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According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), "each
year roughly 1 out of 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000
are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases." Consumers
contract these foodborne diseases by consuming tainted processed food or beverages.
Since the total food supply available for consumption has steadily increased
over the last several years, approximately 19% between 1983 and 2000,
there is an increased consumer risk to eat or drink contaminated foods (Read more...). Monitoring,
controlling, and ensuring exceptional quality in the food preparation process
has become a high priority for food manufacturers. They are concerned now
more than ever about the safety of their products since contaminated food
can be costly to those who produce it, and detrimental or fatal to those who
consume it. Robots used in the food production and packaging process can
help eliminate this concern.
Several factors can affect the safety of processed food as the food
preparation cycle has historically been vulnerable to contaminants. Food contamination
can occur in any step in the process of providing food to the consumers'
door – from preparation, to packaging, to palletizing, and even during
transportation. The following factors can lead to unsafe food handling:
-- Learn More About FANUC Robotics' Full Line Of Food Robots --
Companies also risk damaging their corporate image if they are involved
in a food recall. When large-scale food recalls occur, there is the potential
of complete corporate failure due to litigation and image repair costs. For
example in August of 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that 8,500 lbs of beef was recalled because it might be contaminated with E. coli O26. These recalls can cost
billions as in the peanut butter recall in 2009 where it was reported that
the "impact of the nationwide peanut butter recall has been far reaching
and could ultimately cost America's peanut producers up to $1 billion
in lost production and sales."
As food recalls have occurred across several industries and countries,
and can cost companies millions or billions in sales and lost production,
food manufacturers need to scrutinize their processes and be proactive at
eliminating any potentially unsanitary methods. As a result, the government
is getting more involved. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which
went into effect in 2011, was created to ensure a secure food monitoring system
that is proactive rather than reactive. Food manufacturers are now required
to survey their operations, identify areas of possible contamination, and
administer and control prevention measures. In addition, they must have a
defined plan of action in place to correct identified problems. The legislation
"also requires FDA to establish science-based standards for the safe
production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables to minimize the risk of
serious illnesses or death. This new ability to hold food companies accountable
for preventing contamination is a significant milestone in the efforts to
modernize the food safety system." In addition, the rules are being
strengthened. Recently the FDA was given the ability to hold any food that
it feels was produced under "insanitary or unsafe conditions,"
and it can hold food for up to 30 days that it feels to be "adulterated
or misbranded." (Read more...) Tougher rules should confirm food manufacturers'
commitment to food safety.
The CDC website reports that there has been a "20% reduction in
illnesses caused by the pathogens it tracks," for the past 10 years.
Manufacturers are seeing this improvement due to these proactive measures.
"It is possible that foodborne illnesses have also decreased through
investments made on better detection, prevention, education, and control efforts." The introduction of robots into the food preparation process can
effectively and dramatically reduce the high costs of food contamination and
recalls, and even improve the production process. New regulations are the
perfect entry point for robotics into this process if they were not there
already. As evidence, the robotics industry has enjoyed an increased presence
into food manufacturing facilities. The Robotics Industry
Association website reports that in 2010, "non-automotive orders jumped
46%" due in large part by an increase in sales in "food and consumer
goods (+47%)." "Robots are actively forming food products,
such as butchering meat," said Dick Motley of FANUC Robotics America Corporation.
"Penetration of robots upstream from end of line palletizing has been made
possible by higher performance robots."
Robots can be involved in and improve each step
in the process. Since robots are especially good for repetitive, difficult
tasks, their implementation can also cut down on the number of repetitive
injury reports. For example in most farming facilities, hand-milking processes
have been replaced by automation in order to improve quality and eliminate
the difficult milking task. As a secondary benefit, robotics makes the process
more efficient by cutting the high-cost of traditional fixed equipment. Historically,
cow milking processes required the farmer frequently to bend or crouch, and
milk the cow from a position either next to the cow, or from behind the cow
between its legs. The milking process is natural for a cow but is unnatural
for the farmer who has to perform this uncomfortable task. Introduction of
robotics into the milking process can eliminate manual milking, control over
milking, sanitize the process, and can protect the animal and farmer from
Robots also assist in solving difficult and repetitive strain ergonomic
issues related to squeezing stacks of meat patties manually into packaging.
Recently, innovative sanitized grippers have been incorporated with few moving
parts to conform to irregular edges of patties. Robots can then stack patties
at higher rates than before in addition to conserving space in expensive,
non-ergonomically friendly refrigerated plants. Grippers, along with highly
sophisticated vision systems, can handle varying portion sizes and evaluate
product in addition to checking product weight.
Chicken and fish processing has also enjoyed the entrance of high speed
robot technology into the packaging processes. USDA-accepted robots, enabled
for the food environment, move products at higher rates than manual labor,
reduce contamination risk, and provide consistent loading accuracy. Vision
sensors are incorporated together with conveyor tracking, which emulates hand-eye
coordination. The final piece of the puzzle is innovative gripping technology
which handles thin and thick-sliced meat portions, chicken parts, fish, and
also has been applied to cheese. In the following figure, two FANUC Robotics
M-430iA Robots use iRVision
to find stacks of sliced lunchmeat and transfer them to a horizontal form,
fill, and seal (HFFS) machine.
In addition to reducing employee injury, and managing varying product
sizes, robots can minimize rising labor costs. Rising labor costs in some
areas can be due to immigration or wage violations. As Julia Preston reports
in the New York Times, one of the country's
largest meatpackers was fined $10 million for various wage violations.
In addition, 400 illegal immigrant workers were arrested. Using robots to
perform repetitive manual labor tasks proves to be cost effective, and workers
can take on more satisfying, less dangerous tasks.
Robots are also making an impact even farther upstream to some of the
initial processing applications where the robot operates directly on the animal
carcass. In these cases we see the common theme of increased
yield – more consistently precise cuts, no variation due
to operator fatigue, and reduced saw-blade overheating, with related burning
losses. Other benefits include:
The original manual meat cutting process required finesse and dexterity
of the cut. That finesse highlights one of the hidden costs of a manual operation
– that process knowledge is lost with worker turnover.
Now we can think of the robot as a means to capture that expertise and retain
it permanently. The robot is easily capable of exerting sufficient force
for these important precise cuts. An easy-to-use user interface allows custom
definition of the cutting path to optimize cuts for highest yield and premium
It is estimated that robots can help manufacturers enjoy roughly a 3%
yield improvement in situations where precise cuts make the difference between
contaminated meat and sellable product. This means that in an environment
where there might be 6-8 workers processing 10,000 hogs per shift, there are
approximately 60,000-80,000 opportunities for error in every shift. Three
percent of 10,000 hogs is less than a half percent of the 60-80,000 operations
performed by these employees. This can turn into a < 1 year payback. This
is often easy to achieve if you have made an honest assessment of the current
manual process, and the probability of operator error.
This example demonstrates that the true benefits of robotic automation
often go far beyond simple direct labor savings.
Manufacturers involved in recalls, especially for those products in
the refrigerated supply chain, can minimize costs with processes that identify
and track the product origination and production path. Lot and product bar
codes track product from its source through final production allowing for
a narrow product recall scope if necessary, in addition to minimizing cross-contamination
risks. Robotic vision systems such as FANUC's iRVision
package can read several 1D and 2D barcodes, and store this information in
string registers for traceability. The 2D barcode is read or data is captured
to determine which part type and lot number to ensure traceability throughout
the supply–chain. Robots can also be interfaced to other product identification
technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags.
Green Source Automation, together with FANUC Robotics, has created an
automated system used in rotary milking parlors in which ceiling-mounted M-710iC robots consistently apply "cow dip"
to cow udders. A rotary milking parlor is an efficient means of milking cows since
the cows stand and can be milked while rotating on the parlor platform. A
vision system is also used to track the motion of the rotary platform in either
direction. The robot, along with the built-in vision system, locates each area
to be disinfected after milking.
FANUC Robotics offers several robot models that can be used to solve
issues in the food preparation process. For example, the M-430iA
robot is USDA accepted in the meat and poultry industry. This robot is constructed
of materials that will withstand the generally humid operating environment
and high pressure, hot water cleaning with strong chemical cleaning agents
typically found in this industry. In addition, equipment surfaces are smooth;
corrosion and abrasion resistant; shatterproof; nontoxic; non-absorbent; and
not capable of migrating into food products.
The M-3iA and LR Mate 200iC/5C robots
can use food-grade grease, and feature a special coating to handle acid and
alkaline disinfectants, and low-pressure rinsing. Both robot models can work
with primary (unpackaged) or secondary (packaged) food products, and have
an IP67 rating for the entire robot which means the robot is waterproof and
can withstand harsh environments.
Let us send you more information. Click here to
be contacted by a FANUC Robotics representative.
For more information on using FANUC Robots in your food preparation
process, refer to http://www.fanucrobotics.com/Products/Robots/food-grade-robots.aspx.


