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SHRIMP BOAT (Buy CDs by this artist)
Daylight Savings [tape] (self-released) 1988
Some Biscuit [tape] (self-released) 1988
Speckly (Specimen Products) 1989 (AUM Fidelity) 2005
Volume 1 (Specimen Products) 1991
Duende (Bar/None) 1992
Small Wonder EP7 (Ajax) 1992
Cavale (Bar/None) 1993
Something Grand (AUM Fidelity) 2004
The Sea and Cake (Rough Trade) 1994 (Thrill Jockey) 1994
Nassau (Thrill Jockey) 1995
The Biz (Thrill Jockey) 1995
The Fawn (Thrill Jockey) 1997
A Brief Historical Retrospective (Japan. Thrill Jockey) 1997
Two Gentlemen EP (Thrill Jockey) 1997
Oui (Thrill Jockey) 2000
One Bedroom (Thrill Jockey) 2002
Glass EP (Thrill Jockey) 2003
Everybody (Thrill Jockey) 2007
Falstaff (Specimen Products) 1995
Falstaff II (Homestead) 1997
Sam Prekop (Thrill Jockey) 1998
Who's Your New Professor (Thrill Jockey) 2005
Over the course of his career, which has already yielded a shelf full of records, Chicago singer/guitarist Sam Prekop has drawn from enough disparate sources to make himself admirably difficult to pin down. Is he a folkie with jazz influences? A jazzbo with a jones for Caribbean music? An art-rocker with country leanings? The labels, of course, are less important than Prekop's music, which incorporates all these elements into a consistently playful brand of cerebral rock.
Prekop first showed up fronting Shrimp Boat, whose self-released Speckly album features the sort of herky-jerk rhythms and warm jazz/folk intermingling (a banjo playing here while a sax plays a sharp solo line there) that have come to characterize his career. This approach simultaneously challenging and inviting recalls the excellent work of several like-minded bands, including Men & Volts, the Minutemen and, especially, New York's Mofungo/The Scene Is Now collective, whose Willie Klein and Chris Nelson appear to be the primary influences on Prekop's mildly yodel-ish vocal style. The overall effect is crisp and, thanks to Prekop's knack for simple melodies, addictively catchy. Despite one badly pretentious polemic (the environmentalist "An Orchid Is Not a Rose," which includes the embarrassing line, "An orchid is not a coal-burning power plant") and a sonic paradigm still in its developmental stages, Speckly clearly heralds the arrival of a significant talent.
When Bar/None took longer than expected to issue Shrimp Boat's second studio album, the group filled the void by releasing Volume 1, a collection of early recordings, live tracks and related ephemera, most of it predating Speckly and much of it sounding quite a bit like the more fragmented late-'60s work by the Red Krayola. Interesting but inconsequential.
Shrimp Boat took a great leap forward with Duende, a beautiful, expansive album featuring fuller production and a more confident approach to incorporating the quartet's assorted musical influences into an overall sound. With the drum kit manned by Brad Wood (later to be known as Liz Phair's producer), Duende's 16 songs are anchored in roots rhythms sometimes leaning toward country, sometimes toward folk, but always unmistakably organic providing a simple base for Prekop and crew to build upon. On some songs, they throw bebop elements into the mix ("Bumble Bees"); on others they reference scat ("Sunday Crawls Along"), free jazz ("Duende"), even a hint of calypso ("Malva Rosita"). Incredibly, it all works, with liberal doses of humor and good cheer all around. Essential.
Cavale, which includes three of the four songs from the 7-inch Small Wonder EP, is significantly more complex in conception yet much subtler in execution. The roots-based bottom is gone. Here, Shrimp Boat builds its assorted influences into the songs' rhythmic underpinnings rather than layering them on top, and the set relies as much on technical precision as it does on conception. The delivery, however, is much more gentle and restrained, resulting in an album whose best tunes sound tailor-made for lazy afternoons or rainy Sundays.
Tensions brought to the fore during recording caused the band to break apart shortly after the release of Cavale. Eleven years later, New York avant-jazz label AUM Fidelity trawled through hundreds of hours of unreleased recordings and practice tapes in order to assemble Something Grand, a three-disc (originally a limited-edition four) document of Shrimp Boat's evolution from genre pranksters to subtle craftsmen. It's a lot to consume in a single sitting, but this collection is nonetheless a valuable insight into one of the most unique bands of its time.
Following the dissolution of Shrimp Boat, guitarist/vocalist Ian Schneller formed Falstaff. The self-titled debut (packaged with a square beverage coaster in place of the traditional CD booklet), is an uneven mix of amiable, low-key tunes with strong echoes of Shrimp Boat and patience-trying songs whose over-obvious lyrics, vocals and rhythms border on novelty. After releasing Falstaff II, Schneller gave up on playing and became a guitar- and amp-maker.
While Prekop became the object of some major-label attention in the wake of Shrimp Boat, he pulled together a new band of Cavale bassist Eric Claridge, Coctails guitarist Archer Prewitt and drummer/producer-about-town John McEntire (Tortoise, Gastr del Sol). The Sea and Cake whose name apparently came as a result of Prekop misunderstanding the title of a Gastr del Sol song, "The C in Cake" signed to then-fledgling Chicago indie Thrill Jockey and began releasing records at a furious pace.
The group's superb self-titled debut takes Cavale's ambitious compositional scope a step further and is more successful for it. Banishing any hints of folk and country, Prekop experiments with a variety of beautifully interwoven textures and rhythms, many of them from Caribbean and African sources. At its most pastoral, the record will have you reaching for a tropical drink; at its most bracing, even non-dancers will be hard-pressed to sit still. Highly recommended.
Nassau, the fine followup, comes flying out of the box with the dynamite "Nature Boy," Prekop's most supercharged song since Duende, but quickly settles back into the mid-level groove of its predecessor. With McEntire contributing more and more overdubbed keyboard textures, the album finds the group veering closer to art-rock, an indulgence largely mitigated by Prekop's still-evident playfulness and melodic gift. The ten songs, which are crammed with enough detail to reward close attention but sufficiently pleasant to function well as background music, breeze by like a calm summer day.
The third Sea and Cake album released inside a 13-month span finds the group's formula wearing thin. Where most of Prekop's previous output shuffles, The Biz meanders; dynamic grooves give way to lazy jamming, hooks are outnumbered by pointless riffing and some of the mellower material would be right at home on a lite-rock radio station. A major disappointment.
The band regained some of its focus by the time it released The Fawn 18 months later. Although still rooted in jazzy-pop, this is an altogether quieter affair, giving two of the band's strongest undercurrents Claridge's wonderfully elastic basslines and McEntire's melodic keyboard arrangements far greater prominence than they'd previously enjoyed. There's barely a guitar to be heard on the opener, "Sporting Life." When the band does settle into more familiar instrumentation, as on "Do Now Fairly Well" or "There You Are," the results are more fragile and melancholy than anything else in the back catalogue. It may be a far cry from the breezy exuberance of the early records, but The Fawn is ultimately successful in conveying its sense of quiet, unobtrusive beauty.
Following quickly on The Fawn's tail, the Two Gentlemen EP is a largely inconsequential selection of remixes by ubiquitous Chicago soundheads (Bundy K Brown, Casey "Designer" Rice and Jim O'Rourke) plus a brace of mellow electronic instrumentals apparently made by Prekop on his own.
The Sea and Cake went on hiatus for the remainder of the decade, although the individual members were far from inactive. Prekop teamed up with the rhythm section of Josh Abrams (bass) and Chad Taylor (drums) for his self-titled solo debut. Produced by Jim O'Rourke, the record is both engaging and pleasantly low-key, drawing primarily on the Sea and Cake's sunnier side. It threatens to lose its way near the end, but redeems itself with "So Shy," a relaxed pop tune replete with ba-da-bahs and the indie version of a Bacharach string arrangement.
When the Sea and Cake did finally return to active service, it was with the lackluster Oui, a record which adheres closely to the formula but fails to generate any sort of spark from it. The experiments with arrangement are less successful ("The Leaf" replaces guitar, bass and drums with repetitive vibraphone lines that wouldn't sound out of place on a low-budget soundtrack) and even the more engaging songs ("Midtown" or the shuffly "Afternoon Speaker") sound like they're struggling with a lack of inspiration.
Fortunately One Bedroom again released after a three-year gap teems with all the life that the band omitted from Oui. The chimey guitars and shuffling rhythms are bolstered by a variety of sequenced electronics the magnificent "Hotel Tell" even goes so far as to drop something not dissimilar from a house beat and for the first time since Nassau, there's even a little bit of distortion to scuff the pop sheen. One Bedroom also introduces the band's first ever recorded cover, a version of Bowie's "Sound + Vision" which simultaneously does justice to the original and sounds perfectly at home.
With the band's "other pursuits" providing a constant distraction Claridge, Prewitt and Prekop have all had some success in visual arts and McEntire remains an in-demand producer and no obvious internal strife, it is entirely possible that the Sea and Cake will continue to release records for as long as the spirit moves them. And while they may never again be fixtures on the indie hotlists, their recent recordings prove that they are still a band with the power to delight and surprise.[Paul Lukas / Jesse Simon]
See also Coctails, Gastr del Sol, Tortoise
All contents copyright 2007 Trouser Press LLC


