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A native of the Rocky Mountain area, Dave has been in Jackson Hole and a licensed real estate professional for more than 35 years. He was a former owner/partner in Jackson Hole Realty and one of the original developers of Teton Pines. With a keen understanding of the Jackson Hole lifestyle including an intimate knowledge of every slope, street, and stream in the area, Dave works directly with his son Brandon, and together they form a top-ranking team specializing in home ownership and investment property for discriminating buyers and sellers. Immersed in the community, Dave has served as a board member for the Curran Seeley Foundation, Jackson Hole Land Trust, Grand Teton Music Festival, and Teton Community Mental Health. His prior experience includes commercial and mortgage banking.
The Spackman Team's 2007 sales volume ranked them 37th in the nation and their 2008 sales volume ranked them 69th in the nation as reported by The Wall Street Journal and Real Trends Magazine. They are the only real estate team in Jackson Hole to be ranked two consecutive years. The Spackman Team was also recognized as one of the 25 top performing teams worldwide for Sotheby's International Realty, based on total sales volume in 2008. For 2010 sales and listings sold, the Spackman Team was named #1 in Total Sales Volume and #1 in Total Sales Transactions for Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty. The Spackmans are consistently one of the top ranking real estate teams locally, nationally and internationally.
Wyoming Real Estate Licensee.


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" Genre: Fiction / Author: C.J. Box / Edition: UK First Edition; 1st Printing / Hardcover / 356 Pages / Book is published 2009-12-01 by Corvus "
* Prices may differ from that shown
I'd never read anything by C J Box before, but this book came up on my recommendations on Amazon and I thought "Why not?". Boy I was not disappointed.
The two main characters have been unable to have their own child so they have adopted a young girl from a local teenager. Just days before the adoption is finalised the child's biological father raises an objection to the adoption and the adoptive parents are put in the impossible position of having to say goodbye to their longed for and much loved daughter. They are given (as the title suggests!) three weeks to say goodbye.
During those three weeks, it becomes apparent that the father doesn't actually want his daughter, but is being coerced by his father, a local judge. This book follows the twists and turns taken by the adoptive father as he fights to keep 'his' daughter and find out the truth behind the last minute change of heart.
I read a lot of books similar to this, and I pride myself on being able to guess the twist, or at least have a good idea where the book is likely to end. I was genuinely surprised by the ending. The writing style really draws you in and you will find yourself really empathising with the adoptive parents. At times you'll even find yourself having a little sympathy for the biological father.
Since reading this book, I have moved onto other titles by this author. I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
This is one of the first books i downloaded on my Kindle app. From the free sample i was hooked and defy anyone else not to be. Set in Denver America a young-ish couple adopt a child but things go wrong and they get mixed up in all sorts of events and undesirable people! i wont say any more as the book has some hidden twist which you wouldnt expect, although at somepoints i couldnt connect with the book as it did seem abit far fetched but i dont work and live out in Denver, America!!! Be ready for some oohs, ahhs and maybe a few tears in this great fiction by c.j. box, i think this should be made into a film or certainly a episode of a crime show or something as is a really good story and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish! fab that it is available on KIndle too!
My local library has a fairly limited adult fiction section but just about anything can be ordered in from the central library, the only problem being you have to be inspired as to what you want to read first. I reserved this book having read the other dooyoo review of it and thought it sounded worth a read.
I obviously didn't pay enough attention to the review as on reading the blurb on the back of the book I was immediately disappointed in my choice. It starts off as I expected ...
"After years of trying for a child, Jack and Melissa McGuane have finally adopted a baby girl, but nine months later a call from the adoption agency plunges them into a nightmare that will force them to take the law into their own hands as they fight to keep their family together. The child's biological father - an 18-year-old boy - never signed away his parental rights, and now he wants their daughter back. " ... this much I remembered from the review and based on this thought I would be getting an emotional family, possibly coutroom drama.
The blurb continues ...
"It is immediately obvious that the boy has no real interest in the child, his own father is forcing his hand. But why? The law can't protect Jack and Melissa. The boy's father is a well connected federal judge: their attorney won't touch the case, Jack's job is suddenly and inexplicably under threat. On the other side of the law, the boy is connected with Sureno13 - a powerful and dangerous street gang. Together, father and son wage a harrowing campaign aimed at destroying Jack and Melissa's hapless family. The only person on their side is a disgraced, 'dirty' cop...The question is, how far is Jack prepared to go to protect his family? " ... this 'thriller' aspect to the story came as a bit of a surprise, and not a welcome one. I like a good thriller, but unfortunately find that many thrillers do not earn the title good (or thrilling) and are just disappointing.
Its difficult to say much about the story in the book as it is all set out above, bad men want the baby and the adoptive parents have to break the law to try and keep her. Knowing all this in advance of reading the opening sentence means there is a distinct lack of suspense in the book. I suppose there is the question of exactly what bad things the bad men do, and how far the law gets broken but even this is laid out from early on in the book. I like to immerse myself in a story rather than try to predict what happens but despite this I did get the feeling a few times during this book that I knew what was coming and I got to the end feeling that most of it was completely as predicted and I'd just plodded through the story for the second half. I was surprised on re-reading the cover to see numerous recommendations with references to suspense and twists as honestly on reading it I had some debate with myself but decided that it was so obvious it couldn't have been meant to have twists in.
The plotline of the book was very straightforward, it is written from the point of view of Jack McGuane the adoptive father of the baby, and the other main characters his wife Melissa, their friends Cody and Brian and the birth father Garrett and his father Judge Moreland. All the characters seem quite one-dimensional and I didn't empathise with any of them. As a mother to a 20 month old I expected the central story to resonate strongly but it didn't, in fact it didn't seem like the central story but quite an incidental one and the anguish the adoptive parents should have felt at being told they had to give up their daughter was not very well-developed. I found the whole story very far-fetched, it seemed like a completely ridiculous, manufactured situation rather than what it should have been which was ordinary people flung into an extraordinary situation.
On the plus side the simple story and writing make it easy to read and I got through the whole book quite quickly without feeling bored, I just didn't feel much of anything.
Here's hoping the next book I read will have more impact!
I seem to be reading books so quickly at this moment in time. I have always enjoyed reading but I seem to be getting through 2 books a week at the moment. Every time I sit on the Eurostar to go to and from Brussels I seem to get half way through another book (and that's a journey without any delays). The fact that I am reading so many books means that I am finally getting round to reading the masses that I have bought and been placed onto the bookshelf and then forgotten about. This has been the case with Three Weeks To Say Goodbye by CJ Box. I bought the book in Tesco in January when the blurb sucked me in but hadn't got around to reading it. I decided to pack it into my travel bag and it was the next in line to be read.
*About CJ Box*
C.J. Box is an Edgar award winning author and has written eleven novels. He has also won the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre38, the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, and the Barry Award. He comes from Wyoming and lives with his wife.
*A Brief Summary of the Plot*
Jack and Melissa McGuane have tried for years to conceive with no success. After years of trying to have a baby, they turned to adoption to make their dreams of becoming a parent reality. Angelina, their daughter is perfect but nine months after bringing her into their family they are delivered some devastating news from the adoption agency. Angelina's birth father (and son of an influential Denver judge) didn't sign away his parental rights... and he wants her back! They are given three weeks to say goodbye to their gorgeous daughter after the face-to-face meeting to try and persuade Garrett and his father not to take away their pride and joy fails. Jack and Melissa will do anything to keep their child but what will happen?
*Key Characters and My Thoughts of Them*
Jack McGuane: Jack is a hard-working, normal guy. He certainly isn't the most intelligent man in his office but he makes up for this by being extremely conscientious and reliable. I really did click with the character of Jack although I was slightly confused by some of his actions throughout. He was definitely a believable and likeable character.
Melissa McGuane: Melissa is the adoptive mother of Angelina and the wife of Jack. I find that she is perhaps the most realistic character in the book. She clearly loves Angelina with every part of her being and throughout the novel you see her desperation to protect her. She has her flaws and these are made evident by Box but this only adds to my sympathy towards her situation.
Cody: Cody is one of Jack's oldest friends and a cop who likes to play by his own rules. He generally has justice at the heart of his decisions but is a character that drinks way too much. I didn't particularly like the character of Cody but have a read yourself and see if you view him in a positive light.
Brian: Brian is also one of Jack's boyhood friends although has a completely different personality to Cody. He is a property developer and also openly gay. I really liked the character of Brian, he was very popular in the community and was possibly my favourite due to his positive outlook on life.
John Moreland: He is a very powerful Denver judge who is well connected in Denver as well as being extremely wealthy. He is also the father of Garrett Moreland, the teenage boy who had not given up his parental rights to Angelina. From the moment we met John, I found that I instantly didn't like him. Something didn't sit right with me about his motives for wanting the baby back. I'll leave it there as I don't want to give anything about his character away.
Garrett Moreland: Garrett is a nasty and disturbed 18 year old. We meet him quite early on and I instantly hated his character. Would he change my mind with his behaviour as the book continued?
*My Opinion*
Gripping, heart-wrenching and exciting. These are three words that can summarise this book. From the moment that I picked this book up, I became extremely difficult to speak to as anything anyone said to me, went in one ear and out the other. I really was hooked from the first page. There was no 100 pages of setting up the family home and boredom like with some books, you are thrown straight into the story which I particularly liked. I wasn't given unnecessary and boring details, merely the essentials for you to get a feel for the characters and their plight.
I found the characterisation in this book excellent and perhaps the reason that I found it so emotional. You are attached to Jack and Melissa, a normal couple who clearly love each other but have reached breaking point when they realise that together, they are infertile. When reading this book I felt real empathy for them. I thought that the way that Box depicted them was extremely realistic, and showed that they had flaws like people in reality. It is narrated by John, Angelina's father although I don't find that he necessarily dominates the story more than Melissa. There seems to be a good balance.
The way that the book was laid out was enjoyable. It was split into days left until Jack and Melissa had to say goodbye to Angelina and then into chapters. I found that this made it easier to read whilst also increase the suspense of the reader. With this style of writing and layout, I found that the pages of this book turned themselves. It was that well written that I found I couldn't put it down unless I had read at least 4 or 5 chapters at a time.
I think part of the reason that I enjoyed this book so much is the plot. It wasn't merely a thriller with a murder and the detectives trying to catch the killer. There was a real, emotive storyline behind the chase. Perhaps there are a lot of novels out there like this but unfortunately I haven't come across one quite as good as this before.
I can honestly say that this book kept me on the edge of my seat from about half way in as I really did not know what the end of the story would be, unlike some where you can easily predict it.
*Would I Recommend This Book?*
I most certainly would recommend Three Weeks To Say Goodbye by CJ Box. It was a thrilling read full of emotion and drama as well as twists and turns which keep you guessing until the very last page. At no point did I guess the outcome of the story which made the book a very exciting and enjoyable read. It is the perfect book for you to take on holiday and read by the side of the pool or beach because it isn't difficult to get into and won't require too much concentration but try and put it down. I dare you!
*Other Recommendations*
My recommendations if you are looking for a similar back to this are:
- Blue Heaven by CJ Box
- The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver
- No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
Three Weeks To Say Goodbye was the first book of CJ Box that I have read but it certainly will not be the last. I enjoyed reading it so much that I have now bought the first three books that he released from amazon to enjoy. It was fast-paced and full of drama with a few great characters added to the mix. A thrilling and easy read full of suspense, action and some violence thrown into the mix too.
You can buy the hardback version of this book from www.amazon.co.uk for £6.50. A fairly reasonable price although you may want to consider borrowing it from your library.
Paperback: 356 pages
Publisher: Corvus (1st December 2009)
Language: English

