text:
Read the comments.
The reasoning you see here is pretty much word for word why they are suggesting alt attributes be removed (authors abuse it, authors ignore it, why does anyone want it anyway). When actual users say "this feature would help me use the web" I don't get how someone else can say "well this issue it closed because I can't imagine why anyone would find this useful, end discussion." Whoa.
Recently (uh, months and months ago) on a mailing list I'm on, someone mentioned longdesc. I replied I was taught as a web dev never to use it: that many user agents ignored it, than it prevented you from linking images (which often is part of the architectural design) and that users didn't encounter it much. But the response was fairly positive for longdesc. People wanted it. You just don't hear them in the bug reports when people are writing specs.
Anyone think this is weird?
Overseeing an HTML spec must be quite a burden. Ian Hickson comes across as rather tetchy and brusque in that exchange: his "cargo cult" remark is currently being retweeted under #disablism. Maybe Google should consider sending him on a diplomacy re-education course.
Funnily enough, Ian Hickson has written in support of eugenics
Are they really aiming to snuff out alt altogether?
It is not the first time in HTML5 they tried to get rid of the ALT attribute and it won't be the last; although the last time was for the IMG element itself.
I cannot comment much about the VIDEO element though because I don't follow their work closely enough.
I'm not aware of anyone having proposed to remove the alt attribute. Citation needed?
In 2007, it was proposed it may be omitted completely from an image I probably mixed up my words.
Are there any blind people working on the spec?
PS: While I find his "cargo cult accessibility" remark an audacity, the way such things spread via Twitter (and the likes) is unsettling to me.
Meh. This was written 8 years ago: hopefully by now he's realised how terrible governments are at regulating human biology. Not sure what this has to do with how stuff is decided in a technical specification.
No, bad wording on my part: it's required in HTML4 and XHTML1, it has been an endless debate whether it would be required (and therefore show up in the validator if you didn't use it) in HTML5. Longdesc, by contrast, is to be removed entirely.
I'm the one who mixed them when talking about the alt debate, which I followed for a while before giving up. They weren't debating to remove it, but to stop making it required.
...the way such things spread via Twitter (and the likes) is unsettling to me.
Hm, well the HTML5 specs and discussions themselves are public. I'd say stuff like Twitter etc can call more attention to specific topics and discussions, which isn't a bad thing: there are many developers who take a look, walk away, hear about something, take another look, etc.
Every time I take a look, I walk away very quickly. Who the heck wants to get embroiled in debates with attitudes like that floating around? Is it choice between, keep your hair or (possibly maybe) improve the spec of a language you (may) use?
An interview with WaSP in 2009 provided him with an opportunity to disavow his interest, but he chose not to. He did however state:
"People with disabilities are just as important to me in my work on HTML 5 as is anyone else."
So, hopefully, he is able to isolate his aforementioned views on the future of the gene pool from the task of providing an HTML standard suitable for the current range of human intelligence and abilities. :eye:
Unfortunately, avoiding debates tends to encourage and empower those who display such attitudes.
@poes, agreed that Twitter is an excellent platform to make things known faster. Twitter is also too often used to start a wildfire and blowing things way out of proportion. I am not suggesting it was the case here. There have been some retweets of #disablism, as Victorinox pointed out, but they've not been out of line.
But my main question was whether there's a blind person on the spec team? Wouldn't that make things easier? There've been two people on that mailinglist wishing for that feature and both were blind. The ones who insisted that the feature wasn't relevant were made by people with vision.
To respond to some of the comments above:
There are a number of disabled users who contribute to the HTML development, both publicly (through the W3C and the WHATWG) and privately (by sending me comments directly).
The "alt" attribute isn't going anywhere. It's a core part of making HTML device-independent.
The discussion above has nothing to do with alt="", it's about a completely different issue: the poster image that is used in the visual presentation of a "video" element while the video hasn't loaded. There's nothing to make accessible there. It would be like making CSS background images "accessible" by adding a CSS alt() function or something like that. Or making the smilies on this forum "accessible" by saying what colour they are.
One of the big problems the W3C HTML WG has right now is that there are a small number of people on the group who have labeled themselves "accessibility experts" but are, well, not. They have looked at what real accessibility experts have done, and without understanding it, they try to come up with other features that they think are equivalent and then ask (demand might be a better word) that those features be added to the language. This is analogous to what the post-WW2 cargo cults did (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult), whence my comment which has apparently been widely retweeted. It would be like looking at buildings with wheelchair access ramps, thinking "oh we just need a ramp then", and building this: http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/fail-owned-handicap-ramp-fail.jpg
Personally, I'm interested in actually making the Web more accessible. The aforementioned people are more interested in making the Web seem more accessible (q.v. http://diveintomark.org/archives/2009/03/21/accessibility-is-a-harsh-mistress). My being testy and brusque comes from having to continuously fight the suggestions that would trade real accessibility for the appearance of accessibility.
and building this: http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/fail-owned-handicap-ramp-fail.jpg
Hey, don't I know that guy?!? : )
In any case, both the store with the too-steep-to-possibly-be-legal ramp and the one next door to it (who still has stairs), the result is the same: if you're in a wheelchair and you want to go inside, someone's got to pick you up and carry you in. Like a baby.
When you're going through YouTube results from a search (and their search isn't great), you get a lot of videos with the same title (usually the name of the song or the skit). You can either click through each one to find the one you're looking for, or you can call for sighted help to tell you which has the preview-frame (poster) with the album cover art on it (the only one with good sound quality). I'm sure that wasn't the whole original idea behind showing a frame of the video as a picture, but that's how they are increasingly being used... even when there are also plenty of videos where there is no rhyme or reason or meaning for which frame is shown (just as we have plenty of images who have no rhyme or reason or meaning and we have the option to say alt=""... or in HTML5, just leave it out entirely).
posteralt="" wouldn't help for that, since there's essentially zero chance that YouTube will ever have textual descriptions of the poster frames available. As an industry we'd be much better off spending our resources where it can make a difference, e.g. in speech-to-text automatic transcription that can then be searched, autosummarised, and displayed next to the videos, which would help all users, not just those who can't see the poster frame.
Thanks for the clarification!
Ian, I wonder if you could take a moment to discuss, specifically, which participants on the W3C HTML WG are labeling themselves as "accessibility experts" but aren't?
One of them posted the bug, another contributed to it. Neither of them I would consider are in the group of self labelled accessibility experts (actually labelled by you as 'self labelled') you refer to or perhaps they are now, because they dared to question your belief about what they as users with disablities should be allowed to perceive.
I laughed when i read that comment by Ian. I think saying x, y, and z are/aren't experts are relative. Personally, I have been called an expert and a SME in accessibility, I have even wow'ed an author of WCAG 1.0, who is recognized as an expert. But since I don't write about it on my blog a lot, or a book, I can be seen not as an expert. Should I be on WG mailinglists, yeah, but I am not.
I don't think it would be wise for me to name names.
Incidentally, another point I should make, which applies equally to users with disabilities as it does to everyone else, is that users in general are woefully unable to report their own needs. Usability studies are a classic example of this — if you ever get the opportunity to watch a software usability study, you will see that it is very common for users to claim a particular need, despite acting in a manner that shows that they are completely mistaken about that need.
An example from the accessibility sphere is the "longdesc" attribute. If you ask users what they want in terms of images, they will frequently claim that what would be most useful for them is a way of getting longer descriptions of what images are. However, if you actually look at how AT users interact with the Web, it becomes abundantly clear that this isn't true: by and large they never actually seek out longer descriptions of images; indeed, they generally don't find any need to even know that there are images.
We found similar things when we did the usability studies for the microdata feature (yes, we actually did usability studies for parts of HTML!). For example, people would claim to understand certain aspects of the feature, but would be unable to actually use them. It was only when we simplified the model beyond the point where authors claimed understanding that we ended up with a model that authors actually, in practice, understood.
The net result of all this is that when a user or author reports a bug, one has to be very careful to actually examine whether their request is actually sensible or not. The true experts are the ones who can tell the difference.
Another common mistake is to view the Web as primarily a visual medium, which must then be adjusted to work for AT users. This is the kind of approach that leads to "bolt-on" accessibility and poorly-devised features like longdesc="", summary="", or the aforementioned posteralt="". I feel this kind of approach basically is treating disabled users like second-class citizens.
The right way to design a device-neutral, medium-independent, universally accessibly markup language is instead to start from the standpoint of each kind of user — partially blind, hearing-impaired, having reduced motor control, speaking only English, etc — and to ensure that each feature makes sense in that context.
So for instance with video, if you think of it from the point of view of a completely blind user, you quickly realise that the visual part of the video is pointless. Instead what you need is to convey the action aurally — instead of making a video, you actually want to make an audio programme. In practice, this ends up meaning textual descriptions synchronised with the main audio track, since typically making two different programmes is too much effort and the visually-able part of the audience does want video.
Similarly, when you think of how to activate the playback of a media resource for a blind user, you would never consider having the video element be represented by an image, since the user can't see images. You would want instead to just expose playback controls and information about the nature of the video (typically it's title or other advisory information). This information would either be something inline in the page (e.g. in a paragraph adjacent to the video) or in the title="" attribute.
If you instead apply "cargo-cult" thinking, treating users of ATs as second-class citizens, you might come to a different conclusion: you would look at the visual page, think "Well there's an image there, and all images need alternative text", and you would ask for a posteralt="" attribute. But if you think of the AT users as first-class citizens, you would never even notice the poster frame.
Another example of how AT users are often viewed as second-class citizens is the summary="" attribute. If you think of AT users first, you would say "well any complex information structure must be explained to the reader" and you would put explanatory information about the table in the prose around the table (or in the caption, maybe). If you then think of visually-able users and look at the page, with its table description and its table, there would be nothing to change: there's nothing wrong with providing visually-able users lots of information about the table. It's only if you go the other way around that summary="" makes sense: if you start with the visually able, you might not think to include a description; if you then think of the AT users and decide they need a description, you might be tempted to say that the information shouldn't be shown to the visually able since you hadn't thought of it when you were considering them and therefore it should be hidden in an attribute.
I hope that better explains many of the decisions in the contemporary HTML specification. The tl;dr message is just "think of all your users, don't think of disabled users second".
The usability studies you did with microdata were hopelessly flawed. The sampling was too small and self-selecting, both of which cast doubt on any findings--much less findings used to extrapolate from, for wider use. The whole purpose of your little exercise was to prove the justification of your point. Flawed, absolutely, hopelessly.
The same with your argument against longdesc--your analysis is limited, based on queries to Google data. Your view on table summary again based on queries to Google data and a single video of a single subject. Flawed data, hopelessly compromised by researcher bias.
It seems to me that your belief in your understanding exceeds your actual knowledge on the subject, but you're so absolutely positively sure of the superiority of your understanding that you're telling a blind person you know more about what a blind person needs than he does. The problems inherent in your approach is that you're one person making the decisions as to what is a viable user request; only one person and frankly, not a very empathetic person--you're not really capable of deciding what is a meaningful request from someone who differs from you.
I've known of your interesting viewpoints so nothing surprises me much. However, that the W3C would tolerate you writing something like "cargo cult accessibility" in a bug request is astonishing, and the organization should be deeply ashamed.
It would be like looking at buildings with wheelchair access ramps, thinking "oh we just need a ramp then", and building this: http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/...-ramp-fail.jpg
In any case, both the store with the too-steep-to-possibly-be-legal ramp and the one next door to it (who still has stairs), the result is the same: if you're in a wheelchair and you want to go inside, someone's got to pick you up and carry you in. Like a baby.
It would be like looking at buildings with wheelchair access ramps, thinking "oh we just need a ramp then", and building this: http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/...-ramp-fail.jpg
Well, clearly neither of you, nor the person who made that #fail image, have traveled much with a person who uses a wheelchair. True, that ramp is way too steep. True, the Americans with Disability Act specifies the maximum steepness of a ramp without handrails, and a ramp with handrails —*and this ramp doesn't meet either part of the ADA spec. And true, many people in wheelchairs (of the motorized kind, or the hospital kind) could never use that ramp.
But clearly you've never spent any significant time with someone who uses a manually-controlled, custom-fit wheelchair. If you had, you'd understand how and when that ramp would be useful. Because in some cases it is. And also, you'd understand how stupidly insulting it is to call someone "a baby" because they ask for and get assistance sometimes.
Accessibility is complex. What people need and don't need is different from person to person to person. The point of making things more accessible is that you provide resources for many, many different people, with and without disabilities, to do the things they want to do.
I don't understand why the accessibility experts who've been working on HTML5, giving feedback and making suggestions, are being dismissed. Is it because they are have disabilities, and there's an assumption that the later disqualifies them from the former? That makes no sense.
A user experience designer is also a user. All users are not good user experience designers (hell no, even when they all think they are), but all user experience designers are also users. All people with disabilities are not accessibility experts, no way. But accessibility experts who also have disabilities are still accessibility experts.
(And since Hixie didn't bother to provide alt text or description for the photo in question, I will. It's a photo of the entrance of a store, where on the left there are three steps to get into the store. On the right, there's a very steep ramp spanning the same height, in the same distance — so it's probably at a 35-40% angle. The ramp is painted with a wheelchair symbol. And there's a man leaning on the ramp smiling. Over the image are the words "Handicapped Access. FAIL. failblog.org.")
Of course not... just trust him though, he knows.
However, specific to this bug; it was filed by a blind user who has just spent 2 years working directly with the Drupal 7 community ensuring that Drupal 7 is significantly more accessible to both content recipients, as well as content authors. He has worked on specific patches within D7 core, which have been committed, and so whether he is an "expert" or not is not relevant. He is a blind user with a close and clear understanding of authors and users, and specifically of blind authors and users such as himself. Or are those credentials not enough to 'allow' him to make this statement:
"As I explained above, the author is setting a poster. There is therefor avisual image on the page, it conveys meaning (or at least has the ability toconvey meaning), I want the meaning as much as someone who can see the image." - http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=10642#c8
Expert or not, what about this request from a blind person is hard to understand?
This kind of binary thinking is, frankly, bull-feathers. There are many types of users, and there are many types of blind users. An interesting point of distinction is between those who have been blind from birth, and those who lost their sight later in life. For those blind from birth it is often true that rich visual descriptions are often not that relevant, as they have nothing to compare those descriptions against. But for those who have lost their sight later in life, they do have the visual memories to draw upon, and those users often do appreciate good descriptions. Mr. Hickson claims that "...they generally don't find any need to even know that there are images." This bold assertion is based upon what, exactly? Is there a study, survey or other unbiased source as the foundation of this claim? If a graphic images does convey some critical information, then blind users want to know that too: if it is a diagram from last week's Computer Science lecture, then wqho says it's not important? But broad sweeping statements make great sound-bites... and Ian Hickson is actually very good at that kind of manipulation, he even writes about it and practices it: http://ian.hixie.ch/bible/handling-people
...the subtext being that he knows more than actual blind users what blind users need and want. After all, he's a 'true expert'. Am I the only one who reads this tripe and shake my head in disgust?
"I'm confused. Why would you (a blind user) want to know what the poster frame is? How does it affect you?" (Ian Hickson - http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=10642#c7)
In other words, because you are blind you don't need to know what this is. Every sighted person does, but you - blind person - you don't. Trust me, it's not important...
(and Mr. Hickson dares to lecture on creating second class citizens?)
So let's examine this.
HTML5's <video> element will also allow an author to specify an image, any image (any image) as the 'poster frame' - a graphic that fills the same region as the intended video playback 'box'. Upon activation of the video, the image will be replaced with this new content. Conceptually we now have 3 things: a region that contains content within a web page, a graphic file (.jpg/.png), and a video (.ogv/.webm). From the perspective of what is sitting on the server, there are 3 files: .html, .jpg and .ogv. To ensure "medium-independence" we need to ensure that all of the visual elements used on a web page have an equivalency for those who cannot see. It should not matter that based upon a user interaction one visual element is replaced by another: both visual elements require descriptions for the non-sighted. It context, doesn't that make sense?
Apparently not to Mr. Hickson. He thinks that the still image is meaningless, it has no need of description because what is important is the video, not the image. Says who? If the image is not important (or stands the possibility of being important) why does HTML5 even allow the author to specify an image? Why not just always use the first frame of the video, and provide a textual description of the video for non-sighted users. The moment you allow authors to specify an image as the poster frame you've opened the door for the author to use an image that may have absolutely nothing to do with the video (http://www.cineshoppe.com/graphics/ex0065.jpg alt="box of popcorn") Not allowing the non-sighted to know what this image is makes them second-class. Deciding for them that knowing or not knowing is immaterial to them is the worst kind of condescension I've ever encountered.
Remember, this request came from a blind user. No matter how much Mr. Hickson wants to argue this away, the reality is that an informed blind user/developer/engineer didn't see an image there - but he knows it exists and wants to know about it more - a not unreasonable request. A truly Universal Design pattern would account for this, and frankly is a problem not that difficult to solve... except Mr. Hickson as editor didn't think of it first, and when it comes to "accessibility experts", well he knows only too well that he's smarter than a boatload of them, so...
The up-side at this time is that this inequity and inequal treatment of non-sighted users is now a W3C Issue - a point serious enough to block HTML5's progress to Last Call until resolved. Hopefully despite Mr. Hickson's myopic view of what is and isn't required for Universal Access, we'll get this right.


