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Ford Motor Co. will offer a natural gas option for its 2014 F-150 pickup truck models, turning drivers of America's most popular vehicle into potential consumers of the low-cost fuel.
The option, scheduled to be announced Wednesday, will add a major prospect for consumers hoping to use natural gas to fuel cars and light-duty trucks, since only one such vehicle — the Honda Civic Natural Gas — is available now for direct sales from an automaker to U.S. customers.
"There is the potential that we may look back on this launch as when natural gas really became a mass-market fuel for retail customers as well as fleet customers," said Jon Coleman, sustainability and technology manager for Ford, in an interview with FuelFix.
Though no one — not even Ford — is predicting large sales for the natural gas versions of the F-150, the model may draw particular interest in Texas — the nation's top producer of natural gas and No. 1 buyer of pickup trucks.
UPS: Natural gas 'game changer' for cutting costs, emissions
And Ford's F-series, of which the F-150 is the most popular model, has long been the top selling car line in America.
Ford sold about 367,000 F-series trucks in the first half of the year, according to data from trade publication Automotive News. Toyota's Camry, the top-selling sedan, notched about 207,000 sales in the first half of 2013, according to the figures.
"Texas is such a huge truck market. By a long shot it's the No. 1 truck market in the country," said David Whiston, an analyst for investment research firm Morningstar in Chicago. "So if there's a lot of demand for natural gas and pickups in Texas alone, it's not surprising to see Ford make this move."
In Texas, where natural gas wells dot the landscape, pride may drive some buyers who want to consume the local fuel, said Lynn Lyon, director of fuel market development for oil and natural gas producer Pioneer Natural Resources.
"There's a pride in energy production and the fact that we have been able to have scientific advancements that make this available," Lyon said.
Domestic natural gas has declined in price as technology has unlocked supplies from once-inaccessible formations.
Pioneer runs 200 trucks on natural gas, enjoying "exceptional pricing" because it produces the resource, Lyon said.
"We saved $80,000 last month on about 200 trucks so it's a great business opportunity for us," she said.
Gasoline: Lawmakers debate cause of rising gas prices
A vehicle running on natural gas also emits fewer greenhouse gases than other fossil fuel options.
But Coleman said lower costs are the main attraction, with natural gas costing as much as $2 less for the energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline.
Ford isn't the only brand in natural gas trucks. Other car makers have sold trucks with natural gas options in heavier models and in limited quantities, mainly to commercial users.
Individual motorists also can convert most vehicles to run on natural gas, although the conversions may void manufacturers' engine warranties.
But the Ford models, which buyers will order to their specifications, will be delivered to dealerships and covered by the company's warranties, said Dick Cupka, Ford's product development sustainability program manager.
Ford will offer its 2014 F-150s with a $250-$350 option to come from the factory "prepped" for natural gas and related fuels including butane and propane.
Buyers then will pay for a post-factory conversion costing $7,500 to $9,500 before the vehicle arrives at a dealership, Coleman said.
The vehicles will be available in a dedicated natural gas version or a bifuel option, which could run on either gasoline or natural gas, according to Ford.
The starting price for a base level F-150, without any add-ons or conversions, is about $24,000.
Ditching diesel: Frito-Lay adds natural gas stations
While the up-front costs for the natural gas option significantly inflate the purchase price of an F-150, many truck owners drive 30,000 to 60,000 miles per year, Cupka said. Fuel cost savings could offset the higher purchase prices in as little as two years, he said.
Ford expects the most interest in the new truck option from businesses with fleets.
Nonetheless, for individual consumers the F-150 will be the most accessible natural gas car besides the Civic, said Richard Kolodziej, president of the advocacy group Natural Gas Vehicles for America.
"It attracts a whole different population," Kolodziej said.
This isn't Ford's first effort to reach non-commercial motorists with a natural gas option. The company released a natural gas version of the Crown Victoria in the 1990s, but consumer interest quickly faded and the model was shelved.
In recent years, as businesses sought ways to lower their vehicle costs, Ford and other manufacturers have rolled out natural gas options.
Most were typically for heavy-duty use, large vehicles marketed to businesses including Verizon, UPS, Fedex, AT&T, Waste Management, Ryder, Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola and others.
As those offerings grew, along with interest in natural gas, so did inquiries about the F-150, Ford's Coleman said.
"The most common question I've been asked over the last two years is when are you doing an F-150?," Coleman said. "So we don't have a number on what the demand is or a percentage, all we know is that customers have been asking for it which is why we are bringing it to market."
Hydraulic fracturing: Fracking with natural gas to trim fuel costs 40%
Still, natural gas vehicles are not likely to gain mass popularity any time soon, said Phil Gott, senior director of long range planning for information and research firm IHS Automotive.
"It might help Ford gain a greater share of the fleet market, but remember the engine's no good unless you have natural gas available," Gott said. "And it's not exactly convenient."
There are around 1,300 natural gas refueling stations nationwide, about half of which are accessible to the public, Kolodziej said.
That number is growing, but it will take time, said Ken Nicholson, vice president of the central region for Clean Energy Fuels Corp, which owns 360 natural gas refueling stations nationwide including three in Houston.
"You just have to know where they are," Nicholson said, adding that mobile device apps and route planning can help. "You don't have to have one on every corner."
Also on FuelFix:
Truck company shows off natural gas-fueled big rigs


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For mothers and grandmothers out there. Our Fl book club is reading a book called My Mother Killed Christ: But God Loves Me Anyway. Talk about a strong woman! Wow. The book was so powerful, I had to catch my breath. Shocking!
Blogs About Reading
Sound It Out
Dr. Joanne Meier
Along with her background as a professor, researcher, writer, and teacher, Joanne Meier is a mom. Join Joanne every week as she shares her experiences raising her own young readers, and guides parents and teachers on the best practices in reading.
Books about strong women
As the mother of two girls, I'm interested in books that feature strong girls or women in central roles.
There are lots of booklists that feature strong women. One my favorite lists is below. Sadly, I can't relocate the source! I was just sure it was from Choice Literacy, a site I love so much, but I couldn't find it there today. If you recognize the list and know the source, please let me know! I certainly want to credit the correct author. It's a wonderful list, although abbreviated from its original source.
Happy reading!
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
The thing I like about this book is that Ivy and Bean, two neighbors who think they have nothing in common, become great friends. Bean likes to get dirty and stay busy. From Bean's perspective, Ivy is very prim and proper, always reading. The two become friends and have great fun together in each book in this series. I love that two girls who are so different are portrayed as strong, interesting characters.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Clementine is laugh-out-loud funny. Clementine is a creative soul and her parents and teachers appreciate this about her — even though her ideas often get her into some trouble. Marla Frazee illustrates this series and the drawings add to the fun of getting to know Clementine. How could you not love her when the light in her eyes is so clear in the illustrations!
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell
Emmy is a child who is held captive by a not-so-nice nanny. Her parents don't have much time for her since they inherited a large sum of money. She feels almost invisible at both home and school. But then, with the help of the class rat and her friend Joey, she discovers what has really been controlling her life and she then takes control herself! It is really a fun book. It has many of the traits and situations I've found compelling in other books — a child who isn't getting lots of attention from her parents, a mean nanny, magic and friendship. It is a story told in a way that makes it fun and suspenseful throughout.
Babymouse by Jennifer Holm and Matt Holm
I cannot write about strong female characters without including Babymouse! Babymouse is a newer graphic novel series and each book tells us one story of Babymouse. She has big dreams. Babymouse has disappointments too, but she gets through it all with friends and humor.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jeffrey Earnhardt will be again teaming up with Uponor for his sixth Nationwide Series race of the season. This time, he will be driving the #08 Uponor Ford Mustang for Go Green Racing in the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 17.
"It's great to have Uponor onboard for the final Nationwide Series race of the year," said Earnhardt. "At the Charlotte race, I met a lot of customers that use Uponor's products. It's always cool to learn more about your sponsors, and getting the chance to spend time with the contractors is right in my wheelhouse. I like the hardworking crowd and look forward to giving them someone to cheer for in NASCAR."
This will be Earnhardt's fourth partnership race with Uponor, a leading
manufacturer of crosslinked polyethylene (PEX-a) tubing and provider of
plumbing, fire sprinkler and radiant heating and cooling systems for
commercial and residential structures worldwide.
Earnhardt will also be making an appearance with the Uponor Ford
Mustang at the South Florida Plumbing and Mechanical Tradeshow & Expo at
the Miami Airport Convention Center on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 3 to 8 p.m.
(admission is free).
"At Uponor, we believe in partnerships — with our contractors, our
reps, our customers and all the other professionals in the building industry,"
says Ingrid Mattsson, director, Brand Management at Uponor. "This
sponsorship with Jeffrey Earnhardt's racing team is a wonderful extension of
our mission to partner with professionals to create better human
environments — from inside a building to outside on the racetrack."
The race will be televised Nov. 17, 2012, at 4 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.
Jeffrey can be heard every Wednesday at 9 p.m. on SiriusXM NASCAR radio
with Claire B. Lang.
For more information about Uponor, visit the Uponor media room at http://uponor.oreilly-depalma.com or www.uponor-usa.com/mediaroom.
Hi-res versions of a photograph to accompany this release are available for immediate download in .tif format by using this link: http://uponor.oreilly-depalma.com/2012/jeff-earnhardt-homestead-us.shtml
© 2012 Uponor, Inc.
Uponor is a registered trademark of Uponor Corporation and Uponor, Inc.
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LPGA star Suzann Pettersen sent out a blog post detailing a chain accident of cars that slightly injured fellow stars Ai Mayazato and Paula Creamer on their way to the airport following the Honda LPGA Thailand.
According to Suzann Pettersen's blog: Don't know how it all went down, but in a split second the entourage of our 5 cars was all crushed together! Paula said she felt like a ping ping ball being hit from both ends pretty hard! I was in the last car and manage somehow to just miss the rest! Out of all the cars , the car I was in was the only car suited to take us to the airport!
You can read her entire account at her blog here.
You can follow John Kim on Twitter @johnkim_10


