text: On 7/14/10 15:50 , firstname.lastname@example.com wrote: > Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:50:09 -0700 > From: Jarrod Millman<firstname.lastname@example.com> > Subject: Re: [SciPy-Dev] scikits contribution? > To: SciPy Developers List<firstname.lastname@example.com> > Message-ID: > <email@example.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 1:59 PM, Jonathan Stickel<email@example.com> wrote: >> > I did register athttp://projects.scipy.org/scikits with the username >> > "jjstickel". ?The wiki page indicates that this is all that is needed to >> > edit the wiki, but I do not see a "Edit this page" link. ?So it does >> > seem that someone needs to give me permission. ?I also need permission >> > for commit access to svn.scipy.org/svn/scikits/. > Hey Jonathan, > > Thanks for contributing a new scikit! > > Unfortunately, it is a bit tedious to create accounts on the existing > subversion system and there is no way to separate developer accounts > between the various scikits. If you really want to use subversion, I > would create a sourceforge project. For example, that is where the > scikits.learn project is hosted: > http://sourceforge.net/projects/scikit-learn > Otherwise, I would recommend using github or one of the other dvcs > hosting sites. > > In the near future (over the next month or so) it looks increasingly > likely that we will be moving numpy and possibly scipy to git/github, > so the existing scikits subversion repository will probably get moved > over and broken up as well. > > The official scikits registry is here:http://scikits.appspot.com/ > Any package named "scikits.xyz" on the Python Packaging Index will be > included on the scikits.appspot.com website automatically. So there > is no advantage to having commit access to the subversion site and > there are several disadvantages such as it is slow, there isn't an > obvious way to get account access, and it may disappear soon (assuming > we move to github). > OK, I'll check out github, or, if the learning curve is high, I may fall back to sourceforge since I have more experience with that interface. Can you elaborate on "Any package named "scikits.xyz" on the Python Packaging Index will be included on the scikits.appspot.com website automatically"? Where is the Python Packaging Index and how do I get a scikit to show up there once I make the sources available? I have to say this has become a lot more involved than I initially expected. Simpler procedures and better "howto" documentation would be helpful for sideline contributors like myself. Maybe this will improve after the move to github? Thanks, Jonathan


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Updated with Wednesday share prices and investor comments in 9th paragraph. NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Hess ( HES) may become further stuck between shale rock and a very hard place as activist investors exclaim their displeasure following a most underwhelming sale of the energy company's Eagle Ford Shale assets. Hess shares were little changed after dropping 3% yesterday following the deal's announcement. Shares have gained 32% this year. Late on Monday, Hess said it sold a 4,300-acre Eagle Ford Shale oilfield to Sanchez Energy ( SN) for $265 million, in a deal that fetched about a third of the value that more optimistic analyst had forecast when the New York-based driller put the assets up for sale in 2012. The deal comes at a crucial time for Hess which is embarking on an ambitious strategy to spin off its refining and marketing businesses and become a pure-play oil and gas driller with a leading position in promising shales like the Bakken. Still, as Hess continues a sharp 2013 share price rise on optimism that it may be prodded into unlocking the full value of the company, management continues to face scrutiny from large investors. Hess's proposed split off of downstream businesses, its recent announcement of a $4 billion share repurchase plan and a previous planned sale of its East Coast terminal network come just as activist hedge funds Elliott Management and Relational Investors take large positions in the driller and seek board seats. Unimpressed by the details of Hess's decision to deconsolidate its integrated energy empire, Elliott and Relational are pressing their own slate of directors to counter the company's proposed board reconstitution, which will add directors with experience at TNK-BP Russia and Royal Dutch Shell and lead to a board of 13 of 14 independent members. The pricetag with Monday's announced Eagle Ford Shale asset sale, however, may create new headaches for Hess as it tries to convince shareholders its plan is the path forward to realizing the company's shale riches. In a Tuesday client note, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Douglas Leggate said, "Eagleford bids were known ahead of its response to the ongoing Elliot activist move and fell within its internal range of expectations," after discussing the deal with Hess CEO John Hess. Notably, the deal may also underscore challenges that drillers face in trying to fetch top dollar for non-core shale acreage, amid balance sheet repair and asset rationalization across the industry. Such risks are present not just for Hess, but other notable activist investments in the sector such as Chesapeake Energy ( CHK) and Sandridge Energy ( SD). Meanwhile, other energy sector giants such as Transocean ( RIG), Nabors Industries ( NBR) and Murphy Oil ( MUR) face the heat of investors ranging Carl Icahn to Pamplona Capital and Third Point's Dan Loeb Chesapeake Energy, which has welcomed Icahn to the company's board, recently announced an underwhelming $1 billion pricetag to a long-running sale of its Mississippi Lime joint venture. The Oklahoma City-based driller is also looking to divest non-core Eagle Ford Shale assets similar to those of Hess. "It seems like acreage that is on the market is taking longer to sell," Phil Weiss, an energy analyst with Argus Research, says of recent Hess and Chesapeake Energy asset sales. "It at least makes me wonder if there is hesitancy on the part of acquirers because of the spending required to hold acreage." Tudor, Pickering, Holt analysts had forecast Hess could fetch as much as $820 million for its Eagle Ford assets. After Monday's sale, they saw reason to temper expectations of Eagle Ford sales by Chesapeake Energy from $1.25 billion to $600 million. While Hess may find its underwhelming Eagle Ford Shale deal a one-off headache amid a battle with hard-charging activist investors, the potential for similar results at Chesapeake Energy could be an issue. On Tuesday, Sterne Agee analyst Timothy Rezvan cut his rating on Chesapeake Energy to 'underperform' citing the weak proceeds from its Mississippi Lime sale and the prospect other non-core asset sales fail to deliver to management's guidance. "We believe sticker prices for subsequent sales of non-core leaseholds could underwhelm, given the company's appearance as a wounded seller," Rezvan wrote in a note to clients. Currently, Chesapeake Energy faces a $3 billion funding gap for 2013 even after recent deals, meaning the company may need to sell more valuable cash generating acreage, according to Rezvan's analysis. Chesapeake recently indicated it expects to sell $4 billion in assets in 2013 to meet its projected funding gap -- capital expenditures versus cash flows -- indicating any proceeds beyond that amount could be used to pay down the company's $12.8 billion in debt as of 2012. The acreage up for sale includes the Eagle Ford Shale, the Marcellus Shale, the Utica Shale and assets in Wyoming and Michigan. "In the event these sales do not meet the shortfall, the company may be forced to sell assets with existing cash flow, which could adversely impact the near-term earnings and cash flow outlook," writes Rezvan. Hess may be pressured by activists to begin executing divestitures as activists circle, however, it doesn't face the funding gap or financial pressure of Chesapeake.
While Hess announced a plan to sell down a network of terminals just as Elliott began taking a large stake in the company, it said the two moves had no relation. "Elliott may have been the catalyst for an accelerated recovery - but it is a recovery we contend was already underway and has been given legs with the improved disclosure on the Hess' plan," Leggate of Bank of America wrote, referring to asset disposals. " The ongoing debate between Elliott and Hess is a win-win for shareholders."
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subset: commoncrawl


