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KARACHI: The local automobile industry will not oppose the import of completely knocked down (CKD) vehicles from India, according to Indus Motors Limited Marketing Director Ali Asghar Jamali. He was speaking to the media on the launch of the Toyota Dream Car contest, held simultaneously at Toyota Central Motors and Toyota Society Motors, on Sunday. He said that the local industry had already conveyed its views on awarding the most favored nation status to India, and recommended that the import of completely built up units not be allowed.
"We are ready to compete with Indian automobiles, as we believe that Pakistani assembled cars are no less in standard and can easily compete with them", Jamali said.
The auto industry has welcomed trade liberalisation with India, but has some reservations about import of certain finished products which are also produced in Pakistan. They say if Pakistan starts importing finished products, growth in the local industry will grind to a halt.
According to Jamali, the government has assured auto parts manufacturers that the domestic industry will be protected and a negative list maintained, despite recent moves to further open up commerce between the two countries. The negative list contains items on which the government imposes tariff barriers to protect the local industry.
"The automobile industry is satisfied with the assurance given by Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood and as long as the local vendors do not get hurt, we will not oppose trade liberalisation with India", he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2012.


text: Hey guys, I've got a rental 2013 V6 Convertible here on my vacation. I've had it for a day, no problems, now all the sudden the trunk has grown a mind of its own. The trunk won't stay closed. The car will electrically release the latch the second I close it. Sometimes it will close for 3-4 seconds, i'll start walking away and it will pop itself open again. Other times it will stay shut, then pop open if I open or shut a door. I checked under the trunk mat/cover for snags or loose wires and everything looks good. I feel like it's a short somewhere but I have no idea. I do a lot of work on other cars, just no experience with mustangs. Any ideas? I'd like to get back to my vacation. haha

subset: commoncrawl


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Where we live: Buffalo
The Planning Board will review a proposal for a new residential and retail project on an empty lot on Hertel Avenue, near Starin Avenue, when it meets Tuesday morning.
Architect Karl Frizlen is proposing two buildings of three stories each. They would contain apartments and first-floor retail space. The development would also include parking.
Ellicott Development Company also is seeking approval for renovation of the facade and 2,600 square feet of interior office space at 1269 Main St., near Northampton Street.
The meeting begins at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday in Room 901 at City Hall.
This week:
• The Council's Civil Service Committee will meet at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers.
• A Finance Committee meeting begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers.
• The Council's Community Development Committee meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers.
• A meeting of the Legislation Committee begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers, and will include a public hearing on historic designations for buildings in the Larkin District.
• The Environmental Management Commission will meet at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Room 901, where it will discuss the city's Green Code and a report on the Sewer Authority's Long-Term Control Plan.
• The Buffalo Urban Development Corp.'s Real Estate Committee meets at noon Wednesday in the fourth-floor conference room at 95 Perry St. A Buffalo Brownfield Redevelopment Corp. meeting follows.


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Detail Information
- Caffeine intake and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysisCatarina Santos
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Porto University Medical School, Porto, Portugal
J Alzheimers Dis 20:S187-204. 2010..and definite statements on this topic...
- Caffeine intake is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study from PortugalCatarina Santos
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Porto University Medical School and Institute of Public Health, University of Porto ISPUP, Porto, Portugal
J Alzheimers Dis 20:S175-85. 2010..49, 95%CI 0.24-0.97), but not significantly in men (RR=0.65, 95%CI 0.27-1.54). Our study confirms the negative association between caffeine and cognitive decline in women...


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Mercury Fall to Mystics
Mystics 90, Mercury 84Posted July 1, 2012
WASHINGTON -- Crystal Langhorne scored 22 points and Noelle Quinn scored a season-high 18 and the Washington Mystics earned a 90-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
Rookie Natalie Novosel added 12 points for the Mystics (3-10), who entered the game averaging the fewest points in the WNBA, but produced their highest scoring total of the season. Washington also snapped a five-game skid, which included a loss at Phoenix 12 days ago.
Charde Houston scored 17 of her 26 points in the second half for the Mercury (4-10). DeWanna Bonner and Samantha Prahalis each scored 20.
Langhorne scored 11 points and the Mystics finished the first quarter shooting 64.7 percent for a 27-18 lead. It marked the first time all season Washington led after the first quarter.
The Mystics scored a season-high 50 first-half points for a 50-41 lead at halftime and extended the lead to 16 in the second half.
Phoenix pulled with five at 69-64 early in the fourth quarter, but the Mystics quickly countered with a 6-0 run including consecutive jumpers from Quinn. Langhorne added seven points inside the final 4:46 as the Mystics held on for their third home win of the season. Washington's other victories this season were by a combined four points.
Quinn scored eight consecutive points for Washington in the second quarter, helping to offset Bonner's 18 first-half points.
The Mercury have lost seven of nine road games this season.


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Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelEco-friendly London hotel in City of Westminster, walk to Covent Garden Market
Popular property highlights
Located in City of Westminster, this eco-friendly hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Covent Garden Market and King's College London. Royal Opera House and London Coliseum are also within 10 minutes.
Hotel Features
2 restaurants, 3 bars/lounges, and a fitness center are available at this smoke-free hotel. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a coffee shop/café, a 24-hour business center, and 24-hour room service.
Room Amenities
All 785 rooms offer free WiFi, 24-hour room service, and LCD TVs with cable channels. Guests will also find coffee makers, free newspapers, and free bottled water.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
The Strand Palace Hotel
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at the coffee shop/café. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of hotel's 3 bars/lounges. This 4-star property offers access to a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms.
A computer station is located on site and wireless Internet access is complimentary. This eco-friendly hotel also offers a fitness center, tour/ticket assistance, and concierge services.
The Strand Palace Hotel is a smoke-free property.
- Express check-in
- Luggage storage
- Elevator/lift
- Number of bars/lounges - 3
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Fitness facilities
- Number of restaurants - 2
- 24-hour business center
- Concierge services
- Shopping on site
- 24-hour front desk
- Conference space
- Express check-out
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Meeting rooms 9
- Total number of rooms - 785
- Coffee shop or café
- Number of floors - 9
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free WiFi
- Computer station
- Smoke-free property
- Free newspapers in lobby
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Free newspaper
- Phone
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Bathtub or shower
- Desk
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Cable TV service
- Free WiFi
- Room service (24 hours)
Where to Eat
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 6:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
Sacred - This cafe serves breakfast and light fare.
Daawat - This restaurant specializes in Indian cuisine and serves lunch, dinner, and light fare.
The Nook Bar - This sports bar serves lunch, dinner, and light fare. Open daily.
The Gin Palace - This cocktail bar serves light fare only.
The Carvery & Grill - Onsite restaurant.
24-hour room service is available.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Check-in time ends at midnight
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
- Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- No onsite parking is available.
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: between GBP 10 and GBP 25 per person (approximately)
Hotel Name
- Palace Strand
- Strand Palace
- Strand Palace Hotel
- Strand Palace Hotel London
- Strand Palace London
- Hotel Strand Palace
- Strand Hotel London
- Strand Palace Hotel London, England
We should mention
Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
Awards & Affiliations
National Rating
This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitEngland, the National Tourist Board for England.
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A North Aurora boy was charged Tuesday with bringing a grenade to school, police said.
Jewel Middle School officials notified police around 9 a.m. Tuesday after students reported a 12-year-old boy brought the grenade in his book bag, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Kane County Bomb Squad was called and found the grenade to be inoperable, the Sun-Times reported.
The student faces discipline at school and disorderly conduct charges.
Published at 10:40 AM CST on Mar 7, 2012


