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Table of Contents
Research and general acceptance
Weight Loss 4 Idiots is also known as Fat Loss 4 Idiots. It is an 11 day diet based around the idea that changing the type of calories eaten each day will trick the metabolism into burning fat.
The origins of Fat Loss 4 Idiots are not clear, although the idea that there are ways of "tricking" the body's metabolism into burning more calories has been around for many years. This diet was released on the internet in late 2004. The diet is owned by a company named "Internet Made Simple" which is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. The diet is mainly a downloadable meal plan created for each dieter depending on the dieter's personal food preferences. It is only available on the internet.
The idea behind the Fat Loss 4 Idiots program is that the dieter is provided with an 11 day meal plan that continually rotates the kind of calories consumed. The diet claims that this calorie-type changing will "trick" the dieter's metabolism into not only burning the calories eaten during the day, but into burning calories stored as fat as well. The diet claims that this calorie switching works because a perosn's metabolism burns calories based on how many and what type of calories were consumed in the past few days. The metabolism has no way of knowing what the person will eat today, or on any day to come. So by continually changing the types of foods eaten the metabolism will continually be "surprised." The body will then supposedly burn not only the foods provided to it during the day, but will continue to burn energy after those calories are used up. The extra energy expected to be burned is supposed to come from the body's fat stores, allowing the dieter to lose weight and fat. The diet is not clear about how this tricking of the metabolism is expected to have this effect.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots does not require counting calories, protein grams, carbohydrates, or anything else. This is part of the idea behind the diet being "idiot proof." Instead, the dieter is allowed to eat as much as desired of the foods listed on his or her meal plan, and is encouraged to eat until just full. The meal plan provides four meals per day. The meals are to be eaten at least two and a half hours apart.
The diet begins with a questionnaire about the dieter's food preferences. The 11 day meal plan designed for the dieter can then be downloaded. Although each dieter's meal plan may be different, there seem to be some general themes. Because the diet is created around the idea that the types of calories consumed need to be changed frequently, many days of the meal plan may contain a lot of one type of food, such as protein, but none of another type of food, such as dairy.
The diet contains a lot of lean protein, such as fish and chicken. Some dieters may find that their meal plan contains fish or chicken nearly every day. The plan also contains some fruits and vegetables, although they do not seem to be included in every day.
Simple carbohydrates seem to be especially limited on the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet. Some days have carbohydrates in the form of oatmeal or pasta, or the bread from a sandwich. Other days seem to contain no significant sources of carbohydrates at all. Many days seem to contain some dairy, such as cottage cheese, although others may contain no dairy at all.
The diet contains no preserved, pre-packaged, or processed foods. Most of the foods are to be eaten in a very natural state and minimally prepared. There is very little sugar allowed while on the diet, and none of the days seem to contain any type of desert.
The meal plans lasts 11 days, during which time the dieter is supposed to be able to lose 9 pounds. After these 11 days the dieter is allowed three "cheat" days during which anything desired can be eaten, then the diet can be begun again. The diet claims that it can be repeated as often as desired until the dieter has attained his or her goal weight.
When the dieter purchases the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet he or she will the be able to download the personalized 11 day meal plan. Dieters can also download a "Diet Handbook" that promises to give the dieter other helpful diet secrets. There are no exercise recommendations given by this diet, and no stress reduction or other healthy living suggestions. There is no significant support available for dieters on this program from the program's website or by telephone.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots reports that it allows dieters to lose 9 pounds every 11 days. This is a diet intended solely for weight loss, and is not intended to be a general guide for healthy living. It does not include exercise recommendations, recipes, or stress reduction advice. The diet says that it can be repeated as desired for weight loss. It allows three "cheat" days after the diet is completed before the diet is begun again.
There are many benefits to losing weight if it is done at a safe, moderate pace through healthy eating and exercise. The risk of many obesity-related diseases and conditions such as type II diabetes and heart disease is higher for people who are very overweight. Often this risk can be reduced by safe weight loss. This diet, however, is not generally considered appropriate for long term moderate weight loss.
Some dieters may find that the specific meal plans provided are a considerable benefit of this diet. Dieters do not have to make choices about which foods to eat, or count calories or grams of carbohydrates. The requirement of eating four meals per day may also be beneficial, as it may help dieters to eat less overall by allowing them to eat more frequently. This diet does not limit the amount of food that can be consumed except for saying that dieters should stop eating just before being full. This may make the diet easier to stick to for some dieters.
Anyone thinking of beginning a new diet should consult a medical practitioner. Requirements of calories, fat, and nutrients can differ significantly from person to person, depending on gender, age, weight, and other factors such as the presence of diseases or conditions. This diet may be of special concern because it only allows a few foods to be eaten each day. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should be especially cautious because when the foods a mother eats can impact a baby who is receiving nutrients from her.
There are some risks to any diet. Fat Loss 4 Idiots severely limits the foods that can be eaten each day. It does not generally include many fruits or vegetables, which are important sources of many vitamins and minerals. This means that it is likely that the dieter will not get enough of all vitamins and minerals required each day for good health. It is difficult, however, to determine how severe the risk of deficiency is because each dieter is given a personalized meal plan, and quantities of food are not specified. Any dieter thinking of beginning this diet may want to consult a healthcare provider about a multivitamin or supplement to help reduce the risk of deficiencies. Supplements have their own associated risks.
Research and general acceptance
Although the diet provides different meal plans to different dieters based on the dieter's preferences and goals, the diet does seem to have some common components for each dieter. Because the diet attempts to change the kinds of food that are consumed each day, it is difficult for a dieter to eat a balanced diet. For this reason, and because many meals are made up of just one food, the diet may not meet the recommendations by the United States Department of Agriculture in their MyPyramid food guidelines for a healthy diet.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots only includes one type of food in most meals. This makes getting enough vegetables difficult because vegetables are often seen as a side dish. MyPyramid recommends that healthy adults eat the equivalent of 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day. The Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet is unlikely to meet this recommendation on most days.
MyPyramid also recommends that healthy adults eat the equivalent of 1 and a half to 2 cups of fruit per day. It is unlikely that a person following the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet would eat this much fruit. Some daily meal plans for this diet do not include fruit at all.
Dairy products are generally considered to be part of a healthy diet. MyPyramid recommends the equivalent of 3 cups of low-fat or non-fat dairy per day for healthy adults. Some days of the diet may not include any dairy products. If a dairy product, such as cottage cheese, is included in one meal it is unlikely that a dieter would want to eat enough of it in one sitting to get three full servings.
Starches and grains are also considered a necessary and important part of any healthy diet. MyPyramid recommends the equivalent of 3 to 4 ounces of grains each day for healthy adults, of which at least half should be whole grains. The Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet would probably very rarely meet this requirement. Many days of this diet do not include any kind of starch or grain at all.
MyPyramid recommends that healthy adults eat between 5 and 6 and one half ounces of meat or beans each day. The Fat Loss 4 Idiots would probably meet, and in most cases probably exceed, this recommendation on most days. Many different lean meats seem to be included in this diet on a daily basis.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots does not include any specific recommendations for exercise. Exercise is generally accepted to be an important part of any weight loss program, and is required for general good health.
Many studies have found that dieting and exercise are more effective for weight loss when done together than either is when done alone. In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control recommended that healthy adults get 30 minutes or more of light to moderate exercise each day. Following the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet without adding exercise to the plan would not meet this requirement.
Shannon, Joyce Brennfleck ed. Diet and Nutrition Source-book. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2006.
Willis, Alicia P. ed. Diet Therapy Research Trends. New York: Nova Science, 2007.
American Dietetic Association. 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995. Telephone: (800) 877-1600. Website: <http://www.eatright.org>
Fat Loss 4 Idiots 2007. <http://www.fatloss4idiots.com>(April 3, 2007).
"Fat Loss 4 Idiots" Skinny on Diets 2007. <http://skinnyondiets.com/> (April 4, 2007).
Helen M. Davidson


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2004 Dodge Caravan / Grand Caravan
The Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan offer a smooth ride and responsive handling. These are family-friendly vehicles that offer the features and flexibility most buyers want and there's a model for every budget. With room for seven passengers, they can carry half the little league team and the Grand Caravan has room left over for their stuff.
Dodge has added new features to the Caravan for 2004, including a tire pressure monitor and a new electronic key fob that integrates security and convenience functions. Two new stereo systems both feature in-dash six-CD changers. A new Anniversary Edition features a handsome two-tone leather interior that feels upscale and luxurious.
The Grand Caravan is longer than the Caravan. Most models come with a powerful V6 engine that delivers strong acceleration for merging onto hectic freeways. Anti-lock brakes and side-impact airbags are available, and all-wheel drive is available for improved safety on snow and ice.
Dodge sells more minivans every year than any other brand. Getting the basics right and focusing on value, packaging, and practicality keeps the Dodge Caravan number one in a highly competitive market segment. In spite of fierce competition, Chrysler commands 21 percent of the U.S. minivan market, selling about 350,000 minivans a year, 10 million in the past 20 years.
Model Lineup
Dodge has streamlined the lineup to three trim levels for 2004. The Caravan SE ($21,130) is the base level and comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, hand-crank windows, manually adjusted mirrors, and a limited list of options. It comes standard with air conditioning, variable intermittent wipers, AM/FM/CD stereo, and 215/70 tires on 15-inch steel wheels. The longer Grand Caravan SE ($24,295) is similarly equipped, but is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine.
Caravan SXT ($24,185) add second-row bucket seats, dual-zone manual air conditioning, tilt steering, cruise control, power windows, power heated mirrors, power locks with remote keyless entry, an upgraded AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, a rear window defroster, sunscreen glass, 215/65 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels, a tire-pressure monitor, and other niceties, plus an expanded list of options. The 3.3-liter V6 motivates the Caravan SXT.