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Looking at designer Mary Katrantzou's unique prints and brightly colored patterns in photographs is one thing, but seeing them in person is simply breathtaking. The variety of her spring and fall collections, displayed on the ready-to-wear floor of Nordstrom South Coast Plaza, can be spotted a mile away as Katrantzou's, quite a feat considering the 30-year-old designer has been at this for only five years.
Katrantzou sat down with me in between styling clients and signing autographs to talk about her vision and how she became a success so quickly. Here is an edited version of that chat:
Q. What I really want to know is how you came up with this aesthetic. I've never seen anything like it.
A. I started in textiles. I was studying architecture and then I studied textile design, so print was always important to me and my work. (The collection) was always really thematic from the time that I started. We've done interiors, objects of art, and now postage stamps. It's always about taking an image that I really like and seeing how that can work with a silhouette that's really flattering on a woman. It's about creating a whole language; it isn't about just the print, but also the fabric, about doing our own brocade, our own knits … and it's becoming more of a world. Before I was only known for my dresses – now we do tops, leggings, and scarves and pouches.
Q. I know you did a line with Longchamp bags. … I'm dying to snag one.
A. Yes. At that stage, we didn't even have pouches so it was a perfect way to collaborate with a brand that has such heritage and such history and such an amazing distribution as well. We wanted to see how people would respond to us doing accessories, and we did so well. It was a baby step into our leather pouches. Now we're trying to build the structure in-house. It's a slow process.
Q. I would love to see you do shoes!
A. We would love to see shoes. We've been collaborating with Louboutin. It's amazing, but they don't do any co-branding, unfortunately, so we can't sell them. So we are looking into working with somebody where we can actually sell the line.
Q. I feel like you have become so successful at such a young age.
A. I started when I was about 25, right after I graduated. I went into it very naively – I didn't know what to expect, I never wanted to be a fashion designer. In five years, you learn a lot. You learn to understand a lot, you become more comfortable with certain things.
Q. What would you say to aspiring young designers?
A. I think the best advice I was given is to stay very focused on what you are doing. I think it's important to persevere and have the strength of your own conviction. It takes time, and a lot of hard work, and you need to be determined. Things happen when you least expect them.
Q. What are three words to describe the collection?
A. This collection is a little different. I think this collection (which is more of a black-and-white color palette) is more sober, more intelligent in its cuts, and I hope it feels empowering. Because every season is so thematic, for me, it's about women starting to wear print as an extenuation of their own aesthetic. Just as they would buy something for their home, which would say a lot about their taste, that's how I would like to see them choose their dresses. What you wear is a direct way of communication to the world, and print does that in a very direct way. So I hope it's empowering and sophisticated and I hope it's timeless.


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"It's good to be back in film fest land for the Salud Carbajal Retrospective," cracked Santa Barbara resident and nationally known comedian Dennis Miller in opening the show, referring to his local county supervisor. Actually a funny joke if one knows Mr. Carbajal – a sometimes comedic, but shrewd politician – who is certainly not the artistic type. As it turns out this was the first and last local joke of the show. Still, it was fun to see a pro take on the local insider atmosphere.
The Bolder Fresher Tour, TV personality Bill O'Reilly's intermittent but ongoing roll around the nation made a train stop February 25th in Miller's hometown. The first show sold out so fast that an earlier afternoon session was added, making the Arlington Theater a very busy place. First up was Miller, introduced as the "fresher part of the Bolderer Fresher Tour." Direct from the Salud bit, he launched into a rant about whom he loathes more, Nancy Pelosi or…Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Pelosi, of course, got the worse of it, as Miller wondered aloud whether she sleeps upside down with bats in the closet, though bats don't have facial skin pulled as tight as G-7 force pressure.
Just what the doctor ordered for this crowd, made up of mostly silver haired folks from as far away as San Luis Obispo and Ventura. Hitting hard, fast and clever Miller delivered his unusual spin on a wide range of topics, including illegal immigration, the Pope, even Bruce Jenner and Mickey Rourke, before heading into deeper political terrain.
"Gay marriage and global warming don't concern me. Obamacare does, because we should be helping the helpless but not the careless and not the clueless."
Describing President Obama, he gave credit where credit is due: "He's a good family man. He's cool. He's black, which I think is great! He's also a killing machine overseas! He's taken on pirates, taken out Bin Laden, and sprung girls kidnapped in North Korea."
"What I don't dig about the president is I'm tired of him apologizing. It's a buzz kill when he apologizes to Hugo Chavez, or to the Islam world…please, I don't like how they treat women or messed up Cat Stevens."
It's obvious from such statements that Miller is neither conservative nor liberal, Republican nor Democrat. Perhaps viewed skeptically by both the right and the left, this is exactly where he plants himself, as does O'Reilly, and it has been the key to their popularity.
Miller's career is storied: Saturday Night Live, stand up comedy, a Jon Stewart type TV show, now his successful radio program and even a short stint as color commentator on Monday Night Football (he lasted longer than Rush Limbaugh). Miller's wit and intelligence pulse at a higher level than most of us, which are his blessing and his curse. For fans, he's a funny guy whose brain operates like a dictionary, phrasing things in a way that makes you think about even the most mundane topics differently. The curse is he's not as plain spoken as, say a Jon Stewart, who might appeal to a broader audience; hence the demise of his TV show.
Still, he can take it down a notch to great effect, as when he told the story of dining with the Chairman of the Board himself, Frank Sinatra, once many years ago…with his mother and … his children's autograph-seeking nanny. There's a slapstick quality in the guy's soul: "We went to the Air and Space Museum in DC. Contrary to popular belief there's a lot of stuff in there!"
After Miller's fresh rants, it was a surprise that Bill O'Reilly's patented boldness and bluntness didn't show up. In fact, while pleasant enough it was a bit of a let down to hear him go on like Tom Brokaw for a half hour about the 2008(what?!) election. Who wants to hear uninteresting stories of John McCain, Sarah Palin and the early Barrack Obama? ("Obama can go on for 20 minutes about shoelaces.") Or regurgitate what a politically savvy audience already knows about the current Republican primary morass of Romney, Cain, Perry, Paul, Romney again, Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, again…
While nobody expects O'Reilly to be as funny as Miller, the direct, outspoken and arrogant O'Reilly must have remained in New York, for he was as relaxed – and nice (gasp!) – as he's ever been. Wintering in Santa Barbara does that to people.
But who wants nice from Bill O'Reilly?!? We want blunt! We want cut thru the chatter banter! We want somebody, you Bill, to get in the political talkies faces and call BS on the spin!!!
That didn't happen at the Arlington. There was very little red meat for the crowd.
One cannot overestimate The O'Reilly Factor's popularity exactly because of his "no spin zone" and talking points memos. His audience might lean right but there's no way that over 3.5 million TV viewers are only tea baggers. In fact, at one point during the show O'Reilly challenged Obama to take on the oil companies for maximizing profits at the expense of Americans facing sticker shock at the pump. Not exactly something W would say.
He did have some funny moments, however, when talking about the time Mitt Romney took the wife and kids on a Chevy Chase-esque vacation and strapped the family dog to the station wagon rack for the journey (don't worry, the dog wasn't abused nor hurt). And, in closing his monologue he hit a high note, when talking about what Republicans really want in a candidate: "Take Gingrich and Romney to Germany to meet Dr. Frankenstein. Have him put Newt's brain in Mitt's body."
When Miller and O'Reilly finally came out on stage, sitting on stools at a high-topped table, their different styles truly jelled as they do on The Factor. Though the time together was much too brief, the quick and less structured banter from these smart guys was enjoyable as they traveled well-worn topics such as water boarding ("if it's between water boarding some terrorist or saving our troops what are we talking about here?"), a mosque near NY, NY's 911 site to Ron Paul's oversized suits to tree huggers and delta smelt.
As they capped the show it bears reminder that the Bill O'Reilly's and Dennis Miller's of today's news talk arena are first and foremost entertainers, not journalists (at least not anymore in O'Reilly's case). When viewed through that prism, it was an enjoyable enough show but hey guys, let's get some bold-fresh-new material!


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Artists Bharath Murthy and Kailash Iyer are taking advantage of crowd-sourcing and up-to-the-minute publishing technology to build an Indian audience for alternative comics.
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Michigan Tech's Michael Neuman Named IEEE Fellow
Michael R. Neuman
January 22, 2013—
Michigan Technological University professor Michael R. Neuman has been named a Fellow of IEEE for his contributions to the advancement of biomedical sensors and instrumentation with clinical applications.
Neuman is on the faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he served as department chair from 2003 to 2010. His research interests lie in biomedical sensors and instrumentation, physiological measurements, perinatal medicine and clinical applications of biomedical instrumentation. He has published 170 journal papers, chapters and books and 250 conference presentations and abstracts. He received five patents for medical devices, two of which became commercial products.
Neuman has served as editor of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering as well as the British journal Physiological Measurement. He is currently the editor-in-chief of IEEE Pulse.
In 2004 Neuman received the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Career Achievement Award. He is also a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering,,the Institute of Physics (UK) and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (UK). Neuman is the faculty co-advisor the International Business Ventures Enterprise team at Michigan Tech.
IEEE fellows are chosen for extraordinary accomplishment in their field.
IEEE, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, with more than 400,000 members, is the world's largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence.
Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.