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For the first time in the ten-year history of the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards, a swell with the power to rearrange the potential nominees has come in the final week of the year-long competition. A unique event in surfing, the XXL honors the greatest achievements in big wave riding anywhere in the world at any time — based on the photographic evidence. Generally, the short list of Billabong XXL Awards nominees has firmed up by late March, a time when the North Pacific and Atlantic are settled down for the season and the South Seas have yet to come to life. But in a year of high surf superlatives, it should not have come as a surprise that an off-season game-changer would suddenly appear.
"It's really, really rare to get a big swell this early in March," said Sean Collins of Surfline.com, the official surf forecaster of the XXL. "It could be El Nino-related as there's already been lots of tropical activity in the South Pacific, all of which serves to supercharge these storms – like what we've seen in a few of our North Pacific swells this winter."
Standouts at the all-star Teahupoo session included Tahitian locals Manoa Drollet and Raimana Van Bastolaer along with Hawaiians Shane Dorians and Ian Walsh. The newest Ride of the Year entries can be viewed at the event website at http://www.billabongxxl.com/roty/index.html <http://www.billabongxxl.com/roty/index.html> where they join video clips of epic moments of the last year at spots like Tasmania's Shipstern Bluff, Maverick's in California and Waimea Bay and Jaws in Hawaii.
Almost certainly the still photos of the day will weigh heavily in the nominations for Monster Tube, the award for the most intense barrel image of the year. A gallery of those shots can be viewed at http://www.billabongxxl.com/monster_tube/index.html <http://www.billabongxxl.com/monster_tube/index.html> .
Nominations will be announced in all the key event divisions starting next week, with the gala Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards ceremony taking place April 23 at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California. Featured categories include the Ride of the Year, XXL Biggest Wave, Monster Paddle-In, Monster Tube, Surfline Best Performance, Billabong Girls Performance and the Verizon Wipeout Award. The event features over $130,000 in prize money and will be televised on the ESPN Networks starting May 18, 2010.
The Tenth Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are presented by Monster Energy. Surfline is the official surf forecaster, Verizon Wireless is the official communications provider and Honda Aquatrax the official watercraft. The event is sponsored by Surfing Magazine and Air Tahiti Nui.


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Use the tools below to refine your search by only displaying reviews with a certain number of star ratings or to only show reviews from a certain time period. Eg click on '1 star' to just display the reviews we have which received a 1 star rating click or 'Within the last month' to display just reviews posted over the last month.
Written on: 28/04/2012
Bought my X5 5 years ago after a couple of awful Range Rover TD6 & Discovery experiences. My husband laughed calling it a pretend 4 wheel drive, I had the last laugh though when it pulled his transit a mile up a snow bound road that winter. The X5 has never failed me which is more than I can say about my previous 4x4s, it regularly pulls my sheep trailer in muddy fields, showgrounds and on the roads. I can't fault it and I do give it a hard time! The X5 is a perfect all rounder, does the four… Read Full Review
Written on: 17/11/2009
5 times in the BMW garage so far.Terrible customer service.Never ever again. spent £45000 on X5 .waste of money… Read Full Review
Written on: 06/08/2009
I bought a newBMW X5 3.0d automatic at the end of March. Seemed a great deal with comfort seats, panoramic roof, leather etc. However in the 5000 + miles since then I have been less than overjoyed with the amount of water which hits the seats on opening the doors ("they all do that sir") and the tendency of those harsh riding run-flat tyres to track across raised white lines, road undulations and repairs etc.
Add to that over 4 days to fit a towbar, a return to the garage through loss of… Read Full Review
Written on: 05/01/2009 by cynical50 (1 review written)
the BMW X5 3.0 Sport is a dream to drive, basically point and go and almost takes the fun out of driving as its so easy. Its very comfortable and feels fantastic. Motorway driving is a pleasure with good mpg (for the size) ... between 30 and 40mpg. No getting away from it, its a beast of a car and running costs equate to that. All in all a seriously impressive piece of kit and for the price these are available for at the moment, a real bargain in my eyes (under £20k)… Read Full Review
Written on: 07/04/2008 by bmwg2mrk (1 review written)
I have a December 2006 BMW X5 with 12k on the clock that I paid 31700 for this was 17,100 cheaper than it was new - so far seems like very good value for money as you can drive it all day long and still be as fresh as when you got in it… Read Full Review
Written on: 24/05/2007 by RobinDP (1 review written)
The BMW X5 looks nice and handles well.............however. The gearbox is shocking, in fact so bad that I have to describe it as dangerous. The indifferent and prolonged lag at junctions means you are seriously at risk of being T-boned from the side and once the power kicks in the car shoots forward which also means the car in front could be in trouble.After persistent complaints BMW eventually described it as a characteristic of the car.......does not really correlate with information… Read Full Review
Written on: 07/04/2008
I disagree with this review because... I have driven BMW's for about the last 10 years - The one thing you learn about BMW diesels is the initial time lag when you put your foot down at junctions, this is easily overcome by knocking the gearbox into sport mode whick completely changes its characteristics and reduces any lag time and gives you a very different experience in initial acceleration - please try it it does help.
Written on: 18/05/2007 by thraxtos (1 review written)
Awful 6 Speed ZF Automatic Gearbox. My car's a Diesel model - It lurches at every opportunity. It's really quite dangerous, especially at roundabouts & junctions. What do BMW call it? - A Characteristic! - And one that they don't tell you about when you buy one. Even the brochure tells you how smooth the power delivery is - NOT! These cars with this gearbox are absolutely no where near the "ultimate driving machine". A disgrace to what used to be a good name. Very disappointing - See above… Read Full Review
Written on: 31/07/2005 by krjd1 (5 reviews written)
This X5 3.0 Sport was the first automatic we have ever owned and I have to say it's great. The automatic shift is very smooth, you can feel it change between first and second when pulling away but after that it's hard to notice the gear changes when driving normally. In sport mode the five speed auto becomes a four speed unit and holds the rpm for an age. It gets a little bit noiser in the cabin but the sound is nice and the resulting acceleration more than worth it - it's useful… Read Full Review
Written on: 17/02/2004 by 100793 (2 reviews written)
What more can I say, BMW X5 3.0 SPORT looks great, before driving one I dismissed it as a footballers wife's car - but go & test drive one & you too will be smitten!… Read Full Review
Written on: 06/05/2006
As a Range Rover owner, I'd recommend you stay on the tarmac. I've had to pull a few X5's out of the mud with my P38, just like Top Gear on TV.
Written on: 19/02/2003 by Bob. (1 review written)
Evidently BMW has corrected the problems of early model X5s. My 2002 has 11,000 trouble free miles on it. I am averaging 19.6 miles per gallon, which is excellent for a vehicle of this size. Handling is better than on most non SUVs, and immensely better than my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Have taken it off road in Death Valley, CA with no problem except for occasional bottoming on short, steep rises… Read Full Review
Written on: 19/01/2003 by amar. (1 review written)
sporty, great suspension if you get sport package, if you're loaded with money then i recommend you get the 4.6is, it is a beast, it has i think 349 horses and stock with 20 inch rimz....but if u want luxuary and style get the BMW X5… Read Full Review
Written on: 11/10/2002 by chris. (1 review written)
The BMW X5 3.0 Sport is absolutely the best suv you can get. Regardless of the gas mileage (who really cares about mpg when your looking at a 4500lb vehicles). I have had a few issues with switches breaking, door handles scratching and other little items. Thankfully warranty covers these parts. If you are looking for a suv that gets you to where you need to go quickly and most importantly safely, this is the ride you should seriously consider. Wish I could afford the 4.6. That beast is a bullet… Read Full Review
Written on: 17/09/2002 by Stumpy. (1 review written)
I have just completed my first year with my BMW X5 3.0 Sport and it has been fantastically enjoyable. Even had it off road which it coped with well. Living in the country it provides better versatility and value than the 530i touring. Love it to bits, probably buy a 4.4 auto next time.
Only reliability niggle was a small problem with electrics to steering wheel… Read Full Review
Written on: 25/06/2002 by Jake. (1 review written)
My only problem with the BMW X5 3.0 Sport car is the manual gearbox which has a very tall first gear. Find myself taking off in second most of the time. Buy an automatic!
The sports pack is also the best looker but with 19" 285mm wide tyres you can't seem to get all terain tyres. Not a problem for most on roaders but if you are considering any off roading smaller wheels may be better for you.
Can't fault the build quality or performance. If you can find one buy it… Read Full Review
Written on: 21/03/2003
Please provide more information about your "manual gearbox" "tall first gear" problem. I'm interested in getting a 2003 X5 in a 5speed and would like to know if your problem exists in older models and may have been corrected in the new models. Please explain in detail thank you.
Written on: 06/09/2001 by Kriss. (1 review written)
The BMW X5 Sport is powerful, quick and luxurious.
Great looking especially with the sport pack.
Lets face it, how many in this sector go off road?
So even though it is pricey, the looks, quality and performance sets it apart from the rest. (The 4.4 sport is a flying machine !)
Go drive a range rover then get in one of these and feel the difference !!… Read Full Review
Written on: 01/05/2003
A Range Rover can go off road ! ! ! Two different animals.
As rated by our community of reviewers
" Fun, fantastic and nice " Read More
" Xtrail 1.6DCI Tekna 2016 " Read More
Written by Ashyk
" Worst vehicles ever! " Read More
" Great all around truck " Read More
" Wolf in sheeps clothing " Read More
Written by speed098


