text:
What should I do if I've been a victim of a dog bite?
If I'm bitten by a dog who should I contact regarding the incident?
If I'm bitten by a dog do I have the right to seek compensation for my injuries?
Should I take photographs?
What is leash law?
What is the most common dog bite?
Are dog bites covered by homeowners insurance?
What if the owner of the dog does not have insurance that covers a dog bite?
What type of lawyer handles dog bite cases?
Can I secure lawsuit funding for a dog bite?
How quickly can I receive a cash advance for a dog bite?
What type of lawsuit funding do you provide for dog bite cases?
What should I do if I'm bitten by a dog?
Other Related Topics Concerning Dog Bites
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text:
Wow. Brett Tabke drops the nuclear bomb of
banning all spiders from
WebmasterWorld. He explains
here that heavy
rogue spidering is the reason behind the move. Members worry in the thread that
as pages drop out of search engines, it will become difficult to impossible to
find anything at WebmasterWorld, which
lacks good site search.
Brett figures he's got 60 days until pages drop from places like Google to
get an alternative search solution in place. That seems optimistic to me.
WebmasterWorld is a prominent site and should get getting revisited on a
sub-daily basis. If search engines are hitting that robots.txt ban repeatedly,
they ought to be dropping those pages in short order, or they aren't very good
search engines. I mean, can you imagine the irony of Google and Yahoo getting
pilloried on WebmasterWorld for taking so long to drop pages after they were
told to do so after the ban was put into place?
A separate issue is the potential loss of search traffic. We have had the odd
site from time-to-time declare that it might
ban Google or
because of opposition to those companies, and we've certainly had companies ban
all spiders for other reasons. But in one bold move, WebmasterWorld suddenly is
about to become a big giant test case about what happens to a site if it cuts
itself off from the oxygen of search results — an incredible irony when so many
come to the site looking specifically on how to gain more search traffic.
Realistically, any established site should be able to ride out having no
search traffic at all. WebmasterWorld has plenty of people who will seek it out
directly, plus referral links from other sites will keep traffic going and
perhaps even growing. But search has been estimated to drive anywhere between
7 to
13 percent of new
visitors to a web site, visitors who after they arrive continue to come back. I
wouldn't want to roll the dice against losing them.
It'll be interesting to see if WebmasterWorld really sticks with this ban or
seeks other ways of getting its content into the major search engine without
spidering, such as via Google Base or Yahoo's paid inclusion programs, for
Related reading
Guide to Google ranking signals – Part 4: content freshness
This week's guide to ranking signals continues diving into on-page content factors, with content freshness.
12 tips for content marketing from an SEO perspective
How can you create content marketing which works for search, right from the start?
CTR as a ranking factor: what we know so far and how to action it
For the last two years there has been much discussion and debate around whether click through rate (CTR) is something Google uses ... read more
12 companies hit with a Google manual penalty
Just in case you're ever tempted to try a few black-hat practices to manipulate your search positions in Google, here are 12 tales to persuade you otherwise.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Listen to this morning's newscast (download audio file)
Syracuse, NY – Here are the top Central New York stories for Friday morning, June 8, 2012:
» Politicians from both parties misrepresent stances on Medicare, health care law. (Read all about it)
» Syracuse officials are seeking a replacement grocery for the Pond Street Wegmans. (Read all about it)
» It's official: We set a spring warmth record. (Read all about it)
» And festival fever has arrived in Central New York. (Read all about it)
Do you have any ideas for a future show? Comment below or send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.
News Radio, a podcast from The Post-Standard with host Maria T. Welych, an online editor with the newspaper. Look for our updates weekdays at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Maria provides the top stories of the day in a format you can listen to online or download to your MP3 player to listen on your drive to or from work.


text:
A cold brew on a hot summer day may taste great, but around here October is prime beer-drinking weather. On Saturday, the crew up at Southern Star Brewing Co. — you've no doubt seen or sampled its Bombshell Blonde Ale — is hosting an Oktoberfest party at the brewery grounds in Conroe. The party is limited to 225 people, and tickets were going quickly earlier this week.
But don't despair if you miss the fun this weekend. Southern Star has free tours from 1 to 3 on Saturday afternoons.
For ticket availability, directions and more information about Southern Star, call 936-441-BREW (2739) or check it out on the Web at southern starbrewery.com.
And keep up with Houston's beer scene at blogs.chron.com/beertx.


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Ofcom awards first local TV licences
12 September 2012
Ofcom has today awarded the first licences to run local TV services in two areas of the UK. The new licences are for digital terrestrial TV (DTT) channels in Brighton and Grimsby.
The awards follow new legislation enabling Ofcom to issue local TV licences. The channels will broadcast on a specific 'multiplex', a discrete amount of spectrum reserved for local TV broadcasting on DTT.
The first two licences awarded are:
Brighton: Latest TV Limited
Channel name: Latest TV
Website: www.thelatest.tv
Grimsby: Channel 7 Television Community Interest Company
Channel name: Lincolnshire Living
Website: www.channel7tv.co.uk
Licences are awarded for a period of up to 12 years. It is hoped that some channels may be on air before the end of 2013.
In May 2012, Ofcom invited applications to run local TV services in 21 local areas. In total, 57 applications were received to run the local TV services, along with 4 applications for the local multiplex.
As well as broadcasting on DTT, it is anticipated that local TV channels might also wish to offer their services on satellite, cable and online.
Ofcom will make further licence awards in the coming months.
A statement setting out the main reasons for the award of the local TV licences referred to above will be published on our website in due course.
- Ofcom has provided technical assistance for local TV coverage planning and is overseeing the licensing of local TV services. This follows the Government's policy statement in December 2011, and our public consultation that closed on 19 March.
- DMOL, the organisation responsible for the management and allocation of channel numbers on DTT, has reserved channel numbers for new public service local TV channels. These will be carried at 8 (England and Northern Ireland) and 45 (Wales and Scotland).
- Full contact details for the applicants, along with details of their application are available here.


text:
From the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY (Dr Behar); the Departments of Otolaryngology (Drs Muller and Todd), Pathology (Dr Muller), and Pediatrics (Dr Todd), Emory University, Atlanta, Ga; and the Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill (Dr Gerber).
Heterotopic neuroglial (brain) tissue is a rare cause of airway obstruction in newborns. Fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the English literature. Brain heterotopias can mimic more common congenital anomalies of the head and neck.
To review our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children with heterotopic pharyngeal neuroglial tissue.
Case series.
Tertiary care children's hospital.
Four newborns with airway obstruction caused by heterotopic neuroglial tissue.
All patients were infants (3 full-term girls and a 32 weeks' gestation boy) who had airway obstruction in the newborn period. All patients underwent preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed a heterogeneous mass involving the pharynx, neck, and parapharyngeal space. Bony deformities of the skull base and mandible were present in all patients, although intracranial connection was absent. Multiple surgical procedures were performed in all 4 patients. Tracheotomy was performed in 2 patients, gastrostomy tube placement was required in 3, and a nasopharyngeal tube was used in 1. Combined cervicofacial and transoral approaches were used for resection, preserving vital structures. Histopathologic evaluation revealed mature glial tissue and choroid plexus–like structures.
Heterotopic neuroglial tissue must be considered in the differential diagnosis of airway obstruction in the newborn. Management is surgical resection, with attention to vital structures and function—analogous to surgery for lymphangioma. Multiple surgical procedures might be necessary in the treatment of these patients.
HETEROTOPIC pharyngeal neuroglial tissue was first described by Reid in 1852.1 Fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the English literature. Composed of differentiated neuroectodermal tissue, these lesions represent developmental heterotopias of neuroglial tissue rather than true neoplasms.2,3 Unlike meningoencephaloceles, brain heterotopias lack connection with the subarachnoid space.4- 6 Patients usually are initially seen in the newborn period with airway obstruction, feeding difficulty, and a neck mass.5 The most common location for heterotopic neuroglial tissue is the nasal cavity, where it is traditionally, but erroneously, termed "nasal glioma."1 Less commonly, brain heterotopias have been reported in the scalp, tongue, pharynx, palate, orbit, middle ear, and neck.2,7,8
The majority of patients with heterotopic neuroglial tissue had uncomplicated pregnancies.2 There seems to be a female predominance.2,4 No syndromic predisposition or known etiologic factor has been identified. Patients might have other craniofacial anomalies, including cleft palate, micrognathia, and choanal atresia.4
Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are complementary studies that are necessary in preoperative planning to determine the extent and location of the mass and to exclude intracranial connection. Mandibular deformity and skull base erosion, without intracranial connection, are common features. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, although the timing of surgical excision is debatable. Resection should be as complete as possible, sparing vital neurovascular structures, analogous to treatment for lymphangioma.