subset: commoncrawl


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Yesterday, senator and professional camera-hog John McCain (R-Sunday) gave a very angry press conference demanding a congressional committee to investigate conservatives' various, ill-defined Benghazi conspiracy theories.
Ah, but then some nasty persons found out that McCain was actually skipping out on a classified briefing about Benghazi being given to the Senate Homeland Security committee (which, yes, he is on) in order to, yes, have his press conference about how we needed to be having more meetings about Benghazi.
Barack Hussein Obama, first AFRO AMERICAN Pres., brings the right wing to it's knees in a sniffling hissy fit, and for 4 years they tried to say he didn't belong he was not an American and booyah! he is and he won!


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Guaranteed original vintage
Guaranteed satisfaction. If you do not like them when you see them,
return within 20 days for a full refund of purchase price.
We do not pay shipping.
For our complete return policy, please click here
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I'm in the last stretch of the first draft of my novel and the everything is in disarray. I'm not that tidy to begin with, so when the writing becomes all-consuming the mess becomes chaotic. It's actually quite an accurate reflection of what is going on in my brain!
Luckily, my understanding Sasquatch has taken to buying me flowers at the weekly farmer's market ("If I go right before the market closes, they sell them real cheap!" he says). I love these lilies, the scent of them helps me dream of a place beyond my reality and seeing them encourages me that something beautiful can exist amongst all the mess.
Monday, August 1, 2011
on my desk monday
7 comments:
- Pony Writer said...
Pink and blush stargazer lilies. Lovely, fragrant and inspiring. Enjoy!
- August 1, 2011 at 9:36 AM
- Barbara O'Connor said...
He's so sweet! (cheap, but sweet) :-)
- August 1, 2011 at 12:33 PM
- Jillian said...
Lilies are my favorite flowers too. Sasquatch is so nice!! :~D
- August 1, 2011 at 3:45 PM
- Jan J. said...
What a nice hubby - nothing wrong with being practical and at least he remembers to get you flowers! I named my daughter Lily as I love these flowers so much and they are beautiful just like her!
- August 2, 2011 at 4:11 AM
- janet wong said...
In this economy, cheap=smarter/sweeter!
- August 3, 2011 at 9:27 AM
- anne said...
the Squatch is a keeper, for sure :D
- August 3, 2011 at 4:03 PM
- Grace Lin said...
thanks all! they are lovely and very inspiring... and my sasquatch is pretty nice too!
- August 10, 2011 at 10:21 AM
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To promote responsible pet ownership and humane treatment for all animals.
To help reduce pet-overpopulation by promoting and providing low-cost spay/neuter programs.
To inquire about adopting a dog, give us a call or send us an email and we will promptly reply with information about the dog and our adoption process and an application.
Thank You!
Your message has been sent to Good Shepherd Humane Society - Eureka Springs, AR.
You'll receive a copy, too, at to help you keep track of which pets you've inquired about, and which shelters and rescues you've emailed.
NOTE: Some shelters have physical locations you can visit; some of these shelters may only have pets for a limited time, so please do not wait for a reply—just go visit the shelter! Other organizations are rescue groups run by busy volunteers who may take a while to reply. You can find information about the shelter or rescue group caring for this pet, and their adoption procedures, on the pet's details page on Adopt-a-Pet.com.


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The days of being able to stick your head under the hood of a car and see what is wrong have almost disappeared. Computers now monitor and control most of the systems that keep your vehicle running properly. The special information, codes, and tools needed to diagnose and repair those systems are not always freely available.
Legislation requiring car companies to share that information has been proposed several times since 2001, but recent recalls have sparked renewed interest in the topic.
The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (S. 3181) was introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS), showing the bipartisan support that exists. The House version (H.R. 2057), introduced last year, now has 60 co-sponsers.
The Act would require manufacturers to:
Proponents like AAA, the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) argue the act would encourage fair competition in the repair market, and improve safety by providing full access to information such as all Technical Service Bulletins.
Opponents such as the Automotive Service Association and the Coalition for Automotive Repair & Fair Information Xchange (CARFIX) say it's "a solution in search of a problem," because the information is already available through the National Automobile Service Task Force (NASTF). It would also unfairly expose manufacturers' intellectual property and reduce security by making information about vehicle security systems, such as key codes, publicly available.
Repair information that is currently available often requires a paid subscription. As a service to our patrons, the Library subscribes to Auto Repair Reference Center*, which allows cardholders access to DIY repair information from any internet computer. We also have many printed repair manuals in our Automotive Collection.
There are many issues involved in the Right to Repair debate, and it will be interesting to see whether the legislation advances.
Find this article at


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A Giant Puzzle (Part 2)Logic puzzles require you to think. You will have to be logical in your reasoning.
I sorted out a bunch of shoes the other day and as such, when I came to the shirts, to put them in their correct position I felt pretty confident. I have to act fast because time is running out. Can you figure out the order of the shirts from the clues I was given?
The shirts are the same colors as the shoes - purple, red, blue, yellow, brown, orange, and green.
1. The Yellow Shirt is not by the Orange Shirt.
2. The two colors that start with "b" are not next to each other.
3. The Red Shirt is directly between two of the colors with a second letter of "r".
4. The Orange Shirt is the second to the left.
5. The Blue Shirt is next to the Orange Shirt.
6. Either the red, purple, or both are somewhere to the right of the Brown Shirt.
7. The Yellow Shirt is next to the Green Shirt.
8. The Green Shirt is 2 Shirts away from the Orange Shirt (1 in between).
Answerblue, orange, red, green, yellow, brown, purple
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.
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THIS is your chance to win $5,000 cash. THIS is your chance to test your knowledge. THIS is your chance to enjoy some adult beverages with friends at local watering holes. THIS is the CSN Trivia Challenge.
Compete against your peers in the winter and summer tournaments, hosted by District Trivia. Check out the participating bars in your neighborhood and come out each week to win weekly prizes.
Click for more information on How to play and the Tournament Rules.
Everything you need is here at www.csntriviachallenge.com.
Good Luck!