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Spring is nearly upon us — and in the Alps that means festival season. The big news is that Eddie Izzard has just been announced as the mystery headliner of Mayrhofen's Altitude comedy festival. Altitude, on between the 26th to 31st March 2013, has made a name for itself as the place to watch top comedy acts in a stunning ski resort. Meanwhile in Switzerland, the Caprices music festival in Crans Montana kicks off this weekend, hosting a world-class line-up including Bjork, Fatboy Slim, Tori Amos and Pete Doherty.
France is getting in on the action too. Chamonix and Morzine are both hosting mini-festivals, with the steep Chamonix valley under Mt Blanc welcoming a squadron of underground electro artists for Black Weekend. Whilst Morzine, in the enormous Portes du Solei ski area, is welcoming boarders and ravers to Basscamp this month.
And, lest we forget, Mayrhofen again in early April gives us SnowBombing festival. Headlined by Kasabian, Example, Rudimental and featuring appearances by the likes of Foreign Beggars, Skream and High Contrast — SnowBombing brings the dub-infused atmosphere of a Hackney warehouse to the Austrian Alps. For a vital survival guide to Snowbombing, check out this quick guide we wrote for the Mayrhofen madness three years ago.
So what is all the fuss about? Why are these big names winding their tour busses up precipitous mountain roads to join the party?
First of all, playing in a ski resort has a cachet that attracts big names. During the first week of the 2012-13 ski season, Rudimental played to a sold out Dou Doune nightclub in Val d'Isere. The ski resorts were busy a week before Christmas with rowdy student parties and fresh seasonaires who had yet to max out their overdrafts — so the gig went down a storm. Secondly, après ski renowned resorts are spilling over with young people in full party mode, many of whom love summer festivals. Festivals in the Alps allow those of us who love music, skiing and partying to get in three of these expensive fixes simultaneously. With summer festival fans often prepared to travel as far afield as Croatia and Serbia for an action-packed festival, the lederhosen and fondue experience of Alps starts to seem like a sensible way of having an insanely good time.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Malaysia's High Court says it will let prosecutors use key DNA evidence in their bid to link opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to traces of semen found on the man who has accused him of sodomy.
The decision on Wednesday is a surprising reversal of the court's own recent ruling that a toothbrush, towel and water bottle that Anwar kept during police detention could not be submitted as evidence in his sodomy trial. A chemist testified that DNA on those items matched that of semen discovered on Anwar's accuser.
The evidence is a vital part of the prosecution's effort to prove that Anwar had sex with his 25-year-old former aide. Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of sodomy.