We reviewed our 14-year experience and describe 4 additional patients with parapharyngeal heterotopic neuroglial tissue and provide recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Patient 3 was previously reported to have a meningoencephalocele9; however, on review of clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features, the tumor is best classified as heterotopic pharyngeal brain tissue.
A full-term white girl developed respiratory distress and feeding difficulties 48 hours after birth. Prenatal history was unremarkable. The child experienced snorting, nasal flaring, and the inability to feed on initial evaluation. Physical examination revealed no gross craniofacial abnormalities. Flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy revealed no obvious mass lesion and patent bilateral posterior choanae. Worsening respiratory distress prompted endotracheal intubation. During the next several days an expanding neck mass appeared in the right submandibular space.
A CT scan of the neck revealed a heterogeneous mass in the right parapharyngeal space extending from the skull base to the right submandibular region. A cystic component was noted. Magnetic resonance imaging did not reveal an intracranial connection (Figure 1). Findings from CT of the brain were normal.
Patient 1. Coronal magnetic resonance image (T2 weighted) demonstrating skull base extension of the mass (arrow) without intracranial connection.
Intraoperative examination of the patient at 8 days of life revealed a submucosal mass in the nasopharynx that caused distortion of the soft palate. Subtotal transoral resection of the nasopharyngeal component was performed. Biopsy findings were consistent with neuroglial tissue. One week later, transcervical resection of the mass and placement of nasopharyngeal stents were performed. Residual tumor was left at the skull base. The patient did well at home for 3 months, tolerating oral feedings.
At 3½ months of age, she again experienced airway distress and a recurrent neck mass. A transcervical lateral pharyngotomy and primary closure were performed. Neurovascular structures were preserved. Histopathologic findings were consistent with heterotopic neuroglial tissue. Rigorous postoperative care initially included nasogastric feeding. Speech pathology and nutrition services were consulted for oropharyngeal rehabilitation. The patient was discharged from the hospital 1 month later tolerating oral feedings without aspiration. She is now 22 months old and is developing normally.
A full-term white girl (uncomplicated pregnancy) presented at birth with respiratory distress that prompted endotracheal intubation. The mandible was distorted by a large cervical mass, which also affected the hard and soft palates (Figure 2). Other anomalies were multiple cardiac ventriculoseptal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, partial anomalous pulmonary venous return, and lop-ear.
Patient 2. Preoperative photograph.
A CT scan of the brain and neck showed a large heterogeneous mass extending from the skull base to the submandibular region (Figure 3). An MRI and a cisternogram did not reveal an intracranial connection.
Patient 2. Axial computed tomographic scan showing a large left parapharyngeal space mass. Mandibular deformity is evident (arrow).
Findings from laryngoscopy (Figure 4) and transoral biopsy of the extracranial portion of the mass at 1 week of age were consistent with heterotopic neuroglial tissue. Because of the patient's fragile cardiac status, resection was delayed, tracheotomy was performed, and a gastrostomy tube was placed at 1 month of age.
Patient 2. Endoscopic view of the hypopharyngeal portion of the tumor (arrow).
The patient underwent resection at 8 months of age. A transcervical approach with superficial parotidectomy and lateral pharyngotomy and closure of the cleft palate were performed. The patient was discharged from the hospital 1 month after resection and received speech and swallowing therapy and gastrostomy tube feedings. Tracheotomy decannulation was attempted but failed at 1 year of age. The patient is currently 22 months old and has recently been decannulated and is developmentally delayed. She is able to take some foods orally, but most of her caloric intake is via gastrostomy tube.
A black girl was born after an uncomplicated term pregnancy. She developed respiratory distress and nasal flaring shortly after birth. An 8-cm, soft, submandibular neck mass was visible. She was intubated on day 1 of life. The remainder of the physical examination was unremarkable.
A CT scan (Figure 5) and MRI were performed in preparation for surgical resection. Mandibular displacement by a large parapharyngeal and cervical mass was noted. Magnetic resonance imaging did not show an intracranial connection.
Patient 3. Axial computed tomographic scan of the right parapharyngeal tumor. Note the calcifications (arrowhead) and mandibular distortion (arrow).
The working diagnosis was cystic hygroma. Transcervical excision of the mass was performed at 1 week of age. Tumor was residual at the skull base. Pathologic evaluation revealed heterotopic neuroglial tissue. The initial diagnosis was meningoencephalocele.9 After surgery, the patient was successfully extubated; however, she had difficulty with oral feeding. She was evaluated by the otolaryngology service and noted to have right vocal cord paresis and tongue deviation ipsilateral to the tumor. She required gastrostomy tube placement and fundoplication because of gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration.
Subsequent evaluation by the otolaryngology service at 3 months of age revealed an adequate airway and good function of both vocal cords, and the patient resumed bottle feeding. She was lost to follow-up at 4 months of age.
A white boy was born at 32 weeks' gestation by cesarean section after ultrasound diagnosis of a cervical mass and preterm labor. Immediate endotracheal intubation was required. A 10-cm cervical mass extending into the pharynx was noted. Computed tomography revealed a parapharyngeal space mass that extended from the skull base to the clavicles.
He underwent transcervical resection of the mass and tracheotomy at a different facility at age 5 weeks. The initial diagnosis was teratoma. After surgery, the patient had difficulties with aspiration and required gastrostomy tube placement and fundoplication. In addition, he had long-term difficulties with bronchopulmonary dysplasia that required prolonged mechanical ventilation. Cranial nerves 7 and 9 ipsilateral to the tumor did not function well after resection.
He presented to our institution at 13 months of age for airway evaluation. A CT scan and MRI (Figure 6) of the neck revealed residual tumor in the nasopharynx and parapharyngeal space. Endoscopic airway evaluation revealed a submucosal, nonobstructing fullness in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx and tracheobronchomalacia. Biopsy of the mass revealed heterotopic neuroglial tissue. The patient was followed up with serial endoscopy and MRI, and no significant increase in tumor growth was noted during 2-year follow-up. He was decannulated at age 4½ years. He is currently 9 years old and attends school. He continues to require supplemental gastrostomy feedings but is able to tolerate some foods by mouth.
Patient 4. Axial magnetic resonance image (proton density) showing heterogeneous residual tumor in the nasopharynx (arrow).
The pathogenesis of heterotopic neuroglial tissue is unclear. Several mechanisms have been proposed:
Brain tissue that protrudes through the early skull base (chondrocranium) at 12 weeks' gestation might result in a frontal encephalocele. An encephalocele that loses its intracranial connection might result in heterotopic neuroglial tissue.10- 12
A change in the timing of the fusion of the chondrocranium might result in the separation of a segment of primitive neural tissue from the main portion of the developing brain.12
During early embryogenesis, displacement of totipotent neuroectodermal cells occurs and subsequently develops into mature neural tissue.1,11
There might be entrapment or abnormal migration of glial cells from the olfactory bulbs.10
Brain heterotopias are composed of nests of neural tissue, without mitoses, embedded within varying amounts of fibrovascular stroma.10 Neurons can be present in up to 10% of cases. Focal calcifications might be present. Reactive changes, a paucity of neurons, and focal calcifications are changes usually observed in poorly perfused neural tissue.10 Unlike nasal glioma, heterotopic pharyngeal neuroglial tissue might contain neurons and astrocytes as well as more complex central nervous system elements such as ependymal-lined structures, a functioning choroid plexus, and pigmented cells of retinal differentiation (Figure 7).1,10 The absence of these more complex structures from nasal glioma might indicate that they are indeed separate entities.1 Heterotopic neuroglial tissue is composed solely of ectodermal elements,3 which distinguishes it from teratoma, which is composed of all 3 germ layers.
A, Heterotopic neuroglial tissue (arrows) just beneath the respiratory epithelium in the nasopharynx (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×40). B, Papillary excrescences of choroid plexus–like structures within heterotopic brain tissue (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×200).
Grossly, heterotopic neuroglial tissue is solid, firm, and dark brown or red. It might have cystic components containing cerebrospinal fluid–like clear fluid. The tissue is relatively avascular and poorly encapsulated and adherent to surrounding soft tissues.