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Kiln Dried Solid Wood
Authentic Amish Construction
Water-based Paints Available
Made in America
Our Sophie Rocker is designed for ultimate comfort & perfect for nursing your baby. It features all the hallmarks of heirloom furniture: it is benchcrafted, made of solid hardwoods with mortise & tenon joints. A matching ottoman is available & the rocker can be built with flip-up arm storage compartments.
The standard Sophie Rocker is made with foam that conforms to California's TB 117 law requiring all foam in furniture be treated with flame retardants. However the Sophie Rocker is available with untreated, organic latex (aka rubber, from the Hevea brasiliensis tree). Please note that gliders made with latex require two additional weeks for completion.
- Hand made in the USA
- Authentic Amish workmanship
- Kiln dried solid hardwoods
- Flip up arm storage compartments available
- Veneer free
- Plywood free
- Particle board free
- Pressed wood free
- MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) free
- Available with untreated, organic latex
* Each item is custom made to order & may take 8-10 weeks to complete, plus packing/shipping time
* ETAs vary by season; please email us for current estimate
* Our products ship only in the contiguous USA
* Free Shipping is a curbside only service. It is not Inside Delivery
* Inside Delivery (room placement, assembly & debris removal) is available. Contact us for a quote if interested
Customer Reviews:
"The rocker was delivered last Friday and we absolutely love it! Thanks so much!"
WG, Arizona
©2008-2017 Baby Eco Trends, LLC | Site Updated September 20, 2017 | info {at} BabyEcoTrends {dot} com


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Women ran, jogged and walked through Castle Park as they joined together in a bid to beat cancer.
The annual Colchester Race for Life took place on Sunday, with 2,500 people, many dressed in pink, completing the 5km course.
Organisers hope the women will raise £145,000 for Cancer Research UK by getting sponsored to take part.
Buy a copy of Tuesday's Gazette for an eight-page Race for Life special, including photos and stories from the women taking part.


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Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer Reviews
I'll Take Too Faced Over Urban Decay!It's hard to keep up with the hype about Urban Decay's "Eyeshadow Primer Potion" ($20.00 at Sephora, Ulta, or online). Long after its introduction, it seems that I can't pick up a beauty or fashion magazine without seeing ad advertisement or an endorsement for this. Is it great? Yes. The pros? It applies easily, with just enough product dispensed from the clever tube and its small opening. O...read moreriginally, it was available only in "Sheer Nude." Now UD's icon also comes in a range of shades--from "Greed" (gold), "Eden" (a tawny matte), and "Sin" (glimmering champagne). I like the ability to use the primer as an enhancement to my shadow, not just a base. And, yes, it does last a long time and makes eyeshadow appear more vibrant. SO WHAT IS MY PROBLEM? A friend gave me Too Faced's "Shadow Insurance" (also $20.00 at the same venues). This colorless potion is available in a tube very similar to Urban Decay's, with a little less "glitz." The formula, with its silicone base, virtually applies itself and then locks to a finish that basically nothing can ruin. Just the tiniest bit--the size of a water droplet--is necessary to cover your entire lid. It sets immediately, so there is no "wait time" in your beauty regimen. (A tube lasts forever!) And, with two great competing products, Too Faced has proven time and again a longer, stronger ability to stand up to long hours, heat, humidity, and the elements. It's a tough choice to make, but I choose Too Faced (Urban Decay is a very close second). — 4 years, 6 months agoGigiSD | 1102 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 22 of 22 people said helpful
Eye shadow primerThis and Urban Decay are the best. If I had to pick, I would choose this one. It really allows shadows to stay in place. I also use it under my eye with concealer to keep concealer in place. — 5 years, 11 months agoCaroleVonAllten | 1401 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 28 of 29 people said helpful
Love it!It's a little tube, but it lasts forever, definitely a great value. Most importantly, it's a fantastic product, I cannot live without this. Even when I don't wear eyeshadow, I still put it on because it makes eyeliner stay on longer and keeps shiny eyelids away for me. This is a wonderful product. — 6 years, 6 months agovolta | 566 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 23 of 24 people said helpful
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John Dean, former White House counsel to President Richard Nixon and one of the major players in the historic Watergate scandal, will be one of three preeminent speakers at the 33rd annual Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars' Conference hosted by Lipscomb University on June 6-8.
The conference will host more than 500 theologians and faith leaders from almost 100 different universities engaged in 92 paper, panel or performance sessions exploring the theme "Crisis in Ethics: theology, business, law and the liberal and fine arts."
Four conference events are free and open to the general public and one ticketed event exploring aspects of ethics and theology will be open to the public during the course of the conference.
Additional highlighted speakers include Charles Mathewes, author of Theology of Public Life and Understanding Religious Ethics, and David Miller, founding director of Princeton's Faith and Work Initiative and former director of the Ethics and Spirituality in the Workplace Program of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture.
For a full schedule of the conference and information on registration, go to csc.lipscomb.edu.
John Dean
Charles Mathewes
David Miller
As Goes Janesville
David Mamet's Oleanna
Pre-Conference event:
HumanDocs screening of As Goes Janesville
Wednesday, June 5
7:30 p.m. Ward Hall Auditorium
Free and open to the public
The Lipscomb University College of Arts and Sciences HumanDocs Film Series, in partnership with ITVS Community Cinema, Nashville Public Television and the Nashville Film Festival, will present the documentary As Goes Janesville, a film centered on the human cost of economic change in Janesville, Wis., after the shuttering of the town's century-old General Motors plant.
Film director Brad Lichtenstein will be one of the featured panelists at the free screening of the film, which explores the stories of employees displaced by the plant closure as well as Janeville's attempts to re-invent itself, all against the backdrop of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's efforts to build a business-friendly state.
Other panelists will include Michael Herron, chairman, United Auto Workers Local 1853, Spring Hill, Tenn., and David McCullough, mayor, Cheatham County, Tenn..
Keynote Speaker:
Charles Mathewes: "The Future of Political Theology"
Thursday, June 6
10:45 a.m., Collins Alumni Auditorium
Charles Mathewes is professor of religious studies and director of the Virginia Center for the Study of Religion at the University of Virginia. Mathewes has authored several books, including Evil and the Augustinian Tradition, A Theology of Public Life, Understanding Religious Ethics and The Republic of Grace. In 2003 at the age of 34 he was appointed editor of "The Journal of the American Academy of Religion," the flagship journal in the field of religious studies, and is the youngest editor ever of that journal, where his tenure ended in 2010.
In 2011 he was appointed the chair of the Committee on the Future of Christian Ethics by the Society of Christian Ethics.
Keynote Speaker:
David Miller, "God at Work"
Friday, June 7
4:15 p.m., Acuff Chapel, Lipscomb Academy
During his talk at the Christian Scholars' Conference, David Miller will explore pressing marketplace topics surrounding faith and work including global competition, ethics, diversity and social responsibility.
Before returning to school and completing his M.Div. and a Ph.D. in ethics from Princeton, David Miller worked for IBM in the USA and various equity firms in London, England, gaining 16 years' worth of experience in senior executive positions in international business and finance.
He went on to help found the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, where he functioned in the roles of both executive director of the program and director of its Ethics and Spirituality in the Workplace Program. At the same time, Miller taught in Yale's School of Management and the divinity school.
Miller currently works in his role as the founding director of Princeton University's Faith & Work Initiative bringing his "bilingual" experience to the post. His book, God at Work, also reflects his bilingual concerns.
Miller also lectures in the Department of Religion at Princeton University and advises a number of corporate CEOs and senior executives on matters of ethics and faith at work.
Keynote Speaker:
John Dean, "The Ethical Legacy of Watergate"
Saturday, June 8
10:45 a.m., Collins Alumni Auditorium
Book signing at 12:15 p.m.
A short five years after completing his J.D. from Georgetown University, John Dean had served as chief minority counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives, associate director of a law reform commission and associate deputy attorney general of the US. In 1970, Dean became the Counsel to President Nixon, and his involvement in the Watergate scandal earned him four months in jail and changed both him and American legal ethics.
Afterwards, he worked for a time as a private investment banker before devoting his time to lecturing and writing, primarily on law, government and ethics. Blind Ambition and Lost Honor deal directly with Watergate while other titles look at legal ethics more broadly. Dean's latest book, Broken Government, argues that the three branches of government have all failed to function as the Constitution intended.
The Blackbird Theater presents David Mamet's Oleanna
June 8-9 and 13-15
Shamblin Theatre, June 8-9
University Theater, June 13-15
Oleanna is presented in collaboration with the Christian Scholars Conference and the Lipscomb University Department of Theatre.
One of the most incendiary plays of contemporary theater, Oleanna is David Mamet's unflinching exploration of the perils of political correctness as witnessed through the twists and turns of a power struggle between a university professor and his female student. The Blackbird production stars David Compton and Jennifer Richmond.
Tickets cost $15 and $10 and can be accessed through The Blackbird Theater website http://blackbirdnashville.com.


