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text:
the Seagate Company, in partnership with Amazon introduced a portable hard drive Seagate Duet, already available for the pre-order.
New made in black color casing. To connect to a computer is a USB 3.0 port; The same interface is used to supply power (additional power is not needed). Capacity of 1 TB.
Seagate Duet feature is the ability to quickly sync files from cloud storage Amazon Drive. Thus, as noted, users will be able to get just two backup copies of your data – on a portable hard drive, and the other – on Amazon servers
Moreover, the recording files to the cloud allows for the need to access them from anywhere in the world where there is Internet connection. This can be done, for example, via mobile app Amazon Drive Mobile App, available for smartphones and tablets.
buy a portable hard drive Seagate Duet is possible for an estimated price of $ 100.

subset: commoncrawl


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When I was in school (back in the Cretaceous Period), Otter Disaster and I shared a love of the comic adventures of The Spectre. Trouble was, the John Ostrander version of Specs that he loved and the Michael Fleischer version that I loved were almost entirely different characters. The M.S.P. crew occasionally discuss the different editorial takes on an iconic character like Batman or Spider-Man, but secondary characters such as The Spectre, Captain Atom or Star-Lord get COMPLETELY revamped and rejiggered with every new iteration.
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, "misquoted") thinks you look a bit familiar, but can't place the green booties, asking: Which characters do you end up loving in multiple (even contradictory) incarnations?
8 Comments
Perhaps this is tangential (since the LSH is NEVER secondary), but I've actually found something to enjoy in every incarnation of the Legion. Some characters fare more or less well, but overall it balances. I liked the concept of the Threeboot the least, but still enjoyed many of the characters. Overall, four Legionnaires do very well across the incarnations: Luornu Durgo, Tinya Wazzo, Tenzil Kem, and Lyle Norg.
More on the nose, perhaps: Dr. Fate always works for me as do any of the Starmen.
Even the 1994 Fate with the rediculous nineties aesthetic? The one with the wild hair and the grimace and the massive knife?
Ewww. No, not that one. Glad I said "Dr." Fate just to give myself some wiggle room! ;-}
Green Arrow,
He was originally a Batman gimmick knockoff, eventually a loud mouthed hotheaded liberal, a hunter not using any gimmicks but his skill and a Longbow, followed by a fanboys impression of the hotheaded liberal.
In all of that , I must say I always enjoyed him. I also enjoyed the Connor Hawke GA used in the 90's written by Chuck Dixon. Great new character who like Kyle Rayner got the shaft.
Pun intended?
I would have to say the Skywalker clan. I enjoyed the tale of Ankin's fall in Episode III (they exist Matthew!), Luke's ascension in the original trilogy, the story of Luke, Mara and Ben in the extended universe and finally Cade in Legacy. Since they are related you could also throw in the Skywalker/Solo kids in the extended universe with the death of Anikin, Jaina becoming the Sword of the Jedi and the dark side turn of Jacen. All were stories that I enjoyed with different takes on the Skywalker/Jedi mythos.
I really liked the blue lightning Superman.
While it might not quite count, Green Lantern. There have been the reboots and retcons that changed the characters, but usually it is the same (except for the change from Alan Scott to a group of space cops). Unlike Batman or Superman, you can swap in someone else as the GL of Earth and create new stories and it will work without having to call it an Elseworlds story (although it does upset the hardcore Hal fans, so don't kill him off again).
I've also steadily enjoyed almost every incarnation of TMNT. While I am one of the many who became fans with the 80's cartoon, I grew I love the comics incarnations as well. They've gone through a lot of versions over the years (the original Mirage version, the cartoon-based Archie universe with the Mighty Mutanimals, the weird Image version where Donatello was part cyborg, the weird anime turtles with mystical powers, the live-action version that teamed up witht he Power Rangers, etc.) but I've always enjoyed them to some degree.


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Celebrate the holidays with your neighbours at the Downtown Abbotsford Christmas tree lighting on November 19, 2010. From 5PM – 8PM enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies at Santa & Mrs. Claus' house, face painting, treat vendors, and special sparkling light artwork by Stan McKay.
A great family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays in the Fraser Valley! Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive at 6:30PM, tree lighting at 7:15PM.
by ryaninc
Historic Downtown Abbotsford


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UKPro puts professional tools of photography into the hands of everyday users. The UKPro 8x8 Camera Pivot is a 8" extension on the standard Pole8 GoPro Mount, giving you the extra room to take the selfies or photos that you need. The pivot arm is designed to keep the pole out of the shot when you take a photo, and allows for myriad different angles and perspectives to be reached with just a simple adjustment.
Tax is only charged if shipping to California. Visit our Shipping Info page for additional information.
We honor returns within 30 days from the original delivery date and offer free exchange shipping. Some restrictions do apply for built-to-order items, or very large items like furniture.
For additional details, or to initiate a return, please visit our Returns Page.
*Please note that while we do our best to have the most up to date product imagery, in-line changes will happen with brands and the actual product shipped may differ slightly.


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The poor health and welfare reputation of Nigeria's abattoirs and meat processors has undermined the reputation of its meat sector, helping reduce exports to a derisory level.
This is proving a problem, because livestock accounts for one-third of Nigeria's agricultural GDP, providing income, employment, food, farm energy, manure, fuel and transport. The sector is also a major source of government revenue.
The government has said that the livestock industry accounts for about 5% of national GDP and 20% of agricultural GDP.
But experts say that while the country has some of the best cattle and associated resources in Africa, international demand for its meat has been weakened by weak hygiene and welfare standards.
International trade statistics paint a sorry picture. In 1996 Nigeria exported 54,000kg of edible, salted, dried or smoked bovine meat and meat offal to Ghana, generating US$125,699 in receipts; in 2012, it exported just 3,550kg of other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood to Ghana, earning just US$40,988. In 2009, it could only export 16,260kg of flours, meals and pellets of beef and bovine offal, earning US$32,816.
In 2011, Nigeria exported a small amount (1,271kg) of sausages and similar products of meat, meat offal or blood, and food preparations based on these products to South Africa.
To show how this poor performance could be improved, a model abattoir has been set up in the capital Abuja by livestock-trader Alhaji Isa Tafida Mafindi, Yerimam Muri, to demonstrate how meat quality can be improved by efficient local slaughterhouses. The problem, he told a recent press conference in the Nigerian capital, is that livestock is often driven long distances to slaughter in Nigeria, with animals suffering, and their meat quality being poorer as a result. "I decided to set an example, since I know the way of producing animals and growing them to a very high level," he said.
However, slaughterhouse operators and meat processors argue they lack access to the investment required to boost standards.
A former House of Representatives member Hon Suleiman Yelwa, owner of Subus Farm, a poultry farm in Jos, Plateau State, told GlobalMeatNews that the major challenges facing the livestock sector were lack of capital, storage facilities, lack of reserved land for livestock farmers and frequent theft.
"Like many other farmers in the livestock business, I don't have access to loans to help me expand and improve my farm. For me to live up to standard, I need between US$666,000 and US$1.3m to be able to run a world-class poultry farm. But that is not coming; the government is not facilitating things for us," Yelwa said.
He explained that a lack of storage facilities was especially problematic, preventing his farm from accumulating stock for export. He called on the Nigerian government to budget for storage facilities, while carving out reserved areas for the livestock sector.
"Fulani herdsmen are not helping matters. They ransack our poultry farms and engage in cattle rustling, especially at night. Yet, we don't have the means to fight and curtail their activities, and unfortunately, the government is not doing much to help us in that regard," Yelwa lamented.
However, the Nigerian government now says it is committed to boosting the productivity of livestock farmers across the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said in April that the government planned to develop training programmes for producers, and work with industry associations to deal with challenges facing the sector.
In a speech in Oyo State, south-east Nigeria, he said: "With a current human population estimated at over 150 million, the livestock industry over the next few years will face an unprecedented challenge in meeting the huge aggregate meat demand.
"The ministry is addressing some of the identified challenges in the livestock sector, using the value chain approach in collaboration with the co-operative associations.
"Our approach to livestock production is to enhance productivity and integrate production with crop farming, animal health and nutrients," the minister stated.


