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CEDAR FALLS � Ben Jacobson sat down at the table in the media room and attempted to clip a tiny black microphone to his dark navy and silver diagonally striped tie. It�s a process he�s done countless times. Still, for some reason Wednesday night, the simple transformed into the nearly impossible.
After about 15 seconds of fiddling, the Northern Iowa video coordinator helped the head coach out, attaching it for him. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they didn�t have that type of help on the court against Indiana State.
The Panthers dribbled balls off their feet, collided into one another, missed free throws, clanked open looks and passed up easy open looks. Like the postgame, the norm in the contest against the Sycamores became the unusual in a 65-61 Missouri Valley Conference loss.
�Everybody had opportunities to make shots,� Northern Iowa guard Anthony James said. �We missed open shots, shots that we make nine of out 10 times; laypus, free throws. That�s just on offense.�
The list of issues could total more than the points the Panthers put up against the Sycamores. Northern Iowa entered the game leading the MVC in free throw percentage and ranked 23rd in the nation. Wednesday it shot 60 percent. In addition to scoring seven points less than what it averages, UNI turned the ball over 15 times, three more than usual.
The offense never clicked. During one possession Marc Sonnen couldn�t catch a pass, bobbled it toward the baseline and heaved a shot while falling out of bounds. In another, Chip Rank was surprised to receive a pass, which led to another near turnover and a forced 3-point attempt. In one final snap shot of the sloppiness, Jake Koch caught a pass on the block, with no one around him. Instead of turning and going up immediately, he upfaked, allowing two defenders to collapse and the senior missed a short range hook.
When the shots did fall, the Panthers converted at a 42.6 percent clip, right about on target for the season, but only thanks to Seth Tuttle, who shot 9 of 14 from the field. The rest of the team shot 14 of 40 or 35 percent.
�Tuttle, I told him after the game, I�m not looking forward to having to prepare for him,� said Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing, who improved to 4-1 against UNI. �He�s really good. He�s played awfully tough against us. He�s one of the best bigs in the league.�
Tuttle finished with a double-double scoring a game-high 24 points and hauling in 10 boards. The sophomore power forward single handily kept the Panthers within striking distance in the second half. In a 5:19 stretch toward the end of the second he reeled off 10 straight. But without any help, the one-man run only cut the deficit from four to three.
But even Tuttle�s game displayed flaws that usually aren�t there. The sophomore fouled out contesting a Jake Odum jumper with 1:32 left in the game with this team down three.
�I thought he was going to pull it.� So I tried to jump to contest it. He didn�t shoot it, came back up into me and I got the foul called,� Tuttle said. �It was a great move. And I didn�t follow our kind of defense. I left my feet.�
Still, even then the Panthers had a chance. Rank hit a 3, with 36.3 left � the first player not named Tuttle to score in 9:29. The long range jumper sliced the lead to four.� The Sycamores aided the comeback, when four trips to the free throw line in the final 35 seconds and resulted in just four points.
The shaky shooting set the Panthers up with 6.5 left. UNI inbounded the ball from mid-court, but again the easy became complex. The Sycamore covered Deon Mitchell�s first option, Rank, and his second option, Marc Sonnen, caught the ball and pivoted out of bounds.
�In that situation, that�s on me as opposed to the guys,� Jacobson said. �We�ve got to make sure that we get our first option on the entry, we have to make sure we get him open. We didn�t help Chip enough to get him open� I made the mistake of not making sure that Chip was going to be open.�
The Sycamores gave the 4,035 in attendance at the McCleod Center a window of hope when Khristian Smith missed the front end of the double bonus. He made the second, sealing the Sycamores� victory. James heaved a long 3-pionter as time expired. To the scoreboard it meant nothing. It if had gone in, it would have been the senior�s 1,000th career point.
With back-to back losses to start conference play, it�s a milestone that he wants to take a backseat.�We didn�t want to start 0-2 in conference,� James said. �But I mean there�s not much we can do but try to improve on the things we need to.�


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There are an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees living in Rhode Island, the majority of whom reside in Providence. SEDC's VOCA Program addresses the problems that Southeast Asian teenage girls and adult women face in understanding and seeking access to the American criminal justice system and in accessing programs and services that are meant to assist them as victims of crime. In addition to their naïveté regarding the criminal justice system, there is also a strong reluctance on the part of most Southeast Asian women to acknowledge the violence in their situations and to obtain help.
We propose to address these problems through the provision of direct services that meet the immediate needs of Southeast Asian victims by providing the following:
First: SEDC proposes to continue utilizing the current Cambodian Coordinator, Rachana Mak, who has very effectively taken over the role since January 7, 2002 As coordinator, she continues to assist the victims of the Cambodian community in obtaining medical care, crisis counseling and support, transportation and accompaniment to hospitals, as well as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, the coordinator assists victims in obtaining restraining orders, criminal justice advocacy and support, court and law enforcement accompaniment, and other services as needed.
Second: A replacement will be hired for Pat Phommachanh who served as the Laotian Case-Worker, but whom recently moved out of state. The individual hired will continue his or her predecessor' s role of reaching out to the Laotian community by educating women on how the justice system works in this country regarding domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. He or continues direct service to victims.
Third: SEDC proposes to provide culturally appropriate group counseling and group supportive services for teenage girls and women who have been victims of sexual assault, child abuse and/or domestic violence.
Fourth: The program coordinator contacts Rhode Island Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, and the Providence Police Department to obtain the names of Southeast Asian victims who have sought their services and have agreed to be contacted. The coordinator and the caseworker follows-up with these individuals to provide services as needed.
We anticipate that the impact in the Southeast Asian community is great because women, teenagers, and children are no longer "silent victims". They know their rights as victims and how to protect their rights. We anticipate SEDC to serve an estimated maximum of 46 primary and 30 secondary victims of the combined Cambodian and Laotian communities.
Organization Description. The Socio-Economic Development Center for Southeast Asians (SEDC) is a community-based organization which was formed in October 1987 when the four Mutual Assistance Associations then in existence joined to form a coalition and to become one organization to better serve the communities. They were the Cambodian, the Laotian, the Hmong, and the Vietnamese Mutual Associations. SEDC incorporated in January 1988 in the State of Rhode Island as a non-profit corporation with 501©(3) status.
SEDC is governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are Southeast Asian-Americans. The Board of Directors hires an Executive Director who is responsible for the overall operation of the agency. The Executive Director in turn hires all staff. The majority of SEDC . staff members are bilingual or trilingual, representing the Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian and Vietnamese languages and cultures. As ethnic Southeast Asians (and as former refugees themselves), SEDC staff have an in-depth awareness and understanding of the needs of the Southeast Asian community. An organizational chart, which illustrates the structure of the agency, is attached in the Appendix.
Since its incorporation, SEDC has provided emergency assistance, crisis intervention, case management, casework/counseling, housing and utility assistance, and help with family reunification. The host of social services offered to immigrant and refugees includes Citizenship/English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, Project Early Start, Substance Abuse Prevention, Access to Health Care, Tobacco Control, Family Networks, Youth and Family Development and Elderly Services. SEDC also operates The International Language Bank, a fee for service program, which provides interpretation and translation services in over 40 languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
SEDC has previously received contracts and grants from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Rhode Island DCYF, Hasbro Charitable Trust Fund, the United Way, Rhode Island Department of Education, Providence School Department, Rhode Island Foundation and the Rhode Island Department of Health.
The staff of SEDC is very knowledgeable of Southeast Asian culture and typically members of the culture they serve. They know how to approach their clients in a culturally acceptable manner. For that reason, outreach to the community is easily accomplished. Their clients know them and mutual trust has been established.
SEDC has received VOCA funding from the Public Safety Grant Administration Office for the past eight years. This assistance has enable us to serve 467 cases of domestic violence/sexual assault and child abuse/neglect in the Southeast Asian population. All services to the clients have been recorded and kept confidential. Our services to the victims include crisis intervention, case management, referral to shelters, obtaining restraining orders, follow up services, etc. All services are provided at no charge to the victims.
The bilingual Cambodian VOCA Program Coordinator, Rachana Mak, is responsible for the day-to-day operation. Ms. Sao is bilingual in English and Cambodian. She is very knowledgeable of the Southeast Asian culture, and she is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island in the field of Human Development and Family Studies. She has established a wonderful rapport with her clients and is well known throughout the community.
A Laotian speaking caseworker is responsible for conducting outreach activities and identifying Laotian victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or child abuse. This person is in contact with various human service agencies and providers such as DCYF, the Police Department, hospitals, The Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center of Rhode Island and the office of the Attorney General. This person is provides direct services such as assistance in obtaining medical care, crisis counseling and support, interpreter services, restraining orders, criminal justice advocacy, court accompaniment. . .
The coordinator and the caseworker undergo training that enables them to lead support groups for women.
The program utilizes the services of a consultant Mr. William Pellicio, is a licensed clinical social worker and chemical dependency professional. He has been working with SEDC for nine years. He has an extensive background in social work and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Services at the Community College of Rhode Island. He used to work as a social worker in the Emergency Room at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital where he dealt with victims of domestic violence. He trains the staff to lead the support groups for teenage girls and women who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or child abuse and provides training and technical assistance as necessary to emergency service providers on how to access SEDC services. He provides counseling services to those victims who require individual counseling. Mr. Pellicio is paid for one hour a week for training and supervision and he gives l/2 hour a week without pay as an in-kind contribution.
The particular problem addressed by this program is the great difficulty that linguistic and cultural minorities face in understanding and seeking access to the American criminal justice system and in accessing programs and services that are meant to assist them as victims of crime.
The specific target populations addressed by the program are Southeast Asian adolescent girls and adult women (Laotian and Cambodian) who are the victims of child abuse, sexual assault and/or domestic violence and who face linguistic and/or cultural barriers to accessing victim assistance services and information. Southeast Asian girls and women are particularly at risk of re-victimization because of their lack of knowledge about how the legal system works in this country and their own attitudes about these crimes. Many Southeast Asian girls, women and/or their families have a "learned helplessness" response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse which may be due in part to past traumas suffered during war, escape, or as refugees.
Coupled with all of this is their reluctance to seek help from either traditional or mainstream sources.
Over the past eight years, the SEDC VOCA program staff has worked to educate the Southeast Asian communities about child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence as well as the services available to assist victims of these crimes. They have helped many victims obtain services in the areas of emergency medical care, crisis counseling and support, emergency financial, food, clothing, transportation and/or housing assistance, interpreter services, advocacy services, restraining orders, criminal justice advocacy and support, court accompaniment, and law enforcement accompaniment. Victims are also notified about the state's victim's compensation program and many have been assisted with the application process.
For the period of October 1, 1998 through March 1999, the program has served a total of 48 primary and 27 secondary cases. There are currently 25 victims on Ms. Sao's active caseload. Six of these cases are Laotian.
SEDC, through its VOCA Program, has worked cooperatively with the following agencies and providers:
Coalition Against Domestic violence
The Women's Center
Office of the Attorney General - Domestic Violence Unit
Rhode Island Legal Services
Department of Children, Youth and Their Families
Providence Police Department
The Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center
St. Joseph's Hospital
Rhode Island Hospital
In spite of our community education efforts and the efforts of the mainstream agencies to assist Southeast Asian victims of crime, the reluctance on the part of most Southeast Asians, girls and women, to acknowledge the violence in their situations and to obtain help remains strong. Police involvement, DCYF and hospital emergency rooms are at best frightening experiences for many victims.
Multiple risk factors have been identified among our targeted Southeast Asian girls and their families. These include: depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, inadequate parental role modeling (especially within families which lack life experience in the United States), problems with inter-familial communication and intergenerational conflicts, cross-cultural misunderstandings within families (especially in those families where parents and elders tend to maintain traditional language and cultural customs and the young people adopt the more mainstream teenage American language and values), lack of social skills development on the part of the Southeast Asian women with limited interpersonal skills and few encounters in situations of conflict, and high risk neighborhood living with the presence of street violence and crime.
There is a general feeling of distrust between the Southeast Asian community and the police. Gang influence and negative peer pressure are recognized as problems for Southeast Asian boys, but they are also problematic among Southeast Asian girls, many of whom find themselves in situations of sexual advances and acquaintance rape. Many Southeast Asian girls and women oftentimes have a "learned helplessness" response to problems such as gangs, sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of abuse.
The need to develop more effective problem solving skills, interpersonal skills and positive female role models within the Southeast Asian community are critical components of our training. Our plan includes training current SEDC VOCA staff and interpreters, in addition to training students or volunteers who have an interest in working with the Southeast Asian communities.
We plan to use a group seminar approach to the training in order to provide a mutually supportive and culturally accessible environment where trainees can safely discuss these very sensitive issues. We see this as a sorely needed link, which has been missing to bridge Southeast Asian adolescent girls and women to accessing mainstream services.
The Laotian caseworker's role has traditionally been much different than that of the Cambodian Coordinator' s role. The Laotian caseworker spends the majority of his or her time performing outreach activities. The past caseworker experienced hesitancy from the Laotian population. Traditionally, Laotian females are not inclined to speak openly about being victimized. The previous Laotian caseworker was hired with the intention of infiltrating this reluctant community. The task is a difficult one, because the victims do not usually come forward voluntarily. Out of the eight Laotian cases in the past year, three were referred from DCYF, two from Department of Human Services, one from Rhode Island Legal Services, two were self referrals. We plan to hire a new bilingual Laotian Case Worker to continue to provide services to such cases as well as to persistently perform outreach and educational activities to inform this population about the crucial services we offer.
We propose to continue to address these problems with the following approaches:
The continuation of direct services that meet the immediate needs of a victim in such areas as assistance in obtaining emergency medical care, crisis counseling and support, emergency financial, food, clothing, transportation and/or housing assistance, interpreter services, advocacy services, assistance in obtaining restraining orders, criminal justice advocacy and support, court accompaniment, and law enforcement accompaniment.
The continuation of services to include culturally appropriate group counseling and group supportive services, especially for Southeast Asian women who have been victimized by sexual assault, child abuse, and/or domestic violence. In the past, we conducted a short-term problem solving group (five weeks) which served twelve Laotian and Cambodian girls who were referred to the SEDC Youth and Family Development Project because of school problems. When the girls were asked to name the top three problems that they wanted to focus on in the group, the top two choices were personal problems related to gang violence and sexual assault. Of the twelve girls who attended the group, only one had not been a victim of sexual assault, child abuse and/or domestic violence; only a handful of these instances had been reported to the appropriate authorities.
Thus, we envision using a "group work" approach to provide a mutually supportive and culturally accessible environment where victims can safely disclose the assault, violence and/or abuse. We see this as a sorely needed link to bridge Southeast Asian girls and women to accessing mainstream victims assistance services.
The continuation of enhancement direct service to the Laotian and Cambodian community. Although there are many similarities across Southeast Asian cultures, there are also many differences. Our experience has been that, particularly in sensitive areas such as victim assistance, it is oftentimes imperative that the advocate be a member of the particular indigenous community and able to speak both English and the native language rather than rely on the services of an interpreter. In addition, although the teenage girls speak English, we have found that Southeast Asian parents are more likely to cooperate and sanction their daughters' participation in group sessions and/or other services when they know that an adult member of their indigenous community is providing the services or leading the group.
The continuation of SEDC VOCA services to include staff development training for staff to lead the support groups for teenage girls and women.
We intend to continue to employ Ms. Rachana Mak as a full-time Project Coordinator (35 hours per week). During these hours Ms. Rachana continues to provide outreach and education as well as services to those victims who come forward. She continues to show the Southeast Asian community how to navigate the criminal justice system. The full-time position allows her to provide more adequate service to the victims who rely on her.
Given the difficulty that the Laotian caseworker has experienced trying to permeate the hesitant Laotian community, we propose to keep this position's schedule to 10 hours per week. Because of the Laotian victims' hesitancy to report their victimization, the caseworker has to work very hard to organize workshops as well as assist victims who are referred by DCYF.
Overall implementation of the project is the responsibility of the VOCA Coordinator, Rachana Mak and the Laotian caseworker, to be hired. They continue to be under the direct supervision of SEDC's Executive Director, Mr. Joseph R. Le. They are responsible for making certain that daily logs of client activity are maintained and client case records are kept in a secure file. The two staff members are responsible for preparing all progress reports and meeting all reporting requirements of the program. Mr. William Pellicio, LICSW, LCDP, an SEDC clinical social work consultant, provides the staff development training and is available on an as-needed basis for one-on-one consultation/counseling.
The coordinator and the Laotian caseworker also have the clerical support of an administrative assistant who applies three hours per week to VOCA efforts. Because the coordinator and caseworker are often assisting clients in court, etc., it is difficult for them to accomplish the administrative tasks of the program. The use of an administrative assistant allows them more time for direct services to clients. The administrative assistant, Heidi A. Pina, provides clerical assistance by preparing reports and various correspondences as needed. The Fiscal Officer, Phuong Bui Dao has overall fiscal responsibility for this program as an in-kind contribution. Mr. Joseph R. Le. SEDC Executive Director, is responsible for all supervisory issues related to this program.
Goal 1: To enhance access to mainstream victim assistance services for Southeast Asian teenage girls and women.
Objective A: To provide individual and family counseling and support in a culturally and linguistically accessible manner to Southeast Asian adolescent girls and adult women who are victims of child abuse, sexual assault and/or domestic violence.
Objective B: To assist victims of child abuse, sexual assault and/or domestic violence in taking appropriate actions through existing mainstream services.
Activities: To meet objectives A and B includes community-based indigenous counseling services from the appropriate Cambodian or Laotian staff.
The caseworker and the program coordinator links victims with community resources to meet their needs in the areas of emergency medical care, crisis counseling and support, emergency financial, food, clothing, transportation and/or housing assistance, advocacy services, assistance in obtaining restraining orders, criminal justice advocacy and support, court accompaniment, law enforcement accompaniment, etc.
The case worker and/or project coordinator provides follow-up counseling, reassurance and empathetic listening and guidance as needed.
Time Frame: October 1, 1999 - September 30, 2000.
Responsible Party: The VOCA Coordinator, Rachana Mak, and Laotian Case-Worker, to be hired.
Goal II: To provide culturally appropriate group counseling and group supportive services for Southeast Asian teenage girls who have been victimized by sexual assault, child abuse and/or domestic violence.
Objective A: To provide an ongoing group which is culturally and linguistically accessible and which provides mutual support and problem solving for Southeast Asian adolescent girls who are (or have been) victims of child abuse, sexual assault and/or domestic violence to assist them in recognizing, understanding and dealing with the violence, assault and/or abuse.
Objective B: To provide linkage to existing mainstream counseling and support services as needed.
Activities: To meet objectives A and B includes the implementation of community-based mutual assistance groups. The groups focuses on helping the girls recognize and respond appropriately to sexual assault, violence and abuse. It is anticipated that the girls will need a great deal of support and guidance from the group leaders, their peers in the groups, and family (as appropriate) to come forward and appropriately deal with these problems. The worker and/or project coordinator provides linkage to existing mainstream counseling and support services, as needed, along with follow-up counseling, reassurance and empathetic listening and guidance. If group counseling is deemed inappropriate for a particular case, individual counseling is provided by SEDC's clinical social work consultant.
Time Frame: October 1, 1999 - September 30, 2000.
Responsible Party: The VOCA coordinator, Rachana Mak, Laotian case worker to be hired, and SEDC clinical social work consultant, William Pellicio.
Goal III: to provide staff development and training in a culturally appropriate manner. In addition to imparting knowledge about domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse the focus of the group training is on the development of individual and group communication skills, assessment, and problem solving skills.
Objective A: To enhance the knowledge base and problem solving skills of the trainees so they are prepared and empowered to provide education, outreach and support to Southeast Asian women and girls who are at risk of domestic violence, child abuse and/or sexual assault.
Objective B.: To enhance the group work skills of the trainees so that they are prepared and empowered to provide education and support groups for Southeast Asian women and girls who are at risk of domestic violence, child abuse and/or sexual assault.
Actives: To meet objectives A and B includes providing culturally appropriate training which enhances mutual support, problem solving, and empowerment skills as an overarching theme of the training seminar. The training also focuses on helping the participants recognize and respond appropriately to situations of sexual assault) violence and abuse. It is anticipated that role modeling and role rehearsal are used extensively in the group training sessions to give participants the opportunity to progress from trainees to community trainers in educating and providing support about domestic violence, child abuse and/or sexual assault.
Time Frame: October 1, 1999 - September 30, 2000.
Responsible Parties: Mr. William Pellicio, SEDC clinical social work consultant, conducts the training programs. Participants in the training includes Rachana Mak and the new Laotian caseworker.
The program is evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative criteria consists of the following:
Number of Southeast Asian crime victims who attend counseling and support groups.
Number of cases referred.
Number of training programs conducted
Qualitative measures consist of formal input from mainstream agencies about their impressions of the overall quality of SEDC services provided through this grant. Services providers are asked to evaluate SEDC's response to their requests. In addition, we use pre-and-post-test questionnaires to measure change in the problem-solving and mutual support capacities of the women and girls who participate in the groups.
Joseph E. Le
Executive Director
270 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
Phone 401-274-8811
Fax 401-274-8877


