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Double Chili Cheeseburger
2013/05/31 16:15:20
Am driving from Newark, DE to Dublin Ohio and back. Any suggestions for the road and the destination?
Fire Safety Admin
2013/06/03 15:27:29
You should be going on I-70 through Wheeling, which means a stop at
Coleman's Fish Market
. Excellent fish sandwiches! Just across the state line into Ohio is
Mehlman's Cafeteria
. If you are in a hurry, you can typically get in and out of here in 20 minutes easily, due to how close it is in to the interstate and the nature of cafeteria dining. In Zanesville, I like
Tom's Ice Cream Bowl
for a quick dessert. It is also located less than a mile from I-70.
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DANIEL Craig and Hugh Jackman were sharing star billing in a theatre production on Broadway in 2009 about a couple of tough-talking Chicago cops.
In the audience was director Sam Mendes and, in a post-show chat, the Aussie actor invited the Oscar-winner to a party at his New York apartment that weekend.
It was in full swing by the time the director arrived and mingled with the A-list guests, including Craig, whom he had first worked with on Road To Perdition in 2002.
Craig suggested Mendes direct the next James Bond film.
Mendes had been approached earlier by the Ian Fleming Foundation and refused as it was not his thing. But this time he had a gut feeling.
"He wasn't drunk or anything but it was just a party situation," Mendes, 47, says of that chance meeting with Craig.
"I said to him, 'when are you doing the next Bond movie?' and he said, 'oh, I don't know' and I said 'who is directing it' and he said 'I don't know' and I didn't have any ulterior motive. He just said, 'do you want to do it?' And I literally had a little feeling in my stomach and I thought, 'yeah, yeah - what a great thing to do'.
"It wasn't something that had ever occurred to me but after that it kinda snowballed. I was thinking about it a lot and got in contact with (producers) Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson."
Craig remembers the meeting and recalls the clincher he said that gave Mendes his gut feeling: "This is movie-making like no other, I think you would enjoy it as much as I have."
And with that Skyfall, the 23rd instalment of the James Bond film franchise was made and is being hailed by critics as arguably the greatest in the 50 years since the 007 secret agent first hit our silver screens.
Or at least that is the short-cut version. What happened behind the scenes since that chance 2009 meeting was a lot of stress for all involved and a little like a real-life Bond plot and ultimately has led to the character being resurrected.
It was Craig's third outing for the character, after Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace - and he thought the director behind American Beauty, for which he won an Oscar, Road to Perdition, Jarhead, and Revolutionary Road would be great.
Then months later, MGM, the studio behind Bond, faced bankruptcy and the franchise and production on Bond 23 was suspended indefinitely.
It was at this point, Mendes and Craig had to meet in secret to work on scripts. They read old Fleming books together, made script notes all under a cone of secrecy as legally the project was suspended because of the financial collapse of the studio and the fact a rescue was not forthcoming.
Mendes couldn't even be named as the director but rather was branded an adviser.
Craig recalls thinking Bond was dead and there was nothing he could do but keep plotting in the hope a rescue would soon be found.
"Sam had come on board early on but, because of legal issues, I couldn't officially talk to him ... so it was quite literally quiet telephone conversations, secret meetings in cafes," he says of that period.
"It was rather like Bond, just to sort of have a conversation and get things talked about."
Both men agreed there was a need to get back to basics and rediscover what it was that had made the movies so popular years ago.
That extra year in production hiatus allowed the pair to narrow down what it was they wanted to do with the character and they also got on board John Logan, one of Hollywood's most in-demand scriptwriters with three Oscar nominations to his credit for Gladiator, Aviator and Hugo. His reworking of the script was a turning point, Mendes says.
"There's nothing self-conscious about it, we simply went back to the books and he is so conflicted in the books," Craig says. "Ian Fleming is certainly conflicted about him.
"I don't think this is high drama - it is an action movie and we have an incredibly strong storyline and the main character is reacting to what is going on.
"But he's James Bond and you can never forget that."
By the time the movie began shooting in January 2011 everyone knew they had a winner, aided in no small part by the introduction of Javier Bardem as the psychopathic killer seeking revenge against M, Silva.
Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe complement the team as the mandatory Bond girls while Ralph Fiennes (playing a spy bureaucrat) and Albert Finney (a Bond family friend) add acting depth.
The $150 million film took seven months to shoot with several weeks spent on the opening sequence.
London also became a star of the show as extraordinary access to shooting in the city was provided to Mendes and his team including sections of the Tube, Whitehall and central streets.
The result is a triumph for the audience and a commercial success for the makers. And the introduction of a darker, richer script while retaining strong connections to the past takes the story to another level and ensures Bond can live on.
"There is a snappiness between characters, no one necessarily being nice to each other but there's respect," Craig says of the success of the script.
"No one is giving anything away. Every scene is a game of cards and I have my hand and you have your hand and I am going to hide my hand until I'm asked to show it. And I think that's very British but I also think it is very Bond."
Skyfall opens on November 22.
Best: Daniel Craig. Connery purists will howl with outrage but Skyfall cements the English actor's reputation as the franchise's premiere 007, exuding menace and sex appeal in equal measure as well as a darkness and depth reminiscent of Ian Fleming's creation.
Worst: George Lazenby. Goulburn-born model turned actor only had the one outing, ironically in one of the best Bond films, Her Majesty's Secret Service. His agent talked him out of a seven-picture deal, telling him that the character was out of touch with the times.
Best: Casino Royale. The brilliant 2005 reboot arguably saved the franchise after the excesses of Die Another Day (invisible car, really?). A knockout debut from Craig, spectacular action sequences and a simple story well told from Fleming's first novel.
Worst: Octopussy. Line-ball call but the 1983, Moore-era stinker just edges out 1977 Star Wars rip-off Moonraker. In Goldeneye, Judi Dench's M describes Pierce Brosnan's Bond as "a sexist, misogynist dinosaur - a relic of the Cold War". For Moore in Octopussy, she might have added vaguely camp, creaky and casually racist.
Best: Oddjob.The golf ball-crushing chauffeur/caddy/bodyguard from Goldfinger became the prototype henchman by which all others were judged. The strong, silent type, with an unusually lethal choice in headgear.
Worst: Nick-Nack. The sight of pint-sized Herve Villechaize pursuing Roger Moore around a cabin with a knife at the end of The Man With the Golden Gun prompted more smiles than scares. He wasn't even afforded the traditional henchman's death, instead he was ignominiously bundled into a suitcase and hung from the rigging.
Best: Goldfinger. Instantly recognisable and an instant classic. So good they asked Shirley Bassey back for Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.
Worst: All Time High. Rita Coolidge was given the task of breathing life into this Tim Rice-penned dud for Octopussy. Be warned, there are 1980s saxophones.
Best: Jinx. Oscar winner Halle Berry making her bikini-clad entry in Die Another Day was a nod to Ursula Andress from Dr No but that's where the similarities with Berry's spunky CIA spook ended.
Worst: Christmas Jones. Bond films are all about escapism and fantasy fulfilment - but if you buy Wild Things' Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist in The World Is Not Enough, then, frankly, you'll believe anything.
- James Wigney
Originally published as Best Bond ever? Thank Hugh Jackman