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Throughout 10 games, Rasheed Wallace's return to the NBA has been a lot more better than many people expected it to be (yes, even his spectacular garbage time games against the Heat and the Sixers count). No one, well, maybe some exuberant people such as me, would believe that last sentence. People believed that Sheed would have a crappier season than his one game with the Hawks. Okay, maybe not that eerie. I'll make a compromise because his one game with the Hawks is clearly not fair compared to his other stints (he did shoot 8-24 in his lone game against the Nets, though. SMALL SAMPLE SIZE. AM I RIGHT?). "We the fans, of the National Basketball Association, believe that power forward Rasheed Wallace had a far more sub-par season with the Boston basketball Celtics than the Atlanta basketball Hawks, after being traded by the Hawks to the Detroit basketball Pistons, thus winning the Pistons an NBA title in 2004, due to the bantam, tiny, petite sample size of one game." Deal, delegates? Deal. *shakes hands. *delegates sign document.
"Great Scott!" says the fans that previously greatly disapproved Glen Grunwald's initiative to sign Sheed to a veteran's minimum who have now changed their mind by now; "Sheed's the man! SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED." Quite frankly, when Sheed was signed back in October, I was doing cartwheels filled with happiness, and at the same time, I started to think twice. Sheed was screwing with my mind when he signed that veteran's minimum offer sheet back in October. My brain was an absolute conundrum/basketball mindfuck because Glen Grunwald pulled off one of the ballsiest moves ever by signing a Sheed. But hey, Glen, the Sheed gamble has paid off, and is being put up for good use, at least for now. I read several articles before the signing and following the signing I made a deal with my cranium that it was a good signing, making the Knicks the oldest team in the NBA/NBA history, and older than Noah's Arc, but as the season is progressing, the veteran leadership narrative is coming true. They may be eligible for social security benefits and AARP, but they're kicking ass, with Sheed being a sleeper on the second unit.
Although I'm a stat geek at times, no advanced stats are needed to analyze Sheed's input (unless you want to mention his 20.6 PER and his 32.5 DRB%). He's been getting the minutes, and he's turning those minutes he gets into very significant minutes, getting himself back on track. Plain and simple. Take the epic comeback against the Spurs for example. Sheed played 15 minutes. At first, hearing Sheed getting more than at least 15 minutes sounded like a bunch of cockamamy, but his performance on the floor in that game exceeded the negative assumptions. Sheed wasn't exactly whiz-bang against San Antonio, except when he owned Tiago Splitter in the post and from the perimeter, but he came through in important situations. Or even better, take the Knicks getting blown out by the Grizzlies for another example (not the blown out part, of course). Sheed was on the floor for just over 24 minutes and shot 6-10 from the field along with 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. At one point, Sheed was the leading scorer for the Knicks, mainly because the Knicks were struggling. Now that I mentioned blocked shots, (I'll mention rebounds in a little) Sheed's defensive efforts, particularly in the paint, have been well above average. Sheed is Mike Woodson's number one big man option down low off the bench, even over other veteran big, Marcus Camby. Camby should reverse the roles with Sheed, but Camby is coming off slow, however, Camby will most definitely get significant minutes in the future. And when Amare Stoudemire comes back around in late December to early January, then Camby won't be seeking frequent minutes (actually, I really have no idea what the hell isgoing on with Woodson and Camby), but we'll always keep in mind that the Knicks depth at the center position (and at point guard) is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. The weird thing, though, is that Sheed has taught younger guys how to succeed in the post, but he's barely displayed his post abilities in game. Despite his lack of post possessions, I'm positive that we'll see many more Sheed post in the future.
Sheed getting significant minutes is marvelous, however, I don't want Mike Woodson overplaying Sheed too much in that he plays him for 20-25 minutes consistently, then that would be a risk not worth taking. As much as I adore Sheed and his antics (BALL DON'T LIE, YEAH AFLAC), he's still incredibly corpulent and out of game shape. 82 games is a very long season, and he certainly knows that it's another grueling pull, especially when he was feeling himself cramping up after each game with the Celtics back in 2010 (he played in 79 games and started in 13 of them, those 13 games in place of an injured Kevin Garnett). Giving Sheed 10-18 minutes quality minutes is perfect. Maybe screaming "BALL DON'T LIE," (at Austin Rivers missed free throws from against the Hornets) "YEAH AFLAC," (to Arron Afflalo) or even "BOTH TEAMS PLAYED HARD" (at future press conferences) will burn some calories for him. That's immoderately unlikely, but it's always possible with Sheed, or, as Sheed would say, "Hellifying." Sheed has provided a new kind of life to the Knicks with his antics of old. Someone should photoshop Sheed's face over former brat pack movie star, Ally SHEEDy (don't throw tomatoes at me).
Probably my favorite thing Sheed has done so far this season is when him and Pablo Prigioni (PRIGS) are on the floor at the same time. Prigs and Sheed are beginning to develop a pick and roll/pick and pop synergy, which eventually sets up open three attempts for Sheed. Obviously, not all of Sheed's threes convert, hence him shooting 9-32 from three, some of them being ill-advised momentum-driven bricks you can build a house with, but when they go in, I always think of my main reasoning on why we have Sheed in the first place, besides veteran leadership and his Sheedanigans sometimes leading to technical fouls (just made that word up right on the spot): being an irritant on the perimeter by creating open threes, using his plump body to set screens, interior defense, and, for Prigs in particular, to compose the pick and roll/pick and pop opportunity because they're usually on the same unit, but also for Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton as well, depending on what unit Sheed is on, usually the second unit with Prigs, though. Prigs is still paving the way for himself in the NBA, or rather in his NBA baby steps phase. He's struggling at the point on the second unit as the floor master general cause he's so anxious to shoot, which causes Prigs' mental state to change at the last second on shooting situations, passing up open shots, eventually committing turnovers, but once he starts to find his role in the NBA, the Prigs-Sheed pick and roll/pick and pop will be a dynamic force that will be no longer under the radar, at least I hope it isn't under the radar right now.
When Uncle Sheed is down on the low block, he displayed post preeminence that has been very successful, like I stated previously in which he extinguished Tiago Splitter. He compels his stout, tubby body against weaker defenders, and shoves them out of his way, dilapidating the defender's morale because the defender just realized a fat Sheed blew by him. Probably the most underrated part of Sheed's game right now is his rebounding and his ability to block shots. Through the 10 games, Sheed is averaging 7.4 RPG and a block per game in 144 total minutes. It's absolutely not at first-rate levels, but good enough to fulfill my expectations for a 38 year old that's just coming out of retirement after being retired for the last two years. I did mention veteran leadership at one point. The Sheedanigans Sheed brought with him to New York is helpful in the most outlandish way possible, but as Pokemon games would say: IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE.
By now, Knick fans should realize Sheed's importance to the Knicks. Some of the importance is his excessive frolicking on the bench, but the lion's share of his importance are his contributions to the Knicks second unit on the floor. The Rasheed Wallace appreciation society aka the Sheedomenon (just made that one up too) will continue to live on this season. The Garden crowd has the need for Sheed, I have the need for Sheed, and fans nationwide have the need for Sheed. Let's just hope this never happens in any scenario.
Follow James on Twitter @j_griff
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text: Villiger cigars use the finest cigar tobaccos from the world's most fertile growing regions in order to offer you the greatest possible enjoyment at a very reasonable price. Only the most select Cuban seed tobaccos are used, offering you rich, smooth flavor SQUARE-PRESSED in your choice of two flavorful wrappers: Sumatra Natural and Brazilian Maduro. At Villiger, love for the product, skillful work and striving for quality are the philosophy they've been practicing since 1888. Try some today!