text:
The new farmers
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Out on the East End, where suburbia gives way to open spaces, a new breed of farmer is taking root. They walked away from established jobs -- an investment banker and a custom window designer are among them -- to till the earth. For these farmers, local sustainable agriculture is not just a career, it's a lifestyle. Newsday Staff
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Family Programs
The Smithsonian American Art Museum offers a variety of programs for families and children of all ages. Bring your young, budding artists to explore the museum and participate in fun hands-on activities that will be sure to spark their creativity!
See all calendar of events.
See all calendar of events.


text:
The Great Yorkshire Show has enjoyed an unexpected surge in family visitors during the teachers' strike.
It boosted the three-day attendance beyond the 130,000 mark as parents took advantage of school closures to attend the final day.
In the countdown to the 2015 show, bosses now intend to step up pressure on schools to give pupils more time off to join the crowds.
The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate has traditionally hosted the event to please the many trade and business exhibitors who prefer a mid-week slot.
But organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, are concerned young people may be missing out because of the new zero tolerance approach to term-time absence.
Society chief executive Nigel Pulling said: "It has been ideal show weather. Even the downpour on Tuesday afternoon soon dried out.
"It has been fantastic. We have had a least 5,000 children here on school visits. But the schools strike has been a happy coincidence and we have noticed more families on the third day than usual."
He is concerned that despite the heavy investment in children's facilities, some head teachers still view a day out at the show as something to be discouraged.
"Some head teachers accept it is educational but others are taking a very tough line and saying 'no'," he added.
The Society plans to work with schools over the coming year to underline the educational value of a visit.
He added that while the Tour de France may have led some regulars to stay away this year there could be long term benefits.
He had personally met a number of fresh visitors who were in York for the Grand Depart who might come again.
"It is good see new people and there is every chance they will return - and hopefully we will get those who stayed away this year back in 2015," he added.
At the show Richard Bramley, of Manor Farm, Kelfield near York, was named the overall winner of Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Tye Trophy award.
The competition rewards excellence in farming and conservation with commercial agriculture.
Charles Mills, a judge and trustee at the society, said: "Richard's was a very well run farm and his attention to detail, combining conservation and a commercial arable business, was well done. His dedication to promoting the farming industry to different groups and particularly to students was impressive."