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Diâne: organic soaps and cosmetics from fresh donkey's milk is processed at the farm where the donkeys live!
Organic is synonymous for "living". Beliflor selected "Laboratoire Paysanne", a handcraft soap-maker, to produce our famous "Diâne" line from living, fresh components whilst respecting strict organic and environmental guidelines!
Following French labels for organic agriculture certify Diâne donkey's milk products: Nature et Progrès, Agriculture Biologique and Demeter.
Fresh donkey's milk is particularily suitable for marvelous soaps and pure cosmetics.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Version: 6.0 Last Updated: 25 September 2018
Please find below the important points you need to know before embarking on a fantastic online gaming journey with us. We've taken care not to leave anything out because despite the fact that T&C's have a reputation as 'fine print', we really like things to be big, bold and clear.
We are proud to state that we are fully compliant with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (also referred to as the CRA). Our Customer Support Service is available 24 hours a day to assist and resolve with any questions or queries you may have in this regard, and for further information, please see point 93 under the heading CASINO DISPUTE RESOLUTION for the appropriate contact details.
When you create an account, you authorise the casino to initiate contact with you via direct electronic marketing such as email, telephone (calls and text messages) and direct marketing materials, as stipulated in our Privacy Policy. In the event that you wish to opt out of any of these communication streams, kindly contact our Customer Support Services to facilitate the process.
The Casino Terms and Conditions are liable to change, and when they do, we'll indicate it at the top of this page, just below the heading 'TERMS AND CONDITIONS" and we'll also endeavour to let you know.
The following Bonus Terms and Conditions apply to all offers at the Casino. In the event that there is a conflict between these terms and conditions and a promotions specific terms and conditions, the promotion specific terms and conditions shall prevail.
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Claiming a £50 bonus requires 40 times wagering and equates to £2000* (£50 x 40 wagering = £2000) in bets.
Claiming a £100 bonus requires 40 times wagering and equates to £4000* (£100 x 40 wagering = £4000) in bets.
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Wagering for Bonuses – Playthrough Requirements*
The percentage contribution that counts towards meeting your wagering requirement is as follows for each game category:
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*Percentage of wager placed that counts towards meeting wagering requirement.
Examples of these: Mobile phone, water, telephone, gas or electricity bill.
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93. Complaints, claims or disputes regarding any activity at the Casino should be submitted to our Customer Support Desk as soon as possible.
Customer Service Contact Details
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Fax: 800 652 5104
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UK P.O Box: Continental Gaming (Malta) Limited, 290 Moston Lane, Manchester, M40 9WB
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Independent Betting Adjudication Service
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With effect from 1st November, Continental Gaming (Malta) LTD is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission with reference number 000–039347–R–319422–007, (view license status here). British Players (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) are subject to the regulations of the UK Gambling Commission and the laws of the UK apply.
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Deposits made with above credit and debit cards as well as Digital wallets are instantly credited to the players' casino account.


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October 7, 2008, at 12 pm a press conference organized by the Melina company will be held for informing the media about the Markovo Tepe Mall project as well as officially laying the foundations of the building.
Pariticpants in the press conference will be Iakov Niv (manager of Melina company, investor of the project), Manuel Manuelian - chief architect of the building, Metin Gyurel - manager of the Intertek construction company, Pavlina Nikova - partner in Forton International.
Markovo Tepe Mall Commercial and Business Center is an investment of 65 mln Euro and will provide about 1000 new jobs. The building of the mall will feature underground parking facilities in 4 levels, spa and fitness center, leading world brands stores, restaurants, cafes and entertainment facilities, as well a business zone with offices.photo and info: jnlPlus Advertising Agency


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Hi Everyone, Maybe this is a bit early for these discussions, but what the hey: In the esteemed opions of this lists members, would it be possible to adapt Amaya for the Semantic Web, e.g. to create SDF documents [1]? This would make an Amaya variant the first SW, WYSIWYG editor. It may seem a bit complicated, but it's not really, once you get into it. Really, we use a subset of HTML, using minimalistic tags (about 15-25), and then fill it with our own semantic content, based on pre-authored rules (regex etc.). Can anyone help (&/or provide discussion)? [1] SDF - Semantic Document Framework: The essence of SDF is this:- 1. Provide a backbone namespce for SDF that uses (HTML) display tags. 2. Fill this framework with your own, Schema described content, dynamic and logical (using RDF/XML Schemas/RDF Schemas) a. Dynamic becuase you make it up: generate on the fly b. Logical because to work it would require logic rules An SDF editor would have to eventually be able to this: [[[ Then, if it hadn't already been recognized by the editor, you'd tell it that the quote was about the weather, and it would automatically link to your namespace, then you'd select the important parts: date, temp and location, and tell the editor what they are: (except your editor alrady recognizes them because it has alrady consulted your namespace, and searched the SW for key phrases, highlighted them, and maked them up accordingly). ]]] or use a rule based mechanism for doing so. The goals of SDF are: 1. Produce a fully Semantic document medium, based on current XML related UI technologies, that can be easily converted using XSLT into RDF. 2. Produce a framework for extending and subsetting this medium, so that it may be fully machine processable, as well as being a human readable output. 3. Make the framework technology independent, so that when RDF/XML etc. are past their sell by dates, the method still remains. For more information see http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-rdf-interest/2000Nov Kindest Regards, Sean B. Palmer ---------------------------------------------------- The Semantic Web: A Resource - http://xhtml.waptechinfo.com/swr/ WAP Tech Info - http://www.waptechinfo.com/ Mysterylights.com - http://www.mysterylights.com/ ---------------------------------------------------- "The Internet; is that thing still around?" - Homer J. SimpsonReceived on Friday, 10 November 2000 07:56:12 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 7 January 2015 14:53:23 UTC


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Hi, it looks like you're new. Welcome to Voat!
Voat is a censorship-free community platform where content is submitted, organized, moderated and voted on (ranked) by the users.
Users can earn a percentage of our ad-revenue share for the content they submit.Take a tour
Archived Goddammit, please move the logout buttun away from the notifications button in mobile (ideasforvoat)
submitted ago by totes_magotes
[–] clamhurt_legbeard 0 points 0 points 0 points (+0|-0) ago
disable custom CSS


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Apples - Journal of Applied Language Studies is a peer reviewed international electronic journal sponsored by the Centre for Applied Language Studies at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. It publishes articles that share an applied, interdisciplinary orientation to issues of language in society. More specifically, the journal's areas of interest include multilingualism and multiculturalism, discourse studies, multimodal literacies and pedagogies, issues of identity, language assessment, language education and language education policies.(more..)
We particularly welcome manuscripts in new and emerging areas of research that critically reflect the challenges that practices of language use and education faces today in societies that are characterized by processes of change, ranging from those brought about by technological advancement to diverse global flows that affect social, economic and cultural practices and conditions. We encourage articles which bridge the gap between theory and practice, i. e. theoretical contributions which take into account also practical implications and vice versa.
Apples volume 8, issue 1, 2014
Apples volume 8, issue 1, 2014
Special issue
- Teppo Jakonen
Building Bridges - How secondary school pupils bring their informal learning experiences into a Content and Language Integrated (CLIL) classroom
- Anne Huhtala
Creating Oneself through Narratives: Agency in first-semester university students' career plans
- Kristiina Skinnari
Silence and Resistance as Experiences and Presentations of Pupil Agency in Finnish Elementary School English Lessons
- Tero Korhonen
Language Narratives from Adult Upper Secondary Education: Interrelating agency, autonomy and identity in foreign language learning
- Marina Ruiz Tada
Multiethnic Japanese-English Bilinguals' Meal Time Talk
- David N Brown
Agency and Motivation to Achieve Language-learning Objectives among Learners in an Academic Environment in France
- Anna Kyppö
Learning Slovak in an E-Learning Environment: A case study
- Françoise Blin, Juha Jalkanen
Designing for Language Learning: Agency and languaging in hybrid environments


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North Carolina has incredible potential for offshore wind—more than any other state along the Atlantic Coast. Fortunately, the Obama Administration has recently begun moving forward to lease appropriate land off the state's shores for wind power, and even has the backing of Gov. Pat McCrory. We've recruited and mobilized thousands of Tar Heels to support these steps.
Our coasts remain free of oil and gas rigs and will until at least 2017, following the Obama Administration's receipt of signatures from citizens, legislators, and business leaders in support of keeping the Outer Banks and the rest of our beaches protected from a devastating spill.
North Carolina remains off limits to fracking, the controversial form of natural gas drilling, in part thanks to our efforts. We've educated tens of thousands of North Carolinians face-to-face about the dangers of the practice and what it could mean for North Carolina's waters, leaving behind more than 27,000 pieces of literature.