subset: commoncrawl


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While poking my head in at Topless Robot in order to rage at the new Deadpool figure, I came across this little tidbit about the re-broadcasting of Dragon Ball Z in Japan.
We already knew this new version would be broadcast in HD, but here's the interesting thing: apparently they'll be re-editing the show to cut out all of the time-stretching techniques they used in the show -- three-minute-long recaps, mindless grunting, and everything in between. Hell, they're even bringing the seiyuu back in to re-record lines.
So, no longer will we have FUNi's letterboxed DVDs. where characters' faces are all cut off. I'm sure they'll be more than glad to release the new HD version here in the 'States -- which will be called Dragon Ball Kai. The show will start airing in Japan on April 5th.
You have no idea how excited I am for this. Seriously.
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Checking the Housing Channel at the Beach
When I travel, I like to just keep my eyes open and see what's going on in various parts of the country. Although the information garnered in this manner is anecdotal in nature and not as empirical as what the always highly accurate Wall Street and government economists prefer, I have found it to be valuable.
When you talk to people and observe, you can often come away with information that conflicts with the disseminated data. This can help you develop what Michael Steinhardt used to call a "variant perception." My recent week at New Smyrna Beach, Fla., is an example....705 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Energy -- and specifically the oil and gas complex -- continues to be a bright spot in this market.
>>3 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume
Just take a look at some of the moves in this sector, such as small-cap independent oil and gas player Quicksilver Resources (KWK). That stock is ripping higher today by 7% on above-average volume. Over the last six months, shares of KWK have soared higher by 58%, and the stock is now approaching its 52-week high at $3.67 a share.
Another small-cap oil and gas player that's been on a fire of late is Callon Petroleum (CPE), which is up by more than 40% so far in 2014. This stock is also trending strong today, with shares up by 2.6% at $9.17, within range of its 52-week high of $9.84 a share. One more small-cap oil and gas play that's recently exploded to the upside is Magellan Petroleum (MPET), which has soared higher in 2014 by over 100%.
As you can see, the oil and gas complex is trending strong right now, and small-cap stocks in this space are in play with the bulls. This momentum could be here for a while when you consider the troubling escalations we've seen in the past few weeks in Ukraine. The geopolitical tensions in Ukraine are keeping a bid under the energy market, and unless that situation de-escalates dramatically, then I expect that bid to remain in place.
>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy for May Gains
This all has me scanning the small-cap energy space for what could be the next big runners. A number of small-cap oil and gas players could very easily be next to make a major run as the momentum players move from stock to stock in the sector looking for opportunity. These small-cap energy names have the capability to make massive moves higher, since many have low floats and lots of shorts.
A perfect example of an oil and gas player that's recently exploded higher and also has a low float and lots of shorts is FX Energy (FXEN), which has ripped to the upside by 30% over the last three months. FX Energy has a tradable float of 50 million shares, and the short interest as a percentage of its float is just over 6%. Just this month, shares of FXEN exploded higher from its low of $3.13 to its recent high of $5.14 a share. Make no mistake, once the big upside volume flowed into FXEN a few weeks ago. the shorts got spooked and covered in a hurry, producing that large spike.


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network operating system
(networking, operating system) (NOS) An operating system which includes software to communicate with other computers via a network. This allows resources such as files, application programs, and printers to be shared between computers.Examples are Berkeley Software Distribution Unix, Novell, LAntastic, MS LAN Manager. [Is there a specific OS called "Network Operating System"?]
Last updated: 2001-03-13


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January 7, 2010 BY John Kim
The Nintendo Wii, despite not having the amazing graphics capabilities of the XBOX360 or PS3, was the true definition of next-gen gaming, as it took the crown of having the most sales in the infamous Christmas '06 season. The Nike x Wii Pack was a great pairing of two iconoclastic companies, and we were fortunate to get a pair of the Air Max 95, Blazer Mid Supreme, and Sky Force High with Nintendo Wii colourways. Here's a look at an unreleased sample of the Wii x Nike Air Max Terra 90. Check out the intricate design on the mudguard, as seen on the Wii x Nike Delta Force II High, and the textured leather on the uppers (but ignore the Livestrong box…It's just a prop). If you want to round out your Wii x Nike collection, grab your pair from verbdws on eBay.
Filed under: Collaboration Nike Air Max Sample


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Honor Flight Syracuse planning missions in 2013
Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:45:43 GMT —
The Syracuse group that helps say thank you to veterans for their service is planning this year's flights to Washington, DC.
Honor Flight was set up to pay tribute to World War II vets, but is also offering the day trip to 'younger' veterans, including from the Korea and Vietnam conflicts, and according to organizer John Paddock, also to any terminally ill veteran.
The flight to and from the nation's capital and the tours there are the visible part of the operation, but Paddock says the 'behind the scenes' is huge, too, with teams or volunteers working to organize the veterans, and companions to accompany them. The logistics also involve arranging for flights, and for the 'welcome home' party at day's end.
Fundraising is also a major part of the year round effort, and contributions are welcome, as are volunteers.
Honor Flight Syracuse hopes to have its first mission of the year in late April.


text: Hello I have a Mamiya m645 1000s with the following lens: 80 2.8 80 f4 Macro 45 2.8 150 3.5 210 f4 300 5.6 These are all "C" Sekor lens I also have a Metz 45 CT-1 Flash If I wanted to update to a more modern Mamiya MF Model, which models would still accept my lens. I am guessing all the 645 designated models will accept my lens, which I think encompasses the J, Super, Pro, Pro-TL, E.... Do I have it pretty right or are there others......and if so, are there any recommendations? Thanks in advance for your time


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Feedback on a plan to create 31,000 homes, 27,000 jobs and new roads during the next 17 years is needed by Central Bedfordshire Council.
The council is holding a public consultation of its pre-submission draft, which identifies key housing, employment and environmental sites as well as highlights infrastructure improvements and areas of Green Belt.
The draft strategy also sets out key policies which will help determine planning applications.
All feedback will be summarised and sent to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for consideration along with the plan, prior to a public examination next spring.
If it is considered sound, the council will be asked to adopt it next summer.
The plan is an update to the previous draft strategy, which the council consulted on during 2012 and 2013.
This document had a housing target of 28,700. A council spokesman said this has been revised in response to latest population data.
He added of the 31,000 new homes now being planned, more than half have already been built or had sites identified.
The majority of the rest are planned for sites near Wixams, Houghton Regis, Luton and Leighton Linslade.
Comments can be submitted until Tuesday, August 26. Copies are available at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/devstrat or at council customer service centres and libraries.


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When Taylor Fish joined coaches Darin Erstad and Will Bolt in a quick conference before his bases-loaded, two-out at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, things looked rather bleak for the sophomore. Thomas Hackimer, St. John's pitcher, is a submarining hurler who hadn't given up a hit to a right-handed batter all year, and Fish hadn't played in over two weeks before entering the game late as a defensive replacement.
Add all that to the fact that Nebraska was 0-5 on the season when tied or losing after seven innings.
As Fish left the huddle and walked to the plate, Erstad whispered to Bolt, "Good luck."
But Fish found a way to overcome the odds. After watching the first five pitches to work a 3-2 count, Fish squirted a single past the diving second baseman to score Austin Christensen from third and give Nebraska the 7-6 victory.
Nebraska has won three straight to improve to 7-5 this year and 2-0 at home.
"It's almost an impossible matchup for a right-hander against that guy," Erstad said. "To not have an at-bat for quite a few games and to be in that situation and come through, that's just a testament to Taylor's work and his value to our team."
Fish had played in two games and had just five at-bats coming into Saturday. But after starting catcher Tanner Lubach was lifted for pinch runner Ty Kildow in the eighth, Erstad called down to the bullpen, where Fish was warming up closer Josh Roeder, and told the catcher to be ready.
"You never go up to the plate looking to walk, especially in that situation," Fish said. "You want to be the guy that gets the big hit to win the game. You live for those big moments like that, and fortunately this time it came through for me."
Fish's heroics saved the NU bullpen from blowing the game for Nebraska. The Huskers led 6-3 after a three-run sixth inning, but Zach Hirsch and Bob Greco gave up three runs of their own in the top of the seventh. Nebraska spoiled a chance to tie the game in the eighth with the speedy Kildow on third and top hitter Michael Pritchard up, but the left fielder popped out to second.
Erstad turned to Roeder to keep the game knotted, and his closer responded with a 1-2-3 inning. The game appeared headed for extras after second baseman Pat Kelly flew out to center and third baseman Blake Headley struck out to start the bottom of the ninth.
But Christensen singled to center and pinch hitter Bryce Only drew a walk. Center fielder Ryan Boldt battled pitcher Matt Clancy to a 3-2 count and walked to load the bases.
St. John's brought in Hackimer, who has yet to give up a run this year. Usually in this situation, Erstad would have countered with a left-handed pinch hitter, but injuries have left Nebraska thin at catcher. With Lubach already out of the game, Erstad had no choice but to leave Fish in. Turns out it was a wise decision.
"That guy was tough to pick up, especially in the shadows like this," Fish said. "I actually got jammed a little bit, but luckily it squeezed through for me. I thought the second baseman was going to make a diving play."
Nebraska will go for the weekend sweep Sunday at 12:05 p.m.
Saturday standouts
Austin Darby: The right fielder only had one hit on the day, but he made it count. Darby broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth by sharply singling back up the middle to plate two runs.
Austin Christensen: The sophomore continues to rake in his first opportunity at playing time. Christensen had two hits to raise his average to .333. He knocked in a run, stole his first career base and scored the game-winning run. Not a bad day of work for the first baseman.
Around the horn
***Pritchard's sixth-inning single extended his on-base streak to 54 games, extending his school record.
***Shortstop Jake Placzek has had two or more hits in four straight games.
***The attendance was 1,732.