Radiographic assessment of parapharyngeal heterotopic neuroglial tissue is best performed using CT complemented by MRI. Axial and coronal CT images of the head, neck, and brain delineate the location of the tumor and its relationship to the skull base. Displacement and distortion of the mandible and pterygoid plates at birth is commonly noted and seems to be a differentiating feature of these tumors.3 In addition, erosion of the floor of the middle cranial fossa is characteristically associated with brain heterotopias in the parapharyngeal space. These CT attributes might help differentiate brain heterotopias from more common congenital lesions such as cystic hygroma.13
If skull base erosion is present, MRI will be helpful in discerning an intracranial connection. Magnetic resonance characteristics of heterotopic neuroglial tissue resemble normal brain tissue in all pulse sequences.1 Cystic elements might be present and represent cerebrospinal fluid–like fluid-filled spaces. A CT cisternogram might give additional information regarding connection with the subarachnoid space.
Surgical intervention is necessary in patients with heterotopic parapharyngeal neuroglial tissue that causes airway distress, dysphagia, or failure to thrive. Tumor resection in the newborn period might allow early oral feeding and avoidance of tracheotomy. The surgical approach should be analogous to that of cystic hygroma. Resection should be as complete as possible without sacrificing vital structures or compromising function. Multiple surgical resections might be necessary to accomplish this task.
The timing of the surgery is controversial. Early surgical intervention in the newborn period seems to be beneficial for 2 reasons. First, further growth of neuroglial heterotopias might cause distortion and erosion of bone and result in facial deformity requiring future correction. Second, delay in resection might preclude normal development of swallow function and pharyngeal coordination. Proponents of delayed resection believe that resection might be safer in the older child, in whom vital neurovascular structures are more easily salvageable and blood volume is greater.2 However, delayed resection of parapharyngeal heterotopic neuroglial tissue frequently requires airway control and alternate routes for feeding. The increased morbidity and mortality rates associated with tracheotomy and gastrostomy feeding must be considered. In addition, further distortion of surrounding soft tissue and bone of the facial skeleton might ensue.
Surgical excision can be performed through a transcervical, lateral pharyngotomy approach with primary closure of the pharynx. This allows early identification and preservation of vital neurovascular structures. Preservation of pharyngeal mucosa with meticulous dissection of the submucosal portion of the mass might improve functional outcome. A transoral and/or transpalatal approach can be combined with the external approach.12 Rigorous postoperative care includes attention to nutritional status and speech and swallowing therapy.
Tracheotomy and gastrostomy might be necessary in patients with comorbidities precluding early surgical extirpation (eg, complex congenital heart disease). A nasopharyngeal airway might be an alternative to tracheotomy in select newborns with a prominent nasopharyngeal component and minimal involvement of the oropharynx and hypopharynx.
The differential diagnosis of masses in the nose and pharynx causing airway obstruction in the newborn includes adenoid hyperplasia, glioma, teratoma, dermoid, cystic hygroma, hemangioma, neurofibroma, ectopic thyroid, branchial anomaly, heterotopic brain, and sarcoma. If a mass is identified in the vicinity of the skull base, CT (with and without cisternography) and MRI can be used to exclude an intracranial connection. Next, an incisional biopsy and airway endoscopy should be performed. If the biopsy specimen contains mature neural tissue, the differential diagnosis is limited to 3 entities: teratoma, encephalocele, and heterotopic neuroglial tissue. Differentiation of these tumors can be made by clinicopathologic and radiographic correlations (Table 1). Surgical resection can proceed if the general health of the child permits. A nasopharyngeal tube might be useful for airway management in some patients to avoid tracheostomy. Patients with airway compromise, failure to thrive, and other significant comorbidities might require delayed surgical resection, tracheostomy, or gastrostomy tube insertion.
Accepted for publication March 17, 2001.
Presented as a poster at the 13th annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Palm Beach, Fla, May 12-14, 1998.
Corresponding author and reprints: Philomena Mufalli Behar, MD, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo, 219 Bryant St, Buffalo, NY 14222 (e-mail: email@example.com).
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - "Scrooge & Marley," the LGBT take on a classic Charles Dickens Christmas story, will premiere in West Michigan at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Wealthy Theatre, as part of the QUEERIES film series.
The film stars David Pevsner as Scrooge and Tim Kazurinsky as Marley, with Bruce Vilanch as Fezziwig. The Chicago-set and -made movie is set in a gay nightclub called Screws, run by Scrooge, who relishes making his employees suffer. The movie is directed by Richard Knight Jr., film critic of the Windy City Times, and Peter Neville.
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 day of show and $7 for Community Media Center members, available at the Wealthy Theatre box office or website.
The event will include a question-and-answer session after the screening with "Scrooge & Marley" producers Tracy Baim and David Strzepek.
Roger Ebert recently reviewed the film, saying, "The actors mostly have a lot of professional experience, and while 'Scrooge & Marley' doesn't represent a high-water mark for any of them, it has a good heart, high spirits and of course redemption for Ebenezer Scrooge."
Email: email@example.com or follow John Serba on Twitter


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Topics include: Environmental impacts of war and violent
conflicts; Spaces of security; Militant activism; Social
and/or ecological effects of military intervention; Mixing
metaphors of war and weapons in Nature; Historical
approaches to understanding conflict and nature;
Terrorismand the construction of borders.
Electronic submissions preferred. Include name, address,
brief bio, email and phone number. Please submit artwork
in b&w, at least 5x7, 600 dpi, .tiff files, and text in .doc to
Deadline for submissions: October 31, 2005
The Collective will work closely with authors whose work
has been selected. UnderCurrents policy encourages authors
to avoid the use of discriminatory discourse (eg. racist, sexist,
homophobic, etc.)
Please visit www.yorku.ca/currents for more information.


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"It's about sex, and cruelty, and forgiveness."
Thus begins a sweeping historical adventure about two dueling swordsmen and the plot to kill a king in the grand tradition of Dorothy Dunnett and Alexander Dumas.
The year is 1610. Continental Europe is briefly at peace after years of war, but Henri IV of France is planning to invade the German principalities. In England, only five years earlier, conspirators nearly succeeded in blowing up King James I and his Parliament. The seeds of the English Civil War and the Thirty Years War are visibly being sown, and the possibility for both enlightenment and disaster abounds.
But Valentin Rochefort, duelist and spy for France's powerful financial minister, could not care less. Until he is drawn into the glittering palaces, bawdy back streets, and stunning theatrics of Renaissance France and Shakespearean London in a deadly plot both to kill King James I and to save him. For this swordsman without a conscience is about to find himself caught between loyalty, love, and blackmail, between kings, queens, politicians, and Rosicrucians -- and the woman he has, unknowingly, crossed land and sea to meet.
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'2016 Obama's America' Box Office Surprise
Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer movie season — but the big box office news doesn't surround a major studio blockbuster, but rather a conservative political documentary.
The surprising performance of 2016: Obama's America has become the most talked-about box office story of the late summer, giving major studio movies a run for their money and competing in the thick of the box office fight. And, shockingly, the film has managed to steal headlines, despite playing in anywhere from a half to a third as many theaters as its rivals. In fact, over the weekend of Aug. 24, when it expanded from 169 to 1,091 theaters, the film beat newcomers Premium Rush, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Hit and Run, starring Bradley Cooper, by landing in 7th place with $6.5 million and posting the highest per-theater average of any film in the Top 20. Almost more impressive was its performance a week before: During the weekend of Aug. 17 the film managed to come in 13th in a field of 86 films that weekend with $1.244 million in just 169 theaters.
The mid-week numbers have been equally impressive, with a $1.2 million second place finish on Monday behind only The Expendables 2, a Tuesday fourth-place finish of $1.01 million behind The Expendables 2, The Bourne Legacy, and ParaNorman, and a third-place Wednesday finish of $810,000 behind the number one Wednesday debut of Weinstein Co.'s Lawless with $1.14 million and The Expendables 2 with $1.045 million.
Through Wednesday, 2016: Obama's America has earned almost $12.4 million in North American receipts and will expand to nearly 1,800 theaters on Friday when Lionsgate's horror entry The Possession will open in about 2,700 theaters. This should be a very interesting weekend indeed, since the typically slow end of summer Labor Day holiday may provide the opportunity for the documentary to crack the Top 3 in a field loaded with hold-overs and a host of newcomers including the aforementioned Lawless, the Oogieloves movie, and The Possession.
Why 2016: Obama's America Is a Conservative Fahrenheit 9/11
2016: Obama's America: The Film's Most Controversial Moments


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Jury selection in Roger Clemens' trial has begun
Jury selection in the re-trial of legendary baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, who is accused of lying to Congress, has begun this morning in Washington.