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About Us
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To provide preclinical contract research services, streamline the drug development process, and bring greater overall value and efficiency to our clients.
Brains On-Line is a contract research organization (CRO) operating in the life sciences and pharmaceutical fields. For decades, we've specialized in preclinical testing of central nervous system-targeted drugs, but we also readily support the discovery and development process for any compound. Ultimately our focus is on seamless client collaboration to facilitate speed and efficiency in getting drugs into the clinic to help patients in need.
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But we're also dedicated to the process of consistently enhancing our pharmacokinetic studies to keep up with the latest insights in quantitative microdialysis. Our in-house experts work in collaboration with several well-established international academic researchers who have extensive experience in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, particularly related to the penetration of compounds into the brain, across the blood-brain barrier, and also across the brain-CSF barrier.
Brains On-Line employs a number of specialists for behavioral testing and/or electrophysiological testing of central nervous system-related compounds, offering pre-phase-one testing in vivo through a broad spectrum of research techniques, including microdialysis, bioanalysis, pharmacokinetics, electrophysiology, behavioral studies and many more.
We provide global coverage from our research facilities in Groningen (The Netherlands), and San Francisco (USA), and our business offices in Kurume (Japan). Collectively we offer many decades of experience across multiple disciplines, and all our scientists are intimately familiar with what it takes to usher a compound through the drug discovery and development process.
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We are continuously looking for new colleagues specifically in the areas of neuroscience (PhD level), biotechnical staff (experimental qualification), and bioanalytical professionals (experience with HPLC and LC-MS/MS). Beyond the current openings listed below, we encourage qualified candidates to generally inquire, and indicate details of interest related to working with us.
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text:
"Diabetic retinopathy and macular odema"
About: Royal Bolton Hospital Royal Bolton Hospital Bolton BL4 0JR
Posted via NHS Choices
Anything else?
I have been a patient at RBH Eye Unit for a few years having received ongoing laser and Lucentis treatment for diabetes related occular problems. The treatment I have received has been nothing short of incredible. All procedures have been fully explained by the very knowledgeable staff, both consultants, doctors and nursing staff alike.The procedures have been carried out having regard for my needs, feelings and questions. All the staff are friendlyand with good humour, the premises are spotlessly clean and a pleasing site on the eyes (even more so after my treatment). I have every confidence in the staff and unit as a whole, and would not hesitate in recommending it to anyone considering treatment there. It is no surprise to me that the unit is considered to be one of the foremost units in the country. Well done guys and girls.
Response from Royal Bolton Hospital 4 years ago
Thank you for your complimentary comments which we will share with the relevant staff. We are very pleased that you are one of our satisfied customers and it is kind of you to take the time to share your views via this website.
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It may not be the most comfortable place for her man, but when Dollie has an oral need it must be satiated on the spot. So his knees will have to deal with the hard staircase as he licks until she is fully pleasured.
Download file – 52.6 MB
Tags: Cunnilingus, Dollie, Female Worship, FemaleWorship, Oral & Asslicking


