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This study analyzes the effect of high audit quality for two types of Chinese firms, State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Non-State Owned Enterprises (NSOEs). It provides evidence that high audit quality may reduce cost of equity capital and earnings management more for NSOEs than for SOEs. The results of this study are useful for participants in Chinese and other emerging capital markets as well as auditors in these markets.
For more information on this study, please contact Gerald Lobo.
Chen, H., J. Chen, G. Lobo, and Y. Wang. 2011. Effects of Audit Quality on Earnings Management and Cost of Equity Capital: Evidence from China. Contemporary Accounting Review 28 (3): 892-925.
This study should be of interest to audit regulators around the world currently employing or contemplating the employment of firm-specific reporting formats. A critical and consistent feature of firm-specific reporting is the presence of descriptions of deficiencies uncovered in the inspection process. This study serves to warn audit regulators that reporting lists of deficiencies, as in the manner currently employed by the PCAOB, can lead to misperceptions of audit firm quality. The study also serves to inform audit regulators of two decision aids that the authors found useful in counteracting such misperceptions.
Wainberg, J. S., T. Kida, M. D. Piercey, and J. F. Smith. 2013. The impact of anecdotal data in regulatory audit firm inspection reports. Accounting, Organizations & Society 38 (8): 621-636.
Research completed in the past has shown that short-term option compensation weakens audit committee member objectivity and oversight quality; this study confirms these findings. These results encourage investigation toward increasing saliency of the oversight role that the PCAOB plays, further research involving the role of an Engagement Quality Review, and understanding what characteristics of the members of the study led them to react to incentives.
For more information on this study, please contact Julie Persellin.
Persellin, J. S. 2013. The Influence of PCAOB Inspections on Audit Committee Members' Judgments. Behavioral Research in Accounting 25 (2).
The authors provide initial empirical evidence that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registrants found GAAP-deficient PCAOB inspection reports to be a useful signal of audit quality for triennially inspected auditors. This evidence indicates that PCAOB inspection reports created heterogeneity in auditor brand name that did not previously exist. Also, this paper is the first to empirically link audit committee characteristics to PCAOB inspection report severity and auditor choice. The authors believe this is an increasingly relevant finding as audit committees have been granted much greater auditor dismissal and hiring authority due to SOX. This study indicates that a PCAOB inspection report may serve as an audit quality signal for auditors of broker-dealers, who were previously exempt from the inspection process. Such a finding has current relevance given the PCAOB has recently sought to expand the inspection program to foreign auditors, such as those based in China whose clients are cross-listed on U.S. security exchanges or are listed due to a reverse merger.
Abbott, L. J., K. A. Gunny, and T. C. Zhang. 2013. When the PCAOB Talks, Who Listens? Evidence from Stakeholder Reaction to GAAP-Deficient PCAOB Inspection Reports of Small Auditors. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 32 (2): 1-31.


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Apple is the focus of a recently-filed lawsuit over the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard. A virtually unknown company called SP Technologies has filed a suit against Apple for infringement on a patent on for a touchscreen keyboard. The company is now demanding that the courts issue a permanent injunction against Apple and is asking for damages and attorney's fees.
The patent, "Method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination," describes a software system that takes touch input on a virtual keyboard—a keyboard that cannot be minimized or closed and is therefore integral to the use of the device it's installed on, much like the iPhone's keyboard. The patent was filed in August of 2000 and awarded in August of 2004.
SP Technologies claims that Apple has willfully and deliberately infringed on this patent by developing iPhone, and is apparently continuing to do so in a flagrantly in-your-face manner by having the gall to sell it. SP Technologies also makes a point of bringing up Apple's legal run-in with Creative, saying that Apple has been "repeatedly sued" in the past over patent infringement.
The complaint asks for the courts to order Apple to stop selling the iPhone—an unlikely decision, given that Apple is making use of the technology and SP Technologies, well, isn't. And to provide precedent in Apple's favor, a Supreme Court judge ruled last month that although eBay was found to be infringing upon a patent owned by MercExchange, an injunction was not necessary because MercExchange wasn't using the patent itself. So Apple may in fact be infringing, but that doesn't mean it'll stop selling the iPhone because of it.
If this story sounds painfully familiar to you, you may have read a surprisingly similar one earlier today about Microsoft and Adobe. Except in this case, SP Technologies does have a history—a history for filing patent infringement lawsuits against large companies such as Canon, LG Electronics, and Kyocera.
In other words, we probably have a patent troll on our hands. Oh, but that's not all! InformationWeek found out that physician Peter V. Boesen, head of SP Technologies, is currently serving a 51-month jail term for healthcare fraud. Good to know that he's been keeping himself busy, hmm?

subset: commoncrawl


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Clemens' development continues in losing effort
Rookie throws seven innings of one-run ball, drops duel to LA
HOUSTON -- Rookie right-hander Paul Clemens, for all his experience in the Minor Leagues and the innings he's logged with the Astros this year, is still very much learning to pitch.
On days like Sunday, when his fastball velocity was down a notch, he has rely on his breaking stuff to try to get outs. Astros manager Bo Porter was pleased with the progress shown by Clemens, who suffered a tough-luck loss in a 2-1 setback to the Angels at Minute Maid Park.
"He was efficient with his pitches and was on the attack and used his changeup," Porter said. "Even a couple of times when he was behind in the count, he was confident using his changeup."
Clemens (4-5), making his first start in nearly two weeks because of a blister, allowed two runs and six hits in a career-high seven innings in only his third Major League start. He was scratched from his previous start last Sunday.
"I'm happy with some of it and there was some pitch selection that has got to get better," Clemens said. "I don't know how much you guys were watching, but there were some at-bats there where pitch selection was wrong. This game comes down to two things: executing your pitches and choosing the right pitch in the right situation. I just want to continue to get better at those things."
Angels starter Jerome Williams (8-10) held the Astros to one run through seven innings -- coming on a home run by Marc Krauss in the second inning -- then watched closer Ernesto Frieri pick up a six-out save by working the eighth and ninth innings.
"This game doesn't get easy," Frieri said. "When guys get to know you and get to know what kind of pitches you throw, it's tough. That's why you keep needing to make adjustments, improving yourself and working hard."
The Astros, who are hitting .351 with runners in scoring position in September, were 0-for-4 in those situations Sunday, marking the first time in 14 games this month they didn't manage a hit with runners in scoring position.
Two of those at-bats came in the eighth after Brandon Barnes singled to start the inning and Jonathan Villar drew a walk against Dane De La Rosa to put the go-ahead run on base. The Angels summoned Frieri.
Jose Altuve, who entered Sunday leading the Majors in batting average and hits in September, put down a sacrifice bunt to push the runners to second and third with one out. Frieri stuck out Trevor Crowe and Brett Wallace swinging to strand the runners.
"The one at-bat that was really frustrating was against Frieri," Crowe said. "I felt like I got two pitches to hit. You have to give some credit to him because he's got good stuff. Those are the ones that are frustrating as players. Sometimes you are going to get out, but you don't want to make outs.
"I felt like on that particular at-bat, I made an out. He obviously has some good stuff. I had never seen him before. He's got some life on his fastball. That's the at-bat I'd really like to have back."
Porter said the decision to sacrifice Altuve was easy.
"You force them to play the infield in, believing that you're going to get contact from Trevor Crowe, who is swinging a hot bat," he said. "With contact, you're actually thinking to yourself, 'If he hits a base hit here, we actually take the lead.' You're not only putting the tying run 90 feet away, you're also putting the go-ahead run at second base."
Matt Dominguez led off the ninth with a single against Frieri following a 12-pitch at-bat, but the closer struck out Chris Carter, got Krauss to pop out, then struck out pinch-hitter Brandon Laird for his first career two-inning save.
"We had our opportunities and we just weren't able to capitalize," Porter said.
The Angels rallied after Mike Trout drew a two-out walk in the first inning. He stole second base and scored on a triple by Josh Hamilton, who sent a long fly ball onto Tal's Hill in center field that just eluded Brandon Barnes. The ball traveled more than 420 feet.
"You never know with Barnes," Clemens said. "Barnes seems to catch everything. Sometimes when you get behind in counts, you turn around and give Barnes a little nod and you see if he can run them down. Ninety-nine percent of the time, he runs them down. That guy's been tremendous out there for us all year and we don't expect anything different out of him."
Krauss' homer in the second inning -- the fourth of his career -- tied the game at 1.
Clemens (4-5) retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced before Erick Aybar and Hank Conger led off the fifth with consecutive singles, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Andrew Romine scored Aybar with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 2-1 lead for the Angels.
"When I got called up, I wanted to show them I was here to compete, and I went after guys aggressively with my fastball and it's starting to burn me," Clemens said. "It feels like I'm giving up a home run every inning. I really want to focus on my execution and my pitch selection, and not be so aggressive anymore and not challenge too many guys. This is the AL. This is goon ball. All across this league, guys can hit it a mile."


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beyonce live in madrid.Bo&Cl + madrid goes crazy 4 Bee + COI
beyonce live in madrid.Bo&Cl + madrid goes crazy 4 Bee + COI
check on it
madrid loves beyonce!!
i love this video
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DWTS Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Jonathan Roberts In Florida For Millenium Dancesport Championships (Interview)
A big weekend is on tap for dancers and dancing fans alike in Florida! Tampa is hosting the largest ballroom dance competition in America. In honor of the events, Karina Smirnoff and Anna Trebunskaya will be kicking the Saturday night show off. Jonathan Roberts is one of the Judges. You can read more on the events at ABC Action News. Below is an interview with Karina who talks about the competition which she's been involved with for a long time. The competition and the show next year will be even bigger. She talks a little on Dancing With The Stars as well. She mentions seeing J.R. Martinez yesterday and working with Ralph Macchio (her extended family) on a "special project" in a month. Lots more below….


