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June 2014In NIJ's Research Report Digest, you will find brief descriptions of studies in a variety of criminal justice disciplines, such as crime and forensic sciences, and evaluations of technologies used in the law enforcement and corrections fields.
This issue includes reports based on NIJ-funded research that were added to the NCJRS Abstracts Database from January to March 2014.
Find research reports related to:
Criminal Stigma, Race, Gender and Employment: An Expanded Assessment of the Consequences of Imprisonment for Employment (pdf, 112 pages)Authors: Scott H. Decker, Ph.D., Cassia Spohn, Ph.D., Natalie R. Ortiz, M.S., and Eric Hedberg, Ph.D.
Individuals who leave prison, find work, and remain employed are less likely to become involved in crime than those who do not find employment. This study sought a broader understanding of how race and ethnicity interact with a prior criminal record to affect an individual's employment prospects. The authors examined whether having a criminal record affects hiring decisions, whether the applicant's race or ethnicity influences hiring decisions, and whether the effect of a criminal record varies depending on the applicant's race or ethnicity. The authors found differences by race and ethnicity, with blacks and Hispanics generally faring more poorly than whites. They also found that a prison record has a dampening effect on job prospects, particularly in the low-skill food service sector, where ex-prisoners are likely to seek employment. The employer survey revealed that employers associate prison time with a number of negative work-related characteristics and that they prefer to hire individuals with no criminal justice contact.
Impact of Differential Sentencing Severity for Domestic Violence Offenses and All Other Offenses Over Abusers' Life Spans (pdf, 43 pages)Authors: Andrew Klein, Ph.D., David Centerbar, Ph.D., Steven Keller, and Jessica Klein
This research assesses the effectiveness of domestic violence (DV) prosecution compared to all prosecutions of the abuser, including non-DV offenses. In comparing the impact of differential prosecution/sentencing severity, the authors looked at whether abusers committed any new DV offense and, if so, the number of those offenses. They found that abusers who were prosecuted and sentenced more severely for DV compared to non-DV crimes during the first years of their adult criminal careers were less likely to be arrested for subsequent DV offenses and had significantly fewer new DV offenses. Abusers who were prosecuted for their DV offenses but not for their non-DV offenses were also significantly less likely to commit new DV offenses.
Monitoring High-Risk Gang Offenders with GPS Technology: An Evaluation of the California Supervision Program Final Report (pdf, 112 pages)Authors: Stephen V. Gies, Randy Gainey, Marcia I. Cohen, Eoin Healy, Martha Yeide, Alan Bekelman, and Amanda Bobnis
This evaluation aimed to determine the effectiveness of global positioning system (GPS) monitoring of high-risk gang offenders released onto parole. The cost analysis indicates the GPS monitoring program costs nearly three times as much as traditional supervision. However, subjects in the GPS group were less likely than their control counterparts to be arrested in general, or for a violent offense, but much more likely to violate their parole with technical and nontechnical violations. Thus, although the GPS monitoring program is more expensive, it may be more effective in detecting parole violations. The evaluation also confirmed that the GPS program was implemented with a high degree of fidelity in terms of adherence, exposure, quality of program delivery and program differentiation.
Organizational Efficiency and Early Disposition Programs in Federal Courts, Final Report (pdf 103 pages)Author: KiDeuk Kim
Early disposition or "fast track" programs allow a prosecutor to offer a sentence that is shorter than the sentencing guidelines prescribe in exchange for a defendant's prompt guilty plea and waiver of certain pretrial and post-conviction rights. This study indicated that fast-track programs reduce case-processing time and increase sentence disparity; however, program impact was fairly modest and varied significantly across districts. The author recommends that the federal government demand higher standards of accountability, efficiency, and equity in processing immigration cases, as well as additional research on prosecutorial and judicial decision-making in federal courts, and the cost-effectiveness of sentencing options.
Practical Implications of Current Intimate Partner Violence Research for Victim Advocates and Service Providers (pdf, 260 pages)Authors: Barbara J. Hart, J.D., and Andrew R. Klein, Ph.D.
This guide for victim advocates and service providers, based on Andrew Klein's Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research: For Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Judges, provides research findings on domestic violence, including its perpetrators and victims and the impact and implications of current responses to domestic violence by law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges.
CrimeStat IV: A Spatial Statistics Program for the Analysis of Crime Incident Locations, Version 4.0 (pdf, 1,798 pages)Author: Ned Levine
CrimeStat is a free spatial statistics program that analyzes crime and other incident data. CrimeStat IV includes statistical routines for Bayesian journey-to-crime estimation, spatial regression modeling, time series forecasting, discrete choice modeling, spatial distribution of incidents, geographical profiling, and numerous spatial autocorrelation and clustering routines for zonal data. Additionally, .NET libraries allow third-party applications to use many CrimeStat routines. The program and documentation are available for free from nij.gov/CrimeStat.
Cross-Site Analysis of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Communities Program (pdf, 248 pages)Authors: George L. Kelling, Sandra K. Costello, Mona R. Hochberg, Ann Marie Rocheleau, Dennis P. Rosenbaum, Jeffrey A. Roth, Wesley G. Skogan, and William H. Sousa
The purpose of the Comprehensive Communities Program (CCP) is to control crime and improve the quality of community life by integrating criminal and juvenile justice, social programs, and public agencies with nongovernmental organizations and individuals, with special attention to gangs and youth violence. The purpose of this process evaluation was to develop insight into how community approaches evolved; track how CCP sites implemented their comprehensive strategies; explore how preexisting ecological, social, economic and political factors affected implementation; and monitor the evolution of strategies and projects over time. Although none of the sites sustained all CCP program elements once CCP funding ended, all sites maintained significant portions of their total CCP efforts and programs even without CCP funding. Additionally, there is no evidence that sites weakened their organizational and neighborhood networks after CCP funding ended.
Estimating the Size and Structure of the Underground Commercial Sex Economy in Eight Major US Cities (pdf, 350 pages)Authors: Meredith Dank, Ph.D., Bilal Khan, Ph.D., P. Mitchell Downey, Cybele Kotonias, Deborah Mayer, Colleen Owens, Laura Pacifici, and Lilly Yu
NIJ-funded researchers at the Urban Institute have completed a study of the underground commercial sex economy in eight cities—Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Seattle, San Diego, and Washington, DC. The team estimated that the sex economy, which was estimated to be between $39.9 and $290 million across the eight cities in 2007, has decreased in all but two cities. Researchers found that pimps and traffickers interviewed for the study took home between $5,000 and $32,833 a week. This report also offers policy suggestions to combat the illicit sex market.
Impact of Victimization on Residential Mobility: Explaining Racial and Ethnic Patterns Using the National Crime Victimization Survey (pdf, 61 pages)Author: Min Xie
This study used a longitudinal sample of 34,134 housing units in the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the United States to study racial and ethnic differences regarding a victim's decision to move to a different neighborhood. The author found that black and Hispanic victims were less likely than whites to move after becoming victims of crime. In special circumstances, however, victimization can significantly increase the chances that minority residents will move; this is especially the case for black households after a property loss. Their moving behavior also is related to the housing market, as residential segregation reduces opportunities for minority residents—blacks, in particular—to move after victimization.
Indicators of Labor Trafficking Among North Carolina Migrant Farmworkers (pdf, 147 pages)Authors: Kelle Barrick, Ph.D., Pamela K. Lattimore, Ph.D., Wayne Pitts, Ph.D., and Sheldon X. Zhang, Ph.D.
This study documented characteristics and indicators of labor trafficking among migrant farmworkers in North Carolina and provided actionable knowledge to law enforcement. Although law enforcement personnel believed farmworkers were treated well, outreach workers reported frequent abuse and exploitation. About one-quarter of farmworkers surveyed were likely to have witnessed human trafficking, and more than one-third reported other abuses, such as deception, restriction, deprivation, and physical threats. The strongest predictor of trafficking and other labor violations was lack of legal status. Farmworkers in communities with moderate to large Hispanic populations were less likely to report victimization, and abuse was less common when a large proportion of the labor force worked in agriculture.
Because of sampling methods, the findings are not generalizable and may underestimate exposure to trafficking and other abuse. The authors recommend providing investigatory and prosecutorial guidance to law enforcement, collaborating with community-based organizations that have close relationships with immigrant populations, and launching awareness campaigns aimed at unauthorized immigrants.
Training Evaluation Model: Evaluating and Improving Criminal Justice Training (pdf, 397 pages)Authors: Kelly Bradley and Edward Connors
This project sought to produce a training evaluation model that can guide evaluations of a wide range of criminal justice training programs. The project's goal was to help the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, achieve more consistency and control over the hundreds of training programs for which it provides funding, and increase the capacity of other federal, state and local criminal justice programs to conduct their own training evaluations. Sponsors of criminal justice training programs, researchers and evaluators, and training program directors and trainers can use this report to help evaluate and improve training for criminal justice professionals.
Understanding Trends in Hate Crimes Against Immigrants and Hispanic-Americans (pdf, 157 pages)Authors: Michael Shively, Ph.D., Rajen Subramanian, Ph.D., Omri Drucker, Jared Edgerton, Jack McDevitt, Ph.D., Amy Farrell, Ph.D., and Janice Iwama
This report provides an overview of current time-series data measuring hate crimes against immigrants and Hispanic-Americans in the United States, and the use of this data for assessing trends. After reviewing the current state of data and assessing the challenges of improving that data, the authors recommend that law enforcement collect data on these crimes as part of the existing national hate crime reporting system. Doing so would treat hate crimes like other bias-motivated crimes and provide a national support system for victims of these crimes. Research shows that very few anti-immigrant hate crimes are being identified nationally, and that training officers to identify these crimes and assist victims would be beneficial. In addition to employing training and outreach efforts, the authors recommend conducting a series of more-limited studies that could provide information on the current rate of bias-motivated victimization of immigrants and Hispanics.