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Contact: Erin Flynn, 415-464-5210
Point Reyes National Seashore is currently accepting applications for the Harbor Seal Monitoring Program for the spring of 2008. Volunteer Harbor Seal Monitors observe harbor seals in and around Point Reyes National Seashore and collect data to contribute to a long-term monitoring program.
The program runs for five months from March through July, 2008. Volunteers are expected to complete at least 2 survey days per month during any day of the week for a total of 10 survey days during the program. Volunteers will work 6 to 8 hours each day. Two mandatory in class training days are scheduled for February 16 and March 1, 2008, followed by several field trips.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to observe harbor seals in less-frequented areas in Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Hiking is often off trail and in remote areas of the park, and involves distances that range from 1-9 miles. Minimum age is 16 years.
Harbor seals are the most abundant and widely distributed marine mammal at Point Reyes, and represent approximately twenty percent of California's breeding population. They are the only resident year-round marine mammal, feeding in nearshore waters and giving birth onshore at traditional colony sites. Consequently, they are an important natural resource to the parks and good indicators of the condition of the oceans.
Point Reyes National Seashore is located one hour north of San Francisco on the Marin coast and encompasses over 71,000 acres, including 33,000 acres of wilderness area and 86 miles of undeveloped coastline.
Please contact Erin Flynn at (415) 464-5210 or by email for more information. Prospective volunteers may also apply online at www.volunteer.gov/gov (search for "Point Reyes").
Last updated: February 28, 2015


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Offers The Perfect Fit
A video gait analysis offers an insight into how your body functions while walking or running. A video gait analysis is a comprehenisive visual tool used to illustrate any noticeable inefficiencies in their gait pattern and how an orthotic device combined with good shoes can help you get back on track. This is done by comparing two videos recorded and played back from a posterior view of the patient while walking/running on the treadmill at the same speed for both recordings. Comparisons can be made at different speeds and by changing the shoe and/or orthotic worn.
For instance, one video will capture the patient running in their shoes without orthotics, and the second video might capture them wearing the orthotics. Both vidoes can be played back in sync to look at their general gait pattern, looking specifically at the contact, midstance and propulsion phases of the gait cycle.
Additionally, a video gait analysis assists in knowing what type of shoes would be the best for your foot type, biomechanics and activity level. As an example most running shoes can fit into one of three categories: Motion control, stability or neutral. If you over-pronate, a motion control shoe might be the most appropriate shoe type since it inhibits excess motion. If you over- supinate, a neutral cushioned running shoe would be the favorable choice, since it provides more cushion and shock absorption. And if you are a neutral runner, a stability shoe might be the practical choice since this type of shoes combine some control and cushion.
Over-pronation and over-supination can contribute to injuries like illiotibial band syndrome, achilles tendonitis and knee pain. The hip, knee, ankle and subtalar joints are key players in the gait cycle, and these joints are usually where compensation or inefficiency in the gait cycle manifests itself. But since over-pronation and over-supination mostly occurs in the subtalar joint of the foot, wearing the correct footwear is vital in correcting improper motion in these joints.
A complete video gait analysis in most instances takes about 15 minutes to complete. It is advised that you bring your current shoes (running, walking) to be used for the video gait analysis. This will be the best way to test the orthotic device in your current shoes for fit and also to determine if your current shoes is adequate based on the level of support and/or cushioning it provides.
If you are a healthcare provider and you would like more information on setting up a Video Gait Analysis System in your office, please feel free to email us at email@example.com or fill out the form below.


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Here in Finland we use typically rock wool or cellulose wool. Cellulose wool tends to compress with time and lose some of the insulation. Shredded blow in paper is probably close to cellulose wool we use.* wrote:I put 12" of shredded blow in paper in my ceiling.Calypso wrote:Insulation thickness on the inner roof makes a big difference in cold climate. Warm air wants to go up.
12" (~30cm) does not sound like much. Current requirement here is for new buildings 40cm. It's not uncommon to go to 60cm.
Good insulation works wonders keeping it warm or cool. Just need to be careful with condension stops and structure ventilations.


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Sperm…wait, what? That's right, a classic Android title has found its way onto the BlackBerry PlayBook. 'Junior' by Dalpix is a free game where you're a sperm…err spermatozoon, fighting for survival in the Fallopians kingdom against mucus. Dalpix describes the game:
"Chose your best finger and command our hero, Junior, on his journey accross the Fallopian tubes, searching for the egg. Humm. Didn't I mentioned that Junior is a spermatozoon? Oh, yes. You should have figured out from his photo up there!
But the Fallopians kingdom isn't the safest place in the world, despite the doctors speech. It's a unpleasant environment, and several – Actually, millions – of Junior's brothers have fallen down. Our main obstacle is the perverse mucus, always trying to stopJunior. If he get stuck in the mucus, he will probably die there…"
Junior can be downloaded for free in BlackBerry App World here, but only if you're running PlayBook OS 2.0. Swim Junior, swim like you've never swum before!


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What is Fibrous Dysplasia?
Fibrous Dysplasia (FD) is an uncommon bone disease that can affect any bone in the body. The severity of the disease covers a wide spectrum. It can affect a single bone and go unnoticed for years, or it can affect virtually every bone, start very early in life, and result in significant physical impairment. It is caused by a defective gene in the cells that form bone. The cause of the gene defect is unknown, but the defect is neither inherited from the person's parents, nor passed on to the person's children. When the long bones (the bones of the legs and arms) or flat bones (ribs and pelvis) are affected, the bones weaken, may bow, are often painful, and will frequently fracture. Affected bones in the skull often expand, may cause disfigurement and, again, are often painful.
The areas of the skeleton that are affected are probably established early in life (often long before the disease is even detected). Once the affected areas are established, it is uncommon for new areas to be affected. Affected areas may increase in size or severity, but in general most of the problems as far as fractures and expansion have occurred by the age of 15. Once a bone is affected, it never returns to normal. Pain is commonly associated with FD, often is not present in childhood, usually starts later in the course of the disease, and if present, usually continues.
FD can be associated with birth marks (café-au-lait spots), and a number of endocrine problems such as precocious puberty, hyperthyroidism, low blood phosphorus, excess growth hormone, and others. When this occurs, this is known as McCune-Albright syndrome. The birth marks can often be the first sign of the disease. However, almost any combination can occur. For example, severe bone disease (with or without endocrine problems) can be associated with minimal skin disease, and vice versa.
There is no cure for FD, but there are treatments for the various problems associated with it. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for the long bone disease. Surgical treatment is complicated and is best performed by surgeons with experience with FD. Medications known as bisphosphonates (pamidronate (Aredia), zoledronate (Zometa), etc.) have been shown to be very effective in relieving pain. In general, surgery in the bones of the skull usually is not medically required. Although the nerves to the eyes and ears are often surrounded by FD, blindness and significant hearing loss occurs are uncommon.


