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The Writers Guild of America has announced the nominees for its sixth annual Videogame Writing Award, which has previously honored titles such as Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Nominees for 2012 include the widely-panned 007 Legends, along with more well-received releases from the past year.
Here is the full list of nominees:
- Halo 4 – Microsoft Studios
- Assassin's Creed III – Ubisoft
- Assassin's Creed III: Liberation – Ubisoft
- 007 Legends – Activision?
- Uncharted: Golden Abyss – Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Disney Epic Mickey 2 – Disney Interactive Studios
The award has been criticized in the past for restricting nominees to Videogame Writers Caucus members, potentially excluding deserving games written by non-members, and ensuring that chronic victors such as the Assassin's Creed and Uncharted series retain a disproportionately high chance of winning. The Guild has defended itself, clarifying its inclusion policy and noting that it is comprised entirely of active industry members.
It is worth bearing in mind that submissions must be published between December 1st 2011 and November 30th 2012 to be eligible, rendering titles such as Far Cry 3 inadmissible for this round of awards. Though no publisher has reported doing so this year, on previous occasions some have gone as far as to abstain from the awards in protest of the members-only criteria.
Less than a month remains before the winners are announced; the 2013 Writers Guild Awards will be held on the 17th of February in simultaneous ceremonies held in New York and Los Angeles.
Source: Gamespot


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One of the great privileges of being an American is the freedom of speech. Unlike most countries of the world, we can still express our views openly, within reason.
Talk is everywhere, whether on radio, TV, cell phones, Internet, etc. However, with such privilege comes great responsibility, whether in the public or private domain.
Words are powerful and can help or hinder; they either build people up or tear them down. The old adage, ''Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names (words) can never hurt me,'' is really not true. I have seen folks readily healed from knife and gunshot wounds, who have yet to overcome the inner trauma caused by the cancer of caustic words.
The tongue is a potent instrument. For instance, a positive word can greatly encourage a child's heart, while a negative tirade can crush that child's spirit. Some children have grown up with the constant ''reminder'' that they are ''stupid, and will never amount to anything.'' How many families are in disarray and divorce-bound because of hateful speech? Listen to how young people display verbal hostility and ''bullying'' toward each other. Words have dire consequence.
There is certainly room for free expression of varied opinions, whether on a national or local level. Talk radio is a constant means for exchanging ideas, especially in the political arena. With the presidential election coming up, this warfare of words will only escalate. Regardless of political persuasion, there's no reason why this world of ideas cannot be approached with civility and mutual respect.
With that in mind, I am thankful for the outstanding service rendered by our Tribune Chronicle. The editorial staff has demonstrated great concern for our community, along with an open forum for the diversity of ideas. The 200th year celebration was a testimonial of our national history and the Tribune's dynamic role in journalism. The publishers need to be commended for their dedication to free speech and their contribution to the legend of America.
It has been both an honor and challenge to contribute as a ''community columnist.'' I've had ''fans'' and critics, but it's all been par for the course. Some articles have been controversial, giving us opportunity to stretch our minds. More than once, I've been ''bent out of shape'' by pieces printed in the Tribune; but some of you have had a similar reaction after reading my ''stuff.'' Whatever the case, it's been a learning experience and a meaningful adventure not afforded to those who live in Iran.
This matter of free speech also warrants a personal evaluation. I am amazed at the incessant volume of cell phone use. Are we really communicating with one another, or is it just ''chit-chat?'' Do we really have something to say, or do we just have to say something? Are we effectively using this privilege, or abusing it? Then you have the TV ''celebrities'' who can't speak a sentence without profanity. With so many ''bleeps,'' one begins to question, among other things, the size and depth of their vocabulary.
Our character is revealed by our words; to hear a person speak his mind for five minutes reveals who he really is. In counseling, words are vital in promoting understanding and fostering healing to those involved. Therefore, the need for heart-to-heart communication of truth in our relationships is paramount. I believe that fewer couples would divorce if they faced their problems with honesty and humility.
As citizens, it's time to use our freedom of speech while we still have it. Insidious forces are at work to curtail and squelch this privilege.
On every level, our words have impact, which behooves us to use them carefully. Character and verbal integrity are woefully scarce these days. The need to ''say what we mean and mean what we say'' is overdue. How different our world would be if words were properly used, rather than abused.
Finnigan is a Howland resident. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey everyone! I decided to do a more toned-down neutral look. For the eyes, I used a light eyeshadow on the inner half and then used a taupe shade on the outer corner and blended them together with a light brown shade. Then I did my usual eyeliner and mascara. For blush, I opted for a light pink blush and for lips, I mixed a berry colour from Revlon with a light pink tint from Etude House.
Products used are listed below!
Products used:
- The Body Shop Skin Primer Matte It
- Catrice All Matt Plus- Shine Control Makeup
- Garnier Skin Naturals BB Eye Roll on
- Tony Moly Face Mix Finish Loose Powder
- Catrice Sun Glow Matt Bronzing Powder
- The Body Shop All-In-One Blush in Ginger
- Etude House Proof10 Eye Primer (not pictured)
- Essence Mono Eyeshadow in Peach Beach
- Catrice Absolute Eye Colour Mono in 350 Starlight Expresso
- Clio Kill Black Waterproof Eyeliner
- Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil in Beige Shine
- Etude House Proof10 Mascara (not pictured)
- Essence Lash Mania Reloaded Mascara (not pictured)
- Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Raspberry
- Etude House Color Lips Fit in PK002 Fantasy Fit Pink
Have a nice day!
Instagram: @makeupbyk_m


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Pennsylvania's new voter ID law, largely invalidated for the general election, still managed to sow some confusion and controversy Tuesday.
Voters were not always asked for photo ID, as was supposed to happen during the so-called soft rollout.
Anyone who could not or would not show an ID should have been allowed to vote as usual. But some voters complained that poll workers demanded an ID or tried to force them to submit provisional ballots.
And people who were voting for the first time in a new precinct were not always asked to show an ID, as required by law.


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Volunteering makes the old feel young
10 July 2006
Newcastle, UK: A new report into volunteering in later life was launched today at the House of Commons by Age Concern Newcastle and Newcastle University, UK.
Until now, very little has been known about volunteering in later life, yet voluntary bodies, such as Age Concern, often rely on older volunteers. The study offers important new insights into how and why older people choose to volunteer.
More than half of the organization's active volunteers surveyed were over 65. Almost half of the volunteers who were aged 55 plus had annual incomes of less than £10,000.
Professor Jane Wheelock of the University's School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, said: "This research fills the gaps in our understanding of the huge contribution that older people make to voluntary organizations. Volunteering is a great way for older people to stay active after they retire, make new friends and learn new skills."
While interest in volunteering increases for both men and women on retirement, family transitions, such as children leaving home or bereavement, were seen as more influential for women.
Government campaigns to encourage volunteering also appear to be having little effect, as almost all of those interviewed were not aware of recruitment initiatives, such as the 'Year of the Volunteer'.
The report found that more than half of the volunteers interviewed said putting their spare time to good use was the main reason for volunteering.
The most typical way older people became volunteers was via word-of-mouth, and friendship with people who already volunteer was one of the most important reasons for getting involved.


