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SOUND OFF Special Interview: Josh Young Talks Solo Album, AMAZING GRACE Workshop & More
Today we are talking to one of Broadway's biggest recent rising stars all about his sensational sophomore solo album, STILL DREAMING OF PARADISE, as well as his role in this weekend's invitation-only reading of the new musical AMAZING GRACE - 2011-2012 season standout and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Tony Award nominee Josh Young. Espousing on the many elements that converged to make his solo album a reality, Young outlines his process with his close collaborators by discussing the imperative inspirations behind it, subsequent arrangement experimentation, actual studio recording process, scientific song selection, major project goals and a lot more, as well as shares memories of what many of the album's tracks mean to him on a personal level and what we can expect from albums from him in the future, near and far. Plus, Young reveals his affection for his first major New York post-SUPERSTAR production, AMAZING GRACE, as he shares his enthusiasm for the daring subject, rich source material - no less than the life of controversial historical figure John Newton - and the purportedly thrilling new score composed for it - as well as the unique and compelling tale behind its conception and creation - while the new musical takes this next step in its developmental process in the Lincoln Center-set industry presentation. Additionally, Young touches upon his favorite memories from the Tony Awards and participating in the Transport Group's recent concert production of BABY - and much, much more!
More information on Josh Young's STILL DREAMING OF PARADISE is available at his official site here.
Paradise On His Mind
PC: There are quite a few unexpected song selections on your new album - CATS to SOUTH PACIFIC to MULAN to the Muppets to the Beatles and beyond. Have you ever encountered a song you wanted to cover but couldn't make it work for your voice?
JY: [Laughs.] Well, you know… it depends. Sometimes it seems like it just won't work, but I always somehow seem to figure out a way in the end. I think that basically treating every song in its own way is the best way to make it work out for you. Of course, some stuff goes a little too low for me, but usually not too high for me to handle it, so I never really had a problem fitting in everything I wanted to.
PC: How did you come to include John Bucchino's "It Feels Like Home" on the album? It's superlative.
JY: Oh, I loved that song from the very first time I heard it. I actually heard it before I even knew Daisy [Prince] or anything and since then I've gotten to know her and she's so great. But, yeah - I love her original recording of that one.
PC: What can you tell me about the Lucy Simon material on STILL DREAMING OF PARADISE?
JY: That song was actually written for a project callEd HeathCLIFF that Christopher Jackson and I did a workshop of - it was basically WUTHERING HEIGHTS: THE MUSICAL. I think it was the last show that Lucy and Marsha Norman wrote together - but, I guess nothing came of it. There is some really great music in it in addition to that one, though - it's really a great score. The song on my album isn't a song my character sang in it, actually. I played the role of Heathcliff's brother and Chris Jackson played Heathcliff - in the first workshop, my role was workshopped by Brian D'Arcy James and Adam Pascal playe Heathcliff, I think, and then a couple workshops down the line it was me and Chris Jackson. It's an interesting relationship between the two characters - there's this flashback to them as children and that's where the song takes place in the show.
PC: What a shame the show has yet to find a life - it seems to have a lot of promise.
JY: I know! It is a really interesting project, I think, but it's only been workshopped as far as I know. Other people have recorded songs from it, though - I know Brian and Adam recorded some stuff live, but we didn't get to do anything in the studio or live. I don't know why it fell apart and never happened - I did the workshop like six years ago now. Hopefully I'll be working with Lucy again sometime soon, though, because I really enjoy working with her.
PC: What was it like performing on the Tony Awards last year?
JY: Well, I was really trying to just enjoy being there - it was such a gift. Performing was awesome, but, man, was there a lot of pressure!
PC: I bet! All eyes on you.
JY: And, at the beginning of the song - for, like, the first ten or fifteen seconds - I thought that my mic had gone out! I was losing my mind!
PC: Was it just a technical gaffe?
JY: Yeah - I thought my mic had gone out, but it hadn't; no one could tell from the audience or at home, but my mic popped and I thought it had gone out. I could hear nothing - I was like, "Is this really happening?!" So, then, I just decided to sing my loudest and hope for the best! [Laughs.]
PC: And it worked! It was a tremendous performance.
JY: Thank you. But, yeah, it all worked out OK, thankfully. You know, just being there and having a front row seat for all of those amazing performances was my favorite part - seeing Neil [Patrick Harris] and Patti LuPone and all those casts. Getting to meet Mandy Patinkin there was such a thrilling moment for me, too - I have just been such a huge fan of his for so long.
PC: Was the final performance of SUPERSTAR bittersweet? What was it like for you on a personal level?
JY: It was a very emotional performance for everyone in the cast and it was very sad that we had to close like we did because we had such high hopes for the run of the show. Looking at the positive side of it, on a personal note, I was happy to have a life again, though - you know, when you play that role, you can't really have your own life; you have to commit yourself to the role all of the time. So, you can't go out and have drinks after the show or anything - you have to go home. As an artist, I think you always have to take care of yourself as a person probably even more than the average person because your body is so important to your art.
PC: There's some irony in living like a monk to play Judas…
JY: [Laughs.] That's definitely true.
PC: One unique aspect to the recent revival was your character's inclusion in "Could We Start Again Please?" How did that change come about?
JY: That was really all Des's idea. We just sort of did it and tried it out and when Andrew [Lloyd Webber] and Tim [Rice] came to see it I guess they loved it. I wonder if they are going to do it again in the future like that in any productions? I don't know, but it might be cool if they go that way with it.
PC: Why in particular do you think the SUPERSTAR revival closed so soon? Was it a bit ahead of the popular curve do you think?
JY: [Sighs.] I really don't know. Going into it, you know, I thought we would run for a very long time, just based on the audience that we had at Stratford and then out of town and then again at the beginning of the run in New York… so, I really don't know. [Pause.] Audiences loved it every single night, I can tell you that - they always went nuts for it. But, looking back on it now, you know, it was a totally life-changing experience for me and it also had the benefit of getting my voice into the best condition possible, so I am thankful for that aspect of it, too.
PC: So, how did this album project first come about?
JY: Basically, the people at the Stratford Festival said that they all wanted another album - they loved the first one and they really wanted a preservation of our EVITA in some way and since we didn't do a recording, I, essentially, did this follow-up album for the Stratford fans and also because of my desire to do another album. One of our producers who became a part of the JCS team in New York, Allan Detsky - he was one of the above-the-title producers on Broadway; and he is also doing Yoko Ono's new show YOSHIMI - he came to see me in EVITA and I guess he really liked my work and so he came to talk to me after the show and said, basically, "What can I do for your career?" He is a mentor to medical students, too - and even figure skaters and other artists; and, he is also a theatrical producer at the same time. So, yeah, I guess it's sort of a very strange story of how the album came to be produced. He was a doctor and now he's a record producer and a Broadway producer. He does it all.
PC: You recorded this right before you started with SUPERSTAR, yes? After EVITA.
JY: Yes, I did - right; before SUPERSTAR.
PC: How did you devise the final song list for the album?
JY: Well, my producer, Allan, said to me, "My favorite aspects of your voice are its beauty, its power and its masculinity, so that's what I want to explore on this album." That's what he wanted to show off with this album. So, I said, "OK!" And, so, we e-mailed for a few months and discussed all kinds of different songs - we threw out all these different song ideas and then we rated all of the top choices we all agreed upon with a 10-point scale based on those three things and how they applied with the songs. At the end, the ones that had the highest scores we chose for the album, and, so, for the most part, that's how we ended up picking the songs.
PC: What a scientific system!
JY: Yeah, yeah - but, then there are a few things that totally didn't pass that test that we included anyway; "Heaven Bound" is one.
PC: Right - you have two fantastic Brian Lowdermilk songs on there, actually.
JY: Yes - I love working with Brian and actually the first job I got in New York City after LES MIZ was a workshop of one of his shows; THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS, a show that he did with Kait Kerrigan. The music was just fantastic - gorgeous, gorgeous music. I don't think that that project ever went anywhere either, but I am not sure. We did a demo of it, but that was it. It was part of the second season at NYMF. Alison Fraser was in it, too, actually - and she is just awesome. She is the nicest woman in the world and she has been so, so supportive of my in my career. She is just such a great woman.
PC: Have you two discussed FALSETTOS? You'd be an amazing Marvin, I bet.
JY: We may have, actually! She may have said something to me once. I absolutely love William Finn - anything of his you can name, I probably know by heart. I love his stuff.
PC: What is your favorite of his?
JY: Oh, there are so many - I think right now my favorite to sing is that Homeless Lady's song from A NEW BRAIN, "Change"? The range in that song is just crazy - I love it.
PC: "Sailing" is another gem from that score. Are a big fan of the show?
JY: Oh, yeah. I love that score. You know, I did this community theater thing every Saturday and Sunday night growing up and when I was a teenager and the woman who ran the program knew like every show ever and one of the songs we did was "What Would I Do?" And, I sang that as a duet with a friend of mine who finally just made it to New York this year. He was, like, Stone to my Stine in CITY OF ANGELS when we were 15 and we did BLOOD BROTHERS together and all of that stuff. So, now, he has finally made it to New York - people are going to be looking out for him soon; he's so talented.
PC: What is the most special track on the album to you, if forced to choose just one?
JY: Well, you know, we really wanted it to make an album that would appeal to all ages - Rodgers & Hammerstein to contemporary rock. But, when I first met fiancée, we were working on this album and we all ordered in Chinese food and I was telling my producers about just meeting her for the first time and everything and I said, "I need you guys to write me one original song for this album." So, this song was exactly what I was talking about that day; "The Man That I Could Be". It's about the whole feeling of meeting her and all of that stuff - it's all about my fiancée, essentially.
PC: A definite standout. Also, how did this re-interpretation of "Heaven On Their Minds" arise? It's quite a radical reworking.
JY: I actually can't take any credit for "Heaven On Their Minds" - that's all my producer, Alan, who had this friend with this rockabilly sensibility and he had this band - and, so, he wanted to do something a little bit different with the piece. Now, this was actually recorded before we started rehearsals for JCS and I didn't even know how I would be singing the song in the show yet and I didn't know what our orchestrations would be like. So, I knew that Stratford audiences would want to hear me do the song on the CD if they were coming to see me in SUPERSTAR, so, Alan brought the band in and we did it reconceived without the guitar riff at first - which was cool, but it wasn't right; so, then, we added the guitar in to the track that we already had laid down, pretty much, later on. So, that was added after everything else - it's all still in the original key, but it's a little different, I think.
PC: What was the inspiration behind the Randy Newman song's inclusion, "When She Loved Me"?
JY: Well, come on - it's from TOY STORY 2! [Laughs.] No, but, seriously, I just love that song - and I love singing it live, especially. I don't remember when I first heard it, but I have always loved hearing it and I can't wait to sing it live in some shows if I get the opportunity.
PC: Covering the Beatles to Rodgers & Hammerstein, at what point in the process did you decide to include "This Nearly Was Mine" from SOUTH PACIFIC?
JY: Well, we recorded that while I was in rehearsals for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR up at Stratford, which was the time in my life where I did the most work I did ever. What I was doing was that I was singing Judas all day long and then I would drive from Stratford to Toronto, at, say, around 7 - it would take me about two hours - and then I would record all night. I would never suggest that to anybody who is recording a CD to do - that is not the way to do it and I learned a lesson by doing it that way. I won't make that mistake again. [Laughs.] But, yeah - as I said, we wanted to cover as many age groups as possible with this one and I think we succeeded overall.
PC: Would you consider doing a completely contemporary album someday, perhaps?
JY: Oh, sure. I know that Brian and Kait wanted to put together a pop CD with some other composers and do an all-new-songs kind of thing in a Josh Groban sort of style; you know, you get all these amazing songs you've never heard before and then record them all. So, we had thousands of people submit to us after we put out a notice, but, after Stratford that kind of fell by the wayside, but, now, I think that that is the next thing I want to make happen. We'll see.
PC: I was curious: what were your own favorite albums growing up?
JY: My favorites growing up were always Billy Joel, Michael Jackson... and Placido Domingo. [Laughs.]
PC: You should do an all Billy Joel album - your voice is so perfect for his material.
JY: Yeah, I love RIVER OF DREAMS and STORM FRONT, especially. I would love to do a concert of all his songs. "Honesty", "She's Got A Way", "Piano Man" - he has so many great songs.
PC: Speaking of roles future and past: you recently participated in the Transport Group BABY concert. Was performing Maltby & Shire material fun for you to do?
JY: Oh, yeah - that was a lot of fun. That material, for example, fits my voice really well - a great part of my voice.
PC: Would you like to do that show again in the future?
JY: I'd love to - I loved that role, but he's a little young, though, isn't he? [Laughs.] Isn't he like 21? But, yeah - that was so much fun to do and I would do absolutely anything for the Transport Group. They are so good at what they do and I love working there. When they asked me to do the BABY concert, I just said "As long as I can sing 'I Chose Right'!" And that's what we did.
PC: What have you been up to since SUPERSTAR?
JY: Well, I did a big concert in Shanghai with some great UK people - Kerry Ellis and some other great people. And, also, I did a workshop of a show called ZULU, THE ACROBAT out in Seattle - it's a great project and I love doing new work like that. I really, really love new work and that's why, you know, I produced a concert series supporting new musicals and stuff like that. I hope to do more things like that. And, next, I will be workshopping AMAZING GRACE, another new musical.
PC: What can you tell me about AMAZING GRACE?
JY: AMAZING GRACE is about the man who wrote "Amazing Grace", John Newton. It's a really great show - I have been workshopping it for a while now, actually. It came up again when I was doing JCS and I couldn't do that production of it, but it is such an amazing show and I am so happy I get to do it again. If you go on AGmusical.com you can hear some of the demos from the show, too, so I recommend to people to do that if they want to check it out.
PC: It's quite a compelling real-life story.
JY: It is! I'm telling you, this story is just amazing. He was a terrible, terrible person who reformed himself completely - I mean, he was a slave trader who completely changed his life. This story just lends itself to being an epic, huge, LES MIZ-like thing - it takes place on the high seas and in Africa and all over. It's such an unbelievably exciting project for me to be a part of.
PC: Christopher Smith is the composer, correct? A newcomer as far as I know.
JY: Yes. You know, I don't think he has never written a musical before, but you would never know it from this! You really wouldn't. But, I guess the story is that he was like a police officer and he became inspired to write this - it's a whole crazy story. There's an article about it on the website.
PC: What has been your journey with the show up until this point?
JY: Well, I have done three or four workshops of it so far. Laura Michelle Kelly and Terry Mann did the last one with me; we've had these amazing casts for every single one we've done. [Pause.] It's just this big, amazing mega-musical - and I am so, so happy to be a part of it.
PC: Congratulations on all the new endeavors. We all can't wait for your next album and whatever you do next onstage, Josh!
JY: Thanks so much, Pat - I really appreciate this. Bye bye.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride, etc.