Clemens remained silent as he entered the courthouse this morning with his six-member team of lawyers. The group appeared in good spirits with Clemens laughing and talking with one of his attorneys as headed to the courtroom.…
Expert says case against ex-Astro 'is all about credibility'
Roger "The Rocket" Clemens is about to face the toughest roster of his controversial career. …
Richard Justice: Nothing that happens in this trial can diminish what Roger Clemens meant to the Astros
The Astros had never won a postseason series when Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens arrived. On the day they arrived, expectations changed immediately. They didn't talk about getting to the playoffs. They talked about winning in the playoffs.
Clemens no longer had 97-mph stuff when he pitched his first game for the Astros in 2004, and that only made his accomplishments that much more impressive. He won, not with pure stuff, but with blow-you-away smarts and grit.…


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1UP Club HeadquartersWelcome to 1UP's Clubs home. Here's where you can join, create, and manage clubs on your favorite topics.
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Vikings Production Blog
VIKING HISTORY Q&A: SEASON 2, EPISODE 10June 5, 2014 By: History.com Staff
History.com checks in with Vikings show researcher Justin Pollard to get the historical context for each Vikings Season 2 episode.
Season 2, Episode 10: The Lord's Prayer
Question: Ragnar, King Horik and the Vikings are celebrating with a feast. How long would a Viking feast go on for? What kinds of activities would it involve? What kinds of games did they play?
Justin Pollard: Viking society revolved around the hall, the warm inviting home with a great fire that keeps the dark and cold of the Scandinavian winter at bay. Here one could eat, sing and tell stories both from folklore and from your own past. Providing food and drink to accompany this was a duty and the more wealthy an individual was the more lavish his entertaining was expected to be. It was all part of providing for his kin and demonstrating his wealth and power. Major feasts, such as a wedding, could last a week and travelers might expect hospitality for a senior jarl or king to last the whole winter.
Vikings loved games and there were numerous to choose from. Dice were made of antler for the most part, although examples of bone, walrus ivory and jet are known. Wood and horn were also probably used. They were often rectangular, with the 1 and 2 on either end and the 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the four long sides. The nature of the games played with dice are unknown, but simple games such as "who can get the highest (or lowest) number" were probably common (and are suggested by some of the sagas).
The "long-dice" normally have the numbers 1 and 2 on the smallest face, suggesting they were used for a game where low numbers were needed. Dice have also been excavated that when x-rayed, revealed small weights inside them, deliberate cheats like medieval "Fulhams."
There are many finds of board games and gaming pieces from Scandinavia and from the British Isles. Whilst we have lots of mentions in the sagas of board games, it can be tricky to work out exactly how they were played. Hnefatafl was probably the most common and probably developed from the Roman game latrunculi (soldiers). The game works superficially like chess, with one side trying to capture a king and the other trying to escape. A carved board with 13×13 squares, which is a double sided board with a nine men's morris on the reverse, was found at Gokstad in Norway.
Other board games included Kvatrutafl, which was a development of the popular Roman game of duodecim scripta, Nine Men's Morris, which has survived to this day, and Halatafl, which appears from the sagas to be a form of solitaire.
Q: What is the story of Loki's first wife?
JP: According to the Poetic and Prose Eddas, Loki's wife Angrboða, whose name means "she who brings grief" was a female jötunn, a giantess, one of the race of giants who live in the world known as Jötunheimr, having been refused entry into Asgard by the Aesir gods. The Eddas differ on exactly which children she had with Loki, but the Prose Edda states that their children were:
- Fenrir, the monstrous wolf that will kill Odin during Ragnarök
- Jörmungandr, the World Serpent who will kill Thor at Ragnarök
- Hel, who presides over the dead in Hel
As such, she represents the mother of the creatures who will bring about the end of the current world, a fairly frightening image, although as Ragnarök was unavoidable it's difficult to know what exactly most Vikings thought of this giantess. We don't have much detail on Angrboða beyond this, although one tale suggests that Loki bore the three children having eaten Angrboða's heart.
Loki is also credited as the father of various other supernatural creatures. By his wife Sigyn, he was the father of Narfi and Nari (possibly just one although they may be the same person). Still more unusually, by the stallion Svaðilfari, Loki was the mother to Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir (having taken the form of a mare).
Q: King Horik refers to his sword as the Sword of Kings. How prevalent were swords amongst the Vikings? How did Vikings name their swords?
JP: The sword was a relatively rare weapon, being hugely costly. It was the preserve of the professional fighter and leader and might be passed down through the generations. Swords were given personalities and names such as "war-flame," "life-taker" and "truce-breaker." The hilts could be highly decorated with gold and even jewels. The hilt usually had a cross guard and heavy pommel as a counterweight to the blade. By our period, it is somewhat more common for them to have iron cross guards and pommels with silver inlay. Blades were tapering, often pattern-welded (usually German), two inches wide and around 30 inches long. There was often a groove down the center (a fuller) which made the blade lighter and more flexible without losing strength.
Viking sword smiths were faced with one fundamental problem when constructing that most emblematic of all weapons. The essential contradiction in making a sword was that it had to be both hard and flexible. A sword with a soft edge would chip and blunt, whilst a rigid blade would keep a keen edge, but might shatter when hit. As the producing of very pure steel was limited by the temperatures obtainable in forges and the availability of high-purity ores, this required a compromise. So how did they do it?
The solution Viking smiths employed, and greatly improved upon, was one that has been in use in various European cultures since the Iron Age–pattern welding. Pattern welding combines the flexibility of softer iron with the cutting edge of carbon steel by forming blades from layers of these different metals which are forge-welded and twisted together. This twisting, hammering and grinding processes formed intricate patterns in the finished blade–hence the modern name for the technique. By building up the blade from layers of metal with different qualities, each can be combined in one weapon with a softer, springier core and a harder, sharper edge.
A single blade could be made up of numerous layers of different types of iron alloy and, by the Viking age, smiths had become so adept at this technique that sheets of pattern welded steels could be applied over an iron core, giving the weapon the strength of patterned steel and the flexibility of an iron center. In some cases, a separate high carbon steel edge was then welded on to this to make a weapon that was as sharp as a kitchen knife, but which would rebound from clashes with other blades without snapping or bending.
These were also beautiful and highly valued weapons and sources sometimes comment on the intricate patterns visible on their surface. These might be enhanced by etching the blade slightly with a weak acid to reveal the twists and turns of the weld in the rods with a higher phosphorus content (which remains lighter after etching). Kormák's Saga, which dates from slightly after our time, talks about how, by blowing on the sword Sköfnung, its owner might make a "small snake" creep from under the guard. This may well be a reference to breathing on the blade to reveal the swirling patterns of the pattern-weld.
For all the skill and beauty of the technique, the method fell out of use towards the end of the Viking age as higher quality ores became available.
The naming of weapons added to their value in the eyes of the Vikings, making them heirlooms with their own characters and histories that could be passed down the generations. We know of hundreds of names of weapons including "foot-biter," "battle-blaze" and "Adder" for swords and "heaven-scraper," "battle-hag" and "glancer" for axes.
VIKING HISTORY Q&A: SEASON 2, EPISODE 9June 5, 2014 By: History.com Staff
History.com checks in with Vikings show researcher Justin Pollard to get the historical context for each Vikings Season 2 episode.
Season 2, Episode 9: The Choice
Question: Viking warriors are recruited to fight on behalf of Princess Kwenthrith. Historically, how often did Vikings fight as mercenaries and how did those arrangements come about?
Justin Pollard: We have plenty of examples of Viking individuals and warbands fighting as mercenaries and this doesn't seem to have been problematic for them. Indeed, when Frankish or English kings paid off a warband to go and cause trouble elsewhere, they were effectively paying mercenaries. Within Viking society, there was also fluidity within raiding groups. A leader who stopped bringing home the booty might be reposed or his best men might simply go to fight for another leader where the rewards looked better. To that extent, every Viking was mercenary.
The most famous mercenary groups we know about are the (possibly legendary) 10th and 11th century Jomsvikings who, the sagas tell us, had a strict membership code, which included dueling with a current member for acceptance into the group. The Jomsvikings would fight for anyone who would pay their fee, including Christian kings.
One other very real group did act as the personal bodyguard of a Christian ruler–the Byzantine emperor. The Varangian guards were the personal bodyguard of the emperor from the 9th to the 14th centuries and were originally recruited from Varangians amongst the Kievan Rus. We even get a glimpse of a pagan Vikings celebration preserved in the court records of the early 10th century Byzantine emperor Constantine VII. These show how one Christmas the emperor, who had extensive trading links with Scandinavia, invited a party of these pagans to entertain him during the holiday, and how:
"…two companies danced in a ring, striking their shields with sticks and shouting 'Yol, Yol, Yol!', and in each company two men were dressed in furs and masks."