Grand Caravan SXT ($29,655) is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 and comes standard with four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and low-speed traction control. The Grand Caravan SXT gets all the SXT equipment listed above plus low-back reclining bucket seats up front, a 50/50 split third seat, steering wheel mounted audio controls, fog lamps, a roof rack, overhead console, tachometer, rear courtesy lamps, illuminated vanity mirrors, and auxiliary power outlets. Dodge claims that dealer incentives on Grand Caravan SXT lower its actual selling price by more than $3,100. So for Internet shoppers, Dodge offers the Grand Caravan eX, identical in every way to the SXT except for a list price ($26,545) that's about what traditional shoppers can actually expect to pay for an SXT at their local Dodge dealership.
Grand Caravan Anniversary Edition ($32,370) comes loaded with two-tone leather, a six-CD changer, rear-seat DVD entertainment, and unique Anniversary Edition badges celebrating 20 years of Dodge minivans.
A power sliding door on the passenger side is optional on Caravan SXT, while Grand Caravan eX and SXT come standard with power doors on both sides. A power liftgate is optional on Grand Caravan SXT and eX. All Grand Caravans offer the option of manual three-zone climate control, with automatic three-zone control optional on eX and SXT.
Side-impact airbags and power-adjustable pedals are optional on all Caravans. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are available on all models except the base-level Caravan SE. Grand Caravan SXT is available with all-wheel-drive ($2,325), useful in the snow belt.
Options for Grand Caravan models include leather seating, a six-disc CD changer, rear-seat DVD entertainment, upgraded suspension packages, and a trailer-tow group that comprises a 160-amp alternator, 600-amp battery, heavy-duty engine cooling, wiring harness, and a load-leveling suspension.
Sirius Satellite Radio is available factory-installed ($325) or installed by the dealer ($299 plus labor). Either way, a $12.95 monthly subscription is also required. Uconnect, Chrysler Group's hands-free, voice-activated communications system, is a dealer-installed option ($299 plus labor).
Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan are large vehicles, but not outrageously so. Measuring just over 200 inches long and less than 5-feet, 10-inches tall, even the Grand Caravan will fit just about anywhere a full-size sedan will fit. Bumper to bumper, the standard Caravan measures 189.3 inches long. Grand Caravan's extra 11 inches make big difference in the amount of cargo you can carry with all three rows of seats in place. Caravan rides on a wheelbase of 113.0 inches, while the Grand Caravan stretches across a wheelbase of 119.3 inches.
These are sleek and very attractive vehicles that make the boxy minivans of the past look bland. Dramatic styling features a steeply raked windshield and an aggressive grille. The tracks for the sliding side doors are tucked under the rear side windows for a clean appearance. The D-pillars and rear window are steeply inclined for a sporty look, and a discrete spoiler rises from the trailing edge of the roof. Flared wheel openings add strength to the appearance. Headlamps and taillamps are big, the latter wrapping around to the sides. The optional roof rack is hunkered close to the roof, stylistically less obtrusive and perhaps less likely to generate wind noise, but also offering less clearance for the thicker hooks of some tie-downs.
Interior Features
Dodge Caravan's interior is comfortable and convenient. Both Caravan and Grand Caravan can accommodate seven passengers in a 2/2/3 arrangement.
The seating position in these minivans is higher than that of a sedan, which enables drivers to see over traffic. But you won't need a rope ladder to climb into the seats, as you do in SUVs. The seats are comfortable, though the driver's seat could use more support in the seat bottom.
The gauges are straightforward: big, round analog displays, a great design. The instrument faces are light gray with black numerals, not quite as legible as white on black. They light up green at night. The dash is canted slightly forward for better visibility. Indicators for the turn signals and high beams are cleverly located in a thin hooded display above the instrument panel where they are easy to see.
The optional steering wheel controls are well designed, among the best available. Cruise controls are on the front of the steering wheel and allow precise regulation of speed; an indicator on the dash tells the driver the system is on. Behind the steering wheel are audio controls that let the driver easily adjust volume, switch among pre-set stations, activate the seek function and switch between AM and FM bands. It's a brilliant design.
Controls for the sound system and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) are intuitive and easy to use. However, the audio system's on-off/volume knob is obscured by the gearshift lever when in Drive; also, the separate Set button on the radio for setting a preset is less convenient than the traditional method of holding the button down. Our test vehicle had the optional six-CD in-dash changer, a nice feature even though it is separated from the AM/FM/cassette unit by the HVAC controls. Three-zone temperature controls allow the driver and front-seat passenger to set their own comfort levels. There's a separate control for the rear of the cabin for the kids to fight over, though the driver has veto power.
Sirius Satellite Radio provides 100 coast-to-coast channels, including 60 streams of commercial-free music along with 40 streams of news, talk, sports and entertainment. It's a great option to have when traveling because the stations don't change as you drive across the country.
Uconnect uses Bluetooth technology to integrate the same cell phone you carry on your belt or in your purse into a hands-free system installed in your Caravan. Uconnect features include voice dialing, an audio address book, microphone mute for privacy, call transfer and English, French, or Spanish-language compatibility. Up to five different phones can be used with the system in the vehicle. Uconnect's control pad is mounted on the dashboard and its microphone is attached to the overhead console. A hidden speaker transmits the audio. Your own mobile phone may be placed anywhere inside the vehicle. Conversations may be continued while entering or exiting the vehicle, without disrupting the call.
Power sliding doors on both sides are standard on premium models, and they work very well. The driver can operate them by pressing buttons on the dash or on the keyless remote. Second-row passengers can open and close the doors by pressing a switch on the B-pillar, but the driver can lock that function out for children's safety. Also for safety, the power sliding doors and rear liftgate are designed to reverse if they strike an object (like a small hand) when opening or closing. Power doors are a tremendous aid for the physically challenged. The manually operated sliding doors are also easy to open and close. Access to the middle and rear seats is easy, much easier than in a sport-utility.
Bucket seats are available that make second-row passengers as comfortable as the front-seat passenger. The third-row bench provides room for two adults, but it's short on shoulder room for three adults.
All of the seats are easy to remove
Driving Impressions
These are smooth, quiet vehicles, particularly when measured by minivan standards. Under-hood padding helps reduce noise, as do high-quality gaskets between the outside mirrors and the body and around outside and inside door handles. Roof rack crossbows were engineered in a wind tunnel to reduce wind noise, but the design does not eliminate it entirely.
For most minivan owners, handling means how well the vehicle maneuvers in a parking lot and tracks down the highway, rather than how fast it can slalom through a line of traffic pylons. Fortunately, the Dodge Grand Caravan has a relatively small turning radius that makes getting into parking spaces easily. As with many of the latest aerodynamic designs, it isn't always easy to tell exactly where the front corners of the van are located. It's easy to tell where the rear is, but the height of the windows blocks the view of low objects, like that expensive sports car you don't want to scratch.
The 3.8-liter V6 available for the Grand Caravan delivers strong power. The V6 is quite useful for merging into fast freeway traffic, accelerating from intersections, and passing on two-lane roads. The 3.8-liter engine is rated at 215 horsepower and 245 pounds-feet of torque. Anyone who regularly carries a heavy load of passengers should get this engine. An optional towing package is available with the 3.8-liter engine that raises the Caravan's trailer tow rating to a 3800 pounds.
The Caravan SXT and Grand Caravan SE, equipped with the 3.3-liter V6, have enough power to climb hills without breathing hard, and merging onto the freeway doesn't give you visions of your life insurance salesman.
Ride quality is supple and well-controlled on the highway, in spite of a relatively simple and basic suspension layout. The rack-and-pinion steering responds nicely and provides feedback through the steering wheel, enhancing confidence on winding roads. The Grand Caravan tracks true at highway speeds, so there's no need for constant, minor steering corrections. Indeed, the Dodge Grand Caravan offers superb driving dynamics.
The brakes offer good feel, performance and durability. Standard brakes are discs in front with heavy-duty rotors and drums at the rear. ABS is standard on all Grand Caravans and optional on Caravan SXT; ABS allows the driver to brake and steer in a panic stop. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard on Grand Caravan eX and SXT. Disc brakes generally offer more resistance to brake fade (the tendency of the brakes to lose performance when heated by repeated use) than drum brakes.