text:
Used 2013 Nissan Values
Read more Read less
2013 Nissan Prices and Values: new 2013 Nissan models include the Altima, Maxima, Armada, Murano, Titan, Pathfinder and Sentra. Nissan SUVs also include the Xterra and CrossCabriolet. Base prices, for models such as the Pathfinder, may appear surprisingly affordable. Used Nissan values vary by model, while the Leaf's book value is suject to frequent updates. Nissan deals change monthly.
Select a 2013 Nissan model below to get used trade-in values and retail prices
(2018 - 1998)
2013 Nissan 370Z
Introduced with re-designed front and rear fascias, the 2013 Nissan 370Z is a front-engine RWD sports car available in coupe or soft-top convertible trim levels.
2013 Nissan Altima
Completely re-designed for 2013, the Nissan Altima is a mid-sized car, with seating for five, available in sedan and coupe trim levels.
2013 Nissan Armada
Now equipped with standard Bluetooth® and power passenger seating, the 2013 Nissan Armada is an eight passenger SUV powered by 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 317 hp.
2013 Nissan cube
A uniquely styled vehicle, the 2013 Nissan Cube is a mini MPV (now limited to S and SL trims) powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque.
2013 Nissan Frontier
Updated for 2013, the 2013 Nissan Frontier is suitable for work and play thanks to a blend of utility and versatility.
2013 Nissan GT-R
Fresh off of last year's tweaks, the 2013 Nissan GT-R is a mid-engine supercar powered by a twin turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine that yields 545 hp and 463 lb-ft of torque.
2013 Nissan JUKE
Largely unchanged for 2013, the Nissan JUKE is a five passenger crossover vehicle powered by a direct-injected 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 188 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.
2013 Nissan LEAF
A zero emission vehicle, the 2013 Nissan LEAF is a 5-door electric hatchback capable of achieving an equivalent of 129 mpg city.
2013 Nissan Maxima
Now available with altered packages, the 2013 Nissan Maxima is a FWD five passenger sedan powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque.
2013 Nissan Murano
Relatively unchanged for 2013, the Nissan Murano is a mid-size crossover, with seating for five, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque.
2013 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
An impressive blend of fun and utility, the 2013 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is a unique vehicle sure to make heads turn.
2013 Nissan NVP
Unchanged for 2013, the Nissan NVP is a full-size passenger van with seating for twelve. Engine options consist of a standard 4.0-liter V6 engine (261 hp) and an optional 5.6-liter V8 engine (317 hp).
2013 Nissan Pathfinder
Revamped for 2013, the Nissan Pathfinder is a full-size SUV with seating for seven and a towing capacity of 7,000 lbs, all while achieving 26 mpg highway.
2013 Nissan Quest
Carried over for 2013, the Nissan Quest is a seven passenger mini-van powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque.
2013 Nissan Rogue
Relatively un-changed for 2013, the Nissan Rogue is a mid-size crossover powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine capable of achieving 28 mpg.
2013 Nissan Sentra
Completely redesigned for 2013, the Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that yields a 130 hp.
2013 Nissan Titan
A full-size pickup truck with a towing capacity of 9,500 lbs., the 2013 Nissan Titan is a truck with plenty of utility and style.
2013 Nissan Versa
Now available with an engine immobilizer and intelligent key, the 2013 Nissan Versa is available in both sedan and hatchback trim levels.
2013 Nissan Xterra
The most rugged off-road vehicle offered by Nissan, the 2013 Nissan Xterra gives the driver a feeling that no road is off limits.


text:
quote:Originally posted by Guest9854are you guys outta your mind, he's like 94 and has no support from his team. 40 max
quote:Originally posted by willus3He'll end up top ten in scoring barring injury. 75-90 points.He's that talented.
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text:
What Google Tells Me People Want
- how to
- kiss
- train your dragon
- lose weight fast
- get pregnant
- get a six pack
- write a cv
- get rid of spots
- have sex
- draw cartoons
- make money
On the 18th of June 2010, I started learning about the human race's preoccupations. Or at least the preoccupations of that portion of it which speaks English and searches for things with Google. I was writing the ALT text for the IMG tag in my latest cartoon, and wanted to put some character into it that I didn't think I could type as a literal. So I Googled "how to embed unicode in alt text". As usual, Google suggested a list of phrases for me to complete my search term with, and I noted down those it offered for "how to". They were:
- how to
- kiss
- train your dragon
- lose weight fast
- get pregnant
- get a six pack
- write a cv
- get rid of spots
- have sex
- draw cartoons
- make money
It's nice that "draw cartoons" was in there, and I find it touching that the human race is more interested in kissing than in making money — presumably only after having beautified itself by losing weight and sloshing on the spot remover.
(By the way, apologies for the bullets. The lists would have looked better without them, but the blogging software has overridden the "{list-style-type: none}" with which I styled them. It also seems to like jumping the paragraph-text size after a list, unless I've made a mistake that I can't see.)
I've just retried "how to", and get the following completions:
- how to
- write a cv
- kiss
- lose weight fast
- make money
- train your dragon
- draw
- get a six pack
- make pancakes
Let's move from one question-word to another:
- why
- is the sky blue
- is a raven like a writing desk
- do we yawn
- buy new
- do we dream
- am i always tired
- do dogs eat grass
- do cats purr
- did the chicken cross the road
Number two is the famous Alice in Wonderland riddle, of course. Poignant number six suggests to me that too many people are failing to adapt to the needs and stresses of work:
- why am i always tired
- and have no energy
- all the time
- and cold
- and hungry
- nhs
- and sleepy
- and dizzy
- in the morning
- and thirsty
I'm listening to the weather forecast as I type. It's the usual mix of what forecasters call "sunshine and showers", which actually means "showers separated by spit, a deluge at 4pm, and not enough blue sky to patch a pair of sailor's trousers", so I've just Googled bad weather. Of its nine suggested completions, the final one is "jokes". Fair enough — if we couldn't joke about the weather, we'd go insane. But why were five of the others about bad weather in France? The French don't reciprocate, because for mauvais temps, google.fr suggests seven variations also in France. Amongst them: Nice, Côte d'Azur, Cannes, Var.
Bad weather is one problem, but evidently not the most pressing:
- problems
- iphone4
- iphone
- hotmail
- ipad
- ios4
- iphone 4g
- htc desire
- itunes
As for programming languages, Google's completions for java problems were all operating systems or browsers. Most of its completions for c++ problems were such things as "simple c++ problems" and "sample c++ problems", which looks like a big bias towards learning the language. The only specifically named bit of programming linguistics were two variations on "multiple inheritance". And the top two completions for html problems were "with ie" and "outlook 2007". I therefore note without comment the completions for three well-known browsers:


text: In a fit of anxiety that I wouldn't have anything to blog about (apparently that's not an issue as I seem to have a backlog of posts that I'm trying to catch up on) I joined the Daring Kitchen group Daring Baker's Challenge. For those not in the know, they challenge everyone in the group to bake the same thing and then post simultaneously the results of the baking on the 27th of the month. The April 2010 Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Esther of The Lilac Kitchen. She challenged everyone to make a traditional British pudding using, if possible, a very traditional British ingredient: suet.