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To test whether laboratory-based research differentiating sleepwalkers (SW) from controls (C) can be applied in an uncontrolled forensic case as evidence the alleged crime was committed during an arousal from sleep in which the mind is not fully conscious due to a SW disorder.
A PSG study recorded 8 months after the defendant was charged was analyzed independently by spectral analysis. Slow wave activity (SWA) and cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) rates were computed. Clinical interviews and police records were reviewed for data re: the defendant's sleep prior to the event and use of drugs, alcohol, and stimulants.
The SWA distribution was abnormally low and flat, significantly lower than published controls; in the first NREM cycle, CAP rate 55 was above normal. Two weeks of prior sleep deprivation was confirmed from interviews and defendant's observed daytime sleepiness. Caffeine intake the day before the event was calculated at 826 mg over 14 hours. Snoring and a mild breathing disorder were present in the PSG.
Testimony based on spectral analysis of PSG recorded following an alleged criminal event supported a SW explanation for the non-rational behaviors charged. The defendant was acquitted of all charges and has been successfully treated.
Cartwright RD; Guilleminault C. Defending sleepwalkers with science and an illustrative case. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(7):721-726.
In 1987 and 1997, two highly publicized cases of first degree murder occurred in which there was no doubt the accused was the one who committed the crime.1,2 Nonetheless, a question was raised: were they guilty under the law? The question of guilt is based on the principle of mens rea; was the person's mind conscious at the time? In both cases, the aggression took place following an arousal from sleep and was followed by profound amnesia and regret for what had happened. In both cases, the defense argued the accused was in a non-conscious state due to a sleepwalking (SW) disorder. One case was acquitted the other convicted. Since then, both prosecuting and defending lawyers have sought the advice of Sleep Medicine specialists for their opinion asking: is this a case of non-conscious behavior due to a sleep disorder? This has prompted a strong push-back from some in the Sleep Medicine community, denying there is a valid basis in sleep science for an opinion in such cases.3–5
Sleep Medicine was then relatively new as a clinical profession. The research supporting a diagnosis of several major sleep disorders was strong enough that experienced clinicians, supported by data from the polysomnogram (PSG) revealing the presence of specific sleep abnormalities, could make a diagnosis and recommend a treatment with confidence. An exception was a group of disorders that, although common in young children, were rarely sustained into adulthood, and so escaped systematic attention. These are the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnias. A landmark study by Broughton6 identified a number of their common features. Primary is that these arousals occur early in the major sleep period, prior to REM, when the PSG shows sleep to be in slow wave sleep (SWS), (also called delta sleep or stages 3 and 4 sleep). It is one of this class, SW, that has been the focus of concern about Sleep Medicine clinicians testifying in legal cases of adults. The basic issue is that SW is episodic; therefore, there can be no certainty that an individual, even one genetically vulnerable to such events,7,8 was sleepwalking at the time of the offence.
In fact, prior to 2000, the PSG was of limited value in differentiating an adult SW from a normal sleeper. Although SW have more frequent arousals from SWS than normal sleepers,9 this sleep instability had been observed in patients with other diagnoses such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).10 Therefore, once the many other possible diagnoses that might account for an alleged non-conscious episode of a defendant had been ruled out,11 sleep experts pre-2000 had to decide for themselves is this case likely to be one of sleepwalking or not. Most often the cases that came to trial were those involving aggressive behaviors inflicted on another person. More recently, persons charged with non-consensual sexual behavior (sexsomnia)12 have also become court cases, as have others in which the charge was unlawful entry with intent to commit robbery or rape.13 Other activities common during a SW such as sleep eating, protecting others, and exploring are unlikely to result in a criminal charge.
Without a clear diagnostic sign in the PSG, sleep experts acting for the defense were likely to base their testimony on their judgment of the accused's truthfulness during a pre-trial interview, a history of prior witnessed SW, and the similarity of their behaviors before, during, and following the event to those in published case studies. Some of these characteristics were based on formal research, such as early SWS arousal with long lasting confusion and amnesia following,6 while others were extracted from a review of published case reports, showing non-rational behavior during the episode, amnesia, perplexity, and regret afterward.14 These became the basis of the formal clinical diagnosis of SW for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine15 and of the American Psychiatric Association.16
Sleep experts who acted for the prosecution were more likely to base their testimony on their judgment that the accused's actions were premeditated; motivated by a prior negative relationship with the person attacked; or, in the case of sexual behaviors, that the accused took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself. In some cases the prosecution's sleep expert argued the act was not sleep-related but planned during wakefulness and carried out while the accused was fully conscious.17 If the accused had been drinking alcohol prior to the event, the prosecution's expert held that this was a voluntary behavior and therefore the accused was legally responsible for any aggressive or sexual acts that took place subsequently, even if these followed an arousal from SWS.18
This difficulty concerning proof of SW changed in 2000 with the publication of two independent studies reporting new PSG findings in sleepwalkers not found in age- and gender-matched controls.19,20 A third study reporting the same major findings followed in 2001.21 These studies were carried out by independent investigators in different laboratories, in different countries. All three reported the same two significant differences.
SW demonstrated more disrupted sleep, whether reported as microarousals, wake after sleep onset (WASO), arousals, awakenings, or an abnormal amount of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP A2 and A3).22 This sleep fragmentation was significantly higher in the SWS of the SW than in the C groups. Figure 1 shows CAP episodes preceding a SW event recorded in the Stanford laboratory. Difficulty maintaining sleep in the first third of the night could now be considered a characteristic of a NREM parasomnia, as it was observed in all three studies to be significantly higher in SW than in C subjects only in the first third of the night, when most SW events occur. Those who arouse from REM sleep, REM behavior disorder (RBD), may also be aggressive but differ in demographics and PSG characteristics from NREM SW, and none have to date become published forensic cases.
(Courtesy of C. Guilleminault).
Example of CAP incidents prior to a sleepwalking event.(Courtesy of C. Guilleminault).
(more ...)
The second finding is a difference in the amount of SWA. This is lower throughout the night in SW than in matched controls and is significantly lower in the first NREM cycle. The analysis of the PSG responsible for this finding is not the Rechtschaffen and Kales (R&K)23 delta percent but the more precise spectral analysis scoring (fast Fourier transform [FFT]) yielding the count of SWA in each NREM cycle.
These new findings did not, however, settle the concern expressed about sleep experts testifying in court, as stated in a recent publication, "…there is absolutely no after-the-fact polysomnographic finding that could possibly have any relevance as to whether the accused was sleepwalking at the time of the event in question."24 This overlooks the extensive literature that spectral analysis scoring shows high reliability within individuals to reproduce their profile of the frequency of the various EEG wave forms across non-consecutive nights, including the delta power, under normal and sleep deprivation conditions.25–28 The objective of this study is to test the SWA in a forensic case to determine if it was significantly low in the first NREM cycle and if that indicated the presence of a predisposing condition and possibly a sleep problem which could be treated.
In 2007 a patient, CD, on advice of his lawyer, presented to a sleep laboratory for an evaluation of SW. He was turned down as a patient because his SW was the issue in a pending legal case. The patient then applied to the Sleep Disorder Service at Rush University Medical Center where he was seen by two senior clinicians, both boarded in Sleep Medicine, a neurologist and a psychologist. The patient's wife (LD) also attended the intake interview.
The initial exam showed CD to be a 39-year-old Caucasian male, height 70 inches, weight 187 pounds, with body mass index (BMI) = 26.8, married for 10 years and father of 3 children. He gave a childhood history of frequent episodes of SW, as did his elder brother. These were witnessed by both parents and by each other (as they shared a bedroom). The patient reported his SW persisted into his adult years, with frequent episodes witnessed by his wife and by her parents. Another witness, a physician, observed CD during a SW episode when they shared a hotel room during a trip to attend an athletic event. Although the episode was benign, CD walked about muttering to himself in a confused state, the physician reported that episode to their local police as a safety precaution. LD reported her husband rarely walked outside prior to the episode for which he was now charged. No violence was involved in any of his episodes. His usual behavior was described as patrolling the house after having been aroused by a noise not heard by others. He sometimes moved objects in a non-rational manner. For example- before the expected third child was born, CD placed a clock into an empty cradle and tucked it in tenderly. Most often he looked out of windows searching for possible intruders. These appear to be motivated to protect the family from unrealistic dangers. This is one of five common types of behavior characteristic of adult sleepwalkers.13
The events that led to the charges against CD occurred on 11/25/06. The family was visiting her parents shortly before the expected birth of third child. The baby arrived during that visit. The family stayed on another week; then CD, whose work required his presence, returned home alone. This was Thanksgiving weekend; neighbors on either side of his house were away and had asked him to check on their homes as he usually did during their absence turning on lights to discourage intruders. CD performed this task the evening following work. Because he was responsible for a special program from 6 to 9 PM, he did this later than usual. CD rarely drank alcohol and had none that day but did drink many caffeinated beverages. He explained his unusually high caffeine intake by his need to stay alert at work following his considerable sleep loss the week before and the week following the birth, when he took over responsibility for the nighttime care of his 3- and 5-year-old children. The 5-year-old had multiple medical problems and difficulty sleeping requiring nighttime attention and medication.
On the Rush Sleep Center intake forms, CD listed he consumed ten large caffeinated drinks the day of the alleged SW event: two mugs of coffee at breakfast, two additional coffees between 9 AM and 11 AM, and two Diet Cokes in the afternoon; and during the evening program he drank "large tumblers" of Diet Pepsi. The total caffeine consumption was estimated to be 826 mg over a 14-h period.29 Studies of the effect of 600 mg of slow-release caffeine show it promotes wakefulness following sleep deprivation and improves vigilance.30 As caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, it inhibits sleep onset and sleep maintenance and reduces the amount of slow wave sleep and SWA in the first sleep cycle.31,32 High caffeine intake has been implicated in SW with violence.2,33
A reconstruction of the event presented at the trial was based on the detectives' interviews of CD, the complainant, the daughter (EF) of the family living opposite him and her boyfriend. CD recalled having difficulty sleeping that night. He remembers arising at about 3 AM and again later on hearing a noise. On looking out a window, believed he saw lights on in the house facing him and the front door standing partly ajar. He felt duty-bound to investigate. He crossed the street and entered through the unlocked front door. He then wandered from room to room checking for intruders. He believes he turned off the kitchen light then looked into the master bedroom. The room was very dark, but he heard EF whisper and then shout to the sleeping boyfriend to turn on the light. When the light came on CD ducked down at the foot of the bed but then arose and identified himself as her neighbor. She told him to get out. He left but wandered into the kitchen. She then got up, guided him to the door, watched while he crossed the street and entered his house. He stated he then went back to sleep, woke in the morning with no memory of the incident, and went to work. EF reported that she awoke feeling someone stroking her abdomen under the covers. She confirmed that he wandered into the kitchen, and she then led him out via the front door and went back to sleep. She did not call 911, did not tell her boyfriend about the "touching," and was not afraid of CD when guiding him out. When her mother returned next morning, EF told her about the intruder. She described the touching as a tickling sensation, then as soft stroking under her pajamas but not under her panties. Her mother phoned the police who contacted CD to get his statement. He was surprised to hear that he was reported to have made a sexual attack, which he repeatedly denied. He waived his Miranda rights and told the police that he was not near her when the light came on. The boyfriend reported his impression of someone feeling his bedcovers. CD explained that he was being a Good Samaritan, wanted to apologize for the intrusion, and about his history of sleepwalking. The police had the physician's report of CD's previous event. CD believed that would be the end of it. Instead he was charged with criminal trespassing, criminal sexual abuse, and a felonious attempt to commit rape. His lawyer advised a sleep study.