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CWN.org - MOZAMBIQUE - Jesus commanded his followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
Now, a new generation is heeding that 2,000-year-old call to the ends of the earth.
What's it like for a16-year-old on her first missions trip? Grace Mitchell traveled to the African nation of Mozambique and experienced first hand what it's like on the mission field.
"Everyone should have this experience, especially people my age," she said.
Grace spent a week at the Zimpeto orphanage of Iris Ministries just outside Mozambique's capital of Maputo. Here they care for 350 orphans from infants to teenagers, host a school for the community and use the facility as a base for ministry outreach.
"I expected nothing like this," Grace said. "The kids were so loving and they want your attention and everything like that, and I thought it would be depressing--not like this at all."
"They just come up to you and climb all over you, pull you to the ground, play on you and give you so much love," she added.
Steve Lazar is the director of Zimpeto.
"Most of us have a very narrow view of [what] missions is about," he explained. "Many of us think missions is about going into deepest part of dark Africa and getting boiled in a pot or something like that. But there's many opportunities for missions."
Those opportunities include caring for babies, many infected with the aids virus. Others include simply cleaning up, working with the students at the school or community outreach.
One of the most dramatic goes to a place called the Boccaria, an area next to the city dump.
The dump appears other-worldly. Here hundreds of people eek out a living off the refuse of others. It's a barren place, but fertile ground for the seeds of the gospel.
Right next to this brutal poverty, they've planted a church. It provides spiritual hope, physical nourishment and joy in the face of crushing circumstances. During Grace's own mission experience, she found she wasn't alone.
More than 1,000 visitors come to Zimpeto every year. They come from all walks of life and from all over the world. This team came all the way from Australia. As they say in Down Under, when it comes to going on the mission field ... "no worries mate!"
Pastor Kathy Gray brought this team from Australia-- the ninth time she's exposed people to life on the mission field.
"They all say they don't want to go home. And yet, in going home they go home as changed people," she said. "You can't ever be the same again after experiencing a place like this where Jesus is and His love is. I think it's priceless."
Part of Gray's team included this mother and daughter.
"We just today had some time together and cried together," the mother said. "I think there is even a greater connection between her and I because of it."
This team from Youth with a Mission came to Zimpeto on their way from New Zealand throughout Africa.
"It's just an incredible experience just to be able to witness God in so many nations, being able to see His creativity and most importantly to see the world's heart for Him," one member said.
But many say missions is not just for the young.
"I love missions trips and I love the children and I've learned a lot about the people of Africa and a lot about the people of Africa and I've come in contact with people that I never would have come in contact with before and it's really great," volunteer Heather Hammonds remembered.
Many say meeting people is one of the benefits of missions.
Grace found friends her age among the Australian group. They all made friends with the children of the orphanage and spent time together, whether playing Tic-Tac-Toe in the sand or letting the African girls braid their hair. But Grace and others spent only a short time away from home.
What about long term missionaries? It would be misleading to think the mission field is not without risks, but many of those serving full time - like Sarah - believe the rewards far outweigh the risks.
"The biggest risk for me was just leaving my family and friends, but I've come here and been surrounded by so many people who love me, and these boys and the older youth, just even the missionaries here," she said. "There's such an incredible community here that I don't feel that I've lost anything."
Grace experienced that community briefly. How would she sum up a week on the mission field where it was a time to make friends, comfort the poor and share the gospel?
"Now that I've been here for a week and have seen the living conditions and how rough it would be to live here, I just have so much more respect for everyone and how they live," Grace said.
Lazar has a suggestion for those considering missions.
"Instead of going to Disney Land or maybe to your favorite beach resort, come to the mission field," he said. "It can be in Mozambique, it can be in the Caribbean, it can be in Mexico, all over the world come get your heart broken for the things that break God's heart."
Grace Mitchell is reporter Chris Mitchell's daughter.
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Take Five With Sofija Knezevic
"Recognized as one of jazz's preeminent vocalists, young Sofija Knezevic (only 22) is one of the most significant singers in jazz today. While her singing is steeped in tradition, her improvisational virtuosity and creativity are breathtaking."CNN
Voice, piano.
Teachers and/or influences?
Greatly influenced by Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Ernestine Anderson, Kim Burrell, Donny Hathaway, Elliot Mason, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and others.
I knew I wanted to be a musician when...
I knew I wanted to be a musician the same moment I heard my first Ella record. I was three.
Your sound and approach to music:
I change with the energy, so my approach varies from modern and contemporary to a really retro sound. I love the blues, my parents listened to the blues a lot, so everything that is in a way a little dirty and thick and very melodic is attractive to me. If I was to compare where I am going right now, what direction, it would be, it would be the virtuosity of Art Tatum, beautiful weirdness of Thelonious Monk's melodies and Horace Silver's groove.
Your teaching approach:
It depends on each individual I`m teaching, but I base my vocal exercises and technical approaches on the book that I am writing about vocal technique right now. My goal is to help my students realize who they are and still use the influences of the people they wanted to sound like. And definitely help them find out how beautiful things are when you start discovering the possibilities and secrets of your own instrument.
Your dream band:
I would definitely love to perform with Herbie Hancock, Eric Revis, Diego El Cigala, Vicente Amigo, Zakir Hussain, The Walls Group, and many more...
Road story: Your best or worst experience:
I was performing in Poland, a couple of years ago and when the host said my name I started getting out on the stage and while I was walking the dress that I wore which was really long, got caught up in my heels, and I almost fell down and got completely naked from the waist below at the same time in front of 500 people. For some strange reason I had safety pins in my mic case so I quickly fixed it. But that`s one of the funniest things that ever happened to me.
Favorite venue:
Favorite venue, that`s a hard one... cause we usually remember the bad ones more often. Hmm, I would say St. Poelten in Austria at the jazz festival I played 2008. I think. The organization, the sound, changing rooms, everything was on point.
Your favorite recording in your discography and why?
My favorite recording is definitely "Don`t Explain," from my movie. Another one would definitely be the duet I did with Dena DeRose} of "When the World was Young."
The first Jazz album I bought was:
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?
Love and creativity.
CDs you are listening to now:
Wynton Marsalis, The Midnight Blues Standard Time Vol. 5 (Columbia);
Chick Corea, Light As A Feather (Polydor, 1973)
Desert Island picks:
Herbie Hancock, Feets Don`t Fail Me Now (Columbia);
Zakir Hussain, Making Music (ECM);
Vicente Amigo, Ciudad De Las Ideas (Ariola);
Carmen McRae, Carmen Sings Monk (Sony);
Buddy Guy, Buddy's Baddest: The Best Of Buddy Guy (Silvertone).
How would you describe the state of jazz today?
I get this question a lot, and I do and I always will say, it`s becoming more and more popular.
What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?
Good listeners, good musicians, good vibe.Society that cares.
What is in the near future?
I am writing two books at the moment, one about vocal technique, and a Serbian Jazz Real Book.
I am planning to start recording my new album.
Also, waiting for the movie I did the music for (and I was in) to come out in April 2012, Love Comes After. The audio track of my new single will also be played next week at the I Got Talent show, by young competing talent. Waiting to start the second part of the movie, Creating, and to finish the movie about my life, Sofijazz.
What's your greatest fear when you perform?
To not lose the original emotional state.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
"Svilen Konac," probably; it`s been in the family already.
What is your favorite song to whistle or sing in the shower?
"God Bless The Child."
By Day:
Teaching, writing music, recording, writing poetry, designing, photography.
If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:
A couture designer.
Photo Credit
Courtesy of Sofija Knezevic
About Sofija Knezevic
Don`t ExplainSofija Knezevic


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Looking no farther ahead than the ends of their own noses, Flint City Council members said on Monday they will not put a proposed public safety tax on the ballot.
Flint taxpayers simply can't afford it, they said.
Well, shouldn't taxpayers be the ones to decide what they can afford, and are willing to pay, for a safer city? They are, after all, ultimately paying the price.
The council should listen to what police say they need — jail space — and revisit its refusal to put Mayor Dayne Walling's proposal on the ballot. Besides setting up that future election, such a decision would send a strong signal that city leaders are moving forward, united, with a plan to fight crime.
Walling proposed a 6-mill property tax to bring back 40 police officers from layoff, reopen the 120-bed City Jail and recall some firefighters.
With city leaders marching to the same tune, and in the same direction on this public safety proposal, Flint could be in a strong position to seek and quickly receive emergency federal money to begin that crime fight now.
Immediate money could send as many as 110 Genesee County Jail inmates to Midland County, which has offered a bargain rate to house them in a brand-new jail.
Such an arrangement would free up space in our county jail for suspects that police arrest in Flint. The temporary arrangement could suffice until, and if, Flint voters OK a public safety tax in May, which couldn't be levied and collected until later next year.
Flint can't afford not to give cops the space they need to throw criminals in jail, even if it's just for a few days, until they get a bond hearing before a judge.
For someone hustling drugs or pimping prostitutes on the streets of Flint, a day or two away from that action can be an eternity. Left untended, their stash of drugs and money can disappear, cars are driven away and business can vanish.
That's what those who cause fear on our city's streets ought to fear themselves, even for a minor, misdemeanor criminal charge.
Yet, we have heard from law enforcement that, unlike other cities, where jail awaits them, our local hustlers don't even bother to disperse and hurry away when police come down their streets.
What's to fear from a citation or a court-appearance ticket?
Take care of the smaller crimes — and instill a healthy respect for police — and a reduction of the bigger crimes may follow.
It's what has happened in Saginaw, where police bust the chops of anyone suspected of any criminal activity, where community watch groups are reinvigorated, and where taxpayers last summer voted to increase their tax for police and fire services.
There, the county jail is about the same size as the Genesee County jail, which serves twice the population. In Saginaw, there's room in the jail for petty criminals. And, unlike in Flint, street life scatters when a cop makes an appearance — the threat of arrest is very real.
That's why the Mayor Walling is proposing to reopen the Flint City Jail.
It's why the City Council should back proposals to pay for jail space, even if it's merely agreeing to ask voters, in the form of a ballot question, what they want.
In the meantime, the Midland jail, just an hour drive north of Flint, presents a good, temporary solution to free up jail space here for petty criminals.
With such a plan in hand, with unanimous support, we wager that federal officials would be disposed lend Flint a hand, with a grant to pay for Midland jail space until the city jail here is open.
Unite now on this jail-space plan, seek grant money temporarily to pay for it, and then show some results by May.
We bet voters would line up gladly to raise their taxes for a proven crime-fighting tool.


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NEW YORK - The sitting room is meticulously appointed, with the last two issues of the New York Review of Books neatly folded on the end table. In the kitchen, not a stray crumb is to be seen.
But Seymour Lipkin's piano room looks like the aftermath of an earthquake. Fallen stacks of scores, no doubt containing a large slice of Western classical music, are still almost as tall as the diminutive pianist. At the top of a pile sits Bach's mighty Well-Tempered Clavier Book II, on which he's working in his 85th year.


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2015 Le Tour de Mont Pleasant
Announcement: Parking for the Time Trial will only be available at the following address - Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 2424 S. Mission, Mt Pleasant MI 48858. The Conference Center behind the hotel on the west side of the building has generously offered to allow racers to park in their parking lot. The Registration/Check In/Information/ and Payouts will all be located here also. Thank you!
time trial: A time trial is a race by individual riders who shoot off of a ramp every 30 seconds to test their skills with high speed velocity riding.
Friday evening (June 12, 2015) will be our kick-off event for Le Tour de Mont Pleasant on Central Michigan University's campus (Race Central located at Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel and Conference Center at 2424 S. Mission, Mt. Pleasant MI 48858. The Start/Finish line will be located next to CME-Mitsuba Corporation at 2945 Three Leaves Dr., Mt. Pleasant) where cyclists of all different categories will be racing against themselves as they sprint for time in the "Time Trial." This course is approximately 1.97 miles long and will allow cyclists to gear up for a weekend full of competitive racing. TIME TRIAL BIKES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED FOR THIS RACE!
"The Chief Referee upon review of the
course for Friday night's prologue time trial, has decided that in
addition to the already communicated "no Time Trial only bikes", to also
restrict bikes to those defined in rule 1M1(g) as "mass start bicycles".
This restricts bicycles in the Friday Time Trial to "...a bicycle that
is legal in all events within the road discipline...rather than a
bicycle that is restricted to particular events. As an example, a
bicycle with handlebars offering forearm support is not a mass start
bicycle." In other words, no clip on bars will be allowed.
Home | Races | Registration | Sponsors | Volunteer | Calendar | Lodging | Gallery | Contact Us
Copyright © 2012 Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, All Rights Reserved.