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Life Simplification
I've been reading Timothy Ferriss' awesome book "The 4 Hour Work Week". The book is essentially a road map to creating a lifestyle that allows you to do what excites you. Even before reading the book, I have been slowly moving in that very direction. The book has given me explicit directions and a plan. Here are a few ideas I'm implementing:
Cutting Information
We are constantly flooded with information that has no bearing on our lives. This may come in the form of television news, the interwebs, email, newspapers, Facebook, or a myriad of other sources. All waste time, which we use as excuses to procrastinate accomplishing tasks that will actually help us.
Ferriss' concept isn't to become more productive to squeeze more in each day. His goal is to eliminate the inefficiencies to get shit done, then use the extra free time to pursue that which excites you.
This concept has been surprisingly easy. I stopped surfing the 'Net. I check Facebook once each day for about 10 minutes. I set up an autoresponder on my email; I only check it once every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The results have been shocking. Each day, I have a to-do list of exactly one thing. It is always something that is my highest priority to help me accomplish some goals. After I accomplish that one task, I have free time.
It is a little more complex, but that's the basic idea. I love it! I actually accomplish more useful tasks, I have more time to spend with Shelly and the kids, I even have more time to run.
Less is More
Along the same lines, I am also actively reducing my material possessions (which I've documented previously). My ultimate goal is to become completely mobile, which means eliminating everything I own except for a handful of convenient-to-transport material items.
So far, so good. I've managed to eliminate a good portion of my stuff. The process is like peeling back layers of an onion. The first round was easy- I eliminated all things I never use and had wanted to eliminate.
The next round was more difficult. I had to eliminate stuff I may use at some time. Once I began, it became easier. Getting over the idea that "I may someday need a plunge router, therefore it deserved a shelf in my garage" got easier after the first five or ten minutes of cleaning.
This process is becoming more difficult emotionally. I'm pretty much left with childhood mementos and items I sometimes use. If anyone happens to be a toy collector, I have a pretty impressive collection of toys from the early to mid 80's in fair condition.
I'll continue to document this process.


text: PTPPro 5pts Your statement is slightly confusing. "I realize the Ecotec has been around longer". Then you say "Chevy is following suit". Hopefully you are talking strictly marketing. GM is not "following suit" because they don't advertise turbocharging as something unique or new. They are marketing eAssist. With the 130R concept, which is combining turbocharging and eAssist, maybe they will give it a new marketing name becuase that combo would be unique.


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First and foremost, there are the hem problems.
And then there are fit problems.
And sometimes there are style problems.
Hem confusion is rampant. Too short a hem on a man is very awkward (see the photo at the top of the page). I'm not talking about intentionally-too-short, like this:
This is a (now) classic Thom Browne look. Super-clean lines, flat front (always), with a nod to the '60's. This intentionally-too-short hem is definitely a fashion forward choice, sported by gentlemen in creative fields, and those who aren't afraid to dabble in trends.
The Thom Browne pant won't translate for most men, and that's fine. Regardless, hem length is so important that it should be executed with the same intentionality that trendy gentleman in creative fields employ. This is excellent reference material right here:
Men, when a pair of pants fit well you will feel fabric against your thighs. A belt will be a stylish accessory, not the only thing keeping the public from knowing your underwear brand.
Watch for pulling through the crotch and back seam (the fabric will strain horizontally), this means your pants are too tight. Bagging through the crotch, vertical pooches on the backside, and bagginess through the thigh are signs that your pants are far too big. That and having to constantly hitch up your waistband.
Personally, I prefer a flat-front pant for both casual and professional wardrobes. The look is tidy and attractive on pretty much everybody.
And now for the rise. The rise is the measurement from crotch to waist. Typically, a well-fitting pant's waistband settles around the top of the hip bone and the rise has ample (but not too much!) room for the "package." (Apparently this rule changes with age and related weight gain/underwear choices.)
Embrace your style! Explore, try new things, and enjoy. But, for the love of all things holy, DO NOT PULL YOUR PANTS DOWN BELOW YOUR BUTT.
And finally, here are some pants that have been universally flattering on my clients (and my husband).
|Joe's Classic Straight Leg Jean. Excellent denim and perfect not-trying-too-hard fit.
|AG Protege. A super-versatile jeans-that-are-also-chinos pant that can be casual or dressed up - great fit!
|Hugo Boss "Sharp" Flat Front Trouser. No better dress pant, in my opinion. Superior fit, quality, and appearance.


