text:
It's all on screen in the killer drama "Murderball," a documentary that sports the stampede madness of the running of the bulls – if all the running were done with wheelies.
They coulda been contendahs in regularly scheduled sports, but accidents and life's at-times vicious vicissitudes left these athletes quadriplegics. So these men took to the courts in a different manner, often toppling each other and turning over their chairs while turning quad rugby – aka Murderball – into an international phenomenon.
The empathetic but unsympathetic film that examines their on and off-court exploits is now playing in the area.
And so much of the film's fulminating effect is due to an Elkins Park editor who's sliced and spliced the spice of this spin and turn sprint into what is inarguably an early 2006 Oscar contender.
Suddenly, Elkins Parks' Geoffrey Richman has become a player. A freelance editor for more than a decade and the award-winning director of photography/editor of "The Descent of Walter McFea" at the Hollywood.com Film Festival, Richman has risen to the top of his business with this film, whose 100-mile-an-hour rambunctious players slow down to the pace of a heartbeat when examining the romances and rituals of everyday life.
But it is the on-court clash of the disabled titans that elicits so many of the thrills and chills.
"Those action sequences took a while," concedes Richman of the richly rewarding and spellbinding game-action shots that spill into each other.
It's not like he had much experience with the sport. "Before this project, I had never heard of Murderball."
A Shot for B'nai B'rith
But the Akiba Hebrew Academy grad had heard of B'nai B'rith. While growing up in Elkins Park, "I had shot a video about the B'nai B'rith Fund for the Holocaust."
And the big picture came into clearer focus with another job – at the Big Picture Alliance, a Center City company for which Richman worked right out of New York University. "It was my first full-time job," he says of the firm that "teaches film to inner-city kids."
It taught this suburban sensation quite a lesson, too.
"I got to shoot, edit, direct with these kids," he recalls, saying that in some ways, he "learned even more there than at NYU."
He was working on TV reality shows when the real world of "Murderball" bounced into his life, as he joined the other Jewish filmmakers Dana Adam Shapiro, co-director/producer; Henry Alex Rubin, co-director/DP; and Jeffrey Mandel, producer, in offering audiences courtside wheelchair seats and a view of the physically grueling world that is the sport.
More than coincidence that all four filmmakers are Jewish?
"Hard to say," replies Richman. "But it's like when you're at a Jewish affair; look around and so many of those there are Jewish, too."
This was certainly an affair of the heart, with its heartstring-tugging take on the life of the good sports vying for victories and championships.
The "Rocky" of quad rugby?
"We were looking for a balance of the human factor and the sport," says Richman. "Its impact is not that of a sports film; it's a human film."
Certainly, the lead protagonists wouldn't have it any other way: Surly Mark Zupan zips through the flick as a Mad Max with a mission even as his softer emotional side is explored. Kicked off the American team and aiming to get retribution by upsetting his former teammates in the championship, Canadian coach Joe Soares soars and dive-bombs his ballplayers into action.
In all, says Richman, "you never feel sorry for any of them."
In fact, what Richman feels is a change of heart: "My view of people in wheelchairs has changed. I see people in a different way."
The view from Elkins Park is one of pride for friends and family even as Richman takes on his next project, about Sudanese refugees.
As for "Murderball," he learned that these rough-and-ready sportsmen on wheels were far from being chairmen of the bored – they were all active and ardent in their desires, and not just about the sports scores.
"They were quite open in talking about their sex lives," relays Richman.
Big wheels keep on turnin': Their images as at times snarly and supercilious super men and sports stars crashed and clashed with the more genteel image of quadriplegics projected by the late Christopher Reeves. But, as demonstrated onscreen, there's room for both images in the reel and real worlds.
And if he wondered himself how he would deal with the situations facing the film's protagonists, Richman knew that it would just be spinning wheels to put himself in their situation.
"There just so happened to be a wheelchair in the editing room all throughout the movie," he said.
"And while the temptation was there to sit in it, I just never did it."


text:
Skills Laboratory, Part 2: Interpreting the results of a neurologic examination
As the previous article showed, performing a good neurologic examination can be challenging and needs to be done in a relaxed environment with enough time allowed for a thorough evaluation. Interpreting the findings can be difficult as well. In this article, I help you correctly interpret the findings of a neurologic evaluation in order to answer the most important question when dealing with a neurologic problem: Where is the lesion? Once a lesion's location is determined, a proper list of differential diagnoses can be compiled based on the onset and progression of the clinical signs and the patient's signalment. Appropriate diagnostic procedures can then be recommended.
The central nervous system encompasses the cerebral cortex and thalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes the sensory, autonomic, and neuromuscular system. The neuromuscular system is also called the lower motor neuron system and is composed of the nerve roots (including the cauda equina), peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, and muscles.Cerebral cortex and thalamus (forebrain)
Together, these structures are responsible for personality, behavior (instinctual and learned), vision, and most reactions. Signs of thalamocortical involvement include a change in personality or behavior, cortical blindness, compulsive behavior (pacing, circling), mental confusion, and abnormal reactions (not reflexes, see "Skills Laboratory, Part 1: Performing a neurologic examination") on the neurologic examination. Seizures are also a common clinical sign.1-3 During the neurologic examination, clues of thalamocortical involvement will be obtained from evaluating the mental status and everything that is a conscious reaction (menace reaction, reaction to a nasal sensation, conscious proprioception). The signs and deficits are contralateral to the lesion except for circling, which is usually toward the side of the lesion.4 In cats, the most common presenting complaint of a brain tumor is a change in behavior.5 Although a change in behavior suggests cerebrocortical or thalamic involvement, it can also occur because of a change in the pet's environment, stress, training, or other factors.
Midbrain, pons, and medulla (brainstem)
Together, these structures are also responsible for mental status, primarily alertness, through the large and diffuse reticular formation. These areas also contain the nuclei from the third to 12th cranial nerves, the nuclei of most of the upper motor neurons responsible for motor function, and the ascending sensory and proprioceptive tracts traveling through to the thalamus and cerebrum. Signs of involvement of these areas include a change in mental status (mental depression, stupor, coma), ipsilateral cranial nerve dysfunction, and motor (upper motor neuron paresis) and proprioceptive deficits (ipsilateral to the lesion). Because the reticular formation is so large and diffuse, a brainstem lesion will virtually always cause at least some mental alteration. To identify this mental alteration, it is important to consider your own assessment but also any changes reported by the owner (e.g. suddenly seems older, is not as excited as it used to be, is not greeting the owner at the door anymore). If there is no alteration in the mental status, the lesion is unlikely to be in the brainstem.
Keep in mind that a cranial nerve deficit does not always indicate a brainstem disease. Cranial nerve deficits can be seen with a cranial neuropathy (e.g. trigeminal neuritis, idiopathic facial paralysis) or a neuromuscular problem (e.g. pharyngeal paresis associated with myasthenia gravis). Also, although proprioceptive ataxia and upper motor neuron tetraparesis can be signs of brainstem disease, they are more often signs of a cervical spinal cord problem. The same is true for a vestibular syndrome, which can be secondary to a brainstem disease or a peripheral vestibular system involvement (inner ear or vestibulocochlear nerve) as well as a cerebellar disease. This is one example of why it is so important to do a complete neurologic examination before attempting to localize the lesion.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
THOUSANDS of unemployed people across Worcestershire are being given free bus travel for the whole of January.
People on unemployment benefits for between three months and a year can travel across the county and beyond without paying a single penny.
The Bus for Jobs scheme, which will help about 3,300 people in the county and up to 800,000 nationwide, is aimed at encouraging job hunters to attend interviews.
All routes covered by operators First, Arriva and the National Express have signed up to the scheme, taking in almost every service in Worcestershire.
Stagecoach, which provides services in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Birmingham, has also signed up, so jobseekers can go into other counties if they need to.
It has been launched by the Department for Transport, which says 70 per cent of routes in the UK are covered for the whole month.
Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways and transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: "I think it's fantastic and hope it makes a difference.
"I sit on a charity in Evesham and we're often getting people come to us and say they've got a job interview in Worcester or somewhere like that but can't afford the fare.
"It is a real problem and we try to help them out. Buses are not cheap these days and the costs of getting around can be an issue."
It is being done in conjunction with Greener Journeys, a body which represents an alliance of bus and coach service providers.
Claire Haigh, chief executive of the group, said: "In difficult economic times, this scheme will provide a helpful start to the new year, enabling job hunters to travel around more easily in search of work, to job interviews with prospective employers and to training courses which will help them find work."
Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "Good bus services play a huge role in boosting economic growth."
The latest data shows 10,114 people in the county are claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, 552 fewer than at the same stage last year.
People interested in the offer are being asked to contact their local JobCentre Plus.