So prestigious and popular did entry into the Varangian Guard become that in Sweden laws had to be passed to try to prevent the exodus of fighting men to Byzantium.
Q: What is the story of Baldr, Odin's favorite son? Of how nothing could injure him in battle?
JP: Baldr was the son of Odin and Frigg and his death is seen as the beginning of a chain of events which will ultimately lead to the destruction of the gods at Ragnarök. Baldr will then be reborn in the new world. Baldr dreamed of his own death and so Frigg made every object on Earth swear never to harm him. She didn't ask the mistletoe, however, as it seemed so innocuous. As Baldr was now invulnerable, the gods used to make a game of throwing objects at him and watching them fall to the ground as they refused to hurt him. Loki came upon the game and handed Baldr's brother, the blind god Höðr, a spear made of mistletoe. He threw it at Baldr and it killed him. In one version of the story, Loki throws the spear himself. Either way, Frigg was heartbroken and banished the little mistletoe, never allowing its roots to touch the ground again–hence why it now only grows on the tops of other trees. Baldr and Höðr (who was killed by a son of Odin for the crime) were condemned to Hel only to be released after Ragnarök, when they would be reconciled and rule over a new world.
Q: Athelstan sees ravens circling above. What do the ravens represent to Vikings?
JP: The raven was an iconic bird to the Vikings and a powerful symbol of war. Pagan legends said that Odin owned two ravens called "Thought" and "Memory" and that when ravens descended on a battlefield and began picking at the bodies of the slain, it represented that God's acceptance of the blood sacrifice he had been offered. The ravens were also his messengers, travelling the Earth during the day and returning to him at night to tell him of the deeds of men.
Indeed so powerful was the image of the raven that it can be seen on the Bayeux tapestry, carried into battle in 1066 by the Norman descendants of the Viking Hralf during their invasion of England. The Raven banner was a magical talisman for the Vikings. We know that the sons of Ragnar carried magical raven banners as early chronicles specifically mention the capture of Ubba's banner after his arrival in Devon, on Alfred's exposed west flank at the time Guthrum looked like defeating Wessex. Ubba, like his brothers, was a man around whom many legends had been built. It was said by the St Neots annalist that he carried with him the traditional raven banner that Vikings took into battle. But Ubba was a son of Ragnar and his raven banner was different. Woven by his three sisters, this was a magical talisman that would flutter before victories, but which hung limp ahead of defeat.
Ravens were also practically used to aid navigation on long voyages as they could fly up and see what was beyond the horizon.
Q: Rollo is very badly injured. How do the Vikings take care of those who are wounded? What kind of medical treatment is possible?
JP: As we have precious little written down by 9th century Vikings we are slightly in the dark as to their medical practices. We do, however, have some Anglo-Saxon sources and later saga texts which probably give a reasonable idea of how Vikings dealt with trauma injuries.
In the Heimskringla, we are told that women would wash and clean wounds with warm water. For puncture wounds to the abdomen, the book describes how a wound-dresser would feed a man a boiled broth of leeks and herbs. If she could then smell the leeks in the wound, she knew that the stomach was pierced. Where an arrow head or similar remained in the wound, tongs were used to try to remove it. Where the foreign object was hard to find, one source suggests cutting in to find it. When the object was removed and the wound cleaned, it would be bound in clean cloth.
Most of these healers were women who probably had a good knowledge of herbal medicine, as well as the skills to clean and bind trauma wounds. Men, however, did also practice some battlefield medicine, although this is usually limited to using tongs tor remove arrows and spearheads. Snorri goði would famously notice the reason for certain of his fellows failing to eat or remove their breeches–because there was an arrow or spear stuck in their throat or legs. We might have to treat these accounts with a pinch of salt as even a Viking would probably notice a spear through his leg.
Doctors also existed and are mentioned in the laws which deal in great detail with the compensation payable for the loss of various body parts or faculties. Someone found guilty of maiming a man would not only have to pay the blood-price inflicting that particular injury, but might also have to pay the doctor, presumably for his efforts with the aggrieved party.
VIKING HISTORY Q&A: SEASON 2, EPISODE 8June 5, 2014 By: History.com Staff
History.com checks in with Vikings show researcher Justin Pollard to get the historical context for each Vikings Season 2 episode.
Season 2, Episode 8: Boneless
Question: How difficult was childbirth for Viking women?
Justin Pollard: We don't know a huge amount about childbirth in this period simply because the sources we have are rather reticent when it comes to talking about it. If we consider that most chroniclers of this date are Christian monks, that might explain it. There were herbal remedies to deal with the pain which we know about from Anglo-Saxon sources and, so, were probably also known to Vikings. Childbirth pain was treated (where available) with wolf's milk mixed with wine and honey. The English herbal "Bald's Leechbook" recommends brooklime and hollyhock boiled in ale if contractions stop.
Giving birth was an entirely female event. There were no men present. The mother-to-be would be assisted by "helping women," who were effectively midwives and probably those female members of the community with the most experience of childbirth. The normal birth position was to kneel on the floor supported by the helping women. As well as practical assistance, the helping women could provide supernatural support. Charms and chants were offered up, particularly if the birth wasn't going well. In the Lay of Sigrdrifa tale, it suggests cutting magical runes on the palms and pressing these on the joints whilst asking the goddess for help.
In an age before antibiotics, childbirth was obviously dangerous as infection was poorly understood and many women and children must have died in the process. However, we have few descriptions of difficult births and children's remains seem underrepresented in cemeteries, so it's difficult to know what the mortality rate was.
Q: We see Bjorn and Rollo in battle training. At around what age did Vikings begin training for battle? How often did they train?
JP: The age at which children began training for battle varied depending on the class of the child. In law, children could be considered "adult" from the age of 12 and, hence, boys might be expected to spend much of their time from then on honing their battle skills. Yet in sagas, we hear of 15 years old boys who accompany others to battle, but do not fight themselves as they are still children. Equally, we have boys becoming king at very young ages and taking on the mantle of adulthood then. According to the Heimskringla, Rolf Krake is said to have been eight years old when he became king. Regardless of the age, children, and particularly boys, practiced martial skills from a young age. Initially, this was probably just the typical sort of rough and tumble you'd still find today–in the Ynglinga saga it describes how six year old boys:
"… amused themselves with child's play, in which each should be leading on his army."
The intensity of this would increase with age as play gave way to training. Slightly older children of freemen were often sent away to live with adoptive parents (usually relatives), where they would learn to serve in the household and bear arms. Eventually, the boy would leave childhood behind to enter a new phase of life as a Drengir, a time when a young man could accumulate the wealth and prestige needed before entering into a good marriage.
Q: We see the Vikings preparing to go out on the ship. What was their pre-travel ritual like?
JP: The most important thing for any Viking heading out of a dangerous voyage was to have some intimation of what fate held for them. Most importantly there was fret. There's not much evidence in early works for how this was done, but we have a few clues. Part of it was simply looking for omens—demanding to know what would happen and then looking for signs that the Gods favored it, like ravens flying overhead. When the Icelandic chieftain Thorkel the Tall invoked the god Frey for vengeance upon his enemy Viga-Glum, he demanded a signal that the God had heard his prayer. He regarded it as a favorable response of Frey when the ox, which he had led out as an offering, immediately fell with loud bellowing upon the ground and died. Divination (spá) is also mentioned in the Sagas, by means of sacred leaves or slips (blótspánn) and by prophetic lots (hlotar or hlutar), both basically lot-casting.
How this was technically done is not clear. Tacitus says that Germanic peoples during the Roman Empire practiced divination by marking sticks with magical signs and randomly picking one, but that's a bit before our time, although the Viking equivalent probably descends from this. Tacitus says a bough cut from a fruit tree is divided into small slips or chips (surculos), which are marked, each with its sign, and cast out at random upon a white cloth. Thereupon the diviner makes a prayer to the gods, takes up every twig three times, and explains them according to the marks set beforehand upon them.
In chapter 38 of Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga Saga, Granmar, the king of Södermanland, travels to the Temple at Uppsala for the seasonal blót: "There, the chips fell in a way that said that he would not live long."
Q: How long would the journey take by boat? What supplies for the journey would they Vikings have on hand? What did they eat?