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Making a Global Impact
Dec. 6, 2011
By Elizabeth Chapin
This year, the announcement of 30 Fulbright awardees and the system's first official Rhodes Scholar is proof that the CSU is producing some of the world's most prestigious scholars.
Cal State Long Beach grad Stephanie Bryson received one of only 32 Rhodes Scholarships awarded throughout the United States. The scholarships are the oldest and most prestigious international fellowship awards in the world and grant full financial support to pursue a degree at the University of Oxford in England. Upon receiving the scholarship, Bryson became the first official Rhodes Scholar in the CSU system. Read more about her story here.
In addition, 14 recent graduates from East Bay, Fresno, Long Beach, Humboldt, San Diego and San Francisco received esteemed Fulbright U.S. student awards. With nine coming from San Diego State, the campus was recently highlighted in the Chronicle of Higher Education's top Fulbright producing research institutions, ranking 37th in the nation and tying for third among California colleges and universities.
A number of Fulbright faculty scholars also hail from the CSU. This year, 16 faculty members from 10 campuses were awarded with Fulbrights—with Cal State L.A., Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Fullerton, and San José State recognized as top producers.
The Fulbright program is the government's largest international exchange program, designed to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people from other countries. Students, scholars, and professionals granted Fulbrights undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide, in more than 155 countries. Their foreign counterparts engage in similar activities in the U.S., many of which are hosted by CSUs.


text:
"The victim had been working under a wooden platform that had a 400-gallon water tank on top of it," Wolffis said. "The platform collapsed while the victim was under it."
Rojas was trapped underneath the wood and tank until the owner of the property removed the debris, Wolffis said.
Sheriff's deputies and Robinson Township firefighters treated the patient at the scene. He was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids by North Ottawa Community Hospital ambulance. He was listed in critical condition at the Grand Rapids hospital late Friday, Wolffis said.
Wolffis said it is unknown what caused the wooden platform to collapse, and the case remains under investigation.


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All name change petitions, except where a former name is being restored, must include a copy of the petitioner's
electronic fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency or FDLE approved private vendor.
Requirements for Filing:
Pinellas Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) must be provided to fingerprinting vendor when fingerprints are sent electronically. If not provided, FDLE will not return Criminal History Records Check to the Pinellas Clerk of the Court.
Pinellas ORI - FL924030Z
Clearwater Law Library, Old Clearwater Courthouse
324 S. Ft. Harrison Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-5150
Fax: (727) 453-3423
North County Branch Self Help Center
29582 U.S. 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33761
Phone: (727) 464-5150 /
Fax: (727) 453-3423
Open Tuesdays only
St. Petersburg Judicial Building
545 First Avenue North, 5th Floor
St Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 582-7941
Fax: (727) 582-7945
Pinellas County
Clerk of Court Offices:
North County Branch Office
29582 U.S. 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33761
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Blog World Expo
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text:
|Name day
|July 21
|"God is my judge"
|Other names
|Related names
[1] Dan, Danny, Dani, Daniella (English)
|Look up Daniel in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means, "God is my judge",[2][3] and derives from two early biblical figures, primary among them Daniel from the Book of Daniel. It is a common given name for males, and is also used as a surname. It is also the basis for various derived given names and surnames.
The name evolved into over 100 different spellings in countries around the world. Nicknames (Dan, Danny) are common in both English and Hebrew, although in some instances "Dan" may be a complete given name rather than a nickname. The name "Daniil" (Даниил) is common in Russia. Feminine versions (Danielle, Daniela, Daniella, Dani, Danitza) are prevalent as well. The Dutch names "Daan" and "Daniël" are also variations of Daniel. A related surname developed as a patronymic, Daniels.[4] Other surnames derived from "Daniel" include McDaniel and Danielson.
In the United States, the U.S. Social Security Administration reports that Daniel has peaked as the fifth most popular name for newborns in 1985, 1990, 2007, and 2008.[5] The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in the 2000 census, "Daniels" was the 182nd most common surname in the U.S., while "McDaniel" was ranked at 323, and "Daniel" (without a final "s") was ranked at 380.[6]
- ^ "Names that are related to DANIEL", Behind the Name
- ^ "Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Daniel". behindthename.com.
- ^ Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1, p.68.
- ^ "Surname: Daniel". surnamedb.com. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
- ^ "Top 5 Names In Each Of The Last 100 Years", U.S. Social Security Administration.
- ^ "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the Census 2000", United States Census Bureau.


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Mac Congail
'And those who pacify with blood accursed
Savage Teutates, Hesus' horrid shrines,
And Taranis' altars cruel as were those
Loved by Diana, goddess of the north'.
Lucanus (Pharsalia Book 1)
The three Celtic deities best known from classical sources are Teutates, Esus, and Taranis. Teutates is identified with Mars or Mercury, and receives as human sacrifice drowned captives and fallen warriors. Esus is also identified with Mercury but also with Mars, and he accepts as human sacrifices prisoners who are hanged on trees and then dismembered. The Celtic 'Thunder-God' – Taranis, who is also known from eight inscriptions found in Germany, Hungary, Croatia, France and Belgium, and also figures as the character of Taran in the Cymric (Welsh) Mabinogi of Branwen ferch Llŷr, is identified with Jupiter, as a warlord and a sky god. Human sacrifices to Taranis were made by burning prisoners (see Mac Congail/Krusseva 2010, The Men Who Became the Sun. Barbarian Art and Religion on the Balkans. Plovdiv).
Taranis (with wheel and thunderbolt)
Le Chatelet, Gourzon,Haute-Marne, France
It is interesting that the main Celtic God, Lugh/Lugus, is not mentioned by Lucanus (op cit), leading to the suggestion of Rübekeil (2003:38), in view of his hypothesis of a Celtic origin of the Germanic god Odin, that Lugus refers to the trinity Teutates-Esus-Taranis considered as a single god (Rübekeil L. Wodan und andere forschungsgeschichtliche Leichen: exhumiert, Beiträge zur Namenforschung 38 (2003), 25–42).
Based on writings in the ninth century comment on Lucan, the Berne Scholia and descriptions in Caesar's De Bello Gallica Taranis has been identified as the deity to whom both Julius Caesar and Strabo describe human sacrifices being offered by being burnt alive in 'wicker men'. The Berne Scholia also describes Taranis as a 'master of war' and links him with the Roman deity Jupiter. Taranis' name is derived from the Proto-Celtic root *torano- 'thunder' [Noun] (GOlD: Olr. torann – 'thunder, noise' W: MW taran [f] '(peal of) thunder, thunderclap', BRET: OBret. taran gl. tonitru, MoBret. taran [m] CO: OCo. taran gl. tonitruum, MCo. taran).
The Gaulish word for 'thunder' is preserved in the Gasconian dialect of French (taram). The Celtic forms are best explained by a metathesis *tonaro- > *torano-. The unmetathesized form is perhaps attested as the OBrit. Theonym Tanaro and in the old name of the river Po, Tanarus 'thundering'. (REF: LEIA T-l13, GPC III: 3447, Delamarre 290, Deshayes 2003: 714; See Matasovic R., Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Leinen/Boston 2009. P. 384, with relevant lit.).
Associated with the Celtic Thunder God is the Solar Wheel or Wheel of Taranis. The wheel was an important symbol in Celtic polytheism, associated with a specific god, known as the wheel-god, identified as the sky-, sun-, or thunder-god, whose name is attested to as Taranis by Lucanus (op cit). Numerous coins and other artifacts across areas of Celtic settlement in Europe, from Gaul in the west to Thrace in the east, also depict the wheel of Taranis:
Votive wheels called Rouelles, thought to correspond to the cult of Taranis. Thousands of such wheels have been found in sanctuaries and other sites across Celtic Europe.
(Musée d'Archéologie Nationale)
Gaul. The Aedui tribe. (Circa 80-50 BC)
AR Quinarius. Helmeted head of Roma left / horse prancing left, Wheel of Taranis below.
Gaul. The Redones tribe. Billon Stater.
Celticized head of Apollo right / Celticized chariot: androcephalic horse leaping right, charioteer above & behind, holding whip over horse's head. Wheel of Taranis below.
Gaul. Silver denarius of the Cavarii (Cavares, region of Avignon).
Circa 80 BC. Stylised laureate head left / horse galloping left, Wheel of Taranis below.
Gaul, The Osismii tribe (2 – 1 c. BC).
Silver quarter unit. Celticized head left / Human-headed horse galloping left; Celticized rider with head looking upward. Wheel of Taranis before.
Belgic Gaul, Treviri AV Stater. ca 60–30/25 BC.
Celticized horse rearing left, in upper field star, V with dotted border, & cross with four annulets between arms, pellet-cross under belly, star under tail; Wheel of Taranis, two stars & globule in front, above a row of pellets, herringbone pattern, solid line above which three stars.
Celtic Raetia, The Helvetii.
Base AV Stater. Traces of head of Apollo right / Biga right, driver above, Wheel of Taranis beneath horses.
In southeastern Europe a range of Celtic artifacts have also been found which depict the Wheel of Taranis. The Celtic deity holding the solar wheel is represented, for example, on Plate C of the Gundestrup Cauldron thought to have been produced by the Thraco-Celtic Scordisci tribes in northwestern Bulgaria in the late 2nd c. BC (see 'The Scordisci Wars' article'). Artifacts depicting the Wheel of Taranis in this region range from Celtic coins dating from the 3rd c. BC onwards, to Romano-Celtic artifacts from the same region dating to the 3rd/4th c. AD.
Taranis with Wheel as depicted on plate C of the Gundestrup cauldron
In the 20's of the 2nd c. BC the Scordisci tribe in Thrace came under attack from the north. An expansion of the Germanic Cimbri tribe was finally repulsed near the Celtic settlement of Singidunum (Belgrade), and the Cimbri migrated further west (Rankin D. Celts and the Classical World. New York 1987:19 ). It is likely that it was during these events that the most famous of Scordisci treasures, the Gundestrup cauldron, was looted and carried off by the Cimbri (Bergquist A.K., Taylor T.F. The Origin of the Gundestrup Cauldron, Antiquity, vol. 61, 1987. 10-24; See also 'The Scordisci Wars' article on this site).
Celtic tetradrachms from the Ribnjacka Hoard (Bjelovar, Croatia) – 2nd / 1st c. BC. Note the Wheel of Taranis in front of the horseman on the reverse. A large number of tetradrachms found in this hoard bore the symbol of the Taranis Wheel (Nos. 45 – 64).
(After Kos P., Mirnik I. The Ribnjacka Hoard (Bjelovar, Croatia). In The Numismatic Chronicle 159 (1999)
Scordisci AR Drachm. Dachreiter type. Serbia/Bulgaria – 2nd – 1st c. BC.
Laureate head (of Zeus?) right / Horse trotting left. Wheel of Taranis above (On the Scordisci 'Taranis' coins see Numismatic section 4).
Romano-Celtic Lead amulet from Ratiaria (modern Archar) northwestern Bulgaria (3rd c. AD).
Note the Wheel of Taranis, a common iconic symbol on Scordisci coins and other Celtic artifacts in Thrace
(See in particular numismatic section 4 and 'Sacrificial Daggers, Swords and Settlements' articles; After Markov 2005; See 'Hounds of the Empire' article)
Evidence for the worship of Taranis, and the depiction of the Solar Wheel associated with this Celtic deity on coins and other artifacts across Celtic Europe, is particularly important as it clearly illustrates that despite regional differences between the pan-Celtic peoples, certain core religious beliefs and iconography were shared, and remained constant despite temporal and geographic dispersion.