Dodge continues to show why it is the leading brand in minivans. The Dodge Caravan's roomy interior offers convenient, carefree motoring. The driving experience is controlled and enjoyable. And there's lots of V6 power available in the lineup. A wide selection of models means there's a Dodge Caravan or Grand Caravan to fit any minivan budget.
|Model Line Overview
|Model lineup:
|Dodge Caravan SE ($21,130); Caravan SXT ($24,185); Grand Caravan SE ($24,295); Grand Caravan eX ($26,545); Grand Caravan SXT ($29,655); Grand Caravan SXT AWD ($31,980); Grand Caravan Anniversary Edition ($32,370)
|150-hp 2.4-liter dohc 16-valve inline-4; 180-hp 3.3-liter ohv 12-valve V6; 215-hp 3.8-liter ohv 12-valve V6
|4-speed automatic
|Safety equipment (standard):
|driver and passenger airbags with multi-stage inflators, front belt pretensioners and force limiters, LATCH child seat anchorage on middle and rear seats
|Safety equipment (optional):
|front side-impact airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control
|Basic warranty:
|3 years/36,000 miles
|Assembled in:
|Windsor, Ontario; St. Louis, Missouri
|Specifications As Tested
|Model tested (MSPR):
|Dodge Grand Caravan SXT ($29,655)
|Standard equipment:
|3.8-liter V6, automatic transmission, power steering, power four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, low-speed traction control, tire-pressure monitor, rear intermittent wiper/washer, rear defroster, power windows, power quarter vent windows, power locks, cruise control, front seat cargo net, underseat lockable storage bin, floor mats, front & rear power outlets, AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo with steering-wheel controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors, tinted glass, visor mirrors, three-zone manual air conditioning, air filtration system, 160-amp alternator, passenger assist grips, overhead console with trip computer, dual power sliding doors, illuminated remote keyless entry, fog lights, universal garage door opener, headlights with time-delay off, deluxe interior lighting, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, eight-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar support, second-row bucket seats, 50/50 split third-row seat, P215/65R16 tires, aluminum wheels
|Options as tested (MSPR):
|side-impact airbags ($390); Premium Group ($3,380) includes leather-trimmed seating, movable center console, security alarm, power liftgate, three-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, four-way power front passenger seat, 10-speaker Infinity audio with rear audio controls, touring suspension, vehicle information center, power adjustable pedals
|Destination charge:
|Gas guzzler tax:
|Price as tested (MSPR):
|front-wheel drive
|3.8-liter ohv 12-valve V6
|Horsepower (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|215 @ 5000
|Torque (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|245 @ 4000
|4-speed automatic
|EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:
|18/24 mpg
|119.3 in.
|200.5/78.6/68.9 in.
|Track, f/r:
|63.0/64.0 in.
|Turning circle:
|39.4 ft.
|Seating Capacity:
|Head/hip/leg room, f:
|39.6/57.2/40.6 in.
|Head/hip/leg room, m:
|39.1/67.6/39.0 in.
|Head/hip/leg room, r:
|38.5/49.0/38.9 in.
|Cargo volume:
|167.9 cu. ft.
|Towing capacity:
|2000 Lbs.
|Suspension, f:
|independent, ISO struts, asymmetrical lower arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar
|Suspension, r:
|tubular axle, single-leaf semi-elliptic springs, track bar
|Ground clearance:
|5.6 in.
|Curb weigth:
|4093 lbs.
|Brakes, f/r:
|disc/disc with ABS
|Fuel capacity:
|20 gal.
|Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle. All prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSPR) effective as of November 19, 2003.Prices do not include manufacturer's destination and delivery charges. N/A: Information not available or not applicable. Manufacturer Info Sources: 1-800-4A-DODGE - www.4adodge.com
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Inside Google's Android and Apple's iPhone OS as software markets
Apple's third party platform strategy
First, take a look at what is unique about Apple's mobile software store. Importantly, it builds upon experience and previous successes. Well before it even launched the iPhone, Apple began selling iPod game software on a small scale to work out the kinks in packaging and delivering mobile software securely in a way that avoids casual theft. Apple also perfected micropayments for music and video in iTunes, paving the way for a high volume, low cost mobile software store. Apple also built on its decade of progress in developing Mac OS X as a desktop platform, so it was able to release development tools that were both mature and familiar to a large number of coders. The iPhone's hardware also clearly evolved under the influence of lessons learned during the development of the iPod.
No smartphone vendor is building upon a success similar to the iPod and iTunes, and certainly not Google, which has never before even sold consumer hardware nor the software to power it. Google's Android business plan is firmly in the beta stage of development. In contrast, Apple's "preexisting conditions" allowed it to deliver the iPhone to a primed audience with all the parts in place to enable lush growth in software. Considerable thought had backed up every element of Apple's strategy. Very little was left open to experimentation, even if Apple executives still expressed surprise in the amount and type of interest the store received. The iPhone was building upon a combination of iPod 6.0 and iTunes 7, not a fledgling new beta concept.
Additionally, the company carefully staged the iPhone's deployment to only deliver what it could reasonably achieve. Apple shipped the iPhone for a full year before launching its SDK and store, building up an installed user base of about 5 million users. Once it opened the store, it could unleash a flood of new software and new buyers, creating a tidal wave of positive coverage. The company then continued to rigidly follow its own strategic plans, largely ignoring pundit demands that it do things differently.
As important as what Apple did was what it did not do. The company didn't announce all of its future plans in advance, didn't attempt to instantly achieve feature parity with existing smartphone platforms at launch, and didn't allow third parties to set expectations or minimum standards for its own platform's software titles. Instead, the company frequently surprised users with positive news of new features, deflected comparisons by focusing on the platform's strengths, and carefully guarded how its App Store library developed. That involved taking heat from critics who fumed about yet unknown details, staying silent as pundits assailed the iPhone in specific niches (first in software, then in push messaging, then in hardware peripheral support), and acting out a role as the bad cop in policing app titles while bloggers turned themselves inside out about app rejections and store rules.
In retrospect, the company clearly made the right decisions. Rather than getting bogged down in efforts to explain its strategy, Apple kept its new store perpetually in the headlines with a series of status announcements timed to drop at regular intervals. Instead of desperately trying to defend comparisons of the iPhone platform to Windows Mobile in features or Symbian in reach, Apple focused on the unique value it was adding and its ease of use. And rather than ceding control of the App Store to third party developers, Apple maintained control over its development to avoid allowing the store to develop a reputation of being crass or seedy or sloppy or unfinished or full of nagware.
Third party platform management styles
While Apple was (and still is) roundly criticized for exerting too much control over its App Store, the flip side is that there are no real malware problems and, despite a lot of shovelware, there's lots of quality apps to pick from at reasonable prices. Still, the company has maintained a conservative stance that has frustrated developers who want the platform to move more quickly. Apple initially held back trivial titles and fart apps, hoping to establish a serious streak of software; that restriction has since been relaxed. Similarly, restrictions on mature content have been loosened following the company's unveiling of new ratings support in iPhone 3.0 that enabled parents to set management controls on their children's App Store access.
Apple is still busy hammering out policy in the App Store, and developers are still finding reasons to be annoyed with the company. Rogue Amoeba recently threw up its hands in frustrated disgust after Apple's app approval system flagged its Airfoil app as inappropriately using the company's own trademark icons and graphics, despite the fact that Airfoil was using these in an appropriate way that happens to be supported by Apple on its desktop Mac platform.
The company's task of setting reasonable rules to manage the influx of tens of thousands of new iPhone apps is frequently challenged and critiqued, but nobody in the industry is doing a better job. On one hand, Microsoft is seeking to exert even more control over its own third party mobile software store, asking its developers to pay fees for every app submitted to the Windows Mobile Marketplace and angering developers by denying apps repeatedly, charging new fees each time an app is rejected. This has resulted in stagnation of the Windows Mobile Marketplace, the absolutely wrong thing to do just as sales of Windows Mobile phones to users plummet. By the time the store becomes viable despite Microsoft's crippling rules and micromanagement, there won't be any customers left.
At the other extreme, Google enforces much less control over content or presentation for apps listed in Android Market. While Google reserves the right to block unauthorized distribution of its proprietary Android apps, it doesn't mandate that apps have to look great or have to follow any strict guidelines, and there's doesn't seem to be any sort of restriction on potential third party copyright issues, such as selling emulators designed to run other platform's video games.
This lack of restriction has resulted in clear difference between the apps available for Android and those for the iPhone. Android has become the tinkers' destination, not the place where developers go to make money. This has created a wide gulf between the slick, commercial offerings in the App Store and the experimental hobbyist offerings in Android Market.
Given Android's current installed base, Google can't really erect significant restrictions on software. Even without much management in place, Android's offerings are still pretty bare. The biggest problem for Google, however, is that once its market takes off, the latent problems of permissive platform management will grow into serious problems. Security, commercial legitimacy, and professional presentation are all factors Google seems to think will solve themselves. The history of Windows suggests otherwise.
Sloppy security policy: this all happened before
Unlike Apple, Google's business model is patterned after Windows Mobile, which itself is modeled after the desktop Windows. Microsoft has never exerted much in the way of quality control over Windows developers of any kind. On the PC, this has resulted in a platform that has a legacy of reaching backward to accommodate poorly written third party software. A significant reason why Windows hasn't been able to keep up with the pace of Mac OS X development over the last decade has been that Microsoft faced much more pressure to cater to third parties. Without decisive efforts by its vendor to move things forward, the Windows PC platform has repeatedly stagnated.
One example is Windows Vista's efforts to push the adoption of modern desktop operating system features such as an advanced compositing graphics engine like Mac OS X's Quartz. Vista's new changes resulted in reduced performance and compatibility problems with existing software that initially helped impede its adoption among users, which prevented third parties from leveraging the new features, which prevented users from gaining new reasons to try it. Balancing new features against legacy compatibility has long been a difficult issue for Windows, and promises to be critical problem affecting Android as well. Apple faces this too, but the degree of control it exerts over its platform helps to manage such issues before they can affect users.
Another problem endemic to Windows has been security. The platform's ubiquity, combined with Microsoft's initial naivety about security practices, resulted in a new low in expectations being set for PC users. Users accept security exploits as an inescapable eventuality, are conditioned to install and maintain background antivirus software from third parties, and have no reason to trust downloaded software. Software has always been exploitable; the new problem Windows introduced was a complete lack of any intuitive understanding about how users could protect themselves.
Rogue apps can install themselves for reinstallation in the Windows Registry after being cleaned away, and can hide invisibly in the background. On other operating systems, notably Mac OS X, users are simply more aware of when potentially dangerous things are happening because they must authenticate software installations and are warned about the source of software they attempt to run. The application firewall can encrypt and sign apps to prevent them from being modified without the user's knowledge.
On the iPhone, security has been ratcheted upwards another notch with all software being only available through a trusted source, co-signed by the developer and Apple as trusted parties. If an app goes rogue, Apple can pull it from the store and potentially shut it down remotely by revoking the developer's certificate. Apps can't install in the background and do things the user is unaware of after the app has been quit. Under Android, none of these practices have been applied. Google is running its mobile platform with the same mentality of Microsoft in the mid 90s: anything goes for now and we'll sort of the issues in the future sometime.