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What a fuzzy DOTD! You are adorable and such a handsome lad.
It was wonderful to read your story and hear the impact you have had
on your Mom's life. I know today will bring you extra attention and I hope a treat or two. May God bless you with good health and fun-filled adventures.
It's been a pleasure to meet you this morning.
Love and purrs... Nonie & Star (meow)


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Download and listen here Subscribe in iTunes or your grandmother will be really angry with you Tim and David both got the new iPad,
About Tim Robertson
Founder MyMac.com. Podcast Host of TechFan. Owner Stoplight Network. Father of four, husband to one. Loves reading, podcasting, music, video games, the 1980s, and all things electronic and Apple.
- Web |
- More Posts (440)


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John B.wrote a review of Giro Trans Shoes on January 2, 2013
Giro Trans Shoe
Familiarity: I've used it several times
Definitely a good price compared to other places I've been. Very light shoe, and comfortable for the short/long distance road biking I do. I would recommend this shoe to any person that's looking for a good shoe for road biking.


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DAVID and Rachel McInnes have been married for 20 years.
The couple, who live on the NSW south coast, have made a conscious decision not to have children because they believe the world is already overpopulated.
Mr McInnes, 44, is a geophysicist who travels the world and together with his wife Rachel, 50, run their own business.
Here they share their story with news.com.au.
"About 15 years ago, we sat down and discussed what we were going to do [with our lives].
We felt that we didn't need to have children. We thought there were plenty of children out there and we didn't need to have our own.
"We have nephews and nieces so we already have a connection to children. If we really wanted to have our own, there are opportunities to adopt.
There's incredible overpopulation in [areas of] Asia and Africa and places like Eastern Europe, where you've got three generations living under the one roof.
We really feel that there's enough people on the planet.
It's a hot topic at the moment, especially with the discussion about climate change.
The planet is going to be here a long time after man. We just felt that we've already got enough people here.
Having children is a privilege, not a right.
I think people need to really think about it [first]. It's their lives, their children's lives and the planet's life.
I don't mind paying my taxes for education and things like that.
I think there needs to be a balance. I don't think we should have to pay more than our share.
I travel around the world and I didn't think it was right to have children and then run away and have to be away for 10 weeks at a time travelling in Eastern Europe or Russia, because parenting is a dual task.
And I didn't expect my wife to give up her career so I could do that.
My wife had her tubes tied. [Rachel, now 50, had the procedure 12 years ago].
There are other [contraceptive] options. But they're not really sustainable [in a long-term relationship].
When you make that active decision and then you tell people about it, they're really aghast. Some people have called us selfish.
I've worked a lot overseas and in some countries they always ask if we have children.
They ask if you're married, they ask how long have you been married and they ask, "Do you have children?"
When we say no they say, "Wow!"
Sometimes we just say that we can't [have children]. People are very opinionated about it and have very strong views. Sometimes it's easier to lie.
You can't deny that you also have to make a decision about your lifestyle.
You're burdened with children and we run our own business so it would have been difficult to do with that.
And we have our parents. We've taken them on as a family, helping them in their old age.
We made the decision, we talked about it a lot. And when you make your decision you just stick to it."
"It's a time thing. One thing that is important to me is community involvement.
[Not having] children allows me to spend time working in, and for, our community.
I am involved in a lot of local groups (too many for David to keep a track of!).
Also, we work for ourselves and because we're not looking after children we have the time to do that.
I was up working until midnight last night because I had a deadline.
Without kids, it means our days are not as structured as some people's. It means I can rearrange my days to suit my volunteer work.
When we travel in some countries it's easier to say that we couldn't have children, rather than admit that we chose not to.
Sometimes it's seen as offensive. In some cultures they feel like there's something wrong with you if you don't want children.
Some people are shocked and say, "Oh you'd make such good parents" or "it's such a shame".
We've sort of passed that time where you can [naturally] have children, so it's become kind of accepted now.
But when we were younger, there was probably a lot of disappointment from our family and friends that we weren't going to have children.
[David and I] have always had great communication. It's just a decision we came to."
Have your say below or continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauhq | @beck_sullivan


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"I have a visit Jan. 16," defensive back Darcel McBath said. "That's Texas Tech. Right after that I have Texas A&M on Jan. 18. And I have Notre Dame Jan. 23."
"I'm going to visit Oklahoma State, maybe Jan. 9 or Jan. 30."
"That's pretty much it. I narrowed it down pretty much to those four. They're all pretty much even. I like them all. I'll take my visits and make my decision."
Article Continues Below
The 6-foot-2 and 180 pound McBath made 79 tackles during his senior season at Gainesville, Texas. McBath also intercepted six passes.


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Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 342165, 12 pages
Dry Needling at Myofascial Trigger Spots of Rabbit Skeletal Muscles Modulates the Biochemicals Associated with Pain, Inflammation, and Hypoxia
1Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tzu Chi General Hospital, No. 66 Sec. 1 Fongsing Road, Tanzih Township, Taichung 42743, Taiwan
3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2 Yuh-Der Road Taichung 40447, Taiwan
4School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Received 18 October 2012; Accepted 26 November 2012
Academic Editor: Chang-Zern Hong
Copyright © 2012 Yueh-Ling Hsieh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background and Purpose. Dry needling is an effective therapy for the treatment of pain associated with myofascial trigger point (MTrP). However, the biochemical effects of dry needling that are associated with pain, inflammation, and hypoxia are unclear. This study investigated the activities of -endorphin, substance P, TNF-, COX-2, HIF-1, iNOS, and VEGF after different dosages of dry needling at the myofascial trigger spots (MTrSs) of a skeletal muscle in rabbit. Materials and Methods. Dry needling was performed either with one dosage (1D) or five dosages (5D) into the biceps femoris with MTrSs in New Zealand rabbits. Biceps femoris, serum, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were sampled immediately and 5 d after dry needling for -endorphin, substance P, TNF-, COX-2, HIF-1, iNOS, and VEGF immunoassays. Results. The 1D treatment enhanced the -endorphin levels in the biceps femoris and serum and reduced substance P in the biceps femoris and DRG. The 5D treatment reversed these effects and was accompanied by increase of TNF-, COX-2, HIF-1, iNOS, and VEGF production in the biceps femoris. Moreover, the higher levels of these biochemicals were still maintained 5 d after treatment. Conclusion. Dry needling at the MTrSs modulates various biochemicals associated with pain, inflammation, and hypoxia in a dose-dependent manner.