text:
Owners of Windows Phone 8 devices interested in trying out a new web browser in addition to the Internet Explorer already available for them can now download and install Maxthon.
The application made it to the Windows Phone Store this week, promising a great web navigation experience to all those who would like to take it for a spin.
The Maxthon Cloud Browser comes to Windows Phone devices with features and capabilities that resemble those available for Windows users.
In fact, Maxthon notes that the new application builds on the expertise that its developers already have, and that it will deliver a great out of the box experience, ease of use, and high performance capabilities.
Furthermore, the mobile browser promises a series of features that aren't available in other similar applications, all destined to enhance the web browsing experience of all Windows Phone users out there.
Some of the main features that the new app release comes to handsets with include support for cloud services to make multi-device web easier, a new way of enjoying tabs on Windows Phones, support for Live Tiles, and a pop-up Address Bar.
Basically, which the Maxthon browser, users can:
- Sign in with a free Maxthon Passport account and sync your favorites online, and to other devices using the Maxthon Cloud Browser on Android, iOS, Windows and Mac.
- Easily view, and move forward and backward between your tabs.
- Access search and the address bar when you want it. A simple gesture causes it to pop-up.
- Maxthon has taken its famous "Quick Access" feature and reinvented it for Windows Phone. Easily pick, apply and access live Windows 'tiles' right from Maxthon's "Quick Access" feature.
Maxthon for Windows Phone 8 is available for download as version 22.214.171.1240 at the moment. It can be found on this page in the Windows Phone Store.


text:
Susanne Sundfør
Kleerup Announces Mini-LP As If We Never Won, Shares Susanne Sundfør Collab "Let Me In"
In 2006, Andreas Kleerup teamed up with Robyn for the hit "With Every Heartbeat" (one of our favorite tracks of the first decade of the ...
September 5, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. EDT
Listen: Title Track From M83's Score for the Tom Cruise Film Oblivion, Featuring Susanne Sundfør
M83's Anthony Gonzalez provided the score for the Tom Cruise-starring sci-fi film Oblivion. He's already shared the track "StarWaves". Now, here's the ...
March 25, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. EDT
Watch: Röyksopp Performs New Track, "Running to the Sea", with Susanne Sundfør
Over on their website, Norwegian production duo Röyksopp have shared video of them performing a new song. "Running to the Sea" is a collaborative track ...
December 1, 2012 at 12:25 p.m. EST