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Fluffy Babies Amigurumi Crochet Pattern
Japanese little dolls with cute caps. The set includes a bunny, piggy, duck, frog and bear. Very cute and easy to make.
The patterns of K & J Dolls are very well written and describe every step. Ilove this set as hey are cute and easy to make.Tags: crochet, pattern, amigurumi frog, amigurumi pig, amigurumi bear, amigurumi bunny, amigurumi animal, amigurumi dog, amgurumiAdded 7 Years Ago from Etsy


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Gluten-Free Spaghetti by Ancient Harvest - Quinoa Spaghetti.
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Five Wildcats to Compete for NCAA Championships
Five Wildcats to Compete for NCAA Championships
March 6, 2013
Complete K-State Notes | Live Results | Live Video | Tickets
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State Head Coach Cliff Rovelto considers the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship the most difficult meet in the world to qualify for. And this year five of his Wildcats are headed to Arkansas to compete for titles. Two days of action are set to begin Friday from the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
The men's team boasts four entrants in the championship meet, surpassed only by 12 other schools. One area the Wildcats expect to score points again is in the high jump as Olympic silver medalist and back-to-back NCAA outdoor champion Erik Kynard looks to win his first indoor crown. It will also be the first time Kynard and Olympic bronze medalist Derek Drouin of Indiana will be in the same field since the Olympics in August.
K-State's men also have a chance to do something they have never done in one event and something not done in more than 30 years in another. Carlos Rodriguez looks to become the school's first All-American indoors in the 200 meters. Kyle Wait also is trying to become the first All-American in the pole vault since 1982.
Devin Dick is K-State's fourth Wildcat competing for the men as he grabbed the final spot in the heptathlon. The cancer survivor helps keep K-State's streak going as the Wildcats have had a Wildcat entered in the heptathlon every year since 2008.
"I think they're all capable of scoring even though three of them are at the lower end of getting in," Rovelto said. "Devin, for example, left points laying on the table in the high jump and the pole vault at the Big 12 meet. He easily could have scored 100 more points, and then he wouldn't be on the bubble. And then you could be in the top 10 and everyone would think he has a good chance to score. What history tells us is if you do what it takes to get there, and just repeat that mark, you've got a pretty good chance to score."
Merryl Mbeng keeps the trend going for the women's team in the combined events as well as she is ranked ninth in the pentathlon entering the meet. It marks the third straight year the men and women have had at least one entry in the combined events. The pentathlon could be one of the most competitive events at the meet as less than 200 points separate the No. 2-ranked athlete from No. 16 in the field.
"Obviously, there is one gal that is significantly better than the rest, but the next 10 or 12 girls, some of them on a good day and all of them on a great day, they're all capable of being second in the meet," Rovelto said of the depth of the pentathlon. "I think it will be very competitive. I like our chances because I do believe Merryl is capable of placing pretty high."
This season, the NCAA changed its qualifying standards for the indoor championship dropping automatic qualifying marks for all events and electing to use the descending order list for each event, taking the top 16 individuals and top 12 relays. The meet also is breaking ties based on second best performances to not allow more than 16 in any event as opposed to previous years when ties were not broken and largers fields could be set.
"If anything in some events it made it harder to qualify," Rovelto said of the change. "The vertical jumps always ended up with more than 16 because of ties. But I think it's probably fair because now you've got equal representation in all of the events. I like that part of it.
"You see this every year with the world championship, the qualifying standard goes up and the initial reaction is, 'We're not going to have enough guys qualify.' Well, guess what? We always have enough guys qualify. As soon as you said it's gonna be 16, guys are gonna do what they need to do to get there. They get it done. They raise the level of their game. The good ones get it done."
That was seen in the pole vault this year and in the high jump. Rovelto said he can't remember the last time a jump of 2.20 meters (7-02.50) did not qualify for the NCAA Championship indoors. This year it took 2.22 (7-03.25) as athletes pushed themselves to arguably the deepest high jump field in the history of the meet.
"The high jump is very good. There are lots of guys that are capable of jumping 2.25 or 2.26, and if guys like Erik and Derek Drouin are having an off day, they very easily could jump 2.25 and be in it. And you saw that last year," Rovelto said. "So, I think there are a lot of guys that are capable of competing for the win. Obviously, if Erik and Derek are jumping at their best, than there aren't."
With Kynard and Drouin in the field it is the first time since 1985 that two Olympic medalists have returned to collegiate track in the same event, making it one of the most anticipated events of the meet as well.
We've had good people. I don't know what it says. It says they've worked hard and they've all for the most part performed well at the end of the year, whether it's a conference meet or the NCAA, and that's what's important. We've been fortunate to have good athletes in some areas.
Fans can watch the action live on espn3.com on Friday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Central and Saturday from 6-8:30 p.m. ESPNU will also televise the meet tape delayed on March 17.
For fans wanting to attend the NCAA Championships. Tickets can be purchased online at ncaa.com or arkansasrazorbacks.com with two-day reserved seats available for $40 and general admission tickets at $30. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket window at the Tyson Center, but tickets are expected to sell fast and early purchase is advised.
Updates will be provided on Twitter throughout the meet on K-State's live event account @kstate_gameday. Fans can also follow @ncaa for news on the meet.
Events to Watch
• Men's High Jump
It took a jump of 2.22 meters (7-03.25) just to qualify for the meet. This is the deepest and most talented men's high jump has ever been at the NCAA level. With Erik Kynard winning silver at the London Olympics and Indiana's Derek Drouin tying for bronze, it marks the first time since 1937 to Olympic medalists returned to college in the high jump. And the first time for any event since the 1985 men's 200m.
• Men's Pole Vault
Junior Kyle Wait broke the school record to qualify at a "last chance meet" - a very difficult task. The men's pole vault took a higher mark than recent years to qualify as well at 5.42 meters (17-09.25). Wait is looking to become the first All-American for K-State's men in pole vault since Doug Lytle in 1982.
• Men's 200m
Carlos Rodriguez enters the meet ranked 14th in a tightly packed field. He is looking to become the first Wildcat to score points at the championship meet for the men's team in this event indoors.
• Pentathlon
Arkansas' Makeba Alcide broke the collegiate record this season at 4569 points, but less than 200 points separate No. 2 in the field (4208) from No. 16 (4024) making this one of the most wide-open and unpredictable fields the pentathlon has seen.
• Heptathlon
Devin Dick grabbed the last spot in the men's heptathlon for K-State after the testicular cancer survivor was the first off the list for the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championship. Less than 200 points separate Dick (16th) from No. 6 Romain Martin of Texas-Arlington, who Dick finished second to at the Bill Bergan Invitational earlier.
• Men's Mile
Although K-State does not have anyone entered in this event, it could be the most-hyped event at the championship. Only 16 qualify, but 31 athletes ran sub 4-minute miles this year. That is a feat once considered impossible and the greatest athletic achievement in sport. If the final does not turn into a tactical race, the potential of an entire field running sub-4 would be something the track and field community would talk about for years.
Kynard Midwest Athlete of the Year Again
High jumper Erik Kynard has tied his own school record, set two facility records and broke the Big 12 Championship record this season and for that he was named the indoor USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Field Athlete of the Year for a third straight year. Kynard is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA with his leading jump of 2.33 meters (7-07.75).
Kynard is one of only two jumpers so far this season to clear 7-07.00 as Indiana's Derek Drouin is ranked No. 2 at 2.31 meters (7-07.25).
Wait Breaks School Record at Last Chance Meet
Three Wildcats traveled to Fayetteville to compete at the Arkansas Final Qualifier in an attempt to move up the NCAA rankings and qualify for the NCAA Championship next week, and junior pole vaulter Kyle Wait succeeded in breaking a school record and putting himself in position for an NCAA bid.
Wait broke the K-State school record with a vault of 5.45 meters (17-10.50), clearing the height on his third attempt. Entering the meet Wait was tied for 19th in the NCAA and the height of 5.45 meters was 11th. His clearance of 5.45 meters solidified his spot at the championship meet. He was eliminated attempting 5.65 meters (18-06.50) after passing two heights. If he had cleared 5.65 meters, Wait would have been No. 1 in the NCAA this season.
High jumper Zack Riley opened the action for K-State on Friday afternoon and quickly cleared his first two bars on first attempts. He jumped 2.07 meters (6-09.50) and 2.12 meters (6-11.50) but then struggled to clear 2.17 meters (7-01.50), a height he had cleared at his previous five competitions. By not improving his highest jump of the season, Riley will remain just outside the top 16 necessary to go to the NCAA Championship. Riley did win the competition Friday by clearing his two bars on first attempts, tallying his second victory of the season.
After winning K-State's first men's long jump conference championship since 1989, juco transfer Jharyl Bowry said it was bittersweet because he was not ranked high enough to go to the NCAA meet. On Friday, Bowry tried to change that but was unable to. Bowry fouled on his first three jumps before posting a mark of 7.10 meters (23-03.50) on his fourth jump. On his sixth and final attempt, Bowry leapt 7.34 meters (24-01.00) to finish in third place but did not improve on his season best jump of 7.54 meters as he will not be ranked high enough to go to his first NCAA Championship.
Wildcats Ranked No. 25 Heading to NCAA Meet
K-State's men have been one of the top teams in the nation all season and have climbed back into the Top 25 this week heading into the NCAA Championship meet. The Wildcats are No. 25 in the latest USTFCCCA Rankings. K-State jumped seven spots up from No. 32 as four men are going to Arkansas for this weekend's action.
The USTFCCCA rankings formula takes into account performances from athletes in each event and awards points based on their ranking in the event and on the strength of the performance. This week's rankings only take into account athletes competing at the NCAA Championship.
Senior high jumper Erik Kynard holds the No. 1 spot in his event after jumping 2.33 meters at the KSU Open. Kyle Wait is K-State's next highest ranked Wildcat at No. 11 in the pole vault. He broke the school record last week to qualify for the meet at the Arkansas Final Qualifier. Carlos Rodriguez is No. 13 in the 200 meters and seeks to become the school's first All-American in the event. Devin Dick grabbed the last spot in the field and is ranked No. 16 in the heptathlon.
On the women's side, combined events specialist Merryl Mbeng is ranked ninth after scoring 4,090 points in the pentathlon at the Big 12 Championship to finish second. She takes on one of the most tightly contested fields in the meet.
Big 12 Presence Felt in Top 25
The Big 12 Conference has long been a force in track and field, and again the league is among the best when examining the USTFCCCA Rankings. The league has a total of four men's and five women's teams ranked in the Top 25 heading into the championship meet.
There were some big moves in the rankings following last chance meets three teams cracked the Top 25 on the men's side and three on the women's. Notre Dame's women made the biggest jump going from No. 57 last week up to No. 17 this week thanks to four performances at their own last chance meet that qualified for the meet.
The Big 12 men have just one team in the Top 10 as Oklahoma State jumped two spots to No. 9 on the strength of its distance program. Texas Tech slipped three spots to No. 11 this week and Texas fell down to No. 17 out of the top 10. K-State moved into the Top 25 as Baylor (27) and Oklahoma (37) both feel outside the elite.
On the women's side, Kansas is in contention for the national title entering the meet at No. 2 and with a small margin between the Jayhawks and LSU Tigers. Texas jumped back into the Top 10 at No. 7 this week and Iowa State (12) is still riding its distance runners to a high ranking. Oklahoma (22) and Baylor (25) stay in the Top 25 as well.
The SEC (6) and Big Ten (5) have more men's teams ranked and only the SEC's seven ranked women's team best the Big 12. The SEC boasts No. 1 Arkansas for the men and LSU's women hold the top spot. In total, the power conferences of the Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12 represent 19 of the men's Top 25 and 17 of the women's teams as well.
Kynard Named to Bowerman Watch List
The USTFCCCA has updated its watch list for the prestigious Bowerman Trophy, and K-State senior high jumper Erik Kynard remains on the list of 10 student-athletes up for college track and field's biggest award. The USTFCCCA released its Bowerman Trophy Watch List for March on Wednesday afternoon with some changes from the last update as four athletes made their debut on the list in Florida's Marquis Dendy, Texas A&M's Deon Lendore, Tulsa's Chris O'Hare and Washington's Jeremy Taiwo.
This updated list includes numerous athletes who are leading the nation in their respective events among other collegiate athletes and even some who hold the top mark in the world this season. All 10 of the student-athletes on the watch list combined to win 11 individual conference championships this weekend, including Kynard's Big 12 record high jump.
Kynard currently holds the No. 1 jump in the NCAA this season at 2.33 meters (7-07.75). That mark was a new KSU Open meet record, tied his own school record and tied the Ahearn Field House facility record. At the Big 12 Championship this weekend, Kynard cleared 2.31 meters (7-07.00) to set a new meet record as well as a new Leid Recreational Center facility record.