Google allows developer to "self-sign apps," which is worthless because anyone can sign their own malicious app. Android developers can also deliver their own apps from any source, so Google has no way to stop the sale of malicious code or to remotely deactivate apps that have gone rogue, such as malware with a time bomb payload or equipped with a viral propagation method. And just like Windows PC apps, Android programs can continue to run in the background and do virtually anything without users even being aware they are running. It took Windows several years before its malware potential blossomed into a full blown global network of spambots and regular virus eruptions causing billions of dollars of damage annually. No problems for Android today does not mean that serious issues will not develop along with Android's installed base.
For Windows on the desktop, Microsoft seemed to think it could simply stuff all this back into the box with some security software patches, but despite concentrated and expensive efforts throughout this decade, it has not been able to stop the widespread problems of viruses and worms on its desktop platform. And while experts like to focus attention on the sophisticated efforts Microsoft has devised to enhance security in Windows Vista/7, the majority of viruses and malware don't need some special operating system access to cause damage. The famous exploits that have targeted the Windows platform to create widespread damage, from Melissa to ILoveYou to MyDoom and Storm, have almost all been user-mode software that tricks the user into starting it and then makes itself very difficult to stop or eradicate. Fancy security features are all worthless in the face of such plain risks.
Apple addressed these security issues head-on in its iPhone software platform, while Google has simply suggested that they won't ever appear, and if they do, that there will be some easy way to clean things up. Microsoft has already spend tens of billions of dollars proving that this is simply not true.
Interestingly, Google's Chrome OS takes a stronger position in security, relegating all "apps" to run in sandboxes within the browser, and simply disallowing alternative apps. This model is much closer to the iPhone's, which similarly sandboxes apps. While Chrome OS simply distrusts all web apps it runs, the iPhone OS accords limited trust based on encrypted signatures. Android currently does neither, although it will likely move more toward the Chrome OS, although that's another year away. Google doesn't have another year to work out a basic security model for Android.
Open to exploitation
Android also shares other problems of Windows and Windows Mobile. One relates to the APIs available to developers. Microsoft is trying to get its mobile developers to migrate toward .NET (the Windows analog of Cocoa), but most Windows Mobile software is still built using the same old familiar Win32 APIs (somewhat comparable to Carbon/Classic on the Mac) that developers have been churning out for the PC desktop since the 90s.
In contrast, Apple created the iPhone to use only one new modern API: its mobile-optimized flavor of Cocoa. It simply gave developers no option to string along Carbon, Java, Flash, or other old API alternatives for building any new mobile applications. The iPhone has one API that every developer uses, creating familiarity and unity in how apps are created in the relatively small community of iPhone development. This makes it easier for Apple to support its developers, advance its platform, and keep control over where the platform is headed. Unlike the Mac, Apple doesn't have to try to accommodate Adobe's terrible version of Flash, for example, which results in most of the system problems desktop Mac users face on a daily basis.
Google introduced Android as a modified Java platform. It's now in the process of rolling out a native SDK for accessing the core OS. This means developers will have two official APIs from Google to weigh for advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, Google is supporting the development of runtimes to host Flash apps and Mono/.NET applications. This will enable Android to "run more code" at the expense of anyone needing to develop software expressly for Android. Why not write generic Flash games that can also be sold to users on BlackBerry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile phones? Why not target .NET instead of the Android SDK and develop software for two platforms? Why not just write Java applets and ignore the native SDK? There's a lot of options on Android.
Google seems to have forgotten the history of Sun's partnership with Microsoft, which was portrayed as a way to get Java on Windows, and instead became a way to tie Java to Windows exclusively, killing it everywhere else. When partnering with rivals, you have to make sure they aren't simply using your resources to do what they want to do. Google hasn't yet been victimized, as its naively simple approach to platform openness demonstrates.
If any company has learned tough lessons about the consequences of allowing third parties and rival vendors to hijack or destroy one's platform, it's Apple. In the last 30 years, it has fended off companies trying to clone the Apple II and the Macintosh, watched as Microsoft hijacked its own Mac apps to create Windows, and ineffectually chased after Sun's Java buzzword. But in the last decade, Apple has figured things out. You don't give away your platform if you expect it to remain around as a viable contender. You don't allow third parties to put you out of business, and you don't funnel your success toward rivals, unless you're in the business of giving away technology for free and closing up shop.
Google's permissive openness to everything betrays a great deal of naivety in its attempts to develop Android as something more than just another mobile alternative. This is because Google isn't serious about building a platform it controls; Google was only out to thwart the success of Windows Mobile in order to ensure that Microsoft wouldn't block its ads and search aspirations on mobile devices. If Android kills Windows Mobile and still fails on its own, Google still accomplishes its goal, and the company will happily continue supporting its Google apps on the iPhone, BlackBerry, Symbian, WebOS, and wherever else it can without direct competition for ads and paid search (as Apple, RIM, Symbian, and Palm are not in the ad and paid search business).
In contrast, if the iPhone were to fail as a platform, Apple would be completely out of the smartphone game. This is why Apple is fighting relentlessly to manage the future of its platform, while Google is simply keeping Android around as a hobby to see if it works out. This makes Android a lot like Apple TV; if that product fails for Apple, it can simply give up and begin licensing iTunes playback on the Wii and PlayStation 3 and Xbox and third party TVs. Apple doesn't live and die on Apple TV revenues, and doesn't really even make any money from its sales, so the thing is a hobby that gets just enough attention from the company to exist. Just like Google's Android.
How have these policies affected the real world software offerings in the App Store and Android Market? The following page outlines how the two stores compare.
On page 3 of 3: Third party apps: iPhone vs Android


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Listen free for 30 days
Ghost Ship
New novel in the Liaden Universe series. Over a quarter million copies sold in this series to-date! Space ships, action, adventure – all tied together with a strong dollop of romance and family saga – make this a compelling series for a wide range of readers, from romance to military SF lovers alike.
Theo Waitley is an ace starship pilot – and pure maverick. Her mom is a renowned Terran scholar and her birth father is an interstellar aristocrat in hiding. She still feels like a socially challenged misfit. But after being selected to train with the best-of-the-best at the pilot academy, she figures she can leave behind those gawky, misfit days of teenage angst that made life so complicated before! But for Theo, life is about to get even MORE complicated – and deadlier still. For even though she's survived the Academy and become one of the best pilots in the galaxy, the past is about to blast her with gale-force winds. Theo can run, but she can't hide. Her destiny as master pilot and leader of a powerful Liaden clan calls, and there are lots of enemies who will try to make sure she's quite dead before she has the chance to make an answer.
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-10-18
lacklustre performance
An enjoyable story as ever but found the narration very bland. I missed Jeeves' European accent.
- Elisabeth Carey
- 18-01-16
A great new Liaden adventure
Clan Korval's relocation to Surebleak can't go without bumps, and of course there are those who think the new power on the Port Road will be as easy to take out as any street boss from the old days. Meanwhile, Theo Waitley is adjusting to finding herself a member of a large extended family, with siblings and cousins and aunts--none of whom grew up in the "safety" culture of Delgado, and whose reactions to her range from delighted to appalled.
Theo has temporarily shelved the question of what to do about Bechimo, the "old tech" sapient AI ship which Win Ton has given her the command key for. In the meantime, she's continuing to work as a courier pilot for the old and secretive person known as Uncle. But both as an employee of Uncle, and as, now, a known Clan Korval pilot, Theo has become a target for dangerous people.
And of course, the Department of the Interior continues its war against Clan Korval.
There are a lot of threads coming together here, and going off in new directions. Theo, Val Con, and their father, Daav, each in their own ways continue to grow and develop as characters. We also start to get to know Bechimo, who, well, Bechimo needs a lot of socialization!
This is a thoroughly satisfying entry in the Liaden series, continuing to build on what has gone before, and intertwining multiple ongoing threads in the larger Liaden universe. It might not be the best place for a reader coming new to the series to start, but still an excellent book.
I bought this book.
1 person found this helpful
- Skipper
- 26-08-13
Bechimo the Self-Aware Ghost Ship
In this book, Theo Waitley meets and pilots Bechimo, a fabulous self-aware space ship of artificial intelligence, created centuries before by "The Builders" of mysterious origin.
Theo and Bechimo engage weapons, battling the evil Department of the Interior. The DoI wants Theo AND her amazing Ghost Ship, Bechimo. Theo and her AI ship slowly develop trust in each other, with some bumps along the road. Sometimes amusing little spats, as Bechimo is unsocialized, having been alone and in hiding for centuries.
Theo pilots her Ghost Ship to planet Surebleak. Clan Korval has arrived and Jelaza Kazone (sentient, ancient, wizardly tree) is sinking its roots in, influencing the micro-climate. Surebleak citizens welcome Boss Conrad's kin, who promise to maintain an open Port Road. Wild, lawless Surebleak is adjusting to a more benign form of leadership, and most folks welcome Boss Conrad's government style, but change is difficult, and Korval must deal with sabotage and even worse. Nelirikk gets to leap into action, along with Val Con, Theo, Daav, etc. Of course, the treacherous DoI is at work here.
On Surebleak, Bechimo meets the AI butler, Jeeves (good scene) and eventually gains a co-pilot. Now, with three on board, the interaction gets more interesting. Soon a fourth crew member boards..
A third plot thread takes place on Planet Vandar, with Val Con and Nelirikk. This section of the story is brief. There is a short story that elaborates on it, called Prodigal Son.
The POV changes too much. Sometimes before you can turn a page. It's frustrating.