Acquisition of Sebaceous Fingerprint Topology Using Columnar Thin Films (CTF) on Forensically Relevant Substrates (pdf, 57 pages)Authors: Robert Shaler and Akhlesh Lakhtakia
This project expanded on successful proof-of-concept experiments by determining the scientific basis and application of columnar thin films (CTFs) to capture friction ridge detail found in latent fingerprints on nonporous, forensically relevant textured substrates and to compare CTF development of fingerprints with other commonly employed fingerprint development techniques. Results clearly demonstrate the development of friction ridge detail to the pore level using CTFs. This research demonstrated that CFT development of fingerprints on nonporous, forensically relevant substrates that are not ideal for traditional fingerprint techniques gives superior or equal results for all of the substrates studied except for masking tape, stainless steel, white ABS (plastic), and black nylon. Use of CTFs appears to be particularly suitable for partial bloody fingerprints, for which traditional techniques are ineffective.
Comprehensive Forensic Toxicological Analysis of Designer Drugs (pdf, 53 pages)Authors: Anthony P. DeCaprio, W. Lee Hearn, and Madeleine J. Swortwood
"Designer drugs" are analogs or derivatives of controlled substances sold on the street to circumvent legal restrictions on scheduled drugs. Forensic toxicology labs generally use commercially available screening methods such as enzyme-linked immunosobrent assay (ELISA) or enzyme-multipled immunoassay technique (EMIT) to identify drugs of abuse in blood and urine. This study evaluated 16 ELISA reagents of 30 designer drugs in serum and 2 EMIT reagents of these drugs in urine to determine the drugs' cross-reactivity. The authors found that some designer drugs could not be detected in conventional screening immunoassays and some could be detected in assays targeting only amphetamine and methamphetamine (although cross-reactivity with untargeted drugs was generally limited). Their findings indicate a need for research to validate new mass spectrometry-based methods for screening for and detecting hundreds of designer drugs potentially present in forensic toxicological specimens, as well as methods for detecting and identifying novel compounds.
Contactless Fingerprint Technologies Assessment (Version 2) (pdf, 56 pages)Authors: Phillip Wiggin and Lars Ericson, Ph.D.
This report examines government, industry, and academic initiatives that pursue contactless fingerprint collection technologies. The authors found that commercial off-the-shelf devices are available primarily for access-control situations with a local database of enrollees. Modifying these devices for use in the justice system (with remote automated fingerprint identification systems, for instance) would require additional investment and development. This report identifies the National Institute of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, and the Department of Defense Biometrics Identity Management Agency as the government agencies most active in funding contactless sensor technologies, with several manufacturers performing internally funded research and development, and ongoing activities at academic institutions.
Consecutive and Random Manufactured Semi-Automatic Pistol Breech Face and Fired Cartridge Case Evaluations (pdf, 60 pages)Authors: Ashley Chu, Shannon McClorry, Roy Geiss, David Read, David Howitt, and Michael Hill
This report evaluates the impression markings on cartridge cases fired from semiautomatic pistols to determine to what extent these markings can be used to identify an individual firearm, or whether they occurred by random chance. The authors demonstrate that the areas of corresponding topography on the breech faces of cartridge cases fired from the same slides were consistently larger than those that were consecutively manufactured and that other aspects of the matching are not reflected by cross- correlation analysis. The authors conclude that the differences between the cross-correlation coefficients from matching and nonmatching cartridge cases can be increased not only by focusing on corresponding regions of a particular size but that other approaches, such as pattern recognition, can supplement the cross-correlation techniques. Thus, by modifying the algorithms that determine the similarities, it should be possible to increase the number of cartridge cases that can be added to a database before it will be overwhelmed by false positives.
Development and Testing of a Rapid Multiplex Assay for the Identification of Biological Stains (pdf, 250 pages)Author: Kevin M. Legg
This study aimed to reduce the analysis time of the previous quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) analyzer assay and test the feasibility of a mass-spectrometry-based assay for stain identification for routine casework testing. Researchers developed a prototype triple quadrupole mass spectrometer-multiple reaction monitoring (QQQ-MRM) triplex biological stain assay that accurately identified seminal fluid, saliva, and vaginal secretions on the basis of 12 high-specificity protein biomarkers, with an instrument run time of 18 minutes—a more than 75-percent reduction in total analysis time. They confirmed the accuracy and consistency of the biomarkers by testing a QQQ-MRM three-stain sexual assault assay using single-source samples and a series of casework-type samples. Finally, they developed a protocol for co-extracting the DNA and protein fractions from a single swab that was able to identify the specific body fluid stains present, as well as generate accurate short tandem repeat (STR) profiles. Researchers conclude that a high-speed QQQ assay for stain identification can act as a launching point for the subsequent full developmental validation of a six-body fluid multiplex for forensic casework on a QQQ-MRM platform.
Effects of Acquisition of Blood Specimens on Drug Levels and the Effects of Transportation Conditions on Degradation of Drugs (pdf, 53 pages)Authors: Jerri McLemore, M.D., Eugene Schwilke, Ph.D., Kevin Shanks, FTS-ABFT, and Dennis Klein, M.D.
The location and manner in which coroners and medical examiners collect and ship postmortem blood may significantly impact toxicological results because of possible specimen degradation or postmortem redistribution. The authors examined three different collection and shipping procedures for peripheral blood specimens to determine whether they could detect significant differences in drug concentration. They did not detect any statistical differences between the collection and shipping methods for most drugs; however, several postmortem subjects had one or two negative results. Findings demonstrate the potential for misinterpretation due to the manner of specimen collection and shipment and suggest possible postmortem redistribution of drugs within the body's periphery.
An Empirical Study to Improve the Scientific Foundation of Forensic Firearm and Tool Mark Identification Utilizing Consecutively Manufactured Glock EBIS Barrels with the Same EBIS Pattern (pdf, 51 pages)Authors: Thomas G. Fadul Jr., Ph.D., Gabriel A. Hernandez, M.S., Erin Wilson, M.F.S., Stephanie Stoiloff, M.S., and Sneh Gulati, Ph.D.
Every firearm/tool produces a unique identification signature (striation/impression) on fired bullets that can be positively matched with the firearm/tool that produced it. This study aimed to determine if trained firearm and tool mark examiners could match spent bullets to the firearms that fired them when examining bullets fired through consecutively manufactured barrels that produced individual, unique and repeatable striations. Trained U.S. and international firearm and tool mark examiners analyzed individual striations of spent bullets fired from 10 consecutively manufactured Glock Enhanced Bullet Identification System (EBIS) barrels, along with EBIS-fired bullets of unknown origin. Findings established an error rate of less than 1.2 percent.
Evaluation of Contact versus Contactless Fingerprint Data (Final Report v2) (pdf, 116 pages)Author: Azimuth, Inc.
The National Institute of Justice's Sensor, Surveillance, and Biometric Technologies Center of Excellence has undertaken an evaluation of fingerprint data gathered from traditional two-dimensional contact-based fingerprint devices and techniques versus fingerprint data generated by next-generation three-dimensional (3-D) contactless fingerprint scanners. This study assessed the comparative match performance of legacy/livescan fingerprint data and contactless fingerprint data to evaluate interoperability, technology viability, and challenges to deploying next-generation 3-D contactless fingerprint systems.
Forensic Ancestry and Phenotype SNP Analysis and Integration with Established Forensic Markers (pdf, 140 pages)Author: Katherine Butler Gettings
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the most common form of genetic polymorphisms, have alleles associated with specific populations or correlated to physical characteristics. In this study, researchers used single-base primer extension technology to develop a 50-SNP assay designed to predict ancestry and pigmentation phenotype among the primary U.S. populations (African American, East Asian, European, and Hispanic/Native American). The assay's sensitivity level is comparable to current forensic DNA analyses and has shown robust performance on forensic samples. The author also developed and evaluated three prediction models for ancestry and compared two models for eye color prediction. The best models and interpretation guidelines yielded correct information for 98 percent and 100 percent of samples, respectively. The study also evaluated the possibility of using next-generation sequencing to genotype forensic short tandem repeats.
Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Executive Summary for 2013 (pdf, 13 pages)Author: RTI International
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) is a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Justice that supports the implementation of new forensic technology, provides customized services and resources to criminal justice professionals, and works to increase the capacity of state and local law enforcement to effectively serve the public in matters involving forensic science and crime. This summary outlines the most significant technological aspects of FTCoE projects, milestones, and achievements during the January 1, 2012 through November 13, 2013, performance period. During this time, the FTCoE evaluated 8 new technologies; sponsored 6 technology‐transfer events, including 2 hands‐on workshops; supported outreach for 42 events; and made 19 presentations on forensic technology to the forensic science community.
Improving the Understanding and the Reliability of the Concept of "Sufficiency" in Friction Ridge Examination (pdf, 97 pages)Authors: Cedric Neumann, Christophe Champod, Mina Yoo, Thibault Genessay, and Glenn Langenburg
Current protocols and procedures for examining fingerprints rely heavily on a succession of subjective decisions, from the initial acceptance of evidence for probative value to the final assessment of forensic results. This project studied the concept of sufficiency associated with the decisions made by latent print examiners at the end of the various phases of the fingerprint examination process. A web‐based interface was designed to capture the observations of 146 latent print examiners and trainees on 15 pairs of latent/control prints. Study findings show that the concept of sufficiency is driven mainly by the number and spatial relationships between the minutiae observed on the latent and control prints. Data indicate that demographics or non‐minutiae-based features do not play a major role in examiners' decisions. The authors observed significant variability between detecting and interpreting friction ridge features at all levels of detail, as well as for factors that have the potential to influence the examination process, such as degradation, distortion, or influence of the background and the development technique.
The Information Content of Friction Ridge Impressions as Revealed by Human Experts (pdf, 65 pages)Authors: Thomas Busey and Chen Yu