Two nights of recording were ordered; the first a standard clinical night to rule out obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as CD had a history of loud snoring. That study, performed on 8/16/2007, was scored according to the criteria of Rechtschaffen and Kales,23 and the arousals by the American Sleep Disorders Association Atlas34 (Figure 2).The scoring was approved by the attending neurologist. His report in summary read: "The study and clinical history is consistent with mild positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome." The sleep efficiency was low (60%) and sleep latency long (31 minutes); SWS% was low (3.6%), and arousals per hour moderately high (18.1). The oxyhemoglobin desaturation nadir was normal at 93%, and apnea+ hypopnea index 4.1 occurred only when supine. No periodic limb movements were recorded. The second night was to have CD undergo 25 hours of sleep deprivation while matching his reported excessive caffeine followed by 7 hours of recovery sleep. This would mimic the conditions the night of his intrusion event and maximize the possibility he would exhibit a SW episode in the laboratory. However, this plan required approval of the University Research Committee, and CD and his wife could not wait for this approval as the trial date was imminent.
Hypnogram and distribution of arousals in PSG of CD
The defense attorney requested the senior author, who had previous experience at SW trials, to act as a sleep expert for the defense. In the absence of further data, she reviewed the data in hand against the criteria for sleepwalking. The one central to the diagnosis—that the arousal typically occurs from SWS within the first or second NREM cycle—could not be confirmed. CD had no episode during his diagnostic night and was not able to state conclusively his bedtime on the night of his event. His best guess was that this was later than usual as he had worked late and checked both neighboring houses before entering his home. He thought this was probably sometime close to or after midnight. Given the amount of caffeine he reported drinking that day, it was not possible to estimate the time to sleep onset nor the amount or depth of sleep he achieved before his behavioral arousal. CD's wife was not able to report definitively whether his SW episodes typically took place early in the night or later, as she frequently slept separately due to his loud snoring. The best evidence of the time the intrusion occurred was given by the complainant, EF, who checked the clock when she awoke feeling she was being touched. It was between 4:30 and 5 AM. CD's estimated bedtime around midnight and an awakening at 3 AM and another later, might suggest that his confusional arousal was at 4:30 from the second NREM cycle. However, that was too speculative to serve as evidence.
To help clarify whether the arousal was from SWS, the second author, who had conducted one of the first studies to use spectral analysis scoring of SW, was asked to score the clinical night using the same software and criteria as used in the 2001 publication.21
A disk of the digitized sleep study was sent to Stanford where it was scored by three physicians; first by the second author, then by a visiting assistant professor of neurology and by a visiting research fellow who scored the record for the CAP frequency. Their final report received on 3/03/08 read: "Here are the data from the patient you can use as the official report. The delta power was calculated to determine the total per sleep cycle. The FFT was performed on the C3/A2 signal with a Hamming window applied. Two second windows were averaged over 30 epochs. Artifacts were first rejected. The results are clearly abnormal in distribution and with low delta power during the first sleep cycle. This is similar to what has been described by Gaudreau et al.19 and what we ourselves found in sleepwalkers (Guilleminault et al.21)." Attached were the data in graphic form (Figure 3). These data points were plotted against those reported in the Gaudreau study (Figure 4). Additional findings were "The CAP rate was abnormally high at 55. The rate for normals in our lab is 32-35 for those of similar age."
Total delta power for four NREM cycles in CD
The data for Controls and Sleepwalkers are taken from Gaudreau et al. Dynamics of slow-wave activity during NREM sleep of sleepwalkers and control subjects. Sleep 2000;23:755-60.
Absolute slow wave activity across four NREM cycles for controls, sleepwalkers and CDThe data for Controls and Sleepwalkers are taken from Gaudreau et al. Dynamics of slow-wave activity during NREM sleep of sleepwalkers and control subjects. Sleep 2000;23:755-60.
The report confirmed CD had abnormally low SWA in the first NREM cycle. Espa et al.20 hypothesized that a low SWA results in an overt SW arousal if two further conditions are met: (1) there is pressure for more SWS (as follows sleep deprivation), and (2) there is a concurrent stimulus for increased arousal from SWS. This may be from a medication or substance35 such as excessive caffeine,2,31,32 from an untreated breathing disorder, or an external stimulus such as noise, auditory tone,36 or a touch.37 These two conditions were present in CD's history—the two weeks of prior SD and excessive caffeine still actively affecting his sleep. This provided the grounds for the senior author to agree to be a sleep expert for the trial.
The trial began on 10/24/08. The defense lawyer was able to have Figure 4 admitted into evidence and copies distributed to the jury while he questioned the sleep expert about how this related to the SW disorder that was the alleged cause of the event. This figure showed the distribution of the average SWA across the four NREM cycles for 15 sleepwalkers and 15 age- and gender-matched controls in the Gaudreau et al.19 study and for CD. Both he and the SW sample had significantly lower SWA in the first NREM cycle than the C group. Given the reliability of SWA within a person between nights, it is highly probable that CD's low SWA and high CAP constituted a predisposing condition in his sleep prior to his intrusion into the neighbor's home. His history indicated he met the two additional conditions needed to initiate a SW event.20 Sleep deprivation, which was the priming condition, and the excessive caffeine and mild OSA22 both may have precipitated the arousal into a non-rational state of mind. The jury listened attentively. The prosecuting attorney cross-examined to clarify whether CD was fully conscious when he responded to the light being turned on by first hiding then identifying himself. These points were addressed, citing CD's continued mental confusion and failure to recall the event on waking. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts.
Laboratory-based research identifying SWA as differentiating SW from normal sleep using spectral analysis was replicated in a forensic case. The additional history of snoring and mild breathing disorder validated in the PSG may be a contributing cause of his low SWA, high CAP rate, and arousal into non-conscious acts when sleep deprived and over-caffeinated. These data constituted the basis for the opinion that the defendant was likely in a non-rational state due to SW at the time of the events charged, even though the PSG was conducted eight months after the event. Those who have warned sleep medicine clinicians not to testify in forensic cases, stating this would be tantamount to practicing "junk science," may not have been aware of the research establishing the reliability of the sleeping brain wave profile using spectral analysis. The application of relevant science, including spectral analysis scoring of PSG, should become integrated into the guidelines recommended for those serving as sleep experts. An unfortunate aim of the critical literature has been to discourage research given the description of these efforts as "attempts to 'stimulate' sleepwalking in the laboratory (by sleep deprivation, medication administration, or alcohol ingestion) are completely worthless and totally inappropriate."24 There is, for example, a strong need for research involving larger samples to clarify disparate findings between studies with small samples.21,36,37
This was not an industry supported study. The authors have indicated no financial conflicts of interest. The senior author acted for the defense pro bono.
The authors thank Babak Mokhlesi, M.D., for his additional literature search, Eric Frenette, M.D., for providing an independent scoring of the SWA in the PSG of CD, and Jacques Montplaisir, M.D., for permission to reprint Figure 1 from Gaudreau et al. Dynamics of slow-wave activity during NREM sleep of sleepwalkers and control subjects. Sleep 2000;23:755-60.
Broughton R, Billings R, Cartwright R, et al., authors. Homicidal somnambulism: a case report. Sleep. 1994;17:253–64. [PubMed]
Cartwright R, author. Sleepwalking violence: a sleep disorder, a legal dilemma, and a psychological challenge. Am J Psychiatry. 2004;161:1149–58. [PubMed]
Mahowald M, Schenck C, authors. Complex motor behavior arising during the sleep period: forensic science implications. Sleep. 1995;18:724–7. [PubMed]
Mahowald M, Schneck C, authors; Chokroverty S, editor. Sleep-related violence and forensic medicine issues. Sleep disorders medicine. 1999. Boston: Butterworth Heine-mann; p. 729–39
Mahowald M, Schenck C, authors. Parasomnnias: sleepwalking and the law. Sleep Med Rev. 2000;4:321–39. [PubMed]
Broughton RJ, author. Sleep disorders: disorders of arousal? Science. 1968;159:1070–8. [PubMed]
Hublin C, Kaprio J, Partinen M, Heikkila K, Koskenvuo M, authors. Prevalence and genetics of sleepwalking: a population-based twin study. Neurology. 1997;48:177–81. [PubMed]
Kales A, Soldatos C, Bixler E, et al., authors. Hereditary factors in sleepwalking and night terrors. Brit J Psychiat. 1980;137:111–8. [PubMed]
Blatt I, Peled R, Gadoth N, Lavie P, authors. The value of sleep recording in evaluating somnambulism in young adults. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1991;78:407–12. [PubMed]
Nofzinger E, Wettstein R, authors. Homicidal behavior and sleep apnea: a case report and medicolegal discussion. Sleep. 1995;18:776–82. [PubMed]
Mahowald M, Schenck C, authors; Kryger M, Roth T, Dement W, editors. Violent parasomnias: forensic medicine issues. Principles and practice of sleep medicine. 2000. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; p. 786–95
Shapiro C, Trajanovic N, Fedoroff P, authors. Sexsomnia- a new parasomnia? Can J Psychiatry. 2003;48:311–7. [PubMed]
Cartwright R, author. The twenty-four hour mind: The role of sleep and dreaming in our emotional lives. 2010. New York: Oxford University Press;
Bonkalo A, author. Impulsive acts and confusional states during incomplete arousal from sleep: criminological and forensic implications. Psychiatr Q. 1974;48:400–9. [PubMed]
American Sleep Disorders Association. International classification of sleep disorders revised: diagnostic and coding manual. 1997. Rochester, MN: American Sleep Disorders Association;
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV-TR. 2000. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association;
Pressman M, author. in Arizona v Falater 1999: Court Case of State of Arizona.
Pressman M, Mahowald M, Schenck C, Bornemann MC, authors. Alcohol-induced sleepwalking or confusional arousal as a defense to criminal behavior: a review of scientific evidence, methods and forensic considerations. J Sleep Res. 2007;16:198–212. [PubMed]
Gaudreau H, Joncas S, Zadra A, Montplaisir J, authors. Dynamics of slow- wave activity during the NREM sleep of sleepwalkers and control subjects. Sleep. 2000;23:755–60. [PubMed]
Espa F, Ondze B, Deglise P, Billiard M, Besset A, authors. Sleep architecture, slow wave activity, and sleep spindles in adult patients with sleepwalking and sleep terrors. Clin Neurophysiol. 2000;111:929–39. [PubMed]
Guilleminault C, Poyares D, Abat F, Palombini L, authors. Sleep and wakefulness in somnambulism: a spectral analysis study. J Psychosomatic Res. 2001;51:411–6
Guilleminault C, Kirisoglu C, da Rosa A, Lopes C, Chan A, authors. Sleepwalking, a disorder of NREM sleep instability. Sleep Med. 2006;7:163–70. [PubMed]
Rechtschaffen A, Kales A, authors. A manual of standardized terminology techniques and scoring system for sleep stages of human subjects. 1968. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health Education and Welfare;
Mahowald M, Bornemann MC, Schenck C, authors. Finally- sleep science for the courtroom. Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11:1–3. [PubMed]
Preud'homme XA, Lanquart J-P, Mendlewicz J, Linkowski P, authors. Distribution of delta activity across nonrapid eye movement sleep episodes in healthy young men. Sleep. 1997;20:313–30. [PubMed]
Tan X, Campbell G, Palagini L, Feinberg I, authors. High internight reliability of computer- measured NREM delta, sigma, and beta: biological implications. Biol Psychiatry. 2000;48:1010–9. [PubMed]
Tan X, Campbell G, Feinberg I, authors. Internight reliability and benchmark values for computer analyses of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM EEG in normal young adult and elderly subjects. Clini Neurophysiol. 2001;112:1540–52
Tucker A, Dinges D, Van Dongen H, authors. Trait interindividual differences in the sleep physiology of healthy young adults. J Sleep Res. 2007;16:170–80. [PubMed]
University of Utah. Caffeine content of popular drinks. http://www.math.utah.edu/∼yplee/fun/caffeine.html.
Patat A, Rosenzweig P, Enslen M, authors. Effects of a new slow release formulation of caffeine on EEG, psychomotor and cognitive functions in sleep-deprived subjects. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp. 2005;15:153–70
Landolt H, Werth E, Borbely A, Dijk D-J, authors. Caffeine intake (200 mg) in the morning affects human sleep and EEG power spectra at night. Brain Res. 1995;675:67–74. [PubMed]
Landolt H, Dijk D-J, Gaus S, Borbely A, authors. Caffeine reduces low-frequency delta activity in the human sleep EEG. Neuropsychopharmacology. 1995;12:229–38. [PubMed]
Moldofsky H, Gilbert R, Lue F, MacLean A, authors. Sleep-related violence. Sleep. 1995;18:731–9. [PubMed]
American Sleep Disorders Association Atlas Task Force: EEG arousals: scoring rules and examples. Sleep. 1992;15:173–84. [PubMed]
Cartwright R, author; Thorpy M, Plazzi G, editors. Parasomnias due to medications or substances. Parasomnias and other sleep-related movement disorders. 2010. Cambridge University Press; p. 42–53
Pilon M, Montplaisir J, Zadra A, authors. Precipitating factors of somnambulism: impact of sleep deprivation and forced arousals. Neurology. 2008;70:2284–90. [PubMed]
Pressman M, author. Disorders of arousal from sleep and violent behavior: the role of physical contact and proximity. Sleep. 2007;30:1039–47. [PubMed Central][PubMed]
Perrault R, Carrier J, Desautels A, Montplaisir J, Zadra A, authors. Slow wave activity and slow oscillations in sleepwalkers and controls: effects of 38 h of sleep deprivation. J Sleep Res. 2013 2 11;[Epub ahead of print].