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I recently acquired a green voodoo karma bag for Christmas and used it for 3 rounds. It has no signs of any wear on it. You would not be able to tell it has been used. I am selling it because I am a tiny 14 year old and the bag looks really big on me lol...
I'm asking 125 shipped or will consider reasonable offer.
I'd also consider a trade + paypal deal, looking for: Revo Carolina or a voodoo mojo.
Pics of karma here!: http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums/m56 ... fer/Karma/

subset: commoncrawl


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HIGHWAYS chiefs are looking at an innovative plan to cut M40 noise using sound barriers with built-in solar panels.
An action group has won cash to develop a project to help the 20,000 residents who live near to the M40 between junctions three and eight.
They would form a co-operative to raise capital to pay for the barriers with a view to making money back from the solar power they generate.
Individuals and organisations would also be able to buy shares to reap dividends from the barriers, which are common in Europe.
About six miles of motorway could get the barriers by 2016, including the stretch near Milton Common, Tetsworth, Postcombe and Lewknor.
The M40 Chiltern Environmental Group has won £10,000 to kickstart the plan from a Co-operative Group bid to find green projects.
The Highways Agency – responsible for motorways – is involved in discussions on the scheme.
Milton Common resident and group member Tony Giddy said the move was vital to provide a better quality of life for villagers.
He said: "At night you can't open your window, it is too noisy.
"It can be absolutely horrendous – this is going to really help people that live close to the motorway. It will be a massive benefit."
The group – which is planning 10km of barriers – believes each kilometre could generate £1m to £2m from selling electricity over 26 years.
South Oxfordshire District Council spokesman Gavin Walton said the authority "recognises that there are noise issues on the M40 in our area and we are interested in the feasibility of the project".
He said: "We are now working in partnership with Wycombe District Council to develop a business case and will then consider how, if at all, we might take the project forward."
Highways Agency chief engineer Ginny Clarke said: "The M40 Chiltern Environmental Group has produced a concept that shows real promise.
"We take our environmental responsibilities seriously at the Highways Agency, and a solution that combines noise mitigation with the production of green energy certainly merits a closer look. By working together in this way, I hope we can help to give this idea its best chance of success."