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Sept. 8 Board of Supervisors Meeting Features 7 Presentations
Sept. 5, 2008
News Highlights
- Fairfax County firefighters, MPO Tom Black, Pat Diehl, the Cool Hunter Mill District Committee and residents and business that have made properties available for training public safety workers to be honored.
- Emergency Preparedness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month to be designated.
- A downloadable photo and synopsis of each presentation will be posted on the county's Web site.
More Information
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 8, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., will make the following presentations to residents and county staff. For more information, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711. For information on the Sept. 8 meeting, including an agenda, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/board/meetings/2008.htm.
Emergency Preparedness Month
The Board of Supervisors will designate September as Emergency Preparedness Month in Fairfax County. Residents are encouraged to take steps to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies by organizing an emergency supply kit, formulating a personal preparedness plan, becoming knowledgeable about various threats and becoming involved in preparing their community.
Public Safety Training
The Board of Supervisors will recognize more than 45 individuals and businesses that made properties available for training to Fairfax County public safety agencies. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, marked the beginning of an increased understanding of the complexity of firefighting as well as the dangers faced by the women and men of public safety. One of the best ways to reduce the risks involved is the enhanced training opportunities provided by these facilities.
Fill the Boot
The Board of Supervisors will commend Fairfax County firefighters for the Fill the Boot Campaign. Fairfax County firefighters and paramedics during the Labor Day holiday collected nearly $503,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and is one of the top jurisdictions, leading the nation in funds collected.
MPO Tom Black
The Board of Supervisors will recognize Master Police Officer Tom Black for 27 years of service to the Fairfax County Police Department. Black has served with the Police Department in many areas, including the Bike Team, the Operations Support Bureau and the Vice/Narcotics Unit.
Hispanic Heritage Month
The Board of Supervisors will designate Sept. 15-Oct. 15, 2008, as Hispanic Heritage Month in Fairfax County. This month is celebrated throughout the United States to commemorate contributions to the nation made by Hispanic Americans. Hispanic Americans have enriched the county through contributions in many professions and fields, including education, law, government, business, science, sports and the arts.
Pat Diehl
The Board of Supervisors will recognize Pat Diehl for 30 years of service to Fairfax County. Diehl has worked for the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Office for Children, holding virtually every position in the School Age Child Care program, also knows as SACC, including supervisor, substitute coordinator and assistant director.
Cool Hunter Mill
The Board of Supervisors will recognize the members of the Cool Hunter Mill District Committee for their commitment to environmental awareness and support of Reston Association Earth Day Activities. The Cool Hunter Mill District Committee developed the Cool Hunter Mill District Initiative, which aims to educate and promote activities for residents, businesses, schools, and faith and community organizations to raise awareness of harm to the environment, and to assist in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
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A naked hiker believed to be high on psilocybin mushrooms was apprehended by rangers Sunday near Boulder, Colo.
Her hiking partners had called police to report bizarre behavior by Taylor Powers, 21, a student at the University of Colorado, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. Responding to a trail near the Third Flatiron, rescuers found that Powers had removed all of her clothing and was being restrained by her roommates.
Rangers handcuffed her and transported her to nearby shelter. She was then taken to Boulder Community Hospital, where she was treated and released.
Powers was ticketed with unlawful consumption of a controlled substance. Officials indicated there could be additional charges filed against others involved in the incident.
In November 2011, a half-naked climber believed to be high on mushrooms was rescued from First Flatiron. A civilian rescuer might have been bitten during that incident, Boulder emergency officials said.


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BAGPIPES, kilts, haggis, neeps and tatties all featured in a special Burn's Night offering from Winchester Hospital Radio's (WHR) request programme recently.
The charity broadcasts direct to the wards, meaning patients were able to fully participate in the programme and chat with presenters.
WHR's Paul Blitz presented the show and Scottish volunteer, Ron Venturi, delivered the traditional Immortal Memory speech, bringing to life the history behind Burn's Night.
Scottish goodies, including traditional porridge oats, Scotch Broth and Highland shortbread, were up for grabs on the night, with patient David Farmer winning the draw.
Mr Farmer said: "I'm delighted to win and look forward to tucking in to these highland goodies."
Winchester Hospital Radio will celebrate 30 years of voluntary service to patients at the RHCH next year.
The charity aims to provide relief to patients through daily broadcast music, news, features and visits.


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Editor's note: This market commentary is provided by the Dairy Division at FCStone/Downes-O'Neill in Chicago, Ill.
The Class III market was active early, but took on the tone of the quiet spot market yesterday afternoon, failing to eclipse the 1K mark, trading just 954 contracts on the day. The market rallied sharply early on, led by July to Oct prior to the spot session. For a short time after spot, it looked as though weakness may turn the market lower. But, when spot butter prices found support, the slide was stopped and prices held 5 to 17 cent gains from July through November. December and 2012 months were steady to 4 higher with one exception — March 2012 lost 6 cents on the day.
CWT announced export sales of 1.4 million pounds last week, bringing its yearly total to 44.7 million pounds: http://www.cwt.coop/sites/default/files/news_releases/CWT-export-assistance-bids-062811.pdf
Demand seems to be slowing, yet very little cheese has made its way to the exchange. We continue to believe it's just a matter of time and it would seem to us the longer prices are held up at these elevated levels, the stronger the snap-back may be to the downside when the selloff comes. But, for now, the spreads between front and back months continues to widen — this tells you where to sell (up front) from a hedge perspective, and then you can roll into farther-out months later on.
Cash cheese futures traded moderate volume of 26 contracts yesterday, as prices were moving higher in sympathy with the Class III futures. Each month from August through December closed higher with at least one trade, and gains ranged from 0.005 to 0.027 cents.
We look for Class III to open mixed.
After rallying overnight on weaker-than-expected crop condition ratings, grains maintained that strength through the morning hours and really started to rally hard just before the noon hour led by corn. December corn built momentum after twice testing support at and just under the $6.25 mark the past few sessions and now looks to bounce ahead of the report tomorrow morning.
Overnight, the grain markets were again sharply higher new crop corn reaching as much as 15 higher and old crop months as much as 22 higher; wheat and soybeans also jumped double-digits. At 9 p.m. Chicago time, only corn had backed off its highs, but remained 9 to 16 stronger.
We look for corn to open 15 to 20 cents higher; soybeans to open 12 to 15 higher.
Daily CME spot market prices:
Block cheese: $2.13 (unchanged)
Barrel cheese: $2.0675 (unchanged)
Butter: $2.02 (unchanged)
Grade A NFDM: $1.625 (unchanged)
These data and comments are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to be used for specific trading strategies. Commodity trading is risky and FCStone Group, Inc., International Assets Holding Corporation, and their affiliates assume no liability for the use of any information contained herein. Although all information is believed to be reliable, we cannot guarantee its accuracy and completeness. Past financial results are not necessarily indicative of future performance. Any examples given are strictly hypothetical and no representation is being made that any person will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those examples. References to and discussions of exchange traded products are made solely on behalf of FCStone, LLC. References to and discussions of OTC products are made solely on behalf of INTL Hanley, LLC, and OTC products are only available to eligible counterparties.
Source: FCStone/Downes-O'Neill