text: Kids' Fair Isle trapper hat Item F8858 Color: HTHR BLUE Size: LARGE-XLARGE All sizes are US sizes. LARGE-XLARGE Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Product Details It's not officially winter till you break out the Fair Isle, like this cool trapper hat (lined in toasty faux fur!). Bring it on, chilly 7am bus stop. Wool/polyacrylic. Hand wash. Import. Select stores. Item F8858.


text:
Giants have few rotation alternatives in Minors
DENVER -- The Giants' decision makers have an excellent reason for remaining patient with their struggling starting pitchers:
Who's suitable to replace any of them?
The organization's top pitching prospects, such as Clayton Blackburn, Kyle Crick and Chris Stratton, are at Class A and need much more Minor League seasoning.
The alternatives at Triple-A Fresno come with question marks. The Grizzlies' most consistent starter probably has been 33-year-old Shane Loux, who's 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA. A veteran of 17 professional seasons, Loux was 1-0 with a 4.97 ERA in 19 relief appearances with the Giants last year. He allowed 32 hits in 25 1/3 innings.
Yusmeiro Petit, who also has Major League experience, might have been considered the Giants' first option in an emergency. But he's 2-3 with a 6.69 ERA. Boof Bonser has similar numbers (1-3, 5.31).
Right-hander Chris Heston and left-hander Mike Kickham, who drew plenty of attention in Spring Training as potential heirs to a rotation spot, have struggled at times in their transition from Double-A to Triple-A. Heston's 5-2 with a 5.33 ERA and a .320 opponents' batting average, while Kickham is 2-4, 4.72. Both, however, thrived against New Orleans in their most recent starts. Heston allowed three hits in seven shutout innings last Thursday; Kickham yielded an unearned run and four hits in six innings while striking out eight Saturday.
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Welcome back to 31 Days to Building a Cleaning Routine!
Day 26: How to clean microfiber
I pinned this great tip on my 31 Days to building a cleaning routine board! I don't know if you have a microfiber couch or chair, but this really works! We have microfiber chairs as our kitchen table chairs. Let me tell you…NOT a great idea! Thankfully it works because we don't have kids yet. I can't imagine how dirty they would be all the time if we had kids.
So, if you are thinking about microfiber for kitchen table chairs…think again.
ANYWAY, how to clean microfiber!
(originally from 551 East Design)
All you need is:
– spray bottle
– white sponge
– white bristle brush
– rubbing alcohol
Step 1:
Fill the spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and saturate the stained area.
Step 2:
Don't let it sit!! Immediately start scrubbing really hard with your sponge. As you see dirt start to come off on your sponge, switch to a new side or sponge so that you won't spread the dirt back onto the microfiber.
Step 3:
Let it dry. The area will look darker than the rest of your couch and will feel kind of hard to the touch, but don't worry. Using your bristle brush, refluff with a swirling motion the areas you cleaned.
I didn't take a picture of the before and after, but you should really check out 551 East Design's post!! She even has some FAQ's on it!
Until tomorrow,


text:
HOUSTON - A man is in the hospital as police search for the person who shot him twice in a drive-by shooting, police said.
The man was standing in the street, in front of the home he shares with his grandmother on Safeguard near Holloway, when he was shot.
"The black male had been shot three times and at that point was waiting treatment by HFD," said Brian Evans, Houston Police.
Witnesses told police they spotted a white four-door sedan circling the area a few minutes before the shooting.
Investigators do not have a motive for the shooting and have not found anything at the scene that would indicate why the man would be targeted.
The victim was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
CRN Cloud News
Former SoftLayer CEO Lance Crosby resigns after IBM veteran chosen to lead Big Blue's cloud division.
Amazon Web Services Takes Aim At Microsoft With New Cloud Email ServiceAmazon Web Services unveiled on Wednesday a new hosted email service, Amazon WorkMail, which poses a clear challenge to Microsoft Exchange.
Cisco Debuts Software Licensing Bundles, Which It Plans To Sell As SubscriptionsThe Cisco ONE software bundles -- which include hundreds of features that used to be priced and sold separately -- all run on Cisco's networking and UCS server hardware.
The 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors Of 2015The 2015 installment of the 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors highlights the best of the best in infrastructure, platforms and development, security, storage and software.
The 20 Coolest Cloud Platform And Development Vendors Of The 2015 Cloud 100While the cloud infrastructure space is increasingly dominated by computing giants, the platform and development arena is kinder to agile companies looking to make contributions to the emerging IT landscape.
The 20 Coolest Cloud Software Vendors Of The 2015 Cloud 100Cloud offerings coming in a multitude of shapes and sizes, but SaaS is still the most tangible and perhaps elegant of cloud products.
The 20 Coolest Cloud Storage Vendors Of The 2015 Cloud 100Solution providers who have not yet made cloud storage a part of their practice are at risk of being left behind. Here's a look at the coolest cloud storage companies to make this year's Cloud 100 list.
The 20 Coolest Cloud Infrastructure Vendors Of The 2015 Cloud 100The cloud infrastructure wars heated up in 2014 and there were some casualties. But while the tech giants still dominate the field, there are a few upstarts on this list that think they can compete.
VMware Adds NSX, Pay-As-You-Go Pricing To Lure Customers To Its Public CloudVMware is adding NSX software-defined networking to its vCloud Air public cloud for the first time, while also debuting pay-as-you-go pricing and the ability to sign up online with a credit card.
Cloud Confusion? Tackling 7 Financing Challenges Head OnSolution providers that haven't done their homework are in danger of running headlong into trouble and out of business if they don't fully consider the dollars and cents of the new IT.
10 Cloud Predictions For 2015The tech world is currently experiencing a number of major disruptions revolving around cloud computing. With that said, here are CRN's top 10 cloud predictions for 2015.
Equinix Acquires Nimbo To Help Enterprises Better Take Advantage Of CloudThe latest cloud professional services company to be snapped up is Nimbo, which was acquired Tuesday by Equinix as the data center and interconnection company looks to ramp up its cloud investments.
Rackspace Exec: VMware, Microsoft, OpenStack Private Clouds Are All Priced SameRackspace neutralizes the compensation and pricing on its VMware, Microsoft and OpenStack managed private cloud offerings in a bid to make sure there are no 'unfair race conditions' among the three offerings.
Google Reveals Its 10 'Need-To-Know' Technology PartnersOne of the Google Cloud Platform's strengths is a rapidly expanding ecosystem of technology partners working alongside the company to integrate features and functionality.
CenturyLink Inks Deal With Arrow In Bid To Add More Systems IntegratorsCenturyLink Cloud has agreed to join Arrow Electronics' cloud service portfolio to help expand its partner base beyond telecom and networking services firms.
Google Exec: Here's Why Stackdriver Cloud Monitoring Will Continue Being Compatible With AWSGooge's lead product manager for cloud computing explains why company will continue making its Stackdriver cloud monitoring service compatible with rival Amazon Web Services.
2nd Watch Doubles Revenue In 2014, Says Best Times For Cloud Partners Still AheadThe Seatle-based MSP and AWS Premier Partner says enterprise adoption of the public cloud is accelerating and it is seeing momentum with larger and larger projects.
By The Numbers: Cisco, HP Take Big Leads In Cloud Infrastructure EquipmentCisco and HP are the big winners when it comes to sales of hardware and software used to build cloud infrastructures, while IBM's part of the business quickly shrinks, according to a new study.
Citrix Presents Partners With Rebranded Cloud Platform At Citrix SummitWorkspace Cloud enables solution providers to quickly create, deploy and manage hybrid cloud environments for business users.
HP Cloud Chief Mickos: We Don't Fear The AWS Reaper, We Embrace ItMarten Mickos, the former Eucalyptus CEO who's now leading HP's cloud strategy, says it's better to find ways to work with Amazon than to compete directly against it.