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A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Abatacept in Patients With Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Scleroderma, Diffuse Scleroderma, Systemic
|Drug: Abatacept
|Phase 1 Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Abatacept in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis
- Change in Modified Rodnan Skin Score [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Modified Rodnan Skin Score measures skin thickness and is the sum of scores from 17 surface anatomic areas rated on a 0-3 scale (0=normal skin; 1=mild thickness; 2=moderate thickness; 3=severe thickness with inability to pinch the skin into a fold). Total modified Rodnan Skin Score ranges from 0 (best possible outcome) to 51 (worst possible outcome).
- Change in Oral Aperture and Hand Extension [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- Change in Pulmonary Function Tests [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) is the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after taking the deepest possible breath.
DLCO (Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) is the extent to which oxygen passes from the lungs to the blood.
- Change in Digital Ulcerations [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- Change in Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
The HAQ-DI includes 20 items in 8 functional domains (dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities) assessing the patient's usual abilities in the past seven days. Each item is scored on a 0-3 scale (0=without any difficulty; 1=with some difficulty; 2=with much difficulty; 3=unable to do). The use of assistive devices for any domain increases the domain score by 1 point to a maximum of 3. The overall score is calculated by summing the highest item score in each of the domains and dividing the sum by 8, with an overall score of 0 indicating no disability, and a score of 3 indicating severe disability.
The time points compared were 6 months to baseline (6 months minus baseline).
- Change in Serum Autoantibody Profile [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
- Change in Serum Cytokine Profile [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
|Study Start Date:
|November 2008
|Study Completion Date:
|June 2011
|Primary Completion Date:
|June 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Abatacept
Study drug, Abatacept, will be administered in a double-blind fashion to the active arm of the study. It will be administered intravenously.
Drug: Abatacept
Active drug, abatacept, will be administered intravenously in a blinded fashionDrug: Abatacept
Abatacept will be administered, dosed based upon weight, intravenously on days 1, 15, 30 and monthly thereafter for a total of 7 doses.
Placebo Comparator: IV fluid
The placebo arm will receive matched intravenous fluids.
Drug: Abatacept
Abatacept will be administered, dosed based upon weight, intravenously on days 1, 15, 30 and monthly thereafter for a total of 7 doses.
Detailed Description:
Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease of unknown etiology characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vascular damage, and autoantibody production. Although the disease is relatively rare, it is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. There have been improvements in survival over the past few decades; however, this has been related to better management of vascular manifestations of disease including renal crisis, pulmonary hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Raynaud's phenomenon. Clinical studies of disease modifying therapies for cutaneous disease to date have been relatively unsuccessful.
Although the etiology of the disease remains unknown, several observations support the role of activated T cells in both the blood and skin of affected patients. Abatacept, a recombinant fusion protein that blocks T cell activation, has recently been approved by the FDA for rheumatoid arthritis. We hypothesize that inhibition of T cell activation with abatacept may be efficacious in the treatment of patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis. This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of abatacept versus placebo in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis. Changes in validated measures of skin thickness and disease activity over 6-months of treatment will be compared between patients receiving abatacept and those receiving placebo. Patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive abatacept.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of diffuse systemic sclerosis
- age 18 years or older
- Adequate renal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular function
- Willingness to use effective contraception for the duration of the study if subject is of childbearing potential
Exclusion Criteria:
- Other connective tissues diseases or overlap syndromes including MCTD, SLE, RA, eosinophilic fasciitis, and limited systemic sclerosis or morphea
- Use of disease modifying agents including methotrexate, cyclosporine,azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, minocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, thalidomide, penicillamine, tamoxifen, colchicine, or investigational agent within 90 days of screening visit
- HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection
- use of prednisone greater than 10mg daily for 28 days prior to screening visit
- women who are breastfeeding or pregnant
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00442611
|United States, California
|Stanford University School of Medicine
|Stanford, California, United States, 94305
|Principal Investigator:
|Eliza Farmer Chakravarty
|Stanford University
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Lorinda S Chung, Principle Investigator, Stanford University
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00442611 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
100 186
|Study First Received:
|March 1, 2007
|Results First Received:
|January 26, 2015
|Last Updated:
|April 23, 2015
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Scleroderma, Systemic
Scleroderma, Diffuse
Scleroderma, Localized
Pathologic Processes
Connective Tissue Diseases
Skin Diseases
Immunosuppressive Agents
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Antirheumatic Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Yesterday a federal appeals court rejected lawsuits that aimed to stop Shell Oil from conducting exploratory offshore drilling in Alaska waters slated to begin this summer.
Native American and conservation groups—including Audubon, Oceana, and Earthjustice—charged that the federal Minerals Management Service didn't adequately consider the potential threats of exploratory drilling to wildlife or the risk of a large oil spill in the Arctic Ocean. After a week of oral arguments in Portland, Oregon, the three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected those claims, removing one of the final barriers before Shell can move forward with drilling.
"Today's court ruling confirms that the legal authorities and regulatory agencies that govern offshore oil development are dysfunctional and incapable of assuring meaningful protection of our oceans and the coastal communities that depend on ocean resources," Eric Myers, Audubon Alaska policy director, told Audubon.
"In both the Gulf of Mexico and in the Arctic, the oil industry has dismissed the threat of a large oil spill," he added. "For its part, the Minerals Management Service has not treated the prospect of a major spill any more seriously nor has there been any meaningful requirement that the oil industry be prepared to respond to a major spill. The result is what you see today—an enormous oil slick destroying wildlife and livelihoods on a scale beyond comprehension."
This summer Shell plans to use its 514-foot long drilling ship to drill three exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea and two in the Beaufort. In 2008, the same year President Bush and Congress lifted the decades-long offshore drilling moratorium, the company paid $2.1 billion for exploration rights in the Chukchi.
The seas are home to polar bears, endangered North Pacific right whales, walruses, and other wildlife already at risk from climate change. Drilling could further imperil the creatures that depend on the seas, conservation groups say. "There's no proven method for cleaning up an oil spill in broken ice," Marilyn Heiman, director of Pew's US Arctic Program, told Audubon recently.
Pete Slaiby, Shell Alaska vice president, told the AP that the court decision demonstrates that the company has submitted robust, safe plans for exploration in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. He said Shell faces several other hurdles before it can drill. "In light of the recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico, we are working hard to identify additional measures that could be incorporated into the program to make it even stronger," he said in an e-mail. "That said, this decision is a very large step in the right direction for us."
But conservation groups point out that BP wasn't prepared to handle the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and that a similar accident in the Arctic would be even more challenging to tackle. "If a similar blowout occurred in remote Arctic waters, in mixed ice and harsh weather conditions, effective response would be impossible," says Myers. "The oil industry's repeated public assurances regarding response capabilities in the Arctic simply do not withstand serious scrutiny."
Eleven of the groups pushing to prevent Shell from drilling in the Arctic said in a joint statement that "the court was evaluating a decision made before the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico happened. We believe that the new issues this incident has brought to light offer even more evidence that Shell must not proceed with plans for exploratory drilling in the Arctic's Chukchi and Beaufort seas this summer."
The project could still be delayed, as The New York Times explains:
|Last week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar ordered a halt to all new offshore projects while his department reviewed safety measures for the work in light of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As part of the review, the minerals service asked Shell to explain ways it could improve its ability to prevent and respond to a spill. Shell is supposed to respond by Tuesday. The Interior Department report is to be submitted to the White House by May 28.


text:
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As he warmed up before teeing off for the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Tour rookie James Hahn joked with fans and signed autographs.
Hard to believe he hadn't played in a final group in a PGA Tour event before.
The 31-year-old Hahn didn't win the tournament, but he performed well enough to finish tied for third behind tournament winner Brandt Snedeker..
Hahn and Snedeker shared the lead going into the final round, so played together in the final group.
"Being so close to winning a golf tournament, playing in the final group it's a little bittersweet," Hahn said.
Hahn had his chances, missing an eagle putt on No. 2 and a birdie putt on No. 3.
"One roll here or there, a couple of putts, and momentum goes the right way," Hahn said.
Snedeker started to put some distance between himself and Hahn at Nos 6 and 7. Hahn had bogeyed No. 5 to fall two strokes back. Snedecker extended that lead to four strokes by making birdie at 6 and 7, while Hahn managed pars.
"I felt like that was the turning point," Hahn said.
Hahn said he knew Snedeker was going to attack the course early, looking to score well. He decided he was going to follow the same game plan.
"He took advantage where you should take advantage," Hahn said, "and I didn't."


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Should I cut my hair?
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 991
Sunday, December 7, 2003 at 05:20PM
: Should I cut my hair?
I've never had long hair in my life - the length of my hair has always ranged from the bottom of my ears to around shoulder length. I want to grow my hair long to see what it looks like but I'm getting bored and I really don't like the length it's at now. I want to know whether I should cut it or not because I don't want to grow it long only to find that I've wasted my time and it looks bad! If you have the time, take a look at my pics and tell me what you think! Thanks


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FURIOUS motorists stung by £100 fines for parking overnight in Radcliffe's tram station say "tiny" signs warning of the fee are completely inadequate.
Drivers using the free Radcliffe Metrolink car park in Spring Lane say it is not clear that the facility can only be used during the hours trams are running.
They say there are only two signs on the lower level of the car park – one of which is defaced – and there is no barrier or information at the entrance and exit.
But Metrolink bosses said there were actually six signs in total with 30 more set to be installed in the next week.
Drivers have been slapped with £100 tickets and say Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) needs to make the rules clearer.
Keia Nolan, aged 21, parked to get the Metrolink at around 3.30pm on July 19 and returned two days later to tickets issued at 4.19am on July 20 and 1.20am on July 21.
Keia, from Little Lever, said: "If these rules are going to be enforced and ridiculous charges issued, people need to be aware.
"There is not even a barrier at the exit. I took pictures of where my car was parked and no sign is visible from where I was."
Keia reported the tickets to the police, fearing a scam, and was told by officers the ticket had come from a legitimate private company, Care Parking, but could be disputed.
She has contacted the firm which issued the tickets directly but has had no response.
Sarah Southworth, who lives in Bury, parked at 4pm on August 2.
When she picked her car up the next day, a £100 fine had been issued at 3.46am.
Sarah, an accountant, said she will dispute the fine. She added: "It is a free car park and it is ludicrous TfGM are penalising people for being responsible and leaving their cars.
"What about people who work a night shift and get a late tram then come back in the morning?
"If the rule is going to be enforced the information has to be displayed so people can actually see it. It is outrageous."
Commercial photographer David Allen, from Radcliffe, was stung by a £100 fine after parking overnight last Friday while he went into Manchester.
When he returned the next day, a fine had been issued at 4am and in the immediate vicinity of his vehicle another four cars had been ticketed.
David said in the past he has been able to leave his car overnight, collecting it the following morning without a charge.
He said: "The restrictions are diametrically opposed to Bury Council's ongoing anti drink-driving campaign.
"There are only two signs and one is defaced, both are badly lit and too high. There are no barriers, suggesting or encouraging overnight use. "These underhand tactics to impose charges will result in the less responsible, who may be drunk, being tempted to drive their cars while under the influence."
A spokesman for TfGM said 30 new signs are set to be installed by Care Parking next week to boost the six they say are currently in place.
She added: "Metrolink park and rides should only be used by passengers during the hours tram services are running, which is made very clear on signs.
"Parking overnight puts your car at risk and inconveniences our customers who arrive early in the morning to get a parking spot. "TfGM does not profit from fines and Care Management only issues a parking charge when there is nearby visible signage explaining parking restrictions to the customer."
The TfGM website states overnight parking is not permitted and the facility is only available to Metrolink customers during service hours.
This has recently been updated with the website previously stating the car park was "free" and giving no further details.