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Uptown Players presents its second annual Dallas Pride Performing Arts Festival just in time for Pride, starting tonight with the one-night-only staging of Dustin Lance Black's 8, but there are seven more shows scheduled — all with a gay twist of some sort, and all getting multiple performances.
Below is a run-down of the shows … some with write-ups by others in the festival. You can get individual tickets ($13) — or a full festival pass ($53) — here. All performances upstairs in Frank's Place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd.


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Reflections from Steubenville: The role of social media in prevention
As we watch the trial happenings in Steubenville, Ohio this week, I'm stuck on the role that social media played in this case. It's disturbing to think that several bystanders elected to post jokes and videos, in real time, as the events of August 11 took place. While disturbing, it may not be surprising. Findings from a recent study out of Australia explored the intersections of emerging technologies with sexual violence. Major themes from the study indicated that there is a very real blurring in the lives of tech users between what happens online and what happens in real life.
Instead of focusing on the gross failures of tech savvy bystanders in this case, I'd like to present some ideas about how social media can be harnessed for prevention. Please note that I'm not just talking about ways that organizations can use social media, these are practical things that we as individuals operating in on- and off-line worlds can do.
Before violence: Social media users have the amazing power to prevent violence from happening in the first place right from their phones and computers. Media is no longer a one-way street, thanks the easy to use cameras and editing apps available for free from your phone. Everyday people have the power to create their own media, including social media, which raise critical questions and commentary. We're talking critical media literacy on hyper drive here, folks. Create the media and messages that you want to see in the world. Talk back to the mainstream and to harmful social norms by being the social messenger of change. Challenge the status quo, the rape culture, and the many nuances of oppression that exist in our world. Disrupt racist Facebook posts with a "that's not cool" comment. Tweet back at companies that push sexualized imagery in an effort to sell a product (#NotBuyingIt). So little time, so much to post! Better get started, friends!
During violence: First of all, keep in mind that sexual violence occurs along a continuum of actions and behaviors. Some of them are normalized, like rape jokes, sexual harassment or "slut shaming" (read: victim blaming). Some of these actions and behaviors are clearly violent, coercive, or abusive. I love social media-based efforts like Hollaback's "I've Got Your Back" campaign that allows people, in real time, to document and call out violence and street harassment. I wish that on that August night in Steubenville one of the tweet-standers had said something like, "You're committing a crime, I'm recording it, and it is being reported right now." Social media can help provide the safety and distance needed to be a bystander, even if it doesn't feel safe to physically intervene.
After violence: Holy-hold-systems-accountable, Batman! You, yes you, have the very real, very public, very vocal power to call out systematic failures in responding to and preventing sexual violence. Tweet your thoughts to local, state, and national leaders. Call in reinforcements by outreaching to bigger advocacy organizations to help take up your cause through social media. For goodness sake, start a trending hashtag (*major social media accomplishment*)!
In my humble, pro-techie opinion, I think there are a lot of ways to use social media for good. Practice being the bad-ass, intervening bystander you want to be on the streets. Gather support and community around your worthy cause. Join us in the social media revolution. We're ending sexual violence online and in the real world today. #WhatAreYouDoing?


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Marwyn Management Partners (MMP), the UK-based listed investment and management group, has just doubled down on the luxury market. After starting the on-line HNW members-only shopping deal site Luxup, directed in part at the Chinese tourist market and in part at amassing a mind-boggling amount of information on individuals' shopping habits, MMP just announced an agreement to acquire le Chameau, the French maker of luxury rubber boots, from current owners Lafuma. Read more
© The Financial Times Ltd 2016 FT and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Ltd.


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Club History
Sherborne Town FC was founded in 1894, and played their matches in those early days at Marston Road. Following the opening of the Terrace playing fields just before the Second World War, this became the new venue for home games. The club then moved across the road from the playing fields in 1985 to its present home, Raleigh Grove, referencing Sir Walter Raleighs historical connection with the town.
The Raleigh Grove site was built on a grazing field, at the level of the raised banking that exists today on the northwest side of the ground. This had to be levelled, to create a playing area, a task made all the more difficult as there was a pond in the far right corner of the ground. When the ground was built the club noted the regulations laid down for promotion from the Dorset Premier league at the time, so a covered section on the south west side of the ground was erected for supporters. The pitch also had four drains laid to aid the playing surface. When the site was completed the new ground was somewhat ahead of its time, considering many of the clubs rivals at that time were based on little more than park or village pitches.
The clubhouse was a project reflecting the forethought of the then chairman of the club, Ken Mullins. This spacious facility also incorporates the dressing rooms, bar, function room, kitchen, storeroom and toilets, including disabled facilities.
The record attendance at the ground is 1,000 versus Eastliegh (featuring ex-Southampton and England international Matthew Le Tissier), in the Andy Shephard Memorial match on July 27th 2003. Four Football League clubs have played at Raleigh Grove: Plymouth Argyle, Torquay United, Swindon Town and Yeovil Town.
In 2001 the committee at Sherborne Town FC outlined a three-phase, five-year plan for the future development of the ground. The plans included a hard standing path along the north west side of the pitch for spectators, a 150-seater stand on the same side, relocating the dugouts, clubhouse improvements, and the installation of floodlights.
Planning permission was granted in 2003 and in 2004 phases one and two were completed, with hard standing, a grandstand, new dugouts and floodlights erected and working in just three months.
Then manager Martyn Starnes season by season lowered the average age of the playing staff and also attracted quality players with a genuine hunger for the game. This combination led to the team finishing in the top six of the Dorset Premier League for five seasons running, leading to the long battle to convince the league officials of the clubs determination to join the south wests premier football league.
In the season 2003/4 the club finished in fourth and also won the Dorset Senior County Cup. An application was made to the Western League but the Dorset Premier League refused to grant consent.
However, with the last game of the 2005-6 season Sherborne produced an excellent performance to beat Bridport Reserves 2-0 away to secure the runners-up position, and days later the news broke that the club had at last been accepted into the Western League.
The first campaign in the Western League First Division proved one of consolidation, before earning promotion as runners-up to Wellington the next season under the guidance of Kevin Leigh.
Sherborne started life in the Premier Division with a new manager at the helm, as Nik Flory assumed the reins. However, Leigh was back in charge before the season's end, despite the club securing mid-table safety largely thanks to a 13-game unbeaten run.
Leigh stepped down for a second time in August 2009, replaced by former Yeovil Town striker Mickey Spencer. Relegation was avoided on the last day of the season, with Spencer's impact shining through at the start of the 2010-11 campaign.
On Saturday 25 September 2010 Sherborne played arguably the biggest game of their 116-year history as they hosted Hungerford Town in the FA Cup Second Round Qualifying - the furthest they have ever reached in the competition.
Spencer left the club in November 2011 and was succeeded by player turned manager Jamie Manley. Despite a strong push towards the end of the season the club was relegated to the First Division by the smallest of margins.
The 2012/13 season saw Sherborne return to the Premier League at the first time of asking and as First Division Champions; Jamie Manley also won the league's Manager of the Year award.
At the end of the season the club secured substantial funding from The Football Stadia Improvement Fund, Viridor Credits Environmental Company, Sherborne Town Council and West Dorset District Council to improve the clubhouse facilities and renovate the pitch. Work has already started.
The future looks bright for STFC and its supporters.