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Efficacy and Safety Study of Pamoate of Triptorelin in Children With Precocious Puberty (DECAPUB)
This study has been completed.
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: November 27, 2007
Last updated: February 9, 2012
Last verified: February 2012
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of triptorelin 11.25 mg pamoate in the delay of premature onset of puberty in girls less than 9 years and boys less than 10 years. This is measured by assessing the proportion of children who have a suppressed Luteinizing Hormone (LH) response to Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) test performed 3 months after injection with triptorelin 11.25 mg.
|Precocious Puberty
|Drug: Triptorelin pamoate 11.25mg (Decapeptyl® SR)
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Phase III, Multicentre, Non-comparative, Open and Single Stage Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Pamoate of Triptorelin 11.25 MG in Children With Precocious Puberty
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetics Home Reference related topics: central precocious puberty familial male-limited precocious puberty
MedlinePlus related topics: Puberty
Drug Information available for: Triptorelin Triptorelin pamoateU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Ipsen:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Number of Participants With a GnRH-stimulated LH Level ≤3 IU/L [ Time Frame: 3 months after the first injection of triptorelin pamoate 11.25 mg ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Number of Participants Whose Intravenous (i.v.) GnRH-stimulated LH Response Was ≤3 IU/L [ Time Frame: Month 6 ]
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Level Following GnRH Test [ Time Frame: Screening, month 3 and 6 ]
- Basal FSH Level [ Time Frame: Month 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ]
- Basal LH Level [ Time Frame: Month 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ]
- Number of Girls With Oestradiol Levels ≤ 20 pg/ml [ Time Frame: Month 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ]
- Testosterone Level [ Time Frame: Month 0, 3 and 6 ]
- Number of Girls With Inhibin B Levels < 6 pg/ml [ Time Frame: Month 0, 3 and 6 ]
- Change From Screening in Pubertal Stage (Tanner Method) at Month 6 [ Time Frame: Between screening and month 6 ]Pubertal stage (graded from 1 to 5 for penis and breast development, graded from 1 to 6 for pubic hair development) according to the Tanner method was collected. A low stage (i.e. 1) corresponds to a pre-pubertal stage and a high stage (i.e. 5 or 6) to an adult stage. Any increase of grade was defined as 'increased' and no change in grade or a reduced grade was defined as 'stabilised or reduced'.
- Height Standard Deviation Score (SDS) [ Time Frame: Month 0, 3 and 6 ]Standard deviation (SD) is a standard term used in growth studies and represents Standard Deviations calculated as the patient value minus the mean divided by the standard deviation. Standard Deviation Scores vary depending on the age and sex of the child.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) SDS [ Time Frame: Month 0, 3 and 6 ]
- Change From Baseline in Growth Velocity (GV) SDS at Month 6 [ Time Frame: Baseline and month 6 ]
Change from baseline of GV was calculated as: GV at month 6 - GV at baseline. GV SDS was calculated using SAS algorithm.
Growth velocity during the study was calculated using the two height measures as: GV = (Height at baseline - Height at screening)*365/delay between two height measures.
- Difference Between Bone Age and Chronological Age [ Time Frame: Month 0 and 6 ]Bone age was defined according to Greulich and Pyle method. Chronological age was calculated using the date of birth.
- Uterine Length [ Time Frame: Month 0, 3 and 6 ]
- Triptorelin Plasma Levels [ Time Frame: Month 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ]
|Study Start Date:
|October 2007
|Study Completion Date:
|October 2010
|Primary Completion Date:
|October 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Experimental: Triptorelin pamoate 11.25mg (Decapeptyl® SR)
Drug: Triptorelin pamoate 11.25mg (Decapeptyl® SR)
One intra muscular injection at day 1 and month 3.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|Child, Adult, Senior
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria in the screening phase:
- Onset of sex characteristics (Tanner method) breast development in girls or testicular enlargement in boys before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys.
- Weight ≥ 20 kg.
Inclusion Criteria in the treatment phase:
- Proven central precocious puberty defined as onset of sex characteristics development (according to Tanner method) diagnosed before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys.
- Age at evaluation less than 9 years for girls and 10 years for boys.
- A pubertal response of LH to GnRH test in both sexes (stimulated LH ≥ 5 IU/l).
- Difference Bone age (BA) (according to Greulich et Pyle method) - Chronological age (CA) > 1 year.
- Testosterone level ≥ 0.5 ng/ml in boys.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient with a peripheral precocious puberty: extrapituitary secretion of gonadotropins or gonadotropin-independent gonadal or adrenal sex steroids secretion.
- Patient with a cerebral tumour requiring a neurosurgery or cerebral irradiation.
- Patient with a Body Weight ≥ 125% of the ideal weight for the height and age (growth curves).
- The patient has received a previous treatment with a GnRH analogue, or medroxyprogesterone or cyproterone acetate.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00564850
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00564850
|Hôpital Hotel-Dieu (CHU)
|Angers, France, 49033
|Hôpital Saint-Jacques
|Besancon, France, 25030
|Medical Centre
|Bordeaux, France, 33000
|Hôpital du Bocage
|Dijon, France, 21034
|Hôpital Flaubert
|Le Havre, France, 76083
|Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre
|Lille, France, 59037
|Hôpital Debrousse
|Lyon, France, 69322
|Hôpital de la Timone Enfants
|Marseille, France, 13385
|Hôpital Archet 2
|Nice, France, 06202
|Hôpital Trousseau
|Paris, France, 75012
|Hôpital St-Vincent de Paul
|Paris, France, 75014
|Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades
|Paris, France, 75015
|Hôpital Robert Debré
|Paris, France, 75019
|American Memorial Hospital
|Reims, France, 51092
|Hôpital Charles Nicolle
|Rouen, France, 76031
|Hôpital Hautepierre
|Strasbourg, France, 67100
|Hôpital de la Gespe
|Tarbes, France, 65013
|Hôpital des Enfants
|Toulouse, France, 31026
Sponsors and Collaborators
|Study Director:
|Joelle Blumberg, MD
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 20, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00564850 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|November 27, 2007
|Results First Received:
|November 1, 2011
|Last Updated:
|February 9, 2012
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Puberty, Precocious
Gonadal Disorders
Endocrine System Diseases
Triptorelin Pamoate
Luteolytic Agents
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Contraceptive Agents
Reproductive Control Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
Antineoplastic Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 20, 2017


text:
Reviews, reviews, reviews...
FreakScore is a weighted average of all aggregated professional and user review scores.
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This product has a FreakScore of 4.7
out of 10 based on 247 scores.
If you like to get out there and have fun, this is the camera
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Best Price at Amazon


text:
It's time again to dust off your leather Roboman jacket, pull on your sense globe-socks and take a trip to a simpler time as 'bad kaled' Dalek Danny and 'the kaled next door' Dalek Sandy fall in grease all over again.
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text:
Over the dates of August 23-24, the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) held their annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, St. Louis, MO. On Tuesday evening, August 23, a Pre-game "All-You-Can-Eat" buffet was served at Busch Stadium where guests enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals vs. the L. A. Dodgers game in the comfort of a special reserved climate controlled suite.
The Convention Business Session was held on Wednesday morning, August 24th. In his Chairman's Address, Dave Thorbahn reported that the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding formed a Dairy Data Working Group Committee to look at the value of continuing to collect large amounts of data to develop and recalibrate genomic evaluations. The concern was the possibility that genomic evaluations would reduce the flow of daughter records which would hinder our ability to collect enough data to develop new tools and recalibrate effectively the existing tools. Following this review, this information is now in the hands of the Council Business Plan Working Group which will develop the business model that will allow this organization to carry out the functions outlined in a cooperative agreement that is expected to be signed between the Council and USDA-ARS.
He also noted that the Cooperative Dairy DNA Repository has entered into genotype exchange agreements with ANAFI, the Holstein Genetic Evaluation Center in Italy, and DariCO, the entity responsible for genetic evaluations in the UK. These type of exchanges benefit US breeders by enhancing the US evaluation system as the global standard, and assures US producers the finest tools to make genetic progress available in the world.
Dr. Gordon A. Doak, NAAB President reported that total unit semen sales for 2010 increased 8.7 percent to 44,644,000. Export unit sales increased 16 percent to 16,595,400 units. The total dollar value for exports increased 20.7 percent in 2010 to $123,935,650.
Doak also noted that an agreement is being worked on to bring a new high density chip to the market as well as working to test a new low density 6K chip. Further, agreements are being worked on between HACA and HAUSA regarding the use of NAAB/CDDR genotypes for parentage verification.
Two directors were elected to serve on the NAAB Board this year incumbent, Wayne Glaeser, Manager of Young Sire Programs, JLG Enterprises, Inc., Oakdale, CA, and Charles Sattler, Vice President Genetic Programs, Select Sires, Plain City, OH. Other members of the Board include Dr. Marj Faust, ABS Global; Keith Heikes, Genex Cooperative/CRI, Les Hutchens, Reproduction Enterprises, Inc., Dr. Ole Meland, Accelerated Genetics; Dr. Robert Welper, Alta Genetics USA.
(Not pictured, Dr. Marjorie Faust, ABS Global, 3rd Member Executive Comm)
At the Board reorganization meeting Dr. Ole Meland was elected Chairman, Keith Heikes, Vice Chairman and Dr. Marj Faust, third member of the Executive Committee.
Receiving awards were retiring Board member, Dave Thorbahn who received a Retiring Board Member plaque for his six years on the Board of Directors, and a Chairman's plaque for his two years served as Chairman; Gordon Doak, NAAB President, was presented a world clock in recognition of his 35 years of service to the NAAB; and Mary Derby, NAAB Administrative Assistant, was recognized for 36 years of service to the Association with a bouquet of flowers and a plaque to signify her impending retirement in December of this year.