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CALNE instructor Katie Franks made her lengthy trip to Poland worthwhile by picking up a brace of bronze medals in the International Open European Championships recently.
Franks, 25, claimed third place finishes in both the senior women's black belt point stop sparring and continuous sparring categories at +67kgs.
More than 800 competitors from 18 countries took part in the championships, Franks sailing through her early rounds in the point stop sparring section.
She eventually took bronze behind Scotland's Hazel Bracken and Russia's Irina Konnova.
In the continuous sparring section, Franks was able to reach the last four, eventually finishing behind compatriots Nicola Line and Debbie Hill.
Franks is affiliated to the Calne School of Tae Kwon-Do under the TAGB (Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain).
Instructor Martyn Dipper (5th Dan) said: "I'm really pleased with Katie's performance.
"She had some tough fights and excelled.
"She pushed our current ladies champion hard and nearly won.
"I'm sure we'll work on a few things over the next few months to help her achieve that.'' Franks works at Bath University and has been training since February 2002, becoming a 3rd degree black belt under the TAGB.
She also assists Dipper in teaching juniors at Calne and at a Tae Kwon-Do school in Swindon.


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Nothing comes between Justin Bieber and his short stack.
During a stop at the Encino, California, IHOP prior to attending his "Justin Bieber Believe" movie premiere in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, the 19-year-old became involved in a dispute with a paparazzo, "omg! Insider" has learned. HipHollywood.com first reported the incident.
[Related: Is Justin Bieber Really Retiring?]
According to a spokesperson for the LAPD's West Valley division, a complaint has been filed alleging that the "Baby" crooner's security detail, which has a long history of being hands-on with the 'razzi, "battered" a photographer at the 24-hour breakfast-food chain. A separate source said the physical dispute occurred when Bieber headed to the restaurant bathroom and a photographer snapped his photo.
There were multiple witnesses to the drama (a rep for Bieber has not responded to omg!'s request for comment), several of which took to Twitter to share their accounts. Twitter user @ChaseRyanPalmer also posted photos.
Justin Bieber at IHOP what HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA @justinbieber pic.twitter.com/3co1Iy0J6P— Chase Palmer (@ChaseRyanPalmer) December 19, 2013
Justin's water bottle that he threw at paparazzi LOL pic.twitter.com/gsPcvCWbP2— Chase Palmer (@ChaseRyanPalmer) December 19, 2013
@justinbieber just spotted you at @IHOP , too bad couldn't get a picture. Tell your bodyguards to loosen up! Sorry about the papsILY— Chase Palmer (@ChaseRyanPalmer) December 19, 2013
What is it with Bieber and water bottles?! He's allegedly throwing them … and he's getting hit with them.
Maybe because Bieber's IHOP visit wasn't a syrupy sweet one (unlike, say, the time he and ex Selena Gomez had a hot date at the chain in Philadelphia back in 2010), the star wasn't in a chatty mood on the red carpet when he later rolled into his premiere. While he posed for photos next to a Christmas tree — he wore a red suit (with the pants drooping down) and white loafers accessorized with a huge gold chain, sunglasses (at night!), a keychain clipped to his pants, and the slightest hint of a mustache — he didn't talk to the press.
Bieber instead schmoozed with his VIP attendees, including his mother, Pattie Mallette; manager, Scooter Braun; and Usher, who of course helped discover him. The "Boyfriend" singer's pal Jaden Smith was also there with reported gal pal Kylie Jenner. (The 15-year-old daughter of the late Paul Walker, Meadow, also attended. She had previously met the Canadian singer at one of his concerts.)
Bieber's latest incident at IHOP caps off his most dramatic year yet. Start to finish, he's made countless headlines for paparazzi scuffles, house parties, graffiti, alleged bedmates, smoking pot, bad driving, urinating in a mop bucket at a restaurant and cursing former President Bill Clinton while on camera, to name a few. Of course, the "Believe" documentary capitalizes on all of it, detailing the controversy that has followed Justin in 2013 — and charging moviegoers to watch it all over again.


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The Collins Amendment and the Federal Reserve
For starters, Cullen/Frost saw fit to issue non-cumulative perpetual preferred shares to lock in some relatively low-cost regulatory capital. Under the Federal Reserve's new capital rules proposed last June, about 1.5% of most banks' regulatory Tier 1 common equity ratios can be made up of non-cumulative perpetual preferred shares. KBW analyst Jefferson Harralson on Thursday said in a report that "CFR likes swapping out 12% cost of capital for sub-5.5% cost of capital."


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Empiric Therapy of Helminth Co-infection to Reduce HIV-1 Disease Progression (THE or PHE)
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- How to Read a Study Record
Over 25 million HIV-1 infected individuals are currently living in Africa and as many as 50-90% may be co-infected with soil transmitted helminths such as roundworms, hookworms or whipworms. Helminth infection in HIV-1-infected individuals may increase HIV-1 RNA levels and increase the rate of progression of HIV-1 to AIDS. Studies have also shown that successful treatment of helminth co-infection (as documented by clearance of helminth eggs in stool) led to a significant decrease in HIV-1 plasma viral load (-0.36 log10). This change in viral load was significantly greater than that seen in those individuals without documented clearance of their helminth co-infection (+0.67 log10) (p=0.04). Studies conducted in Africa have shown an estimated 2.5-fold increased risk for sexual transmission of the HIV-1 for each log increase in plasma HIV-1 viral load. In addition to direct effects on plasma viral load, the rate of CD4 cell decline in helminth infected individuals may be directly impacted by the significant immune activation seen with such co-infection.
The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial examining the potential benefits of routine empiric helminth eradication in HIV-1 infected adults who do not yet qualify for antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in Kenya. The current standard of care of symptomatic diagnosis and treatment will be compared to a systematic empiric scheduled de-worming program for HIV infected adults. The investigators will compare markers of disease progression including rate of CD4 decline and changes in HIV-1 RNA levels between the two treatment arms.
|HIV Infections Helminthiasis
|Drug: Albendazole Drug: Praziquantel Drug: Current standard of care in Kenya
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Empiric Therapy of Helminth Co-infection to Reduce HIV-1 Disease Progression
- CD4 count [ Time Frame: every 6 months for 24 months (enrollment and months 6, 12, 18, and 24 ) ]The primary measure of efficacy for the randomized clinical trial is the time to ART eligibility and the time to CD4 counts of less than 200 and 350 cells/mm3.
- HIV-1 RNA level [ Time Frame: enrollment, 12, and 24 months. ]
- Markers of clinical disease progression as measured by WHO staging criteria [ Time Frame: Every 3 months for 24 months (enrollment, months 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24) ]Secondary measures of efficacy will include changes in WHO Clinical Staging, development of IRIS, time to hospitalization, time to death, time to initiation of ARVs and CD4 response to ARVs as well as the development of IRIS among those who initiate ARVs.
|Study Start Date:
|February 2008
|Study Completion Date:
|October 2011
|Primary Completion Date:
|July 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: 1
Arm 1 will receive an intensive regimen of anti-helminthic therapy consisting of albendazole every three months for two years and praziquantel at enrollment and at one year of follow up.
Drug: Albendazole
Drug: Praziquantel
Every 3 months for 24 months (enrollment 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months):
400mg/day X 3 days
At enrollment and 12 months: 25mg/kg X 1
Active Comparator: 2
Arm 2 will receive symptomatic diagnosis and treatment of helminth infection as is current standard of care in Kenya.
Drug: Current standard of care in Kenya
Current standard of care for HIV patients in Kenya based on WHO guidelines.
Show Detailed Description
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants must not be or have been on highly active antiretroviral therapy.
- Participants must have CD4 count > 350 cells/mm3 in order to be enrolled in the randomized controlled trial.
- Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
- Participants must be able and willing to participate and give written informed consent.
- Participants must be able and willing to return for the scheduled follow-up visits.
Exclusion Criteria:
• Participants must not be pregnant at the time of enrollment (by urine HCG testing).
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00507221
|Kenya Medical Research Institute
|Nairobi, Kenya
|Principal Investigator:
|Judd L Walson, MD, MPH
|University of Washington
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Judd Walson, Principal Investigator, University of Washington
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00507221 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|July 24, 2007
|Last Updated:
|November 18, 2014
Keywords provided by Judd Walson, University of Washington:
Treatment Naive
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Communicable Diseases
HIV Infections
Disease Progression
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Disease Attributes
Pathologic Processes
Parasitic Diseases
Antiparasitic Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Anticestodal Agents
Antiplatyhelmintic Agents
Antiprotozoal Agents
Tubulin Modulators
Antimitotic Agents
Mitosis Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antineoplastic Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Earth Day in Paradise - Our Everyday Green Hotel Practices
On the Paradise Point island, the environment and our resort are intertwined as one, which is why we go to great lengths to protect it with eco-friendly hotel practices not just on Earth Day, but every day.
Here's a quick look at some of the sustainable hotel practices that we implement on a daily basis:
- Sole use of "Green Seal Certified" bathroom cleaners and "Green Seal" carpet care solutions
- Refillable dispenser systems in our guestroom bathrooms for shampoo, conditioner and body washl eliminate individual packaging waste (Hotels dispose of more than 10 billion partly-used individually-packaged bars of soap and bottles of liquids every year!)
- Bathrooms feature low flow toilets and shower heads
- Use of Compact Fluorescent Lighting throughout our San Diego hotel
- Hotel staff get around the property via electric carts or bikes
- Maintain a collection of 450+ types of carbon-monoxide converting plants and flowers
While these are just a few examples of our commitment to helping the Earth, we are always looking to do more and become one of the most environmentally friendly hotels in San Diego. One of our upcoming green hotel projects include a spa garden where we'll grow ingredients used in treatments right in our backyard.
What are some ways that you & your families go green at home? If you're not thinking green at home yet, check out www.greeniq.com and calculate your family's ecological footprint and find out ways you can lessen the impact you have on the environment.