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[UPDATE] Lansdowne library spoof of 'Beat It' restored to YouTube
[UPDATE — Nov. 28, 10 a.m.] The Lansdowne Public Library's video spoof of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," forcibly removed from YouTube after three days, has been restored. Sony Music, which administers music copyrights for the Jackson estate, had previously said the video was in violation of copyright law.
You may remember the beginning of the Michael Jackson video "Beat It," when some street toughs crawl out from underneath a manhole cover, all headbands and sleeveless T-shirts, on their way to a street rumble.
Teenaged patrons of the Lansdowne Public Library made a more literate spoof of it, called "Read It."
"Instead of coming out of the sewer, they're coming out of our bookdrop," said library director Sandra Giannella. "We have over a dozen kids coming out of the bookdrop in the front of the library."
For six weeks, students in an after-school program conceived, danced, and shot their version of "Read It," which pits e-readers against traditionally bound books. About 50 teenagers rotated through the project.
"We had a big program, and we showed it at our big program, and I had some technical difficulties showing it," said librarian Abbe Klebanoff. "I thought, I'll just put it on YouTube and I can show it there."
"Read It" is a parody, like thousands of other amateurish parodies on YouTube: "Weed It," about librarians weeding old books; "Tweet It," about a fight between users of iPhones and users of iPads; another "Read It," encouraging people to read the Bible. And the granddaddy of them all, Weird Al Yankovic's "Eat It."
None have permission — aside from Mr. Yankovic, of course, who paid to parody "Beat It." Yet only the Lansdowne Public Library's video was forcibly removed after three days.
When the librarians asked that it be posted again to YouTube, Sony Music, which administers music copyrights for the Jackson estate, said the video is in violation of copyright law.
A Sony spokesman said he did not know how or why the video was initially singled out and pulled from YouTube, only that the request to repost was denied. Sony has granted the Lansdowne library permission to use the video on its own website, provided it does not use YouTube, Vimeo, or any other third-party streaming service.
Librarian Klebanoff says the library does not have the technical resources to create their own video streamer, nor the legal resources to claim the right to parody under the fair use doctrine.
Support provided by


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HARTLAND >> A tool for municipalities to provide more affordable housing and a partner in additional money for these types of projects took center stage Friday morning during the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials meeting, as chief elected officials from the region learned more about their specific housing markets.
David Fink, Partnership for Strong Communities' policy director, told the regional planning organization that their municipalities might be eligible for additional funding in providing affordable housing. The factors rely on median housing income, although the number of affordable housing continues to decrease.
Torrington is expected to get a slice of money from the organization's HOME Connecticut program, and according to Fink, the $4 million already invested in the program has made a large impact, hoping to bolster a fickle housing market in the state.
Connecticut ranks among the top six for housing costs, and 50th in the United States for new building, Fink said. The dead-last placement in unit construction relies on the state's aging population and emptying residences for those who have "empty nests" -- or when families lose children to higher education -- becoming unable to afford the larger houses.
Partnership for Strong Communities has created tools for municipal leaders to seek affordable housing options, including information about money aimed at remaking town centers. Five different towns throughout the state, Fink said, have used different methods to make the affordable housing dream a reality.
The HOME Connecticut program allows towns to create mixed-income communities with "both affordable and modest, market-rate homes" throughout the state. Towns that use the program are provided with incentives like planning grants with "no strings attached."
"A lot of what we've built is not what we need," Fink said, mentioning luxury housing and ranch-style property for elderly residents. "It's been hard to attract kids back from college," he added later.
Reach Ricky Campbell at 860-489-3121 x343 and subscribe to posts at Facebook.com/RickyCampbell25


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Iowa whistle-blower wins suit, wants job back
Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:01:31 GMT —
The former Lee County maintenance director who won his whistle-blower lawsuit wants his job back, too.
Rick Carter said Wednesday that "I deserve it," after being fired in 2010. On Monday a jury awarded Carter $141,000 in back wages and $45,000 in lost benefits.
Carter's lawyer has filed a motion for the judge to order Carter's reinstatement and for the county to pay his legal fees.
Carter filed his lawsuit under the state's whistle-blower statute. He'd said he was fired because he reported problems with the Lee County Jail during its construction and accused the county board of malfeasance.
Board members Rick Larkin, Ernie Schiller and Gary Folluo didn't return calls seeking comment.


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Upgrade your collection with a revolutionary display system...
APEX display cases are available to purchase at Smalljoes.com.
As soon as you have more than two or three toys (or really any collectible), you're a collector. A lot comes with that title, not least of which are issues like display space and the most hated enemy of all, dust. It's rare that a product comes along specifically targeted to collectors that's really functional and looks good at the same time, but it does happen. Take for example the APEX Action Figure & Collectibles Display Case from the guys at Smalljoes.com, a clear display case with tons of potential.
The APEX case comes shipped in a sturdy box, surrounded on all sides by styrofoam to prevent any damage. Remove the contents and you'll find three things: the large case itself, a base, and a two-tiered riser. Then the fun really begins. The case is big but not too big, sized to hold all manner of toys and other items. Include the risers for easy stacking, or go without to show off your bigger spaceships or even dioramas. And what's really awesome is that it looks great, it's portable (put it anywhere!), and it keeps out that pesky dust.
The case measures 15 ¾ inches wide (the longest dimension), 9 5/8 inches tall, and 10 ¾ inches deep. Not everything is going to fit in there, but if it was any larger it would lose its versatility and ease of movement. The case tapers by a half inch at the top, which is both aesthetically pleasing and functional because it's stackable with other APEX cases. The riser consists of two platforms 3 ½ inches deep at 2 ½ and 5 inches tall. These are great for showing off smaller items like miniatures, spaceships, and especially 3 ¾ - 4 inch figures. My Ben 10 and Star Wars figures looked really great in there.
Made of perfectly clear polystyrene, the APEX case is durable yet lightweight. It's also flexible so it'll bend but not break when you move it or, god forbid, jostle it.
The APEX case is a revolutionary product that any collector will love. The hardest thing is deciding what to put in it, but since they're stackable you can always get more and build an entire display unit of your own! You can get an APEX case with the removable base and risers for $24.99, and you can also pick up extra risers by themselves for use in other displays for only $9.99. Get yours today and start displaying with style!
Review and Photos by Scott Rubin
Review Sample Courtesy of Smalljoes.com


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I am excited to try the Jar-o'-lanterns, featured in the Halloween section. (Photos by Eric Piasecki. Reprinted from the book Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts. Copyright © 2011 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc.)
Clean glass jars
Extra-wide masking tape
Craft knife
Plastic-covered 20-gauge wire
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters
How cute are those? All I need is some orange paint and I'm set to start.
Ok, onto the really fun part. Would you like a copy of the book? Today I'm giving away 5 copies of Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Projects for Year-Round Celebrations!
I'm going to run this giveaway a little differently, just for fun. To enter:
- Leave a comment telling me your favorite crafting memory! It can be anything - a success, a funny failure, just the sweet memory of crafting with someone special. I'll choose my 5 favorites for the winners. Make me smile. :)
- One comment per person please. If you accidentally leave duplicate comments, please delete the extras.
- Please leave me a way to contact you, either with an email address, or a public profile that leads to your blog. Thanks!
- This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. So sorry, international friends!
This giveaway is open for 24 hours only! Get your comment in by 9 a.m. PST, on September 28th.
One of my favorite crafting memories is when I got to meet Ms. Martha herself and talk to her about something I made. It was October 2008, just 11 days after Oscar was born, and I had submitted a pair of baby booties to the MSLO employee art show. She loved the shoes (I about passed out on the spot), but even more she loved Oscar, and took his picture. The shoes and Oscar's little newborn face even flashed briefly on the show the next day. My tiny celebrity! It was a thrill.
Good luck! I'm really looking forward to reading your crafting memories.