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KID Syndrome
Other names: keratitis, ichthyosis and deafness
Inheritance:autosomal dominant
Incidence: very rare
Key findings:
- skin: sharply outlined and irregularly shaped red plaques with accuminate scale; face more commonly involved than extremities or trunk; generalized, mild erythema and fine scale in some individuals; spiny, keratotic thickening of the palms in some
- hair: follicular plugging and generalized sparse or absent hair (common)
- nails: small, malformed nails (common)
Associated findings:
- eyes: progressive inflammation and thickening of the cornea (keratitis)
- ears: non-progressive hearing loss
Age at first appearance: birth
Long-term course: often begins as congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma; usually improves during the first year of life leaving the characteristic findings described above; bacterial and fungal infections of the skin appear to be more common than normal, as do skin and mucous membrane cancers
Diagnostic tests: none
Abnormal gene: GJB2 encoding connexin-2
Clinicians seeking to confirm a diagnosis should visit FIRST's TeleIchthyosis site to submit a case to experts in ichthyosis.
To learn more about kid SYNDROME, follow this link.
Learn more about FIRST's Regional Support Network - connecting affected individuals and families with each other. Or call the FIRST office at 800.545.3286.
This information is provided as a service to patients and parents of patients who have ichthyosis. It is not intended to supplement appropriate medical care, but instead to complement that care with guidance in practical issues facing patients and parents. Neither FIRST, its Board of Directors, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, Board of Medical Editors nor Foundation staff and officials endorse any treatments or products reported here. All issues pertaining to the care of patients with ichthyosis should be discussed with a dermatologist experienced in the treatment of their skin disorder.


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Salsas & Dips
Category Main Page
Articles & Reviews
Main Nibbles
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Articles & Reviews Of Foods From A To Z
Product Reviews
Main Page
Food, Beverages, Books,
News & More
KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE.
January 2007
Updated November 2009
This is Page 3 of a five-page article. Click on the black links below to visit other pages.
These recipes are courtesy of Yucatan Guacamole. You can find more on the Yucatan Foods website, Avocado.com.
Guacamole & Chicken Salad
This salad is reminiscent of the popular "Taco Dip" recipe, which follows. Makes 4 servings.
Layered Taco Dip
Makes 40 servings assuming 16 chips/crackers each and 2 tablespoons of dip.
The salsas keep fresh for several weeks after opening. Our guacamole didn't last that long, but the recipe contains natural substances that slow down the browning enzymes in avocado, so the guacamole will stay green for three to five days after the package is opened. To keep it fresh longer, there's the trick of squeezing fresh lime on the surface...but who could keep it longer?
Continue To Page 4: Yucatan Salsa
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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 4 resultsTitle
Filters: Author is Nishisaki, Akira [Clear All Filters]
Comparison of relative and actual chest compression depths during cardiac arrest in children, adolescents, and young adults." Resuscitation. 2012;83(3):320-6."
Expert clinical assessment of thorax stiffness of infants and children during chest compressions." Resuscitation. 2009;80(10):1187-91."
Pediatric CPR quality monitoring: analysis of thoracic anthropometric data." Resuscitation. 2009;80(10):1137-41."
Methods for determining pediatric thoracic force-deflection characteristics from cardiopulmonary resuscitation." Stapp Car Crash J. 2008;52:83-105."