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Frames are perfect for preserving a memory or for breaking over your head to erase a memory. Get in the right frame of mind with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $45 for $100 worth of frames and framing services
- $65 for $150 worth of frames and framing services<p>
The shop's wares include 8"x10" frames with glass ($65), 24"x36" poster frames ($125), 16"x20" frames ($150), and sports-jersey frames ($300).
Since encasing their first piece of art behind glass in 1977, Framemaker's professional artists and craftspeople continue to transform each print and photo brought into the shop into an artfully mounted creation. Staffers help your treasured images and memorabilia stand out by using regular and conservation-quality frames, matting, and glass in their framing work. Shoppers can bring in their own pieces to be framed or scoop up new works from Framemaker's carefully curated assortment of posters, graphic prints, and original art created by local artists and spontaneous fission. The shop's certified conservator can be found carefully erasing scratches and discoloration from old family photos via digital photo-restoration services. Other services such as shadow-box creation and canvas stretching add a unique spin to image display.


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When you're driving around town, your Seahawks spirit is always riding shotgun. Make sure your car is overflowing with Seattle pride with these car floor mats. Each mat in this set of two features embossed repeating school names along with a full-color Seahawks logo. You already dress head-to-toe in Seattle garb, and with these floor mats, your car can too!
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This upcoming weekend figures to be of major importance for South Florida's basketball recruiting efforts.
Besides Texan visitor Andre Jackson, the Bulls will welcome in Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips guard Shane Larkin - one of the top point guards in the entire country.
Larkin, who has previously been to the campus of South Florida on an unofficial visit, is looking forward to a more hands-on experience this time around.
"I have visited down there before unofficially and met all the coaches, now I am just really going to walk through the campus and see how the campus is," began Larkin. "I want to meet the players on this year's team, the players that would come back next year if I came here, and just try to get a better feel for how my life would be if I came to South Florida."
Head coach Stan Heath introduced Larkin to a few aspects of the university while speaking with him for an in-home visit. Now the Sunshine State product wants gain a more detailed understanding of all the programs and opportunities that would be available to him if he chose the Bulls.
"Coach Heath came to my house for an in-home visit and he told me about all of the majors that they have here and he mentioned that they have a really good business school," said Larkin. "I pretty much know a lot about the academic side of it all, I just want to get a feel for it - waking up every day and going to school here.
"I also want to see some of the diversity in the school," he added. "I want to learn about all of the backgrounds. I don't want to go to a school where it is primarily white or black. I want it to be like any place in America where you can see all different kinds of races. I will definitely be looking out for that while I am on campus."
Larkin is unsure of whether or not they will take some time to study some film or break down some strategies, but X's and O's have been discussed on a prior occasion.
"I know one thing Coach Heath preached to me at my house is that the team is based on defense and toughness," Larkin explained. "A lot of the points are generated off of good defense."
The 5-foot-11, 150-pounder still is planning on taking all of his official visits, but if the feeling is right, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Larkin could commit on his visit to Tampa.
"If one of these weekends blow me away - like if this weekend blows me away, then I might commit while I am here," he said. "Or if it was a good weekend and I compare how it was to last weekend, I will sit down and take everything in consideration and think about it."


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Does anyone have an idea of the prices for a massage, I would like to schedule one for my wife. Thanks
The prices are the same for each ship. It depends on the type of massage you are wanting.
A standard hour Swedish style massage runs about $150 If you schedule one on a port day you can get it for under $100
There are also hot stone massage and one where they wrap you in a seaweed mixture... (not sure its really a massage)
If you can wait until later tonight, I'll take a look at our bill from our June cruise and let you know what the actual costs are.
okay- here are the real prices (from the carnival capers) These are the Spa Specials
Massage Special (full body with Exotic Lime and ginger salt glow (whatever the heck that is... normally $199 special -$149
35 minute neck back and shoulder (embarkation day special - $72
Foot/ankle or scalp massage or mini facial $79
Pick 3 - 20 min each massages for $89
So I guess you get the point. Typically you are looking at $150 to $190 for a massage unless you book it on as a special where you can knock $50 or so off the cost.
I hope that helps.
They do run specials, normally on port days. The flyers for the specials will be delivered to your cabin. The Carnival Capers will also be delivered to your cabin and will have specials posted there, too.
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:58 PM.


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As you may know, Allan and I always try to visit temples whenever we are on a trip and so we couldn't pass up on opportunity to go to the temple in Bern.
Saturday was Amanda's birthday. So first order of business was her opening her presents.
So, of course, we had to do a little DoReMi photo
We had a nice lunch which included a banana split for desert.
The only question is--WHY IN THE WORLD DID WE SHARE THEM??? We really should have each had our own--as you can see by the plate, they were so yummy we almost licked the plates.
We stayed in Salzburg for a few hours exploring. It was so fun and BEAUTIFUL. I have to tell you Allan was fascinated by this--to the left of the steeple. He wanted to get in there, but sadly, we never did ; (
Such a beautiful city.
We loved walking around the gardens at Maribell Palace. They were so lovely. We kept telling Darren--who has never visited Winnipeg or seen our home, that it was just how are yard looked. (Yeah, with my green thumb there isn't ONE FLOWER in my yard ; )
It was a lovely trip. We are so glad we went.
The drive back was an adventure. I wish I had taken a picture of the cars speeding by as we were traveling on the Autobahn. Ha, ha, they would have just been a blur. It was pretty fun when there was no speed limit. I learned a little more about Darren as we FLEW on the road. Poor Allan, if he had realized he wouldn't have scared Amanda and Darren he would have had his foot to the floor and there wouldn't have been a Lamborghini or Mazerati that would have passed him up ; ) And can I just say, those things really hum as they whiz by.


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Excellence in Research
Each year, the University at Albany honors special members of its community with Excellence Awards denoting exceptional contributions to the life of the campus. Four faculty members received this tribute in 2007 for Excellence in Research.
Jonathan Wolpaw, Biomedical Science
Jonathan Wolpaw is a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Public Health. He is also a research physician at Wadsworth Center and chief of the Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders. He has been a central figure in the field of brain-computer interface (BCI) research and technology since its beginnings in the late 1980s. Working with a team of researchers, Wolpaw has shown that people, including those with severe motor disabilities, can learn to control sensor motor rhythms via scalp-recorded EEG or brain wave activity, and can use that control to move a computer cursor in one or two dimensions to select letters or icons on a computer screen, or even to move a robotic arm. Wolpaw has published more than 43 peer-reviewed journal articles on BCI, and a total of nearly 200 publications in other fields of neurobiology. Wolpaw's funding totals more than $7 million from the National Institutes of Health, IBM, the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Whitaker Foundation, the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, the ALS Hope Foundation and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. Most recently, Wolpaw was honored by the American Paraplegia Society Jayanthi Charitable Foundation for his work in learning and memory in the spinal cord.
Excellence in Research
|Cheryl Frye
|David Wills
Literatures &
|Kehe Zhu
and Statistics


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Hi, if you guys are really serious about wanting to win over people who are mysql users or are the people currently served by them .. then you have to put in some serious PR efforts to pound it into peoples brains that PostgreSQL is just as easy to use. MySQL throws around the 15 minute rule for installation. My last PostgreSQL install definitely made this mark without any extra tuning. And yes the MySQL install gives you a few choices about the type of work load you expect. And yes MySQL has replication build in. It also supports charsets etc. And from a checkbox perspective it pretty much supports everything else there is. So again you have to make a concerted PR effort with a stream of published articles in magazines, conferences, blogs and news items where you highlight the ease of installation (this include some sort of replication as MySQL has established that benchmark). Also people need to hand hold middleware language and framework projects. So that they feel cool about supporting this superior database. It should make them all fuzzy inside. People give PostgreSQL credit for having all the enterprise features in a more complete fashion. Now you need to make it clear that its supported in all sorts of applications. However, before the fun can really begin you need to make it easy for hosters to setup PostgreSQL. Make sure hosters can put in solid quota's for disc space, memory usage, CPU usage or whatever so that they can create nicely distinct packages for their users. Now the question is, do you guys really want to put in that much effort? I am all for making as much things as easy as sensible. But imho PostgreSQL is best served if you guys focus on what has distingished it from MySQL. And that is providing a platform with superior SQL standards completeness and compliance. And extensible framework that promotes user choice over one size fits all defaults. regards, Lukas
Next: From: Luke Lonergan Date: 2006-11-10 21:11:33 Subject: Re: Postgres v MySQL 5.0 Previous: From: Chris Browne Date: 2006-11-10 20:53:56 Subject: Re: Postgres v MySQL 5.0


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ngmoco has announced that Rolando 2 will be released for iPhone this June, with a third game in the series scheduled for November.
Rolando has been likened to Sony's LocoRoco series, with players required to tilt the iPhone to make the characters roll across the screen. It's been a huge success for ngmoco.
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid will feature four worlds and 26 levels at launch, with a further 20 levels to be released via four free updates for the game. These bonus levels will be followed by a planned November 2009 release of Rolando 3 - the date could slip into 2010 if the second game misses its June debut.
"In eleven months, we will have released 12 worlds, 149 levels, 40+ hours of gameplay for less than the cost of a single DS or PSP game," said ngmoco founder Neil Young.
Via Kotaku