The story ends on a major cliffhanger, involving Daav yos'Phelium and Uncle. This book and the next book (Dragon Ship) and the next book (Necessity's Child) collectively go almost nowhere. It's an interesting and sometimes highly entertaining journey, walking in circles, but compared to the plot of Tolkien's trilogy, these three books are meandering indeed.
Oh, and a baby is born. Sweet. Several sweet scenes with Tree, too.
Narrated by Eileen Stevens. The narrator is okay, for the most part. I have no real complaints, but several quibbles. I do want to defend Stevens, though: She does not make Miri sound like she is laughing all the time, as one reviewer states, but she does put a chuckle into her voice quite often. When the topic is serious, however, Miri does not sound merry. Personally, I liked Steven's take on Miri.
I agree with said reviewer's statement that male voices sound quieter than female voices, so one must sometimes adjust the volume. In general, male voices sound muffled, like a female trying to sound gruff.
Stevens pronounces Bechimo this way: Besh--ee--mo, emphasizing the middle syllable, ee, giving it a French sound. Personally, I would say Beck'-uh-mo, rhyming Bech with Tech, with stress on Beck. But who knows?
She mispronounced the French word "frisson" (she said something very like "freeze on").
For the word "mercenaries" shortened to "mercs", she says the short form like this: merce. I have never heard the short form pronounced merce, as in "mercy." Whenever I have heard it, it rhymes with "jerks" — people say "merks" — even though mercenary has the soft Ss sound for c. But again, who knows?
3 people found this helpful
- Derines
- 19-07-15
Continues the story
Theo's continuing story as well the continuation of Korval landing and integration into Surebleak society. Love the Liaden universe, but sometimes the narrator makes even the most exciting scenes dull.
- Jenny Everywhere
- 20-04-15
Decent story, ok reader
I'm a long time fan of the Liaden Universe, and this arc always seemed to hover between adult drama and young adult. I realize this is a function of the protagonist's journey to adulthood, but something always struck me as tentative, almost juvenile, as though the writing was growing up with young Theo Waitley. It is a good story, though. This does not detract from the story so much as flavor it.
My only issue of substance is that the reader made some pronunciation errors that jarred when I encountered them. While this is almost de rigueur for science fiction or fantasy, the words themselves being coined, these authors have guides for such things online. Also, some regular English words skittered by the reader rather mangled. But all in all, a good enough work.
- Kevin
- 22-08-14
Great story, poor narration
The continuing saga has not lost its charm. The narrator, however, is not the best. Ms. Stevens mispronounces words on a regular basis, and her reading of Edger the Clutch Turtle is terrible. She makes this very large creature sound small. Andy Caploe's narration is far superior in this regard.
1 person found this helpful
- Dara
- 28-06-14
OK but not easy to follow
I wanted to like this book better than I did. The core story was interesting and I enjoyed those sections. Unfortunately, the chapters constantly skipped around to completely different characters and situations, often with no warning or explanation. This writing style is pretty common, but, in this book, I had a hard time tying everything together. The narrator was very pleasant and capable, but all her male characters tend to sound the same, which added to my almost constant state of "what's going on?"
I think I'd like this book more in the written format.
1 person found this helpful
- Michael
- 23-11-12
I could not get through it
I love these authors and the Liaden Universe. I have read all the previous books. However, I tried reading the ebook and quit after halfway through and I tried again with the audiobook and did not enjoy it. The problem is nothing happens. By the middle of the book, some of the characters have relocated. Some people are following other people, that's it. It turned out to be chore getting through the story.
It is like a continual set-up for another book in the series. It was a chore getting through the previous two books about Theo and I see they were just a set-up for this book, however in this book there seems to be nothing but more set-up. What will the family do to survive? So many dangers are facing the family... all that causes this story to not be a story.
The narration also had a problem that when she spoke in male voices the volume was lower, so you turn up the volume and now it is too loud when the female characters speak. Also, Miri's dialog was always delivered in a laughing tone. This became really irritating and unnatural.
1 person found this helpful
- Luv2Read
- 03-11-13
SciFi for chicks
Has Ghost Ship turned you off from other books in this genre?
No but it certainly has turned me off to this series
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
Any additional comments?
The title is poetic irony. For we see relatively little of the Ghost Ship and it doesn't much impress. This would not be a good entry point to the series. The author makes little effort to explain what has already transpired. It will take a while to figure it out what is going on and why.
The book is definitely for those who are more in touch with their feminine side. Lots of time spent on relations, family ties, what to wear, dancing, etc. There is relatively little action. The reader has a pleasant voice and represents the women well. However her attempt at Father's voice is --- well??
1 person found this helpful


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Need a Holiday Sugar Fix? Head to Danvers.Posted: December 14th, 2012 | Author: KN | Filed under: Bakery, Cakes for Occasions, Danvers | Tags: cakes, Cookies, Cupcakes, Cupcakes After 5, Gluten Free, Kelly Delaney, pies, treats | No Comments »
Whether you're in need of treats for a holiday gathering or looking for a wow-them hostess gift, Cakes for Occasions is the place to go.
The Danvers bakery has been featured on "TV Diner," "The Today Show," and even "Home Shopping Network," so we were eager to see what all the fuss was about.
Walking through the door is like stepping into a sugar-fueled fantasy. Rows of gorgeous cakes, pastries, and cupcakes await your ogling pleasure, as well as shelves full of cookies, candies, and all manner of treats. We love the fact that you can see into the decorating kitchen to watch cakes being created.
Owner Kelly Delaney had a few minutes to chat with us and told us about the store's recent renovations, which doubled the space this summer. Delaney is smart, funny, and clearly knows her business.
Overwhelmed by the array of treats, we opted to try a few varieties of cupcakes. The cupcakes range from traditional chocolate and vanilla to gourmet flavors like Death by Chocolate, Mocha Bliss, 24Karrot, and Strawberry Grand Marnier. ($1.25 to $2.95).
There's nothing worse than a cupcake that's all décor and no flavor, but these beauties weren't just pretty to look at. The chocolate cupcake topped with coconut frosting was lush and moist, and the frosting had rich coconut flavor. The snowman-topped holiday cupcake we brought home for our junior tasted garnered raves as well. She was delighted that the frosting was "light and creamy, not heavy and gross."
We also tried a few of cocktail-inspired mini-cakes dubbed Cupcakes After 5 ($2.25). Both the Champagne & Strawberries and the Kahlua Mudslide were delicious, but we didn't find them particularly boozy. And because they are smaller, the topping-to-cake ratio gives a sweeter overall experience. For the price, we'd go with the larger specialty flavors.
Those with special dietary needs will be glad to know that bakery is not only 100% nut-free, but also offers options for gluten free and sugar-free treats, so don't be afraid to inquire.
Cakes for Occasions has a .pdf Holiday menu and online ordering at their website, but we suggest stopping by the bakery for the full sensory experience.
Cakes for Occasions
57 Maple Street, Danvers
(978) 774-4545


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At a LexisNexis conference on DRM this week, MPAA boss Dan Glickman said the movie studios were now fully committed to interoperable DRM, and they recognize that consumers should be able to use legitimate video material on any item in the house, including home networks. In a major shift for the industry, Glickman also announced a plan to let consumers rip DVDs for use on home media servers and iPods.
Unfortunately, this plan is not yet well developed. In his speech to industry insiders at the posh Beverly Hills Four Seasons hotel, Glickman repeatedly stressed that DRM must be made to work without constricting consumers. The goal, he said, was "to make things simpler for the consumer," and he added that the movie studios were open to "a technology summit" featuring academics, IT companies, and content producers to work on the issues involved. He also pointed to the $30 million MovieLabs project that the studios are currently funding as proof of their commitment to interoperability.
Speaking to Ars after the speech, Glickman acknowledged that the plan was still in the early stages. I asked him specifically about DVDs, which are currently illegal to rip under the DMCA, and how the law would square with his vision of allowing consumers to use such content on iPods and other devices. "You notice that I said 'legally' and in a protected way," Glickman responded, suggesting that some form of DRM would still be required before the studios would sign off on such a plan. He noted, however, that no specific plans have been made.
The MPAA does recognize that progress on DRM needs to be made soon, or impatient consumers will increasingly turn to unauthorized sources for content. "We're working on this right now, trying to find ways to make it interoperable," he said, but added that pricing and business models for such a system are "way beyond my pay grade."
Dean Garfield, VP of Legal Affairs for the MPAA, told me that he has confidence in the market to sort all of these issues out. "You have to give some thought to how young the digital distribution market is," he said. "I suspect that the issues confounding people today won't be the issues challenging the industry six months from now."
But will consumers sit idly by, twiddling their thumbs while content owners and consumer electronics manufacturers get their act together? Garfield recognizes that consumers are impatient, which means that "we also have to be impatient."
In his speech, Glickman said that the industry needs "a collective philosophical commitment" to move forward on issues of interoperability and authorized use, and said that the MPAA has now made that commitment. He called on other companies in the industry to sit down and work out a solution. Though he never mentioned Apple by name, it's clear that the Cupertino-based company was number one on the list of companies that need to get involved; whether interoperable DRM and legitimate DVD ripping actually mesh with Apple's own business priorities is another question, though.
Despite the lack of specificity, Glickman's speech marks a step forward for the MPAA, which says it is now committed to allowing content to play on any device, from any manufacturer. As other presenters at the conference made clear, this is largely a result of self-interest: consumers are frustrated with current limitations, and movie studios aren't thrilled about having to sign off on Apple's terms in order to get content onto iPods. Still, hearing Glickman speak with conviction about consumer rights to use material in "fair ways" and to wax eloquent about interoperability was an encouraging sign—even if he views DRM as a necessary "enabling tool" that's not going away anytime soon.