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|Home | About | Journals | Submit | Contact Us | Français
Cued spatial attention modulates functionally relevant alpha rhythms in visual cortices in humans. Here, we present evidence for analogous phenomena in primary somatosensory neocortex (SI). Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we measured changes in the SI mu rhythm containing mu-alpha (7-14 Hz) and mu-beta (15-29 Hz) components. We found that cued attention impacted mu-alpha in the somatopically localized hand representation in SI, showing decreased power after attention was cued to the hand and increased power after attention was cued to the foot, with significant differences observed 500-1100 milliseconds (ms) post-cue. Mu-beta showed differences in a time window 800–850ms post-cue. The visual cue also drove an early evoked response beginning ~70ms post-cue with distinct peaks modulated with cued attention. Distinct components of the tactile stimulus-evoked response were also modulated with cued attention. Analysis of a second data set showed that, on a trial-by-trial basis, tactile detection probabilities decreased linearly with pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta power. These results support the growing consensus that cue-induced alpha modulation is a functionally relevant sensory gating mechanism deployed by attention. Further, while cued attention had a weaker effect on the allocation of mu-beta, oscillations in this band also predicted tactile detection.
The historical view of electro-/magneto-encephalography (EEG/MEG) measured alpha rhythms (7-14Hz) as a 'resting' brain state is being challenged by evidence that they are actively and topographically deployed to gate information processing. Cued spatial attention leads to decreased alpha amplitudes in parietal-occipital EEG sensors contralateral to the attended site in visual (Worden et al., 2000; Kelly et al., 2006; Thut et al., 2006; Kelly et al., 2009) and inter-sensory visual-auditory tasks (Foxe et al., 1998; Fu et al., 2001). Alpha decreases are accompanied by increases in opposing hemifields and lateralized alpha amplitudes predict reaction times and visual discriminability (Worden et al., 2000; Kelly et al., 2006; Thut et al., 2006; Kelly et al., 2009). Recent work has also shown that attentional biases are tied to changes in components of the broad-band cue-induced ER in early visual cortices (Kelly et al., 2009).
In the somatosensory neocortex in humans, a spontaneous mu rhythm containing a complex of mu-alpha (7–14 Hz) and mu-beta (15–29 Hz) components is commonly observed above Rolandic cortex (Tiihonen et al., 1989; Jones et al., 2009). These rhythms show an event related desynchronization (ERD) with stimulation or movement, and in pre-movement periods, with a subsequent synchronization (ERS). There is an increase in alpha-band ERS over the sensorimotor neocortex during visual processing, with a simultaneous alpha ERD over visual cortices, and vise versa during movement (Pfurtscheller, 1992), see also (Rougeul et al., 1979). Further, pre-movement alpha ERD is accentuated in elite athletes over the entire brain, suggesting this is a functionally relevant mechanism that can be enhanced with practice (Del Percio et al., 2009).
Several studies have shown that selective somatic attention impacts movement or sensory induced ERD and ERS changes in sensorimotor mu-alpha and mu-beta activity (Bauer et al., 2006; Babiloni et al., 2008; Dockstader et al., 2010). However, allocation of these rhythms following an attentional cue, in anticipation of tactile sensory processing, has not been investigated.
In the present study, we used MEG imaging to investigate whether similar effects to those observed in the visual system are also present in somatosensation, using the well-localized hand representation in SI as our substrate (Jones et al., 2007; Jones et al., 2009). We investigated whether spatial attention directed to or away from the hand impacted allocation of mu-alpha and mu-beta, the predictive value of these rhythms for detection, and the impact of cued attention on evoked responses. We observed an impact in each of these dimensions, indicating that the decreased expression of localized alpha oscillations could be causally beneficial to attentional regulation employed across neocortical areas.
MEG data were collected from 12 neurologically healthy (exclusion criteria included musculoskeletal diseases, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma and diagnosed current psychiatric disorder), right-handed, 18–50 year old adults (mean age=31.6 yrs, s.d=7 yrs, 1 male and 11 female). Subjects were medication free or on stable doses of SSRI medication. The experimental protocol was approved by the Massachusetts General Hospital Internal Review Board and each subject gave informed consent before data acquisition.
Subjects' hand and foot rested on solid plastic frames through which tactile stimuli were delivered. The stimulus (single cycle of a 100 Hz sine wave, 10ms duration) was generated by fused multi-layer piezoelectric benders, which provide more favorable force and higher frequency resonance characteristics than typical ceramic wafers (Noliac, Inc., see Jones et al., 2007). Stimuli were applied to the distal pads of the 3rd digit of the left hand and 1st digit of the left foot via a delrin contactor affixed to the piezoelectric (7 mm diameter presented within a 1 cm circular rigid surround). The device was not glued to the skin. Instead, matched intensity of stimulation, relative to perceptual threshold, was maintained individually for each subject using a Parameter Estimation Sequential Testing (PEST) convergence procedure (Dai, 1995; Leek, 2001). During the cued detection runs described below, stimulus strength was maintained at 66% percent detection threshold with supra-threshold (100% detected) and null-stimuli randomly interleaved for 10% and 20% of the trials, respectively. The PEST procedure and the hand stimulation device and protocol were as in Jones et al., 2007, 2009.
To aid localization of primary equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) in contralateral SI, each experiment began with presentation of suprathreshold stimuli to the left hand 3rd digit for 3 minutes with an ISI of 3 seconds (s); 60 trials per subject. Separate localization runs were also performed on the 1st digit of the foot, as an original goal of our study was to look at the somatotopic precision of attention allocation by comparing hand and foot activity. However, consistent dipoles could not be reconstructed from the foot localization data using the standard ECD localization techniques described below. Thus, only hand area activity is presented, as its precise position in the SI map could be confirmed.
Subjects were instructed to fixate on a cross on a projection screen. PEST procedure was employed for 3 minutes at the beginning to determine subjects' initial detection thresholds. This run was followed by at least 5 cued detection runs, described in Figure 1, consisting of a 3.5s trial that began with the fixation cross changing into a visual word cue on a projection screen directing the participant to attend to either the "Hand" (the attend in condition) the "Foot" (the attend out condition) or "Either" location. The visual cue was accompanied by a 60dB, 2 kHz tone delivered to both ears to mask audible clicks created by the tactile stimulator and remained constant for 2.5s. At a randomized time between 1.1 and 2.1s (fixed 100ms intervals) after the visual cue, the piezoelectric stimulator delivered a brief tactile stimulus to either the finger or toe. At the end of the 2.5s visual cue, and at least 400ms after tactile stimulus, subjects reported detection or non-detection of the stimulus at the cued location with button presses using the second and third digits of the right hand, respectively. The next trial began 1s after cessation of the visual cue. There were 120 trials per run, 40 of each attention condition totaling at least 200 trials of 3 stimulus strengths in each condition.
The MEG signals were recorded using a 306-channel whole-head planar dc-SQUID Neuromag Vectorview system (Helsinki, Finland). Data were acquired at 601 Hz and filtered from 0.1 to 200 Hz. Four head position coils recorded head position in the Dewar for co-registration with structural MR images. Vertical and horizontal electro-oculogram (EOG) signals were recorded with electrodes placed close to the left eye. Epochs with EOG peak-to-peak amplitude exceeding 100 μV were excluded from analysis.
The contribution from the left 3rd digit representation in SI to the measured fields was estimated using a least-squares fit with a dipole forward solution calculated using a spherically symmetric conductor model of the head (Hamalainen and Sarvas, 1989). Averaged data from the localization runs described above were used to find an ECD (Elekta-Neuromag, Ltd Helsinki Finland software) at the time of peak activity (mean peak activity = 66.8ms, s.d.= 6.4ms) in the mean signal from the suprathreshold stimuli (minimum n=50 runs per subject). The goodness of fit of this single dipole model was larger than 70% in all fit data during peak responses. Co-registration of the SI source localization with the individual's anatomical MRIs confirmed that the source emerged from the anterior band of the post-central gyrus finger representation of area 3b in SI (Moore et al., 2000) in all subjects (Figure 2A). All analysis considered the forward solution from this SI source.
This metric was calculated using a complex wavelet analysis, from which time-frequency representations (TFRs) of near instantaneous changes were determined. The TFRs were calculated from 1-40 Hz on the SI ECD time courses by convolving signals with a complex Morlet wavelet of the form , for each frequency of interest f0, where σt = m/2πf0, and i is the imaginary unit. The normalization factor was , and the constant m defining the compromise between time and frequency resolution was 7, as in (Jones et al., 2009). Time-frequency representations of mu-alpha and mu-beta power were calculated as the squared magnitude of the complex wavelet-transformed data averaged across the range of interest. For the post-cue analysis (Figure 2B), baseline was calculated as averaged power [−200,0]ms before the cue - averaged across attend in and attend out trials separately. For the pre-stimulus analysis (Figure 2C), baseline was calculated as average power [−500,0]ms before the stimulus.
Data were analyzed using the last 100 trials of each condition. This choice reflects preliminary analysis across multiple studies in our laboratory (Jones and Moore, unpublished data) indicating that the initial 100 trials provide less stable and consistent neurophysiological activity patterns across individuals.
SI evoked responses were calculated across an equal number of attend in and attend out trials per subject from threshold-level tactile stimulation to the finger (number of trials mean=88 trials; s.d.=10). Averages were baseline normalized by subtracting the mean over [−100, 0]ms from the cue or stimulus, for each subject (Figure 3). A response artifact from 1.7 to 2.1s in one subject was removed from Figure 3A.
We could not use the current data to assess the impact of mu-alpha and mu-beta on detection probabilities because the subset of relevant data was a statistically small sample. The relevant data consisted of the 'hit' and 'miss' trials in the attend hand condition and there were only a small number of miss trials per subject in this sub-condition (number of miss trials: mean=11, s.d=6; number of hit trials: mean=83, s.d.=11). Therefore, we conducted analysis using a second data set where the statistics were tractable. As in the present study, subjects detected taps applied to the 3rd digit fingertip (of the right hand) using the same stimulator, and signals were localized to the hand dipole using identical means. Because foot trials and 'either' trials were not interleaved– subjects attended to the hand throughout – we had a more extensive trial base for comparing hit and miss trials (last 100 trials analyzed). Details of data collection were described in detail in prior reports by our group (Jones et al., 2007; Jones et al., 2009; Ziegler et al., 2010).
Analysis methods were as in (Linkenkaer-Hansen et al., 2004). In brief, for each subject mu-alpha and mu-beta power was averaged over a 1s pre-stimulus time window for each of the last 100 threshold-level stimulus trials, and binned into 10 power percentile bins (10 averages per bin) sorted from low to high. The probability of detection in each bin was calculated as a percent change in hit rate (number of detected trials/ total number of trials) from the mean (Figure 4).
Non-parametric Wilcoxon sign-rank tests were used to assess the statistical significance of differences in attend in and attend out conditions across subjects at every time point (Figures 2BC and and3).3). The Wilcoxon test was preferred over ANOVA because the data were non-normally distributed (Shapiro-Wilks test). Linear regression on the mean percent change in hit rate across subjects was used to assess the impact of mu-alpha and mu-beta power on detection (Figure 4).
We investigated the temporal evolution of changes in mu-alpha (7-14Hz), and mu-beta (15-29Hz) power in a localized dipole source in the right hand-area of SI after a cue to attend to tactile finger-stimulation to the contralateral left hand (attend in condition), or to tactile toe-stimulation to the left foot (attend out condition). Figure 2A shows example localizations in two subjects in the SI hand representation in the anterior bank of the postcentral gyrus (area 3b), confirmed by proximity to the omega shaped bend (marked in red Figure 2A bottom panel) in the central sulcus (Moore et al., 2000). Figure 2B shows the corresponding average percent change from baseline (n=12 subjects (Ss)) in SI mu-alpha, and mu-beta power after the cue [−100, 1100]ms in attend in and attend out conditions. A significant difference across subjects was observed between the conditions in the mu-alpha band during the anticipatory post-cue time period from [500, 1100]ms post-cue (p<0.05 marked with asterisks, Wilcoxon sign-rank test). Significant differences in the mu-beta band were observed for a time window between [800, 850]ms.
Aligning trials to the tactile stimulus onset [−1000, 250]ms, rather than visual cue, also showed a dominant effect of cued attention on pre-stimulus mu-alpha activity (Figure 2C). Significant differences between attend in and attend out conditions are seen in the mu-alpha across the entire pre-stimulus time period, and in the [−200, 0]ms time window for mu-beta, with another period of significance around −800ms.
Next, we investigated attentional modulation of the broad-band SI evoked response to the visual cue and subsequent threshold-level tactile stimulus (Figure 3). There was a rapid response in SI to the visual cue with an initial peak near 70ms (labeled pcM70, for "post-cue M70", for reference in Figure 3A) that was greater in the attend in condition. Several other time points showed a significant difference in attend in vs. attend out conditions, and the timings of these differences was consistent with previously reported modulation of EEG measured event-related potentials (ERPs) during attention deployment in parietal, frontal and visual cortices (Kelly et al., 2009). Most notable are the statistically significant differences at 200ms, 400ms and at several intervals between 500−900ms (see magenta asterisks in Figure 3A). The 200ms difference is consistent with that seen in parietal cortices and typically referred to as an 'early directing-attention negativity' (EDAN), labeled pcMedan (for "post-cue MEG EDAN") in Figure 3A. The difference near 400ms is consistent with the anterior directing-attention negativity (ADAN) observed in frontal cortices, and the later non-continuous differences between 500–900ms are in line with those seen over occipital cortex known as late directing-attention positivity (LDAP), labeled pcMadan and pcMldap, respectively.
Figure 3B shows the SI tactile ER from [−100,175]ms. Peaks in the waveform were consistent with previous reports using similar stimuli (Jones et al., 2007; Jones et al., 2009). Four peaks occurring at approximately 50ms (M50), 70ms (M70), 100ms (M100), and 135ms (M135), respectively, are labeled for visualization as in (Jones et al., 2007; Jones et al., 2009). A previous study showed that high pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta was correlated with an increase in the magnitude of the M50 peak and a subsequent trend toward decreased M70 and later response elements (Jones et al., 2009). Here, we found that there was also a significant difference in the magnitude of the ER near the M50 peak between the attend in versus attend out conditions, such that the magnitude of the ER was greater in the attend out conditions, when pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta were higher (Figure 3B, significant time-points marked with asterisks, p<0.05 Wilcoxon sign-rank test). There was also a significant difference in the ER near the M100 peak (p<0.05 Wilcoxon sign-rank).
Although a slow cue-locked fluctuation is apparent visually in the averaged cue ER in attend in and attend out conditions (Figure 3A), this did not bias the averaged tactile ER (Figure 3B) since the tactile stimulus was jittered within the [1.1, 2.1]s post-cue time window (marked in Figure 3A). However, it is possible this early ER was impacted by post-cue attentional modulation of the mu-alpha and mu-beta activity that is not phase-locked to the cue (Figure 2) (see Discussion).
We assessed trial-by-trial impact of pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta in our SI signal on tactile detection probabilities, using a second data set that employed analogous MEG and tactile detection methods, but with sustained attention to the finger, (Jones et al., 2007; Jones et al., 2009; Ziegler et al., 2010). This previously collected data set gave greater statistical power than the current data, where the relevant hit and miss trials represented a statistically small sample (see Methods). Following prior convention (Linkenkaer-Hansen et al., 2004), on individual trials average pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta power was calculated (1s pre-stimulus) and sorted from high to low power into 10 equally sized percentile bins. Detection probabilities in each bin were calculated as the percent change in hit rate from the mean (see Methods). We found a linear relationship between tactile detection probabilities and mu-alpha and mu-beta power (p<0.05, F-test, R2=0.65 and R2=0.85, respectively) such that the hit probability was greater during trials with lower pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta power (Figure 4).
Consistent with findings in visual cortices, we observed that cued attention modulates anticipatory post-cue mu-alpha activity and early peaks in the broad-band visual cue and tactile stimulus induced ERs in the SI hand representation. We found a significant difference in the post-cue change from baseline of mu-alpha power between attend in and attend out conditions. Detection probabilities were greater during lower pre-stimulus mu-alpha and mu-beta power. These results are consistent with the theory that attentionally induced focal alpha changes are an active mechanism for modulation of sensory information processing (Foxe et al., 1998; Worden et al., 2000; Kelly et al., 2006; Thut et al., 2006; Klimesch et al., 2007; Kelly et al., 2009). Further, our results show that although attentional cueing has a weaker impact on SI mu-beta rhythms, they also predict tactile detection.
Prior research connecting low frequency oscillations and cued attention in somatosensory cortex in humans has focused on sensory-stimulus and movement induced ERD and subsequent ERS in alpha and beta frequencies (Bauer et al., 2006; Babiloni et al., 2008; Dockstader et al., 2010), see also (Pfurtscheller, 1992). These studies also investigated attentional modulation of somatosensory gamma (35–80 Hz) activity. Gamma was not a focus of our study because it is not robust in our spontaneous SI signal (see Jones et al., 2009).
Our finding of a linear relationship between mu-alpha and mu-beta power and tactile detection agrees with (Schubert et al., 2008a), which found a linear relationship between alpha and beta amplitudes in EEG electrodes over SI and tactile detection probability. These results also are consistent with the relationship between smaller alpha amplitudes and increased perception and decreased reaction times in the visual system (Thut et al., 2006; Hanslmayr et al., 2007; van Dijk et al., 2008; Kelly et al., 2009). Other studies in the somatosensory (Linkenkaer-Hansen et al., 2004; Zhang and Ding, 2009) and visual systems (Rajagovindan and Ding), have reported an inverted-U relationship between alpha power and detection probabilities. We also found that, on trials with the lowest values of mu-alpha power, detection probability diminished compared to slightly higher values (compare 10th and 20th percentiles in Figure 4), suggesting that a minimal baseline of alpha activity is necessary for optimal signal propagation. These results imply that the reduction of mu-alpha and mu-beta activity in SI with cued attention is an active cortical gating mechanism that increases the perceptual salience of tactile signals.
Studies have shown consistent effects regarding the timing and spatial specificity of distinct components of post-cue EEG measured ERPs in parietal, frontal and low-level visual areas (e.g. Kelly et al., 2009). We have shown that attentional modulation of broad-band visual cue induced ERs components exists at similar times in our high-resolution localized SI signal. In addition to changes near 200ms (pcMedan), 400ms (pcMadan), and between 500–900ms activity (pcMldap), we found an earlier significant difference at ~70ms (pcM70), such that the magnitude of the peak was greater in attend in conditions (Figure 3A), suggesting rapid attentional modulation in SI.
While fitting data to a single dipole is a necessary simplification in our study, the pcM70 response difference is likely restricted to activity from SI. Rapid responses (<100ms) to visual stimuli have been observed previously in SI. Zhou and Fuster (1997 in SI. Zhou and Fuster (2001) showed a change in firing rate (predominantly increases) in single units in the anterior parietal cortex of trained monkeys, including the hand representation area in SI, during a visual cue indicating a subsequent tactile choice. In this visuo-haptic memory task, a change in firing rate was observed as early as ~50–100ms post-visual-cue and lasted throughout a memory retention period (~20s). Further, some units showed differential activity depending on haptic choice indicated by the cue– vertical or horizontal bars indicating corresponding rod with oriented ridges to pull (Zhou and Fuster, 1997, 2000).
Our findings of increased magnitude near the M50 and M100 SI tactile ER peaks (Figure 3B) with attention are consistent with the theory that attention increases the gain of sensory evoked responses, and are in line with previous studies that showed increased magnitudes of evoked SI activity in MEG/EEG sensor data at similar time points (Schubert et al., 2008b; Dockstader et al., 2010). However, the decreased M50 peak in the attend in condition contrasts with previous studies showing increases near 50ms with attention (Iguchi et al., 2002; Schubert et al., 2008b; Dockstader et al., 2010). These discrepancies are likely due to differences in experimental design and the fact that the previous studies used stimuli that were perceptually salient (electrical and Braille stimuli), in contrast to our stimulus amplitude that was maintained at a 50% perceptual threshold. The ~50ms differences in Iguchi et al. (2002) appeared during a two-finger discrimination task, but not during a non-discrimination task. Schubert et al. (2008b) employed an oddball detection paradigm, and Dockstader et al. (2010) engaged attention by counting stimuli. Further, the relative magnitude of evoked activity in SI can vary as a function of context, with identical stimuli causing enhanced or suppressed responses dependent on the amplitude of sensory drive (Moore et al., 1999). In our study, greater pre-stimulus mu activity may similarly prime the enhancement of this early response component under conditions of weak sensory drive.
We have developed a model of SI that predicts the origin of the MEG mu rhythm and tactile ERs (Jones et al., 2007; Jones et al., 2009). The model predicts that the mu-alpha component of the mu rhythm is created by a 10Hz lemniscal thalamic input to granular and infragranular layers, while the mu-beta component is dependent on a second 10Hz input to the supragranular layers. Given our model, the observed attentional decrease of mu-alpha is predicted to occur through suppression of ongoing 10Hz lemniscal thalamus activity. This is consistent with the notion proposed by Francis Crick that the inhibitory reticular thalamus controls an attentional "searchlight" in topographic sensory representations (Crick, 1984) and recent recordings by (McAlonan et al., 2008) showing attention modulates sensory evoked thalamic responses before reaching the neocortex (see also (Suffczynski et al., 2001)).
Our previous modeling further predicts that the decreased M50 tactile stimulus peak responses with attention may arise, at least in part, from excitatory neurons that are less depolarized during low pre-stimulus mu and hence have a smaller immediate post-stimulus (M50) response. This decreased excitatory response leads to decreased post-stimulus inhibition in the network, which enables greater subsequent M70 and M100 responses (see Jones et al., 2009). Recent research suggests that alpha rhythms may be amplified by a recruitment of a class of low-threshold spiking inhibitory neurons (Fanselow et al., 2008; Vierling-Claassen et al., In Review). These predictions provide a direct neural correlate for the theory that mu-alpha exerts inhibitory control in the neocortex (Worden et al., 2000; Klimesch et al., 2007).
Further, the negative polarity of the post-cue SI pcM70 suggests it was driven by excitatory input to the supragranular layers, from higher order neocortical or non-specific thalamic sources (Jones et al., 2007). A subsequent peak with negative polarity emerges ~100ms later, reflective of a 2-cycle cue-locked ~10Hz drive, which is stronger with attention. The attentional differences between 500–900ms (pcMldap) appear to be tied to the cue-locked slow fluctuation. Slow oscillations are known to modulate higher frequency rhythms (Schroeder and Lakatos, 2009), however an investigation of this is beyond the scope of this study.
In summary, our results support the idea that alpha deployment may be a general mechanism of cued-attention for active sensory gating. Mu-beta rhythms are impacted less by attentional cueing, but are well correlated with the probability of tactile detection. This dissociation suggests that while both oscillations impact signal processing, mu-alpha deployment may be more readily recruited during attentional allocation. Future research is needed to identify if attentional mu-alpha modulation is somatotopically precise on finer spatial scales, as has been explored in the visual system.
The authors wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for particularly thoughtful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript, the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research for their support of this research. This work was also supported by NIH: P41RR14075, K25MH072941, K01AT003459, 1RO1-NS045130-01, T32 GM007484, NSF: 0316933, and the Osher Institute.
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