text:
HOUSTON - Houston police said surveillance video could be the key to finding a burglary suspect.
Police said the men used a sledgehammer and a crow bar to pry their way in through the brick wall of the Spin & Play Game Room on East Crosstimbers Road and Bauman Road early Monday morning.
Once inside, the men set off a silent alarm, which alerted police.
The officers found the men inside. They tried to shock one of the suspects with a Taser, but that didn't stop him. Both men ran out of the building, officials said.
Police said they found one man, Marnell White, hiding nearby. The other got away.
It is not known if the men took anything.
"It has to take some crazy individuals to do something like this," said Kendrick Glaze, a friend of the game room owner.
The business was burglarized about three months ago. The owner said he is considering adding more security.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Home > Tobacco Unfiltered > Today is Kick Butts Day!
Today is Kick Butts Day!
Learn about America's most wanted tobacco villains
Posted by: Editor | Mar 20, 2013
Today is the 18th Kick Butts Day, our annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco.
With more than 1,200 events happening across the country and on military bases around the world, this is the biggest Kick Butts Day yet. Today and throughout the week, thousands of kids are taking a stand against tobacco. Find Kick Butts Day events in your area.
This Kick Butts Day, we are focusing attention on "America's Most Wanted Tobacco Villains" — the biggest tobacco threats kids face today.
We've made enormous progress in reducing youth smoking in the U.S.: The smoking rate among high school students has fallen from a record high of 36.4 percent in 1997 to 18.1 percent in 2011. But tobacco use among youth — and among all Americans — remains a serious problem. Every day, nearly 1,000 U.S. kids become regular smokers, and one-third of them will die prematurely as a result.
Why are so many kids still trying tobacco? A 2012 U.S. Surgeon General's report — Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults — concluded that tobacco marketing causes kids to start and continue using tobacco products. And according to the Federal Trade Commission, tobacco companies spend $8.5 billion a year – nearly $1 million each hour — to market their deadly and addictive products. Sadly, much of that marketing is targeted at youth.
Our infographic puts the spotlight on some of Big Tobacco's biggest villains:
- The Usual Suspects: The tobacco industry aggressively targets kids with marketing for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Among youth smokers, 85.8 percent prefer Marlboro, Camel and Newport, which are three of the most heavily marketed cigarette brands. See some of this marketing in our #tobaccotargetsme Instagram Gallery.
- New Villains: Tobacco companies have introduced cheap, sweet and colorfully-packaged small cigars that entice kids. Many look just like cigarettes and come in candy and fruit flavors like strawberry, vanilla, peach and apple. Read all about these products in our recent report, Not Your Grandfather's Cigar.
- Emerging Threats: Tobacco companies are also marketing novel smokeless tobacco products that look like breath mints, teabags and toothpicks; they're tobacco in disguise. These products are addictive and easy for kids to hide.
Tobacco use is the nation's number one cause of preventable death. It kills 443,000 Americans and costs $96 billion in health care bills each year. Because 90 percent of adult smokers start by the age of 18, preventing youth from ever starting to use tobacco is key to reducing tobacco's deadly toll. Help us spread the message by sharing our infographic on your social media channels.
Happy Kick Butts Day!


text:
'Ruff, who already has a Jack Adams Award in his trophy case and is nominated for another this season, wanted to make sure his team's confidence level hasn't dipped after dropping two straight at Madison Square Garden to leave their series tied 2-2. "I woke up and the sun was shining and it was such a beautiful day driving down here," Ruff said. "After I met with you guys (Wednesday) I went home depressed. And I got to thinking, `What are they thinking?' We've got a game in our barn, we've got a hell of a team, let's get going again. Let's put the mindset in the right place."'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Sabres need to find their mojo heading into Game 5 against Rangers


text:
- Latest
- Popular
- Blogs
- Authors
- Topics
- Our Blog
Featuring: Ryan Mack, Facebook Boston Site Lead Description: @Scale is a series of technical conferences for engineers who build or maintain systems that are designed for scale. Building applications and services that scale to millions or even billions of people presents a complex set of engineering challenges, many of them unprecedented. The @Scale community is ...


text:
KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
- (Wax Orchard)
Excellent debut full-length release from Seattle artist KJ Sawka. Fans of Amon Tobin should really like this. Sawka plays drum&bass beats live on an electronic drum kit and also programmed the bass-lines and various other electronic sounds on here. He has help from many local musicians - violin, cello, guitar, keyboards, and vocals can all be heard at various points throughout the songs. Much of this album has a dark and sinister sound to it and Sawka's lightning quick drum playing gives it a sense of urgency (this should have been the soundtrack to The Matrix). 12/7/2005 - Don Yates


text:
How to avoid a Hindenburg-level USB meltdown in harsh industrial environments
On a rainy day in 1937 the German airship Hindenburg arrived in Lakehurst, NJ, after a trans-oceanic flight. The ship dropped its mooring ropes, and a few minutes later it went up in flames. Theories about the fire include exotic tales of sabotage, but most scientists agree that the true culprit was an electrostatic discharge (ESD). And they agree that the potential for disaster was designed into the Hindenburg right from the very beginning.
The problem was a matter of simple physics. Hindenburg's fabric outer cover was connected to the duralumin frame with non-conductive ramie cords. The cords were coated with a light metal covering that was intended to improve conductivity, but it wasn't very effective. As a result, the outer skin and the duralumin frame were able to develop very large differences in electrical potential. And on its approach to Lakehurst the Hindenburg passed through a weather front with a high electrical charge.
Upon its arrival, still in the rain, the airship dropped its mooring ropes. Within minutes the ropes were wet enough to ground the airship. When they did, an electrostatic discharge jumped between the Hindenburg's cover and its duralumin frame. Theorists have argued about the ensuing fire, and whether it was initially fueled by a leaking hydrogen cell or flammable paint on the fabric cover. But they don't disagree about the end result. The Hindenburg was consumed in less than one minute.
Like the Hindenburg, USB has potential trouble designed in. This article will discuss the problem, and what can be done to remedy it.
The USB Specification
Developed to be a universal serial bus, hence the name, USB was intended to simplify and standardize the connection of computer peripherals and to eliminate much of the need for specialized expansion cards, which were installed by opening the computer case and physically adding new parts to the machine. And it has proven to be a great improvement upon earlier data communications standards. USB not only simplifies installation, it allows you to connect up to 127 devices to a single port. Devices are also hot swappable, and it will supply 5 VDC power downstream. We've come a long way since the days of airships, however the laws of physics have remained the same, and USB can't get circumvent them.
The Hindenburg Revisited
USB was designed for safe office and IT environments. When it moves off the desktop into industrial applications, however, it's subject to serious electrical problems. They're a function of its basic design.
Note that a standard USB cable contains four wires. Two are meant to carry the data, and two carry 5 VDC power for downstream devices. (See Figure. 1) Whereas other types of industrial communication such as RS-485, can use differential signal transmission with no ground connection, the ground connection in a USB cable is unavoidable. And it means that USB can easily transfer spikes, surges and ESD strikes to connected devices and computers.
Electrostatic discharges, for example, happen all the time. We've all experienced them--just walking on some carpet and touching the family dog's nose is enough to give both of you a sudden surprise. Like the Hindenburg's outer cover, we change our electrical potentials every time we move around. USB is deliberately designed to be hot swappable. We're expected to connect and disconnect USB cables over and over again, and there's a chance of an ESD strike every time we do. Your trip across the carpet can generate ESD levels higher than 15 kV, and the typical level of ESD protection in an IC chip is usually going to be closer to 2 kV.
Given that USB carries power, and has a connecting ground wire, there is an ever-present risk for ground loops. That's rarely an issue in consumer applications, where distances are short and connected devices normally share a common ground via a nearby wall outlet. But industrial applications are likely to be much more complex. Various pieces of equipment will be powered from entirely different building ground references. A process control system and the front panel may be separated by hundreds of meters. They may not even be in the same building. When you connect a PC to the panel via USB, you may also be creating a ground loop path for a remote device with a very different building ground reference.
USB cables aren't helplessly vulnerable to electromagnetic interference (EMI). They do use twisted pair wire on the data lines and there should be some copper braid and aluminum shielding. (See Figure 1) In desktop applications any EMI issues will be insignificant. It's a different story when a length of USB cable is exposed to the strong magnetic fields associated with industrial motors. Powerful currents will be induced on the USB cable and the results may include anything from data loss and downtime to burned circuitry in connected devices.
One of USB's great advantages is simultaneously one of its weaknesses. USB hubs provide 5 VDC power to downstream devices at up to 500 mA. Current is allocated in units of 100 mA, and devices may draw up to 500 mA per port. If the hub is bus powered, it can't provide more than four 100 mA units of current to downstream devices, as it needs one unit for itself. And it can't have more than four downstream ports. But if a hub has its own power supply, it can provide the full 500 mA to every port. (Computers normally have a powered USB hub built in.)
This ability to power gadgetry like cameras and external hard drives via a USB port is quite convenient. But conditions can get rough in the industrial world. Shock and vibration are common occurrences and USB cables can work themselves loose. They can also be dislodged accidentally, when workers are moving things about. When that happens, the same 5 VDC that is so useful in benign environments becomes a serious fire hazard. If it arcs, and flammable gases or materials are present, you've got trouble.
Solutions--Range Extension
USB doesn't have great range. Even with hubs, the best you can do is 30 meters. As cable is normally laid above, below and around working spaces, and as industrial working spaces can be very large indeed, 30 meters isn't much. Your network will most likely involve various kinds of extension and conversion, and some of them automatically resolve USB's electrical issues while they're extending its range.
Fiber optics, for example, not only give data communications incredible range, they eliminate the risk for grounds loops, power surges and EMI. As data travels on a beam of light, rather than a copper core, fiber optic cable is immune to electrical issues of any kind. Single-mode fiber has the greatest bandwidth, but is also more expensive than multi-mode. And in both cases the cabling, transceivers and receivers are more expensive than the materials used in a copper cable installation. A large part of any installation, fiber or copper, is actually going to be labor cost. Fiber's immunity to damaging electrical currents, and the protection it provides to connected devices, can more than make up the difference.
Wi-Fi is rapidly becoming another viable option for industrial installations. Wireless networking used to be plagued by issues like multipath propagation, the phenomenon that occurs when transmitted signals bounce off intervening objects. Different parts of the signal would arrive at the receiver at different times and out of sequence. If multipath propagation got bad enough, early Wi-Fi devices couldn't distinguish between the signal and the noise floor. The current 802.11n Wi-Fi standard provides for the use of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology.
MIMO devices anticipate multipath propagation and turn it into an advantage. They deploy multiple antennas at both the transmitting and receiving sides of the wireless connection, and they split the data into numerous spatial streams. The streams are transmitted through separate antennas and collected by corresponding antennas in the receiving devices, where onboard software uses signal-processing algorithms to correct and interpret incoming data. The new Wi-Fi devices also use such precoding and postcoding techniques as spatial beamforming, and the 802.11n standard adds frame aggregation to the MAC layer. These new techniques give Wi-Fi the range and bandwidth it needed to become a reliable option for M2M data communications and industrial networking. And, as is the case with a fiber optic link, a radio link creates a barrier that damaging electrical events cannot cross.


