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With a single gallon of gas quickly approaching the price of a decent meal, it is reassuring to see someone fighting the problem from all angles. In a recent letter to Attorney General Brown, Congressman Jerry McNerney urged an investigation into gas station exploitation, following on reports from New Jersey revealing gross price inaccuracies, incorrect octane levels, and inefficient equipment throughout the state's pumping stations.
In a time when every cent counts, it becomes increasingly important that the advertised price of fuel is the same as what's on the receipt. Entire websites and news stories are dedicated to helping consumers find the cheapest gas in their area. Is this all for nothing? McNerney also insists that stations must provide the correct octane ratings, particularly when consumers specifically choose one octane level over another. With gas prices quickly emptying the pockets of Americans everywhere, particularly here in our district, it is appalling to hear that irresponsibility and abuse are playing major roles in what we pay at the pump.
Hopefully New Jersey will not be the only state to inspect the unjust and unnecessary price discrepancies citizens are forced to face, and our Attorney General listens to Congressman McNerney and his constituents when we say "enough is enough." Maryam Taeb, Pleasanton Shakespeare performance unforgettable
Dear Editor,
I wish to publicly thank the Pleasanton Civic Arts Commission for one of my family's most treasured summertime experiences--Free Shakespeare in the Park.
We have been attending the SF Shakes performances since my now 12-year-old son Mark was 5. Seven years later, we cannot imagine a summer without taking in at least one of their delightful performances. This year was no exception. We saw "Pericles" on the first Sunday before opening night and were so delighted, we returned last Saturday for a second look. We walked away once again so thrilled and impressed with the quality and delivery of "Pericles", we plan on returning this Sunday for their last performance in Pleasanton. Each time we brought a different set of friends to share the experience with us.
I cannot adequately express how much joy and fun memories we have accumulated over the last seven years of Free Shakespeare in the Park. Know that our hearts are grateful, our minds expanded and even our souls have been touched. Thank you Civic Arts for bringing SF Shakes to our park every summer. Looking for many more years of joy. Cie Probst, Pleasanton Stick to good, small town news
Dear Editor,
I don't get it. We live here in this beautiful community with so much good going on and all you can slap on the cover of our small town community newspaper is a molestation story, ("Stronger Now," Cover Story, page 8, July 11).
My heart hurts for the families that had to go through what they did but I cannot believe this is what I had laying on my coffee table when I came home. I was packing up the Weekly to take on our vacation to snap our family picture holding the paper. Yeah....this is what I want my three children holding in our photo. I know you took a lashing after you put the "Murder in Castlewood" story on your cover a few months back. One would have thought you have realized that this kind of stuff is not what people are looking forward to reading in our small town community paper. My visiting friends who are looking to move to Pleasanton did not find this very welcoming. Thank goodness we were able to take them to Concerts in The Park last night to leave them with a much better feeling about Pleasanton than your paper. Kristin McAfee, Pleasanton


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Our expert florists can design and create beautiful floral arrangements for bespoke weddings. "Vintage Couture" has been created by Kate Ward from Louise Florist in Scarborough - for similar requirements find your local expert florist to discuss how they can help you on your special day.
It's nice to know that there are some adventurous brides who are choosing to move away from the traditional white wedding dress in favour of something more unusual and individually styled. It follows that these brides will also be looking for something a little different for their wedding flowers.
The choice of colours and the flowers reflect the material in the dress and the textures of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where the tartan comes from.
A contemporary bouquet set against the background of a tartan rich in tradition. Delicate heads of muscari and hydrangea have been glued onto the frame together with pieces of snake grass and lime green birch twigs.
This stately design took inspiration came from the bride's dress. Ornithogalum heads, freesia buds and lime green beading reflect the detail from the willow green and ivory satin corset of the bride's 17th century inspired dress.
Crystal Blush Zantedeschia decorate the outside of the cone, bound with Typha grass and ribbon and there is the unusual addition of Staghorn Fern used both on the outside and inside of the design.