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Polish up your silverware, dust off the best china, dredge out the white linen from the back of the airing cupboard and prepare to pass the port. The dinner party - thanks to an unholy alliance of Downton Abbey, Come Dine with Me and the endless parade of celebrity chefs on our televisions – is making a remarkable comeback as Britain re-embraces one of the most gruelling social trends of the past century.
Yes, the wheel of home entertainment has come full circle for those of us who were children in the Sixties and Seventies, and who watched – from behind the bannisters – as the Boss came to dinner with his wife, dressed in full-length orange polyester, while mothers heatedly stuffed Hostess Trolleys with Chicken à la King and mounds of watery veg, and fathers carefully uncorked a nice bottle of Piat D'Or.
We swore off such torturous social engagements, replacing them with eating out, takeaways, TV dinners, safari suppers and barbecues. At most we'd throw upwardly mobile kitchen suppers, which casually inferred that although one could lay on a full scale HM-the-Queen-meets-Martin-McGuinness-white-tie-and-tails-style banquet, we were simply too cool for such faff. The menu – of which I may have been guilty – was always fish pie followed by a shop-bought fresh fruit tart and some odiferous cheese. That is unless the hostess simply decanted a Waitrose lasagne and bunged a lot of fresh parmesan on top to pass it off as her own (not guilty).
But no more, a survey by Maille has found. One in four Britons are sharpening up their home-cooking skills like a sashimi knife, determined to impress their guests with Scandi-style placements, lush red wine from Lebanon, and a whole menu of conversation topics which now include politics and religion – and may be sent out in advance.
Most of all, they have been studying gastronomic gimmicks which had seemed like alchemy, until we saw them being practised by spotty Kevin from IT on MasterChef.
Yes, once it turned out that making a foam or a jus, creating a confit or searing tuna quadrillage was 50 per cent concentration, 40 per cent following a video blog, and 10 per cent sheer luck, it was inevitable that we'd all want to have a go.
And as one's own loving family rarely provides the appreciative audience demanded of a Lapsang Souchong-infused saddle of venison with root vegetables and smoked pancetta sauce, it has been a very natural and inevitable progression from those Friday night kitchen sessions with mismatched plates to inviting a Viognier-tamed fanbase over for plaudits and Instagrams while seated around polished oak in posh frocks and smoking jackets.
Of course, the torturous parade through four or five courses is not, it turns out, all that British.
Indeed our Tudor, Hanoverian and many of our Victorian ancestors would have been surprised at these modern, effete meals. They preferred the hearty buffet-style approach – joints and jellies piled on to the table at once so that it (and you) could pleasingly groan – also known as service à la française.
The change in our dining styles was due to a Russian diplomat, Prince Alexander Borisovich Kurakin, who was ambassador to France in 1808. There he gradually introduced the Parisians to service à la russe, where dishes were brought out separately from the kitchen, to ensure each was served at the optimum temperature.
Mrs Beeton records how Russian-style dining migrated to England in the late Victorian era – and it's fair to say we've never looked back, here or anywhere else in the world.
At least eating Tsar-style means our hot Goosnargh duck with honey, lavender, fennel, blood orange, radish and scorched cos lettuce will never get the cold shoulder from guests.
"My truly memorable disaster was in the 1970s when my fridge broke down, so the lettuce leaves went limp and the ice cream turned to liquid. I lived in a village where the shops closed by 5pm so we had prawn cocktail without the lettuce, warm fruit juice and apple pie without the ice cream. But nobody seemed to find it odd. We were all so much more relaxed then. If you burned the potatoes one of the guests would nip to the chip shop!"
Ann Widdecombe
"I remember, on one terrible occasion, having to eat dinner twice. We'd eaten a good supper at home when the phone rang and the voice said: "Are you on your way?" We suddenly remembered we were supposed to be having dinner with friends.
"We didn't dare confess the truth, so raced to their house to be confronted by a mountain of haute cuisine. Somehow the guilt made us feel we had to ask for second helpings of every course."
Gyles Brandreth
"There's no hell like organising a dinner party, so I outsource it. My last formal dinner party was many moons ago. The guest of honour was the wife of the American ambassador to Britain, plus six other interesting women in London. So important were they that it took my PA two weeks to organise the dinner party, so the major cost for me was PA time, rather than the bill. So that was my last dinner-party-to-impress."
Shirley Conran
"I am not one of nature's hostesses. Even though I start cooking and building up the house weeks before a dinner party, I am always beset by disasters. Once, when we were first married, we served what the butcher described as Manchurian partridges. They went so hard that every time we tried to carve them they shot across the room, like Hunka Munka's doll's-house food, and were finally even rejected by the cats.
"Our house is so difficult to find that people always arrive late, which means that by the time we go into dinner, I've had so many dry Martinis I'm practically under the piano."
Jilly Cooper
"I was entertained years ago at an admiral's table down in Plymouth. It was a very formal affair and I put some 'sugar' into my coffee from a bowl on the table and it turned out to be salt. It was such a special occasion that, even with the titterings, I didn't feel able to correct the mistake. So I had to have my coffee with the salt rather than the sugar — which wasn't ideal."
Max Davidson
"I don't do dinner parties — not even when they were 'in' in the Seventies and when people used to build houses with a separate dining room that nobody used. Best to all go out and share the ticket, then no one has to worry about anything."
Carol Vorderman


text:
A tinted treatment to perfect and correct the complexion and provide an anti-aging answer.
This multi-purpose formula with its smooth texture helps to*:- even out skin tone: conceals uneven skin tone and blemishes and brightens dull skin.- smooth the skin: signs of stress and fatigue appear softened.- protect the skin: helps to protect skin against damaging effects of photo-aging.The formula is enriched with organic immortelle essential oil, rich in active molecules offering unique anti-aging results.* Use tests on 32 women over 4 weeksUse the medium shade for medium to darker skin tones or for a sun-kissed effect.Use the light shade for a light slightly gold skin tone.Use the fair shade for a light slightly rosy skin tone.
Apply to clean, dry skin. Can also be applied after daily moisturizer. For a glow effect, use the Immortelle Precious Mist.


text: Look – Neutral with a Peach Twist Looks 4/01/09April 01, 2009 This is a look from a couple of weeks ago 🙂 I'm sick with some sort of nasty cold, so I've not been so keen on wearing makeup these past few days. Hopefully the bug will move on to someone else to plague soon enough. I hope everybody's week has been treating them well–two more days 'til the weekend, yay!Happy April Fool's Day 🙂You will need the following…Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral base), Rose Blanc eyeshadow (white-yellow), Texture eyeshadow (light reddish brown), Shroom eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Stash (antique gold), Plushlash mascara (black)Cheeks: Honey High-Light Powder (peachy-gold)Lips: Chanel Monte Carlo lipstick (sheer coral), Chanel Tangerine Dream Aqualumiere Gloss (coral)Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)Substitutes: Rose Blanc = NylonDirections: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base. On the lid, apply Rose Blanc eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Texture eyeshadow to the crease with the 226. Sweep Shroom eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Stash Liner on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Honey High-Light Powder using the 129. Apply Monte Carlo lipstick to lips, and then top with Chanel Tangerine Dream Aqualumiere Gloss for color and shine.Check out more photos!