text:
Dietary therapy is an approach to help control seizures, usually in conjunction with seizure medications.
The ketogenic diet, a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, is prescribed and monitored by a physician and nutritionist and can help control seizures in some people. Additionally, the modified Atkins diet, which has some similar components to the traditional ketogenic diet, can be effective.
This section presents information and monthly updates about these dietary therapies and others and how they might be helpful to people with epilepsy.
Keto News: Updates about the ketogenic diet and other dietary therapies for epilepsy.
Since 2007, Ketogenic News has been edited by Dr. Eric Kossoff, medical director of the John Hopkins Hospital Ketogenic Diet Program. This feature has become a "mini-book" with many valuable articles about how to make the diet work better for you or your child.
This section includes new information helpful for patients, parents, and caregivers who receive or provide diets for the treatment of epilepsy. Cutting edge research, as well as helpful hints, are presented. This feature will also continue to include stories from the Charlie Foundation and Matthew's Friends, a parent support group in the United Kingdom.
If there are specific topics you would like to see covered, please contact Dr. Eric Kossoff at firstname.lastname@example.com. We welcome your input. We look forward to hearing from you!


text:
Walgreen Sags On Q3 Miss
Walgreen (WAG) was falling 7.7% in morning trading, following the drug store chain's disappointing fiscal third-quarter earnings.
Before the bell, Walgreen said it earned $624 million, or 65 cents a share, up from $537 million, or 62 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, adjusted earnings were up at 85 cents from 72 cents. Revenue grew 3.2% to $18.31 billion.
Analysts were looking for earnings of 91 cents a share on revenue of $18.43 billion.
Gross increased to 28.5% from 28.2%.Same-store sales were up 1.4% amid 0.4% same-store sales growth in the front of the store and 2% in the pharmacy section. Same-store customer traffic decreased 3.9% and basket size increased 4.4%.
Increasing demand for a growing number of generic drugs is a mixed blessing for Walgreen and its peers, as their lower price points hurt sales but carry higher margins.
Despite today's fall, Walgreen is still up more than 65% in the past year, easily outpacing the broader market.
Rival CVS Caremark (CVS) was also losing ground in recent trading. Rite Aid (RAD) was in the black.


text:
Sustainability at Warren Wilson College
We acknowledge that a complex web of economic, social, cultural, spiritual and environmental factors determine the well-being of our community.
We recognize our power as individuals, and in community, to influence these complex, interdependent relationships.
We strive to make responsible decisions that take into account the multiple dimensions of sustainability in order to ensure quality of life now and for generations to come.
Sustainability is woven into the fabric of Warren Wilson. It is grounded in our rich history of place and purpose, embedded by generations of community members who have modeled our fundamental commitment to connect values to action. The practice of sustainability flows from the College mission, which serves as our compass for responsible citizenship, and from our unique liberal arts model of engaged learning.
In the record of human history, the practice of sustainability has never been more crucial to the future of life on this planet than now. The Brundtland Commission's seminal work on sustainability in the 1980's revealed that complex issues like poverty, environmental degradation, overpopulation, and illiteracy have common, interconnected strands. Economic, environmental, and social/cultural components intersect to form the base of these issues and define community well-being. Based upon their findings, the Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
At Warren Wilson, our Triad of academics, work, and service immerses students in community problem solving. They study the human and ecological history of this planet and understand the need for global citizens to adopt a more informed process of decision making than ever before. Students engage in community-based research and learn that complex issues like unemployment and affordable housing require a cross-disciplinary approach to problem solving. They participate in work crews, ranging from dining services to landscaping, and help the College earn the distinction of being a "living laboratory" of sustainability. Students expect us to make sustainable choices and often serve as ardent champions of best practices. Through service learning they experience, first hand, the importance of their participation in solving chronic community issues. Whether working with literacy programs or disaster relief efforts, students come to understand these problems are complex. Sustainability deepens their conversation about community well-being and provides valuable insight into the root cause of some of our most pressing issues.
In 2000, when Warren Wilson signed the Talloires Declaration, we pledged to "create an institutional culture of sustainability." In 2004, we were recognized by the National Wildlife Federation as one of the 24 leading institutions in the nation (of the more than 3,200) with "students and staff working for a sustainable future." In 2006, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) distinguished us with a Campus Sustainability Award. Then in 2007, President Sandy Pfeiffer and the President's Advisory Council (PAC) adopted a sustainable decision making process, committing to an intentional use of these principles when planning for the College. And in 2008, Sierra magazine named us 4th in the nation of the leading colleges and universities that stand for an "overall commitment to sustainability" and the practices that express this ethos.
While we are honored by these recognitions, they also challenge us to further our understanding and our expression of sustainability. As a roadmap for community engagement, deep thinking, and accountability to present and future generations, sustainability frames the scope of our concerns. It reveals the extent to which the life we choose impacts our global family. We educate for sustainability at Warren Wilson because our mission directs us to prepare students for responsible community engagement.


text:
The injury report is in. Jaromir Jagr is day to day with a charley horse. Erik Rasmussen is questionable with a separated shoulder. Richard Smehlik is up in the air with a bad foot. And the pointy-nosed penguin over Johan Hedberg's chest is doubtful for Game 2 with a banged-up beak, a bruised breast and a bloodshot eyeball.
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Beware of o and don't shoot at o The Penguin