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Though edited as two separate letters, the canonical letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians most likely consist of several shorter letters or notes written by Paul to the church at Corinth in the early 50s CE. Because of their length, content, and influence they rank among the major Pauline letters. Except for certain subsections, Pauline authorship is undisputed.
The Corinthian Church.
Not only do the letters contain reminiscences of his founding visit (1 Cor. 1.14–16; 2.1–5; 2 Cor. 11.9; 12.12), but the narrative account in Acts also provides independent confirmation of certain details about the church's beginning (Acts 18.1–17). Especially valuable for dating the letters is the mention in Acts of Paul's appearance before Gallio (Acts 18.12–17), whose proconsulship is reliably dated ca. 51–53 CE on the basis of an inscription discovered in 1905 at Delphi. Accordingly, Paul's founding visit, which lasted eighteen months (Acts 18.11), could have occurred as early as 50–51 CE during his ministry in the Aegean. After Paul's departure from Corinth, he remained in continual contact with the church, even though he was engaged in a mission in Ephesus, from which he wrote 1 Corinthians and at least part of 2 Corinthians (1 Cor. 16.8, 19; Acts 19.1–40; 2 Cor. 1.8; 7.6, 13). The letters reflect at least two different stages in Paul's relationship to the church after his founding visit.
In the first stage, Paul responds to the needs and questions of a fledgling church experiencing internal tensions (1 Cor. 1.10–13; 3.3; 11.18–19) and trying to work out the implications of Paul's gospel in a heterogenous setting. The relationship between Paul and the church is still, for the most part, amicable, even though his departure and absence seem to have diminished the church's loyalty to him. In the second stage, Paul's relationship with the church is severely strained, primarily because of the arrival in the church of outside teachers whom Paul regards as opponents of his gospel. He now has to deal with issues relating to the source, nature, legitimacy, and extent of his apostolic authority. Generally, 1 Corinthians relates to the first period, whereas 2 Corinthians relates to the second.
1 Corinthians.
A letter preceded the writing of 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 5.9, 11). This letter may be preserved in 2 Corinthians 6.14–7.1, a self‐contained literary unit that calls for Christians to keep their distance from non‐Christians.
Situation addressed.
1 Corinthians addresses a church divided not so much by doctrinal differences as by personal loyalties to different religious teachers and by interpersonal tensions (1 Cor. 1.10–13; 3.3; 11.18–19). Some in the church were self‐confident, indeed arrogant (4.19; 5.2), probably because they claimed special knowledge and spiritual wisdom (3.18; 8.1–2). Whether this outlook is "gnostic" in the nontechnical sense that it merely placed an unusually high premium on "knowledge" (gnōsis) and "wisdom" (sophia) or in the more technical sense that it stemmed from a system of thought resembling second‐century gnosticism is a matter of ongoing debate. In any case, such a claim to spiritual superiority grounded in a higher wisdom seems to be a common denominator of several problems addressed in the letter: the fragmentation beginning to appear within the church (1.10–13), the sense of perfection some were claiming to have achieved (4.8), a blasé attitude toward sexual immorality (5.1–2), a refusal to be conciliatory in dealing with internal disputes (6.1–8), an insistence on individual freedom (6.12; 10.23–30), an expressed preference for celibacy over marriage (chap. 7), an inability, or refusal, to consider the needs of weaker Christians in deciding how to behave (chaps. 8–10), an urge to be unconventional (11.2–16), a lack of sensitivity to the needs of others within worship (11.17–34), and an insistence on the superiority of the more visible gifts, most notably speaking in tongues (chaps. 12–14; See Glossolalia). Whether there is one group within the church whose theological outlook and ethic are the underlying problem or whether there are actually several groups with different theological outlooks and ethics it is difficult to say. But it is clear that the church is faced with an almost bewildering variety of pressing questions on which it needs further instruction.
Structure and content.
The letter exhibits three clear divisions: chaps. 1–4, 5–6, and 7–16.
The first section, introduced by Paul's characteristic greeting and opening prayer of thanksgiving (1 Cor. 1.1–9), is a formally constructed Pauline exhortation. It opens with an exhortation to unity (1.10–17) and closes with an exhortation to heed Paul's teaching, follow his example, and listen to his messenger Timothy (4.14–21). Within this exhortation, Paul articulates his theology of the cross as a message of divine power and wisdom (1.18–2.5), expounds the nature of the higher wisdom reserved for the mature (2.6–16), and delineates his own role and that of Apollos as God's ministers (3.1–4.13). Throughout this first section, Paul insists on the radical priority of God and thereby undercuts the arrogant self‐sufficiency that he sees within the church (1.18–2.5; 3.9, 23).
In the second section (1 Cor. 5–6), Paul provides the church with what appears to be unsolicited instruction. Two questions are treated: how the congregation should deal with a case of blatant sexual immorality (5.1–13) and how the congregation should resolve disputes that have been taken before courts (6.1–11). Paul then provides further teachings on sexual morality (6.12–20).
In the third section (1 Cor. 7–16), Paul addresses a list of questions that the church had written to him (7.1). His first response concerns marriage (7.1–40). A second extended response is given to the question of eating meat offered to idols (chaps. 8–10). A third topic treated is congregational worship (11.2–34). Two issues are treated: the proper attire (veils) to be worn in worship (11.2–16), and the proper observance of the Lord's Supper (11.17–34). The Corinthians had also inquired about spiritual gifts (or persons), to which Paul devotes extended treatment (chaps. 12–14). The final major topic treated is the Resurrection (15.1–58), in which Christ's own resurrection is presented as the basis for the resurrection of Christians (15.12–58). A final question concerned the collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, about which Paul provides brief procedural instructions (16.1–4). This third major section is then concluded with miscellaneous exhortations and personal greetings (16.5–24).
2 Corinthians.
Scattered references in 2 Corinthians suggest that after the writing of 1 Corinthians, the situations of both the church and Paul had changed dramatically. Their relationship became severely strained, and the resulting turbulence is mirrored within the letter itself, which is much more uneven than 1 Corinthians. Abrupt changes in style, tone, and content suggest several self‐contained sections (6.14–7.1; chaps. 8–9; chaps. 10–13; perhaps 2.14–6.13), which some scholars regard as separate letters written by Paul to the church throughout this second period, as well as, in some cases, earlier. Consequently, numerous theories of composition have been suggested for this letter. The relationship between the historical situation and the literary structure of 2 Corinthians is a major question in interpreting the letter.
Situation addressed.
Generally, the letter reflects a worsened situation that was directly related to the arrival of outside teachers within the church (2 Cor. 3.2; 10.2, 7–12; 11.4–6, 11–15; 12.11). So seriously was Paul alienated from the church that he made a "painful," and apparently unsuccessful, visit from Ephesus to the Corinthian church (2.1, 5–8; 13.2). This was followed by a "severe letter" sent by Paul to the church (2.4, 9; 7.9, 12).
One widely accepted reconstruction regards 2 Corinthians 10–13 as the "severe letter," written from Ephesus after the unsuccessful "painful" visit. Shortly thereafter, Paul was forced to leave Ephesus (1.8–11), and journeyed to Troas anxious about the letter's reception (2.12–13). Still unrelieved, he went to Macedonia, where he eventually learned from Titus that the letter had been well received (7.5–16). Buoyed by this good news, while still in Macedonia he wrote to the church a much more positive letter of reconciliation (1.1–6.13; 7.2–16; perhaps 6.14–7.1 and chaps. 8–9), in which one still hears echoes of the earlier controversy.
Regardless of the theory of composition one adopts, and the historical reconstruction into which it is fitted, the canonical letter of 2 Corinthians reflects different concerns from those mentioned in 1 Corinthians. Throughout the letter, Paul himself is the focus of controversy. Criticism of Paul, which was subdued in the first letter (1 Cor. 4.3–5; 9.3), is much more open and pronounced. He is accused of being vacillating and acting inconsistently (2 Cor. 1.17; 10.1), of being intimidating (2 Cor. 10.9), crude in speech (2 Cor. 10.10; 11.6), and calculating and manipulative (12.16). "Acting according to the flesh" (2 Cor. 10.2) may serve as the general rubric for several criticisms, pointing to what his critics believed to be a boorish life‐style unbecoming someone with apostolic status.
As criticisms of Paul's behavior are more explicit in 2 Corinthians, so are polemical references to his opponents, who are Christian missionaries (2 Cor. 11.4, 23, 33) of Jewish background (2 Cor. 11.22). Whether they originated in Palestine or the Dispersion is much debated and still unresolved, as is their relationship to the original apostolic circle, most notably Simon Peter. Because they had gained an entrance into the church, Paul viewed them as evil forces set on undermining his authority. The opponents appear not to have been judaizing teachers who insisted on circumcision as a prerequisite to salvation, as was the case in Galatia (Gal. 5.1–12). The issue may have been one of territorial infringement (2 Cor. 10.13–16), which threatened the success of Paul's collection for the Jerusalem poor (2 Cor. 11.7–11; 12.14). In any case, what emerges from the letter is a debate about apostolic legitimacy: whether true apostleship is more properly authenticated by dazzling signs, rhetorical ability, and displays of power (2 Cor. 12.1–7, 12), or by divine power experienced through suffering, weakness, and deprivation (2 Cor. 11.23–33; 12.8–10; 13.3–4).
Structure and content of the letter.
The canonical form of the letter can be divided into three sections: chaps. 1–7, 8–9, and 10–13. Each of these sections may be a composite of smaller letters or fragments of letters.
The first section (chaps. 1–7) is introduced by a Pauline greeting and opening prayer of blessing (2 Cor. 1.1–7). This is followed by recollections of mortal threats experienced in Ephesus (1.8–11) and a defense of his recent behavior toward the church and actions on their behalf, including the "painful visit" and writing the "severe letter" (2.13).
There follows an extended set of reflections on Paul's theology of ministry (2 Cor. 2.14–6.13). The tone is apologetic (2.17–3.3; 4.2–3), but what unfolds is a positive treatment of Paul's self‐understanding. Basic features include his theology of the new covenant of Christ as superior to the old, Mosaic covenant (3.4–18), a ministry illuminated by the light of the new creation (4.1–6), Paul's suffering as manifesting the death and life of Jesus (4.7–15), outward change and inward transformation grounded in a future hope (4.16–5.10), ministry compelled by the love of Christ (5.11–15), existence in Christ and the ministry of reconciliation (5.16–21), and working with God in the new age as servants embodying the paradox of power experienced through suffering (6.1–10).
This first section concludes with Paul's final appeal for the Corinthians to receive him affectionately (2 Cor. 6.11–13; 7.2–4). His recollections of the encouraging report received from Titus and the effects of the "severe letter" (7.5–16) echo sentiments expressed earlier (1.8–2.13). Also included in this section is an arguably parenthetical set of instructions urging the separation of believers from unbelievers (2 Cor. 6.14–7.1).
The second section (chaps. 8–9) consists of instructions concerning the collection, a program of relief for poor Christians in Jerusalem.
The third section (chaps. 10–13) is marked by a conspicuous change in tone and content. The pervasive mood of the section is apologetic, as Paul defends his apostolic commission against the charges of detractors (e.g., 2 Cor. 10.1–12). Prominent within this section is the "fool's speech" (11.1–12.13), in which Paul insists that he has been motivated to act toward the Corinthians out of genuine love (11.1–6), as seen in his willingness to forfeit financial support for their sake (11.7–11). After characterizing the opponents as fraudulent apostles (11.12–15) and the church as undiscriminating hearers (11.16–21), Paul engages in "foolish boasting" by listing his vicissitudes (11.16–33). His supreme boast is of a heavenly vision (12.1–10), from which he learned the paradox of gaining strength through weakness. He concludes his defense by insisting on the adequacy of his apostolic witness within the church (12.11–13). Toward the conclusion of this section, Paul discusses his future plans with respect to the Corinthian church (12.14–13.10) and closes with miscellaneous appeals and a benediction (13.11–14).
Naturally these letters have figured prominently as sources for understanding Paul's life and thought. Because of the variety of topics treated, they touch on almost every aspect of Pauline theology, ranging from his theology of the cross to his theology of ministry, even though some major Pauline themes, such as justification by faith, play only a minor role. While he provides concrete instructions about such matters as sexual morality, settling disputes, marriage, eating sacrificial meats, liturgical protocol, and the collection, they are intended for congregational praxis. To be sure, Pauline theology emerges in these letters, but it does so in the service of the congregation. Even in those sections in which he treats more broadly his theology of ministry, he does so in order to clarify the nature of his apostolic commission vis‐à‐vis a local church.
Specifically, they serve as valuable sources for reconstructing Pauline Christianity and especially Christianity at Corinth. Sociological analysis of the New Testament and efforts at constructive social history of early Christianity have found the Corinthian letters to be especially valuable as sources. (See Social Sciences and the Bible, article on Sociology of the New Testament.)
The Corinthian letters have also figured prominently in discussions about gnostic influence in the New Testament. Such passages as 2 Corinthians 1–4 and 2 Corinthians 12 have figured centrally in such discussions. Another debate in which these letters have played a central role is the identification of Paul's opponents and their relationship to early Christian heresies; in particular, the polemical section of 2 Corinthians 10–13 has received extensive attention. Because of the amount of space devoted to the collection (1 Cor. 16.1–4; 2 Cor. 8–9), these letters are a primary source for understanding this project.
Carl R. Holladay


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Handbrake just updated to 0.9.4 which uses x264 libraries to encode faster and smaller file sizes. On my iMac Core i7 a DVD ripped 25% faster.
It also has better Xbox and PS3 presets, among other things. It depends on a now unavailable 64-bit version of VLC but you can still download the nightly builds here. [Handbrake]


text: Museums Museums are one of the most innovative and interactive ways to learn about any given subject, including art, history, geography, botany, animal life, and natural history. Albuquerque museums inspire wonder and amazement in their visitors who are confronted with a bevy of exhibits that introduce them to worlds and characters they never knew existed before. Many of these museums encourage visitors to attend with discounted admissions on certain days, and even free admission for children and members.