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TEACHERS, doctors and social workers will be given extra training to help spot victims of female genital mutilation.
It comes after figures from East Lancashire Hospitals Trust (ELHT) picked up just two cases in three years needing medical attention after the procedure.
National plans will see a variety of public sector workers trained to recognise FGM.
The cultural practice includes removal of all or part of the clitoris to promote female virginity and fidelity.
In May, a Freedom of Information request saw ELHT reveal just a tiny number had been recorded by local doctors but medics in the area urged a 'zero tolerance' approach and for any concerned members of the public to flag up cases to the authorities.
The trust said they keep records of women subjected to FGM who have a daughter or are pregnant as it is then a child safety issue.
Lancashire county councillor Azhar Ali, who oversees health issues, said: "It is a heinous and barbaric practice and if anyone is concerned about a girl being taken away or back street practices, call the police.
"It is violent and should be treated in the same way as forced marriage."
An ELHT spokeswoman said: "The numbers here are extremely small due to the ethnic mix of our local population with two cases in three years."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will today set out a package of measures to uncover cases of FGM at a summit.
The plan will involve supporting a small network of "community champions" to encourage volunteers who want to help affected people in their community.
Mr Clegg said: "We're currently failing thousands of girls.
"Central to tackling it are the doctors, nurses, teachers and legal professionals who need to be equipped to identify and support young women and girls at risk of FGM.
"They agree that, without the right knowledge, skills and experience, people feel like they don't have the cultural understanding and authority to even talk about this practice honestly, never mind intervene when they're worried someone is vulnerable."


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Best Musical Instruments for Children
Best Musical Instruments for Children from Overstock.com. You have many reasons for wanting to buy your child a musical instrument, but which musical instrument is best for your child?
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Mother's Day is the perfect time to show some love and appreciation to the amazing woman who you call 'Mom.' Surprise her this year with the perfect gift, one that fits her personality and shows how much you care. These helpful Mother's Day gift ideas for Mom will help you find a gift she's sure to remember.
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Best Mother's Day Gifts for Young Moms from Overstock.com. Here are the gifts that hip, young mothers will love getting.
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5 Eco-Friendly Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Overstock.com. Here are some low-impact Mother's Day gift ideas for the eco-conscious mom.
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Forums: Index > Admin discussion forum > Psychology Wiki:Guide to layout
We need to do an article for this page Psychology Wiki:Guide to layoutLifeartist 06:24, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
- Ive had a go at starting it.
- I'll work on this some more and link it to the relevant articles. Im thinking it'll be vital to Creating, Copying and Improving articles Tasks. We need a proper template using guide, linked to Experienced help too. Mostly Zen (talk) 21:10, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
- Ive had a go at starting it.


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Benadryl Children's Allergy Plus Congestion Side Effects
Generic Name: diphenhydramine / phenylephrine
Note: This page contains information about the side effects of diphenhydramine / phenylephrine. Some of the dosage forms included on this document may not apply to the brand name Benadryl Children's Allergy Plus Congestion.
For the Consumer
Applies to diphenhydramine / phenylephrine: tablets
Other dosage forms:
Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur while taking diphenhydramine / phenylephrine:
Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth, nose, or throat; excitability (especially in children); headache; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; restlessness; trouble sleeping; vomiting.
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; chest pain; decreased coordination; difficulty urinating; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; hallucinations; seizure; severe dizziness or drowsiness; severe nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, or trouble sleeping; tremors; unusual weakness.
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to diphenhydramine / phenylephrine: oral disintegrating strip, oral liquid, oral suspension extended release, oral tablet chewable extended release
Cardiovascular side effects have included hypotension, palpitations, tachycardia, and extrasystole.[Ref]
Hematologic side effects have included hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia.[Ref]
Nervous system
Nervous system side effects have included sleepiness, sedation, dizziness, disturbed coordination, fatigue, confusion, restlessness, excitation, nervousness, tremor, irritability, insomnia, euphoria, paresthesia, headache, vertigo, tinnitus, acute labyrinthitis, neuritis, and convulsions.[Ref]
Ocular side effects have included blurred vision and diplopia.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal side effects have included epigastric distress, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.[Ref]
Genitourinary side effects have included urinary frequency, difficult urination, urinary retention, and early menses.[Ref]
Hypersensitivity side effects have included urticaria, drug rash, anaphylactic shock, and photosensitivity.[Ref]
General side effects have included chills, excessive perspiration, and dryness of nose, throat and mouth.[Ref]
1. "Product Information. Dytan-D (diphenhydramine-phenylephrine)." Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals, Madison, MS.
Not all side effects for Benadryl Children's Allergy Plus Congestion may be reported. You should always consult a doctor or healthcare professional for medical advice. Side effects can be reported to the FDA here.
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Last Chance by Norah McClintock
After getting in trouble for breaking a window during an animal rights protest, Robyn must volunteer at an animal shelter. Afraid of dogs, Robyn does not look forward to working there especially as Nick D'Angelo works there. A few years ago, she turned him in for stealing. After getting to know Nick, Robyn attempts to clear his name when he is accused of a crime.
This is the first book in a series that was published in Canada. The books are now being re-released in the United States. Robyn annoyed me at first because she was very rigid in her beliefs about other people, but as she got to know her co-workers, she grew as a person. I liked the developing friendship between Robyn and Nick.
- nb