This project aimed to construct a quantitative representation of the information contained in fingerprints that can reveal those areas that experts consider most diagnostic and guide an expert as to how diagnostic a region may be if it differs from their expectations. The authors' analyses provide estimates of the rarity of individual features by using the statistics of fingerprint impressions rather than a hand-picked set of features. This potentially provides access to a larger set of visual features than individual minutiae.
Information Exposure, Presentation Modality, and Cognitive Mechanisms of Countermeasures in P300 Concealed Information Tests (pdf, 135 pages)Author: Michael Ross Winograd
The P300 event-related potential concealed information test (CIT) is a credibility assessment tool designed for use in criminal investigations. Findings from this series of three tests show that exposing innocent participants to crime‐relevant details made them indistinguishable from guilty participants, leading to a high false-positive rate. Prior exposure also biased the P300-CIT toward enhanced sensitivity in guilty participants. Evidence suggests that probe-irrelevant P300 differences were larger for a central item, even when rates of explicit memory were equal, and that details central to a crime were better recalled than peripheral details. The evidence also suggests that there might be a benefit to using pictorial stimuli over verbal stimuli for the central item. Additionally, no differences were found between any countermeasure methods, suggesting that a simple recognition process is responsible for evoking P300s to the countered stimuli.
Method Development and Validation of Comparative Finished Fiber Analysis Using Nano-Sampling Cryomicrotomy and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectronometry (pdf, 70 pages)Authors: Dr. Keith Beck, Dr. Dieter Griffis, Dr. David Hinks, and Dr. Chuanzhen Zhou
A critical and growing need exists for improved capability in fiber-based trace evidence analysis. The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive, repeatable and reproducible analytical methodology for dyed and finished fibers that will preserve evidence and reduce or eliminate cross-contamination. This has been achieved via sub-micron level removal of sample fibers using cryomicrotomy followed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of the surface and cross-section of dyed fibers. The isocratic and gradient elution methods developed for liquid chromatography (LC) analysis of a series of disperse dyes and acid dyes have shown excellent repeatability for single dye analysis that is sufficient for a searchable database. A reference set of known dyed fibers using the most commercially important dyes for apparel and automotive polyester (73 dye samples), acetate (19 dye samples), and residential nylon carpet (6 dye samples) has been established using the optimized methods for LC analysis. The dye identity of 10 unknown dyes can be easily determined using the established disperse dye database. Methods have also been developed for separating and identifying enzyme digested reactive dyes with vinyl sulfone group and with monochlorotriazine group.
Mobile Fingerprint Capture (pdf, 43 pages)Authors: Sam Mil'shtein, Ph.D.
This project designed and fabricated two new contactless fingerprinting systems. The grantee removed all rotational elements and used area scan cameras instead of line scan cameras. He also developed novel algorithms to process and help recognize the fingerprints. He found that area cameras decrease the physical dimensions of the systems, bringing their size closer to the dimensions required for a mobile contactless fingerprinting system.
Presumptive Field Testing Using Portable Raman Spectroscopy (pdf, 100 pages)Author: Stephana Fedchak
Recognizing the need for a more reliable method for field testing to identify cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Forensic Laboratory began researching and enhancing existing Raman spectroscopy field technology to provide presumptive analysis of controlled substances. Part of this research evaluated the performance of the handheld ReporteR device. The LVMPD laboratory tested the ReporteR device in the lab and in the field, and by utilizing a Raman microscope, determined that portable Raman technology is an effective and reliable tool for presumptively identifying methamphetamine and cocaine in the field. The laboratory also identified which characteristics of portable Raman technology need enhancement to be implemented in a presumptive field testing program.
Project IDENTIFICATION: Developing Accurate Identification Criteria for Hispanics (pdf, 69 pages)Author: M. Katherine Spradley
The Hispanic population is the second-largest population group in the United States; however, no skeletal collections have large numbers of Hispanics. This study established a database of reference data using Mexican cranial and postcranial skeletal measurements; created sectioning points and classification functions for sex estimates applicable to most Hispanics in the U.S.; and analyzed the reference data for morphological variation and ancestry estimation. Researchers used discriminant function analysis to generate sex classification functions and documented differences in the size and shape of craniofacial morphology of Mexican and Guatemalan individuals. Population-specific sex and ancestry estimation criteria appropriate for most Hispanics of Mexican or Guatemalan origin in the U.S. are now available. The authors recommend adding these measurements to data collection protocols for forensic anthropologists.
Rapid Screening and Confirmation of Organic GSR using Electrospray Mass Spectrometry (pdf, 125 pages)Authors: Bruce McCord, Ph.D., and Jennifer (Greaux) Thomas, B.S.
This study aimed to develop a rapid separation-detection method for identifying smokeless powder additives and their decomposition products using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Using UPLC and MS/MS to link organic gunshot residue (GSR) to a shooter's ammunition and spent cartridges, the authors found characteristic differences in additive profiles, depending on the ammunition type. This study demonstrates that extracting organic compounds from GSR, along with detecting GSR on a shooter's hands, has the potential to greatly improve results of firearm forensic examinations.
Replication of Known Dental Characteristics in Porcine Skin: Emerging Technologies for the Imaging Specialist (pdf, 103 pages)Authors: L. Thomas Johnson, Thomas W. Radmer, Dean Jeutter, Gary L. Stafford, Joseph Thulin, Thomas Wirtz, George Corliss, Kwang Woo Ahn, Alexis Visotky, and Ronald L. Groffy
Scientists have long considered bite marks as possible identifiers for an individual. This project studied whether it is possible to replicate bite marks and analyze any of these patterns, correlating them with a degree of probability to members of an established population. Findings show that patterns of human teeth can be replicated in porcine (pig) skin to determine that a given bite mark belongs to a very small proportion of a population dataset.
University of Massachusetts Lowell 3D Contactless Fingerprint Scanner: Technology Evaluation (Version 2) (pdf, 28 pages)Authors: Phillip Wiggin and Lars Ericson, Ph.D.The National Institute of Justice's Sensor, Surveillance, and Biometric Technologies Center of Excellence tested and evaluated a contactless fingerprint scanning device developed for NIJ by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. An evaluation of the prototype contactless scanners reveals that researchers will most likely use them to examine the effects of deformation due to pressure, matching capabilities and contactless sensors in general. At least two of the prototypes will require adjustments to the mirror alignments before further use. The systems are not suitable for field deployment or operational evaluation by criminal justice organizations because of shortcomings in both their technology and functioning.
Pathways to Desistance—Final Technical Report (pdf, 20 pages)Authors: Edward P. Mulvey, Carol A. Schubert, and Alex Piquero
This multisite, collaborative research project followed 1,354 serious juvenile offenders from adolescence to young adulthood. The study found that the juvenile justice system relies heavily on institutional care, that offenders spend a significant amount of time in these facilities, and that reentry into the community is a recurring event for many of these adolescents that is likely to have a pronounced impact on their long-term adjustment. Other analyses support planning for and providing community-based services during reentry; however, these services are limited. The study has also produced findings about the effects of particular aspects of institutional care on community adjustment. Although analysis of the Pathways data is ongoing, the findings so far suggest relevant variability in this group of adolescents and evidence that they will respond positively to reasonable interventions and sanctions.
Process and Outcome Evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. Program (pdf, 617 pages)Authors: Finn-Aage Esbensen, Wayne Osgood, Dana Peterson, Terrance J. Taylor, Dena Carson, Adrienne Freng, and Kristy Matsuda
In 2006, the National Institute of Justice awarded funds to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to determine the short- and long-term impact of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program on middle school students in seven school districts. Results illustrate a high level of program fidelity, providing confidence in subsequent outcome results. One year after the program ended, there were statistically significant differences between the control students and those receiving the program on 14 of 33 attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. The study surveyed program students for 3 more years to test for longer term impacts. Analyses conducted 4 years after the program ended showed similar but smaller results. Across the 4 years, the G.R.E.A.T. program had 10 positive effects on students, including lowering the odds of gang joining and fostering more positive attitudes toward police.
Building Bridges Between Police Researchers and Practitioners: Agents of Change in a Complex World (pdf, 297 pages)Authors: Geoffrey P. Alpert, Ph.D., Jeff Rojek Ph.D., and J. Andrew Hansen M.A.
This study examined the prevalence of police practitioner-researcher partnerships in the United States and the factors that prevent or facilitate the development and sustainability of these partnerships. About one-third (32 percent) of responding law enforcement agencies reported being in partnerships with researchers; formal short-term and long-term relationships were the least common. Partnerships were more common among municipal police departments and state law enforcement agencies than among county agencies. Agencies reporting the use of research information, particularly from the National Institute of Justice, were more likely to participate in partnerships. Interviews with police practitioners and researchers also revealed information about structural characteristics, the perceived value of research and the role of agencies, openness to changes in business practices, and the role of trust and effective communication in sustaining partnerships.
Executive Summary Evaluation of the Phoenix Homicide Clearance Project (pdf, 13 pages)Authors: Tom McEwen, Ph.D.
In July 2004, the Phoenix Police Department transferred four crime scene specialists from its crime lab to the department's homicide unit to collect evidence at homicide scenes, prepare scene reports, develop scene diagrams, and perform other support activities. The primary objective was to improve homicide clearance rates by increasing investigative time through the addition of crime scene specialists. This study demonstrated that crime scene specialists from the department's crime lab could be as effective in collecting forensic evidence as homicide investigators. The use of crime scene specialists did not increase overall clearance rates of homicides but increased the clearance rates for more difficult cases that require extensive investigative time.
View the following reports related to this project:


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There has been some interest in this subject on JGSGB Discuss.
One of our members is looking into the background of some cousins who were Egyptian Jews living in Cairo and were directly descended from the famous chief rabbi of Baghdad, Rabbi Eliyahu Mani (died 1899).
Our member is at present trying to find the ketubah of the marriage of Dr. Baruch Mani (personal physician to the King of Egypt), and his first wife, Fortunee Mani. This marriage took place in Cairo probably in The Great Synagogue in 1919.
Would anybody know where the Jewish marriage records, including ketubah records, of Cairo Jewry of that period were kept? And where would one find such records today if indeed they still exist?
The advice so far received is that unfortunately the marriage records in Cairo are now considered the property of the Egyptian state and Jews are not permitted access. A very sore point…. Yves Fedida <firstname.lastname@example.com> is the expert on this subject. Also Alain Farhi firstname.lastname@example.com has an extensive genealogical records of Jews from Egypt (Les Fleurs d'Orient website)
The URL for this post is http://www.jgsgb.org.uk/blog/?p=430
Tony Benson – Blog Editor

subset: commoncrawl


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10 of the world's most enjoyable movie theaters
The best movie theaters always make the movie better.
You could be watching the third re-run of your own birth, but if you're snuggled into a soft seat with buttery popcorn in your lap and a sound system that feels like its channeled directly into your temporal lobe, somehow you'll come out feeling like you had a good time.
For the global jet-setting movie junkie, these are some movie theaters that take a good experience and make it great.
Also on CNNGo: 15 city hotel rooms with amazing views
1. Cine Thisio, Athens, Greece
Athens is home to multiple outdoor movie theaters that crop up during the summer but none provide as majestic a view as Cine Thisio.
From your seat at Cine Thisio you not only get to view the latest blockbuster but also the Acropolis, and the Parthenon that sits on top. The best view is at night.
Cine Thisio is the oldest outdoor movie theater in Athens, built in 1935, and is usually open from April to October. Cine Thisio shows both first-run studio releases and classic movies.
Apostolou Pavlou 7, Thission, Athens 11851, Greece; +30 210 342 0864; www.cine-thisio.gr
2. Alamo Drafthouse, Texas, United States
It shouldn't make sense that a movie theater chain has such street cred, but Alamo Drafthouse does. Think of it as the cool kid brother movie theater.
Alamo Drafthouse started out in Austin, Texas, and hosts a whole series of events including Heckle Vision, Quote Alongs and nights where experts rip apart Michael Bay popcorn blockbusters.
But what makes the Alamo theaters really cool are its policies: no children under the age of six, no talking, an extremely strict no-cellphone policy (as this curse-laden voicemail left by an unhappy customer demonstrates) and no ads before the movie.
This is a movie theater experience as it should be: the movie you pay for, zero annoyances and great food and beers being served to your seat.
1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas 78704, United States; +1 512 476 1320; www.drafthouse.com
Also on CNNGo: Why photography has ruined travel
3. Raj Mandir Theatre, Jaipur, India
Come here for the ultimate Bollywood experience: the national anthem at the start, a choice of expensive and cheaper seats, the three-hour Hindi flick bisected with an interlude and applaud along with the locals whenever the hero shows up on screen.
With its pink Art Deco-inspired exterior made up of waves and asymmetrical shapes, the Raj Mandir is a symbol of Jaipur, a city laid out beautifully from its founding in the 18th century.
It opened in 1976, seats around 1,200 and usually fills up. With ticket prices around Rs100 (US$1.90), this won't be your most luxurious movie outing, but it will definitely rank among the most memorable.
Ashok Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India; +91 141 260 5267
Read more on CNNGo: 10 of the world's ultimate sights
4. Kino International, Berlin, Germany
A remnant of the Cold War, Kino International dates back to Germany's socialist period. Today Kino International boasts a well-rounded art-house program and hosts a strong list of premieres, festivals and parties.
The movie theater is situated along Karl Marx Allee, where entire blocks of buildings carry heritage status and are protected by the Denkmalschutz in Berlin.
This heritage status means that the outside façade of Kino International, along with its interior furnishings, cannot be altered.
33 Karl-Marx Allee, Berlin 10178, Germany; +49 030 24756011; www.kino-international.com
5. 4DX, Seoul, South Korea
4DX bills itself as the first 4-D movie theater in the world that screens studio releases, taking 3-D movies to the next level by introducing movement and scent, as well as wind and water effects.
Sitting through amusement park-type effects for such a long time may not be suitable for everyone, and people with heart disease, back pains, pregnant women and children under one meter are discouraged from entering.
4DX aims to "free" the moviegoer by connecting with the characters on screen, placing them into the shoes of the protagonist by feeling what he feels.
4DX theaters are now part of 14 CGV locations all over Korea. Tickets for the 4-D screenings start at ₩14,000 (US$12).
4DX CGV Theater in Gangbyeon; 10F TechnoMart, 546-4 Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 광진구 구의동 546-4 테크노마트 10층); 1544-1122 (Domestic calls only); www.cgv.co.kr
Also on CNNGo: 7 sci-fi innovations that will change travel
6. Uplink X, Tokyo, Japan
Uplink X calls itself the smallest movie theater in Japan, with 40 seats. It's housed in a multipurpose building managed by Uplink Co. alongside Uplink Factory, a multipurpose theater space and Uplink's café Tabela.
Its standout feature is its "social seating" plan -- the 10 various types of seats are not screwed into the ground, but can be moved around within the space, making the movie-watching experience more interactive and social.
2F, 37-18 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan; +81 3 3485 6821; www.uplink.co.jp
Also on CNNGo: Hello Kitty jets -- cutest airplanes in the sky
7. Prasads, Hyderabad, India
You might mistake Prasads as just another entertainment complex in Hyderabad -- but take a look at its cinema screen; it's the largest IMAX 3-D screen in the world.
Measuring 72 x 92 feet, and running since 2003, it receives more than 1,500 calls a day to the telephone booking line.
Sydney may have the largest IMAX in the world at 97 x 117 feet, but throw in the 3-D technology and you get yourself on this list.
The biggest grossing films in IMAX 3-D for Prasads so far have been "Avatar," "The Polar Express" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1."
NTR Gardens, LIC Division P.O., Hyderabad 500063, India; +91 40 23448888; www.prasadz.com
Read more on CNNGo: 20 of the world's most iconic skyscrapers
8. Cine de Chef, Seoul, South Korea
Korean movie theater company CGV claims another spot on this list with its Cine de Chef theater, which gives a luxury spin to the "dinner and a movie" concept.
Many other movie theaters also provide food and beverage options to moviegoers, but Cine de Chef stands out with its upscale French-Italian cuisine, courtesy of a former Park Hyatt chef.
After dinner, patrons can relax for the duration of the movie in the Quinette Gallay seats, specially designed for Cine de Chef. The seats are by the same people who make private movie theater seats for United Arab Emirates royalty.
This meal and a movie doesn't come cheap, however; prices start at ₩38,000 (US$34) for a lunch and a movie ticket. The dinner prices start at ₩60,000 (US$53).
B5 CGV Apgujeong, 602 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 신사동 602 CGV압구정 지하5청); +82 2 3445 0541; www.cinedechef.com
9. Secret Cinema, Worldwide
This may be stretching the concept of the movie theater since Secret Cinema does not host events in a single physical space -- the location is determined by the movie screened.
Secret Cinema is a London-based group that organizes monthly movie events shrouded in mystery. Patrons are told not to reveal the location or even the movie screened.
Once you register, you are told the day of the screening to gather at a predetermined location. From there hired actors put on a live-action version of scenes from the movie before the finale, a theatrical showing of the movie itself.
Tickets from US$50; +44 0207 739 6055; www.secretcinema.org
10. The Castro Theatre, San Francisco, United States
The term "movie palace" was coined to describe the elaborately designed theaters that sprung up in the first half of the 20th century in the United States.
Opened in 1922, the Castro Theatre is one of the last vestiges of that bygone era still in operation. Its Mexican cathedral-inspired façade continues to captivate tourists and moviegoers.
With the decadence of its lobby and auditorium, and the attention to detail in the wet plaster motifs on either side of the screen, the Castro presents simply what new technologies are attempting to mimic -- the pleasure of the movie-watching experience.
429 Castro Street, San Francisco, California 94114, USA; +1 415 621 6120; www.castrotheatre.com
Read more on CNNGo: 10 of the world's ugliest buildings
First published February 2012, updated April 2013


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AMBLER, Pa. – The Monmouth baseball team scored three runs in the ninth to tie the game, and three in the tenth to take the lead in a 7-4 win over Temple on Sunday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field. MU trailed by three heading to the ninth, and scored three runs with one out to tie things before adding three in the extra frame to sweep the weekend series from the Owls. Monmouth wins it's fourth game in a row to improve to 14-21 this year, while Temple drops to 12-24.
Craig Sweeney (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) hit a two-run single with one out in the ninth inning to tie the game, and Steve Wilgus (Woolwich, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) went 4-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI for MU. Chris McKenna (Pine Beach, N.J./Toms River South) went four innings as the starter for Monmouth, allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out three. Ricky Dennis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) was excellent in relief, allowing just two hits in three scoreless innings. Jeff Paglione (Mantua, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) got the win, allowing one hit in two innings and closing the door after MU took the lead in the tenth.
Temple started Ryan Kuehn, and he went six innings, allowing just one run on five hits. After getting scoreless innings from both Preston Hill and Connor Staskey, Zach Batchelor allowed three ninth inning runs and Tim McCarthy allowed three in the tenth to get the loss. Robert Amaro added two hits and two RBI's for the Owls.
Trailing 4-1 heading to the ninth, Jon Guida (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) reached on Reyn Sugai's fielding error, and two batters later, Joe Bamford (Washington, N.J./Northampton C.C./Warren Hills Regional) singled through the left side. Wilgus put a single up the middle to load the bases, and Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) worked out a walk to plate a run and make it a 4-2 Temple lead. With one down and the bases loaded, Sweeney took a 2-1 offering through the left side to score two, and MU had come back from three runs down to tie the game in their final at-bat.
In the tenth inning of a tie game, Connor White (Wall, N.J./Wall) was hit by a pitch leading off. He was bunted to second, and Guida singled to move him to third. Robbie Alessandrine (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) dropped down a bunt for a base hit, scoring White to give Monmouth the lead. Wilgus followed with his fourth hit of the day, an RBI single to left center, and Gronsky added another insurance run with a single to center to cap off MU's three-run tenth.
Temple got on the board in the third when a Daniel Dragos leadoff triple turned into a run on Bobby Heitzman's fly out. The Owls padded their lead to 3-0 in the fourth, getting a Derek Peterson leadoff double and a one-out double from Amaro to score him. The next batter, Frank D'Agostino, tripled down the right field line to chase home Amaro to put Temple up three.
The Blue and White got on the board in the fifth, sparked by Alessandrine's one out single. Bamford drew a walk and Wilgus singled, and Alessandrine scored when Kuehn delivered a wild pitch. The Owls got that run back in the bottom of the eighth when three consecutive singles plated Jimmy Kerrigan to put the Owls up 4-1.
Paglione allowed a one out walk to David Hall in the ninth but got Sugai to hit into a double play to end the threat. He surrendered a hit and a walk in the tenth but allowed nothing to cross in collecting his first win of the season.
The Hawks return to action on Tuesday with a matchup at Hofstra before returning home on Wednesday to take on Rutgers.