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WINSTON-SALEM � Old gold and black.
And pink.
Wake Forest will wear specially designed white uniforms with pink lettering, numbers and trim for today�s game in support of cancer awareness and to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Fund.
Pink and gray Nikes from Chris Paul�s �CP3� brand, also specially issued, will complete the look for the Demon Deacons, who will auction off their pre-game shooting shirts, five pairs of the uniform shorts and two pairs of the CP3 shoes autographed by Paul.
As for today�s game, Wake Forest arrives off another difficult-to-stomach loss on the road.
The Demon Deacons led by seven points at Boston College with less than two minutes remaining, but the Eagles reeled off the final 10 points to win 66-63.
That wiped out what would have been Wake Forest�s first victory away from Winston-Salem since Dec. 22.
At home in Joel Coliseum, Wake Forest has been a different team, of course, defeating Xavier, Virginia, Boston College, North Carolina State and Florida State while only losing to Duke since the calendar turned to 2013.
Wake Forest could exorcise some demons today against Georgia Tech. When these teams met three weeks ago in Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets scored the game�s first 16 points and opened a massive 39-9 lead before cruising to an 82-62 victory.
Who: Georgia Tech (13-10, 3-8) at Wake Forest (11-13, 4-8)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday (FSN)
Where: Joel Coliseum, Winston-Salem
Series: Tied 37-37. Wake Forest has won six of the last eight meetings at Joel Coliseum


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Manufacturer: Aunt Lydia's
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High luster, mercerized cotton crochet thread, 350 yards, Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet is perfect for crochet projects both large and small. Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet is ideal for home decorating and fashion projects. Machines wash gentle cycle, warm water, no bleach, rinse well and promptly remove, roll in towel, Block. Bedspread weight, 3 ply 100% mercerized cotton Knitting Needles: 0-1 US (2-2.25 mm) Crochet Hook: 6, 7, 8, B-1 (1.6-2.25 mm
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We have been fascinated by tiles since 1852, when Eugen von Boch restored an ancient Roman floor mosaic. That very same year, the company began producing the tasteful "Mettlach tiles" that have gone on to become a global success. Even today, our products epitomise perfection down to the very last detail. Thanks to our innovative manufacturing processes, Villeroy & Boch wall and floor tiles are not only extraordinarily attractive and practical, but are also produced in accordance with strict environmental criteria. Whether it be bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles or elegant variants for the living room, you are sure to find inspiration in the world of Villeroy & Boch ceramics with our high-quality floor and wall coverings. Visit a specialist dealer near you and introduce these stylish and harmonious designs to your home.
Villeroy & Boch - Timeless quality, modern design
Tradition since 1748
Villeroy & Boch stands for timeless elegance, innovative design
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Has your pet's rabies vaccine expired? Update it during World Rabies Day on September 28. ...Read More
Has training your pet been a frustrating experience? These training tips may help. ...Read More
Are you worried about how your pet may react to your new baby? These tips will help your pet adjust to life with a newborn. ...Read More
Keep your pet happy and healthy with regular ear care. ...Read More
Did you know that your pet can play video games too? Explore the advantages and drawbacks of this new technology. ...Read More
Not sure if you should leave your pet in the car? The answer to this question is always the same. ...Read More
So you have a trip planned for the weekend, but what should you do with your cat? Learn how to best care for your cat while you're away. ...Read More
Want to protect your pet from fleas and ticks? These tips can help. ...Read More
Want to keep your pet cool and comfortable this summer? A few changes to your normal grooming routine can help. ...Read More