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Whether you are traveling with your family, as a couple, on your own, or here on business – The Royalty Inn offers a restful, convenient location in the White Mountains. As you enter you are welcomed by our spacious lobby and helpful, knowledgeable staff.
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text: BALTIMORE ( Stockpickr) -- If you're not buying stocks right now, you're making a big mistake. To a lot of investors, that sentence sounds crazy right now -- especially after the S&P 500 has already managed to rally close to 14% in the last year, and the big index posted its best January since 1997. Is there still any more room for stocks to move up in 2013? >>5 Stocks Hedge Funds Love -- and So Should You The short answer is a resounding "yes," and I've got four reasons why. Back in October, I wrote a "slightly bullish" article called " Dow 55,000? It's Closer Than You Think. Now, mind you, October wasn't that long ago, but sentiment was very different from what it is now. Investors absolutely hated stocks. Most of the comments on equities were about why the next 2008 was right around the corner. >>5 Hated Stocks Set to Soar on Earnings Now, though, while most investors still hate stocks, they hate them because "everyone else" loves them and because this rally is unsustainable. Which is it? Make no mistake: Equities can certainly move higher when sentiment is squarely against them, especially in prolonged low-volume conditions like we're in right now. That's not a contrarian signal, however. It's a signal that a new trend is in force. >>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy in February So why should you buy stocks in 2013? Here's the executive summary. 1. You Don't Have Any Other Choice The biggest reason to buy stocks is the one that's hidden in plain sight: You don't have any other choice right now. Following 2008, investor anxiety has been ramped up. It's kept investors out of the market long enough to miss out on approximately $200 billion in stock gains according to Bloomberg, and it's getting old. No matter what investors may think about stocks, in a society in which retirement plans are wholly dependent on the capital markets, enough people are realizing that stocks are still the only option. Why? Because you can't fight the Fed. Ben Bernanke may talk about using Fed tools to encourage investors to buy stocks, but what he doesn't say is that he's doing it by turning the screws to investors with money in (almost) every other asset class. With interest rates pressed as near to zero as possible and inflation far from zero, we're in a toxic environment for the risk-free assets that investors have been flocking to for the past five years.


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Reviewed by 3 customers
Comments about PBS Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl Blu-ray:
Not once did I ever hear in all the History classes I've taken, not once did I hear that we created the conditions for the Dust Bowl. A very good series.
Comments about PBS Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl Blu-ray:
Another Ken Burns' production in the MUST SEE category. Again, great history of a very hard time in our past with an angry Mother Nature. It is truly a lesson for the future. We must take care of our earth home or we will suffer again.
Comments about PBS Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl Blu-ray:
Living in Oklahoma today it is amazing to think that the land in Northwest Oklahoma where I was born and raised and still own today was once a Dust Bowl. I remember in the 1950's we left Oklahoma for a while when the dirt and wind returned for a few years before the farmers learned how to protect our land. OETA our state public television network hosted several events during the airing of the Dust Bowl progarms on PBS. As a Deputy Director of OETA I was honored in winning a regional Emmy for the Outreach efforts of OETA. The honors we received at OETA would not have been possible without the vision and passion of Ken Burns and his production company to produce some of the best television you will find on the dial. Ken Burns is truly a master of story telling and he tells the stories we all can benefit from seeing. Thank you Ken and staff for your continued work with PBS and stations like OETA.


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Everlasting Services Archives
Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona elects 3 to Board
January 6, 2014 by in Business News | Healthcare | Nonprofit
Three new members were elected to the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) Board of Directors at the non-profit organization's annual member meeting last month. Ray Norris, Sharon Phillips and Amanda Wigal-Schlosser will serve their first terms December 2013 through 2016. "The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona is incredibly excited to include these three experienced… Read More →


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SEC: Questions at quarterback
Published: Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 2:28 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 4:21 p.m.
HOOVER, Ala. — There were only five quarterbacks who were chosen to attend SEC Media Days by their coaches and there's a good reason for that.
Half of the 14 league coaches don't know who that quarterback is going to be.
At Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, Arkansas, Alabama and Kentucky, there are still quarterback competitions that will crank up when camp opens.
What that means is some coaches are going to have to do a lot of adjusting in September.
"Every quarterback has to go through a process of development," said Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Saban will choose between FSU transfer Jacob Coker and Blake Sims, who has thrown 39 passes the last two years. He said the three things a quarterback has to have are judgment, accuracy and leadership.
"How long is it going to take him to go through that process?" Saban said. "Older, more mature players seem to do that more quickly. It creates a question mark as to when it's going to resolve itself. The development of that position is going to be crucial to the success of our team."
Two teams — Georgia and South Carolina — will have fifth-year seniors who have waited for their chances. Both have starts under their belts, but are still relative rookies.
And for all the quarterbacks, the practices of summer prepare them, but it's when they are playing those early games that the coaches find out what the real strengths are for the most important player on the field.
"You can go through practice and you can go through scrimmages, but there's nothing like a real game," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.
Malzahn says it usually takes him three or four games to get a feel for what a quarterback can do. That could be a problem for schools starting rookie quarterbacks.
"I think you're always kind of feeling yourself out," said Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.
Pinkel has Maty Mauk, who did start four games when James Franklin was injured last year. But even if you've seen your quarterback in action, things change from year to year. The personnel around a quarterback exposes and complements that quarterback's skill set.
"Each team is a unique team," said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. "Dak (Prescott) is going to be a different player this year than he was last year. One of the things is finding out where his comfort level is compared to last year."
For the seven coaches who don't know who their quarterback will be, there certainly will be a feeling-out process. There's a chance that all of them will start with quarterbacks who have at least seen the field, whether it be as backups or replacements for injured starters.
But it's different when a quarterback is handed a team at the start of the season and told to take it home.
"It depends on the guy," said Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin.
Sumlin will chose between true freshman Kyle Allen and Kenny Hill, who threw 22 passes as Johnny Manziel's backup last season.
"Some guys can handle more than others," Sumlin said. "You guys have heard me say I was guilty of not giving Johnny enough that first Florida game.
"Now, it's one thing to be able to adjust as a coach, but I'm not big on just drawing things up in the dirt on a Saturday afternoon. You have to really have a feel for what a guy can handle and you don't have that feel until you get in an environment."
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text: This is my Daddy - Cdr. Luther Tracy Veazey, Sr. USN Ret. He served in the US Navy from 1947 (yes, he was 17) until 1977. I am his oldest child, Virginia (Ginny) Lou Veazey Renslow b.12-11-1955, Luther Tracy Veazey, Jr b. 2-17-1960 d.5-4-1995 Our mother Betty Lou Hannah Veazey b.4-24-1930 d.4-15-2007. Daddy's 2nd wife - Joleen Coffee Veazey; their children Mary Elizabeth Veazey b.1976, Joanna Lynn Veazey b. 1978 and Joseph Vincent Veazey b. 1980


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer
I have a nodule about the size a english pea, it was detected may 2007, it has not increased in size as of 8/07,my lung Doctor has decided not to remove it or treat it in anyway untill it should begin to grow.It is in the top left lobe, he was unable to get a bio threw the airway and he don`t want to go threw the chest unless he has to.Do I need to get a second opinion?
Most nodules that size are not cancer. It should however be followed closely, usually every 3 months. If is grows, then a biopsy with a scope is usually the next step.
If the nodule is "spiculated" (your doctor can tell you this) or if you are a smoker, then the risk of cancer is higher. These factors weigh into whether to do a biopsy sooner.
Sandra L Starnes, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati