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Every four years, soccer takes the stage with the World Cup. Every four years, it's said it's only a trend.
Perhaps soccer isn't just a trend, but a sport with a popularity growing on a long-term basis at home.
Jimmy Lackey, president and CEO of Kids. Inc., said it's been growing for a while and the World Cup has helped.
"I think it raises awareness of the sport," Lackey said. "It's one of those sports, in a lot of people's eyes, still new to our culture around here in the Texas Panhandle. It's become very popular. Events like the World Cup bring it to the stage even more.
"I'm 52 years old. We didn't play soccer when I was a kid. That's just part of the mix now. When you have events like this I think it heightens the awareness."
Amarillo High boys soccer coach David Daily has seen growth in the sport over the past 10 years.
"I think it had grown before the World Cup," Daily said. "What you are seeing is a lot of American fans in Brazil because soccer has gotten a lot more popular in the last decade. I think the success the team is having now is why you see people all over the United States cheering for them."
Sports bars in the Amarillo area have seen increased business, with the Buffalo Wild Wings at 9511 Interstate 40 reporting a 15 percent increase in sales from last June.
I Don't Know Bar and Grill hosted a watch party during the U.S. vs. Germany game Thursday. General Manager Micci Cole said he's seen a large increase in business.
"We've had a couple of busy days, a lot busier than normal," Cole said. "We get a lot of people coming out to watch soccer. I wasn't aware there was that big of a presence in Amarillo. That's been pleasantly surprising. I didn't realize that there were that many people excited about soccer. It's more of when the U.S. plays. We have had a significant amount of people out to watch the other games, but when the U.S. plays they come in force."
Brad Massie, 29, was in attendance at I Don't Know, and said he thinks soccer is surging.
"I think the sport is just growing," Massie said. "I grew up playing soccer. I've always loved the sport. I think as time goes on it's becoming more and more popular, especially now that there are more games being shown in the U.S."
Cole sees the World Cup as a chance for people to get together and show their support for the United States.
"I think it gives the younger generation more of a reason to be patriotic," Cole said. "They get into the festive side of it. It brings people together. There is patriotism you wouldn't normally see in people that are in their 20s and early 30s that you see when the World Cup rolls around."
Massie said he enjoys the atmosphere when watching a game.
"I think it's great," he said. "I hope we can get a good support group here in Amarillo beyond the World Cup. I think it's great that we have a lot of people here and involved in cheering on the U.S. I think it was the same way when it happened in 2010 in South Africa. There were a lot of people out watching the games then and even more so now."
Daily said the number of kids playing soccer hasn't increased at the high school level, but the skill level has.
"You've got a lot of kids playing," Daily said. "I think what you're seeing is the level of play is a lot better than it was. I think that has to do with the league getting better, the national team getting better, people are enjoying the game more. It's on ESPN. It's a sport you can go play and get a little more recognition than maybe you used to."


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Angel Sally
Active within 2802 Days
Hi! My name is Angel Sally
I am Domestic Mediumhair from Citrus Heights, CA
Nicknames: Sally Sue
Age: 8 years old
Gender: F
Coat: long haired
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What I love about my owners: They showed me what it feels to be loved.
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We adopted Sally around Halloween 2008 from an established local shelter. She was about 8-9 weeks old and had all her required shots from the shelter. I fell in love with her immediately and she gave me so much happiness. Sally was with us for 2 months until 12/21/08 when our beloved kitty had caught a bad pneumonia and at that time we discovered she also had other issues with her lungs. The hospital said her diagnosis for a successful recovery was not positive and her little body would not handle treatment well. In despair we had to bring her soul to kitty heaven where she can spend the rest of her loving life playing with friends. This happened in a matter of a few days and I am so heartbroken. You are forever in our heart. In loving memory sweetie.
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My co-editor Sola Owonibi, of Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, Nigeria, and I, Beth Virtanen, at the University of Puerto Rico, have received confirmation of interest from our publisher Ramsden Publications of Ibadan, Ngeria, for our proposed book. We are inviting contributions to a book on collected essays on the work of the Nigerian-born poet Tayo Olafioye who has spent the last twenty years writing and working in the United States. This collection of essays commemorates his many successful years as poet, world citizen, social critic, learned scholar, and beloved teacher. We are soliciting manuscripts on any aspects of the work of Tayo Olafioye. This project commemorates his commitment to the improvement of society, one individual at a time, through his thoughtful interaction with colleagues and competitors, friends and friendly adversaries, students and aspiring literati.
Nigerian-born writer Tayo Pete Olafioye is a Professor of English at National University and Southwestern College in San Diego, California. He has won the Golden Poet Award in San Francisco and the National Library Award of America.
His books include the following:
Suggested topics include but certainly not limited to the following:
Please submit complete manuscripts as attachments in Microsoft Word to the e-mail address given below by January 15, 2005.


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Wow. You're showing some real courage coming here and laying it all out like that, to complete strangers too!
First and foremost, welcome to Primal. You've already begun your journey by deciding to make the change and by admitting you got a problem. A lot of people don't get that far, so give yourself a pat on the back.
The Primal journey you're about to embark on, if you stick with it (and I sincerely hope you do) is gonna be a lifechanger, no doubt. All the things you thought were right and wrong, all those preconceptions the world has drilled into your head, they're gonna change and your view of things will as well.
If you need advice, or suggestions, or have any question or anything like that, feel free to ask the good folks here or myself. We're a happy, (mostly) helpful Primal community.
EDIT: Oh, and I'm following! Forgot to add that.


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The Rare Book Collection exists to acquire, arrange, describe, preserve, and make available books of enduring value, both for intellectual content and as historical artifacts, to support the research needs of scholars at Dumbarton Oaks and beyond. It is the repository for Dumbarton Oaks' holdings of rare books, both antiquarian and modern.
The Collection maintains these research materials because they are best managed separately from the general collections given their subject area, rare or unique qualities, source, physical condition, or form. It has the responsibility to protect materials in its care from damage due to misuse, climatic conditions, pests or other agents of destruction, and from problems inherent in the volumes themselves. There is an active program of preservation and conservation. Additionally, it is engaged in the digitization of selected holdings to increase use and enhance access.
The Rare Book Collection was begun by Mildred Bliss and reflects the areas of specialized research conducted at Dumbarton Oaks. The holdings comprise rare and unique materials acquired by Mrs. Bliss and subsequently by directors of studies and librarians. The collecting interests and the extent of collecting activity fluctuate over time as the studies programs develop and change. An example of this is the field of Chinese gardens where acquisitions have increased in the 21st century. To the extent possible, collecting efforts anticipate future research needs and evolution of the fields.
The Rare Book Collection holds manuscripts, rare books, prints, drawings, ephemeral print materials, photographic collections. Areas of strength include all aspects of the history of gardens, from theory and practice of design to garden views and plant material; floras; herbals; botanical illustration. The holdings related to Byzantine Studies include facsimiles of Byzantine manuscripts, illustrated studies of Byzantine art and architecture, early travelers' accounts, liturgical books, and early printed books that contain editio princeps or historically important studies of Byzantine texts. The rare materials supporting Pre-Columbian Studies cover the art and archaeology of the pre-contact peoples of Mesoamerica, lower Central America, and Andean South America. Some highlights are the archaeological accounts of the 19th and early 20th centuries; grammars, vocabularies, confessionals, and liturgies used by the Spanish priests in the early colonial period in the Americas; and facsimiles of Mesoamerican codices.
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new to computing
just too say thank you,new to this computing,bought a second hand computer from a shop in east street in hereford,what a peice of junk,£160,i payed for it,if you are from hereford dont buy from this shop,no guts in it,(sound card, drivers) i should have asked on here for advice first,just joined,am in the process of building another computer,a sever,would like some help on how to buy the all things i need,is their a site that i can buy second hand and new components from?great site should have been born a few years ago.great site,wish i knew about before,trying to find my way around here,not sure if i have this right,threads and jargon like that,(should i go back too school?)wish everyone on here the very best wishes,keep up the great works,thanks again.tinnytim.
Re: new to computing
Welcome to the forum BTW
Re: new to computing
Commit the 1st mistake, correct it and never repeat it.
No harm doing the 2nd mistake, to be corrected and never to repeat same.
|All times are GMT +5.5. The time now is 12:46.