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Argentina abortion: Senate defeats bill after polarising debate – BBC News
Argentina's senate has rejected a bill which would have legalised abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
After a marathon debate, 38 senators voted against it and 31 in favour. Its defeat means lawmakers must wait until next year to resubmit legislation.
Currently abortion is allowed in Argentina only in cases of rape, or if the mother's health is in danger.
Demonstrators on both sides of the debate rallied outside parliament as voting took place.
Anti-abortion activists have been jubilant. "What this vote showed is that Argentina is still a country that represents family values," one told the Reuters news agency.
But pro-choice campaigners, many of them dressed in green to show their support for the cause, were seen crying and comforting each other. Some started fires and lobbed missiles at police.
How did we get here?
Pro-choice campaigners have for years tried to get bills passed in Argentina, where the population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.
Their efforts gained new impetus when President Mauricio Macri – who opposes abortion – called on Congress to consider a vote on it, and it narrowly passed in the lower house.
For the bill's advocates, legalising abortion is a matter of public health, with 43 women thought to have died last year after receiving illegal abortions.
"Women perform abortion with criminalisation or without it," lawyer and campaigner Sabrina Cartabia Groba said.
But a campaigner against abortion, Camila Duro, argued such deaths could be avoided without legalising the practice.
"The message that we wanted to put across is that abortion equals social failure. For a woman to resort to it, many other things need to have failed first."
Among Latin American nations only Uruguay and Cuba have fully decriminalised abortion.
Sorgente: Argentina abortion: Senate defeats bill after polarising debate – BBC News


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Skate Park - Payment Arrangements for Floodlighting
From January 30th 2016 floodlighting will no longer be free. As you can imagine we need to recover the cost of the lighting. We have taken advice about the system to use from other charity skate parks in the UK.
After dark, lights will only go on when a lighting card is put into the card reader which will be attached to the green lighting control box. Lighting cards will cost £2 and will keep the lights on for one hour. We are making arrangements for lighting cards to be purchased from the Inverness Leisure Centre. Only members will be able to buy lighting cards, so the Leisure Centre will only sell them to members who can show their membership card. Becoming a member involves completing a membership form and paying a minimum of £10. If you are under 16 the membership form will need to be signed by a parent. Membership forms are available from the downloads page of the website. If possible please pay by standing order. A member of the committee will be at the skate park between 6 and 7 pm on Thursday Jan 28 and Friday 29th to sell membership cards. Someone will also be there from about 11.30 am on Saturday 30th.
HSPA is already helping to develop interest in wheeled sports through its coaching courses. These started in 2011 with help from Gordon Scott and Taran Campbell. Skateboarding is now taken by Alvin Hunte, BMXing by Kyle Dempster and in-line skating by Michael Vass. The courses are at the week-end at the Hilton Mall. For more information please see the Facebook page 'Highland Skate Parks Assocation' or contact Joanne Cameron at 01463 870551.
Funding for the skate park has come from the Big Lottery, Sport Scotland and the Inverness Common Good Fund. In addition two private charitable trusts contributed smaller sums so that the bowl area could be larger. HSPA is grateful to these major funders and also to all the other organisations that have contributed in-kind. These include Brandon Landscaping, Breedon Aggregates, GF Job, Ground N Gardens, HIS, Lafarge Tarmac, Simpsons Garden Centre, and Tulloch Homes.
You can also support the skate park by helping HSPA to cover the annual cost of maintenance, insurance and floodlighting. The membership scheme costs £10 per individual and £15 for a family. The benefits include discounts on coaching courses and at some local shops catering to users of the park. For more information see www.highlandskateparks.co.uk.
HSPA was set up in 2011 following links between the Muir of Ord and Inverness groups. Since then its trustees and committee members have worked hard to raise the funds and execute the work. However, they built on foundations prepared by others over the previous ten years. They include Councillor Graham Ross, Youth Development Officer Shona Macdonald, Skate Park builder Andrew Hornby, Creative Skatestore owners Chris Wilson and James King and many others.
Since the award of the funding last year important contributions have come from Donald Mackenzie of Compass Builders, from Taran Campbell who worked closely with Iain Young of Concreate to come up with the winning design, from Iain Young who built the skate park and from Alan Jones, who acted as the project manager as well as helping with funding applications.
For more information about the Skate Park and planned activities please see the website http://www.highlandskateparks.co.uk, the Facebook page or contact Joanne Cameron, Trustee and Secretary on 01463 871551.
16 Dec 2014 12:44