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May 21, 2008 at 10:42 am #1229075
Curtis WareBPL Member
@ware_curtisLocale: Midwest
Fellow Scouts,
Our two crews that are going to Philmont in August are experimenting with using large cozys and Gallon Freezer bags to cook their meals. Has anyone had success or failure with this "Freezer Bag" approach? Some of the adult leadership and Crew Leaders have been to Philmont before and they are trying to lighten load and get away from the dreaded Pot cleaning.
They are trying out the new large cozy next weekend. I will post trip report and pictures when they get back.May 21, 2008 at 11:08 am #1434277
Michael CrosbyBPL Member
@djjmikieLocale: Ky
As it happens, we are lucky enough to have 2 ladies that specialize in freezerbag cooking as members of this forum.
See http://www.freezerbagcooking.com
and http://www.aforkinthetrail.comMay 21, 2008 at 2:48 pm #1434336
Phil BartonBPL Member
@flyfastLocale: Oklahoma
Curtis, there's a discussion about bag cooking right here in the Philmont forum — http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/13413/index.html?skip_to_post=99911#99911
There are a number of crews that have adopted bag cooking. Works great. Uses less fuel. Minimizes clean up.May 25, 2008 at 4:44 pm #1434887
Don't hesitate to ask questions!
Btw…for big groups the turkey bags (or roaster/oven bags/crock pot liners) may work better. They can hold quite a bit – especially if you are cooking for 3-4 people at a time.
In some ways though doing meals for 2 at a time can be easier and work out better.
All you'd need to do is boil up water and share the water.Jun 5, 2008 at 7:38 am #1436677
Okay Philmont Experts:
Typically, when we go as a group we do the following:
Break down dehydrated food into individual serving sizes
Heat water (usually a pot that can heat enough water for 4)
Empty food into a lightweight plastic cup or container
Cover with tinfoil and wait the prescribed amount.
No cooking in bag. Just one cup to clean.
I am thinking of doing the same at Philmont with the 12 of us. This will eliminate the need for bringing turkey bags, no one will have to scoop out of the bag and there will be no bag to dispose of other than the bag the food is originally provided to us.
Cleaning will be the same since everyone has to eat out of something.
Any flaws in my plan. Since many of you plan on turkey bagging what part am I missing?
ScottJun 5, 2008 at 8:54 am #1436692
Just make sure your container you use is rated for microwave and dishwasher use so it can handle hot water.
If you want to go that route, well your better off to hand out individual servings and have the boys make them in insulated mugs. But….make sure they clean them right so you don't get mold and funk!Jun 5, 2008 at 11:53 am #1436738
We get the kids to use either a cottage cheese tub or a large drink cup from a fast food restaurant. Serving goes in, water goes in, alum foil on top and wait. Just clean when done. No extra bags.
Does anyone else use this at Philmont? When we get there will we have a problem using this method with the Philmont Rangers?
ThanksJun 5, 2008 at 6:14 pm #1436808
It should work. The only 2 problems I see are if you got the right serving, or if the tubs / cups are stout enough to be packed for 12 days.Jun 6, 2008 at 1:48 pm #1436921
Yea, I have to make sure the cups are stout enough. I'll use both methods on the shakedown hikes and let the troop decide. I think it would be nice not to have to carry out more dirty bags than necessary.Jun 6, 2008 at 3:21 pm #1436940
This is a general question of food distribution, principally dehydrated dinners. I understand that you get your allotment of food at the beginning and resupplies.
Do the dehydrated meals come broken down for 2 people for example, or are they bagged in bulk for the entire crew (12 in our case)?
I bring this up because Mike mentioned portions. I guess it would be easier if the food came in bulk to cook it in a turkey bag instead of breaking it down to individual portions.
Do other cooked foods, basically oatmeal, come in bulk for the entire crew, or do they come individually packaged.
Once again, thanks for your replies.Jun 8, 2008 at 9:53 am #1437193
Curt WardMember
Each of your meals come packaged for two people. At breakfast we boiled the water and let each person add hot water to thier own individual bag of oatmeal. The lunches are all no cook. At dinner we combined all the packages to a common turkey bag and added the correct amount of water. It worked great in 2006 and we will do the same in 2008.
Only 25 days till we depart:)Jun 9, 2008 at 1:14 pm #1437405
Mark WhiteMember
Reynolds makes a Turkey bag and a smaller Roasting bag. Is the smaller Roasting bag large enough? I'll be using the Philmont pots so I have no way to test.
Depart in 19 days….Jun 9, 2008 at 2:40 pm #1437420
Curt WardMember
Use the Turkey bags. They are more heavy duty and less likely to split. With a full crew you will need the space they offer.
2008 Trek 705KJun 9, 2008 at 4:14 pm #1437441
I'd agree on the turkey bags – they are bit heftier :-)Jun 23, 2008 at 1:50 pm #1439686
I am wondering how you get the food. Someone answered me that it comes ready for 2 persons, however, how much packaging comes with it. Do the freeze dried meals come in the vacuum sealed pouches or are they broken down by the Philmont staff and placed in zip locks?
If the freeze dried food does come in vacuum bags do people open them up and put them in their own smaller, less bulky and lighter bag? Also, can you get rid of that type of trash on the trail at the campsites?
I talked to someone the other day at REI that has been on 2 Philmont treks. He was quite proud of his 47 pound pack. I tried to interest him in some ways to lighten the load but said it can't be done the "Philmont way".
By the way; how many cooking pots would you take (4 or 6 quart) if you were turkey bagging. I assume 2, 1 to boil for cooking and 1 to boil for clean up.
Thanks in advance for your responses.Jun 23, 2008 at 7:33 pm #1439741
Scott, to your questions:
If you want to be the uber-Philmont-minimalist, then you'd dump about 1/2 the packaging to save about 2 ounces per meal for 12, not worth the effort for most I'd imagine. Where you can save a little more weight is to dump what you don't want/won't eat (ie "Gorp").
I don't think the bags are vacuum packed, but they are freeze dried / rehydrate meals, they are in plastic bags, not zip lock. You can get rid of the packaging and other trash when you get to the next staffed camp.
47 lbs is probably about average. We saw 2 trekkers in 2006 that were very proud (on day 1) of their 80 and 84 lb packs. We saw 1 of them later and he was really dragging (but this was not the guy that was carrying the 12" cast iron frying pan and fresh eggs for the whole trip in a cooler). (My pack was 24 lbs to start with 1 L of water (short hike to 1st stop with known water, and only 2 days of food). Doug Prosser and Phil Barton are probably in that same range, and I expect they are well equipped "The Philmont Way".
We're taking two 4 qt pots with turkey bags, both to boil water for 2 different components of dinner. Once the water is boiled, we pour it into the turkey bag, followed by the food. The bag sits in a cozy which gives it support and minimized heat loss.
Cleanup of the pots is to dump out any remaining water.
When finished, the turkey bag is human sumped, meaning someone licks it clean, then it goes into the trash bag.
While another piece of plastic in the trash is regretable, the amount of effort it takes to clean a pot with spaggetti reminants is likely much greater :)
When do you leave?
MikeBJun 23, 2008 at 9:45 pm #1439771
Our trek starts July 22. Train from LA on July 20th.
Thanks for the info. We have a shakedown hike this weekend and I want to get some of the details down. Philmont food seems quite heavy.
I guess the 47 lb. pack was not bad.
Thanks for the info.
ScottJun 24, 2008 at 12:57 am #1439779
Roger CaffinModerator
@rcaffinLocale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe
> While another piece of plastic in the trash is regretable, the amount of effort it takes to clean a pot with spaggetti reminants is likely much greater :)
Not in my experience. I cook (& simmer) IN the pot (for 2), and dispense with the bags completely. Washing up – a quick rinse is usually enough.
I really can't see why you have to decant the water from a perfectly good cooking pot in the first place. Weird.Jun 24, 2008 at 5:59 am #1439804
Hi Roger,
is it possibly because they also use the meat sauce from Philmont as the basis for super glue??? :)
We've done it both ways, and the turkey bagging was easily much faster. Also, you can use the turkey bag for the trash bag, which saves the petroleum in the large black plastic bag for high test gas, thusly and proportionally reducing the overall global petroleum demand. <(;-)Jun 24, 2008 at 7:16 am #1439810
Phil BartonBPL Member
@flyfastLocale: Oklahoma