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This blog covers broad topics of interest to senior executives, giving the CTO/CIO perspective on such things as working as a member of a company's executive team, forging business/IT alignment, focusing product and application development, enhancing and maintaining world-class operations, and the care and feeding of technical staff. By alumnus Peter Kretzman.
Last modified Wed, 23 Jun, 2010 at 16:07
Notice: Blog authors are solely responsible for the content of the blogs listed in the directory. Neither the content of these blogs, nor the links to other web sites, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by Stanford University, the Stanford Alumni Association or any Stanford-affiliated entity ("Stanford"). The text and other material on these blogs are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of Stanford.


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WINTER PARK, Fla. - Saint Leo sophomore Pawel Trenda has been recognized as the Sunshine State Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week Presented by VALIC.
Trenda collected three NCAA 'B' cut times, two individual and one relay, while finishing first in all four events he competed in Saint Leo's 136.5-124.5 win over Nova Southeastern.
The Oswiecim, Poland native recorded the current top Division II time in the 100-yard butterfly at 48.97 seconds to finish first with an NCAA provisional time. He finished first in the 100-yard backstroke with a second NCAA provisional time of 50.65 seconds. Trenda also finished first in the 100 IM in a time of 51.57 seconds. He was the leadoff leg on the first-place 200-yard medley relay team that recorded an NCAA 'B' cut time at 1:30.42.
The Lions return to the pool deck on Friday, October 25, when they host Florida Southern. Start time against the Mocs is slated for 4:00 p.m. at the Marion Bowman Aquatics Center.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo men's swim team, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.


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Slightly neurotic, greasy, larger homeless man that frequents State Street on a regular basis, who also supports the UW Greek System and LOOOVES the GAmma Phi ladies. Must ride a bicycle with a police scanner attatched to his hip. Hence the name, Scanner.
Scanner Dan, also look for Piccolo Man in bright orange suit located outside the bookstore playing his piccolo. Also, look for Shim Saxophone player up near the capitol or outside Statesider playing Pink Panther till the weeeee hours of the morning.
by Bass Mouth September 19, 2003
The Urban Dictionary Mug
One side has the word, one side has the definition. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Lotsa space for your liquids.Buy the mug


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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - An influential senator who has sought to place a moratorium on new Internet cafes said Wednesday that criminal allegations of racketeering and other wrongdoing in the industry should spur lawmakers to close the storefront businesses.
"My goal would be to get rid of them,'' said Sen. John Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican who is chairman of the powerful Rules Committee.
Thrasher made the comments shortly after Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigned because of past consulting work she did for Allied Veterans of the World, an organization that is at the center of an investigation that became public Tuesday and led to the search of 49 establishments
The investigation includes allegations of illegal gambling, money laundering and misrepresentation by Allied Veterans, which held itself out as a charity but, authorities contend, was used to enrich other people.
"Well, certainly I think we have to have the discussion," Richter said. "We don't want illegal businesses thriving in the state of Florida."
Internet cafes have been a controversial issue in the Legislature, as hundreds of the businesses have popped up across the state in recent years. Critics have long contended they illegally operate electronic games that are akin to slot machines, but the industry has said they are legal sweepstakes games.
"I am going to suggest that we move a little faster," Thrasher speaking about legislation already proposed to abolish internet cafes. "Yeah, and maybe a ban. Now I believe that evidence has come out that these things are exactly what we thought they were. They've been corrupted, there's a problem with them. Counties and cities are having problems, law enforcement people are having problems."
A 130-page search warrant application filed Monday in federal court in Oklahoma flatly rejects arguments that Internet cafes are not gambling operations --- repeatedly referring to them as "Internet casinos."
"(The games) do not constitute a drawing by chance or a game promotion under Florida law,'' IRS Special Agent Michael Favors said in a sworn statement seeking a warrant to search an Oklahoma company, International Internet Technologies, that is a major player in the industry. "As a result, there is probable cause to believe that Allied Veterans and others were involved in conducting, financing, managing, directing and owning illegal gambling businesses in Florida involving slot machines that earned, after deducting prize pay-outs, over $290 million from 2007 to present."
Thrasher said he was "terribly saddened" by Carroll's resignation and called her a "dear friend." He filed the bill to place a moratorium on new Internet cafes last month, though the measure has not been heard in a committee.
The senator said he filed the moratorium bill as a way to "push the pause button." But he said he doesn?t think there is a need for the cafes and will go after the industry "as hard as I can --- as hard as the (Senate) president will let me."
Thrasher's comments Wednesday were not welcomed news to the people who run and work at Smitty's in Mandarin. Smitty's has an internet cafe and she told Channel 4 that they run a totally legal operation.
"I'm not really surprised by it," said Jen Andrin. "But I don't think they should, just because someone else did something wrong, doesn't mean the rest of us are doing something wrong."
Closing down the internet cafes associated with Allied Veterans is impacting more than the men who are allegedly behind the scheme. Channel 4 spoke with people who say the impact of shutting down the cafes are going to hurt a lot of veterans.
"It could affect all thirty some veterans out here," said Brett Bell. "They could end up back out on the streets."
Bell stays at the Allied Veterans Center on Acme Street in Jacksonville, a legitimate facility that helps homeless vets get back on their feet. Bell said if the center loses Allied Veterans Worldwide as a source of funding, it may shut down and he loses his place to live and his training to get job.
"Try to think positively and keep my options open, but we're hoping the funding will come through," said Bell.
The industry, particularly International Internet Technologies, has become a big-money political player in Florida, as it has fought past attempts to rein in the industry. Last year, International Internet Technologies, which licenses software to the cafes, spent $740,000 on lobbying the Legislature, according to a lobbyist-compensation report.
But the industry's lobbying muscle could quickly vanish, as International Internet Technologies' lobbying team terminated its representation after the announcement Tuesday of the arrests and law-enforcement searches of Internet cafes.
Sarah Bascom, who runs a prominent public-relations business in Tallahassee, served as a spokeswoman for a group called the Coalition of Florida's Internet Cafes, which included International Internet Technologies. She said she quickly terminated representation because of "misrepresentation" by International Internet Technologies.
"We had no knowledge of any of this until yesterday when the media reports started coming out, and we terminated our representation of them immediately after," Bascom said in email.
Copyright 2013 by The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text: Ramie Harris Remembered in Homecoming 5K The honorary Ramie Harris 5K was dedicated to former student Ramie Harris, who died in November 2011. Subfreezing temperatures did not deter over 350 alumni, students and community members from participating in the homecoming 5K run honoring former student Ramie Harris, who passed away in a plane crash in November 2011. "Though I didn't know her personally, we are all part of a community," said sophomore Leah Watson, who ran the 5K. "If we can support and encourage her family through running, there is nothing I'd rather do on a Saturday morning." Runners congregated in Edman Plaza at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. In Harris's memory, every runner sported wristbands imprinted with the words "Ramie's Run" in her favorite color, purple. Some runners were also clad in purple attire. More > Q and A with the Producer of 'Elf' Todd Komarnicki reflects on his Wheaton experience, the writing process and shares advice for current Wheaton students. Film producer Todd Komarnicki '87 began his writing career in an advanced poetry writing course with professor Jill Baumgaertner of the Wheaton College English department. According to Baumgaertner, who is now the dean of humanities and theological studies, Komarnicki was the grinning baseball player who sat in an overstuffed chair in the corner of her classroom and possessed, despite all appearances, an "innate talent" for writing. Baumgaertner recalls handing back a stack of his poems after class and telling him, "If you want to, you can be good at this." More > Baseball Stadium Named in Honor of Former Coach To celebrate the opening of the Lee Pfund Stadium, former Head Coach Lee Pfund was commemorated for his contribution to the Thunder baseball program. Over homecoming weekend, the Wheaton College baseball team's new home at the previously-named Legion Field in Carol Stream was christened the Lee Pfund Stadium in honor of former Head Coach Lee Pfund, who led the Wheaton baseball team to a CCIW Championship in 1951. President Philip Ryken began the naming ceremony with comments on the progress of the renovations of the field thus far and with memories of Pfund from his childhood. More > Homecoming 2012 Football Game - Wheaton Wins Against Carthage #20 Wheaton 44, Carthage 10 Slow starts continue to follow the Wheaton Thunder football team so far in 2012, but thankfully so have second-half surges. That was the story once again last weekend as Wheaton knocked off Carthage College 44-10 in front of 3,682 homecoming faithful. "It's always a good win when you get to come away with a victory on homecoming," Head Coach Mike Swider said following the win. "To do it in front of the home crowd and all the alumni around, it's really a good opportunity to show everybody what we're all about." More > Women's Soccer Tie in Homecoming Match, the First of the Season #16 Wheaton 1, #2 Trinity 1 The Wheaton women's soccer team played three games this past week, going 2-0-1. On Friday night, Oct. 5, they played the Trinity University (Texas) Tigers, ranked second nationally, to a 1-1 draw. The Concordia Cobbers visited Joe Bean Stadium on Monday night, Oct. 8, and the Thunder earned the victory 4-3. Wheaton also won their only CCIW match of the week on Wednesday night over the Cardinals of North Central by a score of 5-0. More >