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MEMPHIS Announces National Tour Stops Through 2013!
Hockadoo! The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS will continue to blow the roof off of theatres across the country into the 2012 -2013 season. The season will kick off on September 11th in Portland, OR at the Keller Auditorium, and a return engagement is scheduled in the city where it all began – Memphis, TN at the Orpheum Theatre. On Wednesday, March 14th MEMPHIS celebrated its' 1,000th performance on Broadway where it continues to bring audiences to their feet on a daily basis.
Other cities scheduled include: Portland, OR (September 11 – 16, 2012); Seattle, WA (September 18 – October 7, 2012); Denver, CO (October 9 – 21, 2012); Costa Mesa, CA (November 6 – 18, 2012); Rochester, NY (November 27 – December 2, 2012); Boston, MA December 11 – 23, 2012); Milwaukee, WI (Jan 8 – 13, 2013); Omaha, NE (January 15 – 20, 2013); Cincinnati, OH (January 22 – February 3, 2013); Fayetteville, AR (February 5 – 10, 2013); San Antonio, TX (February 19 – 24, 2013); Tempe, AZ (March 5 – 10, 2013); Louisville, KY (April 2 – 7, 2013); Detroit, MI (April 9 – 21, 2013); Miami, FL (May 7 – 12, 2013); Orlando, FL (May 14 – 19, 2013) and more soon to be announced.
Critically acclaimed MEMPHIS won four 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS won four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Montego Glover), Outstanding Music (David Bryan) and Outstanding Orchestration (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS has also won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score (David Bryan & Joe DiPietro), Outstanding Actress (Montego Glover) and Outstanding Choreography (Sergio Trujillo).
MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.
Starring Bryan Fenkart (Huey) and Felicia Boswell (Felicia) with Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray), Rhett George (Gator), Julie Johnson (Mama), Will Mann (Bobby), and William Parry (Mr. Simmons).
The company includes Alexander Aguilar, Chelsey Arce, Evan Autio, Bree Branker, Whitney Leigh Brown, Whitney Cooper, Tami Dahbura, Scott Difford, Christopher Gurr, Daisy Hobbs, Adrienne Howard, Crystal Joy, Kyle Leland, Jarvis R. McKinley, Happy McPartlin, Kenna Michelle Morris, Jill Morrison, Austin Owen, Kent Overshown, Alfie Parker Jr., Justin Prescott, Jody Reynard, Peter Matthew Smith and Derek St. Pierre.
The show features a brand new Tony winning score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (Nice Work If You Can Get It, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also penned the musical's book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, who are both currently at work on Leap of Faith beginning previews on April 3rd. Trujillo is currently represented by two shows on Broadway (Memphis, Jersey Boys).
Scenic Design for MEMPHIS is by Tony® Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Reasons to Be Pretty), Costume Design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (In The Heights), Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys) and Sound Design is by Ken Travis (The Threepenny Opera).
The national tour of MEMPHIS is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, and Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, with Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Richard Winkler, Alex and Katya Lukianov, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., 2 Guys Productions, Patty Baker, and Dan Frishwasser, in association with Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Apples and Oranges Productions, Brian and Betty Dovey, John Yonover and Ron Yonover, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group, Jocko Productions/Shadowcatcher Entertainment, Scott and Kaylin Union.


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Chad Harris was once featured on my super sweet sixteen on MTV. He was invited to such a party and bought the album Take This To your Grave by Fall Out Boy for the birthday girl, who happened to have a crush on him. He is popular amoung the Fall out Boy boardie fan base.
by Usted Ishmaelingyfourth May 09, 2006
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One side has the word, one side has the definition. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Lotsa space for your liquids.Buy the mug


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I remember when I first got the book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I was 7 years old and I'd ordered the book through the Scholastic Monthly book newsletter that my teacher would hand out every month. I took one look at the cover of the book, with that monster sitting on the shore and just knew I wanted to know more about that monster.
The book Sendak wrote and illustrated in 1963 had only 10 sentences but it stuck with me clearly for 33 years and I know it's stuck with many of us over the years. When I heard that Spike Jonze was bringing Max and the Wild Things to the big screen I was excited to see what the film would be like. This afternoon I found out.
I loved the movie. I'd see it again in heartbeat. But… now that I've seen it I would not even consider taking young kids to see it at the theatre. I will explain why but if you don't want any spoilers than you might want to stop reading now.
Still with me? Great… here we go…
The movie begins with young Max at home. We see a friendless boy who is lonely, feels neglected by his older sister and his divorced mother. He is by turns lonely, sad, angry and then destructive and even violent as he acts out. Max (played by Max Records) brings out a range of negative emotions through his actions as he destroys a gift for his sister, jumps all over his sister's bed with snow covered boots, bites his mother and then runs away.
Once he reaches the land Where the Wild Things Are we see loneliness, jealousy, violence, threatening behaviour, friendship, companionship, love, anger (SCARY SCARY ANGER), feelings of betrayal, disillusionment, sadness, loss.
The movie is beautiful. It's wonderful in every way. The creatures are everything I imagined they'd be and so much more. But it's an emotional rollercoaster with some very scary moments that I just don't think would sit well with most young children – at least not without some conversation about what was happening as things go along.
Personally, I'd not take kids younger than 8 or 10 to see it at the theatre. There are long stretches of the movie that would be boring for young kids and other points which are SCARY monster scenes and a lot of emotional turmoil. Without the ability to pause the movie after a scene and discuss why Max or the monsters are acting out and the underlying emotions I think there will be a lot of frightened children exiting the theatre before the movie concludes.
Where the Wild Things Are is more a movie about a child but not really for a child. I'd possibly consider buying the DVD (when it comes out) to view with younger kids, where you can control and pause the movie if you need to and discuss why Max (or the monsters) are feeling sad, lonely and especially why they feel angry and violent.
Where the Wild Things Are was truly a breathtaking film and it really brought Max and the Wild Things to life in a really realistic way but it's not what I'd consider a kids film at all. My heart is still racing and I'm emotionally exhausted. We all have the Wild Things in us somewhere.


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|Everyday Science
|chemistry, grad student, humor, lab, science
Everyday science is the science that doesn't make the headlines--the science in the background--the science that we all do and know and love and hate. We just thought there should be a place to post our boring everyday results, trials, and tribulations. It's also a place for silly things and cool results.
Notice: Blog authors are solely responsible for the content of the blogs listed in the directory. Neither the content of these blogs, nor the links to other web sites, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by Stanford University, the Stanford Alumni Association or any Stanford-affiliated entity ("Stanford"). The text and other material on these blogs are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of Stanford.