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The Iversens/Photo courtesy of Kristen Iversen
Editor's Note: Kristen Iversen's 2012 memoir Full Body Burden is partly a memoir of childhood, partly a study in secrets, and partly a thorough work of investigative journalism. Iversen grew up in a small Colorado town close to Rocky Flats, a secret nuclear weapons plant once designated "the most contaminated site in America." As she shares the experience of living in the town, she also delves into the secrets of both her family and the government, revealing, ultimately, the devastation wreaked by both. Here, as her memoir comes to paperback, Signature revisits Iversen to talk about the myriad ways the book affected her life and the lives of those it touched.
Signature: Much has happened since Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats was first published. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
KRISTEN IVERSEN: For one thing, I've received an overwhelming volume of e-mail from readers, many of whom live not only near Rocky Flats but also other nuclear sites such as the Hanford site in Washington and the Savannah River site in Georgia. There are contaminated sites all over the United States, east to west, north to south, and many people feel that their health has been affected or compromised by their proximity to nuclear weapons sites or nuclear power plants. Some of these stories are quite painful. These are stories that deserve our attention, particularly as we face important decisions about nuclear weapons and nuclear power. One of the projects I'm working on now is a story and photography exhibit that would be part of the Cold War Museum in Colorado and bring some of these stories to light.
SIG: Have there been any environmental or political changes in terms of how people think about Rocky Flats or some of these other nuclear sites?
KI: The book has sparked a new grassroots movement of environmental awareness and change in Colorado that is very exciting. After reading Full Body Burden, local Colorado citizens formed a coalition to hold state and government agencies more accountable for ongoing contamination at Rocky Flats. They created a proposal for the monitoring of air and dust for plutonium. A petition, signed by thousands, intends to halt the construction of a highway adjacent to the site that would not only stir up plutonium particles but spur home and business development on contaminated land. Citizens demand that the still-contaminated Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, slated to open for public hiking and biking, remain closed to the public and signs be posted to warn citizens of potential health hazards. And as a result of citizen protest, Jefferson County Commissioners are re-evaluating their decision to stop testing local water supplies for tritium.
SIG: Full Body Burden is a deeply personal story, and it reveals a great deal about you and about your family. How has your family reacted to the book's publication?
KI: My family, of course, was aware of the book before its publication, but I really wasn't sure how they would react when the book was actually out in the world. To my surprise, publication of the book has brought my family much closer together. My father read the book, of course, and although the process wasn't easy, talking about the book brought all of us much closer as a family. My siblings, my father, and I were able to talk about things in a way that we couldn't in the past. My dad is facing serious health issues now, and we are all grateful for the time we have together. My mother passed away before the book reached publication, but she was a strong and loving advocate and I feel her presence every time I read a passage from the book.
One of the themes of Full Body Burden is secrecy, and the cost of secrecy, at the level of family, community, and country. Bringing these stories out into the open has resulted in change regarding Rocky Flats, but the most important change for me personally is that it has brought me closer to my family and to the father that I never really knew.
SIG: There is a growing body of what might be called nuclear literature in America. Do you see your book as part of a broader, growing literary field?
KI: There is indeed a growing field of literature in America that examines the ongoing cultural and environmental effects of the Cold War and our past and current nuclear policies. This began with Hiroshima by John Hersey, and over time we've had books like Terry Tempest Williams' Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place and American Ground Zero by Carole Gallagher. Most recently we have books like How We Forgot the Cold War by Jon Wiener and The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan. I hope that Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats makes an important contribution to this field, as well as being a poignant memoir and personal story. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring sparked an environmental movement; perhaps the next necessary phase of this is how we deal with nuclear issues and radioactive waste.
SIG: What has surprised you most about the publication of Full Body Burden?
KI: When I first began working on the book, I thought of it primarily as a work of memoir and investigative journalism. But I hear from readers from many different disciplines and all walks of life. Some readers are interested in the family story and the issue of dealing with alcoholism. Historians are interested in Cold War history and how the Cold War played out in very real ways in human lives. Chemists and biologists are interested in details about plutonium and environmental contamination. Medical professionals find the information about cancers and other health effects to be most important. It's fascinating to me how people read the book in different ways.


text:
Ken Gonzales-Day
Top 5: April 1, 2015
By Glasstire on April 1, 2015
Here are our picks for the best art shows in Southern California this week! Subscribe to our newsletter if you'd like to get this list in your mailbox each week. 1. Zoe Crosher: The Manifest Destiny Billboard Project April 3-5 April 3: Scott Benzel performance at 7:30pm April 4: Artist talk, 11am-12pm Scott Benzel performance at […]
Posted in Articles | Tagged Gregory J. Markopoulos, Gregory Markopoulos, Jan Stieding, Jerry Hsu, Jörg Wagner, Ken Gonzales-Day, LAMOA, Los Angeles Museum of Art, Luis de Jesus, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, redcat, Roy and Edna Disney/CALARTS Theater, Scott Benzel, Slow Culture, Zoe Crosher | Leave a response
Creative Capital Announces 2012 Grantees-There's one Near You!
By Bill Davenport on January 18, 2012
Creative Capital, the "premier provider of risk capital in the arts" has announced its 2012 Grant recipients in visual arts and film, and the list of 46 projects (chosen from among 3,247 applications) includes loads of innovative Southern California artists: Awards for visual arts went to Ken Gonzales-Day for Profiled, ongoing project that considers the […]
Posted in Newswire | Tagged Carlos Motta, Connie Samaras, creative capital, Eric Leshinsky & Zach Moser, Jade Gordon & Alexandro Segade), Janine Antoni, Jim Skuldt, Joan Waltemath, Ken Gonzales-Day, Kerry Tribe, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Lisa Sigal, My Barbarian (Malik Gaines, Patty Chang, Paul Rucker, Phillip Andrew Lewis, Postcommodity (Raven Chacon & Nathan Young), Simone Leigh, Tahir Hemphill, Taraneh Hemami, Teri Rofkar, The Propeller Group (Matt Lucero & Tuan Andrew Nguyen), Theaster Gates, Women (Scott Barry & Neil Doshi) and Amy Yao. | Leave a response


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New Escape the Fate Track
I used to love this band back in high school (when they still had Ronnie) but they've gotten really really bad....at least they've improved a bit since craig joined.
lol acad totally called this
Digging: Langhorne Slim - Lost At Last, Vol 1
this will suck
Hmmm "Stand Up And Scream" where have I heard that before....
Songs pretty good though. Much heavier than anything they've produced and a pretty decent chorus...
Er I mean
Gayest band ever. More like "Escape The Straight" with Craig Faggot on lead vocals...
Are they going to generic metalcore from generic post-hardcore?
Digging: Kiasmos - Blurred EP
didn't listen song sucks
Only exposure I've had to this band other than this song was their Issues Remix EP. That was a daunting, and terrible experience. So was this song.
"Are they going to generic metalcore from generic post-hardcore?"
I think generic mainstream rock to generic post - hardcore
First album was quite good...
It's not even that this song is bad, it's that it's so bland and uninteresting that you can barely pay attention to it.
Eh. Please no more.
this sucks, but it would get less hate if it wasnt etf
you ppl are delusional, radke can't sing and hes a douche, but fuck this band anyway
These little pricks.... the drummer thinks he's Slash? Get a fucking life.
Digging: Big Dumb Face - Where Is Duke Lion? He's Dead...
Nothing amazing but not awful.
Band should die. People need to listen better shit, this bands is for whores with null IQ
This band lol.
they some how managed to get even worse. i wish they would just change their name because i still enjoy the old escape the fate with the other singer
Old escape is abysmal. Besides, the situations video is a cynic ripoff of hot for teacher made by van halen, fuckin scene fags, they don't respect classic rock and they should be executed.
just die already. They are now ruining all my great memories of Dying is Your Latest Fashion
you have way too much hatred for bands you dislike lol.
situations sucks that's one example. i loved my apocalypse back in the day.
I bring the hate to the house, what do you expect dude
it doesn't surprise my you don't like escape the fate..but you have to admit their older stuff is better than this shit
These bands essentially are the hair metal bands of today's music, just even worse.
Is better, but that doesn't say much. Besides, ronnie is a shitty singer and a horrible human being who should be confined in a maximum security prision. Also, hair metal have solid bands like Twisted Sister, Skid Row, WASP and more, pussy scenecore just has pierce the veil.
ronnie seems like a tool and a douche in real life but i have a soft spot for his singing :/
I actually really dig the track. Ah well.
Meh, "My Apocalypse" got me into post-hardcore and I still like it. Without that, I don't think I would have listened to stuff like old Thrice, Senses Fail, etc.
yeah my apocalypse is sweet
Only song that I really liked with Craig on vocals is This War Is Ours, Crag seems like a cool dude, but he just doesn't fit with the band. The band just clicked so much better with Ronnie on vocals. Ronnie is a piece of shit, a killer, and always intoxicated, yes. I just can't forget how much I loved and still do love Dying Is Your Latest Fashion. The new music just kills me.
"fuckin scene fags, they don't respect classic rock and they should be executed."
Hahaha :]
Article is worse than the song
Digging: 21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin - Without Warning
I loved "My Apocalypse", too. That was the song that drew me to them.
Honestly, though, I side with everyone who calls Radke a douchebag, the guy is unbelievable. And Falling In Reverse is dismally boring.
That was pretty bad.
I agree with who ever said they were bland, they don't have one decent song.
Are you a Ravenclaw Jennifer?
Digging: Midnight - Sweet Death and Ecstasy
Hard Rock/Metalcore/Post-Hardcore fans love:
- BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE ...12 year old girls who think Ronnie's haircut is hot or little boys that can't stand a ''scream'' like Falling In Reverse. PERIOD! This is fucking awesome!!!!!!
ETF are back!
The chorus totally doesn't fit in on this track. It sounds like they had it leftover from another recording session, and decided to throw it in here.
sadly this is the best thing they've put out in a while
Really bland. Seems like they tried to take the pretty good screams from "This War is Ours" and mix it with the competent guitar work from the self titled album, but it just doesn't do it for me.
Gave it a chance. Made it about 30 seconds.
sounds like theyre trying to get more scene girl fans.
Can't wait to review this
this is more decent than i expected. if ETF was unknown, you guys wouldn't be anywhere near as bitchy about this track. come on now.
It's more faux than my girlfriend
Have this band ever put anything decent out besides Dying Is Your Latest Fashion? Song probably sucks.
Digging: Polaris (AUS) - The Mortal Coil
So bad. I liked some songs off their first album even though Ronnie is a complete piece of shit. Now this band just needs to go away. That chorus was hilariously out of place and bad.
this sucks, but it would get less hate if it wasnt etf [2]
Yeh sure if it was most other bands it wouldn't get the hate it does, but the reason it gets all this hate is cause it's etf continuing to be shit cunts again and again
Damn that was boring
fuck ugh
Not even gonna bother
Digging: Shadow of Intent - Reclaimer
Fuck you andcas, I just quoted the top comment.
Then put it in quote marks you idiot
At least it's a step away from that 3rd album bullshit.
Digging: The Used - The Canyon
ppl still care enough about Escape the Fate here to make 65 comments
whenever I step into this site it's like looking at a time capsule I buried from 2010
whenever I step into this site it's like looking at a time capsule I buried from 2006
^ much better
not bad
way better than their last attempt.
got that it was great but just fine.
I suppose I would be a Ravenclaw.
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Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