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Canvas Draw Created May 30, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 akisp1.
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paisley2010 May 31, 2012
nishea May 30, 2012
OMG i love hello kitty 5/5 hearts this is too cute =D
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American Buffalo by David Mamet employs his usual staccato interchanges and scatological flair; but in this production by TheaterWest, the acting sometimes weakens the desired effect, not allowing the audience to grasp the sense of the script, let alone laugh at the humor. The play is performed la theater in the round, with each scene taking place in the same junk shop, the shelves lined with junk and the card table littered with cans. The owner, Donny, takes under his wing Bobby, the village idiot, who wants only to please, showing him the ropes and the meaning of "good business." But the adult "kid" is an annoyance to Teach, the third character in this triangle, as the trio's plan to steal a valuable coin unfolds. Mamet's play is an interesting look at the life of three odd fellows, with humor that derives from the sheer pointlessness of it all. Unfortunately, many of Mamet's lines are lost, especially in the beginning. Teach (Paul Landrigan), who has many of the best lines, bowls over them, rushing along as if this were a run-through, spewing out sentences with profane punctuation but none of the intended punch; his violence seems too staged. The gem here is Donny (Michael George Owens), who uses props and character flaws brilliantly, taking on a slouch, a shrug, or a thin smile to say it all, using the words almost as an afterthought. Bobby (Paul Homza) is more of a one-dimensional character but does well with his stupidity. If Landrigan could slow down his fevered pitch, the production might be golden. (Through August 29 at the Stonzek Studio Theater, next to the Lake Worth Playhouse at 713 Lake St., Lake Worth, 561-586-6410.) -- Rachel Galvin
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Rolling Stones
Voodoo Lounge
Of course, no one expected that this band would sound all that different without Bill Wyman--except maybe Bill Wyman, that is. And it doesn't: Clearly, the Stones that remain have decided that they're better off doing what they've done since time immemorial. Hence, Mick Jagger and company spend Voodoo Lounge doing some very familiar things. "Love Is Strong," the lead track, features nasty harmonica blowing from Jagger (who on his most recent solo albums seemed to be blowing nothing other than his career). That's followed by "You Got Me Rocking," which sports some fairly aggressive guitar wrangling between Keith Richards and Ron Wood, and "Sparks Will Fly," highlighted by the same drum pattern Charlie Watts has been using for three decades. After that (with a few notable exceptions), things slow down. "The Worst" is the Stones' obligatory country song, "New Faces" is built upon Chuck Leavell's "Lady Jane"-style harpsichord and, well, you get the idea. If you feel compelled to buy this, you won't hate yourself as much as you did after ponying up for such snoozes as Emotional Rescue, Dirty Work or Steel Wheels; it's reassuring and it rocks. Neither, however, will you like it as much as Let It Bleed or Exile on Main Street. But you didn't expect to, did you?--Michael Roberts
The Solsonics
Jazz in the Present Tense
(Chrysalis Records)
Two years ago, before the urban sound of acid jazz hit the mainstream, bassist Jez Colin and percussionist Willie McNeil joined forces with other players on the Los Angeles underground music scene to form the Solsonics. Now, with its Chrysalis debut, the band appears to be on the cutting edge of jazz. That's not quite the case, though: This act, as well as Digable Planets and Us3, isn't an innovator. Rather, it's adept at taking influences, samples and sounds drawn from reggae, bebop, Latin pop, hip hop, funk and soul and combining them until they resemble "a nu thang." The likable, groovable, not exactly new result can be heard throughout Jazz in the Present Tense, which includes eleven originals and a rendition of Freddie Hubbard's famous "Red Clay." On the latter cut and others, the performers produce Seventies-era George Benson scat riffs that ride atop Cu-bop rhythms and walking bass lines. This approach works better live than on tape, but that hardly matters. Given the current state of commercial jazz, I'd take this over Kenny G any day.--Linda Gruno
Stevie Nicks
Street Angel
Yikes! She's back! Run for your lives!--Roberts
Adam Makowicz/George Mraz
Adam Makowicz/George Mraz, Concord Duo Series, Vol. 5
(Concord Jazz)
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This pairing of pianist Makowicz and bassist Mraz, two Czech-born jazz musicians trained in the European classical tradition, documents their unusual musical compatibility. The recording covers about an hour's worth of a May 1993 concert in Berkeley, California, and unlike many duo projects, it contains few dry moments. Eleven compositions are featured, with Gershwin's "I Loves You, Porgy," Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" and several of Makowicz's original works sandwiched between the opening number, Kern/ Hammerstein's "Don't Ever Leave Me," and a driving rendition of the finale, Ray Nobles's "Cherokee." It's likely that the artists included so many recognizable songs in the program because they felt the tunes would hold the audience's attention, but it is on the Makowicz compositions that they achieve the most inspiration. They play simply, fully--and thanks to some great sound engineering, listeners can hear every nuance of the performance. Mraz is definitely the star of this presentation, but he's not a miracle worker: He and Makowicz give Lionel Bart's "Where Is Love?"--a truly awful show tune from hell--a modicum of dignity as they prove that even the finest players can't do much with bad material.--Gruno
MC 900 Ft. Jesus
One Step Ahead of the Spider
Having told the world about his Jim Thompson fixation on his last album, Mark Griffin (aka Jesus) is eager to let the killer inside him out for another jaunt. On "New Moon," Our Hero is an omnipotent narrator watching as a woman flies through a windshield to her death; throughout "Tiptoe Through the Inferno," he portrays a compulsive liar eager to prove that everyone on the planet besides him is insane; during "New Year's Eve," he observes Bill, a human sloth sitting in front of his television mocking anyone and everyone who has a life. The music, made by a crack crew supplemented by guitarist Vernon Reid on "Stare and Stare," is creepy jazz and ugly rap that Griffin makes creepier and uglier simply by his presence. Neat trick.--Roberts


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Here's the first dumb question I'll pose to the group here, I'm sure there'll be others.
I can move along at an 8:30-8:45 pace, 176-180 tempo for the whole length of my long runs but that is only 30-45 seconds off my 10k pace, and most things I read and McMillan tell me I should be more like 60-90 seconds slower. I understand that the point of the long run is to keep the body working and adapting to extended exertion and want to be able to get this down as I believe this is the area where I didn't maximize my training for my last race.
So what is the best way to hold your pace down for long runs? I've tried slowing my tempo which results in a kind of bounding stride that is like riding a pogo stick down the road, and shortening my stride which makes me feel like I'm running with my shorts around my ankles. Both feel like they take more effort than my normal relaxed pace.