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ClearView Phoenix 8 Channel NVR Kit - 1TB HDD, 8 x Cameras, H.264 and MPEG, Audio, 2 x USB Ports, 8 x Ethernet Cables, Remote Viewing - PHOENIXVIEW08-08Item#: ICV-102122722 | Model#: PHOENIXVIEW08-08
Currently Out Of Stock!
ClearView Phoenix 8 Channel NVR Kit Product Details
Powered by IC Realtime®
The ClearView Brand of Surveillance Systems are a subsidiary brand of IC Realtime, a global leader in the design and manufacture of commercial grade quality advanced visual surveillance solutions and ranked #1 in CEPro 100 Brand Analysis in 2013. IC Realtime designs, manufactures and supports high quality and accessible product for installers, dealers and end users. ClearView offers highly qualified tech support for ease of mind, installation and maintenance.
ClearView Phoenix 8 Channel NVR Kit
Secure your house or office using the ClearView Phoenix 8 Channel NVR Kit. This IP surveillance system includes eight 720p Resolution cameras (4 Domes/4 Bullets). Plus, the system is equipped with 1TB HDD to provide enough space for images and footages. Get sound sleep at night with this system's Night Vision feature that never fails to guard your premises, even in total darkness up 65ft IR range with smart IR Bullet camera. You can directly connect to an external viewing device or store the feed using the 2 USB ports. Some of the additional features are email alerts, H.264/MJPEG dual codec decoding, ONVIF Version 2.0 conformance, and more. Choose the ClearView Phoenix 8 Channel NVR Kit for a complete IP security solution.
What It Is And Why You Need It:
- Pre-installed 1TB HDD; stores video recordings
- 720p Resolution; makes every detail more vivid, and every color more brilliant
- 8-channel Network Video Recorder; captures video in real-time
- Remote monitoring; access anywhere on your smartphone, tablet and MAC/PC
- H.264 Compression Technology; maximizes the system's storage capacity
- Night Vision Bullet Camera; lets you to see in the darkness, up to 65 feet away
Manufactured by: IC Realtime
Warranty provided by: IC Realtime
UPC No: 617401207978
Mfg Part No: PHOENIXVIEW08-08
Box Size:
( Length:15, Width:21, Depth:13)
Shipping Weight: 32.1500 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- IC Realtime logos are registered trademarks of IC Realtime. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


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The Pros and Cons of Being StreakyJohn Cave Osborne
If I'm being totally honest with myself, then I'd have no choice but to admit the following: I'm a little streaky. Like hot-and-cold streaky. As in I'll come out of nowhere and go over-the-top on you in an instant's notice.
Example: single dude, no kids. BOOM. Father of four just 13 months later.
Another confession streaky has two sides, so once I get on one side, I can quickly go back to the other. NO. This does not mean that I'm about to bail on my wife and kids. But it does mean that I'm not afraid to bail on other things as quickly as I got on em.
And this side to being streaky has, upon occasion, served me quite well as perhaps best evidenced by my abrupt departure from my Duran-Duran-influenced, parachute-pants-and-Member's-Only phase. (Oh, darn, I can't find any pictures to show you. What a shame.)
But such rapid departures have served me not-so-well, too, particularly when it comes to little things like, say, diet. In fact, my diet's always been kinda train-wrecky. Not in a bad way, but I've been known to go on "healthy eating kicks" then go on a five-day cheese, carb and chocolate bender. That's one reason why despite exercising regularly for the entire year of 2011, I failed to lose much weight. The biggest thing that fails me when I jump off of the healthy train is that it's sometimes hard to find quick, easy and economical choices to keep me on that train. And don't even get me started on delicious, because if you've found something that's healthy, quick, easy and economical, it's almost never delicious.
But here's the kicker even if I do find something that fits all of those criteria, something that's healthy, quick, easy, inexpensive and delicious, I'm still not afraid to bail on that food item for a while, because, well, I'm me and I'm super streaky.
And sometimes, too, the "newness" of something wears off and it's not as good as it once was. Does that make sense to you?
Well it does to me, as it's happened to me on any number of healthy options. Smoothies come to mind. So do salads.
But, as I blogged a while back now, I've been on this moderate diet for a couple of months now, and the results have been fantastic. And one reason why I've had such success with it is because I've been able to find quick, easy, inexpensive and delicious foods that fit within that diet. And one of those solutions has been the Berry Almond Chicken salad from Wendy's.
It's funny. I was eating dinner with my brother and his wife the other night and my sister-in-law said Have you actually tried that salad from Wendy's?
And I was like, Yeah, I totally have. I thought you'd read one of my posts about it.
I have she said, but I wasn't sure if you'd really tried it and if not, I just wanted to tell you how good I thought it was.
So two things: first, if I didn't like the Almond Berry Chicken salad, I'd never repeatedly tout how great I thought it was. I like it because I like it. Period.
But, also, my sister-in-law is right on the money with her assessment. The Almond Berry Chicken Salad is delicious. And what's more, I've been on it for weeks now with no bailout in sight. And now that I've had several of these bad boys, I've finally figured out why I like them so much. It comes down to two things.
The fresh fruit and the roasted almonds. Don't get me wrong, I like the rest the chicken is just fine and the dressing is really, really good, but, in my opinion, you can get good chicken and good dressing with any number of salads. But find me one with that, fresh strawberries and blueberries and thin, roasted almonds that send it off with a crunch?
Well, then you've found one I like. And one that fits all the requirements I'm asking of my food right now. And one that has managed to hold my attention, which is no small feat.
Because I'm kinda streaky, y'all.
A big thanks to Wendy's for sponsoring this campaign. Click here to see more of the discussion.


text: Boob Barker -- Come on Down!!!!!!!!! 1 4/16/2009 12:45 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF There used to be a pricing game on "The Price Is Right" called "Pick-a-Pair" -- and yesterday at a book signing in Hollywood, Bob Barker proved he can still play. See Also Amber Alert Issued for Bob Barker Pick-a-Pair -- The Game


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You may feel like making impetuous decisions today. It could seem that nothing you do can go wrong, and this might leave you feeling confident in a reckless sort of way. While acting on impulse can be beneficial, today you may want to work on weighing your decisions more carefully. If you do need to make a decision during the day, you might want to give yourself time to pause and assess the options available to you. You can consider making a list of the positive and negative repercussions of your choices and how they will affect you. By trying to remain logical you should be able to act with reason and foresight, which could help you make more levelheaded choices as a result.
When we make decisions based on good judgment, our choices can lead us to more positive outcomes. There are times when it seems easy to act rashly and impulsively. Such choices usually mean that while we may seem confident in our choices, we actually are acting because of a need to receive immediate gratification. By thinking more carefully about our decisions, we are in reality acting with the greatest amount of confidence. We understand that our choices come from a place of reason and that by following the best course of action—no matter how difficult that may be—we not only follow our inner guidance but also trust its wisdom. Think carefully about your choices today, and you will make decisions for the future that are based on good judgment.
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September 9, 2013
Gov. Cuomo Announces Significant Progress on Winthrop-University Hospital's Research and Academic Center
Source: Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Center Will Provide State of the Art Medical Care, Create Jobs and Spur Growth in the Region
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced Winthrop-University Hospital has made significant progress in the construction of its $80 million, 95,000 square foot Research and Academic Center in Mineola. Hospital officials gathered with State and local leaders for a Topping Out ceremony to commemorate the placement of the final structural beam, a major milestone in the completion of the new center. The facility will further Winthrop's mission as a major academic medical facility striving to provide first class, state-of-the-art medical care to Long Island, and also create 45 jobs while helping spur future economic growth in the region.
"Winthrop-University Hospital's new Research and Academic Center is the latest example of how public-private partnerships are helping to build the New, New York," said Governor Cuomo. "Since breaking ground last year, and with the assistance of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, the Research Center has infused $80 million into the Mineola economy, spurring new jobs and attracting new business to the community. This new center will help ensure the future health and well-being of Long Islanders, and the economic vitality of the region."
The new Research and Academic Center will focus on the research of diabetes, obesity and the cardiometabolic complications that arise from those conditions, as well as other pressing national and local health issues, including reducing premature births and treating conditions related to aging, such as Alzheimer''s disease and arthritis. The facility will house classrooms for the 80 medical students who live and study on the Winthrop campus, as part of its role as a Clinical campus of the Stony Brook School of Medicine. Space will be devoted to classrooms for students, medical training facilities, and a simulation lab which utilizes lifelike robotic mannequins to aid in the training of clinicians. It will also include a 350-seat amphitheater that will function as both a lecture hall for students and a venue for larger community education events sponsored by the hospital.
"The Research and Academic Center will become an epicenter of wellness care, research and medical study for Nassau County and the region as Winthrop takes on the tough job of confronting how personal habits, nutrition, and the destructive forces of obesity are threatening our future and driving up the costs of healthcare," said John Collins, President and CEO of Winthrop.
Winthrop-University Hospital''s Research and Academic Center was awarded $1 million through Governor Cuomo's Long Island Regional Economic Development Council (LIREDC) in 2012 and the project strongly aligns with the Council's strategies to develop innovation and industry clusters in transformative locations across the region – including downtowns, brownfields and university, research and medical centers. The investment by Winthrop and by New York State underscores the growing importance of healthcare as a driver of jobs and technological advancement.
"New York's educational institutions and health care centers, like Winthrop University Hospital, are crucial economic drivers. This project is a first-class job creator that will help support healthy communities and a healthy economy on Long Island," said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. "Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, we are seeing innovative public-private partnerships spur economic growth while building a strong foundation for our economic future."
"It's a great day for Mineola and for Winthrop-University Hospital," said Senator Jack Martins. "At a time when diabetes and obesity are reaching epidemic proportions, this new state-of-the-art research facility will help lead the battle against them while training the next generation of physicians. Thanks to Winthrop for this great facility and the hundreds of construction and post construction research jobs it brings to our community."
"Winthrop University Hospital has long provided top-notch medical care for Long Island families and the new Research and Academic Center will only help to boost what is already a first-class facility and staff," said Assemblyman Ed Ra. "Not only will this center enhance medical care for our residents, but it will place a premium on the innovation and vitality that helps to grow our economy and build stronger communities. I'm pleased by the progress made on this center, look forward to it becoming a bastion of growth and well-being on Long Island and would like to thank both Gov. Cuomo and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council for their help in making this possible."
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano said, "Winthrop-University Hospital continues to excel in the healthcare industry. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for Winthrop as this expansion will lead to new medical breakthroughs. In addition, this new center will lead to the creation of new jobs and economic growth for our great county."
Winthrop's new Research and Academic Center is already proving an economic engine in Mineola: a nearby, new high-end apartment building has replaced vacant law offices; a technology incubation company has opened its doors to new high tech pioneers; and new shops and restaurants are locating along Mineola Boulevard to accommodate the new growth and activity that the Research Institute is generating.
"This project brings to fruition key strategies of our collaborative, regional economic development plan as Winthrop-University Hospital's Research and Academic Center will bring new jobs to Long Island and play a critical role in the region's health care sector," said LIREDC Co-chairs Kevin Law, President, Long Island Association and Stuart Rabinowitz, President, Hofstra University. "Today's 'Topping Out' milestone is a great step forward for a leading Long Island health care institution that has a direct impact on its surrounding community and the regional economy. The Long Island Regional Council is proud to support this expansion, which will have a positive impact on local economic development and the health of the communities served."
Founded in 1896 by a group of local physicians and concerned citizens, Long Island's first voluntary hospital is a major regional healthcare resource with a deep commitment to medical education and research, offering a full complement of inpatient and outpatient services. Winthrop successfully blends the progressive philosophy, sophistication and advances of a teaching and research institution with a very personal approach to patient care – an approach that has become the cornerstone of the organization. The Hospital's long-standing academic mission was strengthened in 2011 when Winthrop became a Clinical Campus of the Stony Brook University School of Medicine, educating 80 third and fourth-year medical students each year, making Winthrop the only Long Island hospital training students under this model.