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Kare wrote:retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Adam,
The easy part first... tobacco is not a violation of the precepts.
OK... for the fifth precept..Suramerayamajjapamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami:
I observe the precept of abstaining from intoxicants that cloud the mind and cause carelessness.
Sorry, but that translation is not good enough.
The best way of translating this sentence, is to start from the end.
samadiyami = I undertake
sikkhapadam = the training precept
veramani = of abstaining from
Now for the long compound:
This is a compound made up from sura + meraya + majja + pamada + thana
sura and meraya are two different alcoholic drinks. Sura may be a kind of beer, and meraya maybe some kind of cider. Anyway, both are alcoholic.
majja = either intoxication or intoxicant drink
pamada = indolence, carelessness, negligence, intoxication
majja and pamada are practically synonyms here
now for the last member of the compound: thana. This word means "condition".
So, suramerayamajjappamadatthana is literally "beer-cider-carelessness-intoxication-condition".
In order to make this into a more idiomatic English, we have to start from the end: "the condition of intoxication and carelessness caused by beer and cider"
So what then does the precept say? It says: I undertake the training precept of abstaining from the condition of intoxication and carelessness caused by beer and cider (or, alcoholic drinks).
This is the literal meaning of the precept. Not to abstain from the drinks, but to abstain from the condition of intoxication.
You may say that as soon as you drink, you will get intoxicated, so that the wise thing is to abstain from the drinks in order to abstain from intoxication. I fully agree on this point. The sensible thing is not to get drunk, and in order not to get drunk it is wise not to drink.
But if you know yourself so well that you know that you can take a small glass of wine or beer without getting drunk - and stop there! - the precept is definitely not broken.
You sir, have just won the internet. Your lifetime supply of dhamma-munchies should be arriving any time.


text:
Check out the original article for additional statical info and how those stats were derived.
Did the Pacers Lose a Star?
June 29, 2008 · 10 Comments
Although the deal is not official, its been widely reported that the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors completed a trade prior to the 2008 draft. The Toronto Raptors will get six-time All-Star Jermaine ONeal. The Indiana Pacers are adding four non-stars: T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and the draft rights to Roy Hibbert.
The general rule of thumb in the NBA is that the team that gets the All-Star in a trade is the team that comes out ahead. This rule is consistent with the idea of Bobby Layne Rigidity, offered by Walter Neale in a 1964 article (appearing in the Quarterly Journal of Economics and titled: The Peculiar Economics of Professional Sports). According to Neale - as the name Bobby Layne Rigidity implies a team cannot replace one good quarterback with two poor signal callers.
Likewise, its difficult in the NBA to substitute a collection of non-stars for one star player. As noted previously in this forum, the Pareto Principle appears to hold in the NBA. In other words, roughly 80% of wins are produced by 20% of the talent. Consequently, when a team loses a major wins producer, it tends to suffer.
Losing an Unproductive Star
Of course there is one exception to this story. If the player in question is an unproductive star, then the issue of Bobby Layne Rigidity goes away. For example, the 76ers lost Allen Iverson - a star player who is not quite as productive as popular perception indicates - and actually improved.
Similarly, one suspects the Pacers loss of Jermaine ONeal should also lead to additional victories. To see this, lets first consider the career of J. ONeal.
This is what I said about ONeal last January.
When we look at ONeals career we dont see a major star. His career WP48 [Wins Produced per 48 minutes] is above average, but a mark of 0.143 (prior to the 2007-08 season) pales in comparison to the top players in the game. Still, ONeal has generally been a good player and he did lead his team in Wins Produced for three seasons.
What makes ONeal good is his ability to get rebounds and block shots. Shooting efficiency, though, has been a consistent problem. Except for the 2002-03 season - again, his best year - ONeal has always been below average with respect to getting his shots to go in the basket.
And this season the inefficient scoring issue has worsened. In addition, ONeal is now below average on the boards. As a consequence, his overall productivity is now well below the average mark.
As noted, these were my words in January. And these were the same words I used when I noted that J. ONeal is the most overpaid player in the game.
With respect to shooting efficiency, rebounds, steals, and turnovers, J. ONeal is below average. So although hes still taking and blocking shots, his overall contribution is below par.
The Pacers in 2007-08 and 2008-09
Once we realize that J. ONeal is not quite as productive as his star status suggests, this trade looks much better for Indiana. The team is losing a player whose wins production was in the negative range last season. And in return, the Pacers are getting Ford (WP48 of 0.160 last season), Nestrovic (WP48 of 0.104 last season), and Baston (WP48 of 0.161 in very limited minutes last season). Plus the Raptors gave up their first round pick in 2008 (Hibbert). Put it all together, and the Pacers look like a better team after this move.
Its important to remember that - despite an underperforming ONeal - the Pacers were not a terrible team in 2007-08.
And we have to remember that in addition to the ONeal trade, the Pacers also acquired Jarrett Jack (0.098 WP48 last season) in a draft day trade that also netted guard Brandon Rush. Given these moves, the Pacers will now have the following collection of above average veterans in the rotation: T. J. Ford, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, and Jeff Foster. In addition, the Pacers have three more players who are right around average (Danny Granger, Jack, and Nesterovic). If Rush and Hibbert can come in and produced positive wins (not above average, just greater than zero), the Pacers should definitely improve.
I should note that Erich Doerr - who has done an excellent job of using Win Score to evaluate the 2008 NBA Draft - is also very positive about the moves the Pacers made around the draft.
The best Win Score draft goes to the Indiana Pacers for picking up solid players in Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert. Both are NBA-ready and excellent Win Score prospects. Along with their trades, the Pacers are primed to pass .500 this season and are a franchise on the upswing.
If the analysis Doerr and I offer is to be believed, the Pacers are right now strong candidates to return to the post-season in 2009. Of course we will know more when the roster of the Pacers - and every other team - is finalized. At this point, though, the evidence suggests that losing ONeal was a good move for the Pacers.
Does this mean that this trade is bad for the Raptors? I will try and answer that question in my next post. And that answer is not as clear as one might think.


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Does app data suggest we are nearing peak social?
Much has been made of the fact that Snapchat reportedly now has more daily active users than Twitter, but is overall usage of all social apps peaking?
According to data from website traffic and mobile app analytics service SimilarWeb, the answer just might be yes.
Personalisation can lift push notification open rates by up to 800%: Study
Building a successful mobile app is difficult.
Companies spend significant amounts driving consumers to install their apps, and by some estimates, apps that aren't opened for a second time within the first 12 hours after download can see churn exceeding 50% in some categories.
Highly targeted online ads don't work: Stanford researchers
According to researchers at Stanford, highly targeted ads may not be all they're cracked up to be.
Based on a mathematical model they built based on game theory, the researchers instead suggest that advertisers "prefer to remain in a state of partial willful ignorance so as to preserve communication credibility."
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) could help pharma marketers reach doctors
Pharma companies face a number of challenges when it comes to digital marketing.
We recently reported on the spectre of a consumer marketing clampdown, and how pharma brands aren't making the most of mobile and social opportunities.
Young users aren't fans of targeted social ads: Report
For marketers looking to sell their wares to millennials and their younger siblings, Gen Z, social media is an indispensable channel.
But according to a new study conducted by Harris Poll for Lithium Technologies, marketers that are using targeted social ads to reach members of these groups may be shooting themselves in the foot.
Comparison site NerdWallet outperforms top US finance brands in SEO
It seems financial muscle doesn't always translate into online success.
A recent analysis of the US personal finance sector has revealed that a popular price comparison site outperforms all mainstream banking and credit institutions when it comes to organic search.
Despite big data investments, retailers struggle with inventory issues
Retailers are collecting more data than ever, but putting that data to good use is apparently proving to be more challenging than many anticipated.
According to a study conducted by IHL Group for DynamicAction, retailers around the world lost well over half a trillion dollars in the past year due to out-of-stock inventory.
That's a jump of nearly 40% from 2012. At the same time, they lost just under $500bn due to overstocks, an amount nearly a third greater than in 2012.


text:
Last month just before Christmas, the greater Ballston Spa area received a lump of coal in its collective stocking: The Ballston Journal Newspaper printed its final hard copy edition.
Facing industry hurdles of legacy costs, dwindling print advertising and the migration of readers and advertisers to digital formats, the 214-year-old, locally-owned weekly found those trends magnified, burning a hole in its bottom line.
In the news business, we've all faced the same convulsions and we aren't done.
The corporate parent of Ballston Spa Life has deeper pockets and it is struggling with many of the same challenges in an evolving environment.
The Ballston Journal still exists electronically, relying on a variety of digital platforms.
But cessation of the print format should give anyone pause.
It's sad that an institution that has witnessed the breadth of Ballston Spa as an industrial center, a bustling resort village and the seat of county government ceases the comforting and romantic notion of publishing a periodic hardcopy record of that history, landing it at readers' doorsteps, in honor boxes and on newsstands.
The company enters a new phase -- transitioning to digital platforms apropos for the area's makeover to a high technology future.
Differing missions meant the Ballston Journal and Ballston Spa Life weren't true competitors.
Hopefully, the Ballston Journal continues to be a news outlet of record, chronicling governmental activity in the region and continuing to provide an ample voice for residents' views.
You can reach Joseph Rocha at firstname.lastname@example.com or 518-584-4242. ext. 210.