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The best bet for such a population representing a vestige of the Sayabiga may be the Agotes of northern Spain, and related peoples in neighboring lands. Although I have suggested the Sayabiga were mainly concentrated in coastal northeastern Spain, i.e., Valencia, they could have traveled more broadly into the Muslim-held areas, and even further if they converted to Christianity.
The Agotes belong to a set of peoples known as Cagots, Agotacs, Gafets and Gahets in France; and as Cacous in Lower Brittany. In Spain, they are known in Asturias as Vaqueiros; as Maragatos in Leon; and as Agotes in Navarre. However these names are mostly of latter origin. In many areas, the Agotes at some point in history became out-castes, which may have helped in preserving them as a separate group. In the 19th century though, bans were placed on practices that discriminated against the Agotes and they began mixing with the rest of the population. Although they have mostly disappeared as a separate group there are still people today who can trace their descent back to the Agotes.
A group apart
The textual references of the Agotes and related peoples make it clear that they were seen to be different both culturally and also in terms of their appearance from the rest of their neighbors. The references about their appearance are late and a bit confused, for example, here is a description of those who lived in the Ribas Valley of northwestern Gerona:
"They never exceed 51 1/2 inches in height, and have short, ill-formed legs, great bellies, small eyes, flat noses, and pale, unwholesome complexions."
Another source states:
"Their language is merely a corrupt form of that spoken around them; but a Teutonic origin seems to be indicated by their fair complexions and blue eyes. Their crania have a normal development; their cheek-bones are high; their noses prominent, with large nostrils; their lips straight; and they are marked by the absence of the auricular lobules."
And yet again:
"In personal appearance almost all may be distinguished by their grey eyes, short noses, thick lips, very short auricular lobes, and sad looks. It has been said that the Agotae are short lived, but instances are cited of centenarians amongst them. They follow chiefly the occupations of carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, turners, and above all of millers; indeed, in certain localities, to be a miller is considered the equivalent of an Agotae."
In some cases they are said to be dark, but other sources describe them as fair. Dudley Costello, writing in the mid-19th century gives an explanation for the discrepancy:
The most interesting of these tribes are undoubtedly the Cagots of the Pyrenees, so persecuted by the authorities in Bearn in 1596. These have often been confused with diseased idiotic subjects like the cretins of the Alps, from whom they differ in many respects. E.g. the cretin is sually afflicted by goitre, and possesses an extremely small semi-idiotic brain: but the Cagot is apparently a normal example, and the intelligence of many male, and beauty of many female Cagots, have become proverbial. They are specially characterised by a peculiarly formed ear, sessile with, yet brusquely exserted from the head, small bright blue eyes, very large skulls, often of considerable breadth, short necks and frequently bowlegs. Two sorts exist, one with white skin and flaxen hair, the second deeply bronzed, with crisp woolly hair, grey eyes, and high cheekbones.
The Agotes and related peoples were carpenters and masons and tradition states they were responsible for building many Romanesque churches and other buildings including the Jaca Cathedral, Santa Cruz de la Seros and San Pedro de Siresa. The sculpture of the Romanesque period contains a broad array of physical types that probably includes some sculpture created by Agotes representing their own physiognomy. Of course, Spain was a highly multicultural and multiethnic region at this time, so one would have to pay close attention to detail in this area. Also, the Sayabiga do appear to have been as endogamous as the Gitano. At some point, if the Agote peoples do represent remnants of the Sayabiga, they became out-castes and intermarriage became rare (but not unheard of).
Puerta del Perdón. Tímpano. San Isidoro de León. España from Wikipedia.
Click here for full size image. See more images below.
Culturally, the Agote type people once lived in huts, some with thatched roofs, that were often secluded deep in the forest. Those that practiced transhumant herding or woodcutting often had multiple huts in which they lived in at different times of the year. They had settled mainly in mountainous areas and the adjoining valleys. Most were employed as carpenters, woodcutters, masons, and builders
History of the Agote peoples
The precise date at which the Agote and related folk appear is hard to pin down exactly. They have been variously given Visigothic, Morisco, Viking, Albigenses, Cathar, "Tartar," Jewish/Marrano and other origin.
When they became out-castes, the Agote were forced to wear a dried goose foot painted red on their shoulder; or else a piece of red or yellow cloth cut in the shape of a goose's or duck's foot. According to some texts, the Agote had webbed feet like a goose.
In relation to this legend, the Basques have myths of the Laminak, a race of fairies with goose feet. In Toulouse where the Cagots dwell, there is the legend of La reine pédauque "The Goose Foot Queen," and the region is even known as Pays d'Oc "Land of Goose," and the language is Languedoc "Goose Language."
Supposedly, this goose-footed queen was Bertha, the mother of Charlemange who was also known as Berthe aux grand pieds because of her large, broad feet (she is also known as Bertha Broadfoot) that caused her to waddle like a goose.
The goose feet apparently had some ethnic connotations as the Agote peoples themselves were said to have goose-like feet and were also called Canards or "Ducks." Eventually, the goose foot became a type of esoteric symbol and emblem of the Agotes. Many of the churches attributed to Agote builders are marked with a goose foot symbol, a crucifix shaped like a goose's foot, or a statue of Bertha Broadfoot on the facade with a crown, a distaff in hand, and goose or swan's feet.
Camino de Santiago
During the Romanesque period, a great pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia became widely popular, as this was said to be the location where the Apostle James was buried. While there had been other pilgrimage routes like the Via Francigena leading to Rome previously nothing really compared to the "Way of St. James."
The Camino de Santiago running through northern Spain from the Pyrenees to Galicia has been linked by many researchers with the Agote peoples. Firstly the route runs through the areas closely associated with Agotes and many of the important churches and buildings are marked with the goose foot symbol or have crucifixes in the goose foot shape. Many esoteric scholars also associate the common scallop shell symbol found along this route with the goose foot.
A photo of a goose's foot beside a photo of a goose foot symbol at Cementerio de Santa María de Adina, Iria Flavia (Source: http://laberintoromanico.blogspot.com/2008/02/el-juego-de-la-oca-la-pata-coja.html)
A crucifix in the shape of the stylized goose foot at the Templo del Crucifijo, Puente la Reina in Navarre along the Way of St. James dating to the 13th-14th century.
Scallop shell symbols are found on fountains, wall and other structures all along the Camino de Santiago.
Various theories are connected with these symbols. The camino is located along an old Roman trail that was supposed to follow the Milky Way to the sea. Thus, some esoteric scholars connect the scallop shell and goose foot to constellations. Others see the scallop as a fertility symbol linked with the goddess Venus, and the shell does have a womb-like shape.
Louis Charpentier in 1973 noted the large number of place names that included the word for "goose" along the Camino, and it has been suggested that the Juego de la Oca or Goose Game originates from the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. In this game, there are 63 squares leading in a spiral-like path to the 64th central square that contains the image of a goose. There are also images in the other squares including geese, which are auspicious to land on, and less lucky squares containing images of obstacles, prisons and the like.
The goose connection here may lie in the goose-footed Agotes who built or helped to build many of the important structures along the Camino de Santiago.
Camino de Santiago marked in red (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stjacquescompostelle1.png). Click here for full image.
Geese provide a link with the fairy folk that have been described in many places in this blog. Bertha Broadfoot herself, who becomes the wife of Robert II of France in latter legend, was known to tell tales to children while sitting by her spinning wheel, and some believe that "Mother Goose" of the fairy tales is derived from La Reine Pédauque "the Goose Foot Queen."
As geese and swans were interchangeable in medieval lore, we can also see a connection between the fairy Swan Knight, and the goose footed Agotes and Bertha Broadfoot.
Grail connection
In Jüngere Titurel, following Wolfram von Eschenbach's linkage of the Grail family with the Angevins, the author takes the story back to late ancient times. They come from Cappadocia, which is not far from Antioch where both the Zutt and the Sayabiga were transported in the early 8th century.
According to the story, the pagan prince Sennabor helps the Roman emperor against other pagans and is converted to Christianity. In return, the emperor grants one of Sennabor's three sons, Parille, some French provinces, while Azubar is granted Anjou, and the third son, Sabbilar, receives Cornwall. The link in with Wolfram is clear here along with a justification of the Angevin's Gallic claim to England.
In order to bring the Grail family into medieval times, Parille's grandson Titurel, the first Grail King, is said to live past 400 years in age. Titurel was located in a region between Navarre and Aragon, although the area that was called Salvaterra can be seen as a form of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Titurel marries a daugher of Frimutelle, a king of a Spanish province. Thus, the Grail family is placed in basically the same area as that associated with the Agote, and which formed a part of the Camino de Santiago. The doctrine of the Grail is said to have radiated from there to Aragon and then in order to Navarre, Catalonia and eventually beyond Spain. Wolfram also makes the Spanish connection placing Parzival's mother Herzeloyde, a member of the Grail family, in the country but without giving a precise location.
Eastern influences in Romanesque art
Millard B. Rogers in 1960, and Mercia MacDermot in 2003 have published convincing studies showing Indic influences in Romanesque art. These findings are summarized at this webpage: http://www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/column.htm. Millard concentrated on the art found on the Camino de Santiago.
Most important are the close similarities of the column-swallowers and the foliage-spewer motifs in Romanesque art to the kirtimukha motif in Indic art of South and Southeast Asia. Indeed some of the reliefs along the Camino de Santiago look more similar to what one would find in medieval Borobudur or Bhubaneswar rather that of pre-Romanesque or even post-Romanesque Europe.
From the aforementioned site:
"What are we to make of this 15th century carving at Candi Sukuh in Java which, apart from the typical Hindu hair-style, could have come from a 12th century church in France ?" http://www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/column.htm
In the following photo of a tympanum from Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, we see what could be images of winged monkeys. These might be derived from Hanuman and his army of flying monkeys, and Hanuman himself was sometimes depicted in text and art as having wings.
Winged monkeys, Santiago de Compostela, the legendary burial place of Apostle St. James. Click here for full size image. (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/2925988533/)
Elephants, apparently Asian as evidenced by their head shape, small ears, and squarish bodies, and by the rigging. Sant Joan de les Abadesses, 12th century in northern Catalonia. (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21086430@N00/2451054893/)
If Parzival and Jüngere can be viewed be viewed as semi-legendary "histories" relating to events of the 12th and 13th centuries, as suggested earlier in this blog, then the "Grail family" -- the fairy folk -- would have come from the Near East to Spain. In my view, these travelers would have come along with the other Sayabiga maybe as early as the early 8th century.
While most of this population settled in coastal areas like Valencia, where evidence of their presence can be seen in the tidal rice and related cultural elements that still persist, some would have ventured to other areas of the Moorish kingdoms. Here, the higher elevations, cooler climate and other ecological and social factors would have forced them to abandon rice cultivation and adopt a more local diet. During the Reconquista, populations in the mountainous northern parts may have adopted Christianity early including the "Grail family" but still keeping contacts with their cousins along the coast, and ultimately in the Indies. For this reason, the Grail and the characters of the Grail epics are repeatedly connected with distant lands to the East and with "Prester John."
The Sayabiga carried elements of Indic and "Tantric" culture with them that can be seen in Romanesque art forms.
An interesting test of this suggestion would be to examine whether the Agotes and related peoples possibly extending to the Bigaudens of Brittany left any linguistic influences on the local languages. Genetic tests might also be able to reveal something, although these people eventually did intermix extensively.
Here are some more examples of Spanish Romanesque art that may include some self representation of the Agote masons themselves, i.e., Sayabiga or more likely mixed Sayabiga physical traits.
Organistrum de Iglesia de Ahedo del Butrón (Burgos) España s. XII (Source: Wikipedia)
Puerta, Santiago de Compostela (Source: Wikipedia) Click here for full image.
Betanzos (Source: Wikipedia). Click here for full image.
|Sacrifice of Isaac, Cathedral of Jaca (Source: http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/zgothic/1romanes/cap-11c/25s_1000.html).
Monasterio de San Pedro de Villanueva, Cangas de Onís, Asturias, Spain. Portada Sur (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/c0ntraband/3958198252/in/photostream). Click here for full image.
Paul Kekai Manansala
Costello, Dudley. "The accursed races of France and Spain," Quarterly Magazine of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Manchester Unity Friendly Society, 1860, 92.
Facaros, Dana, and Michael Pauls. Northern Spain. London: Cadogan Guides, 2008, 38.
Gould, George M., and Walter L. Pyle. Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine. Teddington, Middlesex: Echo Library, 2007.
MacDermott, Mercia. Explore Green Men, Heart of Albion Press, 2006
Merke, F. History and Iconography of Endemic Goitre and Cretinism. Lancaster: MTP Press, 1984, 199.
Muñoz, Patricia, R. El Camino de la Oca, http://patadeoca.blogspot.com/.
Piñuela, M. Garcia, Los Agotes, http://www.portalfarma.com/pfarma/taxonomia/general/gp000012.nsf/voDocumentos/95B978F353404068C1256A49002C4F9C/$File/mitologia.pdf.
Prosser, Randall P. American Phonetic Journal. Cincinnati: R.P. Prosser, 1855, 162.