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on December 5, 2012 - 9:38 PM
LOCKPORT – The Town Board delayed action Wednesday on a proposal to permit expansion of Lafarge North America's current stone quarry along Hinman Road, in the face of uniform opposition from a large crowd of residents.
About 75 people attended the public hearing on a proposal to create a section of the town zoning ordinance that would allow Lafarge to move the border of its existing stone pit 162 feet closer to the north side of Hinman Road.
The quarry now ends 300 feet from the road. The strip of mining that would be allowed by the expansion of the current pit would be about 4,000 feet long.
The expansion would keep Lafarge's current south pit operating for another year and a half to two years, area manager Perry Galdenzi said.
"The aggregate we're mining there is deteriorating, and no longer meeting the [Department of Transportation] requirements for ready-mix and asphalt," he said. "If we can't provide DOT products, we're basically not in business."
He said that would throw 46 people out of work and increase everyone else's taxes.
"We have to decide if this particular change is going to be a big change to everybody's quality of life," Town Supervisor Marc R. Smith said. He didn't give the audience a date to expect a vote.
The speakers, residents of Murphy and Hinman roads, said the blasting, truck traffic, asphalt fumes and scattered stones already imperil their quality of life.
"My house shakes, and I'm a mile and a half away," said James Mulrenin, who lives at Hinman Road and Campbell Boulevard. "The values of our homes are going to go down. We all know this. All this should not happen."
They also warned about Lafarge's long-term expansion plans, made apparent by the company's acquisition of properties on both sides of Hinman Road.
"It does not a take a genius to figure out what the plans are for the future," said Claudette Lemieux of Murphy Road.
Galdenzi didn't deny that Lafarge has plans to open up new quarry pits. He said those would require plenty of review and red tape by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, but the strip the company is asking for now is within the boundaries of its current DEC mining permit.
"We sit on the patio, and all we hear is the crusher going all night," said Pete Frawley of Murphy Road.
He said everyone in the neighborhood knows that the daily blast at 10:58 a.m. may knock things off the walls.
Many speakers complained about cracks in walls, ceilings, foundations and driveways that they blame on the blasting.
Lafarge attorney Kevin Brown said the blasting is monitored in accordance with government regulations. He said, "If we do expand [beyond the current pit], there will be pre-blast surveys."
As for current damages, Brown said. "If it's reasonably caused by the blasting, the company will always make it right."
Smith said he's been dealing with one resident who's been complaining about blast damage for years, but the results of a geological survey were inconclusive and he received no compensation.
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Maitland, a two-man band, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at Barrell 135, 135 W. Third St. Comprised of lead vocalist and guitarist, Josh Hines, and drummer and vocalist, Jeff Mach, Maitland is described by its members as, "mellow and soothing but also inspiring and energetic."
Hines said he and Mach met at the Uptown Music Collective.
"Prior to that, we had both performed in church, high school and other events," he said.
Article Photos
Maitland, a two-man band, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug 4 at Barrell 135, 135 W. Third St. The band includes vocalist and guitarist Josh Hines and drummer Jeff Mach. For more information on Maitland, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com /maitlandmusic1.
Hines also plays in the band Treehouse.
Hines said some of Maitland's inspirations are Jeff Buckley, Bon Iver, Sigur Ros, and several other artists. For Hines, the mood to write and create varies.
"A lot of different things can inspire me," he said. "It all depends on the day and the circumstances. Also, I don't normally write when I'm in one certain mood. Sometimes I'm excited, other times I'm depressed."
The band takes great interest in nature as well.
"Whether it be hiking, camping or random walks in the forest, we really like spending time with nature," Hines said.
Although Maitland isn't signed to a label, they plan on making a living out of music. They have had multiple performances locally, including at Liberty Fest, which took place in June.
"Liberty Fest was a great experience," Hines said. "The festival itself was a great success; the bands were great and the audience was energetic. We are really looking forward to the next festival."
The band also traveled to New York City to perform and found themselves performing in the subways.
"At first it was difficult because it was so foreign to us," Hines said. "We had to adapt our sound to the space and play according to the train schedules. Once we got in the rhythm of things, it became a lot easier and a lot of people showed their gratitude. It's definitely not the most glorious stage, but you get to meet a lot of people and really see what they think about your music."
For more information on Maitland, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/maitlandmusic1.
Upcoming shows
for Maitland
Aug. 3 - First Friday downtown with Treehouse.
Aug. 4 - Barrel 135.
Aug. 7 - Summer Music Fest, Brandon Park Bandshell.
Aug. 9 - The Delancey, New York, N.Y.
Aug. 11 - Brookline BreezeFest, Pittsburgh, with Treehouse.
Sept. 1 - Apollo Concert Kick-Off, State College.
Sept. 28 - Chaplin's Music Cafe, Spring City.


text:
Panels now forming on topics related to all areas of myth and fairy tale and their connections to popular culture.
Special Areas of Interest Include:
Fairy Tale and Myth in Film, Revisionist Myth and Fairy Tale, The Works of Angela Carter, Margaret Atwood and Fairytale, Fairy Tale in Contemporary Poetry, Myth in Contemporary Poetry, Fairy Tale and the Contemporary Novel, Myth and the Contemporary Novel, Fairy Tale in the music of Tori Amos, Disney, Barbie and The Fairy Tale, Joseph Campbell, Vladimir Propp, Feminists and The Fairy Tale
Scholars, teachers, professionals, and others interested in Myth And Fairy Tales are encouraged to participate. Graduate students are also particularly welcome.
If you wish to form your own Myth or Fairy Tale-focused panel, I would be glad to facilitate your needs. Also, if your work does not focus on Myth or Fairy Tale but fits within the broad range of areas designated for the upcoming conference on American & Popular culture, I still encourage you to participate. Please pass along this call to friends and colleagues.
Send 100-200 word abstracts and proposals for panels by 1December 2007:
Melissa Morphew
Associate Professor of English
Box 2146
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2146
Phone # 936-294-1944
General information and online registration (updated regularly)