text:
The MLSC has funded Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in the Greater Boston region through a variety of grants, including more than $500,000 that the Lieutenant Governor and the MLSC announced this past December for equipment and supply grants to vocational technical schools and public high schools in the area.
Through the MLSC, Massachusetts is investing $1 billion over 10 years in the growth of the state's life sciences supercluster. These investments are being made under the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Patrick in 2008.
"Our Administration is committed to investing in innovation across the state, and this grant funding is an example of doing so in partnership with institutions in the Greater Boston area," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. "This funding is part of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center's overall efforts to collaborate with academia and the business community to enhance research, workforce training and job creation in the life sciences."
The $4 million grant awarded to Boston Children's Hospital will help establish the Children's Center for Cell Therapy (CCCT) and support new equipment and facility renovation that will allow additional cell culturing facilities and a robotics area designed to perform highly specialized chemical screening on stem cells. The CCCT will be a specialized center focused on developing novel stem cell therapies for untreatable or incurable diseases.
Leonard I. Zon, M.D., and George Q. Daley, M.D., Ph.D., will lead the project at Boston Children's Hospital. "We save lives, but all too often we can't do enough. Losing one child's life is too many," said Zon, who directs the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children's. "The Center for Cell Therapy will take maximal advantage of exciting new developments in cell biology to translate basic science into cures. We are grateful to have the Commonwealth as our partner in this enterprise," added Daley, director of the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at the hospital.
With its $5 million grant, Harvard Medical School plans to create a Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology that will serve as a multidisciplinary scientific incubator with the goal of providing better clinical trial information in the drug development process. The lab aims to tackle an incredibly important problem in a new way by using multiple measurements such as proteomics and advanced imaging combined with extensive computational analyses and model building and testing to understand drug action. Visiting scientists from the FDA and local drug companies, together with investigators from Dana Farber, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Tufts, MIT and Harvard, will be involved in this novel effort.
"With receipt of this generous grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Harvard is embarking on a bold experiment to rethink the science that guides the development, evaluation and use of new medicines," said Peter Sorger, Director of the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology and Professor of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. "We will gather together the best research scientists and clinicians from Harvard hospitals and sister institutions such as MIT and Tufts and apply advanced experimental and mathematical methods to better understand today's medicines and develop tomorrow's cures."
"A key strategy of the Life Sciences Center is to use our capital dollars to enable the creation of unique resources that are available to the Massachusetts life sciences community, and these innovate projects at Boston Children's and Harvard Medical School are great examples of that," said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the MLSC. "High schools, and colleges like Bunker Hill Community College, Quincy College and Regis play major roles in training the next generation of our state's life sciences workforce, and they ensure that training for innovation economy jobs is inclusive and available all across the state. Our grants help ensure that these schools can provide students with first-rate training facilities."
Additional grants made through the MLSC's capital program were also announced today:
• Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) will receive $200,000 to support the expansion of its biotechnology program by expanding its laboratory capabilities and enriching its curriculum. "The equipment purchased with this generous grant will help us train more students for high-demand jobs in the expanding biotechnology industry in Greater Boston. Our goal is to help meet regional workforce needs while ensuring that our students will be competitive in this critical job market," said BHCC President Mary L. Fifield.
• Regis College was awarded a $50,000 grant that will allow the college to develop an analysis of needed resources and their implementation in order to maintain Regis' cutting edge education in the life sciences. "Regis College has a long history of excellence in educating students in the life sciences," noted Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, Ph.D., RN. "Huge developments in the sciences and the growing vitality of life sciences and biotech in Boston's professional marketplace demand that we continue that achievement for today's students and future generations. We are thrilled and grateful to have received the planning grant that will help us shape the transformation we envision."
• Quincy College was granted $100,000 to develop its new Certificate of Science program in Biotechnology and Compliance as well as purchasing new state-of-the-art equipment for biomanufacturing. "At Quincy College we are focused on teaching and learning one student at a time," said Quincy College President Peter Tsaffaras. "The generous support of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, for which we are very grateful, will allow us to continue with our mission to produce well qualified graduates, ready to enter the workforce and contribute to scientific inquiry and their community."
"As the Massachusetts innovation economy continues forward, we have to be vigilant in building our human resources from within the commonwealth. There are many talented students in our state schools and especially our community colleges," State Senator Sal DiDomenico said. "I am extremely proud and thankful that students in my district who are interested in pursuing biotechnology and biomanufacturing jobs will have the chance to do so at Bunker Hill Community College and many other local institutions. A special thanks to Dr. Windham-Bannister and Lieutenant Governor Murray for opening up the doors of opportunity to obtain quality employment in an exciting and innovative field."
"This is a great opportunity that comes at a great time for the City of Quincy," said State Senator John Keenan. "With these funds, Quincy College will be giving students state-of-the-art training for new careers in biomanufacturing and biotechnology, just as other initiatives and redevelopment projects are opening the door for a range of new businesses to enter Quincy. This is yet another indication that this city is poised to thrive for many years to come."
"I am pleased Bunker Hill Community College is the recipient of this capital grant, especially with so much competition for limited resources. The physical improvements allowed for will create a curriculum and experience that will prepare the students for the employment opportunities this region has and the requisite skills required," stated State Representative Eugene L. O'Flaherty.
"This is an important investment in several critical resources in the Commonwealth: life sciences, technological innovation, and our workforce," State Representative Jeffrey Sánchez said. "Anytime we can support the intersection of these areas is a win for the economy and a win for our workforce."
As part of the MLSC's workforce development strategy, in December 2012, Lieutenant Governor Murray and the MLSC announced a round of grants for vocational and technical high schools and public high schools in gateway cities, with the goal of furthering access to STEM education. High schools in Greater Boston received more than $500,000 towards the purchase of lab equipment and supplies. The five schools in the region, the city or town in which they are located, and the amount of their respective grants are as follows:
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a 10-year, $1-billion initiative that was signed into law in June of 2008. The MLSC's mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and commercialization as well as building ties among sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community. For more information, visit www.masslifesciences.com.


text:
Wild Yam Root
Veterinarian Reviewed on June 15, 2012 by Paulina Nelega, RH
Posted in Uncategorized
Wild Yam Root
The botanical name of Wild Yam Root is Dioscora villosa and other common names are Aluka, Colic root, China Root Devil's-bones, Rheumatism Root, Mexican Wild Yam, Yuma, Wild Yam, and Shan-yao. Wild Yam plant, the source of Wild Yam Root is a twining vine with pale-brown, woody, and knotty, cylindrical tubers. The crooked tubers bear horizontal branches and the stems are thin and reddish that grows over nine meters in length.
Wild Yam plants produce bunches of greenish-yellow or greenish-white flowers and the heart-shaped leaves are smooth on top and velvety on the other side. Wild Yam Root and rhizome are the parts of the plants that are used for medicinal purposes.
History and Origin
Wild Yam is a plant that is resident to Central and North America. It has also been cultivated in many temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions throughout the world. This plant grows in rich soil and sunny weather. Wild Yam Root and bulb are used as a great source of diosgenin that are made into different kinds of steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and estrogen.
There are more than 600 varieties of Wild Yam and some are particularly used in laboratories for making steroids. Out of the 600 varieties, only twelve are considered fit for human consumption.
Wild Yam Root has an extensive account of application as a women's herb. Wild Yam Root can be in use in diverse forms such as a cream and in capsules.
Ancient Uses
One of the earliest beneficial uses of Wild Yam Root was its effectiveness as a remedy for colic. It was considered an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory, therefore, capable of relieving spasms in the intestines and those caused by menstrual cramps, rheumatism, and arthritis. Other beneficial use of Wild Yam Root is its ability to help with menopausal symptoms. However, although it has helped many women in the past, there are still no proven lab tests to back up this claim.
Modern Uses
Wild Yam Root is used to treat digestive disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammation of the gallbladder, and diverticulitis. It is also best for urinary tract ailments due to its anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects.
Diosgenin in Wild Yam Root is used in steroid hormones and birth control pills. This attribute sustains the idea that Wild Yam Root is capable of regulating the female sex hormones and can be a good herb for the many symptoms of menopause.
Wild Yam Root is helpful in temporarily lowering a person's blood pressure and lowering the levels of cholesterol in the blood stream. It is also seen to be beneficial in maintaining the health of the kidneys, spleen, stomach, and lungs.
Side Effects
If you are on birth control medication, it might not be advisable to take Wild Yam Root since it might make your birth control ineffective. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is not advisable for you take Wild Yam Root. There are also cases in which negative reactions occurred with people having protein S deficiency and with hormone-sensitive conditions, therefore, avoid using Wild Yam Root until more research has been done in the treatment of your particular ailment.
Our Expert
Paulina Nelega, RH, has been in private practice as a Clinical Herbalist for over 15 years. She has developed and taught courses in herbal medicine, and her articles on health have appeared in numerous publications. She is very passionate about the healing power of nature. Ask Dr. Jan


text:
KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
- (Domino)
The latest album from this Baltimore artist finds him continuing to incorporate more acoustic instrumentation into his euphoric trance-pop sound while exploring ideas of America, from its vast expanses, scenic beauty and decaying cities to providing encouragement for modern-day counter-culture movements to fight oppressive governments and corporate greed. While his densely packed songs are still filled with loud, buzzing synths, they're fleshed out with a variety of woodwinds, brass, horns, guitars and thundering percussion. 8/17/2012 - Don Yates
Other Dan Deacon album reviews:
Glass Riffer - 2/20/2015
Bromst - 3/13/2009