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ATLANTA — Lowe's has donated $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America so the organization can refurbish clubs across the country. Lowe's grants of up to $50,000 will fund repairs and renovations at 20 Boys & Girls Clubs, from northern Washington State to South Florida.
A partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 2009, Lowe's selected the clubs based on immediate facility improvement needs, the creativity of the projects and the potential impact on youth members. Club staff will work to complete the projects in 2013. At many locations, Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers will provide hands-on help with the improvement projects.
"We are very thankful for Lowe's continued support over the past few years, providing essential updates and improvements for our Clubs throughout the country," said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "This $1 million investment will help provide places where our club members can grow and develop the skills they need for a great future."
Boys & Girls Clubs work each day to help young people reach their potential and achieve success. Since 2009, Lowe's has contributed $4 million in grants to fund improvements at more than 80 clubs.
"For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs have delivered high-impact youth development programs that promote academic success, good character and healthy lifestyles," said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe's director of community relations. "With the $1 million donation and the help of our Lowe's Heroes, we're able to improve our local communities and support the development of tomorrow's leaders."
As part of the $1 million contribution, this year's grant recipients are:
- A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club — Birmingham: $48,200 to upgrade electrical systems and energy efficiency
- Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama — Huntsville: $50,000 to replace flooring and renovate kitchen
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula — Menlo Park, $13,500 to expand administrative building
- Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside — Oceanside, $50,000 to repair and upgrade soccer field
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento — Sacramento, $38,000 to repair and renovate game room and physical fitness area
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica — Santa Monica, $50,000 to construct a new teen center
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County — Santa Rosa, $25,000 to upgrade flooring and paint
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Saint Lucie County — St. Lucie, $42,000 to renovate basketball court and paint
- West Springfield Boys & Girls Club — West Springfield, $43,000 to renovate bathrooms
New Jersey
- Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City — Atlantic City, $50,000 to renovate teen center
- Boys & Girls Club of Trenton/Mercer County — Trenton, $28,000 to replace gym floor
New York
- Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe — Akwesasne, $41,000 to repair bathrooms and flooring
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady — Schenectady, $49,500 to upgrade club entry and expand education center
- Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club at Lincoln House — Glen Cove, $25,000 to refurbish arts center
North Carolina
- Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Gaston County — Lowell, $32,000 to install air conditioning in gym
- Boys & Girls Club of Central Pennsylvania — Harrisburg, $44,000 to add education area to teen center
- Boys & Girls Club of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station — Corpus Christi, $8,850 to upgrade exterior and paint
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth — Fort Worth, $25,000 to renovate teen center
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County — Bellingham, $44,000 to expand educational area
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County — La Conner, $43,100 to renovate bathrooms, walls and windows


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Rescuers got within 200 metres of reaching couple trapped in snow cave
In the early hours of Sunday morning Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue member Mike Johns got to within 200 metres of two climbers stuck on Mt Taranaki - only to be forced back by the weather.
Yesterday morning he was winched down onto the mountain, from an air force helicopter, and helped recover the bodies of Nicole Sutton, 29, and Hiroki Ogawa, 31, who died after they spent two nights in a snow cave. The recovery operation took place in near perfect conditions.
It was "a beautiful morning up there, not a breath of wind", Johns said.
But it was a different situation when he and his team started out just after 1am on Sunday - into driving wind, horizontal sleet and rain.
Massive gusts made walking difficult, he said. They got to nearly 2200 metres. The climbers were at about 2400 metres.
"We were the next valley over, but getting close to that altitude. They had given us a rough coordinate that was pretty close."
The rescue team was getting pounded by sleet, he said.
"So one side of your face was going numb. By that stage we were so covered in ice everything was starting to freeze up. It wasn't particularly pleasant conditions."
It got so bad that just after 3.30am they made the gut-wrenching decision to turn around and go back down.
"It weighed on everyone's mind. We discussed it as a team, but our safety came first and we all agreed we were at the point it was starting to get dangerous."
The team, who were carrying 20kg packs, were hoping the two climbers had dug in and were well secured in their spot, Johns said.
"They were probably in a better position than we were when we turned around.
"We discussed digging a snow cave as well and staying up there, but we thought, 'What are we going to achieve?' We are going to be cold and wet and miserable and no good to anybody. We'd be better off coming back and regrouping and trying again."
There was a wind chill factor of -15 so it was "pretty cold".
Johns got back to the base at 6am. Teams were still assembling and the fourth team to go up made it to the climbers who were dug in just below the rim of the crater.
Normally it is possible to get right inside a snow cave and get out of the weather, he said.
"But they had just managed to dig a slot in the snow and get into it.
"Considering how hard it would have been up there - the ice gets really hard especially that high - it would have been a big effort for them to do what they did. So they did really well."
Johns spent Monday with the crew of an air force helicopter trying to get on the mountain, but it was too windy. The wind was still howling when the rescue team found the missing climbers about 7.30am Monday.
"That's why they made the decision to leave them behind and get out of there."
The search teams will be "going through a bit of victim support, especially the guys who found [the climbers]."
The police also provide support and there will be a formal debrief, he said.
"The guys don't like talking about it. But it was a big operation, especially with people getting so close and having to turn back. There are some people out there with mixed emotions - if they'd managed to get on a bit further . . .
"But at the end of the day all the teams made the right decision. No searchers got lost or injured."
The search involved more than 30 volunteers and Mr Johns estimated they would have spent 2000 hours during the rescue attempt.
"The incident management team ran all the time. We don't usually do that. Often we shut down overnight, but because teams were still going up at all hours, we had to man it the whole time.
"If there were no volunteers there would be no search and rescue in New Zealand."
Taranaki police Senior Sergeant Thomas McIntyre, who was part of the incident management team, said the volunteers had given up their Labour Weekend to help.
The 20 search and rescue people from the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation had driven over from National Park.
"Without [the volunteers] we don't have a search and rescue capability. We rely on them to get the job done."
LandSAR helped with administration and was following the tracks of the climbers who walked out around noon on Sunday.
"Arec [Amateur Radio Emergency Communications] came in and operated all our search and rescue radio. And the Taranaki rescue chopper provided invaluable support."
The air force and the police were also involved in the rescue, McIntyre said.
"It was a big operation. There was a lot of people to manage and mitigate the risk to them, as well as rescue the people who are in trouble."
Fairfax NZ
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A headteacher will be stepping down from his post in Keighley to take on a new role as head of the country's biggest Catholic school.
Lawrence Bentley, who lives in Horsforth, will have been head of Holy Family Catholic School for six years when he departs this August.
This September he is to become head of the new St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, in Bradford.
He said he has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Holy Family. He was already familiar with the school well before 2008, as he was a trainee teacher there in the mid 1980s.
"I've had an amazing time, and it will be a wrench to leave," he said. "It's tough, hard, stressful work sometimes, but very rewarding.
"The kids are fantastic and the staff, parents and governors have been supportive.
"I think it's important that a head teacher does not stay in post for too long – a school should get a fresh pair of eyes in the hot seat.
Commenting on his new post, he said: "It's quite an exciting prospect, but it's also a monster of a job in many ways."
Before arriving at Holy Family, Mr Bentley had taught in Dewsbury, Menston and Featherstone.