The big thing about turkey bag cooking in my mind is that I'm not washing dishes. Actually that responsibility belongs to the young guys on our Philmont crew. They don't want to wash dishes any more than I do. For the cost of a turkey bag (about 0.4 oz or 11g) we eliminate an irksome chore. The extra weight for our crew of 9 is negligible. In the end we have a happier crew and a little more time for the fun stuff at Philmont.
Scott, there are some fellow Scouters that are outspoken skeptics that anyone can hike at Philmont with a light pack. I appreciate Mike's confidence. I am a first-timer at Philmont this year, crew 710-B2. Our guys have been working hard to learn a lighter way of doing things. I am really looking forward to our trip.
Our cook kit is:
2 x MSR WindPro stoves
6 x 227g fuel canisters
2 x GSI 2qt aluminum pots with lid
1 x long handle plastic spoon
1 x 12"x12" fiberglass screen (for sump)
1 x 4oz bottle Dr Bronner's soap
We have found that heating 4 quarts of water on the 2 stoves is fast and easy. We use a cup to scoop water for cleaning dishes.
Our entire cook kit weighs less a lot less than the standard Philmont issue. A larger crew will need bigger pots. We have used this on our shakedown hikes.
Then because I won't go without coffee I am also carrying a SnowPeak Trek900 pot and foil lid. I filter cowboy coffee with a MSR coffee filter basket. Mmmmm.Jun 24, 2008 at 2:24 pm #1439873
Your comment about people looking down on lightweight packers is funny but true. I've packed a lot of ways and have found packing light to be much more fun for me. I remember getting to camp at times with a heavier pack and couldn't wait to plop that bag down on the ground. Many times I will get to a camp and not even notice I have my pack on since it fits well and just isn't that much of a bother. I prefer the lightweight side through experience.
My question this time is: we have a shakedown this weekend. I want to show them how the sump works but I don't really understand it completely. I would imagine you are supposed to strain any extra food on the frisbee and then I guess you could either burn or pack out that food. I guess it would be for leave no trace and bears. Do I have the concept right? Is there that much to strain after some fine scout has licked the bag clean?
Thanks again. This site has helped us prepare for Philmont and its "ways".Jun 24, 2008 at 2:45 pm #1439874
Roger CaffinModerator
@rcaffinLocale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe
I am not sure how you get from Philmont meat sauce to a CYANO-acrylate, and don't want to know! I didn't think their food was that bad …
I note the bit about washing up. After dinner I put a cup of water in the used cooking pot, add 2 drops of 'green' detergent, and warm it up. Then I wash all the cutlery we have (2 spoons, two knives), our 2 cups, our 2 bowls and finally the cooking pot itself, using a 2"x3" sponge (a few grams). My wife dries with a little cut-down tea towel as I pass things to her. This way we stay clean and healthy for months on end. The tea towel dries on a pack in the day.
Trash bag – we use ONE second-hand bread bag for wet things like tea bags. It goes in a small nylon stuff sack which takes all the (shaken out and folded up) dry packages left over from the soup and freeze-dry. A 6" x 8" stuff sack will hold all our rubbish for a week, easily. And that is about as much weight of food as I normally want to carry.
Freezer bag cooking is not really used in Europe or Australia. Too messy for our liking.
CheersJun 24, 2008 at 4:41 pm #1439903
Bob BankheadBPL Member
@wandering_bobLocale: Oregon, USA
In bear country – like the Sierras – I use a Watchful Eye Designs OP (odor proof) sack for a trash bag, and I don't try to cram it into the bear can.
I'll wash out dehydrated dinner packaging, but refuse to try to wash the smell out of all my empty candy/energy bar wrappers and the like. And after 2 hot days on the trail, even the best washed trash begins to odiforate.
I've had Yosemite bears actually walk right past it in the dark and not notice it.Jun 24, 2008 at 7:10 pm #1439923
Jim ColtenBPL Member
@jcoltenLocale: MN
My question this time is: we have a shakedown this weekend. I want to show them how the sump works but I don't really understand it completely. I would imagine you are supposed to strain any extra food on the frisbee and then I guess you could either burn or pack out that food. I guess it would be for leave no trace and bears. Do I have the concept right? Is there that much to strain after some fine scout has licked the bag clean?
Scott, I think I have the entire routine. Last year was my first trip, I'm not certain our ranger gave us the whole story … but I've heard it many times from other more experienced folks.
Your crew is issued:
* a scotchbrite style scrub pad that you cut into a dozen postage stamp size pieces
* approx quart sized ziplock style bags
* campsuds
* one "rubber bowl scraper"
* the dreaded frisbee
After the evening meal:
* one or more scouts pick the cook pot clean (eating as they go)
* heat some water in the cook pot
* pour a little hot water into each crew member's bowl/cup/whatever. They use that to loosen food particles and then drink the water (human sump). I avoided that by using a folding bowl and licking it clean (a habit that I have to watch myself lest I do it back in town)
* two drops of camp suds into the cook pot (still has hot water in it)
* use one of the postage stamp scrub pads to wash personal gear and cook pot
* pour the wash water thru the frisbee into the sump
* use the bowl scrubber to remove any food particles from the frisbee … place the particles and scrub pad into a ziplock bag … place ziplock into your garbage bag
The next meal you'll start by bringing water to a boil and dipping all personal eating gear in it.
Concerning heavy packers "looking down on ultralighters" … in reality, you'll be likely be looking down on them from above after you've walked past them resting on long climbs. I am far from fast and I wasn't even our crew's habitual caboose but we passed multiple other crews most days and were rarely passed.Jul 3, 2008 at 8:43 pm #1441433
tkkn cBPL Member
@tkkncLocale: Desert Rat in the Southwest
This is an example of a Philmont meal.
This is the meal unpacked.
You can order the meals from Philmont in the fall. I would suggest ordering the meals, so your crew can practice.
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One of my Hollywood faves, Emma Stone, will play alongside her true-life boyfriend Andrew Garfield in this summer's much-anticipated film The Amazing Spider-Man (in theaters NOW!). And I use the phrase 'much-anticipated' broadly— because many of us anticipate epic fails in abundance while others are legitimately excited to see what Emma and Andrew (and the rest of the cast) make of the story. This role represents something very different for Emma. While we still expect to see a little Stone-sian snark in the character of Gwen Stacy we also know that she'll be a bit more reserved and vulnerable. The bottom line is that she'll be a blond damsel in distress, and that's not something we're used to seeing from Emma's strong, outspoken characters.
Which is why I think we should be excited. The truth is Emma took on a different role in The Help and I was totally skeptical until I saw the film, which was in many ways a comedic piece because of Emma's style. The girl who got her start in Superbad has the chops to pull off just about anything and I can't wait to see where her career takes her—and us. Fans are never really fans of change but I rocks with Emma and I embrace whatever future changes come about in her roles, appearances, and whatever elses. She's an artist and she's starting to do what artists should do; just about everything. Can't be mad at that.
Thus Team Emma (aka Shannon) presents
The Top Five Reasons To Love Emma Stone [IR]REGARDLESS of How The Amazing Spider-Man Turns Out:
1.Emma got her big break in a little gem called Superbad. Before we had all of these funny/quirky/sexy/smart girl leads, there was Jules:
And PITNBrs ausettofegypt and BradywantsMoore were quick to remind me (thanks guys!) that after Jules, Emma continued delivering the funny/quirky/sexy/smart girl as Olive in Easy A.
2. ASOS is one of my favorite places ever, as many of you know. It's hard to explain. Just go here (later!) and click dresses; live there for a while. Anyway, it was just brought to my attention (by JustJared) that Emma posed for ASOS Magazine a while back. Don't know how I missed this but Emma + ASOS = Shannon gets a Toofer (i.e. 30 Rock)
3. Her real name is Emily Jean. She's from Arizona. And she's BFFs with Taylor Swift. Those three facts count as one reason to join Team Emma because they all fall under the category of "friggen adorable."
4. The Look: She's a natural blonde and she's always had someone on her glam squad who knows to work the ish out of her makeup.
5. Uhhh, seen the Gangster Squad trailer lately?