text:
« Abstract Abstracts |
| Lilly Shrinks »
Posted by Derek
My post the other day on why-do-it academic research has prompted quite a bit of comment, including this excerpt from an e-mail:
I would also note that mediocrity is hardly limited to academia. I cannot tell you the number of truly dumb things that I continue to see happening in industry, motivated by the need to be doing something - anything - that can be quantified in a report. The idea that industry is where reality takes command is depressingly false, and I would guess that the same thing that distinguishes the best from the rest in academia also applies in the "real world."
Well, my correspondent is unfortunately on target with that one. Industry is supposed to be where reality takes command, but too often it can be where wishful thinking gets funded with investor's cash. I'm coming up on my 20th anniversary of doing industrial drug discovery. I've seen a lot of good ideas and a lot of hard work done to develop them - but I've also seen decisions that were so stupid that they would absolutely frizz your hair. And I'm not talking stupid-in-hindsight, which is a roomy category we all have helped to fill up. No, these were head-in-hands performances while they were going on.
I can't go into great detail on these, as readers will appreciate, but I can extract some recurring themes. From what I've seen the worst decisions tend to come from some of these:
"We can't give up on this project now. Look at all the time and money we've put into it!" This is the sunk-cost fallacy, and it's a powerful temptation. Looking at how hard you've worked on something is, sadly, nearly irrelevant to deciding whether you should go on working on it. The key question is, what's it look like right now, compared to what else you could be doing?
"Look, I know this isn't the best molecule we've ever recommended to the clinic. But it's late in the year, and we need to make our goals." I think that everyone who's been in this business for a few years will recognize this one. It's a confusion of ends. Those numerical targets are set in an attempt to try to keep things moving, and increase the chance of delivering real drugs. That's the goal. But they quickly become ends in themselves, and there's where the trouble starts. People start making the numbers rather than making drugs.
"OK, this series of compounds has its problems. But how can you walk away from single-digit nanomolar activity?" This is another pervasive one. Too many discovery projects see their first job (not unreasonably) as getting a potent compound, and when they find one, it can be hard to get rid of it - even if it has all kinds of other liabilities. It takes a lot of nerve to get up in front of a project review meeting and say "Here's the series that lights up the in vitro assay like nothing else. And we're going to stop working on it, because it's wasting our time".
"Everyone else in the industry is getting on board with this. We've got to act now or be left behind." Sometimes these fears are real, and justified. But it's easy to get spooked in this business. Everyone else can start looking smarter than you are, particularly since you see your own discovery efforts from the inside, and can only see other ones through their presentations and patents. Everyone looks smart and competent after the story has been cleaned up for a paper or a poster. And while you do have to keep checking to make sure that you really are keeping up with the times, odds are that if you're smart enough to realize that you should be doing that, you're in reasonably good shape. The real losers, on the other hand, are convinced that they're doing great.
I'm not sure how many of these problems can be fixed, ours or the ones of academia, because both areas are stocked with humans. But that doesn't mean we can't do better than we're doing, and it certainly doesn't release us from an obligation to try.
Comments (27)
+ TrackBacks (0) | Category: Academia (vs. Industry) | Drug Development | Who Discovers and Why
1. Anonymous on September 15, 2009 7:51 AM writes...
Great post, so accurate. I left the industry a while back, and some of the reasons so eloquently communicated above played a part in that decision. The 'sunk-cost fallacy' was utterly crippling at my shop - we had dozens of molecules limping along and we ALL knew they were going nowhere... But no one seemed willing to kill them off. Such a waste of time and money.
Still enjoying the blog Derek, keep it up!
2. milkshake on September 15, 2009 8:36 AM writes...
when careers are at stake, people will act in their self-interest rather than doing good science. Middle management is about the control of people and projects, about the goals on flowcharts being met on time.
I lived under communism - some diseases of the industry are rather similar (but the money is a lot better). I think the best description of these problems is to be found in Parkinson's laws - see the Injellitis etc
3. CMCguy on September 15, 2009 9:29 AM writes...
Great Post Derek as indeed industry can seem to trip into these same pitfalls over and over. The "Potency uber all mantra" in medchem can lead to problems and even failure down the road. Unfortunately such dumbness does not end at discovery stage as development can be full of repetitive inane activities, sometimes in the name of Regulatory compliance but typically fueled by pressures to just get things done on a project without thinking how to do better.
4. Spartic on September 15, 2009 9:51 AM writes...
Get used to the Academics being in charge. There will be no industrial research.
I suppose Lily cutting 14% of its staff isn't even worthy of comment anymore!
5. DylanE on September 15, 2009 9:58 AM writes...
Any stories of the seemed-stupid-at-the-time-but-turned-out-to-be-brilliant-in-hindsight variety?
6. gyges on September 15, 2009 10:03 AM writes...
"Get used to the Academics being in charge. There will be no industrial research."
Good point made by Spartic, above. In the UK we have the disease of pseudo-industrialists; that is, academics subsidised by Universities who undermine small and medium enterprises. These double salaried enterprises have most probably destroyed a great number of fledgeling companies.
When will it end?
7. Hap on September 15, 2009 10:35 AM writes...
Isn't comparing the most stupid behavior of both groups the wrong standard? If I am to be judged on my most stupid thoughts, words, and acts, I'm screwed. It seems more reasonable to judge the two (at least for their relative capabilities at drug development) for what they've done (and what resources they've used to do so) rather than just their most stupid moments, and while people in academics have come up with drugs (with significant external help), the rate and effectiveness of drug development in industry seems significantly higher than in academics.
Analysis of the habitual stupidity seems more useful in understanding why the drug industry appears to have been less effective at finding drugs recently than as to whether they do so better than academic drug development groups.
8. Sili on September 15, 2009 10:41 AM writes...
Meeting the pseudogoals rather than the real goals happens everywhere. It's crippling healthcare and other public services here exactly because administrators like to deal with easily quantifiable numbers.
9. Yancey Ward on September 15, 2009 11:28 AM writes...
Too funny and sad at the same time. Seen multiple examples of all of these during my career, and, yes, they are "head in the hands" obvious to a lot of us.
10. MTK on September 15, 2009 12:20 PM writes...
It's not just us down in the trenches. The chasing of non-sensical goals is obvious to everyone, including middle and upper management. Management is bound by shareholders and investors metrics just as we are bound by their metrics. This is a natural outgrowth of any bureaucracy, which is what any organization that has departments is.
BTW, the best one I remember was "We have better compounds than X, but we'll save those to meet next year's objectives, since we've already met this year's with X."
11. Johnathan on September 15, 2009 12:40 PM writes...
The behaviors you describe are in no way limited to the pharmaceutical industry. I worked for several years at a large, Fortune 50 semiconductor manufacturer and personally witnessed the waste of 10s to 100s of millions of dollars from dysfunctional decision making. There were projects that were head-in-hands obviously wrong, yet accountability was so diffuse it was literally impossible to stop them. When they eventually failed or were cut after enormous investments in time, people, and money, the same groups of people would get assigned to the next disaster :-)
12. Diversity on September 15, 2009 1:59 PM writes...
Sounds just like some Governemnt research programs I used to keep stumbling across.
13. TomB on September 15, 2009 2:37 PM writes...
I don't think such decisions are limited to pharma companies. Project/Department leaders in any business have a strong incentive to make it look like the work they are doing is valuable. It is always a challenge to get the right people into leadership positions so that the company makes good business decisions. This is why business people, MBAs, and other types of overhead can add value. You're always going to get some inefficient decisions - the companies that do the best at limiting it tend to do better in the long run.
14. billswift on September 15, 2009 3:06 PM writes...
Meeting planning numbers rather than real goals is a really extensive problem everywhere. There is an extensive literature on this in software engineering, especially.
As far as the "everybody in the industry" argument, if true that everyone else is concentrating on that, maybe you should be looking elsewhere for a profitable project. The more competition there is in researching something, the more likely someone else is to be first with a salable product, which will leave you totally profitless, or at least dragging with a similar me-too product.
15. Jordan on September 15, 2009 3:31 PM writes...
"People can count better than they can read."
16. Hap on September 15, 2009 3:33 PM writes...
It may be optimistic to assume that people can do either.
17. molecular architect on September 15, 2009 3:41 PM writes...
#13. "This is why business people, MBAs, and other types of overhead can add value."
LOL, these people are the major source of non-sensical goals!
The best thing industry could do to improve matters would be to downsize these folks.
18. Industrial Chemist on September 15, 2009 5:46 PM writes...
Hap's comment (#7) is a very good one, but I would be curious to make the comparison based on dollars spent (ie investment on return). It wouldn't be quite fair (I don't think) to just compare number of accomplishments (drugs to market, say) of industry and academia. It would seem to me that there should be some sort of normalizing ratio. That is if we're interested in actually comparing the two, rather than tooting our own collective horn.
19. Bored on September 16, 2009 9:48 AM writes...
Our current manned space program, based on the Space Shuttle and the ISS is a great example of what happens when you just do something for the sake of doing it.
When JFK gave his Rice University speech where he challenged the U.S. to land a man on the moon, he forgot to mention follow-up. Once the goal was reached, we floundered around for a reason to send people into space.
We now find ourselves within a couple of years of loosing the ability to send Americans into space on our own vehicles. We've spent unbelievable energy and treasure on the ISS which may have to be de-orbited, because it has no real function.
It all happened because there wasn't enough thought given to long-term goals. That is what is lacking in our lives today. We are living for the moment.
20. Sili on September 16, 2009 10:51 AM writes...
Learn to read, #17.
"can add value"
TomB specifically stressed that it's a very tough job to ensure that the right people are in the right positions. And that is indeed true of any organisation.
21. CMCguy on September 16, 2009 11:10 AM writes...
#18 IC I think your point(s) about comparisons/horn tooting is good. The missions/focus/environments of academia (where I would place most government labs like NIH) vs industry is very different so should be part of any comparative metrics evaluation, a questionable exercise to begin with. There may be certain overlaps but rather than attempting to take credit/promote achievements what really needs to be encouraged in cooperation and collaborations that link together to produce better advancements overall. Unfortunately both side get so tied up in funding/economics that clouds everything.
22. molecular architect on September 16, 2009 3:02 PM writes...
#20 (Sili): I read TomB's comments just fine. I agree that it's tough to ensure that the right people are in the right positions. It's his suggestion that "business people and MBAs" are the solution. While anybody CAN add value, I've yet to see a case where the overabundance of these types in most pharma/biotechs DID add value!
23. milkshake on September 16, 2009 3:28 PM writes...
MBAs are like God: They giveth (= obscene bonuses to among themselves) then they taketh away (= your projects, jobs and careers). You get invited for all hands meeting in the admin building and on the way back everyone is handed a box, with five minutes to pack up the belongings (with the guards standing above you) - they really teach that in the business school.
24. Anonymous on September 17, 2009 8:08 AM writes...
#23: Do you still do that in America? I thought it was just in movies.
25. molecular architect on September 17, 2009 8:54 AM writes...
#23: Oh yes, that's how many places do layoffs in the US. Guards walking the hallways making everyone turn off their computers; the group march to HR for your exit interview where you're handed the severance agreement to sign, etc.
I've personally seen it twice, most recently in 2006 at the small San Francisco area pharma where Milkshake and I both worked.
26. milkshake on September 17, 2009 6:26 PM writes...
that company where we were ought to have been class-action sued by the ex-employees, for being lied to and cheated out of their severance. Since this was all done in completely bad faith, the punitive damage award could have been staggering.
The ex-Sugen employees who got cheated out by Pfizer of their promised severance actually sued and eventually Pfizer settled for what they have been owed (and their legal expenses), but of course there were no punitive damages in this case.
remember, all it takes is a corporate misconduct, two aggrieved former employees, and a hungry law firm. Lawyers are mercenaries - and sometimes one has to hire mercenaries to stand a chance...
27. srp on September 19, 2009 2:39 AM writes...
I strongly doubt that most business schools have classes on the details of firing people--none of the academics at such schools would have any experience or know much about it. They are way more ivory tower than that--they don't even teach project management (that's left to engineers running certificate programs) as it's too nitty-gritty. The organization and social psych courses that are the main "people management" parts of the curriculum are almost universally the least liked and attended to.
On the other hand, MBAs are drilled hard on avoiding the sunk-cost fallacy and understanding opportunity costs. They are hammered with the idea that if you measure and reward the wrong thing, you'll get the wrong outcomes (there's a famous article with a title like "On the fallacy of rewarding y while expecting x"). Strategy classes impress upon them the importance of not trying to tackle rivals with head-on imitation strategies. So if these pathologies go on in pharma companies, they are in spite of rather than because of MBA training.
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Home » Autographs » Other Autographs
8x10 color photo from Army of Darkness signed by actor Bruce Campbell. Comes with numbered hologram sticker for authenticity.
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Jigging and shying on the trail is a big problem I've experienced a lot, and refusing to go over obstacles (ditches, puddles, logs, etc.) are some of the problems I have had the most trouble with. One of the more serious problems I have had on the trail is my horse spooking and trying to run back to the barn, I fell and broke my arm on that one... mostly that was a problem with my horse's fundamental training, I should not have had him on trails yet. But that is a common problem: Barn sourness.
Those are just a few suggestions. Let me know how it goes. I would love to hear what you have to say on the mater.


