a Trappist casket and, when the day comes, Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles Archdiocese expects to be reposed in a premium black walnut model.
Not all pre-need or "future occupants" are deadly serious. One man slept in his coffin to get used to it, and a priest ordered his casket fitted with shelves for use as a bookcase. "He wanted to enjoy his casket this side of eternity," states an abbey newsletter.
One woman who wanted a joyful funeral asked to be buried in a Chinese-red casket. The monks bought some red paint and spruced up her box. "It was cheery-looking with gold handles," says the abbot.
The caskets, which are sold directly to the public at wholesale prices, can be shipped most anywhere. Last year the abbey sent a rush order to Wrangell, Alaska, an island town accessible only by air. With the exception of September 11, 2001, when planes were unexpectedly grounded, no Trappist casket has been late for a funeral.
When Abbot Freeman, 65, exits this world, he won't be buried in a casket at all. In Trappist tradition, the abbot will be laid out on a funeral bier (a wooden platform with low sides), covered with a sheet and simply lowered into the earth.
The monks will chant their songs of farewell and then return to work. The phone is ringing: Another soul has stepped into eternity.
For more information on Trappist Caskets, call (888) 433-6934 or visit www.trappistcaskets.com.
Marion Amberg is a freelance writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This article is written in honor of her father, who died as she was beginning her research on this topic.


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If you live in the US and the idea of ordering a bag from a site outside the country makes you a bit nervous, I can't blame you. Bags are already expensive, and figuring out how a retailer deals with duties, international shipping and foreign purchase fees when you're not well-versed in the rules can be a little bit daunting; no one wants to accidentally spend hundreds of dollars more than they expected if it's not necessary.
The International Edit
We know that many of our readers reside outside of the US, and even if you don't, you may very well have someone on your holiday shopping list that does. Because international shipping and duties can get expensive unless you know where to shop, we went ahead and picked out some great gifts from some of our favorite online retailers outside of the US.
New fall arrivals are rolling in all over the globe, and that means we've had our eyes on some great handbags, shoes and accessories from online retailers both near and far. Whether you live outside the US or you live here and are just hoping to find a gem that might not be as readily available in America, check out our selections in this week's International Edit.
I first came across accessories-only Italian shopping site Forzieri back in my nascent days of handbag obsession, and lately, I've rediscovered the great mix of products that it offers. From highly covetable megabrands like Valentino and Fendi to in-the-know European contemporary finds like Carven and Jerome Dreyfuss, Forzieri makes highly covetable handbags, shoes and accessories a little bit more accessible to shoppers all over the globe.
Now that we're back from Texas and fully re-adapted to frigid northeastern life, it's time to get back into our normal routine. That means that I've recently spent some time poring over a couple of our favorite non-American retail sites for this week's edition of The International Edit, and spring has definitely sprung overseas.


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Definition of waragi in English:
Entry from British & World English dictionary
noun[mass noun]
(In Uganda) a strong alcoholic drink made from bananas or cassava.
Example sentences
- We share waragi, the locally distilled banana liquor, and colorful anecdotes for nearly two hours.
- Frances Jones testing the locally produced waragi to see whether it is strong enough to fix blood smears
- Thieves in Bushenyi district are giving cattle waragi to make it easier to steal them.
From Kiswahili wargi.
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: wa¦ragi
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
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