subset: commoncrawl


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VW unveiled the automaker's new small rear engined up! in Frankfurt this week. Adrian Hallmark, head of Volkswagen of America, has confirmed that the US is also interested in the car.
Rising gas prices have forced many Americans to think smaller. This in turn has prompted many automakers to release new and exciting small fuel efficient vehicles. Next year Daimler's Smart car is going to finally be sold in the US. It remains to be seen if the incredibly small two seater will actually win American hearts or if it will be deemed "too small".
VW is also interested in gaining market share in this segment, so the new up! production model could make it to the US. The up! would have an advantage over the Smart, since it seats four people. A possible sedan version of the up! could also be available when the production model bows in a few years.
When the car goes on sale in Western Europe it will go for about 8,000 euros and in emerging markets it will range from 5,000 to 7,000 euro.
The automaker has also confirmed that there will be two more concept versions of the car that are going to be revealed at the upcoming Tokyo and LA Auto Shows this fall.
Full Story: Autoblog
Related Stories:
Volkswagen up! Concept Revealed...VW Returns to Its Roots
Reserve Your Very Own Smart ForTwo for $99 Bucks!
The Smart ForTwo is Going to Have Start-Stop Technology That Will Hopefully Save Even More Gas!
When is Small too Small? Are the New Microcars Too Micro for U.S. Tastes?
|« Previous
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|Assistant Coach
(updated April 2017)
Video: Dennis Gates - I've Only Just A Minute /
One of the best recruiters in the ACC and one of the main reasons Florida State has revitalized its pipeline to the NBA, Dennis Gates is in his sixth season as a member of Leonard Hamilton's coaching staff at Florida State. The Seminoles are recruiting at a level never before seen in Tallahassee and Gates' tireless efforts as a national and worldwide recruiter has helped the Seminoles recruit the nation's top talent to Tallahassee.
Because of Gates' incredible ability to build lasting relationships, Florida State's current recruiting class of Jonathan Isaac, Trent Forrest, Mfiondu Kabengele and CJ Walker is ranked No. 8 nationally in 2016. The Seminoles' 2015 class of Dwayne Bacon, Malik Beasley, Terance Mann and Christ Koumadje was ranked as high as the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation. Beasley was the first one-and-done player in school history and was a first round draft choice of the Denver Nuggets in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Gates' ability to recruit star basketball players since joining Hamilton's staff in 2011 is evident when one scans Florida State's current roster. Nearly half of the players on the Seminoles' roster for the upcoming season were ranked in the nation's top 100 players when they were recruited including Isaac (No. 9), Bacon (No. 22), junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes (No. 24), Forrest (No. 45), junior Phil Cofer (No. 56), senior Jarquez Smith (No. 63), CJ Walker (No. 82), and Mann (No. 94).
Gates connects with players and families like very few college basketball coaches can. It's his ability to connect with a recruit and then help them reach the next level of basketball during their collegiate careers that makes Gates so incredibly successful.
With Gates on the staff, the Seminoles have firmly established themselves as the third-winningest program in the ACC in the last 11 years (since the 2005-06 season) in total wins (233). The Seminoles are joined by only Duke and North Carolina as the three teams who have won more than 60 percent of their ACC games in the last 11 seasons.
Gates was an integral member of the Seminoles' coaching staff in 2012 when the Seminoles won the first ACC Championship in school history, played in the NCAA Tournament for the school-record fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament (also in 2012), finished the season ranked in the top 15 by the major polls, defeated an ACC-best six ranked teams, tied the school record for ACC wins with a 12-4 mark in ACC play, beat Duke and North Carolina twice each for the first time in school history, beat all four Tobacco Road teams in the same season for the first time and finished in the top 10 in the NCAA statistics in both field goal percentage defense and blocked shots.
One of the sharpest minds in college basketball, Gates was hired as a graduate assistant at Florida State in 2005. After stops at Marquette, Cal and in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, he coached at Northern Illinois in 2008 and was elevated to the position of associate head coach after just one season with the Huskies. At only 28 years of age, he became one of the youngest associate head coaches in all of college basketball. He was Northern Illinois' lead recruiter, coached the Huskie guards and helped numerous players earn All-Mid-American Conference and MAC All-Freshman honors during his two years there.
Gates has been instrumental in bringing in four consecutive top-15 ranked recruiting classes full of talent to Florida State and works daily to ensure that effort continues. In the last three recruiting cycles, Gates has helped recruit 10 players who were judged to be four- or five-star recruits including Jordan-Brand All-American Jonathan Isaac (a freshman on Florida State's 2016-17 team) and McDonald's All-American Dwayne Bacon (a sophomore on Florida State's 2016-17 team). He has helped assemble top ranked recruiting classes at each of his first four coaching stops -- Florida State, Cal, Nevada and Northern Illinois. The many players he has had a hand in recruiting have become the cornerstones of their respective programs and future NBA and professional players. His 2006 class at Cal included four top-150 recruits; Taylor Harrison, All Pac-10 guards Patrick Christopher, Jerome Randle and All Pac-10 power forward and 2008 NBA first-round draft pick Ryan Anderson. Following the 2006-07 season, Anderson was selected to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team. Malik Beasley, a freshman on Florida State's 2015-16 roster, was a first round selection of the Denver Nuggets in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Gates, who excelled as a combo guard during his playing career, has mentored the Seminoles' guards during his career in Tallahassee. He has worked with Luke Loucks (who set an ACC Tournament championship game record with 13 assists in the Seminoles' 2012 ACC Championship clinching victory over North Carolina), Ian Miller (who was named as the ACC's Sixth Man of the Year in 2014), Devon Bookert (one of the greatest shooters in school history), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (who earned All-ACC Freshman and All-ACC Honorable Mention honors in 2015) and Beasley (who was a first round NBA selection in 2016).
Gates has helped coach the Seminoles to four postseason appearances in his first five years at Florida State -- the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and to the NIT in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Gates helped the Seminoles reach the semifinals of the NIT in 2014 to mark only the second time in school history they had advanced to the Final Four of the NIT. He also helped coach Cal into the 2006 NCAA Tournament and Nevada into the 2010 NIT. As a player, Gates was a three-year team captain (and four-year varsity letterwinner) at Cal and led the Bears to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2002, the 1999 NIT title and the 2000 NIT Final Eight.
In his first season as an assistant coach at Cal the Golden Bears saw their win total increase from 13 (2004-05) to 20 (2005-06). In his first season as an assistant at Florida State, the Seminoles saw their win total increase from 23 (2010-11) to 25 (2011-12).
Gates began his career as a coaching assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers as a skill development coach during the 2002-03 season. He worked with a strong collection of players that included 10 prospects with three or fewer years of experience including future All-Stars Elton Brand and Lamar Odom. Brand finished the 2003 season as the Clippers' leading scorer with an 18.5 points per game average while Odom ranked third on the team with a 14.6 points per game average. Brand and Odom formed one of the NBA's highest scoring and best shooting front court duos in the NBA with Gates on the Clippers' staff. The Clippers finished in the top 10 in the NBA statistics for blocked shots, free throws made and free throws attempted.
With Malik Beasley's selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, Gates expanded his resume of developmental success to five NBA Draft selections. In addition to working with Beasley (who was named to the All-ACC Freshman team), Gates also worked with Bernard James (second round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012 / played three years with the Dallas Mavericks), has worked with power forward Leon Powe at Cal (second round pick of the Denver Nuggets in 2006) as well as Travis Diener (second round pick of the Orlando Magic in 2005) and Steve Novak (second round pick of the Houston Rockets in 2006) at Marquette. Gates worked with two NBA players during his coaching tenure at Nevada: Armon Johnson was a second round draft choice of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2010 and has played for the Trail Blazers and the New Jersey Nets while Luke Babbitt was the No. 16 overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Babbitt currently plays for the Miami Heat. Gates also coached Okaro White of the Heat during his Florida State career.
In each of his stops as an assistant coach, Gates has played a significant role in helping his teams improve statistically. Northern Illinois finished his second season (2008-09) ranked among the top five in six different statistical categories in the Mid-American Conference including third in scoring (66.2 ppg), third in three-point field goal percentage (34.7) and fourth in assists (12.4 apg). All were significant improvements from the 2007-08 campaign. The 2008-09 season saw the Huskies go 7-5 at home, their first winning record since the 2005-06 season. Overall, Northern Illinois improved its win total by four wins in Gates first season as the Huskies associate head coach. During his second season at Nevada, the Wolf Pack finished third in the league statistics in rebounding (36.8 rpg), fourth in blocked shots (3.7 bpg) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (.426). The Wolf Pack also ranked in the top 15 in the nation in scoring and field goal percentage, and broke school single-season marks for scoring and field goals made and attempted in 2010. In his two seasons as an assistant coach at Cal, the Bears averaged 18 wins a season and won 20 games in advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Florida State won 65 games in Gates' first three seasons under Hamilton – an average of 21.7 wins per season. In his first season at Florida State, he helped Florida State continue to stand as one of the nation's top defensive teams. Florida State finished fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense and seventh in blocked shots in 2012. The Seminoles defeated an ACC-high six ranked teams and defeated all four Tobacco Road teams in the ACC (Duke, North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest) in the same season for the first time in school history. In his second season, the Seminoles led the ACC in blocked shots and finished second in free throw shooting percentage. It marked the school-record fourth consecutive season the Seminoles had led the ACC in blocked shots while their second place finish in the team statistics in free throw percentage shooting marked an improvement of 10 positions in the league statistics. The Seminoles led the ACC in field goal shooting percentage in 2014 – the first time in school history they led the ACC in that category since joining the ACC for the 1992 season.
Gates was a graduate assistant at Florida State under Hamilton during the 2004-05 season - a year the foundation for the current Seminole program began to take shape. The Seminoles counted a victory over No. 3 Wake Forest in their win total. The Seminoles' win over the Deacons marked the third victory over a top five ranked team under Hamilton. Gates played a part in the development of future pros Al Thornton, Alexander Johnson and Von Wafer during his first season in Tallahassee with Thornton becoming only the second NBA Draft Lottery selection in Florida State history in 2007. Johnson and Wafer were second round NBA Draft selections.
Gates has learned the game from some of basketball's all-time greatest coaches including Hamilton who is one of the top 20 all-time winningest coaches in ACC history. He played and coached under Ben Braun at Cal (a finalist for the 2003 Naismith National Coach of the Year award), Tom Crean at Marquette (the 2012 National Coach of the Year by ESPN.com), Ricardo Patton at Northern Illinois and David Carter at Nevada. Braun has taken eight teams to the NCAA Tournament while Crean, the current head coach at Indiana, has guided eight teams to the NCAA Tournament including his 2003 Marquette team which advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Crean led Indiana to the 2013 Big Ten Championship and led the Hoosiers to an incredible 10 weeks at the No. 1 ranking during the 2012-13 season. Gates also worked under Alvin Gentry (current head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans) and the late Dennis Johnson while he was a coaching assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers.
During his playing career at Cal the Golden Bears compiled an 83-46 record, winning 20 games in a season three times. In 2002, the Bears reached the semifinals of the Pac-10 Tournament and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Gates was named to the All-Tournament team at the Golden Bear Classic in 2001 after hitting a three-pointer to beat Penn State, 76-73, in the closing seconds of the championship game. He played in 114 career games, started 34 games and finished his career with a scoring average of 3.8 points per game as well as 100 steals and 148 assists.
Gates was a two-time Pac-10 First Team All-Academic Team selection, was named Cal's Most Inspirational Player (2001) and was twice named the Bears' Outstanding Student-Athlete (1999 and 2001). In addition, he was awarded the 2002 Pac-10 Medal of Honor (given to the Pac-10 Universities Top Graduating Student-Athlete).
Gates' younger brother, Armon, is in his third season as a member of Chris Collins' staff at Northwestern. He helped guide the Wildcats to victories over NCAA Final Four participant Wisconsin and NIT Champion Minnesota during his first season at Northwestern in 2014. Armon has coached at Loyola of Chicago (two seasons, 2012-13), TCU (2011), Kent State (two seasons, 2009-10) and was a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky as he helped the Hilltoppers advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2008. As a player Armon led Kent State to an 88-42 overall record and three postseason appearances.
Gates earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Cal in just three years and played as a master's degree candidate in education during his senior campaign. He earned his Master of Science degree in adult education & human resource development from Florida State University in 2005.
Dennis Gates' Coaching Record
Assistant Coaching Record
|Overall Record
Conference Record
|NIT Quarterfinals
|Florida State
|Defeated No. 3 Wake Forest
|NCAA 1st Round
|Defeated No. 4 ranked UCLA; No. 15 ranked Oregon
|Northern Illinois
|Coached MAC Freshman of the Year
|Northern Illinois
|Coached two All-MAC selections
|NIT 1st Round
|Coached WAC Freshman of the Year
|Florida State
NCAA East Regional 3rd Round, ACC Champions
|Florida State
|NIT 1st Round
|Florida State
|NIT Semifinals
|Florida State
|Defeated No. 23 Miami (Fla.)
|Florida State
|NIT 2nd Round
|Florida State
|NCAA West Regional 2nd Round; ACC 2nd Place