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Decision makers
- Lameka LucasJr. Publicist, MTV
- MTV's "True Life" producers, Viacom Inc., and MTVMTV
- Carl FoltaMTV
Stop telling youth they can "pray away the gay!"
In June, MTV aired an episode of True Life called, "I want to be straight." It featured two people who wanted to become straight. While MTV published helpful links on their website to legitimate organizations that help young people who are struggling like the Trevor Project, I believe that airing this episode is dangerous to young people.
Sexual orientation is not a choice. Even suggesting it is can be harmful to people who are struggling with their orientation.
MTV is still airing this episode of the "True Life" as a re-run. Tell them to stop before someone gets hurt.
- Jr. Publicist, MTV
Lameka Lucas
MTV's "True Life" producers, Viacom Inc., and MTV
Carl Folta
I just signed the following petition addressed to: MTV's "True Life" producers, and MTV in general.
Stop telling youth they can "pray away the gay!"
MTV's True Life Episode, "I want to be straight" sends the wrong message to people struggling with their sexual orientation.
While MTV did not explicitly endorse the possibility that gays and lesbians can change their sexual orientation, this True Life episode could be easily misunderstood by someone who is struggling with who they are. Someone could easily watch this episode and think there is a "cure" for being gay, which could not be further from the truth.
In fact, so called "gay cure" myths inherently promote hatred and non-acceptance of gay teens. They are responsible for fueling the fire of bullying, disgust, and outright violence against gay people worldwide.
I understand that the True Life series is a documentary special that tries to cover a wide range of people and their experiences, even the not so pretty ones. However, in this case, MTV made a serious mistake.
Please stop showing this episode before it causes irreparable harm to someone struggling with their identity.
J Bloomrosen started this petition with a single signature, and now has 939 supporters. Start a petition today to change something you care about.
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Nichols: Dallas set to become center of the volleyball universe for 10 days
When USA Volleyball officials began shopping sites for two big events, they contacted a former staff member with first-hand knowledge of their organization and tournament operations.
It was Monica Paul, vice president of sports marketing for the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, which just happened to have a venue for both events.
For the next 10 days, the Dallas Convention Center will be the center of volleyball's universe. FIVB World League matches run Thursday through Sunday followed by the USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships through next week. The USA Taekwondo Junior Olympic Championship also is at DCC.
Big D can do big-time volleyball. Dallas' ability to land major events has turned the city into a virtual hub of six-backs and side-outs.
The city has played host to seven USA Volleyball national events, two collegiate championships, and 10 Lone Star Classics, the largest national qualifier. USA Volleyball Girls' Junior Nationals and the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Club Championships will be here next year. The Lone Star Classic is signed through 2014.
Big events such as the FIVB World League and USA Volleyball Boys' Junior Nationals promote the sport. Hosting both, which is unprecedented, will extend Dallas' exposure in the Olympic sports spotlight.
"It wasn't necessarily a package deal, but it didn't hurt that they could do both at the same time," said Tom Pringle, USA volleyball senior director.
"The city has become a tremendous partner in showcasing volleyball at the regional and national levels. Dallas has everything we look for. We've been there a lot, so just having that familiarity helps."
In terms of staging national events, Dallas has built-in advantages: central location, international airport, hotels within walking distance, widespread interest in youth volleyball, scores of volunteers, and a convention center seemingly on steroids.
The DCC has the space — two million square feet — to host simultaneous events. It has a 203,000-square-foot exhibit hall with no columns and a 40-foot ceiling. Rows of padded courts will be stretched from one end to the other for the Boys' Junior Nationals, which features 400 teams and 4,500 athletes.
The center also boasts a 9,000-seat arena, where the FIVB World League matches involving the United States, Italy, France and Korea will be contested.
"The thing about Dallas is everything is all right there — the arena, hotels and restaurants," said Michael Garcia, senior director of programming/club director for Austin Sports Center, which runs the Lone Star Classic.
"The city provides a great incentives package, staffing and marketing, and the downtown hotels have been terrific to work with."
The Lone Star Classic celebrated its 25th year in April. The event drew about 1,500 teams and 65,000 fans over two weekends. At the DCC, 100 courts were spread out in the exhibit halls. The Erwin Center in Austin had room for only 40 courts.
Dallas provided organizational assistance in transporting 23 truckloads of equipment, tournament staffing, including setting up and tearing down.
"Monica Paul has done an amazing job of recruiting us and USA Volleyball," Garcia said. "They basically came out and got us.
"She's been a huge asset in getting us to go there and stay there. She's a facilitator. With her experience with USA Volleyball and USA Taekwondo, she knows how the Olympic governing bodies operate."
Dallas hosted USA Volleyball Open National Championships in 1960, 1996, 2002 and 2011. The city hosted USA Volleyball girls and boys national championships in 1998, the girls again in 2008 and the boys this week. In May, USA Volleyball announced that Dallas will host the USA Girls Junior Nationals next year. Minneapolis will host in 2014.
The Boys Junior Nationals should generate about $20 million in economic benefit for Dallas, Paul said.
"It's great to be involved in these Olympic-type events," Paul said. "In addition to volleyball, the Dallas area this year will have had USA diving, track and field, judo and triathlon events. I think the national governing bodies understand that Dallas can put on national tournaments."
Follow @BillNicholsDMN on Twitter.
FIVB World League
When: Friday: France vs. Italy, 5 p.m.; USA vs. Korea, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: Italy vs. Korea, 5 p.m.; USA vs. France, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: France vs. Korea, 5 p.m.; USA vs. Italy, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Dallas Convention Center
What: The FIVB World League is the premier annual international men's volleyball tournament in which 16 of the best teams in the world compete in four pools of four. Six teams will advance to the Final Round on July 4-8 in Sofia, Bulgaria. … The U.S. Men's team leads World League Pool C with a 7-2 record and needs to win two out of three to secure their pool.
Who: United States, Italy, France, Korea
Tickets: Available at DCC box office, starting at 3 p.m. ($12-$80)


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Photo Gallery
Exit Glacier Area
Exit Glacier is the primary destination for visitors to witness up close the power of the glaciers. It is also the home to the Exit Glacier Nature Center and the trail head for the Harding Icefield Trail.
Credit: NPS / Mark ThompsonHiking through the Outwash Plain, directly in front of Exit Glacier, is a great way to see the glacier up front. The hike can be challenging, especially if Exit Creek, the glacier-fed creek that flows from the toe of the glacier, blocks your path.Download 3.6 MB
Credit: NPS / Fiona RitterThe trail to Glacier View is the shortest of the trails at the Exit Glacier Area, and is accessible by wheelchair.Download 4.6 MB
Credit: NPS / Mark ThompsonNootka lupine is one of the many wildflowers that can be seen during summer around the Exit Glacier Area.Download 2.6 MB
Credit: NPS / Kent MillerInterpretive park rangers staff the Exit Glacier Nature Center during the summer months. Interpretive programs, which follow the trail to the Edge of the Glacier, are offered every day at 10, 2, and 4.Download 8.5 MB
Credit: NPS / Travis FultonYes indeed, there is a glacier under there.Download 2.0 MB
Credit: NPS / Paige CalamariHikers can often find a bench along the trail to the Edge of the Glacier, both to rest and enjoy the view.Download 3.2 MB
Credit: NPS / Paige CalamariThe terminus, or "toe" of Exit Glacier, as seen from the Outwash Plain below it. While this photo was taken 2011, Exit Glacier will never look quite like this again, as warmer temperatures over the past few years continue to reduce the mass of the glacier.Download 7.3 MB


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For a perfect fit, the long red gloves are made of stretchy material. They can be pulled up to the elbows and perfectly fit your fingers. The red satin-look gloves add a sexy but stylish burlesque touch to your outfit. Match these shiny gloves with the Red Lady Costume and the Burlesque Panties Red S and you are guaranteed to attract a lot of attention!
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SALT LAKE CITY — In Utah, there are certain things you can always count on:
1. No matter what time of the day or the weather, somebody is always running.
2. People never remember how to drive in snow.
3. October means more than candy. It's Warren Miller time!
The 240-city tour of "Like There's No Tomorrow" made its world premiere stop last weekend in Utah. The showings of the latest Warren Miller film mark the symbolic opening of a new ski season. And the premiere screening at Abravanel Hall was to a packed house.
Skiing and snowboarding is not only a pastime but an escape from the realities of a tough economy. "No pressure" is one of this film's themes. We can put life, politics, and worries aside and allow skiing and snowboarding to continue to provide us with awe and new wonders.
When you put everything aside, release your mind and listen to your breathing as you swash over the powder ocean, you realize there is only one place to go and an infinite number of ways to get there. You realize you are the only one who can write the ending of this story.
The film is narrated by Olympic gold medalist Jonny Mosely. Shot on location across five continents, "Like There's No Tomorrow," rated PG, provides moments of escape into the beauty of the earth and athletes triumphing over Mother Nature.
"Like There's No Tomorrow" takes viewers around the world, from India to Canada to the Andes Mountains and home to Utah.
Warren Miller Entertainment brings viewers into the film by showing lines being skied that most people only dream about, made by world-class athletes, including many from Utah. Seven locals make appearances.
"We welcome winter with everything we've got," said the film's director and producer, Max Bervy. "Because, while there's always a tomorrow, there are only so many dawns with fresh snow."
If you missed the film in Salt Lake, you can view it at these other locations:
Xango Grand Theatre at the Scera in Orem, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Eccles Center for the Performing Arts in Park City, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.; Oct 22 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden, Oct. 25-27 at 7:30 p.m.
Tyler Tate is the owner of T Squared Action Sports and you can follow him at @TSquaredSports.