JP: We know of many Viking sea voyages that would have taken them out of sight of land for many days, so they must have been well prepared for these voyages. There was plenty of room in the type of ship used for these voyages—merchant knarrs, rather than the drakaar warships, so there was space to stock plenty of food provided you could keep it from going bad. To this end, we'd expect them to carry substantial supplies of salt fish and smoked meats, which would not quickly rot. Live animals—everything from horses to birds—are also known to have been taken on many long voyages, so some of these could have been killed for meat. En route, the crew could also fish for fresh fish and attempt to catch sea birds. We don't have any evidence for stoves aboard ship, indeed the risk of fire may have precluded cooking, so rations were probably eaten cold (or raw) unless ashore. Fresh water would be more of a problem, as you can survive far less time without water than food. Sweet (fresh) water would have been kept in barrels. Rain could also be collected during the voyage. Beer, which lasted longer due to its alcohol content and the fact that it had been boiled as part of the production process, was also drunk, as was sour milk.
It's worth noting that whilst extensive preparations could be made for long voyages, Vikings tried not to be out of sight of land for too long if at all possible. Due to the vagaries of navigation and weather, Vikings on long trips, such as from Scandinavia to Iceland, Greenland or North America, would travel up or down the coast until they reached a latitude where they could make a straight crossing to their destination. Many still were blown off course and plenty must have sailed over the horizon never to be seen again. These losses were an expected part of ocean travel. According to the Icelandic Landnámabók, of the 25 ships that set out one summer from Iceland carrying settlers to Greenland, only 14 arrived.
Life on board was harsh. There was no real cover, so the crew were exposed to the elements. This is one reason why Vikings limited long sea voyages to the summer months. Rowers usually sat on a cargo box and at night might have been able to rig a tent or the main sail over the hull to provide some cover. They slept in sleeping bags made of animal skin.
In terms of performance, the main type of ship used for these voyages was the knarr, a merchant ship with fore and aft decks, up to about 16 meters in length and capable of carrying perhaps 24 tons of cargo. Under sail, these might reach speeds of ten knots or about half that, if just being rowed. How long voyages took is rarely mentioned in the sources and must have varied wildly due to wind, sea condition, currents, weather and tides. According to the Bandamanna saga, Odd Ofeigsson sailed from Iceland to Norway and back again in seven weeks.
VIKING HISTORY Q&A: SEASON 2, EPISODE 7June 5, 2014 By: History.com Staff
History.com checks in with Vikings show researcher Justin Pollard to get the historical context for each Vikings Season 2 episode.
Season 2, Episode 7: Blood Eagle
Question: Jarl Borg faces a harsh punishment. What is the significance of a blood-eagle? When and why is it used? What does the eagle mean to the Vikings?
Justin Pollard: The blood-eagle was a punishment we know of from a number of Viking sources. The early 11th century skaldic poet Sigvatr is the first to mention it, stating in a poem in praise for the later Scandinavian king of England Cnut, that:
"Ivarr, who dwelt in York, carved the eagle on Aelle's back"
This is a reference to Ragnar's son Ivarr the Boneless who revenged himself on Alle, King of Northumnbria. The legend states that Aelle lost a battle to Ivarr, but did not die in the fighting. He was captured and brought before Ragnar's son as he reveled in his victory. Seeing the humbled Northumbrian king before him, he ordered him sacrificed to Odin in thanks for the victory in the ceremony of the blood-eagle. By the time the 13th century tale of the Sons of Ragnar was written, the scene is further described as involving hacking open the victim's chest and removing their lungs, so they resembled the folded wings of a bloody eagle.
Q: We see two very different wedding ceremonies. What is a Viking wedding ceremony like? What is the significance of the sword in the ceremony?
JP: In the Viking world marriage was first and foremost a contractual arrangement between families. What we know of the ceremonies themselves come from slightly later Icelandic sources, but these would probably have been familiar to Vikings of the 9th century.
Marriages usually took place on Friday as it was the day of Frigga, the goddess of marriage. In much of the Viking world marriages could also only take place in summer due to weather conditions.
Before the wedding itself the bride would be symbolically removed from her former role, and prepared for her new life. This involved taking a steam bath–a sort of early sauna–to wash away her old status before being dressed in new clothes. Later in Scandinavian history, we know that unmarried girls wore a circlet on their heads which was replaced for their marriage with a bridal crown, usually a family heirloom. We don't know if Viking girls did this, but it may well date from this period. There were probably other rituals to prepare the bride and advice from older member of the community on the duties (and rights) of a wife.
Whilst this was going on, the groom underwent a similar rite, surrounded by his married male relatives, taking a steam bath to "wash away" his previous status. According to the sagas, the groom was also required to produce an ancestral item, usually a sword, to demonstrate his lineage. This he could obtain from a burial mound or from a living relative. The sword represented his ancestry, his place in society and acted as a reminder of the fame of those who had gone before him.
For the wedding itself, the bride wore her hair down–the last time she would do so–and both bride and groom wore new clothes, although neither were specifically bridal outfits.
Before the ceremony, the dowry and bride price had to be paid before witnesses. Then the ceremony itself probably took place outside starting with religious invocations and perhaps a sacrifice. Blood from the sacrificed animal would then be sprinkled on the couple. The groom would then present his ancestral sword to his new wife and she would present the sword that she had brought to him. This represented the coming together of the two families. Finger rings were then sometimes exchanged and an oath might be taken on an arm ring in a local temple or at a temporary altar.
After the ceremony, came the bride-running–a race to the hall where the feast would be served. At the threshold, the groom would escort his wife over, representing her stepping into a new life with his protection–doorways were considered spiritually dangerous places. Some stories tell of the groom then plunging his sword into a roof beam–the deeper the incision, the stronger the marriage would be. Feasting was an important part of Viking culture, as we've mentioned before, and a bridal feast would be accompanied by all the usual story-telling, toasting and singing. In particular, the bridal ale was drunk—which represented a legally binding part of the marriage.
At some point during that night's feasting, the bride and groom would be accompanied to bed. These witnesses were there to ensure that they saw the bride and groom in the room together. When the witnesses left, the marriage would be consummated. The dreams of the bride that night were considered prophetic, hinting at the number of children the couple would have and the fate of the family.
The next day the bride was taken away by her female attendants and her hair tied up in marital braids. Back in the hall, the husband then paid his wife the "morning gift" (a sort of male dowry) and handed over the keys to the locks of the house demonstrating her new power as mistress of the household. Further celebrations then ensued, which might last for a week.
Q: Lagertha is now an earl. Did many women become earls in the Viking age?
JP: We gave Lagertha the position of earl (jarl) in the series to demonstrate the power and respect free women could command in Viking society at a time when women in much of the rest of Europe have a far less prominent role. Certainly women could own land in their own right and command men, but in making Lagertha an actual earl we were taking a bit of license.
The point we were hoping to make is that women have a role in Viking society very unlike that of women in most of the rest of Europe. This obviously depends on class, as slave women, like their male counterparts, have no real rights at all. However, what marks out Viking society is that the difference between male and female rights are much less stark.
In Frankia, the women were chattels–belonging first to their fathers and then their husbands. Their property and possessions equally belonged in law not to them, but the man who had power over them. There were some exceptions amongst the very highest in society, but this was the general rule.
In Viking society, this wasn't the case. Fathers would generally select a suitable husband for their daughters, but would ask the daughters opinion as well. Marriage was fundamentally considered a practical political institution—helping to bond families together—rather than a love match. Love might follow later. A father who didn't ask his daughter could still force the marriage through, but might find that the daughter later renounced it.
Viking society was still delineated on male/female lines and women couldn't vote in the Thing or explicitly hold a lot of political power, but women did wield huge influence. It was the husband's place to travel, trade and hunt, but the wife ruled the home. Step over the threshold and you enter her world. On her belt, she would carry the keys to every lock in the house—the treasure, the land and all the family had was in her care. Those possessions were hers and if the marriage ended, she could take them all with her.
Although the man was still considered the "ruler" of the household, women took a robust role in managing him–often demanding vengeance when insulted by another family or sometimes cooling down situations where hot-headed men might otherwise get into a dangerous feud. A woman expected to be listened to, if not obeyed. Whilst there was undoubtedly domestic violence—there are few records of husbands hitting their wives–violence against women was generally taboo. There are cases where, having done so, the woman has repaid the blow with a knife in the chest whilst he slept. No one seemed to think this unreasonable.
VIKING HISTORY Q&A: SEASON 2, EPISODE 6June 5, 2014 By: History.com Staff
History.com checks in with Vikings show researcher Justin Pollard to get the historical context for each Vikings Season 2 episode.