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Although at first I did not take getting caught seriously, I came to realize it was hurting my family. They were disappointed in me and could be forced to pay more money if I got caught again. So I promised myself I would not do it again. Now I keep my art on paper.
Is it fair that graffiti artists should be afraid of getting arrested every time they create art? Graffiti is an art form, but to the public it seems like vandalism because it is mostly done on property that the artists do not own.
To avoid this conflict, we should have a designated place where artists can express themselves freely. The designated area would be a wall in a public park, or the side of an apartment building, or wherever the community thinks it is OK. This location should be some place where people could reach it easily. Both the public and the artists would benefit from having a designated place for art.
This artistic area would be important for the public because it would cut down on the graffiti in other places. It would be a relief for the artists to be able to express themselves freely without breaking the law. The public would benefit because the art would encourage people to think more about what is going on in the world. This place would be enjoyable for both the public to visit and the artists to create. The public would be fascinated to see imaginative art and the artists would be having fun doing their own designs.
This designated area for graffiti would be good for everyone, but many steps are needed to make it happen. First, there should be a community survey to find where this area could be located. Second, there should be a letter written to the City Council to see if this idea and specific area could be approved. In addition, guidelines on what could and could not be done would be required. Both the artists and the public would need to define the guidelines. Every once in a while they could meet again and see how these rules were working and, if needed, could change them.
Anyone could go to this "Art Wall" to express their art; not only graffiti artists but also painters, sketchers, poets or people who have a statement to make. This art wall would not be vandalism; it would be "fine art." To some beholders it would be fine art immediately, and over time more people might grow to appreciate these types of art. Also, over time, spectators could become creators and add to the ongoing process. The art wall would be like a free exhibit.
In my view, this art wall would bring the community and artists together, make graffiti art legitimate, and allow graffiti artists to create their art freely and openly.


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ATTORNEY-GENERAL John Rau says the Government would support the latest in a string of compromises on appointing an anti-corruption commissioner in a bid to pass ICAC laws before Parliament rises for the Christmas break.
MPs are deadlocked over who should have final say on the appointment of an Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
The Liberal Party want both houses of Parliament to approve the candidate, while the Government wants the Governor to sign off on the choice.
Late yesterday, Mr Rau said the government would support the latest compromise put by Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire, which would require all candidates to be scrutinised by Parliament's Statutory Officers Committee, but not the full houses of Parliament.
Mr Brokenshire had initially proposed sitting or former judges be exempt from any parliamentary scrutiny and all other candidates be approved by the committee, but that was not supported.
Opposition justice spokesman Stephen Wade said the Liberals would not support the latest proposal because "a government appointment confirmed by a government controlled committee" did not guarantee independence.
The ICAC laws are among a raft of contentious legislation to be debated in Parliament this week as MPs return for potentially the last sitting week of the year.
They have the option to sit again next week but that will not be decided until later this week.
Other contentious Bills which could pass this week would:
ALLOW police to use GPS tracking and other surveillance devices on more criminals and with less scrutiny.
PREVENT parents involved in family law disputes from recording their confrontations.
FORCE people to pay their own court costs in a police prosecution even if they are found not guilty.
ALLOW judges to offer unlimited sentencing discounts to criminals who provide information that can be used against outlaw organisations.
Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond said her team would be prepared to sit next week to deal with legislation.
Mr Rau said there was "plenty of time" to deal with all priority Bills this week.
Originally published as We'll do a deal on ICAC chief - Rau


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Flashabou TinselTail FlirtSkirt for visual appeal
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Swimming aciton imitates that of wounded baitfish
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With its vibrating Rock-R-Blade, shimmering Flashabou TinselTail FlirtSkirt, and Baitfish-Image profile design, the 10" Stud Finder is irresistible to muskie, pike, and stripers. The Rock-R-Blade chatters and violently shakes, causing the shimmering FlirtSkirt to trail with an erratic motion that mimics a live, wounded baitfish. Runs high over weed tops and laydowns. Equipped with two Mustad heavy-duty hooks. 10" long. Weighs 1-1/2 oz.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/4/2009 (3021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Liberia is a microcosm of the communications revolution that is sweeping Africa.
Many things have contributed to the growth of cellphone ownership, but the aftermath of its long civil war, competition and the need to communicate in new ways are the main driving forces.
The destruction of Liberia's fixed-wire land lines during the civil war has led to technological innovation and commercial competition. As the first civil war was drawing to a close in 1996 there were still some wire-based telephones in Liberia. However, the price of copper being high, the last of the telephone wires were vandalized. The election of Charles G. Taylor as president in the following year coincided with the introduction of mobile telephones by a company called Atlantic Wireless, which eventually became Liber Cell.
They dealt only with satellite phone services, which most people could not afford. In May 2001, President Taylor and other investors set up the Lone Star cellular network and began operating GSM (global system for mobile communications), which continues to offer telephone service throughout the republic today.
For rich and poor a cellphone has become an essential consumer item for many in Africa. Despite their relatively small population of 3.5 million, Liberians are part of this revolution. Evidence of this is the Liberian penchant of frequently contributing their opinions on current issues to BBC's World Have Your Say and other similar interactive radio programs using the SMS (small message system) feature on their mobile phones.
Liberians have acquired mobiles for even more serious reasons than entering into global radio conversations. The need to learn the fate of lost relatives and friends and to reunite families after the war was another reason why Liberians acquired cellphones. Cellphones are expensive. The device must receive a regular electrical charge costing 15 cents in U.S. currency. The 14-year civil war in Liberia not only put paid to its telecommunication infrastructure but also destroyed its power grid. Diesel or gasoline generators supply whatever electricity is now available. Dotted along every road in Monrovia are small kiosks whose proprietors offer communications support. Each is equipped with a small diesel or gasoline generator, which charges cellphones, and the proprietors also sell recharge cards. And then there is the cost involved in acquiring the basic equipment. Although Lone Star began the cellular revolution in Liberia there is now serious competition between cellphone providers.
At first Lone Star enjoyed a monopoly position. In 2001 Lone Star sold their first Erickson telephones for US$100 each, the SIM (subscriber identity module) card or network chip for $65 and the lowest recharge card at $15. Lone Star was forced to lower their prices when its principal rival Cellcom entered the consumer fray. Cellcom introduced Motorola C 15 phones for $49 each with a SIM card at $5. Lone Star imported a shipment of phones selling for $40 each. Cellcom then countered with a consignment of Motorola C 13 phones at $39, $29, and $15. Cellcom still has the $29 phone available, but Lone Star now offers a $25 mobile. Lone Star (advertising motto "Communication for the Nation") continues to be the largest carrier followed by Cellcom ("Always Number One").
With a GDP per capita of $136 in 2008, Liberia belongs to the "low-income" countries. This means that most of its population lives on less than $1 per day. The question arises as to how so many can manage to acquire and maintain a mobile telephone.
Poor people cannot often afford the recharge cards. So they keep a minimum amount in their mobile, "buzz" and then quickly disconnect from the cellphone of the person with whom they want to speak, who then receives their number as a "missed call" and hopefully calls back.
With their basic wire-based telephone infrastructure intact and many Internet-based possibilities available, mobile telephones and their onerous contracts are a luxury many North Americans can no longer afford. Africans, and in particular Liberians, both need and want cellphones.
Having access to telecommunications is not (yet) considered a basic human right. Still, it is an important way to alleviate poverty and to give the poor a voice in the world. And so the fact that Liberia has no plans to replace the fixed telephone lines they lost during the civil way is not necessarily a bad thing. In comparison with its past Liberia has become an unwired world and part of a communications revolution now sweeping Africa.
John J. Perry is an academic from St. Paul's College and the University of Manitoba on a research study leave in Liberia.


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"We will work here day and night for issuing visas for two One-day matches to be played at Lahore on March 21 and 24 to cricket lovers who are keen to visit Pakistan," Khalid Jamali of the Pakistan High Commission, who would hold the temporary visa camp at Chehertha on the city outskirts along with three other officials, said on arrival from Delhi.
Jamali said, "we are here to sanction 1000 visas to cricket lovers; whosoever comes first gets the visa. The visa fee would be Rs 15 and the counter would open tomorrow morning at nine and would continue till late night unless all those in the queue are cleared."
The Pakistani official said no one without the match ticket would be entertained.