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© Healthwise, Incorporated
Autosomal recessive diseases are genetic diseases that are passed to a
child through both parents' chromosomes. Autosomal recessive diseases include
Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, autosomal recessive
polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), and phenylketonuria (PKU).
person inherits 23 chromosomes from each parent and so has 23 pairs of
chromosomes. Each chromosome contains genes. One or both of the chromosomes in
a pair can carry a mutation and be abnormal or defective in a way that causes a
genetic disease. In an autosomal recessive disease, both chromosomes in a pair
must have a defective gene for the person to have the disease. If only one gene
is defective, the person is a carrier of the disease but
does not have any symptoms.
If only one parent
carries the abnormal gene, there is:
If both parents carry
the abnormal gene, there is:
Last Revised:
November 3, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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I finally got a Raspberry Pi too. After the hurdles of initial installation, got it hooked up to my LAN and of course I had to install an RHQ agent on it.
And it turned out that this was dead simple, as the Pi already has Java 1.7 installed (in the Raspbian Wheezy distro that I am using). Thus it was only a matter of laying down the rhq-agent, and starting it the usual way.
Now there was one caveat: the agent did not find any file systems or network interfaces etc. This is due to the fact that there is no native library for Sigar on arm v6 cpus supplied with the agent.
I cloned Sigar from its git repository, changed into the 1.6 branch and built that library myself.
Now after dropping
libsigar-arm-linux.so into the agent's lib/ directory, the native library is available and on agent restart all the native stuff could be found.
(Platform details in RHQ)
If you don't want to compile that library yourself, you can take my version from https://sourceforge.net/projects/rhq/files/rhq/misc/.
I will try to get that library into the upcoming RHQ 4.10 release, but can't promise anything.Update
If you run the agent from current master (or upcoming RHQ 4.10), you can configure a list of plugins to be enabled, so that the agent only uses these plugins (and thus uses less memory and starts faster).
This property can be found in the file
<entry key="rhq.agent.plugins.enabled" value="Platforms,JMX,RHQAgent"/>
The entries are a comma separated list of plugin (short) names. To determine those, you can run
plugins info at the agent command prompt:
> plugins info
Details of the plugins that are currently installed:
Plugin Name: RHQAgent
Display Name: RHQ Agent
Last Updated: 14. Februar 2014 11:03:35 MEZ
File Size: 51.558 bytes
MD5 Hashcode: f7eb7577af667ee4883437230e4b2d8c
Summary of installed plugins:
[RHQAgent, Platforms, JMX]
The short names are the ones encoded as "Plugin Name" and which are also shown on the summary line. There has actually been a property to disable unwanted plugins for a longer time, but just enabling the ones needed is probably easier.
The other thing you should do it to remove the
-Xms setting in the
rhq-agent.sh script- the default of a 64MB minimum heap is just too large here.
With those 3 plugins above and the removed
Xms setting, my agent has a committed heap of ~14MB and a used heap of ~11MB. A dump is/was 4MB in size.
P.S.: "Raspberry Pi" is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation


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SAN JOSE — Police said a brazen home-invasion robbery of a couple in their 70s on Monday started with a knock at the door around 6:50 p.m., followed by two or three men in their 20s bursting into the Almaden Valley residence waving knives and tying up their victims before ransacking the house and fleeing in their vehicles.
Tuesday evening, the stolen vehicles had not been located and police were still seeking suspects in what they called a very bold and violent crime.
"This is the polar opposite of a burglary," said San Jose police spokesman Sgt. Jason Dwyer. "Burglaries are done by someone cowardly, and if you show up and interrupt them, they will probably run out the back door. Compared to someone who commits a takeover, they want you to be in fear for your safety, they want confrontation."
Dwyer said that while two or three people entered the house, more accomplices may be involved.
The robbery occurred at a home in the 6700 block of Bret Harte Drive, near Leland High School, in a well-to-do neighborhood. The victims were a 76-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man.
Dwyer said they did not know if the home was specifically selected by the robbers, but added that "generally something like this, the victim was targeted for some reason. It doesn't have to be they knew each other, but the victim may have been seen by the suspect or watched, and believed to be someone they could take advantage of."
After taking several items, the suspects left in the victims' two cars — a green 2007 Toyota Highlander with a license plate of 5XIU520. The second vehicle is a tan 1997 Toyota Camry with a license plate of 3UNG960.
A family member of the couple answered the phone at the home Tuesday and did not want to discuss the incident.
Newly elected San Jose City Councilman Johnny Khamis said Tuesday morning that he spoke with acting police Chief Larry Esquivel, who said finding the suspects is a top priority.
Khamis said police indicated to him that the case is associated with a carjacking that happened earlier Monday, though police did not confirm that.
"I have the utmost confidence in our police, and I think these criminals will be brought to justice," Khamis said. "We need to keep vigilant and bring these criminals to justice."
An item on the police blotter indicates an elderly man was carjacked at about 2:30 p.m. Monday in front of his house, about 21/2 miles away from where the home-invasion robbery happened. According to the police blotter, two suspects attacked the man as he was sitting in his vehicle in front of his house near Redmond Avenue and Wallace Drive. The suspects physically assaulted the man and took off in his vehicle. The man was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
His abandoned vehicle was found a short time later. The unidentified suspects were not located and remain at large.
Dwyer said Tuesday evening that they don't know if the crimes are connected at this point.
He added that while the home invasion happened in one of the city's wealthier enclaves, it's a crime that would be shocking in any community.
"Place your parents in their position, place your grandparents there," he said. "They had knives waved in their faces, were tied up and had their own cars stolen. That might drive the point home a little bit more."
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the San Jose police robbery division at 408-277-4166 or the anonymous Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers tip line at 408-947-7867 and may be eligible for a reward.
Contact Eric Kurhi at 408-920-5852. Contact Mark Gomez at 408-920-5869.


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"Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is familiar territory to anyone weaned on material from Japan. Video games, manga, and anime have tackled the Three Kingdoms for a long, long time. Koihime Musou is the latest example of that, though this time around the concept leans heavily towards fan-service and ecchi material.
Originally released in 2007 as an eroge PC game, Koihime Musou skews the "Romance" story a bit and introduces a bevy of busty babes. The game was popular enough and it was later turned into a manga and three subsequent anime series. Sentai Filmworks/Section23 has obtained the license for the first season, and today we're looking at the two disc collection.
With twelve episodes and an extra OVA the first season of Koihime Musou is pretty to look at and fun at times, but ultimately it's an empty shell. This is one of those shows that doesn't require much investment from its viewer and it basically entertains with bright colors and boobs aplenty. Anime like this permeates the industry and it's the equivalent of eating a bowl of popcorn. Yeah it's light and fluffy and tastes good at the time, but in the end you're left unsatisfied and don't want another bite.
The show follows the exploits of Aisha, who goes by the name Kan'u. She's an experienced spear-wielder and has become known as a black-haired bandit slayer. Her beauty and reputation precede her, and as she journeys she meets many people that know of her legend. Naturally these are mostly other beautiful women and of course they all want to fight her upon introduction. In predictable fashion Aisha wins them over with her charm and prowess and the girls, for the most part, join her in her travels.
For instance, in the first episode Aisha wanders into a town and sees a young girl, Rin Rin, claiming to be a bandit. She's really just a kid, but mostly harmless. After a bout Rin Rin decides to join Aisha. In the next episode the two meet up with Sei, who is another busty bandit hunter that decides to travel with Aisha and Rin Rin. Gradually other character come out of the woodwork, but they are either left behind in their subsequent episodes, or stick around with Aisha and the gang for a while.
While the show contains a lot of action, fun and lively characters, and plenty of genuinely hilarious moments, Koihime Musou is best served up in pieces. The episodes are self-contained for the most part and there's really no grand, branching story until the end, and even that attempt is relatively weak. Character development is a big focus for the narrative and the world that's crafted here is more entertaining than most. Just don't expect to find an epic storyline or something that sticks in your memory.
Koihime Musou is presented on DVD with its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio and has been enhanced for anamorphic playback. The show looks good with a vibrant palette, smooth animation, and solid designs all around. The presentation is clean with virtually no grain and blocking isn't much of a problem even in darker areas of the show. Some aliasing is noticeable, but it's never debilitating, and overall this is a solid looking transfer for the series.
As is the case with a majority of Sentai Filmworks/Section23 releases, Koihime Musou hits Region 1 with a Japanese only 2.0 stereo language track and optional English subtitles. This isn't the kind of show that needs a bombastic 5.1 track, but some amplification in presentation would have added some flavor to the many battles and sound effects. Dialogue is mostly flat and front-centric, though that's really all the show ultimately needs.
For bonus features there's the included OVA episode, some trailers, and clean opening and closing animations.
Koihime Musou doesn't really stand out in the field of anime, but it's a popular enough franchise in Japan, and there's probably a good reason for that. The first season isn't stellar by any means, but it's "not bad". The characters are fun and the show pops from a visual and personality standpoint, but at the end of the day things are rather mid-range in terms of quality. The episodic nature, the abundant fan-service, and the deluge of characters in each episode doesn't help matters. This show is for fans of eroge-to-anime efforts and as long as you don't mind boobs and panty flashes mixed in with light story, you'll have a good time. Ultimately I'd call it a rental.


text:
It's a new month, a new school year, and we have new requests.
We begin with Sara in Long Beach, who writes:
"I've been missing the delicious 'Ultra Chocolate Mousse' cake from Grandma's on Second Street in Long Beach since it closed many years ago. It was so unbelievable — the perfect amount of richness, but not too sweet. It was similar to the look of a cheesecake, but wasn't a cheesecake at all. I was told from a worker it contained three different kinds of chocolate, but at the time they wouldn't divulge the recipe. I know the owner was supposedly from Long Beach, and if she reads this, I would so love to get the recipe or even a version of it."