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Tour day 4 - Gorilla trekking time!!!!
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Travel Blog› entry 21 of 25 › view all entries
Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has it's name for good reason! The arduous trek was worth it however, to have a close encounter with a family of mountain gorillas.
We were given strict instructions to stay 7 metres away from the gorillas, but they must have missed the briefing, running wherever they wanted amongst the trekkers. It took our breath away when one suddenly got up and ran right at us, missing us by centimetres!
We were very amused by the travel advice before the tour indicating that if 250 kg silverback gorilla charges at you, just stay calm :))
Even though something like 99% of groups do see the gorillas, for most of the day there's that lingering doubt, just wondering whether you'll be lucky enough.
We ended up seeing the Mubare group, which is one of aobut 4 groups that have been "habituated", essentially meaning they are used to tourists. Unfortunately the photos of these creatures don't do the experience justice. You aren't permitted to use flash photography, but I assure you that staring in to the eyes of a silverback from a few metres away is an absolutely breath-taking moment.
******************Tour blurb below
Day 4 / Gorilla Trek - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
This morning we meet our specialist gorilla guides for a brief safety talk and further information about the gorilla trek and the national park. Our guide is fluent in English and will pass on information to us that to ensure that we understand more about the gorillas and how they live. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest covers an area of 330 square kilometres and is located in the far south-west of the country where Uganda, Rwanda and DRC (Congo) meet. This pocket of huge primeval forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. It has an eco-system that defines the very essence of the continent and has therefore been designated as a World Heritage site.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner


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James Chance & Jonathan Toubin Saturday
James Chance @ LPR in 2010 (more by Greg Cristman)
New York Night Train is presenting the James Brown Dance Party at Zebulon this Saturday (8/13) with NY Night Train's DJ Jonathan Toubin and No Wave saxist James Chance. Starting at 11 PM, James Chance and his band, which includes Ivan Julian (Richard Hell and the Voidoids), Robert Aaron (B-52s, Blondie, Afrika Bambataa, Wu Tang Clan), Kim Clark (Defunkt and other jazz projects), and Richard Dworkin (James White and the Blacks, Alex Chilton). At midnight Jonathan Toubin and James Chance will spin "original vinyl recorded, produced, written, covered by, or otherwise related to James Brown." In the middle of that set, James Chance will play a short solo saxophone set over his own backing tracks and James Brown instrumentals. Jail Bait open the show. flyer below.
James also has a show coming up at Manhattan Inn.


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Virgil's pick from the warehouse sends the Institute of Antiquities group to Egypt. He picked what look like giant pool tiles and a small figurine. However, the liaison in Egypt is Rick's estranged father, Field General Nels Lundgren, and the person sent on behalf of the Egyptian Department of Antiquities is Dr. Carruthers, the original group member who walked away.
Carruthers' presence angers the colonel, as it violates the agreement made when Carruthers left the group. What the team finds on the dig is not what it seems at first and second blush. Further, wannabe terrorists are intent on taking the team hostage. Irina's pick from the warehouse is unknown, eye-opening work on the atmosphere by Father Giordano Bruno that may have contributed to the church putting him to death.
©2016 Barbara Goldstein PhD (P)2016 Barbara Goldstein PhD
"Terrific Institue of Antiquities"
Great amalgamation of adventure and science fiction with a good twist ending! And it's rooted in enough real science to make it plausible. I want to know more about that ancient group!"
Foundation and earth,
The way she made you care about the characters
it made me, want to sit on the edge of my seat
Science fiction, excellence.
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March 27th, 2003, 01:52 AM #1
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- January 18th, 2005
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Maybe to steer away from the polemic, we could consider some of the side-effects of the conflict.
For example, if a company was planning something that would mean bad PR (like a lot of layoffs), they'd want to do it now, when nobody's paying attention, rather than later in the year when there's a slow news day.
Same applies to governments. If you're going to pass unpopular legislation or make a "bad news" announcement or do something a little bit irregular, now's the time to do it, when people are watching the war and when the main guardians of world affairs are all tied up in the Iraq issue.
Look down the bottom of the media websites to find headlines that support this theory. For example, India and Pakistan seem to be facing off again right now - coincidence?
I daresay a few human rights around the world are going to get some serious bashing while everyone's busy dealing with Saddam.
March 27th, 2003, 04:07 AM #2
I have one in my mind;
Depleted Uranium. when it penetrates the armour it becomes dust and flows around with wind and when you inhale it you get a nice gulf war syndrome and other side effects of radioactivity.
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When you purchase your slide rails from CampKings Australia, you will be assured quality, reliable camping equipment that will last. These heavy duty, galvanised steel rails are recommended for strengthening your tarpaulin camping shelter. You can use them to provide handy hanging space or even attach side walls to them. They easily slip over the spigots of your existing poles, instantly adding stability to your outdoor tarp structure. Rails minimise the need for poles, ropes and pegs - saving you valuable set-up time so you can start camping sooner!
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There is substantial evidence that suggests that the lateral septum (LS) is involved in the fear-relief process. Additionally, current research indicates that activation of the LS may be contextually dependent and influenced by the hedonic properties of the environment. This study examines the neural activity of the LS in two distinct paradigms, specifically the elevated plus maze and Pavlovian differential fear conditioning, each containing an aversive and non-aversive context. LS neurons were examined during baseline conditions across contexts and were found to have significantly lower activity in the closed arm of the plus maze, while units in the fear conditioning study had higher rates of firing in the no shock chamber.
In general, it was found that going from the closed to open arm of the plus maze increased LS firing while moving from the open to closed arm resulted in a decrease in LS activity. Additionally, when the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide was administered at 2, 5, and 10mg/kg doses unit activity decreased. However, due to the fact that contextual conditioning was not achieved the results to the conditioning study are inconclusive. Overall, these results suggest that firing in the LS is contextually-dependent and that the effect of CDP is relative to the paradigm employed to produce a fear response. Moreover, the finding that LS units increase in the presence of an aversive context is contradictory to the original hypothesis that unit activity would decrease in an aversive context and this suggests that animals in the plus maze may utilize an adaptation response in order to suppress fear.
"One benefit of attending a Ph.D. program at a small liberal arts college is forming connections with faculty who are truly dedicated and accomplished scholars. In fact, being a part of the academic community at Bryn Mawr inspired me to go into academia, and I am now a faculty member at a small university with a liberal arts foundation."
Deanna Hamilton, Ph.D. (BMC Ph.D., 2005), Assistant Professor , Chatham University