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The $100-million search for the genomic response to trauma
The Princeton findings are the latest to stem from a 10-year, $100-million effort to unravel the genomic underpinnings of why people experience vastly different outcomes to similar traumatic injuries. Based at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury (IHRI) project brought together more than 60 researchers from various U.S. universities. The IHRI consortium studied 1,977 severely injured and burned patients at U.S. trauma centers from 2003 to 2011, and the Princeton researchers worked with data from 168 of those patients. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a division of the National Institutes of Health, funded the project through its Large Scale Collaborative Projects, or "Glue Grant," program.
The work conducted at Princeton produced one of the project's most significant findings -- that at the genetic level, the human immune system is in fact very consistent from person to person -- said Ronald Tompkins, the IHRI project's principal investigator and a co-author of the PLoS Medicine report.
Conventional medical wisdom has long held that the reason a horribly injured 20-year-old is released from the hospital after seven days, while a 65-year-old with similar injuries eventually dies, is because the basic elements of their immune systems are completely different, said Tompkins, who is the chief of burns service at Mass General and a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. That assumption makes complications hard to predict and manage. Desai, Storey and Tan, however
|Contact: Morgan Kelly
Princeton University


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Tom Petrie, chairman of the National Western Stock Show Sertoma Square committee, says the cowboy statue best represents the event's true character.
"We felt this one epitomized the rodeo and ... that strong spirit which is so much associated [with the stock show]," Petrie said.
The statue was dedicated to the stock show seven years ago, on its 100-year anniversary but hadn't been completed until now. The statue also features the names of each Citizen of the West honoree since 1978.
Rose Heaphy contributed to this article.


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Use this mix
anywhere you would use commercial biscuit mix I've included some
recipes for your pleasure.
8 1/4c (33 oz or 935g) Better Batter Gluten Free Flour
1 1/4c nonfat dry milk powder
1/4c baking powder
1/4 c sugar
1T salt
2c shortening
all ingredients together, cutting in the shortening until the mixture is very
fine. Store tightly covered.
To make Pancakes:
2 cups mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Mix together and cook
on a hot griddle.
To make Waffles:
2 cups mix
1 1/3 c milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp oil
Mix and pour into a
greased, hot waffle iron. Let cook about 5 minutes, or until iron stops
To make biscuits:
2 1/4 c mix
2/3 c milk
Heat oven to 450
degrees. Stir together milk and mix. Add more milk if necessary to form a soft
dough. Drop by 1/2 cupfuls onto a greased baking pan and bake 8-10 minutes.
Optional: add 1 Tbsp garlic salt and one package of finely shredded cheese to
the mix before adding milk.


text:
Childhood Memories
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The chair was a gift from my Father when I was about three
The dress was made by my Mother
The bear belongs to my Mother and is about 90 years old
Thank you so much to Donna Mullins for the spotlight!
11 responses
Susan B. Griffith said (30 Jan 2013):
Precious memories.
Lynn E. Harvey gave props (30 Jan 2013):
What great memories and lovely composition of all beauties!
Donna Mullins gave props (30 Jan 2013):
Ditto Susans comment and I love this! With the bear being this old Sarah, is it a Steiff?
Susan Littlefield gave props (30 Jan 2013):
Sweetly sentimental! How wonderful that you have these beautiful treasures!!
Ted Anderson (Deleted) gave props (30 Jan 2013):
All well loved.
JamesHarmon McQuilkin gave props (30 Jan 2013):
a masterful capture--pov strengthens the symbolism so much
Michele Wambaugh (Deleted) said (31 Jan 2013):
Wonderful & so evocative!
Andrea Petersen gave props (2 Feb 2013):
So cute...I love it.and this one undoubtedly is a treasure for you!
JanElle gave props (5 Feb 2013):
So beautifully sentimental, each a treasure in their own special way. A lovely image!
Ann Reece gave props (7 Feb 2013):
This is a wonderful photo of the keepsakes you have. I have some things that belonged to my parents, afghans that mom crocheted for us, her teddy bear, dad's watch. I treasure them all: )
Zapata Juan P gave props (7 Feb 2013):
Lo e it. Well done
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The Magazine
The 'Dependence on Foreign Oil' Canard
The worst justification yet for Obama's energy plan.
Jun 22, 2009, Vol. 14, No. 38 • By JEFF BERGNER
Oil-exporting nations, moreover, are every bit as dependent for their stability on oil revenues as is the United States upon imported supplies. Their governments are unlikely to survive if oil revenues are suspended even temporarily. We have seen a similar mutual dependence of supply and demand when it comes to foreign debt. Fears that China might "call in" its holdings of U.S. debt are wildly exaggerated, given China's own national interests.
It is always possible that foreign supplies of oil could be jeopardized by something other than government-mandated production cuts. In Nigeria, for instance, separatist attacks have interfered with oil pipelines and so affected world oil prices, if only marginally and temporarily. There is no denying the impact of such disruptions. But the case of Iraq since 2003 is instructive. During Saddam Hussein's final months in power, Iraq produced more than 2 million barrels of crude oil per day. After the U.S. invasion, production declined precipitously; then it gradually, though sporadically, climbed back to pre-invasion levels. This fluctuation in supply far exceeded the problems Nigeria has experienced, yet there was no significant correlation between Iraqi production and the ups and downs of world oil prices over the past six years. Indeed, the rapid rise in world oil prices in 2008 coincided with Iraq's post-surge return as a more or less normal supplier of oil.
There is no such thing as a commodity market, or any other kind of market, where prices remain completely unchanged over time. It is in the nature of markets that prices fluctuate; it is, in a way, the point of a market to send price signals. Even if the United States produced all its own energy, energy prices would fluctuate with supply and demand. We see this with the prices of agricultural commodities, where we are not only self-sufficient, but a large net exporter. A perfectly stable world energy market is neither achievable nor necessary. By and large, the world oil market has functioned in a reasonably reliable manner over three decades that have included numerous geopolitical shocks.
Now, it is true that some of the world's largest oil reserves are located in places where one might wish they were not--Russia, Venezuela, and several Middle Eastern nations. These geological accidents have permitted an outsized influence for nations which might otherwise be of less global consequence. In the long run, this is likely to be more of a problem for these nations themselves than for their customers; oil revenues have covered over the failure of these nations to develop their human capital in a more productive and sustainable manner. As for America's interests, would they be different if we were energy independent? Would our national security policy options be better?
Here is a thought experiment: Suppose the United States imported no oil from the Middle East. None. Further suppose that even if nations like Japan, China, and India continued to import Middle East oil, American energy independence so reduced world oil demand as to mitigate whatever leverage Middle East oil-exporting nations are thought to have. How would American interests, capabilities, and options differ from what they are today?
We would continue to support our democratic ally Israel, and for that reason alone the United States would continue to care deeply about the Middle East. We would also continue to seek a positive relationship with Arab countries. American policymakers would not choose to write off relationships with 400 million people in a key region of the world, even if we imported none of its oil. For these reasons, too, one supposes that U.S. policymakers would continue to seek a workable resolution to the struggle between Israel and the Palestinian people. It is difficult to see what additional leverage the United States would possess if we no longer had in place our major trading relationship with Middle East oil exporting nations.
Similarly, the United States would retain a deep and continuing interest in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. This would be true for all the reasons it is true today: because of the existential threat to Israel from a nuclear-armed Iran, as well as the incentive an Iranian nuke would create for nuclear weapons programs in Sunni-dominated nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This would be especially true if these nations feared that an energy-independent America might lose interest in the region. Nuclear proliferation in the Middle East would be bad for the United States under any circumstances.