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The 78th annual Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference was held Aug. 19-22 in Minneapolis. Many solutions on display for public safety included products aimed to improve Homeland Security, like video surveillance and mapping software as well as P25 Phase 2 systems and much more. Following are just a sample of some of the offerings to help first responders do their jobs safer and more efficiently.
Harris Corporation integrated P25 (Project 25) Phase 2 solutions with the company's VIDA network, delivering improved mission-critical interoperability. Harris P25 Phase 2 solutions are interoperable with P25 Phase 1 systems, P25 Phase 2 systems and future LTE (Long-Term Evolution) networks.
The Harris P25 Phase 2 solution includes Enhanced Dynamic Dual Mode (EDDM) operation, which significantly improves site and system capacity for mixed mode operation, simultaneously supporting both Phase 1 and Phase 2 subscribers. Harris EDDM actively determines the most effective call processing at the individual site level rather than defaulting to the lowest common mode of operation across the entire system. EDDM enables Phase 1 calls on one site to interoperate with Phase 2 calls on a different site while using P25 technology at each specific location. This flexibility allows agencies to migrate to P25 Phase 2 at their own paces and budgets, while still taking advantage of the latest technology to deliver an optimal grade of service.
Another new Harris P25 site feature, Adaptive Site Resource Allocation, automatically adapts to system call demands and allocates site channel resources in the most efficient manner, based on customer-definable channel settings and the requested P25 technology. Adaptive Site Resource Allocation enables users to reserve channel resources for specific or combination of P25 technologies at the site level. This allows them to shape spectral and site efficiencies and protects the site from being totally consumed with a specific P25 technology.
"Harris has been an active and leading participant in the development of P25 Phase 2 standards to ensure our customers have the best and most reliable communications experience," said Greg Henderson, director, Product Management, Harris Public Safety and Professional Communications. "The Harris P25 Phase 2 offering is unique because it provides users with improved interoperability, a seamless migration path and new features like Enhanced Dynamic Dual Mode and Adaptive Site Resource Allocation to improve how they communicate, coordinate and perform their duties."
The Harris P25 Phase 2 solution offers unparalleled flexibility and system configuration that allows agencies to migrate to the latest technology at their own pace while maintaining optimal grade of service and maximizing user experience.
Helping to save lives, improving officer safety, and increasing effectiveness are just a few of the reasons the city of Cleveland turned to Motorola to upgrade its security. Motorola's expandable camera system gives the Cleveland Police another set of eyes, turning video into intelligence. The Cleveland Shared Security Surveillance (CS3) program is a public-private partnership that allows security cameras to stream real-time information back to a police command vehicle, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and, as the program expands, to a dispatch center.
Cleveland's project started in 2007 with a small wireless build and has evolved into a phased-in system that includes command vehicles, wireless cameras, incident correlation, wireless broadband integration, managed video services and more. Working with Motorola's integrated services experts, Cleveland officials are expanding their video system to act as a crime deterrent. The forensic evidence gathered from the system has already helped Cleveland police solve crimes.
An International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) study has shown that 93 percent of officer misconduct charges are overturned by video evidence, and other research shows a majority of defendants plead out when their activities are captured on video. Motorola's advanced video solutions allow first responders to view real-time, 24/7 visuals of their communities. They are given immediate access to view commercial districts, neighborhoods, high-risk areas, crowded public events, dangerous intersections, public transit vehicles and municipal buildings when they're not physically on the scene. Live, mobile video streaming from the scene back to the command center or eventually to hand-held devices – such as Motorola's LEX 700 Mission Critical Handheld – enhances coordination of efforts from all officers and response teams.
Funding from the Department of Homeland Security and other federal organizations has allowed the CS3 program to support 25 city-owned cameras and dozens of other cameras owned by local organizations, businesses and other public safety agencies. Cleveland's cameras can tilt, pan and zoom in on a particular area to follow the activities of an ongoing situation or help predict a dangerous situation before it happens. Motorola's video system allows an emergency responder in distress to press an emergency button on his or her radio that triggers an alarm at the dispatch center. The system then identifies neighboring cameras and directs them to the responder's coordinates. In addition, Motorola's domain expertise in public safety allows for a community's video solution to grow from specifically selected areas where video is a proven deterrent to "safe corridor" implementations for broader city-wide coverage.
"The Cleveland community has benefitted directly from our work with Motorola Solutions. The video solutions project creates a sense of awareness and a feeling of safety, especially in the high-traffic areas such as our downtown business district and sporting arenas," said Martin Flask, Public Safety Director, City of Cleveland.
"One of the most important aspects of the video solution project has been the preventative component. Individuals know the cameras are there, and that can prevent crime and tragedies from occurring. I don't want to catch the person who stole the purse…I want to prevent the purse from being stolen in the first place," stated City of Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath.
Video surveillance is transforming the way first responders react to an emergency situation and helping keep cities safe. According to Bruce Brda, vice president of Global Solutions and Services, Motorola Solutions, "Video solutions are transforming how public safety workers respond to a critical situation without compromising their safety and effectiveness. The city of Cleveland has been a perfect example of how we can work with our customers to create a vision for the ultimate goal they are looking to accomplish."
NICE Systems
Today's cities face a variety of safety, security and operational challenges and threats, including shootings, natural disasters, severe weather, traffic congestion, fires, civil unrest, and terrorism. To respond appropriately to these types of situations, city surveillance centers need relevant, real-time information about what's happening where, and how to respond. NICE's integrated security solutions, which include NICE Situator, NiceVision, NICE Inform and NICE audio solutions act as a 'force multiplier' by equipping city surveillance centers with solutions that deliver the right information to the right people at the right time, so they can achieve more effective responses with limited resources.
Among the capabilities: Intelligent, real-time alerting and streamlined responses: NICE Situator consolidates information from many different systems to provide intelligent, real-time alerting and streamlined responses. City-wide video surveillance can be seamlessly combined with public and private video management systems (VMSs) and accessed through one interface, allowing surveillance centers to significantly expand their intelligence assets and reach. In addition, gunshot detection, License Plate Recognition (LPR), weather systems, emergency/mass notification, traffic systems, and GIS can also be integrated. GIS integration, for example, enables video cameras, sensors, and other assets to be overlaid on the same map to give operators a better visual picture of unfolding situations. Surveillance center personnel get complete information about an event and can manage events from one system. Responses are also streamlined through automatic correlation (e.g. between gunshot detection and video) and smart resource assignment (e.g. based on specific resource attributes such as availability, skills and location).
Improved collaboration: Through CAD integration, Situator enhances collaboration between city surveillance centers and PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points), enabling them to share information during emergency situations. For example, in the event of a serious accident or shooting, a 9-1-1 dispatcher could access live video feed from a city surveillance network and provide additional details to first responders.
Post-event debriefing, incident reconstruction: City surveillance centers can leverage NICE's integrated security solutions, including NICE Situator and Inform, to reconstruct incidents exactly as they happened. Video from multiple surveillance systems, audio recordings, cell phone video, CAD screen recordings, and in-car police video can be compiled into one incident timeline and replayed. Operator actions are also tracked and documented. Documenting incidents in this manner allows the surveillance center to conduct thorough investigations and provide compelling evidence; determine if procedures were followed; address training issues; establish best practices; and continuously improve responses to various threats.
Jennifer Gavigan is the Managing Editor of LAW and ORDER, Tactical Response and Police Fleet Manager. She can be reached at email@example.com.
Published in Law and Order, Oct 2012
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Since I switched to CS6 I've noticed that sometimes when I save a .PNG it does it fine and sometimes it makes an enormous file (we're talking a difference of say 500kb to 50MB). I don't do my saving any differently, it just seems to happen randomly. When I use the save for web option, it saves fine.
So that's one question, I was also just wondering if people use the save for web option, if it makes a difference for file size, particularly with PNG.


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Hale Reservation, 80 Carby St., Westwood, is open to the public daily.
Main office hours are weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Summer hours are 7:30 a.m.-dusk; winter hours are 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
There is a sign at the Carby Street entrance gate with the daily hours.
For more information on programs, visit www.halereservation.org.
Year-Round Programs
The Hale Education Department provides high-quality, day programs for schools, colleges, corporations and other organized groups. Each program is designed to meet the organizations' outcomes knowing that people learn best when they are active participants. Programs for the wide variety of groups that visit Hale can include an academic emphasis, social skill development, a team-building theme or a focus on improving corporate productivity.
Our education programs can be designed to accommodate groups of any size and age. Although most of our groups range in size from 30 to 100, some have been as large as 330 participants.
Regardless of the size of your group, all programs are individually crafted to suit your imagination.
A phone call to assess the needs and goals of your school or group will determine the contents of your Hale adventure — 781-326-1770, ext. 13.
Two-Peak Hike, Nov. 3
Wilderness First Aid with NOLS and REI, Nov. 3 and 4
Family Night Hike, Dec. 7


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Stetson shot 34 percent and committed 22 turnovers in a 92-56 loss at Virginia Commonwealth.
MEN: Virginia Commonwealth 92, Stetson 56
RICHMOND, Va. —� Juvonte Reddic led four Virginia Commonwealth players in double-figures with 20 points and the Rams shot 52 percent from the field en route to a win over Stetson.
Rob Brandenberg and Jarred Guest added 17 apiece and Briante Weber chipped in 11. Guest also pulled down 10 rebounds for VCU, which held a 41-31 rebounding edge.
VCU's (4-3) control of the boards led to 50 points in the paint and 20 second-chance points.
The Hatters (2-3) shot 26 percent (5 of 19) in the first half, trailing by as many as 19 points — 36-17 — on a dunk from Reddic.
Stetson shot 34 percent for the game, committed 22 turnovers compared to just eight for VCU and allowed the Rams to score 32 points off those turnovers.
Joel Naburgs and Chris Perez led Stetson with 16 and 15 points, respectively, but only one other Hatter scored more than four points. Willie Green had a team-high eight rebounds.
"We're really disappointed, obviously," Stetson coach Casey Alexander said after the game. "They're a great team, and you have to play great to give yourselves a chance, and we played anything but that."
The Hatters next play Monday at Bethune-Cookman.�
MEN: Embry-Riddle 77, Florida Memorial 62
DAYTONA BEACH —� Eighth-ranked Embry-Riddle led by as many as 23 points to open its Sun Conference schedule with a rout of Florida Memorial at the ICI Center.
Five Eagles reached double figures led by Cesar Pastrana, who scored 15 points. Jeremiah Applin added 11 points, and Daniel Mondragon, DeForest Carter and Billy Serle had 10 points apiece for ERAU (8-1, 1-0).
Michael Baptiste led all scorers with 19 points for Florida Memorial (2-4, 0-1).
The Eagles recorded 20 assists on 28 baskets and collected 10 steals, led by Carter's six. They ended a three-game losing streak against the Lions and extended their winning streak this season to six games.
ERAU next plays host to No. 1 Northwood at 7 p.m. Saturday.�
WOMEN: North Florida 56, Bethune-Cookman 55
JACKSONVILLE — Bethune-Cookman's Chastity Rene Taylor led all scorers with 21 points — including five 3-pointers — but she was the only Wildcat in double figures in their loss at North Florida.
B-CU (2-4) trailed 10-0 at the start and spent the rest of the game battling back against the Ospreys (2-4). The Wildcats took the lead with 13:25 left in the first half but never led again.
B-CU trailed 54-52 with 42 seconds to go after Amanda Hairston hit a jumper, but the Wildcats allowed Jadhken Kerr to score with 2 seconds left on the shot clock and just 10 seconds left in the game to make it 56-52.
"We did a great job of playing defense for about 20 seconds, and for the last 10 seconds we just had breakdowns," B-CU coach Vanessa Blair said "They really made some tough baskets with 4 and 5 seconds on the shot clock."
Taylor hit a 3-pointer for the final margin.
Hairston scored eight points with a team-high seven rebounds for B-CU, and Terrenisha Hollis scored seven points for the 'Cats, who shot 38 percent to the Ospreys' 48 percent.
Raneisha Lamar led UNF with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kerr and Fabiola Josil added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
B-CU returns to action Sunday at UCF.�


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• Jan. 6, 2006 |
7 p.m. ET
Hyperspace hyped: Could extradimensional physics provide a way to propel spacecraft to other stars without bulky chemical fuels, through shortcuts in spacetime that get around Einstein's cosmic speed limits?
The idea sounds like a "Star Trek" dream come true, and it's generated a Warp Factor 7 buzz this week, thanks to a report in New Scientist magazine that makes it sound as if some heavyweights in the physics world might be willing to look into the concept. But when you do a little checking around, there's little sign that the concept is actually gaining serious traction in the scientific community.
The reality behind the buzz boils down to a series of theoretical papers put out by Austrian and German physicists — one of which won a prize from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. (Here are the PDF files for the "best papers" list and the prize-winning paper.)
The papers outline a concept for an eight-dimensional universe where gravitational energy can be converted into electromagnetic energy through "gravitophotons."
"I looked through this stuff ... completely crackpot, as far as I can see," theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss told me in an e-mail early today. He said he found the New Scientist report "irresponsible in the extreme ... they did not interview any real particle physicists, nor talk about the fact that the theory appears to have no real quantum field theory in it."
Case Western Reserve University's Krauss is familiar with the frontiers of physics — and science fiction — as the author of books ranging from "The Physics of Star Trek" to "Hiding in the Mirror," his recently published page-turner on extra dimensions in cosmology and popular culture. Another book by Krauss, "Quintessence," is even among the works cited in one of the papers by Austrian theorist Walter Dröscher and German physicist Jochem Häuser.
In that paper, Dröscher and Häuser suggest that the theory they set forth, based on decades of work by the late German physicist Burkhard Heim, could be tested in the high-energy setting of Sandia National Laboratory's Z Machine. And indeed, New Scientist quotes Sandia researcher Roger Lenard as saying he might be "interested in getting Sandia interested if we could get a more perspicacious introduction to the mathematics behind the proposed experiment."
My efforts to contact Lenard on Friday were unsuccessful, but I know he's a guy willing to give more of a hearing to unorthodox ideas such as interstellar travel (and anti-Darwinism, but that's another story).
In any case, Sandia spokesman Neal Singer told me "it's unlikely that the Z Machine could play a part." Every high-energy "shot" from the federally funded Z Machine costs $100,000, and it might take 10 or 20 shots to build up enough data for an experiment, he said. Right now, it's not even clear how to design an experiment to test Heim quantum theory. "I don't think there's enough certainty to this" to justify the attention and expense, Singer said.
Lots of projects are competing for time on the Z Machine, with the top priority given to the federal government's nuclear-weapons simulations. Other Z Machine projects focus on inertial-confinement fusion energy and the physics of black holes and neutron stars. Thus, it's hard to imagine tests of Heim quantum theory moving to the front of the line.
It's more likely that findings from Europe's Large Hadron Collider , due to begin operation next year, could sort out the issues that Heim raised in particle physics. In fact, researchers hope that the LHC will help resolve a lot of the far-out ideas on the frontiers of physics.
There are always a lot of far-out ideas out there, including hundreds of papers on faster-than-light phenomena. Some far-out ideas even get funded — through the Pentagon or the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, for example. NIAC's past lineups have included spray-on spacesuits and space elevators, and the latest crop will be up for consideration in February.
This week's buzz echoes the flurry of hype over yet another far-out idea, having to do with antigravity drives. At one time, even NASA was studying the concept, known as the "Podkletnov Effect," but the agency cut off funding even before the magnetic spinning-ring experiments were completed. Ultimately, NASA shut down its Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program, which looked into way-out ideas ranging from antigravity to vacuum energy.
Krauss saw the hyperspace concept as a case of deja vu all over again, saying that it's "based on other nutty things in NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Program ... a program I helped to end ... and the famous spinning superconductor that demonstrates antigravity, except that no one could actually get it to demonstrate such."
To sample the buzz, check out Rand Simberg's Transterrestrial Musings, Clark Lindsey's RLV and Space Transport News and Glenn Reynolds' Instapundit. The bottom line is that the odds against developing a hyperspace drive are astronomical. But we can still dream, can't we?
Feel free to let me know what you think, and I'll pass along a selection of the feedback next week.
• Jan. 6, 2006 |
7 p.m. ET
Pluto pros and cons: Is Pluto a planet, or is it just one among thousands of iceballs? The controversy has been brewing for years , but the Planetary Society is turning the topic into a full-blown debate.
The discovery of the "10th planet" —a more distant world in our solar system that appears to be even bigger than Pluto — is definitely a blow to the pro-planet side. In his essay, Bill Nye the Science Guy says Pluto still deserves a place of historical honor as "the first of the non-Main Plane, icy dwarf, Plutonian planets."
Meanwhile, Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse-Tyson (who is also the Planetary Society's chairman of the board) has long argued for Pluto's demotion.
So who decides? So far, the International Astronomical Union has kept Pluto in the planetary fold. But the Planetary Society wants to hear your reasons for (or against) Pluto's planethood. Check out the society's call for entries, and get your vote in before Jan. 12. A selection of the best reasons why (or why not) will appear on the Planetary Society's Web site in advance of the Jan. 17 launch of the Pluto-bound New Horizons mission.
If you'd like to share any of your reasons with Cosmic Log as well, so much the better. For what it's worth, participants in our unscientific Live Vote have favored keeping Pluto as a planet, and adding anything new that is Pluto's size or bigger.
• Jan. 6, 2006 |
7:30 p.m. ET
Birthdays and brickbats: The second anniversary of the Spirit rover's landing winds up as nearly a footnote in rover scientist Steve Squyres' latest mission update. Squyres was far more interested in Opportunity's discovery of a geological feature known as festoon cross-bedding, which may hint at the presence of liquid water during the deposition of sediment.
"The thing I find really striking here," Squyres reports, "is that if it hadn't been for the busted wire in the motor on Opportunity's arm, we would have blown right by this without seeing it. Ironic." (Tip o' the Log to NBC News space analyst James Oberg.)
Meanwhile, Noah Shachtman celebrates the third birthday of his Defense Tech blog with a nod to yours truly. Many happy returns, Noah!
Finally Sam Dinkin takes issue with me on Transterrestrial Musings on the question of whether lunar voyages will become profitable sometime in the 21st century. It's true, I'm skeptical , but I'd be glad to be proven wrong (especially if I can be there for 2101).
• Jan. 6, 2006 |
7 p.m. ET
Weekend field trips on the World Wide Web:
• BBC: New cat family tree revealed
• Go on a virtual dig at Egypt's Temple of Mut
• Space Law Probe: Regulating rocket rides
• The Onion: 'They tried to teach my baby science'
• Jan. 5, 2006 |
2 p.m. ET
Visit a celestial cavern: Is it a cosmic cave, or an interstellar smoke ring? Actually, the cavernous ring seen in a new image from the Gemini Observatory is known as the N44 superbubble complex — a hollow shell carved out of the middle of a colossal cloud of gas, by radiation from a cluster of massive stars.
"This region is like a giant laboratory providing us with a glimpse into many unique phenomena," Sally Oey of the University of Michigan said in a Gemini image advisory released today. "Observations from space have even revealed X-ray-emitting gas escaping from this superbubble, and while this is expected, this is the only object of its kind where we have actually seen it happening."
Scientists have spotted smaller bubbles clinging to the wall of the main superbubble. Those regions may have formed as part of the same process that formed the main cavern, perhaps pushed out like cosmic surf foam from a supernova-sparked shock wave.
Another researcher on the N44 team, Philip Massey of the Lowell Observatory, noted that there were "inconsistencies in the size of the bubble and the expected velocities of the winds from the central cluster of massive stars."
Slideshow: The year in space pictures "The bottom line is that there's still lots of exciting science to be done here, and these new images will undoubtedly help," he said.
Toward that end, the full data set behind this new image of N44 from the Gemini South Telescope in Chile is being released to astronomers for further analysis. The superbubble, visible from the Southern Hemisphere, is about 150,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies.
For more superbubble pictures, check out another view of N44 from the Magellanic Cloud Emission-Line Survey, or the images of N70 from the European Southern Observatory.
• Jan. 5, 2006 |
8:25 p.m. ET
The space game's afoot: As I mentioned on Wednesday, SpaceShot founder Sam Dinkin is just a couple of steps away from unveiling an online skill game that offers a suborbital space ride as grand prize. He'll be talking about his plans on "The Space Show" Friday, during a session that also features Rocketplane test pilot (and former NASA astronaut) John Herrington.
Even as Dinkin is gearing up for his own launch, he's keeping an eye on his competition in the space-themed skill game market, Virgin Galactic Quest. Just today he clued me in to the appearance of a Galactic Quest game on the Virgin Skill Web site, which as of yet makes no reference to a space-ride prize. I've been using up some of my free $6 worth of playtime to give the game a whirl.
My editor, Lori Smith, notes that Galactic Quest is quite similar to Zuma, a popular online game that is also available on Virgin Skill. Is this Galactic Quest game the real thing? Will Virgin change it to make the SpaceShipTwo connection more obvious? We'll have to see how this play develops.
• Jan. 5, 2006 |
2 p.m. ET
Farewell to Topex/Poseidon: The U.S.-French oceanography satellite known as Topex/Poseidon has ceased operations, ending a storied 13-year mission, NASA announced today. The satellite played a key role in monitoring the sea changes behind the El Niño and La Niña weather patterns, and provided insights into the role of ocean circulation in hurricanes and climate change.
When it was launched in 1992, scientists expected the satellite to last only five years — but Topex/Poseidon far exceeded expectations, providing more than 600 scientists with enough data for 2,100 scientific papers.
The sad news is that the satellite's orientation system finally failed in October, leaving it in a safe but useless orbit 830 miles (1,336 kilometers) above Earth. The good news is that NASA's Jason satellite, launched four years ago, is continuing Topex/Poseidon's legacy. Yet another oceanographic satellite, the Ocean Surface Topography Mission, is in development for a scheduled launch in 2008.
Don't miss NASA's podcast and retrospective on Topex/Poseidon.
• Jan. 5, 2006 |
2 p.m. ET
Scientific smorgasbord on the World Wide Web:
• Discovery.com: 'Outlaw' mummy illuminates Wild West life
• Slashdot: The physics behind car crashes
• Science @ NASA: Dark shadows on the moon
• Edge: 'What is your dangerous idea?'
• Jan. 4, 2006 |
8:20 p.m. ET
The politics of stem cells: Now that lawmakers are returning to work for the new year, the controversy surrounding human embryonic stem cells is likely to surface again on the national as well as the state level.
Just before the holiday break, a minor tempest arose over a federal bill boosting umbilical cord-blood research — in large part because Democrats worried that Republicans would use that legislation as political cover when it came time to consider the more controversial House-approved Castle-Degette bill easing some of the limits on embryonic stem cell research. For example, some lawmakers might say there would be no need to consider Castle-Degette, because they had already given the basic technology enough of a boost.
In the end, the Democrats let the cord-blood bill go through, trusting that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist would clear the way for a vote on Castle-Degette early this year. Will the newly signed cord-blood law change the political calculations? Will the Korean stem cell scandal have an effect? We just might find out in the next few weeks.
Several states also have the stem cell issue on their political agendas:
- Missouri: Lawmakers, attorneys and signature-gatherers are exercised over a proposed state constitutional amendment that would provide additional legal protection for embryonic stem cell research.
- Iowa: Politicians are debating whether to overturn a 3-year-old state ban on somatic-cell nuclear transfer, also known as therapeutic cloning. The issue could play a role in this year's gubernatorial election as well as the bellwether state's stance in the 2008 presidential election, according to the Des Moines Register.
- New Jersey: A legislative effort to put $500 million into stem cell research appears to be going down to defeat.
- Delaware:This state's debate focuses on a bill that would set up a detailed regulatory system for stem cell research using surplus fertility-clinic embryos — with those who oppose embryonic research mounting a vigorous campaign.
- Nebraska: The state Legislature is considering several measures, including a ban on therapeutic cloning as well as reproductive cloning. Here's an unusual take on the issue from the Bioethics Blog.
The National Conference of State Legislatures rates the stem cell debate as No. 9 on its "Top Ten" list of legislative issues for 2006. To find out where your state stands on stem cells and other biopolitical issues, check out the conference's Genetic Technologies Project. To get a quick read on the worldwide situation, consult the World Stem Cell Map. And to keep tabs on the controversy, get the feed from our special report on stem cell research.
• Jan. 4, 2006 |
8:20 p.m. ET
Staying dry in space: Although alcohol has always been a no-no on NASA spaceships, it wasn't unheard of for Russian cosmonauts to bring a little vodka or wine aboard their own craft, as noted in this five-year-old report. So it shouldn't be shocking to hear that some Russians feel the time has come for alcohol to be allowed on the international space station.
Last year, Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov said the station crew should have a little nip of wine or cognac every day to ease the tension of orbital life. And just this week, Russia's Interfax news agency hinted that a policy change might be made sometime this year.
Today, however, NASA spokesman Rob Navias nipped that idea in the bud.
"We — NASA — have not changed our policy regarding alcoholic beverages on an operational spacecraft," he told me in response to the Interfax report. "We do not endorse that, nor do we execute that manifest."
Navias said "there's no debate" with the Russians on that point. And he disputed Interfax's claim that a recent cargo shipment to the station bent the rules by including some "chocolate liqueurs" (or would that be liqueur-filled chocolates?) for station commander Bill McArthur.
"That has not happened," Navias said.
• Jan. 4, 2006 |
8:20 p.m. ET
Getting set for SpaceShot: Economist/entrepreneur Sam Dinkin says he's just one beta test away from unveiling an online skill game that would offer a ride in space as first prize. The computer servers that would manage the SpaceShot competition are ready to go, he told me today.
"Soon we will be starting our final dress-rehearsal beta test," he said. "If I pass that, I'm open for business."
Dinkin is still holding many of the details close to the vest, but he is willing to say that the game will be a single-elimination tournament, with players putting down less than $5 to enter. Once players are eliminated, they would have to pay another fee to start fresh. The winner of the tournament would get a ticket to ride Rocketplane's yet-to-be-built suborbital spaceship, plus $100,000, Dinkin said.
Assuming that the limited-audience beta test is successful, SpaceShot would open up for a "fully functional" public beta test that would take in money and offer space prizes, Dinkin said.
He noted that the private-sector space race has been getting a lot more media coverage lately, including an observation in The Economist that space travel will soon be almost too "humdrum" for rich folks. Dinkin's also expecting the subject to get wide airing on the BBC's "Horizon" program on Jan. 12. The BBC crew came out to the States to talk with Dinkin and other space entrepreneurs last fall.
• Jan. 4, 2006 |
8:20 p.m. ET
A heaping helping of science from the Web:
• CNet: Tiny worms survive shuttle crash
• Nature: Ocean currents flip out
• NASA: GlobalFlyer arrival postponed due to wing damage
• Defense Tech: Air Force wants space war game
• New Scientist: How brands get wired into the brain
• BBC: The surprise secret of soccer's success
• Jan. 3, 2006 |
4:30 p.m. ET
Mummy mystery tour: It took about 3,000 years for an Egyptian mummy to make his way back home — after being stashed out of sight, stolen by tomb raiders, sold and resold as a nameless curiosity, then finally recognized as royalty.
But the whole saga, which ends with the mystery mummy's return to Egypt as Pharaoh Ramses I, takes just an hour to tell in "The Mummy Who Would Be King," premiering tonight as part of PBS' "Nova" documentary series.
Video: A mummy's odyssey Could Ramses I, the founder of a great dynasty that some scholars believe included biblical personages , really have spent decades on display at the Niagara Falls Museum? "The evidence points pretty conclusively in that direction," Peter Lacovara, curator of the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University in Atlanta, told me today.
To reach that conclusion, experts studied the high-class embalming job, and used radioisotope dating techniques to estimate the mummy's age. They took note of the way his arms were crossed — which was no big deal for 2,000-year-old mummies, but a solid sign of royalty for 3,000-year-old specimens. They made skull measurements and conducted full-body CT scans, then compared the mummy's vital statistics with those of Ramses' mummified descendants. They even brought in the alpha male of Egyptology, Zahi Hawass, to confirm the look and smell of a pharaoh.
Ramses I's mummy had been missing for millennia — and the show traces what might have happened to it: Priests apparently moved the mummy out of its original tomb to foil grave robbers, but by the 19th century, the secret cache was found, and Egyptian antiquities dealers moved the mummy out. It was sold to a Canadian collector named James Douglas, who passed it along to the Niagara Falls museum. When that museum changed hands and was closed down in 1998, the specimen was sold, along with other lesser-born mummies, to the Carlos Museum.
Although some researchers had had their suspicions about the possible royal connection even when the mummy was back at Niagara Falls, it was only after the cross-armed specimen came to Atlanta that the mystery got the full attention it deserved. In the end, the experts were convinced that the one-time sideshow mummy was indeed a 19th-Dynasty pharaoh. That's when the Carlos Museum decided to send the specimen back to Egypt.
Usually, curators are reluctant to give up their Egyptian treasures, whether it's the Rosetta Stone or the bust of Nefertiti. Not this time. "We approached the Egyptians first," Lacovara said. "It was kind of the reverse of normal. ... At first they had to be convinced."
Amid great fanfare, Zahi Hawass brought the mummy back to his home country, and it is now installed in a special gallery of the Luxor Museum. But the case isn't completely closed: Although Hawass and most Egyptologists are confident that the mummy was a pharaoh, they're not "100 percent" convinced that he was Ramses I.
During the show, Egyptologist Aidan Dodson says that the evidence doesn't prove the Ramses connection beyond a reasonable doubt — in the sense of a criminal trial — but that the pro-Ramses side would win out in a civil trial. Lacovara agreed with that view: "Any other possible candidate is far less likely. There's no other plausible scenario one can think of."
Genetic testing could conceivably provide the smoking gun, but the Egyptians say that technology is not yet ready for prime time — at least when it comes to identifying mummies. The potential for DNA contamination and spurious results is still too great. As long as that's the case, there's no way Hawass or his colleagues will give the OK to cut samples out of those priceless mummies.
"That is reserved for the future," Lacovara said. "That will be the 100 percent solution, but we have to wait for science to catch up with the questions."
• Jan. 3, 2006 |
4 p.m. ET
Real sea monsters: I did a double-take Monday night when the E.T. sleuths of NBC's "Surface" were shown going on a faked-up version of MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" to talk about sea monsters . (Maybe it shouldn't be so surprising, considering that NBC is a partner in the MSNBC joint venture.) If you're looking for sea monsters, you can go to MSN Video and do a search on "Surface" — or you can check out real-life tales of giant squids and 135-million-year-old "Godzillas" of the sea .
• Jan. 3, 2006 |
4 p.m. ET
Your daily dose of science on the Web:
• N.Y. Times: Einstein has left the building (via Slashdot)
• Scientific American: Innovations from a robot rally
• Technology Review: DNA building blocks
• ACA: Art in crystallography
Looking for older items? Check the Cosmic Log archive. Share your perspective on cosmic subjects with Alan Boyle. If you link to this page, you can use http://cosmiclog.msnbc.com or http://www.cosmiclog.com as the address. MSNBC is not responsible for the content of Internet links.