text:
CINCINNATI—You hear the words "Notre Dame" and "best in the nation" in the same sentence, especially if it came before everything that went on Monday night, and you had to figure the person doing the talking was dealing in football. Nope. This was a basketball game, and the Fighting Irish won it beautifully, and afterward Irish coach Mike Brey declared he had a better set of guards than anyone else in competition for a genuine national championship.
"I think I have the best backcourt in the country, quite frankly, and they played that way," Brey said. "I'm so confident in them, how they play off each other. They're shooting the ball now at a much better clip, and they've become stronger defenders. I don't say it to blow smoke. I've watched a lot of backcourts play this season. I think they're right there."
Who are they? That seems a fair question. Because not a lot of people know Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant, a couple of ballers Brey lured to Notre Dame from the D.C. metro area. In their first Big East Conference road game, they visited Cincinnati and outperformed the very capable Cashmere Wright-Sean Kilpatrick backcourt in a 66-60 Notre Dame victory.
Atkins and Grant combined for 29 points, eight assists and 10-of-17 shooting for the No. 17 Irish (14-1, 2-0). At the defensive end, they had a ton of help from Notre Dame bigs who often ignored their personal assignments to attack Wright and Kilpatrick and limit their 3-point attempts. But that sound defensive execution held Wright to 1-of-5 shooting and Kilpatrick to only 11 attempts in a game coach Mick Cronin was certain would require the No. 21 Bearcats (13-3, 1-2) to be more productive offensively.
"We were going to have to score more than 60 points to win," Cronin said. "It was doable."
Perhaps, but not like it would have been in the past, when the best Irish defensive strategy was to allow your guys to make a layup so they could go down and trump it with a 3-pointer.
In an early-December 50-point trip to ND, Kentucky discovered the athleticism and toughness Grant and Atkins have developed, their sense of trust with each other and the Irish big men, and what all of that together can mean to the defense. The Irish still rank 140th in defensive efficiency, but opponents are shooting only 38.8 percent from the field and averaging 60.9 points.
It's just not as easy to score on them as it used to be.
"People always look at us as just an offensive power team. We take pride in our defense," Atkins told Sporting News. "Every single game is a challenge for us, but I think we're doing a really good job holding teams to low field-goal percentages."
Atkins has the flashy assist numbers that ought to be worth attention from those who follow college basketball, but frankly he hasn't had that many opportunities to show off against notable opponents. Other than the Kentucky game, the Irish's most accomplished non-league opponents were Saint Joseph's and BYU. Notre Dame had opened its Big East schedule Saturday with a destruction of Seton Hall at home.
Son of former NBA player Harvey Grant, Jerian has become one of the most productive passers among college wings, averaging 5.5 assists. But that string of nondescript opponents left him (and his performances) uninspired, which is why his 19-point outburst against the Bearcats was somewhat unexpected.
"I just know that my team needs me," Grant said. "I wasn't playing well, but coming in and knowing that the team needs me the most now, I've just got to step my game up."
In a second half that saw the Bearcats either scrambling back from deficits or locked in a basket-for-basket battle, Cincinnati committed seven second-half turnovers Cronin considered fatal. The most punitive was a routine inbounds pass after an Atkins layup with 8:38 left. Cincinnati sophomore forward Jermaine Sanders tossed the ball toward the playing surface without really looking. Atkins was right there to grab it. A 2-point lead soon was doubled on a couple free throws by Grant, and the Bearcats never were that close again.
In the final 11 minutes, Grant hit two absolutely devastating baskets, savaging a Cincinnati defense that each time shut off every plausible scoring option—but not Grant's audacious fallaway jumpers. Because how could it?
Cronin said the second "really ended the game. Put us out of reach. Those are NBA shots, at the end of the clock. Very few guys can get that off, let alone make it."
If you're really going to have this discussion, you've got to say Michigan's Trey Burke-Tim Hardaway combination is more purely gifted, Louisville's Peyton Siva-Russ Brown tandem is more dynamic, and no one is more physically imposing than Kansas' Elijah Johnson-Ben McLemore duo. Syracuse has Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Triche, Arizona has Mark Lyons and Nick Johnson improving every day. Duke fans would flood Twitter if one were to exclude Quinn Cook and Seth Curry, whose varied contributions have helped the Blue Devils to a perfect start and No. 1 ranking.
It's not such an easy debate, is it?
It is if you're Irish.
"Me and Eric know," Grant said. "We just go out and play our game. We don't get a lot of recognition, but we know who we are. We know we're pretty good, like the best backcourt."
"Like" the best backcourt? You know, that's actually good enough.


text:
Trying to land role on Orioles, Clevenger studying up
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Before catcher Steve Clevenger left last season, he loaded his iPad up with hours of video of the Orioles' pitchers, a homework assignment he took with him this winter.
"It's huge," Clevenger, acquired in a July trade with the Cubs, said of the comfort factor he has this spring. "It's a big key, these guys have to respect your thoughts and your aspects on the game behind the plate and when you come back, you have some ammunition from video and going over hours of it."
Clevenger and Johnny Monell are the two candidates for the backup catcher job behind starter Matt Wieters, who manager Buck Showalter would like to rest a little more this season.
"I think him and Johnny both understand how this is going to be decided," Showalter said Saturday morning. "So far, so good. John [Russell] gave them a really stern reminder very early in camp about how this is going to go. What you hit is nice, but we don't want to lose anything defensively."
Showalter said neither guy will play any infield this spring, despite their respective background in the field. The Orioles want the emphasis to strictly be on what Clevenger and Monell bring behind the plate, a facet of the game Clevenger is working hard to improve.
"In the Minor Leagues, I've thrown really well, ever since I've been in the big leagues I haven't really thrown out that many guys," he said. "The footwork part of it has been sloppy the past couple years. It's hard when you don't play every day, but it's something you got to stay on top of. It's important as a backup catcher to stay on top of it, it's your job to be defensively sound."
Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, and follow her on Twitter @britt_ghiroli. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Time for another giveaway! And this year, I wanted to mix it up a bit for Home for the Holidays and make it a bit more personal, from me to you.
Today I'm giving away a collection of my favorite books—not all my favorites, of course (oh goodness, that would cost me a million dollars), but these are a collection of both favorite classics of mine and recent reads I've enjoyed. I think you'll like them, too.
One person will win ALL these books! Give them to different people you love, wow one person with a reader's paradise, or (shhh) keep them for yourself. I won't tell. Here they are, in random order.
1. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Novelist Kingsolver recounts a year spent eating home-grown food and, if not that, local. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a memoir of her family's year of eating locally, and in storytelling fashion, shares how everyone pitches in. I adore this book—I couldn't put it down the first time I read it. And I've learned so much from it; it served as a foundation in my appreciation for eating real food.
2. Escaping Into the Open: The Art of Writing True, by Elizabeth Berg
Berg is one of my favorite novelists, and Escaping Into The Open is her work on writing. I love this book. An inspiring, practical handbook on the joys and challenges of the writing life, Berg interweaves the story of her own journey from working mother to bestselling novelist with encouraging advice on how to create great stories, even in nonfiction. I read this book when I've got writer's block.
3. Parenting with Love and Logic, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
Love and Logic is our pseudo go-to parenting manual (if there really is one). This book is a heavyweight wealth of advice with both encouragement and practical tips when I'm weary from parenting. In the context of a healthy, loving relationship, "Love and Logic" parents teach their children responsibility and the logic of life by solving their own problems, providing skills for coping in the real world. It taught me not to freak out when my kids are being loud. Again.
4. Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States, by Dave Barry
I keep Dave Barry Slept Here in my nightstand and read it when I need a laugh before bed. It's quite a few years old, but the humor stands as a classic. Written like a history book, Barry walks through American history from the Mayflower to the Reagan-Bush years (yep, a bit old). How great is a book with chapter titles like "Spain Gets Hot," "A Brash Young Nation Gets Into Wars and Stuff," and "The Nation Enters Chapter Eleven"?
5. How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman
How to Cook Everything is the definitive modern classic that helps home cooks discover the simple joys of cooking from scratch. Straight-forward and easy, everything I've tried from this ginormous cookbook has been delicious. Bittman is a classic home-taught cook who writes a fabulous New York Times column on food (his blog is one of the few I take time to read.) I cook from this weekly. I like to give this as a wedding gift.
6. Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home, by Holly Becker
As the blogger behind Decor8, Decorate is Holly's beautiful compilation from a wide spectrum of designers. This intensive book is both beautiful inspiration and nuts-and-bolts how-to for creating visually stunning rooms in everyday homes. I love that this book is real life decor. Gorgeous, but do-able. And 500 photos. Who doesn't love that?
7. What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty
I read What Alice Forgot this summer at the neighborhood pool, and it was so much fun. I love it when I find novels I can't put down—it grabbed me from page one. Alice is 29-years-old, in love with her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So she's a bit shocked when she wakes up on the gym floor as a 39-year-old mom of three who's on the verge of divorce. Fun and fascinating, this novel explores the protagonist's journey of finding out why she can't remember the past decade.
8. At Home: A Short History of a Private Life, by Bill Bryson
I love everything by Bill Bryson, but At Home is one of my favorites—such a creative, fascinating take on home life. Bryson walks through each room of his own house, using it as a springboard to dive into the history of all our domestic tools. From pipes to pillows, his curiosity is contagious and his humor is refreshing. Unlike most of his travel memoirs, he never leaves the house but takes us on a crazy fun journey. If you've never read anything of his, go to the library and rectify that situation. And also, win this book.
How to win
Simply use the widget below to leave a comment on this post, and you'll be entered to win! (If you're reading this via email, please click over to the main post to leave your comment.)
For extra entries, you can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook—simply follow the steps in the widget below!
This giveaway will end tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 27, and we'll announce the winners of all the holiday giveaways at the end of the week. I hope you're one of them!