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Next to refining your technique, swim-specific strength training is the best way for amateurs to take their swim to the next level. This helps triathlon age-groupers to advance far more quickly than they would have time to if they were only trying to put in more laps at the pool.
Tools like the Vasa Swim Ergometer and Halo Swim System are great for more targeted training, but an athlete can also get in a great swim workout with a more simple approach.
At the Playtri Performance Center in Dallas, Texas (a USA Triathlon Performance Center), head coach and former Olympic swimmer Ahmed Zaher has spent countless hours with athletes, and the rest of the Playtri coaches, developing strength training that really work for improving athletes' swim times.
Swimming Events Near You
More: Strength Training for Swimmers
Work the following routine into your strength training if you are ready to ramp up your swim fitness.
Swimming Strength Training 101
Do this routine as part of your normal strength training. Try to give yourself as little time as possible between each exercise to apply the most effective stress to the muscle groups. Repeat 2 to 4 times.
Simulated High Cadence Swim Drill
- Using resistance tubing (Halo or other) wrapped around a stationary anchor, hold on to the handles on each end of the tubing.
- Bend from the waist until your torso is almost parallel to the floor, with the head facing down, arms stretched out in front of you as if you were streamlining.
- Back up until there is tension in the tubing with the arms outstretched.
- Move your arms just as if you were swimming, using an exceptionally high cadence or turnover.
- Repeat this for 40 to 80 "strokes."
Crunches With Weight
- Grab a free weight or medicine ball weighing 3 to 10 lbs. depending on your fitness, along with a stability ball.
- Lay with your mid to lower back on the stability ball, holding the weight or medicine ball over your head with both hands, arms straight.
- Focus your eyes on the weight and crunch up towards it, then back down.
- Do 20 to 40 times.
- 1
- of
- 2


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Seems like it is repeated frequently that most people, myself included, plateau around 350 feet for distance. While I have been slowly increasing that distance (seems like 1 foot a year), is there ever a point where you just punch through per se and suddenly you are crushing 400+ drives?
I know physical makeup has lots to do with that but I am curious on what might be possible I guess.


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The difficult growing season will bring challenges for growers in grain quality management and storage. John Gnadke, harvest management and grain quality consultant for DuPont Pioneer, provides six timely tips for handling and storing grain this season.
2012 is a year most farmers won't forget long, hot and a summer that didn't quit. Unfortunately, harvesting drought-stressed crops will be the norm for many growers this year. And with that comes challenges in grain handling and storage.
Tip #1 When harvesting drought-stressed corn, don't use in-bin dryers with stirring equipment and allow grain to dry slowly in humid conditions.
Hear Gnadke's recommendation for storing drought-stressed grain in continuous flo dryers.
In-bid dryers.
Tip #2 The recommended plenum operating temperature is 190 210 F. The goal is to move the grain through and get it into storage as quickly as possible.
Monitor stored grain on a weekly basis for 4 to 6 weeks following harvest. After that, check grain on a bi-weekly basis. It's a big risk to have damaged corn, considering a 60,000 bushel bin can easily house grain worth $500,000.
John Gnadke provides more guides on figuring cfm of air flow and cooling grain
Plenum operating temperature
Tip #3 Get the grain as clean as possible before storing. Clean grain stores well.
If ears are tipped back, there's the potential the grain is lighter. Storing lighter grain is more likely to create air flow problems and ultimately create spoilage and heating problems.
Tip #4 This is definitely the year you don't want to let the proverbial bad apple (light or damaged grain) ruin the entire bin. Monitor fields for stalk quality and harvest accordingly.
If you had corn that died prematurely, cobs will be spongy and moist. Listen to Gnadke's tips for making adjustments to your combine in these situations.
Spongy cobs.
Harvesting light material or have broken cobs? Get Gnadke's drying recommendations.
Drying Light Material
When working with bins with 60,000+ bushel capacity, about every 20,000 to 30,000 bushels or 1/3 of the bin consider removing grain from the center to help preserve grain quality. Make this part of your fall marketing program.
Tip #5 Even with good growing conditions or little drought stress, remain judicious about checking stored grain.
There are risks when storing even high-quality grain until July/August. Cover fan inlets if there are no down -stream shutters or close the fan inlets in February to prevent gravity-fed air flow from warming the grain. This won't be a problem if marketing grain between March and early June.
Storing grain until July or August? Follow these tips from Gnadke.
Long Term Grain Storage
Tip #6 Many growers who will likely be storing "green" pods or seeds carry risks, too.
Listen to Gnadke's tips.
Storing "green" pods or seeds


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Minotaur D9 Brown Russian
Minotaur D9 Brown Russian, AVALON series-guitar and bass high quality Russian shiny Distressed leather padded strap, sewn edges, 6.5 cm wide, length adjustable from 105 cm to 150 cm (41" to 60"), 5 mm soft velvet suede shoulder pad, Color: brown with Carved theme: handmade by Minotaur in Greece
Further information
|150 cm
|65 mm
Online guides
Guitar Accessories
We investigate some of the many accessories available for both guitar and bass.
test results:
Smart Navigator
- Minotaur Leather Straps at a glance
- go to product group Leather Straps
- go to product group Guitar Straps
- go to product group Accessories
- go to product group Guitars and Basses
- show manufacturer details for Minotaur
- Minotaur Guitars and Basses at a glance
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Further Minotaur items
Offers include 21% Belgium VAT and are valid as long as stocks last. Shipping costs to Belgium are 2,50 EUR, free shipping on orders above 49 EUR. Please click here for international Shipping rates. We do not accept liability for typographical errors or inaccurate information of any kind. *RRP = manufacturer's / distributor's recommended retail price in Germany


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Cloud Expo kicks off today at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif. The 11th International Cloud Expo brings together some of the brightest minds in the cloud and there will be a number of Rackers there to discuss the power of the open cloud during a thought-provoking keynote presentation and other sessions. Rackers will also be on-hand at the Rackspace booths on the expo show floor.
Stop into one of our sessions or swing by the booths to learn more about the Rackspace open cloud from our team of experts.
Here's where you'll find us (all times Pacific):
Keynote Presentation
Tuesday, November 6
9:05 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.: An Open Cloud Discussion
In this keynote presentation, Rackspace CTO John Engates will discuss the differences between open clouds and closed, proprietary clouds while highlighting how cloud computing has become intertwined with day to day life and how enterprises must build their businesses for a cloud world.
Monday, November 5:
2:10 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.: Cloud Application Black Magic
Rackspace Developer Advocate Wayne Walls will highlight some of the best practices and tools to help you move to the cloud, and to make that move as painless as possible.
4:25 p.m. to 5:05 p.m.: This is Your Career. This is Your Career on OpenStack
Niki Acosta, Product Evangelist for Rackspace Private Cloud, will showcase how OpenStack is creating job opportunities; how people are finding careers in OpenStack; and share some stats on the number of OpenStack-focused jobs available today.
5:10 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.: Scaling in the Cloud
Rackspace Advisory Services Principal Solutions Architect, Cloud Strategy Brian Jawalka will discuss key considerations for scaling in the cloud and how the cloud can best work for your applications.
Tuesday, November 6
2:10 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.: Network Virtualization – Amplifying the Power of Cloud Computing
Jamey Meredith, product manager of the Rackspace open cloud responsible for Cloud Networks, will show attendees how software-defined networking will break down barriers to entry for cloud and highlight the pros and cons and everything else in between you need to know to optimize the network in the cloud.
Wednesday, November 7
9:55 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.: The IT Talent Shift: Preparing Your Enterprise IT Talent for the Cloud
In this general session, Lisa Larson, Rackspace Vice President of Enterprise Technical Sales, will help attendees determine how to best prepare their IT talent for the shift to cloud computing.
Along with the riveting speaking engagements, Rackspace will have two booths on the Cloud Expo show floor. One will be feature "listen and learn" in-booth sessions, while the other will provide an immersive walk-through of "The Open Cloud Experience." Make sure you stop by – the expo floor is open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=1/3, Sex=1/3, Mature Content=0/3. Mystic Mayhem is two games in one! In Adventure Mode, Max (the hero) crash landed onto a mysterious island. Meeting the king of the island, Max encounters an evil sorcerer that has kidnapped the princess and took over the kingdom. Help Max save the princess! In Survival mode, you are piloting a plane and you must dodge obstacles to survive while collecting stars.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- It might seem as if the pressure just keeps building and building on No. 2 Ohio State.
That's not really the case.
''That's the beauty about the position we're in,'' center Corey Linsley said. ''We really do control our own destiny. We just have to win this game and then it's all set for us.''
Still, the risks and rewards are elevated - even after the Buckeyes' biggest win of the season against archrival Michigan. Now they have to turn right around and play yet another major showdown.
They meet No. 10 Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday - the latest in a long line of games which have required focusing on the task at hand instead of Big Ten, big bowl and BCS dreams.
In a way, however, as the long season has unfolded, it's actually easier to concentrate and discard all the extraneous white noise. Roll the dice, play the game, see what happens.
A lot of the pressure went away on Saturday night, after the Buckeyes had pulled out a 42-41 win at Michigan Stadium. The Buckeyes were about 30 minutes north of Columbus when they saw on the TV sets and their smartphones on the team bus that Auburn had shocked top-ranked Alabama on a last-play, 100-plus-yard return of a missed field goal.
That not only pushed the Buckeyes into the coveted No. 2 spot in the BCS rankings behind Florida State, but it also touched off a wild celebration on the bus.
Cell-phone video of the moment when it was all but assured that Ohio State would move up a spot into control of a national championship berth showed screaming, laughing and a lot of back-slapping and high-fiving.
''That was a real exciting moment because a lot of guys were watching the game on the bus,'' linebacker Ryan Shazier said. ''A lot of guys got hyped from it. That something like this fell into our favor, everything just played out like it should have.''
Now it's up to the Buckeyes (12-0) to not let this chance slip through their fingers against the Spartans (11-1) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
''We have done everything we need to do up to this point,'' Linsley said. ''We can't start doing things that we haven't done. We've never paid attention to the BCS. Never. That's never been our primary focus - to jump somebody in the BCS. Our primary focus every week was to win the game by as many points as we needed to win. We can't start changing stuff up now.''
It would be easy to let up. The Buckeyes survived a last-minute two-point conversion pass that was intercepted by Tyvis Powell to beat Michigan in an instant classic.
Now is when the more experienced players need to show and tell the others how to stay the course.
Coach Urban Meyer, 24-0 on the Buckeyes sideline to extend a school-record winning streak, is convinced that the seniors on the team are strong enough leaders to not permit a letdown or a loss of focus.
After all, in the midst of the cheering on the bus, wide receiver Corey Brown stepped up front, quieted everyone and told them that their work wasn't finished yet. The mood changed immediately.
''The first thing is you feel pretty strong about the leaders on our team,'' Meyer said. ''I didn't feel very strong about them back in January and February, but I feel very strong about them now. It was a very draining, emotional win (at Michigan). It's almost like that three-hour bus ride home was a very good opportunity to let it all out of you and get back to work.
''I'm concerned about (the team's focus) but I trust our leaders.''
Ohio State edged Michigan State 17-16 a year ago in a game that the Buckeyes trailed at halftime but came back to win. It helped set them on course for where they are now - within reach of all of their goals.
They just need to win the next game - the Big Ten's best offense (Ohio State) against its best defense (Michigan State) - in a make-or-break game for both teams.
Of course, this focus thing works both ways.
The Spartans can leap into the BCS picture, or at the very least assure themselves of a Rose or other top bowl, by upsetting the Buckeyes. It's not as if they're satisfied to have merely reached the title game.
''We certainly have come a long way, but right now we're focusing on beating Ohio State and letting the cards fall,'' Michigan State punter Mike Sadler said. ''There's only so much we can control and we just want to beat Ohio State and let the rest take care of itself.''
Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP


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Errant pickoff throw merely a blip for Turner
Hard-throwing righty fits right in with Marlins' strong spring pitching
JUPITER, Fla. -- When polishing up technique on your pickoff move is your biggest issue in a start, chances are you are throwing the ball pretty effectively.
Jacob Turner found himself in that position on Tuesday after giving up one run in five innings in Miami's 8-1 win over the Astros at Roger Dean Stadium.
Yes, Turner walked three batters, including one that led to a first-inning run. But overall, with the way he is throwing the ball, he's enjoying success.
Turner's velocity has been as high as 96 mph and his changeup is improving, which gives him a pitch to complement his sinker.
On Tuesday, his most glaring mistake was an errant pickoff throw to first base, which resulted in an error. It's also his second off-the-mark throw to first in Grapefruit League play, so he expects to hear about it from pitching coach Chuck Hernandez.
"Obviously, I don't want to throw away pickoffs, and that's two," Turner said. "I'm sure Chuck will have me working on it tomorrow. But the whole pitching staff, from top to bottom, has been outstanding. It's definitely better to be talking about that. But at the same time, the little things in the game can make a big difference."
Starting pitching is clearly a big thing for the Marlins, and Tuesday again was a strong showing.
Turner is lined up as the No. 4 starter, and his outing against the Astros -- in which he stretched his pitch count to 69 -- did nothing to hurt his status.
Giancarlo Stanton provided a long first-inning home run that gave Miami a 3-1 lead, which allowed Turner to relax and settle into a groove.
"Any time the guys get out to a lead like that, as a pitcher, you just want to get them back in [the dugout] as quickly as possible," Turner said. "After the first inning, I felt good. I had a lot of good quality pitches. I got my changeup working, which I was happy about. Obviously, the offense was awesome today."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter


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Rethink Mass Notification
Properly dealing with emergencies demands integration of plant systems.
This article was originally published in our sister publication Chemical Processing.
Emergency mass notification at chemical plants traditionally has focused on audible and visual signaling devices such as sirens, horns, warning lights, beacons, public address and intercom systems. To alert anyone off site -- including fire, police and medical first responders -- communications often were limited exclusively to auto-dialing systems. Since September 11, 2001, the threat of terrorist attacks has prompted plant managers to re-evaluate their approach to both internal and external emergency mass notification. For obvious reasons, this need is particularly important for facilities that process, use, store and distribute hazardous chemicals.
Approximately 7,000 facilities -- roughly half of the nation's chemical plants -- are at high risk of a catastrophic accident or terrorist attack, according to an April 2007 report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Just 101 of the most dangerous plants place more than 80 million Americans within range of a worst-case toxic gas leak, explosion or terrorist attack, according to "Chemical Security 101," a report issued in November 2008 by the Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C. (For more on that report, see: "How Should Industry Tackle Threats.")
Chemical facilities not vigilant about emergency planning and preparedness may find their procedures far lag "best practice," if not border on being inadequate. Despite the oversight of bodies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and DHS, shortcomings have ranged from insufficient audible coverage for indoor plant warning systems, to confusing menus of tonal alerts, to inadequate contingency planning if key personnel are unavailable to initiate emergency plans. Employee and management training that's either insufficient or infrequent also has surfaced with disturbing regularity.
Compliance with government directives clearly is driving this comprehensive re-assessment of emergency mass notification planning, systems and resources. Proliferation of new software-driven technology riding on existing network topologies, and deployment of seamless multi-device interoperable communications both within and outside the facility also is at play. Additionally, there's the ongoing trend toward integrated systems, which in this instance means unifying disparate mass notification devices and systems to achieve the highest possible levels of monitoring, redundancy, reliability and operational simplicity.
System Integration And Interoperability
Safety warning, communications and security requirements traditionally have been addressed through individual systems dedicated to specific needs. These systems have grown in complexity and expanded in number to encompass everything from public address, intercom, telecommunications, paging, text messaging, voice messaging, e-mail and general alarm, to real-time Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications.
Integrating disparate components such as sirens, signaling beacons, fire/gas systems and public address now is critical for ensuring effective redundancy and monitoring for emergency communications and warning. This is because the automation that accompanies integration of audible, visual and digital systems significantly speeds incident response times while also providing decision-makers with invaluable up-to-the-minute data as emergency events unfold.
Redundancy remains a key priority of mass notification system design. The objective is to provide immediate and automatic system backup necessary to achieve maximum levels of failsafe operation and monitoring. Decentralizing control of the system produces higher levels of redundancy as well as enhances intelligibility and ease of use.
Integrating disparate mass notification systems effectively automates hazardous monitoring and warning functions, thereby assuring failsafe operation and accelerated response times.
While IP-based interoperable technology has had a powerful impact on emergency mass notification and continues to show substantial promise for the future, it does have possible limitations that should be considered. These deficiencies become evident in any discussion of the need for redundant system backup and monitoring, particularly as it relates to integration with more-traditional emergency warning systems and devices.
As recently illustrated by public safety emergencies like on campus shootings and natural disasters, there remains a possibility infrastructure for local telecommunications and Internet access could become overtaxed during a catastrophic incident. At a chemical processing facility, either this or a similar deficiency could seriously impair the ability to initiate both conventional and automated telephone, text messaging, paging and e-mail notification of employees as well as local officials and the general public. A fully integrated system that offers reliable backup of additional alert systems, i.e., sirens, horns, loudspeakers, signal beacons and warning lights, ensures redundancy is built in at all levels of emergency mass notification.
Interoperable communications is playing an increasingly important role in emergency mass notification. However, reliance on telecommunications and Internet infrastructures that recently have proven inadequate emphasize the need for automated backup by more traditional warning systems such as sirens and signaling beacons.
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IT WAS an Aussie win at Badminton Horse Trials after a thrilling finish, but it wouldn't be Highworth's Paul Tapner taking the honours.
Dorset-based Sam Griffiths was the victor in an unlikely turn of events that saw him take the title having moved up from 25th after the dressage phase, and fifth after the cross country. Well, they did say it wouldn't be a dressage competition.
Sam Griffiths lowered a single rail on his Irish mare Paulank Brockagh. Tapner would jump last with two fences in hand, but a usually very careful Kilronan knocked down four fences to relegate them to fourth. The hugely competitive and slightly rueful Tapner was therefore unable to clinch his second Badminton title, after it looked the likeliest outcome.
Winner Griffiths was surprised at the end result saying: "I thought if I do well cross country I could move up and obviously I did. I was lying fifth going into the showjumping and there was some really good guys ahead of me so I thought I could put some pressure on and to my surprise here I am. It was a twisty up to height course, the ground is a bit dead but my horse is very careful and she tried her hardest and that's how she came out on top. She is one tough nut, she's really tough but she's got a massive heart."
Wendy Scaheffer was the only clear round of the day with Koyuna Sun Dancer who jumped like a pure showjumper but even they added some time penalties.
Highest placed Brit Oliver Townend and Armada moved up to second from fourth yesterday with eight faults. Townend said: "I'm fairly speechless about it still. It's just a dream come true. At certain points riding round the cross country course I thought 'this is what it is really all about'. You need an exceptional horse to win Badminton.
"Giuseppe has been brave and he's made this a proper four-star competition. This is how Badminton should be. The showjumping reflected what we all did yesterday. It was stamina sapping over a very big course, it's not great not to have any clears but I don't think it was an unfair test just a reflection of what we've all been through."
One of the most popular results of the day however was Chippenham's Harry Meade finishing in third on Wild Lone. His placing pleased many, due in no small part to his admirable comeback from serious injury last season that had put his career in jeopardy, and in fact he only started riding again February. He recorded one of only five rounds to finish with just four faults in the final phase to secure a leap from eighth to third overall.
An emotional Meade said; "To be honest I've been quite calm all week because I didn't let myself get too ambitious and dream or see the scoreboard, I just enjoyed it. Even going into the showjumping today I felt very relaxed and just told myself to enjoy it. I found myself wandering up to the arena like I was jumping in the field at home. This week has probably all exceeded my expectations so I just went with it and enjoyed it."
Prior to the competition, Meade had been ambivalent about his chances with Wild Lone saying; "He's been a very consistent four star horse and his dressage is improving all the time, so I'm feeling positive. This will be my ninth Badminton and I know well what we're capable of in each phase so I'm confident but equally realistic."
Meade's rotational fall last season had left both elbows shattered and in fact he's still awaiting surgery . Riding cross country on Saturday Meade was heavily bandaged on both elbows but he maintained he was happy with how he felt saying; "They actually feel really good, this week was always going to be a question mark about how they held up but they're fine."
Marlborough based Tim Price had been the penultimate competitor, and after lying second after the cross country he had warned that showjumping wouldn't be his horse's strongest phase. Unfortunately that proved to be the case, and a costly 16 jumping penalties dropped him down to a still very creditable ninth place.
Badgerstown based Swede Ludwig Svennerstal rode a lovely round on Alexander to boost them to eighth place to equal his Burghley ranking on King Bob last season.
Sir Mark Todd gave the four-star debutante Leonidas a very sensitive ride and nursed him home with eight faults. Added to two time penalties, they would finish 14th – an excellent result for the young horse, which was largely down to Todd's expert guidance.