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'Daulton feeds more than just fans. He serves breakfast to the Sabres players when they practice at the Arena. On the menu: muffins, bagels, toast, fresh fruit, oatmeal (instant during the regular season, out of a chafing dish, during playoffs.) No coffee is served, by order of strength and conditioning coach Doug McKenney, who says caffeine acts as a diuretic. "We try to get as much fluid as we can and stay rehydrated with juices, water and Gatorade," says McKenney, who praises Daulton. "The teams love him and he fits food in just the way we want it," he says.'
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text:
Pannapetar wrote: First, there is no science of well-being or conscious states. People can disagree about what exactly constitutes well-being.
Nibbida wrote:Thomas, I think these people may disagree.
alan wrote:You are assuming an extremely flip tone.
Pannapetar wrote:Yes, there might be people who disagree. However, this book only shows that the topic has been written about, not that there actually exists a science of well-being. The authority on the topic, by the way, appears to be Ed Diener. Upon looking up this book on Amazon it turns out that this book by Eid and Larsen is actually about Diener's research. What does this tell us? It indicates that well-being research is a bit of a fringe science in psychology.
Nibbida wrote:You may disagree with the undertaking and even have legitimate concerns with it. So be it. All the better, in fact. But to dismiss it as fringe or treat it as if it didn't exist is inaccurate.
alan wrote:Do you define everyone who is good at presenting his point of view as a Sophist?
alan wrote:After that maybe you can clarify your understanding of the difference between Morality and Ethics.
Pannapetar wrote: But let me suggest an experiment. We both go to our local university's library, psychology department. There we try to assess the number of books on well-being and compare it to the number of books on a mainstream topic such as cognitive psychology and to the number of books on an esoteric subject such as transpersonal psychology. Where would you expect the numbers to come in? You could also quickly check the Wikipedia list of disciplines in psychology or the index of psychology topics. I don't even find "well-being" or "happiness" in there, but I do find transpersonal psychology. What does this suggest?
Ben wrote:Furthermore, the current peer-reviewed literature generally doesn't appear in monograph form for a number of years. It appears in journals, and increasingly, e-journals.
Pannapetar wrote:Nibbida wrote:You may disagree with the undertaking and even have legitimate concerns with it. So be it. All the better, in fact. But to dismiss it as fringe or treat it as if it didn't exist is inaccurate.
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text:
The word assault is a verb, not an adjective. What you libs call an assault weapon is also a defense weapon; used to defend our liberty and our lives.
To the ranter who questioned Notre Dame's "patsy" schedule: Alabama will face traditional powers Georgia State, Kentucky and Chattanooga next year. Talent trumps strength of schedule.
Having served two tours (in the military), I have seen grown men shake so hard under fire that they could not hit anything they were aiming at. How do you expect teachers who have only shot targets, but have not been shot at, to perform under fire. Be careful with what you are asking them to do.
If you ban guns, then only criminals will have guns. I would feel much safer, not!
Jan. 25 letters to the editor regarding guns: You must be listening to the Republican propaganda on Fox News! No one is going to take your guns! Second Amendment. But we do need to ban assault weapons and magazines. Those poor babies in Newtown were slaughtered! The killings have to stop!
Same-sex anything is wrong. Read your Bible!
The message of the cross is what this country so desperately needs.
Voting in government elections is a right and privilege of all American citizens, not to be abused by illegal immigrants. Proper identification must be required.
A Roanoke man was arrested for stabbing to death three goats; he was then allowed to post bond out of jail. Shouldn't bond be limited to people who are no danger to the community? … At least keep this … (person) in jail until his trial, and don't let him plead down, this person should never have access to weapons once he gets out of prison.
"Long live the Queen." Wait a minute. I believe our patriot forefathers had equal assault rifles to the ruling English, so it is, "Hail to the Chief." Whew.
It's a shame Michigan State coach (Tom) Izzo said IU player Victor Oladipo was the Ray Lewis of college basketball. Victor is a great kid with a huge heart. Ray Lewis is a murderer who should be in jail. Bad choice of words.
If … news media insist on using the term "assault" rifle, please use it with the correct description "fully automatic" or "machine gun!"
I called the IRS for an answer. Called three times — got three different answers. Go figure — they sure can't.
If you have a food bag from … (a fast-food restaurant), please do not throw it in the yard of someone on St. Joe Center Road! That is against the law and darn trashy and stupid of you.
Fort Wayne Community Schools has a dress code; however, cheerleaders' skirts (too short) violate the dress code policy when worn during school hours. Any other student would be told they were violating the dress code policy and asked to change. The finger tip policy should be in place for "all."
As part of a monthly dining group of professional Latinas for the past 11 years, on Jan. 24 it was … (at a local restaurant). Delicious food. After our dessert and a not-so-nice overall service from our waitress, we were asked to leave because we had been there for two hours. First time for everything!
Hey, Geico Insurance, stick to the lizard. The pig ads would get me to leave your company.
To contribute to The News-Sentinel's anonymous sound-off forum, email comments of 50 words or fewer to therant@ news-sentinel.com or send mail to: The Rant, The News-Sentinel, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.


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text:
Proof of Concept (POC) in Patients With Ischaemic Stroke
This study has been terminated.
(This study was terminated for futility.)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: February 14, 2013
Last updated: March 13, 2017
Last verified: March 2017
|Tracking Information
|First Received Date ICMJE
|February 14, 2013
|Last Updated Date
|March 13, 2017
|Start Date ICMJE
|May 2013
|Primary Completion Date
|July 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Current Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Change from baseline in gait velocity [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
|Original Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Same as current
|Change History
|Complete list of historical versions of study NCT01808261 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site
|Current Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Original Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Same as current
|Current Other Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Original Other Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Descriptive Information
|Brief Title ICMJE
|Proof of Concept (POC) in Patients With Ischaemic Stroke
|Official Title ICMJE
|Study MAG104615, a Proof of Concept Study for GSK249320 Versus Placebo in Stroke Patients
|Brief Summary
|Study MAG104615, a Proof of Concept Study for GSK249320 versus placebo in Stroke Patients.
|Detailed Description
|Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is one of the key proteins known to inhibit neuronal regeneration when released from oligodendrocytes in conditions of neuronal injury, such as stroke. GSK249320 is a humanised monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high specificity to MAG and antagonises or neutralises MAG-mediated inhibition and has been shown to improve functional recovery after stroke in pre-clinical models, possibly by promoting neuroregeneration and plasticity. The present study (MAG104615) is designed to establish Proof of Concept (PoC) for GSK249320 in ischemic stroke patients. MAG104615 will be a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, repeat dose, Bayesian design study. PoC will be achieved by demonstrating a clinically meaningful improvement in lower limb motor recovery, specifically by evaluating changes in gait velocity from baseline to Day 90/Month 3. Subjects will also be followed out to Day 180/Month 6 to further evaluate longer term motor recovery and safety. Additional secondary efficacy measures of motor recovery will be evaluated to further demonstrate and characterize the extent and duration of overall motor recovery after treatment with GSK249320. Changes in disability and neurological impairment will be characterized after treatment with GSK249320 and explored for how they relate to motor recovery. This PoC study will also further characterize the safety, PK, and immunogenicity of GSK249320 will explore pharmacodynamic (PD) markers, and will explore use of actigraphy to measure motor recovery. Subjects will be stratified by gait velocity at baseline for randomization (1:1 allocation) into one of two treatment groups: 15mg/kg GSK249320, or placebo. Each subject will receive 2 repeat IV doses of GSK249320 or placebo.
|Study Type ICMJE
|Study Phase
|Phase 2
|Study Design ICMJE
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Condition ICMJE
|Cerebrovascular Accident
|Intervention ICMJE
|Study Arms
|Publications *
|Not Provided
* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
|Recruitment Information
|Recruitment Status ICMJE
|Enrollment ICMJE
|Completion Date
|July 2014
|Primary Completion Date
|July 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Eligibility Criteria ICMJE
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
|18 Years to 90 Years (Adult, Senior)
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers
|Contacts ICMJE
|Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
|Listed Location Countries ICMJE
|Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, United States
|Removed Location Countries
|Administrative Information
|NCT Number ICMJE
|Other Study ID Numbers ICMJE
|Has Data Monitoring Committee
|U.S. FDA-regulated Product
|Not Provided
|IPD Sharing Statement
|Not Provided
|Responsible Party
|Study Sponsor ICMJE
|Collaborators ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Investigators ICMJE
|PRS Account
|Verification Date
|March 2017
ICMJE Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP