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Christian Louboutin Xatrinxia Platform Sandal
I love that this is a platform sandal meets an espadrille. I don't love the price though.
I love these platform pumps, a classic style with modern details. These will be great for summer.Tags: leather, pumps, brown, christian louboutin, platform, contrast stitchingAdded 7 Years Ago from Net-a-Porter
Very cute for the spring!Added 9 Years Ago from Saks Fifth Avenue


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§61-3C-8. Disruption of computer services.
Any person who knowingly, willfully and without authorization, directly or indirectly, disrupts or degrades or causes the disruption or degradation of computer services or denies or causes the denial of computer services to an authorized recipient or user of such computer services, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than two hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or confined in the county jail not more than one year, or both.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 9/9/2013 (1417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A Winnipeg family claims their son has permanent brain damage after being forced to play football with a severe, untreated concussion while attending Bishop's University on a scholarship.
Kevin Kwasny, 24, requires 24-hour care after collapsing in the dressing room at halftime during a September 2011 game in Quebec. He suffered a seizure caused by a brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding.
"It was the end of life as he knew it," lawyer Jamie Kagan told the Free Press.
He has filed a statement of claim seeking at least $7.5 million in damages from the Sherbrooke, Que., university, citing gross negligence by those in the football program.
None of the allegations has been proven and no statement of defence has been filed. This is one of the first lawsuits of its kind in Canada, coming on the heels of many successful suits against U.S. colleges and the National Football League.
"If sport's not going to change itself, then litigation is going to make it change," said Kagan.
Kwasny was recruited by Bishop's out of high school in 2008 and joined the team that fall. He was in his fourth and final year on the Gaiters team when he suffered the injury while playing defensive end.
Kwasny was hit in the head early in the game against Concordia University and went to the sidelines complaining of dizziness and having his "bell rung," Kagan said
Based on guidelines recently passed by Canadian Interuniversity Sport, Kwasny should not have been allowed to return to action until doctors assessed him. The family claims that never happened. Kwasny's temporary replacement also got injured and Kwasny said he was ordered by the coaches and medical staff to go back into the game. That's when he suffered a second, more serious head injury, the lawsuit alleges.
"They didn't follow their own guidelines," said Kagan. "The first concussion made him vulnerable. He returned to the game, but wasn't really able to protect himself."
According to terms of the scholarship, Bishop's agreed to provide Kwasny with "reasonable and competent medical care and supervision at practices and games" and to take "all reasonable steps to ensure that Kevin's risk of and exposure to injury were minimized."
The suit alleges Bishop's failed on both fronts. Kagan said Kwasny was a model student, achieving high marks in the bachelor of arts program with a major in psychology and a minor in health and sports studies. Following his injury, he had to learn how to walk and talk again.
"Kevin has endured pain and suffering and has suffered and continues to suffer severe and permanent physical and cognitive disabilities. He requires long-term inpatient care," the suit states.
His parents have suffered financially as they try to obtain some of the best medical care available at great expense. Kagan said requests for Bishop's to cover some of the costs have been ignored.
The NFL recently settled a class-action lawsuit, agreeing to pay $765 million to more than 4,500 former players and families of deceased players who suffered cognitive injury, including the families of several players who committed suicide after suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.


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LeSean McCoy didn't wait to shake hands. Not today.
Before the clock ticked zero, McCoy slipped into the southeastern tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field with nary a nod to his former teammates, turning the corner into the hallway in the belly of the stadium with a steely rage. Eagles fans rained boos on the team's all-time leading rusher, just as they had when he was introduced as the Bills' lone captain before the game.
He walked down the hall, turned into the visiting locker room, and peeled off his helmet, launching it, full force, into a wall near a gray metal container marked with a laminated piece of paper that read "25" in blue-and-red block font.


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|Specific References
|Related Products
|A DNA sequence encoding the cynomolgus EPHB6 (Met1-Ser591) was expressed, fused with the Fc region of human IgG1 at the C-terminus.
|Human Cells
|In general, recombinant proteins are provided as lyophilized powder which are shipped at ambient temperature.
Bulk packages of recombinant proteins are provided as frozen liquid. They are shipped out with blue ice unless customers require otherwise.
|> 85 % as determined by SDS-PAGE
|1. Measured by its ability to bind human EFNB1-His (Cat:10894-H08H) in a functional ELISA.
2. Immobilized EFNB2-His (Cat:10881-H08H) at 10 μg/ml (100 μl/well) can bind Cynomolgus EPHB6-Fc, The EC50 of Cynomolgus EPHB6-Fc is 20.6-48 ng/ml.
|< 1.0 EU per μg of the protein as determined by the LAL method
|Samples are stable for up to twelve months from date of receipt at -70℃
|Leu 32
|The recombinant cynomolgus EPHB6 is a disulfide-linked homodimer. The reduced monomer comprises 801 amino acids and has a calculated molecular mass of 86.9 KDa.The apparent molecular mass of the protein is approximately 97 KDa respectively in SDS-PAGE.
|Lyophilized from sterile PBS, pH 7.4
1. Normally 5 % - 8 % trehalose and mannitol are added as protectants before lyophilization. Specific concentrations are included in the hardcopy of COA.
2. Please contact us for any concerns or special requirements.
|Store it under sterile conditions at -20℃ to -80℃. It is recommended that the protein be aliquoted for optimal storage. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
|A hardcopy of COA with reconstitution instruction is sent along with the products. Please refer to it for detailed information.
Ephrins are divided into the ephrin-A (EFNA) class and the ephrin-B (EFNB) class based on their structures and sequence relationships. Ephrin receptors make up the largest subgroup of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. EphB6 is an unusual Eph receptor, lacking catalytic capacity due to alterations in its kinase domain. Interestingly, increased metastatic activity is associated with reduced EphB6 receptor expression in several tumor types, including breast cancer. This emphasizes the potential of EphB6 to act as a suppressor of cancer aggressiveness. EphB6 suppress cancer invasiveness through c-Cbl-dependent signaling, morphologic changes, and cell attachment and indicate that EphB6 may represent a useful prognostic marker and a promising target for therapeutic approaches. EphB6 can both positively and negatively regulate cell adhesion and migration, and suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor by an Src family kinase acts as the molecular switch for the functional transition. In addition, Ephrin-B2 may be a physiological ligand for the EphB6 receptor.
|Product name
|Product name


text:
Magnificent Cuisine in the Heart of Boston Harbor
Meritage, known for its excellence in wine and food pairings, has stepped into a new era of wine and food with an exciting design transformation and enhanced menu. Join us at MERITAGE RESTAURANT + WINE BAR for a memorable dining experience in a stylish, refined dining room and wine bar. Chef Daniel Bruce brings a unique Vineyard-to-Table concept to the menu where he shares the special relationships he has formed with winemakers from all over the world with diners at MERITAGE RESTAURANT + WINE BAR.