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In the case of Obama and Bennett, voters gave them a shot four years ago, but rejected them this year. In Mourdock's case, voters heard his comments that pregnancy resulting from rape was something "God intended" and opted for the candidate who literally positioned himself in the middle of the road in his campaign commercials.
A quick reading of the 2012 election results might give the impression Hoosiers are chaotic and prone to fits of ticket-splitting. Who else would give Democrat Joe Donnelly a six-year ticket to Washington while giving Republicans a super-majority in the Indiana House of Representative for the first time in four decades?
But even in those two cases the similarities were campaigns built on pragmatic conservatism, not tea party and evangelical ideology. Donnelly did everything he could to wrap himself in the image of U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar while painting Mourdock as a tea party extremist. The House Republicans' unified campaign recruited business owners and presented them as fiscal hawks while painting Democrats as extremists for their five-week walkout in 2011.
Ironically, it's Indiana's biggest change-agent, Gov. Mitch Daniels, who shows how residents handle sweeping changes, said Republican pollster Christine Matthews. Matthews worked on the Howey/DePauw Battleground poll released just days before the election that showed Mourdock in serious danger of losing and Democratic schools superintendent candidate Glenda Ritz, an unheralded underdog, within striking distance of Bennett.
Early in Daniels' first term, when he put Indiana on daylight saving time and leased the Indiana Toll Road, his popularity tanked, said Matthews, who has polled for Daniels for the last eight years. Going into his 2008 re-election bid, some of his staff were nervous he may have done too much, but voters warmed to him and gave Daniels a second term.
"After the adjustment period his approval rating soared back up," Matthews said. "There is a bit of a change-averse mentality in Indiana. One of the things that helps explain it is we're very traditional, we have a traditional outlook and we don't like extremism."
"Quick change makes Hoosiers nervous," she added.
In Bennett's case, his sweeping education changes were signed off on by lawmakers in the last two-year stretch of his term and he rolled out one of his most controversial changes — a new A-F school assessment model — days before the election. In Mourdock's case, his rape comments came with just two weeks left in the election, hardly enough time to recover.
Even though Bennett collected six times as much money as Ritz, much of it from private education groups doing business with the state, he lost by roughly 6 percentage points.
"As I travelled across this state, it was clear the voters don't want their tax dollars going to the privatization of their schools. And they don't want their teaching and learning environments to be about teaching to the test, resulting in grading of our schools with a flawed A-F grading model," Ritz said in her acceptance speech.
That might sound like a new direction, coming from a statewide official after years of talk about teacher merit pay, school vouchers and increased options, but it reflects a return to the old way, the status quo.
The extremism concerns could even be seen in the governor's race.
Gov.-elect Mike Pence ran ahead by double digits in most public polling in a campaign where he presented himself as Mitch Daniels version 2.0. But Mourdock's comments injected social issues into the governor's race in a way Democrat John Gregg never could.
When voters caught a glimpse of Pence's tea party background in Washington through heavy spending from Indiana unions, the congressman's lead slipped dramatically.
On Election Day, Pence collected 49.6 percent of the vote, making him the first governor in nearly a century to win the office without winning a majority of voters.


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Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
Stringbean wrote:Has anyone heard an estimated release date on the overstable version of the Lace? Any testers out there?
Ryen91 wrote:I am pretty sure I am more intelligent then you think and have allot more knowledge then your post might suggest.
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The secret is out — milk has something for everyone, and the Dairy Council of California wants consumers to know it.
In celebration of national Dairy Month, the council released an infographic detailing the secrets of milk and website full of information and recipes to help consumers learn more about the "irreplaceable" product.
These "secrets" include:
- The benefits gained from drinking milk. It helps build strong bones, boosts immunity, reduces cancer risk and lowers blood pressure. Recent studies also back up the health benefits of eating milk and dairy products. Other benefits from regularly consuming dairy products include treating obesity, fighting osteoporosis, preventing type 2 diabetes, decreasing the risk of stroke and lowering the risk for heart disease. A study released earlier this month even found the cheese does more than just tasty food – it also decreases the likelihood of developing cavities.
- How quickly milk goes from the farm to the dairy aisle. In most cases, this process takes just two days.
- The truth about nature's sports beverage. Milk is made up of over 85 percent water with an ideal combination of carbohydrates, protein and nutrients to recover, rehydrate and refuel after working out. Chocolate milk in particular has been named a top recovery drink. Studies and have shown that runners who refueled with fat-free chocolate milk instead of a carbohydrate-only beverage performed better than competitors who didn't. Even more science supports milk's role in exercise recovery.
- Milk's naturally sweet and satisfying properties. Lactose, much like fructose in fruit, is milk's natural sugar. Milk also contains casein and whey, providing a protein powerhouse in a glass.
- It's the cost that can't be beat. Milk costs about 25 cents per serving, making it a must-have kitchen staple.
"I think many consumers would be surprised to learn that milk is a local food, going from the dairy farm to the supermarket shelf in just two days," Ashley Rosales, registered dietitian with Dairy Council of California, said in a news release. "We're using June as a time to highlight these little-known facts to help consumers feel great about including milk and milk products in their food choices."


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Medela Disposable Nursing Pads - 30 Count
Item #: 89973
What mom doesn't want to be able to do more with less? Our disposable nursing pads offer greater value - they absorb more so you use less.
- Excellent absorbency and leak protection - day or night
- Discreet under clothing
- Comfortable
- Keeps you dry, comfortable and confident
Check out other available options


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Greetings brothers and sisters
I was watching the film "Killing Fields" the other night and it got me thinking about Kamma. There were children in the film (and i know it happened in real life as well) that were brainwashed into doing horrible things, such as killing.
Did they create negative Kamma? How can that be if they are brainwashed into it?


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A BURNLEY school is to be used as a role model across the UK for its pupils' good behaviour.
Blessed Trinity RC College, in Ormerod Road, has introduced a number of measures to improve behaviour including banning mobile phones and make-up.
The measures have helped it come out of special measures and it is now rated good by Ofsted.
Now the Department for Education will use the school's model as a shining example to raise standards at other schools.
Deputy headteacher Phil Thompson said: "We had an Ofsted monitoring inspection in June 2011 and one again in February 2013 and the DfE noted the progress made in that time.
"What we have achieved is a consistent approach from staff so that pupils know where they stand.
One measure the school has implemented is a ban on mobile phones and electrical equipment. If used, these are confiscated and returned only to parents through the school's reception.
Mr Thompson said: "The thought behind this was that phones and tablets were distractions to children in the classroom and anti-social devices at breaks and lunchtime.
"Similarly, we have made a concerted effort to ensure our students look smart, banning jewellery and make-up.
"In the classroom, there is a clear system that staff use of 'stages' with the appropriate responses, and this has massively reduced low-level disruption.
"Now every child is given every opportunity to flourish."
The school also rewards good behaviour with their merit badge scheme. Merit points see pupils reach bronze, silver and gold badges. Mr Thompson said: "The pupils tell us they love the badges and the recognition that goes with it."
In an e-mail to the school the DfE stated that they would the school as part of a plan to develop case studies in 'various areas of behaviour management that might be helpful to schools that are grappling with these issues'.
The DfE is also expected to feature the school in forthcoming publications.
Headteacher Richard Varey said: "I'm very proud of the excellent work our staff and pupils have been doing in order to make Blessed Trinity the warm and optimistic place it is."


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BELLAWOOD 3/4" x 3-1/4" Rustic Iron Hill Maple Prefinished Solid Hardwood Flooring
Length: Varies
A Floor so Special, Home Sellers mention it by Name. When selling a home, unique features come first. And the name "Bellawood" can be found at the top of sellers' lists again and again. Couple that with a Certified 100 Year Transferable Warranty and it's certain to catch the eye of discerning buyers when the time comes.
Finished to Last. We apply our durable, industry-leading finish to each board using a groundbreaking multi-layered, micro-particle process for superior wear and scratch resistance. So, go ahead, bring on life and everything that comes with it. Your Bellawood floor will stay beautiful year after year. With Bellawood Hues, you'll enjoy all the quality you've come to expect from Bellawood, now available in today's most popular flooring colors/stains. This product is proudly finished in the USA.
We caught up with real Lumber Liquidators' customers who volunteered to discuss their floor shopping, buying and installation experiences. In no way did these customers receive compensation for their kind words. (They're speaking straight from the heart.)


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|1:250 000
|UK and adjacent European waters
|GIS polygon data (ESRI, MapInfo, others available by request)
|£300 per sector. Subject to number of users, licence fee and data preparation fee.
DigBath250 is a vector attributed digital bathymetry of United Kingdom (UK) and adjacent European waters. Its purpose is to provide a regional scale digital bathymetry as a primary dataset for geographic information systems (GIS), mapping and modelling of the sea bed and sub sea bed. It may also be useful for regional scale tidal, current and water column modelling. It has been produced to a specification for non-navigation applications only.
The coverage of DigBath250 Version 2.0 includes the whole of the UK continental shelf and slope and extends into adjacent European waters to cover the whole of the Irish Sea and North Sea. Version 2.0 has been compiled primarily with bathymetric data from:
Contact Digital Data for more information.