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- Reduce errors and downtime, automate troubleshooting, and improve the delivery of services
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The Cisco Prime for Service Provider offerings help you manage today's fast evolving networks. Built on a service-centered foundation, Cisco Prime supports integrated lifecycle management through an intuitive, workflow-oriented user experience. It provides A-to-Z management for IP next-generation networks, mobility, video, and cloud services to help you:
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Author Cynthia Harris Asks:
What makes you put a book down – unfinished?
If I were to ask this question of a dozen different people, chances are high that I would get a dozen different answers. I'm sure it's a question that teases at the minds of all writers, however: for if readers don't finish THIS book, will they buy another by the same author? Hmm, probably not (and the author may not be able to eat that week, or worse, feed their four-legged family!). I offer my own "absolute no-no" turn-offs, and am curious to hear other people's. Here goes. I read fiction to be amused, entertained, taken away from the ordinary everyday world, soothed after too much stress – so please spare me the darkest dregs of human activity. I just don't want to know about torture and cruelty (especially if aimed at children or animals) and, though I expect my favourite characters to have adventures and setbacks, please don't upset or disgust me if you want me to keep reading. There's a definite line between "How will they get out of this?" and "I feel sick!". Intimate details of someone's sex life make me feel like a voyeur. Some people get a kick out of this – and that's their prerogative – but spare me the textbook or the pornographic details. I'm interested in the story, right? Leave the characters a bit of privacy. To me, romance is not the same as sex, whatever they do after the fade-out. I can do without the bad language, too, apart from mild and story-appropriate examples of the "Publish and be damned!" variety. As a schoolteacher, I've been privileged to have my ears assailed by more obscenities that I've ever wanted to hear. Enough, no more, please! What about leading characters? My hero can have quite a few human frailties: he can lose his cool when he's under stress, make wrong decisions, or come to an awareness that his lifestyle isn't what it should be. If he's dishonest (different from wrongfully accused), violent towards women (violent towards anyone, really, except of course truly nasty villains), or seriously out to seduce some innocent, I have great trouble believing he can reform – and unless I get some major clues early on, I couldn't be bothered reading on to find out. As for heroines, though I have enjoyed the daring deeds of some female swashbucklers, I can't believe that every woman should or does fit this mould. We more timid mortals have the right to feature in romance too, don't we? I find the demand for heroines to be physically strong, feisty or whatever the "in" word is, to be not only unrealistic (yes, I know romance IS often unrealistic, but I think you know what I mean), but also incongruous, when sword-fighting skill is grafted on to the persona of a well brought-up middle class Victorian girl, for example. Men can be masterful – but not domineering; women can need protection – so long as they do show their strengths at some time; and people can misunderstand each other – as long as they have credible reasons for doing so. Do I demand original plots? Not really – come on, how many truly original storylines are still lurking out there undiscovered? What intrigues me is the slant the writer gives to a recognizable pattern: I don't mind if I can guess the ending, as long as I enjoy the journey. Again, there are limits: if the characters don't have sufficient individuality to bring their own unique viewpoints to the story, I may well close that book, and return to the version of the story that I already have! So there are my major reasons for closing the book in irritation instead of keeping on breathlessly to the end, sighing with satisfaction, and making a mental note to find some more by that author. What about you?
Cynthia Harris
Check out Perilous Moon Cynthia's Sneaky Peek at www.adcmagazine.com YA Section
The article is to me right on the point, there is more than enough artistry in writing left to make fabulous stories practically forever within the guidelines given. I will put a book down for other reasons. I have laid down a book because the editor would not stand up to the author and do what they are paid to do, such as telling the author the continuity was way off, or the word I is in twenty sentences in a row. A good story needs others to find those type of things and an author needs to realize they are paying for an expert critic to help them make it a great story.
The content that will put me off is blatant disrespect, usually of the hero for the heroine. I'm talking the kind of disrespect that created the bodice rippers of the 1970s. the kind of disrespect that objectifies women and sees them as something to be owned and used at the whim of the man. The thing that will put me off a book in terms of style is present tense narrative. This has become more common and I'm old school enough to want my stories told to me in past tense (I went to the store, not I go to the store). Reading in present tense is supposed to make us feel more "in the moment," but to me it feels sloppy and grammatically incorrect, like a teenager babbling out a story about a trip to the mall. I've probably missed a lot of wonderful stories because I can't get past the first few paragraphs of a present tense story.
The characters must be enjoyable and different enough to keep me reading, and they must not be so heavily, forcefully drawn that there's not a lot of room for my own imagination to come into play. One book I never completed was Stephen King's The Green Mile; a hundred pages in, I realized the heavy-handed characters bored me, and returned it to the library next day.
I read for pleasure, so I hate 'issues' books where the author feels the need to use the story to 'educate' or 'enlighten' me of the evils of some issue or other.
Unfortunately, I'm pretty shallow. I just want to be entertained. I want to see strong women who aren't perfect, nor who have all the answers, but who can shoot a gun or run a business,etc. So, to answer the question, what makes me put a book down unread: vapid heroines, ego-centric Alpha males, gruesome grisly murders (The my Lucky O'Toole Vegas series, I have one girl fall to her death from a tour helicopter, landing in the middle of the Pirate Show in front of Treasure Island), and no happy ever after (or at least a satisfying ending).
Along the way I'd like to be taken to a world different from my own and maybe even learn something.
And violence against women? If the hero did this, he's toast. I'll put the book down right then and there.
And, if at all possible, I'd love a story that makes me laugh...appropriately.
I sample books before I buy and if the story doesn't grab me fast, doesn't make me want to find out what happens next, if the writing style is pretentious, or it looks depressing, I'll move on. I appreciate tags so much more now and have started tagging my own books on my website, because I don't want readers to be disappointed.
If my books aren't their preference, then let's get it over with fast. I would also have to agree with your list. I like my characters believable. I've written kick butt heroines, but also heroines with different strengths.
I like a writing style that makes me forget I'm reading, not one that calls attention to itself. And what really bugs me is reading a whole book that promises a smash bang finish and whimpers to an end. Delight me, surprise me, make me care about your book people and you'll have a fan.
Stories that make me feel I've read the book before, even though I know I haven't, are a turn-off. I read for pleasure, not to learn how to glass blow or create a never-done-before art object. I'm open to learning something new if it's sprinkled in, but not if it's too detailed. Arrogant heroes never seem quite human to me, just like some arroogant males I've encountered in a long lifetime. I also can't stand dumb-ass heroines. On the other hand, know-it-all ones don't appeal to me either. If a child or a pet is introduced into the story, please make it because this child or pet has a certain role to play that adds to the story. Tell me enough about horses or whatever other animal you introduce so I feel confident you kmow what you're talking about, but don't overdo it. If an animal takes over your story, I'll stop reading unless you let me know in the beginning that the story is about this animal. Sex is fine, but I don't need every single detail of who does what to whom I do enjoy stories that contain sex if the entire story is not mostly about the sex. Yes, sex is an important part of adult love, but it's not the the only thing love is all about. Ani I do like some suspense as to the the outcome of the story. www.JaneToombs.com
I read many different kinds of stories, from sweet to erotica, but all sex and no plot gives me no reason to care about the characters, so that's an issue. Stylistically, I'm not a fan of present tense, though I can get past it. Second person is rare, but the few times I've come across it, it's been an absolute deal-breaker. Manipulative heroines drive me up a tree-- please don't flirt with or heaven forbid date someone just to get your chosen man jealous! That's an automatic wall-banger. Physically abusive heroes get the heave-ho as well. I recently figured out another no-go area as well-- something to do with a hero's characteristics, but can't remember it right now. I am quite sure I'll be reminded the next time I see it in a book...
I am one of those people who have to finish a book. I must say there may be only a few that I have not finished, most likely because I am determined to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Like most of you, violence and abuse in a romance book are not acceptable. If I'm reading a story--suspense/murder that I know is about violence and abuse, that's different but it does not, in my humble opinion, belong in a romance novel.
Cynthia, our guest author is from lovely Australia, so her night is our day. She will be with us soon to respond to everyone.
Fritz, you are so right -I didn't even start to talk about style, because I could be writing for ever! Being devil's advocate, however, I have to say that when I was doing an editing course it was impressed on us that the author had the final say (after all, it's his or her intellectual property)and we could offer advice but not dictate. My pet hate in style (well, one of them)is unvaried short sentences. Variety is the spice of life, isn't it! (Sorry, I love exclamation marks -it's the way I talk too.)
Ugh, Kay, I know the type you mean. I once started a book where I was expected to believe it was perfectly normal for the heroine to fall in love with the stranger who raped her. Excuse me? I didn't read any further. Present tense in writing reminds me of schoolkids: "Then I see my friend, then she says ..., she goes to the door, she says..." (all in one sentence, of course). I totally agree with you.
J Gunnar Grey:you too with the famous writers? I did start a certain book the teenage girls were raving about, thinking it was my duty to keep up with the times. I'm sorry to say that after a hundred pages all I recall was the school canteen and people looking at each other. It may have improved later, but I'm past wasting my precious leisure time. Of course, a character that one person loves will leave someone else cold. Luckily there are plenty of books in the world.
Nell,I really care about many issues -but, like you, I don't want them in my recreational reading. I know I keep talking about school - sorry! - but English classes are bombarded with novels about kids with tragic issues, nasty people, end of the world scenarios and other delicious themes, clearly designed to push poor teenagers into deep depression. Wouldn't it be better to give them something happy to focus on?
Deborah,yes, bring on the light-hearted approach and the happy ending - real life can get you down at times. Not sure about your tour helicopter death dive - sounds pretty gruesome to me! For me, heroines can be timid (because I am the world's biggest wimp) but they can't be stupid, and they need to have or gain strength, even if it is of the quiet variety. (PS In case you haven't noticed, as well as being a wimp I love to chat, and this is a great opportunity.)
Pauline, interesting comment about tags. I am new to all this, so any information is gratefully received. Browsing for hours in bookshops is a holiday indulgence for me. Libraries are fun too. I will certainly look at your website soon (MUST finish some work tonight). I like that you have a range of heroines. I find I often write romances with two contrasting main female characters.
Jane - now I'm embarrassed (says she smiling), because horses feature heavily in so much of my writing! Yes, I was one of those horse-mad girls and now I'm a horse-mad, umm, mature person. Arrogance in male or female is not an endearing characteristic, is it, though I have to admit I LOVE Mr Darcy (especially as portrayed by Colin Firth).
Heather, you're right, all sex and no plot is dull, dull, dull. And yes, I did plough my way through a couple at a time when I was wondering whether I could write to a formula. That was twenty years ago, and I haven't repeated the exercise. There have to be real (to some extent) people and a real story that needs more than a paragraph to tell it. After that, it's up to your personal preference. Have you remembered your other no-go area? I'm curious.
Pam, thanks for the introduction. And I must be dumb (because I know I'm not colour blind or needing new glasses)- I blush to tell you that I keep making mistakes in the security code! Duh! Back to books: I used to finish everything (unless it scared me). When I was seven I read "Don Quixote", all 600 or so pages, because I knew already about the horse Rosinante. He hardly got a mention. I was so disappointed! These days if I find myself starting to get bored,I stop. Life's too short, and I have many "old friend" favourites to savour once more. I read the classic murder mysteries, the ones where the murder isn't described in detail. A good romance is sheer delight, however, a real lift for the spirits.
I read for entertainment and if I'm not entertained by the first couple of chapters, I put the book away. I admit, I've forced myself to read an entire story at times for whatever reason, but I want to feel connected to the characters from the beginning
P. L. Parker: me too -although the first chapters don't have to be action-packed to interest me. Sometimes it is fascinating just to get to know characters and also gain a feel for the setting. I've read some books with great pleasure, and afterwards thought: "Hmm, actually, nothing much happened - but it was fun nevertheless."
Congratulations. J Gunner Grey is the winner of Cynthia's contest.