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How We Migrated to Terremark's Cloud, Part II
This is the second of two posts about the migration from our legacy infrastructure to xCloud on Terremark. You can find the first post here. ###Step 4: VM Creation After the archives for a complete grouping of VMs reached the Terremark migration server, we could create VMs.
When creating VMs at Terremark, we normally use their vCloud-compatible API. It supports creating from pre-defined templates and cloning existing VMs. Neither creating nor cloning were good options for us because we had a specific root filesystem. What we really wanted was to boot a "bare" VM with blank disks, lay down the root filesystem and the contents of other archives, and then run a VM-specific configuration script.
The Terremark management UI allows creation of blank VMs. We noticed that such VMs tried to PXE boot. PXE booting sounded like the ideal route because that's how our legacy Xen hosts booted normally. Unfortunately, the API didn't support creating blank VMs. And even if it did, we would have had to maintain necessary PXE infrastructure in many places due to other aspects of how the API works.
We worked with Terremark professional services to create a custom process that would let us create blank VMs where they needed to be and maintain only one PXE setup. We needed professional services for these items:
- Creating VMs with a specific name, CPU, memory, and disk configuration on the same layer 2 network segment as the PXE setup running on the migration server.
- Provisioning VMs by moving configured VMs to their final home including: VMware VDC; internal network; and hooking up the VMs in the Terremark management UI so they could be managed through the UI and API.
For each of these items we needed to track progress, so we added endpoints to the migration service that Terremark professional services could interact with. The migration service tracked each VM's state and other details such as name, eventual VDC, and network. As VMs moved to the "needs creating" or "needs provisioning" states, the corresponding endpoints listed the appropriate VMs and related details. Terremark professional services wrote a program to poll these endpoints and create or provision the listed VMs.
The migration service assigned a "configuration mode" MAC address and IP to each VM. This information was provided to Terremark via the "needs creating" endpoint. As part of the PXE infrastructure, we ran DHCP with a configuration generated from the MAC to IP mappings maintained by the migration service. This allowed us to link requests from an IP to the to-be-configured VM.
When PXE booting, the VMs needed something to boot. Our legacy Xen hosts booted via PXE. For that, we modified this script. Further adapting it to suit our needs was easy. You can see the script we used here; what the VM actually ran when it booted starts at line 103.
This script resulted in a fully-functioning in-memory system with busybox and all it provides: ssh access, LVM utilities, and other things to configure the system. At lines 158 and 159, it fetches the VM-specific configuration script from the migration service (which conveniently was also the DHCP server) and sources it. ###Step 5: VM Configuration The fetched and sourced script came from this mustache template. This step summarizes the interesting parts, with the database-related parts in Step 6.
The script kept the migration service updated during the script's execution with calls to the state_update and message_update functions. This let the migration service UI show these state changes, log messages, and hold up other VMs from progressing if one in their group has erred. The script ran with the errexit shell option. This meant that if any command exited with a non-0 status and wasn't checked by an if or similar statement, the script exited. The trap at line 2 told the migration service an error had occurred.
To start, the script mounted a couple NFS shares at the migration service's IP. These shares contained the filesystem archives for VMs that were being migrated and support data, such as a new kernel and modules.
The script partitioned the first disk, creating a small partition for /boot and another encompassing the rest of the disk. Because they used LVM, any disks after the first had their partition tables zeroed. The second partition on the first disk and the whole of the other disks became physical volumes (PVs). A single volume group (VG) was set up to contain all the PVs named local. Using LVM on the migrated VMs was necessary to retain snapshot ability.
Logical volumes (LVs) were created matching the filesystems data from the migration document. The LVs were formatted. For /boot, ext3 was used. For all other non-swap filesystems, we chose xfs. We were using reiserfs on our legacy infrastructure but wanted to move to something more supported. Xfs allows for online growing even for the root filesystem and is supported by current distributions. After formatting, the filesystems were mounted with hierarchy under /newroot.
For new, non-migrating VMs that had no archived root filesystem, our custom Gentoo distribution stage4 was used instead of a root archive. Each VM archive was unpacked under /newroot/source_item where source_item was the original path, such as /data. This produced a system identical to the snapshots and GFSes previously archived.
For database VMs, the archived database dumps were copied to /newroot/database_data_dir, where database_data_dir was usually /db. They were left compressed because the database setup part of the script handled them.
The next sections of the script dealt with getting the VM ready to operate in its new Terremark environment.
VMs running on our legacy infrastructure didn't require a kernel or boot loader inside the VM. VMs on Terremark run under VMWare, which is fully virtualized, and requires a kernel inside the VM to boot. When we realized that we needed to change the kernel, we considered various options including running recent vanilla kernels from kernel.org, but ultimately decided to use the CentOS 5.4 kernel.
These kernels were unpacked and made available to the VMs via an NFS share. The script started by copying the kernel, source code, and modules into their appropriate locations. Our Terremark VMs run a CentOS kernel and our custom Gentoo userland.
We used a custom initrd to boot VMs. The mini system that was PXE booted to run the migration script was really a highly functional initrd. New VMs were booted with something slimmer, a modified LVM initrd script that included loading the disk and LVM modules and mounting the root filesystem.
GRUB was installed as the boot loader on the new VMs. It booted the CentOS kernel using the custom initrd, telling the initrd to find the root filesystem at /dev/local/root.
After that, some higher-level configuration was done:
- A file that let us and tools see if the VM in the "migrating" phase is touched
- /etc/fstab was written
- Puppet, the configuration management tool used on xCloud, was set up to run via init.
- The new network configuration was written to /etc/conf.d/net, /etc/resolv.conf, and other related files.
- The contents of /etc/conf.d/local.start were created.
- The contents of /firstboot.sh were created.
Near the bottom of the script, some services were disabled while others were enabled. The most notable disabled service is vixie-cron. During the testing and verification phase, we didn't want any scheduled jobs firing and doing things like queuing up emails to send or transactions to process. We protected against things like this with iptables, described below.
Beyond that and database-related preparation, the major items in the configuration script were setting up NFS and iptables.
Setting up of NFS closed the loop on what to do when we could no longer use GFS. It works most like GFS but without the shared block device requirement. The migration service determined which VM to make the NFS server when GFS archives existed for a migrating environment. On those VMs, /etc/exports was written with necessary configuration to export the NFS shares to other VMs owned by the customer. For VMs that would become NFS clients, entries for the NFS mountpoints were added to /etc/fstab. The end result was the contents of the previous GFSes were made available at the same paths they were on our legacy infrastructure.
Iptable rules were set up by the configuration script to satisfy the last requirement listed in Part I. Using the configured iptable rules, we ensured that new VMs would not communicate outside their internal network. This was very important for customers that bill credit cards or contact outside services. We didn't want migrating VMs to hit any production services on the Internet before the migration was complete.
When complete, the script reported completion to the migration service. This made the VM available for provisioning by the program written by Terremark professional services. ###Step 6: VM Provisioning Terremark shutdown any VMs listed at the "needs provisioning" endpoint of the migration service; moved them to their final, customer-specific networks; and booted them.
When a Gentoo VM boots, /etc/conf.d/local.start is run at the end of the boot order. For non-database VMs, this script checked back in with the migration service a final time to say "all done." For database VMs, it loaded the customer's database dumps and established replication before reporting in.
Much of the first boot scripts deal with MySQL. Because most of our customer databases use MySQL, it was the most automated part of the migration process. PostgreSQL was handled with scripts outside the process and later by Puppet.
For MySQL, the process started with creating a config for importing data. It's nothing special and not necessarily tuned for the VM's makeup but is good enough to start with. Puppet came around later to tailor the config to the VM.
Then, the bulk of the work was between lines 543 and 568. Most important to the migration process was the data load and replication configuration. Database archives that had been copied to database VMs were decompressed with gunzip and piped into mysql -B. The data load was done simultaneously on the master and replica and used set sql_log_bin=0 to prevent the master from writing binary logs because replication was setup later.
After loading the data, the master was done. The replica used the hold_until_complete function to query the migration service for the status of its master. After the master reported as "complete," replicas knew the master was done and used the establish_mysql_replication function to set up replication. ###Step 7: Testing and Verification After the VMs were configured and provisioned, it was time to test the new setup.
The migration team had a collection of tools for fixing up common application-related configuration changes, such as hostnames. Once complete, an initial test was as simple as accessing the site at the new IP. The migration team created a simple gem, eymigrate, to help with customer testing.
During this phase, the migration team and customer were comfortable doing anything that might impact shared assets or database data because they would be reset during cutover. With the iptable rules in place to prevent general outbound access from the VMs, we ensured customers that no external production services could be contacted by the being-verified VMs.
When the customer was satisfied with their new setup, we proceeded to the cutover. ###Step 8: Cutover Before that there were a few things to take care of:
- Because public IPs were changing, we worked with our customers to lower DNS TTLs. We did this directly for customers whose domains we hosted.
- Rsync was used to "catch-up" the customers shared assets; syncing from the still-live VMs on our legacy infrastructure to the new VMs. This reduced the downtime for the final sync during the cutover. We shortened the sync times by excluding directories containing transient session files or files only used for local processing.
- To cutover databases, we had two options: complete-dump-and-restore or cutover-via-replication. For smaller databases, dump-and-restore was simple and worked fine. Larger databases required converting the new master database VM into a replica of the current master on our legacy infrastructure. Using ssh tunnels between the VMs, our DBAs established replication and got the new master (acting as a replica) in sync so the cutover just involved breaking the replication link and converting the new master back to a master.
- The migration team and customer agreed on the date and time to perform the cutover.
At cutover time:
[gist id=970791]
With that, traffic was live on the new setup. Downtime with a maintenance page was generally less than 10 minutes.
My team, including [Edward Muller](http://twitter.com/freeformz) and [Lee Jensen](http://twitter.com/outerim) (now with Big Cartel), worked on the migration service and customer UI, but the migrations would not have been possible without our migration team.
They worked tirelessly with customers to get migrations done while meeting and exceeding the requirements listed in the first post. So, to [Kevin Rutten](http://twitter.com/krutten), [Matt Dolian](http://twitter.com/mdolian), [Will Jessop](http://twitter.com/will_j) (now with 37signals), [Taylor Weibley](http://twitter.com/themcgruff) (also now with 37signals), [Matt Reider](http://twitter.com/mreider) and [Daniel Vu](http://twitter.com/danvu_4444), I say thank you for all the work you did for our customers and Engine Yard.
- A maintenance page was posted and the application running on our legacy infrastructure was shut down.
- The database procedure was followed.
- The application was started on the new VMs.
- Necessary DNS changes were made and to complement this we used [iptables](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iptables) to create rules to forward traffic from each of the customer's public IPs on our infrastructure to the corresponding public IP at Terremark.
- Removed the "migrating" file.
- Ran Puppet, to start things like cron.
- Removed the iptable rules limiting outbound access.


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San Antonio parks popular place for perverts
(photo by San Antonio Parks and Recreation)
San Antonio's 41 miles of linear parks are popular places for bike riders and dog walkers, but new numbers out today show they are also a hot spot for perverts.
In 2012, there were 42 cases of Indecent Exposure. In 2013, that number jumped to 45.
"We have to keep our eye on that because it's something that makes people feel unsafe in our parks," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus tells 1200 WOAI news.
The parks system is growing. Next year there will be 51 miles of linear parks, and McManus says they are looking at ways to step up patrols. He told City Council members they are looking at enlisting the help of park stewards and possibly putting undercover officers on bikes.
"We're looking at a variety of ways to increase visibility, both law enforcement and non law enforcement in parks," he explains.
He admits, it's not an easy task. There are a little more than 230 parks in San Antonio, and we're also home to thousands of registered sex offenders.