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|June 22, 2005
Volume 7, Issue 13
|Midwifery Today E-News
Print Page
Welcome to Midwifery Today E-News !
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This full-day pre-conference class will explore the past, present and future of midwifery in this vast region. Sections include Anthropology of the Caribbean with Robbie Davis-Floyd, Birth Change in the Caribbean and Projects and Programs for Humane Women-centered Birth. Part of our conference in Nassau, Bahamas, September 22–26, 2005. Go here for info.
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Come to our conference in Philadelphia, March 23–27, 2006. Teachers include:
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In This Week's Issue:
Quote of the Week
"Delivery rooms all over the world have become a focal point of bipolarity between rational and intuitive forms of knowledge."
— Mindy Levy
Are you enjoying your free copy of the Midwifery Today E-News?
The Art of Midwifery
When a family has experienced a stillbirth/infant death, remember to check on them and talk with them periodically—weeks and months—after the passage. Many parents are doing great days after a loss, but in a couple of weeks everyone else expects the parents to be "over it," and the support from others starts to dry up—just as their shock and numbness begins to wear off. The three- to four-month mark is often the worst time of grieving.
— Anon., Midwifery Today forums
Editor's Note: Correction—In E-News Issue 7:11, the following statement appeared in The Art of Midwifery:
"One grain of blood is equal to one milliliter (mL). Any vaginal bleeding greater than 15 mL is considered hemorrhage and by medical standards necessitates placing that client from a low-risk status to a high-risk status."
THE CORRECT WORD IS "GRAM" [of blood], and THE CORRECT AMOUNT IS "about 500 mL." We regret the error.
ALL BIRTH PRACTITIONERS: The techniques you've perfected over months and years of practice are valuable lessons for others to learn! Share them with E-News readers by sending them to email@example.com.
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Research to Remember
A British study that linked risk of stillbirth to the father's amount of exposure to workplace radiation determined that stillbirth increased by 24% for each millisieverts (mSv) of radiation a man had been exposed to in his lifetime. For every 10 mSv of exposure in the 90 days before conception, the odds of stillbirth rose by 86%. Records of 9208 births between 1950 and 1989 in county Cumbria where the fathers were employed at a nuclear plant revealed significantly more stillbirths among women whose partners were employed at the nuclear plant than among women whose partners were not employed there, when data were standardized for year, social class and birth order.
— Lancet, 1999, 354(9180):1407–1414
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Mammals in general and women in particular control the pain of labor by releasing morphinelike substances called endorphins. It has been demonstrated that these endorphins stimulate the secretion of prolactin, the key hormone of lactation.
Oxytocin is necessary for the contraction of the uterus during labor and also for the contraction of the breast during the milk ejection reflex, when the baby is sucking. It is questionable whether women who have had no labor can release oxytocin as effectively as those who gave birth in physiological conditions. A Swedish study found that two days after birth, when the baby is at the breast, women who gave birth vaginally release oxytocin in a very pulsatile—therefore effective way—compared with women who gave birth by emergency cesarean section. The study found a correlation between the way oxytocin is released two days after birth and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. In other words, the duration of breastfeeding seems to depend on how the baby was born. The same Swedish team found that the cesarean women laced a significant rise in prolactin levels at 20-30 minutes after the onset of breastfeeding (1).
An Italian study found that the amount of endorphins in breastmilk of the first days is much higher among mothers who gave birth vaginally compared with mothers who underwent cesarean section (2). It is probable that one of the effects of morphinelike substances is to induce a sort of addiction to mother's milk. One can anticipate that the more addicted to the breast the newborn baby becomes, the longer and easier the breastfeeding.
It seems more important, where the initiation of lactation is concerned, to contrast "cesarean during labor" with "scheduled cesarean." Nonlabor cesareans seem to be associated with more breastfeeding difficulties. We can easily offer an interpretation: when the time of birth has been planned, mother and baby have not been given the opportunity to release the hormones involved in both childbirth and lactation. A study from Turkey compared the starting time of lactation and the amount of milk produced within 24 hours among several groups of cesarean births. Researchers found that the beginning of lactation occurred earlier and the amount of milk produced was higher among women whose second cesarean was performed during labor, compared with women whose second cesarean was scheduled (3).
— Michel Odent, excerpted from "Nursing the Caesarean Born," Midwifery Today Issue 69
Preliminary data and related research on the pregnant uterus suggest that breastfeeding and healthy term births are quite compatible. The specter of breastfeeding-induced preterm labor appears to spring from an incomplete understanding of the interactions between nipple stimulation, oxytocin and pregnancy.
The first little-known fact is that during pregnancy *less* oxytocin is released in response to nipple stimulation than when a woman is not pregnant (1). The key to understanding breastfeeding during pregnancy is the uterus itself. Contrary to popular belief, the uterus is not at the beck and call of oxytocin during the 38 weeks of the preterm period. Even a high dose of synthetic oxytocin is unlikely to trigger labor until a woman is at term.
Oxytocin receptor sites, the uterine cells that detect the presence of oxytocin and cause a contraction, are sparse up until 38 weeks, increase gradually after that time, and increase 300-fold *after* labor has begun. In order for oxytocin receptor sites to respond strongly to oxytocin, they need the help of special agents called "gap junction proteins." The absence of these proteins renders the uterus down-regulated, or relatively insensitve to oxytocin even when the oxytocin receptor site density is high. And natural oxytocin-blockers, most notably progesterone, stand between oxytocin and its receptor site throughout pregnancy (2,3,4). The uterus is in baby-holding mode, well protected from untimely labor.
— Hilary Dervin Flower, excerpted from "Breasfeeding during Pregnancy," Midwifery Today Issue 68
The Cost of Not Breastfeeding
— "Breastfeeding Is Priceless" (excerpted from a CIMS Fact Sheet) in The Birthkit Issue 40, Winter 2003
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Read this review our Web site of a handbook designed for your birth bag:
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The University of Sheffield—Online Master of Midwifery degree
An exciting new international Master's programme aimed at qualified midwives wishing to enhance their professional standing with a postgraduate qualification from a leading UK university. Conducted part-time over three years, it is entirely online, with no travel/attendance requirements. You could join the next intake, commencing September 2005. Full details: www.sheffield.ac.uk/mmid Enquiries: email@example.com
Forum Talk
What do you recommend to your patients for indigestion?
— Anon.
Go to our forums to share your thoughts and experience.
Question of the Week
Q: (Repeated) How long do you normally stay after a homebirth, and do you leave written instructions (guidelines so parents know what's normal for both mom and baby) with the couple? What things do you look for (e.g., mom urinating, baby nursing well, etc.) before you leave?
— Anon.
Q: What experiences have midwife readers had with shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injuries? What techniques have you used successfully and unsuccessfully to relieve shoulder dystocia? Have you ever seen a brachial plexus injury where there was no shoulder dystocia, the delivery was textbook, but still an injury?
— Tanya
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I am doing a project for my women's study class. I am collecting donations for midwife Robin Lim's organization in Bali. This will provide immediate help to pregnant moms and babies who survived the tsunami disaster. For more information about how to contribute, e-mail me at email@example.com
— Jill Cohen
A friend is interested in opening a birth center. She will be finishing her midwifery education in the next six to nine months. I would like to help her. Does anyone have advice or information I can share with her about opening or running a successful birth center? Is it best to start a non-profit organization? What grants are available?
— Lauren Poindexter
Editor's Note: Only letters sent to the E-News official e-mail address, email@example.com, will be considered for inclusion. Letters sent to ANY OTHER e-mail addresses will not be considered.
Nature of Birth Conference
"The Nature Of Birth" conference will be held July 1–4, 2005, in beautiful Centro Vacacional IMSS, Oaxtepec, Morelos, Mexico.
This conference is an international gathering of renowned professional and lay pioneers from over 15 different countries, passionate in their work and life devoted to pregnancy, fetal development, birth and link between mother-child and family-child: Cornelia Enning (Germany), Verena Schmid (Italy), Elizabeth Davis (USA), Jan Tritten (USA), Heloisa Lessa (Brazil), Laura Uplinger (Brazil/USA), Robbie Davis-Floyd (USA), Raquel Schallman (Argentina), Adriana Tanese Nogueira (Brazil), and others, including pioneers from Venezuela, Costa Rica, England, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, France, Nicaragua and Afghanistan.
Register at:
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Midwifery Today: Each One Teach One!