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Jim Wallace
- Indianapolis US-IN
- [email protected]
ResponsibilitiesLed company providing analytic, technology, and financial services to insurance and healthcare industries nationwide. Developed proprietary software system to analyze, prioritize, and manage customer segments of 120 companies comprising 43 million transactions annually.AchievementsDirected origination and business development leading to growth of over 60% annually to $350 million in assets, $25 million annual revenue, and $21 million annual cashflow.
Professional and Social Media Networking
Longtime Indiana resident Jim Wallace has lived and worked in the state since 1990. At that time, he accepted a position at the Indianapolis office of the professional services and accounting firm Ernst & Young. He spent three years developing capital structures, strategies, and financial plans for client organizations. He departed Ernst & Young in 1993 to join the healthcare company WellPoint, where he held responsibilities as Vice President of Strategy and Chief Operating Officer. Jim Wallace next worked for Conseco, another Indiana healthcare company, before opening his own venture, The Wellesley Group. He continues to operate The Wellesley Group today, and he recently took on the title of President after relinquishing duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of subsidiary TWG Capital.Prior to moving to Indiana, Jim Wallace resided in Massachusetts, where he worked as a consultant for Bain & Company. Before beginning his corporate career at Bain in 1988, he served in the United States Army as a Combat Aviation Officer. In addition to leading an aviation unit that supported combat battalions, he also published multiple papers and developed software to help streamline the military's activities. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science and appeared on the dean's list, Wallace served a total of four years in the Army after he completed his degree in 1983.An athlete, as well as a fan of the great outdoors, Jim Wallace seeks out wonderful Indiana locales for hiking and whitewater rafting when he has time away from work. Although he is no longer in the military, he continues to enjoy flying.
Flying, hiking, whitewater rafting, travel


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Actress Valerie Harper, 73, recently received some devastating news — she has terminal brain cancer.
The actress, best known as Rhoda Morgenstern on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spin-off, "Rhoda," was diagnosed back in mid-January, she tells People.
The tests conducted at the time revealed she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, which means that cancer cells have spread into the membrane that surrounds the brain.
It is a rare condition and the diagnosis leaves her with as little as three months left to live.
But the actress tells People, "I don't think of dying. I think of being here now."
She also adds, having been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 despite being a life-long non-smoker, "I'm well past my expiration date already."
Harper's on-and-off-screen friend Mary Tyler Moore says the news is shocking and tragic.
"I'm absolutely devastated by this news," the The Mary Tyler Moore Show star, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor in May 2011, told People magazine.
"Valerie has given so much joy, laughter and love to the world. I join her fans and send much love and positive thoughts to her and her family during this difficult time."
Her fans were also quick to express their sadness and prayers on Twitter.
"Praying for Valerie Harper. Puts everything in perspective quickly." — Andy Cohen
"Just heard that Valerie Harper is facing terminal brain cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to her." — Marc Berman
"@ValerieHarper I adore you xoxo we all do and are praying for you" — Hoda Kotb


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|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Perennial to trees, from membranous bulb, fibrous corm, scaly rhizome, or erect caudex
Stem generally underground
Leaves generally basal, often withering early, alternate, generally ± linear
Inflorescence various, generally bracted
Flower generally bisexual, generally radial; perianth often showy, segments generally 6 in two petal-like whorls (outer sometimes sepal-like), free or fused at base; stamens 6 (or 3 + generally 3 ± petal-like staminodes), filaments sometimes attached to perianth or fused into a tube or crown; ovary superior or inferior, chambers 3, placentas generally axile, style generally 1, stigmas generally 3
Fruit: generally capsule, loculicidal or septicidal (berry or nut)
Genera in family: ± 300 genera, 4600 species: especially ± dry temp and subtropical; many cultivated for ornamental or food;
some TOXIC. Here includes genera sometimes treated in Agavaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and other families.
Perennial with onion odor, taste; bulb solitary or on rhizomes, reforming each year, divides at base into daughter bulbs, outer bulb coats generally brown or gray, cell sculpture generally important to identification, inner bulb coats generally white
Stem scapose, cylindric or flat
Leaves basal, 15, linear, cylindric, channeled, or flat, generally withering from tip before flower
Inflorescence: umbel; bracts generally 24, conspicuous, ± fused, scarious
Flower: perianth segments 6, in 2 petal-like whorls; stamens 6, epipetalous, filaments wide at base, fused into a ring; ovary superior, sometimes with 3 or 6 crests, chambers 3, ovules generally 2 per chamber, style 1, stigma entire or 3-lobed
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seed obovoid, black, sculpture net-like, smooth, or granular
Species in genus: 500 species: worldwide, especially CA
Etymology: (Latin: garlic)
Bulb 12 cm, ovoid; outer bulb coats thin, ± translucent, yellow-brown, sculpture obscure, vertically elongate, twisted
Stem 1040 cm; sharply 3-angled
Leaves 23, ± = stem, flat
Inflorescence generally 1-sided, open; flowers 315; pedicels 1525 mm
Flower 1018 mm, pendent, bell-shaped; perianth parts lanceolate, entire, white, midveins green; ovary crest 0
Seeds appendaged
Ecology: Shady ± disturbed places
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast
Distribution outside California: native to w Mediterranean
Cult as ornamental; locally common.


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Office of the President
Goucher provides great learning opportunities in a great environment, and the college has a history of being a transformative place. Now, under the bold leadership of President José Antonio Bowen, the college is embarking on a path to rethink its unique version of a liberal arts education for the 21st century.
Students, circumstances, and the value of a college education are all changing. Future graduates will need to be even more prepared for a life of continued learning. To ensure they have this preparation, Dr. Bowen has integrated into Goucher's curriculum the 3Rs: relationships, resilience, and reflection, which are crucial to students' learning and success in both college and beyond.
In developing this new paradigm for higher education, Dr. Bowen has drawn upon recent research that indicates the best predictors of academic success, student learning, and even life happiness are personal connections, grit, and self-awareness. He believes the greatest value of a college education is the face-to-face interactions between faculty and students that help instill and grow the 3Rs.
In his book Teaching Naked, Dr. Bowen states that while technology has fundamentally changed our relationship to knowledge, we need to redesign courses and classrooms to make them active learning environments where students have a reason to attend. His pedagogy explains that technology is most powerfully used outside of the classroom as a way to increase student preparation and engagement between classes and create more time for the in-class dialogue that makes the campus experience worth the extra money it will always cost to deliver.
By using online quizzes and games and rethinking assignments and course design, we can create more class time for the activities and interactions that spark critical thinking and change students' mental models. Dr. Bowen's aim is to connect recent research to practical questions with the larger administrative challenges. Teaching Naked provides a strategy for using new technologies to keep courses, curriculum and campuses focused on more analysis of content and more contextualized learning.
Dr. Bowen has written extensively on higher education and is a highly sought-after speaker on education, technology, integrated learning experience, diversity, higher education access and equity, and the liberal arts.
See his blog at teachingnaked.com or follow him on Twitter@josebowen, or watch his Teaching Naked TED talk.


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- This event has passed.
Saturday Speaker Series in Medford Oregon
September 12, 2015 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pmFree
Join us the second Saturday of every month to listen to engaging speakers present on timely topics. Bring a guest to enjoy the presentation and refreshments.
Please make a reservation by calling (541)-770-9080
All events are subject to change. Please call individual communities for more information about an event.