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AMSTERDAM (Oct. 13)
Modern-day bulldozers and steamrollers may soon demolish much of an ancient quarter of this city which dates back nearly three centuries and where until seventy-five years ago practically the entire Jewish population of Amsterdam lived, if plans proposed by the city fathers are approved.
In its place will rise a new, replanned community. But in the midst of the projected 20th century surroundings the house where the great artist Rembrandt lived and painted will remain untouched. Although city officials have agreed to preserve the Rembrandt house, there has been no decision on the preservation of two early 18th century synagogues whose future has been a bone of contention between the city and the Jewish community for many years.


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Olijke tweeling, De (86 items)
Welcome back! Whilst you were away we added the functionality to view auctions and bid in pounds.
Olijke tweeling, De: Information on the Catawiki site about De olijke tweeling en de spannende logeerpartij, 2002.
At its heart, Catawiki is an online catalogue with images of, and information on, collectibles. Our catalogue is compiled by users in a similar way to Wikipedia.


text:
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Here are the readings for Lent 5; both Episcopal and Lutheran churches use the Revised Common Lectionary.
"How could God let this happen?"
We hear this question all the time: after shootings, after tragic car accidents and plane crashes, after typhoons and mudslides and earthquakes. During the seven years I volunteered as a lay hospital chaplain, I heard it often. It is the agonized cry of faith in the face of tragedy, and it's at the heart of this morning's Gospel.
The raising of Lazarus is a dress rehearsal for Holy Week. Eleven verses before the beginning of this passage, the religious establishment of Judea threatens to stone Jesus for blasphemy, for claiming to be God. After Jesus escapes that threat, he learns that his beloved friend Lazarus is dying. So Jesus — knowing that a return to Judea will seal his death sentence — decides to go back, but only after he's dawdled a few days, to make sure that Lazarus will be dead before he gets there. An ordinary healing won't be enough this time. The stakes have been raised; the chips are down. Jesus is about to perform nothing less than a resurrection.
As a dress rehearsal for Holy Week, this story contains many familiar elements: an all-powerful God refusing, for seemingly inexplicable reasons, to prevent the death of a beloved; weeping women; a tomb sealed by a stone; and, finally, the death-shattering miracle of resurrection. The biggest difference is that Lazarus dies of natural causes, not by execution.
Or does he? If Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death and refuses to do so, isn't it somehow his fault? Mary and Martha think so: both of them say, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Some of the mourners agree: "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" How could God let this happen?
Jesus has earlier told his disciples, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe." But belief isn't the main issue here. Mary and Martha, the other mourners, and the disciples already believe in Jesus. The issue is anger. If we believe in God, if we know that God can act to prevent suffering and forestall untimely death, we may become more angry at these things than non-believers would. People who don't believe in God don't wonder where God is in the middle of earthquakes and famines and tidal waves. They don't rage at God when their loved ones die too soon or after too much pain. They don't demand, "How could God let this happen?" For non-believers, such events constitute compelling -- indeed, crushing -- proof that there is no God.
But those of us who do believe, who have seen God working in our lives and those of our families, are left struggling for reasons, railing at God. "We knowyou can fix this. We've seen you do it before. So where were you this time? If you really love us as much as you say you do, how can you just sit there, cooling your heels, while our brother's body is growing cold in his tomb? How could you let this happen?"
Jesus wept. This is, famously, the shortest verse in the Bible. Jesus weeps when he sees Mary and the mourners weeping. "He was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved," the Gospel says. I always want to ask, "What did you expect, Jesus? Did you think the people who loved Lazarus wouldn't weep at his death? Did you think they'd tell each other, 'Oh, don't worry, Jesus will show up one of these days, when he gets around to it, so let's have a party?'"
Any way you look at it, the situation stinks, just like Lazarus' body stinks after four days in a hot Middle-Eastern tomb. And yet, having finally shown up, Jesus does indeed make everything right. He calls Lazarus out of the tomb, and he instructs Lazarus' family and friends to unbind the burial cloths, to help Lazarus readjust to his new life. Any mourners who didn't believe in Jesus before that little demonstration certainly believe in him afterwards.
Their belief is about to be tested yet again. The dress rehearsal is over. Holy Week is almost here. This time, even Jesus will cry out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Once again, there will be weeping women and a tomb sealed by a stone, a tomb from which God impossibly, miraculously, will call forth new life.
The story of Lazarus offers us at least three lessons. The first is that there are no shortcuts to resurrection, even for those who believe. The most steadfast faith will not protect us against grief and doubt and bitter trials. The most serene acceptance of God's will cannot shield us from feeling, at times, as if God has abandoned us. All of that is human and holy. It is human and holy to get angry when we feel forsaken; it is human and holy to question God, to rail at God, to weep at God's apparent absence. It is human and holy to mourn our dead. God weeps with us, and when the time comes, God will tell us how to unbind what has been resurrected. God will show us what we need to do to make that new life possible.
The second lesson is that resurrection is a process, even for those who believe. Look at this morning's reading from Ezekiel, the famous Valley of Dry Bones. This is a resurrection story, too, but it happens in stages. Going from bones to rebirth isn't like going zero to sixty. First you need breath; then you need muscle, sinews, skin. It's like peeling an onion, but in reverse. Resurrection happens from the inside out, and it takes time.
That is why, every year, we make the long slow journey through Lent, walking through those forty days just as Jesus walked through the desert, just as he walked back into Judea to Lazarus' tomb. We make such journeys at other times, too: whenever we have suffered grief or betrayal, whenever we feel abandoned by God or other people, whenever we gag at the stench of death in a place where we had prayed for rebirth. Rebirth can still happen. God's time is not ours. Even as we weep and pray – our souls waiting for God more than watchmen for the morning – God journeys towards us, step by step, bringing resurrection.
But God needs our help. The third lesson of the Lazarus story is that resurrection is a community project. "Unbind him, and let him go," Jesus tells the onlookers. Those who have been resurrected need to be helped by their neighbors and welcomed back into community. They need to be loved. They need to know that they matter.
My family's resurrection story began on a winter day in 1964, when I was three years old. My sister, who was twelve, remembers watching our mother being wheeled out of the house on a gurney. She had been a chronic drinker for twenty years. My father had put her in fancy private psychiatric hospitals. They hadn't helped. Several times she'd tried AA. It hadn't helped. In 1964, residential treatment centers didn't exist yet. Employee Assistance Programs were still in the future. AA and the psych wards were the only games in town.
And so my father, in despair, decided to send my mother to the state mental hospital, which wasn't fancy at all. He didn't think she'd ever get better, and neither did anyone else. Everyone thought she was dying. My sister, watching the gurney roll out of the house to the waiting ambulance, told herself that Mom was already dead. I'm sure she wept.
At the state hospital, the doctors said my mother's case was hopeless. One recommended a lobotomy, a procedure that wasn't banned until 1967. My father said no to the lobotomy, but he still planned to have my mother locked inside that building for the rest of her life.
Inside the hospital, my mother got hungry one night. Recovering alcoholics from the community had brought an AA meeting to the hospital, and Mom knew from her past AA experiences that there would be cookies there. She decided to go.
This time, it took. No one believed it; I don't know if she believed it herself. But she kept going to meetings, and one evening a few weeks later, a visiting AA member sat down and talked to her. He learned that she was terrified of being committed for life, of never seeing her daughters again. He learned that no one in her family thought she would ever get better. They believed she was already dead.
The visitor went home and wrote a letter to my father. In an act that was even braver in 1964 than it would be now, he identified himself both as a prominent local businessman and as a recovering alcoholic. He told my father that he had been in a hospital like the one where my mother was. He told my father that sometimes it takes many attempts to get sober. And he asked my father to give Mom another chance, if only so that she could see her children.
"Unbind her, and let her go."
My father agreed. This time, it worked. Five months later, the visitor wrote a second letter. This one, addressed to my mother, compliments her on her continued sobriety, on her new job, and on her joy at spending time with her daughters. The woman everyone expected to die when she was thirty-eight lived to be eighty-four. This past January 25 would have been her fiftieth anniversary of sobriety.
My mother's drinking tested the strength and patience of everyone in the family. None of them were believers, but if they had been, I'm sure they would have said, "How could God let this happen?" Mom was brilliant and beautiful. It must have been agonizing to watch her killing herself.
And yet even at her lowest, when everyone who loved her had lost hope, good news was coming. The visitor was going about his own life: eating breakfast, going to work, getting ready to go to the state mental hospital. Even when my mother was locked up, trapped in a place where no movement seemed possible, she was already on a journey towards resurrection.
Her resurrection was a process. Her sobriety involved a lot of meetings and a lot of time on the phone with her sponsor. Because my father had divorced her, she had to find housing and get a job. To earn custody of her daughters, she had to stay well and keep functioning. Her vow of sobriety wasn't enough: she had to put sinew and skin on those bones.
And her resurrection was a community project. My father and her doctors had to agree to release her. Her father and brother lent a great deal of practical and emotional support. Her AA friends were a constant blessing and source of strength, and my sister and I were her inspiration. When she died, I inherited the bracelet she always wore to AA meetings. It's a gold chain with two charms: her AA 90-day pin, and a locket with pictures of me and my sister.
As people who believe in God, we are called to be patient with God, but we are also called to help release the resurrected from their winding sheets. We are Christ's hands in the world. Because resurrection does not happen in an instant, we need to be faithful to the victims of violence and the survivors of disaster, to recovering addicts and alcoholics, to the lost and lonely, and to all who grieve. When we hear people demanding, "How could God let this happen?" our job is to go to them, to weep with them, and then to help them recognize and nurture the new life that God will call forth from their despair.
And if there are times on these journeys when our own belief is tested, that is part of the process, too. Resurrection is coming. It will arrive in God's good time. Our doubt will become delight, and our pain will become praise, and belief will be reborn from the tomb of tears.