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Do you think you have all the beauty products you'll need this summer? You do? Wrong! Come on ladies! There are a few things you'll need for the rest of the summer. You'll want to smell good first of all. Then you'll need something to make those eyes stand out, but will actually stay on. And you're going to need to keep those lips looking soft and hydrated. Yes you're going to need all that! And thanks to L'Oreal Paris you just might be one of the lovely ladies to win these summer beauty essentials.
One lucky reader will win the following:
- Ralph Lauren Big Pony for Women Collection: Add Ralph Lauren's fresh summer scent as your final accessory to your wardrobe. The Big Pony Collection for Women explores four of her vital attributes; Sporty, Sensual, Free-Spirited and Stylish. All four colorful fragrances are bright, playful and energizing, and set upon a floral backdrop, yet each expresses a clear point of view. Based on a duo of ingredients, each fragrance pops with a unique accent of Citrus, Fruit, Green or Oriental to establish a clear identity with a distinctive twist.
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- L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara – Waterproof & Carbon Black formulas: Whether you're heading to the beach or laying out in the pool, you don't need to think twice about this one- the L'Oreal Paris' Waterproof Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara sets the golden standard in the mascara category. Give your lashes 2X the intensity of length and leave your eyes with no clumps but just simple mascara perfection.
- L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Balm: Now you can add protection and color to your lips with the Colour Riche Balm thanks to its nurturing formula with Shea butter, Argan Oil, Vitamin E, Rose Canina Oil and SPF 15. Colour Riche Balm delivers eight hours of continuous hydration. Lips feel soft and supple all day long and conditioned for up to 2.5 hours after the balm is removed. Available in eight wearable shades, Colour Riche Balm leaves lips with a healthy hint of beautiful color.
I wish I could win all of that! LOL! And you know what…I'm going to make entering very very easy!
To enter leave a comment below telling me what L'Oreal Paris product you're in love with and using like crazy this summer.
*please include a valid email address
Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited. Open to United States residents only. You must be 18 years-or-older to enter. Winner will be chosen at random and have 24 hours to claim prize. Giveaway ends 7/20/12. I am not responsible for any technical difficulties, shipping mishaps, or product damages. By entering this giveaway, you agree to these terms & conditions. This giveaway is courtesy of L'Oreal Paris USA.


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HOUSTON - Out of the more than 22 million registered vehicles on Texas roads, a select few have decided to accent their ride with a personalized license plate. This is big business for Texas.
Officials at www.myplates.com, a state funded vendor, reported more than $14 million was pumped into the state's general revenue fund since 2009 from drivers buying personalized plates. However, Local 2 discovered not everyone gets to put their own splash of personality on a plate.
In 2012, Texas received 43,265 applications for a personalized plate and 1.26 percent of those applications were rejected. According to records provided to Local 2 by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, requests for plates with the words MURDRS, HITMN1, ASASIN and SSNIPR were all rejected.
"I definitely wouldn't honk my horn at them because I'd be worried about some road rage," said Nadine Moon, owner of Who Made The Cake?
Moon's SUV sports the plate, "CAKE MOM."
"My husband's says 'I Love Poker,'" said Moon.
"Would it invoke a response from other drivers driving past that vehicle?" said Randy Elliston, director of Vehicle Titles and Registration for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Elliston said that question has to be considered when deciding whether a personalized plate request is approved. Which explains why SCHMUK, ALL BS and BIHTME got rejected.
Elliston said anything potentially depicting drug use or illegal activity also can't go on a personal plate. PROZC, XTA Z and SPEEDR all got rejected.
Plates resembling law enforcement are also a "no-no" according to state laws. Those requesting 72FBI and DPSEMS were rejected.
Profanity, sexual innuendo, hate speech and body parts are also banned from personal plates. Elliston said each personal plate request is reviewed by four to five people, read back to front and even upside down to make sure nothing untoward gets on the road.
"You would be amazed at how creative people get," said Elliston.
Not everyone agrees with the state's decision to nix a plate request. According to copies of appeal letters filed with the DMV one person argued "DOGDOO" shouldn't be rejected because, "I am in the pet waste removal business." Another unhappy motorist wrote his request for "OLD F@" should be allowed because it is a "term of endearment" and refers to either a "tribal elder" or a "brand of French wine."
"At the end of the day that falls on my desk and I'm the one that finally says 'yes' or 'no,'" said Elliston.
"I just think, you know, it's a first amendment deal," said Houstonian Edgar Lovett, whose SUV has the plate "TARPON." "I'm an avid Tarpon angler here on the Texas coast."
Lovett viewed the list of rejected plates and thinks the state is being a little too sensitive in some cases.
"I think most of these are cute," said Lovett. "It's a conversation starter."
If you have a news tip or question for KPRC Local 2 Investigates, drop them an e-mail or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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You exercise your body to stay physically in shape, so why shouldn't you exercise your brain to stay mentally fit? With these daily exercises you will learn how to flex your mind, improve your creativity and boost your memory. As with any exercise, repetition is necessary for you to see improvement, so pick your favorite exercises from our daily suggestions and repeat them as desired. Try to do some mentalrobics every single day!
verb :: To allay; to quench; to extinguish; to satisfy one's thirst.
verb :: To go out; to become extinct; to slacken; to become relaxed.
"My first act on coming to this water was, of course, to slake my thirst." --Wells, H.G.
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ST ALBANS CITY 2 (Ujah 36, Onieva 51)
WEYMOUTH 3 (Ford 35, 85, Joyce 38)
THE Terras recorded a second successive league victory on the road this afternoon thanks to their red-hot striker.
Mark Ford netted a brace against St Albans City to take his incredible scoring streak to 10 goals in his last five games in all competitions but he was not the only one to excel for the visitors in what was a fantastic team performance.
The Saints hit back twice and also saw a penalty saved by Simon Evans but Weymouth never stopped working and eventually edged the gripping encounter in the closing stages.
Ben Joyce also found the target for the Terras who now sit 13th in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division table.
For full report and reaction see Monday's Echosport.


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You Give Me Fever!Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
I can be written,
I can be spoken.
I can even be scary,
and leave you stirred or shaken!
Some get a fever thinking about me,
some go into a panic.
Some stay awake for nights on end,
and some go plain manic!
But there's definitely an end in sight,
and that's what keeps everyone going along.
Now quickly guess, what could I be?
You can't afford to get me wrong!
AnswerAn examination.
An examination can be written or oral (spoken). Most people get nervous and worried just before an exam. But there's always an end to the worry, which is when you complete your exam and get your grades.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this riddle, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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Call quality is very good
Good call quality
Easy to use
Obscure menu system
Lousy camera, Proprietary closed operating system
Well-crafted design with easy-to-use controls
'Hot on the rugged heels of the Motorola Barrage comes an equally durable phone for Verizon Wireless called the Samsung Convoy. '
'The 3G connection might feel a bit weak when you try to download music tracks from the V Cast Music Store.'
'Unfortunately, you don't get an exterior camera shutter.'
Numeric pad makes typing out messages awkward
'good phone'
'quintessential mobile'
'most attractive phones'
'minimalist flip phone form factor'
'cramped controls.'