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Rollins Lake and Reports
- Almanor Lake
- Berryessa Lake
- Cachuma Lake
- California Delta
- Camanche Lake
- Casitas Lake
- Clear Lake
- Diamond Valley Lake
- Don Pedro Lake
- Folsom Lake
- Iron Gate Reservoir
- McClure Lake
- New Melones Lake
- Oroville Lake
- Perris Lake
- San Luis Lake
- Shasta Lake
- Sonoma Lake
- Almaden Lake
- Almaden Reservoir
- Amador Lake
- Anderson Lake
- Barrett Lake
- Black Butte Lake
- Blue Lakes
- Bullards Bar Lake
- Calero Reservoir
- Camp Far West Lake
- Chabot Lake
- Chesbro Lake
- Collins Lake
- Contra Loma Lake
- Coyote Lake
- Del Valle Lake
- Dixon Lake
- Eastman Lake
- Guadalupe Lake
- Hennessy Lake
- Ilsanjo Lake
- Indian Valley Lake
- Kelsey Bass Ranch Lake
- Lafayette Lake
- Lake of the Pines
- Lexington Lake
- Loch Lomond Lake
- Los Banos Lake
- Los Vaqueros Lake
- Mather Lake
- Mendocino Lake
- Mendota Slough Lake
- Merced Lake
- Millerton Lake
- Modesto Reservoir
- Morena Lake
- Murray Lake
- New Hogan Lake
- Nicasio Lake
- Oso Lake
- Pacifica Coastline
- Pardee Lake
- Pillsbury Lake
- Pinto Lake
- Piru Lake
- Quarry Lakes
- Radio Lake
- Rollins Lake
- Ruth Lake
- Sacramento River
- Salt Springs Lake
- San Francisco Bay
- San Justo Lake
- San Pablo Lake
- Shadow Cliffs Lake
- Shastina Lake
- Skinner Lake
- Soulajule Lake
- Spring Lake
- Stevens Creek Lake
- Trinity Lake
- Tulloch Lake
- Turlock Lake
- Uvas Lake
- West Delta
- Whiskeytown Lake
- Woodward Lake
- Woollomes Lake
- Yosemite Lake
Thursday, July 7th, 2016
Water Temp: 73
Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)
Report: Been fishing here for the last few months and the bite has slowed down for me. Started fishing today at 8:00 am with a buddy. We did our usual and tried fishing in 5'-20' of water from a boat hitting the coves and rock walls. We tried top water, Senkos, Robo worms, and cranks baits. We had no luck fishing these methods. At noon we moved into 50' of water and hooked up almost immediately using both a weightless and drop shot wacky rigged Senko worms.
We fished till about 2:00 pm and we caught ten fish between the two of us. All fish caught were between 1-2lbs.
Tips: Try dark colored 3" Senko's rigged wacky style fishing in depths of 50'. Find some structure at this depth by fishing close to boat docks or some sunken trees. The fish don't seem to be as aggressive as they were earlier in the season so I suggest letting them play with the worm before setting the hook. I usually let them make 3-5 tugs on the line before setting the hook.
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
Water Temp: 47
Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)
Report: Water high and muddy from recent weather. No signs of prespawn activity. Fish sitting deep 25-35 feet down. Unable to reach the Bear River inlet to check out activity there. Heading back on Saturday. Expecting better results.
City: Sacramento