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Online Seminary Resources
To help priesthood leaders understand this new type of seminary class, these resources contain instructions and guidelines regarding the phased implementation of online seminary.
Seminary and Institute Teacher Qualifications
To assist priesthood leaders as they extend callings, this document lists stake seminary and institute teacher and supervisor qualifications, duties, and responsibilities.
Enrollment and Attendance Reporting on LCR and MLS
This PowerPoint presentation provides instructions for priesthood leaders on how to access current seminary and institute enrollment and attendance information on LCR and MLS.
A Guide for Graduation Exercises
This guide has been prepared to assist in the planning, conducting, and subsequent evaluation of seminary and institute graduation exercises.
Institute Enrollment Progress Presentation
This PowerPoint presentation provides instructions and guidelines for tracking institute enrollment progress.
Recruitment Media
Download a variety of recruitment videos and the Scripture Mastery app.
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Leader Resources
Seminary Registration Pass-Along Cards
These pass-along cards may be printed and distributed to encourage parents to register their youth for seminary this next year. They may also be shared with priesthood leaders if they would like to use them as well. Please note that these cards are interactive PDF's so that local contact information may be included before printing.
Seminary Can Change Lives
"Besides attending your Sunday meetings and your weeknight activities, when you have the chance to be involved in seminary, whether in the early morning or in released-time classes, take advantage of that opportunity. . . . As with anything in life, much of what you take from your seminary experience depends on your attitude and your willingness to be taught. May your attitude be one of humility and a desire to learn. How grateful I am for the opportunity I had as a teenager to attend early-morning seminary, for it played a vital role in my development and the development of my testimony. Seminary can change lives."
Thomas S. Monson,
"Believe, Obey, Endure"