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Television review: Now we all know for sure which is 'the toy department'
* The Andrew Marr Show (BBC1)
* The Fall (RTE1)
In the game of damage limitation, there is a fine old tradition that the person in a spot of bother tries to avoid the more serious type of journalistic scrutiny. That if they are going to do an interview, they will do it with someone who is not very well informed, who will give them a soft ride.
Thus they can say that they haven't "avoided the questions", even though the questions probably weren't asked, or were asked in such a way as to allow the damage-limitator a certain latitude.
Which is all very understandable, except for one thing: there is a media cliche that the "hard" interview will always be done by the Current Affairs types, and the "fluffy" one by the sort of folk who sit on multi-coloured couches on daytime TV telling people they're great. That what you don't want is somebody who is used to interrogating the country's leader you want someone who'll ask you what your favourite colour is, and who will not push it if you don't wish to talk about such a sensitive matter.
But the readers of this column know that this is not necessarily how it works at all, that in truth some of the least serious people on television are the ones who fancy themselves as "Paxman" types, it's just that they don't know they're not serious - indeed they're not serious enough, to be able to form such an insight.
And meanwhile they disparage other areas such as sports as "the toy department". Or at least they did until last weekend when we found out once and for all where the real toy department is located.
The Team Sky cycling team, which is renowned for the mastery with which it handles the media - it is, after all, an offshoot of a media corporation - has been in a spot of bother in relation to doping controversies which involve one of its leading riders, Sir Bradley Wiggins.
So they did one TV interview, and we can be sure that in deciding which one to do, they did a fair bit of the old due diligence. And these very clever people decided that the best place for Sir Bradley to be was on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning on BBC1, and how right they were.
The quintessential BBC political journalist, Marr displayed all the limitations of his breed. He had a superficial understanding of these very important matters, an attitude which naturally arises from the fact that deep down he attaches far more significance to things like the naming of the new shadow cabinet. He didn't know enough, and he didn't show much sign that he had sought the help of those who do. He just didn't get it.
He even moved away from the issue of doping to engage Sir Bradley in talk about Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May, and other such banter which is exactly how Team Sky would have wanted it. We were now deep into the what-is-your-favourite-colour zone.
But the coming men and women on TV now are beyond politics or even sport, they are surgeons.
Most nights now it seems I am watching a major operation being performed. The first episode of the new series of The Fall had Jamie Dornan being wheeled into the emergency room and opened up by the crack team at the fictional Belfast General Hospital, who would break away from their life-saving work only to muse on the ethical complexities of devoting all these energies to the treatment of a person who has done such very bad things.
They're doing it in real life too - I enjoyed several emergency operations recently on the BBC series, An Hour To Save Your Life, and the RTE series Keeping Ireland Alive: the Health Service in a Day has been exemplary in showing us all sorts of procedures being performed and directed by these charismatic professionals.
There seems little reason now to keep the cameras out of any operating theatre at any time - it seems inevitable that we will have a channel fully dedicated to surgery of all kinds, with perhaps the relatively minor operations in the afternoon.
And I need hardly add that you'll be able to bet on the outcomes.
Sunday Indo Living


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Better Red is an interdisciplinary study addressing the complicated intersection of American feminism and the political left as refracted in Tillie Olsen's and Meridel Le Sueur's lives and literary texts. The first book-length study to explore these feminist writers' ties to the American Communist Party, it contributes to a reenvisioning of 1930s U.S. Communism as well as to efforts to promote working-class writing as a legitimate category of literary analysis. At once loyal members of the male-dominated Communist party and emerging feminists, Olsen and Le Sueur exhibit in their writing tendencies both toward and away from Party tenets and attitudesat points subverting formalist as well as orthodox Marxist literary categories. By producing working-class discourse, Olsen and Le Sueur challenge the bourgeois assumptionsoften masked as classless and universalof much canonical literature; and by creating working-class women's writing, they problematize the patriarchal nature of the Left and the masculinist assumptions of much proletarian literature, anticipating the concerns of "second wave" feminists a generation later.
Blending criticism, biography and oral history, this dense feminist study draws striking parallels between two working-class women writers-Tillie Olsen (born 1912?), whose fiction (Tell Me A Riddle; Yonnondio) has won acclaim, and Meridel Le Sueur (born 1900), novelist (The Girl), reporter and short-story writer who became a cultural icon among feminists in the 1970s. Both were loyal members of the U.S. Communist Party, and both, as emerging feminists, rebelled against the party's entrenched sexism. Coiner, who interviewed Olsen and Le Sueur extensively, observes that both writers made emotional deformities, family relations and the developing consciousness of children central to their writing. By confronting experiences that shape women's lives-pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, battery, rape, sexism, isolation-both writers fulfilled the maxim ``the personal is the political,'' while challenging the acquisitive individualism and patriarchy that they saw as warping features of capitalist society. Conceived as a dissertation, this book will be of most interest to informed readers. (Mar.)


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Through the effective management of wildlife and habitat, MassWildlife ensures quality outdoor recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoys the impressive variety of plants, fish, and wildlife found in Massachusetts. Outdoor skills clinics, wildlife education workshops, presentations, and online resources provide all residents with a greater understanding and appreciation for wildlife conservation. Keep in touch with us – sign up to receive monthly e-newsletters.
See hunting regulations for different game animals, get hunting tips, and learn about classes that will prepare you to hunt safely and successfully.
Buy your freshwater fishing license, learn about freshwater fishing, and find out where MassWildlife stocks trout.
Hunter observations can help biologists study wildlife.
This fall, MassWildlife is sampling Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs in an ongoing effort to monitor Lake Trout populations.
Since 1972, MassWildlife has offered paraplegic hunters the opportunity to participate in a special 3-day hunting season.
Don't deck the halls with invasive species!
Show your appreciation to those who have served this Veterans Day by getting outdoors together.
Each fall, fisheries biologists collect approximately 1.5 million trout eggs at the state fish hatcheries.
MassWildlife recently partnered with the Massachusetts NWTF to improve wildlife habitat on Moose Brook WMA in Barre.


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Tag Archives: K. Webster
Dirty Ugly Toy- K. Webster
About this book:
Things are looking up.
She's dirty and ugly.
He's wicked but handsome.
Six months to toy with her.
Six months of vacation and a ton of money.
I'll hurt her beyond repair.
I've been through much worse.
She's difficult to control and doesn't obey.
I'm done submitting to anyone or anything in this life.
I should hate her.
I should hate him.
The game has changed.
I will win.
Dirty Ugly Toy is a novel that blurs the lines of right and wrong, deals with abuse, contains dubious consent, and adult subject matter. If you are sensitive to violent sexual situations, the book may not be suitable for you. Some parts of this book are not easy to read and are not intended for everyone. However, those that keep an open mind and stick with it will not be disappointed.
Release Date: 18th January, 2016.
Continue reading
Whispers and the Roars- K. Webster
About this book:
When my eyes are closed, the monster can't ever see me.
When I sing a song in my head, the monster can't ever hear me.
When I pretend my bedroom is a playground where I play hide and seek, the monster can't ever find me.
The darkness should frighten me.
I should worry I'll find more monsters…monsters scarier than him.
But I'm not afraid.
It's safe here.
When I'm inside of my head…
He. Can't. Ever. Touch. Me.
Whispers and the Roars is a dark romance. Strong sexual themes and violence, which could trigger emotional distress are found in this story. The abuse written in this story is graphic and not glossed over which could be upsetting to some. Proceed with caution. This story is NOT for everyone.
Release Date: 6th December, 2016


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Jo Harten relishing first Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic home game in Hamilton
England and Waikato Magic shooter Jo Harten is relishing the opportunity to finally play in Hamilton.
Last Updated: 14/03/14 2:57pm
The shooter has been impressive in her side's opening two away wins, missing just two goals from 73 attempts, and is now relishing her first home game of 2014 against Southern Steel on Monday.
She said: "I can't wait to experience the Magic home crowd.
"I've been told it's something different with the cow bells... I'm looking forward to hearing that kind of thing and my parents are flying over from England, so they'll be at that home game as well.''
Harten switched ANZ Championship sides in the off season from Tactix and her outstanding performances have been noted back here in England as the 24-year-old warms-up for this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
"It's a really fresh environment here, probably a change in what the Magic has had over the last few years and a change from what I've experienced at the Tactix as well,'' she told mynetball.co.nz
"There's a lot of self-responsibility but it's also a pressured responsibility so if you do the work then you'll be able to achieve on court and you're contributing to the team performance.
"Julie (Fitzgerald, coach) doesn't put heaps of pressure on us, she wants us to be confident in our game so trains us in a way that we work hard against each other, for each other.''
"Even if we had lost the first two games, I feel it's still been the best decision for my netball career to move here.
"A change in environment can really bring out a different side to you. I also feel like I'm gaining in confidence and maturity."