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Mr. Plow wrote:I've heard great things about Minneapolis, but have yet to get up there for dg. It's on my list though.
You heard right. There are courses everywhere. Bryant Lake, Elm Creek, Hyland SSA, Blue Ribbon Pines, Kaposia, Cp Adams, Oakwood, Basset Creek, Crown College and The Valley dgc are all amazing courses in there own right. There are many more great courses through out the state. Giants Ridge which is about 5 hours from the Twin Cities and close to the North Shore of Lake Superior is on a ski hill and is amazing. St Cloud which is 60-90 minutes north west of the metro has its own bustling disc golf community. There are also great courses just across the border in Wisconsin. If you get a chance to check out the Twin Cities disc golf scene you need to do so. Don't forget to visit Gotta Go Gotta Throw and check out all the gear and plastic, you will probably end up running into Blake.


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Cinnamon Chip Scones
Can you believe I've never made scones before? I just never think to make them… When I started thinking about what to do with all the cinnamon chips I have in my cabinet, I got a couple recommendations to make cinnamon scones. I decided to give them a shot.
I found a recipe that called for mini chocolate chips and just subbed in the cinnamon chips. I cut my scones into 16 squares and popped them in the freezer. Slowly we worked our way through them and I honestly preferred them chilled, straight out of the freezer.
Hubby commented that these tasted like pie crust with cinnamon chips in it. No matter how you describe them, we both agreed they are worth making again. Hubby has requested that happens sooner rather than later.
One Year Ago: Black Bean and Bell Pepper Cous Cous Salad
Two Years Ago: Alton Brown's The Puffy
Cinnamon Chip Scones
Yield: 16
For the Scones
2 cups (10 oz) flour
1/4 cup (1 3/4 oz) sugar
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick butter (4 oz) (cold, cut into pieces)
1 cup (8 oz) heavy cream (cold)
3/4 c cinnamon chips
For the Topping
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 T sanding sugar or granulated sugar
Preheat over to 425 degrees
Mix together dry ingredients.
Using a pastry cutter, two knives or your fingers (I use my fingers), cut in the butter. (The book uses a food processor, but I like to make scones by hand...less to clean up!)
Add whipping cream and chocolate chips. Blend together quickly (I use my hands and/or a spatula). Do not overmix.
Shape into a round or square.
Brush with egg wash. Sprinkle with sugar.
Cut into shapes. Place on parchment or Silpat covered baking sheet.
Bake for 14-16 minutes until golden brown and delicious.
Recipe adapted from The Food Librarian, originally from The Art and Soul of Baking
Don't forget about Bloggers Bake for Hope – Bloggers Bake. You Bid. 100% of proceeds go to Komen for a Cure. Register to bake by April 30th, come back for bidding May 4-6.
4 Responses to "Cinnamon Chip Scones"
Wow those sound delish! Where do you find cinnamon chips? I think my husband would go nuts for this recipe, maybe with some apple thrown in there too!
Those look so good….wish I could get the cinnamon chips here in East Texas! Did you find them at a specialty shop or your regular grocery market? Blessings, K
Yum! My comments are along the same theme as the others – I've been dying to make cinnamon chip scones (based on ones that I tasted from Concord Teacakes in Concord, MA) but have yet to find cinnamon chips. I believe you got yours on your Hershey, PA trip? I may have to find them online somewhere because I'm convinced they're not sold in New England.
I like the cinnamon chip substitution! I used to make scones a LOT – and then I bought a scone pan at king arthur and I never made them again.
I'm thinking I'll dust it off for mother's day brunch – Mama clean plate loves scones!


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Game Time Start: 3:00 PM EST
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Officials: K. Mauer, K. Cutler, P. Fraher
Media Notes: Indiana Notes, Cleveland Notes
Television: FOX Sports Indiana / FOX Sports Ohio
Radio: WFNI 1070 AM, 107.5 FM / WTAM 1100 FM
NBA Feeds:*NBA Audio League Pass (available free to NBA All-Access members)
*NBA League Pass Broadband (subscription req'd)
REMINDER: Per PD policy, please do not share a link to, describe how to search for, request a link to, or request a PM about streaming video of a NBA game that is not coming directly through the NBA. Not even in a "wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know-what-I-mean" round-about sort of way. Thank you
Season Records: (W-L) 52-21 Away: 19-17
East: 34-10
29-45 Home: 16-20
East: 16-26
Upcoming Games: Mar 31 Apr 02 Apr 04 Apr 06 vs vs at vs 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 6:00pm
Projected Starting Lineup: HIBBERT WEST GEORGE STEPHENSON HILL Projected Starting Lineup: HAWES THOMPSON DENG WAITERS JACK
Andrew Bynum racing Fesenko to be Pacers' least effective midseason pivot pickup (out)
C.J. Watson racing AJ, DJ & TJ to be Pacers' least effective backup-J point guard (out)
Anthony Bennett - left patellar tendon strain (out)
Carrick Felix - left patellar stress fracture (out)
Kyrie Irving - left biceps strain (out)
C.J. Miles - left ankle sprain (out)
Perpetually Disappointing Trader Joe Minimally Relevant Video:
Semi-Relevant Video:
Semi-Relevant Trivia:
Having been around for 44 seasons of professional
basketball, Cleveland has had 336 players fill their
rosters. During that span of time which player has
played the most total games for the Cavaliers?
A. Danny Ferry
B. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
C. Lebron James
D. Mark Price
The Diss: Kevin Draper: Basketball Blogging Networks are a Flat Circle
The dominant trend in the last six years of internet basketball writing has been the
rise of blog networks. Nearly every single basketball blog you read either belongs to
a larger network or is owned by a larger sports media company. With few exceptions
(youre reading one of them) independent basketball blogs dont exist, and the ones
that do exist arent very consequential. I cant think of a single wholly independent
basketball blog within the most influential or trafficked ones.
Some of these networks just consist of a bunch of blogs (Yardbarker, Bloguin, Big
Lead Network), but the more popular ones are networks of team blogs, with one blog
each for each NBA team (TrueHoop Network, FanSided, SBNation). The growth in
team blogs, however, has mostly ceased. These networks are full (or as full as they
want to be), and there is no new, credible team blog network. In fact, if anything, we
are seeing a decreasing emphasis on team blogs.
Before the current NBA season began the TrueHoop Network cut seven blogs from its
network, and shifted its focus to introducing new writers on the main TrueHoop blog
(Disclosure: I have written two freelance pieces for TrueHoop). Similarly, as Vox
Media grows and grows extra money has flowed to hire NBA writers and pay for
longform content, but the team blogs have remained relatively static. The exception
to this trend seems to be FanSided.
FanSided is the newest of the team blog networks, and if you know nothing about it
you can read this blow-by-blow, very cheerlead-y oral history of its founding and
growtha clear indicator that apparently you can now write an oral history about
anything. FanSided also has the lowest quality content of these team blog networks:
there are many writers for SB Nation or TrueHoop blogs that started on a FanSided
blog and moved up, but fewer that have gone the opposite direction. Numerous
TrueHoop and SB Nation writers have been hired as full-time basketball writers
somewhereover 20 last time I countedand only one from FanSided (Couper
Moorhead, who writes for Heat.com). But this pattern, FanSided writers moving up
to other networks, writers from other networks moving up to full-time jobs, may be
Last week Jared Wade, founder of the Indiana Pacers blog 8 Points, 9 Seconds and
an inaugural member of the TrueHoop Network, sold his blog to FanSided. This is a
notable development for the TrueHoop Network, Fansided, and sports blogging in
TrueHoop Network
The TrueHoop Network was already shrinking, and last month its two editors were
promoted and now run all of ESPNs NBA coverage. Ive already raised the question
of what that means for TrueHoops future, and the defection of one of its blogs to a
rival network only amplifies the concerns. I asked TrueHoop founder Henry Abbott
about 8 Points, 9 Seconds leaving, and depending upon your point of view he either
sidestepped the question or seemed unconcerned by it:
Jared is fantastic and I hate to see him go. But it is a joy and an
affirmation every time another TrueHoop Network blogger gets
an opportunity to do this thing we all love. Heck yes I wish we
could hire them all but the fact is Kevin Arnovitz found way more
Zach Lowes, Royce Youngs and Ethan Sherwood Strausses than
any one company was ever going to be able to secure.
It is a good point, and one that Abbott and Arnovitz have brought up before: a
ridiculously high percentage of the open full-time basketball writing jobs over the
last couple of years have gone to TrueHoop Network alumni. Unless ESPN was
prepared to hire 20+ new writers, some were always going to move on to other
But this also feels fundamentally different than past departures from the TrueHoop
Network. This isnt a writer leaving but an entire blog leaving. This isnt Wade
leaving for Grantland, Sports Illustrated or CBS but FanSided, a network supposedly
lower on the totem pole. This isnt leaving for a full-time job but a modest cash out
(more on that later).
Frankly, I dont see a future...CONTINUE READING AT THE DISS
140 Characters of (Non-PD) Coverage
Candace Buckner @CandaceDBuckner
Jared Wade @8pts9secs
Tim Donahue @TimDonahue8p9s
Tom Lewis @indycornrows
Ian Levy @HickoryHigh
Whitney @its_whitney
M.S. Boyer/J. Valade @PDcavsinsider
Bob Finnan @BobCavsinsider
John Krolik @JohnKrolik
Conrad Kaczmarek @ConradKazNBA
Brendan Bowers @BowersCLE
Angelo Benedetti @CavsFangelo