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Beating the Dead Horse
You are probably sick of the David Portnoy controversy like you are sick of the unstable economy. It is what it is, right? Staties went to the infamous blogger's home to 'persuade' him to take the photos down. He complied. And here we are, a week later. If you want to read my full take on the story (what it means for old media vs new media; how I feel about it) – click here.
Events like this provide residual backlash. And, to me, residual backlash is interesting. Portnoy claims Glenn Ordway ordered the masses to murder him. This is kind of like saying MTV ordered Justin Timberlake to disrobe Janet Jackson during the Super Bowl. In other words, it didn't happen. And that's fine. Propaganda is propaganda, which is propaganda.
Personally, I'm more interested how the whole issue was, in fact, perpetuated by WEEI. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how this all went down, but at the end of the day (Hey! Crutch Phrase!) the station's continual scrutiny only added exposure to the ordeal.
The right move, of course, would have been to write-up a press release stating the station's decision to disassociate from Portnoy. A quick and easy hit. Don't forget the cannoli.
Instead, the airwaves were inundated with debate on the post. The discussion introduced a whole new segment of people (other then the "stoolies") to the content. Maybe this is a result of how our new Twitter-centric world creates opportunity for PR situations to go awry. WEEI claimed the on-air debate had nothing to do with ratings – and you'll call me Bruce Allen's lackey, and that's fine – but everything in radio is about ratings.
Ratings = Advertising Dollars = Job Security.
Beating the Dead(er?) Horse
And now onto our weekly edition of "Who's Crapping on Grantland!?". Seriously, not that I'm ever flippant, this is actually a great piece. The author lays out his admiration of Simmons (shows no agenda), points out the site's key flaws, and offers solution.
The thing about ESPN is they know the ugly step-sister is getting eviscerated all over the Inter-webs. I think the company is pensive to reign in some of the power initially given to Bill Simmons in regards to his brain-child. This is probably because of his petulant attitude and proclivity to act like a diva.
In the inception, I defended the site. The transient operation was being treated like the Miami Heat because, well, they were the Miami Heat of blogs. Commentary from critics was specious considering the site had been around for all of 2 weeks.
I'm waiving the white flag now, though. Grantland seems to be all talent, but no flow. There is no direction. The common blemish – noted by many – is the site catering to what Bill Simmons likes rather than any real theme. (Or, maybe that is the theme?)
Bill Simmons is getting into soccer. There is a soccer column with Chris Ryan.
Bill Simmons likes bad movies. There is a Razzie Watch column.
Bill Simmons likes Vegas. Bill Barnwell is now doing a column from Sin City.
Bill Simmons likes professional wrestling. There is a professional wrestling column by David Shoemaker. (Who is originally from Deadspin, and by far is putting out the best work on Grantland.)
This could go on and on (and on).
I agree with the criticism Molly Lambert is there to provide a woman's take in a misogynist world. This is evidenced by columns about Cindy Crawford, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and finally Blake Lively. Yeah, those are all separate columns.
And the thing is — I like Molly Lambert.
I, mostly, agree the main issue with Grantland is that 76% (an estimation) of the writers should have simply been brought on to supplement a revamped "Page 2" on ESPN.com. Remember when Page 2 mattered? Remember when Whitlock, Simmons, and Hunter S. were the scribes?
This could have been that. Unfortunately, execs decided to cash-in on the "Sports Guy" brand and attach his name to the project. This didn't help, it created a target.
I will say this: I've always defended Simmons. I think he is innovative (a weird thing to say about a guy who's references are approaching the 25-year-old mark). I also like the "idea" of long-form journalism.
As I pointed out in my podcast with Grantland staff writer, Anna Clark, since when is ambition a bad thing? Does the site have a pretentious aura? Yes, yes it does. But I like the idea, the delivery just needs serious refinement. And, as much as I'd hate to concede, a better editor.
Twitter-Tiffs! Twitter-Tiffs!
If this segment of my "Mega Media Musings!" column existed a few weeks ago, I would have included this little exchange between Andy Gresh and Mike Giardi..
Youre a beast RT @MikeGiardi: @GreshandZo Linemen always say that b/c they've got nothing else! And I'm a solid 165 lbs Skippy
This was Gresh going after Giardi after inciting the CSNNE reporter by saying he "brings nothing to the table." That sparked a reaction from Giardi and the two went back and forth culminating in the tweet above. At one point Gresh quipped that Giardi was a "Ken" doll who frosted his tips, or something like that. It felt like an episode of the short-lived MTV show, Yo Momma!
This week, after Fred Toettcher attacked Tom Caron in jest on his radio show, Caron fired back with this gem:
@fredtoucher Fred would appreciate facial hair for Bruins Foundation. Must be upset that I beat him in BSMW's approval ratings.
Fred responded asking inquiring what BSMW was. These exchanges, presumably, are all in good fun. I doubt any of these personalities would be obtuse enough to air out dirty laundry. Nonetheless, I find it entertaining.


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News from the world of Maths
Climate change is causing populations to sync in different species in the high arctic, increasing their risk of extinction.
Stephen Hawking was once told by an editor that every equation in a book would halve the sales. Curiously, the opposite seems to happen when it comes to research papers. Include a bit of maths in the abstract (a kind of summary) and people rate your paper higher — even if the maths makes no sense at all.
The London Underground turns 150 today! It's probably the most famous rail network in the world and much of that fame is due to the iconic London Underground map. But what makes this map so special?
Without doubt the biggest event in physics and maths this year was the discovery of the Higgs boson. Relive the excitement and understand what it's all about with these Plus articles.
Merry Christmas!
Travelling Salesman is an unusual movie: despite almost every character being a mathematician there's not a mad person in sight. Moreover, the plot centres on one of the greatest unsolved problems in mathematics, does P = NP? Last month we were lucky enough to host the UK premiere of this movie ...
Quick, quick, before the world ends get your head around Schrödinger's equation. A possible consequence of the interpretation is the idea that the universe is constantly splitting into many parallel branches. So while one copy of you might witness a spectacular end to the world today, another can rest assured that it will survive.
On the 23rd of June this year Alan Turing would have celebrated his 100th birthday. During his short and tragic life he revolutionised the scientific world and so 2012 was declared Turing Year. We're sad to see that an official pardon for his 1952 conviction for homosexuality, which was then illegal, still hasn't been granted. But that hasn't stopped us from celebrating his life and scientific achievements.


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Your pregnancy and baby guide
Children's food: safety and hygiene
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Keep your child safe from food bugs
Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
Make sure your child isn't put at risk because of the way you prepare or serve food.
- Always wash your hands before preparing food and after touching raw meat, chicken, fish and shellfish, raw vegetables and eggs.
- Check that your child's hands are clean before feeding.
- Teach your children to wash their hands after touching pets and going to the toilet, and before eating.
- Keep surfaces clean and keep any pets away from food or surfaces where food is prepared or eaten.
- Thoroughly wash all bowls and spoons used for feeding in hot soapy water, and make sure chopping boards and utensils are also kept clean.
- Keep raw meats and eggs covered and away from other foods in the fridge, including cooked or ready-to-eat meats – you should always store raw meats in clean, covered containers at the bottom of the fridge to prevent any drips from falling onto other foods.
- Cook all food thoroughly and cool it until lukewarm before giving it to your child.
- Don't save and reuse foods that your child has half eaten.
- Wash and peel fruit and vegetables such as apples and carrots.
- Red lion-stamped hens' eggs are fine for babies and children to have raw (for example, in homemade mayonnaise) or lightly cooked.
- Hens' eggs that don't have the red lion mark should be cooked until the yolk and the white are firm. So should duck, goose or quail eggs.
- Avoid raw eggs, including uncooked cake mixture, homemade ice creams, homemade mayonnaise or desserts that contain uncooked egg, if you can't confirm that they're red lion stamped.
- Avoid eating raw or lightly cooked shellfish. Babies and children should only eat shellfish that's been thoroughly cooked.
- Don't give children food or drink when they're sitting on the potty.
Find out how to prepare and cook food safely
Find out which foods to avoid giving babies and young children
Storing and reheating food for children
- Cool food as quickly as possible (ideally within 1 to 2 hours) and put it in the fridge or freezer. Food placed in the fridge should be eaten within 2 days.
- Cool rice as quickly as possible (always within 1 hour) and put it in the fridge or freezer. Rice placed in the fridge should be eaten within 24 hours and never reheated more than once. Find out why reheated rice can cause food poisoning.
- Frozen food should be thoroughly defrosted before reheating. The safest way to do this is to leave it in the fridge overnight or use the defrost setting on a microwave.
- When reheating food, make sure it's steaming hot all the way through, then let it cool down before giving it to your child. If you're using a microwave, always stir the food and check the temperature before feeding it to your child. Don't reheat cooked food more than once.
- To cool food quickly, put it in an airtight container and hold it under a cold running tap. Stir it from time to time so it cools consistently all the way through.
Remember, always stay with your child while they're eating in case they choke.
Find out how to help a choking child
Page last reviewed: 04/10/2019
Next review due: 04/10/2022


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Two presenters at Black Hat 2009 just demonstrated their ability to hack into parking meters in San Francisco (and theoretically anywhere with this kind of system) to give unlimited money on their parking payment cards.
The two figured out how to do this by intercepting the types of signals that get transmitted on a working card, then programming a fake card to reproduce those same signals.
They found that the card has a stored maximum value and only writes how many times the value has been decremented.
In essence, they found a way to give themselves free parking for as long as this system is in place. They declined to detail how exactly you can reproduce this, because they don't want people ripping off the city of SF, so their sole purpose is to get SF to fix their meters to that this can't happen. [Hackaday]