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Driven by a single-minded goal -- to keep creating value.
Prakash is the CEO of Isobar Singapore and a 16-year veteran in the digital space. Prakash has a genuine love for marketing, design, and technology, and has had the privilege of consulting and delivering measurable value for some of the world's most successful brands, such as Nokia, Samsung, P&G, Intel, Mercedes Benz, Microsoft,and Sony. Prakash was a finalist at the 2008 Singapore Indian Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and shortlisted as one of the Top 5 Agency Heads in South East Asia at the 2013 Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards.
Prakash has a genuine love for marketing, design, and technology


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Match Play: Bubba Watson wins longest match of tournament
Shane Lowry's Cinderella story continues. Charles Howell's does not at the 2013 World Golf Championship at Marana, Ariz.
More Golf: Leaderboard | Rankings | Schedule | Expert Picks | Equipment | FedEx Cup
Martin Kaymer defeated Rafael Cabrera-Bello 2 and 1
How it ended: Cabrera-Bello made a birdie to won hole No. 14 but would get no closer. Both golfers parred out and Kaymer took the win.
Robert Garrigus defeated Louis Oosthuizen 3 and 2
How it ended: And down goes the final No. 1 seed. Yep, that's right, none of the four top seeds are left after Garrigus never let Oosthuizen have the lead.
On the Golf Channel after his match Garrigus was asked if he saw this win coming:
I did.
Fredrik Jacobson defeated Marcus Fraser 4 and 3
How it ended: Down goes Fraser? Jacobson led the whole way, never even letting Fraser have a look at an all square match. He will move on to face Robert Garrigus in the next round.
Shane Lowry defeated Carl Pettersson 6 and 5
How it ended: Cinderella story Lowry (he told Golf Channel he struggled to get to sleep last night) nailed a 25-foot birdie on No. 14 to put Pettersson away early. His bout with Rory McIlroy clearly didn't take much out of him.
Jason Day defeated Russell Henley 1 up in 19 holes
How it ended: Henley hit a monster 20-foot birdie on No. 18 to sent it to extras but Day knocked in a birdie of his own on the next hole for the win.
Bubba Watson defeated Jim Furyk 1 up in 22 holes
How it ended: It took a while, and Watson missed quite a few putts, but it was Furyk that bogeyed the 22nd hole to give Watson the win.
Here's what Watson had to say after his match:
Post-match winner interview: @bubbawatson, did you think you were going to lose the match? BW: Yeah, every shot.#matchplay
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 22, 2013
He's the only golfer ranked in the world top 10 left in the tournament.
Gonzalo Fdez-Castano defeated Charles Howell III 5 and 4
How it ended: Yesterday's Tiger-slayer (Howell) didn't win a hole today as Fdez-Castano used five birdies to put him away.
Steve Stricker defeated Nick Watney 1 up in 21 holes
How it ended: Stricker stuffed his shot on the par-3 third hole (21st overall) to four feet. He had missed a six-foot putt on the previous hole for the win but this one was conceded by Watney. He will face Scott Piercy in round three.
He was also rather humorous after the match.
Steve Stricker outlasts Nick Watney in 21 holes, will play Scott Piercy tomorrow. "I'm happier than you-know-what to move on." #MatchPlay— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 22, 2013
Graeme McDowell defeated Alex Noren 1 up in 20 holes
How it ended: In the bizarre ending of the day, Noren hit it in the desert but was given relief because he was behind a "temporary obstruction." However, he still couldn't get up and down and McDowell didn't even have to putt for his win. McDowell will face the Irish Cinderella story, Shane Lowry.
Webb Simpson defeated Peter Hanson 1 up
How it ended: Simpson sank a sweet birdie on the last hole to move on to the second round. The last match of the day was an entertaining one as only seven holes were halved. Simpson moves on to face Gonzalo Fdez-Castano in round three.
For more golf news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnGolf and @KylePorterCBS on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Trump tees it up with Tiger, D.J.
The POTUS is getting a round in on Friday with two No. 1 players in the world
Tiger Woods 20-1 to win major in 2018
Big Cats odds are dropping as good news continues to come out of his camp
WATCH: Drive with a putter is unreal
You won't be able to stop watching this video of a golfer hitting a low drive with a putte...
Watch: Tiger Woods' top 10 shots
All the aces and hole-outs over the years have been pretty amazing
Day says Tiger Woods feels great
From one former No. 1 player in the world who has struggled with injuries to another
Day, Spieth head to Australia
Two of the top players in the world are headed down under this week


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Rent by day/week/month/year
Sweet home on ridge overlooks Alaska Range, Susitna River and beaver pond below, where swans, cranes, bears, moose share nearby habitat.
Perfect place for inspired writer or artist. Very quiet
Surround windows afford magnificent views and splendid Alaska sunrises/sunsets. Home is modern yet cozy/comfy/clean. Spacious kitchen and bathroom are shared. Guest room is private with double bed, large closet, sitting area with writing table, plenty of windows and its own heat source.
Canoe beaver pond in summer months or nordic ski on trails right out the yard in winter.
Accesso ospiti
This BnB is geared toward Bed and Bath.
While I can make a good cuppa with my eyes closed, a better breakfast is offered at the nearby Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe...much better than anything I might offer;-). Its about 4 miles down the road, toward downtown Talkeetna.
Interazione con gli ospiti
You set the tone...if I'm available I'd love to visit, but only if that's what you seek;-). I will be present at the house, though as this is where I live, too;-)
This open and airy house is here for your comfort and enjoyment.
The guest room is 12' x 16' (192 sq ft is large enough to rival most remote cabins!)
Please remove shoes upon entering, as is Alaska custom.
There are indoor slippers for your foot pleasure;-) and plenty of room for your luggage/backpacks should you need to repack for your next adventure. The bookshelf is full of natural history resources and other reading material; the garden is yours to peruse and the canoe down at the pond awaits your paddle (provided;-)
The ridge is fairly quiet so please, no late night noise.
Respect the lay of the land and you can't go wrong!
Our 2 retired sled dogs are happy to show you their swimming hole in summer, or mushing/ski-joring trails out the back door, in winter.
15 Recensioni
I am from Talkeetna Alaska...and have lived here more than half my life, experiencing Alaska in all her many facets from traveling to remote field camps as a fisheries biologist for ADFG; commercial fisher in Bristol Bay, Prince William Sound (PWS) and the Lower Yukon River; dog musher living the remote cabin lifestyle (many years ago;-) and most recently as a science coordinator for a Chugach School District in PWS.
I am happy to share all that I know about living the Alaska Dream, and guiding you to make your own travels a dream.
My favorite saying: "We're all in this together!"
Please feel free to call my cell for any questions