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Adrian Cockcroft is vice president of cloud architecture strategy at Amazon Web Services, where he focuses on the needs of cloud-native and "all-in" customers and leads the AWS open source community development program. Adrian has had a long career working at the leading edge of technology and is fascinated by what happens next. He started out as a developer in the UK before joining Sun Microsystems. He was a founding member of eBay Research Labs; worked at Netflix, where he directed a team working on personalization algorithms, served as a cloud architect, helping teams scale and migrate to AWS, and led the Netflix open source program; and worked at VC firm Battery Ventures, where he promoted new ideas around DevOps, microservices, the cloud, and containers. He has also written four books, including Sun Performance and Tuning from Prentice Hall. Adrian holds a degree in applied physics from the City University, London.
For exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, contact Susan Stewart at firstname.lastname@example.com
For information on trade opportunities with O'Reilly conferences, email email@example.com
For media-related inquiries, contact Maureen Jennings at firstname.lastname@example.com
View a complete list of Strata contacts


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How To Keep Your Home Show-Ready
How you live in your home when it's on the market is different from how you normally live in it. If you're serious about selling, you need to be prepared for buyers' eyes at all times. Consider following these tips to keep your home in show-ready condition.
- Don't smoke indoors or cook food with strong odors. Take out the trash every morning. Keep your home smelling good but don't fall for strong flowery air fresheners. More and more people are allergic to those and they can backfire. The best smell is the smell of "clean".
- Make some rooms ''off limits'' for your own family until your home sells. If you can avoid using your dining room, formal living room, guest room or spare bathrooms, for example, you'll have less cleaning to do.
- Consider hiring a cleaning service before listing your home, perhaps on an ongoing basis until it sells. All you'll have to do is light maintenance after they leave or between professional cleanings.
- Keep a storage container, basket or bag handy. When you get last-minute calls for showings, throw everything that's not in its designated place into your ''clutter catch-all, '' and then stow it out sight.
- Stash disposable cleaning wipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks so you can quickly wipe down all the surfaces in those rooms with just one product.
- Keep Small containers or baskets in bathrooms for toiletries when not in use and hide them in the vanity. Have two sets of towels : one for displaying, another for daily use (kept hidden).
- Showings aren't likely to happen early in the morning or after about 8 p.m. You may want to vacuum and tidy up before going to bed so that you only have to put away breakfast dishes and do a final dusting or wiping of surfaces before heading out the door in the morning.
Having your house on the market can be stressful. But if you put in the effort to have it show its best, you will likely minimize the amount of time your home is on the market and by the same token maximize your sale price. It's well worth the effort.
I specialize in residential real estate in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Mississauga. My goal is to provide you with an exceptional level of service that will ease you into your next home, through every stage of life. If you, or anyone you know, are considering a move and would like to receive listings, let me know and I can get you started. I am never too busy for you or any of your referrals.
Bringing Real Service to Real Estate!


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School Closure due to Hurricane Harvey
All classes and activities are cancelled through Monday, 8/28/17.
Superintendent Richard Carranza says that the decision as to whether classes and activities will resume on Tuesday 8/29 will be made by Noon on Sunday 8/27.
We will also keep you informed as much as possible. Stay tuned.


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Photography is fun as a hobby, and it's also a fantastic way to create art. If you'd like to be among those taking wonderful pictures, then the following advice can help you get on the right track.
Truly unique pictures are often the result of trying new ideas and experimenting. Good photography takes unique style, and you want to show the world a new view through your lens. Stay away from taking the same type of picture that you have viewed a million times over. Instead, shoot from unique angles, and be creative with your compositions.
You can use digital software to create the look of oil paintings, pencil sketches, water colors and many others. Lots of companies create digital software for changing your pictures; however, Adobe Photoshop is usually considered by most to be the standard in the industry. Instantly making your pictures into masterpieces is simple. Just hit the "filter" button, select the medium that you prefer, and then click the selection that you want.
When shooting people, make sure to emphasize the foreground by blurring the background a little. When your background is not blurred, it will take the attention from your subject, and you will have a harder time making the viewer focus on what you want. The easiest way to be sure the background is out of focus is to set your subjects well in front of the background.
When working on snapping an excellent photo, it's best to keep your settings as simple as possible. More often than not, you can capture wonderful images without messing with different settings.
Use care when packing your photography equipment in trip preparation. Bring along some cleaning accessories, extra batteries, and any lenses you may need. Only take what you really need and what can be easily transported on the trip.
Strive to create some perspective of depth whenever you are shooting landscapes. Have a person or other object put into the foreground in order to gauge the overall scale of the image. Changing the setting for your aperture can give your picture the appearance of high resolution.
When departing on a trip, start shooting photos the minute you walk out the door. While location shots will be in abundance once you arrive at your destination, the journey itself is also worthy of being recorded. Take photos of the trip, the airport, for example, is filled with sights that would make wonderful trip mementos.
Before traveling with your photography equipment, take the time to carefully plan which equipment you need to take. Bring all lenses that you think you will possibly use, plus a few extra batteries and cleaning tools. You should only take what you will use, and think about convenience.
Try to get close to the subject you're trying to photograph. Terribly far away shots prevent the viewer from seeing clear colors and details. Make it easier for yourself and for your viewers to see your subject clearly and vividly.
Ensure you have an extra charged battery so you do not miss the greatest photos. You should always load your digital camera with fully-charged batteries, because it can be a real energy hog, especially when you use the LCD screen. If you are really serious about photography, then you might even want to carry extra batteries in your camera bag, so you never miss anything good.
Most modern digital cameras have a flash that automatically deploys when they detect low-light situations. While convenient for snapshots, a more professional solution is to use an external flash to take advantage of more lighting options. If you decide you do need an external flash, invest in a camera with a "hot shoe" to fit the flash into, and consult a professional to learn which flashes are a good fit for your camera.
There is no reason you can't move around your subject to find the best angle to photograph. Take your photos from all different angles to get different effects.
Consider finding a club that take pictures, or find someone who is also into photography to buddy up with. Others interested in this hobby can prove a valuable source of information and learning. It is important, however, to never allow their artistic style to affect how yours develops. Compare your pictures with each other, and marvel at how one object can be perceived so differently by two people.
Make sure to find an interesting subject to photograph. You always need good subjects, it doesn't matter how talented you are or how good your gear is. Look for inspiration in objects, or choose a model that is comfortable with you.
Have you ever had to take pictures of subjects that had been in the rain? Simulating rain is as easy as bringing a spray bottle to a shoot.
When your perfect shot is in view, stay still and hold your breath when you push the shutter. Slight movements can decrease the quality of a shot. Make sure to square up your shot and hold your breath before hitting a shutter button.
When planning a shot, try to "frame" it. Not a picture frame, of course, but one that occurs naturally within the shot. Pay attention, and you can likely make a "natural frame" for the subject of your picture with neighboring elements. This is an effective exercise for practicing composition.
If you are intrigued by the nostalgic quality of photography captured by traditional film, consider picking up a manual camera from your local thrift shop. To get an especially nostalgic look, try black and white film. A good choice is film with a 200 ISO rating. You can print film photographs on a number of mediums, including fiber-based paper.
Make sure you are aware of where sharpness appears in the picture and how it works. If you are taking a typical picture with typical settings, the center area of the pictures will be the sharpest. Then, it starts distorting when it approaches the camera frame's outer edges.
Fluorescent Lighting
If you want higher-quality pictures, get a tripod. Your tripod needn't be expensive or fancy. Anything less than a perfectly steady hand could affect your motion photography. A tripod will help you keep your camera steady as you adjust the settings and take the picture. A tripod will minimize unexpected issues and give your photographs a professional edge.
When taking photos indoors under fluorescent lighting, adjust the white balance settings in your camera to the appropriate setting. Photographs shot under fluorescent lighting typically look greenish or bluish, giving your photo a much cooler color effect than you intended.
Get creative with your shutter speeds. It is standard practice to use the fastest possible shutter speed to freeze action, but think of what you could do with a slow shutter speed, such as 1/30. Have a look at fast subjects such as cyclists, birds and cars. The result you get is that the cyclist is sharp but the background is horizontally streaked, expressing speed.
Use natural lighting when possible because it isn't harsh. When taking outdoor photos, pick a time when the sunlight is low; generally late afternoon or early morning is best. When the sun is at its highest, it can cast unwanted shadows, and your subject could end up squinting due to the strong light. If you must shoot in direct sunlight, at least stand to the side and allow the sun to light from an angle.
Think of your camera as your tool for photography. Use a shallower depth of field to blur the background and focus attention on the subject of the photograph.
When taking group photos of couples, families or larger groups, give them advice on the best type of clothing to wear in the photoraph. Although matching outfits aren't necessary, having your subjects clothed in complementary shades of color can enhance a photograph. It is a good idea to suggest either warm colors or neutral shades, because these look good on nearly everyone. If they are people who want bright colors, let them know to tone it down with other muted tones like black or white.
When you want to get a camera that uses film, knowing what kind of film to purchase is important. Try different films and you should soon find a favorite one. Read film reviews to decide which brand of film will best suit your needs. Once you have found the right film format, film brand is up to you.
To take the best photographs ensure that you have focused directly on your subject. A key building block to learning how to express your personal style through photography is understanding the importance of camera focus. Particularly when you are just beginning, you should try and have your subject in the center of your pictures. The background will fall into place, so do not worry about it.
If you are taking pictures of a moving object, apply the correct settings to your camera, so that your subject does not appear as a blur. One way to do this is by increasing you ISO. You will also have clearer shots of quick subjects.
Learn to use the image sensor optics (ISO) settings of your camera or it could work against you. The higher your ISO goes, more is visible; this may not be preferable because it can create a grainy picture. This can result in awful photos; unless your picture requires that type of effect.
Pictures of people should be a lot more than simply a picture of their faces. Many human body parts are beautiful, and can be subjects for your photos.
Red Eye
If you're standing in front of a small child, you're going to be angling the camera down toward the top of his or her head. By squatting down until your eyes are level with the child's eyes, you are going to end up with a much nicer photograph. This simple technique significantly improves the quality of your shot.
Red eye can ruin a great picture that might have gotten framed otherwise. Red eye can be avoided by staying away from using the flash, or having your subject look away from the camera if flash is a necessity. Many cameras have a special setting that prevents red eye.
You should take as many photographs as possible and choose from the best takes later on. Digital photography makes it easy to use this technique, and that means you will never miss an important moment.
You should think about a particular concept you are aiming for prior to shooting. Take a minute to plan out your shot by analyzing lighting, the background, your focal point, colors, the subject matter and the overall composition you want to see. This will help you avoid taking a bunch of unrelated photographs. This will inspire you to produce great results when you approach it this way.
Beginning photographers need to master the white balance, a setting that determines the color temperature of the photo, as soon as possible. What you will soon learn is that every light lends some tint to a scene. To achieve the results you desire, you have to learn to use the right lighting and modify your white balance effectively.
When you work with objects that move quickly, use settings that show them, so that they don't just appear as blurs. Often times shooting moving subjects can cause the photo to appear blurry, but using a higher ISO setting can help you take clear photos, despite your subjects speed. This will get you better and clearer shots of faster moving subjects.
It is best practice holding your camera level with the person's eyes when photographing them. This lends character to the image, enhancing its visual and emotional appeal. If young ones are your focus, then don't hesitate to put yourself in their line of view by getting down on your knees or stooping to their height.
You can change the way you look at photography. You can make it into an art as opposed to a hobby. Implementing the tips in the article will make you a much better photographer. Try using these tips and hints and always remember to practice.
Being an artist, photographers must make pictures which convey meaning. Composition is key to great photography so all photographers need to know what this means to them. Photographs with proper composition engage the viewers' eyes and interest, and help the audience understand the photographer's message.