text:
The Navy said Tuesday it will cancel all Blue Angels performances for the rest of 2013, saving $15 million to $20 million as the Pentagon looks for ways to tighten its belt.
The move, expected for weeks, means the flashy blue-and-gold F/A-18 jets won't appear as scheduled at the Miramar Air Show in October, but show officials said the three-day event is still on the calendar.
The Blue Angels will stay at their home base in Pensacola, Fla., and fly only enough to maintain pilot safety qualifications.
The Air Force's Thunderbirds also canceled all performances for the rest of the year.
Military officials had warned that this step was coming if sweeping federal budget cuts were triggered March 1. The Pentagon's $530 billion 2013 budget was cut $43 billion by reductions known as sequestration.
"Recognizing budget realities, current Defense policy states that outreach events can only be supported with local assets at no cost to the government," the Navy said in a statement Tuesday.
"This is one of many steps the Navy is taking to ensure resources are in place to support forces operating forward now and those training to relieve them."
Some fans mourned the loss. The swooping, screaming jets that showcase American technology and military prowess are a staple of the long San Diego summer.
"I know they need to cut the budget, but not here," said Pat Bassett, who wrote in to U-T San Diego. "So many people like this display. Plus, it is a great recruiting tool -- even if it is a little boy or girl who will later become a Navy pilot or even a Blue Angel."
The savings on travel, fuel and aircraft maintenance will cut the Navy performance team's usual $35 million budget roughly in half, said Lt. Aaron Kakiel, a spokesman at Naval Air Forces command in Coronado.
Air shows typically pick up some of the Navy's cost, but not all.
The Blue Angels were scheduled to perform at 35 events this year. Of those, two already took place, which makes the Key West, Fla., air show on March 24 the team's last appearance of 2013. Ten of those air shows were canceled by organizers in anticipation of the loss of the Blues, which probably means a hit for the air show industry.
The Miramar Air Show usually attracts 500,000 visitors over three days. The free event at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station is known as the nation's largest air show. The Blue Angels often perform, but not always.
Spokesman Maj. Carl Redding said Tuesday the show will go on.
"The Blue Angels performance schedule doesn't drive the Miramar Air Show. As of now, we are still planning the 2013 air show," he said in an email.
The focus of the Oct. 4 to 6 event will be a demonstration of the Marine Corps' air-ground task force maneuvers, which usually include Marine Harrier jump jets and MV-22 Osprey helicopters.
Also continuing is San Diego Fleet Week, the nearly month-long celebration of the military that usually culminates in the air show.
Alexandra Squires, executive director of the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, said San Diego spectacle is a different creature than many other fleet weeks around the nation. It is orchestrated by a nonprofit foundation funded by corporate and individual sponsors, not the Defense Department.
"Our plans for 2013 are more limited in scope due to the financial constraints we have as a nonprofit in a year of fiscal uncertainty," Squires said in a written statement.
"But America's Finest City consistently supports our young men and women in uniform and 2013 will be no different."
Next year may bring a different fate for the Blue Angels. The elite team is still inducting new members.
The Navy stressed the value of the Blue Angels for recruiting – though all military services enjoyed high retention during the recent recession.
The Navy intends to continue aerial demonstrations in the future as the budget situation permits, officials said Tuesday.


text:
Submit News
Blog: Internet
Lies, Damn Lies and Identity Theft
Kristopher Kubicki
April 4, 2008 1:07 PM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
To those of you who haven't had your identity stolen, just wait your turn!
I'd like to think that someone hacking my identity is another marker of the apocalypse, though the unfortunate reality of identity theft is instead just a game of statistics.
I obtained my first VISA at the ripe age of 17 (almost eight years ago for those playing at home) and found no reason to change the number even after several renewals. Much to my surprise a company called Betamax VOIP charged me 82.25 a few days ago for starting new service in France.
Betamax, I would soon discover, is one of those low-brow operations that sort of exists, but sort of doesn't. It clearly has some kind of voice-over-IP service, but you wouldn't know it from
the postage stamp of a website
-- which supposedly supports hundreds of thousands of customers.
Betamax refused to give me more information about who opened the account, and I'm sure whoever obtained my credit card information to place a call was already long gone anyway. However, since I didn't know my "security code" at Betamax, the company would not terminate the account. VISA, on the other hand, took all of five seconds to reverse the charge and euthanize my elderly credit card.
Betamax it would seem has a few problems with fraud,
as documented in early January on several voice-over-IP forums
A letter today also notified me that someone attempted to open a Capital One credit card in my name on the same day as the Beatamax charge. Capital One promptly and professionally complied with my request to send the fraudster's information to the FBI, and the card was terminated. But what to do now that at least a considerable portion of my identity has been compromised?
I'll go out on a limb and call myself tech-savvy, especially when it comes to privacy. My invoices are all kept on encrypted thumb drives, I don't use personal information on public terminals or public WiFi, and I've never purchased anything online from a vendor that didn't have immaculate credentials. If I can get nailed with identity fraud, who can't?
Don't be alarmed, it's all statistics, as I said. According to Mint.com and my own paperwork, I used that particular card at 98 different ATM locations and 1143 separate vendors. Chase had actually called me last week to let me know my card was being used suspiciously, though I was able to confirm all the charges.
Potentially, thousands of people have come in contact with the personal information on just that credit card. That's not frightening, but consider the fact that Oregon and Washington police peg identity theft as the current number one drug-related crime. Identity theft makes the criminal world go 'round.
Identity theft doesn't come at you like an atom bomb, as foretold by the admitdly hilarious FreeCreditReport.com commercial. Stop and think about all the people that have detailed records of your residence, date of birth, frequent habits: our grocery store, cell phone company, Mint.com. Dare I put Google in such a category?
There's a lot of data out there about you in the world. Although you should keep your guard up as much as possible, somewhere along the line someone will get your personal information. We as a society are way past trying to prevent identity theft and much closer to realisitically coping with it when it occurs.
My entrance into the the new caste of identity-less untouchables has been a mildly uneventful one so far. Chase, VISA and Capital One have been extremely helpful -- and I'm not even a Capital One customer.
For those joining me in the financial version of
The Scarlet Letter
, the best advice I can give you is to be calm. The credit companies are more than happy to work with you to fix as much as they can even if it takes days. Please see the FTC's
excellent identity theft help site if you feel you've been a victim of identity fraud
"I'm an Internet expert too. It's all right to wire the industrial zone only, but there are many problems if other regions of the North are wired." -- North Korean Supreme Commander Kim Jong-il
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text:
The Renaissance's smoothest assassin comes to life in 1/6th scale...
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If you haven't played Assasin's Creed II, you're missing out. Seriously. One of the most intense, exciting, and interesting video games in years, fans of great storytelling, intense combat, and amazing character development won't want to miss the thrill of the hunt as they play as the Renaissance's smoothest assassin, Ezio, in the game that's already garnered a sequel, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
Now, thanks to Hot Toys and their line of Video Game Masterpiece 1/6th figures, fans of Assassin's Creed II can pick up Ezio in alll his beautifully crafted and highly detailed 1/6th scale glory.
As with previously released Video Game Masterpiece and Movie Masterpiece Series figures, Ezio comes in an attractive gatefold cover window box with the game's title, an image of the character and attractive artwork on the front, back and sides and a character description on the inside.
The figure and all of its many accessories are visible through the window and protected thanks to the vaccu-formed plastic tray in which the figure and the accessories lie. Overall, the packaging is on-par with previously released MMS and VGM figures and should impress collectors and attract new fans.
To put it simply, Ezio is one of the most finely crafted 1/6th scale figures from Hot Toys ever. From the beautifully sculpted head and the finely detailed boots to the gauntlets and leather cape, Ezio features some of the most intricate detailing possible.
The outfit features all of the individual parts which make up Ezio's unique look, including the brown pants, cream white shirt, gray jacket, brown belt with sheaths for blades, red scarf, brown boots, and brown gauntlets.
Based on the look of the character from the beginning of his saga, this younger Ezio features all of the minute details seen in the fan-favorite game, including the baby smooth face, parted hair, pony tail, and scar on his lip (above). Overall, this is one of the most accurate and impressive 1/6th scale figures based on a video game figure ever.
As one can see from the image above, the figure's paint applications are perfect. The hair, eyes, and lips are all carefully detailed as are the molded portions of the outfit, including the belt buckle, knife sheaths, gauntlets, and boots. Each of these individual parts looks realistic thanks to the paint applications, which give the boots, bet and gauntlets a leather-like look and the belt buckle and gauntlet detail a metallic silver look.
Ezio, as an assassin without peer, comes armed and ready to work. Weapons include a long sword, a short broad sword, six throwing daggers, and his trademark hidden blades (above/below).
While each has its use and players have the option of using any and all of these, the fact Ezio includes all of these is testament to Hot Toys' commitment to delivering collectors the best and most complete figure possible.
Other accessories include Ezio's necklace as well as a Hot Toys' display stand with Assassin's Creed II name plate.
Based on the Hot Toys' TrueType body, the figure features over 35 points of articulation with allows for a wide variety of posing (above/below). Likewise, the figure features a unique body which includes a sculpted neckline, allowing the figure's open collar to show a muscled neck (and not the ugly ball-joint seen on other TrueType bodies).
While the body doesn't allow for the most complex of action poses seen in the game, the figure's articulation does allows for some very impressive stances, providing fans with plenty of display options.
Priced at $150, fans of Assassin's Creed II won't want to miss Hot Toys' Ezio figure. With one of the finest and most detailed 1/6th scale outfits ever, plenty of articulation, and impressive accessories which compliment the figure perfectly, Hot Toys' Video Game Masterpiece Assassin's Creed II: Ezio makes for a great figure for any gamer.
With the new Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood following the continued story of Ezio and his fellow killers, there's no telling just how popular this figure will become. Get your Hot Toys' Video Game Masterpiece Assassin's Creed II: Ezio figure now wherever fine action figures and collectibles are sold and be sure to check out additional photos of this amazing figure below.
- review by Jess Horsley
- photos by Luka Figure Photo