Mary in Lawndale writes:
"We used to go to a restaurant in Marina del Rey called The Fish Market. They had the best Manhattan Clam Chowder. It was thick and we would eat it with sourdough bread and butter."
Deloris in Sylmar is looking for a cherry cream pie she originally had in Indiana:
"My mother-in-law baked the best pies ever, but one was a cherry cream. It was cherries in a kind of vanilla pudding, with meringue on top. Yum!"
The S family in Long Beach writes:
"We would like to know if someone has a recipe for Bob's Tartar Sauce. We have been looking three years or longer. Nothing can compare with it."
Carol in Gardena is looking for filled raisin cookies:
"They started with sugar cookie dough that was rolled out and cut with a glass or can into round shapes. Then, a spoon full of cooked raisin mixture was put in the center of a round. A plain round was placed on top and crinkled around the edges."
Can anyone help Sara, Mary, Deloris, the S family and Carol?
Address requests, contributions and comments to Recipe Request, Daily Breeze, 21250 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 170, Torrance, Calif. 90503; or email email@example.com. Recipe Request is also on Facebook.


text:
Okay, I'll post updated scenarios as they are completed here.
For players who are new to edited scenarios, you need to go into the main KOEI folder, where you should find a Media file. This contains the game's scenarios. Simply move these files into that folder, then boot up your game and go to New Game. At the top, you should see two new buttons, Actual Scenario and Added Scenario. Click on Added Scenario and you should see the X series scenarios.
The videos are linked to specific scenario numbers, so these X games will not play the opening videos. Everything else works just fine. I would advise against replacing the Actual Scenario files by changing the scenario numbers, or at least backing the originals up with a copy stored elsewhere. Of course, if you like them so much you want to replace the old ones, I would be very honored!
Final Update Notes
- In general, I did try to alter force descriptions and difficulty levels as much as possible. However, I may have missed the odd bit here and there. If someone notices and is super picky then I can quickly update and upload, but since it doesn't affect gameplay, I'm not that worried about it.
- I've included descriptions of the scenarios. New forces are completely created from scratch - with mainly existing officers of course. Altered forces are forces that already existed but have new rulers. Scenario descriptions themselves just tell you what to expect in general from the scenario provided your force isn't near an area mentioned; e.g. being close to Sun Ce in Rival Warlords X will probably disrupt his normal pattern.
Yellow Turbans Rebel X (Final Update)
New Forces: Xu Gong (Wu), Ou Xing (Changsha), Liu Yan (Chengdu)
Altered Forces: Bian Zhang (Ma Teng), Zou Jing (Liu Yan)
- You can flip a coin when it comes to Dong Zhuo and Bian Zhang. A lot depends on whether Dong Zhuo steals Dian Yu from Bian Zhang.
- The Yellow Turbans have received a moderate overall stat boost and Zhang Jiao lives an extra 10 years or so, so the force does a bit better.
- Once Xiangping is claimed, Gongsun Zan tends to get surrenders from the other northern lords and grows strong through this.
- The introduction of Xu Gong causes Sun Jian to often march against the Turbans instead of claiming all those free southern cities.
- Just a word of warning, playing Ou Xing and Liu Yan will be challenging because they have access to very few officers early on.
Dong Zhuo Rises X (Final Update)
New Forces: Liu Pi (Shouchun), Liu Yong (Jianye), Xu Gong (Wu)
Altered Forces: N/A
- The Central Plains will be on fire, as Sun Jian has been relocated to Xuchang and Yuan Shu's force is beefed up. Dong Zhuo usually struggles early on.
- Liu Pi, representing the Yellow Turban remnants, and the other two guys down south were mainly inserted to stop the reckless southern expansion.
- Liu Biao is at his most vulnerable in this scenario until 207.
Rival Warlords X (Final Update)
New Forces: Zhang Xian (Changsha)
Altered Forces: Tao Qian/Liu Bei (merged under Tao Qian)
- Lu Bu and Cao Cao often wage large wars, and Lu Bu is able to ally with Yuan Shao. This keeps Lu Bu in the game and allows Yuan Shao to focus on the north.
- Tao Qian dies and leaves the force to Liu Bei. The color has been changed to Liu Bei's force.
- Although some players have reported that Yuan Shao already does well against Gongsun Zan normally, enough tweaks have been made so that Yuan Shao definitely does better against Gongsun Zan in this scenario.
- Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu are allied in this scenario - although relations are poor - and therefore avoid fighting each other.
Clash in Guandu X (Final Update)
- The most notable changes are that Gongsun Du and Liu Biao are much tougher in this scenario. Liu Biao has grown substantially as well.
- Also, by this point, many missing officers have appeared, giving most forces more options.
The Three Visits X (Final Update)
- Easiest Wei scenario by far if played correctly. Easier to stand your ground with Shu but the AI does terribly. Wu has some interesting options potentially as well, try luring Liu Bei into taking Jiangxia by breaking relations and you might be able to recreate Liu Bei's theft of Jing!
Liu Bei in Shu X (Final Update)
- Pretty intense scenario all around. Definite advantage to Wu and Shu from before. However, smaller forces have quite high tech by this stage, so Liu Bei will have to work efficiently to take out Liu Zhang.
Nanman Rebellion X (Final Update)
- Not really much new, aside from the flood of missing officers each force has. The clock has been rolled back to the summer of 223, just after Liu Bei's death, giving Shu time to take out Meng Huo a bit earlier and Cao Pi time to get things in order before he dies of illness.
Rise of Heroes X (Final Update)
Altered Forces: Sima Yi (Changan), He Jin (Luoyang), Sun Jian (Lujiang), Yuan Shu (Shouchun), Guanqiu Jian (Jiangxia)
- Although in Jiangxia, Guanqiu Jian does surprisingly well.
- Sun Jian was relocated so he'd focus more on Yang and less on...doing nothing.
- Liu Bei was relocated to Yongan so he'd focus more on Yi and less on smashing Liu Biao in like 3 turns.
Four Kingdoms Emerge (Player Challenge Scenario)
Will be updated later.
The Four Kingdoms (Fanboy/Created Officer Challenge Scenario)
Will be updated later.
Added Officers
The profiles for a majority of the added officers can be found in this file, created by Gray Riders.


text:
digital signature(redirected from verification key)
Also found in: Dictionary, Legal, Encyclopedia.
digital signatureAn electronic signature based on cryptographic rules and parameters of originator authentication, which identify the signer and verify the integrity of the data pertaining to the signature.
digital signature
In an electronic health record, a unique, personalized alphanumeric code (or set of codes) that identifies one and only one user of the system.


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text:
Ron Paul and the Future
by Bruce Ramsey | Posted May 17, 2012
Four years ago, when Rep. Ron Paul suspended his campaign for the Republican Party's nomination for president, he would not endorse the party's nominee, was not invited to the party's convention, and held a counter-convention of his own. By all appearances, he's not going to do that this year.
At Antiwar.com, Justin Raimondo urged Paul to run as an independent, "because a third party candidacy will leave a legacy, a lasting monument to your campaign and the movement it created." I can't see a lasting monument in it, or the sense. I note that Paul's forces are continuing to push in the caucus states for convention delegates, which confirms that Paul expects to attend the convention as a loyal Republican.
In 2008, I wrote in Liberty that Paul ought to endorse the party's nominee, John McCain. Paul wouldn't have to campaign for McCain, I said, and he could remind people how he was different from McCain, but to preserve his influence in the party he'd have to endorse McCain as preferable to Obama. Well, he didn't. Paul endorsed Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin, a pastor and radio talk show host whom few Americans had heard of, and who received 0.15% of the general election vote.
Paul's forces are continuing to push in the caucus states for convention delegates, which confirms that Paul expects to attend the convention as a loyal Republican.
This year Paul turns 77. He is not running to keep his seat in Congress. His career as an elected politician is at an end. But since January 2011 he has had a son, Rand Paul, in the Senate. There is talk of the junior senator from Kentucky being Romney's vice-presidential choice and more talk of him running for president in four years, or eight. Either way, for Ron Paul, having a 49-year-old son in the Senate changes the calculus about party loyalty and his movement.
Again, I say: endorse the nominee. It doesn't mean you agree with everything the nominee says. It means that in a field of two, you prefer your team's candidate to the other one's. It means there is a Republican label on you and your supporters. And that is important, especially regarding them.
Is an endorsement a betrayal?
What was the point of the Paul campaign? To put Ron Paul in the White House? That was never possible. In public, Paul had to pretend that it was, because those are the American rules, and his supporters have been pretending it even harder. But it was a fairy tale. Ron Paul's purpose has been to advance the cause of liberty, sound money, and a non-imperial foreign policy. He could do this even if he fought and lost, depending on how he did it. He was introducing new ideas (or old ones) into political discourse, creating a new faction that aimed to redirect the mainstream of one of the two great national parties.
That is not a defeatist notion. It may be a task with a lasting monument, though it is too early to say.
A political leader changes the thought of a party by persuading people to embrace new ideas. To do that, he needs the media's attention, and in politics, equal attention is not given an outsider. It has to be earned by such things as polls, the size and behavior of crowds, money raised and, ultimately, by electoral results.
Endorse the nominee. It doesn't mean you agree with everything the nominee says. It means that in a field of two, you prefer your team's candidate to the other one's.
Paul achieved none of these things in 1988 as the nominee of the Libertarian Party. He was nobody, and he went home with 0.47% of the vote. But in 2008, in the Republican Party's primary campaigns, he did unexpectedly well, measured by straw polls, crowd behavior, and campaign donations. Unfortunately, the media pegged his support as narrow-but-deep (they were right) and mostly ignored him. He took 5.56% of the Republican vote — one vote in 20.