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A dark shade of grey ups the ante on denim-and-tee looks. Play up the trend with our latest jeans in the sexy fit you know and love.
• Low rise
• Slim fit
• Tapered leg
• Five pocket construction
• Zip fly
• Back pocket embroidery
• 9 ¾" front rise
• 14" back rise
• 15" leg opening
• 30" inseam
• 75% Cotton, 23% Polyester, 2% Spandex
• Machine wash
Measurements taken from a size 32x30
TITAN RAW WASH: This style is offered in a medium/heavy weight comfort stretch denim that has a smooth hand feel and a grey warp w/ a black fill yarn texture. The grey cast wash has subtle contrast with a clean finish with the fabric set on the reverse side.
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Orders are shipped via UPS using the following rate scale:
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|5-7 Business Days
|Second Day*
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Business days are limited to Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. PST. We do not ship on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays and we do not ship to P.O. Boxes. Please allow an average of one additional business day for processing and note that your order may be shipped in multiple packages at no extra charge to you.
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While we take pride in all our GUESS products, if you are not satisfied with your online purchase we are happy to assist you with a return by mail or at a store location closest to you.
Please view our Return & Exchange policy here.


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Doug McManaman used a golf putter to knock a golf ball through a loop
made of a sliced car tire 92.83 feet (1,114 inches) away.
DougMcManaman used a putter to knock a tennis ball through a car tire
90.25 feet (1,083 inches) away.
Neil Moallem putted a beach ball 1008 inches.
Stride's setting 100 records in 100 days. At the end of 100 days, we'll
verify if you are the standing Record Holder. If you are, you'll get
$500 for each record you managed to hold with your guile, talent, and
sheer will.
General caution and common sense required. We show the Stride Team at
work, but recommend that these challenges be done at home.
Doug McManaman balanced a golf ball on top of a putter held in one hand
for four minutes, 43.72 seconds.
Doug McManaman balanced a golf ball on a putter held in one hand for
four minutes, 44.48 seconds.
Brian Pankey completed 60 bounces of a golf ball on a putter while balancing on a rola bola.
Brian Pankey bounced a golf ball on a putter 21 consecutive times while juggling two balls in his other hand.
Brian Pankey bounced a beach ball on aputter1,445times.
Ryan N. completed 379 consecutive golf ball bounces on the face of a putter.
Brian Pankey bounced a beach ball on a putter 307 times.
Wil Zambole, with the assistance of Carl Cutler, balanced 32 dice on a
putter face with the putter held parallel to the ground. This record was
set during a live episode of Subterranean on WRLR, 98.3 FM.
Brian Pankey completed eight Eisenhower silver dollar coin rolls while bouncing a golf ball on a putter.
Doug McManaman received 57 high fives while balancing a golf putter on his chin. The record was set during a meeting of Amherst Legion in Nova Scotia, Canada.
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The very lovely Mary Louise Parker.
I swear Mickey Rourke changes his face everyday.
Rose McGowan taking selfies as a way to stay relevant.
Simon Cowell gives a thumbs up after his 11am orgasm.
Selena Gomez looks like she had her wisdom teeth pulled.
Scarlett J doing some press for her new movie. Loose top.
Sarah Jessica Parker makes like she is 19 with her clothes.
Sienna Miller attends a memorial service.
Zac Efron heads off to his car. Blames drinking and drug use on night terrors he had after having sex with Lindsay Lohan. Totally understandable.


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Candi...you are one do the brave ones to branch out with different colors. I really like what you have.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Candi...you are one do the brave ones to branch out with different colors. I really like what you have.
"Kindness is the oil that smooths the frictions in life"
My etsy Store:
Love your colours Candi and great idea to wait and audition a constant. I went with Bonnies colours which are my favourites anyway. Really pleased with the way it is coming along, first time I have been able to keep up.
I am not as brave yet and did mine in the colors Bonnie selected. But I have caught up and can now relax.
Dreaming of New England while being stuck in So. Calif.(the asphalt jungle of the world.) But hey the Happiest Place on Earth is here.
Most of you know I'm having a problem with my cp..JeanieG has helped me..Thanks Jeanie...sooo, today I typed in the web address from last week and just changed the # from 3 to 4 and It worked!!!! I am so happy...
I love what everyone is doing. I didn't work on step 3 at all, so I'm really behind. Hope to catch up this weekend.
Step 4 is up: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/ She states this is an easy step since we are getting close to Christmas, but really? 64 flying geese is easy?!?!?! Not in my book. But I am enjoying the mystery of all this.
LOL..I hear ya. I am too enjoying the mystery of this..going for a walk and after I come back I will cut and maybe stitch a few geese.
"Kindness is the oil that smooths the frictions in life"
My etsy Store:
If I had seen a pattern like that in a magazine I would have skipped right past it! Now I really like this kind of thing!
When you are pressing the flying geese, do you press towards the outside triangles or the big triangle to get the best looking flying geese?
The Potomac Quilter
Innova 26 with Lightning Stitch and Autopilot


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Oilers earn 4-3 win
Both teams have injuries.
Both teams have young and/or inexperienced players in the lineup.
But Edmonton, completing a six-game road trip, wanted it more than your Montreal Canadiens, who dropped a second consecutive game for the first time in the young season.
After Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher staked the home team to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, the visitors scored four unanswered goals to take control.
Ales Hemsky got Edmonton on the board 13 minutes into the middle period, and Ladislav Smid made it 2-2less than three minutes later.
The visitors took control on third period goals by Jeff Petry and Ryan Jones. With Carey Price pulled for a sixth attacker, Brian Gionta tipped one past Devan Dubnyk with a second left on the clock.
Each team had 32 shots on goal.
Oilers take control
Goals by Jeff Petry and Ryan Jones completed Edmonton's comeback from a 2-0 deficit.
With Carey Price on the bench and one second left on the clock, Brian Gionta made it 4-3.
Deuces wild
Two periods, two goals for each team.
Ales Hemsky was left unattended in the slot for a rising wrister to beat Carey Price and get Edmonton on the board almost 13 minutes into the period.
Less than two minutes later, Ladislav Smid jumped on a rebound and had an open net to tie things up.
The Oilers had a 16-11 shot advantage.
The Canadiens have been outscored 9-6 in second periods this season.
Late explosion
For almost 17 minutes, it was a scoreless and evenly played first period.
Then, on the Canadiens' second power play, Tomas Plekanec one-timed an Andrei Markov pass past Edmonton goaltender Devan Dubnyk for his fourth goal of the season.
Not two minutes later, Brendan Gallagher came roaring off the Canadiens bench on a line change, stole the puck and wristed his fifth past Dubnyk.
Interesting "fight" at the end of the period: Travis Moen and hulking Luke Gadzic (who had tried to goon Gallagher) squared off and removed their helmets – at which point the linesmen skated right in to halt the proceedings.
Crowd hated it, but it's smart officiating at a time when head injuries are drawing a lot of attention.
Canadiens outshot the Oilers 14-8 and won an astonishing 15 of 18 faceoffs.
Banged-up Canadiens host Oilers
Fewer than 10 games into the 2013-'14 season, your Montreal Canadiens have been decimated by injuries.
Defencemen Alexei Emelin, Douglas Murray and David Drewiske haven't played a game this season.
Top scorer Max Pacioretty is out, as are Brandon Prust, Daniel Brière and George Parros.
The D has been limping along with ancient Francis Bouillon playing more than 16 minutes per game and rookie Jarred Tinordi trying to keep up with NHL speed and skill.
Forwards Michael Blunden and Patrick Holland have been recalled from the woeful Hamilton Bulldogs.
Tuesday's visitors will be looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat the Canadiens inflicted on them in Edmonton 12 days ago, but the Oilers have their own injury issues. Sam Gagner and Taylor Hall are out.


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Stay connected with us to get the latest health and fitness news, innovative workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.
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ACE Fit Share
Nonfat milk and a bit of sharp Cheddar combine to make a rich sauce without all the butter usually found in gratins.
Nutrition Profile:
Diabetes Appropriate
Healthy Weight
High Calcium
Low Calorie
Low Carb
Low Cholesterol
Serves 4
Prep Time 30 min
Total Time 30 min.
Step 1
Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler.
Step 2
Bring cauliflower, 1 1/4 cups milk and salt to a boil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until the cauliflower is tender, about 5 minutes.
Step 3
Meanwhile, combine breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup cheese and oil in a small bowl. Whisk flour and the remaining 1/4 cup milk in another small bowl until smooth; stir the mixture into the pan and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup cheese, chives, mustard and pepper. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Broil until the top is crispy and beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Featured Workouts
Check out our 12-week fitness plan designed to boost your strength, endurance, muscle definition, energy level and overall health.
Flatten your stomach and build strength in the muscles that provide stability and mobility for the spine, pelvis, ribs and hips.
Focus on pulling, rotating and building strength with workouts created alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes.
This workout provides a challenging total-body workout that can be done from the comfort of home with no equipment other than bodyweight and space.


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Ben Johnson, The White House Watch
Before the invention of movable type, newspapers created a tablet for each page they wished to print and broke it at the end of the day. If the media wanted to conserve resources, they could simply fuse the words "The Obama administration lied" to the opening line of each day's edition and fill in the blank appropriately. This week alone, the press exposed Obama administration lies — in some cases under oath — about its stealth amnesty program for illegal immigrants and about whether airport x-ray scanners were tested for safety. Yet instead of focusing on the cascading batch of left-wing lies and misdirection, the media have trained their targets on Michele Bachmann's off-the-cuff comments about her hometown and Bristol Palin's first sexual encounter.
The administration's lies would come as no surprise to readers of this website. This author exposed both stories nearly a year ago.
Amnesty By Fiat
Susan Carroll of The Houston Chronicle opened her lead story on Monday with the words, "Homeland Security officials misled the public and Congress last year in an effort to downplay a wave of immigration case dismissals in Houston and other cities amid accusations that they had created a 'back-door amnesty,' newly released records show." The Chronicle reported that ICE Director John Morton released a memo last June instructing local immigration officials to dismiss pending cases against "thousands" of illegal immigrants who were set to be deported. Morton insisted ICE agents deport only the worst offenders, leaving all others in the country.
The Chronicle received a series of ICE documents in response to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. (You can read them here.) Carroll wrote, "It was unclear from the documents, some of which were heavily redacted, exactly how the Houston office handled cases involving illegal immigrants with criminal records."
Nonetheless, the number of case dismissals increased 40 percent during the last fiscal year.
Gary L. Goldman, ICE's chief lawyer in Houston, eagerly implemented the memo, releasing hundreds of illegals. He rescinded the order only August 25, after Morton's actions came to light.
Chris Crane, the president of the border agent union the National ICE Council….