Season 2, Episode 6: Unforgiven
Question: The Seer mentions Valkyries and tells Siggy, "The gods will always smile on brave women." What are Valkyries and where do they come from?
Justin Pollard: Valkyrja is Old Norse for "Chooser of the Slain" and the Valkyries were female mythological beings that "harvested" slain warriors for Odin. Half of those who died in battle were selected by the Valkyries and taken to Valhalla where they feasted and prepared for the battle at the end of the world (Ragnarök), when they would assist Odin in fighting Fenrir. These warriors were known as einherjar. Valkyries were sometimes accompanied by or represented by Odin's ravens, "Thought" and "Memory," who came to him each evening and told him of the deeds of men on earth. Chief amongst the Valkyrie was Valfreyja, perhaps a form of the goddess Freyja, known as "the mistress of the slain," who served ale to the Aesir in Asgard.
Valkyries are also associated with weaving, like the Norns— although they can weave victory or defeat in battle, rather than the fates of men as they do in Beowulf. Sometimes, the Valkyries also appeared in a rather more benign form as swan-maidens, who could take the shape of a swan when wearing their swan-shifts and travel across land and sea. It was said that if you could capture a swan-maiden, then you could demand a wish of her.
It's worth noting that Valkyries are never recorded as taking part in battles and are rarely even armed. Their job is simply to harvest the slain.
Q: Jarl Borg says he is advised by the skull of his dead wife. We've also seen Ragnar talking to the deceased Gyda earlier this season. What is the relationship between Vikings and those who have died? Do Vikings believe their spirits are present?
JP: Vikings did believe that the spirits of the dead could remain present in the world of the living. Whilst every warrior yearned to take his place in Valhalla, most of the dead were thought to have a strange second life in their grave rather akin to a zombie (as opposed to a ghost). One group of those buried in burial mounds were known as haugbui (mound-dwellers) and were thought to use their mound as a home. Provided no-one disturbed their mound, they usually presented no trouble to the living. In one saga, they are described calling to each other from their graves, like neighbours chatting over a fence.
By contrast, aptrgangr walked free from their graves and could interfere in the lives of the living. These spirits still inhabited their decaying, dead bodies and so were effectively "un-dead." As well as having superhuman strength, an aptrgangr was magical and could change form, often appearing as local animals and attacking in that form. Some could also travel through solid rock, disappearing into the earth when threatened, or bring down night or a thick mist to hide themselves. These creatures resented the living and longed for the life they had lost, so they would often attack the living and their livestock. To kill an aptrgangr, it first had to be wrestled to the ground and then decapitated, sometimes with its own sword. The body was then walked around three times anti-clockwise and, in some legends, a stake was driven into the body.
Q: How were servants typically treated in Viking culture?
JP: Viking culture was a slave-owning and trading society, so servants were literally the possessions of their master or mistress. Slaves captured in raids were one of the Vikings main traded commodities. Exotic slaves from distant lands could fetch a premium and might be traded on thousands of miles from their original home.
This was a hierarchical society with jarls at the top, followed by freemen, then servants/slaves stood on the lowest rung and hence we might expect they received the worst treatment. This all depended on their owner and their status within a household.
These unfree servants were known as þræll or "thralls" and are slightly different from those who are simply captured in battle and sold on as slaves. There are also hereditary thralls who are sometimes referred to as "fostre," whose families may have provided generations of service to another family and because of this might expect better treatment. You might think of these thralls as more like house servants or even old fashioned butlers rather than slaves.
The lowest thralls were used for heavy manual labor, tending fields, building, cutting wood and herding animals. Female thralls might be expected to milk the livestock, make butter and wash clothes. Higher up the scale, trusted thralls, whose families may have been in service to a family for generations, might become overseers or bailiffs running estates whilst their female equivalents might become personal maids or nannies. In law, someone who killed a thrall was not responsible for their murder, but was required to pay their value to their owner, just as if they had killed some livestock. A slave's children were always also slaves and most were not allowed to own property. On the brighter side, thralls who were injured had a right to medical care from their owners and owners were required to provide for those who were too old or ill to work.
Slavery was not necessarily a permanent state, however, and a thrall could buy their way out of servitude by paying their current value to their owner. Of course, a thrall had to have been given the means to earn money to do that in the first place. Generally, the law allowed a thrall to keep the proceeds of crafts they produced in their free time and some were given plots of land whose produce they could sell. So, after many years, they might be able to buy their freedom. A yet more fortunate few might be given their freedom, often as a mark of long service by their owner, or occasionally by a third party. These freed men did not have exactly the same position in law as the free born. Those freed by their owner retained a duty of deference to their former master, usually being required to seek his or her approval for most things. In return, the former master treated the freed man as a sort of adopted family member offering support and help.
Q: Athelstan and King Ecbert discuss art—what was art like for the Vikings?
JP: Much of Viking art revolved around dynamic interpretations of swirling animals, often in complex interlacing patterns. Vikings carved designs on much of their material culture—from ships prows, bone combs, caskets and jewelery to standing stones. Much of this material was perishable and hasn't survived in the archaeological record, so we might expect that much more was decorated, from clothing to houses.
Viking animal ornamentation is usually divided into six "styles," named after the places where particular examples were found. The Oseberg style is found on the Oseberg ship, a beautifully preserved Viking ship discovered in a burial mound in Norway. It dates from 834 AD, so is very much a style we use in the show. The most recognizable element of this style is called the "gripping beast," sinewy interlinked animals gripping the borders of the design.
Borre style appears slightly later, but still in our period and is named after a boat burial discovered at Borre in Norway. It evolved slightly later than Oseberg style, perhaps around 850 AD, and was mainly used on jewelery. It's most characteristic feature was the "ring-braid"–two bands held together by rings.
The other styles–Jelling, Mammen, Ringerike and Urnes only appeared in the 10th and 11th centuries and so, outside our time period.


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Greece's northern mainland is dominated by the provinces of Macedonia and Thrace. Each has been part of the Greek state for less than a century – Macedonia (Makedhonía) was surrendered by the Turks in 1913 while Greek sovereignty over western Thrace (Thráki) was not confirmed until 1923 and there is still a sizeable ethnic minority population. Consequently, they stand slightly apart from the rest of the country, an impression reinforced for visitors by architecture and scenery, customs and climate that seem more Balkan than typically Mediterranean. In fact the region is relatively little known to outsiders, perhaps thanks to its capricious climate, lack of beach resorts and few charter flights. Yet northern Greece is one of the country's most rewarding areas to visit.
Mount Olympus, mythical abode of the gods, is a tempting target for hikers, while Mount Áthos, a Byzantine ecclesiastical idyll, is an unmissable attraction (at least for men, who are the only ones allowed here). The sybaritic capital of Macedonia, Thessaloníki, and the region's other main city, Kavála, are also intriguing places to visit, the former providing access to the beach-fringed peninsula of Halkidhikí. The north also has more outstandingly beautiful spots, especially the Préspa National Park in rugged western Macedonia and the birdwatchers' heaven of the Kerkíni wetlands to the east. The lakeside city of Kastoriá and the clifftop town of Édhessa are among Greece's most beguiling urban centres, thanks to a belated but determined attempt to restore some fine old buildings. Admittedly, the region's ancient sites are relatively modest, though there is one notable exception: the awe-inspiring Macedonian tombs discovered at Vergina in the 1970s, near the pleasant city of Véria. Not so well known are the Macedonian and Roman sites at Pella, with its fabulous mosaics, and at Philippi, St Paul's first stop in Greece. Few travellers on their way to Bulgaria or Turkey stray from the dull trunk road through Thrace, but the well-preserved town of Xánthi, a trio of minor archeological sites, the waterfowl reserves of the Évros Delta and the Dhadhiá Forest, with its black vultures, deserve more than just a meal stop. Alexandhroúpoli is dull but rewards the curious with one of the best ethnological museums in the whole of Greece.


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vdlconsult Space & Security
An information and networking initiative
vdlconsult was founded in 2003 on the basis of the know-how gathered by the company INTOSPACE GmbH, a set up established by 90 European companies to foster the utilization of space for industrial research.
When searching to apply this capability to new business opportunities the new civil security technology had been added to the portfolio.
vdlconsult, Wallmodenstr. 45c 30625 Hannover Germany • Tel. ++49 511 2791000 • firstname.lastname@example.com


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World Opinion
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Comprehensive analyses that integrate polls from a wide variety of sources on numerous international issues. Includes analyses of world opinion and US opinion.