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Evaluation of Stress Disorders
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The purpose of this study is to examine the short-term consequences of trauma and to determine the effectiveness of the drug sertraline in preventing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms.
ASD and PTSD are common consequences of exposure to traumatic events. Despite growing evidence of neurobiological dysfunction in ASD and PTSD, the origin of these disorders is still unknown. This study will attempt to identify psychophysiological markers of ASD and find an effective treatment for its symptoms.
Victims of serious motor vehicle collisions will be evaluated with clinical assessments and standardized questionnaires within 2 weeks after the accident. Symptoms of exaggerated startle, emotional reactivity to trauma-related and trauma-unrelated cues, and cerebellum functioning will be evaluated. Participants will be randomized to receive either sertraline or placebo (an inactive sugar pill) for 8 weeks. Psychometric testing and psychological evaluations will be conducted 4, 10, and 14 weeks after the accident and after a 2-week taper of the study medication.
|Acute Traumatic Stress Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
|Drug: sertraline
|Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Efficacy of an SSRI in Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|December 2002
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|February 2004
Acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common consequences of exposure to traumatic events. Despite growing evidence of neurobiological dysfunction in ASD and PTSD, the pathogenesis of these disorders is still unknown. Drs. Osuch and Ursano (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences) have received support to conduct a 14-week study that will investigate the efficacy of the serotonergic medication sertraline (Zoloft) in the treatment and prevention of posttraumatic psychiatric sequelae in ASD victims. The present project is an amendment to Drs. Osuch and Ursano's study. It will attempt to identify early psychological and neurobiological abnormalities in ASD. More specifically, the present project will examine to what extent sensitization and conditioning processes, as well as emotional dysregulation, contribute to ASD. We also propose to investigate the potential association between cerebellum dysfunction and peritraumatic dissociations. To accomplish this goal, a series of three experiments will be implemented to investigate: 1) the symptom of exaggerated startle; 2) emotional reactivity to trauma-related and trauma-unrelated cues; and 3) cerebellum functioning using eyeblink conditioning. This study will inform on the short-term consequences of trauma, will help identify potential psychophysiological markers of ASD that emerge following trauma, and will examine the effects of an SSRI on preventing trauma-related neurobiological deficits.
We specifically propose to:
- Characterize psychophysiological responses in ASD victims shortly after trauma;
- Assess the effect of sertraline treatment on these psychophysiological responses.
To accomplish aim 1, non-treated ASD victims will be compared to two control groups, a non-ASD trauma group and a non-trauma healthy group. The two control groups will be used to disentangle the effect of trauma from the effect of acute stress disorder. To accomplish aim 2, the ASD sertraline group will be compared to the ASD placebo group following treatment.
Forty victims of serious motor vehicle collision (MVC) with ASD will be recruited from a community hospital emergency room and evaluated with clinical assessments, and standardized questionnaires within 2 weeks after the MVC. The subjects will then be randomized to either sertraline or placebo for 8 weeks duration. Psychometric testing and psychological evaluations will be conducted at 4, 10 weeks post-MVC, and after a 2-week taper of the medication and 2 more weeks (14 weeks post-MVC).
We hypothesize that ASD patients will show:
An enhancement or sensitization of baseline startle;
An increase in autonomic arousal and in startle amplitude to trauma-related cues;
A delayed eyeblink conditioning;
Normalization of these deficits after sertraline treatment.
This preliminary study is expected to lay the groundwork for a larger study of the early impact of traumatic events on psychophysiological and psychological processes. In the long-term, we expect to 1) better characterize the onset of symptoms and their evolution over time following trauma, 2) identify psychophysiological markers for PTSD, 3) identify ASD victims at-risk for PTSD, and 4) improve our ability to prevent the development of chronic psychopathology following trauma.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|Child, Adult, Senior
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Subjects will be above seventh grade education level aged 18-65 years old and free of current or past psychopathology and organic central nervous system disorders that may interfere with the tests.
Ongoing medical illness that may interfere with the tests; psychiatric or neurological disorder (including seizure); Past or current substance abuse; Current psychotropic medication; current medication that may interfere with the tests; Impaired hearing; major uncorrected visual impairment, or migraine headache.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00050804
|United States, Maryland
|National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
|Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00050804 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 19, 2002
|Last Updated:
|March 3, 2008
Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Acute Stress Disorder
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Stress Disorders, Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
Mental Disorders
Pathologic Processes
Antidepressive Agents
Psychotropic Drugs
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
Membrane Transport Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Neurotransmitter Agents
Serotonin Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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|TR, 1 pitch, 30'
|YDS: 5.3 French: 3+ Ewbanks: 10 UIAA: III ZA: 9 British: VD 3a [details]
|Page Views:
|Submitted By:
|Peter Jackson on Aug 9, 2010
|Comments on The Nose
|Add Comment
|Show which comments —
By Peter Jackson
From: Rumney, NH
Aug 10, 2010
|One of the good anchor trees is now dead. It is, as of this writing (August 10, 2010) still good enough to use as an anchor, but it will not be for long. I suggest you also anchor with a couple stoppers and a large sling (20 feet or so) around an attached block.