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I have tried and I can get them into a respectable looking square but not as neat as I want them to be, LOL.
I have tried and I can get them into a respectable looking square but not as neat as I want them to be, LOL.
Well, Martha Stewart offered a way in her newspaper column about 10 years ago. I'd find a link -- only the only reason I remember this at all was because IT WAS SO UNBELEIVABLY CONVOLUTED YOU NEEDED AN ADVANCED DEGREE IN ENGINEERING FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE **** SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. It was quite funny handing the thing to people I knew and asking them if they could figure it out and they'd mime some motions, moving their arms around in the air based on their interpretation of the instructions, and then give up.Originally Posted by SeaniBu
As to the bed making thing -- I never saw the point. You're just gonna get back in it that night and mess it all up again anyway, and who spends that much time in the bedroom in the course of a day? I think it's one of those things that people get "indoctrinated" into when young -- if your parents (OK, who's kidding who? If your MOTHER ) made the bed every morning, then you, too, still make the bed every morning. (It would be interesting to take a survey on this) My grandmother, my mother's mother, tho an immaculate housekeeper, never saw the point in making the bed every morning, so my mother did not, and I don't either, and Mom never said one word about "make your bed!" when I was growing up. When staying with my other grandmother (my stepfather's mother), however -- EVERY BED IN THE HOUSE MUST BE MADE OR THE PLANET WILL STOP REVOLVING. So my aunt, her daughter, makes her bed every morning -- tho I don't actually recall her insisting that her children do so, tho then again my aunt was not the traditional mother either.
I must be the reverse psychology type of person on this...my mother insisted on bed's being made and i hated it because until i was 12 years old it wasn't a simple duvet, it was bottom (not fitted sheet), a flat sheet, a thin blanket and then an eiderdown, and had to be made beautifully to her standards! Eventually i got a simple duvet and the whole thing became less stressful for the pair of us but ever since i left home my bed remains unmade because i agree with the - what's the point of making your bed when you're going to get straight back in it at night and mess it up! No-one who comes visiting is going to go into my bedroom and see the unmade bed so i don't mind leaving it...my mother , of course, goes mad when i tell her!Originally Posted by JonnyCoop
I clipped and have somewhere the Martha Stewart article on how to fold a fitted sheet. I agree it was confusing and I did not get it. Well, I found the article about 6 months ago cleaning out a drawer and re-read it and figured it out. It worked pretty well but I don't remember what I was doing incorrectly before. I don't bother. I just fold it up and stick it in the closet.
My hubby's good about pitching in with the housework, laundry, dishes, vaccuming. There are some chores we don't "cross-over". I don't collect trash and he doesn't clean toilets. Works for me......... 442


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I should have put this here first instead of the general forum where there are so many who dont get treatment free.
I want to try something this year but before I do I would like some feedback. In an attempt to give my stock a better chance at surviving without treatment (chemicals) I am looking to order up "Survivor" trait queens and put the survivor queen in the package to be released in place of the queen that came with the package. (The replacement queen would be added the same day I get the package.) I have purchased "stock" packages of bees since beginning beekeeping and they simply dont last. Therefore I end up purchasing more bees each year. I want to attempt to upgrade my hives with queens that are bred to survive treatment free.
So two questions. Anyone see a problem with this? If so what would it be?
Second question - Can you suggest someone who sells "survivor" queens. I know of Oliverez (sp?) but would like to look into others just for comparison purposes.
Dont get hung up on the logistics of getting them both at the same time, I think I have that handled.


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Item #: STBUCKCRHB
- Home
- Product
- Recliners & Lounge Chairs
- Lounge Chairs Product/Recliners & Lounge Chairs/Lounge Chairs
- Stressless Buckingham Chair, Highback by Ekornes
Stressless Buckingham Chair, Highback by Ekorneswww.smartfurniture.com/products/Stressless-Buckingham-Chair-Highback-by-Ekornes.html?preset=STBUCKCRHB-QS-WALNUT-PALOMA SAND
| +
Product SpecificationsDimensions:
Overall: 40.5" h x 41.7" w x 31.9" d
Seat Height: 16.9" h
Materials & Fabrics:
To get a closer look at the upholstery options and wood finishes for the Stressless Blues Chair, visit our Ekornes Stressless Materials Library.
Overall: 40.5" h x 41.7" w x 31.9" d
Seat Height: 16.9" h
Materials & Fabrics:
To get a closer look at the upholstery options and wood finishes for the Stressless Blues Chair, visit our Ekornes Stressless Materials Library.
Inside Delivery: $215.60 per item
Stressless Buckingham Chair, Highback
by Ekornes
The Stressless Buckingham Chair is one of the latest in a long line of beautiful, modern recliners, chair, sofas and loveseats produced by Ekornes and loved and sold all over the world. The profound sense of comfort and balance you feel when you sit in the chair is it's undeniable signature, but the aesthetic achievement of the Highback Stressless Buckingham Chair, it's fingerprint, is all it's own.
The wooden legs and support structures of the chair are similar to other Ekornes creations, but none use the material quite so well or quite so prominently as the Buckingham Stressless Chair. With other models of the chair, the wood accents are beautiful but certainly not dominant, or really even equal, to the attention lavished on the leather upholstery. With the Buckingham, the wooden accents become a very serious piece of the aesthetic puzzle. They make the leather pop, but they also emerge on their own as well-designed, prominent and attractive features, not just accents. The legs of the highback chair are at an angle, and from the side seem to be pushing the chair upward, toward users. The structure of the chair itself, as per usual with a Stressless, is angled inward, inviting the user into a pocket of comfort. The combined effect is pleasing to the eye as well as the body, and the wooden structure holds up on it's own as a design piece.
Of course, that isn't to take anything away from the leather upholstery on the chair, which is typically rich, luxurious and well-made. It's also well designed, with a seamed look that separates the backing into separate rectangular zones without the use of visible "buttons" or focal points. The seams are seamless. The look of the leather-upholstered seat pan and back is simple but elegant, modern but classic. By refining the materials of the chair down to only a few rich elements, The Buckingham Stressless Chair has achieved a modern ideal, and by shaping those materials in a deft, simple and functional way, it has made itself into a classic. This is a chair that's meant to be used, not looked at in a museum. At the same time, were the Buckingham Stressless Chair displayed in such a venue, it would not seem out of place.
The Buckingham Stressless Chair is an extremely adaptable and varied piece of furniture. Aside from it's aesthetic and ergonomic success, it's meant to fit into any home, any room, and any lifestyle. The chair isn't just a chair; it can be a recliner. It can also be a loveseat or a sofa. In the loveseat and sofa iterations, each individual panel is designed to mimic the chair, and they each recline and operate independently of the others. When you throw in the Glide system, the Plus system and the 360 degrees of rotation, the chair begins to emerge as a true achievement, and a furniture staple throughout the world.
Already renowned as the most comfortable, supportive and ergonomic chair on the international market, the Buckingham Stressless Chair is proving Ekornes can also make the most beautiful.
Product features include:
- Stressless Glide System: simply adjust the Glide wheels to the setting you desire. You can automatically shift to any seating position by using your body weight.
- Plus System: automatically provides correct support for your head and lumbar area in all positions. The lower back support adjusts in parallel with the headrest, so you can enjoy perfect support, whether you are sitting in an upright or reclining position.
Also In This Collection
Materials & Measurements
Overall: 40.5" h x 41.7" w x 31.9" d
Seat Height: 16.9" h
Materials & Fabrics:
To get a closer look at the upholstery options and wood finishes for the Stressless Blues Chair, visit our Ekornes Stressless Materials Library.
About The Manufacturer
Comfort is the primary goal of the entire Stressless line. Since 1971, when they first introduced themselves to the world, Ekornes has been interested in bringing the world's most comfortable seating experience to a wider and wider audience.
Ekornes is a Norwegian company, and they made their name and reputation on the Stressless line of home furnishings. While the Stressless Recliner is undoubtedly their most significant product in a historical sense, the Ekornes Stressless Sofa concedes no ground when it comes to the three most important aspects of home furnishing design; comfort, support, and style. In this sense the sofas are not redundant products, but serious and inspired variations and continuations on a theme; total comfort, total relaxation, total balance and fit. The principles of the Ekornes lines were laid out in detail with the first recliners, but only with the advent of the Ekornes Stressless Sofa has the fullness of their vision come into clear focus.
Related Categories
Shipping & Delivery
Inside Delivery: $215.60 per item
Product Q&A
Q: The Stressless Buckingham Highback Chair seems a bit tall for me. Are there other sizes available?
A: Yes! The Stressless Buckingham Chair is available in a Lowback version.
Q: Are there coordinating pieces in the Stressless Buckingham collection?
A: The Stressless Buckingham collection also includes the following pieces:
Product Q&A
Do you have questions about this product?
Get answers from real customers and in-house experts with AnswerBox.
Q:What are the dimensions?Asked on 5/10/2015 by sdm7723
Know the answer? Answer this question
1 answer
A:The dimensions on the Stressless Highback BuckinghamChair are overall 40.5" h x 41.7" w 31.9" d with a seat height of 16.9" h.Answered on 5/10/2015 by Karen G. from Smart Furniture
Do you have a question about this product?
Frame: warranted for 10 years
Foam casings: warranted for 5 years
Wood base: warranted for 5 years
Leather/fabric: warranted for 1 year
Ekornes guarantees the internal mechanism of our recliners for a period of 10 years from the date of purchase of the product. The 10 year guarantee covers the Plusâ"¢-system and the internal metal frame, including the metal springs and gliding system. It does not cover damage to leather or woodwork or any faults or damage caused by the use of the product other than in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, as well as any faults or damage arising from any repairs made by any persons not authorized by the manufacturer.


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Original post by MikeTacularQuote:I beg to differ. The difference is readability. Intellisense makes it really easy to build a struct like that, because each time you access a member with '.', you get a nice, readable list of members. If you're trying to call the function with 34 arguments, when you write '(' intellisense is going to give you a boat load of parameters, many of which look like this: const std::string& parameterName. The const std::string& kills readability. And it's easy to forget which parameter your on, so one mistake can cause a huge ripple effect. You also suggest using comments to clarify the 34 parameters. Not only does that take time, but it requires the programmer to know exactly what all 34 parameters are and (here's the hard part) exactly what order they're in. With a struct, you can fill them in whatever order you like, and the member names are named reasonably so you shouldn't need any comments. Hence increasing productivity and readability.
Original post by trzy
There is certainly no performance advantage either way. Depending on how the rest of the API is designed, an information struct (or multiple structs) might make a lot of sense. But I could envision scenarios where it wouldn't be worth the hassle to create a struct (or God forbid, a class) where people would have to take extra care to make sure they initialized every member properly.
Personally, I don't use IDEs very often, so I can't rely on IntelliSense or similar features.