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Duffy throws three innings in first rehab start
KANSAS CITY -- Royals left-hander Danny Duffy made it through his first Minor League rehabilitation start successfully.
Duffy, coming back from Tommy John surgery, pitched three scoreless innings on Sunday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas at San Antonio. He gave up two hits and two walks along with four strikeouts, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a balk while throwing 63 pitches (37 strikes).
It's expected he could be ready for Major League competition by midseason.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Historical Perspectives
Toulouse shootings: the making of a French jihadi killer with a double life (TELEGRAPH UK) By Harriet Alexander, and Fiona Govan, in Toulouse 03/25/12)
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9165091/Toulouse-shootings-the-making-of-a-French-jihadi-killer-with-a-double-life.html
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Raised in a tough Toulouse suburb, Mohamed Merah´s life was a bitter progression from juvenile delinquent to violent jihadist
His criminal career began with a volley of rocks a handful of stones hurled at a passing bus by a bored delinquent.
It ended in a hail of 300 bullets, fired by France´s most elite police after a 32-hour siege worthy of a Hollywood action movie.
In the space of a few years, Mohamed Merah rose from petty criminal to lethal jihadist a man who fired at point blank range into the heads of school children, murdering seven people in a nine-day rampage.
The 23-year-old´s violent life story finally came to an end on Thursday morning, when police in Toulouse shot him in the head after an intense six-minute gunfight.
How did a small-time thief become a terrifying "lone wolf" terrorist, suspected of travelling throughout the Middle East to receive jihadist training? Why did he kill in cold blood three soldiers, a Jewish teacher and three young schoolchildren? Who was the real Mohamed Merah?
His childhood friends in the tough northern Toulouse suburb of Izards all want answers.
"I just cannot believe he did all that," said 22-year-old Nico a gangly, tracksuited youth with the hood of his sweatshirt pulled tightly around his pale face. "He was one of us; he wasn´t some religious fanatic. He never even went to the mosque." Aimen, a youth worker in his thirties whose sister is married to Merah´s oldest brother, added: "Everyone is in shock. It doesn´t seem real yet."
Aimen was initially a suspect himself in the murders, and exactly 24 hours before the raid on Merah´s flat, 40 armed police shot down Aimen´s door in a dawn raid and arrested him. Owning the same kind of motorbike as the assassin, he initially fitted the profile. "I have the bullet holes in my living room walls to show for it," he said grimly. "It was a huge shock to me. But then this whole story is shocking. People here thought he was just one of them"
And indeed, his childhood was one shared by millions of young men across France. Born in Toulouse to a family of Algerian origin, Mohamed grew up in Izards with his two sisters - Aicha, who is not religious, and the more devout Souad - plus two brothers, Abdelkader, 29, and his eldest sibling, Abdelghani.
Yesterday, Merah´s mother, Zoulikha, 54, said she was "wracked with guilt" at having been unable to prevent his killing spree. "She is asking herself whether she could have stopped him," said her lawyer, Jean-Yves Gougnaud, speaking after she was released from police custody late on Friday.
But a rather different note was struck by Merah´s brother Abdelkader, who was with him when he stole the scooter used in the drive-by shootings, and who is now being questioned in Paris. He said he was unaware Mohamed was planning the attacks, "but was very proud of him". Yesterday, French media also reported that Abdelkader´s mobile phone had been found near the scene of Jewish school where his brother killed three children and a teacher, and that the two men had dined together the night before. His brother´s message of defiance came as it was further revealed that the family had connections to an imprisoned al-Qaeda suspect. Merah´s mother had married the father of Sabri Essid, 22, who was arrested in Syria in 2006 at an al-Qaeda safe house for militants en route to Iraq. Merah visited Essid in a French prison, and sent him money. He had also, in January, visited a radical Syrian-born preacher known as "The White Emir", who drew young fundamentalists to his home 30 miles outside Toulouse.
The seeds of Merah´s own radicalism, though, seem to have sown amid the social housing tower blocks of Izards, where children loiter on street corners and weave through the warren of passageways on bicycles. His parents divorced when he was around five years old, and his father Mohammed began spending most of his time in Algeria, leaving the young Merah straying into trouble.
"He was not a good student," said his lawyer, Christian Etelin. "He was expelled often and moved from one school to another. He dropped out at a young age."
Merah found work at a car mechanic´s workshop in the town, labouring there for two years. He loved cars, and his friends showed The Sunday Telegraph the scruffy gravel yard behind the football pitch where they would race around in borrowed cars and on motorbikes. At 17 he was arrested for the first time, for being part of a group of youths who stoned a bus. He graduated to vandalism and theft, being detained 18 times and becoming very familiar to the troop of stony-faced police who marched around the estate.
"The same kids get detained time after time," said one woman in her 50s, sitting outside a café in Izards. As she spoke, a group of youths burst around the corner of the tower block, pursued by navy- clad police in bulky stab vests, carrying pistols and stun guns. As one youth was spreadeagled against a wall and searched, his friends jeered at the police.
"It´s like this every day," the woman said. "All they do is chase you, search you, and insult you," added Nico, Merah´s childhood friend. "They hate us and we hate them."
In December 2007, Merah was imprisoned for 18 months for the violent theft of an elderly lady´s handbag. It was here, according to Francois Molins, chief prosecutor of Paris, that he fell under the spell of radical Islam. Some 80 per cent of French prison inmates are believed to be Muslim.
"The prison was just full of kids like him young troubled men from the suburbs," said Mr Etelin, the lawyer, who had represented him since 2005. "The judge threw the book at him, with no opportunity for early release. That´s when he became convinced of the injustice of the system. He began to hate society."
On Christmas Day 2008 he tried to commit suicide, and was held in a psychiatric unit for 10 days. Alain Penin, a psychiatrist who analysed him in mid January 2009, said he had "normal" intellect but "a disposition towards antisocial behaviour".
French investigators believe that Merah turned to Salafism which urges adherents to recreate the piety of Islam´s original followers in prison.
"Salafism is very black and white in that you are told: ´Do this, and you will go to paradise.´ For someone who is messed up and looking for order it is a very attractive philosophy," said Dr Peter Neumann, director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation.
He said that Richard Reid, the British shoe bomber, converted to salafism in Bolton Young Offenders´ institute, but that the French unlike their British counterparts had not made countering radicalisation in prisons enough of a priority.
A family friend, who gathered with other neighbours at Merah´s sister Souad´s small council flat in central Toulouse last week, told The Sunday Telegraph that Merah "rediscovered" Islam in prison, having largely ignored his family faith as a young man.
"I tried to talk to him about his beliefs," said the friend, a bearded man in Islamic dress. "But he just said ´It´s between me and my God, and I don´t have to explain myself to anyone.´"