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School, District, County, and State Reports for the:
Stanford 9 andCalifornia Standards Tests.
Research Files for the:
Stanford 9 andCalifornia Standards Tests
Spring 1998 STAR Reports
Spring 1999 STAR Reports
Spring 2000 STAR Reports
More About Star
About Scores
Other Links:
For information about the California Department of Education:http://www.cde.ca.gov
For information about the STAR program and other components of the state testing program:http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/
To e-mail questions or comments to the Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment Division of the California Department of Education:
For information about Harcourt:http://www.Harcourt.com
The 2001 California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program results for the State, counties, districts, and schools are available at this site.
Results are reported for the:
For additional information about the tests, select the appropriate link(s):
About STAR 2001- About the tests used, the subjects and grades tested, and the types of results reported for STAR 2001.
STAR Report Types - Identifies the different reports available.
Grades and Subjects Reported
Types of Results - Identifies the types of reports provided directly to parents, to teachers, and to the general public.
Viewing and Printing Reports - Information regarding the viewing and printing of reports at this site.
The governor signed Senate Bill 376 authorizing the STAR Program in October 1997. The State Board of Education, as required by statute, designated the Stanford 9 as the achievement test for the Program.
This test was first administered to all California students during spring 1998.
The Stanford 9 is a nationally norm-referenced multiple-choice achievement test.
School districts are required to administer the test to all students in grades 2 - 11, except for:
Students in grades 2 - 11 are tested in reading, language (written expression) and mathematics.
Students in grades 2 - 8 are also tested in spelling, and students in grades 9 - 11 are tested in science and social science.
The tests are administered to all students during a period that includes the 10 days before and 10 days after the day on which 85% of each school, program or track's instructional year is completed.
Beginning in 1999, additional test items in language arts and mathematics were added to the STAR Program.
These additional items were initially referred to as the Stanford Augmentation and are now known as the California Standards Tests.
During 2001, three additional California Standards Tests were included in the program:
The purpose of the Stanford 9 is to determine how well California students are achieving academically compared to a national sample of students tested in the same grade at the same time of the school year.
The purpose of the California Standards Tests is to determine how well students are learning the skills and knowledge required by the California Content Standards for each grade or course.
In 1999 the SABE/2 was added to the Program.
Spanish-speaking English language learners (limited-English proficient students) who have been enrolled in California public schools less than 12 months when testing begins are required to take the SABE/2 in addition to taking the Stanford 9 and California Standards Tests.
Districts have the option of administering the test to Spanish-speaking English language learners who have been in California public schools 12 months or more.
(Posting Date: November 15, 2001)


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Rollins aware this could be last ride for Phillies
PHILADELPHIA -- The only sound advice for frustrated Phillies fans these days is sit back, relax and watch.
Either the Phils will get on a roll in the next couple months or they will not. There is no quick fix in the meantime. And if they do not get going, these next few months could be fans' final look at the core of talent that won five consecutive National League East division titles, two NL pennants and one World Series from 2007-11.
The players understand this reality.
"We've just got to make sure we do what we need to do before they blow it up," shortstop Jimmy Rollins said Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies played their 41st game of the season Wednesday, officially passing the one-quarter point of their schedule. They are 19-22 and in third in the NL East, with the ninth-best record in the league. They rank 12th in the league in scoring (3.61 runs per game) and 13th in pitching (4.20 ERA). They have not won more than three consecutive games this season. They have been inconsistent, coming off a disappointing season in which the front office showed it is not afraid to trade talent by shipping Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence to contenders.
If the Phils improve before the non-waiver Trade Deadline on July 31 -- they have played a bit better recently -- general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. might try to add a piece or two to the roster for a postseason run. If they do not improve, Amaro could try to unload talent in an effort to retool for the future. Chase Utley, Michael Young, Carlos Ruiz and Delmon Young are free agents after the season. Each of them could have value to a contender looking for a player to push its club over the top. Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Adams and Rollins have years remaining on their deals, but they also could be dealt.
"We're not going to panic," Rollins said. "That word isn't going to get into this clubhouse."
Rollins also said he is not going to worry about the team getting dismantled.
"Heck, no," he said. "I don't have to worry about anything."
But wouldn't it be strange come Aug. 1 to see Rollins standing at shortstop with somebody other than Utley at second base, somebody other than Young at third base or somebody other than Ruiz behind the plate?
"Well, that's all true," Rollins acknowledged. "But there's nothing I can do about it, except play a winning brand of baseball. And if we don't win, it's up to the guys up top, whether they decide to blow it all up and ship us out."
Rollins paused.
"That would be different," he said.
Would it be a sad moment for a player like Rollins, who has watched the organization build itself from NL doormat to big league powerhouse?
"Yeah," he said. "But shoot, I might be gone, too. You never know."
Rollins, who can veto any trade because of his 10-and-5 rights, remains optimistic. He thinks the Phillies will get going because they have recovered from slow starts in the past.
"It's like '07," he said. "That's what it's like. Pitchers go down. You're like, 'Gosh darn it, man. That's not expected.' Then our offense had to kick it in with some crazy numbers. It looks like that's where we're going to have to go."
The 2007 Phils were 20-21 at this point, third in the division and the ninth-best record in the league. But while that team ranked 14th in the league in pitching (4.43 ERA), it ranked second in the league in scoring (5.07 runs per game). It hit its way to a division title.
Rollins said the offense will need to step up and take over like '07, but is that even possible? Philadelphia's offense has been in decline the past few seasons.
"We're healthy enough to be that good," Rollins said. "We're starting to have more good days than bad days. And that's where it starts. Everybody likes to talk about little things, but what's small and what's little is actually big. Scoring runs, getting two-out hits, etc. -- those are things we're starting to do better, more efficiently. And over the course of the season, as the season gets even deeper, that's going to be even that much bigger. So just because the record is where it sits now, those things get overlooked. But when you look at baseball, those are things that start turning and going your way."
The Phillies historically have been better in the second half under manager Charlie Manuel. They have a .520 winning percentage before the All-Star break, which is 11th in baseball from 2005-12, compared to a .610 winning percentage after the break, which is second in baseball.
"Let's just make sure we do that again," Rollins said.
But that trend holds true only after the break. If the Phils don't get going soon, the team as fans have come to know it -- Rollins, Utley, Ruiz, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels at its core -- might not be around for that second-half run.
The Phillies will try to start a new winning streak Friday, when they open a three-game series against the Reds.


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A jury found Cook County Commissioner William Beavers guilty on all four counts in his tax evasion case.
He was convicted on one count of corruptly impeding the Internal Revenue Service and three counts of filing a false federal income tax return for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Federal prosecutors say Beavers spent $226,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses and never paid taxes on it.
They say Beavers also failed to pay taxes on $69,000 in campaign contributions that he placed in a city retirement fund in 2006, in order to more than double his monthly pension.
The defense argued that Beavers amended his tax returns and paid some of the money back to the campaign, in order to prove that it was a loan.
Beavers had claimed that the FBI is only targeting him because he refused to be a "stool pigeon."
This is a developing story. Check back for details.


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Amid flare-up of Mideast turmoil, Botticelli work to stay in Italy
ROME >> With tensions high in the Mediterranean over Syria, Italy has decided it's not the right time to send a Botticelli masterpiece on loan to Israel.
Italy's culture ministry said Thursday it has decided against transporting the 15th--century "The Annunciation of San Martino alla Scala" from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where it was supposed to go on display for several months starting Sept. 17. The ministry cited geopolitical and logistical considerations.
The painting, with exquisite detail and dreamy colors, measures about 5.5 meters by 2.5 meters (17 feet by more than 8 feet).
The ministry, citing the importance of Italian-Israeli relations, expressed hope that the Renaissance work would soon go on display in Jerusalem.