text:
Storm Chaser and Tank Blow Into Town
As one of the stars of "Storm Chasers" on the Discovery Channel, normally the IMAX filmmaker Sean Casey drives a TIV, or Tornado Intercept Vehicle, around the Midwestern middle of nowhere chasing storms. But this week, with alternate side of the street parking in full effect, Mr. Casey's eight-ton, tank-like, souped-up Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck has been parked like a regular commuter car on the Upper West Side, "wherever we can find a spot," he said. (It doesn't quite clear a city garage.)
And it's pretty secure no matter where it sits, especially on the mean streets in the vicinity of everyone's favorite brunch spot, Sarabeth's. With its unconventional locks, "you'd have to take a blowtorch to get inside," Mr. Casey said.
His latest film, "Tornado Alley," has been touring IMAX screens around the country, and starting Monday it will have regular showings at the Museum of Natural History.
So Mr. Casey, who is based on the West Coast and has been on the road for the past three months, drove to the Big Apple in his TIV 2 to promote his film and he offered a reporter a ride around Manhattan. What's scarier anyway: severe inclement weather or taxi drivers with Bluetooth headsets? The eye of a storm or a St. John-clad matron on Madison Avenue with a heavy Birkin bag? The possibility of being swept away by a cumulonimbus cloud or non-English-speaking tourists drinking frozen lemonade and carrying digital cameras in pedicabs in Central Park?
A horde of young museum visitors swarmed the TIV 2 as it pulled onto 81st Street. Like a trucker, Mr. Casey reached up and pulled his air horn as a way of saying "hey." "People really appreciate the air horn," he said. "It's probably one of my favorite parts of the car."
This is high praise, considering the TIV 2 has spikes, a photo of some prairie dogs, hydraulic panels, lifts, a swiveling jump seat, an anemometer that measures wind speed, a license plate reading "Do Not Follow During Adverse Weather" and a 92-pound IMAX camera in the back.
"What is that?" a taxi driver asked, reaching his head out of the front seat, of the TIV 2.
"It's for going into tornadoes," Mr. Casey said, pulling into Central Park, as a few yellow cabs gave him the right of way. "The cab drivers here have actually been very nice."
The day before, he had taken the TIV 2 out to visit the production company that makes his television show. It involved a ride down Park Avenue and up Sixth. "It was surreal to be next to so many people, it was like a circus," he said. "We thought the bearded lady was going to pop out from somewhere."
As the tank veered down Fifth Avenue, Mr. Casey said he started storm chasing a little over a decade ago. He had been in Christmas Island for 2½ months working on an IMAX film called "Amazing Journeys" and he checked a book about storms out from the library. "It sounded really appealing as opposed to being stuck on this island," he said.
So he found a meteorologist who would let him follow in his Nissan Pathfinder. "In Los Angeles, you don't get super storms. You get drizzle to heavy rain. But to see these powerful storms, it was transporting. … It was love at first sight."
It helped that Mr. Casey had an IMAX camera, which his father had purchased at auction many years before. (They are normally quite expensive to rent.) "There's no way I could have done this film otherwise," he said, as a man on a bright green motorcycle gave him the thumbs up.
It also helped to have the TIV, which has a 92-gallon tank, gets 10 miles per gallon and runs on diesel fuel.
"There's only so close you can get to a tornado in a rented minivan from Enterprise," Mr. Casey explained, as he passed FAO Schwarz and the Apple store on his left. "I wanted something we could use to stand our ground in, something truly awe-inspiring to do justice to what we were seeing. No one wanted to fund a suicide mission, so I had to weld and build the vehicles myself."
"When you see a lion kill a zebra, it's pretty much the same every time," Mr. Casey continued. "Tornadoes can look so different. They always surprise you."
They also still exhilarate him: "Of course you get scared. Every time you get a tornado in front of you."
Today, in front of him, there were just little kids and their nannies. Below 57th Street, near Bendel's, a man dressed nattily in a suit and carrying a bunch of fashion magazines called out to Mr. Casey. "Excuse me, what is this?" the man said.
"It's to go into a tornado," Mr. Casey replied.
"Why? Is there a tornado coming to New York? Because I have to go back to France if there is."
Mr. Casey assured him there was no danger of major inclement weather. This wouldn't be the first time on our journey he would have to do this.
Turning up Sixth Avenue, Mr. Casey said he spends about 70 days a year chasing tornadoes. "You'll get 15 viable days and three really good, high-risk chase days." A tornado going at 60 miles per hour is too fast to chase; tornadoes at 25 miles per hour are easier to capture on film. "That's fish in a barrel."
As Mr. Casey maneuvered the large vehicle through traffic, he said he wouldn't mind having an altercation with another driver: "It would be cool to have a taxi sideswipe us and be at this intersection and have an argument." Of course that didn't happen, and instead he made his way to Madison.
"What's this, for a Batman movie?" a pedicab driver called out.
Wherever Mr. Casey drove, people craned their necks to take footage on their iPhones. He described traveling by TIV as something akin to the "vandals invading Rome," while at the same time feeling like a "monkey in the zoo." Still he found the prospects calming, especially on the Upper East Side, where the ladies who lunch barely noticed this huge tank infiltrating its area.
"Looks like you're going to war," a woman by the gelato stand near the Carlyle Hotel said.
"Should I start doing tours?" Mr. Casey asked. "Twenty bucks a ride?"
Write to Marshall Heyman at email@example.com


text:
Top Ten Charm City Cakes Posing as Other Foods
Most Popular
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1. The classic BLT Sandwich Cake
Most Popular
2. French Fries Cake
3. Hamburger Cake
4. A Hotdog Cake to go with that burger
5. Some sides for your meal
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
6. Sushi Roll Cake
Most Popular
7. Bacon and Beer Cake--does it get any better than this?
8. I Scream, You Scream for this cake!!
9. That's the biggest and best looking Oreo I've ever seen
10. Some M&M's just for a snack
All images credited to 2008 Charm City Cake
Read Next:


text:
Author Affiliations: Departments of Family Medicine (Dr King) and Epidemiology (Dr Shankar), West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown; and Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Drs Matheson and Ms Chirina). Mr Broman-Fulks is a medical student at Medical University of South Carolina.
From 1946 through 1964, 78 million children ("baby boomers") were born in the United States. In 2010, baby boomers made up 26.1% of the US population.1 Medicine has improved significantly during baby boomers' lifetimes. Although these advantages have led to a progressively increasing life expectancy,2 previous studies have shown mixed results regarding whether baby boomers are healthier than prior generations.3,4 The present study examined the health status of aging baby boomers relative to the previous generation to provide a vitally important context for health workforce and policy planning in the coming years.
We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including NHANES III (1988-1994) (for previous generation) and the NHANES for 2007 to 2010 (for baby boomers), focusing on respondents who were aged 46 to 64 years during either period. The 2 cohorts were compared with regard to health status, functional and work disability, healthy lifestyle characteristics, and presence of chronic disease. Further details of the methods can be found in the eAppendix.
The demographic characteristics of the cohorts were very similar except for the proportions in each racial/ethnic group, with greater proportions of non-Hispanic blacks (11.3% vs 9.4%) and Hispanics (9.8% vs 3.7%) in the 2007-2010 group compared with the 1988-1994 group (P < .001). The mean (SD) ages were 54.1 (0.03) years in the 2007-2010 group and 54.5 (0.03) years in the 1988-1994 group; there was no difference in sex between the 2 cohorts (49.1% male [2007-2010 group] vs 47.5% male [1988-1994 group]). Overall health status was lower in baby boomers, with 13.2% reporting "excellent" health compared with 32% of individuals in the previous generation (P < .001). Of the sampled baby boomers, compared with the previous generation, 6.9% vs 3.3% used a walking assist device (P < .001), 13.8% vs 10.1% were limited in work (P = .003), and 13.5% vs 8.8% had a functional limitation (P < .001).
With regard to healthy lifestyle factors, obesity was more common among baby boomers (38.7% obese vs 29.4% [previous generation]; P < .001) (Figure), and regular exercise was significantly less frequent (35.0% vs 49.9% exercise >12 times per month; P < .001); more than half of baby boomers reported no regular physical activity (52.2% vs 17.4%; P < .001). Moderate drinking was higher in the baby boomer cohort compared with the previous generation (67.3% vs 37.2%; P < .001). There were fewer current smokers in the baby boomer cohort than in the previous generation (21.3% vs 27.6%; P < .001).
Figure. Proportion of each cohort (baby boomers and previous generation at age 46-64 years) with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, or obesity in the 1988-1994 and 2007-2010 NHANES. The difference between cohorts was statistically significant for prevalence of hypertension (P < .001), hypercholesterolemia (P < .001), diabetes (P = .003), and obesity (P < .001). Obesity is defined as the proportion of individuals who exceeded a body mass index of 30 (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). NHANES indicates National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The percentage of individuals with hypertension (Figure) was more common among baby boomers than among individuals from the previous generation (43.0% vs 36.4%; P < .001), as was the percentage of individuals who take medication for hypertension (35.4% vs 23.2%; P < .001). Among baby boomers, hypercholesterolemia was more common (73.5% vs 33.8%; P < .001[Figure]),and medication use for hypercholesterolemia was more than 10 times greater (25.9% vs 1.5%; P < .001). Baby boomers were also more likely to have diabetes (15.5% vs 12.0%; P = .003 [Figure]) and take medication for diabetes (11.3% vs 6.2%; P < .001). The slight trend toward higher prevalence of cancer in baby boomers vs the previous generation was not significant (10.6% vs 9.5%; P = .25). The frequency of emphysema decreased in the baby boomer generation (2.3%) relative to the previous generation (3.5%) (P = .03). Baby boomers were also less likely to have had a myocardial infarction (3.6%) compared with the previous generation (5.3%) (P = .004).
A logistic regression was conducted to control for changes in demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status) of the population between 1988-1994 and 2007-2010. The results indicated, after adjustment, that baby boomers remained more likely than the previous generation to have diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.16-1.83); hypertension (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.14-1.67); and hypercholesterolemia (OR, 5.94; 95% CI, 4.94-7.14).
Despite their longer life expectancy over previous generations, US baby boomers have higher rates of chronic disease, more disability, and lower self-rated health than members of the previous generation at the same age. On a positive note, baby boomers are less likely to smoke cigarettes and experience lower rates of emphysema and myocardial infarction than the previous generation.
The findings from the present study documenting poorer health status and increased rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia support an increased likelihood for continued rising health care costs and a need for increased numbers of health professionals as baby boomers age.5,6 Given the link between positive healthy lifestyles and subsequent health in this age group,7 the present study demonstrates a clear need for policies that expand efforts at prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion in the baby boomer generation.
Correspondence: Dr King, Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, 1 Medical Center Dr, PO Box 9152, Morgantown, WV 26506 (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Published Online: February 4, 2013. doi:10.1001 /jamainternmed.2013.2006
Author Contributions:Study concept and design: King and Chirina. Analysis and interpretation of data: King, Matheson, Chirina, Shankar, and Broman-Fulks. Drafting of the manuscript: King, Matheson, Chirina, and Broman-Fulks. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Chirina and Shankar. Statistical analysis: Chirina. Study supervision: King and Matheson.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Funding/Support: This study was supported in part by grants 1R01ES021825-01 and 5R03ES018888-02 from the National Institutes of Health.
Additional Contributions: Alexander Brown, MA, assisted in the preparation of the manuscript.
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This is an interesting and thought provoking paper, and the overall message of more prevention for the health of the baby boomers generation is welcomed. Nevertheless, while the authors control for several demographic factors, they forgot to control for the most relevant factor, namely survivorship.
With every new generation, the proportion of people surviving longer increases. People who earlier would have died by diseases, which can now be treated more effectively, are surviving to reach higher ages. This means that the baby boomer generation is more heterogeneous in terms of health, because more frail persons have survived until now. This is different from previous cohorts, where higher mortality levels executed a selection to old age process.
Given the rich historical data on mortality available, for instance in the Human Mortality Database, the exact survivorship of cohorts can be calculated. These data show that the survival of the generation of baby boomers up to the age of the NHANES surveys is 5% higher than that of previous cohorts, e.g. those born in the 30s. This increased survival observed in the baby boomer generation implies that people with a higher level of frailty, who likely would have died if mortality had not reduced, are now alive. The increased survivorship of the baby boomer generation has an impact on the many weak disparities presented in the paper by King et al., for which they have not accounted. The baby boomers' health is negatively affected by the survival of the more frail population segments. A simple way of examining this would be to exclude the lowest 5% of NHANES' results for health of the population of baby boomers and test if the results still hold. Amazingly the lower smoking prevalence found for the baby boomers, and noted in the paper, will be even more extreme in their favor.
The authors write in their comment "Despite their [baby boomer's] longer life expectancies over previous generations…". However, these are cohorts that are still alive today and it is not possible to calculate life expectancy for the whole life span, but only a "temporary life expectancy from birth to age 50 or 60". To calculate those life expectancies, it is necessary to first have the survival of the cohorts. If the authors had made these steps, they would have faced the result of having to control for the extra survival of the baby boomer generation.
An additional comment is that there seems to be an overlap between the two generations studied: the "previous cohort", those reaching ages 46 to 64 in NHANES III (1988-1994), were born from 1924 to 1948; the baby boomers' years of birth as defined by the authors are 1943 to 1964, or those reaching ages 46 to 64 in NHANES (2007-2010). Those born 1943 to 1948 are present in both cohorts, which seems problematic if not properly defined. I agree with the authors that more prevention is needed to improve the health of baby boomers, and of all Americans!
King DE, Matheson E, Chirina S, Shankar A, Broman-Fulks J. The status of baby boomers' health in the United States: the healthiest generation? JAMA Intern Med.. Published online February 4, 2013. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.2006
eAppendix. Methods
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The Bitterroot Blaze made short work of the Unitah Basin Oilers in the Rocky Mountain Football league's Class AA semi final game in Darby on Saturday night. The Blaze scored early and often and never let up on defense to defeat the Oilers, 33-0. Erik Peterson opened the scoring for the Blaze with a 43-yard field goal. He added another 20-yard field goal later in the first quarter. Shane Jurasek threw three touchdown passes for the Blaze. He hit Adam Scolatti from four yards out and again later in the game from 27 yards out. Jurasek also hit Ceylon Elgin-Tayler on a 10 yard scoring play. Paul Stock rushed for a touchdown.
The Blaze will play the Idaho Matadors in Caldwell, Idaho, for the championship on Saturday. The Matadors defeated the Missoula Phoenix and ended the hope of an all Montana championship.