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How good is the Duleep Trophy? On paper, a tournament between five zonal teams comprising of the best players from each of them ought to be good, right? Then why are the voices calling for the scrapping of this coveted tournament getting louder by the day? Since most of these appeals are straight from the players, something must be hugely amiss. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.
What is it about the Duleep Trophy that displeases its participants? Has the standard of competition reduced? Is it crowding the domestic calendar? Or has it ceased to make sense? Let's delve into the issues plaguing this premier domestic tournament.
Knocked Out
A few years ago, the Duleep Trophy was at its peak with its round-robin league. All zones played each other on a home and away basis, which gave players enough opportunities to perform and tested their mettle in different conditions. Since the tournament was at least four weeks long, the assortment of players would begin to function as a team, which is essential to producing competitive cricket.
In the current scenario, the Duleep Trophy is a knockout tournament — two teams play only one match each, two teams can play a maximum of two matches each and only one team can play three matches. So how much would you read into the performances in the Duleep Trophy when most players get only a couple of innings to showcase their wares?
Are a couple of innings a suitable reward for scoring heavily or taking a bagful of wickets in the Ranji Trophy? For instance, if Central Zone lose their first match, both the highest run-scorer and the highest wicket-taker of the Ranji Trophy will get only one chance as a reward for their hard work. Moreover, crucial national selections are based on Duleep Trophy performances. Is this fair?
Experiencing Kookaburra
At Rahul Dravid's behest, thankfully, the Duleep Trophy is now played with the Kookaburra ball instead of the SG Test ball, which is still used in the Ranji Trophy. It was wonderful to let our domestic players get a taste of the Kookaburra, a ball that behaves radically different from the SG Test ball.
While the SG Test ball responds the best to swing bowlers who rely on 'release', Kookaburra is best for the 'hit-the-deck' bowlers. SG rarely swings when new, but moves in the air after getting a little old. On the contrary, Kookaburra moves the most when new and ceases to swing when old.
Bringing in the Kookaburra was a novel idea. But playing with it just once a year isn't enough to modify the skills of a bowler who uses an SG ball the rest of the year. Even if he adapts well, he is most likely to forget his lessons soon. This is because his muscle memory isn't sharp enough to register the changes and remember it for a year. And starting from scratch year after year isn't a great idea after all.
In The 'Zone'
A few years ago, the league stage in the Ranji Trophy was zonal. Hence a zonal team for the Duleep Trophy meant something. Most players in a team would have played with or against each other in the Ranji Trophy, and there was a sense of cohesiveness within zonal teams. But now, the Ranji Trophy is divided into the Elite and Plate groups based on a team's performance. So selecting the best players within a zone makes little sense because they would know little about each other — a situation not ideal for team sport.
How can one treat performances in the Elite and Plate groups equally? Also, as it happens, the bigger teams tend to influence the zonal team selections more. No matter how Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab and UP fared in the Ranji trophy — this year, they didn't qualify for the Ranji knock-outs — they always find the maximum representation in zonal teams. How else would you explain five players from UP making the Central Zone team while Rajasthan (who've won the Ranji Trophy two years in a row) have just four? Curiously, one of those four may not even find a place in the XI.
It's only wise to shelve this tournament for good — it's a dead rubber. The way forward is to have only one four days' tournament — the Ranji Trophy, and develop it to add more meaning to it.
How good is the Duleep Trophy? On paper, a tournament between five zonal teams comprising of the best players from each of them ought to be good, right? Then why are the voices calling for the scrapping of this coveted tournament getting louder by the day? Since most of these appeals are straight from the players, something must be hugely amiss. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.


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Dear Members,
Abhidhamma View: Recollection of Virtue
[Presented by Dr.Tep Sastri @ sariputtadhamma/JTN]
Vism. p. 218-219 (excerpt):
101. One who wants to develop the recollection of virtue should go into solitary retreat and recollect his own different kinds of virtue in their special qualities of being untorn, etc., as follows: Indeed, my various kinds of virtue are untorn, unrent, unblotched, unmottled, liberating, praised by the wise, not adhered to, and conducive to concentration (A III 286). And a layman should recollect them in the form of laymen's virtue while one gone forth into homelessness should recollect them in the form of the virtue of those gone forth.
103. Or in general they are untorn, unrent, unblotched, unmottled when they are undamaged by the seven bonds of sexuality (I.144) and by anger and enmity and the other evil things (see #59).
104. Those same virtues are liberating since they liberate by freeing from the slavery of craving. They are praised by the wise because they are praised by such wise men as Enlightened Ones. They are not adhered to (aparaama.t.thataa) since they are not adhered to (aparaama.t.thataa) with craving and [false] view, or because of the impossibility of misapprehending (paraama.t.thu.m) that There is this flaw in your virtues. They are conducive to concentration since they conduce to access concentration and absorption concentration, or to path concentration and fruition concentration.
105. As long as he recollects his own virtues in their special qualities of being untorn, etc., in this way, then: On that occasion his mind is not obsessed by greed, or obsessed by hate, or obsessed by delusion, his mind has rectitude on that occasion, being inspired by virtue (A III 286).
So when he has suppressed the hindrances in the way already described, the jhaana factors arise in a single conscious moment. But owing to the profundity of the virtues special qualities, or owing to his being occupied in recollecting special qualities of many sorts, the jhaana is only access and does not reach absorption. And that access jhaana itself is known as recollection of virtue too because it arises with the virtues special qualities as the means.
Love Buddha's dhamma,


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Wiltshire Police are appealing for witnesses to a fatal collision near Calne yesterday morning.
The accident was one of a number reported across Wiltshire in the foggy conditions and police were again advising motorists today to ensure they drove appropriately in foggy conditions with headlights in use.
Police, fire and ambulance attended a serious road traffic collision between a lorry and a car on the A3102 at Mile Elm, between Silver Street, Calne, and Sandy Lane after the collision just before 9.45am yesterday.
The occupant of the car, who police say was a Wiltshire woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are currently reaching her next of kin.
Officers believe that her Ford Fiesta was being driven southbound along the A3102 when it was in collision with a white 7.5-tonne Iveco goods vehicle that was travelling in the opposite direction.
Police are appealing for any witnesses who witnessed the collision or have any information that they feel may assist.
In particular, police wish to speak to the driver of a van who had been travelling north and arrived at the scene after the collision but left before the arrival of the emergency services.
Police are urging the driver to get in touch as they may have vital information that would assist the investigation.
If you have any information that may assist police please call 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously.
The officer in the case PC Jeff Rice (number 1418) can be contacted via 101 on ext 7203112


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POSTPONED: Protecting Soldiers' Religious Freedoms
Location: John S. Toll Science Center
As the top chaplain of the Maryland National Guard, Col. William Lee brings his scholarship and experience to bear on issues of religious liberty in the U.S. Military.
CHESTERTOWN, MD—The Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at Washington College has announced that the talk by the top chaplain in the Maryland National Guard, Col. William Sean Lee, scheduled for Thursday, May 1, has been postponed
The Institute hopes to reschedule Lee's lecture, "Religious Liberty and the Military Chaplain: Current Challenges to Religious Liberty in the U.S. Armed Services," in the fall 2014 semester.
Col. William Sean Lee is a senior officer in the Joint Forces Headquarters in Baltimore, as well as an ordained Baptist minister. He has studied theology and public affairs at premier institutions, including Harvard University, and regularly consults militaries around the world on best practices for ensuring the free exercise of religion for military personnel.
In 2005, Lee helped launch Partners in Care, an initiative of the Maryland National Guard Joint Force Headquarters Chaplain's office. The program connects local faith communities with members of the Maryland National Guard to provide support and aid without religious obligation. Lee also co-authored Military Chaplains as Peace Builders: Embracing Indigenous Religions in Stability Operations (BiblioBazaar 2012), which advocates for the formal involvement of indigenous religious leaders in stability operations. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Erskine Theological Seminary and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College through the National Security Fellows Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
The Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture is an academic program at Washington College that explores the contributions of religion to political and cultural life in the United States and around the world. The Institute sponsors visiting fellows, enriches the course offerings of the College, and conducts public events addressing the intersection of religion and political and cultural affairs.
– Kathryn Gilley '14