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Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, is on Washingtonpost.com weekly to chat live with readers. An edited transcript of this week's chat is below. (Sign up here to get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week. Read Prudie's Slate columns here. Send questions to Prudence at email@example.com.)
Emily Yoffe: Good afternoon. I look forward to your questions.
Q. Co-Worker Red-Flagging the Office Newspaper: I work in a small office, with a staff of maybe 10. I have worked here for about eight months as in a low-level production-oriented assistant position. A week ago, I walked by the 2nd floor bathroom and saw a co-worker of mine bringing out the office newspaper. She put the office newspaper back on the bench in the first floor. Personally, I am kind of disgusted by her sense of entitlement in thinking that she had a right to treat the office bathroom and the office newspaper as if they were hers. I also am at the bottom of the totem pole, the only male in my office, and am extremely embarrassed to mention anything. The co-worker wasn't my boss, but she is a friend of my boss. How do I make it clear that this is an inappropriate thing to do in the office, not just because I have personal hygienic objections to it, but because I assume others would if they had any idea this happens?
A: Let's try to sort this out. You are disgusted that a co-worker felt a call of nature and answered it by using the facilities. I hesitate to inquire as to what purpose you think the office bathroom has if not for people in need to temporarily think of it as theirs. Additionally, if people aren't allowed to read the newspaper in the bathroom, subscriptions would plunge even further. I hope your plan is not to put a Post-It on the paper with the warning: "Marie was reading this while relieving herself. The EPA has been alerted and a removal team will arrive shortly." I'm sure you've seen magazine stands in bathrooms. I assume you don't think flipping through the Vanity Fair will result in life-threatening contamination. You now know that if you want to read the newspaper at work, you need to get your own copy. But don't mention your discovery to anyone else.
Q. My Son and My Granddaughters: I have two sons, Matt and Alan. Matt died five years ago, leaving behind his wife and their two daughters. Although Matt and Alan were close for most of their lives, they had a falling out shortly before Matt's death due to Alan's addiction to crack. While visiting Matt's home, Alan forgot to turn off the stove. He nearly burned the house down, with Matt's wife and daughter's sleeping upstairs. Alan was too high at the time of his brother's death to offer his sister-in-law or nieces much support. He did not attend Matt's funeral. Alan has been clean for three years now and has completely turned around his life. He has tried to apologize to my daughter-in-law, but she wants nothing to do with him. Although my husband and I see our grandchildren often, our daughter-in-law refuses to even consider letting Alan see his nieces. It causes considerable tension between us when my husband or I try to talk to her about Alan. Alan desperately wants to be a part of his nieces' lives, but none of us know how to make that a possibility.
A: There has been so much suffering in your family, but you have to let go of this situation. Alan almost killed Matt's entire family; he did not go to Matt's funeral. It's understandable that Matt's widow might find the universe a cruel place for taking her husband while her crack-addled brother-in-law lives. It's wonderful that Alan has gotten clean. I hope he's making something worthwhile of his life. Three years later it may not be entirely rational that Matt's widow won't change her mind about Alan, but nagging and cajoling her will only harden her resolve. Do not threaten your good relationship with her and your grandchildren by making this a wedge between you. I hope Alan has written a letter to his sister-in-law which acknowledges his horrible behavior and his pain at the loss of his brother. If not, then he should. He should not put in it a request to see his nieces. It should simply be an explanation that he will live with the effects of his previous actions for the rest of his life. He can add that fortunately he's clean now and able to take responsibility for himself. That might be a small opening that will allow your daughter-in-law to come to her own new conclusions about Alan.
Q. A Mother's Instinct: I come from a very large, close-knit family that loves to hold family events for the holidays. Recently, I've become alarmed by one family member's behavior at family gatherings. He's in his early 30s and still lives at home. He's immature, socially awkward, has trouble keeping a job, and has had problems with substance abuse. Most of us barely speak to him because of these issues. I've noticed that he is especially attentive toward the young girls of the family, and it's become troublesome. He follows them around, makes remarks about their clothing and how innocent they are. I don't know of any instance where he has done anything inappropriate, but I am on high alert with my own young daughter at family gatherings where he is present. I don't even allow him to be within a few feet of her without me or my husband standing next to her. Lately, he's been especially attentive with one young female family member, so much so that I reached out to her mother to ask if this alarmed her. Her mother assured me that they are never alone together, but that she has noticed this, too. Together we agreed to try and shepherd him away from the kids at future gatherings, but I'm worried that this may not be enough. I have zero evidence (gratefully) but I feel like I should do more. He recently mentioned that he's been hanging around with a neighbor's young son, sort of taking him under his wing because he's going through a lot and his mother is a single parent that doesn't have a lot of time to spend with him. It's been bothering me a lot and I don't know if I should report this to authorities.
A: I agree this is alarming and that also you have no evidence that anything has happened. But a young adult with social and substance problems who likes to follow children around should have anyone's klaxons sounding. If it's possible, talk to your relative's parents. I hope they have awareness of their son's problems and aren't simply defensive about it. You can explain that even if nothing happens, a young man who hangs around little children is setting himself up for dangerous accusations. I also think someone should contact the mother of the neighbor boy. She needs a heads-up that it just isn't a good idea for her son and a troubled man to be hanging around together. Even though your relative is an adult, there are still social services that are available to him. If his parents are overwhelmed, maybe the whole family can engage a social worker to help get him evaluated and make a plan for having him lead a more productive life.
Q. It's Mine, Mine, MINE!: I have a treasured childhood stuffed animal, one given to me by my older sister on the day I was born. I slept with it beside me every single night of my life, even through college, until I was married. For the last 27 years it's been on a shelf in my room, still offering all the emotional support it always has. My adult daughter, now pregnant with her first girl, has asked me to pass it down to her child, so that the legacy can continue. But I can't bring myself to do it. I keep picturing her dragging it, spilling food on it, sitting on it, etc. Kids play rough, and I know I was tough on it as a child. It is so old and fragile now. Is it so terribly wrong that I would prefer NOT to share? I feel like a petty kid fighting over my silly toy. The only trouble is, it's my grandchild who will be missing out. Still, Prudie, I don't think I can do it. Am I insane?
A: Fortunately, Boopsie is not the only magical stuffed animal in the world. When you go and pick out a brand new stuffed bear, kangaroo, pig for your impending granddaughter, it will become as dear and supportive a creature as your own talisman. You didn't even pass your darling to your own daughter, so it's not as if she experienced its enchantment personally. Just tell you daughter that Boopsie is so fragile it won't survive the first baby barf. Tell her you are going to get your granddaughter something new, sturdy, and wonderful.
Q. Ghostly Visitors: I have always been able to see ghosts. It's not a big thing, and it's not something I advertise—it's just something most women in my family are able to do and is accepted as normal. Now I have a 4-year-old daughter who can do the same thing; she chats about seeing my father, who passed away before she was born, as well as my husband's grandmother. The problem is my in-laws, who, like many people, think it's a load of hooey. My daughter will often sleep over there and tell them about the people she sees, and they say things like, "Oh, that's silly! There's no such things as ghosts!" Do I tell my daughter that I believe her, but that maybe we shouldn't talk about ghosts at grandma's, or do I tell my in-laws that this is something our family believes in and they should respect? (My husband is torn, too.)
A: I'm assuming your daughter thinks it's normal to talk about seeing ghosts because that what her mother, aunts, and grandmother do. Surely she is rewarded by all of you when she stars babbling about what her late grandfather is telling her. You need to examine how you are imposing this "gift" on your little girl. You also need to be aware that other people—like your in-laws—are going to find this strange and disturbing. However, if you get your own reality show and outearn the Kardashians, I'm sure the in-laws will come around.
Q. Letting Wife Know About Sperm Donation: My wife and I are very good friends with a lesbian couple who is trying to have a baby. They asked me to donate sperm to conceive the child. After discussing it with my wife, I declined. They were very understanding and we remain good friends. However, in the course of our decision-making, my wife commented how odd it would be for me to have a child "out there." I agreed with her out loud, but the truth is, I have donated sperm. (I stopped before I met my wife, however.) For all I know, I could have several children "out there." I never told her about it because I never imagined it coming up and when I donated it seemed like I would always remain anonymous. After doing some research, however, it seems possible that a child that resulted from my donation COULD find and contact me. Should I tell my wife about my donations, and if so, how?
A: "Ah, honey, you know the conversation we had about how funny it would be to have a child 'out there'? I should have told you long ago I might have a child out there and apologize for not telling you sooner." Explain that when you were young you made some money by donating sperm—you can use the Mark Ruffalo line from The Kids Are All Right: Donating sperm seemed like more fun than donating blood. Tell her you don't know if any children resulted, and it's unlikely you'll ever know. But given how laws in this area are changing, it's a possibility that some day someone "out there" will end up on your doorstep.
Q. Sending Photo to Molester Grandpa?: My husband has no contact with his paternal grandfather, due to extensive sexual abuse allegations by his father's six siblings. His father, however, claims to be the only child out of seven that wasn't sexually abused, and maintains a somewhat close relationship with the man. Recently, we had professional portraits done of our young daughter and sent copies of the photos to all our family. My mother-in-law contacted me and asked if dear old grandpa could be added to the photo mailing list. While no request has been made for in-person contact with the man, I am deeply disturbed by the thought of him having a photo of our daughter. I don't want to offend my in-laws. Should I just mail him a small photo in order to keep the peace, or am I right for being skeeved out by just the thought of it?
A: I wonder what your in-laws don't get about a man who molested six of his seven children. Tell your mother-in-law you plan to honor your husband's decision to have no contact with a sexual predator.
Q. Daughter's Friend's Crazy Mom: My daughter is very good friends with two girls, Cammie and Bianca. They are all 11. Cammie's mom offered to take the girls on a four-day trip to a fun nearby city. She said that she would pay for all of the meals; my daughter and Bianca only needed to bring a few dollars for souvenirs. My husband and I gave our daughter $10 and sent her off. When she came home last night she was starving and distraught. As soon as they were on the road Cammie's mom told them they needed to pay for their own meals. She wouldn't take my daughter or Bianca to places where they could afford to eat, so the girls quickly ran out of money. I am livid at this crazy woman's behavior. What's the correct response?
A: You need to call Cammie's mother and say just what you said here: that your daughter came home hungry and distraught. Say you're sorry if there was some misunderstanding over financing this trip, but you wish she had called you when it turned out your daughter and Bianca didn't have enough money for meals. It's hard to imagine she has a coherent response, but you at least need to have addressed directly what happened. Then tell your daughter you're sorry she had such a terrible time, that there's no explanation for how Cammie's mother behaved, and you will make sure your daughter never goes on a road trip with her again.
Q. Affair Drama and My Daughter: My husband had an affair with our daughter's best friend's mom. To save our marriage we are cutting all ties with the other family, but the other parents keep contacting us to make plans with our daughter. Am I being unfair to my child, who now can't spend time with her best friend outside of school and extracurricular activities?
A: I'm assuming you're saying the cheating wife and the cuckolded husband are contacting you in order to get your children together. Does this mean the other husband doesn't know? It would be sad and inexplicable for you to say to your daughter she's not allowed to see her best friend anymore—surely she's already picked up that mommy and daddy are very unhappy. But I can understand you don't want contact with the other wife. However, at the least your children are classmates and are involved in the same extracurriculars, so you are going to have to learn to hold your head high and act civil at back-to-school night, etc. I think it's possible for you to let the girls get together while limiting your contact with the other woman. Divorced couples do hand-offs of the kids all the time without actually having to see each other. I understand your cutting social ties with the other couple, but surely the cost of saving your marriage does not mean your daughter loses her best friend.