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Don't worry if you are new to this, we have a range of patterns and projects which range from the easy to the not so easy so you can be sure to build up your experience and confidence in creating some fantastic items. And if you need some tutorials about the basics of knitting and crocheting you can visit the Red Heart Learning page to grasp the basics.
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A city guy buys a ranch. He sits on the porch of his new house taking in the fresh country air when a dusty truck pulls up.
"Howdy, neighbor!" calls the man in the truck. " I came to invite you to a little Welcome to the Neighborhood party at my place tonight. "
"Well, that's mighty fine of you," the city guy replies.
"It's going to be great," the neighbor adds. "There's gonna be eatin', drinkin', fightin', and f**kin'!"
"Sounds great," the city guy replies. "What should I wear?"
"Aww, it don't matter," the neighbor says. "It's just gonna be you and me!"


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Lindsay Jamison, BCBA
Lindsay Jamison, BCBA
We began seeing Richie in 2013 when he was 12 years old. At that time Richie attended a private school for the disabled due to verbal and physical aggression. His...Read more
We began seeing Landon when he was two years old. He could not speak and had frequent tantrums and aggressive behaviors. He also engaged in repetitive behaviors most of the...Read more
We met Chris when he was 15 years old six months ago. He had a vocabulary of less than 10 words and used to build 100 piece puzzles repeatedly along...Read more


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In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing
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This raised overall capacity to 35,389MW, supplied by 24,193 turbines, by the end of June 2014.
The strong growth is attributed to a rush to get projects completed before a change in the renewable energy act results in lower support for wind generation.
The law will come in from 1 August, along with another allowing federal states to each set new minimum distances between wind turbines and housing, according to the federal wind energy association BWE (Bundesverband Windenergie).
New onshore installations in the whole of 2014 are expected to add up to 3.3-3.7GW raising Germany' onshore wind fleet to 26,000 turbines totalling around 37GW. "Onshore wind in 2015 is not expected to be so dynamic," warned BWE President Hermann Albers.
The goal for the next few years is a reliable, stable growth level, the organisation added, pointing to the government target of a net growth corridor of 2.5GW per year, plus dismantled capacity in repowering projects.
In the first half of 2014, at least 260MW of new capacity replaced old turbines that were decommissioned in repowering projects, compared with at least 64MW that were dismantled as part of a repowering in the first 6 months of 2013. The data researched and supplied by Deutsche Windguard for BWE and the Power Systems division of German engineering federation VDMA.
The German Federal Association of Energy and Water (BDEW) has also released figures that show renewable energies are expected to cover 28.5% of electricity consumption in the first half of 2014. In 2013, renewables covered 24.6%.
According to the survey, wind turbines produced 31 million MWh of electricity in the first six months of 2014 – 21.4% higher than the same period last year.
The increase in percentage is being put down to the greater number of renewable energy sources in Germany, and the milder weather.