text:
Hundreds Sample Soup and Chili Entries in Cold Spring
Hundreds of Central Minnesotans sampled 40 different soups and chilis in the 2011 Cold Spring Jaycees' Soup & Chili Bowl at the Cold Spring Brewery Distribution Center.
Organizers say more than 2,000 people attended the contest and helped raise money for the food shelf and paralyzed Cold Spring resident Roger Illies.
Soup Division Winner:
Alan Faust with "Al's texas Chili Cheese Soup"
Chili Division Winner:
Pat Preimesberger with "Preim Time Northern Chili"
Northern 1st Place Prize:
Dan Gillen of Main Street Cafe in Litchfield won the Northern 1st Place Prize of $350 for having Northern beer in his product.


text:
Word Within a Word! #6Language brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.
In this teaser your job is to try and discover a shorter word within the given word that relates to the theme. The word must be an extension of the 'theme' word. The letters of the hidden word are NOT jumbled.
Theme: NIGHT______
Sneaky = SKY (NIGHT SKY)
Theme: DAY _______
1. Jacob = ? (DAY _______)
2. Clapboard = ? (DAY _______)
3. Champagne = ? (DAY _______)
4. Orange = ? (DAY _______)
Answer1. Jacob = JOB (DAY JOB)
2. Clapboard = LABOR (DAY LABOR)
3. Champagne = CAMP (DAY CAMP)
4. Orange = ONE (DAY ONE)
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 brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top


text:
Seattle Nordstrom said Wednesday that it plans to open a 35,000-sq.-ft. Nordstrom Rack at The Commons at Southtowne shopping center in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Other tenants at the Commons include Bed Bath & Beyond and ULTA.
The new store, which will open in spring 2009, will be the second Nordstrom Rack location in Utah. The original location is 15 miles away in Salt Lake City.


text:
Everyone Loves A Curling Player Ringer T-Shirt
Product Color:
Product information
The Ringer T-Shirt Everyone Loves A Curling Player is our old-school favorite. Perfect for use in sports where you are bound to sweat and need wide range of movement. Short sleeves to let cool air in on those hot and sunny days. Also great for every day use and to show everyone your love for Everyone Loves A Curling Player.
This product is made of the finest combed jersey which feels soothing against your skin. Shoulder-to-shoulder taping guarantees long life and a good fit. Curling Ringer T-Shirt is available in 10 different color options. Bands on sleeves and neck made of reactive fabric, to avoid bleeding. Heather Grey: 80% Cotton/20% Polyester. Remaining Colors: 100% Cotton.
Sku: TK1DSBL00015830202020149YG0000000


text:
Word Within a Word! #5Language brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.
In this teaser your job is to try and discover a shorter word within the given word that relates to the theme. The word must be an extension of the 'theme' word. The letters of the hidden word are NOT jumbled.
Theme: NIGHT______
Sneaky = SKY (NIGHT SKY)
Theme: NIGHT______
1. Amplifier = ? (NIGHT______)
2. Vowel = ? (NIGHT______)
3. Counteract = ? (NIGHT______)
4. Persimmon = ? (NIGHT______)
Answer1. Amplifier = LIFE (NIGHT LIFE)
2. Vowel = OWL (NIGHT OWL)
3. Counteract = COURT (NIGHT COURT)
4. Persimmon = PERSON (NIGHT PERSON)
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 brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top


text:
This product is currently sold out.
You can obtain status and/or reserve this item by contacting us. We can also be reached by calling toll free 1-866-326-9377 (Dialing from outside the US +01 314 772 3566) between 10AM and 6PM CST (-6 GMT).
The sexy Clever Victoria Thong features a soft, textured microfiber fabric for ultimate comfort and a pouch designed to enhance the male profile. The stylish men's thong has a brightly colored waistband across the front and sides that transitions into black across the back. The thick, elastic waistband also features a large Clever logo
85% Nylon, 15% Spandex.
Machine wash warm, only non chlorine bleach when needed. Tumble dry low, cool iron if needed. Wash dark colors separately.
|27-29 in 69-74 cm
|30-32 in 76-81 cm
|33-35 in 84-89 cm
|Extra Large
|36-38 in 91-97 cm


text:
0 2 5All Appliances Automotive Baby Books Electronics Fashion Fashion Women Home Garden Jewelry Kitchen Luggage PC Hardware Pet Supplies Photo Shoes Sporting Goods Tools Toys VideoGames WatchesLots, vintage and collectibles products from China
Free shipping and returns on thousand of cool stuff
B-G 40" Number$5.89
- STRESS FREE RETURNS♥ ♥ ♥ We believe in our Premium Quality products. Should you have any issue...
- WORRY FREE♥ ♥ ♥ The balloons blow up evenly and seal tightly when inflated. Can be filled with...
- SO MANY USES♥ ♥ ♥ Place them as a focal point by the sweatheart table, at the entrance to your...
- Health and Beauty
Philips AVENT
- Taste and odor-free silicone nipple makes for an easy transition between pacifier, breast and bottle
- Orthodontic symmetrical collapsible nipple so right side up or upside down, philips avent pacifiers ...
- Dishwasher safe and can be sterilized
- Baby Product
- Avent
Wella Koleston
- An excellent array of creme gel colors
- With predictable natural looking results
- Formulated to be completely interminable to create any shade desired
- Beauty
- Mainspring America, Inc. DBA Direct Cosmetics
Smead DCC Color-Coded
- 10 distinctive colors
- Favorite choice for medical or insurance files
- Office Product
- 0
Philips Avent
- Colors and designs may vary
- WARNING: Do not tie pacifier around child's neck as it presents a strangulation danger
- Includes two pacifiers with extra freeflow air holes for sensitive skin. Ideal age range: 0-6 months
- Baby Product
- Avent
Giant Golden
- Color: Golden
- Size: After blowing approx 40"
- Material: Aluminum foil
- Kitchen
- Mao Fan Latex products co., LTD
All-New Fire$149.99
- Our largest display, now with over 2 million pixels, stereo speakers, Dolby Audio, and dual-band 802...
- Brilliant 10.1" 1080p Full HD display (1920 x 1200), up to 1.8 GHZ quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM, an...
- Amazon Tablets
- Amazon
Philips AVENT
- Orthodontic symmetrical collapsible nipple so right side up or upside down, philips avent pacifiers ...
- Translucent clear design
- Dishwasher safe and can be sterilized; comes with a snap on hygienic cap to keep the nipple clean
- Baby Product
- Avent
Wella Koleston
- Formulated to reduce the risk of developing allergy whilst
- Beauty
- Wella
Lokman 0-9$5.99
- 10 pcs from 0 to 9 digit number (only)
- Art and Craft Supply