Q. She Flashed My Boyfriend: This weekend my 24-year-old boyfriend, John, went to an out-of-state soccer tournament with his recreational team that I did not attend. The captain jokingly said that if they won, his girlfriend Christy, the team medic, would flash her breasts at them. They did not win. However, after every tournament they sit in a circle and take turns giving shout-outs praising another person on the team. My boyfriend gave a shout out to her. In thanks, she walked right up to him and showed him her goods. Just him. Her guy seemed to be OK with it, but I am not! John says it is not a big deal, and it is not like she is making a habit of flashing people. (It was a one-time deal.) I can't say I am happy about it, but I am resigned to let it go. However, there is no doubt that someone on the team is going to bring it up. What do I say to the annoying remarks like, "Hey, did you know Christy flashed John?" Should I talk to Christy calmly and mention that I know it was done in fun, but I would appreciate if she did not do that again?
A: If someone mentions that Christy flashed John, just smile and say, "Medics gone wild!" Having a sense of humor about this will do more for your relationship than trying to put the team on breast probation.
Q. Ten Dollars for Four Days?!: Yes, Cammie's mother sounds disturbed to not feed hungry girls. But what kind of mother sends her daughter away for FOUR DAYS to a city with 10 bucks in her pocket? Why didn't you call out the mother asking the question on that?
A: Good point. A road trip with three girls is an expensive proposition and all this should have been worked out among the adults beforehand. However, if Cammie's mother said she'd take care of the meals and found out she couldn't, she either needed to end the trip, or call the other parents and say she was going to need reimbursement when they returned. Starving the children is not an option.
Q. Re: Red-Flagging Newspaper: Personally I think it is disgusting to take the office copy of the paper into the restroom with you and then put it back out on the table. Would you really want to pick up this paper after it's made a few trips to the toilet?
A: My copy of today's paper is in the bathroom, so my answer is that it doesn't bother me.
Q. Evil Stepmommy!: I was very sick a few days ago. Something flulike. I sent my husband off to work his third-shift job, put my two stepdaughters (8 and 10) to bed early, and crashed out myself around 10 p.m. Well, my stepdaughters woke up the next morning, sneaked into my room and turned off the alarm. They spent the morning cleaning the house and then were making me breakfast when my husband came home for the day. He immediately woke me up and had words with me, saying how irresponsible I was. How I'd scarred the girls for life by making them take on "adult roles" and made me sit them down and apologize for my "neglect." He was so infuriated I couldn't even appreciate the incredibly kind gesture from my stepdaughters. I understand that he feels like it's my job to care for them, and not theirs to care for me … but I was terribly sick, and they were just being kind. I want to tell him off, but as they're my stepchildren I've always had to obey his wishes when it came to them. The sad part is, my eldest was so upset that I couldn't enjoy all the work she'd done for me. I want to make it clear to my husband that I think HE was the one out of line, but how without overstepping MY bounds?
A: I'm hoping that your husband is so exhausted from working three jobs he's delirious with exhaustion. He has turned a lovely tribute into something ugly. Also disturbing is your mention that you must "obey" his wishes about your children. It sounds as if you are a caring stepmother and your stepdaughters were thrilled to be able to help you. If you are unable to express to this your husband, you immediately need a neutral party to help you two work on your communication so you don't become a former stepmother.
Q. Update: My sister was the one-time slapped wife: My sister wrote in to you several months ago about how her stressed-out husband had slapped her after she said something nasty to her. She wanted to stay with him, and you agreed that given the one time nature of the slap that seemed like the best idea. My sister confided in me and seemed to imply that her comment was what made him snap, so she somehow contributed to the slap. But all she said to him was that he was a crappy son because he forgot to call his mom on mother's day. I don't believe any nasty comment by someone warrants a slap, but this seems like an especially tame comment to me. I think my sister should at least have taken a break from her marriage to give them some space to cool off. Her husband really wants to have another kid, and so does she, but she doesn't think this is the right time. I also don't feel comfortable with my kids around him anymore. What do I need to do to support my sister? Does this new info change your original assessment? He has been a model husband since the slap.
A: What you need to do is butt out. I agree nothing warrants a slap, but I reiterate what I said at the time: It would be foolish to end a marriage over this one-time offense, particularly when the husband was immediately remorseful and suggested seeking help. Even you acknowledge he has been a model husband since then. Not letting your children be around him is a ridiculous provocation on your part and will only undermine your relationship with your sister and their marriage. It sounds as if things are on track with them, so remove yourself from their intimate life.
Q. Reading at Restaurants: Sometimes when I want to eat out but don't have anyone to dine with I take a book to read during my meal. Sometimes I also read before a play begins. Recently an older woman came up to my table at a restaurant and told me it was very rude to read in public. I was shocked and embarrassed. I never read when I'm with others. Is it rude to read in public?
A: Apparently there is a cadre of people who would like to increase the amount of illiteracy in the world. They think we should all stare straight ahead when we are relieving ourselves, or waiting for an event, or enjoying a dinner out alone. Having a nice meal while engrossed in a good book sounds like a delightful evening—I'm one of those people who when dining alone would end up reading the ingredients on the Tabasco bottle if I didn't have a book with me. I assume the old lady also goes around pulling out people's earbuds and spilling ink on their crossword puzzles. She was a nut—ignore her remarks.
Q. Dirty T-shirt: I teach English to international students. One of them is a shy 9-year-old who has been here for four months. One day she wore a T-shirt to her class that said, "Don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful. (And in larger, bolder print) [Expletive] me cuz I'm HOT." I noticed she has worn it a couple of times since. I know I need to say something but I'm not quite sure what. I've met her parents once when they were enrolling her and they speak very little English, so presumably they have no idea what it means either. In fact, I teach the very basic beginners class so none of her classmates noticed anything, but I'm sure she gets some attention outside the class. She is a very sensitive child whose face turns bright red if she makes a small mistake so I can't imagine how I'm going to tell her that she is wearing a horrendously offensive T-shirt for a child her age. What can I say?
A: Take this to the school administration. Let's hope someone there speaks the parents' language and can call and explain that their daughter is wearing a T-shirt with a sexually suggestive message on it and it needs to go into the rag bin.
Q. Painful Past: I was contacted by a 13-year-old girl, "Liz," who is the daughter of my best friend "Gina." Gina and I were friends since we were little girls right up to when she died over 10 years ago. Liz was since raised by her father's parents, and knowing so little about her mom, wanted to hear from me what kind of a person she was. There's a lot I could say about Gina, but the basic summary is this: She was sexually molested by her father for years before becoming a single mom to Liz. Gina and I spent a lot of our time drunk or stoned. She worked as a prostitute to earn a living before she crashed into a pole while driving drunk. It's by pure luck that I didn't meet the same fate—I have a decent job now and a young family of my own. I don't know how much of all this Liz knows. I've been trying to think of what I could tell this young girl about her mom that doesn't involve somebody doing something illegal or stupid, but there isn't a lot. What should I share with her?
A: What a heartbreaking tale—one that shows the devastating effects of sexual abuse. No doubt many of Gina's troubles stemmed by a childhood filled with sexual assault by her father. But I don't think Liz is coming to you for the gory details. She wants her lost mother to live in her mind. Surely you have some photos and decent memories of Gina. Was she funny? Did she love music and dancing? That's what you should start telling her. As you get to know Liz you can explain to her that her mother shared with you a devastating secret from her childhood: She was molested by her father. That terrible start in life caused her a lot of pain and troubles. But emphasize to Liz that the thing you know most about Gina is how much she loved her daughter, how excited she was to be a mother, and how proud she would be to see how Liz is growing up.
Q. Re: One job, not three: Third shift = overnight work shift, not that someone is working three jobs. Regardless, the "made me sit them down and apologize" thing is a major red flag, no? I mean, what adult "makes" another do something? And what adult does something their spouse forces on them that they don't agree with? That in conjunction with words like "obey" suggests he's got major control problems and she is in need of some counseling regardless.
A: Thanks for the clarification of third shift (which is a nicer term than "graveyard shift")! Totally agree that this family needs intervention.
Q. Five's a Crowd: My friend has five children under the age of 6, including a set of 2-year-old twins. When I have friends and their kids at my house I am sometimes reluctant to invite my friend and her family because five extra children means a lot more mess and noise than I'm willing to tolerate. It's not that they're bad kids, but they do what normal kids do and run around and get excited. I've noticed a few of our mutual friends also sometimes don't invite this friend, presumably for the same reason. Recently I had a birthday party for my 2-year-old, hosted at a local indoor play center. I did not invite my friend's children—I had a birthday package deal for eight kids, and having five additional children meant paying almost $100 extra. (Just to clarify—I didn't invite all of my daughter's friends, so it's not like I only excluded this friend and her kids.) Afterward I received an angry phone call from my friend about how I "snubbed" her and her entire family. She knows she isn't invited to people's homes very often, and told me how hurt she was to be excluded. I tried my best to explain that sometimes having five additional young children in the house is not everyone's idea of a relaxed Saturday afternoon. This did not go well with her and now she refuses to speak to me. Am I wrong here? Do I owe my friend an apology and should I open my doors for her kids whenever and wherever?
A: It would have been nice if you'd invited the 2-year-old twins to your 2-year-old's birthday party. There was no obligation to have her entire crew, however. Sure, your friend's fecundity is her choice, and regularly hosting five extra little ones can be taxing, but shunning her is unnecessary. If she's looking for company, it might be much easier if you brought your kids over to play at her house, along with some snacks for everyone. Think how overwhelmed your friend must feel. Get back in touch and say you expressed yourself badly and you miss her and want to get together. Since it's summer, maybe you can meet at a well fenced park where you two can sit on a bench and catch up and the kids can be messy and noisy.
Q. Re: Dirty T-shirt: You teach her English. Don't you think translating a T-shirt for a 9-year-old falls into your area of responsibility?
A: No, this would be very embarrassing for a sensitive child. Just have the parents told the T-shirt is a no-no.
Q. Relationship Finances: My girlfriend recently moved in with me and we are having a financial issue. We are both in our early 30s and agreed to split expenses (rent and utilities) 50/50. Her car is dying and she desperately needs a new one (almost 500,000 miles). Since she needs a new car, she wants to change the split on expenses to 70/30. Her reasoning is that since I've lived by myself for a few years (she lived with a roommate) I am used to paying higher monthly expenses and would also be spending less than I did when I was single. She makes about $10,000 more a year than I do. I'd like to finish my degree without taking out any more student loans but don't think that would be possible if I had to cover most of her car payment. I feel like she is trying to take advantage of me. How would you approach this?
A: I would have approached this by figuring out why you're moving in together in the first place. Do you plan on getting married? Are you just trying to save on expenses? If it's a trial run for a permanent commitment, you just got an insight into the kind of trials you two might face. First of all, I don't hear that she's asking you to cover her car payment—just that she doesn't want to share household expenses equally while she's dealing with a major outlay. Perhaps this is reasonable since you would be getting a 30 percent discount on your normal living expenses. Perhaps it's in indication that she's not very good with money if she's been unable to budget for the day she needs a new car. I would approach this by talking to her about how you both feel about money, your relationship, and your future plans.
Emily Yoffe: My late grandmother just tapped me on the shoulder and said it's time to end the chat and that having the newspaper on the bathroom floor is disgusting. Thanks everyone, have a great week.