text:
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'Jewels' can make any gloomy heart glitter and sad face smile. They are women's one of the best friends. I don't think that any women exists in this world who can say no to jewellery. Every female wants to own beautiful jewellery to look at their best. Sometimes it becomes very confusing as to which jewellery will be apt for a particular occasion. Ofcourse you can't think of wearing a heavy pair of earrings to a workplace because it doesn't go well with your professional look. To solve your misery we have compiled a list of various situations and how to choose jewellery that goes well with your outfit.
Wedding gives you an opportunity to showcase the best of you. Especially if the wedding is of your friend, relative or loved one it demands you to standout among the crowd. Its the perfect occasion to open your jewel box and adorn the exquisite neck piece or a pair of danglers that your were eyeing to wear for long. A word of caution – decide your outfit first else you will goof up everything. Once you have decided upon your costume its the time to find that perfect jewellery to compliment it. If you have chosen something in the same colour its better to team it up with jewellery in contrasting colours. For Eg. a dress in blue looks great with emeralds. The colour will compliment each other and make jewellery come out more beautifully. If you have chosen outfit in many colours its smart to stick with silver or diamond jewellery else you will end up looking overdone. Always ask yourself – how much is too much!
At office or business meeting you would always like to dress smart and look very professional. The frequent question that crops the mind is how to incorporate the love of your life in your office attire. It's not that tough as you might be thinking. When it comes to jewellery, staying sweet and simple is the best way to go! A lovely pair of diamond or silver studs will look elegant at the same time not too glamorous for regular workday. If you are wearing a kurta or a saree then a plain chain with a small pendant looks elegant. You may even go for pearls for the sophisticated and complete look.
Image Courtesy: Google
For the dinner party you can jazz up or go a little less-blingy depending on how formal is the party. If its some corporate event its better to step down a little and not go too bling bling. A smart pair of diamond earrings can be teamed up with a matching diamond necklace or a bracelet for the finished look. If diamond is not your first preference then you can choose from semiprecious stone jewellery such as rubies or sapphires. If its some regular gathering its better to keep it classy. Wear a simple diamond chain or pearl pendant and complete the look without the feeling of being overdressed.
We hope these simple ideas will definitely help you to accessorize yourself the best way and gives you a better hint to team up the right jewellery with the correct outfit. Let us know if you find these ideas helpful and feel free to share yours.


text:
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Yamaha Bb/A Clarinet MouthpieceItem #: MC.CC-4C
List Price: $55.99
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Clarinet mouthpiece. Made by Yamaha. (MC.CC-4C)
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Yamaha mouthpieces are the high-quality, affordable choice for advancing musicians! All Yamaha mouthpieces permit well-balanced tone in all registers and are suitable for artists and students alike.
Clarinet mouthpiece for Bb and A clarinets, tip opening: 1.19


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Listen, we watch a lot of videos. We watch so many videos that they all start to run together and none of them seem funny anymore and we worry we may be having a mental breakdown. But then every so often, a video comes along that fills your soul with joy and puts lullabies in your heart. And today that video just happened to be of a clumsy reporter annihilating a child on a skateboard.
We have a theory about this video, and that theory is that this reporter was picked on by skateboarders as a kid. And so for years he dreamed of becoming a reporter, he worked his ass off in college, got an internship at a local station, impressed his bosses, and worked his way up the ladder until finally he got a chance to do his first fieldpiece, and that fieldpiece was on skateboarding. And then… he was finally able to get revenge on that little punk kid wearing a Billabong t-shirt who called him four-eyes in 7th grade... by leaping onto his modern day counterpart.
Congrats, Frogger (we're calling him Frogger around the office). You have finally avenged yourself.


text:
Review: "Moneyball" is a winnerSeptember 23rd, 2011 at 1:20 pm by Laff at the Movies under Entertainment
"Moneyball" is a great movie that hits a homerun – taking audiences on a journey that pits the little guys versus the big guys, its a underdog story that's fun for everyone, but its a must-see for baseball fans … and its likely to become one of the most popular baseball movies in history.
Look for some Oscar buzz around the acting performance of Brad Pitt, the Directing of Bennett Miller, the writing of Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin, and the movie as a whole.
(My spoiler-free review)
Much like "The Social Network", the filmmakers took the business side of baseball and made it interesting for all audiences… and like other successful sports movies that appeal to both fans and general audiences, the focus is more about what happens off the field than on the field.
"Moneyball" takes us back to the end of the 2001 baseball season, when the Oakland A's were in the American League Divison Series against the Yankees, it was a team with a payroll of $39 million versus a team with a payroll of $114 million.
I'm not giving much away by saying the A's lost the series that wrapped up about a month after September 11th… when the Yankees almost seemed destined to move on after the events of September 11th. But, the A's lost more than the series, their season ended with a loss and they lost three of the best players on the team: Jason Giambi to the Yankees, Johnny Damon to the Boston Red Sox, and Jason Isringhausen to the St. Louis Cardinals.
While the movie doesn't get bogged down in all the details of how the players were lost, it does just enough for fans and non-baseball fans to get the gravity of the situation that the Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) was put in during the offseason following the 2001 ALDS loss to the Yankees.
"Moneyball" gives us fans and non-fans an education of the game within the game of baseball… something we haven't really seen much before… a focus on the general manager, the scouts, and the management side of baseball business. Trade proposals, free agent signings, phone call with agents, and roster cuts might not seem like an interesting subject to all audiences, but woven into this story, they become fascinating details of Beane's day-to-day struggle.
If you didn't already know, the Oakland A's are a small market team, meaning their payroll is traditionally one-third of big market teams… so Beane is handcuffed by an owner in a small market that is not willing to pay more money to be competitive. Its this David versus Goliath mentality that draws the audience in… to start really caring about the business side of baseball… and be sympathetic of Beane.
Brad Pitt is great as Billy Beane, he creates a shrewd and charismatic character with many complicated layers as a former star prospect, a GM struggling to compete with a small payroll, and a father struggling to balance baseball career and his relationship with his 12 year old daughter.
Pitt is supported by Jonah Hill's solid turn as Peter Brand, plus Phillip Seymour Hoffman's quiet role as A's manager Art Howe, Kerris Dorsey as his daughter Casey, the cantankerous group of scouts and player development team (Jack McGee, Vyto Ruginis, Nick Searcy, Glenn Morshower, etc), plus a good cast of actors and former players as baseball players, including Chris Pratt (as Scott Hatteberg) and Stephen Bishop (as David Justice).
The movie also signals a change in the business of building baseball teams as the older scouts push back against Beane's plan – they are set in their old school ways of evaluating talent based on the player's age, appearance, personality, and observed abilities.
Director Bennett Miller and writers Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin should be proud of their little movie and its $47 million budget… just a little more than the Oakland A's had to play with in 2001… although, ironically, in the movie business they would be more of a medium budget team (the last two Oscar Best Picture winners – "The King's Speech" and "The Hurt Locker" – had budgets under $20 million).
"Moneyball" wins by using baseball language to a point of being credible, without losing the non-fans … a good mix of re-created baseball scenes edited together with actual highlights and news footage plus the use of sound (elements on camera and off camera like announcers or fans reaction on sports radio)… and I give it big props for the non-use of sound (adding depth to a moment where everything goes quiet before everything gets loud again). There are a lot of nice visual touches and dialogue to keep the story moving and baseball fans intrigued. The emotions of the team's losses and wins appeal to the emotions of the entire audience, not just baseball fans.
You don't need to be a baseball fan to enjoy this movie, as it focuses 80% of the movie on what's going on off the field with the relationships of the people involved with the business side of baseball… I give it 9.0 out of 10. "Moneyball" hits on all notes: entertaining and engaging story, with interesting characters, solid acting, great script, good cinematography, it has the look and feel down with costumes/sets/props. The only real weakness is the re-created baseball action scenes, but the filmmakers covered some of it up with actual game highlights to strengthen their movie.
(2011) (rated: PG-13 for some strong language)
(2 hrs, 13 min)
Starring: Brad Pitt (Billy Beane), Robin Wright, Jonah Hill (Peter Brand), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Art Howe),
Chris Pratt (Scott Hatteberg), Stephen Bishop (David Justice), Brent Jennings (Ron Washington), Ken Medlock (head scout Grady Fuson), Tammy Blanchard, Jack McGee, Vyto Ruginis, Nick Searcy, Glenn Morshower, Casey Bond (Chad Bradford), Nick Porrazzo (Jeremy Giambi), Kerris Dorsey, Takayo Fischer, Derrin Ebert (Mike Magnante), Miguel Mendoza (Ricardo Rincon), Adrian Bellani (Carlos Peña), Art Ortiz (Eric Chavez), Royce Clayton (Miguel Tejada), Marvin Horn (Terrence Long), Brent Dohling (Mark Ellis), Robert Ninfo (Eric Byrnes), Gary Johnson (Jermaine Dye), Michael Gillespie (coach Ken Macha), Chad Kreuter (coach Rick Peterson), Corey Vanderhook (Ramon Hernandez), Melvin Perdue (Ray Durham), Ari Zagaris (Jim Mecir), Reed Diamond (Indians GM Mark Shapiro), Bobby Kotick (A's owner Steve Schott)
Director: Bennett Miller ["Capote" (2005)]
Writers: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin ("The Social Network")
Based on Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game"
Genre: Sports Biography/Drama
The Plot: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane works to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
So what did you think? Please post a comment!
"Moneyball" poster and photos courtesy Columbia Pictures
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Tags: Aaron Sorkin, baseball, baseball movie, Bennett Miller, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Laff at the Movies, Moneyball, movie, movies, Oakland A's, review, Robin Wright, Robin Wright Penn, Sports