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This is the last installment of the Lord Byron marriage saga. If you want to catch up on previous "episodes" starting with the first one, click HERE.
As happens with so many couples in the midst of a split, the games now turned to finger pointing, accusations, and dismay. Byron's already crumbling world virtually disintegrated.
Once Annabella and the newborn, Ada, were under her parents' roof, all masks of deception she had worn during the one-year course of her marriage came off. With judicial precision, Annabella's parents questioned her. They would know the true nature of her marriage with a man they had come to despise. There was to be no forgiveness, no negotiations, no reconciliation.
Byron: Public Domain
Annabella's heart was in turmoil. In the beginning, she wrote letters to Byron that suggested her love for him was still strong. She was casual and offered nothing but news from home, signing her letters, "Ever thy most loving Pippin…Pip…Pip." (Pip was Byron's pet name for Annabella). Even so, once her mother had caught wind of some of Byron's behavior, all control of the situation moved out of Annabella's hands. On January 20th, Annabella's mother, Lady Noel, set out for London determined to bring about a separation.
In the early days of this legal battle, letters circulated back and forth amongst Annabella, Byron, and Augusta, and finally between Lord Milbanke, Byron, and lawyers. Augusta was every bit as anxious as Byron to somehow stop the separation and wrote to Annabella that she please reconsider for Byron's sake and for the sake of their child. Already rumors were flying, ones that involved Augusta as well as some involving Byron's time in Greece several years before. "I was accused of every monstrous vice by public rumour and private rancor." Byron claimed complete innocence and bemusement at the charges leveled against him. He had no recollection of treating his wife poorly, and he roundly denounced any suggestion of incest between himself and his half-sister.
By February, it was obvious to Augusta and Byron, that they would not persuade Annabella to return to him. Byron reported that her parents had turned her against him. By now, the separation proceedings had taken on a life of their own. Lady Caroline Lamb, one of Byron's lovers and a cousin by marriage to Annabella, heaped fuel on the fire with her revelation that years before, Byron had told her of his love for a woman who carried his child: "…there is a woman I love so passionately—she is with child by me, and if a daughter it shall be called Medora." Medora was the name of Augusta's daughter, but it should be mentioned that these words came through Caroline (and she was hardly a reliable witness).
The time of social worship ended for Byron during the spring of 1816. He was publicly cut. None of the old invitations came his way, and when he did appear in public, he was shunned. All public support moved to Annabella's court.
Lady Byron: Public Domain
In the end, Lord Byron and Annabella were legally separated by divortium a mensa et thoro. Literally, this Latin phrase means separation from table and bed. This process was used in the case of cruel and violent treatment or adultery on either side. All financial ties were released from either party and remarriage was never allowed.
Byron's reputation now ruined, he left England in the spring of that year to live abroad. He never returned to England. With his usual flair for dramatics, Byron would later write,
"I was unfit for England; if false, England was unfit for me. I withdrew; but this was not enough. In other countries—in Switzerland, in the shadow of the Alps, and by the blue depths of the lakes—I was pursued and breathed upon by the same blight. I crossed the mountains, but it was the same; so I went a little farther, and settled myself by the waves of the Adriatic, like a stag at bay, who betakes him to the waters."
"I felt a responsibility for him as well as myself, and when my own interpretation of the natural law was clouded by my feelings, I referred to the Revealed will—in this sense, J[esus] Christ may indeed be said to have been my Saviour—I found in his precepts that 'immutable morality' which the reason of man is often incapable of discerning."
Faith had always been Annabella's cornerstone as much as self-damnation had been Byron's. The inequality of their moral and spiritual philosophies may well have been the defeat of their marriage, as it has been for many others since.
Thanks for reading this exploration of the year of marriage between Lord Byron and Annabella Milbanke.
My first Regency novel, Dangerous to Know, a story inspired by their marriage, is slated to be released sometime this fall through Elk Lake Publishing.
Crane, David. The Kindness of Sisters: Annabella Milbanke and the Destruction of the Byrons. Alfred A. Knopf, New York: 2002.


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Shawls, Ponchos, Wraps – Knit and Crochet Patterns – Exquisite
GIA Crochet Wrap Pattern. GIA Crochet Wrap Pattern Crocheted in three simple pieces that join together as you go, this elegant, lacey wrap couldn't be simpler to make!
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Crochet Pattern Central – Free Pattern – Beauty in Bloom Poncho
Free Crochet Pattern For Beauty in Bloom Poncho Sizes: Instructions contain guidelines adjustable to any size. Materials: 1 Ball #10 Cotton Crochet Thread (For Flowers)
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Find a variety of free crochet patterns for making shawls, wraps and ponchos. This list also includes similar projects such as stoles, capes, capelets and ruanas.


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A lengthy report in the Seattle Times reveals just how out of control the Forest Service's fire program has become. Rather than a subprogram aimed at protecting the national forests and adjacent lands from fire damage, fire has become the agency's main driver and raison d'être.
According to the Times, to control a fire in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, the agency cut hundreds of acres of old-growth trees to form a ten-mile long fire line. As it turned out, the fire was put out by rain long before it reached the fire line, but the agency continued to cut the fire line even after it began to rain. Fisheries biologists and other resource specialists within the agency protested the cutting to no avail.
"One of the problems with fire fighting is a mentality completely takes hold that pretty much you are going to double down on things just simply because you want to protect your rear," forest ecologist Jerry Franklin told the Times. "It is very characteristic, they just freak out. Basically in a sense it's war. And you don't worry a whole lot about side effects. It is what's called collateral damage."


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Mirror's Edge
A refreshingly innovative game. You're Faith, living in a modern city where everyone and everything is monitored. In this controlled world you are a 'Runner' - a sleek, fast and agile messenger who skims from rooftop to rooftop to reach your destination and avoid detection. All is well until your sister is framed in a high conspiracy murder case, and you must rescuer her. I'll let you find out the rest of the story. The game is really a breathe of fresh air. It is not a shooter. Instead, you must get from place to place using a handful of moves. You jump from building to building, run up walls and importantly, outrun the ever more difficult police. The rounds require some thinking as to how to reach your objective. But chase scenes and police pursuits add great adrenaline bursts to the game. The graphics are lovely - drawing on a thin palette of primary colors against a mainly white background. Everything is sleek, modern and clean. The gameplay is excellently designed. You have first person vision, able to see your hands and feet, making you feel as if you're the one actually running. Playing this game will likely make you want to go for an actual run :) There are a few complaints: The story writing is a bit weak and feels as if it was rushed a bit. There are some unfilled narrative holes. Your assortment of moves, while thrilling, is not as diverse as it could be. Advanced gamers may find the game story a bit short. Overall, it's certainly worth a try for gamers, and a must buy for those new to the xbox.
The Continuation of District B13 (Banlieue 13). Same theme - parkour with a bit of film thrown in. See David Belle in action. From 2009.Tags: sports, action, french film, parkour, David Belle, free-running, Cyril Raffaelli, District 13, D13-UAdded 7 Years Ago from Amazon.com
Parkour moves turned into a film. Good for what it is. Watch it to see David Belle in action. From 2004.Tags: sports, action, french film, parkour, David Belle, free-running, Cyril RaffaelliAdded 7 Years Ago from Amazon.com