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Boardwalk Empire literally begins on the eve of Prohibition in New Jersey's Atlantic City, 1920. A crowd holds what should be their final toast before alcohol officially becomes illegal, paying their respects with silence as a trombone solemnly plays Taps at the stroke of midnight. Of course, Atlantic City is Enoch "Nucky" Thompson's town - a town in which this crooked politician takes a cut of everything, from local business to gambling, and he gets away with it because he practically owns the police - so instead of snapping his fingers and sputtering 'aw shucks', Nucky blesses the ignorance of the federal government for providing him and his fat cat friends the means to become obscenely rich. The plot? Bootlegging liquor, and not just for the good folks of Atlantic City. No, the real money in bootlegging is going to come from supplying major cities like New York and Chicago with the alcohol they need. Since Nucky is taking all the risk by receiving secret shipments direct from the distilleries, and hell, even making cheap liquor on his own turf, there's nothing to stop him from asking for exuberant amounts of dough for a single crate... especially since his buyers know their public will pay any asking price, no questions asked. When you go into business for yourself though, especially when that business is in direct violation of federal law, there are too many micromanaged variables that can turn the tide in an instant. All it takes is one slip-up to draw the attention ofthe federal government, and unfortunately for Nucky that's exactly what happens.
Jimmy, Nucky's driver, has been away for a few years serving his country in World War I. He's learned a few things about himself on the battlefield and realizes he's ready to be a gangster. Despite the fact he feels he couldn't be more ready, Nucky gives him a reality check and tells him to slow down a bit and get a lay of the land for a while. Not content with that response, Jimmy does what he feels is necessary to get Nucky's attention and make him understand that hedoes have what it takes. So, he hijacks the first shipment of alcohol that was supposed to go to New York, sells it to Chicago and gives Nucky a large percentage of the proceeds. However, what was meant to be Jimmy's 'one and done' proposition forgetting a promotion, instead turns into four dead men on the side of the road. This draws the attention of Federal Prohibition agent Nelson Van Alden, a religiously motivated individual that isn't afraid to brutalize anyone that comes in between him and truth(he sees his job as a some kind of mission from God). This is only the beginning of Nucky's problems though, as Jimmy's misguided ambition has also upset a devious criminal mastermind in New York. Certainly, there was irony in Jimmy telling Nucky he could no longer merely be 'half a gangster', as Jimmy has begun a chain of events that forces Nucky to step up and become entangled in a mess that's far more complicated than he ever could have imagined.
Now my primary concern, again, was the way Boardwalk Empire was being advertised as the answer to all those Sopranos fans that wanted more 'hits' and less of what that show was actually about - Psychologically driven character study, both individually as well as within certain relationships, and all the 'little nothings' that managed to make us feel like anything could happen at any time. The Sopranos certainly had its fair share of shocking moments, but much like a graceful dance, it was the things that were never spelled out for us that truly made it tick. Much like the previews of Empire depicted though, the show starts off with one hell of a bang. I can recall at least five people having been gunned down in the first episode alone (and one brutally beaten to death), but with that being said, my fear of Empire leaving interesting characters and contextually clever plot points by the wayside has been alleviated. However, this is where Boardwalk Empire's success was going to hinge for everyone, not just myself. Without a damn good story with believable characters and impeccable writing, everything about the show would have fallen apart... and not just in a 'well I guess the show is ok'kind of way. I mean, shows set in modern times have a huge leg up on Boardwalk Empire right out of the gate - They take place in the 'now', inherently allowing you to feel like you're part of the world that's being depicted. If the characters happen to be unlikeable or boring, a member of the audience might be inclined to chalk that up to the fact that, well, not everyone is interesting in real life. As a result, the show can still go on. A period piece like this however? It has to prove itself. The writing has to be stellar, because even the most minor slip-up could pull the audience out of its 'reality'. The acting has to be second to none, because if the characters don't feel like they fit in with the world around them, again, the audience would be pulled out of the 'reality' of the show and without that sense of credibility, a show like this simply can't succeed. However, thanks to the combined efforts of Winter, Scorcese, Mark Wahlberg (he's often overshadowed by Scorcese, but he's also an executive producer here), director Tim Van Patten, and a majority of the cast, this show succeeds in being a flawlessly preserved time capsule.
Simply put, I'm absolutely floored at how well things gel across the board. Take the first episode into consideration again - It would have been cliché, if not just plain bad writing, to give us separate and lengthy introductions to everyone, more or less spelling out who the characters are and what they're about. However, Winter's scripts are written to instead opt for a method of storytelling that allows us to watch the characters in their natural element and come to whatever conclusions need be made, for ourselves. Taking a look at the main character for such an example, it's only a matter of minutes before we feel like we know who Nucky is and what he's all about. One minute he's standing at a podium, a key speaker for the Women's Temperance League rally, giving a sob story about how his father was an alcoholic and practically ruined his life. The next, he's outside advising his driver - "First rule of politics, kiddo: Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." In that moment it's clear - He's the worst kind of politician, right down to his very core. He'll do whatever it takes to keep his public image untarnished so he remains favorable during elections, and most of all, he'll do whatever it takes to keep the money rolling in. Of course, that stuff is laid out for us plain as day. What was surprising to me however, was that Nucky Thompson could truly be the next great character to study in modern television:
When examining Jimmy's statement once again (that Nucky could no longer be 'half a gangster'), a mental bell went off within me. I remembered that Nucky was actually punishing Jimmy for foolishly running off to war - which was a sign that Jimmy may have been prone to making decisions that would get him killed - instead of working towards becoming a politician. Not a gangster, mind you, but a politician. Indeed, Nucky seemingly differentiates between the two. Does this help him sleep better at night? Does this make him feel like he's doing something noble because he's providing people with what they want? Nucky knows he's skirting the law, but this begins to lead me to believe that he's probably not quite the criminal mastermind he needs to be in order to take care of business... not yet at least anyway. No, there's a softer side that he's kept carefully tucked away from the people that really know him. This becomes all the more clear when he walks by a baby incubator nursery, stops in his tracks, peers inside and lets his emotions temporarily take control. His wife passed away some years ago, and that boardwalk 'attraction' was a painful reminder of what he was robbed of when she died - A life as a family man, settled down with wife and child. The questions that immediately come to mind are: Is this hidden pain the reason why Nucky has hardened over the years, and furthermore, does it compromise his ability to step up to the big leagues and throw his weight around? In this first season, we see that Nucky can certainly adapt under pressure... but I have a feeling that there may end up being more than a few similarities between him and Tony Soprano in seasons yet to come. That is, I can see Nucky continually digging himself deeper by carelessly hurting everyone around him, while somehow justifying all of his actions via sociopathic tendencies. Despite the fact the history books inform us that Enoch Johnson was imprisoned in the early 40's, I'm still curious to see if Winter's story will ever allow his human side to emerge. However, mob stories typically end in sorrow so I doubt such liberty would be made against historical fact, but, you never know. Boardwalk Empire, although keeping major historical accuracies intact, has taken a lot of liberties to make things more interesting.
And again, a lot of these character developments aren't exactly spelled out for us (keep in mind the above observations stem from only a single character), and I'm glad that Terence Winter is still unwilling to insult our intelligence by pandering to us with his material. He's letting us find these things out for ourselves to a certain degree, and that's an aspect of writing in television that I've sorely missed since The Sopranos. But as far as character portrayal goes, there is one complaint I have - Paul Sparks as Mickey Doyle. Now, Paul certainly has flashes of brilliance here and there, but for the most part he plays Doyle like a clichéd cartoon caricature of a gangster. I mean, Doyle has a tendency to do this snarky little giggle on a regular basis, and although we all know someone who's a little goofy, Doyle really comes off sounding like a Looney Tunes mobster. I'm a little confused as to how this could have gone unchecked. Surely, somebody behind the scenes had to have realized how silly this was, but then again, when Doyle was required to be menacing, Sparks really hit the mark. He does make the Doyle character seem unsettling at times, but that giggle still haunts me... and not in a good way.
Anyway, even if you're not a fan of the intellectual detective work that elevates a show like this from 'good' to 'great', worry not - There's more than enough surface material to keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. Each episode is loaded with drama and tension, and palpably so. Some of the thrills come from moments that happen out of nowhere, others come from the mounting tension that draws on for episodes at a time, further enhanced by some of the most menacing villains to grace the small screen in quite a while. Obviously, I went into Boardwalk Empire expecting the worst, but not only did I find myself pleasantly surprised after the first season was all said and done, but I found it to be the most captivating season of television I've seen in quite some time. In fact, it's quickly becoming a new personal favorite, even over my other longtime favorite - Dexter. Despite the fact I wasn't too sure how Buscemi would perform in such a lead, he's smashed my expectations and made Nucky Thompson the current character on television that needs to be seen. The rest of the cast (well, for the most part) is absolutely magnificent and really lends to the show's credibility as a period piece set in the 20's. Furthermore, the detail in wardrobe as well as the lavish boardwalk set (located on what was previously an empty lot in Brooklyn, a set which came to the tune of five million dollars) is remarkable, and whatever couldn't realistically be built, or whatever modern construction couldn't be blocked out of a shot, CGI was used to fill in the gaps. Is it any wonder how this show ended up being as immersive as it was right out of the gate? Despite the fact this is only the first season, most every element has already been finely tuned by the experienced hands of Winter and Scorcese. If this Blu-ray release is your first experience with the series as it was mine, then you're going to be pleasantly surprised. This is, hands down, television at its finest.
HBO keeps the illusion of their 1920's time capsule alive with this 1080p AVC encoded transfer (1.78:1). This should come as no surprise considering HBO's track record, but the video presentation here is nearly flawless. Although a visually dark undertone is used throughout a majority of the season, with the exception of the boardwalk and casino when it's lit up at night, black crush is never a problem unless it was specifically done by design. Even at its darkest, colors are still allowed to pop (such as Arnold Rothstein's red tie, for example, or the color of leaves in the middle of the night on an unlit road). During the day, everything is vibrantly produced thanks to black levels that continue to hold up as well as they do during night sequences, as well as a contrast that compliments them just as well. Coming from a 35mm source, a very fine layer of film grain has been preserved, leaving every bit of detail, be it from facial textures, clothing, the gorgeous set designs or otherwise, intact. As a result of this film-like presentation (although still more than clean enough for the people who don't care for grain), there's an impressive amount of depth in the high-def imagery as well. Furthermore, banding, DNR, digital artifacts and edge enhancement are nowhere to be found. Although I didn't watch this during its initial run on HBO, I have no doubt that the 1080p presentation on this release is better than the bitrate starved televised broadcast. Fans and newcomers alike are sure to be impressed by how good this show looks, and should have no reservations in picking this up over the DVD.
The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that's been included is equally as impressive. You wouldn't think so, but Boardwalk Empire's sound design was decidedly an integral aspect of bringing the 20's back to life, helping once again to lend the series a heightened sense of credibility. This is an immersive experience through and through - Whenever outside, you'll hear environment sound effects in the rear channels with pinpoint precision and leveling, making you feel like you're right where the action is. The same can be said inside the casino when the dice are being thrown and the roulette ball is spinning round and round. Even more impressive is when a band is playing indoors, as their sound can be just as loud as a modern day club might be, while still retaining the warmth of the instruments. Again, you'll feel like the casino is right there in your living room, as well as the band, made all the more impressive by a realistic level of dynamics. The LFE even tends to get a workout between the music, gunshots, or anywhere else it would be appreciated. Dialogue is never an issue - It's crisp and crystal clear at all times, no matter what's happening on-screen. This show may not inherently pack the wallop a series like True Bloodmight, but it's subtle and soft during moments of unsettling tension building, yet loud and boisterously proud when required. Again, I have no qualms in making a statement I haven't been able to verify myself - That this undoubtedly sounds a great deal better than it did during its initial broadcast.
Other than the more recent series Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire is HBO's baby, so the fact they went all out for this release comes as no surprise.
-Enhanced Viewing Mode - You can view episodes with picture-in-picture interviews with the show's creators as well as historians, and you can even get mini-history lesson clips that educate you on the booming Atlantic City of the 20's. Other clips that will pop up feature the production of the series in general, and if all that isn't enough, you can also partake in some trivia challenges along the way.
-Audio Commentaries - Six (half) of the season's episodes have been provided with commentaries, and all are extremely professional and informative. It wasn't been too long since the first season had been filmed, so discussing the most important aspects of the story and the character development during the first season is a breeze for them, and by extension a pleasurable experience for the audience at home. Numerous combinations of people switch up from episode to episode, but after you hear all six commentaries you would have heard from the likes of creator/writer/executive producer Terence Winter, Steve Buscemi (Nucky), Michael Kenneth Williams (Chalky White), director/writer/executive producer Tim Van Patten, writer/supervising producer Howard Korder, director Brian Kirk, director Allen Coulter, and Michael Shannon (Nelson Van Alden). The obvious glaring omission here is Martin Scorsese, which is a real disappointment considering the first episode, which he directed, is one of the episodes that were provided with a commentary. In the grand scheme of the entire supplemental package, this is really the only complaint I have.
-Character Dossier - If for some reason you need a refresher on exactly what's been happening with each character as you go through the season, this evolving character guide will fill you in. This is a great feature and should be noted by other major television studios when releasing major series on Blu-ray.
-Atlantic City: The Original Sin - This documentary chimes in at around 30 minutes, and basically acts as a historical look at what life was like in Atlantic City during the 20's. If you're not much for audio commentaries or even taking the time to see such material in the enhanced viewing mode, then this is the perfect one-stop documentary piece for you.
-Speakeasy Tour - The cast gives us an intimate look of the speakeasies (establishments that illegally sold alcohol) that were utilized in Chicago and New York during the era of Prohibition. It may be a simple supplement, but it's very well done. Considering that they even utilized some of the cast to make this presentation for us, shows that they were willing to even give a piece that most other studios may have taken a cheaper route with, some much deserved attention. Cheers to HBO for seemingly going with the mantra, 'if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right'.
-Making Boardwalk Empire - This is a behind-the-scenes look at the series, featuring interviews from both cast and crew. If you want some real behind-the-scenes information though, you probably want to stick with the commentaries. Although there's some interesting tidbits to take away from this, it's somewhat self serving, if not 'pat on the back' promotional material.
-Creating the Boardwalk - Much less self-serving than the previous supplement, this fascinating piece shows us how the 300-foot Boardwalk set was made.
I guess lightning can strike twice after all...
Everything I've said in this review boils down to one thing - Boardwalk Empire is one of the most fascinating crime/mob dramas to ever hit television. Whether or not it's going to live up to, or succeed The Sopranos is yet to be seen, but this is only the first season. What I can say however, is that Terence Winter stays true to form and has crafted the show in a way that doesn't insult our intelligence, and allows us to piece together the subtle things, which elevates this series from 'good' to 'great', for ourselves. Although the series has a great number of dealings in crime with vicious criminals that will keep the mob-thirsty at home happy as can be, my favorite aspect of the series thus far has been trying to dissect the Nucky Thompson character. It may be premature to say he's going to be one of the more interesting character studies we've had on television in some time, but I can certainly see the series heading that way as long as the creative staff play all the right cards. Last but not least, each episode is better than the last and it's worth noting that I eagerly took in the entire season in two sittings. I ended up saying aloud to myself, "What? That was 12 episodes?" And then I realized it was probably time for me to buy my wife some flowers as an apology. Yes, Boardwalk Empire is that addicting, and besides the fantastic programming included on 5 discs, this release has been topped out with a nearly flawless A/V presentation as well as an impressive list of supplemental material. I never hand this rating out lightly, but the first season of HBO's latest mob crime-drama is deserving of the coveted DVD Talk Collector's Series rating. The only real downside to this release? The fact the series now has an awful lot to live up to.