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A MAN had part of his ear bitten off after his alleged attacker was ejected from a party, say police.
Barrow Police are investigating an allegation of assault that they say took place outside a property on Minster Lane, Barrow, yesterday (Sunday).
The incident occurred at around 11pm after the alleged offender was ejected from a party.
Once outside the offender lunged at the victim and bit part of the victim's ear off, say cops.
The victim was a 23-year-old man from Barrow. He was taken to Furness General Hospital for treatment.
The suspect is described as being 5ft 10, slim build with short mousey-brown hair. He was last seen wearing an England shirt, black jacket and jeans.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101 and ask to speak to an officer from Barrow Police Station.


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Creative Labs' Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra 40GB - Extra Storageby Andrew Ku on 7/3/2004 12:10 AM EST
- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
14 Comments
Back to Article
stephenc - Saturday, February 26, 2005 - linkI'm keen to try to find a music player for my wife with at least 10GB memory which she can -
1 Play in the car and tune it to a radio FM station to play through the car
2 Play it at the gym whilst joging, etc
Hope you can help and advise
Stephen Reply
Snacko - Sunday, July 04, 2004 - linkBeyond sound quality, which is of course subjective, and battery life, the reviewer also failed to mention anything about file format acceptance of the player. One of the main things that might draw me toward the Zen and away from the iPod is the iPod's lack of WMA compatibility.
As a Windows guy who has done his research on file formats with their inherent strengths/weaknesses, I'm going with WMA for my digital music needs. The Zen can handle WMA - the iPod can't. Reply
plewis00 - Sunday, July 04, 2004 - linkIt wasn't a bad review but it wouldn't have taken much to have some size (photo) comparisons between this and it's competitors - least of all, the original Zen. A lot of reviews fail to do this and when I am getting an MP3 player this is a big concern for me - size IS an issue, I don't want to end up with something oversized, as I may as well keep my Creative DAP Jukebox instead which also won't fit in my pockets... Reply
WizzBall - Sunday, July 04, 2004 - linkHmm, like I said on the previous 'masterpiece'... (review of creative's muvo tx) when are you guys going to get serious about sound hardware reviews ?
Just about any of us could have 'tested' the hardware this way. It is useless and sounds more like a commercial to me than a true desire to keep us informed about what's going on in the market at the moment. Reply
webchimp - Sunday, July 04, 2004 - linkA review of an audio device without a single mention of how it sounds - bizarre. Reply
Lurks - Sunday, July 04, 2004 - linkI examine mp3 for a living, I've seen seriously hundreds of the damn things. The best hard-drive based unit on the market is the iRiver iHP-140 by a very long way indeed - unless you want something very small and sexy, in which case it's an Cowon iAudio M3.
This Creative wouldn't even be on in my top 20.
opposable - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkSorry for the blank post.
Anyway, how can you continue to do mp3 player reviews with no comparison of sound quality or battery life? It seems to me that these two would be FAR more important than something like file transfer speed. These aren't meant to be portable HD (although they can serve as them in a fix). If you want your mp3 player reviews to be taken seriously, you need to include battery life benchmarks and sound quality benchmarks. Reply
opposable - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkReply
cobalt - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkReview the iriver h series :\ Reply
Oxonium - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkI mentioned this in my comments on the Dell DJ review: If you're going to compare size to the iPod, you should show a picture showing that comparison. The side-by-side with the DJ is fine, but there really should be one with the iPod since it is the icon of this class. Reply
jdmf13 - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkThis is the MOST USELESS review I have ever read about the Zen Xtra!
What kind of a reviewer writes a review like this and the only "test" he focuses on is the transfer speed from to the Zen?! I think the transfer speed from a PC to a Zen is the last thing one someone's mind when they're looking for an MP3 player....geez.
The reviewer forgot to mention two VERY important things like :
- sound quality (a world apart from an iPod)
- battery life (average of 10-12h)
I'm not really fussed how long it takes to transfer a few MP3s, and if I am then I'll use Notmad Explorer (from Redchair software - also left out by the reviewer) which is much faster than Creative's bundled software, not to mention stable.
To also answer a previous question in these comments, there is limited Mac support via a plugin for iTunes : http://www.nomadness.net/modules.php?name=Forums&a...
For USEFUL information on the Zen Xtra range, take a look at Nomadness : http://www.nomadness.net/ Reply
Quiksel - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkyikes, i'm glad i never bought one of those... gosh, doesn't look very good in any category, especially when you're comparing it to the iPod...
Andrew, you mentioned the Windows support, but I guess there is no Mac support? Just curious.
Thanks for the review, but like #2, where's iRiver?
~q Reply
EdvardGrieg - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkyay for once again failing to mention either Rio or iRiver.... Reply
Souka - Saturday, July 03, 2004 - linkYeah, but it can't be integrated into my BMW 3 series...unlike my iPod...which works great! :)


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Kingston Releases SSDNow V200 Seriesby Kristian Vättö on 11/10/2011 9:45 AM EST
- Posted in
- Storage
- SSDs
- Kingston
- SSDNow V200
12 Comments
Back to Article
kensiko - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkIt will be a theoretical analysis I think, unless you got an OCZ SSD with TLC :P Reply
Kristian Vättö - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkHence I said analysis, not a review ;-) Basically, I will go through how TLC differs from SLC and MLC and how that affects performance and endurance. I will also try to explain why multi-bit NAND flash degrades quicker. Reply
Nihility - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkAccording to Wikipedia, TLC has 100-500 write cycles vs 1000-3000 on MLC. I'm sure it'll be even worse when they go to higher resolution fabs.
Theoretically, cheap SSDs will be cheap in quality as well. Reply
Kristian Vättö - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkThe problem is that 100-500 is a huge range. We need a more specific number at certain fab. It may also vary depending on the manufacturer as OCZ couldn't tell me any numbers as they haven't chosen the NAND supplier yet.
Anyway, I hope to have the article ready during next week. Most of the stuff is ready now but I need a few clarifications from Intel and other companies. Reply
HaloTechnology - Friday, November 11, 2011 - linkThis site is now one of my favorites just in 2 weeks !! Reply
Confusador - Friday, November 11, 2011 - linkRather off topic, i know, but I just wanted to let you know I'm really looking forward to that article! By all means, take your time to get it right, of course, but but at this point I think we need changes to price and capacity more than performance, and since this is one of the enablers of that it'll be nice to know where we stand. Reply
FATCamaro - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkAgility 3 is cheaper because of their great reputation for BSOD's and corruption. Reply
Metaluna - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkI stopped reading at Jmicron.
It will take at least a couple of generations of stellar performance and reliability before I would trust that company with my data. Reply
Taft12 - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkThat goes double for Sandforce! Reply
c4v3man - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkYou can purchase a Crucial M4 128GB for that kind of price, and have a dependable drive with current-gen performance. Even with people not considering sandforce based drives, you gotta be competitive with them on some level, either performance or price. The M4 is more expensive, but has similar performance, with a good track record of reliability.
This drive has to get closer to $1/GB to be taken seriously at those performance numbers... Reply
RU482 - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - linkthe prices might be high, but I'm sure there will be a $60 rebate out of the chute Reply
rdurham - Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - linkI want one! Reply


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ONE of Burnley's busiest petrol stations will be closed for 18 weeks for a major revamp.
Rossendale Road Service Station closed yesterday so the current premises can be demolished and replaced with a new forecourt building and car wash.
Full planning permission to redevelop the garage was granted last year and Subway was one of the major names expected to move in with a drive-thru coffee shop.
However that part of the plan was shelved last autumn after the 'viability' was called into question.
Owners, Blackburn company the Kay Group, said the new 'flagship' service station would create at least 10 jobs.
A piece of land at the rear of the Spar shop was bought by the group and earmarked for the development.
Paul Blackmore, non-executive chairman of the Kay Group, said the extra space created and a new fuel pump system would help ease traffic problems at the site.
He said: "The current site is very congested for a petrol service station so we are proposing to widen the site to increase the shop size and provide customer parking to the shop front for our fuel customers with the aim to reduce congestion at the pumps, especially at peak times.
"A new pump layout will bring customers further into the site with a spacious in-line petrol pump layout."
The Kay Group, which has its headquarters in Grimshaw Park, owns several service stations across East Lancashire including Kitchens Garage in Trafalgar Street, Eastern Avenue service station, in Burnley, as well as Darwen, Clitheroe and Bacup.