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Hello, I have created a proprietary tool to convert existing RTTEX files (made wth RTPack, both compressed and uncompressed) to PNG using JavaScript.
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Feedback and suggestions are appreciated.
The tool link


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HLK (Chain-Store) Sdn Bhd was founded by Leng Jig-Leong, and the first branch was established in Balakong in the year of 2000 and now been one of the market-leading electrical appliances chain stores in Malaysia.
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Microsoft has published its numbers for the third quarter of its 2012 financial year and the company reports record revenue for the period with double digit operating income growth. Revenue for the quarter was $17.41 billion, up 6 percent year over year. Operating income was up to $6.37 billion, a 12 percent rise on the prior period. Net income and earnings per share were both down, at $5.11 billion and $0.60, respectively.
In the second quarter, the Windows and Windows Live Division showed a drop in revenue, attributed to a slow PC market and hard disk shortages. The situation seems to have picked up. Third quarter revenue was up 4 percent year on year at $4.62 billion, with operating income growing 5.7 percent. The underlying PC market grew by between 2 and 4 percent. Business PCs grew by 8 percent and consumer PCs excluding netbooks grew by 6 percent. This was a much stronger performance than in the second quarter, in which business PCs grew by 2 percent and consumer ones fell by 6 percent.
Microsoft said volume licenses grew by double digits, and that 40 percent of enterprise desktops worldwide were now on Windows 7.
Microsoft Business Division revenue was up 9 percent year on year at $5.81 billion, and operating income up by 14 percent. Office 2010 continues to perform well, with Software Assurance revenue up 13 percent, transactional revenue up 5 percent. SharePoint and Exchange also experienced double digit growth, with Lync revenue growing by over 35 percent. The company's Dynamics range continues to steadily expand, with overall revenue growth of 11 percent, and a 30 percent increase for Dynamics CRM. The CRM product now has over 2.25 million users globally.
The Server and Tools division was up 14 percent year-on-year with revenue of $4.57 billion, and operating income up 29 percent. This growth was driven primarily by SQL Server, which had revenue growth in the high teens. The System Center range of products also had a good quarter, with revenue up more than 20 percent. Enterprise Services grew by 21 percent.
Online Services Division continues to struggle, but continues to head in the right direction. Its revenue was up 9 percent to $0.7 billion, and its operating loss was cut by 38 percent. Advertising revenue was up 9 percent. Bing showed a small quarter on quarter gain, now powering 15.3 percent of US searches, up from 15.1 percent last quarter.
The Entertainment and Devices Division was the only loser: revenue is down 16 percent year on year, at $1.62 billion. The group has gone from a $0.21 billion operating profit in third quarter 2011 to a $0.23 billion loss this quarter. Xbox 360 sales have declined sharply, down 48 percent year on year, though it retains its top spot in the US market, with a 42 percent share, and market-leading sales for the last 15 months. The company neglected to offer any Windows Phone sales figures.
In its guidance for next quarter, Microsoft said that it expects Windows division revenue to continue to be influenced by the overall PC market, with stronger performance in business markets than consumer, and emerging market growth outpacing developed market growth. For Business Division, Software Assurance licensing (about 60 percent of total revenue) will grow in the low double digits; transactional revenue (the remaining 40 percent) will lag changes in the PC market.
Server and Tools transactional revenue (30 percent) will track hardware sales. Multi-year license revenue (50 percent) and Enterprise Services (20 percent) are both expected to see growth in the high teens. Online services expects improvements and greater operating efficiencies, and the Entertainment Division expects revenue to grow in the low double digits.


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Better Business Bureau warns residents of repair scams
Beware of out-of-town companies, pay-up-front billing
The Better Business Bureau is warning residents to do a little research before choosing a repair company to fix damages after Tuesday night's hail storm.
Gary Mongar is just one homeowner in west Omaha whose house was damaged by hail and high winds.
"I got steel siding on it and it sounded like, 'Pow,' and then when it hit my window, it sounded like there was a gun or something right there," Mongar said.
With repair companies putting signs up throughout neighborhoods trying to drum up business, Better Business Bureau President Jim Hegarty says to be careful.
"What we're going to see, now, over the next month or two, we're going to be inundated with out-of-town, we call them 'storm chasers,' they're itinerant repair firms, and this is what they do," Hegarty.
Hegarty said most of the companies will do the work very well, but they won't be in town to honor their warranties. He said to be careful for companies wanting all the money paid up front.
"Work with your insurance company. Get at least three bids or estimates, and thoroughly check out any company that you're considering hiring to do the repair work," Hegarty said.
By researching the company beforehand and getting multiple estimates, Hergarty said you will save money in the long run.
"Deal with reputable, well-established local firms when it comes to your repair needs," Hergarty said.
The BBB also warns small roofing companies of out-of-town people trying to rent phone numbers and their names. It could leave companies with a sullied reputation and unsatisfied customers if the work is not done correctly.


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Michael Howard Finley (born March 6, 1973, in Melrose Park, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
Finley attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, graduating in 1991. In Finley's senior season, Proviso East won the 1991 IHSA class AA boys basketball tournament, and Finley was named to the all-tournament team. Finley's teammates included future NBA draftees Sherrell Ford and Donnie Boyce.
The 6' 7" shooting guard/small forward was originally drafted out of University of Wisconsin–Madison by the Phoenix Suns as the 21st overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. Finley held the all-time scoring record at Wisconsin for eleven years, but was passed by Alando Tucker on March 10, 2007.


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Williams leads No. 16 Lobos over rival Aggies
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- Despite a gimpy right ankle that sent him to the bench for several minutes early in the first half, New Mexico guard Kendall Williams put on a show Wednesday night against rival New Mexico State.
Williams tied his career high with 24 points, made all eight of his free throws and played 35 minutes to lead the No. 16 Lobos to a 68-63 victory over the Aggies.
With its second win over the Aggies in a week, New Mexico (12-0) equaled the second-best start in school history.
Williams rolled his right ankle one minute into the game and sat out the next five minutes.
"He came back and was just terrific," New Mexico coach Steve Alford said. "Best player on the floor. Kendall Williams is extremely talented. He had a big game for us both offensively and defensively. He was a great leader. He is playing at a very, very high level."
When Williams returned, New Mexico State (5-6) was in the midst of a 16-4 run that included four 3-pointers to go up 25-14.
But Williams took over at that point, scoring nine points during an 11-0 run. He started by converting both ends of a 1-and-1, then dropped a 3-pointer and hit a short jumper before capping the run with a drive through the lane.
"Kendall Williams came off a broken foot and came back in, drank some kind of healing water and went to work," said New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies. "He just made 3s. I need to find out what he's drinking. It was the Kendall show. Kendall just went to work and did a great job. A good player."
New Mexico beat the Aggies 73-58 on Saturday in Albuquerque, which made this game a tough assignment.
"Playing your in-state rival back-to-back -- that's never easy, especially when the second one is at their place," Alford said. "I thought our guys battled again. We did what we do. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well. That's kind of been the case all year long."
The Lobos took the lead for good with an 8-0 run early in the second half that broke a 41-all tie, with Tony Snell scoring six of his 11 points during the spurt.
New Mexico State closed to 56-54 with 3:14 left, but Hugh Greenwood, who had 10 points and six rebounds, responded with a 3-pointer and Alex Kirk hit two free throws.
"We just battle, we guard we compete and we make big plays," Alford said. "I thought we made big plays down the stretch."
The Aggies again chipped away and pulled to 62-58 with 1:02 left, but Snell drove the lane for a floater and Williams scored twice from the line to keep the Lobos in control.
"The last four minutes, we won that last four-minute game," Alford said. "We've done that a lot this year so that's a good trend."