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Jamie BenningShared publicly -
Lots of Raiding happenings today: I received my storyboards. Lovely items. I've been invited to lunch with Oscar winning set decorator Michael Ford. I've received a story and some photos concerning the Nazi car and I've spent another 2 hours editing in some 'new' material.
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On Saturday afternoon, January 2, 1999, unexpected warm temperatures were reported across the central East Tennessee Valley, evidenced by the Knoxville McGhee-Tyson Airport's high temperature of 590 F. Nearby sites such as Knoxville Downtown Island Airport and the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport, reported highs of 610 F and 600F, respectively (Fig. 1). What made this event unusual was that surrounding sites in East Tennessee reported highs only in the mid 40s (450 F at Chattanooga, 480 F at Oak Ridge, and 460 F) at Tri-Cities), and temperatures were in the lower 30s on the eastern slopes of the southern Appalachians (for example, 310F at Asheville). Other sites in the central East Tennessee Valley recorded high temperatures in the 50s (Athens 540 F, Morristown 520 F), while other sites farther northeast, such as Greeneville and Elizabethton, reported highs of only 450 F and 420 F, respectively. The warmer temperatures evidently occurred in a narrow band downwind of the Smoky Mountains.
The cause of this narrow band of warm temperatures, some 10 to 150F warmer than surrounding sites, was a strong downsloping south-southeast wind off the Smoky Mountains which warmed adiabatically as it descended. This phenomenon is normally observed downwind of mountain ranges, but is typically associated with dramatic temperature rises near large mountain ranges, such as chinook winds near the Rockies and the Santa Ana winds near the mountains of southern California. However, as will be seen in this study, downslope winds can also occur downwind of the Smokies and bring significant (and sometimes unanticipated) temperature rises to localized areas.
Downslope wind phenomena
Downslope winds have been frequently documented near mountain ranges worldwide. According to Houghton (1985), if stably stratified air in the lower troposphere crosses a mountain ridge and is forced above its equilibrium level, it will become negatively buoyant and will accelerate downward toward the valley on the lee of the mountain ridge. Also, the downward flow is enhanced when the surface pressure gradient on the leeward side is directed away from the mountain range. As the air rapidly descends, adiabatic warming is induced by the compression.
Significant temperature contrasts due to downslope winds are rare near the Smoky Mountains, since the Smokies are a relatively small mountain range with peaks around 6500 feet and elevation rises of only 5000 feet above the surrounding landscape (Fig. 2). Previous studies of downsloping winds near the Smoky Mountains (Shumway 1993) discussed rapid temperature rises only on the order of 50 F.
Synoptic conditions on January 2, 1999
Figure 3 shows the surface analysis at 1700 UTC on January 2, 1999, revealing a cold air damming situation associated with a stagnate high pressure system over the Carolinas and northern Georgia. Temperatures remained in the 20s and 30s most of the afternoon on the eastern side of the Appalachians. On the western side of the Appalachians, warmer air in the 40s and 50s was being advected into East Tennessee by strong southerly winds. A strong pressure gradient producing gusty south-southeast winds was created by this contrast in airmasses, as well as the approach of a strong low pressure system located over the mid-Mississippi Valley.
The Regional Atmospheric Measurement and Analytical Network (RAMAN) meteorological tower network, located primarily over central East Tennessee (one site is in western North Carolina), showed the contrast in temperatures between the western slopes and eastern slopes of the Smokies (Fig. 4). By 3 pm EST the Bat Creek Knob tower near Sweetwater, Tennessee and the Sharp's Ridge tower near Knoxville both reported temperatures in the 50s, reflecting the narrow band of warm temperatures generated by the downsloping southeast winds.
Morning soundings from around the southern Appalachian region at 1200 UTC (Fig. 5) revealed a stable airmass with a temperature inversion in the lower levels. A layer of cold, dry air between 900 and 700 mb was located east of the Appalachians, with a relatively warmer and more moist airmass to the west of the Appalachians. The 1200 UTC 850 mb analysis (Fig. 6), which is the best pressure surface to analyze in this case since it is usually found around 5000 feet MSL (roughly the elevation of the Smoky Mountains), revealed a strong southerly inflow around the eastern side of a strong low, while the 500 mb analysis revealed a strong southwest flow aloft.
The 6-hr forecast from the 1200 UTC Eta model run on January 2 (Fig. 7) indicated a strong low-level 850 mb jet from the south-southeast in excess of 60 kt over the southern Appalachian region. In addition, relatively warm 850 mb temperatures of 80 C (460 F) were being advected into the region. Satellite images from January 2, 1999 (Fig. 8) revealed breaks in the clouds due to the warm, dry air sinking into the valley. In general, these images did not show any lee wave activity (lenticular clouds) which sometimes occur downwind of the Smoky mountains when the wind is perpendicular to the mountains. Lee waves are usually formed when a sufficiently strong inversion forms a reflective surface for wave maintenance and propagation.
An unusually warm and narrow band of temperatures observed on January 2, 1999 - some 10 to 150 F above the surrounding area temperatures - were the result of adiabatic warming of stable air as it was dynamically forced downward into the central East Tennessee valley. A strong low pressure system over the mid-Mississippi valley combined with a strong high pressure system over the Carolinas to create a strong pressure gradient which induced south-southeasterly winds, perpendicular to the Smoky Mountains. Also, a strong low-level jet advecting relatively warm air at 850 mb contributed to the magnitude of the warming observed in the valley downwind of the Smokies.
The magnitude of this event was unexpected and had a significant impact on the temperature forecast for the central Tennessee Valley. It also likely had an impact on the rain forecast, as the descending air stabilized the local atmosphere. Forecasters will have a formidable task in predicting the magnitude of these atypical events, but with knowledge of the synoptic conditions necessary for the occurrence of downslope winds, forecasters can reasonably expect to predict the onset of such events.
Houghton, D.D., 1985: Handbook of Applied Meteorology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 50-53.
Shumway, S.M., 1993: A mountain/lee wave situation over the Smoky Mountains and implications to future WFO Knoxville/Tri-Cities. Unpublished local study, 13 pp.