This year they still slighted him, though less than before. And he received 10.86% — one vote in almost nine. His support was still narrow-but-deep, but wider in almost every state. He was not the top votegetter in any of them, but he came close in Maine and garnered more than 20% of Republican support in six caucus states: Maine, 36%, North Dakota, 28%, Minnesota, 27%, Washington, 25%, Alaska, 24%, and Iowa, 21% — and in three primary states: Vermont, 25%, Rhode Island, 24% and New Hampshire, 23% (not counting Virginia, 40%, where his only opponent was Romney).
Paul's support is not typical for Republican politicians. He is from south Texas, but seems to do best in states on the Canadian border. Most of his best states are Democrat "blue" rather than Republican "red." He was the oldest candidate in the race, but exit polls showed in state after state that he had the youngest supporters. In New Hampshire, a Fox News exit poll showed Paul winning 46% of Republican voters 18 to 29 years of age.
Enthusiasm among the young is a special political asset, but with a liability: the zeal of believers can go over the top. Some believe that Ron Paul is the only man who can save America, and that anyone who opposes him is evil. They don't see themselves as joining a party; they aim to take it over. In the unfamiliar turf of parliamentary procedure, they are quick to cry foul and sometimes are right. At the moment, their strategy in the caucus states is to outstay the Romney supporters and snatch the national delegates away from them.
And that makes for nastiness.
This is from a Politico story by James Hohmann, May 14:
Those close to [Ron Paul] say he's become worried about a series of chaotic state GOP conventions in recent weeks that threaten to undermine the long-term viability of the movement he's spent decades building. In the past few days alone, several incidents cast the campaign in an unfavorable light: Mitt Romney's son Josh was booed off the stage by Paul backers in Arizona on Saturday, and Romney surrogates Tim Pawlenty and Gov. Mary Fallin received similarly rude treatment in Oklahoma.
Booing is the public stuff. I know a political operative who crossed the Paul forces and received death threats — so many, he said, that he turned off his phone for two weeks.
Enthusiasm can become something else. (For more examples, google "Ron Paul supporters are".)
Given the strength — and sometimes the immaturity — of his supporters, what is Paul to do? Endorse Romney or not, he will soon be a non-candidate and a non-congressman.
Enthusiasm among the young is a special political asset, but with a liability: the zeal of believers can go over the top.
What then? One poll asked Paul supporters whom they would vote for in November. The answer: Obama, 35%; Romney, 31%; Gary Johnson, 16%. The Paul movement splinters.
How they vote in November might change if Paul made an endorsement; and anyway, how they think is the more important thing in the long run. If a large number of the young ones went into one political party and stayed there, they might change that party — and that could be the lasting monument.
All this is something for Ron Paul to think about as he ponders whether to endorse, what to do with his 100-plus delegates, and what to say if the party gives him a chance to address the national convention.
Bruce Ramsey is a retired Seattle newspaperman and author of Unsanctioned Voice: Garet Garrett, Journalist of the Old Right (Caxton, 2008) and The Panic of 1893: The Untold Story of Washington State's first Depression (Caxton, 2018). His web page is bruceramsey.net.
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As the Libertarian Party labels itself The Party of Principle, Dr. Paul lives it. How Mr. Ramsey can advise Dr. Paul, against the good doctor's principles, to endorse two Obama clones, McCain and Romney is beyond me.
Dr. Paul has a chance to redirect the Republican Party at the convention if not outright take the nomination from Romney and deservedly so as the RNC and its cohorts at the state level have lied and cheated to steal the nomination from him, not to mention talk radio and Fox News.
If he fails at the convention, Dr. Paul should run as an independent. I believe that with the Democrat's disillusioned voter crossover that he will win and decidedly so.
Romney is a RINO of the worst order. With the collusion of talk radio he has managed to lie his way into being called a conservative. I really can't believe that Mr.Ramsey has fallen for it and is calling upon Libertarians to support Romney. Romney isn't the lesser of two evils, he is equally as evil.
Neville Chamberland has bee vilified by history for being an appeaser. Ron Paul refuses to don that mantle as advised to by Mr. Ramsey. Pragmatism is no virtue here. It is surrender to the Establishment's goal of maintaining the status quo regardless if Romney or Obama wins.
Fri, 2012-06-01 10:18
Dr. Paul lives it? Like how he rails against government spending, and then gets $billions of taxpayer money for his pals in his district.
Rails against government intrusions into people's lives. Then tries to get government to harrass people about their papers, documentation, building idiotic fences, etc.
He is living his principles. Just his principles are the same as any other authoritarian Republican. People are pawns of the State to him. He's proven that, many, many times. Despite his hollow words.
Sat, 2012-06-02 09:39
Dr. Paul can beat Obama - Romney can't, nor would I want him to. Romney is just another Obama only with an "R" before his name; but that "R" will allow him to get away with the kind and degree of murder that Obama can only envy.
Fortunately, the Paulistas will have none of it - the smart ones will vote for Obama if Dr. Paul doesn't get nominated, guaranteeing that a vote for Romney over Dr. Paul amounts to a vote for Obama - the lesser evil than Romney; and one of the reasons that Dr. Paul stands a good chance of winning the delegate vote and then the general election.
Sat, 2012-05-26 07:19
I don't know where this fantasy that Paul can defeat Obama comes from...I supposed, it's from a flawed poll taken months ago.
In polls that count...you know, elections...Paul has received about five percent of the votes Obama has.
It's also another great fantasy that Paul will receive very many delegates' votes in the Republican convention. Which will rubber-stamp Romney, because the vast majority of Republicans are completely in-step with almost all Romney policy positions.
It's almost funny how Paulistas refuse to see how unpopular they are. Almost...In a way it's very sad to watch such mass dimentia. They still are dillusional that all the cool people like them, and there is this hidden support for them......There is not.
Fri, 2012-06-01 08:03
The Paul campaign has created a voting "bloc" which, even if just a few percentage points, can scare both parties. To endorse any candidate, Romney, Johnson (or Goode?), is to throw it all away. The Paul campaign SHOULD convince Romney to start sounding and acting more libertarian in order to win those votes without sacrificing his own base.
Tue, 2012-05-22 21:29
Jon Harrison
As usual a very sound and well-argued piece. I believe Paul will endorse Romney, for the simple reason that this will help Rand Paul to become the nominee in 2016 or 2020. (No way Romney is going to offer Rand the VP nomination. The Mittster will almost certainly choose an Hispanic or a woman for VP.) If the senior Paul is being coy at this point, it's because he's angling for some role at the convention. But I'd bet money that he'll be on board in the fall. And don't forget that Paul and Romney are fairly sympatico, unlike Paul and McCain.
I wish I could join Paul in endorsing Romney, but the latter's foreign policy views are so incredibly stupid (except on China -- but there I doubt he'd follow through as president) that I prefer to live with another four years of Obama.
Tue, 2012-05-22 17:53
Rand is not saddled with his father's apparent racism. Which is a great benefit for him.
With a large number of voters either being latino, or recent immigrants from latino countries, it would be wise to hold libertarian positions with regards to immigration.
Latinos know first hand the stupidity of US documentation policies. They're not going to vote for someone who wants to build a worthless fence at taxpayer expense, have more government interference in individuals lives, quota immigration, etc.
Hopefully Rand has learned from the mistakes of his father. And is not just another faux libetarian Republican, interested only in economic liberty for the few white, hetrosexual, formally mainstream americans.
Tue, 2012-05-22 09:46
...they indicate political alignment. I don't see Ron Paul endorsing Romney, and I think it would undermine his major asset as a leader, which is a record of standing on principle.
Ron's son Rand Paul has chosen a different approach, which is more Fabian in style. Rand's endorsement of Romney is in keeping with this approach, and Rand's demographic of supporters shows the difference--much wider, and somewhat less deep.
I support both Ron and Rand, and I think we need both approaches to succeed. But it would be totally inappropriate for Ron Paul to endorse Obamney. Such a move would degrade his credibility to a possibly irreparable extent.
Mon, 2012-05-21 11:01
The author's conclusion (that Ron Paul should nominate Mitt Romney) is at variance with its own predicates. Two of those predicates are: Ron Paul's support is narrow and deep (indicating stronger ideological rigidity and personality focus among supporters) and those supporters are less inclined to support political parties or self-describe themselves using party labels.
An endorsement's purpose (in the context of a retiring politician) is to guide supporters. Yet guiding them to Mitt Romney will alienate them, because its only purpose (given Romney's non-liberty viewpoints) is to support the Republican Party or paint Obama as the primary opponent. An endorsement of Romney will satisfy a very small proportion of the Ron Paul supporters. The libertarian message is not anti-Obama, it is broader than mere partisanship or 'lesser of two evil' party propaganda.
It would be far more preferable for Ron Paul to guide his supporters to another pro-liberty candidate, like Gary Johnson, with the message that 'it isn't about party, it's about the principles, and therefore I endorse someone who is closest to my principles.'
If Ron Paul follows the author's advice, I think it will prove what many outsiders have concluded with respect to the Ron Paul "revolution", that it was always about the family business first, principles second. Eventually, that will alienate many of the Ron Paul supporters. Sadly, the polling shows that many of them are likely to merely drop out of the process. How long they drop out is open to question (I suspect, not that long, just one cycle).
Fri, 2012-05-18 10:56
Yep, most of the liberty minded will likely drop out, assuming he would endorse Romney, and that would be the end of all the momentum Paul's effort built up.
That's why it would be better to pass the torch to someone else- Gary Johnson, for instance- and keep that momentum going. Otherwise, it's pretty much back to square one for the liberty movement.
Fri, 2012-05-18 13:41
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