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Planning for the 2013 Parties for the Necklace has already begun, even as two more 2012-13 parties loom on the calendar.
Still scheduled are the Snowshoeing Party on Feb. 9 and the Great Redlands Scavenger Hunt in downtown Redlands on April 20. For information about these parties, call 909-389-7810.
The 2013 Parties for the Necklace are scheduled to be revealed at the kickoff party 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 26 at the Summerbell Room at the Mitten Building in downtown Redlands. This event will be combined with the annual membership program. The invited guest speaker for the membership program is 3rd District Supervisor James Ramos.
Following the program, guests will be able to shop for and buy reservations for any of the Parties for the Necklace offered for 2013. Party planners and hosts are hoping to offer 20 parties, something for everyone's interest and pocketbook.
The Parties for the Necklace is the major fundraising program for the Redlands Conservancy's Emerald Necklace projects, which include the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary, Outdoor Education Initiative, Redlands Heritage Trails Alliance and the Zanja Trail and Greenway.
The kickoff party and the annual membership program are free and open to the public.
Information: 909-389-7810
SOURCE: Redlands Conservancy


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I made the cranberry sauce in advance, and a couple other things like that.
cranberry sauce should be sweet but not cloying, and tart without causing pucker and anguish.
And thank you, USDA cranberry Market Loss Assistance Program, for the cranberry sauce.
Plus Sifton shares two of his favorite recipes: cranberry sauce and roasted cauliflower with anchovy bread crumps.
Imagine President Obama passing the cranberry sauce, and a word of thanks, to Speaker of the House John Boehner.
Here was cranberry sauce, not in a bowl, but moulded in the wheat-sheaf mould, and glowing like the Great Carbuncle.
The fruit is about the size of a cranberry, and of a dark brown colour.
Ain't everybody's garden dryin' up and the ponds so low that we shan't be able to get water for the cranberry ditches pretty soon?
He married a girl from cranberry Medder, and they went down East.
The woods are filled with a great variety of wild berries, among which the cranberry and swampberry are considered the best.
1640s, American English adaptation of Low German kraanbere, from kraan "crane" (see crane (n.)) + Middle Low German bere "berry" (see berry). Perhaps so called from a resemblance between the plants' stamens and the beaks of cranes.
German and Dutch settlers in the New World apparently recognized the similarity between the European berries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and the larger North American variety (V. macrocarpum) and transferred the name. In England, they were marshwhort or fenberries, but the North American berries, and the name, were brought over late 17c. The native Algonquian name for the plant is represented by West Abenaki popokwa.


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Pottery Barn in Salem, NH carries the following products. Select a manufacturer below to view the lines and collections carried by this store:
Simmons Bedding Company is the maker of Beautyrest, Beautyrest Black, Natural Care, ComforPedic and Simmons Kids mattresses, among others. Simmons ... See Simmons models »
GET MORE FROM YOUR SLEEPBeautyrest Recharge combines our legendary Beautyrest Pocketed Coil® Technology, GelTouch® Foam and SurfaceCool™ Fiber to help ... See Simmons Beautyrest Recharge models »
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Pottery Barn is a in the Lowell, MA / Southern New Hampshire area.
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What a Police Officer Does for a Young boy is Pretty Remarkable (video)
This video is going viral, and it should. It's a pretty great thing a police officer does.
It happened just a couple of days ago, where a Texas police officer was patrolling the streets in the community of Rosenburg. He noticed a young boy playing ball by himself and decided to do something about it.


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The Bingham Canyon Mine remains closed more than two days after a huge landslide occurred within its pit, leaving unclear when full operations might resume.
Rio Tinto's Kennecott Utah Copper, which operates the mine, is calling the size of the slide "significant," while the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) labels it a "large massive ground fall." Neither Rio Tinto or MSHA have specific information yet about its magnitude or full extent of its impact.
The company had been monitoring movement along the copper pit's northeast wall called the Manefay fault system area since February and evacuated all personnel from the mine more than 12 hours before the slide Wednesday night. But a company statement Friday acknowledged that the slide was larger than expected.
"We do know that the flow into the pit extended beyond the scenarios we forecasted, having a greater impact on equipment," the statement reads. "We are confirming there was some damage to equipment and to a building structure in the mine."
There were no injuries.
A Kennecott official on Thursday said there was enough ore and concentrate on hand to continue to produce refined copper for several weeks.
Company spokesman Kyle Bennett said Friday that about 800 employees work in the mine and that the company has set up a hotline for them to receive updates.
Although all employees have been asked to report for work on their shifts, the mine will remain closed until MSHA inspectors and the company's geotechnical experts have deemed it stable.
MSHA spokeswoman Amy Louviere said MSHA personnel are on-site, adding that no one has been inside the mine since Wednesday morning.
MSHA technical support engineers are scheduled to arrive Monday to assess the area.
Louviere said MSHA had been aware of the slide-site's instability since February was alerted to the slide Wednesday at 10:27 p.m. by Kennecott.
"When it comes to the safety of people, there are no shortcuts," Bennett said. "We continue to cooperate with (MSHA) in every way."
Bennett would not speculate on how long it will take for the mine to reopen, but said the slide was completely contained within the mine.
"We had a lot of rain that day that helped reduce dust (from the slide)," he said. "There were no impacts on the surrounding community."
Twitter: @jnpearce
What is known
The breadth of the slide was larger than anticipated.
There was unexpected damage to equipment and a building.
All employees have been asked to report for work on their shifts.
The mine will remain closed until inspectors have deemed it stable.


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DIY Hanging Planter herb garden.
Hey Curbly! I haven't posted over here in awhile, I kind of fell of the DIY wagon, and honestly? I missed it hard. DIY folks are a crazy set of peeps and I miss the hot glue and the yarn and paint and mess of it all.
Back on the wagon come spring though. When I bought my first plant and hung her from the ceiling I was underwhelmed with the choices I had for hanging planters. Home Depot had blue or yellow. Thats it? Meh.
I went back and gathered up some neon twine and small clay pots and set about making a hanging herb garden of my own. So grab some string and your nimble fingers and follow the full process over on the blog. Nice to see you again.


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|René Nyffenegger's collection of things on the web
René Nyffenegger on Oracle - Most wanted - Feedback
- Follow @renenyffenegger
fof (Csound opcode)
Audio output is a succession of sinusoid bursts initiated at frequency xfund with a spectral peak at xform. For xfund above 25 Hz these bursts produce a speech-like formant with spectral characteristics determined by the k-input parameters. For lower fundamentals this generator provides a special form of granular synthesis.
ar fof xamp, xfund, xform, koct, kband, kris, kdur, kdec, iolaps, ifna, ifnb, itotdur[, iphs[, ifmode]]
Other Csound opcodes.


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Medieval knight`s helmetItem #: 26453
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Medieval knight's helmet
Burgherren helmet with visor as historical costume accessories
Disguise yourself well with our medieval knight's helmet as a medieval nobleman and ride protected in the battle! The comfortable Crusaders Headgear is great for live role playing, historical theme parties, Halloween parties and medieval events.
The medieval knight's helmet is the historic crusader inspired helmets.Centerline and slits are reinforced with stylized golden metal strips above and below the nose protection in the form of lily.Small air holes under the slits of the warrior helmet provide enough air to breathe in the heat of battle.The two studs left and right mounted visor can be easily folded up and down.The color of the fighter helmet reminiscent of blackened metal, whereby firstly the golden borders are emphasized and the other a gloomy appearance arises.For the perfect knight disguise of course you still need a Medieval knight costume and a Crusader Sword ,
- Delivery: 1x medieval knight's helmet
- Color: gray / black / golden
- Size: One Size for adults
- Material: 100% plastic
- Wehr Misty Crusader Helmet for proud warriors coverings


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The Last Sacrifice
Through the centuries she survived by taking bodies of the innocents, leaving their souls forever-lost in darkness - never to be found by the light. And he followed; he had unknowingly given her the seed that powered her magic beyond its natural limits. She stole from him before he had learned his own secrets of his immortality - and in that single night he had marked the road he would spend centuries following to atone for his mistake. Souls lost, souls sacrificed, souls left forever in limbo and souls that burdened his every moment. Then once again came the call, the inner source that knew how to find her, that led him to California where he found Gwen. And through his encounter with this woman alone in the world, a woman who had her own guardian angel - Jared found hope. And a chance at making the witch from his past, the last sacrifice.
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There are few places on earth as magnificent as California's Central Coast. It is an area of immense natural beauty with its breathtaking coastline, picturesque beaches, scenic mountains, and fascinating wildlife.
This CD-ROM will help you to uncover the treasures of the Central Coast. Whether you are fortunate enough to live in the area or are just visiting, the Central California Coast Interactive CD-ROM is truly an indispensable reference. Complete with more than 500 high-quality photos with captions, a full-screen slide show, over 100 pages of printable information guides and maps, contact information, addresses, Internet website links, and much more; it is an incredible tool containing everything necessary for planning a lifetime of adventures.