Upon his release from prison, Merah knocked on the door of the Toulouse recruiting centre of the Foreign Legion, long known for being willing to take recruits with a chequered past. However, after spending just one night there, he left without any explanation. "That, even more than prison, made him feel that he would definitely never have a place in French society. That´s when something happened to him," said the lawyer, Mr Etelin.
Nonetheless, his friends in Izards had no idea he harboured secret jihadist plans. "He never mentioned anything to do with Afghanistan," said Nico. "Sometimes he´d go abroad, but he said he was visiting family in Algeria. When he came out of prison he went through a phase of dressing in a funny way, wearing bandanas, and he even had his hair styled into a pink quiff. He was all about fashion, not radicalism."
Others in the district, however, did see the darker side of his double life.
"Two years ago he grabbed a kid off the street in Izards, and made him watch bloody videos of beheadings in Afghanistan," a woman named Malika told a local newspaper. "The mother found out and complained, but the police did nothing. Merah then went for revenge and turned up at the family´s house in full military clothes, waving a sword and chanting ´Al Qaeda! Al Qaeda!´"
The police, she claimed, ignored it. "They aren´t bothered about Arabs arguing with other Arabs."
By the end of 2010 he was once again on the radar but this time, in Afghanistan.
"He entered via the Iranian border, almost certainly passing through Turkey," said one security officer. "According to our preliminary investigations, he was alone."
American forces stopped him at a road block in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar and returned him to France, putting him on their No Fly list and banning his travel to the USA. A year later, though, he travelled to Pakistan, spending two months in the tribal heartland of Waziristan a hotbed of al-Qaeda and Taliban. Here he is thought to have received training, although probably not in an organised camp.
"It is just impossible to fly there, turn up at someone´s door and say ´Hello! I´ve come to join a training camp!´" said Jean-Charles Brisard, an al-Qaeda expert, who believes that Merah simply craved al- Qaeda´s notoriety. "He had a camera strapped to his chest, during the murders, and wanted to be famous. Al-Qaeda associations would give him that."
In November 2011, Merah was questioned by police over his Pakistan trip, but convinced them of his innocence with a slideshow of his "holiday snaps".
During the siege negotiations, he reportedly told police that he was acting in revenge for the death of children in Palestine, out of hatred for the French army´s international missions, and to punish France for banning the Islamic veil.
Whatever his motivation, however, questions are now being asked over how he was overlooked by the French security services. Certainly the size of the arsenal he stockpiled at least eight guns, including a Kalashnikov assault rifle and an Uzi machine pistol raises questions about how someone known to the authorities could purchase such weapons.
Yesterday police video footage also emerged of his bullet-riddled flat, showing how he had turned it into a virtual fortress, complete with barricades which he hid behind as he exchanged fire with police marksmen.
And amid the feverish speculation and the increasingly tense presidential campaign there is less than a month to go until the first round the government of President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended its surveillance systems and praised the forces for resolving the situation.
Claude Gueant, the interior minister, who was a frequent fixture at the scene of the siege, said there had been no grounds to arrest Merah before the attacks.
"The DCRI (police investigators) follows lots of people involved in radical Islam. Expressing ideas, espousing salafist beliefs, is not a sufficient reason to arrest someone," he said.
Mr Sarkozy took to the stage on Thursday night in Strasbourg, hours after the death of Merah, to promise new anti-terrorism laws. Thumping his fist on the dais, and against a backdrop that read "For a strong France", he milked the opportunity to appear as a firm, capable leader.
Marine Le Pen, the far-Right Front National challenger, tried to do the same, claiming that the French political elite had ignored her own warnings of about "radicalisation".
Back in Izards, though, tensions are also rising, with some visiting journalists attacked last week and the police attracting even more hostility than normal.
"There is trouble on the horizon," said one resident. "It´s been simmering for a while, but this is a powder keg situation that is going to explode." (© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2012. 03/25/12)
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1.95 CT. T.W. Round Diamond Stud Earrings in 14k White or Yellow Gold (I, I1)
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Nestled in a traditional 4-prong setting on a bright 14k white gold mounting are two round brilliant cut diamonds totaling 1.95 ct. t.w. Durable screw-back closures hold these stud earrings securely in place.
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As Mexican filmmaker Paula Markovitch can attest, childhood experiences can linger on for years and insinuate themselves into your soul.
In her debut feature film, The Prize, which screened at the recent Toronto Jewish Film Festival, Markovitch drew on her past for inspiration.
"It is a film about memory," she said. "Not about the facts that happened, but as I remember them."
The Prize is set in Argentina – where she was born – in the 1970s. The military, having staged a coup d'etat, launched a violent campaign to rid the country of left-wing dissidents.
During the Dirty War epoch (1976-83), Argentina was under siege as people disappeared, never to be seen again. There was fear in the air as the rule of law fell by the wayside.
Amid this uncertainty, Lucie Adelstein, a dissenter, and her seven-year-old daughter, Cecelia, flee Buenos Aires for a life of self-imposed exile in a remote corner of Argentina.
They live in a simple cabin on the sand dunes of a desolate stretch of beach facing a raw sea. "We're here because they want to find us," says Lucie.
Lucie, played by Laura Agorreca, keeps a low profile, rarely venturing from the safety of the beach. She is so fearful of being arrested that she instructs Cecelia (Paula Galinelli Hertzog) to lie, to tell schoolmates that her mother is a housekeeper and that her father is a curtain salesman.
Lucie's efforts to conceal their identity seem threatened when Cecelia wins the first prize in an essay contest sponsored by the Argentine army. In her essay, Cecelia writes that soldiers killed her older cousin, a tipoff that may imperil their lives.
The Prize is based on real incidents, said Markovitch, 44, who settled in Mexico when she was 22.
"We lived on the beach," she said. "But not only my mother and me. My father lived with us. The absence of my father in the film makes it more appealing."
Markovitch's parents were artists and socialists who moved in intellectual circles and opposed the junta.
During this grim era, when human rights were regularly flouted by the regime, virtually anyone with ideals and convictions could be kidnapped, tortured and murdered, she observed.
"We all lived in fear," said Markovitch, "Not only political activists. Everyone. No one was exempt. The entire society was affected."
Markovitch, whose grandparents were Polish Jews from Warsaw who arrived in Argentina after World War I, emigrated after the restoration of democracy. "I left for personal reasons, without my family, after the dictatorship ended."
Starting in the mid-1990s, she began writing scripts for Mexican films and television shows. "I have been a writer since I was a child. My fascination with film comes from literature."
Markovitch made two short films before making The Prize.
Much to her satisfaction, it has been accepted at a succession of movie festivals, including the Jerusalem Film Festival, and has been positively received by critics and audiences alike.
But The Prize is not the first film about the subject of the Dirty War.
"There have been many films about that period," she said, noting that when a crime is committed and pain is inflicted, filmmakers gravitate toward that topic.