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Chapter 9 : The Noose Around Your Neck
|Rating: Mature
|Chapter Reviews: 6
Background: Font color:
Authors Note: Right guys, I did try to get this out for Halloween but I've been working non-stop recently, so it's been hard trying to get this chapter out, but low and behold I've gone and done it! Please don't forget to brighten my workaholic day and review!
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
Mumford and Sons - The Cave
James, growled a deep voice. Mind telling me why shes in here?
It had taken Sydney more than a few minutes, in her dazed state, to realise where she was. At first she thought that she had woken in her own dorm, in her own bed, but no. No, this was in no way Sydneys bed, first of all her mattress was less lumpy and squashier, secondly her pillow was far more plush and fluffy and thirdly her bed did not smell of boys and sweat. Well, sometimes it did, but it was only ever in a good way. This was definitely not in a good way.
I am saving your arse Padfoot! hissed James This is your fault and Im just trying to make the situation a bit better!
There was nothing wrong with little miss drama queen over there, Sirius spat, angrily. Slightly agitated, a scowl appeared on Sydneys face. Shes just purposely exacerbating the situation.
No Sirius, thats you. Bit back James defensively.
Sydney heard a door slam and easily assumed that Sirius had stormed off in one of his rages. It then hit her like one of Farrahs slaps to the face.
It was weird that she had a sex dream about Sirius, obviously sex dreams were not a rare occurrence for Sydney, however she had never had one about a marauder and if she had, she was certain she wouldnt like it. Not that she had, she just couldnt really get it out of her head. It was a strange and foreign thought that her mind just kept waltzing on back to. Sirius Black was obnoxious, conceited, ostentatious, rude, abhorrent, immature and downright repulsive. Sure, girls fell at his feet but only because for a split second he would turn on a little switch in his brain that hid a few of these ugly traits, but add in a dazzling smile and a smouldering look, these young women would suddenly have a brain fart and become giggling, dribbling little idiots. No way could she possibly find this boy sexual at all. Of course she never thought these girls were to blame. Obviously after dealing with Sirius Black they turned into bitter, jealous, spiteful little girls, which Sydney absolutely abhorred, however she knew that the pig-headed dunce, Sirius Black, was still always to blame, he continuously lead the innocent, gullible girls on and even if the female counterpart in his tangos instigated it, he was never one to turn them away, unless they looked like Miss Piggys daughter. Sirius was a shallow prat in case you were unaware. But he would still use them and abuse his power over them then once he was gone, that was it BAM Relationship over. One thing that Sydney was unable to fathom was why these girls, these beautiful, (sometimes) intelligent girls never saw what was coming; they never expected him to end it. Yet, he always did, and Sydney knew he always would. He was a ladies-man, a player and a womanizer. Sydney was certain that the female population of Hogwarts must be missing a chromosome in order to not see what Sirius Black was really like. Okay, so he was kind of attractive, but so were a lot of other boys in the school, ones that actually had human personalities and a mental capacity to hold an actual conversation, rather than the topic of discussion being about what size bra Amelia Aarons had, or whether anyone thought he could get Marlene Mckinnon into bed. Turns out the answer was yes -- and 34 E to the bra thing. Nevertheless, to Sydney Maura, Sirius Black was utterly predictable, he liked girls, which of course there was nothing wrong with that, but he was a boring specimen of man, one who treated these young women of Hogwarts with the utmost disrespect and had a completely cavalier approach towards them. He was just a little boy with a bad attitude who needed a hard slap, to which Sydney was always willing and happy to give. It was all extremely anticipated of the boy and had become tiresome.
Well that could have gone a whole lot better. Commented the ever so insightful Remus.
He needs to learn to not be so selfish. James muttered darkly.
Well shes being rather selfish isnt she? asked the squeaky voice of Peter. His voice quietened drastically. You know, after what he did for her?
Sydney sat on the bed not really listening to the boys conversation. It was slightly nerve-racking to think what she was going to say when she finally emerged from the curtains. She hadnt spoken to the three boys since Monday night when theyd found her the way they did. She then felt another tug in her stomach; she remembered what Sirius had said to her earlier.
Go and tell a professor, before it happens to someone who doesnt deserve it.
She scowled to herself at the thought of something that had upset her so much, now it just annoyed her. She didnt deserve it at all. She would have to update Ashley about all of this; she was her best friend after all and had been kept in the dark about it all. Even Lily Evans knew the whole scoop, the know-it-all braniac whom Ashley and Sydney had rolled their eyes at all these years. She needed to find Ashley straight away; Ashley would know exactly what to do and how to make Sydney feel better.
Without thinking Sydney ripped the curtains open and stepped out to face three very startled looking boys. She suddenly felt rather exposed as she found herself in front of the three boys she really didnt want to be alone with. But she was.
Okay, she panicked, she also said it rude enough for James to scowl and walk over to the bed she was previously sat on and throw himself on it in a huff. That explained whose bed it was, it rather suited James style, hard mattress, lumpy pillows, sweaty bed.
How are you feeling? Sydney whipped her head from the grumbling James to see Remus with a gentle smile on his soft face.
Fine. Sydney said abruptly, her features hard and defensive. She crossed her arms across her chest and her eyes snapped to Peter, who was searching her curiously with his eyes. Can I help you? she spat at the small boy.
Peter merely looked at her, not with the normal fear he had when people were angry with him, but instead he looked rather angrily back at her.
Youre so ungrateful, arent you? he muttered darkly, his eyes narrowed at her.
Sydney was rather taken aback at his bold words, but she was undeterred by this and managed to bite back.
Excuse me?
She saw out of the corner of her eye James sit bolt upright in his bed as Remus looked worriedly at Peter.
You heard me! Peter yapped angrily. After what Sirius did for yoooff!
He never got to finish the sentence as Remus elbowed him in the stomach hard. Sydney then felt a pair of hands on her shoulders and she was unexpectedly walking towards their dorm door.
Lovely to see you as always Sydney, but were very busy, planning pranks and stuff. James said behind her, guiding her towards the door. He opened the door for her, nudging her out and then closing it quickly behind her.
Sydney was rather dazed from everything happening so fast. She didnt know what to register first, what Peter had said, or the fact that James had spoken to her properly for the first time since their argument. She realised she had no idea what Peter was getting at. Ungrateful? What did she have from them to be grateful for? Nothing. Diddly fucking squat. So she had decided to ignore it completely. As she walked down the stairs from the boys dormitories she mauled over how James had called her Sydney, like he used to when they were friends and she felt stupid for feeling it but it hurt like hell. She had actually created a rather wonderful relationship with James and it felt like in seconds it was just ripped away from her. She missed him. She missed James Potter. Who wouldve thought!
She skipped a few steps on the staircase down into the common room and ignored the confused look Lily had given her as she stormed out of the portrait hole and headed toward the Ravenclaw common room. As she arrived at the Ravenclaw door, the bronze knocker shaped as an eagle suddenly came to life.
What is the opposite of opposite? it asked.
Sydney let out a frustrated sigh. I dont know, she grumbled Being beside something?
The door knob immediately turned back into metal and froze as if it were just an ordinary knocker. Sydney angrily then began banging her fists onto the door and yelling.
Oi, you smart arses! Sydney angrily vented. Open this bloody door!
After two whole minutes of thumping the door swung open and there stood a livid Ravenclaw girl, her prefect badge pinned on her chest proudly.
What in the name of Rowena are you doing?! the angry brunette asked.
May I speak with Ashley Phillips? Sydney said sweetly, ignoring the words of the fuming, pretty prefect.
No! she growled haughtily. You may not! she pointed her finger at Sydney And another thing
Georgia, just go to bed, remember we have an exam in the morning in Arithmacy. Said Ashley appearing behind the proud girl.
The prefect, Georgia, gave Sydney one last dismissive look before pushing past Ashley and heading up towards the girls dormitories. Sydney looked at the retreating girl while whispering to Ashley.
thats Georgia Stevens?! she asked her friend incrediously.
Yeah, Ashley said, leaning against the door. Why?
Shes just not what I expected. Sydney said, folding her arms and shrugging. I never expected Black to go for a prefect. Or a prefect to go for Black for that matter.
Are you sure youve got the right girl? Ashley asked her brow furrowed. Sydney nodded. Georgia has been with Ryan Dawson for four years.
Sydney bit her lip and then shook it off. It was only gossip I overheard, probably not even true.
Ashley also decided to shrug it off. So, did you just come here to relay that little tid bit of information to me or was there something else?
Sydney chuckled darkly and looked at Ashley with guilty eyes. You have no idea.
Wormtail, have you gone completely mad?! raved James as he slammed the door behind the small, blonde girl.
Peter scowled and folded his arms. After what Padfoot done for her, youd think shed be a little more appreciative.
She doesnt know, Peter. Sighed Remus, walking across the floor over to the pile of books next to his bed.
Oh please, Peter huffed. She saw him in his state, she must know.
She doesnt. growled James Now drop it.
Peter sighed heavily and exited the room, grumbling angrily to himself. James fell back onto his bed, lifting his hand up and running it back and forth through his hair, causing it to stick up in different directions.
Have you spoken to her recently?
James head suddenly snapped up and saw Remus leaning on his bedpost, a knowing look of his gentle face.
You just saw me talk to her. James rolled his eyes and refused to then look at Remus.
Fine. Said Remus shrugging and walking away. I know you miss her.
James scoffed angrily and snapped his curtain shut behind Remus smug look. Besides being an absolute know-it-all, what the hell did Remus Lupin know about his situation? Nothing. It was absolutely fine for Remus to talk to anyone he wanted. James had a reputation to uphold and as unfair as it was, if he wanted to be with someone like Lily Evans, he couldnt spend his time talking to people like Sydney Maura. Of course he felt terrible for hurting Sydneys feelings. Even if shed never show it, he knew he did. Even if he wanted to be friends again with Sydney, he felt it was a lost cause as shed never forgive him. That girl could hold one hell of a grudge.
Im gonna kill him!
Who? asked Sydney, as she fell back into the royal blue chair in the Ravenclaw common room.
Davies, Potter, Black! vented Ashley, getting up from the sofa and stomping towards the door.
Which Black? Sydney questioned, half amused, crossing her leg over the other.
Ashley froze and thought for a split second. Sirius? She said unsure. Regulus? she turned to Sydney and threw her arms in the air agitatedly Both of them? I dont know! She walked back towards Sydney in anger. But someone is getting punched in the face!
Sydney sighed. Dont bother, she said shaking her head If I thought it would have made a difference I would have done it a long time ago. Sydney stood up Look I need to get some sleep, this whole thing has exhausted me.
Ashley nodded and walked with her friend towards the door. Sit with me at breakfast? she asked hopefully.
Sydney smiled and nodded gratefully. Of course.
Sydney left the Ravenclaw tower and headed back to the Gryffindor common room. She turned the corner of the long, wide hallway and found herself literally bumping into a very solid, hard person. She stumbled backwards a few steps and glared up at the boy who she had run into, but the look on her face quickly fell of and she acquired a new look of absolute shock.
Miles Davies stood in front of her with a murderous glare on his face. Sydney had noticed however that Miles face was not as gorgeous as ever. A horrid black and blue bruise had inhabited Miles left eye and occupied his jawline and a large, scabbed graze had formed on his high cheekbone.
Why dont you watch where youre going? Miles snapped, furiously
Sydney opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to find anything to come out.
Miles narrowed his eyes at the blonde, flushed girl.
I dont get you Maura. He spat her name as if it was a mouthful of gone off pumpkin juice. First you lead me on--
Sydney scoffed. Lead you on?! she exclaimed, finally finding her voice. When exactly do you think I led you on?
Miles grabbed her arm, hard, and dragged her down the hallway a bit further, turning the corner and shoving her into the wall. Sydney quickly wrapped her hand around her arm where his vice-like grip previously was. He pointed his finger at her.
Do not make me out to be the bad guy here by playing the victim. He snapped. You wore all those skimpy little outfits around me and wanted me help you with Quidditch, dont act all innocent.
Sydney scoffed and turned away from Miles. I dont have to explain any of my business to you.
Miles grabbed Sydney by the shoulder and spun her around. Like hell you dont. he growled.
Davies, you wouldve thought that you would know better than to mess with Maura by now. Came a low voice from the dark end of the corridor. Shes never been one for talking out her problems.
Sirius stepped out from the darkness, he was smirking but the look in his eyes told Sydney that he found the situation far from humorous.
Yeah, thats what stopped me. Miles muttered.
I suggest you get back to your common room. Sirius snarled. Now.
To Sydneys absolute surprise, Miles obeyed, however muttering darkly under his breath. The blonde haired boy stomped around the corner and away from the Gryffindor pair.
Sydney suddenly found herself alone in the rather icy company of Sirius Black who was glaring coldly at her.
What? She blurted out.
Sirius raised his eyebrow at her, never allowing the disdainful look to fall from his face. He walked down the corridor away from Sydney and then paused, as if he was contemplating something. He turned his body to her and continued to glare angrily at her.
Are you coming, or what? he snapped, his arms folded tight across his chest.
Sydney bit her lip and furrowed her brow. Um, she began intelligently. Where?
Sirius sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. The common room, where else?
Oh. Said Sydney and slowly allowed her feet to move in the direction of the boy in front of her.
It seemed that her life was currently being filled with awkward moments. This one was the most awkward that she could recall to date. Obviously she would feel awkward, as on top of all the loathing for one another, all the evil comments and mutual disdain. Shed gone and had a bloody sex dream about him. Him of all people. What was worse was that he was being awkward as well. It was as if he knew.
Oh Godric
Was she flushing? Really? Now? He didnt know. He couldnt have known. She hadnt even told Ashley yet. Goodness knows she wasnt admitting to that.
Sydney noticed Sirius cock his eyebrow at her redness, which caused her to blush a deeper shade of crimson.
I am used to girls blushing in my presence, you know? commented Sirius suddenly.
Sydney snapped her eyes up to look at Sirius smug expression.
Get a life, shit dick. Sydney spat.
Sirius never responded and once again they travelled in silence.
It was a long, lengthy and awkward silence.
Every step the both of them made seemed to echo throughout the hallways of Hogwarts. Sydney was sure this was the longest trip to the Gryffindor Tower in the universe. She was almost certain she could have ran up to the Astronomy Tower, jumped off and come out of a three month coma in the time that she and Sirius spent walking to their house dorms. They eventually arrived at the portrait and with the correct password, were finally unchained from the awkwardness and were allowed to step into the bustling crimson and gold common room.
However the common room seemed a little more busy than usual, quite alarmingly so. As a matter of fact, the people occupying the room were rather frantic. Emotions were high and Sirius and Sydney were not quite sure as to what they had just walked in on. Their brows were furrowed as they could see a flurry of sixth and seventh years stressing, panicking and some joyfully squealing and jumping (mainly girls, with the exception of Norman Peters, a rather eccentric sixth year, however Sydney guessed that Norman was probably doing that before anyone was even in the room).
Sydneys eyes darted from girl to girl and boy to boy.
The genders had formed small packs, huddling to protect one another from the cruel bite of the opposing pack.
A feeling of dread swept into Sydneys stomach and she knew the worst. Surely the teachers wouldnt allow it. It would be absolute anarchy. Or at least the Marauders would make sure of that.
Did you hear?! a screech entered Sydneys ear causing her to cringe away. Also Farrahs hips swung into Sydney and pushed her out of the way as Farrah flung herself over Sirius. Evans just announced it!
What? asked Sydney warily, ignoring Farrahs turned up nose at Sydneys question.
The Halloween Ball, of course! Farrah said narrowing her eyes, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And it was. Because it was the end of the world as they knew it.
Well for Sydney it might as well have been.
A/N: I hope this one wasn't too much of a disappointment for the wait, this chapter needed to be done, it explains some stuff and adds to some puzzles that will be fitted together later. Please let me know what you think!
Cue the humiliation and the taunting two headed Farrah/Sirius monster.
Ugh, Sirius
How dare he make her brain his holiday home. After that stupid, stupid dream, he was a permanent resident in her mind. She was so frustrated by it and she hated him for it.
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In Your Garden with Jenny Watts for Dec. 20
Gift baskets for gardeners are great ideas for anyone who gardens, enjoys flowers or indoor plants. Put together a nice gift for the gardener in your family with some of these ideas.
Any type of flower pot or planter can make a good containers, as well as baskets and wooden crates. Start with a nice pair of gardening gloves to prevent injury and chapped, rough skin. The flexible, nitrile gloves keep fingernails clean and hands dry and are flexible enough to handle seeds. There are long-sleeved gauntlet gloves that protect from sharp thorns of roses or berry vines, and "Bionic" gloves made especially to offer people with arthritis a glove with comfort and flexibility.
There are few tools more important to a gardener than a good pair of pruning shears. Felco has long been the leader in pruning shears with a dozen different models to accommodate large hands, small hands, lefties, or equipped with a rotating handle to reduce fatigue. But there are less expensive Felco look-alikes that will also get the job done. Some gardeners like a ratchet pruning shear that requires less force to cut hard canes.
And speaking of tools, the Hori-Hori Digging Tool is a traditional Japanese gardening tool that can be used for just about every kind of gardening, digging, cutting or weeding activity. The stainless steel knife blade is very sharp and concave shaped for scooping soil and other materials.
A Hip Holster, which can be strapped around the waist, keeps essential tools close at hand. It sits comfortably on the hips and has several pockets for shears, seeds, markers and notepad.
Kneepads or a kneeler seat make weeding and planting less of a strain. A kneeling pad or a pair of knee pads will fit nicely in the basket. Also consider the Garden Kneeler Seat which is used for kneeling in the garden and has handles to help you get up and down. Or flip it over for a seat for resting or working in raised beds.
A gardening calendar like the "2014 Gardening by the Moon" Calendar, which gives detailed timing for appropriate gardening activities, is a great way to keep your garden notes in one place.
An indoor-outdoor thermometer may be a welcome addition. The programmable temperature alert will let you know when the temperature drops to near freezing so you can cover tender plants in time. Many gardeners like a moisture meter to check the amount of moisture inside the rootball of houseplants and other potted plants.
The new coil hoses are a unique item. They save space and quickly return to their original shape. The six spray patterns on the attached nozzle cover a wide range of watering needs.
Add some flower and vegetable seeds and a package of flower bulbs and you will be giving a basket full of great expectations.
We wish you all a very happy holiday season, and hope we can help you be successful gardeners in the year ahead!
Gardening Tips
Living Christmas trees are now available. The slower growing spruces can be used for several Christmases before you need to plant them.
Check your nursery for stocking stuffers: kids' gloves, watering cans, bonsai figurines, seeds and bulbs.
Paperwhite Narcissus in pots make fragrant and lovely holiday gifts.
Last year's fruit trees are now on sale and make a welcome gift for any orchardist.
Water living Christmas trees frequently while they are indoors, and put them outside after a week or ten days.
(Jenny Watts is a California Certified Nursery Professional and Co-owner of Sanhedrin Nursery in Willits. Visit www.sanhedrinnursery.com)