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Celebrity Central / Top 25 Celebs
Denzel Washington
- 1961
It Takes a Village
At 6, Denzel Washington joins the local Boys & Girls Club of America in Mount Vernon, N.Y., a middle-class, primarily African-American suburb of New York City. He later credits the group for keeping him from the dangers of drugs, crime and violence.
- 1969
Broken Family Ties
Washington's beautician mother and Pentecostal preacher father divorce when he's 14. He loses contact with his father until his 20s, and the teenager starts getting into fights and hanging out on the streets. His mother packs him off to boarding school, where Washington shapes up before starting at Fordham University in the fall of 1973. As a camp counselor at a Boys Club camp in 1975, Washington appears in a variety show and falls in love with acting. He later lands roles in Fordham campus productions of Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones and Othello.
- 1977
Starting Out
After graduating from Fordham University with a B.A. in Journalism, Washington enrolls in San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre and spends the summer filming his first onscreen role in the TV movie Wilma. He meets future wife Pauletta Pearson, an actress/singer/pianist, on set. "I thought he was cute, but I fell in love with his spirit," she tells Oprah Winfrey. "And then I thought, 'Hmm, not a bad package.'"
- 1981
From the Stage to the ER
Washington hits the big screen in the comedy Carbon Copy. He gets more attention on stage for his Obie-winning performance in the off-Broadway, Pulitzer Prize-winning A Soldier's Play. In 1982, he's cast as Dr. Philip Chandler on the NBC hospital drama St. Elsewhere.
- 1983
Love and Marriage
Washington marries Pearson. The two are known around Hollywood as a tight-knit duo dedicated to family life, but Washington has since hinted at past marital infidelities. Washington tells PEOPLE in 2006 that despite any mistakes he's made, he is committed to his wife and children. "There's life, and there's making a living," he says. "Family is life."
- 1984
Good Genes
First son John David is born. John David goes on to become a college football star at the traditionally African-American college Morehouse in Atlanta and is signed as a running back by the St. Louis Rams in May 2006.
- 1987
The Revolution Cometh
Washington gets time off from St. Elsewhere to tackle the role of Steven Biko, the South African freedom activist, in Cry Freedom. It is the first in a series of martyrs Washington will play to critical acclaim. He scores his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Addition to the Family
Pearson gives birth to daughter Katia. "There are only four women in the world," Washington says to PEOPLE. "The one you marry, your mother, your daughter and all the rest of them. As long as you keep that perspective, you'll be all right." Katia will later attend Yale.
- 1989
He's Golden
The Civil War epic Glory showcases Washington's talent as Trip, an escaped slave who joins the Union army. He also gets a standing ovation from the Academy when he wins a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. "Whatever that mysterious electrochemical process is that makes the camera love someone, he has more of it than any one person should," director Ed Zwick tells PEOPLE.
- 1990
Teaming with Spike Lee
In the first of four movies he makes with acclaimed director Spike Lee, Washington plays against type as Mo' Better Blues' Bleek Gilliam, a womanizing jazz musician. During a scene in which Washington's character gets into a fight, Lee tells Time he remembers hearing women at a public screening of the movie screaming, "Not the face!"
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): COURTESY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB; GLOBE; Ron Galella/WireImage; NBC/GLOBE; Ron Galella/WIREIMAGE; RON GALELLA; Everett Collection; Ron Galella; RALPH DOMINGUEZ/GLOBE; Everett Collection
- Name
- Denzel Washington
- Date of Birth
- December 28, 1954
- Birth Place
- Mount Vernon, N.Y.
- Relationships
Pauletta Pearson, wife (1977 to present)
- Children
John David Washington, son (7/28/1984)
Katia Washington, daughter (11/27/1987)
Olivia Washington, daughter (4/10/1991)
Malcolm Washington, son (4/10/1991)


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Many of the most successful authors of all time have written under a pseudonym - here are 5 of the best
Welcome to our Book Club. Each Saturday we review our top picks from the latest releases and we want to hear about your favourites too. This is your page, so join the club.
Welcome to our Book Club. Each Saturday we review our top picks from the latest releases and we want to hear about your favourites too. This is your page, so join the club.
As a child I loved… Muppet and Sesame Street books, along with vintage Nancy Drews and Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys. Later, I became obsessed with The Babysitters Club by Ann M Martin.
Two books I read recently are worth recommending.
My favourite book is a thriller called Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie. It's about a girl and a boy who are on the run from an extremist group while trying to find out about their pasts.
After almost 30 years on the Glasgow beat, ex-cop turned comic Harry Morris has a tardis full of anecdotes to share.
In the (auto)biography of the year category, Clare Balding's My Animals and Other Family is up against Patrick Leigh Fermor by Artemis Cooper, Back Story by David Mitchell, Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie, Who I Am by Pete Townshend and Camp David by David Walliams.
In the woods near the Highland village of Milton, Luther Grove stands in the shadows, skinning an animal as he surveys the scene in front of him.
As always, the Ripley's Christmas Annual has all sorts of weird stuff in it, such as a man in China who pulls snakes through his nose and the world's most dangerous jobs (ice-road truckers, sulphur miner, Alaskan crab fishermen and crocodile wrestlers).
Bookworms, prepare to get busy – Book Week Scotland launches on Monday with a packed programme that will last until December 2.
Every now and then a quirky little
gem hits the non-fiction shelves and this month it's this collection of
test paper excerpts labelled, "The Best Funny Exam Answers from
Crimestopper by Bryan McLaughlin
This book is about a girl, Abby, who tries to escape the problems of her past by moving away to university.
Competitions, videos and events all about books!
Scottish Daily Record


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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Clashing over the economy, President Obama challenged Mitt Romney to join him in allowing tax increases for affluent Americans, needling his Republican rival Tuesday to "compromise to help the middle class."
Romney dismissed the idea and returned fire on a sensitive topic, calling Obama the real "outsourcer-in-chief."
While Obama was in Iowa to talk taxes, Romney, in Colorado, redirected charges that he had sent jobs overseas when he worked in private equity.
"He's run some interesting attack ads on me on that topic," Romney said of the president. "It is interesting that when it comes to outsourcing, that this president has been outsourcing a good deal of American jobs himself, by putting money into energy companies that end up making their products outside the United States."


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In the Dec. 12 edition, newly appointed state Senator Scott Boulanger is quoted as being "passionate for less government, lower taxes, capitalism and free market." On the Tea Party Patriots website they promote "fiscal responsibility and free markets" as well. Even President Obama, who some claim is a raving Red, gets in on the act, telling the NY Times that "the market is the best mechanism ever invented for efficiently allocating resources to maximize production."
The big problem with this fundamentalist theory is climate change, which we now know to be the greatest market failure in history. Because the price of fossil fuel energy has no relationship to the true cost (in terms of greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants), the market sends irrational signals and creates perverse incentives, such as investment in coal or Alberta Tar Sands. In other words, because it creates more jobs and economic growth, destroying the earth's life support system is "cheaper" than leaving fossil fuels in the ground! This is why Bob Lake, our newest member of the Public Service Commission, can say he won't promote renewables because he has "the obligation for the cheapest power." But how "cheap" will it be to our grandchildren, Bob?
Of course, you can always deny that anthropogenic climate change is real, a strategy favored by many addicts. Or you can join in the fight to stop Dirty Energy by going to www.coalexportaction.org.
Dave Jones


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Caprock High School senior Ivan Orozco didn't know what type of career to pursue as he entered his final year of school, but he found his answer in less than a month when he signed up for a new machining class.
"I was so nervous," said Orozco, 17. "Now that I got going here I'm like, 'All right.' It's like a weight off my shoulders."
Orozco is one of four students in the school's new machining program, a technical course Amarillo Independent School District created this year in partnership with Amarillo College, said LeAnn Estep, career and technology program director for the district.
Each student who completes the course will graduate with six dual-credit hours for Amarillo College's programs, said Bob Gustin, a machining technology instructor at Amarillo College who teaches the Caprock course.
"It makes the transition seamless," Gustin said.
The class meets for 90 minutes, four days each week, Gustin said. He said students learn how to work in a shop and build metal parts as if they worked for a real company.
Students spend time in class working with equipment such as mills and lathes to drill and shape metal parts, Gustin said.
However, the class isn't just a time to work with heavy equipment, said Neil Graham, 17, a senior at Caprock.
"It's a pretty cool class," he said. "It's pretty hard, though. There is a lot of math."
Estep said technical, hands-on classes also help students in their core curriculum classes.
For example, a physics student might not understand torque from reading a textbook or listening to a lecture, but if that student is in an automotive class and breaks a bolt, he or she understands how torque works, Estep said.
About 7,000 Amarillo ISD students from seventh through 12th grade take at least one career and technical class each year, Estep said.
Estep said the district hopes to expand the course to more students in future years along with its technical programs on other campuses such as welding at Palo Duro High School and automotive at the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning.
She said those courses are open to all district high school students regardless of which school they attend.
"They're all geared at the same thing, getting the kids exposed to these high-skill, high-paying jobs and hopefully giving them an edge when they graduate," she said.
The district has placed an emphasis on career and technical programs because local industry has identified a need for workers in those fields, and developing a skilled workforce will help attract businesses, Gustin said.
"We don't have people to fill those trades, those needs," he said. "It really hurts industry. I get calls wanting people."
Estep said she thinks there is going to be a resurgence in technical fields because many people in manufacturing positions are getting older and there is not enough young people to fill their positions.
But society has devalued trade skills in the last 15 to 20 years, Estep said.
"They say everybody needs a four-year degree," she said. "Some people do, but these are still honorable professions. They are high-skill, high paying. These are not the kids who can't."
She also said increased graduation and testing requirements have made it difficult for students to find time to take a welding or machining class, Estep said.
Students who do take technical courses in high school often know which career they want to pursue once they get to college instead of spending a year or two trying to figure out a major, Estep said.
That's the case for Orozco and Graham. Both said they plan to enter Amarillo College's machining program once they graduate from high school.
"I want these students to have more than a job," Gustin said. "Jobs are a dime a dozen; they're everywhere. I want them to have a career."