text:
Australian stocks climbed higher on Friday, driven higher by the major miners on the back of strong commodity prices.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 28.3 points, or 0.63 per cent, higher at 4,506.0, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 27.9 points, or 0.62 per cent, at 4,518.0.
On the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was 27 points higher at 4,516, with 29,888 contracts traded.Regional markets in Australia and around Asia slightly outperformed the US leads from overnight.
CMC Markets senior trader Tim Waterer said that was a good thing that appeared to indicate traders were better absorbing the daily grind of positive and negative news out of the US about negotiations to resolve its looming fiscal cliff.
The cliff refers to a series of tax hikes and spending cuts due to automatically come into effect from January to deal with the nation's massive budget deficit.
''The market has hit the end of month finish line with some gusto today,'' Mr Waterer said.
''Rising commodity prices overnight stood the materials sector in good stead today.
''The market is learning to absorb comments by politicians, like in the US last night (Republican House speaker) John Boehner saying something negative about there being no substantive progress in talks but the market shrugged it off today.''
Global miner Rio Tinto helped drive up the bourse climbing $1.57, or 2.75 per cent, higher to $58.75.BHP Billiton posted a more modest 18 cent rise to $34.39 and Fortescue Metals lifted five cents, or 1.3 per cent, to $3.91.
Energy stocks also shone, with Woodside Petroleum lifting 20 cents to $33.80 and Santos improved by 1.92 per cent to $11.14.
Making news on Friday, grocery wholesaler Metcash said net profit for the six months to October 31, 2012, fell 13 per cent to $82 million, compared with the prior corresponding period.
Metcash was down 8.0 cents, or 2.28 per cent, at $3.43.Supermarket owner Woolworths was seven cents worse off at $29.28 with more defensive stocks struggling.
Qantas reported a drop in revenue seat factor - a measure including passenger numbers and distances flown - for the fourth month in a row.
Qantas shares were 0.5 of a cent, or 0.38 per cent, higher at $1.325 while rival Virgin Australia had a better day, up one cent, or 2.33 per cent, higher at 44 cents.
National turnover was 2.4 billion securities worth $6.85 billion, with 543 stocks up, 400 down and 373 unchanged.


text:
Aircraft operators who will be subject to Europe's new emissions trading scheme (ETS) beginning Jan. 1, 2012, need to start preparing now to be part of this complex process. Pre-compliance emissions monitoring will be conducted for flights starting in 2010 and 2011, and to be part of this, operators need to submit a monitoring plan by August and have it approved by year-end.
All aircraft with an mtow of more than 5.7 metric tons (12,666 pounds) will be subject to the ETS, which applies to flights within European airspace as well as to and from it. A general exemption is available for flights operated entirely under visual flight rules.
Commercial operators can be exempt if they fly fewer than 243 flights in a four-month period over three consecutive four-month periods (equating to an average of no more than two flights per day). Alternatively, they can be exempt if their fleet generates fewer than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. Neither of these exemptions is available to aircraft operated under private rules.
The pre-compliance emissions monitoring will measure each aircraft's emissions in terms of metric tons of CO2 per kilometer flown. Operators do not have to take part in this benchmarking process starting in 2010, but unless they do so, they will not be entitled to any of the "free" ETS credits or allowances that will be issued on the basis of the measurements. The benchmarking data will be based on analysis of the passengers, baggage and freight carried, with flight distances calculated according to the Great Circle route plus 95 km (51 nm).
Under ETS, total emissions from aviation will be capped in 2012 at 97 percent of the total average levels from the 2004 to 2006 time frame; this limit will be reduced to 95 percent beginning in 2013. Operators needing more than their assigned allowance will have to purchase additional carbon credits (each allowing for an emission of one metric ton of CO2) on the open market.
According to data from Platts Emissions Daily, in late February the prices of carbon allowances traded on the futures market already used by industries other than aviation ranged from between €1 to €1.60 ($1.26 to $2) per metric ton of CO2 (for December 2009 delivery). These prices have fallen steadily since early November 2008 when they ranged from just under €16 to almost €20 ($20 to $25).
Credits may be bought from companies or individuals in industries other than aviation. ETS requirements can also be met by purchasing so-called clean development mechanism credits that pay for emissions-reduction projects in developing countries.
Under ETS, 85 percent of available carbon credits will be allocated free to operators, with 3 percent of the total number of credits held back to allow for new market entrants and operators who grow very fast. The remaining 15 percent of the credits available in 2012 will be auctioned off to operators between then and 2020, with proceeds supporting measures intended to address climate change within the EU. The business aviation lobby has complained that its operators will not have sufficient buying power to bid against major airlines in this auction process.
Aircraft Could Be Impounded
At the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) conference at St. Albans on March 3, Philip Good, a policy officer with the European Commission's environment directorate, explained that his department has drawn up a list assigning an initial 2,700 operators to one of the 27 European Union (EU) member states for the purposes of the ETS process. He warned that operators who fail to account for the emissions associated with their flights within Europe can be fined, blacklisted and ultimately have their aircraft impounded. Fines will be levied at a rate of ?100 ($126) per metric ton of CO2.
Operators within the EU are accountable to authorities in their own countries for complying with ETS. EASA has assigned non-European operators to one of the EU states and will expect them to deal with that state in meeting their ETS obligations. So, for example, many U.S. corporate flight departments have been assigned to the UK for ETS jurisdiction, as has the U.S. fleet of fractional ownership provider NetJets and Jet Aviation's U.S.-based fleet.
Good said that operators not yet assigned to a European state for ETS compliance will nonetheless have to ensure that they comply. The European Commission will be able to trace all flights into European airspace through the Eurocontrol CFMU en route slot allocation system. This will also allow the EC to check that the number of credits spent corresponds accurately with the actual emissions associated with a given flight.
Operators also must have their emissions declarations for each year independently verified by an approved auditor. More detailed guidelines for compliance were agreed upon in late February but will not become law until June. These included simplified emissions-measurement procedures for smaller aircraft and the ability for "smaller emitters" flying fewer than 243 flights in a four-month period to use emissions modeling techniques rather than precise measurements.
The European Commission has agreed that operators from outside the EU can be exempt from the ETS if they are part of an equivalent emissions trading scheme in their own countries. So, for example, if President Barack Obama were to introduce an emissions-reduction program in the U.S., then the Europeans would honor this under reciprocity arrangements and would not make owners pay twice for their emissions.


text: Ontario California GEICO EnduroCross Track Map Revealed Press Release | September 12, 2013 The following is from Source Interlink…Irvine, CA (September 12, 2013) – Racing through rocks, logs, firewood, a pond and the dreaded "matrix" is just a normal day at the office for the top Extreme off-road motorcycle racers in the world. These are obstacles that most motorcycle riders might encounter in the woods but racing head to head in front of a full arena makes for an entertaining evening of unpredictable racing at the GEICO AMA EnduroCross, fueled by Monster Energy and presented by Lucas Oil.Enduro X has become one of the featured sports at X Games and Mike Brown, Taddy Blazusiak and Taylor Robert, the three Gold Medal winners this year will all be in attendance looking to take another win inside the Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday, September 21st. Check out the track map and then get your tickets now! Tickets are available at the following local Kawasaki dealers:• Corona Motorsports: www.coronamotorsports.com• John Burr Cycles: www.johnburrcycles.com• Malcolm Smith Motorsports: www.malcolmsmith.com• Mid Cities Motorsports: www.midcitieshonda.com• Tickets are also available at www.cbbankarena.com/events/detail/endurocross or www.EnduroCross.comThe pit area is open for FREE all day so it is a great time to meet the riders and check out their bikes. The top riders will also do an autograph session on the show concourse at 6:30 pm. The Arena is also open for free for the daytime qualifiers but you will need a ticket for the main event actions so get your tickets now! If you cannot be there in person, you can watch the live webcast. EnduroCross fans will be able to access the shows via the www.EnduroCross.com or the Motor Trend YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/MotorTrend?feature=watch. For more information, please visit www.EnduroCross.com 2013 GEICO AMA EnduroCross, Fueled by Monster Energy ScheduleLocation Date Arena / Additional InformationLas Vegas, Nevada May 3, 2013 Orleans Arena (Friday during Supercross weekend)Sacramento, California June 8, 2013 Sleep Train ArenaOntario, California September 21, 2013 Citizens Business Bank ArenaDenver, Colorado October 12, 2013 National Western ComplexEverett, Washington October 26, 2013 Comcast ArenaBoise, Idaho November 9, 2013 Idaho CenterLas Vegas, Nevada November 23, 2013 Orleans ArenaLike EnduroCross! By Press Release Comments


text:
A woman has been hit by a car this afternoon in Wheatfield Way in Kingston town centre.
The woman in her 50s received a head injury in a crash which London Ambulance said was between a car and a bicycle near Wheatfield Way and Brook Street at about 1.45pm.
Police said the people in the car were unhurt.
Paramedics treated the woman before she was taken to St George's Hospital by road accompanied by the London Air Ambulance doctor.
James Wingfield, who arrived after the crash, said the driver of the car was breathalysed after the crash, probably as a matter of routine.
Another witness said: "A woman got hit. She is severely injured. I'm looking at a helicopter right in front of me. They have been with her for quite a while. It looks bad."
This article was corrected after wrongly reporting the injured woman was a cyclist
Did you see what happened? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4244 or email email@example.com