text:
We tossed a joke spacejam/pony song mashup out a while back, and you all got a good laugh out of it.
Well, have the Rainbow Factory one, but totally not the Rainbow Factory one. You will get it if you watch it.
For archival purposes, you can find the IntenseDebate comments for this post (if any) archived over here
Space Jam + Rainbow Factory...


text: Hi, Could someone answer a quick question regarding letter format? What do you write at the end of a letter to indicate that you have been asked to write that letter for someone else (for example, if you are the secretary and you are writing the letter for the director but your name will also be at the bottom of the letter, next to the director's name). I suspect you have to write some abreviation in front of your name, maybe "pp:" (which might be some latin abreviation?) but I can't quite remember. Any idea? Thanks very much Olivia


text:
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma [2], told a friend that she was the "real dictator" in the family, a trove of e-mails received and sent by her and Assad have revealed.
In an email to a family friend on January 10, Asma praised a speech Assad gave for conveying a sense of being "very strong, no more messing around".
On January 17, she circulated an email cracking a joke at the expense of the people of Homs, shortly before a regime onslaught that would claim hundreds of lives.
According to The Telegraph [3], Asma received from her husband an email with the subject line "Student who obtained zero percent on an exam".
It contained one of those lists of jokes that circulate widely on the Internet, in the form of questions with silly answers. The first was, 'In which battle did Napoleon die? - His last battle'.
The next day she forwarded the email to her father and two other family members with the changed subject line, 'A really bright Homsi student!'
Asma's 'dictator' comment was made partly in jest during an exchange with a friend on December 14 about how much attention spouses typically pay to each other.
"As for listening - I am the REAL dictator, he has no choice ..." she wrote.
According to the paper, despite the ambitions she expressed for liberalising Syria before the uprising, Asma displayed no misgivings about the regime's bloody crackdown.
The trove of 3,000 emails [4] came from the private accounts of Asma and Bashar Assad and was passed by opposition activists to various media outlets.
They also revealed that Asma spent tens of thousands of pounds on lavish accessories as Assad's regime continued its crackdown on hundreds of pro-democracy protestors.
[1] http://www.syndigate.info
[2] http://www.albawaba.com/slideshow/first-lady-asma-assad-syria-english-rose-desert-rose-fashionista-417213
[3] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9151547/Syria-I-am-the-real-dictator-declares-Asma-al-Assad.html
[4] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/assad-emails
[5] http://www.aniin.com