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BS2 Podcast 4 – Joe Ross (Northlime Coffee and Donuts)Posted: June 2nd, 201606/2/16
In Episode #4, we talk a lot of "BS" with Joe Ross (The Donut Boss). We talk sports, donuts, pants, music, politics and much more. If you haven't been to Northlime (0r even if you have) …… listen to this podcast and Joe Ross has a free donut for you. Enjoy the "BS."
You can subscribe on iTunes here.
BS2 Podcast 3 – Dicky Lyons Jr.Posted: May 25th, 201605/25/16
In Episode #3, Bryce and I interview former Kentucky football player Dicky Lyons Jr. We catch up with Dicky on his career, his life today and much more. LISTEN HERE! You can subscribe on iTunes here. Photo: Spokeo
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BS2 Podcast Episode 2 – University of Kentucky Legend Kyle MacyPosted: May 19th, 201605/19/16
In Episode #2, Bryce and I spend an hour with former UK All-American Kyle Macy. We chat about Kyle's family, what he's up to today, his playing career and much more. Ever wondered why Kyle touched his socks before shooting free throws? We ask him plus lots more in Episode #2 of BS2Podcast. LISTEN […]
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BS2Podcast Episode 1Posted: May 11th, 201605/11/16
In episode #1, we talk a bit about ourselves and talk about our first guest to the show.
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The "Tradio" of Sports Talk Radio, Matt JonesPosted: May 10th, 201605/10/16
I grew up in a very small town where "Tradio" was a weekly call-in show (an hour or two long) on the local radio station. I believe the show was also called "Dial-A-Deal" somewhere along the way. Basically, the idea was this ….. a person would call in to a host and attempt to "sell" […]
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6 Words That Should Guide Leadership DecisionsPosted: May 3rd, 201605/3/16
Making important decisions is a part of life. Personal decisions. Professional decisions. We are all faced with decisions that impact our personal life and/or work life daily. In both, I have made good choices and bad choices. You can most likely relate. Over the past year, I have made many important decisions in my role […]
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What? Our Son Is Getting Ready To Vote For The First TimePosted: April 6th, 201604/6/16
Our oldest son, Bryce, will be voting for the first time in this year's November Presidential Election. He's very excited and yes he continually makes me aware that he will be "old enough" to vote in November. As his dad (and one who has some interest in politics), I am very happy about his excitement to vote […]
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An Open Letter To Coach Mark StoopsPosted: November 16th, 201511/16/15
Dear Coach Stoops, I should begin by being totally honest ……. I'm no sports writer and certainly no football guru (went to one practice in high school and never returned). I am a fan and like most, I love our football program. The good. The bad. And the ugly. All of it. While I (as […]
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Win Every Day This YearPosted: January 3rd, 201501/3/15
I can hardly believe it's 2015. Where does time go these days? Seems as if every single second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year pass by faster and faster the older I become. Don't believe me? Don't blink or it will be 2016! I didn't make a list of resolutions for the new year. I […]
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Turning Ideas Into RealityPosted: December 19th, 201412/19/14
I am an idea guy. I am always thinking, looking and planning for the next big thing. It's just the way my mind works ….. both professionally and personally. Currently I am working on several new ideas. A few personally. More professionally. Earlier this week as I was planning for a couple of meetings to […]
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ACHICA / Contemporary Canvas
Contemporary Canvas
Contemporary Canvas
A piece of modern art is always a bold statement and can work well in both contemporary and classical interiors. This extensive collection of hand-finished canvases is all about the mark making, sweeping brushstrokes and strong statement colour, which is interior friendly. The collection has a landscape theme running throughout, but the works are all wholly abstract. These are statement pieces for large and small spaces, so be creative with your rooms and use art to draw the viewer in and open up the space.
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What has Four Legs, Says "Moo," and Could Save the Planet?
Many of us have been taught that overgrazing, methane-emitting livestock turn green pastures into arid deserts and are responsible for the widespread desertification that threatens precious biodiversity, soil quality, and more.
Not so, as Allan Savory explains in his TED Talk, "We were once just as certain that the world was flat. We were wrong then, and we are wrong again." You can see in the photograph below the difference between properly managed land on the right, and overgrazed, eroded and degraded land on the left:
In the aptly-titled Cows Save the Planet, journalist Judith D. Schwartz debunks the myth that cows and livestock pose threats to our land. You may think it unlikely that these pastured grazers are the soil saviors we need, but it's true. Through holistic management and planned grazing, cows can help rebuild soil and restore land to its rightful state—improving carbon sequestration, natural water cycles, and soil fertility and nutrient density.
The solution to climate change, and a host of other environmental ills, is right under our feet, Schwartz explains. And what better time than the week of Earth Day to join Schwartz and the many scientists, ecologists, farmers, and experts (including Savory) featured in Cows Save the Planet and uncover all the reasons why we should be celebrating cattle as a way to improve our soils.
When managed properly, soils can help reverse the effects of:
- climate change
- desertification
- biodiversity loss
- droughts, floods
- wildfires
- rural poverty
- malnutrition
- and obesity
In the foreword, Gretel Ehrlich puts it best: "Judith Schwartz's book gives us not just hope but also a sense that we humans—serial destroyers that we are—can actually turn the climate crisis around. This amazing book, wide-reaching in its research, offers nothing less than solutions for healing the planet."
Cows Save the Planet is available now and on sale for 35% off. Read the introduction below.