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OT rant sorry :(
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April 3rd, 2013, 07:50 PM
Kerana mama to be in 2013
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Fort Bragg NC
Posts: 1,134
Do you ever have a day when everything and I mean EVERYTHING you say or do is wrong and makes everyone around you mad? My nephews 9 and 4 live with me and my parents, their mother my sister lives here too but she doesn't care for them so it falls on my mother and I to care for them. They listen fine to my mom but while she was at the store I tried to get them to turn the tv and laptop off and clean up a little that way my mom wasn't tripping over toys and Legos and shoes (my sister just doesn't care I don't think) they flat out refused and told me they don't have to listen to me because I'm just their aunt. So I shut the tv off. Well my mom came home and let into me for doing that because the 9yo called my mom and complained to her. And it's been like this for weeks I tell them or ask them to do something their mother and my mom tell them the exact opposite. Please don't bash on me and say its not my place maybe it's not but idk maybe I'm wrong and should just keep to myself and stay in my room go to work and bite my tongue until we get a house on base
Thank you Jaidynsmum for the awesome siggy!
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text: Hello all. The screen on my evo has cracked and my brand new replacement phone has arrived. Is there a way to transfer all my pics,msgs,apps, etc... to the new phone. I am also interested in Rooting. Where shall i start? should i try rooting before transfering old stuff? Thanks in advance for any and all help provided. Nolaboy


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[Read: Ishrat Jahan encounter case: Amit Shah not named in CBI chargesheet]
The BJP has also suspected connection between the second CBI chargesheet, Union minister Kapil Sibal's direct attack on Modi over the Gujarat riots in the Parliament and the recent charges against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of abetting terror activities.
According to the party, the Congress is making a desperate attempt to derail Modi in the run up to the Lok Sabha election due in another two months.
The Congress is trying to adopt a strategy it had taken during the 2007 Guj poll
The Congress has clearly run out of ideas to tackle Modi now. After a series of election debacle, the retreat of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the battlefield, reports of friction in its alliance, pathetic predictions by various pre-poll surveys and a disastrous interview of its face of the future Rahul Gandhi, the Congress seems to have lost its road inside the dark tunnel. And the more it is getting cornered, the more it is targetting Modi to survive another day.
Trying to adopt the strategy of 2007 Gujarat assembly polls
The Congress versus Modi episode in the run-up to the big fight is resembling the Gujarat assembly election of 2007. That year, it had tried to reverse its fortunes in Gujarat by demonising Modi as the 'merchant of death'. But yet it fell flat on its face.
The Congress is trying to repeat the same this time. Even its top leadership couldn't resist the temptation of attacking Modi on communal lines. While Rahul Gandhi made vague statements alleging Modi's hand behind the 2002 riots, Sonia Gandhi mentioned about 'cultivating poison' at a rally in Karnataka a few days ago. Even an otherwise silent Manmohan Singh launched a scathing attack on Modi at his January 3 press meeting, saying Modi as prime minister would be a disaster for India. There is no wonder in the fact that the rest of the Congress has closely followed the top brass of the centralised outfit.
By calling Modi communal, it is the Congress which is trying to polarise votes
The irony is that polarisation of votes is the last hope for the Congress and not Modi in this election. In a surprising turn of events, while Modi has undertaken an initiative to stitch a social and political coalition together to make his Mission 272 a success, the Congress is eager to create a rift in the votebank with a hope to weaken Modi's prospects. The Aam Aadmi Party, like a true 'ally' of the Congress, is also trying to divide the urban votebank of Modi and the BJP.
Call him communal but not chaiwala: Congress top brass's calculated attack?
The Congress's top leadership has also asked the subordinates not to make loose remarks against the opponents. The Congress and some of its allies have been found taking a jibe at Modi over his humble origin and it has only made the support for Modi stronger. The Congress wants to polarise votes through the old attack on communal lines and not help Modi's votebank grow stronger by insensible chaiwala mocks.
Is 2002 fading fast for the Congress?
But despite all these efforts, 2002 is getting more distant with each passing day. The way Modi has advanced on the way to establish himself as a leader with a pan-Indian image, the decade-old riots may not qualify as a determining factor in this year's Lok Sabha election at all. The Congress needs to think of a new strategy to deal with Modi.


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Journalists are among the first witnesses, and also the first victims, of the instability that plagues the Middle East. The political and religious divisions in Lebanon, the spectre of civil war in Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have deep repercussions on media workers, beyond national borders. The region's chronic instability is used by political leaders as a permanent excuse to silence journalists, whose every criticism is seen as wilfully destabilising their regimes.
The violence in the region has made Western democracies surprisingly unenthusiastic about denouncing human rights violations committed or tolerated by their economic partners there. Defending freedom of expression was apparently not an issue during the visit to France of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi or during the trips to the region of US President George Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Iran's aggressive foreign policy and the bogging-down of the US army in Iraq have also downgraded the human rights issue in the two countries.
The law of silence
Some countries in the region have started to modernise but a complete opening-up of political life is out of the question. Jordan's King Abdallah II, King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak all talk of more democracy but with some control over the media. Journalists in these countries are accused of crimes and brought to court when they tackle sensitive matters, such as religion, or dare to criticise the monarchy or the regime. A dozen Egyptian journalists were prosecuted in 2007 after complaints filed by members of the ruling party. A journalist in Morocco faces a possible five years in prison in 2008 for criticising a speech by the king and a former member of parliament in Jordan was sentenced to two years in prison in October for criticising abuses in the country on his website.
Press freedom is in no way guaranteed in Syria, Tunisia, Libya and Saudi Arabia and journalists there know they must censor themselves on pain of serious consequences. The authorities exert heavy pressure on journalists and especially media owners. Journalists who cross the line are quickly dismissed or even imprisoned in a total denial of justice. Flattery is still the best way to keep one's job and freedom. The Tunisian media has accepted this and the press gushes with praise for President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who celebrated his 20th year in power in 2007. Syrian President Bashar el-Assad's regime imprisoned several journalists and political activists who called for more democracy.
In the Gulf states, the freedom of expression enjoyed by some satellite TV stations, such as the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera and Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya, were offset by their soft treatment of the governments that host and fund them. An increasing number of prosecutions of print-media journalists in 2007 endangered a budding diversity.
Iran, bottom of the regional list
Iran comes last in the region in the Reporters Without Borders worldwide press freedom index. Evin prison, overlooking Teheran, is the region's biggest jail for journalists and at the end of the year, five journalists were still languishing there for "undermining national security" by simply being outspoken. Only journalists in media outlets close to the regime's leaders (and thus protected by them) are allowed to criticise President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. Independent or community media outlets do not get the same favourable treatment. A Kurdish journalist was condemned to death for allegedly making "separatist propaganda."
No reforms in 2007
Needed changes to press laws in the region have still not been made and legislators seem in no hurry to decriminalise press offences. Most parliaments in the region have very little power and no reforms will be made as long as regimes want to keep control of the media. The only encouraging sign during 2007 was when United Arab Emirates prime minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum said in September (as an appeals court struck down a prison sentence against two journalists for libel) that he favoured a new press law. Meanwhile, negotiations in Morocco between the communications and justice ministries on one side and journalist unions and media owners on the other reached deadlock.
Journalists were also prosecuted and convicted under the criminal law in Iran, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia. A constitutional reform in Egypt seems likely to immobilise political opponents but also independent or critical journalists.
War reporting
Arab journalists work in very dangerous conditions and 56 media workers were killed in Iraq in 2007, all but one of them Iraqis. Violence has still not diminished there nearly five years after the fighting began and has forced most foreign journalists to flee. Those who have stayed keep to their highly-protected offices and rarely go into the field, which has meant fewer casualties among them. Reporting is mainly done by Iraqi colleagues and nine who worked for US media outlets were killed in ambushes. These journalists have become the favourite target of armed Islamist groups. Twenty-five journalists were also kidnapped in 2007. The authorities took no action to prevent attacks on journalists and 207 media workers have now been killed in Iraq since fighting started in 2003.
Journalists in the Palestinian Territories were also victims of the fighting between President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and the supporters of Hamas and former prime minister Ismael Haniyeh. The June 2007 takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas endangered journalists working for pro-Fatah media outlets and all those who criticised Hamas and its leaders. Many journalists fled to the West Bank, where pro-Hamas colleagues were in turn arrested and mistreated by Palestinian Authority officials. The Gaza Strip became virtually out of bounds for foreign reporters. The kidnapping of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalist Alan Johnston for 114 days by a powerful Gaza faction put the foreign media off from sending in any more permanent correspondents and, as in Iraq, reporting was done by local stringers. Along with this inter-Palestinian violence, Israeli army gunfire wounded a dozen journalists covering their operations.
Hajar Smouni
Head of Middle East and North Africa desk