Nine-Country Poll Finds Europeans and Americans Desire Closer Relations
British and Canadians Criticize Leaders for Following U.S. Lead
Russians Support Putin's Re-Nationalization of Oil, Control of Media, But See Democratic Future
New Poll Shows French and Germans more Sympathetic toward Israel
Europeans still Positive about EU Enlargement but Anxious about Impact on Jobs
Russians Positive on Chinas Foreign Policy, Economic Model, Negative on U.S. Policies, Bush
French Public Stands Behind Protests Against New Labor Law
Publics in Western Countries Disapprove of Muhammad Cartoons
Among Key Iraq Partners, Weak Public Support for Troop Presence
Russians and Americans Agree Iran is Trying to Develop Nuclear Weapons, But Disagree on Economic SanctionsMay 30, 2006
Both Reject Bombing Iran's Nuclear Facilities
Large majorities of both Americans and Russians think that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons and are concerned about it. But while two in three Americans would support imposing economic sanctions on Iran, less than a quarter of Russians would. Large majorities in both countries agree that the United States should pursue diplomatic options and oppose the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.
These are some of the findings of new nationwide polls conducted in both Russia and the United States. The U.S. poll was carried out by WorldPublicOpinion.org and fielded by Knowledge Networks; the Russian poll was conducted and fielded by the Levada Center.
When asked, "Do you think Iran is or is not trying to develop nuclear weapons?" 68 percent of Russians and 84 percent of Americans respond that they believe Iran is. Only 12 percent of Russians and 9 percent of Americans think Iran is not trying to develop such weapons.
Majorities in both countries say they would be concerned if Iran developed nuclear weapons, but the concern felt by Americans is more widespread and intense. Eighty-five percent of Americans say they would be at least somewhat concerned if Iran developed nuclear weapons, while 63 percent of Russians say they would be at least somewhat concerned. However, far more Americans (64%) than Russians (29%) say they would be "very much" concerned if Iran had nuclear arms.
Less than a quarter of Russians would support imposing economic sanctions on Iran if it continues to produce nuclear fuel that could be used for weapons, while a majority of Americans would. Only 23 percent of Russians, but 68 percent of Americans, thought the Security Council should vote for sanctions. Sixty-two percent of Russians thought the Security Council should continue negotiating, while just 26 percent of Americans favored more talks.
While Americans and Russians hold differing opinions on sanctions, they strongly reject U.S. military action against Iran. When asked, "If Iran continues to produce nuclear fuel that could be developed for use in nuclear weapons, do you think the United States should bomb Iran's nuclear facilities or pursue a diplomatic approach?" 70 percent of Americans and 79 percent of Russians said the United States should pursue a diplomatic approach. Only 24 percent of Americans and 7 percent of Russians thought the United States should bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.
On the broader question of whether the U.N. should work against nuclear proliferation, overwhelming majorities in both countries agreed that the United Nations "should actively work to discourage countries from acquiring nuclear weapons." Very large majorities in both countries (79% of Russians, 87% of Americans) said the UN should discourage proliferation. Only about one in ten (10% of Russians, 8% of Americans) believe the U.N. should not actively work toward such a goal.
Russians are lukewarm about President Putin's offer to guarantee Iran a supply of nuclear fuel if it stops enriching uranium, while American opinion is divided. Pollsters told both Russians and Americans, "Russia's President Putin has been trying to negotiate a deal whereby Russia would provide fuel for Iran's nuclear energy program if Iran would agree not to produce nuclear fuel that could be developed for use in nuclear weapons," and then asked whether they approved or disapproved of "Russia trying to negotiate this deal." Among Russians, 46 percent approve while 30 percent disapprove--only a mild endorsement of Putin's initiative, despite his popularity in Russia. Among Americans, 49 percent disapprove of the idea while 44 percent approve.
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Intelligent Systems Lab
Heriot-Watt University
Welcome to the Intelligent Systems Lab (ISL) at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. We are part of the Department of Computer Science in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences.
We work on computing methodologies, specifically those aspects of artificial intelligence that are state-of-the-art in the 21st century. We invent and use novel and effective techniques. Modelling and simulations allow us to understand biological systems, humans, and their brains. We are involved in agent based and knowledge based systems, approximate reasoning, artificial neural networks, DNA computing, membrane computing and evolutionary computing. Some of our agents are decision-making agents in a micro-economic context; others are synthetic characters interacting with a virtual world. We develop swarms of 'detectives', seeking new and innovative designs, and solutions to difficult problems. Agents make plans, and we find ways how to deal best with uncertainty, and emotions. We do emotion engineering. Animation, mobile communications, cars, homes, and computer games can all be emotionally intelligent and responsive. Our agents can engage in a dialogue with users, informing, persuading and motivating, taking into account the user's interests and state of mind.
Our work has a very wide range of applications. These include computer based diagnosis, pattern recognition and classification, intelligent user interfaces, web intelligence and fault-tolerant robotics. We apply our research to data mining, genome analysis, engineering design, knowledge discovery, and logistics. We assist traders and bidders at auctions. We help SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) with establishing networks. We help larger enterprises optimise or rejuvenate their services (communication networks, production schedules, product designs), and unlock hidden knowledge in their databases.Our agents are embodied in virtual environments, and in robots. In our lab, we use neural networks for shape classification, medical diagnosis, geo-archaeological analysis, gene discovery, radiotherapy treatment planning, industrial plant control, and robot control. Our research on uncertainty is useful to stroke victims and Alzheimer's patients.
The Intelligent Systems Lab was founded in 1984 to pursue the synthesis of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques with control engineering methods to produce intelligent systems. The lab participates in a wide range of industrial collaborative research projects, as well as EPSRC and EU funded research. The Intelligent Systems Lab has grown significantly in the last couple of years.
You can find the lab in the Earl Mountbatten building.
About three students a year graduate from the Intelligent Systems lab with a PhD. On average one of those finds work in academia in the UK, one returns to an academic position in their country of origin, and one goes to work in industry. Feel free to email any member of our lab for information about a PhD. Ask academic staff why their work is important. Ask current PhD students how good their supervisors are, and what life in Edinburgh is like.
It pays to take some risk with funding. Once you decide that an Intelligent Systems PhD is for you, apply to Heriot-Watt, use the online application form. Put 'Intelligent Systems' in the field of study, and choose 'School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences'. We can only decide the level of support we can offer you after you have applied. Nearly all students gets some support. If you wait till your supervisor has a research position available, you will have few opportunities. Our academic staff apply for research grants all the time. If you are here, you will be considered first when support becomes available, your name may even be mentioned in the grant application.
If you are still unsure, please contact Prof. Philippe De Wilde either via email: email@example.com or phone: +44 (0) 131 451 8306.
Last updated 08 June 2011


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OSV News: Performance Days / World Snowboard Day
Performance Days :
For the 4th edition in Annecy, thanks to support from EuroSIMA and OSV, this show dedicated to technical fabrics will once again take place in Annecy-Le-Vieux on November 24 and 25, 2011.
For more information and to register for the event, visit the Performance Days website.
World Snowboard Day is back !
World Snowboard Day will be back for its 6th edition on Sunday, December 18th, 2011, once again providing the opportunity to discover, for free, snowboarding as a sport and culture across the world's summits.
Created in 2006 by EuroSIMA and the WSF - the event coordinators - the World Snowboard Day has built partnerships with SnowSports Industries America (SIA) in North
America and CorePower Asia in Asia in order to reinforce World Snowboard Day's presence in this part of the world.
In 2010, World Snowboard Day counted 160 events in 38 countries with more than 25 000 participants ! This year, with only one month until the World Snowboard Day, already 75 events in 21 countries registered and announce a lot of activities for everyone!
To know more, let's check the World Snowboard Day website


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Another MLRA Late Model Rain Out
by NSSN Staff
WHEATLAND, Mo. – Heavy rainfall and an unfavorable forecast has forced officials with the Lucas Oil MLRA and LA Raceway to cancel this weekends racing action slated for Saturday in La Monte, Mo.
Friday's race at U.S. 36 Raceway was cancelled yesterday, causing a complete weekend wash-out for the series.
The next scheduled event for the Lucas Oil MLRA is a double-header at Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway on June 21 and Thunderhill Speedway on June 22 in Mayetta, Kan. Both nights will pay $3,000 to the winner.
Posted by NSSN Staff on May 31 2013 Filed under Dirt Late Models, Latest Headlines, Other Dirt Series. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


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Hi! My name is Jayden
I am Domestic Shorthair from Ridgeland, MS
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