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(playing slight catch up with this thing….blarg)
Something You Love About Yourself
I love my imagination. It entertained me as a child and still does, as well as providing endless ideas for my stories and gaming. I love the fact that I saw so much of the US growing up, thanks to family vacations to national forests and museums. I love the fact that I find beauty in some of the weirdest places. I also love that I am still highly entertained by card tricks, to such a degree that I turn into a child again.
Something You Have to Forgive Yourself For
I guess the biggest thing is my first relationship. Looking back on it I can't believe how stupid I was and that I didn't notice the fact that it started out on a bad note. He was abusive. Not physically….I could easily over power him if it ever game to that(he was a string bean and I was taking martial arts classes). No, the abuse was emotional and mental. Its not as bad as it could have been. He accused me of cheating on him multiple times which I never did. He didn't like it if I hung out with guys when he wasn't around or if they weren't his friends, though he could hang out with whom ever he pleased. He had pressured me into sex and then demanded it when ever we saw each other alone, using the line "if you really love me…"
I have to forgive myself because I was young and this was my first relationship, but it wasn't his. I managed to break free and never looked back, and even though he hurt me in many ways I never said one horrible thing about him(even though I could have). I wasn't weak, just new to the whole experience and I've gone on to have better relationships. If it wasn't for those 3 years I don't think I would be reaching for 6 wonderful years with Grendal.
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn't want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn't know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn't live without, because you've tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you've read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn't done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you're still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What's the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself


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This documents one (Joseph Gray) of the two deaths that occurred. The story of the other sex offender murdered (William Elliott) is HERE4-17-2006 Maine:
CORINTH, Maine --A man who shot two sex offenders to death in Maine got their names from the state's online sex offender registry, authorities said Monday. The killings renewed fears that such lists expose ex-convicts to vigilante violence.
The gunman, Stephen A. Marshall, a 20-year-old from Canada, committed suicide Sunday night in Boston after being cornered aboard a bus by police.
Investigators were uncertain what relationship, if any, Marshall had with the two victims, who were killed Easter Sunday morning at their homes 25 miles apart.
But the two men were among 34 names in five towns that Marshall had looked up on the state Web site, said Stephen McCausland of the Maine Department of Public Safety. Investigators said they discovered that he visited the Web site because he typed in his name to receive extra information online, including street addresses.
The Web site, which gets 200,000 hits a month, was disabled while police searched for Marshall but was restored Monday afternoon.
"The events of the weekend will obviously reviewed, but there are no plans to change the Web site at this point," McCausland said.
All states have sex offender registries designed to let people know of child molesters and other sex offenders in their midst.
Almost all of them, like Maine, post the information online.
But the killings added to a growing unease with such Web sites. Jack King from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Washington said making public sex offenders' addresses can be an invitation to violence.
Harassment, vandalism, assaults and even killings of sex offenders have been reported from coast to coast.
"There are going to be crazy people out there," King said. "And there's going to be vigilantism."
After New Jersey passed a public disclosure law on sex offenders in the 1990s, the brother of an offender was nearly beaten to death with a baseball bat when he was mistaken for his brother, King said.
In New Hampshire, Lawrence Trant went to prison after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of two convicted sex offenders whose names and addresses he found on an Internet registry posted by the state.
A sex offender Web site in Washington state was cited in the slayings of two convicted child rapists last summer. Michael Anthony Mullen, 35, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to more than 44 years in prison.
In Maine, the registered sex offenders who were shot to death were Joseph Gray, 57, of Milo, and William Elliott, 24, of Corinth.
Gray's wife, Janice, said that her and her husband's dogs started barking wildly at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. When she looked out the window, she saw a figure dressed in a black jacket at the front door. A second later, she heard two shots and saw two flashes as bullets were fired through the front window.
She called her husband's name, but she got no response. "All I know is someone came to my house and took my husband from me," she said. "He was a very loving, good man."
Gray's name was posted on a state Web site because he had moved to Maine after a Massachusetts conviction for sexual assault on a child under 14, McCausland said. Elliott was convicted of having sex with an underage girl, he said.
When he shot himself, Marshall had with him a laptop computer along with two handguns, said Dave Procopio, spokesman for the Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney's Office.
Marshall, a 20-year-old restaurant dishwasher from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, had come to Houlton, Maine, to visit his father, authorities said.
Investigators believe he used his father's pickup during the killings. The father had not realized his son and truck were missing, McCausland said. Marshall also took two handguns and a rifle from his father, the spokesman said.
Police tracked Marshall to Boston after finding his pickup abandoned along with the rifle in Bangor and then discovering bullets hidden in the tank of a toilet in a bus stop restroom were of the same caliber as one of his father's handguns.
Investigators believe a .45-caliber handgun Marshall turned on himself was the same one used in the Maine killings, McCausland said. The rifle, along with a .22-caliber handgun, were not fired, he said.
Marshall's father, Ralph Marshall, told reporters that his son didn't appear troubled and never said he had been sexually abused. He was confident investigators would get to the bottom of the case.
"Right now, everything seems to be about speculation," he said.
Maine's sex offender registry, which went online in December 2003, has the names of more than 2,200 sex offenders. It contains such information as the offender's name, address, date of birth, identifying characteristics and place of employment, as well as a photograph. Depending on the crime, the offender is required to register either for 10 years or for life.
In Washington state, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office posts a warning on its registry under the heading "Vigilantism -- Zero Tolerance," urging people not to use the information to harass offenders.
Carlos Cuevas from the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire said more research is needed into the effectiveness of sex offender registries. "Is it effective in lowering the rates of child victimization?" he asked.
In Maine, Gray and Elliott were shot about five hours apart. Neither man appeared to have caused a stir recently.
Gray and his wife moved a couple of years ago from Massachusetts to Milo, a town of about 2,400, said Kenny Hudak, a local police sergeant. Hudak said Gray had been reclusive.
In Corinth, residents were alerted when Elliott moved into a vinyl-sided trailer in the woods. The property was covered with trash, tires and at least a dozen junked vehicles.
"I think more people were concerned about the mess than him being a sex offender," said Mary Hadley, who lives across the road. ..more.. by Glenn Adams