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I recently heard the update given to the Gulf Coast Government Contractors Association (GCGCA) on 12 DEC about how the Navy plans to consolidate their data centers.
I think this is important work and have been following the progress for several years. A quick look back in history helps explain why the situation has become so critical and how you can now be a part of the solution.
When the true power of Shore Networks first became obvious to Navy users (about 1995) the Navy-World was divided into two groups: the Haves and Have-Nots. Those commands with a few extra dollars at the end of the year and lucky enough to have an IT expert in their midst procured and deployed internet solutions for their shore staffs at the local level. The first few years of "wild-West IT Deployment" set the stage for years of ad-hoc purchases and policies that cobbled the shore networks together. And it worked pretty well - mainly because with the spotty global connectivity of the early-years, local solutions were often the only solutions that worked!
But of course, that solution was neither cost/labor efficient nor secure. As Headquarters-Everywhere developed their own IT expertise, they started to consolidate the funding and try to roll out "enterprise solutions". Pulling back money is always hard, and none of the users really play that game nicely – tucking away funds and capabilities out of HQ sight. Never forget how important "control" is to the military user! And of course the first few years were full of deployments using slow reach-back and delivering reduced capabilities!
As the global connectivity improved and IP traffic zipped around the world with amazing speed and reliability, these solutions started to look better and better. Then came the data calls. For several years, it seemed that "list your IT gear" data calls were coming faster than the information could be reported.
One time when I was on active duty, the folks from Head Quarters came to do an audit on the network. I was in charge of over 5000 OCONUS seats at the time, and I prided myself on knowing exactly where every single piece of equipment was located. After all, I was in charge of securing it! If someone hacked into the network via some unsecured piece of gear, I would be the one getting the court martial for not doing my job! I endured that audit, convinced it was just an OCONUS boondoggle for the HQ staff, until I saw the result! Two offices down from my office, our Supply Office had set up a closet full of gear to "enable" his data-bases, and the Human Resource Officer in the next building over had similar equipment in a hallway off the back of the building! I was horrified to learn this equipment resided on my "secure" network, out of sight from my IT experts! At that moment I became a big fan of consolidation.
The Data Center Consolidation (DCC) Task Force was stood up in November 2011 and directed to consolidate 58 Navy data centers by 2017. [Note: this followed the significant consolidation work done by NETWARCOM under the Cyber Asset Reduction (CARS) program.] The primary goal is cost savings, but considerable security improvements should be realized in the process. In 2012, this effort moved under the Fleet Readiness Directorate as the Data Center Application Optimization (DCAO) office. The new data centers are located in San Diego, New Orleans and Charleston. [There are many discussions going around about whether these locations are the right place. I expect there will be some significant "exceptions" made to this plan.]
SSC LANT is supporting them as they:
- Assess the current status.
- Analyze the situation and provide engineering analysis.
- Execute the transition from the legacy site to the new hosting facility.
- Sustain the data centers through hardware and software reuse and improve the security posture with assurance control.
Industry opportunities will include services, as the workforce is augmented for short-term transitions and as sustainment efforts build. Transition tools and technologies are currently being evaluated and transition CONOPS are being drafted.
Experts will be needed in:
- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- IT Service Management (ITSM) practitioners
- Cyber Security Engineers
- Validation experts for certification and accreditation.
I really liked the analogy that Bruce Carter (SSC LANT Engineer) used during his presentation in New Orleans, so I'll repeat it here. Imagine a neighborhood where many of the homes have their own swimming pools. The individual user manages all the expense, maintenance, security, and health standards. Not ideal! Now imagine the neighborhood that teams up to build one really nice pool, with better amenities, various membership levels, and improved security. Now we just need to make sure that everyone can get to the pool, that the water is kept clean, that the rules prevent drunken parties from getting out of control, and that someone manages the maintenance contract carefully!
We will continue to write on these and other enterprise technology topics throughout 2013. Please be sure to sign up for our direct distribution of daily alerts so you never miss an update. Sign up at: http://ctovision.com/newsletter-subscriptions/
Latest posts by ChrisScott (see all)
- TechNet Augusta 2016: Defensive Cyber - September 15, 2016
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- TechNet Augusta 2016: Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) - September 9, 2016


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On the heels of the story update featuring Yoko Enoki and Bill Benfield, we've gone ahead and added some character profiles on the Kickstarter front page! If you scroll through, you can read up on brief bios of Marcus, Ruffles, Sylrianah, Zarum, and Gorek which we've reproduced here.
With each passing hour, we come closer and closer to the end of the Kickstarter campaign. The road's been long, but you guys have matched us passion for passion with every step of the way. Before things wrap up completely, we do have a few things left to do.


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Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson named on a panel to assess the Lance Armstrong affair
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has been named on a three-person panel to assess the Lance Armstrong affair.
Last Updated: 30/11/12 2:11pm
The panel will also include retired British judge Philip Otton and Australian lawyer Malcolm Holmes as well as Paralympic great Grey-Thompson.
The trio will meet in London from 9-26 April and report their findings by 1 June.
The UCI asked Court of Arbitration for Sport board president John Coates to help create an independent commission to investigate suspicions raised by the US Anti-Doping Agency's damning report into widespread doping by Armstrong's teams during his seven Tour de France victories.
The governing body denies claims it covered up suspicious samples from Armstrong and took cash in exchange.
UCI president Pat McQuaid said: "The wide-ranging terms of reference demonstrate the Commission's determination to review fully the issues contained in the USADA report and I welcome that.
"The commission's report and recommendations are critical to restoring confidence in the sport of cycling and in the UCI as its governing body.
"We will co-operate fully with the commission and provide them with whatever they need to conduct their inquiry and we urge all other interested stakeholders to do the same.
"We will listen to and act on the commission's recommendations."
Armstrong did not cooperate with the USADA investigation and has been banned for life and stripped of all results from 1 August, 1998, including his seven Tour de France titles.